one_long_mission

Injuries...? He couldn't even feel them.

All he could feel was that her lips were not on his, and her body was not providing his any warmth anymore, save for their still-joined hands, upon which realization he held tighter.

He was probably bleeding from somewhere, because he knew he had been struck a few times, but right now nothing mattered. There was the tangible elation from victory, and the fact he felt he wasn't even touching the ground anymore.

..and her smile after that kiss was something he knew would remain imprinted in his memories.

"..yes...injuries." he echoed vaguely, starting to walk towards the Hyuuga compound once more, shouts following them, praising their swift elimination of the opposing forces.

"Injuries," she repeated, tugging on his hand to stop him, already aware they were going the wrong way. This inexplicable happiness, one that wouldn't let her stop smiling no matter what... she had never felt anything like it before, and she'd be damned if she didn't feel like those birds she used to envy their freedom.

She tugged again, trying to free her hand as she turned her face toward his. "Medics, Sasuke." And leaned up, fingers finding his jaw against as a reference so she could lean in near his ear and whisper, "I will accompany you."

"..ah... yes, medics. Of course." Why was he... going that way? He knew he needed medics and yet.. Too aware of her fingers upon his skin, he'd not even tried to move until they were taken away, as if it would make this moment last longer.

Once he was admitted to a room, no one daring question his wish that she would come right along, he took this opportunity to have them examine how badly she had strained her eyes as the assistant bandaged the raking he had earned upon his chest. Once he saw the wound, he realized it was no wonder he had difficulty breathing. It hadn't been mere exhaustion after all.

Other nicks and somewhat deeper wounds were found, although a minimal amount needed bandaging. The most important part was how he had exhausted his chakra and should take great care to not do so in the near future.

The earlier forced use had set her healing time back; where they may have recovered by later tonight, the added strain and then the exertion of using her Chakra for combat rather than resting for healing meant that it would be another full day before she would note any improvement of her vision. Frustrating, perhaps, but... Worth it. The village was safe, and she was certain those Hyuuga who had felt were trickling back into the village as they were examined.

Let them suffer the shame of retreat; she already knew that her pride was unstained.

"Sasuke... how bad are the damages?"

She could only hear the sounds of destruction, not see them. Did he even have a home to return to...?

"I've worked on saving the buildings we needed from their attempts at putting them on fire. A few of the civilian housings are widely damaged though... and the market areas took the blast before I got to the culprit setting them up." he gave a light hiss, annoyed that he had lacked time to get there once he had been aware of the enemy.

"A few houses were burned to cinders, and the weapon depot is no more... but everything else is still standing." as for the death count, it remained to be seen.

"As for yours...?"

She gently but firmly pushed the medic away as soon as her eyes were rebandaged, moving to lightly touch his shoulder. "Do you have somewhere to go, Sasuke?"

He gave a sigh. "Cinders, not that it makes much of a difference." it did make him glad he had sealed that tome he retrieved within his belt. "I'm not the only one that'll need to rebuild." everything the Uchiha clan had in Michi had been taken by that fire back then anyway. It seemed somewhat fitting.

"I've been thinking... about setting up more effective defenses for this village. Permanently. Hopefully the tome can help in that."

"You may stay with me, if you like." Everything had gone so quickly, from him retrieving her from her home, to their combat against the Shourisha... Her fingers drew back from his shoulder, face starting to darken with a flush at the memory that she'd kissed him, in front of everyone.

"Though I think, after today, you will have no shortage of those calling you hero and offering you shelter."

His fingers caught hers, however, briefly after they detached from him.

"I might be called a hero, but they weren't the ones who looked at me before then." and this was what made all the difference to him. "I didn't do it for anyone's sake especially."

He did notice her flush, and his free hand went to stroke at her cheek. "...besides, I won't be the only one they'll be calling hero."

Her face only reddened more deeply as he took her fingers, knowing that he had to feel how her cheeks were burning beneath his touch.

"Perhaps that is so," she forced herself to agree neutrally, reaching to take his hand from her cheek and only hold it in her own. "When you are finished here... I will take you back to my home, so you may rest. You need it."

He knew the rush of their victory may be the only thing holding him up as he was. that and his pride. He wouldn't allow exhaustion to take him while he was still in public, hardly minding who even was there.

"Thank you." he murmured.

Once the last check-ups were done and Sasuke was administered a preventive shot since they had found traces of poison, the two of them were released. Now he led her back to the compound, not even looking at those other Hyuuga going around whom,he imagined, most likely had their tails between their legs in shame.

