See I told you I'll be back too soon.

The wedding: aftermath

"Hinata." She sat on the edge of bed, eyes low and unmoving. They were wedded, husband and wife. The official ceremony ended before three torturous hours or so and ever since she has been as silent as the starless night. They were at his home which was supposed to be 'their' home. It his room to be specific she could make out silhouettes in the otherwise unmoving, unnerving night.

She said nothing, did nothing. Just sat there contemplating to whether jump from the window or drink the detergent. If she didn't die at least she will be in the hospital to avoid him or if Kami-sama was merciful he'd let her be in coma. Her cell phone laid abandoned somewhere in the room, she left ghosts whipping her spirits.

Sasuke for better or worse had no actual idea was exactly was needed to be done, he knew her as 'Neji's baby sister', was morbidly obsessed with her and while his closest friend was met with an accident he did everything he could to sweep her in his arms. It would be such an understatement to say 'everything he could' , it sounded too earnest, his 'everything' was anything but humble, it was illegal, morally catastrophic, socially unacceptable to begin.

He moved around in the room graciously taking off the luxurious garments one by one and placing them on a nearby table. He could hear her low breathing and desperate urgency to squeeze his blood while vacuuming earnest answers from him. On a moment she stood up, her limbs hanging like rag clothes, her head low. On the second moment she was in front of him, with her eyes filled with resentment that screamed disgust. He peeped into her chalk like eyes, chalk that would only shed antipathy for him, chalk that would only write revulsion in the lines of their pain, chalk that when broke would revoke hatred from different dimensions.

He was yanked, the jerk made his neck crane and made Hinata collide into his chest, her hands imprisoned, knuckles digging in his body. "What's the next plan, Sasuke? " She hissed with venom that would kill snakes themselves.

He remained silent, relishing their nearness; hot breaths that blew dismay in his face.

"The business must be booming; Marriage of Uchiha and Hyuga must be soaring the stocks! " Her shrill voice cut through Abiotic factors as did his cold eyes. The first he saw those eyes was when his downfall was predestined, his spine grew cold upon every night he saw those eyes looking at him with nothing but limitless supply of resentment. Her eyes now were close to it but somehow lacked the tactful daggers, even her ruptured breath were a melody of angels for him, it fed him, it fed his demons, his desires.

"Might be. Haven't checked yet. " He spoke with the grace of wind against feeble pothos, her shell was caught in distraught.

"It's always the fucking business! " Her fingers tightened around his yukata collar, jerking his closer; their foreheads touching like a asteroid to atmosphere. "You knew, you knew about this marriage and you knew I had no fucking idea about it. I thought, I thought we were acquaintances, you knew about me! Yet you do this. How dare you."

"Knew what about you? " He was amused. He knew a lot of things but he wanted her to specify which one of his forgivings acted as a rift between them as of now.

"Everything." It was a whisper, barely passing as testimony. "You knew me, you had my contact. We have mutual friends. You could've told me if you wanted. But you didn't! You let this cruel joke go on. "

"What could've changed if I did?" He counter questioned, the baritone brushing her senses.

'What could've changed? ' the marriage was still going to happen. It was her and hers alone decision to marry the guy her father had choosen. Everytime she had wanted to discuss about this let her father know she was not happy that she had someone she dearly love, And maybe just maybe if she tried hard enough she would've had a chance to live with him but everytime she tried to, her throat dried enough to suck her courage. She couldn't just couldn't be selfish enough to disobey her father's decision which was laced with her late mother's hearty wishes. It was their choice and where would they go wrong to bring the worst for their daughter? Her father was harsh alright, but not a devil.

What would've happened if she knew? Would she have tried to make his disband the marriage or get to know him better? Neji met with an accident it was highly unlikely she would've done something so repulsive.

Why was she so frustrated of all? What if there would be someone other than sasuke? What answers would she have demanded him? Maybe because it was her pent up frustrations that molded into aggression of sorts. She was an imbecile when it came to stand up for herself, nothing would've made her to go against her father.

"We.. We could've had some time. " Her answered escaped through gritting teeth. Her hands had no longer the motive to hold onto his collar in an intention to puncture holes in throat.

"For what? Courtship? " His hands slipped on top of hers taking advantage of her wobbly thoughts; for and against him. "We have a lot of time; forever and such. "

She gasped. She didn't mean courtship, she meant time for herself. For her to accommodate this new life. It was intimidating to have your whole life altered in matter of minutes, no matter how good you have prepped yourself you will be never enough. She recollected Neji's disgruntled frown, the speck of hope that she would want to run away, hanabi's childish laugh, her excitement that her sister was getting married and her father's loving gaze. He shed a tear or two or more when none were looking. It tightened her chest, a feeling of suffocation flourishing into a meadow of fresh air; was what she felt when her father bid her goodbye with a kiss on forehead.

