The Longing

I curlecd up in a small ball on the bench.

Was he? Culd he be? The thought send a knife through my heart.

Naruto-kun…dead.

It couldn't be. People just don't die like that. I remembered it like it was yesterday, partially because it was.

I was standing at the gates, waiting patiently for him to return from his mission.

"Oi! Hinata!"

That voice, I spun around and my heart leapt; he was back.

I rushed into his strong arms, finally inhaling his scent after three long months. Ramen, sweat, and the smell of freshly cut grass, he hand't changed a bit.

"Hey," he chuckled sofly, "are you sniffing me?"

"I forgot what you smelled like," I replied, breaking off. He caressed my face. Oh, to feel those rough hands again. Finally, I was so close to what I missed the most.

His lips moved closer to mine, and his breath was hot on my skin.

I closed my eyes, fully prepared to remember what I had longed for since he left.

We kissed, and I wrapped my arms around him. I felt his legs give out and I was the only thing holding him up. I opened my eyes, and he was unconcous.

"N-Naruto-kun!"

And that's how it happened. He was rushed to the hospital immidietly, and I was left sitting in the park.

I pressed my fingers to where his lips once were. When he kissed me, all of my doubts, fears, and second thoughts just melted away. Hus lips were like a vaccum, sucking up all of my insecurity.

The first time he kissed me, we were twelve. It was after I gave him a small bag of chocolates on valentines day and confessed…well, sort of. It was supposed to come out as "I love you", but is slipped out as "I appreciate you", which embarrassed me for hours after. He had surprised me quite a bit, because I turned beet red.

I whiped a tear, and giggled, remembering that day. As soon as I thought of the happy times, I started to cry again. Someone sat next to me, and patted my back.

"Hello, Neji-nissan."

Neji sighed,

"Tsunde-sama ran some test on him."

My heart tied itself in knots,

"Oh?"

Neji sighed again, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. He stayed silent, not a good sign.

"He's dead, isn't he?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"…"

I shook my head,

"I knew it," I cried, "he is dead. I shouldn't have gotton my hopes up."

Neji grinned, sd if knowing something I didn't. He stood up, and began to walk away. He turned, and said over his shoulder,

"I'm not one to say. Hinata-sama, I have something weird to ask you. Please close your eyes, and don't open them until I said so."

I squeezed my eyes shut, and I heard footsteps.

Someone bent down in front of me, and held my hand.

"You can open them now," murmered a voice that most certainly didn't belone to Neji. I opened them up, and was shocked at what I saw.

A face.

A face belonging to a person.

A blonde haired person.

A person with whiskers.

A person wearing orange.

A person who I spent all this time planning my eulogy for his funeral.

I couldn't even find words; I just sobbed, throwing myself at him.

He held me in his arms, kissing my head, touching my soft skin, and trying to assure me that I wasn't dreaming.

"This is real, baby," he told me, "you're awake. I'm okay, I'm not going anywhere."

My crieds were muffled, but he managed to hear me.

"I don't believe you," I whimpered. He kisse my head and said two words.

"Believe it."