Prologue

The old love affair is dead now, and a new love yearns to take it's place. The beautiful Kurenai, once so desirable and worth dying for, is now not beatiful when compared with the lovely Hinata. Now, Kakashi is loved, and he loves again. Both he and Hinata are bewitched by the magic spell of loving looks. He must court a so-called enemy. Responding, she must take mortal risks. Being a foe, he can't see her to swear the usual lovers' vows. And she, just as much in love, has even fewer opportunities to meet her newly beloved, anywhere. Passion gives them the motive, and time the means to meet: their hardships make encounters all the sweeter.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part I

Hinata returned to the mansion shortly. She saw her younger sister holding a Moon mask standing in front of the back door that led to the main hall of the Hyuuga Mansion.

"Onee-chan, you're late!" whispered the younger girl, once she caught sight of her. She had the same long dark hair as Hinata's, and just as pale, but her bright eyes showed more determined and confident than her sister's.

"G-Gomen," said Hinata walking up to her.

"They didn't suspect anything, did they?"

"Not really," said Hinabi, slightly reassuring.

"But there were times that Sasuke-san kept on giving me that look, but thankfully Neji-niisan was there to stop him from doing that."

"Oh," said Hinata feeling guilty, she felt at fault that her sister had to go through such danger while she was... basking in the arms of an enchanted encounter.

"G-gomen nasai."

"Stop apologizing," scoffed Hinabi.

"It was fine. My transformation jutsu is always perfect, no one can see through it," she said, grinning with pride.

"Oh, and here." Hinabi handed over the moon mask to Hinata.

"You bought it, so it's yours."

Hinata gratefully took the mask.

"Arigatou," she said with a smile. "I'll go in first, and I'll knock on the door to tell you that the coast is clear."

Hinata nodded. Hinabi nodded back, she turned and opened the door and stepped inside. Hinata watched her leave, and she waited. It was less than a minute until she heard a soft knock from the inside. Right on cue, Hinata opened the door silently. The main hall was dark, and her sister was out of sight. Hinata crept inside and walked towards the stairs that led to her room. Suddenly, she heard voices in the hall, followed by light. Alarmed and afraid of getting caught, Hinata quickly walked up the stairs. Once she reached the top, the voices were right under her. She crouched behind the rail of the stairs, for fear of making any sound. Below her, she saw Neji and Sasuke stop beside the steps, each of them holding lighted candles. Neji looked really angry.

"I can't believe that Hatake scum was there," he whispered irately. "If Tsunade-sama hadn't interfered, he'd be as good as dead."

Sasuke sighed. "Are you finished yet?" he asked with a bored expression.

"You've been talking about Kakashi all night, could you at least let it rest for a bit?"

Neji closed his eyes and sighed. "I suppose you're right, but next time, Hatake Kakashi won't be so lucky."

Sasuke nodded in agreement.

"Well, since you are spending the night, your room is down that hall to your left," said Neji, finally changing the subject.

"My uncle also says, you could stay here for as long as you like."

"Arigatou" said Sasuke with a nod.

"Good night, then," said Neji curtly.

"Good night."

Then they separated from each other. Sasuke went to his room as did Neji. Hinata sat there, stunned at what she just heard.

"Hatake Kakashi . . ." she whispered his name. The voices she had heard in the forest, they were calling him... Kakashi. The man that she had fallen in love with, is a Hatake.

'How cruel,' she thought bitterly of fate. 'My first love is to be my hated enemy.'

Deep in thought once again. Hinata stood up and slowly walked to her room. She slid open the door and stepped inside. Sleep was the least thing in her mind right now. She placed the mask on her bed, and looked out her window. All she kept thinking about was him, the way he looked at her, the way he held her, and kissed her. Her fingers reached up to her lips as she thought about his. 'It was so perfect.'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part II

Kakashi stood crouched on top of the wall that encircled the entire Hyuuga mansion. He managed to follow her scent to where she lived. He could see Hinata through the window of her room. There was still the distance of the orchard between them, but he could see her clearly as she touched her own lips. He breathed in at the sight of her.

