#lavendereyedassassin

My very first artwork reveal, for SasuHina Month 2022, I present Amae (Rated K)...

This is my Day 1 and Day 13 submissions with the following prompts:

Day 1

Aienkien (Japanese)

“A mysterious attraction that unites two people.“

Amae (Japanese)

“To fall into the arms of your loved one.”

and

Day 13

Kyoka suigetsu (Japanese)

“Subtle and profound beauty that cannot be described in words.”

Mamihlapinatapei (Yagan)

“The wordless, meaningful look shared by two people who both desire to initiate something, but are both reluctant to do so.”

I felt like this drawing really captures all the elements from these two days but they specifically focus on a meaningful look after falling into the arms of your loved one. I hope you enjoy!

@pianocoat held a special writing session recently on the SasuHina Month discord server where participants learned about the “essential scene” in writing. Part of the class was to create an essential scene in 20 minutes. Aside from giving me high anxiety from the surprise exercise, pianocoat was an excellent instructor. 😜 Thank you, pianocoat!- And with that, I present my contribution.

Essential Things

Background:  After Sakura breaks up with Naruto, Hinata attempts to provide him some solace. Although in a stable relationship, Sasuke allows his jealousy to get the best of him, and he starts an argument with Hinata. It has now been days since they’ve last spoken...

~~~~~~~~~~

The silence in the large, empty room is only broken by rhythmic ticking of the second hand of the old grandfather clock.

Sasuke sits on the couch, staring blankly at the tv screen where nothing plays.

He hasn’t seen her in days. Hasn’t heard her voice in so long he begins to hear her in his mind.

“Come eat your dinner, Sasuke,” she breathily whispers in his ear, except she’s not there.

RIIINNNGG

The noise is blaringly loud, interrupting his sulking.

By the second ring he picks up.

“Hello?”

“Sasuke!” The urgent voice on the other end calls out.

“Naruto?”

“Yeah! It’s Hinata. Something’s happened.”

His heart speeds up and fear seizes his body and floods his veins with ice.

“Where is she?” Sasuke demands.

“She’s at the hospital Sakura works. She…”

Sasuke released the phone. No more words needed, and he was gone in a flash.

He drove in a blaze of panic and fury in the dark of night. Blowing past red lights with screeching tires, ignoring the pissed off drivers who cursed and flipped him the bird.

Parking at the entrance of the hospital, uncaring of it being a tow-away zone, he ran through the entrance. Cutting off several other customers in line, he slammed his palms on the receptionist’s desk and gruffly stated, “Hinata. Hyuga.”

“Sir, you’ll have to wait your turn.”

“Get me the room number for Hinata Hyuga or so help me I will-“

“SASUKE!”

Turning abruptly, his anger and panic melted seeing the very person he sought. Rushing to where she stood, all he wanted was to wrap her in his arms, but at the last minute he refrained. Remembering how they left things.

Stopping a comfortable distance away, his eyes scanned her from head to toe, noting nothing out of order.

“What happened?” He asked.

Her eyes turned soft at the thinly veiled worry in his tone. “I was staying with Sakura, and I have not been eating well. Naruto came over to apologize to her and while I was cleaning up, I fainted.”

He let out a deep sigh. “Are you okay?”

Her unexpected caress to his cheek left him feeling undone. She asked, “Are you?”

Relenting, he admitted, “I’ve missed you… and I haven’t been eating well either.”

She smiled.

He grabbed her hand from his face and kissed her palm.

“Sasuke?”

“Mm-hmm…”

“There’s one more thing.”

Pulling her into his arms he said, “I don’t care. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“Mmm.” She hummed. “Sasuke, we’re going to be parents…”

Chapter 4: The Temple

~~~

Nunchi (Korean): “The subtle and often unnoticed art of listening and gauging another person’s mood.”

