CCNote: Wow! I'm so happy that so many people are enjoying this story! Thank you so much for your support! I recommend listening to Dancing Queen from the Mamma Mia soundtrack from this story. I'll be using more songs from this playlist so they may pop up a bit later in the story.
To the reviewer who always writes in Portuguese: Thank you so much for your continued support! I always look forward to seeing your reviews! You have been with me since I started back up writing again. If you were the only person to read this story, I would be happy.
To the reviewers who think Hiashi is a cockblock: You are absolutely correct on that front lol.
To the reviewer asking about the update schedule: I THOUGHT that I would be able to stick to just updating on a certain day but clearly, I'm TERRIBLE at doing that lol. I will now try to update at least once a week. If I am particularly inspired or am spurred/encouraged by readers I may up that to 2 times a week.
Shout out to the best beta ever PrincessJelly! Enjoy!
Dancing Queen
Sunday September 9 2017 10:05am
DayBreak Coffee
...
"Do not disappoint me."
Her father hung up the phone shortly after that, his words leaving a sour taste in her mouth. If she knew anything about her father it was the fact that he was always trying to get ahead in life. He would do whatever it took to ensure the continued success of the Hyuuga name. Even if it meant tying their business futures to his rivals the Uchihas. She wasn't quite sure of how far he wanted her to go with Sabaku but he certainly expected more than one failed date.
"You look like your tea is too bitter." A deep voice chuckled next to her. "Did you not pour in enough honey?"
Hinata looked up from the book she was never reading and smiled at her cousin and sister. She had been so preoccupied with her own thoughts that she had forgotten that she had invited him and Hanabi to check out the coffee shop Tenten was working at. Hanabi immediately laid her head on the table and groaned.
"Why is it so loud in here?" She whined and Neji's eye twitched.
"If someone had come home last night they wouldn't feel so miserable now." He said flatly. Hanabi turned her head on the table to glare at Hinata.
"She didn't come home either. Why are you not bothering her too?"
"Because Hinata is an adult and you, my dear cousin, are not." He replied and turned his attention to Hinata. "I haven't been home since Friday but I heard you had a date with Gaara Sabaku from Uncle. How did it go?"
"Well..."Hinata said and bit her bottom lip. How does one explain that they didn't finish the date with their date? Neji sensed her reluctance and frowned.
"Did something happen Hinata?" He asked tersely. Hinata held up her hands and waved off his concern. Neji was scary when he went into his protective mode.
"No! Um, Gaara is very kind!" She tried to explain but her cousin remained suspicious.
"Alright! We have a caramel macchiato with extra whip cream." Tenten announced, placing a small mug with a tower of wobbly whip cream and caramel drizzle in front of Hanabi. The young girl immediately perked up at its appearance.
"And a green tea." Tenten said as she placed a cup in front of Neji. "It's been awhile, Neji."
"It has. How...how have you been?" Neji asked. Hinata and Hanabi shared a look between them as they pretended to be occupied with their own drinks.
"I've been good. The dojo is expanding so Gai and Lee have decided to renovate the facility. It may take awhile knowing them so I'm working here in the meantime." Tenten said with a small smile as she held her drink tray to her chest. "What about you?"
"Busy." He said and the word hung heavy over the group. Tenten bit her bottom lip nervously and shifted her weight slightly from one foot to the other.
"Of course." She said and turned her attention to the Hyuuga sisters. "Well, please enjoy your drinks! It was nice seeing you Hanabi! Talk to you later Hinata!"
As she retreated from their table Neji stared at her. Hinata noticed the frown beginning to form on her cousin's face as he watched Tenten get reprimanded by her boss for spending too much time at their table. His jaw tightened as she repeatedly bowed and apologized, for a moment Hinata thought he was going to get up and interfere. When she disappeared into the back of the restaurant, he turned around and pushed his tea away.
