family affair

twenty-six

the sins of the vile

Everything slowed down when Neji drew a pistol from the waistband of his suit.

Sasuke moved in front of her, shoving her behind his back before she could even get in a word of protest. Naruto and Sakura stood, flanking his sides––not protecting her, protecting him. Ino and Shikamaru leaned forward beside her, tense, eyes wide. Hanabi jumped up, tears already falling when she screamed: "Father no––"

Then, it was over. Hiashi looked down when the cold metal hit his outstretched hand. He looked at Neji in a way that was so unlike himself that everyone in the room froze.

"Are you crazy?!" Hiashi barked at Neji, the veins on his forehead popping out even more. Hiashi tossed the gun to the floor, looking more distressed than Hianata had ever seen him. Sasuke wavered in front of her, and Hinata placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him to the side. "I wanted my drink, Neji. Not that."

If Hinata hadn't been so convinced she was about to die then and there, she might have laughed. Sakura and Naruto looked at each other before backing up. Sasuke turned his head to gauge what Hinata was feeling and she nodded, rubbing his shoulders a little. That told him what he needed: he stepped away from his protective stance, running his hand through his hair. He had been stressed, too.

Hiashi was looking at Neji in disbelief and Neji was red with embarrassment. Hanabi was still crying at the front of the room, holding her hands to her mouth. Hinata wanted to hug her.

"This is ridiculous," Hiashi said, looking like he wanted to curse. The Affair had been completely undone, all of the Aunties and Uncles were looking at each other in confusion and apprehension, and were speaking in low tones. Hiashi ignored them.

"All of you," Hiashi said, gesturing to everyone in the front row; Hinata, Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and Ino. "And you two," he gestured to Neji and Hanabi. "And Shikaku. Please. In my office. Now. The Affair is adjourned. God willing."

"God willing," the dismissed Aunties and Uncles repeated, though their tones weren't inspired. They all filed out of the room, not even bothering to take a pastry on their way out.

Hiashi rubbed his head again, then he looked at Hinata with another look she had never seen before: tenderness. He placed his hand under her chin and looked her in the eyes, "I can't believe your fear, my daughter. I can't."

Something passed between them. It was grief.

-:-

The office was cramped with all of their bodies, but Hinata was seated front and center before Hiashi's desk in the big leather chair. Hanabi stood next to her, holding her hand, and Sasuke stood behind her, not touching but she could feel him all the same.

Her father sat in his chair, pouring himself a drink. Shikaku was to his right, and Neji awkwardly stood to his left. It wasn't his fault he had misinterpreted, but no one had time to tell him that and so he would have to stew in his own guilt until there was a moment of peace.

But it didn't look like that was coming any time soon.

"Tell me everything," Hiashi demanded. He pointed his drink towards Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura. "I want to hear it from the spies, first. Tell me everything you know. And quickly. We don't have much time. "

Sakura launched into story, sharing her piece––internal, plus her research––which Hinata had not heard much of. It helped shape Hinata's perspective on this whole thing, and hopefully it would help shape her father's as he heard more information. Next, Naruto spoke briefly about his role, and how the mole on the mission that had landed him in the hospital had been ANBU the whole time.

"That's when we started thinking that something was weird about ANBU," Sakura said. "Sasuke and I argued with Ox––our supervisor––for hours about that move. It wasn't supposed to happen, and we got no clarity afterwards."

Sasuke nodded and Hinata watched Hiashi's eyes go to him. Hiashi's gaze was straightforward, not malicious, merely calculating. "Right, though I had been suspicious before that. I already thought that it was strange that they were sending me––a former Uchiha––back to the place came from: a crime syndicate. I'm the one who made the decision to give you all my true identity at the start. I knew that if this mission was successful, I would retire. And well, if it wasn't…"

He would die.

Hinata felt her body react to that statement. Sasuke put a hand on her shoulder. Hiashi watched this impassively. "Those are not the circumstances anymore," Hiashi said, and it was kind. Hinata was touched by this kindness.

"The Uchihas were our rivals in performance," Hiashi said. "And power, but there was no hatred between us. We were branches of the same tree. Continue your story."

Sasuke spoke the longest: He first told them about how for years he thought that the Hyuga had been the ones to annihilate the Uchiha, and how for so long his path was steeped in hatred and vengeance. Then he spoke about reuniting with his brother after the Akatsuki bust, and how that slowly started changing his perspective on the Uchiha Massacre. The more he started getting to know Hinata, the less confident about his theories and his allegiance to ANBU.

