Chapter nine!

A/N: Wow, chapter nine already! I never thought I'd get this far and be so encouraged! And I have all my reviewers to thank for that! On a more serious note, I really do appreciate anyone who has ever alerted, favored, or reviewed this story.

It really does encourage me to do a better job during each chapter! So this is a personal thank you to all my reviewers!

Thank you and please enjoy this chapter!

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Hinata stared down at her salad hungrily but quickly stopped herself because Sakura's food hadn't arrived yet. Sakura looked at Hinata with a smile on her face. She had never met anyone who was so considerate towards other's feelings. It was quite refreshing and she quickly shook off any thought's that she and Hinata might have an unpleasant relationship.

"You can eat if you like, I don't mind. Besides you sounded pretty hungry on our way up here." Sakura told Hinata good-naturedly.

Hinata blushed slightly. "Thank-you but I don't mind waiting."

"Alright then but remembered I offered."

Sakura was so much more pleasant than Ino had described her. In fact you would have thought she was talking about a completely different person! To Hinata, Sakura seemed out-going and 'out in the open', there was nothing exceptionally horrifying about her.

But Hinata had forgotten about the little stunt Sakura pulled with Ino. This triggered her breakdown and so forth. Ino did talk about Sakura quite nastily though when it could have been just bad gossip. But still, Hinata just had to know if Ino was telling the truth or not. She wouldn't allow herself to ask and talking with Naruto was definitely out of the question so what could she do?

"Ino told you some pretty horrific things about me didn't she?" Sakura asked suddenly. "I can tell by the way you're looking at me."

Hinata gasped and looked at her apologetically.

Sakura sighed. "No need to apologize. You didn't know…couldn't know so I'll tell you to spare any more doubts of whether I really mean well or not."

"I met Naruto, along with Sasuke, in the ninth grade-- Sakura began-- and we were just like any other freshmen classmates. Well, Naruto and I were. Sasuke was a completely different story. He was intelligent, good-looking. Eventually, like every other girl I knew, I fell in love with him or so I thought. I later found out that Sasuke wanted nothing to do with me, so, with a heavy heart, I gave up. That's when Naruto stepped into the picture. There was just something about him…something comforting, something that I had never seen in him before that I liked. Through high school we had an 'off and on' relationship but since I was busy with preserving my future we didn't really have enough time to be together. So graduation day we called it quits, thinking that it would be the best for both of us."

"After that I went on with college. It wasn't until I graduated did Sasuke call me up and ask me to work for him. At first I was a little skeptical but I took the job anyway not knowing what would come along with the package. You see Hinata; people treat you different when you work for somebody like Sasuke. Women especially. Pretty soon, much to my amazement, I could hardly anywhere and not get whispered about. Jealously can do things to a person and who doesn't gossip? Soon there were rumors going around that I was with Naruto but having affairs with Sasuke. And it was hard, so hard that I asked Sasuke to fire me but he refused. He told me that he was satisfied with my work ethic and wouldn't fire me just because I asked him to. So I took it all and have been ever since."

Sakura took a sip of her water and sighed once again. "So here we are. You are married to Sasuke and I couldn't be any happier. But don't expect Sasuke to be an easy task. I, of all people, should know that. So be careful, Hinata. It wouldn't be right if you were to get hurt."

With that Sakura stopped talking and let Hinata digest all the information she had just given her. "I'm going to see what's taking so long, be right back." Sakura said while standing up and leaving.

Hinata stared behind her and instantly felt guilty for having any negative thoughts. She could now see that Sakura was nothing more than a regular human being that needed a real friend. And she wouldn't mind taking on the job, not at all. She was merely misunderstood that's all.

Sakura came back only moments later wit her food hot and ready. She sat down and stared at Hinata with a grin. "You can start eating now."

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"So what do you think about Naoto?" Hinata had been prepared for that question. She had even rehearsed what she would say. The reason why was because she knew if she was unprepared for the question she would end up saying something she didn't what to say.

"He's…different to say the least. He is quite the tease, though."

Sakura laughed. "That's the first I've heard anybody some something even slightly polite about him. Aside from that though, he is harmless. Sasuke would have his head if he did anything to you so don't worry about him."

