PART 16

"Ne, ne Sasuke-kun!!! Let's go on a date!!" Sakura begged.

"Let go of my arm," Sasuke growled.

"What if it's a double date? With Naruto and Hinata?" She was desperate.

"You're not going to try anything? And you won't ask anymore?"

She nodded. "It's a date!! 6pm on Saturday at Kappouten! I'll go tell Naruto and Hinata!"

She ran off and Sasuke groaned. True, he didn't have any plans on Saturday, but then Kappouten was a very fancy restaurant, and expensive.

But then Sakura was head of the hospital, Naruto Hokage, Hinata an heiress, and him as an heir too. So technically, they were all rich people.

But he hated dressing up nice, but he'd have to.

Wait…Saturday…that's today!! Aw crap, Sakura really is smart. 6:00 is in…what?! An hour. He slapped his forehead, and walked home to get ready.

XXXXXX

"Sasuke-teme!! I didn't think you'd really show up!! Come on let's go in before fan girls come glomping us. I finally understand your pain, Sasuke-teme!" Naruto ushered Sasuke inside the restaurant.

Sasuke had never seen Naruto in a suit and Naruto had never seen Sasuke in one either, and they looked pretty…hot (to put in a fan girl's term).

"Sakura and Hinata are coming together. It's been a long time since I've eaten at a fancy place with Hinata. Paper work is really killing-"

But he was cut off when Sakura and Hinata walked in. Sakura was in a revealing red dress, and Hinata in a simple but elegant black dress. Sakura had curled the ends of her pink hair. Hinata's once long hair had been cut so that it was now shoulder length.

Naruto's jaw literally dropped and it seemed like he was about to get a nosebleed. He was staring at Sakura, saying, "S-Sakura…you look…wow…"

Sakura smiled and sat down next to Sasuke. "How do I look?" she asked in a seductive tone.

"Hn." She pouted at his response.

Naruto turned to Hinata and said, "You look great too Hinata!! But I wish you didn't cut your hair. It was so long and nice…"

Hinata said, "I'm sorry, but I couldn't stand it much longer."

Although Sakura didn't catch Sasuke's eye, Hinata did. She was beautiful and seemed so fragile and gentle.

Hinata took a seat beside Naruto, and across from Sasuke.

Naruto kept glancing at Hinata as they ate, and Sakura slammed her chopsticks down furiously. "You're making me sick, throwing those looks at her! What is it?"

"I can't get used to her short hair!! It makes her seem so different!" Naruto whined. It was obvious that he disliked her hair cut.

Hinata hid the pain in her face, but Sasuke caught it. "I think you look better with it," Sasuke said. It was true, but god knows why he said so.

The argument between Naruto and Sakura stopped, and Hinata blushed. "T-thank you, Sasuke."

Naruto cried, "I never said she didn't look good! I just said it was different!" He was obviously trying to cover up.

"Naruto, the only reason you are not being thrown out is because you are the Hokage. Now shut up and eat," Sasuke spoke coolly.

Naruto clenched his fist and opened his mouth to speak, when Hinata all of a sudden, stuffed three pieces of sushi down his throat with ease. Naruto started coughing, but not heavily.

Sasuke and Sakura stared at Hinata who continued eating innocently, as if nothing had happened. She smiled sweetly and said, "This is very good, don't you agree Naruto-kun?"

Naruto nodded dumbly because her sweet smile reminded him of Sai's smile. He shuddered at the thought.

Suddenly Kakashi came in. "Yo! Aw, isn't this sweet?"

Naruto jumped up. "Kakashi, what are you doing here? Do you have a date with someone?"

"Hahaha, no. Tsunade sent me because she wants to discuss some documents with you. She said it was urgent."

Naruto groaned and turned to Hinata. "I'm sorry, Hinata. I really gotta go. I'll make it up to you sometime."

"Oh, no! It's really ok." Sasuke saw the hidden hurt in her eyes.

Naruto's face brightened and said, "Ok! I'll see you another time!"

Before Naruto and Kakashi could leave, a woman in a nurse's suit rushed in crying out, "Sakura-sama! There's an emergency that needs you at the hospital!"

The pink haired kunoichi immediately stood up and departed without protesting.

So Sasuke and Hinata were left alone at the table.

"My, Naruto-kun ordered a lot, didn't he? Do you think we can finish?" Hinata said casually.

"Tch, no way. Let's eat all we can, and then take the rest home."

Hinata watched as Sasuke ate. He avoided all sweet things, and she saw that he liked fish. She chuckled inwardly.

Sasuke noticed that Hinata ate a lot of rice. She must really like rice.

"Ano, Sasuke…thank you for back there."

"What do you mean?"

"Umm…well, for complimenting my hair," she said struggling with the words.

"Oh, I really meant it."

Her eyes widened in surprised. "Thank you."

He put down his chopsticks, and said, "I'm full. Are you?"

At her nod, he asked a waitress to get some boxes to take the food home. When she came back, she regarded the two of them and said, "You guys look so cute together!! Ne, when are you going to pop the big question?" she asked Sasuke.

Hinata felt heat rise up her face and before she could say anything, Sasuke replied, "We're not dating. We're just friends."

"Oh? You know how friends turn out," the waitress was called on by another table, and left Sasuke and Hinata alone.

"I'll walk you home," Sasuke said standing up.

"Ah! No, there's no-"

"I've got nothing else anyway. And we don't live that far apart." Sasuke interrupted.

Hinata gave him, and they walked under the stars. As they walked, Hinata gazed at the midnight sky, the stars reflecting in her eyes.

"In truth, I've never seen you in a suit before, Sasuke," she said.

"I've never seen you in a dress." Sasuke answered.

Hinata smiled but then blushed when Sasuke said, "Although, I have to admit, you look really nice."

"Thank you. You look handsome today too. Now I know why you have so many fan girls."

"Speaking of fan girls, are you ever annoyed that Naruto has some now?"

She shook her head gracefully. "No, because I know Naruto-kun really cares about me."

Sasuke thought about the time when Naruto said he might propose to Hinata. It had been months since then, but still…

"Naruto's always busy though, isn't he?"

"Yes, it's hard to spend time with him, but he tries, and I'm grateful," Hinata said gently.

At that moment, Hinata looked so tender. She seemed to melt into the dark sky above her. Sasuke softened and felt that her presence was peaceful.

But they had arrived at her apartment. She thanked him for the evening and added shyly, "I'm glad we were able to talk to each other as friends."

It was strange. That night, Sasuke dreamed of a beautiful girl with a long flowing white dress. She was crying, and when she saw him, she rushed to him. She feebly beat her weak hands against his chest.

"Why? Why didn't you tell me?" she sobbed. Sasuke grasped her thin wrists.

He spoke in a soft, sad tone. "I'm sorry. I just want you to be happy."