Wolfchick101: H-Hey everyone... I um. I apologize about the M.I.A. period. School killed me and summer has been a whirlwind of... well everything. Summer camp, camping, waterworld, preparing for a Haiti mission trip and etc.

*silence*

Wolfchick101: I'll be uploading the next few chapters after I get back from camp next week. I have up to the 10th done at least...

*crickets chirping*

Wolfchick101: So um, I'll just leave this here... *sets down next chapter* and then I'll *runs*


I was confused. No scratch that. I was beyond that. I was befuddled, perplexed, heck I'd even go as far as saying I was rattled. And I was sick of it. All this drama, the pressure of perceiving confessions, was fraying my last rope of patience. That night it snapped... and in truth, I no longer cared.

I didn't care who the admirer was, and I vowed I wouldn't waste another minute musing over the possibilities to come and just enjoy the slight romantics of daily life. I would just let live, let be. Not react until the situation called for it. I was letting the mystery stay a mystery.

I woke up that morning refreshed, despite the manor in which it was achieved. I suppose I'll start there: the rude awakening of that morning:

The morning of the eighth day of Christmas.


An icy hand reached down and yanked me from my slumber. High pitched dings succeeding one another in a hasty fashion before echoing about my head. I moaned and flopped over to stare groggily at the red numbers on my clock. 8:07.

Rubbing my eyes, I tried again. The last number blinked, morphing into an 8. No matter how hard I concentrated on the numbers, they stayed true to themselves. What did this all pull together in my mind? There was a force out in the world that would not allow me a single day to sleep in over break.

Grumbling I sat up and stretched, feeling refreshed despite my lack of late morning sleep. I stumbled down the stairs as the impenetrable force let loose another round of doorbell rings. Slightly annoyed I swung the door open to find the "force's" finger poised above the abused button.

I had been right about the unyielding annoyance, except for one part. There were two.

"W-What are you two d-doing here?" I teetered, still staggering from the grey morning haze veiled over my mind.

I tugged at my pajama top nervously as Sakura glided past me without a word into the front hallway. Ino followed suit, shutting the door with an apprehensive click.

"We're here to pick you up of course." Ino explained with a flick of her long blonde ponytail. She drew my hands away from my shirt, offered me a wry smile, and led me up the stairs to my room. Sakura giggled and bounded up behind.

"I told you we were going to go sledding one of these days. That day just happens to be today." Sakura sang before wrinkling her nose at my disgruntled closet.

"B-But there's still no snow." I wriggled uneasily as she disgustedly picked her way through the ever growing piles of clothes.

"That's why we're going to the foothills. There's been plenty of snow up there." Ino chimed in, nosing her way through my various cluttered drawers in the bathroom.

"And who knows, you're secret admirer might even be there." Sakura added with a wink. "Now we just have to get you ready for him."

She placed her perfectly manicured hands on her hips with a huff before diving into the closet once again. I gulped and played with my fingers timidly as an air of impending doom suffocated any attempts of retorting.

It wasn't that I didn't appreciate their help and all, but after the goal I'd committed myself to this morning, I wasn't so sure I wanted their help. After debating their intentions for a few minutes I finally sighed, a serene smile overtaking my features. Might as well look good for whoever it is right?

Unsure of what to do, or even if I'd be of any help in this situation, I spent the waning minutes of my freedom analyzing the fashion-endorsing girls.

Sakura's apparel consisted of a black long-sleeved shirt with vibrant orange, red, and pink stars dancing across the top. Her dark wash skinny jeans were tucked into the furry ugg boots that shielded her feet from the cold. Her pink tresses were tucked aimlessly into a black beanie. Within emerald eyes sparked the passion to transform mediocre to flawless as she hastily tore through the sparse clothes still on the hangers.

Ino on the other hand paced herself as she dug through years of clogged and unused make-up. Her movements were graceful and fluid, blonde ponytail swaying with a gentle rhythm. She had adorned a light purple blouse that was layered over a white long-sleeved shirt. A white belt accentuated her petite figure over the shirts; her form-fitted jeans stuffed into knee-high, furry lace-up boots.

I sighed, settling down on the edge of my bed. While I trusted their fashion advice to no end, I doubted they would be able to do much to make me as gorgeous as they were. Their determination quelled the unspoken notion to remain a thought.

