TEAMMATES
It had been an impulse reaction, something completely out of character for him but he'd been powerless to stop it. Crumpled, like a discarded piece of paper she had made for a sorry excuse of a woman, much less a Hyuga.
Heartless wasn't a completely accurate word to describe, Sasuke Uchiha. Ambitious-very. Calculating-Yes but not heartless.
After all it was love that fueled his need for revenge when he went after Itachi, love for the family that had been taken from him and after finding out the terrible truth about his older sibling, it was an even greater love that sent him on a blood thirsty path to take down the village hidden in the leaves.
It would seem, Sasuke Uchiha has been led by his heart in most every en-devour of his life. No, heartless couldnt be a word used to describe him.
And that is what led him here, in a room, with her asleep on the bed mat just feet away. Her chest barely moved as she breathed in and out. Her eyes fluttered every now and again but otherwise, she remained still.
The stench of urine, grass and sweat permeated the air, he wondered, not for the first time since he'd lifted her into his arms how long it'd been since she last bathed.
She shifted in the bed, bringing him from his thoughts. She sat up slowly, her bones cracking from the movement. Turning to face him she sighed, "Y-you didn't leave me."
"You stink." He said in return.
She blushed deeply and the blood rush made her light headed. For a moment she feared she'd pass out again.
"Breathe, Hyuga, before you faint and if you do, Ill leave you here to work off the bill."
Her eyes hit the floor before she answered his question, "I don't remember."
"You're days away from death, you're appearance shows it and your chakra levels are all but nonexistent, Hinata."
She stiffened at his assessment. "Then why bring me here? Why not just let me die?"
Sasuke scowled at her then, "Did you want to die out there? Your carcass would be picked clean by the wild dogs before morning. Not that theres much of you left besides bones."
A fat tear rolled down her dirty cheek, leaving a streak in its wake. She sniffled softly.
Rolling his eyes he turned away from her, "Don't cry, you'll just waste energy and salt your body badly needs."
"Thank you."
"Why were you out there?" He asked after a few moments of silence passed.
He could almost her her heart beating faster as she recalled. Her cheeks reddened once more and again the tears came.
"My chakra dwindled, after the war. My father hated me for allowing Neji to die for my sake on the battlefield. He sent me away."
"Why were you in the woods, away from the city. He sent you only from the compound."
She bit her lip and looked up for the first time, she met his eyes.
Sorrow.
"You couldn't understand."
At his glare she smiled sadly and gave in, "Naruto and Sakura have beautiful children."
'Good lord.' He thought sarcastically. "You went out into the woods to die because your crush married someone else?"
"I was trying to make it to Sunagakure...but I was robbed as soon as I left the gates and got lost in the land of the grass." She corrected, "There isnt a thing for me in Konoha."
"How long ago was that?"
"Maybe three months ago." She answered.
He stayed silent then, taking in her story.
She cleared her throat and swallowed dryly, "Can I have some water?" She asked staring with cow eyes at the pitcher and glasses set neatly on the side table.
"Go ahead." He waved her away with his hand.
She stood on unsteady legs and drank straight from the pitcher, gasping for air even as she took in huge mouthfuls of water.
"You keep doing that and youre going to throw up." He advised watching her with disgust.
Sure enough, her body begun to shake violently, she crumpled to the floor and out came most if not all of the water she'd just ingested.
Tears fell from her eyes then and her body shook from the effort. She was quite the woman, broken in so many ways, alone, completely and utterly alone. Lost.
He stood and walked over to her, "Didnt I warn you?"
"Y-yes." She answered.
Bending over he grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. Her legs though, were too weak to hold herself up and she wouldve found herself once again on the floor had it not been for him.
Setting her back on the bed he begun to undo his shirt and jeans.
Startled she stared up at him. "What are you doing?"
"Theres a bath downstairs, you stink and I need to shower too. You got puke on me."
She blushed and nodded. "Thank you." She grabbed the bottom of her shirt, stale from unwash, dirt and blood. She pulled it over her head slowly, her limbs aching as she did so.