SH Month Day 17 Prompt

~~~

Landing in the soft dirt after a portal jump, Hinata beheld a breathtaking sight she was not expecting.

“Sasuke...” Her silvery sweet voice floated gently to his ears.

He smiled at the sound of his name caressed by her tongue, and secured her more firmly in his hold. With a dichromatic stare, he admired the cute pout on her bewildered face. “Hn?”

“Are… are you sure this is the right place? Did you perhaps make a mistake?”

Wearing a playful smile on his lips, he quietly assured, “I made no mistake.”

He released her from his grip only to lead her by the hand towards the edge of a cliff. Surrounded by swooping green peaks framed by azure skies, and a steep jagged valley cut by a dazzling river below, the view was glorious. As magnificent as their setting was, there was no temple nearby.

When he took back his hand to tuck away in his pocket, Hinata suddenly felt bereft. Uncertainty gnawed at her insides. She scrutinized this normally stoic man as he shot his attention to his muddied boots and kicked the dirt sulkily.

“The temple marks the end of our journey.” His voice was quiet. It lacked his usual confidence, like he did not want to acknowledge his own words. Clenching his jaw, his pride forced him to bite back the truth.

The words ‘I’m not ready to leave you’ were never spoken.

Although he didn’t realize it, Hinata tacitly understood his intentions. She was bursting at the seams with bubbling joy, knowing he purposely added the detour to immerse himself in her company. Tears sprung to her eyes from the pressure building deep in her chest. There was no way to sufficiently express the wild emotions consuming her, so she decided to show him instead.

Sasuke was still looking at the ground when she surreptitiously approached. Visibly distressed, he did not notice her hand reaching out to comfort him.

She was so close she could feel the warmth and electricity shooting through her fingertips from his inner chaotic energy.

“What were you and Kiba talking about?” Sasuke abruptly asked.

Startled, her hand jerked back to her side as if burned. “Hm?”

“At the party.” His head turned and he fixed her with a serious stare. “You were hiding in the backyard. Why?”

Her eyes bulged and her jaw dropped at the horrific claim. Indignant, she insisted, “I was not hiding.”

“Mmm. You were,” he smirked devilishly. “Tell me why.”

She let out a heavy sigh. Now it was her turn to look away. Her eyes searched the shapes in the sky for divination. “You might not know this, but I spent most of my life chasing Naruto. I was inspired by him. I wanted to be like him, and even thought I was in love at one point.”

He watched uncomplainingly as she paused for a breath and wrapped her arms around herself, her gaze finally shifting to him.

“When I told him, he completely ignored me. He never once mentioned to me that he had a girlfriend. I would have understood. I thought, as friends, he would have at least given me that courtesy. When he showed up with Shion at the party, I-,” she choked up and continued, “I just needed space.”

Scanning her hurt features for a moment, he dug in deeper. “Does it still upset you?”

Hinata furled her brows. She was never a good liar and yet she attempted, failing miserably. “No. Of course not.”

Sasuke offered a single incredulous glance before he scoffed and walked away from the cliff.

Nervous and feeling completely exposed, she asked, “Where are you going?”

He stopped and turned, facing her. Looking squarely at her, he commanded, “Pretend I’m Naruto. What do you want to say to me?”

Her head tilted to the side at his instruction. “I don’t understand.”

“Yes, you do.” His agitation was rising. “If I was Naruto, what would you say so that you can move on?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head, hiding her eyes behind her curtain of long bangs. Her posture was closing off.

“Fine. Allow me to assist you.” He lifted his hand in front of his lips. With a sign and a whisper, a swirl of smoke covered him and lifted to reveal Naruto- or the apparition of him.

Hinata stared back blankly. Finally blinking, she took a deep breath, started to walk away, and evenly stated, “I’m not doing this.”

Before she could run off to where ever she thought she could escape to, Sasuke grabbed her wrist. Every time she tried to look away, he maneuvered so she’d have to look into blue eyes. “Say something. Just try. Tell me I’m an idiot.”

“Pardon me?” she balked at the suggestion.

“Is that too much?” Sasuke huffed loudly, placing a hand on his hip. Exasperated, he switched tactics and deadpanned, “Hit me.”

She blinked. “What?”

He repeated, “Hit me.”

“N-no.”

“I’ll block it, just hit me.”

“I can’t.”

Quickly swooping to her side and sliding away, loose dirt kicked up around them and Hinata’s long hair floated up, following the path of his escape. Checking her obi where she felt his brush, comprehension filled her eyes as they flew up to the Uchiha.

Holding the scroll containing the spoils of their travels, he dangled it dangerously over the cliff’s edge.

“Attack me, if you want this back.” Sasuke smiled mischievously, seeing the terrified look on her face.

“You wouldn’t.”

With a secure grip on the scroll, he quickly bobbed his arm down and back up in mock clumsiness. He gasped and lied dramatically, “Oh dear. I almost lost it there.”

Her eyes flashed malevolently. She looked as fierce as a hissing kitten to him. Between clenched teeth, she cautioned, “Give. It. Back.”

Observant of how close she was to losing her inner battle, Sasuke gave her a wicked smirk and opened his fist. The rolled paper plummeted to its rocky grave. For a moment the only noise was the breeze whipping against the cliffsides. The sharp movement and resounding roar that came next were a stark contrast, startling him to action.

“KIAI!!!” Hinata released her battle cry and charged at Sasuke.

He darted away from the cliff’s edge onto more solid ground. Without missing a beat, Hinata spun and arced her palm towards his destination with a blast of chakra.

A large boulder behind him, some yards away, split in half from the blow he narrowly avoided. While he was fast, her predictions were fairly accurate.

He stared at her, still wearing Naruto’s face, in astonishment. She was really mad.

In the blink of an eye, she was upon him. He used his forearm to throw off a palm thrust, and a backstep to avoid another ambush. Each movement he made in defense, Hinata targeted with precision- lashing out with the intense fury of a cornered animal.

Continuing blow for blow in lock step with each other as if this were a harmless training session, Sasuke remarked with a teasingly nonchalant air, “You’re angry.”

Frustration evident in her struggle and the set of her mouth, her chest heaved and she finally admitted, “Of course I’m angry. You. Just. Dropped. Everything. We WORKED FOR!” Each word emphasized by an attempted finishing move.

With a demeanor involved in discourse over whether or not it is preferable to shower in the morning or at night, Sasuke wavered his head from one shoulder to shoulder as he debated. “Well, yes. And also, no. You are upset about what I did just now, but deep down you’re really angry at Naruto. You just refuse to acknowledge it, and the longer you refuse, the more this anger will fester. I should know. I’m the king of festering anger.”

His self-deprecating humor was completely lost on the aggressive yet graceful Hyuga. The veracity of his statement struck a chord in her, but only made her want to hit him harder. How could she accept this manic rage she was feeling towards the man she admired for so long? The hero of the five nations. She had no right to be mad at him, right? Plus, she was always a nice and forgiving person. Shouldn’t she just do what she always did and accept the undeserved disrespect someone handed to her?

Sasuke wasn’t done yet. He knew the importance of this moment. He didn’t want to hurt her. If she was going to overcome what happened between her and Naruto, she needed to confront it. Gods did he need her to put Naruto completely in her past. Whatever it took, he would make sure that if they were going to move forward together, without regrets. His voice dipped low with urgent desperation. “Use this anger, Hinata. Focus your mind on what’s really hurting you, and let it out.”

A grimace crossed her lovely face, a bead of sweat forming at her temples. The logic in his advice seeping through the miasma. Determination sparked behind her irises, complying without letting up on her assault. Like a crack in a dam, the complaints slowly began trickling past her lips. “Naruto. You were my hero. And I thought you were my friend.”

“I am your friend,” Sasuke countered.

“No,” she sternly disagreed. “A friend would be honest. A friend would not ignore you. A friend would try to explain.”

“What if I said I was trying to spare your feelings?”

“I don’t need my feelings spared! Do you think I’m some delicate flower that can’t handle the truth that you have a girlfriend? Or that you don’t see me romantically? I would have understood! I almost died to protect you. Neji DID die to protect us. I didn’t deserve your silence. What I needed, was my friend! When I needed you most YOU DISAPPEARED!” Screaming the last two words, she targeted a slap across the man’s face in front of her.

Allowing Naruto’s form to disperse, Sasuke caught her hand in the air and they both paused their actions. Staring into each other’s eyes. Reading beyond the words. Breathing each other’s air as they both panted heavily- partly from exertion but mostly from nerves.

His fingers curled gently around hers. She may be looking at him, but they were seeing the past. Her mind was reliving the pain as he spoke. “If Naruto were here right now, what would you want to tell him?”

He expected her to cry, to scream, to wallow in self-pity. He did not expect the quirk of her lips when her next sentence flowed out.

“You’re an idiot,” she said simply. There was a hint of humor in her smile.

Not sure he heard her properly, Sasuke sought clarity. “What did you say?”

Adding more emphasis and volume, she stated, “You’re an idiot, Naruto!”

He smiled, realizing she was saying the words he told her to say at the beginning. He shouted back, “Louder!”

Turning to face her entire body towards the void of the canyons, she screamed fervently, “YOU’RE AN IDIOT, NARUTO!”

Hinata’s voice echoed around the valley sides in resounding agreement forcing a bright smile on her face. Still beaming with excitement written on her features, she swiveled her head to look at Sasuke’s unreadable expression.

Speaking with a deep rumble in his velvety low tenor, the Uchiha took slow and calculated steps in her direction. “Naruto, is such an idiot.”

Unsettled by the predatorial glint in his eyes that swallowed her like a succulent treat, she stuttered, “Y-yes. He was very rude to me.”

Sasuke’s eyes flared in amusement and the edge of his mouth lifted. “The audacity.”

Her brows tethered confusedly together. She stared up at the taller man, who was now close enough to send sparks flying across her skin. “Are… are you making fun of me?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Although his words refuted her claim, his mirthful tone and pleased appearance seemed to contradict his statement. Unconsciously, his bloodline limit activated and he perused the soft lines of her face, the smooth curves of her breasts, and the suppleness of her skin. His warm breath sent a thrill up her spine. He was a fingertip away from pressing himself to her body, but he stood his ground imposingly. “Is there anything else you want to say?”

“To Naruto?” she questioned.

“Hn.” He inclined his head once in affirmation.

After a brief pause to reflect, she casually shrugged a shoulder. “I suddenly don’t feel like it. But I do have some words for you!”

Flashing a charming smile that revealed his perfect canines, Sasuke stepped back, releasing the tension of their stance. Reaching behind him, he pulled out the missing scroll and held it to her in apologetic offering.

“How?” she inquired.

“I used a genjutsu to make you believe I dropped it. You were too emotional to notice the change in chakra.”

Snatching the precious item between two hands and resecuring it between her side and her obi, she suspired, “Thank you. For everything.”

He swallowed at the sincerity in her words feeling entirely undeserving of her gratitude. She did not know how grateful he felt for her, and this journey they experienced. Something in him had changed even if his circumstances were the same. It was like he could breathe again after being stifled for too long.

Extending an open palm, his left eye shifting from red to purple, the shimmering portal swelled into existence. “Let’s finish this.”

She bobbed her head and held his hand. “Yes. Let’s.”

The familiar tickle fluttered in her gut and a rush of air swept around her. Soon the sounds of tranquil nature filled her eardrums. When she saw the elaborately carved structure in front of her, she was in awe.

They were standing inside the gates of the temple.

***

Cursed Kisses By: Lavender Eyed Assassin (Rated T)

Chapter 1: The Curse

