CCNote: Wow! I can't believe we're almost finished with this story! Thank you so much to everyone that has enjoyed reading this so far and your feedback makes me so damn happy. I wish that I could stretch this story out longer( there are so many other ideas and details to get into that I have swirling in my head) but like all good things, this story must come to end. The poll is still open so if you haven't made your choice yet go look at the options posted in the previous chapter and let your preference be known! The winner of the poll will be announced next chapter but let me just say I didn't realize just how many people actually read this story. I was only expecting maybe ten or so responses but ya'll really came out the woodwork lol! This just makes me motivated to make the next story 1000xs better than this one.
A couple of guests rightly pointed out that I'd promised an ItaHina. I actually tried to write an outline for one but it just wasn't good enough for me. I only put out things that I would enjoy rereading multiple times myself. The track I was on made it feel too forced and was subpar. While I love ItaHina the idea I had for them hasn't passed my own standards and I refuse to give you less than my best ideawise. I'll go back to the pairing eventually but for now, you should know that I failed.
Anywho! Please enjoy! Today is Mt. Fuji Day so don't forget to leave a REVIEW and make my day off even better!
Y is for Permission
Saturday September 1 2044 4:05pm
Hyuuga Compound
…..
'The leaves have started to turn.' Hiashi mused as he slowly walked with the assistance of a cane down the garden path to sit underneath his favorite tree.
All around him, the fall wind rustled the leaves on the trees in the garden. A few of them broke away from their branches and tumbling down to the earth. Burnt orange. Muted mahogany. Striking copper. All of which fell, one by one into the grass below. Hiashi sighed as he looked out at the garden. How many seasons had he seen change through this window? How many years had gone by? It seemed like just yesterday he'd been watching his daughters play in their mother's garden. Their laughter had traveled up to his office and had provided an odd sort of comfort as he buried himself deeper into his paperwork. Then they grew older and the laughter changed to feet running up and down the halls and loud music in their rooms. That too had been a comfort even if it was a little annoying.
Years flew by and one by one so did his children. Hinata returned to the garden, accompanied by two new little boys that laughed just like she did. Two little boys that were curious and caring just like she was. Then Honoka came and brought with her a trail of destruction that very few could contain and a little Hikari trailing after her, struggling to keep up. When he closed his eyes he could almost imagine that he had returned to a time that was simpler but when he opened them he was reminded of his regrets. He was reminded of his mistakes. So, he closed the curtains and closed his eyes. Eventually, as it had before, the laughter changed and one day ceased altogether.
Hiashi let out a slow grunt as he eased himself down onto the stone bench of his favorite tree. The large oak had sat in the center of the Hyuuga compound for as long as the Hyuuga had been a clan. In a way, it was comforting to know that this tree had been watching over his family before he was even in existence and would still be there long after. Another soft gust of wind blew through the peaceful garden and the former Hyuuga head watched the ripples it created in the koi pond. Ripples that felt…empty.
He frowned, fingers tightening around the hook of his cane, and leaned backward so that his bothersome back could rest against the rough bark of the old tree. Above him a loud cracking made him look up into the thick branches of the oak tree and was surprised to see two legs hanging down. Staring right back at him with inquisitive slate eyes and lazily kicking her legs back and forth was one of the latest, and oddest, additions to the Hyuuga clan. Chisato Hyuuga.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked bluntly.
Hiashi's right eye twitched involuntarily. His youngest daughter seemed to have neglected to teach her own daughter any sort of manners. In fact, sometimes he wondered just what Hanabi was teaching the girl. On occasion, he'd heard from the branch staff that the two girls would go camping in the woods on the property and practice tying knots at the kitchen table. Anytime Chisato passed a big exam, bottle rockets were set off in the garden and there would be whoops of excitement from the other branch member children. Hiashi had no idea who kept supplying Hanabi with fireworks but a mysterious crate never failed to show up on their doorstep for new years.
Chisato enjoyed more than just making things explode although none of which Hiashi felt were worthy pursuits. He heard of her odd exploits over the years through the branch members and from a distance watched the spunky eleven-year-old grow up to a headstrong fifteen year old who didn't have a concept of authority. Yet, despite her very unHyuuga-like tendencies, she was welcomed into the clan's ranks without too much of an uproar. Mostly due to his nephew's unwavering backing and warnings to the elders that opposed the girl. Chisato cocked her head slightly to the side, perplexed by his continued silence and Hiashi felt the corner of his lips twitch in response. The expression on her face now was the same one she had when Hanabi first brought her home…
…."Sir, you have a visitor." A branch member said after poking their head into his home office.
