A usual Friday night for Itachi was spent at his office. Pouring over invoices and reviewing production sheets. The highlight of the evening was the laid back emails between Hinata and himself. They had started a tradition of a week in review. Her perspective on her life and world outside him was so broad. It never ceased to amaze him how openminded she was. The uncanny ability to see from another's prospective was a blessing he hoped she never lost.

This Friday was different. His partner in conversation was out on a date. A date with his brother's best friend. They were going out to the mall for a few hours. Luckily Naruto had a car so at least Hinata wasn't out riding her bike late in this sticky, humid weather.

The clock on his desktop computer had rolled over to 10:38pm when his office phone broke then silence. "Uchiha Itachi speaking."

"Itachi, umm it's Hinata."

The watery voice in her tone caused him to clench the phone tighter to his ear, "Are you okay?"

"Mmhm." Hinata took a deep breath on the other side of the line and spoke in one long breath. "I know you usually leave at 11pm and if it you don't mind...could you please pick me up?"

"What part of the mall?"

"By the sports store. I would have called Father, but...

"Don't worry about it. I was about to leave anyway."

"Thank you." The held back sniffles on the other side of the line back Itachi shake his head. "You can take your time. Bye."

"Bye." Itachi hung up the phone and unfolding himself from the large swivel chair. Grabbing the papers off the desk he shoved them in the leather suit case in the floor. He could finish looking them over tomorrow morning. Itachi left his lights on had shut the door behind him.

Thirty minutes later Itachi pulled up to the entrance to the mall and spotted Hinata leaning against a brick pillar alone. The down trodden expression on her face clashed with pastel butterflies on her sun dress. During the walk towards his car those white eyes were glued to the pavement. When Hinata open the door she all but dissolved into the seat. "Thanks again."

Itachi simply patted her shoulder and drove forward. After ten minutes of silence Hinata turned towards him, her sadden stare giving him goosebumps. From his peripheral vision her eyes looked larger than the moon in the sky. "Sakura's grandfather passed away. He had been sick for a while."

The rest was pretty easy for Itachi to figure out, "He should have at least taken you home."

A small sigh passed Hinata's lips and she leaned against the window, "I'm done. I accepted the fact Naruto and I will never be more than friends." Keeping his eyes on the road Itachi gave her all the privacy he could. "I just hope Sakura sees how lucky she is."

Itachi placed his right hand over his friend's left, "Focus on you Hinata and love will find you."

"Thanks, Itachi."

"What time do you have to be home?"

"Any time. Father and Hanabi are both out."

"You want to come over for late French toast?"

Itachi could see Hinata smiling out of the corner of his eye. "Of course." He felt proud to be the one putting the smile back on her face.