Shimi-chan: Wow...you guys are so nice. Seriously, your reviews are inflating my head. I can hardly get through the door now. Haha just kididng. I appreciate it! And reasons for my early update is that I have a laptop and guess what?? I'm done with this story! Writing it, I mean...well, almost. I might rewrite some stuff. But here you go, you guys deserve it! Oh and, hahahaha, sorry about the little 'discontinuing' joke. Haha, that's all it was, a joke. I would never do that to you guys!

Chapter Fourteen:

Hinata blinked at the sudden change in Ino's demeanor.

"Y-Yes, Ino, w-w-what is it?"

Ino leaned in closer, looking all directions to make sure no one was secretly listening to the private conversation. "Not here," she said, barely above a whisper.

Hinata cocked a confused brow. "Um…I-Ino-chan, is everything a-all—"

"Not here!!" she whispered again and proceeded to drag Hinata by the arm out of Uchiha grounds. Hinata was too confused to even think straight, so she couldn't do much except follow Ino and stutter incoherently her protests. Finally, after they'd cleared themselves of Uchiha property, Ino released Hinata and turned to ask her a question.

But Hinata unknowingly interrupted it. "I-Ino-chan, p-p-please! I h-have to g-go meet N-Neji-nii and Hanabi-chan!!"

Ino seemed to contemplate this for a moment. "Oh…Sorry I abducted you like that; I guess you have to go back then…"

"No, I-I m-m-meant th-that w-we were g-going to m-m-meet at Ichikaru…"

"Great! I'll walk you!!"

Hinata fidgeted uncomfortably.

"…Unless you don't want me to."

"N-No! Th-th-that's not it, it's just th-that I d-don't th-think Neji-nii would…"

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind, Hinata-chan! Now come on, you wouldn't want to keep them waiting!"

Ino was off before Hinata could protest, leaving the heir no other choice than to follow along silently. Maybe she was a bit too cooperative…? You think? On the way to the village, Ino couldn't help but feel slightly silly for making the trip over. There was no way an Uchiha would've proposed, and there was no way Hinata would've said yes even if one had. She knew that Hinata saw Itachi as more of a brotherly figure (and then there was the fact that the bastard would never set his pride aside to propose) and that she didn't even like Sasuke (Same as Itachi). So there was no way she could be engaged to an Uchiha, it simply was not possible. Those old women were probably puffing a little too much, that was all. She smiled at the thought.

Hinata, on the other hand, had noticed Ino's unusual silence. Normally whenever she walked with her friend, she would chatter with no end in sight. Today, however, she was deathly quiet without so much as one topic brought up.

'Maybe…maybe I offended her in some way…?'

She picked up the pace a bit so that she could look Ino in the eye. She was wearing an extremely serious expression, as if she were deep in thought.

"…I-Ino-chan…?"

Apparently her voice went unheard, because Ino didn't even turn in her direction. Hinata continued to stare at her friend quizzically and arched a delicate brow when Ino's expression suddenly morphed into a stupid grin.

"Um…I-Ino-chan? A-are y-you well?"

Ino snapped her head to Hinata's side. "Huh?!"

Hinata reared back at her friend's sudden response. "I, uh, y-you were s-s-smiling strangely…"

Ino grinned. "Oh, that! It was just that I heard this rumor that—"

"Nee-chan!!!"

Ino was interrupted when a young Hinata-looking girl tackled Hinata, causing her to stumble slightly backward. Hinata managed a small chuckle at Hanabi's excitement and looked up to greet her cousin.

"Neji-nii!"

Neji had on a rare smile, though it was small, as he approached the two Hyuga princesses. Ino sighed, shrugging off what she was going to say to Hinata. Hinata probably would have freaked out at the knowledge that someone was spreading rumors about her. Probably Sakura…but that was unlikely, considering what the rumor was.

Hinata was blushing embarrassedly at her siblings. "N-Neji-nii, c-c-can Ino-chan c-come w-w-with us to eat…?"

Neji seemed to notice the blonde kunoichi at that moment. He turned to glare at her icily, but it was useless because she'd trained herself to ignore blatant disgust. After all, she had crushed on Sasuke, king of all coldness. When he found that her dazzling smile outshone his hateful glare, he turned it on his younger cousin. But that proved a waste of time as well, because he simply couldn't say no when her eyes were sparkling with unshed tears.

