Chapter Five

It wasn't a big city, hardly even a third the size of Konoha, but it was beautiful place with a tropical climate. It was very green, a tree on every corner, flowers everywhere in between and the sound of the night birds coming out filled the cool air. It was an interesting mixture of nature and development, more like working together in harmony than one encroaching on the other's territory.

Hinata and Sasuke were left speechless, it was like nothing they had ever seen before. Sasuke was extra careful, with all this foliage it would be easy for an enemy to sneak up for a surprise attack.

Tsunade had told them (in the mission brief because they hadn't been listening when she had been talking) that they had to stay in a specific hotel under their specific cover names. Reservations had apparently been made for them. This was so that their contact, Nakamura Shinri, would know who they were and be able to seek them out without too much fuss.

Hinata and Sasuke didn't mind that they had no choice. Hinata because she wasn't one to argue with her superiors. Sasuke because Tsunade had given them a quite sizable budget which he fully intended to exploit, I mean use, to the maximum.

The Tsubame Gaeshi Hotel was not a lousy place by any means. It was quite classy but not overboard, just perfect for the semi-affluent Kazuos. Sasuke, being Sasuke, pretended to look down on the place offending everyone of the staff that he met while Hinata, being Hinata, smiled and apologized to everyone behind his back. All the staff smiled at her and glared at Sasuke.

'Just like in Konoha,' they both thought.

Their suite, again, had only one bed. Sasuke was really happy about it, Hinata was a little nervous.

'This seems like it's becoming a regular thing. I haven't slept alone or even in my own bed since the… the engagement.'

Hinata sighed and began unpacking her bag after checking the room for bugs. Sasuke looked at her with a quizzical expression, but she either igored him or didn't notice because she carried on doing what she was doing.

He shrugged mentally and went on about his business, unpacking himself. Hinata and him had only packed a few changes of clothes. One change of their normal ninja clothes and about three changes of civilian clothes. It would do for about a week, then if they hadn't found the Hime by then they would buy new clothes.

"We should go down for supper. It would be the perfect opportunity to let slip our 'reason' for being here."

It would also serve as a smokescreen for the reason Nakamura would be sen talking to them. No one would suspect anything if the thought Nakamura was simply encouraging commerce in the region.

"I'm done…it looks like you are too. Lets go."

Hinata slipped into her role as a loving but apologetic wife (not too far from the truth) and Sasuke put on his arrogant, snobbish demeanour (again not too far from the truth).

When they ordered Sasuke was rude to their waiter, Hinata apologised profusely. One sure way to get a 'tampered' meal was to get in bad with the waiting staff. Luckily, the young man appeared to be mollified, though he did give Hinata a sympathetic glance when he left with their orders. Hinata threw Sasuke a mildly censorious look to which he smirked.

Well, he wasn't smirking when his food arrived and it didn't look safe to eat at all. First of all it was cold, it smelt a little off and was that mould?

Hinata's by comparison looked fit for a king. Steaming hot, it looked and smelt great.

She giggled at Sasuke's expression and started eating. Sasuke grunted and pushed his plate away with a grimace of distaste.

He got his chopsticks to start picking food off Hinata's plate. 'On second thought, I don't trust that flirty waiter.'

He shifted his chair closer to hers.

"Feed me." Hinata blinked. "What? I'm hungry. Feed me."

Hinata blinked some more and turned bright red. She knew she couldn't turn him down in such a public place. Still blushing, she slowly and carefully picked up a little vegetables and held it up next to his mouth. Sasuke caught and held her gaze as he ate her offering.

"Delicious."

She blushed even harder if that's possible. It took a moment or two and Sasuke clearing his throat to bring her back to the task at hand.

"So Miaka, what do you think of Bird country so far?"

"It is very beautiful and everyone has been so nice."

"Hnn. The countryside is average at best and the people don't impress me."

"K-Kenji! Please don't say things like that. We havent seen much yet. You may change your mind…"

"We'll see."

