And so, chapter 2! Ty for the lovely reviews, follows and faves!
"Hyuuga, you say?" Uchiha Fugaku asked, lowering his newspaper and adjusting his glasses so he could peer at Sasuke over the top.
"Yes, father, Hyuuga Hiashi's eldest," Sasuke clarified, feeling a strange pressure in his chest. His father had never once, from Sasuke remembered him, looked away from the financial section of the newspaper and actually looked at him while conversing at the breakfast table. There was a strange sort of excitement within him that came from receiving his father's notice. It was, not that he'd ever admit it out loud, something he'd craved for years.
"What's her name?" Fugaku asked, frowning as he tried to recall. Sasuke clenched his teeth a little before responding, his dark eyes carefully gauging his father's reaction.
"Hinata," Sasuke returned, mincing his words. His father hated round about conversations, so Sasuke had been practicing, since middle school days when his father had chewed him out about talking too much, to say only what was necessary.
"Hinata..." Fugaku echoed, testing out the name while completely unaware of Sasuke's inner thoughts. He only hoped he could use this opportunity to please his father for once. Everything he did fell short somehow of what Itachi did... Itachi who always seemed to have a plan, always seemed to have a way out. And now that Itachi was locked away, it was Sasuke's turn to have a chance.
"It's a nice name," Fugaku said slowly, his newspaper still lowered. He looked to Sasuke. "And you say you like this girl? Is she suitable?" Sasuke bit the inside of his lower lip before he let the subtle jab get at him. He'd once been head over heels for a pretty little rocker, Sakura, but her pink hair, brash honesty and lower class birth made her unsuitable in Fugaku's eyes, and Sasuke had broken it off badly with her in order to save face with his father. It had hurt him terribly, but not as much as he knew it had hurt her.
"Yes, father. From what I've seen of her, she is respectful, kind, and carries herself well... and she is beautiful," he said for added measure.
"Of course she is," Fugaku said shortly, a tinge of the usual disappointment in his eyes when he looked at Sasuke. "She is a Hyuuga. They are all well bred." Sasuke heard the unspoken ending, though. Unlike you.
Sasuke didn't respond, choosing instead to take a bite of his breakfast. His mother breezed into the breakfast room, perfectly dressed and made up with her purse over her shoulder.
"Good morning Fugaku, Sasuke," she said hurriedly. "I have a business meeting, so I will be running out now." Sasuke didn't say anything. It was almost funny. His mother was a celebrity chef, yet she never cooked in her own home. Not recently, anyways. Sasuke remembered being in primary school and being the envy of all the other kids who didn't have lunch as good as his was. Advancing into high-school, however, Sasuke had taken to skipping out to go to restaurants for lunch, because Mikoto no longer made bento for him.
Mikoto dropped a kiss to her husband's cheek, and with a clatter of heels, she was out the door. Silence fell over the breakfast table once more, and Fugaku picked back up his newspaper. Sasuke scowled into his breakfast, shifting it around disinterestedly due to his rapidly disappearing appetite. It figured that this wouldn't work either.
"How did you meet this girl?" Fugaku asked, turning a page.
"I possibly saved her life," Sasuke returned, feeling a little swell of pride in his chest. It disappeared when he thought of Hinata's obvious attraction to Naruto... but that could be fixed, right? Fugaku lowered the paper again, sent Sasuke a glance, and then put it back before his eyes.
"We will go and see Hyuuga-san and his daughter this week-end. Book an appointment with your mother for Saturday morning breakfast, and tell her Hyuuga Hiashi and family will be guests of honor. We will see about this Hinata child that has caught your fancy." Fugaku's tone throughout was hard and disapproving as usual, but Sasuke's heart jumped a little at the chance. Though he was struggling not to grin like an idiot, he kept his face straight and nodded.
"Fine, father," he replied, getting up from the table. The thought that he had to make an appointment with his own mother, for her to cook a meal for him, rankled but he pushed it where he pushed all other thoughts of his dissatisfaction, and prepared for another day at work.
"So... so you mean you've found someone you actually plan to be married to?" Naruto asked a few days later as he shovelled ramen into his mouth. Sasuke felt a little twinge of guilt. He'd bought Naruto this top-of the-line ramen, because he knew that Naruto had started to grow attached to Hinata. It was like his way of repaying the blonde. They'd seen Hinata every day since the incident... well, Naruto had gone to see her every day, and Sasuke had tagged along because... well it wouldn't do for her to get too much private time with his friend, now would it? That would leave him no chance. There was no way he could ever compare to Naruto. Jealousy squeezed his gut for the umpteenth time.
