hi! English isn't my first language. thought in italic , dialogue in " ", POV alterning and Naruto's still not mine.
Chapter 17
That sense of unadulterated male smugness did not leave Sasuke for the next three days.
Bringing the object of your desires to the brink of ecstasy with a mere touch and a few well-placed pulses of electricity will do that to a man's ego.
The fact that he himself might or mightn't had his own not-so-little problem at the time was completely irrelevant. Who wouldn't after wrenching such a delicious sound from his princess's lips?
A tactical retreat was of course needed at the time before he did something stupid like offering to solve both their problems right then and there.
Oh it was tempting. Very tempting.
But he figured if he was going to go down that road (maybe quite literally if you catch my drift) he'd rather do it between the confines of four walls, preferably horizontally but that wasn't a requirement as he had the upper body strength to support both of them on any vertical surface and undoubtedly very slowly as he'd prefer taking his time with such things. Well, at first anyway.
The fact that the whole delightful experience was presented in the confines of teaching her a lesson was the cherry on top. He did enjoy dolling out punishments after all.
He was such a bastard.
So for three days he left her be because he knew if she saw him sooner she might faint. And although it would be another boost to his already inflated ego, it would also be counterproductive in the grand scheme of things, as he wanted her to get ready for the tournament.
He of course wasn't worried, especially since he felt her crossing the border of the Uchiha district regularly so she must be training there. But it was about time he checked in on her progress.
With that thought in mind, Sasuke made a detour towards an office in the Hokage's tower before joining Hinata in his private training grounds.
"C-Commander U-Uchiha! How may I be of assistance?" The Chunin sitting behind the desk stuttered at his sudden appearance. The raven-haired shinobi didn't find it as endearing as when the Hyuuga heiress did it.
"Hn" He handed him the necessary papers for registering in the tournament.
"Oh. A last-minute application for…" He trailed off as his eyes widened when he read the name. He gulped "I-I'm afraid y-you can't d-do that?"
He handed him another scroll raising an eyebrow.
"You can find a copy in the archives."
"Oh!" The other man's eyes looked like saucers "Consider her registered..and…hmm…congratulation on your new apprentice."
"This will be staying between us" Sasuke said leaning against the desk crowding the other shinobi who paled at the reduced distance "unless you want to take a trip inside my Sharingan's genjutsu."
"I-i-i…Y-yes C-commander!"
"Good" He straightened up "Have a nice day."
Whirling around he came face to face with Shikamaru with his hands in his pocket.
"You're a lot more polite these days." The Nara matched his steps as they both left the office of the terrified Chunin "Hinata's influence I presume?"
"Do I need to threaten you too?" The Uchiha looked ahead.
"No need" The Hokage's advisor smirked "I'm the one who helped you draft the contract after all."
"Hn"
"I wonder what influence you had on her?"
"You'll see soon enough." The ex-avenger smirked.
"Looking forward to it Uchiha." They parted ways at the entrance of the tower.
Sasuke walked down Konoha's street at a leisured pace. It was only an hour ago that he felt Hinata cross the wards of the district, so he decided to give her a few more minutes to warm up. He had time to make a second detour toward the bakery.
"Uchiha-san! The usual?" The old lady behind the counter greeted him with a smile. She was of course weary of him at the beginning but after she discovered he gave a portion of the treats he bought to the orphanage down the street, she developed a soft spot for him.
"Yes." He answered putting money on the counter.
"Are you in trouble with your lady friend?" She teased.
"Something like that." He smirked.
"hmm. Nothing like an apology pastry to smooth things over." She smiled again wrapping two different boxes; one with two cinnamon rolls, the rest with an assortment of other deserts.
"You know young man. As much as I enjoy your visits, I can't help but miss my biggest cinnamon roll customer." She handed him his purchases "Isn't weird that since you started emptying my display window, I don't get to see Lady Hyuuga anymore?"
"That is weird indeed." Sasuke felt his face warm, being teased by a total stranger left a bigger impact for some reason. Gods save him from meddling old ladies.
"Do say hello to your lady friend." She chuckled as he left with a hurried pace.
"Are you talking to yourself Obaa-san?" Asked the women who just exited the café portion of the bakery.
"I am not that senile yet Haruno-san" She smiled at the famous medic "Just saying goodbye to the handsome young man who was here."
