A/N: Apologies for the wait, I've been traveling for about the last month and had to write the majority on my phone, so I apologize for that. The story's gonna start picking up now as I'm sure most of you figured. All parties involved now know their place in the plot, and we all know Sasuke is unlike to take it sitting down. Thank you for all of your feedback thus far, and I hope I can continue to keep you all interested. So, on with the drama!

The Mother

Time seemed to stop for Hinata, but not for the world around her. She watched from outside her body as her cousin went through the motions of processing the last words she herself had heard. His eyes widening, features contorting as if in physical pain, lips moving in slow motion as he protested, or at least that's what she figured. All sound had been replaced with a loud buzzing, like a light bulb on its last legs, or the sound a bug zapper securing its latest kill. Part of her wished it was the latter, and that she was the insect. She wanted to disintegrate and leave nothing but ash in her wake. That is what her father wanted after all, to reduce everything that made her Hyuuga Hinata to dust and sell it to the highest bidder as if she were some holistic cure-all.

Sasuke...or rather Fugaku was that bidder. Her mind roiled over the very thought. Did Sasuke know? Was he a party to his fathers "purchase" of her? Was that why he appeared and feigned interest in her life? To see for himself who he would soon call his wife? To see what he would claim as his property? The thought made her sick, or would have, if she were still inside her corporeal form.

She watched herself, strange as it was, sit there motionless, save for her shaking hands balled against the fabric of her skirt. The flood of emotions threatened to break them both, but they held against the torrent. They had survived worse. They survived their first pet running off when she played with her in the yard one day, a rabbit named Airi. They had survived the sudden passing of her mother. They had survived all the scorn and wroth their father showed them after the loss. They survived being officially cast aside when Hanabi was named the heiress. They survived all of the slings and arrows life threw at them thus far, and came out stronger in spite of it all. They would survive Uchiha Sasuke.

Hinata's ephemeral form approached warily and laid her hand on her own shoulder, the sudden contact bringing her back to the physical world. A world filled with naysayers, conspirators, controllers, and doubters. The world she was bound to, no different than the family she was bound to. The duty she was bound to.

"Hiashi-sama, please reconsider." urged Neji, doing his best to plead on his catatonic cousins behalf. Her face was paler than normal and her eyes seemed distant, the same look she used to get before she fainted in her early adolescence. "If it is a partnership we want with the Uchiha's, why not have Hanabi—"

"Neji-kun, stop." her voice returned to her, soft but resolute. She blinked reflexively as her senses returned to her, the buzzing in her ears subsiding and being replaced by the steady beat of her heart. All eyes turned to her, one pair shocked and concerned , the other tinted with curiosity as she rose to her feet. Her legs threatened to give out, but she held fast under the scrutiny, she had come this far without fainting, the last thing she needed was to twist her ankle. Hinata's eyes met her fathers and stared long and hard into them, searching for sadness or apprehension, but found none. So different yet so similar. She often wondered if he would love her more if the difference never existed. Would she be worthy of his love if she were not more her mother's daughter? It didn't matter, it never mattered to him. Honor above all else. Family above all else. "I'll do it. I will...do my duty, Otousan. If that is what the family demands of me. What you demand of me."

"Hinata..." breathed Neji, his ghostly eyes threatening to fall out at her staunch submission.

The patriarch said nothing, only rose from his seat and approached, his eyes never breaking contact with his daughter. "My daughter." he whispered, momentarily surprising the woman who's only response was to stiffen when he came closer still. His large hand came to rest on the crown of her head as he stared down at her. She stifled a gasp at the slight glint she saw in his eyes, sadness. "You do your family a great honor."

His voice as not his own, not only in pitch, but sincerity as well. The small whisper of his love was something she had not heard in years and its rarity was punctuated when he pulled her into a tender hug. They were the words that finally broke her, before the tears and soft sobs found their way to his lapel. Hinata leaned into the love, wishing that such a somber moment had not brought it about. "H-Hai."


Sasuke did not sleep well in his bed that evening, nor did he sleep well when he nodded off momentarily at his desk. His head throbbed and stomach knotted. It was not an unusual feeling for the most part, he experienced it more often than he liked but always came out the other side. He was stressed and his mind was engulfed in a thick fog. Usually this was his intuition telling him he had made a misstep somewhere along the way, causing him to search through each and every trade that had been made recently, effectively bringing his bullpen to a halt.

When he ruled out all of the usual suspects and found no relief, his frustration grew. If he could not reason his maladies away as he was wont to do, he was doomed to suffer. Slamming another binder of financials closed and shoving them aside, the harried Uchiha ran his hands through his dark locks and took a deep breath, the latest attempt to clear his head. Just as he achieved some small reprieve, his door opened. "It was closed for a reason, Karin."

"I know, Sasuke-kun. I figured you may need some help." she defended innocently enough, closing the door behind her and sauntering over. The crimson haired woman leaned over his desk, haphazardly sending several documents to the floor as she cleared a space to sit. Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. As she attempted to lean even closer he became painfully aware that she had chosen to wear her good push-up bra today. "Or, maybe you just need a good distraction."

"Highly unlikely." he groaned, rising as quickly as his sluggish body allowed him as to get away from his assistant's advances. If anything, her idea of a distraction would only worsen his problem. He'd been in the paper for all sorts of indiscretions, both public and private, the last thing he needed was to add sexual harassment to the list. The gall of her to think he could be so easily persuaded into such a thing after the umpteenth attempt. To believe that his affliction could be cured so easily by the flesh of a ..."Woman."

The word slipped from him on instinct, and as ambiguous as it might have seemed to Karin, it had a much more specific connotation to him. The recurring headache had led him to believe it was little else. The woman in question, in all her inconsequence, had burrowed so deep in his subconscious he never figured she could be the root. While his initial reaction was to curse himself for breaking the second rule of corporate espionage, he couldn't help but wonder what sort of spell she cast on him. Sasuke peered out his window, contemplating their previous interaction. It was no more than reconnaissance, despite the innocuous banter, somewhat insincere curiosity, and not entirely untrue compliments.

