Sasuke's Secret

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. Oh and for those of you wondering, there will be another pitcher of lemonade in chapter 27. Happy reading!

Chapter Notation: Unless otherwise indicated in a flashback, one month has passed since the last chapter. One of the flashback is a repeat of an earlier incident, but this time it will be shown from Itachi's perspective. So if it sounds familiar, that's because it is. ;)

Chapter 26

"Itachi, stop fidgeting!" Sasuke rolls his eyes at his brother. "Everything looks perfect!"

Everything looked perfect because it was perfect. Somehow, his brother had managed to lay out a romantic candlelight dinner on a tray that fit perfectly in their bathtub. He'd also added red rose petals in to the hot bubble bath water and there were scented candles.

The elder Uchiha pauses as he considers this. "Are you sure?" Yeah. Sauske was pretty damn sure. "Hinata is supposed to return shortly."

Yeah. Sasuke knew that. He had been counting the days. Seriously, there was a calendar in the kitchen with some very colorful X's drawn over the various days. He had to amuse himself somehow. It looked like a freaking rainbow, really.

"I'm sure." Sasuke smiles. "I got the rings and you did the atmosphere setting." It was good teamwork in his opinion.

Hopefully, it would be enough. The youngest Uchiha found it doubtful that Hinata would actually say no at this point though. It'd be highly illogical.

It would be illogical for several reasons. The first was she was already their lover and lived with them. The second was that everyone in the village (and probably the Five Great Nations) was aware of the first fact. There really was no reason to keep them from getting married.

Itachi chuckles as he pokes Sasuke's forehead. "You're telling me not to be nervous, but you're the one who is trembling." Owe! "Foolish little brother."

Wait. Was he trembling? Sasuke looks down and realizes his knees were shaking a bit. Alright. He was trembling.

In his defense though, this was the most important battle that he had ever faced. He would much rather face Madara again than have to contemplate a life without their Byakugan Princess as Itachi still called Hinata!

"Whatever." Sasuke shakes his head. "She'll be here soon and then we can do it." He smiles at him. "So do you want to go first or should I?"

Itachi tilts his head as he considers that question. They probably should have decided this before now, but they'd both been busy with work and well brooding. They did that a lot now that Hinata was gone.

Sexual frustration and loneliness was not fun. Oh and did Sasuke mention the sexual frustration? Because that was enough to make him want to Chidori everything in sight and even Itachi had gotten rather snippy lately.

"We should probably do it simultaneously." Itachi nods. "That would be fairer."

Which was stunning, really. Itachi never lost his composure for almost anything. So yeah. It was safe to say they were both at their wits' end.

"Yeah." That was true. "That's what we'll do then." Sasuke smiles at the thought.

Meanwhile Hinata was finally arriving back in the Leaf Village. She had only been gone for four weeks, but it felt like an eternity. She had never been separated from her lovers for this long since the three of them got together and well the Hyuga woman was definitely feeling the pangs of separation.

"What do I tell them about Gaara?" The bluenette sighs as she makes her way towards the Uchiha District. "They have a right to know, but I also don't really want to start a war."

She was only half joking. Itachi and Sasuke were both extremely possessive of her. Even though she had smacked Gaara away and the red head had made no further advances, she knew that the Uchiha Brothers were going to be upset. Very upset.

Smack! She had just smacked Gaara! The Kazekage!

"I apologize." Gaara blinked as he rubbed his cheek. "I didn't mean to offend you." He seemed more stunned than furious.

That had to be the case because his sand hadn't moved to attack her. Still, what had she just done?! She had smacked a Kage! An allied Kage!

Her fury must have completely overwhelmed her common sense! "Forgive me, for striking you." That wasn't right. "That was wrong of me, but I will not pretend that what you just did is okay!"

If it had been any other man, she probably would have not so Gentle Fisted them! The last thing Hinata wanted was for people to assume she was open to the possibility of having more than two lovers.

