Chapter 3: New Flames

Six months had passed. It was now summer and the heat in Konoha was absolutely sweltering. Hinata had even relinquished her usual thick coat in order to find some relief. The first morning she had shrugged it off during her training session with Sasuke, her fiancée had stared at her for a few moments, his eyes looking a little dazed. She had to call his name three times before he blinked and adopted his typical stance. Their morning training sessions had been less frequent of late. Sasuke had been promoted to jounin, and his missions were longer and more dangerous. When he had returned from one with a broken arm, blood flowing from a few very deep wounds, carrying his mission partner on his back, Hinata decided that now was the time to continue with her medical training. She wanted to be able to look after him should the need arise in their marriage. Sasuke hated hospitals, and avoided them whenever he could. The chances of him returning home from a mission with his wounds unattended were pretty good, and Hinata wanted to be prepared.

Hinata had become much more accustomed to the idea that she was to marry Sasuke. In fact, she had so grown used to it that she had difficulty imagining herself married to anyone else. She didn't love him, at least, not in that way, but he had become a very dear friend to her. The concept of Sasuke ever being anything more than a friend hadn't really entered her head, at least not until her friends put it there.

Since Hinata had chosen to continue her medical training, she had become friends quite quickly with Sakura. The two girls, though not close, had always been amicable to each other, and the acquaintance moved into the realm of friendship soon after Hinata started her work at the hospital. With Sakura's friendship came Ino's, and finally Tenten's. Hinata had known of all three ninja, and had gotten along all right with them, but the past few months had developed what had been friendly acquaintances into a strong friendship. They had gotten into the habit of eating out every Friday afternoon, whenever they could. Occasionally one of them might be off on a mission, but it was rare, as all them tried to complete their assignments in order to make it to their regular get together.

The sessions consisted mainly of girl talk. Tenten, Sakura and Ino carried the brunt of the conversation, and Hinata usually sat quietly, laughing softly at whatever was being said. On one particular occasion, late in the summer, the four of them were sitting outside sipping their drinks and talking. Hinata had been a little distracted during the conversation, her eyes scanning the people walking in the streets. Sakura noticed this, and asked her what was wrong.

"Sasuke's been gone all week. He said he'd be back today, and I was just looking for him," she explained, scanning the streets once more before turning her attention to the women sitting at the table with her. Three pairs of eyes were staring at her.

"Awwwwwwwwwwwwww, Hinata-chan, you're so sweet, you miss your boy," Ino squealed. Hinata's face turned beat red as she stuttered out a weak protest, which the others ignored.

"I have to say Hinata-chan, that you lucked out," Tenten said matter-of-factly, "I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Lee, but you managed to snag the best looking ninja in the village."

"It's true," Sakura piped up, "Sasuke is hot."

"You're wedding night is going to be amazing," Ino added, and all three girls burst out into a fit of giggles, while Hinata stared at them with wide eyes, her cheeks bright red.

"Oh, Hinata's blushing, maybe she doesn't have to wait?" Sakura teased, and Hinata felt like her face was on fire.

"N-n-no! Sasuke and I – we haven't – I mean –" she couldn't string a sentence together and buried her face in her hands instead while her friends laughed not unkindly at her bashfulness.

"I mean, I wouldn't blame you if you had, Hinata-chan," Ino teased gently, her blue eyes sparkling, "any girl would cut off her right arm for a piece of your fiancée."

Hinata moved her hands, her face still red. For some reason, Ino's last comment annoyed her slightly. She was saved from replying when Sakura suddenly shouted "SASUKE-KUN!"

Hinata's head whipped around and she saw him walking towards them, his face scowling, no doubt due to Sakura's screech.

"Go on, Hinata, give him a big kiss hello," Ino ordered in a stage whisper. Hinata's cheeks burned as her friends collapsed into giggles. Deciding that this conversation had gotten entirely too silly for her taste, she excused herself and met Sasuke before he could get any closer.

"What was that all about?" he muttered, sending an annoyed look at the table full of giggling kunoichi.

"Nevermind," Hinata said as she fell into step beside him, "Where are you going?"

"Handing in the mission report," he said.

"Did it go well?" she asked. Sasuke just shrugged and they continued in silence. Hinata kept glancing at him from the corner of her eye. With a sudden fluttery feeling in her stomach, she realised that her friends were right. Sasuke was very attractive. Even now, just after a mission, looking tired, worn, and dirty, he was still unreasonably good looking. Hinata also noticed the admiring glances he was getting from passer-by. She couldn't blame them, really, as she stole another glance. The more she looked, the more his appearance made an impression on her. How could she not notice how very handsome her fiancée was? Everyone else had, apparently. She caught sight of the two of them in a shop window, and the fluttery feeling in her stomach was quickly replaced by a heavier feeling.

