#sasuhina angst

[flowerismi]

Experience Chapter 37

Sasuke had tried to watch Hinata when she was sitting at the bar with Kakashi. And he could feel his blood began to boil. Why was Kakashi all of a sudden so interested in Hinata. Sasuke had known Kakashi for many years now. Kakashi even mentored Sasuke when he was younger. Sasuke had never seen Kakashi with any form of partner. Kakashi never had any relationship. At least not official. Not someone anyone would have known about. So why now all of a sudden did this man give so much attention to Hinata.

Sasuke watched as they talked, and he noticed them moving closer together. He was about to jump up from his seat and let his emotions carry him. But his logical side kept his feet planted on the ground. Not moving an inch. What would he even say. They didn't have that kind of relationship. He needed to let it go. Sasuke could feel his blood gush over as the thought of leaving Hinata in the hands of Kakashi made him disgusted. He didn't want to share her with anyone.

'What am I thinking!'

Sasuke yelled inside himself. He could feel how the jealousy filled up his insides. The anger and resentment only grew more intense. He knew he had to let it go. Hinata could take care of herself. She didn't need him to protect her anymore. Kakashi was in the end a somewhat decent man in Sasuke's eyes. However, he had a hard time admitting it in the moment of hatred and jealousy.

"Hey! Earth to Sasuke!"

Kurotsuchi snapped her fingers in front of Sasuke's face. And Sasuke snapped out of his daze.

"What!?"

Sasuke hizzed back at her. And Kurotsuchi gave him a nasty glance before pointing to her grandfather.

"Sasuke... Can you show me the last two terms..."

Onoki insisted and raised an eyebrow at Sasuke whose head was someplace else.

"Yes... Sir..."

Sasuke said half annoyed, trying to hide it from Onoki.

When Sasuke finally had a chance to return his attention to Hinata and Kakashi, he couldn't see them at the bar anymore. Sasuke frantically turned his head around to look her them. But he couldn't see them anywhere. He got up from the table and continued looking around.

Sasuke knew he had promised himself to let it go. His feelings. Everything that had happened between them. He promised. He swore. So why couldn't he do it. Finally, he caught them. He watched as they slowly danced. Holding each other. And the world froze for him at that moment. He watched Hinata's soft smile. He could see her eyes were sad though. Her blushing face was in the warm light. And Kakashi was the same. Holding her too close for Sasuke's taste.

Everything was quiet for a moment in Sasuke's head.

Then Sasuke's head went into overdrive. Why were Hinata's eyes so sad. Why was she dancing so close to Kakashi like that. Hinata never got that close physically to someone. Not that Sasuke had seen. Only when she had feelings involved.

'Wait... Is she... Is she into him!?'

Sasuke thought for a split second.

'No!... No way!... Nah ah... That's not... That is not happening!'

Sasuke yelled inside his head. He wanted so badly to rush in and interrupt them. And Sasuke knew at that moment that he had fallen deep. He never realized just how bad he was into her. But in this moment it hit him like a train going 200 miles per hour. He had become obsessed with her again. And all this suppressed feeling from the last couple of months came flooding back in one big swing of emotions. His heart began increasing its speed. He felt his cheek blush, and his anger rose as he could tell he had finally reached the end of the line. In that moment he wanted nothing more than to take Kakashi down. Right then, right there. And afterward, grab Hinata and kiss her so passionately that they would both be gasping for air.

"Hey... What the hell is going on with you?"

Tsunade said as she interrupted Sasuke's roller-coaster of emotions and messed-up thoughts.

"Tsunade!... You startled me..."

Sasuke said in shock, as he was startled by her.

"... You're acting more unusual than normally... What's going on?"

Tsunade continued, ignoring his statement. Sasuke took a second to pull himself together before turning his attention back to Tsunade.

"I don't know what you're talking about..."

Sasuke only replied with a stern look on his face. Tsunade took a moment before replying.

"... Hey if you're nervous about tomorrow then don't be... It'll be stressful sure. But you'll be able to handle it. And it seems you have a wonderful secretary who's even more organized than you are."

Tsunade said with a grin, pushing Sasuke's shoulder. Sasuke looked back at Tsunade astonished. Tsunade's compliments were few and came very rarely. So he was surprised to hear her say that directly to his face like that.

" Well, I'm getting another cup of coffee before leaving. Are you joining?"

Tsunade asked and turned around to go back to their table. Sasuke looked in the direction of the table, where the rest were sitting. He could feel Kurotsuchi's resentful gaze at him.

"You go on ahead, I need to have a little chat with Kakashi..."

Sasuke replied with an apathetic look on his face. Tsunade shook her shoulders and went back to the table. While Sasuke returned his attention to Kakashi and Hinata. But he couldn't see them on the dance floor anymore. Instead, he watched as they were sitting by the bar again. Hinata got up from the chair and headed towards the bathroom. And Sasuke took this chance to confront Kakashi.

"What the hell are you doing huh!?"

Sasuke hizzed at Kakashi standing right in front of him with a furious look on his face. Kakashi only looked confused back at Sasuke.

"Don't give me that look! You know exactly what you were doing!"

Sasuke continued.

"Oh... You mean talking with Miss Hyuga while you and Kurotsuchi rip each other's heads off... Yeah... You could say I lent an ear as she complained about you and your behavior... I guess she's never seen that side of you... Mhm?"

Kakashi said in a tone that made Sasuke even more pissed off. Sasuke wanted to pull Kakashi by his collar and throw a punch in his face. But hearing Kakashi say that made him freeze up. So it wasn't just his imagination. Hinata had been annoyed with his behavior towards Kurotsuchi. In his younger years, Sasuke might have blamed Kurotsuchi. Claiming it was her who started it and that it was her fault. He even felt that way now. But he couldn't deny that he played along with her games. He wasn't some kid who could complain about other's actions. He was a fully grown adult at 30 years old. He had to take responsibility for his actions. Despite what others did or said. He was the one who continued the insults as well. Only fueling the fire between Kurotsuchi and him. Sasuke sighed and sat down in the empty seat Hinata left behind.

"Shit..."

Sasuke let out as he put his face in his hands and groaned out annoyed. Kakashi ordered Sasuke a drink and handed it to him.

"Why are you indulging her? You know she's only saying l that to get a rise out of you..."

Kakashi said and looked back at Sasuke.

"I KNOW! I know..."

Sasuke said angry and sighed as he saw the drink in front of him. And he gulped it all down in one go.

"She just pisses me off so fucking much!"

Sasuke said and hissed. Kakashi sighed and clabbed him on his back.

"Is it worth it though? To get into fights with her like that?"

Kakashi asked, but he already knew the answer. Sasuke sighed again and ordered another drink.

"What did she say?"

Sasuke asked embarrassed of himself. Kakashi looked confused back at Sasuke.

"Miss Hyuga?..."

Kakashi asked and Sasuke nodded while he blushed embarrassed. Kakashi smirked.

"She said she's tired of you and wants to work for me instead."

Kakashi said with a serious tone. Sasuke widened his eyes visibly distraught and clenched the drink in his hand so hard it might have broken.

"You're kidding right?..."

Sasuke said with a contemplative look on his face. Worried that Kakashi's words might be true.

"Relax Sasuke... She's not going to work for me..."

Kakashi said with a teasing smirk. And Sasuke let out a relieved sigh.

"But she is tired of your bullshit..."

Kakashi said as Sasuke took a sip of his drink. And he almost choked on it. Why would Hinata go to Kakashi with her complaints of all people. She didn't know him. He was a stranger to her until today. Why should he believe anything Kakashi said.

"You might not believe it but... I used to be a student of her mother's..."

Kakashi said and looked back at Sasuke.

"I didn't recognize her at first. But she looks so much like her mother. It was like looking at her and not her daughter..."

Kakashi continued.

"I've only met Hinata once or twice when I was her mother's student. But... I knew it was her..."

Kakashi said as he clenched his hands together on the counter. Hiding his still grieving face. Sasuke widened his eyes taken aback. So they did share a history.

"And I was there... When it happened..."

Kakashi said and held his breath. Sasuke looked confused at Kakashi. As he didn't know what he was talking about. Kakashi could see the muddled expression on Sasuke's face.

"I guess she never told you did she..."

Kakashi said and sighed embarrassed.

"Well, it is a very private matter... It's not my place to tell..."

Kakashi continued. He watched as Sasuke's face became more upset and frustrated.

"You two still have a lot to learn about each other..."

Kakashi said and smirked at Sasuke. And Sasuke frowned back confused and annoyed. Why was Kakashi all of a sudden so invested in their relationship.

"Have you never wondered what her story was? Why she is the way she is? Why does she behave the way she does?"

Kakashi asked and raised his eyebrows at Sasuke. Sasuke looked angry back at Kakashi feeling disturbed by the line of questioning Kakashi was presenting.

"Come now, it's written all over your face... It's not that hard to see"

Kakashi said with a taunting look in his eyes as he smirked at Sasuke.

"You don't know what you're talking about..."

Sasuke replied as he tried to hide his blushing face from Kakashi. The wine and the drink had begun affecting him as well.

"You don't have to lie to me or hide your emotions... All I'm asking is that you take your time to actually get to know her... I can see she means a lot to you... Just like, a certain other person did..."

Kakashi said and looked back at the table where Kurotsuchi and the others were getting ready to leave. Sasuke looked pouty back at Kurotsuchi. He snarled as he watched her get up.

"That was a lifetime ago..."

Sasuke replied.

"Even so... You're more mature now... I think it's time you let yourself enjoy whatever it is you have going on with Miss Hyuga."

Kakashi said and called the waiter to get his tab. Sasuke looked angry at Kakashi.

"Nothing is going on! She's my employee idiot!"

Sasuke hissed back at Kakashi.

"Yeah yeah... That never stopped anyone before..."

Kakashi replied only half listening to Sasuke.

Sasuke rubbed his eyes, as he felt his head get heavy and the light felt sharp in his eyes. It was like all his emotions subsided and left Sasuke feeling exhausted, tired, and very drunk. As if the emotions have been keeping the alcohol at bay, only for it all to hit him in that moment.

Kakashi got up from the chair and held a hand on Sasuke's shoulder.

"I think you would both benefit from talking it out... Perhaps even put it all behind you so you can finally move on from your fear of commitment."

Kakashi said.

"I! I don't- don't have commitments issuesssshh..."

Sasuke said as he stumbled through his words his mouth felt weak. Sasuke shook his head and turned around to face Kakashi once more.

"I don't have a fear of commitment!"

Sasuke said again, this time not struggling through his words. He tried to sound stern and serious. But he could see Kakashi holding back laughter. And Kakashi had to do everything in his power not to laugh at Sasuke. Sasuke had the cutest pouty face of any grown drunk man. His cheeks have become round and pink. His whole attitude could not be taken seriously.

"Yeah, I'm sorry buddy... But you should talk with her..."

Kakashi mustered to say without laughing or smiling too much. And Sasuke nodded back with his puppy eyes and pouty look.

To be continued...

Overview

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Previous

[murokinb2]

(not my fic, fic REC, author: Lance)

“I want a favor from you.”

“I owe you my life," she conceded softly, "but I will not betray my village for you.”

"I know."

“Then what is this favor?”

“One favor of my choice when I choose it. It may be in a few weeks or even a few months, maybe even next year. Because of this, I want you to sign a contract ensuring me this favor.”

