Chapter 10

The next day, after Sasuke and Neji had spend the entire morning together, Sasuke decided he should take up Neji's advice. He was walking towards Hinata's room. If Neji was right, he would be able to get comfort out of her, so he could at least try. He knocked on the door.

"W-wait a s-second!" Hinata's voice came from behind the door. A bit of rummaging was being heard and then Hinata opened the door, dressed in a light white nightgown, covered by some kind of light blue long coat. "G-Goodmorning." She said, surprised, as she saw Sasuke standing there.

"Goodmorning Hinata. I was wondering if we could spend some time together again." Sasuke said and smiled at her.

"Of c-course we c-can." Hinata said, smiling. She was happily surprised now. Sasuke had changed. And since when did he call her by her name? "Do y-you want t-to come i-in?"

"Sure." Sasuke said and walked inside. "You look pretty today." He said as he turned around to Hinata again.

"T-thank you." Hinata said, blushing. "I h-haven't dressed y-yet though."

"I can see. At least you're wearing something over it hm. I wouldn't want more guards stare at my fiance." Sasuke said and laughed a little.

Hinata giggled at this, still blushing.

"Y-yes, I'm n-not used to s-staring men." She said. "At m-my house, m-my father doesn't a-allow me in r-rooms where a l-lot of m-men are."

"We might have to put that rule in business in this castle too." Sasuke said and smiled. Hinata was nice. And cute. She really was a good fiance, he could tell.

Hinata smiled back.

"P-perhaps." Hinata said. "For w-when you're n-not around t-to protect me." She giggled again. For some kind of reason, she felt comfortable around Sasuke all of sudden. He really changed. Because of the death of Mikoto?

"Exactly. Thanks for not hating me Hinata." Sasuke said. He was thankful for her. He really was.

"I c-can't hate s-someone Sasuke." Hinata said, as she sat down on her bed, looking at him. "You c-changed, didn't y-you?"

"I guess I did. But thanks for staying." Sasuke said and sat down beside Hinata with a smile.

"Y-you're welcome." Hinata said with a smile while she looked at him, falling silent. Her father chose a really handsome man for her, she realized. Perhaps the most handsome man she'd ever seen in her life.

"Is something wrong?" Sasuke asked, noticing Hinata staring at him.

"I j-just.. realise h-how handsome you a-are." Hinata said, her face more red then ever. She quickly looked away.

Sasuke laughed a little. "Thank you. You're really beautiful yourself too." Sasuke said and grabbed Hinata's chin softly, turning her face towards him. "Don't be ashamed." He said smiling.

"T-thank you.." Hinata said, still red. She was looking at Sasuke nervously, but smiled too.

"We should get to know each other before the wedding." Sasuke said and let her face go after he stroke some of her hair behind her ear.

Hinata nodded.

"I-indeed." Hinata said. For one moment she had thought that Sasuke would kiss her. For some reason, she was disappointed that he didn't. But that would come later.

"I think I like the thought of marrying you somehow. You're nice." Sasuke said.

"T-thank you.. I'm h-happy about it t-too." Hinata said. "I w-was afraid t-that you would b-be a jerk.."

"I was. Good thing for you I changed." Sasuke said, still smiling.

Hinat nodded.

"I-indeed." She said. "...I'm s-sorry for i-ignoring you b-before."

"That's OK, I deserved it." Sasuke said. "Let's just make a fresh start."

"I'm g-glad you're n-not mad." Hinata said and smiled. "I s-should make i-it up to you b-but I don't k-know how."

"It's OK Hinata, really. Let's make a promise." Sasuke said and looked at Hinata.

"W-what kind o-of promise?" Hinata asked, curious.

"A promise that we will be a happy couple and you'll be a good wife for me, I'll be a good husband for you." Sasuke answered.

"Of c-course we'll d-do that." Hinata said. "I'll c-comfort you w-when you need i-it and I'll b-bear your children.. we'll b-be happy."

"Good." Sasuke said and smiled. "I don't want us to be like other married couples. Forced into it. I want us to be happy together. I'll do anything to make you happy."

Hinata smiled at Sasuke.

"And I-I'll do the s-same." Hinata said. "...But, y-you have t-to promise me s-something too.."

"What is that?" Sasuke asked, looking at Hinata.

"I w-want to a-ask you to n-never lie to m-me.. to be h-honest.." Hinata said. Every fool could notice that she wanted to ask him a question. Or perhaps more.

"..Of course. No husband lies to his wife." Sasuke said and looked at Hinata. What did she want to ask? Or know?

Hinata nodded and then looked at him.

"...T-then... well... d-do you... well... like.. o-or more.. love my c-cousin?" She softly asked.

Sasuke looked at her. How did she know? How did she found out? What should he say? He just promised her not to lie..he should tell the truth but..what would she think? "..I.." Sasuke started, but couldn't find the words to continue.

