Hey everyone! So this chapter kinda kicked my ass but it's done and I really hope you like it. It's MUCH LONGER than my previous chapters ( I mean MUCH longer) and I contemplated splitting it in two, but in the end I decided to keep it all together and I think I like it. I'll try to keep all other chapters around this length moving forward.
This is an Uchiha heavy chapter so you'll see how Sasuke interacts with both his parents. Hope you enjoy!
*UPDATE* I've gone through and made the edits I needed to to make the story flow much better. There might be still some slight errors but nothing too major that would affect the plot (comma placement and whatnot.) Enjoy and as always, I own nothing but this plot.
Chapter 10: Sasuke and Hinata
"...and even though she lost everything, she told me her chauffeur was the best lay she'd ever had! The best!" laughed Mikoto delicately. "Can you believe it? Picking sex over money. How foolish."
"Mikoto, that story's a bit uncouth for the children don't you think?" supplied Fugaku in his usual gruff voice.
"Oh Fugaku, Sasuke hasn't been a child in over a decade. He's a grown man." she laughed, brushing off her husband's concern. "Besides, he's old enough to have children of his own and he'd better soon. I'm not getting any younger." she finished with a wink at her son.
"Mother you have several from Itachi. Must I provide as well?" asked Sasuke, playing along.
"I deserve one from you especially, Sasuke." Mikoto said with a slight hiccup as she reached for her umpteenth champagne glass. "Think of it as payment for putting up with you for as long as I have."
Both Mikoto and Sasuke snickered at the kind-hearted banter between them while Hinata smiled awkwardly and Fugaku remained silent. It was almost 5pm when the foursome moved from their quaint table near the pool into the club's ostentatious indoor lounge for cocktails and appetizers. Sasuke and Hinata shared a small loveseat in front of the lounge's fireplace while Fugaku and Mikoto sat on either side in plush armchairs facing each other as Mikoto regaled them with the latest gossip from the other kept women in her circle of friends.
So far the outing was going better than Sasuke imagined it would. Hinata was a wonder, wowing his parents with her perfect manners and grace, things only someone born into wealth could pull off. She listened attentively to his father's chatter of business and clanship, gushed with his mother over pictures of his nieces and nephew, spoke and laughed at the appropriate moments, and most of all, she made him look good. He could barely keep his eyes off of her and each time her bare arm brushed against him, it raised goosebumps on his flesh and brought back memories of what she felt like writhing beneath him. He wanted to feel it again, especially now that he knew what she wore underneath her ugly coat. But he couldn't leave. Not yet. Not until he had a chance to speak to his father privately.
Hinata, however, was ready to go the moment they'd finished eating several hours prior. She made no attempt at hiding it either, from checking her phone and periodically inserting she had a busy schedule the next day. To her dismay, Sasuke ignored her cues and kept bringing up topics to discuss that forced her to remain engaged, keeping her at his mercy once again.
The brunch, in fact the entire weekend, began to feel like a farce; a sick joke the universe was playing on her. Sasuke convincing her to be his girlfriend to break up Naruto and Sakura made sense in the moment, but sitting in the grand study listening to Mikoto talk about nothing substantial made Hinata question if Naruto was truly worth this torture. Sasuke's parents had nothing to do with the breakup plan so why was she actually there? Meeting the parents on a 'second date', regardless of who they were and how well she knew them beforehand, was a big step especially for a man known for his serial flings and ever-changing bedmates. Sasuke never kept the same girl for longer than a few weeks and Hinata was sure none had ever been introduced to the Uchihas, much less dined with them in public. But there she was, pretending for him, just because he told her to.
'Damn you..' she cursed at herself. She'd done a lot of things out of her character that weekend, with agreeing to be Sasuke's girlfriend being the dumbest one of all. Drinking as much as she had the night before was a terrible idea and she knew it was, but at the time she didn't care. The hurt angry look Naruto gave her and the nasty comment Sakura threw her way blinded her judgment and all she wanted was to forget, but she ignored the devil and his details so he took her for all she had.
"Oh! Speaking of children…" began Mikoto again, launching into yet another story about more gossip she'd overheard. Hinata looked at her phone for the millionth time and almost groaned out loud when she read 5:52pm. She'd been listening to Mikoto ramble for over an hour about people she didn't know while trying her hardest not to flinch whenever Sasuke gently caressed her bare skin. Hinata wasn't a prideful person but ever since she stood up to Sasuke in high school, she'd been proud of herself, mainly for finally defending herself from him. She learned to take her power back from her biggest tormentor and though she still fell short when it came to her 'friends', at least with her biggest enemy she felt strong. Until Sasuke touched her. Before their kiss the night prior, Sasuke never touched her in any affectionate manner, but now he refused to keep his hands off of her making her even more nervous for the ride home. What if he tried something worse?
'I need to get out of here.' Hinata thought to herself as she smiled robotically at Mikoto telling her story, her body stiff against Sasuke's embrace. 'But how? I can't just leave without him. How will I get home?'
Hinata discreetly checked her phone again for the time again and almost jumped out of her skin when she looked up and caught Fugaku staring intently at her. Did he notice? Had he been watching her the whole time?
"Hinata." he said, interrupting his wife's story — to her slight annoyance — and Hinata's inner thoughts.
"Y-yes sir?" she croaked with obvious nervousness.