“You do not trust my word?”

“I don't want others to be able to interfere. I will not ask you to betray your village in any way, but some might not approve of what I ask. You owe me this, Hinata. I have sacrificed precious time to help you.”

“I will sign,"

Excerpt From Ikigai by Lance 31 chapters/ 148,800 words (COMPLETED)

///

Synopsis,

What could the darkness ever give to the light but a place to shine? SasuHina, some NejiTen.

[versagios]

✦  .  eu não sei o que o seu nome significa ( pessoal )

[millywrites]

Just finished writing an angst piece, and let me tell you… I should never write angst again. I’m over here emotionally wrecked, crying over my characters like I didn’t just put them through all that pain. Why did I do this to myself?? 😭💔

Me: Let's make it a little sad, just for some feels.

Also me: completely ruins everyone's happiness and now has to deal with the emotional fallout

Note to self: Stick to fluff next time. It's safer. 😅

[human-psyche]

FORBIDDEN LOVE.

" he would burn the world but wouldn't let a spark touch her... "

characters: sasuke x hinata

genre: romance, angst, action

about: an unlikely bond forms between the kind hyuga hinata and the lone some uchiha sasuke at unexpected times, leading them to more than they could foresee: something that shouldn't happen but which does nonetheless, slowly.

PART I

THE FIRST TIME HINATA meets him outside the village after he left, it's at a motel when she's on a mission, alone.

The night finds her taking up temporary residence in a seedy little, traditional motel just off the coast of the Land of Tea. She doesn't care too much for the place, but it's late and she's exhausted, she has little money and so rents the cheapest room they have.

When she goes to check it, the owner's wife tells her that the only room left is a double room, which would mean that she'd have to share with someone else. Reluctantly, Hinata agrees and is given a key.

As she opens the door to the room, she's taken aback to see that it's already occupied…a lone figure looms there in the dark on his own. A boy, not much older than herself, sitting in a corner of the room cross-legged and with his sword at his side, silent and brooding, seeming lost in his own thoughts and unaware that she's present一 or so does Hinata think. She quietly assesses the situation and stays where she is, not wanting to draw attention to herself because it doesn't take her long to realize who he is: Uchiha Sasuke.

She has heard stories of him, how he's wanted by the Leaf's authorities and how he had become rogue in order to pursue his revenge.

She's certain he doesn't notice her yet and, hoping he would not recognize her in the lack of light inside the room and also given her almost non-existent interactions with him in the past when they were genin, the girl moves as silently as possible to the small bed in the opposite direction. She pleads to herself that he would not identify her or see her as a threat…then Hinata encourages herself to lay down and closes her eyes, trying to block out her fear.

The night goes by and still the boy doesn't move. Hinata begins to relax and eventually drifts off into a peaceful sleep that she can't fight against. She awakes early the next morning only to find the room empty. Where the boy had been sitting there's nothing but a discarded kunai, lodged in the wooden floor.

Hinata picks up the kunai and looks down: she's a tad bewildered to see that he carved something, a phrase. "What kind of person falls asleep in the same room with the enemy."

Suffice to say, she's both surprised and embarrased.

The dark haired female doesn't see him again soon but she would never forget that night at the motel and the unspoken, unexplained bond that developed between the two of them in utter silence…the plain, unadmitted comfort of staying in each other's company without a word or a sound. It had been a fragile, delicate thing一 one that had been shattered in the morning light.

. . .

The second time she meets him, she's assigned a mission to infiltrate a base of corrupt ninja in the Spring village, to steal a top secret document. She's incredibly successful so far, sneaking past guard after guard and making her way torwards her goal.

But as she nears the location of the document, Hinata gets caught off guard by a man who immediately recognizes her as a Leaf shinobi and thus she ends up forced into a fight she's not sure she could ever win…

Suddenly, the doors burst open and the boy she thought to be her enemy by association with Konoha walks in: again, Uchiha Sasuke. He quickly steps in front of her, simply clearing his way of useless burdens, though to her, it's like he's not willing to let the other guy hurt her. The guard gets taken by surprise and before she knows it or even has time to comprehend, he's fallen down to the ground, blood from Sasuke's sword splashing on the wall next to her.

Hinata stares at him in shock. She's convinced he would not spare her if she'd be an obstacle to whatever he's doing at the base coincidentally during her own mission, and yet here he is coming to her rescue. She's more conflicted when he grabs her by the arm and leads her out of the building just as it explodes on its own, never asking why she was there in the first place.

The two don't speak until they're far away from the foreign base and Sasuke finally stops to look at her. But before she can respond and say a "Thank you.", he cuts off any other communication by splitting the scroll with the document using his blade and disappearing with the other half.

That's how Hinata returns with only one half of the intended information and no solution to explain to herself why she continues to hesitate to raport him…

. . .

The third time Hinata meets him, their encounters become more and more complicated, as she witnesses him be wounded somewhere on her route back to Konoha from the Land of Water.

Sasuke feels the rain trickling down his face before he even opens his eyes, his body too weak from loss of blood. He doesn't know how he got there or how such a massive wound has appeared on him, he's too tired to recollect his last actions. But, he knows he has to get out of the storm.

At one distant point, he hears a delicate voice calling out to him. His eyes flutter open to find none other than the same Hyuga girl who's the only one naive enough to get close to somebody like him and not turn him in when this golden opportunity presents itself to her, standing before him with a look of concern and determination. Without asking any questions, she helps him up, and they begin searching for shelter.

Time passes and neither of them speak. They trudge through the forest and eventually find a cave hidden deep in the mountain range. The girl steps in first and makes sure it's safe before letting him in: he can barely hold his own weight and has to lean on her heavily as she guides him into the cave.

The Uchiha stumbles inside, dragging his broken body through the entrance to the cave untill he finally collapses down.

Hinata gasps and quickly runs to his side. Although she has limited medical knowledge and could never compare to Sakura, she's stubborn to help him. The shy girl quickly sets about gathering whatever she can find left useful amongst her essentials that she'd kept with her, hoping to treat his wounds.

"What are you doing." his voice's hoarse from pain, glaring at her as if she's joking with him. It's evident he does not like depending on others and is too prideful to show the extent of the damage.

She wrings her fingers, grasping at how to behave with him so as to not irritate him further. "I-I'm trying to help. You're injured."

"Why would you help me?"

"Why does that matter? N-No one should be suffering like this…I'm just trying to do what's right."

"…That's surprisingly noble of you, Hyuga." Sasuke nearly laughs, except his kind of insulting humour is bland, like he's merely making fun of her in that manner of his which lacks emotion.

Hinata works feverishly, tending to him the best she can. After a good interval of time, the task is complete and once that's over, she makes a fire.

Both of them sit together, eating and watching the storm outside…but Sasuke breaks out in fever due to the pain.

Hinata has some leftover herbs and a small jar of honey in her pack, which she uses with warm water to make a tea. After stirring, she adds a few drops of lavender oil and mixes again as she carries the brew back to the Uchiha. She urges the young man to drink it, promising the tea would make him feel better.

Although somewhat skeptical, he complies and she helps him sip the mixture until it's gone, however, an hour progresses on and no results…

In one of the more daring times of her life, Hinata embraces him in an effort to cool his fever.

As she holds his face in her hands while Sasuke deliriously calls out for his brother, something he would never do should he be awake and not semi-conscious, she brushes the sweat dampened hair from his forehead, finally allowing herself to acknowledge how handsome he is, for the first time; the Hyuga heiress touches his features with a kindness that only a timid but brave girl like herself could muster. His fever doesn’t relent, so she tries this method to alleviate his heat��nevermind that he would probably hurt her or push her away coldly if he were to be lucid given the fact they end up sharing the same blanket and he's so vulnerable in her hold.

. . .

a/n: share / reblog if you like! you can also follow me for more sasuhina content and art / fanart.

[sessakag]

So I’m trying to get into sasunaruhina and I was wondering if you had any fic or blog recs? I’m primarily a Hinata and naruhina fan and often with the ship the vibes I get are sasunaru with Hinata on the side 😕. Since you’re also mainly a naruhina fan I thought you might have some suggestions.

I wouldn't say I'm a NaruHina fan, more of a NaruHina obsessed addict that lives and breathes NaruHina, lmao.

There aren't many true NaruHinaSasu fics I can in good conscience rec to you, (as in the endgame will be a throuple and there is equal love among all) because as you said, most are not really NaruHinaSasu fics, they're SasuNaru with Hinata on the side as garnish, if that, or SasuHina with Naruto as an optional side dish and I can't get down with any of those. Unfortunately there aren't enough fics to choose from in the first place as the NaruHinaSasu pairing is severely under-loved 😩it's something me, demonofthefridge and @opal-chan are trying to rectify though🤭As far as where to get started on this throuple, anything @opal-chan has written is a safe, true NaruHinaSasu throuple fic for sure. Stories written by me alone are also safe and will be equal affection when the throuple is established, and any angst or plot has been resolved. I have 4 upcoming NaruHinaSasu fics that will be posted soon. One of which will be ready by Wednesday of next week, so look out for those.

Now for a few recs! From Opal: Choices Follow Me

From Me: A Cure For Love Secrets of the Hidden Leaf You'll see another fic attached to me called A New Dream where I'm listed as co-writer with @mrs-messy, that one I'd say hold off on for right now. This is a re-write of a story @mrs-messy has already written out that wasn't a throuple. This second version is planned to be an equal throuple, but Mrs.Messy is more of a SasuNaru or SasuHina fan, so that plan may change depending on where she wants to take the endgame. This story was originally hers and I want her to be able to retain her creative liberties to take it where she needs to, so I can't mark that one as safe, so just a hold off on it until that one is a bit further into the trenches.

From Demonofthefridge: In Another Life

Just read this one today and it's quick, cute and I absolutely adore it. It gave me a NaruHinaSasu high school AU idea so there may be 5 throuple stories coming up: Reality Check

These I haven't had a chance to read since I spend most of my time writing, but they look promising and seem to be permanent throuple endgame. Can't vouch for them being safe though. The Beauty of Blue Bones All In The Eyes Butterfly Effect

Hope this helps! I'm getting ready to update A Cure For Love though, so feel free to start on that one sooner because it has definitely caught my eye and I'm already starting to obsess over it again, lol.

[sasuhinamonth]

Beginnings and Ends - SasuHina Recs

It's the 21st! That means it's fic writer appreciation day!

In celebration, I'd like to share some SH recs, but in a fun way!!! I'll be posting the first and last line of the fic, along with name, author, and brief description as to why I'm rec-ing it!

Good work, writers!

p.s. - Most of the links will be to FFNet, but if you see purple text, that means it's posted on AO3 as well~ I'm just doing this to save a little time on my end, but I understand some prefer reading on AO3!

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A Miracle by Eleanor Rigby 000

"A field trip!?" The class repeated. After that, several voices chirped, each of them commenting on how psyched they are for the class field trip.

"Forever," she assured

This is a angsty, passionate story of hurt, comfort, love, and meeting an old love. The story is Modern AU where Sasuke's a model and comes back to visit his childhood town, where he meets Hinata. Honestly, this is the first and only fic that has made me actively cry, and I cannot praise it enough! Please check it out!!!

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Okaeri by The Penumbra

She felt his fist connect with her stomach and went crashing down to the ground, barely having time to register what was happening.

"Okaeri, Sasuke. Welcome home."