He watched her with a queer sense of disgust. Bones poked out from every joint, ribs clearly visible, every vertebrae all but exposed. At a slight sound of distress he helped her get the shirt over her head.
"Sorry." She said.
Ignoring her, he grabbed the phone on the nightstand and called for a maid to clean the mess she made and walked to the closet, grabbing a robe for her and himself and then headed into the shower room. Turning the knob and tried to wash away the memory of her broken body. He heard her enter and turn on the head next to his. He opened his eyes just as she bent to retrieve the soap. Her legs were like sticks, hip bones jutted out and her ass indentured.
Her legs still shook as she sat down, too tired to even stand for a few moments at a time. Sighing, she closed her eyes and simply was. She wanted to groan as the warm water pummeled her bruised body, washed away all the dirt and blood that had accumulated over the months. She grabbed the bar of soap and wash rag. Lathering it up she begun gingerly scrubbing. Trying hard not to put too much pressure, so as to not disturb the healing bruises.
He ignored her and made no comment, giving her as much privacy as possible. Reaching out he asked for the soap.
He finished quicker than she but stayed in the room in order to help her down the staircase.
After a few minutes, she followed him out.
Dressed in the fuzzy white robe he was slightly surprised. Although her body was still bruised, lips still chapped she looked better with her hair and skin scrubbed clean. "C-Can you help me get to the baths?"
"Thats why Im still here, Hyuga."
She nodded and blushed, "Can I ask another favor?"
He stayed silent, waiting for her to ask.
"Can you wait just a moment so I can wash my clothes?"
After she'd done so, they made their way into the baths.
They were alone, for fall it was to be expected. Summer was when everyone wanted to visit the baths and resorts.
She was glad. She didnt want to see people, didnt want to listen to the noise, although she couldnt help but wish, not for the first time, that the hotel had segregated baths instead of a Unisex one.
He was as handsome as she remembered, no longer a young child he stood a man, now. Muscles lined every inch of his body, he stood so healthy in stark contrast to her.
She knew better than to stare and so she didnt, instead she chose to look up, into the sky and listen to the wind as it rushed by every few minutes. She could almost feel her body gaining strength, but still the hunger and thirst ebbed.
"We will stay here the night."
"We?"
"You wanna go back out there?"
She shook her head, "No... thank you, Sasuke." Her voice wavered and again she cried.
"Stop crying, Hinata." He said standing, "Lets go."
She wanted to stay but made no protest. Quickly looking away from his body, she wrapped her robe around her frame and hoped her clothes had had enough time to dry.
They hadn't. She wrung them out hopelessly before sighing and donning the wet clothing. Shaking from the cold, she crawled under the sheets which quickly became as wet as her shirt and lay back on the mat, too exhausted to even wish for warm clothing.
Shivering from the draft in the room she begun to drift off to sleep when a hard shove to her shoulder jolted her back. On instinct she jumped from the bed and into the gentle fist position.
Sasuke glared at her. "Back down, Hyuga."
She blushed deeply and hung her head, "Im sorry, Sasuke."
"Here." He said throwing a shirt at her.
'Giving me the shirt right off his back...' She thought looking at his naked torso. Turning away, she pulled her wet clothes off and lay them out to continue drying, leaving on her bra and underwear and laid back in bed.
Before following suit, Sasuke walked into the small closet stocked with fresh towels and bed sheets. He tossed it to Hinata, flicked off the lights and settled in for the night.
She slept like the dead and he barely at all.
Instead he listened to the sounds of the night, he listened for intruders and he listened to the sound of her steady breathing.
The next day, they checked out of the hotel and headed back into the woods. Both unsure of what they were doing with the other.
He walked and she simply followed surprised that he allowed her to.
He studied her when she wasnt looking, gauging her lack of survival skills and her tenderheartedness to the nature surrounding them. 'Tender...' He thought, just the word alone foreign to his world. 'She's tender.'
