A/N: I'm going to ask the same question Tenten did in Rock Lee's Springtime of Youth. "Do they even have cell phones in this world?"

I included it anyway.

Yes A-kun, I intended to update The Butterfly Effect next, but inspiration just hit me for this suddenly.

Sasuke does have a lot of work cut out for him, and it'll be a while before something actually happens between the two of them. It has to be planned properly. Making Sasuke less of an asshat is a lot of work as well.

Thank you for all the reviews!

Chapter 6

Sister!

He had called her his sister!

Even her cousin Neji had never called her his sister before in his life!

As Kiba held her to him and carried her home, she clutched the front of his shirt. Kiba was the only boy she was ever comfortable with and had confidence to speak up to, as Shino was gone. They shared everything together, but they just hadn't been spending as much time together after he got together with Sakura.

It seemed as if Sakura was responsible in taking away everyone important to her. She shook her head. She shouldn't think like that about her friend.

Did Naruto still like Sakura? He did say he liked someone else. So did that mean she was in his bad books because she was best friends with Kiba, who currently held Sakura's heart?

"I'll call Sakura, alright?" Kiba was saying now. "She'll take a look at you."

Hinata wasn't sure if she wanted to face Sakura right now.

"I'm fine Kiba-kun," she tried to say, but he had already pulled out his cell phone. She was on his speed dial.

He asked Sakura to meet them at the Hyuga compound and sure enough, she was waiting for them as they reached.

"What happened, Hinata?" Sakura asked as she hurriedly felt her forehead for any sign of fever.

"I found her like that beside the dam," Kiba told Sakura as Akamaru barked and tried to lick Sakura's face. "She looked like she had fainted."

"I am feeling a bit dizzy," Hinata admitted.

"But what happened?" Sakura repeated as she held Akamaru down. "Is your blood pressure running low? Did Neji drive you too hard in training again?"

"What? No," she said as she groaned. "I... I just..."

Sakura and Kiba both leaned in closer to hear what she was saying and she blushed.

"Put me down already Kiba-kun."

He tentatively placed her down, making sure she didn't stumble.

"Are you sure?" Kiba asked as she held on to Akamaru for support.

"Of course I am. There's no need for this fuss."

"Then tell us what happened," Sakura coaxed.

"I..." she said. Kiba was her best friend in the world, and she was also quite close to Sakura. They already knew everything. So why was she hesitating?

"I confessed to Naruto-kun," she told them without looking up, her bangs covering her eyes. She could feel both of them flinch.

"Oh boy. I take it that it didn't go well?" Sakura asked sadly.

Hinata met her eyes. "N-no. He said that he likes someone else."

She didn't tell them that he also said she was like a sister to him. That was too embarrassing.

"Why I oughta-!" Kiba growled, shaking his fist. Sakura took his arm and gently placed it down again.

"It's ok," Sakura said. "Naruto can't help it if he does not feel the same way for her."

"No, it's not that," Kiba said, his eyes narrowed as his shoulders slumped. "He hurt Hinata! He already has to pay for that. But if he tries to go after you again..."

Sakura sighed as she gently caressed the arm she still held. "It's fine, Kiba-kun. I don't like Naruto."

He breathed a sigh of relief.

"First Rock Lee, then Naruto," he muttered, trailing off. "Well anyway, I guess I should leave you girls alone. I'll see you later, Sakura-chan," he winked as he planted a kiss on her before he left.

Sakura nodded, satisfied. "He's learning. You know, I've always tried to make him understand the signs when two people need to talk in private."

Hinata's eyes widened as they filled with tears once more.

"Oh, Sakura-san, it was horrible! You know how you always encouraged me to be confident when I speak to guys, and I honestly did! I brought up the nerve to confess to him again, and... and..."

Sakura hugged her. "It's ok Hinata. Shit happens. But you know, you should totally act like it doesn't affect you at all. That makes guys completely crazy and chase you. If you start dating someone else altogether, that will totally make him so jealous as well."

She sobbed for a while before pulling back. "Teach me Sakura-san. Teach me how to be more confident with guys."

Sakura thought about it. "Have you ever stopped to think about why you're so shy and get nervous so easily?"

Hinata tried to think. "Well, I've just always liked Naruto, and I was always fine watching him from afar. But when he got too close, it felt like... You know... Everything is burning."

"Hold up," Sakura said, holding up both her palms. "Excluding the fact that you are a kunoichi. Have you... ever been close to a guy before?"

Hinata looked absolutely flabbergasted. "Of course not," she said.

Sakura was shocked. "Hinata, have you even kissed a guy before?"

Hinata looked away, twiddling her thumbs. "Um..."

"Ah, so therein lies the problem!" Sakura sighed. "You're not experienced! No wonder you looked about to faint every time Neji touched you... And when you touched him."

Hinata's mouth fell to the ground. "He... He told you about that?"

Sakura smirked. "Not intentionally. You see, you're not the only one who comes to me with problems. All it did was take a gentle coaxing and a little bluff to get even a caged bird singing. At first, he went on and on to deny that he felt anything at all. I might have led him to believe that you told me a few secrets."

"But... But I don't have the same problem with Kiba-kun, nor do I have the same problem in combat to touch anyone. Gentle Fist actually requires close contact to inflict damage," Hinata said.

Just at that moment, they spotted Neji making his way about the grounds, his arms laden with bundles. As soon as he saw them, his gaze fixed on Hinata and he almost stumbled, dropping the bundle in his hand as he hurriedly made his way out of their sight.

