I don't own Naruto.....
Sasuke had left the ramen shop after finishing his tea. He didn't feel much like eating at that point.
Continuing to wander through the village he found himself by the Hyuuga estate. When he looked up from the ground and saw where he was he couldn't hold back his shock.
Why had his feet taken him here?
He figured it best to leave before he was challenged about his motives on his whereabouts and took to his right into the woods surrounding the compound. The trees weren't very close together in the first place, but they thinned out into a small clearing before long.
A solitary Dogwood stood in the middle of the area, bending slightly at any breeze; its white flowers gliding gently to the grass beneath it.
It truly was a site to see. So beautiful, so graceful.
- - - - - - - - - - -
She walked aimlessly through the village, not exactly searching for an unwanted confrontation that had no way of even showing itself to her. She hadn't found out who her unlucky neighbor was yet.
Bored and ready to give up, Hinata started walking home deciding she would get home early that night to try to meet the owner by chance timing.
She thought absentmindedly and her feet did the thinking for her, having gone this way countless times over.
A presence alerted and pulled her from her thoughts. Without a second thought, she silently activated her Byakugan and found the source.
- - - - - - - - - - -
He had laid his head back leaning against the strong bark of the tree's trunk. An aroma filled the air soothing the raven haired man until he found himself entirely relaxed.
Barely a soft wiz was heard before the cloth once covering his left shoulder was pinned to the wood and he could feel the distinct, crisp air of a sharp blade at his neck.
He decided not moving might be a good idea about now.
"What do you think you're doing here?" It was a voice thickened with distrust and a layer of protectiveness.
His assailant was hidden from his line of view being somewhere behind him, but from what he could see, was holding a long katana, the curved blade millimeters from his skin and central arteries.
"If that blade touches my tree you're dead Huuyga."
Sasuke would have turned his head to see the newcomer, but it was hard to forget the sharp antagonist at his throat.
It lowered slowly with the arrival of backup. Which side it was for was still uncertain. The withdraw of the blade seemed to be one of a preoccupied mind.
"Why are you here?" Sasuke wasn't sure who this question was directed at and decided it best to stay silent.
"I sensed a presence just outside the grounds and decided to investigate." a strong voice replied to the newcomer.
"And your sword is drawn why? There is no danger. This man has done no crime."
"I suggest you mind your business." he retorted.
"I suggest you mind yours. I asked Uchiha-san to met me here."
She was protecting him? It was odd, but nonetheless eagerly accepted. He was defenseless.
With that the metal was removed from his vicinity. Sasuke could hear the blade fall into its sheathe and leaves rustle as the ninja left the scene through the trees, Byakugan blaring, keeping them in sight.
Hinata just rolled her eyes and sat down next to Sasuke.
"Don't mind him. He's been on edge lately since I left the grounds and he never really had much of a good impression of you." she smiled, her eyes closed and head tilted back against the tree enjoying the small patchwork of sunlight that reached her face. Its rays warmed her cheeks to an opaque shade of pink.
"And you did?"
She didn't reply and he knew what she thought of him. She thought of him as what everyone else was likely to, for he truly was-up to no good.
"People..change."
What?
"Just because you have a past doesn't mean you don't have a future. You make your own fate." Her pale eyes stared deeply off into the distance and she just barely whispered, "Right?"
---
Neji deactivated his Byakugan. She was so trusting of that..traitor, but maybe she was right. He had been taught the lesson of fate long ago. It seemed to have been burned into Hinata's soul.
---
Sasuke could not get over how much this girl kept surprising him. Her words held wisdom and she said them with confidence. He also was sure he wasn't the only one she was speaking to.
Looking up the Uchiha admired the beautifully tamed branches of the tree that sheltered them. They had been trained to grow in intricate bends and twists that each complimented the ones adjacent to itself creating an overall ascetically pleasing balance.
"This is 'your' tree you said?"
"Yes. I planted it many years back and I've taken care of it since." A soft smile adorned her face and she continued to look forward in reverie.
"I come here when I need to think about something, or just want some time to myself. A something to do, somewhere to go sort of relationship."
He looked at her. The braid she had in that morning had been taken out, her lavender hair held small waves and it caressed her form reaching down to her waist.