~~~

Basorexia: An unbearable urge to kiss

SH Month Day 2 Prompt

~~~

Why did I agree to this?

“Sasuke!” The loud squeal coming from under a bubblegum pink bob served to exacerbate his growing headache.

I hate parties.

Sasuke silently watched from the doorstep as Sakura excitedly rushed forward to embrace her old teammate in greeting. With a well-timed step back, he simultaneously avoided her touch and conveyed his distaste for physical contact.

Sakura, being astute as she was, quickly understood the action and stopped herself from reaching for him. The war was over. Sasuke had been on a journey of redemption for years, and she had finally learned to move on.  

Dispelling the awkward moment, she gave a tight-lipped smile with an almost pitying expression that Sasuke couldn’t help but loath. Sakura turned her head away and yelled, “Naruto! Guess who’s back?”

From the depths of Sakura’s small house came a familiar, gruff roar, “SASUKEEE!!!””

Now in their early twenties, the Konoha Twelve were no longer young shinobi. Neji was gone, Tenten moved to Suna, and the rest, while living in Konoha, hardly had time to see each other. By some miracle, Tenten and Sasuke’s return visits coincided, and the group, led by Ino and Sakura, decided to host a get-together at Sakura’s newly purchased home.

“Come on inside! Everyone’s here already.” Sakura waved at the dark and imposing figure to follow her. Removing his travel worn boots and leaving them by the door, Sasuke barely took two steps into the hallway before a large, orange bundle of energy pounced on him.

“Teme! I almost didn’t expect you to show up, ‘ya know?” Naruto offered a happy smile that forced his eyes to squint into tiny crescents. With a one-armed hug that could pass as strangling, his other hand attempted to ruffle Sasuke’s already messy and overgrown hair. Their female counterpart tittered at the display of manly affection.

As ill-disposed and aloof as the ex-avenger came across, he had more patience for Naruto’s antics than most people. Like a practiced routine, he simply removed Naruto’s overly eager hand from inflicting more damage.

“I said I would be here. I am here.” The cold indifference in his voice was completely ignored by Team Seven’s alumni. It had come to be expected.

“Damn right you are!” Naruto exclaimed happily.

The space boasted a modern layout with the kitchen, dining room and living room being in a single open area, unhindered by walls. Immediately, Sasuke’s fight or flight drive kicked in as he took in the shoulder-to-shoulder atmosphere. Not only were the remaining Konoha 12 there, but there were spouses and other unfamiliar guests crowding the already cramped space.

Twenty minutes, and then I’ll leave, he assured himself.

After the escape plan hatched in his mind, he eyed a dark corner he was compelled to occupy. To his dismay, as soon as he began to slink off to that unclaimed and safe location, he felt a harsh tug on the collar of his sable cloak.

“No way! You just got here. You’re staying right where I can see you,” Naruto playfully reprimanded; a heavy arm casually, but securely, slinging around the shoulders of the touch-averse shinobi.

Receiving a scowl in response, Naruto laughed heartily and began to do what he did best- talk. Without letting go of Sasuke, the tall young blond dragged him to another pair of excited blondes. Sasuke felt his mood drop even further.

Females…

“Shion, this is Sasuke- my BEST friend from the academy! Sasuke, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Shion, and her friend Ririka. Funny story, they both work at the temple, but people think Ririka is a witch! HA!”

Sasuke offered a silent nod in acknowledgment while Naruto belly laughed hard enough to form tears. Uninterested in continuing the discussion, while deciding it wasn’t worthwhile to escape Naruto’s side, his attention started to wander. He perused the basic layout of the structure, memorized the exits, and studied the crowd.

Tenten was sitting on a bench, excitedly chatting with Lee. Gaara sat on her other side, a subdued longing gaze directed at the unsuspecting brunette.

Sasuke scoffed internally at the interplay and moved to the next group. Next to Gaara stood Temari, with a babbling infant on her hip, and Shikamaru. To Sasuke’s surprise, the class genius was in deep conversation with Shino. He didn’t know much about Team Eight. He never cared to know and wasn’t about to start.

So, he decided to move on.

There were some unknown, and uninteresting, faces. Girl’s flirting with guys, guys bragging with guys, and girls giving him suggestive stares that he proceeded to ignore.

Boring.

His focus landed on Choji who was happily filling his plate with the savory dishes on the table. No surprise there.

Ino, who was placing fresh addition from the kitchen, slapped his hand and lightly scolded, “At least wait until I put it down!”

Breaking him from his people watching, Sakura spoke to Sasuke in a hushed murmur while Naruto continued to gab. “I’ll come back to check on you guys later. I’m so glad you made it, Sasuke.”

He nodded blankly.

She smiled warmly at him and went off to play host, and make her rounds with the other attendees. After she stopped chasing him, and began to focus on herself more, it became easy for Sakura to make new friends. Ino also lost interest in the Uchiha since she only wanted his attention because she knew Sakura did. They became closer than ever.

As he trailed Sakura’s departure from their group, his eyes landed on a quiet pair socializing on the back porch. He couldn’t hear the conversation through the shut glass door, but he could clearly see everything from his vantage point. With their backs to him he could not easily identify the couple, but he was curiously drawn to the scene.

The tall, muscularly built man had unkempt, shoulder-length brown hair and was fairly familiar. The woman next to him, however, was an enigma.

It wasn’t her silky long strands of blue-black hair that he noticed first. Neither was it the milky smooth complexion of her bare arms that glistened naturally in the sun as they mindlessly ruffled through the thick, white pelt of a docile beast. Nor was it the heaven’s blessed curves and sinewy lines of her feminine build.

Although he wasn’t ignorant to her physical appeal, the first thing that he noticed was the way she moved.

She was the most graceful creature he’d ever laid eyes on.

His throat suddenly felt dry, forcing him to swallow to quench his growing thirst. There was a slight but deep uptick of his heart’s rhythmic beating. He drew in a breath to fill his desperate lungs and cool his warm core.

Who is she?

Drawing his dark brows together he unconsciously activated his sharingan in devout concentration. His pupils expanding to take in as much of her as he could. Wildly spinning pinwheels analyzing every shift of her head, each inhalation, and the smooth motion of her hands.

“Ummm… earth to Sasuke?”

A large, calloused palm waved inches from his face, effectively obstructing his perfect view of the mystery goddess. Annoyed, he glared at the nine-tails jinchuriki darkly and seethed, “What?”

As the hand fell, it was replaced by expressively wide blue eyes perched under raised brows. The perpetrator was a little too close for comfort causing Sasuke to instinctively lean away.

Taking in the Uchiha’s reddened face and dark expression, Naruto cut his stare over his shoulder to seek out exactly what had captured his friend’s attention so raptly. The Uzumaki’s confusion quickly morphed into a mischievous satisfaction, and he turned back to his friend with a smirk. Tilting towards Sasuke’s ear, he spoke under his breath. “Hinata’s hot right? She confessed to me once, ‘ya know?”

Hinata?

“I would’ve said yes, but Shion and I had already started dating, so I kinda ignored her. I just felt bad about rejecting a nice girl who’s done so much for me. And then after the Toneri thing happened, she stopped talking to me,” he began to ramble.

“WHAT?” Feeling appalled by Naruto’s lack of judgment and oddly concerned about Toneri, ‘the moon terrorist,’ Sasuke could not keep the rising anger from his voice. What was this feeling? Was he feeling jealous? Protective? He was definitely frustrated.

Backing away, the Uzumaki scratched the back of his head and laughed nervously. “Ehhh… let’s talk about it later. It’s not really that important. Right now, what’s important is we were just talking about going on a double date!” Beaming ear-to-ear like a Cheshire cat, he proposed, “Me and Shion, and you and Ririka. Saturday night. Great idea, am I right?!”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hinata walk in with… right, Team Eight’s Kiba and their mascot horse dog- whatever his name was. The new spectators did not quell his heightened nerves. Instead, Hinata’s beautifully innocent, and blissfully unaware eyes seemed to light a fire in him.

Channeling his rage into his usual trigger point, he loudly exclaimed, “What is wrong with you?”

Squinting his perplexed stare, Naruto repeated, “What is wrong with me? What d’ya mean what is wrong with me? What is wrong with you! I’m trying to set you up with a girl, you moron!”

Equally matched in both talent and stature, Naruto bumped his chest against Sasuke’s, standing toe-to-toe and nose-to-nose in challenge.

Witnessing the rising hostility, the rest of the crowd began to press in with anticipation.

This only served to infuriate Sasuke further. With a maliciously calm tone, he muttered, “Some friend you are. You don’t know the first thing about me. When have you ever seen me go on a date with anyone? Why the hell would I want to go on a date with her.”

Before the village hero could voice his intent to help, the woman in question intruded with her hands on her hips and a defensive snarl, “And what exactly is wrong with me? You think you’re so cool because you’re the last Uchiha and girls fawn all over you? Well, let me tell you hot stuff- I can read you like an open book! You’re just a scared little boy. Scared of anyone getting close. Scared of any sort of physical interaction that doesn’t involve violence. At this rate, your clan is going to stay dead, and you’ll be alone forever!”

The room was so silent, you could hear the whistle of the air as it blew through the small gaps of the crevices in the house. Even Naruto was speechless, gawking his wide blue eyes at the bold and shameless female.

Sasuke’s face remained apathetic but under it all, his blood was steaming. “Thank you.” That caught everyone off guard. His voice was smooth and even, but everyone could feel the dangerous undercurrent skimming the surface. “Not only have you displayed precisely what is wrong with you, but you’ve also reminded me of why I choose not to be intimate with anyone. I have no doubt that whoever chooses you for a bride would rather wish he hadn’t.”

The sting of his words lingered in the air, but not for long. Ririka, face puffy and eyes red with tears welling at the corners, summoned all her anger and will and directed it towards the cold Uchiha with a sneer. “How dare you! I curse you, Uchiha Sasuke! You who are so afraid of intimacy, are cursed with days unnumbered of exactly that which you loath the most!”

She squealed in delight and boisterously laughed. The crowd murmured amongst themselves. Uncomfortable with the strained conditions, some chose to depart- including Team Eight, leaving him forlorn.

Turning his attention to Naruto, who looked like he just watched his frog wallet speak a different language, Sasuke informed as politely as possible, “I’m leaving.” Then he turned his back on the blond trio, his cloak floating behind him with the motion, and leveraged his long legs to expedite his exit without breaking into a run.

Snapping out of his trance, Naruto went after him. “Hey, Sasuke- Wait!”

When he reached the brooding male, he grabbed his shoulder from behind in an attempt to stop him.

As Sasuke spun to face the aspiring Hokage, Naruto clumsily tripped on his own large feet. He was sent hurtling towards the unprepared Uchiha, whose special eyes noted the ‘oh shit’ he mouthed as their distance closed.

Sasuke’s eyes widened in horror, realizing at this range it was already too late. His lips twisted into a grimace as they were met with Naruto’s sloppy open mouth. It slid down his chin, leaving a trail of saliva as they fell. Naruto knocked his friend to the ground with him, and landed between his legs. His spiky blond head resting on Sasuke’s solid chest.

“Get OFF of me!” Sasuke demanded.

While Naruto scrambled away from the deadly shinobi emitting a faint warning aura, Ririka’s laugh bounced off the walls in a perverse cacophony. “And so it begins!” She bellowed maniacally, hands gripping her stomach, filling the room with her mirth.

Sasuke quickly rose to his feet and departed with more haste than necessary. This time, Naruto did not follow.

A strange feeling began to form in the pit of his stomach. His growing unease a biproduct of her words.

That had to be a coincidence. Right?

Turning his focus back towards the house from where Ririka’s howls pursued him, and mind entrenched in recent memory, he did not see the ball arcing towards his head.

Subconsciously, he was aware of someone frantically yelling, “Watch out!”

Snapping his attention back to his path, his sight flashed white. A moment of dizzying pain and he was flat on his back with a throbbing lump on his skull.

“Ow,” he mumbled to himself, bringing his hand up to rub the sore spot.

Soon thereafter, his face was once again coated in saliva. This time dog saliva. A giant canine had licked from chin to forehead in a contrite act.

Sasuke froze. Eyes blinking rapidly in dawning recognition of what had happened.

Face filled with disgust, he propped himself up to a sitting position and wiped the slobber on his sleeve as he did so. He winced his eyes shut to bear the pain, and haphazardly registered the set of feet pounding against the pavement towards him.

“I am so sorry,” Kiba emphatically apologized while he tugged the back of Akamaru’s neck fur, attempting give the Uchiha some much needed space. Looking at his furry companion, the Inuzuka admonished, “You were supposed to catch that, Akamaru! What happened?”

The large white dog whined and placed a paw over his nose.

“A-are you okay?” A softly maternal voice twinkled, capturing Sasuke’s attention.

His onyx gaze lazily lifted to find the owner staring back at him with concern. Her eyes were even prettier up close, he realized. Though the Hyuga had white eyes, there was so much more to them than a flat canvas. There was visual depth and complexity. Though pupilless, there was a distinction between the sclera and iris, which was gemlike and reflected a light purple hue.

After he was silent for too long, dumbly observing the female without acknowledgement, Hinata kneeled in front of him with worry, and stated mostly to her teammates, “He might have a concussion. I think I should check.”

Grasping the fact that he was acting out of character, he was about to refuse her services and let her know he was fine when his name was called out from some distance away.

And again.

“Sasukeeee!”

It was Sakura.

She was lightly jogging towards him, her face morphed with concern, and he began panicking.

What if the curse was real?

What if some other accident befell him which resulted in another lip locking scene? In the past five minutes, he’d already been kissed twice. He could not, would not, suffer another unwanted second of intimacy.

If he was going to be cursed by some annoying witch, by sheer force of will he would grab fate by the horns and force it bend to him. Starting now.

At a few feet away Sakura slowed her stride and started to speak, but stopped abruptly when she witnessed a most unexpected event. In a harried rush, Sasuke placed his palm on the back of Hinata’s head, looked her straight in the eye, and before he could lose his muster, placed his lips against hers.

He could feel the heat form under his hands, and he did not know if it was coming from her cheeks or if his palms were sweating. It was intended to be a chaste kiss. Something quick and effective- like him. He expected it to be like the other kisses he’d experienced in his life, with Naruto, but this was different.

His lips lingered against hers as he took in their softness. His firm mouth lost the edge of tension they started with. The quickening in his pulse matched his sudden need for air. His eyelids closed of their own accord, and he found himself gasping and securing her lips again.

His fingers began to tangle in her hair and her rigid body went soft, pliable. He took this as a good sign, until he realized there was added weight to her as well.

At that moment, he felt himself being roughly pulled away from the object of his exploration.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Kiba groused.

Sasuke watched silently as Shino gently picked Hinata up in his arms in a bridal style carry. She had passed out.

Sakura stood idly with her jaw hanging wide, with no attempt to hide her shock. Although her mouth was open, for once, she was quiet.

“Let’s go, Kiba,” Shino coolly instructed.

“Tch! You better watch yourself buddy. I might not be able to kill you, but I can and will hurt you if you pull another stunt like that,” Kiba threatened, releasing the back of Sasuke’s shirt.

Kiba’s threat did not pierce the haze of euphoria in his mind. He sat there motionless staring after Hinata’s limp form. Long after her teammates had taken her away. Past the moment when Sakura mumbled her goodbyes.

He sat…

… and he thought…

… about a certain pearl eyed Hyuga, who might have just escaped with a tiny piece of him.

A/N: Thank you Sommernacht for being my beta this chapter! You’re such a rockstar.

Check out her fic “The Cracks In My Mind” on FanFiction.net. 😊 Extreme fluffiness ahead. Enjoy!

 Chapter 3: The Journey

