"Why don't you come inside?"

Still feeling uncomfortable, she desperately wanted to decline, but did not know how, not when he was so straightforward. His words alone were not very strange, it was a normal thing to invite someone into one's home. But Sasuke Uchiha was not normal. So despite fighting her what her instincts were screaming at her, she nodded her head, and watched him unlock the door and open it before instructing her with nonverbal cues to enter. Once inside she looked around and observed the apartment, noticing all the little details.

"I've never seen you in this building before, I just wondered what brought you this way." Sasuke attempted to explain his strange behavior as he walked over to the table he had placed in between the kitchen and the living area. He pulled out a chair for her but turned his back to the table immediately after. He didn't want to see the rejection of her not sitting at his table, indicating she was not going to stay long. Instead, he busied himself pouring a glass of water. When he heard her timid voice nearer to him than where he'd left her at the door, he finally turned back to see where she was.

From her seat at his table she spoke, "I-I was hoping to offer you an apology for my sister's behavior. She told me of her conversation with you, and I know how she can be..." her voice faded into the background for Sasuke as his mind replayed his conversation with that girl at the Hyuuga compound. He had been somewhat successful in not thinking about the incident from earlier in the day, but now was again horrified by how he had let her get the better of him. Sasuke did not just remember his conversation with that young girl, but also the short, awkward one he had just minutes ago.

"I thought you said you were at the wrong apartment." He watched as the blush darkened across her cheeks and she avoided his gaze, "Oh." It didn't take long for him to come to his own conclusions, "I didn't mean to scare you just now-"

Her pearlescent eyes met his, "No! You didn't scare me, I just-I just felt suddenly like I was intruding, I didn't want to be a bother, so I thought it might be best if I let you be instead."

"You're not a bother."

Widening her eyes, the woman didn't know what to say, but after a moment of silence, it was clear he was not going to continue. "Thank you, I'll try to keep it that way. I also feel bad about bumping into you earlier, so here." Reaching into her bag, she pulled out three boxes and set them on the table. He made his way to the table and inspected them a little closer, they were similar to what she'd brought his team before they left on their mission, but a little smaller.

"I don't understand, what are these?"

"It's onigiri, tomato onigiri... to apologize for my sister's behavior, and mine as well I suppose."

The confused look on the Uchiha's face remained, "You don't have to apologize, and even if you did, words are more than enough. And an apology in words is usually more than enough anyways, they doesn't normally include a gift."

Her mood had seemed to lighten since they met outside the door, but he could tell it was beginning to decline again. Sasuke decided he needed to start thinking more before he opened his mouth. Luckily, Hinata wasn't one to let just anything ruin her day, so she started speaking, "I know by most standards it is a little late to eat dinner now, but you look like you haven't eaten yet today. Please, have one. Plus, I've heard some people say tomatoes improve circulation, and I think that would help you, being as cold as you are."

Sasuke finally sat down and placed one of the boxes in front of him. He opened it to see food that looked like it would be just as tasty as it had been before. Her last words were lost on him as he looked at the food. He carefully took one out of its box, and inspected it, before taking a bite of it. It was subtle, but she watched as his eyes closed and he seemed to relax into his seat more. Hinata took that as a sign that he was enjoying it and mused that in some ways Sasuke was the same as everyone else, he had the same reaction to good food after a long day as anyone would.

Sensing it was time to finally leave, Hinata stood from her chair, "Thank you for allowing me to intrude Sasuke-san, if you'll excuse me, I have to get home, I also have not eaten yet tonight, and I need to get to bed soon for my mission tomorrow."

Pulling his attention away from the food, he looked up at her, "Why don't you just stay and have one of these?"

"Oh no, I don't want to impose more than I already have, and besides I am not really a fan of this dish. Those are all yours."

"Then, why did you make it?"

"Because Sakura-chan told me that you liked it." With a smile she turned and opened the door, and after a polite goodbye she was gone. That was when Sasuke realized it. She reminded him of his kaa-san, not just because she, in certain moments, bore a vague resemblance to her. More than anything it was because Hinata was the kind of person who learned he liked her tomato onigiri, and then made him more. Her kindness. That was her quality that was most similar to his mother. He groaned, and reached his hands up to grip his own hair. He sees her one more time and now he's openly comparing the two women within his mind. Sasuke felt like he was going to lose it.