Hey guys! Well, I just reread the second chapter and, lets just say, im never uploading without editing again. It didn't have to many grammertical (xD not sure why…but I love doing that.) errors, but the chapter went by a little fast, also it was a bit misleading, but that was my fault so im gonna go with the flow. (The fourth walls gonna kill me.) Oh and before I start, I just want to say that I actually really love Itachi, for obvious reasons he's awesome. I want to see how this goes with him how should I say "In the shadows" O_o

Thank you so much to the ones who have read, favorited, reviewed, and are looking forward to the next update. I look forward to the review, and you look forward to the update. Thank you, to all whether you loved it, or hated it.

DISCLAIMER! O_o I don't own Naruto! WTF?! If I did Jiraiya and Tsunade would have at least admitted affection for each other. Oh and how many of the readers out there are all caught up with the manga, or anime?

On with the show!

"Th-thank you"

Sasuke was relieved that Hinata asked him to stay; he didn't want to be alone he never in his life would admit it, but he was terrified. Now what would the great Sasuke Uchiha have to fear? Why would he need to watch his back, anyone who even dared tried to challenge him was in over their head. He could lie to himself and tell say that he's not afraid, that he'll be ready for Itachi if, but deep down Sasuke knew that he was far more inferior than him. He felt weak,and pathetic; he would never let anyone know that though. On the surface anybody would see him as the hotheaded, strong, and uncaring youth he was. Relief was not the only thing that he felt at this moment, a feeling he really couldn't describe, but he was happy. The internal smile that he was feeling was now plastered on his face.

Hinata felt his gaze on her, she looked up and saw him staring intently at her, she put a hand up to her mouth and blushed. They made eye contact with one another. Sasuke was caught looking right at her. He thought that there was no need in making things awkward by looking away, and saying nothing. Which is what he figured the young Hyuga would do.

"Why are you so shy" Sasuke bluntly asked. Hinata was clearly caught off guard by his question, and honestly she didn't know how to answer him. She thought, 'Why am I so shy?'

"I-I, w-well, im not s-sure." Hinata said as she put her other hand up to her face, and cupped her cheeks to hide her blush.

"You know… you don't always have to be so shy." Sasuke said as he started to walk towards her. She didn't know how to react. She stepped back to avoid being too close, but he just kept stepping forward until her back was against the fridge. He was staring deeply into her eyes, she looked away and blushed.

"You don't have to be so shy." Sasuke said, as he took both of her hands away from her face and pinned them against the fridge, beside each side of her head. She immediately looked up, and stared into his onyx eyes. She was not panicked nor weirded out in the least. It was like she was looking into his soul, into what he had been hiding his whole life. She saw sadness, pain, and loneliness. She was never good with social interaction but reading peoples eyes was her specialty.

Sasuke had backed her into a corner, his hands were still holding onto her wrists.

"I-Im s-sorry, S-sasuke san."

Their faces were so close, she was nervous, but at comfort with the moment.

"You don't have to apologize Hinata." He said as he leaned his face closer to hers, she could feel his breath on her lips. Hinata wanting to apologize again stopped herself, and nodded. His lips were hovering above hers, she closed her eyes. Both of them completely lost in not only the moment, but in time, and unaware of their surroundings. They were both brought back to earth when they heard a light bubbling sound, then it soon turned into a violent bubbling sound. Sasuke loosened his grip, and looked in the direction that the noise was coming from.

"Oh my gosh, the rice is being over boiled!" Hinata said as she rushed over to turn the burner down. She may have looked like she was focused on cleaning the foamy mess, that was now all over her stove top; but her mind was someplace else. 'Oh goodness, was…were…we were about to kiss, and we were both okay with it.' She was a little disappointed that they were interrupted, but relieved, she didn't know how to kiss. What if she wasn't good at it? 'I knew it wasn't a good idea to stay, I almost…and she would have let me. Well then again you didn't really give her much of a choice.' Sasuke decided to leave before it got awkward. "Im gonna go Hinata." Sasuke said with no personality. Hinata knew that they had just had a moment together, one that she might never get back again; but she still didn't want to be alone, and frankly he dndt want to leave. Sasuke was worried that he had ruined their friendship, and he wanted to avoid any awkward confrontation. Hinata was saddened at the thought of him leaving. She would again be alone, and on this night of all nights. The night that she realized she was going to be alone forever. The one who watched over her died a year ago today, they were each others support and just like that; it had been taken away from her. She felt like it was all her fault, and being alone, well that could take a toll on you. All Hinata could do was picture her dear cousin Neji; who she thought of as a brother, his last words…his dying face. Not a day went by that she didn't think of it. The image burned into her mind. Hinata started to fight the tears that she felt threatening to dare show their presence. She looked down, she didn't want Sasuke to leave.