Her reputation had already been damaged potentially beyond repair and the Uchiha Brothers were more than enough for her. She liked Gaara, but she felt only a bond of friendship towards him.

Had she not been involved with Sasuke and Itachi, maybe she would have entertained the thought. He was kind in his own strange way, brave, intelligent, loyal, and strong. He wasn't them though. He wasn't Itachi and Sasuke.

"It's alright." Gaara rubbed his cheek more in shock. "I was the one in the wrong." He shook his head. "It's a shame, but I think I understand their attraction towards you." The red head smiled at him. "You have wonderfully soft lips and I admire the curve of your hips very much." And if he ever said either of those things around her lovers, he'd have to admire the view of her hips and lips from the afterlife!

What had he been thinking?! Actually, she knew what he had been thinking. Gaara had been curious, but he had also acted in a very self-destructive fashion.

"Thank you." She shook her head. "B-But you can't EVER do that again!" Not if he didn't want to die before his next birthday, anyway!

He nodded at her. "As I said, I only wanted to do it once." His eyes drifted over her form appreciatively. "It's a shame that it can't ever become more, but I like Sasuke. I wouldn't try to steal you from him."

He liked Sasuke. "You like Sasuke, but not Itachi." Though the red head had never once mentioned Itachi.

Gaara sighed as he looked at her with a somewhat irritated looking expression. "What Itachi did was noble in a way. Giving up his personal happiness to save the Leaf and possibly the Ninja World at large." Hinata sensed there was a BUT coming. "But he and the rest of the Akatsuki killed me. They ripped the demon right out of my body and would have left me out in the desert for vultures to feed on as if I was nothing more than an animal." Oh!

That was right. The Akatsuki had killed Gaara! The fact that he had come back didn't really negate that. In light of that, it was no wonder why the red head didn't care much for Itachi!

"Oh Gods and Goddesses!" Hinata covered her mouth in horror. "I'm so sorry, Gaara! I didn't think of it that way!"

The Kazekage chuckled in response as if he had been expecting that reaction. "It's alright, Hinata." Not really! How could she have been so thoughtless. "You had nothing to do with his actions on that day and while I know they weren't personal, well it's very hard to be friends with your killer."

"I have to find a way to tell them." She shakes her head and sighs. "They deserve to know the truth." And she couldn't live with such a secret on her conscience!

Ever since they had gotten together, they had always been honest with each other. There were no secrets. She didn't want that to change now!

With that thought in mind, she quickly races towards the Uchiha District. It didn't take her long to arrive and knock on the door. And it took the brothers even less time to pull her inside and lock said door behind her.

Hiashi sighs as he continues his training. He knew what day it was. The day of Hinata's return.

While he never spoke to Sasuke and Itachi, there were a few Hyuga Children in the Academy. The very same Academy where Sasuke taught at and they most certainly were aware of his moods and mannerisms.

"I really don't understand what I did wrong?" He sighs to himself as he practices his Gentle Fist Technique. "Where did I fail as a father?"

Had he been too harsh or not harsh enough? Why on Earth would Hinata ever fall for their seductions? It couldn't merely be because of their fortunate looks, could it?

Surely, Hinata wasn't that naïve. So what could it be? Why would she ever consent to allowing herself to be shared in such a fashion? Where was her pride? Her sense of self-respect.

"You didn't fail as a father, My Lord." He hears a familiar voice call out.

Rei. The newest Main House Member. The woman who had told him the unpleasant truth that he had needed to hear and the Hyuga Clan's resident power climber.

Oh he knew that Rei had never lied to him, but she was an ambitious woman. Not that he could entirely blame her. What Branch Member wouldn't want to move into the Main House, if they could find a way to do it? It was only natural that she would be worried over her position.

"That is kind of you to say." It wasn't the truth though. "And perhaps you even believe it, but I do not."

The evidence to the contrary was too obvious to ignore. Hiashi was many things, but delusional wasn't one of them. No. He would rather face an unpleasant truth than bask in glory of a beautiful lie. That was just part of who he was.

