- Pluck -
Part I
Chapter 16: Miracles
Song recommendation: Komorebi by Berlinist
Dust soared through the air and danced along jagged lines of white when Sasuke, without falter, stepped into the cell of -
"You twisted moron."
Exactly that. And that moron's lips twisted like his very nature as he sat up from his futon and stretched his linked wrists over his head. "So you figured it out."
None too pleased with the reaction, yet still well aware that such nonchalance was nothing short of expected, Sasuke sucked the lines of hot lightning into his lungs and let them smolder in his chest for a moment. His tongue was smoking; as were his eyes. "First, I was in love with Sakura, now it's the Moon Witch? Who's next, Suigetsu? Karin? You?"
"Don't give me ideas, Sasuke. You know I'll use them."
The blade of his katana, concealed in its scabbard, cracked with Sasuke's iration. He had to place a hand on the tsuka to settle it, and with a scoff, he moved out of the doorway and pressed his back against the cold, stone wall. A thing that Sasuke has been described hundreds of times by hundreds of people in the past. But right now?
Well, it couldn't be further from the truth.
"I couldn't possibly understand what you're getting out of this," he said, folding his arms together, nails digging slightly into the sleeves of his shirt.
Across the way, Suigetsu smiled. "I have a reason for everything."
"And I hope it's important enough to balance out the fact that she will be damn upset when the truth comes out." He's felt like he's had this conversation with him a thousand times now, especially when the subject of Hinata was involved. Suigetsu had always been a troublemaker, but he hadn't often stooped to lying before she had come around.
"Trust me, Sasuke. This reaction alone is enough for me." Suigetsu dropped his hands onto his lap and gestured a shoulder his way. It was a short, small sweep, yet still full of certainty, of pride. It matched his smirk perfectly. "You look like a girl. What could she have possibly said to you?"
And that was when Sasuke became aware of the fact that this sudden, overpowering hotness he felt was beyond the electricity rumbling in his chest. It stained his face, the bridge of his nose, the curve of his ears. When he pressed a hand against the side of his neck, it was as if the skin was ready to melt off.
That . . . wasn't normal.
It's nothing.
He knew it wasn't, but if he told himself that enough times, maybe he'd start believing it.
His throat was suddenly tight, and he had to clear it before he could speak. "She didn't say anything -"
"So she did something," Suigetsu snickered.
And almost instantly, she was there. In front of him. Clinging to him. The room was smaller and darker as that face tilted up to him. Her uncovered face. For some reason, he just then realized how odd a sight that was. Should it be? He wasn't sure - probably. She's had to hide her face since he first met her in the bar - but when she was there, hands clung to his shirt, eyes glittering in the faint glow of the lantern, it all seemed so normal. And when she leaned in and pressed her lips against his jaw, he had been terrified he would have killed her right then. It was a miracle the storm in every molecule of his being hadn't snapped out of his hold to fry her that nanosecond, but even when he had pulled away, even when he had escaped that room, even when he was on the other side of the Guard, he still felt it. Her. And she was there again, feeling for his lips to -
"Nothing happened."
He glared down at her. She looked back, not an inch of her trembling with fear.
Be scared, dammit!
But she wasn't. She only smiled and wafted away, but he could still feel everything.
And in the corner, laughing with a hand pressed to his mouth, was Suigetsu, who watched the whole thing like it had actually happened. "That's rich."
It took a moment for him to compose himself - because if he didn't, he was sure everyone in that cell would have died from suffocation alone. Get over it, Sasuke. "I don't believe you're understanding the severity of this situation." The wall soaked in all of his heat and burned his back, so Sasuke pushed off of it and stood in the middle of the room. "She's not in a good mental state. No memory has left her . . . ."
Suigetsu hummed to the pause. "Fragile?"
He didn't like the image that coaxed into his head, so Sasuke said, "Not mentally strong."
"And that's where you come in," Suigetsu said, smirk never once leaving his lips. Sasuke glared at him, and he rolled his eyes. "You sure seem worked up about this. If it's that bad, just tell her. Say: 'Sorry, Hinata, but that Suigetsu is a real, terrible liar. Just awful. I don't love you. I don't even like you. You're just a Moon Witch to me'." Fingers strumming along the curve of his right knee, Suigetsu gave him an expectant look. "But then again, you're a horrible liar."
And they were back to square one. Sasuke had to fight the urge to break something. "Suigetsu."
"Am I wrong?"
That question had more layers to it than he liked to let on, but Sasuke knew what he was getting at. "Yes," he muttered, "but even if you weren't, I can't."
"Uh-huh," Suigetsu hummed.
"You of all people should know why."
Because of Naruto. Even if he was engaged to Sakura now, it still felt off. There was something there, in between the lines, but no matter how Sasuke squinted or tilted his head, he couldn't make it out. But he knew to be suspicious. It had all happened so quickly and out of the blue, and even if he had never met Hinata before she became the famous Moon Witch, he had learned enough about her from Naruto to know she wouldn't have just let it slide. They had been happy together. He remembered the late nights of Naruto going on and on about her. Now he had the audacity to drag her to his new fiance's home like nothing ever happened between them.
Naruto wasn't stupid. He knew what he was doing.
But Sasuke also hadn't been given the impression in their twenty years of knowing each other that Naruto was an overly vicious man.
So . . . why . . . ?
It was quiet, which was never a good thing when Suigetsu was in the room. Looking down at him, Sasuke realized why. Gone was the gleaming, amused moron who poked and prodded as much as he breathed, replaced by a somber shell of himself. He tried to smile, but it was painfully stiff.
"So you heard about my sentencing," Suigetsu whispered, staring down at his feet. "I doubt anyone has told you who will be killing me."
Right. Because Suigetsu had more to think about than just Hinata.
"Not yet."
"You'll all have to fight for the honor, huh?" His laugh was fake and bitter. Sasuke knew he didn't mean a word he was saying. He knew them well enough to know they weren't overjoyed about this, either. "Will you be alright?"
Will I be alright? Sasuke frowned. "This isn't about me."
Suigetsu's gaze stayed on him, fingers tugging at the chain of his cuffs. "It'll be Itachi all over again." Sasuke stopped breathing. Purple eyes continued to watch him closely. "But I'm supposing without the happy ending."
He was almost brought back into the past. Almost. But with a shuddering exhale, he pulled out of it and focused on the present.