"I didn't mean that-" Her chiding didn't meddle with how his fingers worked. He slowly but steadily got a hold on her hands intertwining them.

"I know. " He slipped his fingers into void of hers readjusting them whenever mandatory. "But i want to know. You're my wife after all. " He lifted their intertwined hands up to his lips, placing feathery accusations on it. She flinched, her skin repulsed like an infection that spread beneath her skin when he touched her, when he meekly like a mould harnessed her skin to be writhed and wrinkled of all supply of fresh blood. His lips on her fingers felt like a thousand counted needles at once lovingly grazing her bones.

"I wanted to take you out, talk to you. Your father although begrudgingly agreed for so."

One truth.

"Shortly after Neji met with an accident. You were more traumatized than Neji and at the moment your father decided it would be our best interest if we did not converse. You needed space, so i postponed the wedding. "

A partial truth.

"Neji's absence made critical choices in the company, you decided to help your father. I was told you'd rather not met me. "

A smooth lie.

"Your father assured me that he trusted you and you wouldn't do anything reckless. To keep it less hasty and your ideals uncontaminated it was a private affair. "

A lie carved to be true.

"But now you are my wife. You carry my name and our family's name. I would rather not you're bothered by any thing, mundane or not. I'd like to know, you can take how much time you want to, Hinata Sasuke uchiha. However you're my wife, we're wedded, as much as you like to disregard it, it cannot be mended. Hold my hands, kiss me when the world is looking, resent me when we are alone. "

An absolute law.

He held her face, very tenderly as if restraining to not grab them and suck the air out of lungs and brought her face closer to his, his breath grating the skin of her face. He kissed her upper lip and eerily descended to her bottom lip and paused. It was a bizarre way to communicate, 'you can hate but not avoid. I will still be the only person to kiss till the sun falls and moon vaporizes, I will be the only person you will hold your mercy to. '

She held her composure owned no movements but her lips did. She kissed him back, her hands still dangerously leering around his neck, her nose grazing his. It witheld nothing but submission. It held nothing but desperate attempt to illusion his win.

He said what was needed to be said, she was her wife, feelings did not matter they were abstract ozone lines fading in the sky, absolute was composure, absolute was Hyuga word, her last word as hyuga. She was now an Uchiha, his family was hers whether she wanted or not. Business or personal matters was never a question, she shall abide by him the way her mother would have abide by her father.

They were supposed to meet the family today, Sasuke's mother arranged a feast for family on that occasion only. She knew little about him, her and the uchihas. She knew the empire now was a joint effort of Uchiha brothers, Itachi and sasuke. Some two decades back both Hyuga and Uchihas started from nothing, rubbles and dirt still lay aloof on the clandestine success. It wasn't 'earnest products' , 'prime service' Or 'fluent marketing' that led businesses to success, it was rather dead bodies. Dead bodies of fallen men, fallen ambitions and family ties. Dead bodies piled up one on another, flattened and weathered by monetary administrations made pitch to stand on, gave a ground for foundation to build on.

Generational rituals were carried in both of households, the art of veiling the fallen by making the diamond shine brighter was what them stand their carve their paths and absorb solar light to compress more carbon. The Hyugas with pride did this. They mastered the art of suppression and domination, they trimmed all inter house affairs and trained their men to follow the words of their leader like a golden rule book. Neji used to often say, 'Hyugas stand proud as they bow down to their leader, none would find voice to go against the head because their voice has been long snatched from them. ' hinata was little when he would state such things but not as little as Neji misinterpreted her, she perfectly understood what he meant, for them it was their conviction. 'The uchihas were too noble, individualistic pride brings home nothing but catastrophe, no.. ' he would shake his, his brows tensing, 'it would bring no home, no home shall be left under the command of it.'

Uchihas were a complex mesh, 9 years ago the namely head of firm, Uchiha fugaku and his lovely wife, uchiha mikoto left the country, their business. The uchiha district was shut, the firm was sold to Hiruzen & co. And the current owner decided to make it miscellaneous. It was shameful, a really demeaning act to put such an empire in an ant's racket it was as if none of it was left, it was a homicide. She remembered being 13 and reading everywhere 'Uchiha massacre' it scared her, not because it was a massacre but because none of dead bodies were found. That layers of foundation was scraped and stolen for the company to wobble untill it fell down.

