Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and am making no money from this work. This applies to the entire story.
Chapter 5: Pillow Talk
By Piplop
Autumn
Hinata had no prior illusions about her wedding. She knew it wouldn't exactly be fun or filled with celebrating family and friends, but she had no idea it would be this exhausting.
She stretched her lips into a practiced warm smile as yet another noble from the Stone Kingdom approached their table to give them his clan's well wishes and support. The back of her neck was itchy from dried sweat, her robes were a bit too hot after all that sake, and, embarrassingly enough, her behind was sore from sitting on the throne.
She was actually used to hours of kneeling and sitting on floor cushions for official events in the Leaf Kingdom, but it seemed that the Stone Kingdom didn't have such a custom—everyone was in chairs or on wooden benches. From tonight's experience, Hinata knew that this would take her body some getting used to.
"Your majesties," a middle-aged man with an orange top knot sunk into a low bow at the stairs below their table. "Kotaru of the Fuma clan wishes to present himself today."
He waved his right arm back towards the right corner of the large banquet hall, gesturing at a long table of men and women with similarly orange hair. They all stood up at bowed. "The Fuma clan sends you our warmest regards and congratulations. We swear to you our fealty and…"
Hinata zoned out. She had given up on remembering names after the thirtieth or so person. All of the faces of the non-descript, middle-aged men were starting to meld together. Her eyes floated to the large banquet table in front of her. It was covered in a long, intricately embroidered red tablecloth and had trays of scrumptious food sitting on it, barely touched. She could smell the oily, rich aroma of the roast duck and the sweet and spicy tang of the beef and vegetable stir fry. A small cauldron filled to the brim with glistening seafood soup simmered an arms-length in front of her, the beautifully tender white of the shrimp and bright orange and green of the vegetables obscured by the wispy steam.
Only decades of etiquette training kept Hinata's mouth from watering. Despite what many assumed by looking at her pale, slender frame, she actually loved to both eat and cook. While noble ladies were usually not allowed to be in the kitchens, she had been an exception due to her volunteer work across the Imperial Dragon City. Hinata had found cooking to be a wonderful hobby. The picking and mixing of ingredients was therapeutic, similar to when she made medicinal poultices. And the happy expressions on the faces of those who enjoyed her cooking gave her indescribable satisfaction…
But she couldn't even touch the food at her own wedding! It was considered very rude for the hosts of the wedding to eat while someone was speaking to them. Hinata had barely taken a bite before the endless string of well-wishers had materialized.
"…You may rise." The Stone King's dismissal pulled Hinata out of her daydream. She gave a dignified smile and a whisper of thank you as the man raised his head and kowtowed away.
Hinata discreetly turned her head to peek over at the Stone King… Her new husband. A fresh bouquet sat in the middle of the table between them. The bright citrus blossoms of freesia, the heavy, velvet petals of red tulips, the lacey frills of pink peony blooms, and the lavender sprigs of bush clover were artistically arranged in a stout vase. The man behind the flowers wore a neutral mask over his cool features. His lips were relaxed, his jaw unclenched, and his eyes bore a regal, distant gaze. If it weren't for the incessant tapping of his fingers on his kimono (hidden to all except Hinata and the two guards behind them), he would've looked the perfect image of a composed king.
A tiny, almost unnoticeable smile quirked up Hinata's mouth at the image.
She had thought that Sasuke Uchiha would surely be a cruel, terrifying man. He had been so intimidating and condescending when they had first met, giving her even more anxiety regarding their impending marriage over the past two days. She had tried to mentally prepare herself for a lifetime of cold glares and disappointed scowls—resulting in a bout of insomnia in the castle yesterday—but their interaction at the shrine had given her a spark of hope…
She stared in confusion and alarm when he first held his arm out to her beneath the stairs to the shrine.
Uhhh… Am I supposed to do something? Oh no… Did I forget a part of the ceremony?
She looked at him with a panicked stare, hoping for something to jog her memory.
Everyone's going to realize that I forgot soon! He's going to hate me even more for embarrassing him!
A second later, he gave her a small smile that immediately brought her out of her impending panic attack.
"Shall we?"
Ah… He's just being polite and offering his arm.
Hinata gingerly took his elbow, quickly regaining her composure and breathing in a sigh of relief. Her heart had almost settled back into its original rhythm when the Uchiha suddenly grabbed her hand. A jolt ran from the spot on her palm where they touched through her spine and down to her toes.
She hoped that he didn't feel her flinch at his touch. His hand was large and warm as it enveloped hers and pulled her closer to his side.
Before Hinata could react to the sudden intimacy, Sasuke's warm breath brushed across the shell of her ear and ghosted over the fine hairs down her neck.
"This is better…"
His soft whisper forced Hinata to suppress a shiver. With her large hood obscuring her face and everyone behind them, she was glad that nobody could see her furious blush. Her face had probably been bright red like a drunkard's—rather unbecoming of a lady…
Over her lifetime, many had told her that she was overly trusting and optimistic, but Hinata thought that it was always better to give someone the benefit of the doubt. She had seen how the Leaf councilors treated one another. Rumors and under-the-table negotiations were wildly abundant in the imperial palace as the dozens of noble clans fought for power and fame. Every so often, the vicious cycle of distrust would eventually turn into pointed fingers, backstabbing, and somebody losing their position, honor, or wealth—all done very civilly, of course.
Hinata wasn't naïve enough to think that the Stone Kingdom would be drastically different, but she hoped that her husband would show himself to be above the stereotype of a corrupt and wrathful monarch. He had to have been a great man to have somehow put a stop to the fighting between their countries so quickly after taking the throne, and, after all, he had displayed to her that small act of kindness when he didn't have to…
A large, stout man approached their table next. He had a shock of red hair, two purple tattoos under his cheekbones, and a wide, warm smile.
