So, we are approaching the half way mark. To be truthful I've been having a few ideas about a sequel popping up in my head for awhile but I won't put much thought to those until I actually get into the serious part of this fic. If I can get through that part I might actually consider the sequel idea.

Until then it will remain a half of an idea. Well now I give you a little Halloween on Christmas. Merry Christmas.

Chapter 15

All morning Hinata had been getting more and more nervous. Today was the day of the party. She was so nervous that whenever the party was mentioned a small panic started in her. The costume she had chosen would look odd on her. She just knew it. At least Sasuke would look good but then she really couldn't stand near him if she looked as odd as she thought she would. Hanabi had been pestering her about the costume ever since she found out that Hinata had gone shopping for it without her.

Another thing that everyone was talking about was the house that had simply gone up in flames the night before. No one knew how it happened. One moment it was there perfectly untouched and the next it's lit so brightly it could be seen burning from a street away. Luckily the family had bit been home. It was labelled a freak accident but naturally there were rumours and speculation that strayed from that idea. Hinata ignored them it might really have been a freak accident.

So far she was getting through school at a relatively slow pace. She hadn't seen Sasuke much all morning and now that it was lunch time she could make out his head across the cafeteria around the table a few of the other football players, his usual seat. She frowned only slightly when she saw Sakura, Ino and Karin huddled together at their own table. Sakura was doing the talking and Hinata had a sinking feeling she would not be pleased with the outcome of that huddle. Neither would Sasuke.

"Bunny," Temari's call brought her out of her thoughtful silence. She turned her eyes onto her blonde friend. Ten-ten was with them sipping an energy drink. "What are you wearing tonight? We already know you're going."

"It's a secret." Hinata answered with a blush. "You'll see it later."

"Not even a clue?" Ten-ten asked.

"Black?" Hinata offered.

"Why won't you tell us?" Temari whined with a pout. "Please? I want to know. I'll even tell you what I'm wearing."

"No. We'll all make it a surprise." Ten-ten said smiling now. Temari pouted more now that Ten-ten wasn't going to tell her about her costume either.

"Well my costume is awesome thank you very much." she huffed. Ten-ten and Hinata smiled at her. She stuck her tongue out at them before returning to her food. "Is Chocolate taking you or is Hawkman picking you up?"

"Hawkman?" Hinata asked confused at the new name. Ten-ten suddenly spewed her drink onto a passing student and choked lightly before dissolving into giggles.

"It's in the eyes man." Temari said pointing to her own eyes. "No human has eyes that dark."

"Who are we talking about?" Hinata asked.

"Your boyfriend." Ten-ten answered and Hinata blushed lightly.

"Hawkman? Really?" she asked

"I haven't decided yet." Temari told them as she turned in her seat to look across the room at the group of boys with a frown. "I can't seem to find a right fit."

"Knowing you, you'll eventually find one." Ten-ten said just as Sasuke turned his head in their direction. He looked right at them with a raised brow, questioning their reasons for staring. Neji's gaze soon followed his and Ten-ten wiggled her fingers at him in a wave. He smiled a small smile before turning Sasuke's head back to their table with an added slap to the head.

"Yea. Maybe." Temari said turning back to their table. The others brought their attention back as well "So, has anyone noticed how cute the Nara goal keeper is?"

XXXXX

It was almost time and Hanabi was putting on the finishing touches to Hinata's make-up. It was beautiful. It was full black. Hanabi had been surprised at the costume when she saw it. It was a lot. There were so many things that Hinata had to put on and strap on and Hanabi was happy to be a part of helping her put it on. The pictures she would get! She already had her camera and had taken a few already. If Neji thought he was going to get away with leaving without picture bring taken he was so very wrong. She would catch a few of him right after she was finished with Hinata. Her sister looked so great it was creepy. She let out a sigh as she finished and put down the mascara to take up her camera to snap a quick one.

