Sweet Dispositions

-Chapter 14-
Boring

November 14th. Afternoon.

HINATA SIGHED, SETTING UP THE MAHJONG PEICES.

Mitsuyo liked playing organized mind games with Hinata.

Mahjong was customarily played with four players. Hinata played mahjong with Hanabi and Neji on snowy days when you would wish the cold away.

Hinata never played mahjong with just one other person. The games were usually high-strung and competitive. Mitsuyo ordinarily prevailed but it made Hinata more stubborn to beat her.

Either way, Mitsuyo usually cornered Hinata with the hard topics while they played the game.

"I do not understand why we have to practice my accent. I will only be here for a year," Hinata said.

"Kumo is a place where slang and words get said differently from Konoha. Everyone will know that you are a foreigner," Mitsuyo drawled.

"I am from Konohagakure."

"Everyone and their mother knows that. I know that. It is hard to tolerate your Konohagakure accent. I can hear the uncensored arrogance your people have."

"Not everyone is... Arrogant. You do not like Konoha? It is a-"

"Vast land where fools parade how strong they are by causing mischief. Sasuke is a key example," Mitsuyo argued.

Hinata conceded. "Oh... Yes. He is quite destructive," Hinata promptly agreed. "He once broke a building."

"How does one... break a building?" Mitsuyo hummed, half-interested and half-scared.

"It was an off day. I mean, you do not originate from Konoha so..." Hinata paused.

Mitsuyo flinched. "If you say so, kid."

Hinata nodded. "I believe you wouldn't have a... fond opinion of them."

Mitsuyo shrugged. "If you listen closely, you'll notice that we don't appreciate people from Konoha. They call your shinobi Konoha-dogs. It's only natural that our rivaling countries do not appreciate each other."

"Why?"

"Rifts happen," Mitsuyo moved a piece. "Division happens over time despite the fact that we are all the same. Even I admit to forgetting that fact. Despite that, I want you to fit in with Kumo people. Have you thought of the reality of you being here?"

"Yes... I have."

"Then you must look like you're from Kumo so you fit in."

Hinata tilted her head, not agreeing. "I wear your daughter's clothing... which is profoundly Kumo-styled. I wear all the styles of Kumo. I'm wearing loose flowing clothing... The rock necklaces, the spirit rings, the shoes, and my hair is worn in a Kumogakure way. I'm... fitting in," Hinata protested.

"In my house. When other people notice you, your cover will be taken away.You cannot keep on wearing my daughter's clothing. And I want you to see Kumo without being recognized," Mitsuyo said.

"What do you mean by... not recognized?"

Mitsuyo grinned. "Ah. Pay attention to the hands, not my mouth-"

Huh? Hinata looked down and cursed. She lost yet again.

¤¤¤

"You want me to wear colored eye-contacts?!" Hinata cried.

Mitsuyo nodded stiffly, unmoved by Hinata's burst of emotion.

"And change my appearance... and start with cutting my hair?!"

Mitsuyo rolled her eyes and drew a labored sigh. "Yes. Your eyes, the byakugan, is... valuable and a reason that your safety may be compromised. And your hair... it is too noticeable."

"I can't cut my hair," she said, her breath falling short.

Mitsuyo shook her head. "Why not? It won't hurt and it wouldn't hurt to cut it. They are simply strands of the protein named-"

"Keratine. I know, I know but I do not want to cut my hair!"

"Can't or won't?"

"Either or. My hair holds deep sentimental value. And the contact lenses totally affect my vision."

Mitsuyo clicked her tongue. "If you want to endanger yourself in Kumo that will be your greatest downfall and biggest mistake. You like to look at the fish in my backyard," Mitsuyo said. "Koi fish in their pond sneer at the ocean. You must get out of your comfort zone. You must be like water, changing, flowing, adapting. You must adapt to the nature you were brought to."

"Adapting here was... difficult," Hinata frowned.

Hinata remembered all the thunderstorms, the books, the mornings learning about everything to go with Kumo. Adapting was what Hinata did.

"What have I been saying these past weeks?" Mitsuyo demanded.

"If something comes in waves, the result will be smooth sailing," Hinata parroted.

"I want you to be protected. Protected now and later on."

"I won't cut my hair,"

"Fine. Will you dye it?"

"Sure. Yes!" Hinata smiled then hugged Mitsuyo. "You're the greatest."

Mitsuyo sighed then shook Hinata off. "You are surprisingly stubborn Hinata," Mitsuyo huffed sternly but fought a smile. "Your byakugan... is spectacular but it requires the chakra your body just doesn't have right now."

"It's the pregnancy!"

"Yes. Your chakra reserves weren't impressive to begin with, Hyuuga. However, your child is the heir of Sasuke who has massive chakra rates. The child has been... taking a lot of your natural chakra. So with them being babies, taking more and more... you have the reserves of a civilian like me."

Hinata nodded, thinking about it.

"During the rest of the pregnancy, you must hide... your chakra and your appearance will support your disguise. Speaking of disguise, your new identity will be my granddaughter. A Natsukawa. Natsukawa Momo."

Hinata tilted her head. "Isn't that coincidental? You have someone named Momo..."

"Yes. All these years ago, she was the one who planted the peach trees. In the back of the garden," Mitsuyo smiled.

"Wow. So... that will be my identity."

"She isn't dead... She has blue eyes and silver hair. No one will notice the difference," Mitsuyo sighed. "I honestly do no not where she is. My children don't visit often... I do not know how much about their families or my grandchildren."

Hinata reached out and squeezed Mitsuyo's shoulder. "You'll always have her in your heart. That's important. Also, can I be an Uchiha?" Hinata asked.

Mitsuyo looked at Hinata, eyes dancing in the storm gray clouds of mirth. It was a bit displaced. Hinata didn't understand why.

Mitsuyo seemed privy to a secret Hinata didn't know. "Unless he marries you, I don't think so."

Hinata raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? I know he won't marry me, I do not expect wedding bells. Won't other people be suspicious of our status since we're always together?"

Mitsuyo clicked her tongue. "Most people will not assume anything. Even if they do, I know that that will draw negative attention to them and everyone cares about saving face. Their own face. If they know that you are my niece or granddaughter, then you will be respected."

"I have the respect of one person... that's all I need," Hinata smiled faintly.

Everyone she's known didn't let her talk and never waited until she was ready. She flashed back to conversating with Hiashi and practicing precociously with Neji. They stole the air from her. Sasuke respected Hinata and that was air. To her lungs that burned with genuine panic and inferiority and disappointment, that was... air.

