CHAPTER 21
'SASUKE UCHIHA IS BACK' was Japan's headline after a few reporters sighted Sasuke at the airport.
"I guess you got your money back." Gaara stated after Sasuke entered his room.
Sasuke chuckled.
"It's a no then." Gaara concluded.
"I got it back." Sasuke said.
Then, Gaara got the message.
"One night stand worth half a million dollars. Now, that's hefty." Gaara poured the both of them a glass of bourbon.
"Believe me it was worth it." Sasuke drank his glass.
"Hanabi?" said Hinata in surprise after she entered their apartment.
Hanabi smiled at her older sister.
"Mommy!" Kaho ran towards Hinata as she hugged her.
"Hey angel, where's your brother?" Hinata caressed Kaho's face.
"He went with the babysitter." Kaho answered.
"They went out and bought some groceries." Hanabi made her way to Hinata and hugged her as well.
"You should visit more often." Hinata mumbled.
"Mommy! Mommy! We have a surprise." Kaho deviously smiled as Hanabi stood behind her.
Hinata looked at them, clueless. "What?"
Kaho showed the card she hid on her back.
"Hyuga-Sarutobi Nuptial." Hinata red the printing on the card.
She looked at Hanabi, wide-eyed. "Oh my gosh! You're serious?!"
Hanabi cringed. "Well, all the invitation has been sent."
"Congratulations!" Hinata hugged her sister.
"We thought it would be a great surprise for you once you came back from America."
"I don't know what to say. I'm…I'm so happy for you."
"Did you really have to hand the invitation to me the day before the wedding?"
"It was your son's idea."
"Blame it to the kid is it." Toshizo cut in after he heard her aunt's statement.
Hinata gave Hanabi a look. "I just really wanted it to be an at-the-edge-of-your-seat surprise." Hanabi reasoned.
Hinata then crouched down embraced Toshizo.
"Welcome home Mom." Toshizo murmured.
"Welcome home Hinata-sama." Karui greeted.
"Thank you Karui-san."
"And, because you said it to me the day before the wedding, I have nothing to wear." Hinata faced her younger sister.
Hanabi gestured her sister to wait. She headed inside the kitchen with Karui. They pulled a dressed mannequin from the kitchen.
"You're the maid-of-honor Sis." Hanabi smiled.
Hinata gasped as she looked at the dress. "I'm at the edge of my seat alright."
They all laughed.
"Try it on." Hanabi said.
Karui then escorted Hinata to a vacant guest room and helped her get dressed.
A moment later…
"I think I'm gonna be envious." Hanabi commented after Hinata got out.
"You look beautiful Mommy!" Kaho cheered.
"Not too fat?" Hinata joked.
"You look great Onee-san." Hanabi said as she held her sister's hand.
"I guess we dress too god for the occasion then." Toshizo stated.
Hinata gasped as she saw her son. He's wearing a lavender suit and his hair was neatly combed.
"Show off." Hanabi rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, Konohamaru didn't wat me leaving anyone out so I made Toshizo the ring bearer." Hanabi informed.
"And Kaho?" Hinata asked.
"How could we forget about the Flower girl for the wedding. But, she's been wearing her dress the whole week you were gone so I convinced her to take it off for the sake of the surprise." Hanabi answered.
Hinata laughed. "Okay, I better get off this dress then before I ruin it." Hinata made her way to the room.
"Hurry kids, turn off the lights." Hanabi whispered to the twins after Hinata entered the room.
"Guys?" Hinata asked after she opened the door.
Everything was dark. She slowly headed to the switch.
"Surprise!" Everyone yelled as confetti flew around the room after Hinata opened the lights.
Temari, Shikamaru, Tenten, Neji, everyone was at the living room.
"Okay, stop with the surprises. What's happening?" Hinata said.
"Bachelorette party of course." Hanabi stated as she handed Hinata a wine glass and poured it with wine.
"This isn't how bachelorette party─"
"Well, I'm never one to follow tradition." Hanabi cut her off.
"The twins?" Hinata wondered.
"Don't worry Hinata, they're upstairs with the kids probably playing Uno." Tenten uttered.
"And your friends?" Hinata faced her sister.
"The only friends I have are the books in our library. I never got involved with girls, they either liked me for my money or liked Konohamaru." Hanabi answered making both of them laugh.
"Besides, I have the best family in the world." Hanabi shrugged.
The night went on, everyone talked about days they've missed and road trips they'd want to go after the wedding. And, as the moon reached the top of the world they slowly bid goodbye.
"Rest well, okay. You've got a big day tomorrow." Hinata hugged her sister.
The next day…
People started gathering at the Byakugan Hotel after the church wedding.
"Y'know, I've been waiting to meet you." Hinata smiled as she made her way to the bride and groom's table.
Konohamaru stood as she shook Hinata's hand.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you Hinata-sama." Konohamaru stated with a smile.
"The pleasure is mine. I've been wanting to meet the guy that made my little sister actually be interested in the National Geographic Channel." Hinata smiled.
"Onee-san." Hanabi spoke through gritted teeth.
Konohamaru chuckled. "I'm just really happy I even got the chance to meet the most amazing woman I have ever seen." Konohamaru interlocked their fingers as they both looked at each other like they had seen the most perfect creation in the world.
