Please see first chapter for disclaimer, rating, warnings, pairings, etc.

Special Thanks: goes out to Sachiko Heiwajima, Tamani, Lems, farahb, CrimsonNight41, Sun, rao hyuga 18, miemae04, wolf-enzeru, and The Clawed Butterfly for all your wonderful reviews! Also thanks to everyone who's added this story to their favorites and follows lists!

Author's Note: You know, I really love vulnerable!Sasuke. He's such an egotistical, self-centered, all-powerful jerk in the manga, which does absolutely nothing to endear his character to me (I haven't really ever liked him, even all the way back in the beginning of the manga/anime), I thought it would be interesting and refreshing to give his personality a 180. Now he's reserved and socially awkward and almost painfully shy. He's got issues, ones he's not really willing to face. Oh, but he will. It won't be easy, but it will be fun - for us. I really hope you like this chapter, and thanks for reading!

*~Chapter V~*

~Dinner~

Hinata fought down the urge to hyperventilate as she pulled into the circular driveway of her father's ridiculously ostentatious mansion just outside the confines of town. Hanabi had texted her the current code to get through the wrought-iron gate by the road, and she'd input it with badly shaking fingers.

As she parked her modest little car behind her father's sleek black limousine, Hinata felt the old familiar feeling of a panic attack clawing its way up her throat. She'd spent twenty-one years of her life under her father's oppressively watchful eye, inspiring a desperate desire to get as far out of his sight as possible when she finally moved out.

Now, at twenty-seven, she felt like she was right back where she'd started. If Hanabi did move in with her, Hinata knew she would be right back where she'd started, because he would as good as have planted a spy in her home.

A gentle knock on the window startled Hinata out of her musings. She turned to face the smiling eye of her father's chauffeur/bodyguard, Hatake Kakashi. Pulling her keys out of the ignition, she unlocked her doors, picked up her purse, and smiled as Kakashi smoothly opened the door for her.

"Milady," said Kakashi with a little bow. Though a black mask covered the lower half of his face, the warmth in his eye not drooped shut by a scar assured Hinata he was smiling. He favored her with a wink.

Hinata smiled and lifted herself on tiptoes to hug the silver-haired man. Of all the servants on the lavish Hyuuga estate, she missed Kakashi the most. "I've missed you. How have you been doing?"

Kakashi patted her back lightly before allowing her to step back. "Oh, the usual," he said with a wave of his hand. She glimpsed a familiar dog-eared orange cover peeking out of his pocket and rolled her lips to hide her grin. So he was still a big fan of those old Make Out books he'd always tried to hide from her when she was a child, citing them as "too grown-up" for her, though she'd always been a voracious reader.

"I can see that." Hinata felt the last hints of her panic attack slide away. She knew Kakashi, having recognized the signs, had stepped in to help her head it off, and was grateful for his rescue. "We'll catch up more later?"

Nodding, Kakashi stepped back to clear the way for her to head for the front door. "You caught me in the middle of washing your father's car. While you're inside, I'll wash yours, too."

"You don't have to do that!" Hinata shot a self-conscious glance at her little purple vehicle, which she'd nicknamed Old Sensible. Though her father had given her a very generous moving-away gift after she'd agreed to get a condo with Tenten (something along the lines of five hundred thousand dollars, most of which was still safely tucked away in the bank collecting dust and interest), she had wanted to buy a car: something more along the lines of what her friend drove, instead of her father.

Kakashi favored her with another wink as he strolled back toward the limo. "I insist. Now scoot, before your father comes out and asks why I'm not working for my pay." He laughed as he picked up the hose and turned a spray of water on the black car's hood.

Hinata curled her hand around a fistful of her long fern-green skirt as she headed up the stone steps to the elaborate wood-and-stained-glass double front doors. Her right foot had just come to land on the porch when the lefthand door opened. Hanabi appeared in the opening, radiating excitement in nearly tangible waves.

"Good, you're here!" she exclaimed. Stepping back to allow Hinata room to enter, she called down the long, cool tiled entryway, "Hinata's here!" in a voice loud enough to permeate every corner of the massive mansion.

