Author's Notes: Hey readers! here is the next installation! hope u guys will enjoy it! THANK U FOR ALL OF LAST CHAPTER'S REVIEWS! LOVE YOU GUYS! PLZ READ AND REVIEW!!!

Chapter 5:

I'm asking you to hold

My hand for eternity

I'm watching you intently

The smiles you give

You are innocent like

A pink carnation

You can never be mine.

Why is it that when I see him by himself I want to go after him? Why is it that when I lose all hopes, just hearing his voice lightens my hope little by little. Allow me to hold onto these feelings forever. No matter how hard it gets I want to keep believing that having these feelings are okay. Don't take them away. I beg of you God, allow me to keep these thoughts within me.

"What do you mean you want to go undercover?" exclaimed Sarutobi Asuma exasperatedly. The thirty three year old man scratched his beard as he looked at his employee with frustration. Sarutobi Asuma, the owner of Shooting Star Magazine, which was a teen magazine focused on getting the full scoops on the stars of Japan with the addition of other teen assortments added to create spice to the promotion of the company's magazines, stared at the young woman. A natural "player" he toyed with the gold ring on his right hand ring finger. He scratched his nose a bit as he continued to stare back at the young blonde woman.

Yamanaka Ino tapped her shoes intermittently as she placed her hands roughly on top of her boss's black desk. She was dressed in black dress pants and a blue tang top with a white thin jacket with long flowing blonde hair down her back, Ino's cerulean eyes glared at her longtime boss angrily. "Sir! I want to take this case! I can go undercover and figure out the mystery behind the Uchiha family!"

"Hah!" exclaimed Asuma sarcastically as he looked through one of his drawers and pulled out a cigar. He took out his gold lighter and lit the cigar, placing it in his mouth. "That's what you said about the other cases, but every time you fail me miserably Yamanaka!" He stood up from his leather chair, he was dressed in a dark leather suit with flashing white shoes. He stared at the young twenty year old girl with disinterested eyes," Looky here, Yamanaka. I chose you to become Shooting Star's Magazine reporter because you have the guts, the cleverness, the sharpness, and the looks. Babe, if you keep believing that behind every rich, single, hot man, lies a dark secret than you're a wacko for sure! Give me evidence to believe you at least! I don't want the crap that's all in your head Yamanaka, you hear me?"

Asuma was flaring all right and he took the cigar away from his mouth, holding onto it now. His eyes were now gazing intensely as he stared at his young employee. She was the best at what she did; however, her mind was still fresh and young, still not realizing that money was being wasted if she didn't get any REAL information!!!

But I was hard on her, thought Asuma as he looked at Ino, sighing a bit. He knew that at such a young age, Ino was naïve and like most young adults were still trying to get used to the real world. He only knew too well of the hardships that he faced when he was still at that ripe age. Asuma sighed as his glare lessened as he ran a hand through his black hair. Ino's head was drooped down, probably trying to suppress the anger or anxiety all within herself. Gah! I hate it when I get all moody!

"I'm sorry sir," said Ino softly. Her head still looking down, her arms slowly lifted from Asuma's desk now pulling to her sides.

Asuma raised an eyebrow, not realizing that the hot-headed blond would ever give up so easily in her life. She was so spirited when she had gone to the interview two years ago and was continually the same. But this was new.

"I know that I haven't been getting anywhere ever since you hired me," said Ino as her eyes were getting watery beneath her bangs," But I'm begging you. Allow me to have this chance. I don't know why, but when I was at the Operation: Food Bank, I felt something sir. Something that I haven't in my life, like a deep calling, that what I'm about to find out will be BIG, sir, something so huge. I don't know what it is, but I'm sure that if you give me this last chance than I will make sure Shooting Star becomes the top teen magazine in all of Japan." Slowly at her last words, Ino had looked into Asuma's eyes.

Determination, thought Asuma as he stared at Ino's bright eyes. He knew that if she screwed up again, he would have to fire her for sure. Even Ino herself knew this and yet she was still taking the chance. Asuma sighed as he placed the cigar in his mouth. Mother used to say I was always a softie when it came to women. He just couldn't stand it if he ruined this young girl's chance. "Fine," with a wound up sigh Asuma agreed.

Ino's eyes lit up and she squealed," Really, sir?" She placed her hands to her mouth, trying to hold in her excitement.