"Sasuke." She said holding something out for him.
A rabbit. The neck cleanly broken. "Lets stop for camp."
"Ok, i-if youll skin it, I will gather firewood." She offered.
He smirked at her, "Who said I was going to share, Hyuga? You gave it to me."
"Okay." She said blushing, her eyes hit the floor and she turned to walk away.
He grabbed her wrist before she could scamper off, "I was kidding, Hinata." He said calmly, "Gather the wood."
She looked at him oddly for a moment and he instantly released his hold on her. He walked away before she could say anything.
He was just cutting off the last foot on the rabbit when he heard the shuffling, soft and fleeting. He would've missed it if he'd still been cutting. Quickly activating his Sharingan he found the source and for a moment sat indecisively. 'She's not my problem. Theyll drag her back to Konoha.'
Both men, Ninja from The Village Hidden In The Clouds, held Hinata while a female companion stood watching them, hands angrily pressed to her hips as she berated them about something. She turned, and pulled something from the backpack she carried. Throwing it to the floor she quickly left them alone with Hinata who struggled futilely in their grasp.
He was up and running before the package even hit the floor.
It was a condom.
The first man had no idea what hit him. They were Genin, and stood no chance. The second man had a few moments to at least brace himself.
In moments, Hinata stood surrounded by the unconscious bodies of the two men and in front of Sasuke.
"What about the woman?" Hinata asked.
It was his turn to stare at her now, he smiled and let out a chuckle, "Bloodthirsty, arent you?"
She smiled and shrugged, "I was just wondering..."
"She wont be back for some time, shes already a few kilometers away and heading further out." He said, "She didn't wanna be close in case you were a screamer."
She shuddered and rubbed her arms, grimacing a bit.
Sasuke glared at the fresh bruises on her arms. "Why not heal them?"
She smiled, "They will on their own, I'd rather not waste my chakra on that."
Shrugging he turned, "C'mon."
"What about the rabbit?" Hinata asked, her stomach cramping at the lack of food inside it.
"Leave it." He said already walking away.
She sighed and followed.
They traveled until the early morning stopping after reaching a small village.
Camping just on the outskirts, Hinata quickly collapsed into the grass, too tired to even bother with finding a shelter.
Leaning over her gasping form, he picked her up, earning a high yelp from Hinata. Walking to the lining of trees a few feet away, Sasuke set her back down before sitting down himself and closing his eyes.
She studied his features, then. Eyes roaming over his face, his body, from his sandals, to the scars on his hands, to the small hairs at the top of his head blowing in the slight breeze.
He opened his eyes then and stared right back. Not an ounce of curiosity in his eyes. He already had her numbered down. She was as much an enigma to him as the nose on his face.
She though, couldn't tear her eyes away.
"The fates really took their time when they created you, Sasuke." She told him, unabashed.
"Go to sleep, Hinata."
She tilted her head, "Why didn't you ever come back?"
He didn't answer, but she pressed on, "After the war, you were free. Nobody would've minded if you had come back. You probably would've been given a heroes welcome." She smiled, "The women in the village still talk about you, you know. You're like a legend."
"Shut up, Hinata." He growled.
She stopped but continued to stare, too tired to care she opened her mouth for one final question, "Sasuke... Have you e-ever been with a woman?"
"I told you to be quiet, Hyuga." He answered, his voice now deadly.
Eerily calm, she rolled from her back onto her knees and crawled towards him.
He watched, she looked like one of deaths henchmen, all bones and skin, true she was cleaner now than she'd been before and no longer stunk but she still looked about a minute from death. He knew what she wanted, knew what she was going to do.
How many times had Karin done the same thing? How many others had done more? He couldn't remember.
She straddled him, he could feel her thighs shaking from the exertion. Her hands cradled his face and pulled his face up to stare directly into her eyes.
His hands came up to her hips, sliding around her body, cupping her ass and grinding her sex against his.
