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An Unexpected Situation

They found out their respective spouses were cheating;

that's how their love story began.

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Chapter 5

By Hallow's Eve, Hinata was going to be a divorcee. On that same day, she decided to tell her parents about her new marital status. It was a sad situation really, but Neji's advice helped her, besides his support. She took her time and grieved the death of her marriage through the process of getting the seals, met with her husband to agree that some financials were indeed independent and that he had no objection to signing the papers.

Her lawyer, Itachi-san had been a silent support as well, making sure that she was aware of every part of the process, also Sasuke had been good company, even though it was a little awkward knowing how they met. He was quiet and blunt to the point, but she found out she rather liked that. Even if she the blank of all his teasing.

She was currently finalizing the final details of her divorce in Naruto's lawyer's office. Nara Shikamaru was a very laid-back individual with one set of sharper eyes than she had ever seen in her life. Itachi-san seemed to know him well, but probably was not the first time they met in a situation like this, which the process easy since each lawyer knew how the other worked.

"It makes the process smoother," the Uchiha explained with a calm smile that seemed to do the desired effect.

Naruto looked like he had lost a little weight, the sides of his handsome face were sunken and under his eyes, he had a a grey undertone. He looked miserable and in her mind, she felt bad for him. He looked like an abandoned cat; however, her mind gently reminded her that she was not the one punishing him, but rather it was his conscience and there was nothing she could do about that.

She wasn't even sure if she wanted to help him either.

"I don't believe there's any else to discuss," Shikamaru said. "Naruto, something you would like to say,"

Hinata saw him exhale loudly his eyes heavy with many thoughts. "We don't have to do this," he murmured.

Even though her heart constricted a little bit, she knew she didn't want to go down the road that he was paving, still, she was a lady so she listened intently to whatever was bothering his mind to come to this conclusion.

"I made a mistake, Hinata," he admitted. "If there's a possibility that we can solve this, I want to have that chance, I'll go to therapy, I'll do whatever you want, but please let's give each other one last chance,"

Once upon a time seeing those torturous blue eyes would have made her move earth and sky to erase such glance, however, she made peace within herself that this was over. Extending her hand and grabbing his, she opened her mouth. "Naruto, I've loved you since you came to that sophomore year classroom, running, out of breath, and with your uniform unironed," she laughed at that memory. "Marrying you was one of the happiest memories I will treasure for the rest of my life, " her eyes trembled, tears announcing her system they wanted to fall, but her resolution was final and she promised herself she was not going to cry on that day. "But we can both admit that we got married because we didn't want to be alone..."

Naruto inhaled a breath, tears finally spilling, his hand grabbing hers in a desperate attempt to hold onto her longer.

"Deep down you know this is for the best," she said with a sad smile. "I know this time you're not going to be alone for much longer,"

For the first time in his life, he saw Hinata in another light, she was always strong, and impassible. She had a gift to say the right thing. Her words could be the wake-up call you needed, the push to do something that could be intimidating but she believed you could so you did, or like right now, telling you the hard truth with absolute care. Looking at Shikamaru who had a poker face but if one were to look closer it would be obvious that he was a little affected, mostly thinking that this was one of the most heartfelt divorces he ever had to see.

"Pass me the papers," was all he said before starting to sign.

Forty-three minutes later Itachi and Hinata were walking out of the building, his face was deep with thought. It was a sunny day, some birds were flying and singing to the people who were listening to nature's music. Feeling and looking lively even though it was the day before Halloween, one of the 'darkest' days in the world, it felt like a good omen.

Even though they could've gone their separate from the office, he rather liked this young woman's company, and he couldn't help but respect her more for what she said to her ex-husband.

"Hinata-san," he called.

"Yes, Itachi-san?" after much insistence from her persuasive lawyer, she finally agreed to call him a little less formal. She was a little uncomfortable, however she agreed.

"What you said to Naruto-san..." he trailed vaguely and let her remember what she said to the individual. "are you still afraid to be lonely?" he knew it was a personal question. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to," although he wanted to know. They were very alike in personalities; taciturn, patient, soft-spoken, gentle, and selfless.

In between appointments, he recognized a lot of himself in her. However, he also saw glimpses of Sasuke in her. His young brother was always a pragmatic enigma, but at his core, he shared some values with the Hyūga and possibly some fears.

