Hey!

I'm back lol! And here's another chappie!

Sorry for the extremely late update. I had a huge writers block .'

This was a really difficult chappie to write, so I hope you guys enjoy it. I must've written and re-written this chapter like a hundred times! And as always, let me know what you think!

A huge thanks to EVERYONE that read, reviewed, messaged and/or followed or favourited my story! It means the world to me! =D Hilda9Achillius9Fitra, Riah2386, nyo-mila, kikyorocks543, thndrnlghtnng, ItSaLwAyStHeShYoNeS, melihdzi, kittybby101, princess p, JokerAtWork, alysha. , Seraphina Dragon, Darth-Taisha!

"I don't understand what you are asking of me, Sasuke."

"You went to such lengths to prevent the birth of an heir that you compromised yourself and the future of your clan. You know as well as I do the consequences of your actions should they discover the truth." Sasuke said darkly. "So tell me, who is worthy in your eyes?"

Hinata looked up at him in fear.

Why was he doing this? After all she had been through, did he not understand?

To act against the clan was considered to be high treason; punishable by disownment, exile or possibly even death depending on the nature of the offense.

Hinata bit her lip. "Sasuke, p-please, you m-must understand that my circumstances were… l-less than b-bearable. I can't cannot s-speak for anyone else."

"And I'm not asking about anyone else. I'm asking about you." He retorted.

Her eyes began to water, "What kind of life would they have Sasuke?!" she spluttered in exasperation, "One where they would live in constant f-fear of the man they called f-father?" And… g-god forbid, what if I were to give birth to a g-girl?!"

She choked back a sob. "I know what a I did was selfish, but it was the only way."

Sasuke's face was impassive.

It was not his place to comment on her actions or justify her decisions; but from what he had witnessed the night he rescued her, her reasons held some validity. A love marriage was considered to be a luxury among in shinobi clans; more often than not these marriages would have taken place for political reasons or to forge alliances.

Hinata had another point: female offspring carried little value within a shinobi clan. Clans desired strong male offspring to carry on their family name and lineage. Once married, the woman would then belong to her husband's clan and any offspring she gave him would inherit their father's name. If she bore him sons, she would be praised and looked upon favorably.

Dowry was another issue. Most clans had abandoned the dowry system after the first shinobi world war such as the Sarutobi and Uchiha, some clans like the Hyuuga and Senju still held on to the age-old custom – the more undesirable the woman – the larger the dowry.

"Snot-nosed little kids annoy the shit out of me but I can't escape the fact that I cannot rebuild my clan without them. You don't have to justify yourself to me but did you once stop to think of the consequences? That you might want children in the future?" He admonished lightly. "Are you afraid that they will hate you?"

"When I was a child, all I wanted was for my father to look at me the way he looked at my brother, but when they died, it was my mother's absence that hurt the most. And it still does. I am who I am because of her and NOT my father. I know that somewhere along the track, I lost my way and behaved in a manner contrary to what she had taught but I'm trying my best to right those wrongs and live the life my family wanted for me. Women have little influence in the running of the clan they are the ones who raise future clan leaders. A good woman will raise a good son who can lead his clan to greatness."

Hinata looked up at him, surprised.

It was the most he'd ever said to her.

And it was profound.

Hinata really hadn't thought of things in that light. She adored children and now it may be possible that she may never be able to have them. She never thought she would ever escape Hiro and did everything in her power to prevent him from becoming a father. Stop him from ruining anyone else's life. Her future was bleak and Hinata simply focused on living, surviving, one day at a time in the Hyuuga household.

She didn't dare to dream of the reality that she was living in now.

"I-I'm sorry, Sasuke. I didn't think I had a future… that's why I–"

"Don't apologize," he interjected. "What's done is done."

Although he took care not to show it, Sasuke took offense to her actions. Her reproductive issues were none of his concern but he couldn't help but feel cheated. Not by her personally, but by her gender. He disliked women who believed it was their choice whether to have children (or how many to have if they did) without discussing it with their partners. If he ever got married, he wanted to start rebuilding his clan as soon as possible.

Not because he liked children, but because mangekyou wielders had a particularly hard time conceiving.

