Hi! Here's another chapter.

Excuse any errors and R&R!!

Chapter 9: Bedtime Stories

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She just didn't know how close she was to finding herself in a very dangerous position.

Sasuke was trying, he really was, but she was not making the situation too easy for him. He would let her stay mostly because at the first clap of thunder, his conscience got the better of him and he did not like the idea of her having to dodge the leak in her room.

But he was sure regretting it now.

His body was tense and he was beginning to feel a bit like a starved, caged animal, except the object of his hunger was locked up with him and he was almost to the point of no restraint.

He stared at her, trying to clear the fog from his brain. It was difficult enough to focus on his reports with her in the same room, standing over him like that. The scent of her made him dizzy, his mouth dry and his heart beat against his ribcage.

"I'm working," he told her, trying not to notice the outline of her body under the nightgown. "I see you've managed to get something from the damaged clothes."

"I got a few things actually."

Sasuke's gaze fell to the V in her gown and then to where the material fell around her curves, showing her shapely legs.

Kami, his mouth was about to hang open.

"That's good for you," he said with a composed voice. What wouldn't he give to sit her on the desk, kiss her silly and take her right there. His hands shook as he shoved his papers to the side, not able to focus on them anymore because of his desire. How long had it been since he wanted someone? He couldn't even remember if he ever did to begin with.

Reminding himself that she belonged to someone else- never mind how much he hated Kiba- Sasuke turned to face her, wanting to get up and walk away from the temptation.

But how she looked stopped his brain from functioning. His dark eyes were caught up with the golden light of the lanterns surrounding her and how it made the flimsy material nearly transparent, making thoughts fill head and blood rush south. He shifted in his chair.

"Sasuke?" she said, his name whispered on his lips.

The sound of it surprised him, making him pleased. It was the first time she said his name, but somehow he wanted more. He wanted to hear her whisper it again, but in his ear.

He looked up to find her hugging herself, almost like a little girl. "I was wondering... a-ano… did you always want to be a ninja?"

Her voice was so soft and sweet as though her mood had taken a complete turn, looking at him as though she was expecting a bedtime story. It confused him, how she stood there so innocent and curious with her eyes so full of curiosity when he wanted nothing that was decent.

She was contradiction all on her own. Bold enough to share his room without asking and pure enough to then want him to tell her about his life with that cute expression. Was she really interested? Or was she just trying to soften him up?

In any case, he thought about the question she had asked for a moment. "I think so," he said, clearing his throat when he saw he eyes light up. They were so cold, yet so warm, passionate. They shone with excitement that he had actually replied and despite the state of their differences, she didn't seem to mind at the moment.

Was she always like this? Or was it simply because she was excited to see her lover, as she had claimed? Even the passing thought managed to dampen his mood…damn Inuzuka.

Kiba was a conniving little bastard who got what he himself wanted. Like proper permission to do missions, recognition for his completed missions and reports, that Kiba had stolen. Poor guy, he was probably stumbling all over the place with only his nose to guide him.

Which led Sasuke to wonder if Hinata knew about Kiba's life. If she was spying for him, it had to mean she knew something at least. And if she did, Sasuke could always pick her brain for it.

"Do you like the life of a ninja, Hinata?" he asked, and for an instant, Hinata stared at him blankly.

Hinata could not even remember Kiba once asking her that, though she was hungry for his conversation most of the time.

"Actually," she nodded. "I do."

"I suppose you have shared your passing interest?" asked Sasuke, making Hinata think he was referring to Kiba and thought about how he had dismissed her interest.

"I never pretend to have an interest in anything," she told him. "…Uchiha-san."

She found it hard not to call his name formally. After all, she was in her nightgown.

"I never said that," Sasuke countered. "only that you are no stranger when it comes to this sort of thing. Surely your fiancé spoke of his…second love."

"His second love?" Hinata repeated. For a moment, her mind brought up Kiba's delays and then she realized what Sasuke was implying. "Oh! Hai!"

Then she paused. "Iie, not exactly." She told him. "Kiba hardly told me anything about his job." She sighed, realizing that they had not spent a lot of time together as adults. "In fact, I've rarely seen him since our engagement."

His brows lifted and he stared at her, scrutinizing her much too closely. "Really?"

