Hi there readers! I'm sick yet again but I'll give you a long chapter despite the urge to curl up in a ball and whither away. Not much to say this week so let's get on with it.
Excuse any errors and R&R!!!

Chapter 20: Walk Into the Sunrise

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Sasuke remained long enough to be certain his orders would be followed and then set off again down the path, confident that he would not be missed while they were busy setting up camp.

Not that he was overeager to protect Kiba's reputation from Hinata, but he didn't want Hinata to be hurt if they showed up to find Kiba occupied.

Sasuke had worked with the man for nearly a year and he knew Kiba spent the most of his time in his tent with women. Before meeting Hinata, Sasuke's greatest disgust with Kiba's behavior was in the simple fact that he seemed to have so little respect for his mission. He took advantage of the women who came to him; it was nearly as much of their fault as it was his.

They flocked to the campsites, hoping to win themselves a husband who would take them to their own village. Many of the women had tried in vain to seduce Sasuke on many occasions and after failing, settled for Kiba.

Sasuke had minded his own business where that was concerned but the irony of his situation now did not escape him. He was on his way to warn the fiancé of the woman he loved that she was on her way so that the cheating bastard could clear his tent of any evidence of what he was doing.

How insane was that?

Still, he didn't want Hinata to find out this way. It was not Sasuke's place to tell her about what her fiancé was up to- particularly after he had done no better by sleeping with her.

He had not gone far down then path before he reached his destination. Suigetsu had guided then well and they had made good time. He broke into the clearing in which Kiba and his team had set up camp.

Sasuke had not bothered asking where Kiba was, or which tent was his. It was the biggest, of course. And he was always in it, complaining about the sand blocking his senses. Sasuke headed straight for it, resentment in his every step.

He loved Hinata. He wanted her. And Kiba was a stinking bastard who didn't deserve her.

He found the Inuzuka sitting at a small makeshift table, hunched over his reading material, his brows knit deep in thought and a dark-skinned topless woman at his back, massaging his shoulders.

Fury seized Sasuke and he didn't say a word. He went straight to the desk, slammed down the letters that had been in the stove and before Kiba could say a word, Sasuke grabbed him by the collar and hauled him outside.

Kiba scarcely struggled from shock. "Uchiha!" he said.

Sasuke tightened his hold on Kiba's collar. "Hai, it's me, Inuzuka. Surprised to see me?" he asked, squeezing a little harder.

Of course he was surprised. He had hired someone to make sure Sasuke wouldn't make it to Suna.

"Iie!" Kiba objected. "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Sasuke lifted Kiba up by the collar and dug into his pocket for the evidence. He took out the ring he borrowed from Hinata and showed it to Kiba. "Iie?"

Kiba's now tanned face paled and Sasuke smirked at him, bordering a sneer. "I see you recognize it," he told the other man and closed his fist around it.

"I didn't do it!" Kiba said loudly. "I didn't send those letters to Fatty!" His team came running, hearing the yells as Sasuke reared back and punched Kiba full in the face, releasing his collar as he did so. Kiba flew back on his behind and his team stopped in their tracks after they saw who it was that had punched their leader.

"You didn't send those letters to Fatty, did you?" Sasuke said, flexing his empty hand in preparation to hit the man again. He wasn't going to waste his chakra on him; he wasn't worth it.

"Iie," Kiba said, scrambling backward.

Sasuke opened his fist. "And you didn't give him this ring either, did you, Inuzuka?"

"He stole it!" Kiba swore, his eyes narrowing furiously. "I didn't give that to him!" Sasuke's keen eyes picked up that Kiba was telling some truth, but it didn't matter. Kiba was a thief and a cheater.

He advanced on the other man again, lifting him up and punching Kiba before he had to chance to go on the defensive. "That there is for Fatty," he said with cold deliberation as Kiba fell.

No one from Kiba's team lifted a finger to help him, Sasuke noticed- not that they could have stopped him anyway. He roughly picked up Kiba and dusted him off before punching him yet again. "And that's for Hinata," he informed the Inuzuka. "I hope you were enjoying yourself; that the whore was worth it."

Sasuke left him on the ground. Kiba narrowed his eyes, and he was suddenly provoked. "What do you mean 'for Hinata?'"

Sasuke was encouraged by the look in his eyes. "You're too much of a coward to deserve an answer from me. Why don't you fight back, Kiba?" he demanded. "It's no challenge to beat you if you don't."

"I'm not going to fight you," Kiba said as he wiped his now bloody split lip, still sprawled on his behind as he spit through his teeth.

