AN: Thankyou for the response to the last chapter! Shout out to Eclipse for the review, it really inspired me to keep going! :D Thankyou to everyone else again! Now enjoy!

Chapter 4: Step 4 - Do Not Lose Her

Hinata's eyes widened in surprise when she heard her father's voice. What was he doing at the fair? She whirled round, a gasp catching in her throat when she actually laid eyes on her grim-faced father. She stepped back from Sasuke, putting distance in between them when she saw her father's eyes focus on their proximity.

"Otou-sama," Hinata said respectfully, bending at the waist for a short bow. "What do you wish to speak to me about?" she asked, her forehead creased into a frown. Hiashi sent Sasuke an icy glance before switching his gaze back to Hinata.

"That cannot be discussed here. Return with me immediately," he said, his voice just as hard and disproving as usual. Which of course sent Hinata's heart racing in her chest, as if usually did whenever she had to spend prolonged periods of time with her father.

"Y-Yes, Father," she stuttered, turning to give Sasuke an apologetic glance. Suddenly, the fair had lost all its charm. The lights no longer excited her. The smell made her stomach upset. And the laughter surrounding her was bordering on mocking. If the look on Sasuke's face was any indication, he felt the same way. He frowned, his dark eyes stormy with emotion.

"You are leaving?" Sasuke asked and Hinata cringed inwardly at the accusation in his voice. She hated to leave the date like this but she had no choice but to obey her father...it was just how things worked in her family. She didn't have choices. She never did.

"I-I'm sorry Sasuke, b-but I have to go..." Hinata trailed, chewing nervously on her bottom lip. Hiashi's frown deepened and he stepped closer to Hinata.

"Hinata stop this foolish stuttering and let us depart. This Uchiha scum is of no consequence to us." Hinata's hands immediately began to tremble when her father stepped closer and something inside of her sank when she noticed the expression on Sasuke's face. But she couldn't stay.

"I-I'm s-sorry S-Sasuke..." Hinata whispered before turning and heading back to the parking lot, her father behind her. As she walked away she could feel Sasuke's eyes boring into her back, but she forced herself not to look back. She couldn't handle seeing the hurt and anger that splayed across his face.

Hinata sat in back of her father's silver chauffeured Mercedes Benz F800, wringing her hands nervously. Her father hadn't said a word to her since they had gotten into the car and that had been over twenty minutes ago. Gathering her courage Hinata swallowed the lump in her throat, hating how she felt like a useless child in front of her father.

"W-Where are we going Otou-sama?" Hinata asked respectfully, her voice low and soft. Her father hated when she spoke above a certain level. For a few minutes Hiashi was silent and Hinata began to think that she'd offended him.

"I-I a-apologize f-for m-my insolence father," Hinata whispered, her gaze focused on the floor of the car. She didn't dare look up.

"Hn," Hiashi grunted in reply, his face as hard and cold as stone. Hinata felt as though she'd been struck and sat back in her seat, her hands trembling violently. She hated how weak she felt, she hated that she couldn't stand up to her father but there wasn't much she could do about it.

The car pulled up at the Hyuuga mansion and immediately servants opened the doors for Hinata and Hiashi, bowing respectfully to both. Hinata nodded to them, not daring to thank them in her father's presence and followed him into the house and to his study.

When they entered the study Hiashi promptly closed the door behind them and motioned to the seat infront of his large oak desk.

"Sit," he ordered Hinata, his voice tight, leaving no room for debate. Hinata obeyed and slid into the straight back chair, her gaze focused on the desk before her.

'I'm so sorry Sasuke,' Hinata thought, knowing that she had hurt Sasuke by leaving with her father without so much as an attempt to try and stay for the rest of the date.

"I will get straight to the point Hinata," Hiashi said sternly, his grey eyes stoic chips of ice.

"Y-Yes father," Hinata mumbled, nodding her head meekly. Hiashi sat back in his chair, hands clasped on the desk in front of him as he observed Hinata with slightly narrowed eyes.