"Oh" Sakura pulled the money from her purse. She has been craving sweet lately.
"Such a smitten gentleman, always buying the favorite treats for his lady-love."
"He does sound smitten." The pinkette smiled at the old lady.
"And how is your own smitten gentleman?" She asked "You know I should give that young Hokage an earful for letting you wobble here to buy your own treats."
"Obaa-san! I do not wobble!" Sakura lowered her voice "How did you know anyway?"
"I was a kunoichi too back in my day" The white-haired women snorted "and you two are as subtle as the young man who just left. Which isn't saying much."
"I'd appreciated if you didn't tell anyone" The young kunoichi fidgeted "We're not ready to announce yet."
"Who do you take me for?" The old women scoffed "I take the privacy of all my costumers seriously."
"Says the woman who was just divulging information about her previous customer" Sakura laughed.
"Oh but theirs is quite the unexpected blooming romance." She had a wistful air "Ah to be young and in love!"
"Ok now I'm curious." A pink haired eyebrow rose in question.
"As I said, customer confidentiality." She accepted the offering money "Take care of that little one Haruno-san"
"Thank you I will." Sakura waved unaware of the discovery she almost stumbled upon.
Sasuke made it to the edge of the Uchiha training ground he used when he was little. He leaned against a tree observing the kunoichi practicing her katas.
There was a sense of elegance in the way that every Hyuuga moved, but the way she spun on the tip of her toes as if she was about to leap with the tempo of a song only she could hear, made the rest of her kin seem like cheap carbon copies of what it means to be graceful.
She was singularly breathtaking.
"I-It's rude to stare." Hinata said deactivating her Dojutsu.
"I'm not exactly known for my stellar manners princess." He pushed off the tree making his way to her now that he was discovered.
"I've seen worse." She wiped the sweat on her brows with the sleeve of her long jacket, looking to the ground.
"Comparing me to Naruto?" He smirked as he took note of the outfit not suited for this hot weather "That's a low blow."
It seems like she was trying to minimize skin contact after last time.
A pity.
"Is that a cinnamon-rolls that I smell?" She bounced to him, all sense of previous embarrassment forgotten in the face of her favorite desert.
"It is." He held the box out of her reach. "Let's see what you can do with what I taught you last time first. Unless of course you need me to refresh your memory."
And just like that he ignited her cheeks once more.
"M-my memory is f-fine, thank you." She was trying to glare but it was hard to do when she couldn't maintain eye contact "Fine. Business before.."
"Pleasure?" He finished smirking as she trailed off.
She makes it so easy.
This time she did manage a glare. The whole withering look was ruined by the glowing cheeks he wanted to pinch.
"Ok." Her glare turned into a determinate look as she offered him her hand "The weakest Chidori you can produce."
Sasuke's smirk was whipped off.
"No." He crossed his arms "Redirect your own lightening release like I did last time."
"I managed that the first day" Hinata said demonstrating just that "I need to know if I can withstand a real attack."
"It's too risky." The thought that he might accidentally kill her filled him with dread.
"Isn't it better to find out now than in the midst of a battle?" He hated it when she starts making sense "I'll be fine. Use a non-lethal attack and should the worse happen you already know how to restart my heart. I know you were paying attention when I did that lecture."
She gave him a serene smile. He was not amused.
Even though it felt like a lifetime ago, he still remembers all the lectures she gave in that shinobi-medic exchange program, and being a lightning user himself he did focus in that particular one. It was the one that inspired him to start teaching her lightning release after all.
"We'll be at the hospital with a blink of your Rinnegan" Hinata said not backing down "I already know I can do it."
He just raised an eyebrow.
"I just want to test a theory and show you another part of the technique I've been working on." She wiggled her fingers at him then frowned "unless…you don't think...I can do it"
Oh hell.
He hates it when she gets that dejected look.
"If you die, I will kill you." Sasuke said channeling lightning to the palm of his hand.
"But I'll already be dead." She giggled at his glare.
The raven-haired shinobi lowered the voltage of his attack as best he could before hesitantly approaching his palm to hers. His Rinnegan activated just in case.
"Ok." The kunoichi extended her hand "A warning though. This might hurt"
The moment his Chidori made contact it was drained into her chakra pathways. Not a second later Sasuke's knees buckled as he gasped from the unexpected pain.
