CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Something Unexpected

"Hanabi!" The name leapt out of her throat upon waking.

Her body strained to sit up- only she found that she could not. Assessing her situation, her eyes stopped when they were caught and held by the steady gaze of Sasuke. His large, warm hand was pressed to her upper chest, just under her collar bone. His other hand was relaxing out of a hand sign she barely caught. Acknowledging her awareness, he brought both hands down to rest at his sides.

They were in a small room set up like a hospital room. She was lying flat on the single patient bed stationed in the middle of the floor.

"What happened?" she fervently asked.

"You passed out from chakra exhaustion after activating the sharingan. I let you rest for an hour and woke you now by transferring some of my own chakra to you."

Her head mechanically nodded, but the tears returned when she recalled what had triggered the release.

"Hinata." His voice was soothing, apologetic. He held Hanabi's headband above her head. "Hinata, look at this. This isn't real. Hanabi is fine. She isn't gone."

Not wanting to look at the bloodied token, or the man who'd caused her such pain, she turned to lie on her side facing away from him. No matter how hard she tried, her silent weeping afflicted her body with tremors. She did not want him to see more weakness from her.

"It was the only way," he sulkily admitted. "I was hopeful you would be able to activate the sharingan through me, and channel my pain, but it wasn't possible. You needed to feel the emotion yourself to properly awaken the ocular jutsu in your own body. I am sorry Hinata."

She was too shell shocked to recover. His reasons penetrated her sorrow and she understood. The logic behind his actions made sense, but…

"Your methods are cruel." She spoke dispiritedly over her shoulder, avoiding all eye contact.

There was a faint rustle from his position at her back. The almost non-existent sound of his departing steps hit her ears before the door clicked.

With him gone, the tears came freely.

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Koji had just caught sight of Sasuke coming down the hallway when he attempted an awkward greeting. "Oh! Hey, Sasu-HURKH!"

The back of his head throbbed where it hit the wall. His entire body turned to putty with the force of the body slam he'd been subjected to. Sasuke had him pinned flat against the surface with hands fisted tightly in his shirt front.

"Ouch…" was Koji's tepid response.

"We both know that lame excuse about accidentally drugging Hinata was a lie," Sasuke venomously spat. His ruddy eyes were burning holes into Koji's, daring him for a reason to commit violence. "Why did you do it?"

Koji barked with mocking laughter. "You should be thanking me! Don't tell me you didn't get your rocks off after I handed her to you on a silver platter?!"

When Sasuke's cold expression did not change and he gave no response, Koji chittered. "Oh my gods, you didn't! No wonder you're so on edge. You really-"

He was shoved back into the wall before he could finish the statement. A cough left his mouth, his eyes squeezing shut, from the painful bruise forming on his skull.

"I'll ask once last time," Sasuke icily threatened. "Why did you dose Hinata with an aphrodisiac?"

The masked jovial expression on Koji's face faded to a grimace that did not hide the frustration he felt at being caught. He did not struggle against the smothering hold he was in, neither did he attempt to pacify the hardened warrior. His tone became defensive as he argued, "Because you're not thinking straight, man! You haven't been able to focus for the past week! Ever since Hinata messed with your head, she's the only thing you care about. We had a deal! The sooner you get whatever it is you need out of her, the sooner we can get back on track."

"Do not forget that you need me. Not the other way around." Sasuke released Koji, and stepped back.

The younger man regained his footing and adjusted his shirt with a tug.

Shooting one final warning glance at Koji, Sasuke spun on his heel with a departing remark. "Try anything with her again and I will personally gift wrap and send you to the Kanedama myself."

Koji called after him, a slight waver in his voice, "S-Sasuke, I… I was only trying to help."

He lost sight of the Uchiha and sighed heavily. "Damn it."

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Around half an hour later, Hinata was still lying in the same position on the medical bed- curled on her side, facing away from the door.

Her tears had subsided and she was feeling more settled with her emotions.

Sasuke said Hanabi is alive.

She comforted herself with that thought over and over until she believed it, and then she repeated it again.

However, the chance that it could have been real kept her guarded. It flooded her with a renewed sense of determination to do whatever it takes to get her family, which included Shino and Kiba, back from the clutches of the Kanedama.

Ruthless as Sasuke's methods were, they were glaringly effective. If anything, his quick efficiency was exactly what she needed right now. It didn't mean she was ready to forgive the man yet. It just meant she understood why he did what he did. Forgiveness required an act of contrition.

Contrition…

Reflecting on the net sum of their interactions, the last Uchiha also deserved an apology from her. She sighed at the uncomfortable realization. It made its way into her inner dialogue, like fat worms wriggling in her chest. Sasuke had every right to be upset with her, but instead of showing her anger or malice he saved her, healed her, offered his help and was actively aiding in her training and rescue mission.

