Hinata's honesty

Hinata woke up early. She couldn't sleep although she was very tired. There were so many things left that had to be done and the time was running out!

It was Saturday again and now it were only five weeks till the wedding. And it was all happening so fast! The ceremony has been chosen, so as the flowers, place and decorations.

The tailor took her measures yesterday and her dress should be done in two weeks since some special material had to arrive just for it.

The wedding preparations were effective as Mikoto needed to have everything under control and she planned to set everything a week before the big day. Hinata was practically spending the whole day with her and Sakura. Mikoto has been so excited about the wedding for the past six months, ever since the engagement, which occurred very soon after her short relationship with Itachi had been revealed.

Hinata wondered how Itachi felt about it. She didn't get the chance to ask him even if she could say out loud something like that. Their encounters during last few months were formal and extremely short as they both had other responsibilities.

Nothing felt right about this wedding. It wasn't even close to that one she has been always dreaming about as a little girl. Her future husband had to be kind, loyal, supportive, not necessary very strong, but skilled shinobi who won't look at her like an heiress of Hyuuga clan. And she wasn't sure Itachi was all of that. He only made her position of an heiress even more demanding to handle.

Itachi unwillingly turned Hinata's life upside down. Merger of clans brought her back to her childhood. Her every move was being monitored as she had to prove she's been good enough to become an Uchiha. There were so many people wanting her to fail in her attempt to present herself in the best light. Especially those who were jealous of her. That's why Hokage assigned all of her missions to someone else so she didn't have more things to worry about. She knew Kakashi had meant well, but leaving Konoha, even for a short period, would make her more relaxed and she wouldn't think about her father's and clan's expectations.

She was certain things would have been better if Naruto had become Hokage! In spite of his young age, he would never let others to put her under so much presure and he would definitely belived in her! He once had said she's going to be a great wife!

Hinata blushed. She missed Naruto and the way he made her feel. Too bad he left for Suna because seeing the love of his life every day, happy with someone else, wasn't easy for him, either. Hinata didn't want him to be unhappy, but she couldn't blame Sakura for choosing Sasuke instead. After all, it was clear from the first time the two of them had met that Sakura will never even think of another man as long as Sasuke is around.

Hinata smiled. She would probably given up on everything if there wasn't for Sakura. Well, that was a little exaggerated, but it would be much harder for her if the maid of honour had been somebody else. Sakura was always looking on the bright side and insisting to hear Hinata's opinion on everything. Thanks to Sakura, Hinata didn't have to try on a horrific white dress with no sleeves!

She hated her arms and shoulders and she didn't like to expose her skin for everybody to see. She also hated the warm weather.

She was wearing her hair always near her face to hide her neck and maybe to divert people's attention away from her breasts, which was impossible since they were huge! She couldn't believe why would anyone envy her.

Knock on her door distracted her thoughts.

''Hinata-sama! You asked for an earlier lunch because of your appointment today!'' she heard the voice of the house maid.

''I'll be right down!'' Hinata replied and jumped out of bed to get dressed for the appointment.

Sakura told Hinata to step by the Ino's place around 11 o'clock. The stores were closed and they needed to wait till Monday to pick out the gowns for the bride's maids. The ceremony they had chosen included more than one female friend to have a significant part during it. Hinata wasn't worried because Sakura had said she'll take care of that.

Ino's apartment surprised Hinata. In spite of the unfinished building, the inside was very pretty. Since three labels with Ino's name were on a three different doors, Hinata decided to wait for any sign of the right door before she knocked.

She didn't have to wait long.

''Sakura,'' Ino sounded sleepy, ''can you please stop talking so early in the morning?''

''It's not early, it's almost noon!'' Sakura replied.

''Yeah, but it's also pretty noisy here!''

''We don't have any more time to waste! Especially not to wait for the day you won't be sleepy!'' Temari grumbled.

Sakura chuckled.

''Why are we here anyway?''

''Because my flat is too small and we can't kick Shikamaru out.''

Hinata finally knocked.

''It's opened!'' Ino yelled.

Hinata carefully opened the door and entered. There was nobody in unfurnished kitchen.

''Over here!'' Sakura shouted.

Hinata proceeded to the bedroom.

Ino was still under the blanket, with her hair untied, wearing her tiny pyjamas. Sakura was lying on the bed's edge and Temari was in a reverse seating posture on a chair in front of the window.

''Am I early?''

