It was nights like those they shared that left the scars. They were the times that you cannot seem to forget not matter how hard you try, because you close your eyes to sleep but dammit, they're imprinted on the backs of your eyelids.

Can you really convince yourself? Have you already done so unknowingly- a slip of the hand andthenitwasover? His touch burned against your hot skin, but he was so cold, sofuckingicecold. Every gentle touch, every hollow kiss cut deeper than weapons ever could. –cut me, make me bleed, I like it, I promise-

It was a funny thing, to love a man you hate, but you do it well. It was a funny thing to be able to tell yourself that love isn't an emotion anymore, it's a decision. It is a choice that you made, not from heart, but from mind, but who is there to tell you the difference? 'I forgot to tell you daddy, I'm not your little girl anymore. I think I'm in love!'

There are times when you think back to him and can believe that he almostnotreally loved you too. A choice, not a gut feeling that you read about in sappy romance novels. (you lie to yourself by reading them because you know the truth)

But of course, you always were good at convincing yourself of something. Wearing a mask for so long that you believe it, repeating a lie until it becomes the truth. (helovesme, helovesmenot, helovesme, helovesmenot) When did you become such a phony? –truth? Of course it's the truth, I love you too much to mislead you!-

Perhaps living in the dream isn't a bad thing? His touch brings you pleasure, his power brings you protection and his influence brings you political leverage. (but you've never felt the pleasure, only known it, his power is a threat and you will always be pushed beneath and his influence makes you a target)

Your mouth moves, and the words that you can believe flow between you and him. His mouth curves at the corner and you know his mind is telling him the same (samesame, it's alwaysthesame) thing. –of course you love her back. She's your wife, now smile and don't let that touch your eyes-

What does it say about you? Should you look that far underneath, because you know you shouldn't but the temptation is ohsosweet. If you don't like what you find, you have only yourself to blame, but really, it wouldn't be a change. (always your fault, don't ever deny it or the ignorance will fade)

A couple more drinks and you can barely see him anymore. It is easier to look at yourself in the mirror when your once beautiful features have been blurred, but the feeling won't fade. The stone on your finger feels heavier than ever (till death do us part) and your stomach rolls at the implications.

The night closes as slowly as the last and the dawn rises as lazily as the next will be. The mirror is clear as you dust on makeup, paint on your mask and prepare your lines. Because a lie so complex as yours needs to be rehearsed, and as any seasoned actress knows, perfect, is simply not good enough. –death couldn't come any sooner-

Just think: Hinata is the heiress of the Hyuuga clan and most likely by married off to a comfy civilian man who had a mistress on the sly. She would act the perfect wife, but she would never be happy.

As always, hope you enjoyed.

-Lady Kryptonite