Her hand unconsciously moved to brush her fingers over her newly formed seal. The flesh was still tender to the touch. No matter how she looked at it, she could not understand his motives, and that was the most unsettling part of her current predicament.

Hinata was still wading through her guilt and anxiety when she heard a shifting sound come from behind her. Uncertain of how she would face the man she claimed to hate, it took her a moment to react.

Mustering the courage to confront him, she turned to see… nothing.

There was no one in the room. She shifted to a sitting position, wiped her face from any traces of her crying, and looked around for the source of the noise. Her eyes landed on a note that was shoved through the crack under the door.

Curiosity guided her feet forward. She bent to pick up the paper and read the neat calligraphy.

Meet me out back. I have something for you.

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Sunset bathed the outermost tips of the forest leaves in its golden glow, throwing long shadows across the ground. A frosty breeze rustled the canopy, and howled low between the mottled trunks.

Hinata brushed long strands of hair out of her face, displaced by the whispering wind, and stared at the ominous place where she'd landed in Sasuke's genjutsu- again. Although her mind knew that the illusions were simply that, she could not help the tremor from running through her fingers. Her heart threatened to leap into her throat, as she relived the memories with the blink of an eye.

The echo of Hanabi's desperate cry, the slithering sounds of some monstrous creature, her own image cutting away at deep seeded insecurities... At what point exactly had she fallen into his trap?

Clenching her fists tightly at her sides, she trudged forward.

After spending a good amount of time walking the perimeter of the yard, and sitting in the tea house waiting for Sasuke to appear, she came to the conclusion that he must mean for her to meet him in the forest. Maybe the clearing from the genjutsu was real. Maybe that's what he wanted to show her. But why?

Swallowed by the shadows of the leafy canopy, it took barely twenty steps for her other senses to take over as her line of sight dwindled into shifting shades of grey. Paranoia seeped into her consciousness. Her pulse picked up speed as her mind conjured rustling sounds of hidden creatures above and below.

Only, there was a consistency to it.

Her steps came to an abrupt halt.

"Byakugan!"

Kekkei genkai flashing to life, her eyes grew wide as they revealed a monstrous chakra system, flowing through the head of a massive fanged beast. Hinata took a few defensive steps back, her own skittering chakra system flickering with the rapid beating of her heart.

The creature's head lifted off the ground, its mouth spreading and readying for a strike.

There was no way to run from it. Hinata began looking for weaknesses- pools of gathered chakra she could shut down. Eyes, snout…

Unexpectedly, their standoff was interrupted by a long spray of fire cutting between them. The flames heated her skin and caused her hair to blow with the breeze it created. She flinched at the proximity of the dangerous element, but quickly realized it was controlled and not meant to harm.

"Aoda," Sasuke's low timbre called out, "stand down."

Hinata's head whipped towards the welcome addition, surprise and relief battling over her face. In the fading light of the extinguishing flames, she could make out Sasuke's face and dark silhouette. His attention was completely focused on the one he called "Aoda."

"Yesss, Master Sasuke," Aoda replied deferentially with slight bow of his oversized head.

Sasuke produced a much smaller fire ball in his palm, emitting enough light in the small space for the three to see each other more clearly.

It was at this point that Hinata's suspicions were confirmed- Aoda was a giant snake. She was easily the size of a small mouse relative to this serpentine being.

"Hinata," Sasuke said, interrupting her thoughts, "this is my summon, Aoda. We've been together for years, and I trust him with my life. Aoda, this is my partner, Hinata. You will treat her with the same respect you treat me."

With another dip of his head, Aoda happily agreed, "Of course, Master Sasssuke."

Eyes wide, and jaw unhinged, Hinata offered a meek, "Nice to meet you, Aoda."

"I am pleased to finally meet, Master Sasuke's mate. I vow to protect you and your offssspring."

Hinata's hands waved in front of her in denial, "We're just partners. No offspring to worry about."

She stilled when the snake slithered closer to her, forked tongue darting out, tasting the air around her.

"You share Master Sasuke's ssscent," Aoda pointed out to Hinata. Then turning his head towards his master, he offered, "Your mate ssseems to be unaware. Master, her body is giving off sssigns of fertility. Offspring is a likely outcome, should you choose to sssolidify your union now."

Her tongue twisted and cheeks heated crimson with the implication of Aoda's words.

Graciously saving Hinata from further embarrassment, Sasuke breathed deeply through his nostrils gently chiding, "That's enough, Aoda. You're embarrassing my mate."

Incredulous, Hinata's eyes shot up to Sasuke. In return, he treated her to a boyish grin and a conspiratorial wink. However, she felt more like the butt of the joke than a partner in crime.

Silently scolding him with her eyes, he simply chuckled and raised his free hand to caress Aoda's scaly neck. Without removing his eyes from the serpent, he offered, "Would you like to pet him?"

