I am very sorry for the late chapter. School is killing me but here it is. Hopefully next won't take as long. Thanks everyone that has liked, followed and heck! so many thanks for everyone that has taken a bit of time to review! You guys are awesome. This fic has little by little become a clown of a fic, when I started writing it I was not planing on making it humorous, but it happened. So this chapter is kind of funny too, but next it should get more serious. Let's see, because I plan one thing and then another one happens.
And I still have to proofread more the chapter, but I was getting anxious on posting it, so here it is.
One more thing. I really really want to thank Voyna for this chapter, she really helped me with the guys dinner conversation, specially the Shino and Kiba bit, I wasn't planning on adding them, but she is freaking in love with the guys and why not, she loves this couple so yeah.
"Hanabi-chan, I told you you do not have to help me fold my clothes..." Because Hinata had promised her, before her last mission, to have a sister's get together, right after it. They were both usually rather busy, but these sisters loved each other dearly and liked to spend time together, whenever they had a chance.
Hanabi in particular regarded Hinata as a mother of sorts, and Hinata, in a certain way, treated her as her own child. Fact was that while Hanabi had loved her elder sister's attention while she had been a small girl, now as a young woman, she craved an intimacy that Hinata seemed to share only with her former sensei. It was like an invisible line had been laid out from the her younger days. That distinctive line that delineated mother/daughter relationships, and it had been very difficult for Hanabi to cross it over.
Hinata on the other hand, always felt sorry that Hanabi was never able to meet their own mother, and considered herself blessed to have spent, at least, a little time with her while she was still alive. But alas, as it was, she had been so active with missions lately, that her laundry had piled up to unnerving levels. It bothered her immensely, since Hinata had a clean freak streak, something that Hanabi always teased her about, but which she never acknowledged.
She had finished it at two in the morning, (the laundromat was thankfully available 24/7 for the building's tenants) and Hinata went to bed that night (morning), promising herself she would fold everything the next day. She could not, under any circumstances, leave it for another day. Hinata had also an obsessive compulsive streak.
"Nee-san I said it's ok... seriously Hinata, you have to be the virgin with the sexiest underwear in Konoha" teased Hanabi while playfully lifting a small lacy bit of undergarment. Hinata blushed, as expected, and for different reasons. She cleared her voice and laughed nervously. "What are you saying Hanabi-chan...?"
"No really," and she lifted the bright purple lace thong once again.
"Kunoichi Secret? Look at this... it is like your subconscious is telling you, you need a man in your bed."
"Hanabi-chan!" Hinata was scandalized. "It's just that... regular ones always give me wedgies..." Hinata looked down and her blush deepened.
Hanabi scoffed, "you say it as if it is a problem... Look, nee-san don't be embarrassed, I'm wearing a bombshell bra," and Hanabi lifted her blouse, displaying a blood red brassiere embroidered with black lace. That explained something. Hinata had thought that her sister's bosom had conspicuously grown bigger all of a sudden.
"But Hanabi-chan, you don't need to wear that to be pretty" and gave her a gentle smile. Hanabi stared at her unimpressed.
"So says the girl with the triple D cup..." Hinata sighed, she would rather have Hanabi's cup size anyday, "But anyhow nees-an," and the younger woman spoke gravelly, placing a hand on her elder sister's shoulder, "if you were not a Hyuga, or a kunoichi, or the fact that father would end up having an early death, you could probably make a killing by posing for PlayShinobi."
"Hanabi-chan!" and Hanabi laughed. Her sister was such a prude.
"Really nee-san... you have the perfect hourglass figure... so jealous..." she murmured, but it was all well intentioned. "The only thing I have bigger than you is my butt, but even then yours is great. And Konohamaru has gotten the bad habit of slapping it every time he has a chance... I'll kick him in the balls one of these days... " she muttered pensively. Hinata blushed, once again, at her sister's candid talk of her boyfriend.
Hanabi then grinned. "You know, we could even feature that stupid Anaconda video... My Anconda don't" she sang "my Anaconda don't, want none, unless you've got some buns, hun!" and shook her hips (and butt). Hinata stared at her unsure of what she was singing about, but figured it could not have been anything good.
Hanabi sat down once again, dropping her shoulders in defeat. Hinata was impossible, "nee-san you are not fun" she pouted and Hinata just patted her head.
