Found and Lost

Part 1: Found and Lost

After a hard day of training, and wanting to escape on her own for a while, Hinata wandered off into the woods towards the stream. A way south, upstream, there was a small dock that she had spent many a summer's day at during summer vacation while she had been at the academy. She walked along the riverbank, carefully choosing her footing, and listening to the gentle whispers of the stream running beside her.

Soon the old wooden dock was within seeing distance. Once she reached it, she removed her coat and her shoes and walked to the end of the small pier where she placed herself gently on the edge, letting her feet dangle over the side and her toes dip lightly into the stream. The water was just cool enough to feel good after training, but not so cold she wouldn't be willing to swim in it.

She sat there, contented, for what seemed like only ten minutes before she heard shuffling behind her, like someone else was taking off their shoes. She didn't want to turn around, thinking it was probably Kiba who had stumbled upon her sitting there more than once. She moved her feet back and forth in the water and heard the soft pad of feet come up behind her. And, although she did not look immediately to see who it was, they sat down right next to her and dropped their feet into the water, too.

Looking into the water, the reflection that met Hinata's eyes was not the one she expected to see. It wasn't Kiba whose reflection looked back at her. It wasn't even Shino. And by the time she had realized she was staring at the face looking at her from the water and had comprehended that he was actually there, next to her, she was surprised she hadn't fallen into the water out of shock.

She lifted her head and turned it to face her visitor who had also looked up to meet her eyes. "N-naruto-kun..." she stuttered, whishing she could keep her voice even but surprised she could even find the words. "What... What are you d-doing here?"

He laughed noticing the slight blush that had come across her cheeks and his dazzling blue eyes danced like they always did, even when he just simply smiled. "What? I can't come here?" he laughed.

"N-no!" Hinata said in a hurry, looking back down at her feet and the water to hide her face, which was, at the moment, turning twenty different shades of red. "That's n-not what I m-meant. It's just... I d-didn't expect to s-see you h-here, that's a-all," she explained timidly as she tried to smile at him. "Great... I finally have one-on-one time with Naruto and I can barely breath," she thought to herself.

Naruto laughed lightly. "Well, that makes sense." He looked around, turning his head back and forth. "I mean, this is a pretty secluded area. I guess when you're out here all alone you wouldn't really expect anyone to come out here, would you?"

Hinata shook her head, glad that she didn't have to explain herself. She brought her head up again and looked over at him, still blushing madly. She had always liked him... more than a little. And, although everyone seemed to be able to tell, he was the only one who never really saw through her. "S-s-so... W-what brings y-you all the w-way out here, a-anyway?" she questioned him, trying to keep her voice from shaking without success.

Naruto looked down at his feet and swished his toes around in the water. "Well... I just wanted to get away for a while. You know... Away from the streets and all the commotion."

"C-commotion?" Hinata asked, intrigued why Naruto, someone who had never wanted to step out of the lime-light, would want to get away from a place where everyone it town seemed to be.

"Yeah..." He started slowly, wondering if he should explain or not. After a few seconds, he decided that he had invaded what seemed to be Hinata's "alone time," so he might as well give her an explanation to why he was there. "You see... everyone's really excited about the fair tomorrow. They're all setting up the ribbons and getting the town ready. All the restaurants are closed so they can prepare as much food as possible for tomorrow night. It really is a mess."

Hinata giggled. The fair was a huge event in Konoha. They held it every year on the first day of August. Tomorrow just happened to be that day. "I thought you of all people would be down there helping everyone set up!" she managed to say without stuttering through the giggle that came with he words.

Naruto laughed a little. "It would seem like I should be down there, wouldn't it?" He looked at her and smiled for a second before continuing. "But... I never really went to the fair..."

Hinata didn't say anything. She knew perfectly well Naruto didn't usually join in the festivities, but she thought that maybe this year, since he was leaving in a week to go on what was suspected to be a six-month mission, he might go for once. Apparently he had other ideas. But this is what made Hinata begin to remember.

