"Hey Hinata," the brown haired girl said enthusiastically, waving her hand. Hinata turned around, only to be met with the grinning face of her sister.
"Oh… Hanabi. Hello," she said quietly.
Hanabi gave her a grin. "So from what Father tells me, you've been getting busy with Sasuke."
Hinata's mouth fell open in shock. "Hanabi!" she protested.
Her sister just smirked. "Oh come on, Hinata. It's not like having sex is that big of a deal." Hinata could only gape at her sister's forward approach. "And besides, if you are pregnant, you would have at least had to have done it once."
Neji had walked up beside Hinata and had heard the last phrase along with the look on Hinata's face. "That's enough Hanabi," he said authoritatively. "You do not need to point out such obvious things."
"But Nii-san," she whined. "It's fun to pick on her. See how embarrassed she gets," Hanabi said, pointing out Hinata's crimson face.
"Hanabi," Neji said, talking down to her. "She is the heiress and your sister. Show a bit more respect."
She crossed her arms in front of her. "I don't have to if I don't want to. It's not like Hinata's going to complain to Father about it."
Neji smirked at her then. "If I were you, I think I'd rather her tell Hiashi. She's just going to tell Sasuke instead, right Hinata?" Hinata just stared at him, still embarrassed. "I'd take Hiashi's wrath over Sasuke's any day."
Hanabi's brow lifted in concern. "You don't think he'd…?" Hanabi asked.
Neji just shrugged. "He's a moody person. It's hard to say exactly what he'd do if he found out his wife is being picked on," he said, keeping his tone cool.
Hinata was watching the amused look on her cousin's face. He was having fun tormenting Hanabi, probably as much fun as Hanabi'd had tormenting her. Hanabi was babbling now, offering up an apology to Hinata so as to not incur Sasuke's wrath. Hinata smiled kindly at her sister, and accepted the request for forgiveness. Hanabi left then, so that she couldn't offend her sister anymore.
"Was that really necessary, Neji?" Hinata asked shaking her head after Hanabi was out of earshot.
"No," Neji conceded. "But it was awful fun making her squirm."
"You're just as bad as she is."
"I'm offended that you're comparing me to her. I'm much worse," Neji responded, giving Hinata an impish smile. Hinata smiled at the jest and kept walking. Neji followed beside her explaining some sort of political argument over clan policies. Hinata enjoyed her cousin's opinion on the subject. The treatment of branch house members needed resolved, and the current argument over how to keep them in line yet give them freedom was constantly argued over. Neji firmly believed that kind and democratic leadership would be best, but the elders disagreed. They thought that removing the cursed mark would require a powerful leader to keep them all in line, and a few didn't think anything needed changed. Hinata went to these meetings only when it was necessary. They made her frustrated.
"Hinata," Neji said changing the conversational tone he'd been using to relay his story to a much more serious one. "You know how happy I am for you? Sasuke too of course?"
"Yes," Hinata said quietly glancing over at him.
"That's going to cause leadership problems within the clan I'm sure, but just know I'll be there to support you. No matter what I'll be behind you, watching your back and your children's."
"Thank you," she answered, looking away and continuing to walk towards the exit of the compound silently. As she reached the gate, she looked up at her cousin and asked, "Neji, what do you think will happen with the bloodlines?"
Neji shrugged as she felt a hand brush her shoulder causing her to jump. A deep voice, one she recognized as her father's, said, "No one knows. That is still a mystery. For all of us."
Hinata's pulse settled, and she lowered her head in respect for Hiashi, saying, "Yes, Father."
Hiashi smiled at her. "Hinata, I've already told you how pleased I am about the turns of events. Let's not worry about that far into the future yet."
Hinata nodded, unused to seeing her father this… happy. He wasn't overjoyed, but his smile… All of his emotions were portrayed in that kind smile. Hinata smiled back at him, happy to finally be getting her father's praise and approval. It was the one thing she'd longed for as a child. But Hiashi pushed her away, trying to make her improve. Now…she was finally receiving what it was she'd wanted from him. His acceptance.
