The room was like all other rooms in the Hyuga compound.
White.
Four Walls.
Bland.
However, to the leader of the clan Hiashi Hyuga it was special. On the walls of the room were paintings of fallen Hyuga clan members, the leaders and members who've died in combat-heroes. On a shelf, beneath his father's image was a small image of his wife; Hinako who died in child birth. The shelf was at the north wall of the room, low merely a few feet above the ground. Before it the great leader knelt with his head bowed and right hand cupping incense stick and the other lit the stick. This room was special because it served as the only means of conversing with his wife. It was a belief passed on from his grandfather to him-another widower. A belief that in the room filled with paintings and names written in the stone tablets hung upon the walls that their spirits were still there even briefly. Summoned by their loved ones for a moment of wisdom and warmth-his father called it nonsense and after a while he too had began to believe it.
Yet here he was.
He spoke to her-or rather the painting of his wife, inhaling the burning incense. It hadn't been easy for him to be a father with his wife gone; she knew how to take care of things better. She knew when to put the right amount of care in and when to be stern but not cruel. He was clinical. He dealt with things that affected the clan. That promoted the clan. That made sure the tradition of the clan was passed on, that they remained the most influential clan in the Konoha. That was his goal; Hinako was never concerned with that. That was what made her the best partner for him. She was the complete opposite of him.
There was no response to his murmurs. Just the scents of the incense and the breeze blowing through the lone room window; nothing whatsoever. Frustrated, Hiashi blew the sticks of the incense out and out the candles. Rising up, he gathered his yukata and stood tall on his geta. He should have known these superstitions were nothing but useless words passed down from senile old men to silly young grandchildren.
Believing such he turned around and walked out of the room, leaving smoke trailed from the incense and blind to the last spark.
Neji had learned to pay attention to the little things TenTen did. Even if she was a shinobi, highly skilled and highly trained to kill-she was still a woman. And as he gathered from spending time with his younger cousin and the lower branch members who worked in the kitchens and gardens women liked when you did that; pay attention to the little things. So he noticed her constant questions about him and his cousin's relationship. The fact that she clung to him more and made him very aware of what he knew before which were her feelings towards him. He wanted to reassure her, tell her the truth and make all the doubts and whatever lingering insecurity she had about his favourite cousin vanish.
C'mon, they were cousins for crying out loud. That kind of thing was frowned upon not to mention disgusting. He was all too aware of the consequences and punishment for it.
Running his fingers through his long brown hair he sighed before taking a sip of the tea TenTen prepared for both of them, it tasted good but Hinata's was better. He guessed TenTen didn't have the disadvantage of being made to learn such things from babe and be a good wife-he liked her as his warrior.
His powerful weapon mistress-that was what suited her.
"How's the tea, Neji-kun?" She says in a low yet sturdy whisper entering the living room in his undershirt, which stopped mid-thigh for her. Exposing strong toned legs, his eyes lingered for a moment before looking up at her.
"Perfect."
She smiled at the compliment and sat on the couch next him. Curling her body next to his, radiating heat and smelling of some fruity body wash; this was what serenity felt like to him. Drinking tea, arm around the only woman he loved and relaxing. Simply breathing in life something few shinobi do.
Rubbing his chin into her loose brown hair he inhaled her scent once more. Yes, this was perfect.
Hinata held Sasuke's hand tightly and scanned around the compound. He had decided to show her his old home-which would be their own soon. After they'd married and all that, it was similar to the Hyuga one except where the Hyuga had well kept grounds and was filled with people-this was dark, with wild bushes and untended hedges that were as tall as she was. It sent shivers done her spine and Hinata felt sick knowing how many blood was spilt there, she wondered if the blood had streamed down like rivers running into the very soul of the house.
"This was the garden my mother took so much pride in-I wonder if she's rolling in her grave now to see what it's become. Wild bush and flowers everywhere." He said leading her to a dirty large pond, no water came from it and no koi fish swam in its poisoned waters. She swore-just for a second that there was blood caked on it.
But that was mostly likely her imagination.
Unintentionally she moved closer to Sasuke. Trembling like a frightened bird. "You must believe I'm some cruel man to put you through this-make you revisit the place where my life was eternally changed. This was where destiny was altered. Did you know you were supposed to marry my brother?"
Yes, she vaguely remembered the blurry meetings but that had changed around her fourth or fifth birthday. They'd found a wealthier more elite clan who's bland bloodline would not risk tainting the Uchiha.
"Hai."
Sasuke smirked. "I do believe I'm the better choice however."
Hinata blushed. Sasuke was better. He was alive at least, and had never killed a family member. Well except his brother of course but that could be forgiven.
"Hai. Sasuke-kun, a far better choice."