He smirked, she'd gone in over her head and he'd known it. With her chest pressed against his he could feel her heart beating hard, he could almost smell the fear etched clearly into her eyes, "Get off Hinata and go to sleep."
Her face tomato red, she fumbled back to the grass and stretched out, quickly falling asleep within minutes.
He watched her and shook his head, 'Stupid woman.'
With that, he nodded off too.
Hours later he heard a twig snapping and woke to the presence of three unknown chakras slowly closing in. Two were familiar, the third new.
Hinata was awake too. Large frightened eyes flickered back and forth in the darkness, like a caged animal.
The three nin approached, not even trying to hide, so sure that they'd win. "Their chunin." Sasuke said, 'They have to be new, otherwise they wouldn't be so cocky.' Sharingan was already on, he knew Hinata had activated Byakugan.
"Hello agai-..." They cut off, taking in both sets of eyes glowing eerily in the early moring darkness.
All three stopped short, faced with the unknown kekkai genkai's. Two men, one shorter than the other and a female. "Yuhi, what is it?" One of the men asked.
"I don't know..." The woman answered, "His chakra is immense, do you feel it?"
"Yes, but hers is almost nonexistent."
"Its not worth it, c'mon." The taller of the men said.
"Bitch owes me one." The short one growled, "We can take em, Haru. Use formation E." With that the three dissipated into thin air and in their place came strong winds.
Hinata glared, "Sasuke, their moving at a high rate of speed, circling us..."
"I know, I can see them." He answered calmly. He picked a kunai from his pockets and threw.
Sure enough, it found its target, and the woman was down.
"SHIT!" She screamed clutching her left arm, she pulled the blade out, and tried to stop the bleeding, "Haru! Genka!" She growled standing again and once again quickly disappeared.
"Ill aim the next on at your heart." Sasuke said giving them a last chance.
"Sasuke!" Hinata yelped jumping in front of him as a shuriken flew by heading straight for his back. In a split second he was in the tree above them, Hinata though was now where he stood.
"Hinata!" He yelled, and watched as she took the blade straight into her ribs.
'No more games.' He thought activating Chidori. Easily pin pointing each opponent, he set off.
"What the hell is that!" The woman screamed as she watched it slice through her teammates before barreling towards her.
She fell to the ground in a bloody heap, eyes wide open, she gasped once before her heart stopped.
Hinata whimpered a few feet away, clutching her side with shaking hands.
Blood poured from the wound, drenching her clothing.
Grabbing his bag, he lifted her into his arms and headed into town.
The sun had just begun to rise, the streets were still deserted but for one old man pushing a rickety wheelbarrow.
"Hey!" Sasuke called catching him by the shoulder. "Where is the nearest hospital?"
The old man gaped at Hinata who'd passed out from the blood-loss. White as a sheet of paper and thin as she was, she made for quite a horrific sight.
"Its two blocks down, turn right and head straight, its about 5-6 blocks from there! Get her some help, quick, son!" He called to Sasuke who was already running.
He burst into the hospital, stopping at the ER entrance he stopped at the front desk, "She's been struck by a shuriken." He said holding her up for the nurse who had already picked up the phone and was calling for more medical ninja.
She hung up and ran into a room a few feet down the hall, quickly returning with a bed, "Lay her on this." She instructed grabbing a clip board.
Sasuke hesitated a moment, making the nurse smile reassuringly at him.
"We will not do anything to harm her, but she needs to be laid out so we can all work on the wound." She said nodding to the two nurses who'd come running in.
Sasuke brushed her off and lay Hinata down. 'She's as white as the bedding.' He thought watching her face as they wheeled her away.
He stood, not knowing what to do for a moment when the same nurse handed him a clip board and pen.
"We need you to fill out some papers for her, you can have a seat while you wait, or possibly change your clothes..." She said pointing to the blood that stained his shirt.
"I don't know her." Sasuke said handing her back the clip board.
She nurse frowned, "No name?" She bit her lip, "Im sorry but we cannot allow her to stay if she has no insurance." Picking up the phone once again, she was just punching in a few numbers when Sasuke held out his hand.
