Chapter 27: The Artist's New Muse
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During his time off, his day always began with simple choices, depending on the mood and situation he was in.
Sai slipped into his most comfortable clothes, paint-stained worn-out denim overalls, and waited by the toaster, staring off, waiting for the bread to spring up.
Charcoal or ink,
Pastel or pencils,
Canvas or scrolls?
He rolled back his shoulders and stretched, before lifting a canvas, one of his overall straps swinging loosely on his side as he relocated the large canvas to a new location, his mouth holding a piece of toast which he finished eating after he set the canvas down and found the best lighting. His high-ceiling home was purchased for that reason, it was more of an art studio than anything, with high windows overlooking the more industrial-low income side of the village.
He picked up his drawing tools, gnawing at his bottom lip, he stared ahead at the blank canvas, his mind coming empty with inspiration.
Eventually, his hands began to move, his strokes, though vicious and spontaneous, were absent of feeling. The abstract colors being splattered about began to feel like a waste of art supply. He took a step back and cocked his head, brushing the hair away from his face with his arm, irritation was slowly simmering beneath the surface of his expressionless face.
No. No. This won't do. Lately, his work has been scattered, uncoordinated, disconnected, separated as if something wasn't right.
He glanced over his shoulder at the framed award he had obtained over the molded statue he had submitted, called Original Sin. He had plagiarized his original work, back when he had captured Hinata as his subject, using the notes he had painted from Suna as a basis of his inspiration. Sai had removed any hint of her for obvious reasons and replaced her with an everyday-looking girl, which transformed the meaning altogether. It was his most brilliant work thus far, sitting somewhere at an art exhibition, his achievement supplementing a stream of income.
Although Original Sin was his own creation, he wondered what it was that the young woman was thinking about as she reached out to make a choice, while not particularly looking at anything or anyone because despite the emotions her physical presence and struggle were able to invoke in others at the art exhibit, Sai still did not comprehend those feelings he's able to depict through art. The art critics had claimed something was fluttering within them, and these fluttering things, he wanted to recreate again with hopes he will feel it himself.
He turned back to the canvas filled with colors. He needed a stimulus, however, not much was happening anywhere around him. The only thing he was looking forward to be the festival, as Naruto was supposed to show him how to properly enjoy it which had become something he looked forward to, since he no longer read books about human behaviors, deciding it was best to experience it for himself.
There was a microscopic light in his eyes. Maybe he'll do a portrait.
Sai put his brushes and coloring tools down and walked towards a bookshelf, taking out a ledger of his monthly expenses. He could afford to hire a model, but why should he pay for one when he could just as simply bribe Naruto with the promise of Ramen as dinner? Satisfied with his new plan, he immediately wrote a message to Naruto, asking him to lend him one of his clones to use as his muse.
Sorry, I'm busy right now. A lot happened today, and one of my close friends may possibly be in danger, so I can't spare any clones right now. I'm keeping tabs on her safety,
Sai raised a brow as he read Naruto's response.
Interesting, just who was in danger?
If anyone knew, it would be Ino.
I haven't heard anything about that. I'm going to go visit Shika and see if he's up to. He hasn't answered me back about the festival planning, I hate it how lazy he is when it counts. Ino replied.
He let out a sigh, before writing to the last person that came to mind, to ask him what happened.
Lord Kakashi said your name just now, I think he's going to summon you. Lee's letter warned him instead.
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Sai took a quick step into his bedroom, stripping off his overalls and changing into his work garbs. He walked inside his closet, retrieving his large ninjutsu scroll which was displayed at the far end of his closet, mounted on a hook.
And sure enough, as he exited his room, an Anbu colleague dropped from above the ceiling, landing on one knee before pushing himself back up to deliver the message.
"You're needed ASAP,"
Sai tilted his head in questioning as he followed his colleague to the window.
"A desperate soul tried to take the life of Hyuga-san's oldest daughter, right in the middle of a private engagement gathering," His colleague replied, while Sai pushed a window open, allowing him to go past him first.
Sai's eyes widened slightly. Engagement?
"Who is she engaged to?"
"I don't know all the details, but it's obvious what the Hokage will ask of you," His colleague replied against the chill air engulfing him, their body gliding from rooftop to rooftop. "I bet you it's a simple mission to protect her,"
They stopped at their destination, the Hokage's tower.
"If he's offering me such a mission, then I won't be seen around for a while," Sai mused out loud, not at all bothered by the prospect of being busy again during these slow, uneventful times.
They both seem to glance down at the window that housed the Hokage's office.
"Can you cover for me as usual?" Sai asked.
"No problem, I got you. It's always fun pretending I'm incapable of human expressions, your empty look has been something I've been perfecting. Did you have any youthful plans or places you were supposed to be, or friends you were supposed to see?"
"Naruto invited me to the festival,"
"Yosh, easy enough, I'll spend about an hour with them before going my merry way,"
Sai tossed him another look.
"I have a date with Tenten," His colleague explained, behind his mask, a bright-youthful smile that doesn't seem to go away with age.
