Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I am not the creator of this anime/manga.

WANTED: Beta-reader

It was already midnight when a certain lavender eyes knocked on the door of her friendly neighborhood.

She knew they were still awake especially Temari who loves to write cheesy stories on her novel every night, while on daylight she was like a vegetable on the floor.

Is all authors like that? Hinata sweat dropped from her own thought.

A short blonde hair woman opened the door while yawning.

"Who is it?"

"Hi Temari-chan," Hinata smiled at the sleepy woman in front of her.

"Oh, it's you Hinata-chan. Come in," Temari said who was now fully awakened.

Hinata entered as she followed Temari through their living area.

"Sorry, our living room was kind of messy. I do my work here since Ino was already sleeping on our room." Temari apologetically said while fixing her scattered papers on the sofa.

Temari and Ino lived in the same apartment with one bedroom, but have a huge living room and kitchen just like her own apartment.

"It's fine Temari. It would be me who's apologizing for disturbing you very late," Hinata softly said while watching Temari fixing her paper works and gathered together on the small round table in front of their sofa.

Temari neatly put her paper works just beside her laptop. "No worries Hinata-chan. To tell you honestly I was kind of sleepy a while ago, but thanks to your presence now, you awakened my sleepy soul," she laughed while scratching the back of her head.

"Oh I see. So, you're writing another story?" Hinata excitedly asked her friend.

Temari blushed. "W-well yeah, it's a short story that I have to finish this night because tomorrow will be the deadline of passing."

Hinata chuckled.

She knew how Temari do her job.

She was a type of writer who loves to do rush works. It's either she would do her paper works the day before the submission or an hour after her publisher scolded her because she was late. But at the end, her writings were one of the best and a top seller icon whether it was a magazine, book or internet.

She was also a journalist, blogger and librarian. Hinata was one of her big fan and reader. She always bought her books and magazines. Temari never failed her to fall in love to her works; it was simply an art of a gifted hands.

That was why she had no doubt to seek an advice to Temari even though her friendly neighborhood won't admit it.

"Let me guess. You're here because something happened between you and your asshole ex boyfriend, right?" Temari asked as she comfortably sat on the sofa.

Hinata also sat beside Temari. "Y-yeah I-I don't know what to do, Temari-chan," she was now almost crying again.

Temari cupped her faced and wiped those visible tears on the side of her eyes. "Crying won't help you out to solve your problems. Maybe it's one of the factors to relieve your stress, but it doesn't mean it will cure your broken heart. You have to be strong, okay? Now tell me everything," Temari thoughtfully said while squeezing her both hands on her lap.

Hinata sniffed and calmed herself. "H-he went here. I-I thought he came to reunite with me, b-but…" Hinata continuously narrated the whole incident a while ago between her and Naruto.

Temari kept listening to her friend who was trying hard not to cry while speaking.

"…A-and he didn't listen to me. H-he just left me alone. Temari, I can't. I just can't live without him. I feel weak thinking he's not with me anymore," Hinata covered her face with her other hand while Temari was rubbing her back for comfort.

"Hinata, you have to help yourself. You have to learn how to be a fighter. A strong woman knows how to cry for a moment, and at the end she knows how to pick up their gloves and fight again."

Hinata stared at her for a moment. "B-but I don't know how to fight. I used to have someone protecting me."

Temari sighed and looked at her with concern. "Sometimes, you have to be your own hero to survive in this cruel world. Relying with someone else will just end up miserable. You're in the world of reality where everyone could be your enemy. So stand on your own feet and learn how to walk independently."

"I've been with him for almost three years and it's hard for me to move on especially if I always see him," she wiped her visible tears on her face and sniffed.

"Dear, moving on is like reading a book; you can't start to read the next chapter if you keep turning and reading the previous pages," Tamari tried to soothe her with her words of wisdom.

"Memories are stronger than me, Temari-chan. I don't know if chances will help me to feel better," Hinata lowered her head.

