Hi there. No cheerfulness this time because, yes, I was sick and then I had to make up the work I missed from not going to school last week which meant LOTS of typing and so I didn't even want to see a keyboard when I got home yesterday and I still don't want to but I can't disappoint my readers can I? Once again, Ff is screwing me over so please don't kill me if there's something wrong with the format, I'm really tired.

Excuse any errors and R&R!!!

Chapter 19: Flaring Emotions

Hinata rejoiced in the afterglow of their lovemaking.

She had never felt closer to anyone in her entire life. More than anything, she wished they could stay in the forest, just the two of them, forever. The thought of returning to Konoha had never been more distasteful.

Sasuke lay under her, sheltering her naked body from the forest floor. His eyes were closed and his arms were around her, his fingers lightly stroking her back.

Her cheeks warmed with the memory of her own boldness but she had reveled in the moment. She now knew exactly what Kiba had meant when he had talking about when he was referring to being ridden as Sasuke had switched their positions, urging her to ride him… and that she did.

She had felt like his goddess and still felt like that.

"I suppose I should get dressed," she told him, though reluctantly. "Someone might come looking for us."

"No one will come," Sasuke assured her, his eyes closed. Sunlight broke through the canopy above them, warming her back, falling streaks of gold. It sparkled in the sunlight and she ran her fingers through his hair, enjoying the feel of it in her hands, so thick and soft.

"They might," she argued. "How can you be so sure?"

He shook his head and smirked. "Because you're with me."

Hinata raised a brow. "Oh Kami," she said, knowing it was true. She would have preferred not to be so obvious but they weren't fooling anyone. She doubted anyone but Sasuke had missed her staring at him.

Sighing, Hinata laid her head down once more, cuddling against Sasuke's hard, bare chest. It was smooth and the feel of it was absolutely delicious against her cheek. His hand tangled in her hair, finding something, probably a leaf, and plucked it out but Hinata didn't care if she wore the entire forest floor in her hair. She felt desirable in Sasuke's eyes. He had told her so and she felt every bit of it.

He lifted his head suddenly and Hinata did so as well. He was grinning at her slightly. "I think we should go for your shoe," he told her.

Hinata giggled. "I agree. We need a bath."

He gently slapped her behind and Hinata yelped in surprise as a blush blossomed.

"Up," he said, caressing where he had slapped her. "Before I'm tempted again and we know that if that happens-"

"-We're never going to leave here-" Hinata said and Sasuke nodded.

"-And I'll have to kill anyone who sees you like this if they decide to come searching for us."

Hinata laughed, exhilarated by his possessiveness and got up as did Sasuke, before he bailed off into the pool.

Hinata moved to the edge, giggling as he came up shaking his hair from his face. He swam to her shoe and held it up. "Here it is."

Hinata smiled at him. "At least it's my shoe and not Fatty's or it would have sunk to the bottom," she joked.

"Fatty's damn lucky he's not in those shoes," said Sasuke. "I'd have to kill him." he gave her a look that told her that while his mood was light, his words held the truth. She tried to catch the shoe but it landed behind her. That's what sitting behind a desk all day did to former ninja.

She sat there at the water's edge. "Because of the ring?" she asked him.

"Because of the ring…" He gave her a pointed look that Hinata didn't really understand. They had not yet discussed the ring or Fatty, or Kiba either, and the realization surprised her. "And because of where he got it," he finished.

Hinata bit her lip as she considered it. She could not think Kiba would have any part with it. And it was far too generous a gift to be used even as payment for services- though whatever services Fatty might have provided for Kiba, Hinata could not imagine.

"He must have stolen it," she told Sasuke.

"Maybe," Sasuke said. "Come down here," he told her, dismissing the topic. "The water is fine." But Hinata could tell that his mood had sobered and Hinata wanted to know why.

But then she wanted answers to many questions and Kiba could certainly provide her with some, she hoped. Kami, she could not wait to move on with her life.

The sooner she confronted him and got him out of her life with some answers, the better.

"When do you think we'll get to Kiba's camp?" she asked Sasuke. "Soon, I hope!"

The water was certainly warm and she sighed as she got in. Sasuke stiffened suddenly, his brows furrowing as though the question had angered him somehow. He did not answer and washed his face vigorously, ignoring the question, as though he had not heard her and then climbed out of the pool.