"You. Are. An. Idiot." Hanabi scoffed and while Hinata wouldn't use that exact word to describe her cousin he certainly wasn't being very smart about the situation. Even though she and Tenten were close, the woman never told her what had happened between her and her cousin last year. Whatever it was had left them both distraught. The two of them had been out of sorts for months until they finally returned to being their normal selves.
"Neji-" Hinata started and placed her hand over his but he slipped away from her grasp.
"I do not wish to talk about it Hinata."
Hinata nodded slowly and returned to her tea only to find that it had grown cold. She pushed it away as well and looked up just as the bell to the front door rang with its opening. Strutting into the café was none other than Itachi Uchiha. Despite his bedraggled attire that was splattered with patches of paint he still managed to look regal. Hanabi jumped up from her seat and marched over as the barista at the counter handed him a to go tray of coffee and a brown paper bag. He looked at her for a second, confused as to where she had popped up from but smiled as she continued to talk. Hinata wasn't quite sure what they were saying but the man kept looking at their table. As they talked Hinata couldn't help but notice the difference in Itachi's demeanor from his brother's. Although Itachi was quite intimidating in his own right he had a certain warmth about him that made him more approachable. Or at least Hanabi found him approachable. The girl grabbed the older man's hand and practically dragged him back over to their table.
"We can't take her anywhere can we?" Neji sighed as they both stood up and Hinata giggled. When Hanabi and Itachi reached the table they gave a short bow to greet him. "Nice to see you again Uchiha."
"And you as well." Itachi said with a slight nod of his head. "Hanabi here was telling me that you were all free today. If you don't mind I may have to impose on that."
Neji shot a quick glare at Hanabi who was looking rather satisfied with herself. Hinata couldn't blame him. This was his first day off in a long time and it appeared that Hanabi had just pissed it down the drain. It couldn't be helped though. Itachi actually did look like he needed assistance. Hinata smiled up at the eldest Uchiha and held her book close to her chest.
"We would be happy to help."
…..
Sunday, September 9 11:17 am
Uchiha Residence
...
"Itachi you could have said something before you left me with this fucking mess!" Sasuke shouted as he heard the front door open and the shuffle of feet and bags.
He tossed his roller brush back into the paint tray and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the edge of his shirt. Why in the hell did Itachi not hire someone to do this? That excuse that painting it on their own would build character was full of bullshit. He was pretty sure that Itachi hadn't thought things through when he bought the paint and now it was much too last minute to commission anyone halfway decent for such an extensive job.
"Don't get your panties in a knot Sasuke I'm back!" Itachi said with a large grin on his face as he came around the corner with a tray of coffee. "And I brought reinforcements!"
Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the vague statement. His confusion was quickly corrected when the youngest Hyuuga skipped into the room, followed by her older cousin and sister. He felt his mouth go dry as Hinata gave him timid looks from beneath those long dark lashes of hers. Not that it wasn't a welcome sight but what was she doing here?
"Itachi?" Sasuke asked as his brother set the coffee down on the floor and rolled up the legs of his sweatpants. "What are they doing here?"
"We have names ya ba-" Hanabi snapped but was stopped by Hinata putting a hand over her mouth. Whatever insult she was going to say was muffled beneath her sister's palm.
"Itachi said you needed help painting your new place." Hinata answered softly when she released a pouting Hanabi. "We are here to help."
Sasuke looked at the three Hyuugas skeptically. None of them were really dressed to be painting anything, heck Neji was wearing a button-down shirt, but he would accept their help. It was better than having to paint on his own.
"There are more brushes in the bag in the kitchen." Sasuke said and retrieved his own from where he had tossed it.
"Alright, let's get to work!" Itachi cheered.
...
Sunday September 9 12:00pm
Uchiha Residence
...
'How did I get stuck with the runt?' Sasuke thought to himself as he glared at his brother on the other side of the room.
He scowled as Hinata laughter echoed off of the walls of the cavernous room. Itachi's own smile widened as he pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear and she blushed. His grip tightened around his brush as he felt the ugly feeling of jealousy begin to once more crop up into his chest. Itachi was literally pushing his patience.
