Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, it's characters, or any aspect of it. It all belongs to Masashi Kishimoto
The Beauty of Power
Chapter 15
It all began with a cough, the Hyuuga heiress didn't think too much about it, however as the days progressed, her symptoms became more and more prominent. After the coughing was a sneeze, and then, extreme fatigue. Hinata had been on mission after mission, the missions were so relentless that it made her appreciate the one day that they had off. Nonetheless, her sickness made it hard to complete each mission because all she wanted to do was lie down. Hinata had to admit that getting sick, a rare occasion, but this morning was the start of something horrible. She felt flushed, and all of the symptoms she was having before had come crashing down on her. However, Hinata was not going to let the sickness hinder her from completing her duties.
"Hinata, you don't look so good." Kiba informed and Akamaru barked in agreement. They stood on top of a building, overlooking Konohagakure, and Hinata smiled at him.
"I'm f-fine." The Hyuuga heiress assured. However, Hinata was far from being fine, the more that she did, the worse that she felt. Ino looked at Hinata, skeptically, and she got up. She walked up to Hinata, placing her hand on her forehead, and Ino jerked back her hand, instantly.
"You're burning up!" Ino shouted. "You should have stayed home today!" Ino looked at Hinata, concerned, and Hinata shook her head.
"But, w-we have d-duties." Hinata defended.
"You're not going to be efficient in completing them if you are sick." Kiba sighed, heavily, and he walked up to her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and Hinata looked up at him. "Go to Naruto's office, and tell him that you are going home because you're sick."
There was a silence exchanged between the three, and Hinata nodded at him.
"Okay."
"Good, take care of yourself." Kiba grinned as he ruffled her hair, and Hinata headed toward Naruto's office. She entered Naruto's office, he was buried in a stack of papers, and he looked at her, shocked.
"Everything okay Hinata-chan?"
"I'm sorry, Naruto-kun, I'm going h-home." Hinata stated. "I really d-don't feel well." Naruto looked at her, sullenly, and he waved his hand.
"Sure, I don't care, take a break as long as you like, you should have told me earlier." The blond headed Hokage said, concerned. "I would have allocated any duties to you today." I hope you feel better, Hinata-chan." I will make sure Sakura checks up on you later."
"Thank you, Naruto-kun." Hinata smiled, kindly. She headed back out the door, and sauntered towards her home. Hinata stopped by the Uchiha estate, the gates were open, and the Hyuuga heiress strolled up to the front door. She knocked on the door, no one answered, but Hinata hated to knock again. She knew that he was home. Hinata walked around to the back, and the Uchiha heir was sitting on the back porch. He seemed in deep thought, he had his eyes forward, and a look of indifference on his face.
"Sasuke-san." Sasuke's body stiffened, he turned to look at her, and a smirk came on his face.
"What no duties today?" The Uchiha heir asked with a raised eyebrow. Hinata shook her head as he stood up, and Sasuke sauntered up to her.
"No, I am n-not feeling w-well."
XXXX
"That is an understatement." Sasuke snorted. Hinata looked sickly pale, her eyes were puffy, and a slight redness was spread across her pallid cheeks and her nose. The Hyuuga heiress gave him a shy smile, and she reached out a hand towards him. The Uchiha heir studied her as she touched his hand, and Hinata looked down, when she saw that he didn't grab her hand.
"I'm sorry, you p-probably d-don't want to-" The Uchiha heir rolled his eyes.
"Shut up." Sasuke pulled her close to him, and he felt her wrap her arms around him. He shuddered as she buried her face in his shoulder, and he scowled. "I didn't say that you could do that."
"I-I shouldn't be so close to you, you may get s-sick." The Hyuuga heiress stated, worryingly.
"Why are you so worried about me?" The Uchiha heir asked, coolly. "I don't get sick."
"I'm sorry, I just w-wanted to m-make sure." The Hyuuga heiress apologized against his shoulder, and the Uchiha heir took in her scent. She smelled like fresh lilac, and jasmine. She was so fragile against him like a porcelain doll, and Sasuke chuckled to himself.
"What?"
"This is why I hate swimming out in areas like the one you invited me to." Sasuke informed. "You get sick." Or maybe it was because… we shared our first kiss in the rain." The last commentary was him teasing her, and he saw her ears turn red. He knew that she was embarrassed, and she shook her head.
