Her smile froze, and at the moment she really did look like a doll.
A pink tint rose to her cheeks and her smile slowly faded.
Sasuke suppressed a sigh.
"Well?"
"No!" She squealed.
Sasuke scowled and the Hyuuga flinched.
But no matter how persistent he was, and no matter how bold she was getting she can never, EVER step foot in the Uchiha residence.
She could sense only trouble and was hoping that the Uchiha was joking;
because if he was serious, he wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Why not?"
God, he is serious!
"Sasuke! No! " Her voice came out shakily.
She wasn't going to his – Itachi's! – house!
Knowing what a bad impression she left on the family she couldn't imagine the treatment she would get there.
Sasuke nodded, and Hinata shook her head.
The two of them battled heads for awhile before Sasuke got tired and simply grabbed her wrists and dragged her with him.
"S-Sasuke!"
Hinata dug her toes in to the ground trying to pull away, but the Uchiha was adamant.
"Sasuke, please!"
Finally he stopped, but didn't let go of her wrist.
He knows he should just let her go, probably go on with the day as they usually would but...
She went to Kiba's house for dinner.
That was enough motivation for him to forcibly push her through his house door.
He wasn't going to lose to Kiba.
He might have won in the fishing department but he is definitely going to make sure Hinata enjoys her dinner at his house more than at Kiba's!
Besides, she shouldn't have anything to worry about; Fugaku wasn't going to be home for dinner anyways.
He was busy with some official crap at the office (finally!) and he'd be a dimwit for letting this opportunity pass!
But at the same time he was a dimwit for wanting to drag her to dinner with him, but he dismissed that thought.
"Why?" He asked simply as he looked at her dead in the eye.
The Hyuuga gulped.
"Is it because of Itachi?"
At this, her eyes widened and she felt like her heart had stopped.
Itachi-kun?
"Itachi-kun is... back?" She stared at Sasuke sceptically.
Sasuke merely raised a brow.
Hinata bit her lip and averted her eyes.
"When did he – " Before she could finish he interrupted.
"My mother is a great cook."
Hinata sighed.
"Sasuke that's not the – "
"My father won't be home."
"That still won't – "
"She always cooks extra."
"Yes but that – "
"I want you to come."
"But – "
"I want you to come."
Hinata gave him a pleading look. Out of all the snitches, she really didn't want to lose in this one.
She really, could NOT just enter the Uchiha compound and have dinner in the clan head's house!
Even having her curiosity piqued by a homely Itachi, she couldn't do it.
"You're coming."
"Sasuke," She breathed, feeling a little breathless trying to fight against the Uchiha.
"You aren't thinking of... what might... the consequences..."
"You said you wanted to make our friendship work. But I see that you're not that determined."
Hinata's face paled.
He's... using the friendship card?
Sly fiend!
"Sasuke, can't we be friends without... me going to your house?"
Sasuke slowly slid his hands off of her wrist and folded his arms; his posture radiating with his usual smug-ness.
"No."
"Why?" Hinata whined, resisting the urge to stomp her feet like a little kid.
"Because, friendship requires understanding. If you truly want to understand me, then stop acting like such a baby. If you don't then you can keep your meaningless friendship to yourself." He huffed.
"Sasuke..."
She put up a fight, but she was never a match for Uchiha Sasuke.
"You are... unfair."
A triumphant smirk appeared on his lips and somehow that brought shivers to her spine.
At least knowing that the Uchiha elder will be absent gave her a little assurance that nothing might get out of hand.
"He's always like this..." Mikoto grumbled and shook her head.
"Tsk, tsk." Itachi smirked.
It wasn't like he wanted to pour oil into the fire or anything, it's just that things regarding his brother was always amusing.
"Not to worry mother, I am sure Sasuke wouldn't last the day without having any of your delicious dinners." Itachi rolled his eyes.
"Hmph, that is if he doesn't start eating out!"
For some reason, Itachi felt that comment was sort of directed to him as well.
He ignored the feeling and went back to reading his scrolls, wondering when his mother would be done with the stew.
He was honestly eager to taste her cabbage stew.
But he knew he wouldn't be able to until his darling brother came home.
What could he be doing out so late?
Very soon, he will have an answer to that question.
Hinata was on the verge of crying.
Ever since they entered the Uchiha compound, people have been staring and whispering it was just uncomfortable!
Plus, she seemed to be quite unpopular with the Uchiha females.
