"Thanks for waiting, Sasuke-kun," Hinata said as she slid into a seat across him.
"No problem," he said simply as he gazed at her. He never was going to tire of simply looking at Hinata.
"I hope you didn't wait too long," she said anxiously.
Sweet Hinata. Always thinking of others. "No, I didn't. Don't worry," he said reassuringly. He smiled at her as an afterthought.
"That's good," she smiled at him in a way that made him warm all over. "Shall we order?"
"Go ahead. Order for me," he shrugged. He scanned the menu anyway.
She flashed a smile at him again, and she raised her hand. A waiter approached her.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am. What would you like to have?" the waiter asked in a mellifluous tone.
"One beef sukiyaki, and a shrimp tempura, please," Hinata said to the waiter.
"And drinks?" the waiter asked.
"A pot of hot tea, please," Sasuke said.
"Will that be all?" the waiter asked again.
"Yes, thank you," Sasuke replied. When the waiter left, he shook his head. "I'm getting too polite for my own good."
Hinata giggled. "That's not a bad thing, is it?"
He mock glared at her. "That's what I get for being around with you too much.
She giggled again. "Good thing or bad thing?"
"Oh, good, of course," he said quickly, winking at her.
Sasuke made his way to his bedroom that night, replaying the day's events in his mind. He had lunch with Hinata at a Japanese restaurant, and generally enjoyed themselves.
"I'm getting too polite for my own good."
Hinata giggled. "That's not a bad thing, is it?"
He pretended to glare at her. "That's what I get for being around you too much."
"That's what I get for being around you too much."
After that day in the hospital, they had gradually become the best of friends. They spent their time together, ate meals together, and talked. He was comfortable around her, and she told her secrets to him.
What would happen if he was alone, no Hinata in his life? Naruto was his childhood friend, but now he spent all his time with Sakura, and he was left alone. When Hinata came along, he wasn't alone again. He loved the feeling of being with her, just being able to sit beside her.
Hinata was most important to him, and his love for her exceeded platonic boundaries. But was he important to Hinata? He knew that he was important to her, but how much?
Author's Note: Yo! Another short chapter… This one and the previous chapter were fillers, expect things heating up! I was sort of thinking about Itachi showing up and inviting Hinata to join the Akatsuki—well, what do you guys think? Depending on feedback, maybe I'll put him there, and give a nice twist to the story. :P Anyway, Neji and Hinata… Good or bad? Or both? I posted a one-shot of 'em… Heheh, this is shameless plugging… Anyway, I changed my name.