Once upon a time, there was a princess who mourned.

She hid herself from the world, wrapped in her blankets. Closing her senses to the world eased the suffocating guilt, because how could she experience everything that her teammates couldn't? Tray after tray of food remained untouched, and bath after bath went ignored, until the king himself descended upon her bedroom and shook the princess out of her reeking, unraveling nest.

"Is this how you will honor their sacrifice?" he asked. "You shame their clans and this kingdom." Reluctantly, the princess did her duty and honored the Inuzuka, the Yuuhi, and the Aburame, because even though they all bowed respectfully, she could feel the accusation in their glances. She couldn't look at her remaining teammate, and avoided the Aburame's hateful gaze. But after the ceremony, she retreated back to her covers. It hurt to even breathe.

It was her cousin that finally coaxed her out of hiding several days later. He was a branch Hyuuga and already chuunin, so she rarely spoke to him. Yet this stranger waited quietly next to her bed until the princess shyly peeked out.

"There is an idiotic boy on my team," he told her. "He can't use chakra, and failed the Academy exam several times. But with taijutsu alone, he is a powerful shinobi." The princess asked him why he told her this, and even these words made her tongue stumble over her guilt.

"I would trust him with my life."

The princess didn't need to ask him to clarify, because her ability to trust in herself and a team died with her teammates.

"Would you like to meet him?" He extended a hand to her.

She hesitated. She was too scared, too wary, too hopeful, too vulnerable. And just brave enough. The princess nodded and grasped his callused fingers.

"Yes."

And so, the princess began to stand back up.


Prey for the Hunted

By Airyo

Chapter 10


Hinata woke up the next day to an empty room. The morning sun streamed through the curtains in sharp ribbons of light. She flipped back the covers and sat up, rubbing at her eyes. Her head felt stuffed of cloth and her eyes were puffy from old tears. But like a cold that was already clearing up, the symptoms of her grief were only residual reminders of a dark night won.

Ino had left an elegantly penned note by her pillow, stating that the group was meeting at the Red Dojo again. Hinata slowly stepped out of bed, timidly touching her toes to the icy stone floor with a hiss. She couldn't believe she'd wandered around the castle last night without any shoes. The wooden floors of the dojo were warm enough, but the gray stone was like ice to her renewed awareness of her surroundings. Hinata reminded herself to thank Ino later, for she had been in no condition to do much of anything, and the noblewoman had helped her to bed.

Hinata quickly pulled on her bodyguard outfit and her boots before readying herself for the new day. She wasn't twelve years old, with the luxury to hide in her bedroom for days on end until she was simply too wrung out to feel any worse about herself. This was the Sun Palace, and she was tangled in the middle of a conspiracy with lives other than hers at stake. She took a deep breath, and exited the suite for the training halls.

On the dojo door, there was a sign that declared the area reserved by the authority of the Crown Prince. However, Hinata doubted Sasuke dotted his i's with hearts nor signed off with 'XOXO'. The stamp at the bottom looked legitimate enough, which indicated that one of the more mischievous members of their group got his/her hands on Sasuke's seal stamp. Hinata knocked politely before opening the door.

It took her a moment to process what was happening before her. To the side, Ino was flirting with Sasuke, who was ignoring her in favor of a scroll he was reading. Sakura was markedly absent. This was all normal enough. However, there was also a tall blond girl wearing a jounin uniform who was dancing rather clumsily with Sai. Something was really familiar about the girl, but Hinata couldn't quite place her finger on the exact trait.

"Hiya Princess P!" The strange blond waved enthusiastically and grinned at her. "Feeling better?"

"N-Naruto?" she whispered in shock. "You...grew breasts?" Naruto shoved Sai away and frowned.

"I've always had breasts. How could you discriminate against me like that?" Lady Naruto fanned herself with a hand as she blinked back tears. Hinata stared. Lady Naruto's breasts are enormous. Those couldn't possibly be-

"Those are real," Sai said. "You really are a Pervy Princess." Hinata flushed at the accusation and shook her head.

"Um...okay. I guess I never noticed how feminine you were before," she said with a hint of sarcasm. "Those skinny arms, those soft, unshapely pectorals, and the slim delicate shoulders..."

"Hey! I'm very manly!" Naruto replaced Lady Naruto with a puff of smoke. The blond ninja gave Hinata a childish face of displeasure. "You certainly seemed to think so that night!"

"That night?" Sasuke interjected suspiciously. "What are you talking about, Dead-Last?" Even Ino had stopped to peer at Hinata with a calculating expression. She rose to her feet and approached with a delighted expression that bordered on evil.

"Night?" the blond noblewoman questioned. "What night? Do I smell a scandal?" The way she said it hinted at exactly what she thought they did. Hinata shook her head again, regretting her decision to even come to the dojo. Her face was so warm it felt like it would explode. And it wasn't even about anything that embarrassing.

"It wasn't like that!" she protested.

"The first night we found the Hunter. I was trying to look at her face so she slapped me for getting too close," Naruto added earnestly. Sasuke gave him a disgusted look.

"Didn't we think that she was a boy at that point?"

"Yeah but the other option was to strip it off her."

Hinata bit her lip, trying not to react to the awkward wording. Ino covered her face demurely with her sleeve, though her shoulders were noticeably shaking with mirth. Sasuke looked far too expressionless to be neutral.

"Dickless. Even I know it's wrong to force a girl to reveal herself," Sai said slowly with a worried frown. "Do you need another pysch review with Ibiki and Y-" Naruto screeched a garbled negative.

"Another review?" Ino picked out the wording with an arched eyebrow. "Why Lady Naruto, I'm shocked." Naruto crossed his arms and grumbled about the poor company in the room. Sasuke rolled his eyes and he flipped to his feet as he joined the group in the middle of the room.

"When you are finished analyzing that Dead Last's perverted psyche, do recall that we only have eleven days to make that-" he jabbed a finger towards Sai, who gave them that horrid fake smile in return "-into me. First of all, that's not a smile. Why the hell are you grimacing like that?"

"All the better to freak you out, my dear Prince Charming." Sai's mouth didn't move as he smiled at them. Naruto continued mimicking the Guardian's voice in a strange falsetto. "Besides, that's how you really look when you're glaring at us like-" The blond broke off with a wheeze when Sasuke punched him in the gut. Hinata wasn't even surprised when Naruto proceeded to tackle the prince and they were reduced to a more graceful version of a bar brawl. Sai blankly watched them, patiently waiting for the fight to peter out.

"Are you going to be okay now?" Ino asked her quietly. The blond noblewoman didn't look curious enough to be ignorant.

"Do you know already?" Hinata was a very private person, and didn't appreciate the thought of Ino prying into her past. The other girl had the decency to look sheepish.

"Sakura couldn't find what was wrong with you and talking to you was like addressing a rock. What was I supposed to do?" Admittedly, it wasn't very smart of Hinata to let herself be so badly shaken by a mere date.

"How did you find out then?" Ino pursed her lips. She absently twisted at one of her stud earrings in a sign of discomfort. Naruto bellowed a curse in the background, and an explosion shook the dojo. Hinata barely twitched at the resulting damage, as it was easily fixable. She turned her attention back to Ino.

"I spoke with an old friend in Intelligence."

"Shikamaru?" Ino wrinkled her nose slightly and nodded. Hinata instantly forgave her when the blond admitted that. What little she saw of their interactions spoke of a bad history. Ino had been willing to face him to figure out what was wrong with Hinata. She could have just mindwalked her for everything, but instead the noblewoman had turned to what was technically public records. The ambush on Team 8 was only the beginning of the deterioration of the Sun and Moon Kingdom relations.

"Thank you, Ino," Hinata said sincerely. "You've taken great care of me. This goes beyond just a life debt." The blond beamed at her.

"I told you. Life debts are a big deal. Can you trust me a little more now?"

"Yes, yes," Hinata said with slight smile. "I believe you now." Ino glanced at the still-squabbling boys before sidling even closer, the glint of juicy gossip in her eyes.

"But you'll never believe this," the noblewoman said conspiratorially. "Yesterday afternoon, just to test Sasuke, I offered to tell him why you were so distracted. Don't worry, I wasn't planning on revealing anything to him. The strange point of this was that he actually rejected my offer! Said something about privacy."

Hinata referred to her mental timeline. Sasuke hadn't confronted her until night, so he shouldn't have known anything yesterday afternoon. Given his determination to discover proof of her identity, the prince wouldn't have turned away such a tantalizing opportunity for information. And from what she knew of Sasuke, mere boundaries such as privacy had never hindered him.

"But...why?" Hinata asked. Ino shrugged, neatly smoothing back her hair when a blast of a residual wind technique swept around them.

"That's what I wanted to ask you. He wouldn't have looked as angry when I offered if he really knew what was going on. Did something change between you two?" Hinata shook her head slowly. She was unwilling to divulge the events of last night, and it had no bearing on Sasuke's actions earlier.

"Could he have planned to ask Shikamaru as well? Or even access the records himself?"

"No," Ino dismissed immediately. "He wouldn't..." The blond paused and rethought her sentence. "He doesn't have access."

"But he's the crown prince." While Hinata was no longer overtly suspicious of Ino's intentions, something about the blond's story didn't quite align properly. Her relationship with Shikamaru was a strange one, but it was odd that the lazy jounin would ignore a direct command from the crown prince in favor of Ino.

"The Hokage recently closed access to those records," the blond finally admitted nervously in a whisper. "Please don't ask about the matter anymore." Hinata's eyes widened in surprise and nodded. Ino wasn't going to tell her any more, as she was still technically an outsider.