"I'm counting on you Lee," Due to the nature of their job, the only way they can keep their missions a secret from close friends is by counting on one another to pretend to be the other, something Kakashi had arranged with the hopes that they both could learn from the other, but it still works in progress as Sai was incapable of smiling.
Sai tucked his hands inside his pockets and jumped off the Hokage's rooftop, his long trench coat, scarf, and crop top fluttering against the gravity that pulled him down. He landed straight on his feet, on a window ledge, the large scroll swinging on his back as he gracefully ducked, to the viewer perhaps a little too sensually, through the window and entered Kakashi's office.
For a moment, Kakashi didn't glance up and kept on writing, the pen rarely leaving the paper. Someone tried to murder Hinata Hyuga, and he doesn't expect that she was going to stand by idly, and not retaliate somehow, tenfold. He could imagine the kind of things she'll do now that it was her life that was directly threatened. He predicted her actions were going to be borderline excessive in the way she will use the political power she had acquired through being engaged to Shikamaru, and exercise it freely, bypassing his authority yet again.
As Shikamaru would often say, what a pain.
Speaking of Shikamaru, his previous advisor had sent him a letter, telling Kakashi he shouldn't worry and that he will have Hinata under control. In the said letter, he explained how his mother will keep her busy through meticulous wedding planning events among other things. But how can Kakashi not be worried? A busy body like her always managed to find time for trouble.
Kakashi finally stopped writing.
Wordlessly, Sai walked up to Kakashi's desk and stood before him, dropping to one knee, head bowed slightly.
Kakashi finally lifted his gaze away from the mission he had just written and tossed it over. The artist Shinobi caught it with one hand, opening up to skim through it.
Sai stared blankly at the mission before him. He was to serve as a double agent, although his main job is to intercept any further assassination attempts against Hinata, his goal was to spy and report about any possible plot she might be organizing.
He tried not to grin.
"I'll be on my way," Sai said, rolling the scroll back up before destroying it.
"Actually, I also need to ask you to turn in your mask," Kakashi instructed as he extended his hand forward.
A resemblance of confusion briefly passed through his eyes, before the expression on his face shifted back to his neutral one, the kind of neutrality some have mistaken to be voided of thoughts or emotions. Sai crossed his arms close to his chest.
"Is there a problem?" Kakashi asked when he saw Sai wasn't compliant.
"You're having me change my Anbu identity," His statement brought about a question, as he doesn't remember that ever happening in his career before. Was he being demoted? Or promoted?
"It seems like I've spoiled you guys since you expect me to enlighten you about every decision that I make,"
"And I'll continue to do anything you ask if continue to spoil me with answers,"
Kakashi didn't have the patience and merely jumped straight into the heart of the matter.
"This mission hinges on them not realizing it is you behind the mask,"
"May I pick my new identity?" Sai asked as he handed in his old mask. "I want to be a-"
"It's not up to you," Kakashi didn't let him finish his statement. "You're dismissed. I'll have someone deliver your new identity within the hour. Remember not to give yourself away, meaning using any of your art styles is out of the question,"
Then how was he supposed to-
Kakashi smirked. "Get creative,"
Sai lifted one arm as he waved dismissively, climbing out of the same window he came from.
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Back at home, Sai finally let his real feelings show.
He smirked devilishly as he stood before the framed award hanging on his wall, tracing his hand delicately over it, feeling exhilarated.
Will he finally be able to paint things red? He hoped so, as he imagined an intense gaze in his subject's eyes while trying to subjugate, destroy and eliminate everyone around her.
The downside to his mission is that he will have only his memories to go by, since he couldn't simply whip out a piece of paper and begin sketching. Yet, on the plus side, he'll be there to simultaneously observe the unfolding of the life of his muse and become a surveillance apparatus, as he encapsulates against her knowledge. This mission will probably be worth it.
About an hour later, a package had been delivered to reveal his new mask, along with instructions. It was then that Sai realized why Kakashi insisted on choosing his new identity. There was a shortage of females Anbus, and he seemed to be looking for a loophole to get around that. But it was tricky to maintain the disguise, as he hadn't a single clue of what not to say as his gender role. Maybe silence might do the trick, the less he speaks, the better.
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Ino's eyes had grown huge as she sat across from her best friend.
"You got engaged to Hinata!?" Who did Shikamaru have to bribe and kill? She couldn't imagine a man such as Hiashi was the kind to prioritize happiness over tradition. She had an overabundance of insight about his character based on all the minds she had read, back when she was pulled into a conspiracy against the Hyuga elders.
"I offered him something he couldn't refuse," Shikamaru replied vaguely, his elbow leaning against the desk as he spoke. Admittedly, he wasn't entirely sure as to why the man had agreed to something like that. Shikamaru imagined there would be some sort of catch down the line, but didn't voice it.
"But Shika, you barely know her. Why would you rush into something like this?"
He raised a questioning brow her way.
"You don't approve of her,"
"I didn't say that," Ino said, remembering Hinata through Toneri's perspective.