"I'm going to lunch." he proclaimed, seemingly out of the blue as he turned around only to catch Karin failing at her attempt at an alluring pose atop his desk. He quickly brushed past her and made for the door, "Clean up this mess, and if my father shows up again, call me. No more surprises."

As he left his office, all of the joyous banter that his employees shared in their down time petered out. "No mistakes. Well done, everyone. Now back to work." the office released a collective sigh of relief at their bosses approval. Usually when he conducted his one man audits it resulted in quite a few days of walking on eggshells, waiting for him to fire one or several of them.

Sasuke was quick to make a beeline for the parking garage, and even quicker still in his pursuit of ending his headache. Truth be told, it had mostly subsided once he realized the shy Hyuuga had been the root cause of it. Now all that was left was to see the woman again. Their last outing had been interrupted before he could offer her a secure future as an employee of Tomoe Capital. Hinata was quick as a whip if left to her own thoughts, and if she was left with nothing but his lingering touch, she may take his strictly professional interest and attention as something else.

Sasuke stalked the corridors for what seemed like hours, searching each classroom for his quarry. Around the fifteenth room he started to grow annoyed. He rounded a corner and approached what was to be his sixteenth, and as he stepped forward to peek through the window when it suddenly opened, unceremoniously colliding with his nose.

"I'm so sorry...Sasuke? What are you doing here?" questioned the offending woman as she watching him scowl and clutch his nose. He took some time to compose himself before he could even make out who had brutalized him. It was Kurenai, not who he had been looking for but technically the next best thing.

"Hinata. I'm looking for Hinata." he explained flatly, doing his best to return to his usual unapproachable demeanor. Granted, he failed somewhat spectacularly at that once his nose began to bleed. He was quick to stem the crimson tide with his sleeve, he could regret ruining his favorite bespoke Saville Row suit another time.

"Hinata...? What could you possibly...I suppose it doesn't matter." Sasuke couldn't blame her hesitance, the two of them couldn't be more different. The idea of him personally seeking her out, or anyone for that matter, didn't even sound right as a thought. "She didn't show up today. Told me she wasn't feeling well."

Today just wasn't his day, he could feel his headache slowly creep its way back into his skull. He needed to contain the situation. He needed Hinata. With little more than a thanks he departed hastily.

As he wandered the halls, nose in hand, he wracked his brain over how he should proceed. Hinata was the last piece to his plan, if he couldn't reach her, Hiashi was sure to spoil everything. Sasuke didn't have her phone number, he didn't know where she lived, nor did he know whether or not she lived with her father. The last thing he wanted was to show his face at the Hyuuga estate and be accosted by the man he was attempting to outsmart. If he could not reach her directly he would have to involve another party. Sasuke scoffed at himself, he hated involving me people in his machinations. It always made things more complex. But what other option did he have?

Carefully he reached for his phone and scrolled through his contacts, dialing the one person he truly did not want to involve in any of this.

"Hi, Sasuke-kun. I'm surprised you called..."

"Sakura, I need your help with something. How soon can you be at the university?" he asked plainly. The obsidian eyed man couldn't help but feel a small pang of guilt for choosing to involve her. It was no secret to him that despite how amicably their relationship ended, she still had feelings for him. If she learned how close he was to becoming Hinata's fiancee, the fallout between the two could become catastrophic at best.

"Ano...I'm a few minutes away. Is there somewhere you want to meet?"

"Hn. I'll be at the cafe across the street." he could almost her her smile at the words and that pang grew that much larger, He hung up unceremoniously, before he got too in his head and called the whole thing off. The plan was simple, he just needed to broach the subject of Hinata and his interest in offering her a position. She wouldn't think anything suspicious of that, surely. The plan was foolproof, as long as he kept his head on straight.

The Uchiha found himself nestled into a booth in the back of the establishment, fiddling aimlessly with his blood-soaked tissues. He was nervous—or anxious—or restless. He just wanted to be done with this whole charade and be free again. Though in actuality it wasn't the plot against him that was causing him such grief. It was Hinata herself. On his way into the cafe he grabbed a small newsletter of all the university's goings on and other new. That's where he found the small clipping of their meeting captioned, "Meeting of the Minds and Hearts". Aptly so, they'd capture the brief moment he had her hand in his and mistook it for a romantic rendezvous. He supposed he wanted their time spent together to be public to an extent, but this shotty still photo and two inch column wasn't what he wanted.

The gall of them to think he had any romantic interest in the heiress. Even if he had, such a thing deserved more attention than a school newsletter. Sasuke cursed himself for thinking as such. If she was just a means to an end why did he care so much? He'd spent little more than a few hours with her yesterday, and now she was all he could think about today. Her astute insights, the way her lips parted slightly when she formulated her responses, the way her cheeks flushed at the simplest touch and—

"Sasuke-kun? W-what happened to your face!?" she exclaimed, quickly dropping her bag and taking her seat beside him, effectively bringing him back to reality. But before he could even get a word in edgewise she was inspecting his nose with deft fingers. "It's not broken...but, geez Sasuke. If this was another fight—"

"It's nothing, Kurenai hit me with a door."

"K-Kurenai-sensei? And a door?" she questioned incredulously as she rummaged through her bag for gauze. "What were you doing in the social sciences wing? What are you even doing here?"

Damnit. The last thing he needed was for her to ask too many questions, no matter how innocuous. "My firm is looking to hire a psychologist. I figured this was the best place to look for candidates."

He wasn't sure if she was listening or not, she was too focused on uncomfortably jamming cotton up his nose. He realized when her first-aid was done once her hand trailed down from his nose and stopped on his cheek. "Your hair's growing again."

"Yeah..." he responded, turning away briefly when the pang returned from her touch. "I wanted to offer Hinata the position. Once she graduated."

