An Indecent Proposal

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I went with the general meaning of orchids last chapter. As with most flowers, different color orchids have different meanings, but you'll see why I chose purple in this one. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Notation: Nera is going to do some "background checking" so to speak. I believe that Neji is a fairly cautious character for the most part. So the female version likely would be as well. It's possibly a bit unsettling, but i figure that it'd be the smart thing to do in her situation.

Chapter 3

He knew that she'd be furious with him for leaving her like that, but Sasuke also knew that Nera wasn't like most of the women he'd met so far. She wasn't the one pursuing him. Sasuke was the one who was initiating well everything.

"And she's far too smart to use the standard courting techniques on." That much was obvious.

Nera was a prodigy in her own right and she also came from a very ancient Clan. A Clan that would not be happy about him courting her, even if Sasuke hadn't been a Criminal Ninja at one point.

The Hyuga Main and Branch House System was firmly entrenched into its very foundation. Much like how fire was associated with the Uchiha Clan, the Caste System was associated with the Hyugas.

He doubted they really knew any other way. "If Nera marries outside the Clan, others will probably follow their example." Which meant that if an exodus happened, it would likely be a catastrophe in their minds. Not to mention the bloodlines.

The Sharingan and Byakugan had to be factored into the equation. They would likely be worried about the potential of finding out that the Byakugan was recessive. Such a thing would likely be humiliating and alarming to them, if it was true. Though Sasuke knew that wasn't the case.

He hated it here. Sasuke hated being in the Sound Village, but he needed to get stronger to kill Itachi. Of course, that didn't mean he was above trying to learn potentially useful information.

"What are you doing?" He glared at Kabuto.

He had seen that book. It was a rather old one. Sasuke doubted there were more than a handful of copies in the entire world and yet, Kabuto had somehow gotten his dirty hands on it.

The silver haired medic didn't seem upset at his demand though. "I'm merely researching a topic of interest to Lord Orochimaru." The bespectacled man actually had the audacity to smirk at him. "And I suppose you might find merit in the research as well."

That was a first. Generally, Orochimaru and Kabuto left Sasuke out of their sick little experiments. Well other than poisoning him regularly to help him build up immunities to such things.

He raised an eyebrow. "And I care why?" The blood ties were so faint that the Hyugas either weren't aware of them or didn't feel they were sufficiently strong enough to even merit comforting him after the Massacre.

Kabuto pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose in that annoying way he had. The way that made Sasuke want to punch him. Though that might just be his frustration at Itachi still breathing more so than anything.

That combined with the annoyingness of most of the Sound Village population was enough to keep Sasuke in a near constant state of irritation. Thank the Gods and Goddesses for training. It gave him an easy excuse to punch something.

"Well have you ever wondered what would happen, if the bloodlines were combined?" No. Not really. "The possibilities are quite intriguing, but the Hyugas are such an insular Clan." Though as much as Sasuke hated to admit it, Kabuto did have a point.

Immediately, several possibilities came to mind. Perhaps, the Sharingan was dominant and the children would just be carriers for the Byakugan or would it be the other way around? There was also the chance that the two bloodlines might combine and form something completely new altogether.

"No." He shook his head. "What'd you find though. You're way too smug not to have found something."

Kabuto chuckled at that. "As always, you're too clever by half." And as always, Sasuke wanted to break the silver haired man's glasses, but whatever. "It seems that it's rather rare and something of a family secret on both sides, but the bloodlines have been combined before. The children would manifest or at least be capable of manifesting a Byakugan in one eye and a Sharingan in the other."

Hyugas and Uchihas had had children together before? Sasuke had never heard of it. Then again, he had never bothered to memorize every branch of the family tree before. Whoever wore the Uchiha Crest was an Uchiha. That was all he really needed to know. Though the thought of a child with both bloodlines was an interesting one…

As he was continuing these musings, something bumps into him. Hard! "Hey, watch where you're going!" On second thought, make that a someone.

His eyes narrow and Sasuke instinctively glares at the offender. "I could say the same to you." It took the sandy haired, chubby man a moment to realize who he had almost just bowled over.

Once he did recognize him though, the results were rather startling. "S-Sasuke Uchiha!" The man was obviously terrified and sadly, Sasuke couldn't entirely blame him. "I'm so s-sorry! Please forgive me!" He had earned every bit of his fearsome reputation.

"It's fine." He shakes his head and merely continues on with a bag of tomatoes in his hand.

The Uchiha probably should have expected such a thing to happen though. "Oh come on, that's way too expensive!" It was a crowded market and all around him the sounds of Leaf Villagers conducting their daily affairs could be heard.

It was almost enough to make him feel normal really. The sight of children running around and adults haggling over various prices was all so soothingly mundane that it would be so easy to pretend that none of the horrors Sasuke had witnessed had ever happened. It had all been a bad dream and nothing more.

