Compatibility
She was everything he believed a woman should be. But in the end, it was more than that.
"Hyuuga Hinata!"
As a chuunin rushed across the road to speak to her he leant against the fence and observed carefully. The girl was small, curvaceous and fragile looking. Pretty, quiet, unassuming. The perfect housewife and mother figure.
Uchiha Sasuke had been carefully weighing up each woman he saw as he was left with only one reason of existence, to continue his lineage as his brother wished. As much as a romantic would love for the Uchiha to fall madly in love at first sight with blushes and secret smiles, Sasuke just wasn't that way. He worked analytically and logically. He wanted the best option according to the variables that fit him. All this lovey dovey cupid nonsense was a waste in his opinion.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura chirped, second to arrive at their meeting location. Though she had become undeniably beautiful and strong, in Sasuke's opinion they clashed horribly. While some may say opposites attract, he didn't find this the case. Haruno Sakura was emotional, independent, violent, obsessive and in some ways, downright strange. Though their relationship had once again progressed to the stage he could tolerate her, it had now hit a wall. Sasuke did not see her as his potential soul-mate – the only romantic aspect he firmly believed in. In his opinion, a man should have one lover just as a child should have one mother. Sakura was more suited to someone with a personality as bright and strong as hers such as Naruto or Lee.
He turned his attention back to Hinata as she chatted to the chuunin who was still slightly flustered. Though not as attention-grabbing as Sakura, the Hyuuga was classically beautiful with her pale skin, delicate features and dark hair. Though he himself had little contact or conversation with her, he knew her to be friendly and polite and as she smiled at the chuunin he supposed this to be true.
There were few sensible women like her left in Konoha. The new generation was loud and brash, determined to be with equals with the males.
As Naruto turned up and offered his loud good mornings, Sasuke decided to approach the Hyuuga at the next opportunity and learn more about her first-hand. He had high expectations and if she fell short he would continue his search elsewhere.
-O-
The chance came sooner than expected and he felt strangely hesitant when the time arose. He had the sensation of something choking him and realised he had nothing of which he could discuss with her.
Irritatingly, his team-mates were as always, resolutely all but glued to his side. He understood their nerves after the mess of most of his teenage years but now that it had all been put behind them he found their clinging tedious. With all the rookies gathered, he had expected the two of them to mingle with others. He was sadly disappointed.
On the other hand, his target had her own bodyguards preventing conversation. Her team mates stood either side of her like soldiers protecting their princess, a great white hound sat on her left foot. As well as this, her relative kept stealing protective glances to check on her every few minutes. Her cousin if Sasuke remembered correctly.
He watched as she laughed with a red eyed woman that he believed was her sensei, gladly accepting the squirming dark haired child from her. It settled quickly and pulled a wide gapped smile at her in reply to her own. She was good with children, a trait Sasuke found important. She handed the child over after a while much to its discontentment, until Kiba rested it on Akamaru's broad back where it squealed in delight, fisting the white fur and patting the large dog without fear.
With a twinge, Sasuke wondered if his own team could ever have been as close as Team 8 appeared. The protective and encouraging older brothers, the kind and loving little sister, the watchful proud mother and the child they all adored. Even the dog added to the image of a family.
It made him miss his old memories, with his family all gathered in the kitchen for breakfast in the mornings.
She caught his gaze by mistake and offered a shy smile. It took him by surprise, but her attention was once again caught by Shino and they discussed a previous mission. Feeling out of sorts from being caught he turned his attention away from her and to his team -mates who were trying to persuade him into playing games with them. It was a festival for a reason he hadn't cared to question – Konoha celebrated near enough anything that it could get away with celebrating.
Giving up on him as a lost cause, they finally left him in peace so they could battle each other at the booths. Relaxing a little with a bit more space around him he once again felt out of place. He decided to just wait for them to come back, seeing as there was no clear way to approach Hinata with the circle of guards around her.
"Ehee!"
Glancing down when he felt a tugging on his leg, he saw the dark haired child of the Team 8 sensei grinning up at him. He was surprised at how bold the child was and how it wasn't at all bothered by the piercing stare it received.
"Ah, gomen!"
Glancing up, he saw the object of his interest in front of him smiling apologetically. She smiled a lot, but they weren't large and didn't make him feel awkward like Naruto's sometimes did. A natural, honest smile fit her perfectly, flushing her porcelain cheeks.
"Hinata-san."
"Sasuke-san," she replied with a slight bow, impeccable manners even to him. "I hope he wasn't bothering you, he's a bit energetic."
"Hina-oba!" the child squealed, abandoning him in favour of the 'aunt' he seemed so fond of. The child snatched her hand in his chubby paw, clutching tightly to her.
"He seems to like you," she sent gently, opal eyes shining in adoration for the boy. Sasuke was slightly appalled at how his face and chest felt hot. He supposed it was due to his inexperience with children, it wasn't often one launched themselves at him.
"He seems more fond of you," Sasuke answered gruffly, deciding to seize the opportunity while it was there. He was surprised at how odd he felt and wondered if he was coming down with a virus. Talking was awfully difficult, more so than usual even if he wasn't one for conversation often.
