Chapter 21

Sasuke looked at the mop and then at the broom. Ugh... I hate cleaning... He stared for a bit longer and then grinned... Soon Hinata will have to do all that stuff and I won't have to worry about it... His grin faded and he scolded himself mentally. "Did I really just think about my not too distant marriage?" He put his hand to his forehead and sat down on the couch. He put his head down and sighed deeply.

What the hell happened to me? I was such a badass... to EVERYONE...

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and he got up to see who it was. He looked out the hole and sighed in annoyance... It's that housekeeper... Ugh...

He frowned and opened the door roughly, "Yeah?"

"A-ano... sorry to bother you... but, I believe some of your friends were trying to steal some cleaning supplies from the janitor room... so I thought you might need help."

Why those...

She peeked in as he turned back. Her face looked aghast for a while and then she grinned at him... Sasuke hated it when girls grinned at him...

"I don't need your help... leave..."

"Ehh?... but your room..." She insisted pushing past him. She stopped in the middle of the room and looked around.

Sasuke's eyes widened. Why that little... He stomped towards her and stopped right in front of her. She blushed and grinned up at him. He frowned deeply and practically yelled "Get out... I said I don't need your help... you lousy maid... You aren't allowed in here unless I say, got that?"

The maid's face as well as her eyes were red. Her eyes were brimming with tears and she was cowering slightly under Sasuke's shadow...

Just when Sasuke was about to repeat himself... there was another knock. Sasuke stopped short and looked back to find Hinata in the doorway. She was looking at him with a slightly scared look. "May I?"

Sasuke looked back at the maid and she knew what to do this time. She left in a quick pace. Hinata looked after her until she disappeared down the hallway and then she turned to find Sasuke right behind her. She looked up at his face and smiled, blushing. "A-ano... that was a bit mean, no?"

"Tch... Mind your own business.." Sasuke told her softly, but with attitude. She flinched slightly and then looked back up. He looked at her and then looked up.

"Geez, can't you be a little more protective of me?" Sasuke scolded Hinata playfully, with one eye closed the other eyeing her for her reaction.

"Gomen... I just... you were just so mean... that I didn't think I needed to get jealous... this time." She smiled sweetly at him. His features softened and he just looked at her smiling.

He was blushing and he knew it. He wanted to hug her... but... He just didn't know if he was ready to show that kind of affection... It just seemed out of place at the moment... it would make him look stupid and he never wanted that, specially for the sake of a female... He debated in his head a bit longer, still looking at her shyly...

What the hell... I've done more than hug her...

He approached her and put his arms around her planting a kiss on her forehead. Hinata smiled and blushed. "I-- I brought you lunch..." She held out a small basket covered with a handkerchief. He looked at it and smiled.

"Did you cook it yourself?"

She nodded quickly still blushing...

"That's good... I think I deserve a preview..." He said acting cool, but waiting anxiously for her reply... She probably doesn't even know what I'm trying to get at... He sighed and smiled in defeat when she stayed quiet.

"Ehh?" She said with her hair tilted to one side. Sasuke grinned wider. She was just too adorable... and confused... Dummy, when you marry me I'll eat nothing BUT your cooking, so yeah, a preview...

He stopped thinking when he realized that he sounded like an idiot... and he wasn't even talking...

He lay his hand on her head and grabbed the basket. "So what is it anyway?"

"Ahh... it's shiruko, and a bit of herb tea."

"Sweet stuff?"

She nodded slowly becoming aware of his tone. He looked at her with a blank expression. "Well... I hate sweets, but since it was made especially for me, by you, I'll try them." He picked one of the rice cakes out of th bowl and shoved it in his mouth. Eww...

He faked a smile on his face, and swallowed fast. Hinata looked at him, and then looked back down a bit hurt... He couldn't possibly be more obvious... She grabbed the basket and wrapped her arms around it, not caring if it spilled at all...

Awww... shit... "What was that for?"

He was trying not to sound too obvious, but he failed miserably. "It's okay, you don't have to eat them if you don't want to... You did warn me..." She said not looking at him.

He felt bad, but let go of it easily when she smiled at him. "I'll just give it to Suigetsu-kun... I bet he'll like it."

