2.15

Hinata didn't understand why Sasuke was so bent on taking care of everything by himself. While the extra money was nice, she would much rather be helping her boyfriend. That and she really hated sleeping alone. So she decided to go to the Landlord's office, room, or whatever.

Jiraiya was his name, Hinata discovered by the nice, air-headed secretary. Why did…

Hinata shook the thought off. She knocked at his office door and smiled warmly at the gray haired man. "Well, welcome!" His voice was much louder than she expected.

"Oi, I…I-hello." She clasped her hands together.

"Pretty, pretty," he opened the door. "What can I help a pretty lady like yourself with?" He grinned and motioned her to take a seat.

Hinata rubbed the back of her neck and complied. "Um, Sasuke-"

"Uchiha Sasuke? Is he causing you trouble?" His smile was wide and making her slightly uncomfortable.

"No! I'm his girlfriend."

He deflated and sighed, "Really?" His face twisted taking in her appearance next to Sasuke's. "Wait, really? You look like a straight-edge ruler while he is like…" The man trailed off seeing that she wasn't taking that as a compliment. "Whoa, I mean…"

Hinata replaced a strand of navy behind her ear. "I…I am aware that his rent has gone up, is that because of me?"

Jiraiya scratched his cheek. "…no?"

Hinata shook her head. "Because Sasuke is working twice as hard to meet the requirement."

"That's weird." He leaned back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Yes, it is."

"I didn't raise anything," he corrected her thought process. "That's weird. Why would he tell you that?"

Hinata's mouth gaped. "H-Huh?"

"Between you and me, I tried cutting his rent a little, you know? Because he and Naruto- you know him?"

"I d-do."

"Their basically brothers. He spent majority of his life being raise by one of my old friends so he's like a nephew to me, something like that?" Jiraiya hummed. "I never thought about it."

Hinata shook her head. "So, he lied to me?"

"Wait," he lifted his hands. "Don't take it as lying…this could be a total misunderstanding and you'll just blow it out of proportion, ne?"

"He… He…" She stood up.

"See, that's you about to blow things out of proportions and trust me," he placed a hand at his chest. "I write romantic novels in my spare time! Matter of fact, you like sweets?" He asked. "You look like you know your sweets, am I right?"

Hinata paused seeing the older male pulled out a tray of cookies. "Where…"

"Old lady love baking things," he held it out. "Take a seat, let's chat about this, eh?"

If there was only one way Hinata rather be taken out of this world…it was a sugar coma. The Hyuuga took a cookie and sat back down. "I d-don't understand why he would lie?" She chewed on the cookie and nodded. "Whoa…"

"Right? Kyoto-san from second floor," he nodded and took out a notepad. "Now, tell me…what happened?"

::

Sasuke came in from work and was surprised to see Hinata sitting in the living room, gently petting Storm's head. Pretty Godfather of her. "You're still up?" He asked.

Hinata looked up at him. "I talked to the landlord, Sasuke."

His eyes widened. "Did that old bastard touch you?"

"No!" She told him. "Jiraiya-san is one of the nicest men I've ever met."

Sasuke grabbed her chin, checking pupils that weren't there. "Did he drug you too?"

"No, but he told me that you were lying."

Sasuke let her go and sat on the couch. "Can I explain?" He didn't expect her to listen, he thought she would blow things out of proportion and accuse him of everything under the sun.

She didn't. She sat there quietly waiting for his answer. Hinata let Storm hop down. "What are you doing?" Her voice was low and patient.

"Aren't you upset?" He asked.

"Jiraiya-san said that I should get every detail that you offer and place judgement on that."

Sasuke closed his eyes. He'd have to send a Thank You letter down there. "It's nothing bad, it's nothing that will hurt you but I just don't want you to go investigating."

"Why?"

He took her hand. "I just need you to promise no more investigating."

"But-"

"Princess," he said evenly. "Promise me."

Hinata sighed. "Fine," the Hyuuga stood. "I already checked your clothes for lipstick and perfume."

Sasuke grabbed her by the waist and pulled her down. "You thought I was cheating on you?" Hinata turned herself so that she was sitting across his lap. "Cornball type flashbacks?"

Hinata smiled. "It was my first thought."

Sasuke leaned his head back and attempted to relax. "If I ever fuck up, taser me."

"Speaking of, Jiraiya-san told me that you and Naruto went to jail because of-" her words were cut off by his hand.

