Half of my Soul
Chapter 4 : Novelty
Author's Note : Hi all, back at it with a nice long chappy for you guys! I have also made the decision to change all honorifics used within the Hyugas to strictly traditional Japanese ones. Just trying to maintain the authenticity, best as I can. Moving on to the chapter!
Hinata lifts a hand in a futile attempt to tame wind-whipped inky blue strands of hair as she stood outside Sasuke Uchiha's door. She huffs in frustration, giving up and opting to smooth out her clothes instead. The basket of fruits that she had brought as a door gift was parked on the ground of the wooden veranda. She had already politely rung the doorbell, and received a slightly disgruntled greeting from the owner of the house. He had told her to wait, so she would. She took the chance to eye the exterior of the Uchiha's house, noting that he had chosen to incorporate both traditional and modern elements in its design. Though it mostly had the appearance of a typical minka, he had taken the liberty to add a doorbell. The entrance was not open like that of the Hyuga compound, but instead prohibited by a polished wooden door. The door was suddenly opened, and pearly eyes met onyx ones.
"Ah-good morning, Uchiha-san!" She greets as she dips her head politely, before straightening back up.
"Hyuga," He acknowledges, pausing as he seemingly ponders an invisible thought. "Sorry for the hold up, I had a late night."
She smiles politely. "It's fine, I barely had to wait." She then remembers the basket, picking it up and holding it out.
"I hope you like fruits...I got them fresh from the market earlier."
He eyes the basket, as if he were warily assessing it, before reaching out and taking it gently from her grasp. His slender fingers brushed lightly against hers for a moment, she almost starts at the unfamiliar sensation. However, it is over before she can know it. He moves aside, a hand casually slipping into the pocket of his shorts. She realises that he is giving her way to enter, and she steps inside after removing her sandals at the entrance.
Her interest increases as she takes in the sight of Sasuke's rich and sleek wooden floors, the simple yet elegant crème colour of his walls catching her eye. She had been used to living in a traditional house her entire life, hence anything modern was truly awe-inspiring. She had secretly wanted to ring the doorbell a few times earlier, but that would have been very inappropriate. She resists the temptation to hop on the cushy-looking white sofa in the corner, tearing her eyes away to glance at the stacked bookshelf nearby instead. Seems that Sasuke was a bit of a reader. The sound of a throat being cleared was heard faintly in the background. Sasuke appears in her field of vision, having placed the basket on a small table. He showed no signs of having noticed her open ogling, though it had been quite obvious.
"The garden is through the back."
After having followed Sasuke through the remainder of his house, Hinata was pleasantly surprised at the cosy and modernised interior. It soon turned into shock as she descended the steps and witnessed the backyard of Sasuke's house, which was overrun with weeds.
"Uchiha-san...is this your garden?"
"...Yes." He replied, looking almost...sheepish.
"I-I see." She blinks slowly and gives it a onceover, her gaze landing on a roughly dug up patch of earth among the weeds. That must be the attempt that he had mentioned yesterday. She held back an amused laugh. He would take it as mockery. But his nonchalance was somewhat...endearing, she thought.
"As much as I'd like to help you with the planting, I'm afraid some weeding will have to be done first. It shouldn't take too long."
"Oh. You're supposed to get rid of those."
She smiles. "Yes, you are."
Fifteen minutes later, Sasuke descends the steps with a bowl of peeled apples and two glasses of orange juice. He figured that he should be as accommodating as possible, seeing as he was currently being so utterly useless. He watches the Hyuga girl's back as she effortlessly pulls the weeds out, neatly discarding them in a basket. She's kneeled in the dirt; her hair pulled into a high ponytail and bangs already sticking to her face as she sweats. She had pulled on some work boots that Sasuke conveniently had, and was donning a sun hat that she had come prepared with. A rare sight to see, he thinks. The noble heiress of the most prestigious clan in Konoha, knee-deep in muck and sweating it out in his backyard. It was an interesting scenario, to say the least.
"I brought you some juice." He states.
She turns around for a look, her hair now fully plastered to her pale features. She sees the drink, nodding in thanks.
"Thank you, Uchiha-san. I will have it shortly; I just need to finish this section."
He shrugs and places it on a stool. "Sure."
