CCNote: To all of the people still supporting this story I thank you so much! The last chapter got about 27 reviews! I am always so happy to see how this story touches people! I hope that you enjoy this chapter too as the next one will be the last before the epilogue. WOW! How crazy is that?(And yes there will be a lemon ;D). In regards to my p(A)treon I am currently looking for a Book Cover artist so if anyone has graphic design skills or knows of someone that does feel free to shoot me a message! As always you can find my p(A)treon at WritingandCurls. Enjoy!
Being United
How long had they lain there awake?
So long that the pink morning rays had faded and the light of the morning flooded the room. Still, they remained. He had awoken first and was content to simply watch her sleep. His own slumber had been uneventful. In fact, he didn't even remember falling asleep and certainly none of the usual nightmares plagued his mind. She made him soft. Compliant. He hated that and at the same time continued to rot in the bed well past when she'd awoken.
He laid there because the minute they got up the day would need to start. Preparations to leave would need to take place. When they returned to Konoha she would go her way and he would go his…
'I don't want that.'
What a fool she is. An inescapable fate has never once cared about the wants and desires of humans.
"Sasuke." She said softly, placing a gentle hand on his cheek. "Good morning."
Her eyes upturned in the corners as she smiled, happy to see that he was still in bed with her. He wondered if she'd find that same joy five…ten…. twenty years from now if the contract had stayed in place. Would she still look at him with that much care and concern? Would she even be around? Everyone that he had ever loved was dead. Some of them he'd even killed with his own hands. Would she end up as another inevitable name on that list? It was better to push her away like his teammates. Interact with her cordially. Watch her grow from a distance.
'I want you to try something new.'
In the past he'd scoffed at Kakashi's words. A new life for a broken man. It didn't feel possible at the time. Empty hopes built on an even emptier shell. Foolishly, naively she had placed pieces of her care into him. Care that had begun out of a misguided sense of duty but bloomed into so much more.
He didn't deserve her. He knew that but selfishly, against his better judgment, he wanted to keep her by his side. Unbeknownst to his train of thought, Hinata shifted beside him and began to rise from the bed. Getting up meant getting the day started. It meant leaving the little peace they had and facing reality. Without a second thought, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down.
"Five more minutes." He said, allowing himself to freely enjoy the shocked look on his companion's face.
When he had grabbed her before as a blind man, was this how she looked? Fascinating….
….
"Are you sure about this Kiba?"
Although Sakura believed the Aburame clan to possess great canine abilities, she had a hard time believing a mere pup could track a trail this far. Honestly, he might have only brought them to this house because he smelled bacon. Her own stomach growled as the smells of breakfast being made wafted through an open window.
Oh what she wouldn't give to be back in the village waking up to Naruto making breakfast. Shirtless and loud and- As soon as the thought entered her mind, she shook it away. They were on a mission!
"I trust my buddy here. I have never had a pup lead me astray!" the brunette replied confidently as he knocked on the door. "Besides, my gut tells me Hinata is here and if that fight was anything to go by she could be hurt."
Sakura could hear footsteps slowly plod through the house. She wondered who in the world would live out here in the middle of nowhere. The house was massive like it used to be an inn but falling apart due to a lack of visitors and maintenance. Off to the side, she noticed a large pile of wood had been chopped. Despite how old this place was, there was someone strong enough to fell all that wood…
"Kiba- "She started warningly but the door was already creaking open.
The door was barely ajar before Kiba's puppy barreled into the inn like a bullet, opening the door wider in its wake.
"Oh my!" a withered voice started and Sakura was surprised to find the old woman struggling to keep her balance.
Without thinking, Sakura stepped inside to steady her and marveled at how lightweight her bones were. This woman was one bad fall away from shattering a hip. There was no way she was the one creating all of that firewood. Which meant that there was someone else here that could. Her heart leaped with that glimmer of hope. The person could be Sasuke and where Sasuke was, Hinata wouldn't be far.
"I am so sorry about that ma'am!" Sakura said as she let go of the slightly disgruntled woman.
She brushed her white locks back into place with fingers that shook slightly from arthritis and looked over their group skeptically.
"Did someone take out an ad for my inn? This is the most visitors I've seen in years."
