A/N: Well, here we are. I've had a rough draft of this story on my hard drive for years and finally decided to follow through with it it. Its definitely new for me writing a Sasu/Hina story. But, its good to get out of the old comfort zone every now and then. So rather than me get long winded with my notes, ( I'm not getting paid by the word after all, wait a minute, I'm not getting paid at all!) on with the story!

The Family

"Sasuke-kun?...Sasuke-kun? Sasuke!"

The shrill sound of his assistant's voice suddenly jarred him from his slumber and jolting into an upright position in his leather seat. His office was pitch black, save for the florescent lighting of his monitor and the light that enter from behind his assistant.

"What is it, Karin?" he all but seethed lowly as he ran his hands through his midnight hair and straightened his slightly ruffled dress shirt. It would seem he'd fallen asleep at his desk, not an unusual occurrence after pouring over profit and loss reports and watching a stock ticker for hours. Such was the life of Uchiha Sasuke, Executive Vice President of Tomoe Capital financial securities division.

"I'm sorry to wake you, but you're scheduled to have dinner with Sarutobi-sama and-"

"Give him my apologies, we'll reschedule for next week." responded the young man, his stern and stoic tone effectively cutting his assistant's sentence short before she elaborated unnecessarily.

"Forgive me Sasuke-kun but, we've rescheduled this meeting three times in the last two weeks...your father has expressed his...displeasure with this fact. Many times." her usually level voice diminished as she mentioned the company's patriarch, knowing full well that it could draw the ire of the youngest Uchiha.

"Do you work for my father, or do you work for me, Karin?" snapped Sasuke his own displeasure with her becoming evident as he rose from his seat and made his way towards her.

"Technically I-y-you, of course Sasuke-kun. I was only trying..."

"Give the old man my regards, I'll be indisposed tonight." he responded, grabbing his forgotten blazer and briefcase as he made for the door, only stopping to stare down the redhead blocking his path.

"H-hai, what should I tell him?" she asked dreading the earful she'd receive from the the old man's own assistant if not from himself. Karin found herself shrinking slightly as the young Uchiha towered over her somewhat menacingly. Though she also couldn't help but blush at their proximity, he was one of the most dashing men in her eyes, and arguably one of Tokyo's most eligible bachelors after all.

"Tell him I've more pressing matters for all I care." he droned, finally annoyed with her inquiries as he brushed past her and into the now empty office. Quickly scanning his watch for the time, he made for the elevator. "Keep your phone on you, should I have need of your assistance this evening."

"O-of course, Sasuke-kun!" the redhead's face turned bright red as her mind ran wild with all sorts of scenarios she could assist her employer with as she watched his retreating back.

It didn't take long before Sasuke was in the parking garage and inside the luxurious interior of his midnight black sports car. He briefly examined the countless texts he'd received from business associates, colleagues, associates, and friends, if you could call them that, before tossing it into the plush leather passenger seat. Everyone wanted something of him, wanted him to expand their own wealth or clout, but few truly cared. Such was the life of an Uchiha. He came across a notification from his closest friend in the short scan , the small text was enough to bring a smirk to his lips.

"Teme! If I catch you speeding around Downtown tonight, I will arrest your ass!"

"You can try." Sasuke toned, smirking all the while before starting his engine and pressing on the gas several times, receiving a satisfying roar. It wasn't long before he was doing just as he was instructed not to through the neon tinted streets of Tokyo. This was where he was at his best, barreling down the streets at what Lieutenant Uzumaki would consider illegal speeds to one of his few haunts. To a place where he could be relatively alone and unbothered by the affairs of the day.

The Lazy Cat.

A quaint dive bar, or at least it was one once upon a time, until Uchiha Sasuke gained notoriety, both in the business world and in the public eye. Though, he always had a parking spot. Slowly he exited his vehicle, greeted by the usual flash of camera's and clamoring admirers before bypassing the long line and entering the establishment. The once unassuming sign with the businesses namesake had now been replaced with an oversized neon sign of a lounging cat. While he didn't agree with the changes one hundred percent, he still had a sense of loyalty to the place.

"Tamaki, Nekobaa." Sasuke greeted, sauntering passed the two slightly harried women working behind the bar. "I assume you have everything set for me?"

"Tch, blowing another meeting off, Sasuke?" questioned the wizened woman, shuffling her way around the bar to properly greet the young man with a hug he reluctantly accepted.

"Hn, I came to see you, of course. You're the only thing important to me tonight." he teased loud enough to be heard over the thumping music from the club below.

"There's that Uchiha charm. She mocked jokingly before ushering him towards the private rooms on the upper floors. His room was decked wall to wall with lavish amenities, soundproof walls, marble floors, rich full grain leather lounge seating, large solid oak table, private bathroom, all styled with hues of black, midnight blue, white, and red. The Uchiha Hideout, as it was commonly referred to by patrons and the gossiping public alike. "I assume you'll want some 'companionship' as well?"