"Hinata-chan...? Sure, she's Kurenai's star pupil, but I doubt she needs the money." she countered, doing her best to mask her shock. She couldn't help but feel a little surprised that he'd come all this way for Hinata. Somewhere in the back of her mind she wished it had all been some clever guise to see her.

"I think offering her the job could garner some goodwill between our families." he explained somewhat defensively.

Sakura giggled softly at him, running a hand through her pink locks and smiling at his comment, "You don't know Hinata-chan very well do you? She's sweet but, she doesn't care for nepotism too much."

"You think she'll refuse?" questioned the raven haired man, a single eyebrow quirking at the idea.

"Well, she wont solely be interested in the money, or working for a high profile company like yours. She really cares about her craft. It's the only way you survive a masters program like her's."

Sasuke took her elaboration to heart, even though it wasn't anything he had already surmised. If he learned anything from his chat with the Hyuuga it was that she was fiercely passionate about what was soon to be her profession. "I need to speak with her. Could you give me her phone number?"

"Yeah, sure." she rummaged through her purse for her phone, still finding it a little odd how urgently he needed to speak with Hinata. Sure he was efficient, but he was his own boss essentially. No one rushed him, to her knowledge. "So Sasuke-kun how have you been?"

"Hn." he offered cryptically, sometimes he didn't have to say much for her to get the gist. It had always been their thing. She talked, he listen. Sometimes participating. When she returned a similar, albeit more feminine grunt he figured she would leave it at that.

"You know...I um, saw you in the paper the other day." she began, craning her head to look at his face. She took in each of his hard features, noting how his jaw clenched slightly at the mention of his appearance in the press. "I worry about you...and if—if you ever need someone to talk to…"

"Sakura…" he began, his voice a mix of a warning and an exasperated sigh. She meant well, she always did, but the last thing he needed was for her to pry into his secret life.

"It's just that…you were always so stressed when we were dating, and now the things I see you getting into on the news I—!"

"Sakura." he interrupted, this time more forcefully. Enough so that other people in the café began to take notice. He quickly shot a glare at those who chose to stare before returning his attention to the woman at his side. Her emerald eyes downcast and lips curled in a crestfallen pout. "I'm sorry. I appreciate the offer, but I can handle it."

"But you don't have to do it alone, Sasuke-kun." she had offered those same soft words before, and the way her hand held his own was all too familiar. Everything she said and did radiated with the love she had for him, the love he could never return. The pain in his chest returned as he watched her beaming smile grace her lips.

"I know. Thank you, Sakura." Sasuke's lips lifted in a barely noticeable smile, but she accepted it all the same. "I should get going."

"Yeah..." she said, her voice barely above a whisper, her smile diminishing quickly as their moment was cut short. He could see the sadness creep back into her features and he hated it. Carefully he lifted her chin and leaned forward, planting a brief chaste kiss on her forehead.

"Take care of yourself, Sakura."

With that he departed, leaving the pinkette in a shocked stupor, a small blush giving her radiant skin an even livelier glow. By the time he had returned to his car he was already dialing the number Sakura had so graciously texted him. It rang, and rang, and rang.

"Hello, you've reached Hinata but I can't speak at the moment. Please leave a message and I'll be sure to call you back. Thank you."

"Hinata, It's Sasuke. I have something I need to talk to you about. Give me a call back." before he could discard the phone it began ringing. Unfortunately it was not the woman he was attempting to get in contact with.

"Okaasan."

"Sasuke, it's so nice to hear your voice. You should call more often."

"Sorry, I've been busy."

"Didn't your father give you my message?"

"Yes, he gave me the message. Among other things."

I see..." there was a moment of silence on the line before Mikoto continued, "Do you think you could stop by today? I miss my son."

Sasuke had been shirking work more often than he'd like to and eventually the work would reflect that. Though, this was his mother after all, "I can be there within the hour."

"Wonderful. I'll see you then. I love you son."

"Hn." he replied before hanging up and sighing heavily. No rest for the wicked he supposed. The Hinata retrieval mission would have to take the backseat for the time being.

True to his word he arrived at his childhood home in a timely fashion. It was quaint for a well to do family like his own. His father never did believe in excess, he figured it would keep his kids humble. He wasn't wrong, to an extent. The man couldn't stop Sasuke form doing what he wanted with his own money. He rapped on the thick painted door several times and waited, running his hand through his hair and smoothing out his blazer.

"Ah, my handsome little boy is home!" exclaimed the middle aged woman in greeting as she swung the door open.

"Hell—!" before he could get the words out she was upon him, nearly knocking the wind out of him with a bear hug. The woman was deceptively strong. Before he knew it she as dragging him through the foyer an into the living room. Ever the dutiful host, she had prepared his childhood favorite. Grilled mochi stuffed with tomato jam. How did she even find the time? Sasuke wasn't complaining however, he hadn't eaten lunch for the past two days. At least this woman in his life had no ulterior motives or a role in his marital plot that circumvented his need to eat.

"How are they?" asked Mikoto, watching opposite him with glee as her little boy took a rather large bite.

"Delicious, as always." he complimented, mouth half full and practically inhaling one after another of the savory treats.

"You must not be eating so well, huh? My poor son is wasting away."

"Taking care of fathers finances is busy work. Food is usually an afterthought." he explained nonchalantly, despite the worried furrow on his mothers brow. "I'll take better care. I promise."

"There's no shame in asking for help, Sasuke. None of us can do it all alone." she lectured, taking a delicate bite of her own creation.

Sasuke nodded slowly suddenly suspicious of his own mother. First Sakura, and now her. What was it with the women in his life believing he was somewhat incompetent? It was her right to worry as his mother, but few in his family believed in coincidences. "Okaasan, you didn't invite me over for tea and snacks did you?"

"So serious. You're becoming more and more like your father." she deflected with a lighthearted laugh. Though she hit the nail on the head there. He was becoming more like his father, even the way he eyed her critically now. "Is it so wrong for a parent to be concerned about their son?"

