The SEAL'S Kiss
Celestia193's Author's Note: I AM BACK! Meaning, I've got my new laptop, all my files, and I can finally get back to writing. I'm so happy! Now, please enjoy this next chapter.
Silver's Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. Sorry for the delay, but as Celestia said we had some technical difficulties. This is mostly a dancing chapter, but there is some implied potential Neji x Itachi. Nothing too dramatic, just worthy of noting. Anyway, happy reading!
Chapter 8
"Have you decided on which dances you want to learn?" That would make their little trip a little more fruitful, in Sasuke's opinion, but the browsing did seem to make Hinata happy. Maybe she was more of a fashionista than she gave herself credit for, even she could get excited about clothes. Not that it was going to help at all, because regular dresses weren't going to cut it. And neither were the ones in the last three shops.
"I'd like to learn the tango." She smiles at him as she looks at all the beautiful dresses. "I can already pull off a basic version, but not the advanced ones."
Sasuke fights down a smirk at the thought. "Diving into the deep end, huh? I can't fault you for having courage. But if that's the case, none of the dresses here are going to work. That style requires a lot of freedom of movement." He looks around one more time, shaking his head. "Alright, there's one place I can think of that should have what you need." A boutique that catered to competitive dancers.
Hinata nods at his assessment. "I wouldn't be much of a Hyuga, if I was too fainthearted." She laughs at the thought. "Though alright. Let's go and have a look at this other place of yours."
"Good." Sasuke shoots the cashier a semi-apologetic look as he leads Hinata out of the store and back to her car. "It's not in the city, though. We're going to have to go to Quantico. It's attached to a studio that's not far from the city center."
"That's a fairly long drive, but I guess nothing worth having was ever easy." She giggles.
"It's the weekend, I'm sure that one hour isn't going to kill you." Sasuke chuckles quietly as they take off down the street. "Also, I know that you don't like heels much, so I think that downsizing to two inch heels for dancing might be a good idea. And non-stiletto."
She blushes at that. "Yes, I can handle and hour and smaller heels are good." It was embarrassing. Hinata knew that many men considered heels sexy and being a baby about her aching feet at the ball probably hadn't made a very good impression on Sasuke. "Do you tango often?" Still, she doubted that Sakura was the type to wear heels either. So maybe, Sasuke wasn't the type to care about such things.
An ever so faint tinting of red colors Sasuke's cheeks. "Not where anyone can see. But…it would be a lie to say that I don't keep up the skills I learned during my old dance lessons."
"You really shouldn't be embarrassed about being a good dancer." She smiles at him. "Most women love a man who can dance." Though most men hated it, if it wasn't club dancing. (Which to Hinata was more like foreplay with your clothes on these days).
Glancing at her warily, Sasuke sighs. "I suppose. I just don't appreciate getting hassle for it." Hassle that involved men that got too handsy when they found out his preferences, and though he was too pretty not to be a bottom. Yeah…no. "But you should probably know that the tango is my favorite."
"Oh well that's good." Hinata smiles at that discovery. "That means you should enjoy teaching it to me."
His lips quirk into a smile. "Yes, I suppose that I will. Though I warn you, I've never actually taught anyone before, and as a rule, I believe in teaching through practical means. I'm not going to give you a book and tell you to study it, though you might want to go online and look at some videos of it later." He smirks at her. "I do, however, prefer the direct approach, so try not to step on my feet."
She couldn't really make any promises about that last part. "I'll try not to step on your feet, but I'm afraid you're far more advanced at this form of dance than I am." Hinata smiles at him. "Though I really would feel guilty about stepping on your feet after you took such good care of mine."
"All I ask is that you try." Then, he couldn't be mad at her when it inevitably occurred. "Anyway, Kurenai Sarutobi owns the boutique in Quantico. Her husband is ex-military, recently retired, but he was serving when I was a kid, so I would see him around the base a lot. That's why Itachi pushed me to Kurenai for dancing lessons."
"That makes sense." She nods. "It's nice that you all have such a strong sense of community with each other."
