Shimi-chan: My 'chapter a day' regimen didn't go as expected. The very next day I had this community service thing at the Lehigh Edison & Ford Holiday House. It was pretty fun, actually. I'm in JROTC, so I had to be standing and keeping people out of certain places, but I got relieved a lot. That means people took over my post so I could get some free time. So, yeah, we stood at 'attention' for a long, LONG time. By the time I got back I was so tired I went straight to sleep. So let's not count that day, 'kay?

NinaWilliamsSilentAssasin: …Hope this satisfies. (Shrugs) Oh well, this is not my strong suit.

Chapter Five:

Ino swatted Hinata's hand away.

"Don't touch your face yet! We're not done."

Hinata blushed shyly. "I-I'm s-sorry."

Ino and Sakura both went back to their work on Hinata's hair and face. The big day was here: in a few hours they would all be in the most talked about party of the year. The poor Sasuke, he had been bombarded with attention all week long. His parents had sent out invitations to only certain people, despite their telling Sasuke they wouldn't make a big deal, and so even stepping out of the house was a risk to being attacked. After all, who didn't want to go? He was now being brought bribes, being made deals, being threatened even, all so they could go to one stupid party. And it was all those damn parents fault.

Isn't it always?

Also the whole 'date' thing had not been mentioned between the two since she'd said yes…verbally. But she'd caught him more than once smirking at her, to which she'd usually blush and look away. And more than once he's seen her staring at him with this unreadable expression, to which he'd usually cock a brow. It also hadn't been mentioned to anyone else, for knowledge that they'd make a commotion about it.

Which is why, throughout the entire time Hinata had been sitting in the chair with both kunoichi prepping her, she had said not one word about it.

"Who are you taking, Sakura?" Ino inquired.

"I'm going with Naruto, but only because Sasuke-kun said he was already taken."

"Really?! By who?!"

Sakura shrugged. "Who are you taking?"

"I asked Shikamaru, but I'm going to his house later on to make sure. You know how lazy he can get."

Sakura giggled. "How about you, Hinata? Oh! I'm sorry! I completely forgot that you like Naruto! You wanna trade?"

That sounded really appealing but Hinata had this crazy theory that maybe boys weren't items to be traded. Yeah, I know, she's insane. "N-No…I mean…I'd like to…but…um…Do you like…?"

Sakura grimaced. "Naruto? Are you kidding? He's an idiot. Actually, I don't know what you see in him. He's not even that cute."

"W-Well…he's, um, inspirational…and he's so strong…"

Sakura contemplated that. "Well, yeah, I guess he is strong. But I don't know about inspirational."

"Done!" Ino said, stepping back to inspect Hinata. She gasped, a shocked expression replacing her smile. "Sakura…look what we did…"

Sakura stepped back also, and mirrored Ino's face. "Wow…"

Hinata was blushing. "W-What…?"

Ino and Sakura exchanged glances. "She's ready," Ino said, smiling proudly.

--

Because it was a private party, and because Sasuke recognized everyone that was there, his parent's promise had actually rung true. It wasn't very formal, though the dress-code was, and it was a comfortable atmosphere. Sasuke was in the ballroom chatting with some of his old classmates, still waiting for Hinata. If he'd known she was going to be so annoying he might have asked someone else. Itachi, who had only come to keep Naruto off Hinata, was growing equally irritated.

"Where the hell is she?"

The girl Itachi had asked, some random chick he'd found attractive, gave him a pout. "Why are you so worried about this girl? I'm right here."

He rolled his eyes. "Shut up. I didn't come for you."

Her pout turned into an angry glare. "If you don't start paying attention to me, I might leave."

He was about to tell her to go ahead and do it, but Sakura and Ino ran excitedly into the room and then called everyone to attention. When they were ignored, Sakura grabbed the microphone from the stage and shouted for everyone to pay attention. And, trust me, they all did.

"Introducing for the first time, but not the last, the new and improved Hyuga Hinata!"

Ino proceeded to open the doors dramatically, bringing to view a Hinata no one had ever seen before.

They all gaped.

She was wearing a sleeveless yukata that started with a plum purple at the top then slowly faded into a creamy white. The two long bangs that usually fell over the sides of her face were pulled back and tied behind her head, and the rest of her hair had been dried professionally giving it a softer and lighter appearance. Her earrings were diamond string earrings that hung almost down to her shoulders. Her curves were accentuated so people could finally recognize her for the woman she had truly become. To add to the effect, she was wearing a white rose on her wrist and her face was decorated prettily with lavender eye shadow. Her eyes were also outlined with light liner and mascara. The shiny lip-gloss she was wearing added to her sensuality. Not even the fact that she looked extremely uncomfortable could take away from her beauty.

Even Itachi was speechless.

