A/N: I'm getting some pretty nasty pms over this silly little fic, not really sure why but oh well. If you read Safe Travels you'll notice some of the details are different, but I didn't want this to be a scene for scene recreation.

Two weeks. Two long, miserable, weeks had passed since Hinata practically ripped his heart out with her revelation.

Her, pregnant, and the father?

It had to be him, didn't it? Of course it did; it was always him.

Sasuke Uchiha. His brother and his rival in everything.

Apparently that included Hinata.

It was a bright and sunny day even in the midst of the forest where Naruto had secluded himself. Sunlight, clear and warm, filtered in through the treetops and illuminated the swath of destruction he had laid. Splinters were everywhere, the trees they once belonged to were slumped like defeated ninja, their strong roots still groaning from the onslaught of his rage and sorrow.

He sat, back against the remains of a large boulder, head in his hands.

He'd run from her that night.

Unable to look at her, terrified by the swelling wave of anger (at her? At Sasuke? He wasn't sure and didn't want to find out) that threatened to overcome him and drag him under, clutching his chest as though she had physically jammed a kunai in it, he'd escaped the stifling confines of his home and ran.

His voice was hoarse. Had he been screaming this whole time?

He dragged a weary hand down his face, once again pressing his hand to his chest above his heart, tilting his head up. He was so tired, and all he wanted was to crawl into his lumpy bed, Hinata in his arms, and fall asleep with his face buried in her silky black hair.

But no.

He would never hold her in his arms again. He would never fall asleep listening to her breathing, her gorgeous body pressed against his, their fingers entwined just beneath her heavy breasts, her heart pounding as he slowly stroked her skin, sometimes building her up to orgasm, sometimes simply because he loved her and could not stop himself from showing it.

All of that belonged to Sasuke now. Her smiles, her skin, her trembling thighs and heaving breasts, her -

Would you stop whining already?

Naruto grunted, startled out of his morose thoughts by a growling voice full of exasperation.

"Kurama?"

Yes. I can hardly hear myself think in here, kit, with all your moaning and groaning. Pathetic.

Naruto scowled.

"Hey, shut up! I'm really hurting over here, ya know. Ever think about showing some sympathy or something?"

Kurama laughed, the sound deep enough to subtly shake his bones, and Naruto knew the Fox's next words would probably piss him off.

Sympathy? For what purpose should I do so? Had you realized your feelings sooner, your little mate would not have found her pleasures with another man.

Naruto clenched his hands into two tight fists.

"How could I have known? You know how I grew up; I didn't know love! I didn't know..." He suddenly trailed off, realizing he was nearly shouting, and that, even though he was alone in the clearing, he probably looked crazy.

Ahhh, but you knew how she felt, didn't you? She told you, nearly died in the process. And yet you let two years pass before you acted on her confession. How can you blame her?

"I don't! I just...it's just," he sighed and swallowed heavily, blinking quickly to combat the burning behind his eyes. Kurama waited patiently.

"Out of everyone, why was she with him?" Kurama's chuckle at this set his teeth on edge.

Now we come to the heart of it. Do not let your insecurity regarding the Uchiha boy destroy you, kit. I have seen into his heart, and it is nothing but darkness and pain. Your mate will never choose him over you.

Naruto shook his head at this.

"Sasuke has a good heart, Kurama, and if I didn't know it before then this would prove it. Hinata wouldn't," Naruto paused and closed his eyes.

"Hinata wouldn't have slept with him if she didn't see something worthwhile in him. She must have been hurting so bad." He said softly. Kurama hummed.

Don't you think she's hurting now?

Naruto groaned and flopped down, rubbing his face against the bandages of his arm. He really hated when Kurama was right about something.

"I didn't realize you liked Hina-chan so much, you old fox," Naruto said as he slowly got up and brushed himself off. He looked around to get his bearings, and once he knew where he was, he quickly shot off towards Konoha.

Hn. Her cooking is better than yours. Kurama said, earning a snort from his host.

The first place Naruto thought to look for Hinata was the Hyuuga compound.

Jumping from roof to roof, he made good time through the village and landed neatly in front of the gates of the sprawling complex. He waved, a little tentatively, at the two guards posted there and was met with two of the coldest glares he had ever been on the receiving end of. His steps, already hesitant, halted completely.

"Uh, hey, is Hinata around?" He asked, scratching his cheek nervously. The guards' eyes narrowed in barely concealed hostility.

"Lady Hinata is no longer a part of our clan," the female of the pair replied, the words seemingly forced from between tightly clenched teeth. The other guard, his build scarily similar to Neji's, openly sneered at his open mouthed surprise at this news.

"B-But why?" He couldn't stop himself from asking.

"I wonder." The male said, condescension coating his words.

Let's go, kit.

Stumbling a little in his shock, Naruto heeded Kurama's words.

The next place his feet took him was Kiba's home, but he was quickly and in no uncertain terms told to fuck off.

After that, he wandered the village a bit, taking in the way people would look at him, whispering to each other as they spotted him and quickly glancing away when he met their eyes.

They all knew, he realized. Maybe they didn't know the exact details, but they knew enough, and they were talking, had probably been talking the whole time he was in the forest.

Somehow he made it to his apartment.

He kicked the door closed behind him and fell on his bed. The heat and pressure that had been building behind his eyes for the last two weeks finally reached a head when he breathed in her scent on his pillows and the full realization of what he had done sunk in. He let the tears fall, and Kurama was silent, not even a hint of his usual snark anywhere to be seen as Naruto cried.

Hinata was gone. He couldn't find her, and no one would tell him where she was.

Logically, he knew there was only one place she could be. Neji would allow no harm to come to his cousin, disowned by their clan or not, but even with that knowledge, Naruto couldn't stop torturing himself with questions.

Was she safe? And warm?

Who was holding her at night when her nightmares got to her?

Was she eating well? She never did when she was stressed or worried.

Did she miss him?

Would she ever forgive him?

Would he ever forgive himself?

He was more certain of the first than the last.