Temari shook her head. "Your life will not get better by chances; it will get better by change."

"D-do I have to find another love to cover this pain?" she looked to Temari while her other hand was griping the left portion of her chest.

"No dear," Temari grabbed the hand of Hinata from her chest and held it to her lap. "Don't find love just to cover your pain and don't rush into love, because happy ending will always be on the last page," she added.

Hinata chuckled. "You said you're not expert about this kind of stuff, but you look so genius when you give advices even though you don't have love life after all."

Temari sweat dropped and smiled. "You know being single doesn't mean that you're ignorant in terms of love. Mostly, singles are smarter and wiser than being in a stupid relationship."

They both laughed.

"Maybe you're right," Hinata concluded.

"It's not maybe. I'm totally right, girl!" Temari boastfully said. "Look at you. You're pretty and smart, but because of love you act like a stupid brat," she added.

"Yeah," Hinata agreed and felt shame for being one.

Temari touched her face to look on her direction. "Life has a million of reasons to enjoy, but you know what, there's only single reason why it became beautiful; it is when you find your life living in the paradise called love," she solicitously said on her.

Hinata was touched by her words. She smiled and embraced her friend tightly.

"I-it hurts when I think of him and knowing t-that I-I still love him, but I c-can't have him in my arms," she silently cried on her friend's shoulder.

Temari felt sympathy on her friend who's crying because of a wrong man she fallen in love with. She gently rubbed her friend's back for comfort.

"Maybe somewhere, there's a man who's dreaming to have your smile and finding your presence is precious to his life. When you feel lonely, just remember someone in the midst of crowd is actually thinking of you." Temari said to cheer up her friend.

"Hopefully I can find that man," Hinata muttered and smiled.

Hinata loosen her embrace and both of them yawned.

They chuckled. "I guess it's time to sleep. Although it's already one o'clock in the morning, we still need to rest," Temari said and stood from her seat.

"W-what about your work?" Hinata also stood and helped Temari to bring her papers to her room.

"Don't worry. I still have an hour later to finish this. Since I have a plot on my mind, it will be easy on me," she winked at Hinata and proceeded inside the room.

They both fixed the folding foam since Ino was already occupying the whole space of the bed.

"Good night Hinata-chan," Temari whispered and drown into deep sleep.

"Good night Temari-chan. Thank you," she gladly said and slowly closing her eyes.

Maybe, just maybe someone is thinking of me. She inwardly thought.

And before her thoughts flowed into nightmare, a certain man with an onyx eyes appeared on her mind.

"Sasuke," Hinata unconsciously called his name on her sleep.

Meanwhile, a certain lad was irritatingly pushing himself in the middle of the crowd.

The surroundings were full of people who are dancing, drinking and talking. The music was deafening that you couldn't almost hear those people who are talking. The flashing lights of different color didn't help him to feel at ease.

At the end of the crowd where he could see a mini bar station, he saw the man he wanted to talk.

"Hatake," Sasuke called the man's name who's sitting on the bar station while lazily drinking a glass of liquor.

"What a nice greeting Sasuke. I miss you too," the man greeted him in a low yet aloof manner.

Hatake Kakashi has known as the finance vice president of Sharingan Industrial Company and at the same time a long time friend of Sasuke. He was six years older than Sasuke and acted as a big brother of him and Naruto. His influence gave a big impact to both Sasuke and Naruto in which they almost grew up in his guidance.

Being single remained a mystery for his two close friends. He had this handsome and charismatic feature. His straight spiky white hair, a dark blue eye on his right while bloody red eye on his left with scar running down the middle of his cheek, and a narrow-jaw line made it more attractive to all women.

Despite of his good-looking appearance, his personality made it revocable.

"Your place always makes me more irritating," Sasuke growled and ordered a bottle of branded liquor.

"This is what you called disco bar," Kakashi said while looking at Sasuke.

Sasuke twitched. "I can't hear you. It's raucous."