They continued like that for a while and finally Hanabi broke the silence. "I heard you got another marriage proposal nee-san..."
"Ah," Hinata assented lamely and uninterested.
"Otosan really wants you to get married, but I would hate to see you miserable. Are you really not seeing anyone?" because Hanabi had yet to ever see her sister date anyone. Ever. And she knew Hinata was popular. She might act all ignorant, but every time they went out, she would always see men stare appreciatively at her.
"No Hanabi-chan... I don't have time for that."
"So you have been asked out. Right?"
"No, I haven't."
"Nee-san don't lie to me."
"It does not matter Hanabi, if I have been asked out or not. I'm not interested at the moment in getting involved... with anyone."
"Mhh," Hanabi reflected for a moment, "you know who is back in the village?" and Hinata tensed, "Uchiha Sasuke" and she whispered, as if it was some secret.
"Nee-san, he is sooo hot. I saw him the other day. I heard he is single, I bet if he sees you he will want to..."
"Hanabi-chan I did see him a couple of days ago. Please, let's talk about something else. Neh?" Hinata was gentle with her request, yet Hanabi noticed an edge on her voice, and thought it strange. Hanabi could be silly sometimes, but she was analytical in nature. She stored that bit for later rumination, and asked Hinata how did her last mission go.
-o-
Kurenai was a very active woman those days. Life was hectic for a single mom, but she did not complain. Even though her daughter did not enjoy the attentions grandparents usually bestow on their grandchildren, the Sarutobi clan was still big enough so that Mirai never lacked love from uncles and cousins. Konohamaru specially came to see her every week, sometimes accompanied by Hanabi. Biwako and Hiruzen had produced ten off-springs during their marriage, seven sons and three daughters. Three of which died in the line of duty.
But it was often the joke, of how often did the Third and his wife 'got it on', having ten children and all... Biwako, of course, never saw the humor in it during her lifetime. As a no-nonsense kind of woman, she did not appreciate the teasing. Hiruzen on the other hand would often smirk and wiggle his eyebrows. Poor old pervert man, the Third. He had lived the death of his wife and two children. No one ever said the life of a shinobi was easy.
Kurenai missed dearly the Third and of course, Asuma. Asuma had been buried next to the Third, who had been placed next to his wife. She would often take Mirai to the Konoha cementery and together clean the three graves, to teach her filial piety. And Kurenai would tell her daughter stories of her father and grandfather courage and strength. Kurenai still cried at night sometimes, but she thanked Kami-sama everyday for her beautiful baby. Kurenai felt blessed to have Mirai, she was her one chance at life.
Mirai loved her older cousin Konohamaru. He always brought her sweets and would take her out to eat icecream quite often. However, it was undoubtedly Hinata the one she preferred the most. Hinata's sweet demeanor earned her a warm place in the little girl's heart, a love only overshadowed by Mirai's love to her mother.
Mirai would sometimes stay with Hinata, when Kurenai had to leave on some mission outside the village, which seldom ever happened. She would also often pick up Mirai from the Academy and take her with her grocery shopping, which usually followed by Hinata making her dinner. Mirai preferred Hinata's cooking over her mom's, but that was of course a secret between the two. Kurenai knew though, and she did not mind. Asuma never complained, but she knew he often did it so to not incommode her.
Now Mirai had not seen Hinata for almost a month and had missed them dearly. And so that Wednesday afternoon, the young kunoichi showed up at her door.
Kurenai knew instantly something was wrong. If there was someone in the village that knew Hinata personally and intimately, that was Kurenai. The older woman had been the only person in the village Hinata confessed to what happened. But she never revealed the name of the perpetrator.
It did not happen right away. Hinata did so some time after she gave birth, and Kurenai who was at first surprised and ditraught for her student's sake did not honestly know what to do or what to say, except let her lean on her thighs and let her cry her sorrows away. Hinata had not wanted to trouble her sensei with her problems. Kurenai had enough with a newborn baby.
She never pushed her or goaded to disclose the identity, rather she respected her student's wish for anonymity. Which was why Kurenai understood Hinata's refusal to get involved romantically, while many others found it strange, including Hinata's father.
