30

Hinata began to realize that her life would slowly fill with meals, until all she did was dine expensive caviars and drink rare wines. Soon, she would be expected to know which wine to pair with which meal, which cheeses to bring as an appetizer, and how to relay this all back to whomever she hired to be the head of her personal staff. Such was the life of a housewife.

Right now, her father's assistant, Kiyoto, was the one who relayed things to the head of staff, and the Head put everything together from there. Often, the assistant prepared these instructions in advance––she even prepared things that her father had not even begun to think about, and executed each task with exuberance. In a way, her father's assistant was like a stand-in wife...only, she was being paid to do it.

Hinata watched the waitress clear the plates from her table in a completely detached way, barely even muttering her "thanks' loud enough for them to hear her. Around the table, giant imported palm trees surrounded her and her family on a terrace that overlooked a small lake. The sun was setting gently behind it. She traced the sail boats that floated by in the distance with her eyes and let the noise of Hiashi and Neji's conversation fade into the background.

Together, they had taken a family trip out in the country, so that her father could meet with his staff members that operated one of his factories a few miles west––at least, that was his assistant's reasoning, when Hinata came upstairs to find Kiyoto and the maids packing a suitcase from her closet.

Hinata cannot deny that the picture alarmed her, reminding her too much of when she had been sent away only a month or so before. Kiyoto assured her quickly that she, her father, and her siblings would be taking a weekend trip to the countryside. "Everyone's going," Kiyoto said sweetly, not looking at her. Her eyes were always on her tablet or Apple watch which kept dinging incessantly. "Hyuga-sama needs to check on his factories in the area and wants Neji-sama to join him."

Because it would never be Neji-sama who would need to become a wife. Neji was the inheritor of the Earth in their father's eye, and more importantly: that Earth included his company. So it made sense that Neji was going, not so much that Hinata or even Hanabi had to be dragged along as well.

Which led Hinata to her suspicion that it was because of the current news cycle (that was now permanently attached to every virtual-billboard, twitter hashtag, and Instagram story) that caused their father to want to get away so abruptly. It's not that he was hiding it––he just didn't want to acknowledge it. Because acknowledging it meant that he would have to do something about it––that's what Hinata hoped, anyway.

She sighed as she opened her phone to big block letters dancing across the screen, proclaiming: UZUMAKI HEIR HAS ANOTHER SCARE: MORE ON THE DUI THAT MIGHT COST HIS FATHER AN ELECTION!

The photo underneath was an unsightly one of Naruto's disheveled shirt and exposed chest, his rueful smile at the camera, and his hands in handcuffs behind his back at the police station. Beside him was a pair of police officers, holding either of his arms. Nowhere in sight was the girl from last night.

Surely, Hinata thought, as she and her family sat for brunch together. My father will call off the engagement right now.

But instead, he'd asked for more whisky and more rolls to come to the table, his hands flicking quickly and casually, paying no mind to the things happening around him. Instead, he discussed stocks, trading days, and factory visits with Neji, his tone even and serious, not leaving room for anything else.

Hinata sat bored, irritated next to her equally bored sister. She was wearing a pale yellow off-the-shoulder dress that ruffled slightly at her waist and fell just above her kneecaps. Hanabi lent her a pair of modest brown shoes that had a braided strap across the front and square heels. The dress was shorter than what she would usually go for, but when she'd sent a photo of her wearing it to Sasuke, she'd gotten the response she was secretly vying for.

She and Hanabi fanned themselves absent mindedly; it was hotter in the countryside than it was Konoha this time of year. Their glasses of lemonade were sweaty beside them. Neji and their father chatted on and on and on. Hinata had had enough ceviche, and dinner rolls, and whatever fresh fish was considered the special for the day already; instead of eating more, she wanted her father to address what seemed to be unaddressable.

Her fucking stomach hurt. It seemed like if she had done any of the things Naruto did, her father wouldn't bat an eyelash before sending her way, and the Uzumaki's would've surely cancelled the engagement by now. It just wouldn't have been an appropriate thing for a future housewife to do. It wouldn't be very becoming of her.

