"You look beautiful." Akio said as he pulled out her chair. Hinata blushed and tucked her hair back, taking a seat.
"Thank you." She replied, watching him go around the table and to his chair. Her phone lit up and she picked it up: Kiba. He was making sure she was alright. Hinata put the phone in her purse, realizing her rudeness. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"Expecting someone?" He wondered.
"There's some…trouble at home and I asked Naruto if he and Minato could make sure everything was alright." Hinata explained before taking a sip of water to calm her nerves.
"Don't worry." He reached over and took Hinata's hand. "I'm sure Minato knows what he's doing." The man gave a smile to reassure her before pulling away. Their waiter had arrived quite early.
"Would you like to try tonight's wine special?" He asked.
Akio looked at Hinata, who shook her head. After finding out about tonight, she couldn't drink a drop. He turned back to the man. "No thank you." Akio watched him go before facing his date again. "We can always go someplace else."
"No, this is fine." Hinata informed. "I'm just not in the mood." She looked away and began scanning the menu.
"Hinata-" A hand on his shoulder silenced him, bringing Hinata to attention.
"Why haven't you been answering her calls?" A big, bulky, bald-headed man asked.
"I'm in the middle of dinner with-" Akio was explaining before the man leaned down and whispered something in his ear. "Can't this wait?" He showed no difference in emotion, keeping his eyes on Hinata.
"No," He answered after pulling away. "She said it's urgent and besides, you owe her this after that screwing the company."
The businessman frowned and climbed to his feet. "I'll be right back." He promised. "I just have a few things to take care of."
Hinata nodded as she watched the duo retreat out of the glass dome. Her eyes turned up as she decided to gaze at the sky. It was snowing, meaning no stars. Hinata turned to her phone in hopes Naruto had responded to an earlier, worry-filled text. He had but only to say they were headed over. She sighed and thought of calling him. Akio had told of an incoming call but not being approached. And why was the Vice President a woman? "Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I…He said- He lied to me." She mumbled under her breath before shoving the device back in her purse to wait for her date.
Hinata remembered the waiter was still available and hers, so she called him over. "Is there something I can get you, miss?"
She thought for a second. That wine was sounding good but how she would be drinking, it wasn't appropriate. "No, I was just wondering if you knew anything about the Vice President."
"Vice President?" He looked confused then looked at Akio's empty seat. "Oh, Miss Mao Tanaka. She's quite beautiful but I wouldn't let her looks decieve you."
"Oh, I see…" Lavender eyes travelled across the table to the empty chair. "What's her relationship to Akio?"
The waiter was confused, again, but realized who she meant at Akio's name. "Miss Tanaka and Yahamada are…" He relaxed as he thought. "You'll have to ask him about that."
"Thank you." Hinata said, lowering her eyes to the empty place in front of her as the formal man left to continue his duties. "They're just…friends, if anything. Stop overthinking and worrying yourself." She checked her phone for the time to see he'd been gone for a half hour. Why was he doing business? He was on a date. It was Christmas Eve.
A voice- Akio's voice, to be exact- came from through the doors, grumbling about Tanaka and the man behind him. The young woman, filled with relief, watched as her date plopped down into his seat, refusing to look at the muscle man. "Don't screw this up for her." This comment from him spurred a reaction from the young man, making him squirm.
"Her? She's got nothing to lose and nothing to gain. I, on the other hand, do so you can tell her to-"
"Don't screw this up for her." The man repeated, turning around to leave. As he exited the room, he said it twice more, inducing a growl from Akio.
Hinata sat there quietly, watching as he calmed himself down. "Are you alright?"
"Thank you, Hinata, I'm fine. All we did was talk; it was very civil, as you can see." He informed, apologetic. "Let's end tonight on a good note." He told her with a smile, his mood changing. "Let's eat and then I have something for you."
"My surprise?" She tried not to sound too excited.
"Not quite."
Hinata searched her menu for something appetizing or familiar. After ten minutes, she gave up. "Suggest anything?" She asked Akio who was ready to order.
"There's only one thing here I'll eat and it's a special item." Their waiter approached them again, ready. "We'll have the usual."
"What's that?" Hinata wondered once the server was gone.
Akio smiled, handing the man his menu. "Ramen."
Hinata leaned against the railing, looking out over the city. They were far from the hustle and bustle, the bright lights and crowds. She felt a hand on her waist and found Akio on her right watching with her, the same sight in his dark eyes. However, he wasn't really watching, just looking. He was focused on something else, preoccupied in his own mind. "Akio," She whispered, touching his cheek.
He grabbed it and held tight, closing his eyes. "You probably want to know why I was gone so long." His eyes opened and he sighed, a breath of hot air leaving his mouth. "It was more than just simple talk."
"Can I ask?" Hinata wondered, noticing the frustrated look.
"Mao tries to control everything and everyone. Including me. She thinks that because she inherited her position, she can do anything she wants."
"But, didn't your father give you your position too?"
Akio frowned and dropped her hand. "Yes but she's held hers longer, unfortunately. And she's not older than me, which makes the situation worse."
Hinata looked at the city, thinking of Mao. "How does that make it worse?"
"She has less experience and is less responsible. She's stuck in that rebellious teenager stage." His frown deepened at the thought. "Mao expects to be handed everything and at the same time, work for it- barely work for it in my opinion. We might as well not have a vice president…"
The young Hyūga could see how upset he was over this and took his hand again. "She'll see how the world works soon enough."
