Chapter Neun
Sunset sets the pace for the night
The eyes follow the light
Into darkness that speaks no evil
Ying and Yang
Life and Death
Contrasts of Life itself
Time spirals down a path for the morrow
For the direction goes only one way
Compromise slows the walker
Should the past surfaces
To ravage the present
And jeopardise the future
The formula to a happy marriage – does it exist?
Trust, Honesty, Complementary, Similarity etc – what is needed to make a relationship work? And is it so different from ingredients for marriage?
Trust, once broken is hard to amend. We find it just so hard to put our trust in people who rattled the faith we installed in the relationship with them. It takes real courage to forgive, but greater strength to listen to the truth, learn from it and grow.
But where does one find the courage to forgive and really forget?
Well, it wasn't hard to figure out that Hinata has moved towards a more extreme action, sending forth the word of divorce to Itachi faster the bullet train. A separation followed suit even faster. The move set an uproar that raged faster than a bush fire, stirring up much news and upheaval.
Much to say, the Uchiha and Hyuuga family suffered strains but relations remain firm through the storm of the news that shook the financial state on the market. Much rumours evolved ranging from the obvious to the most ridiculous, but tabloid smoke can only be sustained if only there is a fire to begin with. However, shortly after the announcement, it would seem that Hinata has moved from the centrality of Tokyo to relocate elsewhere to rest – somewhere familiar and definitely where she is more at ease.
"Hinata!"
The slim figure looked up from her book that she has been indulging herself since afternoon to look in the direction where a set of thundering footsteps were coming from. Two seconds later, a blonde head appeared.
"Yosh! You have a visitor!" Naruto said as he walked into her room, followed by a dark hair that did not fail to bring back memories of another figure of similar colouring.
"Sasuke-kun! I thought you were not coming till next week!" She rose to greet him with a friendly hug.
He awarded a cheeky grin and happily received the hug.
"I was getting bored anyway. Besides, my presence at home would not make a difference, since all I ever see in the house is my brother."
She wore an awkward smile. She had heard that Itachi took to staying in the house more often these days since the news broke out, preferring the company of family instead of female aesthetics.
"Gomen-"
"Stop apologising! You didn't do anything wrong, he's just not feeling well and needs more rest at home-"
"Gomen."
"There you go again." Naruto chided. "Anyway, I have to go! It's time for my shift! Ja!"
And he left with a wave.
She yelled back for him to take care, and he replied something about ramen, followed by the slam of rush departure.
She smiled. She was glad to be back in Osaka, and it was of good timing that her old room had recently vacated and that she was welcomed back into the familiar home of her beloved three guys.
It was hard picking up the pieces but somehow with their encouragement, she learned to let go and was slowly moving on with her life.
"How's the volunteer work coming along? Do the kids have you at their mercy?" Sasuke asked.
"It's going great. And no, I am not being bullied by them! We work together and everything's just great." She said, smiling.
"You look well, and I'm glad."
"Thank you. And so do you. How's everyone?"
"Everyone is well. Everyone misses you, especially Okaa-san. She still speaks of you fondly over dinners and in general. I know, it has been 4 months but still, your presence is sorely missed. Things aren't the same as they used to be anymore."
"Sasuke-kun, we've been through this many times. I won't change my mind-"
He offered a smile.
"My brother is a proud man of high achievements and great ambitions. Never once, have I seen him as affected as he is now. He doesn't show much emotion but he is affected as any normal person would."
Hinata paused to stand up to get a glass of water for Sasuke before settling down to speak again.
"It's always sad when things come to an end, but life moves on. Time will heal and before you know it, everything will be back to normal."
"Define 'normal', Hinata."
She looked at him, unsure.
Some psychologist I turned out to be. I can't even mask my feelings in the face of others. She thought.
"Nothing goes back to 'normal'. Yes, Life moves on but it never is the same." Sasuke said.
Indeed. Nothing can ever be the same the again. In fact, I am finding it so hard to deal with the guilt inside, from the mistake of ever agreeing to marry Itachi in the first place.