Sasuke shrugged at this as he settled into the leather and grabbed the empty heavy bottomed glass that was awaiting him, "I suppose someone should serve me."

"Tamaki will send someone up. I don't understand what you kids are into anymore." grumbled the elder before leaving the apathetic man to his own devices.

Such was the life of Uchiha Sasuke. Extravagant in all aspects. Though Sasuke had long since grown bored with the trappings that his family's wealth and notoriety afforded him. He was never left wanting and he excelled at his job, but still he found little happiness in it all. Granted he was never the most cheerful person, at least, not since his adolescence. Now the only "happiness" he experienced was when he was half drunk and alone.


As the sun rose on Tokyo in the wee hours of the morning a calming piano tune played from the cellphone on the night stand and roused the sleeping mass beneath cream colored sheets, giving way to delft blue tufts of hair. The groggy woman blindly silenced the song and sat up, stretching all the while as she was greeted by the few rays of sun that spilled through the blinds and into the bedroom. Ever a creature of habit, she went about her routine of exercise, hygiene, and tea with breakfast. Enjoying the calm of her solitary morning, Hinata listened to the ambient sound of the news passively from her small dining table.

"The weather will be a crisp fifty-five degrees during the day and a slightly chilly forty-five this evening. Perfect for an autumn stroll... In entertainment news, EVP of Tomoe Capital was seen out on the town at his favorite watering hole, The Lucky Cat in Downtown Tokyo. Patrons of the establishment claim to have witnessed an altercation between another customer, Uchiha Sasuke, and an unknown woman that spilled onto the streets late last night. Neither party could be reached for comment."

The lavender eyed woman frowned at the sound of the news. Sakura was sure to be incensed by the news. It wasn't an uncommon occurrence for Sasuke's name to be brought up within the gossip segment of the news in the past few months. Be it for some form of indiscretion or for some famous model or J-pop star he was spotted with. The antics she caught wind of weren't all that dissimilar from those of her younger sister, Hanabi. Still, Sasuke's escapades did concern her, somewhat. They had been close friends when they were children, their families being the root reason for that, having both come from affluent backgrounds. They had since become borderline acquaintances. But she couldn't get wrapped up in the goings on of other people's lives, she had her own to live after all. The very thought of what the day would entail drowned out the otherwise pleasant morning. She was to hold a recitation class of her own on the finer points of behavioral psychology and cognition. But that wasn't all. Afterwords, she would have to hold a research study on apathetic students who simply wanted to make some extra money to spend on the weekend and couldn't care less for behavioral psychology, or simply needed the credits. Within an instant, her day had gone from idyllic to grim. Now that the anxiety had set in, she found herself rushing through the rest her routine, dressing herself in a sensible pair of heels and a pencil skirt, a cream colored blouse and dark blazer, and minimal cosmetics, before rushing out of her apartment with loose lesson plans and worksheets trailing in her wake. By the time she finally arrived, she herself was one minute fifty-three seconds late to her class, for which she had to apologize for another minute and fifty-three seconds. Give or take a few seconds.

She was one year into her Masters program, and while she was elated to be that much closer to her goal of being a licensed Behavioral Psychologist, she was frightened everyday she had to stand in front of students and colleagues alike orating for hours at a time. Needless to say she'd come a long way from being the girl most people believed to be mute. It didn't help that her name preceded her wherever she went. The "other" Hyuuga princess. That weird girl. Tokyo Princess. She'd heard it all and suffered all the looks and whispers that followed her all through her life. This was just another saga in the tale of Hyuuga Hinata.


"You're frowning, dear." mused the middle aged woman, humming a sweet tune as she fussed about the spacious kitchen, fixing herself and companion their morning tea.

"Hn." grunted to seemingly irate man as he skimmed through the days newspaper in the usual fashion. Headline, politics, business, before stopping on the entertainment section.

"You're always frowning. What is it now?" she joked, making her own fun of teasing her husband.

"It's our son, Mikoto." he sighed, dropping the news paper before pinching the bridge of his nose in an attempt to preempt his impending headache.

"Itachi?" she questioned, her jet black hair swishing to the side when she turned her head abruptly, worry etched on her face.

"Sasuke..."

"Oh dear. I'm sure it is just sensationalized news. Sasuke-" she began, her voice growing even more worried for her youngest.

"Is still a child. A boy is leading everything we've worked for down a path to ruin."

"You're being overly dramatic, just like the news."

"He rescheduled his meeting with Sarutobi-san again, for this." he all but snapped, holding the article his second born son was featured in. A grainy photo of the young Uchiha and a young woman on his arm, with his fists clenched, standing above another man outside of a bar. Onlookers galore watching the spectacle with their phones out, none to Uchiha Fugaku's pleasure. To this, Mikoto's mouth opened and closed several times as if she were forming a rebuttal but none her rational mind would allow past her lips. This wasn't the first time Sasuke's indiscretions had drawn such ire from his father, in fact, it happened on a near weekly basis.