'Hinata, just by looking at you gives me life,' he thought as he watched her with such great intent. He saw her come towards the window, and walk out onto the balcony.

'The moon must be in love with her as well. Look how it shines down on her, touching her with it's light.'

That thought made Kakashi envious of the moon.

'Oh, how I want to be that light.'

Without another thought, Kakashi jumped down from the wall, and crept through the orchard to get closer to the balcony from where his love stood.

Hinata looked out forlornly at the stars above her, and the moon. It reminded her of the color of his hair. She wished she had been bold enough to run her fingers through it, reveling it's softness. Hinata sighed, as her hands rubbed against her shoulders, hugging herself, pretending that it is actually him holding her.

"Kakashi," she softly spoke out. Kakashi stopped moving, he was just below her now. Suddenly, a wave of guilt began to envelop him, once he heard her speak his name. She sounded so sad.

'I disappoint her,' he thought miserably. His hand had moved over to his chest, he could feel the pain in his heart as it began to break once again, as it had done before, with Kurenai.

"Oh Kakashi," she said again, just as softly and just as solemn. Kakashi's head slowly drooped down, depressed again. He felt as if his very existence pained her.

'I shouldn't have come here.'

He was about to walk away, until she spoke again.

"It may be the Hatake name that's my enemy, but it's Kakashi who I love," she said. Kakashi immediately turned back to see her. She was staring a the sky as if in prayer. The scars in his heart started to heal, as it began to pump with new life.

"Speak again," he begged in a whisper. He needed to hear more of what she had to say, if what she is saying is true, that she is in love with him.

"Please say it again," he quietly urged.

"If only..." Hinata began, still oblivious to his presence. "... He had a different name. If Kakashi weren't Kakashi, he'd still be the perfect man that I fell in love with, only without his name. . ." she paused.

"Only without his name, I would give him my heart."

Kakashi breathes a sigh of relief as if it was the first time he had ever breathed in a long time. His heart remained pumping with a vengeance. She loved him, she really loved him, but it was their names that prevented them to be together. He wanted to reassure her.

"If it's my name that you hate so much, then consider it gone, and you can give me a new one," he said to her from below the balcony. Startled, Hinata gasped, but she didn't run away. That voice sounded familiar, something about it gave her courage.

"W-who's there?" she asked, looking around the orchard. It was until she looked below her, she saw Kakashi looking up at her from the ground. Hinata gasped in surprise.

"You..." she whispered. Her hand had moved to her chest to calm her heart, she could feel it wanting to come out.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice sounded sick with worry. Kakashi, boldly jumped and using his chakra, attached himself onto the wall next to her window.

"I needed to see you again," he said. Hinata shook her head.

"No, you shouldn't be here, my cousin-" she was interrupted when Kakashi jumped onto the balcony in front of her. She backed away, her eyes welling up with tears.

"N-Neji, Neji is going to-" Kakashi reached out for her, pulling her close to himself, embracing her. Hinata tried to struggle as he held her tight.

"Neji is going to kill you!" she finished. Tears began falling freely now as she sobbed against his chest. Kakashi stroked her long black hair to soothe her.

"N-Neji is g-going to k-kill you," she repeated as she continued sobbing.

"I d-don't w-want you to d-d-die, b-because of m-m-me."

Kakashi placed his chin on top of her head, as he continued to stroke her hair.

"What you say is true," he began softly, which made Hinata give a violent sob. Kakashi held her tighter, as her sobbing persisted.

"But I will never leave you," he whispered adamantly.

"Your cousin's threats, your father's contempt towards me will never keep me away from you."

Hinata's crying slowly came to a halt. When her sniffling had ceased, she tilt her head back to look up at him. The beautiful eyes that he loved, were swollen from the fallen tears. Kakashi placed a hand on her cheek to wipe away at a stray tear with his thumb.

"D-do I r-r-really m-mean that m-much to you?"

Kakashi gently grasped her shoulders.

"More than anything," he swore, looking deep into her eyes. "More than anything in this life."

"I swear it on my honor as Shinobi-"

"Stop!" she interrupted him. Kakashi froze, her unexpected outburst had confused him, and scared him.