Hiashi looked up from the book he was reading, confused as to who could be visiting him. He didn't get many visitors nowadays since Neji had become the head of the clan. If he did get a visitor it was usually an old business tie coming to ensure that relations with the Hyuuga were still secure. He had no such meeting scheduled today so his curiosity slightly peeked.
"Send them in." Hiashi said and the branch member gave him a quick nod.
As he placed a bookmark between the weathered pages of his book, his office door opened fully to allow the visitor to enter. His breath caught in his throat as he was met with a sight he hadn't seen in years. Hanabi stood proudly in front of him, her chin raised slightly and her eyes still possessing that same confidence they always had. She'd always favored him in the looks department but the years had been much kinder to her than they had been to him. Despite how mature she'd become, her attire was rather simple for a thirty-six-year-old. Today she wore a plain yellow t-shirt and light-washed jeans, an ensemble fit for someone with a less than stellar upbringing like her own. Yet another act of rebellion against him even after all this time. Not that he was too surprised. Hanabi had essentially cut all contact with him after her graduation, another thing he could tick off as a regret.
"It's been awhile, father." Hanabi said and walked fully into the room. The branch member bowed respectfully and closed the door to the office to give the pair privacy.
"It has." Hiashi said, unsure of what else to say to the daughter he'd always thought would be sitting behind this very desk.
The daughter that had more potential in her pinky finger than any other Hyuuga clan head that had come before her. The daughter he'd disowned in a fit of rage. The fingers of his left hand twitched on the cover of the book he'd been reading. He could still recall the shouting match between them and the night she'd left the house. It had only been a few days after her graduation and she left without a single possession. That night he thought that she'd come back. She had to return, she had absolutely nothing. She'd left the car she'd gotten as a graduation present and all of her cards linked to the Hyuuga accounts. The only clothes she took with her were the ones on her back and her house keys laid abandoned on the coffee table. When he watched her get into an unfamiliar car he thought she'd look back at least once. Yet, she never did.
Now, looking back on it almost sixteen years later he couldn't even remember what they'd been arguing about. He'd been too drunk, too belligerent to hold onto the words that had been said. He knew that she was still in contact with his eldest daughter and nephew but not once did she reach out to him. Now, having her stand so proudly in front of him he wondered what to say. Nearly sixteen years of silence was a long time and it seemed that even now it would continue to stretch on between them.
"Neji thinks it's best that I inform you in person." Hanabi said bluntly, cutting right to the chase. It was a trait that would have served her well in the world of business. "I got offered a lead position in the pediatrics department at Konoha General. I'll be living in Konoha from now on and once I find a suitable apartment I'll begin working."
"Is that so?" he said, perking up a bit at the fact that Hanabi was returning.
Although he didn't let his approval show either way he was proud of his daughter. Despite his abhorrence, to her squandering her talents in a worthless hospital it was a point of pride to know that she was at least good.
"Yes." She said with a stiff nod of her head. "There is something else too."
She pulled out her phone and walked up to the desk. She placed the device in front of him and for a moment Hiashi was confused as to what he was looking at. It was a picture of a little girl in an elementary school uniform. Her black hair was pulled up into a ponytail and a smile that stretched from ear to ear. She had his daughter's nose and the same mischevious smile but her eyes were off. They were too dark to belong to a Hyuuga and held a striking resemblance to the ones his other grandchildren possessed but were a shade or two lighter. He picked up the phone to get a closer look at the mysterious girl when Hanabi spoke again.
"This is my daughter." She said proudly and Hiashi immediately put the phone back down.
"Daughter?"
"Yes. Chisato."
Hiashi's brow furrowed at the lack of a last name and pressed his lips into a tight line.
"Who is her father?" he asked and Hanabi shrugged.
Hiashi picked up the phone again and squinted at the photo. If he didn't know any better he would have thought he was looking at one of Hinata and Sasuke's offspring. Suddenly dots began to connect together and an uncomfortable feeling settled into the pit of his stomach. Not only had Hanabi disappeared almost sixteen years ago but so had the eldest Uchiha. He hadn't thought much of it at the time but the existence of this child put everything into a different perspective. Immediately his mind started to race as this new reality set in. If this was, in fact, a child of Itachi Uchiha's she was the true heir of the Uchiha clan. He'd heard rumors of internal strife among the clan's members shortly proceeding and becoming inflamed following the deaths of Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha. Eventually, it had died down but this revelation would be sure to spring that revolt back to life.