~~~

Metanoia (Greek): “A journey that changes the heart, the mind, the self, or the way of life.”

SH Month Day 15 Prompt

~~~

One small step. Then two.

A lingering look from dark eyes. A hand held out in offering.

Hinata took the hand tentatively. When the portal appeared at Sasuke’s back, her face lit up like fireworks on a new year.

Sasuke felt his heart tug at her wondrous gaze that was filled with the promise of hope and adventure. Her pure enthusiasm and unrestrained optimism were contagious, and he could not stop the grin from spreading across his noble countenance.

“Ready?” he asked.

She stared with large eyes at the circular opening that rippled at the edges with a bright, crystalline luminosity. Fascination painted clearly on her face, she pondered, “Will it hurt?”

To her surprise and embarrassment, he winked and pulled her close with his arm wrapped low around her waist. Lowering his head to her ear, he whispered, “Don’t worry. I’ll be gentle.”

Her sharp gasp forced a breathy chuckle out of him, and without warning they were sucked into the interdimensional gateway. Other than the brief change in pressure and a small tickle in her tummy that felt like falling, the jump was seamless.

.

.

.

The lush and green Land of Ire was damp with low-settling fog that made the air feel heavy. At this early hour, the warmth was not yet strong enough to pierce through the morning clouds.

As soon as their nimble feet touched the ground, Sasuke relaxed his grip on Hinata’s waist, allowing her to move around freely. The wind kicked up. The invigorating earthly scents around them filled their nostrils, fresh and cool. Murky waves beat against the rocky cliffside at one end of the open field of never-ending clovers.

Long locks twisted and twirled with the breeze like fingers combing through her hair. Hinata giggled at the mess her hair had become and pulled it into a high bun. Sasuke watched silently. Admiring her long graceful neck, and the tiny hairs that escaped their hold. The sight was breathtaking. Looking away with pink-tinged ears, he acknowledged the scenery was also nice.

Detecting a change in movement, he folded his arms and lifted his eyes back to Hinata. She was climbing one of the sparse growing ash trees nearby with chakra laden feet. Locating a sturdy branch, she leaned against the trunk and sat in a meditative pose.

“Would you like my help?” Sasuke asked, squinting to see her through the leaves. He realized this objective was literally like looking for a needle in a haystack. With the fog, he may as well be wearing a blindfold.

“No,” she assured, and added in hindsight, “Thank you.”

“Hn.” He hummed his understanding, and resolved to stand guard. This foreign land could have anything from yokai to giant monsters. Whatever it was, he was prepared to face it head on- and protect Hinata.

Bulging veins crept out from the sides of Hinata’s closed eyes and down to her jawline. Her search began in earnest.

Approximately ten minutes into his vigilant watch, standing with his back pressed against the base of Hinata’s tree, he felt a light tap against his shoe. He looked down and saw nothing out of the ordinary- a few pebbles, dirt and clovers. Ever cautious, he peered through the haze of their immediate vicinity where only the vast openness greeted him.

Shrugging it off as the wind, he allowed his lids to shut when he felt another tap. Directing his attention to his boots, his photographic memory effortlessly picked up on something novel- a pebble that wasn’t there before.

Coming to an upright and defensive position, he was now on full alert.

“Is everything alright, Sasuke?” Hinata’s light voice floated to his awareness.

“Did you notice anything?” he quickly asked.

“Hmmm. My focus was on the ground, but there are indigenous species of wildlife in the area, naturally,” she commented.

He glared in her direction wearing an obvious smile of false gratitude. “Naturally.”

His words and demeanor brushed over her like a weightless feather. Her focus already on her task while he started his.

Stepping further into the curtain of moisture, sharingan blazing and analyzing every shift and shadow, he felt another tap. This time against his shin. After a few more steps, he saw it.

Perched on a cliffside rock, a tiny creature, no larger than his fist, blinked its large round eyes at him curiously. It was greenish, stout and humanoid in shape, with delicate fur covering its small body.

Sasuke reluctantly admitted to himself that the infantile creature was kind of cute.

With a small squeak, the green tiny attacker launched itself towards the shiny hilt of his sword, but Sasuke was neither tolerant nor eager to forfeit his blade. With lightning quick speed, he snatched the assailant by its little legs, allowing it to dangle upside down from his hold. Giving it a little shake, Sasuke eyed his captive closely and inquired, “What do you think you’re doing, little hobbit?”

The affectionately dubbed ‘hobbit’ began writhing and squealing its pitiful wails at the relatively rough treatment.

With a huff, Sasuke attempted to pacify the creature with a soothing tone, “Calm down. I’ll put you back on your rock. Just behave your-”

SCRREEEEEEEEEECCHH!!!

A loud, echoing wail boomed from over the canyon steps away. The ground shook with a deep rumbling like the land itself split apart. Sasuke knew better. This wasn’t an earthquake. Either some large beast had awoken from its den or it was a stampede.

Quickly placing ‘little hobbit’ back on its rock, he drew his sword towards the water, waiting for the threat to appear.

“Hinata?” he feigned calm as he called out her name, his worry evident.

“I’m fine. I need more time,” she casually responded.

Before he could ask what she saw, the shrieking was upon him. It was not a beast. It was several tens of tiny beasts, crawling over the cliff’s edge and racing towards Sasuke. Adult versions of ‘little hobbit.’

Little hobbit was screeching and jumping up and down excitedly on his perch like a monkey.

“Hinata, we have to go!” Sasuke yelled, darting out of reach of the first dozen hurling their bodies at him- claws and fangs bared.

“A little more time!”

Sasuke swatted away one that leapt at his face, catching it squarely in the chest. The event spurred the herd into a wild frenzy.

“Don’t hurt them,” Hinata instructed with a chirp from her hidden location.

Resisting the urge to scowl, he put away his sword, and grumbled under his breath, “Easy for you to say.”

Hinata couldn’t help the small giggle that escaped from her when she witnessed Sasuke go down in a heap after the tiny tyrants surrounded and dragged him down. She read about the flora and fauna of each region of their tour. The leprechauns of the Land of Ire were mischievous and fiercely protective, but relatively harmless. They had no poisons or natural defenses other than their sheer numbers. They weren’t particularly strong and their nails and teeth were not even sharp. He was basically engaging with a group of grumpy toddlers.

She continued her search, watching Sasuke teleport, flicker and arm himself with various pieces of his Susanoo from the corner of her almost three-hundred-sixty-degree vision. Sometimes she would see him scoop up a small flock in his arm to (gently) restrain them, or pick one up by its hind quarters and (gently) fling it a short distance away, only to have them get back up and attempt to climb on him again. It was not lost on her that he never strayed more than a two-second sprint away from her at his top speed.

“Where are you…” she muttered to herself, seeking their objective. Her heart skipped a beat when she spotted what she hoped to find. Excitedly, she narrowed her gaze and counted internally.

One, two, three, four! Four! A four-leaf clover!

Overcome with jubilation, she stood from her spot on the branch and yelled with an exuberance neither were expecting, “Sasuke, I found it!”

“I’m heading over to you!” The Uchiha teleported to the base of the tree just as Hinata began to climb down.

ROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!

Sasuke turned his head towards the beastly bellow, the ground quivering as if it was afraid.

Startled by the booming rumble from both the beast and the tree, Hinata lost concentration of her chakra and her footing slipped. “SASUKE!”

Swiveling his head back to his partner, he broke her fall in a lip-locked bundle on a bed of clovers.

Since they began exchanging- or he began stealing- kisses, this was the first time he felt shy. His modesty was evident in his bright eyes and the rosy hue of his cheeks that matched hers. With her in this position- resting atop, gazing at him with her all-seeing eyes like she could even see past everything the world labeled him- his chest was constricted by a downy fullness he’d never experienced.

ROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!

Simultaneously, their heads snapped in the direction of the invisible threat.

“Time to go,” he quickly stated while they fumbled around each other to get to a standing position.

The leprechauns were running around in a frenzy. Some attempting to hide up trees, within tall blades of foliage, and some scurrying back down the cliffside. Little hobbit had been scooped up by his parents and found safety in an underground tunnel.

Suddenly a dark shadow blocked the weak sunlight, cloaking them in darkness. The vast darkness was a mammoth winged-serpent, with a head of a snake and body of a dragon.

“W-water dragon,” Hinata stammered, with wide-eyes trained on the ancient leviathan that hovered over them like a predator ready to pounce on its prey.

“Run,” Sasuke whispered.

Hinata took off in the direction of the totem and Sasuke swiftly followed at her heels after sending a couple of clones in the opposite directly and throwing a smoke bomb for cover.

“Where is it, Hinata?” Sasuke rattled out.

She pointed ahead of them with a finger, and panted, “Ahead by about 350 meters.”

The water dragon had quickly changed course and was upon them again. It opened its terrifying jaws at their backs and snapped at empty air.

Not a moment too soon, Sasuke had teleported them both to the place Hinata identified.

Eyes activated, she walked a few feet out, bent at the waist and plucked the tiny green clover.