"Aa," she said happily as the child started fussing for sweets. "Well, I suppose I shouldn't take up anymore of your time Sasuke-san, it was nice speaking to you."
"Likewise," he said and watched as the child managed to drag her off towards a stall of sweets and cotton candy.
A moment later, the Uchiha frowned and cursed himself. Hyuuga Hinata had left a good impression, but he himself was acting like a bumbling fool! Frustrated, he sought out his team-mates so that he could direct his irritation at them instead of continuing to beat himself up.
-O-
"Ne, Sasuke, you gonna stay and watch the fireworks?" Naruto asked, mouth half full with dango, an animal mask with a mischievous face tied to the side of his head. "Miserable temee like you, might brighten you up!"
"Hn."
"I think it'd be nice," Sakura said gleefully and shot a blushing glance at him. No doubt she had fabricated a romantic scenario alike to a couple kissing under the colourful sparks. How absurd.
"We need to get a good place, c'mon Sakura-chan!" Naruto said excitedly, grabbing her wrist and charging through the crowd. Deciding to leave them be and find somewhere to be at peace, Sasuke left the hustle and bustle of the streets to the soothing comfort of the trees. The darker shadows soothed him somewhat as he found his usual solitude.
He wasn't sure what to make of relationships and his future. He was fast approaching twenty and a shinobi's life was never a certainty. Becoming lost in his thoughts and brooding over them, he was surprised to find a part of them sitting on a hill looking over the village.
"Hinata?"
"Sasuke-san?" she asked glancing around at him.
"Why are you here?"
"It's better to watch the fireworks from higher up and I'm not really one for crowds," she said softly, not tensing in the slightest when he came to stand beside her,
"You came alone?" he questioned, surprised her loyal protectors were willing to let her out their sight.
"Originally I was going to come with Neji-niisan, but Lee-san would not hear of their team being separated at such a youthful event," she explained with a small laugh. "You're welcome to join me Sasuke-san."
"Just Sasuke," he corrected as he sat a suitable distance from her. After the incessant squeals of 'Sasuke-kun!' from many a girl or an accusatory shout of 'Uchiha!' from enemies, to hear his name so formal was strange to him.
"My apologies," she said and looked back to the sky as the first firework soar into the sky and explode into red shards with a bang. The coloured lights illuminated her face and reflected brightly in her eyes. She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself. He had to admit that she had been right, watching up from high made the fireworks seem closer and brighter and it was refreshing not being packed between the crowd.
"You like fireworks?" he asked, deciding to try and compensate from his earlier embarrassment of appalling conversational skills.
"Hai, my imouto's name means 'firecracker' so they remind me of her," she said honestly as an orange firework flashed through the sky. He wondered how a kunoichi could be so genuine and pure, even Sakura had darkness in her heart but it was as though Hinata had never been tainted.
"I see," he said watching the red blaze. For a moment he considered asking what had come of her feelings for Naruto, but doubted they were close enough to breach such a subject. The way she used to look at Naruto was like he was the light of her world, where as now it was alike to how she watched the fireworks, compassionate but somewhat distant. Deciding to bite the bullet while he was still young he asked; "Do you not have a companion to watch these with?"
"A date you mean?" she asked, cheeks flushing brightly. "Oh no, nothing like that."
"Not Naruto?"
For a moment he thought he trod on a metaphorical landmine. She fell quiet and seemed slightly troubled. But after a moment she smiled up at him, seeming peaceful.
"No matter how much the moon admires the sun, they cannot always share the sky. I did admire and care deeply for Naruto-kun, but perhaps it was the love of inspiration and strength, someone to aspire to rather than that of romantic devotion. I've come to accept that in this lifetime, Naruto and I are just not to be."
He was surprised by the maturity and honesty of her answer. In a way, she and Naruto were like him and Sakura, the sun and the moon unable to share the same sky apart from the rare eclipse when they meet. But they drown each other out. He blocks the light of Sakura's shine and Naruto's brightness drowns out Hinata.
"We're both the moon then I suppose."
"And Naruto-kun and Sakura-chan are the sun," she agreed. "But you know, the moon is lucky in a way, because it has the company of the stars."
As it turned out, the stars put on a display that put the fireworks to shame. Their delicate light seemed more beautiful than flashy colours.
"It seems so."
She was surprising easy to talk to and he felt relaxed in her presence. She had grown and matured, blooming into an astonishingly beautiful flower from the nervous bud she once was.
"I should go back, I don't want to trouble anyone waiting up for me," she said and stood. He stood with her silently and she didn't oppose him walking by her side.
He smiled slightly to himself as all thoughts of comparing her to other women vanished. He knew now after a night in her company that no other would do. For in those few hours, he finally felt complete, as though she were the missing piece.
"Let's speak again sometime Hinata."
"I'd like that," she said with a rosy blush but a heart-warming smile. The thought of speaking to him again truly seemed to make her happy. Though he would rather not admit it, he wondered if he was even happier by the thought. How ironic that someone as unromantic as he could feel the tingles of butterflies fluttering.