Okay, A won, although it was pretty close. Anyways, on with the story...

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Sakura placed her hands on her hips and frowned, "Hey."

This time Hinata looked up, meeting eye contact, which surprised both girls.

"Y-yes?"

But Sakura was unable to reply, her eyes still locked onto Hinata's. They seemed so sad. Why hadn't she noticed before? There was a depth to them she hadn't noticed before either, a sort caused by suffering.

---

It was just too strange for her, so... scary almost. She had seen sad eyes before, distressed and teary, but none like those.

They were eyes that held true sadness, a haunting one that seemed to echo within her.

Sakura tried to shake it off, but no matter how she tried to forget, the memory continuously made its way back into her mind.

---

Ino was worried; Sakura was acting really strange today. She kept on gazing off into the distance, her eyes hazy and dazed, as if trapped inside her own mind. It was a rare occurrence, since whenever she and Sakura were in a certain radius they mostly cheered, yelled, and quarreled with each other.

"Sakura."

"Hmm…?"

"Sakura!"

Sakura snapped back to reality, "W-wha?" She saw Ino motioning towards her, moving her lips but making no sound. Ino pointed towards the blackboard.

"What?" Sakura looked ahead. The teacher was frowning at her and pointing his ruler at the problem written on the board.

Sakura swallowed a hard lump in her throat. She studied the question for a second, 'easy...' she thought.

Without any hint of nervousness, she answered the question perfectly, smartly, and correctly.

Half disappointed and half pleased, he nodded and then continued with the class.

Sakura sighed in relief, and then promptly lost herself back into her own thoughts. Ino continued to watch her worriedly, wondering 'What ever is she thinking about?'

---

Hinata quickly walked home, making a brief stop to buy groceries. All the while, she wondered what this party Neji-san had arranged was about. It had been a while since the last time she was required to attend a party. It was all because of the curse. 'Then why now?' she puzzled.

'I suppose I should just ask him,' she concluded. 'I'll find out at the party anyways.'

Still, it was just too weird of a day for her. First she was told to attend a party, by Neji no less, who she hadn't seen since, since that incident, and then Uchiha-san gave her a ride, and now the party.

That was right. She still had to thank Uchiha-san. But how? She would have to think of that later. Right now she had to prepare for the party.

She quickly dressed in one of the elegant dresses in her closet; made for occasions like this, and was surprised she hadn't grown too tall for it. After all, it was given to her almost three years ago.

It was a lilac dress that cascaded all the way down to cover her matching white slippers. Simple yet formal. Perfect.

She couldn't think of a way to do her hair, so she just left it that way, hanging loosely, which also helped to create a barrier. As for makeup, well, she didn't really believe in dressing up too much.

The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of the limo.

Hinata sighed, something she seemed to be doing quite often lately. It seemed like she just couldn't avoid everything and everyone. Still, it was her duty to attend these parties as the Hyuuga heiress, so she had to be strong. It was her tribute to Kayu, and to the rest of them.

---

The chauffeur opened the door for her, and with a word of thanks Hinata quietly slipped inside the limo. She got a cup of water from the small refrigerator at the side, before sliding into a seat.

"Hello," came the voice, startling Hinata so that she almost spilled her drink.

Hinata turned around to come face to face with a tall girl dressed in a traditional Chinese dress with mousy brown hair stylishly wrapped into two buns on the side of her head. A few strands fell loose to frame the tanned face characterized by two sparkling brown eyes.

"H-hi," Hinata replied shyly.

"My name's Tenten. It's nice to meet you. You must be Neji-san's cousin Hinata-sama," the girl said graciously, inclining her head to show respect.

"Ye-yeah. It's nice to meet you t-too," Hinata stuttered, wondering what this girl was doing in the limo.

She must have seen the question in Hinata's eyes, for girl immediately smiled and brightly stated, "As for why I'm here, well, your cousin Neji-san offered to pick me up for the party."

When Hinata just kept on staring confusedly at the girl, Tenten continued, "I'm one of the senior executives at the Hyuuga Company, so your cousin asked me to be his partner for tonight's party." A slight blush graced the girl's face.

"O-oh. Sorry for being so rude," Hinata apologized, coming to her senses and realizing she had been staring.

"No problem," the girl chirped. Then she stared at Hinata with her face cocked slightly to the side. "By the way, you should put your hair up."