Was he air? He was good air.

"And plus, I can't say that you are an Uchiha because eventually, you will need citizenship in Kumo. So now, drawing attention to yourself is just a bad idea," Mitsuyo said, "and eventually, you need to shed your old life for this kid."

Hinata looked in the mirror. "I'm ready, dye me whatever color."

Mitsuyo nodded. "Atta girl!"

¤¤¤

November 15th. Near 3 o'clock.

Hinata fiddled in her hair, playing with the strands as she dried her hands. Her hair is silver! Silver! Imagine that! Then, the doorbell rang.

Ah. It was him. Sasuke. Hinata settled her heart, telling it to be still. Don't ruin it for her.

What would he say? Would he smile? Can she touch his arm like last time? Wow... He's been gone for so long!

Ah! He's back.

Hinata finally got to the door, getting privacy once again. Sasuke, was bruised, exhausted and panting... He staggered towards her.

"Sasuke?" Hinata shrieked.

Sasuke took one look at her and smirked. "You're looking kind of gray."

"Huh?"

Sasuke reached out, to touch her. His one eye shone red and the rinnegan was an intense purple and he seemed to be really threatnened.

Sasuke wasn't very lucid, his eyes had a glaze. He was smoking up. His clothes had holes and he had this odd sad bruise on his face.

He lost focus and footing. He was collapsing. Collapsing!

Hinata caught him and laid him on the ground, panting.

His head was in her lap. "Sasuke... you idiot," she whispered.

¤¤¤

Near 8 o'clock. Evening.

"You're always working too hard!... And you never stop... to think for a second if you're hurt or if you're just.... Ne, Sasuke! You...."

Sasuke opened his eyes. A certain busty woman pranced around. He watched the source for a little. Did they always bounce like that? Perky? Hm.

Curvature. Interesting scene.

"You're just... unconscious!" Hyuuga finished and her breasts molded back into place.

"What happened while I was out?" Sasuke groaned, stopping with his oogling. It was disrespectful but Hyuuga- c'mon. Look at her.

Sasuke laid on a medical table. It smelled like Tsunade's hospital but her hospital wasn't so cozy, and you know, filled with this degree of attention and warmth.

Hyuuga stopped jumping around then all that anger she harboured disappeared. Her worry for him wafted around, a mental song of compassion that he liked.

Her eyes softened. A lot. She was mad but she was relieved. Her heart beat stopped rattling and her chakra wasn't so fluctuating.

"You snored and snored. I thought it was always my snoring that woke me up. That is so beside the point! You never pace yourself. It's always from zero to one hundred for you! Pace yourself," Hinata yelled. "I thought you had some means of self-control! If our baby were here and they saw you pass out- we would have been worried to death!"

"You shouldn't pull the baby card," Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"I have every right to. Our baby and I- we have every right to. You worry us too much," Hinata sighed.

"I try not to."

Eh. Tried somewhat.

"I know," Hinata said, leaning back to look at him. "I don't understand why you hate the doctors. I know how you say, 'Unless it's a wine clinic, I'm not going,' but Kami. Pace yourself. When you first showed up... Your eyes. They were red."

"If they weren't, I would have a problem," quipped Sasuke.

"Ay! No jokes right now!" she scolded.

Sasuke laughed. "I like messing with you."

Hinata ignored him. "Your eyes. They're irritated and you're burning up. Have you been sick recently? I haven't been around to personally diagnose- but... Do you remember? Anything?" Hinata rambled.

"Once or twice but this one is killer."

"I believed that you had aortic stenosis or pseudohypoparathyroidism or something else that was worse!" Hinata gasped.

"How... can you pronounce the- the pseudo-whatever. It just rolls off the tongue, no?"

She laughed then smacked his arm. "Stop trying to distract me, Sasuke. You're sick!"

Sasuke flinched and Hinata apologized profusely.

"I'm so sorry!" she patted his arm, stress lines all over her face. "I'm being lousy, aren't I?" 

She hung her head. Ah. She's pitying herself again. A curtain of her silver hair hid her equally pale face.

"Nah." Sasuke shook his head. "Heh, about distracting you... Is it working?"

"For two seconds. I admit, it is hard to say... pseudohypoparathyroidism... Ha."

"How do you say it?" Sasuke asked, focusing on her lips.

"Pseudohypoparathyr- Hey! Back to healing! I have some solutions that may alleviate the irritation in your eyes." Hinata said casually and confident. Almost all doctor-like.

"Smartest person in the room award goes to Hyuuga Hinata," Sasuke said. "How did you figure that out?"

Hinata tilted her head to the side and smiles. "I'm magic, Sasuke."

"That you are," he admitted, looking at her a lot.

They lingered in that moment. She's restoring his clan, yeah? Maybe that is good. Taking a chance on a wild card like Sasuke wasn't easy. That's some grade A level magic there. But there weren't any illusions.

Hinata cleared her throat and shifted, looking away. "No. I'm just joking- the Hyuuga have always pushed themselves to their limit and their eyes become strained and with the information I have about my clan, I made this specialized mix for the sharingan."

"How long have you been making the recipe?" Sasuke cocked a brow up. What? How long has this been going on?

"It took very few days..." Hinata scratched the back of her neck. She cleared her throat too.

"Hinata... that recipe is lost to time." Sasuke sighed. With that twitch in her expression, he could tell she was lying. "How long, for real?"

"Since I found out that I was pregnant," she corrected herself.

Sasuke winced. "Hinata... No fixing me."

"Come on! I know, I know- I need a hobby. You know how I'm a little sciency with the tea infusions? I remembered your crazy chakra/training skills and I wondered- what if our child works as hard as you? Then I thought- hey! Let me make eye drops for Uchihas? So... yeah here we are," Hinata folded her arms.

"Hn. Don't."

"Why not?" Hinata's face fell.

Sasuke couldn't just tell her it was a loss cause. She'd definitely pursue making that potion even more.

So, instead Sasuke looked at the ceiling. "I have sleep deprivation and got into a couple of friendly arguments with neighborhood crooks."

Hinata bristled, wanting to talk about the eye drops more but she wasn't going to press Sasuke. She was much too nice. Thank Kami for kindness.

"How did you heal? Did you use the ointment?" Hinata sighed, giving up a little. For now.

Sasuke shook his head. "Che, no. I don't get hurt during fights. Those crooks are sleeping fine in their hospital beds."

