A/N: Forgive me if there are any errors regarding the Shinto wedding ceremony. I tried my very best to describe it accurately. And there is a wee bit of a lime at the end of the chapter. :)

Chapter Nine

Marriage

Hinata didn't know herself as she stared at the woman on the other side of the mirror, dressed in her mother's wedding kimono, hair up and pinned perfectly beneath the hood, face discreetly enhanced with make-up. Behind her, her sister moved, looking beautiful in her formal kimono as she made sure the white obi was tied in a perfectly symmetrical bow. A wistful smile passed over her face as she finished and stood back.

"You're so lucky, Hinata. At least you know the man you're marrying loves you for who you are. I'll probably get saddled with some old prude or an idiot so stuck on himself the only thing he sees in me is my clan name."

Hinata lightly shook her head, careful not to undo her sister's hard work. She didn't feel very lucky. It wasn't because Matsushiro didn't love her. He did, and probably more than she deserved. After her father told her of his intentions, she expected him to propose on the spot. Instead he took his time courting her, taking her on numerous dates, and paying attention to her the whole time. He took her to have dinner with his family on several occasions, and she had loved the way they made her feel welcome. The sense of belonging was so refreshing, something she had only felt with her teammates before. And when he visited her house, he made a point to spend the better part of his time with her, even though her father kept trying to drag him off to talk about this clan policy or the like. He strove to make every minute with her count, and she appreciated it immensely.

But she did not love him. She didn't know why, and it made her feel guilty every time he looked at her with his heart on his sleeve. But something inside of her refused to budge, no matter how hard she tried to meet him halfway. It felt like giant locks had been placed on her soul the night Naruto disappeared, and she had no idea where to find the key. The worst thing about the whole situation was that he didn't seem to mind at all. He never grew frustrated with her, or angry that she wasn't falling all over him. So she decided that the best way to repay him for his devotion was to follow through with her father's command to marry him, and maybe someday, she could look at him and honestly say she returned his feeling. Kurenai had told her once that not all loves were instantaneous. Some had to be worked at, and what really mattered was that you genuinely liked the person and accepted them for who they were.

Suddenly noticing that her sister was waiting for a response, Hinata gave her a small smile. It had only been recently that Hanabi had softened toward her, and Hinata wondered if it was maturity taking hold, or if she just felt sorry for her. Either way, it was an olive branch that she didn't want to turn down. She didn't want to miss out on the sister she had now just because they'd had a rocky past.

"Father favors you more than anyone, Hanabi. I know he will make sure whoever he approves for you will treat you like a princess."

She scoffed in response. "Princesses are locked away and only brought out for display whenever their husbands deem it appropriate. I need a man who will treat me like a woman. Like a kunoichi with a clan to run."

Hinata's smile turned genuine at her sister's determined face. "I know Neji will make sure you get to be fully involved. That's why father named him as your assistant."

Hanabi waved the topic off. "We'll see."

A presence arrived at the door, and both girls activated their Byakugan to see the aforementioned Neji standing there, arms crossed over his chest.

"Come in." Hinata called softly to him.

Sliding the door open, their cousin entered, looked her over with a nod of approval before approaching, a soft smile threatening to plant itself on his face.

"It's time to go. The procession is waiting."

Both sisters nodded in acknowledgement and Hinata carefully lifted the skirt of her kimono as she turned to follow him out, Hanabi right behind her. The hallway was empty, but as she came out the front door and saw all the people crowded in the courtyard, a wave of nervousness swept over her. At least it seemed to her like a large amount. In truth there wasn't that many. Her father, the head elder, Hanabi and Neji were representing her side of the family while Matsushiro's parents, sisters, and Kurenai crowded around the groom. Kiba, Shino and Matsushiro's old teammates were there, as well as Sakura and Ino, who wouldn't have been invited to the ceremony if Hinata hadn't backed their insistent pleas to attend. All were dressed in their best kimono, hair done to perfection.