"Hinata, what is wrong?" he asked with anxiousness. Hinata hesitated, as she looked away from him.

"I-it's not that I don't love you," she began. "It's j-just . . . I-it's too soon to make vows. W-we just met each other a few hours ago-"

"I know," he agreed, his hands still on her sholulders. His concerns now gone, after hearing her say that she loved him.

"...That just makes our love the more valuable."

Hinata looked up at him again, just the sound of his voice calmed every worry she had. She gave him a contented smile. She reached up to caress the mask that covered his face. Kakashi closed his eyes as he reveled the feel of her hand.

"We should meet again soon," said Hinata. He sighed, before opening his eyes again to look at her.

"Will you leave me so unsatisfied?" he asked sadly. Hinata blushed, there was one thing she wanted, that she had been thinking about since she last saw him.

"Um . . ." she began. A small blush started to form on her cheeks as she twiddled her fingers in thought. Kakashi couldn't help but chuckle, at how not only beautiful, but at how extraordinarily "cute" she is.

"Will a kiss be enough?" she asked, her voice a bit more hushed, as if she didn't want him to hear. Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, he heard her loud and clear.

'Anything from you is more than enough,' he thought.

"Anything you want," he said. Hinata's eyes widened in surprise, she didn't think he would let her, but he seemed eager. She bit her lip as she timidly lifted her hand to his mask. She look back to his eye to be assured. He nodded for her to continue, and gently she tugged down his mask to see the handsome face that she had fallen in love with. Hinata smiled at his beauty, before closing her eyes. Only this time, it was she that closed the distance between them.

'Soft, sweet, and just right.'

Kakashi closed his eyes as thier lips touched. His lips were warm as hers were cold. He firmed the kiss to warm hers fully. Her arms slid up around his neck, as the kiss gradually deepened. She felt his fingers run through her long dark hair, as his tongue caressed her lower lip. This caused her to open her mouth slightly, which gave him access to explore and taste her inner beauty.

"I want to be with you," he murmured into her lips. Hinata opened her eyes as she gently broke the kiss to look into his eye.

"I want to be with you too," she said. Kakashi looked at her seriously.

"Will you have me?" he asked, caressing her cheek. Hinata, without much of a hesitant thought, smiled as she nodded, and held the hand that caressed her so lovingly.

"I will."

Kakashi smiled as he let out a small laugh of delight. He had finally found what he was longing for, a love so pure, yet so rare. He pulled her in for another kiss, Hinata was happily surprised at his insistence before returning it. Kakashi held her tightly as he further deepened it, full of passion and need. Hinata let him in willingly as her hands crept up to touch his silvery mane.

"Hinata-neechan!"

Hinata gasped, as the kiss was broken. Kakashi made an inward growl, these interruptions were getting out of hand. His arms remained encircled around Hinata's waist protectively, as he glared at the silhouette of a small figure behind the screen.

"Hinata-neechan!" The voice called again, it sounded female. Hinata turned to her beloved with a look of preserverance.

"Quick, you must h-hide, I-I'll be back, but d-don't leave yet" she quickly stammered. Kakashi looked back at her, his sole brow creased with worry. Hinata gently touched his face.

"It's alright," she assured him.

And with that, he reluctantly released her from his amorous embrace. Seeing the sadness in his eye, she placed both hands on the sides of his head, and gave him a quick kiss on his nose.

"I'll be back soon," she whispered to him reassuringly. Her words seem to have given him comfort, when he smiled at her.

"Hinata!" yelled the voice.

"Oh!"

Without another second to waste, Hinata ran into her room and closed the balcony window where Kakashi stood, behind her. She quickly padded her way to the screen door, and slid it open to see Hinabi, her bright eyes wide and alert.

"Onee-chan, I heard a strange voice in your room," she whispered, her voice filled with urgence.

"It sounded like a man."

"Erm, oh no, it's just me, uh- I caught a bit of a cold," Hinata muttered, attempting to make her voice sound low, as she held her hand close to her mouth. Hinabi's brow raised in question.

