Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or anything to do with the Naruto franchise.

Chapter Six

Sasuke and Hinata walked hand in hand on their way back to Sasuke's apartment passing people in the streets and not seeming to notice the people staring at them, they were to caught up in their own conversation to care. "Thanks for coming with me to the Uchiha compound I really appreciate it." Sasuke said while looking down into Hinata's pale eyes. A smile spread across her face with a small blush cascading her cheeks "it's no problem I'm always going to be there when you need me." His heart skipped a couple beats, but he was eternally grateful to have someone in his life that cared. "Hey Sasuke, what do you want for dinner I'm starving?" hearing Hinata's voice snapped him back to reality "hnn… I don't know, do we have anything at home?" Hinata thought to herself but quickly said "not for a proper meal, do you want to go somewhere and eat?" Sasuke smirked "are you asking me out on a date?" Hinata paused for a second and then looked directly into Sasuke's onyx eyes "as a matter a fact I am! So yes or no?" she asked playfully. "yeah sounds good to me, how about some BBQ? I haven't had it in a while." The Hyuuga heiress nodded while her cheeks flushed slightly again. The pair continued to walk and hold hands to their very first date together still ignoring the people around them who were very obviously starring.

Upon arriving to the restaurant Hinata noticed that there were old comrades of theirs. "Hey Sasuke, it looks like Shikamaru, Ino and Choji are here…do you still want to eat here?" Sasuke redirected his gaze to the table Team 10 was currently residing "no we can't keep avoiding people forever. Besides I really do want to have dinner with you." The pale eyed Hinata smiled while butterflies made themselves very present in her stomach "that's true, let's go get a table" They were seated a decent way from Team 10, in fact they were the only ones in their section. It was perfect. They ate, talked and laughed together which was very out of the ordinary for both shinobi. Ino noticed the pair and turned to her team mates "hey don't look or make things awkward but I think Sasuke and Hinata are on a date right now." Shikamaru looked up lazily "so what? Its not our concern. I'll pay attention if he decides he's going to leave the Leaf again." Ino huffed "yeah I just never thought they would be a thing." Shikamaru shrugged and went back to his dinner. Ino looked over to Choji who clearly ignored the whole conversation and continued to eat and sighed. When leaving Ino's eyes locked with Hinata's; Ino smiled awkwardly and left with her team. Hinata looked down at her hands and startled fiddling with her nails, something she hadn't done in a long time. "what's the matter?" she looked up to see dark concerning eyes looking at her. "nothing" Hinata smiled. Sasuke reached over the table and squeezed one of her hands and said "it's going to be okay" then smiled and true and meaningful smile. Hinata smiled back and thought to herself "I am so lucky to have him", they then left the restaurant hand in hand chatting on their way home with not one care in the world.

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The next morning Hinata woke to the smell of breakfast cooking. She got up and got dressed and proceeded to the kitchen. When she walked in there was Sasuke pouring tea and making omelettes, their eyes caught and there was that same smile from last night "good morning Hinata, have a seat and I'll bring your breakfast to you". Hinata sat and couldn't help thinking to herself "he's beautiful, I can't believe that underneath all that pain is this amazing and compassionate person." A plate was set down in front of her and a cup of tea. Hinata's pale lavender eyes met Sasuke's dark black and locked for a moment "here's your breakfast hope you enjoy it" Hinata looked down at the food in front of her and smiled "thank you for making this for me Sasuke, you didn't have too." Sasuke came back to the table with his own plate and sat across from her "I know but I wanted too, this has been a crazy and eye-opening couple of months. I wanted to show you that I appreciate you and say thank you for helping me get to a place of peace." Hinata looked up quickly, smiling and looking directly into his beautiful dark eyes. A touch of pink arose to her cheeks "well then I should say thank you also, before bringing you back to the village I was in a pretty angry state of mind. Now, I'm just focussed on the positive and this new connection between us." Their eyes locked again but this time longer, Sasuke thought to himself "how did I get this lucky?" They ate their breakfast and drank their tea in a comfortable silence and enjoying each others company and presence.

After breakfast and while Hinata was clearing the table she heard Sasuke say "hey so… I really want to go clean up the compound." Hinata turned to meet his onyx eyes "okay, did you want me to come?" Sasuke shifted his gaze to the floor "yes and no, I feel like it's something I should do on my own." Hinata walked up to him and lifted his chin to look at her "that's completely understandable. If at some point you feel like you need me, you can come get me." Sasuke smiled warmly "thank you, I think I'm going to head out then" Hinata gave him a hug with a little extra squeeze for good luck. Sasuke kissed her forehead and he was off.

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Upon reaching the compound Sasuke felt his heart speed up a little "Maybe I should have asked her to come." He opened the gate and a flood of memories came back. Some good but, mostly just of that night. That horrendous and painful night. He shook his head and grabbed the bucket of cleaning supplies that he has brought with him. Starting from front to back he was going to get this done.