"Hanabi…is this child an Uchiha?" He asked, keeping his tone as even as possible. Hanabi narrowed her eyes and took her phone back from him.
"Chisato is Chisato." She said simply although there was a hint of defensiveness in her tone.
Hiashi leaned back in his chair and let out a deep breath through his nose.
"You do realize what this will mean right? Has Itachi rejected the child?"
Did Chisato bear the Uchiha name or was she a Hyuuga. The only reason that Chisato would have the last name Hyuuga was if the eldest Uchiha didn't claim her as his own. There was no denying it though. The more he recalled the picture of Chisato the more sure he was that the girl was an Uchiha. He watched as his daughter grew tense, her fingers tightening reflexively around her phone. Anger began to well within him as he thought about the bastard that dared to impregnate his daughter and leave her. At least the younger Uchiha had the decency to marry Hinata.
"Answer me Hanabi." he growled.
"Itachi passed away." Hanabi said, her voice tight. "He died before he knew of Chisato's existence. Before I even knew I was pregnant."
Hiashi immediately felt his anger leave him as he watched Hanabi's shoulders slump. Whatever defiance she tried to portray outwardly, right now she looked like the little the little girl he'd raised. The little girl who cried every morning to her nanny because her cousin and sister had to go to school and leave her behind. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding his death, Itachi had left her behind.
"Chisato…Hyuuga." Hiashi said, breaking the thick silence that hung between them. "As a member of the clan she is expected to live here in the compound."
"Huh? What?" Hanabi replied in surprise. "We will be fine living on our own Father. I didn't come here for that."
The former patriarch stood up and turned to face the windows of his office and looked out at the empty garden below. He couldn't do much for Hanabi or Chisato but what he could do was protect them. He could give his youngest grandchild the validity of being a recognized member of their clan. It wasn't much but it would keep her from being used as a pawn by the Uchiha. Not only would this keep Chisato safe but it would also keep the future of his nephews secure.
"There are a couple of empty houses around the property." Hiashi said without turning around.
"Father-"
"Someone will show you around tomorrow morning. Choose the one that suits your needs and then bring Chisato to me. She needs to be added to our registry-"
"Father I don't understand." Hanabi interrupted.
"Chisato is part Hyuuga is she not?"
"Yes, but-."
Hiashi turned away from the window and back to his daughter who now looked utterly disarmed. Hanabi had come expecting a fight but there was none to be had. For the first time in years, her eyes didn't hold defiance or malice within then. Instead, she looked grateful. Hanabi had a long list of things that she didn't want but for once it seemed as though he could give her something she did. He sat back down at his desk and opened the book he'd been reading once more.
"I'll be expecting you tomorrow afternoon."….
….The next day Hanabi had brought Chisato over and the girl had looked him up and down as though she were committing his features to memory. It was strange being analyzed by such an odd girl but he took it in stride.
"Why are you up there?" Hiashi asked her and Chisato shrugged her shoulders.
"Because I can be."
Hiashi let out a short grunt. Sure she could be in a tree but he didn't know too many fifteen-year-olds climbing trees these days.
"Chi!" a hurried voice called from the deck of the main house. "Chi!"
Chisato immediately perked up at hearing her name being called and carefully shimmied her way down the tree. She jumped the last foot on her own and only let out a light 'oompfh' when she landed. Hiashi turned in the direction of who was calling the teen to see Honoka waving her arms back and forth in a rather uncouth manner from the deck.
"Chisato!" she shouted for her cousin and the girl in question quickly ran through the garden path. "C'mon it's time!"
The two girls disappeared into the house together and Hiashi leaned back against the old oak tree. Peace had returned to the garden. It was nice but Hiashi knew that soon that would change. Soon there would be laughter and the cycle would begin again.
'Unfortunatly.' He thought as he took a shaky breath. 'I won't be there to see it.'
….
Saturday September 1 2044 4:05pm
Enroute
….
"Dammit, we're running late." Hiroto cursed under his breath as he frantically tried to make himself look presentable in the backseat of the car. "Can't this guy drive any faster?"