"I've got her fees, I just dont know any of her information besides her name." He said, grabbing the board he wrote her name and payed the upfront costs.
He walked into the bathrooms and took of his shirt. Throwing it into the trash can, he donned a clean one and headed to the waiting room.
He'd been waiting about an hour when a male nurse came to him, "Are you, Sasuke?" He asked.
He stood, "Yeah."
"Ok, follow me." He said pushing open the doors theyd first run through, "Now, we've already talked to her about maintaining her health, she's about 60lbs under weight. The injury we had healed within minutes, but we wanted to keep an eye on her a little longer, just in case." He opened a door with and smiled at Hinata, who was fast asleep. "She seems hungry and tired, otherwise she's ready to leave." Holding the door open for Sasuke, he nodded to Sasuke, "Ill be right with you in a minute to discuss her release."
Sasuke walked into the room and stood beside her bed. "Hinata." He said.
She opened her eyes and gazed at him with all the admiration of a dog who'd just found its new owner. "Y-You didnt leave me." She said quietly.
"Yeah, let's go." He said looking away uncomfortably, embarrassed at her tone.
"Sasuke."
"What!" He asked turning back to face her, annoyed now.
Huge pale eyes stared up at him as she scooted from the bed. She wore a hospital gown, her clothes were nowhere to be found but it wasnt her lack of clothes that had his attention. It was the slow smile that was growing until it encompassed her entire face.
"Thank you, Sasuke."
He turned, hiding the slight blush. Pulling out his bags he threw her his last set of spare clothes. "Change so we can go." Walking over to the window he stared out.
At the touch of her hand on his shoulder he turned, "Lets go."
He stopped short when he took her in. The shirt was huge on her but the pants were just a lost cause. He wondered what she used to keep them up.
He paid the rest of her bill and they checked out. As they made their way down the street they'd first run, the old man Sasuke had asked for directions waved to them.
He stood next to a small fresh fruit stand, "Glad to see you got 'er fixed up!" He called.
Hinata smiled and waved back at him, Sasuke continued on.
"Who was that?" She asked as soon as they were out of earshot.
"He gave me directions to the hospital."
She turned around smiled and waved back at the old man again.
Hinata followed Sasuke into a small store, he walked to the front counter where a young woman stood.
"Welcome! How can I help you today, sir?" The girl purred, fingering a stray lock of auburn hair, her brown eyes sparkling at Sasuke.
"We need a pack of Shuriken and 2 Kunai packs." He said.
Hinata stared around at the multitude of weapons the store had on display. She walked over to a small revolving case that held different types of poisons and a few bombs.
"Hinata." He said.
"Y-Yes?" She answered turning to find him holding out the pouch of Shuriken and Kunai to her.
"Strap these on and lets go."
She quickly did as he said, noting the strange look the woman behind the counter gave her.
He walked out and across the street to a clothing store, Hinata trailing close behind.
"Get an outfit and a spare." He said heading into the mens section. "You have ten minutes."
She nodded and wondered into the isles. She selected a gray t-shirt and a blue one, settling on two standard black pants.
She quickly gathered her items and ran to the front of the store where Sasuke stood waiting.
"She needs to change before we leave." He told the owner who nodded and pointed to the changing rooms.
She chose the blue shirt and met Sasuke outside, handing him back the clothes he'd lent her.
Putting their items into the bag he carried and stopping one last time for a quick meal, they were on their way.
They traveled together for three weeks, Hinata simply following Sasuke wherever he went. Ignoring his sour attitude and helping him whenever the need arose.
Slowly, her strength was returning, the deep bags under her eyes started to fade and the bruises had healed. She ate as much as she could whenever she could and it was beginning to pay off. She was still very skinny but the sickly look she had was no longer there.
She didn't know why he let her tag along but didn't question.
It had been years since he'd traveled with someone but he'd be damned before admitting he actually enjoyed her presence.