"I-", hesitantly her eyes shifted to meet Aoda's.

Other than the intermittent lashing out of his slender tongue, the massive beast made no other movement. Sensing her anxiety, Aoda slowly lowered his upper half towards her until his head was resting on the ground in front of her. With his cheek turned in her direction, one bright green eye stared at her in a docile fashion, waiting for her to make the next move.

Appreciative of his goodwill gesture, with unhurried grace she walked along the length of his head. Raising one arm, she tentatively touched his jawline. Casting a furtive glance at his visible eye, she let out a tiny sigh of relief when nothing happened. Feeling more courageous, she allowed her palm to settle onto his cold exterior.

Elation ran through to her bones at the thrill of befriending such a powerful summon, and she smiled in response. Her feet carried her further along as she dragged her fingers down the smooth surface, feeling the ridges in between.

A peel of laughter escaped her lungs when she felt the impressive creature shiver. Turning to Sasuke, she noticed him wearing a look she'd never encountered before. It was intense, but light somehow. His unblinking stare caused her blush to grow and she had to clear her throat to break his trance. Facing the man fully, she clasped her hands in front of her and dipped her head in shame. "I'm very sorry for the way I've treated you. Selfishly, I've used you for my own purposes without consideration for your feelings. I know you're just trying to help me, and I've been nothing but rude and defensive towards you. Please accept my humble apology."

It was quiet. The silence stretched on for longer than comfortable. When she finally looked up, confused by the lack of response, she nearly jumped at encountering his sudden proximity. He was less than an arm's length away, but most unsettling was the look on his face. His brows were dipped low in thought over a pair of sharingan eyes. They scanned over her as if searching for hidden secrets. They spoke of an inner battle and a quiet storm of emotions.

Not knowing what else to do, she broke the tense atmosphere. "Um. So… is Aoda the reason you wanted to meet me here?"

His cloudy gaze cleared, his focus moving to her bright, curious eyes. Finally, he responded, "No. I want to show you what Aoda's been guarding. Follow me."

A short hike through the pathless forest and, as she'd guessed, they came across the clearing from the genjutsu. Except, it was not entirely clear.

There was a small stone cottage with a dark thatched roof. The gray stones were slickened by moss at the edges. A single shuttered-window was visible from their current vantage. The sun had set beneath the horizon, leaving a wake of violet hues to soak the surroundings.

Aoda kept to the shadows of the forest, lurking along the outskirts, as Sasuke set foot in the clearing with Hinata in tow.

Holding open the door, Sasuke nodded his head. "After you."

The space was dark, and the air was damp and cold. It made the tiny hairs along her arms rise, and she quickly gathered her cloak around her.

With a whistle, Sasuke shot a small flame from his lips. It latched onto a nearby candle, which set off a series of small torches to ignite around the room, breathing some much-needed light and warmth into the place. Unlike the manor, this home was rustic and had been left unattended for far too long. Beams of wood were warped and rotting in places where droplets of rain had seeped through the ceiling. Dust gathered on every surface, except where signs of recent activity were visible- footprints from the entrance and clustered around the center of the room, where a seated form took center stage.

Hinata's eyes held a question in them as they moved from the bound and hooded man to his obvious abductor.

As the sounds of Sasuke's booted steps moved across the creaky floorboards, the man grew visibly more distressed. His head flinched and pointed towards the noise. His trembling became less controlled. His body shrank away from the Uchiha as if he were soulless demon committing atrocious acts of abuse upon his person for years- and maybe he had, but he bore no physical signs.

At that observation, Hinata wondered at how long this poor soul had experienced the Uchiha's tsukiyomi. He appeared, otherwise, to be in good health. His body maintained a healthy amount of muscle and fat, his clothing was clean- or was. Her nose scrunched as the smell of urine hit her nostrils, her head shying away from the unpleasant sight of the man wetting himself.

He must have been gagged under the head covering, for he started making muffled cries in supplication.

In a swift movement, Sasuke removed the small potato sack covering the man's puffy, red face.

Stifling the air caught in her lungs, Hinata's entire being froze as recognition hit her. What exactly did Sasuke have planned?

A/N: And we're up to date with the latest posting on Ao3! Woot woot!

Gotta say, it's been so nice seeing so many familiar "faces" from FFnet pay the story a visit on Ao3. You all are the best! Thanks for your support on both or either platform.

Special thanks to Sasu and the two guest reviewers for your kind words. Losing the original story, reviews, and stats was certainly a knife in the gut, but I'm recovering thanks to you and all the amazing readers! Thank you.

Flashbacks start next chapter. I know, I'm a mean author for setting up that ending on a cliff, but there is a reason for it… the flashbacks will give some context.

As always, I love hearing your thoughts! :)

LEA