The reason why, she did not know.
Now, they were right in front of their door, and she froze.
Her fingers fiddling and her feet tapping restlessly.
Sasuke wanted to roll his eyes.
Why was she so nervous? It's just his house!
Guys... always bring girls they kiss back home right?
No, no, he was pretending that didn't happen.
He sighed and grabbed her arm, hearing a muffled squeak after.
"Are you going to come or do I have to kick you in?"
Hinata shook her head, and Sasuke raised a brow.
"I-I mean, I'll... come."
It wasn't... all because of... the fact that... this was his house...
It was... well... Itachi was here.
He was home.
Would he be there?
On the couch?
In his room?
Would he want to see her?
She couldn't. She couldn't do it.
She turned to Sasuke, eyes flashing with deep emotion.
Sasuke groaned and grabbed her arm once again, he knew exactly what she was going to say next, so instead of listening to her crap...
"Tadaima." Sasuke simply opened the door.
There. As simple as that.
Hinata couldn't even think of struggling; she was practically stunned!
How could Sasuke do this to her?
Her cheeks were flushed, her hair was slightly messy and her lips were red from all the biting.
From the door way she couldn't see much; just the entry way to the kitchen and a part of the living room table.
She couldn't move, but Sasuke moved her as he walked in.
He discarded his slippers and entered the living room first, his hand extended backwards holding on to the Hyuuga mouse.
Hinata was just glad there was no sight of,
"Sasuke." Itachi greeted.
God, please take me away from here!
"Nii-san." Sasuke grunted and tugged Hinata's arm, causing her to stumble to his side,
into Itachi's line of sight.
Neither of them missed the slight widening of Itachi's eyes.
The man's lips parted, but before he could pin his thoughts down in to words, out came Mikoto.
"Sasuke-Chan!"
Hinata didn't even hear the female voice at her right.
Her eyes were glued to Itachi and her ears were plugged.
Her lips were parted as well, eyes blinking, face getting redder by the second.
"I swear you really – "
A pause.
Hinata and Itachi's eyes were locked. Neither of them turned to the figure by the kitchen entryway.
Hinata broke out of her 'trance' as Sasuke nudged her gently.
She blinked rapidly, and shook her head, turning to face Sasuke.
She caught another figure right behind his.
"Mom, my friend; Hinata. She was hungry and complaining so I brought her here."
Hinata's head immediately shot up to face him.
What?!
Sasuke's face remained impassive and uncaring and that made more heat rise to her face.
Mostly out of anger.
She gasped a little as she realized she was in the presence of Itachi, and Sasuke's mother.
She bowed almost instantly letting her hair drape her face as she kept her eyes on the carpeted floor.
She flinched as she heard the clang of metal, and rose to see what had happened.
Just as she stood up straight, she was caught in a bear-like embrace.
She blushed furiously, as the jet black hair covered her face.
It was very much familiar... but it wasn't who she thought it was.
It was his mother.
And she was sobbing on her shoulder.
Oh my.
Sasuke was blinking in their direction and Itachi was glazing.
Hinata was experiencing a mixture of emotions.
One of the evident ones was fear.
Fear that she had done something wrong, but if she did... it would be weird for her to embrace her for doing something wrong.
After a few awkward hugging moments, Mikoto pulled away and held her by the shoulders.
Her eyes still wet with tears, staring into Hinata's face with disbelief.
Surprising, on her red lips a smile formed.
"I am sorry." She laughed as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
The two brothers now faced each other, both exchanging quizzical looks.
"N-No, it's quite alright." Hinata said softly.
"It's just..." Mikoto sniffed.
"You are... Hikari's daughter are you not?"
"Eh?" Hinata breathed, thinking her ears had deceived her.
Mikoto kept smiling warmly at her and keeping eye contact.
Feeling as though she had choked on her words, Hinata simply nodded.
"I knew it..." Mikoto's smiled wider.
"You are a spitting image of her!" Her hands went around to cupping the heiress's face.
Hinata would be lying if she said she was comfortable with the whole situation... but she was also quite stunned that Mikoto knew her mother.
Hinata still couldn't muster out the courage to say something to her, instead she just replied with a warm smile.
"Such a beautiful face," Mikoto ran her thumbs across the girl's cheeks as though she were admiring her.
Itachi knew the gleam in his mother's eyes all too well. She WAS admiring Hinata!
