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Rating:

Mature

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

F/M

Fandom:

Naruto

Relationship:

Hyuuga Hinata/Uchiha Sasuke

Characters:

Hyuuga Hinata

Uchiha Sasuke

Additional Tags:

Comedy

Friendship

Romance

Oneshot

Language:EnglishStats:Published:2015-02-04Words:20,074Chapters:1/1Comments:26Kudos:485Bookmarks:94Hits:8,387

The Sperm-Donor Fraternity

Voyna

Summary:

[AU] Your best friend steals your credit card to buy porn. And your brother blocks your bank account, demanding you get help for an addiction to porn you don't have. That's how you meet the love of your life. SasuHina

Notes:

WARNING

This oneshot may be viewed by some as highly offensive. It contains a great amount of obscenity and foul language. It exploits stereotypical gender roles, twists them beyond recognition, and may be construed as pejorative towards females as much as males. All of this is meant to enhance the grotesque and humoristic tone of the fic. However, I understand that it may cause anger, anguish and sadness to some. Thus, if any of the above elements do make you feel ill-at-ease in any way, please do not read this fic, it is not worth it.

Work Text:

The Sperm-Donor Fraternity

By

Voyna

The waitress filled Kiba's cup up, as he stuffed his face. This was the best vintage dinner in the whole city. He admitted he wasn't all that much into Elvis or shit, but Kiba loved the atmosphere. He didn't know whose fucking leg he had to hump as a thank you. The chick, dude, tranny that made the pies was a real artist. A gift of God to mankind. Like, Kiba would ask her, him, it out any time. Grabbing onto his canvas bag, he started rummaging through his old shit, looking for something specific.

"Honestly, dude, I found this great porn. They've got the hottest chicks. Sweetest lesbian porn ever, my man."

At those words, he lifted his head and shot his friend his trademark bitch-magnet smirk. Sai just turned his head to the side and slurped through his strawberry milkshake, smiling sweetly. Looking as gay as ever.

"I met my weekly quota in one day after watching that shit, no joke."

And obviously, the whole dinner had to hear about Kiba's porn preferences. The dude didn't speak, he screamed. One would have thought him deaf. But he wasn't, he had in fact such good ears he could hear you bitch-talking about him a mile away.

Grabbing onto the proffered DVD case, Sai nudged the vanilla ice cream floating on top of his milkshake with his tongue. Nudge, nudge. Got Kiba to roll his eyes. The poor kid needed to get some. Presto. Because there was just so much public tongue-nudging Kiba could bear. And that passionate love affair Sai's dick and right hand had going on didn't count.

"Thanks. I've got a list of links for you", Sai answered, handing over a duck-shaped USB stick.

Where the fuck had the dude got that shit?!

"Yo, dude, what the hell is this?!"

"Well, Ino said it was cute."

Ino, right. Poor Sai. The bitch and him were glued to each other's ass and they yet had to reach first base. Like, with all the porn Sai was watching, Kiba would have thought him able to take care of business and shit. Ino wasn't exactly super loose, granted, but she wasn't Hinata either. So why the hell they didn't get down and dirty was beyond him.

"Dude … Whatever. What you've got for me in there?"

Sai energetically bit the white ball he had been nudging, indecently sucking onto the piece of ice cream in his mouth. The whole dinner was staring shocked at the two of them and they were completely oblivious. The word shame wasn't exactly in Kiba's vocabulary and Sai was kinda Asperger so he was as socially apt as a Galapagos turtle.

"Uhm. Well I classified everything under categories. So you have Anal, Bukkake, Coercion, Creampie, Double-Dipping–"

"I can read a table of contents, for fuck's sake. What do you recommend, asshole?"

Turning his head to the side, Sai looked at a pretty ridiculous picture of Jerry Lee Lewis thinking about how the guy and his fourteen-year old cousin-wife would have made great porn movies. Did porn exist in the sixties?

"Well, there is that one where a dwarf in a bunny suit gives a barely-legal teen her first anal. That was pretty hot."

Kiba's jaw dropped, giving Sai a good idea of what digested pie might have looked like.

"I watched American Pie for the first time two days ago. Ino said I was a retard for never having watched it. I wonder what it feels like to shove your dick into a warm apple pie."

Scratching his goatee, his buddy chewed pensively.

"Well, my man, by experience, I wouldn't suggest you tried. Yeast infection, guaranteed.

"Oh, sucks."

Kiba rummaged through his pockets and retrieved a ten dollar bill, slammed it on the table and, to all the customers' great relief, almost screamed at Sai:

"Gotta go, dude, Hina's tutoring me. I've got my motorcycle; you need a ride to the academy? Ain't on my way but I got some time."

"No, thank you. Ino says that two guys on a bike is gay."

Fuck Ino, seriously. Since when had she become an intellectual authority for social norms?! Of all the awkward people Kiba knew, she was the most awkward. The chick was so opinionated and said shit that made Adam Sandler sound politically correct. Kiba was damn sorry for all the people that would ever consult her for their ejaculation issues. What the fuck had made her choose to study sexology?! He'd rather not know.

Swinging the belt of his bag over his shoulder and disappearing under his helmet, he tapped Sai on the back, almost making him slam nose-first into his shake.

"Say hi to Hina from me."

…

Hinata giggled, looking at Sakura indecently undulating her hips, holding a pipette in the air and shaking an Erlenmeyer around. Good thing that they had a three-hour break in the middle of the day. No grads to spy and boss them around and no need to fight for culture bottles and the likes.

Motioning towards her ear, Hinata tried to make Sakura take her earbuds out. After five minutes, the pink-hair Miley Cyrus-wannabe did realize her friend wasn't just having a seizure and turned her iPod off.

"You need the electric pipetter? Gotta recharge it first."

"Uhm, n-no. Actually, I think we are short on … y-you know …"

There was something cute about Hinata still being unable to get over the fact they were doing their honors project on an aptameric ribozyme. That would recognize sperm. Human sperm. Human male sperm.

"It's sperm, Hinata. You gotta get over that. We are working on a sperm quantifying method, girl. Repeat after me, sperm. Sperm. Sperm. Sperm."

Obviously, Hinata had to blush deeply and duck her head as if something had been thrown her way. One day, Sakura would squirt some semen onto Hinata's face to remedy to the problem … and because it would be hilarious. Great Facebook shit.

"Whose sperm are you working with? Kiba? Sai? Naruto, maybe?"

"S-Sakura!"

She had to grin. Hinata was the cutest thing ever. Ever.

"Well, you gotta make do with what is left. Naruto should deliver some tonight, it's Wednesday no? You are on freezing duty, eh! I have to cram for my Nuclear Acids midterm tomorrow. Why the hell didn't you take that class?!"

"I am d-done with my biochemistry classes. I am only d-doing my chemical engineering ones for the n-next two years."

Sakura rolled her eyes. Honestly. Who was crazy enough to do that fucked up double-degree biochemistry/chemical engineering?! Hinata, that's who. Her father was putting too much pressure on the poor girl. She would get into med-school for sure; she didn't need that chemical engineering degree to fall back on. Hinata would end up dying, for fuck's sake. Six classes per semester, seven at times. Fucked up.

"Uhm, at what time is N-Naruto coming? Shino and I are m-meeting up at seven to do our Programming assignment."

"He should be here at six. Don't forget to write down the time and date and make him sign. You know how particular Kakashi is. He just wants us to forget so he doesn't have to pay. Greedy asshole."

It had all started because of their supervisor being a greedy asshole. Sakura and Hinata had chosen to do their Biochemistry honors at Pr. Dr. Hatake's lab; had they known him better, they would've reconsidered. Truth being said, Hinata had wanted to work with Pr. Dr. Yūhi. Work on the CRISPER-cas system. Find a way to repair the gene responsible for Duchene muscular dystrophy. Do something useful in other words. But Kurenai had taken a maternity leave and Sakura had dragged Hinata to Kakashi's lab. Where they worked with sperm. For whatever obscure reason. Most probably because Kakashi was a pervert. And even Hinata, who generally lived in denial, couldn't find a way to disregard it.

Human sperm was a hell to find. You had to buy it, get it delivered and it all cost a lot. Count on Kakashi not wanting to shell money out, especially after the cuts in science. Profs couldn't rely on federal subsidies anymore. Sucked dicks. And of course, that meant Profs were less eager to accept students doing their honors or interning with them. Sakura had had to prove that she was the top of the top to get into the lab. Hinata had had it easier; she just mentioned she was doing a double-degree and showed her marks.

All that to say, noobs made mistakes. And in their lab, they better hide them. How did you hide the fact you just lost a certain quantity of your main component because you sucked at what you did?! It had just so happened that working a twenty-hour shift six months ago, Hinata and Sakura had gone through their last bottle of sperm and the experiment had gone to hell. The next sperm order was due in two days. Two days doing nothing. They would have had to tell the grads. The grads would have told Kakashi. And Kakashi would've whooped their ass.

Sakura being her resourceful self had had the best idea ever. And Hinata had started hyperventilating before she had even told her. She had been right to freak out. Because Sakura, being adorably manipulative (adorable according to herself, manipulative according to the rest of the world), had made a certain someone appear at eleven o'clock in front of their lab that very evening. Naruto.

She had let him in and demanded that he … well, that he helped them. Hinata remembered it as if it had been yesterday. Sakura had made Naruto sit on a lab stool at eleven pm. Leaning in, batting her long pink eyelashes at him and flashing the cleavage she did not have, she had whispered something to his ear. Hinata would never forget the horrified, wide blue eyes that had looked at Sakura, then at her, then at Sakura again. He had squeaked something. But when Sakura had offered him fifty dollars, all his sensibilities had gone to hell.

Naruto had had no idea he could give his sperm to science without small Narutos sprouting on his path. He had had no idea it could be a lucrative business either. Like, Sakura, his unrequited love, needed his help. His help implied masturbating. And he was getting paid for it?!

Fact was, Naruto wasn't studying business for nothing. He had smelled a great opportunity to make money. And Sakura had smelled a great opportunity to get on Kakashi's good side and get that goddamn reference letter she needed. She was applying to med-school a year before Hinata. She was desperate.

In other words, Sakura had dragged Naruto to Kakashi. Made the two of them shake hands (she had been very satisfied to know that Naruto had offered Kakashi his working hand). And forced Naruto to offer his services as … well, sperm-donor. More like sperm factory.

Instead of paying around one hundred bucks per bottle, Kakashi struck a deal worthy of a slave-owner. Twenty dollars per bottle. And Naruto had to furnish at least five bottles per week. When you were an undergrad living in a crummy four-bedroom apartment with five other dudes, two chicks and a dog, you couldn't even hide a bag of ramen from that colony of grasshoppers. You didn't exactly spit on one hundred dollars weekly.

The Sperm-Donor Fraternity had been born. That's how Kiba had called it. Because you could count on Kiba wanting in on that. The dude did sperm deliveries twice a week, for a total of ten bottles. Weekly. At twenty dollars each. Kiba brought in two hundred bucks a week. Plus, he had a sperm count of one hundred million cells, way above the sixty million average.

Naruto was able to furnish around six bottles weekly, for a total of one hundred and twenty. And Sai, whom Kiba recruited out of pity, held the record. Fourteen bottles per week. Fourteen fucking bottles. The guy had been too Asperger to know how to jerk off when Kiba had dragged him in; and here he was, best employee of the month.

They proudly made six hundred dollars a week. Two thousands four hundred per month. Twenty-eight thousand eight hundred per year. Nine thousand six hundred per head. Just to jerk off. They were young and had made a difference in the world at age twenty-one. They made science progress. Without them, Sakura and Hinata would never be able to … play around with their sperm, really.

Mmm, Sakura playing with Naruto's sperm. He would be her personal sperm-donor anytime. Kiba wasn't all that enthusiastic about Hinata playing with his, though. She had spent a month at his family's farm in Vermont. She was his second sister. Like, his mother called Hinata her favorite child, since she hadn't had to tear her vagina up to give way to her. She was family. Sibling-zoned for eternity. He didn't want his sweet, innocent little sister playing around with his semen. The idea made his dick shrivel and his productivity decline.

As for Sai, well, he did not have any special attachment to his sperm and was more than willing to spread it around. Whoever wanted to play with his semen was very welcome to do so. And if ever there was a virgin dwarf-lady that needed some help in the department he could always help. He had had a forty-five minute crash course on the subject.

Throwing her plastic gloves into a bin, Hinata waved at Sakura. She had to tutor Kiba. Again. Life Science Calculus just wasn't his thing. Lucky he hadn't had to take the engineering class; he would have crashed and burned.

…

A knock on the lab door's window made Hinata jump. The grads shot her a significant look. She was the undergrad, so she had to answer phones, open doors, go pick up deliveries and other BS. While they played Sims on their fucking computers. They thought she didn't know?!

Massaging the bridge of her nose, she stood up and made her way to the door. As she took a look at the window, she jumped, a yelp escaping her. Someone had stamped his face on the glass. Someone blond. She honestly didn't need to have a panoramic view of the insides of Naruto's nose. He took a step back and started laughing. Well, at least he found it funny …

As she opened the door, Naruto grinned at her, shaking the cardboard box in front of him.

"Merry Christmas, Hina! Here's your semen delivery. Santa Claus approved."

He really thought he was funny. Laurel and Hardy material just there. Hinata blushed and took the box from him, making Naruto step into the lab. Nodding at the grads that worked on their computers, he grabbed a lab coat hanging on the doorframe and slid his arms into it.

"Hey, Naruto. S-Sorry for having insisted you came so early. I'll go get s-some dry ice. You mind preparing the glycerol/DMS s-solution for me?"

Naruto fucking loved playing around with solutions and pipettes and the likes. Plus, it was nice knowing Hinata trusted him with that shit. Sakura thought him too retarded to calculate a one-to-ten ratio and usually didn't even let him into the lab. And she was right, Kakashi would've freaked out knowing someone from the outside as much as breathed his lab's air.

But, since Hinata had caught the grads having a booze party in the lab, they became super lenient with her. It was something like a tacit agreement. She kept her trap shut about their little party and they let Naruto or Kiba in.

Sai was a little too much for anyone, so he was banned for life. Telling Kakashi he must have had a small-penis complex because he drove a Mercedes-Benz had made Sai the number one enemy. First impressions were not his forte. He had told Hinata she had enormous, beautiful breasts and Sakura she was ugly the first time they had met.

He was a little out of it. But generally speaking, Hinata liked him. He was very artistic. And once you got over the fact he had no brain-to-mouth filter, you realized he was pretty smart too.

Coming back with a box of dry ice at minus eighty, Hinata grabbed onto the pipette Naruto was handing her and added the solution into each sample, while he screwed each bottle into the dry ice. He had to admit he kinda missed the feeling of Hina and him being a team.

They had been high school sweethearts or shit like that. She had had a crush on him and he had been in love with Sakura that ran after Sasuke. Naruto had been dumb and young, so he'd decided to start going out with Hinata, y'know, just to have someone. And it had been a nice relationship actually. They've lasted the last two years of high school and one year of college.

Naruto had hoped he would get over Sakura eventually. But at the end of their first year, Sasuke, who was getting a degree in international relations, decided to send New York to hell and went on an exchange to France. Then, he decided to spend another year and a half in England. Sakura and Naruto were left kinda alone.

It's only later that Hinata picked Kiba and Shino up. And then Sakura's childhood friend, Ino, and her two best buds, Shikamaru and Chōji, joined the party. As for Sai, he just appeared out of nowhere. One day, he wasn't there. The next day, he had moved in.

All that to say, Hinata had been very busy with her double-degree and living in a two-bedroom apartment with a nice, calm roommate that did Kung Fu and could break your nose in one move. Sakura and Naruto had been roommates. Shit had happened. And Hinata and him had broken up.

Instead of having made a mess of the situation, she had taken it like a lady. Calmly, without tears or reproaches. It had kinda punched Naruto to the guts. He had expected … There was no better revenge than doing as if you weren't all that affected by your boyfriend cheating. Naruto had been more touched by the fact Hinata took it so well than by the knowledge he had screwed over a great relationship.

Sakura had been the one to freak out the most. Naruto still remembered all the months she had spent trying to make it up to Hinata. And Hinata reassuring her, in that calm, sweet manner of hers. Another great way of taking revenge. The more Hinata had showered Sakura with affection, the more Sakura had guilt-tripped.

Obviously, Hinata had tried to make it easier on them, not worse. But it resulted in them never having started dating in the first place. Had Hinata made a mess of the situation, it would have brought them closer. This way, it had just ended up in an aborted relationship. And here was Naruto, regretting ever having cheated. Yet again.

"By the way, guess who's coming back?"

Lifting the box with the freezing samples, Hinata shot him a curious glance, motioning for him to open the lab door for her. As they stepped out, Naruto let the name fall, expecting some type of reaction.

"Sasuke, that's who. After two years and a half, man. The bastard is coming back."

She smiled noncommittally. Sasuke and her had never really been friends. Obviously, she knew him and he knew her. Naruto and her had dated for a decent while and she had been stuck trying to fake interest in Sasuke Uchiha. Just that she had never been able to see what everyone else saw in him. Girls ran after him, dudes envied him.

He had been the cow's moo, or the cat's meow, or the dog's woof, whatever. Just that Hinata had always found him somewhat … absent. He had tried to run away and she understood him, it sucked having the whole world staring at you. Had she known he had had dudes checking his dick out when he pissed as a means of comparison, she would have pitied him more.

"T-That's great, Naruto. When is he c-coming back?"

They stepped into an elevator and Hinata's attention got hijacked by colleagues from other labs.

As they exited on their floor, Naruto picked the subject up again.

"In two days actually. So, you free? He's gonna meet plenty of new people. Y'know Kiba and Shino. And Sai. I am not even sure whether he remembers Shikamaru and Chōji. Ino he remembers. She tried to molest him in a locker room in grade ten."

Hinata stumbled and almost crashed with the box in her hands, but Naruto was faster, grabbing onto her elbow and yanking her up.

"Hey, careful, there. You should let me carry that damn box, Hina."

"N-No, it's okay."

Why wasn't it all that difficult to imagine Ino trying to unzip a man's pants with her teeth?! Not that she was loose, she wasn't. But when she wanted something she went all out to get it. Hinata had seen her hunt men. It had been highly traumatizing.

"So, you coming?"

Well, she couldn't exactly say no, could she? It would be impolite for her to not come. Then again, she doubted Sasuke Uchiha would care or even remember her. He wouldn't appreciate either. He wasn't exactly very social for what she remembered. How Sasuke and Naruto became best friends in the first place was beyond her. They must have bonded over the insults they threw to each other's head ever since she knew them.

"W-Well, I guess."

Naruto grinned down at her and she was left dazzled. That huge smile of his still made her swoon. But in an agreeable manner. It wasn't about the craziness, the passion, the infatuation anymore. She was happily over Naruto. But their breakup, and what had preceded it, had shattered her to pieces. That's about the time she had met up with Kiba and Shino.

She had been walking around, crying. It had taken all of her self-restraint not to make a scene when she had caught Naruto and Sakura making out. It had taken all of her composure to excuse herself from their presence and disappear. And of course, all the pent-up sadness had had to get out eventually.

So Hinata had been walking around, a real wreck. And obviously, not looking where she was going, she had had to bump into someone, step back and fall on her bum. It had been Kiba. She still remembered the way he had started picking up her books and apologizing. He had begged her not to cry, that he was sorry, while Shino had looked down at them. And she had just started wailing harder then. Count on good ol' Kiba freaking out and picking her up alongside her books.

All in all, she had ended up seated in a Starbucks, with a white chocolate cappuccino and macaroons in front of her, spilling her heart out to two guys she had never met. Extra-stuttering included. In the end, she had realized they were her classmates. They took CellBio together. And the two of them had started giving her guy-advice.

She still remembered Kiba all self-important telling her that the best thing was to do as if she wasn't touched at all by what happened. That way she wouldn't say or do something that she'd regret later on. Plus, the less she cared, the less people would talk about it. Kinda fake it till you make it, he had said. She just had to convince herself she didn't care that much and eventually, in a few months she would really stop caring.

Shino had added that she should pick up a new hobby, do something that would occupy her. That's how she had started going around with Shino, catching butterflies. They had made so many fieldtrips on weekends, with Kiba's dog Akamaru running around in the fields. And she had also started volunteering in an animal shelter with Kiba. She needed to volunteer for med-school anyways. She had learnt plenty of useful stuff.

Her wailing in public had gotten her two friends. Her two best friends forever. It had just clicked between them. And sometimes, she told herself that had Naruto not cheated on her, she would've never met Kiba and Shino. If that had been the price to pay, it had been worth it.

After that, Kiba and Shino had met Naruto and Sakura, and it had kinda worked out between them as well. And made it possible for Hinata to rekindle with the two of them. They moved on. And Kiba and Shino moved in, Akamaru included. Sakura and Naruto had a four-bedroom apartment that was starting to be a little expensive without Sasuke; none of them was allergic to dogs, so y'know, a good deal. She could thank Shino and Kiba for her being able to talk so naturally to Naruto.

"Hina, you listenin'?"

Hinata unlocked a door on the third floor and pushed it open with her butt. Naruto entered and grabbed onto the handle of what seemed like an enormous cryogenic incubator. It was just a minus eighty freezer, for crying out loud. Opening the thing, he extended a hand for Hinata to pass him the samples that he arranged on the appropriate shelve.

"I was asking whether you would mind cooking something. Y'know Sakura and Ino would end up putting horse sedative in the food it so they could rape Sasuke. And I can't cook to save my life. Chōji will help, he just can't cook everything. And Shikamaru is too lazy to do anything besides complain anyways. Kiba, Shino and Sai don't know, don't owe Sasuke … And honestly, I kinda wouldn't trust Sai with an oven."

She giggled. Yes, the bunch of them would most probably starve if it weren't for Chōji. And she admitted that end-of-months were her responsibility. She brought food over almost daily during a whole week. And fed Kiba and Shino under the table when the need arose. Lucky her roommate Tenten had been very understanding and hadn't minded them inviting themselves to dinner. But now that Tenten had moved out to go live with her boyfriend, Lee … Hinata sighed. Felt damn lonely.

"Sure, N-Naruto. We'll make s-something nice for S-Sasuke."

Closing the freezer, they made it back to the lab, got rid of the dry ice and their lab coats and headed for the apartment. With Naruto chaffing Hinata, of course.

…

Whenever Hinata stepped into "Naruto's" apartment (it wasn't exactly his since he had seven roommates or squatters, if you'd rather), she had the impression she'd just entered a warzone. Not so much because of the mess. The place was strangely clean. Had mostly to do with Kiba being a clean-freak. You couldn't do otherwise with a dog around. He always freaked out about Akamaru walking on something sharp, lapping some beer or eating something poisonous for him. Hence, you could see Kiba cleaning the living room regularly.

