Cursed Kisses - Chapter 6: The Lesson
Yuánfèn (Mandarin): “The fate between two people;” “The destiny that brings two people together.”
A dismal summer wind whispered through the dry leaves of tall oaks. It was not enough to dispel the oppressive heat of late afternoon.
Izumo was busily sanitizing the surfaces of the Konoha gate guarding station when a loud snore from his right quickly seized his attention.
“KOTETSU! What have I told you about sleeping on the job?” Izumo chastised his long-time partner.
Jolting up to a sitting position, Kotetsu sleepily wiped the drool on his chin onto the sleeve of his uniform. “It’s so boring lately… and the heat makes me tired. We don’t have any missions but we’re still worked like dogs to prepare for Tanabata next week. Besides, with the peace treaties finalized, the gate only needs one guard- not two jonin level shinobi,” he complained. He ruffled his spiky dark with a hand, attempting to reinvigorate his senses.
The more serious of the two, Izumo reminded, “With all the merchants that will be visiting from other lands, we must remain ever vigilant to-”
His stringy brown locks whipped across his face with a gust of wind, trailing a dark blur. Shaking his fist madly over his head he screamed, “Announce yourself!”
Kotetsu yelped when a shuriken knocked into the freshly wiped surface near his resting palm. Freeing the multi-pointed object from its hold, he examined the star and noticed small but significant engravings around the center. With sweat dripping from his temple, he bleakly informed, “Uchiha.”
Sasuke’s singularly focused mind would not allow him to stop- would not allow him to be distracted. He didn’t have a plan. He only knew that he needed to see her. Now.
Approaching the cloistered Hyuga compound his pace became less hurried, his tread more leisurely, until a slight rustling in the nearby leaves alerted him to a small presence. He turned abruptly towards the sound and saw…
“She’s not here you know,” a light, playful tone came from a thin girl, no older than fifteen. Her long bangs fell messily over one eye, although it appeared that someone had taken great care to brush and contain her waist-length locks in a tidy ponytail. Her expensive, bright yellow, silk kimono was unkempt. She had a mischievous and carefree air about her as she stared at him with large, curious Hyuga eyes from her upside-down perch in a leafy tree.
Deciding to humor the teenager, he responded, “Who’s not here, little one?”
“Pffft.” She blew air from her mouth towards her hairline in an act of derision. Then she proceeded to execute a dangerous backflip off of the low branch flawlessly- barely a hair out of place as she landed. Appraising him with a catlike stare, she commented, “I’m almost the same age you were when you fought in the last war. I doubt you would have called yourself little then.”
He gave a single, slow, agreeable nod; his eyes shutting thoughtfully. “Uh-huh… and back then I also became a missing-nin, killed my brother, and wanted to be Hokage to control the world. Your argument has a few holes.”
Sasuke watched amusedly as her eye twitched, all retorts dying on her lips.
Recomposing herself quickly, she dismissively spoke in a rush, “Well, anyway, my sister is not here. She never even came home. I’ve been keeping an eye out for her since she left with you. She looked really upset when she came in through the gates and went straight to Shino’s house. What did you do to her anyway?”
Her eyes narrowed threateningly, waiting for his response.
Releasing a loud sigh, he began to walk away, muttering, “I gave her hope.”
Lying on her side on a sofa in the spacious den of Shino’s private quarters, Hinata could hear her teammates conversing from the entryway but paid no attention.
“She’s just been lying there, not saying anything since she got here. What are we supposed to do?” Kiba whispered anxiously, his eyes darting between the prone form on the couch and his spectacled brother in arms.
A sigh escaped from Shino, carefully deliberating the appropriate action. Speaking with his usual calm, he said, “Hinata must have come here seeking a safe, comfortable space. I believe that is all we can offer her at this time. At least until she is willing to share with us. If that time never comes, it is enough for us to be here with her.”
“Yeah, but…” Kiba paused brusquely, and tilted his nose upwards taking a sharp whiff with a shake of his head. Emitting a low growl from the base of his throat, Akamaru crept near his master taking a defensive stance. “He’s here.”
“Kiba- Stay,” Shino ordered.
