A/N: This story was written for the SasuHina discord server arranged marriage challenge. Title inspired by "You Again" by Árstíðir.
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Same But Different
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All similar, but a little different.
The door of the Hokage office didn't stick out. All the other doors were of the same wood but completely different offices lay behind them. This odd train of thought resulted from pure boredom. Sasuke had been waiting for at least thirty minutes to be called in. He was searching for information on the Ōtsutsuki clan and hoped Kakashi had a new clue.
With a sigh, Sasuke leaned his back against the wall. Reaching into the inside pocket of his cloak, his fingers played with his keys before they sensed something else. It felt like paper.
Trash? Naruto sometimes called him a neat freak. Indeed, he liked his apartment and belongings clean and tidy. Already in search of a trash can, Sasuke fished out the little piece of paper but halted.
The note didn't appear remarkable. Yellow, albeit folded neatly. Almost like a message. How did it even get into his pocket without him noticing? This definitely hadn't been there yesterday. His boredom got the best of him, so he opened it and read.
There won't be a next time. Don't act foolish.
Something struck him in his stomach. I'm sorry, Sasuke. There won't be a next time. Who would know about Itachi's last words? Or was this just a coincidence? This felt oddly personal. Grinding his teeth, he turned the note around only to see two simple words right at the bottom.
Marry her.
Marry? Who? Sasuke crumpled up the note, looking around for a second. Was this supposed to be some stupid prank by Naruto or Sakura? Though, this was rather unlikely. Both were walking on eggshells around relationship topics since they finally decided to be together. Sasuke had repeatedly told them he was fine with it. He really was. In fact, they were easier to talk to now. So who did this?
He was about to burn the paper but kept staring at the words. The handwriting didn't resemble Kakashi's. The freshly appointed Hokage rarely wrote to anybody as it would leave unwanted traces.
"Sasuke?" Shizune's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Lord Hokage awaits you in his office."
He entered the room to find not only Kakashi but also the Hyuga clan leader staring at him.
"You called for me," Sasuke said after a greeting. "A new mission?"
"The situation is a little more… delicate." Kakashi peeked over the edge of the document in his hands.
Sasuke felt a strange premonition in his gut. That paper – same yellowish color. Same sender.
Hiashi Hyuga's face was paler than chalk, way worse than Sasuke had ever witnessed. It must have been a serious matter. A matter of family. The sender of the note must have sent him something too.
"Sasuke…" Kakashi placed the document on the edge of his desk. "We just received this old marriage contract. The date indicates that it was set up after you had just entered the academy and—"
Sasuke made a step forward and reached for the sheet of paper. He quickly scanned through the words.
We hereby agree on the marriage between Sasuke Uchiha and Hinata Hyuga…
Sasuke's eyes widened when he caught sight of his father's signature. An arranged marriage between him and his former classmate? His chest constricted. His personal freedom was at risk if he were to be bound to somebody. "Is this—"
Kakashi nodded. "It's not forged. So yes, it's legally binding." Sasuke's mouth opened to instantly protest but Kakashi added, "Luckily, there is an option to withdraw from the contract if both parties agree on it. You are the last of the Uchiha and the clan leader. Hiashi Hyuga agreed to… discreetly solve that issue. Obviously, you and Hinata aren't really looking forward to marrying each other. Am I right?"
Hinata Hyuga. Sasuke hadn't talked to her for years–in fact, he couldn't even recall one time they had spoken to each other. Most likely, she wouldn't want to be engaged to a stranger, either. Obviously, he wouldn't want to be engaged to anybody. Nobody in their right mind would want their freedom to be compromised by some old arrangement.
Hiashi cleared his throat. "Just like you, we weren't aware the contract was still intact. Since the anonymous sender decided to involve the Hokage in this matter—" Hiashi paused as if checking whether somebody in the room might be the culprit. However, his search didn't seem to be successful because he finally said, "We need your formal approval for annulment. Here is our proposal."
Sasuke read through the document Hiashi handed him. A standard contract of withdrawal, Hiashi's signature already at the bottom.
