Sasuke's new arm is slowly healing and SasuHina are taking care of things in Konoha before they head off.
Chapter 70: The seasons change, the walls remain
The path from the Hyuuga compound gates to the Head House was one Sasuke walked at least once a month, but this time he was a little too early for tea.
"The library is only open to clansmen," Hinata said apologetically as she walked by his side, midnight hair swaying at her back. "But nii-san set everything up in a study." She opened the front door to the Head House only to gasp out an "eep!"
Hanabi pounced on her sister, nearly sending them both tumbling to the ground if it weren't for Sasuke's hand on Hinata's back. "Nee-sama, let's train before tea!" Hanabi glanced at Sasuke. "Sasuke-senpai, you're early. Up for a rematch or are you still not supposed to be sparring?"
Sasuke's hand lingered on the small of Hinata's back, making sure she was stable before pulling away to shrug at Hanabi's question. "I'll sit this one out." Although training in general was fine, Sakura had strongly discouraged sparring. There was always a chance that his sparring partner might not be able to completely avoid disturbing his left arm; there were few people Sasuke would trust in that way. As much as she'd grown on him, Hanabi didn't make the list.
"Aw, that sucks," Hanabi sulked. She was being earnest, but somehow her expression was so comical that Sasuke couldn't help himself. Unthinkingly, he reached out, arm stretching over Hinata's shoulder to poke Hanabi in the forehead.
The younger Hyuuga's face screwed up in confusion, hands flying up to her forehead as Sasuke's own dropped back to his side. "Maybe next time," he said with a smirk.
Hanabi huffed, blowing away the stubborn strand of hair that tended to hang over her face.
An amused smile graced Hinata's face as the took in the exchange. "The study opens out onto the courtyard," she mentioned. "If we warm up properly and go through our katas, by the time we start our spar, Sasuke-kun might be able to watch. You can show him your new technique."
"Why, so he can steal it with his copy eye?" Hanabi asked, nose wrinkling up.
Sasuke scoffed. "Someone's overconfident. Who says it's worth copying?"
Hanabi scowled for a moment before her features took on a mischievous edge. "Well, we both know if you watched us spar you'd really just be using it as an excuse to stare at nee-sama the entire time."
If her aim was to embarrass Sasuke, she missed her mark. Sasuke only quirked a brow. "I don't need an excuse for that," he said, unrepentant.
A pink flush settled across the top of Hinata's cheekbones. "A-Alright you two, let's not keep nii-san waiting," she intervened. With one hand on Hanabi's shoulder, Hinata threaded the fingers of her other hand through Sasuke's and guided them both along into the house.
Both Sasuke and Hanabi surrendered to Hinata, though the younger girl made sure to twist around and stick her tongue out at Sasuke.
Hinata led them to a room not too far from the one they took their tea in. When she slid the shoji door open, they found Neji seated at the low table, two sets of parchment, ink wells and brushes laid out atop the dark wood as well as a pile of books.
Eying the paraphernalia, a look of understanding crossed Hanabi's face. "Ah." She shot Sasuke a commiserating look. "No sparring and calligraphy practice? That really sucks."
Neji cleared his throat. "Calligraphy is a dignified hobby for the cultured person, Hanabi. One you might consider taking up."
"I'll think about it," Hanabi said in a tone that suggested she certainly would not. "Anyway, can we go, nee-sama?"
"Alright," Hinata conceded. She squeezed Sasuke's hand lightly before releasing it. "We'll leave you to it."
Rather than exiting back into the hallway, Hanabi opted to slide open the other set of shoji doors and step out onto the engawa. With a parting smile, Hinata followed suit.
Neji turned to regard Sasuke. "Please sit," he said, gesturing to his right. "As you cannot access our library directly, I have taken the liberty to bring a selection here. Of course you can write anything that comes to mind, but I find it easier to copy out my favourite verses."