"Okay," Hinata agreed. The closing of public records was a mystery that she couldn't easily solve. However, Sasuke's uncharacteristic consideration of her privacy was. She would have to find the time to confront him, as yesterday night's fiasco was also something she couldn't ignore. Currently, he was busy being inundated with Narutos.

"What is going on here?" Sakura stood at the door with a basket in her arms. A sturdy jounin with fluffy brown hair and a faceplate peered at them from behind her. "I leave for ten minutes to grab food and you're already fighting?"

"Sorry, Sakura," the roomful of Narutos chorused. They were all grinning in an unapologetic way before they dispelled with a poof of smoke as the original bounded forward. "Didja bring ramen? You know you wuv me!" The medic rolled her eyes and trotted to the middle of the dojo. Everyone gathered around, lured in by the mouthwatering smells wafting from the basket.

"Yamato, you can set the flask of coffee and blanket over here." That man that was probably Sakura's boyfriend obeyed, and the medic began to efficiently transform the area into a breakfast picnic. She pulled out a variety of different foods from her basket. "Miso ramen with pork for Naruto because he wants to die of malnutrition, tomatoes for both Sasuke and Ino because they're weird, bread because that was easiest thing to grab, some soup because I don't know what Kin - oh! I forgot! Ino-pig, Kin, this is my new boyfriend Yamato. He has the clearance to know of our mission so he's good." The jounin gave them a relaxed wave and smiled at them. "He's a member of the patrol squad, so we usually don't see much of him. However, he is free to be my date for the Winter Ball!" Ino cheered and clapped elegantly. Naruto grumbled something about cradle-robbing, and Sakura made a motion of almost tipping over his ramen container.

"We've been over this!" The medic gesticulated sharply. Naruto grimaced as he tried to catch the ramen container that Sakura was waving around. "He was on Lord Hatake's team because he's skilled, not because he's old. He's only twenty-four. And he's one of the few people with the ability to clean up all the damage you do to this place."

"I still don't like him. Kakashi's up to no good introducing you two," Naruto muttered petulantly after he finally managed to secure his beloved ramen from Sakura.

"Lord Hatake may have introduced us, but who do you think is the one Yamato and I spent so much time cleaning up after that we started talking?"

"Naruto," Yamato sighed as he looked down. Then he slowly raised his head, his features illuminated from below with the same jutsu that Sasuke had used before. "You should be nicer to people who've risked their lives to help you train." The genjutsu to make his voice echo ominously had a rather corny effect, but Naruto ducked behind Hinata, using her as a shield as he shuddered behind her.

"Begone!" Naruto pushed her forward by her shoulders like an over-sized amulet of protection. "Begone, you ghoul-faced menace!" Hinata wasn't sure if he was joking or not. Yamato gave them a flat look, which looked bizarre with his ghoul-face.

"Dead Last, stop being so dramatic." Sasuke sat down with a regal huff and accepted the food Sakura handed him. "We have a lot of work ahead of us." He glanced at Sai and sighed.

"Were my expressions insufficient?" Sai questioned. He seemed genuinely perplexed.

"You could try imitating Sasuke more - the practice might help more than the theory," Hinata suggested. Any goodwill she could build with this traitor would be advantageous. A short silence fell over the group at her advice. Team 7 had identical expressions of horror on their face.

"Thank you, Princess P," Sai said perfect courtesy. "I think I will try that." Belatedly, Hinata realized that Sai probably didn't become Guardian-worthy material by doing things part-way.

"I have a really bad feeling about this..."Naruto whimpered.

"Dead Last, stop being so dramatic," Sai mimicked as he also sat. The Guardian extended a palm to Sakura, who rolled her eyes and then handed him a plate as well. "We have a lot of work ahead of us." Every inflection that Sasuke had was accounted for, yet something about his delivery made everyone shiver at the wrongness of it.

"No." Sasuke's eyes flashed. "You will stop that immediately."

"No." Sai's eyes widened in false anger. "You will stop this immediately." Sasuke continued to snarl at him, only for Sai try to copy every action. The rest of the group stared at them, breakfast forgotten.

"You've created a monster..." Sakura whispered. Sasuke seemed to agree with his teammate, if the way he was glaring at Hinata as he leaped to his feet was any indication.

"This is all your fault!" he snapped at Hinata as he tried to walk away.

"This is all your fault!" Sai barked as he tailed Sasuke. The prince circled the perimeter of the dojo, but Sai continued dogging his every step, determined to mimic every movement.

"Come on," Ino said lightly as she tugged at Hinata's sleeve. "Let's eat. I think this might take a while..."


Over the next few days, the group settled into a routine. In the mornings, they would gather at the Red Dojo for a quick breakfast and then split off into two rotating groups. One to laze about as they laughed at the other group trying to whip Sai into proper form. In the afternoons, they scattered to attend to their own business. Ino had several functions her noble status required of her, so Hinata spent the extra time training, trying to boost her chakra reserves. Her mission regarding Sai wasn't going well, and she was starting to feel the strain of staring at the chakra around his mouth so much.

The majority of the work on Sai's acting fell to Sasuke and Ino, the latter of which refused to do anything unless her bodyguard was by her side. It was a wise move on the Yamanaka's part, as Hinata needed to be in close vicinity to even have a chance at discovering proof of Sai's seal. Ino and Hinata took every chance they could to chat with Sai without seeming suspicious. Fortunately, Ino's reputation as a friendly yet flighty noblewoman worked to their advantage, and she could relentlessly question her new "love" without raising eyebrows. While Hinata's chakra reserves were weak, she had the control to gradually activate her Byakugan. The chakra emission from that technique was almost undetectable, and it helped that Team 7 thought nothing of throwing around their big techniques.

"No, you're holding her wrong." Sasuke was trying to correct Sai's stance as the decoy held Ino. As a shinobi, his movements were graceful, but there was always a stilted quality to his actions that divulged his inexperience. "She isn't a sack of potatoes."

"She isn't a sack of potatoes," echoed Sai. Sasuke looked as if he'd stepped in something gross, but didn't complain. While Sai had been convinced by Sakura to stop parroting every single line, he still intermittently mimicked Sasuke. In the face of their "mission", no one could really protest the method. Even if the prince looked like he was closer to an apoplexy each time it happened.

"Let's try this again," Sasuke muttered. He stood a little to the side with his arms crossed. Hinata waited next to him, keeping an eye on Sai. Ino would give her a signal when she'd managed to steer their conversation as planned. "The downbeat is on the first step. ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three." Sasuke turned to Naruto. "Dead Last, music."

"You have no respect for genius, bastard!" The blond ninja cloned himself. Several of the clones were transformed into Lady Narutos. The original assumed the position of conductor and gave a thumbs up to indicate readiness. Then the Narutos began to sing acapella, complete with the full range of voice classificiations. Lady Naruto had a lovely soprano, and Caveman Naruto gave depth to the music with an impressive bass. The sound was extraordinary, even if the sight was utterly silly. He even went as far as to create several pairs of dancers to accompany Ino and Sai.

"You've gotten really good!" Sakura said with a laugh. She pulled Yamato after her and joined in the impromptu dance party. Hinata couldn't help but grin at the festive atmosphere. To think this had started out with Naruto yelling out numbers. Admittedly, Hinata had purposely goaded him into greater and greater displays with his shadow clones with challenges subtly disguised as suggestions. The mess of chakra signatures camouflaged her own usage of her Byakugan. But she hadn't imagined just how far Naruto could push.
One of the Naruto clones grabbed her hands and twirled her onto the dance floor, spinning them until she reeled. Ino was still working on Sai, but it was slow work with Sasuke dogging them like a drill sergeant.

"ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three..." Sasuke followed Ino and Sai as they swept their way across the room. He was making a gallant attempt at remaining solemn and focusing on their task, but Hinata saw the little smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.
Despite the tense circumstances, their practice sessions were enjoyable. Hinata could almost pretend that it was just a group of friends getting ready for the masquerade ball. In a place already special to her, Hinata was creating new, wonderful memories in her heart even as her mind screamed warnings against becoming attached. In that dojo, it was a small pocket of happiness protected from the cold realities outside.

The conducting Naruto suddenly froze, and the singing died off into a confused silence.

"Good, now you actually hear me." Long strands of Conductor Naruto's shadow frayed, retracting back to the jounin leaning at the door. Shikamaru looked at them, his gaze lingering on Ino who stiffened and refused to meet his eyes, and shook his head with a sigh. "As troublesome as it is to break up this party, I need to speak with Prince Sasuke." He gave the prince a meaningful look.

"Continue. Kin, you take over. You've had the most training after Yamanaka." After snapping out his orders, Sasuke left with Shikamaru. There was an uncomfortable silence as everyone readjusted to the sudden shift of leadership. Everyone except Ino were trained not to question orders, but Hinata was not normally someone who inspired efficient obedience. But she wasn't born a princess for nothing, and she shoved her insecurities into a dusty corner of her mind as she assumed a confident posture. This was a perfect chance to interrogate Sai and she wouldn't waste it.

"As someone who has only recently gotten to know Prince Sasuke, there are a lot of nuances that I am not aware of." Hinata's voice was soft, but it wasn't weak. "I am more knowledgeable in the dances, but you guys are the experts on Uchiha Sasuke. I will work with Sai and Lady Ino, but I would appreciate it if you would also help me watch them. Perhaps make notes of things you notice during each run-through."

"No problem!" The original Naruto grinned at her with a cheer as Sakura nodded in happy agreement. "Glad to help."