The irate serpent had not given up chase and was fast approaching.

Hinata was sealing the item in a scroll while Sasuke opened a portal to their next destination. Tugging her with a large coarse hand, he embraced the petite female and jumped in. The dragon wailed and flew off to its watery den.

.

.

.

Portal hopping through dimensions like seasoned globe trotters, they traveled to destinations far and wide. Gathering and checking off items on her list. A horseshoe, a figure of an elephant with its trunk lifted, a talisman shaped like a hand with an open eye on the palm, a small satchel filled with herbs, a bundle of bamboo stalk.

Each destination a different tribulation.

In the Land of Wind, locating a true religious charm was fruitless. Until they found one hanging around the neck of a man walking into a brothel. Steeling her nerves, Hinata prepared to play the role of a consort to covertly “borrow” the dove carved trinket.

Sasuke, however, refused to allow her to demean herself for anyone- except him. So, he took her place.

In full makeup, courtesy of Hinata, and wearing a long-ruffled gown, he approached the hairy gentleman and batted his generously long lashes that made Hinata envious.

When the pervert tried to get handsy with Sasuke’s cotton chest, Sasuke’s knee-jerk reaction was to deck him. It was lights out for the unsuspecting man. Hinata gave Sasuke a reproachful look while helping herself to his precious token.

With a pat on the head, Hinata dropped a small fortune on the sleeping man’s lap and they took off.

In the land of Porcelain, they snuck into a monastery to steal a golden toad statue from a holy well. They were spotted in the middle of their retrieval. Surrounded by monks, they jumped into the well, snatching the frog on their descent. Their feet neither touched water, rock or soil.

They stood on plumes of white clouds, completely unharmed, before a woman in an extravagant white gown. She tilted her head with curious observation, making the dangling pins in her high bun sway and sparkle, and decided to examine the ideal male specimen before her.

Sasuke’s singularly focused mind noticed the sashay of her hips and the intrigue in her eyes, and immediately pulled Hinata into his arms and dipped her low in a romantic flourish, stealing another kiss.

Hinata appeared flustered by the unexpected and public display of affection.

The lady in white laughed heartily and waved her hands. In the next moment, they found themselves in a remote garden outside of the monastery, golden toad secured.

Each adventure, each folly, each caress and light touch, bringing them closer to their goals- both known and unknown.  

.

.

.

Finally, they were on the last leg of their journey. Giving in to exhaustion, they settled at an inn in the Village of Roma. Placing the clerk at the front desk in a genjutsu, Sasuke was able to learn the basics of the local language and customs within minutes, which came in handy when they wanted to eat.

At the adjacent café, Hinata ordered something called bruschetta and pasta for them to share. Hinata said that dignitaries from this land had once visited the Hyuga and shared these dishes. Sasuke stared warily at them for a moment, never having been introduced to such delicacies, but in the end, he would never turn down a good meal.

Taking his first bite of the crispy slice of bread with a medley of toppings, he realized the seasoned vegetables were primarily tomatoes! He finished the rest of his serving in one bite and went for another. And another.

Their hands brushed against each other over the dish, and he realized there was one piece left.

Hinata smiled knowingly and said, “You can have it, Sasuke.”

Still chewing on his previous helping, he swallowed and asked, “Have you had any yet?”

She giggled lightly, her eyes full of mirth, and responded, “No, but you seem to really like it. It’s yours.”

Sasuke picked up the last one, and placed it to her lips. With a slow grin, he offered, “Have a bite. I insist.”

Resisting the urge to tap her fingers against each other as she thought, she realized that to onlookers, and even to herself, this felt very intimate. Meeting his stare, she laughed loudly when she realized he was pouting and giving her the cutest pair of puppy-dog eyes she’d ever seen. She surmised that he probably did not comprehend his actions, or the effect they were having on her. “Okay, one bite.”

Parting her lips, she took a demure bite from the delight in his fingers with as much poise as she was capable.

Satisfied with her obedience, he put the rest of the bruschetta in his mouth.

Her cheeks burned crimson with the indirect kiss, bringing a smile to his lips. Unable to help himself he said, “Hn. It’s tasty.”

She wanted to faint.

.

.

.

The next morning, they set off for Lake Trevoli for the last item. The lake was more of a large natural spring in the mountain. It was a journey and a trial to get there, making it rarely frequented by people unless they wanted to make a wish.

According to the lore of the people, you could make a wish by tossing a coin into the spring. The more expensive and rare the coin, the higher the likelihood of your request coming true. However, regardless of the value, it was heaven’s ultimately benevolence that would decide which wishes would be granted.

Although Sasuke had the rinnegan, it was difficult to use his teleportation powers in areas in which he was not familiar. He could bring them to a general location based on estimates, but he’d never been to the lake so he would be guessing. Further, there was the possibility that he’d accidentally transport them into the mountain face or a tree. It was not a chance worth taking.

Unlike their previous barren destination, the foliage here was thick and leafy. The sun beat down on the tree tops, the wind barely stirred a leaf, trapping heat and leaving the forest sweltering and humid.  

By the time the two weary travellers made it to their destination in the late afternoon- a tenth of the time it would take a person without special powers- they were ready to dive into the waters. Both thirsty and sweaty, all decorum was quickly tossed aside- along with the outer layers of their clothes.

Sasuke wore only his briefs, the rest of his garments lying in a heap. He dove in without hesitation.

Hinata, using more patience and care, prudently removed her top, folded it and placed it in her pouch. Her shorts were next, followed by her shinobi boots and her leggings. The boots were left near the lake’s edge. Shyly, she tied her multi-purpose obi containing her belongings to a hanging branch, and then dipped her foot into the cooling waters. Attempting a slow descent into the spring, wearing only her chest bindings and underwear, she was foiled by a tsunami of water that soaked her from head to foot.

Gasping at the shock, her skin prickled with goosebumps.

Sasuke pointed at the miserable look on her face. He laughed so hard that his eyes were forced shut and he keeled over. Before he knew it, Hinata launched a frontal assault. Together they crashed against the sunlit surface, falling into the blue depth. Their arms clung to each other as they swirled around the pristine waters harmoniously, like yin and yang.

When the bubbles cleared, Hinata was stunned into stillness by the soft gaze mere inches from her face. He stared at her like the most fascinating and beautiful thing in existence. Right now, they were the only things in their watery existence. Her heart leapt up to her throat at the thought. Her eyes roamed greedily to capture this moment for days she would need it. The perfect symmetry of his features, the sharp contrast between his smooth, pale skin and his penetratingly dark eyes and hair.

In the dark water, with the sun filtering through the dappled surface, his eyes reflected back the glow of the heavens in his stare. All her life she had been chasing the sun. She never would have guessed that the light she was after, had always been in him.

An invisible force drew them nearer, inches turning into centimeters, centimeters turning into nothing. Their bodies pressed against each other. He held her with the tenderness of worship, but with the ferocity of passion.

Abruptly, Hinata felt a sharp tug at her ankle. Shock overcame them both, as Sasuke was roughly pulled from her grasp. They were being yanked in opposite directions by something infernal.

Sasuke was incredibly annoyed at whatever foolish creatures thought it a good idea to interrupt this perfect moment. Glimmering rainbow arms and scaly hands groped his chest. He blocked the attempted fondling of his manhood and dodged the kisses to his face and mouth. Such impudence.

Anger suffused throughout his chest and he directed it at the two figures pulling on him. With rotating red pinwheels in his eyes, he ensnared the two mermaids in mental traps of his making, and swam off to save Hinata.

He paused and raised his brows at the glorious sight.

Hinata had just finished performing a thirty-two-palm strike using water needles. She turned in time to see Sasuke’s face go from pleasant shock to awe and admiration, painting a pretty blush over the bridge of her nose and cheeks.

It was a good thing they were trained to have a large lung capacity, effective oxygen use, and chakra. However, even shinobi need regular oxygen.

Taking her hand in his, they broke through the surface with their internal force with a dramatic upheaval of water. The crystal drops fell around them like liquid sunshine, glimmering and throwing sparkles all around. With power concentrated on the bottoms of their feet, they stood on the lake facing each other. Hinata opened her free palm and showed him an antique gold coin.

She smiled at him. She had recovered what she needed.

He smiled back at her triumph. Before anything else could go wrong, he lowered his head for a deep, requited kiss.

***

SasuHina Month Day 8 prompt “Geborgenheit.” It is unbeta’d and rated T, please enjoy...

Cursed Kisses By: Lavender Eyed Assassin (Rated T)  

Chapter 2: The Agreement

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Geborgenheit (German): The sensation of complete safety

SH Month Day 8 Prompt