Her attire had changed since he last saw her body. The black set she wore currently was similar to the one she had on in the hospital, but it wasn't as simple and plain cut.
Now the short-sleeved top was a 60° V-neck, the negative space filled with netting, which also adorned her wrists. She wore the same black capris, but they had a small slit on either leg, and netting under them over her calves with black sandals.
This appeared to be her normal dress. She seemed much more relaxed and at ease now then when he had seen her previously.
"So. Is this what you normally do on your days off?" he ventured.
"Hmm? Oh, no. This is actually the first day I can remember ever not having anything to do. Since I left the house, I hold many less responsibilities.
It's nice to be able to just relax."
That could be expected. Sasuke could still remember all of the chores he had as only a small child even.
Itachi didn't have as many as he would have because his involvement in the ANBU didn't allow him time to deal with actions trivial in comparison. Hinata wasn't so lucky it seemed.
They sat in silence simply enjoying the light breezes that graced the warm afternoon.
He had to know more about this girl, who she was, what she did, what she stood for, who she spent her time with. He had to understand this complex system of thoughts and emotions she had going on in her head.
She perplexed him to say the least.
He pulled the kunai from his shirt over his shoulder with care knowing of the girl's affection for the tree it was imbedded in.
Instantly Hinata's eyes popped open and she sat up sending a death stare to the blade that was now sheathed in the soil between them.
"That son of a bitch!" she hissed through clenched teeth gabbing the knife before shooting through the trees in the direction the male Hyuuga had traveled not long ago.
In an instant she was gone. She was fast.
Sasuke was left in silence to think. He stayed in place for another half hour to an hour before deciding to leave. It didn't seem like she was planning on coming back anytime soon and he figured he should find something more productive to do with his time.
- - - - - - - - - - -
After giving her cousin a sufficient scolding Hinata went to retire to her room, that's when she remembered she didn't live there anymore. Her feet were so accustomed to traveling that way she had walked to the wrong home.
It was a good thing she had though, otherwise who knows what could have happened to Sasuke or Neji for that matter.
Sasuke!
She left him all alone to run after Neji!
Despicable. 'I hope he'll forgive my rudeness.'
She left the Hyuuga grounds at an even sprint back toward the little clearing.
When she arrived he had already left.
'I guess he had somewhere to go.' she thought slightly disappointed.
She had had a nice time sitting with the Uchiha, even if they where only enjoying the weather, it was nice to have company all the same.
'He does live in this village now. I'll see him later I suppose.' and with that she was on her way back to town and to her home where she had intended to go in the first place.
- - - - - - - - - - -
The sun was setting now.
It was nice to see the light fade from the sky over the silhouette of the forest oaks in a ray of pink and orange. The clouds reflected and amplified the colors making the scene even more picturesque.
Sasuke headed to his house now at a steady pace, a calm walk. He was in no rush for sleep.
Hopefully Tsunade would assign him a mission soon. He couldn't imagine walking around the village all day looking for something to do.
He walked up the path to his door inserted the key and turned the knob.
The door opened with a notifying creek from the hinges. He would have to get some oil for that.
Continuing into the room, he set on a kettle of water on his two-burner stove and was reaching for a teacup when he heard someone call.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Hinata had been waiting patiently in her room for her neighbor to arrive home.
It was a confrontation she'd rather avoid, but it had to be delt with. There was no hiding the giant hole in the wall and it would need to be fixed.
She had taken to drawing as she sat cross-legged on the bedroom floor, sketchbook in her lap, pen in hand.
Before her was a beautiful rendition of a small sparrow, every feather and detail lined with perfect precision.
This one would be for Neji.
A long creek could be heard and Hinata was sure someone had entered the apartment beside hers. The sound echoed through the rooms and into hers without hesitation.
"Hello?" she called uncertain she would receive an answer.
"Is someone there?"
- - -
Sasuke set down his teacup on the counter and left the water to boil.
Walking into his bedroom toward the sound he had heard he was not surprised when he saw Hinata there looking unsure of what she would find.
"Uchiha?!"
My gosh I haven't posted in so long I feel terrible! I hope this chapter is satisfactory. I tried to make it a little longer then my previous ones to try to beg for you forgiveness for lost time. You know how school is though :/ It's nearing its end slowly but surely though so expect more from me, but don't get your hopes up! xP
-Complicated.