"Visitors?" Shino prodded. "Have you seen a man and a woman-"
"Guest information is confidential." She huffed. "You're lucky I allow pets."
"Ma'am-"
"Go sit where it's warm and get that dog under control."
Sakura wanted to probe her more but Kiba and Shino had already moved to go deeper into the establishment. They walked confidently and she supposed she should take comfort in that. When she glanced at Shino's hand a small beetle flew out. It wouldn't be long before they knew if they were on the right track.
However, all of her worries vanished as the excited yips of the puppy reached her ears. The trio rounded the corner quickly to find the old dusty living room already occupied.
"Hinata!" Kiba shouted, bounding up to the small woman to envelope her in a hug.
The puppy excitedly wiggled around them, pushing his wet nose wherever he could reach. Shino, though silent was not far behind.
"Kiba-kun! Shino-kun!" she squeaked.
"You reek Hinata!"
"Kiba." Shino chided but the boisterous man only shrugged and held Hinata tighter.
"It's the truth! She doesn't smell the same. No wonder it took so long to find her!"
Although it annoyed the medic in her that she couldn't get a good look at the Hyuuga because she was being surrounded by her former teammates, the friend side of her felt relief. It was so nice to hear her voice even if it sounded a little weaker than normal. The bloodied scene they came upon in the cave likely had something to do with that.
Green eyes slid from the Team 8 reunion to the shadow standing only an arm's length away. He looked tense. On guard. There was no immediate threat but Sasuke looked ready to pounce if necessary. He briefly looked at her but his glance was less than a second. Instead, his eyes followed Kiba and Shino's every move and an overwhelming sense of relief washed over. All the guilt she'd harbored…all of her unrequited love fell from her shoulders lending to a lighter-than-air feeling. Sasuke was safe. He could see. That was all that mattered and she would forever be grateful to Hinata for all she'd done to get him to this point. Speaking of which…
"Ahem!" Sakura said, slightly raising her voice to be heard over all of the commotion. "Sorry to break all of this up but I'm going to need to do an evaluation of our targets."
"Targets?" Hinata asked and Kiba finally let her go.
"Yes, our mission objective was to find you and bring you back to the village…hopefully in one piece unlike the men left in the cave."
Though neither of the ravens flinched, Hinata at least had the decency to look away. Sakura sighed and removed her now stifling winter cloak.
"Alright, who wants to go first?"
"Sasuke-"
"Hinata-"
The two quickly looked back at one another angrily after speaking at the same time. A silent, almost glaring match ensued until Hinata finally relented and slowly stood from the armchair. Her movements were unsteady and belabored. Sakura felt a lump begin to grow in her throat. The petite woman smiled but it didn't meet her eyes.
"I'll go first."
….
Was it possible to have one's heart explode from happiness? In this moment, Hinata believed it to be possible despite years of medical training. Seeing her former teammates and the pup she once cared for was a more than welcome surprise. It stabilized her churning thoughts in a way only a few things could. Even seeing Sakura with them was welcome. She knew that her former colleague was devastated when she heard the news of her engagement to the last Uchiha. Hinata couldn't fault her for that. Sakura had loved Sasuke for so long…sacrificed so much… She knew firsthand that a love like that wouldn't go away overnight.
Hinata took a deep breath as they entered the small room she and Sasuke had been sharing. Sakura looked around the room, assessing every corner available and some that weren't. It was a normal thing to do but for some reason it made her feel odd. Defensive. As if Sakura shouldn't be privy to this space. They didn't have much as they had arrived with only the clothes on their back. Clothing that was now strewn by the fire in a heap. Unreasonably the sight made her blush.
"Alright." Sakura said, interrupting her nonsensical thoughts. "Let's get a good look at you. Can you take off the robe?"
She said it as clinically as ever. As if they had never left the hospital in Konoha. Konoha. The reminder of the village filled her with longing and dread. All of the peace and happiness she felt with the new arrivals left as reality creeped its way in.
