Japan – Hyuuga Mansion
"What is the meaning of this, Hiashi?"
"Did you plan on making an alliance with the wretched Uchihas without consulting the family?"
"Have you no control over Hinata?"
"Answer us Hiashi?!"
The elders of the Hyuuga family had gathered in the boardroom of Hiashi's home for a meeting to address the recent events that had occurred. It had brought the family in an entire state of confusion at a time when they were to be organising the celebration of the new heir.
"Believe me," Hiashi began, "I am just as shocked as you are. I never imagined that Hinata would go ahead and do something so foolish"
"That shows that you lack control over your eldest!" Kira Hyuuga hissed, "You should have done better to keep her in line! Were you expecting her to sit quietly once she found out about Hanabi would take over Hyuuga Corp?"
"I will take of it once she returns," Hiashi stated.
"And what about the Otsutsuki Family?" asked another elder by the name of Daichi Hyuuga, "With Hinata's action, the alliance we've been hoping for is now in jeopardy!"
"Rest assured, I will deal with them should any complications arise," Hiashi answered.
"Should any complications arise?" Kira scoffed, "You know as well as I do that they will not sit quietly on this matter. We promised them a bride for this alliance, and now with an Uchiha in the scene, it ruins everything. Remember that there's bad blood between the Otsutsuki family and the Uchiha"
"As I mentioned before, once Hinata returns to Japan, I will have this matter sorted out as swiftly as possible," Hiashi stated, "If you will excuse me, I have some phone calls to make"
The elders watched Hiashi as he stood and gave a short bow before exiting the room. There was no doubt in their minds that they would have to deal with the situation swiftly as possible to avoid any more attention on them that Hinata "caused".
As for Hiashi, he was beyond livid. He was at the mercy of the elders' anger while his daughter pranced around on the arm of a blasted Uchiha. He strode gracefully to his study, but the stoic that he had for many years was falling away with every step he took. How dare Hinata embarrass him like that?
His trail of thought was cut short by the sound of the landline phone present in his study. Picking up the receiver, he answered, "Yes?"
He heard the voice of his secretary say, "Hiashi-sama, Otsutsuki Kaguya is on the line, shall I put him through?"
Hiashi sighed inwardly as he answered, "Put her through"
~Telephone Conversation~
Kaguya: Hyuuga-san? This is Otsutsuki Kaguya
Hiashi: Good day to you, Otsutsuki-sama. I trust you are in good health?
Kaguya: Yes I am thank you. Although, I have to admit I am rather confused but I few things that I have heard as of late.
(Hiashi had a fairly good idea of what she heard)
Hiashi: Is that so?
Kaguya: Yes. While I was having tea the other day with my friends, I heard about an interestingly curious story involving your daughter in a particular restaurant in America. Given the company I keep for my tea sessions, it's not uncommon to come across mere gossip and I disregarded it. After all, I had to give my future in-laws the benefit of the doubt. Don't you agree?
Hiashi: You are most correct, Otsutsuki-sama.
Kaguya: However, imagine my surprise when I see your daughter and the second son of Fugaku Uchiha attending an event in America the next day, and as a couple no less, on national news. So I ask this Hyuuga-san, would you be so kind as to settle my confusion? Because the way I see it, you have absolutely no intentions of uniting our families.
Hiashi: Otsutsuki-sama…
Kaguya: Hiashi-san, for too long, the Hyuuga and the Otsutsuki families have been separated when we all came from the Otsutsuki clan. As the highest elder of the Otsutsuki family, it is my desire to unite the families. And even if you're not as sentimental as I am about family, then you should understand that economically, Hyuuga Corp gains a huge advantage. Listen to me and listen well, what you are going to do is exercise better control over your daughter and over this little confusion. We must have a wedding. There's only so much the Otsutsuki can do to support the Hyuuga. Are we clear?
Hiashi: Understood, Otsutsuki-sama.
Kaguya: Good. My grandson intends to meet his bride soon. He is a lonely young man in need of a woman's touch, of course. Make the necessary arrangements. Have a good day.
And with that cheery good-bye, the phone went dead on the other end. Hiashi slammed the receiver back down on the table, severely annoyed. It wasn't enough that the Hyuuga elders were on his case, but the head of the Otsutsuki family had added more pressure on him. The Otsutsuki family is the oldest living family in Japan and not to mention the most powerful and influential one by far. To the Otsutsuki family, the Hyuuga were like a child that ran away from home, and Kaguya Otsutsuki was the mother calling them back home.