Count on Ino to take care of the washroom. There was no way she would ever put her royal butt on a filthy toilet. Or permit for slime to grow on the shower curtains. Chōji was obsessed with the kitchen. It was a holy place where divine deliciousness was born. It sparkled. Which left Sakura to take care of the room she shared with Ino, Shikamaru to pass the broom in the room he and Chōji squatted and Shino to keep his and Kiba's room clean. Sai and Naruto had shared a room for some time. But for whatever reason, Naruto had moved out and went to sleep on the couch. So he took care of the hallways and the balcony.

It looked like a warzone because war broke out all the time. Peace treaties were signed from time to time. It was all very political. Kiba and Shino stuck to each other. So did Chōji and Shikamaru. If they had issues with one another, they took care of it behind closed doors and always attacked in pairs. But Sakura, Ino and Naruto passed alliances that they broke, battled on two fronts at the same time, etc. And Sai … Well, Sai was Switzerland.

However, that very evening, it seemed that a peace treaty had been passed and besides Kiba screaming at Shikamaru while they played some of their dumb games on Shino's Xbox (or was it a Playstation, Hinata had no clue), everything seemed to be calm. As Naruto and herself made their way into the living room they were welcomed by the whole crew, or almost. Akamaru immediately jumped on Hinata and started sniffing up between her legs.

"Akamaru, s-sit."

"Someone's damn happy to see ya, Hina. By the way, I freed the room so you and Shino can work. Shikamaru, you cocksucking asshole, that was filthy. You're gonna pay for this, dude."

"Threats, Inuzuka? Troublesome. Especially since you never realize them."

Chōji was seated on the floor, waiting for his turn and simply waved at Hinata. He was too eager to see Shikamaru kick Kiba to the curb to ask her how to make pie crust flaky. He never got it right. Ino was seated on their crummy couch, her naked feet obliviously massaging Sai's thigh while she read Cosmo.

"Hey there, Hina, babe. Been a while we haven't delved into your sexual subconscious. I've learned a new approach and we'll have to try it out on you."

"Ino!"

"Aww, look at you blushing. You look like a little strawberry."

Why did Ino choose sexology?! Hinata didn't know. What she did know was that she had become Ino's favorite guinea pig when it came to practicing all the approaches she learned from her shady Profs. Raising his head from the book he was reading, Sai shot Hinata a sweet smile, ignoring Ino's feet on his lap.

Honestly, Hinata would've suggested for Ino to first analyze her and Sai's weird relationship. Were the two dating?! Were they friends with benefits?! No one knew. They were perpetually glued to each other's bum. No one had caught them having sex, or even making out. But Hinata had caught Ino modelling for Sai. It had all been very awkward since Ino had been minimally dressed and Sai had seemed pretty uninterested.

Naruto elbowed his way from behind and Hinata decided to move her butt before Ino had the great idea of doing some public sexologing. Three hours later, Shino was happy to announce they were finally done.

Hinata hated programming and generally sucked at it. Thank God for geeky Shino that helped her study before midterms and always paired up with her during projects. He was a lifesaver. And unlike Kiba, he didn't try to do the work for her; he let her struggle a little bit by herself. Kiba was overprotective, Shino over-lenient. Together, they would've made the perfect father.

The two of them decided to join the party before Kiba took her back to her apartment. Sakura, who had been cramming until then, chose the same moment to walk out of her room and they all found themselves seated on the living room floor.

Nine people seated in a circle, chaffing, screaming, throwing pillows at each other, drinking beer. With a dog sniffing around. It was pretty chaotic. To Hinata's great dislike, at some point Shikamaru chose to go fetch his pot. Count on Shika smoking a joint whenever Hinata was there. And count on everyone trying to force her to partake.

"Yo, Shino, roll us a joint. And don't overdo it; the stash needs to last the week. Damn troublesome when I run out."

As soon as the fumes started rolling around the room, Hinata started coughing and Akamaru wining. Standing up, Kiba slid the door to the balcony open and ushered the enormous dog out. Pot fumes weren't animal friendly. Hinata did not have the chance to get locked out. She was stuck looking at Shika enjoying himself while her eyes prickled. Too bad Shikamaru wasn't a selfish man, she would've preferred for him not to go about offering a puff to each person present. As soon as he was done, he passed the joint to Sai, who joyfully accepted it.

"I haven't had any since that time I smoked crack with some gang members in Brooklyn."

Sai's life experiences. However, before he had had the time to bring the thing to his lips, a pink slipper violently hit his head, making him cry out in pain.

"Ow!"

"Sai, you idiot! Pot lowers your cell count and makes for retarded sperm!", Sakura screamed, a nerve popping on her forehead.

Tearing the joint away, Chōji snickered under his breath.

"Retarded sperm? What else do you expect from Sai?!"

"At least I don't have three layers of grease falling over my penis."

Chōji that had taken a puff started coughing and wheezing. Unexpected comeback. Mostly because Sai had a point. Didn't happen often.

"Oy, billboard-brow, why the fuck do you care about Sai's sperm count?!", Ino retorted, seeing red.

Uh oh. War was being declared. If Sakura had the bad idea of calling Ino–

"Shut up, pig. He donates sperm to my lab. I don't need cells that swim in circles or play dead when I use them."

"You mean he gives you sperm?!"

Turning her electric blue eyes to Sai, Ino glared at him. Grabbing onto the empty beer can she had been keeping between her legs, she hurled it at his head. It honestly wasn't Sai's evening.

"Ow!"

"So you go around spreading your seed and you never offered me any?!"

General silence. Awkward moment.

"Uhm. Should I have offered? I didn't know you wanted my semen."

"You fucking idiot! I have been pretty clear for the last few months. I thought you weren't attracted to me! I was sure you were fucking gay!"

Well, he might have been. Gay people could donate sperm too.

"Oh, no, no. I think of you when I masturbate."

Awkward cough from Shino. Naruto's jaw dropped. Shikamaru muttered something that sounded like troublesome. Chōji simply passed Shino the joint. Ino for her part blushed crimson. Hinata still held the record; she was the color of a boiled lobster and started hyperventilating. Why wouldn't the ground just open and swallow her up?!

"Well, do you want my sperm now?"

Sai felt a little sheepish. He would have offered had he known. He hadn't meant to be impolite, or something.

"Yes!"

Jumping onto her feet, Ino ran to him, grabbed his shirt and hoisted him up.

"Let's fucking go!"

Before they had the time to reach Ino's room, Sakura ran after them.

"Ino, make him finish in a bottle. We'll want that! And don't forget to write the date and the time and to bring it back right away so I can go freeze it."

Hinata would faint. Pulling on Kiba's sleeve, she whispered:

"C-Can you t-take me home, p-please?"

"Yeah, let's get the fuck out of here, Hina."

x.x.x

Looking up at the dark sky, Sasuke let the fumes escape his lips. Bad habit he had picked up in France. He'd started smoking like a chimney. And he could bet he would do it even more now that he was back to the US. Fuck, man. He had only come back to the Big Apple for his last semester. Not that he didn't like the place. Not that he didn't like his friends. Just that he was a lone wolf. Europe, being an American and knowing no one had permitted for him to play it low-profile.

Got a chance to fuck Western European chicks and shit. Made him laugh, all about the human rights. They shitted you about poor darling gypsies being mistreated in Eastern Europe or other BS and then went on proclaiming how Leopold II was a great guy and how colonialism helped Congo develop. Ten million Congolese killed by the asshole and then the Belgians plotting with the CIA to get rid of Patrice Lumumba. First democratically-elected Congolese president ever. Executed without the UN scratching its ass about it. All about human rights, sure.

Other funny shit with Western European chicks. When they say no, you better get your dick out of them. And it got them off big time, saying no in the middle of it. Had to do with them FEMEN bitches and their showing their boobs off to Baby Jesus or some shit. All in all, he was pretty happy to be back to the US. He was returning to England at the end of the summer anyways. Just for the prestige of attending grad school at Oxford, but until then New York it was for him.

As the cab pulled up in front of him, Sasuke threw his cigarette away and helped the driver with his luggage. Urgh. He could bet Naruto had organized a fucking party. Not that Sasuke had any friends, besides Naruto and Sakura, left in New York. And not that he wanted a party. Oh, for fuck's sake. He should've just fucking graduated in England and stayed there. Funny how he'd changed his mind in thirty seconds.

As they drove away from JFK, he placed his forehead on the cool glass of the window and dozed off. He honestly didn't know what he wanted anymore. But well, once he got off in front of the apartment building he used to live in; he had no other choice but to pull his shit up. He had expressly demanded that Naruto didn't show his ass at the airport. He'd had enough of their Skyping and shit, he still remembered what the idiot looked like and he didn't need a romantic scene with him anytime soon. Plus, he would've dragged Sakura along. Sasuke could bear Sakura in small doses, but she wasn't exactly the first thing he wanted to see, coming back home.

Driving his suitcase over the third floor, Sasuke didn't have to knock. As soon as he'd stopped in front of the right door, it had been thrown open and a yellow and orange blur jumped at his throat.

"Bastard, welcome back!"

What a great way to greet someone you hadn't seen for two and a half years, eh? Being dragged in, Sasuke shuffled his feet less than enthusiastically. And he had been right to expect the worse. Before he had the time to step aside, Sakura was hanging around his neck and kissing him on both cheeks.

"Sasuke, I am so happy to see you! I missed you so much."

"Tch."

Doing his best to unfasten her arms from around his neck and to shrug off that other orangutan's arm, Sasuke stepped into the living room to be welcomed by … a shitload of people he would've rather not seen. Some faces he recognized, some faces he didn't. Shikamaru Nara and Chōji Akimichi stepped forward and offered him their hands. He shook them without bitching too much. Those guys and Sasuke had always been cool. They weren't Naruto material.

But seeing Ino in his apartment went a long way to make his balls shrivel. What the fuck was the bitch doing there?! Who'd invited her?! Naruto, that's who. And who was the asshole on whose lap she was seated?! Like, what was this shit? An alternate universe?! Ino's chew-toy tilted his head and gave Sasuke the creepiest smile he'd seen in a long while. The type of happy-go-lucky smile that suited a psycho.

"Hello there, Sasuke! Happy to meet you. Everyone speaks so much about you."

What. The. Fuck?! And who were the other assholes on the couch? The black-haired chick rang a bell, but he would've remembered someone with such a great rack, really. She was pretty good-looking. Whatever, being attractive didn't mean you could invite yourself to someone's place.

"'Sup? I'm Kiba and this is Shino."

Yeah, well he looked like a gym-addict with all those muscles. And why the fuck did his bud wear sunglasses inside?! The guy must've been a fucking gang-member. Only Naruto was retarded enough to invite a gang-member to his place. He caught the black-haired girl's eyes. She blushed crimson. What? Chicks still blushed and shit?

There was a lot of food placed on a coffee table and beer all around the place. Urgh. This was such BS. Sasuke simply shot Naruto a disgusted glare, didn't go to the trouble of shaking hands with the unknown crew or Ino and headed out. He just wanted to go back to his old room, crash on his bed and sleep through this nightmare. Hopefully, by the next morning, they would all be gone. Taking the food and beer with them.

"Uhm, Sasuke …"

Naruto was following on his steps.

"I need to tell you something."

Sasuke grabbed onto the knob to his door and opened it, stepping in … and being welcomed by a … cow?! A falabala horse?! A fucking alpaca?! He had no idea what the hell the thing was; just that it was giving him a new-age facial and that he wasn't appreciating it.

Grabbing onto its muzzle, Sasuke did its best to get rid of it and push it back inside. And when he stepped in, with Naruto and now Sakura joining him, he had something to see.

It was not his room. It was not his fucking room. There was a bed and a futon-sofa. Sasuke had never had a futon-sofa. The walls were covered in … dead insects. There were dead bugs in glass-cases all over the fucking walls. For fuck's sake what the hell …

"Uhm. This is Shino and Kiba's room now. But … uh, they won't mind moving to Sai's room and Sai and you can have this one, if you rather."

Oy! Who the fuck was Sai?! And what the hell were Shino and Kiba doing, squatting Sasuke's room. Ok. He would wake up. This was a nightmare; a wet nightmare taking in account Sasuke's face was dripping with … animal saliva. He would wake up from it. He would wake up. He just had to keep calm.

"Surprise, Sasuke! We have roommates. You won't imagine how low the rent has become. Ino and Sakura have the room at the end of the hallway. Shikamaru and Chōji took the one right beside the living room. Sai has the room in front of the washroom and I sleep on the living room couch. So … uh … welcome home."

Walking out, Sasuke did as if he hadn't seen anything. Fucking Naruto had not told him anything about this shithole for two years and a half. Sasuke had been really retarded to think he would come back to a nice, clean bed. There was a fucking … animal of sorts lying on his bed at the moment, and salivating all over it.

He passed right beside the peanut gallery, not even wishing them a good evening. Actually, he was hungry. Turning around, he headed back for the table covered in food, grabbed two empanadas and went for the exit, recuperating his shit on the way out. Naruto ran a little after him, but the glare Sasuke shot him sent a clear message. Come after me and I'll get rid of your balls for you.

"He doesn't seem to be happy to see us", Sai noticed, as perspicacious as always.

"He'll be back, he's just too excited", Naruto added joyfully.

Ino shot Shikamaru a significant glance, passing her hand through Sai's hair. Shikamaru rolled his eyes and mumbled something under his breath. Everyone knew what it was. Chōji snickered and Hinata hid between Shino and Kiba, doing her best to make herself as small as possible. She hoped Sasuke wouldn't be back.

On the staircase, between two bites of empanadas (homemade according to him, too good to be some industrial shit, Naruto learned to cook?!), he retrieved his phone, having already changed the SMS card inside of it, dialed a number and waited. It was late, he hoped he would answer. Thank God for Itachi being a workaholic.

"Sasuke, you've arrived in New York?"

"Hn. Got nowhere to stay."

"Don't you have a deal with your old roommates?"

"Not anymore. I need money. I'll have to retrieve a little more than usual for the hotel room until I find a new place. So if you could unblock the account, I'd appreciate."

A sigh on the other side of the line.

"I would have preferred for you to come down to Boston so we'd have a talk."

Why the hell did Itachi want to talk?! Itachi and Sasuke had always been good and tight. They never talked. Since he didn't drink, do drugs, had good marks and all that shit. Ok, he smoked, but Itachi didn't know and wouldn't care, since he himself drank like crazy. Sasuke didn't remember the last time he'd seen his brother without a glass in his hand.

"Sasuke. You know I am your guarantor. I get a copy of your credit card statement every month."

Yeah, so?! Sasuke barely ever used his damn credit card. He'd just taken one out before leaving for Europe, in case.

"I can see what you purchased with it."

"So?"

"You have a problem, Sasuke. And now that you are back, I would like for you to address it and get help before you leave for Oxford."

What the fuck?! Ok, Itachi must have been drunk. He never got drunk, he was an elegant alcoholic. He must have been high then. He'd graduated to needling?! Sasuke could imagine that working for the Uchiha Sons law firm could be stressful. Sasuke wouldn't judge if Madara had driven Itachi to become a drug-addict. Sniffing coke from a stripper's anus?!

"Dude, the hell?"

"Sasuke, you've spent a significant amount of money on porn. Just because you haven't taken out any credit, does not mean you do not have a problem."

Oy! What the fuck?! Sasuke didn't watch porn. Sasuke didn't need porn. Whenever he wanted a … steamboat willy (ok, he admitted it, he didn't watch porn, but he'd watched Prostitute Mickey on Youtube, whatever), there were volunteers lining up at his door.

"Dude, the fuck you've smoked?!"

"Do not try to change the subject by making this about me, Sasuke. I am looking at your Visa statement at the very moment. The first step to cure addiction is to admit you have a problem."

Wait. Wait, wait, wait. Visa?! Yo, Sasuke had a MasterCard.

"I don't have a Visa. I have a MasterCard."

"You've taken a MasterCard out two and a half years ago. But you've had your Visa for four years. Don't try to trick me, Sasuke."

Visa. Visa?! Yes. He'd had a Visa a long while ago. But where the fuck was it?! Almost dropping his phone in the staircase, Sasuke started rummaging through his coat's pockets. Grabbing onto his wallet, he looked for the Visa he had not seen for three years.

"Listen, Itachi. I never used a credit card for porn. I don't even know where the card is."

"Sasuke, I am sorry. I can't have you flushing your future down the drain because of an addiction to porn. I'll have to freeze the bank account until you accept the fact you have a problem. When you'll be ready to ask for help, call me. Until then–"

That's the moment Itachi chose to hang up. What. The Fuck. Just happened?! Credit card. Porn. Porn. Credit card. Letting the phone slide from his fingers, Sasuke grabbed onto his head and pulled at his hair. The shit was starting to get long. Ok. Breathe. Take another bite of empanadas. Aw, fuck Sasuke had left them on the ground. Whatever. He grabbed onto one and blew all over it, before stuffing his face.

Like, Sasuke ate when he was stressed. And then he had to go to the gym and burn the calories. Unless he wanted to end up like Chōji Akimichi, that is. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He would be stuck to get himself a part-time job. That he could do. But until he found a decent place to stay, he would have to go back and ask Naruto he let him stay in that shithole upstairs.

Naruto. Naruto?! Itachi had said no credit had been taken out to pay for the porn. Which meant someone was paying the credit card off. Sasuke had not paid the fucking credit card off. He usually just transferred money from his account to his MasterCard whenever he used it, which was rare as shit. The person that had his card not only didn't want to drive Sasuke into a ditch, he also knew his password, account number and PIN. He made internet transactions. Naruto, you fucking piece of shit. Who else was desperate enough to need porn?!

Leaving his luggage, phone and empanadas on the stairs, Sasuke shot up and ran back to the apartment. Starting to pound on the door, he heard a known voice on the other side.

"I told you guys he would be back."

As Naruto opened the door, he was welcomed by a punch to the face. Stepping into the apartment and kicking the door shut, Sasuke would have fallen to the ground and given Naruto the beating of his lifetime. Unfortunately, a giant with a goatee appeared in front of him and slammed his paw onto his pectorals, pushing Sasuke against the door. What was the dude's name again? Kino?! Shiba?! Whatever.

"Yo, bastard, what the fuck is your problem?!"

Sakura ran to Naruto and did her best to hoist him up.

"Sasuke, what happened?!"

He hated her shrill voice, made his fucking balls shrivel. Sasuke was pissed. And that gorilla that was maintaining him against the door better get his paws off of him if he wanted to live. Then again, the guy would most probably be able to break Sasuke's wrist with two fingers. Urgh.

"You fucking idiot. You stole my credit card. And used it to buy porn!"

"I didn't steal it. You left it behind when you went to France."

"How the fuck do you know my net account password and PIN, you fucking dumbass?!"

"I know everything about you, Sasuke."

Ok. The situation was becoming real creepy.

…

"Damn", goatee-guy whispered.

"That sucks dicks, my man."

Sasuke shot him a glare. No shit, asshole?! Seated on the ground by Shikamaru, he had the asshole blowing pot-smoke into his eyes. Sasuke didn't smoke pot. He liked his brain functional, thanks.

"Well, you just stay with us. Look for a part-time job. But even if you don't want to work, it's cool. The rent is so low, no one will care. Right, guys?"

He would kill Naruto. He would fucking kill Naruto.

"And Sai won't mind sharing the room, right?"

"No problem. As long as he doesn't mind. You ran away."

"I fucking ran away because you were jerking off while I was there, you fucktard! Plans of giving him a complex."

"I was just doing my job. And you mean: plans of giving him a huge complex."

"You don't do it when someone else is present."

Ino chose that moment to meddle.

"He doesn't jerk off anymore. I'm taking care of it. Sasuke doesn't need to be scared. Sai is cured from hairy palms."

Naruto narrowed his eyes at her.

"No sex when someone else is present either."

"He can join us, I don't mind."

Ino turned her eyes to Sai and her jaw dropped. Then she shot Sasuke a long look.

"I don't mind either", she concluded.

Ok. No. Nuh uh. No fucking way. That look Ino just shot him said it all. Sasuke would not fucking share his room. With anyone.

"I am not going to fucking share a room. You didn't tell me anything about fucking roommates."

"Aw. Come on, Sasuke, don't be a dick. It's fun."

Fun?! Fun having to share your bathroom with eight other people?! Fun having to bear Shikamaru's pot-fumes?! Fucking fun having to sleep in the same room as a guy that jerks off in public. Like, fuck!

What was wrong with Naruto?! Sasuke barely leaves him for two and a half years, and he becomes even dumber than before. Was that even humanly possible?! Naruto wasn't human, Sasuke could guarantee.

The sunglasses-guy spoke slowly, in his deep, calm voice.

"Since Hina's roommate moved out, Kiba and I could move in with her and liberate a room. If she doesn't mind."

"Yeah, we could do that. That way I'll stop calling you every fifteen minutes to make sure you're alright", the goatee-guy agreed, looking down at the black-haired chick.

Hina? Hinata?! As in, Naruto's girlfriend?! Well, ex-girlfriend, right? Sasuke didn't remember what shit had gone down between the two of them, but he was pretty sure Naruto had called him at like two a.m. in Paris to bitch'n'moan about their breakup.

Wait, Naruto's ex hadn't been hot. She'd always been dressed in some ugly-ass hoody and sweats. Not in jeans and a black shirt. A black shirt that showed off the curves of her breasts. Slapping his inner manwhore, Sasuke rubbed at his chin. If he had a room for himself, this god-awful situation would be more bearable, granted.

"Uhm … I am s-sorry. B-But … w-well. D-Dogs are not allowed in m-my building."

Oh. So the hairy cow that had assaulted Sasuke had been a dog.

"Oy, no way. I fucking love you, Hina, you're like my little sister. But there is no fucking way I leave Akamaru behind. I don't know the guy, I don't owe the guy."

Goatee shot Sasuke a disgusted glare. As if he'd just run his alpaca over with a Porsche. Not that Sasuke had a Porsche. Itachi did, but he usually didn't drive it. Y'know, alcohol in the system and shit.

"Why doesn't Sasuke move in with Hinata? She is nice and calm. And she has nice, big breasts too."

Cue to everyone, Sakura and Ino included, turning their eyes towards Hinata's breasts. The poor girl yelped and shielded them with her arms.

"Sai, asshole, don't make me break your dick for you."

"You can't break it, Kiba. My dick doesn't have a bone."

"Let me give it a shot."

"Calm down, Kiba. Sai is right. Hina does have gorgeous breasts."

"Oy, Ino. Shut up! And don't look at her that way. She ain't gonna take part in a threesome with the two of you."

Hyperventilating, Naruto's ex tried to say something. Failed miserably. Tried again. Yeah, Sasuke really hoped she was calm. Because it wasn't worth talking, if she hyperventilated at each attempt.

"I-I-I …"

Sasuke examined her from head to toe. For what he remembered, she had always been shy. Not very talkative. Didn't look like the type to bring back big bikers full of sperm. Didn't seem to be a junkie either. She was his only chance. He would simply not call Itachi and admit he had a problem he didn't have. Sasuke's pride had no price tag.

Turning a determinate glare her way, Sasuke motioned with his chin towards the door.

"Let's go."