As they moved through the compound, she imagined she could hear them whispering, hear them talking about how she was hand-in-hand with an Uchiha. Let them whisper, let them learn just what they had missed while they were following the orders of the Elders. She kept her head held high, steps sure and confident as she again took the lead, taking him to her home and allowing him to enter once again.

With the door shut behind him, the sounds of the Hyuuga returning home and the celebration in the village itself was suddenly muted, an abrupt reminder that she was now alone with Sasuke, the man she'd kissed so impulsively before. Her first kiss, nonetheless, in the heat of the moment. That flush wasn't leaving her cheeks any time soon as she moved forward to where she had left her pack, starting to return the items to their proper places.

"My bedroom is down the hall," she murmured, keeping her back to him as much as possible in the attempt to hide her flush. "You may rest there if you like."

Yes, she was hand in hand with an Uchiha. With the Uchiha. Let those ignorant Hyuuga know just why the duo was the talk of the village. It wasn't because they were an item of any sort, but because of their flawlessly impeccable teamwork. In everyone's eyes, they had saved the village.

Once in the house, he'd noticed how that flush had yet to fade, forcing him to recall those heated moments after their victory.
It.... was impulsive, wasn't it? He wasn't so sure which parts were and which weren't, in his case.

Still, he knew he shouldn't put that matter in light. They would have more time later, and possibly clearer minds. For now he badly needed rest. "I'll take you up.. on that offer." he thought it was disgusting to not go in without taking a shower, but for today he had been ordered to let his wounds heal. Once he found the bedroom, he had a few moments after his head hit the pillow to notice how everything was bathed in that scent of hers...

If nightmares did assault him, he gave only vague outside signs, feebly whimpering twice, fingers curling up halfway to clutch at the blanket, but never waking. He would sleep for a full and perhaps alarming sixteen hours should nothing rouse him beforehand.

She hadn't forgotten about his nightmares. As soon as her things were back in their proper places, she ventured into her own room, taking stock of how he was curled up. Asleep, good... Alone, less good. A moment, then she moved to retrieve her thin yukata for sleeping from its hanger in her closet, changing her clothes before slipping in beside him. Gently so as not to wake him, she took that curled hand in hers and stayed in close against him.

Her orders had been to rest as well, and right now, there was nowhere she would rather be. She dozed fitfully for several hours, drifting in and out of meditation and sleep, alternately. It had been most of the day, perhaps as many hours as he was asleep, when she was roused by a heavy knock on the door.

Quickly, trying not to wake Sasuke, she untangled herself and moved to adjust her clothing, making sure everything was in its proper place before going to get the door. If Sasuke hadn't been woken by her leaving the bed, he almost certainly would be able to hear the heated discussion happening at the threshold. Disobeying the Elders could have a heavy price, and as soon as her eyes were healed, she was to report to them. No excuses.

The point of contention was the demand that permitting an Uchiha to stay within the compound was improper and unorthodox, and even if he were hero within the village, he had no place there within their clan. Polite, ever polite, but she shot down her cousin's protests, finally simply letting him know that she would speak with the Elders, and shutting the door in his face.

A heavy exhale, and she sank against the door, listening to make sure he'd gone and hoping Sasuke hadn't been woken by the argument.

There was a light groan and he rolled out of bed, woken indeed by the voices.

Slowly, he readjusted his own clothes, tying his sash and swordbelt, taking in all what was said. It was somewhat disgusting too. The clan was still stuck with its own inner workings. It had not even been a lesson to them that she had been a hero while they fled like chickens.

Still, she had asked for permission so that he could stay with her... This might have been improper and unorthodox, but it was a gesture they seemed to disregard for what it was: a hand held to help out a fellow villager. He had nowhere else to stay, and others were also found without a home, staying with relatives or even in free hospital rooms while rebuilding efforts started.
Rebuilding efforts which he wondered if any Hyuuga helped with. Sure wouldn't do to prick their fingers on some sharp wooden shavings or something...

Once silence stretched for a full minute, he went to splash some water on his face and then slowly strolled over to her. "Should I leave, or is the damage already done?" Oh he could guess the answer. "...because they certainly know I'm -not- leaving, right?"

She could hear him moving, but didn't move herself, staying there against the door in an attempt to regather her composure. Such defiance to her family as she'd never dared to show in the past...

Swallowing hard, she tilted her head as she heard Sasuke entering the main room where she was, pushing herself to stand upright instead of sagging against the wall.

"You are staying," she said firmly, not moving away from the door. "I must speak with my Elders tomorrow, and they will likely attempt to control my fate. Yours, however, is outside of their control, and this home belongs to me. I will do as necessary to ensure that you may stay here. If you are willing."

"There is nowhere else I'd rather be... right now." she was doing so much for his sake. As catastrophic as their first meeting had been, their relationship had cemented into something of unprecedented magnitude. "If anyone should be cowering, its them. I know you won't give up."