Wincing, Hinata closed the door behind herself. "Inside voice, Hanabi, inside voice," she prompted.

Rolling her eyes, Hanabi led the way down the hall toward the arched doorway leading to the formal living room. Her bare feet slapped the floor, the trio of silver bracelets she wore on either wrist tinkling like wind chimes as she swung her arms. "I hope you're not going to be such a stick-in-the-mud when I move in with you, Hinata."

Stung by her sister's assessment, Hinata slid off her sandals and followed Hanabi to where their father waited. The quieter, shyer one of the siblings, Hinata had always preferred to curl up in the corner with a book than go partying (loudly) with her friends like Hanabi. Sometimes, she wondered if they were actually related. If not for the distinctive color of their eyes, confirming their heritage and shared parents, she might have given serious thought to the subject.

Hiashi stood from the couch when Hanabi and Hinata entered the room. He favored his younger daughter with a severe look - undoubtedly for her volume earlier - and his elder with a distant smile. "I'm glad you could come, Hinata."

Translation? I'm glad you have no social life so I can monopolize your time and attention whenever I want them.

Hinata had gotten good over the years at reading between the lines and hearing everything her father didn't say. "Hello, Father." A sickening mix of anger and anxiety roiled in her stomach, making her wish Hiashi had summoned her for a more businesslike meeting instead of something so falsely familial like a meal. She wasn't sure she'd be able to choke down five bites, let alone an entire five courses.

Holding out either arm so he could escort his daughters in style, Hiashi led the trio into the smaller of the two dining rooms the house boasted. The "informal" room sat ten at the table instead of fifty, and was painted in cool, neutral tones instead of the darker, bolder colors in the formal dining room. Even at that, though, the three place settings at the table boasted what would be good china, crystal, and silver to a regular family; for Hinata's, it was the everyday, boring tableware Hiashi would be mortified to show guests.

Seating herself at her father's right hand, she looked across the table at Hanabi. The younger girl hummed softly and bobbed her head to a beat only she could hear, a broad grin on her face. Obviously, she looked forward to this meal as much as Hinata dreaded it.

Two servants silently entered the room and served the soup course, then slipped back out as quickly as they'd come. Hiashi and Hanabi dipped right in, but Hinata stared down into hers, wishing herself anywhere but here. How do I get out of this? She could feign a headache and nausea (though there would be very little playacting involved), but she had a feeling even illness wouldn't deter her relatives. Her father and sister were anxious to get this business of Hanabi's change of residence settled, though for different reasons.

"Neji and Tenten's wedding is only a week or so away now," Hiashi said as he sipped at his goblet of deep, rich red wine. "I know you're scheduled to move out the last of Tenten's things while she's on honeymoon. I'm anxious to get Hanabi settled as quickly as possible, so how does moving her in two weeks from this coming Saturday - tomorrow - sound?"

Only a week after the wedding? Hinata felt herself suddenly go a little lightheaded. She very carefully set down her spoon. "That is fast," she said faintly.

"Of course." Hiashi took another spoonful of soup before he continued. "Hanabi is very excited, and I know you are, too. Neither of you will have to lift a finger to move things, of course. I've already arranged for a moving company to come out and do the work for you."

Hinata clenched her teeth so hard her jaw protested the sharp burst of pain. Of course her father hadn't decided to discuss this with her - at least not until after he'd already arranged things to his satisfaction. She couldn't seem to unlock her jaw to get the angrily acidic words burning her mind past her lips.

Which was probably a good thing.

The soup course was removed - including Hinata's still mostly-full bowl - and a fresh, crisp garden salad was brought in. Again, Hiashi and Hanabi both partook, but Hinata merely stabbed her vegetables and moved them around. Nothing found its way to her mouth.

Hanabi set down her fork and reached for her crystal glass of iced tea. "We're going to have so much fun," she said to Hinata. After a sip, she set down her glass with a thump and laughed. "It'll be like a big sleepover that never ends, or something like that!"

