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Love Squared

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Parallelogram
a four-sided plane rectilinear figure with opposite sides parallel.

Sakura was having a lovely evening.

The minute she walked in to the restaurant, her heart did a double flip. By the time they checked their coats, her pulse was at a full-on-gallop, but then Naruto smiled at her, and her world warmed into something familiar. Sasuke looked up then, and she saw the wariness on his face before he chose to disguise it.

Some part of her mind noted she should be at least a little miffed by that… but to her surprise, she felt nothing of the kind.

In fact, she had felt nothing.

Sasuke was handsome - maybe even more than was strictly necessary for any human being - but her heart stayed in place. A surge of euphoria washed over her, as if a spell had been broken, and the lingering threat of her younger self emerging unexpectedly was downgraded to little more than a worrisome fantasy.

Naruto had and wrapped her in the largest warmest hug, and she felt instantly at home. Sasuke had stood – because of course he would, Mikoto's teachings were too firmly ingrained to be ignored – but she didn't feel compelled to offer more than a small wave.

The introductions passed quickly enough, and they took their seats at the table. Hinata had quietly taken her seat between Sasuke and Sakura, and across from Naruto. With two wonderful friends at her side, an elated Sakura felt invincible. Her smiles and laughter came easily, and her conversation was witty, quick, and inviting. Even Sasuke was drawn in, peppering the conversation with droll remarks, as well as honest, insightful questions.

Hinata was the least talkative member by habit and by practice, but when she did speak, it was with quiet confidence and warmth. Naruto naturally asked to know "all about her," but Hinata could only be prevailed upon for a very abbreviated autobiography before she deftly turned the conversation back to the others with a few well-placed questions and remarks.

Sakura feared a snag would come when she realized that Hinata's cousin Neji was the same one Naruto had told her had rather a large disagreement with Sasuke, but it never came.

She decided it was much easier to read Sasuke when she wasn't trying to judge his reaction to herself. The loosening of the tension in his shoulders, the shallowing of the crease between his eyebrows, and the increasing frequency of smiles hidden behind his hands – he was enjoying himself. A quick exchange of looks with Hinata told her that her friend was doing alright, so she allowed herself to relax and fully commit to the evening.

Far too soon the meal was over – a sentiment she saw reflected in Naruto's eyes.

"It's still early," he offered, checking his watch casually, no doubt trying to hide his excitement. "We could walk through the park or catch a movie?"

There was a flicker of something across Sasuke's face that made Sakura suppress a giggle. Clearly Naruto hadn't run that by him, but any objections Sasuke may have had remained unvoiced.

But it hadn't escaped Hinata's notice.

"You just flew in today, didn't you?" she asked Sasuke, a small crease forming between her eyebrows. "You must be tired."

"I wouldn't mind stretching my legs," he shrugged. "Might help me shake off the jetlag."

"Town Centre isn't far," Naruto suggested. "Walking distance – probably on the other side of where you parked if you are in the garage on Elm."

"We are," Sakura grinned. "I wanted to take Hinata past Amaguriama on the way home – she's never been."

"Oh," Naruto tipped a smile at her. "Got a sweet tooth?"

Hinata gave a shy shrug. "Maybe just a little."

Sakura raised her eyebrows, and Naruto laughed.

"Then let's not keep Hinata waiting!"

Sasuke was having a terrible time understanding why he wasn't having a terrible time.

He hated going out to dinner with more than two people; he had enjoyed their meal.

He hated small talk; he did not mind the chit-chat that alternated with whatever member of their party was closest at the time.

He hated sweets; the red-bean bun at Amaguriama had been quite tasty.

He had dreaded seeing Sakura again; reconnecting with her had been surprisingly enlightening and enjoyable and an overall positive experience.

He had no use for any Hyūga; he couldn't take his eyes off of Hinata.

He assumed it was because she was the unknown factor in the equation, who was less of a threat as a person and more of a threat of being just like her family.

And yet, the distinctive eyes and coloring of her family aside, she seemed very little like any Hyūga he had ever encountered.

