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Pride and Prejudice
- A Naruto Adaptation -
by cacrulz
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.:Chapter 2:.
Of Fine Eyes
"And remember Hinata, no matter what he says, never – and I mean never – sign a prenup."
"M-mother! We just d-d-danced!"
"Well, it's only a matter of time! He'll propose, you'll get married and I'll get the moolah! Fuck yeah!""
It wasn't until late that night did the Hatake girls finally managed to make it home. Kakashi sighed, before mentally noting the current page he was reading, knowing that he'll not have a moment's peace for the next hour at least. It's only a matter of time before they come barging into his libra-
"DADDY! Daddy, listen! Hanabi and I danced every dance!"
"And Gaara none!"
"…"
The two youngest girls came tumbling into the room, giggling and crowing about the most ridiculous of things again, while Gaara simply walked past them and stood in the furthest corner, disturbingly silent as he watched the exchange.
" That Uzumaki brat couldn't keep his fucking eyes off Hinata! Granted, I was pissed when he started dancing with that fugly Tenten girl, but it was only a matter of time before he was seduced by our sweet, innocent little Hinata."
"N-no, mother, t-that w-wasn't what h-happened at all!"
Once again, Hinata's stumbling words fell on deaf ears as Anko went thundering on.
"But that fucking ass he brought with him! That Uchiha fucktard! He thinks he's too fucking good to dance with Sakura, eh? I swear, he may be the richest man in Derbyshire, but if I ever catch him alone I'll fucking castrate his balls and force them down his fucking throat! Maybe that will dislodge the stick stuck up his ass!"
Anko was being her usual crass and vulgar self.
"It's okay, mother. I didn't want to dance with him in the first place, so it was nothing."
Sakura was trying – and failing – to placate their violent mother.
"I'll like to fucking see if anyone wants to dance with him then! Sakura! If he ever tries to fucking ask you to dance, kick him in the balls!"
"Mother, I can safely promise you never to dance with Uchiha-san."
And throughout all this, Kakashi sat impatiently in his large armchair, with a feign interested expression upon his face, his fingers twitching every so often towards his precious orange covered porn.
"So I take it that none of the Hertfordshire ladies could please you, Sasuke-kun. Not even the famous Miss Hatakes?" Ino made sure to adjust her pitch just so and to tilt her face to the exact perfect angle to show off her complexion in the dimming lights when speaking to her precious Sasuke-kun.
"What!? How can you say that, Ino-chan! They were some of the nicest people I've ever met, and did you see how many pretty girls there were? Did you see Hinata-chan!?" Naruto recklessly butted in, and foiling Ino's attempts at flirting.
"Hn. I saw little beauty, and no refinement at all. The eldest Miss Hatake is, I grant you, decent."
"DECENT?! Admit it! She's an ANGEL! Teme's just jealous that he didn't get to dance with Hinata-chan!" He immaturely stuck a tongue out to Sasuke.
"She stutters."
Naruto spluttered at the response and promptly began to explain how "cute" he found Hinata-chan's small impediment to be.
Ino, realising she was rapidly losing control of the conversation – and Sasuke's attention – expertly cut into her brother. "Hinata is a sweet girl. But her mother! You can imagine how shocked I was to discover poor Hinata to have such a crude woman for a mother! And Hatake Sakura? To think that she was described as a famous local beauty! Did you see the SIZE of her forehead!?"
"Hn."
"TEME!, why must you be such an ass about everything?"
"Why must you be a dobe everyday?"
Naruto spluttered again at the insult.
"I AM NOT! You're just jealous that Hinata-chan likes ME more!"
"Hn."
"H-he was… very, very n-n-nice…"
"Yes, and…?"
Back in their bedroom, the two eldest Hatake girls were getting ready for bed and chatting about the ball held earlier that evening. Of course, by "chatting", I mean Sakura was interrogating and Hinata was stumbling over her words, growing quieter by the second."
"…and h-handsome too, I suppose."
Sakura grinned in a way that was unbecoming for a lady, "And he likes you, which shows he has good taste! I give him my approval."
"S-Sakura!"
"And his only flaw would be his sisters and choice of friends!"