"Father doesn't seem to think so." he responded quickly noting how she began to wring her hands in her apron. Sasuke frowned at the sight. So, she knew as well, and it was eating her from the inside to try and keep it from him. He always did have a better rapport with her than his father, second only to Itachi. It wasn't surprising to see her somewhat distraught at trying to hid the elephant in the room. "So you know."

"Eh? Know what, Sasuke?"

"Please, don't make me say it. You know about father and the Hyuugas." he declared suddenly finding himself equally uncomfortable about broaching the subject with his mother. So much so he had to look away when a flash of the last party involved invaded his mind, a small tinge of heat growing on is pale cheeks, "About me...and Hinata."

"Oh Sasuke I...I do know." she admitted her eyes dropping to her lap in shame. "It's not my place to speak on the good of the company, but I wish your marriage wasn't being used for that."

"He knows I'll refuse. Knows I'll fight it."

"I know you will." she comforted softly, slowly moving from her seat to be beside her son. "But please Sasuke, don't."

"What?" Sasuke was surprised, hurt even that his mother would cosign to his father's plot.

"Sometimes fighting isn't the answer. Your father…he just wants to see you become the man he knows you are capable of being."

"All I've ever done was please him. Am I not good enough to run his company? Am I not worthy?" he found his temper rising with each syllable. His own flesh and blood had conspired to control his life—his very destiny. Uchiha's through and through.

"Sasuke, stop this." Mikoto's usually soft voice became stern and demanding as she gripped her son's wrist to keep him in his seat when he rose to storm off. "Your father may not say it, or show it, but he speaks highly of you all of the time."

"He believes I'm inept. Believes I don't care about the family, about the company."

"No of course not! He know you would put the family above everything else, but he believes you're spiraling out of control." her voice grew louder and louder as her son began retreating into his callous shell.

"That's all he's ever cared for. Control."

"We don't want to lose another son!"

The room fell silent as he watched the tears well in his mother's obsidian orbs. He had only witnessed her cry a handful of times. To think he was what laid such a great woman low. And to think, it was all because they feared he would become his elder brother. That he would become so disillusioned with the family business and disgusted by the world it played a role in that he would abandon both.

"Okaasan…" the right words escaped him, he was not the most apt at dealing with the emotions of other, even his own mothers. "I wouldn't…"

"No, I don't believe you would. It's just…"

"Business." He finished ruefully. Sasuke handed the distraught woman some spare napkins he'd taken earlier that day. She gratefully took them, briefly noticing the slight redness of his nose and the crimson stain on his sleeve. He was quick to wave it off with a dismissive shake of his head.

"Yes, it forces us all to make difficult decisions." The somber moment was met with silence as both party's took in the harsh reality. "Have I ever told you about the first time your father tried courting me?"

"First time?" he questioned incredulously, somehow surprised she was so quick to pivot to a lighter subject.

"When I was a much younger woman, your father invited me on a date for tea at this little place downtown. He was well mannered and said all of the right things, but I simply had no interest in him."

"You rejected his…advances?" questioned the young executive, suddenly feeling somewhat ill at vocalizing his interest in his parents early relationship.

"Don't get me wrong, he was handsome and charming, but he didn't seem sincere. So yes, I turned him down."

"Since we are having this conversation I can tell that wasn't the end of that." Sasuke's usual snark was enough to bring a smile back to his mothers face.

"Your father was relentless. Grand gestures, fancy outings, appealing to my family, my friends too."

"So he wore you down. Father always did have a thing for wars of attrition."

"No Sasuke, he didn't wear me down. Not really, at least."

"Then what?"

"He finally showed himself to me." she responded, the nostalgia washing over her like a cool autumn breeze. She composed herself and stared longingly at her marital photo on a bookshelf in the corner of the living room. Her alabaster dresses flowing as her husband clasped her hands between his own, their golden wedding bands glinting. "He shared all of his hopes and dreams...his fears and desires."

Sasuke listened dutifully, as any son would. He'd long believed that his father had no fears and what few desires he had amounted to a desire for wealth and control. What more could any man as powerful as he desire?

"I know what you're thinking. Fugaku the Fearless with all his omnipotence, couldn't possibly have desires like most people. But he did." she admitted matter-a-factly, warmth gracing her porcelain cheeks at the thought. "Above all else, he wanted a family to call his own. A family to love and protect, to drive him. To be his purpose. That's what he wants for you. What we want for you."

Sasuke couldn't help but feel somewhat shocked. He was so used to feeling a deep disdain for those who plotted and planned against him, believing that the truth was just that, when in actuality it couldn't be further from it. His father's machinations seemed cold and calculated at the surface, they always had been. But his mother had shown him the truth of the matter, and he got it. He was aimless, despite all of his success and wealth he had little to show for it. A penthouse, countless custom suits, multiple sports cars, all products of his success, but ultimately unfulfilling. What pride he took in being skilled at his job gave him just as much comfort as the material things did. He was empty.

"I know you'll still want to fight it but—"

"Do you think she can be that important to me? That she will give me purpose?" he interrupted suddenly, taking the older woman by surprise. He had mulled over all that she had said, and if true, he'd misjudged the entire situation. And in his haste to not be used as a pawn, he'd almost made Hinata his own.

"If family is the most important thing...why not start your own?" she questioned sweetly, her sincerity embarrassing her son enough to get him to blush and turn away. "The circumstances may not be ideal, and you may have no interest in her now, but I'm sure you'll see something in Hinata. Just like I had with your father."

"She'll never have me." he responded, ever the nihilist. Hinata had taken her love and affection off the market long ago. She had promised herself to another and would never be his willing wife.

"Your father had his doubts too. All you need is to be open with her, be her partner, and she will open up to you. A marriage cannot be built on lies, Sasuke."

