Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, only my story.

1 Good morning (formal) 2. Forgive Me (formal) 3. Relax

Word= narrator ;word= thoughts; "word"=spoken

~~*Chapter IV: Carnations*~~

After having her one-on-one time with the laundry, she trampled up the stairway without regards to the other tenants in the apartment. She was in a rush to check her patients. But to her surprise they still laid soundlessly asleep. The commotion she made going up the stairs didn't seem to bother them one bit. She gave Neji and Uchiha a quick scan and made a beeline to the kitchen, this time she was careful not to make much noise as she searched for a crock-pot and a large pot, both compliments of Shino and Kiba as a house warming gift when she first moved out on her own. She gathered the necessary ingredients and got to work. She was able to cut up the vegetables and slice the boneless chicken breast all while thinking about the recent events that has taken place in her life…like Naruto and blah, blah, blah (she made a mental note to rant & rave about that later). She put the sliced chicken breast in the pot to boil and she combined the vegetables and chicken broth into the crock-pot to cook. Her plan is to make homemade chicken soup…minus the noodles…wake up her patients, persuade them to eat, read over her notes (hopefully), and go to class. It is now 0515 so she has roughly 10 hours to get things moving. Okay!…I'll wait till the food is almost ready to wake them up…I guess I can study for the time beingshe thought while leaving the kitchen to get her notes….WAIT..bad idea…I have a bad habit of falling asleep when I study so doing that will almost guarantee the food being overcooked…*phew*... …good save …she complimented herself while abruptly turning on her heels. Then what should I do then….OH! When they wake I'm pretty sure they are going to want to take shower…I can be cleaning the bathrooms and get some fresh towels to put in there so it will be ready for them. That's the least I can do considering the fact that I literally stripped them earlier…for the sake of medicine of course. She added, as if she needed to convince herself, she really needs to work on her shyness if she wanted to be taken seriously in the ninja world and by her peers…in particular Haruno. She can't make any claims on how Ino feels about her ability wise, but she can say that Ino and herself has established a budding friendship outside of missions. And to her surprise, Ino's really an intelligent kunoichi...wait, let me re-word that…she always knew Ino wasn't dumb but she did underestimate Ino before they got to know each other..there much better. Actually if it wasn't for Ino, her knowledge of medicinal plants and herbs would probably be on the same level as it was during the preliminary Chunin exams. And if you take in consideration the events that took place last night then…I really owe you one Ino, she thought while finishing up bathroom # 1. She will clean everything but the bathtub…I don't want to disturb them, who knows when the last time they were able to sleep so peacefully like this, she thought while grabbing fresh towels from her linen closet. She closed the linen closet's door and headed for bathroom #2 which was in the room where Uchiha is occupied. She crept in the bedroom and flicked the bathroom light on while stealing a quick look at Uchiha sleeping form. She knows she has avoided thinking about her and Uchiha, but the truth is she really doesn't know how to act around him. This is the most time her and Uchiha has spent under the same roof that didn't involve him on top of her or her on top of him….you get the hint. The few chances they did cross paths in public she wanted to say something besides the usual hello they gave each other when one noticed the other but…to no avail…hi, hello, or konnichiwa was the only thing her brain allowed her to say. But no matter how long it has been since they …well… "shared the same bed"…she will never forget the smell of his cologne, it just does something to her. After it invades her senses the things that flow through her mind after that is nothing less than X-rated. He doesn't wear it often, but whenever he does decide to wear it he becomes a walking aphrodisiac. To think that the mighty Uchiha takes time out of his morning routine to put on cologne makes him seem almost normal…almost. But then again, there are few people that indeed do know Uchiha. Let's see… we have Kakashi, Naruto, Haruno...and Sai…maybe. The last time Hinata talked to Ino, she remember Ino distinctly complaining about how Haruno still swoons over Uchiha…funny…if only she knew…actually I wouldn't be too surprised if she has begun to be suspicious of Uchiha and myself. When it comes to Uchiha, there is little that Haruno doesn't know. She doesn't think Haruno will ever get over Uchiha…if that is true then could the same be said about me when it comes to Naruto..?? She put the glass cleaner down to ponder on this thought before shrugging her shoulder….no need to get worked up, this is all just speculation. She inspected her handiwork before flicking the bathroom light off again, from there she scurried to the kitchen. The food should be done by now.