Sighing, he conceded with a simple nod.

Ino and Hinata exchanged smiles and then the entire gang went over to the ramen bar known as Ichikaru. The sat down in a table by a 'window' (more commonly referred to as the hole Sasuke threw Naruto into when Naruto wouldn't let Sasuke leave the place) where they ordered and then…there was silence. An awkward silence that surrounded the three, the only movement being the tree Hyuga's exchanging anxious glances. Ino, who was not nearly as distracted by Ramen as a certain someone else, noticed it immediately, but took it as a sign to stay quiet until someone said something.

"…Does she know?" Hanabi questioned.

Hinata's face flamed up as she vehemently shook her head.

"Well, are you going to tell her?"

She shook her head twice as hard as before.

Hanabi blinked. "How come?"

"I…I-I don't w-w-want…"

Neji narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "I though you said you wanted to do this."

Hinata's eyes widened. "I-I do! I-It's just th-that…"

"If you wanted to do this you wouldn't be ashamed of it."

"I'm n-not ashamed! I j-j-just…"

"What are you guys talking about?"

The three looked at Ino as if she had just walked in.

Hanabi turned her face so she could stare at her sister innocently. "Why don't you tell her, Nee-chan?"

Hinata fidgeted uneasily. "N-No…I r-r-r-really don't want t-to…"

"Why not?" Neji demanded. "You're not changing your mind, are you?"

She shook her head.

"Then what's the problem? Are you ashamed?"

"N-no, it's j-just that—"

"Hey Hinata, is it true that you're marrying an Uchiha?"

Three sets of pearl eyes widened and stared at Ino.

Ino really, sincerely, hadn't believed it. Well, okay, she had at first when she'd heard the old ladies say it, but when she went to confront Hinata about it she hadn't even bothered to ask. It wasn't possible! It had already been explained! But…what else could they be talking about? They might be talking about something completely different, but…it sounded so right…

Meanwhile, there were a million thoughts buzzing through Hinata at the same time. How did she know? Did Sasuke tell her? Who else knew? From what Hinata could tell, the only people that knew were their families…and, thanks to Sasuke's stunt, Team 7. Who would they tell? Well…except for everyone. But they weren't even back yet!

Hinata opened her mouth to answer, but that's when she noticed something strange. It was extremely silent. Wasn't this a restaurant? It was noisy as hell seconds ago, but now—

…Now every female within earshot was leaning forward in their chairs so they could hear Hinata's answer. Including some outside of the restaurant. Some girls were crawling through the previously mentioned hole even as they spoke!! Konoha and privacy apparently do not mix.

Hinata bowed her head and nodded.

There was a collective gasp within the crowd, which attracted even girls outside of earshot, and soon everyone had scooted themselves closer to the shy heiress, all demanding the same thing: Who?

"Ssk," Hinata mumbled incoherently.

Everyone got closer until they were practically suffocating her. "WHO?!"

"S-Sasuke…"

Dead. Silence.

Which lasted all of five seconds. Soon, there was an array of reactions from even the most dignified women. Some shot up and danced, thanking God it wasn't their Itachi who was to be wed. Some glared icily at the young heiress, whispering to each other how she wasn't good enough. Some sighed regretfully, but put on their brave faces and congratulated Hinata nonetheless. Since they had husbands anyway. Ino…she was in a state of shock.

"You're…marrying…Sasuke?"

Hinata blushed and frowned regretfully. "…Y-yes…"

Ino flumped back into her chair and just sat. "Since when?"

"I-It w-w-was an a-a-arranged m-marriage!"

Slowly, a smile began forming on Ino's lips. "So…you're getting married?"

Hinata blinked for a moment, but Ino's smile was contagious. "Y-yes."

Ino laughed gleefully. "You have to let me help you choose a dress! And your hair, let me do your hair! When I'm through with you, you'll be even prettier than at Sasuke's party!"

Hinata inwardly sighed, glad that Ino was taking the news the way she was.

"Do you love him?"

The question caught her off guard and she practically choked on her breath. She stared off into the crowd, where some random girl she couldn't identify had asked the question. Soon the crowd of rowdy and jealous girls had backed her up and began shouting things like 'yeah' and 'well?!'

Hinata was silent, too shocked to answer. And, in all honesty, she wasn't entirely sure. She looked to her siblings for support, but the curiosity their eyes made it evident that they weren't going to back her up this time.