"Wh-wha?" Hinata exclaimed in surprise.

"I think you would look better that way," Tenten declared, and reached into her purse to grab a brush and a few hair accessories.

"B-but," Hinata tried to protest.

"No complaining!" Tenten scolded, winking at Hinata.

"I really a-appreciate your help b-but..." Hinata squeezed her eyes as the brush pulled her hair back, "I don't think that..."

Tenten sighed, "Stop squirming around; if you want it too look good then stay still!"

Hinata stopped protesting. I really don't think this is going to help me look pretty or anything... why is she even helping me?

After a few minutes of tugging at Hinata's hair and sticking pins into the pulled back mess, Tenten finally announced, "Okay! All done!" She handed Hinata a mirror.

Hinata stared into the mirror, stricken with horror. She looked...

"You're beautiful!" Tenten grinned and placed her brush and hair accessories back into her bag.

Her hair was pulled up into a tight bun, a few strands of hair falling loose and freely. She sighed; at least it wasn't makeup...

She turned to Tenten and bowed her head, "Thank you..."

"Oh, you're welcome. It's a pleasure to help Neji's adorable little cousin!"

"Neji?" Hinata asked, intrigued as to why Tenten would call her cousin by a first name basis.

"Oh, uh, I mean Neji-san, of course," the girl replied, flustered.

"D-do you like N-neji-san?"

"W-ell, you see, I-" for once the talkative girl was at a loss for words. She was saved from talking as apparently they had arrived at the desired destination- the main Hyuuga Company building.

"Oh, lets get going then!" Tenten piped up, an embarrassed smile evident on her face.

"Alright," Hinata agreed, though inwardly she was smiling. She wanted her cousin to be happy, after all he had to go through because of her sake.

They stepped out through the limo door, held open by the chauffeur, and into a sea of flashing cameras. Instantly the reporters pounced on Hinata, whom they recognized as the Hyuuga heiress.

"Hyuuga-sama, after what happened five years ago, are you still ready to take the position as head of the company?"

"What is your comment on-"

"What do you feel about the arrangement?"

"What?" Hinata asked turning to try and find the reporter who had asked the question. It was too late, as the glass doors had already swung shut behind them.

"What arrangement?"

She wanted to go back out and question the reporter, but she was already inside the building, with it's high, arching ceiling, huge chandeliers, exotic delicacies strewn across small tables, and important guests, some of which were beginning to stare at her. She decided it was best to walk away from the doors, and try to blend in with the rest of the crowd. Already she regretted wearing so plain a dress, and was thankful to Tenten for doing her hair.

Tenten looked at Hinata in shock, having overheard her question. "You mean you don't know what the party's for?"

"N-no."

"You really don't?" Tenten asked, eyes wide.

"No. Will you tell me?"

"It's to announce your engagement to-"

"Me," a cold voice cut in.

Both heads whipped around to come face to face to…

"Uch-uchiha-san?" Hinata stammered.

Utterly shocked, Hinata was at the point where she could only stand still and gawk with her mouth open, unable to talk.

How could she be engaged to him? Uchiha Sasuke? She hardly even knew him! Maybe that was why he had helped her when she was in the rain? But why hadn't she known anything about it? Why hadn't Neji told her about it?

Sasuke stood there unflinching, no sign of surprise in his cold, dark eyes. His hands were stuffed inside the pockets of his black pants, and he was fit handsomely in a black tux and black tie.

Tenten waved, "Neji-san!"

Hinata was freed from her shocked state as she turned to see her cousin walking down the carpeted stairs. He looked pretty mad, the veins around his eyes bunching together in anger.

Deep inside, Neji was positively seething with anger, and his outward state reflected that anger which was mainly focused on Sasuke.

Neji held his hand up briefly in greeting, and then passed by Tenten as if she were but a statue.

Tenten was taken back, and her beaming smile quickly faded away.

He walked straight up to Sasuke, pushing Hinata aside. Tenten quickly caught Hinata; both girls were startled at Neji's inexplicable behavior.

Tenten whispered, "I'm so sorry about him... he's not usually like that. I don't understand why he's being that way."

Hinata saw the concern and hurt in Tenten's eyes, "Don't worry, he's always like that around me."

Neji, sensing the girls weren't paying any attention to them, softly, yet with a hint of malice, growled, "Uchiha."

