I'm sorry. Don't hate me, hate school...and WB, but just a little. I'm not gonna lie, this chapter was done like two or three weeks ago and I have my reasons for not posting it. So now it's up. And this chapter -sighs- is depressing. NO, seriously, like real depressing. I kept calling Itachi an asshole and Hinata very un-smart(I would never call her dumb) in my head. I still like Itachi though. And I almost cried, just because this happens a lot in the real world. -sighs out of depression- and now it's raining. No joke. I'm going to my emo corner.


Hinata arms were wrapped around her body as it trembled continuously. She turned over in the bed, not wanting to hear Itachi throwing up in the bathroom and trying to make the pain stop. It hurt so much. No matter which way she turned, the pain wouldn't stop. Her stomach hurt so much, she almost couldn't breathe. And she was so thirsty. The only thing she could taste in her mouth was tears that seeped through her lips. She had been crying all night, making her eyes burn to no end. He actual did it. Itachi, her husband, the man she loves, hit her. It made her chest tighten every time she thought about it. He looked so angry, but why? What did she do? Or maybe that was just the alcohol. But usual people are open with their problems when they're intoxicated. Was it because of Sasuke? Was he angry because her and Sasuke were hanging out? If so, he definitely didn't show it. Until last night. Hinata quickly shut her eyes as a single tear came down her face when Itachi came out the bathroom for the third time that morning. He's been throwing up since 7 o'clock this morning. She didn't want to let him see her awake, she was to afraid that he might do something again.

Itachi breathed in and out to calm his stomach down. That alcohol hade bad after-effects. He looked at his sleeping wife. It had bad effects, period. He stared at her limp body, it looking like she was dead. He was a little afraid that she might be after what happened last night. Itachi slowly walked over to the bed and exhaled in relief when he saw her stomach go up and down, with difficulty. He was so anger at her, but he didn't mean to hit her that hard. He didn't mean to hit her at all. She was going to get bruises, and he knew it. Her fragile body would get a bruise if someone plunked it. Itachi face tightened up as he walked quickly back into the bathroom and shutting the door, preventing him from hearing muffled cries.

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Itachi carefully lifted his wife's shirt and stared at her stomach already seeing a blackish spot forming. She must have gotten that when he throw her against the stairs. His vision turned to her arm with imprints of his hand on it. He swallowed his guilt and carefully placed the bag of ice on her aching stomach. She was having trouble breathing, he could see it. Every time she breathed in it trembling when she exhaled. Her eyes closed and her face tightened when he caressed her tender leg, making him withdraw his hand quickly. He furrowed his brow. Damn, he couldn't even touch her and unfortunately, and he was a little too familiar with this. His facial expressions softened when he saw Hinata's body tense and she whispered a "sorry". A sigh escaped his lips; this was his fault not hers.

Hinata watched her husband leave her side and walk into the kitchen. He took off today to take care of her and even told her that he wouldn't drink again, which made her want to smile a little because he was being so nice, but that could easily change. He helped her out of the bed and help her on the couch. Now she was just laying there, letting him take care of her. She looked up and watched her husband sit down on the other couch, a glass with clear liquid in her hand. Is that alcohol? She felt surprised and sad; he promised. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was water, and hopefully it was because her throat was dry. But she didn't want to ask him for any or to get her something after he just got up. He gets mad when she starts whining and she didn't want that. Even though he hurt her, she didn't like seeing him anger or sad. She loved him.

"What are you doing?" Itachi asked hearing the ice bag on Hinata shuffle. He turned his head and saw Hinata staring at him with wide, sorry eyes. He almost scowled, getting annoyed with her being so scared, but remembered why. Itachi got up and position the bag of ice back on Hinata's stomach. "What do you want?" he asked staring at her. Itachi took a deep breath to calm his nerves when Hinata shook her head no. "Obviously you want something, what is it?" he asked again.

She gulps and stammers out, "S-Something to d-drink."

He stares at her for a second then picks up his cup off the coffee table and hands it to her. Itachi watched how Hinata took the cup and glanced at it then him. "It's water." he said like he was reading her mind, then sat back on the couch.

"Thank y-you." she said then slowly drank the cold liquid, thankful that it was actually water.

Itachi stared at the television, pretending to watch the program, but was deciding wether he should say something or not. After last night, their marriage could go only go downhill and if anything he wasn't going to let that happen. Should he apologize? If only he could, sorry never was his favorite word. It was hard enough to even mouth it which he couldn't do like last time, she wouldn't look at him for more than five seconds. She probably thought he would get mad just like the past few weeks. He opened his mouth to try and say it but nothing came out as usual, his pride was too strong. It's the one who kept him from ever saying sorry, or even saying "I love you" in public. When he felt like even saying it, he would try, give up and buy her a gift which she would try not to accept but he gave it to her anyway. It was in the way all the time. He sighed, and it wasn't going anywhere.

