A/N: Hello, everyone!

We are as of today back on track to finish the story within July, which makes me oddly proud to have been able to consistently write for the past month. I hope I can keep some of that momentum going, to make steady progress on my other stories yet to be completed. You guys and the support I have enjoyed are probably the real reason I have been able to do so. Thank you so much!

Written for Day 21 – "A quiet relationship". Enjoy!

Fights can sometimes be over in an instant. He preferred them that way, since his capacity to breathe was more or less the same as the day he died – non-existent. But Uchihas just so happen to have a way with sending some very effective Sharingan glares to finish off things quickly. Even a reflection of a Sharingan eye aimed correctly at the opponent and they would be yours to toy with. Except, the thrill of the hunt would increase should they be capable enough to evade.

He was facing another so-called prodigy. It's true, at first his opponent hadn't been much of a match really, but he was learning fast. Itachi supposed it was natural, not many younger Hyuugas have had the chance to get much practice against the dōjutsu of the Uchiha. Not that it mattered – they had all the time in the world to change that.

As his opponent was finally trapped, he pondered on all the ways he could finishhim off. Just as his blade began to draw blood, he froze.

"They're here. Our spar is over."

"They," Neji spat to himself, but just loud enough for Itachi to pick up. There were still traces of bitterness in his voice.

Itachi turned around and started walking away at a slow pace. Some minutes later, he could hear the sound of gravel under sandals. Ah, so the Hyuuga had finally decided to join.

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As soon as he saw Hinata at his grave, everything that his brother had told him all along clicked into place – 'beautiful', 'kind', 'patient', 'loyal'. The woman was a spitting image of their mother both in looks and mannerism. At times, it was almost uncanny to see white eyes on a woman so similar to mother.

She would visit his grave even in the absence of Sasuke; actually, those were the more insightful visits. All she ever talked about was Sasuke-san and how he had changed her for the better – how they trained, how he helped her develop some self-confidence and how he'd patiently handled her in moments when childhood trauma had resurfaced.

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Of course, he had heard it all from his brother as well. Itachi hated himself for all the trauma his younger brother was consumed by. Long before he even made a move on the Hyuuga, he had berated himself for being unworthy and for allegedly tainting her by just thinking of her in such a way.

He had argued that he had been drawn to her because she seemed to face similar demons to his; always mourning her 'nii-san', even way past the point where most people had moved on. Judging by the wounds he came at the cemetery with, Sasuke had been tired of people trying to set a timeframe they deemed appropriate for him to grieve. But Hinata had always healed him diligently without being too nosy or lecturing him about wasting away his life here, among the dead.

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Today, as usual, Hinata waited at a respectful distance away, bearing white peonies in her arms. She always allowed Sasuke the privacy of confiding in him alone. His younger brother moved stiffly and looked around, as if slightly paranoid. This was, of course, keenly noticed by the hawk eyed man to his right.

"Does your brother suffer from roundworms? He looks like he can't even sit on his ass properly." When Itachi didn't answer, his scrutiny continued. "His skin looks so…" Neji's nose scrunched up as he seemingly cringed, "clammy."

A smirk creeped on Itachi's face. If only you knew what's coming.

"I'll do it," Sasuke finally whispered. He turned around to glance at Hinata one more time, and then back, straight back in Itachi's direction.

"Hinata," his brother choked out. Apparently unsuspecting of anything foul, she stepped forward and placed the flowers on his grave, taking a seiza sitting position. As she tried to join her hands in a silent prayer, Sasuke snatched her left.

"You, bastard, don't tell me–"

Oh. You finally get it, genius. Itachi's eyes focussed on Neji's clenched jaw, Sharingan activated. He wanted to remember this scene forever.

"Marry me." His brother hadn't asked. It was a statement. And while the lovely Hyuuga seemed to freeze in surprise, her cousin had already found his words.

"Is your insolent brother going to propose in a… graveyard?" Like a desperate man, he appealed to his cousin. "Hinata-sama, you mustn't settle for this–"

Comically enough, the scene between the two lovers unfolded undisturbed by Neji's commentary. Her right hand dropped limply next to her body, as tears began to pool into her eyes.

Itachi couldn't hear what was said next, because her timid voice had been covered up by her cousin's ramblings – "your brother…lack of decorum", "clan of savages" and "crude proposal" – but judging by her furious nodding and their tight embrace, he figured she agreed.

Neji managed to collect himself just in time to hear Hinata's next words.

"Thank you, Sasuke. I'm glad they could bear witness to this." She turned around, left Hand still clasped in Sasuke's, and bowed. "Neji-nii, Itachi-nii, thank you for bearing witness."

And so, Neji was left gaping like a fish, finally understanding his brother's choice of location. If he squinted, Itachi could even swear he saw a few tears in the Hyuuga prodigy's eyes – all, of course, from the dust along the gravel road back to the lonely hut.

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"You never speak to your brother when there."

It wasn't a question, so Itachi didn't say anything back. He could tell the Hyuuga got frustrated by his silence, so Neji finally spelled out his question. "Why is that?"

"I'm afraid he'll hear me," he confessed, in an almost whisper. Even here, in his lonely hut far away from the realm of the living, he didn't quite dare raise his voice when talking about his brother. Neji nearly spit his tea out.

"Uchiha, did you die of lobotomy or lung damage? He won't. We're both six feet under."

He smiled. "I'm not so sure about your Hyuuga eyes," and annoyance already flared on Neji's face – ah, he always took his baits so easily, "but sometimes Sasuke looks eerily close in my direction, as if he would be staring me straight in the eyes."

"Tsch, coincidence. You're just paranoid."

Unbothered, Itachi went on. "I think he nearly senses me. If I were to make a sound in his proximity, I think that could finally tip the scales." He rubbed his own face and sighed. "My foolish little brother would never move on. He would camp right there next to my grave until the day he dies. Who knows if your cousin wouldn't join him. They're often enough at the cemetery as is. I'd rather it remained a silent conversation."

"I think that's called a monologue – you know, when only one person talks. But what do I know, I am no Uchihaprodigy," Neji bit back, but his eyes soon lost their focus. He was surely letting everything sink in. Perhaps he was considering being less vocal around his cousin as well. No, Hinata wasn't just Neji's cousin anymore but his… soon-to-be sister in law.

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Up next: Can't a man enjoy reading filth in peace? Kakashi just wants his book back and Sasuke... Well, he can be very persuasive when he wants to.