"It's better that they're not in graves."

Sasuke frowmed a bit.

"Sasuke!" Hinata gasped.

Sasuke looked down. "They had to... go and die."

"You didn't have to kill them..." Hinata sighed. "But I don't know the circumstances." 

Sometimes, Hinata was the guardian between life and the gates of death. How'd she become a shinobi? That's why she was so sensitive... Sasuke just goes too far. That's what she didn't know.

"Kami knows that you are an adrenaline junkie. I know it and Mitsuyo knows it."

Or maybe she did. Sasuke swallowed. And she's withdrawing.

She shook her shoulders when turning away then squinted her eyes. "All too well..."

Her wrist was slender and right there... Sasuke grabbed Hinata's hand then said, "Don't stop."

"Stop what?" Hinata asked loudly.

"Putting up with me. I give you lots of grief. Why you still patient with me?"

Hinata laughed. "You know why." she looked away, probably blushing.

He didn't.

He stopped breathing for a moment. He wasn't allowed to feel this way; healed, emotional, joking. His guard was down and he. He wasn't allowed to be this way.

Hinata nodded. Fully. With casual confidence. Again.

Serenity filled him and this longing loss beated along with his demon heart.

"At times like these, Hinata, I know I'll be the death of you," Sasuke whispered, suddenly guilty.

"Maybe. That's why I heal you each and every time before we get to that point."

Why'd she have to say it with the conviction of a killer and the warmth of a lover? Bridges were built and her words... That's so dangerous.

The crinkle of her eye and that smile... What?

"Uchiha, allow me to heal you," Hinata said, laughing.

"What?"

"To heal you, you must let me have my wrist. I need it?" Hinata asked, jostling her wirst.

Sasuke felt bad; his grip increased during his thoughts and he had been staring.  Sasuke released his fingers. She moved away after tapping his wrist.

After that, it was silent.

"I'm not lying," Hinata hummed, setting down some medical tools.

"Oi," he said. Answer my question, damn it! Sasuke thought.

"Oi yourself," she said. "I'm almost done making a paste that might help with your sore muscles. The medicine will be ready. Are you feeling any discomfort whatsoever?"

"My arm hurts and I have a headache." Sasuke shrugged.

"Here," Hinata trailed back to his arm, calculations in her gaze after administering some medicine. "Have you had any physiotherapy? For your amputated arm? Have you been feeling any pain?"

Sasuke shook his head. "Does my arm bother you at all?"

"Your lost one?"

Sasuke nodded.

"Never. Why would it?"

"I'm deformed and that doesn't bother you the slightest bit?" Sasuke winced.

"Of course not. I wouldn't be a medical-nin if I were. You are a warrior and warriors get into fights and accidents when they fight. What do you call yourself? An avenger. Loss happens," she shrugged. "I'm just happy you're alive..."

"Not all of me is there. Literally."

"You're not deformed. I am happy with all of you and what's left," Hinata smiled.

I don't believe you, Hyuuga, Sasuke sighed.

Sasuke laid back, his hair fluffing in the back against the wooden table. "When people see it, they gesture down at my stump, grimace a bit and look away. Or run in terror because I'm Uchiha Sasuke and that's the smart thing to do."

"You're not terrifying," she said, chuckling at the idea. "There are lots of little pieces of you that you want to change but I am fine with them."

"You're the rare type that likes me."

"I beg to differ. It's the best type. A speck on a jade stone won't obscure its radiance," she laughed.

"Can you give me the Hyuuga clan secret ointment again? It's good on travels." Sasuke asked.

"You used up all of the last batches I gave you? You were only gone for a week and a few days! Don't get hurt do often."

Sasuke shrugged. "Hey, you offered," he smirked.

She sighed, hiding a smile. "Don't make me regret it."

"Ah. No promises."

¤¤¤

A few hours passed and Sasuke was up and ready to walk around.

She tried to push him back on the wooden medical table but he wouldn't bother. He just played around with a rubber ball as Hinata worked on replicating the ointment.

She finally got to check up on him but he distracted her enough. He laid down and she raked her fingers through his hair while chatting. Hinata was so busy looking at him that once the door opened a bit, Hinata twirled around and threw four senbons at the frame.

"Kami Sasuke! It's me- Mistuyo!" Mitsuyo called out.

"Mitsuyo... I'm so sorry," Hinata apologized while bowing. "I am just attuned to attack."

Hinata turned to see Sasuke chuckling.

"Why do you look so impressed? I almost killed Mitsuyo," she whisper-yelled to Sasuke.

Sasuke smirked. "Hn. 'Cause I am. Baby steps, Hyuuga, with baby swords."

Hinata scowled. "Cruel guy. I don't want to use swords!"

"Yeah, yeah," Sasuke glanced at Hinata then at the door. "I don't want to be lectured, can you distract her?"

"Okay, just stay put... I'll deal with her," Hinata left the room.

The door opened was opened a crack, so Sasuke could hear.

Mitsuyo frowned as soon as they met in the hallway. "You're the violent one? Oh, that's new. I thought Sasuke threw the weapons. You know, he has impulse control issues," Mitsuyo sighed. "Is he awake?"

"Yes... He's indecent so don't go in there. He's going to try out the eye-drops," Hinata said, shifting back to the door. She called out, "And this said Uchiha WILL be bedridden for a few days like a saint."

Sasuke yelled from the room, "Che. Hinata- I'm an avenger! I can go days without rest and weeks without turning off my sharingan. I have another mission to complete in a fortnight in Nami no Kuni!"

"Tell Kakashi that his plea is dismissed! Doctors orders!"

He grumbled something under his breath and Hinata sighed.

"What did he say?" Mitsuyo asked Hinata.

"Something vulgar! He doesn't agree with pacing himself and-"

"Please. I do not want a backstory..." Mitsuyo rolled her eyes.

Hinata nodded. "Hey... How did you have the recipe for the sharingan eye drops? I've done my research and only the Uchiha has it..."

"I'm a collector. I used it. For Sasuke," Mitsuyo said, dodging the question. "You children have a visitor, so put on your contact lenses."

"A visitor?" Hinata hollered back into the room. "Sasuke? Are Jugo and Suigetsu visiting now?"

"No. They're caught up with catching Uchiha Madara in hell," he shot back, sarcastic.

"Did they die?" she gasped.

"Madara's ghost might kill them later on, so I'll get back to you on that."

"Can I get a straight answer out of you?"