As she approached Matsushiro, who stood closest to the front gate of the compound, the guests started forming two lines behind them. Her family was behind her, and his behind him, with Sakura and Ino walking together at the very back. The low conversations that had been going around ceased, and together they stepped out into the street to lead the way to the shrine. The sidewalks were crowded with people, as news of the event had spread through the village weeks ago. The street had been blocked off to allow them passage, and someone had taken it upon themselves to decorate the intermittent lampposts with garlands of white and red roses.

As she took in the crowd watching them, she suddenly realized she had never felt more uncomfortable in her skin. She was painfully aware of every set of eyes on her, and it made her nerves all the more shaky. But despite the weakness in her knees, she walked tall and steady, a serene smile planted on her lips. Beside her, Matsushiro held her arm so gently she could barely feel his fingers through the thick layers of her kimono. She glanced over at him for a small measure of reassurance. He looked nothing like his normal self at all. His wild white spikes were slicked back, making his dark green eyes stand out even more than usual. His black kimono was crisp, every line perfectly placed. His steps were matched to her stride, and she couldn't help but think his slightly stiff movements were due to an inner discomfort equal to her own.

The thought that he felt as silly as she did comforted her, and she loosened the death grip she had on the fabric of her kimono. Her gaze slid to the people lining the street, pressing close to get a glimpse of the wedding party as they passed. A wedding in one of the noble clans was rare, and no one was going to pass up the opportunity to witness it. They were all smiling, some in awe, some in hope, and some in soft reminiscence. She was humbled by their rapt attention, her previous smile morphing to one of genuine appreciation. These were people that she saw every day, not strangers to fear. They were the ones she worked to protect, and she was glad that watching her gave them a small measure of happiness. A new glow settled on her face and she subconsciously leaned closer to Matsushiro.

All too soon she was standing beneath the gateway leading to the temple. Awareness of her purpose settled around her, and tension stiffened her posture once more. She tried to dispel it by glancing at her surroundings, but the austere buildings that seemed so grand when she was a child now felt cold and oppressive. She also noted that everything had been immaculately cleaned for the ceremony, not a single dropped twig lay beneath the sacred trees in the courtyard.

Then they were climbing a flight of steps to the raised porch of the temple and all of her attention went to maintaining her posture and not stepping on the hem of her kimono. The party gained the porch and removed their shoes before proceeding inside. In the main room of the shrine, priests stood on either side of the altar, spread out like wings. Some held instruments, which they begin to play when the wedding party was fully inside, others the vessel of sake and cups, and the head priest held the branches they would offer to the kami in exchange for a blessed life.

Hinata and Matsushiro halted directly in front of the altar. Their families, still in their lines, moved from behind them to sit on the chairs provided on either side of the room. Lowering herself slowly to the silken pillow and table in front of her, Hinata sat on her knees beside her groom. Everything seemed so surreal suddenly, like she had been unwittingly dropped into someone else's life. Hinata was there, going through the motions, but it didn't feel right. It wasn't her, because this wasn't who she was supposed to marry. She had the urge to run, but she was frozen in place, held there by an unseen hand despite her silent protests.

After everyone was settled the priest stepped forward, solemnly going through the purification rite before handing each of them a branch. Then stepping back he allowed the priests with the sake to serve them, then Matsushiro and Hinata's family. Exchanging their cups, the bride and groom drank simultaneously, followed by their families. After all the cups were emptied and collected, they rose and were led by the head priest to a small room at the back. This particular temple had two shrines; one for the public's general use, and a more private one for those in need of long reflection as they made their offering.

The inner sanctum was close and quiet, the heavy smell of incense, fresh and old, thick in the air. Lighting the ends of the two twigs from the sacred trees, they placed the sticks in the newly empty offering bowl. Hinata watched the smoke curl up into the dimness of the rafters above before dropping her gaze to the simple altar before them. She was about to close her eyes and pray for a successful marriage despite her misgivings when she felt Matsushiro's hand on her shoulder.