He then plops on another chair nearby, having an apple slice while she works. Thinking that it was quite sweet, he reaches for another and basks in the sunlight that was beginning to peak beyond the clouds.
Hinata walks up all of a sudden, removing her gloves and neatly placing them aside. She lifts a hand to brush the slicked hair off her face, exhaling softly. She picks up the glass and begins to sip slowly at the juice, sitting down on the stool.
"This a hobby of yours?"
She seems almost startled by his question, turning to face him. Was he really that unpredictable?
A hint of fondness evident in her lilac irises, she smiles as she replies. "Yes. Ever since I was young."
"I see." He takes a sip of his own juice.
"What about you, Uchiha-san? Do you have any?"
"Mm...does training count?"
She softly giggles at this, lifting a hand to cover her mouth. She stops when she notices his expression, though.
"Oh. You were being serious..." She fiddles with her juice and looks away, seemingly embarrassed.
He shuts his eyes softly as the wind flicks across his face, the morning sun almost out now. "Relax, Hyuga. Being mistaken doesn't always have to result in a consequence."
She looks at him once more. "I suppose you're right...I wish that were true for most things."
"Most people aren't that lucky."
She's silent this time.
An hour later, Hinata stands up, wiping her brow with her arm and smiling triumphantly as she looks at the fruits of her labour. Sasuke too, is satisfied. He had finally managed to accomplish the planting of his tomato seeds, with Hinata's guidance, of course.
"It looks good," Hinata states after giving everything a onceover. "Tend to them the way I've taught you, and you should have perfect tomatoes in no time. Please do not neglect watering times, Uchiha-san."
"I won't." He affirms.
She gestures to the other empty beds of soil. "You could add whatever you like here, just remember to section them off."
He nods in understanding. "Got it. Thanks."
She smiles cheerfully. "It was no problem at all! It was the least I could do. Besides, it was fun starting from scratch with a fresh bed of soil. I hope you will find as much joy as I do in the tranquillity that gardening can provide."
She heads over to the chair from before, beginning to remove her gloves and boots. Her pants were dirtied with soil and her face was covered with a sheen of sweat. She meets his eyes.
"Is there anything else you'd like from me, Uchiha-san?"
He thinks for a moment. Was now the time? It would be embarrassing to admit that he hadn't known her name the entire time. He taps his foot a little as he gazes at her, waiting patiently for his reply while she unties the strings of her hat. Screw it. By his own words, not every mistake has to have consequences.
"I'll be honest, Hyuga...I don't think I remember your name." He states plainly, watching as she finally undoes the strings. He braces himself for some form of impending judgment. But none arrives.
"Oh," she simply says. "My apologies, Uchiha-san...I should've introduced myself in the marketplace the other day. It makes sense that you would not remember my name. It's Hinata."
"...Right."
She smiles wantonly, removing her hat at last. "I am aware that it doesn't suit me. One would think that I'd be associated with anything else, rather than the sun." She adds slowly, her eyes downcast.
He watches as the wind dances through her long hair and her futile attempt to tuck it behind her ear. The morning sun nearly gone, but casting its last few rays down on her face. The sunlight dancing upon her fair features, she seemed to be...glowing, almost. He thinks to himself that she is mistaken. It does suit her.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now..." she trails off.
"Yeah, that'll be all."
She nods as acknowledgement, before heading up the stairs and back into the house. He follows close behind her.
"Uchiha-san, could I borrow your sink for a bit? My hands have a bit of dirt on them..." she admits sheepishly, her eyes darting to the ground shortly after. She seemed ashamed.
He lifts a thin brow, mildly amused by the girls' manners. He couldn't resist the urge to mess with her. Just a bit.
"What if I said no?" he questions, leaning against the kitchen counter with his arms crossed.
"H-huh?" she stutters, evidently confused. "Oh...that's alright. It can wait until I reach the compound..."
The corners of his lips upturn by a breadth. He battles with the temptation to send her on her way with unwashed hands. How amusing that would be.
"I was just joking. Go ahead."
Her pupils light up in realisation, a hint of indignation soon creeping in. Nonetheless, she appears to compose herself.
"Of course...! Good one, Uchiha-san." She smiles softly, before edging to the sink.
He watches her scrub her fingers, one-by-one. They were quite small, but slender and graceful in movement.
"I hope that's not how you always handle such situations."
