DISCLAIMER: I'm not Kishimoto...

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

One of the reasons why Sasuke has never been in a relationship before was because he valued his freedom more. He liked going to places without anyone's permission and without caring for anyone's opinion. He liked doing things without consulting with anyone. If he wanted to go out and get wasted on a Friday night, he could do that without someone throwing a tantrum over it. Sasuke did not want to be one of those couples who absolutely had to do every little thing together and be together all the time.

But if fate decided to grant him someone who could tolerate his whims, Sasuke was going to be a supportive boyfriend.

That was what he decided. He just did not think that the hypothetical girlfriend would be someone like Hinata. Or that he would be put through so much. He did not mind. Not really. He wished there was such a thing as a handbook for relationship newbie like him, so that he could be supportive without wanting to strangle people for just being near his girlfriend. Particularly someone who was going to spend months with her on a trip around the world and visiting amazing places and eating exotic foods.

Sasuke wanted to punch something every time he thought about it. Don't get him wrong. He trusted Hinata with his whole heart. Same thing for Gaara. They had been friends for years and they would not stay friends for such a long time if he did not trust him.

No, he was not jealous. He was salty as fuck.

He wished he met Hinata before Miyuki came into his life. He loved his niece with all his heart and would give everything he could for her, but to be able to leave her for more than just a day with his parents would be nice. Someday, Sasuke thought. Hopefully it wouldn't take more than a year for Miyuki to be comfortable around other people for a few weeks. He thought about the itinerary Hinata showed him yesterday. If things go smoothly, he might be able to join Hinata later. He was daydreaming about surprising Hinata with a trip to see the northern lights (he specifically told her that she cannot go see it without him), when he reached his designated parking spot at the office and stopped short at the sight that greeted him.

Hyuuga Neji was leaning against what seemed like his own car and waiting for him with his patented Hyuuga expression. Sasuke sighed and took his time parking and getting his things ready before finally leaving from his car.

"We gotta stop meeting like this, Hyuuga," he said, smirking. "Hinata's bound to get suspicious."

Neji was not amused. "Speaking of Hinata, what's this about her going on a trip around the world?"

"It's what she wants to do," Sasuke responded impatiently as he took a couple of steps away. "Now, I don't know about you, but I'm a busy man, so…"

"You're letting your girlfriend go on a trip," Neji continued, sounding irate, "with another man. For, what, a year?"

Sasuke turned back to glare at Neji. "Mind off the gutter, Hyuuga."

Neji was not easily cowed, however. "The reasoning behind this escapes me."

"So, what, you want me to explain it to you?" Sasuke mocked.

"Would you rather explain it directly to her father?" Neji asked seriously.

The hell, Sasuke thought in dismay. He did not want to be in a one-on-one session with Hyuuga Hiashi. "What's there to explain? She wants to see the world, she should go. I don't see why she shouldn't. She has the means, after all. What else is she going to do with her money?"

Hyuuga Neji regarded him quietly for a few moments before hissing, "You're not serious about her, after all."

Sasuke frowned. "I am. Very much. So, I don't get why me supporting her in what she wants to do should indicate how seriously I'm taking our relationship."

"And yet you're letting her go."

"Letting would imply that she needed my permission. But she doesn't need my permission in the first place. Heck, she doesn't even need anyone's permission. Your family should chill the fuck out. Hinata's twenty-four. You can't keep her under lock and key for years and then let her out into the world just to get married 'cause I think that's a different kind of confinement. I'm not going to be that husband that prohibits their wife from living out their dreams just because it's their duty to stay at home to cook, clean, feed. I'm not going to treat Hinata like that. I'm not like her family. You guys should learn to let her become her own person and to let her experience life – the good and the bad side of it. I'm not going to marry someone who basically has zero life experience. Let's face it, Hyuuga, a fourteen-year-old these days have more experience than Hinata. And yeah, maybe that's why I'm "letting" her go. It's a whole world out there and she should go see it. Am I okay with it? Fuck, no, I'm not. But I am trying. Because I am a supportive boyfriend."

By the time Sasuke was done ranting, a security personnel had shown up. Both the security personnel and Hyuuga Neji were looking at him in bewilderment. It was no surprise. Uchiha Sasuke just had a monologue. What surprised Sasuke, though, was the amused smile Hyuuga Neji gave him.

"There's hope for you still, I guess." Was all the Hyuuga said as he got back inside his own car and drove off.

Sasuke scowled at the retreating car. What the fuck was that?!

xXx

"Okay, Miyuki," Sasuke called out, trying to get his niece's attention. He tilted the globe to her direction and pointed at Africa. "What continent is this?"

Miyuki ignored him.

Sasuke suppressed a sigh. He contemplated about confiscating the doll that was getting her undivided attention, but he somehow knew that that would only lead to a tantrum. It was not like this was a homework. This was a side thing that Sasuke decided to teach her because his niece was a genius. He may be biased, but still. He taught her about the solar system and she already memorized all the planets and knew the difference between a comet and an asteroid. With Hinata's trip coming up, Sasuke thought it best to teach Miyuki about geography. It was going really well. Miyuki knew about the continents, the oceans, and some countries and their capitals. Sometimes the five-year-old was cooperative and eager to learn. Of course, sometimes she would be difficult.

"Miyuki," he tried again, "what continent is this?"

"I don't know," she answered absent-mindedly, combing her doll's hair.

"You do know," he persisted. "It starts with an A."

