Lavender Roses
Author's Note: One of my most loyal readers requested an arranged marriage Sasuke x Hinata story. I decided to grant her request because she's awesome and it's been awhile since I've done a solo work with this pairing. While I've used the arranged marriage concept before, I feel that it's a prompt that allows for a great deal of creativity and that readers will enjoy this 'oldie, but a goodie' concept. If any of that bothers you, you might want to turn back now. For those of you still here, I hope you enjoy this story and reviews are always appreciated.
Important Story Notations: This tale will diverge from canon in at least one key way besides the pairing. I've decided to change the fate of two key characters. Yes, that means Itachi and Neji live!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or make any profit from my fanfics.
Chapter 1
"You look pretty in pink, Itachi." Sasuke smirked.
There was a faint outline of pink lipstick adorning the elder Uchiha's cheek. It was no mystery how the other man had gotten the mark, but the thought of Itachi Uchiha wearing pink anything still amused him endlessly.
Itachi sighed with an exasperated fondness as he poked Sasuke's forehead. "Foolish little brother, it's not my lipstick. It's Kurenai's." Though exasperation soon morphed into something far more horrifying, smugness. "I suppose you're old enough now that I should explain to you what men and women do on their honeymoons."
Sasuke scowled, rubbing his forehead. "Itachi, I'm not a child anymore. That's one explanation that I don't require. Where is my sister-in-law anyway?"
It had been three years and countless miracles since the war had ended. The biggest miracle of all was of course, Itachi's revival. The second was that the truth about the Uchiha Massacre was made public and the brothers were now allowed to live as they pleased. Finally, their family had grown in number by two.
Itachi had taken Kurenai as his wife and now had a stepdaughter named Mirai.
"Are you certain? I'm more than happy to explain such things." His brother only half masks a chuckle as his eyes danced with amusement. "Your journey has been a busy one and I doubt anyone ever really took the time to explain how one restores a Clan properly to you." He tilts his head as if considering the matter. "Well, I suppose Kakashi might have said something or given you some interesting reading material. Better him than Orochimaru at least."
Sasuke growled. He loved his brother more than anything, but Itachi was almost begging for a poorly aimed Chidori to be thrown at him. "I'm sure and I definitely wouldn't take advice from either of those two when it comes to such matters."
Kakashi was a cheerful deviant and Orochimaru was well, Orochimaru. The Sannin might have turned over a new leaf, but that didn't mean Sasuke was going to take his advice outside of anything that dealt with jutsus and battles.
"I can't blame you on Orochimaru, but Kakashi isn't a horrible place to get advice from when it comes to matters of the heart. He's a bachelor by choice." Itachi shrugged, the casual gesture at odds with the pure mirth written across his face. His brother could be rather sadistic when the mood struck him. Clearly, Itachi was enjoying taunting Sasuke. "As for your question, Kurenai is on her way to see Shikamaru. He was kind enough to watch Mirai during our Honeymoon. She likely won't be back for several hours."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, deciding it was a far wiser choice to focus on his sister-in-law than on the merits and demerits of Kakashi's seemingly eternal bachelorhood. "Why would it take that long to pick Mirai up? Is Shikamaru going to challenge her to Shogi?"
Shikamaru was a genius, but he was lazy. Of course he cared about Kurenai, but he'd probably be more interested in taking a nap, cloud watching, or doing whatever he did in his free time than badgering the Genjutsu Mistress for details about her honeymoon.
"He might, but I know women and more importantly, I know this village, Sasuke." Itachi smiled as if the answer should have been obvious. "This village loves nothing more than gossiping, especially when it comes to romance. My poor wife is likely going to be subjected to hours upon hours of well-intentioned interrogation."
Sasuke blinked. Itachi was right. "What you doing here then? Shouldn't you be helping her escape?"
Itachi was about to answer, when Sasuke heard a caw from nearby. He looked up and saw a messenger hawk descending upon the Uchiha District with a scroll attached to its talons.
"Kurenai is a Jonin. I think she can handle herself well enough against some curious friends." Itachi laughed as the hawk landed on his now outstretched arm. "Besides, women tend to enjoy such bonding rituals more than men on average."
He was probably right about that. Still, Sasuke shook his head as he untied the scroll from the hawk's foot. Upon reading it, Sasuke felt only confusion.
The letter made absolutely no sense.
To the Uchiha Clan,
I request your immediate presence at the Hyuga Estate at your earliest convenience there is a matter of great urgency that needs to be discussed. It concerns the future of both of our Clans.
Please send a messenger hawk back with the time you would like to convene. I would greatly appreciate both of your presence during this meeting.
Sincerely, Lord Hiashi Hyuga.
"Itachi, do you have any idea why Hiashi would want to talk to us?" Sasuke frowned, looking at the letter.
He'd never spoken to the man personally and Sasuke didn't think Itachi had either. While Sasuke had never been aware of any bad blood, it had always felt like an unspoken rule to give each other a wide berth.
No one had ever said why, but as he grew older, Sasuke assumed it was just the nature of their bloodlines. They both possessed visual prowess beyond that of most ninjas. It was better to just leave one another to their own devices than to start a bloody rivalry over which line was 'superior.'
