[Circle Dance]
She still had time, Naruto's remo still lasted for a whole month, thanks to his squad leader. Hinata sighed, she had met up with the blonde guy several times. However she ran away each time finding a new excuse to avoid contact.
She was embarrassed beyond words, her time was slowly slipping away. If this was to go on any longer, she sighed again. She was going to regret it for sure.
Hinata was sitting at the local coffee, waiting for her cousin to show up. The snow was falling again, slowly enveloping everything outside. She smiled, she loved to watch the snow, it was like every little white dot danced till they hit the floor, and joined up into a blanket.
Her phone lay on the small coffee table, glowing then darkening again.
Hinata listened to the small chatter around the cosy little shop. This was one of her favourite spots in town, so whenever she had an appointment she tried desperately make the other party chose this little shop.
It was small but always packed, old furniture and all kind of cups, Hinata doubted there were two of the same kind. The lack of formality made this place so much homier, she leaned back in her chair. If this table was open she always chose it, the window looked to the street and she could see the passer byes. Whenever someone new came she would guess their life story.
Examining her hands she realized how the cold made them crispy and scarred. She dug through her bag for her hand cream. When she finally found it she smeared it into the dry skin, and her favourite smell attacked her nostrils. The apple and cinnamon, just like pie.
She smiled and looked back to her hands, her sweater's sleeves were pushed up and she could see her marks. She considered herself lucky, yet unlucky at the same time. Her markings were on both of her hands, however they weren't dark or scar like. Others often had anxieties about their marks, but she was truly lucky, hers were a soft shade of pink, almost hidden from the eyes of others.
Hinata already had three marks so if everything went right her fourth would be when she finally finds her soulmate. Her dark lock fell forward as she sighed, letting go of some bitter feelings. She loved Naruto, however that didn't mean that he would be her soulmate, just like it would mean the same in the other way around. Just because someone is your soulmate doesn't mean the automatically love you for the rest of your life.
She mused, and almost missed her phones little bell like sound. She pulled it to herself and opened the message displayed on the screen.
'Sorry, Hinata! I can't make it, I sent someone in my stead.'Her lips curled into a small smile, Neji was an intern in the nearby hospital. No matter how much he tried sometimes it just didn't work out. At times like these he was sure to send someone. She stood up and put on her muffler and coat before saying her goodbyes. The door opened with a familiar chime and Hinata found herself face to face with spring itself.
Hinata's smile widened, Sakura was the one Neji sent. She haven't seen the girl at least in two weeks.
"Sakura-chan!" she almost jump to her friend's neck.
"Hinata!" Sakura did jump the girl however embracing her in a bear like hug. "Sorry, are you already leaving?"
"Um." she nodded, sauntering out to the street letting the pinket close the door.
"Neji was invited to a surgery." she explained while blowing her frozen fingers
"He couldn't say no, it is a great opportunity after all."
Hinata nodded, she missed Sakura, who was also an intern in the Hospital just like Neji. Her department however had been placed to another wing as of last month and she could rarely make time for anything now.
"Where are we going?" the Hyuga heiress asked while, trampling into the snow making train track like lines on the road.
"Ah, yes sorry Hinata but I have already promised to go to the nursery today." Sakura said apologetically. "Iruka needed a hand and I promised to help."
Hinata thought about for a while, she remembered from morning that the military Jeep wasn't there so Naruto-kun and Kakashi-san most likely were away. She contemplated the idea of running into him today, she wasn't ready.
"Wanna come with me?" the intern asked while stopping at the junction where she had to turn right while Hinata to left.
"Yes!" she smiled brightly, she loved the kids and Iruka-sensei too.
If she would be able to meet with Naruto then that would be a plus. She thought but her stomach clenched a bit at the though.
Sakura grabbed her hand and started to pull her to the old building. They get there fast and Hinata was happy that the Jeep still didn't come back, so chances were high that Naruto was still out. She was disappointed but relaxed a bit.
The pinket opened the old door and pushed Hinata inside.
"Iruka-sensei, we are here!" she shouted into the room. "I have a surprise guest!"
She pulled down Hinata's coat and tossed it into a pile, the Hyuga giggled when Sakura couldn't get her boots off.
"Is it Sasuke-kun?" a small girl ran up to them, her dark red hair following her light body as she skipped on the wooden floor.
The disappointment on her face was so vivid Hinata had to giggle again. Her little face almost broke as she looked up Sakura.
"It just you." she said folding her hands over her chest.
"Well, I'm really sorry that I'm not enough." Sakura said with a grimace and crouched before the little girl. "Missed me Karin-chan?" she smirked when the little kids face became the same colour as her hair.
"It's Karin for you!" she spitted before running of.
Hinata now openly laughed.
"Funny fella huh?" Sakura pointed at the direction where the girl disappeared.
"She is cute." Hinata said while stepping inside the lounge.
It was ages ago that she was here, she could remember somethings from her time here, but mostly from the time when she came every day to take Hanabi home. It was funny, how she made their father let her go here to kindergarten.
She remembered clearly as a four years old Hanabi told their father off, and made him come with her every morning.
Those times were the best, she could always peak into Naruto's life. She was a total stalker back then, she laughed again earning a questioning quirk from Sakura's eyebrow. She shake her head and smiled brightly.
"Just remembered something funny." she explained, and followed the girl into the living room.
This was the play room, at least fifteen little devils sat on the floor listening to Iruka-sensei. They listened so nicely she was sure that they were under some kind of spell.