"Should I call him so you can have words with him then? she asked, her own lips curling into a frown matching her husbands as she scrutinized the article, carefully clutching his shoulder. "Koishi?"

"No. It's time I dealt with this." with that, the Uchiha elder rose to his feet and made his way out of the kitchen, "I'm not going to allow him to talk his way out of this foolishness any longer."

"Oh Sasuke. Who even is this girl?" she questioned out loud examining the photo further with pursed lips. "Can't you find yourself a nice girl?"


The young bachelor himself stirred from his drunken haze mid afternoon to the smell of smoke. Twisting in his sheets towards the direction of the offensive smell, he collided with smooth bare skin. Slowly his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the sun that spilled through his open blinds as he tried to discern whose silhouette the heady odor belonged to, but all he could make out was long red hair.

"Karin? Did you drug me last night?" he questioned, groggily pulling himself into a seated position, finding that he was completely nude, same as his companion who only continued smoking and staring out his bedrooms floor to ceiling windows and down at the bustling city.

"Tch, cheeky bastard. As if I'd have to drug a man to get them into bed with me. And whoever this Karin woman is, sounds like a real creep." the brash voice responded, stamping out her cigarette against the window before roughly pulling his navy sheets off the bed to cover her naked body. "I'll grab my things and go. I've got all I need."

"W-what?" Sasuke stammered in confusion. No woman had ever spoke to him like that before, much less after a night the likes of which they just shared. He couldn't be exactly sure what kind of night it had been however. He watched her swiftly garb her discarded clothes before disappearing out of his bedroom, a slam of his front door following the sudden exit. She was a lithe little thing, but toned in all the right places. He definitely did not know her or remember leaving the bar with her. Sasuke rubbed his temples and blindly grabbed his phone on the bedside table. Ten missed calls, seven from the actual Karin, one from an unknown number, one from Sakura, and one from his mother.

"Kuso." he whispered in the emptiness of his bedroom as he ran his hands through his hair. He was careless and brought home some random woman. She probably robbed him blind in the process. Haphazardly rummaging through his discarded slacks, he was surprised to find all of his credit cards and cash exactly where he vaguely remembered leaving them. "What the hell did she mean, she got all she needed?" he wondered aloud.

Pushing the thought aside he rushed through his daily routine, even went as far as cutting his precious shower short. The only plus side of being so late to work was that he didn't have to compete with rush hour traffic. By the time he was in the elevator up to his office it was well past two and Karin was pacing back and forth through the entire office. It was actually quite comical to watch her soundlessly panic through the glass partition between the lobby and the office, her arms flailing to and fro, occasionally stopping to yell at an analyst or a financial adviser along the way.

"Sasuke-kun! You're alive!" exclaimed the secretary, quickly catching herself before she threw her arms around her. He'd already threatened filing a sexual harassment once, she really didn't want to give him a reason to actually follow through.

"Why wouldn't I be? Did my father order me to be executed last night?" he half joked on the stroll to his office, slightly unnerved by how bright the florescent lighting seemed this particular afternoon. He only realized that she hadn't laughed or assured him that such was not the case when he reached for his office's doorknob. "Karin?"

"Ano...he hasn't technically ordered you be executed, but..."

"Karin..."

"...He called an emergency board meeting this morning because of you were in the news again!" she blurted out, quickly backing away, not one hundred percent sure how he would react. Sometimes the mere mention of his father elicited a very sour disposition from the Uchiha, other times he just shrugged it off. Sasuke could only sigh at the new information. It wasn't unusual for a night on the town to prompt his old man to rally the troops, but it never amounted to much. After all, he could never complain about his performance when it came to the job. He kept this company in the black with all of his business savvy and foresight. He got the job done no matter the cost, who cared how he conducted himself outside the office?

"Let him bark all he wants. The board is welcome to reprimand me if they see fit." he shot back nonchalantly as he sauntered into his office and sat in his chair, noting that he had three times as many messages on this phone as on his cell. It wasn't until he turned his computer on that he realized how much more dire the situation may have been. He bared his teeth and narrowed his eyes at the stock ticker refreshing on his monitor before snarling, "Get me Sarutobi. Now."

The demand was swiftly met in the same fashion in which he dealt with the elder the previous night. It wasn't until the third call that he'd finally reached him. "Sarutobi-san, we need to talk."

"I would say so, Sasuke." countered the gruff older gentlemen. "Would this have something to do with the pressing business you had to attend to last night that kept you from our meeting? Perhaps it has something to do with me selling my shares in Ajinomoto, despite your wise council?"

Sasuke could practically taste the sarcasm, and it only fueled his anger more, but he wouldn't be good at his job if he lost his head over every slight a client committed against him. "I would say it was done out of spitefulness actually."

