~ Friday: Past Midnight ~

:: One Thing Will Always Lead To Another ::

Sasuke's shower turned out to be quiet and relaxing. He washed his laid to rest spiky hair and enjoyed a soothing steam all over his body. He was good to go dry off after he pulled the curtains back and stepped out. With a towel wrapped around his head and the other drying off his arms before the mirror, he caught sight of something troubling. The closed hamper by the door was missing a few items. Where his clothes sat was now the very outfit that he'd like to see on the lovely woman. "Do you really think I won't come out there?"

"You can try."

He smirked a little at that confidence in her voice, testing the doorknob as requested. The second he met restraint, he realized something was on the other side. "Stealth… You learn that from Kakashi too?"

"I watched Home Alone a lot with my sister. She's better at finding her way out of tight spots. I make barriers."

Sasuke could imagine a younger Hinata hiding inside some pillow fort that somehow was not easily toppled over. "And what exactly are you blocking me off for?"

"To make you listen." She sat there in front of the bed some ways from the door. "I've no intention of going back to Naruto."

"You say that but you're still going to the party with him like you trust him."

"Well trust is something to be earned."

"But not everyone deserves a second chance."

Hinata arched a brow and crossed her arms, sporting his shirt that covered her very well. "Then how come you went back to your wife? You spent an awful lot of time there."

"That's not my fault." Sasuke sighed and leaned against the door, patting that towel on his damp tresses. "Getting her to sign the divorce papers wasn't going to happen till her mother left."

Her shoulders all tense, suddenly dropped. "You… That's what you were doing?"

"I told you I left. She pitched some mess about her father killing himself some time ago and then she pulled me back inside to talk about a party like-... I just walked out after that point and went to the court building. I got the papers, returned, and asked her sign… once her mother finally decided to leave."

"I see. Did she sign it?" She shifted to her knees and listened in more.

"You know she didn't. It makes things difficult but I can still proceed." Sasuke knocked on the bathroom door once. "Can I get my clothes now? You done with your interrogation?"

Hinata nodded though no one could see her, standing with a blush and small smile. She picked up his clothes from off the nightstand and removed the door brace. "That wasn't my goal by the way."

"Then what was?" He chuckled at the hand that poked around the corner of the bathroom without the rest of itself, danglining the items held. "Thanks."

"You're welcome…" She backed away there after onto the bed. "But… um, I just wanted you to understand that I'm not going with him and expecting he's changed. I'll keep aware and watch my back."

"You could not go at all too." When it came to putting on his shirt, all he found was his tank. "Where's my shirt?"

"I'm wearing it and I appreciate your concern."

"Okay." It was not. He stayed in that bathroom and propped up on the sink, sitting there haphazardly. "Guess I'll have to go with you though I told Sakura I wasn't coming back."

"I'll be fine, Sasuke. He can't do any more damage than what's already been done."

"So if he shows up with another woman, you're just going to what?"

Hinata scratched at her temple like the answer was obvious enough. "Leave? Those are his friends, not mine. They never liked me to begin with and I don't care to see them."

He came outside then, kicking it back closed behind him with his hands in his pants. "Then there's no point in going. You can stay here with me and help me unpack or better yet, find an actual apartment. We can split rent or live somewhere bigger unless you want to live alone or something."

Hinata shook her head and smiled nonetheless. "What about your house?"

"She can have it or someone else can." He walked over to the exit with his socks on, keys swaying in his right while he yawned. "I'm going to run to my car right quick. I need my laptop."

She watched him leave all while fighting back the excitement she got from the mere mention of moving on with him. They could definitely start off slow by just being around each other. Friendly roommates sounded like way more fun than pretending at some party for the sake of being a kind person… or an ignorant one. Suppose the wolf was right? A part of her felt like this was the case. Another side had hoped that by some grace of god, the blond trying to make a change. She knew he could but the odds that that day was the same one in which he'd showed otherwise, remained highly unlikely. She decided to make a phone call and do a test. She withdrew her cell from the drawer nearby and called her husband. He must not have made it home or something because instead of Naruto answering, his mistress did.