"Chouza of the Akimichi clan presents himself. We offer you our heartiest congratulations, my King and Queen." The man got down on one knee in a gesture of fealty.
"Please rise, Lord Chouza," Hinata noticed that her husband's voice seemed warmer than it had been for most of the other visitors. "The crown is eternally grateful for your clan's support and loyalty through these trying times."
The large man laughed, deep and rolling, and stood up. "Let's share a drink to celebrate this joyous occasion!"
The king nodded and motioned for a servant waiting by their table to pour three small cups of sake.
They must have a close relationship with the Uchiha clan…
The Akimichi clan head walked up the two steps to approach their table and took one of the small china cups. Hinata was handed one by the servant. She stared into the white porcelain, smelling the light, floral aroma of the beverage. The cup only held a volume of liquid the size of a thimble, but Hinata knew better than to underestimate the potent alcohol.
After the ceremony at the shrine, they had come to the banquet hall, where they had to toast all the attendees. Granted her tolerance isn't terribly high, but those three small cups of sake were strong enough to make Hinata feel red-faced and woozy until now.
I'm glad that I've been sitting down this whole time, or I definitely would've made a fool of myself by now.
"A toast to a prosperous future for the Stone Kingdom!" With his two outstretched arms holding the sake cup, Chouza beamed warmly at Hinata, "And a happy marriage to both of you!"
They downed the sake in unison.
Hinata held back a cough as the sharp liquid burned her tongue and coated her mouth before it seared a painful, fiery trail down her throat. Her nose itched with a sour, numbing sensation as she smiled at the large clan head through watering eyes.
Chouza bowed one last time and left their table.
Hinata gently placed her cup on the table so that the servant could take it away. The nutty aftertaste of the sake vaporized in her lungs, leaving her chest warm and tingly. She looked over at her husband. He seemed as unaffected as before.
As if sensing her gaze, he cocked his head and glanced her way with a raised brow. Their eyes met for a split second before Hinata blushed and looked down, embarrassed at having been caught staring.
Oh, what am I doing getting all flustered? I should've just smiled at him… Acted normal.
Hinata shook her head at herself and slowly raised her head to look out towards Hanabi and Neji's table. As members of her clan, they were seated at a long table closest to the front of the room on the queen's side. Neji was slowly sipping at his cup of tea with a slightly irritated expression and her little sister was picking at her food with a sullen look in her eyes. Hanabi appeared uncharacteristically tired.
Is she still recovering from our journey?
No… That's not likely. If I'm feeling fine, Hanabi's definitely in good shape.
Does the food of the Stone Kingdom not sit well with her stomach?
A small crease appeared in between Hinata's eyebrows as she thought about the medicines she had brought with her and if they would be of any use.
She heard a small cough from her left. She almost looked over before remembering the embarrassment of having been caught staring at Sasuke moments before. Recalling his sharp, dark gaze, she lowered her head in embarrassment and blushed again.
His throat is probably dry from the sake, too. I don't want to be caught starting again… He'll probably think I'm creepy…
She picked up her cup of tea and took a sip, letting the hot, earthy liquid soothe her still-raw throat.
"Ahem," Sasuke coughed a bit more noticeably this time. Realizing that he may have wanted her attention, Hinata immediately turned.
His face was perfectly blank, but when he spoke, his voice was low and a little miffed. "We've been here for long enough. Unless you have something you still need to do, we'll retire for the night."
Hinata nodded in relief.
Sasuke turned around and whispered something to one of the guards. The soldier nodded and walked down their raised platform and across the banquet hall.
Hinata followed him with her eyes. To her surprise, he stopped at Kurenai's table.
The ambassador was chatting with someone hidden behind her, and when the soldier leaned over to interrupt their conversation, Hinata saw that it was the captain of the royal guard.
Asuma looked over in their direction and walked towards them, his subordinate in tow.
He curtly bowed at the bottom of the stairs. "We're ready when you are, my King and Queen."
Sasuke stood up and Hinata followed his example. The voices of the nobles and sounds of clinking silverware instantly fell quiet as everyone else pushed back their chairs and stood up as well.
"Thank you for attending my wedding today," Sasuke stoically addressed their audience. "The Stone Kingdom hopes to continue counting on all of your support in the future, as well."
He paused. Hinata thought that it looked like he was going to say something else, but he just thinned his lips and ended his speech.
"There's plenty of food and sake, so please feel free to enjoy yourselves late into the night."
He really doesn't seem like the type to enjoy parties and festivities…
With a sharp nod to Asuma, the Stone King walked down the platform. Hinata quickly followed as they paraded down the open stretch in the center of the room with two guards flanking their sides and the captain behind them.
The eyes of all the Stone Kingdom nobles weighed down on Hinata. She gulped nervously and straightened her back into what she hoped was a regal-looking walk.
Just don't look at them… Don't look at them…
Two more guards held open the double doors at the end of the banquet hall and they strode through without pause. Hinata gave a small sigh of relief as all the pressure of the crowd vanished.
The hallway was much darker than the brightly decorated banquet hall. Tall candelabras with white paper shades were dotted down the long stretch, casting a scattered yellow glow onto the high rafters and red carpets.
Sasuke started walking immediately once the doors to the banquet hall slammed shut.
They walked a hundred steps before ascending a wide staircase on their right, leading to several closed doors–meeting halls?–and a smaller set of stairs hidden behind a corner. The castle was like a giant maze. Hinata creased her eyes in worry.
I hope it doesn't take too long for me to learn how to get around…
After climbing numerous more sets of stairs and walking down dizzying winding corridors, the party finally stopped in front of a set of tall black doors with golden handles.
Hinata peered at the designs closely and noticed that they were engraved with the fan shape of the Uchiha crest.
Asuma walked up and saluted them before taking his position to the right of the doorway.
Sasuke gave him a curt nod in response.