"What were you looking for when you married my brother?" He continued, in the wake of an absence of a reply from her.
She was surprised.
"That's an interesting question." She replied, taking a pause as she sipped her tea pondering about that question.
He lifted an eyebrow at her. "Perhaps 'hope'?"
Hope?
She verbalised the word and let it roll about in her mouth as it was articulated.
What was I hoping for?
"A hope that maybe you do have a shot of some happiness despite the tragic circumstance of forced marriage? A hope that you would be at least unburdened by the guilt that you have not been the filial daughter of your father's?"
"Where is this leading to?" She asked, feeling more uncomfortable by the minute.
He bent down close to her face. The proximity drew nervousness out and she felt her heartbeat paced faster.
"You decided that there was no love the second you agreed to marry my brother. Under such circumstances, how was love suppose manifest itself?" He said matter-of-factly.
"Sasuke! Why are you doing this!" She said, flustered.
"Because I love you. But that is not the point I was getting to."
Hinata felt the flush of heat creep its colours into her cheeks, as he continued.
"The point is: Why did you not give yourself and your marriage a chance to work! Why did you wallow yourself in the shores of self-pity? Did you really thought yourself out to be a heroine when you decided to place duty over self. You are not. It is but a cowardly action to remove all responsibility from yourself and tying in the tragedy by condemning any chance of happiness for yourself and my brother."
She felt tongue-tied.
"I came down today because I wanted you to hear the truth about my brother."
"A truth that I already know." She said quietly.
He looked at her. She merely sipped more tea.
"I know the truth about the reported myths glamorised in the tabloids. I heard it from Neji when he came to visit me in hospital."
FLASHBACK
She remembered that it was but two days after she regained consciousness, Neji had came by late in the night for a visit with flowers and some jelly because he heard she wasn't eating right.
"Hinata, there's something I think you should know." He said.
"Eh? About what?"
"About your husband, Itachi."
Her face visibly fell at the mention of his name.
"Understandably you are upset right now, but I believe you need to know the truth behind the tabloid rumours."
"You don't have to really since I plan on getting a divorce." She said quietly as she handed the empty jelly cup back to him for disposal.
"What? You are not in the right frame of mind to be thinking about that!"
"I've decided that it would be best to just end the suffering for all of us. Especially for our families."
"Listen to me, Hinata-"
"Neji, please I don't really want to talk about it-"
"No! You have to listen!"
Her head bent and the tears flowed. She couldn't control it. She really couldn't help it. She hated to cry but of late, she lacked control over the tear ducts that seems to constantly wash the visuals whenever the sensitive topic was brought up.
His heart broke to see her in such a state.
"Please listen to me. You have to listen to the truth about the whole situation."
More tears spotted the sheets.
He suddenly held her in a tight embrace.
"Honestly, I could choose not to tell you about the truth and let you pursue the divorce because selfishly, that would benefit me more."
What?
"Because I love you and that would mean a chance of winning your heart."
She was so shocked that all she could do was to push him away.
He smiled sadly as she looked up at him.
"But I never thought of you as anything else but a brother-"
"As you denoted me to be that and nothing else of deeper meaning. In any case, I am not such a person because I know where your heart truly lies and I will not manipulate the situation only to rub salt into the wounds."
She felt her body grew cold and her mind confused. Here stood her cousin to whom she looked up to for guidance and for support, who had just declared his feelings for her! In the wake of events, it was too much to take.
"He is not being unfaithful to you as you think he is." Neji continued.
"Eh?"
"He fell drunk once at a party with an important client and ended spending the night over as a guest. He was caught by the cameras when he left in the morning, accompanied by the client's attractive daughter. The rumours started then and were fuelled by his graced presence at parties to which, all pictures published are always the ones with a gorgeous female companion at the various venues."
"And how do you know this?"
"Because my girlfriend happens to be that daughter's good friend."
"Girlfriend?"