Two hours had gone by and Hinata was getting restless "I really should go visit father and Hinabi." She said out loud to herself. This way she held herself accountable. Sighing to herself she put on her shoes and locked the door behind her. Walking along the streets of Konoha she felt the anxiety creeping up her throat. It wasn't long until she was standing in front of the gates of her own Compound. Taking in one more deep breath she opened the gates and low and behold her father was standing on the main porch waiting to greet her. Hinata bowed when she reached her father "hello father" Hiashi nodded "hello Hinata, its been quiet some time. How is the mission going with the Uchiha?" Hinata stiffened. "Good, he is adapting and integrating back into normal Village life very well." Hiashi started walking back into the main house, Hinata of course followed.

They reached the main office, she sat in a chair in front of her fathers' large desk. He took a seat in his own chair behind his desk. Their pale eyes meeting Hiashi said "why do you think he's adapting so well Hinata" Hinata now looked down at her fingers with a small blush rising across her cheeks "to be honest father I'm not sure." Now she looked at her father seeing a blank unimpressed face, Hinata continued "but I do believe compassion and understanding are a large part of it. At the end of the day he's gone through horrors that none of us could ever imagine. It's not an excuse for past behaviour" Hiashi nodded along with her "yes but, it is necessary that you stay with him? I understand you are the one that brought him back but, why not get someone like Naruto?" Hinata now looked at her father directly in his cold pale eyes "to be honest father I asked for this mission. I wanted to see it to the end because, just like you said I was the one that was able to bring him back to the Village." She said firmly. Hiashi didn't speak but he didn't need too the shock was written all over his face "you asked for this? As far as I can remember you and Sasuke never spoke." Hinata still looking at her father with a straight face and now very serious eyes "exactly, that's why this works. He's healing now and if this mission was given to his old teammates it wouldn't work as well. There are still too many raw and recent negative memories. He may have abandoned Konoha but" she paused for a second and turned her face from her fathers "Konoha abandoned him first." Hiashi stood with a start from his chair "how!? How can you say that!?" Hinata also standing now "did the Hyuuga clan reach out after the massacre?" Hiashi now visibly mad "no they are our rival why would we do that?!" Hinata looked back to her father "because father, a five-year-old boy just watched his whole family get slaughtered by his older brother that he loved more than anyone could have imagined. That five-year-old boy wasn't the enemy." Hiashi went to speak but Hinata interrupted now yelling "What if that had been us! And it was just I or Hinabi left all alone with no one." Hiashi was silent. Hinata again spoke "I don't agree with how Sasuke handled everything but, I do have the emotional capability to understand. The Village owes him an apology." A tear now made it's way down her porcelain cheek "he was just a boy father. A small helpless and hurt boy" she said with a shaking voice. Hiashi still didn't speak and Hinata then stated, "I took this mission because he deserves someone who cares." Hiashi's arms fell next to him "you care for him?" Hinata looked at her dad and smiled "yes I do father. I must be going now, I'm supposed to be watching him 24/7 just in case you know?" Hiashi nodded "good luck with your mission, thank you for coming to see me." Hinata smiled one last time and left his office closing the door behind her. "oh my god I might throw up" she thought to herself while putting her fingers up to her lips.

A voice came from down the hallway "Hinata!" she looked up and there was her beautiful little sister, Hinata smiled and her sister tackled her "Hinata I've missed you so much! Are you coming home now?" Hinata smiled and cupped her sister's cheek "not yet my mission isn't over" Hinabi pouted "okay well, can you come visit again soon?" Hinata hugged her sister tight "of course but, I really do need to leave" Hinabi nodded and saw her sister out.

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Sasuke was almost done now, most of the blood and debris was gone. It looked so much better but still his heart fell to his stomach "I miss you so much" He thought to himself strictly thinking of his mother. Her long back hair and her eyes that matched his, he thought of when she would tuck him into bed and play with his hair until he drifted off. A small sob escaped the Uchiha's lips. He sat in the middle of the street legs crossed and his head in his hands. He couldn't stop the tears streaming down his face. Years od suppressed emotions were now coming out. It was so much easier to be mad than sad.

Hinata entered the Uchiha compound knowing full well he asked to do this alone but, it was her job to watch him. Also, she missed him. When she shut the gate door and turned around she saw Sasuke sitting in the middle of the street crying. Slowly she approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Sasuke immediately retaliating and threw whoever this was down on the ground with a kunai held to their throat. His dark and tearful eyes met her pale and sympathetic. "I'm sorry" he choked out while removing himself and kunai from the Hyuuga's body. Hinata brought Sasuke's head down into her lap, she wiped his tears and started brushing his hair off his face. Sasuke looked up at her as a small hiccup left his lips. Hinata smiled while looking down at him "it's going to be okay Sasuke." More tears spilled from his onyx eyes as he hugged Hinata's torso.

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AN: Hey so, I hope this was good. I haven't written in years so please go easy. I hope everyone who reads this has a wonderful day.

Sincerely,

Tamara Boyd.