This is sort of a prequel to the author's other fic "Snapshots: Black and White", which is also a stellar fic. It's set in canonverse, where Sasuke and Hinata slowly develop a friendship/relationship. You'll get your fair amount of angst, but really, you can hardly avoid such things in SH fics xD.

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Ichinen by Cinderella Starsend

Hyuuga Hinata stifled a yawn as she stepped out of the door and shut it behind her.

"And I love you."

I LOVE this fic! It's split into 12 chapters, each corresponding with a month. Hinata works at Ichiraku's in an attempt to get closer to Naruto, but she bonds with Sasuke more. I really enjoy fics set in the narutoverse that change things like this, mixing around dynamics so it's not always ninja stuff and war and training. It's a cute story, and the author's prose is beautiful!

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Neji Hyuuga: Matchmaker by emilyjm

Hyuuga Neji prided himself on seeing things other people never noticed.

Mission: matchmaker must be completed within five years.. Good luck, Neji!

UGHHHHH! Where do I start????? It's set in narutoverse where Neji's not only alive, but in charge of matchmaking everyone in Konoha so that he can get Sasuke and Hinata together. It's incredible sweet and incredibly moving and incredibly moving, and I love SH fics with a heavy focus on Neji. Please read it, and please read Another Story (sequel) which is JUST as good!!!

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When Will I Lose You by @elreinodelpurgatorio

Hinata, Lady of the Underworld, stands in her peach orchard and watches the Doom God and the Messenger God speak to each other.

One of these days, Sasuke, seated on a throne next to Hinata, is the one to look at a wretched soul and say: "Request denied."

This is a really fun HadesxPersephone AU where Hinata is Hades and Sasuke is Persephone! It's a short, magical read that is always a breath of fresh air! The author is really good at coming up with pretty sentences. Highly rec!

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What's Mine To Give by WritingHyuHin

After the massacre of his clan, Sasuke had one goal in his life at that young age. Revenge.

The things I do for you... Only you.... Hinata.

This is a rewriting of The Last movie, but SasuHina style! I think it's very believable and a fun thing to read, since I've watched The Last quite a few times. Seeing things that should be Naruto but are instead replaced with Sasuke warm my little, shipper heart. Give this one a chance!

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Nyctophilia by Sommernacht

For as long as he could remember, the night had offered him comfort.

"Indeed," he whispered against her skin. His fingers found their way under her fishnet top, making her shiver under the touch. "The most beautiful night."

Sommer hits it out of the park once again! This was their 2022 SHMonth one-shot in which Sasuke and Hinata secretly meet each other when 'borrowing' meds at night. They grow close and confide in one another, and I think it's a loving, deep connection that is impressive to make in just one chapter!

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A Study of Mannerisms and Other Alterations by MissLe

Sasuke Uchiha, as it was well known, was in possession of some very, very gorgeous eyes.

She decided, however, that the regal Uchiha nose would always hold a special place in her heart.

Ahhhh, this is probably one of my all time favorite fics! It's fluffy, it's cute, it's funny! I absolutely adore it! This fic is set in a Modern AU, where Hinata is a waitress at a cafe and Sasuke, a member of the firefighter team that comes by almost daily, has a pretty obvious crush on her. These two dweebs are adorable, and I read this fic so much!!!

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Uprooted by @kiljoius

Today, Hinata is 20.

“Maybe I can live with that.” Maybe she can, too, she thinks.

Arranged Marriage? Check. Fluff and Humor in a SH FIC of all things???? Check. Witty dialogue and amazing chemistry? Check check check! Without giving too many spoilers, this Modern AU fic follows Hinata and Sasuke, who plan to act 'over the top' in their arranged relationship in order to get out of it. Lets just say it doesn't work as planned for them huhu. This is a really fun fic, so if you're in the mood, give it a read!

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This is what I've got for now, but please feel free to comment or reblog with your own favorite fics (either your own or others) with their first and last lines.

@kiljoius @elreinodelpurgatorio @daifukumochiin @catruru @fher43 @gardenatsuntime @lavendereyedassassin @cariata @naoko-ichigo @lavender-long-stories @p-crowds @queenfox352 - You guys, too! Show off fics you like (or your own)!

Good work to all authors/writers out there! We love you!!!

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[daifukumochiin]

Summary: Sasuke's orderly life at elite Sairiumu Academy is disrupted by the arrival of Hinata, a timid transfer student whose obvious crush on him, a young man dedicated to his craft and his current relationship, stirs unease. (Initial SasuSaku with SasuHina endgame, modern Norse myth AU, high school, angst, romance, photography, postmodern-ish fic). Rated T

LIGHTS,

BOWS, and

MISTLETOES

an entry for SasuHina Month 2024, Day 27 : Forget and Remember

(for @peachy-hina, since December)

ffnet: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14369143/1/Lights-Bows-and-Mistletoes

ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/57030778

Part 2: Bows

go to Chapter List>

xi

“... I hope you understand grandfather’s been worried. Pity the old man, will you?”

Hinata had picked up the phone with a wet hand. It rained on the way back from Sasuke and Sakura's apartment building. Her cardigan lay crumpled on the floor where she’d tossed it, wet and limp. A trail of water stretched from the front door across the pale cream tiles. The hem of her dress clung to her thighs, soaked through. Her hair was damp and stringy, causing rivulets of city rainwater to drip down her arms. Hanabi’s voice, small through the speaker, barely registered. 

Breathing stung. The cold bit at her bare feet as a puddle pooled beneath her. An ache persisted where her heart was supposed to be, inescapable, almost drowning her. It pulsed in her fingertips, on her toes, and the soles of her feet still sticky with street grime. Every part that has touched the world suffers from the knowledge of it. If slapping herself would’ve snapped her out of the spiral of this reality, that would've been convenient; whatever else quick and subdued would've been much preferable.

But what else is there? Apart from the pain that had dulled to a slow, numbing static.

Not a day went by that she wasn't worried sick. Since the incident, Sasuke hasn't been to school. That was already a given. Still, she hoped she'd meet him there, at the train station, or running with the early joggers and cyclists at dawn if not stirring awake among the drunkards who collapsed on the sidewalks. 

She didn’t live anywhere near his block but chose to walk by Sasuke's neighborhood. 

She knew his routines: she knew the cafés he preferred—the ones he and Sakura used to linger at on Sunday afternoons last spring—and the car he drove with her in the passenger seat. She knew his old apartment and the little bookstore, Bergamot, that stocked his favorite pens; how he tended not to eat much; how he never bought snacks for himself, only hovered beside Sakura at the convenience store nearby, hands tucked in his pockets. 

Sasuke was always looking for something. He would spare no effort to get the perfect shot. She’d watched him once, crouched under the pale light of a vending machine, adjusting his lens like it was something holy.

But as the days of his suspension dragged on, none of that knowledge seemed to matter. Like the sun during Yukigakure's darkest days at the winter solstice, Sasuke was nowhere. His was the kind of absence that made you look to the sky even though you knew better. It was like watching the flames lapping at his dead body on Hringhorni once again. 

As with winter solstices in Yukigakure, she can only wait: long, tortuous, dreadful...

To wait was to grasp blindly at the unreachable, to feel with the heart for some semblance of a pearl in the dark. And with a hand held out, searching like a creature in the deepest ocean, one dissolved into nothing, forgetting she had ever been breathing. To wait was to dwindle by degrees until she became little more than a shadow, no better than a roadside fixture.

Today—today, she finally saw him. What joy it is when winter passes! Her sun, her breath returning: his naked body framed in the window, camera in hand. The slant of his shoulder, the undulation of his ribs, all familiar in a way that made her chest tighten. He caught her. Their eyes met—briefly—before he eased back into the velvet curtains. 

Hinata didn't know what to make of the emotions she felt. Where relief broke through, as through a mossy glass ceiling, with it came a fever that bloomed and burned slowly beneath her skin. She had yearned to comfort him, to fall to her knees and press his precious hands, with knuckles bruised and torn for violence, on her cheeks. 

The Baldur she remembered would have grieved over anything that pushed him to such extremes. Even when force was necessary, where he needed to hurt anyone if only to show what was at stake, he would have carried out what had to be done but with a heart heavy and mourning. 

But that god had died.

And the god that remained—this cold, distant man in the high tower—was no longer hers. 

He doesn't reside in Breidablik, nor does it seem likely that he'd ever recall or miss it. He doesn't need her comfort. He has someone else now. Someone who can so easily touch him, run her hands across the skin that once ached only for his Nanna, and kiss the lips that once spoke only her name.

Maybe she wanted to cry. 

Must she keep up with this farce for so long? 

“Hello? Hinata, you still there?” Hanabi’s voice had taken on a slight edge. It crackled faintly through the speaker, too sharp for the fog Hinata was wrapped in.

Hinata sighed, quiet and steady. “I hope you don’t refer to him as such in public. Father won’t let you hear the end of it.” 

Sapped, she slowly plopped down on the chair by her bedside, flicked on the lamp, and pulled a cushion onto her lap, smoothing its surface again and again, a graceful ritual in repetition, like the oden hawkers downtown, wiping their carts clean to open business for another evening. If she could keep her hands busy, maybe her heart would fall in line and she’d be able to show up for others like those tireless hawkers without completely losing her mind.

Hanabi snorted. “Oh, please. You don’t have to tell me. I haven’t lost my mind…” 

A pause: Hinata could hear Hanabi’s moment of hesitation. The dead air trembled.  

“I-I didn’t mean–I wasn’t referring to you, just to clear that up. As I was saying, Grandpa’s worried about you, all he mumbles about is your incoming debut.”

“I know,” said Hinata. “Mother called to tell me about it.”

“Well, he told me to tell you to quit that school and come home. Says it’s no better than what you’re offered here. His words, not mine...”

Home?

Where is home, exactly?

To Hinata, that would always be Breidablik in Asgard. 

But Breidablik doesn’t exist. Not anymore. And what is Asgard in this world but a mere word? A sequence of letters. A page in a book. A story man wrote to feel less alone.

Now, home meant Yukigakure: one living grandparent, a mother, a father, and one cheeky sister. Even so, she didn't miss family. Not in the way most girls her age might. 

“So,” Hanabi continued, a little quieter now, “when are you coming back?”

Hinata stared at her toes curled against the hard floor. “I don’t know, Hanabi,” she whispered. “I don’t know.”

She dragged her fingers through her hair. “To be honest... I don’t know what else to do. He doesn’t remember. I’ve tried everything. Nothing’s worked.”

Quietly, inevitably, the tears started to murk the view. With Hinata hunched forward slightly, their stubborn grip on her lower eyelids proved short-lived and powerless as they began to drop on the floor one by one. Between a puddle of rain and tears, who could tell the difference? Hinata painfully smiled to herself. 

“Have you tried calling out his name? ‘Baldurrr! It’s me! Ack!’'” Hanabi’s exaggerated flailing was practically audible through the receiver.

Hinata snorted and wiped her cheeks. “That’s ‘Lord Baldur’ to you, young miss,” she playfully corrected, when in fact, she was choking on tears that couldn't find an outlet. “It’s not like I haven’t tried. The last time I did, I fainted and Queen Hel showed up to me in a dream. She said I wasn’t allowed to, and that if I insisted, she’d take it as failing the test.”

“Right…” Hanabi trailed. “And who is this Queen Hel guy?”