He smiled. "Yes, my girlfriend Tenten."
Her eyes grew large.
"I still love you but life moves on. And I am pleased to say that I am learning to let you go with her help."
"Tenten knows!"
He laughed.
"Yes she does. And for that, I'm grateful to have such an understanding person."
She smiled as she wiped the tear stains away. This was wonderful news!
"Do reconsider the divorce, Hinata."
She smiled again, sadly.
"I'm so happy for you Neji! The two of you make such a fine couple!" She paused. "But my mind's made up. I'm tired and I really don't wish to drag on this marriage. It was a mistake and I intend to fix that within my power. We are very different people and it is just not going to work out. He will be happier that way too."
"Are you thinking of him, or yourself?"
She remembered smiling and brushing off that question. She was only too happy to be indulged of the details of how did the relationship blossom and to thank him for everything.
END OF FLASHBACK
"Do reconsider, Hinata." Sasuke repeated. "There is still time to turn back before you are due to appear in Tokyo to sign the papers in two weeks."
"If there is one thing that I always wonder is why won't he say anything about the rumours?" She said.
"Because he doesn't think he needs to account for them, and that is his flaw. He assumes that you'll trust him enough to know."
"But I didn't. The point is the trust is gone. The foundation of the relationship doesn't exist anymore."
"But it is your fault to never have asked him about it. You just assumed like my brother that the media spoke the truth."
Her cheeks grew scarlet again.
"Two brilliant people who are too 'brilliant' to practice common sense communication with one another, to built upon the chance of an attraction into something more concrete that doesn't crumble so easily under the influence of gossip mongers."
She kept her head bent.
"It's not too late, Hinata." He said.
"The damage is done. It is too late." She whispered as she looked out of the window that opened to a lovely Dali-like sunset. The cool breeze carries a single leaf and she watches as it sails past into the distance where it is beyond touch, beyond reach.
Meanwhile, Ino was sitting at her office with the newspaper spread out on the table. She was bored with financial news, or to be more exact, distracted by other thoughts that easily replaced priority to work.
"Sigh. It's boring without Hinata around to visit during the breaks." She mumbled as she recalled the whirlwind events that led to temporary leave of Hinata from Konoha Corps. Things were finally settling but at the same time, all of them knew that things will never be the same again.
After buzzing Yuna (her PA) for a cup of coffee, she proceeded to flip to the last page where she caught a familiar face in the featured article.
"Nara Shikamaru." She whispered. "Why do you suddenly look so handsome when you're gone? Why are we humans so ungrateful, to only to miss the things we treasure most only when they're gone?"
With the coffee having arrived piping hot and aromatic, Ino then moved to the sofa to enjoy some quiet time lounging and remising about the old times. She hated to admit it for such a long time and was a fool for letting things be. She finally faced up to whom her heart had a soft spot for, only after the cumbersome fool that stole it left. Life sure has a way of playing her ironies on the people and on heart's strings. It doesn't help at all to have read but a few days ago about a rumoured engagement with the Temari!
She groaned and sipped more coffee. She felt like kicking herself every time she thought about it. But more so for allowing herself to be thinking about him!
She sighed again before placing the mug on the coffee table.
"I know I shouldn't do anything but it is irritating me to the core to be not doing anything either! Argh! I hate myself, seriously. Why do I always get myself in such situations? First it was Sasuke-kun, and now, this."
Except this was definitely real. Definitely what she feels about this is real and there. She blew out a puff of frustration before slumping onto the couch to pout in frustration.
This is just too frustrating. What should I do? What would Hinata say? Ino wondered. She'll probably tell me to do what I do best: tell it straight to his face.
Ino laughed quietly.
What I do best …
Upon downing the last of the dark coffee, she suddenly jumped up to grab her coat and dashed out of the office much to the shock of the staff around her. Heels clicking, heart beat accelerating with the rush of insanity that saw Ino through the polished floors of buildings, never-ending traffic to the amazed faces of people that couldn't help stare at a flushed beauty in Prada racing past them. In contrast, she – the object paid no heed to anyone else but the mission impossible that she was determined to complete.
