Hello Lovely People!

sorry, sorry and sorry. I will not insult your intelligence by coming up with some excuse.
I was momentarily done with writing completely. I found more fun in reading than writing, so I kept it on hold.

Sorry again. But I hope you are still with me and willing to read the story.

Thanks for all of the reviewers that left me advice and good reviews. You are the reason I went back to this story at all.
Special thanks to Artemis the wolf. I read your review and I thought you had a real good idea but I want to use it in later chapters.

Without further ado, here is the next chapter of The plan... Finally. And now I am going to sleep again. (it's now 6:30, in the morning here)


Reading guide

"Talking"

'Thinking'


The plan - Chapter nine

A freshly showered Hinata is standing in front of her closet in her bathrobe. She has already tried several outfits, now lying on her bed, none of which suited Sasuke's request.

"Something short, leggy or both, she thought out loud. 'what to do, I have nothing like that'

"Do you need some help, Nee-san?" Hanabi asks.

Hinata is immediately pulled from her thoughts. She looks at her younger sister, standing in her doorway, trying to help.

"Yes, I am looking for something to wear tonight. And I prefer it to be short, leggy or both, but I have come to realize that I don't own any clothing of the sort." Hinata gestures to her earlier efforts on her bed.

"That is quite a dilemma. But why are you looking for something short and/or leggy? That is not you at all. You would feel really uncomfortable in something like that. "Hanabi explains.

Hinata nods her head, mulling over the absolute truths Hanabi just said.

"If I were you, and knowing I already have the guy. I would just wear what I like, that will make me feel secure and comfortable. I believe that when you have confidence, Sasuke will find that sexy." Hanabi says sagely.

Hinata is a little surprised but definitely sees what her little sister means. "When has my little sister become so wise when it comes to dressing to impress?" Hinata teases

Hanabi sticks out her tongue. "Because dressing to impress is something I have been doing longer than you. If I were you, I would wear that dress over there." She points towards the closet. There is a simple but beautifully cut dark purple dress. It has short of the shoulder sleeves and in the front it looks like a knee length dress, but it is longer in the back, causing a sexy flow when your walking.

"I had forgotten about that dress. Otou-sama bought it for me. He said that class can't be bought, but that the right dress definitely helps it along." Hinata says.

"That doesn't sound like Otou-sama at all." Hanabi says suspiciously.

"I agree, but that is still what he said." Hinata smiles at her sister's face. 'I think I may have put Otou-sama in danger of being interrogated by Hanabi. "Thank you, for your help Hanabi." She walks towards her little sister and gives her a hug.

"You don't time for hugs, you need to get ready." Hanabi argues against her sister's hug. Although she secretly enjoys it.


Sasuke walks up to the Hyuuga gate. 'So "impressive", such a large gateway. You would think they are compensating for something.' Sasuke smirked for his childish and petty thought, but not before finishing it. 'That's why I don't need a big gate around my house.'

He looks at his watch, it just turned a quarter to eight. Thanks to his former sensei, now Hokage, he hates being late. And thanks to his best friend always talking while they were waiting, he hates being early as well. He has made coming precisely on time into quite a skill of his.

He walks through the gate and knocks on Hinata's front door. Hinata opens it and he looks at her, wishing he was here earlier. She looks very beautiful, yet again. 'I don't think, it is even possible for her to look anything less. However he then notices her outfit, although she looks good in the dress it would not considered to be short.

Hinata sees Sasuke looking at her dress, searching for her legs. Then his eyebrows starts furrowing. "Can you see what you are looking for?" Hinata asks trying to keep her tone light.

"Actually I was searching for more than below your knees, but it seems to be well hidden. I thought we agreed you were to wear something that shows of your legs." Sasuke replies.

"I had few items that met with those requirements and I didn't feel comfortable in any. So I made the executive call to disregard that demand. Shall we go?" Hinata asks, hoping to end the conversation.

"There is still time to change." Sasuke tries to persuade her, knowing that there really isn't any time left.

"We both know we don't have the time." Hinata replies. "And even if there was time, I wouldn't have changed either way." Hinata is a little bothered by this side of Sasuke. She walks past him and starts walking towards the barbecue restaurant.

