Chapter 4

AN: Ya know, I really meant to update a different story first, but I just couldn't bring myself to write for it, before suddenly I was sucked into a hiatus. Doesn't help that all my friends came home from school, either. Sorry my darlings. I'm a disappointment.

KaOrU HiMuRa24: I'm sure the guys will make an appearance soon! I love all of those clowns.

CenturysRuin: Welp, I'm so happy to know you're excited for all the nitty-gritty politics and mysteries I have in store!

InfKat: Well, they're no Kiba and Ino, that's for sure.

Eizleina-chan: I think I covered everything in our PM's, but I must say, I really enjoyed talking with you as well as reading your analysis! By the way, Florence + the Machine released a new song called Delilah today.

misao97: Thanks!

A knock on Hinata's bedroom door stirred the heiress from her book. She blinked, and looked up to see her cousin's face in the doorway, his face reflecting some irritation. "Your father and your fiancé are talking in the den. I thought you'd like to know."

Suddenly sitting more upright, and setting her book to the side, forgotten, she frowned. "Do you think I should join them?"

"That remains to be seen-"

"Why not? They're probably talking about you," Hanabi offered, her face popping into view from behind Neji, who scowled at her interruption.

"W..well, yes, I'd think so," Hinata mused, rising from her white armchair, wringing her hands and pacing nervously. "I..I didn't even know he was here."

"He arrived about an hour ago," Tenten said, her head also popping into view. Unfortunately, her stomach bumped Neji forward into Hinata's room, earning her and Hanabi a look.

"You're all terribly nosy, aren't you?" He asked, looking down at his wife and cousin. Tenten grinned, and crossed her arms the best she could, mimicking his stance.

"Well you're the one telling her when nobody called for her. I'd say you're pretty nosy yourself."

"I just happend to walk by and see them, I wasn't snooping!" the male insisted, before looking to his cousin. "Do what you will with the information, I just thought you should know."

Watching him leave, Tenten smirked at the pair of sisters. "Don't mind him, you know how it is, pregnancy hormones and all."

"I think I should go check on them," Hinata murmured, moving to go past them. Her cousin's wife grabbed her arm, and met her eyes.

"Are you sure your father will be ok with that?"

"I doubt he'd make a scene in front of the King," Hanabi guessed, placing her hands on her sister's shoulders and directing her towards the hallway. Hinata nodded numbly, Hanabi's words fueling her courage, and moved to find her fiancé and father.

Tenten looked to Hanabi, the two still in the girl's room. "What're you doing?!"

"If she's in there, we can say we're waiting for her instead of getting caught eavesdropping!"

"Ohhh, I see what you're saying!"

"It's so nice to finally have the details smoothed out on paper, isn't it Your Majesty?" Hiashi said, reviewing the agreements they had come up with. The pair sat in Hiashi's den, around an antique table of heavy oak. The clan head handled most of his business here.

"I will have the Council review this upon my return," Gaara affirmed, fingers interlocked. "I'm sure they will find the terms agreeable, however."

"How long will you be gone for?"

"A little over a fortnight, most likely. There are some matters I need to attend to back in my Kingdom, it would be difficult to handle them from here," the young king explained, troubled, yet not showing it. He had received a letter earlier this morning from his trusted advisor, Baki, urging him to return. Some nobles had been causing quite a ruckus in his absence, it would seem. To think, he'd been gone a week and already they'd started trouble. In hindsight, he should've let Kankuro to oversee things.

"I understand completely, King Gaara. When will you be taking your leave?"

"Tomorrow morning. The trip to my kingdom takes 3 days, and I would like to leave as soon as possible. I am going to pay Queen Tsunade one last visit tonight."

"Very good. There is only one more matter to discuss..." Hiashi started, before a knocking sound interrupted their conversation. The patriarch frowned, and Gaara noted it was quite similar to the way his nephew did. "Enter," the older man spoke, his displeasure thinly veiled.

Hinata came into sight, a soft shade of pink seeming to tint her cheeks once she realized their attention was upon her. Her gaze fell to her feet, and her fingers held onto the ornate gold doorknob like a safety net.

"What is it, girl?"

"I..I heard King Gaara was here, so I thought that..perhaps I would...if it was alright...maybe just.." she tried to explain, but her father's gaze bore into her, stern and displeased with her interruption. It was becoming hard to get the words out correctly, in fear of being rude to their guest.

"Spit it out, Hinata."

"I was wondering if you needed me," she mumbled shyly, her grip now tight on the doorknob. Deciding to just leave them, she began to turn. "I'm sorry to have interrupted."

"Lady Hinata, wait a moment, please," Gaara said, stopping her in the doorway. "With Lord Hiashi's permission, there are a few things I wanted to discuss with you."

Hiashi allowed it with a curt nod, gesturing for his daughter to shut the door and approach their table. The girl was playing with her hands again in nervousness, cheeks aflame. Whatever was he going to do with her? He cursed whatever genes gave him a bashful heir, rather than a prideful Hyuuga.

