Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or its characters.
Rating: K+ (amazing, huh?)
A/N: This is another one of those things that just occurred to me. One hundred percent fluff between Hinata and Naruto. I don't usually write Naruto because he comes off as way too obnoxious for my taste, but in this instance it worked. Please enjoy, and please review.
: Brushing :
Hinata sat at the mirror, perched properly on the little seat for the vanity. Her hair was ratty and tangled; she and Naruto had been training together all day. He was in the shower now, getting ready to go home.
She sighed, contented.
Naruto had lost the 'I'm gonna be Hokage!' blinders he wore and had actually noticed her. He'd noticed her… mumbling, stumbling, stuttering, blushing Hinata, who'd loved him and admired him since forever. And he loved her back.
Lips lifted to a smile.
Her hand reached for her brush the same time the water shut off in the bathroom. She giggled when she heard the shower curtain slide loudly, curtain rings clacking together, and his sigh of relief though the door.
"Aaahhh."
"All better?" she called teasingly, picking up her brush.
"Yeah, I sure am. I really worked up a sweat today!"
Hinata tended to agree.
The door opened, issuing a cloud of soap-scented steam. Her mirror fogged a little, and she got a pleasing show when he walked out of the bathroom in a towel. She loved how his hair still stood up, even sopping wet. She averted her eyes to give him privacy as he dried off.
She turned her attention to her initial task. Quietly humming, Hinata started working the tangles and snags out the curtain of raven hair. Her mind clicked to neutral, so it was a few minutes before she realized Naruto's eyes were on her.
He stood, half-dressed in pants, staring at her. But he wasn't looking at her face; no, his blue, fascinated gaze was locked on her hair. It worried her some.
"A-are you…is everything okay?"
Naruto didn't respond right away. He dazedly stepped forward, like he was approaching a wondrous and new item never before seen in the world. His eyes never left her fall of hair, and when he was within arm's reach, he lifted a hand to run his fingers through the heavy black locks.
Hinata blushed lightly, enjoying the gentle touch, but slightly confused.
He spoke to her softly, adoringly.
"H-hinata?"
Her heart murmured.
"Hmm?"
He was a child lost in an engrossing new toy, oblivious to the world, intent only on the plaything under his hands.
"Can I…can I brush it?"
To ask why or to say 'yes' would ruin the precious moment, so Hinata just passed him the brush. She held her breath when he shifted close enough that she could feel his warmth spread through her back.
So tenderly, so carefully, he brushed her hair, patiently tugging out the tangles. Often his fingers would touch her nape or her neck, giving Hinata lovely shivers down her spine. Over and over he stroked the brush, and as Hinata saw the comfort he found in that simple gesture, she didn't want him to stop.
At last, Naruto sighed, a slow, satisfied, happy sigh, and he seemed to rise back up to himself. A cute flush colored his cheeks and nose as he handed her back the brush.
"Uh, thanks," he told her awkwardly, but he had no reason to be awkward. She smiled at him, glad to provide something special for Naruto.
She only thought to reply in the regular way.
"You're welcome."
He turned around and went to pull on the rest of his clothes. Hinata settled the hairbrush on her vanity, her eyes on Naruto. And she wondered.
She wondered if his mother had had long hair, and she wondered if Naruto remembered it, even if he had just been a child at the time.
End.