"No way that asshole is ever gonna move in with Hina. Over my cold, dead body."

…

That's how Sasuke had moved in with Hinata Hyūga. And Kiba Inuzuka was still alive. Even if sore about the whole shit. Hinata Hyūga … Itachi was her father's lawyer. And the apartment they were sharing was her property. There was no rent attached to it. Her pops had just bought it for her and her younger sister that would take it over in a year or so. They were a NYU legacy or some shit like that.

In other words, Sasuke was left to pay cable, internet, water and electricity. A real bargain, for fuck's sake. Just that he hadn't even had the money to pay himself a hotdog, let alone a complete meal. But of course, he had had to find a way to make some money.

One, because he couldn't very well mooch off of the chick. She was just so … defenseless. It would've been like stealing a fucking lollipop from a baby. Two, because he needed money for transit anyways. Three, because he would never give Itachi the pleasure of seeing him beg. Never, ever. Just that, fuck, he couldn't find anything that fitted his schedule. He had to graduate. Grad school on the other side of the planet, in that colonialist, imperialistic hole that was England, awaited.

"Yo, bastard. You fucking listenin'?

Of course he wasn't! Sasuke never really listened when Naruto talked. Why the hell did they have a break at the same time?! And why did Naruto have to follow him every-fucking-where now that he was back. Ok, Sasuke admitted it. He had missed the idiot as well. He had missed him like shit. Had Naruto not used his credit card and made him homeless, he would have forgiven the apartment and the roommates.

"No", Sasuke answered truthfully.

Naruto rolled his eyes. Why was he even trying to help the bastard?!

"I was saying that, since you didn't find a job, I might have something for you."

"No thanks."

"Come on, hear me out. But keep it a secret, if Kiba and Sai catch me, they'll cut my dick off."

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke could not refrain from leaning forward and listening. Well, ok. He was fucking desperate. To the point of relying on Naruto for help. Hadn't he lately learned his lesson?!

"So, how about making one hundred bucks per week?"

Well, it wasn't much. But four hundred per months would cover water, electricity, cable and internet. It would be tight, but it would work. As for transit, well fuck him, he was waking up two hours early to walk to college. He would just have to keep up with the regime.

"Or more?"

Now they were talking.

"It's an easy job too. You'd be freelance."

"Just tell me what the fucking job is."

Naruto leaned back, grinning proudly down at Sasuke. Fuck the idiot, honestly.

"Sperm donating. Twenty bucks the sample."

"Hey Kiba, Naruto wants to make Sasuke join the Sperm-Donor Fraternity."

Oy! How the fuck had Sai appeared behind Naruto without them noticing him?! And what the fuck was he doing at NYU?! He went to an arts academy on the other side of the fucking city. Why the hell did he have to scream in the middle of the cafeteria, too?! The guy was socially retarded. It was beyond Sasuke how someone like that could even exist.

"Not under ten bottles per week, he won't!"

And of course, count on Kiba Inuzuka to join in. And scream from the other side of the cafeteria at them. The two of them didn't care much for the looks they were getting. Kiba had no shame and Sai didn't even go to NYU. Sasuke however wanted to find a rope and hang himself somewhere. After having murdered Kiba and Sai. And Naruto.

"Aww fuck."

Aptly said, Naruto, you fucking idiot. In no time, the asshole was being squeezed between Sai and Kiba. Kiba shot Sasuke his trademark glare. The guy didn't like him. Kiba had some type of sister-complex and babied Hinata. Sai just creepily smiled at him. The asshole was so fucked up. No wonder he was the only dude that could bear Ino more than five minutes in a row.

"Guys. He would not join anything. He would be freelance. For every bottle he makes, I just recuperate his money and hand it over. Y'know, he can't mooch off of poor Hina."

Naruto used the magic word. Look at Kiba becoming putty and growling. He had no other choice but to accept. 'Cause no one should ever mooch off of poor Hina. Kiba had debated for the longest time whether he shouldn't just punch Naruto for the form. Because of what he had done to Hinata. He had kinda decided against. But he kept it as an excuse if ever Naruto pissed him off too much.

"I won't do it–"

"I'll bring over some porn for you", Kiba interrupted him.

"I'm having dinner at your place anyways."

"No fair, why do you always get invited and I never."

"Because I wasn't the asshole that cheated on my girlfriend with her best friend."

Oh, so that's what had happened! Sasuke felt kinda queasy. Naruto was fucking dumb, that much had been proven already. Just that it felt really sleazy, cheating on a girl like Hyūga. He'd noticed she wasn't like other chicks. She didn't throw herself at a guy's head, or shit.

And ok, Sasuke admitted his ego was kinda sore she didn't seem to pay him any special attention. He was a bitch-magnet for fuck's sake. Didn't work on Hinata Hyūga. Plus, for the three weeks he'd been squatting her place, she had been avoiding him big time.

"I won't–"

"Why don't we all just go over and make a porn party and do it together!"

The fucking record scratched. Kiba and Naruto's eyes got immediately redirected to Sai. Like, there were limits to being socially fucked up. Even Sasuke couldn't believe what the fucker had just said.

"Sai … no …", Naruto mouthed.

An awkward cough coming from Kiba. Sasuke chose the moment of silence to reiterate his resolution.

"I won't fucking donate my sperm."

Sai leaned in, tilting his head to the side.

"Don't be scared if you don't know how to do it. I'll show you. I didn't know either. And Kiba didn't want to help me. He just told me to google it. It wasn't very informative but I eventually got the hang of it. Isn't all that difficult."

Sasuke sighed and stood up. No. He couldn't. He simply couldn't remain longer than fifteen minutes with the fucking bunch of them. Sai made his balls shrivel. Kiba was a pain in the ass. But Naruto got the trophy for most annoying piece of shit there was on earth. Fuck him. Had it not been for Naruto, Sauske would've never ended up in that very peculiar situation of his.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't hear Naruto running after him. It is only when the orangutan swung his arm over his shoulders that Sasuke realized he was there.

"So, bastard. How is it, living with Hinata? She has a nice place, eh?"

Yeah. The place was clean and simple. No ugly chick-shit. Then again, Sasuke hadn't been in her room. But whatever.

"Tch."

He tried to shrug the arm off. But Naruto wouldn't have it that way.

"And Hina is sweet, eh?"

Sweet. Hinata Hyūga was sweet. Yes. And it was becoming problematic. But there was no fucking way he would tell Naruto of all people about the shit it was living with a girl that avoided you. Sasuke Uchiha was a bitch-magnet; just that Hinata Hyūga wasn't exactly a bitch.

Ok. Naruto admitted it. He kinda wanted to play cupid between the two of them. For a few reasons, most of them selfish.

One, because he had screwed Sasuke over with the credit card. And Hinata would be such a great cure to his pain in the ass. Two, because he had screwed Hinata over with the cheating. And Sasuke didn't talk much, was calm by nature and would make a great boyfriend to Hinata. Besides the fact he wanted to move away to England, detail. Three, he wanted Sasuke away from Sakura. Well, yeah, what did you want him to tell you?!

"You've seen her in nothing but a towel yet?"

Grabbing onto Naruto's arm, Sasuke jerked it off and made his way outside. He needed a fucking smoke. Sitting onto a bench and throwing his head back, he shivered, doing his best not to think of Hinata.

Fact was, he had moved in. The apartment had been fucking clean. The room she had offered him, kinda under coercion, had been perfect. A table, a nightstand, a bed. Very military. To his liking. Kiba had screamed a lot, threatened and all that shit. Naruto had insisted. Sakura had bitched. Ino had triumphed. Chōji and Shikamaru had not cared one fucking bit. Shino had simply told him Hinata was scared to live alone and that he should check the locks before going to sleep every evening.

Just that she was hot. And Sasuke was a man. He remembered that barely six days ago, he had walked out of his room. Went directly to the kitchen. It had been a Saturday and he had slept it. His only goal in life for the next four months was to complete his degree; the following four months would be spent preparing for England. He wasn't about the binge-drinking and shit. He had slept in because he had studied.

And whom had he met in the kitchen?! Hinata of course. Which wasn't fucking weird, it was her goddamn apartment. They even ate together sometimes. Just that usually, Sasuke relied on Naruto to feed him. Why? Hadn't it been for Naruto and his porn (that he most probably used for his sperm-donation business), Sasuke wouldn't be hoboing his way through life at the moment.

But that morning, he had gone to the kitchen to see whether Hinata could spare him some shit. And she had been there, leaning onto the kitchen counter. Eating strawberries. Dressed in a long, silky nightgown. Trust Hinata not to be the type to be prancing around in nothing but a t-shirt and socks.

He had had a hard-on. Yes. Ok. Sasuke was a fucking pervert. But here you had this girl with a damn enticing cleavage and a killer backside (or if you rather, huge boobs and a great ass) leaning onto a kitchen counter. Biting onto strawberries. Licking her lips.

You had two types of girls. The girls you fucked. There was nothing sensual about fucking. You get in, you get out, you shoot your load and you're done. You try to give the girl an orgasm so you feel less sleazy about it. And the girls you savor. Those were the dangerous ones. Those ones you wanted to know. It took way more than one night for that. Then you got attached. And then you asked her to marry you. From that day on, you are stuck with her for the rest of your life. And you love it. And reproduce massively.

He had to fucking keep away from Hinata Hyūga. Not the type of girl you fucked and threw away. But he had stood there like a fucking idiot, staring at Hinata eating cocksucking strawberries. As soon as she'd noticed him, she straightened up, blushed, fidgeted with her fingers. Been the cutest, smallest thing he'd ever seen. Like a cuddly kitten. Sasuke wasn't into cuddly shit. At least he'd thought he wasn't until he'd seen her grab onto the bowl of strawberries, shove it into his hands and run away to her room.

Since that day, Sasuke jerked off in the shower. He couldn't bring back girls to fuck. He didn't have the time to pick up bitches and force them to take him to their place. So he was stuck jerking off in the shower. Being a fucking sleazebag and thinking about his roommate. A roommate whose place he squatted.

…

"Hey, Hina."

Kiba threw his arms around her lithe form and brought her in, resting his chin on top of her head. She giggled, trying to step aside so Shino could come in.

"We've come to be fed", he mentioned, elbowing Kiba.

Akamaru wagged his tail, trying to push past their little assembly.

"Hope you aren't going to get in trouble with us bringing Akamaru over from time to time."

"Well, t-they can't really f-forbid for my guests to b-bring their dog over f-for a visit."

"Where's the fucker? I got some shit for him."

And Kiba disappeared in the hallway, leaving Hinata, Shino and Akamaru to get the damn food ready. Without knocking, he just stepped into Sasuke's room and threw a plastic bag onto his bed. Turning around, Sasuke almost barked at him to get out. But refrained. He rather not get on their bad side, since he might go and beg for some pity food later during the evening.

"Some porn and bottles for you. Don't worry. Nothing bought with your credit card. By the way, you should recuperate the shit. I mean, Naruto might think that now that the damage is done …"

Couldn't the fucker shut up?! Like, where was the off button on the thing.

"Just bring your samples over when you're done. Or give them to Hina directly, she's the one working with them anyways."

Cue to Sasuke's jaw dropping. Wait. Wait, wait, wait. Hinata would be … using … his sperm?! If he ever decided he was so desperate for money he was willing to donate that is. He was still looking for an alternative.

"Oh, you didn't know?"

Kiba grinned at him mockingly.

"Listen, Uchiha. She's too good for you. You think I haven't noticed how you sniff her up? Back off, my man. I think your bro' Naruto transformed her into a lesbian anyways. Who would blame the poor girl?!"

"What the fuck does she do with the sperm?!"

Lesbian. Sperm donation. Like, for all he knew …

"She doesn't use it for that, don't worry. Does some shit around sperm quantification for medical purposes."

Scratching his goatee, Kiba shot a look at Sasuke's computer. That dude honestly needed some action as well. He spent too much time writing about … international diplomacy, whatever that shit meant. But honestly, Kiba didn't care about whether he got some or not. As long as it wasn't with Hinata.

Three hours later, Sasuke walked out of his bedroom to be welcomed by utter and total silence. Hinata was sitting on the couch, typing something on her laptop. As he appeared behind her, she threw her head back and smiled at him.

"Sorry about t-this. I hope they d-didn't d-disturb you while you were studying."

"I'll move out as soon as I can."

She misunderstood and curled up. She didn't mind Sasuke. Actually, he kinda grew on her. Like a pet. He was something like a cat. Not all that affectionate. But his presence was reassuring. And he was clean and polite. Cleaned his own litterbox too.

"Uhm, t-there are some leftovers. I d-don't know whether you are hungry. I w-wouldn't want to throw t-them away, you know."

Cue to Sasuke's inner hobo rejoicing. And off he was, heading to the kitchen. Hinata let a shaky breath escape her. Sasuke Uchiha. She had met Itachi Uchiha. The type of elegant, good-looking, well-raised older guy. He was after all her father's lawyer. Only the best for Hiashi. And Sasuke had something of Itachi. Just that he also had that rugged bad-boy side. In other words, he was the complete, perfect and total opposite of Naruto.

And he was coming back from the kitchen with a plate full of arugula-prosciutto wrapped breadsticks, sausage-stuffed mushrooms, ham and cheese muffin rolls and other absolutely orgamiscally delicious homemade food. Hinata was a genius. An artist. She was God's gift to humanity. Shooting a glance at her extended legs, Sasuke raised his eyebrow at her. She immediately blushed and pulled her legs up.

All happy to finally be fed, Sasuke parked his ass on the couch and dug in. Feeling like a fucking douchebag and an asshole for eating the food she had paid with her own money. Well, her father's, whatever. But he was so fucking hungry. He had to start paying, here. Because he was becoming a sugar baby. If they were at least having sex–

"I found a job. So, y'know …"

"R-Really? That is g-great."

The smile she just shot him! Dear Lord. Sasuke honestly needed to move the fuck out. Before he did something fucking stupid. I mean, the chick had been crazy enough to go out with Naruto. Not the type of girl Sasuke needed. Why the fuck had she–

"Why did you ever go out with Naruto?"

Ok, Sasuke. Take your fucking food. Stand up. Go away. Go away. Go away.

Why was he asking her that?! Of all the things Sasuke could have asked her. Well, what did he want her to tell him?! Naruto had been funny, loud and had ignored her for a very long period of time. She had confessed to him twice, he had not understood it. And then, out of the blue, in grade eleven, had asked her out.

He had starved her and then thrown her a few scraps of affection. And she had wagged her tail at him like a good doggy. Urgh, she disgusted herself. But Naruto wasn't a bad guy. It hadn't been his problem or his fault. Hinata had been the dependent one. It had all to go back to her father and their strained relationship.

"Uhm, t-that job of yours. W-What is it?"

Yeah. She was more intelligent than him. Better put a healthy distance between them. Placing his plate on the coffee table, he felt up his pockets and sighed in relief when he sensed his pack of cigarettes and lighter.

"Just some freelance shit."

Standing up, he went for the balcony. It is only when a gust of fresh air hit his face that he could relax. This girl was driving him nuts and they've barely been living together for three weeks. He honestly had to find a way to have some sex. Bitches were already crowding him. He should be able to have a fast bang, maybe on campus. Some sorority chick, the type that came fast and forgot just as fast.

And of course, Hinata chose to follow him onto the balcony. Dressed in that flimsy shirt of hers. She would be cold. Blowing the smoke into the air, he shot a look at the small girl standing beside him. She was crimson red and fidgeting with her fingers. He made her fucking uncomfortable. He would move out. Sasuke honestly would. As soon as he could.

"Uhm, h-he was funny and h-he always smiled. And I … w-well, you know. W-When you are young, you idealize p-people. Which is unfair, r-really. By idealizing, it is as if y-you don't w-want to see the p-person in front of you. You don't acknowledge t-them. You j-just care about your fantasy."

Fucking A. Sasuke honestly needed to stop talking to the girl. Because, unlike all the chicks he met up with, she made sense. Like, what she was saying about idealizing people was true. Infatuation. She had been infatuated with Naruto. It hadn't really been about him. It had been about her and her needs. Happened to the best of people to act on infatuation.

Taking another puff, Sasuke realized his whole fucking life had been about him and shit. He hadn't really cared for people around him. He had been infatuated. With himself. And now, he was planning on making his miserable existence about jerking off for money. So he could pay off a chick that raised his inner manwhore from the dead.

…

Sasuke started donating sperm. And no, he had not needed Sai's help. The chemistry between his righty and his dick had been more than enough. And he had not needed the fucking porn that stood on his table, by his laptop. Why?! Because his relationship with Hinata had become sexually strained to the point he didn't even need to use his fucking hand.

It was getting the best of him. How the fuck did you live with an attractive woman?! It was humanly impossible. The only two things he thought about were his studies and Hinata. Hinata and his studies. He had walked into a door that very morning. And it had taken him five fucking minutes to realize what the hell had happened. He was about to lose his mind.

He wanted a shower? He had to brace himself to be surrounded by Hinata's smell. He wanted to rummage through the fridge he had started to fill with his own money? He had to expect to find her leaning on the kitchen counter. He wanted to park his ass on the couch? She would be there, rolled up like a kitten, looking up at him with those pale eyes. Shooting him glances from under her long eyelashes.

You know you're going crazy when you start noticing shit about a chick. Like the way her fucking hair curls when she gets out of the shower. The length of her eyelashes. The little veins on her temple. Urgh.

Grabbing the lid to the bottle, he screwed it on and wrote date and hour on the small tag on it. And another little piece of his pride for twenty bucks. Aw, fuck his life. Putting the shit into a plastic bag, he better hurry his ass. He had no idea what his sperm's quality was, very honestly. It took him two hours to get it delivered and he had read on Wiki (well, Jesus, he had been curious about his own semen, ok?!) that his little wiggly cells were sensitive to temperature changes. Sure, he could've handed the shit over to Hinata and she would've taken care of it.

He also could've told her he thought about her when he jerked off. And that he wanted really badly to have sex with her. That would've sent their great relationship to hell honestly. Because after two months being stuck with each other, they kinda became friends. They were both really obsessed with their studies. She understood what it meant to need tranquility and silence and to have to write papers and shit. Hinata hadn't called Kiba or Shino over the last week because Sasuke and her were cramming. That had been real thoughtful.

Plus, she didn't mind it when Sasuke asked her to listen to him present his material. She didn't understand a thing about international policies and shit, but she listened carefully. Sometimes asked him to clarify a part she saw he struggled with. The chick was pure gold. Like, no wonder a dickhead like Naruto had not known what to do with her. Sasuke might have been his best friend and all that, but the girl had been way too good for him. But what had truly made Sasuke take the decision he would not fuck over their budding

friendship had been her knocking at his door at midnight with tea and cookies.

She had brought him tea and cocksucking cookies at midnight. Knowing full well he was cramming. And that he might have appreciated a snack. You see, desperate chicks did shit like that. They batted their fake-ass eyelashes at you, giggled and offered you tea and shit and tried to look like the perfect housewife or crap. Sakura would've done that. But then, you know they are trying to swindle you when they refuse to do the same for someone else. Hinata Hyūga wasn't like that. She was nice to everyone. This was the type of shit Sasuke knew she had done for her previous roommate. He had seen her caring for a sick Kiba. Treating his fur-ball like a human being. Knitting a scarf for Shino. For fuck's sake, she could bear Sai and Ino. Without faking interest. She was a saint, as simple as that.

And maybe was Sasuke a tidbit pissed about it. He would've liked for her to be doing special shit just for him. Because he was Sasuke. Not because she was sweet by nature. Urgh. Someone just kill him already.

Stepping out of his room, he got a glimpse of her heading out. No make-up. No ugly-shit, skimpy clothes. Simply different. She wasn't New York enough. Not brand-crazed. Not arrogant. Not a money-hunter. Hinata was simply perfect.

"B-Bye", she called out to him before running away.

She was lucky to catch her bus. Not that she wouldn't get stuck in the traffic. She always did, reason why she always left forty-five minutes early. But she didn't mind. She got time to think. Leaning into the cool window, she let her forehead rest on the surface. The only thing she regretted was that she mostly thought about Sasuke. She had let him move in because he was Naruto's friend. And all of Naruto's friends were nice people. And he was so particular. She couldn't imagine him surviving with eight roommates. He was a little asocial, like herself. Hinata could understand the need for tranquility.

She had just not expected that they would become … friends. She really appreciated him as a person. And Sasuke didn't take her for a dimwit. He told her about his studies, explained things to her. He didn't talk much, but when he did, he was always serious, looking straight into her eyes. Never cut her off when she wanted to say something, either. And yet, she felt uncomfortable around him. In a strange, agreeable way. He made her hands tremble. And she blushed. She was always like that, ok. But this was different.

"Awfully pensive this morning, aren't we?", Ino murmured to Hinata's ear.

Hinata jumped and turned around to see Ino seated by her. They usually did take the bus together. Just that she had been thinking so much about Sasuke Uchiha, that she hadn't noticed they had arrived to Ino's bus stop.

"I've been talking to you for the last five minutes. I wonder what you were thinking about."

Ino always had that bad habit of getting into someone's face. Hinata could feel Ino's minty breath caressing her lips. Blue eyes twinkled at her. If there was one person that should better not know about her thoughts, it would be their national sexologist.

"Or maybe, who you were thinking about. I bet I know."

"I d-don't get what you m-mean, Ino."

Hinata did her best to smile. That was one shaky smile, right there. Adorable darling Hina knew very well what Ino meant. Put a guy and a chick, both hot, together in a room and look at what happens.

"So? Tell me, have you seen Sasuke in nothing but a towel yet?!"

Hinata blushed and squealed lightly.

"Ino. Of c-course n-not!"

"But you wouldn't have minded! Who would have?! Sakura hates your guts now, that much we know. But it's worth it, isn't it? And come on, it's pretty obvious. Kiba will need some psychotherapy to get over the fact you and Sasuke are about to get down and dirty."

Ino shot her that know-it-all look, as if she knew a secret Hinata tried to hide. And Hinata honestly didn't have a secret to hide. There was nothing between Sasuke and her. There honestly wasn't anything.

"Ino, t-there is nothing b-between Sasuke and m-myself."

"I never said there was something. I said that there will be something. Hina, I am a sexologist. I know the difference between something that has happened and something that is bound to happen. And let's be frank, what better way to celebrate graduation than to lose your virginity with the hottest New York property at the moment."

Lose your virginity?! Wait, wait. How did Ino–

"Oh, please, Hina! Let me repeat myself, I am a sexologist. I can sniff a virgin at a ten kilometer radius. I bet you haven't even gotten to third base with Naruto", Ino scoffed good-naturedly.

Cue to Hinata hyperventilating.

"I-I-I am n-n-not g-graduating this y-year …"

"Whatever. Just remember the following: you can't put life on hold. When the time comes, let inner-Hina roar like the lioness she is!"

She felt more like a newborn kitten at the moment.

"So, tell me. How does it feel to play with Sasuke's semen?"

The horrified look Hinata shot her made Ino cough slightly. Fuck. Hinata hadn't known that–

"Uhm, h-he doesn't d-donate any … D-Does he?!"

