._.'' start.

Hinata expected a gift, or at least a small blessing in which he would say, "Happy Birthday." She even resorted to a mere present with just the two of them training in the woods beside their house. It would be better than just him, sitting so still and eerily quiet in his nook, reading books all day. She wasn't one to speak, and she knew he wasn't either, but it was a special day today. Had Sasuke really forgotten?

"Ah, Sasuke?" Hinata smiled lightly as she sat down across from him. "I'll prepare warm soup for dinner."

His dark eye shifted to meet her smile and he nodded, a flicker of surprise emerging in those dark orbs. She noticed it, and worried she was being too straightforward. Did she really need to keep quiet about her own birthday? Couldn't she have just told him? Hinata inwardly shook her head. She wanted him to realize himself. Maybe she wouldn't feel so let down, and maybe he would've felt guilty not acknowledging her birthday.

As they sat down on the table, she waited for him to pick up the spoon and eat. It was always formal for the husband to eat first, and soon, she followed after. She didn't expect him to say anything, but she had put all her heart into today's dinner. Why didn't he seem to care? Her shifty pupils hung at the corner of her eyes as she looked at him chewing softly on the piece of cooked chicken in the flavored soup. She felt his eyes bounce back and she immediately blushed.

"Today's meal was good," he muttered, and he went back to reading.

Was that all he could say? Today's meal was good?

It wasn't normal of him to say such things after dinner. They usually didn't talk much. He never complimented her unless it was actually tasteful. But that had no relation whatsoever to him even acknowledging it was her birthday.

A tad bit annoyed, she scrubbed the dishes with force. She had never felt that annoyed in her life. She could wait a whole week without him in the house (due to missions), but this she couldn't quite handle. She wasn't clingy –Sasuke showed a huge amount of commitment and dare she say it, affection, towards her. It was enough for Sasuke to bring her gifts on special occasions or hold her hand once in a while (because Sasuke was Sasuke.)

Hinata approached him, leaving her thoughts gathering up to one conclusion.

"Are you unhealthy?" She asked in her soft voice, her head cocking to the side in question. "Please tell me if you feel unwell. I have prepared a hot bath for you and herbal medicine."

He looked up, and the environment of question reflected in his eyes.

"I'm in good condition," he mumbled. "What about you?"

"Ano, me?" she blushed, pointing to herself.

He nodded slowly, before he grabbed her wrist and pulled her against him on the small sofa he was sitting on. She blushed harder as his hand traveled to entangle in her bangs. She was sweating dangerously. Three years living with him still did that to her.

"You're heating up a little," he noted, and she could feel the vibrations of his throat against her flushed cheek. "But probably not because you're unhealthy."

She squeaked in embarrassment and hid behind her hands.

"So," he smirked. "What's wrong?"

"Y-You…frgmubrrday," she said against her hands.

He grabbed her small hands and stared right at her.

"Repeat," he said.

"You f-forgot my birthday!" she squeaked, and went back to hide her face.

He blanked out for a minute.

"Hinata," he whispered. "No one ever told me when your birthday was. Not even you."

She gasped, looking up.

"Ah… really?" she flushed darker. "…Sorry for acting weird."

Thoughts hung back in her head:

Couldn't he have just asked? Or snooped around a bit? Or asked Neji? Or Hanabi? Or her father? They've been together for so long… Couldn't he have just figured out the patterns? Couldn't he just–

Her mind stopped babbling as she felt him swoop down to kiss her nose lightly, and she heard him say:

"Happy Birthday, Hinata."

._.'' end.