Hi readers! It's time for another chapter. I'm so sorry, but I have really bad allergies right now and having my eyes so red and puffy and terribly itchy means I can't really focus as I would like. I'm also sorry about the late update but again, my allergies are plotting against me, eye drops and nasal sprays are only helping so much. To make up for the lateness, I added some more instead of the usual 2,500.

Excuse any errors and R&R!!!


Chapter 16: Chaos on Arrival

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The weather was perfect the next morning when they sailed to the port. The sky was blue, the water was bluer, and the sun was scorching hot.

Hinata's mood was buoyant and filled with anticipation. She had no regrets with the decisions that she had made and was looking forward to the task she had set out before her. She had no idea how long it would be before she faced Kiba at last but she no longer felt the least bit of fear or sorrow over it.

Kiba was a burden she was eager to have lifted off her shoulders. If she was sad over anything, it was the fact that the trip was nearly over and she would be forced to make new decisions that could take her from Sasuke.

She did not want to leave him and the very thought of it hurt her but hopefully, she would not have to. She eyed the papers she had put on his desk. He did not look at them yet; he had been so busy.

Hinata was not a fool to believe that simply because of what had happened between them, she could have a life with him, but she did hope that perhaps he would still allow her to stay and help him.

She did not want to go back to Konoha, back to the social meetings that bored her to death and back to her father's home where she was expected to be perfect at all times with her restrictive kimonos.

The thought of having to answer to the first question about Kiba made her feel sick. No matter what he had done to her, she would never tell anyone the truth except maybe Neji, Hanabi, and her father and even so they would most likely want to talk her out of her decision.

She could hear her father right now, his face emotionless.

'Hinata, all men stray at some time or another… even women. It bears no real reflection on their ability to be a proper husband or wife. Kiba is a favorable man. What will people say if you simply discard him to live your life as a spinster?'

Well Hinata did not care what the people thought of her or what they will say! No one would understand, but she did not need them to. She was beginning to get into the feel of wearing pants again and was looking forward to getting out there and doing what she wanted for a change.

The idea alone made her feel excited and the thought of Sasuke being there… Hinata had never felt so breathless. It made her feel ecstasy beyond her dreams as if her entire life had been dull and now she was going to change that hopefully.

She couldn't wait to start and she would make everyday count. She could not wait to cook for Sasuke and the rest of the ANBU.

It was probably silly, but she wanted to prove she could do it. She refused to give up. Practice made perfect and she knew that much from her drawings.

"Hinata!" she heard Sasuke call, and she hurriedly finished packing the few things she had. Not that it was much that she had to pack anyways. Just three of Sasuke's pants and some of Fatty's shirts, along with whatever else she needed. Sasuke had even given her a pair of his sandals in case the heels hurt her feet.

"I'm coming, Sasuke!" she shouted back.

He came to the door, leaning against the door frame as he watched her with that look in his eyes. He seemed to like to look at her since she started wearing his pants and even more was the fact that she liked the way he looked at her.

Her heart leaped at the sight of him. "Sasuke," she said breathlessly.

He always managed to do that… steal her breath away. The sight of him was all it took to make her heart beat faster.

"Whenever you're ready, hime."

He wasn't upset with her, Hinata knew that by the smile on his face, but she grimaced at the name. "Kiba called me that," she said to him. "Please don't call me that."

He pushed away from the door frame.

"I'm ready now," she said. "Except…" she glanced at his desk, wanting him to catch the hint at the papers there.

She went back to the desk and took Kiba's photo from the surface. She couldn't forget that when she had tucked Kiba's letter to Shino in the frame.

Sasuke eyed it with a sour look as she placed it in her bag and gave her a look that she could not figure out.

"By all means, you can't forget that," he said bitterly, and then turned on his heels to leave her to follow.

"Sasuke, wait!"

She wanted so much for him to see her drawings. Disappointment surged through her as he disappeared from sight. It took her an instant to realize what it was that had made him react in that way, but when she did, she smiled.

He was jealous, and the fact that he was pleased her. She quickly took up the stack of papers from his desk and put them in my back.

He would see her purpose soon enough. In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt him to wonder just a little. Somehow, telling him was not quite as fulfilling as the thought of showing him.

The market was filled with the different smells of meats and fish as well as fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants. Sasuke remembered the way through the booths, though it had been a very long time since he had been here in Suna. He had brought Shikamaru and Lee with him, just in case Suigetsu was not in a forgiving mood while Naruto stayed in charge of the other ANBU that went to get supplies to set up camp. He would have preferred not to bring Hinata with them, but she had insisted that she had to come along since she had to get items for breakfast.

He had promised her that she could cook for them. She wanted to help and he couldn't bring himself to say no to her nor could he help but be amused at the look of curiosity on her face as she looked at what the stalls had to offer. She seemed eager to redeem herself and was unwilling to give up. Unfortunately, the same ANBU were hoping that Sasuke would have told her to give up, that it was useless trying to cook when she failed every time.

