CHAPTER TWELVE
Sasuke walked into a conference room with Hinata when the clock struck precisely 04:00 PM. They had been called in to be briefed further regarding their efforts to keep world peace. And possible alternatives, if there were any, to stop the arranged marriage if it isn't necessary to be carried out further. Somewhere within Sasuke's heart wouldn't want that to happen. He wondered if Hinata felt the same. But he decided to let his thoughts slide when he noticed the Hokage standing from his seat to greet them.
"Welcome, Uchiha." The man said. He was someone Sasuke knew very well. His name was Hatake Kakashi. When the Hokage stood, the rest of the conference room members followed. Sasuke and Hinata both showed their respects to the Hokage and the rest before taking their seats.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet us in a very simple conference room downtown." Said the Hokage, who was once a literature teacher at Konoha High. If Sasuke remembered correctly, he decided to pursue politics as his primary career route right after Sasuke's class year entered university. To think he made it to be a Hokage so fast highlighted Kakashi's ability to handle national matters. It was too impressive for Sasuke.
"Pleasure is mine," Sasuke responded.
Kakashi turned to greet Hinata, "Lady Hyūga."
Hinata smiled at the man. "Great seeing you, Hokage-sama."
"I've called both of you here because I understand the sudden arrangement has been a rough journey," Kakashi paused, studying the room, "for all of us, it is probably the most important thing to be accomplished. For the sake of the world."
Sasuke should have gotten used to it now, but whenever the thought or conversation came, he felt like his heart was stuck in his throat. The mere fact that they had to walk in through tight security and how to the public eye, the office seemed like a typical building was enough to convince the Uchiha that he couldn't fuck up. Secrecy and success were their mission.
"I'm sure you both understand very well why you are to marry soon," Kakashi continued to speak, "However, after a process of analysis, I am very sorry to tell you that it is best to stay married until at least 15 years to avoid suspicion of the other party. We want everyone to think that your union is genuine. If after 15 years we have seen persistent analytics of peace, a divorce may be acceptable."
The Uchiha was an expert in remaining calm under dire situations. But never before in his 26 years of breathing oxygen has he ever seen a couple planning their wedding while simultaneously arranging their divorce. What a world they're living in…
"I understand," Sasuke responded, "thank you for the update."
Kakashi nodded. "That's one topic. I have something else to discuss. It's about the appearance of the Yakushi family."
Sasuke glanced slightly at the Hyūga and saw her jaw tighten, indicating her anxiety. He glanced back at the Hokage and said, "Alright. What about them?"
"The marriage between Kabuto and Hana was also arranged from our enemy's side. Our intelligence has the evidence," Kakashi said as one of his assistants handed out a folder of photos of their secret meetings, marriage certificates, and other pieces of evidence, too many for Sasuke to remember. He passed the folder onto his fiance for her to have a better look.
"So, what will an arranged marriage do with their influence?"
"Both sides are powerful people who had the same agenda since ages ago. We believe they were the reason behind the Lotus Tragedy—"
"You mean the project both my family and the Hyūga's that nearly blew up a nuclear reactor?" Sasuke said suddenly, forming his sentence to make sure the truth was a lie.
But to his shock, Kakashi nodded.
"Wait, I don't understand," Hinata began, "The Lotus Project was created to cheapen the cost of electricity. Too many lower-class people were freezing during the winter. This project ended many years ago."
"Correct," Kakashi responded, "Yet somehow, suddenly, the reactor nearly blew up, and it was Hiashi-sama who caught the incident right on time. Which ultimately ruined the relationship between him and Fugaku-sama. Right?"
"Right. Because my father was blamed for it." Sasuke said quite bitterly.
"Nuclear energy was never a product of Uchiha Energies. Do you remember who your father partnered with, Sasuke?" Kakashi asked as if testing the Uchiha's memories. Sasuke had always hated that because it implied that he knew nothing. But as his brain surged deep into his memories, he remembered his father mentioning the name Yakushi.