"Fuck." He grasped the back of her leg for support as trimmers traversed his body.
"I did give a warning, unlike you" The Uchiha gaped at the amusement in her eyes "Now we're even."
Did she just..?
"Ok. I deserved that." He looked up from his position on one bended knee "But tell me did you want to get even or did you want to enjoy the sight of me kneeling in front of you?"
"I don't enjoy the sight of anyone kneeling." She sputtered a blush threatening to appear.
I bet I can change your mind.
"There are different types of supplications princess." He caressed the back of her knee absentmindedly smirking when her cheeks colored "Some if done well, might be very enjoyable."
Sasuke gave himself a few more minutes to watch the red spread down her neck before changing the subject least she faints.
"What did you do exactly?" He didn't stand up as she seemed to be getting more flustered when he gazed up at her from this angle.
"I-I r-redirected your attack back to you, and added my own on top." Hinata fidgeted.
"And you gave it a stronger kick." The Uchiha smirked "Good job."
He stood up putting her out of her misery.
Sort of.
His hand trailed up to the side slowly with the motion, stopping at her hip as if he needed the support to stay upright. He didn't.
"You do realize I'm going to have to get back at you right?" He smirked at the look on her face "Oh don't look so alarmed, I promise I'll make it fun for the both of us."
He wondered how many shades of red did her face have.
"Y-your brand of f-fun is concerning Sasuke-san." She almost whimpered.
"This one I reserve just for you." He chuckled when she hid her face in her hands.
"Why are you so mean these last days?" She mumbled.
"Stress relief." His eyes filled with that gleam she'll soon become familiar with "Unless you're offering an alternative method."
"W-what?! Here?!" She squeaked then buried her face further in her hands to hide her mortification when she recognized that her statement left no doubt to where her mind traveled.
The raven-haired shinobi of course capitalized on that once he got over his initial shock. He took hold of her wrists to peer at her red tomato face.
"I was talking about a spar." He didn't hide his teasing smirk "What did you think I was talking about?"
"N-Nothing." She squeaked turning away prompting him to grin. "l-let's spar."
All forms of teasing left them once they took their positions and started moving in that familiar deadly dance, and although Sasuke refrained from directing any blow to her chest he did not go easy on her.
Shuriken and Kunais flew with precision. Fire burned bright and lightning crackled loudly. There was no need to hold back their attacks here in the old Uchiha grounds. No one dared investigate, all those who saw the smoke rising assumed it was the last Uchiha training by himself. No one knew of the white eyed princess giving as good as she got from her ruthless mentor.
Once they decided to switch to a Taijutsu only spar, they slowed down and their movement became almost lazy like they were playing. Which was why Hinata started a conversation as it became their habit.
"Sasuke-san" A hit headed toward his left side "Do you think I'll do well in the competition?"
"I think you have a few advantages." His hand blocked the next hit.
"How so?" She spun around to avoid his counter attack.
"Well, you did your homework and gathered as much information as you can on your opponents" He leaped back to avoid her kick. "That was smart."
"But will it be enough?" She followed him not faltering.
"Maybe but you have the element of surprise on your side." He smirked as she did a combination of attacks that greatly resembled his own style of Taijutsu "Most will underestimate you because you look as threatening as a kitten."
"Strange thing to hear from a man who was on his knees a few hours ago." She directed a kick to his stomach not amused by the comparison.
He only laughed in response. The sound probably surprised her as he didn't do it that often, which was also why she found herself in the ground because that moment of faltering was all he needed to slam her down.
He liked it when she got bold with her words.
"A kitten with claws." He straddled her waist, his hand was wrapped around her slender neck gently without putting any pressure "But a kitten nonetheless."
That mockery of a chokehold cost him, as she flipped their position.
Sasuke found himself staring at the blue sky.
"What was it you said about underestimating me?" She was now the one straddling him, her hand on his chest keeping him down.
He smirked enjoying being the one pinned down for a change. His hands automatically found her thighs moving her a bit up on his stomach least she feels the growing evidence of how much he was enjoying their current position.
She sent a pulse of electricity to his chest as a warning for she interpreted his movement as an attack.
"No cheating." His hands didn't leave their current placement "We said no chakra."
"Sorry. Reflex" Hinata had a remorseful look as she saw the burnt shirt and reddening skin underneath.
