"What are you doing in the office on a Saturday Ms. Hyuuga?" Mabui, Mr. A's personal assistant asked from just outside Hinata's door, "I could have sworn you made a point about not coming in today."
"Couldn't be helped," Hinata closed a file and sat back in her chair, "Had to make sure the requests from the Mayor's Office got done before writing up statements for the three cases I have on Monday."
"Well I was just here to pick up a few documents for the boss. How about you let me give you a hand with those requests so you can focus on the cases?" Mabui was no slouch when it came to legal work; she had left as junior partner from the biggest law office in Little Kumo, which was the same firm Mr. A had worked at for 24 years.
"I won't turn down a pair of helping hands; I do try to have a social life outside of here."
"We all try." She adjusted her hair, took a seat, and got to work.
After nearly finishing work on her second case, Hinata asked without looking up, "Something I was always curious about, maybe you'd know. Why did Mr. A hire me after that Jashin case? I'd only been working at the prosecutor's office for a year after law school."
"Think you're too green to be Assistant DA, is that it?" Mabui flipped a page and kept writing.
"I'm not complaining about the work load, but the past two years I've found myself working a lot of weird cases against some rather cutthroat attorneys."
Setting down her pen, Mabui looked up. "I'll be honest with you Ms. Hyuuga, you were hired after the Jashin case as a peace offering to the Haitian community. Most of those targeted in those killings were Haitian and the lengths you went to in order to put the killer behind bars endeared you to the community."
"So it was a political move, made to score some points with the public?"
"Never think that anything Mr. A does is one-sided. He read the entire transcript of that case backwards and forwards, he knows the lengths you went to find the evidence that linked Hidan to the killings, the threats against your life, how you personally took down four muggers who attacked you outside the law office, and how you moved apartments three times and still managed to look your best every day in the courtroom. In one case you showed not only your skill in argument and discovery, but also your mettle to handle high pressure and high risk situations. But you don't need me to tell you all of that. The reason Mr. A picked you isn't because you solved the case, it's because you asked for it."
"I guess I only have myself to blame then."
"And that's what I like about you. Not even a thought that you only got this job because of your family connections."
"Having a senator for a father proved to give me more challenges than advantages; I took the hardships of life as a sign that I needed to step up if I wanted anything." Putting down her pencil, Hinata sat back and stretched in her chair. Walking around the desk, Mabui picked up the third case summary.
"Three cases on Monday? You're a machine Ms. Hyuuga."
"You can call me Hinata you know, you're 12 years my senior. I'd like to think you're just being professional courteous saying 'Miss' but it could also be seen as being diminutive."
"Will that be all for today then Hinata?" Mabui made the change without missing a beat in her professional and cool tone of voice.
"Thank you Mabui. You've been most helpful."
Truth be told handling those requests was a load off Hinata's mind, but not even the cases she had on her desk were enough to give her worry. It was only half past ten in the morning and she was almost done with what she came in to do, leaving her with the rest of the day off.
The phone call at fifteen past eleven was unexpected though.
"Konoha DA's Office, Hinata Hyuuga speaking."
"Hinata, this is Ino Yamanaka."
"Yes Ino, Shino told me to expect your call. I've got everything ready on my end."
"Good, I am sending you the fax with the information you requested. We'll be waiting for the next step as soon as you make a decision."
Sure enough as soon as the dial tone sounded after the hang up the fax machine along the back wall started printing up from a local number. Grabbing the first page Hinata began reading the report prepared in Shino's neat handwriting.
Zabuza Momochi, autopsy report rushed. Following up with mortuary and funeral home led to stonewalls. Body missing. The other inquiry, Haku Yuki, Zabuza's accomplice. Rushed through court, slick defense lawyer named Itachi Uchiha got him reduced sentence.
"Another damn Uchiha. I'm really getting sick of that family."
Haku serving 12 years at Maximum Security Prison in solitary confinement. 29 years old and has already escaped from six prisons. Internal Affair's Office still looking into Officer Kisame's background, nothing has turned up yet. Special detail is also keeping tabs on Chief Medical Inspector Sasori, will keep in touch on both of these leads if anything turns up. Working to get inmate information from the Prison Haku is at. Will follow up in person at Party later today if necessary. – Shino.
Hinata wasn't liking the situation. Potential corrupt cops, staged death, rushed court case, getting an escape artist placed into prison. Shredding the page, Hinata wrapped up her work and got into her Porche and drove where she was going to meet up with Sakura for lunch.