"You said you have a busy day tomorrow, correct?"
"Yes, yes sir I did.. I-I mean I do."
"Then I think it's best you begin your journey home. I wouldn't want your parents to hear we kept you out too late disrupting your schedule."
Hinata almost ran to the man and hugged him. This was the outcome she desperately wanted and the best part, it came from one of the people Sasuke would never defy.
"Thank you sir." Hinata said softly with a slight bow. "I've had a lovely time but you're right I should get going."
"Good. I'll have the car pulled around for you." said Fugaku gruffly, waving down a member of the club's staff to relay the instructions.
"Are you sure you can't stay for dinner? They have a lovely lobster and wine pairing on the menu tonight." asked Mikoto.
"It's best if they head home."Fugaku responded, cutting in.
"Before we go," interjected Sasuke, "Father, may I have a word with you? Privately."
Fugaku stared at his son, his face blank, and took a sip of his whiskey. His silence was unnerving and became even more awkward as the seconds ticked by. Hinata looked between both men unsure of what to do. The energy surrounding them felt charged and electric, as though another word would cause everything to explode. From the way Sasuke usually behaved, she assumed his parents were at his beck and call, but after her unfortunate outing with them, she began to realize he wasn't as in control as she thought.
"Why don't I walk Hinata to the front, hmm?" chirped Mikoto as she stood from her chair, breaking the unbearable silence. Hinata nodded in agreement and reached for her purse sitting on the coffee table in front of her. She stood, turned to Fugaku, and again bowed.
"Thank you Mr. Uchiha. I hope to see you again soon."
"You're welcome. Have a good night." said Fugaku, his voice short and direct.
"This way dear," said Mikoto kindly. She placed her hand on Hinata's back as she led her to the entrance of the study. "Let's give the men some time, yes?"
Hinata nodded again and walked away without so much as a glance toward her date.
"It's so wonderful to see you again after so long my dear. Did you enjoy your day with us?" asked Mikoto when they reached the front entrance.
"Yes I did. Your club is quite lovely."
"Oh thank you! It truly is a work of art." Mikoto sighed dreamily looking around the spacious marbled hallway as though she commissioned the building herself. "Sasuke and I used to spend a lot of time here together, before he decided to grow up and move out."
"Does he visit you often?" asked Hinata politely, trying to keep Mikoto talking so she wouldn't have to.
"Not as often as I'd like, but now that you two are an item, I hope to see more of both of you." the older woman replied with a sly look. Hinata gave Mikoto a tight-lipped smile but said nothing. She couldn't agree to anything else with the Uchihas or she'd never get rid of Sasuke at all.
Mikoto continued to explain the club to her while they waited at its entrance. She was as warm and friendly as she'd been all day and her rambling helped Hinata relax. However, it didn't distract from how cold she was without her coat surrounded by all the marble. She did her best to keep warm by wrapping her arms around herself, once again cursing Sasuke for making her leave her coat behind and hating herself for putting up with all of it.
"Cold?" Mikoto asked, observing Hinata's behavior.
"Just a bit." she responded with a slight shiver.
"No coat? That's a bit unlike you Hinata." clucked Mikoto. "Last I remember you always had some outer layer covering you up."
"I did, but Sasuke wasn't a fan of it so I left it behind in the car." admitted Hinata with an embarrassed blush
Mikoto laughed heartily. "That definitely sounds like my son. So obsessed with how things should look. Once when he was 4, he said he wouldn't claim me as his mother if I didn't wear my hair a certain way. Can you imagine? The audacity of that boy."
"If there's one thing Sasuke has a lot of, it's audacity." mumbled Hinata, making Mikoto laugh harder. Hinata gave her a small smile and relaxed a bit more. Being around Mikoto's energy was nice. She was beautiful and knew it but didn't flaunt it as much as her son did.
"He is something else isn't he? But no matter what he'll always be my baby. You'll understand once you've had children of your own."
"Mother, leave her alone." said a voice behind both women making them jump.
"Sasuke!" Mikoto screeched in surprise. "Don't startle us like that!"
"What's this talk about babies again? Don't scare Hinata away just yet." Sasuke said with a laugh while wrapping an arm around Hinata's shoulder.
Hinata grimaced at his touch and was about to move away from it when she looked up at his face and paused. He was smiling again, that genuine smile he seemed to only have reserved for his mother. She'd never actually seen him smile before that day; usually it was blank looks, scowls, and glares, with an occasional smirk when he was enjoying his sadism. But a true genuine smile was as rare as they come; and it terrified her. Not because there was a hidden motive behind it, but because there wasn't, which triggered an even more horrible thought:
'He really is gorgeous.'
Her mind thought the words without hesitation causing Hinata's self-loathing to deepen. She'd never understood why women like Sakura would go through all the lengths they did to be with him when he was horrible to pretty much everyone. But just a smile and she finally got it, and worse, she agreed. How could she agree? He molested her twice and not even a day had passed! She couldn't agree!
'Please don't be that girl,' she lectured herself. 'Don't be that girl who starts to fall for an asshole just because he's hot when he smiles. I will lose all respect for you!'
"...as soon as a few months, right Hinata?"
"E-Excuse me?" squeaked Hinata, her heart racing with anxiety. Both Sasuke and Mikoto stared at her strangely and she felt Sasuke's fingers tighten around her shoulder.