"Does it have to be a straight answer? Can I take a left?"

Hinata opened her mouth to retaliate but Mitsuyo interrupted them and said, "Couples fight too much."

A shocked Hinata turned back to Mitsuyo. "Wh-what? No. We aren't a couple-"

"Before you dismiss anything, let me get the door," Mitsuyo cut in.

Hinata watched as Mitsuyo marched away from them, muttering just as many vulgar commentaries.

Hm. That's weird. Who's allowed inside of Mitsuyo's house? Is it a man? Oh, Hinata did know she engaged in intimate relations with a man who played mah jong. It made playing mah jong weird sometimes.

"Sasuke? Who do you think that could be?" asked Hinata as she walked into the room.

"Uchiha Madara in the flesh, who else?" Sasuke laughed.

Hinata checked his pulse and wrote some things down.

He stared at her for a while. "Tempers. Anger issues. I like 'em. I find them endearing."

Tempers. Anger issues? That reminds Hinata of Sakura, the pinkette.

"Yeah. Sakura was very endearing." Hinata rolled her eyes.

Sasuke stopped, shocked. "Her?" he swallowed.

Hinata laughed. "Continue, go on."

Sasuke paused then recovered. "You know, you're trying really hard not to throw senbon at me right now. Hit me with your best shot," he smirked.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "You are playing dangerous games, Uchiha. Dangerous games."

As he sat up, he said, "You know, you do have claws and a temper. I wanna see it. You just never show them," Sasuke swung his legs onto the side of the table and flexed with his arm. "You have buttons."

"Why are you trying to push my buttons?" she hummed, moving between the 'v' shape of his legs to check his eyes.

He suddenly looked determined. "I didn't think you had buttons. If you're going to stick with me, you don't take shit from anyone. Including me," Sasuke gazed at her, stare still intense and inquisitive. "Explode when they treat you like you're not worth anything. My advice is when they kick you, dump them in the valley of ashes and bring the thunder."

Hinata smiled; if only it were that easy. She can't knock away enemies like Sasuke. Sasuke once punched a guy who irritated him and sent the poor man three hundred metres away. She also knows that shinobi are harsh with the truth; they don't lie all the time.

Those... people who insulted her might have been correct. Actually, it's not her time to wonder why.

"It's hard to... stand up for yourself when you think they're right," Hinata trifled, withdrawing.

"They're never right," Sasuke countered instantly.

Hinata shifted. "Sasuke..."

"Oi, look at me," Sasuke commanded.

Hinata ignored the redness and heat coming from her cheeks. "What?" she asked, looking at him like he asked.

"Say you'll defend yourself in the case of fuckery from other people. Promise me." Sasuke nodded. "Promise."

"I thought you didn't believe in promises."

"Come on you made them sacred. Just promise," Sasuke urges.

"I promise I will defend myself whenever and forever?" she squinted.

"Lose the question mark."

"Hey... I promise I will defend myself whenever and forever and I'll bring the thunder... And I mean it because my word is good,"

"Damn straight," Sasuke nodded to her and looked at her for a long time.

She got nervous and said, "What?"

"Nothing," he cleared his throat and averted his gaze.

"Anyway," Hinata said, interrupting thr silence that fell upon them. "Come on, put on a shirt, we have to get downstairs."

Hinata turned around but Sauke caught her wrist. "Wait- you have to put on your colored contact lenses," Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You big dope."

Hinata sighed. "You're right and I'm not a dope..."

"Eh."

"Eh?" Hinata swatted his arm. "Not eh. I'm not a dope."

She left the room with a huff.

¤¤¤

They got downstairs and there was a woman discussing with Mitsuyo in the foyer.

The woman was taller than Hinata, average height. Her hair was a mild colorization of the presence of verdure. The green locks were tied by two chopsticks. She was lean and curvy, and her skin was the mocha shade that everyone sported. She wore a gray kimono shirt with a purplish tint and a ruffled black pencil skirt.

The woman didn't seem to be comfortable in the house and she looked at everything with an evil eye. She did have a beaded bracelet that looked very childish.

"Who is she?" Sasuke asked, lips beside Hinata's ear to ask the question.

Hinata ignored his husky tone and the odd pleasure it sent through her. "I don't know." Hinata replied, looking just as confused.

Whoever the woman was, she didn't seem happy to be here. Mitsuyo looked at the hesitant pair, Sasuke unconsciously putting himself between Hinata and the newcomer.

Mitsuyo beamed and said, "Ah! The people Someina Ikeda was supposed to meet."

Someina made eye contact with Hinata and they stood there for two seconds. She's afraid of her and Sasuke. Sasuke was all grrr right now but Hinata was told to seem relatively cute and harmless upon first encounters. This Someina was terrified.

"You're Hinata and you're having a baby with Uchiha Sasuke?" Someina asked, her voice was honeyed but brittle.

"Yes..." Hinata narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "And?"

"That's daft and insane! Mitsuyo, I want to work another job!" Someina commanded.

Mitsuyo shook her head. "You already took the money, read up on them and it's only for a couple of days."

"You could keep the money," Someina hissed then turned to venomously glare at Sasuke. "I don't want to work with you, Uchiha Sasuke."

Sasuke glanced at Someina then turned around. "That's that. Hinata, let's go hide the bodies in the basement."

Someina screeched.

Hinata twirled to Sasuke, eyes wide. He matched her gaze, not an ounce of remorse in his black and purple eyes. They were soaked with mischievousness.

"You have bodies in the basement?! I think I am going to..." Someina demanded, eyes fogged.

And she tipped over and fainted.

Hinata made her move to check on Someina but Sasuke caught her arm.

Hinata looked at him, a bit angry and mildly concerned.

"See how easy she believed it to be true? I'm pretty sure this place doesn't have a basement. Making her want to stay with us is the Lord's work," Sasuke shrugged.

"You made it twenty times harder, you inconsiderate bufoon," Mitsuyo cried then glared at Sasuke, annoyance fresh in her voice and eyes.

"That wasn't a smart move," Hinata pulled back her arm and walked towards Someina.

Sasuke shrugged and stalked off while saying, "She insulted our unborn kid. That wasn't smart either."

¤¤¤

Someina woke up twenty minutes later, gasping. "Are you going to kill me?" Someina asked.

"No," Hinata answered, sympathetic and soft. "My partner won't either. Be patient with him... He likes to test people in the most unwise ways. I apologize for his behavior."

