In Time She Will Be Happy Too: Chapter 3
Lorelai Kline
A/N: OMG!!! This is the farthest I've gotten on any fic I've posted! I'm so proud of myself! I was really surprised by how many of you enjoyed the last chapter: It was a relief to say the least. I was so worried it would come out boring and confusing, but I suppose after obsessive compulsive tweaking and re-tweaking things turned out just fine. Originally this story was meant to be a one-shot, but so many people wanted to see more that I just couldn't resist. After I had posted the first chapter ideas kept coming to me and I had to race to keep up. Luckily, these ideas flow together and we are looking at a pretty in-depth and entertaining tale... hopefully.
I want to explain the structure that I'm running with in case anyone is confused. The first chapter takes place in the "present" time of the story. Okay, easy enough... however, things get tricky in chapter two. It starts out in the "present" again, then Hinata remembers events that lead up to the "present". After she has her flashback everything returns to the "present" time once more. This is somewhat the structure I will be using for a bit, (Present/ Flashback/ Present). Hopefully it won't be too confusing, but let me know if it is.
I am really enjoying myself with this fic. I am proud of the ways Hinata and Sasuke are developing, though we haven't seen much of Sasuke yet. Fear not, though! Pretty Bishie Boy Dude will show up as well as the ever-important element of fluff! Please keep up with the reviews, they really inspire me and get me working on chapters faster. Happy Holidays!!!
Lor .
Sasuke stood on the corner accross from Hinata's apartment building with his hands shoved in his pockets and a scowl on his face. His eyes never left her bedroom window unless it was absolutely necessary. It was slightly risky to be out in the open where there were still single fangirls sniffing about, but he had sent out clones to throw them off his trail. He sighed and ran a fist through his hair before returning it back to his pocket. This was getting annoying. He was actually worried about someone other than himself and his brother, and what's more: He just sighed! Sasuke's scowl deepened and he let out a grunt of displeasure.
This behavior was new to him, as were the feelings he was working so hard to repress. Before he came back things were simple. He was focused, powerful, free... But since his return everything had changed. He knew things had changed the moment he had looked up through half-dead eyes at a woman working diligently to save him and realized who she was.
Her milky white eyes tinted with lavender were narrowed in concentration while the veins around her eyes were raised slightly as she used her clan technique. Sweat dripped down from her forehead and she would have to wipe it away as well as bangs that fell into her line of vision. Her hair spilled down over her shoulders and her long bangs were haphazardly tucked behind her ears, coming loose and dancing around her cheeks before she brushed them away. She was still very pale, he noticed, and her aura still radiated warmth and compassion, but this was not the same person from years ago. She was a woman now, gently curved in all the right places. Thin, lithe, and graceful; She had lost most of her awkwardness in favor of maturing.
Sasuke watched her as she worked, his vision occaisionally blurring, and found himself curious and fascinated. She was clothed modestly, but her outfit had changed. She had shed her coat and replaced it with a hooded vest that had her family crest on the back. Underneath she wore a black tank top that fishnet sleeves that tucked over her fingers. She also wore a short skirt that matched the beige color of her vest over a pair of black capris. Around her waist was a utility belt, of sorts, with several compartments filled with medical supplies. She still wrapped one leg with cloth and bound her kunai pouch to it and her blue sandals were the same, as well as the way she still wore her leaf headband around her neck. On her wrists were blue gloves that matched her sandals that were stained by his blood. The outfit suited her, but he was surprised to see a daring V-neck on the tank top when she turned toward his head. It wasn't so drastic that it went down to her navel, it simply stopped at the start of her clevage. Overall she was stunning, he mused.
Normally a woman's clothing wouldn't matter to Sasuke at all, but after losing so much blood and chakra, he found himself noticing odd things in his dream-like state. He soon found himself thinking clearly, however, when she tried to take his meal ticket away. On impulse he shot up and snatched the hand that was reaching for Orochimaru's head. He could tell she was shocked and scared, but she didn't faint or blush like she did back in the academy. He hadn't realized he'd said anything, but apparently something had come from his lips.