"I had the chance to steal the Byakugan file once," he admitted, looking up at Hiashi. "But––something didn't seem right. I chose to wait…to listen. And I'm glad I did."

"Hm," Hiashi said. "I have no problem eliminating ANBU. That is sensical to me. But Suna…I'm afraid I'm not yet convinced."

Hinata shifted in her seat. She could feel a few eyes on her, those who knew her story like Ino and Hanabi; and those who would protect her no matter what, mostly just Sasuke. Again she felt his steady energy behind her, how he was routed to the spot. How without touching, she could feel his support. So she cleared her throat and looked at her father and said, "I can talk about Gaara."

He made no expression, but there was something keen swimming in his gaze. He inclined his head, go on, he seemed to say.

"When I was a teenager, Gaara and I dated in secrecy. We met at a concert, not knowing who each other really were. Our relationship lasted about two years. F-for a year, it was wonderful," Hinata said, eyes focusing on a fleck of dust on the right-hand corner of her father's desk. "Then Uncle Hiazhi killed Baki."

It was like the air was sucked out of the room. She didn't dare look at her father; she didn't want to see what sort of expression he would be making at this new information. Instead, she looked behind him, at Shikaku and Neji. Neji's eyebrows were drawn, and Shikaku looked sorrowful, as if he already knew how this story would end. Perhaps there was some guilt there too, as if he felt like he could've stopped it.

"Gaara…Gaara turned violent towards me," Hinata whispered. This time she did look up at her father, whose face had darkened considerably, his lips tugging down, he was almost showing teeth. Hinata looked away before she lost the nerve to continue. "I s-should've told someone, I know. B-but after Mother died I…I didn't want to be a burden. We dated another year after that. It…it wasn't fun. He used my k-kindness against me, he knew I wouldn't say anything because he knew it would mean w-war between our families. I didn't want that, we had lost so much already."

"Hinata…" Hiashi said, his voice the same tender tone as before. It was hoarse, scratchy in the back of his throat. But Hinata could not look at him again. Not yet.

"I broke up with him when things started getting really bad, when I knew I was no longer a person to him, just something to punish for taking his Uncle away. After that there was no contact. At least…not until the Affair last year, when Sasuke and Naruto joined."

"And you let us set you up with him," Shikaku finally broke the silence that followed Hinata's speech, his voice taking a note of awe. "You didn't even protest."

"The Family is very important to me," Hinata whispered, her head down."I thought––I didn't know––"

"My suspicions of Gaara were my own," Sasuke said, cutting in. He could sense that Hinata was getting overwhelmed, and that she felt some strange twisted guilt at Shikaku's comment. He couldn't let her get that far in that thought process. "I saw how he treated her after my first Affair, and then again when we had a mission together. It didn't make sense to me. Then Sakura started digging and found a web of lies. For example, Suigetsu had led us to believe that perhaps the Akatsuki was behind his attack, but I have reason to believe it was Suna, setting a trap to lead us astray."

"––I'm sorry," Hinata broke in then, suddenly tears spilling down from the corners of her face. She hunched over, her shoulders trembling, making her body small in the leather chair. "I'm––I'm so sorry, father! This––t-this is all my fault, I should have told you the truth in the beginning. I s-should've told you about G-Gaara, and now H-Hanabi––"

Hiashi slowly rose from his seat, and the people around him parted like a sea. Ino and Hanabi were crying too, but they let Hiashi pass, Hanabi letting go of her sister's hand to stand next to Neji.

Even Sasuke backed up, though not far, to let Hiashi go to his daughter––even if he wanted to be the one to comfort her, he knew it wasn't his place. It hurt him to see her like this, making herself small, putting herself through such pain, blaming herself for something that would never be her fault.

Hiashi did something no one was expecting, he kneeled down. He dropped to his knees in front of Hinata, onto the tatami mats, and took her hand. He tucked her loose hair behind her ears and wiped her tears with his palms. "My daughter," he said tenderly. "The mistakes of a man could never be your fault. You did what you thought was best to protect us, and that is the most honorable thing one can do. You mustn't blame yourself for the sins of the vile. You should celebrate yourself for your survival."

Hinata nodded, though she still cried. She leaned into the touch of her father, his wisdom, his humble kneel on the floor before him.