Kurenai thought often about it. Hinata was a strong kunoichi, there was no doubt about that. No many people could go against a Hyuga and come out unscathed. Therefore, one thing she deduced, was that the man most have been very strong. She also thought that he most probably was from some other village, and that Hinata did not want for her clan to start some confrontation over it. Because if there was one thing she knew for sure, was that Hiashi would raise hell if he ever found out some bastard dared dishonor his daughter in such a way.
In-house rape occurred often enough, but such situations often involved lots alcohol and scanty clothes. Not that being dressed like a harlot should ever give the right to any man to take advantage of it. Inter village rape, on the other hand, most often than not ended with a dead victim. A captured kunoichi with which some shinobis could take the edge off, and then swiftly terminate. That was why teams were usually never made only with females.
But she could not remember ever seeing Hinata wounded in any way. She only recalled Hinata being bruised after the war, completely chakra drained, but not heavily injured. And Hinata did say it had happened before the war. Many things were very confusing about Hinata's story, but today those details were of no consequence. What really mattered was, and she knew, that Hinata still suffered. Kurenai's heart broke one day Hinata confided that Naruto had asked her out and she refused. Kurenai knew just then, just how much pain her sweet student still harbored in her heart.
"I am so sorry about the mess Hinata, today was cleaning day." Hinata smiled gently and shook her hand. "No matter sensei, let me help you, I just came to inconvenience you."
Hinata grabbed a rag and started to wipe a table, but Kurenai took her by the arm and sat her in the couch.
"Wait, lets talk for a bit, what kind of hostess would I be if I have my guest come and clean my own house." Hinata helped Kurenai a great deal in the house while she was pregnant and even after the birth of Mirai, so it was not uncommon for her to come and just do the dishes, clean the living room or simply cook some dinner. That was the kind of person Hinata was. But Kurenai had not seen her in almost a month, it was not be so. "Konohamaru came. He said he got a bit crazy during the festival, did you enjoy it?" Hinata blushed and looked aside. Ohhh? "Did something happen?" Hinata blushed harder and looked to the other side.
"Ehh... ano... Kurenai-sensei, something crazy happened..." and thanks to her good hearing was Kurenai able to hear her last words. She remembered Hinata as a young thing, how she would often get like that around Naruto, but never with her. 'Something' must have definitely happened.
Kurenai, waited. For a while. Hinata put some hair behind her ear. Rubbed her thighs. Looked one side, then the other. And then finally started that strange finger poking from her youth days. Kurenai held her hand, stopping her and Hinata's shoulders sank.
"I... kissed a man... at the festival." Ohh so it was 'that' kind of something.
"And how did that happen dear? Did... you like it?" Hinata hid her face in her hands. She did like it.
Hinata then filled herself with some courage and related an abbreviated tale of the incident.
"... and then he kissed me while the fireworks were going off...Then I ran away..." Hinata looked then at Kurenai sensei.
"But sensei, that is not the worst of it." Kurenai was not sure why would that have been bad in the first place, but did not comment. Kurenai was really amused at this point. She could have never imagined the words that came after that.
"...it was him." Kurenai blinked a few times. Him?
"Him as in...?"
Hinata just stared at her with a depondent countenance, "Him sensei."
"Him."
"Yes. Him."
"Him... Konohamaru?"
"NO!, him, the guy who..."
"The guy who...raped you Hinata?" and Kurenai's voice went high pitched and she lost all sense of amusement, only to replace it with dread.
"YES! I mean, yes..."
"Hinata dear, how did that happen?" Kurenai calmed herself down. She knew for a fact, that there most have been some very logical explanation for this. Because Hinata was not, and she had never been a senseless woman, courageous and daring sometimes, but never a fool.
"I did not know it was him sensei... I also think he did not know who I was... He looked so different, older and he went by another name... And he was so gentle... And I found him here..."
Older? Hinata found him in the village? This did not make any sense.
"Sweety, was he young like you when 'it' happened?"
"... hai..."
"...is he from Konoha?"
"... hai... no, I mean yes... sometimes... I don't know... he is never here..." Kurenai's eyes widened in realization. She only knew of one known person who had recently arrived in the village. And that was the last Uchiha.
"Dear, are we talking about Uchiha Sasuke?" cut Kurenai, straight to the point.
"... hai..."