Taking a seat, Sasuke nodded his thanks. "I'm not much of a poet," he commented, browsing through the pile of books. Some of the titles had his eyebrows raising. He recognized them from Kakashi's personal collection — a tamer alternative to Icha Icha Paradise. For the sexually repressed, Sasuke presumed, perverts with delusions of propriety.
Sasuke wondered if Hinata was aware that her cousin liked to read borderline erotic poetry.
Shuddering internally, he hoped not.
The sound of Neji's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Hinata-sama mentioned you're ambidextrous?"
Sasuke nodded. "More or less."
"This will be a good exercise then," Neji said, rolling out the parchment in front of him.
"Mm. Hinata suggested it since it seemed to work well for you." Eyes catching on one particular title, Sasuke pulled the book out of the pile. The cover was unadorned, a simple script spelling out Oku no Hosomichi across the spine.
"An appropriate choice," Neji remarked after a sidelong look.
Sasuke said nothing as he began loosening the straps of his sling, easing his left arm onto the table.
A sense of quiet overtook the room. Although Sasuke had not frequently been alone in Neji's company, he respected the other ninja disinclination to speak for its own sake, favouring using his words only where needed.
While Neji's brush moved with confident yet thoughtful strokes, long recovered from his injury, Sasuke's lines were wobbly, the fingers of his prosthetic stiff and not perfectly responsive to his commands. A deep line of concentration ran between Sasuke's eyebrows and he had to break intermittently.
It was frustrating, but Sasuke was no stranger to hard work.
Besides, each pause was an opportunity to glance out the open shoji doors and appreciate Hinata gracefully flowing through her katas.
His divided attention earned him a look from Neji that was only mildly disapproving. Sasuke refrained from rolling his eyes, meeting the stare head on until the older boy returned to his calligraphy with a shake of his head.
Losing track of time, it was the reappearance of Hinata's figure in the doorway, backlit by the bright sun, that informed Sasuke that thirty minutes had passed. If not for her, Sasuke would have continued, heedless of the pain pricking along the nerves of his arm.
It wasn't that Sasuke was oblivious to the limits of his body making themselves known, but that the fastest way he'd known to get stronger was to push past those limits. His younger self had been impatient, on a deadline to prove himself. It was a difficult habit to break.
As Hinata murmured an acknowledgement to Neji, Sasuke put away his calligraphy materials and so by the time she had circled around the table to his left side he was ready for her. With caring hands, Hinata strapped Sasuke's left arm back to his chest. Busy with the clasps of his sling, when Hinata's midnight blue hair spilled across her shoulder and into her face, Sasuke tucked it back behind her ear for her. Lavender eyes glanced up at him from beneath her lashes, a sweet smile curving her lips as she adjusted his sleeve so that it wasn't bunched up by the sling.
Though he was getting used to the sensation of his new arm, the sight of it was uncanny and despite the warming weather Sasuke opted for long sleeves. But Hinata was unflinching whenever she helped him with his sling or massaged ointment into the joint were his native skin transitioned to Hashirama cells. His prosthetic became less alien when she was touching it. The familiar touch of Hinata's skin on his left arm made it feel like his own, like it belonged with the rest of his body.
Once she had finished with his sling, Hinata didn't move far. Settling beside Sasuke, she sent him a curious gaze that he answered with a nod. Satisfied, Hinata proceeded to look over his work, no judgment passing her face as her eyes swept over his shaky lettering.
Leaving her to it, Sasuke looked over to the other side of the table where Hanabi had joined Neji and was asking him for pointers on her technique. Sitting side by side, the resemblance between them was undeniable.
Sharp, angular faces surrounded by long, chestnut hair, Neji and Hanabi looked more like siblings than Hinata and Hanabi.
