Four Friends, Two Couples

Chapter 3

Sasuke swiftly jumped from one tree branch to another; Hinata's jacket on his left hand. The first place he had looked was her favorite training area; the waterfall. But she wasn't there, so it means that she would be at the only other place he knew - their place. He looked up the sky and increased his speed; sharingan activated. It's near to one in the morning and she really shouldn't be out, especially somewhere too far from the village. His grasp on her jacket tighten. He hoped she was safe.

He landed on a clearing, meters away from where she should be, checked his surroundings for enemies - just in case - and he briskly walked towards his destination. He thought it was unnecessary to rush. He was certain she would be there. He hid behind a tree amongst the shadows once he saw her. He wasn't quite sure why he choose to hide but he wanted to see her from afar - admire her, take the vision of her so that it would emblazed in his memory forever. That is how he felt about her. She was like a fire which illuminates his life, contrary to what her nature element is - water. Still, a part of him knew it would never be enough. How often had he glanced at her, hoping that just on that one glance, she would be printed in his memory, so that his life would back to how he was with Sakura. He was just lying to himself because it was never enough. He just wanted to have her, for himself, forever. He knew she felt the same, but sweet Hinata has always been thoughtful of others. She was being unselfish thinking about Naruto and Sakura. If only he could talk her round. If only she could be selfish for once in her life, and he wish it would be tonight.

She was under an oak tree, nearest to the cliff, hands around her body and looking up the sky. Her long midnight blue hair swayed lightly by the gentle caress of the wind. Some strands of her hair tickled her pink-taint cheeks. Her eyes reflects the moon's image, her pale skin glowed flawlessly. If she were in a flowing long white dress, one would have thought that she might just be the moon maiden. Sasuke, took in the sight of her. It was enchanting. He watched and waited for a sign or sort from her. Then she saw her lowered her head, fingers clasped together to her chest. The gesture to tell him that she knew he was there.

He stepped out behind the tree, but not out of the shadows. "You shouldn't be here at this hour Hinata." she gave him no reply nor a glance at him. He stepped out of the shadows and into the light, illuminated by the moon and walk towards her. "It's dangerous to be alone, even for someone who is a Kunoichi of a Jounin rank."

He was few steps away from her yet she had not made any attempt to run away from him. "I know." Her voice was melody in the wind to his ears. He never really expect her to say anything. "But you are here now." Those words - it meant more than just five simple words said aloud. It was a confession of how she felt with him around. Hyugaa Hinata and Uchiha Sasuke are two quiet individuals. But the few words they choose are clear enough to be understood.

He came directly behind her and placed her jacket on her pale cold shoulder. He could see the hair that stood out on her skin. She must have been out long in the cold night without her jacket on. And his brows furrowed together. "You're cold." The exact same words he had said on that day which changes everything. His hand never left her shoulders but he kept a distance. He didn't want to cross the boundaries so he allowed her the space to choose and he hope that she would choose to be with him.

Hinata felt the warmth, covered by her jacket and his hands on her shoulders. It was comforting, he had always been. He left her space, an option - she could pull away from him or allow herself to seek him. The hours she spent alone since she left the Uchiha compound, she did some thinking and she came with her decision - to follow her heart. She pulled her jacket closer to her body and she slowly lean towards the body behind her that radiates much warmth.

It almost seems surreal when she lean against him. He wondered if he was dreaming. But the sharp cold wind, the rustling of the dried blown leaves, and importantly the heat from her body made him realize it wasn't. It could be a genjutsu, he thought but nothing could pass off him with his Sharingan activated. He realized that he had his Sharingan activated since he was out of his home to look for Hinata. He wasn't sure why he had done that. Perhaps he desperately do not want this, or anything that had to do with Hinata, to be an illusion. His thoughts came back when he heard Hinata sighed and he pulled her close, his hands around her waist, his lips kissed atop of her head. One of her hand snaked around his arms while the other fingers intertwined with his.

"Am I dreaming Hinata?" His cheeks by the side of her temple. He exhaled, the vapor of his breath escaped.

"No" She replied, leaning more into Sasuke. He rubbed his cheeks against hers. "I'm confused." she barely whispered "and I'm scared." She held onto his arms tighter.