''No, you're not, Hinata!'' Sakura replied happily. ''You can sit here,'' Sakura tapped the bed.

Hinata was hesitating.

''Don't worry, Hinata,'' Ino said, while getting out of the bed. ''Sakura is the only who slept in it except me.''

Ino left the room.

''She is really grumpy after napping,'' Temari chuckled.

''We'll see you after waking up after only 2 hours asleep!'' Ino yelled from somewhere, probably bathroom since Hinata could hear water running.

Sakura giggled. Hinata sat next her.

''Why is Ino's name on the other two apartments?'' she asked, looking at Sakura.

''Chouji and Tenten will move in here also, and Ino marked their apartments since they are both in Suna,'' Sakura explained.

Hinata nodded.

''That's nice of her.''

''You know what's also nice?'' Temari asked hastily, ''She has the keys of those apartments!''

Hinata didn't get it. She wondered what's wrong with this one. It wasn't the tidiest place in the world, but it seemed cosy.

''That won't be of much use next month when the demolition begins,'' Ino said, standing at the door, dressed and with her hair in a ponytail.

''Heating?'' Sakura asked.

''And air-condition,'' Ino explained. ''For this year's chunin exam.''

''It doesn't matter right now,'' Temari said and got up. ''We'll just have to be quick!''

''And don't forget the noise during the day!'' Ino added.

''We have the whole night!'' Sakura suggested.

Ino gave her glare.

''Let's move!'' Temari ordered and Sakura stood up.

Hinata got up also and followed them to the entrance door. She still didn't know what are they talking about, but she guessed it was including her too.

Ino unlocked the door with her name on it, opposite of her real apartment. They entered a big room with the wooden floor. It was dark because of the blinds and Temari approached the window to open them. Ino closed the door and sat on the floor, with her back leaned on the wall.

''Come on, you two!''

Temari sat in seiza in the middle of the room, pointing with her hand on the floor in front of her.

Sakura sat down and looked at Hinata.

''Are you ready?'' Sakura asked with a strange smile on her face.

Hinata sat next to her, in front of Temari. Ino was uninterested to do the same as she was playing with her hair.

''Ino!'' Temari roared.

''I can hear you from here very well!'' Ino said indifferently.

Temari sighed.

''All right, we'll deal with the sleepy princess later,'' Temari said with annoyed expression. ''Since we don't have much time, let's start!''

Hinata looked at Sakura. She was smiling like she's up to something. She had the same smile when they were out together. That night.

''Now,'' Temari began, ''do you know why you're here?''

''No,'' Hinata said quietly, staring at the floor.

''And you, Sakura?''

Sakura flinched.

''Me? Didn't you say Hinata is the-''

''Answer the question!'' Temari interrupted her.

Sakura deflected her gaze to Ino. She was still looking uninterested.

''Yes,'' Sakura finally said.

''Great,'' Temari said happily. ''Would you mind explaining to Hinata what do we want to do?''

Sakura stunned. She looked at Temari and Hinata wondered why Sakura was looking so nervous.

''I have all day,'' Temari said plainly. ''The grumpy is the only one who doesn't, since she probably wants to get some sleep before she goes to the hospital.''

Hinata looked at Ino. She was glaring at Temari and Hinata has never seen her so mad. She had the same scary expression as Fugaku. And her father most of the time.

''Night shift again?'' Sakura taunted. ''How come? Were you a naughty girl?''

''Go to hell, Sakura!'' Ino snapped.

Hinata was feeling quite uncomfortable. She had no idea what they'd expected from her nor what's the cause of Ino's bad mood.

''Sakura-chan, tell me in short!'' Hinata said quickly, trying to fast things up.

Sakura took a deep breath and turned to her.

''I know it's a bit too late to ask this, but,'' Sakura gave quick look to Temari and Temari nodded as she was approving Sakura's words,''Did you think of running away from all of this?''

Hinata stunned.

''Run away?'' she asked quietly. ''From what?''

''Well,'' Sakura coughed, ''I spend so much time with you lately and I have to be honest, you don't seem like you enjoy any of this.''

''What, what do you mean by that?'' Hinata stuttered.

''At first I thought it's just a bridal anxiety,'' Sakura said bluntly, ''but you are unhappy!''

Hinata froze. She thought nobody would notice because she has been trying her best to act the same as ever. She was maybe more silent than before, but that could mean many things! And she had cried only once, in her room, and nobody could be certain she really had thought about leaving Konoha!