"Well, according to Sai he does. And Naruto confirmed, so …"

So. Hinata had Sasuke in her apartment. And he masturbated. In her apartment. Potentially with her only a few meters away. Taking a shuddering breath, she found herself pressing her thighs together. This should have not been her reaction. Why was she … This was so wrong. So. Wrong.

Why hadn't he told her?! What would she have done had Sasuke told her?! Fainted?! Or maybe … offered her help? No! Slapping her inner sex-crazed animal (yes, even virginal Hinata had one), she felt her pressure drop. Her head felt so heavy.

"Oy! Hinata, don't faint on me! Hina … Hinata …"

…

His dick hurt. Masturbation just really wasn't his thing, especially when he was stuck doing it on specific days, a few times in a row. But there were things worse than having to jerk off for money. For example, that evening, Sasuke stepped into the apartment, greeted Hinata who was as per usual on the couch. As he appeared behind her, she squealed in horror, turning red like as red as a lobster. Sasuke was fucking allergic to seafood. And then, she started to hyperventilate. The fuck?! He'd thought they were past all the panicking. They had been pretty good for the last two weeks. Less of all that BFS, a.k.a blushing-fidgeting-stuttering.

Before he had the time to ask Hinata what the hell was wrong with her, his phone rang. Hinata thanked God and ducked her head, doing her best to concentrate on her Transport Phenomena notes. As soon as he saw the caller ID, Sasuke had to answer. Itachi had cracked. Hah! He must have had a case of the guilts at the idea of Sasuke being homeless and giving blowjobs for a sandwich.

"Itachi."

"It isn't Itachi", Madara snapped on the other side of the line.

"What are you doing, calling me from Itachi's phone? What the hell do you want?"

Hinata tried to make herself as small as possible. A mad Sasuke. And again, the image that had plagued her for the whole day came back to mind. Sasuke masturbating only a few meters away from her. Maybe while she showered. She would die of shame. She was raping Sasuke's intimacy in her head. A psycho. Hinata was become a psycho.

"Itachi had a car accident, he's being taken care of at the moment."

"What the hell?! He drove drunk?! Is he fucking alive?!"

"He's alive. Maybe. Maybe not. I don't know what state he's in. I just arrived at the place. They told me to wait. And don't talk to your uncle like that."

Madara wasn't his fucking uncle. Well, kinda. But no really. Whatever. Itachi. His brother, his only family was in the hospital. Because of a car wreck. For fuck's sake. Before he even realized what he was saying, he promised Madara he would take a direct flight towards Boston.

Hanging up, he was welcomed back to reality by a pair of worried white eyes looking up at him. Hinata had completely forgotten that barely a few seconds ago, she had been thinking about how it felt to be playing around Sasuke's semen. Someone was hurt?

Dialing another number, Sasuke massaged his eyes, doing his best not to cry like a pussy. His fucking brother had just been involved in a car crash. For fuck's sake. And Madara, the asshole, sounded all cold and shit. As if he was telling Sasuke about a simple trip to the dentist.

"Idiot. I need three hundred bucks. Itachi's in the hospital and I gotta take a flight to Boston. Yeah, well I cancelled both my fucking credit cards. Kinda learned my lesson. Yeah. Yeah, I'll wait."

Barely two seconds after Sasuke had hanged up, Hinata's phone, that had been lying on the coffee table, started to ring. She answered immediately, more out of reflex than anything else, still in shock.

"Hina, please, pretty please, lend me three hundred bucks. You'll have the money back by the end of next week. I'll work hard."

"Three h-hundred dollars? Well, s-sure, I gue–"

Tearing her phone out of her hand, Sasuke almost threw it to the wall out of rage.

"I didn't ask her for money, you shithead. I asked you!"

It all ended up with Hinata transferring three hundred dollars to Sasuke's bank account and forcing him to take an extra three hundred in cash. Cab and hotel room, y'know.

"Uhm. W-Will you c-call when you g-get there?"

Standing in the doorway, Hinata shivered at the thought the nice Mr. Uchiha she had met on a few occasions could be in a critical state.

"Yes."

"And w-will you c-call when you s-see him?"

"Yes."

"And w-will you t-text often?"

Why did she care?! Looking down into her tear-filled eyes, Sasuke couldn't very well say fuck no. The girl was just too nice. She was being taken advantage of. By Sasuke, who was being a real fucking dick. But he was too worried about Itachi to care at the moment. He would give her the money back. Plus, the extra three hundred she had shoved into his hands were completely unnecessary. He would stay at Itachi's place anyways.

"If y-you need something y-you can call my father. I put his phone number in y-your pocket. Mr. Uchiha is h-his lawyer. H-He won't m-mind helping."

Mr. Uchiha?! Itachi would have had a boner just hearing himself be called Mr. Uchiha. Well, he would have had one were he still alive and not paraplegic. Ok, Sasuke was freaking out. And Sasuke was off, nodding one last time at Hinata. He just needed to get a flight for Boston, was all.

Closing the door behind him, Hinata decided she, for one, needed music. Whenever she was freaking out, she just put her earphones on her ears and listened to music. Classical mostly. Beethoven. He was just as much of a freak as she was herself. Going to her room, she turned her laptop on and looked for her earphones. That were nowhere to be found. Nowhere. Starting to panic, she rummaged through her bag, through the drawers of her desk, everywhere. And of course, there were nowhere. She had lost her sixth pair of earphones. She should just subscribe to Sony and ask them to send her earbuds each month. She had the bad habit of forgetting them everywhere. Bus. Lab. Classroom.

And she couldn't listen to her music without earphones. She just couldn't. The same stupid repulsion that made it impossible for her to watch movies on her laptop. She needed to watch them on the TV, for whatever reason. Sending all proprieties to hell, forgetting she had a roommate that would appreciate for her to respect his intimacy, Hinata decided she would go and see whether Sasuke had any earphones. She knew he hadn't taken his computer with him.

Stepping into his room, she turned the light on. He had been studying alright; there were papers all over the place. But Hinata headed directly towards the laptop on his table. Doing her best not to disturb his papers, with shaking hands, she looked for what could have been earphones. Finding nothing. She needed some fucking Beethoven. She would go crazy without it. In an abrupt movement, she disturbed a t-shirt that had been placed over what seemed to be books on the table. As the thing fell to the floor, Hinata realized it hadn't been hiding books.

Snapping her head to the side immediately, she blushed deeply. Oh, Lord. Ino had been right. This is how it had started with Kiba too, she remembered acutely. In the beginning, he had hidden it from her. Whenever she had wanted to enter his room, he would've run in front of her, slammed the door in front of her nose and rummaged through things. Then only had she been allowed to enter. She had believed that he was maybe a little untidy. Everything but! He had been hiding his porn. According to Shino however, Kiba had the utter delicacy to not jerk off in the presence of people. Hence, no one really knew where he … uhm, worked.

And here was a stack of porn movies. In Sasuke's room. Ino had been right. The only reason she could have ever imagined the very dignified Sasuke Uchiha to need porn would be for donating sperm. It wasn't like he couldn't have real sex. To Hinata's greatest displeasure, she had met girls that would have thrown themselves in front of a New York cab for just a kiss from Sasuke. And anyways, what was so great about porn?! Why were men going crazy about it, to the point of ruining their friends! Naruto had used Sasuke's credit card for it after all, and it had truly messed up his best friend's life.

Sneaking a look at the first DVD on the stack, she felt her pressure drop. No. No! She would not watch any porn. She had never watched any, she would not start now. Hinata didn't do drugs. Porn were drugs. You could develop an addiction! Curiosity killed the cat. And Hinata was very curious. She had never done any drugs. Well, ok. OK! She had maybe smoked one joint. But she had never done harder drugs. And she didn't drink … She'd gotten drunk once. Yes, ok, she admitted it. She would always try at least once, just to see what it felt like. She was not a recidivist however.

Reaching out, she grabbed onto the DVD, damning herself and her curiosity to hell. But there weren't any earphones. And she needed to do something not to freak out. Watch porn, why not?! You have to try everything at least once. Plus, it drove her nuts to watch anything on her laptop, she was psychotic like that. She was most probably the only idiot that would watch porn on her widescreen TV. Instead of hiding in a dark closet, like every pervert.

Game over. Hinata just made her way towards the living room, her legs trembling. The damn porn in her hand. Help her, Lord. She was fucked up. She'd always been wired the wrong way, she knew. Then again, it was the proper of every Hyūga to do crazy shit. Her sister was a taekwondo champion. Her cousin had gotten himself killed. Her father made companies collapse and sold their parts to the highest bidder. Hinata had been the sanest of the bunch. Stalking a guy during years until he asked her out. Definitely sane.

Pushing the disk into the DVD player, she sat on the ground bracing herself.

…

It honestly wasn't Sasuke's day. Arriving at the airport, he was told that two flights to Boston had already been cancelled for whatever reason. And that the next would be in two days. For fuck's sake. In two days Itachi might have been dead. Nonetheless, he took a seat. Economy. He fucking hated travelling Economy. The asshole that had invented the class should've been sued.

Taking his phone out, he dialed Itachi's number.

"Hey, Madara."

"My name is still Itachi, Sasuke."

Sasuke almost dropped his damn phone and went off running and screaming. So, the big bro' was alive after all. And here you had had Sasuke panicking like a little bitch for nothing.

"Are you calling to admit you have a problem?"

"Dude! You had a car accident. Madara made it sound like you were potentially dead."

"Stop trying to make this about me, Sasuke. But thank you for worrying, I have a broken clavicle and a sprained ankle."

"Were you drunk while driving?!"

"You are trying to change the subject. And I certainly was not. I was in a cab. The other driver was drunk. I have the list of a few good therapists that could help you."

"I don't have a porn addiction", Sasuke screamed in the middle of the airport, making happy families turn around and stare at him with open mouths.

"Dude, listen. I'll be in Boston in two days. Gotta go now. I'm happy you are good … I guess."

He would just go back to the apartment and sleep it through. Honestly, it was beyond him how Itachi could be such a fucking dick hours after having been involved in a car wreck. Calling a cab, Sasuke patiently waited, with a cigarette or three. He was juiced. Pissed. He knew he would end up doing something stupid by the end of the night.

He was like that. Whenever he got fucked over, he ended up doing something absolutely ridiculous. And back in high school, his main sycophant had been Naruto. Good thing he'd moved out to Europe. The idea of what Naruto and him would've done had they stayed together freaked the shit out of Sasuke.

They had wrecked Itachi's car together back when they had been fourteen. Itachi's first car. They had dyed Madara's dog, Cerberus, a goddamn white German shepherd, in pink back in grade five. They had squirted compote into their first grade teacher's cleavage. He should maybe call Naruto over, but he was worried they would end up wrecking Hinata's apartment block. Setting it on fire or shit.

As he stepped out of the cab and threw some money at the driver, Sasuke decided he would head directly to the bathroom and take a scorching shower to tame the devil in him. But of course, count on the fact that when life decided to get shitty, it didn't relent just like that. The worst was yet to come.

Unlocking the door, he was welcomed by the most horrible sounds he had heard. Someone was in the apartment. Cries, screams. All of that seemed very painful. Kicking the door shot, Sasuke ran to the living room. He should have never left Hinata alone! The girl must have had reasons why she was afraid to stay alone. Oh, fuck. He was ready to fight, if there was need … And of course, what was he welcomed by?!

For. Fuck's. Sake. On Hinata's widescreen TV. A dude … slamming into a girl from the back, while another one … Urgh. This was … and what was … Hinata seated on the ground in front of the TV, her hands shielding her eyes and doing her best to take in desperate breaths. Not even noticing Sasuke. Why the fuck was he getting hard?!

Hm. Well, catching a hot chick watching porn … She was his roommate and friend. Friend?! They had only been living together for two months. But it fucking felt like they had known each other for their whole lifetime. Come on, that was BS. Plus, he had wanted to do her from day one. Yes, but that was before he had found out she was the nicest girl on earth. She might have been good in bed. You know what they say about the shy, nice ones.

Dropping his ass in front of the TV, he punched the stop button on the DVD player and just stayed there staring at Hinata. Oh, she knew he was back! That's why she kept her hands over her face. This was the most horrible thing that could have happened. This was traumatic, mortifying. She would faint. Before her head hit the ground, Sasuke sneaked his arm under her shoulder-blades and brought her up.

"I-I-I-I … I am s-s-s-sorry. I w-w-was c-c-curi–"

Hinata didn't have the time to explain why the hell she had gone to Sasuke's room and stolen his shit. Because he swept her hands away from her face and brought her tight against him. Crushing his mouth to hers. Surprise made her gasp and the opening was enough for Sasuke to slip his tongue past her lips.

The fact she did not know how to answer woke up the animal in Sasuke. When had been the last time he had met up with an inexperienced girl?! How about never?! What the hell had Naruto been doing with her, kept her caged behind a glass and stared at her?! She was decorative to say the least, but the way she kissed was not that of a girl that had had tens of guys passing over her body.

That should have been his first clue that he better pull the fuck away. But Sasuke was pissed. He was burning. He needed to rechannel all his rage into something. And Hinata was the perfect receptacle for all that energy. He should've fucking called Naruto after all.

His touch, his lips against hers, felt strangely familiar. As if she'd known him forever. Their tongues entangling made an electric current run down her spine. It was a desperate stroke, as if she had never been kissed before. His free hand came to rest on the back of her head, caressing her dark locks. Before she had the time to stop him, Sasuke toppled her over, so she was lying on the ground. And at once, the sadness of their kiss transformed into animalistic need as he redirected his attack to her throat.

Nipping, licking, sucking. Hinata had never felt something like that. With Naruto, it had always been so … awkward. With Sasuke it was perfect. She wanted to abandon herself to his care. As her hands buried themselves into his hair, Sasuke felt like the master of the world. Had there ever been a girl that had held onto him with more despair?! Clutched onto him in such a way?! Nope. They all touched him. But he was touched by none. Until now, at least.

She threw her head back, her hair sliding on the floor. Her pink, pulp lips parted, letting a moan escaping. She demanded more. She wanted more. More of what?! She had no idea. She let her … inner lioness take over. Hungrily, Hinata grasped Sasuke's sweater, pulling it up violently. Woah, ok. He got the message. Grabbing onto the shit, and whatever was underneath, he passed it over his head and threw it God-knew-where.

As she took his muscles in, Hinata blushed and turned her head to the side. Realizing for a split of a second what the hell was happening. She would have most probably pushed Sasuke off of her had he not brought his lips to her jaw, kissing the line of it. As his nose nuzzled her chin, Sasuke hoarsely commanded she touched him. And as if her body obeyed to no one but him, her hands shot out and traced the back of his neck, sliding over his spine.

She was so engrossed by the feel of his skin under her fingertips that she didn't immediately feel the tentative pressure against her right breast. However, as Sasuke's hand got more insistent, she had no other choice but to acknowledge each squeeze. Each caress of his hand through the fabric of her top pulled a string directly connected to her core.

Without being able to restrain it, a soft, small, unobtrusive whimper filtered through Hinata's lips. That could have been enough to bring Sasuke over the edge. He almost convulsed at hearing it. It was not vulgar, obscene like the shit other girls had going on. It had been absolutely involuntary. The knowledge Hinata was battling her own desire had a way to reel him in tighter. It was the most erotic thing he had ever witnessed.

But, well, he needed her naked. Or else he would go crazy. Looking down at her, he realized there was something to be said about Victorian-style sleepwear. The simple, large white top and matching short khakis changed from the goddamn Victoria Secrets shit. The feel of the raw silk under his palm just made him want to explore the texture of Hinata's skin more.

Passing his hands under the top, Sasuke felt the softness of her warm skin. The undulation of her stomach under his palm. His prying fingers that reached their destination fast enough. As his palms covered her breasts and he let a shuddering breath escape him, Hinata whimpered louder. She had zero control over her own body.

Pushing her torso up, Hinata did her desperate best to deepen the touch. And Sasuke obliged, caressing her hardening nipples with his thumbs. It was too much for her to take, her breath became erratic, her head started rolling from one side to the other. Perfect moment to pull her up. She felt her point of gravity changing. And in no time, without her even being all that conscious, her top was being thrown away as if it were some very repulsive trash.

Sasuke's lips took over, replacing his hands. Kneeling in front of him half naked, Hinata was defenseless to the attack of his mouth on her left nipple. In fact, the only thing she could do was throw her arms around his neck and bring him even closer, as she squealed in pleasure. She had no idea how long the delicious torture lasted, but she was eventually laid back on the cold floor. Thanks to Sasuke, her bottoms joined the top, wherever it had gone. Without much of a preamble, his lips reclaimed hers and his hands disappeared between her full thighs.

It didn't take much. Some pressure. His long fingers caressing her through the white cotton of her soaked panties. She came violently, shuddering all over and crying out in surprise. Her eyes snapped open, staring at the ceiling light. Hinata couldn't even take a breath. What the hell had just happened?! She had no idea, but it got her to open her thighs with no demand on Sasuke's part.

Her violent orgasm should have been another clue for Sasuke to pull away and disappear from her life before he did something utterly stupid. However, his dick had taken over. And her reaction only made him want to bury himself into her. He'd just kissed his study-buddy goodbye. But Sasuke couldn't fucking stop. Game over.

It didn't take much to tear the thin cotton apart. And it didn't take all that much to slide against her body, between her opened thighs. She was completely out of it because of the orgasm. There was no difficulty for him to slip his tongue passed her lips. Hinata answered by instinct, their tongues dancing a sensual tango. In no time, his pants were being pushed down. And without second thought, Sasuke pushed himself inside of her.

And that's when shit went to hell. Hinata squealed in pain, scrunching her eyes shot. Sasuke froze. Didn't move one inch. He had felt it. A barrier. And had torn right through it. No, no, no. This was not happening. This couldn't be true. She was a–

"You're a virgin", he whispered, horrified, against her throat.

"I am s-s-sorry", she softly sobbed.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He had to get out. But it would hurt her. Though, if he didn't get out, with the way her walls were squeezing onto him, he would make an even bigger mess out of the situation.

As he made a movement to get away from her, her arms shot out and came to rest around his neck again. Naked underneath him and blushing deeply, Hinata turned her head to the side, avoiding looking at him.

"D-Don't s-stop."

Well, it was kinda late to pull away anyways. He had fucked up big time. Sasuke could finish off at that point. It wouldn't make too much of a difference. Softly placing a kiss on her neck, Sasuke shifted his head so that he could take her in. Her long black eyelashes were glistening with tears but the look Hinata shot him was not one of reproach. It was submissive, affectionate, the look of a woman of feeling. No one had ever looked at Sasuke with so much trust, acceptance, unadulterated desire. Hinata wanted him. Not a status, not his looks, not just a fuck.

The difference between the girls you fuck and the girls you savor.

Carefully, his lips found hers as he moved inside of her, doing his best to smother her moan of pain. Soon however, there was no possibility for Hinata to linger on the burn between her legs. It felt strangely right, the fill, the fit, the way his long eyelashes caressed her cheeks as he panted against her skin.

She was so fucking tight. Sasuke would not be able to last for long, he knew. As his strokes deepened, Hinata found herself moving her legs farther apart. Demanding more while tears sprang to her eyes. But as blurry as her vision was getting, she had the leisure to observe Sasuke. His head rearing back, his jaw clenching, the muscles in his arms standing out against his smooth, pale skin.

In the midst of his climax, he caught a vision of Hinata. Her pulp, swollen lips parted, with their corners slightly turned up. She was beautiful. Soft. Giving. And, even if he knew he should have regretted, he couldn't bring himself to say that he was sorry. He was not sorry. Sasuke regretted having hurt her. But he was not sorry for what had happened. Heck, he was at the point where he wanted to send Naruto a thank-you note for not having had sex with her and for having cheated on her too.

Like, had the idiot not utterly and completely screwed up, he would have been with her at the moment. Not Sasuke. Yes, it was time Sasuke forgave Naruto for having fucked him over big time. Fuck, he would even bring Itachi a bottle of Chardonnay. Had the asshole not insisted Sasuke got help he didn't need, he would've never moved in with Hinata in the first place.

Lowering himself onto her, he buried his face in the crook of Hinata's neck, wanting to stay a little longer inside of her. First time he didn't get off immediately. And disappeared into the wild. He liked having the possibility to feel her breath unify, her heartbeats slow down. The vivid urgency that had propelled them was gone. However, the traumatic silence that usually followed impersonal fucks was replaced in this case by a dense and pleasurable tranquility. One that made Sasuke look forward to the next time.

"Please tell me you are on the pill."

Fuck. His. Life. That had been the best and worst day of his entire existence.

x.x.x

The six months that had preceded his departure for England had been the best of his life, Sasuke could say as much. In the beginning, shit had gone down. Sakura had screamed, cried, thrown shit at their heads. It had been a mess, but Sasuke hadn't cared more than that. He loved Sakura. She was a childhood friend. Friend-zoned for life.

Naruto had jubilated however. To the point Sasuke had wanted to rip him a new one. The idiot had been following them everywhere. Sasuke had had to verify he hadn't installed spycams in Hinata's apartment. You never knew with the asshole.

However, to some extent, Sasuke had felt bad for Kiba. The guy had cried. Like a pussy. You have this six feet four mass of muscles just crying like a fucking baby. He had begged Hinata to tell him she had not had sex with Uchiha. No sex before marriage. He had threatened he would rip Sasuke's dick off. Shino had taken over, philosophising how it was better Hinata tried Uchiha before signing any type of deal. Had made Sasuke feel like a car. But he had never minded her driving or riding him.

Another good thing had been the fact he hadn't had to hide anymore. He could do his freelance job without a problem. Hinata started helping actually. And then, the summer. He got himself another job, paid her off. Completely and totally. Mooching off of your girlfriend was lame.

It had taken her a while to accept the fact she was his girlfriend. Sasuke had never met a girl that had worse commitment issues than a dude. But thanks to Naruto, Hinata had been pretty traumatized by the relationship concept. Then again, thanks to Naruto, she had fallen directly into Sasuke's lap. Hah. Eventually, she had calmed down and accepted the fact Sasuke would not play fucking stud for her.

Count on the two of them doing everything the other way around. Normal relationships started with dating. Then somewhere along the way, the two partners had sex. Eventually, the moved in together. Not how Sasuke and Hinata had done it. They had moved in together, had sex and then started dating. Whatever did it for them.

But, he had moved away to England. One year later, she had graduated and started med-school. What was there more to be said?

And here he was, standing on the side. Perfect position to observe her to his leisure. She was so perfectly beautiful at twenty-seven. Five years. Was a long period of time. They were in the middle of a goddamn church, and Sasuke's heart contracted. He could feel it beating in his stomach.

Naruto was radiant in his tux, smiling like the fucking goofball that he was. The priest was making him repeat all the traditional shit while Sasuke's throat palpitated. He should've refused to be his witness. He shouldn't have even flown from England. The fucker didn't deserve it, honestly.