"I'm sorry you feel as such. I can assure you it was purely strategic."

"Strategic you say? I thought we had an understanding. My analysts have done the legwork on this investment, and after months of planning have determined that Ajinomoto is going to release their report of their new protein in two days time. My intel assures me that they are nothing but positive. The shares will be worth well over five percent what the current market values them at. At the volume invested, we stand to make hundreds of millions, even if we shorted the sale."

"Hai, we did have an understanding. But this is the more measured approach. The more mature approach. My own board has agreed wholeheartedly with me in my decision, and we intend to have all of our shares sold...within the hour."

"You intend to make the shares worthless. You intend to send the market into a panic and drive the shares into the dirt." despite the grim situation, Sasuke hid the distress that came with it well, even going as far as to kick his feet up on his desk and lean back into his seat. "I've never steered you wrong Sarutobi-san, nor has my father. And he's entrusted me with your business. I insist you reconsider."

This business was ninety percent actual business knowledge, having the right capital; both physically and intellectually, and ten percent tact. That asset was valued above all. If your adversary thought he had you bent over a barrel, let him. When their guard was down, show them no mercy. The long silence all but assure Sasuke that the old man would not reconsider this act of aggression. "If I cannot sway you then I suppose I have no other recourse but to assume that our business is concluded."

"Quite. Give your father my regards. I'm sure he will respect my decision."

"Hn." with that the obsidian eyed man hung up, none too gently as well. He wasn't surprised, especially not in this business, but to think the simple act of buying and selling stock in a company that essentially manufactured corn syrup would be the end of a partnership that preceded his own tenure as EVP. Sarutobi was an honorable man, but this business brought the worst out of everyone, even supposed allies. Everyone wanted a piece of you, what better way to get said piece than to hack away your hands? Sasuke rose to his feet and walked out into the bullpen. All eyes landed on him, well aware of the impending loss that seemed unavoidable. "Liquidate all Ajinomoto assets. Put option strike price."

The silence that rang through the air prompted him to repeat his demand as such this time much more forcefully, "Sell it all, now." his response was met with that of a near deafening chorus of ringing phones and frantic chatter. If he could not outright convince the old man that his plan was folly he would head him off at the pass. Being the genius investor he was, Sasuke never invested without hedging his bets, no matter how tipped the odds were in his favor. Little did the old ma know, the broker Sasuke had used for his end of the endeavor had long since been a rival of both Tomoe Capital and Konoha Asset Management. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, after all.

It wasn't long before his cellphone rang, as expected. "Speak, Orochimaru."

"Sasuke-kun." cooed the serpentine like voice on the other end. "I'm glad to see you've decided to avail yourself of my, services."

"I want it done within the hour."

"But of course. I can't wait to see the look on Sarutobi-san's face when his loss becomes our gain."

"Hn. Just get it done." Sasuke sounded flatly as he hung up, he had no love for the man, but he had his uses. Everyone had their uses. "Karin!"

"Yes Sasuke-kun?" pipped the redhead, bouncing from her seat and into his office with her usual haste.

"Get me this newspaper I'm supposedly in. And something for this hangover, please."


Seven men sat around a long sandalwood table in a boardroom, all of their alabaster eyes watching the grim scene displayed on the large television on the wall. Little by little they could see everything they'd built slowly begin to topple.

"I can't believe this...how much?" toned the middle aged man that sat at the head of the table, his gaze hardening with each passing second and each downward tick of the stocks.

"We estimate we'll lose approximately ¥350,000,000 by the end of the day at this rate, Hisashi-sama." responded a younger member of the board after a moment of hesitation.

"...Unacceptable, can we offset the lose in any way?" responded the patriarch, his icy white gaze scanning the room for answers.

"We could sell our shares as well to cushion the blow, but our assets in America will suffer as well. A ripple effect if you will." suggested a more senior member of the Hyuuga clan. "Our clients will want answers, the most we can do now is survive the day."

"Damn them. The Uchiha's sneeze and the rest of us get sick." cursed the patriarch, his temper finally flaring as he slammed his palms on the thick solid wood table. He had run this business for decades, and his father before him. He would not allow his family to fall because some up jumped boy king had a bad day.

"Might I suggest throwing our hat in with them. It seems the most-" sounded a diminutive voice beside the head of the clan.

"And betray Sarutobi? You're a mad man!

"We'll be even worse off!

"They only care for themselves!"

The resounding dissension filled the room and only created more chaos as the stock continued to fall lower and lower. There was a bittersweet truth to both sides of that argument, but inaction would only guaranteed ruin at this point.

"This is no betrayal. This is survival. In the old days such a thing was dealt with in less shady manners, be it a battle of bloodshed or a mutual alliance." elaborated the elder slowly rising to his feet and turning to stared out the window at the bustling metropolis below. "Be it a seat on this very board, a stake in this company..."