“Queen Hel, ruler of the underworld. If you read the book I gave you, you’d know.”

“More schoolwork,” complained Hanabi. 

Hinata chuckled in response, swallowing back a second wave of tears. 

“I gotta go. You’re making sure you’re drinking your medicine?”

Hinata’s eyes flicked to the lower drawer of her nightstand where boxes of unopened prescription medicine lay untouched since she arrived in Konohagakure.

“Yeah.” Her breath faltered at the lie.

“And on time?”

“Mhm.”

“Didn’t sound like it to me,” Hanabi murmured. “Good if you’re doing it as you said. Also, one more thing…”

“What?”

“How sure are you that he’s the guy you’re looking for? What if… he’s not your guy? Right? How could you be so sure after seeing his face in some magazine? Is he really worth all this trouble?”

“I’m certain it’s him, Hanabi.”

Silence again. This time from the other end.

Hanabi sighed. “If you sound that serious, who am I to say anything? Just… if they start bullying you ‘cause you weird them out, pack your bags and go home. I won’t let anyone mess with my big sister. Or better: tell them who’s daughter you are. That oughta shut them up.”

The next school day came. Sasuke’s suspension was supposedly over, but he didn’t show. The first period passed in a blur, but somewhere during Classic Literature class, the teacher touched on the tale of Orihime and Hikoboshi, star-crossed lovers who meet only once a year, crossing the heavens on a bow bridge of magpie wings.

With hands cupping her face, absorbed in the pictures projected during the lecture, Hinata couldn’t help but envy the fictional pair. However far apart Orihime and Hikoboshi were, their hearts remained bound; they waited faithfully, each on their side of the Milky Way. But her heart waited alone. And even if the magpies, or the gentle mourning doves she fed every day, lent her their wings so she could cross over, there would be no one waiting for her on the other side.

When the lunch bell rang, Hinata bought her usual vegetarian deluxe bento and a bottle of barley tea from the cafeteria. Tucking a small bag of birdseed into her blazer pocket, she made her way toward Omni Glow Hall.

She paused along at the sight of full golden ginkgo trees lined up in a hefty row, sunlight filtered through bright yellow leaves, casting dappled warmth that stirred something gentle in her chest; there were no such trees in Yukigakure. If she were to half-close her eyes, leaving a bare millimeter opening—just enough to blur the rest of the world—they reminded her of the golden trees in Breidablik: like polished gems, their glimmering spade-shaped leaves reflected and radiated brightness, never once shedding to make room for winter. 

This unexpected discovery gladdened her heart, and yet, already, yellow leaves carpeted the path in quiet decay; she would be sad to see this spectacle go.

When she arrived at the rooftop, she froze.

He was there.

“We have”—Sasuke glanced at his phone—“about twenty minutes left before the next period.” His eyes dropped briefly to the bento in her hand, then to the unopened bottle of tea. “You haven’t had lunch yet?”

Her mouth was dry, her throat paralyzed to let out so much as a croak. 

He’d come once before, early and unannounced, to snap a photo. She hadn’t dared hope he would return.

“I’ll be quick then.” 

He stepped toward her. 

The sky was overcast, but as he moved, a shaft of sunlight broke through, spilling over as the clouds scattered to give way. As though he commanded light itself still, the sky turned searing and bright. Before Hinata could look away to shield her eyes, Sasuke stood before her, casting a shadow wide enough to eclipse her completely.

She couldn’t help but take a step back. Every inch of space Sasuke shortened between them made her lose composure. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst, climbing up her throat. The thunderous echoes deafened her eardrums. The air around them seemed thinner, heavy with something more than the humidity of an incoming rain. 

“Join me at the Photography Club,” he said. 

It wasn't a request.

“B-but Neji?” she stammered, blushing under the gravity of his gaze.

“Keep it a secret from him. He doesn’t need to know. Just work with me until we finish the Inuwashi. What you’ll be is a secret member: I’ll pay you for your time—generously.”

Then his voice dropped lower. Softer. Dangerous.

“And if that’s not enough…”

He stepped closer. Hinata instinctively backed up only to meet the door behind her. 

He leaned down to her ear. She gasped. 

With a voice barely whispered, he said: “I’ll be your Baldur, too... So long as my girlfriend doesn’t know.”

go to Chapter List>

Norse Myth terms:

Baldur - (Balder, Bladr in some spellings) in Norse mythology, the son of the chief god Odin and his wife Frigg. Beautiful and just, he was the favourite of the gods. Most legends about him concern his death. Icelandic stories tell how the gods amused themselves by throwing objects at him, knowing that he was immune from harm. The blind god Höd, deceived by the evil Loki, killed Balder by hurling mistletoe, the only thing that could hurt him. After Balder's funeral, the giantess Thökk, probably Loki in disguise, refused to weep the tears that would release Balder from death.

Nanna - Baldur's wife.

Breidablik - the home of Balder. The word Breiðablik has been variously translated as 'broad sheen', 'Broad gleam', 'Broad-gleaming' or 'the far-shining one', It's described as the fairest of all dwellings and a place free of anything "unclean," such as strife or bloodshed, reflecting Baldr's own nature as a god of light and goodness

Hringhorni - Baldur's ship. The Norse myths describe this ship as the greatest and most beautiful of all ships; it also serves as Baldur's funeral pyre.

Hel - is the Norse goddess of death and the underworld. She has domain over the realm of the dead in Norse mythology, with which she shares a name: Hel.

[lavender-long-stories]

🌸 Beginnings & Ends 🌸

Spoilers for Better Late | Rated T

SasuHina Month Multi-Chapter Original

They were so in love once. How did it turn out like this? Looking across a crowded ballroom with the wounds on their hearts still feeling as fresh as the day they were made.

Tags: Romance | Fluff and Angst | Modern AU | Happy Ending

“Wait.” A female voice called after him. He ignored it until it was followed by the sound of rapidly approaching shoes. He braced for pain, but it didn’t come. What did was two hands held up to tell him to stop. Hinata held her hand palms out from a good distance in front of him until she was sure he was stopped, then disappeared down.

“What are you…?” Sasuke’s voice trailed as she started tying his shoes. He couldn’t with one hand, and he wasn’t going to ask anyone. He had just tucked the strings into his shoes, but they must have come out for her to notice.

“There.” Hinata finished, pulling herself back up. “Sorry.” She dipped her head before she went back to her friend, who handed her her bag.

She was wasting her time going out of her way. They were going to be untied tomorrow, too.

Full Story on AO3

🌸 SasuHina Month 2024 - Day 1 🌸

@sasuhinamonth

Image by kellysikkema

[purpleskiesupwardsxx]

When writing your fics do you ever entertain the idea of Sasuhina not being endgame ? Like giving them a sad ending. Sasuhina Angst hurts in such a sad way I think especially in fics when they don’t end up or he’s feelings are unrequited !! What do you think ? Also are there any ideas you want to explore in the future ? Or different pairings ?

Also thank you for your endless hard work regarding your fics they’re amazing 🤩

I'm kinda known for my YEARNING for sad ends.

My stories are divided into arcs. If I end at Arc C, it can be a sad end. If I end at Arc J, it can be an open end. If I end at Arc F, it can be happy.

So I always have various POINTS in fic where I can simply end the story.

But one of my one-shot Make the angels cry is a sad end of SH.

Unrequited Sasuhina or Hanahaki Disease SasuHina is a trope I want to explore but somehow I have not till now. Perhaps, I'm too attached to them as characters.

I give them torture, miseries, pain, angst and everything sad but i feel like at the end, if I givw them any happiness, it's all worth it.

Make the angels cry -- was a hard write for this particular reason, because they didn't find their happiness at the end.

One of my fic TWISTED PATHS have it's prologue up on ao3, so that's an ANBU sasuhina which I'll explore. I wanna try arrange marriage trope for sasuhina (cliche i know but i love it). Or love triangle ( Not with naruto but with Itachi). I have one friends with benefits Idea with SasuHina so there is that.

Another pairings: I love Itasaku, SasuNaru, Kakahina/ Gaahina, and the concept of kakasaku. Shikahina or NejiIno. So maybe, will write for them too.

THANKS FOR READING MY WORK!!

[donaculkin]

oiiie bestie, vim sugerir uma capa entre o casal sasuhina, com o tema do livro Sombra e Ossos, nn sei se vc conhece, como se o Sasuke fosse o Darkling e a Hinata a Alina 🫣

Musicas que encaixam nessa vibe tbm é: Me and The Devil ou Bones da banda equinox

Estilo pode ser angst, dark, o que der na telha!!

Tentei ser criativa nas sugestões 😭 inclusive amei a ideia, estarei aderindo

Bones and Ashes (capa teste, capa adotada)

data de postagem: 12/02/24

O que dizer dessa ask? Eu asmei! Perdão pela demora em fazer a capinha e expo-la aqui, só tive um trabalhão procurando artes (perdi o jeito depois de ficar tanto tempo sem editar 2D) kkkkk, sorte que consegui me virar (mais ou menos) com essas. Acabei conhecendo o livro graças a você! E desculpe se não deixei tão na cara o tema do livro 😭, tentei ao máximo trazer algumas coisas que remetesse ao tema, por isso pesquisei imagens da série e tudo mais. Espero que goste bem, e obrigada novamente pela ask! 🥺🩷

[versagios]

✦  .  devoção ( pessoal )

[millywrites]

Here’s a brief introduction to my fanfics!

Dinners (Sasuhina | Complete) is my first baby, the kind of story you'd want to read with a cup of hot chocolate on a cold, rainy day. It's all about fluff, with an easygoing plot that stays focused on the main couple—such a light read to brighten your mood 🥰❤️.

Survivors (Sasuhina | Complete) is my second Sasuhina fanfic, and in this one, I’ve brought Itachi back into the mix. It’s a very slow-burn story that tries not to ignore the impact of the people around the main characters (I’m doing my best, I promise! 😆).

It’s more mature than Dinners, carrying heavier emotions and a bit (a lot) of angst.

Phoenix Hearts (Shikahina | Complete) is my first Shikahina fic, where I'm trying to explore themes of miscommunication and the lack of open discussions between spouses, and so far, this one is the closest to my heart.

Unscripted emotions (Sasuhina | On going) is my first Modern Au, between Cameras and tabloids, Sasuke, a raising actor, and Hinata, his new PR specialist, find a way to each other. here I'm trying to tell a story of the struggles of dating a public figure and the challenges that come with it.

Between Our Lines (Kakahina | On going) This, is my take on age gap relationships, and what past might hide to each of them, there's a lot of angst and baggage here, but it will have, of course, a happy ending.

With some One-shots here and there, all on my AO3

I’d love for you to give them a chance! 😊♥️

Ps. I update daily 👀

[interplanet--janet]

20 questions for fanfiction writers

I saw @fangbangerghoul do this ask game and i thought it looked fun!!!

1) How many works do you have on AO3?

I have 21 works!

2) What's your total AO3 word count?

111,335

3) What are your top five fics by kudos?

I knew that A Dog at the Shrine of Lies was going to be first, followed by 2) In the Rich Man's World, 3) Take off my Skin, Cover Me in Yours, 4) Cultural Appreciation, and 5) if only i could, i'd make a deal with god.

4) What fandoms do you write for?

My two biggest fandoms have been Naruto and BG3 - but less so BG3 since Veilguard came out, lol. But I've also written for JJK and The Magnus Archives.

5) Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes!! Or I try to, even if it's just a heart emoji.

6) What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

i dont really write much angst anymore (must change that) but im taking this opportunity to share fem durgetash porn. gorty might be happy at the end but he has a big storm comin

7) What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

as someone who has mostly WIPs this is rough.... i guess won't you settle down baby, here your love has been is happy :)

8) Do you get hate on fics?

Not really, except there is one very driven individual who leaves rude comments on every sasuhina fic which is kind of funny. i felt honored lol/

9) Do you write smut?

...........yea. my greatest achievement is my durge/gortash anthology that remains unfinished

10) Do you write crossovers?

No, they're not my thing

11) Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge?

12) Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope!!

13) Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

I used to back in the day (for fandoms that shall not be named. jk it was hetalia) where we'd turn our RP exchanges into fics

14) What’s your all-time favorite ship?

this is such a hard one. im watching Supernatural again so a current fav is destiel. but Iron Bull/Inquisitor has my heart 5ever

15) What’s the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I have two long-form dragon age fics that i really love - Tucked in Moonlight is f/f solavellan (with concept art solas my beloved) that im still obessed with, and the other is Warden-as-Inquisitor AU: Luck is A Funny Thing honorable mention to Forever By My Side, another role swap fic that i will probably never finish

16) What are your writing strengths?

big fan of my descriptions/purple prose, especially in my more recent works

17) What are your writing weaknesses?

I get hung up on grammar and point of view, verb tenses, etc. language is hard,

18) Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in a fic?

I use it sparingly and it's often fictional languages like Elvish. It's fun but i love it when people include translations!

19) First fandom you wrote for?

It was probably Naruto. Closely followed by Hetalia. Oh to be 13 again.

20) Favorite fic you’ve ever written?

Cultural Appreciation holds a special place in my heart. It was just such a fun concept and took me outside my comfort zone of characters that I don't usually write for.

uhhh i should tag ppl but honestly, if you write fic, i wanna hear about it!!!!

[fallen-in-dreams]

Wide Awake At 3 A.M.

.

Also on AO3. Pairing: Sasuke/Hinata. Summary: Sasuke didn't believe in fate but serendipity seemed to be working overtime when she walked back into his life. Written for SasuHinaMonth 2023 on tumblr. Prompt: Day 27 | "I’ve loved you for a thousand years, I’ll love you for a thousand more.” Rated: T. Words: 9,245. Status: Complete. Author note: I love SasuHina. I don't love writing Sasuke's POV. I think I write SasuHina better from Hinata's perspective. But this had to be Sasuke's perspective so please bare with me. I did my best to make him IC/relatable, even though it's AU. Let me know if I succeeded. :) Also: The italic sections are flashbacks. But don't worry, they're not long sections. For the record: Yotsuya Uemura is a real restaurant but I've only seen it on Google so I don't know if it 100% matches how I describe it here so just pretend it does, okay? Enjoy. ^_^ Tags on AO3: Alternate Universe - Coffee Shops & Cafés, Coffee Shop AU, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Light Romance, Romance, POV Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Sasuke-centric, Pining, Pining Uchiha Sasuke, Unrequited Love, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Sasuke has it bad, Past Hyuuga Hinata/Uzumaki Naruto, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending

It's late but before the cut-off time,  for SasuHinaMonth 2023. Thank-you to @sasuhinamonth for the amazing fest and the chance to write for it. :) .

It was a dreary November morning when Sasuke Uchiha had realised that he was in love with Hinata Hyuuga.

The red-crowned cranes were enjoying the winter in the nearby marshes, visible to the hundreds of students at Konoha High School, the beautiful display of their black and white plumage blending in with the falling snow. The setting was perfect. It was beautiful. Sasuke liked winter best, despite being born in summer. And maybe in spite of it.  It was a dreary reminder of the angsty, emo boy within. It was also the only thing worth paying attention to at the school.

Until he started paying attention to her.

She was his best friend’s girlfriend. Hinata had stalked Naruto for years, hiding behind poles and doors and teacher’s desks to avoid being seen; and everyone except for the dobe saw knew she was doing it. All throughout elementary school she was a ghost to the blond idiot; the shadow he saw in the corner of his eye that disappeared the moment he turned around. The sound of a thump, indicating she’d fainted was the only evidence she’d been there because he was too stupid to investigate further.

The three years of middle school went very much the same except Hinata didn’t hide so well anymore. Naruto finally noticed her. She would “eep” and faint again and he just chalked it up to her being the weird kid he’d never understand. He thought she was new to their school so he cut her a break. Having been Naruto’s friend since neither of them could walk, Sasuke could only roll his eyes at his obliviousness.

Then came high school and everything changed. Something had happened during the holidays because, come April, she had grown a spine. She still looked light-headed in Naruto’s presence but didn’t faint. She started talking; responding with small, stuttering sentences when he turned his bright, obnoxious personality on her. She was a person to him now. More than just weird.

Sasuke however, was content to just keep seeing her as the annoying girl who liked the even more annoying boy. Until the annoying people started dating and Naruto began including Hinata in their everyday activities, whether it had anything to do with her or not. He hated it at first but like an extra slice of tomato on his fried egg breakfast, she grew on him. She was a person and had likes and dislikes and hobbies and things that made her laugh or cry. He began to enjoy her voice and found himself looking forward to school. And like the red-crowned cranes that grazed in the freshwater marshes next door to their high school, Hinata became a thing of beauty in Sasuke’s eyes. By virtue of existing in an area that he couldn’t ignore.

And he both loved and hated her for it. Strong feelings were never a good thing, in any direction. Itachi had long since told him that their family had a history of letting emotions rule their lives. It was best to keep them away from the world - Sasuke's words, not his brother's. But there was only so much he could contain and control when it came to her.

And he was the selfish bastard who let it ruin everything.

.:.

Sasuke Uchiha was having multiple problems.

First problem: the hole-in-the-wall cafe he normally frequented at this time of night had closed down without warning for the foreseeable future. It had been the perfect place to hole up in for a few hours while he worked on his laptop, earphones in and fingers dancing over the keyboard. Quiet, no-one staring at him, and with waiters who respected his personal space. Company policy allowed him to stay and work as long as he made it worth their time. Now, he wasn't so sure about this new place.

Second problem: it had taken him the better part of two hours to find this newer restaurant his good-for-nothing friends had recommended to him over WhatsApp after he'd ranted calmly about the predicament, in true Uchiha style. He officially hated that app. His night was wasted walking up alleyways and hopping on buses, with the presumption of a second coming of the holy hole-in-the-wall cafe. Wasted.

Third problem: this new cafe was less hole-in-the-wall and cosy, and more ostentatious with fake wholesomeness. The promise had been for a quiet, out-of-the-way, old-fashioned service. The reality was anything but, at first glance. It was definitely off the beaten path, but he wouldn’t describe it as peaceful or discreet in any way. It made his eye twitch.

Fourth problem: he had nowhere else to go at such short notice and lots of work to catch up on.

The neon signs above the restaurant leered down at him and he did not want to go in there. He wanted to go home, put his feet up, drink his instant coffee and procrastinate as a form of protest. But the sensible side of him had Sasuke moving forward slowly, reminding himself that he couldn't keep putting this particular project. It needed to get done. So what if this restaurant wasn’t the cute little traditional Japanese hole-in-the-wall (or even a sushi or ramen stall) in the middle of bustling Tokyo that he had been promised? He told himself it didn't matter that it was high-end and in the middle of bustling Tokyo. He tried in vain to ignore that it was mocking him; lights blinked at him and he scowled at the ugly sight and he couldn't look more out of place in his casual, everyday clothes. He was surprised a butler-like person hadn't run out to shoo him away.

But this place was the last food establishment along the palisades of this busy Tokyo area that was still seating patrons (the rest were packed to the rafters), and if he went home now it would take over an hour. By the time he got home, Sasuke would be too exhausted to work. It would be annoying. Even more than actually stepping into this poor excuse for a hideaway. Sasuke debated the pros and cons over and over again for a moment before allowing himself to be carried by the line of people waiting to be seated. Decision reluctantly made, Sasuke hugged his four thousand yen Vaio laptop to his chest, waiting his turn to be seated. It looked like the kind of place that required an appointment and a line of lawyers to get in, but a sign to the left distinctly said otherwise. He guessed they would reach their occupancy limit soon and he’d be turned away.

Please turn me away.

It would remove any responsibility on himself to make the decision on whether or not to keep walking forward. He checked his wristwatch as the line moved forward again. It was just after midnight. He sighed, swallowing his anxiety as the hostess bowed to the middle-aged couple in front of him and then extended her arm to them to take their seats. 

Last chance to make a break for it.

He really was being a drama queen, but Sasuke couldn't help it. He forced himself to calm down and accidentally caught the stare of the hostess. Her soft but excited voice called over to him a moment later and he stepped forward once more.

"Irasshaimase!"

The restaurant hostess bowed respectfully before looking at him properly. Her double-take, which she covered up with a light cough and a fake smile, made Sasuke’s eye twitch. Again.

Don’t tell me…

“Mr Uchiha?”

Don’t they teach manners in this place?

The woman's face looked flushed with excitement. She’d recognised him. Even without an entourage or sign above his head, Sasuke Uchiha was easily identifiable as such. It was why he preferred quieter places and dark corners. There it was; it was either a stomach ache or an ulcer. It churned inside of him and he winced. The Mr Uchiha title always made him think of his father. He loathed being recognised for his family. He was no longer the idiotic teenager who got off on it. Nursing heartbreak and lashing out had turned him into an arsehole who flaunted his superiority. But not anymore. The way the hostess was raking his body with her eyes was both unprofessional and unwelcome.

Someone behind Sasuke cleared their throat. He was holding up the line. Or rather, she was. Sasuke still had two choices: neither or which would have a happy ending.

What would Itachi do?

He’d be polite and suffer for a few hours to make others feel better.

Idiot.

Sasuke sighed deeply, nodded to the hostess, and grimaced at her juvenile reaction. “Table for one, please. Work table, out of the way.”

Hopefully, she got the hint he’d pay extra for it if necessary. Seemingly gathering herself and remembering she was on the clock, the hostess nodded and bowed again, extending her arm the way she’d done for the couple before him. She took the lead this time, however, making him cringe outwardly again. The table she chose was everything he’d wanted it to be and he offered her a small smile in gratitude. Thankfully, she didn’t make a big deal of it this time, giving him a much shorter once-over before politely leaving him alone.

His table was almost like a cubicle which suited him just fine. From ramen restaurants to Yakitori and Kare Raisu, he’d tried all the ones that Tokyo had to offer. All the good ones anyway. No matter the setup, privacy was always his top priority. He settled down, placing his laptop on the table and his bag on the chair next to him, leaving space for food and a drink. Already his mind was going over the project he had to finish tonight; Sasuke had a few hours before the final bus of the night would be running through these parts. But if he had any trouble, an Uber wouldn't be a problem. Not preferable, but not really a problem.

But first things first.

There were waitresses taking orders as well as a front counter but Sasuke didn't want to deal with either one of them and instead chose to use the QR code on the table to order on his phone. The first time he’d heard of this method of ordering it had kind of freaked him out initially, but since it would help him avoid having to interact with a potential fangirl masquerading as a professional waitress (for longer than necessary, anyway) or stand behind people or in front of someone with no respect for his personal space he would do it. It cut out the middleman, so to speak, and allowed him to get down to the important business of the night.