Troublesome, "You did say that,"
She almost groaned in frustration, "We're talking about the same person who was very disrespectful of your relationship with Temari. Kami, did she plan it? She came into the scene the moment your relationship with Temari-chan was at a bad place,"
Ino's bias towards him was clear now as she defaults into thinking he was the passive saint because of his lazy nature, unaware he had done most of the chasing, even while knowing Hinata herself was also engaged at the time. He didn't even want to think about it like that, and will probably go back to burying that small fact about himself and their relationship.
"Ino," He said, his tone in a clear warning. "You don't know everything,"
"Then tell me, I wanna know,"
Shikamaru heard two pairs of footsteps walking hastily down the hall, they both paused their conversation, to listen.
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"Right this way, Hinata-sama," A maid spoke outside the halls. Yoshino had instructed her to be accommodated inside the guest room that she had previously occupied.
"Where is Shikamaru-kun?" Hinata asked.
"We're in his office!" Ino yelled at the top of his lungs.
"I'll go on ahead and start unpacking for you," The maid said, taking the suitcase with her.
"There's no need, you may leave it be. I'll take care of the unpacking," Hinata said before sliding the door open to Shikamaru's office, her eyes trailing to Ino and then softening up. "Ino-chan… "
"Congrats," Ino said, her blue eyes lighting up in delight, a facade, as she still remembers many of Toneri's memories quite vividly, the ones she had retrieved and reconstructed after Sasuke had sloppily erased them. There's just no way she could look at her the same way. And it's not that Ino cared much about Hinata having a dark side, she didn't want Shikamaru to get involved and then hurt. And now there they were, the first day of being betrothed, and she was targeted by assassins. Why go through all of this with her? Why couldn't Shikamaru see that the two of them were not compatible?
Shikamaru ran his fingers through his loose hair and tried not to let his frustration known, as he was able to see right through Ino's fake demeanor towards his beloved fiancée.
"Ino was just leaving,"
She looked his way and tossed him a questioning glance. No way, was she getting kicked out?
"We would've liked you to stay for dinner, but as you can see, today's been kind of a long troublesome day-My family has been through a lot," Shikamaru added, noticing the disappointment in Hinata's eyes.
Ino sighed, have it your way, she thought to herself, as he was becoming impossible to reason with anyway.
"I'll let Choji know to drop by to congratulate you guys," Ino replied while rising from the floor.
She hugged Hinata on her way out, using the opportunity to send a glare towards Shikamaru's direction, mouthing something he could only interpret as 'be warned,' or perhaps 'I'm warning you,' before she pulled away. "Take care, you two," She said sweetly.
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As Ino was leaving, she passed by a person she had never seen before, being guided by the maids, into Yoshino's office. The young woman had dark hair, dark eyes, bob cut, extremely thin, wearing a plain black sweater that covered her neck, and military pants. The serious, empty, emotionless dead-stare gave Ino the vibe that the girl was there on a mission, at least it's what Ino deduced from the twin blades holstered by her on each side, strapped around her thighs.
How odd that she was a Konoha leaf Shinobi, yet someone who Ino didn't recognize to be in any circle of gossip and friends. The stranger was either a foreigner here on a mission or an Anbu about to receive their debriefing from the person that hired them.
Yoshino exited her office, into the hall. Her attention was drawn to her way.
"You're not staying for dinner?" She asked.
"No, not tonight. Goodnight Yoshino,"
"Goodnight, and please don't be a stranger. We all miss having you around, and it'll be lovely if Hinata-chan could find a female friend trustee in you since she seems to lack feminine friends,"
Ino doesn't say anything, but locks this comment away in her filing system. There was surely something going on for her to say that.
"I'll be sure to drop by more often then," Ino replied with a smile.
After Ino left their mansion, she took one last look back.
Sai walked into Yoshino's office, feeling slight relief. If Ino didn't recognize him, he supposed he passed in his disguise.
"I'm sure Lord Hokage must've told you about your mission. I've arranged for a futon to be added to her guest room. Do you have any questions?" Yoshino asked.
He reached out, putting his mask on, concealing his feminine face, and bowed slightly,
"I'll do my best," Sai said, trying to conjure Lee's enthusiasm.
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Back inside Shikamaru's office, Hinata walked up to his side and settled down beside him. He could tell she was tired. Hell, they both were.
"It's not like you to ask your best friend to leave like that. No matter what we've been through, you normally wouldn't have minded having dinner with Ino. I'm sure she must've had questions-"
"Hinata,"
"Hm?"
"I'm tired. And be honest, is dinner one of those things on your mind right now?"
"You're right. I don't think I can trust the next few meals unless someone else tests it for poison,"
He nodded, agreeing with her answer as his hand found hers, "I'm not exactly hungry myself," or in the mood to play host and entertain.
"What did she do or say to upset you?"
He seemed tense when asked the question.
"We've hired someone to keep a lookout until we know you're safe," He replied instead.
She frowned and let it go, "And when you say 'lookout'-"
"It means they won't leave your side for the most part,"
She sighed inwardly. She would've brought her guard if she had known that was going to be the plan. Too tired to complain, she leaned her head on his shoulder.