Kakashi sighed. He stood from his seat and gestured Sasuke to follow him up stair. He knew once Sasuke went to his favorite bar irritated means he wanted to talk seriously.

They entered in a sound proof room with a videoke placed across them.

Both of them sat on the huge sofa. Kakashi called a waiter and ordered some liquor and food.

"Do you want me to bring sexy girls for entertainment?" Kakashi offered, but Sasuke only gave him a deadly glare.

"Oh okay just liquor and food only," Kakashi said to the waiter and motioned him to leave them both.

Kakashi's attention turned to the lad beside him. "So what makes you come here?"

"Nothing," Sasuke flatly answered while his arms crossed like a brat.

"Hmmn, let me guess. Obviously it's not about business. If you both fight again, I should be the one coming over. If you want to talk about money, this isn't the right place." Kakashi curiously said while touching his chin like a detective.

"Aha! Is it about the porn I gave you last time?" Kakashi cheerfully added.

Sasuke almost loosen his tempered, but decided to calm himself. His eyebrows crossed and he glared at Kakashi.

Kakashi sweat dropped. "Maybe I'm wrong."

"I just need some air." Sasuke leaned his back in a comfortable manner.

"Well, haven't you notice that this place is a smoking area?" Kakashi sarcastically said to Sasuke.

Sasuke almost punched Kakashi on the face, but fortunately Kakashi dodged the punch.

"Wow! Relax. I'm just lightening your atmosphere," Kakashi chuckled making his statement as fun as he could.

"Then you're not helping at all." Sasuke said and groaned.

"I just made a deal to the Sabaku Company," Sasuke implied.

Kakashi turned into a serious mode when Sasuke opened that topic. Usually, Sasuke wasn't the type of business man who will carelessly talk about business transactions everywhere and he always shares it to the board members. So maybe this kind of matter wasn't totally a business matter.

"So what is that kind of deal you made to Gaara?" He curiously asked.

"A new branch of our combined company in Europe."

"What?" Kakashi was shocked to what he just heard.

Sasuke remained silent and composed.

"Do you know what will be the implication of this? You know very well that Gaara is the one who handle the entire branch in Asia. Are you planning to personally lead that branch in Europe?" Kakashi concluded while eyeing Sasuke.

"It is for the betterment of both companies."

"Betterment your ass! Before, you were the one who kept resisting in expanding the branch in Europe and America, because you don't want anyone to handle those newbie branches to anyone and you just wanted to stay here bec-" Kakashi was cut off when he finally realized why he was doing this.

Ha calmed down and sighed. "I get it."

Sasuke looked at him. "What?"

"Is it because of her?" Kakashi asked without looking to Sasuke's direction. He knew very well what was going on in the mind of this lad.

Kakashi was the only person who knows the true feelings of Sasuke to Hinata. It was all an accident when he noticed that Sasuke had a special feelings to the ex girlfriend of his best friend back when they were still in Junior high. Although he knew it and always teased the lad, Sasuke never admitted it, but obviously seen by his actions.

Since then, Sasuke was frequently going in his bar whenever he felt irritated about his feelings towards Hinata. Even though Sasuke always kept his mouth shut.

Sasuke only growled and sipped his liquor.

"It's so fascinating how people can be so stupid when they're in love." Kakashi gleefully said while putting his both hands on the back of his head and smiled at Sasuke.

"Bastard." Sasuke annoyingly said.

"Why don't you pursue your feelings to her? She's already single and available." Kakashi suggested as a matter of fact tone.

"It's not easy as you think it is."

"Is it because of Naruto? Did he warn you about Hinata?" Kakashi figured out.

Sasuke stared at him like 'why-do-you-always-guess-it-right' expression on his face.

Kakashi sighed. "It's obvious. When you broke up and you loved that girl, you'll apparently warn your friends not to hook up with your ex. That personality fits well to Naruto. You know him very well. Naruto can be selfish in terms of his property."

