It would be nice to paint her- just once if he could. He thought she was rather beautiful.

But not beautiful in the way a flower bloomed, nor how a setting sun dipped along the horizon. No, her beauty was subtle, enticing, charming; she was not cheaply formed, she was not a duplicate of the other girls around her that floated about wearing doll like masks as they mimicked one another in a self-conscious battle of superiority. He did not see her as above those women- but… He could not deny that there was something more alluring to a natural beauty, rather a drawn on one. No…. In fact, it was so much more than just that.

And this revelation had caught him by surprise- for in all honesty, he had never once thought that the docile and socially inept Hyuuga could ever possess such a mature allure surrounding a hidden frame and blank eyes. And Sai, though shrouded in a veil of indifference and composure, still found himself stunned at times knowing that he had overlooked her beauty for so long.

Initially, the man blamed his mistake on those he stood with. Loud, overbearing creatures that could laugh in one beat then start screaming at each other in the next (were emotions so fickle? He would never understand), for they dominated her presence, ate her in a single bite only to spit her out later. While she struggled to not stammer, attempting to respond accordingly to a question, the topic would be moved and the girl would eventually be left behind. Though this was never out of malice- Sai simply assumed he surrounded himself with dimwits. It was the only rational explanation- after all, no one could truly act cruel to the shy Hyuuga- not unless they were eager to breathe their last breath (what a protected princess).

And then he thought about the women- and the stark contrast between Hinata and they. Where Sakura was demanding and proud, Hinata was shy, meek. Where Ino was confident and sexy, knowing her assets well, Hinata hid behind long hair and thick clothes. Of course she would be overlooked.

But what a bunch of cheap excuses- perhaps he was turning into a bit of an idiot too.

So he recalls the day he noticed it- or rather, finally noticed her.

There was a chill in the air- a sign of fall approaching. There were a few stubborn women gallivanting about in shorts- ignoring the climate change just as there were those whom accepted the inevitability and bundled up without a care. It was interesting- the stubbornness to be fashionable, and the excessive excuses for couples to cuddle closer as autumn leaves fluttered to the ground. So much touching was it really such and important thing? He would further investigate.

At that time, Sai had decided to take a walk, arms to his sides as the nin moved in smooth strides through the rather quiet market- most seeming to nestle into shops and hope for the temperature to warm. Though the cold didn't bother him.

Having no certain destination in mind, the man walked rather aimlessly. He knew he was looking for something to inspire him- just was not sure what exactly that might turn out to be.

"Sai-San?"

He stops.

Her voice was quiet, a whisper carried by the wind. If there had been more bustling within the market, he was sure he would not have heard the gentle voice at all.

So he turned, his face a blank canvas as his chest heaves, Sai quick in taking note of the familiar eyes that he had so often found himself curious of.

"Hinata-san."

He responds simply, and albeit politely. There was no indication that he desired to start conversation, and at the same time, showed no real desire to shoo her away. A wall of indifference- perhaps if this had been anyone else he would know better on how to analyze and adjust the situation to one he could properly respond to. Unfortunately he found her to be rather… Enigmatic.

"I-I hope I'm not interrupting you…" Comes a stammered reply, fingers poking and pulling against one another in a fumbled play of tug-a-war. "I just…"

She's retreating. She made it so obvious, what with how her chin tucked against her chest, flushed features deepening to create a darker shade. Perhaps he was intimidating? He wasn't trying to intimidate her. Or maybe his presence was not one of which she was comfortable with just yet… After all, their interactions were sparse- the two only seeming to come together when others surrounded them. So he smiles- there's no real warmth, but if she follows after a fool, she must be a fool herself, right?

"Not at all. I'm simply taking a walk…" Pause. He watched her once again. She had looked up but…. Was not convinced by his action. He couldn't tell if she picked up on his insincerity, or if Hinata had already decided she was in the wrong and had begun to feel guilty. Though he doesn't waste anymore time thinking on it. "…Would you like to accompany me?"

Maybe this was what she wanted? Companionship? Though her tactics weren't as bold as Ino's, who would simply tag along without invitation or cling to him with eyes that screamed 'I won't take no for an answer!', her "innocent" response could also be seen as a subtle plea- maybe one that would attempt in making him feel guilty if he had never asked (women were truly terrifying, he would make a mental note of this manipulation).

But… If she wanted to accompany him, why did she look so troubled by the offer? Sai may not grasp the basic concept of understanding communication and human emotion, but he wasn't blind. The way her eyebrows knitted into a seam along her brow reminded him of the way Sakura's own furrowed- this of course being just before her fist slammed against the side of his face. But Hinata was not Sakura (thankfully), and her wrinkled brow smoothed just as quickly as it had puckered. She nodded, though made no attempt in eye contact.

Interesting.