Year after year she had gone to the fair, ever since she could remember. Her father walked along holding Hanabi's hand with a reluctant look on his face while Hinata tagged along behind them, enjoying it as much as she could. The taste of cotton candy and caramel apples danced in her mouth and the noise of the fair tickled her ears.

Every year she walked to the edge of the fair where she could buy her favorite candy. There she saw Naruto sitting on the little swing outside the academy, all alone. The little, perky, blonde boy who had always been the center of attention (whether for bad reasons or good), would sit by himself and Hinata would stare at him sadly before she was called off by her father.

But this year he wouldn't be alone.

"N-naruto-kun," she stuttered, finding her voice after a prolonged moment of silence.

"Yeah, Hinata-san?" he asked her.

"W-well... T-tomorrow's the f-fair... um... w-will you m-meet m-me at the a-academy?" She didn't know how she got it out, even if she had stuttered more than usual. But, before either of them could speak, the words were out. She thought that after this day her cheeks would be permanently pink.

Naruto looked at her strangely for a moment, and for a second he made her wonder if she had even said it outloud or if it had all been in her head, thinking she said them outloud. Then a shy smile crept across his face. "Sure, Hinata-san. I'll meet you there. When?"

Hinata stood up hurriedly and started walking backwards off the dock towards the forest, almost stumbling, grabbing her jacket and shoes as she went. If she had been blushing before she could only imagine what color her face was now. She felt her cheeks get extremely hot but managed to answer his question, still stuttering.

"Umm.. G-get there about s-six, the t-time the f-fair starts. I'll m-meet you there!" she yelled to him over her shoulder as she had now broken into a sprint in the oppisite direction. She had finally done it. She had finally gotten a date with him, no matter how unofficial.

Soon she had ran through the entire town, through all the colored streamers, and through all the baracaded streets. She reached her home in no time flat, thinking all the way that she finally had a date with Naruto, and she had no clue how it had really happened.

The rest of the day was uneventful. Hinata served her cousin, Neji, her father, and her sister dinner like she always did. She did not feel the need mention her meeting with Naruto or the fair at all... Until Hanabi brought it up at dinner.

"Father," Hanabi said, "we are going to the fair tomorrow, aren't we?"

Hiashi looked up from his plate and directed his eyes at his younger daughter. "I think Hinata is old enough to take you this year." He moved his glace to meet Hinata's eyes full on.

Hinata, who was taking a sip of her tea, almost spit it all out. She sputtered a little and covered her mouth with her hand. "You don't have a problem with that, do you, Hinata?" her father asked in a monotone voice that still managed to sound authoratative.

"Um... Well..." Hinata began. She hated going against her father's word.

"What is it?" he asked her. Neji kept eating but Hintata sensed him lean foward in his seat just enought to know he was listening.

"Well... I was p-planning on g-going with someone else." She didn't want to tell him that she was going with Naruto. She didn't know if she could since she knew her father didn't approve of him.

Hinata's father was silent for a mmoment and took a sip of his drink. When he brought the cup back down from him lips he looked directly at his daughter again who was sitting on his right. "Is this friend more important than your sister?"

"YES!" She wanted to yell it loud enough for the entire village to hear, but instead she let out a shy, "No, Father, but I would like to go with them, very much. May I suggest that N-neji-niisan take Hanabi-chan since I already have p-plans?" Her cheeks flushed a little as she remembered what those plans were.

Hiashi considered it for a second, looked at Neji who nodded, and then looked at Hanabi who nodded in reply, also. "Looks like you'll be able to go with your... friend." His voice, though suspicious, didn't sound disapproving.

Hinata thanked her father many times over, and presently gathered all of the dishes from the table and washed them, all the while thinking about what the next day would bring...

All day Hinata stayed in her home. She paced up and down the halls; picking out one kimono, then another; pulling her hair up into different styles, then letting it fall back down. Her father and Neji didn't even bother her about it, as long as she did her chores as well.