I guess we're here? So do we just… go in?
Hinata looked to the Stone King for an affirmation. Without even a glance towards her, he pushed open the door to the room and strode in. The heavy doors smoothly slid shut behind him without a squeak.
Erm… That was…
Feeling rather out of place and a bit unwanted from Sasuke's cold treatment, Hinata stared at the golden door handles. She nibbled her bottom lip and pulled at the seams of her sleeves.
Can I enter? Am I allowed to? Will it be awkward?
Asuma cleared his throat.
Hinata started and looked towards the bearded captain in embarrassment, only to meet a comforting smile.
"We'll be out here patrolling all night, so please call if you need anything."
Hinata smiled back nervously.
"Thank you."
It hit her that this would be their first night together as husband and wife. They would be alone in a room… With one bed…
…There were certain expectations.
Hinata closed her eyes as her heart sped up.
I chose this, she reminded herself.
She took a deep breath, tried to straighten her back, and stepped forwards. With a final smile towards Asuma, she pushed open the door.
The room—my new bedroom?—was tall and expansive like most of the other rooms in the castle. However, Hinata was surprised at the lack of flamboyance and ornamentation that one would expect from a king's quarters.
The plain stone walls were bare and the furniture minimalistic. There was a large four-poster bed with clean white sheets, several wardrobes, a set of chairs and a round desk across from the entrance, and a closed set of doors that looked like they would lead to a balcony.
Hinata took a hesitant step forwards, and then another.
Sasuke appeared from behind a cloth folding screen at the other side of the room, stopping Hinata in her tracks. She noticed that he had changed into a lighter black yukata to replace his ceremonial robes.
Hinata reflexively looked down when their eyes met, her heart pounding in her chest.
Wait… No, no… I can't be this shy.
She squeezed her eyes shut, balled her hands into fists, and forced herself to raise her head and meet his gaze. His face was blank, his eyes reflecting the dull flames of the candles scattered about. She gulped and tried to force a smile.
"This... room is v-very clean."
He lifted an eyebrow.
Oh no, that sounded like I was surprised!
"N-Not that I expected it to—" The Uchiha cut her off with a raised hand and started walking towards her.
"I know it's pretty empty but I don't need much. They'll bring all your things here tomorrow."
"Ah…" Hinata's voice trailed off as he got closer and closer. "I didn't actually… Bring that much…"
Her eyes widened with each step her husband took towards her and her voiced trailed off to a whisper. "…Either…?"
W-Wait… I'm not ready for this…
Hinata took a small stumble backwards, prompting Sasuke to stop just a few feet away from her.
"You don't have to look so scared." His voice was tinged with annoyance. "I'm not going to do anything to you."
A blush bloomed across Hinata's face and down her neck.
Was I that obvious? He must be offended right now…
"U-Uh… N-no… That's not… Um…" He brought his hand to his forehead and sighed.
"I swear I'm not going to touch you, okay?" Hinata thought that he looked rather exasperated. "You can go change behind that screen over there," he offhandedly waved his arm towards her left.
Hinata saw that a light purple yukata was hanging over the changing screen at the back of the room.
With a final lingering look, the Stone king turned around and stalked towards the other side of the room. He opened a door that Hinata hadn't noticed before—it looked like it led to a study of some sort?—and disappeared inside.
Her heart still racing, Hinata took a few deep breaths of relief. She attempted to will away the dark blush on her face.
He thinks I'm terrified of him… From the way I acted, he probably thinks I hate him too… And… And he probably hates me!
She sunk to the floor and crumpled into a ball of silk. The princess—now a queen—put her face into her hands in shame. This day had ended so badly.
What was I expecting? Love? For him to be happy with me?
She internally scolded herself for having such unrealistic thoughts.
We don't know a single thing about each other. It was a political marriage from the beginning!
She felt wet warmth swell under her eyelids and tried to push back the impending flood of tears. With a sniffle, she furiously wiped away the drops that were beginning to seep through with her fingertips.
I don't have the right to cry right now! He's probably the one who's really disappointed with having someone as plain and weak as me for his wife…
Hinata lifted her face and saw that her palms were smudged with the black and white tones of her makeup. Her lips trembled and she balled her hands into fists, willing the tears to stop flowing.
She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Slowly in… Hold… And slowly out…
The soft sounds of her breath gradually calmed her.
With a final puff of air, she opened her eyes.
I should clean myself up. I don't want him to think that I'm a slob who can't even take care of her own appearance.
With a light sigh, she slowly pushed herself off of the floor and stood up.
Grrrr… Ruumble…
Although the anxiety of her night had wiped away any semblance of an appetite that Hinata had, her stomach still protested the lack of nourishment. She had only taken a few bites during the banquet, and she had only been able to pick at her breakfast this morning because she had been so nervous. Her stomach churned and growled, the sour acids pounding a dull pain into her core.
Hinata sighed and slowly walked towards the changing screen, gently rubbing little circles into her abdomen.
She was so, so tired…
To her pleasant surprise, there was a sink and a small faucet behind the cloth partitions. Hinata flipped the water on and ran her hands under the crystalline trickle. It was absolutely freezing.
After a few seconds under the stream, her hands were bright pink. The stabs of pain from the cold had turned into a more numbing sensation. She pooled the liquid in the cup of her palm and leaned down to splash her face.
She gasped when the shock of icy water hit her.
The pain was surprisingly refreshing.
After rubbing her face and repeating the process several times, she was satisfied to see her palms free of the oils and powders of her makeup. She flipped off the faucet, wiped her hands and face dry on a towel, and turned towards the mirror on the wall.
Hinata was glad to see that she still looked rather elegant at the end of the day—the perfect picture of a queen with her voluminous robes and silver headdress. Not a single hair was out of place. Hopefully, the nobles of the Stone Kingdom had been pleased with her performance today…
She combed through her silky hair with her fingers to untangle the phoenix ornaments. After collecting a bunch in her hands, she placed them on a stool.
