The mid morning sun was almost unbearable but she grinned and endured it. The loud sounds and obnoxious scents of the market place all seemed lovely to her, she was outside. It all seemed secondary to the fact. Even the stares were worth enduring, the rosette of her skin that came from the new exposure fascinated her, the straw sun hat protected her face but she looked up every now and then still, just the feel the warm kisses of the rays on her skin. Her light short sleeved kimono resembled more of the dresses in the magazines she saw her younger sister sneak in a while ago. It stopped at her knees and flared in the wind but she didn't mind.

The long locks of her hair were down and curled up against the back of her dress. Today they had let her out without drowning her with make up, only mascara and lip gloss. It was relieving. Sasuke stood next to her, tossing smirks at her when ever she looked, his hand holding her close. He had been staring at her the entire walk from the Hyuga compound, leaning down and whispering things to make her blush.

She couldn't help but feel her lips tingle in anticipation for something that seemed like it wouldn't come, for a kiss like the one he gave her last night. Hinata blushed even more brightly and he tugged her hand; a dark eyebrow raised as if to ask her why she blushed. She shook her head and continued to gaze wide eyed at the surroundings.

"When was the last time you were out in the market, Ningyo?" He asked with an amused smirk.

She shrugged and continued to look on. "Fourteen to thirteen years ago." It was either the year her sister was born or the year her mother was pregnant with her sister.

Which one she wasn't too sure but that didn't matter because now she was out in the open with people. It was exhilarating!

Sasuke held her hand firmly, eyes casually darting around the crowded market place. Hoping not to spot anyone he knew or for them to spot him.

"Oh, Sasuke-kun look at the pretty ornaments! Wow, it looks so beautiful. Sasuke-kun..isn't it pretty." She asked sheepishly with a blush that made his heart skip, pointing at a craved music box, it was small and cheap with a fire lily craved on top of it.

It was indeed pretty. "What's the price of it?" He asked the man who sold it.

"Sasuke-kun, you don't have to buy it I was just admiring them-"

"If you want it, I'll buy it Hinata-chan. Get used to being spoilt tremendously."

Her head was tilted to the side and her eyebrow quirked upwards at him. "Spoil me with love when we are married not things, Sasuke-kun." She said in almost a whisper, wise words that no one would expect from a woman who was brought up to be shallow and vain. It was clear that she was very different from what the world thought her to be, his wife would have mind of his own and he could see them with their own banters in the future. Sasuke smiled and proceeded to buy the trinket, he could spoil her with both love and things.

He handed her the bag and laced his fingers in her own, continuing their walk down the market place. It would be cut short soon, he was talking her some place almost no one has been except for him since he was a child. He was taking her home.

::))((::

Sakura wasn't a particularly petty girl. At least she would like to think so, she knew when to let go of something and when to hold on to it. Your first real love was something you don't forget easily, their image is burned in your mind, their habits and the feeling if obsession burning with desire they ignited with you was still there. She didn't believe it ever went away, that was in her case at least.

So today as she walked down the market place dressed in her nin wear, and her emerald eyes made four with Sasuke Uchiha's she felt herself feel on fire just by looking at him in casual wear. At twenty years old he stood as a man no more boyish good looks but manly handsomeness, a bit rogued and worn. Though he still remained like a sculpture to her, a dark warrior who had been redeemed.

Her breathe hitched on its own.

"Sasuke-kun!" She called out, waving at him. He gave her a smile (though truthfully it resembled more a grimace) but didn't wave his hand. The pink haired nin ran up to him completely unaware of what was-or who was draped on his arm.

"Sasuke-" then she saw who it was, a curvy yet petite woman who had the most beautiful face she ever saw. Unique lavender eyes with long eyelashes, a cute button nose with rosy lips that seemed to be permanently spread in a smile. All nestled on a pale roundish face. She wore a kimono style dress that hugged her curves, unlike willowy Sakura who it would have just draped over, it hugged her wide hips and narrow waist, made her breasts appear perky but not in a vulgar way. Sakura knew who she was, the whole village would.

She smiled at the girl. "Good-day, Hyuga-hime."

The girl smiled back at her, a trained pressured one that still made her look beautiful and made Sakura wonder what a real smile from her looked like.

"Good-day..."