As he waited, Sasuke woke up his laptop and opened Atom. After about five minutes, and as expected, his drink came first. Sasuke always wondered about this; was the drink delivered first to keep the customer from leaving during the extended wait time for the food or so that when he did finally eat, he would feel compelled to order another drink to wash it down with? Or some combination of both?

The sounds of the restaurant blurred into the background and became white noise as Sasuke worked, glasses on and eyes glued to the CSS Script. He only knew it only took forty-five minutes for his meal to be delivered because he checked the time before and after. When the Okonomiyaki was finally placed in front of him and the aroma invaded his senses his stomach growled. Sasuke nodded to the waitress as she bowed to him, a slight tinge of pink on her cheeks before leaving with a Cheshire grin on her face. He just rolled his eyes. Sasuke had just finished cutting up his Okonomiyaki, preparing to eat it with chopsticks in one hand so he could continue working when something familiar caught his eye.

He didn't believe in fate but serendipity seemed to be working overtime tonight.

His heart was racing, belied by the calm on his face as he almost choked on his saliva. Sasuke coughed a few times before reaching to down the last of his ice water. He cleared his throat and looked back over at Hinata Hyuuga. Even after the passage of all these years, he would recognize that long dark hair of hers anywhere (even tied back in the mandatory style for workers of this restaurant). This entire time, in the corner of his eye, and in another seated area, had been an achingly familiar form; those slim but not stick-skinny hips with legs that rested with knees turned slightly inward, and breasts that screamed for attention without being obnoxiously in his face. Yes, he remembered the curves and the tones of the body that came with being from a martial arts enthusiastic family.

The one he'd fantasised about like a love-sick puppy when his hormones still ruled his life.

He inhaled deeply, absentmindedly stabbing his Okonomiyaki with the end of a chopstick, then let his breath out in a shuddering sigh. The sweet, innocent face that had haunted his dreams until he'd succeeded in forcing his school memories into a mental box labelled "do not open, even in the event of an apocalypse" was turned to a customer but he could still clearly spot the trademark lavender-white Hyuuga eyes. They lit up with her smile.

Sasuke didn't care that it was unbecoming of him and continued to stare as he inattentively picked at the Okonomiyaki before grabbing a bite-sized portion of the now-diced savoury dish and shoving it in his mouth. The cursor at the end of the last line of code he typed blinked at him. He ignored it. And he paid no attention to the fact that his glasses had slid down his nose an inch; they were for reading on a computer screen and had made the near-distant objects fuzzy, which he blamed for not having noticed her sooner.

Her presence begged more questions than he was willing to ask himself. But at the very least, what the fuck was the oldest daughter of Hiashi Hyuuga doing working in the service industry? It was beneath the uptight clan. He knew Hinata was not stuck up like her father but surely there were more Hyuuga-like jobs she could do? He remembered a girl who was determined to follow her own path but constantly worried about disappointing her father. Sasuke had presumed she'd find something that filled both desires. Not that there was anything wrong with the retail and hospitality industries. He'd had his own stint in them, so he knew they weren't the jobs of losers like his own father had kept saying years ago.

I'm just very confused how she got here.

This was not a future she'd contemplated and he'd know: she'd once spent an afternoon indulging Naruto in the topic when the blond idiot was whining about having failed the standardised test to get into the university of his choice. She's humoured him with all the alternative career paths, and this wasn't one they'd decided on. But that was life, he guessed, even though it made him painfully curious as to why she wasn't working as one of the many father-approved ideas she'd mentioned as she'd apparently planned.

Sasuke’s stomach churned and did somersaults as he watched her, unable to look away.

What is she doing here?

Sasuke cleared his throat and shook his head, forcing himself to look away; though she was still there in his peripherals and his traitorous eyes desperately soaked her in, from afar. He tried to focus on his work, finishing off the black coffee he'd ordered, to wash down the Okonomiyaki he'd consumed without realising during his staring spell.

I'm as bad as those fangirls.

He tried, he really did. But nothing was working. Sasuke couldn't stop wondering about her. He hadn’t thought of Hinata in a long while. Years. No, not in a long time. He’d successfully purged her from his thoughts. From his wants. From his needs. Buried her down in his mind, underneath the childhood trauma and repressed heartbreak. It had been almost like a breakup; Sasuke had gone through a period of emotional upheaval and consumed hobbies and alcohol in order to forget her. He’d moped and sulked and all those cliche things, in his own way.  She was behind him, and not in the way he wanted her to be.

Sasuke had been on the road to recovery and was able to put that part of his life into a locked box in his head.

Until now.

Maybe she didn’t remember him. Maybe he could finish his work and she’d never even seen him. One could only hope it would be that easy. But no. He couldn’t risk it. He had to leave. Sasuke almost packed up his stuff and left right then and there. He had no desire to play catch-up after all this time. To hear about how good things had been since she'd lived her life with the dobe. Jealousy burned in his gut and he grabbed the carry bag for his laptop by the straps, clenching his fist over it tightly. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to force the old but familiar feelings away. He'd done such a good job at ignoring them for so long. How could he possibly have predicted this strong of a reaction after all these years? Weren't high school love interests meant to dwindle over the years? Why the fuck did he still feel this way?

His self-flagellation was interrupted by an angelic sound. Her laughter. The melodic sound drifted over to his table and he paused. His heart was racing once more and his hands were clammy. Even now, five years later, he was still such a sucker for her. Where was the dobe? Had they married? Did he even want to know? There was a reason he didn't know. He remembered Hinata as a stuttering but determined, beautiful mess. But now, looking at her confidently interacting with strangers like she was born to it, he felt a warmth spread through his body. It wasn’t the coffee working its way through his system. This was different.

And it doesn't even matter. She wouldn't care.

Resigning himself to the inevitable, Sasuke packed up his laptop and left the restaurant without looking back. Except for that moment when he could've sworn she was looking around as if just realising she'd forgotten something. She didn't see him pause and gaze at her one last time. But those distinctive eyes seemingly searched for him anyway. In his dreams.

He hadn’t seen her since high school. He was never supposed to see her ever again.

.:.

Nobody ever accused Sasuke Uchiha of being magnanimous, sweet, or kind-hearted in any way. They didn’t confuse him for his brother no matter how much they might look alike. While Itachi was off helping the local homeless center and being the perfect Uchiha heir, Sasuke was smoking pot - or whatever had been shoved under his nose this week - and availing himself of his fangirls. Everyone came to assume he was the troubled child who acted out because he didn't get the attention from his parents that he wanted. Nobody ever accused him of being fair and altruistic to others.

Except her.

She got in his head. Hinata Hyuuga thought that because he was Naruto’s best friend that he should be hers as well. She was adamant but gentle in her attempts to woo him into her good graces. As though friendship was the most wonderful thing in the world. He wasn't an arsehole, not really. Sasuke had a heart. He just kept it hidden away. As far as he was concerned, getting emotional was embarrassing. It was for children . So pushing her away wasn't just about avoiding spending time with the girlfriend of his best friend, who he happened to be in love with, but also to keep himself from doing anything stupid.

He thought he could do it. It only took him a year to fall in love. They had two more years of high school left together. He had to do it. His father would never understand why he had to switch schools so suddenly. He wouldn't care. It would be unthinkable. Rumours, lies, or truth, would follow him and make Fugaku look bad. He was not an understanding nor forgiving man. Sasuke had to pretend: for his own sanity. Hinata was his new best friend.

So he let her greet him at the bus stop after school. He let her hug him "hello" her breasts pressing up against him every time. And on the rainy days when he was feeling particularly friend-like about the whole thing he let her borrow his second, backup umbrella. He'd started bringing a spare one because she seemed to have no idea how to check for the weather. She'd thanked him and then started humming.

"What are you doing out here, in the rain?" He'd ask her every time.

“Waiting on Naruto-kun,” she would say, and he'd go quiet to avoid hearing her gushing about the dobe in question.

That was their routine in the rainy season, which he'd grown to love almost as much as her. Except for the one time he forgot, it seemed the gods had answered his unasked question on how to change up this habit and Sasuke genuinely forgot both umbrellas. And she remembered. She'd remembered. And it kind of killed him inside. She offered to him and he was tempted to ignore her. To start off this change with abruptness and see if he could break her into going along with it. But he couldn't.

He sighed and took the umbrella gently from her hand, making sure to avoid brushing against her hand. When she shifted her hold on it, their skin grazed and she blushed at him. He dared not look her in the eye after that. Those soft, curious eyes were boring into him and he knew what she was thinking. The poor rich boy that she wanted to be okay with her relationship with his friend; why was he so rude? What did she have to do to help him be okay with her?

He didn’t know why it mattered to her.

Sasuke didn’t bother saying, “thank-you” as he stepped out into the rain and walked away with her umbrella without looking back.

He couldn’t do this anymore. He had to run away. And she let him go.

.:.

That weak, love-sick part of him was back with a vengeance.

Sasuke was determined to return his life to the humdrum existence it had been before she’d walked back into it, unknowingly throwing him into emotional chaos. He couldn't go back to his usual hole-in-the-wall but there were others out there. Others he'd walked past that night due to laws involving occupancy limitations; and a festival at the time, he'd realised in hindsight, which explained a lot. There were a number of small hidey-holes he could disappear into. They matched his aesthetics better and really, it was for the best. He'd avoided her for five years, never googling either of them, and never interacting with anyone who used to know anyone he'd gone to school with. He could move on to another cafe restaurant. He tried them all.

But none of them felt right anymore.

So, Sasuke gave up, just staying at home to work and doing his best to recreate the coffee shop ambiance in his kitchen. He threw open windows and let the noise of his neighbourhood blast into his home to simulate the busy Tokyo Yotsuya Arakicho district. His favourite pastime was walking. He normally walked for miles every day. He decided to double that and start earlier. It woke him up better than coffee some days. It envigorated him in a way that sex hadn't for a while. And it gave him time to think about his day while also distracting him enough to not let his mind wander too far.

But it wasn’t the same. There was something missing. He knew what it was and now that he'd gotten a sneak peek the idea wouldn't leave him alone. It left a gaping hole in his psyche. Therefore, his resolve to avoid Yotsuya Uemura Restaurant and the serendipitous siren only lasted a week. He couldn’t help himself. Like an idiot teenager in love and doped up on hormones, he lay in bed at night remembering her smile, her laugh, and replaying every moment of his up-to-date memory of her in vivid detail. Sasuke could distract himself for a while. With both his imagination and the cold comfort of his hand. But ultimately, his own fixation was his undoing.

He couldn't go on like this without closer. There was no avoiding her now. He was going back.

.:.

She was looking at him.

I should’ve known that would eventually happen.

So why wasn't he more prepared for it? His heart skipped a beat and if he didn't have such good equilibrium he might've stumbled. The hostess was leading him to his table - which turned out to be the same one as before - and he'd searched the busy restaurant with his eyes, hoping to spot her sooner this time. He hadn't expected for their eyes to lock on one another, and especially not this early into his night. He also hadn't expected the initial shock on her face to drop into a soft smile.

He forced himself to look away as the hostess drew his attention to his table, but the weight of Hinata's stare remained. He unpacked his laptop as he'd done last time, trying very hard not to look over and give the impression he was desperately seeking her attention. He forgot to pull out his phone to make his order via the QR code and instead just slowly got comfortable; or as comfortable as he could, knowing she was still watching him. But eventually, he couldn't help himself and Sasuke looked up. She turned away immediately, clearly embarrassed at having been caught looking at him. He allowed himself a small smile at that.