"I-Itachi." Hinata called.

He turned his head to look at her.

She turned away and said, "I-I'm not mad a-a-at you. I could n-n-never b-be." She turned her head back towards him to see if he was still listening and got scare when she saw him knelt in front of her making her turn her head back around.

"Look at me." he said in a low voice.

Her head turned towards him but her eyes lowered; she couldn't. She wasn't mad at him but she was afraid to see those angry eyes again.

Itachi felt a little pain in his chest as he swallowed the small lump in his throat. "Please." he muttered.

She looked up in a little shock and found out that his eyes weren't angry, maybe a bit sad, but not at all angry. But of course he wouldn't be, he was being so nice. She shouldn't of known, now she felt like a fool. She made him hurt again, but she didn't mean to. This was all her fault, never his. She sat up a little and slowly wrapped her arms around her husband. Her eyes started to water as she felt him return the hug and nuzzle against her collar, like a child seeking refuge from his mother.

"Hinata." he mumbled against her collarbone.

"I know." she said as tears trickled down her cheeks, knowing he couldn't finish; it was her fault anyway.

He lightly tightened his hold, not wanting to irritate the contusions on her stomach, and lifted his head up slowly. His eyes locked with her sad ones before he brought one of his hands up to her face and softly wiped the tears away. He gulped as inched closer to her face and when she didn't back up, he softly planted a kiss on her lips. His eyes stayed opened just in case if he was rushing her but he closed them when hers did. Itachi slowly slipped his tongue in her mouth and moved it around in a slow motion. He wanted her to know that he loved her and he didn't want or mean to hurt her. He was sorry, and he hoped she understood that without words.

Hinata, slowly and hesitantly, kissed back.

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"Itachi, Hidan, this is Ukon." Pein introduced.

The sliver-haired man glared at his two lawyers making the religious man scowl and the Uchiha glared back.

"Humph, these two are my lawyers. Pathetic." Ukon hissed.

"Listen you little fucker!" Hidan started the stopped when Pein put his hand up telling him to be quiet.

"I assure you, they are not pathetic." Pein said staring at Hidan the whole time.

Pein led the client and his lawyers to his office so they all could get associated. Itachi and Hidan sat next to each other while the defendant sat in the seat far from his lawyers and their boss. Hidan's scowl from early still hadn't disappeared and Itachi was practically having a glaring contest with his Ukon. Something was weird about him and it didn't sit well with the Uchiha nor the religionist.

"What's the case?" Itachi asked Pein still looking at Ukon.

"Ukon has been charged for homicide." Pein stated as Itachi made eye contact. "For killing his ex-wife."

Itachi glanced at Ukon while Pein was talking, seeing he had an almost invisible smirk on his face. Pein and Itachi looked over at Ukon first then Hidan followed. The three criminal lawyers stared at the client who just sat there staring back. Hidan brow furrowed before he said, "Okay you little shit! You gonna tell your fucking story!"

Pein saw how Ukon scowled and he glared over at Hidan. "Hidan. Outside."

"What?! What the fuck for?!" he yelled.

"Now."

Hidan got up mumbling a few curses as Pein followed him out the door.

Itachi watched the door close behind his boss then turned back and glared at the man across from him. A minute passed before Itachi asked, "Are you going to tell what happened or not?"

"I don't need to talk to you." Ukon snarled.

"You don't, but then you'll end up behind bars."

Ukon glared at the lawyer for a while before letting out a deep chuckle making the Uchiha glare at him harder. "What's so funny?" Itachi asked.

The defendant looked up at Itachi and smirked. "And what makes you think that if I don't talk you I'll go to jail?" he asked.

"I'm the best lawyer here."

"So says your boss." Ukon stated. "But I'm still not convinced. You see, I'm a very important man and I can't afford to be put in jail. I don't need to tell my story to people that I don't believe can prove me innocent."

"Then how can you be convinced?"

"Not sure if I can be but that depends on you." Ukon said then got up and straightened out his suit. "Let's discuss this somewhere else." he stopped and looked at Itachi asking, "You like Shochu?"

Itachi glanced at his watch, it being a quarter pass two, then looked up at Ukon and replied impassively, "Love it."

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Hinata turned off the stove and carefully picked up the skillet and poured the steaming curry over the plate of rice. She picked up the plate and placed it on the dinning room table with a similar plate. The wife sighed and went to go lay down on the couch. Before she got comfortable she glanced over at the clock on the DVD player. "It's almost 5 o'clock. He should be home soon." she muttered to herself shutting her eyes. She smiled a little. Everything's been acceptable lately.