"It's not his property anymore," Sasuke defensively responded.

"You can't say it," Kakashi said while sipping his liquor.

"He's my friend. I don't want to fight with him on this kind of situation." Sasuke depressingly said.

Kakashi laughed, but immediately shut his mouth when he saw a deadly glare of Sasuke to him. He coughed. "You are now torn between friendship and love."

Sasuke growled and lightly banged his back on the sofa while covering his face by his hand.

"I just can't. I think the best way to stay close to someone you love is to be her friend." Sasuke frustratingly said.

"Who do you think you're fooling? Staying her friend is just a pain in the ass."

Sasuke didn't move from his position.

"If you really love her and you think she can make your life complete face it! And keep your pride down. Never let go of that woman, because there's no right one if you find the real one." Kakashi smugly said.

Sasuke was stunned and turned to look at Kakashi. For the first time, Kakashi just spilled a word of wisdom to him, but he will never admit it to him.

Sasuke smirked and stood. "You look like a geek father now."

Kakashi sweat dropped. "I just said something meaningful and you just called me a 'geek father'?"

"Whatever. I have to leave now before you contaminate me with your nasty mind." Sasuke said and leave the room without waiting to his respond.

Kakashi grinned and comfortably leaned his back. "What a nice way of saying thank you," he laughed and continued drinking his liquor alone.

The busy morning came and the two secretaries were fixing some files in the storage room.

Like the other night, Hinata narrated the incident to Tenten. She was furious about what Naruto did to her best friend and couldn't find herself to calm down even Hinata was pleading to stop.

"You know what Hinata-chan. You really don't have to feel sad over someone who stupidly gave up on you. You have to feel sorry for him, because he just let go to someone like you who would never stop loving someone like him." Tenten boastfully said with her head held high.

Hinata sighed. "I'm so stupid for still holding my past. I can't see my future without him."

Tenten shook her head and touched the shoulder of her best friend. "Past is where you learned your lesson, and the future is where you can apply that lesson."

Hinata smiled.

"If you hurt so much, you just have to let go. Give up if love isn't enough and move on if things are not like it used to be." Tenten encouragingly said.

"Thank you," Hinata appreciatively said and hugged her best friend.

"I have to leave now Tenten-chan. I still need to prepare some documents for Sir Uchiha," Hinata said while handling some documents on her hand and ready to leave.

"Hinata-chan, are you and Sasuke-san already okay?" Tenten ominously asked.

Hinata smiled at her. "We are perfectly fine."

Hinata left Tenten at the storage room and proceeded to her workplace. Maybe Tenten won't buy her answer, but she really doesn't know what to say about it. Sometimes Sasuke was nice to her, and then he'll ignore her, then going back to being a nice man. She was so confuse when it comes to him.

Despite of his being moody, she was somewhat learning to like his good side. The more she was becoming closer to him, the more she could see his bright side.

When the elevator stopped and opened, she saw Sasuke was leaning at the corner of her counter and his hands were on his both pocket.

She walked closer to him, "I-Is there anything I can help you sir Uchiha?" Hinata warily asked her boss.

"I need the copy of the liability files," he coolly said.

Hinata went to the counter and handed the files to him. "Sir Uchiha, I'd like to remind you about the Chidori resort that you supposedly have to visit this day," Hinata humbly informed her boss.

Sasuke checked the time on his wrist watch. "Okay. We'll be going after five minutes."

Hinata bowed her head, but suddenly stopped in the midway when she heard her boss and she looked at him in disbelieve. "What?"

He looked back, "I don't repeat my words," and he instantly entered to his office leaving Hinata dumbfounded.

A very awkward atmosphere was lingering on their surroundings. Since the time they entered in the car until now, Hinata and Sasuke kept their mouth shut like they were playing a game in which the person who will first break the silence will be punished.

Hinata's eyes were glued at the right window where she was sitting, while Sasuke was looking at the left window opposite to Hinata.