~~~

The fog of sleep fell away slowly, taking the soft feel of rosy warm lips with them. Sasuke’s chest rose and fell with leisurely breaths, appreciating the comfort of his bed; basking in well-rested bliss he hadn’t experienced since the Uchiha were more than a clan of one. His heavy lids opened unwillingly to the white dimpled ceiling above his head, and he remembered he was home. The one place he could be alone, without worry or fear. It was safe. It was comfortable. It was small and almost bare but it was his.

He indulged in the feeling of the crisp morning air filling his lungs. Memories from the day before came flooding into his consciousness. Ririka’s words still fresh in his mind and the odd string of events that followed. He rationalized the curse wasn’t real and the two disgusting oral interactions were all coincidence.

Then there was Hinata…

Pushing the sobering thought aside, he came back to the present. If he had it his way, he would lie in bed all day and avoid everyone. Unfortunately, a sharp, repeated clacking at his window forced him out of the lure of his warm sheets.

Sliding the glass on its frame, an eagle flew to his arm, digging its claws painfully into his skin. Sasuke retrieved the message, tucked away on its leg and sent it on its way. It read:

 Sasuke,

I feel terrible about what happened yesterday. Ririka was way out of line. After you left, Shion and I got into it. Anyway, we broke up and they decided to go back to the temple. I wanted to look for you, but I was really bummed about Shion leaving. I hope you’re feeling better and that you can forgive me for my dumb idea. I really did want to help. Anyway. Come find me when you can. You know where.

Naruto

=^.^=

 He folded the note and put it in his pocket. He wasn’t really upset with Naruto. As much as he would like to stay fortified within these four walls, he knew he would have to talk to Naruto eventually. Plus, the grumbling in his stomach was an unpleasant reminder that he was alive, and human. Just having returned from his travels, he had no groceries and needed to head into the village for basic necessities. So, he got up and got ready for the day.

Stepping foot outside of his sanctum, his senses flew into high alert as he realized he was being spied on, poorly, by several morons. He quickly ran through his mental checklist of everyone who might target him within Konoha.

Keeping his cool, he decided to pretend to be ignorant of their presence. Allow them to reveal themselves and their intentions in their own time. He locked the door and proceeded to the center of the village.

His mind continued to work. It could be the Konoha council. They’ve always had a touch and go relationship. They knew he was dangerous but they also knew it was better to be the hand that feeds him, for fear of being bitten. Maybe he still would bite them someday. That thought brought a smirk to his mouth.

Now at the edge of town, he knew they were about to act based on the excited and coordinated movements of his trackers. His adrenaline spiked and he allowed his chakra to spread throughout his body. He would beat them to the punch.

In a shunshin, he dropped into an alley where he determined the majority was hiding. His eyes bled red; his blade secured in hand.

Then the screaming started.

Sasuke was level-headed. Cool and collected. Fearless.

Except in the face of his fan club.

To many a rogue ninja, Sasuke’s sudden appearance would have them pissing themselves in terror. Not these teeny boppers. They were worse than the monsters in the dark.

The Uchiha’s usually stoic demeanor instantly warped into horror as a half-dozen fangirls, and one fan guy, grasped at his clothes with shrieking delight. Gripping and reaching for any part of him they could manage to get their filthy paws on.

With a quick twist of his torso, he was on his feet and fleeing from the hoard. They were faster than he remembered, but no one was as quick as him.

Running up the building sides and across rooftops, he was yet again surprised when he discovered that some of his followers were trained Konoha genin. Maybe even chunin.

Feeling overly confident, he almost ran straight into his fan guy who used a henge in a sneak attack. He noted the crazed admirer was dedicated- similarly dressed in Sasuke’s well-known, although snug fitting, mission gear and wearing a raven-colored wig that was styled in a way that reminded him of a duck’s rear end. He glowered, feeling offended.

Smoothly pivoting his hips and sliding away, he slipped out of reach of the pudgy doppelganger and immediately came face-to-face with a prepubescent female. She tittered cheerily at her ability to approach her idol and dove in, literally, for a kiss.

Sasuke squeaked his terror and teleported away, feeling a soft brush of lips against his jaw before he was on another building.

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit! The curse is real!

He was rubbing the wet spot in full freak out mode now. Ririka’s screeching laughter came back to taunt him from the depths of his mind. That witch was going to regret messing with the last Uchiha. He didn’t call himself an avenger for nothing. In order to get his revenge though, he needed to take care of the delinquents. With a shake of his head, he was resolute on being calm and thinking through this logically.

The Uchiha enthusiasts tried various cheap tricks to capture him. Bunshin, fuinjutsu, genjutsu, some even attempting to stall him by maiming.

He had to give his fan club credit. He wasn’t expecting them to be as creative, synchronized, or skilled as they were. It seems they had improved from his academy days.

Ever aware of his surroundings, something across the street below caught his eye.

It was Hinata.

She was sitting alone outside a café, with a porcelain mug and cinnamon bun in front of her. She appeared tranquil, wearing a sunhat and navy-blue dress while reading a book.

He was elated. Fate could be merciful- It gifted him with another opening. It worked last time. He had to know if it would work again.

Hopping down by her side, he was momentarily stunned when she thrust a gentle fist at him. He countered her attack with a turn of her arm behind her back and in the same fluid motion, he tugged her hard against his body. He smirked at her wide-eyed astonishment when he leaned his head towards her face, and gently brushed his lips against hers before sucking in her bottom lip.

Just like last time, the beating in his chest accelerated to a point he didn’t think was possible while standing still. Inhaling her scent reminded him of fresh flowers carried on a cool breeze. Not wanting to deny any of his senses, he allowed the tip of his tongue to graze the inside of her upper lip suggestively.  Her flesh was soft and pleasant. She tasted like icing and coffee, and although it was sweet in every way, he didn’t mind it for once. His nose nuzzled against hers as he gently bit her lower lip, breathing in her soft air.

Although he was completely enamored with her entire being, he could still pick up on the activity around him. All around him, he could hear the depressed moans of his pursuers as they witnessed the scene. Unanimously, they decided to give up their chase. Scattering to the winds, bemoaning their loss.