"Thank you," Hinata said sincerely. Then she turned back to Sai and Ino. "We should practice a few times before trying with music again. Sai, I think it will help if you thought of it differently. Lady Ino is your teammate in this, not a prop. You are the leader of this two-person squad. Sometimes, in order to complete a mission, you and your team would have to split up, but still with the same goal in mind, right?"

Sai nodded, head cocked to the side as he listened intently. His emotionless expression was unnerving because it was so flat. While other shinobi like Itachi were capable of hiding their thoughts, they succeeded by hiding the emotions that would have given them away. Sai, however, outright lacked any emotion. It was like interacting with a puppet. Hinata pushed away her discomfort, glancing briefly at Ino instead as she continued talking. The blond noblewoman was ready.

"Turning Lady Ino in a spin is like that. You are separating, but both of you have already a predesignated place of meeting. You want to meet back up to share your notes on your progress."

"How exciting!" Ino added. "It's like being a real ninja!" The purposeful frivolity would deflect away his suspicion. Hinata began activating her Byakugan slowly, hoping this worked.

"As the leader, you have to trust your subordinate - Lady Ino in this case - to complete her part. As a jounin, you are to hold a certain loyalty to your commander, don't you?" Sai nodded. Chakra flickered around his throat. "But if your commander tried to do everything himself, and left you useless, wouldn't that be a terrible fate?" She was beginning to see lines, but nothing substantial yet.

"Shinobi are weapons. We shouldn't question how we are used," Sai replied in monotone. He was trying to shut down the topic.

"That's so sad! Even weapons can be beautiful when decorated," Ino interjected. She laced her arm through Sai's as she simpered more complements. "How can you say that - a big handsome man like you?" Hinata was grateful for the other girl's help."I think that even weapons like shinobi deserve to be used in the way they are most effective. Silence isn't as an invitation for disrespect." Sai blinked. There it was. Five thick lines stacked, with two of them broken - a cursed seal to prevent someone from speaking of a dark secret. The chakra flickered almost too quickly, but Hinata saw it. Sai was a traitor. And Sasuke had no idea.

"He -" Hinata cut him off in order to distract his suspicion as she slowly eased her Byakugan back into inactivation. If she didn't let him reveal any sensitive information, he would be less likely to think she was trying to feel for information.

"Lady Ino is the flower of this dance, but without her, you don't belong on the dance floor. This is a very roundabout way of saying it, but you need to trust her to do her part. Can you guys walk through the beginning part again?" Sai and Ino nodded. Hinata turned to Naruto and he gave her a thumbs up.

There was a marked improvement. Hinata watched with a thudding heart as the others coached Sai on his expressions. The possibility of his two-faced loyalties was a vastly different matter from the evidence of such betrayal. And just like that, she realized that this little bubble of friendship was just an illusion.

She hoped Sasuke knew this too. Sai was supposed to be his most trusted bodyguard, but here were the facts that his Guardian was also involved with the people who wanted to kill him.


Ino had a small gathering with other nobles to attend, so Hinata went to meet Itachi herself. The king was signing documents when the two Guardians let her in, so Hinata quietly sat down in the chair in front of his desk and waited patiently. Some minutes later, Itachi set down his quill and looked up. She felt the chakra of a privacy jutsu. Hinata placed a piece of paper on his desk and slid it across to him.

"That's a picture of the seal I saw on the back of his tongue." Itachi picked up the paper and stared at it in thought. His eyebrows drew together in a frown for a moment, then his features smoothed over like the calm waters of a lake.

"Thank you, Hinata. I had not expected it until after the Winter ball."

"Lady Ino aided me greatly," Hinata added, uncomfortable with the implied praise of her abilities. She could never quite accept something she didn't believe to be true. Itachi wisely changed the subject.

"But you are not here just to report to me about Sai," he prompted. Hinata bit her lip, and then withdrew a scroll from her sleeve.

"Everything I saw and heard leading up to my father's death," she said in a clipped voice. Itachi looked visibly shocked as she gathered her courage and rolled the scroll across the table to the king. He opened it and scanned it quickly. It still took him a few moments, as Hinata had included everything she knew. She had stared at a blank scroll for several hours, before finally taking quill to paper, pouring out the secrets that had already claimed lives.

Black pupils perused her before he spoke in a tone that was almost gentle. "Please tell me why."

"In a way, the accusation was true. I helped killed my father because I was too weak and too slow. He was trying to protect me, but there is only so much any person can do." Pain shot through her palms, and she realized that she was clenching her fists so hard that her nails drew blood. She opened her hands and gripped her knees. She looked up, defiant. "But you already know that I didn't kill him. I let him be killed by greedy vultures who wanted his title. Of course I want revenge." She tried to swallow the hard knot in her throat and forced herself to continue. "But I am powerless right now. All I can do now is hand my knowledge to someone else who is powerful - you - and can actually use it against them."

"You are too trusting of me," Itachi commented with feigned disinterest. "What if I was on the side of said vultures?"

"I don't trust you." There was a wash of uncertain terror at his suggestion, that everything was a mistake and she was helping the enemy. Hinata hoped that she was correct. She steeled herself. "But I trust your dedication in protecting Sasuke. Just as they tried to eliminate me because I was next in line for the throne, they will try to hurt the crown prince. No one deserves that sort of betrayal. I understand that we are not friends, but a common enemy makes us temporary allies."

"You are full of surprises today, Hinata," Itachi finally said after several seconds of silence. "Thank you for giving me this."

"Thank you for your time, your highness." The implicit dismissal in his tone was enough for Hinata. While she knew not to let her darker emotions rot inside her, Hinata needed a reprise from directly facing so much of her past. She stood to leave.
"Oh, and Hinata," the king said abruptly. She turned to him. "Happy 20th birthday." Hinata was speechless for a moment as she searched Itachi's impassive expression for further clues of his thoughts.

"You remembered?" she finally said. She herself had forgotten, and yet a man she hadn't seen in years had thought of it.

"I remember everything," Itachi replied. "And I did attend most of your birthday galas." Hinata shook her head, cheeks flushing.

"Right. My apologies. I did not mean to imply that your memory was poor." Itachi's lips quirked in a hint of smile.

"Forgiven. You may go."

Feeling self-conscious from such sudden attention, Hinata bowed and then fled.


Sasuke paused when he saw Hinata walking quickly away from Itachi's office. He wasn't feeling particularly social after Shikamaru's news, so he watched her turn the corner before approaching his brother's door. The Guardians bowed politely before allowing him in.

"Sasuke, I did not expect you." Itachi waved for him to sit. He seemed oddly distracted, and it made Sasuke wonder what he and Hinata had been discussing. He could feel the still-activated privacy jutsu on the room. Sasuke pushed the curiosity away for another time. The secrecy was aggravating, but he had things he needed to talk with Itachi about as well.

"We've lost contact with Kakashi's team. It's been two days and Kakashi should have reported every 24hrs. That's not abnormal, but just this morning, we received an extraction request." Itachi lifted an eyebrow.

"I assume you haven't sent a rescue squad, if you're still telling me about it." Sasuke nodded.

"We haven't. The problem is that the extraction message was written by their captors."

"Their captors? What was the ransom?" Itachi leaned forward, no longer distracted.

"There wasn't a ransom..." Sasuke extended the message to his brother, and the king took it.

"There's only a time and place," Itachi said. "There were no further clues?"

"None." Sasuke sighed and ran his fingers through his already mussed hair. He'd had the same exact conversation with Shikamaru. "I can't tell if it's a trap."

"Who were the members of the team Kakashi took?"

"Uchiha Tekka, Inabi, and Yakumi. Hatake Kakashi. Akimichi Chouji. Umino Ebisu." Itachi stilled as he listed the members. Something was wrong.

"Why so many Sharingan users?" Sasuke gave Itachi a confused look.

"I thought you compiled the team."

"No, I merely ordered two teams sent." That was worrying thought. He'd thought Itachi purposely placed so many Sharingan users on the roster, but if his brother had nothing to do with the composition of the team...

"Kakashi, he -"

"Send the extraction team. They're just trying to send a message, so make sure there's at least one medic-nin. I don't think they're going to be in good health, " Itachi said sharply. Sasuke paused at the king's sudden injection.

"What gave you that idea?" The sudden jump in logic gave Sasuke the distinct sense that he was missing a large part of the picture. Itachi rubbed at the bridge of his nose.

"Just make sure there are no more Sharingan users on that team. We do need some representation of the Uchiha clan at the Winter Ball." The king wasn't going to tell him, if he was so blatantly resorting to teasing Sasuke. The prince narrowed his eyes in displeasure, but he took the bait. He'll just have to find another way to get his information.

"I already agreed to go," Sasuke said with a huff. "No need to rub more salt into the wound."

"My apologies." Itachi didn't sound apologetic at all. "I grow worried when my foolish little brother gives in too easily. You are not planning on ditching, are you?"

"No, I am not," Sasuke sighed. Itachi always treated him like an errant child, even when he was clearly making the effort to be anything but. "I won't leave until right before midnight. That's when all the couples are supposed to reveal themselves and exchange masks, right?"

"I'm surprised you even remember that from so many years ago."

"How could I not?" Sasuke leaned back into his chair while giving Itachi a disappointed look. "There were only a few girls trying to ambush me for my mask when the clock rang midnight."