Hinata nodded. "I'm sure he is harmless."

The sun was just starting set as they reached the house. Sakura had stopped in front of the entrance to drop Hinata off. The less walking the better she had said. As Hinata opened the door to get out Sakura stopped her.

"Friends,"

Hinata turned around and nodded reassuringly. "Of course," Stepping out she started to walk up the cemented stairs up to the door. Much to her surprise, the door was locked. She tried the door bell. After waiting for twenty-five minutes and nobody came to the door it became quite obvious that nobody was inside and she was locked out.

The night before was repeating itself! She was once again locked out from where she initially needed to be…and if that weren't enough she felt like a complete idiot. Who locked themselves out from somewhere twice?

Groaning she fell back onto the steps and put her head into her knees. Wishing that she had Neji's intelligence, she sighed. Why did she have to be so dense sometimes? Was it really that hard to remember to ask for a key?

"For me it obviously is…" She mumbled a loud.

"What obviously is?"

"That I can't remember to ask my own husband for a key to my own house." She had been looking down so she didn't see who she was talking to and at the moment she was to busy scolding herself to care.

"I didn't know you had a sarcastic side."

She seemed to laugh. "I don't….its just that sometimes I say things I don't really mean…and…" It finally became apparent to her that she was talking to someone and she didn't know who. It was dark, she was alone, and talking to a complete stranger. Looking up sharply, out of instinct, she reached out and assumed a face would be there for her to slap.

Fortunately for her she got a glimpse of who she was talking to and she stopped herself. Sasuke stood before her. He looked down: an amused look etched across his striking features.

"Assuming that you thought I was someone else you would have attempted to slap me? I thought you were submissive rather than daring. If I had been someone else, your slapping me would have caused my doing something more drastic then I had originally planned."

Hinata glanced up at him and said sheepishly. "I'm sorry…"

Instead of replying he took a seat beside her. "I guess that just proves how much we don't know each other." Said he a few minutes after.

Hinata moved her bangs out of her face. "I guess it does…"

Things once again became quiet. The sun had set and the sounds of nightlife were slowly becoming apparent. Pretty soon the stars would come out and everything would become tranquil. If anything that was one thing she had noticed since she had been at the Uchiha Manor: it was a peaceful place.

"Let's start right now." He said finally. Standing up, he wiped himself off, reached into his pocket, and headed over to the main entrance.

Hinata tilted her head to one side affably. What did he mean? Standing up she too wiped her off and headed towards the door. Seeing that the door was unlocked she stepped in to find that Sasuke had turned on the lamps that were in the living room.

"Sit down, I'll be right back." He told her, while heading upstairs.

Hinata nodded and slowly made her way over to the couch. Taking a seat and crossing one leg over the other in a lady-like fashion, she mused about what Sasuke was talking about. "Let's start right now," Was what he said. What exactly did he mean? Unable to think of anything she waited patiently.

And she waited…and waited…and waited until she assumed that he had somehow forgotten. Clearing her throat, she got up and turned the lamp off. With effort she walked up the stairs and decided to go find Sasuke. Odd was what it was really…

The second she reached the top of the stairs she noticed that library door was open. With curiosity she ventured toward the door and slowly peeked inside. And there was Sasuke, subtly staring out of the large window looking out over the garden. It looked like he had forgotten about her.

Not wanting to disturb him she quietly turned around to leave but his sudden calling of her name stopped her in her tracks. She once again peeked into the library and he gestured her over to where she was standing.

Unsure of what he wanted she walked over to where he was standing. He didn't look at her, or even acknowledge his mistake of not calling her. The only thing he said was soft and even a bit startling. Being completely honest she was a bit worried.

"The papers...their gone..." He paused.

Then he said something that made her bite her lip and look to the ground.

"I haven't been treating you like my wife, have I? I suppose I could start now but you see that will be quite difficult because their after me." Sasuke paused. "Or should I say their after us,"

Her head shot up and before she knew it she had been caught in his dark gaze.

And so she stood there wide eyed and totally oblivious to what was going on.

Don't look away...

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You know, I couldn't help but feel as if Sasuke was a little OOC in this chapter. I don't know…I'd like to know if you share the same opinion….

Please and thank you!