An alliance? The thought hadn't crossed his mind. The Uchiha family had always been titans of industry, while they had only become more and more of an inconsequential player on the field over the years. This latest disaster putting all but the last nail in their proverbial coffin. Hiashi, closed his eyes and folded his arms in an effort to drown out the opposing voices and gain some clarity on the situation

"What could we possibly offer them that they could not simply take for themselves?" clearly the youngest board member, Ko, saw the hypothetical solution his colleague offered to be ill-conceived.

"Their son is a wild thing. Equal parts fearless, untamed, and brilliant. If there's anything I've learned in my many years, it's that nothing reins in a man like an honest woman."

"You forget yourself, Hanatoro-san. We're businessmen, not pimps. Besides, the boy can have any woman he wants. If the tabloids are to be believed." he retorted, "Hiashi-sama, I urge you to liquidate the asset before it is too late."

"All of whom he could simply throw away without severe consequence. An honest woman with a reputable surname is what he needs."

"Are you proposing what I think you are? That we bind the Uchihas to us in business with an arranged marriage?"

"Such a thing is not unheard of, even today." with this, the senior board member turned to face his constituents, "You have two daughters, Hiashi-sama. Both unwed and capable. Your heir, Hanabi is a confident young woman of similar temperament. She has been groomed to take over this company ever since you named her your heir over your eldest."

"You would give them control of this company? My company?" questioned Hiashi, now skeptical as to whether or not Hanatoro was truly going senile.

"The heiress has a strong will and a kind heart. She understands that Gentle Fist Investments must be run by a member of our clan and would never allow an Uchiha to lord over all that her father has built."

"You can't honestly be considering this, Hiashi-sama. We cannot entrust Sasuke with even an ounce of control at present, much less the future of this company!"

"You are out of line, Ko." reprimanded the staunch CEO as he rose to his feet finally, "I will consider all that I need to, and I will do whatever I deem necessary to save this company. Now sell the damn stock and be done with it."

"Of course, sumimasen Hiashi-sama." rising to his feet as well and bowing lowly. The rest of the board followed suit in showing their superior the proper respect as he left them. Despite how they may have felt about what he was considering to save their very livelihoods, the Hyuuga's were nothing without their respect for authority and tradition.


Fugaku sat in his office seemingly staring off into space, but in reality he was running through all of the ways he could teach his youngest son a lesson. The last fifteen or so punishment's merely stemmed his misbehavior, but now a solution was needed. His antics had provoked a powerful ally, and while even he had to admit his son handled the crisis masterfully, enough was enough. It was only a matter of time before he drove their firm into the fringes of the financial world. You were only as good as your word in this world, and when the words written just happened to be "risky, volatile, and questionable leadership" you had to make a change before it was too late. It didn't help that the board wanted nothing to do with the situation. They were all to willing to write off his late night activities as tabloid gossip despite the proof and how frequently the young Uchiha appeared in the entertainment section. He was a leader, his heir, not a sideshow clown.

"Excuse me, Uchiha-san. You have a visitor." announced his secretary through his intercom.

"If it's another concerned client give them my apologies. I'm too busy."

"It's Hyu-"

"Uchiha-san, excuse me for showing up unannounced." toned the sharply dressed executive, all but barging into the spacious office despite the assistant's attempts to halt his advance. "I hope I haven't caught you at a bad time."

Granted, it was hard to tell with the gentlemen perpetual frown. The stoic man rose to his feet and wordlessly signaled for the third wheel to leave the two alone. "Of course not, Hiashi. Please, take a seat."

The two men sat in silence for some time, a custom between them as old as their "friendship". Even when the assistant returned with tea for them they continued to size one another up. Fugaku was the first to speak, "I assume this unexpected visit, has something to do with my son."

"Your son has a penchant for upsetting many people simultaneously, if we're to be frank,"

"Myself included." retorted the obsidian eyed man, take a measured sip of his tea while his companion merely sat there. He always found the Hyuuga's to be an odd bunch. So stifled by tradition, and those eyes. It was as if they were always looking through you."I understand today's volatility is far from what either of us expected or intended. I apologize for-"

"Excuse me Fugaku-san, I mean no disrespect, but I did not come here for sympathy. I came out of necessity." Even with the pleasantry, the interruption did not sit well with the Uchiha. "What I'm here for concerns the both of us. Concerns the survival of our legacy's, and our good names."

"Surely you aren't suggesting something illegal? Collusion of that sort would spell the end for both of our businesses."

"Financially, yes. But our concerns are not solely based on our profit margins." the albescent eyed man slowly sipped his tea as he finalized how he would convey his somewhat indecent proposal. One unintended word could spell disaster for the Hyuuga's. "This debacle was brought on by your son. His...lack of professionalism is costing you money and allies."

"He is costing my allies money as well." added Fugaku, using his latent Uchiha tact.