"It is time for your to find a husband and get married Hinata. Your independent ways have been marring the clan's image and it is now time you face the responsibility of being the Hyuuga heir."

Hinata's brain struggled to catch up with her father's words for a moment. She couldn't believe he was saying this.

"I-I, I am not ready for marriage father..." Hinata stuttered frantically, her heart beating a racket in her chest. Hiashi's lips thinned and he leaned forward slightly, eyes hard with determination.

"You don't have a choice, Hinata, it is something you must do. You have already failed both me and the clan so much, so just obey for once. You have six months to find a suitable husband or I will arrange a marriage for you."

A gasp escaped Hinata's lips as she clutched her trembling hands together. She wanted to scream so badly and tell her father that she was twenty one now and could make her own choices; but it never happened. She could never find the courage to do it. When Hinata didn't move from her seat in front of Hiashi's desk he waved his hand dismissively.

"That is all. You are dismissed." Hinata nodded politely and got up from her seat, bowing respectfully before rushing out of her father's office. Her throat was constricted, her hands were clammy and trembling, her heart sped faster than time. Hinata didn't stop running until she was out the gates of her old home, she didn't even stop to refuse the offers of the servants to drive her home. She couldn't spend even one more moment in the suffucating presence of the Hyuuga mansion. She couldn't stay there and be reminded of all her failures, she'd grown up, matured and gotten over her lack of confidence...when she wasn't in front of her father.

Hinata paused on the sidewalk to slip off her heels, rubbing her aching feet. She ran her hand through her long dark hair, biting down on her lower lips as her vision blurred with frustrated tears. Hinata slapped her palm against the rough concrete of the sidewalk.

"Dammit!" she bit out, her hands curled into fists. Why hadn't she been able to stand up to her father? She thought she'd changed more but apparently she hadn't. Hinata forced herself to her feet, swiping away the few tears that had escaped with the back of her hand. She refused to let Sasuke see her like this when she returned home, where she knew he would be waiting for her.

Sasuke paced the floor of Hinata's living room. He'd let himself in, as per usual and had decided to wait until she returned but it had been a while now. He wasn't sure how long but he knew it was a while. Bitter bile rose up in his throat when he thought of Hiashi treated Hinata at the fair. He should have stopped her from leaving, no good ever happened when she spent time with her father. A part of him felt angry at her for not fighting but he knew she wouldn't and he couldn't hold it against her.

Sasuke clenched his jaw, stifling the urge to break something.

"Dammit!" he yelled in frustration. He had planned the perfect date and she'd been so happy...the happiest he'd seen her since he'd returned, and then her father had to turn up and ruin it. If thoughts could kill Hiashi would currently be nothing but dust.

The front door of Hinata's apartment swung open and Sasuke whirled around, his anger and frustration instantly dying when he saw Hinata. Her hair was ruffled and messy and she was barefooted, her shoes dangled from one of her hands. A long sharp ache stabbed Sasuke's chest when his eyes flickered upwards to her face and he saw the tear stained weariness there. He stepped towards Hinata, wordlessly putting his arms around her and leading her to the sofa.

Sasuke gently removed Hinata's shoes from her limp hands and removed removed her sweater before diligently stroking his hand through her hair.

'What happened? What did Hiashi do to her?' Sasuke thought as he watched Hinata struggle to come out of her daze as she lay against his chest. She took a deep breath and looked up at Sasuke.

"I-I'm sorry about what happened at the fair. I didn't mean to ruin our date...I just...I couldn't stand up to my father. I thought I was stronger than that but apparently I haven't changed as much as I thought I did." Sasuke frowned at Hinata's words, he hated when this side of her came out. She didn't deserve to feel such self deprecation.

"Stop it," Sasuke grunted, his voice husky with emotion. "Don't try to apologize, I know how your father is and there isn't much you can do by yourself. He doesn't even give you a chance!" Hinata shifted against Sasuke chest, her grey eyes tired and worn.