Hinata was dressed in full black from her head to her toes. Her hair was caught up in two and full of curls. She wore a frilly, lacy black dress that reached just above her knees and would have exposed most of her bust if not for the high collared mesh shirt she wore underneath it. The collar of that shirt was lined with a decorative studded collar. The corset held her waist tightly and helped to accentuate the wide spread of the dress caused by the layers underneath. Her legs were covered by black fishnet stockings that crisscrossed over her pale skin. She wore studded black wedges that would be easy to walk in. Her arms were bear but she wore black mesh fingerless gloves and her nails were done with long false nails painted the darkest shade of black and bedazzled with a few tiny diamonds. The most dazzling captivating part of the whole thing was her face. Her skin was already pale but with Hanabi's touches it was more pronounced. Her face was now almost white. Her eyes were rimmed with black eyeliner covered with back and silver eye shadow and mascara had been added as well. They all enhanced the paleness of her eyes in contrast in a ghostly fashion. Her eyebrows were eerily immaculate and her lips were a dark purple that bordered on black. All the black she was wearing contrasted greatly with the few bits of pale skin that was revealed. She looked almost positively evil. The whole outfit almost scared Hanabi. Hinata wasn't dressed as a monster but she was one evil and vindictive looking woman that could pass for a vampire without being one. She was like a really creepy life-sized gothic doll. It was thrilling.

"You look so cool." Hanabi told her. Hinata blushed lightly at the compliment. This whole get up was so unlike her. Hanabi sighed. "I wish I was going too. You have to tell me all about the party."

"Yea. Sasuke should be here now." Hinata said gathering up her cell phone and money. The doorbell rang downstairs. She turned to look at Hanabi as she bit her lip nervously. "Do you think he'll like it?"

"Definitely and Neji will flip." Hanabi said smiling.

Downstairs Neji pulled the door to give Sasuke a calculating look. Hinata and Hanabi had been locked in Hinata's room for ages now and hadn't seen what she was wearing yet. Sasuke himself was dressed rather spectacularly in an old English suit that looked like a butler's uniform from the movies. He stepped aside to let him in and appraised the tailored finesse of the tailcoat. He actually looked elegant. Neji closed the door behind him.

"Wait here. I'll get her." he said before turning to climb the stairs. He pulled out his phone as he neared the top to text Ten-ten. "Hinata, Sasuke is here!"

By the time Neji called Hinata was already a few steps away from the stairs. Hanabi was following closely behind her

"We know." she said causing Neji to look up. He froze mid step when he saw Hinata. His eyes were wide and his mouth hung open as he watched her approach. Hanabi smirked at him but he didn't see her. He robotically turned to watch her as she moved to pass him on the stairs.

Sasuke wondered idly why Neji had simply stopped like that, one foot on the ground and the other halfway to the stair above. He became fully interested when she saw another pair of feet pass Neji's and begin to ascend the stairs. He watched as Hinata was slowly revealed to him and she was spectacular. She took his breath away.

She was almost at the bottom when Neji's mind actually began to catch up and his mouth began to move again. He was however cut off by Hanabi

"Sshh brother. Do not speak." she said with a hand in the moments of 'shut up'. He eyed the hand that was very close to his face then frowned at her before looking back down at Hinata as she crossed over to Sasuke. Hanabi sniffled a little and whispered. "They're so cute."

"Cute my ass." Neji growled lowly and Hanabi turned a glare onto him. That was her hard work right there.

"Yea well, it's your turn mister." she said grabbing him by the sleeve and pulling him up the rest of the stairs roughly. She called down to Sasuke and Hinata as she went. "Bye! Have a nice night and take lots of pics to share! And be naughty! Close the door on your way out!"

"You look..." he paused not finding a word that convey his thoughts perfectly. "Awesome."

Hinata blushed at the praise and fidgeted her hands a little. She refused to go back to poking them together especially not in the presence of Sasuke. It made her look stupid and incompetent. Her father already had massive problems with it. She smiled shyly at him. She had been so nervous about wearing this.

"You look awesome too." she said and he smiled a small smirk like smile. He took her hand in his and pulled her closer.