Sasuke's eyes trailed up to their bare foreheads where the Hikō no Tsubasa no Juin could be seen peaking out from under their bangs on both sides of their face. Had the petal-shaped seal been any larger, it would have reached the corners of their eyes. Though Hinata's own seal was the same indigo of her chakra, for the rest of the Hyuuga it had taken on a light blue reminiscent of the typical chakra colouring. That light blue seemed to bring out the blue tones in Neji and Hanabi's pale eyes as opposed to Hinata's lavender, setting her further apart from them.
That wasn't to say there weren't similarities between the three of them to mark their close relation, it was simply more subtle. It was in the roundness of Hanabi's eyes and the straight line of Neji's nose.
Sasuke turned back to Hinata, tracing that nose and those eyes. Those eyes then looked back at him, warm and smiling.
"Hanabi and I are going to spar now. Do you want to come outside or would you rather rest in here?" Hinata asked. "The sun is quite strong today."
"I'll come outside," Sasuke said. He flexed his left hand within the sling and felt the slight soreness around his fingers.
"Of course he will. He'll get a better view to stare," Hanabi taunted.
Neji made a noise of agreement. "Although he didn't seem to have trouble from here," he said under his breath, making Hanabi laugh.
Ignoring them, Sasuke rose to his feet and then held out his right hand to Hinata. As she slipped her smaller hand into his and let him help her up, Hinata's bright eyes and cheerful expression took up the entirely of Sasuke's focus. Hanabi and Neji faded into the background.
"I'm hungry, so I'm counting on you to end it quickly," Sasuke said as he interlocked their fingers and tugged Hinata onto the engawa.
Behind them, Hanabi squawked in outrage, but Sasuke's ears were only tuned to the sound of Hinata's soft laughter.
Moved by the wind, a loose lock of hair tickled Hinata's cheek. With her hands encased in gardening gloves and busy with weeds, Hinata awkwardly tried to maneuver her shoulder to brush it away, but only succeeded in knocking her sun hat off her head.
Her braid was falling apart, Ryota's little fingers having struggled to weave her long hair together. He'd been so happy to do it though and so Hinata wore it proudly despite Neji's judgment when he'd seen her leaving the compound that morning, his own brown hair pulled back elegantly.
Dropping the weeds in the basket to her right, Hinata was about to reach for her hat when a shadow fell upon her, shielding her now unprotected head from the heat of the sun. Her hat was picked up by another pair of hands.
Minoru was cautious as he placed the hat back on her head, backing away quickly when she offered him a thankful smile. The wide brim shaded Hinata's face from harsh rays, but did nothing for the sweat beading along her forehead and nape. May had come and gone and now June had brought a humidity that would only heighten as they crossed the summer solstice.
Although Minoru maintained that he had little interest in gardening, he continued to keep her company whenever she tended to the fledging garden in the Uchiha district. Now knowing that Hinata would be leaving it unattended for some months, Minoru had taken a bit more of an active role, asking questions and helping out rather than simply observing.
"They're in good shape," she told him once she'd finished the last of the pruning. "I'm a little sad I'll miss the harvest."
Minoru's features shifted, like he was trying to constrain whatever emotions he was feeling from surfacing on his face. The skin of his cheeks dipped a little, revealing twin grooves — dimples, perhaps. It was difficult to say since Hinata had yet to see him smile.
"The construction looks like its almost done," he noted. "But there'll be more to do after that. This place…" Minoru hesitated, glancing off to the side.
In the distance Sasuke and the other ninja could be seen hard at work, the noise of chatter and restoration efforts carrying over to the garden.
"…it was Sasuke-san's home, right? Is he really okay with leaving it unfinished?" Minoru asked.
Hinata pressed her lips together, considering the question. Her gaze followed Minoru's to rest on Sasuke's form. His left arm was unbound as it was more and more often, growing stronger each day and permitted to be released from the sling for longer intervals with Sakura's stamp of approval.