"W-Well, you cannot b-blame for his sisters. But did you not l-like them?"
"Not at all! She seemed so superficial. And proud!"
"I'm sure that they will be v-very nice n-neighbours, once we get to k-know that a bit better. Even U-Uchiha-san's acquaintance may be p-pleasant."
Sakura scoffed, "Pleasant enough to consider dancing with tolerable girls? 'She's tolerable. But not nearly as attractive enough as to tempt me.'"
"W-Well..." Hinata wrung her hands as she conceded, "I suppose it was very r-rude of him to say that…"
"Welcome to my humble, youthful abode!"
It was only a matter of time, before Hertfordshire hosted another ball. This time, it was held by Sir Maito Gai. Ino openly scowled as Naruto and Gai had another of their loud, pointless, back-slapping conversations about Gai introducing Naruto to more youthful people back in London when he's in town, before Gai had to move on to welcome other guests.
"Insufferable conceited man! He dares offers us his assistance in society."
Naruto whipped his head towards his sister, "How can you say that? He's a good man, Ino-chan! And did you know he's a knight?"
Ino rolled her eyes at her brother. No doubt he was imagining Gai in a shiny armour and sword. The stupidity she and Sasuke had to put up with.
"Now I just have to set up the BIGGEST BESTEST BALL this town has ever se-"
"Who's giving a ball? I long for a ball, and so does Kiba!"
Naruto was interrupted, once again. This time, by the youngest Hatake, Hanabi and the young officer – Kiba – she dragged with her.
"I do too!" Moegi piped in from behind.
"Kiba, make him give a ball! I'll dance with all the officers!"
It was during this time of year, when the regiment of infantry settled at Meryton, to Hanabi's and Moegi's delight. It was undebatable to the girls that officers in full uniform were the most handsome. And to have a whole regiment of off-duty officers to regularly flirt with around town and to dance with during parties were a godsend.
"If your sister, Gaara, would play something, we could dance now." Kiba drawled with a roguish look in his eye.
Hanabi beamed at Kiba before yelling over the crowds to her sister at the piano, "GAARA! No more angsty stuff, play something fun. We want to dance!"
Gaara stared blankly back at Hanabi from behind the piano, never pausing from her rendition of the final movement in Mozart's requiem.
Hanabi whined, "Please Gaara? I'll let you have Moegi's bonnet."
"Hey! Mother, Hanabi's doing it again! This time's she's giving my bonnet to Gaara." Moegi wailed before running off to find her mother.
Gaara paused. It was a very nice bonnet.
Hanabi gave a shriek of glee when Gaara suddenly changed her requiem to a lively tune, and promptly dragged Kiba out to the dance floor with her.
"I see that Uzumaki-san continues his attentions to Hinata, Sakura."
"I'm very happy for her, Tenten. She seems to really like him as well. I reckon that if he continues like so, Hinata will soon be in love with him."
Tenten is the daughter of Sir Maito Gai, and a steadfast friend of Sakura. Although she is considered quite plain by society with her brown hair and common eyes, she is of strong and steady character with maturity, poise and a penetrating observation.
Currently, Sakura and Tenten were in the midst of doing their favourite activity – people watching – and were observing Naruto and Hinata's interactions from across the room. Sakura was happy to note that while Naruto enthusiastically recounted a story – along with wild gestures to emphasize his point, as Hinata stood attentively, nodding politely, and with a slight blush on her cheeks.
"Your sister should be more obvious with her affections towards him, then."
"Tenten, this is Hinata we're talking about. You know how shy she is."
"Yes, but Uzumaki-san doesn't."
"He will when he gets to know her better! And if he's not willing to, then I think he doesn't deserve her."
"Sakura, don't get me wrong. I'm know he's a nice guy and all, but he's seems like the oblivious kind who needs people to spell things out to him. And Hinata's the selfless sort of person that will never voice out what she really wants. I'm just concerned that, with those two continuing as they are, there'll be a heck of lot of unnecessary drama."
"Yes, but she's not sure of her feelings for him yet! If she must act out of her character in order to secure him… that's just something that Hinata wouldn't do!"