Sasuke frowned at the sincere advice. He surely couldn't say they had started off on the right foot if his mothers wisdom was to be taken seriously. He'd have to make things right, but first he'd have to inform her of their betrothal. "I suppose I should inform Hinata. She doesn't deserve to be blindsided."

"Ano, Sasuke. About that…" Sasuke began rising from his seat just as Mikoto voiced her small protest. Suddenly a knock came at the door, prompting Sasuke to shoot his mother a questioning glance before making his way towards the sound. His father would not knock, perhaps it was the family lawyer dropping by with his draft of the marriage contract. Just as another series of knocks came he pulled the door open, an intimidating frown on his face in hopes of scaring off the legal advisor, though he was met with a much more different sight.

His curled lips parted and released a silent gasp, his dark eyes widening in surprise as the ghostly lilac colored orbs of his visitor as she did the same. They stayed like that for some time, the realization that they were staring at their future fiancees face when just a day previous they were nothing more than acquaintance's finally kicking in.

"Hinata-chan? Please, come in dear. Sasuke, would you—" called Mikoto from the parlor, prompting Sasuke to take a swift step outside and close the door behind him, startling Hinata at the sudden closeness. The autumn winds whipped around them, rustling his blazer and sending her black-blue locks into a frenzy, and seemed to snap them from their stupor.

"S-Sasuke, I—"

"Come with me." his voice was more subdued than usual but demanding all the same, even more so when he punctuated it by grabbing her hand, nearly dragging her away from the Uchiha estate and across the street to his car. She followed well enough in the beginning, quickly entranced by the familiar feeling of his hand on hers, but held her ground and resisted once the Uchiha matriarch emerged from the home and called out to them once again.

"B-but Mikoto-san…"

"We need to talk. She's only trying to—"

"Uchiha Sasuke! I raised you better than that!" scolded the furious woman as she stormed her way towards the two, prompting her child to release Hinata's hand. "Hinata-chan is a friend of the family and our guest."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed and lips twisted into a diminutive scowl as his mother stared him down. He may have been upset given the fact that she'd masterminded this entire meeting for whatever purpose, but she was still his mother, "Gomen. I only wished to have a private word with Hinata. If she would let me."

"Please Saskue. You were ready to kidnap her." she scolded, wagging a finger to punctuate her disappointment in her son. "Please forgive my son. He clearly has forgotten his manners at the office."

"Its okay, Mikoto-san. S-sasuke and I will be inside shortly."

"Such a sweetheart. Don't be too long you two." cooed the older woman with a smile before approaching her son and hugging him, her sweet tone suddenly turning dark as she leaned in an whispered in his ear, "Play nice now."

Sasuke nodded numbly as a shiver passed over him and she left the two young adults. The two once again returned to their usual awkward silence.

"What was it you w-wanted to talk about Sasuke?" asked the Hyuuga, her attentions returning to the man at her side.

In all honesty he hadn't actually thought about what he was going to say to her. He planned to whisk her away in his car and drive as fast and far as he could away from the whole situation. She wouldn't know it at the time, but he would've be helping them both. For a brief moment he fidgeted under her ghostly gaze, shoving his hands in his pockets and turning to hide any emotion his face may have shown, "Nothing important. I called you earlier. Left a message."

"Ano…I-I meant to call you back. But, then your mother invited me over and the d-day got away from me. Sorry." her meek response did make him question how much of the situation she was actually aware of. She seemed keen on meeting with his mother out of the blue, but couldn't be bothered to return a phone call? It was almost as if she had purposely tried avoiding him.

"Hn. My mother…can be persuasive at times." his cryptic response was just another attempt at buying time to properly formulate how to handle everything. It was only a matter of time before Hinata knew, if she already didn't, and his mother was a much gentler touch than he would be in this situation. "We can talk later. Maybe I can…give you a ride home?"

"A-are you not coming in-inside?" she stammered in surprise.

"I was only visiting. I'm sure whatever my mother wants to talk to you about is none of my business." Sasuke wanted to seem as nonchalant and impartial as possible but he couldn't help but hear his mother's wisdom in the back of his head. A marriage cannot be built on lies. He could set the record straight later, for now his mother was running the show. "I'll be waiting."

"But I…okay." even for Sasuke, he was acting strange. While he still acted like the alpha, not waiting for her to accept or decline his offer of a ride, he seemed more distant, more apprehensive. The way avoided looking at her when they were alone just moments after dragging her away. He had been attentive, sociable even in their last meeting, but not this time. He wasn't the most difficult person to read, not even after spending a few hours with, he just kept those around him at such a distance and ornamented the walls he built with his prickly attitude and made himself seem more daunting than he truly was.

But she would not breach that wall today, choosing rather to leave him to his own mysterious thoughts. Little did she know, she was at the center of his thoughts. So much so he even caught himself watching the hypnotic sway of her hips, hidden slightly by her flowing hair. Scoffing at his own foolish wandering mind he returned to the solitude of his vehicle.

"So Hinata-chan, how have you been? How are your studies?" the questions came as soon Hinata took the offered seat beside her host. If there weren't snacks and of she wasn't so cordial she'd think this was some sort of interrogation.

"I've been well M-Mikoto-san. And my studies as well. T-they keep me very busy."

"I remember my time at university. So many interesting things to learn and experience. But listen to me reminiscing like an old woman.". chuckled the dark haired woman. "It's just so lovely to see you again, dear. I didn't see you on Hiashi's arm at his charity event last month."

"Hai, I decided to skip this year's event. I was pr-preoccupied with my work." She explained softly, attempting to hide her blush being her teacup. Truth be told, she hadn't attended that event for several years. Not long after falling out of favor with her father had she been replaced by Hanabi, and she preferred it that way actually. She never had been the social butterfly her younger sister was, and as such saw these gatherings as little more than anxiety ridden exercises in etiquette.

"I swear you kids are spending your golden years toiling away with "work" more and more these days." she mused "I do wish Sasuke was invested in more cultured goings on. Oh you two should attend the College Woman's Association charity event this year together!"