"..I've s-seen how t-the two o-of you look a-at each other.." Hinata softly said. "..H-how the two of y-you react when t-the other is i-in danger..."

"..W-well yeah...we do love each other. But we also decided not to continue it. Once he's gone, it's over." Sasuke answered.

"I k-know." Hinata said, nodding. "I o-only wanted t-to know, nothing m-more. But.. d-do you even l-like girls?"

"I like you." Sasuke said and looked at Hinata. He really did like her. And he knew he could feel so much more. So..maybe Neji was just an exception. Even if he liked the bodies of boys more, Hinata had a beautiful, appealing body too.

"..S-show me t-that you do.." Hinata softly said, looking back to him.

Sasuke frowned at her. Did she..want him to kiss her? If she did he had no problem with that, but what if she meant something completely different? She might slap him. Well he had worse. Sasuke softly grabbed Hinata's face and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

Hinata was red again and softly started to kiss back. This was what she wanted. He clearly showed her that he did care for her. Else he wouldn't kiss her.

Sasuke kissed her gently and softly. He did enjoy it, she was nice and soft and delicate. A part he was sure he would come to love. He really could become happy with her. Find comfort in her. Neji had been right after all.

Hinata let one of her hands go through his hair and her eyes were closed. This was what she had waited for.

Sasuke kept holding onto her face until the kiss finally broke for the both to get some air. "..That was nice.." Sasuke said, slightly surprised he had enjoyed it so much.

"Y-yes it w-was." Hinata said and smiled. "I'm g-glad that we d-did it."

"Me too. I'm glad I will be able to do that more often." Sasuke said and smiled too.

"M-me too." Hinata said, as the blush slowly disappeared from her cheeks.

"I'm sure we'll be happy." Sasuke said, stroking some of her hair out of her face again.

"M-me too." Hinata said. "I'm r-really glad that y-you are the o-one chosen for m-me."

"I'm glad about that too. You're the right woman for me." Sasuke said.

"I a-am?" Hinata asked, surprised. "You c-could get e-every woman y-you know.."

"Maybe. But you're calm and nice and you know what's good for a marriage. I need that." Sasuke said.

"T-thank you." Hinata said. She already thought that he didn't really think of her as someone beautiful. "...I'm g-glad that you a-accept me."

"Of course I do. You're beautiful and you..take after my mom. It really just means you're pretty from the outside and inside." Sasuke said.

Hinata blushed at the comment.

"That's o-one of the b-best compliments y-you can ever g-give a woman.." She said. "Everyone k-knows that t-the most important w-woman in a man's life i-is his mother.. and if o-one tells y-you you look l-like her, it's a c-compliment... and s-since I've s-spoken to her, I r-really appreciate it.. s-she was a g-great woman.."

"She was. And so are you." Sasuke said and smiled. "I really mean it."

"T-thanks." Hinata said. "Y-you look a l-lot like y-your mother.."

"..Thank you. I appreciate it." Sasuke said. He had always been told he looked like her. And from now on, he would be proud of it.

Hinata smiled. "You h-have her eyes a-and skin.. and her f-face looks a lot l-like yours.." She said.

"Thanks. That's a big compliment." Sasuke said and smiled. He could spend all day with her, he was sure. All of his life. She was nice, silent, said the right things, pretty. Everything he wanted.

Hinata was still smiling at him. She felt a strange feeling in her stomach. She really liked Sasuke. A lot. She felt attracted to him.

"Let's spend the day together." Sasuke said. He would spend the rest of the week with either Neji or Hinata from now on. Eventually, Hinata would take Neji's place. But he was happy with her already. She forgave him for everything and took him right back.

"A-Alright." She said. "Did y-you already have b-breakfast?"

"I had breakfast in my room. And you?" Sasuke asked.

"I h-haven't had a-any." Hinata said. "And I s-still need t-to change.. if y-you want you m-may stay.."

"I'd love to. We could get some brunch, if you'd like. Together. Just the two of us." Sasuke said and smiled.

"That w-would be lovely." Hinata said, blushing. She stood and walked towards her wardrobe. She knew that she shouldn't feel ashamed with him looking at her body. Since it would belong to him soon.

Sasuke looked at her. Would she really get undressed in front of him? That would be nice. Sasuke smirked a little. He should really stop having perverted thoughts now.

Hinata took a beautiful purple dress out of her wardrobe and then looked at him, blushing. She doubted for a second and then walked towards her changing room. If he wanted to look, he had to follow her.

Sasuke though, patiently waited. She would show her body once she was ready. And so would he. He smiled though, being happy already.

A few seconds later Hinata returned, being completely dressed.

"T-thanks that y-you waited." Hinata said, smiling at Sasuke.

"Of course." Sasuke said and smiled back. "Now shall we go?" He asked and instead of offering his arm, he offered her a hand.