She wasn't like any female he'd met before. She was quiet, she spoke only when words were needed. She kept to herself, she stared at him sometimes but he was used to that. He could remember her as a child, their families would come together and conference. He could remember bits and pieces of what it was they discussed but not everything. He knew Itachi and Hinata or he and the younger sister were to be married, their child, an experiment.
Those plans had long ago been put to rest.
Still, he'd caught himself on more than one occasion staring at her wondering how heavy or light her breasts would feel, if they'd fill his hands. Her ass wasn't large but it was filling out nicely with all the food she'd been putting away. Her muscles were building back up too, all the walking theyd been doing had toned her legs perfectly. Practicing with the Kunai and shuriken had made her arms build long forgotten strength.
She was a beautiful woman, now that she was cleaned up and healing. That was what surprised him more than anything because he had never noticed.
It was a cool morning, the sun was shinning through the trees casting beams of light all around them. Hinata stood in a small stream washing their clothes and knives. A fish had jumped from the water a few feet from her, making her jump in surprise.
He'd heard the commotion and ran to her, only to find that she'd slipped and drenched herself. She looked up at him, still a bit taken back before a slow smile spread over her face, the same smile he'd learned she used when she was truly happy. She opened her mouth and a loud rolling laugh escaped her lips.
He'd glared at her and walked away, but he couldn't get the image of her sitting there in the stream, hair damp, eyes dancing and that smile out of his mind. Her laughter was loud and deep but he'd liked it. It reminded him of his mothers.
The fourth week was when autumn had really begun to set, making way for the winter. Hinata stood inside the cave they had found to camp in for the night. Her small figure, highlighted by the falling snow as she waited for him to return from gathering the firewood was all he could look at as he walked up the small hill. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders down to her hips, he couldn't remember if he liked women with long hair but decided that on her, he liked it. A lot.
She waved at him as soon as she caught site and retreated inside, at ease now. He knew she grew nervous when he left her. She slept just feet away from him at night and frequently clutched his shirt when she felt she was in danger. He allowed it. He knew she was afraid of being near death again, knew she was in love with him, as she made no effort to hide it. She was as transparent as her eyes suggested.
He handed her the wood he'd gathered and sat down. Pulling out late season duck he had caught earlier that day, he begun to pull its feathers.
She cleaned the meat and skewered it after. It was a quiet evening, the first snow usually made the world still. Nobody was in the mood to go out, let alone battle.
He ate, appreciative of her cooking, not for the first time. She knew how to cook, he'd discovered, relieved. His own culinary skills couldve done with some help.
She lay near him, rolling a small pebble from hand to hand while he sat, sharpening his weapons.
The wind picked up from outside, and their fire begun to die. Grabbing the extra wood, he threw a thick log in and pulled out his sleeping bag. Closing his eyes, he listened to her shuffle about.
She had her own sleeping bag and he could hear her laying it out. Soon the steady sound of her breathing was all he heard. Outside the snow had already stopped, not even an inch had fallen.
He awoke in the middle of the night, unsure what had disturbed him. For a minute lay still, trying to sense for unknown chakra's. Then he heard her.
"Sasuke..." She said staring at him from her bedding a few feet away. Their fire had run low, and the cave had lost most of the warmth. He could see her breath as she whispered his name.
She unzipped her bag and walked over to him. Kneeling beside him she stared into his eyes, unblinking.
Her hands reached under her shirt. After shifting a bit she removed them.
He sighed as he watched her. Deciding whether or not to allow her to continue. He knew what she wanted and it had been months for him as well.
Before he could say anything she pulled her shirt over her head.
Staring at her for a moment, he unzipped his bag and scooted over as she slid in beside him. Her arms wound around his torso and her mouth made its way to his neck.
In the morning he awoke with her in her shirt, her legs wrapped around his, her arms between hers and his chest.
Outside, the snow had cleared and the sun shone brightly. They had overslept.
"Hinata." He said unzipping the sleeping bag and standing.