She turned toward him only to find that he was much closer than she anticipated. In fact, she could feel his breath on her skin even as hers hitched in her throat. His fingers were creeping up her neck until they could slide around to the nape. Silence reigned between them, but Hinata's mind was in a jumble. He was about to kiss her in the shrine, a sacred place. If they were caught, the disgrace they would suffer would send her father into an eternal rage. The feelings of wrongness intensified, and sudden fear made her want to choke on her own air. Her mouth opened to protest, but a slight pressure from his hand had their lips touching.

'Please,' her mind begged 'I don't want this.'

The heavy clang of a bell being struck rang through the temple, sending the prayers of the wedding party to the kami. It was time to depart, but Matsushiro persisted. His other arm came around her waist and he pulled her closer. Despite his firm hold his kiss was shy and tentative. When she didn't respond right away he pulled back, and Hinata held her breath, waiting for the disappointment to cross his face at her frozen panic. But he gave her a pleased smile instead and helped her to her feet.

"You're beautiful, Yuhi Hinata."

Hinata was flushed, which made him grin enormously, as he obviously thought it was because he kissed her. They turned to leave at last, and Hinata's mind was thankfully calm again as she glanced over her shoulder at the shrine one last time. The branch Matsushiro had lit was nearly ashes now, but hers seemed to smolder and smoke for a second before going out, leaving over half the branch untouched. Fearing the priests would interpret it as a bad omen, she started to turn back and relight the branch. But everyone was waiting for her, and her father wouldn't care if they lined up at his door day after day to tell him of the unfavorable sign. Then she silently chided herself for overthinking things. The priests would probably not care either, sweeping the ashes off into the larger offering bowl and setting everything up for the next offering.

As they emerged everyone rose, re-formed their lines, and prepared to leave the temple. The walk back home seemed much shorter. Before she knew it, Hinata was back in her room, changing into the kimono picked by her sister for the reception. The familiarity of her surroundings returned her complacent mood, her previous dark feelings vanishing as if they had never been. She was escorted to the garden by Neji, where everything had been set up that morning. Every reasonably available space was covered with white draped pavilions. Lavender and silver balloons danced from the awnings and snaked up the wrought-iron poles that supported them. There was already a large crowd gathered, and she was surprised to see that very few of her father's noble friends were present. The majority of the group consisted of family members from both clans, and the rest of their friends.

Dishes of every kind imaginable were laid out for the feast, and Hinata had a hard time believing there was anything left in the pantry. Her stomach reminded her that it had been ages since breakfast, and she unconsciously quickened her steps to the red draped table that was their place of honor. As soon as she sat in her chair the Hyuga servants were at her elbow, filling her cup and enquiring as to what she would like to eat. Beside her, Matsushiro was receiving the same treatment, and seemed a little overwhelmed by it all. She couldn't help smiling a little at his discomfort, before glancing over at her father, who sat a few feet away talking to Hanabi.

A slightly defiant gleam found her eyes as she politely dismissed the servants. They would be departing for a honeymoon in Tea Country as soon as the reception was over, so her father would have plenty of time to cool off by the time she returned. Besides, what could he really say? She was married now, and though they would have rooms permanently maintained at the compound, she was no longer under his control. Tapping Matsushiro on the elbow to get his attention, she stood. He followed her up, and grabbing their plates, they made their way to the buffet table.

The line yielded to them, and they made their way around, picking out several kinds of delicious looking dishes and bowls of rice. One of Hinata's second cousins was behind them, and whispered something in her ear before she turned to glance at her father again. He was staring at her coldly, while at his side, Hanabi looked secretly pleased. She gave them a gentle smile before turning back to the piece of chicken she was about to pick up. Once their plates were filled, they returned to their table and began to eat, Hinata steadfastly ignoring the glowering eyes boring into the side of her head.