In the end she decided on her simplest kimono. It was pure white and deep lavender ribbon tied around her waist and formed a elegant bow at the base of her back. The ends of the sleeves and the bottom of it was covered in a soft lace in the same lavander, and small deep purple lillys dotted the entire thing. It was perfect; nice enough that it didn't look "everyday" but not so formal she couldn't go to the fair in it. By 5:30 she had just decided to wear her hair down. She had spent several years growing it out to her waist, and it looked prettier that way, anyway.

When she realized she had five minutes to get to town, she rushed out of her room and around the bend of the hallways in her home, almost running into Neji as she turned a corner.

"Oh, Neji-niisan, I though Hanabi-chan would have pulled you out the door by now!" Hinata laughed.

Neji laughed lightly. "Well, she's finishing getting ready. Wait and we'll come with you."

Hinata giggled again. She continued down the hallway. "I think you're big enough to get to town on your own!" she called to her cousin. And with that she ran out the door, slipped her shoes on, and started for town.

When she reached the academy where she had told Naruto to meet her, she was relieved to see that he was already there, and that she obviously wasn't too late. He was sitting, rocking himself back and forth on the small swing that had hung from the old sakura tree in front of the academy for as long as anyone could remember. He suddenly stopped rocking as Hinata approached him.

She walked up to him slowly and shyly, wondering what he was thinking, and as always, slightly blushing. He stood up in a hurry and she realized he wasn't in his usaual orange sweat suit. In fact, he had changed into a much more fitting outfit for the occasion. Hinata certainly didn't know what he was thinking, but she had never been at a bigger loss of words. And, little did she know, the same went for him.

Naruto managed to speak first. "You look..."

"I look... like what??" Hinata looked down at her feet as she couldn't help but think the worst. "He's never seen anyone more ugly... He's realized he doesn't want to be here with me... What have I gotten myself in-"

"Beautiful," he finally said, cutting off her thoughts.

Hinata let out a breath that she didn't even realize she had been holding and looked back up at him. She smiled shyly and looked up into his blue eyes that were sparkling in the light coming from the freshly started festivities a few yards away. Her cheeks continued to redden from his comment.

"T-thank you, Naruto-kun. You l-look n-nice, too," she managed to say. "Naruto-kun called me 'beautiful'," she thought to herself, smiling and trying to keep herself from fainting at the same time.

He smiled back at her and the moment seemed perfect. He wasn't sure what made him do it. Maybe it was the way she was looking at him. Maybe it was the way she looked in general. Maybe it was simply the atomosphere. But, whatever it was, he leaned in a little, bending slightly to reach her, and she leaned forward, standing on tip-toes just a little bit. "Is Naruto-kun really going to..." she wondered. But her thoughts were cut short. Their lips were an inch away when shuffling footsteps were heard right behind them. They jerked away quickly and turned to see Iruka-Sensei who was walking toward them.

"Naruto! Hinata! What are you two doing over here? You should be enjoying the festival!"

Hinata laughed her easy laugh and the sing-song tones of her giggle seemed to penetrate the night. "Good evening, Iruka-Sensei! W-we were actually just headed o-over there! Why are you coming over h-here?" she stuttered a little bit, still somewhat flustered by what had almost happened.

Iruka smiled. "Forgot something in the school. I need to go get it real quick, but you can bet I'll be back at the festivities as soon as I get a chance."

Hinata and Naruto smiled and each gave him a simple, "Good night, Iruka-Sensei," before continuing on.

Soon, Naruto and Hinata were walking down the center of the town. Brightly colored lights guided the way through Konoha and every shop was covered and decorated with streamers that made everything look more festive than usual; almost dream-like. All the shop owners had smiles on their faces and every place was packed.