Asuma nodded and winked," Yea, now don't disappoint me now okay?" He raised a thumb up for good luck.

Ino jumped radically up and down as she turned around and did a small hooray with her hands. "Sugoi! I'm so happy, sir, I promise you I won't let you down!" Her once sad eyes now bright and sure!

Asuma nodded and held up a finger and speaking through a cigar," Now, you know what happens if you fail me again, Yamanaka."

Ino nodded seriously," Yes, I know sir. But I promise you-"

Asuma nodded," Yes, yes. Now, let's see." And Asuma took small strides towards Yamanaka as she abruptly stood tall and straight like a soldier. "I want you to have a year's "investigation" got it? Gather as much information as you need! You have to report to me monthly until we can gather up yummy information for the writing of the article as soon as possible. Do what you can, but make sure that you don't become haggled in all the business of the Uchiha's. If they catch you trying to loot out any devious information about them, than you'll be dog meat for sure!"

Ino nodded, looking straight ahead of her," Yessir!"

Asuma nodded as he looked at Ino's soldier like stance. He couldn't help but grin," Alright! You may leave now!" Ino nodded, walking off proudly in her white heels.

As Ino closed the door behind Asuma's office, her back leaned on the wall. Eeeeeee! I can't believe that the boss lets me go undercover! Yes! Ino smiled as she took out a small photo from her dress pockets. A smile creased her lips as she stared at the picture.

Next to the thirteen year old Uchiha Itachi stood an eleven year old Ino. She had long blonde pigtails on her hair and Itachi's hand was on her head, patting it. His red eyes were emotionless and the two of them were dressed in the same school uniform.

Soon…Itachi…I'll get to see you again, even though you've forgotten me. I'll promise you that I'll keep our promise.

Her soft pink lips placed a small kiss on the picture, savoring the face of her childhood crush in her hand. Ino couldn't help but let out another happy squeal as she walked away from the boss's office.

--

For three days he hasn't seen her.

Itachi lay back on the sofa of his office. One of the top buttons of his white shirt was taken off as he placed an arm around the woman co-worker lying asleep in his arm. Her long tresses of brown hair grazed his neck slightly as she slept peacefully with her head on his shoulder. Dressed in a red suit, Morisato Yuko, moaned a little as she shifted position, moving slightly away from Itachi, and turning her head away. Her hands lay loosely to her side as her peachy skin turned away from him.

She was his secretary. And yet their affair had been going on ever since Itachi himself had gotten into the workforce at his father's company after he graduated from college. She was two years older than him, but yet Itachi couldn't help her advances toward him. The way she would smile at him, or do other things to provoke him to go against the company rules of dating. He was a man that enjoyed intrigue. To make it even worse for their situation, she had been married—a forced engagement Yuko said. They never did anything…scandalous…but if kisses, dates, gifts, and hugs counted as scandalous as doing it than surely the two were having a shameful affair.

His red eyes glared at the ceiling atop as he remembered Hinata's words to Sasuke. His eyes only narrowed as he focused his memory on the embarrass smile that had graced her lips when she spoke so "heavenly" to him with her nervous chatter.

Hinata nervously raised the two white grocery bags that had been in her hands as she stared at Sasuke with a blush again. "I-I kept some of the soup that I helped make today. Would you like to try some later?"

She never offered anything to him, Itachi raised an eyebrow, his fingers flexing themselves. More in fact, she had never offered him anything. It had always been Sasuke Hinata went after, torturing Itachi all those years with her constant struggle to make only Sasuke happy. Itachi laughed to himself mentally, wondering when he started to get so jealous.

She is beyond comprehension, Itachi told himself as his eyes lazily stared at the tiles on the ceiling, envisioning her calm face and ebony hair. Her tranquil silent attitude, her over apologies, her stuttering, everything about her is…not understandable. The twenty-two year old, with his free hand, began to reach out up above his head as he still sat on the sofa, grasping onto her face in his mind. She was like air to him: Always there but unattainable to the feel, the touch. Itachi gave a sad smile, slowing bringing down his arm to his side. His eyes now shifted to the ground, emptying out all other thoughts but Hinata's face.