She cut off the cooked chicken and drained the water of it into the sink. She opened the crock-pot and her senses were blessed by the aroma of her home cooked goodness, it made her stomach growl. She spent the rest of her time combining the chicken broth, vegetables, and chicken together. Although she was busy with the task at hand, her mind started to drift on her present dilemma …should I use this chance to try to clear the air between Uchiha and myself, or should I not, but it not now then when…and Naruto…do I really what to let go or should I hold on just a little bit more….ugh! I hate being indecisive!! She remembered yesterday that she had made her mind up when she overheard Naruto and Haruno talking. The indecisive kunoichi put her completed chicken vegetable soup on simmer and started preparing the necessary utensils to serve her nutritious (or so she thinks) soup. She knows that Kiba and Shino enjoys her cooking when it's her turn to host their occasional get-togethers, but sometimes she can't tell if they eat her cooking because it's actually good or if they are just trying to be nice.

Ever since Neji and Uchiha came to her in the wee hours of the morning she has been going strong non-stop, both physically and mentally. She looked at her kitchen clock…0645…are you serious…after all of her physical labor and mental rambling only one hour has past. Her head snap towards the noise coming from one of the bedrooms...someone is taking a shower. With a racing mind, she made her way towards the bedrooms. Uchiha is awake…she said to herself stopping in front of her guest room. She wants to talk to him, to ease the tension on her end, to extend a hand of fellowship…or at least a professional relationship at any rate…she walked into the guest room with a hand over her chest as if that would ease her racing heart. It's beginning to feel as if her heart is in her throat. She attempted to compose herself when she heard the shower turn off. It's only a matter of minutes before he opens the bathroom door…think, think, think…what am I going to say to him…I knew this was a bad idea. She concluded one second to late…through the steam and dim light stood a clean, obsidian eyed Uchiha with the clean shirt she washed this morning thrown over his shoulder. He just stood there eyeing Hinata as he took his precious time buttoning and zipping up his pants. She opened her mouth…then closed it…and opened it again to give a softly spoken…

"Ohayou gozaimasu, Uchiha-san."　1

He replied with a curt nod. She shifted her weight onto her other leg before continuing.

"Gomen nasi2 but I need to...talk to you, do you have the patience to listen to my uncertainties or will you shoot me down as if I was Haruno… check on your sutures."She lied with a straight face while maintaining eye contact.

He let the shirt that hung on his shoulder drop to the floor, she knew that was his way of saying okay. He stood silently as she re-checked her handy work from earlier this morning. And as expected all was well, in fact, some of the chakra threads were beginning to dissolve. He is healing faster than I thought. He could leave right now if he truly wanted to, she thought while absent-mindedly running a finger across the barley visible scar. She picked up his shirt from the floor and handed it to him.

"Your wounds are healing at a quicker rate than I expected." She said with an approving tone.

"Hn…" He replied, taking his shirt in the process. Although he didn't put it on, he simply flung it over his shoulder again.

She could feel the palms of her hands getting sweaty. He makes me nervous. How do you become friends with someone whose mere presence makes you nervous? And why am I even nervous…is it because I don't know what to expect from him…or from myself?!?!.As they continue to stand in silence, she knows that he's reading her every movements and gestures. That's why she wasn't surprised when he asked her…

"What are your true intentions for coming to me this early in the morning...Hyuuga-san?" he said with a voice dipped in velvet.

Busted…she thought to herself humorlessly. She feels so childish all of a sudden. In an attempt to redeem herself she confessed…

"My intentions..." she started out "… was to discuss our past interactions with each other. I just wanted to say that I hope that the things that has transpired between us has not tarnish the image you might have had of me…if any.

She paused briefly…she thought she heard him say something, but it must have been her imagination so she continued.

I'm not sure if you remember this or not, but on that last day, I said to you that I hoped we could become real acquaintances one day…I…I was serious about that.

She ended her confession with only one stutter. Well that's an improvement. Proud of her accomplishment, she stood in silence because now the ball was in his court.

