My note (hehehe!): Hey y'all!So I got this awesome idea of hooking up Hanabi Hyuuga with Konohamaru Sarutobi from this guy/girl…ugh! I'll just go with author, called WINGEDMERCURY. From there I just kinda winged it. Pahahahahaha! –wipes a tear from corner of her eyes- Whoop whoop! Yeah whatever!

~*~ The Dare ~*~

Part 1

"I mean I understood why the old man accepted the fat woman's request. He was a sucker for sob stories. But why Tsunade-sama too insists on making us waste our time chasing that damn cat every other week is beyond me!" said the brown haired shinobi exasperated.

"Mrs. Morrison is a very generous client. We're lucky that her cat decides to run away so often. The village really needs the money" the hokage had said with a frown and Ebisu sensei as expected had agreed a hundred percent.

"Come everyone let's hunt down Mrs. Tubby" he had cried over-enthusiastically pushing the rim of his glasses upward.

As if it wasn't high enough!

"I know Konohamaru-kun! Every time we do this mission I end up breaking a nail! I just had them done as well! I feel like crying." the sassiest kunoichi in town claimed, raising her arms in frustration.

"No don't cry Moegi-chan! You might end up ruining your make-up" the sleepy looking snot nosed shinobi pointed out, concern evident in his voice.

"Oh! You're right Udon-kun!" Moegi exclaimed "But my nails! What should I do?"

Konohamaru rolled his eyes as he looked at Udon and Moegi thinking how he had gotten himself in to this mess in the first place. Still, they were the Konohamaru squad. Things wouldn't be the same without these two. When his grandfather had passed away his team mates and Naruto had helped him through his depression. He was really grateful to them for everything they'd done.

After the end of yet another mission concerning the missing cat, the members of team Ebisu headed for the barbeque shop. It was something they usually did after completing their missions. Tucking in to the mouth watering platters was their way of self congratulations.

As the sky started to deepen the three genins made their way to the park. Walking through the park would get them to the restaurant a lot faster. It was a shortcut discovered by Konohamaru and shockingly enough he was right for once.

Interlocking his fingers over his head the Sarutobi looked up at the evening sky, as he mused how much his life had changed in the past couple of years. The war had finally ended and most of the post-war chaos was almost over too. The war had been a life changing experience for Konohamaru. He had matured in many ways. He wasn't a child anymore.

Konohamaru looked back at his team mates squabbling. Smiling to himself he thought the war seems to have had no effect on my team mates though.

He preferred things that way. He could never imagine Udon and Moegi ever having that aged look on their faces.

"Guys! Will you stop fussing over the damn nails already?" he asked.

"Sorry Konohamaru-kun" mumbled Moegi.

"Don't apologize Moegi-chan. It was my fault" said Udon "I'm sorry Konohamaru-kun."

What a pushover thought Konohamaru.

Moegi grinned.

The kunoichi was a sucker for attention.

By now they had reached the park and were half way through when Moegi suddenly pointed to the swings.

"Look! It's Hanabi-san!" she mentioned.

Udon and Konohamaru looked at the direction Moegi had pointed and sure enough there she was.

The eldest Hyuuga daughter, Hinata Hyuuga, was to turn 18 next week. She would be introduced as the new head of the Hyuuga household on her 18th birthday.

Hanabi has been dreading her sister's birthday for months. The minute her sister turns 18 she, Hanabi, would be branded with the curse mark. The thought had kept the youngest Hyuuga awake for hours at night. She would be forced to leave the main house and move in with the branch family. Every night she would look around her room, wondering how much she would miss it when she would have to move out.

There was no doubt in her mind that she was stronger then her elder sister. She was a much better kunoichi. Hanabi knew that she deserved the title of heiress a lot more then her sister ever did. She would make a better head. Their father too was aware of that fact and had eventually decided for Hanabi to take over instead of Hinata. But a few months ago her sister secretly got married to Sasuke Uchiha. Blinded by the endless possibilities their child would have Hiashi Hyuuga reconsidered his decision and decided it was best for the clan that Hinata became its head. He couldn't overlook the prospect of mixing the Hyuuga blood with the Uchiha blood. And so Hanabi was left with the fear of the curse mark. She would forever be enslaved to the main household. She didn't deserve this. All her hard work and talent would just go to waste. She would become a caged bird. It wasn't fair. After all the dreams her father had shown to her, how could he crush them all with his own hands?