"S-Sasuke."

Sasuke wanted to leave regardless of hearing Hinata call his name. He didn't want to talk about the moment that they had just shared; until he heard the tone that she said his name in. It was softer than usual, if that was even possible, it had a hint of sadness, and pain behind it. Something that Sasuke was all too familiar with.

"What?" He blurted out coldly.

Hinata was surprised at his tone, she wanted him to stay, but not if it was going to be a nuisance to him. She wasn't an inconsiderate person, and if he didn't want to be here she wouldn't even try to convince him to stay. Hinata with her head still down replied

"N-n-nothing." She said touching two fingers together with her hair covering her face. She sounded a bit discouraged.

Sasuke saw a tear roll down part of her exposed cheek.

'Damn it!' Sasuke never meant to be so rude, he only answered so coldly because he didn't have time to think, he heard the sadness in her voice, and immediately replied, only it came out a little too harsh.

Hinata turned around, and started to wipe up the mess. She heard the door shut, and silent tears started to pour out.

'Brother'

"Im so sorry." Hinata said thinking of Neji. She then felt strong arms around her waist pulling her into an even stronger body.

"I told you…you don't have to apologize." Sasuke whispered intimately into her ear.

Hinata's eyes widened, she turned around to meet his gaze with hers. Sasuke removed a hand from her waist, and brought it up to cup her tear filled cheek. He wiped the watery sorrow away with his thumb.

"Im the one who should be sorry. Please don't cry."

Hinata didn't want to say anything for fear of her voice breaking into a million pieces. Sasuke didn't know what he was doing, he always left the ladys in tears. He didn't give a shit about them. Usually when he saw a woman crying, all he could think was "Weakness" and "Pathetic" He was cold, and uncaring. Most people thought him to be an asshole, and wondered how Naruto and a guy like him could get along so well. He never showed another person comfort, not because he didn't want to in previous situations, but because he didn't know how. Why didn't he think Hinata weak? Why was she not seen as pathetic in his eyes? He wanted so badly to take advantage of her full lips, but he knew that was low. Taking advantage of a woman when vulnerable? Of course he'd done it before, of course he never cared. Why should this time be any different? He was trying to convince himself to do it, fighting with his conscience, and his ego. He wouldn't allow it. He came to a conclusion on why, Hinata wasn't just some girl she was his friend. Sure they had just met but none the less, still his friend. Which he pathetically knew he didn't have many of.

"Hinata I didn't mean to be an asshole."

Hinata finally found the confidence to speak.

"I-its not y-your fault."

"No it is I shouldn't have-

"No Sasuke i-its really not y-your fault…y-you see, a year ago today m-my brother died, a-and its just so hard without him."

"Sasuke hugged her tightly and she hugged back. It felt so good. She never wanted it to end. The hug was warm, and caring. Strong, and intense; not just for Hinata but for Sasuke to. He couldn't remember the last time he had been hugged, or even what a hug had felt like. The last time Hinata had been hugged was by her brother Neji.

Flashback

"Hinata please you must escape this hell"

"But Neji-nissan what will you do?"

"Ill meet up with you again I promise"

End Flashback

The tears kept flowing, but Hinata felt safe. She didn't feel lonely at the moment. Sasuke felt the same loneliness that she did, and for that brief moment forgot he had that pain to bear. Her scent was intoxicating, the shape of her body fit perfectly with his. He brought her comfort, and Hinata unknowingly brought him the same. The hug went on for what felt like mere moments. Neither of them wanted to break it.

"Thank you Sasuke-kun" Hinata whispered into his ear.

Sasuke was caught off guard by her words. 'did she just say kun?' and he unconsciously tightened his grip around her.

