Healing

Dinner Party

Sakura knocked gently on the Uzumaki-Hyuuga household door. She had stopped for pastries to bring and at the thought of having a dinner with Sasuke, a bottle of hard liquor. She still wasn't used to spending time in such closer quarters with him. It made her nervous and she definitely picked up her mentor's coping mechanisms.

Hinata opened the door. "Sakura!" Sakura bowed and entered, taking off her shoes. "Welcome!"

"Thank you for having me, I brought some desserts and drinks."

Sasuke had arrived a few minutes prior and was already seated with Naruto, a beer in hand. He watched the women exchange pleasantries. He noted Sakura's bag. So, she drank. Sakura barely ate, was over-worked and drank. Interesting, she had certainly learned a thing or two from Tsunade.

"Is it time to eat!" Naruto cheered, rubbing his stomach. Hinata shot Naruto a look, and he quickly rephrased his statement.

"Ah-I will, uh, bring out the food. Please, sit." His wife smiled, meeting him in the kitchen. Hinata certainly had quite the hold on the jinchuriki.

Sakura sat next to Sasuke at the table, greeting him with a squeeze of the shoulder. "I'm happy you made it, Sasuke."

Through-out dinner, everyone spoke and it was pleasant. Hinata and Sasuke had actually known each rather closely before their academy days. They were both influential heirs, after all. Despite their clan rivalries, they often attended political functions together. Being so young, they were often both pawned off on a nanny together. Finally, dessert had been finished and they were all sufficiently fed.

"Let's play some cards!" Naruto announced.

"You play, I'll clean up the table then join you," Hinata suggested.

"I'll assist," Sasuke insisted.

Sakura ended up joining Naruto in the living room with a bottle of liquor. Both her and Naruto had already become flush from the buzz they were wearing from their drinking during dinner.

Hinata and Sasuke gathered the dishes, heading towards the kitchen. Sasuke sensed a certain attitude around Hinata and he could pinpoint it exactly, it was royal. She always had a specific attitude toward him, clan rivalries clearly ingrained into her personality. He couldn't help but mimic it, he had be trusted with the same values as well.

"Sasuke," Hinata stated as she began rinsing dishes. "You've taken an interest in Sakura." It wasn't a question. Hinata's tone was one of a leader, and frankly Sasuke barely recognized her.

"Possibly." He wasn't sure why he answered her at all, let alone honestly. He hadn't even entertained Naruto's jeering earlier.

Hinata stopped her actions, turned toward him. She placed a hand on the counter and stared him dead in the eye. Her eyes were equally as soul-sucking as his. "If you have any plans to destroy her again, stay away. If you harbor any ill-will toward any of us, leave. My husband and Sakura are good people."

Sasuke stared at her, in awe. Everyone in Konoha had seemed to forgive him. Far too easily, he had judged. Of all people, he did not expect Hinata to be the skeptical. Though, he understood her sentiments, he hadn't quite forgiven himself even.

"Sakura and Naruto are good people. I have no intentions to harm them ever again."

Hinata sighed, her entire demeanor relaxing. "It seems Naruto is right. You are a good person. Thank you, Sasuke."

Hinata patted him on the arm before walking to join her friends at the coffee table. Sasuke followed after her, still in shock of who, of all people, had just challenged his will.