"Um, c-c-could you excuse me, p-please," she said as she closed the screen door before Hinabi could say another word. Hinata ran to the window again, and opened it to find no one there. Panicked, she wondered if he left, and without saying goodbye. Was she taking too long? She looked both ways around the balcony, she ran to the rail, and looked below it, but there was still no sign of him. Was he afraid that he will get her in trouble?

"Psst!"

She heard a sound.

"Pssst!"

It came from above. Hinata turned and looked up, she sighed and smiled with relief when she saw him. Still unmasked and crouched on the roof just above her window.

"Kakashi?" she said.

"Yes, my love?" he asked, leaning forward from where he perched himself. She blushed when he called her that.

"Um . . .When can we meet again?"

Kakashi blinked, as he momentarily thought about it. He just knew it had to be soon.

"...Midnight," he stated simply. He wanted to take care of certain things before then . . . certain things that only concerned the both of them.

"I have to make the preparations for us first, until then..." said Kakashi.

Hinata turned to look at the eastern distance where her window was facing, she could see a faint light above the horizon. Kakashi looked too, that's when they both knew that dawn was near ending. She looked back up to him.

"Until then," she said. "I will miss you."

"I already do," said Kakashi with a gentle grin.

"Hinata-neechan!" her sister called again, more loudly than last time. Hinata began to panic, for fear that her sister might wake their father.

"You must go," she whispered urgently to him. Kakashi made a sign with his hand, but before he could utter the jutsu, he looked down to gaze at her once more.

"I love you," he said.

Then with a poof, he disappeared. Hinata stood their as she watched his smoke dissipate into the open air. He loved her. Her hands moved up to her chest, she could feel her heart singing.

"ONEECHAN!"

Startled once again, she quickly ran back into her room towards the screen door, and slid it open to find Hinabi in a state of fury.

"Hinata-neechan what is going on-? Hey!"

Hinata grabbed her sister's arm and pulled her inside the room, and quickly slid the screen door closed.

"Why are you acting like this, and why do I hear you talking to yourself-?"

"Shh!" Hinata shushed her vehemantly. Hinabi stopped talking, and looked at her quizzically. Hinata composed herself and began to speak.

"There is something I need to tell you, but you have to promise me that you'll keep it secret."

Hinabi's eyes widened, this was the first time that Hinata said a whole sentence without stuttering or apologizing. Their was strength in the way she spoke, that whatever this secret she was about to reveal to her must be something huge. Hinabi mutely nodded at her request.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Part III

Tsunade sat at her desk in her office, observing the plants her apprentice Shizune had ordered her to study. Bored and exhausted from lack of sleep, she picks up a sample herb from the basket, observes it, and holds it close to her nose to sniff it. She smiles a little, for it was a pleasant smelling herb, but the contents within the plant's leaves were a different story. She knew this because she had been studying all night and well into the morning. Tired of thinking, the Godaime thought she could get a bit of sleep since Shizune wasn't around. With that in mind, she crossed her arms and placed her head on top of them like a pillow, and slowly she began to drift away into a world of dreams.

Knock knock

Tsunade suddenly jerked awake.

"Who's there?" she called out. Frustration from lack of sleep merged into a bitter tone, as she glared at the closed door across from her. With a small creak, the door opened slightly, and a silver-haired jounin peered from the outside.

"Tsunade-sama," he addressed her respectively.

"Oh, it's just you Kakashi," she said as she relaxed and settled back into her chair.

"Come in."

She beckoned him inside and allowed him have a seat across from her, Kakashi did so . The Fifth Hokage leaned forward, placing her elbows on the desk with her hands clasped together, looking intently at the elite jounin. She sensed something different of his presence.

"So," she began. "What brings you here to my office, at the crack of dawn?"

"Tsunade-sama," he began hesitantly. "I need to ask you a favor-"

"Wait, don't tell me," she interrupted putting her hand up for him to pause.

"I know exactly why you're here."

Kakashi's brow raised in confusion. Then suddenly, a feeling of dread began to consume him. He felt that Tsunade's knowing about him and Hinata, would make her against their love.

"Really?" he asked calmly, though slightly worried.

"Yes," she said as she stood up from her chair, twirling the long stemmed herb in her hand. She walked to the front of her desk and leaned her back against it.