"As is necessary to escort a person as beautiful as you, my lady." he said and smiled a little more when her blush deepened. He gently pulled her to the front door and out of the house. Soon they were on their way to Jiraiya's, Naruto's godfather, house for the party. It was a huge mansion. The party was to be held in the maid's quarters that was really the size of an average house. Not to mention the pool might become occupied as the night grew older.

When they got there they were on time but when they got inside it was obvious that the party had already started. There were a lot of people that neither Sasuke nor Hinata recognised. Did Naruto know these people? They received a few an appraising looks as they shuffled through partly due to Hinata's look and partly due to the vivid red contacts that Sasuke had but in. After all he was her demon butler and red eyes made for a good demon.

The first person they saw that they knew was Lee. Lee was dressed in green spandex with a black thing in the centre of his chest. He was questioning everyone on what they were supposed to be. He grinned widely when he saw them and practically bounced over to them grinning widely.

"Hey Sasuke, Ms Hyuga." he greeted them obviously not recognising Hinata. Hinata wondered if she really looked so different. "What are you?"

"Her butler." Sasuke said not bothering to tell him it was Hinata beside him. Lee would only make a scene and say all the things Neji would say if he hadn't gotten hauled away by Hanabi. Sasuke had to thank the girl.

Lee looked at him for a moment before turning to Hinata "And what are you?

"Your worst nightmare." she answered with a smirk. Sasuke smirked as well, that smirk actually looked good on her. Lee smiled brightly. "And you?"

"Green Lantern!" the older teen answered brightly. Hinata and Sasuke looked down at his spandex and realised that the black part on his chest was actually shaped like lantern insignia.

"His... thing is supposed to be black." Hinata said slowly as they both raised eyebrows at Lee. They knew he was odd, but really?

"Yea but he's 'Green' Lantern, he should be wearing green. I never understood why it was black. Don't they know colours?" Lee explained still smiling.

"...The lantern is green..." Sasuke pointed out. Lee nodded.

"So is the ring." Lee answered showing his finger. The ring there was indeed green, mold green. Hinata and Sasuke looked at it dubiously. "Well the party continues. See you later."

He left leaving two slightly confused teens behind. They watched him leave trying to push the odd encounter out of their minds. They had just succeeded in doing so when they were spotted by the host himself.

"Sasuke!" the blond shouted across the room before pushing his way through the crowd that was getting thinker by the minute. He pulled Sasuke into a huge hug when he got to him with a bright grin. "You came! I thought you might have skipped this year since you're always saying you're going to."

"Be glad idiot." Sasuke grumbled pushing the blonde away from him then smoothing his suit with a frown. He appraised Naruto's costume as he grinned back at him. Naruto was wearing a long flowing black coat with blue undertones, a button-up high collared shirt that goes up past his head and straight cotton pant with shiny black shoes, a long twisting staff, with a large orange crystal embedded into the top so that only its body could be seen, was held in his hand. If they could guess he was a wizard or Mage or something like that.

"I'm a sorcerer. My sorceress will be here soon." Naruto answered for him. At the mention of sorceress Naruto's eyes slipped to the figure standing beside Sasuke. He didn't recognise her at first until he remembered her eyes and his jaw dropped comically. "Hinata?"

Hinata nodded slowly under his gaze. His eyes took in everything. Sasuke would have commented if he hadn't seen his brother, and Kisame but mostly his brother, over Naruto shoulder. Instead he frowned patting Naruto on the shoulder and resting a hand on Hinata's back.

"I'll be back." he growled in warning to Naruto before disappearing into the crowd. Naruto nodded automatically as his gaping look became one of suspicion.

"Did Sasuke make you wear this?" he asked Hinata mentally rolled her eyes. Leave him robe suspicious of Sasuke's doing when it has nothing to do with him.

"No, I chose it myself." she answered and he frowned.

"Why?" he asked. He was confused and disturbed by her scarily beautiful costume. It was different, shocking, and eerie and almost had him sweating at the thought of what if it wasn't Hinata. It looked like if it wasn't Hinata that person would kill him for just looking at her for too long.

"To scare people." she answered boredly. The answer was rather obvious.

"Why would you do that?" he asked sounding disturbed by the mere thought.