-o-
That had been the most awkward talk she had ever had with Kurenai-sensei. Hinata decided after she left the apartment with Mirai in tow. It was embarrassing, but she had to let it out. She breathed out. It had been very relieving being able to talk about it. Now sensei knew who it was, something that she had not planned on ever telling anyone. But she knew she could trust Kurenai with her secret. Perhaps now she even understood the reasons behind her not revealing the incident.
If there was something she could tell, it was that Sasuke was a changed man. It did not make her automatically like him, and she definitely wanted to keep a healthy distance away from him. But at least now she knew for sure, that incident was not a daily occurrence in his life. And what he did to her... a mistake.
"What do you want me to make today Mirai-chan?" asked Hinata when they reached the open market.
"Strawberry daifuku!" screamed in delight the child. She really liked strawberries.
"Ok, but only after you eat dinner... Let's see I already have shiratamako to make the mochi... I just need the strawberries, buy some beans for the anko... Let us also make mochi icecream!" Hinata always got excited with mochi icecream. The little girl squealed with enthusiasm once again "We just need to buy some gelato and fruit jelly...And let us also make some tomato salad, they look very good today."
Hinata went to grab a tomato on the stall, not paying much attention to her surroundings. That was until she felt a stare on her person. A tall man was standing next to her, also looking at the red fruits. She looked to the side and up. And there he was. Again. Tomato in hand, and his eyes, even though his head was pointed forward, they were shifted sideways, placed on her person. Hinata wanted earth to swallow her up. Why did she keep seeing him everywhere?
The tomato in her hand fell down clumsily, and he grabbed it mid-air. "I don't think the stall lady would appreciate you dropping her produce." He clarified and placed the tomato back on her hand.
"Oh... gomenasai" she bowed politely to both, the lady and him and left in a hurry grabbing quickly Mirai's hand.
"But I thought you were going to make a tomato salad?... I like tomato salad" she pouted, and said this loud enough for the Uchiha to hear it. Children.
"That's right honey, gomene, gomene." And Hinata came back stiff and ill at ease, grabbed a few tomatoes, barely checking them and paid for them.
Sasuke just stood there, feeling awkward as well, if not more, but it wasn't as bad as when he saw the small girl next to Hinata. His eyes widened in horror.
Mirai pulled Hinata's sleeve as she was paying for the fruit. The young woman, understanding she wanted to say something in the low, lowered her head and Mirai whispered in her ear. "He is so cute nee-chan? Is he your friend?"
Hinata whimpered, "No honey...later ok" she whispered back. Uchiha and his good looks, it was starting to get unnerving. First Hanabi and now Mirai too?
Hinata left, almost dragging Mirai behind her, while Sasuke just stood there, frozen like a stone. He cleared his head, placed the tomato he had been looking at back with the others and ran after them.
"Hyuga!" He yelled dodging the crowd. Hinata did not look back, even though Mirai did so, continually and whispered loudly "Hinata-neechan, I think he likes you..." Hinata hurried her pace.
"No honey he doesn't..."
"But he is calling you..."
"Don't look back, just keep walking." But Sasuke just showed up suddenly in front of her, startling her, making her take a step back.
"Hyuga I think we need to talk..."
"No we don't..." and Mirai looked amusedly back and forth, without understanding much of what was going on, but really really sure the guy liked her nee-chan. Girls had a sixth sense for that kind of stuff.
"Ehh... I think we do..." Sasuke was serious and Hinata was starting to freak out.
"Wharaaap!" appeared Kiba out of nowhere.
"Dude, I heard you were back, what's up? Hinata, Mirai-chan!" Kiba grinned wolfishly.
"Kiba jii-san!" squealed happily the young girl.
"Jii-san? What the hell Mirai?"
"Kiba language... If you want to be called nii-chan, cut your beard."
"But Hinata, I look hot like this. Chicks dig it..." Hinata sighed, but was relieved. At least having someone else there removed some of the discomforting presence.
"Hey, Naruto told me you were back," Sasuke wanted to strangle him all of a sudden. They became kind of chummy after an embarrassing drunken night the last time he came to Konoha, but still.
"Look, both of you, on Friday, in the Korean BBQ all you can eat on the 7th Street, at 1900. Everyone is getting together. Hinata, you can't get out of it, cancel whatever, last time you left without telling no one. You have to be in this one, it will be a blast!"