Hinata didn't know how much Minoru had gleaned about Sasuke's past, but she wasn't naïve enough to believe that the rumour mill hadn't reached Minoru's ears even as isolated as he had been in the hospital and under watch. And despite Minoru's own contentious experience, that didn't mean he didn't understand the importance of familial ties. Clans like the Uchiha, the Hyuuga and the Fujiwara came with long histories that cast big shadows with heavy expectations. They bred both entitlement and responsibility.
"I was born to be a prince!"
What had Sasuke envisioned for his future, Hinata wondered, before it had been snatched away from him? Graduating top of his class and entering the Keimu Butai like so many of his clansmen before him? Or following his older brother's footsteps and being scouted for ANBU?
And Sasuke was not materialistic, but if his formative years had been anything like Hinata's then, along with everything else, it must have been a shock to go from his comfortable home in the Uchiha district to a one room apartment in the poorer neighbourhoods of Konoha.
Minoru hadn't seen the state the Uchiha district had been in only some months ago. By the time he'd moved in, most of the exterior had been tidied up and it had looked nowhere near as derelict as it had come to be since the fall of the Uchiha. Perhaps if he had seen it that way, it wouldn't seem so strange to him that Sasuke could walk away from it.
He'd left the Uchiha district behind before, had cut his ties to Konoha completely except for one stubborn bond held together by Naruto's sheer force of will.
Sasuke was no stranger to forsaking material comforts in the pursuit of his goals.
So no, it wasn't strange that Sasuke could walk away from the Uchiha district without seeing its restoration through to completion.
The strangeness lay in that he wasn't abandoning it. In fact, he was taking great pains to make sure it would be taken care of while he was away and he appeared to have every intention of returning.
Even from this distance, Hinata's sharp eyes caught the sheen of sweat on Sasuke's forehead, too much to be attributable only to the heat, as well as the mild tremor in his left arm as he lifted up a table. They were working through the final touches on the interiors of the houses — repainting the furniture outside where it could dry in the sun before returning it back inside.
He was overdoing it.
Worried, Hinata rose to her feet, but then suddenly Shino was there, taking hold of the other end of the table and lightening the load. She let out a soft exhale.
Then, as if sensing her attention on him, Sasuke locked eyes with her, his mismatched gaze no less intense for the distance between them. He quirked a brow and Hinata smiled.
Sasuke wasn't overtly sentimental, whether by nature or necessity Hinata wasn't sure, but that didn't preclude the gravity with which he held his emotions.
After all, the framed photo of his genin team may have been downturned the first time Hinata had stepped foot in Sasuke's apartment, yet it had been placed on the shelf nonetheless.
"It's true the Uchiha district won't be fully ready before we leave," Hinata agreed. She turned back to Minoru, smile still lingering on her lips. "But it's not that Sasuke-kun's leaving it…he's entrusting it to our friends."
Minoru stared back at her, eyes widening just a little as something dawned in their brown depths. Then he averted his gaze, nodding as he stooped down to gather up the gardening tools.
Hinata crouched down as well, pulling off her gloves. "How are you feeling about tomorrow?" she asked as she began to methodically seal away her tools.
Minoru shrugged. "It's not like I'm not used to living with people. I guess it was kind of strange being alone…"
"Well, I know Oda-kun and Miki-chan are looking forward to it." When Minoru simply shrugged again, she added, "Oda-kun was asking about what kinds of things you like to eat. They're both excited to celebrate with you when they move in."
At this, Minoru froze momentarily. Then he said with forced nonchalance, "I guess Oda is getting freebies from Amaguriama now that he works there."
A small smile spread across Hinata's lips. It had been Sasuke's idea to talk to the shopkeeper about hiring Oda, claiming that the woman clearly held a soft spot for the boy for all her complaints about loitering. As for Miki, Hinata was considering asking her along on her next volunteer shift at the Konoha community center. She could easily picture the oba-sans fawning over the young girl.
When all of her tools were sealed away, Hinata rolled up the scroll and slotted it into the front pocket of her overalls. "Thank you, Minoru-san."