Now the robes were a challenge… She had never attempted to untie the complicated obi herself. That item of clothing was designed to be put on and taken off by someone else, after all.
Hinata turned sideways in the mirror for a better vantage point of the tie and reached behind her to pull at the knot. The cloth had been wrapped extremely securely around a board of some kind. Hinata tugged at it from several different angles and tried to stretch her arms back even further, but she could tell that no progress was being made. Tiny tufts of rabbit fur came away in her hands. Hinata winced at the damage she had done.
At this rate, I'll tear this obi before I manage to unravel it…
With a frustrated humph, Hinata dropped her arms to her sides. They were sore from all the stretching.
I guess I'll have to ask him to do it? Her blush threatened to return.
Wait… The guards that are outside… They said they were there to help if I needed anything. Maybe I can ask Captain Asuma?
Hinata immediately shook her head and vetoed that idea. What was she thinking? It would be terribly improper for the newly wedded queen to ask another man to undress her! And besides, people would then know that the couple hadn't been intimate on their wedding night… Rumors would spread that the King and Queen were cold towards each other… And then the alliance between the Leaf and the Stone…
The repercussions would be disastrous.
With a shaky breath, Hinata slowly treaded towards the open study, her heart pounding in her ears. She paused for a beat and bit her lip before stepping into the doorway.
The Stone king was sitting at his desk, staring intently at a scroll with a downward curve to his mouth. He didn't seem to have noticed her presence.
Hinata opened her mouth to speak but then closed it again.
Can I call him Sasuke? No, no, that's too familiar… Your majesty? Too formal! I'm his wife, after all…
Ah, I'll just avoid that for now…
"U-um… Excuse me," Hinata ventured forth in a quiet voice. Sharp, dark eyes immediately snapped up to meet her pale lilac orbs. She swallowed and gripped the wooden doorframe.
"Yes?" The king set down his scroll and rested his elbows on the table, his voice low and dry.
"I was w-wondering… If you don't mind—or if you're not too busy… Um…" Sasuke raised a brow questioningly. The low lighting in the room made Hinata notice for the first time that he had small, almost unnoticeable bags under his eyes. The day must have been tiring for him as well…
"Um… I was wondering if you could help me unwrap my obi?" Hinata blurted out the last few words in a fast blur, embarrassed at her own request. She could feel the heat rising to her face.
"Are you trying to seduce me?" Sasuke deadpanned.
Hinata nearly fainted then and there. Instead, she gripped the doorframe harder and blushed like a tomato.
"No! I'm not!" That came out a bit too forcefully. Hinata winced at Sasuke's surprised expression.
He must really be offended now… If he wasn't already mad at me from before…
"What I mean is… I couldn't undo the wrappings in the back by myself and I didn't want to tear the fabric so I thought maybe you could… I mean, Hanabi or Kurenai usually help me with this when I go to sleep so…" Hinata bit her tongue. Sasuke blinked slowly.
Now I sound like an entitled princess who can't do anything for herself!
"…Master Sai actually designed this so that it would require someone else to untie it—Not that I can't do it myself! But I… Umm…"
Realizing that she was rambling, she bit her lip and looked down at the floor. The awkward silence that stretched between them made her even more embarrassed.
"…Actually, I don't really need to wear this again so… Uh…" Hinata started retreating from the doorway. "I'll be fine by myself, actually…" She hastily bowed.
"Sorry for bothering you."
Hinata turned and scurried back towards the changing screen, tears of humiliation welling up once more.
I can just cut it off if I need to! It was stupid of me to bother him!
"Wait!" The commanding tone made Hinata spin around. Sasuke stood at the door to his study.
That was quick. She hadn't even heard him get up from his desk.
"I'll do it."
Hinata stared at him in surprise.
This man was confusing. He was cruel and sarcastic one second, aloof and cold the next, and sometimes… Sometimes he would give her a glimpse of something that felt like tenderness beneath that arrogant, powerful superiority.
"Are you going to turn around or do you want me to walk behind you?" The amused glint in Sasuke's eyes made her heart stutter.
"Ah… Sorry!" Flustered, she immediately spun back around and held out her arms. Hinata heard him walk towards her and could feel cool puffs of breath on her hair soon after.
Her heart jerked with each tug on her obi. Her new husband was neither as gentle with the cloth as Kurenai nor as efficient as Hanabi, but he was able to quickly unwrap the knot and remove the structural padding in the back.
When he began to circle his arms around her waist to fully unwrap the obi, Hinata attempted to tell him that she could manage for herself from here.
"I got it," he grunted, sending Hinata into an awkward blush as his arms repeatedly brushed against her sides. He finished his work with a final sigh of air against the back of her neck and quickly folded the obi on a nearby stool.
"Wear that." Through her peripheral vision, Hinata saw her husband's black-clad arm point towards the purple yukata that was draped over the changing screen.
"Ah… Okay…"
Sasuke walked away before Hinata even had the chance to thank him.
She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart and stared at the wooden floor.
That was…
She could still feel his light touches tingling against the sensitive skin of her waist.
Hinata gulped. With a shake of her head, she began to methodically take off the rest of her robes. The ties and belts for the inner layers of her outfit were a lot thinner and easier to untie by herself. She folded each piece and laid them on the stool on top of the obi.
She shivered as the cool air hit her naked skin and quickly shrugged on the light purple kimono that the Stone king had previously pointed out. Once it was secured, Hinata could tell that the garment was probably a bit too tight for her comfort.
The soft cotton was a snug fit. It fell to the floor at just the right length but hugged her curves a bit too tightly around her hips and bust. Hinata bit her lip and tried to rearrange the yukata for more modesty, but made little progress.
Oh, I can't wait for my clothes to arrive tomorrow.