That lunatic of a mother!
Though if he had the chance he would do the same...
Hinata's blush deepened at the compliment.
"You truly are the embodiment of a perfect, radiant heiress."
"T-Thank you." Hinata whispered.
For awhile she wondered how she had figured out she was the heiress, she thought perhaps she knew because she had known her mother.
She was very curious about their relationship but kept silent.
"Uh..." Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
That was his mother's cue to explain the weird scenario he had just witnessed.
Instead of doing so, his overactive mother now grabbed hold of Hinata's hands, pulling them closer to her.
Hinata held back a squeak.
"Oh, for some reason I am so very excited to have you here! You are most welcome to our humble abode, er..."
Hinata blinked.
"... Oh! Uh, I – Hinata. M-My name is Hinata... Oba-Chan."
Mikoto let out a fan girl squeal. Itachi shivered. Sasuke scowled.
"She just called me Oba-Chan! Oh you're just so cute! I have so many things to ask you!"
Mikoto glanced at the kitchen entryway then turned back to Hinata and smiled eagerly.
"But first, dinner!"
Hinata couldn't help but smile.
"Hinata-Chan, come along,"
Hinata's smile slowly faded.
"I've always wanted a little nymph to come help me in the kitchen! Instead I got two lazy buffaloes right here."
Mikoto gestured to Sasuke and Itachi with her free hand.
Itachi cleared his throat and Sasuke averted his eyes to his feet.
Hinata blushed.
"Come!"
"Oba-chan, I really don't wish to... disrupt you or ruin your – "
"Nonsense! Every chef needs a little help now and then! You can be my sue chef for the day!
And Hikari was a great cook back the day! I am sure you've inherited some of her talent! Come along now!"
Mikoto tugged and Hinata complied, giving Itachi one last glance before entering the kitchen.
For the first time in years, Itachi felt dumbfounded.
He turned his head and faced his little brother.
"Sasuke,"
Sasuke raised his eyes to meet Itachi's.
"What the hell were you thinking?"
Sasuke shrugged.
"I am spending too much time with Naruto. I am becoming an idiot."
"Hn."
"Why?"
"Hm?" Itachi raised a brow.
"Are you upset that I brought her here?"
Itachi cleared his throat and pretended to go back to reading his scrolls.
"It's just... you haven't thought this through, Sasuke."
Itachi just didn't feel like talking to his brother at the moment.
He was foolish for bringing her into the Uchiha compound, and to the head's house no less.
Sasuke huffed out a light dark chuckle.
"I guess not, but we all make mistakes right Nii-san?"
At this, Itachi raised his head and shot him wary look.
What was his little brother implementing?
Sasuke's smirk slowly faded as he met his brother's gaze.
He knew what he had said was a little out of line, but he didn't take it back.
Why should he be the one with all the faults?
His brother has made mistakes before, so why does he always get the spot light when it comes to these things.
Besides, all he did was bring a Hyuuga girl to his home.
It's not like he was hugging the girl in public or anything like a certain someone.
Hinata was nervous, but she managed to keep on her feet in the kitchen.
Mikoto was smiling brightly at all times, she really, for some reason liked the heiress's company. She was graceful and clumsy at the same time.
She was far from the clichés that she has met before.
Though she was a true noble with pure Hyuuga blood, the future clan head she was shy, reserved and yet she seemed to have a standing of her own.
She refused to let herself depend on someone so.
Plus, she was great in the kitchen!
If she had a daughter, she would want her to be like Hinata.
"Dear, would you mind working on the onigiri's for me?"
"Hai!"
Hinata hurried to the other counter, folding up her sleeves, her eyes gleaming with some sort of hot blooded-ness you'd usually see in Gai and Lee.
"You're really good in the kitchen Hinata-Chan!"
She smiled wider as she caught Hinata's deepening blush from the corner of her eye.
"Thank you... Oba-Chan."
Mikoto felt like running over there and pinching that girl's cheeks!
She was so cute!
Hinata was slightly disturbed by the new fan girl she had earned today, but she felt happy.
Mikoto was hyper yes, but she was also a kind hearted and gentle woman.
Though her sons would beg to differ.
Despite their odd meeting when she first came, she seemed to be forming quite a bond with Mikoto.
"Looks like dinner would be prepared earlier than expected! Hinata-Chan you and I make a pretty good team eh?"
Mikoto elbowed her playfully.
