Here is the sixth chapter! I hope I didn't make you wait too long.

Excuse any errors and R&R!!

Chapter six: I Spy

--

"W-what are you doing here!"

He wasn't supposed to be there.

His brow lifted and he gave her a questioning look, but didn't move from where he was; he was half-dressed again this time completely shirtless. It was not like she had a right to complain about it. She was in his cabin… uninvited.

He gave her a pointed look. "I should be asking you that," he said with narrowed eyes.

Hinata knew she was caught in the act of snooping, but all she wanted to see was if his room was better than her own. She couldn't bring herself to apologize- especially after seeing that she was right about how he was living compared to her. The least he could have done was feel a little guilty for all the money she paid him.

His room was twice the size of hers or more with windows along the back to let in the sunshine and moonlight. He had the shutters open and let the cool ocean breeze sift through the room, playing across her hair and face.

A tall wardrobe took up the space of the wall behind her and a private washroom. Behind the desk where he sat was a huge bookshelf stuffed with books and his bed was a hammock above the table where he sat. Lanterns, two per wall, were already lit against the setting sun, casting a warm golden light in the room and over the floors and polished maple desk.

"I didn't here you come down," she said, looking around the room and feeling angrier with every glance.

Not that she was one to repeat things, but she had paid more than enough money to travel with him. A whole ten hundred thousand yen to be aboard the ship. The least he could have done was offer her a better room.

"I'll be sure to warn you when I come to my room next time," he told her with sarcasm.

Hinata's face heated but she ignored the feeling and walked right in the cabin. "How nice that you can actually stand in your room."

He put down his papers and made a point of turning them over as if hiding them from her and Hinata wondered what it was he was reading.

"Your observation is certainly the best I've seen in a long time," he said in the same tone.

Hinata tried to give him the most charming smile and laced it with a glare of her eyes. "You give me too much credit, Uchiha-san," Hinata said. "I hardly think it takes that much to see the difference."

He seemed to ignore the subtle complaint. "So tell me," he prompted. "Is there any particular reason for you bursting into my cabin? I hardly think you came just to see me, seeing as you are most surprised to find me here."

Hinata frowned as she noticed the way he collected his papers and put them inside a drawer as though to remove them from her reach. Was he hiding something from her?

It was a ridiculous notion, but he was staring at her accusingly.

"Do you think I came to steal your theories or something?" she asked in the same mocking voice he used on her but he didn't seem to think it was a joke.

In fact, his frown deepened and he stared at her a bit more intensely as though searching for something underneath. Those dark eyes seemed to know everything and the bore through her, making Hinata's heart begin to beat faster under his scrutiny.

He was handsome, stunning with his rugged looks. His jaw line so strong yet still so boyish and his piercing dark eyes that drew her in as though seeing right to her soul. His tanned skin from being in the sun constantly and Hinata could imagine him shirtless as he worked on the upper deck to keep the ship afloat to go to do his mission. Oh, how she envied him.

All Hinata ever wanted to do was learn more, travel more and discover new things instead of being cooped up in Konoha giving out orders to her clan. Her dream the be a mother to Kiba's children had fallen in second place to all of her desires and it was only now that she was from the Inuzuka that she was seeing so clearly, lifting the burden off her shoulders. She realized she did not want to be married to him in the first place and the idea had now taken root that maybe she never wanted to be married to anyone.

Sasuke studied her, trying to determine if the small joke she told was actually her reason for being in his cabin. He had given the idea a passing thought that maybe she was spying on him for Kiba but hearing her say it herself gave him reason to wonder about it even though there was a hint or sarcasm when she said it.

Could she really be spying for Kiba? He wouldn't put it past the dog-nin, but would Hinata Hyuuga lower herself to such a level for him?

"So you miss your fiancé?" he asked her coldly and watched as her expression changed.

"I do?" she replied and blinked a few times as though coming out of some deep thought and then she caught herself. "Hai! Of course I miss him!"

"You miss him so much that you would piss away ten hundred thousand yen just to see him?" he asked her, not caring about his language in front her.

"Uchiha-san!"