“Oi! You’re not the alpha here!” Kiba barked yet obediently moved towards Hinata, causing a sly smile to pull at the corners of Shino’s mouth.
With a gingerly stride out of his private residence on Aburame property, he already knew the Uchiha had breached the perimeter when his kikaichu reported back to him. However, there was no killing intent from the lone clansmen. Only desperation and despair.
Stopping a few yards from each other, they came face to face on the gravelly path leading to his home. Sizing each other up from behind passive glances.
Shino’s deceptively gentle voice pierced the quiet. “What brings you here, Uchiha?”
“I want to speak to Hinata.” There was no doubt, no confusion. Straight to the point.
For a while, neither made a sound.
Shino’s gaze became unbearably penetrating. Sasuke was already on edge and about to lose his calm when the Aburame finally spoke again.
“How well do you know Hinata?” The taller, thinner Aburame questioned.
“What?” The question was spat out like he tasted something fetid.
Completely unruffled, Shino elaborated, “Do you really believe Hinata will want to listen to you right now? That anything you have to say at this moment will make a difference? I don’t know what happened while you were together, or what’s going on between the two of you, but I know Hinata. If you believe coming here now is the right way to win her over, you don’t understand her at all… and you don’t deserve her.”
The hot blaze of fury erupted through his entire being. The urge for a fight- physical or verbal- was prodigious. Yet, the rational part of his brain knew the Aburame was right.
Shino turned away and left the speechless Uchiha, allowing the words to sink in.
Sasuke had not felt this beaten down in a long time. Slinking up his stairs and to his bedroom, he shed his belongings carelessly. He flung his cloak over the plush chair in the corner. His sword dropped unceremoniously onto the ground.
Reaching into his pocket, his fingers met the rough edge of the acorn. He pulled out the memento and stared at it for a good while, trying to unravel the Gordian Knot that was Hinata. When his examination brought him no answers, he huffed a breath with defeat, placing the seed on his windowsill.
Removing his top and his socks and tossing them aside, he collapsed on his bed. Slinging his forearm over his eyes to block out the light, he tried to think. However, the discomfort of his position shifted his attention to the culprit. He reached into his back pocket, to the object that was causing one side of his hips to rest higher than the other, and retrieved the book- Hinata’s fairytale.
His eyes moved down the faded brown leather of the bindings and drifted across the title. He fanned through the pages Hinata must have caressed a thousand times.
Suddenly, an idea lanced through his musings. If Shino thought he needed to understand Hinata better, perhaps this was a good place start.
Shifting to a sitting position, with his pillow propped against the headboard for better support, he opened the novel to the beginning of the story.
When Totoro was still young, he lost someone very close to him…
… the little Leprechaun tried to steal the golden satchel carrying the four-leaf clover…
… Totoro managed to escape with the Princess from the Sirens of the Lake…
He found himself tethered to the fantasy and reliving his own experiences with Hinata. How accurate the contents had been in its retelling of foreign lands and mythical beasts.
The skies dulled from the fluorescent hues of sunset to the cold depth of night, and quickly evolving into the soothing calm of dawn. Still, he read on- never leaving the imprint of his body on the bed, or the marvel of the pages he turned.
Even he could not help but be enticed by the allure of hope. Would Totoro bring back the person he lost? Would he get his happily ever after with the princess?
The soft glow of early morning filtered through his windows as he snapped the book shut. A renewed sense of purpose filling him. He knew what he needed to do, but he was going to need help. Not only would he need to put in a request with the Hokage, but he would also need help from the most elite team of shinobi he could think of in order to pull this off.
With languid movements, he brought himself to the edge of his bed and reached out for the pen and pad of paper on his nightstand.
He scrawled out the first line.
Meandering through a procession of dancers and jovial participants, clusters of long star streamers dangling overhead tickled Hinata’s face and shoulders as she passed. She wore a dazzling red and white floral yukata, red obi and zori sandals. Holding hands in a line, Kiba and Akamaru took the lead while Shino brought up the rear.
The makeshift bamboo forest of the Tanabata festival was already littered with hundreds of colorful tanzaku by the time they arrived. Quickly, she scribbled her wish on a bright yellow sheet.