She pauses, midway through the tedious process of cleaning her fingernails. He wonders if he had overstepped.
"I'd like to think not. I have been told that I'm fun to tease on multiple occasions, however. I don't mind it if it brings the people that I care about joy." She steadily replies.
"Sure. But there has to be a line between their joy and your pride."
She turns off the water and dabs her hands on a towel by the sink. He notes that she didn't ask for permission this time.
"I do not worry about such things with my special people." She turns to face him. "Do you, Uchiha-san?"
It seemed he had touched some sort of nerve. He recalls the conversation between her and her teammate. She had reacted in a similar way when Naruto was mentioned.
"I meant no offence."
Her expression shifts, that familiar polite smile painted on again, head shaking slightly. "None was taken. I'll be heading home now."
She bows, the arch of her back straight. It peeves him a bit, the propriety. It reminds him of what he would've been. What he should've been.
"Stop that," he says as she is mid-bow. She tilts her head up, watching him expectantly with a perplexed expression. "The formalities. You don't have to observe them with me. The bowing and...stuff."
She blinks twice, her mouth slightly agape before she gathers herself and straightens back up. "I-I see. Alright then..."
He watches her shift awkwardly, before he notices something. "Your pants."
She follows his gaze, catching sight of her dirtied pants. "Oh...it's fine, Uchiha-san. The compound isn't too far from here." She reassures.
He lifts a hand, running it through his hair. The Hyuga heiress, walking around Konoha with dirty clothing. Wasn't she the one who's supposed to be worried about how she'd look? He casts a glance at her, watching him innocently with her sun-hat in hand. What a pain.
"I'll lend you something of mine. Hold on."
Hinata reaches the entrance of the compound fifteen minutes later, removing her sandals and arranging them neatly on the veranda. She scans the area, wary as she enters silently before a small, petite figure lands in front of her.
"Hanabi!" Hinata yelps, clutching at her chest.
"Nee-chan?! Aww, I thought you were Ko! I was gonna get the jump on him." The brown-haired girl pouts.
"Hanabi, you have to stop with this-this habit of yours. It could lead to somebody getting hurt. Or worse, you getting hurt." Hinata lectured, hand remaining on her chest as she steadied her heartbeat.
"Chill out, won't you? I'm just trying to have some fun. This place could use it." She balances atop the wooden railings that line the open courtyard, her pale blue kimono swishing gracefully. "Especially today, with your man meat coming and all. It'll be way too serious and boring!"
She glares at the younger girl, who simply chuckles in response. "Don't use such words, Hanabi. It's unbecoming."
Hanabi scoffs. "You have to lighten up, Nee-chan. He's not gonna like you if you don't!" She teases.
Hinata shakes her head, turning heel in the direction of her room. "I'll see you at dinner, Hanabi. Remember to dress formally."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it." She says lazily, before staring closer at Hinata's now retreating figure. "Nee-chan, aren't your pants a little too loose for you?" She calls out.
Hinata simply quickens her pace, clutching the brown bag containing her soiled pants closer to her chest.
Moments later, she is in her room and preparing for a bath. She regards herself in the mirror, sighing at how evidently loose Sasuke's pants were on her frame. The Uchiha had completely ignored her protests, and fetched the smallest pair he had. Well, small for him, she supposed. She fingered the dark brown fabric, noting its comfiness. He had said that she could keep it, but she wasn't going to, of course. It would be highly inappropriate. She was surprised at his consideration. Never had she thought that Sasuke of all people, would offer her his clothes just to spare her the shame of walking home in dirtied attire. Nor had she expected his home to feel so...warm. Then again, she supposed he had a knack for subverting her expectations. His attempt at gardening had been nothing short of amusing. And his statements about her...they had almost felt personal. He must have heard quite a bit of her conversation. She had probably seemed like a complete pushover, sitting there and taking whatever Kiba had thrown at her. She sighed; the conclusion she assumed Sasuke had come to about her was most likely accurate. "Hinata does not retaliate. Hinata is polite and forgiving. Hinata is easy to walk all over."
She recalls being a little snappy with the last Uchiha, however. Strange, and very unlike her. She wanted to smack herself for being so impolite with someone whom she barely knew. It seemed that the slip-ups would never end.
"Hinata-sama, the bath is prepared!" A handmaid calls from behind the shoji door.