Naruto obligingly bought Hinata a caramel covered apple at a local sweets shop, not caring that he had to pay once he saw how happy she was. At one point they approached a game stand. Naruto looked at the shelves of prizes they had and then he turned to Hinata who was standing beside him.

Naruto: "I'm so lucky..."
Hinata: "I'm so lucky..."

"Pick one you want."

Hinata looked at him and smiled. "Really?" He smiled back gently and nodded. Hinata blushed a little and looked through the rows of prizes. "I want... that one." She pointed to a small stuffed penguin in the very corner of the bottom shelf. Naruto pointed too, making sure he had the right one. When she nodded at him, he asked for three balls and paid the man standing behind the stand. He handed Naruto three balls and backed away.

Naruto picked up the first ball, aimed carefully, and threw it at the set of bottles stacked in the middle. The top one fell, but the two on the bottom stayed put. He picked up the second ball and tossed it, completely missing them all together, making Hinata giggle at his effort. But the last ball went soaring straight towards them and knocked the remaining two bottles over.

The man had seen the animal Hinata had pointed to earlier and picked it off the shelf, handing it to Naruto. Naruto turned and handed it to Hinata, who smiled. She hugged it close to her and whispered, "Thank you, Naruto-kun." She said it so softly he barely heard her, but he smiled despite himself at the gentle sound of her voice in the night.

All night, no matter where the two had been, music had been blaring from the other end of town. As they approached the end of the town where the music was coming from, they could see everyone dancing. Hinata set her penguin against one of the stands where a lot of the girls had set their purses. When they finally reached it, they couldn't help but dance along.

A few minutes after they had started dancing, the music turned slow and everyone seemed to couple up. Hinata blushed and Naruto rubbed the back of his neck nervously, even though they both knew what was coming next.

"Naruto-kun actually looks nervous," Hinata thought to herself trying not to giggle.

"H-hinata-san?" This time it was Naruto who was stuttering.

Hinata clasped her hands in front of her and looked up at him, blushing as she always did in his presence. "Yes, Naruto-kun?" She surprised herself when she realized that her voice was so even.

"Would you-" He couldn't finish it, but then he realized that he didn't have to.

"I'd l-love to d-dance, N-naruto-kun." She grabbed hold of his hand before she could talk herself out of it and pulled him farther into the middle of the dancers. He followed her obligingly and never loosened his grip on her hand.

When they reached the center, Hinata stopped and turned to face her partner. She released her grip on his hand and for a split second Naruto thought she was going to start walking again. But instead he felt her hands lay gently on his shoulders. He placed his hands on her waist, and they began to rock back and forth in time with the music, each looking towards the other, but afraid to meet the other's eyes. By this point both of them were blushing.

But, as was inevitable, both looked at the other. At that moment, Hinata's hands met at the back of his neck and latched together. Naruto's fingers intertwined at the base of her back and they pulled closer. They leaned in for the second time that night when a familiar voice sounded behind them... again.

Naruto: "I was so close..."
Hinata: "He was so close..."

"Hinata! Naruto!" Hinata and Naruto both loosened their grips and their arms dropped to their sides as Kiba approached them and the music tempo sped up and the world around them started to spin. If only it had held still a moment longer...

Hinata put on her gentle smile and laughed. "Good to see y-you, too, Kiba-kun! What are y-you doing here?" Kiba was so used to her stuttering he didn't even notice that there was a slightly nervous sound to it.

Kiba laughed his hardy laugh. Akumaru barked loudly from his place on top of Kiba's head. "No, I didn't forget about y-you, Akaumaru," Hinata giggled as she patted the dog's head and Akumaru licked her palm.

"I'm just enjoying the fair like every other Konoha citizen," Kiba said. "Hey, Naruto." He now turned to face him, not really registering that they were there together. "Do you mind if I steal Hinata for a dance?" He asked the question but he didn't wait for an answer because before she knew it Kiba had shouted, "Good!" and she was being hauled off hand and hand with Kiba, leaving Naruto behind.