"You want me to..." she began, as her eyes looked up at the cieling, thinking.

"... Make a love potion for Kurenai, so you can woo her into your bed, which is probably the reason you haven't slept at all tonight. But let me tell you something Mr. "Can't Keep It In Your Pants": First of all, love potions don't exist. It's just something that old people cook up to make a quick buck from hormonal teenage girls. And second of all-"

"What?" Kakashi's eye widened in shock. The thought of that made him feel disgusted. Kakashi quickly shook his head.

"Tsunade-sama, I assure you that this has nothing to do with Kurenai," he said insistently. The Godaime's brows raised in mild surprise.

"Oh?" she said. "So you already know she's a lesbian?"

"Yes I know, and I don't think of her in "that way" anymore," said Kakashi. Tsunade paused to look at him, there was definitely a change in him.

"Well, okay then," she said as she stood up and walked back to her chair.

"So, what is this favor you want of me?"

Kakashi sighed, he knew he could trust her, but he also knew that something like this would be very difficult and dangerous for him to pull off, even with her help.

"About a few hours ago, I ran into someone, and suddenly . . . when we looked into each other's eyes, something . . . something happened between us. I-it's hard to explain, but our feelings are the same and, and . . ." Kakashi was trying hard to find his words. The Godaime's golden brows were furrowed in clear confusion. She had never seen him act this way. He's usually very calm and collective about everything, but the way he is talking about this certain situation... He is acting a lot like a nervous schoolboy trying to get himself out of trouble.

"Eh?... I'm not sure we're speaking the same language here," she said. Kakashi paused and took a deep breathe.

"Gomen nasai, Tsunade-sama," he said. "All right then, I'm just going to say it."

"Please do," said Tsunade sarcastically.

Tsunade leaned back on her chair, half-waiting and half-not caring, as she was more concerned about getting more sleep.

"I... am in love with Hinata Hyuuga."

The confession grabbed Tsunade's attention by the throat, as her eyes widened with shock.

"And she loves me back . . ."

She stared at him, silent and bewildered.

"And we want to be commited."

Tsunade was trying process this astounding information given to her.

'Marriage . . . between a Hatake and a Hyuuga?' she thought as she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"B-but Kakashi," she began, instantly coming back earth as her authority came back as well.

"You were just contemplating suicide yesterday when Kurenai turned you down. How could you fall for someone again, and extremely quickly I might add? Hinata better not be just another notch on your belt!"

Kakashi shot up from his chair, slamming his hands on her desk, glaring down at the Godaime.

"HAVEN'T YOU HEARD A SINGLE WORD I HAVE SAID! IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT!" he raised his voice defensively.

"I love her more than anything in this world. Hinata is the one I've been waiting for my whole life, and now that I have found her, it will take a lot more than your ANBU army to tear us apart. I will never let any harm come to her ever... And how did you know I was contemplating suicide?"

"...Gai told me, when he was reporting in for security duty," she said.

'Damn him,' thought Kakashi angrily.

"But this is perfect!" she said, suddenly becoming excited. Kakashi's vengeful thoughts of Gai left him instantly, when he saw her in a different light.

"Kakashi, your union with Hinata is just the thing that will end this long standing fued between your late family and the Hyuugas. If you marry Hinata, Hiashi will have to stop acting violently against you, and using the village as a battle field. I just hope he will be able to tame that nuisance of a nephew of his."

"So, will you help us?" he asked hopefully. Tsunade gave the hopeful man a scheming smirk.

"Yes. Yes I will."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part IV

A couple hours later, Kakashi left headquarters with a bit of a skip in each step. The sun had already risen passed the horizon as he aimlessly walked through the bare streets of town. His business with the Fifth Hokage went better than he had expected, and soon he will be with his Hinata, sooner until forever. He rummaged through his pouch to find his now second love, his Icha Icha Paradise book. As he walked, he flipped through the pages to where he left off. While reading, he began to imagine one of the female characters in the book, as his beloved Hinata herself. A blush formed on his pale cheeks as the naughty thoughts of her began to flourish in his mind. He placed his free hand over his covered mouth to stifle a giggle.