". . . Miracles happen." He didn't know what else to say. Really, Sasuke didn't want to think about it anymore.
And Suigetsu seemed to realize that as he offered a sad smile. "Yeah. But I've already used up all of mine."
This was going beyond what he had come to talk with him about. Clicking his tongue, Sasuke turned to the door. "I'll return later, and we can discuss this matter more." On his way to the exit, he passed the low table, which looked untouched. "Have they sent you lunch yet?"
"What's this?" That coo had a bit more of Suigetsu's normal vigor, and Sasuke allowed himself to be a little relieved. "Just a few days ago, you were ready to kill me."
"Answer the question."
Suigetsu snorted. "I'm fine. They're feeding me fine. A doctor even came by to fix up that nasty cut on my head. I suspected Karin sent her - you know how she is. No matter how pissed she is at me, she can never leave me alone." It started off chipper and somewhat amused, but his voice slowly fell to a mere murmur. The chain of his cuffs clicked, and when Sasuke looked at him over his shoulder, he saw him rub at his gills. "How . . . is she? And Juugo. I can understand why both of them haven't come by to rip my ears off yet."
He grasped the handle, pleased to find it was cool enough to temper the heat in his fingers to a small simmer. "They'll come," he said. "You can ask them then."
A chortle sounded behind him. "Wow. How suave," Suigetsu cooed. "I think my heart skipped a beat."
"You're out of luck. Apparently, I'm already interested in a Moon Witch."
"I'd say it's pretty apparent." The door shuttered open as dust flew off the floor. Sasuke didn't have to look back to know a grin was directed his way. "As apparent as the cloak missing from your back.
...
"Come in, Sasuke."
His fingers froze midair as he stood in front of Karin's door. He recognized that voice. She wasn't good at hiding her emotions, and even if her face was flat and composed, her voice always gave her away. This one, in particular, was one he knew well - not because he heard it often. Quite the opposite. But because on the rare occasion he did hear it, it always stuck with him.
It was a low type of tone. With anger - sure. But that wasn't the problem. If it was just that, it would be almost normal.
No, this voice was more than just anger.
After a few moments, Sasuke rolled his shoulder, grabbed the handle, and pushed the door open. Air washed over his face as his eyes fell on her behind her desk, hovering over a single piece of paper. He made sure the door was properly shut behind him before he moved closer, peering down at her.
"I'm assuming that's the details of Suigetsu's sentencing."
Plucking her specks off her face and dropping them onto the desk, Karin groaned and rubbed at her face. "How much have you heard?"
Enough to know that Naruto must have fought his ass off to get the most painful death sentencing the Guard had to offer. Or - maybe not. It was also quite possible Orochimaru gave it willingly, if only to rid himself of one of the flaws in his system. "I know most of it," he said.
"Wings," she hissed, hands raising to grip at her hair. "They're going to put him through the wings process; and if, by some God's luck, he survives that, they're gonna chain him up in Sun until he dehydrates! It was a damn miracle of miracles that Hinata wasn't subject to that type of excruciating pain - so why does -" She raised her chin to finally look at him, glaring, like it was his fault. "What the hell is Naruto thinking? He never votes for the wing process. He's never been that inhumane!"
And that was exactly what Sasuke was thinking, too. Naruto had made it a point throughout his training to be king that he would serve justice correctly, without needless pain or suffering, no matter the crimes. If they were subject to die, he'd let them die, but he had enough empathy for even the filthiest of criminals to make their death quick. He had specifically asked the Guard to keep her safe. If any harm or atrocity was put upon her and she wasn't in the state to defend herself, he had the right to go to trial for her. Sasuke hadn't been overly worried when he had first heard this; but now, with the recent news out, he was not only concerned for Suigetsu, not only concerned for Karin and Juugo, who have been his friends and partners for nearly a decade now, but he was concerned for Naruto.
This wasn't like him. Even if he was as enraged as Sasuke suspected him to be, he wouldn't go this far.
Hands curling into fists at his side, Sasuke stared down at the paper.
"When?"
Her teeth bit hard on her bottom lip. "Tomorrow evening."
What? "That's too soon," he said. "We still need to interrogate him more."
"I know," Karin muttered, "but there's nothing I can do about it."
Sasuke's mouth opened, but he couldn't say anything. How unlike him. How unlike her. She should be fighting for this. Stubborn people like her didn't just let this shit slide, no matter who she'd have to talk to. But, instead, she was arched over her desk in her dimly lit office, blinking rapidly in hopes he wouldn't notice the glisten in her eyes. And he wasn't fighting either. He wasn't saying anything.
He just stood and watched.
A small, quiet creak came from behind. Sasuke didn't have to look to know who it was.
"Oh." Karin straightened up and cleared her throat, trying to flatten her face. "Wait, Juugo. I don't think I'm -"
"I'll be fine," was his soft reply as he thudded over, sounding like his feet barely touched the floor. His careful gaze wafted over both of them, then settled on the paper. His brows dipped, as did his shoulders. "I heard about everything. They're looking for someone to inject the serum."
Karin shifted in her chair, gaze snapping to the side. "You know they'll ask one of us," she bit out. "A test to make sure we're obedient enough. Like we haven't already proven we are."
Juugo reached over to read the paper, the muscles in his neck flexing as he seemed to struggle to breathe. "Who will do it?"
Karin folded her hands onto her table, trying to look professional and cool, the complete opposite of how she clearly felt. "I will."
Bullshit. "I'll do it," Sasuke said, staring her down. You're in no state to do that to him -
"No, Sasuke." A hand fell on his right shoulder. "I'll do it."
They both turned to Juugo, Karin gaping and him struggling to keep his mouth shut; because, despite the subconscious meekness that just covered the man like a blanket, Juugo had a way to make his word final.
"You can't!" But Karin, in her shock, must have forgotten that fact. "Juugo, it's dangerous. If you step one foot in that room with him, you'll lose control!"
"I won't." He shook his head. "Suigetsu won't be angry. I'll be fine."
"But I'm angry." Karin stood, hands slamming down on the desk. "If you're even in the Guard tomorrow, you'll transform before you can even realize it!"
Juugo paused for a minute, looking her over, face in its normal, gentle expression. Not a shed of pity or doubt or snideness flickered across his gaze as he smiled, and said, "You're not angry, Karin."
