DISCLAIMER: It's weird writing about Naruto and Sakura as a couple now...
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Sasuke watched as the doctor examined Miyuki. Her fever has gone down and they were just waiting for the doctor's all-clear for her to be discharged. Sasuke wanted her to have further tests – MRI, CT scan – but the doctor said there was no need. Her seizure last night was perfectly normal. He could not help feeling worried still. And that was perfectly normal, too.
"Father, Neji-niisan and Hanabi are coming," Hinata said softly beside him, texting something on her phone. "I mean, if that's o-okay?"
He frowned. "Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"
"W-well…" Hinata avoided his eyes. "After… you know, t-that… I wasn't sure."
Sasuke took her hand and entwined it with his own. "We're fine. Couples fight. According to my source, anyway."
"Naruto-kun?" she asked with a smile.
"Gaara."
She giggled and Sasuke was pretty sure he was sporting a dopey grin. Which immediately evaporated the moment he heard a familiar voice coming from the corridor. Seconds later, his mother appeared.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Mikoto exclaimed, clutching her pearls as she rushed to Miyuki's side. "Oh, my dear baby. Are you okay? Is she okay?"
"Miyuki-chan is going to be fine," the doctor answered cheerfully. "Her fever is gone, but I recommend a good rest at home. Give it a day and she's back to normal. Right, Miyuki-chan?"
Miyuki smiled back at the doctor shyly.
"Thank you so much," Sasuke shook the doctor's hand.
The doctor clapped him on the shoulder good-naturedly before exiting the room. That was when Sasuke noticed his father standing stiffly by the door. Fugaku glared at him and Sasuke was not in the mood to indulge him. Sighing, he looked back at his mother who was now engulfing Miyuki in a hug.
"I was going to call you," he told his mother.
"When?" she asked, sniffing.
"When we get home. Look, so much was going on and the doctor said –"
"But you called her," Fugaku interrupted, pointing at Hinata. "You couldn't bother informing your own mother, but you called… who are you again?"
Hinata bowed, flustered. "I'm s-s-sorry."
"She's my girlfriend," Sasuke gritted through gritted teeth. "She has more right to be here than you. What the fuck are you doing here?"
"Sasuke!" his mother admonished.
Fuck. Sasuke retreated to the far side of the room – as far away from his father as possible – took a deep breath and tried to rein in his temper.
"Look," he muttered calmly, "We barely had any sleep and it was a stressful night… Anyway, my priority was to ensure that Miyuki was comfortable and safe. I didn't want her to be surrounded by… people who might stress her out. And yes, I'm referring to Father."
Fugaku scoffed but otherwise remained quiet.
"I just hoped you thought to call me," Mikoto mumbled tearfully. "I want to be with her, to be here for her. You must understand, Sasuke. She's all I have left of Itachi."
And then she cried. Sasuke was at a loss. He glanced at Hinata for help, but she also looked like she was fighting back some tears. His father was still catatonic by the door, so no help to be expected there. Well, him being catatonic was a help.
"Is okay, gramma," Miyuki said, patting her grandmother's arm. "No cry. Is okay."
Sasuke watched fondly as his mother and niece hug it out.
xXx
"The doctor said to take it easy," Sasuke muttered again for what seemed like the fifth time as Naruto darted past with a squealing Miyuki on his back.
"Chill out," Gaara said unhelpfully. "Miyuki's having fun."
"She just got out of the hospital. An hour ago."
"Naruto, stop it!" Sakura shouted at her husband.
"Sorry, sorry!" Naruto exclaimed as he finally stopped. "I'm just happy she's okay!"
"More! Again!" Miyuki protested, clinging on Naruto's neck.
"Come on, Miyuki-chan," Hinata took a pouting Miyuki into her arms and carried her inside the house.
"So that's the girlfriend, huh?" Sakura commented. "All these years I've known you and I didn't know you have a thing for good girls."
"I don't." Sasuke shrugged, following Hinata and Miyuki inside.
"Sasuke doesn't have a type," Gaara interjected.
"What are you guys doing here, anyway?" Sasuke asked as he led his friends to the living room.
"We're worried about Miyuki-chan, of course!" Naruto answered, plopping himself on the couch. Sakura sat next to him with a little more grace. "We didn't want to bother the people in the hospital so we thought we should just wait here."
Sasuke groaned tiredly as he plunked himself on an armchair. He heard a car on the driveway. "Shit. Fuck. Why…"
"Who's that?" Sakura asked.
"My parents. They followed us here from the hospital. Even though I told them there's no need."
"Shit!" Naruto exclaimed in panic, jumping to his feet. "The boss is here? We gotta go, Sakura-chan. I'm not supposed to be here."
Sakura glared at him but took her husband's hand. "Well it's been fun, boys. I'd love to stay longer but…" Hinata entered the room with Miyuki in her arms. "Ah, Miyuki-chan! I'm happy you're okay. Aunt Sakura and Uncle Naruto must go now. We brought you some gift, it's over there. Get well soon, okay, baby girl? And it's so nice to finally meet you, Hinata! Dinner at our house on Sunday, okay? See you guys soon!"
"See you soon!" And with that, Naruto and Sakura sneaked toward the kitchen and out the backdoor.
"T-that was fast." Hinata commented, sitting on the couch.
"They didn't want to be in the same room as my father." Sasuke explained.
Miyuki grabbed the wrapped gift on the table. She handed it to Gaara and he seemed to understand her wordless request for him to open it for her. Miyuki was squealing over the unicorn plushy when Sasuke's parents entered. She then immediately climbed up to Sasuke's lap the moment she saw Fugaku. Sasuke understood his mother being here, his father however…
"Why are you still here?" he asked his father, exasperated. He was too exhausted for his father's bullshit.
