Fiction and chapter titles inspired by Pink Floyd's 'Hey You'. Everything else inspired/requested by a Gaian who ordered this. Enjoy~

"Come on!" The sound of children laughing and birds chirping filled the summer air. A young girl, only seven years old, sat alone under a leafy tree and watched the other children run around and play. She brushed her short, deep brown hair from misty gray eyes and relaxed back into the shade. Part of her wanted to join the other kids, but she was known, by now, for being quiet and reclusive. It would feel awkward to just approach them randomly.

She wasn't the only one, she knew, that felt that way. There was that blonde boy who always played alone. Though, unlike her, the other children seemed nearly hateful towards him; she still wasn't sure why. Naruto, she recalled overhearing him being called-- talked about, rather-- and she had also thought (and just as quickly dismissed) going to talk to him. It really wasn't like her to start the conversation, though if someone had wanted to talk to her, she wouldn't mind. She had been labeled, though, and that was a hard thing to get rid of.

"Um...is anyone sitting here?"

The brunette turned her head upward to meet hesitant, milky-white eyes framed by midnight-blue bangs and a nervous smile. She blinked a few times before shaking her head lightly. "Nah, you can sit down."

"Thank you." The newcomer took a seat and, for a few, very long moments, the pair sat in silence.

"Why aren't you playing with the other kids?" the brunette finally asked, muted eyes flickering towards the girl, who looked about her age.

"I'm not really interested in what they're doing," she replied softly. Turning slightly to face the other, she extended a hand. "I'm Hinata."

"Eh?" Another blink. "You're one of the Hyuuga kids, aren't you?" She might be an outcast and rather young, but even she knew of the famous clans.

"I am," Hinata replied, her voice softening even further upon being recognized. A slight blush colored her cheeks as her hand slowly made its way back to her side.

Grinning, the brunette quickly caught the retreating hand and shook it. "Miyaki Haruhi," she introduced herself. "Nice to meet you."

Slightly startled, but pleased with the response, Hinata lightly squeezed the hand in her own. "It's nice to meet you, too, Miyaki-chan."

Haruhi thought to dismiss the friendly honorific before it stuck, but realized that Hinata was probably raised on proper addressing and formalities. Instead, she nodded and released the other girl's hand. Her attention still drawn on the heiress, Haruhi heard the 'watch out!' too late. Stars danced in front of her eyes as a heavy ball collided with the side of her head. Dazed, she vaguely recognized her new friend's worried voice as it called out to her.

"Is she alright?" A group of boys ran up to the pair, the speaker with a small, white dog at his heels.

"Kiba-kun," Hinata murmured, frowning in concern as Haruhi shook her head slowly. "You should have watched the ball better."

"Oi, you okay?" Kiba kneeled down in front of Haruhi and placed a hand lightly on her shoulder. "I didn't mean to-"

"I'm fine," the brunette said quickly, shrugging the hand off-- physical contact had never really been a big thing with her, especially with strangers that had just kicked a ball into the side of her head. "I should have been paying attention."

"You're lucky she's okay," another member of the group spoke up. With half-lidded eyes and hands shoved in his pockets, Shikamaru sighed and turned from the injured girl. "I told you we should have moved further away."

Kiba gave a nervous laugh and stood, collecting his ball. He gave a short wave to the girls and followed the others back. "Sorry, again!" he called out. "Come on, Akamaru!"

"Are you sure you're alright?" Hinata asked, her brow furrowed slightly in concern.

Not used to having so much attention paid to her, Haruhi flushed slightly and tapped her fingers against her head to prove that she really was okay. "See? Doesn't even hurt."

Slightly amazed-- because that really did look like it hurt-- Hinata nodded and fell back into silence. This girl seemed too tough for her age, and she wondered if the two of them could really get along well.

"Hinata, class is over, let's go." Haruhi was leaning against the doorframe, half her body already poised to dart from the school. She waited, as patiently as possible, for her friend to pack her things and join her.

"Go on without me," Hinata said, smiling over her shoulder. "I can walk home by myself."

"No way." To emphasize her point, the brunette retreated back into the classroom and crossed her arms, stubbornly. "I'll wait."

Feeling burdensome, but happy that she wasn't left behind, Hinata dutifully packed up the rest of her things and rushed to Haruhi's side. Nodding a confirmation that she was ready, she followed the taller girl from the school building.

"Ah, finally!" the gray-eyed girl said loudly, stretching her arms up toward the sky. "I thought school would never be over!"

"I thought today's class was kind of interesting," Hinata offered, her tone never changing from that almost-whisper she spoke in. It was endearing, though-- a relief from the rest of the loud, obnoxious classmates she had.

Haruhi grinned and shrugged, folding her arms behind her head. "Well, we still have one more day of class before the weekend. So save some of that excitement for tomorrow." Hinata laughed-- more of a light giggle, really-- and caused the other girl's smile to widen just a bit more. It had been five years since they first met that day under the tree, and she had yet to tire of entertaining the Hyuuga girl. She doubted she ever would, really-- Hinata was simply too nice.