Everything. Everything I did was for her and to think that a man like me would have the full ambitions of doing all this for a woman. Itachi chuckled and it started to get louder as well, stirring up Yuko from her sleep. As Itachi began to laugh at his own petty desires, he remembered when he wanted to take over the Uchiha business for domination, a standing of power, and succeed his father's business. His young boyhood had been revolved around the corporate world; always doing what he thought was his duty. He never questioned anything nor did he feel the need to embrace other factors of life that were out of the business world.

However it all changed for him. That one day, that one event, that one girl. Itachi only laughed more hysterically not realizing how weak he had become over the years that Hinata had stayed with them, still laughing like a madman. She was just six at the time and yet she went through so much more than her age could handle. Itachi could see it, the worry in her eyes, the sadness, the timid stuttering, the blushes. It was everything that Hinata contained throughout even her teenage years and now into young adulthood.

That event long ago, the party where he first met Hinata, she would have been his fiancé. Seeing the little Hyuuga Hinata intrigued Itachi very much. The eleven year old Itachi now had a new purpose to fulfill in the business world: Be good enough for this innocent child to love him, to make her proud of him, and importantly for her to think of him as more than just a fiancé.

"What's wrong Itachi?" asked Yuko. Her eyes finally opened revealing chestnut orbs. Her hand reached softly to touch his right cheek and slowly bringing it down to the base of his chin, holding gently. She loved this man, more than anything. He may be younger than her by two years, but his personality placed him at a much older person, so wise and calm. Itachi was so much a better man than her own husband, who she had married because of an engagement long ago. She was not going to lose Uchiha Itachi, even if it meant her own demise.

Her eyebrow creased upward in worry as her voice had quieted down his laughing. "I'm worried about you."

"It's nothing," said Itachi, his red killer eyes staring into Yuko's eyes. He continued to stare into those orbs, imagining if this was even real, that he was with a married woman, that the girl he loved was his step-sister, his brother his enemy, and his father only a person he lived with. Itachi blinked once as he continued to stare into Yuko, a very beautiful woman.

"Really?"

Itachi slowly nodded, his eyes following her pink lips, as his head leaned in toward her face. "Yes, dear." And he sealed her lips silently, his red eyes staring at her closed ones.

Yuko opened her eyes once Itachi pulled away. Herself obviously breathless as she watched Itachi get off from the sofa.

"You should leave now," said Itachi, walking to his desk, grabbing his papers. "I'm leaving."

Yuko stood up as well, straightening her clothes," I suppose. You know I hardly get to see you since you haven't been staying after work with me for the past few weeks, just leaving me to all your paperwork and filing with no fun." She turned away, grabbing her black leather purse. "Takashi has been finally suspecting us. I fear he'll soon know." Yuko sighed this time. It was in the early morning already and his calls at work were becoming annoying. "I know he cheats on me too, but his stupid obssessive "disorder" is really pissing me off."

Itachi nodded," I see."

Yuko placed on her black coat and turned around, her eyes drawn to his back facing her. Her red heeled shoes slowly made their way to him, tapping the ground. Gently her arms encircled his waistline, pulling herself close to him, her head leaning on his back. She sighed as she took in his scent and a smile came across her lips.

"I love you, Itachi. I won't stop even if he finds out. I don't care if Takashi and I get a divorce, as long as I'm with you. My marriage was forced anyway, giving me no time to fall in love with anyone. No chance, no miracle, until now. You are my miracle now, Itachi. I love you so much," said Yuko breathlessly as she felt his overwhelming warmth on his back. She slowly let him go, kissed his back and walked out of the door, her footsteps could be heard from the silent building.

Itachi silently listened to the footsteps walking away. As soon as he heard no more, his arm swept across his desk wiping away all of his work, his labtop, his lamp, just everything that was in his way at the moment. His arms were placed on the desk, his breathing sharp and still, and his red eyes gleaming from the nightlights of the clear window in his office.

Fugaku than spoke again. "You will also be having a new sister named Hinata."

Itachi bowed to the two new family members "It is a pleasure, okaa-san and little sister."

Itachi smirked, remembering when he had greeted Hitomi and Hinata so politely. "More like hell it was to greet her as sister."

He could never profess his love or even show Hinata how much he had come to love her. All he could do now was break apart the family, tear his father apart, and bring his brother to ruin.

And it was all for her.