"Well? Is that true, Hyuuga-sama?" he prompted.

Once again he saw the flicker of anger before it disappeared and her tone was even when she spoke.

"Hai."

"You miss him so much that you are willing to travel on a ship with strange men in less that stately accommodations?" he asked and saw the anger return.

"Hai."

You miss him so much that you are willing to travel against your father's wishes just to see him?"

"I am not travelling against my fathers wishes," she bit out.

"Iie?"

"He doesn't know, Uchiha-san. I didn't tell him I was going to see Kiba because he would have been worried and try to stop me."

"I see…" Sasuke said thoughtfully, deciding to push her buttons even more. "You were so hungry for the sight of your fiancé that you left without even telling your father where you were going?"

"I left a letter," she said.

"Lucky man."

What she was saying might have been true, but he didn't believe her somehow. That was not the real reason for wanting to travel with him and he knew it. She was on the boat for a reason and he was going to find out why. He'd be damned if he'd just hand over all his hard work to Kiba so easily after trying to get back trust from the village.

He stood his gaze never leaving her. Her gaze looked with his and her expression was weary as she watched him… that's what he wanted.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

Certainly not he'd like to be doing.

Without saying anything else, Sasuke came around his desk, forming a barrier between her and his reports-not that she would go after them in his presence if she wanted them. But he hoped the action sent her a clear message. He knew what she was after and he wanted her to know he knew and she would if she was guilty of spying on him.

He leaned against his desk casually even though he felt anything but that in her presence. Every muscle in his body was tense with anticipation.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" he asked her.

"Staring rudely," she replied.

"Am I?" he asked coolly, shifting slightly to relieve the growing ache in his pants.

"Hai, you're staring again."

He made no move toward her, resisting the urge. He wanted to go to her; wanted to teach her a lesson about entering a stranger's room without permission or protection. He wanted to show her what her being around him did to his body. He wanted her to see it, feel it. She had no idea how thin the ice was that she was playing on and if he were a different man, she wouldn't have lasted this long at tempting him.

She stood up a little straighter, probably to reassume her upright position after slouching in her own room. "DO you always stare at women that way?"

"What way?" he asked almost innocently.

"That way."

"Enlighten me, Hyuuga-sama," he taunted and watched as her face lit up.

"As though you want to eat me or something; swallow me and spit out the bones like some kind of predator," she said with a flushed face under his watchful eyes.

He was hungry, that was no lie. "Iie, not really," he said lightly, instead of his real answer. It was a long time since anyone furthermore a woman distracted him like this so completely. He wished nothing other that to slam the door behind her and pin her against it, kiss those soft looking lips until her knees buckled and let him sweep her into his arms and put himself out of his misery.

And he was definitely in misery right now, aroused for no reason at all, except the she had dared to walk into his bedroom, completely unguarded.

He said it before and he was going to say it again… it was going to be a long journey.

Sasuke decided it was well past the time to set rules and so with purpose, he moved toward her. He found it would be best for her to learn, before and not after, what dangers lurked for a woman to be alone in a man's bedroom. He had given her the cabin nearest his for her own protection, but he was beginning to realize that there was no one around to protect her from him.

She didn't move, merely watching him and he came closer. "You're a very brave woman, Hyuuga-sama," he told her.

She took a step back then, but held her ground and he knew she had no idea how close she was to finding herself thoroughly kissed.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked, watching him approach. He stopped directly in front of her, entering her personal space and waited to see what she would do. She must have read the desire in his eyes. "You wouldn't!"

Oh, but he would.

"Wouldn't do what," he teased, knowing she wouldn't say it.

She didn't answer and Sasuke knew that she was uncertain of what his intentions, but her confusion only made him crave her more.

"Why don't you try calling me Sasuke… Hinata," he stated more than questioned and was pleased that she still didn't back down even though she gave no response. She wasn't a coward, but she was naïve. If only she knew what thoughts were going through his mind at the moment she would run without question.

His mouth went dry with desire. How would she respond if he kissed her? Would she gasp with surprise and slap him and stalk away, push him away gently in confusion? Or would she kiss him back, offering her tongue for him to suck on?