After they finished dessert, which was preemptively brought by a servant, the dishes were cleared away so the guests could come to their table and wish them well. Several presents were given, the ones from Hanabi and their father being the grandest and most expensive. Hiashi parted with half of his wife's best kimono, while Hinata's sister handed her a key and a card with the address of the apartment she and Kurenai had picked out and furnished for them. Envelopes with varying sums of money, jewelry for Hinata and weapons and scrolls for both steadily formed a pile on the table. Neji and Tenten had a decorative set of black kunai made for them, with both clans' symbols engraved on the hilts. Though they were merely for displaying in their house, the edges were sharp and shone with a deadly gleam, an easy made weapon in emergencies. There was a toaster and a blender, both of which made Matsushiro laugh loudly when they opened them before chiding his sisters for their wicked sense of humor.

Sakura and Ino had given her their presents the night before, knowing Hinata would be too embarrassed to display them in public. They had gone shopping together and both bought her white nightgowns for her wedding night. Sakura's was satin and long, with a low neckline and high slits in the side. Ino's was far shorter and more scandalous, with plenty of lace that covered everything and nothing at the same time. Both came with plenty of practical advice that had left Hinata blushing heavily.

Once everyone was properly thanked the speeches began. Hinata tried hard to be attentive, but a new nervousness began creeping up on her. The reception was almost over, and once they had changed and packed, it would be time to head to Tea Country. Normally, it was a four day journey to the inn resort they would be staying at, but she found out the day before that they would be bypassing the trip there. Matsushiro had pulled some strings with a few of his ANBU friends in the hunter nin division, and they now had a one-way jump straight to the front door. After two nights they would return on foot, giving them one day of rest in Konoha before they were back on the duty roster for missions.

Matsushiro's father must have said something spectacular, because everyone was either laughing or clapping, and Hinata followed suit before her mind drifted off again. It wasn't that she was afraid of what was to come that night. She was hardly ignorant of the goings on in an intimate relationship, and Sakura and Ino's version of "putting the bride to bed" had left her with an even clearer picture. But knowing something and doing it were two different things.

Kiba's arm was suddenly slung around her shoulder as he commenced his speech. It sounded more like "hurt her and I'll kill you" than actual congratulations, despite the fact that he and Matsushiro were now fast friends. Her teammates had given up on trying to chase him off once the engagement was announced (with Kiba doing most of the chasing), and had begun to accept him as part of their new dynamic. It was rumored that there had been a physical altercation between the two as well, but neither one had confessed when she inevitably asked about it. They had been buddies ever since.

After Kiba sat down, her father stood up and gave a small speech on their responsibilities to the clan. It was brief and to the point, and after that the guests began to leave in small groups as the servants started the cleanup. Sakura and Ino volunteered to move their gifts to the apartment so they could head out. Hinata rose to get her things from her room, leaving Matsushiro waiting for her in the courtyard. As she made her way down the once again empty hallway, her steps slowed. This would be the last time she would do so as a resident here. By the time she returned from her honeymoon, her room would be transformed into a room fit for a couple, all her personal belongings packed up and moved to their apartment.

She crossed the threshold to her bedroom and stopped altogether. Early evening light crept across the wooden floor, making its daily circuit to the far wall. Her bed was made up, the stuffed fox that always resided there sitting in his position of honor atop her pillows. Her dresser had already been cleared off, and boxes sat beside it, ready to be filled in the next couple of days. Her gaze slid around the room, taking everything in as a lump tried to rise in her throat. It felt so empty all of a sudden, as if someone had died here. As if she had died and she was just a ghost bidding her former life goodbye.

In a way she had. The old Hinata was long gone, replaced by a full grown kunoichi who was about to embark on a new path in life. Bags forgotten where they sat by the door, she walked over to the bed and sat down. The stuffed fox found its way to her hands, the tiny black thread that made its smiling mouth the focus of her vision. Her fingers rubbed its long ears, the exact same way she had done a thousand times before. Then with a wistful sigh she turned to place him back on the pillow.