This elicited a laugh from her boyfriend, his eyes melancholy. "She's been in the corporate world for five years now. You'd think she would learn but…"
Hinata frowned. Mao was ruining Christmas. "You like hot chocolate, don't you?"
He looked surprised at the question, unsuspecting. "Yes?" His answer came out in the form of a question.
"Let's go." She pulled him towards the car, dragging him mercilessly and ignoring his protests to stop. "Much longer and I'll be a popsicle."
"Your surprise-"
"I can wait. Tomorrow is Christmas."
It wasn't what she had in mind but at least they had their hot chocolate. Akio had complied, giving in eventually. They were seated in his apartment, in front of his fireplace with mugs of coco in their hands. Again, Akio seemed distant and Hinata knew what- who it was about. She looked away from him and stared out the wall made of glass. It was snowing. "It's beautiful." She noted, catching the man's attention. "The snow." Hinata told him, seeing his blank look.
He followed her gaze. "Yes, it is."
Hinata watched as he stood, taking his cup with him to the window. "What's wrong? You've seemed so sad since Mao."
"Like I said: She's controlling. She wants my position… I kind of wonder how far she'll go."
"Stop! I know you're worried but she won't do anything! Mao is all…talk... Please, it's Christmas Eve."
Akio looked back at her, finally, and smiled. "You're right." He came back over and picked Hinata up off her feet. "I apologize." He took her cup from her hand and walked over to the stereo, putting it down on the shelf. "How about a dance?"
She smiled as he put in a disc and walked back over to take her hand. She laid her head against his chest and closed her eyes, listening to his heart as he led the dance. "I missed this." Hinata said quietly.
"This?" Akio replied as he kissed the top of her head.
"Your heart." The young woman answered.
The young man hummed in thought and pulled her closer. "I'm glad you came."
"So am I."
They lapsed into silence, keeping to themselves until the track ended. Akio pulled away and checked his watch. "It's hard to believe how fast time flew by." He showed the young woman the device with a smile. "Does this mean I can give you that surprise?"
Hinata headed over to the stereo to turn it off and grab her hot chocolate. The drink was cold. "Let's say it's a gift." She said as she walked back over. "And I would really prefer to receive tomorrow but your persistence to give it to me tonight has changed my mind." Akio lit up at her permission and exited the room, off to snatch her gift. She laughed and looked outside again, the snow still coming down. She took a seat as she waited and pulled out her phone to see if there was anything more about her family. An apology. From her father. Hinata shoved the phone back in her purse, upset. 'Why didn't he call? Texting an apology like that is unfair and rude.' She came from her mood when she heard Akio enter the room, making her stand. "If this is coming from you, I'm expecting a puppy." He raised his brow. "I like puppies." She replied with burning cheeks.
"I know." Akio smiled as he took her hand and made her sit with him. "I had this all planned out but the words just won't come out of my mouth." He looked down for a second, biting his lip as he concentrated. Before Hinata could speak, he faced her again. "Will you marry me?"
Hinata was speechless. She was confronted with a scenario like this before but she was less mature last time. Thinking back to what was said when Naruto proposed they get married, she said: "I love you so much but I'm not ready for that." Seeing sadness fill his eyes, Hinata added, "I'm sorry but it's too soon for me." Akio gave no response. "I still have to graduate and-"
"It's fine." Akio finally answered, dropping her hand. "You don't have to explain. I figured that was one of the problems."
"Problems?" Hinata didn't see how school and graduation was a problem, as well as whatever Akio may consider. "What else is a problem?"
The man looked away. "Let's save this for later- until after the holidays-"
She climbed to her feet and made Akio stand with her. "No, we're going to talk about it now."
It took a moment for him to register but when he did, he frowned. "Naruto is your second problem."
"He is not a problem." Sure he caused problems but he was not a problem.
"You still love him." Hinata swallowed at that truthful accusation, her cheeks burning. "You look nervous."
"And?"
"What did you do?" Hinata knew exactly what he meant but said nothing. Consequently, it made her look bad. "What did you do with him?" Akio repeated again, more demanding.
"It was nothing; just a...kiss."
"I knew I had a right to be worried."
"Excuse me?" Hinata responded, offended.
"No, you think running back to that idiot while I'm gone is perfectly fine-"
"That's not what happened! We were talking and for some reason, a part of me wanted to kiss him, so..." She shut her eyes, opening them a second later. "I didn't mean for it to happen. Naruto knows that too."
Akio stood in silence, staring at her, studying her. "For some reason, I don't believe that."
"What? Akio-" She reached for him but he recoiled.
"I'll call you." He pointed to the door, indicating she had to go. Hinata shamefully picked up her bag and coat, doing as he wanted.
Once she was on the other side of the doorway, staring back at him, she said, "I'm sorry."
"Like I said, I'll call you."
She couldn't sleep. Was what she did really that bad? Did she mean it like he said? Maybe Akio was just sensitive about things. He was extremely bothered by Mao and Hinata could understand that. However, letting it affect your guest as well was rude. He could have retired for the night and she would've been alright with that. She would find out tomorrow, the happiest day of the year, how much she fucked up with an accident.