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.

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"Okay." He replied finally.

"O-okay." She said in agreement.

"Well um…I'm sorry for intruding on your privacy earlier I will leave now. Oh! Before I forget, there's some soup in the kitchen if you're hungry Uchiha-san." She said in attempt to change subjects, the atmosphere was beginning to feel awkward.

He didn't reply…but she could care less at the moment. She is satisfied with the progress she has made with Uchiha today. So he's a little rude…but I know worst, she thought while thinking about her cousin who lay in slumber down the hall. She excused herself from the guest room headed for the living room. Her clocked read 0730 when she past the kitchen clock…I'm ahead of schedule. She doubt Neji was going to wake up anytime soon, so she decided to use her time wisely and hit her books. She flopped down on the couch with a heavy sigh, her feet was aching. Throughout this whole ordeal this is the first time she actually sat down with the intention of taking a break…and studying of course. I have to stop neglecting myself like this… she said to herself while picking up her notes lying beside her. She's exhausted…but as much as her mind protested she began reading over her notes. I mustn't get behind in my studies no matter what comes my way, she reminded herself. She didn't allow her mind to distract her with thoughts of a shirtless Uchiha…or the image of him zipping up his pants, that image in particular seemed to be on repeat in the corner of her brain. It's been a while since the last time…I'm way overdue, she thought while absently-mindedly twirling a strand of her hair that has fallen from her now messy ponytail. There is another side of her that only Uchiha knows. A side that is even foreign to her. Is that why I'm pushing so hard to become his friend…so that I can learn more of myself from him? And if that's true then doesn't that mean I'm just using him….nahh…I'm looking too much into it. She put her notes down because she can no longer concentrate, her thoughts is swirling around Uchiha. Do you know how hard it is say 'no' to yourself when all you want to do is relapse? I really do feel like an addict…she thought while lying back onto the couch. She's mentally and physically exhausted. There won't be any training with Kiba and Shino today that's for sure. Sleep is calling her name but she's afraid to rest. She is running on empty, and the only thing that is keeping her from collapsing is sheer defiance. She got up from the couch and headed towards her bedroom to check on Neji. She opened her bedroom door to reveal a still sleeping Neji. She has never seen him sleep so hard before…maybe I overdid it with the sleep aid... she questioned herself while closing the bedroom door. She's so tired, that her footsteps have become slow and heavy. One would think that it was Choji walking down the hallway. She wanted to check Uchiha one last time before leaving them be.

"Sorry to disturb you again, I just wanted to check your condition one last time Uchiha-san." She said peering at him through heavy-lidded eyes.

He stopped cleaning his ninja tools when he saw her step into the light.

"That will not be necessary Hyuuga-san… you should be checking on your own condition instead of worrying so much about others." He said while resuming cleaning his weapons.

Her feet protested when she attempted to walk back into the hallway, so she settled for the recliner by the closet instead.

"Do you mind if I sit down?" she asked

"This is your place, do what you please." He responded.

Okay…I will take that as a yes…shesaid to herself while flopping so un-lady onto recliner. The silence between them was surprisingly comforting this time around. As she rocked herself in her recliner she watched him clean and sharpen his tools and katana. The friendship she hopes to build between herself and Uchiha will not come overnight. True friendships take time and effort, you have to get to know each other's likes and dislikes, fears and dreams. I guess you could say it is like a relationship but minus the sex….in most cases, she thought while a yawn escaped her lips. But there is one thing I have been meaning to ask Uchiha.

"Can I ask you something Uchiha-san?"

"What is it?"

"What happened…how did you get hurt so badly?"

"Let's just say that things did not go according to plan Hyuuga-san."

Fair enough….she thought while continuing to rock in the recliner.

"So, when will you and Neji-kun leaving?" She asked.

"As soon as your cousin wake up….and who knows how long that will take."

"Um…about that…I think I gave him too much sleep aid."

"Sleep aid…what sleep aid?" He responded.

"Uh..well…I felt bad about not giving Neji any pain medication, so when he fell asleep I rubbed some of my sleep aid underneath his nose…but I think I overdid it…..I did the same to you also." She said the last part in a hushed tone.

