Seven

When Hinata woke up, she was alone in the marital bed. Indeed, she had felt Sasuke desert their bed at the first light of dawn. She had made no move to hold him back, or even to show him that she was only awake. Yet deep down she suspected that such a ruse could not fool the Rinnegan's owner. Yet Sasuke acted as if he hadn't noticed, and it was only when he had left the room that she released a breath she didn't even know she was holding. More at ease, she had slipped back into sleep, and had just emerged.

A faint ray of light filtered through the curtain onto the young woman's bare skin. She heaved a sigh as she thought of the other things that had touched her bare skin. Sasuke's hands, for example. To tell the truth, he'd barely grazed her skin, even if for a moment they'd been one. Hinata could feel her cheeks flush at the memory. Yesterday, she had become Sasuke's wife, his lawful wife, in every sense of the word. Even knowing they were being watched, Sasuke had taken his time. He had been gentle-for her sake, she knew. If it hadn't been tender, it hadn't been hard either. Their union had been awkward, and sweet in spite of everything. Hinata was grateful to Sasuke for that. She wondered if he was too.

Still wearing her nightie, Hinata made her way to her bedroom so she could get dressed. Her things were still piled up in boxes. She would then have to put them definitively away in her new home. For a moment, she thought she'd suffocate at the very thought, but the next moment she regained her composure. She couldn't give in to panic. In fact, there was no longer any reason to panic. It was done. Nothing was up to her anymore. It was done.

With wobbly legs, she finally made her way to the kitchen where she thought she'd find Sasuke. He wasn't there. Instead she found a steaming teapot next to a Suna pottery cup and a note left on the table. She started with the tea. She helped herself and took a seat on one of the chairs arranged around the table. Then, having taken her first sip - the tea was still hot - she unsealed the piece of parchment left for her.

I train every day until mid-afternoon. Do as you please. This house is yours.

The last word was underlined. There was no signature, but Hinata didn't need one. A slight smile spread across her face. Sasuke was keeping her informed, warning her of his arrival times so she wouldn't feel surprised. It was "thoughtful", she thought, before raising the cup to her lips. When she had finished her tea, she decided to occupy her free time by exploring more of her new home. As a wedding gift, the Hokage had granted the newlyweds three days' rest. She began in the kitchen. She went through the various cupboards to see what items Sasuke had, while making a mental list of the things she would need to buy if she wanted to cook the way she wanted. She also checked the food stocks, noting that she would have to go shopping during the day to have enough to cook a few meals while they were on vacation. She didn't know if Sasuke cooked, or if he expected her to fulfill this role for the two of them from now on. She'd ask him later.

In the bathroom, she was surprised to discover feminine hygiene products. They were still wrapped and simply lying on the counter as if awaiting their owner. It was probably Sasuke's attention to her, and once again Hinata was grateful. She hadn't imagined for a second that the ex-ninja deserter could be so attentive to the needs of others. She found a free space in the cupboards and stowed her new belongings there, while a slight blush appeared on her face.

In the end, she decided to postpone the rest of her exploration. She needed to get out, to feel the fresh air on her face. As much as Sasuke had told her in writing that this house was hers, she didn't feel that way. She wasn't at ease, she felt like she was too much, and at times she felt like she was suffocating. She needed a break. So she decided to run a few errands, and headed out into Konoha's shopping district.

Akamaru jumped on her. Hinata dropped to her full height to receive his caresses and cuddle him in turn. Whereas the dog had been able to stand on his master's hood when they were younger, he had now become a huge beast.

"Take it easy, Akamaru," warned his owner in an amused voice.

Hinata looked up to meet the mischievous gaze of her friend Kiba. She hadn't seen him since the announcement of her marriage. It had barely been a week, but Hinata felt as if a lifetime had already passed. And in a way, it had. Hinata Hyuuga's life had passed. She was no more, no longer existed. She now bore the name Uchiha, her new life had begun.

"It's nothing, Kiba," she assured him. "I'm happy to see him."

"And to see you too" she thought, but she was sure that Kiba had understood the implication of her answer.