Minoru nodded, glancing at her through the cover of his overgrown hair. His mouth opened and closed a few times in an aborted attempt to speak until finally he said, "Hinata-san, about the garden…"
"Hm?" Hinata tilted her head to the side. They were both still crouched down, lending their conversation a sense of privacy despite the open air surrounding them.
"I know you'll miss the first harvest, but…you don't have to worry. I'll take care of it," Minoru said, voice soft and shy. "At least until you come back."
Lips forming a round "oh", Hinata blinked. Then her eyes softened. "I'm glad," she said, "To know that they'll be well taken care of."
Blushing, Minoru busied himself with straightening up and dusting off his pants.
Hinata stood as well and when Minoru reached for the basket full of weeds, she didn't protest, letting him carry it for her. With Minoru leading the way back to the main street of the Uchiha district, Hinata fell back a little, taking in the view of his back.
He was standing a little taller, shoulders a little broader. The small changes since he'd arrived in Konoha were adding up.
It was likely Hinata would miss some more changes while she was away, but rather than sadness there was anticipation stirring in her chest for the kind of person Minoru would be when they met again.
Pressing his left thumb against the chakra paper sitting on the table, Sasuke furrowed his brows as he channeled his chakra. It was something that he had mastered quickly in his youth, easily becoming second nature to him. Now, it was like he was right back to his early academy days, having to visualize moving his chakra from his core to the tip of his thumb.
Finally the paper crumpled, reacting to his raiton affinity.
"Great!" Sakura chirped. She switched out the paper for a new sheet. "Next one."
One by one, Sasuke sent his chakra to each finger on his left hand, Sakura replacing the chakra paper each time.
"The integration into your native chakra system is looking good," Sakura said as she cleared the last piece of crumpled paper. "The strength tests were good as well, even though it seems like you've been pushing yourself a bit too much. A few more weeks and we should be able to get rid of the sling altogether." She jotted down some notes in her clipboard.
Sasuke made a noise of acknowledgement as he slipped his prosthetic back into the sling and began to fasten the straps.
Sakura paused in her writing. "Do you need help with that?" she asked, already reaching forward.
"I've got it," Sasuke grunted, not looking up from where he was tightening the straps.
"Oh. Alright." Sakura swayed back. After a second, she resumed her note taking.
"Sakura, the check-in for July, there was a mistake in the scheduling."
Sakura's brows pinched together. "Huh? There shouldn't be, I just calculated out the interval…" She flipped forward a few pages. "Oh." Her lips twitched into a slight frown before she smoothed out her features. "It's fine. I know most places will be closed for tanabata, but I don't mind keeping the appointment. I wasn't planning on going."
Blank-faced, Sasuke returned, "But I am. So it's inconvenient."
Sakura's jaw dropped. "You're going? To a festival? Around crowds of noisy people?" she asked, incredulous. "For Hinata? Honestly, I'm surprised she asked. And I'm even more surprised you agreed."
Sasuke didn't see the point in telling her that Hinata hadn't asked. Instead, he said, "Why aren't you going? You love things like this."
Although a friendly smile stayed fixed on Sakura's lips, her eyes were sad. "Well, it's not like I have anyone to go with," she said lightly.
Sasuke looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Don't you? There's at least twelve people that will be expecting you there."
"Twelve people?" Sakura frowned in confusion. Sasuke stared back at her evenly until understanding flashed across her face. "That's different. Our friends…everyone will have each other."
"Is it different? We both know if you don't show up, Ino will ditch Sai to track you down and drag you there."
Sakura snorted. "Maybe."
"Definitely. And not just her. Naruto and Sai would too. And Lee," Sasuke pointed out. Then, carefully, he added, "…And me and Hinata. Which means her team and her cousin would follow and then the rest would end up coming along too."