"I'm sorry your mother wasn't here for you today. I know she would have been proud of the beautiful woman you've become."

Hinata froze at the sound of her father's voice, but when she turned back around to face him, the doorway where he would have been standing was empty. She half wondered whether she had imagined it. Never in her life had her father held such a soft tone when he spoke. But despite her doubt the words gave her a new source of confidence, and she placed the fox gently down before moving to shut the door and change into the dark blue sundress she had picked out to travel in, and for once she left her arms bare, her long sleeved jacket packed away in her luggage. Then gathering her bags, she headed out the door.

Matsushiro greeted her with a gentle hug before leading her to his house where they would pick up his luggage. His sisters entertained Hinata while he returned from his room wearing a white silk button down shirt and black cargo pants. The buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a familiar black tank top underneath. Several larger sections of hair were defeating the hairdresser's best efforts, rising in defiance to give him the look of a streamlined porcupine. And once again his packs were bulging from an overload of stuff. His parents had just changed to more comfortable clothing as well, and were waiting with his sisters in the living room to bid them a more private farewell. Hinata marveled at the warmth in the smiles and hugs that made their way around, so unlike anything she had experienced in her family. She almost wanted to stay there instead of going to Tea, but Matsushiro seemed eager to be off. So she followed him out the door, stifling a giggle when he had to turn sideways to get everything to fit through the doorframe.

They headed toward the center of town, where the ANBU headquarters sat sternly next to the Hokage Tower. Hinata had been inside a couple of times running errands, but she had never been further than the front desk. Now they were waved over by one of the hunter nins, his plain white mask giving away nothing of his identity or mood. It made her wonder how Matsushiro did it every day, going from such an outgoing, caring person to one of cold sterility. It had to be hard on him. The hunter nin led them down a plain gray hallway, to a locked door in the middle. She heard the locks pull back by some unseen command, and the door opened to reveal a cavernous room beyond.

Though it was large, the lighting was good, and she could easily see the three other occupants as they stood in the center of a carefully drawn circle. Kanji were inscribed on the four compass points, and a large globe sat on the floor in the midst of the men. No one said a word as the couple entered, merely moved outside the circle to stand on each of the kanji. Matsushiro's hand closed around hers as he guided her inside the circle. They stood facing the globe as the hunter nin formed hand seals. Chakra flared along the circle and the globe lifted off the floor to hover at chest height. It began to slowly spin and tilt until the region Tea Country was located in was facing them. The areas on the map expanded, enlarging until the country itself was visible. The globe expanded with it, and Hinata had to resist the urge to step back as it grew large enough to touch them. The town was visible now, and she could almost make out the buildings. There was a hot rush of air, and they were inside the globe, the buildings now closer and larger. There was another tilt of the landscape, and their feet were even with the road. Matsushiro stepped forward, taking her with him. The room in ANBU headquarters disappeared, and they were standing on the outskirts of the town, the rapidly dissipating chakra around them signaling the completion of the jutsu.

Hinata looked up at Matsushiro, awe written on her face. She had expected it to be more difficult, more disorienting. He smiled at her in return.

"Cool, huh? If it didn't take so much chakra, we could use it for more than extreme emergencies and special occasions."

"Yeah."

Matsushiro noticed a sudden change in her demeanor, and the bemusement left his eyes, though his smile never faltered. He had been around her enough to know when she was nervous, and though she tried to hide her fidgeting fingers, the way her eyes stayed solidly on the ground was an infallible tell. Running a hand through his rapidly spiking hair, he sought something to distract her from whatever was bothering her.

"Hey, I think I see our inn! Let's go check it out."

She nodded and allowed him to lead her in the direction he indicated, shifting her bags as they walked.

