日向導 - A Hyūga's Guide

Chapter Twenty Five: Thirty Days (I)

News broke out in the Palace that very same day. As Hinata walked around doing her usual routine, she really couldn't ignore the smiles and looks she received from the maids who saw her. She expected their reaction, but hoped that they would have been a little bit more subtle. She had expected to see Fū after speaking with Sakura as well since that's where the young woman had told Sasuke she would be, but she was nowhere in sight. Though, that was to be somewhat expected seeing as Hinata found her sister entangled with some sheets and the limbs of her 'Ray of Sunshine'.

Wherever Fū was didn't matter, she just wanted to tell the younger woman — who she was beginning to regard as a faithful companion — the news before Kakashi did.

The man sure did know how to make quick work of his topics of gossip. Fugaku was right to give them the head start with a warning. Hinata imagined that the looks Sasuke was getting weren't so subtle either. The thought of his guards, the ones she's seen around him a few times, pestering him and teasing him about his engagement made her feel slightly better.

Naruto would be the ring leader as well, and he would never tell them that he had cried after hearing the news. He really was a big cry baby whenever he wasn't busy being resilient. He had pulled her into a hug, muttering multiple things at lightning speed which did not exclude some rules about loving "that bastard Uchiha" that she did not bother to remember.

Despite all of the commotion though, she really did relish the light feeling in the air that oddly calmed her. It felt as though she was finally taking a step in the right direction. Would her father be satisfied with her? It was the first time she was thinking for herself without caring too much about what her father would say or do had he been in her position. This was for her, and she would focus on that for a moment longer before she resumed her self assigned responsibilities.

"Oh! Sorry." Hinata apologized quickly as she bumped into someone.

They didn't say anything for a while, their eyes were hidden by a pair of dark glasses, it was hard to decipher whether they could see or not. "That is alright, Lady Hinata." A deep voice was heard, yet it seemed as though their mouth barely moved. "I was not looking at where I was going."

"Neither was I."

She waited for him to at least introduce himself since she had never seen him around the Palace before. Was he like Kakashi, in the sense that he preferred to remain in the shadows unless he felt like gracing others with his presence? They stared at each other, a silent battle seemingly being fought before he broke eye contact first.

"Aburame Shino." He bowed his head slightly.

"I have yet to see you, Shino, it's a pleasure." She nodded in acknowledgment.

"I have just returned from one of my missions assigned by the Emperor. I am usually not here..."

"You've barely been here, and you know of me?"

"It's hard to not know who the Princess Consort is, isn't it? Congratulations on your engagement, I'm sure the Prince truly adores you."

"Is it safe to assume that you're also one of the many guards who have grown up with and served Sasuke?"

"It is. I'm sorry to cut our conversation short, I really must be going."

"Ah, sorry for keeping you." She stepped to the side to let him walk by.

"Have a great day, Lady Hinata." His eyes remained trained on her for a moment before he made his departure.

Hinata watched him, rightfully intrigued by how little he seemed to talk, and his lack of interest for long conversations. He reminded her slightly of her dead cousin, surely those two would have been good friends if they knew each other.