It wasn’t until the last of them had left that he released his grip on the flustered maiden.

Her eyes fluttered against her pink cheeks. Her breathing was quick and shallow. When her knees buckled, he caught her and firmly said, “Oh no, you don’t.”

“Uh… Huh?” Came her confused response.

“Stay with me, Hyuga,” he instructed without force, in an attempt to coax her to stay awake.

Her lids began to droop as her anxiety spiked. She pried them back open forcefully, only to find them starting to close again.

“Hinata. Look at me.” He spoke with a soothing tenderness neither knew was capable of him.

Obeying his command, she lifted her stare and was instantly captured by a pair of glimmering rubies.

Instantly, she felt more awake.

Allowing her focus to wander to her surroundings, she noticed that everything was still. The couple talking at the table next to them was quiet. The waiter serving coffee to the elderly woman was immobile, the liquid half poured floated in the air, frozen.

Her eyes snapped back to the Uchiha, who she noticed was holding her rigidly against his body. Her blush returned ten-fold as she was very aware of his hard chest pressed securely to her soft one. Their breaths mingled and she could see the tiny golden flecks in his eyes that made them look like they were glowing.

“U-Uchiha-san. Would you let me go… please?” She timidly requested.

“Of course,” he coolly responded and did her bidding.

She let out a breath in relief as she backed away for some much-needed personal space. Looking down at her toes to avoid his intense stare, she asked the question she already knew the answer to. “Did you… Did you put me under genjutsu?”

“I did.”

His easy response had her searching his face for answers. “Why?”

“You were going to faint. I am helping both of us avoid that problem.”

Hinata chewed her lower lip thinking of what to say next. It was unnecessary, however, as Sasuke spoke up first.

“I’d like you to come with me,” he stated without context, preamble, or restraint. A simple fact.

“W-what?” She was stumped. “Where?”

“Everywhere. I’ll pay you,” he offered.

In sharp contrast to her blush earlier, she now paled a ghostly white. Completely appalled at his suggestion, she reminded him, “I’m not a companion, Uchiha-san. I’m a kunoichi of Konoha. A Hyuga of the main house.”

“I’m not asking for you to do anything we haven’t already done, Hyuga,” he smirked. “It’s just until I can find the witch. Why else would I request your company, if not for her curse? I need your help to keep the curse at bay. Name your price. I’m willing to pay it.”

She lowered her lids in contemplation. Not for a second was she unaffected by the hot-blooded man standing inches away. His presence was impossible to ignore, by anyone really.

It was laughable, the more she thought about it. Her love life was non-existent considering the fact that the only man she ever had the courage to admire that way, took her confession and treated it like nothing. She had sacrificed herself for him. For the village.

So did Neji.

Yet she wasn’t worth a response. Less important than a fly buzzing in his ear. She was less than dirt. Was she not good enough for anyone?

Now here she was, with the last Uchiha- the most desired bachelor in all of Konoha, heck maybe in all of the nations, by everyone except her. Many would say she had the privilege to have lost her first, and second, kiss to the impressive young man.

After the initial shock of the intimate attack, she had been overwhelmed with heat and the pitiful rapid pace of her heart, before her ridiculous self-preservation alert sounded and she passed out. Instead of feeling honored by his choice, she felt like something priceless had been taken from her. In fact, she did want some form of payment.

The light in her eyes brightened as a nebulous idea began to take root in her scattered mind. The excitement was building in her chest and she stumbled out, “Anything? You’ll pay anything?”

“If it is within my power to give, and does not betray my morals, I will pay it.”

She scanned over his features. The charming mess of dark hair on his head, the set of his chiseled jaw, and most importantly, the truth resting behind his observant gaze. She bartered, “Then I want your help in return.”

He arched a brow at her declaration, but said nothing, waiting for her to continue.

Shifting to the table where her book was, she picked up the old but carefully tended to item, and pulled a folded, abused piece of parchment from within. Placing the book back down, she opened the note and displayed the contents. “I need your assistance to collect these items from these locations, and bring them to the Temple elder.”

“You can’t just collect them from Konoha?”

“No. It’s imperative that they come from these specific locations,” she insisted.

“What for?” He wondered aloud, quickly committing the seemingly random list to memory.

“It doesn’t matter. Do we have a deal?” She stared at him with wide hopeful eyes, each tense moment of silence feeling like an eternity.

“I believe our paths are aligned, Hyuga,” he ultimately agreed with a dip of his head. “Ririka will be at the temple as well, so we have the same destination. You have a deal.”

The blinding smile that spread across her face felt like a gut punch. It knocked the wind out of him and for a moment he felt dizzy. He released the genjutsu and life around them started up again.

“What now?” She asked giddily.

“First, we eat.”

.

.

.

Looking around her light-colored and minimalistic quarters in the Hyuga compound, her heart weighed heavy. Absorbing every little detail of the layout, the familiar scents, and her precious keepsakes.

Her memories.

The well-worn books on medicinal herbs and hanakotoba, from her long-departed mother, lying flat atop her bookshelf. On the wall where her headboard rested, she displayed her treasured weapons. From the first weapon her father gifted and trained her with, the bamboo shinai, to the deathly sharp, five-hundred-year-old tanto Ko brought back for her from the land of Iron. There were colorful ribbons on her vanity from her sister that could be converted to bindings, rope, or thread. A piece of Pain’s metal rod, that pierced her body when she saved Naruto and the village served as a reminder of both her triumph and losses, adorned the upper right corner of her desk.

In that same corner sat a headband. A symbol of the Leaf Village and source of pride and achievement for graduating academy students. Neji’s headband.

She delicately held her late cousin’s personal effect in her hands with deep interest as the minutes slowed to a crawl. He wanted her to live. To be happy. With Naruto, as she’d always desired. How would she honor his death now?

With bitter melancholy, she gently folded and tucked away the revered object into the pouch on her lower back. It was the last item she needed to pack. Before shutting the door to this place she called home and found respite, Hinata took one last meaningful glance. She did not know how long this journey would take or what fate had in store, but she knew she was headed towards something life-changing.

Approaching the gates of Konoha, the leave of absence approval from the Hokage securely in hand, that feeling of desolation continued swimming in her gut uncomfortably. Not just because she was leaving the home that she had, after many years of childhood trauma, finally found peace with, but because she had been planning this journey for far too long and could not afford any mistakes.

“Hyuga.”

Her thoughts were disturbed by the deep rumble and depthless gaze of this mysterious figure before her. It was at that moment, when black eyes met with white, that Hinata felt a calm warmth spreading from her chest to her limbs. She wondered for a moment if this was another genjutsu, and realized it was not.

As ominous and unfamiliar as Sasuke Uchiha may be, without knowing why, Hinata Hyuga felt safe with him. In fact, she no longer felt apprehensive at all.

This knowledge brought a genuine smile to her face and she greeted, “Call me Hinata.”

The edges of his lips curled up, taking her breath away. His eyes glinted in amusement. “Call me Sasuke.”

Sorry I forgot to post this last week so chapters 5 and 6 are out of order! :S 

Chapter 5: The Request

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Sehnsucht (German): “Painful desire for that which can and will never be.”

SH Month Day 19 Prompt

Shinobi naku (Japanese): “Silent tears.”