Hajime shook his head and swiped through his emails on his tablet as the driver stopped at yet another red light. There were always a million red lights whenever they needed to be somewhere important. It wouldn't be such a big deal if coupled with needing to be somewhere on time his brother was actually where he was supposed to be. Like actually answering emails instead of flirting with interns in the break room…or doing god knows what in the conference room.
"He wouldn't need to drive faster if you followed the schedule I put on your desk every morning." A female voice quipped, squashed in between himself and his brother.
"Is that what that paper is?" Hiroto smirked and the woman ran a frustrated hand through her dark hair.
"Hiroto Uchiha! I swear! You such an ungrateful little-" she said, her voice beginning to rise in anger until Hajime reached over and placed a hand on her knee.
"Rei did you email me the expense reports for last quarter?" he asked and immediately the firey woman was distracted.
She fished around in the black bag at her feet and immediately pulled out her own tablet to search for the document. He removed his hand from his knee and looked over her head to see his brother glaring daggers at him. Hajime smirked in response and rolled his eyes at him. Hiroto could get any girl he wanted. All he had to do was glance in their direction and women seemed to fall into his lap…except for this one. This one did not fall for his brother's charms, instead, his very existence seemed to make her even more of a firebrand than she already was. No matter what he did to try to sway her good favor, nothing seemed to have an effect. So, he'd taken a different tactic, one that required pissing her off every chance he got. At least if she was angry with him she was paying him attention.
Hajime didn't think that strategy was the brightest to win over a woman like Rei. No, he'd known that Rei wasn't like other women the first day he'd met her in the park. That day as a shy little seven year old who marveled at the girl that flew through the sky. Despite the fact that she and her friends thought that he was a 'weird clone' he still admired her from afar. He looked forward to his late Papa taking them to the park in hopes that he would get the chance to meet her again. He'd wanted to prove that he wasn't weird to her but every time he tried she was always surrounded by other girls and he just couldn't get up the courage to speak. Time went on and with the death of his grandparents came the end of his trips to the park.
He moved on and had other things took up his attention but the memory of the girl in the park always stuck with him. That flying girl with messy black hair, bright blue eyes, and two missing front teeth. The idea of her stuck with him so closely that sometimes he wondered if she was real or just a figment of his imagination. He was content with her being imaginary until the day his father introduced her to himself and his brother as their new assistant.
He'd recognized her instantly despite the years that had gone by. Her black hair which fell down her back in waves was much less messy and she had all of her teeth now. Those blues eyes were just as striking as they had been before and when she looked at him he felt like he was seven again. Only this time his body reacted in a way that he recognized as more than mere admiration. He knew his brother felt a similar way. Maybe it was a twin thing or maybe it was the fact that he kept ogling their new secretary every chance he got. Either way, it was plain to see he had an interest in Rei. Unfortunately for him, Rei didn't take any of his bait which humored Hajime to no end.
"Alright. Done!" Rei announced as she pressed send on her laptop. "I thought I sent it to you before we left but I guess it didn't go through."
Hiroto nodded his head and opened the file she'd sent to him. She absolutely had sent the expense reports to him earlier but she didn't need to know that.
"Thank you." He said, ignoring Hiroto's mocking face.
"So are you two excited?" Rei asked and the twins stiffened on either side of her. She looked back and forth between them, confused by their simultaneous negative reaction. "This is a big day, don't you dare ruin it!"
"Yea, yea, yea." Hiroto groaned with a roll of his eyes.
"I'm serious Hiro," Rei warned as their car finally made the turn that would take them through the ever-expanding Uchiha property to the main house. "If you're not on your best behavior, I'll-"
"You'll what?" he taunted slickly, leaning over to get closer to her.
Rei instinctively moved away and it caused her back to press up against his arm. Hajime blushed at the innocuous contact but wedged his arm out from in between them. As he used his newly freed hand to push Hiroto out of Rei's personal space, he couldn't help but secretly thank the gods that the backseat of the town car was so squished. Rei had never been this close to him before.
"He'll be on his best behavior." Hajime said and Rei flashed him a smile.