This was a really troublesome time indeed, Hiashi thought as he turned began to note down another to be sent to Neji.
Hinata P.O.V
Once again, our favourite duo of vengeance is both seated in the car; this time, not to act out any phase of the master plan, but rather, to escort Hinata safely to her cousin and his wife.
To Hinata, the last few days had been nothing but a dream. It was like picking out a script of a cliché movie and applying it to her life.
Was her family going to get what they deserved?
Would her story end with her happy or sad?
"Hinata, you're thoughts are louder than my music," Sasuke droned.
"Sorry, were you saying something?"
"Not really"
"Okay"
Within the next ten minutes, they were parked outside Neji's temporary home. Hinata unbuckled her seatbelt as she said, "Thank you for bringing me home"
"Technically this is not your 'home'," Sasuke replied, "but you're welcome"
While Sasuke reached behind Hinata's seat to get her bag, Hinata couldn't help but catch a whiff of his cologne. So…manly, she thought. She sat rigidly at that thought and turned away as Sasuke returned to sit properly and Hinata her bag.
"Here," Sasuke said.
"Thank you," Hinata whispered, "I suppose I will see you later?"
"We'll be meeting sooner than you think, Hinata. Our plans are not yet over"
"Do we have to meet for something?"
"We will," Sasuke answered, "but not here in America. Our next battlefield is in Japan and something tells me it will be soon"
"Right," Hinata said half-heatedly. She opened the door, but Sasuke grabbed her left hand with his right. She paused and turned to him, only to find Sasuke in her space and his hand gingerly touching her chin.
"Hinata"
"Wh-what?"
"You did good so far," says Sasuke, "I hope see that. I also hope you understand that what we did here in America is nothing compared to what we're going to face in Japan"
"I know," Hinata answers quietly.
"Listen to me," Hinata hears him say, "You're going to be fine"
Hinata nods, although she knows in her heart of hearts that it will take a while before she can readily believe that. She asks, "What do you gain in all of this?"
"Because your family deserves it"
"Yes, but why?"
Sasuke is silent for a moment, then leans in closer and brushes his lips across Hinata's, both inwardly surprised that Hinata didn't move away as Sasuke replies,
"You intrigue me, Hinata. Don't expect much of a heart-felt speech from me but don't think I see you as a pass time of mine. You're much more than that. So, I will exact your vengeance on your behalf, even when you don't have the strength to"
Hinata's heartbeat skyrocketed through the roof. He's crazy, thought Hinata as she gulped slowly while she tries her hardest to keep her eyes form locking with Sasuke's. But Sasuke lifts her chin once more, leans closer and claims a kiss.
"There's no rush, hime. You have no obligation to return my musings"
"I should go," Hinata says hurriedly, once she was out of her haze. She exits the car and doesn't look back until she hears Sasuke's car drive off. This man would be the end of her if she wasn't careful.
When Hinata stood at the doorstep of the house where Neji lived, she believed that all that had transpired in the last few days was nothing more than a fantasy, the kind that only existed in the stories that she read. What she did with Sasuke that night at the gala was a very bold statement, especially to the high social circles back in Japan. Could she really go back in one piece? The smartest thing to do was to keep running, maybe make a new home for herself in Europe, or even in one of the countries in Africa where her family's influence was likely not to reach. But knowing Sasuke, he would drag her there kicking and screaming to face everything head on with the reminder that she was the one that wanted revenge.
Goodness! What was becoming of her? And what was with the kisses? I t wasn't allowed for her to be kissing Sasuke like that so soon after her relationship with Naruto ended, right? But, she couldn't deny the slight attraction she had for Sasuke, even if it wasn't love.
Sighing, she rolled her shoulders and knocked on the door gently. Only a minute passed before the door opened,
"Hinata!" Ten-ten exclaimed, launching onto Hinata with her arms wide open.
"Hi, Ten-ten," Hinata said warmly.
"Hinata?" Neji said from behind Ten-ten.
"Nii-san, hello"
"You have a lot of explaining to do. Come in," Neji stated.
Hinata bowed her head and nodded in acceptance. The trio went inside the house where they would have the longest of conversations.