Sadness was still present in Sakura's eyes, but it was joined by a glimmer of mirth. "Sounds like I'll be causing a lot of trouble if I don't go." She grinned a little. "You know…Hinata's good for you."
Sasuke said nothing to that, rising to his feet. He started for the door, but paused. "Sakura, one more thing. After tanabata, I'll be leaving the village for a mission —"
"You're leaving again?!" Sakura's voice rose a few decibels. "For how long? When will you be back? You are coming back…right?"
Sighing, Sasuke said. "I don't know exactly when I'll be back. But while I'm away, I wanted to ask you to do something for me."
"Of course," Sakura said immediately.
"There are still some things left to be done at the Uchiha district. I have the plans prepared, but I'll need someone to oversee it."
Sakura's eyes widened. "Me?" she asked, surprised.
"You've handled things like that for the hospital. You have the experience," Sasuke reasoned.
Still recovering, Sakura took a second to respond. "I mean, yes. I'm just…" She stopped herself, shaking her head. "Never mind. Just. Thank you, for trusting me," she finished earnestly.
Sasuke's eyes slid along the walls of the hospital room. "I'll be asking Ino to help too."
Sakura's forehead wrinkled in displeasure. "Ino?"
Sasuke shrugged. "You have a lot on your hands with the hospital."
Sakura pursed her lips, but nodded. "I guess…Ino's been surprisingly on top of her clan duties and her work at the Kekkai-Han. She doesn't look it, but she's pretty responsible," she admitted.
"I'll tell her you said that."
Sakura made a face. "Please don't."
"Since Sakura is busy with restructuring the hospital training and hiring process for the staff and medics, it would be too much for her alone. You seemed like the best choice to help. She said you're responsible," Sasuke said, voice casual.
Ino flipped her hair with a confident smirk. "I do excel at everything I do. And look amazing doing it," she said. "I suppose I can help out since you and forehead are in dire need of my skills. And since you're letting us set up the rehab clinic for retired ninja there."
"Right," Sasuke said dryly. "It'll be in good hands with the two of you."
"It'll be in good hands with Sakura and Ino…unless they start fighting." Sasuke sat across from Kakashi, trying to gauge the part's of the other man's expression that weren't obscured by the orange cover of his favourite book.
Kakashi hummed absently, flipping a page.
"And as her sensei, looking out for Sakura is your job. Learning to control her temper will make her a better ninja."
Kakashi flipped another page.
"…and you're one of the few people she'll listen to. Since she respects you."
Kakashi lowered his book, finally giving Sasuke his full attention.
"I'm asking you this since we're teammates."
Sai tilted his head. "Even on the rare occasions you have acknowledged me as a part of Team Seven, I don't believe you have called me a teammate. This behaviour is unusual. I may have to consult one of my books."
Sasuke discreetly rolled his eyes. "Look, do you want Ino and Sakura to fight? Because they will, unless you step in to smooth things over. Think of it as interpersonal training. Besides, you're Ino's boyfriend. She'll listen to you."
"I prefer the term lover," Sai responded automatically and Sasuke nearly gagged. Sai then considered Sasuke's words. "It is a good sign when a friend trusts you with such a responsibility. And I will learn to be both a better friend to Sakura and a better lover to Ino," he mused, a small smile creeping up on his face.
"Frankly, you're the only one with any sense. Kakashi and Sai are…less than reliable." Sasuke reclined on the bench in the Hokage Tower courtyard.
Shikamaru scoffed around his cigarette. "Your attempts at manipulation are so obvious it's pathetic."
Sasuke quirked a brow, unconcerned by Shikamaru seeing right through him. "But is it untrue?"
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. "…no."
"And it'll be less troublesome in the long run if you keep things under control."
Shikamaru's eyes narrowed even further. "I don't like this."
"It's your own fault. If you'd just kept underperforming like you did at the academy, no one would have any expectations of you," Sasuke said smugly.
