A/N: Hope you like it! . Sorry it took so long to update! OMG! THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE 75+ REVIEWS! YOU ALL TOTALY ROCK!
... On with the show! ...
/I don't want another pretty face/
"Tadaima!" she softly called to the big house, doubtful anyone would hear it. To her surprise however, her sister came rushing in.
"Okari!" She said then promptly dragged Hinata all the way to her room.
"Why didn't you tell me he was already on the fourth step!" Hanabi asked as they ran, she was angry and happy at the same time.
"Ah," Hinata started
"No matter!" Hanabi waved off the excuse. "We have to get you ready for dinner! Oh my! It's so exsideing!" Hanabi gushed as she sat Hinata on her bed. Starting to look through her whole closet, Hinata sat watching as Hanabi muttered about being too modest.
"Oh! I got you something today Hanabi." Hinata remembered the hairpin, and pulled out the small black box. Hanabi seemed overjoyed and ripped the top off. Jewelry was sadly one of her weaknesses, but she couldn't help it.
"Oh wow! It's so beautiful!" Hanabi stared at the hairpin. It was made of silver, with a diamond on each side, and an artsy flower made of crystal in the middle.
"You should ware this! It would be perfect!" Hanabi was jumping in excitement.
"Ah," Hinata started and pulled out another box. "I got two, because I couldn't help but want one." Hinata looked shyly down at the pin in the box.
"Wow..." Hanabi breathed, Hinata NEVER did anything for herself. She decided this courting thing was a good idea.
"Well, we have to find you the perfect outfit!" Hanabi went at her closet with a vengeance. After more than thirty minutes, she had all the clothes strewn across her room. Finally, Hanabi was so frustrated she sat heavily on the bed.
"How can you live like this! You have NOTHING to wear!" Hanabi was the total opposite of her sister. She loved clothes and makeup, and LOVED going on shopping sprees. The only time Hinata went on shopping sprees was for Christmas.
"Ano, I think this will be fine." Hinata held up one of her casual outfits. It was just pants and a blouse.
"You can't be serious." Hanabi had a look on her face like, 'no-one-would-ever-wear-that'
"Ah, th- then this one?" Hinata held up one of her business suits, it was nice. Had a skirt that went to her calves, but it had a really cute jacket though!
"What?" Hanabi was mortified to see her sister consider wearing that to a date! A date!
"How about this one? This is more like it!" Hanabi held up a summer dress. It was long but would present her curves nicely. The long V-neck would give you a glimpse of cleavage. Hinata's eyes were wide and she was blushing like crazy.
"No way! I only wear that one when it's hot! I wouldn't ever wear that out!" Just thinking of being that exposed in public made her so embarrassed, she felt like fainting.
"What? This is beautiful! And, it looks good on you! You have way too much modesty Hinata. Have you SEEN the fashion this year? Grandma's show more skin than you!" Hanabi argued she would not watch Hinata leave the house looking anything but beautiful! Hinata just shook her head and grabbed the dress; no way in hell was she going to wear that.
"FINE!" Hanabi stomped her foot. "Then wear this one!" She held up another dress, shorter, but a very small neckline. Hinata shook her head, no way.
"You really want me in a dress, don't you?" Hinata sighed; Hanabi just nodded vigoursly.
"Then, how about this one?" She held up one of her favorite dresses. It was a dark navy, and it made her feel somewhat prestigious.
"You're going on a date Hinata, not a funeral." Hanabi deadpanned. This was hopeless! Finally she spotted something that might just work.
"Wear this one!" Hanabi threw the shirt and skirt at her. Hinata had never worn this piece of clothing, and recognized it from the many clothes she got from Hanabi trying to 'loosen her up' as she put it. Hinata sighed, and started undressing. If it would make her sister happy, she would try it on.
After putting on the light red blouse, she stared at the skirt uncertainly. Shaking her head, she slipped it on. It was a darker shade of red, and had slit on one side. It came just above her ankles, but the slit went all the way to her thigh. It had a beautiful gold dragon climbing up her legs.