"Hn," Sasuke grunted in reply. Naruto took that to mean 'yes' – having known Sasuke for years, the blonde was really good at interpreting his grunts – and took another bite of his ramen. He slurped the noodles, something Sasuke could never get away with, before continuing.
"Well that's great! If you chose her, then that means she's obviously gorgeous, so that's a plus, right?" Before Sasuke could respond, Naruto went on, his blue eyes twinkling. "Not that she could be as gorgeous as Hinata-chan, though. I..." the blonde paused and blushed. He leaned closer to Sasuke and whispered conspiratorially. "I asked her out on a date." Sasuke felt his spine stiffen. Not good.
"Really?" Sasuke asked, raising a dark brow as he watched his friend. He'd hoped Naruto would not have jumped into this so quickly.
"Yeah," Naruto went on. "And guess what! She said yes! So, I told her I would take her out for the day on Saturday. I figured we could go out and chill... maybe learn more about each other..." the blonde rambled.
But Sasuke wasn't listening. He'd tried, every time they had seen Hinata, to squelch her and Naruto's plans to go out. He'd used Naruto's forgetfulness to his advantage, 'reminding' him of a previous engagement on every free spot that he and Hinata had in common. So... so when had Naruto found the time to make a date? A waiter plunked a bowl of beef ramen in front of Sasuke, but he'd already lost his appetite.
"When did you make this date? I don't remember being there," Sasuke muttered, sliding the heaping bowl of steaming ramen Naruto's way as the blonde drank the remaining broth from his first bowl.
"Oh, I called her," he said, flashing Sasuke a grin and picking back up his chopsticks.
"You... called her? How?" Sasuke asked, frowning.
"Oh, she gave me her number... well..." the blonde flushed again, his cheeks reddening. "Well ... I asked her for it..." Naruto's muscles rippled with the simple movement of tucking into his second bowl of ramen and Sasuke looked away, feeling the familiar tightness in his gut. Sometimes he hated Naruto with everything in him.
"What?" Hinata gasped. This could not be happening! "Where do we have to go? Why do we have to go? Oh, Kami, is this really happening?" Hinata whispered running her hands through her hair. Her younger sister, Hanabi, leaned closer to the mirror as she curled her eyelashes.
"Well, Father only told me that we have to go to breakfast with some family or other, but I was far from listening. Most likely it's some other business breakfast," Hanabi muttered absently. She began applying her mascara. "Why are you so flustered anyway? Father's finally asking for you to come, right? So this might be a step up." Hanabi sent Hinata a small smile, meant to be encouraging, but it was mocking Hinata.
Hiashi obviously preferred Hanabi, with reason, even though Hinata was his first-born. She'd heard the employees whispering at her father's firm, and she'd overheard the rumors that he was considering naming Hanabi as his heir regardless of the fact that it was Hinata's title by birthright. Having worked hard all her life to please Hiashi, the notion burned... but Hinata was used to it by now. She should be used to it by now.
"I... I had plans," Hinata muttered lamely, thinking about how lovely it would be to spend an entire day with Naruto, minus the presence of his brooding, negative best friend. She didn't really know what Naruto saw in Sasuke, but the dark-haired man was always present, always interfering in ways Naruto was far too open-hearted and cheerful to notice. But Hinata had seen the tactic of subtly steering someone off track for years, and Sasuke's tricks did not escape her notice.
"Well, cancel them," Hanabi continued as she reached for her lipstick. "This is father we are talking about. Reschedule your plans, go to the breakfast date, and try your hardest not to let him down." Hinata heard the unspoken words and felt pained tears sting the back of her eyes. Kami knows you're good at disappointing him.
"O-okay," Hinata agreed, trying to push away the crushing disappointment in her chest. She'd really wanted to go out with Naruto. He made her feel better than she'd ever felt before. He was so accepting and honest and sweet... not to mention his personality, which rivalled his hair for brightness, and his exemplary physique.
"Good then," Hanabi said, already used to being the one that accompanied Hiashi to his business meals and meetings. Hanabi was still in high-school, but she had an enviable amount of potential, and Hiashi was not about to let it go to waste. Hanabi also had the temperament that was suited to the business world. She preferred business socials to going out with friends, and was driven, brilliant and organized. She was also confident and good with people. She was, in short, everything Hinata was not.