She took a step forward, and then tripped over her own feet, not used to wearing heels. That could have been a very embarrassing moment, had it not been for Sasuke's quick thinking. He moved swiftly to catch her around the waist before she could even mess up her hair. When she looked up at him wide-eyes, he was smirking.

"Are you okay?" he whispered softly.

She was blushing through her make-up. "Y-Yes…Thank you, S-S-Sasuke-kun…"

By now everyone had awoken from their would-be trance and approached Hinata excitedly. Even her own cousin was surprised to see her that way. The whole crowd gathered around the two, for they were complimenting each other's looks.

"Hinata," Neji said, staring at her in shock. "What are you wearing…?"

She gazed away. "…Wh-Why…? Do you…l-like it?"

"Yeah, yeah, you look good!" he assured her, "But…I didn't even know you had one of those."

"I didn't…S-Sakura and Ino t-took me sh-shopping."

And it came to pass that Sasuke felt the only amount of gratitude he's ever felt for those two.

Itachi was still where he'd been standing before, still gaping at Hinata. He'd known that she was going to get dressed for the party but this…this he hadn't expected from Hinata. Not that he was disappointed in any way…she looked gorgeous. He was just surprised.

The girl he'd invited punched him on the shoulder. Or at least she tried to, but his surprise didn't rule out his awareness. He caught her arm and squeezed it painfully.

"Don't touch me," he said. Glaring coldly at her.

She blinked, shocked that he would hurt her. Itachi left her behind and went to join the crowd gathered around the guests of honor.

"Wow Hinata, you look hot!!"

Three fists connected with the kitsune's head painfully.

Hinata blushed all the same. "Th-Thank you, N-N-Naruto…"

Sasuke placed his arm possessively around Hinata's waist, Neji stood between Naruto and his cousin, and Hinata looked shyly away from the surrounding people.

"Um…Th-Thank you all f-for…for c-complimenting me…"

"Okay, break it up!" Neji barked. "Stop crowding Lady Hinata! C'mon, break it up!"

The crowd gradually went back to the rest of the party, leaving the grateful Hinata to be with only people she was actually comfortable around. She smiled as Kiba told her she looked nice, blushed when Naruto somehow ducked around Neji and told her the same, giggled slightly when Neji dragged him away, and when Itachi just stood there staring at her…she panicked.

It was there again. That glare back in chapter one, the one she couldn't define. It didn't even seem like a glare, more like a…stare? A really intense one that didn't feel like it was meant to scare her. She tried looking away, but her eyes would always drift back to his. She offered a weak smile.

"H-Hi."

"Hey."

Even his voice sounded different. It sounded…husky. Maybe even a little strained. She could have been nervous all night long, except some girl walked up to her and stuck an accusing finger in her face.

It's a good thing too. He'd been ready to go, if you get what I mean.

"Who the hell do you think you are?! This is my date! I don't care if you are the birthday girl!"

Hinata blinked. She didn't know this girl. "But…But, I'm not…"

Itachi grabbed the strange girls arm roughly and pulled her away from Hinata. "I thought you said you were leaving."

The girl smiled. "Me? Leave? No, I know how much you want me to stay."

Itachi was growing irritated very quickly. "I'd actually prefer if you left. Now."

She glared at him, but did as she was told nonetheless. That's it; I don't feel like writing about the strange girl anymore.

Sasuke's arm tightened around Hinata's waist. He leaned in to her ear and whispered, "Do you want to dance?"

She shivered, her face burning. "I…um, I-I d-d-don't know how…"

She could feel the smirk on her ear. "I'll teach you."

Itachi pushed his brother off her. "Stop that."

Sasuke easily recaptured his balance and glared at him. "What's your problem? I was just asking her to dance."

Honestly, Itachi didn't know what was wrong with that. Except that it was Sasuke doing it to Hinata, and that just made it wrong. "Just leave her alone."

"She's my date."

Itachi almost, almost, betrayed himself and blinked. But many years of training had allowed him to keep his expression stoic. He even managed to keep the questioning tone out of his voice. "Your…date."

Sasuke nodded. "That's what I said."

Hinata blushed, but nodded too.

It would have been better if she had been Naruto's date. It would have been better if she hadn't gotten dressed up. It would have been better if she hadn't come. But it would have been perfect if…if…if she was his date.

But she wasn't. She was his brothers.

Shimi-chan: That's that. Also did this in one day. A long time, but still just a day. I'll probably look over this at least a hundred times before I post it, though. Hmm…I feel like this chapter sucks. I'll probably rewrite it. The party will go on in the next chapter. There are a lot of surprises in store, if reading that Itachi is actually interested wasn't enough. Be prepared for some Sakura on Hinata drama. (And, for you perverts out there, I mean conflict not girl on girl action.)