Sasuke; however, found the trait incredibly cute and it reminded him of Naruto.

It was not difficult to find where Suigetsu was and he recognized Karin instantly. He was grateful Hinata's attention had been distracted by other stalls and booths, especially the colorful peppers that were on display just two booths away.

Sasuke smiled a little at the sight of Hinata then turned to the unpleasant task he had set out for him, hoping that the peppers would keep Hinata's interests.

Karin had not changed at all, and her pretty face brightened as she recognized him. Guilt tugged at him.

"Sasuke-han!" she exclaimed, her accent now thick, and leaped up from the stool she had been sitting on. It appeared that they had set up a stall of their own.

"Hi, Karin." He let a tiny smile slip and cast a look over to where Hinata was.

Hinata's attention was fixed on the peppers still, probably thinking about buying them. He had a sudden desire to stand next to her and touch her shoulders as they picked the best ones for their breakfast.

She was so beautiful and it was killing him that she had to drag that damned picture of Kiba everywhere she went. It turned his stomach to think of the two of them together.

Karin's arms were around his neck the instant he turned around again. She nearly choked the breath from him. "Sasuke-han!" she squealed.

Sasuke patted her back, grimacing as he cast another glance over his shoulder. Considering the picture Hinata was carrying, he didn't know why it should bother him so much that she might be hurt by Karin being so close to him. He should be more concerned with Karin's feelings.

Suigetsu came into the booth, his eyes narrowing in displeasure as he saw Sasuke with Karin- what happened to the days when that frown was a smirk? If he had any doubts that Suigetsu didn't know about what he had done with Karin, he was sure now.

"Get away from my sister!" he demanded not too nicely, he was very protective of her.

Sasuke was not afraid of him in the least, knowing what the man was capable of, but he wanted his help and so he would respect his wishes. He tried to dislodge himself from Karin's grip but she proved to be stronger than he was willing to tear himself from her. She held on to him, jumping up and down in her glee at seeing him again. "It's so good to see you!" she said, hugging him tighter still as her brother shouted at her in the language of Suna. They were originally from Otogakure but moved to Suna after all they had gone through while Sasuke returned to Konoha.

Sasuke had a feeling that Karin was more trying to defy her brother more than anything. He was grateful that she was tall or he would have a humped back right about now. She yelled back at Suigetsu. "Don't order me around!" (Sorry readers, but this was the only thing I could come up with for Suna's language)

"Karin!" Suigetsu shouted, apparently giving up on her holding onto Sasuke.

"I said don't order me around!"

Attempting to follow their conversation, Sasuke was unclear whether she was trying to delay the quarrel that would come or if she was doing this to simply spite her brother. Maybe it was both, Sasuke didn't know.

Suigetsu seemed ready to fight, as said before, Sasuke was not alarmed in the least of him, but it didn't help that Sasuke felt Suigetsu had all reason to be angry. He gave up the struggle, hoping she would notice she was strangling him.

He was fairly good at Suna's native tongue, but not good enough to follow the heated argument between them. At least she said something that calmed him, because he took a step back and Karin loosened her grip.

Sasuke stood there while Suigetsu glared at him. Hinata came over with her colorful basket of peppers in her hand. The scene seemed to had gotten her attention and she gave him a curious look and then turned to assess Karin.

Karin stood defiantly beside him, refusing to give up her place next to him and gave Hinata the same assessing stare.

Sasuke felt like he could have groaned and felt it in the pit of his stomach. Kami, it was going to be a long day. He tried to explain to the redhead's brother what had happened in their tongue so that Hinata would not understand.

He didn't want Karin to feel the brunt of their actions so swallowing his pride, he took all the blame. Karin wasn't having any of it though and interrupted him, making it clear that she was her own woman and she did not have to answer to Suigetsu. That led to the start of another heated argument between the two relatives.

"What's happening" Hinata whispered to him. She obviously didn't understand a single word and Sasuke was grateful for that. Sasuke shrugged. Now was not the time for explanations.

Hinata gave him a frown for his efforts. Let her be annoyed with him… he wasn't the one holding onto a picture. It really didn't matter that she hadn't been Kiba's lover. She probably still had every intention of being just that.

"Suigetsu," he interrupted. "It's not her fault alone. It was my doing as well."

"No," the other said, shaking his head. "It's her! You're not the only one!"

Well, it appeared that he had not been the only one she had been with since that time, seeing as her took her virginity. Karin turned ten shades of red at what her brother had said and shifted her gaze. Sasuke was not entirely sure if it was out of anger or embarrassment, but it kept her mouth closed.

Sasuke explained his reason for being there in the first place and the other man listened but shook his head when Sasuke told him what he really wanted. He couldn't think of anyone else in the area but him, and tried to convince him.