She offered her furry friend a few more caresses before rising to her teammate's level. He was in his ninja outfit, covered in a few places with mud and rips, a sign that he had just returned from a mission. It was now not uncommon for some members of Team 8 to go on solo missions or with other ninjas from the village. Still, Hinata felt her heart clench at the thought. She didn't like knowing that her comrades were in potential danger, far from the reach of her Byakugan. It was up to her to protect them, to make sure they were all right. It was up to her to-

"How are you?" he asked her in a tiny voice.

Kiba was uncomfortable. That was rare. Kiba is always at ease, whatever the circumstances. He's not afraid of anything or anyone. He's always confident, which is what Hinata likes best about him. Yet right now, he seems embarrassed, unsure of himself. And that hurts Hinata. It hurts her. It hurts her to know that she's the cause of this embarrassment.

"I'm fine," she replied with a smile.

She tried to put all her courage and love into her smile. She wanted to reassure her friend, to show him that all was well. That she was fine. That she was still the same. That she was still his friend.

"And, uh, you, he-

"I'm fine, Kiba."

She'd been firmer this time, planting her white gaze in his. Then her friend's face lit up at last, as a small laugh escaped from him. Hinata laughed too, and for a moment everything seemed normal. He was Kiba, and she was Hinata. All was well.

Kiba then told her that he had just returned from a short solo mission on the border of the Land of Fire. Unable to tell her more without breaching the confidentiality of his mission order, he simply told her the main points (he told her everything. Kiba remains Kiba). His teammate then accompanied her to the market, where Hinata did some shopping. Seeing that she was shopping for at least two people, he refrained from comment, preferring to turn the conversation to lighter subjects. Hinata was grateful for this and joined in the conversation with gusto, happy to spend a moment like this with her friend. He told her that Shino had gone on a mission to the Land of the Wind with Ino and Lee. She promised herself she'd wait for him at the village gate with a bento when he returned. Hinata liked to take care of the people she loved, those who were hers. Kiba and Shino were her teammates, her friends, her family. They were hers.

When Hinata had finished with her shopping, they sat down on the terrace of a small stall to enjoy some dangos. "My treat", Kiba assured them, grinning from ear to ear. This is where they met Naruto and Sakura. When Hinata saw the blond-haired young ninja, she matched the hair color of the kunoichi accompanying her. She hadn't seen Naruto since the evening before her wedding, when she went to give him her first kiss. Without even realizing it, she passed an absent hand over her lips. That's when Naruto caught her gaze. And Kiba noticed them in turn.

_Oi Naruto! Sakura!" he hailed them in a thunderous voice.

Hinata wanted to disappear into her seat. She didn't feel ready to face Naruto's gaze-which she imagined would be full of pity. Yet she had no choice. Sakura and Naruto advanced towards them.

"Hey Kiba! Back already?" inquired Naruto, after sticking his fist into his friend's.

"Of course! Who do you think I am?" he replied in a falsely offended tone.

Naruto burst out laughing, and Hinata felt her heart clench. Naruto's laughter was vibrant, sunny, carrying with it all those around him. A smile spread across the young woman's face.

"Hello Hinata," Naruto said at last, offering her a smile.

"Naruto-kun, Sakura-chan," she said in greeting.

Sakura merely nodded. In Naruto's shadow, the pink-haired young woman seemed to take a distant position. Hinata could see the blond-haired ninja running a comforting hand down her teammate's back. It was a simple gesture, yet it seemed almost intimate. And Naruto seemed to have done it without even giving it a thought. It was normal. For him.

"I was surprised not to see you at the Hokage tower this morning, Hinata. You're usually the first one there to pick up your mission orders," said Naruto with a smile.

Hinata's heart missed a beat. Naruto knew her, knew her habits. He cared enough about her to know when she was missing.

"Er-I-I've been given three days off by the Hokage-sama for for-

She couldn't go on, but Sakura did it for her.

"For the wedding."

Hinata nodded, her eyes already almost misty with tears that she was doing her best to hold back. She couldn't start crying here in front of everyone, when she'd just spent the afternoon reassuring Kiba that she was fine.

"Oh," Naruto simply replied, giving Sakura a worried look.

The young woman nodded in response, as if to say that all was well.

"Congratulations Hinata."

Then, without another word or glance, the pink-haired young woman left, her fists clenched and her gait determined. For a moment, Naruto was ready to follow her, but Hinata saw him abandon the idea just as quickly as it had come to him. He offered them a shy smile while nervously scratching the back of his head.