Hinata looked away, uncomfortable with his stare, feeling as though he could read what she was thinking.

"Hai," she said, looking for a change of subject. "When we were younger though, we were very close and he used to tell me everything."

"Did he?"

Was he really listening to her or jut humoring her? It didn't matter, she just wanted to talk. "When I was a little girl, we went on missions together and I often got into trouble for getting myself dirty because of that."

Sasuke nodded as she continued. "My mother and the other ladies of the Hyuuga compound had picnics, but because there were no girls around that were my age, I usually played alone or with the boys. I even found a kunai."

She smiled warmly at the memory. "Actually, it was a piece of an old rusty one I think, just a blunt blade but I was so excited to find one since my father never let my have one unless he was training me. It was nothing special to most, but to me it was everything and it gained me respect among the boys that I found a kunai that belonged to a real ninja. The boys didn't really believe it but deep down I believed it was real."

"That's great," said Sasuke. She could tell he was really listening. "Sometimes you have to forget everything you know and just believe."

"Hai. Sometimes everyone around you tells you something is right but it doesn't feel right unless you see for yourself."

"I agree," said Sasuke.

"You just have to follow your heart," she said, encouraged by his attention.

But he shook his head. "Iie, not your heart. That will only get you in trouble," he said. "Trust your gut feeling instead. As far as I know, it never lies."

Hinata thought about it. "I suppose you're right."

"So what did you do with the kunai?" he asked. "Did you save it?"

Hinata bit her lip. "My father found it and threw it away the next day. He said it was too dirty for me to play with." Actually, she'd gone looking for it and found it. She put it under her pillow and took it out every night to keep her company- but she doubted Sasuke would want to know that and would think that was silly.

"I think that was probably every little boy or girls' wish. To find a kunai," said Sasuke with a small laugh, the sound rich and warm, making Hinata feel completely at ease.

"Hinata smiled at him in return. "Was it your wish?" she asked and lifted her knees up to hold them, resting her chin there. She felt much more comfortable than before.

"Iie."

"What was it then?"

"A katana," he told her.

"A katana?" Hinata laughed. "I little boy who wanted a katana?"

"Hai," he said with a small quirk of his lips. "Everyone though it was from a strong ninja or even a samurai."

Hinata could imagine that. "Where did you get it from?" she asked him.

"I made it up. No one ever saw it up close, it was solely mine as well as their imagination," Sasuke said. "But my brother had one and my father as well so I guess I picked it up from them."

"Were they any good?" she asked him, glad that the flow of conversation was running smoothly.

"Two of the best," said Sasuke and Hinata could see the pride in his face, along with something else.

"They must be proud of you," said Hinata and Sasuke blinked and looked away as though shutting of his emotions before looking back at her.

"They're dead, Hinata."

She knew that. "Oh." Hinata flinched at her carelessness and wondered how she could have forgotten. "Gomen," she said softly, having the urge to hug him.

"Don't be," he said. "My brother killed my father and I killed him."

She wanted to ask more about it, having known about the Uchiha massacre, but did not dare to. And when she looked at him again, their eyes met, making her heart beat faster. She had to swallow the knot in her throat.

"I guess I should go to bed now," she said, taking a deep breath and getting down from the desk but then she was feeling strange, thinking things she should not even dare to think about.

Sasuke didn't speak, but continued to stare and Hinata's stomach fluttered. "Goodnight," she whispered and went to leave him to his work.

"Goodnight, Hinata," he whispered back.

Hinata's body shivered at the sound of her name whispered by him and quickly closed the curtain. Without another word, she put out the lanterns on her side of the room. She had no idea what had just happened between them but her head was spinning as she climbed into the hammock.

As she lay there, she tried not to think of him sitting on the other side of the curtain, but she was far too aware of his papers shuffling and every other sound that came from his side. Her heart had not stopped pounding until long after his own lanterns were put out and the room was completely still.

The storm that had been threatening to come never came and the sound of the waves splashing outside lulled Hinata to sleep.

Maybe the two could finally be friends.

All done! Sorry this is so short but as you know, I have lots to do. I hope you liked it and if you have never read Hinata the Vamp or Hina hime, please do.

Until next update…

Ja ne!

Please review, I love it when you do!