Kakashi seemed too sharp for Sasuke's good because he nodded at the Uchiha, affirming the name that had popped into his brain. "Correct," he said, "and now, both Kabuto and Hana are managing nuclear weapons at an illegal level that can wipe out two nations combined."
"… wipe out their basic needs; oil and money. Destroy the society and then rebuild them." Sasuke said, quoting Naruto's words. "Are they using these weapons as threats so that we can cave into their agenda?"
The Hokage nodded, "Only if necessary, though. What they have also been doing, if you have been paying attention, is creating a series of riots, chaotic protesting, using false witnesses, and sometimes sacrificing a human being to get most of the world on their side. These series of events were carefully planned in such an intelligent way that will brainwash the people to go against the two most successful families in the Oil and Finances field."
"Hinata's family and mine," Sasuke concluded.
"Then finally, taking over what you have built for decades, they will restructure what society should look like. We have more evidence for this," Kakashi handed out another folder with a report of the board members' meeting. Another document indicated the blueprints of the plans spelled out very clearly.
"Take a look at Article 13, paragraph 1, it says, 'the perfect society will be a collection of one nation only under one government, and shall live in order determined by the government, order hereinafter shall include;' and there, you can see the government own everything. The people will not own anything. There are also examples of something as simple as telling the people what to study and what career to pursue, and if they choose otherwise, it will be called a crime. There's so much more, but you can take that home if you want to read it further. I wouldn't because it's too depressing. They're recreating a utopia that allows mass murder and/or genocide to create the perfect society." Kakashi explained.
There was silence in the room. Not even the ticking clock was heard because Sasuke's ears were filled with whispers of worst-case scenarios.
"…What significance will our marriage bring?" Hinata asked, her voice quite soft.
"I'm glad you asked. I need both of you to be at the forefront of a great cause. We have created programs to counter every accusation about oil, gas and finances they have used to brainwash people. There are additional programs to show that you are for the people, not against them. You will be active in Human Rights events, participating as donors, and so on. These programs will be subtle without mentioning the enemy's party. We have a team of intel journalists that will ensure the news about your programs gets aired to avoid selective censoring. In the end, the votes of the people matter the most. We must win and maintain some to keep believing in you."
"And are we allowed to make statements of how we disagree with our enemies?"
"Do not. I need you to be on good terms with the Yakushi family. Do not mention your political opinions to the public at all. We have many reasons to believe that the less you talk combined with more action will convince the people the best. Are we clear?"
Both Sasuke and Hinata nodded.
"Alright. One last thing…." Kakashi took out 3 photographs that made Hinata's face turn white.
"The first photograph shows Lady Hyūga with Kabuto in a restaurant. The second one, in his car. And the third, walking with him hand in hand towards his condo."
The Uchiha was oddly too calm about the whole situation. Mainly because he saw it coming. Sasuke felt the need to address the situation in a way that did not bring shame to Hinata's position. Because no one is pure. And no one deserves ridicule. However, Kakashi was not the type to expose someone to shame. So whatever it may be, Sasuke figured there must be a reason behind his actions in showing these photographs.
"Are there no pictures of me with his wife, Hana?" Sasuke asked, letting out their former casual relationship in the open.
"None."
"Why is that?"
"The other side thinks framing your soon-to-be wife will bring better chaos than your hookups with Hana."
"Well, that's sexist."
"Precisely. Therefore, we need to ensure these photos don't get leaked. This means you have to remain on good terms with the family. Inviting them to your wedding will be your first mission."
"Understood," Sasuke responded.
"If there are no questions left, that is all for today's meeting. Make sure to arrange for your wedding within a month."
With that, they concluded the meeting. Sasuke let Hinata walk out of the room first and soon walked side-by-side with her to his car. After she was in the vehicle, Sasuke made his way to the driver's seat. There they were both quiet for some time. It felt like they were oceans apart because of the weight of the world.
"S-Sasuke, I can explain—"
"You don't have to explain." He said, cutting her off. He had his hands on the steer, beginning their journey to the Hyūga compound.