Shikamaru exhaled, smoke filling the air between them before it quickly dissipated with the wind. "Just leave already. I'm not going to miss you a bit. Ōtsutsuki can keep you."
Hinata couldn't be sure what woke her. It had felt like a natural cessation of sleep, but, now awake, she could hear the sizzling of something cooking and a knife against a cutting board as well as smell various aromas. Any one of these might have prematurely pulled her away from her slumber.
Sasuke's bed was not particularly soft and, although it smelled of his detergent, without him in it there was little appeal. It was no hardship for Hinata to climb out from under the covers, feet sightlessly finding her slippers.
Slowly making her way to the kitchen, Hinata paused to appreciate the view. Though his broad back obscured much of what he was doing, Hinata could still catch a glimpse of a pan and two pots on the stovetop and a cutting board to the side with thinly sliced radish and carrots. Sasuke's dark grey shirt stretched across his shoulders with each movement, its long sleeve rolled up to the elbow on only the right arm.
Hinata frowned faintly.
Then, shaking away any negative thoughts, she moved forward, wrapping her arms around Sasuke's middle. "Good morning." The words were murmured into his shirt.
Sasuke barely reacted except to lean into her touch. One hand, his right hand, briefly touched where her hands were linked around his stomach, a soft caress of acknowledgment.
Hinata attempted to peer around Sasuke's shoulder with little luck. She settled for resting her cheek flat against his shoulder blade.
Sasuke continued to cook for a minute and then, freeing up his hands, spun around in Hinata's hold. He reached for her face first, cupping her cheeks and ducking down to brush a kiss against the top of her head. "Morning."
Blinking up at him, Hinata's eyes roved across his sleep-swollen face, bleary eyes and bedhead. The kitchen was warm from the stove, but nonetheless she pressed a little closer to soak up his unique warmth and scent. "Are you cooking up a feast?" she teased.
Sasuke's hand drifted down to Hinata's hips where he squeezed in retaliation. Then, while she was still squeaking in protest, he lifted her up, a smooth movement afforded to him by the availability of two hands. Placing her gently down on a clear space on the counter, Sasuke started to step back only to be reeled back in by Hinata's beseeching eyes and her hands gripping the collar of his shirt.
One, two, three kisses and she was finally sated, letting him go so that he could return to cooking. It was a near thing though, Sasuke's hands on the bare skin of Hinata's thighs nearly derailed them.
Feet kicking idly, Hinata watched Sasuke in an appreciative silence, smiling in response to the little glances he would send her every now and then. He was really going all out, fried fish, miso soup, fresh rice and a salad. They were all things Hinata and Sasuke had prepared together before and Sasuke moved confidently, like he did in everything. She did notice, however, he seemed to rely on his right arm despite now having his left one free as well.
"I took your advice," Sasuke mentioned as he used chopsticks to flip the fish.
Hinata tilted her head questioningly.
"Instead of relying on just one person to take care of the Uchiha district, I asked a few people."
Fingers playing with the edges of her shirt, borrowed from Sasuke, Hinata sent Sasuke a contented smile. "I'm glad. I'm sure everyone is happy to help."
Sasuke hummed noncommittally as he turned off the burners and began plating the food.
Scooting to the edge of the counter, Hinata prepared to hop off, but stopped when Sasuke stepped back between her thighs, placing his hands flat on the surface on either side of her. Hinata's breath hitched, feeling his fingers just barely touching her legs.
"Sasuke?"
Sasuke's lips twitched. His bangs were hanging messily over his eyes as he looked at her.
Hinata raised her arm, combing his hair back with gentle fingers. Sasuke stood complacently as she did, eyes still weighed down by sleep yet somehow focused.
"Go to tanabata with me," he said slowly. The question wasn't in his voice, but in his eyes.
Hinata's hand froze, fingers still entangled in Sasuke's fluffy hair. "Oh." She blinked up at him, wide-eyed. Then, she nodded.