:: How Does She Like Her Men? ::

"Hello Mrs. Hyuga. It's a bit late to be calling, isn't it?" Kiva was lounging about in the bedroom, waiting on her joyride to come back from the kitchen with the extra liquor. "I promise you he's alright so you can stop pestering him. He's not a child. You enjoy your vacation from whatever tired you out. Naruto's working very hard." There was a long pause of silence that she didn't know meant the housewife had no idea what she was talking about. "Hello?"

The only answer the homewrecker pro received was two words and then a dial tone. In semi-confusion, she held the phone up and looked to the screen to make sure it had ended. With a shrug, she got over it quick, perking up at the return of her whiskered partner accompanied by two bottles and only his boxers. "Took you long enough."

"I had to find it. My wife sorts things all weird." He headed on over and dropped down with a grin, spotting his cell in her hands. "Someone call?"

"You're wife did but I told her everything was fine. You're working oh so hard." Kiva gave him a kiss on the lips that she could get drunk off of alone.

Naruto appeared to be more focused and worried about something else. "What did she say?"

"Thank you?"

"Shit!" He scurried out of bed with his cell in a rush to call her back. It went straight to voicemail and at one point, said the number was no longer available.

"Something wrong that I should know about?" She questioned his frantic energy and found it intriguing. "Is she going to freak out and jump the next plane back already?"

Naruto kept his back to her, raging inside about her stupidity that was not her doing in the end. No matter, he could always find another way though it would take time and more careful planning. He looked back to what might as well be his free comfort for the time being as long as he can keep this lie up. "Nah, she's fine. She has a fear of heights."

:: Plans Made For The Future ::

"What made you change your mind?" Sasuke smirked to the coco sipping woman against him. "You can still go to get payback if you want."

Hinata made a tsk sound and shook her head, main one playing on the laptop for she was sitting there in front of him. Both knees were raised some for the computer to sit on. Her right shoulder was occupied by the wolf's chin and his arms were around her midsection. In comfort and total fed up-ness, she had no complaints about his closeness. "I won't stoop to his level but I will have trouble accepting his apology from now on."

"You're too lenient."

"I hope you don't bail on your kid just because he forgot to clean his room."

"Funny," he said sarcastically and hugged onto her more endearingly. "There's a huge difference between hiding a body in his room and not cleaning it."

"Naruto hasn't killed anyo- He was your friend at one point too." Hinata glanced back at the crude wolf who she felt shrug against her.

"Heavy emphasis on the 'was'. Click that loft right quick. It's downtown and almost near the police station so there's less crime. Rent will be a bit high though." He pointed at the finely dull gray building on the web page where a plethora of choices were possible. "The noise might not be worth it either."

"You move at the slightest sound?"

"Don't you?"

"Nope. I can sleep through a storm as long I got this." Hinata pointed to her pink bunny sleep mask already at her forehead. "Naruto hated when I wore it because it scared him at night."

The raven could see why. "It's missing an eye and an ear… but it's not that bad."

She beamed and adjusted it a little. "I've had it since college."

"Well I can get you a new one."

"Hmmm." She thought about it for a moment. "I'll be alright. Oh! They have a two bedroom one."

Sasuke puffed at a bang that escaped and tried to be casual. "The single is cheaper."

'He's so silly.' Twas a nice try and she got a little pink from it. Hinata wanted her own space for the moment however so she faked a depressed sigh and then said, "I guess if you really want to live alone..."

"You know what, the two bedroom apartment has a better view."

She giggled and leaned to the side to look up at him with faint smugness. "I bet it does, huh?"

"Will you shut up and click the damn apartment." The attacks along her sides were enough to draw forth many mirthful titters.

"S-Stop, stop, look!" She tapped his arms for such release, perfectly fine with that revealed part on her shoulder that wolf planted a sweet peck to. "This place has a gym."

"Wow… You are so caring." Let that be the wolf's sole claim for loving on this woman and disrupting their apartment hunting to hear her sounds joy.

:: Did You Know That I Drink Too? You do?! Do You Drink Alone? ::

This curse was passed onto her ex.

The killer of livers and the breaker of solid minds.

You can't get a DUI without it, nor can you numb the pain.

Some are unfortunate enough to never forget come the next day.