"If you keep staring like that you'll set them on fire." Hanabi said dryly and nudged him to the side with her shoulder. "You're in my way."
Sasuke grunted at her statement but didn't reply. He should be the adult in the situation and not respond to the young woman's taunts. How was it possible that someone as gentle as Hinata was raised by the same stock that produced this brat? Shaking his head he dipped his brush back into the paint tray and returned to painting their share of the wall. He was even able to make a bit of progress until Hinata laughed again. It irritated him beyond measure that Itachi was able to make her laugh like that. He took a deep breath and tried to quell his ripening anger. When he turned back to the paint tray he was blocked by Hanabi leaning against the wet wall with her elbow and her other hand on her hip.
"You like my sister don't you?" She said in a low voice as she narrowed her eyes.
"What are you talking about?" Sasuke grumbled. She was messing up the damn wall standing like that!
"Most guys do ya know." She said with a slight shrug of her shoulders.
"I am not most guys."
"If you have a dick you are exactly like most guys."
Sasuke glared at the vulgar, yet accurate, insinuation from Hanabi and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I'll bite little Hyuuga. What do you want?"
"Nothing." She said simply. "I know that you two work closely together now with the merger and all. My sister is too innocent and trusting for her own good. I, on the other hand, am not. If you try anything I will chop your dick off and feed it to you."
'Too late for that.' Sasuke thought with a smirk. He leaned down so that he was eye-level with Hanabi and poked her in the middle of the forehead, leaving behind a large dark blue dot in the center.
"And what would you know about trying anything on anyone? Aren't you like twelve or something?"
"I've seventeen!" She hissed, unaware of the blue dot she was sporting. Sasuke looked her up and down before shaking his head.
"You're pretty flat for a seventeen-year-old."
"Pervert!" Hanabi shrieked as her face turned bright red and frantically covered her chest with her arms.
Sasuke chuckled at her reaction but his amusement didn't last for long. She took her paintbrush and swiped it down the front of his shirt. Sasuke felt his eye twitch at the juvenile action but returned it by smearing her left arm with paint. She gasped and made a swipe at his face with her brush. He lunged back at her but she skillfully dodged him and got another successful swipe in. Soon he was chasing the laughing runt around with his paint brush. Just as it looked like he was about to catch her she hid behind Hinata and used her as a human shield. Needless to say, Hinata was quite surprised when her entire right arm was covered in blue paint.
"Sa-Sasuke!" Hinata gasped and the entire room stopped painting.
"She started it." He said but the excuse sounded ridiculous as soon as the words left his mouth. Hanabi poked her head out from behind Hinata and stuck out her tongue.
"He's a liar!"
"You little brat!"
Sasuke tried to reach around Hinata but Hanabi quickly slipped away. The action caused him to fall against Hinata, pushing her back up against the wet blue wall. Hinata was dazed for a moment but quickly pushed him away. She looked up at him with angry eyes as her grip tightened on her paint brush.
"Hina-" he started but was cut off by Hinata dragging her paint brush across his face.
"Hahahahaha!" Hanabi doubled over with laughter as she pointed at his shocked face.
"Why are you laughing Hanabi?" Hinata said sweetly and Hanabi gulped before scurrying to hide behind a reluctant Neji. "You're next."
Soon the walls were forgotten as an all out paint war commenced. Alliances changed. Backstabbings occurred. Hyuuga versus Uchiha. Brother against brother and sister against sister. It was all Neji could do to keep his hair free of paint which proved to be a futile endeavor in the end.
…..
Sunday, September 9, 2017, 2:36 pm
Uchiha Residence
...
"Pizza's here!" Hanabi announced as she traipsed into the apartment with Itachi who was holding a plastic bag full of beer and soda.