Hinata's twisted into a clueless look. 'It's Halloween.' her mind supplied while she tried to figure out why Naruto looked so disturbed. She was saved from this by a towering figure behind the blond. She looked up only half processing who he was because of how dumbed down her brain had become after Naruto's last question.

"Hey short stuff. Looking good." the looming figure of her blue skinned friend said. He was dressed in grey plumber overall splattered with red for blood and a cap. He had a bowler wrench in the hand that was resting on his shoulder. From what she could gather he was a bloody plumber.

"Hey Kisame." she said with a smile at the grin he was giving her.

"You know each other?" Naruto asked incredulously. Kisame grinned widely at him before moving to hug Hinata.

"Of course we do. Me and Sasuke are sharing." Kisame answered and Hinata blushed red as Naruto's jaw dropped for the second time that evening. She tried to stutter out a response even as she felt Kisame's rumbling laugh around her. "Just kidding. We're just real good friends, right Shorty?"

Hinata nodded vigorously thankful that Sasuke hadn't been there to hear any of that. He would not have been a happy camper.

"Hinata," Itachi's voice floated to her as he approached the small group with Sasuke trailing behind him. He was dressed similarly to Kisame but half of his face was 'bloody' and he carried a tool kit. He took her hand into his and brought it to his lips to kiss it with a flourish. "You look gorgeous and deathly scary."

"Thank you." she said courteously. He smiled at her before turning away and disappearing into the crowd. Kisame saluted her before following after her. Naruto might have comment on the past few minutes if he had not been pulled away by another of his patrons. More people just kept coming.

"What did you guys talk about?" Sasuke asked taking Hinata's hand and leading her away from the crowded area. She shrugged but then she remembered he couldn't see her since she was behind him. She should have answered him if she hadn't been interrupted by a shout behind them.

"Bunny!" the voice that was obviously Temari shouted. Hinata spun to look, pulling Sasuke to a stop. He gave her an incredulous look before suddenly Temari nudged her way through the crowd. She was dressed in a purple and white kimono with a red obi and a few hair ornaments. She gaped at Hinata before examining her with a critical eye. "You look smokin'. I am definitely surprised. You two actually look really cute together. I'm feeling the dark vibe. Looking suave up there dude."

"Thanks." Hinata said with a blush. Sasuke nodded his thanks before eyeing her outfit. "What are you?"

"Japanese fan murderer." Temari answers instantly and pulled out two fans that were smeared with blood with a quick move. It was too quick a move to not be a practiced move. The thought only slightly bothered Hinata. Sasuke's brows knit together at the thought. "I look great right?"

"Yea. Have you seen Ten-ten and Neji?" Hinata asked and watched as Temari shrugged.

"Those two will get here soon enough." Temari said before giggling. "Unless they get side-tracked"

"Temari." Hinata chided and the blonde giggled. Sasuke watched then talk a little longer until Temari left to look for one of her brothers. Hinata looked happy. When Temari was gone Hinata turned to him still smiling. It was beautiful. She was almost the same height as him because of the heels she was wearing so he was looking right into her face. He leaned forward watching as her smile was replaced by a growing blush and widening eyes. She was panicking on the inside, he could feel it. She was still cute like this.

"Shit." he said pausing just and inch away. He could see her shocked expression but that wasn't what had his attention now. "Sasori and Deidara. And bloody Hidan."

Hinata looked at him confused before turning to look past into the crowd. She could see a mass of red hair by the door that was topped by a top hat. The blonde beside him was obviously Deidara, the long blond hair was a dead give-away. Behind them was a taller man with silver hair and oddly purple eyes and beside him was another man dark brown hair that fell into his face. His vivid green eyes shone through despite the cover his hair provided. He scared Hinata a little.

"Does Naruto even know the people he has at this party?" she heard Sasuke grumble. She saw his irritated look from the corner of her eyes. He turned her to look into his eyes. "Whatever you do, don't go near to the silver dude. He's worse than Sasori. Unlike Sasori, he will flirt with you even if he knows you're with me. He would flirt with his brothers girlfriend if he had a brother and I don't just mean play flirting. Serious flirting that will definitely lead to more things."

