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Happiness

Naruto's POV

I smiled and held Hinata's hand tightly. I still couldn't believe she was never going to leave and loved me. On an impulse, I kissed Hinata's cheek, in front of a whole bunch of Hyuugas. Hinata blushed and gently nudged me as a warning. "Naruto-kun," she admonished softly.

We were at some Hyuuga formal party so I was gently threatened into a deep gray yukata by Hinata and Hinata was wearing a gorgeous lavender kimono. I glanced to the left and saw Neji and TenTen. Neji was quietly talking to TenTen and she was sulking, quite obviously. I laughed quietly among the whispering Hyuugas, "Look at TenTen. She looks like she wants to kill someone, just for kicks."

Hinata turned her head to glance at her cousin and closest friend. She giggled quietly, "She hates these formal parties. Want to go talk to her?"

I wrapped an arm around Hinata's waist and we got up and approached Neji and TenTen. "As long as your cousin doesn't glare at me all day."

Hinata smiled and sat next to TenTen, "Are you okay Ten?"

TenTen scowled at Hinata, "No. I'm going to beat the hell out of some trees really soon and kill the next Hyuuga that glances at us. I'm also intending on punching Neji when we're alone seeing it's his fault that I have to sit and act pretty."

Neji sighed and gently wrapped an arm around TenTen's shoulders. "Hn…" he mumbled.

TenTen promptly hit him on the head with the flat side of a kunai she had just drawn, "Watch it, or I'm ditching you in the clutches of that matchmaking aunt of yours."

Hinata raised her eyebrows, "You met Hiroku-san?"

I hid a smile, I remembered meeting her. She had looked at me up and down before giving Hinata and me permission to go out, adding a blunt, 'Don't make babies yet,' behind her.

TenTen muttered cuss words and Neji scowled. Hinata winced, "What happened?"

TenTen rolled her eyes, "That woman had the nerve to say I was after Neji for the money. Then she said that I wasn't worthy of getting married to a Hyuuga. So I told to fuck off because I was just trying to get Neji to get some extra training."

Hinata giggled, "What did she do?"

Neji sighed, "She looked shocked then patted TenTen on the back. The next day, she told me that she would make a wonderful wife and that I had her permission to court her."

TenTen slumped and leaned her head against Neji's shoulder, "After her 'approval' I was allowed anywhere in the Compound. I also got a mini fanclub that keeps trying to charm their way into my affections." Neji's expression grew dark and TenTen paused as if she was considering something, "It's either my affections or my pants."

Hinata giggled, "Because you never wear skirts?"

TenTen giggled and nodded. I looked at Neji and TenTen and pointed at TenTen's head on Neji's shoulder. "So, are you guys going out?"

TenTen didn't even start, "Nope, just in public."

Hinata frowned, "What do you mean?"

Neji growled slightly, "To keep away fangirls/fanboys, as well as inquires from the Hyuugas and the annoying asking out by random Hyuuga guys that keep trying to impress her and—"

"—failing," TenTen finished in a smug tone.

I winced, "Isn't a fake relationship sort of……..?"

Hinata was looking at TenTen worriedly. TenTen gave Hinata a cheerful smile and stood up. "Come on, Neji," she said abruptly, "Let's dance." Neji looked at her weirdly, which made TenTen punch his shoulder, "I do know how to ballroom dance, I just don't, besides, club dancing is more my style when I actually do dance. Also, Hiashi-sama and Hiroku-san keeps giving us weird looks."

Neji reluctantly led TenTen to a dance. I glanced at Hinata who was watching them worriedly. I tapped her shoulder. When she looked at me, I gave her a reassuring smile, "TenTen's a tough chick. Wanna dance?"

Hinata blushed and grabbed my outstretched hand, "Of course," she whispered.

Hiashi's POV

I glanced to Neji and Hinata who were both dancing with their partners. I noticed with surprise and delight the way Neji wrapped his arms around TenTen almost possessively. I also saw the way Hinata and Naruto looked at each other with adoring eyes. Hiroku let out a small cackle, "That TenTen girl has spirit, I'll tell you that. I never thought that Neji could be gentle to someone other than Hinata," she added reflectively.

"You interrogated them?" I asked, not very surprised.

Hiroku smirked, "All four of them. TenTen, that girl, blew up at me and told me to fuck off with a kunai at my throat, that boy tuned me out as usual, and she blushed."

I was slightly surprised that she acknowledged TenTen by name, She must ha really impressed her, I thought curiously. She doesn't even acknowledge Neji and Hinata…… "The Uzumaki boy?"

Hiroku sniffed, "Told me that he'll protect Hinata even if it kills him. Told me that he didn't care what family anyone was from, if they hurt her, he was going to kill them. I believe he was throwing you a glare while he said that," she added with her normal evil smirk on her face.

I smirked right back and turned my focus back to the people we had been talking about a few seconds ago. TenTen was arguing good naturedly (thank Kami….. she was scary when really mad) with Neji while they both smiled and danced together. The Uzumaki boy was making some joke which Hinata light up at and laughed. I felt happiness when I watched my daughter laughed with complete abandon. I hated the Kyuubi boy, I did, but he made Hinata happy so I was willing to let him off for a little. But if he ever hurt her, I clenched my fist without thinking, I will break him, I silently promised, I will hurt him.

Hinata's POV

I looked up to see Naruto's cheerful foxy grin. "Am I a decent dancer?" he asked jokingly.

I blushed and nodded. I turned slightly and saw my sister arguing with Konohamaru. I giggled, both of them were quietly yelling at each other but their steps were in complete unison as they danced. "Hey sister," Hanabi said cheerfully.