SH Month Day 20 Prompt

~~~

Upon entering the pagoda, the couple were immediately taken to the temple elder. His head was shaved to the skin, and he had thick gray eyebrows set over heavily hooded eyes. His wizened face was friendly with laugh lines extending from his mouth and eyes, yet the depth of his gaze and deliberation of action demonstrated wisdom and authority. He was draped in heavy black monastic robes with an additional orange layer slung over one shoulder. His feet were bare and he kept a gnarled but sturdy wooden cane nearby to assist his stride.

When Hinata presented the artifacts hidden in the scroll to him, the light of understanding flickered on his ashen countenance. Flat on his burned cedar desk, she spread out her collection: the clover from the Land of Ire, the golden toad from the Land of Porcelain, a horseshoe from the Western Lands, the elephant figurine from the Land of Indus, the hamsa from the Middle Lands, the gris gris from the Land of the Sun, a bundle of bamboo stalk from the Village of Feng Shui, the dove shaped milagro from the Land of Wind, the ancient coin from Lake Trevoli, and a Leaf from Konoha. Altogether, their journey took nearly three weeks to complete.

With her head bowed and posture bent in deference, she softly voiced her request. “I offer these spiritual totems to you, Great Elder, in exchange for a Nozomu.”

The old man watched her with sorrowful eyes as she took a shuddered breath before explaining further. “I’d like to bring my cousin back, please. Hyuga Neji was a brave and talented young soul who did not deserve his fate. He died a hero in the last ninja war. Please… return him to me.”

Standing closely behind Hinata, Sasuke turned rigid at her words. His eyes grew wide with concern and they swarmed over her appraisingly. He did not realize this was what she wanted. Had he known from the beginning, he would have advised against it.

The Elder turned his cloudy vision to the graceful figure before him and gently responded, “My dear child… there are many things I have the power to grant. I can cure disease, bless a life with success and happiness, provide wisdom and clarity... but I cannot bring back a life.”

He stood then, walked around his low desk, and placed a pale wrinkled hand on her shoulder. “I am sorry for your loss. Please take this with you for your troubles. May it bring you the life you deserve and the healing you require.”

Moving his hands over hers, he squeezed them tightly before disappearing down a dark, candlelit corridor.

Hinata opened her cupped hands, staring numbly at the acorn she received. She blinked away the wetness in her eyes as best she could, but it only blurred her vision more. Her lashes clumped together and the tears silently streamed down her pinkened cheeks onto the small brown nut.

Sasuke felt the hot, sharp knife of shared pain slice through his chest cavity, leaving him breathless. He stared helplessly as Hinata’s shoulders began to shake violently. Her fist closed tightly around the consolation prize. She made no noise as she despaired, which he had no doubt came from years of practice. Witnessing her fresh remorse was a harsh reminder of his own departed brother and the torrent of emotions that swiftly devoured him.

Reaching out for her, he softly murmured, “Hinata.”

Without apprehension, she spun around and buried her head into his chest. Clenching his cloak tightly with one hand and soaking it through. Her breathing turned ragged. He rubbed soothing circles on her back before clasping her chin between his thumb and index finger. He tilted her head up and implored, “Talk to me.”

Stifling a wail in her throat, she bit her lips and sniffled loudly. “I-I-I j-just don’t understand. This should have worked. This was supposed to work. It’s all my fault. I must have done something wrong. I did do something wrong. Neji never should have died! It should have been me!”

She was rambling in her desperate spiral. Being a logical man of action, he knew the only way to help her was to understand her thought process. “Hinata, you did nothing wrong. This…” he held out his arm to the relics still laid out on the table, “…never would have worked. Why did you think it would?”

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously and she pushed herself away from his embrace. Reeling from the failure, she became defensive. “What do you mean? I didn’t just make this all up! It’s all written here, in this book.”

From a pouch resting against the small of her back, Hinata recovered said book- the same one he recalled her reading when he kissed her outside the coffee shop.

Taking it from her hand, he read the title- The Terrific and Terrible Tales of Totoro the Timid.

He couldn’t believe it.

For the past three weeks they traveled, battled beasts, committed crimes, suffered impossible odds, and fought through blood, sweat, and tears to get here… all because of a fairytale. Slowly, incredulously, his eyes travelled upwards, seeking out Hinata’s face, her attention, her rationality.

Unprompted, she was now rapidly defending her idea in a garbled argument. “This isn’t the only book that spoke of the power of these objects. I’ve researched for months and there were other sources. Dignitaries from all over the world would visit my father and share the true stories of people they knew that experienced their miracles firsthand. Some even shared scientific papers on necromancy!

“This book is based on eye witness accounts and written testimonies. There was a good chance that the tale held some truth to it!”

Beseeching her to see reason and end this journey of guilt, he spoke as if he were cautioning against some dangerous object to a child. “Hinata. This is a fairytale. It’s not real.”

Throwing her arms down at her sides, tossing the acorn to the ground in the process she yelled, “I KNOW THAT!”

Her eyes began to lose focus and she stared into nothing as she whispered between quivering lips, “I spent so much time… believing this would work. I knew it was a fairytale and that I was taking a chance. But if I only had this chance to bring back Neji, I had to take it.”

Downtrodden and completely exhausted, she resolved to press on in the default way she’d been trained since childhood. Swallowing her emotions, red nosed and puffy eyed, she lengthened her spine, and held her head high with the grace of a true heiress. Emulating her learned behavior of interacting with noble emissaries, and not the man she’d spent nearly a month with, she met his stare and despondently remarked, “Sasuke, please send me home.”

The ache sluiced through his chest a second time. Sasuke bit down hard, flexing his jaw with the movement. Trying to gauge her level of commitment, he supplicated with one word. “Stay.”

“Sasuke… please. Send me home.”

He watched morosely while her eyes flooded again with liquid crystals over pearlescent orbs. Although his heart sank and his breathing faltered, he honored her request and opened the final gate for her to cross. As she began to walk towards fissure, and Konoha on the other side, Sasuke halted her departure. “Wait.”

Her attention flew up to his face, then traversed down the length of his arm, where he was holding out the tome that incited the problem.

“Don’t forget your book.”

Switching her concentration back to her current destination, she solemnly replied, “Do with it as you please. I no longer have any use for it.”

With violet-colored chakra fueling her departure, she made an elegant leap through the rip in space. The hole sealed, and she was gone.

----------

“Where is she?”

The monk stared back with terror at the raging Uchiha. The monk stammered out, “Who?”

“The witch,” he spat. “Ririka.”

From the entrance of the pagoda in which he was currently standing, a familiar cackle made itself known.

“Uchiha Sasuke, you devil. You came all the way here to visit this unworthy priestess? My, my. Should I be flattered?”

Leisurely turning to face this female nemesis, Sasuke sharpened his sight with spinning tomoes in glowing red orbs. The intimidation factor was a bonus. In a flash, he was standing in front of her, holding the sharp end of Kusanagi to her throat. “Witch. Undo the curse.”

Her eyes grew as large as saucers. Instead of the usual terror, the woman started laughing… again. Ririka laughed so hard she gently, carelessly, pushed away his sword, and began to cough in her other hand.

Out of confusion, Sasuke allowed it. He sheathed his weapon and impatiently waited for her fit to die down.

“Oh, Sasuke. You poor fool. There never was a curse,” she explained with an amused grin.

“What about Naruto?”

“Manifestation.” She waved a hand dismissively.

“The dog?” he continued to press.

“Dog? Pfft. Coincidence.”

“My fan club.”

“Ahhhh!” Her eyes lit up impishly. “Well, that? I may have tipped them off and offered a reward to make you believe in the curse for a while longer.”

She rubbed a stray tear from her eye. Her smile widened at recalling her foolhardy misdeeds.

Unable to help himself, he inquired, “What reward?”

“A life-sized body pillow in your image,” she happily responded.

Now it was his turn to cough.

She added, “I don’t actually have one but I never thought they’d get close anyway. Although some young girl did write to me claiming success. Was that true?”

When he shot her the harshest glare he could muster, her brows lifted towards her hairline and she muttered to herself, “I suppose I’ll need to order a pillow.”

Finally, gathering his wits, he summarized, “So, there never was a curse.”

Ririka scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I’m a holy priestess, not a witch. People are so gullible.”

Sasuke’s oppressive presence filled the room as he stewed in the revelation of his curse. He roared, “What about Hinata?”

She stilled in her movements and tilted her head to the side, her curiosity piqued. “Is she the Hyuga you arrived here with?”

The emptiness that gripped his insides continued to suffocate him at her mention. It was slow torture. Shutting his eyes and breathing deeply, he exhaled, “Yes.”

Placing a slender hand on her chin, Ririka thought aloud, “It seems to me that you should be asking her that question.”

When the Uchiha simply stared and made no move, the priestess snapped her fingers and hollered, “What are you still doing here? Go!”

Sasuke blinked severally when her words sank in. He didn’t want to admit it, but she was right. What was he doing here instead of going after Hinata?

Without a word, his rinnegan activated and the shimmering portal popped open.

“WAIT!” Ririka called out.

Snapping his attention to the slender female, he watched as she darted to the center of the room, picked up something from the floor, and ran back towards him. Once close enough, she placed the item in his palm saying, “For luck.”

It was the acorn that Hinata discarded. Tucking it away, he pulled a note from the same satchel and peered at the smiling priestess. “For you.”

Ririka accepted the paper. By the time she finished blinking, he was gone.

Unfolding the letter, she read, “Golden Toad: Peach Grove Monastery, Land of Porcelain; Golden Dove Necklace: Carlos d’Oro, Land of Wind… WHAT IS ALL THIS?”

She quickly scanned the inventory list from beginning to end, her anxiety building with each item. Reaching the bottom, in neat writing it stated:

Ririka,

I’ve taken the liberty of notifying the owners in these lands that you needed to borrow their sacred objects for Temple duties and would return them in a fortnight. Please do hurry as the Temple and our Country’s honor is at stake. I’d hate for anything to happen to you should you fail.

S. Uchiha

Her nostrils flared as she read the contents over and again. Surrounding birds scattered at hearing her screech at the top of her lungs. “DAMN YOU, SASUKE UCHIHAAAAAAA!!!”

TO BE CONTINUED...

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A/N: Nozomu in Japanese means “wish.” In this fic, I am using the term to signify an religious submission for a ceremonial request, but it is entirely made up for the plot. Also, I would like to take a moment to defend Hinata’s sanity and IQ in this story. Yes, she may have taken the words of a fairytale a bit too seriously, but even the smartest people can fall victim to their emotions and desperation. After all, there’s a direct correlation between the love you feel for a person and the foolish things you’re willing to do for them.

Moving on…

I love how many of you guessed the locations correctly! Some were more ambiguous on purpose. I wanted some real-world countries to translate to a larger area in the Narutoverse. Because of that, it was difficult for people to guess where the Land of Wind is located in our world. It represents the regions in South America and the Iberian Peninsula where Milagros are prevalent.