"We don't speak of it," he muttered. She nodded and he slowly removed his hand.

::

"It's barely been a year," Naruto told him. "I'm not trying to talk you out of it but…are you high?"

Sasuke scoffed. "I don't care."

"And what if she says no?" Naruto just wanted to give his friend afull perspective.

"Who thinks about that? And you know what, I'm not the one who had a pregnancy scare."

Naruto closed his eyes and grinned. "I would have been a great tou-san!" He leaned in and nudged the Uchiha. "Imagine me with a blonde blue-eyed baby." The man laughed, it quickly died into fear. "Never mind."

Sasuke rolled his eyes.

Naruto eyed his friend and got serious. "If you love her like you act then I'm happy for you," he patted him on the back. "As long as I get to be best man."

"You try breaking it to Gaara."

Naruto slammed his hands on the counter. "You chose Gaara over me?!"

"Gaara chose Gaara over you," Sasuke smirked. "Like I said, you try breaking it to him."

The blond huffed. "I'll be the Best Man of Honor then."

Sasuke opened his mouth to speak because Naruto was an idiot but he couldn't believe he was talking about weddings with the same guy, as kids, used to see who could climb the highest tree or…break into the most cars. It was a blurred history.

::

Sasuke told her that Naruto needed his car for the night. That he wanted to take Ino out somewhere fancy and his pick up truck wasn't going to cut it. It was believable. It wasn't the truth but Sasuke had his reasons. "Where are we going?" Hinata looked out the window.

Sasuke frowned. "Do you hate dates with me that much?"

"No!" She defended. "It's just…"

Sasuke shrugged. "It's a long drive, you might as get relaxed."

"A long… Sasuke? Are you taking me to an amusement park?" Her eyes glittered at the thought. "I love amusement parks."

"Do you?" He glanced over with a lifting grin.

She grabbed his arm and nodded. "Yes!"

"Well we're not going to an amusement park," he answered dryly.

Hinata pouted and looked as the trees passed by. "That was just m-mean."

"My bad," he put a hand on her shoulder. "It did sound rude." Hinata suppressed a smile. Sasuke had softened a lot. "But I'm not nice so…"

Or never mind.

An hour passed, two hours passed and Hinata had reluctantly fallen asleep. She curled into his jacket and lean against the cool window. Sasuke sighed and continued driving until he finally reached the destination.

"Hey, wake up." Hinata almost fell out the car when Sasuke jerked open Naruto's shitty door. Hinata blinked hard and yawned before taking in her surroundings.

An open field.

Opal eyes drifted to her boyfriend's. "My happy place?"

"As close as I could find," he scratched the area just under his eye. Hinata slid out the truck and took in a deep breath of the true fresh air. Shaggy navy tresses blew softly behind her. "Are you okay?" He walked around to see Hinata's face.

She was crying.

"What the fuck?" Sasuke cupped her face. "You hate it?"

"N-no," she croaked out. Tears spilled over her cheeks. It just feels so good to be listened to. Of course, she remembers the small details about him but for him to return the favor. For him to remember her happy place and everything… "I l-love you so much." Smaller hands covered the ones that held her cheeks.

Sasuke gave a nasal sigh. "I'm glad. Now, stop crying. I have stuff planned." He motioned her to follow.

Hinata stood at the back of the truck and looked at Sasuke as if he'd lost his mind. "I can't get on that."

"Yes, you can. You even wore flexible clothing today." He motioned to her loose denim jeans, oversized striped sweater and ankled boots. "I'll help you."

Hinata chewed her lip and nodded at his offer. She squealed when he picked her up by the waist and put her on the back of the truck. She crawled cautiously towards the top. Sasuke jumped on and Hinata gripped the side when the truck bounced a bit.

"Are you scared?" He asked.

She shook her head. "I…pick up trucks are just weird."

Sasuke waved that off and opened his cooler of food and drinks. They spent the entire day watching the sky, a few movies on Sasuke's laptop and the sunset. Hinata breath was taken away by all the visible stars.

"This is beautiful…" Hinata raised a hand to the sky. "Thank you so much for this."

Sasuke looked over at her. This was the perfect time to ask. He could do it right now. Under the stars, in her happy place, just the two of them. Sasuke was a tough guy, yes. Covered in tattoos and piercings but his hands were sweating. "You're welcome."

Hinata sat up after Sasuke did. He was looking a bit sick. "Are you okay?" She inquired.