Hesitantly Hinata did as she was asked, grateful that Sakura did not remark upon any of the bruising that littered her body. It was all a nauseatingly yellow shade- a sign of her body healing itself but still discomforting. Instead, she simply focused her chakra and went to work. Quickly the aches and pains that she had been feeling since she'd awoken a few days ago faded away. Her back straightened and the lethargy that had burrowed its way into her bones disappeared. She watched as her skin returned to its normal color. All traces of the gang attack washed away with the gentleness of Sakura's chakra. When she reached her head, Sakura finally sucked her teeth in frustration.
"It's clean but you needed better stitches, not whatever the hell this is. It's a miracle this didn't get infected!"
"Sasuke…helped with that." Hinata said, guilty that she had not valued his diligence more.
Sakura chuckled as she worked. Her soft fingers gingerly separated her hair to get a better look at the healing wound.
"Who would have thought an Uchiha could turn into a softy."
Who would have thought? She certainly didn't think it could be so and yet here they were…
"Hinata…are you ok?"
The Hyuuga in question turned around to face expectant green eyes filled with worry. She smiled as reassuringly as she could. It was as natural as breathing but in this moment it was so damn hard.
"I-"
"Don't just say you're fine either. Physically I can see what's wrong with you and fix it but there are other things. Things I can't fix. Things you can't fix on your own. Are you ok?"
"No."
It slipped out without her meaning to but once the word was said there was no taking it back. That single admission of weakness bounced between them and before Hinata knew it tears were streaming down her cheeks. She wasn't ok. Her body might be healed but that just meant they were one step closer to returning to the village. Sasuke's words from last night replayed in her head.
'When we return to Konoha, you will go your way and I will go mine.'
Yet this morning he wanted nothing more than to hold her. Kiss her. He was making her crazy! This entire situation was insanity, but she didn't want to give him up. Contract or no contract. She was in love with Sasuke Uchiha and could not bear to go another day apart from him. As angry as he made her. As happy as he made her. As selfish as it was…she didn't want to give him up.
"Come here." Sakura sighed and wrapped her arms around Hinata's now-shaking shoulders. "Tell me everything."
….
When Hinata had left to be in the care of Sakura, he finally relaxed. Sakura was many things but a bad medic she was not. Unfortunately, that left him alone with her two dundering teammates-a situation he did not wish to be in. Perhaps the old woman had some inane task he could help with-
"Where did that girl go? The one with the pink hair? And your wife? She shouldn't be moving about!" the familiar voice of Reika entered the room before they saw her. When they did he could tell that she was displeased with being unable to keep track of all her visitors.
"She's helping Hinata." Sasuke answered vaguely and that seemed to satisfy the woman.
With a heavy grunt, she placed the tray she was carrying on the coffee table. Ladened with coffee, toast, and bacon it was a meager fare. Still, by the eager looks of Kiba and the dog, it was a welcome gesture.
"I'm leaving to go get supplies from town. All these new mouths to feed." She said, grumbling the last part under her breath.
Seizing the opportunity to leave, Sasuke moved away from the wall he'd been leaning on to join her. The journey back to Konoha was a long one and they'd left all their supplies in the cave.
"Not so fast Uchiha. We'd like a word with you." Kiba said.
All of his jovialness from before had left, replaced with an unfamiliar seriousness. It was almost amusing to see the man try to act tough. Sensing the serious tone in his master's voice, the puppy finally settled down and did not touch the unguarded tray of food. With a roll of her eyes, Reika snorted and bustled out of the room. The entire time she grouched about not having anyone to help with her bags. When the woman was finally out of earshot, Kiba spoke up.
"I don't know what lies you've been telling that poor lady but Hinata is not your wife. We know the contract was cancelled by you." He said. "We also know that the reason Hinata stinks is because she's been spending too much time with you-"
"We have both been propositioned by the Hyuuga to marry Hinata upon our return. Every eligible clan heir in Konoha and other allied villages has been given the same invitation." Shino interrupted. "It would be like marrying a sister but Kiba and I agreed one of us will accept. It's better than having her shipped off to the highest bidding stranger in another village."
Sasuke bristled at the prospect but he'd known all along that this was what would happen. He could feel his jaw begin to clench as he regarded the two men- one of whom would end up Hinata's husband. They may be shinobi of the leaf but neither one of them could hold a candle to him in terms of power. Even in the state he was currently in with an unstable sharingan and imperfect chakra control. If they were in the same situation as the cave, would they have been able to protect her? No. She would be dead right now and so would they.
