The Silence was absolutely deafening in the compound dining room. There was the slight clank of glasses, and throat clearing. All in all, Sakura was two more awkward sighs from making a full hearted attempt at drowning herself in her bowl of soup. She poked at the squares of Tofu bubbling up to the top and though that if she could eat those quickly and then just stick her face in the bowl…
"So Ms. Haruno, what are your hobbies?" Sakura looked at the head of the household, with is long brunette hair, greying slightly at the temples, Hiashi Hyuuga looked exactly as you thought he might. With regal shoulders and 'pompous ass' written all over him. She was curious though, about his thin eye brows and how he got them in that shape. She shook her head to clear it.
"I like … reading, and gardening, and cooking… I suppose.." She said. She picked at the tofu warily, avoiding the owl eyed gaze that had been narrowed on her for the better part of an hour. She wondered if he blinked or if he just stared awkwardly into space, like.. always. She was feeling her head beginning to throb. Her mother shifted next to her, taking a heavy sip of her alcohol.
Her mother, who had urged her to come, complimented her green dress all the way here, and then drunk herself into silence, abandoning Sakura to an odd fate of avoiding his eyes and smiling at a visibly nervous Hinata and fielding questions.
This was painful.
"When did you start nursing?" Hinata asked her. She was grateful for the woman's presence, she seemed like less of a stiff than her male counterparts that dotted the table and had asked many engaging questions in the lifetime that it seems like she'd been there.
"Full time just last year." She couldn't help but smile at the thought of her job. She had just the day before seen one of her patients who couldn't move the fingers on their left hand hold a cup for the first time in months.
"What's the best part, do you think?" She asked, and then rushed quickly, "I was thinking of maybe taking up nursing.."
"Oh Hinata, you'd be a great nurse! It's the most rewarding job, I swear." She smiled. The ebony haired woman broke into her own smile, it was toothy and shy, but it was beautiful.
"All you need is a little compassion for people to be a good nurse… that and a steady hand." She shrugged. The plates were cleared and a small plate with a small sponge cake was put down. Dessert. She wrinkled her nose. This was supposed to satisfy her sweet tooth?
"So Sakura have you considered our proposal?"
She almost spit out her cake. She hadn't expected him to be so blunt about it. She didn't really know what to say because the truth of the matter was that no, she hadn't. But she couldn't just say that.
She was about to mumble a reply when her mother finally spoke. Sakura was surprised at the clarity in her voice,
"What are your intentions with my daughter?" She asked Neji. Who, if she had known him better, appeared momentarily seemed taken aback at the question. He straightened his back, and looked down upon them. Sakura felt something falter in her, at the dark shining in his unusually light eyes.
"I intend to marry her."
"Beyond that, beyond bedding her, impregnating her, and putting some clunky ring on her finger. What are your intentions?"
Hiashi sent a sharp look at her mother, "Please, do not assu-" Neji held up a large hand, silencing him.
"I intend to let her live her life. Whatever she desires today, or tomorrow, or dreams that she may have, can come true under the Hyuuga umbrella. I desire to know more about her, of course, to assure we are compatible, and like all husbands and wife's she will assist me in future decisions for the Hyuuga clan."
That was unexpected, she thought. She hadn't thought of the position she would be in, as Clan head. Not that that was something she'd ever wanted, but she was … curious. Intrigued.
"I'm going to tell you something, and I hope you don't take offense. … or do, at this point.." Her mother shook her head and leaned forward like she was telling a secret.
"She's a smart girl. She's smart, and strong, and she's going to put up a fight. Are you ready for that? Are you going to be ready for a woman who wont take no for an answer, a woman who isn't going to kiss your feet, are you ready?" She asked.
Neji leaned in as well, like he was going to tell a secret of his own.
"I am."
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Itachi bent over the body, Shisui stood back, plugging his nose and they both turned to the Hokage. Who looked at them unforgiving.
"Found him outside, by the border." Itachi's eye jet up to the ANBU member who spoke, and looked back down at the body, tinted blue on a cold unforgiving stone.
"Only speak when spoken to." Shisui snarled at the boy. Border patrol ANBU were the lowest of the low and frequently showed their rank by not behaving in the way a higher would. It was a big pet peeve of Shisui's who was always quick to jump on their tails.
"How was he found?" Itachi asked the operative softly, the Hokage was there, with her medical gloves on, chart next to her. She'd had called them an hour and a half ago, they were seated at Dinner when the operatives came. This wasn't the first time they'd met with the Hokage in the room with the drain. They were called here at least once a month to solve some belated mystery the hokage only found fitting for the most private of people. But in the last month, three times, they had made way down. This was the third man.
"He was on his back, arms behind his back. Behind a fern." He answered.
"He's Mariko Lura, the owner of Glass, he supported the counsel run last year."
"More vigilante justice.." Shisui said. His nose was wrinkled in distaste, he hated this place. It smelled like death, he would always say. And Itachi would give him a look.
"The pattern is unmistakable. Ligature marks to the throat, wrists, and lower legs. However it appears.." Itachi turned the head.. "That this one was held down from the back. The ligature marks on the back of the neck suggests he may be left handed..."
Itachi assessed the cuts underneath the eyes, the water bloated face. Drowned, this one. Unlike burned, like the last one.
"Or perhaps, we have a team." Came a different voice. His eyes rose lazily to asses the newcomer, with his spikey hair, that was usually left in a pony tail, dripping down his shoulders, a black T-shirt and loose black pants, and of course, a cigarette in his mouth.
"Nara-San." He greeted.
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"And that's how it happened." Naruto finished. Ino was looking at him like he'd slapped her in the face.
"This is so scandalous, everyone around me has known about this girl for… days now? And no one's told me. I hate all of you." She took a deep sip of her drink. The bright pink drink, topped with sprinkles was a gift from Sasuke (more like a bribe) to get her off Naruto, as she was beating the man bloody.
Choji was three glasses down and working his way through his second appetizer and didn't have much to say about anything. Ino and he had tracked down team seven, while they were training. And Ino had immediately pounced on the blonde, he threw her off but once he realized who it was, and she was running, he gave chase. They ran circles until Ino got her hand into Naruto's slim pony tail that rode underneath the rest of his hair and took him down. Sasuke watched for a while, lounging with Choji in the grass as Ino and Naruto had a wrestling match.
When Naruto shot him pleading eyes it was then he stood and offered to take her to get a drink to cool off. They'd been hearing her ever since. Ino took another deep drink, turning her eyes skyward. There was a low thrum of music and many Shinobi strutting around.
"You know we've got to keep an eye on this right? Those idiots heads are too far up their asses to make good decisions at this point."
"Just a giant pissing contest." TenTen agree'd when she came back and sat down, with her own drink.
"Like most things in this town, we'll keep an eye."
"Cheers."
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You guys seriously need to make me stop waiting so long! SPAM me next time I take this long Christ… so mad at myself.
Forgive me with long haired Shika on top?
I do not own Naruto.
Thoughts?
