AUTHOR SAYS: NO SPOILERS IN THIS ONE! IT'S SAFE! I'm so stoked with the reviews, keep them coming :-)

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Legend:

'Thoughts'

"Talking"

"Jutsu"

Chapter Six - Don't Bother

"Hyuuga,wake up."

Hinata winced, the lighting in the room was bright as she opened her eyes. That voice. Whoever it was that was calling her sounded panicked, aggravated and desperate. She was partially blind and that she came to accept, it was only a matter of time before her sight fully recovered. She brought a hand up reflectively to shield her eyes a bit more. She blinked, and blinked some more, until she was able to see her hand.

"Hyuuga?."

Her throat felt dry; she wanted to reply but couldn't. She knew who was here with her now, it was most obvious when she felt cold lips press gently against her own. She sighed into the kiss, she wouldn't mind waking up to this every morning. She suddenly blushed at her thoughts, she only ever thought like this with Naruto.

"Get the hell away from her!." Neji snapped, upon entering the room with Hiashi close behind him, seeing the Uchiha kissing his cousin was not what he was expecting to see.

Hinata froze, "Niisan?."

Sasuke smirked; he moved away from Hinata only to sit in the seat next to her bed.

"I'm here with your father, Hinata-sama." Neji announced, his eyes never leaving Sasuke's.

"Oh." Hinata replied weakly, she didn't want her father to see her in this state.

Hiashi glared at the Uchiha, "Your presence here is not necessary boy, leave." He ordered.

"Hn."

"This is your fault."

"Trying to get a rise out of me, eh?." He said, smirking.

Hiashi growled, "Do you have any idea who your talking too?."

Sasuke crossed his arms, "Do you have any idea who your talking too?."

"Ano, he's with me, tousan." Hinata cut in boldly. Sasuke froze, did she just? Hinata just openly admitted to her father, the Head of the Hyuuga Clan, a man of high authority and class, that he was with her. Sasuke didn't know what being ecstatic felt like, but he had a feeling that the slight shift in his stomach came close to the definition.

"Hinata-sama?.." Neji said shocked.

"Fine, who you associate with is none of my business." Hiashi ground out, "Now then, how are you feeling?."

"Fine." She managed to sit up with her eyes closed. She didn't need her eyes to feel the disapproving stare he was giving her. His curiosity over her health was misleading also, he was probably trying to act the caring parent, but Hinata knew better. Soon enough he'd start ranting on about how much of a disgrace she was or how weak she was compared to her sister. He might not say it in that context, but it was all the same. The thought made her want to laugh somewhat, he was so predictable.

"I was informed that you and Haruno Sakura battled outside the village perimeter, is this correct?." His voice held so much authority to it, if she wasn't controlling herself right now she would've knitted her eye-brows together. And so it begins.

"Hai, it was for training purposes." Her father didn't need to know the truth. She wasn't going to explain herself to him, starting from today, she would with hold her life from him, with hold important things from him, because she knew he didn't care.

Neji stared at his cousin thoughtfully. She was always considerate of others, even now before her father, she made the life and death battle she had one week ago sound like it didn't matter. She sat poised in that bed, confident and fearless and he knew who was the cause of this change. Her association with the Uchiha was changing her and Neji openly welcomed this new side of her, she was beginning to play her part as the Hyuuga Heiress perfect. However...

"I see." Hiashi murmured, he stared at his daughter's face, "I was told you were blind throughout most of the fight, is this true?."

Neji's eyes widened. 'Blind?.' He thought, 'Surely not.'

Hinata smiled, hearing this made her feel proud. With all the training she went through, the pain and the tears, the emotional and physical damage she suffered, suddenly none of it mattered, she'd accomplished something only few Hyuuga's could. She fought without her sight yet side by side with her Byakugan, "Hai, it's true."

"Stupid girl." Hiashi snarled, his voice slightly risen, "Do you have any idea how much danger you put yourself in?."

Hinata nodded, "Hai, i do."

"Haruno-san could've killed you. Did you forget? She was trained by Tsunade-sama herself, our former Hokage. Did you actually think you stood a chance? How could you even think to challenge her? You are too weak...-"

Sasuke stopped him their. He had had just about enough of the man's voice, let alone his critiscism toward her. If anyone was going to put her down, it was to be Sasuke himself. Hiashi's unwelcomed outburst was silenced by force. Slightly dazed and confused, he was able to calculate in those few seconds what had happened. One, he realised Sasuke had him up against the wall, his feet only metres off the ground and his airways partially blocked. Two, Sasuke's Mangekyou was more than just looking at him, his eyes were burning holes into his very soul.