"I count myself among said allies. If this continues it won't be long before Tomoe Capital has neither left."

"And by the same token, Gentle Fist Investments will share the same fate."

"And therein lies our mutual problem."

"Hiashi. If you intend to lecture me on how I should handle my business—much less my own child, you are severely out of line."

"Never, I was merely prefacing my proposal."

This got the usually stone faced man to quirk an eyebrow. Why would the CEO and President of a lesser firm even deign to believe they could offer something that would entice him? "Go on."

Where the Uchiha's had keen business sense when it came to foresight, the Hyuuga's were unmatched when it came to having an acute sense of uncovering vulnerability in those they dealt with. They never rose to the heights they believed they were destined for because they lacked what the Uchiha's excelled at, and vice-versa, to an extent.

"Your son, he is a brilliant operator. Cunning, ruthless, but lacking the one thing that makes a good operator a great one.

"I'm waiting for your proposal, Hyuuga-san."

"Your son needs a woman. A good woman with the right surname. Not some flyby night girl who would only aid your son in sullying your good name."

This was certainly enough to get the Uchiha patriarch's stoic gaze to falter somewhat as his eyes widened in surprise. In a way, the proposal was genius. "I see. I can only assume one of you're own daughters is that good woman. Which are you offering?"

Now it was the Hyuuga's turn to be surprised. Was he testing him to see if he was being serious? Was this a joke to him? Regardless, it was time to put up or shut up. In actuality, he hadn't truly thought out which daughter he believed could both preserve the Hyuuga family business and rein in the young Uchiha to his fathers standards. Hanabi was the logical answer. She was the heiress after all, but she was young and with a disposition to match. Hiashi had as much need to control her as Fugaku had for his own offspring. But joining two heirs and subsequently the two companies in matrimony could be too close to collusion for the SEC. Then there was his oldest, Hinata. Despite being somewhat of a disappointment with her choice of profession and innocuous temperament, she was the epitome of a good woman. Bright minded, and a vision with more suitors than he would happily admit.

"Hinata is your eldest, no?" questioned Fugaku when he could wait no longer for his guests response. "She and my son had a history in their adolescence, do you think she would make a suitable wife for him?

"She's an astute young woman. Mild mannered and...desirable in the eyes of many suitors. She has a kind heart and would bring balance to your sons life."

"My son has little use for a kind heart, he has a mother for that. And he doesn't need another beautiful woman to merely hang off his arm. What he needs is a woman who will challenge him. Can she stand up to my son and be an equal in his eyes?"

The gall. Just like an Uchiha to take a good willed offer as an insult. Here Hiashi was, degrading himself to damn near selling his daughter to the competition as a means of survival, and he was scrutinizing her like a piece a meat. The head of the Hyuuga clan had more than half a mind to storm out at the slight, but he knew that would only steel the Uchiha's resolve that the Hyuuga's were not the family he should bind their livelihood to.

"My daughter has come a long way from what she once was. She is a determined woman, and while she may know when to hold her tongue, she is not without a bite of her own. I have no doubt that she is more than a challenge for your son."

The silence returned after Hiashi's ardent affirmation, as Fugaku not only sized him up, but actually internalized his words. He remembered Hinata, not well, be he knew she was a quiet girl of little consequence. Even more so after she'd lost her heiress status, but her father spoke true. She had all but been disowned by the man, but she continued down her desired path. She was resilient-patient if nothing else. His own son lacked that patience, perhaps she would be an adequate match for him after all.

"Thank you, Hiashi-san. I will take your proposal into consideration." spoke the eldest Uchiha, feigning disinterest as he rose to his feet and held out his palm. His co-conspirator rose as well and took that hand, firmly shaking it and bowing respectfully. "We will be in touch, have no doubt."

"Thank you for your time, Fugaku-san. Give Mikoto my regards." and with that he excused himself, somewhat in a daze about what had just transpired. Was his Hinata truly going to become Uchiha Hinata? His stomach couldn't help but churn at the thought.


She had survived another day. Hinata bid farewell to the last of her research subjects and began gathering her things before she breathed a sigh of relief. She briefly glanced at her phone to check the time, they entire day had escaped her. Despite her lessons late start, it wasn't what drained most of her day. He research study had began later than intended through no fault of her own. The majority of her subjects had arrived late, some later than others and forced her to reiterate the procedure over and over again. What was worse than constantly having to repeat yourself to strangers when you were a socially awkward and anxious person? And now she would have to endure another bout of anxiety as she was late for coffee with a colleague. Hastily she jammed her papers into her attaché and rushed out of the classroom, nearly colliding with a professor.

"Gomen Shizune-sama!" she called back as she slipped between the closing doors of the elevator. As the lift began its descent, her phone rang.

"H-hello?"

"Hinata-chan! Where are you? I'm going to be late for my shift at the hospital!"