Her face turned red - from both embarrassment and from the stress of holding her cries back, if Sasuke had to guess. She sat back into her chair, ripped the paper off the desk, and stuffed it into one of her drawers. "We're required to keep him under a twenty-four-seven watch until the injection begins." She turned away from them and wiped the glass of her specks on the hem of her blouse. "Someone should be in there with him now. I'll be in tonight."
"Sakura's coming for Ino tomorrow, right?" Juugo asked, then turned to Sasuke. "You'll be busy with that, so I'll take tomorrow morning."
Again, not a word could be shoved out of his mouth, so Sasuke could only nod. He lifted his right hand, as if to do - do something. To comfort, somehow. To soothe Karin's worries. To lighten the load of stress on Juugo's shoulders. But he was Sasuke Uchiha, and he's never been good at such things. He only ignored and dealt with things quietly on his own. Alone.
He wouldn't know how to help, to comfort. So, with the turn of his heels, and left the office and marched down the hallway, towards the one person he knew who had an idea of how to help people in need, unconsciously tugging the collar shirt closer to his neck.
Because, for a reason he didn't want to think about right now, the Guard was a lot colder than he remembered it to be.
...
He had just entered the captive wing when he felt it.
Him.
Naruto.
Because kings had the kind of presence that couldn't simply be ignored.
How the hell did he get in this part of the Guard?
Strides long and quick, he found him within a few seconds. Right in front of Hinata's cell.
How did he -
"Sasuke." Blue eyes, sharp with authority, drilled into him as he approached. "Let me see her." He nodded down at the lock on the door, frowning as his mouth opened to protest. "That's an order from your king."
Right.
This wasn't Naruto Uzumaki right now. This was the Sun King.
And Sasuke Uchiha may very well be the Thor, the infamous Guard that has tenths of horror stories for each realm he's visited; but he was no match for the power surrounding His Grace, and with a scowl, he pulled out the key and unlocked the door.
Hinata wondered if, in the past, her thoughts had always been about Sasuke Uchiha. Because they definitely were now, no matter what it was she was doing. There could be a shift in the air pressure, and she'd be spinning on her heels, searching for him. Was it always like that? Would the very darkness of a room remind her of him, because despite the distant coldness of it all, it was consistent and, in a way, comforting? It didn't change. It was always there, even when the door was wide open to bring in the light from the hallway.
She wished Suigetsu had told her more about Sasuke. How did they meet? Did they know each other for a while? Sometimes, when she was alone and bored, Hinata would rest her chin against her pillow and stare blankly at the wall as she would daydream. She liked to think they met a few years ago, perhaps when they were teenagers. He had come to Ocean to get away from the annoyance of school, and there met her. Would he have approached her first? That didn't seem awfully like him. Maybe she went to him. His wings had been out, and she walked across the ocean surface to stare at them in awe, and ask, "Where did you get those?"
And he would give her a look that would make her feel silly, but still, he answered. "I was born with them."
Maybe he kept coming back because he knew she was waiting for him. A few months later, on a warm night, she would swim up to the surface to find him there, wings out and stretched beyond his shoulders, white feathers glowing in the moonlight. He'd take her hand and pull her to him, and suddenly, they'd be in the night sky. Had she been scared? Had she held him tight? Did his heart beat fast when she did that?
And when he brought her back to the surface, he'd lean in close, and whisper, "Now do me." And she just couldn't, because Sasuke Uchiha wouldn't look right with gills. Those were meant for her.
Was that how they met? Probably not. But there was no one around for Hinata to ask.
. . . And . . . how did they fall in love?
That was what she was most curious about.
Who fell in love, first?
Who confessed?
Was it mutual from the very beginning?
Hinata sighed as she pressed the rest of her face against the pillow. It felt like she'd never know those answers, and she hoped she was wrong. She just had to ask, right? There was nothing for anyone to hide, surely, so Sasuke would tell her the truth. Right?
But he wasn't here right now, only the darkness that reminded her of him.
So, closing her eyes, Hinata allowed herself to drift back into her little, made-up world where Sasuke Uchiha flew her through the midnight sky with wings made of moonlight.
...
Sasuke didn't seem cowardly, so if he had been the one who confessed, had it been direct? Had he found her on the shore and said, without a care for the world around them or the people who could overhear, "I'm in love with you."
But Sasuke also seemed like a man who didn't like attention. He had lied about getting her breakfast that morning, so maybe the confession was more subtle. "Everyone's annoying," he might have said, settling next to her on the water's surface, eyes trained on the horizon, "but you don't annoy me as much. I guess."
And yet, if there was one thing about Sasuke Uchiha she knew in her short time of observing, it was that he was, in Suigetsu's own words, a 'time-obsessed freak'. And if that were the case, then maybe he skipped all the shy glances and pink faces and just announced, "Let's get married."
Wait, no!
Sitting up, Hinata pulled her left hand up to her face. No ring. Not even an indent. She was getting herself worked up, now.
Just stop making up things and ask him.
That seemed the more logical way to go about this.
Because there was no reason to get herself thinking about marriage when she's probably never been proposed to before -
"Hin -"
A loud slam made the entire cell shake, and Hinata shot up to her feet, yelping. White light filled the entire room, not leaving even a speck of darkness in the corners or under the table or between the folds of Sasuke's cloak. It was so hot and bright. She squeezed her eyes shut, hand reaching out to find the wall so that she wouldn't accidentally fall in her momentary blindness. It didn't fade. She felt blood rush to her cheeks, and when she blinked her eyes and squinted, she tried to find the source of such a spectacularly bright light.
And there was . . . a man?
Not one she knew. She only knew Moon men and sharkish, sharp-toothed men and men with a white coat that floated about him like Death's cloak itself. She knew ones that could make sand clones of her and ones who covered her in electricity when they were nearby, but she didn't know anyone who could fill up the entire universe in light. Warm, bright light.
Because wasn't that impossible?
Surely, there wasn't enough to illuminate such an expansive area.
And yet, here he was: the man who could probably reach the darkest depths of the ocean with a mere beam of his shine. Stood in the doorway of her very cell, hair and eyes glowing like the rest of him, he was . . . .
Not . . . saying anything.
Not doing anything, really. In fact, unless the light had damaged her eyes in some way, Hinata was quite sure he wasn't even breathing. Was he real? Alive? Had Gaara come back to surprise her with another sand clone? But she doubted sand could shine like this, so this couldn't be him doing this.