An expensive brand of Chateau didn't touch rosy lips and give way to a looseness all over just to slowly killer her and ruin her driving record. She drunk because it was a luxury that she liked. It made her feel good and for once… it wasn't working.

Slumped against the table with a wine glass held elegantly so, she laughed. It wasn't of happiness or because someone was tickling her side. The sound that escaped her flushed form was one of disbelief and a broken heart. Such pain she'd not expressed with her mother or so called friends. She suffered alone in her low lit kitchen where only the chandelier provided her light and warmth. Her mascara was smeared like her emotions.

It was everywhere, irritating, and a bitch to clean up.

She sniffled and scanned through pictures in her phone, sitting up some to relieve a headache. She pressed the chilling glass to her temple and swiped left. She sorted through the images for proof that the raven man who'd left her, had somehow told her lies. At the beginning, the first photo showed her their college date walk at the trail. He had his arm around her and looked grumpy but it was because some guy behind them was clearly checking her out. The next image was better with them leaving the movies. She was on his back mean mugging and he did the same. The flick they saw had them feeling like bosses.

More goofy pictures popped up the more she swiped, putting a growing smile on her face. Love overtook that alcohol threatening to turn out the lights. She noticed clearly his adoring gaze on the side each time even when he wasn't the focus. No wedding pictures were a clear sign where the change happened. The moment those rings showed up, her husband started to appear less and less enthralled with her. His investment faded. He was barely in any photo at some point no matter how desperately she searched or desired such.

It was just her all fake smiling with her friends.

She did find one image where her husband was there in the background looking miserable beyond belief at her side.

'My mother... was so wrong...' She looked to the divorce papers that she'd stained from binge drinking. 'And I can't fix any of it now.' A change could still be an ongoing process where down the line she could hope to win him back.

Sakura eased up from her seat, dizzy as ever from an unready action. She shook her head and tried to step away from the table. The chair scraped the ground when she pushed it and tripped but she never hit the ground. All she saw through blurry vision was thorny black hair and pale features. "S-Sauske? You're back!"

'He will be. Who would leave you behind?' Her admirer chortled lowly and scooped her up. He said not a word and let her drunken stupor play out to her eventual tire in his arms. While his plan had been to snatch her up at the party to make a spectacle of his nemesis's capabilities as a bodyguard, this would do too. Maybe now his second in command would finally shut up about there being another woman of more value. That wasn't possible in his eyes where jade irises looked lovingly to him in a deep daze. 'He'll come for you and then I'll get rid of him for both of us. His brother will fall apart leaving no one left to oppose me. We'll build anew on this broken town together for we are the only ones who know what it's like to be the victim and the monster. All that oppose us will only see the latter.'

~ Friday: Early Morning ~

:: What It's Like Waking Up With You ::

Last night was fun for the two growing friends.

They joked around and talked the night away about all the possibilities they'd have in coming days. Only one of them had work and she kindly set an alarm for him. Hitting the pillows followed next with the promise to stay on each other's respective side.

You see what happened was… the night was cold and-

They weren't cuddling by any means to them.

Sasuke was on his stomach with an arm dangling off the side, closed eyes towards the bathroom. His adoring new roommate was on his back somewhat, enjoying the freedom to sleep how she wanted since her husband would usually push her off or send her out of the room. Her wolf had no complaints for she was like the perfect heater given the temperature of the night. She always seemed to know the right time when to move and re-position.

The feeling was mutual.

Hinata found him to be a strange and comforting pillow. Some parts of him were cold and others were warm. He had an odd body temperature. She fixed that by countering those spots on his back with her own. This wasn't the only position she had to manage. At one point he was hugging on her back and stomach. She got her turn and then they were here, feeling limbered up and settled in this pose.

That alarm clock had enough of it.

Like it's own personal rooster, the sound that got a jolt out of them was a spot on imitation.

Sasuke glared groggily at the vibrating clock that read somewhere around six a.m. "Is that… Why the hell is that your alarm sound?"

A soft yawn graced her lips before she nuzzled his back more, gripping that tank. "I used to live on a farm."

"Seriously?" He got a nice and light bump on the head for that.

"Nooo, silly. It just makes me laugh and it always got Naruto up because it's annoying."