"Of course you wouldn't," said Sasuke. "Akamaru is obviously hurt or away since he didn't come out to help you and you're too much of a pussy to fight me on your own that you had to try to sabotage me or anyone who is a threat to you."

"I didn't pay Fatty to try to sabotage you!" Kiba denied.

"Yeah, well how did you know it was Fatty who tried to do it?" asked Sasuke, his eyes narrowed. "I didn't tell you I knew it was Fatty for sure, did I?"

Kiba opened his mouth to speak then closed it again. Sasuke took a step toward him as he scrabbled back.

"You're a sorry excuse for a man and a ninja, Inuzuka," Sasuke told him. "You used to be but you're too far gone now. I'm not going to hit you again but I'm going to give you one solid piece of advice."

Relief washed over Kiba's face. "What's that?"

Sasuke glared at him, willing the words to come out right. He didn't want to say anything that would reflect poorly on her. "Hinata is here," he said at last, his words measured. His hands trembled at his sides, and he swallowed the emotions that surged in him.

Kiba started visibly, looking around for her. "Hinata's here?! Where is she?!"

"Don't piss your pants, Inuzuka. She's not here yet. I'm not dull enough to bring her into your orgy fest, but she damned well will be here bright and early tomorrow morning."

Sasuke gave him a pointed glance. "You don't deserve the advance warning, but I'm here to tell you that if I catch your paws on even one set of breasts before she gets here, or if you hurt her-because I'm warning you for her sake- I will kill you with my bare hands."

"You wouldn't!" Kiba said as he stood up shakily.

"Make her cry and find out what I would and would not do."

"I don't understand!" Kiba exclaimed, squaring his shoulders. "What is she doing with you, Uchiha?" He brushed himself off, giving Sasuke an accusing glare but Sasuke held his tongue.

"And why should you concern yourself over my relationship with Hinata?"

Sasuke stood there, wanting to say so much more, but he was determined to protect Hinata at all costs. Whatever she wanted, he wanted for her.

"Because I love her, that's why!" he blurted, and blinked in surprise at his own words.

Kiba blinked as well, but stared speechless and Sasuke nodded. It was the truth, dammit. He did love her. And that was all he'd come to say, he realized.

He spun on his heels, leaving Kiba staring openmouthed after him.

The rest was up to Hinata.

x

Needing time to think, Sasuke did not return right away. When he did, it was to find the camp mostly sleeping.

Only a few tents were lighted, Hinata's included, and considering her past experience with lanterns, the light drew him to her. There was not much danger in her starting a fire as long as the lanterns were left in their braces, but just to be certain, Sasuke felt compelled to poke his head inside.

His heart leaped at the sight of her. She was so beautiful lying there, with her hair spread like the dark sky. She had fallen asleep with her art pad beside her and her pencil still in her hand. The art pad was still open to the page where she had been drawing and curious, Sasuke lifted it up, marveling at the details she had captured so accurately on paper.

It was where they had spent the afternoon. Never in his life had he seen a more… spiritual drawing. There was no other way to describe it. In the rays of sunlight, it was almost impossible to really see the place for what it really was but Hinata had captured that. It was incredible.

Curiosity made him turn the page and his heart nearly stopped when he saw the face that stared back at him. It was his own face, captured with such perfection he never knew he had. His eyes were deep and dark, and his lips full, something he himself had never stopped to look at and knew Hinata must have been studying him to catch him this way.

It was him and yet it wasn't. It was the Sasuke Hinata saw and the realization made his heart swell with emotion. He turned the page and saw another and another, all seeing him in different lights. His face twisted in anger, melted into a subtle smile… her work reflected those eyes of hers that saw everything even without her Byakugan.

Hinata stirred at his feet and he closed the pad, setting it down next to his feet next to her backpack, along with the rest of her drawings. He glanced at them and then back again, caught by the familiarity of them.

He began to leaf through them and was stunned by his discovery. His own research, maps, and diagrams had been recreated by Hinata with precise accuracy. Sasuke was good but not this good as to catch every little detail. She had not been there and even managed to imagine enough to catch the shadows and plays of light on the visual descriptions he had made for mission reports.

He could use her talents.

With an overwhelming sense of gratitude, he set the papers down and bent to her, hovering over her as she slept while he watched her. The shadow of her lashes fell over her cheeks, brushing them softly and Sasuke was overcome with the desire to kiss her.

"Sasuke?" Hinata whispered sleepily, and he swallowed thickly, pushing aside that thought that tomorrow she would no longer be with him.