He continued what he was doing, reading a bunch of paperwork, before replying, signing, and sealing them with the Nara emblem. Occasionally his hand would pause, and his gaze would trail to the side, to check on her, before resuming his work.
How nostalgic it was to watch him and see herself in him, doing the same kind of thing she used to do back at home.
Being a clan leader, she missed it, but instead of thinking about it too much, she decided to use the time to mentally prepare for how she was going to spend the rest of her upcoming days. Although she was raised mostly to be a wife, she was sure Yoshino had to go over some different rules the Nara clan had in regard to life as a wife.
From what she has seen, she already knows she'll be in charge of the lifestyle aspect of the clan, including the kitchen, kitchen inventory, and staff. She'll probably have to adhere and work around staff availability, to allocate labor accordingly, completely different from the life of a Hyuga, whose main role was to look beautiful at all times and fill her idle downtime with feminine hobbies as things magically run themselves in the background.
As she weighed the situation and her future responsibilities, for the most part, she looked forward to helping with community disputes, meetings, investors, investing, PR, contracts, finding loopholes, maintaining their armies in top shape-
"You have my attention," Shikamaru's voice cut through. She didn't realize she was staring intently at him.
"Don't mind me," She said, unnecessarily, knowing he was very aware of her. She readjusted herself, her head cushioned by his lap. As she continued to reflect, she was becoming a pessimist again. No amount of mental preparation prepared her for what was about to come, at least emotionally. She closed her eyes and dreaded seeing the dull schedule Yoshino had planned for her tomorrow.
"I thought for a moment you were going to try and seduce me," He said, almost disappointed.
She opened her eyes and gave him a look.
"I'm not like you, whispering perverted things in my ears right in front of my father and my in-law and guests. What were you thinking back then? I think my father caught half of the things you said,"
"Sorry, sorry," She had to question his sincerity for a moment. For example, how could he not know about his own habit? There was this thing he did with his lips that made her want to drink from them. She looked away again, still, a smile teased her lips as she closed her eyes again.
She liked the way the sound of his laughter traveled. Furthermore, she could feel the vibration as she laid her head on his lap, with a small smile on the corner of her lips. She heard him place the ink and brush it down, his hand caressing her hair gently.
Her eyes fluttered open, for some reason, recalling what Yami had said to her. He seemed overly enthusiastic to become her weapon, but her trigger finger was unable to follow through. She couldn't use him in any way that mattered because Hanabi was back in the political scene, no longer a child concerned with herself, as she now cared more about what happens around the clan.
She didn't want her actions to disappoint Hanabi.
"What's on your mind?" He asked her.
She pushed herself up and met his gaze, feeling stupid for the first time for forgetting her wonderful fiancé was deemed the most intelligent man in the village and had served the most powerful and influential figure around, the Lord Hokage himself, who was known for his cunningness that even the Nara clan has acknowledged.
Why hadn't she ever thought of asking for his advice? With him by her side, wouldn't she be unstoppable?
"I was thinking about something that happened on my trip here. The person who escorted me today goes by the Anbu name of Yami. I found out he's a branch member, and he offered his assistance should I ever need it,"
"And what did you say to that?"
"I didn't say anything, since I no longer want to fight violence with violence," Hinata replied, but didn't think it was important to linger on the little details. "He inspired me to organize and empower my people, and encourage them to feel that it is okay to free themselves, even if I'll no longer be there,"
There was hesitation and protest behind his eyes. As he seemed to be thinking too hard about something. He pressed his lips.
Shouldn't she be talking about frilly things or wedding plans? And what will it be like when it comes time to perform her duties as his wife? Is her clan the only thing that will constantly be on her mind?
"Hinata, and what about your side of the agreement? You're a Nara now with responsibilities. You're the mother to my future children," And as the mother to his future children, she will likely not have any time for all the fighting. He felt no regrets when those words left his mind, because one of the truths he holds to be true above all else, was that she was his.
He sensed an argument coming up, as her eyes were alive, probably filled with thoughts of what she wanted to say as she fidgeted with the ring on her finger.
"My love," She smiled and kept calm, deciding his comment didn't warrant a response, and the only thing she'll accept is an apology. "I think it's time I meet this Anbu you have graciously hired to protect me," She rose, sending him a sad smile his way before leaving him alone.
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As Hinata walked down the halls, she played his words on repeat and thought it through. It was better to believe he hadn't meant what he said. That was likely the case, as they were both exhausted from today because there was no way her future husband would essentially tell her she was only there to fill the title with his wife, and have his kids.
"Yoshino, where's Anbu-san?" Hinata asked.
"They're getting familiarized with the entire mansion before joining you,"
"I see. I'm skipping dinner and turning in early,"
"Very well, Kami knows you'll need your rest for tomorrow,"
"And what's my schedule going to look like for tomorrow?"