Finding the tools needed for the job ahead of them, they shared a knowing and plotting look before turning their attention to me. Professionally determined looks etched upon their faces, they set to work.

They flocked around me, tittering advice back and forth like birds. My hair was tugged and styled, my face poked and polished. Then when all that was through, they shoved me into the designated outfit without any intention of giving me privacy.

"Okay Hinata, you can look now." Sakura smiled mischievously as she and Ino high-fived.

I bit my lip and slowly paced across the room to my full-length mirror. My eyes widened and I blinked, scrutinizing the pale figure that stood before me, seemingly out of a parallel world.

My curled hair from last night had smoothed into sinuous waves, flowing from a deep green headband. My bangs had been pinned to the side with a flowered clip that brought out the eye shadow rimming my eyes. I was sporting a cozy brown sweater while a belt, a shade that mimicked the headband, encircled my waist. My ordinary jeans overlapped the boots I had purchased for the approaching winter.

"Wow." I breathed, reaching out to gently touch the mirror as if about to fall through, into the parallel world.

"Yeah, I know. We rock." Sakura snorted a laugh as Ino shook her head. "Let's get going."

With that, our trio headed out to the car. Thankfully, my comfort zone hadn't been breeched, but the impending doom trailed after with the thought of sledding. Why anyone wanted to hurtle over hills of slick ground without the affirmation of any sort of brake was beyond me.

We pulled into the parking lot at the base of a large hill that seemed flat-out vertical from my perspective. The snow sparkled in the late morning sunlight, blinding me from the overhanging edge above. At the bottom, a smoothed, shallow basin served as the stopping point. Other parties of sledding-enthusiasts blotted the hillside.

As the car rolled to a stop, a group waved us over.

"Hey girls!" Kiba whistled appraisingly. "Looking for someone?"

"Oh shut up." Ino teased, playfully shoving him towards a snowdrift.

He mocked falling in, before skidding across the slick ground and actually falling down into the snow. A devious smile snuck its way onto his face as he pursued his girlfriend around the group before they both tumbled laughing to the frozen ground.

"Oh geez." Sakura sighed, clucking her tongue mockingly.

"Come on! Let's go sledding!" Naruto yelled excitedly before startling several people as he charged up the back of the hill.

Sakura shook her head in defeat and gathered the string of a sled out of a nearby pile before chasing after him. Sasuke dug through the pile and produced a wooden sled.

"Well, we're the only two left. Ready?" He asked, tilting his head to look back at me.

"I b-bet they p-planned it this w-way." I muttered as he led me up the slope.

"That wouldn't surprise me in the least." He chuckled, shooting me a smirk.

I blushed and hiked the rising incline. Summiting the pinnacle of the hill, I tentatively peered over the ominous edge of the slope where a gaping drop glared up at me. A breeze swept up the side, tossing my dark hair in tendrils upon it. I tugged on the sleeves of the sweater as my heart dropped to the bottom, pulling my confidence with it.

"Let me guess, you've never been sledding either." Sasuke stated, causing me to stumble backwards from the deathtrap.

His gaze was steady; the black onyx coaxed my every fear out from the depths in which I'd buried it. He stepped in front of me, effectively blocking my view of the menacing drop. He gripped both of my shoulders, forcing my gaze to lock onto his.

"It's fine. We'll just start over here where the slope is more gradual." He consoled with a steady, reasoning tone.

Flustered, I nodded precariously as he steered me toward the more level section of the hill. Biting my lip and still tugging on the sleeves, I watched as two children raced each other up the slope. Sasuke seemed to know that I'd needed the incentive and arranged us both on the sled without debate.

Sitting with my feet tucked onto the board, I tried not to notice as his arms wrapped themselves around my waist. His warmth pressed against my back and I felt his breath tickle my hair along my chilled cheeks. Fiery red stole across my face, giving away my embarrassment.

"Ready?" He whispered.

Not trusting myself to form comprehendible sentences, I shook my head back and forth. I felt him give the ground behind us a shove and the sled began to glide forward. The fresh wave of panic that grounded inside me next erased my awareness of the conflagration of a blush blazing across my cheeks.