Sasuke studied her expression for a moment and then nodded back. His hands, which had been laying idly on the countertop, moved to grip her hips. "I'll even wear a kimono," he told her, voice grave as if it were a great sacrifice.
Hinata laughed. "You don't have to!"
"But you like the way I look in one," Sasuke pointed out, a devilish curl to his lips and a pale blush rose to Hinata's cheeks when she remembered how she'd timidly blurted out the compliment at Naruto's succession party.
"…maybe," she admitted, staring at Sasuke's chin. Slowly, she glanced up at him from beneath her eyelashes and her breath caught at the look in his mismatched eyes, one swirling slowly and the other one glinting with red.
Maintaining eye contact, Sasuke slipped his hands underneath her, cupping the bare skin of the back of her thighs just above her knees, fingers digging into the plush skin. Hinata gasped, mouth falling open. Her hands flew to Sasuke's chest, gripping the front of his shirt for purchase. The shirt she was wearing may have been long on her, but not that long, and Hinata was all too aware of how far it had ridden up.
Anticipation thickened the air between them so much so that its mere potential rendered the kisses Hinata had stolen earlier chaste in comparison.
Sasuke edged forward, brushing his nose deliberately against hers. Their breath mingled, flavoured by the same mint toothpaste taking residence beside Sasuke's bathroom sink. Hinata's knees quaked, instinctively closing around Sasuke's hips, almost as if to draw him closer.
Pressing his forehead against hers, Sasuke shut his eyes and inhaled deeply. Hinata stared, confused, as he then pulled away. "Let's eat," he said, using his grip on her thighs to help her down onto her feet.
Knees weak, it took Hinata a second to stabilize, held up by Sasuke's hold on her and her own on his shirt. "H-huh?" She blinked up at him with hazy eyes, bewildered.
From their first meeting, Sasuke's frequent shifts between mellow and intense had left Hinata off kilter. Hinata was reminded of that again now.
"Food first," he said. "Then…" Sasuke trailed off, some of the earlier heat that he'd so quickly extinguished returning to his eyes and Hinata realized it wasn't that he had extinguished it, but that he'd forcefully pushed it away. Hinata wondered if it had always been that way. "You need to eat before the sealing ceremonies," he said, voice carefully controlled.
Hinata nodded dumbly. Whatever the case, Sasuke's ability to knock her off balance hadn't changed, though the feelings he inspired certainly had. Even as the heat that had been rising in her abdomen settled into a low simmer, Hinata couldn't say she disliked it.
Together they transferred over the dishes to Sasuke's tiny kitchen table, covering the entire surface. Afterwards, Hinata helped Sasuke with his sling before sliding into the seat across from him. Their knees knocked together but neither of them moved away.
"Itadakimasu."
Hinata eyed the spread of dishes thoughtfully. Based on the looks and smell alone, she could tell Sasuke had cooked everything to perfection. It was a sharp contrast to his meal preferences from before, favouring simplicity and practicality over flavours.
"I didn't have time to think about things like that. Food was necessary for survival and to grow stronger. The taste was inconsequential."
Hinata smiled to herself, picking up the bowl of miso soup. Blowing on it to cool it down, she took a small sip, savouring the layers of flavour. "It tastes a bit different," she noted.
"It's the Suna dashi," Sasuke explained.
"Oh! It's good," Hinata said, taking another sip. "We should keep getting this one."
Sasuke didn't respond in words, but Hinata knew he would remember it. There was a pleased smile playing around his lips as he watched her a moment longer before finally taking up his own bowl.
It felt good to be taken care of in this way, Hinata decided, a warm flush taking over her body that had little to do with the food or even their earlier activities.
There was one common denominator however. He was sitting across from her.
It was heating up in the kitchen in more ways than one lol but then Sasuke remembered breakfast is the most important meal of the day
Thank you as always to everyone who reads and takes the time to comment The comment about horse blinders from last chapter made me laugh out loud!
MVH
