STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIED

Summary: Sasuke have sworn off love forever. He vowed never to let another girl get close enough to hurt him except for Hinata. He and Hinata make the perfect non- couple. He even helped her to get noticed by Naruto. But when Hinata's gentle touch begins to make him blush, things gets complicated. Is being 'just friends' enough anymore?

Suddenly Loving You

By: Magayon

Chapter 8

"Thank you." Hinata said as she turned around to face Sasuke. Both were standing in front of the gate of the Hyuuga compound. After what happened to the festival earlier, Sasuke could just not let Hinata go home alone so he volunteered himself to take her home.

"It's nothing…" Sasuke replied, "… compared to what you have done for me."

The raven-haired girl smiled at him that made him feel warm inside. "It's because we're friends, Sasuke."

"Y-yes." He muttered and looked away. "I guess we are." He felt a little uneasy saying the word he said.

"I'm so happy to hear that from you." Hinata said. Her face had no traces that she cried earlier that night as Sasuke stared at her.

"You do?"

Hinata nodded.

Sasuke's onyx eyes continued to stare at her innocent face. He was puzzled on how Hinata could settle with her own feeling. Earlier at the festival, she was crying because of being heartbroken and now she is happily talking to him. Now he believed that Hinata is not a weak girl but she is a strong one, much stronger than any girl in Konoha. He seemed starting to admire her for that kind of attitude.

"I guess it's getting too late." Hinata suddenly said as she looked up at the dark starry night. "You should go home now."

"Ok." He said with a nod.

Hinata waved bye at him as he retreated.

Sasuke have taken a few steps away when he stopped and turned around and saw Hinata going in the compound.

"Hinata!" he called that made the girl stop for a moment and looked at him. "If… if ever… something is bothering you…" he stuttered. His heart was pounding really hard and he didn't know why. "I-I'm… always here to help." He finally said.

The young man saw her smile. "Sasuke, thank you very much."

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Hinata arrived at Sasuke's place a bit later than the usually. She was carrying plastic bags that were loaded with the foods she bought at the market early that morning. She knocked a few times at the wooden door.

"Sasuke." She called.

The door opened and a sleepy Sasuke was revealed behind the door.

Hinata smiled at him. "Good morning, Sasuke." She greeted.

Sasuke turned his back leaving the door open for her to enter. He yawned as he walked towards the couch to sit.

"What's with those plastic bags?" he asked as he sank down the couch. Still feeling sleepy.

"Your food for the week." She replied as she put the plastic bags on the table. "Still sleepy, Sasuke?" she then asked.

Sasuke got up from the couch and approached the girl. "A little." He said looking at what she was doing.

Hinata was arranging everything in his refrigerator.

"I won't be seeing you for a few days starting tomorrow." She suddenly stated.

"What?!" Sasuke shouted in disbelief.

Hinata was startled to what Sasuke said and dropped the bag of carrots she was hold. "Sasuke? Are you alright?"

Sasuke cleared his throat and composed himself. "Y-yeah." He said and picked up the bag of carrots. "Where are you going?"

"I'll be off in a mission with my team. You should take care of yourself when I'm away, ok?" she stated and smiled.

Sasuke nodded like a little boy as to what Hinata said. "W-when are you coming back?" he asked, feeling uncomfortable.

"I still don't know." Hinata said and took the bag of carrots from Sasuke's hands and placed it inside the fridge. "But when I come back I promise to bring you something."

"Huh?" Sasuke looked dumbfounded about what Hinata was talking about and the girl seemed to notice it.

"Well… um… sorry. My sister always wants me to have something for her from my mission… I just thought you might want something." Hinata explained.

"Oh… anything is fine with me." Sasuke said.

"Ok. I'll bring you something beautiful." She said happily.

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The days seemed like years for Sasuke. He felt so empty when Hinata was not around. His apartment was so lonely without her. The first day she was gone it feels that something is missing. He seemed got used to Hinata knocking at his door every morning and bringing food for him. It looks like Sasuke starting to like the raven-haired girl which he actually didn't notice.

Six days have passed when one morning Sasuke was visited by Kakashi.

"Sasuke!" Kakashi called as he knocked on the door.

The door opened. "What brings you here?" he asked bitterly.

"Sasuke," Kakashi started. "I know you and Hinata are somehow friends now so I think you should know what happened to her." His voice remained calm.

To what Kakashi have just said, Sasuke felt something is wrong.

"Hinata… She got into an accident on their mission and her situation is critical." Kakashi finally said.

Hearing those words, Sasuke felt his legs weaken. "Tell me… Where is she?" he asked gripping on the knob of the door.

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To be continued…

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Note: Sorry for my English grammar. I know I'm not good at it. Please don't forget to review. I know this chapter is so late. Sorry about that. I hope you like it. Thanks for those who kept reading my fics!!! I Love you all!!!!!