When the car came to a complete stop outside of their childhood home there was already a caravan of cars sitting out front. The driver had to park in the driveway of one of their clanmember's home just to let them out. One by one they slid out of the cramped car and tried to hustle up the sidewalk to the main house. Hopefully, they hadn't missed anything. Hajime watched Rei out of the corner of his eye as she struggled to keep up with their long strides in a pair of heels. It was cute how determined she looked trying to keep up with the pair of them. The way her hair bounced with every step and the way she pressed her lips together in concentration. He admired the way her hips swayed back and forth and the way her ass looked in that sky blue pencil skirt. Wait? Ass? Hajime immediately snapped out of his own ogling, realizing just how far Rei had walked ahead of him and was leaving him behind. She looked over her shoulder at him as she kept walking and snapped her fingers.
"Chop, chop Haji. We are already late! No time for daydreaming!" she commanded and Hajime quickly picked up his pace.
Rei was right after all. Today was a very important day for not only the Uchiha clan but his family. His father would surely kill both of them if they weren't in attendance. Hajime shook his head, a small smile working its way onto his lips. Besides, there would be more time to look at Rei's ass later.
….
Saturday September 1 2044 5:05pm
Uchiha Estate
…..
Hinata brought the glass of dry red wine to her lips and looked out wistfully from the living room windows into the garden. Hikari was sitting in her usual spot near the rose bushes with her cello poised delicately between her legs. Although her daughter had her back turned to the house, Hinata knew that her eyes were closed in intense concentration as she practiced her set for an upcoming performance. Hikari was nothing if not determined when it came to practicing for a show. She'd been in the garden for well over an hour, repeating each stanza until it was perfect. Her hard work over the years had paid off and was now a concert cellist for the Konoha orchestra. Hinata knew that the innate talent Hikari possessed came from her husband but the drive to succeed was all her own. As the notes from her cello wafted into the house, Hinata honestly couldn't be prouder.
"Hello!" a voice next to her called and waved a hand in front of her face. "Earth to Hinata! Are you in there? Hello!"
Hinata smiled and gently swatted Ino's overeager hand out of her face. The Uzumaki woman had had one too many drinks already in her overexcitement but Hinata couldn't really blame her. She was pretty excited too.
"You still space out after all these years." Sakura teased from her perch on the sofa across from her and Ino.
"I always wonder what's going on in that head of your's Hina." Tenten winked. "I'm sure it's a lot better than Ino's endless prattling."
Hinata blushed at the playful remarks of her longtime friends and the other occupants of the room laughed. She didn't mind the teasing at all. In fact, she welcomed it. It meant that they were all together like they were supposed to be. Ino immediately launched into more of the latest political gossip once their laughter at the Uchiha's expense had died down. Hinata observed her friends silently, nodding along where appropriate and relishing the fact that they were even able to talk like this. For a long time, she'd doubted that something like this was even possible and the guilt ate her up inside. Across the room, Sakura's green eyes caught her own and she flashed her a genuine smile from over the top of her wine glass. All sour feelings between them were gone and in their place was a hole that needed to be filled up. Filled up with love, patience, and most of all time.
Taking Hikari to the hospital on a weekly basis for her sign language classes had certainly helped to bridge the gap between the two women. It had been awkward at best in the beginning but slowly things eased out. She could now speak freely with the pink-haired woman and it was almost like old times. Hinata loved spending time with Tenten and Ino but Sakura being gone had been like a puzzle piece missing from their group. Now that she was back Ino laughed twice as hard and three times as loud. Tenten had an ally in shooting down many of the blonde's hairbrained ideas and Hinata, well, she now felt complete, like everything was finally starting to get back to normal.
Almost.
Sakura and Sasuke refused to be in a room alone together. It was rare but if they bumped into each other in the kitchen or if a third party left the room for even a second, one of them would find an excuse to leave. Hinata thought their behavior was weird but they were still cordial to each other at the very least which was the most she could ask for. She wasn't quite sure what had happened between the two but perhaps ignorance was bliss.
The sound of the front door opening perked Hinata up from her thoughts and thunderous footsteps could be heard from the foyer to the living room. All of the occupants of the living room paused their conversation as Hanabi burst into the space with a slightly frantic look in her eye. She was still wearing her white doctor's coat and a stethoscope was dangling precariously around her neck.
"Did it happen?" she asked between breaths. "Am I late?"
"Nope." Tenten said with a grin. "We're still waiting."
At that statement, Hanabi let out an exasperated breath and doubled over at her waist.
"Oh my god. I thought I was going to have a heart attack trying to get here!" she groaned, shuffling over to the coffee table.
She then sank to her knees next to the table and feebly laid her head down. Ino took pity on the newest member and moved over to the table. She flips up an empty wine glass and pours a hefty amount in. Hanabi lifts her head up for a moment and accepts the glass but doesn't drink any of its contents right away.