Sasuke felt his stomach begin to growl as the smell of the pizzas engulfed the empty penthouse. Hanabi and Itachi set the pizza and beer in the middle of the floor just as Hinata was emerging from down the hall. Her long hair was damp still slightly damp but it was in a much better state now that she had washed all of the paint out of it. When the paint war had subsided they had all taken turns using the three showers inside of the apartment since it wouldn't due to remain covered in paint. Of course, that meant that while everyone else had been in the shower he and Hinata had wasted no time getting reacquainted in their absence. The floor of the living room was officially broken in...
"Ah-" Hinata moaned. "Sasuke, someone could hear us!"
Sasuke smirked against her nipple and gave it a soft bite and sucked on her soft, supple skin. She squeaked and squirmed under his ministrations.
"Then we should be quiet." he replied as he moved to give her other breast the same attention. She was incredibly shy but that only made her more alluring...
He smirked when Hinata caught his eye and her pale cheeks instantly turned red. He didn't mind making her embarrassed, especially when she was wearing his clothes that were much too big for her. She sat on the floor between Neji and Itachi and grabbed a slice of pizza, avoiding his eyes at all cost.
"I'm starving!" Hanabi groaned as she immediately began digging into the pizzas.
In her other hand, she began swiping her phone until she turned on some pop station she liked. Once she found it she began slightly swaying to the music as she ate. Sasuke popped open a can of beer and nudged Neji.
"Is she always like this?" Sasuke asked and Neji sighed.
"I fear so." He replied. The two men bumped their beer cans together as they continued to watch their youngest member.
"Oh my god!" Hanabi squealed as a small rift came on and immediately grabbed Hinata's hand. Hinata shook her head profusely.
"No Hanabi!" She said with a sly smile on her face.
"Please!" Hanabi begged as she tugged on her arm. "It's been so long! Please!"
"No!"
"Please!"
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, digging the Dancing Queen
Sasuke looked over at Neji who had a rare smile on his face as well as he watched the sisters bicker. Hanabi eventually won out of course and Hinata stood up shyly in front of them.
"Friday night and the lights are low. Looking out for a place to go. Where they play the right music, getting in the swing. You've come to look for a king."
As Hinata sang into her beer can, Sasuke's eye twitched. She was not that great of a singer. No one was going to make a record deal off of her voice but she was, dare he say it, good. Hanabi giddily clapped her hands before grabbing her soda bottle to use as a microphone.
"Anybody could be that guy. Night is young and the music's high. With a bit of rock music, everything is fine. You're in the mood for a dance. And when you get the chance..."
Hinata seemed to gain more confidence once her sister chimed in. Hanabi was arguably the better singer but the two of them together sounded much better together than when they were apart. Though they still looked silly.
"You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen. Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine. You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life. See that girl, watch that scene, digging the Dancing Queen!"
Itachi cheered the two sisters on and clapped his hands as they pranced around the room. Even Neji swayed in time to the music. Sasuke had to admit that even though Hanabi was a brat she brought out a side of Hinata that he doubted many people had gotten a chance to see before. A carefree side that only wanted to see her sister smile. If that meant making a fool of herself in front of others, she would do so with grace. She reminded him so much of Itachi in that way. He caught her eye as she spun around and her smile widened.
"You're a teaser, you turn 'em on. Leave them burning and then you're gone. Looking out for another, anyone will do. You're in the mood for a dance. And when you get the chance..."
"You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen. Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine..."
As the song continued on for a little longer, Sasuke enjoyed their ridiculous dance as he drank in the smile on Hinata's face, hoping to commit the genuine expression to memory. When the song finally ended the sisters were breathless but happy. Instead of going back to her original seat between Itachi and Neji, she sat down next to him and gulped down her beer in her thirst. Sasuke felt his chest swell a bit as her shoulder brushed up against his. Itachi raised his eyebrows at the new situation but Sasuke pointedly ignored the look. He casually nudged her with his elbow and she hit him right back.
Once the pizza was polished off they looked around the streaky room and sighed.
"This looks terrible." Hanabi said bluntly and the group collectively nodded in agreement. Sasuke glared at Itachi who was scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
"I'll see if some of my associates can pull some strings and get someone in to fix it."