"I…w-well I…"

Ino leaned forward, gently taking Hinata's hand for comfort. Her eyes were filled with reassurance. "Hinata, do you love Sasuke?"

"I…w-well I…"

"Do you even like me?"

Oh. Fricking. Crap. That had to be her imagination. Because fate's sense of humor can't be that twisted. Hinata can't be fate's personal rag doll. It simply wasn't possible.

"Well? Answer the question."

Then again…

Hinata turned slowly, hoping against hope, but she knew even before she saw the familiar built man currently standing before her. It was Sasuke, of course.

If the restaurant was dead silent before, it was now beyond that. No one even breathed.

Hinata made a horrible realization. She now had everyone's undivided attention. She never had liked that. Attention was bad enough, but to have the attention of every female in Konoha…not to mention the fact that most of the attention was hostile. Her blood had rushed from her head from the permanent blush she had been wearing, her eardrums were still suffering from the shrieks the girls had let out earlier, and then there was the way she'd been shaking her head so passionately. Hinata did the only thing she saw fit.

She passed out.

--

When she awoke she was in her room, in the Uchiha house. She glanced around for a while, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Unfortunately they didn't have a chance.

"You're awake."

Hinata's heart was suffering so much in this house. She shot up into a sitting position with a startled gasp, and stared in the direction the voice had come from. She could make out Sasuke's pale face, but his black eyes and hair blended into the back round, staring at the wall in front of him. What the hell was he doing sitting in her room in the dark? At least he hadn't crawled in bed with her…

Hinata shook such thoughts from her head. "I-I'm sorry S-S-Sasuke-k-kun…" she whispered, knowing he'd remember.

He shrugged indifferently. "Hn."

Which was Sasuke code for 'I'm still pissed.'

Hinata bowed her head. "E-e-everyone was s-s-s-staring at m-me…"

He finally glanced at her. "Aa."

Which meant 'I get it now.'

Hinata breathed a silent sigh of relief, perhaps a little too soon.

"So, do you then?"

Crap, crap, crap, crap, and the list goes on.

Maybe if she only played dumb. "D-do I what?"

That didn't work. The only thing it succeeded in was making Sasuke mad, that much was obvious in the way his eyes narrowed and he turned his head back toward the wall. Hinata felt her heart sink for a while, wishing she could answer his question. But how could she, when she wasn't eve sure herself? For a moment, she was filled with grief and sympathy, because she knew how much it hurt to be misunderstood and unloved. She stared at him from between her bangs and an idea struck her. For once, she wanted to be the one to make a point.

"S-Sasuke…Do you love me?"

His head whipped to face her faster than she had ever seen. There was surprise in his eyes, which came as a shock to Hinata because he was usually so indifferent. She knew that he'd tell the truth; he wasn't the type to lie just to make her feel better.

"…No."

She didn't reply, and she tried her hardest to keep her face emotionless but she just wasn't good at that sort of thing. You'd think that she'd pick something up from hanging out with the people she did, but nope, nothing doing. Instead, she couldn't contain the relief that showed plainly in her face. Not because she wasn't slightly hurt by his answer, but because Sasuke's answer had just gotten her in the clear.

"But I like you a lot."

When did he get right in front of her? Had her mind really been in La La Land for that long? She blushed at the sudden proximity, not to mention the words he'd chosen, heart thumping painfully against her ribs. He was getting closer…no, no, he wasn't supposed to do that! He was close enough now! In fact, he was too close now! Hinata had to say something, make him go away!!

"…I th-th-think I l-l-l-like you t-t-too…"

That was not supposed to come out. It was supposed to stay in a thought bubble.

Sasuke smirked, he was already sitting on the edge of her bed. He was leaning forward on one arm, bringing his face closer and closer.

This time Hinata was prepared. She'd never actually kissed anyone before, though she'd been kissed plenty of times. Timidly, she followed the movements of Sasuke's lips, cheeks warming almost to an impossible degree while her heart was due to give out at any moment…

Then they both heard the door sliding open. Hinata wasn't one to ignore the sound and continue kissing, besides which a very small part of her was grateful for being interrupted.

"What. The. Hell. Are. You. Two. Doing."

But even that part of her shut the hell up at the sound of Itachi's voice.

Shimi-chan: Hahaha…I'm evil. Ta-Dah! Whatcha think?