Hinata could still see Neji's face, and she knew that he wouldn't want her to be crying over him. She knew that he would want her to be happy. How could she when he was so important to her? Other than Hanabi, who she rarely got to see. He was all she ever had, and in an instant he was taken away from her. She had wished a thousand times that it was her instead of him, but he made sure that; that would never happen. Sometimes she had dreams about their life together, like he never went away. Then there were the nightmares, like she never had him at all. Why would her mind plague her with such horrible images.

"I don't mean to be a bother, but I think your rice is burning." Sasuke stated calmly.

"Oh my gosh!" Hinata exclaimed, Sasuke couldn't help but smirk. She was so cute to him.

She thought she had turned off the burner, she just turned it down.

"Oh no, its burnt Im so s-

"Hinata, for the last time, you don't have to apologize."

"B-but its my fault."

"No use crying over spilled milk."

"W-well I really am s-sor-

"Hinata, (Sasuke said as he walked over to her and put a finger to her lips) lets go for a walk."

"O-ok."

As they were walking out Kyo crawled out from under the couch, and meowed

"Bye Kyo, we'll be right back."

She bent over to pet him, (still in her school uniform) and Sasuke saw her underwear. He blushed a bit and turned around before she realized what he saw. She was wearing navy blue laced panties, and Sasuke thought that was sexy, he never even thought that she would own such an item. 'I wonder if she had the matching bra, I wouldn't mind finding out.' He wanted to slap himself. 'SHES YOUR FRIEND NOT JUST SOME GIRL" he argued with himself. They walked out of her yard and started walking, they went to the plaza. They found a stand that sold Takayaki, they bought some then sat at a bench to eat it. They were both enjoying one another's company. Sasuke starting polite chit chat said.

"I saw you here the other day."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, you were with Shino and Kiba."

"Oh, that's right. We went to see a movie here."

"That's nice, I was with Naruto."

"N-naruto?" She said slightly blushing. Sasuke couldn't help but notice this, and it bothered him, thinking back on it, she always got so bashful around him. 'Why? Could it be?' Sasuke was slightly angered, Hinata like Naruto? But isn't she going out with Kiba?' He just had to know, it would drive him crazy if he didn't.

"Hey Hinata"

"Yes?"

"Are you going out with Kiba?" He said bluntly, Hinata started to turn red.

"N-no, he's like a…like a (she choked back tears before she said it.) b-brother to me." She looked down at her Takeyaki. 'I miss you brother.' She thought.

'Son of a bitch, I didn't want to remind her of her brother…but then again how can she forget. I don't like my brother, and I can't even forget him.' He needed something to distract her with.

"Sooo…what do you think about Naruto?" Hinata tensed up at his question

"N-n-naruto?" She turned a deeper shade of red, and her eyes relaxed. He couldn't help but get frustrated with the way she acted when it came to him. "W-well, I think that h-hes a good friend, and p-person." She said with her two index fingers touching. Sasuke was too curious he had to know.

"Hinata, do you like Naruto?" he again said bluntly. Her eyes widened in shock. Completely caught off guard now. She didn't want to tell Sasuke the truth, but she didn't want to lie to him either.

"W-w-why would you a-ask that?" She barely managed to say.

"Just making conversation."

"That's l-like asking if y-you like S-sakura."

"Me, like Sakura? Pfft as if." Sasuke said in a sarcastic tone.

"Well...why not? She's a nice girl."

"She's insane, she once cut a lock of my hair off." Hinata giggled.

"Its not funny."

"Now how did she manage to get a lock of your hair?"

"Karin told her to disguise her chakra, and she told her where I was."

"Oh, d-didn't you used to go out with Karin?"

"Yes, but that was freshman year, we're seniors now, and thankfully about to graduate. What a relief."

"I-I think im going to miss it."

"Really why?"

"W-well, its just we all have been class mates until now, and it's just too bad that were gonna go our separate ways. I-its like I won't get to see anyone anymore."

"You know what, I promise that after we graduate we'll still be friends."

"Th-thank you Sasuke-kun."

"Its getting late, maybe we should head back now."

"A-alright." Sasuke walked Hinata to her house, and then started to walk home.

Sasuke got home quicker than he expected, he took off his clothes till he was only in his boxers. He heard something jingle around in his pants pocket, he took it out. 'Hinata's bracelet, I forgot to give it to her.' He set it down on his bedside table 'There's always next time' He smirked at the thought…'Next time.'

This chapter is dedicated to the one and only Neji…because they called him a genius.

…

Till next time

Geek Bear.