Chapter Five

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

A/N: I'm sorry that I didn't get a chance to respond to your reviews. I was really busy this week.

Thank you for letting me know that you want me to continue the story. As for the questions re: what happened between Naruto and Hinata and why is he married to Sakura and how will he feel about Sasuke's 'feelings' towards Hinata…all will be revealed soon. But let me just say that no, Naruto did not cheat on Hinata with Sakura.

Sasuke hadn't seen her in the missions room or at the Academy or in the library or at the market or at the training grounds. He hadn't even realized that he was looking for her until one day about a week and a half after that night, while he was sitting in the Hokage's office with Naruto, Sakura and Shikamaru, that he felt the need to ask rather abruptly after her:

"Where's Hinata? Is she on a mission?"

"What?" Naruto asked confused. Shikamaru looked annoyed that their meeting would be drawn out even further. Sakura looked at Sasuke shrewdly.

"I haven't seen her around for a while."

"Since when did you care?" Naruto asked, genuinely confused about this sudden turn in events.

Sasuke stared at him. Shikamaru and Sakura looked between the both of them. Sasuke rolled his eyes for an answer and just like that, he walked out of the meeting.

"Hey! Bastard! We're in a meeting!"

"Does that mean the meeting's over?" Shikamaru said already closing his notepad and getting up to leave.

"What? No! What the – What is going on with teme?" He mumbled the last part; really and truly confused as he looked to his wife for an answer.

"Didn't he say that he was buying a house from her?"

"Oh yeah. The deal must have fallen through or something. He must have done something to get on her bad side and managed to fuc– I mean, muck it up."

"I hope so." She muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing. Should I reschedule the meeting?"

Naruto looked at her for a moment, wondering what her comment meant, but decided to file it away for future reference instead.

Hinata had been so upset after her exchange with Sasuke that night that she really did make kimchi. She rounded up all the napa cabbage in the compound's main kitchen garden (all ten pounds of them) and ended up making kimchi well into the night. She felt a lot better then.

It had been almost six weeks since she last spoke to him. She saw him all the time, not that he saw her though. With her Byakugan she could stay from the comfort of her room and spy on him and avoid him accordingly.

As time passed and she went over the last time they spoke, she decided that she was in the wrong. She should have had more patience. He had clearly been drinking. She could've smelled it on his breath. She decided to stop hiding in the shadows and make a peace offering. Armed with kimchi, rice, soup and sodas she marched down the winding path that led from her house to his.

She packed enough because he had employed the use of a genin team to help him work on his roof. The entitled bastard lounged away on a large boulder in the backyard while the team's Jounin sensei fell asleep in the shade of an overgrown cotton tree.

Sasuke was surprised to see her, but he didn't show it. He was glad to see her too and he definitely wasn't going to let her know that, mainly because he found it so strange himself.

"Hinata,"

"Sasuke-san," She took a deep breath, "I brought you lunch."

She walked over to him and set down her duffle bag. Pulling out an old blanket to spread, she took out six bowls and disposable chopsticks.

"You've been spying on me."

"Of course not. You were in my line of vision."

"Aa."

She didn't know this Jounin, who looked like a skinnier, taller version of Asuma. The children and their sensei came to eat and remarked rather hyperbolically that this was the best food they'd ever eaten in their entire lives. Even the rice was better than anything they'd had. Hinata blushed at the praise. Sasuke said nothing, but Hinata noted that he ate his entire share and still went back for more.

The Jounin went back to sleep and Sasuke ordered the children back up to his roof as he lounged on the blanket next to Hinata, who sat in a perfect seiza position - with her legs tucked under her, toes pointed backwards. She subtly tried to shift away. He seemed to notice. She felt bad and then tried to come closer to him. Now he shifted from her a bit. She felt bad. He seemed to notice. They both ended up shifting to each other. Now they were too close. It was awkward, as everything tended to be with them.

Hinata decided to strike up conversation.

"Have they learnt to channel chakra to their feet as yet?" she asked with deep concern as she saw one of the boys balanced precariously on a wooden beam when he replaced an old tile.

"No. But it's not a long way down. You can attest to that."

Hinata made a scrunched up face that Sasuke realized was her trying not to smile.

By six o'clock it was time to pack up and the kids and their Jounin-sensei left with their bodies hurting. Only one of them was feeling that way from sleeping too much, though.

Sasuke and Hinata moved inside to inspect the work from the third floor. Hinata noted that he had already begun making alterations to the windows, replacing the wood framed ones for steel. She moved to stand at the west facing window. From this height she could see the top of her house.

"See, child labour is justified."

Hinata gave him an eyebrow pop of disbelief.

"Their tiny hands are better at creating that smooth finish."

"You're despicable." She whispered good-naturedly, but he heard her.

"No, I'm not. I'm just playing the role everyone wants me to play."

"You're exceptionally good at it."

"Let's check it out from the top." He climbed out the window first and she followed reluctantly. She was shocked to see a hand shoot out to help her. She looked up at him standing at the side of the window, his expression blank but he looked as if he was tamping down a devilish smirk.

"Do you think I'll fall again, Sasuke-san?"

"Once is an accident, twice is a habit, three times is an enemy action. Just trying to avoid a Hyuuga law suit."

She smiled and a bit hesitantly ended up taking his hand. "Aa. I thought you had your best interests at heart."