"It only saddens me that I have not fostered an environment of vulnerability," Hiashi said quietly. The room was so silent besides the two of them, you could hear the whistle between Hinata's teeth as she sucked in air. "And that I was not someone you could trust with such precious information–– I am so sorry for that Hinata. I have become hard during my tenure as Father, and it is my fault for not creating a safe space for my own daughters––you as well, Hanabi. I hope you both can find forgiveness in your hearts."

Hinata nodded and then Hiashi did something even more unbelievable, he hugged her. Hinata's tears stopped from the shock of the gesture, and she closed her arms around her father's middle, her chin resting on his shoulder, feeling for the first time in a long time, like a small child whose parent was taking away all of the bad things, like magic, like it was nothing at all.

"Of course, I forgive you," Hinata sniffled when they broke apart. Sasuke handed her a tissue, which she used to wipe her nose and mouth. "Y-your job is hard…I c-can't imagine processing all of this all the time."

"It doesn't become any easier with age," Hiashi sighed heavily. He stood up, went over to Hanabi, and hugged her too. "You all seem to have a plan, with the Byakugan file gone and traded to the Akatsuki––" his tone was disbelieving, but not angry. "So please advise. We will follow your lead."

Sasuke stepped forward, nodding. "Hinata and I do have a plan."

He just didn't like it very much.

-:-

For the most part, the new plan was the old plan. Hinata would go with Gaara to the Boys Club Meeting like nothing had happened within the Hyuga Syndicate.

Sasuke watched Hinata as she hugged her father and left the room, their friends and family having already been dismissed in preparation for the unexpected mission. He gave them privacy as she and Hiashi exchanged a few charged words, though he still heard whispers of his concerns, the "be carefuls" were more demands than they were aspirations.

Then she looped her arm around his and pulled him out of the room. They fell into step together, quiet, thoughtful. Hinata's short hair ruffled softly at the nape of her neck when they passed an open window. In the kitchen, they walked by a clock and her grip tightened. Gaara would be there to pick her up in only a few short hours.

"When do you call your brother?" Hinata asked as they went up the stairs together, still arm-in-arm.

"While you get dressed," he replied. "We don't have time to waste."

"Hm," Hinata said, clearly preoccupied with something else and Sasuke could not blame her. It was hard for him to miss the fear in her eyes despite the brave face she was putting on for everyone else. She didn't want to do this anymore than she wanted Hanabi to take her place. But this was her choice, and it was the best way. Suna and ANBU needed to be exterminated. Permanently.

"What are you thinking, Hyuga Princess?" Sasuke asked, and the title seemed especially fitting tonight after everything. He asked, even though he already knew what was troubling her, because the same things were troubling him. It would be hard to let her go, again.

"Too many things," she said quietly as they went into her bedroom. When they stopped in front of her bed, she looked at him with big, worried eyes, wet at the corners, and shining like stars. "What if––what if I'm not strong enough? W-what if something goes wrong?"

"It won't, I won't let it," Sasuke said. He put his hand under her chin, held her face there so that she could see how serious he was. "I will be with you every step of the way. You might not see me, but know I'll be there. I was trained for that."

Hinata nodded curtly, but still the worried look did not leave. She found her way into his arms, placing her head under his chin, wrapping her arms tightly around his middle. She squeezed, and Sasuke held her tightly against himself, trying to pretend like he didn't feel her shaking.

"You're strong, Hinata," Sasuke whispered, running his fingers across her bare back, tapping them against the woman with the knife. "You're stronger than me. You're the best of us all. And we're not leaving you behind."

He felt her nod under his chin, but he still wasn't sure that she was taking him seriously. They gravitated towards the bed, where they laid together for half an hour, Sasuke slowly and meticulously running his fingers through her hair as he watched her eyes close, her head burrowing deeper into his chest like she was trying to make a home out of him. She could, if she wanted; he would let her. He'd open his chest and let her crawl inside.

But she would never do that, not when she had her Family to save. Sasuke respected that about her, and he would support her through it, too. He kissed her forehead, her nose, her lips, each finger on her hands, her forearms, her shoulders, her neck, and then back to her lips, feeling horrible when his groggy voice woke up to say, "it's time."

He watched her nod, crawl out from under him, and disappear into her closet. It was a walk-in closet, and Sasuke did not follow her, he gave her the privacy she needed. Though she hadn't said as much, he could tell that she needed a moment to breathe by herself. Sasuke went out on the balcony, watched his breath become cold air, and called his brother.