"It is a symbol of a couple's of love and trust." Itachi should never try to look innocent - it was a terrifying expression on him. "I think it is wonderful that so many young ladies wish to share it with you. A young maiden's heart is a precious thing to-"

"Gross, Itachi. Gross." The prince was not amused. He slid to his feet, purposely ignoring the mischievous little smile on his brother's face. "I'm leaving. I'll tell Shikamaru to send the team."

"And Sasuke." He paused, looking back at the king. The mirth was gone, replaced by a solemn look. "You should also talk with Kin about a plan should you be unable to leave in time. I can't help you in front of all the most important people in the Sun Kingdom." Sasuke studied Itachi for a moment. Why hadn't he noticed how tired he seemed? To anyone else, Itachi remained his unflappable, invincible self, but Sasuke had looked up to Itachi his entire life. He knew when his brother was well, and when he wasn't. The king had too many worries and refused to share any of his burdens.

That damn martyr.

"I'll talk to Hinata." Itachi looked surprised and Sasuke turned to face him with a glare. "I'm not stupid. You don't need to play the name game around me. It's rather obvious that 'Kin' is the ex-Moon princess. I don't know what is going on with you two, but you don't need to coddle me, Itachi."

"Knowledge is power -"

"And secrets are the weapons forged from its fire," Sasuke finished for him. "I know. I'm not going meddle with what you're doing. But I would like the choice." A hint of an approving smile curled Itachi's lips.

"Very well. Go discuss an exit strategy with Hinata." Sasuke fought the triumphant smile fighting to escape. However minute, Itachi's perception of him had improved. "My foolish little brother is growing up." Of course, the king had to ruin the moment with such drivel.

"If only the kingdom knew how sappy you are."

"No one would believe you."

"Good point. Later." He was in a good mood after his victory on the matter of Hinata, so he let Itachi have this win. Sasuke gave a casual wave as he left.

He summoned Mozou as he started in the same general direction he had seen Hinata walking. The raven appeared on his hand with puff of smoke.

"Bacon?" Beady bird eyes bore into his.

"I'll write you a note of permission to the kitchens if you deliver a message first." Mozou gave him a dirty look, but then nodded in acceptance. Sasuke pulled out a pad of paper and scrawled a quick note telling the head cook to give Mozou three strips of his favorite treat. He folded it, but kept it out of Mozou's range. "It's urgent. Make sure you tell Shikamaru to send the team. And tell him to include a good medic."

"Got it, kid." The raven snapped the paper out of Sasuke's fingers and disappeared with a little cloud of smoke. Like with the rest of Team 7, they'd exchanged a small amount of their chakra with Mozou, so he could accurately locate them at any time. However, when a raven's mark was forcibly applied, the tracking was hazy at best. Sasuke was better off searching for Hinata personally.

As he'd suspected, he found her in the Red Dojo again, running through kata. Though he admired her discipline and focus on improving her taijutsu, Sasuke thought it strange that she never enhanced her body with chakra. While it was incredible that Hinata was that skilled without any extra help, she was creating an unnecessary ceiling for herself.

She sensed him when he approached the open dojo door and pulled out of a jump gracefully. Hinata held her naginata in a neutral position and turned to him curiously.

"Why are you here?" She didn't say anything, but Sasuke answered her anyway.

"I'm here to discuss the ball. Are you aware of the Sun Kingdom tradition at midnight?" She shook her head as she sheathed her weapon and approached him. He stepped into the dojo and closed the door after him for a small measure of privacy. "Couples unmask each other when the clock strikes twelve and exchange their masks." She stopped.

"So we would have to reveal our faces," Hinata said worriedly. "Can't we leave before then?"

"That's what I had planned before, but we can't leave too early. Then there is the possibility that we may not make it out in time." She nodded, looking down at the floor in thought as he kept speaking. "The exchanging of masks is a gesture of trust, so as dates, we can use that to our advantage."

"Do couples often embrace during this tradition?" she asked. He nodded, glad that she was thinking in the same direction. "So if we could pretend to be lost in each other, people wouldn't look at us too closely. Closed eyes, maybe a hand on each other's face...things like that." They looked at each other, and Sasuke was at a loss for words. He couldn't really suggest that theypractice. "We're on the same page then. I just wanted to give you a warning." Sasuke turned to leave.

"Wait. Sasuke." He faced her again. Hinata took a moment to breath and then spoke firmly. "I've been meaning to ask you something." He raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms for the lack of anything else to do. The last time they had been alone had been that night when she was have a mental breakdown. The darkness of the night had actually made it less intimate, both of them mired in shadows. But in plain daylight, he found it slightly awkward to be so aware of the empty space around them. It was as if the air itself was pressing them together.

"Depends on what it is."

"Ino told me that she offered to tell you about my teammates. This was before you happened upon me in the dojo that night...why didn't you take that chance?"

"You ended up telling me anyways, didn't you?" Sasuke asked smugly. "If I can't even find out the details of such a big secret, I wouldn't make a very good future Hokage, would I?" What he wouldn't admit to was the fact that he'd been failing his own personal test of his skills up until recently. It had been more luck that he'd found her in such a state. But good fortune was only advantageous to those who knew how to use it.

"Hokage?" Her skeptical tone irked Sasuke.

"Why not?" he questioned defensively. "The title goes to the strongest shinobi in the kingdom, and I plan to become exactly that. I will help Itachi make the Sun Kingdom even better." It's not like he could be king anyways, since that would imply something bad happened to Itachi. While he didn't scream his ambitions to the world like Naruto, it had been his goal for years. Even if Itachi was opposed to it for some reason.

Hinata was silent for a few moments, mouth pursed in thought. Then she seemed to come to some sort of decision. Whatever it was, it caused her to stop appearing as if she wanted to bolt. "But leading ninja is less about strength and more about tactics. And paperwork." She was hesitant, but not about his goal . Sasuke shrugged.

"That's why Naruto and I made a bet. When I become Hokage, I win and he has to be my second-in-command. He can do the paperwork with all his clones." She chuckled slightly with a delicate hand in front of her mouth.

"Seems like Naruto uses his clones for anything but fighting. You'll have your hands full between being Hokage and commanding that army." Sasuke let himself relax. She wasn't laughing at him. She'd just accepted it as another fact.

"You should see his Sexy no Jutsu. One of our old teachers nearly died of blood loss when he first showed it to my Academy class."

"The name scares me," she admitted. Hinata was slowly becoming accustomed to speaking with him, and it no longer seemed like this conversation was just a chore for her. "Is that where Lady Naruto first came to be?" Sasuke felt his smirk stretch wider. The memory was a hilarious one. Iruka had spent the rest of the day with tissues stuck up his nostrils.

"You are correct. I wasn't friends with him back then, but I got him to teach it to me so I could try it on Itachi."

"You didn't!" Hinata gasped. She leaned in with a small, disbelieving smile. "What happened?" Sasuke paused, unsure if he should share the next part, he didn't want her to stop smiling at him, even at the cost of his past-self's pride.

"He made me wear a dress to my next day at school. Since I liked being "Sexy" and all." Hinata burst into giggles that quickly escalated into a sparkling laughter. She quickly composed herself, much to Sasuke's disappointment.

"I don't mean to laugh, but the mental image is..."

"Hilarious," Sasuke drawled. Pride swelled in his chest. She was normally so reserved, but he was the one to bring out her laughter. Not the goofball Naruto, nor his perfect older brother. "I know. The sad part is that the fangirls got even worse after that."

"That's because they realized just how pretty you are." She smiled shyly up at him, and that took away all the sting in her joke. He mock-glared anyways.

"Handsome. Not pretty."

"Sorry, I mean handsome," she humored him. It was refreshing that 'handsome' didn't immediately mean she had full permission to fawn over him. It just was. "But that's the beauty of this masquerade ball. No one will know who we are. We are just another two masks in the crowd." Sasuke hadn't thought about it that way, and realized that Hinata was right. They were just another boy and girl in the sea of many. No one would be watching them too closely. "Sasuke, I propose a truce. You probably already know who-"

"I know. It was kind of obvious, given what you've told me. I'm not going to reveal you since Itachi still needs you around." Even if he interrupted her, Hinata had started to willingly tell him her identity. That was another mark of triumph for him today. Yes, she was originally from the Moon Kingdom, but she was possibly the last person with any nefarious plans. He could tell from just knowing her a few short weeks, if Itachi's trust in her wasn't already a big clue. It made him wonder how she got caught up in a murder accusation.

"Thank you." She looked relieved. "But given both our backgrounds...well, neither of us have had the luxury of simply enjoying a ball." Sasuke understood what she was trying say. Even with her eyes covered, he could feel her excitement. Maybe that was why she put so much effort into blending into the background as a lovely wallflower no one would notice. Standing out could be dangerous when everyone was judging you. This was chance to forget all the pressures of royalty.

"So let's have a ball when the time comes, Princess P," he drawled with a smirk. He was feeling particularly generous after the confirmation of her identity. "As just two anonymous, unnoticeable people."

Usually, he hated the thought of being lost among the mediocre. But the thought of doing so with Hinata, of rebelling against everything they were, sounded like fun. Against all odds, Sasuke was actually looking forward to the Winter Ball.


The last few days leading up to the Winter Ball were a hectic mess.

While Sai could now make a passable doppelganger of Sasuke, the group realized that a thousand other matters also needed attending. There were dresses to be tailored and matched with suits, masks to be made, and most important of all, Sai's costuming. While he eerily resembled Sasuke, his hair was an entirely different story.

"Even his hair is unique," Ino sighed. Despite her best attempt to remain positive, the frustration in her voice colored her statement as an insult.