With a resigned sigh, she slowly stepped out from behind the screen. When she looked up, she saw that her new husband was standing next to the round table across from the entrance to the doorway.
His burning, coal eyes were intently fixed on her form… Acutely aware of her state of dress, Hinata awkwardly crossed her arms over her chest.
He immediately snapped his eyes up to hers. Hinata didn't miss the quick flick of his pink tongue across his dry bottom lip.
Hinata hugged herself even tighter and looked down in embarrassment. An awkward beat of silence ensued.
"Are you hungry?" Sasuke finally grunted, his voice pitched low.
"Ah, um… I'm alright?" Hinata responded slowly in confusion.
Her stomach grumbled loudly in protest.
Hinata prayed that Sasuke hadn't heard that from across the room, but when she looked up, he had a smug smirk on his face. She blushed again.
If I blush any harder tonight, I'm going to faint!
She thought she heard a chuckle.
"I wasn't able to eat much at dinner either so I asked the guards to bring up a tray. Do you want to join me?"
His smirk was arrogant and expectant, as if he knew she wouldn't refuse. In an uncharacteristic urge of defiance, Hinata almost rejected him. Just to see what kind of surprised expression he would make.
Grrruuumble…
Her traitorous stomach protested again. Sasuke pointedly raised a brow and glanced down.
"…Yes, thank you. I would like that very much."
"There are some extra blankets and robes in there." Sasuke thrust his chin towards the wardrobe next to the four-poster bed.
"Oh, um, thank you." Hinata quickly trotted over, anxious to cover herself more. She opened the dresser to see a neat array of haoris and kimonos in black, white, and various shades of gray. It seemed that this man didn't really like having much color in his life.
The robes were organized in almost mechanical precision by color and their hangers were spaced meticulously equidistant apart. He either had impeccable housekeepers come in all the time or he was something of a perfectionist. Hinata suspected the latter.
She picked out the haori that looked the shortest and quickly pulled it on. The white cloth was thick and warm, offering Hinata a much-needed layer of protection. Since it wasn't too cold in the bedroom, Hinata chose to leave the robes open in the front instead of tying the belt closed.
She turned around slowly, dreading the awkward tension that was sure to resurface with Sasuke. Sure enough, she saw that he was scowling intently at the floor, wrinkles marring his forehead and two tiny lines at the sides of his mouth.
Several beats of silence passed with neither party budging or making a sound.
Will the food get here soon? This is just too awkward…
Hinata wrung her hands together.
…I should at least try to be cordial?
"Maybe we could sit while waiting for the food?" she ventured forth slowly in a tremulous, quiet voice.
Her husband looked at her and nodded, the frown slowly melting off his face. He pulled out a chair in front of him and sat down.
Hinata padded slowly towards the round table, the tension from before slightly leaving her body.
All of a sudden, Sasuke stood up from his seat, startling Hinata into stopping a few paces away from the table. He smoothly strode towards her and moved to pull out a chair. The annoyed look on his face suggested that he was internally scolding himself for being rude and forgetting.
"Um, really, there's no need…"
Hinata tried to assure him that she wasn't offended, but after a few flustered seconds, just ended up obeying his stony stare and plopping down. He strode back to his seat and sat back down again.
"The kitchens must be really busy tonight," she tried to smile and make small talk.
"Hm. They're used to this. The staff is competent enough."
Hinata wrapped the voluminous haori more tightly around herself. While the air between them wasn't quite as tense as it was before, there was still a fog of awkwardness, as to be expected from two strangers who suddenly found themselves bonded for life.
The silence stretched on. She could hear every breath that he took, which made her more conscious of her own movements.
Hinata was at a loss for words and so, she just stared at the empty table that stood between them.
After a minute or so, she heard a sharp intake of breath, prompting her to look up. Sasuke was staring down at the table with thinned lips.
He shifted to sit up straight, put his elbows on the table, and clasped his hands. With another sigh, he looked up into her eyes.
"I'll cut to the chase. I'm sure we were both coerced into this marriage by the elders or councils or whatever." Hinata's eyes widened. She hadn't expected him to be so confrontational.
"I know the Leaf Kingdom needs this alliance with the Stone to appear strong after the late King and Queen's assassinations." Hinata winced at his blunt statement. The wounds from her parents' deaths hadn't yet healed and it hurt to hear someone speak of the murders in such a matter-of-fact way.
Sasuke's face seemed to soften when he saw her expression. He paused.
When he continued again, his voice was a tad bit gentler.
"What I'm trying to say is… We both need this marriage to work out." He unclasped his fingers and laid his hands on the table, palms up.
He leaned forwards and began speaking slowly, with an air of gravity.
"…So assist me, and I will do what I can to help you."
Although that was more of a statement than a question, he stared intently into Hinata's eyes, awaiting a response.
Hinata bit her lip and furrowed her brows. Everything that he said had been reasonable, but she still didn't totally trust the man.
What does he gain from all this? And what does he want with me?
Hinata's voice trembled slightly when she spoke. "I k-know… I know that you had to take a wife to appease the elders. And it's true that the Leaf needs this alliance. But can I ask you… What help could I possibly be of to you? I exert almost no influence over King Danzo. I can't move any armies or provide any trade benefits that you haven't received already."
Sasuke nodded slowly and took a few seconds before replying.
"I understand that. And I wouldn't ask for your help in those matters." He paused there, as if weighing his next few words very carefully.
"You probably don't know this, but I have had some trouble with swaying public opinion in my favor ever since I became king. The people of the Stone Kingdom distrust me and view the royal family as cold and uncaring, which, as I'm sure you can imagine, has caused a few problems for me."
Hinata nodded. For decades, the Uchiha clan had been known for ruling mercilessly with an iron fist. There were rumors that they had exterminated entire noble clans in the past in fear of uprisings or rebellions. It made sense for the Stone Kingdom citizens to distrust a man from such a heritage who rose to power amidst whispers of regicide.