"Always."

She shook her head and smiled.

The view was spectacular. The sun was setting in glorious scarlet pink across a baby blue background, casting long, golden streaks everywhere. The cresting hills of tea were in silhouette and he could hear a gentle breeze swaying the bamboo patch near the stone pathway that led the way to the Hyuuga Manor.

Sasuke wondered if he could really do this. He was countryside adjacent. His sinking apartment was located in the heart of Konoha, in the heavy bustle of the city – noise everywhere; beautiful, distracting noise. But standing here on this roof with Hinata next to him, he felt a stillness of presence that he probably hadn't felt in years. In the background of his mind he grew cautiously optimistic.

Hinata too really enjoyed the view and felt brief regret that she hadn't bought this farmhouse for herself instead. It was the perfect place to…raise a family, her mind finished before she had a chance to cut off the thought.

Sasuke's trained eye noticed her slight sigh, the way she bit her bottom lip and the sudden furrowed eyebrows. He didn't know what she was thinking, but she looked like she was on the verge of getting lost in dark, depressing thoughts. He remembered her pained face the last time he saw her and decided that he might as well attempt an apology…or rather an explanation.

"I had a lot to drink last time." He said quietly. A southern wind blew in, making her hair dance in the wind.

"I know. I'm sorry. I should have been more patient with you."

"You shouldn't apologize."

"Like you?" A cool breeze caressed her face and she hugged herself from the unexpected chill. A sudden strong gust blew her hair up and hit him in the face. He didn't move it away. He liked how it smelled. He sighed and she thought he was going to apologize. He didn't.

"I went away on a mission. When I came back almost a year later, you had already buried…" He left his sentence hanging. He was unwilling to upset her again and he found it odd that he suddenly cared so much. Then he felt guilty when he remembered what she said about him suddenly caring. He remembered how he felt when he thought that nobody cared that Itachi had died.

"You and Naruto had already gotten a divorce. Not during that time and not yet has anyone told me exactly what happened for things to be like that. We didn't used to talk you and I, but you were part of the group. You, Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi and me. We were part of a group. The dynamic changed. I haven't had a family in a long while and my brother advised me not to throw away the next family I got. Family is important to me, despite what a lot of people might think. You were part of that family. The group's changed and I don't even know exactly why it changed or how to fix it."

Hinata was shocked to learn that he felt that way and was even more surprised that he chose to voice it. She looked up at him. He was standing right next to her. He smelled like soap. Cheap soap. His breath smelled faintly of kimchi. Her hair was blowing up to hit against him. She pulled it back to the other side of her neck and held a firm grip on it. He felt bereft.

She didn't know what to say. Why do you suddenly care now, she wanted to shout at him. Where were you before?

She turned to go and he grabbed her hand. She pulled it away politely. He shouldn't have touched her. It was without invitation or warrant. He should have remembered that Hinata grew up a particular way.

"I…I don't think that it can be fixed." She said quietly.

"Probably." He muttered.

She climbed back inside and he followed her. She looked at the irori and she felt horrible. He was making an effort. She should try too.

"S-soon you'll have someone making your meals for you here, Sasuke-san." She teased lightly, wondering if he was mad at her for rebuking his advances of friendship. "A home is for a family, you know."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and she smiled, relieved, that he didn't attempt to throw a fireball in her face.

"I'll walk you home."

They walked the path in silence until they reached the Hyuuga Compound.

"You should come by one of these days and trim that bamboo that's getting out of hand near my front door."

Hinata considered him. Was this another invitation for friendship? Again her cynical side wondered why he was suddenly not giving up on her. She tried to tamp it down. Grief changed a person. Her heart reminded her that of all people, Sasuke would be able to relate. She softly smiled at him.

"Giving up on child labour?"

"Your hands are probably as big as theirs. The difference is that you have a skill."

"And you don't have to pay me if it's a favour."

"Precisely."

"I tell you, Sasuke-san, you play that role too well."

He gave her a miniscule, barely-there smile and Hinata realized that they now had an inside joke.

"Would you like to come in for some tea?"

He was about to refuse, when he thought that he really wasn't in the mood to be alone right now.

"Sure. My brother was a tea aficionado."

Hinata was surprised he accepted. He even ventured conversation! They walked to the front of the house and he followed her through to the moya which was partitioned with beautiful portable screens. The room itself would have been too large for just the two of them if it weren't sectioned off with those screens. There were many alcoves that hung expensive tapestry and held vases of dogwood. It was a beautiful space. Her house was simple, but elegant. It reminded him of where he grew up.

"What was your brother's favourite tea?" She asked as she invited him to sit on a tatami mat near a low table and she opened the doors to reveal the main courtyard. There was a beautiful garden and further ahead a very large pond, large enough to have islets and bridges. He felt like he stepped into a watercolour painting.

"I think he liked green tea the best."

"And which was yours?"

"I'm not sure. I don't think I really like tea."

Hinata looked a bit quizzical, but then smiled a bit as she realized that he wasn't really here for tea. He was lonely. She didn't mind. She was lonely too.

"I like green tea too, but I also like, chrysanthemum, chamomile and peppermint." She ventured.

"Well I can try those."

She smiled and disappeared to get the tea going. She wasn't sure, but she thought that she was making a friend in Sasuke.

A/N: Review please! Let me know what you think of this chapter.