''And Temari,'' Sakura continued, ''after seeing you the other night, wanted to check if you are okay.''

Hinata looked at Temari. She nodded, with a serious expression on her face.

''We know last couple of moths were pretty chaotic for you,'' Ino said, now sitting in lotus position, still away from them, ''That mustn't be the reason to hide how you really feel.''

''And more important, what you really want,'' Temari added.

Hinata looked at Sakura. She was looking worried.

''Is that the reason you accepted to be my maid of honour, Sakura-chan?''

''Well,'' Sakura began.

''So I can admit I'm unhappy and you can talk me into cancelling everything?'' Hinata snapped.

''No!'' Sakura took her hand. ''You got it all wrong!''

Hinata pulled her hand back and stood up.

''Do you really hate me that much, Sakura-chan?''

Hinata tried not to cry, but the tears were in her eyes from the time Sakura mentioned running away.

''No, Hinata, I don't hate you!'' Sakura stood up as well.

Hinata didn't want to stay with them any longer. She turned to leave, only to see Ino who was blocking the door.

''We want to help!'' Sakura said desperately.

''I don't want your help!'' Hinata jerked and headed to the door, but Temari put a hand on Hinata's shoulder.

''She is the one who needs help too, Hinata'' Temari said strictly,''I'm the one who will help you!''

Hinata turned to her. Temari was staring at her.

''Hey! How come you got the princess?'' Ino complained.

''I can't help you if I don't know what's bothering you,'' Temari said softly, ignoring Ino.

Hinata looked at Temari's hand on her shoulder and slowly pushed it away.

''And why do you want to help me?'' Hinata met Temari's gaze.

''Because life's too short to spend it with someone who doesn't know what makes you happy.''

Hinata sniffed.

''And Sakura?''

''She has unnecessary boundaries in her head that have to be eliminated,'' Ino sneered.

Sakura gave her glare. Temari smirked.

''Come on! Go wash up,'' Temari pointed to the door. ''Then we'll see what we can do.''

Hinata wiped her last tear and headed to the door, where Ino was waiting to show her the way.

''But,'' Hinata turned to Temari, ''we can't cancel the wedding!''

Temari smiled slyly.

''When we get everything done, you'll do whatever you feel like doing!''

''Come on, come on!'' Ino rushed her. ''We have just began!''

Hinata nodded and left the room. She was following Ino back to her apartment since this one was empty.

''What do you mean, I have problems too?'' Hinata heard Sakura yelling.

Ino chuckled.

''What's funny?'' Hinata asked bluntly.

''Sakura still thinks her relationship's perfect,'' Ino explained. ''It's not good to live in denial.''

Hinata nodded. She entered the bathroom.

''You can use that blue towel, it's for guests!'' Ino shouted from the hallway.

''And what will we do today?''

''I don't have a clue, it's all Temari's idea.''

Hinata washed her face with cold water and she could tell she was feeling ready to do whatever Temari suggests!

When Hinata got back, Temari, Ino and Sakura were sitting in way they formed an opened circle, with a place for her. In the middle was a plate full of kinds of cookies.

''Help yourself, Hinata!'' Ino offered her cookies when she sat between Sakura and Temari.

''Maybe later, thank you,'' Hinata rejected, so Ino took one for herself.

Hinata carefully looked at Sakura.

''Sorry,'' she whispered.

''Don't worry about it,'' Sakura said quickly.

''Yeah, forget it!'' Ino smiled. ''I was testing her for days to see if she hates you, but really, she doesn't!''

''Ino!'' Sakura hissed.

''What?'' a piece of cookie fall on the floor from Ino's mouth. ''Temari told me to do it!''

Sakura gave Temari glare.

''I had to be sure,'' Temari explained. ''The better we know each other, the faster you'll get what you want!''

Hinata didn't know what they were talking about again. By the look on Sakura's face, she didn't know either.

''Now we are starting for real!'' Temari warned them.

Hinata and Sakura nodded.

''I will ask both of you the same question and you are obligated to give an answer,'' Temari said seriously.

Hinata's eyes widened. She was no longer prepared for this What if Temari asks something really personally she doesn't want to tell anyone? She will turn red or start crying again. And things won't get better if she just stands there and cry. Hinata frowned.

''We will start with yes or no questions and then we'll move on-''

''Just ask the damn question!'' Ino snapped.

Temari gave her glare and took a deep breath.

''All right,'' she turned to Hinata, ''Itachi-san is your first boyfriend?''