Blinking again, Hinata took a small step forward, analyzing every inch of the man to find any signs of life. And, through the light, under the sparkling, cerulean depths of his unblinking eyes, were weeds. The only things untouched by his light. They bristled and shuttered, and before Hinata could even fathom them for more than a few seconds, they hissed and dripped down his face, down his chin, and onto the floor.
Like tears.
Wait.
His shoulders were shaking, and his chest throbbed.
Is he crying?
Her fingers pressed against the wall turned stiff and cold as her heart sank. She didn't even know the man, but the second she realized he was crying, her chest turned tight and sore, and her throat was hot, like lava, like the light in the air.
Why are you crying? She wanted to ask him, but her tongue wouldn't move. She was stuck, like him.
The light flickered as a choked sort of sob ricocheted against the walls. Somehow, the blinding glow became thick, almost tangible, like fingers that brushed her cheek and the crown of her head It weighed her down and made everything seem small and packed, but not once did Hinata feel scared. It was almost . . . nice. Almost as comforting as the Sasuke's darkness -
"H-Hinata!"
The man moved. Towards her. Straight at her, without a centimeter off the path. Those tendrils of light were replaced by large, firm arms that curled around her shoulders. A hand pressed against the back of her skull as the other gripped at the cloak on her back, pulling her closer and closer. It got smaller and hotter. He bent forward and pressed his face into the crook of her neck, his breath washing over her gills. He was shaking, like he was cold, but she knew that was impossible. It was because he was still crying - sobbing, even. Why? Who was he?
Her hands crawled to his shoulders, not sure if she should let him cling onto her or pull him away. The light faded a bit, and when she looked past dancing, shining hair, she saw Sasuke at the door with a hurricane in his gaze.
...
Is this okay?
She hoped her thoughts reached him across the room, because she didn't have a clue. And his answer, of course, was mixed. His eyes were slits, and his shoulders straight, but he didn't take a single step into that cell to pull her away from the crying man. He only watched, arms crossed.
Okay, Hinata. Tearing her gaze away from Sasuke, who was clearly not giving her as concrete an answer as she wanted, she looked down at the man. Focus. Help him. Maybe he's someone you know.
Her right palm slid off his shoulder and found his wet face. The fingers on her back curled, and she winced as his head shot up, bloodshot eyes staring into her. Lips pursing to keep them from trembling at the mere sight of him, she tried to wipe his face dry. A few stickers littered his chin, and when her thumb brushed against them, they hissed under her touch and disappeared.
"You're alive." His voice cracked like bone. A larger, rougher hand found the one on his cheek, and again, Hinata's gaze flew to Sasuke. "Thank the Gods. Thank the fucking - if you hadn't come back - if they hadn't found you - I - I would - Fuck, Hinata! Don't do that again!"
He hugged her again, hands locking against her back, pressing her bandages into the stitches. She winced, eyes stinging. The door croaked as Sasuke walked in and put a hand on the man's left arm.
"Naruto," he said, "her back."
Naruto? She's heard that name before.
Didn't Gaara mention it?
Naruto . . . Naruto . . . ?
Wasn't that the name of the Sun King?
Sun . . . King?
Those arms snapped away from her, like she was on fire, which sounded about right. She gasped, not realizing she had been holding her breath, as Naruto stumbled back onto the floor.
"I'm sorry!" he yelped. "Are you okay? I didn't open anything, did I?" His eyes trailed the dark fabric of her cloak, and he pushed his hands on the floor to lean forward. "Here. Let me make sure -"
"She's fine, Naruto." They both looked up at Sasuke, who cleared his throat to release whatever tension was in his vocal cords. "You should be more worried about almost suffocating her."
"So they really did try to bring back your wings."
Bring them back? But she didn't even have the, in the beginning.
Sasuke only nodded, and Naruto frowned and looked at her.
"Who did this to you?"
"Naru -"
"Kisame," she answered, without thinking. There was something about him. Intimidating wasn't the right word - but he had a demanding presence. She didn't even have the mind to deny him such an answer, but the moment the name escaped her mouth, she regretted it.
Naruto's eyes flared as he scowled. Sasuke got between them and grabbed Naruto's arm. "You can't," he hissed. "We need him alive."
"He's going to wish he was dead when I find him."
"Naruto."
Shoving off Sasuke's hand, Naruto focused back on her. "Why are you keeping her in here?"
"You know why."
"She looks like a fucking prisoner." His eyes were jaded and sharp. "Where's Suigetsu? I'd like to pay him a visit, too, while I'm here."
"You shouldn't be here in the first place." Sasuke nudged Naruto towards the door. "We're taking care of things. This isn't for you to get involved in."
"You have a lot of fucking audacity to say that to my face," Naruto sneered, "especially when it was the Guard's fault for losing her in the first place. Now look at her, Sasuke. She has holes in her back! She could have died."
"Naruto." Sasuke pushed him again, this time with more strength in his arm. "Let's go."
Light poured from every pore in Naruto's body, and he looked ready to say something - but those sharp eyes fell on her, softened, and his scowl morphed into a frustrated frown.
"I'll come back," he said, to both of them. "You can't hide much from me for very long."
The threat wasn't even directed her way, but Hinata still felt herself trembling. With the swish of his robes, Naruto was marching out the door, and Sasuke looked her over for a moment before he followed the Sun King out of the cell.
...
When he returned, he checked to make sure the door was shut and properly locked before stepping further into the cell. He . . . really doesn't want him to come back.
"Who was -" He ran a hand through his hair, and she stopped herself. "Are you -" And when his dark eyes zoned in on her, she stopped again to rethink her words. "Is . . . it safe?"
His fingers tapped on the scabbard at his side as he walked past her, sighing. She watched as he paced a short moment by the futon - three steps to the left, four to the right , pause, another step to the right, two to the left, pause - rubbed the heel of his right boot agitatedly against the toe of his left, stared at the door, then the wall; then, finally, he sat on the futon.
"It's safe."
She crouched onto her knees between his legs and leaned against his chest, pulling the cloak so that it covered both of them. His back was against the wall, so she couldn't wrap her arms around him. Instead, her hands pressed against his sides as her head fell onto him. She could hear his heart. It was fast - not racing fast, but definitely not a normal, calm tempo.
Time passed quietly. When she heard his heartbeat slow, she smiled, knowing he had managed to compose himself.
"Why did Naruto come?"
"To see you." It sounded hard for him to get those words out. "To make sure what we were telling him was true."