"Tousan." Hinata cried. She dragged herself from the bed and in a few steps was standing behind him, Neji forgotten. She placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder and beneath her hand he was trembling. Hinata bit back her tears and applied more pressure to his shoulder. Without words she beckoned him to stop.

"He deserves to die." Sasuke growled. His eye started bleeding.

"Please." She whispered, she released his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist this time. She felt Sasuke tense, "Please Sasuke-kun, he can be hurtful at times, but he is still my father."

Sasuke took a moment to think about it, then he released him. Thankfully, Neji withheld the urge to attack the Uchiha and made it in time to stop the large man from falling face first to the ground. He examined Hiashi carefully, he wasn't a medic, but he knew some of the basics. He sighed with bated breath at his final conclusion, "He'll be fine."

Sasuke turned into her small arms that held him and pulled her closer to him. Hinata relaxed after hearing Neji's quick observation, "What did you do?." Neji fired.

"We talked and then i killed him." Sasuke replied carelessly.

"W-what?." Hinata studdered.

Sasuke tilted her chin up roughly, "What did i say about that studder?." He growled.

"Will he...will he recover ok?." She hopefully asked.

"He's unconscious for the time being." He admitted, "Compared to Sakura, he had it easy."

Hinata yanked herself away from him, she didn't like where this conversation was going, "What did you do to Sakura-san?."

Sasuke moved toward her and was visibly irritated with how she kept moving back from him, "I killed her too."

Neji stood from his crouched position and activated his Byakugan, "Not another step toward her, Uchiha." He warned, Sasuke looked insane and the blood sliding down the side of his cheek made his appearance that much more demented. Whatever praise or respect Neji had for Sasuke, was now long gone.

"Why?." Hinata cried, "She didn't mean any real harm."

Sasuke paused in his stride and looked at Hinata thoughtfully, "I don't..." He suddenly looked at the ground, he didn't know how to express emotion vocally. He seemed so distracted Hinata thought, but not so much that he didn't notice Neji was creeping up slowly behind him. Sasuke looked at her again, "I don't want to lose you." He finally said. Hinata's eyes widened like saucers. Neji moved to strike him but Sasuke disappeared and reappeared on the window sill.

"You won't get away with this." Neji threatened.

Sasuke ignored him, "I'll be watching you, Hinata." He assured. He said her name, she couldn't believe it. For the first time ever, he finally acknowledged her by her name. She just wished he could've said it earlier instead of saving it for this ugly and unique situation she was now in. As she looked up again, he was gone and everything prior to him saying her name finally hit her again. Hinata fell to the ground with a hand clutching her chest, "He killed her? Because of me."

Neji crouched down beside her, he rubbed her back gently, "Mentally, yes. Naruto told me Sasuke had her under a powerful genjutsu." Neji up until this point was angry, but for his cousin's sake, he forced himself to fulfil his duty to her, "Hinata-sama, if you hadn't woken up today as you did, Sakura would still be under."

"What kind of genjutsu was it?."

"From what Kakashi-sensei told Naruto, it was a genjutsu that traps the victims mind for however long the user seems fit. To Kakashi-senpai, a few seconds in this reality, seemed like days when he was under. He was tortured brutally and when he was finally released, he was hospitalized for weeks."

"So that means...-"

Neji nodded, "You've been unconscious for a week now Hinata-sama. If you do the math, you will understand why Sasuke said he killed her. Basically, he told Naruto that until you woke up, he would torture her mercilessly."

Hinata started crying, "How could he do such a thing?."

"Listen to me Hinata-sama, in all the years i've known you, has anything i've ever said to you been a lie?." He asked her seriously.

She shook her head, "No."

"Then i want you to stay away from the Uchiha. He's unstable and reckless. To think if you were ever alone with him...-"

"He would never hurt me." She insisted, she wiped her eyes. Yes what Sasuke did was unforgiveable, cruel and evil, but no matter how hurt or distraught his actions seemed to be, she would always take his side, because... "Sasuke-kun would never hurt me unless we were training. He's just.."

'I don't want to lose you.' She remembered him saying.

"He..-."

"Don't be naive, Hinata-sama." Neji snapped, "He doesn't care about you. He would sooner kill you then love you."

"Your wrong."

"I speak the truth." Neji argued.

Hinata slapped him. True the tears kept rolling downher cheeks, but her eyes, her eyes were as hard as steel as she said, "I. Love. Him."