"T-t-together?" stammered the shy girl, the heat from her cheeks rising to the tips of her ears as she struggled to keep her teacup still in her hand. "Sasuke and I are f-friends—acquaintance's even. "I-I'm sure he would r-rather have someone else join him..."

"Hinata-chan, you don't need to be coy with me. I've known you since you were a baby. I know Hiashi has told you." the bold assertion was punctuated by a gentle hand covering Hinata's own, and when she peered up from her lap she was greeted by a sincere smile. "You're going to marry my son."

Hearing the words spoken so sweetly did soften the gut punch she'd received just the other day when she first heard the news, but it did make it seem all the more real. It was no longer just the wishes of two businessmen seeking financial security, but that of two of Japans most prominent families seeking a harmonious union. The dread of the situation once again seeped back into her bones, "Sasuke is aware as well?"

"He does." she confirmed with curt nod, giving the Hyuuga's hand a squeeze when it looked as if her head may burst from the blood rush. But Mikoto tried to assuage her worries as best she could, "He may not show it, but he's feeling every bit of emotion you are now."

Hinata stared at the older woman, shocked. It wasn't that she believed Sasuke could not feel necessarily, just that the idea was somewhat unfathomable. "My son is...complex, but he is human. He's an independent young man and the prospect of an arranged marriage scares him. Any type of marriage really."

Hinata wasn't expecting that. She had expected Sasuke to be defiant, vengeful even, but not scared. Never in her wildest dreams could she imagine a world where Uchiha Sasuke was frightened by her. Though, she'd never imagined a time when she wouldn't be somewhat intimidated by his presence. But then he suddenly reappeared in her life and showed interest. In her of all people! Even if he was his usual aloof self, it felt good to be seen and heard. His presence brought some small modicum of comfort.

"Hinata-chan? Are you alright dear?" she hadn't realized she was stuck in her daydream of the time she'd spent with the youngest Uchiha until his mother brought her back to reality.

"Y-yes I'm fine. It's...just a lot."

"I'm sorry dear." she apologized, suddenly uncomfortable begin the bearer of bad news, "It was difficult for your mother too."

"My m-mother?"

"Hai. Your father never told you, but his marriage to your mother was arranged as well. And it didn't matter, they loved one another in the end."

The thought of her long deceased mother still put a lump in her throat and a knot in her chest even after all of these years. Hinata always knew there would be things about her parents relationship that she'd never learn, especially not from Hiashi, but she couldn't help but be curious about Mikoto's insight.

"The love may not have come first. But they always trusted each other. Trusted each other with their security and with their happiness. That's what I want for you two."

"I appreciate it, Mikoto-san."

"Please, you can call me Mikoto. We're going to be family some day soon, after all."

"Ano...Sasuke has a-a-accepted the proposal?"

"I believe he has. All that's left is for you to accept, and to help me plan this wedding." the sudden enthusiasm took the Hyuuga by surprise and renewed her embarrassment. Before she knew it, the older woman was pulling out book after book of pictures of flowers, dresses, and all manner of cakes.

"M-Mikoto, please!"

"I'm sorry, I'm just so excited!" she exclaimed, clasping Hinata's hands in her own to try and transfer some of her glee onto the girl. "I helped your mother with her own wedding you know. And now I have the opportunity to help her daughter. It's an honor, really."

"You're too kind. Thank you, for everything."

"You don't need to thank me, Hinata. I've always wanted a daughter I can spoil. A daughter-in-law will do."


Sasuke toiled away on his phone, doing what little work he could, occasionally glancing at the front door of his childhood home as he waited for his fiancee to finish whatever it was she was doing with his mother. The limitless possibilities sent a shudder down his spine. For all he knew she was showing her embarrassing childhood photos in an attempt to humanize him. Despite his worry, he had little doubt that his mother was doing him a huge favor.

Hinata's fears would be assuaged by his mother just as his had, but the question still stood—could he marry her solely out of duty? Could he follow his fathers plans for him blindly because it may work out for him in the end? He had always been a loner, through and through. Brief encounters and extended flings with the opposite sex were what he knew, his relationship with Sakura being his only exception when it came to his experience in monogamy. To go from such a solitary life to marriage was more than a leap of faith.

Sasuke had just finished sending an email to Suigetsu instructing him not to liquidate all assets and assume control as EVP while he was out of the office. Then she emerged from inside his former home, all smiles and laughs with his mother. A good sign surely. Sasuke exited his vehicle as she approach, wanting to at least appear to be the gentleman Mikoto surely talked him up to be. Even going as far as to open the door for her as his mother watched on. Though, when he pulled away the smiles disappeared and the tight interior of the sports car was clouded by an awkward silence. It wasn't until he reached a stoplight that Sasuke decided to break it.

"I hope my mother didn't bore you with our family's history or what not."

"No n-not at all. Mikoto was a lovely host."

"Aa. She has a gift for organizing get togethers. She always claimed my brother and I lacked the necessary woman's touch for such things. Chalk it up to her wanting a daughter." Sasuke didn't know why he had offered so much in response. Why he hadn't just accepted the praise she offered is mother and stayed silent. Had the whole ordeal thrown him so far off his game that he was babbling just to fill the silence?

"I suppose she was lonely in a house full of boys."

"Hn. And now she has a daughter-in-law." Stupid. It was a stupid way to broach the subject to his betrothed, but he hadn't come up with a better way and his sudden aversion to silence may be working against his own interests. To think he initially believed his mother would be the one to blindside her.

"Hai."it was barely a whisper and more likely to be carried away by the wind than reach his ears.

He expected a subdued response, but not one so painted with hopelessness. Her words drew his gaze away from the road ahead and towards the sour face and fussing hands of his passenger. This was the woman meant to give him purpose? To challenge him?

The light turned green without him noticing, and it wasn't until she met his gaze that he'd realized. Not even the honking brought him back to his senses and he began down the road again.