Sasuke shrugs. "It's what happens when you cram federal agencies along with multiple branches of the armed forced together onto a single huge base. Either we get along, or we end up hating each other's guts. One way or another, everyone seems to know each other."
"Much like Congress, I imagine." Hinata laughs. "Or so Neji claims, anyway." Though he did seem to get along particularly well with Sasuke's older brother.
"Exactly, and I've lived through enough of it to know better than to get anywhere near that den of politicians." Sasuke wanted no part in that circus. Though there was one thing that had Sasuke rather curious. "How long do you think it'll be before Neji and Itachi finally hook up?"
She blinks at that question. "Well I must admit that I have often wondered if there was something going on between the two of them." Though she hadn't known for sure that Itachi liked men.
"They're joined at the hip, and I know the kind of look that Itachi shoots Neji. It's not much of a secret what's going on in my brother's head." He just hadn't seen any sign that Itachi had acted on it yet. At the very least, he hadn't caught them making out anywhere, and Itachi would make no effort to conceal such a thing from Sasuke. In fact, Itachi probably make sure they got caught just to fluster him.
"Oh. So Itachi is definitely gay then." She nods, seeming a bit relieved to finally know one way or another. "Well then I suppose not overly long."
"Bi, actually, he's had a few girlfriends. But I guess you're right, it shouldn't be too long." Sasuke just worried that when those two announced it, it would stir up more than a little unrest. "They're probably ready for whatever gets thrown their way as a result."
She sighs and nods in understanding. "It's sad that they have to take such considerations into account." They should be with each other because they loved each other and not have to worry about anything else, Hinata thinks to herself.
"I suppose that they'd have a harder time employing the 'to hell with it' mentality that we did…" They just hadn't let themselves be bothered by any whispers, no matter what shit was said about them. Besides, no one could prove anything about their team anyway. "But if Itachi has found his soul-mate, then in the end, no one else gets a say anyway."
"Do you think that's what it is?" Hinata dares herself to look at him in the eye. "That they're soul mates? Do you believe in such things?"
Sasuke blinks at the earnest expression in her eyes. "Sometimes I wonder about it. Sometimes I wonder if someone can have more than one. Sometimes I even wonder if it has to be romantic…" His gaze drifts out the window. "That's a question with no simple answer."
That was a no then. "I think that your military training is both your greatest asset and your greatest weakness." That or perhaps she could more charitably file it under the Maybe Category. "It's allowed you to analyze things with a stunning efficiency and to act quickly when it comes to fighting, but...you don't strike me as someone who trusts your instincts much outside of a fight."
Sighing, Sasuke closes his eyes and shakes his head. "Like I said, it's not a question with a simple answer. As for my instincts…I never really needed them for that sort of thing, my…partners were very straightforward with their desires. In most other instances, my instincts serve me well enough."
"That makes sense." Naruto and Sakura certainly seemed the direct type and Sai looked like the sort that was more than happy to go along for the ride. "Well, either way, I'm sure they will get together soon."
He nods. "Then we just have to try and avoid walking in on them for as long as possible." Not that Sasuke expected such a thing to be easy, but nothing ever was with Itachi for a brother. "I suppose that will be easier if I'm busy teaching you how to tango properly."
Hinata laughs softly at that thought. "Well I am glad to be of service." She giggles. "I always do my best to support the troops of course."
"Of course…" Sasuke chuckles as the city's skyline begins to shrink behind them as they cross into Virginia. "And this soldier thanks you for your…service." Well, that briefly brought an interesting picture to mind, one that Sasuke willed away quickly. …Obviously he'd deprived himself too much, if he was letting his mind go anywhere near the gutter concerning his charge. No, she did not need to provide ANY service for the troops…none at all.
A center table dislay, mannequins set to pose in flashy, elegant dresses, and racks lining the walls of the cozy boutique, filled to the brim with a variety of exotic pieces. It was like stepping out of the real world and into a fairytale. Well, except for the discreetly placed security cameras that covered every single angle of the store. Something that was obviously done by a slightly paranoid professional.