He smiled slightly at her concern. He had had much worse injuries before plus he didn't mind her leaving her marks on him.
"That new reflex will also be to your advantage." The Uchiha was in no hurry to move "Everyone will expect you to fight like a Hyuuga but you're not like any Hyuuga."
"You think I should deviate from the classic Hyuuga style" She was thinking so hard, she completely forgot about their current suggestive position. Not that Sasuke minded "They'll be so angry."
"You won't be fighting for them." His fingers started drawing circles on her outer thigh. "You'll be fighting with my name. Plus I didn't teach you all that so you can just use it in a spar against me."
"What about.." She hesitated "Fire release?"
He felt his blood heating and not from the very pleasant current situation. Her clan did such a number on her, making her believe there was something wrong with her for having a different chakra affinity.
And although his deceased clan was the most famous for their fire techniques, it wasn't that rare to have that affinity in theLand of Fire. It was absurd.
But he admitted there was nothing common about the way she used it. In fact, no one else in the world will be able to have the same control she developed now.
She's come a long way from the kunoichi that almost burned his hair when they started experimenting.
"That is your trump card." Sasuke answered "You shouldn't care about what they think. Don't allow them to control you."
The fact that her clan wouldn't be able to anyway now that she was his apprentice was left unsaid.
When she still had that unsure look on his face. The Uchiha set up prompting her to slip down on his lap. She released a small startled gasp as she put her hands on his shoulder to stay upright. His own hand splayed on her back to prevent her fall.
His other hand found her cheek without his command.
"I have never seen you more alive…" …more beautiful… "than when you light a flame." His whole face softened "They can never take that away from you."
Sasuke felt his heartbeat speed up at the way she looked at him. Like he was her salvation.
"Burn bright Hinata Hyuuga." He whispered as the most brilliant smile overtook his face.
Hinata lay in her comfortable bed staring at her ceiling for quite some time. Replaying over and over again their last meeting.
The way he looked at her from his position down on his knees, like he was indeed engaged in some type of supplication.
And although she knew it was just Sasuke in one of his rare playful mood, her stomach couldn't help but do a series of somersaults.
Things only got worse/better when he cupped her cheek and took her breath away as he reminded her once again to be herself. To be free. To burn bright.
For a few minutes that felt like eternity, she was completely lost in the abyss of his dark eyes.
And she felt it again; that urge to close the distance between them and know if his lips would ignite the same fire that made her feel alive.
Hinata wondered what would've happened if Kakashi hadn't interrupted with a cough and a cheeky grin hidden behind his mask.
The moment the spell broke she had scrambled to her feet once she notice she was practically in his lap.
Gods she was so lost in how right it felt to be in his hold that she was not aware of their compromising position.
She had been in the midst of fleeing when Sasuke caught her arm. Her face burned further.
He handed her the box of cinnamon rolls telling her they were done training. She was ready.
He then turned around with a peeved look towards his old sensei asking how the hell did he cross the wards without him knowing.
To which the silver haired jounin answered that if he wasn't so preoccupied with more interesting pursuits maybe he would have noticed. And aren't you cute Sasuke-kun when you're frustrated? To which Sasuke responded with a fire ball aimed at his head.
Not that she witnessed any of that as she had already fled clutching her desert like a lifeline.
And so here lay Hinata at midnight tossing and turning and trying to make sense of everything that happened since the beginning of their strange….friendship?
The conclusion she reached made her put a pillow over her head to muffle a disgruntled sound.
Because Sasuke Uchiha made her cheeks burn constantly and her heart flutter persistently and her head spin repeatedly.
And godamit she did what she promised she wouldn't do, because it did not pass.
For Hinata Hyuuga had absolutely developed quite the strong infatuation with the Uchiha.
She felt like one of his idiotic fan-girls.
If it was not going to pass, she will at least try to keep it contained in that stage. Because the prospect of feeling something more would leave her devastated. She was finally glued back together and she knew she couldn't handle any more heartache.
Another loud groan was heard in the confines of her room as she pressed her pillow harder to her face, so that she could maybe suffocate what she hoped was just puppy love for her dark-knight-in-shining-whatever.
Since the idea of Sasuke as a white knight who swoops in to save the day was just ridiculous. However, he did put a sword in her hand so-to-speak and tell her to go slay her own motherfucking dragons.