"Ah..." the question caught her off guard, and yes it could be a little invasive, but she trusted the tall man beside her. "Yes, I am," she admitted; even if that same fear made her commit a mistake that now resulted in a close part of her life. "But instead of running away from that, I'm going to try to make peace with that," she promised herself.

"Well, Hinata-san, I commend you for being honest with yourself," he said. He often thought that took guts to admit it, especially in front of someone they didn't know on a personal level.

She nodded appreciatively.

"However," he looked at something behind her left shoulder. "Is possible you aren't going to be lonely for much longer,"

By inertia, she looked and saw that a couple of feet away from her Sasuke Uchiha seemed to be uninterested in everything even looking at a distant point in the remotness.

She couldn't help but feel hope in her small smile.

Sasuke and Hinata had been meeting sometimes after her appointment with the older Uchiha while they were working on her divorce. It wasn't planned it happened naturally and without a formal invitation, it was not talked about either; it just happened as if these meetings between them were already programmed. Sometimes when her appointment finished he would be waiting for her, they went to Senbei's to sit, do some informal chat, share a cigarette, or just keep each other company because secretly they found comfort in the other. Now that she is divorced, those meetings will not happen.

Unless the dynamic changed.

The idea came to him when last week they were talking and she admitted to him that she was a little nervous about seeing her husband at the courthouse. Sasuke felt a little panicked because these small hangouts would not give themself organically anymore. So that same afternoon; he came to a shocking conclusion.

First, there was another person he tolerated besides his small circle (meaning, Itachi, his nephew, Izumi, and sometimes his older cousins Shisui and Obito) Those last two were never in his good graces, that's why his circle was very limited.

Second, he found himself thinking about this person, not in an obsessive way of course. But in the most random stuff; in the slight smell of cinnamon, the rainy days, and apples.

Third, he was curious about her. Sasuke didn't think of terms such as 'like'; that was school-coded, and he already graduated. So, 'Curious' was more acceptable. Meticulously, for the next days, he concocted a plan to subtly change their dynamic.

Now, it couldn't be abrupt, even though that was the more acceptable route for him. It was his 'modus operandi' after all, clear and straight to the point. However, Hinata was not like that, she was gentle and delicate, which were qualities he admired in her. So, he needed to change tactics and be more appealing without coming too forward. He contemplated asking his brother, but he felt embarrassed at the possibility.

Itachi was not cruel, ever, not with him not with anyone. But having these sorts of things was not something they were comfortable talking about. Therefore, they stayed away from that type of conversation. Besides he also had to consider Hinata's state of mind, what if after the divorce she was not receptive?

Receptive to what exactly? Sasuke didn't have an answer for that, but the day was already here and she was looking regal in a deep purple dress, her hair long and flowy behind her, while her pearled eyes looked at him over her shoulder. She wasn't trying to seduce him it was obvious. For him, it was easy to know that Hinata was one of those women who didn't believe to be attractive but were effortlessly so, and sometimes it affected him, judging by the warmness in the pit of his stomach.

Meeting halfway, he noticed Itachi quickly said he wanted to catch up to an old colleague and left them to their own devices. His brother could be very intuitive, it was almost embarrassing that he helped to make the situation more ideal, as if knowing his intentions with Hinata Hyūga.

"How are you?" he decided to use his manners.

"Peaceful," she said, and he took a moment to look at her. She didn't have remnants of tears, her eyes were calm, her posture was relaxed and she felt calm to be around. "How are you, Sasuke-san?"

He hated honorifics, they were more or less the same age, but he liked the way she said his name, carefully and with meaning. "I've been well," he said. "Listen Hinata," he gulped discreetly. This was it, the moment to make the shift.

"Yes?" she asked, her face lowered a little and her lashes seemed to make an alluring illusion around her expecting eyes.

"I..." he went blank, for the first time in his life. "You want to grab lunch?" he had to ask something since his mind decided to betrayed him.

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Message from the Author:

This story is either going to be nine or ten chapters, As I said the main conflict already passed in the first chapter, and now we are just getting these two together. ;) Again, thank you so much for commenting.

-LaCrazyWriter