Sasuke was gorgeous. She, however, was not. Hinata turned her eyes to the ground, but she couldn't get that thought out of her head. She had always felt rather plain compared to Sakura and Ino, but she felt even more so now. Tenten, Ino, and Sakura were all so beautiful. Ino and Sakura had the most unique features of any girl in Konoha, with their brightly coloured hair and eyes, and all three girls had stunning figures – tall, slim, and toned. Hinata was short and a little heavier than they were. Her face was round – pudgy, she thought – and her hair was dark, like every other person in Konoha. Even her eyes weren't that unique. Sure they white, but every Hyuuga had white eyes, so that hardly made her special. She glanced up at Sasuke and took in his appearance. He had pale skin, black eyes, dark hair that was longish and fell in his face and brushed his shoulders in a way that made him look attractive and dangerous. He was tall and slim. There was no excess fat on his body, nothing but lean muscles, and he moved with all the skill and grace that a ninja of his talent and rank possessed. Hinata suddenly felt clumsy and awkward next to him. She blushed as she recalled the conversation she had just had with her friends. Her wedding night…oh god, she felt nerves erupt in her stomach at the thought. Sasuke had only ever kissed her once, when they were betrothed. Other than that, he had never shown any signs of attraction towards her, as far as she could tell. Sure, he had stared a bit when she shrugged out of her coat, but that could be due to surprise. After all, she never really took her coat off for anything, sort of like Shino. It was likely the novelty of suddenly seeing her without it on that made him stare. She bit her lip, her brow crinkled in concern. What did Sasuke think of her? She knew he cared for her very much, even loved her, but did he think she was beautiful? When they got married, and had to…did he even want her like that?

"What's wrong?" Sasuke suddenly spoke. Hinata jumped in surprise and felt her face flush red as she stared at him.

"N-Nothing," she replied, and cursed her stutter. Sasuke would see right through it, she knew.

"Hinata," he said in a low voice, stopping to look at her. Hinata sighed and dropped her chin, her fingers poking together.

"I was just thinking…" she trailed off and hoped he would leave it at that.

"About what?" Sasuke asked, watching her. Hinata felt her face erupt into flames.

"About…about…our w-wedding n-night," she stuttered out so soft that Sasuke had to lean forward to catch it. He stiffened at the answer, staring at her.

"What?" he asked, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe.

"It's just, I mean, you're so g-g-good l-looking," Hinata stuttered, desperately wishing she were somewhere else. Her face felt like it was going to explode, but she forced herself to continue "and I-I-I'm not really, and I j-j-just worried that you m-m-might n-n-not want to…you know…" she trailed off.

"What?" Sasuke asked quietly, leaning forward, trying not to get his hopes up. Hinata thought he was good looking? He knew lots of people thought he was, but he didn't know that Hinata thought so. He struggled to pay attention to what she was saying, especially since her voice kept getting quieter. He leaned closer to catch the whispered words.

"I-I-I w-w-was j-j-just worried you m-m-might n-n-not want to have…have…h-have…" she seemed unable to go on.

"Have what, Hinata?" Sasuke asked, getting annoyed. He had no idea what she was trying to say, and wished she would just spit it out.

"H-have…s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-sex…with me," she finally whispered, feeling absolutely mortified. She brought her hands up to her mouth, staring at him through her bangs, her eyes wide. She couldn't believe she had just said that.

Sasuke couldn't believe it either. He just stared at her, wondering if this was really happening, or if he was just unconscious and this was a very vivid dream. Having the woman he loved ask if he wanted to sleep with her in a breathless whisper, staring up at him with huge eyes, hair falling into her face, hands covering her mouth…he swallowed hard, his mouth dry, fighting off the sudden explicit mental images flooding his head. He was jolted from his thoughts by someone knocking into his back, and he suddenly realized that they were standing in the middle of Konoha, and ravishing his fiancée in the street probably wasn't a good idea.

He stepped back and took in a few deep breaths, watching Hinata carefully. There was nothing suggestive about her appearance, so this obviously wasn't a proposition. He replayed the conversation over in his head, trying to figure out how they got here.

You're so good looking, and I'm not really her words played back, and Sasuke suddenly understood. She thought she wasn't beautiful, thought he didn't wanted her. Sasuke stared at her, and then quickly grabbed her hand, pulling her into the alley between two buildings. Hinata squeaked in surprise.

"Sasuke, what –" her question was cut off as he kissed her. Hinata blinked as she suddenly felt Sasuke's arms around her, his mouth pressed against hers. This wasn't like the kiss they shared so many months ago, she though dazedly as her eyes drifted shut. This one was…hard, demanding, wanting. He was relentless, and Hinata gasped as he pushed her against the wall. He took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, and it was a few moments (or years, she wasn't sure, she lost track of time, she didn't know you could do that with a tongue) before he pulled back, breathing heavily. She stared at him, trembling, her heart beating a mile a minute. He returned her gaze, his eyes darker than usual.

"You are beautiful, and yes, Hinata, I do want to sleep with you," he said, his voice low. Hinata blinked, her mouth falling open slightly in surprise. She clamped it shut when she saw his eyes fixate on it.

"Then w-why haven't you kissed me before now?" she asked, her cheeks red. Her heart was beginning to slow down, finally.

"I didn't want to force you," he muttered, and looked away, "I didn't think you wanted me to kiss you."

"Oh," it was all she could think of. She thought of the fluttery feeling, of the fire she had felt when he had kissed her, "I w-wouldn't mind if you did, Sasuke," she said quietly, lowering her gaze shyly. He looked at her, a faint blush dusting his cheeks.

"All right," he said quietly, and then grabbed her hand, leading her out of the alley. He let go once they were back on the street, but Hinata didn't mind. Sasuke wasn't one for public displays of affection. She now knew for certain what he thought of her - he thought she was beautiful, and she smiled, feeling very warm inside.

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