"If you sign here, it'll solve everything in just a few seconds."
Sasuke raised his head to look between the Hyuga and Kakashi. The Hyuga clan leader held out a pen. Kakashi leaned forward, nodding slightly. It seemed easy. Just a formality to get his freedom back. Sasuke didn't need a wife – especially not through an arranged marriage. He had spent more than twenty years without a wife and didn't need one now.
But that note earlier…
Don't act foolish. Marry her.
"Who knows about this?" Sasuke pointed at the contract.
Kakashi closed his eyes, laying his hands on top of his table. "Lord Hiashi?"
"Nobody," Hiashi said. "I knew it wouldn't be necessary because they were under the impression that this contract was void. That is all."
"And Hinata?" Sasuke asked. "Does she know?"
Hiashi blinked. "I came under the assumption that it wouldn't be necessary to involve my daughter. You just have to sign here to withdraw. I already did in her name."
Sasuke's finger ran over the paper in his pocket. Something didn't add up. What about the note? The sender knew. The sender seemed to know that he could easily decline. It seemed easy, too easy. "I want to speak to Hinata."
"Eh?" Kakashi scratched his chin. "There's no reason we shouldn't include her. She is of age, and if that helps solve the situation..."
Hiashi's lips parted slightly before he gave him a quick nod. "All right."
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After Hiashi left the Hokage office, Kakashi turned to Sasuke.
"I didn't think you would consider an arranged marriage. Must have slipped my mind that you liked Hinata."
"That's not it. I don't know her," Sasuke said. "Was the note from you? If it's supposed to be a joke, it—"
"Note?" Kakashi cocked his head, squinting at him. "What note?"
Sasuke placed the note on the desk and Kakashi leaned forward. After some seconds, he inspected it until he got to the bottom instruction.
"Where did you find it?" Kakashi asked.
"In my pocket."
Kakashi turned the note in his hand. Then, he bit his thumb and summoned a ninken.
"Pakkun, can you track who sent this?"
The little dog sniffed before closing his eyes for a second. He shrugged. "There is no other smell than yours and Sasuke's."
"Interesting." Kakashi pursed his lips, tilting his head right and left. "Who has access to your apartment?"
"Nobody," Sasuke growled. "Nobody could sneak it in without me noticing. And it was not there yesterday."
"So what are you suggesting?"
"It's personal. Might be a warning. A threat perhaps." Sasuke shrugged. "Hiashi said nobody knew about the contract. And the paper looks as old as the contract. Where did you get it from?"
"We don't know who sent me the contract earlier. It appeared on my table and the office is guarded." Kakashi stood up and walked to the window. He folded his hands in front of his chest, narrowing his eyes as the sun rays met his skin. "There was no scent attached to it."
"The person responsible knew exactly what they were doing," Sasuke grumbled.
"Indeed. You should identify the sender. Talk to Naruto before you talk to Hinata."
"I will." He left with fast steps. He had to find out who the person was that wanted to mess with his life.
"Isn't it a bit early?" Naruto yawned loudly when he opened his door. "Some people need their beauty sleep."
Sasuke scoffed. "It's ten."
"Yeah, give me one more hour, okay?" Before he slammed his door shut, Sasuke blocked it with his foot. "Huh? Is something important? Right, come in then."
Sasuke followed Naruto inside. Sakura was sitting on the couch and waved when she saw him. "Sasuke! What's the matter?"
"Was it one of you?" Sasuke pulled out the note and held it up in front of Naruto's nose.
"Eh? No? Marry who, exactly?" Naruto squinted at the note before handing it over to Sakura. "I didn't know you had a girlfriend."
"I don't," Sasuke said.
"I mean we'd be happy if you'd finally found somebody. We do worry about you sometimes." Exchanging a glance with Naruto, Sakura smiled.
Worry? Sasuke refrained from rolling his eyes.