Sasuke is quickly by her side and follows her step. They walk further in silence until Sasuke breaks it.

"I thought that since you are trying to get some of Naruto's attention, you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone. Maybe I misjudged you." He lets the statement hang in the air.

Hinata feels provoked and is trying her hardest not to engage the Uchiha.

"What's wrong with showing more leg anyway." Sasuke mutters under his breath. Hinata has had enough and gives him a piece of her mind

"There is nothing wrong with showing more leg, or wearing more revealing clothes. It is just not me. I have done anything to the extent I feel secure with. And I am not going to change myself in someone I am not, not Naruto and not you." Hinata huffs and starts walking faster.

"I hate to break it to you princess. But the person that you are, was just the bridesmaid to your lover's wedding. So the person that you are, is not enough." Sasuke snipes at her.

"Yes, and you were the best man. And she possibly still loves you, but that doesn't change the fact that she chose someone else." Hinata snipes back at him.

Sasuke and Hinata look each other in the eye, both sees the fury and the hurt they caused.

"The restaurant is just around the corner. Are you good to come inside?" Sasuke asks, looking for tears or anything blows their cover.

"I'll be fine. Just don't talk to me." Hinata whispers. Sasuke and Hinata walk further, both in silence and knowing they hurt each other. They take turns looking at the other from the corner of their eyes.

They turned the corner and are met with the large group.

"There they are!" Ino shouts triumphantly. "We were waiting for you, were you giving each other secret kisses or something?" Ino teases.

Sasuke and Hinata look at each other, and they both mumble. "Something like that".

"Aww, you even have the synchronized talking, couples do, figured out." Ino smiles at them.

"We do not!" Sasuke and Hinata both say at the same times, proving Ino's point.

"You are so cute together. You should have started this ages ago." Ino remarks.

"I don't disagree with you on that" Sasuke says.

And on that they all enter the restaurant. they start to get settles in to their seats. Strangely towards the others, the couples start sitting across from one another. Naruto and Hinata next to each other and Sasuke and Sakura across from them. When Kiba starts sitting next to Hinata he remarks on the odd seating arrangement.

"Oi, Sasuke, if you want we can trade places, so you can sit next to your girlfriend." Kiba proposes to Sasuke.

"No thanks." Sasuke replies. Seeing the weird look Kiba gives him, he continues. "I can admire her better from here" he finishes smoothly and gives a pointed look towards Hinata.

"Thank you for your consideration, Kiba. That was real sweet of you." Hinata smiles at Kiba. Before returning the look Sasuke gave.

The drinks start coming and stories of the events that happened the last weeks started happening. The newlweds talked about the places they visited, aside from their hotel rooms. They also made plans to see each other the next day. Since the newlyweds were starting to move in together. Everyone offered their help and although Shikamaru tried to avoid it, Ino wouldn't hear of it.

Hinata and Sasuke barely talked to each other. Only when asked and even then the bare minimum. If it wasn't for their quiet nature, it would have looked suspicious.

Just when they thought they might be able to pass the entire evening like this, things were starting to get tricky. Kiba, Naruto, Sakura and few others were starting to feel the effects of the drinks, the boozed ones. It didn't take long for someone to ask indelicate questions.

"Hinata, how is it possible that someone so nice and sweet as you, can fall for such a bastard as him?" Naruto asks loudly. The whole table stop their conversations, all interested in the answer.

Hinata is overcome with nerves instantly. "An-Ano, how c-couldn't I?" More hoping than believing this would be enough to sate their curiosity.

"NO, that is not enough. Tell us when it happened, how it started. We want to know everything!" Naruto declares.

Hinata was getting paler and paler by the second. She was looking around the table, everyone was looking at her with expectations, except one. Just the pair of eyes she has been avoiding all night. She looks in his eyes and remembers their first night bonding.

"We s-snuck out of the wedding together. We went to the top of the Hokage heads and started talking. I know this may come as a surprise to you. But we never actually talked much with each other in the past." Hinata smiles.

The group started laughing but when it died down they all continuing listening.

"He was talking about he would be in the village and not needing to leave anymore for missions. And that he needed a project, to acclimate to the village surrounding again."
Hinata continued. "I mentioned that he can train someone. He then asked if I know my way around a sword."

