Hinata and Ten-Ten were running towards the drama room. School was over, and they had totally forgotten about the rehearsal. They were lucky to meet Naruto on their way back to the dorms; he was going to see the rehearsal just for fun.

Panting, Hinata opened the door and tripped inside the room. No one noticed, everyone there had their eyes on Itachi.

"She's the most beautiful girl in town! That makes her the BEST! And don't I deserve the best?"

"Will they be mad at us for being late?" Hinata whispered while Ten-Ten helped her up.

"Shh! I don't know! Oh My, I think he's gonna sing, let's watch"

They both looked at the stage.

"Right from the moment when I met her, saw her…"

"Wow he actually has a good voice" Ten-Ten said as she dragged Hinata to Anko.

"Where were you?" the teacher asked

"Oh… we….um…."

"Ugh never mind! Hinata, get on stage I want you to practice with Itachi"

"W-what-" but she was already pulled up with him.

"Hey honey" he winked.

"H-hey…" She wanted to get out of there; she didn't want to do this!

Then, when she was starting to freak out, the door opened. She hid her smile because of Itachi.

"Kakashi HATAKE!" Anko stood up and pulled him by the ear "YOU need to break that habit of being LATE! Must I remind you that you have to help Hinata with the parts she plays with the Beast?"

"Ouch! Yeah I remember just chill!"

"Wait, what?" Itachi was mad.

"Well since we haven't decided if it should be Neji or Sasuke, and Belle and the Beast have CRUCIAL scenes together, we need Hinata to practice as much as possible in the meantime with mr. Kakashi"

"But-"

"Oh and you're done by today, we're going to start with the most important scene in the play! Ten-Ten, get up here, you need to sing Beauty and the Beast"

"Yes ma'am!"

Itachi left, and Hinata was so confused but happy at the same time.

The music started playing as Anko asked Hinata and Kakashi if they knew how to dance, to make it easier. They both nodded.

"Tale as old as time, true as it can be…"

The teacher held Hinata's hand "nice bracelet" he whispered. She gave him a timid smile and they went closer to each other. They looked at Anko and she gestured for them to move forward.

"…both a little scared, neither one prepared, Beauty and the Beast. Ever just the same…"

Hinata put her arm on Kakashi's shoulder as he held her by the waist.

"ever as before, ever just as sure as the sun will rise… tale as old as-"

Right then, Gai bursted into the room.

"STOOOOOOOOOOP!"

Ten-Ten stopped singing as the music teacher ran to the stage "It hurts my FEELINGS! For you to be so SEPARATED during such a beautiful song!"

"But Gai, Kakashi's only subbing the Beast, we haven't decided-"

"Oh Anko you're so cold! Just get closer to each other!"

"Yes sir" Kakashi smiled and held Hinata closer to him.

This is so awkward… on the other hand, I'm actually feeling comfortable on the stage!

"Hinata, hold him closer!" Anko yelled "FOCUS!"

"Y-y-yes!" she did as she was told.

"Tale as old as time, tune as old as song…"

They went round in circles a couple times, then Kakashi did as he did a time ago, he pushed her away gently and let her spin back to him.

"Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change learning you were wrong…"

She spun to him and they both started slowing down.

"Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the Beast"

Lavender eyes stared into his brown ones, both of them completely oblivious to the clapping of the people inside the room.

"Great job guys! Ten-Ten, practice a little more with your voice, it was almost perfect!" Anko said "and YOU Hinata!"

"Y-yes?"

"You're such a good actress! I could almost feel the love!"

"O-oh… th-thanks" she blushed and Kakashi giggled to himself.

"Well, me and Gai have a meeting now, so Kakashi if you can stay with Hinata and rehearse more scenes with her, it would be wonderful"

"Yup, count on it! But Anko, watch out"

"Watch out with what?"

"It's going to rain very hard, just saying"

No one saw Hinata blushing.

"You think? Well thanks anyways; I'll see y'all tomorrow in class and in rehearsals!"

"Bye" Hinata and Kakashi said at the same time. Kakashi waved until the last person, Naruto, closed the door behind him.

"So, did your stage panic go away, sweetheart?"

"Y-yes, well… I don't know, w-with you it's…different"

"Really" he said playfully "how's that?"

"Let's say, I don't have to act if it's with you" she leaned on a closet they'd put there as a decoration "But I don't know how I'll do with Sasuke or Neji… it will be awkward"

"Ohhh, you mean the kiss at the end don't you"

"Y-yes…"

He chuckled "Yeah that figures. Hey, do you know all your lines?"