Kiba kept her for longer than one dance. And, by the time she was able to get away, she couldn't find Naruto anywhere. She went to pick up her penguin, but it looked like Naruto had beaten her to it.

She walked back the way she had come earlier, and when she reached their meeting place, the old tree outside the academy, there Naruto was, waiting, rocking back and forth with his feet just as he had been earlier. He stood up when he saw her.

Naruto: "She looks prettier every time I see her..."
Hinata: "He looks more handsome everytime I see him..."

"There you are. I thought you might be wanting this." Naruto stood up and held out the stuffed animal he had won her earlier. She walked foward and took it from him, hugging it to her body. She looked up into his eyes and realized that he wasn't trying to avoid them; he was looking right back.

She reached for his hand with her right and held the toy with her left. He reached back and both blushed a little.

And, for the third time that night, they leaned in together and closed their eyes. And, for the third time that night, they were interrupted. Footsteps, two sets, were heard coming around the corner. Seconds after they had pulled apart, both facing their new visitors, Neji and Hanabi walked around the corner.

Although they had been laughing moments before, both Neji and Hanabi stopped in their tracks at the sight of Hinata and Naruto. For a minute that seemed to strech on over a great spanse of time, no one said anything. Then, by simply nodding, Neji and Hanabi walked right on by the two without a word. Hinata knew this was a silent agreement not to mention who she had been with the whole night.

And when they were a few steps past, Hinata looked longingly at Naruto. She walked away, letting her fingers linger in his just long enough so that he knew she didn't want to go. She followed Neji a few steps before looking back. But when she did, he was gone.

For the rest of the week Naruto and Hinata didn't see much of each other. They were busy training, and Naruto was especially preoccupied with packing and training twice as hard as he usually did (which was usually twice as hard as everyone else) in preparation for his mission, which was expected to last six months.

And even though they only got second-long glances at each other, neither of them could get the other off their mind the entire week. And, as Friday approached, Hinata wondered if she would get to say goodbye.

Friday morning came and although neither knew it, both were up at the crack of dawn: Naruto because he had to be; Hinata because she wanted to be.

Naruto had his backpack full of the things he would need. He was at the gates of the village, waiting for Jiraiya who was going on the mission with him. The sun was over the horizon and the village was waking up. Soon, as he was standing there, he heard his voice called out from behind him.

He turned to see Hinata running up to him. She flew right through the passing people that were waking up with the day and ran right for him. When she reached him she said, "I... didn't think... I'd g-get here in time..." She panted between breaths.

Naruto smiled down at her and wrapped his arms around her waist causing a blush to fall across her cheeks. He bent his head down whispered in her ear. "I didn't think I'd get too see you before I left. And you know what?"

He pulled back for a second to look at her face. She tilted her head up to look into is dazzling blue eyes. "What?" she whispered, almost inaudibly.

"That would have made leaving twice as hard..."

With that he bent down and their lips touched. Hinata's face went bright red in a blush and her eyes were wide in surprise for a second. But when he didn't realease her, she leaned into him and he leaned back into her. She melted in his arms as they stood their kissing. Neither one had a thought of breaking it, no matter how many people were around. They only broke apart when Jiraiya announced that, ahem, they had to get on their way.

Naruto: "I think she's all I've ever really wanted."
Hinata: "He's all I've ever wanted."

This time it was Naruto's turn to let his fingers linger a little too long in Hinata's. He didn't look back, but she watched him until he was out of sight.

Slow, steady tears flowed down her face. She stood there, frozen in the world that was moving all around her. People were weaving in and our around her, not really caring why she was there or what had just happened.

And when she finally turned her eyes from the spot where Naruto had disappeared, she realized that for as long as she could remember, she had always wanted Naruto. He had been the only one who hadn't seen through her. The only one who hadn't seen how much she wanted him; how much she needed him. And now they had finally found each other.

"I finally found him," she thought. "But just as quickly I've lost him..."