I wish for Neji to be at peace.
Her hand lingered; her lids lowered shut. She swallowed down the rising lump in her throat, and said farewell to the hope of bringing him back or honoring his sacrifice.
With the strip of paper in her grasp, she searched the decorated trees for a suitable location. Finding a clear spot, she halted her movements and stretched her arm out towards the stem- prepared to string up the tanzaku on a stalk.
A harsh gust of wind kicked up.
Panic swelled through her and she instantly looked to the ground. Her eyes darted left and right, she spun in a circle certain she had dropped it, when an odd movement caught her attention.
Snapping her head in that direction she saw a girl, younger than Hanabi, smiling brightly and waving her tanzaku a short distance away.
“Go on, we’ll circle around and meet in the middle,” Kiba shouted.
Determination crossed Hinata’s features. She kicked off her sandals and tore at the skirt of her dress with a kunai, creating a mid-thigh slit for better mobility.
The young brunette thief was thrilled. Flashing a mischievous smirk, she excitedly took off.
The three split up with Hinata pursuing the girl head on.
Hinata knew she could let it go and simply rewrite her wish, but it was the principle of the matter. That prayer was for Neji, and she would do everything in her power to ensure the heavens received it.
The throng condensed, as onlookers gathered on either side of the street to admire the float parade. The designs honored the greatest heroes of the lands in the form of prior and current Kage.
To avoid the spectators, the preteen began to dash up the sides of nearby structures. The grand visage of Gaara, as Suna’s Kazekage, entered the alleyway.
Several gasps and shouts arose from the audience when the girl flung her body from a building top and onto the passing float.
Viewing from the nearest roof, Hinata was undeterred. Her heart pounded in her ears. She paced several steps back and turned around to face the alley. Taking a few quick gulps of air, her feet hit the concrete and she was moving. In a moment she was at the edge of the building.
Feeling weightless, she fell towards the paper mâché bust of Gaara. With chakra saturating her limbs, she groped for any part of the head she could grab. Her hands found no purchase, until a palm slammed into the bridge of the nose. Clinging for dear life, she directed all her energy to that single point. The weight of her body dragging her down as her descent slowed. Coming to a stop at his chin, she looked up and realized she essentially sliced the bust of the float in half.
The crowd cheered wildly, thinking this chase was all part of the show.
The temperature of her face heated in embarrassment from all the attention before she pointed a scalding stare at the mischief maker who was smiling innocently at the other end of the platform. Hinata dropped to a crouching position.
Raising her body to stand, she turned towards the sound of her name. A quick glance had her heart jumping into her throat with disbelief. Not two strides away, she caught sight of a billowing travel cloak and dark strands tousled by the breeze.
A blink later the rest of the image sunk in. She was mistaken. It was not Sasuke. It was a poor imitation of the real thing. The clothes fit too tightly. The hair looked more like wool than the silky strands she knew.
Her face twisted in confusion. “What’s going on?”
The stranger dipped his head in a deferential act and introduced himself. “My name is Ryota. I have a message for you.” Walking forward, Ryota gestured to her wrist. “If you would please…”
Bending at the elbow, she lifted her hand. “My hand?”
Something delicate shimmered in his palms, which he proceeded to wrap around her wrist. When it was secured, Hinata twisted her arm, allowing the gold bracelet to capture the sunlight. A single charm dangled from the chain. A dove.
She tilted her head in question and brought her attention to the Uchiha fanatic.
“Just continue to follow the tanzaku. When you reach the end, it will be returned.” He directed her gaze to the small criminal still holding the paper. With a final dip of his head in farewell, he stepped back. “I wish you luck on your journey. You will need it since some of my friends do not believe you are worthy of this honor. They may provide a challenge.”
Hinata had concerns, and she began to speedily rattle them off. “Journey? What honor? What kind of challenge?”
Upon hearing the end of Ryota’s speech, the teen tyrant started to scurry up the broken remains of the Kazekage.
Ryota advised, “You’d better hurry. Naomi’s quick!”
Snapping her attention to the brat, she sprung into motion- following Naomi, and climbing the giant head. Frustrated, she yelled, “Is all this really necessary?”