"Sakura's right, ya know. But I'd say date her first. I don't think many women can marry eh—handle… that." He made a gesture pointing at Sasuke from top to bottom. "Cold and mysterious might have worked on school girls, but now…"
Sakura clapped her hands together. "Well, yes, Naruto but there are different women with different preferences—"
Ignoring their irrelevant discussion going back and forth, Sasuke sat down on a chair. "Somebody managed to sneak this note into my pocket only minutes before Kakashi told me that I was promised for an arranged marriage."
"A-A what? Arranged marriage?" Naruto's voice sounded an octave higher. "Oh damn, nah, this can't be good. You… we gotta do something against that! They can't make you!"
"Who is it?" Sakura asked.
It didn't seem like they were involved in the whole story. Releasing a breath, Sasuke rubbed his forehead. "Hinata Hyuga."
Sakura's green eyes went wide while Naruto almost fell off the couch.
"Woah, that's actually— Hinata's nice." Releasing a breath, Naruto grinned. "I like her! She's nice enough to accept you—"
Sakura nodded. "Hinata is a great friend. Does that mean you—"
"Hiashi Hyuga wanted me to withdraw from the contract right away," Sasuke said.
"Huh?" Naruto scratched his temple. "Yeah, I guess it's not surprising, no?"
"Not sure yet. The sender of the note must have their own plan."
"It does sound strange," Sakura said. "No next time? Don't act foolish?"
"Do they mean calling off the marriage?" Naruto asked.
"Don't know. But I'll find out who's responsible for that. I will talk to Hinata."
"You think she wrote it?" Naruto pursed his lips. "Why would she?"
"I don't know. That's what I have to find out."
"Yeah but Sasuke…" Sakura folded her arms in front of her chest. "Be nice to her. Naruto's right, she's a good person and uh… she's been through a lot."
Sasuke tsk-ed. It wasn't that he was going to torture and interrogate Hinata. He would just ask her some questions. Perhaps she held the answers.
"Ya know, maybe you should just marry her. You always complain about the proposals you receive." Naruto stretched his arms. "And I don't know how long you can decline before your one-man clan is the most hated in the land of Fire. Hinata is pretty, cute and nice and—" A quiet smack interrupted his musings. "Ow, Sakura, I didn't mean it that way!"
Sasuke stood up to leave. He didn't want to be around when they would make up again.
Only some hours later, Sasuke walked across the Hyuga compound, following a branch member to a garden right in the middle.
Hinata walked towards him to meet him halfway. Her cheeks were pink, sweat glistening on her forehead. Was she involved in this whole scheme? "Good afternoon, Sasuke."
"Hey."
"Um. My father just told me about the contract… a few minutes ago. We've been sparring so I had no chance to… change. Sorry." She looked down at herself, and he could imagine that she rather wished for a shower than talking to him. "As for the contract… I'm sorry for the inconvenience it's causing you."
Sasuke lifted an eyebrow. "It's not your fault. You didn't decide it."
"No, our fathers did. My father wasn't sure why you would like to meet me but I'll answer any questions you have," she said quietly, a polite smile on her lips. "We can take a walk if you're okay with it. It's quieter that way."
"Agreed." Sasuke followed her across the garden. 'Quieter' seemed to be Hinata's way of saying 'no audience.' It made sense because the Hyuga were known for lip reading. And Hiashi seemed like somebody to do that.
Surprised by her subtle disobedience, Sasuke targeted a side glance at Hinata. She didn't wear any kind of official attire but her training clothes. Her father must have deliberately asked her to spar first before telling her she'd meet him. He might have thought that Sasuke would disapprove of her looks. The Hyuga way of anti-courting. Sasuke smirked at the strangeness of the situation. Obviously, the Hyuga weren't interested in that marriage. Their meeting definitely didn't fit their traditions.
Still, she had agreed to see him.
He frowned a bit. "I assume you're aware that I'm not interested in an arranged marriage. I'm not looking for a way to be caged up."
"Caged," Hinata whispered as her eyes went wide. "I… agree. I understand the wish for being… free."
"Do you know why they set up the contract?" Sasuke asked as soon as they had passed the compound gates.
