Hi there everyone! Last week went by really fast, didn't it? At least to me since I was at home sick. Work is as stressful as ever and if you don't read Hinata the Vamp, I'll say it here. Because work is killing me right now and I type all day long, I'm going to be cutting the length of the chapters to 1500 instead of 2500. I hope it doesn't stop you from reading from the change but I really have to or else I'll end up hating writing which is the last thing I want to do.
Excuse any errors and R&R!!!
Chapter 38: The Response
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Sasuke's face remained blank when Hinata finished telling him what her day had been like. He hadn't even met any of the council members and he hated them already.
The one thing he could not wrap his thoughts around was the fact that he could tell she was clearing skirting around the real issues that were bothering her.
"Just tell me," he said. "It can't be that bad."
Hinata bit her lip nervously. "You may not think so when I tell you," said Hinata. "I know I should have asked you first or should have discussed it before you left for the mission, but I had no idea they were going to ask me what they did."
Sasuke sighed. "Tell me,"
"I told the council a lie," said Hinata. "I told them that we were engaged."
"Nani?" asked Sasuke disbelievingly. His response came out a little harsher than he wanted and Hinata started to fidget.
"T-they asked me what my relationship to you was and that's the first thing that came to mind," Hinata told him. "Now they want you to confirm it and show some form of evidence before we go to live there."
"Hold it," said Sasuke, raising his hand in a halting manner. "Hold it right there. Are you saying you told the council we are engaged?"
"Hai."
"They want to speak with me on the matter?"
"Hai."
"They want us to provide some sort of evidence that we are telling the truth and that we are serious?"
"Hai."
Sasuke could tell Hinata was glad he understood. "And they want us to live there since you agreed to become official heir?"
"Hai."
"Iie."
Hinata's face fell. "Why not?"
Sasuke turned away as he walked around the bed and looked out the window into the darkness. "You can't be serious, Hina," he said. "How do you know that's not what they want? As far as I can tell, they cornered you in that room."
Sasuke could see Hinata's reflection in the glass and saw she was staring at him defiantly, hands on her hips. "They did not. I thought a lot about it and I think I made the right choice."
"You just chose the better of two evils," said Sasuke. "Either way, you're going to lose. If you didn't accept you would have the seal, and even now, they are going to try to control what you do."
"How?" asked Hinata. "I already stated the terms."
"They want you to live in the compound," said Sasuke. "They want you and me as close to them as possible so they can keep a watchful eye on us."
"You don't know that," said Hinata. She took up her clothes and towel and headed for the bathroom. "I'm not losing to my father this time. I know all of what you are saying is possible but I'll be prepared."
Sasuke turned around and followed her, just in time to see the flick of her hair as she disappeared behind the shower screen and the shower was turned on. "You're right," he said. "I don't and maybe I'm just a little surprised by all of this new news."
He moved to lean on the opened door frame. "Plus it's only for two years as you said, right? One for training and one for when you actually lead?"
"I don't know if they will let me do that," said Hinata, her voice muffled by the hush of running water. "But I made it very clear that two years were not needed."
Smiling, Sasuke folded his arms. "You sound like you really did make an impression," he said. "I guess you did handle yourself well in there."
"I didn't even stutter," Hinata replied, and he swore he saw some extra steam rise above the screen from her obvious blush; her smile in her voice.
There was only the sound of running water for a while until Sasuke spoke again. "About the engagement," he started. "You know I want to marry you someday, don't you?"
"I know that," said Hinata.
"And you know I support your decision?"
"I know."
"I'll do it," said Sasuke.
Hinata jumped straight from behind the screen and hugged Sasuke tightly. "Really?"
"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it," Sasuke told her.
"Thank you so much! I promise the two years will be up before we know it and then we can go on with our lives."
Sasuke laughed at her. "Do you realize you've just jumped me in the nude?" he asked her.
Hinata snatched her hands from around his neck as though burned with a high pitched squeal and it seemed as though she blushed from head to toe. She made to run away, but Sasuke held her still. "It's not like I mind," he said with a smirk.
Squirming around, Hinata managed to break free and then she was wrapping herself in the towel. "That's n-not the point," she stammered and Sasuke rolled his eyes as he turned to head back to the bedroom so Hinata could have some privacy without her having to ask him to.