Someina's pale, golden eyes were hidden were morphed into a disaproving sneer. "Sasuke is your partner? Bad idea. You sure know how to pick them."

Hinata snubbed the smidge of irritation she felt. "I chose well, Ikeda-san, and we are a team." replied Hinata firmly.

Hinata moved to check Someina's eyes with a flashlight. However, the moment Hinata stepped forward from her medical desk, Someina rejected the idea.

"Don't touch me," Someina yelped.

"I wouldn't hurt you. I'm a doctor," Hinata explained in a simple, calming tone.

"You're a doctor?"

"Yes," Hinata nodded.

Someina blenched and recoiled from her touch.

"It's alright if don't want me to touch you then fine. I have other means of operating," Hinata conjured chakra within herself.

"I expected Sasuke to be the sadist not you," Someina snarled, strengthening herself for the agony. "Just finish me off quickly."

"They're not sinister. I will let that comment slide."

"Oh, madam, you are much too forgiving." Someina said, mockingly.

Hinata ignored the comment. "Before you place all the blame on Sasuke, just know that he's not the one who made you have syncope."

"You're not bluffing? Uchiha's the cause of hell and how are you right?"

"I am credible in my field. Yes, Sasuke he isn't the reason you collapsed. You do not have any serious illnesses or disorders or conditions. You have irritability and dizziness. Your skin and hair are dry. Your blood sugar levels are low. You are quite dehydrated and you seem to have not eaten anything. You are not concussed and nothing was damaged in the fall. When you were unconscious, I fixed your other cuts," she scanned her body. "The scar tissue may still be there but the fractures are healed and you have no more scars. The bruises are gone as well."

"They aren't anything. I also don't appreciate you doing things to my body while I am unconscious," Someina darted her gaze away.

"I didn't expect a thank you either," Hinata sighed. "If you do not want me to help you, I won't. It is all up to you."

"I don't want your help."

Hinata looked a bit disappointed then turned away. "Sasuke, you can come out."

Sasuke stalked out of the shadows, observing the woman with his usual contemplative, cold, intense eyes.

"He was watching me the entire time?" Someina shrieked anxiously on the table.

"No. Not until recently," Hinata explained slowly.

"I don't want him in the room," Someina said, showing vulnerability for the first time.

"Ikeda-san, no need to fret, Sasuke's just watching over me. He has no mal intentions for you. He wanted to know if you'd hurt me," Hinata smiled.

"That's rich coming from you," Someina hissed.

"I didn't think you would. I wanted to see you healed. You seem to have valor and I don't want you to be punished by marred flesh for your courage."

Someina glared at Hinata. "You calling me weak?"

Hinata paused. Was... Someina air-headed? Or listening?

Sasuke opened his mouth to say, "Valley of ashes? No thunder?"

Hinata looked at Sasuke, silently pleading with him. Sasuke, be quiet.

"What does that mean?" Someina reacted fearfully.

Sasuke glared at her. "Che. Hyuuga didn't have to heal you or any of those nasty scars that you had," Sasuke pointed out in a flat tone. "And the question on her mind is; why is your chakra network so... sticky?"

"How do you know that?" Someina bristled.

"She's got the sweetest eyes in the world."

"Then you're just stupid, you can't see tenketsu," Someina turned to Hinata. "Unless she's a Hyuuga and she isn't. She's a Natsukawa and her eyes are brown. I want to speak to Mitsuyo," she solicited.

Hinata sighed.

"And you," Someina pointed to Sasuke. "You need to get away from me. Stand at least three feet away from me at all times," Someina pointed to the Hinata. "And you too!"

Sasuke gave Hinata a blank look. "No thunder? Not even now?"

Hinata shook her head and motioned for him to zip his mouth shut.

Someina and Sasuke were caught in this odd glaring contest and Hinata could only sigh.

Hinata left for thirty seconds and when they returned, Mitsuyo was unimpressed as she came back with Hinata.

"Did you completely heal her?" Mitsuyo asked Hinata.

"No... Ano, Mitsuyo, she didn't want me to touch her and now, she's said for the both of us to stand away from her. At least three feet at all times," Hinata said.

Mitsuyo looked sorry then said, "Someina..." with a tired sigh.

"Don't 'Someina' me!" Someina grimaced at Mitsuyo. She shouted, "How could you let these two in your house? You're just setting Kumo up for trouble! They're just criminals and you're committing a crime but keeping them in this place. This is by far the dumbest thing that you have ever done!"

"Oh hush up! They're family! Clan family!"

"Why did any priest let them get married?!" Someina demanded.

"I didn't know I had a wife," Sasuke drawled, shooting a glimpse towards a crimsoned Hinata.

Sasuke looked charmed and Hinata was red. "I- uh- what?"

Mitsuyo glared at Hinata. "You told her that you were married?! Why would you do that?" Mitsuyo demanded.

Hinata looked guilty and played with the tip of her hair. Anything to avoid their fury. "Ikeda-san said that. Well, uhm, more like assumed and went with it," she rambled. "I didn't want to heighten her levels of stress."

"You told me that you were partners," Someina hissed at Hinata.

Hinata smiled back. "Partners is a very broad term but if we were married I would have said that we were spouses," she looked at Sasuke. "We're just friends."

"I'm surrounded by liars," Someina sighed, exasperated. "and mean witches!"

"What did I do to earn your fury?" Mitsuyo asked tiredly.

"Mitsuyo, you told me that Sasuke was just a common name and that this wasn't the Uchiha Sasuke that attacked killer bee and the Hokage and the five Kage summit," she shrieked. "You told me that they were just a pregnant couple with a mild tea addiction!"

Hinata gasped and looked at Sasuke. "I do not have a mild tea addiction!"

Mitsuyo and Sasuke responded with blank looks.

"Do I?" Hinata asked quietly.

Mitsuyo looked away then said, "Nevermind that, Someina, you have nowhere to go. You promised me that you would help them."

"That was before I knew a killer  was and how do you know if your baby will turn out just like the father?"

The air froze. Sasuke stifled a smirk and Mitsuyo lowered her eyes in annoyance.

Hinata gave Someina one of the dirtiest looks Hinata could muster. She did not like that comment! Whatsoever.

"From this moment on, you mean nothing to my baby and my baby is none of your business! And if my baby grows up just like their father, then I know that they will grow up to be supremely exquisite and brave." Hinata said to Someina.