"Gomen, Sakura-chan. My class ran late, but I'm on my way now." apologized the lavender eyed woman, hastily working her way through the university atrium and out onto quad. The crisp autumn breeze tousled her blue-black hair and sent a shiver down her spine. In her haste early that morning, she had neglected to bring a coat. The sun had begun to set and Hinata had to cover her eyes as she crossed the street to reach the coffee shop she'd agreed to meet Sakura at. As she crossed the threshold into the establishment, the roar of car engine and screeching tires could be heard pssed behind her. The sound alone was enough to get her to cringe and look towards the deafening sound only to catch a glimpse of the midnight vehicle before it disappeared out of sight quickly.

"Hinata! Over here!" called the pinkette waving her hand, drawing her friends attention finally. It had been some time since they'd seen each other, much less have time to sit down and chat. "I hope you down mind, I ordered you your favorite.

"Thank you Sakura-chan." Hinata took her seat across from her old friend with a smile, before sipping her vanilla mocha latte, only slightly burning her lips in the process. "Sorry again for being late."

"It's alright, I know we're both busy nowadays. How are classes going?"

"W-well, they're going well." she assured with a cheerful smile, "I'm learning a lot and my s-students..."

"You don't have to lie for them, Hinata-chan." affirmed Sakura, knowing Hinata was too sweet to tell her the whole truth about what vial wretches undergrad students could be, before taking a rather large swig of her heavily sweetened coffee. "I know I could never be a teacher, I don't know how you do it."

Hinata blushed at the compliment, she was never good with praise, even from a close friend. She glanced around the coffee shop and pressed her index fingers together, a nervous tick, before she spoke. "T-they can be rude at times." she leaned forward and lowered her voice before continuing, "The girls all give me l-looks, and the boys, they s-stare at my..."

Sakura couldn't help but give the flustered Hyuuga a cheshire grin as she leaned across the table and whispered, "I don't blame them." despite her flippant way of praising her friends "assets", Sakura couldn't be more jealous of her ample bosom.

"Sakura!" she half yelled in embarrassment before struggling to hide said assets underneath her blazer.

"Sorry, Hinata. I couldn't resist." apologized doing a poor job of stifling her giggles. "Ahem. In all seriousness, men are pigs. Sasuke included."

Just as the lavender eyed woman thought, Sakura was indeed peeved about the news regarding her old flame. It was true, they had dated once upon a time, probably the longest relationship either of them had ever had, but it ended some time ago. When Sasuke became the newly crowned Executive Vice President of his fathers company and she threwi herself head first into the residency she'd worked hard for and had always dreamed of, the twos conflicting schedules eventually spelled the end for them as a couple. But every one of their friends knew she still held a torch for the man, always had, ever since they were children.

"I can't believe he's getting into bar fights. Tch, so juvenile."

"Well, you can't believe everything you see on the news, or read in the paper." defended the Hyuuga, always wanting to give someone the benefit of the doubt, such was her nature.

"Maybe, it's just...I don't know. I worry about him, you know?" her mood turning somber suddenly as she ran her hand through her rosy locks, her own nervous tick. "He's getting worse. He's been on this downward spiral ever since...Itachi. What do you think, you're the psychologist after all."

"S-Sakura, I-I couldn't p-possibly begin to..." she stammered, ever uncomfortable to be put in the hot seat. While she had briefly pondered the Uchiha's change in behavior over the years, it was not within her area of expertise necessarily. Even though she had known him almost all of her life, her focus of study wasn't the analysis of peoples behaviors, just the defining theoretical factors that drove them. A point of contention shared with her younger sister and father as to the utility of such a profession. "Sasuke is...complicated, just like anyone else, Sakura-chan."

"You don't know the half of it." sighed the med student as she took a final swing of her lukewarm beverage and rising from her seat, "I've got to run Hinata, or Tsunade-sama is going to bite my head off. It was nice see you again."

"It was nice Sakura-chan. Please, don't be a stranger." she followed suit and grabbed her belongings, sharing a hug with her old friend before leaving the coffee shop. She reluctantly agreed to a photo with the cherry headed woman to commemorate the occasion, and perhaps motivate the rest of their friends to step away from their busy schedules to reconnect. It was now largely dark outside when she emerged, but Hinata didn't live far from the university so as she did many a day, decided to walk home. When it wasn't too late, she enjoyed the stroll home. The cover of darkness gave her an odd sense of anonymity and thus, time to herself to think. Despite not being a public figure she had very recognizable features, and as such was easily recognized as Hyuuga Hinata, daughter to a very wealthy family, and sister to the heiress/model/entrepreneur, Hyuuga Hanabi.