He couldn't understand what she was so shy about. There was no need to be hiding away from him as though they were just roommates. They still had not gone past kissing as Hinata said she was not ready for any kind or touching. He knew better than to rush her for anything though; everything would come in time.
Hearing the door shut behind him, Sasuke took off his now wet shirt, tossed it into the wash basket, and put on some pajama bottoms before getting into bed. He took the time Hinata was in the bathroom to think about everything she had told him.
He honestly did not mind being engaged to Hinata; it was a step closer to maker her permanently hers.
He also had no problem with meeting with the council; he could handle a couple of old crones.
It was the living right in the midst of the clan he didn't like. He also did not like the fact that they wanted him to 'donate' to the clan either.
And what was this about evidence that he and Hinata were really engaged? Wasn't Hinata's saying it enough?
He dragged the covers over himself, and scooted over as he heard the bathroom door open.
Hinata went to the dresser and took up a hair tie to put her hair up. It was getting quite long now and she had to keep some of it tucked away when she went to bed.
One thing for sure was that she was never going to wear it short again. He father grinded her about her hair for as long as she could remember while Hanabi wore hers long.
That sort of thing was exactly why she wanted to be the leader of the clan. Even the little things like that irritated her.
She would show him she could do it; that and to make his life a living hell.
She came up to the bed and got under the sheets.
Noticing Sasuke said nothing or didn't move allowed her to know he was thinking.
"What's on your mind?" Hinata asked him, even though she had an idea.
"We been talking about this whole heir thing the whole night," said Sasuke as he turned to her. "I'm tired so let's talk about something else until morning."
"But you have to plan what you'll say," said Hinata. "You have to prepare yourself."
"No amount of preparation is going to help," said Sasuke. "Whatever they throw at me, I can take."
Hinata nodded in understanding and then changed the subject. "Did your mission go well?" she asked.
"Not exactly," Sasuke said. "One of the clients was killed on the way to the destination from an ambush."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Hinata. "Was it called as a failed mission?"
"Iie, it turned out that the client who was killed had planned all of it and there was a mix up on who was to be taken out but the men who did it are being questioned."
"Well at least it wasn't failed," said Hinata.
"Hai," said Sasuke, his eyes were closed and his voice started to slow down. "What about you? Did anything happen while I was gone?"
"Tsunade-sama summoned me to let me know Hitoshi, the teacher I'm filling in for, was killed in action on the mission he was on."
"That's unfortunate."
"It is," said Hinata. "She asked me if I'd like to just continue the assignment as planned or if I would rather go on until the Jounin exams."
"Won't your training for leader get in the way?" asked Sasuke.
"I'm not sure yet but I would like to stay on the assignment until I turn jounin," said Hinata. "It's so much fun at the academy and they're like the brothers and sisters I never had; the children I'd have."
Sasuke smiled. "If you like it that much and it makes you happy, stay as long as you want," he said. "So when is the funeral for Hitoshi?"
"On Thursday," said Hinata. "Do you want to come?"
"I'll come if I don't have a mission," said Sasuke with a sleepy nod.
Hinata shuffled closer and hugged Sasuke after she turned out the lights. "Sleep well," she said.
Sasuke gave a grunt of 'you too' and shortly after he was out as Hinata stared at him in the dark, the slight illumination coming from the street light not too far away. She kissed him lightly on the nose and settled down soon afterwards.
Many times she had thought over the relationship she and Sasuke shared and she was so glad that even though he was still the same Sasuke, he had changed so much. She knew they would pretty much have to wing it from now on but that was okay as long as they had each other.
Hinata felt sleep threatening to take over but she held out a little while longer, trying to will any thoughts of Itachi from her mind before she dropped to sleep as she always did now.
In the morning she and Sasuke would figure everything out properly.
And that is the end of the chapter. Sorry about it being late but I had actually finished Saturday night. Since it was so late, though, I decided to leave it until last night but I got home pretty late and then got home late today as well. I hope you liked the chapter.
If you have not read Hinata the Vamp, A Happy Ending (now a completed fic), or Following the Sun (a new SasuNaru fic) please do.
Until next update…
Ja ne!
Please review, I love it when you do!