"I just meant-"

"If you are going to be here for a couple of days, then just pretend that my baby and I don't exist and leave us alone," Hinata continued, voice like frost. "Like Mitsuyo explained, I do not need negativity especially because I'm having a baby. My stress levels are already through the roof. There is my impending death to think about because of all these shinobi, the authorities that I would like to kill the father of my child and people like you have something to say about my baby or pregnancy without nice words. If you have a problem with either of us, put up or hush up."

Sasuke looked incredibly smug. "That's how you bring the thunder." he whispered.

Hinata shot one disapproving look to Someina then left.

"Is she always like that?" Someina said.

Mitusyo looked at her. "Believe or not, that's a once or twice in a year thing."

Hinata rolled her eyes. Annoying harpies. They remind her of her colleagues back at the hospital.

¤¤¤

Sasuke found Hinata in the kitchen, trying to cool down.

"Mitsuyo said she'd switch to all wooden utensils. She didn't fully convert." Sasuke said as he looked the three shattered cups.

"Don't worry, I'm cleaning it up," Hinata replied as she got the broom to sweep up all the shards of glittering glass.

He took the broom and said, "I'll clean it."

"You've never touched a broom in your life," Hinata laughed a bit but that faded. She stared at him sadly.

Hinata shifted then her shoulder's drooped. Hormones dictated her day but she was normally stable. What's she thinking about anyway?

Hinata looked like a kicked cat.

"I know there's something going deeper than her words," he said. "Tell me..."

Hinata paused, leaning on the counter. She played with a rag then turned away, facing the dish rack with a sad expression.

"I resent the way people treat you sometimes. They look at you like you're nothing," Hinata finally admitted.

"I did bad things. I'm still atoning for my childhood sins. I made permanent decisions on temporary feelings and here we are," Sasuke shrugged.

"I know but... It reminds me of how some of the branch members looked at me when I was younger. They hated me. What if everyone treats and looks at our kid like they're just nothing," she said. "Or if they never forgive and evolve?"

"Don't worry your pretty little head. I'll take the hate so you don't have to," he looked at her. "I'll steal all of that hate away."

Hinata didn't seem soothed by those pretty words. Instead, she was more uspset.

"Don't steal... That'll make this worse." Hinata shifted. "That would make this way worse. Did you hear her? Attacking an unborn baby like that because of you and I."

"She isn't civilized." Sasuke shrugged. Like most people aren't.

"The only thing you can't change about the child is their parent... The babe got with you and I! I think we'll do a good job! Take responsibility. All of it."

Sasuke nodded. "I did some bad stuff. That's solidified. People say my name like a curse. Hinata... not everyone will like you in your lifetime."

Hinata briefly considered the words. "Wouldn't it be... nice if it were like that?" Hinata sighed.

She's one of those, huh? That made him quite sad.

Sasuke set the broom down and leaned against the counter. He nudged her much smaller shoulder with his own. "That would be exhausting..." They're hurting, Hyuuga. Let them have that pain."

"They.... that pain became hate. It's reasonable but annoying," she said. She looked up at him, instead of the floor and that was good. "It must be war in your mind all the time."

"It is," Sasuke let out a dry chuckle, "but I don't play victim to the circumstances I've created. I did this. The more people that hate, the fewer people you have to please. Let's say they hate for with validity and that's okay... Sometimes wrongs make us find the right. If you're situationally uncomfortable, just tell me," he said. "We could go to the woods and build a cabin with flowered gates and a pool."

"You want a pool? That makes my suggestions for our house less crazy," she laughed.

"They're not as grand as the waves but it'll suffice," Sasuke shrugged.

"What a humble choice. Yeah... We'll visit the waves after this is all over," she said.

"Really?"

She smiled. Their eyes connected and none of them looked away. They looked at each other for a while. Looking at her hypnotized him. Magic. But they couldn't be like this. Wonder boy was still on her mind.

He broke their contact and recovered.

He looked around then said, "Let's clean this up before Mitsuyo throws a fit and has an aneurysm."

"Okay," she said. She had this dark, far-away expression. He didn't want to feel alone when she was right there. So... He tugged on her silver hair.

Hinata panicked and jumped away. "What was that for?"

"Don't think about it." he pulled again.

Hinata swatted his hand once, dainty and shocked. She looked up at him. "Uchiha... You can be pretty weird, sometimes."

Sasuke didn't care while looking at the broom uncertainly, which was against the fridge.

"But... I have never actually touched a broom,"  Sasuke scratched the back of his neck.

Hinata giggled a bit. "Of course."

¤¤¤

Evening. 9: 30 pm.

Someina sipped her soup while the four ate their dinners. Mitsuyo leaned over and studied at Hinata. "Why aren't you both talking?"

"Hn," Sasuke answered, not eating.

Hinata glanced at his silverware, which held mushrooms. He pushed his plate over, vaguely gesticulating to all the mushrooms on the plate. She clapped her chopsticks and rearranged them onto her bowl.

Someina watched with interest.

Mitsuyo looked at Sasuke and scowled. "I expected it from you, Sasuke but not from you, Hinata. You're a closet chatterbox," Mitsuyo announced.

"I'm eating and not talking because I am uncomfortable," Hinata admitted while chewing on Sasuke's infinite mushrooms.

Someina scrutinized Hinata from the corner of her eye. "It couldn't because of me?"

Sasuke opened his mouth ere he could counter Mitsuyo snapped, "Don't say a word."

"Killers are usually the nice and quiet ones, aren't they?" Sasuke smiled.

Mitsuyo grumbled about toddlers in full grown bodies but Sasuke didn't care.

Sasuke beat her to answer. "Mitsuyo, I'm pretty sure you didn't invite her for the night- much less for a couple of days. I believe that she doesn't have a place to live."

"Why?" Hinata questioned.

"Stop talking about me like I'm not there. I'm right here," Someina stated in a clipped tone.

"Unfortunately," Sasuke replied drily.

Someina seemed disconcerted as she scowled at both Sasuke and Mitsuyo. "Don't mention anything. The more they know about me the more dangerous it is for me."

"You're going to be very acquainted with them eventually and you can't keep ducking the truth," Mitsuyo chided. "I'm not rocking the boat. Calm down."

"Don't say it."

"I'm gonna say it," Mitsuyo announced. "It's heavy, I know but she has nowhere to go but Someina is homeless. There- I said it because I can."

Someina slammed her hands on the table. "You said it! You betrayed me as well."