"Please s-stop." Hinata pleaded. "I know your t-teasing me."
"You think I am going to stop because you are sick?" Sasuke asked, skeptically. He leaned down, and he pressed his lips against her ear. "… I guess I can for today." But really, Hinata, the reason why you are like this is because of the Inuzuka."
"It is not his fault."
"Your right, it is both of yours." The Uchiha heir hissed as he kept his lips on her ear. There was a silence exchanged between the two, and Hinata looked at Sasuke.
"Sasuke-san, I don't f-feel so good." Hinata felt her legs give out, she began to collapse, but Sasuke caught her. She looked at him, surprised, and a look of disapproval was on his face.
"You are an idiot." Sasuke reached up a hand, pressing it against her forehead, and he pursed his lips. Her lips were not their usual cherry natural color, but instead of faded shade of pink. "You have a fever, why are you up and walking around." Now, you can barely even walk."
XXXX
Hinata gasped at him as he picked her up, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She couldn't believe that he was doing something like this, and she stared at him, wide-eyed. Sasuke looked at her, then he looked away, almost to what to Hinata could see was embarrassment. Sasuke Uchiha embarrassed? There was no way!
Hinata giggled at him, Sasuke met her eyes with a glare, and he laid her down on his bed. "Just stay here or whatever." The Uchiha heir turned on his heels, but Hinata reached out, grabbing his shirt, gently.
"Thank you, Sasuke-san." The Hyuuga heiress smiled at him, and she saw the Uchiha heir look at her out the corner of his eye. The same smile that she saw when they kissed came across his face, and he turned away.
"I'll get you a washcloth, and I will inform your father that you will be staying here." Hinata stared at him with parted lips.
"You mean… you're going to take care of me?" The Hyuuga heiress questioned.
"Or I could just put you out of my home." The Uchiha heir proposed, "Would you prefer that?" Hinata shook her head, a giggle coming from her mouth, but it was interrupted by a cough. "Then just shut up, and lie down." Hinata nodded at him, laying back on the bed, and she heard him walk out of the room.
Sasuke was taking care of her! She felt a warmth in her chest, and Hinata studied the room. She had never been in his home before, the house seemed empty, and lonely. There was a certain coldness in the house, Hinata shuddered at the chill, and she took off her sandals. She got underneath the covers, and she closed her eyes. She felt too forward, laying there on the bed, this was the place that Sasuke slept at!
Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, and she felt something soft hit her. Hinata lifted up, seeing a black blanket, and she looked up to see the Uchiha heir crossing his arms. He had a cloth in his hand, and there was steam coming off it.
"What the hell are you doing?" Sasuke asked as he walked up to her, and he put his hand on her chest. He forced her down on the bed, she looked at him, surprised, and he knelt down on the side of the bed. "I didn't say that you could get underneath the covers of my bed."
"I got a little c-cold, s-sorry."
"That is why I brought you a blanket." The Uchiha heir grumbled. "I figured that you would be." Hinata looked at him, baffled as he began to wipe her face, and Sasuke didn't meet her eyes as he did this. She saw him reach a hand, unfolding the blanket, and he pulled it on her.
XXXX
The Uchiha heir didn't like the look that the Hyuuga heiress was giving him, and he didn't like the predicament that he was in. He was not used to taking care of anyone, but himself. In a way, it was something new to him, and Sasuke was completely sure that now he cared about the Hyuuga heiress. Now, there were three people in his life that he could say this for, it was Itachi, himself, and now Hinata. He was also a little agitated, how could she allow herself to get so sick? Didn't the Hyuuga make sure that all their offspring were fully defended against such mundane things?
"You don't get cold?"
"No." The Uchiha heir scowled. "I used to sleep out in the environment, rain, snow, sunshine, I am immune to such temperature changes."
"I understand." There was another pause between the two heirs, and the Uchiha heir laid the washcloth on her forehead.
"Go to sleep." He commanded getting back up.
"d-don't leave me... p-please." Hinata pleaded. He felt her hand touch his, and Sasuke sat on the bed. There was a bit of fearfulness in her voice, and his eyes narrowed.
"Why do you say it like that?" Sasuke stared at her, and Hinata bit her lip.
"I am... a-afraid."
"Why?"
"Because m-my mom got sick when I was y-young and she died." The Hyuuga heiress explained. "And I don't want that to h-happen to me."