"Does he not trust you?" she asked.
Sasuke shifted, hands falling onto the thin sheet on the futon. "I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't."
Hinata pushed her face a bit away to get a look at his somewhat visible face. "I wasn't supposed to mention Kisame, was I?" His eyes were narrow and as hard as the steel door keeping her locked inside the cell. "I'm sorry."
"You didn't know." He sighed, eyes pinching shut. "But it does make things more difficult."
"Why?"
"I mentioned it yesterday - to the Sand King. We can't interrogate the dead. If Naruto finds Kisame, he'll be killed before we even know it."
Then, something changed. The air became dour. The subtle hum of static disintegrated into the bone-crushing stillness. She always noticed it - this one, she supposed, seemed obvious, but she even noticed the small things. Things that, perhaps, others wouldn't notice. The coil of a sort of faint glow in Sasuke's left eye that pulsed with the beat in his chest. The tangle of hair on the back of his skull that looked too out-of-place for someone seemingly as perfect and unbothered as him. The skin she could see looked paler than normal, and when she looked down at his hands on the futon, she could see his purple veins clearly.
Maybe all of this wasn't totally concealed to the normal eye - but to Hinata, she saw it all without even having to put in effort to find it. It was just there, obvious.
She wondered if that was normal, if it had always been like that.
"Who . . . is he?" she finally asked. "To me."
And she saw the crinkle of his brow, felt the wash of something shocking over her face, could almost taste the smoke in the air.
"Someone important," he droned. "You've known each other for a long time."
He sounded like he was telling the truth, but Hinata knew that wasn't the end of it. "How important?"
Sasuke huffed, irritated. "I don't -"
"As important as you?"
Every muscle in him tensed as he pushed his back further against the wall, getting a few inches between her and him. Some of the cloak fell off his shoulders and curled back around her - and yet, even with it covering her completely, Hinata was freezing.
"No," Sasuke said. "He's more important."
Again, he sounded honest, and that made Hinata's heart shatter.
Why do you think that?
"Because he's a king?"
"You don't seem to care much about that."
Something got stuck in her throat, and she struggled to swallow it down. "You're very important to me, Sasuke." He didn't say anything. His hands curled and uncurled, hovering a few inches off the futon as he contemplated on whether or not to push her further away from him. He couldn't move any more further against the wall. She had him stuck. If she still had her head against his chest, she was sure his heart would be racing. The uncomfortableness in him was so obvious and suffocating, Hinata had to focus on inhaling and exhaling for a minute before she spoke again. "How did we meet?"
He blinked, barely. "What?"
"Have I known you as long as Naruto?"
"No," he bit out.
"Then how did we meet?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Sasuke," she begged, and his eyes widened. "It does matter. Everything matters to me. I don't remember anything. I need to put all the pieces together and make things work, but I can't if you keep running from me -"
"I'm not running," he said as he took her shoulders and moved her away to allow himself to stand and - and - and run away.
"You're doing it now."
"I'm standing, Moon WItch," he said, glaring at her. "You don't need to be clinging to me every second I'm here." Clinging. Is that what he thought it was? She turned to sit on the futon and face him, hands wringing together as she bit her lips together. He watched her, glare flickering away as quickly as it came, and he huffed. "Stop that."
She had to force her hands to her side, which only made her more anxious.
"You need to understand," he said, words slow and clear, "that we have to be careful when it comes to revealing information to you. Your condition could worsen if you are overwhelmed with sensory or information." A small pause as he seemed to gage the distance between them. "I'm not running away, Moon Witch. I'm trying to slow things down before it gets too overpowering for you."
"Is that why you call me that?" she asked, voice breaking a bit near the end. She didn't know why this was affecting her so much. What he was saying sounded logical and true. He was doing this for her. So why did this small distance between them hurt more than when he was completely gone from the cell? "You won't call me by my name because it will overpower me?"
Sasuke stared for a while, then said, "It will overpower someone."
And they were back to the vague answers. Defeated, Hinata slouched forward, hair falling over her shoulders and into her face. "I won't be overwhelmed by how we met," she whispered. "It's just a simple question."
All she could see were his boots, which shifted as he moved his weight from one leg to the other a couple times. Then, he stopped, and the room was quiet save from the buzzing nerves in her ears. When they finally approached, she craned her neck upwards to see him knelt in front of her, his left knee just barely missing the edge of the futon.
"In a bar." It was warm. It was crazy how just the body heat of another person could make the whole universe feel like it was on fire. "Naruto introduced us." And when Hinata met his gaze, which didn't seem as hard or cold as the walls anymore, she was sucked in instantly. "Almost immediately, I hated you."
. . . Not the happy beginning she was expecting, but she still smiled and laughed. "What did I do?"
"You weren't the problem," Sasuke said. "You were only trying to help, but you reminded me of someone who I was trying to forget, so I hated you." His left arm rested on his propped knee while the other one rose so that he could run a hand through his bangs. "Sometimes, I wonder if I still do."
"You don't." No hesitation, which didn't surprise her one bit, yet somehow shocked him. "I know you don't."
Dark eyes fell to the side, and when he suddenly stood, she yelped. "About that."
"H-Huh?" She blinked at the serious dip in his tone. "What is it?"
His jaw moved once or twice, and though she couldn't see his mouth, she knew it was opening and closing as he tried and failed to speak. Not wanting to rush him, Hinata folded her hands into her lap and waited, smiling patiently. She was beginning to see Sasuke as a more cautious person who thought out his words before saying them. He didn't blab without thought or reason - but then again, that could be because of the circumstances surrounding her and her memory.
But if he was truly like that as a person . . . then, maybe, if confession was less on the lines of brutal honesty or quick impatience or shy subtlety, and more one the line of -
"Nothing."
She blinked once - twice - as the word fluttered against her ear.
Wait.
"Nothing?"
He shook his head and stepped back, regaining that distance. "Nothing important."
That answer again. Hinata's shoulders fell as she sighed, "You're running again."
"I'm not running," he said instantly. "I'm contemplating."
Before she could say a word, his head turned to the door, and a few seconds later, the lock clicked, and it swung open. Shizune stepped in, eyes falling on Sasuke first, then slowly trailing to her. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "but it's time I take her to the bathing rooms."
"Right now?" Sasuke mused. "Tonight?"
Shizune stared at him, nodding. "Yes . . . ." Again, her gaze flickered between them, lips pursing with wonder. "Do you . . . er, wish to join her?"