She was near enough that he could easily find out.

Hinata lifted her eyes to his. "What if I don't want to call you by your name?" she asked. She knew she probably sounded like a stubborn little girl, but she couldn't help it. When he looked at her like that, she couldn't think straight. He came nearer, so close Hinata could almost feel him and she held her breath as he spoke.

"Then don't," he said softly. "I'm a shipper of free will, Hinata…" Staring at her still, he reached out and lifted some strands of her hair from her face and brushed it gently aside. The gesture was purely intimate and Hinata couldn't bring herself to say anything. "Man must always follow his impulses."

Hinata lifted a brow at him, tilting her head to the side. "Man?" she asked, trying to clam down her rapidly beating heart. "And what about woman, Uchiha-san?"

"Of course, I'm a shipper for the free will of women too," he answered in the same soft, sultry voice that made Hinata shiver and he gave he a small wink.

He was standing too close, but she found she didn't move nor did she want him to move. What was wrong with her? Why didn't she walk away? She was never in such an inappropriate position and yet…

"That's not exactly what I meant, Uchiha-san," she said a little shakily.

"Then tell me precisely what you meant, Hyuuga-sama," he said. He'd come closer, even though it didn't seem that he moved and his close proximity made her feel dizzy. His breath was warm on her face, teasing her and his scent drew her nearer… he smelled musky like the sun and sea.

She tried to keep her mind intact. "Do you believe in the free will of women?"

"Of course," he answered.

"Even your own?" she asked him smartly.

He bent closer, his eyes seeming to reflect her soul as they danced with the golden light. "Personally, I have never owned one," he whispered. "But if I did, certainly."

"Owned one?" she questioned.

He smirked at her and Hinata realized he was toying with her, causing her eyes to narrow. "What a bigoted thing to say," she said standing straighter, but it only brought her face closer to his.

"In argument, I would say that your question was confrontational, Hyuuga-sama, even how you said it so I merely answered as you were expecting me to."

Their lips were too close now the breaths mingling as though they were lovers in an intimate encounter, his voice seductively low and Hinata felt strangely excited by his closeness.

Kiba never made her heart beat like this or make her skin feel hungry for even just a whisper of his touch. She never felt that way and Sasuke touching her hair the way he had, made her feel like she wanted more.

Did he intend to kiss her now? Did she want him to?

Hinata held her breath, gazing up at him. "I wasn't looking for an argument," she told him and she found that her voice sounded foreign to her ears.

"Iie?" he questioned.

She lowered her lashes, afraid he would guess what she was thinking. "Iie."

"Then what were you looking for?"

She blinked at his question. What was she looking for? She had forgotten.

He reached out and touched her forehead with his thumb in a soft caress. "That's definitely a bruise, but it's not too bad."

Her knees suddenly turned to jelly at his touch and she lifted her hand, brushing his in search of her bruised forehead from bumping it earlier. "It doesn't hurt," she said softy.

He gave her a small smile then it turned to the ever present smirk. "Do you need someone to kiss it and make it better?"

The very thought took Hinata's breath away and she took a step backward with him following. Did she appear as skittish as she felt? The sensations Hinata was experiencing were awakening for the first time in her life and she couldn't catch her breath.

"Why did you want to travel with me, Hinata?" he asked her in a very low voice.

"I… I wanted to see Kiba," Hinata stammered, but what she said now seemed to be the most ridiculous notion.

He leaned against the doorframe at her side. "Did he put you up to it?"

Hinata swallowed, uncomfortable with the look in his eyes and stepped back, shaking her head. "He doesn't know."

"What doesn't he know?"

"Kiba d-doesn't know I'm coming to see him," she said. "I didn't tell him.

His expression changed suddenly and something flickered in the depths; it looked like concern. For her? Hinata's heart squeezed a little. Did everyone know about her situation with Kiba? Anger welled up in her once more. She didn't need Sasuke Uchiha's pity.

But… he was looking at her suddenly as though she was a little girl shoes heart had been smashed by her crush. Her heart was not broken! Kiba was not the one calling any shots and she was not a victim either!