"Aha! Now there's the perverted Kakashi we know," said a voice from behind him. Kakashi immediately composed himself as he turned to face his two best friends, Gai and Genma.

"Yo," he greeted them with a wave, as he placed the dirty book back inside his pouch.

"Kakashi, I'm surprised to see you not killed," said Gai with a laugh, giving Kakashi a hard pat on the

shoulder.

"I was sure Neji and Sasuke had tried to stop you."

Kakashi shook his head.

"So, you've managed to find the love of your life," said Genma knowingly.

"Really?" asked Kakashi, crossing his arms. "How can you tell?"

"By that big dorky grin behind your mask," said Genma, pointing at his hidden face.

The three of them laughed together for the first time ever since Kakashi was distraught over not getting Kurenai's love back, and for the first time Kakashi is a lot happier than he ever was before. Only this time, Kakashi was the first to stop laughing, obviously he didn't think it was that funny. Gai wiped a tear from his eye, as his laughter slowly came to a halt.

"Now before we all start making jests at each other, I suggest we go grab a bite to eat," said Gai. "The first meal of the day is the most important of all."

They started to walk down the street.

"But not as important as the details about last night's 'Search and Seduce'," crooned Genma to Kakashi with a wink.

"I'd rather not," said Kakashi dismissing his plea.

"What? Why not?" asked Genma in mock hurt. "This is Hinata Hyuuga we're talking about!"

"We're not talking about anything," said Kakashi coolly.

"Aw c'mon, please?" he begged him with his hands clasped together.

"At least tell me something, anything, did you kiss her? No, did you slip her the tongue? Did you do anything?"

"Calm yourself Genma!" yelled Gai, frustrated at the brown-haired Jounin's constant questioning.

"If he doesn't want to talk about it, then he doesn't want to talk about it. It's his business."

Genma made a disappointed sigh as he crossed his arms in a pout.

"Damn," he muttered, looking down at the ground as they walked, but he didn't stay like that for long.

"Did she at least say anything to you?"

"Genma!" Gai flashed back at him with a warning. Genma quieted this time.

They walked further along the empty street in silence. Kakashi looked periphally at his disgruntled friend beside him. Behind the mask his lips curved slightly into a smirk, and he sighed in defeat.

"She loves me," he said simply. Gai and Genma stopped right on their tracks, it took a few more steps ahead until Kakashi realized that both of his comrades were behind him. Both their eyes were wide just like the Hokage's when he told her about his and Hinata's relationship.

"Excuse me?" said a voice outside the group. Kakashi turned to see who it was, and for a second his heart skipped a beat. A young girl with the trademark Hyuuga eyes glared their way. At first, he thought it was Hinata, but the look in the girls eye's told him that she wasn't. Her eyes were more fierce and almost as cold as Neji's, compared to the warm and compassion in Hinata's eyes that he had fallen in love with so instantaneously. The girl's long dark hair was pulled back into a pony-tail, when Hinata kept her's loose and free. Another difference, was that the girl was a head shorter than his beloved.

"Which one of you is of the Hatake clan?" she asked, her voice firm and cold.

"And who are you to give orders, little lady?" drawled Genma, instantly recovered from Kakashi's revelation. The young Hyuuga girl glared at the orally-fixated jounin.

"Are you making fun of me, Hatake?" she asked, her tone hardening, assuming that Genma was the one that her sister's infatuated with. The thought of it instantly made her blood boil.

"What if I am?" said Genma giving the girl a playful smirk, his senbon twitching excitedly.

"Then how would you like it if I plunged that senbon through your throat?" she said, taking a kunai out of her pouch. Genma's brow raised suggestively.

"Ooh, I like 'em angry," he said smoothly.

"Genma," called out Kakashi. "Cut it out."

He turned to the young girl.

"I am Hatake Kakashi," he responded with impassiveness.

"What do you want?"

The Hyuuga put her kunai away, and gave Kakashi the same steely look.

"A word," she said. Then she glared back at Genma and Gai.

"A private word."