And maybe that was part of the appeal.
That he didn't try to solve her problems for her but gave her the tools to do it herself. Because she remembers vividly what he said when he presented her with the apprenticeship contract.
"I know you don't need my protection and I know you can fight your own battles. I just thought you'd like the option of someone backing you up."
And maybe his unwavering faith in her was what finally gave her the courage to really go slay her own dragons. Starting with participating in the tournament.
She was ready to face the wrath of her father and the elders of her clan, because although they were as terrifying as the ancient mythological creature, she was in no way a princess stuck in their tower and she after all had learned to breathe fire.
The rest of the week passed in a blur for Hinata.
The day before the beginning of the tournament the heiress told her father casually at the dinner table that she unfortunately wouldn't be in the stands cheering for the Hyuuga champion as she was needed somewhere else.
The way she worded her truthful statement made Hiashi simply assumed she was part of the medical-nins on duty waiting for any injured participants.
Hanabi had pouted saying she wanted to enjoy the action together, to which Hinata had promised she'll however get to enjoy seeing her big sister in action.
Neji had observed the whole exchange with suspicion. Once her father left the room, her cousin waited for a few minutes before narrowing his eyes.
"What are you both planning?"
"Nothing." The sisters said simultaneously.
"Do I need to remind you that I'm the best between us at reading facial expressions?" He crossed his arms.
"What you are better at is being egotistical" Hanabi scoffed.
"Hanabi you have that smug I'm-plotting-someone's-demise look and Hinata you have that I'm-sorry-I-lied look. " His eyebrow rose "Fess up, before I start investigating"
Both heiresses blanched, Neji in investigator mode was trouble as he always uncovered more than was necessary and in a very public manner. Both still remembered Hanabi's first period fiasco. A story that shall not be mentioned.
"eghh Fine!" The youngest Hyuuga raised her hands in exasperation "I wanted Hinata to be there because I booked the Hyuuga seats near the Hokage's."
"Why would you do that?" Neji frowned for he was still under the impression Hinata was still upset about the break up.
"Because Uchiha-san will be there duh!" She looked at him like he was an idiot.
"Hanabi! Stop meddling!" Hinata's cheeks dusted pink.
"Oh so there is something to meddle in?" She grinned.
"And you what are you doing?" Neji regarded his blue-haired cousin who sputtered, with even more suspicion "I already know that it has something to do with that damn Uchiha."
Hinata kept quiet.
"Do I need to start trailing him?"
"Do you want to be barbecued?" She was alarmed. Sasuke after all liked his privacy.
"Have you no faith in my skills?" Neji scoffed. Yes the Uchiha was a legend but he was a genius in his own right.
"Please cousin, Uchiha-san will eat you alive. Especially if you are interrupting his rendez-vous' with Hinata." Hanabi said
"What rendez-vous?!" Neji shrieked.
"There are no rendez-vous." Hinata's face warmed as she half heartedly glared at her sister. "The truth is I can't tell you Neji-nii-san, because it has something to do with that mission he gave me the day you interrupted at the Uchiha district"
She held his gaze, willing her cheeks to cool.
"Fine." He said "but there better be no hanky-panky involved."
"Hanky-panky? What are you eighty?" Hanabi's eyes were as judgy as any other teenager "Really Nii-san you need to untwist your panties."
As his glare that-had-absolutely-no-effect-on-his-youngest-cousin intensified Hinata tried to defuse the tension.
"Are you going to watch the competition Neji-nii?"
"Yes I'll be there as a guard for Naruto. The commander's orders" His voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Hinata smiled slightly at Sasuke's ingenuity he made sure her cousin wouldn't be able to intervene when everything started as he was the most likely candidate to make a fuss. But Neji's important duty will trump his overprotectiveness.
After she bid them goodnight, Hinata went to her room and waited for half an hour before sneaking off to clear her mind. She was anxious for tomorrow so she decided to indulge in one of the most relaxing activity she enjoyed.
The Hyuuga heiress made her way toward a familiar waterfall in the outskirts of Konoha. After disrobing she stepped on top of the water and started twirling around , the droplets that rose sparkled like diamonds. And although she didn't have a water affinity, she still managed to move it as if she was born to do it, but it was just classic Hyuuga chakra control.
Hinata chased all thoughts as she danced her heart out.
