AN: shucks, I realised the last time I uploaded 'tell your dad I'm always here' was 260 days ago... that's pretty long and I AM SOOOOO SORRY :((( I have been losing ideas for the story, or maybe I just did not really sit myself down to write it. Days been really busy for me these days, especially the month of feb and mar! promise I will update and in the mean time, please enjoy this story hehe

I think I am going to end this in probably a chapter or two more, nothing more than that! It was supposed to be a one shot written while I was waiting for my consultation in the hospital and guess I had a little too much fun with it hehe

Sasuke rested himself on the branch of a tree near the Hyuga estate. He leaned against the trunk, trying to control his breathing and heart rate from the alcohol he had consumed. The moonlight was shedding light pleasantly into the forest, allowing him to have a clear view of her estate. It reminded so much of his.

He tried to remember the first time he ever saw her. They were in the academy, and he could not help but to somber a little at the thought of his massacre, but he had long let the past go. Then she was there, standing alone behind the pole and peeping at the one and only person she had ever laid her eyes on.

Sasuke thought what was so great about Naruto. He was the last survival of his clan! He was so much better looking than him, according to the fans that had always surrounded him. Was he not loud enough? Was he not funny enough?

Then the sight of the female he was waiting for pulled him out of his thoughts. She was wearing her usual combat outfit, as if ready for a mission but he was sure she most likely had a training session with her former team. She slowed down her footsteps, looked around her surrounding and greeted the guards before speaking to him, something he could not catch.

It must be almost 9. He slowly jumped down the branches and landed on the ground firmly, just a little shaky. He smelled his clothes and hoped that the smell of alcohol had dissipated.

When he appeared out of the forest and into the light, the guards instantly tensed up. Sasuke thought he should wait out, but one of the guards instantly greeted him, "Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata-sama has already let us know you will be coming."

She did? She let her family know about his existence? Sasuke almost felt like he wanted to jump like a little kid. Then he regretted the eight sakes he consumed, wishing that nobody could tell he had drunk so much.

"Yes," he managed, taking his time towards the entrance in hope not to fall or trip.

The guards pushed open the door for him and guided him on how to reach the living area. He almost forgot how big her estate was. He took in the scent of jasmine around her courtyard, and the sound of the wind. At one glance, he could tell her household held onto strong traditional values.

The door of a lit room slid open, and there she was, standing there. Sasuke blinked; wondering was he seeing things when he thought she looked almost nervous. Then she quickly walked towards him.

"I can't believe you let your family know about me," Sasuke smirked, feeling accomplished.

"Please," she paused and took a few glances of her surroundings, "I informed my dad you will be coming because I wanted to show appreciation to you for saving my dad," she finished.

"Is that all?"

"Hm?"

"Is that all you want?" Sasuke quizzed again.

Hinata tilted her head a little, "yes, and because you asked for it."

Sasuke let out a soft 'tsk' before following her into the living area. The table was nicely set up, but the food has yet to be served, "anyone joining us?"

"Just us," Hinata said, "you can stay here, I will go and prepare the food."

"I can help," Sasuke suggested, following her.

The female shook her head before letting out a soft chuckle, "you don't have to. I don't think Sasuke-san's good in the kitchen."

"Hey, my nature type is fire," Sasuke lightly argued.

Hinata always seemed to be losing when it comes to things like that. He always got away with what he wanted and perhaps it was his persistency, or Hinata's kindness to not want to reject anyone that she always just gave in.

And she was surprised when he did not speak much and simply followed her instructions. She thought it was nice and funny to watch the almighty last survival to be struggling out of his comfort zone, "you can really just wait for me in the living area. It's almost done."

"It's fine, I can help."

"Do you always have your dinner this late?" Hinata quizzed and she scooped the miso soup into a bowl.

Sasuke watched her smooth movements around the kitchen, reminding himself a sight of his mother when he was young, "not really. I thought you have dinner plans."

She paused and turned to face him, "so you waited till 9 for your dinner? Because you thought I had dinner plans?"

The Uchiha simply nodded his head.

A loud sighed escaped the blue head's lips as she passed the bowl of soup to him, "what made you so sure I have plans?"

He shrugged, "you always seemed busy."

Hinata felt a wave of guilt rushing over her as she made her ways towards the rice cooker. The man she was serving food had intentionally waited for her for his dinner, "Sasuke-san, you could have asked me."

"You would have cooked it earlier for me?"

She nodded, "I did not really have plans, so I decided to look for Shino-kun to train and have quick dinner together."

"Can I ask…," Sasuke paused, pressing his lips together and giving his words a second thought, "you not to go on the date with Gaara?"

Then there was silence. She had stopped scooping the rice and Sasuke thought he might had screwed up a little. But what could go wrong? He was going on a long travel trip anyways.

"It's n-not a date, Sasuke-san," she explained before returning to her activities. She signaled him to carry the food to the living area, and Sasuke abided.

"Why does the whole village see it as a date?"

"Even if it's r-really a date," the female sat down across him and poured tea into his cup, "I think it will be r-rude of me to cancel it out on the very last minute."

Sasuke scoffed. He knew his request would never be fulfilled. So, he kept quiet and started eating the food that was prepared for him. He stuffed a morsel of rice into his mouth, all the while thinking about Sakura's words to him and how he should let her know the way she was making him feel.

"How is it?" she asked gently.

Nodding his head, he continued, "it's nice. Everyone must have appreciated it."

A blush warmed her face as she smiled, "I am still learning. So, how long will you be travelling this time round?"

Then the feeling came again. That jittery feeling that made him want to jump and scream. She was interested in his behavior?

"Not sure," he replied stoically, trying his best to suppress his inner emotions, "why?"

"I just thought it was abrupt for you to take a long travel."

"Actually," he thought he might as well let her know his real intention of his travel plans, "I wanted to take this time to have a break from – "

A cough and a knock cut him off, as the door slid open and stood before them was the man he once saved. He looked a little older than before and Sasuke thought he should be the most polite individual he could be.

"Uchiha," the head of the estate greeted.

Sasuke stood up to remain respectful before continuing, "I insisted on her cooking for me so –"

"Not to worry," Hiashi held his hand up, "she already told me about it. I came to give my greetings."

"Thank you, Hiashi-sama."

"But don't keep my daughter up too late," the elder casually said, "if you aren't interested in her, there's no reason you should stay in my estate pass 12."

Sasuke almost thought he could argue with that statement, then he stopped and proceeded to have an internal battle with himself. He could hear the soft exchange between the father and daughter, but the details of it was not passing through his processing unit because he was too focus on his feelings towards her. Do I really want to argue with Hiashi that I am interested in Hinata just so I can stay pass 12? Am I really… interested in her?

"I will make a move first," Hiashi said, as he bided his goodnights and closed the door.

"Is he mad?"

"I don't think so, but you heard him. You can't stay pass 12," Hinata reminded. She glanced over at the clock as it was already 10:30, "time flies,".

"We have an hour and a half; can I lay down with you?"