Their incident happened about two weeks ago and everything's been great. Itachi was taking care of her for about a week but then he had to go back at work, and she was happy that he did. She didn't want to be a burden, plus everything was fine. The bruises on her body didn't get as bad as she thought they would probably because of the ice, though she was still having a little trouble breathing. So yeah, everything was just swell. Her and Itachi talked about a lot of things. He told her about what happened with one of his clients, Rizu was her name, and that nothing happened. That was one thing off her shoulders; she didn't worry about him and his job anymore. She told him that her and Sasuke weren't nothing more than friends and he said that he believed her, but she knew didn't. I don't care, he said, just tell me when you both go out. His face was turned from her when he said that but she knew he meant something totally different by the way he said it. Don't go near him, is what he truly meant to say. Itachi and Sasuke never were the closer brothers, so what happened last week was more than awful. Sasuke came over just to visit and Itachi just glared at him the whole time. They bickered back and forth over nonsense. One reason was because Sasuke turned the channel on the television to a show that Itachi didn't like even though he wasn't watching t.v. at that point. The whole argument was foolish and got worst when Itachi attacked Sasuke on his job. He criticized on how Sasuke was bad at his job and how he never went to work. When Sasuke had enough, he got up and went to help Hinata in the kitchen smirking at his older brother's facial expressions; probably cause at how close he was to her. Then they quarreled more and more until Hinata gave up trying to stop them and locked herself in their room, she wasn't suppose to be downstairs anyway.

When her and Itachi had their heart-to-heart talk, they made promises to each other. He said he wouldn't drink if she promised not to invite nobody over for awhile or until her bruises where gone. She promised, of course, with a frown from unhappiness. Is he trying to hide his mistakes, she thought when he asked that favor. But then again, who wouldn't want to? So she promised anyway, she didn't want to repeat what happened that night. She sighed as she felt tears start to built up. And she kept it, the promise, hoping he would keep his.

"What am I doing?" she asked herself with a sad smile sitting up. She brought up her hand up and wiped her restrained tears. "Daddy wouldn't approve." She laughed to herself for two reasons: because she felt foolish for crying over every little thing and because she never called her father that to his face; second nature, almost was his indirect rule. She rubbed her eyes harder and winced as she withdraw her hand quickly holding her wrist with the other hand. Her hand softly stroked her wrist as she moved her sleeve up biting her bottom lip from the sight of the new hand print around it. Life was marvelous. Hinata lowered her sleeve back when she heard the door open. A forced smile appeared as she went to go to greet her husband, just like a good wife.

"You're home." she greeted standing in the hallway, watching her husband hang his coat up on the coat rack. The smile almost dropped and she inwardly burst into tears when he turned around with slightly rosy cheeks.

"Hm." he hummed. He brought two fingers up to his lips and kissed them as he walked toward the back room. As he passed his wife, he removed his fingers from his lips and pressed them against hers, giving her an indirect kiss.

"Are you hungry? I made dinner." she said after she followed him, now watching him plop on the sofa.

"No." he groans throwing his arm over his eyes. The light was really hurting them.

Hinata went to go put up the food with a frown. This happened almost everyday, or at least that's what it felt like. Their routine, their horrible routine. He would leave for work in the morning, they would both smile at each other and he'd give her a kiss on the cheek or lips. Through the day, she would criticize herself on what was she doing wrong and ask herself why didn't he keep his promise. Then when he came home, she asked him if he was hunger, he'd say no, ask her how was her day then go to sleep on the couch or in the bed making her go to the opposite place of him and cry silently. What a lovely routine.

"How was your day?" Itachi asks from the sofa.

"It was fine." she lies then turns on the faucet to wash out the used bowls. Her eyes couldn't help but look at her new bruise on her wrist. He didn't do it because he was angry though, or so she tells herself. He just grabbed her wrist a little too tight. She didn't hear him, she was stuck in thought, so he grabbed her attention, literarily. Don't ignore me, he growled, did you invite anyone over today? No, was her answer as always. That was another thing he asked her everyday: did you invite anyone over? And her answer would always be no because she didn't. Why would she, that would be breaking her promise.

He's still awake, she thought as she watched him staring at her when she left the kitchen. But of course he was, their routine wasn't finished yet.

"Did anyone come over today?" he asked.

Finished. She gives him a little smile as she shakes her head no and slowly walks towards the stairs.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked.