"Ok ok Kiba, but I have to go now. Let's go Mirai."
"Bye bye Kiba jii-san! Bye binan-niichan!"
"Uhh? You get to be called binan and I get called jii-san... so not fair..." But Sasuke was barely paying attention and just looking at Hinata swiftly leave with the young girl that... could be his daughter."
"Is that..."
"Yeah, that's her daughter man, really sad situation." Tsked Kiba. Him and Sasuke were obviously not on the same page.
-o-
The situation was worst than what he first envisioned. He thought while placing his grocery on the kitchen counter. He... took advantage of her 7 years ago, and that girl was around that age. She had black hair and red eyes? Maybe a strange gene expression. It did not matter. He was screwed. There was no way solving this. And Hinata obviously did not want to talk to him. I mean why would she? But damn it, he really needed to.
He sat on the kitchen table, and dropped his head on his arms. He really did not know what to do now.
-o-
"Kampai!" chorused the people at the big table in the back of the Korean BBQ restaurant. It was just the second round of sake being served and Sasuke wanted to leave already. He drank the cup in one shot and felt then his rib being elbowed from the fifth time that night.
"Chouji-kuuun... here ahhh" and Karui hand fed her husband a piece of meat... while sitting on his lap... right next to Sasuke. She was the one that kept elbowing him. Accidentally of course.
Apparently there was some kind of contest of 'who is the sexiest wife' between Ino and her, because she was doing the same thing with Sai, who incidentally was sitting on his other side. To say Sasuke felt awkward sitting in between chummy couples was an understatement. And seriously, the only reason he kept there was the dark haired beauty sitting on the other side of the table, in a corner next to Kiba. He was jealous.
He noticed Hinata did not talk much, just kept to herself and just listened the others talk. She of course, avoided looking anywhere near him, much to his annoyance. But what did he really expect. At least he had the chance to really observe her interact with others. He barely remembered her from the Academy days, just that she was really quiet and blushed easily. At least on that regard that hadn't changed much. She ate slowly, and very elegantly and he was a sucker for women with elegant mannerism and good table etiquette. It always reminded him of his mother.
"You can move closer to me, Sasuke-kun. I don't mind." Sasuke minded, a lot. Ino kept feeding Sai pieces too big, and he complained. Karui was more of a pro at that.
"Ino... I can't chew that... it's too big," complained the pale guy.
"Well, you need some meat on your bones," declared Ino.
"But Ino, you said last night you loved my meat..." Sai was confused and everyone stopped and turned to see them. Chouji mid-chew, and Sasuke just stared at the table, unnerved.
"Baka!" and Ino smacked Sai in the head "I meant your penis!" Everyone sweat-dropped and Hinata turned crimson.
"Ino, what else where we talking about?" And then they proceeded to hotly make out.
"Ewww!" Yowled Naruto theatrically, but Sai and Ino ignored him and continued their 'session'. Sasuke at this point was so uncomfortable, he just grabbed the sake bottle and chugged it.
"Hinata-chan," whined Kiba, "I'm glad you came, you never have time for us anymore... Hey Shino, when did she change so much. You are worst than Shino nowadays Hinata, I never see you anymore."
"Kiba, Hinata-chan has always been like that man..." pointed out Naruto from the other corner.
"No, she is so anal these days" added Kiba.
"Kiba-kun..." protested Hinata weakly.
"Mmh, it happened after the war, I think she has PTSD, but she does not want treatment. It is good, I have told her. Why? Because I took it myself."
"Shut up Shino, you just got pussy from the therapist." Shino blushed and glared at Kiba mortified. Not that Kiba could tell, since he wore those glasses. Shino hated it when Kiba talked his business.
"And I heard you got your third proposal too? Hinata is so popular these days..." added Kiba playfully. "It's ok Hinata, we still love you. I'd marry you myself, but I'm scared of Hiashi mowing down my balls. He only looks for the cream top. Us little mortals are not good enough for his sweet dear daughter. Maybe when she grows old and wrinkled..."
"Hinata will never be that desperate Kiba. I'm sure she will be married with kids by the time you decide to finally settle down with a woman."
"Shino... you are such a party pooper."
"I am just stating an intelligent guess." Kiba just glared at him.