It somehow did not fall down, it stood placid and high till the 'Uchiha brothers' revived it.

She utterly amazed at the speed that company re-grew, they made their 'miscellaneous' firm into a multi billionaire thriving company in matter of 2 mere years. 'Uchihas reunited' 'return of uchihas' were plastered everywhere in every nook and crany, it stimulated their roar that they were indeed back, stronger than ever.

While working intensively at the Hyuga corps she was awe-struck at the rate they grew using unthinkable strategies, initially Neji would say, 'it's just not their flamboyant posters, the root goes deeper, the weathered layers had not only returned but fertile than ever. ' It was his observation after attending a summit where the uchihas were present as well. He was excited, the look on his face said how hungry he had been for a worthy rival. Meanwhile she mused how many bodies were buried to make the soil this fertile?

"What are you thinking? " Sasuke questioned his wife as she sat with him on the kitchen island, her timid fingers playing with tea, that was cold beneath her fingers. Last night wasn't as devastating as she made him think, it was pretty bland. She told left side of the bad and left side of the closet, didn't question him any further and didn't answer him any further. It was a balance to wake up to her sleeping coiled in herself away from the sun. It wasn't appropriate of him to touch her but he still slid his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. Her back hit her chest, she stiffened and wriggled herself to get some space. He lightened his hold a tad bit but strangled his legs with her otherwise. Finally having done with his peckings she grunted and pushed herself off bed, being considerate of sending him an ice cold glare the moment her eyes met his.

"How.. " She drawled avoiding his curious gaze , picking the mug to take a sip blanching at the sour taste. "How are your parents? " She had no idea how things turned this normal(?) . It didn't felt like some aftermath of thunderstorm just two people doing what they should. She by no means was feeble and shy and he by no means was awkward and guilty. It made things a little less complicated but somehow hinata knew her husband was more distant then he let her.

"Fine." He shifted his body so he could she her and what she actually meant. Hinata just looked at him dumbly before blinking, "what I mean is how are they, as individuals? "

"Hmmmm." He took a long sip of his coffee as if an attempt to put together puzzle pieces and quickly eliminate the unwanted ones. "You can compare dad with your father, they aren't much different. Mom is torturously jolly. She's a doting parent and my father is a fullstop. "He grimaced, the coffee suddenly too bitter.

"Oh " She exclaimed softly, giving up on her tea mug. She pushed it having enough of the foul taste. If she was going to reside in here one thing she needed to do was bring good tea in here.

"My mom is ecstatic about this, you know." It wasn't quite the case when he first revealed he was going to get married, his mom frowned, screamed and threw objects because of how neglected she was of the whole process. An uchiha was getting married, her son, youngest and coddled without any prior acknowledgment from both of their parents. She wanted to throw a humongous party, a that let people knew it was an uchiha wedding. Sasuke dismissed her saying this was a private affair and let it be and rebellion she did. She sneaked into every party, every summit she knew her bride to be would be in, she even sauntered herself in the hospital for 'yearly check up' when Hinata was nursing to Neji. Jubilant she was after seeing her up, close and personal. Her exultant assessment of the situation stirred her mom in law feelings more and more it was jabbed more was the enormous party.

After the end of 3 long argumentative business days they agreed on a policy to let her have a 'welcome party' with only uchihas on board. He suspected his father slid a few important personnel. She also made him agree to a reception party. He didn't wanted to think about it.

"Really? I've never talked to her in person." She shook her head recalling any possible instances of meeting her.

Sasuke sipped slowly debating whether he should let her know that she indeed has met her, gotten thoroughly checked by, spied upon and was rightfully approved.

"Hn." For the welfare of all he shouldn't let her know. It was too early to be freaked out by his family.

"And others? How many people are going to be there? " Her feet dangled atop the floors as she laid her face on her palms. He noticed how nibble her feet looked, was she cold?

Many.

He thought grimly. His mother was a great planner, all her events turned out remarkable but something about this churned his stomach. "Uchihas, mostly. I cannot tell for sure how many people. I'm in no better light than you are. "

She nodded reluctantly trusting him on this one. "You did not answer my first question. "

"Hn." Silence hung between them. Where to start? It was unnerving for both them. Hinata accusing herself of overstepping boundaries and Sasuke just plain demented. He appreciated her enthusiasm about his family but was borderline worried this was going downhill. "They're alike. Aloof and observant. Some are over zealous at best and rest you'll know. "

She nodded again jumping off the kitchen stool, sauntering to the upper floor. She paused midway as if she forgot one vital thing, manners. "Do you mind if I used the shower first? " She asked out of courtesy because what was there that he would deny her off?