"No harm done. It doesn't really matter now." He said nonchalantly.

She couldn't help but to smile…it's going to be fun getting to know him.

"While I have you here, let me say that your hospitality has not gone unnoticed Hyuuga-san…I have to figure out a way to thank you properly that doesn't involve me in between your legs." He said with his trademark grin on his face.

She stopped rocking when he said this…okay…wasn't expecting that one…

"A simple thank-you will be sufficient, Uchiha-san"

"Hn…as you get to know me, you will find out that thank-you is not really a part of my vocabulary."

"Well... if you can't think of any other way to say thank-you then I guess we will have to settle for that now won't we?" OH MY GOD I DID NOT JUST SAY THAT…WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME!?!?

"I uh..wait…Uchiha-san…I'm sorry I don't usually say things like that

I can't even tell you why I even thought that let alone voiced it…"She stammered out quickly trying to explain her actions….she needs a distraction right now before she dies from embarrassment.

He didn't reply to her outburst, he just sat on the bed with a permanent smirk on his face. She's beginning to think he enjoys taking her out of her comfort zone.

"Ochitsuite3….Hyuuga-san" He said.

She heard the shower turn on in her bedroom….oh thank goodness Neji-kun is awake. With her cool points significantly deducted, she started back rocking in the recliner. Yes…it's going to be really interesting getting to know Uchiha. Once again the comforting silence consuming the room again, she made it a point to enjoy it this time. But, unfortunately for her, the exhaustion she has been putting off has come back to bite her in the ass. Unable to fight it any longer, she drifted off into a dreamless sleep with an observant Uchiha witnessing her loss to a futile battle.

*

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*

" Damn it!" She exclaimed while hopping up from the recliner. She fell asleep and she could not be more upset at herself. The clock on the nightstand read 2105…and just like that her perfect attendance in class RUINED!! Her apartment is silent and still…which means her "guest" has left. To her surprise as she walked through her now empty apartment to make sure her doors are locked, she felt lonely……just a little. But despite everything (mishaps included), she had fun. She doesn't know when she will see Uchiha again, because they are both busy ninjas but hopefully it will be sometime soon. One has to look at the situation realistically. They are ninjas; it might even be a whole month before she even see him in the streets of Konoha again. Especially if the 5th is giving Uchiha missions like she gives Kakashi-sensei or Neji-kun in that case, he's a Jounin too…or did he crossover into Anbu…she totally forgot to ask him that. If I wasn't too busy eye-humping Uchiha then maybe I would have remembered to ask him. In her bedroom, she turned her shower on and smothered her senses with the scent of mimosa body wash. Her mind drifted back to Uchiha again…she really, really, REALLY wants him right now….now as in like NOW. It doesn't' matter how hard she tries to think about something else, her mind just drifts back to him. Parts of her wished she would have jumped on him when he came out of the shower half dressed…teasing her…she knows that he felt her chakra in the room she focused it to make sure he was aware that she was in the room on purpose and what do he do instead…he comes out half naked anyway. Damn tease…she said turning the shower off. She dried off and put on a t-shirt that went below her knees, she's still sleepy so she decided to call it a night early. As she laid in bed, it took her everything in her being not to touch herself, not saying that masturbation is a bad thing...it just does more harm than good especially if it doesn't compare to the real thing…at least in her case that is. She could call Shino and Kiba and asked them to come keep her company but she was feeling anti-social all of a sudden. To make matters worse she couldn't find a comfortable spot on her bed. Out of frustration, she took her sleep aid from her nightstand and used it on herself. Throwing her head back on the pillow she allowed her mind to drift back on Uchiha before the sleep aid completely took an effect on her. What a lame way to end the night…..was the last thing she thought before drifting into la-la land.

~*~~*~*~*~*~**~*~~*~ End of Carnation~*~*~*~

A/N: Okay, so I know it has been forever sorry about that. I feel as if I need to explain what I am trying to do with this story. As I mentioned before my goal is to build their connection, form it into a bond, and whatever else that will prosper out of that. I want readers to be able to see their growth…hopefully I am doing ok with that…CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is welcomed…I think…but if you flame me I shall call you out…you have been warned....until next time *~*Ciao*~*