As expected, there was no response.
With the ease of a flying squirrel, Naomi soared to the next float, landing on the bust of the first Mizukage.
Repeating the girl’s actions, Hinata arrived on the bust to the applause of the crowd. Shaking her head at the ridiculousness of it all, she quickly laid her body flush to the centerpiece as a tidal wave of water crashed past her.
Adding more chakra to her limbs, she quickly scaled the structure as fistfuls of water were thrust in her direction by a false mermaid. Hinata idly pondered on the peculiarity of all the cosplay while simultaneously dodging the liquid projectiles. As each attack missed the spritely Hyuga, they dappled the surface of the Mizukage’s image. By the time Hinata reached the other side, the bust more resembled the Hunchback of Notredame. Spinning like a top mid-jump, she shoved both hands out towards her fishy tormenter. “Eight Trigrams, Vacuum Wall Palm!”
The water specialist was shoved off of the moving stage, landing face down in the dirt. The audience went wild over the spectacle!
A light tap to her shoulder had Hinata whirling defensively.
“Whoa there!” A sweetly chipper voice alerted.
Hinata dropped her arms, staring at another siren. This one held her hands up in surrender, another charm dangling from her fingers- a gold coin.
Once the siren was sure the Hyuga would not harm her, she affixed the coin to the bracelet from Ryota. “You’ve earned this.”
Before Hinata could ask any questions, Naomi brought the attention back to herself and the tanzaku she was agitatedly flapping. “Come and get it!”
Hinata made an irritated noise in her throat and sprinted after her. Each float a new challenge. Each challenge a new charm. Each charm representing one of the totems she and Sasuke collected on their journey.
One aggressor used a wind style jutsu and blew the Raikage’s effegy to pieces. Another tried a fire style jutsu and burned Hashirama’s float to the ground. They took their roles seriously. The most surprising being an adult in full green makeup and fir. That one, she all but ran from. Haphazardly, Hinata wondered where her teammates had disappeared to, hoping they weren’t also battling sadistic furries.
After Kakashi’s Sixth Hokage float had been effectively dismantled, and Hinata’s bracelet was loaded with gold and silver charms, Naomi held the tanzaku between two fingers and directed it towards a small shrine where it rested between two frames at the top of the last float.
This float, however, was unlike the others. For starters, it was not moving. Further, it did not bear the form of any of the Kage of the lands. It appeared to be a shrine for the dead. After further inspection she realized that was exactly what it was. It was a memorial to the fallen heroes of the last war. Her wish placed neatly by the photographs of Neji Hyuga and Itachi Uchiha.
Cautiously, reverently, she approached; her yukata in ruins. Tattered, damp and singed in various places. She was only mildly aware of her disheveled appearance. Activating her byakugan, she focused her attention on hunting any would-be assailants.
She locked onto the figure behind the shrine. There was something strange about this person. Her eyes narrowed in thoughtful examination of her final foe, draped in a long and lavish gown.
The princess shifted into view and started descending the short staircase curving down the side of the platform. Hinata deactivated her byakugan for a different perspective when a dawning realization suddenly washed over her.
Taking a good look at the Hyuga, the elegantly dressed host paused and remarked, “What happened to you?”
Sasuke nodded proudly, with a slow, “Mm-hmm.”
“What- what happened to YOU?” A giggle rose in her throat, erupting past her lips into a peal of laughter. Her cheeks hurt. Her eyes blurred and she wiped her tears away with backs of her fingers. “Why are you dressed like that?”
Hinata was now standing on the raised bed, unconsciously drawn to the man in front of her.
“Those idiots better not have hurt you,” he mumbled to himself with a disapproving frown. In response to her question, Sasuke looked away shyly and uncertainly admitted, “I wanted to make your dreams come true.”
A fresh grin in amusement sprang to her face. She swirled an index finger at his dress. “I don’t recall saying I wanted this.”
“Well... after Totoro went on his journey, he got the princess in the end. That was his happily ever after. I was just following the instruction manual.” He presented the story as evidence.
Her eyebrows rose in astonishment. “You read the book?”
He gave a lopsided smile before balancing it on the banister edge. “It was a real page turner.”