Sasuke nodded in total agreement. "Please turn it off."

"Uh-uh. You gotta get ready for work so you have to turn it off."

"Then get off my back."

Hinata shook her head, tickled by the poor attempt to shake her off. "You gotta try harder."

"I've only gotten like three hours of sleep."

"Whose fault is that?"

"Ours jointly?" Sasuke smirked at that groan she expelled in defeat. "I'm calling in."

"Can you afford to?" She didn't mind having him around with her today. She could definitely get a lot done hopefully.

"Not really. The wretch doesn't like me." Sasuke couldn't shut his eyes back because the rooster clock was still going on through their conversation.

"Did you do something?"

"I was late a couple times and failed to file a report countless days."

"Then you're going." Hinata knew then that she had to help him out when he exhaled so childishly. She sat up and stretched, turning to pull at his top back and forth, rocking him. "Get up, get up, get up," she chanted and bit back a snicker at how he stared at her so deadpan like she couldn't be serious. She curled her lips in and stopped their on her knees.

"Don't act innocent."

"I'm s-sorry!"

"Wait till I get up." He made it to his elbows before he saw her make a move to run for it. "Stay."

Hinata stuck out one leg in a snail's pace off the bed with eye contact maintained as if there was no way humanly possible that he knew what she was about to do.

:: Every time I See Him With You ::

"The Uchiha bastard hasn't left this hotel room all night. You'd think this would be enough evidence for the boss man." In the front passenger seat of a silver Buick, Hidan snorted his favorite batch of snow off an arm rest. After a few bats of his eyes and a satisfied rest back onto the seat, he set his half lidded gaze to the driver. "Hey, Helian, what do you think their doing?"

Lavender eyes cut to the annoying druggy and then back to the apartment, pure focus a gift.

"What? What's wrong now? You know you've been awfully quiet ever since you met him. I told you to stay out of this fight but you had to be hard headed." He set himself out another line. "Lucky he didn't have time to arrest you. Choosing between you and Kakuzu would of been a problem."

The driver never removed that intense gaze from off the hotel, letting that loathing fester. This expansive feeling would not be settled until-

"Hey, I'm joking. You know that right? I'd choose you over that dick any day naturally." Hidan's filter was moldy and intoxicating, leaving no room for kind words to break out untainted. "I put a lot of work into getting you here and-" An instant dagger at his throat silenced his blabbering.

"She's coming out."

Hidan exhaled in exasperation and turned to look. He knew this would happen eventually when his partner caught sight of the plum haired lady that time at the trail with the raven. He didn't intervene at this point because well, it wouldn't be a problem for long. "That she is... Sasuke just snatched her up too," he commented with a grin while snapping a picture, "and he's carrying her back inside. I guess they're not done. Ready to go?"

The driver continued to ogle, positive where the problem resided now. "When will we be back?"

:: First Sign ::

"Naruto, coffee?"

"Huh, sure. Thanks." Naruto kissed her cheek, not at all bothered by how sultry like she wore his bathrobe.

"No problem." Kiva slid onto a stool and crossed her bare legs to enjoy a simple toast, eggs and bacon breakfast. "Can you not reach Sakura still?"

"I'm trying… I hope she didn't cancel." He sighed and left another voicemail. "Hey Sakura, its Naruto again. I've called you repeatedly because I'm trying to make sure I have a free place to drink after I leave work early. Hah, kidding but seriously call me back when you can. I know we're trying to be friendly and all but… I do hope you're okay."

"'Trying to be friendly', hm? You guys seem like you're on thin ice or something." Kiva shared her high school days in the same one with the raven and pretty much everyone else in a funny light. Her blond affair dream had the lucky privilege to go to a much safer school.

"We… We were…just old friends that grew apart. It's nothing." Naruto couldn't bring himself to talk about it like it would weaken him further. Not to mention he had other things to focus on. "We gotta get ready for work anyway."

:: Personally ::

Sasuke was turned around for the fifth time and gifted a yellow scarf around his neck. "Hinata, really?"

"It's still cold out so wrap up. I packed you a lunch as well." Loving hands finished a loose tie and then handed him a brown paper bag. "Since you liked those sandwiches so much last time then this should do. You will also need..." Hinata double checked behind her around the little mess she made to get everything ready. "Ah, a water bottle."