Hinata bowed to her father out of respect and turned to leave. Neji escorted her home, unwilling to allow her to travel alone now that she was pregnant. Hinata personally thought it was a little crazy. She was barely two months pregnant. She could take care of herself. But Neji insisted and Hinata wasn't going to deny him.
Sasuke wasn't home yet when Neji and Hinata walked into the Uchiha mansion. Hinata immediate went to make tea. It was the middle of the afternoon, and she was looking forward to seeing Sasuke. It got a little oppressive for her when she went to visit her family. At least he hadn't gone too. Hiashi and Sasuke had an odd relationship. It was almost like Hiashi was trying to extract information from Sasuke, and the two of them made a game out of seeing who would break first. There was no animosity between them. They weren't even what you'd call rivals. They simply liked testing each other.
Sasuke walked into the house as Hinata heard the tea kettle start whistling. She hurried off into the kitchen as he trodded into the house. He sank down on the couch with a sigh. Neji, who was also sitting in the living room, looked over at his in-law. "How's it going Sasuke?" Neji inquired quietly.
Sasuke grunted. "Okay, I guess."
"That's good," Neji said. He stayed silent for a few seconds before saying, "I was wondering about something."
"What?"
"What do you think is going to happen with the hybridization of the two eyes? Just want to know what you think since we all have our own theories."
Sasuke shrugged. "I don't know. It'll probably be a cross, even though there's the possibility of it being purely Sharingan or purely Byakugan."
Neji nodded. "Okay. That's what I think too." Silence engulfed the room when Hinata walked in carrying a tray of filled tea cups. She set the tray down, handing each man a cup of his very own before taking the last one for herself and sitting down beside Sasuke.
He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. She smiled up at him, temporarily forgetting Neji's presence in the room. Neji cleared his throat as he lifted his cup to take a sip of tea. Hinata turned away from Sasuke, face crimson. Neji chuckled. "Hanabi's right," he said gently. "You are fun to pick on."
This earned him a glare from Sasuke. "Don't..."
"It's okay, Sasuke," Hinata said quietly, putting a hand on his arm. "He's just teasing me. I don't mind."
Sasuke muttered something incoherent. Neji just shook his head and stood up. "I'll be leaving now. It was good to see you Hinata-sama, Sasuke-san."
Hinata watched him leave, wanting to walk him to the door, but the arm Sasuke had wrapped around her waist when she'd tried to get up the first time was keeping her motion limited. The door clicked closed and Sasuke pulled her into a hug, lips gently brushing across her neck. "How was your day Hinata?" he asked as his exhaled breath caused tingles to shoot down Hinata's spine.
"It's getting better," she said looking up at him.
"So it wasn't good?"
"No, it was fine. It's just getting better."
Sasuke smirked. "Heh…" He stood up, leaving Hinata sitting on the couch by herself. She pouted. "Not right now," Sasuke said, smirk still plastered on his face. "I'm too tired from a busy day at work."
Hinata turned crimson. "Th-th-that…that's not what I meant," she protested.
Sasuke impishly grinned at her. "Oh… I know. It's just so much fun to tease you." He was beside her then, a hand around her wrist to pull her up off of the couch, as he wrapped the other around her waist. He kissed her, lips brushing against hers. She slipped her hands under his shirt so that she could run her fingers across his midsection. Sasuke moaned. He cupped her breast through the fabric of her shirt, burying his head into her neck, kissing and nipping. His hands wandered down towards her waist as he reached for the bottom of her shirt.
Hinata stopped him, insisting on doing it herself. Sasuke looked down at her, watching with eyes full of anticipation. Hinata glanced up, and planted a quick kiss on his lips before darting out of his grasp. She stopped in the kitchen doorway. "Sorry Sasuke. I'm just teasing you. Dinner first," she said, a slight smirk visible on her face.
"Fine. Whatever," Sasuke said irritably. "You just better deliver on the promise woman."
"Don't worry. I will."