Yoshino smiled widely, "I'm kind of busy tomorrow, but this week we should start planning the details of the wedding, among other things,"
Hinata nodded, not surprised by this. As she retreated to the guest room, she continued to think about their earlier exchange. If Shikamaru were to truly mean what he said, she doesn't quite know what she'll do about his unwillingness to help her when he has always taken her side before.
Moments later, as she was inside the guest room, there was a knock on the door.
She called out to the person, permitting them to enter. The Anbu's attention trailed to the futon laid out on the floor, in the middle of the room, far enough from her bed, before looking at her. Hinata was in her sleeping garbs, a white kimono with the Nara logo embedded on her back. She was unrecognizable to Sai. Where was the spark of danger in her eyes? The promise of mischief?
"Hinata-sama, I look forward to working with you,"
"Anbu-san," She said, "Have we worked together before?"
"No," He continued to walk around the room, stopping by the futon.
"I see. Make yourself comfortable. Fair warning, I don't think I'm planning on sleeping early tonight,"
Sai watched her open her suitcase, it was filled with various writings and scriptures, instead of the typical items, one takes when spending the night away from home. She retrieved whatever document she had been looking for, rising from the floor to move to the vanity table, which had been transformed into a desk.
He realized then that the spark of danger, and the promise of mischief, were probably still there. She was just good at hiding it now.
He grinned behind his mask, removing it to reveal his feminine avatar, and turned his attention back to the random things inside her room. There was a violin displayed in the corner of her room, a half-finished sewing project, some books stacked on top of her vanity desk, along with a draft of some kind of new ninja technique written on a scroll.
"I wish you had been hired under different circumstances," She said, as she was aware part of their mission was to taste all the food before she consumes it.
"Is that why you decided to skip dinner?" Did she feel bad for him, a mere stranger?
"I just happen to not have an appetite right now," So she didn't care about his wellbeing after all.
"Why does a guest room have so many personalized things?"
"I've spent some time here once before," Hinata said in the background of his thoughts.
"You have a lot of hobbies," Sai plopped down on the futon and crossed his legs. Sai was sure there was nothing lady-like about his demeanor. He was probably perceived as a tomboy.
"They're not hobbies, just things I did when I was under a similar kind of protection. I read, did sowing, worked on theories or new techniques...what else is one supposed to do? It felt like I was under house arrest," She said as she pointed and motioned to objects in her room.
"And do you feel like a prisoner right now?"
She smiled, "No, I think I might've misspoken,"
"Ah..." He looked around the room again, "Then if none of these things are your hobbies, what is it that you like to do instead?" His gaze fell on the opened suitcase.
"Am I under some kind of interrogation?" Hinata tilted her head.
"No, I just want to learn more about the person I'm protecting,"
"I rather you do not do that, you're not here to become my friend, Anbu-san." Hinata said.
Sai chuckled. "Fair enough. But if Hinata-sama is looking for things to fill her time with, she should take on art lessons,"
"Do you like to draw?"
A shiver went down his spine at the accuracy of her question. He decided to fall back on his original plan and not say anything for the remainder of his time.
"I'm not very good at it."
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Time lapsed, and he continued to sit there, on his futon, as she sat in front of the vanity desk, her chin propped on one hand as her hand moved to write some kanjis. She paused, and lifted her gaze, and using the mirror's reflection she glanced at the tomboy Anbu sitting in the middle of the room.
Sai didn't look away, as he had spent time memorizing this scene. His muse looked away and continued writing.
"How long do you plan to stay up, Hinata-sama?" Sai asked, not at all affected by her obvious irritation.
"I know it's your job to watch me, but why don't you check the peripherals, and the forest once more? And maybe bring back something for us to drink or snacks on, since you have to do the tasting," She said, a little harshly.
"Roger that," Sai lifted himself from the futon, and when he walked away his footsteps didn't make a sound.
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Her hand paused once she was alone.
Shikamaru's words still bothered her, and now she couldn't sleep because of the things that he said. Since then, the rebel side of her drew from some inspiration as she remembered a conversation she had with Sasuke. Now she found herself immersed in answering those questions he had once asked her, back in Suna, after he had given her his harsh criticisms about her thesis.
There was a knock on the door, she glanced at it in confusion, as the Anbu shouldn't be back so soon. She felt the knife holstered to her side, hidden underneath her Kimono. She opened the door and moved her hand away from the weapon when she saw it was just her fiancé.
She was hesitant to let him in at first, but smiled sweetly. Hinata touched his face, sending a pulse of her chakra that would've dispelled him had he been a stranger in disguise. His brown eyes had questions in them.
"Where's the Anbu?"
"Patrolling,"
His expression took on a new form of understanding, chuckling through the moment of clarity. "Is it that bad?"
"Very," She insisted, making a face, evidently irritated as the Anbu was driving her crazy with all the literal watching they were doing.
She looked at him again and sighed. Not this again. How was he able to effortlessly do that look with his eyes? His gaze, the mocking glint in them, his lazy grin, seconds in, and she has already forgotten about the things he had said. Instead, she remembers their future, their love, as if she didn't almost die today.
"Hang in there," He said sarcastically, shifting one hand into a fist, shaking it in fake preppy encouragement.