"In a few months," repeated Mikoto slowly. "For our annual gala? Surely Sasuke's mentioned it to you."
"Not that I can recall.." she muttered looking up at her date sans smile. He was back to his usual blank face again but narrowed his eyes when her eyes met his as if to save 'behave.'
"I haven't brought it up to her yet, Mother. We're still in the 'just getting to know you' phase, right baby?" said Sasuke, now with a mocking smirk. He squeezed her shoulders again, this time a bit harder.
"R-right….dear." said Hinata stiffly, lowering her head so she could avoid looking at either of them.
"Always so shy. It's what makes her so cute." Sasuke commented and pulled Hinata closer to him before turning back to his mother who watched their interaction with interest. "I'll let her know all about it but we must be going."
"Alright son," said Mikoto as Sasuke bent to kiss her goodbye. "Call me when you get home?"
"Always." he said again with the same disarming smile.
"Hinata dear," said Mikoto softly, her arms open. Hinata shrugged Sasuke off her shoulder and stepped into the older woman's embrace, again feeling the same urge to cry as before.
"It was nice to see you again," choked Hinata.
"Please don't let it be another century before I see you again hmm?" Mikoto joked before letting go of her.
"It won't be, trust me," said Sasuke, his tone slightly ominous. "Have a good night Mother."
With a hand on her lower back, Sasuke pushed Hinata toward the large double-doored entrance and opened it for her to walk out first.
"Good night you two!" called out Mikoto as the door closed.
The car ride back to Hinata's building was quiet, once again putting Hinata on edge. From the moment they left the club, he said nothing to her, not even a comment on her 'performance' for his parents. She was fine with the silence, enjoyed it in fact, but a silent Sasuke usually meant he was plotting something and she would rather he be loud and obvious with it than pensive. She contemplated starting a conversation but their recent talks have ended with Hinata caught in compromising situations so she stayed silent instead.
'I feel like I've lived a week in one day.' Hinata thought to herself, staring out at the passing buildings and trees. Her headache from that morning was gone and so was the nausea, but she was exhausted both physically and emotionally from everything.
Despite being forced to accompany him, she was happy to have seen Mikoto and Fugaku again. She rarely saw Fugaku even when she was child, but the brief times they did meet he always made her feel comfortable. Mikoto she'd seen more often when she came by to visit her mother and Hinata remembered how nice she was to her on those occasions. How those two could produce someone like Sasuke was beyond her but she was glad to know his 'power' wasn't as infinite as he liked to pretend it was. His parents spoiled him rotten but there was a limit and Hinata saw that in the deference he had toward his father even though it was obvious he couldn't stand him. It was nice watching him uncomfortable for once and the look his father gave him when he asked to speak to him was priceless. She didn't really care what they spoke about, as long as it didn't involve her.
"I'm sorry." Sasuke said suddenly.
Hinata's eyes snapped open and she swiftly turned to the man across from her.
"What?" she asked, surprised.
"I'm sorry," he repeated, turning away from his window to look at her. "I'm sorry for what I did to you earlier, it was uncalled for and I'm sorry."
Hinata was shocked into silence for a second before regaining herself.
"What are you doing?" she asked rudely.
"I'm apologizing. Isn't that what you want?"
"Why are you apologizing? You never apologize." 'What is happening?'
"I went too far. Even I can admit when I go too far and I did with you. I'm sorry."
"Sasuke cut the crap. What are you doing? What game is this?"
Sasuke sighed and turned his full body toward Hinata. There was a strange look on his face, almost like remorse, but Hinata didn't believe it. Didn't want to believe him.
"I feel," he began, "I feel like I've gone about this the wrong way."
"Wrong way is the understatement of the millennium." she scoffed, crossing her arms.
"I'm serious Hyuga. I mean I still want you to pretend to be my girlfriend for a while but it doesn't have to be unpleasant. Who knows? Maybe you'd prefer me over the blond wonder."
"Yea unlikely story." she said with disgust in every word. "How many ways must I tell you I hate you for you to understand? I will 'never' want you. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever."
"I don't believe you." he stated matter of factly.
"Believe whatever you want."
"Believe whatever I want, hm? Then I believe you want me." he replied with a cocky smirk.
"Are you deaf or just very stupid? And you say Naruto's dense." She fought back.
At the mention of Naruto's name, Sasuke smirk dropped to a scowl but he immediately calmed himself.
"Hyuga, I felt the way you were looking at me when I was talking to my mother. You can pretend all you want but I know when I'm getting The Stare."
"The what?" she asked cautiously.
"The Stare." he said, smirking again. "That face people make at me when they think I'm not looking. Staring in awe and wonder." he mocked with a small laugh.
"I wasn't staring." she murmured but her face became heated. She turned to hide her blush and had never been happier to see her freeway exit from the window. 'Great! Just a few more minutes and I'm free.' She busied herself with arranging her things to leave and decided against wearing the coat because putting it on would mean being forced to lean forward; she'd do anything to no longer be near him. She admitted he was incredibly attractive, and yes she was staring though she'd never admit to that, but he was also creepy and cruel and she had a hard time seeing past it.
"You know," he said, his voice softening "I'm not as terrible as you think I am. I've done you a lot of wrong, and I'm sorry. Truly."
