Chapter two: Close To A Dream

Hinata sat up in a bed that was not her own. It felt warm, safe and extremely comfortable. She snuggled up against the pillow and sighed as she entered a deep relaxation. She heard soft calm footsteps but she didn't stir. The footsteps stopped and a voice called out to her.

"I wish you'd open your eyes, beautiful. I don't want to eat these cinnamon rolls alone." Hinata sat up and smiled at the voice as its blond haired owner came into view. "Hey there." He said smiling at her as she took a roll.

"Hey." She smiled back.

"I'm simply awe-struck when you smile because of me." Hinata blushed at this as she ate. "You're adorable. I realised how much I missed you when I left. It was agony without you." Naruto said slowly leaning closer and closer to Hinata.

"N-Naru-to-Kun..." She stammered.

"Kawaii..." He said coming up beside her ear. "I love you beautiful." He whispered, Hinata blushed heavily shocked into silence as her face turned crimson.

"I don't think you heard me. I love you Hinata." He said as he leant over and his lips almost brushed against her cheek.

Naruto jumped spilling ramen all over himself as Hinata sat up suddenly and gasped a few times. She looked around a bit causing Naruto to smile.

"Need a map?" He joked making her head spin towards him as she blushed.

"N-Na-Naruto-kun?"

"Believe it. This is my new place; you fainted when you got here. Tsunade came over and you fainted again. I wanted to talk to you about a mission, but Tsunade said no. So now I want to say sorry and take you home. Just wait for a sec so I can change out of my dirty clothes." He spouted to a nervously still and quiet Hinata. She suddenly remembered the note, the hug, his bed and the dream she'd just had. She blushed as she played with her fingers nervously.

Naruto came back a few minutes later in an orange jacket and cream shorts. Hinata stood up as he smiled at her.

"Ready to go?" He asked her receiving a nod in return. "Alright, let's go then." He said as they walked outside.

"What mission did you want me to go on?" Hinata asked him before she realised she spoke aloud.

"One to bring back Sasuke, something to do with an informant and Orochimaru. I don't know, but Granny Tsunade said I couldn't take you. Something about village defence and Hiashi." He told her a little shocked that she spoke.

"Dad's a little strict with missions and stuff's all. And I read that the village needs Shinobi round the clock. But they only need us in the village not guarding. Plus I need a rest, she was right." Hinata said almost mumbling it to herself as her constant blush grew worse. She shivered from the chill against her goose bumps and Naruto threw his jacket over her shoulders.

"Warmer now Hinata-chan?" He asked smiling at her as she tried not to look at his tight gray T-shirt.

"Y-y-yes, thank you." She said clinging tightly to his jacket as they walked the rest of the way to her place.

"Well, we're here." Naruto said as he scratched the back of his head.

"Y-y-yeah..."

"Well, I - I ah... It was good to see you again. You know, after my trip." He wasn't sure why, but he said this nervously and he was almost shaking.

"B-b-but, I wasn't even awake." Hinata said flustered and disbelieving.

"I guess it doesn't matter with some people. You just like seeing them." He said as he thought it, this made Hinata's blush deepen. "Look, if it's okay with you... I was, ah, thinking... Maybe, after my mission we could hang out, or something..." Hinata stood shocked for a second before nodding furiously.

'Kawaii... Wait, what am I thinking?' Naruto thought as he watched a nervous Hinata vigorously nodding at him as her scarlet cheeks forced her eyes to stand out to any on lookers. Before he knew what he was doing his hand was on her head and he was rustling her hair.

"N-Naruto-k-kun...?" Hinata asked causing a drop of sweat to form on Narutos head.

"Sorry, I just wanted you to stop nodding. But your hair was soft, and... I'm gonna stop before I sound weird. Anyway, I'll send a message when I'm on my way home. That way you'll know when I'm coming back. Oh, it's in the land of fire still, just off of the sound village. About three days or so away." He told a still silent Hinata.

"I-I'll be here, waiting." Hinata replied almost forcing her stutter away.

"That makes me sound like I'm late and making you wait on me." Naruto said with a pouty face. Unfortunately he couldn't have been more accurate.

"You have been..." Hinata mumbled so softly Naruto didn't catch it.

"What was that Hinata-chan." He was still calling her Chan?

"G-good luck, f-f-find-ing Sasuke, and o-o-on your mi-missi-on." She stuttered at him.

"Thanks, I have to leave tomorrow, but that means one week. One week more and we'll hang out. I'll be looking forward to it." He told her as he dashed off.

"J-j-ja ne!" She shouted after him.