They sometimes exchanging glances from time to time, until the car stopped.

"We're here," Hinata first broke the silence.

Sasuke grinned. "I know," and he swiftly went out of the car.

Hinata followed with her face flushed in embarrassment.

The staffs in the resort warmly welcomed them.

The old man that was supposedly the manager approached them, "Welcome young master. It's been a tradition for an Uchiha to visit this resort every year," he bowed his head as a sign of respect.

Sasuke slightly bowed his head, "It's my pleasure."

The manager enthusiastically toured them in the resort. The staffs frequently greeted them or just flashed a smile whenever they saw them approaching in their area. Sasuke was silent the whole time when the manager was speaking and just nodded when it's needed. He never showed any boredom on his face.

Hinata who was at his back the whole time couldn't believe how respectful her boss was towards these people. She remembered how arrogant he is when he was in his own company, how coldly he treated his employee when they greeted him, and how snobbish he was to her.

Somehow, this day was special and unusual. For the first time, she saw Sasuke was sincerely smiling to the people around here. She inwardly smiled on that thought.

"We hope you enjoyed our little tour young master," the old manger smiled at them.

"Of course we do," Sasuke smiled back to him. Hinata suddenly blushed when she saw her boss smiled.

Sasuke noticed the reaction of Hinata and smirked.

"It's late. I want to have some dinner now," Sasuke said to the old manager with them.

"Right this way young master," the old manager lead the way for them.

"No need. You work so hard the whole day. We can manage ourselves this time."

"But…"

"I want some privacy," he coolly said without looking to the old manager.

"I understand," the old manager bowed his head and left the both of them alone.

Sasuke turned his back to Hinata and grinned, "Let's go."

Hinata who was still blushing followed her boss.

As they were now near to the restaurant, Sasuke who was walking fast suddenly stopped.

Hinata bumped on his back. "Why ar-"

Sasuke turned to face Hinata and grabbed her to the side wherein a wall was now on the back of Hinata.

"S-sir…" Hinata was shocked and her heart was beating so fast that almost both of them could hear it.

Sasuke bent down and inhaled the crook of her neck. "Hinata," he huskily called her name.

Hinata was lightly struggling, but the grip of Sasuke was so strong that she couldn't move anymore.

When Hinata was calming down, Sasuke moved his hand upward tracing the waist, shoulder, neck and then her cheek, while his other hand stayed on her waist.

"Did anyone tell you how seductive you are even you don't try to be one?" His voice was like an ecstasy on her ears. His manly and relaxed voice soothed her and almost giving her the urge to touch his lips.

As Sasuke was almost losing his sanity and his face was almost near to kiss her, a man called his name.

They both froze and immediately separated from their embrace.

The owner of the voice went closer to them. "Sasuke what are you doing here? Huh, Hinata?"

Hinata and Sasuke turned to face the intruder.

"Naruto-kun," Hinata was startled not knowing that they would cross each other here. Her eyes widened when suddenly a beautiful bright pink hair woman appeared from behind.

"S-sakura-san."

*End of chapter 7*

This is a bonus chapter for everyone. A thanks giving to all readers who reviewed and liked the story so far.

I update early because I know you are all disappointed from the previous chapter because of Naruto. *sad*

I understand how you feel, but I don't tend to make Naruto so bad just selfish. If you'll recall; Naruto is the one who helped both Hinata and Sasuke away from darkness. But because of his selfishness, he was unconsciously hurting both Sasuke and Hinata.

The story is getting hotter and exciting so don't miss it ^_^

If I receive many reviews for this chapter I will update immediately like what I did here.

Oh yeah! To make it more exciting the first one who will review this chapter (I repeat the FIRST REVIEWER OF CHAPTER 7) will receive a special mention for the next chapter. Hahaha I know nonsense, but hey! I'm serious I will dedicate my next chapter to my first reviewer. Whether you have an account here or not.

Enjoy Reading!