Hinata looked up at him to see if he was lying and was surprised to find him looking sincere.
"What exactly are you sorry for? Name it." she taunted.
"I'm sorry for touching you without your permission." he supplied easily. "It's.. a force of habit because most women tend to like me that way."
"That's awful." she said, appalled.
"It is a bit fucked up, yes," he agreed with a shrug, "but a kink's a kink, I don't judge."
"So you assaulted me, because it's your kink?"
"It's a kink, not necessarily mine, but something tells me you might like it rough." he chuckled, relaxing more into his seat as he played one of his favorite pastimes, Tease Hinata.
"What the hell are you talking about?" she snapped beyond annoyed.
"Hyuga you might not know this, but most times when a girl like you plays hard to get, it means she wants to be taken."
"Taken." she repeated, eyebrows furrowed.
"Yes." he purred, staring directly into her eyes. "Taken. Ravished. Fuck beyond her wildest imagination. Dominated by someone stronger than she could ever be."
"I'm not playing hard to get with you!" she spoke through gritted teeth.
"But you are, cute little Hina. Haven't you realized what's been happening?"
"What's been happening? Please tell me."
"You've been flirting with me. Don't deny it."
"Oh MY GOOOD!" she practically screamed to Sasuke's delight. "You are fucking insane! You are an evil dick and I want nothing to do with you! This," she said pointing between them "is a business transaction and nothing more! It will never be more than that! Ever!"
"You mention that particular body part of mine quite often. Is there a reason?"
"Fuck you!" she shouted, not caring if the driver could hear her or not.
"In due time Hyuga. You will in due time."
And with those sentences, Hinata lost her steam and collapsed backward, her eyes closed in pain. She'd actually forgotten.
"Oh coming back to you now." he taunted. "You did promise. You made that deal and we shook on it."
"I was drunk!" she cried pitifully.
"I tried to get you to stop." he said with no remorse, because he was right. He did.
"You can't really hold me to that. I'm already playing your girlfriend."
"And being one of my girlfriends means fucking will definitely be involved. But don't worry," he leaned closer toward her, slowly, drinking in all the fear, "I promise to make it the best night of your life."
Hinata's breath hitched and she fell, deep into the black abyss that was his eyes. She could barely breathe and wondered if this was what Sakura felt when he gave her his undivided attention. If it was, she finally understood.
"We've arrived, sir." said the driver through the intercom breaking his spell.
Hinata scrambled for the car door handle before the car had a chance to stop. She went flying out, almost stumbling from her higher than normal heels, when she felt Sasuke grab her hand, as if to steady her. She turned to him and he noted she was a bit dazed with an impressive blush on her face.
"Until next time." he whispered, then kissed the inside of her wrist softly.
A rush of powerful electricity tore through her body and she almost wept.
He let go of her, closed the door before she could respond, and drove away, leaving Hinata standing in front of her apartment building with her panties completely soaked.
'Goddamn him!' she cried to herself.
"Hinata?" someone called, startling her out of her thoughts. She turned over her shoulder to see Naruto, the last person she wanted to see in that moment, walking toward her.
'GODDAMN HIM!'
**One Year Earlier**
"You wished to see me, Father?"
"Yes Sasuke, come in."
Sasuke walked cautiously into his father's home study, his face was blank of emotion but his heart beat rapidly in his chest. He had no idea why his father urgently needed to speak with him, going as far as to summon a car to pick him up from his apartment miles away, but it was unnerving. Fugaku was not one to waste time on anything. He preferred a phone call, text message, or email to long drawn out meetings and only appeared in person for special events or if something drastic occurred. He despised long conversations, so for Sasuke to be summoned to his office for a face to face meant the news was bad. Very bad.
"Sit." said Fugaku gesturing to the empty leather seat in front of his massive oak desk. He was sipping from a tumbler filled with amber liquid and looking down at some documents laid before him, not once glancing in Sasuke's direction.
Sasuke crossed his arms and looked down at his father in annoyance before falling into the empty chair with a plop. As proud as he was, and as much as he disliked the older man, he was wise enough not to disobey a command. Fugaku finished the last sip of his drink slowly and deliberately, choosing to ignore Sasuke's childishness, before setting the tumbler down and finally looking up at his youngest.
"Have you been well?" asked Fugaku, attempting to start the conversation cordially. Sasuke looked at his father as though he'd grown a second head but pushed down the urge to respond with sarcasm.
"I've been fine." he replied curtly, bouncing a foot in impatience at his father's stalling, knowing it was a tactic he only used when he was ready to tell his wife something unpleasant.
"I'm sure your Mother would be happy to hear that. She's been worried about you lately."
"What's this about?" asked Sasuke with impatience. His father's passive aggression had worn down his nerves and being alone with him was the last thing he wanted that day, or any day. Fugaku sighed deeply, stood from his desk with his tumbler and walked to the small bar stashed in the corner of the room. He poured another tumbler filled with the same amber liquid and handed one of them to Sasuke as he walked back to his desk. Sasuke accepted the glass without so much as a thank you and downed half of it in one gulp and set the glass down on the desk with no coaster. He was already irritated that his time with his latest fling was cut short and didn't care to hide it.
"While I waited for you," Fugaku began as he sat back down in his chair, "I had an opportunity to speak with your brother. He tells me he's been trying to contact you for months but you've been ignoring him. Why?"