Ino and Hinata were digging through a chest full of wigs in storage. While henge solved most problems, such a jutsu in a room full of paranoid ninja and Sharingan-users would not be wise. Team 7 and Sai had last-minute fittings, leaving Ino and Hinata frantically hunting down a wig for Sai the morning of the Winter Ball.

"Why did I have to be such an organized and capable person? Why did you let me schedule our dress fittings so early?" Hinata gave her a sympathetic smile as she lifted another dark wig. The blond noblewoman shook her head. "Too droopy. Prince Sasuke's hair is spiky in the back, but the bangs must fall smoothly. It's like we're looking the reject baby of two different wigs altogether!"

"If we all had fittings today, we would have failed our mission since we wouldn't be able to find Sai a proper wig," Hinata said comfortingly. Ino sniffed.

"Don't logic my drama. That's not how it works. And it's not like I'm insulting Prince Sasuke - just that damnable hair of his." The blond forcibly pulled out a tangled mop from the pile, and made a disgusted face. "Why can't we tame Sasuke's hair as easily as you've tamed his temper?"

Hinata paused.

"W-what do you mean by that?" Ino gave her a sly look.

"Don't play coy, sweetie. I know something happened between you two. Usually that boy is so tense he would snap if I breathed on him wrong. But with you around, he's actually acting like a normal person. I mean, just the other day, you just looked at him and he immediately stopped baiting Naruto. If that isn't taming, then I don't know what is. Either way, you must tell me your secret!" Hinata shook her head, a deep blush rising on her cheeks.

"I didn't just look at him. I was trying to tell him that we don't have much time, and we needed to focus. He just agreed with me!" Hinata returned to digging through the chest, focusing on anything else but Ino's odd accusation.

Sasuke had tried to pick another fight with Naruto in order to relieve his nerves when Sai hadn't been doing so well. Hinata had simply reminded him that it wasn't the best way to fix the problem at hand. There was nothing strange about being reasonable.

Admittedly, her relationship with Sasuke had improved dramatically after their little discussion on her birthday. He was no longer trying to reveal her identity, and she was no longer trying to prevent him from doing so. They interacted no more than they had before, but the hue of their passing glances at the practices had warmed. However, that was to be expected if two antagonizing parties became allies.

In truth, it was his revelation about his goal to be Hokage that changed everything.

Hinata wasn't stupid. No prince would want to grow up to be Hokage, just the commander of the kingdom military. The only natural progression was from prince to king. Even Hinata, for all her insufficiencies, had expected to become a queen. But Itachi was too close in age to Sasuke. The only way the prince would assume the throne was if the king was incapacitated at best, dead at worst. The driven dreamer in Sasuke had set aside the possibility of the crown, because otherwise it would be to wish his brother ill.

Even if Sasuke seemed to be unpleasant and spoiled from every angle, Hinata knew that he was a better person than everyone - including himself - believed him to be. It was only natural that she didn't dislike someone like that.

"I found it. This is perfect!" Ino yelled victoriously. She raised the fuzzy monstrosity above her like a trophy. Hinata cheered and rushed to help the noblewoman shove all the other wigs back into their original resting place. "We need to hurry. We have a ball to get ready for!"


Sasuke had forgotten how long it took for females to get ready.

He was sitting against the wall opposite Ino's suite door, waiting with Sai and Yamato for their dates. Naruto was going solo, and had already departed for the main ballroom. Sai was leaning against the wall next to Sasuke, circlet perched awkwardly on top of his wig. The Guardian tugged uncomfortably at the collar of his ornate navy overcoat with a gloved finger. A cravat spilled from under his chin, framed by the sharp lines of his red waistcoat. Black trousers and neat black boots completed the outfit.

"I went through hours of torture to get that made" Sasuke warned. Sai removed his finger from his collar and shrugged, clearly displeased about his state of dress. The heavy finery decorating his shoulders clinked softly. While the formal wear of the Uchiha was by no means gaudy, there was a certain standard to be maintained as a member of royalty. Unfortunately, that also meant the seamstresses ignored all common sense. That outfit was difficult to move in, and would feel uncomfortably like a straitjacket for any seasoned ninja. The matching red cape was probably quite heavy and the accompanying mask blocked off much of the wearer's peripheral vision.

Sasuke smirked slightly. He'd purposely lent Sai that outfit. After all those cracks about Prince Charming, it was time for the Guardian to experience it for himself. Cat had been his Guardian at the past balls that he'd attended a long while ago, so Sai had no idea what he was really in for.

Yamato wore a simpler version of Sai's outfit in greens and browns. He had removed his faceplate and looked like he'd lost his battle against his messy hair. Sasuke decided against informing the man that he had a faint tan line from the faceplate - his mask would hide most of it. Yamato already looked nervous enough as he fussed with a sprig of cherry blossoms. It was mildly strange to see a twig emerge and twist from his palm as Yamato tried to attach the false pink blossoms in a flattering manner.

Losing interest, Sasuke turned back to his own black mask. It was edged in silver, and in one corner were three tiny rubies set in a pattern that mimicked the Sharingan. He wore a matching knee-length overcoat of deep crimson with silver accents. Rather than bother with all the other details underneath, he'd taken full advantage of his temporary status as Un-Prince and just buttoned his coat all the way up to cover his usual black shirt. Tall boots camouflaged the fact that he was also wearing his uniform trousers. Sasuke still made the effort to look presentable on the outside, such as the artfully draped black cape secured around his shoulders by a pin with the Uchiha fan. He just didn't feel that comfort should be the sacrifice.

The door opened. All three of them looked up as Sakura emerged in vision of emerald velvet. Her pink hair was swept up in an elegant chignon, showcasing a long, lovely neck.

"You look beautiful," Yamato said with a slightly nervous smile. He offered her the sprig of false cherry blossoms still attached to his hand and the medic laughed as she picked it like she would from a tree.

"You're looking pretty sharp yourself." Sakura turned to the two Uchiha. "Ino and Kin will be right out. There's only so much room in front of the mirror."

"So you muscled them out of the way?" Sai asked. She gave him an unamused look.

"Nope. I was the first to finish dressing." Sakura slipped her arm into Yamato's elbow and smiled at up him. "Let's go. I'd rather not wait around here." She stuck her tongue out at Sai and then the pair disappeared down the hall.

"I think that I will dislike the Winter Ball greatly," Sai admitted several moments later. "The dancing is easy, but the uniform is rather...uncomfortable." Sasuke snorted.

"Don't worry. Since you're already mastered the worst part, your opinion will shift dramatically over the course of the next few hours," he predicted. Sasuke had taken care not to specify in which direction his opinion would move, and he inwardly smirked at the relief in Sai's eyes.

The door opened again, and this time, Ino glided before them.

"How do I look?" she asked as she turned slowly for them. The mixed hues of violet night moved around her. Her hair was woven in such a complicated design that Sasuke's brain hurt trying to follow the strands. Dark sapphires and amethysts studded her mask, deepening the hue of her usually sharp blue eyes.

"You're purple, Goldilocks." Sai said blandly.

"It is indigo!" she gasped indignantly. Ino hmphed and turned to Sasuke. "I don't even know why I try. What do you think?" The real prince lifted an eyebrow.

"You're not my date," he replied bluntly. The noblewoman said nothing and pouted. Sasuke rolled his eyes. At this rate, she would never leave him alone. "Fine. You don't make my eyes bleed."

"Why thank you, your highness," Ino said with a little laugh. "Kin's ready too." Sasuke looked back at the closed door. There was no sign of another girl. Ino sighed and stuck her head back inside her room.

"Come out, now. I know you're more used to traditional robes, but you look great." Kin said something pleadingly and Ino shook her head. "If you don't, Prince Sasuke and Sai will come in and bodily carry you to the ballroom." Ino closed the door with a feline grin. "She's ready now."

Moments later, Sasuke heard the soft click of heels. He shifted his weight to rise to his feet as he looked up. He froze.

There was a princess standing before him.

She wore a strapless gown that swept the floor. The silvery off-white of the dress complimented her pale skin, contrasted by a deep crimson obi and the pure white of her gloves. The ends of the intricate knot at her back trailed to the ground, framing the delicate bead work that frosted the bottom of her gown. She was already wearing a matching silver mask, also with three little rubies at the corner. It stood starkly out against the dark frame of her midnight hair that spilled over her shoulders. Only the top half of her hair was pulled into a knot with a dangling hairpin that outshone the tiny stones in her ears and around her neck.

Overall, her outfit was almost too simple. But she stood with a poise that couldn't be bought with lessons or luxurious attires. This was a girl who just was royalty, who commanded attention without a thought.

Sasuke's mind was blank save for one thought that repeated itself again and again: Hinata was meant for Uchiha colors.

"I told you you look good. They're speechless!" Ino looked entirely too smug as she rested her hands in the crook of Sai's elbow. "Don't doubt the master." She flipped her bangs in gesture of pride and pulled at her date insistently. "Come on. I have a ball to be the belle of."
Sasuke realized he was still caught in an odd half-crouch and pulled himself up to his full height. He put on his own mask.

"So, Princess P," he said as he extended his elbow for her to take. "Are you ready for this?" She gave him a little smile as she accepted. He escorted her towards the ballroom after Sai and Ino.

"As ready as I ever was," she admitted with a small smile. "It's kind of exciting to attend a ball where no one actually knows your identity."

"It's already my favorite event." Sasuke jerked his head discretely towards Sai. "I'm sure Prince Uchiha Sasuke, however, will not enjoy it as much as me." Hinata giggled.

"That's mean," she mock-scolded.