She tapped her screen again: A blurry video of the police ushering Naruto inside. She tapped again: a photo of Ayame and Naruto, somewhere downtown with his hand in the back pocket of her jeans. They were laughing together. It was clear that this photo had been taken weeks prior, but that didn't stop Hinata from hiccuping to herself.

Finally, her father excused himself. He'd gotten an urgent call in the middle of whatever-the-hell he'd been discussing with Neji, and had to leave to get to his office at their lake house. He touched Neji's shoulder as he left, saying, "We'll touch base later. The tour of the plant is tomorrow at noon, we'll leave together."

Hinata was surprised when Hiashi turned to her next, but was disappointed by what he had to say. "Hinata, Kiyoto has picked up your dress for the ball. You'll have a fitting for it when we get home. Remember, you'll have to look the part."

"Still?" She asked, not meaning to let the words slip out of her mouth. Neji and Hanabi tried not to look startled at the look on her face.

"'Still' what?" Her father said, his face giving nothing away, not even confusion.

Hinata wanted to yell out You're still going to make me marry him?! You're still going to announce the engagement? But instead she said nothing, swallowing the words and fury over her teeth and pushing them down her throat.

"Nevermind," Hinata muttered. She closed her eyes against the tears of frustration that threatened to spill. She let the water collapse on itself back behind its home, retreating for a day tears would be more helpful. "Hope e-everything with w-work goes well, Otousan."

After he walked away, Hinata assumed that that was the last she would see of him until they left the next evening. She also assumed that she wouldn't be hearing what she wanted; it was clear that the engagement was still happening. No matter what the Uzumaki did to piss the world off, the world would still be there for him.

And it was glaringly evident what her worth was in comparison.

"Hinata," Neji said. He had been watching her face intently the whole meal. "I need to tell you something."

-:-

This neighborhood brought up memories Sakura hadn't wanted to explore, so she pushed them back down where they came from as she parked her car. The memory of it was much closer than she had imagined, the corner store two doors down was where she'd once been caught stealing for the first time, the clerk red in the face and screaming at her, all over a candy bar.

Sakura had thrown that bar at the store clerk and the rectangular hard chocolate left a red imprint on his forehead. She and her friends ran, laughing all the way home.

She turned her car off with a turn to the ignition, shaking her head. It was too close. Scary, almost. She got out, her small leather prada bag in hand, and tugged up the hem of her low-rise jeans over the curve of her platform boots. It was chilly out, and she'd paired her baby t-shirt with an ankle length red alligator-skin jacket that she'd stolen from Tsunade's closet. She felt like a bad-ass, Charlie's angel type from 2003, and she secretly hoped Tenten would appreciate the look.

Sakura knew of Tenten's gym, but had been too young at the time to give it much care. As a child, she'd walk past and peek into the foggy windows, watching men with giant arms practice taking swings at each other. Sometimes at the park nearby, Sakura and a friend would imitate the moves, ducking and jabbing and sometimes tackling each other. Sakura had learned how to fight forreal, this way.

Full circle, she thought dryly, pushing the heavy metal door open. It had signs on the window advertising different fights, the gym's hours, and equipment sale, so Sakura couldn't see inside. When she stepped in, she was overwhelmed by the way the sunset streamed through its front windows, casting each ring in a dusty film. In one of them, a girl like wind was laying out a set of punches on a boy in green, and he dodge every single one. That wasn't to say that the girl wasn't good––she was fast and her aim seemed deadly accurate.

Slap! She finally landed one, her first slicing across the boy's cheek. Sakura marveled at the way her back muscles worked with her, a sheen of sweat building on her neck. The way her calves braced her as she moved from side to side. How her body intrinsically knew what to do and how to support each movement.

Her hair was falling from her buns when she turned to look, in surprise at Sakura, who suddenly felt self-conscious dressing up in an alligator-skin jacket to a fucking boxing ring––what was the thinking?!