"Sure, I'll try," She replied, her smile ever-present.
But then she remembered his words again, and she crossed her arms and finally stepped away and to the side so that he may plainly see his words hadn't been acknowledged as she had been in the middle of a draft, drawn from the inspiration of all the conversations she has had with her friend, but he doesn't bring it up.
"So what are you doing here this late? Came to say goodnight?" She asked.
"I came to apologize to you. I thought about what I said back there," He paused and shook his head as if disgusted with himself. "And I'm sorry,"
"You sounded like an elder," And he knew exactly what happened to them.
His face darkened, "Do not joke like that, I rather you call me a sexist jerk,"
"You don't get to decide what I call you when I'm mad at you," She said as if frustrated, knowing full well she had forgiven him by then. Still, she didn't want it to seem like it was easy to appease her, so she feigned the nonchalant look in her eyes as she shrugged her shoulders. She turned away, her eyes preoccupied with something else.
Shikamaru accepted this was all he was going to get as far as an acknowledgment to his apology.
"What are you working on?" He finally asked.
"Ah, that," She picked up the draft and stared at it fondly. "Sasuke-kun had asked me a lot of questions I didn't have the answer for after he read my thesis. I'm now listing various scenarios that would answer those things. It's just something I want to have prepared. I'm thinking of putting together a small gathering with my clansmen and talking about it," She said, remembering Yami had hinted there had been a lot of supporters involved.
His eyes trailed to the side as he hummed unenthusiastically.
"Shikamaru-kun, why do you hate Sasuke-kun so much? You've always been like this, distrusting of him. It was like that too, at our inauguration-"
"Will my answer change the way you view him? Will it make you stop talking to him?"
Her eyes widened. How did that escalate so quickly?
"You want me to stop being his friend because you hate him...?" It's essentially what she got from the conversation.
"This friend of yours has feelings for you-"
"You don't know that!"
He continued to stare at her, his expression darkening as he spoke. "You mean you really didn't know...?"
She should just stop talking, yet her mouth kept moving. "That's ridiculous, it's like saying Kiba-kun and Shino-kun have feelings for me-" She stopped in mid-sentence. Her fiancé, one of the most intelligent people around, wasn't one to misread situations or people's feelings. He probably saw something in Sasuke that had gone over her head.
"Is it the same thing, though? Those two teammates of yours were respectful enough to leave you alone once they saw you were with me,"
What is he talking about? Now that she thought about it, it is true her friends stopped coming around as often.
"Hinata, I'm only bringing this up because you've hurt my feelings quite a few times before. I don't think you do it intentionally," How could she know? "You just keep doing it over and over again. I thought maybe one day you will realize how it makes me feel and how it makes me look, to be told by the man I hate, that the woman I love always goes running to him first,"
She swallowed hard, her throat unable to produce sounds at the time. She didn't know her eyes were watering until she had to blink back the tears. The mere concept of Shikamaru being in pain because of something she did make her feel sick with herself.
Shikamaru sighed. Troublesome, she only makes herself look more guilty when she's about to cry, he thought to himself. Was she sad about the prospect of not having the Uchiha in her life?
"If we're going to be together for the rest of our lives, I'm going to ask you something, and please be honest. I've always known about your past with Naruto, and he's my best friend, so I've never been concerned about him. It is the Uchiha I don't trust. Is there anything going on between the two of you?"
He didn't want to look at her but forced himself to read any microscopic reaction that may give him a hint into the truth, dishonesty, or her psyche. He felt like a jerk for approaching her with probing questions, but he needed to know for himself, as Ino doesn't seem to trust her for some reason.
Something thudded and twisted inside her in the most painful possible way at the thought of losing someone as irreplaceable as her fiancé.
"There's nothing between us," She assured him, and sure enough he seemed to believe her.
"That's all I wanted to hear," He admitted, almost with relief. To be truthful, had he found any hint of dishonesty in her, he knew he would've ended it right away. "Now, am I an asshole for asking you to distance yourself from him?"
"You're not, I'm sorry that I hurt you. It won't happen again," She replied, her eyes trailing to the side as she thought back to all the decisions that got her there in the first place.
His fingers briefly graced the side of her arm, before holding her hand in his. He gave a thoughtful look towards their joined hands and squeezed them, trying to regain some feeling in his own hands, but the physical motion still left him feeling cold as if not in control of his body and mind. He was still in fight and flight mode over thinking he was going to lose her over something like this.
His feelings finally returned to his hand, and taking a step forward, herding against the table before lifting her around the waist, and for some reason, he seemed so happy right then. The books, scrolls, and writing scriptures got pushed over or found their way to the floor as he settled her on top of the desk.
"Shikamaru-kun...?"
"It's troublesome to see you sad because of something I said," He explained as his fingers touched her face.
"I'll be okay, it's you I'm now worried about," Since part of her wondered if Shikamaru had been hurting with jealousy this whole time.
"You mentioned the Anbu is out on patrol," The way he spoke that statement sounded suspicious to her, as if he wanted to emphasize there was something about the Anbu's absence to consider.