Slowly approaching her, the static steadily growing around them, his eyes held hers in a hypnotic grip. The crowd watched with bated breath as he picked up her chin between his thumb and forefinger so that she had to look up at him. He murmured, “I can’t bring Neji back. Things won’t always be good. And I can’t promise to make you happy… but I promise to work hard every day to make you smile.
“If this life is going to be rough, if this life is going to throw us leprechauns and mermaids and all kinds of terrible and terrific things, then, Hinata Hyuga, there’s no one else I’d rather go on that journey with than you. And I can’t say for sure, but I think Neji would want you to take that chance too.”
A cool breeze kicked up. A pleasant though dissonant tune rang out from wind chimes hanging from the shrine. Hinata’s written wish was swept up with the current of air. It floated directly into her waiting hands. A sinking warmth swelled in her heart and she was overcome with an unknown emotion.
She could only explain it as feeling Neji’s presence. It filled her with so much grief and peace and joy that her eyes began to water.
Looking back at Sasuke with a sniffle, she saw that he was holding one more charm- an acorn.
Attaching the last pendant to her bracelet, he lifted her hands still holding the tanzaku and returned the temple acorn. Refusing to let her go, he laid himself bare and intreated, “I’d like you to come with me. Everywhere. What do you say, Hyuga?”
The brightness of her smile seared past all his remaining doubt, guilt and self-loathing.
She responded, “I believe our paths are aligned, Uchiha.”
He caught her mouth against his. There was a fire rising in her cheeks. The teasing of his tongue awakened a deep need in her. All the emotions she felt over the past month poured into that one, desirous kiss.
As he began to move away, she she wrapped both arms around his neck and pressed him closer to her. Their bodies entwined, his hand shifting to her lower back, with a dizzying longing in each sensuous stroke.
A raucous uproar of applause and whistles arose from the spectators.
Shino stood next to Kiba and Akamaru in the the crowd. Turning away from the happy pair, he did a double take when he looked at Kiba. “Kiba, are you crying?”
Kiba rubbed at his eyes with a fist. “Damn it! Someone’s cutting onions around here.”
Akamaru huffed at the obvious lie and Shino simply shook his head.
Naruto suddenly poked his head out from between the two members of team eight, chiming in. “No one’s going to mention that Sasuke is wearing a dress? I knew he was Saucegay.”
Beside Naruto, Sakura’s voice reproached, “Naruto, you idiot!”
“Ow!” Naruto rubbed the sore spot on his head, courtesy of Sakura. “Sakuraaaa…”
Kakashi’s unexpected appearance startled Naruto. “This was quite a bit more damage than I expected. Since you all had a hand in this, I’ll see everyone here tomorrow at sunrise for cleanup duty.”
A resounding groan echoed through the group.
Reminded of their audience, the couple reluctantly parted lips. With foreheads pressed together, and eyes gradually opening, matching grins spread across their faces.
That day, Hinata learned two important lessons. First, sometimes life does not give you what you want, instead it gives you what you need. Second, sometimes the best way to honor those who have passed is to live.
… and they lived happily ever after.
A/N: I wrote the last section listening to Trees (Instrumental with backing vocals) by Twenty One Pilots.
For anyone curious about the significance of the acorn, it is another lucky object according to various cultures (namely Norse, British and Druid). Besides being considered lucky, it’s also a symbol of growth, rebirth, and perseverance through challenges. I also read somewhere that you can make a wish on an acorn and if you put it on your windowsill for three days then your wish will come true (Sasuke placed the acorn on his windowsill if you recall). It also said that for love wishes, you should send the acorn to the object of your desire (Sasuke gave the acorn back to Hinata). It’s a bit of an Easter Egg that’s not really important to the plot but I liked the hidden meaning behind these actions and how it fit into the overall theme of the story so I wrote it in.
I hope you all had a wonderful SasuHina month 2022! This chapter was published a day late but at least it’s still August in some parts of the world. :)
Again, I really appreciate everyone for giving this story a chance, for all the follows and fave’s, and especially for those willing to leave words of encouragement and support even though I have not had the opportunity to personally thank you.
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