Onyx eyes looked up at the night. His thumb hanging in the pocket where he kept the little black box. "Actually," he started and pocketed his hands. "I'm great…"

She smiled before leaning over to kiss him. Sasuke removed his hand from the object burning a hole through his pants and against his thigh. Hinata didn't quite catch his stress and so he bailed.

Not tonight.

There was a wolf howl in the distance that made Hinata freeze. He knew that paranoid look. "S-Sasuke…" She looked around closely as if she had super vision.

"You scared?" He grinned and pushed her down. Hinata giggled when he straddled her. As the Uchiha bent to kiss her again the howling got closer. "Wait…"

Hinata watched her boyfriend look at their surroundings. "Are you scared?" She teased.

Sasuke climbed off of her. "Let's go."

"H-Huh?" She asked when he jumped off the back of the pick up truck. "Sasuke?"

"Let's go now." He beckoned her to his arms. Hinata scrambled to the end and froze when the howling grew even closer. She jumped in his arms and proceeded to get in her seat.

"Hurry," she called out the window.

Sasuke got in and started to drive. "This is prime serial killer area."

"Why would you say that?" Hinata whined. "That's not funny!"

Sasuke just grinned. Admittedly, he had a warped sense of humor. Bright side he could blame wolves for his lacking ability to be a man and propose.

::

Hinata crouched down at the stereo and played her favorite song. Sasuke looked up from the dishes and watched his girlfriend move around in his home. Around this time last year she was locked out of her apartment, she was weary of anything that had to deal with him.

Now…

"I'll take it bitten not stirred," she sang into the remote. "Yeah, yeah, bum, bum."

Sasuke winced at her voice. "Would you sit down somewhere?"

She turned to him and pointed. "Fill up my cup and give me what I deserved. Bum, bum, and I'll take it bitten not stirred."

Sasuke walked over after drying his hands. "Princess…"

"Mix it, shake it, fill my mmhm cup."

"Did you really just skip over fuck?"

"Just because it's in the song doesn't mean you should say it."

He took her waist. "You're such a teacher."

Hinata grinned with pride. "Thank you." The Hyuuga gasped as the song changed. "I missed my favorite part!"

Track Seven started and it always made Hinata blush. It was the song they shared their first kiss on. Sasuke sat on the couch seemingly exhausted. "Ah, this song."

"Why don't you make music anymore?" Hinata stood in front of him.

"I have more important things to focus on now," he took her hands. "I can't say I regret it."

Hinata pouted slightly until Sasuke pulled her to sit on him. She locked her arms behind his neck. Sasuke allowed his hands to rest on her hips. Hinata gave a small laugh. "I don't regret much with you actually."

"Actually?" He tilted his head.

"Well, I thought you would be, um, a butt." She mumbled. "But…I shouldn't have judged you."

He shrugged. "I am an ass," he corrected her. "I thought you were a stiff."

Hinata gasped but nodded understandingly. "I'm pretty stiff, I think."

"Nah," he disagreed.

Hinata just grinned. Her cheeks would be in pain forever with him. Sasuke lifted his chin to press smirking lips to her matching ones and while it started off innocent as did most of their kissing did…

All it took was someone to lean in more, to hold closer, advance the situation and today it was Sasuke. His fingers gripped the fabric of her night shirt, actually his shirt. Hinata fingers tangled themselves in his hair. Whispers of love filled the living room and so did body heat.

Sasuke's hand had somehow traveled under her shirt. He removed them just as fast. Hinata giggled. "It's - okay."

Hesitantly he replaced him on the warm skin of her waist. Hinata paused when they traveled to her rib cage. "What?" He asked. There was no way he wanted to make her uncomfortable.

"Your hands a-are freezing." She confessed.

"Or..," Sasuke moved his hands to her back. Hinata couldn't help but laugh when her body arched. "Are you just unusually hot?"

Hinata laugh died when her face burned at his suggestion. "This shirt is just really thick."

While it was large on her frame, it was also long sleeved, black with a tall collar. "Then change out of it." Sasuke removed his hands to let her get up.

Hinata bit her lip for dear life. Sasuke raised a pierced brow. She looked conflicted. His eyelids lifted an incredible amount when she simply took off the shirt. By reflex Sasuke looked away. "W-what?" She sounded offended.

"What do you mean 'what?'" He questioned and motioned to her shirtless self.

"It's okay."

He turned his head further to the side. "You say that now but I'll be the one slapped."

