a/n: Sorry it took so long to get up…soccer started and I've had two practices a day. School starts in three days. Sorry the chapter is short I also happened to run into some writers block.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

A Plan in the Making

He had his hand out stretched, as if for me to shake it. I took it in my own. His flesh was warm; probably from training. I had to remind myself to breath; I'd stopped somewhere in between his greeting and Rock Lee's. I heard myself mumble something like 'nice to meet ya'. I remembered thinking to myself that this might be a good place to live for a while.

And then Sakura and Ino were with us again. I barely had time to register the fact that Sakura said it was time to go. Never in my life had I detested someone so much. I followed behind the four girls, resisting every urge and desire to turn around for another glimpse of Neji.

We grabbed our bags on the way out of the park. It seemed like only a short time before we were back at the apartment. Somewhere during the trip, Sakura, Ino, and TenTen had left, leaving it up to Hinata to get me back safely.

As she was about to leave I started to put two and two together. Both had the same last name, Hyuga. Both had the same color eyes. I called to her with the question burning in my mind.

"Are you related to Neji?" I asked in a way that made her stare at me.

The look that was clearly evident on her face asked why I wanted to know. She decided better than to ask me about it, though, and just answered my question.

"Y-yes, we're cousins." She answered complete with her (I'm guessing infamous) stutter.

I looked thoughtful. Cousins, huh? She was turning to leave. I said a brief good-bye and went inside. Maybe she and I would become friends.

I went into the kitchen to put up the groceries. Most of the stuff I'd bought was what TenTen and Sakura had thrown at me. I didn't bother looking at it now either. There were some things I just really didn't want to know.

Once I'd finished unloading the groceries, I set my self to the task of putting up all the new clothes and accessories they had practically shoved down my throat. I think they were under the impression that I would wear them some day…or maybe they thought they'd be able to borrow it. The items were all quickly discarded on the bedroom floor.

I went on to other objects after that. Towels were placed in the cabinet under the sink in the bathroom. The toothbrush went in a drawer with the toothpaste. And the blankets were thrown on the floor of the bedroom (which I decided I wasn't going to use). When I was done with everything it was getting dark.

I went to bed that night on the couch. My mind was going back and forth between certain thoughts. Did I like a guy I didn't even know? Or did I only think he was completely gorgeous? It didn't matter anyway. I could never get someone like him.

Other thoughts came into the loop. Did I want to stay here in this village of Konoha? If I did I'd have to get myself some sort of job; my money supply was almost completely diminished thanks to that damnable shopping trip. This was a ninja village, why not become a ninja? Only how did one go about accomplishing such? Maybe I'd ask Himika…

I was changing I realized. What happened to my rudeness? My temper? How could I have just lost everything that I'd ever worked and lived for, and now I wanted to live for something else? It shouldn't have happened this fast…it was normal.

That night I didn't even feel myself drift into sleep.

I woke the next morning feeling like I had been deprived of energy. It took me a moment or two to recognize my surroundings. Memories came back, and the weight on my shoulders was replaced. I decided to take a shower to ease my mind.

My burns and cuts weren't completely healed, so they stung as the water hit them. I was glad that my clothes mostly covered them. I got out of the shower a half hour later.

Deciding I was hungry, I went to see what I had gotten yesterday. My findings turned out to be eggs and bread, but being the self taught cook that I was, the toast was burned and I got shell in my eggs. There was profanity all around; maybe I was going to return to normal after all.

After breakfast I didn't really have anything to do. I was just about to leave the apartment to search for the Hokage's office, when someone knocked on the door. Seeing as how I'd locked it, Himika couldn't just walk in. I walked slowly to the door, fully dreading when I'd open it to find Himika standing there.

It wasn't Himika. It was Hinata. I was confused. Didn't they have to go in groups of three or some crap like that? Oh well, guess I wasn't much of a threat to a chuunin anyway. She stood there patiently, wondering when I was going to invite her in no doubt.

"Erm….hi…um…come in.." I said, not really knowing or caring how to approach the subject.

She gave a little smile in compliance and came in. I peaked my head out the door, wondering if her friends were tailing behind somewhere. Seeing no one, I closed the door. She was standing behind me somewhat. I looked around for somewhere we could sit down or something, but finding nothing except the couch, I just sat down there. I motioned for her to do the same.

As she sat down I noticed she had a bag with her. She seemed to catch my gaze. She smiled and looked like she had something to say.

"Um…I-I brought s-some food. I d-didn't know i-if you ate yet, a-and I was w-wondering if you m-might want s-some." She explained with a blush on her face.

I smiled at her generosity. She seemed genuinely nice, not like she was put up to it by someone…but then again… so did Narashite. I mentally winced at that last thought. Hinata seemed to notice my discomfort.

"I would love some, actually. I just ate, but my cooking is so horrible that it should be classified as lethal." I laughed at myself for the first time in a long while.

We sat down on the floor and spread some napkins out. Inside was what looked like a freshly prepared meal; not store bought. We ate in silence, but my mind was practically shouting that the food was to die for. Did she make this? After the meal, my questions were answered.

"Wow! This is delicious!" I exclaimed.

She smiled at me in her shy thanks.

"Did you make this?" I asked sounding a little less suspicious than I usually did.

A modest nod and a blush was her answer. I must have looked utterly astounded because she started looking nervous. A plan started to form in my mind. I acted upon it before the moment could escape.

"Um…could you teach me how to cook?" I asked a little embarrassed.

She looked startled for a second, then a little confused. At that point I really hoped that I didn't intimidate her.

"You don't have to if you don't want to." I said hoping to give her the impression that it was really her choice.

She smiled a bit but didn't really seem to relax. "S-sure…though I-I'm not really c-certain how much h-help I'll b-be."

I practically beamed at her. Life just seemed to be falling back in to place. Though, I kept it in the back of my mind that danger was still out there…but for now I was just going to be doing what I wanted.

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If anyone has any suggestions on what they think should happen then I'm all ears. Also I'm open to constructive criticism.