AN: Sorry! Short chappie, and next one is short too,. Thanks to that two chapters in a row! runs away from angry rabid pink bunnys
Sasuke had spent the entire week in the attic, going through pictures. It hurt like hell, seeing all those faces again, but he had found all of the pictures of the Hyuuga wedding, without Uchiha in them, and had given them to Hinata. He knew they would be a good thing to give her. And it helped, just a little, to look at the pictures again. He felt like just a bit of weight had left his shoulders. He thought the note was incredibly stupid, but why write another?
The fourth step was to reveal himself to everyone involved, and not Hinata. After getting everyone's blessing, he was to send her breakfast in bed, lunch to eat later, and an invitation to dinner, where he will reveal himself to her for the first time. He sighed, it was allot of work. Though Hokage didn't ask why I said no long term missions for a while, as in more then a day missions. He was thankful for that at least.
He set about writing notes to everyone Hinata was close with, even the girls, but not Sakura, even if they were friends. She would have to find out her own way. He sent them invitations to dinner in two days. He hoped this went smoothly.
Yuuhi Kurenai looked up as she saw a big bird flew towards her. She almost smiled.
"What's that?" Iruka asked, pointing to it, Kakashi shook his head. The three were having lunch at a small cafe in the middle of town.
"It's my bird." Kurenai responded, and stuck out her arm for it to land.
"It's got something in it's beak." Iruka pointed out the obvious.
"He delivers any mail sent to me at home. Such a good birdie." She cooed at the bird and took the letter. It flew off, presumably home.
"Nifty..." Iruka muttered. Kurenai just nodded.
"Oh dear..." She trailed off and opened the letter.
"Nani?" Iruka asked, seeing the worry lines on her face.
"Someone is courting Hinata. I mean, real courting. He's on the fourth stage now!" She was excited and scared at the same time.
"Really?" Kakashi spoke up, courting is a serious thing.
"Who is it?"
"I don't know, that's what the letters about, he's going to reveal it to us, get our blessings and then revel himself to Hinata! Don't you know anything?" She ended with a cross question, and smacked the letter in Kakashi's face.
As both Iruka and Kakashi looked at the letter, their eyes widened, recognizing the hand writing.
"Oh, kami-sama!" Iruka exclaimed, and took the letter in his hand to examine more closely.
"Is it really!" He looked to Kakashi incredulously.
"Only one way to know for sure." Kakashi replied, and lifted his headband from his eye. He then looked at the writing with his sharingan eye, and confirmed it.
"It really is." He said in a shocked voice, while pulling his headband down again.
"Oh my..." Iruka almost fainted, and if he had been standing he would have sat.
"What? You know don't you!" Kurenai yelled, after watching a while. Kakashi just nodded, and tried to calm Iruka down.
"Well! Who is it?" Kurenai demanded.
"You'll just have to wait for dinner, huh babe?" Kakashi cheekily said, and got two fists in the face for it.
Sasuke sat nervously at the table, in a small restaurant on the east side of town. He really hoped they didn't give him too much of a fight. On the outside he was calm and cool, and you could read nothing. On the inside, he was a nervous wreck. He had never before wanted someone's approval as much as this moment.
I watched, seemingly impassive as they all arrived, and entered together. Her father, her maid, her sensei, her two best friends, and two of her girl friends. He was in for allot as he looked at Kiba, who was probably just now informed. I watched as the waiter escorted them to my table, and I almost died as Kiba's dog started to bark and growl. Talk about being jumpy.
"You." Kiba said dangerously. Pointing at Sasuke. He just looked coolly up at him, and raised an eyebrow.
"Don't just stand there. Sit." Sasuke said, waving to the chairs. After they all sat, they just stared at him, like he was some kind of loony.
"Uchiha." Neji spoke coldly, "What do you think you are doing?"
"Exactly what it looks like." He replied. Neji glared harder.
"Why?" Kurenai asked. She was suspicious, but you can never know with Sasuke.
"Because I want to rebuild my clan." He knew it was the wrong answer, but it was true.
"That's it!" Kiba asked incredulously. Sasuke looked Kiba in the eyes, and stared for a while, then looked at all the other people. He sighed.
"Yes. I want a family." He looked to his side, he hated this. Being this open with people he didn't know, and didn't even like.
They all looked at him a bit differently after that statement. They finally saw what they had been overlooking his whole life. He was a very lonely man, with nothing for his own. Ino decided at this point, only one question will have to be asked. She stood and put her hands on the table.
"Do you love her?" She asked, it really all came down to that, at least for her. Sasuke looked her straight in the eyes to make sure she knew it was truth.
"If I had the chance, I know I could." Ino nodded, then she would give him the chance. She sat down, and waited for the meeting to be over so she could go home.
"And how will you do this hm? Plan to leech off the clan?" Neji bit out spitefully. He hated the idea even more seeing the little Uchiha sitting there.
/To you I'd be always faithful/
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "I have old money, no mistake about that. And I make good enough pay being an ANBU caption. I'm sure if we were to be abandoned by your clan, she would live just as luxurious." He was very offended, of course he made sure he had the resources to support her.
"While we are here, what of children? Their name? or Your name at that?" Hiashi asked, for Hinata would never change her name, she was the heir.
"I could care less of names, Hiashi-sama. Weather the children are Uchiha or Hyuuga doesn't matter, they will have mine blood, and that's all that matters." Sasuke coolly replied.
"As for me, I'm sure Hinata and I will come up with something." He had no intention of discussing that with them.
"What do you plan to tell the village?"
"Simply that Hinata and I are engaged, if she accepts the courting of course. They have no need for an explanation, and I have no plan on letting them post my life up like a banner." He knew his 'fame' would get in the way, he just hoped the fan girls didn't kill his wife-to-be.
They all nodded in agreement. Sasuke's status in the village will sure to bring SOME trouble. Uchiha Sasuke was the number one bachelor in Konoha. Rich, good looking, last of his clan, and an untouchable personality to boot. Hyuuga Hinata was way out of every guys league, and they knew it. Pretty, heir to HER clan, perfect in everything female, and an awesome ninja. The pair would raise havoc on Konoha.
He seemed sincere enough. But it took about an hour of yelling from Kiba, Neji, and Sasuke until they finally give him his blessings. He almost smiled, and gave as close to one as he dared. "Ariagato." He nodded to them, and left his way after they left theirs. Now, he could finally woo Hinata. He knew he was already falling in love, but that mattered not. All that mattered was what she wanted.
TBC...