I'm so sorry everyone about these late chapters, but there's so many exams it's hard to do this too! Thank you all for your support and comments, and a special shout out to Freyja Elizabeth for her lovely message! I hope you enjoy this chapter (sorry if it's a bit short, I haven't written in a while and I'm a bit rusty!)
-Asayo xx

The ramen bar was packed on Saturdays. It was crowded, and noisy, but the food well worth it. Even so, it was not the best place to take your shy, self conscious girlfriend on a date. Hinata twirled her fork in her noodle bowl, gathered up a few strands, and let it slip off her fork and back into the bowl again. Around her, bodies pushed against each other and voices shouted from every direction, each wanting to be heard over the last.
"One Ichiban Ramen coming up!"
"Make it two!"
"Hey quit pushing!"
"Did you see last night's episode of..."
"Can I have some water?"
"I'm not pushing! You are!"
"Sorry, I'm not interested in dating right now."
"Are you sure?"
"Hey, isn't that Hinata? The girl who stole Sakura's boyfriend?" A female voice called over the others. Hinata froze up and strained to hear what was going to be said next.
"Oh yeah! The one in that ridiculous duffle coat. Seriously, who wears that in a bar like this?" Another woman's voice. Hinata didn't dare to turn around to see who it was. She could almost feel their gazes burning into her neck, and wished now, more than ever, that she could just shrink in size and be lost inside her coat forever.
"What's he like then?"
"Who?"
"The boyfriend. He must be pretty good if two girls wanted him." The two women moved closer to the bar, unaware of how loud they were. One squinted at the blonde boy, guzzling down his ramen in record breaking time and burping loudly.
"Doesn't look like it." She nudged her friend and they both burst out laughing. Hinata hunched her shoulders. "Shh shh! I think she can hear us!" She whispered loudly between fits of giggles.
"I doubt it. She doesn't look too bright." Said the other, and they both laughed again. They were then pushed to the side by a burly looking man, holding some drinks. The two walked off to the other side of the bar, whispering and sniggering, throwing the occasional glance at the unfortunate couple. Hinata gazed sadly into her bowl of ramen and pushed it away. She wasn't feeling very hungry anymore.
"What's the matter, Hinata? You've hardly eaten anything." Naruto said, finishing another bowl.
"N-nothing Naruto. I've just...lost my appetite." She was glad that he hadn't heard what the girls were saying. The blonde smiled gently and took patted her leg.
"Want to go somewhere else?" He asked,
"Sure." Hinata replied, relieved. Even though the young women were gone, something was bothering her, and she wasn't sure what. People talked behind her back all the time. Why was she bothered so much by this? Naruto, clueless to his girlfriend's problems, took her by the hand and lead her out of the bar. She followed wordlessly, too wrapped up inside her own thoughts to care where they were going.

xXx

He was doing it again. Staring at her when he thought she wasn't looking, and every time she plucked up the courage to meet his gaze, he would avert his eyes and pretend to be doing something else. It wasn't like before. The mood was different. Sakura kept her eyes on the TV and tried not to let it get to her. Whatever his problem is, he'll tell me when he's ready, she thought, just give him some time and he'll tell me what's wrong. Something was definitely wrong though. Kakashi's sad looks and stares would rest upon her shoulders like an extra weight every time, and all she could do was ignore it and hope he didn't see her. For someone with one eye covered, his stares sure were heavy.
"I'm going out for a while." Kakashi said at last, sticking his hands in his pockets and leaning against the door frame. He had taken too much time off work lately, and he was sure that Sakura would be able to look after herself. "I'll be home before tea."
"See you then." Sakura waved at him and flashed a reassuring grin.
"Keep out of trouble." The older nin looked like he was about to say something else, but changed his mind and left, closing the door behind him.
Sakura sighed and slumped down onto the sofa. Ever since they came home from the Secret Garden, things had changed. It wasn't awkward exactly, but it felt like he was more closed off than before, as if he was holding her at arm's length. No matter how much she replayed the scene, she couldn't figure out what had happened to change the way he acted. Did he regret taking her there? Was that it? She racked her brains, trying to picture that day again. Everything was normal, great in fact. So why was Kakashi so sullen all of a sudden? Sakura gripped the silver pendant that Kakashi had given her when she first stayed. She wore it almost every day now.
Hmm, why is that I wonder? Inner Sakura hadn't made an appearance in a while, but the cherry blossom found that it was nice to talk to someone when she was alone, even if that someone is in her head. It was a comfort thing.
It looks good on me, she protested.
Sentimental value, the blossom duplicate wiggled her finger, making tut tut noises. You like, no sorry, love Master Kakashi. Don't try to deny it!
I wasn't going to. Sakura gave in to her thoughts.
Do you remember the night before he gave you that pendant?
Yeah, replied Sakura, realising where this was going, I remember. I was exploring this house.
And he caught you.
Thanks to you! She retorted, but knew what her inner self was planning. Who can catch her, when they aren't there? With Kakashi gone for the day, who can stop her picking up where she left off? She still hadn't explored that corridor full of rooms, even if one of them was under lock and key, it didn't mean that the others were. The library was massive enormous too, and if she got tired, she could always go and play the arcade games in the other room. The more she thought about it, the more the idea appealed to her.
So what's stopping you then?
Sakura knew what was stopping her. A part of her that she hadn't even realised was there. A part of her that was buried under sorrow and depression ever since Naruto had broken her heart. Don't do it, that part of her said, he trusts you. He's shown you something that is extremely important to him.
He never said that she should stop exploring. He only said not to go into that one room.
But... the other voice was smothered by her original inner self. Sakura's mind was made up, but although it was smothered, the little part of her was still thinking, feeling, talking. It didn't want to leave.