All thoughts flew from her mind. Tenten ducked between the heavy cords that held the ring together and landed on both feet in front of her. Her breathing was labored, but she didn't look bothered, just perturbed. "What're you doing here?"

"I––uh," Sakura stumbled. Seeing someone during the daytime was different from seeing them drunk and at night. Sakura didn't feel prepared. She thrust her hand into her tiny bag, and pulled out a cellphone. "You, uh, left your phone last night when the cops came so I thought I'd bring it to you?" She regretted the way she made it sound like a question. Stupid! Why was she behaving like this?

"Sweet, but that's not mine," Tenten said, looking at her. Her eyes were endlessly brown and kind. "Mines cracked as fuck."

"Oh," Sakura stammered. Why WHy WHy, she thought to herself. She took a deep breath to return to the cool she knew she fucking was. This is ridiculous, pull it together girl! "I saw that it was broken and assumed it was 'cause of the shuffle. I took it to my friend and he fixed it!" she said, "for free!" Sakura added.

"For free, eh?" Tenten raised her eyebrow as she accepted the phone. "Aren't you rich enough to pay for that?"

"Yes," Sakura answered honestly, "but I didn't want you to feel like you owe me anything. Besides, the friend is rich too so he's not really missing out on anything."

"Okay," Tenten said. She didn't elaborate or say thanks, she just slipped it into her shorts pocket. "So what brings you to this side of town? Most people don't come out of their way."

Sakura shrugged, feeling normal, finally, and felt herself relax. "I'm actually from here. I went to the elementary school on the 47th, and used to walk past this place almost every day," it felt good to talk about this, when no one else had bothered to ask where she came from. "watching the men in this window taught me how to fight," Sakura laughed.

When she turned to Tenten, she had a new look on her face. She was curious, still apprehensive, but curious. Her eyes opened themselves a little and her stance relaxed. "Oh really? I'm surprised, rich girl."

"Just call me Sakura, if you don't mind."

"Sakura," Tenten corrected. She leaned against the ring and began to unwrap the bandages from around her knuckles. Again, Sakura felt something in her quake at the sight of her against falling evening light from the windows. "What else did you come here for?"

Sakura grinned, "your phone..." She said, "annnnd to offer help. I heard you have to go to this ball. I'm offering to help you prepare."

"And why should I accept..." Tenten pressed, still unwrapping. Except this time, she was looking Sakura dead in the eye. "...Sakura?"

Her heart beat against her ribcage. She felt like all her air had been stolen from her. "Because, I figured it'd be easier to hear it from someone like me, who's from here, than from anyone else."

Tenten seemed to look down her eyes at her, "you think you know me?"

Sakura smiled, and the dimple in her chin appeared, "I'm just guessing."

-:-

Ino felt like all these days were colored in various shades of pain, each hitting a distinct and intimate part of her body. Today, she found herself right back where she started; an ache in her chest as she stared at boy; a headache protesting as she held his head in her palms; a throb between her legs when he stared at her woefully, all the wonders of the world hidden inside of his keen brown-eyed gaze.

"I'm sorry about earlier," he apologized mournfully, as if he'd lost something. But he could never lose anything, nothing about his status would allow that. Heirs, and all they had to lose and could not, would not, ever lose them.

"You keep being sorry," Ino said, staring at the road ahead of them. He was dropping her off back home after spending yet another night and morning together, despite the fact that yesterday afternoon had been the day Shikamaru's father knocked angry on his door. He didn't care about that, he told her as they drove away from the cops on the mountain, sitting in the backseats of Kiba's G-Wagon. Their faces were close together like they were saying secrets, but instead of actual secrets Shikamaru talked listlessly about disappointing his parents.

They spent the night together, and the night went fine. Much the same: starved fucking and full meals after. Ino couldn't figure out why they were so damn hungry. Their mouths devoured and she wondered how they kept having energy to continue. Whenever she looked at him she felt the universe unfold, until she came back down to Earth and realized it would only ever be his universe she could exist in. Huge for him, but microscopic for her.