Over the years, Haruhi had fallen into a routine. She woke promptly at six and went through the motions of a semi-developed training regimen until class started. She would meet Hinata at her house before school and the two would walk together, either in silence or light conversation that was always prompted by one of Haruhi's random thoughts or observations. Then class drug on and on, usually lengthened tremendously by either Sakura or Ino's completely infatuation with Sasuke (who Haruhi swore was gay-- a comment that had, one day, turned nearly every girl in the class room against her) or Naruto's idiotic and loud ramblings.

Then, after class was finally out, came probably Haruhi's favorite part of the day. She would walk Hinata home, a tradition that had been quickly formed when school started, and the two would talk once again. Unlike in the morning, though, when the impending doom of class and the last remnants of sleep clouded their thoughts, the afternoon was filled with much livelier conversations. It usually consisted of Haruhi poking fun at one of their classmates and Hinata agreeing in that light laughter of hers. It never got old and Haruhi doubted it ever would.

The only thing Haruhi disliked was the strict schedule Hinata's parents placed on their daughter. It left Hinata no time after school to hang out with her friends other than on the walk home. It was made up for, in part, on the weekends, but it still felt as if Haruhi was missing out on a lot of her best friend's life.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Thank you for walking me home, Haruhi-chan."

It had been a stretch just to assure the timid girl that calling her closest friend by her given name was alright. It was better than nothing, though, Haruhi supposed, and so she never pressed for anything more informal. This was Hinata, after all. The brunette nodded and waved a hand as she continued on her way. "Have a good night, Hinata!"

Watching secretly until the spunky girl disappeared from sight, Hinata let her soft smile widen just slightly before she disappeared inside her home. It was nice, she thought, to have a friend like that.

The next day of class brought more frustration than Haruhi really knew how to deal with. It was no secret, at least to her observant eyes, that Hinata was fond of a certain blonde. A certain loud blonde. A certain loud, ignorant, clearly-wanting-to-be-punched blonde. That was the one thing Sakura was good for: Naruto abuse. Even the pink-haired girl couldn't tame the idiot within Naruto, though, and Haruhi just wanted to knock some sense into him.

How hard was it to tell that Hinata admired the fool, for whatever reason? Haruhi didn't really want to question Hinata's judgment, though it seemed to be lacking in this case, and so she silently supported her friend's crush. Naturally, being the heiress' best friend, Haruhi heard all about how inspiring Naruto was and how funny Naruto was and how all-over incredible Naruto was. It, frankly, made her sick. She wasn't jealous-- oh, no, of course not-- she just thought Hinata deserved better. Someone smarter, someone less annoying, someone...not Naruto. That was all.

It was all of these factors that led to the brunette wanting to rip her hair out that afternoon. It was the weekend, so Hinata was given a bit of free time after school, and the pair found a shady tree to sit under near where the other kids were playing.

"If you're so into him, just go tell him how you feel." It seemed simple logic to her, but Hinata quickly shook her head.

"I could never," she murmured, her eyes casting to the ground. "Naruto-kun would..."

"If Naruto knew what was good for him, he'd be begging you to never leave him." Haruhi grinned, expecting the blush that formed across her shy friend's face. "He's an idiot, though, so he'd probably do something stupid."

"He likes Sakura-chan," Hinata reminded her friend. "He wouldn't bother with me."

"Then he's not worth your time." No longer smiling, Haruhi's brow was furrowed and her lips turned down in a frown. "Don't waste your energy on an idiot like that, Hinata, there are better guys out there."

"Like who?"

That question wasn't as easily answered, especially since Hinata was so smitten. Haruhi sighed and slumped her shoulders in defeat. "I don't know." Someone. Anyone.

"Oh!" In a sudden rush, Hinata stood. "I'll be late if I don't leave now."

"It's okay," Haruhi said, moving to stand as well, "I'll walk you ho-"

"I have to go," the bluenette said, bowing in apology. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Just barely standing up before her friend ran off, Haruhi watched in confusion as she was all but ditched. "What's up with that?" she muttered to herself. Sighing again, she leaned against the tree and peered up through the branches at the clouds slowly passing overhead.

"It works better if you lay down," a voice called out to her. She looked to see Shikamaru and Chouji lounging in a bed of grass not too far away. "Also, if you're not under a tree."

"What exactly works better?" Haruhi asked, raising an eyebrow as she walked over to the pair.

"Cloud watching," Shikamaru told her, his eyes flickering quickly from the fluffy white objects to the girl hovering over him. "Isn't that what you were doing?"

"Not as a hobby," she remarked, finding it strange but fitting that a guy like Shikamaru would take up such an activity.

"You should try it," Chouji finally spoke, lowering the bag of chips he had clutched in his hand. "It's relaxing, though I think Shikamaru does it too much."

"Lay down," the thinner male offered, motioning next to him.

After hesitating for a moment, Haruhi shrugged and sunk to the ground next to the boy. Her head rested lightly against folded arms and her stormy gray eyes melted with contrastingly bright skies. She wondered how the two boys didn't fall asleep in the warm sun with nothing to do but watch the clouds pass them by. Because it really was very relaxing. Very...very relaxing...

"She asleep?"

"Yeah."

"Novice."

This chapter really didn't want to end. I guess that's a good sign, though. I think this will likely be four chapters, so onward we go~