Hinata watched Sasuke, expecting the same reaction she got that morning when she told him he could stay as her bandages were changed. But it never came. His head tipped to the side, and then he walked past Shizune and out the door. "Maybe."
Her heart galloped in her throat as Shizune walked to her, face a bit pink. "Interesting," she hummed, "he seems to be getting as bold as you."
"Karin."
Her head shot up as he entered her office, dropping her quill into her small pot of ink to give him her full attention. "This is a surprise," she said, glancing at the side of her desk, where no summoning orb could be found. "I didn't accidentally call for you, did I?"
He stepped to her desk. "When is your session with Suigetsu?"
Her crimson gaze widened. "What? Why do you -" He frowned, and she stopped and answered, "In about an hour."
"Give me your first hour. I have something to discuss with him."
Her mouth opened, as if to ask him what, exactly, he would be discussing. But a sharp look from him made her snap her mouth shut, and she only nodded. "Alright . . . ."
He left her in a clear state of bewilderment and made his way to the captive wing's bathing rooms. There, he waited for about twenty minutes, ignoring the passing looks he got from others, instead more focused on the absolute stupidity he was about to commit.
This goes against everything you know, Sasuke, he told himself, pinching the bridge of his nose. What the hell are you doing?
Well, he knew well what he was doing - and he knew well how much shit this could get him in if he was caught. But he also couldn't find it in him to care, and he wondered if this was what Suigetsu felt on a daily basis.
Bastard.
When Shizune finally stepped out, she didn't seem at all surprised to see him.
"Is she done?" he asked, walking past her to enter through the doorway that led into the winding hallway of the gender neutral bathing rooms.
"She's changing right now." He stopped before he could take another step further, sighed, then turned to her. She had a polite smile, but he saw the amusement dancing in her eyes. "Her stitches are healing wonderfully, and she doesn't seem to be experiencing as much pain as just a few days ago. The water seemed to lighter her up - I was about to ask if we could schedule her bathing days to every two days rather than -"
"That's fine," he said. "You may go, Shizune. I'll take it from here."
She nodded, head bowing a bit, perhaps to hide her widening smile. "Enjoy yourselves."
He didn't know what that could possibly mean, nor did he care as he turned and marched down the way. He entered the changing room, which had walls lined with wooden cubbies for clothes to be stored away. The room was sectioned off into thirds by similar shelves that were tall enough to keep him from seeing the entire room.
"Moon Witch," he called out. A small, nearly inaudible gasp came from the right, and his head snapped that way. "Are you dressed?"
"Yes," was her whispered reply.
He rounded the shelf to find her fastening the buttons to the front of his cloak. She peeked over at him as he came into view, face red, eyes wide and watching. He approached her, moved her hands from the front, and yanked up the collar until it was fit over her head.
"Keep it like this." He took her hands and made them hold onto the collar so that it stayed in place. "You'll have to hide your face."
She did as she was told, and when he pulled away, he made sure the rest of her was covered. Not that he really had to worry, he supposed. The cloak, even with her holding it up, still reached her ankles.
"What is it, Sasuke?" she asked as she blew some of her hair out of her face.
Water still shined along bits of her bangs, and her face was clean and washed. He had to look away as he said, "I'm taking you somewhere."
"Okay," she said, not a hint of concern tinting her voice. She trusted him completely. He wasn't sure if he liked that or not. "Where?"
"To Suigetsu."
Her head snapped his way. "Really?"
He nodded and gestured for her to follow him. They walked out of the dressing room and down the hallway, and when they reached the main hallway of the captive wing, he checked to make sure no one was about before turning in the opposite direction of Hinata's cell.
"What made you change your mind?" she asked when they were halfway to the interrogation room Suigetsu was being held in.
He chose not to answer. It wasn't the right moment to tell her the truth, and he knew he couldn't lie to her. Silence followed her question, and he was glad she didn't push further.
He's alive.
She knew he was. Even after days of not seeing him, she always knew he was. But it felt a lot better when she finally, finally saw him in a room that was smaller and darker than the cell she's been held in. He's not . . . staying here, is he? There was no futon, only a table with two chairs. The lantern above was dimmer than the one in her cell, but she could still see everything clearly. The stickers on his neck, which looked almost as thick as that time when he couldn't breathe in Ocean, were what she saw first; closely followed by the horrible bruise covering his crooked nose. His hair was grimy and tangled, eyes dark and almost clouded. His wrists were encased in cuffs that looked far too heavy, for he struggled to lift them from the table and onto his lap as he tried to hide them as she entered.
He was alive, but he looked sick. Tired.
What had they done to him?
"Suigetsu!"
But no matter how he looked, he still had that eye-catching, sharkish grin that made her feel like everything would be alright. "There's my girl!"
She rushed over to him as Suigetsu locked the door, arms flinging around his shoulders as she hugged him, closely and tightly, as if he would disappear if she let him go. But he didn't. He was there, breathing and laughing and alive.
"I'm so glad," she whispered into the tattered collar of his tunic.
He clicked his tongue. "What? You thought something happened to me?" The cuffs rattled as he pulled away from her, still grinning. "What do you take me for, Hinata?"
Her fingers trailed the sides of his face, then his temples, then skirted around his nose. "What happened to you?"
His eyes lightened and flickered over her shoulder. "A bastard was trying to act tough, so he slammed my face into this very table."
What!? "Why?" She stood so that she was no longer leaning into him. "Who?"
"Gods, I wish I could remember," he snickered, lips curling into a smirk. "Sasuke, you remember the bastard's name? It was something stupid. Something a total coward would be named."
The hairs on the back of Hinata's neck stood as Sasuke walked over, strides long and calculated and booming across the small room. "I was quite sure you brought it on yourself, Suigetsu," he drawled.
Suigetsu scoffed, but Hinata turned to Sasuke before he could say another word. "Can't you help him?" she asked. "Isn't there something he can take to help?"
Sasuke stared at her, eyes narrow, but not necessarily in anger. His shoulder sloped as he gave an annoyed sigh, but he was already by the door and unlocking it. "Stay here."
He glowered at Suigetsu, who raised his cuffed hands. "I'll be good," he said. "Don't worry about me."
The door was shoved open, but Sasuke stayed a moment to evaluate something before he eventually left the room. Hinata rounded the table to pull over the other chair so that she could sit next to Suigetsu. "I heard about your sentencing," she said as she eyed the stickers. "What does it mean?"