Hinata merely nodded and stared down at her feet.
"Mm."
"So how's that sour crumb Hiashi doing?"
Hinata found herself grinning.
Mikoto was the first person she knew to ever regard her father with such... what would he call it? Ah, 'disrespect'.
"F-Father is doing fine, though he is quite busy of late."
"Hm, I suppose he has never mentioned me..."
Hinata kept silent, her expression answered Mikoto's question.
Instead of reacting in the way Hinata thought she would, Mikoto burst out laughing.
"Ha-ha! I should have known! Hiashi never liked it when I hung around Hikari anyways! But Hikari never took any of his crap! She was strong that woman I tell you! But she was gentle much like you but with more self esteem."
At the mention of self esteem, Hinata shoulders immediately slumped.
She remembered her mother vaguely, all she remembered were her gentle strokes, her soft voice and the warmth of her cuddles.
"Fugaku – Sasuke's father – wasn't really fond of our friendship either, but he never got in the way of my affairs knowing what the consequences would be!"
Hinata giggled.
"Though Hinata I must say, you are much like Hikari in a lot of ways,"
Mikoto glanced at the girl before returning her attention to the boiling pot in front of her.
"She was never afraid or ashamed of being friends with people from different clans. In fact, I remember her being more detached from her own clan than from others."
That, sounded exactly like Hinata.
"I... I am not very close with most of my family members,"
She felt like she could trust Mikoto, and it was like she was easy to talk to so she began.
Mikoto nodded, giving her signs that she was paying attention even though she was eying the pot of cabbage stew.
"Ever since my mother... I have been or they have been, distant. I was different, maybe that was why... "
"Ah... " Mikoto nodded understandingly.
"Well you are very lucky to have both my sons as your friends then."
Hinata couldn't help but flinch and let out a small squeak. At this, Mikoto laughed.
"Fugaku was furious when he found out Itachi was friends with the Hyuuga heiress!"
Hinata lowered her head.
"I was sure that the heiress meant Hikari's daughter, but I didn't know you then so I was a little worried as well."
This didn't bother Hinata at all, she understood what Mikoto was implying.
"But, now that I have met you, I understand why he would want to be friends with you. Sasuke as well."
"Itachi-kun... is a really nice person." She blushed.
"Yes, but he can be a prick at times." Mikoto huffed.
"Sasuke-Chan is beyond repair though! I love my son, but I really do wonder how you stand him Hinata-Chan!"
Hinata giggled.
"I believe, he just takes time to develop his bonds."
And he has some really high expectations...
Sasuke was tapping his finger on his lap impatiently with an evident scowl etched on his face.
He could chittering and giggling and it made him very curious and slightly scared.
His mother was a big mouth to the power of ten.
He knew that she would probably be complaining about them right now when she should actually be preparing their food!
Itachi was just as curious, though he was not worried about what his mother would say, he was worried of how things would go during his first dinner with Hinata, in front of his mother and brother!
It wouldn't be comfortable at all he reckoned.
There was no way he would be able to sit next to her like they usually did, but something fluttered in his stomach as he a thought came to mind.
Hinata was here, in his house, bonding with his mother and, cooking for him.
It was indeed a blissful thought.
"Itachi-Chan, Sasuke-Chan!"
Itachi uncharacteristically jumped out from his seat, ignoring his brother's odd stare as he headed towards the kitchen.
Itachi peeped from the entryway.
"Yes mother?"
He tried his best to not steal a glance at Hinata.
"Dinner's ready call your brother!"
Sasuke was already behind his older brother and entered coolly, and Itachi followed after.
Unlike his brother, his eyes were glued to Hinata; hurryingly arranging rice balls on a huge plate.
His lips twitched.
Maybe this idea wasn't such a bad idea after all.
He pulled out a chair and sat opposite Itachi.
Itachi seemed calm and uncaring of Hinata presence, which made Hinata frown a little as she glanced at the brunette.
She decided it was for the best, it would not be good manners to act like how they usually did when they were alone...
W-Wait! It's not like they do anything out of the ordinary... they do what f-friends do!
That's what she kept telling herself as she placed the plate of rice balls on the dining table.
The two females arranged the plates and the food on the dining table, while the two brothers sat in awkward silence.
"Phew," Mikoto sighed.
"Alright, a nutritious, healthy yet delicious meal courtesy of a mother's love and a friend's hardwork!" Hinata blushed and the two boys swallowed inaudibly.