"I think...that would be best. I am sorry that we were not much help." Neji conceded as he looked around at the destruction in the room. "Come Hanabi. You have school in the morning."
Hanabi thumbed her nose at him but went along willingly. Itachi laughed and walked the two Hyuugas towards the front door. Hinata moved to follow them as well but he caught her wrist. As she looked up at him with that confused expression he forgot why he had stopped her in the first place. Looking away from her, he let go of her wrist and shoved his hands into his pockets. He hadn't expected the Hyuugas to make an appearance today but their presence had certainly lifted the spirits of the place they were now to call home. Despite the fact that they had ruined more than they had helped, in a way he was grateful.
"Sasuke?" She asked. At a loss for words, he grabbed onto the first thought that popped into his mind.
"Thanks." He quickly mumbled under his breath.
Hinata's confusion deepened as she tried to decipher what he said but once she did her entire face brightened. She looked behind her at the empty living room before taking a step towards him with her hands clutched to her chest. She stood on her toes and stretched as far as she could to place a kiss on his jaw. She stepped away quickly as soon as her lips made contact, a pink blush and a shy smile on her face.
"You're welcome."
…...
Friday September 14 2017 5:45pm
Hyuuga Enterprise
...
Hinata sighed as she stared at the computer screen in front of her. She had been sitting there working for so long that the text was starting to make her eyes cross. She put down her pen and rubbed her eyes in an attempt to wake herself up. The last three weeks had been so jam-packed with things to do that now that the dust had settled a bit, things were rather dull. She looked over at the empty desk across the room and sighed again. Sasuke had decided to leave not too long ago after he had sent Sakura home for the day. He had asked Hinata if she wanted to join him for dinner but she had to reject his request. If word had traveled quickly that she had been alone in a coffee shop with Gaara, she could only imagine the rumors that would swirl if she was seen with Sasuke only a week later. They had not gone public with the merger yet either so it wasn't like they could use that as an excuse.
Sasuke had looked a bit disappointed by her rejection and a small part of her was too. They had actually been getting along all week but they hadn't gotten to have any time alone with each other. She was usually either with Itachi to speak with shareholders or Sakura was in the room. Hinata couldn't wait for the reshuffling of offices to finish so that the woman would finally have somewhere else to sit that wasn't on Sasuke's desk. Although, Hinata had a growing suspicion that she liked that particular perch. Sakura was her friend, a very good friend by all measures, but sometimes she just wanted to push her off that desk. Ever since their double date, Sakura was becoming increasingly bold with her interactions with Sasuke. If she kept this up she was going to reach harpie level territory and even Sasuke was starting to become uncomfortably wary of her brazen behavior. Hinata smirked as she ran a hand through her hair. It served him right for getting her hopes up like that.
Next to her, her phone began to vibrate. She picked it up and immediately felt her mouth go dry. She and Gaara had not spoken to each other since their date last week. It wasn't for a lack of trying though. Every time she called him it always went to voicemail and the same on her end when he called. It had turned into a rather elaborate and frustrating game of phone tag. In a way, she was grateful since she wasn't quite sure what to say to him. Her father words to not disappoint him reiterated themselves every time she saw that she had missed his call and it filled her heart with a sense of dread. Deciding that it was best to just answer, she accepted the call and pressed the phone to her ear.
"Hello." She said and she could almost hear the smile in his voice on the other end.
"Good evening Hinata." Gaara said. "You are rather difficult to get ahold of."
"Sorry, this week has been very hectic."
"No need to apologize. I do not have much time to talk but-" he started but was cut off by someone else requesting his attention.
Hinata twirled her pen between her fingers as she waited for him to return to the conversation. She ran her fingers over the increasingly familiar gold lettering on the pen and wondered how long it would take for Sasuke to demand his pen be returned.
"Hinata?" Gaara called, snatching her attention away from the pen. Hinata blushed even though she was alone.
"Y-yes?"
"I was calling to ask if you were free tomorrow afternoon?"