She turned around and jumped a bit when he was standing right behind her; she didn't like when he did that. "What do you mean?" she asks. He was mellow as usual; able to talk without a slur and wasn't entirely violent. He never gets drunk, except for two weeks ago.

"Your eyes are red."

"Oh." she breaths out and blinks a couple of times before laughing a little as she says, "Onions."

Itachi stared down at her rubbing her wrist. "What's wrong with your wrist?" he asked.

She notices she's been rubbing it to stop the pain and moves in behind her back saying, "Oh, nothing."

"Let me see it."

"Itachi it's fine."

His brow furrowed as he grabbed her wrist in a quick motion noticing that she winced when he touched it. He lowered her sleeve and his face softened as he averted his eyes from the print around her wrist. "How long have you had this?" he asked letting go of her wrist.

She gives him an assuring smile while she says, "It's not a big deal."

He jerked his head to the side as he said, "Go put some ice on it."

"Itachi, I told you it's f—"

"I said go put some ice on it." he said with force.

Hinata lowers her head from his tone and quickly walks pass him whispering, "Okay."

Itachi watched her as she walked into the kitchen and sighed out of frustration; when the hell did she get that? He didn't remember ever grabbing her or anything like that.

Just like he asked, Hinata put the small bag of ice on her wrist. She stares at her wrist, removing the ice on and off; that's another week in the house. Another week without socializing. Another week of hiding. Another week of loneliness. She would call Ino but she knew that she would want to come over, same for Hanabi and TenTen. They must be worried, she thought. But then again, hopefully, they thought that she was just too occupied with being a wife. And hopefully this ice would make the bruise go away sooner, she wondered what happened to Ino two weeks ago and was worried. She must be mad at me, she thought, she would call. And hopefully, Ino could wait for another two weeks or so.

Yes, life was just perfect.

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Hinata backed up on the bed feeling the cold from the wooden headboard against her back. She looked up at her husband who was hovering over her, only seeing his silhouette; the room was pitch black, the only light came from the sunset through the open blinds.

"Are you going to keep your promise?" he asked in a low tone with a hint of sweetness.

It sounds like he was smiling and he might be but she couldn't tell, too dark. She nods her head first but then remembers it was dark and says quietly, "Yes."

"Good."

She felt her husband brush his lips against hers before he actually kissed her. His tongue was halfway in her mouth before he withdrew it and turned his head at the second sound of a buzz. He gave Hinata a tender kiss before standing up.

"I'm going to keep the lights off. Just in case." he said before closing and locking the door behind him as he exited the room.

Itachi walked down stairs opened the front door seeing Hidan, Kisame and Ukon standing on the front step.

"What's up!" Kisame yelled walking in followed by Ukon who just nodded.

"What the fuck took you so long?!" Hidan asked coming in also.

Itachi glared at his religious co-worker and grimaced when he saw two lawyers instead of one sitting on his couch. For some dumbass reason, Ukon wanted another lawyer and Pein just thought it would be right to pick Kisame. Itachi mentally shrugged; at least he didn't pick Deidara.

"Itachi! Where's Hinata? I haven't seen her in awhile." Kisame said cheerfully.

"Yeah, where's your bitch?" Hidan asked with a smirk looking around.

Itachi glared at Hidan and hissed, "Don't call her that."

"Yeah! Hinata a nice girl!" Kisame added.

Ukon cleared his throat to get everyone's attention and said, "Are we going to start?"

"Yeah, yeah." Hidan said flagging their client.

Hinata listens to the muffles of the lawyer's discussion as she brings her knees closer to her chest, but not to tight; her stomach wasn't healing as fast as they wanted it to. It's been almost three weeks since Itachi got this new case. He asked her to promise not to come down stairs when his co-workers used their house as a working space, which seems to be almost everyday. She said yes, so when they came over he had her stay in their room with the lights out; just in case, he said, they might come up stairs. He didn't want them to bother her is what he mentioned, he didn't want them to see her is what he meant. See her struggling to breath or how she walked with a little limp because her leg was still in pain. To see the bruise around her wrist that was slowly diminishing, unlike her others. There was no need to go to the doctor's though, bruise always take time to heal at least that's what she believes. He hasn't been violent recently. Actually he was only violent that night, the pulls and grips he inflicted on her arms or wrists didn't count, right? Right. He didn't do it because he was angry, it was because she didn't pay attention.

It was all her fault, is what she felt.

She dazed out a lot, or only sometimes. She pretended to be most of the time; it was better to pretend to not hear him than to lie to him, but that would be lying too, right? When he asked her how her day was she would say fine, but that was a lie. It was a lie when she would make up some excuse as to why her eyes were red when he asked why. It was a lie when she said yes when he asked if she was alright. They were all lies, and nothing was alright.