Kakashi's head turned to his friends, and he gave them a nod. Genma, who looked quite disappointed as he nodded back. He looked at the Hyuuga girl, and gave her a wink. Gai, who was oblivious and still at a loss for words at the information he recieved earlier. Genma gave him a hard pat on the back, which startled him.

"Come on Gai," he said. "Let's go get that important meal of the day."

They both walked down the empty deserted street, until they were well out of ear shot. Leaving Kakashi, and the Hyuuga girl alone.

"You are Hatake?" asked Hinabi.

"... Unfortunately," he replied monotonously.

"Then tell me something, who was that man with that stupid stick in his mouth?" she asked, her tone became hard at the the mention of his friend.

"That would be Shiranui Genma," he said. "Who has quite a soft spot for young and beautiful women."

The young Hyuuga glared again at the direction where his friends had left.

"That cheeky monkey, he won't be so lucky next time," she muttered under her breath. Kakashi ignored her threats, what was more important was the reason why she was here.

"State your name," he said. "And your purpose."

"I'm Hyuuga Hinabi, and I came on behalf of my sister, Hinata."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part V

Hinata walked around anxiously near a stone bench in the middle of a small clearing surrounded by bamboo trees. This was her private spot in the Hyuuga Orchard. It has been a while since Hinabi had left. It was almost going to be nine o'clock. Hinabi stubbornly wanted to meet the man who won her sister's heart, and to see if this Hatake truly is an honorable man, or the rotten trash that the Hyuugas have always portrayed him and his family for years. Hinata sighed as she sat on the bench, how could she be stressful about this. Kakashi is a wonderful person, and she knew Hinabi would approve. If Hinata could trust him, so can she.

"Hinata-san?" said a voice. Hinata quickly turned her head to see her fiancé, Sasuke.

"Oh! S-Sasuke-k-k-kun," she stuttered, his presence startled her. "I d-didn't know y-y-you w-were h-h-here."

'What is he doing here?' she thought defensively, he is intruding her private space.

Sasuke gave a cold smirk at her shyness, making Hinata shiver.

'All right Sasuke, now remember... Be nice,' he thought to himself as he walked towards her, and sat on the stone bench next to her. Hinata shifted away from where he sat, but Sasuke scooted a little closer to her. An awkward silence began to grow, Hinata felt very uncomfortable. She felt her own personal atmosphere turning cold once she was aware of him. She looked down at the ground, not wanting to meet his hard gaze. Sasuke's eyes rove around her vulnerable form. Seeing her look so sensitive and vulnerable, made him mentally lick his lips. He had a feeling that he was really going to like this union, but before he could start thinking of that, he needed to gain her respect, and her love, if possible.

"Hinata-san, you do know that our wedding day is next week," he said bluntly. This instantly made Hinata's insides squirm, and to her horror she had completely forgotten about the wedding, and didn't realize it was coming so soon.

"H-h-hai," she replied.

"Well, good," he said as if he were saying it to a dog who did as it was told.

"... And until then, your father suggested that we should try to get to know each other a little better. I didn't think it was really necessary, because once we're married we have all the time in the world for that."

With that said, he moved a lot closer beside her, making their shoulders touch. Hinata's eyes remained glued to the ground, his touch made her shiver slightly.

"But I know you must think otherwise, don't you, Hinata-chan?" he said, with his head leaning close to her ear. Hinata immediately stood up, and kept her back to him. If she were to deny what he said, she wouldn't know how he would react. His coldness is one thing, but his anger, she didn't know, and she didn't want to know. Either way, she must try to avoid it. After all, his overall presence practically scared her.

"H-h-hai," she muttered in agreement. She wished Hinabi were here.

"U-u-um, I m-m-must go, I th-think my f-f-f-father's c-calling me."

She started to walk away, but Sasuke grabbed her shoulder.

"But Hinata-chan, I just got here. Please, sit with me. Let's talk," he said, almost pleadingly. Hinata looked back at him, seeing his eyes for the first time. They were no longer the cold ones she was afraid of looking at. His dark eyes became soft and woeful.

"Please?" he asked. "I just want to talk to you. That's all."