Preliminary lab tests revealed that during the process of obtaining the mangekyou sharingan, a complex series of mutations take place within the DNA of the user. This mutation, i.e. the mangekyou sharingan has profound effects on the ocular, neuronal and reproductive organs. During activation, ocular and neuronal abilities are enhanced, cognitive and reproductive abilities are reduced, but a deadly waste protein was also produced in the process. The waste protein accumulates in the body of the sharingan user throughout his lifetime, progressively denaturing specific types of cells in the body; namely the brain cells, reproductive cells and the cells connected to the optic nerve and retina. The amount of waste protein produced depended on the frequency and duration of mangekyou use – i.e. the more it was used, the more the protein was produced.

To make matters worse, the sharingan was foudn to be a sex-linked gene found only on the Y chromosome. This meant that only men could inherit and pass on the gene. If Sasuke didn't have a child, a son, the Uchiha clan would die out. The chances of him having a child were slim considering he had seriously overused his mangekyou sharingan and the possibly that he may already be incapable of conceiving didn't escape him.

Another reason why he drank.

Before his madness, Madara was a well-respected and revered leader of the Uchiha. He was married but the couple had no children. In those days, it was common practice for clan leaders to several concubines and/or mistresses but Madara refused all the women offered to him by the council. Even when the clan had wrongly declared her barren, Madara continued to stay by her side – a symbol of his endless devotion to her.

However, his wife was not that resilient.

Unable to take the abuse and slander dished out to her by her clan, alongside the feelings of inadequacy to give him the child he desperately wanted, she initiated the annulment of their marriage with a grieving heart. She loved him dearly but understood that he needed an heir that she was not able to provide. Madara was violent in his objection to the annulment, but the Uchiha council overruled him.

The interests of the clan outweighed the interests of the individual.

Angry and bitter, he witnessed her being wedded to another upon the instructions of the clan, and few months later, she fell pregnant. And the child wasn't his. Blinded by fury and hatred, Madara sought out the father of his wife's child and killed him.

And then he left the clan, vowing revenge upon the Uchiha.

Sasuke felt for the guy. Madara had become so numb that he was unable to feel anything and died with none to morn him. He was nothing but a victim of circumstance, a tragedy. Unfortunate circumstances, desperation and uncaring people turned even the best people to heartless monsters who became unfeeling and resolute. If Sasuke traveled the road Madara had, his end would've been the same.

But there was still hope – Sasuke was still young. Izuna, Itachi and Shisui all died before they could leave any offspring, which didn't necessarily mean they wouldn't have been able to if they had tried. Yes, there was hope – but time was of the essence. He knew he should find someone, settle down and start a family as soon as possible – yet he couldn't bring himself to do it. He felt like there was missing something, but he wasn't quite sure what it was…

"Hinata. Life is not always about the cards you have been dealt, its how you use them that matters."

She nodded grimly and looked as if she was about to cry.

Sasuke sighed. It had been a long day and he wasn't in the mood to deal with a sobbing female. So he leaned back and took a deliberately long sip of drink and muttered, "Couldn't you have just murder the bastard in his sleep?"

And to his surprise, Hinata actually giggled.

Her first genuine laugh since she had met him. It made him feel queasy, like when she smiled knowingly over the kitchen top as she made anything that had tomatoes.

"Hiro wasn't home on most nights…"

Son of a…!

Hinata giggled again at seeing Sasuke's expression.

"It was a relief actually." She said, reaching for the pitcher of sake. "May I?"

"I don't think that's a good idea." He said, brushing her hand aside.

She smiled politely. "I can handle my liquor Sasuke. I am a Hyuuga after all."

Sasuke sighed internally. Alarm bells were ringing in his head and his instincts were against it but someone ended pouring one for her anyway. It would help loosen her up and possibly even knock her out. The less she remembered of this night the better.

"That's your first and last. Got it?"

She nodded in shy gratitude and her soft hands lightly brushed against his as she took the cup. After a small tentative sip, she immediately scrunched up her nose.

Sasuke smirked.

Che. Cute…

The fuck?! Where the hell did that come from?

