A/N: Hi guys! I've been browsing SasuHina fics since I'm still on vacation, and there are many of them that contain plotlines where Sasuke pressures Hinata for sex or Sasuke forces Hinata to have sex with him and then they fall in love. We might think it's sweet, but isn't that already sexual harrassment? I'd love to know what you think!

Again, thank you for the reviews, Little lily (The previous chapter was short because this one will be long!), 00-night-eyes-00, tactics 2012 (Thank you! They are cute, aren't they?), CallMeSenseiKuchiki, Robotchick1, oxogreenappleoxo, Rosebunse (I didn't know that! Thank you!), wolf-enzeru, heyitsmehahaha, xXYour DoomXx, Fher34 (Crap, thank you for pointing it out!), and DageRee(I've already written a good bit already, that's why I'm updating a lot. The posted story is catching up to my file, though!).

Disclaimer: Naruto not mine.


Sasuke didn't bother to hide the boredom on his face. It was less of a party than a meeting and a tea ceremony combined. He, Hinata, and Hiashi were seated at a dais at the head of the room. Dinner was still underway, but he had already finished his. the dishes were good - excellent, even - but in this stifling and rarefied atmosphere, he found he had lost his appetite. He had his chin cupped on his hand as he stared at a far wall, long finished with scrutinizing everyone in the room. Even Hanabi making faces at him had outworn its charm.

There was a discreet tug on his sleeve, and he turned to look at Hinata. She looked so impossibly lovely in her white kimono with purple birds that he felt his chest tighten every time he looked at her. This was why he avoided talking to her even though he was unspeakably bored at this farce of a party.

He looked sideways at her. "What?" He asked, his tone more rough than he had intended. She didn't seem to notice, though. Or if she did, she didn't take offense.

"I made the spring rolls," she whispered, worried. "But-but... Nobody's eating them..." She looked glum.

He raised an eyebrow. It was exactly the kind of thing Hinata would worry about. "Nobody's eating much of anything," he pointed out. It was true: no one ate more than what was in front of their plate, there was no sake, and the volume level hardly rose above a respectful murmur. What kind of party doesn't have sake? He grumbled inwardly.

"I know, but..." She repeated her words from earlier that night but with a different inflection this time. Through his peripheral vision, he could see her hands twisting in her lap, a gesture he was fast becoming used to.

He sighed to himself and raised his hand. A servant hurried over, and Sasuke ordered an extra plate of spring rolls for everyone in the room. This isn't really a party where everyone's comfortable eating, he wanted to tell her.

Her hands flew to her mouth. "S-Sasuke, y-you didn't-"

"I already did," he affirmed. Since the Hyuuga were so polite, they would eat the extra plate given them without complaint. "Let's do this," he said, as two plates were set down before them. Hinata's rolls were good, but he wasn't hungry. Still, he dutifully finished them just so Hinata would stop worrying. She's worrying already anyway.

He scanned the room again. Everyone was tucking into the second plate of spring rolls, including Hanabi, who looked like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. He could hardly believe that such a loud brat could afford to behave so primly and demurely. In spite of himself, he was impressed with the Hyuuga training.

After dinner, Hiashi stood up from Hinata's other side. An automatic hush fell over the room, and everyone sitting below them composed themselves and looked at the current clan head. Sasuke rolled his eyes to himself, folded his arms inside the sleeves of his kimono, and settled down to tune out the speech. He chanced a glance at Hinata. She was so beautiful tonight. No wonder he had tried to kiss her earlier that evening. If that was what greeted him home after every training, he would gladly start on making little Uchiha babies.

Other people would probably say that he would be justified in making advances to her, or just taking her outright, since they were already married anyway. Nonconsensual sex hardly did anyone favors, though, to say the least. If he forced himself on Hinata, he was certain his mother would haunt him. If Hinata somehow found the gumption to actually sleep with him, it would be like a one-night stand with a never-ending morning after walk of shame.

Plus, they were also just starting to adjust to one another. He can still count on one hand the number of times they had talked at home. So in a way, he was relieved that she had held up his kimono, like a shield. If things became uncomfortable between them, he knew he would get no peace from his thoughts. Hinata would avoid him again, and he would slightly - slightly - miss her presence. One of the reasons he had chosen Hinata among the other girls was because he knew she would disturb him the least. Truth be told, when he made his choice, he hadn't counted on actually going so far as to almost enjoying the times when they were both at home.

What had possessed him earlier, anyway? He felt like an idiot. Thankfully, the walk to the Hyuuga compound hadn't been awkward.

"Clap," a voice whispered in his ear, and his hands moved of their own accord, clapping politely along with the rest of the Hyuuga clan members.

Presently, a line formed in front of their table and Hyuuga clan members came up to their table one by one to offer birthday wishes to Hiashi and marriage wishes for them. Sasuke let Hinata do the talking and instead stared at his hands.