"It means I get punished," he told her, smiling. "Nothing for you to worry about, though. Everything will work out in the end."
She wasn't so sure about that, but she nodded. "I'll come visit you as much as I can." Even if she wasn't allowed to, she wasn't going to step back and let him rot away in such a sad, horrible place. She'd find a way. Maybe Sasuke could even help her. He brought her here tonight, after all.
"That's nice of you."
"I don't want you to be alone."
"I won't be," he said. He settled back in the chair and hoisted his feet onto the table. "But enough about me. I haven't seen a single speck of outside since I brought you here. What's been happening?" He looked at her in the corner of his eye. "Assuming you know, of course."
Her right arm twisted behind her to feel the bandages on her back. "I got stitches," she said. "Ah, um, Kabuto gave them to me."
"That asshole?" His nostrils flared. He tried to cross his arms, realized his wrists were still cuffed, and instead settled on tapping his fingers on his knees. "Ain't he just a pleasant guy? Gods. How did you even survive dealin' with him for more than two minutes? The guy constantly has a dagger up his ass, and - hell, even Sasuke knows when to step back and stop being a massive prick!"
She hadn't realized how much she missed his uncensored rants. It seemed like everyone was tip-toeing around her, thinking about what they said and hiding bits of information from her. Even if it was for her sake, it was draining, so she was glad to know Suigetsu wouldn't do that to her.
"He was . . . odd, at times."
"That's an understatement," Suigetsu muttered.
"But he saved my life."
"So did I. But that doesn't excuse the fact that I kidnapped you and quite literally stabbed you in the back."
"Kisame stabbed me," she corrected, "not you."
His mouth twisted. "Same thing."
"Not at all."
He sighed, then grinned. "Alright, alright. You win."
She smiled and continued. "I met a few people that knew me in the past. There's a woman named Tsunade who helped me when I was getting my back cleaned."
"She's a good woman." Suigetsu nodded. "Stick with her."
"I met, um . . . the Sand King." She watched him closely for any signs of distress or anger, but nothing about him changed. He kept listening, grin still intact. "I suppose you were right about Sand coming to me."
"I'm always right," he said. "Did His Majesty say anything to you?"
Hinata thought back for a moment. "He told me he and I were friends, and that I somehow helped him get his voice back. He showed me his sand, and he asked me about . . ." Her throat clamped up, "Naruto."
He turned to face her completely. "And?"
"And . . . just a few hours ago, he came." She could still feel the hot light against her skin, his hands pressing into the stitches in her back, the tickle of his breath on her gills. She could hear the fear in his rapid breathing and the cracks in his voice and the watery gasps. "He was crying, and he hugged me." Slowly, she looked at Suigetsu. "Who is he?"
He hummed, eyes closing in thought. "I don't know a lot about him, but I do know one thing." He leaned towards her, teeth poking out between his lips as he simpered. "Prepare yourself, Hinata, for this may shock you." She blinked, startled by the sudden shift in tone, and clung to the hem of Sasuke's cloak. "Actually, Naruto and you used to be lovers."
Air was pounded out of her lungs, and she nearly choked on the very oxygen she breathed. Her hands flew to her chest as this information swirled and whirled in her head, clicking piece after piece together.
"I . . . really?" Those words barely left her trembling lips.
"He was probably scared sick for you," Suigetsu said, positioning his locked wrists behind his head. "You both have been close for a while, I've heard. Actually, before all of this, Naruto had assigned Sasuke to be your bodyguard - that's how much he cares about you."
Hinata could barely react, as her mind was already filled to the brim. But, still, she had to ask: "Does he . . . still love me?"
Suigetsu smirked her way. "Isn't that the question. Was Sasuke there?"
She nodded, remembering the cloudy, flashing look in his eyes. "He didn't seem happy, I think."
"Well, that makes sense, don't you think?"
It did, but it was all still hard to process. Thankfully, Hinata was given a distraction from her roaring thoughts and questions when the door opened and Sasuke entered with a glass of water and a small container of what looked like ointment. He stared at both of them, probably aware of the stiffness in the air, but didn't say anything about it as he walked over and placed the water and the ointment on the table.
"It'll help with the bruising," he said.
Suigetsu snickered. "You're so sweet, Sasuke."
The scowl was apparent in those dark eyes, and Hinata smiled. She took ointment and screwed off the thin cap before swiping some of it onto her finger. Scooting her chair closer, she leaned towards Suigetsu, free hand taking hold of his jaw to give her a close look at his nose. Then, with careful gentleness, she rubbed the ointment onto the purple, battered bridge of his nose, making sure to pause if he flinched.
"I don't think Sasuke has anything to worry about," she told him.
His eyes widened a fraction, then flew to the man behind her. "Is that so?"
"Worry about what?" Sasuke asked, voice curt and low.
Hinata finished applying the ointment, double-checked to make sure everything was properly covered, then turned to wipe the remaining ointment on her bare hands before screwing on the cap. Over her shoulder, she looked at Sasuke, and said, "About Naruto."
Daggers were immediately glared into Suigetsu's skull. "What about him?"
Suigetsu stared back without hesitation, and she looked between them carefully before answering. "Even if he is still in love with me -"
"You told her?" Sasuke muttered.
Suiegtsu's smirk widened. "It just slipped, I suppose."
What is that supposed to mean? Hinata knew Sasuke didn't want to share some information too quickly, but she was clearly fine. Confused and startled, sure, but definitely not overwhelmed. So is he angry because he simply didn't want me to know about that?
"It's about time we left." Walking over, Sasuke took her arm and pulled her off of the chair and towards the door. "We'll also discuss this tomorrow, Suigetsu."
"Wouldn't dream of missing it."
The door opened, and she was dragged into the hallway. The cloak wrapped around her ankles, and she nearly tripped. "Wait, I -"
The slamming door was all she could hear for a moment, and by the time she came back to her senses, they were already in front of her cell's door.
...
"You didn't tell me Naruto and I were lovers."
"There's a reason for that."
She never thought this cage of a cell would even look good in her eyes, but having just come from Suigetsu's room, Hinata was a bit stunned with how big it was. Not overly large, of course, but now that she knew what she could have had, she wasn't about to complain. Moving to the middle room, she turned to Sasuke, who stayed by the doorway, just beneath the lantern, which cast harsh shadows along his features.