"Don't be." He turned her around, put his hands on her cheeks and raised her head. Pearl orbs met onyx. "I'm here. We'll get through this together." Her gaze was so mesmerizing. He was never in love before, until now. "I promise"

"Is- Is this wrong?" She's asked like a child and his only reply was to kiss her on the lips.

Hinata closed her eyes as she saw him leaned towards her and felt his lips grazing hers before it went full on hers. "Does this feels wrong?" He asked, their lips barely apart, forehead rested against each other. The kiss was chaste. It wasn't desperate and it felt so right. Just like that night. She wasn't sure when or how she fell in love with the man in front of her. She had tried hard to forget about him, but she couldn't and she realized that she didn't want too. And she learned to accept her feelings and face the consequences...if he's willing too.

"No." she breathed in his masculine scent. "It felt right being with you." And they came for another kiss. It began as slow and tender than it became desperation and needing - so much of each other. Lips touching, feeling all of other part of the skin. Fingers entangled and combed through each others' hair, hands holding onto each other tighter. Hinata had her legs wrapped around Sasuke, whilst his hand supporting her. He staggered forward, keeping both their weight in balance and finally her back hit against the tree. Their passion and love for each other were raw.

"I meant it when I said 'I love you'" Sasuke said as he kissed her neck just below her earlobes.

"Me too" He stopped and pulled himself away, her legs fell on the ground. For a moment she was confused and wondered if he did not believe her. "Sa - Sasuke?" Her voiced quivered. He gave her an amused gazed, and somehow it hurt her. Was he toying with her feelings? Her fingers which were in his hair slid down to his chest and she looked down. Hinata felt like a fool. Were his words simply some means to make her confess her true feelings for him? She couldn't understand and she needed to know. "W-why? Is this - Am I just a challenge for you?" She should look up to meet his eyes to see the truth in his answers, but she didn't. She heard him gave an amused chuckled. It sounded like he was mocking her of her feelings and her stupidity. And she hated it.

She felt his forehead touching hers, his hands cupped her cheeks. "Silly." Sasuke said, and gave another amused chuckled. It hurt her to hear it coming from the man she finally acknowledge she was in love with. She closed her eyes tight, she would not cry. Not even how much the hurt she felt is tearing her apart. She fought the tears away but still a streak of tears dropped down her cheeks and touched his warm hands.

"You really shouldn't be crying." She could feel he was smirking at her. "Just because I laughed and called you silly." She bit her lower lips, her hands still grasped onto his shirt. He exhaled his breath. "I really meant those words. It's just ... " He lifted her chin with his fingers so she would look at him. Hinata blinked her unsheded tears and tried to look away. "Don't. Look at me. How else would you know if I'm lying or not."

"Sasuke..." She could see him smile at her.

"It's just that you agreed to the words I said, when you never even said those words to me before." And he leaned to kiss her on the lips.

"Oh." Hinata blushed for her being silly. "I didn't - I mean ... I thought ... " she was speechless and all she could do was to bury her face on his chest to hide her embarrassment. Sasuke laughed and Hinata pouted.

"We have to get you back. Neji was worried and looking for you" Hinata simply nodded and they made their way back to the village.

Sakura cuddled onto Naruto's chest listening to his heartbeat, while he had one of his arms around her shoulders and the other around her waist. He would occasionally, run his hands through her hair and kiss atop of her head. Sakura would kissed his chest and snuggled closer into him.

"I really missed you." Sakura said as she played with the collar of his t-shirt.

"I know. You said that for the hundredth time since you came." Naruto smiled. "I've been counting."

"That's not true!" Sakura hit him lightly on his arm. "It barely reached thirty for the past two hours."

"So somebody have been counting." Naruto grinned at the pink haired konoichi.

"Naruto!" and she hit him hard on his head, and he winched at the pain. Sakura leaned forward and kissed at the spot where she had hit him. "I'm sorry, did that hurt?"

"Iie. You kissed the pain away." He said while rubbing his head.

"Baka. But I really do miss you." She snuggled into his warmth again.

"Hundredth and one today." Before Sakura can hit him again, he managed to hold her wrist, rolled her onto her back and captured her lips. Sakura melted into his kiss, all thoughts of hitting Naruto forgotten. He circled her wrist with his thumb. Sakura ran her free hand through his hair and trailed down to his cheeks and jawline. They broke their kiss and rested on each others' forehead.