Hinata nodded.

''Great,'' Temari continued and looked at Sakura. ''Sasuke?''

''Yes!'' Sakura said quickly.

''This will last forever,'' Ino rolled her eyes.

''Next question,'' Temari coughed. ''Have you ever thought about breaking up?''

''No!'' Sakura screamed.

''Relax, we won't tell him even if you have,'' Temari said seriously. ''Hinata?''

Hinata was string at the floor. She would never forget when he had refused to give her permission to visit him at the hospital. And he stopped initiating physical contact completely. And she accepted probably the worst proposal in the world because she couldn't have turned it down.

Hinata took a deep breath and looked at Sakura. She was expecting a negative answer.

''Yes,'' Hinata said decisively.

Sakura covered her mouth with her palms.

''It's all right, Sakura,'' Temari scolded her. ''It's perfectly normal to think. Even about that.''

''And we are all gloomy already!'' Ino said comforting. ''My turn!''

''Don't go too far,'' Temari advised.

Ino nodded.

''Hinata,'' Ino said happily, ''what do you like about Itachi-san?''

Hinata flinched. She looked at Sakura again. She was smiling blissfully.

''Don't mind her, Hinata,'' Ino turned to Sakura. ''If you say something about Sasuke-kun's looks, I swear, I will slap you!''

''Fine!'' Sakura snapped. ''But you are just jealous!''

Temari's palm met her forehead.

''Hinata, please answer,'' she sighed. ''I can't hear about Sasuke any more.''

Hinata was ready to nail this answer. There were so many things! And sometimes, same things she liked were getting on her nerves. At the beginning it was difficult for her to understand why she was so attracted to him.

''Well,'' she began, ''he is loyal, understanding, calm, smart,'' she was reciting slowly.

Suddenly, she stopped. She couldn't think of anything else! And all she's said was so plain, nothing special at all!

In Temari's eyes she could see compassion, in Ino's pity and in Sakura's sadness.

''He is not that bad!'' Hinata said quickly and deflected her gaze to the floor.

Again. This time she wasn't blushing or crying. She was furious. What was she doing all this time?!

''This is not helping,'' she heard Ino's whisper.

''She will be fine!'' Temari said quickly.

''Hinata,'' Sakura said softly, ''I am sorry''.

''It's not your fault, Sakura-chan!'' Hinata forced a smile. ''I am a big girl and I will fix this!''

Sakura nodded, but Hinata could see a doubt in her eyes. She frowned again.

''Can we continue?'' Hinata asked Temari.

''Sure,'' Temari sounded a bit taken aback by Hinata's determination. ''Whenever Sakura's ready!''

Sakura flinched.

''Come on, Forehead, tell us about Sasuke!''

''All right!'' Sakura grinned. ''He is smart and always cool, he would do anything for his friends, and me, of course!''

Ino sighed. Hinata was looking surprised.

''What is it?'' Temari asked her.

''That's what I said!''

''No, it's not!'' Sakura snapped.

''Yes it is, I just used different words!''

''Tell her, Ino! They are totally different! Right?'' Sakura pleaded.

Temari smirked.

''They are different, unlike your answers, which are similar. That means you don't know them!'' Temari concluded.

''I know my fiancé!'' Sakura snapped.

''You really like that title, don't you?'' Ino sneered.

''How come I don't know him and we've been together for two years?''

''I don't know how, Sakura, but you don't! Tell her does means to know your boyfriend, Temari!'' Ino ordered.

''Well,'' Temari began, ''I just adore when Shikamaru yawns and I know he is not tired or bored, he just want me think that because he doesn't want to propose anything, so he indirectly makes me to do it. I like when he lies about my cooking and when he lets me to win the shogi game because he hates when I'm cranky,'' she smiled. ''And when he helps me to tie my hair just so he can tangle it! He thinks it makes me mad, but I think it's sweet so I act like I'm mad anyway!''

''Well,'' Sakura coughed, ''that didn't sound like him at all!''

''Yes, it did! You just don't know him!'' Ino snapped.

Temari gave her glare.

''I know him well, but he is just a friend!'' Ino explained.

Hinata didn't say anything. That's how a girl in love should sound like, not just repeating stupid things everybody can tell! Of course Itachi was loyal and calm! Otherwise he would have left her and found someone better. Like Temari. Pretty, strong and smart.

''Fine, enough talking!'' Temari said cheerfully. ''Time for practice!''