Another long chapter! In one day! Aren't you just so happy?

I have to say, I don't own any of the Naruto charactors. But I do own Yumi. You'll found out soon enough.

And no, it has nothing to do with Sasuke XD

Enjoy!

Hinata watched as Akamaru stretched out in the sunlight, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. He looked pleased with the fact that he could stretch out in the sunlight. The whole wall of windows in Sasuke's apartment was nice and modern-looking. She turned her gaze on the view out of the one-way windows. Did that apartment have a wall of windows? One-way windows?

She tilted her head, cupping the mug of steaming milk in her hands, watching the bay glitter across from her. How much would it cost to live there? Her place was usually seven hundred thousand yen a month. She nibbled her lip. That had been a steal really. And the shop was getting more popular. Could she really afford it?

Akamaru whined and she used her foot to rub his belly. What about the shop though? She had to pay two sets of bills, and Hiashi wasn't exactly helping her either. He had offered her an accountant, but math had always been her strong suit. Especially measuring things. Rounding up and rounding to the nearest thousandth. She bit her lip again.

The money was a big issue here. Could she actually afford to buy anything? She needed more materials before she got anything else. The shop needed something other than painted walls. Sure, the burgundy with the plum-colored stripe was a nice touch, but there was something missing. The shop just wasn't done until the walls got what they needed.

And then her apartment. She didn't really have any furniture. Mostly because she was at the shop most of the time. What was the use of a sofa if she wasn't going to sit on it? And she didn't have many photos either. There was one of Kiba, Shino and her at the beach from a few years back in college, the one of her, Hanabi and Neji in front of the door to her shop, which she had just bought, the one of her graduating from college, everyone gathered around her.

Her eyes fell to the cars racing down the street below her. The apartment wasn't up high enough to make them seem like ants, but they were still pretty high in the air. She pressed her forehead to the cool glass, stepping over Akamaru. But it did nothing to sooth her racing mind. She knew money, especially since Hiashi had made sure they had lots of it and knew how to use it wisely. Not even Hanabi was illiterate in these teachings. So she knew she didn't have a lot to work with it. The shop wasn't racking in the millions, like the magazines kept saying she did.

There certainly was a way around this, right? She had always come through before, hadn't she? To every problem, there was a solution, somewhere. Sometimes, it took a while to find it, but it was always there, just waiting to be picked up. She closed her eyes, repeating that mantra. To every problem, there was a solution. To every problem, there was a solution.

Akamaru whined beneath her and she blinked, straightening. First, she needed to know what she was getting herself into. If the apartment was anything like Hanabi's, then she could surely make plans for it. She bit her lip, looking to Akamaru. "How would you like to go for a walk?"

-

Hinata nibbled her lip, tugging her ponytail tighter. Sitting in the office of a real state agent hadn't exactly been her ideal way of spending such a nice morning. But Hanabi had referred Keito Yumi to her. And Hanabi was usually a good judge of character. The only reason Konohamaru was still around was because he knew how to treat her. Smart boy, he was.

Akamaru whimpered at her feet and she dug into her Roxy canvas bag, pulling out a milk bone. Just as he snatched it from her fingers, a woman with glossy auburn hair in a loose chignon and an elegant white pants suit, walked in, smiling brightly. Her gray eyes landed on Akamaru and Hinata could see the disgust shot through her eyes before they turned onto her lilac-colored ones and filled with fake cheeriness.

Hinata stood suddenly, before the woman could say anything. "I seem to be in the wrong place." She bowed quickly, mumbling softly. "I apologize for wasting your time."

"W-wait!" the woman began towards her but Hinata was much quicker than her in a pair of black felt ballet flats. She was out the door and down the street before the woman could even catch her. Her stomach gurgled with anger as she tugged on Akamaru's leash, her gaze unforgiving. Referred or not, Yumi had no right to treat Akamaru like a mutt. In fact, he was purebred. The Inuzuka were known for their animals, the best of the purebred. Akamaru was no mutt. And he certainly didn't deserve to be treated like one.

"I am so angry," Hinata huffed, looking to Akamaru as she flopped back on a bench. "That woman had no right to look at you like that, Akamaru-kun." She reached forward and adjusted his homemade collar, which she had made. "You are no mutt. You are the cutest, nicest, friendliest dog I have ever met. And you don't deserve to be treated like that."

He barked in agreement, hopping up on the bench beside her. Hinata wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her face to his fur. She hadn't felt this angry since the last time she had talked to Hiashi, which had been over three years ago. That look in his opulence eyes was similar to that Yumi woman's. It had told Hinata all she needed to know. She was an outcast, a mutt. She didn't deserve to be treated like the purebred she was.

Tears brimmed her eyes and she took a shaky breath. Hiashi had said all those things without moving his lips. All it took was a simple look and she had burst into angry tears, bolting out of his house and his life. All she had with her that day was a duffle bag of clothes and enough money to buy her a motel room and get a job. She had never felt so low as the day she turned on the television and found him explaining how he felt no sympathy for her current position.