Sasuke closed his eyes, trying his best to calm his anger. Of all the things to interrupt his life with…
"Why is he always in my business? Did you ask him that?"
"He's 'in your business' because you're incapable of keeping it to yourself, Sasuke. Your escapades as of late have caused the clan great concern. You're with a new woman every few days, galavanting throughout the city in the most abhorrent manner, spending thousands in one go on all sorts of debauchery."
"It's just weed 'Dad'." Sasuke said in a sardonic tone, "and last I checked it was legal so I'm not sure what the big deal is."
"The big deal, as you put it, is that this type of behavior is unbecoming of a man who carries the Uchiha name." replied Fugaku angrily. "Our name and reputation are the foundation of our entire conglomerate. It's what people trust and why we are as successful as we are. To see not just an Uchiha, but my only flesh and blood carrying himself with such disregard for the family of which he was fortunate to be born into is something that cannot be ignored."
Sasuke resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his father's lecture and instead just stared at him with a bored expression. He'd heard this speech so many times growing up. When he released his pet cobra on his nanny for ratting him out about attacking Naruto, when he crashed a family car from driving drunk as a young teenager, and what felt like every other week as soon as he turned 18. He knew the lecture so well he could probably recite it by heart. Fortunately for him, no matter what happened and what he did, his mother was always there to calm Fugaku down and remind him of Sasuke's other qualities that added value to the company, like his looks, charm, and genius level intellect.
"Father, whatever it is, I will apologize, pay the fine and it will be all done." said Sasuke standing up. "Easy. Can I go now? This was a waste of both our time."
"Sit. Down." punctuated Fugaku softly, dangerously. Sasuke flinched slightly at his father's tone and sat back down immediately.
"I have tried with you Sasuke. I have given you everything any child could possibly dream of and more. But instead of appreciating your good fortune, you squander it, insult my intelligence, and I've had enough."
Fugaku pulled open a drawer at his desk and pulled out what looked to be a stack of polaroids. He gave the photos a look of pure disgust before throwing them across the desk to Sasuke. Sasuke caught a glimpse of one of the photos and felt an emotion he rarely ever acknowledged: fear.
"Care to explain?" asked Fugaku, leaning back in his chair. He saw all the emotions play on Sasuke's face, heard the gears in his mind twist and turn to find an explanation or excuse plausible enough to appease him. But there was none. There was no explaining away photos of him doing the most despicable things, including a line of coke off of a naked woman's bare ass while being orally pleasured by another. He vaguely remembered that night as one of his worst benders but didn't think there would be tangible proof of it. He had a strict 'no cellphone' policy when it came to his extracurriculars but these photos were polaroids from one of those quick-develop cameras. Who would even still have one of those in the 21st century?
"Sasuke! Explain!" shouted Fugaku, slamming a hand down on his desk in fury.
"I.. I have none." Sasuke muttered, looking down at his hands. He was in deep shit this time, and he knew it.
"These photos arrived along with a threat," continued Fugaku, pulling out a folded piece of paper from the same drawer. Sasuke went white. "It said if we don't pay, they will be leaked to every tabloid in the country, along with a story that your actions were during an Uchiha board member retreat. Luckily for everyone, especially you, the culprit was caught and dealt with discreetly so these will never be seen by anyone outside of this office."
Sasuke breathed a small sigh of relief, grateful to his father for saving him from himself once again.
"I'm sorry Father." said Sasuke contrite, head still bowed.
"I'm tired of your sorrys Sasuke. They're far too expensive. I've tried with you, I've done all I could to raise you to be an honorable man but instead of using your gifts for betterment like your brother, you use it to sully my good name, and it's time I put an end to it."
Sasuke's head shot up. "Put an end to it?" he questioned cautiously, his heart racing.
"I've had my estate revise some documents," announced Fugaku, "and as of this moment, you Sasuke, have officially been removed as one of my heirs and your share, once I'm gone, will be given to a charity of my choosing."
Sasuke was speechless, staring at his father in silent horror, unable to fathom a world where he didn't have the backing of the vast Uchiha wealth behind him. This was all he knew and now it was taken away with the stroke of a pen.
"Father," he croaked, doing his best not to weep in self-pity. "Father, please."
"You may retain your position at the company along with your current salary," continued Fugaku unsympathetic, "but every perk and shortcut you thought was your birthright has been closed to you. You will work hard to move up in the ranks without my help and will only be promoted if the board approves."
"How can I fix this?" pleaded Sasuke, "Father, I can fix this, please."
"There's no fixing this. The deed is done."
"I can change!" he shouted, "I can! I can settle down like Itachi, have a family and everything. I see my error and I'm sorry. Please! Let me fix this!"
"Begging is beneath you, boy."
"Father you can't do this! What did Mother say?"
Fugaku glared at his son, in awe of his gall. "Don't involve your mother in this."
"Does she know? Does she know you mean to leave her youngest child penniless?"
"You earn more than most at your current position without my wealth so you should be fine. That's if you manage to keep it because one more slip-up, one more story of you being belligerent and spoiled and you'll lose that too."
"But Father-"
"We're done here, you're dismissed." said Fugaku with finality.