And the weight of her stare left him.

He swallowed heavily as he mentally berated himself. He glanced over at her again just as she looked back for a few moments seeming to remember she had a job to do.

As do I.

One of the waitresses for his section walked by and without thinking, Sasuke raised a hand to grab her attention. “Sumimasen.”

The woman bowed to him. Hyperaware of the Hyuuga still visible from across the confines of the restaurant, he raised an eyebrow at the silent waitress who was staring at him, thoroughly nonplussed. She bowed again, said, “shou shou omachi kudasai,” and then rushed off, leaving him feeling childish.

She hadn't taken his order.

It only occurred to him once he was alone again what he'd just done. He spared an unimpressed glare at the back of Hinata's head as she happily took the order of a small family. She was throwing him off. Next thing he'd know, Sasuke would be singing and dancing out his love confessions. He snorted at himself. At least now he could use the QR code instead. Maybe. He didn't make a move to grab his phone, instead frowning after the waitress who'd disappeared into the back. This was more nerve-wracking than he'd anticipated and Sasuke debated just packing up his things and walking out. He looked over and noticed Hinata had disappeared as well. He breathed a sigh of relief, despite himself. He just needed a few moments to get his act together before deciding what to do next. He opened Atom on his laptop and began the arduous process of inline coding, occasionally glancing to the side without moving his head, to see if she'd come back out onto the floor. She was still in the back, it seemed. As he typed in a few line breaks, his mind drifted to Hinata's reactions to him. Perhaps she was as curious as he was. Maybe his arrival had stirred something in her too.

He stops working when he notices her move onto the floor, now weaving her way between tables. His breath hitches when it becomes obvious she's headed directly for his table. He almost gasps out loud when she stops right in front of him. Hinata blinked a few times before addressing him.

“S-Sas–” She cut herself off and cleared her throat and then bowed slightly; not too low and not too high. “Have you decided what you w-want to order?”

Do I make you nervous?

Somehow that possibility gives him courage. Maybe it's because that's the part of his personality he likes best: making others uncomfortable. Even Hinata. He likes that he has an effect on her. How insignificant would he be if she was apathetic to his presence? Sasuke cleared his throat and ordered a black coffee and onigiri with a side of kimchi salad, tells HInata, “I don’t like beans” and silently bemoans his inability to not look like some kind of an idiot in front of her. She just smiles, all professional despite the twitch of her fingers that told him she ached to grab something. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes raking in his form and Sasuke stiffened at the perusal.

Why is she doing that?

And then it was all over and Hinata Hyuuga was moving away from his table, presumably heading out the back to pass on his order. She didn't stop or slow down.

Fuck.

There were so many questions in his head and he'd heard them all before. He can’t concentrate on his work. Sasuke stares at the screen as he waits for his food, his fingers poised over the keyboard and his eyes unmoving. He lived in a surreal world. Everything was happening so fast. But unlike the last time he came here, he had it coming. He'd hoped to get some answers but it felt too weird to try to talk to her, not just because she was actually working and it would be unprofessional of her. Sasuke blinked heavily, checked the time, and then his notes and references before returning his fingers to the letters on his keyboard. Letters, brackets, parentheses, and integers. He pursed his lips, trying to focus. He managed to get some work done in the time it took for Hinata to come back. He wasn't sure why she was serving in this section, but his brain refused to care to figure that out.

She stood in front of him, clearly unsure about how to talk to him, but she carried on nonetheless.

“Douzo.”

“Doumo.”

Sasuke . raised an eyebrow at her when she looked stunned that he'd replied. He supposed it was strange to hear him being polite. As Hinata bowed again, hesitated for a moment (again), and turned to leave, Sasuke inhaled deeply, just watching her go. He sat back and looked down at his hands, which had started shaking slightly. He fisted his trousers to stop them. This had been a mistake but there was nothing else to do right now but just eat his food. He ate his onigiri like a crazy person; with a fork. He waited for the rice and seaweed to stick better so it wasn’t messy but instead of picking it up with his hands, as it was designed to be eaten, he jammed the fork into it and dumped it on his kimchi salad. Sasuke forced himself to return to focusing on his work, digging holes in the onigiri and salad every few minutes, taking a few sips of his coffee, and scowling.

All awhile he was very aware of the lavender-white eyes watching him from the other side of Yotsuya Uemura Restaurant.

.:.

Sasuke returned to the restaurant but Hinata never came to get his order again. And for that, he was grateful. He could continue to ignore her, do his work until the late hours, reorder something to eat or drink every now and then (using the damn damned QR-code instead to avoid any more awkward moments), and pretend he was still in that hole-in-the-wall, that had started this mess by closing down in the first place. Two hours of peace. And then 3 A.M. would roll around and he’d start packing up slowly, languidly, as though his life didn't depend on leaving before she clocked out and got it into her head to come to say "hello" again. And despite his bladder kicking him from the inside because of all the coffee he'd avoid the restroom and call an Uber because Tokyo bus lines had stopped by then.

And he’d still be wide awake.

He got into this habit and it served him well for four weeks. A month of the now strangely alluring atmosphere of Yotsuya Uemura Restaurant. It still felt weird that this was the best place to go to where his brain would actually focus on work, even with her there. But he got complacent with their unspoken rule of ignoring each other. At least he presumed they had an agreement. It would be typical of her to break that non-agreement right when he'd let his guard down.

Sasuke spotted her heading toward him after his final cup of black coffee of the night. He licked his lips and put the cup down, watching her with an almost detached fascination. It was a strange but welcomed feeling. And suddenly she was standing in front of him with only the table and his belongings between them. She didn't speak immediately, licking her lips in a similar manner to what he'd just done. She started twiddling her thumbs and a rose-coloured flush spread across her cheeks as he continued to stare silently back at her.

Why is she here?

Her shift had clearly ended; she held a bento bag over her shoulder while the standard apron uniform and her name tag were notably absent. She had to be on her way out.

So why is she here?

Maybe she thought... no, he couldn't think of a reason. Well, perhaps the kind girl he used to know actually had unfinished business with him. Whatever that might be. He debated leaving early; his eyes went to the time on his laptop, noting it was only ten minutes before 3 A.M. so it wouldn't be completely out of character. As much as he enjoyed the view, he was not enjoying the anticipation. But when she smiled at him, in that warm, soft way he remembered, Sasuke couldn’t bring himself to leave.

“Sasuke.”

Her voice was melodic and he found himself leaning forward to rest his chin on his hands, entranced. And no suffix? Interesting. He remembered Hinata as one who’d been a stickler for politeness. How times had changed.

He nodded shortly to her. “Hinata.”

As though that had been permission, she slid into the chair opposite him. But the bento bag remained on her shoulder. “So you do remember m-me?”

Sasuke could only nod, his confusion masked by feigned indifference.

“I wanted to come over to say ‘hi’ s-sooner,” she said, her smile now more timid as she laced her fingers together. “The timing just never seemed r-right.”

Sasuke leaned back in his chair, forcing himself to calm down. He could do this (just this once). It was like riding a bicycle. Except he'd never actually learned to do that.

I’m definitely going to have to find another coffee restaurant now.

He had no idea what possessed him to continue coming here. This was just a recipe for disaster. It was far too awkward and he had work to do. No, wait, work was over. Or just about. Now he had to go home. Still, he didn’t have time to hash things out with old friends or crushes from high school. Memories belonged in the past. But he couldn’t help himself; a part of Sasuke still needed to know. He had to know. He had to. Or so he kept telling himself. There was only pain and heartache in memories of watching Hinata being happy with Naruto. There was no ring on her finger but not every married couple did that. Or she could’ve removed a ring while working to avoid losing it. There were a million different reasons she looked single.

How does one look single, really?

“How’s the dobe?”

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Other than the obvious.

Fighting an internal battle on whether or not to slap himself, Sasuke tried to focus on pretending he wasn't fighting with himself. He didn’t really want to know how Hinata's life with Naruto was. His mouth just seemed to have a mind of its own. Sasuke could imagine all kinds of things she might say and how he might be doing. He didn't need confirmation. As she squirmed in her seat, he blinked slowly. A hard swallow was the only sign that this conversation was making him uncomfortable.

Her smile was sad. “I wouldn’t know.”

Sasuke’s eyes widened. Why wouldn’t she know? Why wouldn't she... And then suddenly his stupid mind clicked all the pieces into place. “You’re not with him anymore?”

She shook her head.

“I thought you were looking forward to the 2.5 kids with him.”

Hinata sighed and stopped fiddling with her hands. “I’ve grown up.”

He gave her a quick appraisal, without lingering on any part of her body. Hopefully, it didn’t come off as invasive or creepy. But his mind was whirring. He nodded absentmindedly, but his heart was pounding against his rib cage. Dare he ask if she’d found someone else? Dare he poke the sleeping dragon?

“Are you–”

“I’m… s-single.”

Was she blushing? Sasuke couldn’t stop the smirk from gracing his face if he tried. The muscles responsible for twisting the side of his mouth into a smirk felt stiff though. He suddenly felt like a weight had been lifted from his soul. His body was lighter and his cluttered mind cleared. He sighed in contentment. At least for that part of her revelation.

A different kind of anxiety now slammed his heart against his chest.

They sat in awkward silence as Sasuke ordered a new, different drink. The doors would be closing soon so he had to do this quickly. When the milkshake came, he took a sip and then pushed it lightly, in her direction. If he drank any more coffee there would be no going to sleep tonight but this was too sweet for his tastes, normally. He already desperately needed to use the toilets. Unfortunately, it wasn’t socially acceptable to ask complete strangers or staff to watch his stuff while he used the facilities, so Sasuke would usually be gone by now, on his way home, and to that sweet porcelain of relief.

He eyed Hinata tentatively. “You seem different from the shy girl who always followed Naruto around.”

She reached out and ran a delicate finger along the condensation on the glass tumbler that held the liquid temptation. “I’ve grown up.”

Yes. And no stuttering this time. But some things clearly still stayed the same: she still loved strawberry milkshakes. (And this one had a cinnamon stick in it to boot.) She was eyeing off his drink in a slightly ravenous way but the nervous habits he remembered from high school were also still present; she was twiddling her thumbs and clearly too polite to just take his drink. These were parts of the reason he’d fallen so heavily for her in the first place. She was adorable in her weird mix of social graces and anxiety. He knew a little about social anxiety himself. He’d never cared much for how others perceived him, but adulthood had taught him some hard-learned lessons on why it would never get him anywhere in life to carry on as though nobody else mattered.

Yet so much about Sasuke had not changed at all.

Still a selfish bastard.

He wanted and he got. At least where it was possible.

Sasuke raised his eyebrows at Hinata in what he hoped was a challenging look. She sat up straighter and licked her lips before her eyes dropped to his drink in understanding. He remembered from his few years in this industry just how ragged one could feel at the end of a long shift. He hadn't had to worry about the nine-to-five bullshit for so long but some things were just unforgettable. This drink was an offer more than a challenge: was she thirsty enough to take him up on it? How much had she really changed? She'd never have taken his drink back in school. Now she had an open but silent invitation.