"I've had enough of this." The stares were starting to go a bit uncomfortable. "Might as well get home before the tomatoes spoil." Not that he cared, it was just annoying Sasuke thinks to himself as he darts off towards the Uchiha District!

Nera frowns as she tries to decide what to do. It was becoming increasingly apparent in his own strange way that Sasuke was actually serious about this. He actually wanted to marry her.

Perhaps not for romantic reasons, but some type of commitment was there. Even if it was only an analytical one. It truly was starting to look like the Uchiha would actually 'Wait for her.'

"That concept would have been laughable only two days ago." The Hyuga woman sighs as she heads towards the Intelligence Unit of the Leaf Village.

She'd just have to approach this logically. After all, it hadn't been likely that Nera was ever going to marry for love anyway. As a Branch Member, it was far more likely that such things would be decided for her based on genetic compatibility or for other strategic reasons.

That thought had never really bothered her. Nera's fate had been mapped out the second she was born. So she had always focused more on the present or immediate future than the long-term future. Thoughts of marriage had always seemed well so distant (and that was assuming she didn't get killed on a mission beforehand).

"Maybe, it would be best to talk to Shikamaru about this first." She shakes her head.

Idly, she'd be able to ask Lady Tsunade, Sakura, or another medic to help her. That was ideally though. In reality, the Hyuga woman doubted they'd be willing to let her look over Sasuke's records. Such things were allowed in very special circumstances when it came to say the safety of the village, but by and large that sort of information just wouldn't be released, if you weren't medical personnel.

Which meant she would have to settle for the next best thing. Shikamaru was a genius. He was arguably her equal in intelligence and he was close to Naruto. (Who was the closest person to Sasuke in all of the world at the moment).

He might have been a couple steps removed from Sasuke, but Shikamaru was more familiar with him than she was. That and he likely knew more than enough about human psychology to make him a useful asset in this matter.

"I can't believe that I've been reduced to this." She shakes her head as she feels her cheeks turn a rosy shade of pink while she bobs and weaves throughout the crowded streets.

The scent of food hung heavily in the air. Freshly baked bread from a nearby bakery stood out the most. Nera tries to shove those thoughts aside for the time being though. Right now, she had more important things to worry about than her stomach.

She manages to close the relatively short distance and walks inside. Immediately, Ibiki notices her presence. Of course, that was only to be expected. The man wouldn't have gotten where he was today, if he wasn't aware of his surroundings.

"Nera, what are you doing here?" He eyes her half in confusion and half in suspicion.

She had been here a few times before for missions, but the man was likely informed of who was expected to be coming by. So Nera knew her presence likely looked out of place.

Still, the young woman manages a polite smile at him. "I'd like to speak to Shikamaru about an urgent personal matter." She pauses. "Though I suppose it could impact the village later on."

Ibiki looked a little less than convinced. "Ibiki, it's okay." Thankfully, the sounds of Shikamaru's voice and footsteps interrupted any further objections.

"You sure?" He gives his colleague an uncertain look.

Shikamaru stretches and yawns. "Yeah. It's a drag, but it does look like it's something important." She smiles at that.

The other ninja might be a Jonin now and a hero of the war, but he was still Shikamaru. In some ways, he hadn't changed a bit. In other ways, well he couldn't be more different.

It was obvious that the loss of his Sensei had deeply impacted him and now, he was helping Kurenai with Mirai. Her daughter. Becoming a Godfather, had certainly made him mature in many ways. (Though most amusingly, it hadn't stopped him from being rather lazy).

"Alright." He shakes his head rather disapprovingly. "Call out for me, if you need anything." And with that, Ibiki takes his leave.

Nera mentally sighs in relief. Well at least the hardest part was over. She was confident that Shikamaru would tell her what she wanted to know (or at least try to do so).

Sasuke Uchiha was a contradiction to say the least. He joined Orochimaru without any real hesitation as far as she could tell. All he needed was the promise he would get strong enough to kill Itachi and then, he ended up fighting alongside Naruto to save the Ninja World.

Whether that was motivated by altruistic motives and a sincere change of heart, she had yet to determine. "So what's going on?" Though Nera suspected that she would find out soon.

"I would like your personal evaluation of Sasuke Uchiha's mental health." There was no way he'd give her official records. "And for you not to tell anyone that you did so." Though Shikamaru might be willing to go off the record. (Well at least that's what she was hoping).

Shikamaru raises an eyebrow. "I don't discuss my friends' personal lives unless it impacts the safety of the village." He sighs, obviously knowing that this might not end well for him. "Why are you asking and is it going to impact the safety of the village as a whole?"

Honestly, she couldn't answer that with certainty. Sasuke was at the best of times unpredictable. What would his response be, if she rejected him?