You accidentally slap someone for seeing you shirtless once and they are completely traumatized. Hinata grabbed his face and forcibly turned his face back to her. "Stop."

"You stop."

"Sasuke."

"Princess."

"You're being childish!"

"You're tempting me."

"Sasuke!" At this point Sasuke kept his hands in the air and closed his eyes. "Stop being a baby." She tried opening his eyelids.

"Hinata, stop it." He put emphasis on her name.

"You're making me sad!" She whined. "It t-took me a lot of courage to do this…"

Sasuke opened his eyes and looked directly into hers. "There." He closed them. Hinata tried opening his eyes again. "Stop playing around. Hinata, I said- Hina-" he grabbed her shoulders. "I'm going to bite you, I swear."

"Do it." She challenged. He bit her chin, not too hard. She whined through laughter and pulled at his cheeks. "Stop, stop, stop."

And he did but started to do the same thing on her bare neck. Hinata laughs died out when he added kissing along with it. "Want me to stop?" He breathed against her neck.

Hinata covered her face in the crook of his shoulder. His fingers traced over the strap of her bra. She mumbled something. "I…"

Sasuke pushed her away enough to see a blood red face. "Stupid. You're nothing but talk." He pulled her closer before standing up. Hinata just locked her arms and legs around him.

"I'm s-so weak." She mumbled.

He hoisted her up. "Yeah, you are. There's nothing to rush, you know?"

She nodded in his arms. Sasuke opened their bedroom. "How are you dealing with me?"

He dropped her on the bed, took off his shirt and gave it to her. "Imagination and cold showers," he told her as she pulled his shirt over her head. Hinata watched the tattooed male walk to the mirror. He checked out his face before returning to the bed. "A lot of self-pleasing."

"S-Sasuke," she shushed.

He laid down on his back and beckoned her to come closer. "Why are you embarrassed?" He smirked. "It's my di-"

"Ah!" Hinata turned over. "Goodnight!"

Sasuke almost laughed. He couldn't wait until he gathered enough balls to make her his wife.

2.16

Sasuke woke up to Hinata straddling him, her hands were on either side of his head. He grimaced at her huge smile. "Ugh, what?" He rubbed his eye.

"Today is the day."

Groggy onyx eyes cleared themselves. "What's today?"

"Our anniversary." Sasuke yawned, nodded and almost drifted back to sleep. "Sasuke!" She grinned before kissing him. Hinata couldn't believe just how comfortable she was with him. It didn't bother her that his hands smoothed up and down her hips or just being this close to him. He took her waist and made small circles with his thumb.

"How many anniversaries do we have to have for you not to be excited?" He asked.

"Countless?"

He huffed. "We made it. Can I go back to sleep?"

"No," she pouted. "I have things planned!"

"I can't wait," he grumbled sarcastically before rolling them both over. She laughed under his weight.

::

Sasuke pushed their cart as Hinata squinted while looking from her list to the products. Sasuke had things in mind on what Hinata had in mind and for some reason shopping was on the list. His whole mindset had been altered by his girlfriend. Some men are terrified by this. He didn't mind.

Hinata read the back of both Air Freshener bottles. Sasuke sighed and sneered at the baby staring at him. The mother gasped and hurried along. Hinata turned to him. "Summer Breeze or Cinnamon Apple?"

"It doesn't matter."

Hinata frowned. "Are you…sad?"

"No? Why do you ask?"

She touched his cheek. "You look upset or something?" Hinata looked around and saw a few teenage girls giggling down the aisle. Sasuke grabbed the back of Hinata sweater before she could start any trouble.

"This is just my face, Hinata." She narrowed her eyes at the usage of her name. Hinata sighed and nodded. "Cinnamon Apple."

She hummed and picked up the exact opposite. Sasuke smirked and watched the petite woman walk forward. She was honestly something else.

::

Their plans turned into errands. It was so fucking boring. While Sasuke didn't care about anniversaries, he was pretty sure that Hinata did. Maybe he should have planned something? Maybe she wanted him to? Ah shit.

"Let's go to an amusement park," he took her elbow.

Hinata's eyes widened but relaxed. "Can we go tomorrow?" She went back to signing some type of papers.

"Are we going to be doing this all day?"

She giggled. "You didn't even care about our anniversary and now-"

"Yes. I rather be doing anything else."

"Patience is a virtue."

Sasuke rubbed his nose. Whatever she had planned better make him cry.