It was indeed the right inn, and the keeper greeted them with a sugared grin that screamed just how much he already knew about his guests. He called them by name and escorted them up the stairs himself, bantering on the whole time about the excellent service and virtues of the establishment. At last he left them alone in the hall, when it was clear that he would receive no extra favor from them. Matsushiro turned the key in the lock and held the door open so Hinata could enter the room first.

The hotel room was huge, larger than any she had stayed in before. The wall on either side of the door was inset with rice paper murals, the glow from the hall lights illuminating a sweeping scene of a pride of lions running through what looked like Earth Country. The rest of the room was done in matching shades of brown, tan and gold. The king sized bed held its place of honor against the adjoining wall, the brown and gold comforter already turned down. A small living area filled the rest of the space, except for a small kitchenette set in a little alcove. There was a door on the opposite side that led to a bathroom. It had a shower big enough for three people and a sunken hot tub with water jets along the entire perimeter. A large mirror stretched from the sink to the ceiling, giving the impression of even more space.

When she walked back into the main room, Matsushiro was unpacking his bags and stuffing the contents into one of the dressers across from the foot of the bed. She did the same, carefully folding them before sliding them into a prearranged order and closing the drawers softly. They stood staring at each other after that, an awkward silence descending between them. There were still hours before sunset, and though she kept telling herself she was ready, she was hoping for the comfort of nighttime when she gave herself to Matsushiro.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" he suddenly asked her.

Relief at the sudden delay flooded her. "Sure."

Slipping from their room, they locked the door and headed out of the inn, avoiding the innkeeper, who was busy attending another customer. The street they emerged on was busier now, as people were leaving their jobs for the evening or heading to the markets to pick up fresh ingredients for supper. They picked their way along, Matsushiro linking his hand with Hinata's so they wouldn't get separated. He had discovered long ago that though she was shy, she loved to take walks and watch the people that passed them by. He had made it a point during their brief courtship to take her out as often as he could, taking roundabout paths to whatever destination they were headed for.

She was growing more relaxed as they went along, glancing into the windows of the shops that were still open to see the different displays they had set up advertising their wares. There were more tea shops and restaurants than anything else, barely outnumbering the gift shops that catered to the flood of tourists that visited the village. They reached the end of the street they were on and turned down another, walking until Hinata spotted a traditional tea house set in front of a spacious garden. It was an out of the way place, without a sign, the shoji doors open to the summer air.

Her fingers tightened on his hand, drawing him to a stop. "Can we go inside?" she asked, "I'd love to see the garden."

"Yeah."

They turned in and were greeted by the mistress, who gave them a sweet smile as she bowed politely. She was dressed in a simple kimono, light gray with bright orange fish swimming serenely along the hem. Her dark hair was pulled up in a bun, and her slightly rounded face radiated a peacefulness that seemed to permeate the very walls of the house. Matsushiro gave her their request, and with a nod a worker was summoned and they were escorted down the broad hallway to the back. They passed through another set of open doors and found themselves standing on a small wooden porch. Before them stretched a pathway of black lava stone that wound its way among cherry and plum trees. The blooms were already spent and unripe fruit hung from the branches, promising a luscious bounty.

They followed their serving girl down the path until they reached a small stream. A red wooden footbridge spanned it, and on the other bank a gazebo stood sentinel over the water. She led them inside, where a low table awaited them. After Hinata and Matsushiro were settled, she asked what they would have to drink, and slipped off to retrieve their requested tea.

Unlike the way he presented himself just a few hours before, this Matsushiro was completely relaxed, shoulders slumped slightly forward as he rested his chin in his hand. He had rolled the cuffs of his over-shirt up, exposing his lean forearms, and revealing the light dusting of white hair that ran along the top. On the inside of the opposite arm, she could see the edge of his hunter nin tattoo. She had been sworn to secrecy when he told her about it, since no one was supposed to know who the hunter nin were except the hunter nin themselves.