Would he even care? Would his whim disappear as suddenly as it had materialized in the first place? Would he go into a rage? Would his feelings actually be hurt? She didn't know and that thought was deeply troubling.

"Personal reasons." She pauses and adds. "And it's unlikely to impact the safety of the village, but I suppose it's possible."

Shikamaru shakes his head. "What a drag." Though it looked like he was going to grant her request. "Don't make me regret this, but alright. I'll give you my PERSONAL opinion." She nods eagerly. "This isn't what's in his files. This is just my speculation."

"Thank you." Nera smiles. "I'm listening."

Hinata was racing towards the Uchiha District. She didn't know why she felt the need to run, but she did. Maybe, the Heiress just needed to say this before she lost her nerve.

Talking to Naruto was one thing, but Sasuke was another league. As far as she knew, Sasuke Uchiha didn't really know how to communicate his feelings outside of a battle very well. (If he had, Naruto and the last Uchiha probably would have settled things far more peacefully and quicker than they had)! So obviously, she wasn't really dealing with a man who was well the most open!

It didn't take her long to get there or for Sasuke to sense her. "She told you." It wasn't a question. It was a statement of fact.

Of course, Sasuke knew that she knew. Why else would she be rushing to his District when the two of them had barely spoken two words to each other before?

The only reason they interacted at all was in passing because she was now Naruto's girlfriend and Sasuke was his best friend. Really, it would have been impossible for them not to interact to some small extent because of that. They were both important people to Naruto. So once in awhile, that meant bumping into one another.

"I I can't d-deny that." She didn't think Sasuke liked her though. "I k-know about the proposal though!" Then again, Hinata didn't believe he necessarily disliked her either. Sasuke just wasn't a person who seemed to like many people in general.

Sasuke shakes his head and smirks. "You don't have to tell her that you broke whatever promise she made you swear to keep." Oh well that was a relief! "I figured it out. You didn't tell me. What do you want?"

Well she had to make sure that he wasn't going to hurt her cousin! That's what she had to do! Nera was already going through enough to have her heart toyed with.

"I want to know why you proposed to her." Hinata shakes her head. "I'm not sure that you would do it just to free her from being a Branch Member." If that was the case, he could have proposed to any of the Hyuga Branch Members. "And I know you want to restore your Clan, but you could do that with almost any woman. Why her?"

That last part makes Hinata blush a little. It was embarrassing to discuss such matters with anyone, but with Sasuke it was almost unthinkable!

Sasuke shakes his head. "I want to restore my Clan. She's a powerful ninja who isn't afraid of me and is also intelligent enough not to bore me to tears." That was…practical. "You're a Hyuga. You know that not every marriage is based off of romantic notions." Sasuke tilts his head at her as though he was just as surprised as Hinata that he was actually justifying himself. "We may not love each other, but we need each other in a way and that might grow into more one day."

That was Sasuke's subtle way of saying that it could grow into love. Hinata didn't know whether to find his approach to marriage incredibly heartbreaking or to be relieved that the Uchiha was admitting in some what that he believed he could potentially have the capacity to love Nera. She settles on a mixture of both.

"That all sounds very rational." Hinata shakes her head. "Marriage isn't a math equation though. You both should be able to marry someone you love."

Why she said that, Hinata didn't know. It was true and she did believe in love matches, but Sasuke wasn't the sort of person who would want to listen to such things. She was just as likely to irritate him as reason with him by making such proclamations.

Sasuke glances at her and looks Hinata up and down. "Are you going to object, if she decides to say yes?" It was almost as if he was assessing her in the way a hawk might another bird of prey.

He was worried that she'd talk Nera out of it. That meant on some level he cared. How much, she wasn't sure. That was still something though!

"I won't object." Hinata shakes her head. "Just please don't make me regret that decision. Naruto sees something good in you." Again, Hinata couldn't really fathom why she was making such declarations. It wasn't smart. "I t-think you might be a good person who a lot of b-bad things happened to you and I really hope that's the case because I don't want Nera to get hurt!"

Sasuke shakes his head as he waves her off. "I have no intention of hurting her." And before Hinata could say anything further, he was already walking back into the Uchiha District where she didn't follow. (It almost seemed like blasphemy to do so, really and she had already said everything that she wanted to say anyway).

Back at the Intelligence Unit, Nera watches Shikamaru carefully. She knew that this was all just his personal opinion, but she trusted his judgment. While the other ninja obviously didn't care for Sasuke that much, he was also capable of being objective.

"It might not be fair, but the guy does have problems." Shikamaru takes a deep breath as though gathering his resolve. "I mean anyone would after finding out most of their family was dead and had been killed by their brother." That was true. Though he wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know.

She nods at him encouragingly. "Surely, you have more of an opinion on the matter than just that." Any Academy Student could have realized that much. Shikamaru knew more than that.

He shifts slightly. It was obvious that he was uncomfortable and for good reason.