"Wow." Hinata looks around in awe. "This place is amazing." It was an explosion of elegance and color.
Gliding through the sitting area, Sasuke chuckles at the sight of an empty counter, and a bell that said to ring for service. He'd never rung for service before, since he knew precisely where to find his teacher. "Come on, Hinata, Kurenai is probably in her workshop in the back." He motions for her to follow him behind the counter.
"I feel a little underdressed." She shifts onto the balls of her feet, swaying a little as she follows him to the back.
Finding the door ajar, Sasuke smirks, pushing it open and winding around another rack of dresses, these ones custom orders and special projects done in every color imaginable. Against the far wall lay a cabinet filled with thread, and the adjacent walls supported shelves of fabrics of every type, and in a rainbow of colors.
And in the midst of the burst of colors, a woman sat at a table, working slowly, carefully, to sew together a short, red and black dress, with a ruffled skirt and the accompanying tied shirt with its elbow-length sleeves, half made of lace. "Kurenai-Sensei…I missed you."
Kurenai beams at Sasuke as she turns off her sewing machine and gets up, hugging him. "Sasuke! It's been far too long!" She smiles at him.
"Yes, it has, I only got back from my tour a couple of months ago. I've been…rather busy since then." Sasuke smiles softly, embracing his old teacher. "It's good to see you. How is Mirai doing? She's ten now, right?"
"Yes, she's ten and due to start middle school next year." Kurenai beams at him. "It's good to see you." She blinks as she notices someone was behind him. "Is t-that the president's daughter?"
Well, Sasuke had never accused Kurenai of not being a sharp one. "Yes, she is. My team has been reassigned to security detail for President Hyuga's family. This…" He gestures Hinata forward. "Is Hinata. I'm currently serving as her bodyguard. And soon…her dance instructor."
Kurenai laughs softly at that. "Mmm the Secret Service sure has changed." She never knew that dancing lessons came complimentary with that service. "Though it is a pleasure to meet you, Hinata."
"Thank you, Kurenai." Hinata blushes. "And no, most Secret Service members don't offer free dance lessons. That's just a Sasuke Specialty."
Sasuke rolls his eyes. "I blame Itachi. Kurenai just went along with it. My sadistic older brother was the one who thought up the whole thing."
The shop owner tries her best not to laugh at Sasuke's sulking. "Well I'm glad that he did." She smiles at Hinata. "He really is an excellent dancer, even if he sulks like a wet cat about it."
"I do NOT look like a wet cat." Honestly, what was with the cat jokes? His mother said it, his brother said it, his teacher had been saying it since he was thirteen. "Why do you still say that?"
"The expression on your face is so annoyed." Kurenai giggles at the thought. "Just like a wet cat's."
That prompts another eye-roll from the SEAL. "Anyway, since Hinata wants to start learning some of the more advanced dance forms, I thought it would be best to get her a dress and proper shoes."
The ruby eyed woman beams at the thought. "Oh yes, of course! This is a great honor to have the President's daughter wearing one of my designs." She was now grinning from ear to ear. "And you're such a pretty thing. This will be fun! Hmm... now for coloration, I"m thinking something bold. Red perhaps."
"She does look rather good in red." Sasuke frowns slightly, considering all of the dresses in the room. "She'll need something she can move in. Not something for an actual ballroom yet, but something good for practicing in. She can't be tripping over it."
"Thank you." Hinata mumbles as Kurenai nods and blitzes about the room. "Yes and some shorter heeled shoes!" The bluenette calls out as the raven haired woman searches her workshop for something suitable.
Sasuke's eyes fall on the workshop table, to the short black dress and red, lacy top. "Are you working on a new design, Kurenai?" He gently opens the folds of the top, nodding in approval.
"Oh yes." She smiles at that one. "I just finished that one, actually. Isn't it cute?"
"Yes…it is…" Glancing at Hinata, who is browsing the many racks of dresses that hadn't even yet made it into the store, he imagines the dress on her. "Can she try this one on?"