The radio as usual was not cooperating. As much as Hinata wished she didn't have Kiba's power to touch the dial once and summon whatever song was best for the situation. Part of her was tense, part was anxious, and part was worried for Sakura.
Turning a corner Hinata sighed and hit the steering wheel when she saw a three car accident in front of her had blocked off the street and sent water flying up from a broken fire hydrant. Thankfully a fire truck was already on site and a fireman seemed to be working on the water spillage while another was helping redirect traffic.
The blare of a saxophone on the radio announced the start of Men at Work's "Who can it be now?" Nodding her head as the traffic was finally cleared in front of her and given the signal to go, Hinata found herself staring down the fireman who finally stood up from under the car that hit the fire hydrant. Soaking wet, he removed his helmet and jacket. His wet blond hair was spiked and his muscled torso was visible, though from as wet as his pants were the fabric did little to hide his well-toned legs. Driving by at a crawl, Hinata blinked when she realized she was staring.
Driving on she managed to make it to the gym and parked in time to change into her blue work-out spandex and sweatbands. Sakura was waiting for her in the fitness room, wearing that grey and neon pink workout outfit of her..
"Nice to see you made it Hinata." Sakura smiled mischievously, "though you've got me curious. What has you sweating before our workout has even started?"
"What are you talking about?" Hinata pressed her hand against the side of her face and her neck; sure enough it was hot sweat.
"Your face is a little flushed too, anything wrong?"
The mirror in the wall confirmed Sakura's observation. Sure enough Hinata was looking a little red. Deciding to play it off, Hinata replied, "I guess I just worked a little hard this morning."
"Well I hope you have plenty of energy left tonight. You know what day it is and we are going out tonight."
"Whatever you say girlfriend." Sure enough Hinata had not forgotten Sakura's birthday, but what Sakura didn't know was Hinata was keeping Sakura out of the house while their friends organized a little dinner party back at the apartment before they went out later.
One session of high-impact aerobics later and both Hinata and Sakura were wiping themselves off with their towels and getting their wind back.
The rest of the afternoon passed from lunch, to a quick shopping trip, to meeting up with Ino, and wasting half an hour debating whether to play volleyball or just walk along the beach. Eventually they ran out of time and had to make their way back to the apartment.
"I'll be honest though Ino," Hinata talked while they waited for Sakura to park her car, "I'm getting real tired of these Uchiha bastards. I keep running into one at the office, and Shino tells me there's another one out there. Do a little digging on them."
"I'll do a little digging." Ino replied but gave Hinata an odd look, "But you watch your language. I never hear you swear about anything else so clearly these guys have gotten under your skin."
Sakura finally arrived and they took the elevator up to their fifth floor apartment. And sure enough it was looking great by the time they finally walked in. Confetti was flying as they opened the door with cheers of "Happy Birthday" being yelled out by everyone inside. Co-workers and friends all gave best wishes to Sakura who gave Hinata an angry glance for not telling her about the surprise party.
The cake needed candles blown out, presents were passed around and opened; Kiba was put in charge of the awkwardly large home camcorder. "Mine next." Hinata said as she handed Sakura her present.
"Is this what you've been hiding in the closet for two months?" Sakura laughed and started working on the ribbons. "No way!" As the last bits of paper were removed Sakura showed the box containing the Nintendo Entertainment System to everyone in attendance. Thanking Hinata with a big kiss on the cheek, Sakura gave her a hug as the doorbell rang.
Shino was closest to the door and opened it, revealing a pair of legs holding a large blue gift box hiding the upper torso and face. But there was something about the spiked hair sticking up from behind the box that felt familiar to Hinata.
"Happy Birthday Sakura." Placing the box on the kitchen counter next to him revealed his face, Sasuke Uchiha.
Clearing her throat, Sakura started, "Everyone, meet Sasuke." Hinata felt her eyebrow twitch.
"I'm the boyfriend." Scanning the room Sasuke's eyes finally met Hinata's. "Oh dear." With an awkward cough, Sasuke turned around and went right for the kitchen sink to drink out of the tap.
Putting a hand to Kiba to prevent him from walking into the kitchen, Shino shook his head and reached up to turn the camcorder off.
"Who wants cake then?" Hinata asked as she helped herself to a slice. This was going to be a long night and she figured if she didn't get any cake now there'd be no time for it later.