"Gaara...I-I I don't know..." Hinata said, her voice trailing off in the end.
'This is an advantageous match for you.'
"I brought back some loose tea from Suna that I think you would enjoy."
'Better than we could have hoped for.'
"Gaara, I-"
"I will not take no for an answer."
'Do not disappoint me'
…..
Friday, September 9, 2017, 6:27 pm
Ichiraku Ramen
...
"Sasuke over here!"
Sasuke felt his eye twitch as Naruto waved him over to the nearly empty bartop. He wasn't quite sure why the blonde felt the need to signal his location. He was the brightest thing in the room and came equipped with bodyguards. One would have to be blind not to spot him. Sasuke slid into the stool on Naruto's left and raised an eyebrow to the number of empty ramen bowls on his right side. Naruto noticed the look and scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"I got a bit carried away." He said and Sasuke snorted. "Don't judge me bastard!"
"I'm just wondering where you put it all." Sasuke replied and Naruto stuck out his tongue.
Sasuke rolled his eyes at the blonde's childish antics but ordered a bowl of miso ramen for himself.
"How are you settling back into life in Konoha? I know how much you hated it here before." Naruto asked as he shoveled an obscene amount of ramen into his mouth.
Sasuke rested his chin on his hand and thought about the statement. He had really disliked living in Konoha previously. He had always felt like he was walking in his brother's shadow. Everyone had expected him to be just as charming, just as naturally talented, and when he wasn't he could see the disappointment in their eyes. They wanted an Itachi 2.0, the Uchiha heir and prodigy but all they had received was Sasuke, the Uchiha spare. He had resented his brother for a long time growing up but once they had moved away, they only had each other. Itachi made it a point to always be around when their father wasn't. He attended every soccer match, countless cello recital, and never missed an award ceremony. Eventually, that resentment wore away to respect which might have been a mistake. Since he no longer had his guard up, Itachi took great joy in being an embarrassing older brother.
Now, all these years later, returning to Konoha wasn't so bad. Enough time had passed that many people in Konoha now treated him like his own person instead of Itachi's bratty little brother. That coupled with the fact that a certain Hyuuga sat across from him every day made Konoha much more bearable place than before. He enjoyed Naruto's company but he would have much rather be spending time with Hinata. Maybe the three of them could spend time together at some point. He had no doubt that Hinata would get a kick out of Naruto's idiocy.
"It's not so bad." Sasuke said finally and Naruto smiled.
"I knew you'd come around eventually!"
"One large miso ramen!" A jolly man from behind the counter announced and placed the steaming bowl of noodles in front of him.
"Thanks." Sasuke said as he accepted the bowl and reached for his chopsticks. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Naruto gaping at him. "What?"
"Who the hell is teaching you manners bastard?" Naruto demanded and Sasuke rolled his eyes, not dignifying the blonde's antics with a response. That only seemed to send him further into a tizzy.
"Who are you and what have you done with Sasuke?!"
"Shut up idiot. You're being too loud. " Sasuke glared and Naruto dramatically gave a sigh of relief.
"There we go. That's the Sasuke I know."
Sasuke ignored the theatrics and reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket. He pulled out a dark gray envelope and slid it across the bar to Naruto. The blonde looked at him curiously before opening the envelope. Sasuke busied himself with his ramen while Naruto read over the contents.
"The Uchiha are merging with the Hyuuga?" Naruto said finally as he set the envelope back down on the bar top. His usually bright mood slightly dampened.
"Father and Hiashi think it's the best course of action for the future of the companies." Sasuke explained and Naruto nodded his head silently. "We are going to make a formal announcement in three weeks so hold on to that invitation."
"Why are you giving it to me so early then? You know I lose things!" Naruto huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Just don't lose it."
"Fine, fine. I will put on my best suit and be your date. You could have asked more nicely though."
Sasuke rolled his eyes and smacked Naruto on the back of the head.
"Tch. I don't need a date dumbass."
To be continued...