The way Hinata watched the scene made Sasuke want to run away. Her eyes were so soft, so tender, so absolutely loving. She deserved it. She deserved a wedding all in white, surrounded by all those she loved.

As the priest finally told the newlyweds to kiss, Naruto leaned in. Hinata threw her head back, looking at the ceiling and fanning herself with her hand. Her eyes were full of tears. She missed Naruto and Sakura's kiss. It had the good of making Sasuke chuckle under his breath. They had been together for the last five fucking years. And he had never grown the balls to just take a fucking ticket towards Boston and ask Hiashi Hyūga for Hinata's hand.

It was time he fucking manned up! She was the love of his life. Sasuke had known so from day one, even if he hadn't wanted to acknowledge it. He had moved to England. Had she bitched like any other chick?! No, she had been happy for him and came to spend all her reading weeks there. They had had a distance thing for the last five years. Did she look elsewhere?! No. She had remained faithful. She said so, Sasuke trusted her. He hadn't gone to the trouble of cheating on Hinata either. He was a dick, granted; he was not that much of a sleazebag though. And let's be honest, she had ruined him for all the others.

How many weddings had gone by?! Ino and Sai. Hinata had been a bridesmaid. The dress had been Champaign-colored. Sasuke had ruined it by having sex with her in the sea in Belize. Salt water and satin weren't best friends. Then, there had been Shino and Hana Inuzuka. They had released fucking scarabs instead of doves and dogs had been invited. She had been a bridesmaid again. The dress had been pale green. Sasuke had hidden under the table while everyone had been dancing. And went down on her. She had been delicate enough not to catch the flowers. Both Ino and Hana Inuzuka had aimed for her, for fuck's sake.

Then, her ex-roommate Tenten and her boyfriend. Guess who one of the bridesmaids had been?! Sasuke hadn't been able to liberate himself for that one. But the dress had been some weird yellow. Chōji and his girlfriend. At least she hadn't been a bridesmaid for that one. Shikamaru and his girlfriend, Temari. Once again, not a bridesmaid. Thank God.

Naruto and Sakura. Pink dress, obviously. Sakura would aim for Hinata. And this time Sasuke didn't want her to be fucking delicate. He wanted her to punch whatever chick went for the damn flowers and grab the trophy. He had just come back from London, he had gotten himself a ticket for Boston and he would face his father-in-law.

He didn't fucking care whether Itachi drafted the prenup. He didn't care that Hiashi Hyūga would have preferred his daughter to marry a guy that made ten figures. Sasuke would man up. Why?! Because next year was Kiba and his girlfriend, the dress would be fucking orange. And Sasuke just couldn't take the insinuations anymore.

Everyone was expecting for him to just marry Hinata already. Kiba and Shino had threatened him that he was in too deep and that it was too late to run now. Sasuke didn't fucking want to run, ok?! But he was a ridiculous little PhD who was about to get an academia position. He wouldn't get tenured for a while either. And Hinata was working to get good evaluations so she could apply for that specialization she wanted. Great perspectives for the future.

It took Sasuke one hour to get to Hinata. Bridesmaids and witnesses should have been standing side by side, but Naruto had made him run all over the fucking place. And then she had gone off to pay her respects and shit. Chitchat with all their already-married friends. Sasuke hadn't seen her for four months, godammit. Skype didn't count. You ever tried French-kissing your damn computer?!

But, when the first dance started, he could finally press her body against his; take in her perfume and thank God for being back.

"I m-missed you", she whispered against his throat.

Sasuke had missed her ten thousand times more.

"Hina? I got Columbia", he murmured back.

She froze, stumbled. He kept her close, kissing her temple. Pulling away, she just stared at him, her eyes wide. Uh oh. Was that good or bad surprise?! Sasuke wasn't all that sure anymore. He frowned.

"Good news or bad news?"

Hinata opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

"C-Columbia?! Oh my God. T-That is huge, Sasuke. I c-can't believe it. Congrat–"

His lips cut her off, not caring one bit whether they were stealing the show or whether her lipstick would get all smudged. Yeah. It wasn't all that bad, Columbia. He smirked against her lips as Hinata melted into him, wanting more. Wanton little thing. Then again, there was just so much you could do with ten fingers. During four goddamn months. Oh, he was a pervert.

"So, this time, I want you to rouse your inner quarterback from the dead and go for the flowers."

She snickered under her breath.

"I am n-not all that sure I want to g-get married right away."

Raising an eyebrow at her, Sasuke wasn't sure whether she was joking or not. He had discovered somewhat of a playful side to Hinata. A side she kept only for him. Tilting her head to the side, she looked at him from under her long eyelashes.

"Then what do you want?"

Pulling him down, she gave his ear a frisky lick before whispering:

"Well, my biological clock is going crazy. I think I'll need a sperm donor."

Sasuke smirked. He might be able to help her with that.

"It's your lucky day, Miss Hyūga. Sperm donating is one of my specialities. I'll make you a price."

Later in the evening, as everyone was busy getting drunk or making obscene sex jokes, Sasuke sneaked out of the reception. He had stopped smoking a good four years ago so it had nothing to do with him needing his dose of nicotine. Going for his phone, he dialed a number. He better tell the asshole he was taking a flight for Boston tomorrow evening.

"Sasuke. You've arrived to the US?"

"Yeah."

"You're having fun at the wedding?"

"No."

But that might change, if he succeeded in locking the female bathrooms from the inside. Hinata, him and bathroom mirrors. Mm.

"And I take in account you have called to finally admit that you have a porn addiction and ask for help."

Five fucking years later. Itachi honestly needed a psychiatrist at that point.

"Yeah. Itachi, I have an addiction to porn and I need help."

"Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. You're on the right track."

"Yeah, whatever. So, if I get some therapy, will you unblock the bank account?"

What did you want Sasuke to tell you?! Weddings were getting fucking expensive nowadays, ok?!

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Naruto

Relationship:

Hyuuga Hinata/Uchiha Sasuke

Characters:

Hyuuga HinataUchiha SasukeHyuuga HanabiInuzuka KibaAburame ShinoHyuuga NejiUchiha ShisuiUchiha ItachiUchiha MikotoUchiha FugakuHyuuga HiashiUzumaki NarutoHaruno Sakura

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Alternate Universe - Arranged MarriageArranged MarriageFluffHumorRomanceslight!angstEnemies to LoversUchiha!SurviveNeji!SurvivesNo Uchiha MassacareNo warAlternate Universe - Canon DivergenceHinata POVhated by g.o.dAn Ashley

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SasuHina Valentine's Day Challenge 2023

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Published:2023-02-09Completed:2023-02-14Words:17,270Chapters:3/3Comments:54Kudos:202Bookmarks:35Hits:2,324

Uprooted

KilJoius

Summary:

All Hinata really knows is that she's not quite fond of Fugaku's son. Her eyes land on Itachi, who is standing between the two men. No, not that son. The other one.

The one who is awkwardly sidled up in the opposing corner of the room. He's always so aloof, as if he's too good for everyone else around him. He just wasn't the type of person she could find it in herself to respect.

Sasuke was no friend.

Notes:

For the SasuHina discord challenge: Arranged Marriage AU.

Chapter 1: Jump Up, Heart Sunk

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

~

Today, Hinata is 20.

It's not the lavish birthday bash that Hanabi is destined to have, but it's still quite a nice party.

"'Ey Hinata." Kiba swings around her front, almost losing his balance. Hinata automatically grabs at him to keep him steady and he flashes her a toothy smile. "Think your cousin over there'd be interested in me?"

Hinata looks over her shoulder to find whom she recognizes as Hikari, a branch member with beautifully long, dark green hair. She looks back at Kiba and lowers her eyes at him disapprovingly. "Is my celebration a good time to pick up on women, Kiba?"

"Ah, c'mon—"

"She is right." Shino approaches him from behind, causing Kiba to instinctively throw his fist backward. Shino's quicker and knows Kiba well enough to catch it in his hand before it lands a hit. When he sees who it is, he lets out a groan of frustration. Shino releases the fist and pushes his glasses back up his nose. "It is what some might call 'inappropriate'."

Hinata's always found Kiba and Shino's interactions to be some of the funniest.

"You guys are boring," Kiba huffs childishly, folding his arms, "never let a guy have any fun."

The group naturally settles in a corner of the grand hall they're partying in. Even though it's Hinata's birthday celebration, it's really just a façade for clan politics to take place. She doesn't care much, it's not like she really wants a party anyway. But, as always, father gets what father wants.

"You guys know why I'm single?" Kiba interjects, bringing a glass of sake to his lips to throw down his throat. He shudders and coughs slightly before setting it on the table next to them. "Women are intimidated."

"Intimidated?" Shino questions quietly, and Hinata knows he's blinking in disbelief behind those sunglasses. She smiles as she looks back at Kiba.

"Yep, by my power." He thumbs towards his own chest, then swipes at his nose. "Guess I gotta tone it down a little."

"Yes, please," Hinata teases him gently and he glares at her, but she knows it isn't serious. "No glaring. I don't want you scaring the pretty ladies away with your power."

"Ah!" Kiba barks a laugh, patting her roughly on the shoulder. She stumbles a bit but rights herself easily. "And what about you, Hina? You single cause all the men are intimidated by that crackling force in those palms?"

Hinata blushes at the over-the-top compliment, shaking her head. "No, I am single because I want to be."

"Sure ya do." He rolls his eyes, and her smile quickly fades to a frown.

"What do you mean by that?" she nearly snaps, but it comes out even and controlled.

"He means nothing by it." Shino's tone is warning and Kiba recoils from it. Hinata's smile returns as she turns to lean against the wall with them.

The three quietly observe the crowd before them. It's a typical Hyūga event, with Hyūga servants bustling around haughty clan leaders and politicians. She catches a glimpse of her little sister with her ear being talked off by one of those haughty clan leaders or politicians' sons. She feels bad for Hanabi, always expected to entertain whatever noble's son decides deserves to command her attention. But she plays the part quite beautifully, now. Just a few years ago, her byakugan would flash on and off as she internally debated whether to close any chakra points. Now, she's 14 and has fallen into her role well.

Then her eyes bounce to a man who matches her father in height as they speak, Fugaku Uchiha. It's typical for the Uchiha to be here, the clans visit a few times a year, and an event like this is a perfect opportunity to 'chat'. Hinata didn't like to concern herself with whatever that meant, it wasn't her place. Besides, she didn't really want to know, anyway. All she really knows is that there is both understanding and animosity between the clans, and that's enough for her.

She also knows she's not quite fond of his son. Her eyes land on Itachi, who is standing between the two men. No, not that son. The other one.

The one who is awkwardly sidled up in the opposing corner of the room, drink in hand, other arm folded over his chest, by himself. Hinata squints at him. He's always so aloof, as if he's too good for everyone else around him. They'd been around each other plenty, and it was never particularly pleasant. At best, awkward silence filled the space between them. At worst, he was making snide remarks toward her and she would do her best not to let him know how little she thought of him.

He just wasn't the type of person she could find it in herself to respect. People like Kiba, Shino, Naruto, Chōji, Tenten, Lee. Those were people she could respect. People who were kind without the expectation of anything in return. People who lifted others up, no matter what. People whom she thought of as friends.

Sasuke was no friend.

So, when his eyes cast up and lock with hers, almost immediately, she frowns and turns away. Kiba picks up on it and looks where she had been. She peers up from the corner of her eye to catch Kiba giving a mocking wave towards the Uchiha, then his hand flips around and his middle finger is up. She almost gasps and tells him to 'put that away right now!' but just as her eyes find Sasuke again, he's glaring his mean glare back and his middle finger is up, too.

She almost laughs. Then Sasuke puts down his drink and raises his hands in front of his chest, flopping them around and sticking out his tongue like a dog panting. He's mocking Kiba and it can go nowhere good.

It takes both Hinata and Shino grabbing both of Kiba's arms to keep him from stomping up Sasuke. Both of them know Kiba's no match for him, and to pick a fight at a Hyūga event would be disastrous for all involved.

"Fucking asshole," Kiba seethes, yanking his arms out of his respective teammates' grasps as his temper cools, slightly.

Hinata breathes a sigh, reaching out to wipe at his jacket. "Control yourself, Kiba. Remember, that power."

A laugh leaves him and that's what gets him back to normal. His hand roughs through her hair and she swats at it.

"He's approaching," Shino informs them in a whisper, and Hinata whirls around to find that Sasuke is indeed strolling over to them.

It always has to be something, doesn't it?

"Tell me, Inuzuka," Sasuke says loftily as he approaches, his stride lazy as he carries his drink in an equally lazy way, "do all the members of the clan smell like dog, or is it just you?"

Hinata lets out a tired breath as Kiba's face turns red enough to match the markings on his cheeks. "The hell crawled up your ass and died, Uchiha?"

"This sad celebration," he deadpans and Hinata squints up at him.

"Can we help you, Sasuke?" she asks, hoping to redirect him away from her dear friend who is ready to explode.

Kiba's resolve is admirable right now, though, she must admit.

"Yeah, I guess you could." He turns his attention to her, and she slowly takes a step back. She's pleased when his footsteps match hers to follow, and she continues luring him away as if he's her prey. He holds out his arm towards her and she looks at it questioningly. He points at a spot in his bicep that she recognizes as where a chakra point lies, and he taps it. "Close this one, then, hopefully, I'll black out and escape this terribly boring party."

Hinata sighs. She expects nothing less of bratty Sasuke. "Very funny, Sasuke. If you are so terribly bored, why don't you simply…leave?"

Sasuke smirks down at her and she glares at it. "Don't you think I would have—a long time ago—if I could?" She presses her lips together, unwilling to answer that. "No, the best I can do is entertain myself somehow. Your dog teammate is an easy target, and that's his fault, not mine."

Hinata finds that she can't argue that point with him. Kiba's always been too hot-headed for his own good. He is an easy target. But she won't simply stand by and let Sasuke of all people bully him in her own home. So she darts her eyes around for a brief moment before they land on a main family member she knows for a fact is smitten with Sasuke, despite how Hinata has lamented her distaste for the boy. She smiles as she taps her on the shoulder. "Emiko?"

The girl whirls around to meet Hinata, then her eyes falter to Sasuke, and a deep blush takes over her cheekbones. She bows. "Oh, Hinata! And Sasuke! Hello!"

"How long has it been since you two have been acquainted?" Hinata questions in mock innocence, slowly taking a step back. "Emiko, Sasuke has been interested in finding the perfect sugar cookie recipe. Perhaps you may enlighten him?"

"Oh, really?" Emiko brightens up, stars in her eyes as they settle on Sasuke, who has a deep grimace on his face.

It suits him, she thinks. He rarely looks genuinely happy anyway, she thinks his face is frozen into a grimace often enough that it's the default look of Sasuke Uchiha.

Another step back and his dark black eyes flash over hers, filled with irritation. "Not exactl—"

Hinata cups her mouth, and whispers to him, "her secret ingredient is cayenne."

This makes his grimace grow and she steps back again, Emiko set down the path Hinata had planned for her, and now she's returning to her team.

"That—" Kiba points at Sasuke and Emiko, then looks back at Hinata. "That was devious."

"Diabolical, even," Shino agrees, tilting his head down at her.

She smiles, proudly. These are not insults from Kiba and Shino. They are compliments.

"Why, thank you."

Nearly a week after her celebration (read: political meet and greet), Kō finds her while she's shopping to summon her. She tilts her head curiously at her former caretaker. It had been a while since he's had to come to collect her for one reason or another, and she's actually interested to see what it could be for.

Nothing could prepare her for what she was about to be told when she was led to the Uchiha district.

"E-Excuse me?"

When Hinata lost to her sister in the bid for the heiress of her clan over 10 years ago, she never expected this.

"What she said."

Hiashi and Fugaku shared a look briefly before looking back at their respective children.

"Do not act so surprised, Sasuke." Fugaku waves a hand. "This is the way forward for our two clans."

"But—" Hinata's lips thin to a harsh line when her father's eyes shoot into her like an arrow. The elder doesn't have to say much (or anything at all) to quiet his eldest.

But Fugaku isn't as lucky as Hiashi, it seems. "This is ridiculous." Sasuke pushes his palms onto the table before him, shoving his chair back. He begins walking away, and it's Hiashi's voice that recalls him. Hinata keeps her head forward, watching her father's icy gaze bore into Sasuke's back. "What is it, Lord Hyūga?"

"I would not be so eager to attempt refusing this proposal."

Hinata's teeth clench.

Marriage.

An arranged marriage.

"And what if I do?" Sasuke dares, and Hinata turns to find him looking over his shoulder, eyes squinted in a scowl at her father.

"It's not up to you, boy," Fugaku adds, and Hinata looks back at him. She can see him sucking his cheek in, something she's noticed Sasuke do before, too.

Her head turns back to Sasuke when she hears him chuckle sarcastically. "What are you gonna do? Oust me from the clan? Go ahead, not like it matters to me anyway."

"No." Back to Fugaku. "I'll simply have Lady Hokage revoke your title as jōnin."

"Yeah, right, Tsunade would never—"

"Don't test me."

Hinata inhales through her mouth, exhales through her nose. She's never been comfortable with tension, but she can at least deal with it if it's between her and another. This tension is a whole new level of uncomfortable.

Now she's turned back to Sasuke again, and she watches his head hang, fists ball up. Her own fists are curled into the fabric of her pants, too, her entire body feeling as tight as his looks.

"And what about you, Hyūga?" Her eyes find his when he looks back at her, eyebrows low. Her throat feels dry as she attempts some sort of response.

"Seems Hinata has more respect for her family than you do, Sasuke," Fugaku responds on behalf of her.

Whether that was true or not is debatable. Hinata doesn't have strong feelings one way or the other towards being ousted by her clan or losing her title of jōnin. No, the one thing her father does hold over her is the caged bird seal. She's unsure of whether she's willing to risk receiving it by defying him.

"Typical," Sasuke mutters curtly, and he's moving away now, concluding the heated interaction.

Slowly, Hinata turns back to the two men before her, two men who have always intimidated her for different reasons. Both of their eyes set on her simultaneously, and she's surprised to see Fugaku's mouth turn into a taut smile. "He'll come around."

"If I may…" Hinata ventures a question, trying to sit up as straight as possible and hold her head high. "What brings this on…now?"

Hiashi shoots her a warning look and she wills herself not to recoil from it. Fugaku speaks for them, "a contract signed long ago, around the time your title of the heiress was relinquished to your younger sister. With your 20th birthday passing, it comes into effect."

Hinata swallows and nods. Her fate had never been her own, anyway.

Hanabi swings her legs as Hinata complains.

She's been complaining for nearly an hour straight.

Hanabi inhales through the straw of her iced tea until that horrible sucking noise starts bubbling and Hinata stops to glare at her.

"I'm out," Hanabi sighs, crushing the paper cup between her fingers.

Hinata's glare deepens. "Have you no sympathy, sister?"

"Kinda hard." Hanabi shrugs, pulling the straw from the cup to put in her mouth, chewing. Hinata instinctively reaches out to pull it from her and Hanabi huffs, annoyed. "Elder sister! Look, it sucks, and I do feel bad. But, arranged marriages are fashionable right now, and lots of clans are doing it. And you know I'm in the same boat, right? Father's gonna marry me off when I turn 20, too, and I have to be clan leader."

Hinata softens. She hadn't quite thought of that in the time she'd been ranting.

"At least he's hot, right?" Hanabi wiggles an eyebrow and Hinata's sympathy fizzles out, lips pulling into a purposeful frown. "What! It's true. You know how many girls would be falling over themselves to be in your position?"

Hinata wants to make a snarky remark, as Kiba might make but restrains herself. "Looks are not enough for me, unfortunately."

Hanabi shrugs, swiping the straw out of Hinata's hands. Hinata lets out an annoyed grunt and tries to grab it back, and soon they're in a petty slapping fight over this stupid straw.

"Sisters shouldn't fight," a lazy voice drawls near them, a voice she's becoming far too familiar with once more. Hinata lets go of the straw out of reflex, feeling a little ashamed that Sasuke's stumbled on her in the middle of a squabble with her sister.

"Heyyyy Uchiha." Hanabi chomps down on the straw and kicks her feet up on the table outside of the café they were enjoying tea at (enjoying being subjective, of course).

Hinata watches as Sasuke nonchalantly plucks the straw from her mouth, then grabs at her ankles to pull her feet off the table. Hanabi whines. "Don't you have manners, little Hyūga?"

"Hey!" Hanabi huffs, folding her arms in a pout as Sasuke pulls up the chair between them.

"He's—" Hinata catches herself. She was about to point out that Sasuke was correct in his assessment that she was being rude but can't bring herself to say it aloud. At this point, his ego is the last thing she wants to encourage.

"Scram, brat." Sasuke nudges his head to the side, and Hanabi laughs, loudly.

"Think you can talk to an heiress like that?" Hanabi quirks an eyebrow, daring him.

"Thought you didn't like that title, Lady Hanabi." There's no humor on Sasuke's face as he says it.

"Don't be jealous," Hanabi berates, leans forward, and wags a finger in his face, "'cause you're just the runner-up in your own clan. Runner up in inheritance, runner up in looks, runner up in power—"

"Hanabi!" Even Hinata can't stand to listen to this any longer, because she sees Sasuke's eye twitch, and it's one of the few times she witnesses it. Her sister is one of the few people that can bring a rise out of him, and she doesn't care to have it happen right here and now.

"Fine, fine." Hanabi heaves a dramatic sigh as she slams her palms on the table, gathering herself to her feet. She shoots Hinata a look, eyelids low. "I meant what I said though…" She glances at Sasuke, who is looking at her with the faintest hint of curiosity. Then, she glances down at his lap and finishes in a cryptic fashion, "I heard the rumors are true…"

Hinata rolls her eyes as Hanabi begins skipping away, humming and oh so pleased with herself. Sasuke turns his body to her, rests his arm on the table, and looks at her seriously. "What rumors?"

"Oh, you know…" Hinata says, vaguely.

There were no rumors. It was just her sister playing with Sasuke. Hinata decides she'd like to play with him, too. It wasn't her who started it, anyway.

With an irritated grumble, he shakes his head and it makes her smile. He waves a hand in front of his face. "Anyway, I have a plan."

"A plan?" Her interest is piqued, now.

"To get us out of this ridiculous arrangement."

Hinata tips her head up, then turns her full body to face him. She nods at him to continue, hands clasped in her lap, ready to listen.

"We go over the top."

She blinks. "Over the top how?"

"Affection."

Her heart sinks. "Excuse me?"

"Like now." He reaches out to set his hand on hers and it's…uncomfortable. She automatically pulls it away and he rolls his eyes, annoyed. He grasps it again and slots his fingers between hers. Her face goes bright red and her mind goes cloudy. "Everywhere. Here, middle of the village, on missions, in front of our dads. Especially our dads."

"I—I'm not understanding," she breathes out, hand tugging from his. His grip tightens.

"Really lay it on thick," he continues, "make them regret ever trying to pair us up. Basically, embarrass the hell out of both our clans."