Hinata didn't know what came over her. Maybe it was resentment and anger. She was not to be pitied!

She threw herself at Sasuke, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him closer and kissed him full on the mouth, pressing their lips together.

He seemed too startled by what she had done to respond or hold her. Hinata pushed away from him as soon as he seemed to realize what she had done and spun on her heels, leaving him open-mouthed and staring after her.

It was only after she fled the scene, did Hinata truly grasp what she had done.

"What the hell was that all about?"

Sasuke was still fingering his lips and staring at the door Naruto poked his head inside.

"I'd be damned if I knew," Sasuke answered in a daze.

Well she ran right into me on the way out," said Naruto. "I don't even think she noticed I was there."

Sasuke was having a hard time focusing on anything.

He had fully intended to kiss the spoiled brat and teach her a lesson, and what did she do? She kissed him first! And not tenderly at all either, she did it in anger and he didn't even know why she was angry in the first place because she was not supposed to be there anyway! He couldn't understand it. One minute he had her under a spell and the next she was angry at him.

Why's she kiss him anyway?

It just didn't make any sense.

"She's a foxy one, isn't she? Under that cute face."

Sasuke shook himself out of his reverie. "She's confusing, that's what she is," said Sasuke. "I can't figure her out, Naruto."

Naruto gave him look and then sauntered in as though he knew something that Sasuke didn't. It really irked Sasuke when Naruto acted that way.

She's up to something," Sasuke mused out loud. "And I want to know what it is."

Naruto smiled and turned to him and it was only then that Sasuke noticed the papers in his hand.

"If you can bring yourself to stop thinking about Hyuuga-san, I have something that might shed some light on the subject you just brought up," said Naruto, waving the papers in front of Sasuke's face.

"Are you going to tell me what those are in your hand or do I have to play twenty questions with you?" asked Sasuke irritably as the curiosity surged through him.

"Then again, I'm not so sure," said Naruto and he winked at Sasuke.

"What are they?" he asked, ignoring his friend's antics and Naruto tossed them on Sasuke's desk.

"Why don't you take a look and see for yourself."

"What was she thinking? She kissed a complete stranger- threw herself at him.

Hinata really didn't have an explanation for why she did it, except because of her pride- or what was left of it. Sooner or later, Sasuke was going to find out the reason for her travelling with him on his mission and when he did, she couldn't bear it if he felt sorry for her. She didn't want him to see her as a victim and think she was a fool- even though she felt like one.

Kiba had used her probably from the very start. He'd never loved her, that much was clear, but had wanted to believe he did.

The night air was cool and fresh from the sea and the sounds of the ocean comforted her. She stood at the bow of the ship, staring out over the midnight- blue horizon at the diminishing skyline that was the land of Fire. All that was left of it now, was a dim glow barely seen because of the hue of the moon that cast a ghostly glaze over the surface of the sea.

If she really stared at the waves, it seemed as though time stopped just for her.

In that moment, she understood why Sasuke had chosen to continue being a ninja, embraced it. Being able to travel and explore the world, being on the ship on the open sea like this. It had a nostalgic feeling to it.

Sasuke had gotten a few more other ANBU to join him, other than just his team and those that remained on deck had drifted from their chores of finishing cleaning up the ship and now lounged around talking among themselves and trading jokes. Hinata found herself hearing bits of what they were saying and couldn't help but smile despite her mood.

"Damn! I'm hungry," one man said loudly.

Come to think of it, she was too. Hinata frowned- something she found herself doing since she left home- wondering who no one had bothered to call her to get something to eat. Surely Sasuke didn't want to starve her?

"Yeah, what the hell happened to Fatty?" she heard someone ask.

"Who knows," she heard another say. "He's probably smothered between Ino's breasts as we speak. Did you see those sisters?"

Hinata put her hand to her mouth to stifle her giggle and wondered if they knew she was there.

"Who could miss them? She's certainly grown," the first one exclaimed. "Anyway, he'd better be dead from suffocating between them or I'll kill him myself for leaving us high and dry."