He smiled and accepted it graciously. "Thank you, mother. May I leave now?"

"Hmph. You may." She gave the smart alack wolf a pet on the head before opening the door for him. "Be back by eight or your grounded."

"Only if you can catch me." Sasuke poked her on the forehead square in the center as he passed by, stopping only when he didn't hear a response. He turned back with question to the stunned woman. "Hinata?"

: Big Sister - You Be Careful Out There:

Hanabi was a true spectacle, rarely seen and still praised from a far. Her older sister saw a flawless gem that she had to guard and care for. They had no one else but they're cousin Neji and Detective Hatake. Striving for independence, she tried to handle things herself often. After a few sniffles, she said, "Hana, can you put on some jogging pants or… a jacket?"

Her eighteen year old sister, fixed those lavishly purple locks up into a high ponytail. The work out gear she chose was for cooling like well fitting biking pants and a simple long sleeve top of matching navy hues. "To baggy and too hot. I do appreciate your concern but I'll be fine. I'm not the blessed one here." She snickered at her sister's bashfulness and quick wrap up in a blanket. At the counter, the more talkative sibling then finished packing her things for her bike run.

"You should cover up all the way still. Guys always look at you regardless of what you may think…"

"Hmm, really? Do they look at me in a bad or good way?" Hanabi shouldered her bag and forced her loving, sneezing sister to follow her to the door. "Because he looks at me in a good way."

"H-He? You mean your mystery guy?"

"He won't be a mystery for long," Hanabi said with burning determination broadcast mildly so, "I'm going to ask him for his name today."

"Only his name?" Hinata stayed grateful to hear her sisters laughter, especially when it was her doing. "Hanaaa!"

"What, sis? I can't help it. He's so…interesting. He always waves to me and nothing more. Usually some guys want me stop and hand over my number or something. Not him. He has a mission and you can tell it's super serious because he rarely spends time for chit-chat. He dresses so professionally too and has his own place already." With one hand on the doorknob, she turned slightly to her sister with a big dream. "I want our lives to be like that."

"It will be... We just gotta get out there and build good credit." Hinata adjusted her sister's strap and tied a coat around her waist from the rack nearby. "Stay out of trouble as well."

"You are literally dad and mom rolled into one."

"Which reminds me." Hinata held up a finger to signify the importance of this news. She followed suit by quickly embracing her little sister tightly with comical rivers of tears and a red hue over her nose. "Please come back before dinner time for once."

Hanabi smiled softly and hugged her back with equal strength. "I'll try."

"T-Try?" Hinata then broke apart to have a sneezing fit.

"I was kidding! I mean, god forbid Rudolph came out searching for me." Little sister poked the oldest on the nose when she was done blowing into one of many tissues. "You need to stay inside to get better."

"I am better and I will come get you."

"Only if you can catch me." Hanabi slipped around the front door, popping her head back around to her sickly, protective sister. "Which you can't so… don't wait up."

"Hanabi!" She chased her sly kin outside where winter had made it's fluffy bed.

:End Of Big Sister - You Be Careful Out There:

Cheerful sounds of laughter and sibling bonds could be heard along the dorm lot that day.

Hinata recalled the memory with a fondness because her sister ended up staying in. She got to watch movies and drink coco with her for the remainder of that winter. The heat rolled around soon with the name of the theme being summer. Only misery came with those months so she didn't think about it too much. Besides, the wolf was awfully concerned for her silence.

"Hinata? Hinata, are you alright?" Sasuke held her by the shoulders, rubbing them for a reaction. "Do you feel sick?"

"Huh? No, no, no… It's just you reminded me of my sister for a moment is all. I'm okay." She smiled weakly at him and gave him a peck on the cheek for his kindness. "Thank you. I'll see you later."

From being so use to being the initial advance-r, he couldn't help but be stunned for a short second. The door closed and granted him back his mobility. He shed a faint tint of red and went on about his morning, ready to come back to her already. Since she was all he could think of, he failed to notice any oddity in his surroundings. There was no warning to either because a parking lot is simply always full of cars.