Rei shakes her head and smiles. "As the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." Maybe.

Still, his heart ached at the "loss" of his eldest daughter and his increasingly strained relationship with Hanabi. Hiashi wished that he could make things right, but he obviously couldn't condone such behavior.

"There may be merit to that saying." Hiashi sighs as he glances at the girl with wary eyes. "Was there something that you desired?"

She nods and bows to him. "I would be honored beyond words, if you were indulge me by training with me, My Lord." Ah. So that's what she wanted.

Normally, he wouldn't. Though Hiasih figured he'd likely get more benefit out of training with someone than training alone.

"Very well." He forces himself to smile. "Let us see what your present skill level is at and proceed from there."

"You're home!" Itachi smiles at Hinata as soon as she was back inside the house. "We've both missed you so much."

That was the truth. While he might be better at hiding it than Sasuke, Itachi had felt the pain of their separation as well. It had been a month from Hell.

The only thing that had kept him sane was Sasuke and planning their wedding day. That and of course, the proposal. Which needed to be executed in an absolutely flawless fashion, by the way!

"And we've already drawn you a bath." Sasuke smirks.

Hinata blushes at that and it didn't take a genius to figure out why that was the case. Their beautiful princess already knew what was about to happen. Well at least part of it.

Uchiha Pouncing Mode as she called it. That was a rather amusing name in Itachi's opinion, but even he couldn't deny the accuracy of it. Still, they had a full evening ahead of them and it was best that they get started on it.

Hinata smiles at that. "Well a bath does sound nice." Of course, it did!

Though why did his wife sound slightly nervous? Hmm. Perhaps it was merely the fact that she was tired from her long trip?

"Mhm." Sasuke nods as he caresses her cheek. "We've made dinner as well."

Itachi nods at that. They hadn't left any stone unturned. Tonight was going to be perfect. He knew that much without a doubt!

Hinata laughs at that as she kisses them both. "Mmm. You two spoil me." Yes, yes, they did!

"We do aim to please." Itachi smirks as his crimson red eyes drift over her still irritatingly clothed form.

They would have to fix that. Preferably as soon as possible. Still, he figured it was best to propose before any lovemaking. It wouldn't be fair to propose during the afterglow, even if Sasuke did seem to find that particular idea intriguing!

"And you succeed." She smiles as she allows them to lead her to the bathroom.

She gasps at what she saw only a few minutes later. It was beautiful. A romantic dinner and a bubble bath all rolled into one. There were even candles.

Hinata smiles at them and kisses each of them. That's when Itachi felt his heart swell with relief. This was going to work.

He hadn't been as visibly nervous as his foolish little brother, but he had been anxious to say the least. "Sasuke, why don't you be a proper gentleman and help our lover get out of those irritating clothes?" Itachi smiles at him.

After all, it was his job to set an example for Sasuke. He was the other man's older brother. The very least that he could do for the other Uchiha was to teach him some manners.

"Gladly." Sasuke smirks as he was soon behind Hinata in a flash. "It must feel so good to get out of that desert heat." He kisses the back of her neck softly as his hands yank down her pants.

Hinata sighs in contentment. "Mhm. Really good." Well at least the younger Uchiha had thoroughly learned how to apply his lessons.

Granted this wasn't what Itachi had pictured on the day that he had promised to help Sasuke, but he wasn't going to argue. This was far better than anything he could have ever dared to hope for.

"If Naruto doesn't return her feelings, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't pursue her." Itachi smiled.

At the moment, he was quite certain that his brother thought Itachi was out of his mind. Though that wouldn't stop him from doing what needed to be done.

"You mean besides the fact that most of the ninja world is terrified of me, her family would never approve, she's in love with Naruto, and I've only ever spoken to her twice?!" Itachi actually clucked his tongue at Sasuke as he poked his forehead again. "I'll admit all that is potentially problematic, but love is love." Why must his foolish little brother always make everything so difficult?

This was especially the case, when it didn't have to be. Some things were so ridiculously simple that people had a habit of making them overly complicated. In this case though, it was Itachi's job to uncomplicated them!