A silence fell over them; Sasuke sat staring at the once glorious garden. Something that had been his mother's pride and joy had fallen so hard. She knew what it was like to grieve for a fallen parent, her mother had been a pinnacle part in her young life. As Hinata sat there in the silence and glom of the garden she began to picture what life was like for Sasuke-had he been a happy child? Had he gone to the same academy as her cousin Neji? Played with children and knew what it was like to be a normal, happy child? Brushing a lock of indigo hair out of her face she glanced at his handsome profile. It was hard to imagine this stoic warrior as a child-unscathed and undamaged by the world. He closed his eyes for a brief second and she dared to imagine him peaceful and vulnerable but she knew deep down he wasn't. Even in the state he was in-eyes closed and perhaps not too focused he could still kill any man who dared interrupt their time in the ghastly garden. The tips of her finger ached to touch his face, touch the ashen skin and dream to see pink rush beneath the skin; just to know she had an effect on him.
Shifting closer to him, his ears perked up at the sound but he didn't move otherwise. Her sleeves brushed his forearms, her head bent towards him as she angled her body to face him-for a better view of study. Lavender tinted opal eyes rushed across his features. The folds of his clothing, the rise and fall of his chest and little movement he made.
"It's impolite to stare, Hinata-chan." He chided playfully.
The young woman blushed and stammered out a response. "I-I wasn't staring S-Sasuke-kun, b-but merely observing."
He raised a dark eyebrow but didn't open his eyes. "You were observing me, Hinata-chan?"
Licking her teeth then lips, she opened her mouth to respond but was silenced by the soft attack of Sasuke's lips on her's. The action was so brief-so sparing and quick if she had recalled the feeling of his lips from the party she wouldn't have known it happened at all.
"H-Hai." The poor girl stammered out slack jawed and doe eyed.
With eyes still closed, he laced his finger together and placed them behind his head, leaning back in the wooden bench. "That's cute."
The word seemed to be both of mockery and endearment. The combination, as it rolled off of Sasuke's tongue seemed to be something he mastered but rarely used. Perhaps for few precious people-maybe his comrades who he fought with, the people he's grown with and who've been to hell and back with and for him. Hinata pondered on what it must be like to be a ninja. To be able to protect the people you care for and not just stand idly by-not just a pretty wife.
She wondered what it was like to be strong.
Nin women had the same right as the men and trained as hard as the men and could do what they want just like the men. At least that was impression she was given so far by the few nin women she has been in contact with. Simply, nin women had free will.
Mustering as much strength as she could possibly contain and doing something with her own free will she leaned forward, close the Sasuke's immaculate face and kissed his cheek.
Or at least that was what she was supposed to be doing because the sneaky Uchiha and former Avenger turned his face and her lips fell to his own. She might have fainted if it were another situation-but she wouldn't dare miss the feel of his lips on her own.
He sat outside in the midst of a garden that wasn't quiet as nice as his mother's but pretty all the same-but gardens were boring. At least in the mind of a four year old boy it was. The young boy was eager to explore and roam but under the watchful eye of his betrothed's guardian. The man's opal eyes did not scare Sasuke as much as it gave him the creeps. Huffing in anger and boredom, hopped off the swing and walked between the groves of camellias. Running his small hand along the rough barks, he thought of climbing it but decided against it. There was no reward at the end of the task not like the sweet cherry trees in his mother's garden of the orange trees in front of his grandfather's home. No, it was nothing but a boring little flower.
"H-Hello." A timid girlish voice called for him.
The small boy span around looking for the source of the voice and found nothing, all there was were the damned flowers and tree barks. "Where are you?" He yelled.
There was no response just rustling and movement of bushes. With all the fierce determination of a true Uchiha, he did a trick his brother had thought him and listened to everything around him. The movement of the wind, the breathing of the man who was suppose to be watching him and a soft whisper of a name-yes he knew that name and he followed the whisper. Eyes shut tight and hands feeling about trying his hardest not to stumble or fall.
When he exited the groves and opened his onyx eyes. There was nothing there-just a lone flower. The white flowers pathetic and withered, he picked it up and rubbed it against his face.
"I'm right here." The voice whispered again and this time, when he spun around so fast his dark hair hit his pale face. The sight made him drop the flower and his jaw agape.
The name he had heard came to mind and left his lips like a secret or a hushed prayer. "Hinata."
IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE.
Long time no see guys! Or is it long time no update, eh? Haha. Well that's going to change. I hope everything was clear if not I'll respond in PM to you if you drop a review or something. Guess what I graduated High School! Whoop, Whoop!
By the way the flashback continued right after the flashback in the second chapter when Sasuke first meets Hinata. So please leave a comment or a review so that I can know if I'm doing something right or wrong because all of your opinions are taken very seriously and impact this fan fic.
Also, did you guys see Naruto's and Hinata's kids? (I mean I ship Hinata with everyone so please don't say I'm betraying SasuHina. ) They are so cute, my god! I haven't seen the movie yet but-My Glob, doesn't that make you want to write fan fiction because it sure makes me wanna.
Well Bye.
Happy Holidays and New Year.
Also I have written a Supernatural fan fiction-you know you wanna share some love there; go on. It's called 'From Eden.'