And she could be decidedly fierce with her arguments, he knew.
should they try to remove him by force, it would also be immensely foolish, although he wouldn't put it past them to try. "If somehow can change your fate, it's you." he reached out to rest his fingers upon a temple, covered by bandages. "...and it feels you already are."

She bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement of the compliment, knowing that he was right. As long as he wanted to be here, she would fight for him to stay. And that he believed that she might be able to take her fate in her own hands...?

Almost hesitantly, she tilted her head into his touch, letting his fingers brush the bandages. "How are you feeling?"

"Incomparably better. Rest did help a lot." as well as being free of nightmares. He had spotted a few things out of place in the room, as well as quite nice residual heat when he woke and was certain her presence had to do with this.

"...how about you?" he asked, a thumb rubbing that one spot.

"I am glad," she confirmed, nodding once in confirmation that he was feeling better. That level of Chakra exhaustion could be dangerous, but it seemed between the rapid tending of his wounds and the ability to rest, he would be fine.

She tilted her head further into that soothing touch, relaxing a small amount. "Better now," she answered, though whether she meant how her eyes were doing, or her mental state now that he was here before her, she wouldn't say.

Neji burned to ask about the kiss, to ask if he'd enjoyed it, or if it had been wildly out of bounds, or if she should apologize... but she wouldn't.

"Do you want me to take care of food?" he inquired, although he knew this would mean having to draw away. For some reason, he felt better when she was nearby. Her voice was soothing, her presence calming... and touching her was some sort of mysterious cure.

...and that kiss...

That kiss had been something else. His thoughts echoed hers in that respect. How improper would it be if he asked...? After all, he -had- reacted. had it been out of his boundaries?

Edited 2013-07-04 19:28 (UTC)

"I can do it." She didn't step away though, her head resting comfortably against his fingers, more than content like this. Even if she knew she should be worried about the confrontation with the Elders... she couldn't be. Not with Sasuke right here, a solid, warm presence before her.

"Allow me to..." She did lift her head away from his fingers though, both hands coming up to start unraveling the bandages. It had been several hours since she'd seen the medics, so perhaps now...

She pulled the bandages away and opened her eyes only slowly, feeling them watering from the sudden brightness compared to the dark she'd been living in. But more importantly, as she finally blinked them all the way open, she could see. Still fuzzy around the corners, but it seemed her normal vision had all but returned. And the first thing she saw was Sasuke before her as she glanced up, a small smile pulling at the corners of her lips.

"It's good to see you."

"I can at least set up the table." not that this would be much work, but he had to do something.
Since her vision was back, she could most likely see those bandages that covered nearly his whole upper chest peeking through the opening of his torn robe. It was the only garment he had left, though, so he was hardly keen on getting it replaced. Only that and his blade's handle bore his clan's emblem now.

He was about to ask if it was all right to free herself of the bandages so soon, but held his tongue. She would know, either way. He was fairly certain at this point nothing irreversible would happen. She had, after all, gone through a harsher time in the battle.

"It's good to see you too." he gave a light smile. How long had it been since she was able to truly see all that was around her. They are healed all the way?" it was a wonder what rest had done.
Then again, how long had they been asleep he wondered.

She only gave him a patient look at his response -- he'd been seeing her this entire time, the fool -- but her attention was attracted to the bandages, expression sobering as she reached to push aside part of his robes, trying to get a better look at where, exactly, was bandaged.

"Rather than set the table, you should bathe," she pointed out, looking up at him severely. She had almost forgotten just how he looked, more familiar with the contours of his face through touch than by sight, and a little regretfully, she realized she didn't have an excuse to touch him like that now. "I can redo the bandages after that, though... I am not certain if my clothing will fit you."

That's right, everything he had was gone. Her expression sobered further as she touched his shoulder, exhaling the smallest of sighs. "Though I may see what I can do for you in that respect. Your robe is ruined."

He edged back when she pushed his robe off a shoulder, but only an instant. The wound had been cleaned, but it ran somewhat deep. There would likely be a scar too. From the bandages, which were wound from below his his armpits to his third set of ribs from the lowest, it was a long cut too. Less notable was a bandage on his arm.

He nodded at the suggestion that she could redo the bandages, but found himself shaking his head at the clothing offer. "I'll bear with this until I can get something else made." the only thing he would wear that wouldn't have an Uchiha emblem adorning it were festive clothes, or sleeping robes, and even then most of his had been decorated with the typical Uchiha fan. "Not to mention your family'd have a worse fit if they saw me in that getup." although the mental image he had made him chuckle.

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