"Sasuke," Hinata called after him, her heart skipping a beat in panic.

He didn't answer her.

"Sasuke, what is it? What did I say?"

He was angry with her suddenly and she didn't know why.

"You'd better hurry," he said stiffly as he dressed without looking at her. "It's getting late and we'd best get going."

With every step they took toward their destination, Sasuke's mood grew more sour.

He couldn't believe Hinata could make love to him with so much passion and then turn around and ask him how long before they reached Kiba's camp.

She was somewhere behind him, talking to Naruto but he could not bring himself even to look at her as anger clouded his mind.

Karin talked to him as she walked next to him but he didn't hear a thing she said. Suigetsu had brought her along, refusing to leave her alone in the village but, personally, Sasuke thought it was too late for that. Karin grew up wild, free to do as she pleased. But her wildness was her greatest appeal. She was full of life and oozed everything that screamed she was experienced but right now, her voice grated his ears.

Damn. He could not imagine just handing Hinata over to Kiba and walking away and so help him…he was not going to.

He needed her in his life. It lacked meaning without her there- everything did suddenly, including being a ninja. When he went on missions and discovered new things, he wanted her to be there so he could see her face light up with pride and excitement as he would tell her.

Sasuke felt sick listening to Karin's chatter as he thought about it.

"Hinata-sama!" he heard one of the ANBU say and he felt like taking him out for using her first name.

Who dared to taunt him with her name?

Sasuke turned around to see who had called her and found Lee waving enthusiastically at her. He barked orders to him to go walk with Shikamaru or something instead of being so noisy.

Hinata shot him a narrow-eyed glance and then he turned around, ignoring her, angry at her for wanting to see Kiba so badly.

If they kept up this pace, they would reach his camp sometime before the night fell and Sasuke felt like a spoiled child, wanting to root his toes into the sand and throw his pack to the ground so he could refuse to go any further towards their destination.

"What's wrong with him!" Hinata asked, now irritated.

Naruto shrugged and though he hid a little smile, Hinata knew he knew more than he was admitting. "I dunno."

"But he's been acting this way ever since this morning," Hinata told him. Her shoe was still wet and made the bottom of her foot feel spongy and raw, annoying her even more as the shoe squeaked a bit as she stomped.

Sasuke had rushed them out of the camp and had kept up a tiring pace the entire day. They were moving so fast through the forest that Hinata barely had time to move the branches from her face when they traveled on the ground since they were now on a long stretch of sand.

"What happened this morning?" Naruto asked her, sounding curious but trying to be casual about it.

"I don't know…" and she really didn't. "Everything was fine and then I asked when we would get to Kiba's camp and he just stopped talking to me."

Naruto's brows rose as he studied her. "Just like that?" he asked Hinata and she nodded.

Naruto then grinned at her. "Hehe, I know exactly what's wrong with him, Hinata-chan and he'll be fine as soon as we get to the camp."

Hinata was not so certain but she didn't argue. Naruto was Sasuke's best friend so he knew him better than she did.

But Hinata was not exactly looking forward to Sasuke finding out everything. The coming confrontation with Kiba left Hinata feeling stronger and much better… that was until she thought about everyone else knowing the truth.

That she had not been able to keep Kiba because her skin was not dark enough, she was not pretty enough, or wild enough for him.

But altogether, Hinata didn't cheat on Kiba because the moment she found out about what he was doing, she shut him out of her heart, only to realize he had not even been there in the first place.

But Sasuke was.

With every step they took, she grew more anxious to have all of this behind her.

"Nervous?" Naruto asked her.

Hinata gave him a slight smile and nodded. "A little, but it's the right thing to do," she said.

Naruto nodded at her and winked. "I'd have to agree. I am really proud of you for standing up and not taking anymore of Kiba's crap," said Naruto. "He doesn't deserve you."

Hinata smiled at him, even though her stomach felt like it was in knots. "Arigatou," she said softly and looked ahead.

Suigetsu was leading them now through some palm trees. They kept the pace, never slowing and somewhere between the trees Sasuke was walking with Karin. She knew in her heart that Sasuke didn't want Karin but he was not next to her, he was with Karin.