"Okay Hinata-Chan, why don't you take a seat?"
Just as those words came out of Mikoto's mouth Sasuke glared at her.
She flinched slightly but got the message and took off her apron as she quietly sat next to Sasuke.
Itachi merely spared them a look before scooping some food on to his plate.
Hinata began to feel even more... uneasy.
Why was Itachi ignoring her so much?
Why is it that he is never normal with her with other people around?
Mikoto sat next to her eldest son, putting food on to her own plate while glancing at the pair in front of her.
Sasuke was putting food on to his own plate while watching Hinata clumsily try to scoop some soup in to her bowl.
He groaned and snatched the ladle from her and did the task for her.
"Here." He grunted.
Instead of thanking him, she gave him a pouty look.
I could do it myself!
Sasuke's eyes narrowed and immediately she averted her gaze to the food.
Mikoto held back a giggle.
For a while a silence dragged on, and only the sounds of spoons and forks knocking against each other filled the room.
Then, Itachi bit into the onigiri.
His eyebrows rose as he tasted a new sort of flavour to it; it was different a bit unusual but he wanted more.
Thinking that it would be wise to stir up SOME conversation and avoid feeling so weird.
"Mother, these onigiris' are delicious, a good change from the usual."
Mikoto grinned sheepishly and Hinata blushed ferociously.
"Oh those? Hinata-Chan made those."
Itachi choked a little but didn't show any sign of it other than a slight jerk.
Sasuke's eyes very quickly directed to the plate of rice balls while Hinata stared blankly at her lap.
"Ah, I see." He said impassively.
"Aren't you going to compliment her?"
Hinata's lips parted in an effort to protest but she was too late.
"It's nice, Hinata-san." Itachi turned his head, looking straight at her; his eyes empty and his face expressionless.
Hinata felt like her heart clenched.
"Thank you..." She muttered under her breath.
Itachi's gaze didn't leave her immediately, it lingered before he looked back at his food.
He could tell, she was bothered by something, almost hurt.
He didn't know what was going on but he had an urge to talk, to comfort, to...
Well he better not let his thoughts get overboard.
Sasuke was already taking a bit out of the onigiri, savouring the taste in his mouth.
Hinata's hands made these, so was this how Hinata tasted like?
He didn't want to think about how she tasted like for god's sake!
He ignored the heat that rose to his cheeks and hoped that his cheeks weren't turning red.
"Ah, tomorrow is going to be a drag," Sasuke sighed.
He decided to spout out anything that he could think of, just to get his mind of things.
"Hm?" Hinata turned.
"Why so?" Mikoto frowned.
"Is it because your father will be back?"
Sasuke smirked and hmph-ed.
"No, it's because I have to go train with the idiot tomorrow."
"Naruto-kun?" Itachi raised a brow.
Sasuke nodded.
"I-I saw him today..." Hinata cut in silently.
"Heh?" Sasuke leaned towards her.
"I said I saw him today." The poor girl's cheeks were steadily getting redder.
"You almost always see him," Sasuke sighed.
"It's like you're stalking him." Only Itachi could sense the slight bitterness in the boy's voice.
"I-I am not!" Hinata squeaked, blushing profusely as she did.
Well at least not anymore...
Mikoto laughed at the sight of the two.
"Just the other day I saw you with him and that old pervert."
"Old pervert?" Mikoto furrowed her eyebrows.
"That old sanin, Jiraiya."
"Sasuke-Chan!" Mikoto reprimanded.
"Don't be so rude!"
"Well he is."
Hinata giggled softly.
"Jiraiya-sama is not that bad..."
"You think no one is bad, Hinata." Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"He isn't really! He was nice and kind of sweet... even though he might have been trying to be nice, he said he wanted to talk about writing his new novel based on me – "
Before Hinata could finish, Itachi almost spat out his tea and coughed a little violently as he forced the tea down.
Use Hinata... as material for his novels!?
THAT SLY OLD JIRAIYA!
Itachi patted his chest with his fist and formed a perfect mask of impassiveness.
"Excuse me."
Mikoto was about to question his sudden outburst when a loud slam was heard.
Hinata jumped and held back a squeal.
"TADAIMA!"
Both the Uchiha boys turned their heads immediately.
Shit – They both mouthed.
"Surprise! The great Fugaku-sama is home!"