Neji's eyes widened in shock. Hinata could feel his eyes boring holes into her tenfold now. She hadn't mean't to say it outloud; actually, she was alittle astounded with herself. It came with all the butterflies, the gazes and the blushes. She never admitted the possibility to herself and yet here she was telling her cousin she loved him. Yes, Sasuke could be scary, psychotic and violent, but she saw a more gentle side of him, one that she knew no one else had seen before. Hinata pursed her lips together, the new revelations true and accepted, the heart that once yearned for Naruto, now beat only for Sasuke.

"Hinat...-"

"I've made up my mind." She whispered.

Her awakening today seemed to attract all types of drama. True to his words, Sasuke wasn't as cruel to her father as she thought. Ten minutes after admitting her love for Sasuke to Neji, her father began coughing violently, such a dreadful way to gain consciousness. Hiashi didn't even glance in her direction as he struggled to stand, instead he demanded he and Neji leave at once. Father and daughter didn't speak nor say goodbyes as he departed. Neji too, he didn't even look at her.

'I don't want to lose you.' The same words kept echoing inside her head as she walked.

After Hinata stopped feeling sorry for herself, she was seen walking through the hospital. By now the entire village had heard what happened and it was a matter of time before her friends would arrive. But for now, she had one destination in mind. When she came upon a particular door, she almost turned away. She couldn't now even if she tried, she was stopped. A warm hand held her hand firmly and she was greeted with sad and red eyes. He'd been crying.

"Naruto-kun." She whispered.

"Come in." He said, he was almost dragging her inside.

When they came around the curtains, her eyes fell upon the battered pinkette sadly, "Gomen, Sakura-san." She said.

"It's not your fault Hinata." Naruto assured.

"It is, Naruto-kun." She cried.

"Her loving Sasuke is not your fault." The pain was obvious in his voice as he said it.

Hinata lowered her gaze to the ground. She shouldn't have come. Sakura was a mess. She thought back to what Neji said and cringed. Sakura must have suffered horrifically. Had she been aware of Sasuke's actions, she would've asked him not to go to great lengths for her, but by then it was too late. Physically Sakura looked fit to fight, but the sweat that was visible on her showed the mental battle she had fought. It was the desired result that Sasuke wanted, a result that made Hinata's stomach sink.

"Hinata, how do you feel about Sasuke?." Naruto asked, snapping her from her thoughts.

Hinata didn't look at him, "He's...he's not what you think he is."

"After seeing what he did to Sakura-chan, i don't know what to think anymore."

"He's a good person, Naruto-kun. He just tends to...snap at times."

Naruto narrowed his eyes, "A good person? What kind of good person turns on one of their teammates."

"If he didn't have any good left in him, then why stay? Why not completely revert and destroy Konoha?."

Naruto looked at her, it seemed her words were slowly getting through to him.

"You love him i can see that, and what you feel for him is what i feel also, only much more." She admitted, it didn't hurt when she said that which she was relieved to discover.

Naruto's fists balled tightly, "If i wanted vengeance for what he did to Sakura-chan, would that make me any less better than him?."

Hinata reached for his fisted hand, "Sakura-san wouldn't want you to think like that, let alone act on such actions."

He relaxed his hand and entwined her smaller hand with his bigger one, "Arigatou, Hinata." He whispered sadly, "Sometimes, i think, what if Sasuke had chosen her instead of you."

'What?.' She thought, "Naruto-kun?."

Naruto turned to face her, "If he'd chosen Sakura-chan maybe this wouldn't have happened, he wouldn't have hurt her. Maybe if i'd made him see that Sakura-chan loved him, everyone could've gone away with something. Even your wish could've come true."

"You..-"

"Who knows." He hesitated, "We could've...i could've had you."

Hinata was speechless. Was he confessing to her? And what would Sakura think in the unconscious state she was in? Speaking of which, they were doing this in front of her. It was disrespectful, rude, and bothersome to Hinata. Why now did he want to confess like this? Did he realise he was a few years to late? Was he playing tricks on her? Was he doing this because he was that distraught over Sakura? That's what it had to be, Naruto was emotionally drained because Hinata knew in a million years that he'd never look at her.

"Fuck. Off. Dobe."

'Sasuke-kun.' She thought, they didn't sense him at all.

Hinata was pulled from Naruto roughly, "Teme."

Hinata looked one from boy to the other. Before she could explain she and Sasuke were outside in the blink of an eye. The first thing she noticed upon being outside, was how cold she suddenly became. She hurriedly snuggled her face into his chest, so much water was hitting her face as if a hose was being pointed at her. The rain was beating down so hard. Lightning threatened to fall as he ran. Her vision was a bit more clearer now, 50/50 at best because she could read the anger on his face; despite the fact he was trying his best to look calm. Seeing her holding hands with Naruto must've struck a cord.