Sasuke kept his cool, and nodded "Hyuuga" in return.

Neji looked outraged at the Uchiha's calm response, and seemed to be about to retort, but bit back his tongue upon notice of his surroundings. He was a Hyuuga after all, and Hyuugas weren't supposed to lose their cool.

Instead, he started walking to a secluded corner of the room, his eyes commanding the Uchiha to follow.

Sasuke knew he was being baited, but it was best to be polite, so he followed the Hyuuga to where they could talk privately.

Once he was certain they would not be overheard, Neji hissed at Sasuke, "Why bring up the engagement now, Uchiha?"

"It was agreed to at birth by my parents and your deceased uncle, the head of the Hyuugas," Sasuke stated, avoiding the question.

"I know that, but why now?" Neji asked, in a threatening tone. Realizing a few of the guests close to them were beginning to stare, he quickly lowered his voice. "I mean, why now, only a year after what your brother did?"

"The engagement was to engage the Uchiha heir with the Hyuuga heir. The heir is me now, not Itachi, so I suggest you leave my brother out of this," Sasuke said, his jaw clenched. His brother was a touchy subject, and he wouldn't allow anyone to get away with insulting him that way, regardless whether or not they were a Hyuuga.

Sasuke started to stalk away, but paused to remind Neji who he was, "Don't forget that now I'm the only one who can save your precious heiress."

And in the lighting, his eyes appeared to flash red, blood red, a grim token of that day when Neji had blundered, and of the curse that still lived on.

---

"Um... Tenten-san?" Hinata blushed, "What am I supposed to do at this party?"

"Hm? Oh, come on, first you have to greet some people." Tenten took Hinata's hand and led her across the room, "Do you know how many people have been waiting to meet you?"

Hinata nearly jumped, "Me! Why would an-anyone ever want to meet me?"

Tenten paused, giving Hinata an incredulous stare, "Don't be modest."

Hinata shook her head, "I-I'm not! I'm the outcast of the Hyuuga family."

"No you're not! You and Neji-san are the only ones left of the famed Hyuuga family, so you two are like an endangered species! Also, you're engaged to Uchiha Sasuke. Who wouldn't want to meet you?"

Hinata looked down in shame; of course, it was all because of her position, because she was the heir to the Hyuuga fortune. No one seemed to care that it was her fault the Hyuugas were almost extinct. And the engagement to Uchiha Sasuke, it just hadn't quite sunk in yet.

"Oh, that's right!" Hinata blurted out her thoughts.

Tenten twirled around to see what was wrong. "Huh?"

Hinata covered her mouth, her cheeks turning crimson. "I'm sorry... I-I just thought of something."

Tenten opened her mouth to say something, but then stopped, her attention fixed on something over Hinata's shoulder, her eyes growing wider and her face turning paler. She stuttered, "U-um... I'll go get drinks for us." She briskly walked away, sneaking a few apologetic glances at Hinata.

Is something the matter? Hinata wondered, and then she looked down on the floor. Was her shadow usually that large? No, so someone must be behind her.

"Oi."

"U-uchiha-san," Hinata gulped nervously, recognizing the voice. Then she slowly turned around, only to be met by a pair of intimidating black eyes.

"C-can I help you?" she squeaked, fighting the urge to run after Tenten.

For a moment, Sasuke just stared menacingly down at her, then snorted and turned away.

"Just don't get in my way."

'Huh?' Hinata thought, surprised at his response. It wasn't at all what she thought he would say, given the hatred she could almost sense swirling around him. But it wasn't directed towards her, was it? She was left staring at the Uchiha's retreating back in surprise.

"Here, Hinata-sama, I brought the drinks."

Hinata gave a start, before realizing that it was Tenten. "T-thanks," Hinata stammered, still visibly shaken by the encounter.

"Oh, you're welcome. Sorry about abandoning you like that. It was just, well he looked angry," Tenten apologized.

"It's alright, Tenten-san," Hinata reassured. She paused. "You really d-don't have to call me Hinata-sama."

"Really? But is that all right? I mean you're the Hyuuga heiress."

"Don't worry," Hinata smiled, making a mental note to herself. She was already getting too close to Tenten. It had to stop, before Tenten also got injured.

---

Well, what do you think? Slight cliffhanger, no?