"Thank you, Akari. I'll be right there." She replies.
She takes one last look at her pants, before undoing its drawstrings and letting it drop to the floor. She couldn't afford any slip-ups tonight.
The sound of fabric swishing softly was heard, Hinata's arms spread out, her mind elsewhere. It was almost time. Time to meet the man whom she would decidedly spend the rest of her life with. Would it be love at first sight? She doubted such a thing existed. Well, if not love, perhaps some sort of initial attraction. She regarded herself in the mirror, her usually pale features now enhanced with makeup by Akari. The girl was quite skilled. Vermillion had been dabbed upon the alabaster canvas of her cheeks; her eyelids coated in a light pink-hued powder. Her lips painted a fiery vermillion, the outline of their heart shape lined perfectly by a steady hand. Her hair had been gathered and pinned into a low, neat bun that was held in place by a golden hairpin. Its tassels gleamed when caught in the light. Her maids were now slipping the final layer of her furisode kimono on, a bold yet elegant shade of red. Branches of gold adorned with white lilies embellish the corners of the material, meeting in the middle of its bodice. The obi soon followed, a striking gold to match pulled around her torso. Though not Hinata's usual colour or style, her father had insisted. He was pulling out all the stops, it would seem. This was one of the best they had.
"Hinata-sama, we are finished." A voice interrupts her thoughts. Akari places a pair of red house slippers at her feet.
She slips into them, giving herself a final glance in the mirror.
"You look wonderful, Hinata-sama." Akari adds, admiring her handiwork as the two other maids nod eagerly in agreement.
She smiles. "Thank you all. I owe it to your skills."
She chuckles as they blush and insist that it is her natural beauty. She silently wishes she had that idea of herself.
Akari gently reminds her that it is time to go, and they exit the room.
Minutes later, she is standing at the main entrance with Hanabi and her father, waiting to receive their guests.
"Do not forget to smile, Hinata." Her father stated plainly.
"Yes, Otou-sama." Hinata replies softly. Hanabi rolls her eyes, unnoticeable to him. Hinata smiles wide, marvelling at how her sister never failed to amuse her. Hanabi looked every bit as stunning as she did with her hair up, however her deep yellow kimono was much plainer in comparison. Hinata was meant to be the star tonight.
Ko approached them, informing them that their guests had arrived. Hinata prepared herself. This was it.
The gates to the main entrance of the compound swung open, revealing a small party of people beginning to draw closer from the front gates. The faces of her suitor's parents came into sight, a round-bellied, bespectacled man and his petite, prim-looking wife. Both were donning kimono, turquoise in colour with silver embellishments. They appeared jovial and friendly, giant smiles gracing their features as they approached her father.
"Hiashi Hyuga-san! We meet at last." The man says as he bows low in greeting, his wife following suit.
"Indeed, Daisuke Satou-san. I extend a very warm welcome to you and your wife." Hiashi responds, bowing in kind.
"It is a pleasure and an honour to meet the honourable Hiashi Hyuga in person." His wife adds.
"The pleasure is all mine, Harumi-san." Hiashi says. He gestures to Hinata and Hanabi. "I would like you to meet my eldest and heiress to the clan, Hinata. And my youngest, Hanabi."
Hinata smiles, bowing politely. "Good evening and welcome. I look forward to having a lovely evening with your family."
Hanabi follows suit in the back.
Hinata glanced at their faces, Daisuke beaming at her, his wife's hand hovering above her mouth. Should she be concerned at that reaction?
"Oh my-Hiashi-san. Your daughter is even more beautiful in person."
A warm blush begun to spread across her cheeks. This woman was rather...brazen. She walks up to Hinata all of a sudden, taking her hands in hers. Hinata blinks in surprise, resisting the urge to back away. Hiashi's eyebrow twitches as she had entered with her shoes still on.
"My dear...the picture that the matchmaker sent simply did not do any justice. After laying eyes on you, I don't believe any other woman would be suitable for my son."
An awkward silence ensued, Hanabi's muffled laughter heard in the background.
"O-oh, I...thank you-"Stop it, Mother. You're scaring the poor girl." A deep voice said. Hinata strained her neck, eyes seeking out its owner.