"M-most of them, why?"

"I want to rehearse the last scenes; shall we?"


"Neji" said Sasuke "are you completely sure that we need to go today? Remember that they still haven't chosen one of us"

"I know, I know! But hey we lose nothing by going. Plus, I left my jacket there the other day so It's convenient"

Sasuke rolled his eyes "So Hinata being there has NOTHING to do with you wanitng to go?"

"Shut UP, of course not! My world does NOT revolve around my cousin!"

"Well that's not what you said-"

"Just let me be!"

Sasuke ran his hand through his hair and sighed "fine, whatever you say"


Kakashi was lying on the stage with Hinata kneeled down beside him.

"Belle, you came back"

"Of course I came back, I couldn't leave you…. Um…"

"If only I'd come sooner" he whispered

"Thanks!" she cleared her voice "If only I'd come sooner"

"Maybe it's better that way"

"No, don't talk like that. You'll be alright"

"At least…" he faked a wince "at least I got to kiss you one last time"

Hinata frowned. Kakashi had his eyes closed, so she just leaned in a bit "H-hey… it's "at least I got to SEE you" she whispered

"Nope, I said it right" he opened his eyes and smiled

"But it says-"

Her words were blocked by Kakashi's lips pressing on hers. She let herself smile and close her eyes, just letting it happen.

He held her face with his hands as he kissed her while he leaned in more and more, eventually ending up on top of her.

She pulled away "This… this is inappropriate" they laughed.

"Oh, I'm sorry mademoiselle, allow me!" he picked her up and lifted her body; her legs were resting on his hands instead of touching the ground.

"Is that more appropriate for you?" he mocked

"Mmmm not really, my skirt looks too short now" she nodded dramatically and widened her eyes

"Well in that case, I'll put you down"

He gently let her go so her feet touched the ground again. He spotted something nearby.

"Hey, isn't that your cousin's jacket?"

"Maybe, could be"


When they were one minute away from the drama room, Neji and Sasuke ran into Naruto and Ten-Ten.

"What up!" said the blond.

"Hey Naruto, weren't you watching the rehearsal?"

"Yeah but everyone had to do stuff so-"

"What about you Ten-Ten?" asked Neji "I thought you were an important role and that"

"Y-yes, but what Naruto said is true; we came out early so there's no one there"

"Yeah, there's only Hinata and Kakashi in there, rehearsing the beast scenes and that…" Naruto added.

"Well, I'm going back to the dorm then. Let's go Neji" Sasuke started turning around.

"Oh go ahead; I'll just go get my jacket"

"Ok then, bye"

"I'll go back too, see you!"

"By Naruto" Neji said

"Well, I'll get my jacket and go too"

Ten-Ten widened her eyes. No… Kakashi and Hinata are in there, probably not rehearsing… shit, I gotta stop him!

"Neji, don't you wanna go do something?" she asked, sounding a bit desperate.

"Yeah sure, but after I get my jacket" he started walking towards the big door.

No, No, No, No!

She ran to him and grabbed him when he was about to open the door "I-I need to tell you something, right n-now!"

"Ten-Ten, can't you wait?"

"No!"

"Well, I still want my jacket"

"Neji, no! You… you probably left it somewhere else!" She was pulling really strong now.

"No, I know for sure I left it in here!" he pulled back "Ten-Ten let go, It will only be a minute.

She wouldn't let go, and he was really short tempered.

"Ten-Ten, STOP!" he pushed her away and opened the door, still looking at her.

"No… Neji no!" she whispered frightfully from the ground.

He talked while his head turned towards the inside of the room "I'm sorry, but what's the big deal with-"

He stared at the stage. No one was there.

"Oh hey, my jacket!" he started walking but tripped because of Ten-Ten running into him. She looked up and sighed in relief.

"Gosh woman, what's wrong with you?" he frowned looking at her.

She was smiling, but her smile faded and turned into a horror face when she looked at the stage again. She could hear some soft laughter too.

Out from the backstage came Kakashi, holding Hinata's hand.

He pulled her close to him and stared at her while caressing her cheek "I love you" he whispered.

They both smiled and closed their eyes, leaning closer.

Ten-Ten tried to change the look on her face, but it was too late, Neji had already noticed and he was already turning to look at the stage.

His eyes widened as he saw Hinata kissing the art teacher. Or the art teacher kissing Hinata. He didn't know which one was the case, but he was too shocked to react.

Ten-Ten just covered her mouth with her hands while she closed her eyes tight.

This is not happening… this is not happening….