"So you aren't angry at me?" she asked quietly, her eyes instantly averting when Sasuke's own hardened. How could she think he was angry with her? Didn't she realize he loved her too much for that to happen?

Sasuke closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself. Hinata needed him and he couldn't let her down.

"Of course not. You didn't do anything wrong...I just...I didn't want you to leave," Sasuke mumbled hugging Hinata closer to him.

"I-I'm sorry...I just, my father he..." Hinata trailed, hating how weak she sounded in front of Sasuke.

"I know," Sasuke answered, halting her progress before she could venture any further down that path. "What did he want to speak to you about?" Hinata's eyes widened at Sasuke's question and she sat up, sliding over to the other side of the sofa.

'Did I do something wrong?' Sasuke thought anxiously when Hinata slid to the furthest end of the sofa. A sharp pain stabbed at his heart when the thought that she just didn't want to be close to him crossed his mind. Did she despise his attentions that much? Or did she still only think of him as a friend?

"H-He said I have six months to find someone to get married to or he will arrange a union for me," Hinata said quietly, her soft words cutting through the confusion of Sasuke's thoughts.

For one horrible moment Sasuke felt as though he couldn't breathe. Then a wave of desperation crashed over him, freeing him from the paralyzing numbness. He was going to lose her. Lose her to someone else that didn't even love her.

"You cannot do it," Sasuke bit out, his voice much harsher than he intended. Hinata shrunk backwards, a tiny bit of fear flashing through her grey eyes at his tone.

'Dammit, now I scared her. What are you doing? Get a grip!' Sasuke yelled inwardly and forced himself to focus, he had to work through this, he couldn't lose her.

"I meant...I don't want you to get married," Sasuke said stoically, trying to hide how much the news was affecting him inside. She couldn't. She couldn't get married. Not now that he'd just come back and barely had a chance with her. Barely gotten her to look at him. He had hardly even begun to show her how he felt, and now she was going to be made unavailable to him?

Hinata's eyes hardened and she leaned forward a bit.

"Why? Do you think I'm not ready? Or maybe you think I am too weak?" she bit out, tired of trying to figure out why Sasuke was acting so possessive. "I am going to ask Naruto what he thinks about marriage..." Hinata continued, her voice softening and her eyes losing its hardness.

Sasuke felt a desperate heat rise in his gut. She was going to ask Naruto about marriage? It couldn't get any worse! He couldn't breathe again; all he could see was Hinata in a wedding dress, wrapped in Naruto's arms. Before he even registered what he was doing Sasuke reached out and grabbed Hinata by the wrist, pulling her towards him.

His mind reeled, scrambling to come up with a way to buy more time with her. Six months was way too short. Especially for a girl like Hinata that wasn't like the usual flighty girls. He couldn't rush things with her. He couldn't move at a reckless speed. She was far too important for that, so he needed time.

"No. I refuse to lose you...I will get engaged to you, it can be in words only, just to throw off your father but I can't lose you yet...I just can't," Sasuke choked out, his usually smooth voice cracking in places due to emotion.

Desperation.

His fingers dug desperately into Hinata's arms, his eyes searching her hungrily. A gasp escaped her lips and she licked her dry lips nervously, her eyes filled with confusion.

Sasuke's stomach clenched when Hinata didn't reply. Did she … Did she hear him for offering to marry her? Or did she find the thought of being bound to him repulsive? Was he not good enough for her yet? Sasuke clenched his jaw, letting his head fall onto Hinata's shoulder as he squeezed her closer to him. He could feel her body trembling beneath him, her voluptuous breasts brushing against him as her chest rose and fell rapidly to the beat of her racing heart. A lump formed in Sasuke's throat as her scent filled his nostrils and the tender skin of her neck brushed against his lips. His control was crumbling...and fast.