Itachi answered on the first ring: "Brother," he said.

Sasuke was calling on a Hyuga burner phone, and he was glad Itachi had understood and expected this. "It's a go," Sasuke said instead of greeting. "As planned, divide your men. The first group will meet me at the izakaya at Point A. We'll need enough to split."

Itachi chuckled, "how many do you think we are?"

"Enough. I'll be bringing Hyugas and we'll make it work."

"Alright," Itachi sighed. Sasuke could hear the sounds of metal clicking in the background. "Apologies, but our best will go to the Head, those are our priorities. Are you okay with that?"

"I'll have to be," Sasuke said. He looked down at the front of the Estate, watching sleek black cars pull into the driveway and head around back. Good. Gaara did not need to know that there was an entire production happening behind the scenes. "Sakura and Naruto will guide you in."

"Not me, brother," Itachi said. A car purred to life over the phone. Outside, Sasuke watched Neji direct cars to the back of the building, his face stiff and alert. There was so much movement happening already. "I will go with you, that much I can say."

Sasuke felt his eyes close in gratitude, but he didn't say anything of the sort on the phone. "Good," he said flatly."I will see you in an hour."

When he went back into Hinata's bedroom, she was dressed in a new gown. This one was champagne-colored. She wore a tight, short slip dress of the same color, with high-low tulle falling gently around her knees, the longest parts reaching her ankles. The trim was rimmed in spongey ruffles, and the neckline was tight across the base of her neck. She'd pinned her short hair back, exposing her neck even more, and the small, golden hoops she'd put in her ears. Already, her feet were strapped in a pair of black heels.

Sasuke was in awe of her, and she looked every bit the prize Gaara wanted her to be. But Sasuke knew that she was far more than that. He told her so as he brought her into his arms, feeling the fabric between them. He could smell the lemongrass of her hair. Her tattoos were hidden, but Sasuke could still feel their presence.

"You are gorgeous," he said, when he let go. He looked her up and down, this time with a specific sort of scrutiny. "Can you hide any weapons in that?"

Hinata smiled prettily, flashing her teeth, her tooth gem hitting the reflection of the overhead light just right. "Of course," she said, holding up the ruffles and tulle, and slipping her fingers into the bottom of her slip dress. She pulled it up to reveal a small revolver attached to a holster at her upper thigh. On her other, there were knives. "Do you think I'm naive?"

"Of course not," Sasuke barked a laugh, if only to control his nervousness, his arousal, the panicked feeling in his chest. She looked almost too beautiful. Hinata saw this look on his face and took his hand in hers. She placed it on her waist.

Sasuke let her take his other hand and put on her other hip. Then, she put a demure hand on his chest, and smiled. He almost felt silly in his too-big suit, but she told him not to worry about it.

"Who's the worried one, now?" She asked him.

"I'm not worried," Sasuke said, pulling her closer. "I'm just a bit irritated you haven't gotten dressed like that for me."

Hinata laughed, "Well, there hasn't really been an opportunity lately."

"Sure," Sasuke said as he began to move back and forth, holding her arm: a little impromptu dance. "I'll host a Yakuza meeting and invite you next time. Can't guarantee you'll be my date, though."

"Oh?" Hinata raised her eyebrows as they spun, the tulle gliding around her bedroom, catching the low light in its transparent haze. Sasuke realized then that some of the threads were gold, like stars. "Can't say I'm interested."

They laughed as they danced, spinning around once more. Sasuke took her head in his hands and kissed her deeply, feeling the urgency under her fingers as she spun them through his hair, bringing his head all the more closer. His hands tightened around the ruffles of the dress and Hinata gasped in delight, tightening her arm around the back of his neck.

"Sasuke––" she said, and she sounded like she was crying. Sasuke looked up, his mouth on her neck, when three knocks came at her door.

"He's here," Neji's voice came through the wood. "In the foyer. Hinata, I have to escort you now."

Sasuke would not ever forget the fear in her eyes when they broke apart. When she opened the door. When she walked away.

AN. So. Like two chapters left :) Thanks for being on this journey with me! Ignore the evil anon ;-)

For Hinata's dress detail find "Mac Duggal Juliana High-Low Ruffle-Hem Tulle Tent Gown" on Anthropologie's website. I'm in love with it