He strode past the entrance, tall and confident. Towering over both his mother and her, he placed his hands on his mothers' and gently prised them away from Hinata's.
"You've just met her. I doubt she'd be comfortable with such familiarity." He turns his gaze to her. "Right, Hinata-san?"
A pause of silence before she answers. "No, I don't mind at all, Satou-san," she bows. "Welcome, please make yourself at home."
The handmaids draw closer, placing house slippers in near their feet.
"Thank you, Hinata-san." He nods and smiles, before turning to his mother. "Mother, you forgot to remove your shoes..."
"Oh, silly me! My apologies, Hiashi. I was far too excited!" She steps back outside to remove her shoes.
He shakes his head at her, before focusing on Hinata again. "You have quite a lovely home. I spent a few minutes admiring the woodwork outside, hence my late arrival."
"Thank you, Satou-san. I am glad it is to your liking." She responds.
The sound of a throat clearing is heard in the background. Hiashi seemed to be waiting for something.
The boy catches on, bowing in his direction. "My sincerest apologies, Hyuga-san. I forgot to greet you in my rush to...assist Hinata-san."
Hiashi shuts his eyes. "Not a problem, Yuusei-kun. I understand." He turns to the maids. "Please collect their things, and have them moved to their rooms."
They nod, moving to pick up the Satou's things. He informs them that they will be adjourning to the dining room and proceeds to head in its direction. She moves to let the man walk after his parents, but he shakes his head and asks her to lead the way. The night was proving to be full of surprises.
Idle chatter filled the air as the group partakes in their food, seated upon polished wooden chairs. Hiashi had opted for the modern dining room instead, one Hinata hadn't even known the existence of. One of the rooms had been modified, a large marble table and chairs brought in just last week, according to Hanabi who had whispered sneakily in her ear. He had wanted to make their guests feel more at home, apparently.
"Hinata-chan, do you travel often?" Harumi's voice broke in.
She plasters on a smile, noting the overly familiar honorific before answering. "Outside of missions, I'm afraid not."
"Such a shame! Well, Yuusei here has been to many places and could take you to some of them. I am sure he already has several in mind...go on Yuusei, tell her!" She chimes eagerly.
Hinata perks up at this. She had always been fascinated by other lands, but never really spent enough time exploring them. Kiba was always too lazy, Shino uninterested.
Yuusei laughs softly, placing his cup of green tea down. "Mother, we've only just met. Perhaps it would be better to save such talk for later."
"Nonsense! Now is better a time than any. Wouldn't you agree, Hiashi?"
"...I agree with the boy," Hiashi replies. "Besides, I doubt Hinata will have any time to travel. Once she is wed, her attention shall primarily be on the preparations required for inheritance of the clan."
"Of course, Hiashi! But surely, she might have some time to spare...perhaps between now and the wedding?" Harumi boldly proposes.
"I'm afraid not, Harumi-san. I prioritised her kunoichi training when she was younger, any heir of the Hyuga must be able to defend themselves. Hence, it is now of the utmost importance that she is trained and ready to become the clan head."
Hinata's shoulders slump, her gaze downcast. She was not expecting to be reminded of her impending responsibilities so soon. An awkward silence fills the room, Hiashi signalling to the maids for their dishes to be cleared.
"Oh, dessert! How generous, Hiashi." Harumi attempts to break the tension, noticing mini plates of various assorted sweet treats being placed on their table once cleared.
"I was not too sure of your favourites, so I had different types brought in. I hope they are to your liking."
"More than I can say, Hiashi! Travelling has its perks, you know. You get to try a little bit of...everything." Harumi remarks, taking a small bite out of a cream puff.
"I am sure of it." Hiashi says simply, settling for one of the wagashi.
Yuusei is silent, politely chewing on a red bean mochi and sipping his green tea. Hinata noted his manners, strangely contrasting with his parents'. Harumi chewed rather loudly, and Daisuke had barely said a word the entire night. She stares at the plates of sweets, but found no appetite.
"Hinata-chan, are none of these to your liking? Go on dear, have something!" Harumi exclaims.
"Thank you, Harumi-san. I would love to, but I've had my fill for tonight. Please, help yourself." Hinata smiled.