"Rough day?" Hinata asked as Hanabi laid her head back down on the table.
"Like you couldn't imagine." She said. "I'm up to my ears in paperwork. Most days I'm not sure if I'm coming or going."
"If it makes you feel any better, the other children aren't here yet." Tenten frowned, glancing down at the watch on her wrist. Hanabi's brow wrinkled as she lifted her weary head up from the coffee table.
"Chi isn't here?" she asked and Tenten shook her head.
"No. Honoka was supposed to bring her almost thirty minutes ago."
Hinata watched as Hanabi's lips pressed into a tight line and she pulled her cell phone out of lab coat pocket. The Uchiha matriarch could already see the worry wheels spinning in her sister's head since she had been the same way when her own children were Chisato's age. They were old enough to function on their own. Old enough to get in trouble on their own. Hinata had thought that her maternal paranoia would subside the older her children became but her worries just shifted to other things like if they were eating enough or sleeping properly. Just as Hanabi had lifted the phone to her ear, the front door opened again and the sound of ringing reverberated from down the hall.
"Mom! You don't have to call me, I'm here!" Chisato shouted and Hanabi slowly lowered her phone from her ear with narrowed eyes.
"You're late!" she shouted back.
"That's not my fault!"
"Where were you?"
"In a tree."
Hinata placed a hand over her mouth to conceal her own giggle at the yelling back and forth between the two and Hanabi cut her eyes at her. Chisato lazily walked into the room with her arms crossed over her chest, grey eyes scanning the occupants in the room.
"Were you dodging your tutor again?" Hanabi asked and Chisato rolled her eyes.
"I don't need a tutor. I'm smarter than everyone in my class."
"That sounds familiar." Hinata smiled, recalling how Hanabi always thwarted Neji's desperate attempts to get her to fall in line.
"Where's Honoka?" Tenten asked and Chisato jerked her thumb back.
"She's coming. She's busy talking to her boyfriend on the phone." The teen said and proceeded to pretended to throw up. Tenten groaned and took a large sip of her wine.
"I just hope it's not the boy with the tattoos." She grumbled under her breath.
Hinata couldn't help but nod her head in agreement. Neji would have a heart attack if he found out that his only daughter was dating a boy with an arm covered in colorfully intimidating tattoos. She had a sneaky suspicion that Honoka pushed the envelope time and time again just to get a reaction out of her father. The young woman in question bustled into the living room as Chisato took a seat on the floor next to Hanabi. In her hands, she had two large grocery bags that clanked together when she set them on the coffee table with an exasperated huff.
"I didn't miss anything did I?" Honoka asked, exaggeratedly wiping her forehead with the back of her hand.
"Nope!" Ino said and peeked into one of the grocery bags. "Why is there so much champagne in here?"
Honoka smiled broadly and pulled a slender green bottle with gold foil out of one of the bags.
"Don't you know that this is a celebration? Celebrations call for champagne."
"More like a funeral." Chisato grumbled and Hanabi playfully ruffled the top of her head.
"Sasuke isn't a murderer." She chided.
The occupants of the room laughed at the comment but Hinata wasn't quite so sure. When it came to their family Sasuke was not one to be tested. In the meantime, it was best to enjoy the calm before the storm and just be happy she hadn't heard a gunshot just yet. Honoka was more than happy to facilitate a more cheerful atmosphere and was already trying to uncork the champagne bottle. Unfortunately, it had already been terribly shaken up so when she removed the foil, the cork popped out and shot like a bullet towards the entrance to the living room.
"What the hell are you trying to do? Kill me?" a deep voice asked as they narrowly dodged the cork.
Hiroto smirked mockingly at Honoka from the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. He now stood a few inches taller than his father but that's where the differences ended. Both twins bore such a striking resemblance to their father at twenty-four years old that it was almost uncanny.
"I could have sworn I taught you better technique than that."
"Shove it Hiro."
"Now that's not very lady-like."
Honoka stuck her tongue out at him, quite immature for a Hyuuga heiress but to be expected when it came to how she addressed Hiroto. The two of them seemed to thrive on getting under one another's skin. Hiroto only rolled his eyes at the gesture and made a beeline through the living room to make it to his mother's side. He placed a kiss on her cheek and Hinata patted his hand in response.