"Most of them starts with A," she mumbled with a little sass. Sometimes Sasuke missed the times when his niece was mute. Miyuki was improving too much, too fast. In everything but the nightmares, anyway. Those would not go away. Not to mention the trauma of losing her parents. That was something she would never recover from.

Sasuke smiled. "See? You do know."

Miyuki glared up at him. "What if I don't want to know?"

"What do you mean?" She did not answer and just stared sullenly at her doll. Sasuke frowned in concern. He knew that face. It meant something was troubling her. Sasuke put the globe aside and asked gently, "Miyuki, what's up?"

"I don't want them to go!" Miyuki murmured tearfully, abandoning her doll on the table and launching herself into Sasuke's arms. "Don't make them go!"

She sobbed on Sasuke's shoulder. He could do nothing but stroke her head. They had been preparing Miyuki for the inevitable departure of both Hinata and Gaara for a couple of weeks already. She was very much attached to Hinata, of course. But Sasuke never considered how close she had become with her Panda-chan. Now those two leaving at the same time made it doubly harder for Miyuki to handle.

Miyuki peered up at him with a tear-soaked face and wobbling lips. "Make them stay."

"I can't do that," he replied softly.

"But why?" she demanded as tears started streaming down once more.

Sasuke wiped the tears away. "You know what a dream is, right?"

"Uh-huh," she nodded.

"Well, Aunt Hinata's dream is to see the world and go to these amazing places." Sasuke explained. "And because we love Aunt Hinata, we should be happy for her and give her our support. We want her dreams to come true, right?"

Miyuki mulled it over in her young mind for a while. Sasuke thought she had fallen asleep when she finally lifted her head. Looking resolute, she said, "I want Aunt Hinata's dream to come true."

"Good girl," Sasuke smiled at her.

"But, but!" she exclaimed, wiping her face furiously. "I should be happy. Not cry."

"It's okay to cry."

"Why?"

"It means you will miss her." She stared at him and then looked like she was about to start crying again. "Hey, don't overdo it."

"What's that mean?"

"It means don't cry too much. And don't cry all the time."

"But I miss Aunt Hinata," she mumbled, lips wobbling again.

"Already? She just left an hour ago," he pointed out.

"But I miss her!"

He sighed. "We'll call her before bedtime like we always do, okay?" She nodded and went back to playing with her doll. He lifted the globe. "Guess we'll continue this tomorrow, then."

"Is that Panda-chan's dream, too?" Miyuki asked, pointing at the globe.

"I don't know, but it's his job."

"What's his job?"

Sasuke thought she looked the cutest when she was brimming with curiosity. And so Sasuke explained anthropology to Miyuki for an hour. He had to Google some things because Gaara was not around to answer Miyuki's questions. Temari came the other day to drag her baby brother back home when she heard that Gaara was leaving again.

True to his word, Sasuke called Hinata before Miyuki's bedtime. Sasuke perched the tablet beside her pillow. Miyuki immediately launched into excited chatter when Hinata's face showed up on the screen.

"I brush my teeth! Myself!"

"That's very good, Miyuki-chan!"

Sasuke listened to them talk as he picked up strewn clothes and toys off the floor of Miyuki's bedroom. He sighed as he stepped inside her messy and nearly flooded bathroom. Itachi, your daughter's a slob. After cleaning up, he noticed that it had gone quiet. Sure enough, Miyuki had fallen asleep with the tablet right next to her. He tucked her in, gave her forehead a kiss, and picked up the tablet. Hinata was still online. He could see her writing something. He tiptoed out of the room without turning off the lights. Miyuki did not like sleeping in the dark.

"Hey," Sasuke said when he got inside his room, keeping the door ajar.

Hinata startled, blushed cutely and smiled. "Hi."

Sasuke settled in down his bed with a groan. "That's better."

"Tired?"

"It's been a long day. Miyuki wanted to call you right after you left. She said she missed you already."

"Aw," Hinata said with a wistful smile. "Maybe I shouldn't leave, after all."

"None of that," he admonished gently. "We can skype every day. She will be fine. No need to worry about her that much."

"W-well…"

"What is it?"

Hinata looked reluctant as she said, "It's n-not just Miyuki-chan I'm w-worried about…"

What is she saying? Could it be? "Huh?" he asked eloquently.

"I – I trust you," she explained, her face getting redder. "T-the same way you trust me… b-but still… I can't help but worry that – that you might find someone else."

Sasuke never liked jealous women. With Hinata's confession, though… Sasuke's insides were doing some funny acrobats. He was so happy he swore he could probably break into a dance number. He opted for a smile (a grin, really) instead. Hinata stared.

"Hinata,"

"E-eh?"

"You don't need to worry about that. You are the only one I love."

Hinata squealed. "S-sasuke! You! H-how could you?! Saying s-something l-like that!" She was so flustered that she started pacing back and forth, clutching her reddened face and muttering to herself. "Of all places – at this time – I'm in my pajamas, omg…"

Sasuke just watched her fondly. And in that moment Sasuke was certain; they would be fine.

May 26, 2020 – Dang, that last sentence feels like an ending. But no! I'm sure there's still some plot holes in here… But, yeah. We are nearing the end.

I was listening to Sadness and Sorrow when I wrote that crying scene, lol! I got teary-eyed, lmao!

Anyway, I'm trying really hard to write every day. However, it's dry season right now in the Philippines and the humidity triggers my migraine. It sucks.

Apologies for the mistakes. Thanks so much to those who took their time to review. Thank you for reading!

I hope all you guys are healthy and staying safe.