Hinata stepped from the bathroom and ran to her room, struggling with her disappointment as she locked her door behind her. She reached for her phone and timidly scrolled through the contact list for Uzumaki Naruto. Finding the number, it took her several seconds to work up the nerve to call him.
"She cancelled!" Naruto complained. "I was so looking forward to going with her..." he moaned, his usually bright blue eyes dull with disappointment. Sasuke squelched yet another twinge of guilt.
"Hmm," he murmured as he pushed weights. Naruto, though only a little stronger physically than Sasuke, had undetermined levels of energy and had already finished his sets and was spotting for his best friend.
"I mean, something important with her family came up... some boring luncheon or something, but... but honestly I wish she could skip it," Naruto continued. "Now I have nothing doing on Saturday... MAN!" Naruto groaned. "Why did she have to be busy? I mean... why did something just have to come up? I was hoping to spend some time to get to know her and now this," Naruto continued. Sasuke tried not to listen, tried not to be guilty, but even some of the other guys around them were sympathetic, dropping little apologies here and there.
"You sure she's not trying to blow you off, Uzumaki-san?" Inuzuka Kiba asked between grunts as he did lateral raises. "Sometimes chicks do that, you know. The old 'something's come up' line."
"They only do that to you," someone yelled from across the gym, and a chorus of manly chuckles erupted around the room.
"Besides," Naruto went on. "Hinata's not like that. She's seriously sweet, right, Sasuke?" Sasuke only grunted in response. "See? Sasuke agrees, and he never thinks girls are sweet." Sasuke wished he could just tell Naruto to shut up, but he deserved this. He deserved to feel bad for what he was planning to do. It was best that he do this fast, quick before Naruto went and had a relationship with this girl. Best he move now while she was technically free game.
"I am just saying, if any of you guys ever meet Hyuuga Hinata, I saw her first," the blonde went on, scowling at all the men in the room. Sasuke groaned.
Hinata, dressed in a modest but fashionable navy dress made from a high-end textured material, kept her head down as the family was escorted through the gigantic mansion they were supposed to be dining at. The house was even larger than that of the Hyuuga's, and that was saying something. Hinata did not hear a single word the butler was saying, her head filled with thoughts of the blonde she'd broken a date with – who had texted her earlier, claiming he was going to bust her from her boring breakfast like a knight on a white steed.
She followed dutifully behind her parents and Hanabi as they walked over the spotless tile and out through a large set of glass doors to the back patio. Hinata, aching to answer the text that had arrived on her phone as they'd driven up to the house, rubbed her fingers longingly against the zipper of her purse, barely noticing the artistic, sumptuous display set out before them.
She heard her father speaking in low tones with someone who had just approached them, and looked up. A man she recognized, but had never met before, was talking to her father, his tasteful clothing identifying him as the master of the house. His serious expression and dark eyes reminded Hinata of Naruto's best friend, and she stifled a giggle when she applied Sasuke's sullen face to the man's body.
"And these are my daughters, Hanabi and Hinata," Hiashi was saying. Hinata noticed that he mentioned Hanabi first, but squelched the pain in her chest. Instead, she smiled and gave a graceful bow.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Hinata," the man said, levelling a hawk-eyed stare at her. "I've heard quite a bit about you." He had?
"The pleasure is all mine..." What was his name? Hinata panicked, realizing she hadn't been paying attention when the man's name was mentioned.
"Uchiha Fugaku," the man supplied, with a displeased twist to the corners of his mouth.
"It's my pleasure, Uchiha-san," Hinata said, bowing again. Her eyes widened. Uchiha?
Sasuke trotted onto the back patio, slowing once his footfalls would come in hearing range of the guests. His heart clenched nervously. What if his father didn't like her? He would be screwed, again.
"Good morning," he said as he approached. His father turned, gracing Sasuke with a rare smile.
"Ah, Sasuke, you're here," Fugaku said. "Meet Hyuuga Hiashi-san and his wife... and his daughters Hinata and Hanabi... well, you already know Hinata." Sasuke nodded and politely greeted the guests. Hiashi he approached, bowed before, and shook hands with.
"It is an honor to meet you, Hyuuga-san," Sasuke said, desperate to at least please his father with his manners. Fugaku gave him a rare look of approval and turned to continue talking to Hiashi.
It was then that Sasuke looked at Hinata, and the woman had such an expression of venom in her eyes that Sasuke almost wished he could look away... but he stared her down with a blank look of his own. Her sister, Hanabi, was eyeing him with undisguised interest, but Sasuke didn't spare the teenager a glance. Instead, he walked over to Hinata.