"Hinata, didn't you want to become a nun?" remarked Ino while slapping Sai's hand away at the same time, a hand that had been surreptitiously trying to reach underneath her skirt.
"Fuck off Yamanaka" enunciated Kiba eloquently.
"I think that was your assumption Ino... and besides Hinata is too hot to be a nun." Ino glared at his husband, but he acted unwittingly. Ino rolled her eyes. Sai was really a weirdo. But he was a weirdo she loved... and a beast in bed. Not at first though. The first time they had sex it sucked, and she, who did not know much to begin with had to pretty much teach him everything. Sai was very appreciative of the matter.
"Yeah Sasuke I heard you got a lot of pussy out there, was it any good?" asked then Sai with genuine interest.
"What the hell man, after all that girl chasing after your ass you became a man-whore?"
"Kiba, you are the least appropriate to judge. Why? You are a man-whore yourself."
"Shut up Shino!"
"And why do you want to know Sai? You have been very friendly this evening..." remarked Ino suspiciously. Not that she should have. Sai had no tact, but he was very observant and honest. The problem laid in that he always ended up disclosing his honest observations, no matter how inappropriate or embarrassing they were.
"I read in this book, that..."
"Oh shut up," and Ino kissed him roughly and Sai finally managed to sneak his hand inside her skirt.
"You two get a room!" yelled Naruto after he finished chewing a piece of pork.
Not too long after that. Sai and Ino left, stating they had stuff to do. Everyone sweat dropped. But Sasuke was relieved. The couple leaving also meant that the corner of the table was left empty, allowing him the chance to sit in front of the Hyuga.
She ignored him pointedly and Sasuke could not be so conspicuous as to stare at her openly. Naruto smiled to himself from the other side. Sasuke was too obvious in his interest, he knew him too well.
She looked downcast, moved her pieces of meat here and there without tasting any. He had only seen her eat a few. Sasuke felt his chest constrict.
She was truly beautiful. Her hair was tied in a neat bun and she was wearing the same head piece she had on at the festival. Her autumn yukata was colored in an elegant mix of midnight blue, white and purple. There was barely any make up adorning her face, a bit of blush to accentuate her cheek bones and light pink shade of lip rouge on her lips. He could just imagine her at the hand of some prominent figure, like a perfect trophy wife and the thought of it made him fist a hand in anger. No, he would not accept that. Even less when they had a child together, no matter the circumstances under which it happened. There must be something he could do. Surely a woman raising a child alone must be hard, maybe if he follows that logic he can convince her to...
But his thought process was stopped when he saw her raise from the pillow she was sitting at. She kissed the dog-man and the bug-man and bowed politely to everyone.
"Hinata-chan, why are you leaving so early?" complained Naruto.
"Gomenasai, Naruto-kun. I have to get up early tomorrow."
"But it is not even nine yet?" continued the blond. Hinata just smiled politely, without really replying and left.
Sasuke, half desperate, got up a moment after, excusing himself to the restroom, and ran after her.
"Hyuga!" Hinata stopped this time, but did not turn around.
"Is there something you needed Uchiha-san?" asked Hinata when he stood in front of her. Sasuke did not know where to start, but he wasn't one to beat around the bush, so he just went straight to the point.
"I need to know." He stopped to breathe in, "Is that girl... is she ours?" Hinata's eyes widened in horror understanding the young man's misunderstanding. She opened her mouth, about to say something when...
"Sasuke-kun!" At any other time, Sasuke would have been glad to see Sakura, specially since he had not seen her in so long. But at that exact moment, the only thing he wanted was to make the pink haired kunoichi disappear, ipso-facto. He scratched his head, cursing inwardly.
"Sakura." Sakura looked at them both curiously, wondering why were they together but ultimately ignored it, as one does to things that sometimes one does not want to think about.
"Sakura-san, good evening." Hinata bowed and then left.
"Sasuke-kun, Naruto had told me you were back. Why had you not come to visit me ah? I have really missed you... I had been so busy at the hospital, leaving too late everyday... but I'm so glad to see you back." Sakura blushed and Sasuke sighed inwardly remembering the main reason why he suddenly left the last time he came to Konoha.
-o-
At the end he ended up getting drunk with Kiba and Naruto. He was really pathetic.