"God," she hiccupped, hating how her voice was husky and weak sounding. "I hate this. I can't hate him. He's my father, you know. But I can't deal all this . . . all this drama. Why can't something go right for once? Why can't I be the one who wins in the end?"

Akamaru whimpered with her, resting a paw on her knee. Her sorrow was so tangible it almost hurt to be near her. Hinata pressed her face into his fur again, hoping it could dry her tears faster. "You're so lucky, Akamaru. Kiba feeds, loves you, takes great care of you, and certainly doesn't judge you. My father hasn't done one of those things. Not since the day I was born. Hanabi and Neji have always been his children, but never me. Not me. I'm not . . . I'm not worthy enough."

Her shoulders trembled as she cried silently. There wasn't one thing in the world she hated more. Crying was a sign of weakness. And with her luck these days, Hiashi would drive by in his perfect Jaguar. He would probably step out and pull her into the back of the car, saying he was tried of her shit and she was going back to the company. That thought made her cry harder. He probably wouldn't even notice Akamaru stumbling in after her. All he cared about was himself. In Hiashi's mind, it was me, myself and I.

A warm hand landed on her shoulder and she gasped, looking up. Her eyes widened as lilac meet onyx black. That face looked so familiar, and yet not. Maturity lines framed that straight nose. Full lips were teased into a soft, comforting smirk. Raven-fine hair was so long it had to be pulled back in a ponytail. It wasn't Sasuke but it was . . .

"My dear, are you hurt?" a deep, velvety voice swam through her head as she tried to come up with a name to match a face that warm, that inviting. "Why are you crying?"

Hinata swallowed loudly, blinking as tears slid down her cheeks. "N-no, I'm fine." she looked to her lap, her voice cracking. "A-actually, no, I'm . . . I'm . . .I'm not fine." She burst into tears again, only to feel something satiny rubbing against her cheek.

The man sat beside her on the bench, cupping her chin and wiping her face with a dark blue silk monogrammed handkerchief. "I'm sorry, my dear. Would you like to talk about it?"

She sniffled, averting her gaze. "I'm sure y-you have better t-things to d-do than d-deal with m-my dramatics, s-sir."

"Please, call me Itachi. And as for my day, I wouldn't mind listening." He watched her until her eyes connected with his again, a soft smile gracing his lips. "And what is your name, my dear?"

She sniffled again, scratching Akamaru absentmindedly. "Hinata." No doubt if she used her last name, he would listen for his own benefit. Maybe Hiashi had sent him to spy on her. He wasn't exactly above that type of thing. And he hadn't used his last name either.

He stood and held out a hand to her, stuffing the soaked handkerchief back into his black jacket pocket. "How does a cup of jasmine tea sound? I know a wonderful little teahouse around here that serves amazing yokan, if you like."

She bit her lip, nodding softly. Taking his hand, he helped her stand and even took Akamaru's leash. Sasuke hadn't even done that. Her shoulders fell as she thought about him. They were still dating. But they weren't exactly boyfriend and girlfriend, yet, right? This couldn't count as cheating, could it?

"Hinata-san," Itachi's velvety voice hit her senses. "Are you alright?"

She looked to him and there was actual concern in his eyes. He didn't look like the type to hit on her. But then again, she had meet shadier men. Hyugans weren't exactly loyal. She knew several men who had divorced women for someone much younger and prettier than the last. But Itachi was . . . Itachi was different. She didn't know how, but he was . . .

-

Sasuke opened the door to find Hinata standing in front of him. Her smile was no where in sight and her eyes were puffy and red, as if she had been crying. He frowned as she swept past him, murmuring a soft "ohayo." That wasn't the normal Hinata he had seen day after day. Something had happened.

"Hinata," he spoke firmly, gaining her attention. "Did something happen? Did the apartment not go to your liking?"

Hinata shook her head, pulling off her purple windbreaker. "No. I didn't . . . I didn't go."

He frowned again, looking to the clock. "But you've been gone for three hours. Where have you been?"

"Out."

"Out where?" He stepped forward, skirting around Akamaru.

It was silent as Hinata started at her bare feet. Suddenly, she took a deep breath and looked to him, her facial expression and eyes blank. "It doesn't matter. I'm back now." She turned away and dropped Akamaru's leash on the floor. "I'm going to bed. Good night, Sasuke-kun."

He nodded, stuffing his hands into his jeans pockets. "Okay. Good night . . . Hinata." He looked to Akamaru who looked back at him. "Don't suspect you can tell me anything, can you?"

Akamaru let out a bark and he sighed, reaching down to scratch his head. "I thought so. Let's get you something to eat. I'm sure you're hungry."

I bet most of you are going "Oh Shit! Itachi!"

Yeah, I am to XD

But, I have to say, I'm quite pleased with this chapter!

Got any ideas for the next one? Think I need to work on some things?

You know where to find me!

I'm outtie~ CocoaAngel95 :]