Hinata pulled the drink toward herself, stopping it in the middle of the table before leaning over it to take the rim of the glass between her lips. He watched in erotic fascination as she lifted the glass and pursed her lips against it. He fixated on her mouth as she gulped it down. His eyes were drawn to every distinct and enthralling move she made. Not to mention how when she’d leaned over it was too bad her uniform wasn’t more revealing but it did give his inner pervert ideas.

"Watch my stuff?" He asked and she distractedly nodded, continuing to enjoy her drink.

He decided the strawberry milkshake was a fair price to pay in return for her watching his belongings. It was her fault he wasn’t on his way home yet, after all. Sasuke didn’t like public toilets but with the very single and beautiful Hyuuga sitting in front of him, smacking her lips together after a long guzzle of her favourite drink, and her eyes fluttering closed in pleasure, he found he didn’t care about that. He was just glad he hadn't run away every chance he got, since the first time he entered Yotsuya Uemura Restaurant.

When he returned she was still sitting in her chair but had angled her body to peak at what he had on his screen, her delicate eyebrows raised; she was either surprised or impressed.

Yes, he was very glad indeed that they were both still here.

.:.

It became a habit. Sasuke would arrive around midnight, take his usual spot in the darkest corner of the brightly lit restaurant, order using the QR code, and then unpack his laptop. He would spend the first forty-five minutes sipping on his water (or black tea; either of which would later be replaced by black coffee anyway) and working on his project design and immersing himself in every edit. When the food came he would pick at it while still working and occasionally peeking over the top of his laptop as Hinata worked in the distance. The way her fringe bobbed as she smiled brightly at a customer, even if they were monopolising her time with their order. He found a new appreciation in just gazing at her.

And as was a habit, Sasuke would be finished with his food within the hour, ordering the first black coffee of the night. If he was still hungry, he’d grab a side salad or Spicy Ahi Poke around two o’clock, when his battery would start to wind him down, even with the coffee. Web coding was a far slower and more tedious skill set than most people realised. Depending on the job, it could take him months to finish, and these weren’t the cheap, easy pages of online website builders that anyone from his grandmother and borderline illiterate next-door neighbour could use to create their own site. He tested his static preview several times before deciding to stop and stretch out his tired muscles.

Then the cherry on the top: Hinata would clock off at 3 A.M. and join him at his table. A new strawberry milkshake bribe and she would heroically protect his belongings as he used the toilets and when he returned, she would regale him with stories about her family and friends while asking him questions about his own. He knew the shy, bumbling Hinata of his youth was not completely gone when he asked her more personal questions and she flushed; a lovely shade of pink he had never thought to cherish until now. Sasuke did not ask about past relationships because he was enjoying pretending she hadn’t been with anyone since Naruto. She did hint to it a few times but he shut that down quickly, not wanting to hear about her dating other men.

And in kind, it would be hypocritical of him to talk about his own sex life. Not that she would care about that.

It wasn’t the healthiest take on relationships, but it was what he had to offer.

After a week of this habit, Sasuke was disappointed to see the weekend painfully arrive. It meant her days off and he couldn’t bring himself to go to the restaurant knowing she wouldn’t be there. He almost asked her if they could meet up on the weekend but didn’t want it to feel like he was being needy. Or coming across too strong. The weekend dragged on with familial obligations and friends who were determined to get him drunk or laid. Or both. He ignored them all. Then Monday came again and Sasuke spent the day the way he spent every weekday since Hinata came back into his life; anticipating the night time.

What a boring life I lead.

He’d sunk low. Sasuke had spent years being content with his romantic isolation. No-one, no matter how many times he dated, could ever compare to the first person he’d fallen in love with. But he’d been fine with that. Until now. Now he was looking forward to being close to a beautiful woman who didn't annoy him. The very person he could never completely move on from.

Though he was scared at the thought of asking her if he was the only one feeling anything.

The second week of this habit changed everything. He was waking up with a smile on his face. He was going to bed content and peaceful. It wasn’t like Sasuke had never looked forward to things; he anticipated the weekend, the end of the night after another one of his mother’s forced family get together’s, the change in the balance of his bank account after finishing a project for a client. Even the occasional date or romp in the sheets (he used to indulge in) allowed him to release the stress of the week even though they were always temporary fixes. And of course, running. Sitting at a computer for hours didn’t do his body any good and he had gotten into the habit of jogging for over an hour every early in the mornings.

Habits.

But it was time for this new one to break. Because he hadn’t done much other than jog or work since remeeting Hinata. He needed more from her, not just the moments so late in the night that it would be inappropriate to invite her back to his apartment. And he needed to know that this was okay with her. He’d lost out years ago but there was no Naruto-dobe to get in the way this time. He wasn’t the hot-blooded and assertive type. He didn't get riled up and led on. But that was another habit he was intent on breaking - for this instance, at least.

He “hn’d” his way through his first night of the week with her before becoming more obvious. He didn't have much experience flirting anyway. When he passed the milkshake to her his fingers lingered and he stared into her eyes, delighting in the way her breath hitched and her lips parted. She would place a shaky hand on the glass tumbler, wrapping her hand around it delicately and waiting for him to let go. his fingers would deliberately brush against hers and she swallowed heavily. The dynamic had changed. She would drink with less vigour but still finish every last drop.

They shared his side of hot potato chips, which were always too much for him anyway, and he was reminded of those cartoon dogs who shared pasta. The urge to kiss Hinata would resurface whenever his mind drifted and he had to push that down. For now.

“I think it's time to leave,” she said, blushing slightly. "They're closing up now."

They were indeed moving furniture and changing signs.

“Hn.”

Hinata was bold when it mattered; she reached over with a napkin and wiped at the side of his mouth. Her shy smile grew wider when he didn’t move away and he couldn't tear his eyes away from her. His lips parted and his eyes dropped to her mouth when she licked her lips. Was the air dry for her too? He felt like a sudden heat wave had set on them both. But when she was done wiping at the sauce on his mouth the moment was over. She pulled back and averted her eyes nervously.

Maybe she’d been expecting me to kiss her?

He had no idea. But it couldn't hurt to find out. Sasuke started the habit of packing up his belongings as Hinata sighed in resignation and slowly stood.

Once upon a time, when he didn't have a choice - when his life wasn’t his to dictate - Sasuke had bemoaned his future. Now he realised he was regaining something inside himself that he’d never known was actually possible.

A future with her.

.:.

The final nail in this coffin was a wake-up call.

His friendship with Naruto was ruined. When she touched the idiot, Sasuke imagined she was touching him. When she kissed the dobe, Sasuke imagined those were his lips she worshipped. Her hands were on his, her body pressed against him; her moans, his groans, and their pleasure. Sasuke was plagued with images and what-ifs. Naruto had his future with Hinata figured out. Sasuke's life was over. It didn't matter that he loved them both, even though in different ways. It only mattered that every smile was killing him. Sasuke didn't believe in real souls, not really. But if he did have one, the other half of it was being torn away from him.

Naruto asked Hinata to marry him in the middle of the high school graduation ceremony, disrupting the flow like the baka he was. And while the principal yelled at him, the blond made a public menace of himself as the school graduates rallied to his romantic gesture.

Everyone but Sasuke. And nobody noticed.

He couldn’t handle it, seeing them together all lovey-dovey and declaring they were meant to be. The whole school cheering. The lights glared down and closed in on him as his vision blurred. It was too much, even for him, Mr. Ice-box anal arsehole with a reputation for not giving a shit. He should’ve seen it coming but until Hinata said, “yes” and let Naruto sweep her into the most affectionate and disgusting kiss that Sasuke had ever seen, he hadn’t thought it would happen. It couldn’t happen. She was better than this. The fates were kinder than this. Naruto was notoriously slow on the uptake. Surely he would be too lazy or unreliable to think of such a permanent change in his life.

But apparently not anymore. He was serious. They were engaged. They would be getting married.

And all Sasuke wanted to do was scream in frustration and rage. He was done putting up with this! It felt selfish to do but he had to. There was no emotional outburst - that would come later, in the privacy of his own home - no. He was a picture of calm as he started to back away from his cheering graduation class.  He took one last look at the chaotic scene Naruto had caused, snatched up his own diploma, and turned away. He was soon to be enrolled at Tohoku University. He was moving away from this backwater town. Far away from everyone he knew. To Tokyo.

Alone.

Sasuke left all of his friends behind and cut off all contact, ignoring their attempts to find him. And hers.

And he never saw his best friend again.

.:.

She tasted like strawberries and lavender.

Sasuke finally broke his habit three weeks after their fated reunion. (Now that he was contemplating that maybe fate was a thing.) Packing his laptop away, he’d reached for a second bag that had been sitting on the chair next to him. He’d known it was likely to rain so Sasuke brought two compact umbrellas with him with plans for them both to get used. He’d contemplated just bringing one large, oversized umbrella but didn’t want to make Hinata awkward with the presumptuous closeness. She seemed skittish with surprises. So now she stood with him under the awning that decorated the front of the restaurant and he was suddenly very grateful for bad yet predictable weather.

“Sasuke?”

He looked down at the woman in his arms. Gone was the facade that this was anything other than a blossoming relationship. He'd taken her hand and stood proud as a peacock when she squeezed his hand in return. She let him pull her closer, their umbrellas overlapping above their heads as they stared into each other's eyes. She'd let him lean in closer and duck his head under her umbrella to breathe in her sudden intake of air. She was anticipating this too, he knew. This situation was familiar, though he was determined to have it play out differently. Maybe she didn’t remember that day in the rain, so long ago when he'd wanted to kiss her after she'd let him use her umbrella. She’d never tracked him down to get it back and he'd never offered it back. Or maybe he’d intimidated her too much for her to retrieve it.

“Hinata…” His free hand cupped her face and he took in every inch of her face, his eyes memorising every detail. The flush of her skin, the plumpness of her lips, the way she tilted toward him instinctively. “I want to kiss you.”

What was it his father had once said? Never ask for permission. Sasuke knew Fugaku’s approach to women was toxic. His mother’s issues were proof of that. But there was a little part of himself that had wanted to just take those succulent-looking lips between his teeth before she had the chance to pull away. However, he respected her too much for that. He needed to know she wanted this too.

Hinata smiled and nodded. “Okay. I want to kiss you, too.”

(No more stuttering.)

And that was his permission. When he lowered his mouth to hers he was already slanting his head in anticipation for the tilt of their faces as they embraced each other. Full-mouthed, energetic, uncompromising; he grasped her almost too tightly as her parted lips allowed him entry. Sasuke devoured her mouth. Their eyes closed, his body pressed so intimately against hers; the pouring rain faded into the background. There was only her. Only them. And when she moaned and returned his vigour, he finally felt like he'd come home.

.:.

[daifukumochiin]

LIGHTS,

BOWS, and

MISTLETOES

|CHAPTER LIST|

Summary: Sasuke's orderly life at elite Sairiumu Academy is disrupted by the arrival of Hinata, a timid transfer student whose obvious crush on him, a young man dedicated to his craft and his current relationship, stirs unease. (Initial SasuSaku with SasuHina endgame, modern Norse myth AU, high school, angst, romance, photography, postmodern-ish fic). Rated T @sasuhinamonth

🟢 Part 1: Lights

i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix 🟢 Part 2: Bows x xi 🟢 Part 3: Mistletoes

ffnet: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14369143/1/Lights-Bows-and-Mistletoes

ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/57030778