Chapter Four, Serendipity.
As Hinata stood before them, it struck her not for the first time, that she had made a grave error. That perhaps her reasoning for leaving Suna - for leaving Gaara - had been as foolish as it was impulsive.
Hinata didn't think she would ever forget how uncomfortable he made her when an unfamiliar emotion lit those black eyes of his as he watched her refusing to acknowledge him.
He was flanked by two other masked Anbu operatives who watched Hinata through the slits in their illustrated masks. Though their gazes were suffused with scrutiny and tinged with resentment, it was the look simmering within the black pools of the captain that caused her to twitch nervously.
"Welcome to Konoha's Anbu, Hinata," Kakashi remarked, his voice low and reassuring. "You have been placed in Uchiha's unit." The masked man nodded in the direction of his former student with a strange restrained fondness dwelling in his slate grey eyes. "I'm sure Sasuke will look after you, ne?"
Reflectively ivory eyes flickered upwards to meet the Uchiha's ebony ones. She hadn't seen him in a while. She hadn't seen him since that night in Suna.
Her pale, willowy and undeniably fragile fingers clung to the bright orange cup as she watched the first drops of rain dash against the window. The watery droplets clung to the windowpane , desperately, before they fell and meandered downwards.
"Hinata?"
The pestilent inquiry of her name shattered her trail of illusory thoughts and Hinata flinched at the insidious undertone of their voice. A trickle of tea spilled from her jittery movements onto the tatami mat. It made an odd resounding noise. She thought back to the night Sasuke returned home from his mission, wounded and weary. The acute sound of Sasuke's blood hitting the floor in even, soft steady taps and how much it bothered her.
"E-excuse me, Hyuuga-sama. Could you repeat that?" Hinata asked slowly, a touch of colour blossoming across her wintry skin.
A dozen pairs of featureless eyes flickered to regard the young heiress as the room's air grew stagnant and heavy. Hinata felt her chest constrict, trapping any words she might have said deep within her.
A shiver of anticipation crawled along Hinata's skin as her grip on the cup flexed and tightened. Hiashi's face was unreadable. The perfect Hyuuga facade. Allowing one's face to act as a blank canvas to reflect the viewer's own emotions. She saw her own unbridled fear simmer within the icy white depths of the clan leader's eyes.
He did not reply.
Time continued to pass, coated in thick silence - apart from the clock on the wall behind her father. Tick. Tick. Tick.
Anxiety sank its merciless teeth into her as she became the center of attention in the room. Did her father know? Her fingers dug into the orange mug, in a feeble effort to stop her hands shaking. There was something within his blank expression that caused her heart to skid to an ungraceful halt.
But it was the look of unadulterated horror etched into Hanabi's face that caused Hinata's limbs to go limp and powerless. Something was wrong. This was not one of Hiashi's usual reprimands.
"I am no longer a young man, and it is time for you to fulfill your inherited duties to the clan." Hiashi turned to regard the rest of the room. "I am officially relinquishing my title as clan head and entrusting it to my eldest daughter. The preparations for Hinata's coronation will start tomorrow."
The room seemed to tilt on its axis and everything blurred out of focus. A hot flush burned her cheeks as her lips parted in horror. She could feel bile rising up along the back of her throat.
Another unsettling silence claimed the room, thicker than the suffocating tension lacing the atmosphere. Dozens of restless white eyes dropped their gaze from Hinata, in an effort to hide their shock, or perhaps outrage - Hinata wasn't sure. Some elders shifted in their seats, attempting to busy themselves from the matter at hand. While Hinata's grandmother bit her lip to hide her scowl.
Unnoticed by all, Hanabi's hand reached upwards, her movements unsure but fluid. She ran a single finger across her smooth forehead, considering.
"But of course, a clan leader must be married." Hiashi's wan eyes flickered from his clansmen to the large window that looked over the ornate gardens. The rain had eased off but cumbersome murky clouds remained stitched into the fabric of the sky. The white roses glower faintly underneath the mottled light. Their ivory waxen petals waving in the gentle breeze. "I had," Hiashi paused, his voice sombre. "Always envisioned Hinata and Neji...but so be it." He shrugged his shoulders, the movement causing his hair to fall forward, obscuring his eyes. "The elders still have some time to pick a worthy suitor."
The dying sun was kind to the kunoichi in front of him; her angular features looked softer and when the dappled sunlight caught her hair it looked like pink flames curling around her arms and bare throat.
Her chary hands were outstretched towards him, her glowing fingertips dancing across his bruised cheeks in butterfly touches. Her healing chakra coursed through him, like familiar warmth flooding his system causing his defenses and reflexes to slacken. The Uchiha stood in front of her, the backdrop of Team 7's training ground during sunset blazed behind him.
Just as his eyelashes fluttered shut, allowing himself to finally relax, he felt an unnatural spike in her chakra.
A pale hand snapped upwards to clamp around the wrist of her extended arm. In one fluid motion he jerked the kunoichi closer to him. She stumbled forward, her cheeks matched her pinken hair, but her eyes were dangerous and jaded.