"I-I don't think s-so Hanabi..." Hinata felt terribly exposed, the slit was very long. She was blushing a bright red, proving how inadequate she felt.
"No, no! It's perfect!" Hanabi inspected her sister. She nodded in acceptance. Before Hinata could even think of changing into something different, Hanabi dragged her all the way to the biggest bathroom in the house. Hers. Neji stood in the middle of the hall shocked, he had just seen a FULL leg, and what a nice leg it was. He had no idea who's it was, but could appreciate any eye candy he got.
/I don't want just anyone to hold/
"Hanabi!" The whole house heard the yell. Most figured they were fighting, but her father had a curious look on his face. Hinata did not yell at Hanabi in anger, so something really embarrassing must have happened. Following where he heard the noise come from, he stopped in front of his youngest daughters bathroom door. Before he could knock however, their voices started again.
"Come on, Hinata! You look good!" He heard Hanabi protest.
"Hanabi. How can you say that! You really want me to go out in PUBLIC like this!" She sounded mortified. He smiled; he should have known Hanabi would be parading around trying to get Hinata to wear a skirt other than kimonos. He smiled humorously and knocked lightly. Hanabi opened the door and smiled brightly.
"Good! You tell her she looks good!" Hanabi was completely irritated with her sister now. She had no idea how beautiful she was! Half the girls in Konoha would KILL for her legs! Not to mention her bust size! Who knew, huh?
Hinata stood with one hand covering half her face and the other wrapped around her waist, blushing harder than she ever had. She faced her father, knowing he would want to see. Hiyashi was almost speechless; she looked almost exactly like her mother. Hinata was a bit taller, with shorter hair only going just past her shoulder blades. It was pulled into an elaborate bun work of Hanabi no doubt, with a comb helping hold it together. It was an old Hyuuga heirloom, he noticed, as the gold strands dangled on the back of her head. There was a pin he had never seen before clipped on the side of her head. The skirt and blouse was modest, but classy and modern. He was filled with pride; he had raised such a beauty.
"You look beautiful Hinata." He said, and when she looked in his eyes, all she saw was honesty. She blushed.
"A-Ariagato gozaimasu..." She poked her fingers together; her father had never really praised her in such a way before. She was so busy trying to train, and become the best leader she could be, she really hadn't thought at all about her looks.
"See! Now, you're going to ware this, because I already did your hair!" Hinata couldn't argue with that logic, and Hanabi smirked triumphantly. Hesitantly looking in the full-length mirror on the wall, she had to agree that it was a nice outfit. Looking at herself now, done up all pretty, she thought she did look nice, and that was rare. Being a girl, she was expected to look nice for parties and special occasions, but she really just slipped a Kimono on, and put her hair in a bun. It was always acceptable, but now she realized that so much more could be done to make her look very nice.
"Hinata, sit down. I'm going to do your makeup now." Hanabi said and pointed to her vanity, foundations and liners already in hand. Hinata's eyes widened, it was one thing to dress her and do her hair, but she really didn't trust Hanabi with the makeup.
"Ano, Hanabi..." She really didn't want her to do her makeup, but she didn't want to insult her either. Hiyashi decided to spare his daughter this time.
"Hanabi, we have to make sure you have mastered a few of your jutsus. Chuunin exam is soon, I want you to be ready." Hiyashi was proud of the fact that she was ready, but he liked spending time with his daughters, and Hinata could do her own face.
"Hai." Hanabi looked at all her makeup regretfully. No matter! She would get to do Hinata's makeup one day, she would make sure of it. Hinata looked at her father gratefully. She really did not like makeup, but she guessed she could use some lip-gloss. Waving, and promising to say 'bye' before she left, Hinata went to her own bathroom.