"I am here because your mother is here." Fugaku replied coldly, sitting down on the opposite armchair.
"Your father promised to behave," Mikoto said as she joined Hinata on the couch. "Hinata, I apologize for earlier in the hospital."
"O-oh, it's… it's f-fine,"
Mikoto smiled in reassurance. "And I'm happy about you and Sasuke. Happy that you're here to take care of him and my granddaughter."
Hinata blushed. She glanced at Sasuke and he gave her a small smile and a wink.
"Gaara," Mikoto continued, smile widening. "It's always lovely to see you."
"And you are always lovely," Gaara answered suavely.
Fugaku fixed his eyes on Gaara, not amused in the slightest. Sasuke rolled his eyes. Gaara liked flirting with older women. Mostly with Sasuke's mother. But before Sasuke could tell them to knock it off, the doorbell rang.
Hinata jumped to her feet. "I'll g-get it."
Miyuki whined as she watched Hinata leave the room. Sasuke comforted her. "It's okay. She'll be back."
"Who's that?" Mikoto asked curiously.
"Her family," he answered, shifting Miyuki in his arms more comfortably. He glanced at his stoic father. "Please don't be an asshole."
"You're serious about her, then?" Fugaku probed, smirking. "Wanting to impress her family… She's not just some Hyuuga branch member, is she?"
"She's someone special to me," Sasuke retorted firmly. "That's all that matters."
Fugaku inclined his head and regarded his son quietly.
"Bad!" Miyuki suddenly exclaimed, pointing angrily at Fugaku. "Bad!"
Gaara burst out laughing and continued laughing as he excused himself. "I had enough drama for one day," he muttered, leaving an awkward silence behind.
The room was filled with tension by the time the Hyuugas made their appearance. The first one through the door was Hyuuga Hiashi and Miyuki jumped out of Sasuke's arms at the sight of him.
"Grampa!" Miyuki yelled happily, running straight into Hiashi's waiting arms.
"How is my little princess?" Hiashi cooed, hugging Miyuki tight.
"M'yuki sick," she told the doting old man. Her eyes had gotten bigger.
"Aw, my poor princess. What are we going to do, Uncle Neji?" Hiashi asked his nephew. "We can't give Miyuki-chan her present because she's sick."
"But! But!" Miyuki protested; eyes fixed longingly at the present Neji was carrying. "Doctor say M'yuki okay!"
"The doctor said you need to take a rest," Sasuke corrected her.
"Did Miyuki-chan take a rest?" Hanabi asked.
Miyuki pouted for a second before jumping and pointing upwards in excitement. "M'yuki rest!"
"Alright, come on," Hanabi chuckled, taking Miyuki's hand. "Let's go take a nap. And then after your nap, Uncle Neji will give you your present."
Hanabi led Miyuki to her bedroom with barely any fuss. The atmosphere in the living room, however, descended into awkwardness once more as the Uchihas and the Hyuugas were finally forced to acknowledge each other.
Sasuke cleared his throat. "Mother, Father, I'd like you to meet Hinata's father, Hyuuga Hiashi. And her cousin, Hyuuga Neji. Hiashi-san, these are my parents."
Sasuke did not know what to expect. If he was being completely honest, he was hoping that this day would not come. At least not yet, not right now.
"Hello," Mikoto said, gracious as always. "It is a pleasure to meet two of the most prominent members of the Hyuuga clan."
Hyuuga Hiashi was about to reply when Uchiha Fugaku interrupted coldly, "You have a nephew and two daughters, Hyuuga."
"I am aware of that, yes," Hiashi returned just as coldly.
Fugaku's glare intensified. "Then why don't you go have your own grandchild?"
Everyone was struck dumb. No one dared make eye contact nor move, except Hiashi who slowly made his way to the armchair opposite Fugaku. He sighed as he sat down.
"What's wrong with Miyuki-chan?" he asked Fugaku, seemingly unfazed.
Sasuke wasn't sure. It was hard to read the old man. He supposed this was the Hyuuga's trademark poker face.
Hiashi waited for Fugaku's reply, but when the other man did nothing more than glare further, he continued. "Blame it on being old, but I simply could not wait for these young ones to start giving me grandchildren. Besides, my daughter and your son – being Miyuki-chan's legal guardian – are heading for marriage, are they not?"
"Well – " Sasuke started at the same time Hinata said, "N-no, Father, we're not getting married.
Sasuke frowned as he waited for Hinata to continue with a 'yet' or a 'some time in the distant future maybe'. But Hinata did not say anything more.
March 31, 2020 – How is everyone doing? Hope everyone is staying home and keeping safe. We here in Manila are in quarantine for almost 3 weeks now. Although I'm an introvert and staying home is no big deal, I still miss going outside. Hopefully this will all be over soon. My anxiety is having a field day these days. I keep thinking there's something in my throat and I'm feeling warm and my heart's palpitating like crazy. But I'm okay. I'm just really paranoid. So, yeah, stay safe!
Anyway, it's been a long time. And because of that, it's been a struggle writing this. I'm not in the same head space now compared to when I started years ago. But, rest assured, I am intent on finishing this story. And the finish line is near. (If I don't get the virus. Sorry, paranoid here!)
Thank you so much to my patient readers – the old and the new (heh, Game of Thrones reference). Special thanks to those who reviewed just to ask when the update is, lol!
