Chapter 2. --.
The food was cooking, the ninja scroll she was supposed to be studying was lying across the table un-touched and her hair was a mess. Being a wife was harder then Hyuuga Hinata had imagined. She had spent her day cleaning and preparing a meal for Kankuro and herself. He would be home any minute. He grunted something to her when he left, something along the lines of "I'm training all day..." in that I'd rather be anywhere but here, I'm forcing myself to say this attitude. It was her first full day of being a bride, and Kankuro had, maybe intentionally, maybe unintentionally, made it miserable. She could tell he didn't want to be married to her, but he didn't have to make it so well known, it hurt her feelings to know she'd spend the rest of her life with someone who hated her and wouldn't even make en effort to get to know her. It was sad, Hinata thought... disappointing.
"What a day." The puppet master huffed, dropping his wrapped up weapon to the ground. He stepped into his new house he really didn't want to live here, if Gaara had givin him the chance he would have explained he wouldn't mind taking Hinata with him, as long as he could live in his old house, but his brother insisted, he had gone through alot of trouble to get them there own house, so he had to live here. Kankuro was thinking about running away completely, begging and pleading Temari to hide him there at night, eventually, he figured Gaara would get worried so when he came back he wouldn't get to mad at him, or try to kill him. Kankuro was seriously considering it, but there where still bugs to work out before it could be a real possibility. He spotted Hinata immediately, scooping rice onto a plat, which he assumed to be his. Kankuro had made a promise to himself, he was not going to call or consider this woman as his wife, she wasn't! well, technically she was, but paper's and documents didn't make someone you're life partner. No, Kankuro sure didn't think so. She was a girl, just some girl who would live with him, cook for him and clean his house, nothing more, nothing less... right?
Kankuro set down to the table, rice and ramen starring at him from the fancy placemat, he was a simple man, things like expensive furniture and fancy draperies didn't interest him in the slightest, it almost made him wonder if Hinata felt the same way about this over grown house, but he was to stubborn to ask. "Aren't you ganna eat too?" Kankuro couldn't contain his curiousity, plus she hadn't eaten with him yet-- it would be a good chance to atleast learn a little about her. He though he had the right to know at least a little about this woman that was now living in his house-- and of coarse, he was right. Hinata looked stunned at his question. Why did he care? She gave him an unsure look and nodded, yes.
Hinata sat awkwardly across from the boy, pushing her food from one side of the plate to the other, occasionally looking up in silence to stare shyly at Kankuro scarffing down the rice. He seemed to like it, for that, she was glad. For reasons she was unsure of, she wanted to please him, but maybe that was just her sense of duty as a wife. "It's good." The puppet master dryly spoke, moving a chopstick to his mouth. Hinata clasped her hands together and nodded happily "I'm so glad you like it!" He didn't answer to that, which made Hinata feel utterly stupid, her blush spread fast. "Do you like it here?" His question was so sudden Hinata couldn't help but panic a bit. "Yes... well, it's okay, I suppose, It's nice having someone to live with and, uh, well..." She trailed off so severely half of her sentence was lost. By now, her blush was spread all into her cheeks and her fingers where poking together. "I ment the house. Do you like living here in this house." Oh, kami, if she felt stupid before she was now wishing death. THE HOUSE! she thought Uhhh, I'm an idiot, of coarse he ment the house. "Yes, it's nice."
Kankuro now felt slightly guilty, though, he couldn't help but mentally admit he was a bit flattered. It made him feel... better, better that she atleast didn't mind living there with him. She was with him, wether he liked it or not, she was his spouse, and they where stuck. "It was good, thanks." The sand-nin stood up, placed his plate in the sink and walking away. Hinata now, sat alone at the table, staring at nothing. What just happened? The Konoha-nin didn't know what to make of Kankuro's behavior, everything about him made her head spin. She was completely overwhelmed, and all she wanted to do was run into someone's waiting arms and cry. She couldn't confide in her husband, she couldn't confide in any of the aqientence suna ninja, she wanted to run to Neji, cry to him, maybe he'd feel so bad for her he'd try and comfort her, possibly even hug her. All she wanted was someone to confide in, someone to trust, unfortunately, though, Kankuro couldn't be that person, and she knew that.
Hinata sighed heavily; she walked into the over-sized bedroom to see Kankuro sprawled across it. Knowing she wouldn't have the luxury of a bed that night, the dark haired princess walked to the dresser, pulling out her night cloths, and going to the living room. Hinata couldn't find a blanket, her night kimono was light and she knew she was facing a cold, possibly sleepless night. He'll leave me, right? He'll wait a month, decide he's unhappy, hates me, tell his brother and I'll be assigned a new husband. He'll forget about me, find a woman he loves and marry her, happily. They'll talk at dinner and sleep in the same bed, they'll love each other, they'll be everything we're not... everything we can never be. The Hyuuga layed awake Thinking about the delima she was having in her life right now. She hungered for something... knowing she could never have it.
"Oh, shit." Kankuro looked down at his wife, looking cold and uncomfortable, layed hap hazzardly across the couch. It looked like she had only recently gotten to sleep, and a sharp wave of guilt hit him hard. He had let her sleep on the couch, he felt he had failed at his duty as a husband... no, not husband, as a male. His mind roared, half of him wanted to apologize, the other wanted to walk away, take a piss, get breakfast and leave, but which urge was stronger? He sighed, defeatedly, he knew what he had to do, ego or not, it was his duty, as a husband and as a man. Kankuro bent down, scooping the half-dressed, barely sleeping woman into his arms. He looked at Hinata's face, she looked sad. A second wave of guilt hit him, he had been so... so mean to her. She must hate me. He thought, walking carefully to the bedroom, laying her across the bed. Because I've certainly acted like I hate her. Kankuro pulled the blanket to her neck and smiled. Hinata tossed a bit, opening her eyes to take in the sight of the suna nin standing in front of her, regret spilling through his eyes, the careful placement of her body in the bed. She looked up at him with question. "You can sleep in the bed with me tonight." he didn't give her time to say anything else; he simply turned around coldly and walked out.