"I'm sorry about Sakura-chan, she's a bit-

"It's nothing, Naruto," Hinata cut him off gently. Maybe you should join her," she suggested, playing nervously with her hands.

Kiba sighed loudly but said nothing else. Hinata had no trouble imagining what he might be thinking about all this. But for the sake of his teammate, he kept his thoughts to himself. Hinata was happy to have him by her side.

"You're right," he replied softly. I'll be off then! I'll see you around!

Naruto was back to his usual jovial self. His smile reached up to his ears and his eyes sparkled. Hinata loved that look, loved him altogether. He held out his fist once more to Kiba, who gave him a limp salute and stomped off. But as soon as he'd gone, he turned and stood right in front of Hinata.

"Sasuke loves tomatoes. Maybe it's the only thing this idiot really likes."

And as soon as he'd said those words, he sped off again, leaving Hinata and Kiba totally baffled.

Sitting on the floor, parchments scattered around him and traces of ink staining the ground, Sasuke worked.

On entering the house and finding it empty, he'd breathed a sigh of relief. He'd dreaded finding Hinata curled up in a ball somewhere, crying like a wounded animal. If she had done that, he wasn't sure what he would have done. He'd have ignored her, probably. Maybe he'd have given her some harsh criticism about dignity or something. But Hinata wasn't there. Unlike him, she hadn't left him a note, but Sasuke didn't mind. She could go wherever she wished, for that matter, she was not accountable to him, as long as she always returned to her new home.

As if to echo his thoughts, Sasuke felt a now-familiar chakra moving towards the house. When she entered the house, he didn't look up from his work.

"Hello, Sasuke."

"Hn," he replied without looking at her.

She then walked to the kitchen, where she set down a bag filled with victuals.

"I've been shopping. What would you like to eat tonight?" she asked him in a soft voice.

He finally looked up from his parchment to see her arranging the groceries in the various kitchen cupboards. It was strange to see her like this, almost at ease, in the kitchen.

"You don't have to cook for me," he replied harshly.

What did she imagine? That they were going to play family from now on? He couldn't help letting out a mocking chuckle. This girl was really strange. Whereas he'd expected her to be totally crushed by grief-even shame, given what had happened the day before-she was behaving normally.

"Naruto told me you like tomatoes."

She'd spoken in a gentle voice, even if a slight apprehension seemed to shine through. She had finished putting away the groceries, and tying up her hair, looked ready to get to work.

"It's true," he replied softly. I like onigiri with tomato filling," he added, without really thinking about it.

Hinata said nothing more. She washed her hands and set to work in silence. Sasuke did the same. Still on the floor, he read and translated various scrolls. It wasn't the most comfortable position, but since he'd given his wife the second bedroom, he no longer had a proper workstation. He was so absorbed in his work that he didn't even notice when she left the room. When he finally finished, she was gone. He could hear the hum of the rice cooker, but no trace of Hinata.

He got up to get changed, and that's when he found her. She was in the room they'd shared the day before. She was putting her things away in an almost empty cupboard-Sasuke was a man of few possessions. He really didn't own much, which left plenty of room in his closets for someone else's things. For Hinata's things, in this case.

"Why didn't you put your things away in your room?"

Hearing him, she gasped. She turned to face him and began to play nervously with her hands.

"I-I-I thought we could share a room and tur- turn the other one into a study for you. You-you looked rather uncomfortable in the living room earlier," she explained, refusing to meet his eyes.

He didn't like that. He didn't like the fact that she refused to look him in the eye; she was willing to share his bed, but not to look him in the eye? Still, he found her reasoning interesting. "Thoughtful even" he thought, as he continued to observe the young woman. Her hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and her face was flushed. That's when he remembered something; last night she hadn't blushed. As their two bodies had united-Sasuke had found the sensation very strange-her face had remained marbled. Her skin had remained as white as alabaster and her cheeks hadn't colored as they had at that very moment. What a strange girl, he thought for the second time that evening.

"Fine," he simply replied.

He walked past her-he could almost touch her skin-took off his clothes and left the room without another word.

They both ate in silence. Hinata had made tomato-filled onigiri and steamed vegetables. She wasn't a pro in the kitchen, but she knew how to manage-especially since she loved doing it. She especially liked cooking for the people she loved, making pastries for Kiba or her little sister, sushi for Shino. She would have loved to be able one day to cook ramen for Naruto, as she had just cooked for Sasuke. But she knew that this aspiration was now meaningless. She would never be Naruto's wife. Never.