Hinata sighed. She did feel very sorry for him, for what happened to his family, and how he has lived most of his life in seclusion, anger and grief. For a moment, she decided to stay with him as long as he just wanted to talk, but that decision became short-lived when Sasuke grabbed the sides of her head, and forcefully bought her lips against his. Hinata tried to scream, but his mouth muffled all her noise. She hit his chest with her fists to try and get out of his grasp, but he held her tight. In her mind, she activated her Byakugan, and slammed her palm against his chest, knocking him off his feet and on the ground, gasping for air. Before Sasuke can recover from the blow, Hinata had already disappeared from his sight. Sasuke coughed up some blood onto the dirt ground.

'What the hell was all that about?' he thought surprisingly.

"Smooth moves, Uchiha," drawled Neji, before dropping down from a nearby tree, next to his friend. Sasuke slowly stood up, holding onto his chest.

"Dammit," he grunted angrily.

"I shouldn't have let my guard down."

"You're not supposed to be on your guard, Sasuke," said Neji flatly.

"You both treat love like it's a battlefield. You keep trying to woo her, but she keeps this unecessary shield of defense around her, I just don't understand," wondered Neji.

Sasuke stopped rubbing his chest, as his eyes widened in instant realization.

"Do you think she's hiding something?" he asked, facing Neji. The pale-eyed youth rubbed his chin in thought.

"Either way... something is definitely going on here."

Meanwhile...

Hinata ran back into her room and slid the screen door closed. She was breathing hard with panic. What Sasuke just did to her was inexcusable, and for that she will never forgive him. She walked towards her window, and there below in the orchard she saw both Sasuke and her cousin Neji in deep conversation. Hinata hoped her cousin is angry with him, that maybe he'll talk to her father to end this stupid marriage.

"Hinata nee-chan."

Hinata gasped at the sound of the call.

"Hinabi?" she called, stepping hesitantly away from the window towards the door.

"Is it really you?"

She heard a scoff from the other side of the screen.

"No, it's Father. Hurry up and let me in!" drawled Hinabi.

"It's open," said Hinata. When Hinabi slid the door open, Hinata darted towards her sister.

"Hey!"

She quickly pulled Hinabi inside by the arm, and closed the screen again.

"You really got to stop doing that," Hinabi complained, rubbing her sore arm tenderly.

"Well, if Father didn't keep up this unecessary fued, I wouldn't need to do any of this," she snapped back.

Hinabi backed away slightly from her sister's newfound anger.

"Wow, not only is Kakashi-san a great guy, he's also a miracle worker for chronically shy women," she said cheekily.

Hinata's eyes widened, as her demeanor quickly changed at the mention of Kakashi. She grabbed Hinabi's hands.

"Kakashi? Did you see him? How is he? Did he say anything about me? What did he say? When can I see him?Did he mention me at all? Does he miss me? Because I do. Where is he? How is he-"

"Hinata nee-chan, slow down," said Hinabi, as she led her to sit on her bed, and began answering her questions.

"Yes, I saw him. He's doing well, and he couldn't stop talking about you," she said rolling her eyes as if bored.

"Hinata this, Hinata that, I love Hinata, blah, blah, bla-"

"Oh Hinabi!" said Hinata with disappointment.

"Hold on, I'm getting their," she said putting her hands up in submission. Hinata was becoming impatient.

"Come on Hinabi, tell me," whined the older sister. Hinabi tried to hold in her laughter of her sister's lament. In fact it was so amusing, she decided to let her suffer a little more. She yawned.

"He said something about meeting you somewhere important... Phew! I'm tired," she said leaning back in Hinata's bed to rest a little, but Hinata quickly grabbed her arm before she could do so.

"Hinabi!"

"Ow! All right! He wants you to meet him near the monument at midnight," snapped Hinabi, when suddenly she was pushed down on the bed and getting squeezed to death by her sister.

"Thank you, Hinabi," said Hinata happily, as Hinabi gasped for dear life.

"Hinata nee-chan, YOU'RE KILLING ME!"

To be continued...


A/N: Kill me! Dammit! I can't believe I'm actually writing this. Almost everyone is OOC, and it's driving me nuts.

...So tell me what you think.