"I will be leaving tomorrow morning, so that I may handle some things within my kingdom and prepare for you. I will be gone for approximately two weeks," the redhead explained to his future wife, once he felt he was able. "In the interim, I was hoping that I could entrust the task of planning our engagement party to you. That way, it will be arranged to your liking."

"Engagement party?" The question had tumbled from her lips before she could stop them. Mentally, she smacked herself. Of course there would be an engagement party, and she was daft to think otherwise!

"We were about to discuss it before you came in," her father explained. "We've decided that, while your wedding ceremony will be held on the Kingdom of Suna, your engagement party will be held here. Afterwards, you will return to your new home with His Majesty."

"Would that be something you would like to do? I would leave Princess Temari to help you," Gaara told her, examining her as he usually did, looking for signs of distress.

"I could do it," Hinata assured, though she already felt somewhat overwhelmed by the prospects of it. Attempting a small smile, she accidentally met his eyes, but it was he who averted them this time.

"Good. Lastly, I wanted to ask if the Lady Hinata is free tonight?"

She froze, turning to her father, who enthusiastically insisted she was, in fact, free tonight.

"I am to dine with the royal family, and Prince Naruto informed me that you are welcome to join us as the future Queen," the monarch informed her, finally bringing his eyes back up to meet hers.

Her gut twisted at the prospect of seeing Prince Naruto again, but the expectant eyes of her father seemed to burn holes in her sides. Gaara's eyes on the other hand, they were gentle, and perhaps a bit...hopeful?

"I would be honored to accompany you, Your Majesty," Hinata said, in spite of herself. She really did not want to come face to face with the prince again, but what other choice did she have? Her father would be furious if she ruined the deal he had in a place.

"Excellent," the king said, rising to his feet. "I suppose I will give you time to prepare for tonight, then. I will have you picked up at 5:30."

Precisely 4 hours, that was how long she had to prepare she noted, watching him exit the den after bowing politely to her father. She even saw him nod cordially to Tenten and Hanabi, who were sitting on a sofa in the hallway waiting for her. The pair seemed bored, though Hinata didn't remember them following her downstairs.

A small cough reminded her that her father was still in the room, and she turned to face him, once again playing with her hands. She knew he hated it, but she couldn't help it.

"You're very lucky your fiancé is an understanding and patient man, Hinata," Hiashi stated. "Had he been any less, your interruption would not have been tolerated, and we would have been back to square one all over again. You'd best remember that for the future. How can you be trusted by the King and his advisors if you prone to bursting in on important meetings?"

Hinata remained silent, used to her father asking these sorts of difficult rhetorical questions. It was his nature, especially when he was still interested in training her in the treasured techniques of their clan. Once he lost hope in her, he left her to Neji's mercy for training. It was quite difficult, as her genius cousin was quite ruthless. It had helped her improve somewhat, though.

"In any case, you must go get ready for your dinner with the royal family. I expect you remember the standards of dress I insist upon?"

"Yes, Father," she murmured, head hanging like a scolded puppy. Her bangs hung in her face, blocking her eyes from sight. It was a lucky thing, for if she met her father's gaze, she might've teared up.

"Very well, you're dismissed then."

She bowed, before shakily stepping out into the hallway, Tenten and Hanabi rushing to her side.

"Are you in trouble?" Hanabi questioned, noticing her sister's lack of eye contact. It was always a tell-tale sign she might cry.

"Ah, no...at least, I don't think so..." Hinata murmured, lifting her head. "But I have 4 hours to get ready to attend a dinner with the King at the Palace."

"Dear me," Tenten clucked. "We'll just have to go get you looking presentable then, huh? I'll help, it'll be like the old days before I married Neji."

"Ah, it alright, Tenten, you can rest," the girl explained to her former handmaiden helplessly, knowing Tenten would stubbornly insist anyway. "You don't have much longer before the baby comes."

"No no, the baby just looks heavy, I feel like I'm full of energy right now! I even cleaned our quarters today. Neji was upset though. He's so smothery, I swear..."

"I'll help too," Hanabi offered, for Tenten's sake. Hinata smiled at her thankfully, leading the way to her bedroom.

"I must confess, though, I dread seeing Prince Naruto again," Hinata admitted lowly to the two. Tenten placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, as the younger Hyuuga sister shrugged.

"We'll just have to make you look so good, nobody there will keep their eyes off you," Hanabi reasoned with a smirk.

"Or at the very least, the king," Tenten butted in, having a respect for the sanctity of marriage that young Hanabi didn't. "We should not be trying to catch the Prince's eye!"

"I don't want that," Hinata said, shaking her head, and opening the door to her bedroom for the women. "I just want to get this dinner over with."

"Is our dearest Hina-chan complaining?!" Tenten cried, scuttling over to her friend and lifting her chin. "I'm sure it'll be just fine!"

"Wow, Hinata, this marriage is changing you!" her sister quipped jokingly, beginning to brush delicate indigo strands.

The heiress smiled for her sister, but she couldn't help the pangs of apprehension she was feeling.

A/N: Alright, so here we are! An update! Yay!

I must confess, I really like this story. I hope it doesn't feel too overdone and cliché for you all. Lemme know!

MyHikari