He peered her. His expression unreadable.
Her chakra bubbling and teeming beneath his fingertips burned him.
"Sasuke," she started, and his lips twitched upwards at the crack in her voice.
It was hard, she thought, remaining perfectly composed with Uchiha Sasuke clutching her wrist. His dark simmering eyes fixing her in place so he could offer her his full, unyielding and coveted attention.
"What have I done to make you want to kill me this time, Sakura?" His voice was low and amused. Each word serrated with a dark undertone that caused Sakura to shrink back.
She ignored the underhanded dig at their tempestuous relationship. Though she was smiling it was no longer friendly, and Sasuke became aware that she was voluntarily remaining in his clutches. He was all too aware of the physical strength she exerted over him. It was curious, he mused. Perhaps she didn't want to alert Naruto of their predicament, or perhaps her intentions were entirely different.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Go on, you've managed to pique my interests with your little charade."
"I know," she retorted, her arm flexed beneath his fingers. His grip tightened reflectively as her cold emerald glower seared with an intensity that only someone as volatile as Sakura could ever summon. It spilled from her evocative eyes and coated the air around them. "If you hurt her," she warned, her throat dry. "If you leave-"
The Uchiha could see his lack of surprise at her declaration unnerved her. He took the advantage by disarming her. He snatched the kunai from her free hand that was angled towards his abdomen. "I don't intend to," he admitted honestly.
"You don't always intend to hurt people Sasuke. You just seem incapable of achieving anything else at times." Sakura's voice was soft and hushed. No malice tinged her feathery words. The clouds overhead moved her face in and out of the setting sun's light. The shadows from the clouds crawled over her creamy skin in inky shaped blotches. "Sometimes people set out with the best intentions but still end up ruining everything."
"And what were your intentions with this kunai?"
Frustration at his amusement dug its claws into Sakura and her famed temper flared. Her face grew red and her taunt muscles tightened as she clenched her free hand. She hated how he was treating this like a game. Ignoring the real matter at hand in favor of taunting and toying with her.
"Sasuke," she hissed.
"What the hell is going on?" A loud voice interjected causing the two old comrades to freeze.
Naruto stood several feet from them. His usual cheery disposition was notably absent and in its place: disquieting caution that hardened his features. He looked wary. And unimpressed.
Sakura swore internally, taking in his almost pained expression as he peered at her and Sasuke's heated exchange. She could only imagine what their proximity insinuated to Naruto; her wrist in Sasuke's hands and their eyes locked together. The tension between so thick and heady Sakura almost choked every time she inhaled.
Sasuke sensing Sakura panic, unceremoniously dropped her hand and took a step backwards. However, guilt did not marr his features like Sakaru. In fact, petulance curled his angular lips into a serrated scowl. Naruto had intruded and interrupted something. The indignation felt by Sasuke due to Naruto's arrival was sacrosanct.
"What's going on?" Naruto asked again, eyeing Sasuke.
His team-mates continued to stare at him. Sakura, with her wide conflicted eyes and distress illustrated across her dainty features reminded Naruto so much of her younger self; all insecurities and bony limbs. Sasuke, remained emotionless. His hands pocketed and his eyes lacking their usual knowingness. It was the tightness of his jaw that caught Naruto's attention.
Naruto wasn't angry at them. He was all too aware of the convoluted and brilliantly intricate relationship Sasuke and Sakura shared. Too much had conspired
between the pair not to have a complete and sustainable universe between them that no one - not even Naruto - was privy to. He knew Sasuke would never disrespect him and that Sakura loved him, not Sasuke - not anymore atleast. But it was still hard, watching his two favourite people keep something from him. He hated not being included.
"What's-" the blonde asked. His tone was softer this time. Pleading almost. Crestfallen.
"It's-" she started shakily.
"Sakura," Sasuke interjected. His tone dropping in warning. His dark gaze darted towards her, consuming her and causing her to shrink backwards.
"He's going to find out Sasuke." Sakura returned. But her voice no longer carried the bravado of before. It was docile and worried. "Everyone is going to find out. It's not really something you can hide."
"If someone doesn't tell me what's going on I am going to throw both you in jail when I'm Hokage." Naruto growled.
"Hinata's pregnant," Sakura admitted.
The confusion did not leave the blue depths of Naruto's eyes. He blinked, shaking his head. While this news was rather significant due to how defamatory and unexpected it was, Naruto could not understand why his team-mates appeared so invested in the situation. From his knowledge Sakura didn't really like Hinata, and Sasuke...well Sasuke didn't really like anyone.
"That's...surprising," Naruto's voice was slow and considering. His eyebrows scrunched together, creating confused wrinkles on his forehead. "Whose the father? Gaara?"
"No,"
Both Sakura and Naruto paused, and turned to peer at Sasuke. His tone had been cold, acidic and carried a measurement of emotion neither had ever heard before. Something about Naruto's comment had caused the Uchiha to brood. It was curious.
The Uchiha looked almost..offended? But that didn't make sense to Naruto. He tried again looking at Sakura. "So whose the father?"