Sasuke stared at his father both in horror and pure rage. He wanted to break the old man, hit him until he'd broken at least a few bones, but his anger would only make his situation worse, so he stood from his seat and swiftly left the office, slamming the door as hard as he could behind him.
**9 months earlier**
"I'm sorry son, he hasn't changed his mind, and honestly, he's not likely to. I mean what were you thinking?"
"I wasn't," mumbled Sasuke over the phone as he paced his bedroom, "but there weren't supposed to be cameras. How did it get by security?"
"Does that really matter? Your father spent a lot of time and money making sure those photos never see the light of day and I for one am glad he cared enough about you to do it. But you need to reign it in Sasuke. You can't keep behaving this way."
"I know but can you blame me? All my friends are sycophantic idiots."
"You chose your friends so that's a bit your fault, yes?"
"Mother, are you going to help me with this or not? I already have my life ruined, I don't need you adding salt to the wound!" he cried.
Mikoto sucked her teeth in annoyance and Sasuke grinned. That sound always meant she would help him but she wouldn't like it.
"I will try my best but you know your father. Once his mind is made up, that's it. Stubborn as a mule that one."
"Thank you Mother. I'm counting on you."
**3 months earlier**
"I've spent a great deal of time on this." huffed Mikoto the moment Sasuke let her into his apartment. "But! I think I've finally been able to convince your father to reconsider."
"Fantastic! What did he say?" he asked hopefully before closing the door behind her.
"Well, it wasn't exactly what he said but how he said it." she remarked as she headed straight for the bar in the corner of his massive living room.
Sasuke groaned, irritated; not just by his mother's vagueness but how comfortable she made herself without asking. "Mother, will you get to the point, please!"
"Ok ok," she said, sinking into his large black sectional, a glass of wine in hand. "So he said the one thing he wished you'd do is settle down with a nice girl and I said Sasuke doesn't know any nice girls."
"Thanks," he deadpanned before sitting next to her.
"But it's true. Honey, the only girls I see around you are floozies."
Sasuke raised a brow "'Floozies?' Really Mother, what year were you born?"
"Well what would you call them?" she asked.
"Conquests." Sasuke said with a shrug. Mikoto smacked his arm, unamused by how crude he was, and rolled her eyes at his chuckle.
"Nevermind. But whatever they're called, having them around only worsens your dilemma, so you need to get rid of them, all of them, and soon."
"Ugh!" he growled exasperated, standing from his seat and walking to the bar for a drink of his own. If he was going to have this conversation, he'd need to be a bit buzzed to calm his annoyance.
"You need to find a nice girl. Someone who not only would please your father but would actually make sense standing next to you, but the only person I can think of no longer lives here. Such a shame too because she always looked like a hidden beauty to me." she said more to herself than Sasuke.
"Really? Who?" he asked as he added ice to his glass. His back was to Mikoto and was glad she couldn't see the scowl meant for her. He loved his mother dearly and thought her the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, but she had a terrible habit of trying to pair him with women he thought hideous just because they were 'nice.' If he hadn't scared Karin into moving thousands of miles away, he was sure their marriage would've been planned already.
"Hmm," she said with a sip, "Hinata Hyuga. Hitomi's little girl you used to play with. You remember her, yes?"
At the mention of her name, Sasuke paused mid-pour and fell silent before breaking into a grin to rival the Grinch. He was a lucky bastard but never thought he would be this lucky given his circumstance.
"Hinata huh?" he asked, nonchalant, still grinning devilishly in his mind.
"Yes, she was always so kind and gentle. If only Hitomi hadn't been so strict with her while growing up." she shook her head, "I've never seen a pretty young lady prefer overcoats to tight dresses, especially at her age."
"Hinata and I were good friends at one point. We could've been more if she didn't move away. I wonder how she is? It's been a while since I've seen her after all." he said, doing his best to hide the mirth in his eyes. He and Hinata could've been more alright. If she'd stayed and gone to university with him, he was sure he would've broken her, especially with Naruto nowhere to be found. Without her savior, she would've finally become his, but at the moment she was unreachable. All he knew was she lived in Shade with Sakura and no way would he ask her for Hinata's number. She was already suspicious of his hidden shame and he didn't want it fully known, yet. He'd been devising ways he could get her back into his clutches, but each plan was more convoluted and more messy than the next. She'd been away from him too long and had grown a shield around her to keep him from affecting her, but right there, from his own mother, her mother's best friend, came the answer he'd been searching for. A way to not only get his inheritance back, but to get the one thing he'd been denied in his whole life. At the same time. It was too perfect.
"Would you like to know? I could ask Hitomi for her number for you."
"No!" he barked, startling Mikoto a bit. Sasuke paused quickly to regain himself before continuing. "I mean, no, if you ask Mrs. Hyuga, she will make Hinata suspicious and I want our reunion to be a nice surprise for her."
"Then how will I get it?" Mikoto asked, confused.
"Ask her, but say it's because you have a job for Hinata that only she can take care of, or something like that." he said, reaching in the dark for literally anything.
"A job?" Mikoto said slowly, her eyes wrinkling prettily in confusion making Sasuke's face soften. She made the same face he did when he saw his reflection frowning, which was often, and it reminded him of how much he loved her for giving him her beauty. Then, again to his Sasuke luck, her face lit up, then was let down.
"Oh, you heard, did you? About what happened?"
