Ever since that night, Hinata noticed something very curious.

Sasuke would wait for her around a block from the academy, in the path she usually took to go to her home, and then walk with her silently until they reached the compound. He wouldn't linger, actually, he would keep walking without stopping or telling her goodbye or anything at all, but he would always, without fail, do the same every day.

She tried asking the first few times that happened what exactly he was doing, but he closed up and took another path, leaving her behind without answering, and ever since then she decided to simply accept this silently. In the bottom of her heart, she thought it might be because of what happened with Neji, but she couldn't be sure. It wasn't like Neji would ambush her on her way from the academy.

Time passed like this, and, without realizing it, Naruto's birthday came around again. Just like last year, he invited her to eat ramen with him and Iruka, and the day of was calm and nice.

To her surprise, however, as she arrived home after the small gettogether with Ko behind her, she was told by one of the servants that her father wanted her in his office. She was completely floored when she entered and saw not only Hiashi, but Sasuke sitting in front of him, properly with his knees under him and a cup of tea on the table.

"Sasuke-kun?" she couldn't help but ask. The boy looked up at her, but there was an emotion in his eyes she could not read. In that moment, her father cleared his throat.

"Hinata, take a seat" he ordered, gesturing at the place next to Sasuke. She quickly did as told, for some reason feeling apprehensive about this all.

What was Sasuke doing in her house? Sitting with her father?

"You might be wondering why Sasuke is here today" her father started. She nodded, before remembering she had to speak when she was talking to him.

"Yes, father."

"It seems he came on his own… to talk to you" he said, surprising her. She turned to look at Sasuke, but he was staring at the table, apparently ignoring her. She knew, however, that he was aware of her eyes on him, for the way his shoulders tensed just slightly. "As you were not here, I told him he could come back later or wait for you as he wished, and he decided to stay. We've been talking over tea."

Hinata nodded. What could her father and Sasuke have been talking about? And more importantly, what did Sasuke want to tell her, for him to come over all the way to the Hyuuga compound?

"With this said, as you are already here, I believe our conversation shall be cut short" her father continued, this time speaking to Sasuke.

The boy nodded, standing up without asking for permission. "Thank you for entertaining me while I waited" he said, bowing his head, countering his previous faux pas.

Hiashi nodded shortly, and with a look towards his daughter, she stood up as well, bowing and leaving his office along with Sasuke. Once outside, she stared at him without knowing what to do.

"This, Sasuke-kun… did you want to tell me something?"

"Not particularly" he answered, confusing her. He looked at her, hands in the pockets of his shorts, and gestured with his head to the end of the hallway they were standing at. "Show me around" he asked.

Hinata did while unable to keep a frown from her face. She guided him towards the gardens, glancing at him in question, but he didn't seem like he was going to elaborate. When they reached the garden, she turned to him, but he wasn't facing her. Instead, he was observing, taking in the arrangement of beautiful flowers still in bloom despite being autumm, and the koi pond just a little farther away. The weather was still good enough for the fish to be there, but, in a few weeks at most, they would be taken away to protect them from the cold.

She decided to ask then, as he didn't look inclined to explain further. "If you didn't want to talk to me… then why did you come?"

His eyes snapped towards her, and she felt nervous all of a sudden. "What, I can't just stop by?" he asked with a clipped tone. She winced.

"That… that's not what I meant…"

"It wasn't anything important anyway" he shrugged then, finally taking the pressure of his eyes from her form. He started walking into the garden and she followed. "Actually, this was just about good enough. I managed to talk to your father and he told me… some interesting things."

"What type of things?" she wondered, curiosity taking a hold of her. He halted next to the koi pond, and watched as the fish swimmed inside, a kind of faraway look in his eyes.

"Just a few things about my parents…" he answered noncommittally. Hinata hummed.

"Oh."

He didn't say anything, and she, once again, became lost on what to do. She played with her fingers, trying to look for another topic and a way to get him to tell her the reason he had actually come here, but, as it tended to happen, he beat her to it, speaking up first.

"I had no idea today was Naruto's birthday."

"Eh? Ah, yes" she nodded, glancing at him.

He was frowning, but his eyes were still fixed on the fish. "You went to his celebration…" he commented sourly.

"We went out to eat ramen" she confirmed.

"And you went last year too, no?"

"Yes… I did."

"…" he bit his lip, looking truly annoyed. Hinata was bemused. What was it with Sasuke, when it came to Naruto? "Actually, as I said, what I wanted to tell you wasn't anything important. I was more interested in talking to your father, because of what he said the other day. I wanted him to tell me more about my parents, that's the real reason I came here today" he announced, voice suddenly harsher and eyes baleful.

Hinata gulped, feeling contrite at being subjected to his glare, even though she couldn't understand why. "…ok?" she squeaked in a small voice.

Sasuke scoffed. "As I already did what I came to do today, I'll take my leave now. See you at school tomorrow" he turned and started walking back in the direction from which they came. Hinata hurriedly followed him, shaking off the strange feeling that had gotten a hold of her at his sudden change in attitude. He glared at her from over his shoulder. "Why are you following me?" he gritted out.

"I… I'm going to show you out…?" she tried to said, but it came out as a question.

The boy opened his mouth, as if ready to retort with something biting, but, seeing her tensing, getting ready for it, he changed his mind, and instead just gave a stiff nod.

When they reached the gates, he waved at her half-heartedly and Hinata watched him go, his walk stilted and, somehow, defeated. She wondered just what was wrong with him.

She also decided that, like always, she would give him time before confronting him about it.