"You should be kinder to your roommates. I brought you here as a deal. You benefit greatly from this. You can protect my kin. You get warm meals, a place to stay and a pregnant woman with a child to serve. You get protection from Sasuke. A place to do your job and stay away from those who want to harm you," Mitsuyo listed off the reasons.

"I don't need their protection and I can find somewhere to live. I don't need your support!"

"You've been living in the daycare for Kami knows how long and Kaede threatened to make you lose your job."

"Kaede?" Hinata asked.

"Our boss," Mitusyo clarified.

"A stone-cold bitch," Someina corrected.

"Yeah that, too," Mitsuyo agreed quietly.

Sasuke laughed lightly.

"Kaede found Someina sleeping on the tatami mats for the kids and kicked her out. At the Chou Child Daycare, Kaeda found Someina like this for the past three nights and after what happened with the Igarashi family, Kaede has been putting her job on the line because of reasons. Either way, she was told that she may get fired and that I have to replace her at her workplace."

Hinata rejected what Mitusyo was saying wholesomely. "What about our schedule? And the reading, and the yoga, and the ginger and the lessons and the peaches? You can't just leave me."

Sasuke saw her complete distress and leaned forward, drawing attention to him. "She's not leaving. She will be at the daycare at six a.m to around seven o'clock at night. And Scar here is going to replace her."

"Mitsuyo... I do not trust her with myself much less our baby," Hinata admitted slowly. "You promised you'd be with me until the end. You're with me, right? You promised. I don't know if I'll make it without you."

"Hinata. Someina is just as capable as me. She's been reading into your schedule and all of your specific habits. She's your caregiver."

"Either way, she makes me feel like having my baby was a mistake simply because Uchiha Sasuke is the father. That's not what you make me feel, Mitsuyo. You make me feel like I'm giving life to a miracle that is going to make this world of darkness light again," she said.

"I don't think you should put words in my mouth," Someina said. "If you're the same person who Mitsuyo explained on paper, then I don't mind working with you. It's him who I have a problem with," Someina gave a harsh look to Sasuke.

"State your vendetta. I take everything with a grain of salt."

"Akatsuki. They started the war and Uchiha Obito and you both are the reason my mother died. I know what happened, I know all of it. She's dead because of your terrorist group. They killed my mother and you fought on their side. Traitor not only to Konoha but to all shinobi kind," Someina finished.

"Sasuke's the one with the power along with Uzumaki Naruto who stopped the war and defeated Uchiha Madara," Hinata said. She offered a warm smile. "Can you believe that?"

"Still. I can never forgive you both," Someina said with a resigned huff.

"What? You don't know me or Sasuke!"

"You're just blind to what he's done! Brain-washed!" Someina slammed a hand on the table.

"Hey... before there is a fight, Hinata. Let's go to our room," Sasuke interruoted.

"Ikeda-san can take my room. It's better that way," Hinata muttered, leaving the table.

¤¤¤

While in the living room, Someina watched as Sasuke and Hinata played cards. Sasuke seemed agitated but he made her laugh every now and then. It was baffling. How could someone in the bingo book with a whole list of murderers laugh so much?

Someina jumped when she saw Mitsuyo coming her way.

"Are they always like this?" asked Someina.

"They're grosser. I swear they'll rot your teeth," Mitsuyo promised.

"They're both smiling," Someina gasped.

"Oh. Sasuke doesn't smile but they look happy. He's a bandit and it makes him scared that he hasn't left... but he's here. More than ever."

"Pfft. Sasuke can't ever get scared. He's the personification of fear and terror," Someina laughed.

Mitsuyo watched them. "I think they're both scared but Sasuke is scared in a different way. In the way that his past actions will catch up to him and they will punish the child instead of him."

"It's just a living. He's the one who's done wrong," Someina shrugged.

"I didn't teach you to believe that children are to be blamed for their parent's actions. You're better than that. Especially when you know your father," Mitsuyo's word became heavy with accusation.

"That's just mean. I don't believe that. It's just Sasuke's different than what they tell me. It's just like he's not as gnarled and twisted as people had said. I thought that the dick apple didn't fall far from the dick tree," Someina sighed.

Hinata just won and Sasuke wasn't too happy.

"I didn't know flowers like Hinata were there too." added Someina.

"If your brother murdered your family and all of your extended family clan members, how sane would you be?" Mitsuyo rolled her eyes.

"I would be a chain smoker with daddy issues," Someina was amazed.

They're being normal. Not lovey-dovey or disgusting- just plain, regular friends. Someina wonder when that'll backfire. When will everyone know about the kid? Imagine how it will change things...

If the child has Uchiha Sasuke's genes... rationality will leave the building. The shifting of strength has a dynamic in their world. It terrifies low lives and others who are his enemy.

"He beat Madara, huh," Someina muttered.

"He's a powerful bastard, one of the top two shinobi in history ever," Mitsuyo sighed. "Uzumaki Naruto, his best friend, is also tied in strength. So, no revenge rampage. Even if your dreams had dreams, you wouldn't be able to nail him."

Someina winced.

"So, if anything happens to them... an army of a man will come for you. Hinata has a lot of people in her corner, a whole village. Uchiha and Hinata are not just criminals and Hinata's not just a friend to him, okay? His heart doesn't break around her. So, if anything happens to her, worlds end within range of Uchiha Sasuke..."

"I feel bad for her. She's obviously stuck with him," Someina said, watching them.

"She's dancing in his storm... He doesn't rain on her cause she's in the eye of the hurricane. He treats her like a glass statue, counting her perfections. He's caring, thoughtful and kind around her," Mitsuyo said.

Someina snorted.

"Please do not make things harder for him. Every damn heartbeat is like a knife to the chest. If you kill him or cause him any pain, you will be out of a house and my life even before you could pull out the knife," Mitsuyo whispered.

"What does he have on you?" Someina said.

"Uchiha Sasuke did something for me that outweighs whatever you've done in your lifetime," Mitsuyo scowled.

"Fine. I'm not staying long," Someina agreed. "I have one question before I go... Why do you call him 'bozu'?"

"I have never seen him as a fully functioning adult," Mitsuyo said as she walked away.

¤¤¤

Late.

Someina was found on the deck, surrounded by nature and Hinata was at the frame with a wooden tea tray. 

"I believe we got off on the wrong foot and I was rude..." Hinata sighed. "I brought tea as a peace offering. Please give me a chance... I'll be good to you."

"Likewise," Someina said. "I apologize as well. I was... rude..."