Hinata nodded looking back across. "It doesn't help that he's coming this way, right?"

Sasuke groaned but it was too late to move. Sasori was before them seconds later smiling. He kissed Hinata's hand before Sasuke could stop him. Hinata blushed; this was the second time this evening. Before Sasori could say anything thing though he was pushed aside by the silver haired man from before.

"Hey babe, looking good." he said with a predatory grin as he quite obviously checked her out.

"Go away Hidan." Sasuke said coolly even as he glared at the taller man.

"Shut up chicken strips." Hidan answered having a dismissing hand at him without looking in his direction.

"Get lost man-whore." Sasuke growled and Hidan spun to him looking ready to tear his head off. Hinata's eyes widened at the sudden viciousness but Sasuke was ready for him. He didn't expect Hidan to be suddenly yanked backwards.

"Don't even start." the brown haired snarled gripping Hidan by the back of his neck tightly. "Neither of you even start this shit now."

"Go Kuzu!" Deidara cheered only to get a murderous glare from the brunette. The blind hastily added "Sir."

Sasori elbowed him quickly and sharply with a grunt of 'wimp'.

"No problems tonight any of you or lead will be pissed and I'll dock your earnings because he says I can't snap all you necks." the brunette said squeezing Hidan a little tighter until Hidan was sinking fingernails into his arm that was holding his neck. He spun away pulling Hidan along with him.

"As I was going to say before I was so rudely interrupted by that oaf," Sasori said turning his attention back to Hinata. He ran a hand across her neck, just above her collar, as he began in a dramatic romantic tone. "Your scent is so delicious, I could smell it from a far and it makes me want to suck your blood. But alas, I cannot, for I have broken my teeth."

Hinata snorted hiding her lips behind her hands. Sasori smiled at her.

"You are a vampire."

"Yes and Deidara is my lowly butler bound to me in vampire servitude." Sasori said patting Deidara on the head. When Deidara gnashed at him he slapped him under his chin making him bite his tongue. "So very predictable."

"What about the others?"

"Well Hidan and Kakuzu are doing a Frankenstein thing. Hidan is the mad scientist and Kakuzu is the zombie creation. Kisame and Itachi are bloody plumbers but you probably already know that. Konan and Pein are like Sweeney Todd except tattoo artists. They might actually be doing the temporary tattoos today."

"You've gotta see Tobi and Zetsu. It's both extremely hilarious and depressing." Deidara cut in and Sasori smirked with a nod of agreement.

"Do we want to know?" Sasuke asked and they merely smirked at him.

"I'll be going now. Lots of girls to go around." Sasori said both Hinata and Sasuke rolled their eyes.

"See ya." Deidara said before following Sasori as he left. They watched them go. The Akatsuki were interesting.

As the party progressed more and more people kept arriving. They caught sight of Shino and Kiba at one point. Shino was dressed in a furry high collared and hooded coat as an Eskimo while Kiba and his dog, Akamaru, were his dogs that would be pulling his sleigh. Apparently Kiba had lost a bet and was paying for it. For Sasuke nothing particularly interesting had happened until he went to get something to drink for Hinata.

He froze the moment he saw Juugo idly throwing things that looked too fishy for his liking into the punch bowls with a completely blank look. He looked at Juugo who looked right back at him then he looked at the bowls. Obviously Suigetsu had sent him since nobody would trust an open drink that Suigetsu stood beside. That also meant that this was probably Hebi's fault. Without a comment he turned away and moved to find his brother who would actually have cold or at least cool drinks in that toolbox of his. He resolved to find a way to get Naruto to throw out his drinks.

At the same time Hinata was just moving aside to allow a group of boys to run past with a sofa. One of them looked oddly like Kankuro dressed as a human sized Chucky. She was suddenly drawn to a conversation she had accidentally stepped into.

"So what are you?" a guy she didn't know asked a red head she identified as Gaara. The guy seemed a little tipsy to her. His girlfriend, she assumed, was half way hold him up.