"Are you not letting me explain, or are you letting go of the fact that I lied to you at our engagement dinner?"
Sasuke was quiet. In truth, he did not know. Yes, she lied to him. If Kakashi had never pulled out those photos, Hinata might have never confessed. But Sasuke was more intelligent than that. For 3 days, he pondered over their encounter with Kabuto. He knew since that night that they were in a relationship within the 4 years of Sasuke and Hinata's no contact. And he was sure that Kabuto wasn't in the position to let go of whatever the two shared in the past.
A good amount of 20 minutes passed, and they didn't exchange words. He didn't even look at her. He couldn't bring himself to do so. When they arrived in front of the compound's entrance, Hinata did not leave the car immediately, and he could feel her comfort around him slowly leaving them.
"Please, let me explain." She said.
"Alright. Speak."
His response might have caught her off-guard. But she tried to speak, still. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't honest while you were this whole time. I should have told you sooner."
Sasuke's gaze was fixed forward. "When you looked through my messages with Hana, you left Konoha and me. For 4 years, you were silent. You never returned my calls. You never sent me a text message to give me room to apologize. You just left."
The Uchiha stopped for a moment because he was trying to maintain a calm composure.
"I'm not perfect back then. I'm still imperfect. I thought I was the only one in the wrong that had to atone for my sins. For 4 years, I walked with guilt and regret. Even though, by the way, you were the one who established the friendship brand. And you were the one who said that if any of us finds someone else, then it's all good. You said that."
Sasuke looked at the Hyūga, who had already begun producing tears without even trying.
"And you dare cry? Am I hurting you again? Are you going to flee now, again?" Sasuke went on. His anger was boiling, but his output was just. He wanted Hinata to break and confess. Above all, he just wanted her to let it out, whatever was hidden inside her for so long. Sasuke never wanted Hinata to harbor everything on her own. To his surprise, he found her hands on both sides of his face. Hinata's tears flowed evenly down her cheeks.
"Sasuke, let me atone for my sins this time. Please… forgive me."
But it never took him too long to pull her in for an embrace. And when she was close to his chest, she began to sob. And it wasn't just any crying. Hinata wept. Her arms were tightly wrapped around the Uchiha, her hands grabbing his shirt to endure the pain she felt in her heart. Sasuke shut his eyes, her weeping too painful for him to hear. Whatever she went through with Kabuto, Sasuke knew it was toxic. And he felt for her.
They held each other for a few more minutes until Hinata found her way to calm down. Her eyes were swollen, and her nose was runny. Sasuke gave her tissues before cupping her cheeks. Her lavender eyes focused on his black ones.
"I love you," Sasuke said, "And I will always forgive you. Because you're worth it."
Hinata nodded, trying her best not to produce more tears. "I love you, Sasuke,"
The Uchiha placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Now go and get some rest. You gotta work tomorrow."
Hinata nodded, smiling, indicating a release of a heavyweight not worth carrying. She left the car and waved at the Uchiha before walking into the compound. Before Sasuke set out to drive home, his phone rang. He saw his father's name on his screen. He decided to pick up the phone before driving out of the compound to go back to his home further away.
"Yep?"
"Sasuke, hi. How was your meeting with the Hokage?"
"Good. Many things were filled in. I learned a lot more about your rivalry with Hiashi, too."
Silence over the phone for a minute.
"Yes. Maybe when all of this is behind us, we can start talking about it casually again."
"Sure," Sasuke said, knowing that nothing ever goes thoroughly discussed in the Uchiha family. Things happen, and they sweep it under the rug until a dragon appears. Old habits die hard.
"Watch over yourself and Hinata. Trust no one new."
"Gotcha,"
After that phone call, Sasuke continued to drive. The home he purchased near a cliff that looked out to the ocean was farther away from society. He loved solitude and treasured being close to the sea for a particular reason. Somehow, for all the years he's been apart from Hinata, he never forgot how she sat in his hotel room on the summer of their high school vacation. It was the way she looked at the horizon as if outlining it meant the whole world to her.
