Chapter 12: Family

Hinata, when she woke up the next morning, felt…gross. Her head hurt and her eyes were red and puffy from her tears last night. Although Sasuke and her family had comforted her, she still felt as if she'd lost something vital and important. She had loved Naruto for as long as she could remember, and even though she was happy that he was finally with the girl of his dreams, she wished it could have happened without forcing her own dreams to shatter.

She rose and washed her face, the cool water helping ease the discomfort of her eyes. She looked at herself in the mirror and grimaced. Her pale face stared back at her. She always thought that she looked plain, maybe even ugly, what with her pale pupil-less eyes, white skin, and coarse dark hair. Such colouring always made her look sickly, but now, after a night of crying, she looked like death warmed over. She sighed and turned away, quickly dressing. She went down to breakfast, but didn't feel like eating anything. She just pushed her food around her plate while her sister quietly begged to eat a little something.

Hiashi watched his two daughters, and then turned a questioning gaze to his nephew. Neji occasionally would take breakfast with the Head family, as he had become something of a brother to both his younger cousins. Neji just shrugged his shoulders and returned to his own food. Hiashi sighed mentally. Hinata had grown stronger over the years, but she still felt things too deeply.

"Hinata," he said calmly, "I wish to speak with you." He stood from the table and left the room.

Hinata didn't glance up from her plate. She ate a few bites of the meal to satisfy her sister, then stood up and left as well, following her father towards his office. She entered and closed the door behind her before sitting before her father. He watched for a few moments, and she didn't squirm under his gaze as she was wont to do. Hiashi noted this, but wasn't impressed by it. Hinata appeared too depressed to feel nervous. He wondered briefly if now was the right time to talk to her about her future, or if he should wait. However, her party was happening in a week, and he wanted to warn her of what to expect. It was going against the council's wishes, but she deserved to know.

"Hinata, the family has decided to hold a formal celebration for your eighteenth birthday. It is next week, and many wealthy and influential families from neighbouring villages will be attending. The party is to give potential suitors a chance to meet you, so I expect you to be on your best behaviour. This is a chance for you to meet the suitors as well," he paused, but she didn't say anything. She had looked up at him, her face stunned. Hiashi continued.

"The suitors will present themselves before the council, and they will decide whether or not they would make an acceptable husband for you. Those who pass will have a private interview with me, and if they succeed there, then they may present themselves to you. The final decision rests with you." Hinata turned her face to the floor and remained silent for a few moments.

"I am to marry then? I have no choice?" she asked.

"No. This is what is best for the family, Hinata," Hiashi said calmly, "You are dismissed."

Hinata got up and left the room, her face set in an expression of shock. She didn't return to the dining room, and instead went up to her own room. She entered and shut the door behind her before moving towards her window. She sat in front of it in a meditative pose, staring out the window, but not registering anything that she was seeing.

She felt numb. She wanted to cry, but she had no tears left after crying over Naruto. She brought her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. She closed her eyes and rested her head against her arms.

Marriage. The family was getting rid of her, but doing it in such a way as to destroy any chance she had at happiness. Of course, in light of Naruto and Sakura's new relationship, her chances at being happy in life have decreased significantly. She sighed, and looked up when her door opened. Hanabi entered and sat across from her.

"Did father tell you?" she asked. Hinata stared at her.

"You knew?" the older sister asked. Hanabi nodded.

"Yes. I listened in on the council meeting when they were discussing it. Neji and I are trying to fix it so that you can stay in Konoha," she said.

"How?" Hinata asked, bewildered.

"By marrying someone from Konoha. Then you can stay here, be a medic nin, and become a member of the council. I'll make you my right hand woman, or maybe even have you share leadership, if you would prefer. Please, sister, I know it isn't what you wanted, but it's the only thing we could think of…" she trailed off, watching her sister. Hinata turned and stared out the window.

Hanabi had a point, she realized. Her dreams had ended with Naruto's and Sakura's relationship. She had loved him for her entire childhood, he was her happily ever after, her fairy tale ending, but maybe now it was time to grow up and accept her responsibilities to her family. She knew that Hanabi would make the better leader, and she knew that if she stayed in Konoha, her sister would ensure that she would have a significant role in the future of the family. Perhaps it was best to leave her dreams of the fairy tale life behind, and make the best of the reality she was forced to live in.

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The next few days, Hinata tried her best to get over Naruto. It wasn't as difficult as it could have been. Her feeling for him had been unrequited, after all. He had always treated her kindness and friendliness, but never anything more. She had only ever had a faint hope of his returning her affections. Now that he was with Sakura, it only proved what she'd been saying to herself all along – that he would never notice her in that way, and it was best to move on. Her cousin and sister were a great comfort during this time. She discovered that sparring with Neji was a great way to combat the depression that sometimes stole over her, and Hanabi had managed to get her to laugh a few times. Surprisingly, Uchiha Sasuke had also proven to be of some help.

She and Sasuke had become something like friends since the night that he had held her while she cried. When she passed him in the streets the next day, he quietly asked her, while looking away, if she was feeling better.

"A little," she had replied, surprised that he had asked. He glanced at her then, and Hinata smiled. She thought that maybe his expression had lifted a little, but it was hard to tell. She herself had become much more comfortable around him. He had seen her at her weakest, her most vulnerable and hadn't ridiculed her. His silence and stoicism didn't bother really, once she knew that he didn't hate her. His attitude was a little like Neji's, so she was quite used to it.