The heiress made her way home and snuck in through her window without making a sound. She didn't take more than two steps before she was startled.
"Now I understand why you leave the window open."
"Sasuke! You almost gave me a heart attack." The Uchiha was lounging comfortably on her bed, leg crossed and hands behind his head as if he belonged there.
"Why is it that whenever I'm in your room you're always wet?" He smirked as her cheeks colored.
"I was s-swimming. And it's just my hair" She looked for a towel to dry said wet hair and hopefully mask her mortification because she was sure he could read on her face what she thought about when he mentioned the combination of; him, her room and wet.
"This late at night? I didn't take you for an exhibitionist princess." His smirk widened at her squeak.
"T-That's not…Where are all the towels?" Her search was a failure.
"Come here." Sasuke sighed as he stood up facing her when she did.
Without warning he took a hold of head bringing it to his chest prompting her to squeak, he then started running his fingers through her hair.
Hinata's cheeks blazed like a thousand suns. It took her a few minutes to understand what he was doing.
"Remind me to teach you how to heat your skin voluntarily." Every stand of hair he touched dried from the chakra he immitted from his hands.
"O-ok." Her understanding of his intention didn't stop her from being flustered at basically being cuddled.
He then let her go to run his fingers trough her bangs ruffling them before rearranging them in their normal state.
"I'm must've overdone it with the heat. Your face is flushed." A frown graced his aristocratic features.
Her flushed complexion had nothing to do with the heat and everything to do with the way his thumbs swiped the apples of her cheeks in concern.
"I…H-how did you get in here this time?" Hinata released a breath as he turned around towards her bed. This is not helping her growing crush.
"The window again. That way no one senses my chakra." He faced her once more "I have..a gift for you."
Sasuke handed her a rectangular box. Overcome with curiosity, she opened it and pulled out dark fabric.
"I thought..it was only fair that you look the part tomorrow." She was too busy examining the Uchiha fan on the garment to notice the pink hue that dusted his cheeks. "You don't have to wear it if you don't want to."
"It would be my honor." Hinata smiled at him "I shall wear it with pride."
This was really happening. She was going to show up tomorrow with the emblem of his clan, making quite the statement to hers.
"And…Something else." Sasuke took her hand and slid an elastic band that used to be in his wrist.
"What is it?" She asked examining the dark red band. Nothing seemed remarkable about it, but knowing Sasuke it probably had a meaning.
"It was my brother's." Her eyes widened
"Sasuke, I can't except this. It's too precious." She tried to give it back but he halted her hand. His eyes crinkled with amusement as if he found the idea she considered a simple hair tie precious endearing. Which she knew it was.
"My brother contrary to popular belief took pride in our clan. I think he'd like the idea of the Uchiha being represented by someone like you, innocent of bloodshed" Sasuke said.
"I'm a kunoichi, I'm not without blood on my hands." She bit her lip.
"Still less than the blood that soaked his and mine and probably for more honorable reasons unlike me." His hand still held hers.
"Honor is a bit of a blurry grey area for a shinobi. Don't judge yourself too harshly." Hinata enveloped his hand with hers "You're not that person anymore."
"Maybe." His lips twitched.
"I'll wear it for luck, so that I'll be as brave as Itachi Uchiha was" She could see how much this meant for him, to have a piece of his brother connected to a battle that didn't necessarily end in tragedy.
"Thank you Hinata." Sasuke's face softened.
She dragged him to her bed where they both sat, backs against the headboard. It felt natural, as if they were used to doing this regularly.
"Tell me about him." Hinata urged getting comfortable.
And so he did until her eyelids dropped and she was engulfed in sleep's sweet embrace.
AN: Sasuke is turning up the heat and Hinata is getting the feels. Hanabi is waiting for the ball to drop and Neji is starting to freak out.
But I do hope you're also feeling the heat, getting the feels and waiting for the ball to drop!
Thank you all for the many reviews. I appreciate when you pick up on the subtle details in the story and the not so subtle details ( as the bakery lady and Bonauditeur said). And thanks for the inspiration zisaidwut you were right; our boy Sasuke was feeling some tension himself.
I ofc promise that Hinata will be kicking some ass in the next chapters. Drumroll for the upcoming drama.
Again review, review, review.
-Your soon-to-be ass kicking writer
Lady Thunder Storm.