Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Naruto!

Chapter Two: Among the Cloaks

Meet me in the cloak room at midnight.

Bring a few cigarettes (or panatellas).

-H.H.

Hyuga Hanabi took a long drag of her panatella from the end of her twelve inch cigarette holder. She was relieved that the brand that Kamizuki Izumo had brought was thin enough to fit in her holder. The smoke relaxed her as she sat against the back wall on a space where the cloaks had been pushed to either side to make room for herself.

"I'm sorry I have to leave so soon." Izumo apologized for about the tenth time. Apparently he had an early meeting tomorrow, and had to be home by one to get enough sleep for it. "Will I see you again?"

Hanabi blew some smoke rings before exhaling the remaining smoke. "That depends."

Izumo looked puzzled, "On what?"

She considered his comment for a few moments while she twirled a lock of hair around her index finger. "On whether or not you play your cards right, Kamizuki-san."

This seemed to confuse the young man even more, "How will I know if I do?"

"The exact same way you knew how to meet me here," she stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the universe.

"Oh… Good-evening then Hyuga-san," he replied as he kissed the back of her out-stretched hand. With that he turned and quickly left the room.

When the door slammed closed Hanabi rolled her eyes and let out a long held in groan. Kamizuki Izumo had to be the worst kisser of all time! He only beat the skill of the first boy she had kissed, and it was only because they were both ten at the time. To say she was relieved when he said he had to leave was an understatement.

It was so disappointing; she thought a boy that handsome had to be a good kisser. 'Guess that will teach me never to expect every good looking boy to know how to kiss a girl properly.' She was lucky the boy hadn't been of too much importance, if so he would have expected her hand in marriage after their rendezvous. Some men were so… naïve.

'Well,' she thought brightly, 'At least I got a free case of cigars out of it!'

While she changed her panatella, she couldn't help but admire her dress. It was a vivid forest green, three-quarter sleeved taffeta ball gown. The sleeves had ruffles at the ends and the bodice was high V-shape that flowed into a floor length bubble style skirt. Her and her sister had many similar features but could be easily identified. Hanabi's eyes had a blue tint to them and most commonly had a mischievous glint to them that Hinata's lacked.

Although Hinata was view by many as the prettier of the two, Hanabi felt that her spontaneous nature made up for where her features lacked. She doubted that Hinata would even entertain the thought smoking much less actually go through with it. She also doubted the girl had even kissed a boy on the lips.

In her opinion, Hinata was dismally boring! Always went home at a decent hour, did as she was told and rubbed her teeth with baking soda after every meal like a goodgirl. Hanabipreferred to live dangerously. She stayed up late, constantly went against her fathers wishes (without him knowing mind you), and only found it necessary to whiten her teeth once a day.

Hanabi inhaled the fumes and held them in for a few moments. The ticklish sensation they created in her throat felt absolutely divine. She tilted her head back as she exhaled and placed her holder by the make shift top hat ashtray, 'Its owner may want to invest in a new hat after this.' A long drawn out sigh escaped her cupid bow lips. She figured since she was alone and was beginning to get bored, she might as well get drunk.

She crawled her way through the thick cloaks until she reached the bottle of champagne she had been saving in caseIzumo had met her standards. She got the cork screw out to uncork the bottle, but was interrupted by a creaking noise that caused her eyes to dark to the entrance.

There stood her father's assistant Aburame Shino. He was wearing the black tuxedo her father had insisted he wear that night, with the customary black tie and tuxedo shirt along with it. Hanabi had to admit that he looked quite dashing his evening garb.

Hanabi pouted slightly. "Blast! It appears that you'vediscovered my hiding place." She sighed in defeated as she took out her thin cigar from her holder and stamped it out. She looked at the clock that was above the entryway. "It's only quarter passed midnight." She stated as she popped the cork of the champagne bottle with only a minimal amount of the drink foaming out. "Father usually waits till about quarter to one to send out a search party for me."

"I came on my own accord." He stated as he pried the bottle from Hanabi's clutches and placed it on the floor. "You're getting sloppy Hanabi. If you don't start to be more aware of your actions, it's not me or Hinata you'll have to worry about informing your father about your… escapades."

Hanabi let out an airy laugh. "Oh that's just too rich… Especially coming from someone who took place in few so called… escapades." She let a few more giggles escape her mouth. "Besides a lady of my stature doesn't have escapades. Saying it like that makes me seem like a silly little tart."

"I will admit it was against my better judgement…" He raised his eyes to meet hers. "But at least we were careful enough to keep it within secluded walls of the manor. Slipping away into a closet at a party with half od Kohona present is a lot more risky. Besides, there is no telling if the man you slip a note to will actually meet up with you or take the note straight to your father."

Hanabi rolled her eyes. "I never actually sign the notes, I simply initial them." She grabbed the discarded champagne bottle and took a swig from it. "I would have though you would have at least remembered that, with the amount I sent you not too long ago." She reminded him as she suggestively raised an eyebrow. She placed the bottle back down and drew closer to the bespectacled man as if she were studying him.

Shino, seeming a little uncomfortable with the invasion of his personal shook himself slightly and continued to his point. "With all due respect Hanabi, there isn't anyone in this circle with the initials H.H. coupled with your penmanship besides... well, yourself."

Hanabi stepped even closer to him. "You know Aburame-san, if I didn't know any better I'd say you were slightly jealous." She suggested with a look of confusion. "I don't know why though, if I recall correctly it was you that withdrew from our arrangement."

Shino looked as calm as ever, but Hanabi knew she was getting to him. "Don't start this again."

Hanabi was the image of innocence as her lips hovered next to his ear. "Whatever do you mean, Aburame-san?" she asked coyly. She grazed her lips against his neck as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

He sighed in sheer annoyance. "Feigning stupidity was never becoming of you."

Hanabi threw her head back and laughed. "You know you're absolutely adorable when you're annoyed. It's something you should emote more often."

She kissed he corner of his lips to see if he would be responsive. She soon realized it would take a bit more to coax him, so she kissed him square on the lips. As she suspected after a few moments he began to kiss her back with the same enthusiasm.

After a few seemingly long moments of this, Shino pulled away from her. "Enough of this foolishness." He checked her over to see she was decent and fixed his own hair before he opened the door behind him pulling her out quickly before anyone could see. He knew that once they were out of the closest.

Hanabi pouted. "You're no fun." She whispered harshly as she looped her arm through his.

Shino ignored her comment as he led her through the corridors of the mansion. "I'm going to escort you to the parlour room. Perhaps you can follow Haruno-san's and Hinata-san's example."

Hanabi furrowed her eyebrows. If there was one thing she hated, it was how people felt the need to point out that she should act more like Hinata. What she hated even more, was how Shino knew this and did it to spite her!

She smiled wickedly to herself when an absolutely delicious thought passed threw her head. She knew just how to get back at Shino, and she would enjoy every second of it. She studied his profile once again. She almost felt sorry for the man… almost.

A/N: What exactly does Hanabi have in store for her father's loyal assistant? You'll have to wait a few chapters for that. Now that doesn't mean this story will end with that couple, because if you haven't guessed by now, Hanabi has acute ADD when it comes to relationships.

Still in trouble with the beta situation so I triple checked this chapter. Hopefully I get one soon for this and my other projects.

Next chapter: Hostess with the Mostess Suitor Troubles. (Sakura's perspective)