"You shouldn't kiss your mother with that mouth." Honoka teased as she grabbed an empty glass off of the table and filled it with champagne. "Who knows where it's been."
Hiroto frowned and grabbed a sofa cushion off of the couch. He would have thrown it too if Hinata hadn't given him a disappointed look. Instead, he lazily tossed the pillow on the floor and moodily glared at his cousin, no doubt plotting ways to get revenge for her comment.
"I hope we didn't miss anything." Came the voice of her eldest son from around the corner.
He entered the room with his secretary Rei in tow, a faint blush dusted across his cheeks. Rei bowed politely to the room's occupants as Hajime left her side and made the same journey his brother had to where Hinata sat. He kissed her cheek as well and smiled at her.
"You look beautiful Mother." He said softly so that only the two of them could hear and Hinata blushed.
"You always say that." She laughed and shook her head.
Hajime then motioned for Rei to come sit with him and Hiroto on the floor. Once she was settled between them, the conversation in the living room continued amongst smaller groups. Instead of joining in though, Hinata looked back out at the garden where Hikari was continuing to practice. None the wiser of the commotion going on in the house.
….
Saturday September 1 2044 4:05pm
Uchiha Estate
….
Sasuke let out a deep breath through his nose as Neji and Naruto took their leave of his study. The door closed with a soft click behind them and left Sasuke staring at the only other occupant in the room. Ito Uzumaki stared back at him with a confidence that wasn't overly cocky but held a hint of defiance. That look felt all too familiar when directed at him and for once he understood how Hiashi had felt. That day when an arrogant punk from his rival's corporation had dared to stake a claim on something he cared about more than anything.
Hiashi had plans to give Hinata more than she would ever need to be comfortable in life. If things had turned out differently she would have become a woman others would clamor around for her power and influence. That union with Gaara would have benefitted the Hyuuga clan immensely and even if Hinata had been hesitant she would have eventually found contentment. Could she have fallen in love with Gaara? Perhaps. However, Sasuke knew that he was selfish. To keep Hinata by his side was not in her best interests but at the time he could see nothing else. He wanted no one else. If he had to do it all over again he would make the same decision to keep her despite understanding what was best.
Now, here he was over twenty-four years later and on the opposite side of the desk. Instead of defiantly demanding Hinata's hand it was Ito who wanted Hikari. His Hikari. It wasn't an unfortunate move, if anything it would beneficial for the clan. Yet he didn't care about the clan, at least not right now. He cared about his daughter and the boy that wanted to take her away. Sasuke stared at Ito who still continued to steadily meet his gaze with pale blue eyes. His blonde hair was tousled even messier than normal from the number of times he'd absently ran his fingers through it. He sat straight in his chair with more formality than Sasuke had ever seen the daydreaming boy do as he'd grown up.
Sasuke didn't dislike Ito. No, the boy held a special place in his heart although he'd never admit it to the boy's father. Despite the lack of verbal confirmation, he knew that if anything ever happened to Naruto he would be the one to care for his son and vice versa. He would do whatever was in his power to help the boy but this was Hikari he wanted. His Hikari.
"How long has this been going on?" Sasuke asked, breaking the silence between them.
Unlike Hiashi he didn't keep tabs on his children's romantic endeavors. That was one thing he and Hinata promised each other to stay out of as their children got older. Now he wished that he had been keeping a closer eye on them. As loathsome as it was he was once again was faced with having to agree with Hiashi. Ito fidgeted a little in his chair and cleared his throat.
"I don't know exactly." He said and Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "It just kind of happened-"
"Does she know about your proposal?" Sasuke asked, interrupting Ito mid-speech.
"No-"
"So how do you know she wants to marry you?"
"I don't-"
"Then this entire thing is a moot point." Sasuke quipped and leaned back in his chair. He stubbornly crossed his arms over his chest, letting out a slow breath through his nose.
"Why. Why do you want to marry Hikari?"
Ito blinked for a moment. He appeared genuinely surprised by the question at first before a slow smile spread across his face. Sasuke watched as the wheels turned in the boys head and while he wasn't privy to Ito's thoughts he had an idea what was there. After a moment Ito shrugged and sheepishly scratched the back of his head.
"She makes me happy." He said simply. "She's my biggest cheerleader and I can't imagine having a good day without her there-"
"So her sole purpose is to make you happy?"