When Sasuke had finished eating, he cleared the table before washing up. Still without a word, Hinata followed him and wiped the dishes he was cleaning. Something was on her mind, but she didn't know how to approach the situation. Sasuke was truly intimidating. She knew she had nothing to fear for her life-yet she was afraid. She was afraid to talk to him, afraid to make him angry. Even though he seemed to be trying very hard to be at least cordial with the young woman, you could feel the anger-the icy hatred-that reigned in his heart. He always seemed on the alert, ready to let himself be overcome by a cold, powerful rage.

Yet Hinata couldn't remain without answers. She needed to know what he intended to do with her from now on.

"I'd like to remain a ninja."

She'd said that outright. Sasuke paused for a moment to give her a puzzled look.

"Why shouldn't you be?"

Hinata lowered her eyes. Sasuke's voice-hard and cold-seemed animated by another sentiment. He seemed genuinely surprised, taken aback by her announcement.

"Once married, Hyuuga women stay at home to look after the household. They are withdrawn from active ninja service and are no longer allowed to carry out missions."

This was what worried her most. No longer able to be a ninja, no longer useful to her village. She couldn't bear the thought. Yet if it was Sasuke's decision, she'd have to abide by it. She'd sworn obedience to him, terrible as it was, by marrying him she'd done just that.

"You're no longer a Hyuuga."

His voice was without appeal. He was simply stating a fact.

"Things don't work that way with the Uchiha. You're free to remain a ninja or stay at home if that's what you want."

Hinata felt her eyes wet with tears. An intense feeling of relief washed over her; a feeling she needed to share. Without even thinking about it, she placed a kiss on Sasuke's cheek. He widened his eyes but did nothing to push her away.

"Thank you," she said in an emotional voice.

Sasuke turned and concentrated again on the dishes.

"You don't have to thank me," he said gruffly, and Hinata was sure to see a slight blush color her husband's cheeks.

She smiled, and got back to work.

After that, the two young people took advantage of a moment of silence in the living room to read. Hinata was reading a fiction novel borrowed from her little sister, while Sasuke was immersed in reading what appeared to be a very old scroll. He sometimes murmured incomprehensible formulas and took notes in a small notebook bound with a dark leather cover.

"Tomorrow I'll explain to you your new responsibilities as an Uchiha," he said as he made his notebook disappear, pressing down on a seal tattooed on his wrist.

Hinata simply nodded. What could she say?

When he got up to go to bed, she followed him. The room was dark, but no one bothered to turn on the light. It was better this way. In the dark, they undressed before sliding into bed. Hinata was surprised at how easily they'd both done it-as if they'd done it all their lives.

"There's someone watching the house."

"I'm supposed to be fertile for two more days."

She heard him stifle an expletive. The next moment his eye was red, a flowery pattern replacing its pupil. "The hypnotic kaleidoscope", she thought as a shiver ran through her body. She let out a hiccup of terror. When this technique is activated, it's often said to be the last thing you see. Sasuke then seemed to become aware of the terror he had created in her. He deactivated his dojutsu and ran an angry hand through his hair. He turned to her and with infinite gentleness took her hand. His touch was warm and reassuring. It was so strange-when he'd seemed so icy, so frightening the moment before.

"Fuck them."

She blushed as she heard him swear, but couldn't help letting out a small laugh.

"Fu-Fuck them.

It was Sasuke who laughed this time. It was beautiful. It was strange.

He withdrew his hand from hers but came so close to her that their faces were now only a few centimeters apart. Hinata was surprised; she thought Sasuke had just made it clear that he refused to bow to his marital duties once more. Had she misunderstood? A slight feeling of panic began to creep over her.

He placed his lips on her forehead, his hand gently caressing her hair. She closed her eyes, before placing her hand on his cheek. He then placed his own hand on hers, and for a moment they remained like that, without moving. Then he pushed her hand away before stepping back without leaving a final kiss on her hair.

"Sleep now," he said softly.

She nodded, turned over-her back facing her husband-and fell asleep. Tomorrow, Sasuke would show her her new responsibilities within the Uchiha clan.