Empty Eyes: Book 1

Chapter 36

It was difficult to act normal around Sasuke for the remainder of the night and during breakfast the next morning. Just as I've gotten fluent in reading his body language and subdued facial expressions, he's become attuned to how I usually act. The closer we were, the more he seemed to silently suspect something was off.

He appeared in the doorway of the bathroom and rested against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and a frown.

It was hard to keep my eyes averted from his flexing arm muscles as I finished freshening up after breakfast, "Where are you going?"

The fact that he's gone out of his way to ask meant that he undoubtedly knew I was hiding something. Like I mentioned before, he hasn't exactly been the most talkative as of late.

I made myself tear my eyes from his flawless appearance and rinsed my toothbrush as I stared pointedly down into the sink, "I'm visiting Naruto today." There wasn't a good reason to lie about my whereabouts, so I didn't.

He uncrossed his arms and left me alone in the bathroom to finish up without saying anything else. Once I'd successfully cleaned up after myself, I headed back out into the bedroom. As I knelt down by the dresser to pull the boots Mikoto had bought me onto my feet, I noticed Sasuke doing the same with his own shoes.

My brow furrowed and my heartbeat quickened, but I quickly masked my anxiety as I rose back up and smoothed out my dress, "Where are you going?"

He didn't bother meeting my eye and responded casually, "To visit Naruto."

I hesitated for just a moment too long, it seems, because he soon rose to stand before me with dark eyes peering into mine as though daring me to keep up my calm facade.

My face warmed and I attempted to smile reassuringly with a hand flirtily against his chest, "You don't have to escort me, Sasuke. I won't even be leaving the castle grounds."

He didn't acknowledge my attempt to dissuade him, instead reaching behind me to grab one of his jackets off of the hooks near the door and gently placing it atop my shoulders, "It's getting colder outside."

The blush on my cheeks warmed slightly as he grabbed a jacket for himself and exited the room, pausing out in the hall when I didn't immediately follow, "What are you doing? Let's go."

I tentatively slid my arms into the much too large sleeves of the jacket and followed him downstairs and out the front doors of the castle.

Our walk was silent and almost awkward, at least by my perception. My shoulders were starting to ache because the secret I've been keeping felt like I was carrying a ton of bricks around. Sasuke didn't say anything else the entire time we walked and the longer the silence drew on, the more my anxiety levels rose.

Finally, I saw Naruto's lightly-colored hair and sped up my pace. My best friend was outside, in front of Ino's shop and his family's new home. My eyes widened and I smiled widely when I came close enough to recognize Hinata's dainty form sitting on the steps as she watched Naruto help the builders pack up some supplies.

When Neji had collected her from the castle after our rescue, I'd gotten the feeling it'd be hard to see her again soon. Here she was, though, watching her crush with a pretty blush on her elegant features.

A soft grin rose prettily to her lips when she noticed me approaching and rose to her feet to greet me, "Hello, Sakura. It's wonderful to see you. How have you been?"

She accepted my friendly embrace much easier than she would have before our trip to Otogakure and I gave her a relieved smile when we parted, "I'm much better, Hinata. How about you? Have your ribs healed?"