I do NOT own Naruto...

Chapter 1: Coversations

Hinata and Sakura are talking at a secluded corner.


"It wasn't love. It was more like hope. He was everything I hope I'd be, everything I wish to become. He wanted the same things that I wanted… to be strong, to be accepted, and to be loved... But it wasn't love I feel for him, at least not the romantic kind. I didn't love him Sakura."

Hinata stopped looking at Naruto as he conversed with Lee and directed her eyes to Sakura.

"Don't be scared. He's Naruto. He's not going to hurt you, at least not intentionally. He loves you so much. He's different than most guys. He's worth the risk Sakura… don't be too scared."

"What?" Sakura asked her, shock written all over her face. Hinata smiled at her.

"There's no point hiding it, it's clearly seen on your face."

She pointed out to her pink haired friend.

"Hinata…"

"Haven't you been listening? I love him as a friend, nothing more nothing less."

Sakura gave up trying to hide what she feels from her friend. She sighed then asked.

"How did you know?" Sakura softly whispered.

"Like I said, it's very obvious." Hianata answered, the smile on her lips growing wider.

"He asked me out." Sakura told her.

"Really? What did you say?" Hinata said excitedly, but then she frowned at her friend.

"Please tell me you didn't say no."

"I didn't say no, but I didn't say yes either."

Sakura answered her, hesitation evident in her eyes. Hinata sighed.

"Do you have any idea how lucky you are? You have found someone who loves you and whom you love in return. Still you deny yourself the chance to be happy. Don't waste your time being scared, not everyone can be as lucky as you are…"

Though Hinata tried to stop herself, her eyes wandered to Neji, the she sighed. A sigh that's full of sadness.

"Naruto, he's there for you. Not because he has to but because he wants to…" Hinata said sadly.

As if sensing that someone is looking at him, Neji raised his eyes and saw that someone is indeed looking at him. His cousin, Hinata, is looking at him. He raised his eyebrows asking her what's wrong, Hinata only smiled at him then shook her head telling him that nothing's wrong. She turned to face her friend again this time seeing the sadness in Sakura's eyes. Hinata took her hand, gave it a soft squeeze and smiled sadly.

"Its ok. I'm ok. Please don't be sad because of this."

Sakura looked at her, not really believing that she's ok. Still she smiled and told her that she wasn't going to tell anyone.

"Please think about what I said." Hinata whispered.

Sakura looked at her. After knowing what Hinata really feels, she can now see the sadness that she's trying to hide. She wondered to herself why she didn't see it before. She wondered if anyone has noticed it at all.

"Ok, I'll think about it…" Sakura said slowly, as Hinata smiled.

"But you have to promise me that you'd do something about making yourself happy, ok?"

"What do you mean?" Hinata asked her

"You have to at least tell Neji what you feel"

Sakura was smiling now, especially when she saw the look of astonishment on Hinata's face.

"WHAT? Are you crazy?" Hinata said loudly, thus drawing attention to them.

"Hey, what's going on with you two?" Naruto asked, curious as to why Hinata raised her voice.

Sakura told Naruto (rudely) to mind his own business then turned her attention back to Hinata.

"Now, you don't have to do anything but answer questions. Because knowing Neji, he's going to ask questions later." She told Hinata, grinning for the first time that day.

Hinata looked at her cousin, she sighed knowing that he is going to ask questions later and not really sure if she can continue to hide what she really feels anymore.

Putting the conversation at the back of their minds, they walked towards their friends.

After an hour of bickering (Lee and Naruto mostly) and small talk the group decided to part. Lee and Tenten, and Neji and Hinata went to their respective training grounds while Naruto said that he's going to walk Sakura to the hospital. After the goodbyes have been said, they promised to see each other when they all have some free time.


What do you think?