He didn't want to think about that now; didn't want to feel that empty space in him; he wanted to make love to her.

Sasuke kissed Hinata and when she didn't object, his heart beat harder at the feel of her lips moving against his own. "Hana," he murmured as he deepened the kiss.

"Sasuke," she whispered back, fully waking. She smiled at him sweetly and stretched lazily, then lifted her arms around his neck as she opened her mouth to speak.

"Shh," Sasuke shushed, afraid she would refuse him. He silenced her with a brutal kiss as his hand found the lantern to turn it out.

Hinata opened to him like the flower she was and Sasuke made love to her as he had never made love to anyone in his life. They were sure to stifle any sounds they made as they passionately and slowly brought themselves to completion together, knowing it would probably be the last time.

Before her, everything he ever did was simply in preparation for that moment.

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Sasuke had assured her they would reach Kiba's camp bright and early the next morning, but Hinata had no idea how close they were.

The most they had walked was a mile and then they came upon a beautiful clearing. She stood there surprise at the number of tents that were there and knew her father had paid for them while she wondered which tent was Kiba's.

Hinata's eyes sought out Sasuke's and saw that he was watching her at a distance, his feet planted as though done stubbornly, even though she willed him by her side.

Had he realized how near they were? Why hadn't he told her?

Despite the intensity of their lovemaking, for whatever reason, he was still angry at her. Suddenly, as she stood in the shadow of the palm trees, she felt more alone that she had ever felt in her life.

Never had she felt so small and unimportant, her purpose so insignificant.

Some part of her wanted to forget everything. The greatest part of her wanted to turn and run, but she had come this far to face Kiba and she intended to see it through.

Sucking in a breath, she heaved the backpack off her shoulders and laid it on the ground. Her heart began to hammer as she kneeled to get the picture of Kiba.

As the sun rose, bursting through the oasis they had left, Kiba's camp began to stir. One by one, they came out from their tents to watch the newcomers.

Somehow, it seemed everyone watched her, both Sasuke's team and Kiba's as well. They stared at her as though waiting to see what she would do.

Her fingers shook as she withdrew the picture, and she refused to look at anyone, especially Sasuke. Naruto came up behind her and patted her gently and encouragingly it seemed.

Hinata then looked up to find Sasuke, and her heart did a quick somersault against her ribs. "Sasuke," she whispered, wanting to throw herself in his arms.

Panic began to rise and take hold of her, the memorized speech flying from her head completely.

Sasuke came up to her and seized her by the arms, dragging her a little closer but not too much so. "Hinata," he said, and Hinata could see the intensity in his eyes. "I'll back you up… however you want to deal with this. I'll make it right."

She knew he would. Hinata wanted to tell him everything, but it would not be long before he would find out. "Oh, Sasuke," she cried, trying to hug him but he held her away.

"I'll tell him it was my fault if what we did gets out," he assured her. "But you don't have to say anything."

"Sasuke," Hinata protested. "I have to-"

Sasuke shook her gently, but urgently. "Iie, listen to me, Hinata."

She suddenly wanted to cry and she didn't even know why. Tears burned her eyes and she scolded herself. Why was she crying? It was not as though this was goodbye.

"Hinata…" Sasuke paused before continuing. "I want you to know that…"

His fingers clutched her tighter, bordering on being painful and Hinata stared at him, willing him to speak. "Hai, Sasuke?"

"Before you go…"

He squeezed a little harder but Hinata didn't care. The look in his eyes gave her hope as she waited with baited breath to hear what he would say.

"Sasuke," said Hinata as she stared up at him with an unwavered gaze. She saw something that looked like fear, as though he was afraid to speak the words. But that was impossible, because Sasuke was never afraid.

He was her hero, her lover, her friend and she loved him fiercely, respecting him even more. She wanted nothing but to please him forever.

Kiba's camp came alive in the few moments while they stared at each other, while Hinata willed Sasuke to speak the words.

'I love you!' she screamed in her mind. 'Just say you love me too.'

"Hinata!" someone shouted. It was Kiba. Hinata peered over her shoulder to see him coming towards them and panic rose all over again. She clutched Sasuke's arm, looking frantically at him. She didn't want him to let go of her because if he did, she would fall flat on her face and humiliate herself in front of everyone.

"Sasuke!" she softly cried, the picture of Kiba slipped from her hands and fell to her feet.

She was afraid he would never say it, afraid the real world would somehow take him away, afraid he would not wait for her, and that he would walk away without knowing the truth.

