"We met as soulmates

On Parris Island" - Billy Joel, "Goodnight Saigon"

Disclaimer: I do not claim Naruto or any of the characters in it, nor do I claim the song Goodnight Saigon. Those rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto and Billy Joel, respectively.

"Naruto, get over here!" yelled Kushina.

Uzumaki Naruto quickly dashed out the front door, running to leap into the car before his mother drove off without him.

"I'm coming!" he yelled, dumping his stuff in a seat as he dived after it.

"Pfeh," said Sasuke, kicking Naruto's seat. "Took you long enough."

"Sasuke..." said Kushina reproachfully, slamming her foot on the gas. Naruto lurched and banged into something in the front as he hurried to buckle. "Don't kick my leather."

"Sorry," he replied. Naruto snickered.

"Hahahah," he laughed, "guess I'm not the only idiot to have tried that!"

Kushina shook her head with a sigh.

"Settle down," she said sharply. "I can't focus with you yelling like that in my e- PUT YOUR SEATBELT ON, UZUMAKI NARUTO, OR I SWEAR, I'LL-"

And thus continued the journey to school.

"Sasuke-kuuuunnnn~~~" squealed a girl. Said boy turned just in time for a blur of pink to tackle him.

"Sakura, get off," he muttered. She giggled, but nonetheless consented.

"G'morning, Sakura-chan!" said Naruto, waving energetically. Sakura laughed, walked over, and ruffled his hair.

"Hey Naruto," she said. "Your mom drive my Sasuke-kun here safely?"

Naruto nodded. "Yuhuh," he said energetically. "Mom made sure to drive extra fast so we would get here on time, but she also made sure we wore our seatbelts. So we're fine!"

Sakura laughed nervously. "I'm sure," she said sarcastically, shaking her head and walking again to Sasuke's side. "Hey, so will you take me for ice cream after school or something?" she asked. Sasuke sighed, then nodded.

"You'll have to drive me home, then," he said. "Naruto's dad picked me up this morning to drop me off at their place. My car's in the repair shop."

"Oh, dear," said Sakura. "How awful!"

Her voice had something more like happiness in it than pity, and Sasuke looked down at her, suspicious.

"You didn't do anything to my car, did you?" he asked. She shook her head.

"Of course not!" she said. "I don't have a car, my mom picks me up, you know that!"

Sasuke groaned. "You mean your mom's gonna be chaperoning us?" he asked incredulously. "She won't even let me KISS you!"

Sakura chucked softly. "Then settle for holding my hand," she said. Sasuke smirked.

"I'll take you up on that offer."

He took her hand and they walked into the school building.

Naruto, meanwhile, was busy talking to Kiba, who had come up behind him to scare him, crouching and tiptoeing his way to his victim.

And as usual, Naruto had noticed and "accidentally" elbowed him in the head.

"Owch, man, that is getting annoying," complained Kiba, rubbing his head.

"Yeah, well, so is your fail sneak-attack!" replied Naruto. "It's the same old trick you've used since middle school! It's getting BORING!"

"Is that a challenge?" asked Kiba, a gleam in his eye. "Well, then I accept!"

"Heheh, just TRY and see if you can fool me," said Naruto proudly, striking a pose. "I'm the master of pranks, 'ttebayo! I won't be fooled like the likes of you!"

"We shall see, my dear friend, we shall see," said Kiba ominously. "In the meantime, though, did you manage to nab Sakura's homework while she was being all lovey-dovey?"

"Naw," said Naruto glumly. "All she did was ruffle my hair and walk off."

"Well, hey, cheer up," said Kiba consolingly. "At least you've GOT a girl."

"... Hunh?"

"Hinata." said Kiba matter-of-factly. "You know her dad's been trying to convince yours that making an arranged marriage would benefit both your families, right?"

"Oh, yeah, well..." Naruto trailed off, scanning the crowd as if the answer were hidden somewhere in there. "I don't feel comfortable with forcing anyone into those kindsa situations, y'know?"

Kiba sighed, shaking his head. He patted Naruto on the back. "I wouldn't wanna force Hinata into anything, either," he said. "She's too sweet and cute to hurt."

Naruto laughed. "Ahahah, I guess," he said, putting his hands behind his head. "I just always figured she was too fragile to push into doing things and all."

"Whoah, deep thoughts, man," said Kiba. "Especially from YOU."

"Yeah, I know, a-hey! Wait a-"

"Ahh, speak of the Devil," said Kiba, turning around. "The Hyuuga cousins!"

Naruto looked over his friends shoulder.

Indeed, he thought.

Neji walked alongside Hinata, both conversing, Neji saying something that made Hinata burst into giggles.

"Cute, huh?" asked Naruto. "Hey, I know someone who SHOULD get together with Hinata," he said, nudging Kiba in the ribs.

"Wha, me? Naaaahhh," said Kiba.

