When she arrived the next day, Sasuke was waiting for her.

"The door is open!" he called from inside after she rung the bell. She opened it, took out her sandals, and then walked over to the living room, where Sasuke was sitting at the low table, rummaging through a box.

The apartment was clean, not a speck of dust or sign of what she had seen yesterday in sight. She dared not wonder about his bedroom and how it must look like now, even after being cleaned up. The wallpaper and matress would need to be replaced, no doubt.

"Sasuke-kun, good morning" she greeted, making her way towards him and sitting on the opposite side of the table. Sasuke nodded, still not looking up from the box. Hinata fidgeted awkwardly. "Happy belated birthday, by the way. I didn't have the chance to say it yesterday."

"It's fine. Thanks I guess. The dumplings were nice."

She nodded, patiently waiting for him to finish with whatever he was doing. He didn't look angry, but he didn't look so yesterday either. What soothed Hinata, however, was that he didn't seem as indifferent and detached as he had the day before. There was a frown of concentration between his brows, and a small tension on his shoulders, but other than that, he looked… not as bad as she had expected.

It was another few minutes before he finally lifted his head and looked at her. He took out a single object from the box, a yellow piece of clothing which shape she couldn't discern as it was perfectly folded, and layed it on the table.

"You probably want to know why I was gone for so long…" he started, but Hinata quickly cut him up.

"You don't need to tell me anything if you don't feel like it! I was worried, and that's why I was nosy yesterday, but don't think you're obligated to…"

"I would appreciate it if you didn't interrupt me" he said in a slightly louder, admonishing voice, frowning. Hinata's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly withdrew, embarrassment painting her face pink as she glanced down and apologized softly. After another second of silence, Sasuke continued. "As I was saying, I…"

His voice trailed off. Hinata resisted the temptation to tell him it was alright, that he didn't have to tell her the reason he was gone for so long, or why his apartment had been a disaster, or even what that box was or the yellow clothing that he was touching with a melancholic look on his face.

She said nothing though, both because of what he had said before and also because she was sincerely curious.

Eventually, Sasuke spoke again. He grabbed the yellow cloth and unfolded it, showing her that it was an apron.

"This used to belong to my mother" he said it simply, a little bit curtly, even.

Hinata just looked at him, waiting, a feeling of foreboding building deep in her stomach.

"I decided to… return to my district, see what I could find. I realized I didn't have anything of my family with me, and so I went and…" he brought the apron closer to his chest, and although he wasn't quite hugging it, the way he held it, so tenderly, it didn't make a difference.

"I found other things too. Dad's handkerchief, his kunai pouch and police uniform. Mom's dress and jewelry. She didn't really use a lot of it, at most I only ever saw her wearing her wedding ring, so I was surprised I found so many, all tucked away in a pretty box in her nightstand… I didn't bring it of course, just what I thought was the most important…"

At this point he stopped talking. He stared down at the apron, lost in thought, when all of a sudden a look of utter contempt altered his until then saddened features. He fisted the apron, clenching it to the point Hinata thought it might tear, but, as fast as it came, the look went away, and Sasuke finally forced himself to relax.

"I found Itachi's things too, of course. Plenty of them. Family photos with him, pretending to be the perfect brother and son…" his voice trembled, so he cleared his throat. "I burn them. I burn it all. All of his things, all of the photos where he was. I destroyed his room, because he doesn't deserve to have single remaining memory of him in the home that he destroyed…!"

He closed his eyes, taking deep breaths through his nose. Hinata held back a sigh, understanding that at this moment, the only thing she could do was hear him out. It had not been that long ago since he opened his heart about not thinking he would be able to move on from his family's death, and now this happened. Had it always been like this? Had Sasuke always lived with the little remainders and memories and thoughts of that night and its consequences, but just never said anything? It must be. Hinata didn't believe all of this came out of nowehere, and yet, it was only now that he felt comfortable enough to confide in her.

It was completely out of place, seeing how affected he was, but Hinata couldn't help but feel flattered for his trust in her.

"…that's why I've been a little out of sorts. Thank you for not coming to look for me before. I… I needed time" he finished, folding the apron again and carefully putting it back in the box.

Hinata breathed deeply, before nodding. Carefully, she stood up and went over to his side. She kneeled, holding his gaze when he looked up at her.

"If you want… you can tell me all about the things you brought in this box. I would… I would like to know more about your parents."

She heard him suck in a breath. For a moment she was afraid she had crossed a line again, but thankfully, he shook his head, closing the box and pushing it aside as he said; "maybe one day, just not now. Do you want some tea?"

"I would like to" she accepted, knowing he needed the change of subject. He stood up, taking the box with him somewhere else, and Hinata waited a few seconds before standing up as well and walking to the kitchen, to get the water boiling.

They didn't talk about the box again.