Not as big as Hanabi's, it was larger than normal. Sitting at her own vanity, she took out some clear lip-gloss. As she was putting it on, she saw her small line of eye shadows, and debated weather or not to use them. Sighing, she picked up the light pink and lightly swiped them across her eyes. Smiling she put on her mothers favorite earrings, small golden snowflakes dangled not half an inch from her lobes. Though it was the ending of spring, she didn't care it was tradition to ware them to anything she wanted to look nice for. Sliding simple golden bands onto her wrists, she decided she was as ready as she would ever be.
Grabbing some nice shoes on her way out, she slowly walked to the dojo, where she knew her father and sister were. On the way, she saw the empty and busy halls of Hyuuga Manor. The whole house had interesting petrified wood designs all along the walls. They had always fascinated her as a child, and they still do. Her thoughts drifted to her current situation. She had always like Naruto; he was brave and never gave up no matter what was thrown at him. As they got older and matured, she noticed he was very handsome too. She had finally found courage, and began to get closer to him. After a while, she realized her friendship with him was much more important than a maybe relationship. So, he never knew she had crushed on him for most of her life. He was her best friend, and the love she thought she had for him, turned out to be the same as her love for Hanabi.
So, she was over Naruto. No one really caught her eye, sure there were allot of cute guys, but she would never tell them that. As a woman, she could say that Kiba had a bad boy kind of attraction. Shino was the silent mysterious type, never really knowing what he looks like. Shikamaru was the kind that needed a woman to take care of him; he would turn into a hermit otherwise. Neji had a frosty outlook, but his looks would never suggest, he looked very heated. Iruka had a cute baby face, and was great with children. The only problem was, she couldn't see herself with any of them! Most were her friends, and that would be weird. Iruka was her teacher and Neji was her cousin. She really had enough to take care of without having to take care of her husband as well.
/I don't want my love to go to waste/
So, who was courting her? It was so sudden; she hadn't a real chance to think about it. What if it was a cloud shinobi here to get her again? Or what if it was a horrible joke? She didn't think she could keep her composure if that happened. But then, what if this guy really did want to marry her? Would her position as Hyuuga heir make him run? She was confused and decided to just see how it went tonight. After all, she could back out anytime. He on the other hand, couldn't. So if he didn't like her, he would make life hell till she backed out herself. Sighing and shaking her head, Hinata stopped in front of Hyuuga Hibari's rooms. Near the dojo because he used to be a well known ANBU. He was an old and trusted uncle of hers. Great Uncle really, but that was beside the point. He was to be her escort. He wouldn't gossip, and she liked his company.
"Ah, how may I help you today, dear Hinata?" He asked kindly. After sixty years of being a cold harsh Hyuuga, he wanted to be the kind old man for once before he died.
"I was wondering. If you were not too busy, if you could possibly be my escort." She asked formally. It was a big responsibility to be escort.
"It would be an honor." He replied in kind. He had overseen a few marriages in his day, and was thrilled to do it one last time. For the heir no less, today was a good day.
"Wonderful! I'll be at the gate in twenty minutes." She said and bowed, then maid her way to the dojo. Her original destination, she now remembered.
Back with Sasuke...
Candles check. Dinner check. Stiff but nice looking outfit, check. Desert, check. Pictures of ugly brother put away check. Roses on the table check.
Sasuke went down his checklist of things he needed in his mind. Okay, he admitted it. He was a complete wreck. No one to ask for advice, or at least no one he would want to embarrass himself in front of... Again. So, he would have to wing it. Then again, he had no experience being... Attractive. He had good looks, but he was the first to say he had a horrid personality. He had never tried to not be so, cynical about things before. It would be a new experience for him. That was for sure.
The one thing he was really worried about though, was her choice in an escort. This escort would essentially escort her anywhere he might be. No contact was allowed without the escort there. If it was Neji or her sister, he didn't think he could be able to say anything at all. He was so defensive; he surprised himself sometimes. Hopefully it was someone he didn't know, and wouldn't shoot glares at him the whole time. It was one thing to be 'charming' in front of the one he wanted to charm, quite another in front of other people. People he really didn't want to know, or know about him. All in all, it was almost nervous breakdown before dinner. He was sure dinner would be just so, if not more.
TBC...