CCNote: I hate breaking my own rules as such, I hate this chapter. It can't be helped though. Enjoy!

Onigiri

Hinata turned her gaze to the table but she could feel his eyes boring holes into her skull. She didn't mean to stare. As sad as it was, it had been awhile since she had company. Her former teammates were busy with their clans and Kurenai had Mirai to care for. Missions were no longer assigned to her since her engagement as a means to keep her safe from being used as a bargaining chip. All of this culminated in her being alone most of the time. She didn't mind being alone but sometimes it felt like she was forgotten…

"When will Naruto return?" Sasuke asked, the deep tenor of his voice drawing her eyes back up to meet his. She willed herself not to squirm nervously in front of him.

"Well…" Hinata began reluctantly. "Sometimes he…um…"

"You don't know."

Hinata bit her bottom lip, blood rushing to her cheeks with embarrassment. Was she really that easy to read? He would be back soon but when that would be was anyone's guess. Across from her, Sasuke began to drink the tea she'd laid out, nonpulsed by her embarrassment. He didn't make any comment on the tea but continued to drink until his cup was empty. When that happened, his stomach growled angrily as he reached for the tea kettle.

"Are…are you hungry?" she asked.

Sasuke didn't say anything in response but the tiny tinge of red in his ears was enough of an answer. Quickly she got up from the table and made her way to the kitchen. She'd just finished making onigiri to bring to the Academy students before he'd knocked on the door. It wouldn't hurt to spare a few to him for now.

Hinata took one of each batch and set it on a plate. Grilled salmon. Tuna. Plain. It was simple but the palates of children were not known to be discerning. She then wrapped the bottoms of each one in a sheet of crispy seaweed and brought the plate back to the table where Sasuke sat. When she placed it in front of him he eyed the offering suspiciously.

"I…I just finished making them this morning…the academy students like them." She said, hoping that her words would prompt him to eat. His stomach growled again.

"You feed the students at the academy?"

"Mhm!" Hinata nodded proudly. "There are many students that lost their parents during the war and there's no one to make lunch for them. So every week a few of us rotate to make something for lunch."

"That's…nice." Sasuke said, his voice distant and even as he reached for another of her onigiris.

Hinata smiled and folded her hands in her lap. She watched as he hesitantly brought the food to his lips before taking a small bite. He chewed slowly as if debating whether the onigiri was poison or not. Once he found it to be safe, he took a bigger bite and ate with a bit more enthusiasm.

"It was Naruto-kun's idea. He didn't want the kids to go…to go through what he did."

"The dobe is full of good ideas." Sasuke grunted and moved onto the next onigiri.

"He's trying his best to get the village back to the way it was so he's been very busy-"

"So busy that he doesn't come home to you."

Hinata opened her mouth to protest but obsidian eyes made all of her prepared excuses and reasons catch in her throat. The corner of his lip twitched into an almost smirk as he rose from his chair and grabbed the last onigiri from the plate.

"I'll be back tomorrow."