"Looks like you transferred the problem to someone else as well when you touched him," she said, smirking. "You know, you're perfect for each other."

Sakura didn't understand why Hinata suddenly looked at her with such intensity.

"Wh-What?" Sakura asked.

"Nothing," Hinata said quietly. "It's just that... Father asked me if I consider him too. You know, it's proper practice to date only if you are engaged. That way, no one has objections. If things work well and our minds match, we then fix a wedding date. You see, before there was Naruto I thought about. But now since there is no one in my life, do you really think Neji is right for me?"

Sakura also noticed the fact that Hinata had said his name without the nii-san, and how excited she was at the prospect of dating.

"I don't know Hinata. Why don't you two try going out in private and see? You know, for once look at each other in... that sense."

Hinata nodded enthusiastically. "I can ask Father to arrange that easily!"

"Um... Hinata. What I meant was..."

"Yes I know, this is genius! I will tell Chichiue that I will give him my decision after I go on a private dinner with Neji."

"Hinata, I don't think an arranged marriage meeting will give you that kind of confidence. You need to meet with him alone."

Hinata's mind whirled. "Alone as in..."

"Alone as in... Alone enough to kiss him."

"K-k-kkk-kiss... him?" Hinata squeaked.

"Yes. And don't hesitate to make love to him if that's what you really want. Tackle everything confidently. You need to be more comfortable in your body, and more confident about how beautiful you really are. Learn to take what you want."

Even though Sakura's advice sounded almost the same as Hanabi's, Hinata almost fell unconscious again.

A month had passed since Sakura left Hinata pondering. Right now, she had to meet with Ino. But the thing about Ino was that nowadays, there was no telling where she was.

She went to the Yamanaka flower shop and she met Ino's mom, who told her that she might be at the Hokage's office. Ino had told her mother that she had some work. Sakura scoffed. She knew very well that what "work" Ino had up there.

"Why don't you give these to the Hokage if you're going there?" she asked kindly, handing her a bunch of periwinkles. Sakura excitedly took them, hurriedly making her way.

Kakashi-sensei, here are some flowers for you, she thought. No, Hokage-sama, these are for you.

She shook her head. She couldn't think what she wanted to say, or how she should refer to him. He had been flirting with her very openly throughout the month, with a touch here and there, and she devilishly returned the favour.

She reached the door, taking a deep breath, and prepared to rush in before she lost her nerve. But the door suddenly opened from inside, and Sakura suddenly went flying on top of... Kakashi.

Now, Sakura knew that Kakashi had the reflexes of a... well... a ninja, and he could have easily swerved, dodged, or keep them both from falling even. Maybe Kakashi had his nose buried in that book of his again, because it went flying, along with all the flowers she held.

"S-Sorry!" she squeaked as she tried to get up from on top of him. Kakashi's phrase, his cherry on top, had actually come true. That is, if he really considered her as his.

But just as she tried to get up, she slipped again, and this time, her breasts completely smothered his face.

She screamed as she got up, covering her mouth when she realized that if anyone discovered them, they would think differently.

"Relax Sakura-chan," Kakashi said lazily. "Or people will think you are attempting to kill the Hokage by smothering him. Times like these, I do wish I didn't wear a mask."

Sakura's eyes widened as she choked on her breath. Kakashi just as lazily got up in a sitting position, looking at the flowers spread all around them.

"For me?" he asked, causing her to blush.

"I... uhhh..." All that advice she had offered to Hinata about being more confident had seemingly went down the drain.

Kakashi scratched the back of his head.

"I wish they had been... cherry blossoms," he winked. "But seems like I got a taste of them anyway. Thanks, Sakura-chan."

She wondered when had Kakashi started to call her as Sakura-chan. But it was quickly drowned by the fact that Kakashi was obviously flirting with her. And not to mention how highly suggestive he was being.

"Aren't you going to help me up?" he asked. God, that lazy voice of his was so sexy.

Arm shivering, she offered it to him and he latched on. But instead of letting Sakura pull him back up, he pulled on Sakura instead.

Hinata could not stop thinking about what Sakura had said, even after a month.

Kiss? Neji? Or any boy for that matter! But she had to admit, it sounded pretty... exciting. Not to mention intriguing.

Strange feelings had started to tingle Hinata's nerves, stirring up butterflies in her stomach. She actually wanted to do it. She was very, very curious what it would feel like. Surprised at her own nerve, she went to look for Neji. She had decided finally, after a month of racking up the courage. Tonight was the night she would discover herself. It didn't help that her father had given her a month to decide, and it was almost up. But she didn't really care about that, nor had her father brought it up again. She could always delay if it wasn't something she liked.

She went to the opposite side of the compound where the Branch Family Members lived and found him gazing at the stars, a cigarette wedged in between two long fingers.

As soon as he saw her, he nearly fell backwards, trying and failing to hide the cigarette behind him.

"H-Hinata-sama... Did you... need something?"

He was extremely uncomfortable, more uncomfortable than Hinata was. That actually gave Hinata more confidence.

"I... I have a favor to ask of you," she mumbled.

Neji started to get up, but she hurriedly took a seat in front of him so he would keep sitting.

"What... favor?" Neji asked, hesitating.

She took a deep breath and met his intimidating eyes, even the one he kept hidden, and told him what she wanted.