Hinata found herself at the bottom of another cup of coffee. It was the only thing keeping her going at this point. Just a few more things on the schedule.

That's what she was telling herself to get through the day. Hopefully, the rest of the week won't feel this chaotic.

Hinata flinched as the door opened, and she blinked at Kisame waiting for her. She must have completely zoned out. She didn't even notice him park. She sighed, leaving the empty cup in the cupholder and gathering her bag out of the car.

Her heel slid into a crack, and she stumbled forward, but she caught Kisame's arm before she fell on her face. Both of his hands shot out to steady her. "I'm fine." She assured him.

"Sorry." Kisame's hand hovered back from her.

Hinata straightened herself. "I guess you didn't think part of your job was protecting me from myself, did you?"

Despite Kisame's stress, he cracked a smile at her joke.

Kisame watched Hinata look over her shoulder with an awkward smile. "Oh, that's Kisame-san. After recent events, my family insisted on a bodyguard."

How many times was that? Sometimes, she even had to explain it more than once in a meeting because someone was late and didn't hear her answer the first time. Would people eventually just know, or was this something she was going to have to always explain?

"I don't think he heard you." Hinata broke his thoughts as he realized she was speaking in his direction.

"Hmm?" Kisame blinked at her.

Hinata waved her hand at the older man she was sitting with. "He wanted to know where you were from."

"Kirigakure." Kisame answered.

"Kirigakure? A small town, huh?" The old man grinned.

Kisame shook his head. "Kirigakure is actually a pretty large city."

The old man laughed, and Hinata waved her hand no, but he wasn't sure how else he was meant to answer. She distracted the old man until the meeting started, after which she gave him a knowing smile. "Sorry about Hiruzen-sama. He makes that joke every time. If you're from a small town, he says 'big city.'"

"Strange old man," Kisame mumbled.

"He's the Governor of Konoha." Hinata giggled.

"What?" Kisame flicked his head back. "That weird old man?"

"Be respectful," Hinata said despite her giggle. "Yes."

"You meet with the Governor regularly?" Kisame could even think of who the Governor of Kirigakure was right now.

"The Hyuga do many public works projects, and the Governor likes to be involved." Hinata nodded.

Sounded a lot like a corporation sucking up to the local government to keep in their favor. "Interesting."

Hinata saw right through him. "You're getting better at holding your tongue."

Hinata was stopped by another person on her way out of the Hyuga office. They only had one more stop today, but that was only if she could get out of the office. Was she this popular because she had been out for a few days, or was she just this popular?

Hinata looked over her shoulder at him with a shocked look on her face. Kisame blinked. He wasn't listening. He was getting better at just tuning things out, but with that look, he assumed this was about him.

The woman who stopped her continued to whisper in her ear. Hinata pressed her lips together into a thin line. Did someone stop her to say something rude about him? Really?

Hinata waved as she quickly left and waited until she got into the elevator to crack a smile and then dissolve into giggles.

"Should I ask?" Kisame was afraid to know.

"I told you, you looked good in the suit." Huh? Hinata held out a card. "She wanted to give you her number."

Kisame blinked at her as the doors opened back up. He didn't move out.

Hinata tucked the card in his breast pocket, snapping him out of his frozen state as she tapped the pocket. "Now, maybe you will believe me. The suit looks good on you."

Hinata sighed at the restaurant. This was the last thing on the schedule, but this was the thing she knew the least about. She didn't even recognize the name. Hopefully, she could stumble her way through this without looking stupid or rude.

The door opened with a blue hand held out, waiting. Hinata stared at it for a moment. Oh.

Hinata let Kisame help her out of the car. That would work. Less likely for her to fall on her face. She bowed her head to thank him. "I am going to have you sit at another table." She explained. "I don't think this is a causal enough dinner to have you sit with us."

Kisame nodded.

"Order whatever you want," Hinata told him. Staff was never sure what they could and could put on the company tab.

Hinata was led to her table after she briefly explained that she needed Kisame seated nearby. She looked at her table and felt the need to laugh. It must look funny for them to come in together, sitting apart, alone at separate tables.

"Hinata Hyuga?" A man asked, making her look up.

"Hmm? Oh. Yes." Hinata stood up to bow her head.