Needless to say, Shikamaru was only flooded with shock to find that a certain female had stormed his office right when he was in the middle of yet another boring conference. Having not seen her in a long while had brought out some awkwardness because he found himself staring a bit too hard and too long to maintain cool composure, thus causing mild irritating to himself. But he would have admit that she's still as beautiful as he last saw her though…
"Troublesome –" He began with his trademark tag phrase, only to be halted by the disturber herself.
"I just need to get this off my chest so that I can move on in life." Ino said before turning to the bemused board of director to apologise some and then grabbing the man in question out to a quiet spot elsewhere, stirring up much excitement as she dragged him out by the hand.
"What is wrong with you, loud one?" He yelled as he almost tripped over his legs.
She ignored until she found an empty office to which she locked them in before finally catching her breath.
Furrowing his brows, he proceeded to light up as she adjusted her attire and calmed down.
"Are you done?" He asked after a few minutes to which she nodded.
Shit. I'm getting nervous! She thought but force-braced herself to face him. Taking a deep breath, she spoke.
"Shikamaru, I know that this isn't exactly the best way and time to do this but I just need to say it. I am not looking for an answer nor am I looking to change your mind about your engagement to Temari. So please, just let me do this and don't interrupt."
He felt speechless but to maintain a calm self, he merely nodded. Inside, he only heard the sound of his heart beat speeding up and pounding up the blood to his ears.
"Ever since high school, I merely caught onto the wave of silly crushes that would lead to tears and fruitless pursuits. Never in my life have I really known that what I know is only but a girly adolescent chase of the supposed 'cute guy' of the season. I thought it to be love but it was probably a sense of Petrarchian admiration in a bid to be included in the 'in-crowd' of the moment. Endlessly I pursuit and admired but never really acting upon with same passionate drive that Sakura has for Sasuke, and throughout this I neglected to realise that maybe all I need is just someone, a man who thought of me more than just the silly female. A neglect that has come to turn into regret only when I found out from the media that the only man who was always around for me was gone."
Shikamaru could stand there in surprise. Embarrassment crept colour to his cheeks as happiness flooded inside of him. It was to the extent that a smile was threatening to emerge.
"So I just want to say that I have come to love you, just that I was too blind to realise it. But I will not stand as an obstacle in your path of happiness. In no way do I intended you to reciprocate the feelings. I only wanted to you to hear it because I doubt that I can hold my loud mouth in peace at the church wedding. So, my dear friend, I wish you well and congratulations to you and Temari. May you be always happy… Anyway I shan't hold you any longer, you are missed and I am due for a meeting in half hour. I'll be off now, no need to see me off."
And she turned in abrupt pursuit to bolt from the room to hide her embarrassment, only to be held back and dragged in tight embrace.
"Eh?"
"Baka woman." He muttered in her ear as he held her tight. "How on earth did you come to be that stupid to believe tabloids?"
The throat felt thick and she felt speechless as he laughed.
"But I guess I can't help the fact that I love such a silly female as you, even one that hasn't learnt from Hinata to not trust the media."
She was still confused and pushed for space to face him straight.
"So let me get this straight – you are not engaged to Temari?"
He shook his head as he tried to suppress the laughter. And it was contagious; a smile crept up on her face as she now posed the next question.
"And the feeling's mutual?"
He merely grinned before dragging her close for that long awaited kiss that he had been dreaming about ever since he met a woman named Ino.
Author's note:
Hi everyone!
Sorry to for the really delayed update but things have gotten hectic ever since the end of exams. As this is not beta-ed, please point out silly errors as you spot them and I will get onto correcting the ones of the previous chapter. In any case, I just want to thank you guys for your support and patience. The next and last chapter for this story should be up in due time. Meanwhile, take care !
Cheers,
Arte
P.s Thanks for all the reviews! I appreciate all of them and especially for pointing out errors. I'll get to them soon!