The panic attack Kakashi had soothed away earlier came roaring back, crawling up her esophagus just ahead of the bile threatening to rid her stomach of its meager contents. Her sister had just perfectly summed up the reason why Hinata didn't want her sister there - it would never end.

"Of course," Hiashi interjected, a perfect cherry tomato speared on the end of his fork, "I'm going to give Hanabi a going away gift like yours, so she'll be able to buy Tenten's former half of the condo from you. It will be all nicely squared away, you see, the i's dotted and t's crossed."

Her stomach gave an involuntary heave. Swallowing back the hot, tight feeling in her throat, Hinata shoved back her chair, and threw her heavy white cloth napkin down atop her uneaten salad. Shivering uncontrollably, she said in a stifled voice, "I'm sorry, I think I'm sick. I need to go home." Without waiting for her father or sister to respond - which would be a while, if the stunned looks on their faces were any indication - she ran back to the front of the house, snatching up her purse and shoes on her way past.

Kakashi was just getting ready to start on Hinata's car as its owner hurried down the steps barefoot, tears in her eyes. Dropping the hose, he hurried to her, his big, gentle hands folding over her shoulders as he ducked his head to get a glimpse of her face past the screen of her hair. "Hey, Miss Hinata, are you all right? What happened in there?"

Shaking her head, Hinata fumbled her keys out of her purse and gently but firmly shrugged off Kakashi's concerned touch. Pushing past him, she ran toward her car as she called over her shoulder, "I'm sorry, Kakashi. I have to go home. I can't - I just can't do this."

Throwing her purse and shoes in the passenger seat, Hinata started her car and threw it in drive with one hand as she clicked her seatbelt with the other. As she drove away from the house far faster than she technically should have, a glance in the rearview mirror showed her Kakashi's concerned posture as he stared after her.

And, in the still-open door of the house, her father standing with a thunderous expression and her sister wiping at her tear-streaked face.

But Hinata couldn't - wouldn't - go back.

The food was great.

The company? Not so much.

Sasuke zoned out and let Naruto carry the conversation while they ate. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate his friend's efforts to help him feel better; he really did. Naruto was a rare friend indeed, someone who stood by his comrades no matter how tough the road got.

But Sasuke was in the kind of mood where he'd much rather be alone with his thoughts and the ghosts of his historical old mansion. He was still preoccupied with wondering if the librarian had recognized him, not to mention trying not to freak out about having to make another appearance at the library - as himself. No disguises. No hats. Just him in all his pain-filled, antisocial glory.

"-And then Lee rode the unicycle across a rope he strung between the café and City Hall," Naruto was saying when Sasuke tuned back into the conversation.

"Uh-huh." Sasuke blinked and mentally repeated Naruto's words. "Wait, what did you just say?"

Grinning impishly, Naruto took another bite of his overloaded sub and shook his head. "I knew you weren't paying attention to anything I said," he said around his mouthful. "But I figured that'd get your attention."

The scary thing was it didn't take much imagination at all for Sasuke to picture the overzealous, adventurous Rock Lee doing exactly what Naruto just described. "Well, you have my attention now." Heaven only knew what the blond nuisance would come up with if Sasuke dared space out again.

Naruto swallowed and took a long drink before he spoke again. "So, seriously - what's going on with you? Shikamaru gave me the basics, but he said I'd have to talk to you for specifics. And the way you've been sitting there staring off into space looking like someone just killed your dog, I'm guessing whatever happened, it was pretty bad."

You don't know the half of it. Sasuke took another bite of his own sub - a little bit of meat and a lot of tomatoes - as he pondered exactly how much of what had happened the past few days to share. Naruto was a loyal friend, but he could also be a bit of a gossip. He didn't do it deliberately - he just couldn't help himself.

"I finished Checkmate the other night. Sent it to Jiraiya." Sasuke took a moment to take a drink, though it didn't do anything to help the vast desert of despair deep inside him. "He called back the next day and told me he couldn't back it. Didn't come right out and say he hated it or that it was terrible, but somehow that just makes it worse. He was nice about it. Too nice." Jiraiya was kind of like Naruto: loud, and excitable, and quick to say when he didn't like something. The fact he'd been so nice to Sasuke when he said he didn't like Checkmate made it clear just how much he didn't like it.