Suddenly, his phone blew up into an incoming call alert. This time, it was Hinata.
"Hello,"
"Sasuke-kun, are you home?"
"Not yet. I'm 15 minutes away from home. What's up?"
"Oh, I'm… on my way there, too."
Sasuke was caught off-guard a little bit. "Okay. See you there then."
He could hardly remember the last time he's driven fast. But he sped up like a maniac. Once he arrived home, he walked into his kitchen to check if he had leftover pasta from last night. Thankfully, with enough for two, he immediately fixed dinner for him and Hinata. A good 20 minutes passed, and Hinata opened the entry door of his home. The sun was setting by that time, and with Sasuke's floor-to-ceiling windows, the golden light illuminated the room that held both the kitchen, dining and living areas of the Uchiha's home.
"H-Hi, Sasuke-kun,"
"Hey. Hungry?" He said, plating their dinner with leftover pasta. He then began to grate mozzarella on top of their meals.
Hinata smiled as she walked over to the Uchiha. "Quite."
"Great. I've got wine in the chiller. Mind grabbing us some?"
"Okay,"
After a few minutes, the two sat at the dining table, enjoying their food. As they ate, an exquisite view of the horizon presented itself in front of them. As usual, they didn't exchange many words for a while. And it had always been a typical atmosphere between the two.
When Sasuke finished his meal, he grabbed his glass of wine, studying the Hyūga. She looked like she had changed into a more comfortable outfit while he still wore his business attire. Her under eyes were slightly swollen from her crying session earlier. Yet, still breathtakingly beautiful.
"What brings you here, Hyūga?"
A slight blush could be seen on her cheeks. "U-Um," she said, swallowing a sip of alcohol. "I wanted to spend more time with you. I never realized how much I missed you."
"I know. It's been 4 years."
They both laughed.
"Yeah, I just really want to be around you longer." She concluded.
"Nice. Wanna stay the night?"
"Yes."
Taken aback, the Uchiha reassured the heiress. "Are you certain about this?"
"Mhm. I brought clothes for tomorrow. Toothbrush and stuff."
"What about your makeup?"
"Got 'em."
Damn. She wasn't even waiting to be offered. He liked that a lot.
"I only have 1 bedroom," Sasuke said, directing the conversation somewhere.
"Then I'll sleep with you," she said too casually.
"… Okay. If you're fine with it."
After another session of silence, Hinata finally finished her food. She looked like she had been studying his home because it was her first time there.
"How did you get my address, by the way?"
"Karin-san."
"Hn. You could've asked me instead, you know."
"Yeah. I was too shy to do that."
"I'm your fiance."
"I know."
"Cute."
"But I was thinking just a few seconds ago," Hinata said, pausing mid-sentence.
"What's that?" Sasuke urged.
"Once we're married, I'll just move in here."
"You're okay with that?"
"I mean, we're leaving the past behind. I'm not even slightly affected by the possibility you might have had sex with Hana here."
They laughed again. Sarcasm or dark jokes were their go-tos, it seemed.
"As long as you're okay, Hime. Otherwise, I'm happy to look for another house for us."
The heiress shook her head. "I'm not in the business of wasting money."
Damn. She's too fucking attractive. And she's in his house, and they're alone.
But, of course, they didn't get kinky after washing the dishes, cleaning up, showering separately, and watching a movie. Instead, Sasuke enjoyed the simple nighttime routine they both shared. He loved watching her doing her skincare after showering. He loved her pajamas with avocados all over them. He loved smelling her scent in his bed when she snuggled under the blanket they shared. He loved holding her throughout the night, waking up to the sound of birds and a warm morning sun ray kissing their skin.
He loved making breakfast with her and spending what morning left he had with her through coffee. He loved talking about life with her before they decided to shower separately to prepare for work. He loved how she fixed his tie before he jumped into his car. And he loved how they went separate ways with their vehicles just because their offices were located in different parts of Konoha.
He loved it all. And he was more than sure he was ready to marry her.