Enjoy!

Surprises.

Chapter 9: Calm Waters.

Shino looked at the now seated staff around his desk, acting upon Hinata's suggestion he had called a meeting and had told them exactly the dilemma at hand. He sat down, no one had spoken up and it was very quiet as everyone tried to digest this little piece of information.

Hinata gulped and nudged Kiba, "come on Kiba don't you have any ideas?"

Kiba rubbed his shoulder, "Ow Hinata?" for a petite girl she could sure pack a punch.

Hinata ignored him and raised her hand, last night she had discussed this issue with Neji and together they had come up with some good ideas, "I have some proposals Shino."

Ah he can always count on Hinata, "please feel free to speak up," he motioned with his hand.

Hinata stood up, all eyes turning towards her, "well how about a game night?"

Shino raised an eyebrow, this was certainly peculiar, he had never heard of a game night, "please continue."

"Well we can supervise a game where people can participate and have fun. It can be any game and best of all its cost-free."

"And we can even have a different game every week including one for couples," put in Kiba giving Hinata's idea more form.

"Okay does anyone else have any ideas? Anything to add, anyone?"

A slender hand rose up, "Sir, how about hiring a live band to play at weekends?"

"That would be expensive," replied Shino, he had also come up with that idea, but had dismissed it seeing the rates charged by some bands for one performance.

"Sir it won't, if you let potential emerging bands practice here. They might even do it for free."

"Do you know any?"

"I play the guitar in one."

"Great, then you're in charge of scheduling bands to play at weekends, and Ruki they shouldn't suck or you know what's going to happen."

Ruki smiled, "no problem sir, I'll spread the word around and you won't regret your decision, sir."

Shino acknowledged her unspoken thank you with a slight nod, before he rose from his chair, "Hinata your idea is great, and I would like to hold a game night every Friday, but bear in mind that the games should be fun not childish. Well anything else people?"

Another hand rose up, "sir how about introducing some new variety into the menu." The guy took Shino's silence as positive indication to continue, "we could introduce some Indian and Pakistani delicacies."

"I am not willing to hire another chef but make a report, give me some estimates, try to convince me and I might consider it. Okay Saleem."

Saleem nodded.

Shino clapped his hands together, "if no-one has anything to add then the meeting is as of right now finished."

Everyone started to filter out of his room while Hinata sat there frozen.

Shino started to stack his papers not bothered by her presence.

"Wait you're putting me in charge?" asked Hinata somewhat taken aback, she had always been the one to let others take charge.

"Yes it's a nice change isn't it?" asked Shino not at all surprised at her reaction actually this was exactly what he had been aiming for.

Hinata smiled, Shino was a good friend to her. "Well I'll try to do my best," stated Hinata leaving his office. This was going to be interesting.

I know you will.

"I am home," shouted Hinata taking off her shoes, it had been a tedious day.

Hinata frowned, no one had come out to greet her; well this was odd, usually one of them always stayed behind. Hinata searched for a note explaining their disappearance but there wasn't any. Normally she would have called them to ask the obvious, but she was too tired and on top of that she had three more hours of studying to do, so gulping down a glass of juice and munching her way through a hurriedly made sandwich, Hinata plopped down on her bed, books and papers surrounded her as she started revising, only two days till their mid terms and one mustn't forget she had to surpass Madison in these exams.

Tenten laughed heartily, they were back to their normal selves again, that night forgotten or so each of them thought they had.

Neji held the door open for the brown haired female; taking off his shoes he saw the blue sandals resting there beside his which was a relief since he hadn't picked her up trying to get used to the idea of him not being around after almost two months.

"Hinata come on out we got ice-cream," shouted Neji from the kitchen. Neji and Tenten slid across the small kitchen with ease taking out bowls, spoons and an assortment of toppings.

Neji's gaze flickered towards Hinata's room, why hasn't she come out?

Tenten saw the direction of his gaze and handed him the ice-cream, "here scoop out the ice-cream, I'll get Hinata." But she had only taken a few steps before a very tired looking; half sleepy Hinata emerged from her room.

"Guys can you please save some for me, I am going to bed. Bye," she waved and disappeared into her room again.

Neji smiled, midterms and exams did this to a person, which reminded him he too had some studying to do.

Decorating her mound of ice-cream with nuts and sauce, Tenten took a spoonful. Eyes closed, savoring the taste, she let out a small sigh of delight unbeknown to her Neji stared at her completely transfixed, it took a lot of self control for him from taking her in his arms and kissing her senseless.