"Then, don't mind me. I just came to give my wedding present." Hinata said as she slid a small towards them.
Hanabi quickly opened it. It was a key chain that said 'It's a girl.'
Hanabi gasped as she held it tightly. Konohamaru kissed Hanabi's cheek as he too smiled.
"I too have a few tricks up my sleeve. Congratulations." Hinata smiled.
"How did you know?" Hanabi asked.
"I'm a mother. I know a thing or two about pregnancy." Hinata winked.
"Thank you Onee-san." Hanabi pulled her sister to a hug.
"Don't go crying on me." Hinata pinched her sister's cheek as Hanabi's eyes started to water.
"I should head back to the twins." Hinata bid and headed to the round table.
"Kaho, eat your pasta first before dessert." Hinata stated as she pushed the gelatin away from Kaho.
Temari, who sat beside Hinata leaned over to Hinata's ear.
"Sasuke's coming. Shikamaru went to see him." She whispered making Hinata freeze.
"Just head over to your brother's table first. I'll handle the twins." Temari continued.
"I'm just going to check on your aunt Tenten. Behave, okay. Aunt Temari and Karui-san will look after you." Hinata said to the twins before she quickly headed to her brother's family table.
Hinata caught sight of Sasuke and Shikamaru who just arrived. Shikamaru and Hinata's eyes met. Shikamaru quickly caught the message and led Sasuke to another table, away from the twins.
"Hey." Tenten smiled as Hinata took a seat beside her.
Hinata smiled back.
"What's wrong? You seem tense." Tenten asked.
"Sasuke's here. I don't know what to do with the twins?" Hinata answered.
Tenten held Hinata's trembling hand.
"Then you should tell him. You can't keep his kids from him. He has the right to know and you know that." Tenten gave her a small smile.
"But I don't think I'm ready yet." Hinata said.
"Says the woman who cried over the phone while talking to me saying 'Sasuke's missing'."
Hinata gave Tenten a dirty look.
"What? I'm just telling the truth. Furthermore, the choice if they'll accept their father won't be decided by you."
Sasuke took off his sunglasses and brushed his long hair backwards.
"Here." Shikamaru handed him a glass of champagne.
Sasuke paused from drinking as he caught sight of Kaho. He saw her talking to Temari. He glanced at Shikamaru and placed his drink down. He scanned the room for Neji and saw him with his family, his wife who seems to be pregnant, Tsubaki, a little boy whose age seems to be the same with Kaho, and Hinata.
The picture slowly became clearer. He looked back at Kaho who still was chatting with Temari he then noticed the boy beside her, twins. Kaho is a Hyuga. The only Hyuga Temari is close to is Hinata and Neji. Neji can't be Kaho's father, he has a boy who's, without a doubt, the same or at a close age gap with Kaho.
"Shikamaru." Sasuke uttered his friend's name.
"Was Hinata pregnant when I left her?" He continued.
'And, he's figured it out.' Shikamaru thought.
"Calm down and talk to Hinata." Shikamaru uttered.
There was no lying to Sasuke Uchiha, he was sharp enough to know.
Sasuke headed to Hinata. Tenten noticed the Uchiha and gestured Hinata to talk to him outside. Hinata then stood up and went out, Sasuke followed her.
"Hinata stop." Sasuke's stern voice made Hinata freeze.
She slowly turned around. Hinata saw tears rolling down Sasuke's face.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sasuke asked.
Hinata didn't answer.
"I have a son and a daughter. Why didn't you tell me?"
Hinata closed her eyes and flinched from Sasuke's sharp voice. The moment she opened her eyes tears cascaded down her cheeks. Sasuke walked towards her and held her arms, tightly.
"Answer me Hinata." Sasuke's voice was calm.
"Sasuke." Neji stated.
"Neji don't." Tenten stopped her husband.
Sasuke waited for Hinata to answer.
Hinata sobbed. "You left. You left and I didn't know what to do. I talked to Shikamaru and he didn't tell me anything about you until I mentioned the twins. I know, I know that you went to overseas to fulfill a 5-year ownership before any legal head was seated. I didn't tell you because of my anger but after I gave birth to them I slowly realized that you did leave me, that you leaved me the most beautiful gift I could ever have. We were happy just us three but then I slowly realized that they needed you too because even if you were never there as their father they would still reach out for you. I did want to tell you, believe me, I was just looking for the right moment. Then again, I was wrong, it was never been in my hands to decide if the twins will soon accept you." Hinata paused.
"I'm sorry for everything I've done." Hinata ended.
Sasuke released Hinata. Her eyes went wide as Sasuke kneeled down.
"I should've never left you. I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry." Sasuke embraced Hinata as he cried and repeated his apology.
"Mom?"
Hinata looked at her son that stood beside Tenten.
Toshizo looked at the man who was down on his knees.
"Mom, don't let Kaho see you this way." Toshizo repeated his sentiment every time he saw her mother crying. Toshizo reached out for her hand.
Hinata made Sasuke release her as she held Toshizo's hand. She let her son escort her to the bathroom where she poured her heart out and fixed herself up before they went back to see Kaho.
"He already left." Temari said after Hinata and Toshizo reached the table.
Hinata gave a weak smile before she hugged the twins.