Sasuke's eyes seemed to be pleading with her as his hand lifted from her arm to gently caress her face. "I love you, Hana," he whispered, using the pet name that she now realized was the name of Kiba's sister. Nevertheless, they were the words she had needed to hear.

Hinata's heart lifted to her throat, threatening to choke her and tears sprang to her eyes. Her throat constricted and she couldn't speak.

"Hinata!" Kiba shouted again, his tone sounding over pleased. "Here I am! Over here!"

With strength of determination she had not known she possessed, Hinata pulled away from Sasuke, but he held her back a little.

"You don't have to go," he told her, but Hinata pushed him away, wanting so much to explain but Kiba was nearly within earshot.

"I do!" she assured him and sucked in a breath. "I have to do this, Sasuke!" Hinata shook herself from his grip, suddenly giddy with joy.

He loved her. Never in her life had anyone said those words to her like that. Never had she wanted someone to say them more. Hinata felt as though she would burst with emotion and she didn't care about Kiba at all.

This was not the least painful and she was eager to do it and get this whole thing over with. Hinata straightened her shoulders, picked up the picture of Kiba from where she had dropped it earlier, and gave Sasuke one last heartfelt glance. "I really have to do this," she said and actually grinned at him.

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As Hinata tore away from him, Sasuke felt as though his heart had been ripped away and she was now carrying it with her to offer her greedy fiancé. Hinata walked away, never looking back and had smiled as she had done it.

There was nothing left to do but to let her go. He had no choice; she took his heart, refused him, and left him anyway.

He looked at Naruto and saw that the blond was grinning as well. What the hell was wrong with everyone?

He turned to Hinata again, watching her walk with confidence and purpose as she was supposed to with her name. She looked like a woman with a mission and Sasuke saw that she held the picture as though it were a weapon.

As he continued to watch, she lifted it up and quickly removed the back as she got closer to Kiba, tossing it over her shoulder. She took something from the frame and then tossed the picture as well. Just as Kiba was about to hug her, she unfolded something and smacked it in his face.

He'd be damned if Naruto wasn't laughing to himself. Sasuke couldn't hear him, but he could see his shoulders shaking which was a great feat for the loud ninja.

What the…. What was going on?

And how did Naruto seem to know so much?

Sasuke moved closer to hear what was happening, thinking that maybe he would be able to bear the meeting after all.

"Kiba, guess what Shino shared with me," Hinata said hotly, waving a paper in his face.

"Nani?" her fiancé asked her, trying to examine the paper she held, and then, evidently, he recognized it because his eyes widened. "I see you know what this is about, Kiba."

Curiosity needled Sasuke and he moved closer to Naruto. "What's that in her hand?"

"A letter," was all Naruto told him as he grinned even wider at Sasuke, who shot him a glare and turned to watch Hinata again, who was now reading the contents of the letter loudly.

"You must come to Suna, Shino. The women here are so beautiful. Their skin is golden and their eyes shimmer with all the colors of the dessert…"

"How did you get that?" Kiba suddenly asked, his face turning deep red.

"…with hair that is as soft as a horse's mane," Hinata continued. "And have no doubt that they like to be ridden, Shino."

"Hinata!" Kiba protested with a gasp and tried to take the letter from her.

"And in the parenthesis…" she added as she turned to Sasuke, winking at him. He laughed despite his confusion at her boldness.

She wasn't even angry. Had she planned this all along? Why hadn't she told him? He would have egged her on, even let her travel with him free.

Hinata went back to the letter. "I know this for a fact."

"Hinata," Kiba started again, his entire face almost as red as the fangs on his cheeks.

Everyone gathered around them now and all eyes were on Hinata as she spoke. "The women here in Suna are so natural, they make you forget about how you were raised and would never want to return to Konoha."

Kiba wrote that? If he did then he was even more of an idiot than Sasuke had thought. Laughter rang through the small crowd.

"Hinata, I can explain!" Kiba pleaded with her. "Give me the letter, onegai!"

Hinata jerked the letter from his reach. "I'm not coming back any time, not even for all of the Hyuga money," she said. "I'll have to ask Hiashi-sama to allow me to stay here longer and if you come as well, we can convince him we are actually doing something here. He really wants a grandchild but I want to stay here as long as I can. Come to Suna, Shino. You are the one person I miss most, my best friend," she spat, finishing.

"I can explain!" Kiba tried, but his plea fell on deaf ears.

"Don't bother!" Hinata said, turning away and returning to Sasuke.

Kiba ran after her. "Hinata… Hime, I swear I can explain everything!"

Hinata spun around to face him. "Don't ever call me that again! I have some really good news for you, Kiba! You don't have to worry about the burden of marriage! Not with me! Not ever!"