Her hand finally relaxes and she can focus on the way it feels. She's surprised that his hand is actually warm, not icy like she'd imagined. Not that she'd ever really imagined what Sasuke's hands would feel like…but it was interesting. Collecting her thoughts, she responds, "how do you figure that will make them call it off?"

"Think about it," he responds, leaning in closer, "both our families are uptight. Having the children of the leaders acting 'unbecoming'." He pulls up his other hand to air-quote. "Neither of our dads wants us to be happy, not really. It'll sicken them to the point they'll have no choice but to separate us."

Hinata ponders this plan.

It's a ludicrous idea, she thinks, but she has nothing better to offer. It was like he could read her mind when he tells her, "feel free to throw out your own brilliant ideas."

She huffs, looking away, eyes landing on their interlocked hands. It's a very strange sensation to have Sasuke's fingers interlacing with hers. "I have none."

"Not surprised," he scoffs, leaning away from her now. "Then you're in?"

She bites her lip as she looks back up at him. He has a smirk on his lips, and it irks her that Hanabi's right. He's objectively hot (not the word Hinata would use) but his ego is far too big for his head and that is not hot (to her, at least). However, she can't help but agree to this ridiculous plan. She truly had no better ideas, and she supposes it's worth a shot. "Fine. We'll try it, I suppose."

"Good." He nods approval and his other hand lifts to beckon her with his index finger. "Now kiss me."

Hinata pales. "Excuse me?!"

"You're in, right?" He raises an eyebrow, asking as if his command was as normal as telling someone to smile. She nods, reluctantly, and he curls the finger again. "So…kiss me."

Hinata darts her eyes to the side. There are quite a few people around, many of whom she recognizes, and that makes her shudder. Unfortunately, that's the point and that's why he's telling her to do it now. So, she sucks in a deep breath.

Hinata leans forward to press her lips to Sasuke's. It's a close-mouthed kiss, it's short, and it is not romantic.

But then the hand that was beckoning her finds the back of her head and keeps her there, and a little gasp escapes her for it.

She does her best not to activate her byakugan, the overwhelming desire to close his main chakra point creeping up on her as his lips move against hers.

When she's finally able to shove that urge back, she chooses to focus on how his lips feel against hers. She's not the most experienced in kissing outside of a few clumsy moments as teenagers, but even she has to admit Sasuke might actually be…good at it. He's not too rough in the way she feared boys would be, but he's not entirely gentle, either. His lips move naturally against hers, and they're soft, slick, and…strawberry flavored?

Does Sasuke Uchiha use strawberry-flavored lip balm?

The thought is quickly squashed when a panicked voice calls out. "HINATA?!"

Then Sasuke is being torn away from her, and her eyes fly open to find her cousin's cascading, long brown hair towering over him.

"Neji!" she gasps out, eyes landing on his veiny ones, looking ready to seal each and every one of Sasuke's chakra points.

"Just what in the hell do you think you're doing, Uchiha?" Neji snaps, one foot coming to rest on Sasuke's chest. Hinata whips her head around to see Tenten, mouth covered in shock, and Lee, who is quickly coming up behind Neji in an attempt to subdue the man.

Sasuke smirks smugly up at Neji, propping himself up on his elbows. "Kissing my fiancée. What are you doing, Hyūga?"

Neji stops at that, and Hinata swallows, chest feeling horribly tight.

"Neji…" Lee's voice calls him back, and Neji turns his head to meet his eyes with Hinata's. The veins around his eyes relax, but he's still glaring.

"Hinata?" Neji's asking for clarification, and she has no choice but to give it to him. Neji is aware of the marriage, but obviously has no clue about this plan Sasuke has concocted.

She clears her throat, and pulls her shoulders back, projecting confidence. "He's right, Neji. I was kissing my…fiancé."

With that Neji removes his foot, but not without shoving it into Sasuke's chest briefly, causing him to groan and clutch at it. He moves away from Sasuke and turns his body to her. He comes closer and leans over her, in a hushed voice. "Really, Hinata?"

Her lips press into a line as she nods, quickly. He sighs, shaking his head.

"I didn't think you'd cozy up so quickly," he whispers, eyes darting to the side to catch Sasuke's conceited look as he pulls himself to his feet. He returns to her. "Very well. Just…will you be a little less…"

"Horny about it?" Tenten interjects. Hinata recoils, not realizing she had flanked her from the other side. "Don't give your poor cousin a heart attack."

"I apologize." Hinata bows her head, and she knows her face is beet red.

"Come." Sasuke holds out an indolent hand for her between the two, and Hinata bites her tongue at his commanding attitude. No different than when they were children.

Neji tilts his head at Sasuke, his glare never leaving his expression. "Ask nicely, Uchiha."

Sasuke clicks his tongue, eyebrow perked at the man. Then he looks back down at Hinata and her heart skips at his words. "Come with me, Lady Princess Hinata Hyūga, loveliest, most breath-taking woman in the entire Land of Fire."

Tenten laughs, loudly. Lee looks at him in confusion. Neji breathes an aggravated sigh.

Hinata's jaw flexes as Sasuke continues, "please. Is that better?"

Neji doesn't respond, nor does Hinata, but she takes his hand, regardless.

As he leads her away from Team Gai, she tries to control her breathing.

"Now where is it we're going?" she asks, quietly, letting their fingers intertwine once more. She's well aware of the questioning stares they're receiving from the village folk.

"Dinner with the Uchiha," he responds nonchalantly, not looking back at her, "time to become reacquainted with the family."

Hinata's stomach flips uncomfortably.

It had been a while since she's seen his entire family together.

Notes:

If you made it this far, thank you! I'm an interactive writer, so if you leave a comment, you will get an enthusiastic response! And remember, it is NOT cringe to leave a comment on early chapters of an in-progress fic, or on any chapter of a fic that is completed. I guarantee you that if you leave a comment, no matter what, the author will be over the moon. Feedback is love, feedback is life 3

Chapter 2: Put on a Happy Face

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

As Sasuke opens his front door, Hinata feels frozen in place.

She hadn't been in this home in well over a decade.

When he tugs her hand and it's stiff, he looks back at her with raised eyebrows. "Don't be nervous. My mom's excited to see you."

"She…is?" Hinata asks, carefully. He nods as if it's obvious and she lets out a breath.

"Ohhh!" Hinata whips around at a voice she hadn't heard in quite a while. "It's true! Itachi wasn't bullshitting!"

"Shisui," Sasuke breathes out with an eye-roll and she sees him suck in his cheek as his father does. She finally relents to him tugging her in.

Then, Shisui's face is in hers, beaming. "Hey, little Hinata! It's been a while!"

"Shisui," Hinata repeats, leaning away from his face. His demeanor reminds her of Hanabi's, so she's not fully taken aback. "It's nice to see you again."

Shisui chuckles and pulls her into a hug. Sasuke releases her hand and stands awkwardly to the side as Hinata does her best to return the embrace. When he pulls away, he sets his hands on her shoulders and eyes her carefully, making her frown. "I am so sorry for your loss."

"My loss?" she questions, scanning his serious expression.

His mouth splits into a grin once more. "Of your sanity. You know, since you'll have to be married to this little shit."

"Oh…" Hinata's hands fall to her side, tugging at the hem of her shirt uncomfortably.

"Back off, dumbass." Sasuke pulls Shisui by the shoulder away. "If you must know, she's incredibly happy to be marrying me."

Shisui looks from Sasuke back to Hinata, tilting his head in mock questioning. "That right?"

Hinata blinks, pausing a second too long before she nods her head enthusiastically. She moves to Sasuke and lets him wrap an arm around her shoulder, hers finding his waist. "I am…so very, very happy."

"Oh?" Shisui continues, a suspicious look taking over his face.

"It's a dream, really," Sasuke comments loftily, gaze peering off to the side.

"A wonderful dream." Hinata nods agreement as enthusiastically as she can muster.

"Huh." Shisui cups his chin, still suspicious, but relaxes, regardless. "If you say so."

"Are we free to go?" Sasuke asks, tilting his head, "or do you feel the need to grope my fiancée further?"

Shisui smirks and turns around, waving a hand to summon them.

"I just can't believe it," Shisui continues as he leads them down the hallway.

Hinata feels a small swell of panic at the voices coming from the other room. Sasuke clicks his tongue. "What's not to believe? Do you think so little of me that I can't find love?"

"Oh, not at all." Shisui's tone is sarcastic. Hinata finds it hard to focus on any particular thing as they near the dining room.

And there it is. Fugaku at the end of the table, Mikoto next to him, and Itachi on the other end.

"Oh!" Mikoto calls brightly as Hinata's led in by Sasuke's hand. "Hello, dear."

"Hello, Ms. Mikoto." Hinata bows respectfully, stopping in front of the seat Sasuke is pulling out for her. "Mr. Fugaku. Itachi."

"Hello again," Fugaku greets her, and she looks at Itachi, who is offering a smile. Shisui finds his seat between Mikoto and Itachi, leaving the other side for Sasuke and Hinata. Slowly, she takes her seat. "I'm pleased to see you two are finding each other acceptable, it seems."

"More than." Hinata looks up at Sasuke speaking for them, scooting his seat so close that their legs are pressed up against each other. "In fact, I've fallen in love."

A choked sound comes from Itachi, and Mikoto, despite her similarly shocked expression, checks on him first. "Honey, are you okay?"

"Yes." Itachi waves a hand, pulling a napkin to his mouth. Then he cast his suspicious gaze on Sasuke, much like Shisui did. "Perfectly fine. Continue, Sasuke."

Mikoto begins doling out servings of dinner, eyeing Sasuke warily. Seemed this entire development was new to them, too. "Gladly. Hinata here," he starts as he sets an arm around her shoulder, "has swept me off my feet."

His other hand cups her chin, as it did before, and turns her face to him, all while her blush deepens, and he leans in to kiss her. A snort is heard from across, courtesy of Shisui, and a little gasp from Mikoto, too. A hum of disapproval from Fugaku and dead silence from Itachi.

She can't do this. How on earth is she supposed to make out with Sasuke Uchiha?

In front of his family?!

She pulls away, grasps his wrist, and forces a giggle. "Please, Sasuke. Not in front of your lovely family."

Her eyes land on his bottom lip as it pouts out and—oh no, is that cute? Is she finding something Sasuke is doing cute?

"Yes, please," Shisui calls over to them, pointing his finger at the back of his throat.

"Well, I think that's just wonderful," Mikoto chimes in, settling back into her seat. "Please, eat."

"Thank you for the food."

"So…Sasuke." They both look up at his older brother calling for him, and Sasuke tilts his head forward. "Why don't you regale us with the tale of how you two found yourselves in love?"

"Hey, hey—" Shisui interrupts, waving his hand in the middle of the table, "Hinata hasn't officially declared herself in love yet, have you, Hinata?"

"Oh—" Hinata locks up with the question, and Sasuke's hand settles on her thigh, squeezing. Not quite gentle, but it's not meant to harm, either. She straightens her pose. "Yes, I am in love with Sasuke."

Those words sound ridiculous from her lips.

Shisui thinks so, too, when he snickers, looking back at his food.

Sasuke's grip loosens as he looks back at Itachi. "I suppose it was when…" Sasuke looks up as if in thought, then returns his head down to take a bite. He swallows, clearly buying a little time. He continues, "when I caught her dancing."

Hinata stares down at her plate, wondering where on earth this is going to go. Itachi hums, softly. "Dancing?"

"Yep, Hinata's a talented dancer, in fact." Was he making this up on the spot? "It was a full moon, and she was stunning."

"Oh, my," Mikoto gasps faintly, clearly in wonder at her youngest's new-found knack for romantics.

Hinata wonders if Sasuke knows more about her than she realizes.

"Interesting." Itachi's tone remains suspicious. "I never thought you one to indulge in such things as watching a woman dance."

"Don't assume to know me so well, older brother," Sasuke retorts, taking a purposefully harsh bite of his food.

"And you, Hinata?"

If Hinata was less ladylike, she'd curse Shisui under her breath.

Sasuke may have been able to come up with fantastical stories on the spot, but Hinata wasn't quite as skilled, unfortunately.

His squeeze on her thigh returns. She moves her hand from her plate to set it atop his, her index fingernail digging into a knuckle. Sasuke scoffs, speaking for her, "is it so hard to think maybe she's just always been in love with me?"

Hinata nearly chokes on her food.

"Don't be shy," he presses, bringing her hand up to kiss the back of her knuckles. The sweet action is so very, very strange from Sasuke. Hinata parts her lips as if to speak, but nothing comes out. "It's alright to admit it out loud, Hinata, just like you did on that night."

Her mind tells her to agree with him, nod her head, do something. But her body feels stuck. That's when Mikoto recalls her, "Hinata, dear? Are you alright?"

"Yes!" Her volume comes out higher than she intends, but she leans into it as she turns her attention to Mikoto. She leans against Sasuke, pressing her shoulder against his chest. "It's true, I feel so silly for it." She's surprised at how easily the words fall out of her. "But I've been in love with Sasuke for a very long time. He's…" She turns her head up to look up at him, and he looks at her expectantly. The warm smile on his face does not look quite right on him. Back to Mikoto. "He's wonderful. Truly a perfect man."

Her mind lights up with all of the snarky things she wishes she could say out loud.

Mikoto clasps her hands together, eyes high with a smile. "My Sasuke is wonderful, isn't he?"

"Wonderfully, fantastically, exceptionally stupid—OW!"

Shisui hisses when Sasuke's foot connects with his shin.

"Well," Fugaku cuts in after a long drink, "it is good that you two are finding the arrangement acceptable. But please, Sasuke, none of this…display of affection at dinner."

"You gonna stop me?" Sasuke asks, tilting his head to dare him. Hinata inhales sharply when his lips land on her cheek. She turns her head and her nose is brushing against his now, but he's not looking at her, he's looking at Fugaku, eyelids hung low. Then his eyes are on hers again and he slides his hand around the back of her head like he'd done earlier, pulling her in for another kiss. She gasps quietly, completely torn on whether to play into it, really irritate his father like they were supposed to be doing, or to tear away out of sheer embarrassment.

"Sasuke!" Fugaku snaps, sighing aggravatedly. That's when Hinata decides yes, she must pull away or else she might melt into the ground out of pure shame.

"Restroom!" Hinata squeaks out, already out of her chair and bolting out of the dining room without anyone having the chance to give her directions.

She stumbles through the hallway, pushing at doors until one opens and reveals a restroom. She quickly shuts it behind her and presses her back up flush against it.

Slowly, she brings a hand to her face and counts.

How many times have I kissed Sasuke today?

Fingers peel upward as she attempts to recall. Before she has a chance to finish and regain her composure, a harsh knock from the other side vibrates through the door.

"Hinata?" Sasuke's voice comes through, but it's quiet. She decides to open the door, and he pushes his way inside.

"Sasuke—"

"Hey—" he cuts her off, pointing a finger at her nose. Her eyes cross as she looks down at it, lashes fluttering downward. When the finger freezes there, she looks up to find him looking pink in the cheeks, eyes locked on hers. She furrows her brows, taking a step back from him, though there isn't much room and now she's pressed against the wall. She wonders what brought the color to his face and why it looks like the cogs are turning more slowly than normal in his mind. "Stop doing that."

She swallows, confused. "Doing what?"

"Crossing your eyes like that—trying to be cute—" He drops the hand, and his blush goes deeper.

Cute?

He shakes his head as if to snap out of whatever it was he'd been thinking and continues without letting her properly respond, "anyway, we talked about this. We have to make it look over the top."

"To be fair, Sasuke," she breathes, trying to push out the 'cute' comment, "we didn't really discuss it very…in depth before you were devouring my face."

He stops, eyes growing with her words. The snark isn't intentional, it's just something she's gotten used to, being around Hanabi and Kiba so often. "You have to step it up. Stop getting so embarrassed."

"Forgive me." The words come out before she can stop them. "But it seems you are the one that is embarrassed right now."

The way his mouth drops open makes her want to laugh out of pure discomfort. Then his jaw snaps shut before he speaks again, "I'm going to ignore that stupid remark." She's actually relieved when he says that. He clears his throat. "The point is disgusting my father until he's begging us not to get married."

"I know that," Hinata sighs, eyes drifting away.

Then, the sound of footsteps approach, and Sasuke's body is pressed right up against hers and—

Oh my, oh my, oh my.

His hands find purchase on her waist and he's already bending in to take her for what seems like a truly greedy kiss. She wills herself to return it, arms coming around his neck. She's unsure of who's approaching but knows whoever it is will be greeted with an unfortunate sight.

"Oh—come on—" Shisui stops at the door, reaching in to pull it closed. "At least close the damn door!"

With that, the door is shut and the footsteps retreat, and yet, Sasuke is still here. Pressed up against Hinata, lips on hers, fingertips digging into the skin of her waist.

"Sas—" She tries to interrupt, but it's smothered by his mouth. So, she brings her palms to his chest and pushes lightly, and that's when he finally relents. Breathless, she pants and brings her wrist to her lips to wipe, looking up at him, bewildered. "Why didn't—"

"Realism." He shrugs, bringing a finger up to her lips. He pokes at them, and she raises a hand to brush against them. She looks over her shoulder at her reflection in the mirror and sees they're red and swollen. She glances back at him and his are red and swollen, too. Her eyes follow his hand as he reaches up and roughs through her hair. She shudders at the touch, and he rolls his eyes at her. "What, never been touched before?"

"Well—" she responds, offended, "not like this!"

Sasuke clicks his tongue and then turns away from her to inspect himself in the mirror. Hinata watches as he does a poor job of messing up his own hair—he's almost meticulous about it, pulling a strand of hair to sit just out of place. That's just not fair, she thinks, so she steps forward and pulls a hand through the neat strands. "Hey—" She's surprised to feel his shiver. Was her touch making him nervous, too? She further experiments, bringing her other hand up to join in tangling into his hair. "Watch it!"

"Realism," she repeats back to him, smirking over his shoulder at his reflection. His eyes lower at hers as she continues pulling her fingers through his hair. "When people…make out, they run their fingers through each other's hair. Don't they?"

"I mean…" Sasuke coughs into his fist, averting his eyes. "I guess."

Hinata pauses. Sasuke seemed nervous as he answered that question. A funny thought enters her mind. "Sasuke…have you never…"

"Quiet."

Her eyes grow a centimeter as he pulls from her hands, making way out of the restroom. She follows him, curiosity getting the better of her. "Sasuke Uchiha?" she chirps behind him, getting some pleasure out of this—finally, "never…made out? With a woman?"

"Hyūga," he growls under his breath as he tries to get back to the dining room. When she hears chairs scraping, indicating the rest of the family getting up from the meal, she's feeling a little bolder now. She grasps at his forearm to stop and turn him, and his eyes are both irritated and curious.

Then, something she's never once in her life thought she'd be doing.

Especially with Sasuke Uchiha.

She shoves him against the wall of the hallway and grabs the collar of his jacket, and now she's pulling him down to smash his lips against hers.

Hinata knows how unbecoming of her this is, but she can't help feeling satisfied that he's the one who is freezing under her this time. As the footsteps grow nearer, she makes an even bolder move. She pulls herself from him just a few centimeters to whisper, "play your part, Uchiha."

She gives him a smile, actually somewhat admiring the dumb-founded look on his face. She begins to think this is the expression that suits Sasuke best. The footsteps are just around the corner and she's pulling him back in, and this time, he plays his part. His arms wrap around her shoulders and she's flush against him now.

"Oh for the love of—" Fugaku was heard, along with another gasp and giggle from Mikoto.

Hinata lets it go a little longer before officially ending the kiss. She looks up at Sasuke's parents in mock surprise, wiping at her lips. She bows, deeply. "Mr. Fugaku! I apologize—"

"I think that's enough for tonight," Fugaku snaps, tired irritation on his face.

"Oh, but it was a delight," Mikoto adds sweetly, contrasting her husband's tense demeanor. She gestures Hinata to her, "please, come collect leftovers."

Hinata looks at Sasuke for a moment and he nudges his head. She nods and joins Mikoto. "I sincerely apologize, Ms. Mikoto."

She really is sorry. She doesn't think a mother should have to watch her son be devoured by another.

"Oh, don't worry." Mikoto's laugh is delicate. "I'm just happy you two seem so happy together! I must admit, I was fairly worried as the time came near."

Hinata doesn't respond, because she really isn't sure how. Mikoto collects two plastic bins and sets them in Hinata's hands, who bows her head, slightly. "Thank you for dinner, Ms. Mikoto. It was lovely."

Mikoto smiles as she leads her back to the front of the home. "And many more to come." She winks at Hinata. "And soon it'll just be 'mom'."

Hinata swallows thickly as she nods. Her eyes find Sasuke's, who is looking at her expectantly, and she feels Fugaku's on her back.

"Uhm—goodbye." Hinata bows again, unsure of herself as Sasuke grabs her hand again and pulls her out of the home definitively.

It's completely dark outside now, except for the illuminating glow of lanterns around the district, and she looks up at Sasuke. He's already looking down at her and she wonders what's going through his mind.

"That was…convincing." Sasuke clears his throat between the words, gaze shifting away. She tilts her head.

"I hope so," Hinata responds, clutching the bins to her chest. "What's next?"

"I'll pick you up from the compound the Saturday after next," he responds immediately, snapping back to her.

Another day with Sasuke. She wonders how long she'll have to keep this up.

A pause sits between them as she wonders how to conclude this interaction. She peers up through her lashes at him and settles her eyes on the way his jet-black hair shimmers under those lanterns, streaks of light dancing in the loose locks. It's almost sparkly, as if he's some treasure underneath the shine. Her eyes trailed further: sharp cheekbones, faint white skin that was nearly as pale as her own, and of course, those obsidian black eyes that all Uchiha shared. So different from her own, polar opposite. Just as they had always been.

"Getting a good look, Hyūga?" he whispers, and her eyes land on his lips as he speaks those words.

Hinata ponders a moment. She activates her byakugan and finds both Itachi and Shisui's chakra networks perched atop the Uchiha household. Sasuke tips his head curiously at her, and she darts her eyes to her right briefly before looking back at him. He raises his eyebrows, mimicking the action.

They both understand. With that, they press together and meet their lips as if it's the most natural thing in the world.

Hinata hears Shisui chuckle in the distance, and Itachi's quiet voice murmuring something to him.

In front of her mirror, Hinata fidgets with her hair. She's unsure of how to dress for something like this.

Whatever this was, anyway.

She had taken off quickly after they parted the kiss, and he told her he'd be there around noon.

It wasn't the last time she saw Sasuke, however. Since that day at the Uchiha's, she's seen him in passing a few times, and he's certainly…dedicated to this role he's created for himself. Sometimes, he sneaks up on her and takes her into a passionate kiss. Others, someone points her out, and he charges right up to her as if he's laying some sort of claim. He even came to the compound right before he set out on a short two-day mission to 'say goodbye.' After he was done bruising her lips with his own, he had whispered to her, "it's what couples do when one of them has to leave, to show them they'll miss the other." She had to bite back a laugh at the way he described it. So incredibly pragmatic.