"Sakura-chan." Sasuke chided in for the first time. For the first time Sakura's eyes flicked towards him and she greets him like she did the Hyuga.

"What are you guys doing here?" She like every other person in the village knew that the precious doll wasn't allowed outside the towering walks of the Hyuga compound.

"Sasuke-kun, is taking me for a walk." She beamed with a bright smile that was much more genuine than the one she used to greet her.

Sakura couldn't help but return the smile.

"That's nice."

Sasuke gave her a blank look; his dark eyes stern as if to telepathically tell her to go away. She ignored him and turned her attention back to the Hyuga.

"Have you ever had ramen, Hyuga-hime?"

If she hadn't known better she would have thought that Sasuke rolled his eyes.

::))((::

Neji stood in front of a wall of throwing knives; his arms folded as he stared at it not really seeing the wall but lost in his own thoughts though if someone he didn't know was to see him they would think that he was just very interested in weaponry.

She knew him all too well though, enough to know something was wrong.

Ten Ten wondered of he even knew she was in the same room as him, for the past five minutes she had been bracing against the frame of the door watching him think. It wasn't odd for him to do that but lately he had been doing it more often.

Clearing her throat, in an attempt to grab his attention he straightened his back and twisted his upper body to see her, his grey eyes flickered to her briefly.

"Ten Ten-chan, I thought you were still sleeping."

She smirked and padded up to him, her bare feet slapping against the tatami floor. "I was when you left the bed but not ten minutes ago."

He smiled briefly and shook his head as if her knowing he was gone was a mystery since she was such a deep sleeper.

"What's the matter?"

Neji bristled. "Nothing."

She rolled her eyes. "Neji-kun, just tell me..."

"Not now, Ten Ten. Not yet."

His eyes were filled with fire then blank and he went back at staring at the weapons. Whatever was going on in that head of his was big, and she hated secrets. Biting her lower lip, she huffed before shaking her head and walking out of the room.

"Breakfast's ready by the way." She received no response.

::))((::

Hinata chewed the serving of noodles slowly, enjoying the delightful blend of flavors as she ate. Why hadn't they served this at the compound before? It tasted wonderful better than most of the stuff they made her cook in training. Slurping the remaining of the noodles on her chopsticks. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sasuke watch her with an amused smirk and Sakura with a raised eyebrow.

Swallowing the food she rested the chopsticks in the almost empty bowl, dabbing her mouth with the tissue so her lip gloss won't be ruined.

"It's really good." She commented smiling.

Sakura smirked and twirled her chopsticks in the bowl, her jade eyes watching Hinata like a cat does his prey. "Hai, it is Hinata-chan."

Clearing his throat Sasuke caught Sakura's and her attention. "Unfortunately, we-" his long pale finger gestured to her then himself. "-have to go."

Sakura dropped her chopsticks and wiped her mouth. "You don't have to Sasuke-kun..."

"No, we really do." He replied curtly.

Hinata blushed embarrassed for the girl, Sasuke was never that crude to her. The girl Sakura didn't seem too bothered by it as if it were something of the norm.

"Naruto will be here in a moment, we could-"

"No. It's getting late already; next time maybe."

The pinkette cocked her head to the side and smiled at him. "Ok Sasuke-kun, good-bye." This time she hadn't looked at Hinata like she had in the beginning, her eyes were a darker green and appeared with the concentration of a predator, envy swam in those eyes as well.

Without a second glance at the girl she let Sasuke lead her away, there was something about Sakura that unnerved her perhaps she was just insecure about the attractive female's relationship with her fiancé. For some reason, the voice of her grandmother rings in her head; words from years of training. "We are not meant to meddle in the affairs of our husbands; we are not great shinobi women." She remembered the look of envy on her grandmother's finely aged face as she spoke. "We are the pretty wives who breed strong sons and pretty daughters , it's good for you to learn this now dear doll. For the world is much, much harder for women like us. Much more than you'd think." The words seemed mocking now, like her grandmother was laughing shaking her head and telling her 'I told you so.' Although she could be overthinking; as she tended to do Sakura was just his comrade; a woman.

So Hinata smiles her trained smile as she walked with her betrothed, because such things should not worry her pretty little head, not at all.

I'm sorry for the short update but I'm going through some family problems; I apologize, I may not be able to update as frequently please be as understanding as possible.

(Review, please)