'Mine.'
"And if she doesn't accept your gracious proposal?" he scoffed, swallowing the inexplicable anger that was beginning to well up inside of him.
'Mine.'
Contract or not, he could not stomach Hinata being given away to some man that could not protect her. The other two men exchanged a knowing look and the hardness in their expressions lessened. In it's place was pity and it made him hate them even more.
'Mine.'
"I know you don't have a formal clan but that's not how these things work." Kiba sighed and squatted down to give the puppy a piece of bacon from the tray. Shino nodded in agreement.
"Hinata is a Hyuuga. She is bound to obey."
…
Reika had outdone herself with dinner. The stew she'd made had filled most of them to bursting. Hinata could still smell the remnants wafting into the room. Unfortunately, she didn't have much of an appetite to enjoy it. Her body and her mind felt lighter thanks to Sakura but her heart remained heavy. She watched the hours tick by. They slipped by as quickly as the snow accumulated around the old inn. As the night dragged on they all found themselves in their own makeshift accommodations. Sakura took up a room across the hall. Kiba and Shino shared a room next door.
And she…she found herself alone.
Sasuke did not follow her up when everyone parted for the night. Instead, he remained in the kitchen with Reika. Apart. Aloof. Avoidant. There was something on his mind, this much she knew. After spending so much time together he was becoming a lot easier to read. Easier but still not easy. Hinata sighed and began to slip out of her clothes and into the borrowed nightgown for the last time.
Tomorrow they would need to begin their journey back to Konoha. She would have to thank Reika for her hospitality before they left. The woman did not have to open her home like this to them. A fond smile crept over her lips as she lifted the thick quick from the bed. However, just as she was about to get in the door to the room creaked open.
There Sasuke stood, awash in the moonlight that flooded into the room as a cloud passed over. Dark eyes scanned her body as he usually did. Checking for injury and satisfied when he found none. Still, he did not enter the room. It was as if an invisible forcefield kept him from taking that next step. Hinata let the quilt she was holding fall.
This would be their last night alone. Their last night together. She didn't want to waste it being hesitant and dreading the future. Overwhelmed by her responsibility. Her duty. No. Tonight she just wanted to be a woman. A woman in love with a man who looked as if he would consume her entire being if only she would let him. Tonight…she would let him.
Without a word, she crossed the room to stand before Sasuke. He followed her every move, expectant…wanting. Easier to read but still not easy. If he rejected her tonight-no she would not allow herself to think about that. Instead, she would be brave and true to her desire. It was in that vein of thought that she took his hand in hers and pulled him gently into the room. Sasuke responded immediately as if that was the permission he'd been waiting for. The door barely shut behind him before his lips were on hers.
A fire surged through her from the pit of her belly to her toes. Her fingers tingled with an unknown electricity as she threaded her fingers through his hair. When she tugged, he groaned, and she filed the reaction away for later. For now, she was too busy trying to remember to breathe. Sasuke, on the other hand, had no such issues. With a practice air he scooped her up and brought her the short distance to the bed. He then set her down and his body covered her own. Hurried, hungry kisses. It filled her in a way that her abandoned dinner could not. When he moved away she couldn't help but whimper-the sound so unfamiliar and wonton to her ears.
"Sasuke."
Slowly, he kissed her jaw. Her neck. His almost too-hot tongue trailed over her collarbone.
"I am going to take you."
His words were aggressive but desperate. His hands roamed up her thighs, inching her nightgown higher and higher.
"You make me insane, Hyuuga." He growled before nipping her none too gently on her neck.
She gasped as he licked away the pain.
"Sasuke!"
"I can't think of anything else when you are near and when you are gone you continue to occupy my thoughts."
His fingers brushed against her quickly dampening panties and she arched into his touch.
"Say no." he whispered into her ear. "Say no and I'll stop."
He pulled away slightly and it felt like her heart was breaking. He was offering her the last shred of self-control he possessed. She gave him the only answer she could. Softly, Hinata pressed her lips against his, silencing whatever reservations he still had floating in that convoluted mind. She wanted him.
All of him.
To be continued…Being a Witness