It was a strange crossroads of 'romance'—fervent, yet clinical. As if they were two aliens trying to figure out how humans show love.

Honestly, Hinata feels like an alien sometimes when it comes to amorous love. If she's an alien, Sasuke would have to be from another dimension. The way he explains in almost technical terms that his actions are 'romantic' and 'normal'—well—she can already see Sakura and Ino in stitches about it.

She flits her eyes up to the clock on her right. 11:50.

Hinata's always been punctual, and so had Sasuke. So, she lets out a sigh, tucks her hair behind her ears, and rises. Usually, Hanabi is laying on her bed this time of day, flipping through a magazine and pointing out how red a woman's lips are, or the bulge in some celebrity man's pants. She giggles quietly as she thinks of what she said the other day while showing the magazine to her, held open to a page with a beautiful woman, scantily dressed in some strappy black dress that leaves little to the imagination.

"You ever wonder how women with these gigantic boobs manage to pull on their sandals? Poor things."

Hanabi is out today, on some sort of date of her own. Konohamaru had approached Hinata a few days ago to seek advice on how to ask her little sister out, and Hinata happily obliged. All this nonsense with arranged marriages had her thinking ahead to her sister's future, so she was doing her best to figure out a different path forward for her. So today, in secret, Hanabi is supposedly out on a mission with Konohamaru, Hinata having taken it upon herself to draw up a fake scroll that said so. Their father didn't need to know, just yet.

She offers polite smiles to all those she passes on her way to the main entrance of the compound. Before she reaches it, Sasuke is already turning a corner, walking through the halls as if he owns them. She doesn't even have time to greet him before he's sweeping her up into another kiss.

Hinata's surprised to find she's actually becoming somewhat accustomed to it. She meets him easily, arms finding a home around his neck, his similarly looping her waist.

This time, she decides to focus on the kiss, because she'd been so flustered by them since that day.

It feels…nice, to kiss someone like this, she thinks.

A silly thought she's having a hard time beating back as she thinks about the way his lips feel on hers. Like she thought before, they're soft, and the way he moves them against hers is skillful. She wonders if it is true, that he's never engaged in kissing such as this before because she has a hard time believing it. Or perhaps her own inexperience betrays her. Perhaps he's in fact terrible at kissing, and anyone who sees them right now thinks they look like two horny preteens, fumbling against one another as they figure out each other's lips and limbs.

As has become custom, they are interrupted by another. That is the point, after all.

The throat clearing in the distance is a clear sign that someone would like them to stop, and she decides to let Sasuke be the one to end it. She shouldn't be surprised at this point when he doesn't, and in fact, pulls her in tighter. She can feel the heat of his chest radiating out into her own.

Now, her back is against the wall. She feels one of his hands trail down, then his fingers are hooking under her knee to pull her leg up around him.

How scandalous.

Another clearing of someone's throat, this time very loud, very intentional, and closer than before. Hinata's mind is foggy, however, and she barely registers it. She's ashamed to admit to herself that she's actually enjoying this kiss with Sasuke. "Hinata." This is when he finally draws away from her, intentionally sucking so that their lips would part with a popping sound, and he shoots an angry glare to the side.

But Hinata is too focused on Sasuke's flushed face. His lips are parted for air, he's cherry red from his ears to his neck, and his collar around that neck is rumpled. That scowl is back on his face, and again, it suits him. But she's beginning to think it suits him even better when it's directed at her father for interrupting kissing her. Accompanied by a blush, of course. And swollen lips.

Without thinking, she threads her fingers into his hair, like she had talked about a few days ago, and gets on her tiptoes. She's pulling him back down, and his shocked eyes meet hers for only a second before her eyes are fluttering closed once more. His lips meet hers eagerly, and they're back at it.

Hinata knows she should be ashamed, of acting so tastelessly in front of her father, but truth be told, it was actually bringing her some excitement. The feeling that he has so little control over her in this instance.

It only lasts a few seconds before he's ending the kiss again, and she pops her eyes open, his dark ones already on hers. "Missed me, huh?"

"Very much," she breathes out and tries not to think about how easy it was for her to say that.

"Hinata," her father repeats, tone brimming with irritation. Finally, she turns to meet milky eyes to milky eyes. She tilts her head curiously, as if she hadn't just been partaking in such a vulgar act. "You are causing a scene."

And cause a scene they had. Hinata looks over Sasuke's shoulder to find dozens of her clansmen gawking at them, hushed whispers around the room.

Sasuke's the one that speaks first, releasing her leg and her waist to turn to the elder. He folds his arms, that cocky smirk tugging his lip up. "Aren't you happy for us, Lord Hyūga?"

The way he says Lord Hyūga always makes Hinata want to giggle, even before this.

Hiashi falters, forehead creasing. He clears his throat again. "All that matters to me is that you two see this marriage through. I do not need you pawing at each other, especially within the compound. Please take this elsewhere."

"Oh," Sasuke chuckles, dipping his head as he takes a lazy step forward, "is that permission to ravage your daughter, Lord Hyūga?"

Hinata's throat tightens with the words, her gaze on her father turning fearful.

"Not in the slightest," Hiashi responds, tautly.

"Just not here, right?" Sasuke reaches back to take Hinata's hand, and she lets him. "Maybe in the forest? Or better yet, maybe in that back alley, behind Sunny's Café—"

"Enough," Hiashi interjects, the frustration in his voice boiling over. It was unusual to see outright anger from her father, and despite the growing tension in her chest, she can't help but find it amusing.

"Been a while since a new Uchiha was born."

Now that…is a hypothetical thought turned existential spiral waiting to happen.

Sasuke taps his chin, looking up as if in thought. "No time like the present, right, Hiashi?"

Hinata decides now is the time to end this. "Sasuke, we should be going."

"And where is it you two are going?"

Sasuke scoffs. "Pretty sure it's my business what I do with my soon-to-be wife, don't you think?"

Hiashi's lips thin in a line as Sasuke swiftly pulls Hinata behind him, intentionally bumping his elbow into the older man's as they pass. She offers her father a small smile, clearly fake, as she follows.

She's quiet as they exit the compound. That interaction had her thinking far more than she'd like.

Hinata might have been considered a prude by her sister, but she wasn't immune to invasively sinful thoughts. Flashes of Sasuke bare-chested were running through her mind, and it was making her feel hot all over, in a way that made her pull at the collar of her shirt. It's not a visual she'd ever conjured in her mind outside of the occasional gossip session with Sakura and Ino (read: Sakura and Ino gossiping while Hinata listens quietly). It's hard to settle with the fact she's not even slightly disturbed by the thought. The only thing that disturbs her is the way it makes heat coil in her stomach.

So, when she looks up to find him looking questioningly down at her, she turns away, feeling like the shame is written all over her face for him to behold.

"What?" he asks as he so casually pulls her close enough that their elbows are touching above their laced fingers. She shakes her head and is saved from his questioning when a pair of long arms yank her away.

"Oh, Hinata!"

Hinata turns her head, cheek wedged against Sakura's burgundy dress as she's gathered into her arms.

"I'm so sorry you're going through this," Sakura continues, pulling away to look her in the eyes, "that you're betrothed to this jerk."

"Ah, Sakura," Naruto's voice calls from behind her, and Hinata peers over her shoulder to see, "don't be so harsh on the guy. Not like it's his choice, either."

Hinata smiles at the way Naruto phrases it. He'd always been one to lighten the mood.

"Besides," Sasuke cuts in, wedging an arm between the two women to separate them, "you don't have to be sorry for her. She's perfectly happy to marry this jerk."

"Doubtful," Sakura scoffs, turning her nose up.

Hinata realizes her part must come into play now. "No, no, it's true, Sakura." She gestures towards Sasuke. "I am very happy to marry this…sweet…erm…m-man?"

Naruto chuckles, coming up beside the three as Sasuke and Sakura gape at her poor attempt at sweet talk. In a hushed voice, Naruto says, "yeah, you don't have to play pretend in front of us, Hinata."

Hinata breathes out, looking up at Sasuke whose jaw is flexing. "Oh…"

"It was my plan, anyway!" Naruto brightens up, pointing his thumb at his own chest.

She feels Sasuke tense up next to her, and a giggle escapes her for it. "This was your idea, Naruto?"

"Alright, anyway." Sasuke's eager attempt at redirecting the conversation is noted. "If it's gonna work, we have to keep it up everywhere. Even here."

He gestures out towards the street, several people traversing it, making a show of the fact that they are in fact in public, and that he is indeed right.

"Right, right." Naruto nods enthusiastically as Sakura rolls her eyes next to him. "Don't want all that effort going to waste, y'know?"

Hinata wonders if Naruto is a little too excited about all this.

"Now…" Naruto's tone turns devious, a mischievous grin splitting his lips apart. "Go ahead and give us a kiss."

"Naruto!" Sakura gasps indignantly, her palm already smacking him upside the head. "Don't put pressure on Hinata like that!"

"No, he's right."

Sasuke saying Naruto is right is like jumbled noise. It makes no sense.

Hinata's finding herself memorizing the curvature of Sasuke's lips, and the feel of his fingertips on her chin.

A whistle is heard near them, and Hinata pops one eye open to find it coming from Shikamaru, who has his hands shoved in his pockets, a lazy smirk on his lips.

"Oh wow!" Ino exclaims, skipping over as Sasuke drags himself from Hinata. "When did this become a thing?"

"Oh, didn't you hear, Ino?" Sakura settles herself next to Ino. Something about Ino and Sakura being put together brings the worst out in each other. The two fed off each other when it came to things like this. Sakura's mischievous smile matches Naruto's. "Sasuke and Hinata are engaged."

Ino's jaw drops, and so does Shikamaru's. It's a funny look on him.

Chōji gasps, but it's with a smile. "That's wonderful! Sasuke's found love! Who would have thought?"

"Yeah…" Ino's suspicious now, her eyes squinting with the feeling. "Who would have thought?"

"It's arranged," Sakura clarifies, and that makes Ino's face relax, though it's closer to confusion. "But look at them, they're so in love!"

Hinata feels very uncomfortable with this influx of attention, and it seems Sasuke's picked up on it. "You two enjoy your gossip without us."

"Where are you going?" Sakura calls with her hands on her hips as Sasuke drags Hinata away. Seems to be the most natural position for the two.

He ignores her, but Hinata isn't comfortable leaving so abruptly without at least a goodbye. "We'll see you all soon!"

And so they went.

To her surprise, Sasuke has a whole day planned out for them.

First, they stop at the same café he had accosted her at with Naruto's grand plan, and he buys her a cinnamon roll and her favorite hibiscus tea.

Next, he takes her into the Yamanaka's flower shop and makes a grand show of buying her a full bouquet of flowers, all of which she recognizes as ones she enjoys most.

Then he takes her to dinner, a sushi restaurant near the outer gates of the Leaf, specifically asking for the booth up against the window that leads out to the street, where most people see them, and orders two simple plates of sashimi, nothing fancy.

After, he leads her to the dango shop next door and before she can even get a word out, he's requesting the green tea flavor for her. It's a flavor she's not sure she's ever ordered in front of anyone else as it is one she had just recently discovered she enjoyed about a year ago.

Finally, he's walking her to Senju Park, where he guides her to sit on a bench next to the pond. It's dark now, and the only light available is a few lampposts and the radiance of the moon. The weather out is acceptable, not cold at all, but she still shivers at his touch. He grunts, taking that to mean she's cold and pulls off his jacket. He forces it over her shoulders before she can object.

Hinata is blown away by the end of it.

Had she just been taken out on a thoughtful date by Sasuke Uchiha?

Throughout it, he made a show of pulling her in for sporadic kisses, had his arm around her waist or shoulders, fixed her hair behind her ears, tugged at her shirt from behind to cover her skin, straightened the pendant around her neck, all things that a normal couple might do for one another. But they were for her, and they were not a normal couple. Engaged, but nowhere near normal.

He had also been periodically checking a notebook he'd kept in the breast pocket of the jacket that was now around her shoulders.

Curiosity would get the better of her, and while he's busy staring off into the distance, she slowly reaches up until she feels the metal coil. Gently, she tugs it out and, as quietly as possible, opens it.

She scans it, and her eyes grow.

Cinnamon rolls

Hibiscus tea

Tulips, Azalea, Peony, Iris

Sashimi – tuna, salmon

Green tea dango

Before she can reach the next line, the notebook is snatched out of her hand. She purses her lips and clutches the hand into a fist, unwilling to meet his eyes, knowing they were probably upset.

"Snooping," he says, simply, folding the notebook closed.

"Sasuke…" she whispers, twisting her lips to one side. It's a little odd, to feel so natural with her arm pressed up against his side, his arm draped around her shoulders. "How did you find out all those things about me?"

He's quiet, doesn't respond. She wonders if he's embarrassed, so she lifts her head up to see his face. She's surprised to see a hint of pink on that otherwise pale skin. He's looking the opposite direction from her, but she can see it on his ears. Again, it's not cold out, so she can only assume it's a genuine blush.

"You don't have to be embarrassed," she tries at comfort. Still, silence on his end. She breathes out, contemplating the best way forward.

It really is sweet, she thinks. Even if it's for show, the fact was that he actually took her interests into account for it. He could have just forced random food and gifts on her, and she would have still acted happy as a clam to receive them. Because this is all for show. Isn't it?

Sasuke being embarrassed to silence is somewhat funny, she thinks. But it also makes her feel a little bad. And they're still playing a part, so she tilts her head up and places a chaste kiss on his cheek.

The way his arm stiffens around her shoulders makes her wonder if she's done something wrong. Kisses to the cheek are something couples do.

"It's…uhm…" Hinata searches for the right words, placing a cautious hand on his chest. "It's thoughtful of you, Sasuke."

He grunts, quietly. Then, he responds, "don't get used to it. This'll be over soon."

Hinata frowns at that, involuntarily.

She nods.

"Anyway," he continues with an exaggerated sigh, pulling his arm from her, "I'll walk you back."

For this, she'll smile. She gets up next to him and lets him take her hand. The familiarity of it is pleasant, she thinks.

Somehow, Sasuke had managed to keep his snarky comments to himself for the day. She can tell it pains him when she does something silly, like saying 'cimannon' instead of 'cinnamon'. His determination is commendable.

When they come to the front gates of the compound, he leans down to give her an innocent peck on the lips, and admittedly, this takes her off guard, because there's no one around to give a show for.

That must be why, as he pulls away, that blush is on his cheeks again. Because there was no reason for the goodbye kiss.

Sasuke clears his throat, straightens his shoulders, runs a hand through that glossy black hair. "See you soon, Hyūga."

He turns on his heel and begins a swift stride away. She tilts her head curiously, feeling something like heat blooming in her chest.

Hinata couldn't be…feeling something for Sasuke, could she?

No, how ridiculous. How silly. How…how…

"Oh no," Hinata breathes out as his figure disappears.

Notes:

I'll never stop pushing my KonoHana agenda!!! evil laughter

Chapter 3: The Urge to Run Away

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

It's another two weeks before she sees Sasuke again.

He'd been a ghost since that fantastical date he'd taken her on. She'd seen Sakura and Naruto around. Itachi in passing, who stopped her to let her know that if his little brother was ever out of line, she was to let Shisui know. Her father had been avoiding her, too. Anytime their eyes met, he would look away with a shake of his head.

Hinata thinks it's actually a welcome change to the glares he often gives her.

If she's honest with herself, she hasn't really stopped thinking about the date. It was far more than she'd ever expected Sasuke to realistically plan out and far more than she'd ever expect him to plan out for her of all people. He hadn't told her how he knew about all of her favorite things and she's starting to seriously consider that maybe Sasuke is, in fact, more perceptive to her than she's always thought. Not that she doesn't think he's observant—he is. He's a remarkable shinobi, this she knows, and part of that is his quick intellect and strategic skills. It's the emotional perception that baffles her.

Now, she finds Sasuke in the Hokage's office, which she's been summoned to.

"Happy now, brat?" Tsunade asks sarcastically Sasuke's way, and Hinata wonders what the meaning of this is.

"You summoned me, Lady Hokage?" Hinata bows toward Tsunade, who waves her forward.

"Hadn't planned on it, but your darling…fiancé insists." Tsunade is smirking now, and Hinata looks towards him in surprise. He won't look back at her. "It doesn't quite require two people, but your demanding Uchiha says you'll split the pay, so I'm indifferent as to whether you two go together. I'm sure he'll brief you on all the details."

"Oh, alright." Hinata nods, though she's not quite understanding.

Sasuke is insisting on her joining him?

All for show. That's the conclusion she comes to.

Sasuke is already walking out, so Hinata bows again, respectfully, and follows him out.

She dips her head to try to get a look at him, but he's intentionally turning away from her. "You require my assistance, Sasuke?"

She sees him suck in his cheek, just like his father does, and she smiles. "And why wouldn't I want my fiancée to join me on a mission?"

She falters at that but quickly recovers. "Oh, of course. Happily."

"Besides," he continues, eyes finally relaxing as they cast towards her, "it gets boring out there by myself. Watching you make a fool of yourself will be decent enough entertainment."

Hinata purses her lips. Yes, this is the Sasuke she remembers.

"You know," she starts, coming up next to him now that he's not dragging her by the hand like he's become so accustomed to doing. "I seem to remember a little boy covered in cuts and scrapes after trying to do a complex trick spin with a shuriken."

She smiles when he let out an irritated sound. Honestly, this feels more normal. "I was a kid. What's your excuse?"

When they pass through the gates, she gives a friendly wave to the chūnin posted at the watchtower. She keeps going, "or perhaps we can talk about when you singed off an eyebrow with your fireball jutsu?"

"Alright—" he cuts her off, snapping his glare down at her, "that was—"

"And then you tried to use transformation jutsu to cover it up?" Her smile turns mischievous as his lips part, the memory clearly flashing through his mind. "And then…Sakura was putting ointment on your cheek…"

Sasuke's eyes grow wide, and he tries to put a hand on her mouth. She ducks to avoid it, giggling. "That's enough—!"

"And the eyebrow turned pink," she keeps going, "like your blush."

"You're pushing it," he hisses, jogging towards her to catch up as she leaps backward from him. "I don't have to treat you nicely when we're out here, Hyūga."

"Ah." She nods, hands clasping behind her back. "You started it, though."

"That's childish."

"I only just became an adult," she responds, feeling more at ease now.

"Then it's not very Hyūga of you."

Hinata thinks the way he lords her family name over her is humorous. It really doesn't mean much to her, but she figures he knows that. "Care to enlighten me on this mission you requested aid for?"

"You know what? This was a mistake. Go back."

It only makes her smile grow. She finds she quite likes teasing Sasuke. This is much more natural than how they'd been acting these last few weeks. Still, she relents. "I apologize. Please, tell me where we're going."

He huffs, and it's kind of cute when he acts pouty. She had stopped trying to resist the thought a while ago. "North. Bandits. We're just recovering some stolen items."

"Sounds a little beneath you, doesn't it?"

"You're telling me."

"Though I suppose missions have been a little slow, lately."

"Exactly," he responds, looking down at her, "that's why I tried to recommend your dog teammate for it instead."

Hinata raises her eyebrows. Then, she's bold. "Stop calling him that."

"Why?" Sasuke tilts his head, blinking down at her in mock innocence.

"Because it's rude, and he's my friend," she asserts, squinting at him.

"He must be livid, I imagine," he continues, looking forward, "that his little girlfriend is engaged to me."

"G-girlfriend?" she gasps, shaking her head. "Excuse you."

"It's true, isn't it?" He smirks. "Probably sulking in that hut he calls a home."

"Stop that!" she snaps uncharacteristically, stopping in place.

He doesn't stop with her, simply continues forward. "Honestly, I considered going along with the marriage just to see the look on his face. I imagine it would be thoroughly amusing."

He's going too far, now, she thinks. She catches up with him. "Why do you hate him?"

"I don't hate anyone," he responds, frankly, "too much energy to hate someone, especially him."

"You're so…" Hinata bites her lips together, holding back the insult.

Now Sasuke stops and turns to her. He leans forward, until his nose is right in front of hers, eyes making her feel small under them. "I'm so? So what? Go on, Hyūga. I'm dying to hear it."

She glares at him. Fine. "You're so stuck up. You're full of yourself, Sasuke, and quite frankly, it's exhausting."

His smile is unexpected. She blinks when his hand comes up to pat her cheek. "Little sister guiding you in the way of snarky insults? Let her know she's doing a poor job."

She sputters as he straightens out and continues the journey. He's not so cute anymore, she thinks.

"Come on, Hyūga. Don't want to let them get too far, do we?"

In through the mouth, out through the nose.

Hinata forces her feet forward.

Her byakugan finds them about an hour later. They walked in silence for most of the journey until that point. When she notifies him, they take to the trees as they close in. Once they're in normal eyesight view, they find a spot to prepare.

Sasuke's version of a plan is to just send her to detain them.

"Not that I don't think I can, but can I ask why?" Hinata asks, furrowing her eyebrows up at him.

"Figured it's probably been a while since you've had a good physical fight—outside of that sad one with your little sister the other day." He shrugs. "And if you succumb, well—then we won't have to worry about the marriage anymore."

She presses her lips together. Without a word, she turns and hops through the trees.

Bandits really aren't much of a problem for her. There are only three, and she's faced worse—far worse in her time. She disarms them easily and subsequently subdues them. It takes barely three minutes to incapacitate them, and she's handcuffing them in the next.

Sasuke lands next to her, not offering any help, just simply there to judge her, she assumes. "Impressive."

"You can stop mocking me," she says, quietly as she hooks the cuffs around the last man's wrists.

"I'm not," he replies, tilted head, "that was actually pretty quick."

Hinata blinks down at the man's hands, unsure of how to react to genuine praise from Sasuke. She decides not to respond and simply pushes the man forward to begin their trek back to the Leaf.

"Is this why you insisted on me coming?" she finally asks when they're nearly halfway, "so I could do the dirty work while you lounge?"

"How'd you know?" he asks, phony questioning on his face.

She remains quiet at that, simply shaking her head.

"What?" he inquires, but she doesn't look up at him.

"Nothing," she sighs.

Hinata feels foolish now. For whatever reason, she'd let herself slip into some strange fantasy. That Sasuke, underneath that gruff exterior, was some sort of romantic. The attraction she had felt for him was fleeting, clearly. She's just relieved it didn't go too far before he revealed his true nature once more.

"Seriously, what?" he presses, and she's surprised he even cares.

"I—" She stops herself, bites her lips together. She debates whether he deserves to know. She's already made a fool of herself anyway, she decides. "For some incredibly foolish reason, I thought you weren't as cold as you normally project."

"And why would you think that?"

She looks at him and gapes. "Really? The date? Or the fake date…whatever you'd like to call it—it was thoughtful, or at least it seemed that way. But now I'm realizing you probably had Sakura plan it all out and I'm feeling ridiculous for thinking you could ever have the emotional capacity to care enough."

After the words leave her, her eyes drop to the ground.

Had she really just said all of that out loud? She really hadn't meant to. It was a little harsher than she imagined. Or maybe a lot harsher.