"And my presence gives you some form of comfort?" Hinata nodded at him, and Sasuke pursed his lips. Sasuke Uchiha, the murderer, traitor, and downright scoundrel could provide comfort to someone. The Uchiha heir lifted up their hands, brushing his lips along her knuckles, and he smirked at her. "Then you are a bigger idiot than what I thought you were to be." Hinata opened her mouth to say something, but then a smile came on her face, and she closed her eyes.
"Hmmm… maybe." Sasuke studied her face, it seemed rather peaceful, and he noticed that her grip began to slowly loosen on his hand. The Uchiha heir laid her hand on her stomach, and he got up as he heard her take in a deep breath. He reached over a hand, brushing her bangs off her forehead, and Sasuke gritted his teeth. She was making him weak, and it was a weakness that he had welcomed into his life.
What the hell was wrong with him?
"I have succumb to you, Hinata." Sasuke whispered as he pulled his hand away from her. He cracked the door behind him, and headed out of his home towards the Hyuuga estate. Hiashi was the first one to open up the door, both of them exchange intense glares, and Hiashi crossed his arms.
"What is it?" Hiashi asked.
"Hinata is sick." The Uchiha heir informed. "And she is at my home. "
"Then, she belongs here, where she can get the best care." Hiashi stated. His face was stern, and Sasuke gave him a cold look.
"She is fine where she is." Sasuke hissed. "I will return her when she is back to normal health."
"You're taking care of her, I assume then." Hiashi chuckled at the Uchiha heir, and Sasuke didn't answer him. His onyx eyes boring into Hiashi's lavender ones. "I will take that look as a yes… I see, so the infamous Uchiha has a soft spot for my daughter."
"I told you what I needed to, I'm leaving." Sasuke turned on his heels, heading out of the Hyuuga estate, and he cursed underneath his breath.
As much as he didn't want to admit it out loud. Hiashi was right. Hinata was his soft spot. He felt his stomach growl, and the Uchiha heir rolled his eyes. There was no food in the house, he needed to go buy some, and Sasuke grumbled. The Uchiha heir made his way to the market, he ignored al the shouting merchants, and he began to ponder what to make himself.
Tea? Miso soup and tofu? Did the Hinata like that?
Sasuke shook his head of the thought, and he walked up to a stand. It didn't matter if she liked it or not, she better eat it, if he stood up and made it. Sasuke bought some tea bags, herbs, and the ingredients for miso soup. He caught sight of some villagers staring at him, and the Uchiha heir looked at them, icily. They gasped, scattering away, and Sasuke smirked to himself.
Cowards.
He walked back to his estate with the bags in his hand, and the Uchiha heir kept his forward. Sakura came in sight, Sasuke pursed his lips, and he cursed his luck. She caught sight of him, and her eyes flickered to his bags.
"Oh, Sasuke-san, are you shopping for food?" Sakura asked.
"Isn't that obvious, now cut the chit-chat." The Uchiha heir hissed. "And step aside, you're in my way."
"I was going to see Hinata, but I saw that she wasn't at the Hyuuga estate." Sakura informed. "Do you know where she is?"
"And why would I know that?" Sakura gave the Uchiha heir a small smile, and his eyes narrowed at her.
What is that smile for? Sasuke had an idea that Sakura was fully aware of the relationship between Hinata and himself.
"Because I know you do." The pink haired kunoichi stated.
"And if I did, why would I want to tell you?" Sasuke sneered.
"I heard that she was sick, and I wanted to see if she was feeling a little better."
"She is not." Sasuke hissed, curtly. He pushed past Sakura, bumping her shoulder, and she staggered aside.
"Sasuke." Sakura said, firmly, and the Uchiha heir continued to walk away from her. "That food seems like an awfully lot for you, are you… cooking for someone else?" The Uchiha heir stopped, looking at her out the corner of his eyes, and his face was stoic.
"Intuitive aren't we?" His voice was mocking, and Sakura's eyes became wide. He knew that she had an idea that the food was for Hinata as well. He didn't wait for anymore for what she had to say, and left her standing in the street.
The Uchiha heir walked inside of the estate, he sat the groceries on the table, and he pulled out a pitcher. He heated up some water, filling the pitcher with it, and placed a couple of tea bags in it. Sasuke added some extra herbs to tea, and he turned on the stove. He started to make the miso soup, and he stared at the pot at the water began to boil.
