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Hanabi slammed her bedroom door behind her and fell face first onto her bed. Hinata was there waiting for her clad in her wedding kimono with her hair and makeup already done. It had taken a great deal of convincing to excuse herself from the overeager Hyuga women who had taken over the preparations.

Hanabi mumbled into the bed, and Hinata couldn’t help but smile despite the situation. Each day this past month had been full of arguments, tantrums, and pranks with their father being Hanabi’s sole victim. Hanabi had even gone on a hunger strike (Hinata had snuck food to her every night, convincing her that as long as Hiashi didn’t know she was eating the strike was still valid). Listening to her sighing and grumbling, Hinata could only assume that her latest plan had not gone so well.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand a word you’re saying,” Hinata said laughing.

Hanabi flipped over and sat up. She fixed an irritated glare on her sister.

“How can you be laughing right now? You’re about to get married!”

“Yes, I know…” Hinata didn’t know what else to say. Truthfully, the whole situation still felt unreal to her. Like a bad dream that she had yet to wake up from.

“Anyway, I wasn’t able to spike the food so we won’t be able to get everyone high.”

“Oh.” Hinata tried to keep a somber expression on her face, but she burst out laughing once again.

Hanabi’s latest plan involved drugging all the guests, including Lady Tsunade and their father, and taking advantage of their intoxicated state to get them to call off the wedding. Hanabi had even prepared a scroll for them to sign to make it official. But the wedding reception was taking place in their garden, and so all the food was being prepared in the kitchen in perfect view of every Hyuga on the compound. It also didn’t help that everyone was aware of Hanabi’s antics and were being extra vigilant.

This had been their last idea to stop the wedding.

I guess I really will be marrying Sasuke soon.

She envisioned herself as a wife, as Sasuke’s wife, and felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on top of her head. Her giggles stopped and were replaced with sobs.

“Hey hey hey!” Hanabi jumped up on seeing her sister’s tears. “It’s gonna be okay! We’re not out of the fight yet! Do you remember our post-marriage plans?”

Nodding weakly, Hinata wiped at her face with the tissue Hanabi offered her. Just as Hanabi opened her mouth to say more, there was a knock at the door. Without waiting for a reply, several women pushed their way in and began to usher them outside, all the while fussing over Hinata and lecturing Hanabi over how to behave with her new brother-in-law.

Sasuke looked around at all the guests with barely concealed contempt. He had at least hoped for a small ceremony, but a reception had been arranged and it seemed like the entire village had been invited.

“Oh look! There he is!” An arm draped itself around his shoulders and pulled him around to face a group of people — his former classmates. He turned to see Naruto grinning by his side.

Sasuke wanted to throttle him. What was he thinking? Couldn’t he see the murderous looks they were giving him? He could actually feel the killing intent coming from Kiba and Shino.

“So…” Choji started awkwardly. “Congratulations?”

Sasuke scoffed. He knew none of them were happy with these turn of events. Honestly, he wasn’t sure if he was happy about them either.

Ino narrowed her eyes and pouted before nudging Sakura forward.

“Um, well, Sasuke-kun… We were all curious…” Sakura couldn’t help but fidget under his intense stare. She didn’t know how to go about asking him what was on all their minds without insulting him. And they would’ve asked Hinata, but she had refused to meet with any of them. Even Kurenai was sent away from the gates of the compound when she went to ask about her.

“I mean, we were all wondering—”

“Was Hinata forced to marry you?” Kiba interrupted her with a snarl.

Sasuke raised his eyebrows. The thought had never even occurred to him. Before he could start feeling guilty for her, he reminded himself that Lady Tsunade had proposed this idea herself, so if anyone were to blame, it was the Hokage.

“Hey! Answer the question!”

Their group was starting to attract the attention of the guests. Sasuke returned Kiba’s glare with cool indifference. He tried to turn and leave but Naruto’s grip on his shoulder tightened.

“Come on Sasuke! Tell us!” Even Sasuke could tell Naruto was forcing his boisterous attitude. His smile was strained, his gaze far too intense.

“I don’t know.” And he truly didn’t. He didn’t know anything about this whole arrangement. He didn’t even know today was the day of the wedding; he woke up in his cell to find a black kimono embroidered with his clan symbol already laid out for him to wear. And the moment he had put it on, a pair of Anbu had brought him to the wedding reception at the Hyuga compound.

“Who else would know but you?” Ino was looking at him with mistrust. Sasuke could feel his hackles rise.

“Okay guys, that’s enough,” Shikamaru drawled. “I don’t think he was getting any updates regarding the proposal while in his prison cell.”

Kiba had opened his mouth to retort when a murmur went through the crowd.

The bride had arrived.