Diclaimer: I don't own anything. Nope, nothing at all.
Summary: She signed. "You're not the devil, Naruto." He glanced at her, grinning. "He's just a very close relative."
Pairing: NaruHina.
Warning: Possible Sexual Themes.
Notes: It's been a while you guys, and I'm finally glad I could muster the time to sit down and just write. I didn't want to hurry an update until I thought I had a good enough idea of how to continue it, so I hope I didn't disappoint. Thank you for all your kind words, enjoy.
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The air surrounding the dinner table was lively, and it stifled the uncomfortable situation hidden beneath awkward smiles. Hinata kept her gaze to her food, and her hostess, Sakura. She did not want to betray her thoughts if she were to allow her eyes to wander, not knowing how she would react to seeing him there.
She wondered if he was doing the same, but there was no bother to check. She would not lose the fight that he had obviously begun in the parlor. If he was to avoid the incident that occurred months before, then Hinata would imagine that she had never gotten married at all. After the parlor, the blond man in the black suit was nothing but a stranger in her life.
"Miss Hyuuga, you've been awfully quiet tonight."
She glanced shyly to Lord Wither, and he smiled widely in response. Knowing all eyes were on her, she felt nervous nodding at him. "Y-yes. I haven't got m-much to say…really."
Lord Wither laughed, enjoying her reply. "I think, Miss Hyuuga, that most men would enjoy a woman with little to say." He winked at her, and all the men chuckled.
Naruto raised his glass, and nodded to the Lord. "Agreeing whole-heartedly, truly, my Lord…however, I believe a bed should never be too quiet." The Lord grinned, and raised his glass in response.
Hinata avoiding looking at either of them, and instead focused on her sister, who had directed her gaze to Hinata also. Hinata felt comforted when Hanabi smiled at her softly, and she mustered all the courage she had to turn her head in the other direction.
Naruto had already been looking at her, and they stared at each other, until he turned his head to a woman on his right, who had just made a small joke. He laughed quietly, and then re-directed his stare once again, daring Hinata to turn away. She did so after a moment, and excused herself once dinner was over.
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Hinata leaned her head against the wall, enjoying the darkness of the library. She closed her eyes, and ignored the door opening. She stood there in the shadow, and she didn't know how much time passed before he finally spoke.
"Apparently," Naruto said darkly, hands dropping from his pockets. "You don't know the meaning of avoiding very well."
Hinata stayed quiet, and only opened her eyes when she felt his hands on her shoulders, pulling her closer.
"I don't want to talk to you." She said.
"Not until I finish."
"I'll scream if you do not let go of me, Naruto."
He sneered at her, and leaned his face close. "Just try it, Hinata."
"Why does it have to be now?" Naruto pulled his brows together when her eyes began to tear, and he let go of her shoulders softly. He backed away from her, and ran his hand through his hair nervously.
"When else can it be, Hinata?"
She glared at him wetly, "This wouldn't be so difficult if you hadn't acted like a buffoon earlier. I haven't done anything to you."
"You left." She opened her mouth to speak, but he continued. "You left and I had no idea where you had gone."
She stayed quiet, not knowing what to say. "I can't explain how I felt when I came back and you weren't there. I just…I-," He stopped suddenly, looking at her. "I don't even know what I'm doing here, honestly."
"You don't know what you're saying Naruto…"
He went back to her, leaving no space between them. Touching her face gently, he smiled. "Yes, I do."
Hinata closed her eyes, waiting for him to lean close. Wishing he would just hurry and kiss her, she opened an eye softly and was surprised to see she was alone.
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The next morning, as she played with little Nori, sitting beside Sakura, Hinata could not stop smiling. She felt lightweight after having spoken with Sakura. She had been so understanding, even if she had not been the one to have had experienced it.
She felt happy for once, happy to had let go of her secrets. It was a wonderful feeling, knowing nothing was hidden.
After the night in the library, Hinata was still confused about Naruto, but she felt like she finally understood his feelings also. It did not bother her to think he cared about her somehow, even if it was not the same way Sasuke cared about Sakura.
Although she longed for a more traditional relationship, she always knew that it would never be the case for her, and she wasn't disappointed about it any longer. She finally felt understanding of her situation, and in her mind it just meant it was the same story, just with a different way to tell it.
Hanabi had not questioned her about her mood yet, and Hinata was glad that her sister had chosen to give her some space to think.
When Sakura motioned for her to help her unclip her dress, she shifted to unbutton the chest and lower the chemise. She smiled at how quickly Nori began to drink from her mothers swelling breast, and Hinata observed the two with a warm heart, standing up and kissing both of their heads, waving quietly and leaving the room to let Sakura feed the baby.
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Sasuke looked at the letter in his hands, and then at the blond man sitting across from him. "What in the hells do you want me to do about this, Naruto?"
He glared at him in response, and grabbed the letter from him. "I haven't an idea what the hell it means, that's what."
Sasuke stared at him blankly, and then sighed. "Listen, you dunce. Her mother wants to annul the marriage." When Naruto nodded at him, he began to pour some more brandy into his cup.
"Somehow she thinks she'll get the priest to agree he's never even seen your faces." Naruto raised his eyebrow questionably at Sasuke, and he ignored it. "Money talks, friend."
"Anyway, it's not possible to annul it unless she had your consent. Thus, the letter."
Naruto laughed loudly at that, and he stood up with his glass in hand. "Does she honestly think I'm going to do that? I thought she had already done so months before."
Sasuke shook his head. "The paper is a legitimate marriage license. It's only coincidental that you went to a real priest for the license."
"Wait," Naruto stared at him blankly for a moment, before he began to laugh. "Does this mean?"
Sasuke grinned at his old friend, and then both drank from their glasses. "You sir…are a husband."
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Until Next Time,
Darkofthenight.