"It's...Sasuke,"
There was no denying it. Today had been terrible.
And Hinata, was so exhausted from it all. Her eyes, two white decisive pools of emotions were red and puffy. Her bottom lip carried indents from how often her teeth sank downwards to stop herself from saying something reckless.
The moon looked tired and wan too, as if it shouldn't be up on a night like this. It rose unwillingly behind dark ribbons of black clouds and hung in the starless sky like a uneasy spectator.
Lunar light spilled into Hanabi's room through her open window, and bleached the vibrant colour scheme. Hanabi had not redecorated her room in five years. The sombre younger Hyuuga claimed she simply didn't have the time. But Hinata had always ruminated that her stoic sister adored the childish colours and the shelves overspilling with toys.
Hinata shivered and in turn nestled closer to Hanabi, who stiffened but didn't protest. The teenager lay on her side, turned away from her older sister. Though she enjoyed stuffed toys and glittering fairy lights in secrecy, her aversion to touch or physical affection was not a charade.
Hinata often snuck into her sister's bedroom after a particular harsh clan meeting or a dangerous mission, or even Naruto. The blonde shinobi always seemed to make Hinata's eyes well up at night. But it had been years.
"I love you Hanabi," Hinata mentioned. Her voice breathy and soft in the stillness of the night.
The girl in question squirmed in response. Accepting the declaration in the only way she knew how. "I know," was how she reciprocated the confession.
"I won't brand you."
Hinata's words, so very simple and reassuring, evoked a torrent of emotions from Hanabi. The brunette with the waifish figure and uncompromising eyes was not used to such foolish emotions such as worry and fear. Those were reserved for her elder sister exclusively. Until recently. Until the superiority Hanabi had always exerted over her sister had begun to dwindle. With the way Hinata had grown, Hanabi doubted anyone was Hinata's superior now.
"It's tradition Hinata," Hanabi argued.
Hinata clenched her fists. Her small nails pressing into her palm. "I don't care about traditions. I am breaking enough of them as it is." She felt Hanabi's curiosity piqued at that comment, but Hinata refused to divulge. "I won't brand you," she whispered more to herself than her sister. "I swear it."
Hanabi, once curled inwards to herself, straightened out. Extending her long legs and turned over, so she was facing her elder sister. Hinata's hair, usually darkened indigo, looked such a strange colour underneath the moonlight, Hanabi thought.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore," Hanabi said. All traces of childish insecurities and emotions stripped from her angular features. Her featureless eyes narrowed but approachable.
Hinata nodded solemnly. She didn't really either. And as the silence claimed the two sisters, both their minds drifted off on different courses of thoughts. Hanabi, with a sombre expression thought about how she would never be the leader of the clan and how she would never be fit to be Konohamaru's wife now. A marked branch member. How all her subsequent children would be branded too.
Hinata was thinking of him. Of the brevity yet longevity of their affair. How it started in Suna, under the cloudless sky and sun drenched sand that entangled itself in Sasuke's hair and made him curse and sulk. She remembered the contrast of his pale skin against his dark silken sheets and how he was unable to start his day without coffee. Images of his indifferent expression every time they parted danced across her mind. She thought of how much more complicated this impaired their already convoluted and dizzingly confusing situation.
The baby, her heart fluttered within her chest, at the mention of the undoubtedly pale and dark-haired being growing and teeming inside her. The baby, by birthright would be heir to both the Hyuuga and Uchiha clan.
Her teeth sank into the fleshy expanse of her bottom lip, as a small wave of relief rolled through her. At least she would never have to worry about her child being branded.
But another complication had occurred. A seminal one. An obstacle she didn't even know how to approach Sasuke about without resulting in an episode of the Uchiha wraith he was so famous for. Her father and the clan elders were going to pick her a suitor, probably from the clan. She had no idea what Sasuke would do. She had no idea what she would do.
"Hinata," Hanabi called softly. The darkness painted her a dark silhouette with two protruding, almost glowing white eyes. "Can I ask you a question?"
Something heavy and insidious crawled into the air, and Hinata suddenly found it hard to breathe. Her silence was enough approval for Hanabi to continue.
"Why do you mould your chakra into a shield around your torso? Is it just a habit from Anbu missions."
Hinata nodded, weakly. Unable to garner control over her voice.
Hanabi's eyes fluttered shut. "It's a good idea I suppose. I can't see your chakra points."
The flowers laid on the table, their once beautiful petals curled at edges from the exhausting heat of Suna. Already their stalks were limp and when the Kazekage plucked them up, their feeble heads fall with gravity towards the table. He considered them for a moment, a scowl pinched across his cheeks.
"Temari," he called.
He watched his abrasive sister look up from her work and raise an accusing eyebrow in answer. Her blonde hair was unusually down and framed her face in a way that almost made her look harmless. Almost.
"It's Kakashi inauguration anniversary soon," he said. "Would you fancy accompanying me to Konoha for the celebrations?"
Something wicked gleamed within her turquoise eyes. And he could only imagine there was something wicked within his own devious smirk.