::

Upon arriving home, Hinata took his hands. "Did you have fun today?"

"No."

Hinata just kept smiling. "Sorry, for keeping you out all day."

"You don't look sorry," Sasuke plopped down on the couch.

Hinata was starting to believe today meant more to Sasuke than he led on. "I'm going to, um, take a shower…" Her voice shrank at his sour face. "I'm going to make your favorite too."

"Not hungry."

Hinata sighed and went into the bathroom. She covered her face and took a deep breath. The Hyuuga turned on the shower but called Ino.

"Is he upset?"

Hinata sat on the closed toilet. "Y-yes… I think he is really bored too."

"Perfect!" Ino laughed. "Just as stupid as Naruto." Hinata smiled upon hearing Naruto shouting in the background. Hinata hung up and sighed.

::

Sasuke laid on the bed, staring aimlessly at the ceiling. A year within itself was such a short time. He felt like they've been together for twenty-nine years. Maybe that was too much. Maybe he was moving too fast. They'd only known each other, wholly, for two years…officially.

And now… After a year of dating he wanted to get married. This would be the most impulsive shit he'd ever done. He looked at the nightstand but thought about the piece of jewelry that sat inside and frowned. He could wait—

"Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke leaned up to see Hinata leaning…seductively against the bathroom door. "Uh?" She had on light makeup and a purple robe. It was awfully short too, barely covering the important parts. "What are you doing?" He sat up fully.

She smiled and walked forward. "How do I-"

And tripped.

Sasuke jumped to the end of bed to see her whining. "What the fuck?" He tried to suppress a growing smirk. Sasuke had to cough to not laugh.

"Get back," she popped up. "I'm…I'm t-trying to be s-sexy!"

Sasuke bit his bottom lip and obeyed. He pressed his back against the headboard. Hinata stood with rug-burned knees. "You might want ointment?" He suggested honestly.

"Shh," she wiped beading tears from opal eyes. "I'm fine."

"Princess—"

She climbed on the bed towards him, her face twisted each time her knees touched fabric. Hinata straddled his lap and took off her robe. Black lingerie.

"You're crying, you know?" Sasuke wiped her face.

"I m-messed up," she whispered. "I… I'm so e-embarrassed." He couldn't hold back for another moment. Sasuke covered his mouth. Hinata watched the Uchiha shoulder shake. "Y-you're laughing at me?!" She cried out then took his hands from his mouth. "You're laughing…"

It was the richest noise she'd ever heard. It wasn't a chuckle or humored scoff. It was a legit…laugh. He hugged himself and shook. Hinata started laughing before long. It was a contagious laugh too. She'd known him for this long and never heard him laugh.

"You…you fell!" He shook his head. "Fuck, that's funny."

"S-stop!" She covered his mouth.

He took three deeps breathes before pulling her face to his. Hinata was surprised when he didn't kiss her. "Go try again."

Hinata blushed darkly and got off the bed. She tripped over another fucking shoe on the way to the door but didn't hit the floor. Sasuke managed not to laugh again as he moved to the end of the bed. She stood at the door again. This time, Sasuke took in the image in front of him.

She smiled weakly. "S-Sasuke-kun? How do I look?"

He extended his arms. Hinata smiled and took his hands. "Perfect."

::

Hinata winced when Sasuke's alarm clock went off. The Uchiha reached over at turned the entire clock off. "Aren't you going to work?" Hinata asked softly.

"Are you going to get off me?" He countered.

"No," she hummed.

"I'm calling in sick then," he told her. "Can you pass me my phone?"

Hinata reluctantly reached over for his device when she noticed his nightstand was still open. She smiled at the memories of last night and was about to close it until…

Sasuke had dozed off again until he heard a gasp. Hinata was holding the little black box in her hand. It was opened. "I worked too hard for you to see it like that."

"I…I'm s-sorry, I-"

"Give it to me," he beckoned. She did and squeaked when he pushed her down. Hinata wrapped her legs around him. He took her hand but Hinata balled it up, placing it against her bare chest.

"Are you m-mad I found it?" She questioned.

"If you hadn't then it would still be sitting in there," he confessed. "I couldn't do it on my own."

"Oh…" She smiled.

"Can I have your hand now?" Hinata nodded. After he slid the ring on. "Ah shit, I forgot to actually ask you to marry me."

"I forgot to a-actually say yes."

"Then there," he moved forward to kiss her.

Hinata relaxed in his arms but only for a moment. "There then."