"Sasuke-kun?."

He didn't say anything. He was mad, no not just mad, something else mixed with it.

"Gomen...-"

They suddenly halted. Hinata used this new coverage to scan her surroundings. They were inside the Uchiha compound, they were inside his room. She tensed; he was placing her down onto the edge of his bed. He didn't think she could stay here, did he? Her father, no not only him, the whole of Konoha would raise hell if they discovered Uchiha Sasuke was holding her here. To make matters that much bitter, she was freezing and soaked to the bone; she shivered violently.

Sasuke noticed her discomfort yet ignored it; he was good at that, "You let him touch you." He said, voice low and hoarse.

Hinata looked anywhere else but him, "It was an innocent gesture, Sasuke-kun." Her voice was shaking.

Sasuke removed his katana and tossed it angrilly into a corner, "You said you loved me."

Hinata's eyes widened, "Y-you heard?."

"And what did i say about that damn studder." He shouted, he grabbed her wrist up forcefully and her body instinctively followed the sore limb.

"Ow, your hurting me." She groaned. The heat she felt coming from him was intense.

Sasuke glared, "I could do worse." He warned.

He wanted to hurt her, inflict pain so serious in nature that she would never turn from him. If he hadn't showed up like he did, anything could've happened. The time Hinata spent with Sasuke could've all been forgotten for the dobe. Even the bold words she shared with her cousin in relation to himself would've been brushed aside and why? Sasuke read the situation perfectly. The blonde was acting on his loneliness based on Sakura's condition and trying to fall back on something using the one thing he thought he still had: Hinata's love. Hokage or not, Sasuke promised himself right here and now that he would kill Naruto in a heartbeat if his eyes ever strayed in Hinata's direction.

Hinata whimpered, "It really hurts."

"Then do something about it." He sneered.

Hinata decided to ignore him and the pain. She stared at him. Threats or warnings in one ear and out the other. The current state he was in looked mesmorizing. His hair, normally slicked high and neat was now slick and dripping with water. His normal bangs now falling over his eyes; she swallowed, his clothes were drenched and as he finally noticed her inspecting him, she was presented with an expression she couldn't read. What was this feeling? She suddenly felt claustrophobic, smothered. She felt a surge of energy shoot through the wrist that he was holding. It was electrifying.

"Gomen." She whispered; her body moved on it's own accord. Her eyes never leaving his, she moved onto her tip toes and kissed him. When she pulled back ever so slowly, Sasuke's grip on her was gone.

"Do you still feel for him?." He murmured.

"I..-."

Sasuke moved that much more into her personal space, "Hinata." He warned.

"No."

"Your mine." He claimed. What happened next was something neither of them saw coming. Sasuke was acting on instinct as he tore the hospital gown away from her body. Everything other than the white cotton panties she wore was exposed to him. Hinata didn't move, didn't flinch nor did she cower, even as her body filled with goosebumps from the cold, even as a certain heat remained, she looked unfazed. Sasuke tossed his shirt to the side carelessly and was openly pleased with how her eyes roamed over him carefully. Eyes never leaving hers, he pulled the sash loose that was binding his pants together and stepped out of them.

"G-gomen, Sasuke-kun...I-i've never...-"

Sasuke pressed his lips to hers gently, he already knew. She was his opposite in almost every way and unlike him, she still had her purity intact. He held her close to him as they descended to the bed together. They fit perfectly together.

"I love you, Sasuke-kun." She whispered, planting gentle kisses alongside his throat.

Above her, Sasuke threaded his fingers through her hair and claimed her lips hungrily. He felt alive at that moment. He only ever heard those words being truthfully spoken by his parents and his brother. Now he heard them from her pink and bruised lips, courtesy of his doing. She would be the most likely be the death of him.

"I want you." He whispered seductively, he was nibbling on her neck.

Hinata moaned softly, "M-me too." She panted.

Sasuke smiled a rare smile at her before saying, "You and that damn studder."

Meanwhile...

"I know." Naruto said as he was informed of Hinata's disappearance. She'd been gone for over three hours.

"What?." Tsunade boomed.

Naruto scratched the back of his head, "Sasuke took her."

"And you let him?." She barked.

"I wasn't thinking straight, baa-chan."

Tsunade gritted her teeth and carried on with her procedure. She decided there and then that the blonde haired Hokage was an idiot. She decided her apprentice, who she was currently attending too was also an idiot. Most of all, she decided that Uchiha Sasuke was walking on thin ice. Hinata Hyuuga, well, Tsunade had no words to describe what she felt for the lavendar-haired beauty. But as she worked on Sakura, few words did echo inside her head. With a smile, she glanced outside the window. 'Your his one true weakness, Hinata.'