"If we're going to open a shop here we need to take more time with this place, Kenji."

"Fine."

"Thank you Kenji."

Hinata beamed. Mission accomplished and just like they had practised too. She was so pleased that she hardly noticed that she was feeding Sasuke comfortably. Sasuke noticed. He also noticed people at the other tables smiling and whispering about the "lovely couple". He didn't know what to think.

'Best not to say anything to Hinata. She'll probably freak out, maybe even faint.'

Sasuke started smiling, not smirking, smiling without realising it. He knew Hinata only fainted for the dobe. 'Or at least used to.'

Hinata stared at Sasuke. 'This is the first time I've ever seen him smile, a real smile. He should smile more often, he looks so handsome. No wonder all those girls chase after him-'

Hinata was really, really glad that Sasuke did not know how to read minds. Otherwise she'd be even more embarrassed than she was now. He'd probably think that she was after him too and start treating her the way he treated those girls. She didn't want that to happen.

She put down her chopsticks, which drew Sasuke's attention. He'd finished all her food and was it just him or was Hinata looking at him differently?

The night passed in a way very similar to the night before. It was only when Sasuke was asleep did she remember that she was supposed to have asked him about the night of the engagement party.

'Come to think of it, I havent thought about Naruto all day really. If it's this easy to get over him…maybe…I was never really in love with him…maybe it was just a habit… What am I thinking? I loved Naruto…didn't I?'

Hinata was up first the next morning, or rather still awake. She was really troubled to think that she may have based the past nine years of her life (since she was 12) on a lie. It hurt. A lot.

'Am I really that blind?'

Sasuke woke to find her sitting at the table staring into space. She looked really upset. He wanted to ask what was wrong but he didn't know how so he went to take a shower. Hopefully she would be back to normal when he got out.

He'd lived alone most of his life and his relationships with females was limited to Sakura, who was nothing like Hinata. But then, that was it. She was nothing like Sakura. It would be all right to just ask.

"Is something wrong?" he asked quietly.

"Oh, Sasuke, you're awake."

"Yes. You didn't answer my question."

"Oh. Its…nothing…" she answered softly, looking down at her hands.

It was definitely not nothing, but if she wasn't ready to talk about it then he wasn't going to force it out of her. No matter how much he wanted to. It was what he would want in her position.

"Get dressed, we're taking a walk."

Hinata looked up, startled that he hadn't pressed the issue. His expression told her to hurry up and didn't invite argument. She nodded dully and made her was to the bathroom.

When she came out Sasuke was already dressed in an outfit similar to the one he'd worn the day before only this one was all black. Hinata had her hair and eyes the same. The contacts had been developed by the Hyuuga in collaboration with Tsunade for situations just like this.

This time she was wearing an jewel green yukata with red-edged white flowers. Sasuke wondered about that. They didn't seem like the sort of clothes that the Hyuuga would approve of. They, like the Uchiha, but to a greater extent, probably had a dress code for their adults when out of their ninja gear, especially for someone from the main house like Hinata.

"Are you allowed to wear things like that?"

"L-Like what?" Hinata asked shyly.

"You know…with colour? They don't seem like things the Hy-, your family would approve of."

"Oh…Don't you like it? Do you think they're too much? I could chage if-"

"No, no. It's not that, you look gre-…er…fine. I just wondered is all."

"Oh. Thank you."

She blushed. He blushed. They blushed together as the silence lengthened between them.

"So…a walk you said?"

"…yes. Yes. Let's go. We can pick up something, not here, for breakfast of youre hungry."

"I don't mind, we can stop if you're hungry."

"Right. Lets go.

"I think you already said that Ken-ji-kun." Hinata was giggling.

'Is she…flirting with me?' Sasuke asked himself in wonderment

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(A/N)It wouldnt let me upload!! Nothing else to say really, except I might be getting a little ooc, heheh, forgive me please. Anyways, thank you so much for all the reviews. I really appreciate them. I tried to turn down my comma happiness too :P. Enjoy!