The hill steadily increased and I gripped my hands tighter around the sled. After realizing there was nothing I could do to stop, I lost control, emitting a hysterical laughter as adrenaline flooded through my veins. About midway down the hill, I was beginning to enjoy the rush of the wind howling in my ears and the firm warmth of Sasuke behind me.

We zipped past everyone and as we approached the base of the hill, Sasuke's arms gave me a reassuring squeeze.

"There's a bump up ahead, hold on tight." He mumbled against my ear to avoid the wind snatching away the words.

We hit the lump and began to skid around and tumble through the snow. The world stopped, and I lay dumbstruck in the icy chill. As the events registered in my mind, I began to laugh with such a force that my sides began to ache.

"Hinata!" Sasuke propped me up, an expression of concern impaled into his features. "Are you okay?"

Unable to acknowledge anything he said, I shook my head and continued laughing, my sides splitting, lungs bursting. After a minute his genuine concern morphed into mock suspicion.

"What's so funny?" He questioned before breaking into a smile himself.

I had no idea why I was laughing. For some reason I now found that confounded activity exhilarating as giddy feeling overtook my fear. I jumped up and dragged a now-laughing Sasuke back up the hill.


Exhausted but still on an adrenaline high, I chatted animatedly with everyone as we waited in the line of a hot drink stand. Upon approaching the counter, I scrutinized the options on the overhanging board.

"Ready miss?" The sever asked.

I slowly nodded, confirming my choice, and then reverted my eyes to the pale boy behind the counter. I blinked in surprise.

"Sai?"

"Last time I checked." He smiled. "Nice to see you too Hinata."

"B-but what are you d-doing here?" I sputtered, stunned.

"I'm... taking your order." He laughed, gesturing to the cart.

"Oh, r-right." I mentally struck myself for my obliviousness. "I'll have the n-nutmeg coffee j-jubilee?"

I frowned.

"D-do all the drinks have s-such strange n-names?" I pondered aloud.

Sai laughed.

"Not by personal choice, but yes." He chuckled to himself as he passed the drink and my change over the counter. "Well this has been a gorgeous meeting but I believe I must serve the next customer. See you later."

I nodded and turned around, taking a careful sip of the steaming drink and letting it settle on my taste buds before walking towards the group.

Gorgeous meeting... where had I heard that before?

Later that night, I paced my room, thoughtfully prodding the phrase. I unzipped my winter coast and flung it to the floor. A loud clatter caught my attention and I stopped, cautiously studying the forlorn bundle of fabric. Apprehensively, I stooped down and swiftly snatched it up.

Out of the hood tumbled a plain box.

My eyes widened and I flung the jacket over my shoulder, still locked onto the box. I plopped down onto my bed and slit the tape open. Out tumbled a tiny track hurtle charm. Confused I turned to the two remaining objects.

My eyes spotted the purple stationary first.

"Well done! Well done,

For that obstacle you've overcome,

You're smiling face, the faster pace,

Revealed you thought was fun.

Snow filled tumbles,

The façade crumbled,

And with the wish halfway granted,

The snow's no longer daunted.

With this next gift for you,

I'm hoping for it to,

Decorate and remind,

That you'll never be left behind."

~Your SA

My eyes flitted to the next object, a slim cord adorned with star and moon charms. It was a cell phone strap. I dug my dusty, never-used phone out of my pocket and threaded it through the impossibly-tiny hole.

Settling on my arms, I recalled how it had been sneakily concealed in my hood. The admirer must've gotten behind me at some point.

Gorgeous meeting...

Where had I heard that before? Getting up, I dug out a shoebox from under my bed and flipped through all the SA notes.

"Tonight under the sky,

We will have a gorgeous meeting,

The view of the moon and stars,

Will certainty be good seating."

I felt my breath catch.

It had to be a coincidence. It just had to. I was simply just over-analyzing everything about this. It was two words out of a sequence of letters. Just a coincidence, that's all.

Reminding myself to breath, I got dressed for bed and nestled down under the shielding covers. There was no way Sai could be him.


Sasuke: Since I was avoiding Wolfchick101 earlier, here's the disclaimer. Wolfchick101 doesn't own Naruto. It'd be a mess of loose ends.