He was mad at her for something but she didn't know what. Well she was not going to crawl up to him. If he wanted her to know why he was acting that way, he would have to tell her. She loved him but she wasn't his toy. The one thing she learned from her relationship with Kiba was that she would do well to look after herself. She had given up everything to be what Kiba wanted in a wife and in the end, he had not respected her for it.

Hinata was not going to be so foolish this time. If any man wanted her-if Sasuke wanted her- it would have to be Hyuuga Hinata with all her flaws and she was not going to be put on show as some trophy wife as Kiba had wanted. She wanted a man to love her for more than her name and her father's money.

She wanted Sasuke who did not bow to anyone and went after what he wanted, respected her enough to talk to her about the things he was passionate about. He had seen all of her and not her father or her money and Hinata knew that she saw herself in his eyes, what she wanted to become, independent and strong. She saw his heart in his eyes as well… well at least, she hoped.

"How long do you think it will be until we get there," she asked Naruto. Sasuke had not bothered to answer her when she asked and for all she knew, they might have to go for more weeks or merely hours.

Naruto looked around, studying his surroundings and then scratched his chin. "Actually, I think it's just-" but he stopped midsentence.

Hinata followed his hand to see what had stopped him from talking and saw Sasuke coming towards him, glare in overdrive, looking almost as if he wanted to burn everything his eyes looked upon.

Her heart leaped at the sight.

The ANBU parted to let him pass as he made his way where Naruto and Hinata were. They all stopped, turning to watch where he was going.

"We're stopping here for the night," he said loudly enough for everyone to hear him in a tone that said no one should dare argue against his orders.

Hinata winced. He was staring at her so heatedly that she felt like she would burst into flames.

Naruto blinked. "What the hell for?" he asked Sasuke, his expression clearly challenging.

Hinata lingered behind Naruto. Not that she was afraid of Sasuke but because she didn't understand why he was so angry. If she didn't know what he was so upset about, how was she supposed to defend herself?

Naruto opened his mouth to speak. "The camp's just-"

"I said we're stopping here!" Sasuke thundered. "And because I say so!"

Naruto pointed to somewhere just beyond their vision along the path they had been walking. "Demo… isn't it-"

Sasuke pointed at his feet. "I don't care, Naruto. I said we're staying here period."

Naruto shook his head but threw up his hand in defeat. "Alright," he agreed, with a grin. "Whatever you say, you bastard."

Hinata looked up at Naruto in surprise, wondering if he was insane to laugh and insult Sasuke at a time like this. She had never seen Sasuke look so terrifying before. The two friends exchanged a look and then Sasuke walked away.

No one else said a word and they set up camp in the small clearing. Hinata decided to stay as far away from Sasuke as possible, judging that it was best to let his mood pass. Whatever it was he was stewing about, she hoped he worked it out before the morning came.

She did not want to fight with him and she was going to need a shoulder after facing Kiba. Naruto was sweet, but it was Sasuke she needed most right now.

Hinata just did not know how to tell him the truth. She did not want his pity, just his love and compassion and she didn't know how to say that her fiancé didn't really want her anymore. She preferred Sasuke see for himself that she was no one's fool.

She was not a victim and she was not the least bit saddened, and she wanted Sasuke to see that with his own two eyes. Somehow, she did not think he would believe her if she just told him anyway.

In all honesty, the anger she felt towards Kiba was nearly faded now. She didn't like him and was never more determined to set herself free from their engagement.

Inuzuka Kiba could do whatever and whoever he wanted, Hinata did not care and the thought left her smiling to herself.

He could stay in Suna for the rest of his life-without the Hyuuga supporting him. She intended to do whatever she could to see that her father saw him for the dog he was.

As for herself, she intended to follow her heart, wherever it led her, with or without Sasuke. She wanted to follow her dreams and now that she was wiser and stronger, she was ready to face whatever tomorrow would bring.

That's it people. I think that was a good place to end, no cliff, just something to look forward to. Well, I'm off to rest my wrists and back, and neck, and my aching head so I can not die at school tomorrow.

If you have not read A Happy Ending or Hina hime please do.

Until next update…

Ja ne!

Please review, I love it when you do!