"If you truly love her, you'll never forgive yourself for not at least telling her how you feel." For Sasuke's sake. "And you know it."

"Maybe, but I wouldn't even know where to begin." Sasuke shook his head. "And she'd never return my feelings anyway."

That admission made Itachi wince. Not only because he knew that his brother was in pain, but he also knew one painful truth. At least a part of it was because of him.

He was the one who had shoved Sasuke into that Darkness. Itachi was the reason why his foolish little brother had never told that woman how he felt. And he was indirectly responsible for why the other man felt inadequate for the Byakugan Princess.

"Sasuke, don't make me poke you again." Itachi shook his head. "This is my fault really. I'm the one who stunted your emotional development and you've probably never looked at another woman. It's only natural that your seduction skills would need work." He smiled at Sasuke. "That's okay though. I'm more than willing to teach you."

THUD! Sasuke fell out of his hospital bed in shock. "W-What'd you say?" He gaped at his older brother from his position on the floor.

Itachi smiled at Sasuke and leaned down to help him up. "I said, that I'd teach you how to seduce your little Byakugan Princess." It seemed like the least he could do really.

The sound of clothes hitting the floor snapped Itachi out of his memory. It seemed that Sasuke had successfully managed not only to undress Hinata, but Hinata had managed to undress them both.

"I'll get in first." He smiles as he proceeds to do that. "Hinata, you can sit in the middle and Sasuke you can sit behind her." That seemed to be the easiest way to go about this.

He loved both of them with all his heart. Though for drastically different reasons, but sometimes the mechanics of such a relationship were well a challenge to figure out.

Not that he particularly minded that fact. Itachi wasn't called a genius without cause! It was just sometimes one had to pause and figure out the best logistics of such situations.

Hinata giggles as she sits down in Itachi's lap and faces Sasuke. "This really does look good." She smiles at all the wonderful food.

"Not nearly as good as you look, but yeah." Sasuke smirks. "We tried our best."

Itachi nodded at that. "Remember to sip the champagne slowly to savor the flavor." That sounded a bit odd, but Hinata just nods in understanding as she proceeds to do exactly that.

She begins with sip on her champagne when she notices something strange. There was something stuck at the bottom of the glass. Two somethings actually.

"What the?" Hinata blinks as she reaches into the glass and pulls them out.

That's when she gasps. Two beautiful rings. Rings that were so stunningly exquisite that they could only have one purpose.

Itachi chuckles at her reaction. "Yes, Hinata." He smiles and kisses her cheek. "We're proposing."

Hinata blinks at that. Suddenly, she was overwhelmed with panic. It was one thing to be romantically involved with two men, but a woman could only have one husband. She would have to choose between them!

One of them would be her husband and the other her lover. One of them wouldn't be officially recognized. That would drive a wedge between them forever!

Sasuke blinks when he sees her panic. " Hinata, calm down." He caresses her cheek. "It's okay."

"No! It's not!" Hinata shakes her head vigorously. "I can't choose between the two of you." Choose between them?

What was she talking about? Ohhh. Sasuke blinks. Maybe, they should have explained the law first.

"Hinata, you don't have to choose." Sasuke kisses her forehead as he looks at Itachi helplessly. "Itachi?"

Itachi nuzzles her neck lovingly. The action was so sweet and tender that even Sasuke was a little in awe of it. Mercifully, that seemed to be the case with Hinata as well.

"There are laws on the book that permit the marriage of more than two people." The elder Uchiha tries to soothe her. "It's just most people have forgotten about them."

Hinata blinks at that. "So you're telling that I could marry you both and it would be legal?" The very thought appeared to stun her, Sasuke decides.

He smiles and kisses her. Their lover obviously needed reassurance and he was more than willing to give it to her.

The bluenette kisses back, seeming to relax into his heated kiss. Itachi smiles at that and caresses her. That was better.

"Yes, it'd be perfectly legal." Itachi nods. "It would of course be a relatively small wedding."