As Hinata's birthday drew near everyone in the family busied themselves with its preparations. All the fuss over her sister's birthday made her sick to the stomach. It all seemed like a reminder that her time would be up soon. She wanted to throw-up. She wanted to cry. Run. But where would she go? She'd just be hunted down and murdered for treachery.

Her sister was kind but the way of her clan would not and could not be changed. And she didn't constantly want to be reminded about that. She had to get away form the house. She needed to breathe. Everything around her was suffocating her. So the girl found herself sitting alone in the park, trying to think of ways to escape her sealed fate. She didn't want this. But every time she came out empty.

As she sat on one of the swings at the furthest corner of the park she unconsciously rubbed her head. The curse mark would soon be placed there. Her eyes started to tear.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when some one yelled out her name.

She looked up and there he stood.

Hanabi Hyuuga was sitting on one of the swings, rubbing her forehead?

Is she sick wondered Konohamaru when the girl abruptly looked up.

She wore the slightest blush as she tucked in her hair that fell on her face.

Damn she's beautiful.

Konohamaru found himself staring his mouth opened a few millimeters. He loved how her hair irritated her face. How it hung loosely over her beautiful eyes. He wasn't the romantic type but this girl forced him in to being one every time she looked at him with those eyes.

Shit! Stop staring you idiot! he scolded himself.

I can't! It's so damn hard! GOD!

Seeing Konohamaru gape, Hanabi blushed and quickly looked away. She acted like her big sister whenever she was around Konohamaru. Always blushing. She tried no to smile every time he called her name but failed miserably.

Moegi looked from Konohamaru to Hanabi and back. Her eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms, pouting.

When he was finally done staring, Konohamaru noticed that something wasn't right. The evil-ish grin that always traced Hanabi's lips was missing. She also had lines under her eyes. Obviously she had not been sleeping. Even that mischievous glow in her big, beautiful white eyes, which Konohamaru loved, was missing. She was clearly worried.

The last time Konohamaru had seen the Hyuuga was during that mission to Sunagakure. Konohamaru was about to make a move on Hanabi but they were interrupted. The memory of his failed attempt made Konohamaru's face heat up.

He was so close. They had been inches apart.

Stupid Moegi. Always at the wrong place at the wrong time thought Konohamaru.

He decided to whistle off his embarrassment.

"What is she doing here all by herself?" Moegi wondered out loud. She couldn't careless of course. All she wanted was Konohamaru's attention.

"I don't know" replied Udon.

"Let's go ask her" Konohamaru piped in.

Moegi was already cursing the moment she had called out to Hanabi. She had never liked how Konohamaru looked at her and how she looked at him.

What does he see in her? She's not even pretty the sassy kunoichi wondered.

She's just so plain. And her sense of fashion is outrageously terrible.

Realizing that Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon were headed her way, Hanabi quickly got up to leave. She wasn't in the mood for a chat with the over-friendly bunch.

She turned around to leave but stopped when Konohamaru called out to her. For some reason her heart rate had accelerated.

"Oi Hanabi! Where you going?" he called out.

Hanabi felt a smile tug at the corner of her mouth but decided against it.

Turning around she mumbled "Home".

Konohamaru looked at Hanabi in confusion.

Seeing Konohamaru's puzzled expression she asked "What? Aren't you familiar with that concept?"

Konohamaru chuckled "Hehehe! Now that's more like it."

Hanabi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

Moegi's eyebrows furrowed in annoyance.

Udon's eyebrows furrowed when his ever hanging snot fell to the ground.

"I was wondering when you started giving straight answers" Konohamaru exclaimed.

Hanabi rolled her eyes.

Moegi clenched her fists, while Udon took to poking his recently separated snot.

Konohamaru burst out laughing.

She's so cute when she does that.

A small smile traced Hanabi's lips.

How does he always manage to make me smile she wondered.

God he's cute.

"So what were you doing out here? Is everything alright?" Konohamaru inquired "And where had you disappeared to? I looked for you everywhere!"

"Were you trying to avoid me" he asked a little hurt.

Her eyes widened in shock. He had completely gone the wrong way with this. She would never ignore him or rather she could not.

After her return from Suna her father had called a family meeting where he had announced that Hinata would be crowned heiress. Hanabi had pretty much stopped leaving her room after that.

"I swear I wasn't ignoring you. Please believe me" she pleaded. She could never bear to hurt him like that.

Konohamaru smiled warmly.