Tenten opened her eyes, smiling brightly, "delicious! Nothing like ice-cream on a study night. Right Neji?"

Neji replied with taking a spoonful of his own ice-cream, glad that Tenten hadn't noticed him staring at her.

Sasuke yawned tomorrow was his third exam and he still had two more chapters to go through, he looked at Naruto who was hunched over a book, a pen in hand, eyes furrowed deep in concentration.

"Hey Naruto let's take a break."

"Yeah yeah, I just have to finish this chapter, ten minutes props," replied Naruto not looking up.

Sasuke sighed getting up, he strolled towards his balcony, the breeze was a bit warm, but bearable. Naruto had been sitting there since he got back from his exam, he was a dedicated student, having seen the ugly side of life, he knew without having a degree one's chances of survival was slim. He worked really hard; he was studious not to mention he could chew his head off if he didn't fully understand a concept.

"Sasuke!" shouted Naruto.

"I am out here."

Naruto stood at the door way, "what are you doing out here? Come on I'm starving lets get something to eat."

Sasuke turned to look at him. "What do you want?"

"Ramen!" stated Naruto.

"Ugh," Sasuke made a face, "no way, we are going to have something healthy. Don't you get tired of eating that?"

"No it's easy to cook, it's filling and it's not all that expensive. Not to mention it's delicious to," replied Naruto grinning widely.

Sasuke snatched his keys from the table, "humph should have known, now come on we are going out."

Naruto grabbed his shoes, "but you just said we are going to eat something healthy."

"So!"

"Eating out isn't healthy," pointed Naruto.

Sasuke could feel himself getting into a funk, "shut up and come on." He was tired and hungry.

"What ever you say, teme," followed Naruto, "between you're paying."

"Hn," was his only reply as they got into Sasuke's red car.

Hinata and Madison locked eyes, today was their last exam, and a weak from now the results would be posted. Hinata was the first to break their contact as the invigilator handed her the sheet of question and answer paper.

Madison had left twenty minutes ago and Hinata had barely finished on time with only five minutes remaining. Handing the paper in, Hinata bounded out of the exam centre, the exam had been a difficult one, although there had been a choice but the questions each of them had required a detailed analysis of the text. Time management had been a problem, but she had managed. Lucky her, but Madison had completed before her and by the looks of it, had been quite satisfied with her answer paper.

Hinata managed to put on a smile as she approached Tenten, "so are we ready to party!"

"Ten we only finished our midterms, we still have half of the semester left not to mention finals," replied Hinata slamming the door shut.

"I know and you're totally ruining the mood," pouted Tenten.

Not wanting to be the party pooper Hinata tried to be cheerful, "okay where do you want to go?"

"We'll plan something between I thought Gaara was coming this week."

"I thought you would have something planned," exclaimed Hinata.

Tenten gave her a sheepish grin, "what about Gaara?"

"Well he has an important business meeting; he's going to be here next week."

"You mean the one with Neji and your father?"

Hinata looked up surprised, "how do you know about it?"

"Well I kind of heard your brother talking about it this morning. I think he's leaving tomorrow."

Tenten gave Hinata a curious glance, the girl had been silent for five minutes now, "hey you still have me, and we'll have lots of fun. Promise!"

Hinata gave her an appreciative smile, it wasn't Neji going away that worried her, it was something else. Call it her intuition but something totally unexpected was going to happen.

Hinata eyed the box of pastries, "I know already, you don't have to explain and I don't mind," she smiled.

Neji looked at Tenten, peeved, she was the only one who knew he was leaving tomorrow but the brunette was completely ignoring him instead munching happily on a chocolate pastry.

Neji turned towards his sister, eyebrows raised, "you don't mind? I promised you and Hanabi that I would take you north…"

"No I don't but good luck with Hanabi, you know how she is!"

Neji sat down, she was right; Hanabi wasn't as forgiving as her.

Hinata decided to help him out, "I was hoping," she looked up to see if he was listening, "since you're leaving that maybe father could send Hanabi over, it's been a while since I have seen her."

"And Tenten is here, so you don't have to worry," added Hinata for safe measure.

"Okay I'll talk to dad," replied Neji causing a grin to appear on Hinata's face. Besides it would help him smooth things out with Hanabi.

This was just a filler chapter.

Next chapter: Sasuke and Hinata's meeting.