Kurenai nods at him. "Of course." She gestures to Hinata. "There's a changing stall over there, if you want to do it now."
"Thanks." Sasuke carefully picks up the dress, making for the changing stall. "Hinata, come here, there's something I want you to try on."
Hinata smiles and walks over to him. "Alright." She takes the dress into her arms and heads into the changing stall.
Fortunately, the dress was a rather simple one to get into. A slinky black dress with two ruby red bands of color accenting the bottom. The larger band of daring color was slightly ruffled. To complete the look a slightly more subdued shade of red top was hung over it. It was tied underneath her breasts and some beading work hung from it. The real show stopper in Hinata's opinion were the lacy red, semi transparent sleeves that fluttered about her elbows.
Liking the flowy nature of the dress, she makes her way out of the changing stall. "What do you think?" She smiles as she does a twirl, the skirt fanning out around her, the sleeves swishing around airily.
"Hm…" Sliding his arms around her, Sasuke catches her around the waist, holding up her left hand. He walks her around the room, stepping here and there, twirling her a couple of times to test the dynamics. "Perfect."
She blushes at the sudden dancing of sorts and his closeness. "G-Good." Not to mention his words.
"Is something wrong, Hinata?" Sasuke's grip loosens a little as he examines her flushed face. Then, a couple of their precious conversations occur to him, and he leans in close to her ear. "You know, you're going to have to learn not to be so easily flustered. The tango involves getting VERY close." The girl wouldn't last five minutes if she blushed this easily.
"I k-know." She whispers and shivers at the feeling of his breath against her ear. "I can do it. Don't worry." She smiles at him.
"Good." Sasuke smirks at the way she shivers, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment. "Hey Kurenai, I don't suppose you still have my old dancing clothes lying around?" There was no way that he was going to leave those at his parents' house, and he wasn't going to waste space to bring them on tour with him. When would he ever use them overseas?
Kurenai smiles at his question and nods. "Mhm. I saved them." Her smile grows a bit more sly. "Just in case."
"Hn." Sasuke shakes his head. "What, were you hoping that your favorite student would come back, looking for more lessons?"
"Something like that." The ruby eyed woman smiles.
Well, in that case, Sasuke knew exactly where to find his stuff. Kurenai had something of a little nook for keeping her students' things. "Why don't you ring up the dress while I grab my clothes?"
She nods as she proceeds to do precisely that. "This dress is going to look so pretty on you." Kurenai smiles at Hinata who mumbles a shy thank you.
"Pretty on who?" The shop door opens, revealing a tanned, grinning face. "Oh, looks like you've got a little visitor, Kurenai." His dark eyes twinkle at the sight of Hinata. "Shouldn't you have a small army of agents surrounding this place?"
"I have something better than a small army." Hinata smiles at the man. "I have a Sasuke."
"Asuma!" Kurenai beams at her husband and saunters over to him. "Well I was saying the dress will look really pretty on Hinata." She didn't think a formal introduction was necessary. Her husband should know who the daughters of the president were! "And Sasuke is visiting as well."
Asuma embraces his wife, eyes twinkling with excitement. "Ah, I see. That explains why Kakashi has been sulking the last couple of months. He did say that he was losing his four favorite SEALs. He should just retire and move out here already, he's served long enough to retire, now." Barely, but still, the silver-haired officer could retire will full benefits after two decades in the navy. Asuma didn't see why Kakashi didn't retire and settle down. Well, he could. Kakashi never had been one to stay still for very long.
The shop owner laughs at the mere idea that Kakashi would ever willingly retire. "Well yes, you know how he is. That man has never been one to stay in too place for too long." Which was why the Navy was perfect for the silver haired man. "And yes, he lost some of his pups, but now we know what happened to at least one of them." She giggles.
"You're absolutely determined to compare me to animals, aren't you?" Sasuke emerges from the back, carrying a small duffel bag over his shoulder. At least the reference to a seal pup was more accurate. Then, his eyes flick to Asuma. "Admiral."