"We don't have to get married."

"But o-our families—your mother said you accepted."

"Aa. I've listened to all she's had to say. That doesn't mean I've agreed to her terms, much less my fathers. You would do well to do the same."

If only she had such a luxury. She'd thought Sasuke would have made the same decision as she had, despite what defiance he naturally had, family and duty always came first. It wasn't until now that Hinata began questioning his relationship his family. "I-I told my father…"

"You shouldn't have." he snapped somewhat harshly, his foot pressing more aggressively on the gas pedal to punctuated his displeasure. "Your father—our father's are plotting and planning our lives as we speak. I for one would like to know these plans before agreeing to marrying a stranger."

His more than logical apprehension made her heart sink. She was by no means thrilled to be forced into what would sure be a loveless marriage, but to hear that despite his duty to his family he had in fact not agreed to be her husband. The insecurities she had struggled with for years began to surface again, she further buttoned her cream and lavender jacket and crossed her arms over her chest, wishing to sink and disappear into the supple leather seat.

Sasuke could feel the tension shift and spotted her demeanor change from the corner of his eye. Perhaps his mother was right, he did lack a gentle touch in all things. He eased off of the gas and released a wispy sigh. "Hinata, whatever reasons they may have are not solely for our benefit. We need to be aware of that."

Despite his attempt at a more compassionate tone it still held an air of condescension about it. He wasn't requesting they be a unified front against their father's, he was demanding she step aside and let him handle the situation. Hyuuga Hinata several years ago may have agreed to being cast aside so easily, but not her. She would not trade being beholden to one man in exchange for more of the same. "My father has made his desires clear."

This instantly caught the Uchiha's attention. Not just the prospect of gaining insight into Hiashi's mind, but the decisive manner in which the woman at his side spoke. He watched as she stiffened in her seat and bore down on him with her ghostly gaze.

"He believes your family is the answer to our businesses difficulties. That our marriage will save it."

The revelation should have been a bombshell, the smoking gun in Sasuke's quest to foil the businessmen's plot, but it only made him frown at it's simplicity. It lacked the nuance his mother lead him to believe his father had in mind as his own reasons. The blunt truth even gave him a small modicum of sympathy for the Hyuuga so easily offered as a bride. And to think she had accepted despite that knowledge and what aversion she surely had. His desire to escape marital unhappiness may not have been one sided, but he had been so fixated on doing so as if he was the only on effected. Be her partner.

"With you as my…wife, I'd be obligated to look after your well being. As well as your family's." he concluded doing his best not to squeeze the wheel too tightly, lest his displeasure show itself. His mother's words sounded in his head as he attempted include her in his own plot. "If it's financial security he wants, we can—"

"Your word is not enough. Not to my father at least." her intersession took him by surprise, enough so that his eyes left the road momentarily in shock. Who was this woman?

"Then only our actions will satisfy them. We only need to be married." he fired back, as self-assured as ever.

"Ano…I suppose." her gaze softened to one of curiosity as he suddenly pulled over and parked. She could tell by the furrow of his brow that he was either deep in thought or sorely frustrated with the current situation. Could be both, given their predicament. Until he released a measured breath and ran his hands through his hair before finally turning to face her. Hinata couldn't help but swallow the lump that formed in her throat at the sight of his steely obsidian gaze.

"Then marry me. Today."

"S-Sasuke!" her hushed gasp all but assured she could no longer keep up the strong front she put forward. Her cheeks flushed and the chilled interior of the car suddenly became suffocating. He had just proposed, albeit a somewhat romantic, misguided, insane proposal, it was a proposal nonetheless. When he reached across the car for her hand she recoiled on instinct, "W-we can't!"

"We can." he retorted, undeterred by her apprehension, "A visit to the ward office is all we need to do. This is the only way to keep them from controlling us."

"This is...this is insane." her words weren't directed at him per say, just at the situation as a whole, and color commentary on what her life had become in the last forty-eight hours. In his own awkward way, the gesture was rather romantic even if his motivation was purely a last ditch survival tactic. It was all like some twisted version of Romeo and Juliet except without any of the romance. "My father—our fathers will find a way to get what they want."

"What about what we want?" he questioned, the authoritarian tone of his voice subsiding as he did his best to appeal to her own desire for autonomy. "Is this what you want for yourself?"

She wanted nothing more than to shout from the highest mountain that she did not want to be called his wife. But she could not. For decades she'd been programmed to do what her family and father deemed necessary of her. To stop now and throw her lot in with a man she did not love in a grand gesture of defiance was...something out of a cheesy love novel, "I...if it is what I need to do for my family, I will do it."

Sasuke couldn't believe his ears. He offered her a way out. A way to finally remove herself from Hiashi's reign. Granted he too had a stake in the outcome, but if they we're not united they were doomed to fail. The young man scoffed at her misguided resolve, her willfulness to do her "duty" was not something he had expected, despite her meekness. He had seen her in the classroom, she could be a commanding force when she wanted to. Where was that woman when he needed her most?

Sasuke pushed his disappointment aside and pulled off back down the street, his frustrations subsiding slightly at the engines responsive purr. His passenger remained silent, so stuck in her head she hadn't even questioned where he was driving them.

"Your family." he began, glancing from the corner of his eye as she perked up slightly in her seat at his voice. He paused momentarily, searching for the right words, as to not sour the occasion anymore than he already had, "They don't deserve your loyalty."

Hinata was slightly taken aback by his words, though something told her he was trying to be complimentary. He never minced words with anyone, often doing so at the cost of how most people perceived him. But while he spoke his mind he was always keen of his tone, and if he truly wanted to insult her he wouldn't have taken the time to slightly soften his tone. "They're my family. I'd do anything for them."