"Ah, Sakura and Hinata?" Iruka looked at them and his weary smile brightened up. "Just in time!"
Hinata waved to her little cousins, the twins were only five and still came here occasionally when no one from their family could take care of them all day. Their faces were like the sun when they saw her, and were already shaking from happiness.
"We came to have fun with you guys!" Sakura said "We are here to teach you a circle dance!" she shouted her voice full with joy.
The kids jump up, only Karin remained seated and puffed up her cheeks.
"Don't wanna!" she said.
Iruka sighed, and clapped. "Everyone follow Sakura's and Hinata's instructions, it will be fun I promise." a girl run up to Iruka. "Yes Ami-chan?"
The little girl pointed at herself making Iruka crouch down, then she whispered into his ears.
He smiled and nodded, then took the little girl into his hands and stood next to the girls.
"First of all!" Sakura said while storming over to Karin "Everyone get a pair." she said while grabbing the girl and hugging her to so she wouldn't squirm.
"Hey, you…" Karin grumbled and pushed herself as far from Sakura's embrace as she could "…I don't wanna be your pair…" she shirked.
Hinata saw that her cousins already formed a pair, so she still stood without a pair, till a little smirking white haired guy run to her and grabbed her long sweater.
"I'll be your pair…" he said in a voice which betrayed his confident face.
Hinata smiled and crouched down "Okay, what's your name?"
"Sui…Suigetsu" he said now with more bravely.
She smiled and he beamed back, Hinata stood up taking the little guy's into her hers. She found it funny how easily she could touch anyone expect Naruto.
Even if this guy was over ten years younger than her, he could still be her soulmate, still she held his hand without a second though.
"Alright!" Sakura said still standing her ground with the fighting Karin. "Iruka-sensei will start the music and we will show you how it's done." she smirked.
"Try to catch up."
Her challenge waved through the kids and their little faces showed determination. Hinata could feel Suigetsu holding her hands with more power. It was nice how Sakura could make everyone motivated in seconds, it was one of her aspect that Hinata herself loved.
The music started, and Hinata recognised it immediately, this was a folk songs remix, so that little kids wouldn't find it boring. She explained the steps, which were really easy to follow. The idea was that every pair danced for a bit then they changed pairs according the order Sakura explained.
It was fun, she really enjoyed herself, forgetting all the worries from before. She danced around twirling, dancing, clapping and after a while even singing with Iruka. She had so many fond memories of this little nursery and her younger days came flooding back.
Her pair changed again this time it was Sakura who smirked at her, and changed the routine to one of the dances she knew from their game nights.
And Hinata followed right after her. They were already out of rhythm, but she didn't care both of their face were pink from the movements and they enjoyed themselves, and after a while it came to changing partner again.
Her hand was taken and now Iruka smiled at her, twirling her around princess style. And they swayed while both of them laughed.
Naruto opened the door, and found some shoes he couldn't place. Had Iruka-sensei guest today. He couldn't remember Iruka telling him anything that morning. He shrugged and tossed his boots to the side, and let Kakashi do the same.
"Oi!" before he could say anymore, Kakashi shushed him and pointed to the playroom, where music flowed out.
They made their way to the door and peaked in the room where, three grown up and a herd of little kids. They were dancing, Kakashi smirked and before
Naruto could announce their arrival he stopped him again.
So they remained silent and watched the kids and their friends twirl around, they were all giggling and laughing. Naruto first followed Sakura's movements, and enjoyed how she made the kids grimace every time it was time to be her pair.
Then his stare left the pinket and it slid over to the Hyuga who was laughing heartedly, she danced with a little girl and twirled her around making the little girl giggle. He remembered Hinata from high school and even from before, but he couldn't remember her laughing this much. He smiled and watched leaning to the doorframe, then something happened and Sakura broke the pattern.
She took Hinata's hand and made her move a way which was definitely not for a nursery group. They had fun, and the two girls moved in such a coordinated pattern that it just had to be something behind it.
The kids just like the two onlookers stopped and watched the grownups dance to their heart content. Before he could move, Kakashi stepped in and Sakura finally glanced at their direction smirking, she made Hinata twirl so she now danced with Iruka who – from God knows where- brought his ball dance repertoire back and grabbed Hinata's hand.
Sakura now in Kakashi's hand laughed and made Kakashi dance the girl part in her little dance grabbing him and leaning over him, letting Naruto's squad leader almost touch the floor. The kids half in awe and half in hysterical laugh clapped.
Hinata enjoyed herself, her cheeks pink and her heart beat skyrocketed when Iruka let her body down once again. She laughed when he lifted her again twirling and letting her hand go so her next partner could take his place.
She turned and hold out her hands just to freeze on the spot. The sunny face which greeted her made her stop altogether. Naruto held out his hands to grab the girl and sway on with the silly little performance they were so heartedly into till now.
Her heart skipped a beat when the said hand almost grabbed hers, she slipped them away, and turned on her heels. Then in a low wave like movement she was out the bear hug she could feel coming right after her hands were taken away. Her feet swiftly skipped and with easy water like moves she was out of the room.
Her boots never were so easy to put on, and she with her coat in her hands was already halfway out the door.
"Hinata?!" Sakura's voice was half amused half concerned and Hinata knew why.
"I…I have to g…go!" she panted, already running down the street.
"See you tomorrow!" she shouted after the heiress.
Then she turned back to the dumbfounded Naruto who stood in the door with her. "You moron, she was having fun too…." she pointed at him,
"What did I do?" she shrieked and followed her inside. "Where are you going tomorrow?"