"Hostile," Hinata corrected then poured a cup for Someina. "If Mitsuyo trusts you, then I will as well. If she has trained you personally, then I trust you are an expert. I would like to talk about our circumstance," she looked at the woman. "My child will be here soon. I mean, I'm fifteen weeks pregnant now. I know you don't agree with my choices because of your vendetta."

"You're not a shinobi. It's not like you'd understand... what happened to my family. What I breathed for is gone because of the war."

"I lost someone in the war," Hinata said. "A brother..."

They looked at the moon and nighttime stars.

"I lost a sister," Someina admitted, playing with the bracelet on her wrist.

"Having a sister is just as nice," Hinata said.

"Yeah..." Someina said. "It was. I escaped. After the war, with my family dead... I realized we all end up in the same box, king, queen, pawn. I quit looking for a sense of justice. I wanted to be around people like my sister and it's been helping... helping people is how I find my nirvana..."

"Yes... But are you going to take care of me and my child?" Hinata asked.

"Yes," Someina said. "It's my job to protect both of you. I'm homeless and I owe my life to Mitsuyo."

"What about Sasuke? Yes, he's noted for his destruction... but we're a team. You're a danger to us and to my baby. Mitsuyo trusted you enough to let you into our lives. I would be a terrible mother to let another person endanger their life..."

"I wouldn't ever do anything for you or your baby or you. I like you."

"Then don't tell the authorities that we're here or that I'm pregnant or that Sasuke is here. If they know that, I won't ever get to be a mother and that's on you. Mitsuyo trusted you so I want to trust you..."

"Fine. I promise I won't rat you both out. I can't have kids. I wouldn't wish that fate upon another," Someina said. "Just one question; why him?"

"He makes... me feel alive, again," Hinata said. "Makes me peaceful and I worry less around him. You help people but he... he takes me to a nirvana. A private paradise."

A moonbeam brushed across Hinata's face and they drank tea the rest of their drinks in silence.

¤¤¤

Midnight.

In the nighttime hours, they were up late, cleaning the library. Hinata bounced off the walls. Someina and Mitsuyo were asleep while they sorted things out about the Uchiha. People should see the way she holds him when the lights go low.

"All these things and books about the Uchiha. Where did you get them from?" Hinata gushed.

"Places," he said.

"Perfect places!"

"You can't read any of them because there might be genjustus tucked in the scrolls for the person who opens it. I'm decoding it and releasing them," he said. "It may take months. And you have to learn about genjutsu so you don't get caught in one. And who better to learn from than an Uchiha?"

She nodded obediently, looking at everything, smiling. "Whatever it takes. More books. More history..."

"Do you think I have fits of hysteria?" Sasuke asked casually, looking at a scroll.

"Hmm. No," she shook her head, lifting a box.

"Don't move that box, I'll do the heavy lifting," Sasuke said.

Hinata narrowed her eyes and then dropped the box. "Okay..."

Hinata sat on the box, resting.

"Do you miss everyone in Konoha?" he asked, looking down at her.

"My everyone? Or your everyone?" asked Hinata.

"I've only got you and the sharingan kid. I don't have an everyone..."

She paused, thoughtful. "I grew up thinking I would be there forever. I miss my sister, my friends, visiting my brother's grave... and my father- I don't miss him. If anything, I am relieved that he's not speaking to me," she said. "Fun bittersweet fact; our last real conversation happened when I was when I was... five no... four... Mhm. And even then, he didn't listen to a word I said. Nothing changed and I'm almost twenty..."

"A word? You were probably speaking jibberish... or whatever baby bluenettes speak," Sasuke chuckled.

"My mother thought it was darling," Hinata looked at Sasuke, thoughtful and serene. "Aside from that... I really have... not much to miss..."

"You must have something to go back to," he said. "After the year is done..."

"When I see them again, they will be mad. They'll be hurt. Time; either the healer or killer. I still love them... all the people that I have loved even if I cross the street to avoid them..."

"What about Naruto?" he asked, curious.

Hinata seemed a little upset. "I think he doesn't know I'm gone nor does he... not miss me. Even if we pass each other in the street, if he notices me, which is rare and when he does... he'll smile and that's if I'm lucky. No... Not a stroke of luck came my way," Hinata paused for a moment.

"Maybe not getting what you want is a stroke of luck," Sasuke said.

"For who?"

"Me," he said seriously.

She raised an eyebrow. "You know what? Nevermind... Now my turn... Do you miss Sakura?"

"Pass," Sasuke said, dismissive. "My thoughts are crap."

"It's not crap... they are feelings and parts of you. I bare my soul to you all the time, I want to know a bit of your history and thoughts."

He sighed then spoke, surprising himself. "I walked away from her, twice, when she actually waited and stood there for me. She married Naruto. Used to drink over it..."

"You do? You still drink, Sasuke. Whole shelves, remember?"

"Not as much, not over her. That'd be the real tragedy. It should go down in one of these books. That's an achievement."

"On paper? If you squint and look to the side left, then yes," she joked.

He looked at her. "That's enough soul baring for tonight."

Talking about Sakura made his head hurt.

"Indeed. Don't call me bluenette because it makes me feel like a blueberry; blue and fat," Hinata shuddered.

Sasuke just shrugged. "I like blueberries too."

"I'll stop making your medicine," she threatened cutely.

"I'll live and I know you wouldn't do that. Deny it all you want but you'd break and force feed me pills,"

"You know me. Yeah," she said. "You do... Be honest- does my hair make me look elderly? Mitsuyo said, to strangers, it would explain my old soul..."

"Who cares about your hair? I just want to know what's on your mind," he said honestly.

She grinned. "And I'm wondering, let's go bird watching tomorrow."

"Why?"

"Because they're interesting! And don't you want to see them fly?" Hinata sighed wistfully. "It's calming..."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Maybe you're an old man."

"Old man?" Hinata laughed. "No... I thought I was a blueberry."

"Yeah?" Sasuke asked and she nodded.

She got serious, leaning her elbows on her knees with one hand cradling her chin. "In our imaginary house; I want a peach tree, a garden for blueberries and watermelons."

"Tomatoes would be a good addition," he hummed.

"Tomatoes it is," she agreed.

There was a strange look on Sasuke's face and she watched him carefully.

"What's wrong?"

"It's quiet. Boring. I've acquired a mild addiction for the silence," he said. "When it's too quiet- something always goes wrong..."

"Come on- how bad could it be?" she asked.

And the answer was bad. Very bad.

¤¤¤

-End Chapter-