She secretly wishes that she would be excused. The meeting had proven to be more than she could handle. Alas, only her father could give her the green light of dismissal. She casts a side glance toward Hanabi, wondering if she could use her as an excuse to be dismissed. But the light-haired girl seemed more than content at the table, stuffing sweet after sweet into her mouth. Hinata sighed softly. She begins to wonder if simply asking was worth a go, when Yuusei speaks.
"Hiashi-san, I have a thought. My mother was the one who had the brilliant idea of us staying in the Hyuga compound, so I could familiarise myself with the environment. Have an idea of what would be waiting for me, if me and Hinata-san were to wed."
"A brilliant idea indeed, Yuusei-kun. What of it?" Hiashi asks, almost impatiently.
"Well, I believe a tour of the compound might help with that," He pauses, giving Hinata a quick onceover before continuing. "And seeing as me and Hinata-san are already done with our meals, perhaps she would be so kind as to escort me."
She sits up, mildly astonished by his sudden request. Hiashi seems to ponder this for a while, before nodding.
"Certainly. You are both dismissed for the night. Yuusei-kun, I'm sure the maids will show you to your room afterwards...have a good rest."
Yuusei stands up, politely bowing in Hiashi's direction. "Thank you, Hiashi-san. Goodnight to you as well. Mother, Father, I will see you later in your room."
"Yes, yes. Go ahead, boy." His father smiles encouragingly.
"Such a lovely suggestion, Yuusei! Perfect time for you to get to know each other a little. Don't be shy, Hinata-chan." She teases.
Hinata resists the urge to bow her head, ignoring the mild heat warming her cheeks. Instead, she bows in the general direction of the others, and bids them goodnight. She ignores the cheeky grin Hanabi had plastered on.
"Shall we, Hinata-san?" Yuusei is towering above her once more, beckoning to the door.
She pads ahead.
"W-which area would you like to see first?" She inquires politely, a little bewildered by Yuusei's dismissal of the maids who had wanted to escort them. She curses the momentary return of her old stutter.
He puts a hand on his strong chin, seemingly deep in thought. His tanned fingers appear soft. Softer than hers, perhaps.
"Hmm, how about your favourite spot?" He replies.
"Oh-are you sure? There are much more interesting places..." she trails off.
"I'm sure there are. But I'm most interested in your favourite, Hinata-san." He states. Violet eyes meet hazel ones. They really did have a twinkle to them.
"Alright."
Shortly after, they stand in the midst of Hinata's garden. He wanders around, taking in her flowers.
"I must say, Hinata-san...you definitely have an eye for beauty. These are exquisite, to say the least." He says as he fingers the petals of her prized white roses. His gaze turns to her. "Of course, some say that it would take one to recognise one..."
She prays that he doesn't think much of her looking away, unable to disguise her shyness. Mirth dances in his light brown irises as he approaches her.
"I hope I am not making you uncomfortable, Hinata-san. I was only teasing."
"No...not at all, Satou-san." A weak smile adorns her features. This sounded familiar, and she wasn't sure if she liked it.
He returns the smile, edging closer to the swing hanging from the tree. She hopes he doesn't sit on it. The swing was one of the few things she liked to keep exclusively to herself. To her relief, he simply puts his hand on the rope and toys with it.
"However, I would like to sincerely apologise for my mother's behaviour. Our family has spent so much time travelling, and formalities vary based on the land we visit. She forgets herself rather easily, I'm afraid."
"Ah-it's perfectly alright, Satou-san! I didn't mind at all." She says, waving her hand in denial. "It was...quite refreshing, actually. Different from what I'm used to."
He turns and proceeds to close a bit of the distance between them.
"I am glad you see it that way, Hinata-san. I myself am not a fan of such...formalities." He was quite close now. She had to crane her neck to look up at him.
His wavy, brown fringe had been parted in the middle and secured with pins. His hair was longer than in the photo, but neatly gathered into a small ponytail. Amusement sparkled in his amber-hued eyes as they met lilac ones. She wanted to back away, such physical proximity was not what she expected to occur during their first meeting. But she decided to stand her ground. Perhaps this was a challenge. She wouldn't back down.
"I have seen many a beautiful woman in my lifetime, Hinata-san." He tilts his head slightly to the left, brown eyes roving over her features. "But I must admit, a woman as stunning as yourself is rare to find...my mother was not wrong about that."