He was a fool but yet he couldn't help but wish that someday all of his cruel and delicious tactics would bring Sasuke most of all into oblivion.

Itachi would be a madman if he could not have sweet, innocent, pure Hinata as his own priceless pearl.

--

The school bell had rung for class to end and Hinata walked to her locker, opening the lock, and took out her books for the day. She closed it and turned, suddenly a fright came upon her face.

"Ah…gomen ne," said Kiba, as he scratched his hair nervously. His eyes stared into Hinata's with his face close to hers. He really enjoyed looking into her white pearl orbs.

Hinata's eyes lit up relieving herself of the scare," Kiba." She hadn't seen him since the play a month ago. He had always been avoiding her or giving her a small "hello" here and there, but besides that, he never even spoke in a conversation. Shino was the only one that Hinata had ever access to talked to and he never told her what was up with Kiba. Quickly remembering what had happened at the play replayed in Hinata's mind and a blush came to Hinata's cheeks. "Ah…is there…s-something you wanted to tell me." Her eyes quickly averted Kiba's, now looking at the ground.

Kiba sighed to himself as he stared at Hinata's pitiable form. I want to tell you that I like you, dammit. However, Kiba couldn't stand her nervous form. He knew that she now didn't feel comfortable around him after he had hugged her after the play. "I-I just wanted to say hello that's all. I Gotta go to practice. Bye!" Kiba pinched himself, leaning in close to Hinata as she still stared at the ground and kissed her on the cheek. "Gomen ne." He than ran off, hoping that he wouldn't regret it later.

Other students gaped as they saw the kiss on the cheek.

"Did Kiba-san just kiss Hinata-san on the cheek?"

"Are they going out? I always thought they were just friends."

"Whoa. I heard he liked her, but I didn't think he would act so fast."

Hinata placed a hand on the kissed cheek and walked quickly away. H-How…could Kiba do that? Her footsteps led her away from the school. Her white eyes peered outside for the car. S-Sasuke should be out now. Her white orbs looked around as her feet quickened the pace to get away from the school as soon as possible. Her face as red as a tomato.

"Miss Hinata," shouted the driver. He was standing outside of his car, waving at the miss yards away.

Hinata gave a small smile as she walked over to him. "Hello."

"Shall we get going? Mister Sasuke is already inside."

"H-hai," said Hinata as she got inside the car. Her eyes forced themselves to stay away from Sasuke as she focused on cooling down her red cheeks. Breathe Hinata, breathe gently and calmly. Hinata's eyes sadly stared out at the school building. She never expected one of her best friends to kiss her, especially Kiba. He was just like a brother to her and more than that, someone who Hinata was actually not afraid to talk to. Hinata sighed softly to herself, wondering how she would get out of this dilemma. First a hug that seemed to be like more than just as a friend, and than now a kiss on the cheek. Hinata touched her cheek where Kiba had kissed it. Her eyes lowered to her knees, hoping that it was just a mistake that Kiba had done that it was merely something else.

"What's up with you?" asked Sasuke coldly, his onxy orbs turning to face his estranged step-sister oddly. He noticed that she looked distressed, but he had never seen her so out of character. She was usually quiet and calm when they came home from school and of course most of the time.

Hinata quickly turned to her brother," Ano…nothing. I was just in a hurry."

Sasuke shrugged looking away.

Hinata sighed in relief that he didn't suspect anything. Her body leaned back in the seat, hoping to become more relaxed when they got home. Her ebony hair was tied low in a ponytail as Hinata continued to stare out into the buildings and people emptily. Her fingers slowly reached for the window button, lowering the window a bit as air rushed in, blowing a few strands of her bangs.

He's right here, next to me. Even when I'm sad or lonely, he's just here, like a pillar. He doesn't console, speak, or show warmth. All he does is stay where I stay. That's all we can ever be for each other. Pillars that will always be parallel, but as they say, can never touch.

Author's Notes: Hey readers! thank u for reading this. i hope it isn't going TOO SLOW or confusing (scratch head) since there has been not really any sasuhina fluff. but i hope u guys can realize that i want to not just show romance but also DRAMA since it is one of the genres of this story. so yea! hehe. ::smiles:: anywayz, i hope again that this chapter wasn't boring. I LOVE YOU GUYS AND please review!!! stay tuned for the next installation. ::smiles::