She can feel his stare on her cheek.

"Sakura didn't plan it."

Hinata waits for more, but it doesn't come. He's leaving her wondering what that means, but she's unwilling to question him further.

"Lover's quarrel," one of the detainee's mocks, and Sasuke gives him a swift hit to the back of the head.

They return within the hour, Sasuke only striking their detainees twice more when they made some sort of snarky remark, and they drop them off at the investigation unit.

Hinata chooses to leave in silence, but Sasuke follows her. She doesn't acknowledge him; she pretends he isn't there.

When they arrive at the compound, he grasps her hand, and she has to remind herself not to pull it away.

"I planned it," he finally clarifies, and it forces her eyes up to his, a serious expression on his face, "and I know those things about you because I know you."

She blinks up at him. "How?"

"You're transparent."

She frowns, unsure of whether he's insulting her or not.

Again, it's like he can read her mind. "And no, that's not an insult," he sighs, rolling his eyes. "We've known each other for a long time. I know you don't think I pay attention, but I do."

"Why are you telling me this?" she decides to question.

"I…" The way he falters has her curious. "Because it's insulting that you'd think so little of me."

For this, she shakes her head. "Please, Sasuke. I'm not stupid."

"You're not," he responds, quickly, and it catches her off guard, "I'm not saying you are. I'm just saying…have some faith in me, even if you don't think you should."

She allows those words to touch her a little closer to the heart, and feels that pulse of attraction vibrate through her again. How was he having this effect on her? His hand squeezes hers, and hers impulsively squeezes back. "You…you don't have to go through all that, though. We're playing our roles…remember?"

His lips uptick into a smirk now. "That's right."

This time, when he kisses her, she's sure there's something there. Because there's nobody in sight—even if there were some random shinobi perched on the rooftops or in the trees, it's not necessary for him to keep the kiss going for so long.

Hinata decides if she's going to do this, she may as well do it big. So, she tugs her hand out of his and slides her hands to the nape of his neck, and tangles her fingers into the hair there. Sasuke meets her desire with his own and wraps his arms around her middle. The way he bends her back to deepen the kiss further convinces her that there must be some sort of spark, whether either of them truly wants it or not.

She wonders if she does.

This time, their meeting is purely coincidental.

Hinata's with Kiba, Akamaru, and Shino, perusing Tenten's newly opened weapons shop. Shino's looking intently at a set of shuriken while Tenten explains where they came from. Hinata thinks it's sweet the way he listens attentively to her as she speaks, clearly making an effort to nod along. Shino's not the most active listener; one has to know Shino fairly well to understand that he is listening carefully, even if it doesn't look like it. He's taking care to make sure Tenten knows he's interested, and that's something he rarely offers to others.

Before she realizes it, a pair of hands are on her hips.

"How kind of you."

Hinata flinches at the contact, then bends her head back parallel to her body to find those familiar black eyes looking down at her. Sasuke is smirking, clearly enjoying catching her off guard, and she can only assume that her team surrounding her is a bonus on top for him.

"Sasuke," she says, simply, forcing a smile up at him.

Kiba grumbles irritably next to them, glaring at Sasuke.

Kiba had accosted her the day after her engagement to Sasuke became public, when whispers of the happy couple started circulating. He was livid with her for not telling him herself, but truth be told, she had no idea how to tell him. The only way she could soothe him was by revealing their plan, and even then, he lamented the injustice of it all. But he's doing a decent job right now by not attempting to pick a fight with Sasuke.

"I assume you're picking out new shuriken for me?" he asks, tilting his head to the side.

Hinata debates in her head whether to go along with this scene he's decided on.

"I was just telling Shino about this set," Tenten interjects, eager for another customer, "but I'd be happy to—"

Her head still bent back, Hinata sees the irritation on Sasuke's face grow, so she decides to cut in. "Actually, Tenten, I believe Sasuke procures his shuriken from the Land of Iron."

Hinata sees the flash of surprise waver Sasuke's expression before it's schooled back to one of indifference. She brings her head forward and rests a hand on one of his wrapped around her hipbone. She smiles sadly as Tenten's expression falls, but it quickly picks back up. "Good to know! I'll have to see about making a trade agreement out there, then you'll have to come back!"

"Not likely," Sasuke responds, coolly and Hinata grimaces slightly.

"Dick…" Kiba mutters under his breath, and Hinata shoots him a look.

Tenten's store is not the place for an argument, so she continues, "have you decided, Shino?"

Shino hums quietly before nodding. "I'll take them."

Tenten clasps her hands together happily. "Perfect!"

Hinata admires the way Shino gives in to letting Tenten drag him through the store. She'll have to have a private chat with him later.

"Anyway," Kiba sighs dramatically, nudging his head, "sorry, but your…" His eyes shift uncomfortably, and he grinds out, "fiancée is coming with us to the training grounds."

Sasuke scoffs irritably, "that right? Didn't know you let other men command your attention so freely."

Hinata feels her lower eyelid twitch. "Well, I mean—"

"Cut the act, Uchiha," Kiba snarls quietly, eyebrows low and nose crinkling.

Hinata spins in Sasuke's grip, pushing her palms into his chest as she tries to mellow the situation, but Sasuke has other ideas. "What act is that, Inuzuka? If I didn't know any better, I'd think that's jealousy in your tone." Hinata sighs and rubs her forehead, practically feeling the anger boiling over in Kiba. "Anyone ever tell you jealousy is ugly? You don't have a whole lot to spare in the looks department—"

"Okay!" Hinata's tone is high-pitched as she forces the interaction to an end. "Kiba, I apologize, perhaps another day?"

"Yeah, another day," Sasuke continues, "maybe in the far, distant future."

Hinata's annoyed now. In a hushed tone, she scolds him, "enough, Sasuke…"

"Yeah, enough Sasuke," Kiba repeats in a mocking tone, sticking his tongue out. Hinata nearly cracks a smile but resists as she looks back up at him.

Sasuke raises his eyebrows, sucks in that cheek again, clearly holding back. He tuts and rolls his eyes. "Whatever my lovely fiancée says."

Hinata smiles in satisfaction, patting his chest as he releases her. She turns back to Kiba who is looking pouty with his arms crossed and foot tapping. "Tomorrow, okay? Would you find me a nice set of arrows while you're here?"

The request seems to calm Kiba. He brings a hand to the back of his neck. "Ah, yeah. Alright."

"I'll pay you back tomorrow."

Sasuke grunts from behind her and a bag of coins fly over her shoulder into Kiba's chest, who reflexively catches it. They both look in confusion towards Sasuke, who is already starting to walk away. "Can't let another man buy gifts for my wife."

"Hey, asshole—"

"Kiba!" Hinata hisses, stepping towards him, "please!"

Kiba looks down at her, heaving a frustrated breath. "How do you expect me to—"

"Kiba." Shino appears next to him, setting a hand on Kiba's shoulder. "Come."

"Just a little longer," Hinata whispers to them, and Shino's the only one who nods in agreement.

Kiba rolls his eyes. "Sure about that?"

Hinata leans her head away, but Shino doesn't stay for the rest, instead moving to where Tenten has her bows and arrows displayed, parchment package of new shuriken in hand. She looks back at Kiba. "What do you mean by that?"

"Nothin'." Kiba shakes his head and leaves her wondering as he follows Shino. He waves his hand without looking back at her. "See ya, Hina."

Hinata purses her lips.

Why does everyone have to be so vague with her?

"Arrows?" Sasuke begins as she walks alongside him, having no idea where they were going.

Hinata nods. "I took up archery a year ago. Hanabi asked me to join her one day, and I found I quite liked it."

"Interesting." It's all he offers her before silence settles between them again.

She looks down at his hands, finding them tucked in his pockets, and decides to reach over to pull one out. She's surprised when he lets her take it so easily. She slides her fingers between his. He doesn't even look alarmed by the action now. She supposed they were settling into their roles comfortably.

Briefly, she wonders if they're settling in too comfortably.

"Why did you come get me?" she decides to question, looking out towards the village, recognizing their path as one to the Uchiha district once more.

Sasuke snickers quietly. "Couples spend their days together."

"Yes…" she agrees, though still doesn't fully understand, "but we were together just the other day."

"And? We're in love, remember?" His tone is sarcastic, and she sighs at it.

Then he stops in the middle of the path, and she stops with him. She tilts her head curiously. "Sasuke?"

"How did you know I only get my weapons from the Land of Iron?"

She doesn't expect the question. "Your shuriken are inscribed with Miho Kawano's initials."

His expression turns surprised once more, and he doesn't even try to hide it this time. "You know Kawano's work?"

She nods, almost feeling proud of herself. "My father has a personal collection of weaponry forged by her." The way his eyes widen makes her chest swell with pride. "I've come to recognize the way her blades are angled…she has a very specific style."

With a click of his tongue, his eyebrow perks. "That's…hmm."

"I think the word you're looking for is…impressive."

When he chuckles, the surge of pride grows. Getting Sasuke to show any genuine (not sarcastic) humor is a feat in and of itself. "You know what? Let's go to the Hyūga compound."

"Oh?" Hinata inquires, curious. "Why?"

He nudges his head as a sign to join him as he turns. "I want to see how you are with a bow."

If her chest had already been inflating with that pride, it was about to burst now.

She's not even really sure why his approval makes her so giddy. It was never something she concerned herself with before.

Funny enough, it's now a more comfortable calm that sits between them as they make their way to her part of the village. It's interesting because most of the people she surrounds herself with don't quite know the meaning of quiet. Hanabi is bright and playful, Kiba is boisterous and loud. Neji may seem quiet to others, but with her, he's talkative, whether it's about missions, training, or the latest ridiculous thing Lee's done. Shino is the one silent companion she has, but even then, sometimes it's a bit uncomfortable. It depends on whether he's whispering to his beetles or not.

With Sasuke, it had always been a tense stillness. But now, she's holding his hand, and whether he realizes it or not, he's rubbing his thumb along the webbing between her index and her thumb. She glances down at their joined hands, then back up to see him staring out into the distance. He doesn't look at her often, and his mind seems to be elsewhere. While it might have brought a small amount of amusement to point out his mindlessly sweet gesture, she chooses not to. Because it actually feels nice.

When they arrive through the front gates, the guard at the front bows to her, and she hears that sarcastic chuckle from Sasuke once more. She ignores it as she leads him by the hand towards a quieter training area that sits outside. They're greeted with three archery targets that have seen better days, but still stand strong. She opens her hand and is amused to find his hold on it lingers for a few seconds longer before he releases as well. He follows closely behind her anyway as she comes next to a chest and kneels next to it.

When she pulls it open, she's hardly surprised that he takes it upon himself to start rummaging through it without consent. Another thing about Sasuke that everyone, including herself, knows is that he's not one to wait around and be granted permission. But she doesn't mind it because his genuine interest is endearing. Eventually, he settles on a bow she recognizes as Hanabi's favored one, heavy and made of red oak. She watches as he lifts it up and down to test its heft, then gets to his feet.

Still on her knees, she looks on with interest as he sets an arrow and pulls back.

It takes everything inside of her not to let a giggle slip as the arrow sticks to the fencing behind the target. A horrible miss.

He must have sensed the giggle bubbling inside of her, though, because he does a sharp turn to glare at her. She covers her mouth to hide her smile and keep the laugh back. "Finding this amusing?"

"No," she responds with a headshake, the laughter in her voice betraying her, "not at all."

He grunts as he turns and readies another arrow. It misses again and this time, she lets the giggle leave her. An aggravated sigh and he's facing her again, waving her up. "Go on then, show me how it's done, Hyūga."

"Sasuke Uchiha?" she questions innocently, "asking me, Hinata Hyūga, to teach him?"

The way his lips press together to hold back a smart remark is amusing, but she concedes, regardless. Carefully, she pulls her own bow from the chest, a much lighter one made from cherry wood. She rises to her feet to step next to him and gestures at her bow.

"Perhaps you would be better equipped with something lighter?" she asks, honestly. He raises an eyebrow but doesn't respond. She turns to the targets and readies her stance, pulls back an arrow, and lets it fly. It hits dead center, and she looks back for his reaction. His eyes are red now, sharingan spinning, and she laughs, quietly. "Ah, cheater."

"It's not cheating to use inherited advantages," he responds, tartly. With a shrug, she gestures forward for him to try again.

This time, he sinks the arrow into the middle of the target, and she's not surprised. He looks back at her with a smirk and she shakes her head. "If you're expecting praise, you won't find it here."

He clicks his tongue, lowering the bow. "You wound me."

The light tease makes her heart sit in her chest funny. She breathes in, pulling the bow closer to her chest.

"Especially since I've freely given you praise," he continues, tilting his head at her.

She squints. "Really? When?"

"When you captured those bandits."

She frowns. "I'm still unsure of whether that was genuine or not."

"It was," he replies, quickly, as if he has to get it out now, "and your aim is…impressive, too."

Hinata blinks, that funny way her heart sits in her chest becoming even more distracting. In a split decision, she holds an arrow in front of her and steps toward him. He instinctively puts a foot back but doesn't step away fully. She lifts it up. "Can I tell you something I've been working on?"

Sasuke's expression turns curious now, too. "I suppose."

She holds the arrow in one hand, tucks the bow under her armpit, and with the now free hand, focuses some chakra into her palm. Slowly, from one end, she runs the hand over the length of the arrow until it's engulfed in white chakra. She looks up to find his expression downright mesmerized. That pride hits at her chest as she opens her hand to let him take the arrow from her.

"Chakra-infused arrows…interesting, but nothing new," he comments, holding it up to his eyes.

"But if they can close chakra points, that would be new."

The way his body freezes makes her feel like she's on top of the world.

Hinata has truly impressed Sasuke.

She knows it.

"I just haven't figured out a way to test it, yet."

"Not willing to stick any arrows into your clansmen?" he asks, sarcastically. Her mouth drops open, though she knows she shouldn't be shocked by his crass nature. He chuckles, softly, and again, it's quite a nice sound. "I'm kidding, Hyūga."

"I know." She closes her mouth and shakes her head.

"Why didn't you bring it on our mission the other day?" he inquires, folding his free arm over his hip while placing the arrow back in her hand.

She can only be honest. "Bandits aren't quite deserving of such treatment, I don't think."

He scoffs at this, like she expects, his head turning away. "Always so soft."

She remains silent at that, resisting the urge to twist her foot into the ground.

"Well," he sighs, casting his eyes back up at her, "I have to give credit where credit is due. It's impressive."

For this, she smiles. It's now the third time he's called her impressive, and she can't help the satisfaction she feels. She clutches the bow to her chest, and decides to tease, "you find me impressive, Sasuke?"

The way he goes quiet instead of returning with an even snarkier retort makes her a little nervous. His eyes scan her face, as if picking her apart. She wills herself not to back away from him when he steps towards her. His serious expression is something she'd grown accustomed to for most of her time knowing him, but she's seen such a different side of him these last few weeks, it's a little hard to reconcile.

Then his hand reaches for her cheek, and she almost wants to curse herself for leaning into the touch.

"Maybe I do," he says, quietly. Her beating heart quickens as he leans down, and his lips are against hers again.

One of her clansmen must be near, or perhaps her caretaker, or even her father. This is the only reason she can come up with for why he's doing this now of all times. So, she returns him by closing her eyes, lowers the bow to her side, and wraps her other hand around the wrist of his hand cupping her face. She hears the thud of the bow he had been holding as it hits the ground, and that arm is circling her waist.

Not as careless with her own belongings, she awkwardly crouches to set her bow on the ground, breaking the kiss for a moment as she does. She opens her eyes briefly to catch him smirking down at her, not the taunting smirk he usually offers, but more one of amusement, and he's pulling her back up. Without totally understanding what she's doing, she lets him and brings her arms around his neck to continue the kiss.

It's unbecoming of them to be locked in what, on the outside, looks like a passionate kiss. Just like he had originally told her—the two non-heirs of their clans acting unbecoming. To 'embarrass the hell out of their clans.' But now, Hinata's beginning to think that the passion may in fact be real. Because this couldn't be an act, it just couldn't. The way he grips her a little tighter, but his hold is still gentle. The way his skin flushes deeper with each passing second. The way his lips move against hers, until a brand-new sensation hits her—his tongue against her bottom lip.

This is when she ends the kiss, with a gasp and her head jerking back. His eyes remain closed for a few seconds longer before they pop open to look at her, low and shameless.

She inhales a deep breath and activates her byakugan, scanning the grounds. When she finds no chakra networks near enough to have detected them, she deactivates it and looks at him questioningly. "Who's here?"

"Here?" he asks, voice a little gruff, and it sends a spike of electricity through her. "No one."

Her lips part, but she can't breathe, as if the oxygen available to her is too difficult to take in. "So…so why did you…"

A pause settles between them as they both scan each other for some clue about just what on earth they're doing.

Suddenly, he releases her, and she has to stop herself from clutching onto him, instead pulling her arms away and stumbling back.

"I should go," he rasps out, spinning on his heel to leave.

"Wait—" She reaches out a hand and he stops at her beckoning, but doesn't turn back around. "Sasuke?" He hums at her to continue, but she's not sure what it is she wants to say. She's at a loss, and after a few more moments, without another word, he begins his stroll once more, disappearing around the bend.

Hinata's hand drops to her side.

"What in the world…" she breathes out to herself, reaching up to touch her lips.

He kissed her. Without any underlying motive.

Now she's sure. Sasuke is feeling that same pulse of attraction that she is.

Hinata knows that should frighten her.

But again, that pride intensifies inside of her. And that funny way her heart is sitting is beginning to feel quite lovely.

After a chat with her father (read: her father telling her what was going to happen), Hinata's sure this plan is never going to work.

The way he spoke made her think that he and Fugaku were onto her and Sasuke's (Naruto's) foolish plan.

"Since you two are so deeply in love, as it seems, we've decided to move your wedding date to next month."

Now she had to seek out Sasuke to figure out what their next steps would be.

Honestly, she's not hopeful.

She's walking down the path that leads to the Uchiha district when she catches him coming down the opposite way. They both stop upon seeing each other.

"Your dad talk to you?" he asks, tautly, taking slow footsteps toward her. She matches them.

"He did…" she sighs, shoulders slumping. "Naruto's plan has failed, it seems."

Sasuke grunts, pulling his arms into a fold. "It's what I get for doing anything that idiot suggests."

She grimaces at his words, then shakes her head. "I really don't see a way out of this, Sasuke."

There's a pause, and it feels bleak. She shifts awkwardly on her feet as she clasps her hands behind her back. With a sigh, he continues, "I should just take off."

"…Leave the village?"

"Mhm."

The words feel heavy in her chest. She looks down at her feet.

Self-deprecation had also become a familiar part of her day to day. "Right…better than marrying someone like me."

"What?" His tone is sharp, and it forces her head up. "Why would you say that?"

She thins her lips, creases her brows. "You've made it quite clear."

"That's—" He steps forward, shaking his head. "That's not why at all."

"Then what? Why would you desert the village?"

"Because you shouldn't have to marry someone like me."

The way he immediately averts his gaze upon saying those words tells her he hadn't meant for them to come out. But now she needs to know more. "And…why is that?"

He lets out something between a cough and a chuckle as his head tips to the sky. "You know better than anyone else, Hinata."

It had been a while since he addressed her by her first name, outside of their 'roleplay' in front of their families.

"I'm an asshole." She wants to argue, purely out of instinct, but can't. He is a jerk most of the time. But she has seen the sweeter side of him, too, even if it was in the name of the plan. "Being stuck with me? For a lifetime? I don't even wanna be stuck with me."

"That's…sad," she responds, quietly.

It really is sad, she thinks. Not even Sasuke Uchiha should feel that way about themselves. Maybe it's ironic for her to feel that way, what with the way she thinks about herself. But he's not so bad, she's realized. In fact, he's even…kind. Thoughtful. Easy to be around, surprisingly. She can't deny that these past few weeks have her looking at him in a far different light, now.

She scans his facial expression. He's grimacing, and now she's beginning to think it doesn't suit him. "You're not always like that, Sasuke. I've seen how you can be."

"Yeah," he grunts out, shaking his head as his eyes land on her again. "That was a show."

"Was it?" She tilts her head, asking genuinely. His eyebrows draw together as he blinks down at her. "You didn't have to take me to get my favorite things. You didn't have to make the date enjoyable. I would have gone along with it either way if it was just for show."

Silence hangs, again. His eyes are darting over her face before they stop on hers again, his lips pressed into a grim line.

"You…didn't have to come to the compound with me to indulge in my hobby…" She bites her lip as he looks away, that pink on his cheeks again. She wonders if she can make them crimson. She steps forward. "You didn't have to kiss me like you did."

That does it. Sasuke Uchiha is as red as a tomato.

Then, she reaches out. She doesn't take his hand, just holds hers out in offering. "Don't run away yet."

"Why do you care?" he asks, turning to eye the hand suspiciously.

"Because we're in this together. Whether you want us to be or not."

She's relieved when a smile ghosts his lips. "You've always been soft."

Hinata's heart jumps as he sets his hand in hers, and she squeezes it. "I suppose I am."

"You let me push you around too easily," he continues, tugging her towards him, and her feet follow easily, "like right now."

Her heart beats a little faster as his other hand sets on her hip. She splays her free hand on his chest to keep a little distance. Is he…flirting with her, now? Genuinely?

"I guess I could get used to that," he whispers, his face leaning in closer. When she feels his breath on her lips, her eyes flutter shut on instinct. But his lips don't meet hers, and her eyes open again to see him looking smugly down at her. His face isn't quite as red as it was, but a pretty blush still dusts his cheeks. "Don't tell me you've actually fallen for me, Hyūga?"

"No," she replies automatically, shaking her head, causing their noses to brush. She's being honest; she can't be won over with a few weeks of passionate kissing under the guise of 'fake love.' But perhaps… "I'm just willing to try to make things work. For both our sanities."

"How kind of you," he responds, that smirk dropping to a smile.

That's when she realizes a smile really does suit Sasuke best.

"Are you willing to?" she asks, reluctantly. He peers up towards the sky, as if in thought. Then his head drops back down.

"As long as we cut the act." His voice is soft, now. It seems a little silly for him to talk about dropping the façade while he's holding her against his chest. "I'm a pretty good actor, but I have my limits."

She smiles. "So do I."

"Clearly." He glances down at the hand that's still keeping them separated, her eyes following. "Is this the limit?"

"For now, at least."

Sasuke tilts his head at her, and she's not even surprised anymore when she realizes he's cute like this, too.

"Maybe I can live with that."

Maybe she can, too, she thinks.

Notes:

Thanks to everyone who kept up and commented, it's always motivating to see a new review :)

This was fun to write. When I originally sat down to attempt an arranged marriage AU, I couldn't come up with anything. Felt like it had all been done before, and this probably has, too. But once my mind veered from angst, I leaned into chaos and think it came through well. Hoping to write more Uchiha/Neji!Survive SasuHina. I really wanna write Hanabi and Shisui being menaces together, honestly.

Thanks again, see you soon!

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