Hinata and Karin went back to inspecting each other. In the meantime, a man came up to the booth and asked Karin for onions. Karin's cheeks turned pink, and she shook her head to say they had none. She waved him away, eyeing Suigetsu warily, and then turned again to the smiling customer. The two shared a brief look, and she gave a pleading glance. He nodded and left quickly.

Sasuke lifted his brows, wondering what else the man had wanted besides onions.

"What did that man say?" Hinata asked Sasuke as Suigetsu started a whole lecture on why he would not guide them. Sasuke tried to keep up with him and listen to Hinata at the same time.

She tugged on his sleeve. "What did that man say?" she repeated.

He frowned at her. "What man?" he answered impatiently.

Hinata raised herself on tiptoes to whisper in his ear, while Suigetsu continued explaining that it was not only his anger for his sister, but that he had just returned from a mission and was a little tired.

He said that he wanted to stay with Karin for awhile since it was probably because of him not being around enough that she was so slack with her behavior and he wanted to change that…today.

"The man who was just here," Hinata explained, and pointed to him, who was lingering at another stall trying to buy his onions somewhere else by being flirty with the woman there. "What did he say?"

Sasuke blinked at her. "He wanted to know if they had onions," he told her.

Hinata looked up at him with confusion written all over he face as she ran through his answer and what she had heard the man say as Sasuke returned his attention to the other two persons involved.

How did the man say it? Have you no onions? Yes, that was what he had said. She repeated it to herself over and over, trying to remember it. She tapped Sasuke on the shoulder.

He turned to her, his expression filled with irritation. She didn't bother to tell him it was rude to leave her out so completely. What was she supposed to do until he realized she was there? Twiddle her thumbs?

"I hate to interrupt you," she said," but how do you say onions here?"

"Onions," he told her and Hinata nodded.

If what he said was onions, then the other part must mean 'do you have.' She tried to remember that while she ignored the other woman as best as she could who was glaring at her.

Karin, Sasuke had called her. She tried not to notice the attraction, but Karin was obviously attached to Sasuke by the way she was looking at him. She felt a little jealous at that, even though she tried to tell herself she wasn't.

Whoever she was, Sasuke was very familiar with her, judging by the grip she had on him. Hinata's stomach turned at the thought of the woman being with Sasuke so she focused on the breakfast she would be making. Should she scramble the eggs or make them sunny-side up? She looked in her basket. She had nice peppers and some ham as well; the only thing missing was bread.

Getting impatient because she wanted to go back to the ship to start, she tapped Sasuke's shoulders again, trying not to distract him from talking to the man.

"How do you say eggs here?" she asked him.

He gave a curious look now but answered anyway. "Eggs."

Hinata added that to what she had learned so far and practiced it to herself. 'Have you no eggs?' She had tried to be patient with the conversation that she could not understand that was going on between Sasuke and the man- he was either the woman's husband or relative judging by their ages.

She waited for her chance to speak. She knew that she should ask the man, Suigetsu, first before looking elsewhere for it would seem rude but being patient was weighing on her since she could not understand a word they were saying and the fact that she was boiling with jealousy over the woman that was so close to Sasuke.

Never would she have guessed she would be capable of envy, but that's what she was feeling. She wanted to put her hand possessively on Sasuke's arm, but couldn't bring herself to do it, so she just stood closer to him, close enough to whiff his scent.

Her body remembered, and she felt warmth. It drew her nearer, despite her goal of not looking as if she was competing with the other woman. She refused to stoop to such a level. If Sasuke chose to be with her then so be it. He was not hers-and neither was she his. She did feel she had the right to stand as close to him as she wanted though. She was making him breakfast!

She glared at the other woman, though she had not meant to but was very annoyed when Karin glared back. What was she doing glaring at another woman over a man who was not hers?

It was silly, and Hinata was ready to go, but Sasuke seemed to be still trying to settle something with the other man. She was not in the mood to stand there and watch them argue and decided she wanted the eggs now. She did not feel the least bit guilty for interrupting this time, she had things to do. It was not pleasant to just stand there listening to them argue in a language she did not understand while Karin glared at her in a language she couldn't help but comprehend.

Hinata did not like her, or the girl's husband slash sibling and it must have come across in her tone. "Have you no eggs?!" she blurted and was proud that it had come out the way she wanted.

Sasuke's head turned around sharply as well as the man's. The latter glared at her. "What's wrong?" she asked Sasuke. Something was definitely wrong. Hinata's eyes went wide and her belly fluttered from anxiousness. "Nani?! What did I say?"

Sasuke barely had time to open his mouth when the man disappeared into a puddle and splashed Sasuke with the power of a blow. Hinata screamed as Sasuke was drenched from head to toe as well as Karin and then chaos started.

That's the end of the chapter readers! I hope you had fun reading it for I certainly did, even though I was very annoyed with my state of sneezing and itchy eyes and stuff. Sorry again for the late chapter.

If you have not read Hina hime or Hinata the Vamp, please do.

Until next update…

Ja ne!

Please review, I love it when you do!