And Sasuke poured himself another drink, downed it, wanting to rid himself of that last ridiculous thought.

And then another.

Sayuri wished the time to go faster. The tick-tock of the old clock on the mantle was driving her crazy. Once again, Hiro had left her to fend for herself while he went and did god-knows-what and/or with god-knows-who.

She was on her third drink when she sensed an unfamiliar chakra approach the bar counter.

And then she did a double take.

Dressed impeccably in formal blue kimono was arguably the most handsome man she had ever seen. Skin the colour of flawless ivory, messy raven hair, mysterious onyx depths, and the face of a greek god to top it all off. His alluringly dangerous chakra rolled off his body in soft, powerful waves adding to his irresistible dark-prince appeal.

She was instantly drawn to him.

"I'll have the usual. And one of those too." He told the barkeep in a low masculine drawl as he took a seat few chairs down from Sayuri.

"Been a while eh?" The toothless bartender grinned. " Try not to destroy anything or anyone tonight will ya? Its bad for me business."

Who was he?!

And how on earth did he happen to escape her notice?

The young man smirked. "I can't make that promise, but I'll try my best as long you keep them coming."

Sayuri kept glancing at him from the corner of eye as she sipped her drink. He caught her gaze once while the bartender was preparing the drinks but the moment had been fleeting. She was wondering about the best way to approach him when his drinks arrived; a pretty pina colada and a large beer. He had company, female company, she thought with disdain.

Six (or was it seven?) drinks later, Hinata felt herself relax and become deliciously drowsy. Her head felt wonderfully light and fuzzy and recent events seemed like a distant memory.

Sasuke, unfortunately still sober after his twelfth drink watched in amusement as the shy, conservative Hinata transformed into a flirty little vixen, hiccupping every time she opened her mouth to say something. What the hell was wrong with him? He hated giggling little school girls and yet here was Hinata doing just that.

She was definitely drunk, the silly little lightweight.

Although she hadn't done anything remotely bold or provocative, her innocent charm and relaxed state were strangely turning him on. And he didn't like it. Every time she brushed against him, he felt a shiver travel up his spine and whenever she pouted or giggled he felt an urge to bite them. Sasuke tried to shake off the warmth that was rising within him.

What the hell was he thinking? She was his charge and he was her guardian.

Bloody booze, making him feel things that he shouldn't be.

Downing his last drink, he reached out his hand to his drunken charge. "It's time to go."

Her eyes were glazed over and her bun had become loose so strands of midnight tresses framed her flushed face. She groaned in protest and refused to comply. He needed to get her home as soon as possible before he did something they would both regret because from his current angle, he was treated to a nice preview of what lay inside the top half of her kimono.

"Come on, Hinata. I'm not joking." She felt limp against him as he helped her to her feet, draping one arm around her tiny waist for support.

He knew he shouldn't have given her that first drink. Handle her liqueur, yeah right – this was probably her first drink. And last, if Sasuke had anything to say about it.

She leaned against him; unconsciously nuzzling at the crook of his neck and an intoxicating scent of vanilla and something uniquely Hinata filled his nostrils, clouding his ability to think. She was warm, incredibly soft, and curvy in all the right places and his breath hitched when she wrapped her tiny arms around his waist. He hated the way his body was reacting to her. This was the first time they had ever got that close and it was excruciatingly painful.

Sasuke tried to push away any unwanted thoughts and re-direct his focus on the getting them both home. Then he was going to take a cold shower and lock himself in his room. He hadn't been with a woman in a long time and the blunette was seriously pushing his limits. The worst part was that she wasn't even trying to seduce him – a hard feat for any woman, and yet she was succeeding…

Confused, Sayuri debated on she should do. She was desperate to see the handsome young man again but luckily for her, there was only one way out of the restaurant. He would have to pass her on his way out and it would also give her an opportunity to scope out the woman he was with all night (and steal a few more glances at him). She carefully positioned herself in a tall booth which would give her a clear view of them but he would not be able to see her.

Soon after midnight, he emerged from one of the private compartments with a young woman in his arms. His arm was around her waist and she was leaning on him. She couldn't see her face.