"No." Brusque replies was a regular in their deserted conversations. "Mom choose a dress for you, my side of closet third drawer. Your names written on their. " He took another slow sip cursing how a mug of coffee vanished so soon.

Hinata stared at him with forlorn apprehension of the moment. She heard from her friends (people who actually tried to be his friends or even forged conversations) how particular he was about his things, how uncontaminated and untouched he wanted them. When he let her have the permission to wander into his territory, though secluded a very foreign emotion bubbled up inside her.

She looked gorgeous. Her mother licitly had spectacular choices, her choice of dress for Hinata dictated more of sophistication. The silk fell down from all the right places, he couldn't fathom the logic of it. The thin straps on her profound shoulders placed tenderly on her collarbone made him want to kiss her untill their was no place left untouched. The slit made him imagination, the thought of his hands wandering under them wreck havoc. He noticed hald of her hair was pulled behind with a small bow while her bangs remained, impeccably at place. She walked upto him, blushing or blood rushing to her cheeks.

"How do i look? " She asked, her shyness making her all more tempting.

Sasuke could've grunted, he could've said 'fine' to any other woman, he could've shrugged his shoulders and dismissed people for all he cared but this was his wife. "Breathtaking."

He was used to hog all attention, he was used to be the one on accepting end of showering compliments, on the end of pathetic lovesick eyes that reminded him of lost cause. But this once, he wanted to merge with crowd. He wanted to gaze her those pathetic lovesick eyes, he wanted her to feel beautiful under his gaze, he wanted her to have all the spotlight. He wanted for her to look down at him, praying he would be blessed with smile of sorts.

If she could hear his thought she could've known how hopeless Sasuke uchiha was in her mercy.

So he offered his hand to her, one hand nervously groping his fingers fidgeting whether she would accept or not. She accepted, maybe not by her choice maybe because of the pressure and tension in the air but she accepted. He saw vividly her blazing cheeks, her eyes midway hid by lashes and just her. He readjusted his footing, he realized he wanted her to walk ahead of him, to lead him the way. So for every moment he looked ahead, he would look ahead to applaud.

She hesitantly stood beside him and Sasuke tugged her. He encouraged her to walk first. She did. Uncertainty clouding her vision.

"Hinata." He called. She stopped fumbling and looked at him. She saw confidence, she saw fierceness, she was a fire that burned so bright that it comforted her even though she was most likely to be incinerated by it. "You're an uchiha. "

She wanted to say she was a Hyuga not even 24 hours ago, she wanted to scream this was not her choice, she wanted to slap him, she wanted to choke his neck and let him know how hurting she was, she wanted to pin him down look at his eyes and yell at him how desperately she wanted to run away. "Walk like it. " She wanted him to holld her hands and teach how an Uchiha walks.

And he left no scope of it, he walked on tugging her. Her heels clicked the polished surface, it brought an odd kind of satisfaction for victory.

"Teach me. How so. " She told him, her voice sharp as the knife that laid abandoned on the kitchen counter. As sharp as the rain drops fell on her wedding day, as sharp as her father's tear fell, as sharp as her cousin's eyes and as sharp as Sasuke wanted her to be.

"Be with me. "

He guided her closer.

"Put your feet like you own this place. You do. "

She walked straighter, mimicking him.

"Let your arms fall. Let them know you do not care who comes at you. "

Her free arm relaxed. She let her fingers dangle cautiously as if a rigid moment would break the facade.

"Breathe in. Let the air rattle your nerves. "

She breathed, she smelled fresh flowers and charcoal from a recently lit fire. She let that fire warm her lungs.

"Look ahead and walk. "

She looked ahead and crumbled.

There he stood with his blonde hair neatly kept, in a suit and tie with polished shoes. His eyes felt mesmerizing, she has forever wanted to drown in those shades of blue. He laughed, the baritone subduing every feeling ever harboured.

What crumbled wasn't the confidence. Crumbled was her conviction. A chill ran up her spine. She wanted to run to him and beg for him to take her. She wanted to fidget, she wanted to try once more. She wanted him to notice her in way that made her feel a woman. Her skin akin to his affects, grew cold, goosebumps rising everywhere, she wanted to seek his warmth.

The sun, her sun. There he stood with all his glory, Naruto.

The first chapter for ya'll. Read and review you guys I take that stuff personally.