"I-I...S-Sasuke I d-don't know if...I mean I love Naruto-"

Sasuke felt his control crumble completely when Hinata mentioned Naruto's name. How could she be thinking about him at a time like this? Was he that unworthy of her? How could the dobe outshine him so much that she would think of him now. Now when he was feeling the way he did. Could she not reckon with his emotions? He knew he never normally showed them, and this was the reason why.

Sasuke hated being rejected. He hated feeling unworthy.

"Hinata..." he whispered before pressing his lips to her neck. "What if he doesn't feel the same? Will you see me then?" he asked, lips brushing against the smooth skin of her throat. He couldn't look in her eyes as he spoke. His heart squeezed painfully in his chest, beating faster than it normally did, and Sasuke knew that he was on the brink of panic. If she didn't accept him...

He had to get her to accept him.

And that was the thought that had him opening his mouth against her neck, sucking at the tender flesh, and feeling his heart race from the feeling of her skin against his tongue. That was the thought that had one of his hands sliding down her back, stopping at the center while the other reached up to cup the back of her head. That was the thought that had him pushing her into the softness of the sofa and leaning into her.

He needed her to accept him.

It was that notion, that goal, that made him need to explain, but the fear of rejection from her had the words choking off in his throat.

He forced them out, knowing he would hate himself if he didn't try everything.

"I can't...I can't lose you...you are all I have now, please..." Sasuke breathed between kisses as he made a path up her neck and onto her jaw bone.

If he could only get her to be attracted to him. If she was even half as attracted to him as he was to her, he would have a chance. If he could just get her to want him, even a little.

He dropped his head back onto her shoulders, sliding down the shoulder of her cream top slightly, his lips sucking at her pale flesh desperately. What if she didn't want this? He should probably stop, but Sasuke wasn't sure if it was the desperation, the panic, or the fact that he'd dreamed about this for far too long that made it impossible for him to pull away. He needed more. Sasuke nuzzled her skin, drinking in her scent like a man starved, conscious of the nagging feeling in his mind that if she took this seriously, if she tried to find a man to marry within six months but would not consider him as a candidate, he might never get an opportunity like this one again. Hinata shifted beneath him, pressing her hands against his chest as her back arched with pleasure and a soft moan escaped her lips, but she forced herself to speak.

"S-Sasuke stop..please...I-I need to think," Hinata gasped, her voice wavering tearfully. Sasuke felt as though someone had struck him. Did she dislike him to the point where she couldn't enjoy his kissing her? He thought he had heard her moan, but maybe he was just tricking himself because he was so desperate. Maybe it was his imagination.

Sasuke pulled back when he heard Hinata's plea, his heart twisting guiltily even as he felt satisfaction sweep through him when he saw her disheveled appearance. Her lips were red from where she'd bit down on them and her blouse and bra strap hung down to the side revealing the red marks he'd made on her shoulder and neck.

What had he done?

"I'm sorry...I just...the thought of losing you..." Sasuke trailed, trying to gather his thoughts enough to explain himself. Hinata shook her head in reply, tears spilling over onto her cheeks.

"I-It wasn't bad, but I love N-Naruto-kun...Why do I feel so conflicted then? And why would you get engaged to me? You don't have to save me Sasuke, y-you aren't obligated to," the brunette whispered, her grey eyes pools of confusion and sadness. Something inside Sasuke snapped when he saw the look in her eyes and a part of him filled with hope. She had said it wasn't bad...which meant she didn't find his kisses repulsive...but he wished she'd stop mentioning Naruto.

'I will erase him from her mind, I can't lose her...' Sasuke thought then leaned forward, inches away from Hinata's lips. He had to tell her. Maybe if he told her, she would understand. Maybe if he told her, he would have a chance, and she'd consider him.

"Because I love you," he whispered before desperately closing the small space between them, hungrily crashing his lips to hers.

AN: Another cliffy! hehehehehe :p don't kill me please! lmao :p R&R I love getting feedback from my readers. If you have anything you may want to see in the story let me know :D