She yawned softly into the fabric and stretched out. Her eyes opened, large and trusting. She stared up at him shyly.
They dressed in the quiet. She stood beside him as he grabbed the bags and walked.
He was surprised at how inexperienced she'd been. He knew she was an heiress but that usually equated to a spoiled woman used to getting what she wanted, men included. It was rare to find one who was innocent.
He couldn't get the image out of his head. Laying naked on her back, legs spread willingly for him, hair fanned out in the fading light of the fire, she'd almost looked ethereal. The slight gasp he'd heard as he slid inside, it quickly turned to a moan after giving her a moment to accept him.
Her blood had stained his bag.
"Look, Sasuke." She said pulling him from his thoughts.
A herd of deer ran in the distance. Six. Their lithe bodies seemed to glide over the land as they went.
He looked at her, she seemed mesmerized by them.
"Their running from wolves." He said looking at the pack that had given up the chase and were now walking back into the trees.
She nodded staring in awe at the animals.
"I was never really allowed to go on missions that ranged too far outside the city limits." She explained sheepishly, "The only animals I saw were smaller game."
He nodded and continued on.
They were on the last leg of their journey. Soon the terrain they were traveling turned from woodland to dessert, the dramatic changes in climate the dessert underwent took Hinata by surprise. It would heat up to over 100 degrees during the day and plummet to 25 at night. She grew ill by their 4th day.
They stopped at an Inn the fifth and sixth day and by the seventh she was well enough to travel again.
They never discussed what happened that night and it didnt happen again. She never came to him at night and continued to keep quiet and still stuck close.
After a week of walking through the sand they came upon a large city.
Hinata stared at the name marked on the gates, Sunagakure. Wide eyed, she stared at Sasuke, then the gates. "S-Sasuke?" She asked quietly, haulting in her steps.
"You said that this was your destination." He said leaving her behind. "Tell them who you are and you will be let in."
"Sasuke..." She repeated, her voice cracking. "D-do you want me to go?"
He stopped and glared back at her, "You're acting like a child, Hyuga."
She whimpered at the use of her last name, he hadn't used it in weeks.
"I want to stay with you..." She said softly, fighting back tears and failing miserably. "Let me stay with you, Sasuke."
He stared at her for a long time before walking to stand in front of her.
Tears fell from her eyes, over her cheeks. She looked like a mess but to him she'd never looked more beautiful.
He could hear her heart accelerate as he came closer, her breathing slowed as his hands gripped her hips and pulled her against him. His hands traveled up her sides, tracing her breasts until one rested on her back, the other in her hair.
Bending down, he kissed her.
Slowly adding more and more pressure, her own hands cupped his jaw, pulling him closer to her. She opened her mouth to breath and sighed as his tongue entered.
The world spun around her as she gave into him, terrified of losing him and being alone again. He pulled away and watched her. Eyes still closed, lips bruised from his.
Brushing a few stray locks from her forehead, he bent and kissed one more time before bringing his hand up and knocking her out.
She fell limp in his arms.
"Miss?" Someone was shaking her. "She's waking up."
"S-Sasuke?" She whispered, her vision blurry.
"What's that?" The woman asked leaning over her, concern etched into her dark features.
"Where am I?" Hinata asked sitting up, she was laying in sand. Her sleeping bag and extra clothes next to her.
"We found you near the city walls, we are patrol guards from Sunagakure." She explained, "I'm Umi and that," She said pointing to her partner, "Is Akane."
"She doesn't have any weapons with her, she doesnt look like a ninja." Akane said peering at Hinata's belongings.
"Come on, dear." Umi said taking Hinata's hand, "Lets get you something to drink."
"And something to eat." Akane added, "You look like the wind might carry you away."
Hinata nodded still dazed.
The women walked her to the gates and called to the keeper. The large doors opened slowly, allowing them to enter.
Hinata turned as they closed behind them, searching into the distance for him. Praying for just a glimpse.
"Sasuke..." She whispered.
-TBC