She was gentle in her words and actions, but she did participate. She clearly preferred listening to speaking, but she was engaged in the conversation. At one point, she said something that struck Naruto as rather funny – something that clearly surprised Hinata. Once she realized he was laughing with her, her smile bloomed into something otherworldly, and Sasuke caught his breath. Naruto slung an arm around Hinata's shoulders, still laughing, and she smiled up at him. Sakura' eyes were rapidly shuttling between Naruto and Hinata, cataloging every detail, and in that moment he knew that she was seeing what he was seeing.

Hinata could be perfect for Naruto.

And something about that left him cold.

He excused himself to go to the restroom, and took a moment to splash cold water on his face. He reminded himself that his time in Konoha was temporary, and not to make an idiot of himself.

"Hey," Naruto popped into the restroom, concerned. "You okay? You look like you got pale there for a minute."

"Fine," he pressed a paper towel against his face. "Just a little off-kilter from the flight."

"We can go," Naruto offered, his concern clearly outweighing his disappointment. "I'm surprised we made it out this late."

"It's fine," Sasuke threw away the paper towel.

"How about the girls, huh?" Naruto's eyes danced with excitement. "Great, aren't they? And that Hinata is really sweet, isn't she?"

"She is as unlike her cousin as possible," Sasuke said dryly.

"Ah, the classic Sasuke compliment with a side of insult," Naruto sighed, stepping into a stall. "I've missed that."

"I'll be outside," Sasuke said before he heard any more.

When he got back to the table, Sakura was sitting alone.

"Hinata will be back in a second," She was quick to assure him. "She just stepped out to take a call."

"It's fine, Sakura," he gave a small smile, and the wry twist of her lips told him she understood.

"It's nice to see you, Sasuke," she admitted. "I feel like I am getting to meet the real you for the first time. You're not half the bastard Naruto says you are."

He looked up at her sharply, and she managed to hold her composure for about three more seconds before bursting into an honest laugh. "Sorry," she grinned. "Couldn't resist."

"Don't the evening fool you," he shrugged. "I am fully capable of being every inch the bastard he has made me out to be."

"I can see it," she chuckled.

He arched an eyebrow at her.

"Thank you?"

She smiled back.

"Anytime."

Sasuke gave a small "Hn," with a smirk, and everything was alright between them. The ghosts of twelve-year-olds past were put to bed.

Hinata came back in the restaurant, her nose pink with the cold.

"Sorry about that," she tucked her phone away.

"No worries," Sakura shrugged. "Did you still want to check out the bookstore next door?"

"We don't have to tonight," she shook her head.

"Do what tonight?" Naruto asked as he returned.

"Check out the bookstore," Sakura nodded to the exit.

"We're done here, aren't we?" Naruto glanced over to Sasuke.

Sasuke stood with a nod. "I wouldn't mind seeing if they have anything interesting. I have to fly back sometime."

"You and your 'must have at least three physical books when traveling' rules," Naruto rolled his eyes. "At least we finally got you to use that e-reader."

Hinata's eyes lit up. "You prefer real books, too?"

"No comparison," he agreed, "But I appreciate the convenience of the e-reader."

"Who do you like to read?"

Sasuke found himself tentatively listing some of the more mainstream authors he enjoyed before offering the names of some more esoteric ones. To his great surprise, she'd heard of all of them, and even named some he'd not thought to mention. Their conversation took them into the store and through the stacks.

"You really have to try reading her," she insisted as he perused the works by her suggested author. "Runaway is really excellent, no matter how you come to the book as a reader. Vital is incredible for its sheer vision and world building and Oenomel-" she pressed her hands to her heart, and blushed. "Sorry," She smiled sheepishly. "I get carried away."

Sasuke wondered if that wasn't precisely his problem as well.

"Runaway, you say?"

Hinata's smile broadened, and Sasuke decided he'd read just about anything to get to see that smile again.

Recognize those titles? Those are a shout out to Ink Child and her fantastic fics - go check her out! - GL