He wondered how Hinata could listen to the same drivel over and over again, with a smile no less, especially when he knew the wishes were made out of politeness rather than sincerity. Probably the Hyuuga training. The majority of the crowd had already dispersed, and now only Neji, Hanabi, and some old people remained. Members of the council, he assumed.

Neji expressed a brief birthday wish to Hiashi, and turned to them. "You don't deserve Hinata-sama," he said in a low voice.

He heard a sharp intake of breath and Hinata saying, "Please, nii-san-"

"Are you done?" Sasuke asked. He looked straight at Hyuuga Neji's eyes then deliberately turned his attention to his nails.

"One hair on her head, Uchiha," he said menacingly.

Sasuke buffed his nails.

"Come, Neji-nii. You haven't wished for my happiness yet," Hinata coaxed with a smile.

Inside, he was indignant. How come she doesn't stutter with her cousin? He was reflecting on the unfairness of having a wife who was nervous of him when Hinata pulled on his sleeve again. Standing in front of them was Hanabi in a brown and orange kimono, her hair arranged in a bun like Hinata's. This ought to be good, he thought, anticipating her performance with a smirk.

"Onee-san and Sasuke-san," she murmured, her bow a perfect right angle. "Allow me to offer my congratulations on your marriage and my heartfelt appreciation of your cooking."

"That is very kind of you. My heart warms with gratitude," Hinata said quietly, equally formal.

"Sasuke-san, I am grateful to you for granting us a second helping of spring rolls," Hanabi turned to him. "In the event of my death, let it be known that the cause was the distension of my stomach."

Recognizing their game, Sasuke dropped his voice in the formal tone. "Should that event arise, I would certainly declare the pleasure as mine, Hanabi-san." He and Hinata bowed to Hanabi, the two sisters concealing their smiles.

Whatever amusement the small exchange gave him suddenly vanished as the members of the council converged upon them. They wished Hiashi a happy birthday and turned to both of them.

"Although this marriage is not approved by the council, allow us to congratulate you, Hinata-sama," one oily-looking old man said, who shared the same air of disapproval Neji and Hanabi invariably wore.

"Indeed," an old woman interjected. "How this clan can become greater with an Uchiha alliance - an orphaned one at that - I cannot imagine. However, I will have to trust that Hinata-sama knows what she is doing."

Snakes in the grass. The image rose in Sasuke's mind, of snakes hiding in the grass and darting up to catch the birds with their fangs. Not all Hyuuga are birds. He let the orphan jab slide.

"Thank you for your concern," Hinata said stiffly.

"Hinata-sama, you have been out of the compound for four years now," another old man said. "Have you been apprised of the issues our clan has dealt with?"

"There may be no need, perhaps domesticity would suit her better," the first old man commented with a nasty smile.

Just then, two things happened simultaneously: Sasuke and Hinata both stood up so fast that the teacups rattled, and Hanabi burst into the room.

"I will let your unenlightened remarks pass this time, Homura-san," said Hinata, retaining her poise.

"Insult my wife again, and I will kill you," snarled Sasuke. He was so angry that his senses sharpened and focused on this small old man, itching to hurt him.

"That was entirely uncalled for!" Hanabi exclaimed, and stamped her foot.

Hyuuga Hiashi stood up, slowly. He nodded to Neji, who hovered in the doorway. "Take Hanabi away, Neji," he ordered.

"Co-control your daughters, Hiashi-sama!" the old woman said, shocked. It was clear that the council members were not expecting an outburst from any of them.

Hiashi considered the old woman who spoke. "I do not have to control my daughters, Hikaru-san," he said in an icy tone. "As members of the Main House, they are free to act as they please. Elders, you are dismissed." The council members filed away silently, sullen. When the last one had shut the door, he turned to Sasuke. "If you harm any of my council members, I will be the one to kill you, Uchiha." He said the words slowly and clearly.

Sasuke scowled at him. "Then control your council members, Hyuuga-san. As far as I am concerned, insulting an Uchiha is unacceptable."

"I will do no such thing. You are dismissed, both of you," he said curtly.

"I dismiss myself," Sasuke retorted haughtily. He marched out through the main hall to the gates. In a few moments, Hinata followed, coming towards him on unsteady feet. He didn't know whether it was because of her poor balance or because of the scene just minutes ago.

Was she angry for talking back to his father? If she was, he wasn't going to mince words on what he thought about Hyuuga Hiashi.

She said nothing when she drew up to him. I don't care if she's upset or whatever, he thought. Remembering her earlier struggle with walking, which was a basic human activity, he offered his arm without looking at her. He felt her slender fingers curl around it gently. "Let's go home," she sighed. Side by side, they walked together in the cool night air.