She felt like a liar.

She felt so cold and so lonely. Yes, she had her husband to talk to but they didn't much because of his case, or that's what she blamed it on. That and herself. She blamed it on how she didn't make an effort to try and tell him something was wrong or how his drinking was major problem, that it bothers her to no end. She furrows her brow as she snuggles closer to her knees. How every time he came home a little drunk she wanted to scream. Or when he touched her she wanted to just push him away, even if he was trying to be sweet. That was a lie. When he kissed her and gave her assuring smiles, that was a lie. Nothing was sweet anymore, just miserable.

Now she feels as if it's all his fault.

"I wish he would just stop." she whispers to herself with a hint of frustration. She wishes he would just stop pretending like everything was okay. She wishes that he wouldn't try to hide his mistakes. Keeping her locked up in this room was making her even more lonely than what she already was. It's all his fault, she thought out of anger. But most of all, she wishes he would have kept his promise.

She feels he is thee liar.

"I wish he would stop drinking." she whispers as tears of anger runs down her face. He promised and didn't keep it, but she kept hers. So why was she the liar? She threw her hands over her head and bit her bottom lip as she hid her face between her knees. She was breaking, and it's all his fault.

Hinata lifts her head and stares towards the door hearing a unlocking noise. She turns her head to notice that it was nighttime and there was nothing but a small light coming from the street lights outside. It's nighttime already, she thought.

Itachi came in and turned the toggle on the wall, dimmed lights coming on. "What were you doing?" he asked closing the door.

"What do you mean?" she asks still staring out the window.

"I called you a few times but you didn't answer."

"Sorry." she said as she faced him when he sat down on the bed. She graced him with a sad, pleasant smile as she asks, "How was work?"

Itachi furrowed his brow at his wife's smile. "Fine." he replied suspiciously. He got off the bed and walked into the bathroom turning the faucet on to the sink. His hands cupped up the water as he splashed it against his face.

He walked out of the bathroom drying off his face with a towel and stared at his wife just sitting on the bed. She was staring forward at nothing and it made him wonder, "Are you okay?" he asked out loud then went to his bureau.

Hinata sighed and opened her mouth to voice another lie but then pressed her lips together and inhaled deeply. "No." she breathed out; it's about time he knew the truth.

He furrowed his brow with a frown and asked before pulling up his pajama pants, "What's wrong?"

"E-Everything." she stammered a little. Come on Hinata, she scolded herself, don't stutter now.

"Be specific." He turned off the light then turning on the lamp on the nightstand.

"You drink." she stated in a low tone.

"What about it?" he asked nonchalantly getting on the bed.

She turned her head and watched him sit staring at her. "Y-You said you wouldn't."

"No I didn't." he said and watched as she looked at him with wide eyes. "I said I wouldn't drink as much."

"O-oh." she said sadly turning over on the bed and stared back out the window. Without even pressing the matter farther, she took in what he said like a trusting wife and now she feels idiotic; she didn't listen. She misunderstood, but was still upset. Didn't he get that his little drinks every now and then bothered her? Yes, after he saw the bruise on her wrist he cut down his drinking to every two days or so but that wasn't the point. The point was that she didn't want him to drink anymore for his health and because she'd rather die than repeat that night over. She closed her eyes and sighed when he turned off his lamp; she gave up. All the anger and, especially, the confidence she just had died out from just a few words, like a lit candle in the pouring rain.

"It bothers you." he stated in a whisper putting his arm around her.

Hinata brought his arm closer to her and whispered back, "Yes."

"Fine. I'll stop." he said closing his eyes and kissed her on her head telling her goodnight.

She quickly turned over in his arms and softly gripped his white T-shirt. "You will?" she asked with a small smile, so much hope blurring her vision.

He pulled her closer and said tiredly with closed eyes, "Mm, now go to sleep."

A content smile crept up on her face as she nuzzled against his chest tears of joy coming down her face. Finally, she wasn't crying because she was sad. She was happy, finally. And she hoped he would be too.

"Hinata." he called sleepily.

"Yes." she breathed against his shirt.

"You're making my shirt wet."

"Oh! I'm sorry!" she said and tried to move away but Itachi only tightened his hold on her.

"I don't mind." he said tiredly and lowered his head pulling her even closer. "Your hair...smells good...almost," he stopped and yawned before finishing slowly, "like lilacs."

"Itachi?" Hinata called and looked up to find he already fell asleep. She smiled to herself snuggling closer to him; it always made her smile when he talked in his sleep like that. And he seemed happy, so that was good.

So yes, life was great, truly.