"Hn." he grunted in response. He had all but run out of ideas to circumvent his fathers plan. All that was left was to accept the change coming to his life. Sasuke pulled up to a stoplight and took the moment to examine the woman who he'd be bound to soon. All he thought he had figured out about her proved to barely scratch the surface. She had beauty, and intelligence, she had a generous heart—almost to a fault, and yet she held far more mystery than expected. It didn't take long for her to notice his stare and return the same, albeit a shyer version of his brazen gawking. "Loyalty can be a hard quality to find in a wife."

He was doing it again. He was being nice—sweet even. And the small cocksure smirk he sent her threatened to demolish what resolve she had mustered for the awkward car ride. But she wouldn't be fooled by his words or handsome face like she had been the other day. Not even when he carefully reached for her and tucked a loose stand of hair behind her ear. Hinata's hands knotted in her lap as she fought back the small shiver it sent down her spine. The Hyuuga turned her head to hide the blush she felt creep to the surface, "My husband...will be a lucky man."

So the Hyuuga had a bite it seemed. Sasuke stifled his fascination at her snark and continued down the road. "Aa. I've never considered myself a lucky man. Are you saying you'll change my luck?"

Now he was just having a laugh at her expense. A sly touch here, a cheeky comment there. He was just testing her, trying to get under her skin so she'd doubt her decision and renege on the promise she made to her father. Well, Uchiha Sasuke had another thing coming if he thought he could manipulate her so easily. Hinata swallowed the lump in her throat and summoned what courage she could before she poked the bear, "That depends. Are you my husband?"

Now it was Sasuke's turn to be uncomfortable. He admired her tenacity, despite the less than loving tone she used when she uttered "husband". The word was so foreign yet familiar when she said it. Maybe he'd heard it enough in the past two days, or maybe he had finally given up, hell maybe he had even warmed up to the idea of her calling him her husband, she his wife. "Soon, I will be. We just have to tell your father."

"What?" Hinata was so keen on their game of tit-for-tat that she hadn't realized they were now parked in front of her family's estate. That signature Uchiha smirk was now gone and he seemed deathly serious.

"I'm going to be your husband soon, Hinata. Your father will want to hear it from me." It wasn't until he removed his seatbelt and reached for the door that Hinata started panicking. She quickly grabbed his hand before he was out of reach,

"We…we should wait a day. In case you change your mind." she defended, somewhat concerned when his lips curled downwards in disappointment.

"If that's what you want. My mind is made up however." he countered, smirking at the sigh of relief she released in response. For a brief moment her hand lingered on his own and he took the opportunity to examine her slender fingers, his eyes taking in the contour of her bare ring finger. The wedding photo his mother showed him came to mind, the golden rings assuring their faithfulness to one another eternally.

"Ano…Sasuke?" she said softly, succeeding in drawing his gaze as she pulled her hand away. "Can you take me home now?"

"Hm? You don't live here?"


The days ordeal had taken more out of the young psychologist than the had expected. The moment she arrived home and had finally freed herself from her soon to be mother-in-law and fiancee, she retired to her bedroom. Hinata unceremoniously threw herself on the plush comforter and released a heavy sigh. Hinata pouted at the ceiling in the confines of her room, regretting not attending her classes today, it would have been less stressful by a long shot.

Slowly but surely all of the implications of her betrothal began to sink in. She was going to be Uchiha Hinata. Unless by some odd twist of fate he decided to take her surname as a final act of defiance. Hinata didn't doubt that she'd somehow be forced to be party to that defiance somewhere down the line, if she was to be his loyal wife that is.

Rolling on to her side she stared at the rays of the setting sun spilling through her window, her mind wandering to the root cause of Sasuke's vendetta against his father. His family had secrets like any other, she supposed. But soon they would be a family, one with their own secrets and trappings.

The very thought caused her to physically recoil into a shell. Despite being bound to another, she felt as if she would lose everything she had built. Her mind began racing a mile a minute—what of the confidence in her own autonomy? What of the relationships she had built? Her friendship with Sakura—her own decades long infatuation with Sasuke? What of her own with the elusive Uzumaki Naruto?

In one fell swoop she would lose her closest female confidante and the man she loved. She never felt more alone than she did now, and all of Sasuke's glances, sly quips, and touches could never fill the void. Hinata could feel the familiar preemptive sting of tears, but she fought them back. She refused to crumble now after facing her latest trial head on with a brave, resolute face. But she could not keep it all inside forever, her studies had taught her as much.

Rising to a seated position she searched for her phone in her forgotten purse. She hesitated briefly as she scrolled past Sakura in her recent calls in search of a more impartial party. Time slowed as she called her chosen confidant.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Quickly she hung up. Losing her nerve before it was too late to turn back. Though her relief was short lived when it began ringing again. She had no choice but to answer.

"Hi, Hanabi."

"H-Hinata! Do you have any idea what time it is?!"

"Ano…if it's six in the afternoon here then...seven in the morning?"

"Shit! I'm going to be late!" the sound of flourishing sheets and shuffling feet could be heard in the background.

"I need to talk to you." urged the elder Hyuuga weakly, her pulse quickening as she struggled to not hang up the phone.

"Tch. Can't it wait? I need to take a shower, put my face on, get dress—"

"I'm—I'm getting married." she blurted out, the silence that followed was deafening, until it was replaced by boisterous laughter on the other line.

"Geez Hinata, I didn't know you were taking comedy classes now."

"I'm not joking, Hanabi!" now the floodgates were opening and the tears began to flow. "I'm marrying Uchiha Sasuke."

"...Shit."


Alright! There it is. It seems this is really happening now. From here on out you can only expect the ride to get even more tremulous for our two soon to be newlyweds. It's been sometime since I wrote a story devoid of action in it and it's surprisingly difficult to fill scenes with drama without being long winded and boring. Hopefully I'm not losing half my readers midsentence because I'm overly descriptive at times. Either way, thank you all who are reading and are invested in this little tale of mine. As always thank you for the reviews, critiques, and suggestions, keep them coming and I'll crank out the next one ASAP.

Next Chapter: The Husband

Until next time! Sayonara!