Sasuke frowned. "What happened?"
"Her father named Hanabi his successor, bypassing her completely. All she has now are the stipends her parents give until she finds a place somewhere. Hitomi's trying to marry her off to anyone's son at the club and fortunately for her there are some takers."
Sasuke's eyes darkened. "Takers?"
"Yes," Mikoto sighed "But they aren't very good.
"Like who?" Sasuke was cautious not to show too much on his face. As much as Mikoto liked to play dumb, she was just as sharp as Fugaku.
"That Otsutsuki boy from who knows where. He does well for himself but I think he's just looking for a beard." she gossiped. "The rest are of no consequence. Bankers, lawyers, nouveau-riche." She gave a small look of distaste at the thought of being married down to upper-middle class.
Sasuke breathed an inner sigh of relief. If his mother didn't approve, then there was nothing to worry about. He then reverted back into his evil grin. 'So Hyuga has nothing, huh? I might be her only hope to survive poverty and she'll be forced to know it.'
"Mother, please get her number from Mrs. Hyuga for me. I'd be happy to help Hinata in any way I can, but remember, it has to be a surprise."
"Really son? Oh that would be so lovely!" clapped Mikoto happily. "If your father sees you both together, I'm sure he'll finally see how much you've grown."
But Sasuke frowned. "But Father has been ignoring me for months. How can he see us together? If we go out, there'll be paparazzi shots and I doubt that's the best way to announce ourselves."
"I'll work on your father, you just rekindle that friendship ok?" chirped Mikoto before downing the rest of her wine.
"I will. Get me her number and I'll text her. She'll be so surprised."
**1 month earlier**
"Good news Mother," Sasuke announced over the phone "After months of talking, Hinata and I have our first date next month, the 22nd."
"That's wonderful news.." replied Mikoto "Was she surprised to hear from you?"
"Very." he responded with a smirk, thinking of how she hung up on him the moment she heard his voice and tried to block his number. But it was too late. He found her new hidden social media accounts using her number and his unlimited resources and pestered her with messages. Before she could think of the bright idea of changing her number and starting over again, he declared he was ready and willing to help her get Naruto from Sakura if she helped him with a problem of his own. She ignored him for weeks after that message but he suddenly received a text saying she was in the day before. He didn't know why but he wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
"I'm happy you're patching things up… "
Sasuke caught her tone immediately. "What's happened?"
"Your father." Mikoto sighed. "Sasuke, being in a relationship with Hinata won't be enough. I'm afraid there's more…"
"'What more?!" he practically screeched, his anger rising.
"He wants you to settle down. Permanently. With a wife and child. Only then would he even consider reinstating you. I tried to talk him down but he won't be budged. I even tried asking Itachi to help but he agreed with your father."
"Get.. get married?" he asked flummoxed, "To who?!"
"To anyone he deems worthy. Not sure what he means by that but I'm guessing none of your floozies."
"Again with that word." he said, rolling his eyes and falling onto his unmade king size bed.
"Sasuke!" yelled Mikoto suddenly, "This is serious! Your life, your entire future is depending on this! Why're you being so flippant?"
"I'm not! I am taking this seriously." he whined, a forearm over his eyes. "But I need to get married? To someone he deems worthy? What of who I deem worthy?"
"Do you want your inheritance or not?" snapped Mikoto. "Because if you don't I can drop this."
"Yes! Yes of course I do!" he responded with urgency as he sat up abruptly, taken aback by his mother's anger. It was rarely, if ever, directed at him, but when it was, he backed down immediately.
"Good. Now what were you saying about your date?" she asked much calmer.
"My date?" Sasuke was confused for a moment. News of his father practically planning his wedding threw everything out of his mind. He was about to respond when Mikoto gasped aloud, sounding shocked and surprised.
"Oh my God. Oh my God! Sasuke!" she cried in utter joy. "Hinata! She could be it! You could be it! The answer to both your prayers!"
"Our prayers?"
"If you married Hinata, not only would you fulfill your father's requirement of a woman he would deem worthy, especially with the family she's from, you could get your inheritance back and save Hinata from a life of misery in Business Class! It's win-win! For both of you!"
Sasuke was stunned silent, processing what Mikoto had said. Marry Hinata, the one girl he'd been working so hard to own since he could remember, marry her so he could keep her forever, away from Naruto. Immediately his mind roared in triumph.
'Are you kidding me? There's no way, no goddamn way I'm this fucking lucky! No fucking way!'
"You know Mother," he said falling into his with a self-satisfied smirk, "you might be the smartest person I know."
"What flattery." Mikoto chuckled sarcastically. "But let me let you go. I'm having lunch with Hitomi in an hour and need to prepare. Should I tell her the news?"
"Not yet, don't want her alerting Hinata and scaring her off even before our first date."
"Good idea. I'll call you later to discuss how we can get you and your father in the same room. Have a good day son. Ciao!." *click*
Sasuke threw his phone onto his bed and sighed happily. He felt like he was a kid and his parents gave him his birthday presents early. Marrying Hinata was one of the ideas he'd contemplated but it was an impossibility so he never fully invested in it. But now it wasn't because the idea wasn't even his. Once Hitomi found out the Sasuke Uchiha wanted to marry her daughter, Hinata would practically have no choice. Who else would be better than him?