"Oh my," Hinata whispered to herself and sat down so she would not be seen. She felt terribly guilty for eavesdropping and suddenly couldn't bear it if they discovered she was there. Her cheeks burned fiercely and she wondered over the thought of being alone on a ship on the open sea to the Mist with men- not that it had not crossed her mind before.

She just had not expected it to be such an intimate atmosphere and in truth, it felt as though they were all living under the same roof, leaving very little room for privacy… except for Sasuke who distanced himself from everyone.

"Damn, it's gonna be tow long weeks if we have to eat stinking bread and cheese the whole way!" she heard.

Fatty must have been the cook, Hinata gathered and from the conversation, it sounded like he had been left behind or they left him. Either way, it seemed that they had been left to fend for themselves when it came to food.

Maybe she could offer her assistance in some way. Hinata did not know in the least how to cook, but it couldn't be that hard to learn how, could it? All she would need was a little direction and she was sure she could do it. And anyway, if she had to stay there for two weeks, she was going to try to make the best of it.

It was then decided. In the morning, she was going to surprise them all with breakfast. But she had to know where everything was and how it worked before then, so she also decided to go down to the kitchen. Hinata never used a stove since even from young, her lunches had been packed for her and it would be best if she learned how to do so before the morning came.

She was sure Sasuke would appreciate her efforts and she hoped it would serve as a possible understanding between them. They had gotten off to a bad beginning and Hinata needed friends right now, not enemies.

Besides Sasuke probably didn't know it yet, but someone had to carry her back home and she didn't intend to wait for Kiba to do it. And if Sasuke couldn't do it straightway…

She would simply stay with him on his mission. After all, she was a ninja as well before she became heiress.

It wouldn't be a terrible thing, staying on the mission. In fact, she hoped that Sasuke would allow her to stay. There was no time like the present to sort out your dreams. As far as her reputation was concerned, what did it matter now? If she didn't feel like getting married, then what did she care what people thought of her? She still had her status. Life was far too short and she intended to live it to the fullest from now on.

All her life Hinata wanted to do this and here was the opportunity for her to seize. It was time to make herself useful and she didn't want him to have any reason to regret her being there.

Looking for some proof of ownership, Sasuke reread the crumpled papers.

Not one of them had a name or anything pointing to who had written them or to whom the person who had written them. It was very clear that there was something up.

"You found these where exactly?" asked Sasuke.

"In the kitchen," Naruto answered.

"All of them?"

Naruto nodded. "Stuffed in the stove, ready to burn except whoever it was, didn't get the chance to destroy them before I found them."

"I can't believe the son of a bitch!" Sasuke exploded, slamming his fist on his desk.

"So you think it's Kiba?" Naruto asked, sitting on the desk. He took one of the letters and read it out loud. "Fins out his agenda and make sure he doesn't get here before the council reconvenes."

"Who else would benefit from out absence in the Mist?"

"But you aren't really a threat to him either, Sasuke-teme," said Naruto. "He has people backing him up like the Hyuuga. You don't. Why should he give a frig whether you show up on your own or not?"

"Because despite what most people think, Kiba is a lazy cheating pretender, that's why! I'd be willing to bet my ass that he hardly knows what he's doing right now when he always wants to be the leader," said Sasuke hotly. "Even Kiba will need something to throw at the council. If they think he's sitting twiddling his thumbs and playing with his mutt, he won't see another yen."

"Is the mission up for review?" asked Naruto. Sasuke liked when he was thoughtful like this and not so loud. He ran his hand though his hair thoughtfully. "I'm not sure," he said. "I thought Kiba had free reign, what with his father-in-law on the council."

"They aren't married yet, Sasuke," Naruto told him and Sasuke had the impression there was a double meaning to what he said. He eyed his friend curiously and was sure that by the look on Naruto's face, it was something of a suggestion.

"Might as well be," Sasuke said.

"You think Kiba put her up to spying?" asked Naruto.

Sasuke eyed the papers, tapping his fingers on his desk. "Who else? And why wouldn't she? She loves him, right? She's his fiancée."

"That's not what I see," Naruto argued, his brow lifting suggestively. "If she was really concerned about Kiba, she would have asked her father. She doesn't look like a woman who is missing her lover to me."