"No. Actually, I'm happiest trying to make her happy." Ito smiled and then his eyes widened. "Don't tell Hiro I said that. He'll never let me live it down!"
Sasuke uncrossed his arms and stood up from his desk. There were so many things he wanted Hikari to have in her life, so many things that he couldn't give her. He couldn't take away the trauma she held from seeing his parents die in front of her. He couldn't give her back her voice. What he could do was make her happy or at the very least step aside to allow someone else to. The Uchiha patriarch pressed his lips together and stood up from his chair, unwilling to say what he needed to let Hikari go. Just as selfishly with her mother, he didn't want to part with her. Just like Hiashi he wanted to stay in control. Yet…no matter how much he wanted to keep her he knew that he couldn't. Ito was a selfish young man as well, perhaps just as selfish as he was. Sasuke smirked at the thought and shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Do you love her?" he asked and Ito's entire face turned red.
"More than anything."
Sasuke turned away from the boy he considered a nephew and walked towards his study window that overlooked the small garden in the backyard. Hikari was still sitting in her favorite spot with her back turned to his window. It was the same spot she'd been practicing in since the day she became big enough to steady an adjusted cello between her legs. The sour notes she'd emitted for months would have been more than welcome at a time like this. It would mean that she was still his little girl. She would still silently beg him to play for her, clinging onto every note he gave her. Closing his eyes, he turned back to Ito and finally spoke.
"Alright." He said and the sound of Ito's chair clattering onto the hardwood of the study reverberated off of the walls.
"Alright?" he exclaimed excitedly. " Alright?"
Sasuke grunted. He'd already said it once and he wasn't going to elaborate on the statement nor would he repeat himself. Ito's smile widened immensely with Sasuke's tepid blessing and he scrambled around the desk to wrap his arms around the older man. Sasuke himself was not too surprised by the affection tall young man. Naruto hadn't been a good role model for Ito to learn things like volume control or personal space. Ito squeezed him tight despite the lack of reciprocation before finally letting him go.
"Thanks, Uncle! I mean Dad." He said cheekily and realization washed over Sasuke like a cold shower.
That idiot's kid was now his! Before he could rescind his blessing, Ito had already made his way to the window and pushed it open. He leaned out, cupping his mouth with his hands to supplement his already loud volume.
"Hey Hikari!" he shouted and the Uchiha girl jumped in surprise.
She whirled around to locate the source of the voice. When her dark eyes caught Ito frantically waving at her from his study window, she smiled and waved back at him although in a more reserved manner. Quickly, Ito removed himself from the window and made his way out of the Uchiha's study. He took his thunderous footsteps with him and Sasuke couldn't help but shake his head at the sound of chaos in the living room. Instead of joining the fray of his family and friends he remained upstairs and kept watch over the garden.
He watched as Ito stumbled out onto the back deck, no doubt shoved outside by the living room's inhabitants. Hikari pressed the back of her free hand against her lips to cover her smile as Ito tried to compose himself in a more respectable manner. Slowly her smile dissolved as she observed what Sasuke assumed was a serious look on Ito's face. She turned away from the blonde to place her cello gently on the ground before flashing him a quick sign asking what was wrong. When Ito took both of her hands in his, there was a soft knock on his study door and he turned away from the window. Hinata smiled at him sweetly from the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest.
"You didn't kill him." She said and Sasuke returned to his desk chair with a grunt.
"I'm still considering it."
His wife shook her head and laughed as she entered the study and made her way to his desk. Sasuke admired her form as she approached him, even though they'd been married for twenty-four years he just couldn't help himself. Hinata didn't mind the way he watched her and secretly he suspected she got enjoyment out of it. As the sounds of cheering reached them through the study window, Hinata sat in his lap and made herself comfortable.
"You're getting heavy." He grumbled and she playfully smacked his chest.
"You're getting old."
With an amused smirk, Sasuke wrapped an arm around her shoulders to bring her closer and pressed his lips against her temple. She was right though, he was getting old. So old that his children were getting married. Well…one of them at least. The twins were another complicated mess he couldn't quite figure out and frankly didn't want to. Sasuke and Hinata simultaneously let out a sigh and sank into one another. Outside the window, their family and friends continued to laugh and cheer but the Uchihas remained content just hearing them at a distance. They would have to make an appearance soon before someone came to drag them out of the study but for now…Sasuke was more than happy to remain just like this.
To be Continued….
Z is for the End
"It's what they would have wanted."