"You know, you're pretty well known for being a champion of the common people, with all that charity work and all."
Hinata shifted in her seat. She had always felt uncomfortable when politicians and nobles talked to her about her work outside of the imperial palace. They either wanted to sneer at her for mingling with peasants or, even worse, congratulate her on garnering the people's favor and tricking them into thinking that the royal family cared about them. While she knew that part of the reason that she had been encouraged to continue working in the slums was for the positive publicity, it still made her shrivel up a little inside when people questioned her intentions.
"Most of my citizens are likely to have that same impression of you. I'd like it if you could do the same here as you did back in your home country. I'll give you resources and protection, anything that you would reasonably need."
"So, essentially, you want me to win the people over so that they'll be more supportive of your policies," Hinata murmured and looked away.
She was naturally averse to such insincere political maneuvers, as deception had never sat well with her.
Apparently, her discomfort showed.
"Remember. If I fall, you fall too." Sasuke stated that like a foreboding warning.
"I know," Hinata whispered and bit her lip. She could tell that she had landed in the middle of some dangerous things in the Stone Kingdom.
Perhaps the nation wasn't as stable as it appeared to be after the shift in power. Was there going to be a coup d'état?
In any case, one thing was clear: their fates were now tied together. Hinata knew that if she wanted to do well in her new country and thus best support her beloved Leaf Kingdom, she would have to try to do her best with the Stone King. She took a deep breath and sat up.
"I would be honored to continue my work with the hospitals and shelters in the capital." At that, the Stone King seemed to relax a little more in his chair. "I… I would also like for our marriage to work out too… But in order for that to happen and for me to help you the best that I can, we'll need to trust each other more…"
Hinata trailed off, her courage slightly faltering at the Stone King's narrowing eyes. She swallowed, wetting her dry throat. After a few seconds, she plowed forward.
"What I m-mean is… Umm… This is the first I've heard of any civil unrest. P-Please at least tell me, why has there been a problem with your people? The Stone Kingdom's economy has flourished and the wars have stopped since you became king… I've only heard praises for your actions in the Leaf Kingdom."
Sasuke blinked slowly and stared downwards. Hinata didn't dare breathe too loudly and interrupt his concentration.
After several seconds of silence, the dark-haired man nodded and stared deeply into her eyes.
"What I want to do for the country has always been in the best interests of the people, but there are other clans who seek to overthrow me and steal the throne. This is the most vulnerable that the Uchiha clan has ever been and there are now more people than ever seeking to monopolize on that to gain more power." Hinata nodded, encouraging him to continue.
"They're trying to use the people to weaken my influence… We've actually found traitors working with the Cloud Kingdom. We think that they may be linked to the attempt on your life in Sable City."
Hinata gasped. His gaze seemed earnest.
Her thoughts flickered back to what Hanabi had told her that night at the Sable City inn. If the Cloud Kingdom was involved in the assassination of her parents and had a hand in causing the unrest in the Stone Kingdom, was there something deeper going on? As far as she remembered, the northern nation never had much of an interest in meddling with other countries' affairs. In fact, their swampy and marshy territory didn't even yield the resources necessary for waging any kind of long-term offensive.
"One of the traitors will be executed next week, so word about this will get out soon. But before then, do not speak of this to anyone."
Hinata nodded. "You can trust me."
Sasuke raised a brow, as if saying, I'll see about that.
Hinata's heart quickened and she gripped her hands.
Should I tell him about the Cloud Kingdom's possible involvement in the Leaf assassinations?
No, no… I promised Hanabi that I wouldn't tell anyone. She wasn't supposed to tell me and this is a risky situation. I don't know if I can trust the Stone Kingdom yet…
If the wrong people knew that Hanabi, Shino, and Kiba were on a mission alone in the Cloud, they could be put in grave danger!
…But any information that the Stone Kingdom could provide may be helpful to them… We could work together and piece together everything that's been happening with the Cloud…
"Do you have something to say?"
Hinata nervously met Sasuke's expectant gaze and scolded herself for being so transparent.
"I… Um…" Her heart pounded as she tried to figure out what she should—or shouldn't—say.
Although he wasn't necessarily nice, Sasuke was straightforward and brusque. Hinata would choose to trust people like him over slimy councilmen any day.
…But still…
Knock, knock.
Two loud raps on the door made Hinata jump in her seat. She had completely forgotten about the food. The tension was broken as Sasuke left the table and walked to the door of their bedroom. Hinata quietly sighed in relief as her heartrate gradually slowed down.
She watched him open the door and receive a large, round tray. When the door was pushed open wider, Hinata saw that the king was chatting with the ponytailed general from before—Shikamaru? After a few quick exchanges, Sasuke slammed the door shut and walked back towards the table. He had a slightly miffed expression on his face.
"The food smells delicious," Hinata gave her best reassuring smile, praying that Sasuke wouldn't try to push her to continue their discussion. She didn't want to leak her little sister's secret but wasn't confident that she could give a good enough performance to smooth over his suspicions and win a bit more of his trust.
Sasuke gave a non-committal grunt of agreement and set the tray on the table. The dishes looked cold but still exuded a rich blend of aromas.
Hinata's stomach grumbled again.
A colorful stir fry of vegetables and chicken sat on one plate while leafy greens in some kind of shiny brown sauce were beautifully arranged in another. An entire steamed fished with scallions and ginger was presented in the middle. There were two small bowls of white rice and two pairs of chopsticks at opposite ends of the tray.
Sasuke sat down and grabbed a bowl of rice. Hinata mirrored him and tentatively took the other bowl with the corresponding chopsticks. They both started eating in silence.
The food was as delicious as expected. Realizing that she was starving, Hinata ate as quickly as she could while keeping with etiquette. After a couple of minutes of eating, she glanced up. It seemed like Sasuke had been quite hungry as well.