She is unable to fight the flush that spreads across her cheeks this time. She hurriedly lowers her gaze, fingers beginning to fidget with her sleeve.
"Thank you, Satou-san..."
"No, not Satou-san." She draws in a breath as two larger hands land on hers, gently putting a halt to her fidgeting. She watches the teal fabric of his sleeves brush against the red of hers. A hand raises to tilt her chin upwards, fixating her focus upon him. "Call me Yuusei-kun."
He dips his head lower, leaning in closer to her face. Hinata's eyes widen. Was he really going to do what she was thinking of...?! She holds up a hand, meaning to interrupt him.
"Satou-san-"Erm." The deep voice of a man clearing his throat was heard. They both turned to look, frozen in place.
"Otou-sama..." She wanted to sink into a hole in the ground.
"Hiashi-san! We were not expecting you." Yuusei cheerfully remarks, releasing her hand and chin from his grip.
"Evidently not." Hiashi states plainly, crossing his arms. "Yuusei-kun, I came to inform you that your mother wishes to speak with you."
"Ah, of course." He looks at her expectantly. "Perhaps Hinata-chan could escort me to my mother's chambers..."
Hiashi raises a brow. "There won't be any need for that, I'm sure she is tired. One of the maids shall escort you."
"Very well. Until tomorrow, Hinata-chan." He stoops low, taking the perplexed girl's hand in his and planting a soft kiss upon it.
She gathers herself enough to muster a smile and withdraws her hand, a bead of sweat tracing the side of her face.
He bows in Hiashi's direction, before making his way up the wooden steps and disappearing behind the door. Then there was only her, frozen awkwardly in place and her father, emotionless as ever.
"I will be taking my leave as well, Otou-sama. Goodnight." She bows before walking ahead, wanting so badly for the night to be over.
"...Was he gentle?" He suddenly asks.
"Wha-what...?" She responds, startled by his sudden question.
Hiashi folds his arms, gaze pointed at the night sky. "The boy. Was he gentle with you?"
"Oh. Yes..." Her own eyes turn towards the ground.
"...Good. Run along now, get some sleep."
She nods and pads over to the entrance. Akari was already waiting for her.
"Do you think he's a good kisser? He certainly looks like one!" Akari proclaims as she combs through her hair, Hinata having changed out of her kimono and comfy in a nightgown.
"Akari..." Hinata chastises softly, her hand playing with the hairpin that had just been removed.
"Surely you must have thought of it, Hinata-sama! Being a good kisser is an important quality, you know..." She teases playfully.
"It wasn't exactly the first thing on my mind..."
The brown-haired girl pauses, her comb mid-section. "Oh? Do tell!"
"I just...felt that it was inappropriate. Is it normal for people to kiss upon the first meeting?"
"Oh, Hinata-sama..." Akari chuckles. "It most definitely is! I have heard many stories of lovers kissing, simply after meeting each other."
"Ah, I see..." She places the hairpin in her bejewelled box. "I always imagined that it would be more...enchanting."
Akari simply smiles at this.
"Of course," She finishes up, placing the comb on her dresser. "You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with, Hinata-sama. That is always an option.
Hinata beams at her in the mirror. "You're right, Akari. I'll remember that."
The girl smiles, tucking a strand of Hinata's hair behind her ear affectionately. "I hope you do get that magical kiss you want so badly, Hinata-sama."
She bows, and exits the room. Hinata regards her reflection, lifting a finger to trace her lower-lip absentmindedly.
"Me too."
That night she dreamt of eyes, blue as the sky and deeper than the ocean.
Glossary
Minka - Houses constructed in any one of several traditional Japanese building styles.
Furisode - The most formal style of kimono worn by young and often unmarried, women.
Obi - A long decorative belt that is wrapped around the body to wear a Japanese kimono or yukata.
Wagashi - Traditional Japanese confections.
Author's Note : Looks like the Satou family has entered the chat. What other unorthodox surprises will they have in store, I wonder? Lack of Sasuke this chapter, sorry to anyone who was looking forward to seeing more of him! I have decided that this fic will be more Hinata-centric than Sasuke. She is the one canonically lacking character development, after all. Stay tuned for the next chapter to find out! Until then, dear readers.
Also, a very special shoutout to Heart Quinn, a loyal and consistent follower. Your detailed and passionate reviews make my day every time. Thank you!