:: Where Am I? ::

Somewhere warm?

'Mmm, Sasuke.' Sakura enjoyed this cuddle of sorts from her husband. Who else could it have been that was holding her so endearingly? She nestled into those broad arms and smelled that strange… scent. Her lover hated products. He rarely used fancy smell good bath materials and so relied on his own natural aroma. It wasn't sweet, nor heavy. He had an earthiness to him like a pure forest untouched. This fragrance was factory and strong enough to make her nose cringe at the unfamiliarity alone. Emeralds opened from the pleasant sleep just to widen in horror at the stranger gazing naturally down at her. Her assailant covered her mouth to stop a well earned scream from surfacing. Since she was locked in against him, thrashing about was no good.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked as if they were a loving couple already. Aside from the kind greeting, there was a darkness to his tone that hinted to his thin line of patience when it comes to … disobedience. "Or do you need a few more minutes?"

:: We Are Warned To Be Weary Of Strangers But Never... ::

Hinata shed a few tears for an hour or so, going through the motions. Losing a loved one is always hard and she'd give anything to have her back. Things happen for a reason though and she believed that moment with Sasuke was a sign that he, like Kakashi, Neji, and Tenten, was destined to stay in her life. He might become a little closer is all.

To get near that point, she'd need to leave her husband officially.

First she had to get those papers and drop them off at the party she was sure he was attending regardless of her whereabouts. Because she'd blocked him, she didn't feel like unblocking and dealing with his excuses. Surely he'd be at work right now and making a scene would-

This was going to be quite an annoying feet to achieve.

She'll have to unblock later and notify him to meet her outside at the party or at home before so she can give him the papers. That'll do for a plan till then.

Over by the exit with her purse, the wolf's coat, and her sister's drive in her heart, she prepared to leave. Her cell rang the second she reached for the doorknob, notifying her of her cousin's call. She answered and unlocked the door simultaneously. "Hey, Neji- What? No, it's not a bad time. I was just about to head out… You're in town? What for?... Hmm, yeah there was a kidnapping but I wasn't near that area. I'm fine- Neji, I'm- Okay, you can come over after I head to the courthouse."

She locked the door behind her and stuffed those keys in her pockets, walking in amusement to her cousins high curiosity to her destination. "I know you'll bail me out but I'm not in that kind of trouble… No, Naruto hasn't hit me. I actually hit him…Uh- It's a long story." She sighed on her way down the steps, giving him the good news out of it all next, "I guess the end tell-all would be that I'm getting a divorce."

"That's sad."

Hinata froze at her car and looked around for that heart attack inducing voice that came at her out of nowhere. She covered the receiving in of her cell and spun around, ready to give the nosy woman a piece of her mind quietly. Nothing along those lines would happen for this female was not finished.

"You are sad." Lilies of pale pools, stared in disgust to their blood related set. She marched towards the frozen woman, blade in hand and dressed for a poor man's bank heist. The white, dingy hood of her hoodie was pulled back harshly. A messy high bun of similar locks was revealed. Strands upon strands had long since escaped to give her a rough look on top of dirty patches of skin. She stopped before the woman who dropped her phone out of complete shock. A weather worn and blood stained combat boot, came down hard on the device, scraping it along the parking lot surface where it was kicked behind her. She then swiftly placed her blade at her targets throat, confused as to why the dumb woman was just standing there and staring at her so brokenly like she'd lost touch of reality or something.

They did favor and she saw that more up close but… 'Agh! Pathetic!' She bared her teeth and pressed the knife closer, ready to lose it when the woman just stood there and didn't squirm or scream like her usual prey did. "What the hell is wrong with you?! I knew you were scum but this is just annoying!"

"Relax, Helian. I told you this would happen." Hidan came over with his hands in his coat pockets, standing to the side some ways behind his partner. He smirked in a cocky way to Hinata and dropped an arm around his one-sided relationship. "Look at her. She looks like she's seen a ghost or something."

A/N: We Getting There T.T

~ Thank you all for the favs, follows, and reviews no matter the context. Voice your concerns, spite, theories, advice, frustration, and ect to your heart's content at your will. Have a lovely day and hopefully satisfying read. XoXoXo ~