"Aww, come on! She needs a goofball to make her laugh, someone who can understand her, and," added Naruto, "she needs an idiot to make her look good. I mean, she IS good, but with an idjit like you, she'll look like a GENIUS-"

"Okay, NOT funny, dude," said Kiba sharply. "She's been my friend since elementary school, and beLIEVE me, if I liked her that way, I'da made my move by now. Besides," he continued, "I know someone else who falls into the idiot category, too. Someone SHE really likes."

Naruto stared blankly at him. "... You mean Gaara or Sasuke?" he asked. "Cuz they're both already take-"

"Aaaah, I give up on you!" said Kiba frustratedly, throwing his hands up in the air and marching off to talk to Chouji and Shikamaru, leaving a slightly dejected and offended (not to mention HORRIBLY confused) Naruto in his wake.

And so, Naruto, feeling slightly lonely, decided to go talk to someone.

And those someone's, he decided, would be the Hyuuga's passing right by him.

"Oi, Neji, Hinata!" called Naruto, bounding over to them. Neji quickly stepped slightly towards Hinata as she let out a quick squeak and scurried behind him.

Still so shy, thought Naruto.

He remembered when he first met her. He was playing in the playground with Sasuke and Itachi, building mud pies out of the (ironically) dry dirt beneath the swing set. He had looked up, taking a break to wipe his brow, when he saw a little girl walking with a man who was probably her father. She had seemed so tired and scared when her father had pointed to the playground, so Naruto, his heart breaking for her in sympathy, had run over to her and practically dragged her to make mud cake with him.

He also remembered her father being slightly annoyed with his own dad, complaining about his daughters' dirtied kimono.

"Kids will be kids," said Minato. "If they wanna make mud pies, then you've got to let them, but if you say something to them, it's bad."(1)

Naruto smiled at the memory. Hinata had been unable to look him in the eye even back then, probably (he figured) because of her low self-esteem.

Although for the life of him he couldn't understand how come her shy act was accompanied by blushes now. He supposed that perhaps, just maybe, she had just become very shy around him after elementary school?

"Hello, Naruto," said Neji stoically, "How has your morning been?"

"Eh, same old, same old," said Naruto. "And you two?"

Neji looked down at Hinata, who seemed to hide even more behind her cousin. "Hinata and I have been training and studying since 5, and have had a pleasant morning trip to school," said Neji, speaking for his temporarily mute companion.

"Ah, that's cool," said Naruto. He nodded at Hinata. "Is that the hair ribbon I got you for Christmas?" he asked. As her blush deepened and she nodded vigorously, Naruto grinned happily. "I didn't know which color was your favorite, but I figured that if I got you an orange one you would remember who got it for you," he said. "My mom said it would look cute on you, though, so I decided, hey, win-win situation. It DOES look cute on you," said Naruto cheerily.

Neji quickly grabbed Hinata's arm, and Naruto's grin fell. "Oh, no, is she having another-" he began.

"No, she's just woozy," said Neji quickly. "She's not going to faint." he paused and looked down at his dizzy clan member. "Are you?" he asked.

Hinata shook her head quickly. "I-I-I j-j-j-just ne-ne-need s-some f-fr-f-f-fresh air-air," she managed to stutter. Naruto and Neji nodded simultaneously, and Naruto stepped out of the way quickly, allowing Neji and Hinata to pass towards the school building.

"Hope you feel better, Hinata!" he called.

He saw her stumble a bit when he uttered her name.

Whoops, he thought guiltily, I must've distracted her. My bad!

Naruto turned to go hang with Kiba, Chouji, and Shikamaru (while realizing suddenly that it was a bit odd that Hinata and her cousin had retreated for "fresh air" to the school) when the bell rang, signaling the start of the school day. Naruto hurried inside, worrying about Hinata.

I hope Hinata wasn't sick. And then, after a moment, I hope I didn't catch it.

He had to wonder nervously, though, as his heart beat quickly and butterflies filled his stomach as he thought of her and her orange ribbon and if she was ill or not.

Author's comment: Hey everyone! I figured it was time I crank out a more universal fic featuring ALL my fave couples.

PLEASE R&R! My stories don't get enough love in that respect! ImAGINE, over 300 people read one of them, and only 10 bothered to leave me with ANY feedback!

So 290 didn't bother to comment. THAT, my dear friends, is what we call being "a bump on a pickle" where I come from.

(1) And did anyone catch the "Catcher In the Rye" reference? I'll give you a hint: If I hadn't mentioned just now that I do not claim the idea or phrase as my own, I could have been tried for plagiarism. XD

This is just the "prelude" of the story, if anyone cares to know. The REAL plot begins in the chapters to come. I was inspired loosely by Goodnight Saigon, so for a few chapters I will probably have selective quotes from the song. And obviously, the title of this fic is the first part of the chorus line.

Hope you enjoyed! R&R, or at LEAST fave or watch or SOMETHING! THANKS!