Sasuke looked up at his longtime best friend and narrowed his eyes unconsciously. "They aren't lovers," he corrected Naruto, disturbed at the very idea- and more with himself for giving a damn she was telling the truth or not. He ignored the last of Naruto's scrutiny, needing to keep up his guard.

What did it matter if they were lovers or not? They wee engaged to be married, for Kami's sake. Why should he give a shit whether Kiba had her or not?

Naruto's brows raised and grinned at him. "Defending her, are we?"

"Hell no!"

Naruto's grin widened at Sasuke's fast reply and Sasuke felt like turning over the desk, dumping Naruto on his ass from where he was sitting.

"You're a dobe, you know that, Naruto?" said Sasuke. He didn't really mean it and he knew Naruto did too.

Naruto laughed. "Keep that up and I'll let you sail this prehistoric ship to the Mist all by yourself."

"You do that," Sasuke warned him, his own smile appearing. "And I'll send you back to Konoha without anything to float but an empty Styrofoam cup.

Naruto shook his head as she laughed even more. "The hell you will! Who'd argue with you ten? You know you'd die of boredom, Uchiha."

Sasuke actually let out a small chuckle, knowing it was probably true. "I'd be better off with a bag of bones," he told Naruto.

Their friendship had survived their childhood even though they were only eighteen and nineteen now. They never really spoke a good word to each other's faces, but Naruto was probably the best friend a man could hope to have even though Sasuke would never tell him that. Sasuke respected him as he did no other.

"I can see you now, you stubborn bastard," Naruto said. "Wandering around aimlessly because no one would put up with your attitude and you'd be babbling to yourself like an idiot."

This time, Sasuke was forced to let out a laugh at the picture Naruto painted.

"Hell! You're not too far from that now," Naruto said with another bout of laughter.

"You're an idiot," Sasuke said.

"Yeah, yeah," Naruto agreed. "What can I say?"

It was true. Naruto was an idiot, but he knew Sasuke didn't mean it in a bad way and he really didn't seem to have a problem with it.

Sasuke reached out and punched Naruto lightly on the shoulder. "Not a thing to say. Just don't go changing on me. At least I know what to expect from you." 'Unlike someone else I know.'

He'd be damned if the notion hadn't crossed his mind she had first come to him that she was a spy, but he'd blown it off, thinking it was too far fetched.

He should have followed his gut. The papers before him told him that much. He would trust his gut feeling from now now because he hadn't achieved all that he had by ignoring his instincts.

"So how do you plan to handle this?" asked Naruto after he had sobered up.

Sighing, Sasuke thought about it a moment as he considered the letters. No names mentioned meant no proof and no evidence and the person had not even stated clearly what they were about. All of it was entirely circumstantial.

"Nothing for now," said Sasuke after a while. "I think we should just sit back and let her hang herself. It's not like she's going anywhere."

Naruto nodded in understanding.

"But I'm not letting her out of my sight; I don't trust her," he added as an after thought.

"Yeah right! You mean you don't trust us," said Naruto with a grin.

"Sasuke smiled. "That too." He knew that Naruto was not referring to her disposition.

"Hell Sasuke, she had your name written on her forehead from the instant you saw her. No one would touch her, you know that." Naruto jumped off the desk before Sasuke could say otherwise and continued. "Anyway, I'm sure watching her won't be too hard for you to do." He winked at Sasuke again. "Have fun!"

"You never know when to quit do you?"

Naruto shook his head in answer. "Someone has to keep you sane," he said. "I'm going to get some rest before my shift so I'll leave Hyuuga-san in your more than capable hands."

Sasuke's thoughts had already drifted to their guest. "Hai," he said absently.

When Naruto was gone, he gathered the evidence then set it neatly within his desk and went in search of his beautiful little spy.

And that is the sixth chapter readers! I again apologize if there are errors but as I've said, I don't read over these things. I just type and update. I also apologize for not updating sooner, but hopefully this is long enough to make up for the wait.

If you have never read Princess Hina or Hinata the Vamp you can try them.

Until next update…

Ja ne!

Please review, I love it when you do!