I smiled at her, "Hello Hanabi, Konohamaru."

Naruto looked at how close the two kids were, "Hey guys, are you guys going out?" he added with a slight smirk.

Both of them quickly stepped away from each other sputtering excuses. I giggled and leaned against Naruto, feeling his arm wrap around my waist. Yes, I thought happily, This, being close to him, understanding him, it is true happiness for me.

Naruto's POV

I looked at Hinata's happy, blissful expression and smiled. It was nice when Hinata was relaxed and happy, it made her look beautiful, not that she ever didn't.

"Hey Boss," Konohamaru argued, "What about you and the pretty lady, huh? You guys are going out aren't you?" Hanabi punched Konohamaru shoulder to calling her sister that.

I grinned and pulled Hinata recklessly close, "Yeah, I love her. Do you love Hanabi?"

"If he is, it seems I'll have to dispose of two bodies," drawled a calm voice.

I turned around cheerfully, "Hey Neji, TenTen!"

Hinata blushed and buried her face in the yukata. I looked down at her in surprise then shrugged it off, who knew how the woman mind worked? "Hey cousin!" Hanabi said cheerfully.

TenTen, however, was glaring at Neji, "I hate your mother fucking guts right now," she growled.

Hinata looked at TenTen in concern, "It something wrong?"

TenTen whacked Neji on the head when he smirked, "YES!" she hissed, "This asshole is the reason I have a mini fanclub, wear a dress, have a fucking female harassing me, and my feet hurt!" She huffed and pulled out a kunai and began playing with it. I saw Hinata and Hanabi wince, they didn't know how TenTen acted as if a kunai was some plaything, not a weapon that could kill people.

Neji rubbed his forehead, "And you're the reason I have a headache," he muttered.

TenTen flipped him off and turned to Hanabi and Konohamaru, "So, are you guys going out?" she asked mischievously.

I watched as Hanabi and Konohamaru tried to fend off accusations from a blunt TenTen and a shy Hinata. I glanced at Neji and saw his bemused, loving (probably subconscious, I mean, Neji, loving? right……..) look at TenTen. I smiled and hugged Hinata while burying my face in her hair. This is happiness, I thought, relaxed, Being with Hinata, staying with her, this is true happiness and love…….

TenTen's POV

I looked at Hinata and Naruto and felt a twinge of envy, sadness, and happiness. I was really happy that Naruto had stopped being a blockhead (only with Hinata, he's still an idiot) and they were now going out. But I felt a slightest bit of sadness and envy. Not envy that Hinata had Naruto, but the fact that Hinata had someone in the first place. Hinata had Neji as her protector and now she had Naruto as her lover. The only people I could genuinely say that loved me were Lee and Gai-sensei, and that was in a father or brother sort of way. Neji……. he was my teammate and training partner but I could never tell if he seriously cared or not. I turned to look at him a saw his amused expression as Konohamaru and Hanabi started arguing again.

Hinata suddenly giggled, "You know," she whispered to them, "Whenever Kiba and Ino argue, they always end up in a make out session."

Both of them started screeching that a make out session wasn't going to happen. I chuckled and I listened to them, temporarily forgetting my love issues. I started slightly when Neji placed an arm around my waist. I quickly settled down and gave him a cheerful smile. Hiashi-sama and Hiroku-san was probably watching again.

I sighed and leaned into the embrace, just for a minute, I wanted to pretend. To my surprise, Neji didn't pull away (then again, that would have completely let the cat out of the bag and we couldn't let that happen) but hugged me tighter.

I turned and sighed into Neji's chest, I didn't want him to know how sad I felt at that moment. I relaxed slightly when Neji's arms tightened. Just for now, I thought sadly, Let me pretend….. that I'm in love and allowed to be…… that I can love someone without fear that they'll leave me……. that people actually care…….. just for now, just let me pretend that he loves me back……

Neji's POV

I felt TenTen's soft sigh on my yukata and glanced down at her. I tightened my arms slightly, feeling sad that I could do nothing more. TenTen just stayed there, with her face buried in my chest and arms tight around me. I let out the softest whisper of a sigh and placed my forehead on the top of her head. "I want to go home now," she mumbled, "I'm tired and my feet hurt."

I nodded and gently pulled her away. Quietly, we walked out of the room and I walked TenTen to her house.

Hinata's POV

I watched my cousin and TenTen (pretty much my two favorite people in the world after Naruto) leave with slight pity. TenTen was in love with Neji and she would never tell him, she didn't want to. She thought he'd think she was some ditzy, airheaded fangirl if she told him, she also feared that he would reject her, betray her, or hurt her……. again. I sighed and toughed Naruto lightly on his arm, "What up?" Naruto asked with slight concern in his tone.

I giggled at his paranoia, "I'm fine, I just want to get back to my room now."

Naruto smiled, "Thank KAMI, no reason for me to stay after you leave." I knew I looked slightly hurt and Naruto must have seen it, "Not you Hinata, I just don't like Hyuuga parties, love you though!" he added cheerfully.

I blushed and he led me out of the room and walked me to my room. I smiled shyly at him, "Thank you," I whispered.

Naruto grinned and kissed my gently on the mouth, "Anything for you Hina-chan."

I blushed and went on tippy toe to kiss his cheek, "I l-l-love y-you," I stammered out.

Naruto gently lifted my chin to look at him straight in the eyes. He looked so serious and grave when he kissed on the lips again, "I love you Hinata, always and forever. Never forget that."

I smiled and him and stepped backwards into my room.

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