Dum de dum...lol.
'Chapter 12 - Until Tomorrow'
The silence which hung above the crowd of the Konoha jonin was deafening. The shock of what just happened did not quite settle around each ninja, and most of them were still struggling to accept it.
"How could she lie to us like that?!" Ino suddenly burst out, her sobs cutting through the air like a knife through butter.
Sasuke turned his head to look at her and couldn't help but suppress a smirk. As soon as he did, Hinata's hold on his arm tightened, silently informing him to keep his composure. It, however, was too late for that as Naruto had noticed the expression on his friends' face.
"What are you smirking at?" Naruto growled, his hands firmly planted on his waist, "There's nothing funny about this situation, ttebayo."
Sasuke fixed him with a defiant glare, "I find it amusing how nobody sees the reasons for Sakura's actions."
"If you think you're so damned intelligent, then why don't you share with everyone?" Ino cut in, glaring at Sasuke with tear-filled eyes. "Why don't you tell us what happened!"
Sasuke accepted the invite to share his observations.
"She wasn't acting. I would have known if she were." Sasuke replied, returning Ino's glare without any remorse. "Sakura's not a good actress, she has DID, which is short for dissociative personality disorder."
"Are you saying she's insane?!" Ino screeched, choking back yet another sob. The blonde wasn't ready for something like that to be thrown in her face, especially not after her best friend just abandoned their village. "You're lying Sasuke, tell me you're lying! You couldn't possibly know that she's like that!"
"It's the only plausible explanation out there. If she was acting she would have had a slip-up somewhere during all that time."
Sasuke's eyes portrayed the very image of apathy as he stared Ino down, but little did she know that his coldness was just a cover-up for his inner fears and doubts.
Opening her mouth to talk, Ino was abruptly cut off by a shout which came from the Godaime Hokage.
"ENOUGH!"
Tsunade thundered, her voice silencing anyone who had wanted to speak right after Sasuke. She had by now stopped crying and turned herself to face her subjects.
"Take the day off, all of you. This has come as a great shock and we all need some time to adapt to it." She surveyed each and every one of them with a determined scowl. "Also, I will need someone to take Sakura's place as my assistant since extra help is always needed. Ino, would you be able to fill the position? I may as well train you if you do."
Ino blanched at Tsunade's sudden proposal. Never had she thought that she would get the chance to be trained by the Hokage herself. With only a hint of hesitation, she nodded her head. Sure, Ino felt guilty at taking Sakura's place so soon after she had left…but such an opportunity only came once in a life-time and Ino was more than glad to accept.
"Good. I will see you tomorrow in my office. Seven a.m. sharp." Tsunade barked as she strode through the crowd, Shizune following at her heels. "Don't be late. The rest of you, I expect you at work by tomorrow. Even though what has occurred is tragic, we must not allow it to blight Konoha."
With a chorus of 'yes Hokage' the crowd dispersed, leaving Sasuke and Hinata on their own.
"I can't believe I didn't see what was happening." Sasuke said softly, regret pouring through his veins like molten lava.
Hinata shook her head and took him by the arm. "Nobody saw it coming, Sasuke. Now come, I'll make us some tea."
She led him towards the Uchiha manor like a mother would lead her son, ever on the watch for disturbance behind his emotionless façade.
---
Arriving at the Uchiha manor, Hinata quickly applied herself to the task of making tea and a light snack to go with it. Meanwhile, Sasuke sat at the kitchen table, deep in thought, pondering the events that had unrolled during the past few days. All of the bits and pieces of information that he had acquired didn't quite fit into the big puzzle and Sasuke was desperately trying to find them a place.
"Are you still worried that you did not see what was coming?" Hinata asked as she whisked some batter in a mixing bowl.
Sasuke glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, not bothering with turning his head in the slightest.
"No. Well, partially." He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "It's just…there are so many gaps in her story. Some things just don't fit."
Hinata looked at him understandingly as she rolled out the dough and proceeded to shape it into small circles.
"I'm sure you'll figure out what's missing soon enough." She answered as she scooped up some plums and pinched them into the dough, forming perfect dumplings with her able hands. "Just a bit of time, that's all that is needed."
This time Sasuke didn't look at her, choosing merely to respond with 'hn'.
---
Several cups of tea and dumplings later, Hinata and Sasuke were back on the couch in the exact same position that they had been in that morning.
Sasuke was leaning against the arm of the couch with Hinata lying on top of him, her arms clasped around his neck as he played with her hair.
They had both chosen not to speak of Sakura's betrayal, neither one wanting to spoil the other's mood. Instead, they took up the exciting task of thinking up names for their future child.
"How about Himawari if it's a girl?" Hinata murmured, her forehead resting against the nape of Sasuke's neck. "That way we could nickname her 'hime'."
Sasuke, his eyes closed, twirled random strands of Hinata's hair between his fingers. "Hmm. It's a bit long. Hotaru would work better. Or Saya, if you don't want to stick to the Hyuuga tradition of having every name start with the letter 'h'."
At this, Hinata giggled, her breath tickling Sasuke's neck and causing him to squirm.
"Maybe it is best to break away from all traditions…" Hinata mused, a hint of regret finding its way into her voice, "I'm not a part of the clan in any case."
"That doesn't make you any less of a person." Sasuke replied, placing a light kiss on her forehead.
Hinata sighed contentedly and settled back down, her mind once again wandering to the many different names that they could apply.
"What about Akeno for a boy and Yumiko for a girl?" Sasuke suggested as he began to braid portions of Hinata's long hair. "Or maybe Keitaro and Kameko?"
"I rather prefer Toshiro and Kana."
Sasuke cracked open an eyelid to look down at Hinata. "Kana, that means 'one with power', I like that."
"Well, I'm glad you approve." Hinata laughed, raising her head to look back at him. "Or how about Yuuka? Didn't you ever want your child's name to mean 'pleasantly scented'?"
Sasuke snorted and the two of them broke out into laughter, or more like chuckling on Sasuke's part since laughing was something that he took no particular interest in.
Their whole afternoon was spent as such, making up names and poking fun at the ones they did not consider fitting.
Awww, I'm happy how you guys stood up for me. (Lol, that makes me sound like a child...)
Although I have to admit that I wasn't particularly angry at Nyob for the things he said, I just felt like ranting that day. Teehee. Anyways, I do appreciate the support. It make me feel ever so special.Yay!
:D
Keep the reviews coming!
Why?
Because every time you don't review, Orochimaru kills a Pokemon.
Please, think of the Pokemon.
(The idea of involving Pokemon is all thanks to aqua2468300. I love her, and you should too.)