XXXX
Hinata woke up, sitting up, and she took the wash cloth off her forehead. Her skin was clammy, and she got up off the bed. She walked out of his bedroom, and into the kitchen. The Hyuuga heiress's eyes widen, as she saw Sasuke lay out food on the table, and she stepped into his view. He looked at her, and crossed his arms.
"You look like a mess." The Uchiha informed. Hinata gasped, patting down her disheveled hair, and Sasuke sat down at the table with his back towards her. "Here is some food, now eat, I am sure that you are hungry." Hinata walked up to the table to see a pitcher of tea along with a bowls of miso soup with tofu in it. The Hyuuga heiress sat down, and the Uchiha heir poured her a cup of tea. He pushed it in her direction, and he looked down at the bowl of miso soup. "You should take off the jacket, it will only make you sweat more, and I don't want you to sweat in my bed."
"Ah, sorry." Hinata turned red as took off her jacket, and she laid it in her lap. Hinata took a sip of the tea, and she smiled. "This is really good, I didn't know you knew how to cook."
"Who said I cooked this." Sasuke questioned, and Hinata chuckled at him.
"I know y-you did."
"I see, well, I am self-reliant, I don't need anything from anyone, and food is necessary to keep my existence." The Uchiha heir stated. "So I had to learn how to cook."
"That s-seems l-lonely." Hinata murmured. Sasuke stared at her, and she sat down her cup. "Not having anyone to l-lean back onto, being alone in the world."
"It would appear that way wouldn't it?" Hinata didn't want the Uchiha heir to feel lonely, in fact, it pained her for anyone to think that, but it particularly bothered her to see Sasuke lonely.
"Do you enjoy that loneliness?" The Hyuuga heiress asked as her lavender eyes met onyx ones, and the Uchiha heir took a sip of the soup.
I thought I did.
"Just eat." The Uchiha heir commanded, evading the question. The Hyuuga heiress nodded at him.
"Thank you so m-much, Sasuke-san." Hinata beamed. She took a couple of bites of the soup, and she noticed Sasuke was scrutinizing her.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, I am a little." The Hyuuga heiress admitted. "The food is really g-good, you will have to teach me how to c-cook so well." A slight humorous intonation was in her voice, and the Uchiha heir scoffed.
"It is mundane, stop acting like it is five star restaurant food."
"It is too me." Hinata defended and she gave the Uchiha heir a kind smile. "b-because you made it just for me."
"Whatever." They ate the food in silence, and Hinata got up to take the dishes. Sasuke noticed a piece of food on the corner of her mouth, and he chuckled. "You have tofu stuck to your mouth." Hinata turned red in embarrassment, covering her face, and the Uchiha heir stood up. He grabbed her wrist, gently, and kissed the corner of her mouth, wiping it off. "Go lie down, I have the dishes." Hinata nodded in compliance, and he pulled away from her. The Hyuuga heiress turned on her heels, and she disappeared into his room.
XXXX
The Uchiha heir washed off all of the dishes, he strolled into the room, and Hinata began to start sneezing. He grabbed a box of tissue for her, and Sasuke sat down on the floor, against the bed. She wiped her nose, coughing at the same time, and Hinata laid back in bed. However, she laid down curled up to where she could Sasuke's face, and Sasuke wiped her face with the washcloth. He touched her forehead, and she closed her eyes.
"You don't feel as hot." Sasuke stated. "The fever is coming down." The Uchiha heir traced the contours of her face with his finger, and she touched his wrist, gently. He watched her move over, patting the empty space, and Sasuke got up. He laid down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and he turned to her. Her body was as far from him as possible. She smiled at him, and he reached out his arm under her. "Come here." Sasuke rolled Hinata next to him, her face was red, and she rested her head on his chest. The Uchiha heir growled.
"S-sorry." Hinata lifted up her head, she tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.
"Just relax." Sasuke exasperated, The Hyuuga heiress nodded at him, laying her head back down, and she wrapped her arm around him. He rested his hand on her back, and for the first time found himself at peace. The Uchiha heir closed his eyes, focusing on Hinata's warm body, and a faint smile came across his face. He could get used to this.
And for the first time, Sasuke started to realize that being with Hinata was something he was growing very fond of, very fast.
Please review the story, I would greatly appreciate it, and I hope you all enjoyed it as there will be more to come- FireGladiator.