'But what if she refuses?' his mind said, destroying his fantasy. He sat up and frowned. There was a great chance she could and would say no. Her mother has no real leverage over her besides her apartment and the Hinata he knew would happily give it up if it meant never being near him again. He'd have to find a way to trap her, make sure she could never say no.
And just like that, his genius mind gave him the answer he needed, and his satisfied smirk returned to him with full-force.
**1 hour earlier**
"Your girlfriend is waiting for you to take her home Sasuke. I suggest you not waste her time as you're attempting to waste mine."
Sasuke ignored the comment and moved to sit in the seat his mother vacated so he could face his father head on.
"Mother said you had a slight change of heart about my situation." he said getting right to the point, "She said you've agreed to reconsider my disinheritance if I settled down. Is that true?"
Fugaku shook his head in annoyance. He loved Mikoto with everything he had, but he was tired of her constantly disregarding his wishes, especially when it came to Sasuke. He'd already suspected the brunch was just an excuse to corner him since he'd been avoiding his son for the better part of a year but he didn't think his wife would be in on it as well.
"Yes," Fugaku finally admitted after a pause, noting the hidden joy on Sasuke's face. "But before you get too excited, know that I acquiesced for your mother, and only for your mother's sake. I still believe you don't deserve a reward for wasting your life on nonsense."
"I earned my place, Father." growled Sasuke doing his best to keep his temper in check. "Not just for being born your son but by my own hands I earned it."
"No one is denying your work for the company Sasuke", said Fugaku with a sigh, "and if you weren't an Uchiha this wouldn't matter as much. But as you said, you are my son and I expect my child to carry his family name with dignity and not sully it in the press."
"There hasn't been a single story about my personal life in the press for almost a year. I think I've proven I can carry our name with dignity, especially now that I have a girl like Hinata by my side."
"Hinata," Fugaku said softly, "is far too good for you, and last I recall you two weren't exactly friendly with each other."
"That was ages ago,'' replied Sasuke, put-off that anyone would be considered too good for him. "We did have our disagreements, yes, but we've patched them up and are looking to start a life together."
"So you believe she's the one?"
"I do." said Sasuke, surprising even himself with how honest he felt when he said it.
"I'm not convinced."
"Excuse me?" asked Sasuke in disbelief, "Convinced about what?"
"About her wanting to start a life with you." Fugaku said, sneering at Sasuke's insolence. "She flinches every time you move closer to her and stiffens at your touch. What? You thought I wouldn't notice?" he finished mockingly.
"She's a nervous girl, Father," lied Sasuke calmly, though his heart was pounding in fear. "She hasn't had much experience dating but she is much livelier when we're alone. Plus, being around all of us can be intimidating, wouldn't you say?"
Fugaku found no lies in his son's statement but he wasn't deterred. "All that may be true, but how am I sure this isn't a ploy of some sort?"
"A ploy?" 'Fuck!'
"Yes. You use her to get what you want then discard her like so many others. How am I sure you're serious about her?"
Fugaku had the gift of easily spotting lies, however, Sasuke was masterful at manipulation. He couldn't control his father as well as he did his mother, but he could use Fugaku's gift against him: by telling his truth.
"I'm in love with Hinata," he began, "And have been for longer than I knew. We've had many disagreements growing up but when I look back, I see my behavior as a misguided attempt at getting her attention. We've rebuilt our friendship and have started dating officially a few weeks now. She willingly accepted to be my girlfriend and I will do anything to keep her by my side."
Fugaku regarded his son with suspicion. He didn't fully believe Sasuke's motives for Hinata came from a place of sincerity but he spoke earnestly and not even he could hide a lie from Fugaku. In the end he nodded in acceptance.
"Ok." Fugkau agreed. "If Hinata is willingly choosing to be with you, then you have my blessing there. However," Fugaku paused, wary of Sasuke's poorly hidden glee, "That doesn't change your circumstance. I did agree to reinstate your inheritance if you settled down, yes. But when I say settle down, I don't mean having a long-term girlfriend. I mean settle down, permanently, with a wife and children. I like Hinata and feel she could make a good wife for you, especially since you're so in love, correct?"
"Correct," repeated Sasuke with no emotion.
"And having a Hyuga in the family would be perfect. It would make Hiashi see sense in a merger." he continued, more to himself than his son.
"Yes, that too."
"You've known each other for years, decades in fact. A union between you two would never be frowned upon. I'm ashamed I didn't think of it sooner myself, but how fortuitous that you found each other regardless."
"Does this mean you agree?"
Fugaku looked his son squarely in his eyes.
"Until you and Hinata are married, you will remain cut off. The moment your first child is born, then and only then will you once again be considered one of my heirs. I suggest you accept this olive branch from me, Sasuke, and thank your mother for helping you get it because as far as I'm concerned, you deserve nothing."
Sasuke chewed on his father's bitter words but kept his face stoic.
"Do we have an agreement? It's this or nothing."
"We have a deal," he replied without hesitation. "Thank you for your time Father and I hope to see you again soon."
"Now take that poor girl home." said Fugaku dismissively, calling a staffer to refill his glass once again.
Sasuke stood up and bowed to his father before turning to leave the room, a smirk on his lips and his mind once again actively plotting.
whoooo that was A LOT! Please rate and review! Look forward to hearing from you all!