He watched as her eyes widened with terror and recognition. So she remebered him too? The thought filled him with a tiny pang of pride. He wanted to show her he knew who she was. He knew her clan name, but what was her name? Haruko? Hachi? His mind drew a blank so he simply stated her clan name.
"Hyuuga" he said.
The girl shivered and he breathing became labored but she managed to choke out his name.
"Uchiha... Uchiha S-Sasuke" she wheezed.
He was again rewarded with a swell of pride that she knew his name still. Suddenly his thoughts became a little clearer and he realized the situation they were in with painful clarity. She was aiding an enemy! This was a serious act of treason against Konoha. Did she know what she was doing? He had to find out.
"What are you doing? Have you betrayed everyone too?!" He said. It wasn't so much that he were asking questions, more like demanding answers.
"I... I was healing you... A-And trying to g-get rid of that," she pointed to the head," And I'm no traitor. I simply did what I f-felt was h-honorable", she stuttered. Even though she was afraid she was able to speak with only a hint of her childish stutter. He wondered if she spoke without it when she wasn't frightened.
" I'm afraid I need this", he held up Orochimaru's head for better viewing, smiling grimly when she flinched and refused to look at it, " So that I may redeem myself" he whispered.
"I-I never knew y-you would seek re-redemption for d-doing what you felt was right..." She said softly, this time she was the one smiling sadly.
Her words cut him like a knife. Suddenly he needed to know her name and everything about his mysterious savior. She had done the impossible in the span of about twenty minutes; She had reached him. She had crumbled all his well constructed defenses and seen right through him. He stared into her eyes, wanting to see all her secrets reflected back at him, too. However, all he saw were pale lavender eyes mixed with fear and concern. She cared? He had betrayed all of Konoha, he had injured her friends, and he was scaring her; And yet she still felt worry for him? It was too much. He was spent completely and he felt darkness clouding over his being. As he succumbed to unconciousness he idly wondered if everything and everyone had changed even half as much as the woman before him... And deep in his heart, he doubted it.
Sasuke's reverie was interrupted when he sensed someone approaching. He wasn't too concerned, as the person that neared him was none other than Naruto. Sasuke didn't look at his old friend, he just kept watching Hinata's window as the blonde approached and stood next to him.
"I really messed up..." Naruto mused as he too stared at the window. Sasuke didn't make any effort to respond, Naruto knew he was listening. "I honestly had no idea that she felt that way about me... I just made it all worse for her, didn't I?"
Sasuke spoke, but his gaze never strayed from the window. "She knew what to expect, she was ready for the pain... All of the pain. She made a concious decision to do everything that she has, and I don't think she'd change any of her actions if she had the chance".
Naruto smiled humorlessly. "Ya gotta admire that, huh? I mean I know several people who would regret taking care of a grumpy patient like you, but she didn't complain once".
Sasuke simply nodded.
"So... When are you going to admit that there's something going on between you?" Naruto asked, this time with a guenuine grin.
Sasuke looked at him, momentarily caught off-guard. He recollected himself quickly, though.
"Dobe" he growled.
"Aw c'mon Sasuke, it's obvious you like her! You've been standing outside her apartment every day since you were released from the hospital. She's gotten to you" Naruto beamed with confidence.
"Don't be so naiive" Sasuke muttered, conciously avoiding looking back at the apartment, even though he sensed movement inside.
"Just don't... Don't let her stay cooped up in there too much longer. Hinata's hurting pretty bad, but she's not the kind of person to burden others with her sorrows." Naruto said before walking off after giving Hinata's apartment one final glance.
When Sasuke was sure that the kyuubi vessel was out of hearing range he looked up at the window and allowed himself a rare smile. "I won't" he whispered, then frowned and added in the obligatory "Dobe" just in case.
A/N: Whew! Sorry that took so long to update. I've been working on a ton of other projects too. This story and "Happily Wedded Bliss", (My Avatar: The Last Airbender fic starring Zuko and Toph), are my main concerns, but I've been doing oneshots here and there too. Anyway, PLEASE REVIEW!!! The more reviews the faster I update since they inspire me. So just take a few seconds to tell me what you think and make my day, m'kay?
Lor
P.S.
REVIEW!!!!!