He believed they had time.
He removed the ornament holding her hair together, something that took hours, coming undone in a few seconds. He kissed her confused brows, before moving to her nose and then lips with such tenderness it was hard to resist him. She shut her eyes tightly as he pulled her into an embrace, the cold mirror pressing against her back triggering a chillness that conflicted with the warmth he was providing as his arms tried to envelop her whole being.
As they kissed, she wondered if he sensed the overwhelming sadness she felt over being accused and misunderstood in such a way, but perhaps this was just his way of asking her to forget. The feel of his lips against hers, and his scent, filled her up with want. Her mouth slightly parted open, nibbling at his bottom lip hard, without thinking that Shikamaru would respond with the same intensity as they shared a sensual kiss. She enjoyed the not-so-subtle ways he hinted at his intentions in how he held her, his fingers almost digging into her back through the fabric of her clothes, as he accommodated himself closer between her. It was difficult not to hug him back without wanting more.
He tried his best to be as gentle as possible as he took a fist full of hair, holding her in place once he had access to her neck. Her breath hitched, and she couldn't control the loud gasp and whimpers which escaped her mouth as he went from gentle to rough, before kissing the bruises now adorning her neck.
When they were both catching their breath, he remained close, his downcast gaze preoccupied with worshiping her legs, his fingers tracing her white stockings until he reached bare skin, leaving heated phantoms against her flesh, her kimono riding up as he made his way up, his hand purposely skipping and ignoring the weapon holster strapped on her leg. He stopped right before he reached her inner thigh, and her heart thudded in anticipation for something but wasn't sure what, up until now all they've done is light petting.
He pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes as he handed himself over to imagination, taking what he wanted, like this, or maybe standing. After all, if he recalls correctly, she once asked him how he wanted to have her.
He pulled her off the table and spun her around. He hugged her from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. And as he stared at their reflection together, at that moment, Shikamaru asked himself if he had been the only one that ever wondered how they looked together. The mocking-look she gave him confirmed he had been the only one vain enough-
"Shikamaru-kun, could it be that you're a pervert?"
-or perverted enough to wonder.
He didn't answer her question, preoccupying himself with the flesh of her neck, giving her butterfly kisses while undoing the obi, her kimono sliding to the floor all the while she gazed at him with a clouded look that mirrored his. She turned slightly to look at him over her shoulder and was met by a kiss. He decided he will have her like this.
One day.
But not today.
He looped his finger around her lingerie, leaving it half-pulled as he quickly brushed her curious hand away from touching him to keep some resemblance of control, only to find that the control in his mind was waning down on its own. Her questions and a last-ditch protest died down in the back of her throat as he kissed her and pushed a finger inside of her, his hands slowing with deliberate gentleness as this was all experimental. He had never done this yet imagined a scenario like this before. She seemed to like it, her back arched against him, her breath turning into pants making him almost lose it.
He pushed a second finger inside. The sound of her breathing was intoxicating as it came out more erratic each time he explored her with steady gestures. Shikamaru enjoyed watching her express different emotions he had never seen in her before, all the while she whispered his name and some sort of resemblance of protest. Something about how they shouldn't be doing this, and that the Anbu will be back soon, which only proved to encourage him further as he paused, just to unclip her bra, pulling it down further each time he needed more access to her skin, gently cupping, massaging while kissing her neck and then earlobe.
Her lack of eye contact began to feel worrisome though, as he didn't peg her for a shy lover.
Troublesome, maybe she was.
"Hinata,"
Her eyes fluttered open. Her cheeks were more flushed than they had been seconds before. As her chest was rising and falling.
It had not occurred to her she would ever feel self-conscious while in his presence. She was almost on full display, as he removed the last piece of her white lingerie, only leaving her in stocking, and the weapon on her side didn't count as any type of coverage, all the while he was fully clothed.
Her lavender eyes took a shy glance his way before looking away. In her altered state, her next memories became hazy, as she wanted nothing more than gratification and release from all the build-up she felt.
"Why are you teasing me this way?"
"You can always stop me whenever you want," He whispered, his voice breathy, trying to hide his hunger behind his patient gesture.
That's not what she meant. Why wasn't he inside of her?
Eventually, her buzzing mind went quiet, as the sound of her voice filled the silence. Her heart thudded as she forced herself to watch, feeling his hands on her breasts, belly, hip. His words gave her instructions, encouraging her movement to meet her needs against his fingers. She trembled at first, taking a grip of his hair into her fist as his fingers changed into full thrusts.
She moaned, her brain finally comprehending there were levels of intense pleasure she had yet to know while a ping of feelings spread all around her body. She bit back any sounds this time, still, the room was filled with the sound of his hand and her flesh, overwriting any thudding happening inside her heart and mind. When she said his name over and over again he continued to hold back, reminding himself she will be his in two months.
In the high of delight and raw desire, she demanded that he take her, her breaths became shallow, her knees threatening to buckle, as she stalled a little longer. The only instruction he yielded to was that of her body wanting release. It was his voice that did her in, as he whispered things in her ear.