"I may have an idea, but I never thought that the agreement would still be valid after all this time." Itachi grimaced and shot Sasuke an apologetic look. "There were so many unforeseen circumstances and it was agreed upon so long ago, that I never thought Hiashi would see fit to enforce it."
That look made Sasuke flinch. Whatever the agreement was, it couldn't be good. Itachi wouldn't look so guilty if it was. "Enforce what?"
"The match." His brother let out a shaky breath. "Years ago, Father and Mother thought it would be wise to cultivate closer ties between our family and our Sister Clan if you will. The easiest way to do so was through a marriage between our respective Clans' heirs."
Sasuke felt as though he had been struck through the gut with an unforgiving Kirin. When Itachi put it that way, it made perfect sense. There was just one problem.
"I can understand the logic of it, but it's no longer valid. You're already married. So, why bring it up at all?" One couldn't just nullify an existing marriage. Sasuke knew that much. Well, other than divorce.
Still, it seemed unlikely Hiashi Hyuga would try to force a divorce. After all, Kurenai had been Hinata's instructor. It'd create nothing but bad blood. Hiashi Hyuga struck Sasuke as many things, but he honestly couldn't say stupid was one of them.
"They were rather insistent on it being a thorough contract." Itachi poked Sasuke's forehead. "Seeing as I am already wed, the contract is still in effect, but the parties change. In most other circumstances, I would be the one marrying Hinata. Seeing as I'm already wed though, should this contract be enforced…you would take my place."
No, it wasn't just a Kirin. It was a complete Susanoo that had just smacked straight into his gut.
"You're saying that Hiashi wants me to marry Hinata?" Sasuke knew he was gaping like a fish now, but he couldn't help it. The idea was so…foreign that he could scarcely process it.
"I'm saying it's a possibility. Most likely, he'll want to invalidate the contract in a way that won't dishonor our Clans." Itachi nodded at Sasuke, probably hoping to reassure him. "He is the Head of his Clan and I lead our Clan. All we need to do is agree and that will be that, most likely."
Most likely. Wonderful. Now his fate and that of Hinata's was reduced to two key words. Most likely.
The next morning, Hinata tried in vain to calm her frayed nerves. She couldn't believe this. Any of it.
"Hinata, it's going to be alright." Kurenai smiled, placing her hand on Hinata's shoulder. "It will all work out. Your father only wants what's best for you and I'm sure Itachi feels the same way about Sasuke."
How her entire world had turned upside down in the span of less than twenty-four hours, Hinata wasn't certain. Even during the war, she had never felt so off balance.
"I know. I love my father. He's a good man and Itachi must be to for you to love him so." Hinata smiled every time she saw her Sensei and new her husband together.
It was impossible not to.
Still, that didn't solve her current predicament. Itachi and Kurenai were an exceptional match, but she and Sasuke were another matter. Her Sensei was married to his brother. That was really their only tie that bound them together outside of having attended the Academy together.
"I know you do and Itachi is." Kurenai shook her head as she held Hinata's hands in her own. "Just remember, Sasuke is likely just as shocked by all this as you are. Whatever happens, I'm sure that it will all work out. Besides, he might surprise you. Uchihas are a lot like roses."
The situation was a surreal one, but the irony of Kurenai's statement was not entirely lost on Hinata. The Hyuga Heiress couldn't help it, she laughed. "How are they like roses, Kurenai Sensei?"
The image of a flower was at odds of what little she knew about Sasuke Uchiha. She would have compared him to a wolf or a lion before a rose. Both were beautiful predators that were devoted to their families, but one would be a fool to try to hold either of them in the same manner they might a rose.
"Like roses, they're beautiful and dangerous. Though if one knows how to handle them properly, they you won't get scratched by the thorns. For instance, Itachi is a very fearsome ninja, but he becomes as cuddly as a kitten if you give him a shoulder massage."
Hinata burned scarlet at that. Kurenai might have given an innocent example, but their other friends been very insistent on acquiring the more intimate details of her Sensei's relationship with Itachi Uchiha. Suffice to say it wouldn't surprise the Hyuga Heiress at all if Mirai became a big sister in the very near future.
"That's nice, Kurenai Sensei." Hinata looked at herself in the mirror, trying to will her blush to go away. "I don't think shoulder rubs will work on Sasuke, though."
"You never know until you try." The Genjutsu Mistress smiled, brushing Hinata's hair in a manner that conjured half forgotten memories of her own mother doing the same when she was still a small child. "In any case, we should probably get going. Your father will be expecting us and the boys will be here soon."
The boys. Hinata almost laughed again. The label was far too casual to describe the last two male members of the Uchiha Clan. Kurenai and Mirai being the only female members due to marriage.
"I guess you're right. They're probably on their way here now." The hawk had arrived late last night stating the Uchiha Brothers would be arriving in the morning. Hinata was blessed that her Sensei had decided to come before her husband and brother-in-law. It had done wonders to soothe her nerves for a time, but there was precious little time to delay the inevitable any longer. "Byakugan."
Thanks to her own bloodline, Hinata could see the brothers were on their way. Both were dressed in formal attire and most strangely of all, Sasuke Uchiha was carrying a bunch of lavender roses in his arms.