Naruto gazed into the emeral gems and he was lost in it's beauty. It always happen. Ever since they were only Genins. To him, Sakura was captivating. His feelings had never changed, not even when he was with Hinata. It stayed, pushed aside, and tucked somewhere in his heart. He knew Sakura had always love Sasuke, so he had given himself and Hinata a chance to be together. Stupid and selfish of him to have placed Hinata as second best. But love, it wasn't his choice. His heart decided a long time ago. And it was Sakura.

Sakura wondered when she had love the loud, hyperactive, unpredictable ninja for a long time. Perhaps since the day he came back from Jiraiya's training or maybe along the time when Sai joined them. She remembered how furious she was when she saw that red-haired woman kissed Naruto during one of the mission of the missing four corpses of the twelve guardian. She couldn't find an actual answer, but all she knew was that, she had loved him all along and it took her long enough to realize it.

"We can't keep going like this." The pink-haired girl said. "It isn't fair for us, Hinata or Sasuke."

"You are right Sakura. It's not fair for all of us, if this keeps going like this." Naruto rolled back pulling Sakura, so she'd be lying on top of him. "Especially not for Hinata. She's just - she's been so good to me. I just hated it knowing that I have to hurt her like this."

Sakura raised her head from Naruto's chest, eyes locked onto the clear blue eyes. "We hurt her Naruto. It's not just you. I am partly to blame. I was stupid for not realizing that I love you all this while. I was blinded by my own infatuation for Sasuke. If only..." she was stopped by Naruto who kissed her one the lips.

"It doesn't matter now. Whatever it is, we have to get through this together. It can't be help that people will get hurt but it is better to break the news to them sooner than later. Maybe when I come back from my mission."

"Naruto!" Sakura jumped off him making Naruto confused. "You got a mission tomorrow! No! It's today. In about few more hours!" She had already dusted her clothing and placed her equipment pouch onto her thigh and made her way to the door. "I should be going. You need to rest."

"Wait! Let me send you home." Naruto jumped off his bed, picked his jacket, walked towards Sakura and closed the lock the door behind.

They walked together hand in hand. They couldn't care less if anyone were to see them with someone other than their supposedly partner. Sasuke and Hinata passed by Sakura's house and a Hinata felt a pang of guilt engulfing her. Sasuke, sensing her discomfort, gently squeeze her hands gently, silently telling her that everything will be fine. She gave him a small smile and leaned closer to him.

Sakura wrapped her hands around Naruto's arms while they walk towards the direction of her home. She looked up at the sky and saw the full moon and the stars. It was already past two in the morning, the street was deserted and Naruto had to leave for his mission at six. She felt bad that it was her that deprived Naruto of his rest. Why did she have to see him few hours ago? And not wait when he came back. Just because she could no longer contained her feelings. Surely she could be more reasonable, because Hinata would. Even if Hinata were to be in her position, Hinata would always wait for better time, when it suits the other person's convenience. Sakura sighed thinking, what a terrible girlfriend she would be for Naruto.

Naruto sensing Sakura's guilt release her hand from his and pulled her to him by the shoulders and she instinctively wrap her hands around his waist and placed her head by his shoulder. "Weather you came or not tonight I'd still won't be able to sleep." He tilt his head to kiss her crown and held her closer when Sakura suddenly stopped. Naruto saw her looking straight and followed her sight of view.

It was at a straight pathway when the couples meteach other. None of them expected their relationship to be found out in such a way. Hinata had her eyes downcast but her hands never leaving Sasuke's. Sasuke merely looked at the couple in front of him, then looked straight in Naruto's eyes. There was no anger, no betrayal, no hate. And if Naruto knew better, Sasuke was rather relived.

Sakura's eyes were wide. She was shocked, that Sasuke was with Hinata. Guilty because she's with Naruto and perhaps Hinata and Sasuke had found out about them, the reason why they are together. But relieved at the same time. Naruto felt guilty that Hinata had to find out the truth this way. He wasn't sure if Sasuke and Hinata were together but when he locked eyes with Sasuke, he knew.

Sasuke tugged Hinata gently and they moved towards the couple. He passed by Naruto and stopped for a while. "We have to talk when you get back. Just don't get killed."

"Aa" was his only reply and he walked off, away from the dark-haired couple with Sakura.

A/N I hope you like it. I know the update take kinda long and I should actually try to finish off everything in this chapter. But I'm too lazy to continue.