"Is there anything else you're not telling me about your relationship with Mr. Uchiha? I don't need any more nasty surprises." he said bluntly.
"I'm not sure. I'm sorry for all the trouble this is causing you, "she said wiping away tears.
Kagura burst into the room with a small brunette boy, clutching a brown bear, in tow.
"Hinata, are you ok?"she asked.
"Mommy she's so pretty!" the boy said.
He ran over to Hinata and jumped up and down excitedly.
"Hi, I'm Akio and you're gonna be my wife one day!"
Sesshomaru turned away and took a deep breath as he rubbed the juncture between his brows. Kagura scooped the little boy in her arms and carried him out, waving as they retreated. He turned to face her when the door suddenly burst open. Akio jumped into Hinata's lap and hugged her.
"Akio, you know better than that! Hinata I am so sorry!" Kagura squeaked.
Kagura picked him up again, securing him under her arm. They left again and Sesshomaru locked the door behind them. Stiffly, he turned to face her.
"My family has worked for generations to bring this company the prestige it has today, "he began," The war between you and Uchiha-san is slowly undoing 700 years of work. "
"I honestly don't know. He wasn't like this when we were together, "she explained placidly," when I told him I was pregnant, he seemed to change overnight. "
" You have to tell me everything. Is there anything, anything at all that could've set him off?"
"Nothing I can think of, "she replied.
"Hn."
"Mr. Taisho, if that's all you need ,I'll finish the finance reports, " she answered.
Later that evening
Jaken held the umbrella as Sesshomaru ascended the glistening, stone steps. The sky was gray and overcast as it wept.
"Jaken ,I can continue from here, " Sesshomaru said calmly.
"But,my Lord-"
"I am fully capable of walking back, it's just rain,"Sesshomaru said.
Jaken took a deep breath and headed back to the car. Sesshomaru came to the top of the stairs and glanced at the memorial statue, a small pillar made of green crystals with the name "Neji Hyuuga" inscribed on it.
"I should've known I would see you here,"a male voice chided.
"Itachi, the only Uchiha worth mentioning. How is the legal department fairing these days?"
"It's all right,I guess,"he answered.
"Your brother is causing me a world of trouble and I need to know why, "Sesshomaru said.
"He's been fixated on their family for years, Itachi replied, "I couldn't begin tell you why."
"Interesting. "
"What are you thinking of doing?"
"Don't worry yourself about it."
Itachi sneered slightly.
"Don't hurt him too badly, remember he's the heir to my family's fortune. "
Itachi left a bouquet of lillies in front of the small monument. He was about to leave, but stopped briefly and held out a small slip of paper. Sesshomaru took it and read it quickly. A number was neatly written on it as well as a small phrase, "go back to the beginning". When Sesshomaru finished reading, Itachi was gone.
Fuguring he should do the same, Sesshomaru prayed, left flowers on the head stone, and departed. Although he never showed it, he left with renewed resolve.
--‐--
A nude, petite woman was towel drying her shaggy hair when her office phone rang. She sprinted to amswer it. The voice on the other line was smooth, deep, and melodic.
"I would like to retain your services ,Miss Haruno. Are you available for an impromptu briefing on your assignment?"
"Sure ,but this will cost extra and my services aren't cheap."
"Not a problem. I am more than capable of properly compensating you,Miss Haruno. Do you have a writing implement?"
Sakura grabbed a near by notepad and pen. She scribbled down the address and threw on some clothes: a red skirt, black tank top, black wig,heels, and denim jacket. She slid her holster for her .45 Colt over her thigh and slid a .22 into her breast pocket.
--
"Miss Haruno, I trust your journey was well," Sesshomaru said.
"Let's get down to business and skip the pleasantries, " Sakura said sipping from her mocha cappuccino.
"All right then, I need you to get some information about Sasuke Uchiha," Sesshomaru replied.
Sakura's eyes widened as she choked on her drink. She wiped her mouth with a cloth.
"The Sasuke Uchiha? You want me to tail Sasuke Uchiha?!" she asked , her eyes alight with excitement.
"If there's an issue-
" You've got a deal, but celebrities are extra," she said sipping from her drink again.
"Very well,the first portion of your fee will be deposited into your account tomorrow morning, " he said as he left a few bills and a folded piece of paper on the table.
"Good evening ,Ms. Haruno," Sesshomaru acknowledged before turning to leave.
Sakura finished her cappuccino as she devised the first stages of her plan.
Uchiha Family Mansion
Sasuke bowed at his feet as he admonished him. His father's cane collided with the hard wood floor in anger.
" I practically gift wrapped that girl for you and now this happens!" he yelled.
"Father, why would you match me with that pathetic cow?!" he yelled.
The aging man before him grew silent, his slender frame shaking with anger. In time ,Sasuke also grew silent. The silence between them became pregnant as the air became tense.
"You would raise your voice to your elder?" he asked with a deadly calm.
Sasuke pressed his forehead into the floor and extended his neck with his arms extended on either side of his head.
"Father forgive me. I spoke out of turn, "he said.
"You will marry that girl and bring an heir to me, is that understood?"he said with finality.
Itachi Uchiha Apartment
"You know the rules, " he said dryly, " you have to leave afterward , no exceptions. "
"I know," the dark haired woman said as she gathered her clothes.
Wordlessly, Itachi grabbed her lacy, red bra and helped her into it as she slowly slid the matching cheeky shorts over her long legs.
"Excuse me, " she said with disdain.
The tone of her voice left him speechless. In his heart, he knew this was wrong, but his decision was final. This was the only way he could keep her safe. He backed away and watched her dress. He wanted to say something, anything, but his tongue was heavily weighed with fear.
The girl silently left his apartment and he locked the door behind her. His heart burned with guilt as he pressed his back against the door. The hot tears pooled behind tightly closed eyelids as he dragged himself to bed.
Hinata
"Why are you so pathetic," she asked, tearfully glancing into the fogged mirror.
Her phone suddenly rang. Hinata glanced at the caller ID as a familiar number flashed across her screen. Anger bubbled inside her chest. Her first met the glass with a sudden brutality that made shards fly through the air, one even managed to cut her face.