Just below the tender skin of his elbow, a prowling wolf stood beneath a tree as representative of his team. Stretched out in front of the wolf was a myriad of symbols, each one a life that had been taken on the hunt. Small clouds with lightning bolts for the Cloud nins and rain droplets for Mist hung in the sky. There were a couple currents of wind from Suna beneath that, and on the ground were several blades of grass, stones and paw prints. A few scattered leaves on the ground were the hardest to look at, since they represented their own Leaf, and the people who had died for betraying the village. She could only imagine the mournful scene the veteran hunters had on their bodies, their chosen creature making its way through an autumn rainstorm.

"There you go looking sad again. What's the matter, Hinata?"

Gathering her courage, she met his gaze. "What made you want to marry me?"

Suddenly leaning forward, he planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Because I love you." Another emotion crept into his eyes as he drew back, softening the dark green. "And you deserve to be happy. We both know you weren't with your family, and a marriage into another noble family would have made you miserable."

She should have been touched by his words, but all she felt was the cold sting of regret. She dropped her gaze to the table. "I'm sorry." She whispered.

"What are you talking about? Sorry for what?"

"For being a burden to you. You deserve to be with someone who isn't damaged like I am."

His laughter startled her into meeting his eyes. His arms came around her and he pulled her closer. "Don't worry so much. If you call this being a burden, I'll gladly carry you to the ends of the earth. And you're not damaged. I'll kill anyone who says otherwise."

This last was said with such sincerity that Hinata felt warmth stab through her soul. She clung to the feeling, letting it light her face with a genuine smile. Matsushiro smiled back, cupped her chin in his hand, and kissed her softly.

They had to break away a moment later when the tea arrived, and they were both blushing as they were served, the quiet girl in front of them smiling broadly at having caught such a tender moment. She slipped away without a word as soon as she was finished, the quiet click of her footsteps fading under the noise of the songbirds that lived in the garden.

They drank their tea slowly, enjoying the fragrance of the summer flowers that drifted to them on the breeze. The stream began to gleam silver as the sun began to lower and reflect on the water, near blinding in its beauty. It was strange to Hinata that there would be no one awaiting her return from this outing, ready to inquire how things went. They could stay out all night and no one would be the wiser. It was just the two of them from now on. Yes, it was strange, and very refreshing.

After they finished they lingered in the garden, following the little side paths to the various trees and fountains on display. When they finally left the tea house the sunset lit the sky, while on the opposite side the moon rose, rusty and ominous until it climbed higher and faded to a brilliant silver. The trip back to the inn was quieter, with fewer people on the street and more of the shops closed for the night.

Once back in their room, Hinata rummaged in her drawer until she found what she was looking for, then went into the bathroom and shut the door. Slipping on the nightgown Sakura had given her, she looked over herself in the mirror, took a deep breath, and walked back into the bedroom. Matsushiro was waiting for her, sitting on the bed and dressed only in a pair of black sleep pants. Of its own accord, her eyes roamed over his chest. He was lean, and his muscles cut paths down his torso, broken by various scars. His path as a shinobi had been obviously hard won, and she doubted that anyone other than another shinobi could fully appreciate each one of the pale white lines and why they were put there. This was probably why ninja almost always married other ninja. It just took personal understanding to endure their lifestyle successfully.

Her train of thought was interrupted as his gaze slid appreciatively over her, his forest eyes darkening with desire. He beckoned her closer, and she tentatively stepped up to stand before him. The silky gown flowed around her as she walked, the slits in the side granting him enticing flashes of her thighs. Reaching out he gently grasped her wrists and pulled her closer. She tried not to shy away as his hands came up to her face. But her lower lip quivered slightly as he cupped her cheeks, his fingers stroking the skin just under her eyes. He paused and dropped his hands to rest on her nearly bare shoulders.

"Hinata, if you want to wait, it's fine."

"No." she said, "I'm al-alright."

He still looked unsure, but smiled just the same. "I can help you relax if you want."

"How?"