As if sensing her gaze, he looked up quizzically. Hinata blushed, embarrassed at being caught staring again, and went back to eating.
A few bites later, she heard a few dull clinks as the Stone King set down his chopsticks.
"Since you spoke of building trust earlier…"
Hinata froze and her heart jumped. Is he going to ask about the Cloud Kingdom?
"…Let's try to get to know each other better."
She blinked. The sudden willingness to chat was surprising.
"Uh, I think that would be nice…?" Hinata said hesitantly.
The man gave a satisfied nod but didn't say anything. They fell into a stiff silence for a few moments.
I guess he's awkward in these kinds of situations too?
"I-I think people usually try to talk about their hobbies and friends and family—" With a shock, Hinata remembered that Sasuke was the last of his clan. She cringed at her own insensitivity.
"…And other… Things…" she finished lamely.
"It's fine." His voice was level but a bit worn. "It's been a year."
"But it still doesn't get any less painful, right?" She whispered apologetically, sadness melting into her glistening lilac eyes at the memory of her own parents.
The king looked up into her eyes, his gaze carrying something akin to recognition and mourning.
In that moment, Hinata realized that she possibly shared more with Sasuke Uchiha than either of them had initially expected.
The king broke the stare first. He hunched over, his back tense, and leaned his forehead on his clasped hands. He closed his eyes for a few moments.
Hinata couldn't make out his expression under the dark curtain of his bangs. She squeezed her hands nervously.
Did I upset him?
"I think…" His voice was low and soft. "We may have had a bit of a misunderstanding when we first met." He paused and looked at her. He spoke his next few words slowly.
"I would like it… if we could be more… Uh, amicablemoving forward."
Is he trying to say…?
Hinata gave a few startled blinks before her face broke into a small, tremulous smile.
"…Me too," her voice was light and tinted with relief.
He responded with a slight upward quirk of the lips. Hinata thought that it made the usually dark man look rather handsome.
"So, do tell, what kind of hobbies do you have?" The king smirked, giving a nod to her previous comment. His slight sarcasm was more playful teasing than mocking.
Hinata blushed but felt herself relaxing at the much more cordial atmosphere.
"Ah, well… I had a garden back in the imperial palace… It was nothing big but I liked to tend to a lot of the plants there."
"Flowers, huh?"
"I did have a few flowering plants, but I mostly cultivated herbs." At her audience's look of interest, Hinata felt encouraged to elaborate.
"I guess I kind of liked making my own ointments and medicinal poultices for the clinics and hospitals that I worked in… We were actually able to grow a lot of rare plants in the palace that you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else in the Leaf Kingdom and they sometimes came in handy… And it was nice to be able to use fresh herbs whenever I cooked…" Sasuke tilted his head. "…At the food shelters, I mean," Hinata quickly added.
She had found that it was difficult to explain her hobby to people of noble birth and she did not want to give the impression that the Leaf Kingdom made their Crown Princess do menial chores.
Sasuke nodded thoughtfully.
"You should meet Ino. The Yamanaka clan provided the bouquets today. They have a greenhouse in the castle that you might be interested in."
"Ah, those were really beautiful!"
Hinata had marveled at how the Stone Kingdom was able to get such fresh, beautiful flowers when it was nearly winter. Greenhouses required plenty of glass, which she knew to be a ridiculously expensive resource that even the Leaf Kingdom didn't have much of despite their alliance with the Sand Kingdom.
Hinata made a mental note. The Yamanaka clan must be extremely powerful to be able to afford the upkeep of an entire building of glass… Were they also closely allied to the Uchiha clan?
"And you'll have to meet Tsunade and Sakura if you wish to continue your work with the hospitals…"
"That would be an honor!" Hinata's eyes widened. She smiled in delight.
She had heard of the legendary and beautiful healer—who hadn't? Lady Tsunade had made a name for herself as a medic during the wars over the past few decades. She was rumored to have accepted wounded soldiers no matter what country they were from. It was said that she single-handedly cut down the number of casualties on the Stone Kingdom's side by at least half. The doctor now resided in the capital since her country was currently in a time of peace.
As if annoyed by her obvious hero-worship, Sasuke's eyebrow twitched.
"You might be disappointed with the real person," he warned, his tone dry. "She's not what most people expect."
Ah, I suppose she must be nearly sixty years old now... Hinata thought of the old women that she had known back in the Leaf Kingdom. Most of them had little energy and couldn't quite move around properly to do much of anything.
I guess time treats everyone the same way…
"Ah, no… I'm sure she's still an amazing person. I would love to be able to learn from her!"
Sasuke responded with a small, offhanded shrug.
Ah… We've only been talking about me… I haven't asked him about himself at all!
Hinata realized that despite his stand-offish outer visage, the Uchiha was actually a good listener.
"And you, King Sasuke? What do you like to do?"
He leaned forward and gave her a pointed look.
"Just Sasuke is fine."
"Ah…" Hinata was surprised albeit slightly honored that the king had given her permission to call him by just his first name.
"…Then please call me Hinata," she smiled softly.
Sasuke nodded at the exchange. He then leaned back in his chair, a barely-present ghost of a smile in his eyes.
"With respect to what I do in my free time… You know, with all the work that it takes to run a country, I don't quite have the luxury of watering plants or picking herbs."
"Oh!" Hinata sat up and waved her hands in the air apologetically. "Um… I didn't mean to imply that you didn't have a lot of work to do, or…"
Sasuke looked at her distraught reaction in amusement.
"Uh… I'm sure…"
Much to her relief, Sasuke cut her off with a wave of his hand.
"I used to like to travel." Sasuke crossed his arms and looked towards the window with a thoughtful expression.
"Shikamaru and Choji and I used to sneak out into the city once in a while. And every so often, I would ride to the seaports near the capital."