"Well I hope she will be sure of them soon and act upon them. He's getting little encouragement from his sisters. And I doubt Uchiha-san is generous in his compliments…"
And as always, Tenten's calm reasoning was able to somewhat quell Sakura's impending temper. She could understand where Tenten was coming from, but still… she could never bring herself – or her sweet sister Hinata – to be so shrewd and feign affections for a man. That sounds like something her mother would do!
"Oh, and Sakura… Don't turn around, but Uchiha-san keeps glancing at you."
Sakura glanced at the reflection behind her from one of the many mirrors decorating the hall, and that Uchiha man was indeed watching her quite intensely. "I have no idea why… I don't even know why he bothers coming! He doesn't dance, or talk to anyone anyway! All he does is intimidate everyone with that his scowl! That insufferable man!"
"How youthful this is! There's absolutely nothing like dancing! Essential for such youthful, polished society!"
Sasuke sighed as Sir Maito Gai, has once again, initiated an attempted conversation with him.
"And every unpolished society."
"Excuse me…?"
"Every savage can dance."
"Oh… yes. Yes, quite!"
Sasuke hoped the awkward turn of the conversation would deter the overly-energetic knight, but Gai continued to linger next to him. He almost visibly cringed from their close proximity when Gai began to bellowed out to a girl a few feet away from them.
"Why… Miss Sakura! Why is such a youthful girl like you not dancing?"
Sasuke turned to glance at the aforementioned girl. It was surprising he hadn't noticed her there earlier, with her pink hair and the recent interest he had over her. Strictly platonic and inconsequential, of course! She merely smiled modestly and murmured something about having danced the previous set.
"Well, that's no excuse to not dance this one as well! Uchiha-san and I were just discussing the youthfulness of dancing! Uchiha-san, allow me to present this youthful lady to you as a very desirable partner! You cannot refuse to dance, I'm sure, when so much beauty is before you!"
Before Sasuke had a chance to reply, Sakura was quick to cut in. "Thank you Sir Gai, you flatter me. But I honestly had no intention to dance this set… Please don't suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner."
"I would be honoured to dance with you, Miss Sakura." Sasuke saw that his response surprised the girl, if the widening of her eyes were any indication.
"T-thank you Sir… But you must excuse me, I… am not inclined to dance."
"Why not!? When Uchiha-san has no objection?" Gai spluttered dramatically. To him, it was impossible for anyone to not want to dance. "And who could object to such a youthful partner!? Eh, Uchiha-san?"
Sasuke could see that she was finding a reason to object, and struggling. Until she finally composed herself and gave a modest smile, "I beg you would excuse me Sir, but I believe Tenten is calling for me…" before slipping into the crowds.
"Strange…" Sir Maito Gai rubbed his chin contemplatingly, "I wonder how she was able to hear my daughter calling her through these crowds… Miss Sakura must have exceptionally youthful ears!"
If it wasn't beneath his dignity, Sasuke would have rolled his eyes at Sir Maito Gai's inanity. He and the dobe suited each other.
"I believe that I can guess your thoughts… right… this… moment…" Ino whispered into her Sasuke-kun's ear.
She saw he gave a slight shudder – from delight, of course! – and gave herself a mental pat on the back for successfully being able to sneak up behind him and seduce him so easily! It was easier said than done in the noisy, crowded rabble that awful Sir Maito Gai called a ball!
"I should imagine not." He took a step away from her, being the shy person he was.
"You are thinking how annoying it would be to spend your evenings in such boring company."
"Hn."
"So, you agree?"
"No."
"No…?"
"My mind was otherwise engaged."
"On what, exactly, Sasuke-kun?"
"On a set fine eyes." Ino almost grinned from his response – For whose eyes are more fine than her brilliant azure coloured eyes that she was so frequently complimented on! – but that was decidedly unfeminine, so she kept her coy smile plastered on her face.
"And may one dare ask whose are the eyes that inspired these reflections?" She was so sure that a proposal would soon follow!
"Miss Hatake Sakura."
"Miss… Hatake… S-Sakura!?" Ino screeched. Needless to say, that despite Sir Maito Gai's reservations before, Miss Ino's voice was her heard perfectly clear to everyone within hall in spite of the crowds.
To be continued.