He felt her tightening around his finger and he held her in place, wrapping an arm around her waist when he thought her knees were about to give in as she climaxed.
Shikamaru kissed her cheek and waited for her to gain her bearings as he watch her breasts rise and fall.
"Troublesome, you have a lot to learn," He said, trying to hide the smugness in his voice. "For example, in that kind of situation you shouldn't be demanding anything from me, you should be begging or asking nicely,"
She almost scoffed, finally realizing where her future husband suddenly got all that confidence from, as he had merely been performing one of the things he had claimed he was going to do to her earlier that day, only that she had forgotten about it. Back then, she thought he was just teasing her, but it seemed like going forward she'll have to believe everything he said he'll do to her.
She watched him disappear into the bathroom, presumingly to run her a bath, as she threw a blanket around herself, and followed.
"Please do not tell me that controlling me and exerting your power over me is what you're into," She said to him as he was testing the water temperature, as the bathtub was filling up
Something like recognition flashed through his eyes, as it finally occurred to him that being powerless is something she doesn't want to feel.
"Did you feel powerless?"
Almost. "What kept me from feeling that way was knowing I could push a dagger to your neck-"
"Kami, Hinata," Always the dramatic one, "You could just say that you didn't like it,"
"-What I'm trying to say is that we all have our own fantasies,"
"And what are yours?" He asked, in mocking amusement, knowing she wouldn't be able to answer, but not because she didn't know.
"Shut up,"
"Yes ma'am," He said through a lazy smile while mumbling what a pain they were being, as the Anbu was probably waiting outside for him to leave, for which she reminded him he was the one that started all of it.
.
Sai had a dazed look in his eyes, as he sat by himself inside the kitchen. He had returned a little earlier from patrolling and had gathered some snacks before heading to Hinata's room, only to find that she was not alone. He had heard movements and sounds inside, as she was involved in something he could only describe as human behavior.
He's been involved before, in such carnal exchange, a few times, his first and many others, always with Ino. Even so, he didn't understand the surrounding hype from everyone else who had claimed to be involved in the exchange. There was definitely no logic to it, but it still fascinated him that everyone else's experiences seemed positive. Even Ino had been happy, back then, throwing him in a state of confusion since hadn't found anything extraordinary about it, at least not in the way art made him feel.
He heard the sounds of footsteps passing by, and Sai pushed himself off the chair to go back and check on Hinata.
When he entered the room, he found her, this time in a red kimono, patting her hair dry with a towel and moving in front of the vanity table to finally use it for its intended purpose as she blow-dried her hair. She seemed to have a blush on her face as she addressed him while not looking at him.
"What kind of snacks did you get?"
He set some plate of pastries down by her night table.
"The cinnamon rolls called out to me," he admitted.
He then walked up to her and picked up some of the scrolls littered about on the ground, his eyes then widened. Did they...do it on the table?
"Hinata-sama," Sai began.
Hinata paused the hairdryer and gave him an innocent, quizzical look.
"I understand if you wish to be left alone to perform whatever kinks you have with your fiancé, but it's my job on the line here. I don't mind being inside the room the next time you two-"
"Anbu-san!"
Sai grinned and jumped into his futon, removing his mask, not realizing he seemed to be laughing and smiling freely, his short haircut swaying.
"I'll leave this out of the report for your maidenly sake," He said once he stopped laughing.
Hinata rolled her eyes, turning the hairdryer back on.
"I think you're a weird girl, Anbu-san. I hope you're not something short of diabolical," She said.
Sai lay on his back, with his hand under his head, staring at the ceiling with a knowing smile on his face.
"And I think we're going to get along just fine, Hinata-sama, I hope neither of us dies,"
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A/N: I'll be editing this throughout the week and to be honest I didn't get to work on the last chapter that much since this one just sprung up on me, thanks to helpful comments and guidance.
"oh no, base on QnA, are you planning to make Shika loose her? don't please, i can't imagine she become so mean, even tho base on her personality in this fic, there's probability she become like that :("
-Not gonna happen.
"i love how you portrayed sasuhina relationship in this fic and I'm sorry sasuke please step down, and hinata please understand sasuke and start creating boundaries. (well they probably will not meet again)"
-As for Sasuke stepping down, that's kind of a work in progress. Sasuke was only mentioned in this chapter and didn't make an appearance for that reason as I'm trying to figure out how he will step down.
"I'm really scared Hinata will end up cheating on shika. He's her fiance yet she continues leaning on Sasuke for things she should be going to shikamaru with. It's disrespectful and blues the lines. She wants to have her cake and eat it too. Shika needs to say something or maybe give her a taste of her own medicine. I feel like if he did this to her, she would be pissed but then again that might make her run to Sasuke more. Idk, someone needs to have a talk with her and tell her she needs to stop."
-I was scattered and lost but your comments showed me the way. Now you see me trying to do damage control. Bits and pieces of your comments were pretty much was the blueprint of this chapter.
Edited: 9-9-22