"W-what is this about?" she asked, sending a glance in the direction of their fathers. Sasuke paused before answering, wondering if it would be easier to gain her trust if he pretended that this had been forced upon him rather than instigated by him.
"They are discussing the benefits of an alliance between our families," he said vaguely. Her large grey eyes widened.
"Between..." she started, glancing back at their parents, since Mikoto had just joined the group, a team of chefs trailing behind her.
"Between you and I," Sasuke clarified, trying not to feel insulted at her horror. Women usually wanted to be with him... at least, for a while.
"B-but..." she started. "N-no offense, Uchiha-san... but... I would rather not be a part of such a union." Her beautiful, flawless skin tinged red at her bold statement.
"Why not?" Sasuke asked, motioning that she join him for fruit from the display. She followed reluctantly behind him. Her face tortured, she took the small bunch of grapes that he offered her, but didn't eat any of them.
"B-because I have s-someone that I like," she stuttered, her whispery voice soothing to Sasuke's ears. He wouldn't mind hearing her talk. However, the blush on her face he knew was reserved for his best friend, and Sasuke felt that familiar squeeze in his gut again. Why couldn't she be attracted to him? It would be so much easier for this to work. He could finally make his father proud and maybe have a shot and something he wanted.
He would have her. Regardless of the consequences, regardless of how she felt right now – because he could change her opinion of him, right? She could grow to care for him, right? – he would have her. He had to. She was the only way, because there was no way he was going to be stuck with Karin.
He was just about to reply when footfalls sounded in the house as someone ran their way.
"Hinata-chan? What are you doing here?" A masculine voice asked. It seemed that Naruto had crashed the party. Sasuke turned, trying to keep the panic from his face when he saw Naruto. The blonde's eyes widened, and then narrowed when he focused on Sasuke. Without even greeting the rest of the people gathered there, Naruto grabbed Sasuke's arm and pulled him back into the house.
"What are you doing here?" Sasuke asked.
"You knew about this?" Naruto hissed, ignoring Sasuke's question and feeling anger well up inside him when he thought of Sasuke knowing all along where Hinata was going to be. "You knew and you didn't tell me? You know I like her, Sasuke." What Sasuke said next stunned Naruto into shocked silence.
"I like her too." Wait, what?
"Y-you... you what?" the blonde asked, loosening his grip on Sasuke's collar. His best friend's dark eyes met Naruto's head on.
"I like her too." Naruto sighed. That would suck for the Uchiha, because, as it was, Naruto was having a hard time convincing Hinata that Sasuke was a great guy.
"She... she doesn't like you, Sasuke," Naruto said plainly, feeling a bit torn up for his friend. He watched Sasuke's black eyes darken, and then the Uchiha looked away for a moment.
"I don't care." The softly spoken words sent Naruto reeling backwards. What? He didn't care?
"How can you not care?" the blonde asked, stepping back up to Sasuke. Naruto felt a little twinge of fear grip his insides. He really liked Hinata; she was perfect for him... but if Sasuke liked her too... Naruto didn't want anything to come between him and his best friend.
"I'll make her like me," his dark haired friend said, a determined edge to his voice. "Our father's are discussing a marriage right n.." Naruto punched him in the face.
"You're going to force her?" the blonde exclaimed as anger surged through him. This was weird. They only knew Hinata for a week today, but already they were fighting over her. Naruto had to say that he'd fallen for the quiet, grey-eyed woman... and he knew she liked him too. So why was Sasuke, who was an outsider to his and Hinata's little bubble of mutual like, trying to ruin things? And how could Sasuke not care about how she felt, but advance with a plan to marry her despite her feelings for another man? It wasn't right.
"I'll do what I have to," Sasuke said darkly, cupping a hand to his face as he straightened. "Just stay out of it, Naruto," the Uchiha spat. Naruto scowled at Sasuke, not liking what he was seeing in his best friend.
"The hell I will," the blonde said, clenching his fists. "If she doesn't want you, you're not getting her, dattebayo. And I know for a fact that she doesn't want you." He did not miss the flash of pain in the Uchiha's eyes, but sometimes the truth hurt, and Sasuke needed to face that.
"Yet," was all the Uchiha said in response, his eyes shuttered as he gingerly touched his jaw. "She doesn't want me yet."
Well, I woke up at 3:00 am, and I typed this... hrmm... I am not so sure what to make of that! Hahaha! Well, review my lovelies! Any thoughts? Suggestions?