"Yes, yes, I am." She smiles at him. "Besides, it's a good pun and you know it."
Asuma chuckles at the sight of the navy officer before him. "Sasuke, it's good to see you. It feels like the last time I saw you, you were fresh out the the Naval Academy and newly assigned to Little Creek. Then you, Naruto, Sakura, and Sai just up and left to take the training to become SEALs…good times…well, except that I lost you four to Kakashi."
Sasuke rolls his eyes, smirking slightly. "Yes, Sir. But the team has been reassigned to Washington now. Naruto, Sakura, and Sai are assigned to some of the other members of President Hyuga's family."
"Is that so?" Asuma raises an eyebrow. "Well, I guess that explains why Kakashi is acting like someone stole all of his porn. You all got stolen out from under his nose."
"That's right." Sasuke laughs at the thought of Kakashi getting all of his porn stolen. "He always said we were the closest thing to kids he ever had." For a man who liked porn so much, Sasuke couldn't believe that Kakashi was somehow still single. It's not like the man would have any trouble getting a girlfriend if he wanted one.
"That's very true." Asuma turns to the young lady as Sasuke joins his wife at the counter. "So, a Navy SEAL for a bodyguard, huh? And just what merited THAT change of protocol?"
Hinata smiles at that question. "He saved our lives during a family dinner." She doubted that it'd be a good idea to go into further details. Asuma and his wife certainly seemed nice, but there were probably a lot of protocols about that sort of thing. "Sasuke and his team are amazing."
"Well I've always known that." Kurenai laughs softly. "It takes a very special kind of man to tango so well. A great deal of speed and flexibility is needed. " That and he was a Navy SEAL. Which was also likely very helpful. "And I assume his team is also in a similar state of fitness."
Asuma chortles at the sight of a red flush across Sasuke's cheeks. "Well, I'm sure that your dance lessons were very helpful in preparing Sasuke for the ruthless training that Kakashi must have put them through. "But it figures that he'd save someone during dinner. He and Naruto always did hate having their meals interrupted."
Kurenai puffs up at that praise. "Yes, my dancing lessons provide anyone with a myriad of benefits." She was feeling tremendously pleased with herself. "Be they emotional or physical. It has also done wonders for Asuma's flexibility, which comes in handy during some more...covert operations." She winks at Hinata.
Hinata blushes deeply at that and nods. "Good to know. Well I can't blame Sasuke for hating getting his meals interrupted." She disliked that too. "Especially by assassination attempts!" That was always a downer.
"Yeah, I don't like having to shoot three people during dinner either." Sasuke picks up the bag with the dress in it, as well as a pair of matching heels, picked out by Kurenai. "And don't tease her so much, she's still having trouble getting over her inability to avoid blushing."
"Saying that is only going to make her blush more." Kurenai shakes her head as she pats Hinata on the shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry, the tango is also quite good at curing someone's shyness as well."
"Thank you, but I'm not worried." Though Kurenai was right about one thing. she was definitely blushing more. "Thank you for your help. We should probably get going now though."
Sasuke rolls his eyes, putting a hand on Hinata's shoulder and slowly guiding her towards the door. "Thank you for your help today, Kurenai. I will be sure to teach Hinata thoroughly."
Kurenai nods and bites her tongue to keep from laughing. "Good luck with the lessons!" She was sure that Sasuke would be rather thorough about teaching Hinata things and only most of them were dance related.
"And drop in more often." Asuma plants his hand on Sasuke's head, ruffling his spiky hair. "I want to know how your tour to the Sea of Japan went."
"Yeah, yeah, fine." Sasuke swats the large, tanned hand away, running his fingers through his hair to straighten it out. He hated it when Asuma did that. And he was sure that Kakashi would have done it if it were possible. "I'll drop in sometime to see Mirai. I bet she's grown a lot since the last time I saw her."
Mirai? Hinata tilts her head at that. "Who is Mirai?" Since they weren't quite out the door, she figured she might as well ask.