"Mm. I know that the Uchiha and Hyuga came up with it when my father started to consider Hanabi as the new clan leader. I assume it was about sharing power? Improve relations."
"Why is your father so eager to terminate the contract now?"
She bit on her lower lip. "Mh. I… I am promised to a branch member of the Hyuga."
"I see," Sasuke said slowly. Hiashi knew that one single Uchiha would never be enough to restore the clan. It would make more sense to get his daughter to marry another Hyuga. It would keep their bloodline clean, resulting in more power.
"But…" Hinata caught his glance, her eyes brightening up. "If you'd decide to claim your right, I wouldn't… it wouldn't be… I know you like your freedom and… silence. I wouldn't talk much if—"
"You don't like him," Sasuke said. "What's wrong with him?"
She blinked, knitting her eyebrows together. "I… don't know if I'm allowed to answer that." Her bottom lip quivered before she lowered her head.
Oh. "You hate him."
Her blush darkened. "I… um, it's—"
"So much you'd prefer to marry me?"
"You're… I don't really know you but you never…" Her lips turned into a thin line. "This is not on me to decide, in the end."
Sasuke watched her closely. Then, he took a step towards her and whispered, "If you want me to be your escape plan, be honest then. Why exactly do you despise him?"
For a second he thought he saw tears on her lashes before they disappeared. "He's disrespectful. Vicious. Cruel to animals… He touched—I could restrain him once but I don't think I could—" She swallowed, covering her mouth with her hand. "Sorry."
Sasuke felt a scowl growing on his forehead. She didn't say more but he got it now. Marrying him instead of the Hyuga branch member seemed like the lesser evil for Hinata.
"I'm sorry, Sasuke. I didn't want to burden you with my problems. I felt like you already knew… because of… the letter. I know it's silly, I'm sorry."
Sasuke stopped walking. "Letter? You got a letter?"
"I thought it was… from you at first," she mumbled.
"From me? Show me." She didn't seem to have a clue. He watched her carefully.
Caged birds still know how to fly. Be honest about it when he asks.
Sasuke stared at the similar handwriting. Even the paper was the same. "It wasn't you."
"Huh?"
"I got a similar note. Different words but it must be the same sender. It wasn't from you."
Hinata clasped her hands together. "No, I'm sorry, Sasuke. I don't think we've ever spoken before and writing to you would have felt… strange. Even if I had known about the contract earlier…" She lowered her eyes. A silence enveloped them for a while. "Was the letter the reason you wanted to speak to me?"
He pressed his teeth together. Yes, the letter had been the reason but now…
"Can I see it?" Hinata reached out her hand.
Sasuke hesitated. Hinata didn't seem like she was lying. Sure, she might have a motive for getting him to marry her. But trusting her? He pulled out his note.
"Marry her," she whispered. "Do you think it meant me?"
"The contract… looked just as old as this," he said. "It's my task to find out who came so close, who risked their life, just to manipulate my life."
She nodded slowly. "I understand. Please forgive me for what I said earlier. I thought you… I don't know what I thought. I misunderstood. If I can help you somehow, I—"
"Let's get married."
"Huh?" Her lips parted, light eyes now wide as saucers. "Your humour is—"
"I'm not joking."
"But I thought you—"
"Under one condition."
Her eyebrows rose but she waited patiently for him to continue.
"You leave me be, and I do the same."
"Oh!" She giggled quietly. "All right. But… why?"
"It'll make them ask for more. Once we follow their commands, I'll find out who it was. And how they managed to break my defense. And the waiting period for the divorce will solve your problem. Your crappy fiancé will be married by then."
"Right," she said. "That's… Thank you."
"Well then. I'll tell Kakashi and your father. "
After saying a short goodbye, Sasuke stomped back to the Hokage office. The letter had addressed him personally–and hers seemed to do so with her. The words weren't arbitrary.
He didn't need a wife. And his future wife didn't need a husband. Still, he had promised by Itachi's grave that he would atone. Marrying Hinata would help at least one person, and help him solve his own mystery.
Sasuke would play along.
To find out what it was about.