"Jealousy?" But there was no reason for him to be. Didn't he trust her at all?
"No." His eyes squinted.
"You have nothing to be worried about," she told him again with as much firmness as she could manage.
"I know," he said. "I'm not worried."
Usually, she could tell if he was lying or not. But not this time. Not at all. "Then why didn't you tell me?"
She was beginning to sound like a broken record now. Why? What? Who? That seemed to be all she ever said now. It was getting frustrated, and from the way Sasuke tugged at the cuffs of his sleeves, they both seemed to be feeling it.
"Moon Witch -"
"Hinata," she said. She stared, and he stared back, and eventually she got so flustered that she had to look down at the black fabric covering her legs. "I don't understand what is happening. You're keeping a lot from me - I know it must be because of my memory, and I know I'm not the strongest, but I'm not fragile. And - and I think you know that, too. So what's the other reason you're hiding so much from me?"
Nothing. Of course.
He only stood. At least he wasn't leaving.
"It feels like you're pushing me away." Her arms circled around herself, hugging against her front. "You say hugging you is dangerous, but you never tell me why. You say I keep clinging to you - a-and I'm sorry if it's like that for you, but for me, it's comforting. It makes me feel less alone. There's no one else around, Sasuke." She peeked up to make sure he was still listening, and he was. It was like all of his attention was on her. She hadn't realized until just then how rare that was. "And . . . this morning . . . when I kissed you -"
"Never do that again," he interjected, voice matching the walls surrounding her to the very iota of lethargy.
And it stung. Nearly as much as when a blade was sliced down her back.
"I-I won't," she whispered, "but can you tell me why?"
Sasuke's left hand drummed on his scabbard. "Because that's not you."
What does that mean? "You said . . . not yet."
He was quiet, but this was a different kind. Like he was stuck, or trapped.
"But you also said to never do it again. So which is it?" Hinata traced his face, looking for anything that could give her an inkling of an answer. "And if it's not yet, then when can I? When will it be okay?"
"Moon Witch," he sighed, stepping into the room and rolling a shoulder towards the futon. He wanted her to sit, and when she didn't, he glared at her stubbornness. "The main problem is your memory. Until you remember everything the way it's supposed to be, you can't do anything crucial. You wouldn't know if you were making a mistake."
"You're not a mistake, Sasuke." And it hurt her terribly that he would even think that about himself.
He shook his head. "So wait until you remember. Then you can make your decision."
The tips of her fingers turned into ice. But what if . . . I don't remember? Because she's wondered about that too many times. She's wondered if she could deal with the fact that this could be her life from now on, if she would never truly remember her past, her friends, her family ever again. It was a scary thought, but it didn't keep her up at night, rocking and crying to herself. Because . . . .
Because, surely, Sasuke would be at her side.
But if he wasn't . . . then she would really have no idea what to do.
"Decision," she repeated, and it left a bitter taste in her mouth. "You say that as if I'm in love with Naruto." The expectant look in his eyes was all she needed to know that's exactly what he thought. "But . . . I'm not."
"You don't know that," he said.
"I'm in love with you."
"Moon Witch." He sounded disappointed, like he was talking down to a child. It made her heart fall deep into her gut. "You're not in love with me." He said that looking straight into her eye, not fumbling or glancing away or running away. His voice rang with truth, and it was so loud and powerful that it made her world crack around her. "You never were."
...
Wait . . . .
Wait.
Hinata had to hold the side of her head to gain control over her thoughts.
But that can't be right.
She had to be. Suigetsu said so -
Or, well, no, he didn't. But he implied it, and unlike everyone else who liked to beat around the bush and tell her half-truths, he was the kind to tell her the whole truth, no matter what.
Right?
And even if, for some reason, he had lied, it still had to be true.
Because she could feel it. In her chest, pulsing and throbbing and skipping every time he was around. Like instinct, when he was around, she gratitated to him, longed for him, wished to be close to him. Even before Suigetsu had even explained who Sasuke Uchiha was, she was instantly intrigued, as if, somewhere in the depths of her mind, she knew who he was and that she could trust and love him.
She knew she was in love with him. She had to be.
And he was in love with her. That was made quite apparent.
So why did Sasuke not see that?
Did something happen?
Before her memory was washed, had she said something to him? That could be possible.
Or maybe . . . .
Wait.
"Did I . . . never tell you?"
That had to be it. Now that she thought about it, it all made perfect sense. The hesitation, the awkwardness, the fact that so few people knew about it, the hiding and running; Sasuke didn't know she was in love with him.
Did he think it was unrequited love? Did he think she was still in love with Naruto?
And had she never gathered the guts to tell him?
Hinata, what is wrong with you?
It seemed to clear now. How could she have been so dumb?
No wonder he seemed so uncomfortable. He didn't know.
And from the confused narrow of his eye, he still didn't. "You -"
"I-I'm so sorry." Guilt filled up her entire body, clogging up her throat, making it hard to talk. She had to count her breaths to calm herself enough to continue. "I didn't know - I had just assumed you knew. I thought we had been together, somehow - but now I understand. I'm sorry. I was making it so hard for you." She walked to him, until her shoes nearly touched his, and looked up to meet his gaze, which swam and fluttered and danced with lightning. "I don't remember anything, but I know I was in love with you. It's still in there, and I promise that when I remember everything again, I'll tell you."
The second she said those words, a horrible, ferocious sound cracked and screamed past her. Hinata jumped as the entire room was filled with raw, white lightning. Every hair on her body stood, her eyelashes curled, and her gills trembled from the sheer energy surrounding them. The air was hot. It burned her lungs. She could barely breathe, but she didn't want it to stop.
Because she wasn't scared.
She knew Sasuke wouldn't hurt her.
Thus, she just watched in awe as the entire room was filled to the absolute brim with electricity. It was so bright. She couldn't see even an inch in front of her. It was like Naruto's light, only more wild and untamed and thrilling -
And with a flicker, it was sucked back into Sasuke's pores, steam wafting off of his body. His clothes were singed - so was the cloak. There were holes in his shirt and near the cuffs of his pants, but he didn't even glance down to pay them a second off attention.
And, finally able to see again, Hinata found the most awestruck look on his face, as if her simple words had made him realize something he hadn't even considered before.
"Alright."
And when he spoke, smoke left his mouth and curled around her, coaxing her to him.
"I'll wait, Hinata."
Chapter 16 - End