No knocks came the next morning, and Shikamaru walked her to the front door like he was showing off his bold disobedience. But Ino knew that his parents had left; gone for Singapore where they would be receiving a prestigious award. She knew from the Konoha Weekly which had declared the Nara accomplishments across the front page. Ino picked one up when she and Shikamaru went to a tobacco store to get rolling papers, and he hadn't even noticed when she slipped it into her bag.

She read it while he was sleeping that night, indulging in their life like it was her own. "Doctor Nara's radical energy conservation and purification research could be the beginning of a completely new way of living as we tackle the climate crisis as a united planet" and "Could Nara be the next Nobel Peace Prize Winner?" She underlined sentences and frowned at the words "life-changing" and "expensive" as if those two things were mutually exclusive terms. Ino was of the thought that you needed one to have the other; they couldn't exist by themselves.

Under the article, was a photo of Mr. and Mrs. Nara, with both hands on their son's shoulders. In tiny letters it said: "Nara Heir, Shikamaru-san, to be the next innovator of the century? Read page 9 to learn about his latest molecular research, published recently in The Bulletin of Atmospheric Science: A bimonthly journal."

Ino ripped out page 9 and stuck the rest of the newspaper in the trash. She hadn't even known that Shikamaru was doing research, let alone getting it published in journals. What type of genius 18-year-old was he? And why wasn't she allowed to see this side of him?

She put the page into her purse and crawled back into bed next to him, feeling, not for the first time, like she'd been sleeping next to a stranger who kept becoming more and more unknowable.

"What do you want me to say to that, Ino?" He stared at her hard, brown eyes creating universes between them. He looked at her as if saying come join me. But this journey still did not feel like hers.

She shook her head to get out of her thoughts. She remembered that they were in his car, and he was driving her home. In her purse, she felt for the article, but chose not to pull it out. "I don't know," she said quietly. "I guess...I just feel like this doesn't matter sometimes."

"What's 'this'?" Shikamaru said, his eyes on the road.

"Us," Ino responded, not looking at him either. "Me. I don't know, I don't know if I fit in your world."

Shikamaru slowly pulled to a stop in front of her apartment building. He turned off the car and took a deep breath before turning to look at her. His eyes were just as mournful as before, but with piercing flecks of desire in them. His rings were cold as he grabbed her chin, bringing her close. "I will make you fit."

Ino wanted to laugh, but didn't. To make. To force. Maybe she didn't need to fit, if the shape was not made for her in the first place. But she didn't say anything to that either. She just smiled, kissed his nose, and said: "okay."

The inside of her apartment was barren and cold. In the fridge, her father had left her a big pot of stew, and on the counter a note about his late nights at the station. She grabbed food hungrily and made a nest out of her bedroom. She hadn't known she had been so uncomfortable until she was in her bed, safe and dead to the world.

She had just queued up her favorite cartoon when her phone started buzzing. She dropped her spoon and almost the bowl too in her surprise. Quickly, she pushed everything aside and answered her phone, taking in a big gulf of air as she said quietly: "Hello? Mother? Yes, it's Ino...I'm so happy you called."

-:-

Neji asked the servants to bring one of their yachts––the smaller one––to the port that was just below their brunch spot. When Hanabi acted upset that she hadn't been invited to this exclusive sibling trip, Hinata convinced Neji to let her join them, figuring it would be more fun with the younger sister there anyway.

Since none of them even know how to operate a yacht, they had the captain meet them at the port. They all climbed on and the boat pulled off into the lake, a charcuterie board and glasses of champagne greeting them at their seats. Neji must've slipped the servants a couple extra hundred bucks.

It was unnecessary though: the extravagant boat ride on the lake, the cured meats and cheeses, the alcohol––all meant nothing to Hinata who wasn't ready to forgive her twin. It would take more than gifts she could've easily organized for herself to forgive him.