Her mind wandered back to her conversation with Sakura as she rounded the corner. And back to Sasuke. He had indeed changed, definitely for the worse, over the last few years. To a casual observer it would most likely be summarized as a response to newfound responsibility, stress, and wealth. While financial security did play a role in behavior, in accordance to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, it played a more simplistic role in ones behavior and drove the more defining psychological desires to a lesser extent. Just as she had told Sakura, Sasuke was complex like everyone else. Though she did have a theory of understanding that complexity, stemming from trauma of some sort. This theory was to be the main focus of her doctoral thesis, but she had yet to find sufficient case studies to prove out her argument. He was a dark and brooding enigma, the likes of which probably wouldn't accept being the centerpiece of her to be published work. In the cover of darkness Hinata frowned, her thesis was a constant worry of hers, but she knew she'd find a way to power through it. Hopefully she would find the way before it was too late.


It wasn't too far past Sasuke's usual hour of arriving home when he pulled into the parking garage and into his private spot. As he locked his door and made his way to the elevator his briefcase caught the thick fabric of the canvas tarp covering the vehicle the beside his own. He paused momentarily and stared at the scratched and tarnished black siding, probably for longer than a normal person would. His features hardened as he roughly adjust the tarp before making his way to the elevator. The day had been eventful enough with investors panicking as the days events played out around them, the onyx eyed man being their only lifeline. Though all in all it played out just as he anticipated. Even more favorably than expects. Sarutobi sold his shares as expected, losing more than half his investment in the process, and while the stocks plummeted, Sasuke recouped his investment, only losing out by a small margin. Though it would all work to his benefit when he repurchased at the newly deflated price tomorrow morning. With Tomoe Capital's good faith and credit placed in the faltering company, the corporation would continue with its plans to unveil the results of their new product and in turn, the market would correct itself netting those aligned with him a hefty return on investment. All in a days work for Uchiha Sasuke. Sighing as he placed his briefcase on the floor beside the front door of his penthouse, the stoic man strolled through the dimly lit space with a clouded mind. With all that had occurred during the day, it was the lack of response that irked him. His father had not said as much as a word to him, nor had his mother for that matter. He may have known that the man was cross with him, but he was far more accustomed to getting an earful from him after an indiscretion. Receiving not so much as a vocal condemnation of his actions was enough to make the usually tense Uchiha even stiffer. It was enough the drive the youngest Uchiha to drink. Sasuke found himself aimlessly scrolling through his phone as he sipped his twenty-one year old Hibiki and lounged on his sofa. Missed calls, voicemails, emails, appointment reminders, the news. None of the distractions seemed to assuage his mind, in fact, they only added to his concerns. He found himself scrutinizing the photo the paparazzi had snapped of him that previous evening. Or more specifically, scrutinizing the picture of the woman by his side. She had been the same woman he woke up beside in the morning. The same crass woman who claimed to have "gotten what she needed" before abruptly leaving. His intrigue piqued, he perused the only place he could think of that contained photos of attractive woman his age. Instagram. Admittedly he never used the app, having only downloaded it years ago at Sakura's behest so she could "tag" each other in photos together. He had no posts, no profile picture, and only a handful of followers on his private account. The last thing he needed was fangirls stalking him digitally, after all. He may have been too tired, too preoccupied, or too tipsy to realize how nonsensical such an attempt to find a single person would be through the social media application. In his half baked investigation to find the woman, he inadvertently found himself scrolling aimlessly. Photos of Ino's holiday in Valencia Spain among thousands of vibrant flowers, Kiba with his faithful hound on a stroll, Rock Lee with his Field Training Officer and mentor Gai, both flashing bright smiles and thumbs up, but what caught his eye was new post from Sakura featuring, "Hinata."

The name passed his slips effortlessly as he paused on the snapshot. Though it wasn't her appearance or presence that caught his eye. It was an innate curse that he had; constantly analyzing the minute details in everything to form a narrative, after all, it was part of his job. The Hyuuga's were a staunch supported of Konoha Asset Management, and to a lesser extent Tomoe Capital. But to hear that they; or rather, not hear from them was questionable at best. Again his fascination grew at the growing unknowns. Hiashi would never treat with him, preferring to go to his father for more direct recourse. Perhaps he would do the opposite for the same effect, that or he would contact either Hanabi or her father himself. Sometimes the more brazen, direct approach bred more fruit. And then again, the more unexpected response yielded more varying results on either end of the spectrum. Before he could get more in his head about the goings on of the day, or more intoxicated for that matter, his phone rang.

Unknown number again.

He'd received a few of these in the last couple of days, and blame it on the intoxication or his heightened thirst for knowledge, but this time he decided to answer. It had to be good for him to receive a call at this hour after all.

"Sasuke speaking."

"So you've finally answered my call, little brother."


Whew! And with that I give you the first installment of my newest story, Roles! As such, please feel free to write me a review or PM to tell me how you really feel. While not a stranger to this site I am a stranger to the Sasu/Hina community and would love to hear from you guys and gals. I'll do my best to get these chapters cranked out to you.

Next Chapter: The Father

Until next time! Sayonara!