CHAPTER TWO
or
The Deal
Sasuke Uchiha did not like the look his mother was giving to Hinata. He saw the wheels in her head running vigorously at the mere thought of the hook-up between them. He just knew that she was imagining their children right at the moment. Before he could add that he had no intention to date or do anything physical to Hinata Hyuuga which could possibly result in an offspring, his mother smiled.
Suddenly, Sasuke sympathised with a small bleeding fish stuck in the middle of Shark Bay.
"Hello, sweetling." Damn. She cooed. Hinata turned beet red. Had his freedom not been threatened, he would feel sorry for the girl. "Let me have a look at you. Oh, what a beauty you are!"
The young woman faced his mother awkwardly. Mikoto beamed. Hinata reddened a few shades more.
"I've just said that-"
"-That you already know each other. Would you like to explain, Sasuke, why you kept a beauty like this a secret?"
"I did what?"
"Uhm... Mrs Uchiha," Hinata peeped, "I can assure you that there is no other connection between me and Sasuke than a few shared classes and friends. There is no secret, nor relationship."
"Which will not, by the way, happen, ever. No offence, Hinata."
"Non taken."
"Oh my." His mother frowned slightly, which Sasuke assumed was a very bad omen. "And I just hoped that my son... It's a shame that young people don't value love and family any more. Don't you agree, Hiashi?"
"Truer words have not been spoken," said the unfamiliar man in his early fifties who glared warningly at his daughter. "Well, if you have no desire to tie yourself with this young man, I'm very sure we can arrange another meeting while the matchmaker is here."
"A splendid idea," Mikoto nodded happily. "Sasuke, we will follow their example."
"Do we have any say in this?" Hinata hung on the tiniest of hopes being seemingly scared to death by the sudden bond between their respective... meddling... good-for-nothing-but-our-suffering parents.
A strict, expectable NO was the answer to the most naïve of all questions. Sasuke could do nothing but watch the horror scene of matchmaking in front of him. He risked a glance at Hinata. An idea struck him.
"A moment, please!" He grabbed her wrist not waiting for their or her reaction, and dragged her out from the room. She gave him a bewildered look, but let him do anything, just to be away from the madness. He shut the door before he slowly turned to her. He gulped. It was inevitable, he decided. To win a war, they had to lose a battle.
"I've got a deal for you."
"I don't think this is a right time for-"
"It'll save our asses."
"I'm listening."
"Let's give them what they want."
Her face was priceless.
"That is the deal?! I thought you aimed for-"
"Use that thing on your neck for a minute, if you don't mind."
"Are you really begging me to date you when you're such a di- a not nice person to me?"
"Consider it," Sasuke was losing his patience. "If we pretend that they got us to date, would they insist on attending another meetings?" He let the words sink in. "Imagine a life free from their meddling, complaining and nagging about your marital status. I promise to be a perfect gentleman, carry all the heavy things, give you lifts, tighten screws, repair things, occasionally be a hugging machine, treat you to lunches and dinners... Just save my sanity, Hinata."
"Wow." She cracked a smile. "That sounds pretty desperate."
"Believe me," Sasuke said sourly. "I am. You've got no idea what lengths would my mother go in order to marry me off."
"That's sad, but I'm still not convinced." When he opened his mouth to protest, she added. "I'm... flattered that I seem like a lesser evil, but I don't want to be in a fake relationship. I don't even like like you! Why would I kill my time with you?"
"I won't keep you from real relationships, if you happen to fall for anyone. Just lie to my mum about our relationship."
"That doesn't make it any better, Sasuke."
"Are you sure?" Desperate times called for desperate solutions. Sasuke's case fell into that category. "Fine. Tell your dad that you wish for a real relationship. I hope you don't mind me watching that conversation. I bet it'll be interesting."
"You're impossible!" She threw up her arms in defeat. The murderous frown looked almost cute on her small face. Almost. "Well, have it your way. But you will treat me dinners. Every Friday."
"I'd treat you even on Mondays," he said almost lovingly. "Let's go back."
"I can't believe I'm doing this," he heard Hinata mumble. Sasuke opened the door, and stepped aside for her to enter. Five pairs of accusing glares were fired on them. Mum's lips resembled more of a thin line than human mouth. Her ability to make funny faces scary fascinated him, Sasuke thought – and had to force himself to concentrate back on the dangerous situation. Becoming Hinata's willing servant would do him little to no good, if it only resulted in a disadvantageous deal with his parents which would be only his fault, because he lost the track of his mind.
You've been in courts, for god's sake! You've done this many times before. This time you're just not advocating for a client but for yourself.
"Well?" Fugaku Uchiha was not known for his patient demeanour. "Have you made up your mind?"
Hinata restricted herself to a curt nod. Sasuke had to do all the talking. Fine. After all, he was the professional.
"I realized that my mother was, as always, right. I should never let a sweet, humble person like Hinata slip out of my hands." Surely, there was a special place in Hell reserved for liars like him. "Nevertheless, rushing into marriage is, even though very romantic, a bit reckless." He paused for a second checking for any sign of protest. "In my opinion, an appropriately long period of wooing is the wisest option for us all, if only to prevent possible mistakes in our potential union."