"W-what did you have to tell me, Neji?" Hinata asked once the three of them were seated at the helm. Hanabi was an excited participant in the drama, sitting beside Hinata munching on crackers and green olives. She'd even snuck a glass of champagne knowing her siblings wouldn't care to stop her.

Neji cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. He leaned forward, his casual button down-shirt unbuttoned at his chest; he was allowing himself to "let loose" on this country-side escape. The attempt was laughable, but Hinata kept it to herself as she did most things. "First, I wanted to say that I am deeply, deeply, sorry."

A Hyuga apology. Hinata bit her lip and looked away. The breeze from the water gave her goosebumps, and a servant left a pile of blankets next to their seats. She grabbed one. "Sorry for what, exactly?"

Neji looked pained. "For everything, Hinata. Genuinely, I am. I should've never let father put you in that facility––"

Hinata cut him off with a sharp look that neither him nor Hanabi were expecting. "Do you think you would have had the power to stop him?"

Neji paused, blinking in surprise. He shifted, still uncomfortable. "Well...no," he said, "not really, but I could've tried to say something. To stand up for you, to not let Naruto have the final word when he came in and told everyone what you were up to."

Hinata eased her eyes shut, reliving the memory of her drive down the roads not unlike the ones near their country-side home. "And what else?" She challenged, still not willing to accept or let go of any of the anger she held. "Why didn't you stop him?"

"I-I," Neji stumbled, turning a bit red in the face in a way Hinata had never seen before. "I didn't want to challenge Naruto at that moment. I was scared because I didn't want to mess anything up; I felt like it was better to let you to take the fall for it than jeopardize anything."

"Jeopardize what, Neji?" Hinata wasn't sure how she should even be reacting to this. She was leaning forward, her hands on her stomach like she was about to throw up. "I was the one who got sent away. I was the one who's bags were packed. I'm the one who's being forced to get married to a person who clearly doesn't care about me, our family, or himself for that matter! So why is it that when he snitches on me, you're worried about yourself?"

Hinata would've walked away if she weren't sitting on a boat, shivering underneath a blanket in the middle of a lake, four-hundred miles from home.

"That's what I want to talk to you about, Hinata. You, too, Hanabi," Neji said with pleading eyes. "I don't know how to say this but...we're broke."

It felt like the entire boat had jolted from under her and she was suddenly submerged in freezing cold water. "We're...broke?" She looked from Neji, to Hanabi, to Neji again. "Broke as in no money?"

Hanabi looked queasy, clutching her pink vintage Gucci blazer tight around her shoulders like it would protect her from the truth.

"Well...not us, I don't think. We still have our trust funds and mother's inheritance still but..." Neji shook his head. "Everyday the company gets closer and closer to bankruptcy. Our father is doing everything in his power to remain above water, and one of the most strategic things to do is to merge with another company."

Remain above water. Hinata felt every single shake in this boat, every wave that brushed against this vessel's side. She felt herself undergo a small, paindul death. "So that means..."

"An engagement, Hinata." Neji said quickly, not looking at her. He was looking at his prada patent-leather shoes, a chunky boot shape that went well with his dark jeans. "It means an engagement. The Uzumaki's are one of most sought-after partners in this country, if not the world. Once we announce your engagement this Friday, our stocks will soar at the news. Can you imagine what will happen once you're married?"

Still, after all this, Neji spoke in numbers, equations, and "if-then" statements as if Hinata's life wasn't being balanced on a checkbook in front of them. Her anger did not change and instead, her confusion did.

"Neji..." Hanabi stood up suddenly, grabbing Hinata's arm in hers. Hinata felt like she could not move. "You're such a fucking asshole."

Hinata felt dazed as the two of them walked away from their brother. The entire future of her family's company––the two-hundred-fifty year Hyuga livelihood––rested in her shaking hands. On her left-hand ring finger. On her life.

She felt sick to her stomach. She would have to marry this boy.

AN. it huuuuuuurts! (so good)

and the girls keep movin