"The Sandman." Gaara answered in his usual tone. The two others smiled

"Oh like the guy that puts people to sleep?" the girl asked and Gaara nodded.

"Cool. Can you put me to sleep?" the guy asked and Gaara eyed him for a moment.

"Go to sleep." he said before suddenly karate kicking him in the face. The guy fell to the floor instantly.

'Lights out.' was surprisingly Hinata's first thought. The girlfriend was instantly by his side panicking.

"Did I miss something?" Sasuke asked when he returned with two cold sodas.

"Uh-huh." Hinata answered. That was about the time that the girls loved him too much and so he might as well give them a show. He was on top of one of the tables giving a strip tease.

Sakura, Ino and Karin soon arrived. Karin had come as a millionaire's daughter and was dressed in a luxurious fur coat and was ladened with jewellery. Not long after her arrival, Kakuzu started removing some of said jewellery and having Hidan do the same. Ino for some weird reason decided that it was perfectly fine that her sorceress costume to match Naruto's was deep purple short shorts and bra like bath suit. Naruto's eyes almost fell out of their sockets and he rushed to drape his own coat around her before too many ogling eyes could see.

Sasuke and Hinata didn't even know Sakura had arrived until she sauntered up to Sasuke thinking he was alone having not recognised Hinata. Her costume was that of a nurse; short, tight and 'sexy'. She leaned into his personal space and attempting to run her hands across his chest as she said sultry "Are there any injuries you'd like me to check?"

Sasuke was not pleased. Hinata cleared her thought to bring the girls attention to her. To say Sakura was shocked was an understatement. Her shock quickly went to annoyance and she shot a glare at Hinata before stomping off.

They came across Kisame and Suigetsu having a drinking contest soon enough. Kisame won soon after with a victory shout of "And the shark swallows the fish!" punctuated by a loud belch. Hinata giggled at his enthusiasm.

Ten-ten and Neji soon found them. They were dressed as a ninja and a bloody samurai. Apparently the samurai, Neji, would not hurt a woman on his honour.

Not too long after that they saw the wonder that was Tobi and Zetsu. It was truly hilarious and depressing. It was depressing that Zetsu had let Tobin dress him up because that was obviously not a costume a grown person would have chosen. It was hilarious to see two grown 'men' dressed as a rabbit and a carrot. Tobi was the rabbit and he was happy to bounce around through the crowd.

In the end the party was fun with lots of music, fun, laughs and ridiculous antics. But of course nothing too fun could happen without something to mess it up even a little. It happened later on in the night when Naruto had dragged Sasuke off for some reason that Sakura struck. She walked right up to Hinata with an impressive snarl on her face and used a finger to push Hinata backward into the wall. Hinata was shocked at the force she was pushed with. She had no time to waste on that thought because Sakura had her stuck to the wall and was in her face. Sakura was angry and Hinata could feel every bit of it. It was mind numbing.

"I'm gonna get you Hinata. It might not be tomorrow or next week or even next month because exams start in three weeks. Heck, it might not even be this year but know this: I am going to get you. And when you're done for, I'm going to get Sasuke back. He is mine and he forever will be, remember this." Sakura told in a threatening tone before giving her one more push and stepping away with a glare. She turned on her heel to leave.

Hinata allowed a shaky breath to leave her as she tried to push away the pressure that Sakura was piling onto her. Sakura was going to kill her, distort her, maim her. She could feel it. She was thinking about it too much, she was going to pass out at this rate. She hadn't fainted in so long and she didn't want to do it now but it was too much pressure. Sakura could very well kill her.

"I'm back." Sasuke's voice called from just out of her line of sight. Her vision swam a little as she spun to grab hold of him by the lapels of his jacket and bury her face into his neck. His hands came up to hold her instantly. His voice was filled with concern when he asked. "Are you ok?"

She didn't answer for a moment but nodded into him. He frowned. What could have happened in the five minutes he was gone? Whoever did it was going to regret it.

It is the season of giving and all I want for Christmas is a review from each person that reads. It would make my day. This chapter is the longest I've ever written. Almost 5000 words!