"I believe you silly" he stated. "So where were you all these days?"

"I was busy with the preparations for my sister's birthday" Hanabi plainly stated.

Konohamaru's eyebrows furrowed. He didn't believe her. She was clearly hiding something. And he'd find out what it was.

"Are you busy now? He asked

"No" she said before she could stop herself.

"Great! Let's go!" he grinned.

She looked up at him questioningly.

"To the barbeque shop" he added rolling his eyes.

"But Konohamaru-kun I'm sure Hanabi-san has other important matters to tend to" Moegi said desperately.

"She just said she's not busy Moegi. Didn't you hear?" he said waving away Moegi's "input".

"No she's right! Really I have to get home it's getting late" Hanabi quickly said.

"Hehehe! What you afraid of the dark?" he teased.

She didn't say anything and instead looked away.

That's weird the Hanabi I know would've jumped me by now Konohamaru thought to himself.

Moegi fumed at how her comment had been completely aired.

What's that smell? Is something burning?

Konohamaru, Hanabi and Moegi turned around to look at Udon. Worry (Konohamaru), disgust (Hanabi) and confusion (Moegi) crossed their faces because of what they saw.

Udon had decided to set his snot on fire. Out of spite of course.

"Don't worry! This is just an experiment" he said with an evil grin "You guys carry on."

Shaking his head at Udon's weirdness Konohamaru looked back at Hanabi. Nothing. No comment about what a freak Udon was? Weird.

"Don't worry Hanabi I'll take you home. It's on my way anyway" he said authoratively.

Hanabi tried to hide her smile with her hand.

Too cute Konohamaru gushed.

She didn't have anything to do anyway and thanks to Konohamaru she was feeling a little better thought Hanabi. She was hungry too.

"Okay! You don't have to beg" Hanabi joked.

Hanabi Hyuuga never ever joked around. But Konohamaru was an exception. He always was. To everything.

She never knew how it had happened, or when for that matter, but she was hopelessly in love with the Sarutobi

.

Konohamaru snickered "Hehehe! Let's go."

Konohamaru rubbed his hands together. He couldn't wait to dig in. His stomach gave a very convincing growl.

Hanabi, who sat opposite to him, rolled her eyes at his childishness.

How does he manage to be so damn cute?

Before their food arrived, Moegi wanted to wash-up so she had excused herself to go use the restaurant's bathroom.

Udon for some reason was hiding behind a potted plant in the other corner of the restaurant, staring at a jar of green volatile gas. That same evil grin had crossed his face.

"So you wanna tell me what's wrong?" Konohamaru asked when he was sure they were alone and would not be overheard.

"Why would you think something's wrong?" she asked trying to hide her shock.

How did he know? Am I that obvious?

"I know you too well Hanabi so don't bother lying" he said. "So…tell me."

"Y-you're just imagining things. E-ev-everything's fine" she stammered.

Hanabi didn't want Konohamaru to find out how worthless she was.

She tried to look anywhere but at Konohamaru's eyes. They were full of concern for her?

Why does he care so much?

Something's definitely wrong. The girl's lying through her teeth he decided.

Why won't she tell me? Doesn't she trust me?.

Konohamaru smiled to himself.

Since when did I become so damn caring?

"Here you are sir" the waiter announced placing their food on the table.

Konohamaru looked away from Hanabi and politely said "Thank you."

"Enjoy! And do let me know when you run out of meat" said the waiter.

"I hope the grills heated up?" he added.

"Yes everything's fine, thank you" confirmed Konohamaru.

As the waiter stalked away they were joined by Moegi and Udon.

"Looks like I made it in time" said Moegi clapping her hands.

"Yes you did Moegi-chan" Udon exclaimed.

Weirdo pushover!

Konohamaru for some reason had lost his appetite. He took to staring at Hanabi. He missed her fake evil grin. He missed the sparkle in her eyes. She always acts super tough around people, and she is strong he didn't deny that. She had the habit of walking on egg shells around people. But he could always see through her charades. He loved her and he knew it. He just wasn't brave enough to say it out loud. Seeing the girl he loves unhappy about god knows what, made him uncomfortable. He didn't like seeing Hanabi this way. He had to help her.

But how can I if she won't even talk to me about it? he asked himself as he half heartedly poked at his food.

I've to find a way to make her talk.

A sudden smirk crossed over Konohamaru's face. He had just been struck by the God of brilliant ideas.