Sayuri felt a twinge of jealously.

Who was this woman? And why did she get to be with him?!

'May be she was a prostitute?' Sayuri snickered haughtily.

But there was something in the way he held her; gently and affectionately, that Sayuri refused to acknowledge. She didn't want to believe that she was his wife.

'No matter', she thought as her painted red lips quirked into a twisted smile, 'even if she was, it still wouldn't be enough stop her from going after him'.

Because what Sayuri wants, Sayuri gets.

As soon as they got through the door, Sasuke dumped Hinata on the couch and headed towards the kitchen. Pouring himself a large glass of ice-cold water, he tried earnestly to stop his eyes wandering in her direction as he gulped at the water. He had no intention of moving her; she could lie there all night for all he cared because there was absolutely no way he was getting into a room with her and a bed. Not caring that her shoes were still on and the front of her kimono was slightly undone, he stalked up to his room. He proceeded to undo his kimono in his on suite bathroom, trying to banish all thoughts of the (suddenly) captivating woman lying on his couch.

Turning on the tap, Sasuke felt instant relief as the water wash over him – punishing and cleansing at the same time. His mind started to clear up slowly.

What had he been thinking earlier?

But she was traditionally beautiful he supposed – silky midnight blue hair, long delicate eyelashes framing pearl colored eyes, smooth porcelain skin, perfect rosy lips and a natural blush that somehow turned out to be her best feature. If Hinata ever stopped to give herself a second thought, she would discover that she was indeed very desirable – demure, polite, obedient and conservative.

Qualities any man would want in his woman.

Even if she weren't a ninja, she was still a fine catch who would be able to make any man happy while securing a strong political allegiance. So why would Hiashi Hyuuga marry her off to one of their own? It made no sense. He had yet to encounter anyone (besides Hiro) who had anything negative to say about her and knew from his personal experience that there wasn't a single person who didn't like or respect her.

He had seen her in a different light tonight and hated to admit that he liked it. He had become comfortable with her during her stay at Uchiha manor and she insisted on looking after him. She was a quiet, calming presence in his life – a welcome change from the two loudmouths he usually dealt with.

Closing the tap, he let the water drip from his form as he reached for the towel. Dressing in a simple pair of pants, he headed towards the living room.

If only their circumstances were different…

In the living room, Hinata stirred in her sleep.

She dreamed that she was walking through a sunny meadow, abundant with colorful flowers and luscious plants. Birds chirped in song and little animals scurried out and about. She strolled alone contentedly until she saw a spring in the distance.

Curiously, she approached the water but it was so dark that it could be considered black, like ink.

'How strange,' she thought as she lowered herself to the edge.

As she dipped her feet into the water, she discovered that the water was not cool but deliciously warm.

She was enjoying the way the dark water rippled at her feet when she felt a soft touch on her ankles.

Struck with fear, she held still as she sensed something move beneath the surface of the water.

A few more feathery touches and… then long fingers and a pale hand smoothed over her feet, massaging them tenderly until she sighed in pleasure. The masculine hand reached higher, caressing her knees and then her calves while a sleek body emerged from the depths of the water.

Hinata felt afraid and excited all at once, to see the form of a man but she couldn't make out his face. His arms slipped around her, pulling her against him, his body hot and silky beneath her fingers.

Her dream lover then whispered something that she couldn't quite fathom as his mouth ghosting over her throat. His fingers left a fiery trail wherever they touched, "There's no need to fear me, I would never hurt you," he promised. She shivered and held him tighter as he kissed her face, neck and the base of her throat. His tongue was deviously brilliant and made her flesh ache for him. She dug her hands into his inky tresses and gasped in surprise when she felt his hand on her thigh… and then…

Her eyes flew open.

Her mind spun as she woke up in a tangle of confusion and desire, her heart beating rapidly. The dream vanished instantly and she realized with regret that she was not in a meadow but in her own room.

Sorely disappointed, she fluffed up her pillow and tried earnestly to return to her dream lover, but she had lost him to the same the black waters from which he had emerged.

AN: Hope you liked that one! Oooh, What happens now?! Hehehehe =D

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