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The wedding wasn't a large affair. Throughout the ceremony, the Hyuga were silent, their glances cold. Only Hinata's eyes differed—a little more light flickered in them. In fact, she seemed bubblier than usual, talking to her relatives and friends.
"Is this how you imagined your dream wedding to be?" Sasuke asked as she was pouring some sake into his glass.
"Hmm." She took a moment to look around. "I've never been somebody to think about weddings much. I knew that it would mean… to lose my freedom. But now, I'm hopeful."
Sasuke leaned his head on his palm. "Hm. I see."
"You hate it, don't you?" she said with a little smile.
He shrugged. "The food isn't bad."
"That's true, the Hyuga are known for that."
He sighed before biting into a piece of chicken. His eyes continued to roam the room.
Suddenly, Hinata leaned to her side, close to his ear. Her breath tickled his skin as she whispered, "Did you find the sender yet?"
He shook his head. The last days were marked by him searching for traces in his apartment and nearby. But there was nothing. He had waited, stayed awake, and even watched the Hyuga compound in case Hinata got another message.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"But I will." He scanned the crowd, searching for somebody watching them.
Hinata hummed. Her hand touched his elbow for a second. "Sasuke. I know our agreement but know one thing. I am eternally grateful for what you've done. And for that, I pledge my loyalty to you. If there's anything I could do to help you, know I'll be there."
He caught her glance, assessing her words. Unconditional loyalty of a Hyuga. Her soft voice had been filled with determination. "Fine, Hyuga."
"I thought about my note," she said. "Caged birds can still fly. The one who wrote it must have known me. It felt… personal. Do you think we're being watched?"
"Hm." So she felt it too. He had searched every spot, and Kakashi appointed a dozen ANBU all around the compound. "Activate your Byakugan."
"Here? But the guests—"
"I'm going to hug you."
"H-Hug?" She almost dropped her glass. It was ironic how appalled his now wife was by even thinking about a hug.
"That way, they won't see your face," he said.
"Oh. Okay. I'm ready."
He pulled her close, putting his arm around her. Her soft body pressed against his, her arms stroking over his back. He could almost feel Hiashi's cold eyes piercing through his skull. Hopefully, that would cover up his real intention. Hinata's chakra flared slightly. Everybody would think it was because of his hug when in reality she used her Byakugan.
"Is there anybody here that might be watching us?"
"No." She pulled back from him, face flushed red. "I couldn't track anyone."
"I see." Sasuke sighed, leaning back against the back of his chair. "At least, we managed to spite your father."
"Sasuke," she whispered but a little giggle escaped her. She put her hand in front of her mouth. "He's not that bad. He just didn't know the branch member's real character."
"You didn't tell him?"
"I didn't want to disappoint him… again."
Sasuke thought of his own father. Hiashi did resemble him somehow even if he didn't like admitting it. Though, his reaction would be to protest. "You're weird," he mumbled. "Shouldn't he care for you?"
She smiled a bit before taking a small sip out of her glass. "He does. He just doesn't show it."
"Guess fathers can be like that."
(…..)
He watches them for some time, his eyes narrowing when he sees them hugging. That pink blush on her face is difficult to stomach. Hinata giggles, and he imagines how soft her voice might sound right now. He turns away.
"Seems like you're already befriending each other," he says out loud, even though he's alone. "It's easy to like her, isn't it? Too easy."
Closing his eyes, a sigh leaves his dry lips. He pulls a pressed flower out of his pocket. His fingers stroke over the edge until he presses it against his lips.
Soon the flower will turn to dust.
Until then, he'll continue his quest.
He'll never hear the voice. That music will always remain silent for him.
So he watches them.
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Sommer: Thanks for reading. I never thought I'd write an arranged marriage story because I felt like I couldn't contribute something new. But then… I got an idea… Hope somebody enjoys it. Any ideas on the mystery hehe?
Visit our server if you want to hang out :) Hope to meet you there. And happy Valentine's day.
Thank you to my dear friend LavenderEyedAssassin for beta-reading! Check out her stories, they are awesome.