"I replied that I did." This started some strange looks. "No literally, I know how to avoid a sword, but using it was a different matter altogether." This caused for some amusement in the group. Even Sasuke was smiling at her again, that put her a little at ease. "I agreed and now we are here, together." Hinata says smiling at Sasuke.

"You are leaving out a few things, princess." Sasuke interrupts. Hinata looks shocked.

'He isn't going to… tell… No. Even after our fight tonight he wouldn't do that.' Hinata thinks

Sasuke sees the look of shock on her face and starts smirking. "First, yes we snuck out of the wedding, but so did a couple of sake bottles. It was amazing we were able to stand after that, let alone coming up with an idea."

Hinata blushed as everyone gasped at this fact.

"You are paying me back those bottles, bastard!" Naruto yells.

"Not a chance, Dobe. You were the one with the unattentive bartenders. But coming back to the story, I also needed to persuade you a little to let me train you, if I recall right." Sasuke thinks out loud.

"How did you persuade her?" Sakura asks, a slight tremor in her lip, that was caught on by Hinata and Sasuke.

"I simply mentioned that swordfighting was a sexy way of fighting. and she was hooked" Sasuke smirked at the sight he sees before him. Hinata turned into a lovely shade of red.
Meanwhile the whole table is stunned with his little announcement. "I hope that we have informed you enough of how our current status came to be."

"As if!" Ino shouted. Sasuke glared at Ino, Ino instantly regretted her shout and turned to look at her very interesting plate.

After this the conversations died down and they continued to eat the rest in relative peace. Naruto looked between Sasuke and Hinata and started to whisper something to Hinata. "Hey Hinata, I know I always call him a bastard, but he is really a good guy. When he loves, he loves deeply. Please take care of him for me."

Hinata takes a quick look at Sasuke, slightly nods. Naruto grins at her and start eating seventh ramen bowl.

Sasuke and Sakura both saw the exchange happening and were uncertain of how they felt. No that was a lie, Sasuke wanted to smack that grin off Naruto's face. Sasuke looks again at Hinata, maybe it was better that she didn't dress down. He is known as a possessive guy, it always irritated him when Sakura would flaunt her attributes at others, subconsciously or otherwise.

'Hinata wouldn't want any other attention, only from the one that matters most, me.' Sasuke thought. But when Hinata looked at him, she quickly returned her smile to Naruto. 'oh, right. Not me, but him.' Sasuke pondered while looking at Naruto as well.

Hinata excused herself and went to the restroom. She didn't realize she was being followed. When she left the restrooms, she met Sasuke in front of the restrooms again.

"You will gain a reputation if you keep doing this, Sasuke." Hinata says. She tries to walk past him, but he caught her wrist and pulled her back. "Not now, Sasuke" Hinata turns her head away from his gaze. She has her back against the wall and is caged by Sasuke's arms and Sasuke himself.

"Yes, now, Hinata-chan. I am sorry, I should not have asked you to change."

"Change what? my clothes or myself?" Hinata challenges him.

"Both. Because you are best as you are right now. Beautifull, funny and kind." Sasuke presses a little against Hinata. "And about the dress although that dress may or may not work for Naruto. It definitely works for me." He whispers softly in her ear. He puts on of his hands at the side of her cheek. His lips start moving towards hers. Their lips are almost touching when they hear a loud yell.

"HERE YOU ARE!" Ino shouts. "I found them, they were in need of some alone time!"

Sasuke is getting real ticked off at Ino. That was either the worst or the best thing that could have happened tonight. He pulls back and puts his hands in his pockets again. He looks at Hinata's flushed state and shallow breathing. 'Who is he kidding, that would have been the best thing that could have happened.'

"Let's go back to the group. I don't feel like being a monkey at a zoo. Are we good again?" Sasuke asks still a little unsure. He offers her one of his hands.

Hinata looks at Sasuke, not trusting her voice she just nods and takes his hands to join the group. The rest of the night passed by quickly and everyone went home. However that didn't keep Hinata and Sasuke from thinking about the almost kiss and regretting it didn't happen all night long.