"That's what makes it so fun," Sasuke added. The conversation lulled for a few moments as Hinata studied Sai's outfit.

"You picked the most uncomfortable one of your formal suits, didn't you," she asked knowingly. Sasuke looked down at the ex-princess on his arm in surprise.

"When did you...?"

"Lady Ino was kind enough to give me an extensive tour of your...exhibit. You did not have a very happy look on your face when you posed for that painting." Sasuke huffed in amusement.

"Maybe," he agreed. Hinata gave him an amused quirk of her lips, but didn't say anything further. Neither of them were talkative people, and this silence wasn't a gaping discomfort to be filled. It was a great contrast to the recent memory of their horseback ride together, where each pause was another limp in their words.

They walked down the brightly lit hall, where the torches played in the violet tints of her hair. Her tiny hand was only a light pressure on his forearm, but Sasuke was vividly aware of her.

After what felt like too short of an eternity, they reached the main ballroom. The doormen opened the enormous double doors and they stepped through.


Hinata gasped when they entered the ballroom.

They were standing at the top of a staircase, looking down on a spacious room that possessed the usual architecture of marbled floors and graceful columns. The crystal chandeliers were elaborate and complimented the tapestries depicting the Sun Kingdom insignia, bringing out the rich hues of the threads. A small, lively orchestra was tucked in a corner, but clever acoustics and jutsu usage made their sound fill the ballroom like magic. Countless people were already dancing below, flitting like butterfly wings of more colors than Hinata knew existed. Many more stood on the edges, turning curious eyes to the new arrivals. Across the ballroom, Itachi was seated at his throne, watching. To his left, hung an enormous clock with hands pointing to two hours before midnight. But this was all expected at a royal ball.

What Hinata hadn't expected was for everything be sparkling with frost, as if a yuki-onna [1] had entered and breathed gently on everything.

"It's beautiful," she whispered. Sasuke moved his arm, a clear reminder that they needed to keep moving. Hinata let him lead her down the stairs as she stared up at the high ceiling and the chandeliers. She felt an odd sense of vertigo, as if she was falling up into a reverse world. She could feel the eyes that turned to them as they descended to the dance floor, but for the first time at a ball, she didn't need to be painfully aware of their judgment. She was just another faceless girl to be forgotten.

They maneuvered their way across the crowded ballroom to Itachi's throne. Before partaking in the festive dances, everyone must greet the king. As a mere Uchiha member and his date, it would seem strange not to. They separated their hands. Sasuke bowed respectfully as Hinata curtsied.

"Welcome to the Winter Ball," Itachi said with a small smile that indicated that he knew their identities. He forewent the mask, as there was little point to hiding his face. The king was not a large man, but his presence stood out even in a ballroom teeming with people. He was wearing all black, though the make of his clothes were clearly high-quality. The Uchiha symbol was pinned over his left breast, securing the heavy fabric of a fur-trimmed cape. Itachi looked pristine and exact, a meticulous king with even his crown at a perfect angle.

"Enjoy the dancing and merrymaking." Hinata got the sense that he was covertly teasing his little brother.

"Thank you, your highness. How could we but enjoy the festivities with the king's presence?" Sasuke said through his teeth. There was another pair approaching behind them, so Itachi merely nodded his head and waved them away. They retreated to the side, standingside by side without touching. The current song ended quickly, and the lilting beat of a waltz began. She knew Sasuke hated dancing, but Hinata yearned to join in.

Sasuke shifted beside her, and extended his hand. She paused a moment in surprise. He grumbled and grabbed her hand to pull her onto the dance floor. Automatically, Hinata rested one hand on his shoulder as he placed a hand around her waist. The steps were slow and easy, like an old memory where the details were forgotten but her senses still cherished. Hinata couldn't help but let a small smile emerge on her face.

"I don't hate the dancing, technically," he confessed as he twirled her and caught her again. Her hair fanned a cool breeze against her neck, and she could hear the faint clink of her hairpin as it swung. Sasuke stepped and turned them, so Hinata could see past his arm. "Prince Sasuke seems to be having a marvelous time." Even though Sai was clearly trying to dance with Ino, several groups of girls were discretely circling them with a distinctly predatory air. While Hinata's heart went out to Ino for being forced into such an awkward situation, she found herself glad that Sai was uncomfortable.

"Fair enough," she agreed. "Though I am still surprised that you would enjoy dancing."

"I didn't at first. But I find that dancing is a lot like a kata. Choreographed movements everyone learns, but when your partner changes, the feel of the whole thing transforms." Hinata was impressed. While Sasuke certainly wasn't stupid nor shallow, his moments of depth still surprised her. He smirked slightly, well aware of Hinata's improved opinion of him. "For example, dancing with Ino would be like sparring with Naruto. Dancing with Sakura is like sparring with her too." Hinata understood what he meant. Both Sasuke and Ino were so jaded to court responsibilities, that the moves would be old and rehearsed, hardly a dance anymore. With Sakura, it was an old, familiar friend where the dance was beyond tired and more sentimental. But he didn't want to talk about Ino or Sakura, and she didn't want to hear about other girls.

"What about dancing with me?" she asked after a moment. Hinata didn't flatter herself with any grandiose ideas of romance. She already knew what she was - a new kata to be conquered and mastered. What she really wanted to know if he was willing to admit it. Their relationship would change when the novelty of the mysterious Moon Princess wore off. The thought of loosing this comfortable alliance was an unpleasant one.

Sasuke didn't immediately respond. He lead Hinata around the dance floor. Rather than dancing around the other pairs, it was as if the sea of skirts and suits was parting for them. Hinata let herself enjoy the soothing motions of the simple waltz and patiently waited, though she was starting to understand Sasuke's continual obsession with revealing her eyes. His black mask shadowed most of his face, so it was impossible to read his thought process.

The sudden absence of a channel of communication reminded Hinata just how hard it should be to read her, yet Sasuke continued to instinctively understand her smallest actions. While she never received a classical ninja training, a childhood as a crown princess had taught Hinata to conceal her emotions. Despite Itachi's determined efforts to shield him from the intrigue of court and the prince's obstinate refusal to participate, Sasuke was actually a natural politician. He was likely far more aware than most people - including herself - gave him credit for.

"A new opponent," he replied. "An opponent I know all the facts about, yet also an opponent that I cannot yet predict."

"Good answer." Hinata gave him an approving look.

The waltz ended, replaced by a new piece that required an exchange of partners throughout the dance. Sasuke and Hinata ceased further words and lined up with the rest of the dancers on the floor. Hinata lost herself in the lively beat, twirling around new partners every few steps. The various masks merged into a blur of color, until at the end of the dance, she was facing Sasuke's black mask again. She looked at him, slightly breathless from a combination of thrill and exertion, and grinned at up him.

"I don't hate dancing, either," she said.

"I noticed," he said. The next song started, and they separated again. Before Hinata noticed, most of the evening had already slipped away into a blur of songs. Sometimes it was a slow dance. Sometimes it was a more lively piece that required full concentration. Sometimes it was both. They wove themselves through the patterned throng of other people like the two ends of a ribbon, looping away from each other and yet always meeting again at the end.

Finally, Sakura waved for their attention and motioned them off the dance floor. She and Yamato were seated at one of the nearby tables, sipping their drinks.

"Looks like you're having fun!" the medic commented. While her face was mostly covered, Hinata knew that the light flush of exertion and excitement to her skin couldn't be concealed.

"I am," she said sincerely. "I forgot how much fun a ball could be." She seated herself and accepted a glass of water from one of the servants circling through. Sakura returned her smile and leaned her elbows on the table.

"You're really good. I know that Sasuke said you could dance, but some of those group dances I couldn't possibly have picked up."

"Thank you." Hinata's joy deflated slightly. She'd lost herself in the event, and had let herself stand out too much. Sasuke, however, hmphed as he sat down next to her.

"That is only to be expected, given Kin's expertise in taijutsu. There are elements of grace and rhythm required that few posses." He didn't look her, but Hinata knew that his comment was to draw attention away from her unusual skills. Sakura narrowed her eyes.

"Would it hurt to actually compliment someone without including all those insults?" she asked dangerously. Sasuke smirked.

"Yes, it would."

The beginning strains of a partner dance floated through the air.

"May I have this dance?" Hinata turned to see Itachi standing behind them. He held out his gloved hand. Etiquette dictated that she clear it with Sasuke though she couldn't possibly decline the king. The prince said nothing and shrugged, though the tilt of his lips was rather telling of his real opinion of the situation.

"I am honored, your highness," Hinata demurred as she accepted and followed Itachi back onto the dance floor. She curtsied again and then placed herself in the opening position of the dance. To her surprise, he tugged her far closer than necessary, and she resisted until he tilted his head down gave her a warning look. Itachi wasn't dancing with her because he admired her dance skills or such. He wanted to speak to her privately, and the dance floor was the best place in the crowded ballroom.

Hinata stepped so close that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. His arms formed a firm cage around her. They began the first steps, a slow turn that gave Hinata a sweeping view of the entire room.

"I have a third task for you," he said, eyes carefully looking past her. His voice rumbled directly in her ear, as he was actually a little shorter than his brother. She nodded once to show she understood. He spun her out, and Hinata let herself twirl prettily, hair and gown flaring around her like petals of a flower. Itachi shifted, and when Hinata twisted back into their beginning stance, she had a piece of paper in her hand. "That is a seal for eavesdropping. You will dance with 'Prince Sasuke' and plant it on him."

