Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters from Naruto.

Hinata watched him walk away and after she couldn't see him she turned to her own house and went in. She was so happy that she couldn't hide the smile on her face. Her cheeks were a shade of bright pink as she went through the house towards her room. She passed Neji on the way, and when he saw the look on her face he felt very pleased with himself. Afterall, if he hadn't have told Sasuke where to go, would she be smiling like this now? He knew the two of them would work well together.

"Hinata!" Hinata heard her Father's voice call out and she turned to look into his room. He was sitting in the middle of the room behind a small table. Her smile faded as she wondered if she had done something wrong.

"Good evening" she gave him a small bow. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"I want to meet this boy," He said simply, Hinata didn't even have to ask. He'd read her using byakuugan. "You may invite him to dinner tomorrow night."

"Yes, Father," Hinata bowed again and left the room. She was still happy and the smile easily returned to her face. Tomorrow morning she would have to call Sasuke to confirm their plans.

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Sasuke couldn't help but smile as he left Hinata's house. He hadn't felt this happy in such a long time… he even had a hard time placing when exactly that was. It was starting to get dark, but his house wasn't that far away and he didn't care.

He hadn't gone very far when he saw a flash of pink and red out of the corner of his eye. Sasuke stopped in his tracks, immediately knowing who it was hiding in the shadows. She really could be a nuisance sometimes.

"Sakura," He called out. "Come on out, I know you're there."

Sure enough, there was some rustling in the bushes on his right and the pink haired girl came out of hiding. She wasn't her usual cheerful self, there was no grin on her face and only a dull light in her eyes. Her hands were clasped loosely in front of her.

"Why were you following me?" Sasuke asked, trying not to sound too irritated.

"I just want to say that…I'm happy for you," Sakura began, never meeting his gaze. "I saw that smile on your face, I've never seen you smile like that before. But I can't help but wonder…Sasuke, why couldn't we have ever…tried?"

"Sakura," Sasuke spoke calmly, feeling sorry for the girl before him but at the same time not wanting to hurt her. "I'm sorry."

"'Sorry' doesn't answer the question," Frustration and sadness creeping into Sakura's voice now.

"I never meant to hurt you," He took a step towards her. "But I never felt that way about you."

"Then why would you protect me like you did during our missions? Or during the Chuunin exam?"

"I don't leave anyone behind, and you're my teammate. I do love you, just not in the way you want me to."

"Sasuke don't lie to me. Don't tell me you love me when…when…" sakura's eyes filled with tears.

"Sakura, please don't cry. I'm not lying," He placed a hand on her shoulder, but she jerked away from him. "I love you like a sister."

Sakura raised her teary eyes to his for the first time that night. As single tear made it's way down her cheek as she pulled Sasuke into a hug. Sasuke just stood there for a moment as she cried into his shirt. Once he got over his stiffness, he slowly returned the hug.

"Be good to her, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said with one last sniff and broke the hug. She ran away from him a disappeared into the darkness. Sasuke watched her go and continued on the way home, not feeling quite as contented as before.