Hinata happily took his hand in hers.

"O-of course." She said. She was really happy.

Sasuke opened the door with a smile and walked with her. He was happy. Truly happy. He knew Hinata and him would be a great couple. A wonderful husband and wife. Even though he loved Neji now, he was sure his love would go to Hinata soon.

"Uchiha Itachi, will you please stand up?" A priest was standing in front of Itachi, who was sitting on the throne. The time had come to crown him the king.

Itachi inhaled deeply and then stood. This was the moment. He was going to receive the crown that had been made for him. He walked towards the priest and kneeled before him, just like he had to do, and bowed his head.

The priest bowed at Itachi. "Because of the execution of the former king, Uchiha Fugaku, we will hereby crown his oldest son, Uchiha Itachi, also the son of Uchiha Mikoto, former queen, as the king." He priest spoke and then laid his hand on Itachi's head. "Uchiha Itachi. Do you swear to be faithful to your land and it's civilisation, to protect it under every circumstance and will do justice?" The priest asked.

"Yes I swear." Itachi said. "I swear it on my mother's death and the graves of all the former kings of this country. I swear to bring peace and rest, and happiness. I'll let the joy return to this land."

"Then we hereby crown you the next king, to protect our land. We will stand by you." The priest said and took the crown, placing it on Itachi's head. Two guards placed the king's cloak over his shoulders. "You may stand and speak to your people, your majesty." The priest said and bowed for Itachi. Sasuke smiled. He really was proud of his brother. In the mean time he knew they would never have the relationship he hoped for. But he would stay by his side forever, helping him through every hardship. Itachi was his brother after all. And now his king.

Itachi stood tall now, looking at his people. His people. It sounded strange, but right.

"My dear people, I hope that I can fulfil your wishes and make you happy." Itachi said. "From this day the way we all live will change. The slavery you all live in will make place for happiness and health for everyone. I'll lower the power of the nobility's, so that no soul will be sold anymore. The soldiers don't have the right to do as they please with you anymore and everyone can ask for a change in the society. I will discuss every very question. I'll do everything to let my motherland shine, even if I have to die for it. I'm Uchiha Itachi, and I'm your new king. I hope I can serve you well." With that he ended his speech and he breathed out, relieved that he had told this.

It was silent for a while until the crowd starting clapping for their new king. They were happy as they had suffered under Fugaku's control. Itachi becoming the king, would mean a new life for all of them.

Itachi bowed for them.

"Let the feast begin!" He said, happy that they accepted him. He smiled at seeing all those happy faces.

The crowd cheered once more and then the party begun. Sasuke stood from his chair too, taking Hinata with him, who had already take the place next to him. They walked towards Itachi and Sasuke bowed. "Congratulations Itachi. King." He said and smiled at his brother.

Itachi smiled back.

"Thanks Sasuke." Itachi said. "But never bow to me again."

"C-Congratulations." Hinata said as she bowed too. Itachi smiled at her and nodded.

"Thank you, Princess." He said. "Sasuke has to be happy to marry such a beautiful girl like you." He nodded to her and she blushed.

"T-thank you." She said, bowing once more.

"Enjoy this evening Itachi. You deserved it. We'll be mingling with some people now. Good luck." Sasuke said and smiled at Itachi, before he left his brother and went to the rest of the people.

Itachi nodded at him and Hinata followed Sasuke. She laid her hand around his arm and held it close to her. They would marry the next day.

Sasuke smiled at Hinata. He was happy to marry her, but sad that it meant for Neji to go. Talking about Neji, he had to find him soon. They had decided this night, would be their last. "I'm glad he's finally king." Sasuke told Hinata.

"Me t-too." Hinata said. "He'll b-be a lot b-better then your f-father. But S-Sasuke, I have a r-request..."

"Really? What is it?" Sasuke asked as he looked at Hinata.

"..I w-want you to t-take Neji t-to your room a-and have your g-goodbye with him.." She said, looking at him.

Sasuke looked at Hinata for a while and smiled at her. "Thank you." He said softly. "Are you sure you want that?" He asked thankful for her.

"Y-yes.. I know t-that you l-love him and y-you'll feel s-sad forever if you w-wouldn't have had t-the chance to.. t-touch him one l-last time." Hinata said, nodding. "Go to him."

Sasuke smiled at her and then gave her a kiss on the lips. "Thank you Hinata. You think you will be able to hold out on your own?" Sasuke asked.

"O-of course." Hinata said. "I w-want my goodbye w-with Hanabi." She smiled at Sasuke.

"I can get that. Good luck. I'll see you tomorrow. Look good for me." Sasuke said and kissed her again. He then turned around to look for Neji. He was grateful Hinata understood him so well.

Hinata smiled at him and then went to search Hanabi. And she would look good for Sasuke. She would look at her best tomorrow.