A person with less control would have openly stared at the king. He was asking a genin-ranked girl to plant a powerful seal on a Guardian, arguably one of the stronger shinobi in the kingdom. It was ridiculous.

"Why?" She muttered. He pivoted so she was now moving backwards. Before he had been pulling her at a diagonal, so Hinata could at least see where they were going. But now she was forced to rely on only him to direct her as she blindly stepped back.

"Why you? He already knows you are involved, so this is not endangering you any further." Hinata didn't like that answer and frowned.

"No, why give it to me now?" Itachi neglected answering, and they finished the rest of the piece in silence. At the end, he released her and stepped back politely.

"Perhaps I was feeling nostalgic," Itachi said as he bowed slightly. Hinata couldn't help but recall Sasuke's analogy on dancing and sparring. The comparison could really be applied to any encounter. Dancing with Sasuke was like fighting a feral cat, study of contrasting signals behind a defensive mien. Itachi was an entirely different beast, as it nearly impossible to fathom what he was thinking. His face was impassive, with black eyes glinting with emotion that Hinata couldn't read.

"Nostalgic?"

"It's almost midnight," he reminded her. He smiled almost imperceptibly. "You've improved."

Then he turned and left the dance floor before she could question his meaning. The last time they'd danced together was also the last time Hinata had attended a ball, which was a lifetime ago. She had no opportunity to improve.
The next song was beginning, so Hinata hurried off the area before she would hinder the other dancers. Ino and Sai had joined them at the table.

"How was dancing with the king, hm?" Ino said with an impressed voice. Sasuke's lips had disappeared into a white line. Her rather intimate dance with his older brother did not sit well with his pride. It was rather insulting to keep her date at an arm's length and yet do the exact opposite with another man, even if that man was the king of the Sun Kingdom.

"He is skilled at whatever he does." Hinata made an ambiguous gesture as she sat down. None of the words she wanted to use would make much sense: confusing, strange. Terrifying. She was supposed to plant a seal on Sai before midnight. Hinata hoped that Itachi knew what he was doing, as she had only two, maybe three, songs to do so. "Unfortunately, I haven't had enough dancing and the king is very busy." She turned to Ino and Sai. "I know Ino must be exhausted, and my date isn't too fond of dancing. How about you, Prince Sasuke?" Understanding flashed in Ino's eyes and she sighed in false fatigue. The way she fell onto to Sai's arm and clung desperately was almost believable.

"I am! My shoes have turned into torture devices. Do you see the things I do to look pretty for you, Prince Sasuke?" she fluttered her eyelashes in a cloying way that made Sai all too eager to get away from her. "You have an image to uphold but please let me rest." She turned to Sasuke. "I'm sure your date will be all too happy to sit out just one more dance." Even with his mask, Sasuke looked anything but happy.

"That's wonderful," Hinata breathed and took Sai's hand. "I love this song, and it's only just begun. Could we jump in?" Sai gave a valiant approximation of Sasuke's smirk and nodded, at a loss to say anything else when so many people were watching them. Hinata forced herself to smile widely as they walked onto the main area and slid in to the shifting throng of dancers during a dip in the music.


Sasuke had never wanted to step onto a dance floor so badly.

He watched as Hinata and Sai swayed with the music. The ex-princess had the gall to lean close and whisper something to his decoy. That was far closer than any sort of dance required. It bordered on scandalous. Not even fiances held each other that intimately in public. First with Itach, and now with Sai. It was utterly humiliating for Sasuke that his date would do that with other men while keeping him at a perfectly polite distance.

"Calm down, big boy," Ino whispered to him. "She's doing something for Itachi."

"With Sai?" he hissed with a sneer. He jerked his arm out of Ino's grip.

"And you were becoming so calm with her around," she sighed mournfully. She caught Sasuke's arm in a surprisingly hard grip. "Don't make a scene, my dear prince," the blond noblewoman advised with a small smile. There was nothing threatening in her actions, but Sasuke got the sense that her advice shouldn't be brushed away easily.

"And why not?" he questioned contemptuously. "Do you not that see that atrocity on the dance floor?" Sakura leaned in from across the table.

"Want to tell me what's going on here?" she asked with a glare. It was obvious that she was mentally cracking her knuckles, ready to pound some sense into them for squabbling in public. Yamato laid a hand on her arm, and the violent medic softened her stare marginally. However, she wasn't going to back down until she got the story from them.

"Kin's date is jealous that she's dancing with all the important people," Ino tattled with a sniff. "Doesn't appreciate the gift of being able to spend time with me."

"I'm not jealous," gritted out Sasuke as he kept a close watch on Sai and Hinata. Her hand was too far up on his shoulder to be proper, and she was leaning too close to him again. This wasn't jealousy. This was a matter of pride. "She's practically lying on top of him." Sakura and Ino shared a look. Yamato shook his head, clearly set on keeping out of this one.

"Um, no she's not," Sakura countered slowly. "If that's considered close then someone needs to explain to you how babies are made again." He just curled his lip at her, as an eye roll wouldn't really be that effective with his mask.

"Do you see how the fangirls are looking at her?" Sasuke jerked his chin at the clustered groups of single girls, all of whom were also tracking 'Prince Sasuke' and Hinata's movement. "That's jealousy." They were pointing and whispering and sneering and clearly plotting out some sort of revenge against the girl that stole their prince.

Sasuke wondered how Hinata remained so oblivious of it all. From the moment she entered the ballroom, everyone had their eyes on her. His date was the one everyone stared at in awe and envy. No one could identify her, yet she had the countenance of royalty. Sasuke had felt a new sort of pride when he escorted her down the stairs. However, that same pride was quickly squashed by the fact that now people wouldn't stop staring.

It didn't help that she danced so intimately with King Itachi himself, and now, right after that, she's also dancing the same way with Prince Sasuke. Both Itachi and Sasuke were famous for keeping their distance from females; Itachi was king and could culture a sort of aloofness that Sasuke could only mimic with sheer determination.

But by dancing with Itachi and Sai, Hinata was blatantly showcasing the fact that she could bypass both their defenses. He thought the point was to keep Hinata unnoticeable, not make her the target of every rabid single noblewoman in the castle.

She leaned to speak to Sai, and the Guardian suddenly tensed. While there was no killing intent, Hinata looked frightened, even if she was trying desperately to hide it. Sasuke was on his feet and next to them before he realized what he was doing.

"May I cut in?" Before 'Prince Sasuke' could say anything, Sasuke reached in and plucked Hinata's hand from Sai's. "Thank you for taking such good care of my date, Prince Sasuke," he said too politely to be sincere. The surrounding dancers were glancing at them strangely, so Sasuke mockingly bowed to his decoy. "You should rest. I wouldn't want you to tire out." He applied a light pressure to the small of Hinata's back, a clear signal for her to start walking away. Sai gave a flat parody of Sasuke's sneer as he turned and left.

"You shouldn't have done that," Hinata remonstrated softly as she started to dance with him.

"Your gratitude is heartwarming," he replied. She looked up at him. The black gauze lining her mask hid her eyes, but Sasuke knew she wasn't pleased. "He was manhandling my date. Even if I am not the prince, I have a pride to uphold." He abruptly turned them, and Hinata followed with smooth steps despite the lack of warning. She really was a perfect dance partner.

"I apologize for smearing your dignity," she said, "but this has nothing to do with personal relations."

"What is and what appears to be are two vastly different matters," he said. She had demonstrated her remorse honestly, but she was doing her hateful impression of a doormat again. It did nothing to lessen the urge to punch Sai.

They finished the rest of the piece in silence. Along with many other couples, they started back for the tables for a rest. However, three young noblewomen stepped into their path, forming a wall in their way. They wore sparkling masks of blue, red, and yellow, each with enormous matching feathers.

"Who do you think you are to dance with Prince Sasuke?" Blue was the leader, and crossed her arms as she scanned Hinata disdainfully.

"This is a masquerade ball," Hinata replied serenely, subtly declining the question. She was letting herself be battered again, simply enduring until her opponents grew bored. Sasuke restrained his caustic comments, waiting for her to show that fire that he's managed to only glimpse.

Yellow snorted, unimpressed and leaned in with a sneer. "You can hide behind a mask, but it doesn't excuse the vulgar way you were draping yourself all over our prince." Red circled Hinata and shook her head in disgust.

"Do you really think you could seduce the prince with that plain outfit? Even a blind man wouldn't be interested." She reached to pick up a lock of Hinata's hair as if it was trash. Sasuke caught Red's wrist and gave it warning squeeze, taking delight in her little yelp of pain. He'd had enough.

"I find it interesting that she made it a lot closer to the prince than any of you seemed to have managed," Sasuke said with a scathing tone. "Not only that, the king also invited my date to dance tonight. Don't try to push your failings at seduction onto someone else." Even with his mask on, Sasuke's glare was so scornful that the three noblewomen stepped back slightly. He tucked Hinata's hand into the crook of his elbow. "Now, if you will excuse us, we have better things to do than listen to this drivel."

They parted meekly for them and let them pass. Hinata remained silent as she let Sasuke pull her towards the table. There were too many eyes on them, and Sasuke was feeling rather uncomfortable with the scrutiny.

"The words of some pathetic dog wrapped around that slut's finger are useless, anyways," one of the noblewomen muttered under her breath. But several dancers around them heard her. Sasuke slowed to a stop, and then turned to them with Hinata still on his arm. It was Blue who had gathered the courage to snap back, though her slightly hunched posture indicated that she was quickly realizing what a bad idea that was.