She saw him nearly every day, and he always made a point to acknowledge her in some way, whether by glancing at her and nodding, or actually speaking. One day, while out running some errands in Konoha, she ran into Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke. Naruto greeted her warmly, the way he always did, and Hinata had to work hard to keep her smile in place.

"Hey Hinata-chan! How's it going? I haven't seen you around lately," he said. Sakura had been holding his hand, but now discreetly dropped it, glancing at Hinata, her green eyes sad.

"Hello Hinata. How are you?" she asked.

"Fine," Hinata replied softly, and her smile became warm once more as she looked at her friend. She could see that Sakura felt bad about dating Naruto, knowing about the heiress's feelings for him. Hinata couldn't hate her, though. Sakura was kind, and she was her friend, and she made Naruto happy. It wasn't in Hinata to hold a grudge, and that's why when Naruto asked her to join them for lunch, she agreed. Seeing Sakura look so relieved and happy told Hinata that she had done the right thing.

Naruto grabbed Sakura's hand, and started dragging her to Ichiraku's.

"Come on, Sakura, I'm hungry. You don't mind if we eat ramen, do you Hinata-chan?" he asked. Hinata replied softly that no, she didn't mind, all the while trying to push her sadness away as Sakura and Naruto took the lead. Sasuke fell into step behind them, walking alongside Hinata. Soon, there was quite a distance between the two couples.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked her suddenly. Hinata glanced at him, surprised.

"Yes," she replied, turning her eyes away, "I can't ignore this forever. I have to get over him. Besides, it's useless to mourn something that never could have been."

Sasuke glanced at her quickly, frowning at the despondent look she wore.

"What do you mean?" he asked. Hinata shook her head.

"Nothing, sorry Sasuke-san," she said. She didn't really want to tell anyone that her family was forcing her to marry, especially Sasuke. As far as she was concerned, she had involved him with her problems enough already, she wasn't going to burden him with more.

She felt his eyes on her for a few moments before he turned away, and they entered Ichiraku's together in silence. They all sat down, Sasuke sitting himself between Naruto and Hinata. His best friend gave him a funny look, which Sasuke ignored. Naruto didn't get a chance to say anything though, as Sakura discreetly drew his attention away.

As lunch progressed, Hinata became more relaxed. Naruto and Sakura didn't act very differently from before, and the rare times they did do something…couple-ly, Sasuke acted as a sort of shield. If she leaned back a bit, he blocked her view of them. Surprisingly, she and Sasuke actually managed to speak to each other. She thought that it would be awkward – she was so shy, and he was so…silent, but they managed to carry on a quiet conversation about training and missions when Sakura and Naruto became distracted with each other.

They finished lunch, and Hinata bid a quiet good-bye to Naruto and Sakura as they headed off in the opposite direction. She turned and began walking towards her own home, and Sasuke came up quietly beside her. She glanced at him, a slight blush highlighting her cheeks. She was quiet for a few moments, trying to think of something to say.

"Lunch went well," she said softly. It was the only thing she could think of.

"Hn," he replied.

Hinata was unable to think of anything else to say. They had already spoken about missions and training, and there wasn't really anything else that she thought they had in common. She decided not to say anything, and in a few moments, Sasuke spoke up.

"Are you heading home?" he asked. He kept his eyes trained on the ground in front of them.

"Yes," she replied.

"I'll walk you there," Sasuke declared, and Hinata glanced at him. He kept his eyes fixed ahead of him, and she couldn't read his expression. She wondered briefly if she should refuse, not wanting to be a bother. But then, he wouldn't have asked if he thought she was a bother. She decided it was best to just let it be.

"Thank you," she said softly, and turned to stare at the road ahead of them.

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Sasuke was actually enjoying himself. Hinata had become much more relaxed around him, and the two walked in a companionable silence. He appreciated the fact that Hinata didn't feel the need to chatter incessantly. Having been team mates with Naruto and Sakura, it wasn't often that he could simply walk quietly with someone. Occasionally she would speak, greeting people in the street, of commenting on something she found interesting. He listened, usually replying with one word answers, if at all. She didn't seem to mind. She seemed to know that he was listening, and wasn't offended at his reticence. She was probably used to it, after all, she was Neji's cousin, and he wasn't exactly loquacious.

They entered the area of the village where her compound was found, and he walked her to the door. She turned to face him, opening her mouth to say something, but before she could get anything out, the door flew open.

"Hinata!" came an exuberant voice, and a face similar to Hinata's, though thinner, appeared. He blinked as white eyes stared at him carefully. He scowled, and the person opened the door wider, letting him see the whole person. It was a young girl, maybe around thirteen. Obviously she was Hinata's younger sister. What was her name? Hina? Hana?

"Hanabi," Hinata said. That's it, Sasuke thought. He studied the young girl, not bothering to hide the slight sneer that crossed his face. It had little effect on Hanabi, who just continued to study him as if he was some sort of interesting bug she had pinned under a glass.

"Sister, who is this?" she asked.

"Hanabi," Hinata started again, "This is Uchiha Sasuke. Sasuke-san, this is my sister, Hanabi."

He nodded briefly in acknowledgement, then narrowed his eyes when Hanabi suddenly smiled a wicked little grin.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, so he's the admirer who gave you those combs. He's hot, Hinata, congrats on a great catch," she said, and disappeared, leaving Hinata standing on the doorstep looking absolutely mortified and Sasuke looking murderous.

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