So here's the first installment of '9 Fox Tails'! Sorry it took so long.
She refused to cry
No matter how hard he hit her, she would not cry.
They weren't near the complex, obviously. Would he really want everyone to know how hopeless the Hyuuga heir is? So weak, in fact, that he was able to beat her to death?
"You dishonor your clan."
Blood. Too much blood. She was beyond crying now, even if she wanted to. Tears took too much energy to produce. And defending herself? That ship sailed too long ago. As the darkness closed over her, she knew she was doomed to this forever and ever…
FOREVERANDEVERFOREVERANDEVERFOREVERANDEVER
Naruto whistled cheerfully on his morning jog. Nothing could bring him down right now.
Hey, I wonder what that is? He thought as he sensed a familiar chakra presence.
Well, almost nothing.
As he got closer, he didn't wonder why the signature felt so familiar. Konoha is a small place. After a few years, you know almost everyone. No, he was wondering about his love interest, a certain pale-eyed someone…
Neji.
Oh, how he loved Neji. Nice hair, very cute, ooh, swoon!
He had been in love for a long time now, and Neji was the perfect match for him. Amazing physique, and he knew, even under that cold stare and heartless gaze, Neji felt something for him too.
GOTCHA!
(A/N: Just kidding. Uh, Neji, it was just a joke. Backs away slowly)
He wasn't thinking of Neji (Hello, this is a NaruHina fic, you want yaoi, go elsewhere) but he was thinking of Hinata.
Hinata!
It finally dawned on his thick blonde head that it was Hinata! He ran as fast as he could.
"Hinata?"
She moaned, finally coming around.
"Hinata-chan? Are you alright?" he asked frantically "Come on, let's take you home."
She was too woozy to protest to him taking her home, where she'll only get another beating; she didn't want to be a burden by sharing her troubles.
Neji greeted them with an ever-so-boisterous "Hn" and carried her inside. Her father just turned his nose up at Naruto when he tried to explain how Hinata probably over-exerted herself training.
The next day, Naruto saw Hinata and offered to train with her to help make her stronger so she won't overexert herself again. Well, on the outside maybe, but on the inside he was just happy to be spending time with her.
"Okay, th-thank you N-naruto-k-kun."
"No problem Hina-chan!" causing her to blush furiously.
I-will-not-faint- I-will-not-faint-I-will-not-faint she chanted, and surprisingly, it worked.
"Meet me in Team 7's training ground in an hour, 'kay?" And with that, he sped off.
She trained with him in her sweatshirt, so he wouldn't see the bruises. When they worked with water, though, she was forced to take it off. Then Naruto tried very hard not to notice her curves, when he noticed something of a more disturbing nature.
"Yipes, Hinata, what happened to you?"
"I tripped" she said lamely.
"You should be more careful, I don't like seeing you hurt." Gaah! Why did I just say that?! Has the stupid fox gotten to my head and driven me insane?!
Don't blame me for this one, kit. You're in love.
With Hinata?
The fox deemed that question too stupid to answer.
Meanwhile, Hinata was pondering his statement. Does this mean he might feel the same way for me that I do for him?
They continued to train in silence, wondering about what had been said to them.
The next day, Hinata had even more bruises, including one on her cheek, which, to her dismay, she couldn't hide with a sweatshirt. Fortunately for her Naruto said nothing.
But the wheels in his head were turning. I didn't give her any bruises like that when we were sparring. Heck, most of the time he was the one with the most bruises because of the gentle fist. And even if she was sparring with someone else, which is highly unlikely considering how exhausted we both are at the end of the day, none of her teammates would ever hurt her so badly.
So, Naruto decided he would follow her when she went home.
It was tedious, because it was rather uninteresting. She went home, ate dinner, and went to sleep. He was starting to get tired after being perched in a tree so long. He couldn't even feel the pins and needles in his legs from his muscles falling asleep!
Neji felt another presence in the complex that did not belong. He activated his Byakugan and saw it was Naruto, but decided that since Naruto wasn't really harboring feelings for him, he didn't care, and just hoped Hiashi didn't see him. He kissed his photograph of Tenten, and went to sleep with his panda doll…
Okay, then. That was weird and oddly fanboy-ish of Neji, but we'll save that for another story.
So anyhow, Naruto was just about falling asleep, when Hinata gave a little yelp. Hiashi dragged her out of her room and away from the compound. It took Naruto a second to get his wits about him, but then he after them.
He saw Hiashi above Hinata hitting her, and hitting her. Naruto felt sick.
Hinata waited for the final blow that would end her life, but it never came. Naruto caught the punch and his eyes were red with fury. Nine-tails Hinata realized, but was too tired to care, the darkness was right there, opening its arms with the promise of ending her pain.
She welcomed the embrace.
"Don't you EVER touch the woman I love! I'LL KILL YOU!" he roared, his voice mixed slightly with the fox's.
FOREVERANDEVERFOREVERANDEVERFOREVERANDEVER
"Unhh…" Hinata moaned. Her head hurt, and things were still a little fuzzy. Her head was spinning.
"I bet you still feel a little dizzy, but you're safe now."
Huh? "Naruto?"
"Yep" he said grimly, "You're in my house, and you're staying here. He'll never hurt you again as long as I'm alive."
She looked at him in alarm. He misread the glance. "Don't worry, I didn't kill him"
"I d-don't c-c-care ab-about that as m-much as I care about y-y-you. Are you alr-alright?"
"Eh, I'm okay."
"D-d-don't l-l-lie, I can tell, he h-hurt you didn't he?"
"A few chakra points here and there, no big deal."
She got up and rapidly opened them before he could protest. "W-what time is it?"
Hm, she hardly stuttered at all that time Naruto observed.
"About 7am."
"And you've been up all this time? I'll make you some r-ramen."
She did, and when she was bringing it back she slipped. Naruto caught the ramen in one hand and Hinata in the other. (A/N O.O he's really strong lol)
"You aren't recovered yet, lay down!"
She was blushing too hard to be coherent staring into his sapphire orbs.
She was placed on the bed next to him. Naruto put the bowl of ramen on his bedside table. "Are you feeling okay?" He asked her. The breath on the back of her neck made her shiver.
"You're cold! Here!" He pulled her onto his lap and pulled a blanket around them both. She tried not to blush so he wouldn't think she was too hot and pull away.
He laid down on his pillow pulling her down with him.
"Hey Naruto, thanks for all you've done for me."
"No problem. I wasn't kidding you know. I want you to live here with me. If you want to, that is." He tacked on sheepishly.
"I would really like that."
YES! Naruto thought. I'm one step closer to telling her that I love her. Easier thought than done.
"Naruto? You said that out loud."
He paled visibly and than blushed. In a rare burst of confidence, she stroked his hair gently. He closed his eyes. "Naruto, I love you too." There. She finally said it. Then she heard a noise. He was snoring. But that's okay, she reasoned with herself. She'll tell him in the morning, because they have forever and ever.
Forever and ever…
Author's Note
Bonjour my lovelies! So that was Tail One. What did you think, hm? I'd prefer not to get flames, but constructive criticism is always welcome. Ah…look at that. What is it. It says "Re-VI-ew". Well, that's a weird word. Wonder what it does. Don't you wanna click it and find out?