Sakura, poor Sakura. He tried, he really tried to make things work out with her. But he couldn't.
He almost had sex with her, the last time he was in Konoha, and stopped himself just in time. How could he sleep with Sakura, when the one woman he could not stop thinking about was her friend and comrade? It was not fair, for any of them, and Sasuke had learned not to be so egoistical in life. But Sakura did not understand. She couldn't, she did not know the whole story. She thought he was some dark hero that needed saving. And she thought that with perseverance, he would come to love her, which he never did.
Sakura, did not understand that some things in life cannot be achieved with perseverance. Feelings cannot be forced upon a person, it has to grow naturally. And Sasuke, to the pink kunoichi's misfortune, had none of the romantic kind for his friend. It was just not meant to be.
"Kiba" drawled Sasuke drunkenly "is that little girl really Hinata's?"
"Ahhh? dude, you drunk?" he laughed, "that is Kurenai's daughter" replied Kiba equally as drunk, if no worse. At least their words were still coherent.
"Kiba..."
"mhh"
"I'm gonna kill you man..."
"mhh..."
And they all ended up sprawled in Naruto's apartment floor.
-o-
"So... no blow job today?" stated Sasuke conversationally.
Kakashi sighed affectedly, "No, no blow job today" replied the Hokage creasing his eyes in a pleasant smile.
"You must be feeling so lonely" added Sasuke with affected sorrow himself.
"I am," and this time Kakshi let out a real sigh. "Sasuke is it just me, or you have actually developed a sense of humor now?" Sasuke rolled his eyes and went straight to the matter.
"Naruto said you wanted to talk to me Kakashi, what is it? As far as I know I have behaved properly."
"Now Sasuke, what makes you think I called you here just to scold you ah?" Sasuke looked bored.
"Alright, since you don't like this old sensei of yours anymore..." Sasuke knew Kakshi was just being theatrical, "Naruto said you might be staying here for a while... I was wondering if you might want to take on a mission... I will even give you Jounin pay."
"Did Naruto put you up to this? Because if he did I..."
"So what if he did Sasuke, don't be so defensive. Naruto cares about you. I do too, believe it or not. Look this is just an escort mission of an ambassador. But we need a strong shinobi, since it will involve the meeting of all the villages. You will even be leaving Konoha for a while, for a place I might add, you would probably not even had the chance to go on your own. You are considered persona non-grata over there. It is a good opportunity for you and see that Hidden Village."
"Am I to assume we are talking about Kumo?"
"You assume right."
"And do you really think that is a good idea? Because I went out to eat with the guys not too long ago and that Karui girl was kind of... vicious. So I'm assuming she still holds a grudge. And by the way how in the world did Choji end up with that?" It just did not make any sense to Sasuke.
"Beats me. But if you really want to know the whole of it, I'm sure Ino would be more than delighted to enlighten you" he teased.
Sasuke shook his head, he really did not care. Good for them, he guessed.
"Are you trying to pull some political maneuver here? Because I don't think that would be wise," continued Sasuke.
"Sasuke, stop assuming so much. I am trying to pull something but it has nothing to do with you. And no, I will not discuss it with you. Tell me do you want to do it? Yes or no?"
Sasuke looked aside for a moment, thinking. Only a couple of weeks here in Konoha and it was starting to feel stuffy already. He did not necessarily need the money. Sure the Uchihas had not been rich or anything like that. They were ninjas not merchants or craftmans. But when you combine an entire clan's assets under one account... Sasuke generally did not spend much, but nonetheless money does not grow on trees. He made up his mind.
"Alright, who am I escorting?"
"Oh, she should be here soon. I scheduled half an hour later because I knew you would be... difficult. But she is always early." Kakashi smiled pleasantly again. Sasuke snorted and someone knocked politely on the door. Three knocks, as it was custom.
"Ah there she is. Come in!" Kakashi beckoned loudly.
The door opened. Sasuke wheeled his head around to see the person, and then turned back again stiffly. He was going to strangle whoever was behind this, and everything indicated that person to be Naruto.
Hinata was at the door.
The daifuku is made with fruit on the inside wrapped in anko (sweet red bean) and mochi paste, that is why Hinata offers to make ice-cream mochi too, heck, I get excited with ice-cream mochi too!