Sasuke frowned. "Nani?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets and then turned away. "Tch." His face long and stern.

Hinata giggled loudly and then turned to Sasuke. "Gomen Sasuke, you d-did owe me for the hospital i-incident." She said blushing, still hugging the basket.

He grinned evilly. "And who said I was acting back there? I mean that nurse was pretty hot.." Hinata stopped giggling and her face became serious. Then she smiled in defeat. "Okay... there's no beating you... she was very... ... pretty..."

"That was a joke... Geez you're slow."

He grinned again and looked around, then frowned. He looked back at Hinata with a playful smile. "Should I just make Team Hebi clean up here, I mean I am letting them stay in my apartment for free."

"Sasuke-kun! Iie! Look, I'll help you and then I'll cook you something not sweet."

"Deal."

Hinata grabbed the broom and ordered him to go look for trash bags. "Yes, ma'am!" Hinata giggled softly and blushed. Then she began sweeping quietly. Sasuke turned back and looked at her. He put a hand on her shoulder, and said quietly, "Why don't you cook first, I'm starving."

She looked at him for a bit and shrugged, "Okay then... What would you like... as in... what i-ingredients do you have...?" She looked around with an uneasy smile on her face. There's not going to be any good ingredients... He hasn't been here in years...

"None..." Hinata's head sank and she just looked up at him... He shrugged. "Why don't we just go out to eat?"

"But... the c-cleaning..." He grinned and walked toward her. He held her from behind and whispered in her ear, "can you really resist eating out with the uchiha sasuke..."

Hinata was blushing madly but she simply turned around and nodded. His grin turned into a frown and then an even bigger grin. She turned to face him, and before she had turned completely, Sasuke was pulling her by her hand... He ran out the door without locking the door, or even closing it for that matter, and dragged Hinata along with him...

"Ch-chotto... m-matte kudasai, Sasuke-kun..." She was running out of breath. He was fast... She was having a hard time keeping up with him and they hadn't even closed the door and they were going to be seen together in Konoha... I mean, a lot of people knew already, but there were some who had no clue. How would they react? What about Sasuke's infinite fanclub... More and more worries made their way into Hinata's head as she struggled to catch her breath.

It seemed like they had turned a thousand times when they finally reached a stop. Hinata hunched over a bit trying very hard to catch her breath. She was panting heavily and Sasuke was merely looking at her with one eyebrow raised. "How disappointing... I thought you were shinobi material." Hinata looked up at him and frowned, her face turning redder. Then she looked back down and continued breathing. "Gomen... but you're really fast."

He grinned. "Yeah, okay, stop trying to divert my attention." He turned towards the building that stood right in front of them. It was a ramen shop, like Ichiraku's, but this one was enclosed... it was a building. He turned to look at her and waited for the look of approval. She merely looked up and smiled softly at him. He smiled and grabbed her hand again, pulling her, but this time, he was walking slowly.

As they made their way inside, Sasuke earned about a million stares, whereas Hinata was merely ignored. It seemed Sasuke's little fanclub hadn't subsided since he left. In fact, today he noticed there were even more girls staring at him with dreamy eyes. Wow... and even when I'm holding someone's hand... He frowned and held Hinata closer. Hinata merely looked down when she saw a couple of girls throwing her glares. They reached the counter and the host immediately took them to a booth that stood a bit off from the whole crowd. Apparently he noticed how the girls around them were reacting.

"I'll bring your menus in a bit," he said and walked off. Hinata slid into the booth and Sasuke slid into the front part of the booth positioning himself in front of her. He crossed his arms in front of him and leaned on his elbows.

"So, any idea what you're gonna wanna eat?" Sasuke asked Hinata wanting to start a conversation.

Hinata nodded. "Noodles..."

Sasuke smiled and reached for her hand holding it there and staring at her. He wanted to tell her about the marriage thing, but he just didn't know where to start...

"Ano... Hinata..."

"Hn?" Hinata looked up from her hand and looked at him with a rosy blush. He smiled and looked down...

When his face came back up he was grinning. Hinata looked at him curiously, but still smiling. "What is it?"