Naruto frowned. "But you were so excited! What little bit you let me read made me think it was going to be your best yet."

Yes, Naruto was a very loyal friend. Sometimes to a fault. "Seriously, you don't have to say that just to be nice. For Jiraiya to be so negative about it, obviously it's a very flawed manuscript. I'm just going to have to dump it and write something else." He ran his hand through his black hair and let out his breath on a long, tired sigh. "I've written books in two months or less before. Surely I can do it again." He just had to make sure it read a whole lot better than Checkmate.

But first, he needed an idea. And thus far, he had nothing.

"I'm not just being nice. It was a good book." Naruto finished off his sandwich and narrowed his eyes at his friend. "And it's not like you don't have ideas, right? You're always overflowing with ideas." He sounded so confident, like Sasuke's finishing another book was as easy as pouring a glass of water.

If only it were. "I appreciate your confidence, Naruto. But it's not that easy. I don't have any ideas. And even if I did, I'm not sure I want to try to write another book. Like I told Jiraiya, it's possible I've peaked. It's possible I've already written my best stuff, and now I should just fade into obscurity." That sounded rather nice, actually. Then he could live alone and not have to worry about anyone trying to break into his house or computer.

He could just be alone with the ghosts and memories of the past.

Another frown, more severe than the first, twisted Naruto's entire face. "You have got to be kidding me. You can't just give up, Sasuke!" He waved his arms frantically, nearly upsetting his glass in his exuberance. "You're the best writer who's ever lived!"

An exaggeration, to be certain.

"You've got a fanbase that stretches all over the world, and every single one of them is counting on you!"

Not quite as much of an exaggeration, but it is ego-flattering.

Naruto pounded his fist against the tabletop, and his glass fell over, spilling mostly-melted ice cubes across the surface. "You are a writer, Uchiha Sasuke!" He leaped to his feet and pointed toward the kitchen doorway, his brows drawn down low over his stormy blue eyes, looking angrier than Sasuke could ever remembering seeing him. "So for your fans' sake, my sake, and your own sake, for cryin' out loud, go write something!"

Sasuke was suitably impressed. He had no idea happy-go-lucky Naruto was capable of such an outburst. "You really think I can do it?" he asked thoughtfully.

Face turning so red Sasuke half-expected smoke to pour out of his ears, Naruto thrust his finger even more emphatically toward the doorway and growled out from between his teeth, "Write!"

Amusement burst to life in Sasuke's chest. He smiled for the first time in what felt like half of forever. "Okay, okay, I'll go-" try to "-write something," he said. "Thanks for the pep talk - I think."

Looking proud of himself now, Naruto glanced down at the table. "I'll clean this up before I go. Good luck!"

"Hn." Sasuke went to his office, opened the door, and stared at his computer. He hadn't turned it on since finishing Checkmate; had wondered if he ever would boot it up again for that reason.

But a little of Naruto's enthusiasm had rubbed off on him. Maybe he was ready to try again. He'd gotten some really good material from what he'd read at the library, so if he pulled enough of it together, started building a foundation...

...Maybe he really could write another book. It was certainly worth a try.

*~To Be Continued~*

Author's Ending Notes: If I had a dollar for every time I've had my mother thrust my computer at me and tell me to Write! at the end of a scene or chapter, I'd be rich! It's quite funny, really, and I thought it was something like Naruto would do, so I had to throw it in. I'm having such fun writing this fic (because it's still not completely finished, but don't worry, I have a huge cushion, so even if I decided to take a mini-hiatus writing, I'd still be able to keep updating), in ways I've never had before. I can't explain it or describe it, I just know it's there. And I really hope even half of that enjoyment is coming across to you, the readers. Because I appreciate all of you, and your support, and your kind words so very much. Thank you all so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I hope to see you again for next week's update!