"With a genjutsu. I've been working on one I think you will like."

A hint of fresh apprehension welled up in her, but she pushed it down. People did this all the time, right? And he had always been gentle with her, taking her feelings into consideration far before his own. She really had nothing to fear. She nodded and he released her before gesturing for her to climb onto the bed. Obeying she moved to sit beside him. He turned and climbed all the way on, balancing on his knees.

"Lie back and hold still."

She scooted back until she was in the middle of the bed and lay on the pillows. Matsushiro caught her gaze as he began weaving hand signs and she felt his chakra swirl around them. There was a slight shift in her head as it began to take effect. It was strange, actually allowing herself to be pulled into the genjutsu. She had spent her whole life learning how to break them. But she stilled the impulsive fidgeting of her fingers and watched as vines crept up the posts of the bed, rosebuds forming along the clusters of leaves before bursting into bloom with unnatural speed, filling the room with a wash of fragrance. They crawled over the sheets, surrounding them and growing thicker until you could barely see the bed for the foliage. Once again there were flowers of every imaginable shade of purple. Reaching over, she touched one that was nearly white, almost the exact color of her eyes. The petals felt soft and cool, and she had to admire Matsushiro…her husband's… skill at making something that wasn't even there seem so real.

She inhaled the rich fruity scent hanging in the air, each breath refreshing her until she felt her muscles tingle as they loosened and drove the tension from her. Suddenly she was aware of how his genjutsu was supposed to relax her. Not only did the beauty of the plants set her at ease, the fragrance produced by the blooms elicited a chemical reaction in her body, endorphins and serotonin mixing together to produce a euphoric effect. But unlike actually being drugged, her mind was still clear, if a little giddy.

Matsushiro was hovering over her now, his eyes roaming her face as he judged her reaction. "Better?" he asked.

She nodded, and when he still hesitated, she leaned up and captured his lips to reassure him. He tasted the way the flowers smelled, probably because of the genjutsu, she mused. He returned her attention with vigor, and Hinata soon found that her head was once again on the pillow, the coolness of the sheets beneath her contrasting softly with the warmth of her husband around her. It was getting easier to think of him that way now… or maybe it was the genjutsu working on her brain.

She hadn't noticed when he had shifted positions, but he was now straddled over her waist, his legs lying snug along the outside of her thighs. He leaned on one hand while he ran the other through her hair. Then he traced her ear, stroking lightly before finding the sensitive spot just beneath. His touch left a pleasant sensation on her skin, and she felt her eyelids droop. He trailed down the muscle in her neck, and she closed her eyes as a soft smile played on her lips. She could almost go to sleep, if it weren't for the buzzing in her veins that kept her alert to his touch.

The sudden sound of running feet in the hallway threatened to pull her away from the soothing surroundings, but she didn't want to undo all his hard work for nothing. So she inhaled the rich scent of the flowers again and surrendered herself to his hypnotic fingers as they started to make their way down her throat and along the neckline of her gown.

There was a whisper of sound and Matsushiro paused, blinking rapidly as he stared down at her. Hinata opened her eyes and stared back up at him, expecting him to say something. His fingers twitched once before a blankness crossed his face and he lurched to the side, his shoulder hitting the mattress hard. The flowers surrounding them were suddenly drained of color, then began to lose form, dripping into nonexistence. The fragrance was quickly replaced by the smell of clean linen, hardwood, and blood. Hinata sat up, alarm surging through her as she realized that something terrible had happened. Her Byakugan flared to life reflexively, revealing the thin, sharp senbon that had penetrated the rice paper and were now sticking out of the back of his head.

A scream welled up in her throat, but it was cut off as her body responded to the danger, tensing and providing her with a surge of adrenaline that cleared her head immediately. Her chakra tingled in readiness and her muscles tensed for battle, shaking off her self-imposed lethargy. Reaching over, she checked to see if he had a pulse, already aware of how useless it was.

Matsushiro was dead.