"I wanted to... Do you still remember the two questions you owed me... ... yeah I know I still owe you three... but still, I wanna use mine now...you can use yours after I finish" He said looking down.

"O-Okay..." Hinata felt a bit nervous... Now she understood why Sasuke's mood would dry up when she'd bring up the questions... What is he going to ask...?

"Okay, well, as you know... my punishment, was w--" Sasuke frowned when Naruto showed up.

"To obey me for two months, baka!" Naruto sat himself next to Hinata and lowered his fist down hard on the table. Then he sat back looking as casual as ever. "Or did you forget your penalty, teme?" Naruto grinned widely. Sasuke stared at him with a glare and then turned to Hinata, who was looking down face red and playing with her fingers... Sasuke frowned... Why is she still acting shy around him...?

He looked back at Naruto who was looking back and forth between Hinata and Sasuke. Then he looked at Sasuke and grinned. Naruto scooted closer to Hinata. "Hi-na-ta-chaaaannn" Naruto said in a cute, playful voice. Hinata looked up and gasped when she saw that Naruto was beginning to slide his arm around her shoulders. Hinata only reddened more and began sinking into the seat. She sunk until she completely came off and ended up on the floor.

"Oi, Hinata-chan, doushita n-- wuhh" Naruto was grabbed by the shirt by Sasuke who pulled him towards him until their faces were no more than 9 inches away. "What the hell are you doing baka!" Naruto said trying to free his shirt from Sasuke's grip.

"Naruto... you picked the worst time to come... leave, or we will." He said seriously... He looked over to Hinata, and realized she wasn't really blushing because it was Naruto, but because she was shaken... He looked back at Naruto who wore an uneasy smile on his face.

Sasuke let go of Naruto and Naruto rubbed his neck with his hand. "Man, you're a real animal..."

"Leave you fucking idiot..." Sasuke told Naruto with his arms crossed. It was the only way he could put his arms without having quick access to Naruto's neck.

"Sasuke... I will keep up this whole pestering thing if you don't meet the consequences... oh and by the way... the two months will start to pass when you start to obey... " Naruto said standing up and looking down at Sasuke with a serious expression. He looked at Hinata one last time and smiled goofily making a peace sign with his hands before running out.

Sasuke looked at Hinata, who looked deeply disturbed. She had begun biting her nails and seemed to be shaking a bit. Sasuke put his arm around her and lay his head on hers.

"Calm down, already... geez, you're so... sensitive... you should get used to me and baka fighting like that..." They sat like that for a while and when he felt that she was no longer shaking he looked down at her. She had her head down to the side resting on his shoulder. Her hand was squeezing his tightly.

"May I take your order, sir?" a waiter appeared next to their table.

Sasuke nodded and ordered a plate of sashimi, a miso ramen bowl, and two cups of tea. Sasuke and Hinata waited for their meal without saying anything, and it was the same as they ate. Hinata never even looked up at him... The whole Naruto situation seemed to have somewhat dampened her mood.

Damn that Naruto...

I'll just make it up to her some other time... after I've obeyed Naruto for those two months... Sasuke's face dropped at the thought of Naruto bossing him around... and him having to obey every single thing the idiot would command... It just seemed so horrible...

Sasuke looked at Hinata and then looked down when she didn't look up... I guess I'll just ask her some other time...

(A/N: Hello ppl! haha, i know you're all hating on me right now cuz it's been well practically forever now since i last updated... I apologize... deeply... I'll make up for it thought, somehow. Anyway, hope this chapter made sense to you all... Sasuke doesn't really think Hinata is willing to marry him... so he needs to ask... he's pretty confident... but he still wants to hear a yes... i apologize for this awful chapter, and i took so long too... (TT)... i'm pathetic, but yeah i'll try to update more often now... it should get easier... the thing was that i was moving back from my apartment to my parents and it took a while to get the internet installed again... and i didn't really work on the story while i had no internet... hehe so gomenasai... anyway, try to review so i can be more psyched about the story please! i won't blame you if you don't but, please do anyway! well thanks for all the support so far, and keep it coming. Well bye bye!)