"Sakura-chan?." Naruto excitedly yelled, Sakura's eyes were open.

Tsunade pulled back slightly, "Sakura, can you hear me?." She asked waving a few fingers in front of the girl.

The pinkette looked blank at first, then she blinked again and recognised instantly who was standing above her, "Tsunade-sama?."

Tsunade sighed with relief, "You had me scared for a while there." She admitted.

"How long was i out for?." She coughed, her voice seemed so small in comparison too how normally loud she was.

"A week?." Naruto cut in, he moved to her side and grasped her hand.

Sakura sniffled and linked their fingers together, a couple's gesture, "One week huh."

Tsunade placed her hands on Sakura's temples, "It must've been painful for you. It took almost everything and anything to save your mind."

"On a scale of one to ten, how bad was i?." She asked, looking at Naruto in particular.

"It was bad." He whispered, "There were times i had to lend you some chakra so you could cope."

"Even the Kyuubi tried to help." Tsunade said.

"His name is Kurama." Naruto corrected.

Sakura closed her eyes, "Where is..-"

"The last thing that should be on your mind is that damn Uchiha." Tsunade snarled.

Naruto's hand tightened, "How can you think of him at a time like this?." He whispered, hurt.

"What do you think of me, Naruto?." Sakura suddenly asked.

"You know what i think about you." Naruto said, he tried to take his hand back, but Sakura wouldn't let him.

"It wasn't Sasuke i was referring to." She whispered, she made sure Naruto noticed the missing suffix she would give the Uchiha.

"Enough questions for now Sakura." Tsunade said, "You've been drip-fed the entire time, so let's get you something solid, i'm sure Naruto wouldn't mind making himself useful right about now."

Naruto frowned, "No fair, if anyone should go it's you, i'm the Hokage."

Tsunade raised her fist, "Come again."

Naruto gulped while Sakura managed a smile, "Your the best, Naruto-kun." She said, if he had any brains he would've noticed the newly given suffix to his name. And if he did manage to understand that, then he would surely realise she was saving him from getting a beating, Hokage or not.

Naruto looked at her stunned, "Ahh, ok sure..i'll be back in a jiffy." He was gone, but none would expect any less from the yellow flash who's smile said all.

"Now that he's gone.." Tsunade stated seriously, "What happened?."

Sakura started from the beginning.

"T-teme?." Naruto said outloud. He was just thinking about his team-mate.

Onlookers inside the ramen store stared, whispers of the Hokage and the Uchiha being together looked odd, "Keep it down, dobe."

Naruto pointed an accusing finger at him, "Tsunade baa-chan was having a fit not long ago about Hinata. What did you do with her?."

"She's sleeping." Sasuke said, he wished the man behind the counter would hurry with his damn order. He didn't expect to see the blonde of all people right now. He had to get back quickly before Hinata woke up, knowing her she'd think he abandoned her. He smirked however, he could just imagine what she looked like right now. Naruto caught his twisted smirk.

"Sleeping? Where?." Naruto suspiciously asked.

"Outside my house tied to a tree." He said sarcastically.

"TEME!."

"Two barbeque pork noodles."

'Finally.' Sasuke thought, "Later." He was so close, just a few more steps.

"Sakura-chan is awake." Naruto whispered.

Time seemed to stand still for the two. Civilians in the store departed hurriedly. What seemed like a friendly meet, suddenly turned into a dark confrontation. Naruto stared at his friend's back with sage eyes, while Sasuke stayed in place, Sharingan ready. Sasuke didn't blame the blonde for being sour over what transpired, he'd be the same if Hinata had been the one to get hurt. Naruto however lacked many things compared to him, especially in the mourning department, Sasuke would've tortured or killed someone to help lesson the pain in a heartbeat. Thus he knew the blonde was having a raging battle within himself.

"Make your move, dobe." Sasuke muttered, he dropped the plastic bag with what was supposed to be his and Hinata's dinner. If only he'd just cooked.

However, none of what he predicted happened though. When Sasuke turned, Naruto was behind him holding his dinner up with a grin on his face.

Sasuke raised a quizzical brow, "Thought you wanted a fight?."

"I want to, believe me i do." Naruto said truthfully, "But just like you, i have someone to take care of."

Sasuke took the food from him, "Another day then, dobe."

Naruto nodded, "Hell yeah, so train up teme, because i'm not going to let this one slide."

Sasuke turned, "Hn."

AUTHOR SAYS: Thankyou for reading and i hope you R&R