"Shikamaru Nara." Shikamaru sat down, taking a long look at her. It was flat and didn't seem to judge, but Hinata sat up straighter, hoping he would start a conversation. "You have no idea why you're here, do you?"

Hinata blinked at him. Was she the obvious, or was he that perspective? "Not a clue. I'm sorry. I don't know how this got on my schedule with no details."

"And you don't remember me, do you?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.

Well, now she was embarrassed. "No."

Shikamaru nodded. "Choji introduced us…"

"Oh! You sat behind him. Kakashi-sensei threw an eraser at your head for falling asleep in class." Hinata covered her mouth. Why was that the only thing she remembered about him? Now that she thought about it. Wasn't he at the top of that class?

Shikamaru shrugged. "Probably not the best memory to have for a first date."

Probably not… wait. "Date?"

Shikamaru's lip quirked up. "You didn't know you were on a blind date."

Hinata gapped at him for a moment as her face heated up. "I'm so sorry. I know what's happened here." She sighed. "My uncle is getting clever."

Shikamaru nodded. "You're not the least bit interested."

"I don't mean to be rude." Hinata stood up. "I just really don't like this style of meeting a partner."

Shikamaru shrugged. "I'm not offended."

Hinata looked up at Kisame, who was already curious as to why she stood up and nodded her head toward the door. He promptly got up to follow her. She bowed apologetically to her 'date.' "Again. I am sorry. I actually hope I see you again, maybe at Choji-san's restaurant."

"I'll keep an eye for you." Shikamaru lifted his hand up but didn't wave it.

Hinata grabbed Kisame's arm and pulled him out of the restaurant to get as far away from it as her face got redder. She beat Kisame to the door, got in the passenger side, and closed herself in so she could hide.

Kisame closed his door as Hinata covered her face and let out a muffled screech. "Are you okay?"

"No!" Hinata whimpered. "My uncle thought today was a wonderful day to put another blind date on my schedule!"

"Another?" Kisame blinked as she dissolved, shrinking into her seat into a puddle of embarrassment. "This happens often?"

"Too often." Hinata huffed. "I feel so bad for these men. I kinda hope they don't want to be there as much as I don't because I always feel so bad for trying to leave."

"Trying to?" Kisame prodded.

"It doesn't always work," Hinata admitted. "Some guys insist on having the date."

What kinda of guy wants a date who doesn't want to be there. "It will work now," Kisame assured her.

Hinata giggled. "Are you going to help me out of my blind dates?"

"That's my job, isn't it?" Kisame waved his hand. "What else am I good for?"

Hinata knitted her fingers together. "It would actually be nice to know I have an out. Not all of my blind dates end that well." She looked up at him with that cute, grateful smile. "Thank you."

Kisame looked away to anything else, like the steering wheel. "That's my job."

"Well, my dinner just freed up, and I am exhausted." Hinata hummed. "How about we order dinner at the hotel?"

Kisame nodded and started the car as Hinata got out her phone to order food. "Why… do you live in a hotel?" Maybe the answer was simple. She owned part of it.

Hinata looked up. "I didn't want to go home after university. My uncle set me up in the private room. The connected apartment you're in was supposed to be for Neji-san, but he moved in with his partner." She lowered her phone. "It's not really homey, but it's what I think makes sense in the stage of life I am in." She promptly went back to her task, but Kisame took note of what she said. "Oh! That reminds me." Hinata looked back at him. "I wanted to make sure you know. You have access to any of the hotel's amenities. Gym, pool, buffet, just use your key card."

"I'll sear clear of the pool, but I'll take you up on that gym." Kisame hadn't been to a decent gym ever. Maybe all the machines would work, and half the weights wouldn't be missing.

"… Chlorine?" Hinata wondered.

It made sense she would pick up on that. "Yeah, breathing it in makes me sick." He pointed to his covered gills. "I have to flush it out, or it can really do damage."

"But smoking doesn't?" Hinata looked back at her phone.

Kisame didn't think she had it in her to be backhanded. "If I smoked a lot, I am sure it would tar up my gills. I am not a habitual smoker." He promised.

"Good." Hinata agreed. "I am not a fan of the smell." She held up her phone. "Chicken or beef?"