"You seemed… close with the general."
Sasuke pursed his lips.
"Shikamaru? Yeah, I guess we grew up together. His father is one of our top military strategists…" His usually sharp eyes relaxed into something that almost looked like warmth mixed with a flicker of yearning.
"We trained together when I was younger. We used to say that we would become generals together."
Hinata thought of Kiba and Shino wistfully.
"It must be nice to have your friends so close by your side…"
I wonder how they're doing in the northern mountains. Winter is coming… Hopefully they'll be able to make it out and finish their mission before the blizzards hit…
Hanabi is to join them in a week's time…
Although Hinata had seen so many people at the celebrations today, a gloom of loneliness began to press down on her chest. Neji, her sister, and the rest of the Leaf Kingdom soldiers would leave tomorrow.
Hinata chewed on her bottom lip and tried to control her nervous worry. If it weren't for Kurenai's assuring support, she would've been left all by herself here in this foreign country…
Thank the gods Danzo let her accompany me to the Stone Kingdom.
"You don't look very happy to be here."
Hinata knew that she should be trying to refute his claim, but Sasuke's soft, almost pitying tone of voice had no trace of anger or offense.
Maybe he understood.
She looked back up and met his eyes. He had leaned back in his chair and was staring down at her in a rather scrupulous manner past the bridge of his nose.
Hinata returned his gaze for a few seconds and then looked down at her hands. When she spoke, her voice was gentle and tender.
"My mother… She used to say that the secret to being happy is to accept where you are in life and to make the most out of what you have."
Sasuke hmphed and hunched forward on his elbows.
"I don't believe in just accepting your fate or whatever. Where you are depends on what you've done. And where you'll be in the future depends on the actions that you take now."
"Well yes, but there's only so much that you can do…"
Sasuke sighed.
"Either way, I'm glad you have such an optimistic outlook on the rest of your life here." His tone was slightly sarcastic and dry. "I would much rather have a useful queen than a homesick, weepy one."
Hinata didn't consider herself a prideful person, but what little ego she had flared up at the small jab. She sat up tall and straightened her spine.
"I assure y-you," Although she tried to sound as strong as she could, her voice still quavered a bit at the beginning. Hinata swallowed quickly and looked into Sasuke's eyes with as much conviction as she could muster, trying to make him believe her words. She continued on, this time in a much clearer tone.
"I plan to do everything I can to become someone worthy of the title of Queen of the Stone Kingdom."
Sasuke rested his chin on his hand, his dark eyes glinting with interest.
"You have a lot more guts than I expected from when I first met you." Hinata blushed slightly at the memory of her awkward muteness during their first encounter. Although she was embarrassed, she felt the urge to defend herself.
"Well, first impressions can sometimes be deceiving, I suppose…"
Sasuke scowled at her and glanced back down to the table.
Did he look… guilty?
"In that case, I don't think I quite made the best introduction either." He scowled even more intently at the table. It sounded like someone was forcing the words out of his mouth.
Is he… trying to apologize?
After a moment of silence and continued scowling, Hinata realized that that was all he was going to say on the matter. She timidly smiled, a small spark of humor bubbling up inside her at his almost-childish reaction.
She took a small breath and slowly extended her hand across the table.
"Erm, I guess we can… try to start over?"
Sasuke met her hopeful gaze with an unfathomable look.
Ah, is this too much? He's just going to laugh at me…
Just as Hinata was about to lower her hand in embarrassment, Sasuke suddenly reached out and shook it in a warm, firm grip.
"Let's work together then."
Sasuke's eyes softened into a slight smile, making Hinata's heart flutter in relief. She relaxed, smiled in response, and gently dipped her head in a nod.
"If you would like, I can give you a tour of the castle tomorrow afternoon—after the Leaf Kingdom party departs." Hinata felt a pang of sadness at the reminder but shook it off and smiled at him in appreciation. It wasn't his fault that Hanabi had to return as early as possible to join Kiba and Shino on their mission to the Cloud. It was actually quite nice of them not to take offense at the Leaf dignitaries' rather short stay for such an important event.
"That would be nice… But you must be busy?" Sasuke waved that off and continued in a pragmatic, matter-of-fact tone of voice.
"The festivities are going to last until dusk at least. Nobody will be expecting either of us to be doing any work, the benefits of being newlyweds and all."
"Ah-ah… I see…" Sasuke's mention of their newlywed status made Hinata a bit more flustered. "Well, in that case, thank you. I think I'd like that."
Sasuke nodded and stood up from his chair.
"I have a few more things to go through tonight. Feel free to go ahead and sleep." He waved towards the cooling food on the table as he made his way towards the open door of the study.
"You can leave the tray there. The servants will take care of it in the morning."
Hinata's eyes followed his lean form across the room.
His back was straight and he carried himself with pride, but she could tell from the slight slouch of his shoulders through his black yukata that he was a man who was starting to get worn down, perhaps by the weight of all his responsibilities as king…
"Good night, Sasuke," she spoke in a hushed tone.
He paused outside of the study, his torso lit by the waxy, ebbing light of candles and framed by the dark wooden frame of the doorway.
The soft, muffled cry of an owl drifted in from the windows. Sasuke placed his hand on the door to the study and turned at his waist, almost as if he was moving to face her. He froze halfway, his face hidden by the dark locks of his bangs.
"Good night… Hinata."
Author's Note: Engineering is hard. :( Didn't have as much time to revise this as I would've liked (since I wanted to get it out to you guys ASAP!) so the quality may be iffy. If any of you see any errors, please point them out to me! As I said last chapter, updates may be more like once a month until the school year ends.
Some of you pointed out that you wanted to see our favorite(?) obnoxious blonde ninja! Naruto won't be appearing quite yet… But I've mentioned him a few times in past chapters. Did any of you guys catch it? ;)