"You're right." Shikamaru was fidgeting slightly. "As far as I can tell, he never really received much treatment for the trauma. He was found barely coherent in the District shortly after Itachi left and they treated him for physical shock." He pauses again. "I'm not sure if they did anything more than that, but odds are he didn't receive any formal counseling. Well at least not for any extended period of time."

Being a ninja meant that one had to get used to loss, but that was harsh even by Nera's standards. She had never really thought of it that way. Perhaps, if someone had been there for him in the immediate aftermath, Orochimaru never would have sunk his teeth into him so deeply.

Nera immediately tries to suppress that thought though. No good would come on dwelling on such things. What she needed to know is what Sasuke was like in the present and what he would be like in the future. Not to play the 'What If Game.'

"That's horrible." She shakes her head.

If she were to be completely hones though, the Leaf didn't have a very good reputation for taking care of children. This was especially true when they were orphans. There was There was Kakashi, Sasuke, Naruto, and all the Branch Members to be considered and Nera was quite certain there were other children that she just didn't know about.

Really, one would think they'd take more care of their future ninjas. Maybe, she should look into the matter. There was an orphanage, but Nera knew that Sasuke as an Uchiha and Naruto was the Nine Tailed Fox's Jinchuuriki just hadn't been able to go there for obvious reasons.

"Yes, I suppose that might be at least part of the reason why he turned out the way he did." Shikamaru shakes his head. "He seemed normal enough before the Massacre, anyway. From what I remember." Which probably wasn't much, Nera muses. They had all been so young.

She nods once more though. "I'm most interested in what a romantic partner of his could expect." The Hyuga woman hesitates and then clarifies. "He wants to restore his Clan someday. It's going to be an issue eventually."

Shikamaru looks a little green at that thought. Probably because he wasn't entirely sure that Sasuke had turned over a new leaf or maybe he was just worried about what the last Uchiha's children would be like.

"That's true." He shakes his head. "Well honestly, it's all speculation. He hasn't really shown an interest in anyone. I think that's mostly because he was focused on his brother thought." True. "That and it's not uncommon for victims of that level of trauma to lose their sex drive." That made sense. "I don't think that's necessarily his issue though."

She briefly remembers the kiss and nods. "I don't either." Sasuke had an interest in physicality to some degree, even if it was only a means to an end. The desire was there.

"I think he's just picky really." Shikamaru shakes his head again and Nera notices he's blushing. "My bet is that he's probably going to be very practical the matter and look at it from a genetic perspective. He's more interested in a strong Clan than love." Shikamaru shrugs. "He'd probably either be really closed off or territorial."

Those were two extremes, but what he was saying was making sense. Which did she want? Did she want to marry Sasuke and help him have his Clan and that be the end of it? A civil, but cool relationship? Or did she actually want him to be possessive and passionate? Even if that might be something of a risk for the rest of the village.

"Anything else?" She tilts her head.

Shikamaru obviously was uncomfortable. "Well if nothing else, I'm pretty sure that he'd be all over his kids. The guy lost his family and that's what's been driving him one way or another for a long time." Again, that made sense. "My best guess is he has at a minimum PSTD, maybe some other issues. Though his rages don't seem to be unprovoked."

That was a relief. The last thing she wanted was to start a family with him and for Sasuke to have a violent flashback. Though the last part of that final sentence was concerning. Sasuke was prone to rages, if provoked. Rages that could level mountains.

"Well that's something." She smiles at Shikamaru. "Thank you, for your time." With that being said, she turns to leave, only to be stopped by Shikamaru's hand on her own.

He sighs as he looks at her with wary eyes. "It's really none of my business, but if you're thinking of getting involved with him…be careful." Shikamaru lets go of her hand. "I trust Naruto's judgment, but even if he's really changed it's not going to be easy for him or for whoever is with him to face the court of public opinion in this village."

Nera nods at that. "I understand." The court of public opinion seemed split into several camps when it came to Sasuke Uchiha.

The first (and probably largest) camp was simply terrified of him. The second didn't trust him and wished that he would leave. They thought he was the second coming of Madara. There was yet another camp who was cautiously willing to give him a chance based on Naruto's vouching. And finally, there were those who believed in second chances or were simply admirers.

The last group, the admirers were the most irritating in her opinion. They were simply besotted with him based on his looks and nothing more. Those women had all concocted some crazy fantasy that they could "fix" him with love or something naively idealistic like that. Nera honestly expected Sasuke to Chidori them one day.

"Good." Shikamaru nods at her and she nods back before darting out the door.

She had gotten what she came for. Shikamaru thought he was sane, though there were obviously challenges to being romantically involved with Sasuke Uchiha. Some she had anticipated and some she hadn't.

There was only one problem as she looks down at her flower. "I still don't have any idea what I'm going to do about this." Any of it.