Sasuke nods at that as he breaks the kiss. "Team Seven, Taka, and your team most likely." His foolish little brother was right about that.

Unfortunately, Hinata's Clan would never join them and most of the Leaf was too busy gossiping about the nature of their relationship to celebrate with them. It was a shame, really. People could have such a narrow minded view of what was considered to be an acceptable form of love sometimes.

Hinata beams at them and kisses them both. "That's okay!" She practically radiated happiness. "As long as I'm marrying the two of you, I don't care how many people hear us say I do!"

Sasuke smiles at her. "Good because I love you." He smile only grows as he cups her cheek. "And I know that Itachi does too."

"Mmm he's definitely right about that." Itachi smirks.

Hinata winces as she realizes something. She didn't want to ruin the perfect moment, but the bluenette also didn't want to start their marriage off with a secret. Well at least not a secret from each other.

"Hinata, what's wrong?" Sasuke frowns. "Why are you wincing?"

Her heart was pounding now. One moment she had been absolutely joyous and the next she was terrified. Terrified that she might actually start a war.

"There's something that I have to tell the two of you." She bites her lower lip anxiously. "And you won't like it, but I assure you nothing more happened." She'd never do that to them.

Hinata would never betray them in such a way! She'd never throw herself into the arms of another! Not even the Kazekage!

Itachi frowns as well. "Whatever it is, I'm quite certain that it's not nearly as bad as you believe it to be." Oh. Hinata was quite certain it was.

"I'm glad you feel that way." The bluenette sighs as she looks away from them. "Something happened while I was in the Sand."

Sasuke tilts his head and that made Hinata feel even more guilty. Her lovers both looked so horribly confused and concern. How could she possibly do this to them? How could she ruin this magical moment?

Because she had to was the answer. "What happened?" A marriage built on secrets wasn't one that was going to last.

"Gaara was being very kind to me and he was curious about our relationship." She shakes her head. "He's…well he doesn't understand such things as well as most people do." It was now or never. "He kissed me, but only once and I didn't kiss back." She adds in a heated rush. "I slapped him, actually."

Sasuke and Itachi both twitch. Gone were the concerned lovers, replaced by three angry pairs of Sharingan and one furious Rinnegan.

"I'm glad you slapped him." Itachi seethes. "Though he deserves far worse than that."

"Such as a Chidori to his more southern region." Sasuke hisses.

Uh oh! This wouldn't end well. "He was just curious and got caught up in the moment. He says that he won't do it again!" She pleads with them.

Sasuke looks at Itachi. He didn't know what to think at the moment. He believed Hinata when she said that she didn't return Gaara's advances, but he still felt horribly betrayed by the red head.

He couldn't just sit around and do nothing. "Sasuke! Itachi! Don't do anything foolish!" Like castrate a certain Kage?

"Well you slapped him and once you made it apparent his advances were unwanted, he stopped?" Itachi looks at Hinata up and down. "Is that correct?" He was probably checking to see if their lover might be trying to protect the Kazekage for political reasons.

"Yes, that's right." She nods as she kisses them. "I love the two of you and only the two of you."

Sasuke smiles and returns the kiss. "I believe you, but I'm still going to have a talk with Gaara." That Kazekage was going to learn the hard way never to touch an Uchiha's lover!

Hinata gulps at that, but Sasuke wouldn't pretend that said gulp was unwarranted. Gaara was going to regret kissing their princess!

"Sasuke, it's a three day journey to the Sand." Sasuke was pretty sure he could make it in one with the way he was feeling! "And our princess has been without our affections for a month." Yeah… "So why don't we erase all thoughts of the Kazekage from our lover's mind and then we'll deal with Gaara later."

Well Itachi had a point. "I agree." Hinata was naked and in a bathtub with them. "Gaara can wait for a few days."

Hinata squeaks upon hearing that and Sasuke knew why. Their little princess knew exactly what that meant. Uchiha Pouncing Mode had been fully activated!