Sasuke shook his head, realizing in that moment that this was what she had come here do to. This was what she had been waiting for all along and he was proud of her for standing up for herself.

"And furthermore, you don't ever have to leave this place if you don't want to!" she told her ex fiancé and folded the letter in her hand. "Neither do you have to worry about the Hyuuga's wealth!"

She turned away from Kiba again stiffly as though holding back something and Kiba looked as though he had been slapped in the face by his mother. Hinata walked proudly toward Sasuke, looking every bit of the woman she was and handed the letter to him.

"It was never your money I cared for!" Kiba lied without hesitation.

"I love you too," she told Sasuke, ignoring Kiba as she smiled and then, as though she'd had enough, she turned around again, going back to Kiba with a fierce look in her eyes as her Byakugan forged.

Sasuke found himself smiling. Hinata loved him too and she said it.

"Oh no?" said Hinata as she poked a stunned Kiba in the ribs, the tips of her fingers glowing with chakra. "I'm understanding, am I? My father is willing to give you more money than you can stuff in your pockets, ne?"

Kiba remained speeches, twitching and wincing with every slight poke Hinata gave him.

"You were right about one thing, Inuzuka Kiba!" Hinata said with an extremely hard shove to the man's shoulder. "I'm still as 'beautiful and ripe' as when you left and I'm definitely not wasting away! But I won't be having your mutts- not in this lifetime!"

She shoved Kiba with her palm on his shoulder, causing him to stagger backwards, his arm limp at his side. "How dare you think you could have stayed here and make me wait for you to return while you bed every woman out here like the animal you are!" Hinata said, not nearly finished with the man. "And how dare you belittle my interests in your job and think I'm a doll that you couldn't have chosen better! I'm not a possession!"

By this time, Kiba was helpless, having not raised a hand to Hinata but lost the use of one of them anyway. Hinata turned away once more to go to Sasuke, her Byakugan fading away and Sasuke's heart swelled with love for her.

"You can't do this!" Kiba shouted after her. "And you can't choose the Uchiha over me, Hinata. He was a traitor! He has nothing to offer you!"

Hinata ignored him.

"What will your father say?!"

"I don't care!" Hinata shouted back, without turning. Kiba advanced on them suddenly, as though remembering he could do more than talk, his hand raised.

"Don't think I won't tell him about what I know you've been doing with that bastard!"

Sasuke set Hinata aside next to Naruto as Kiba closed in. In the blink of an eye, Sasuke singed Kiba's hair and punched him, sending him flying backwards to add to yet another bruise he had earned for the morning.

"What the fuck was that for?" Kiba yelled.

Sasuke shrugged as he flexed his fist. "For the hell of it. Be glad she didn't cry," he answered and then took Hinata's hand in his own. "Ready to go?" he asked her and she nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" he asked Hinata.

"Because it wasn't any of your business, Uchiha-san," she teased.

"Is that the way women talk or treat their fiancés?" He pecked her on the lips. "And call me Sasuke, Uchiha-san."

Hinata's eyes widened. "Was that your arrogant way of asking me to marry you?"

"It just might be that."

"And I just might say yes," Hinata told him. "Demo… under one condition."

"And what's that?" Sasuke asked her.

"You'll let me stay with you no matter what," said Hinata. "I'll get back my status so I can go on missions."

"Deal," Sasuke agreed. "I guess I'll have to make you my new partner."

"Hey!" Naruto protested, though his tone was filled with laughter.

"It's a deal."

"Don't think I won't write to Hiashi-sama!" Kiba called after them as Sasuke lifted her up and started to walk away.

"Don't think I won't either, Inuzuka," Hinata assured him. "I think this is the part where we sail into the sunset," Hinata told Sasuke.

"How about we walk into the sunrise instead?"

Hinata laughed and clung to him. "And live in a little white house by the sea?"

"A tent will do just fine for now," Sasuke said as they went back to camp. Kiba could have whatever he wanted; all the money and missions he desired, Sasuke no longer cared.

All he wanted was the woman in his arms.

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Aaaaannnnnd the end.

No, I'm just kidding. In all honestly, I can write one more chapter and wrap up this fic but I'm not sure yet, I'll have to wait and see. I think this was a great ending though, both for the chapter and the fic, but no worries, I'll have the next chapter up for you and maybe more soon. I'm going to get some rest now.

I could have had this done for you last night, but I was too tired to read it over so I hope you don't mind.

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

Until next update…

Ja ne!

Please review, I love it when you do!