Sasuke kept his killer intent at a minimum, though he could do nothing of the sharp anger that filled him. Outwardly, he was calm and detached, but he could feel his Sharingan trying to activate in response to his wrath. The stupid girl seemed to have forgotten that the Sun Kingdom followed a militaristic hierarchy. While Itachi was scrupulously fair and tended to look the other way when Sasuke fangirls pursued him, the king could afford no tolerance for disrespect. Such words against the Uchiha clan could be considered treasonous.

Hinata reached over with her other hand and gently put it on his chest, conveniently underneath the Uchiha pin that showed his affiliation with the royal family.

"Please calm down, my lord Uchiha," she said, her sweet voice pitched so everyone around them could hear what she called him. Blue went pale at Hinata's title for Sasuke. "We are here to enjoy ourselves, and she is not worth your ire. Am I not enough for your attention?"
The uncharacteristic haughtiness of her demeanor told Sasuke everything she was trying to say. They were making a scene, and all the important figures of the kingdom were watching them. Neither Sasuke nor Hinata could let themselves be discovered. However, with so many people aware of them, it would be impossible to sneak away before the unmasking at midnight. Sasuke glanced at the clock and grimaced. They had only minutes. They'd wasted too much time already. It would be nearly impossible to neatly extricate themselves before then.

They needed to make the argument seem common and forgettable, just another spat between two egotistical nobles. The hard part was that Sasuke wore the insignia of the Uchiha, and as a member of the royal clan, he couldn't simply walk away. Hinata understood that too, given how heavily she was emphasizing the Uchiha factor. At this point, there were only a few things they could do. Hopefully, she would play along as they had planned.

"You are," he said to Hinata. "But she has dirtied your honor, and the Uchiha will not abide by such disrespect." Sasuke turned to Blue. "Tell me, what is the punishment for treason?" Hinata leaned in, just as if they were sickening lovers.

"Stoning, hanging, burning, staking, poison," she listed nonchalantly. Blue looked ill, while Red and Yellow were trying to disappear into the crowd. Hinata trailed off with a sigh. "But those would make the floor so messy. I thought you ninja were supposed to be discrete."

"Not unless we have a message to send. But anything to make my flower happy." Sasuke patted the very real sword at his side. "A little red on the floor would be very...festive. Perhaps a nice beheading to start off the new year." They were laying it on a bit thick, but as noble clan, he had the right to challenge Blue's family to a duel, and punish her as he saw fit when he won that duel. So the best way to get away quickly would be to somehow galvanize Blue into apologizing obsequiously in public. Then he could "forgive" her and forgo the duel. Unfortunately, Blue was one of those who froze under pressure. She simply stood there, shaking.

The clock hand hit midnight.

Twelve tolls rang out across the hall, blending into one long pulsing final note. They'd run out of time. A swell of conversation filled the air as everyone removed their masks, gasping and whispering over the newly revealed identities of those around them.

Sasuke turned to Hinata. They stood out too much, and he could feel curious eyes on them. It came down to this moment. He reached behind her head to untie her mask. Sasuke had only a few options to hide both their faces.

So he pulled her head in and kissed her.

Time seemed to stretch, warping like a strained elastic band. It wasn't even much of kiss so much as a simple meeting of soft, warm lips. His bangs fell down to obscure both their features, just as he'd planned, while her hair spilled over his fingers like silk, strong and smooth. Her palms were pressed against his chest, not pulling but not pushing either. His heart gave a funny flip, and then his sense of time snapped back twice as quickly. Just before he pulled away, he completed the mask switch.

Sasuke stared down at Hinata, with her new black mask. The eye holes weren't lined, and worried moon eyes stared back at him. He finally saw her eyes, finally discovered the final piece of evidence of her identity. He'd been right all along. Those pale silvery pupils would belong to no one but Hinata.

Though his heart was doing strange things on double time, Sasuke was relieved. He knew his obsession with solving the puzzle of Hinata stretched the borders of something else. But he didn't see fireworks or fat babies with wings and arrow. Those moments when he lost himself and laughed so easily with her must be just flukes. There were no great epiphanies. This wasn't possibly anything special.

This was just Hinata.

And her warm lips.

Nothing more.


The clock chimed at midnight, each knock of the bell like another nail hammered to their coffins. Thankfully, Sasuke and Hinata had been dates, and were able to cobble together a false relationship. The mask switch could occur when he pretended to hug her or even lean over to whisper something to her.

The last thing Hinata expected was for Sasuke to kiss her.

Shock slowed the world, as if everything became immersed in water. Each moment spilled over the next, overlapping and mixing and whirlpooling into a center around Sasuke. He smelled of something burning and thriving and living. It was as if she'd kissed a jolt of lightning, a line of energy reaching through her lips right to her heart and flipping it on like a switch. Her palms were on his chest, for the lack of putting them anywhere else, and she could feel the harsh pulse of his heart too.

She barely remembered to close her eyes when he switched their masks, not that it did much good with the open eyeholes. Her world was oddly bright without the gauze over her vision, and instinctively, she sought out the darkness of his pupils for relief.

The prince looked smug and relieved as he looked at her. Hinata finally looked away, keeping her eyes averted from the gazes of those around them. The orchestra was starting to play again. Sasuke was seemingly unaffected by the kiss, and tugged her off the dance floor. The Blue Mask girl had already absconded into the crowd, and the murmuring excitement around them had already washed away any particular scrutiny on them. They were just another couple.

The rest of the group was at their table, including Naruto, who had his arm around a pretty brunette who was now wearing his mask. The bold orange and black coloring clashed rather badly with her burgundy gown, but they seemed happy and comfortable together.

"We need to get out of here," Sasuke muttered to them. Naruto gave a low whistle.

"To go do what? Looked pretty hot and heavy already out there on the dance floor."

"It's not like that," Hinata protested firmly. She was suddenly glad that Sasuke's mask was slightly large on her, as it dipped down to hide the flush to her cheeks. What was wrong with her? She was acting like a clumsy Academy student. Being a princess was more similar to an S-rank infiltration mission than most people expected, as her previous title was just another weapon to be used. While Hinata never made it past genin before she returned her forehead protector, she had completed the mental conditioning required of most high-level kunoichi.
She shouldn't be so distracted over one silly little kiss. It wasn't even a real one. Just a ploy, a show. But that label did not make her feel any more relieved. It didn't feel false.

"Oh no," she whispered. Everyone turned to look at her, alarmed by the look of worry on her face.

He was the last person she could be attracted to. Nothing good would come of any feelings she had for this boy of two faces. He was a spoiled, arrogant prince with his own, rigid sense of honor. Despite that he was unwanted as such, he was a relentless champion with a perpetual smirk paired with a sarcastic comment. Even Itachi was a better choice. At the least the king seemed to understand boundaries.

"We need to get out of here," she added to warp her meaning. Hinata ducked her head, careful not to show her eyes. She pulled at Sasuke's arm and turned to leave, only to almost run someone over.

Reflexively, Hinata looked up. She hadn't sensed the person's presence at all. The single exposed eye of Shimura Danzo bore into hers.
Icy fingers gripped her throat, asphyxiating her with cold, cold fear. She could recognize that horrible man anywhere. Shock flickered over his wrinkled face before a thunderous expression overtook it. Hinata couldn't look away, caught in a sickening trap of hatred and terror.

Sasuke stepped forward, breaking the terrible eye contact. But then he bowed, lower than she'd ever thought possible. He couldn't help her.

"Good evening, Lord Hokage."

Danzo ignored him, still staring at Hinata as he spoke in a dangerous tone.

"Arrest this Hyuuga at once."


AN:
[1] yuki-onna - "snow woman", demon in Japanese folklore
-Much gratitude to my beta Rhinst, who has managed to get every chapter back to me in less than twelve hours after I send it. Even this monster chapter! Major props!

-Ebisu doesn't actually have a family name, so I made one up for him. Yes, that does make him Iruka's uncle, but it could work in canon. He would have been a teenager when he hypothetically took in Iruka, and he wouldn't know how to pay attention to a child, leaving Iruka starving for attention and therefore sympathetic to Naruto years later. And maybe Ebisu's love for teaching elite ninja inspired Iruka.

-Hinata's birthday is December 27th.

-Red and white are the traditional colors for good luck. Coincidentally also the colors of the Uchiha fan.

-Up until now, I've pretty much concentrated on the development of Sasuke's "non-feelings". However, now that Hinata's empathy and compassion have opened her heart up to Sasuke, it's time for a little leveling of the playing field. Of course, any progress in their relationship immediately means it's time for the universe (aka me) to start messing with them. Mwahaha.

-This chapter was simultaneously enjoyable and wretched to write. Enjoyable because I like writing, and wretched because I literally wrote the whole thing in fifteen minute spurts whenever I could find the time. I apologize for any choppiness...and well...at least it's not like 30 little vignettes shoved together.

-I do skip a lot of scenes, since a lot of it isn't important enough to warrant a full scene. Examples are like Hinata deciding her dress to be red and white, or Sai copying Sasuke for the millionth time.

-In case you haven't noticed, this weekly update thing has not been happening. T_T I hate being a big fat liar, but that's the way it is. My chapters are getting progressively longer (I usually aim for 7k ish words...except this chapter was about 16k) and the holidays are coming up. Unless I forgo sleep and sanity, strictly weekly updates are no longer in the realm of possibility. But this is a double chapter, so consider it a peace offering.

-Finally, let me know whatcha like, whatcha don't like. Characterization, writing style, plot...etc. I lie to myself to say that writing fanfiction is productive since it's for erm...self-improvement!