"Mistakes such as...?" Hiashi gave an impression of a highly intelligent man, but Sasuke would bet a nice pack of bills that he was lost at the second sentence of his verbal avalanche. Boring someone to death seemed to be a versatile tactic.
"Such as a wrong spouse." Sasuke turned to Hinata, startling her. "I doubt it, but we can't afford to make a bad decision, which may affect our entire lives. I don't want to get hurt... And I definitely don't want to hurt you, Hinata."
"I wouldn't say it better." The girl breathed the words in a young-maiden-in-love fashion, earning endeared smiles from everyone. "I didn't l-lie that there was no relationship between us... But hearing Sasuke say all those things..." She lowered her eyes shyly and let the words linger in the air. Sly, sly Hinata.
He allowed himself a small smirk. They were going to win this, no matter what. Optimism filled his being from toes to head.
"So, you're agreeing on dating in order to learn if you are right for each other, are you?"
"Yes."
Sasuke realized his mistake far too late.
"I'm glad that you don't plan on weaselling out of the deal." Fugaku Uchiha was a seasoned veteran of many court cases."Claiming that you learnt you're compatible, and not marrying. Wordplay, Sasuke, wordplay..."
...Crap.
"Do you question my honesty?"
"Let's say I know the way you think."
"Nevertheless, nice try, Mr. Uchiha," Hiashi added. "I don't have any real objections to your decision to date her. I would not force my daughter into marrying a stranger." It would be very nice of him, if he were not doing exactly that. "I believe that you have the best intentions. But I need some assurance, for I have the same impression as your father that, in the end, you will refuse the union regardless of the outcome of your courtship."
"Date for a year," Hinata's mother finally spoke up. She was slimmer, more snobbish version of her daughter. "Learn to be together. Don't fake it. I want you to try hard to win egach other's heart." She curled up her thin lips. "Am I right, Mikoto?"
"Oh, yes, my dear."
"Pah, romantics!"
"Fugaku, don't be a grump!
"I'm not a grump, I'm just realistic. He'll do everything possible to get out of it."
"Trust him for once."
"I said," Mrs. Hyuuga raised her voice, "that you should date for a year. And when the given time has passed without a serious obstacle to your union arisen..."
"You can't force us," Hinata said, tossing the young maiden act aside. "It's against human rights. I – I know that you think you're securing us a happy future, and I appreciate that, really. But it's your version of a happiness, and I'm not sure I like it that much." She drew a deep breath. Sasuke found the fact that he noticed the decent but still alluring cleavage only now very, very sad. "I promise you to give it a try. But I want the final word. And you can't – must not – take that from us."
The parents exchanged puzzling looks. Sasuke tensed. The prehistoric fight or flight reaction appeared to be a tempting solution. Fugaku nodded to the silent conversation, then turned to them.
"We accede to your demands."
"What my jovial husband tried to say was that we're glad that you'll spend the next year with each other and that we hope that you'll fall in love."
Over my dead body we will fall.
"Thank you." Hinata bowed slightly. "Are we dismissed yet?"
"You should stay here. The tea is divine," said Mrs. Hyuuga.
"No, thanks. Enjoy your tea. We're going."
Sasuke rushed out. Hinata muttered a quick goodbye and run after him. He heard the furious clatter of her pumps. He was already outside, breathing air as fresh as it was possible in a big city when something behind him crashed loudly.
"Why are you wearing the high-heels, if you can't walk in them?"
"Walking and running are two different things." She was brushing her knees. "Are we going somewhere?"
Sasuke thought for a while.
"It's Friday. I promised you food."
"Lucky that we're already dressed for a date."
"Yes. Lucky." He could not make himself to sound even a little enthusiastic. "My car is behind the corner. Let's go."
A peaceful silence reigned the private room. Matchmaker had left soon after the children. Ori Hyuuga smiled contently at her husband, who paid her back with a small twinkle in his eyes. Fugaku Uchiha drunk his tea while watching the love of his life decimate the pile of mochi cakes.
The victory never tasted any sweeter, Mikoto joked. Hiashi placed his cup neatly on the table, contemplation written on his face.
"I wonder whether they realize that the shogi door and wood and paper walls are not the most soundproof things in the world..."
A/N: Thank you all for your kind reviews. Thank you even for the less kind reviews which saved my ego from puffing into unsightly measures. Thank you!
For the reviewer who goes by the highly specific nickname Guest: I know that my English has its flaws. The opposite would be a big miracle given the fact that my last proper English lesson was three years ago. Not using a language actively means losing it. Little by little. Until the big Cthulhu devours it... I'm high on sugar now, and I should stop blabbering.
I agree with you on the undergrads needing revisions and editting. I'm as strict as you are when it comes to writing in Czech, especially when the writer is trying to at least sound professional. That's okay. But I translate the story just for fun in my (rare) free time. Looking for a native speaker and bothering them until they break and submit to revising me on highly irregular intervals seems like too much hussle for me.
So I'll probably stick to the lingua franca version of English. Forgive me. Or don't forgive me. Inform me on my errors. I won't cry, I promise:D
The anthropomorphic personification of English language suffered a heart attack because of me.