"Our daughter." Kurenai nods at her. "She's going to start middle school next year." Sasuke was right. She had grown a lot since the man had last seen her. Kids grew up so fast these days!
Sasuke smiles. "I'd been taking lessons from Kurenai for a couple of years before she got pregnant. For a while after that, lessons were a little more difficult for her to teach."
"But you made a great babysitter, Sasuke." There were few people that Asuma would trust with his little girl's safety, and Sasuke was definitely one of them, even as a teenager. He had a habit of being extra-responsible whenever someone's health and well-being were on the line.
"Oh yes, I imagine so." Hinata couldn't imagine trying to do the tango immediately after childbirth. Ouch! "But it was nice of you to watch her." She smiles.
"Seeing as it was an option between watching Mirai and being dragged to seminars by Itachi, I'd take the kid over politicians any day." At least kids were easy to take care of. Just make sure they have food, water, a place to crash, and something to entertain themselves with, and you're good. Politicians…now those were some sneaky fuckers. Sasuke hated sneaky fuckers.
Kurenai laughs softly at that. "Well good to know." Because if he was going to tango with this one, kids were likely on the horizon. "Give your mother, my best." Mikoto Uchiha did want grandchildren after all and what that woman wanted, she got.
"Sure, and a kiss for Itachi too." Sasuke rolls his eyes. "We'll see you and Mirai next time, I promise." He guides Hinata to the door, smirking at the sight of two of his old instructors. "And maybe next time, we can use the studio to show Hinata what some of the more fun styles look like."
"I'd like that and it's about time Asuma dusted off some of his old moves." Kurenai giggles at the thought. "He really is an excellent dancer, but he's gotten a bit lazy lately." She shakes her head and gives Asuma THE Look. The one that told him this was not optional.
"Alright, alright…" Asuma holds up his hands in surrender. He knew when to pick his battles, and picking one with his wife was a terrible idea. "I'm sure that Mirai's gonna love that."
Right, because the kid still loved dancing, it seemed. That was fine with Sasuke. "Thanks again, and I'll call you later and set up a good day." After all, he still had his responsibilities regarding Hinata to take into account. "Come on, Hinata." He steps out of the small boutique with her, making for the car. "So…that was my dance teacher. The one that Itachi decided I'd have when I was thirteen."
"She seems nice." Hinata smiles. "She's beautiful is that why you got so flustered about dancing?" Maybe, Sasuke used to have a crush. It would only be natural. "Though it looks like Asuma is going to have his hands full with that one."
"Yes, he always has his hands full with her." Sasuke rubs the back of his head sheepishly. "And no, she's not…the reason that it makes me uncomfortable. That…would be Itachi's fault."
The bluenette laughs. "When in doubt, I should just assume it's Itachi's fault?" She couldn't help, but tease him as they got into the car and used the GPS to set a course for the White House.
"Well, maybe half the time." Sasuke shrugs, going silent for a few long seconds. "It was because of a stupid bet we made when I was thirteen. The bet itself was humiliating enough to lose, but the actual punishment that came with it was that I had to take dance lessons and learn an entire style. And every bet that Itachi goaded me into after that ended with him adding another six or seven months of dance lessons every other day."
It had vexed Sasuke, but not as much as finding out that he actually liked it. "It was embarrassing to admit to Itachi that I didn't hate the lessons as much as he thought. And after that, he just…pushed as hard as he could until I graduated high school." After that, Sasuke just didn't have a lot of time to learn any more dances, so he just made sure to keep up his skill level, and kind of stalled out there.
"I see. Well it all worked out for the best." She smiles at him. "I mean thanks to Itachi, you have a wonderful dance instructor, and Kurenai had a babysitter for awhile."
"That's true." Sasuke laughs, then smirks. "But you'd better be prepared. Because for the next few weeks, your feet are going to feel like they're about to fall off."
She squeaks at that. "Well...as long as I still get foot rubs, I guess that's okay." What had she just gotten herself into?