EDIT: Thanks for pointing that out melabae! :)
Summary: Hyuuga Neji, Class 2-A's new president and Hyuuga Hinata, Class 2-G's surprisepresident engage in a contest where the truth can be revealed. You see, Hyuuga Hinata is a very developed young woman.
Author's note: Hello! Sorry for the wait. I'm so glad I got some encouragement that's why I thank you, readers.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
--
'Thinking'
Emphasis
--
'What'll I do? What'll I do? What the hell will I do?!'
Hyuuga Hinata knows it well.
This afternoon, at that pool filled with fake water.
She is so damn screwed.
'I don't want to lose to my cousin! But I don't want them to know my secret either. This sucks. There's gotta be an exit here somewhere!!'
"Hey, Hinata, whatcha thinking? You couldn't possible be thinking of trying to escape, right?" Naruto loudly spoke to her, bouncing towards her desk.
She smiled sheepishly and slumped slightly. "I-I j-just feel… pressured, y-you see."
"Pressured? Why?"
"B-Because…" She whispered, feeling rather hopeless now. "I-I've never won… b-before."
Hinata felt embarrassed when she saw his jaw drop. She blushed deeply and waved her hands in front of her face. "B-B-But I-I-I do w-win in IQ tests…. J-j-just not against h-him…"
"Have you won any Sports awards or something then?"
First there was silence. And then her face flushed.
"YOU HAVEN'T?! That's kinda amazing."
"A-A-Amazing?"
"I mean I should've committed suicide long ago if I was that pathetic."
"Y-You're horrible!" She whined and pushed him with all her might… but sadly, she wasn't strong enough for him to even step back for more than a step. He, on the other hand, laughed cheerfully. "I'm just joking! But anyway…"
He grinned brightly. "If you're happy then the result wouldn't matter, right?"
'A very worthless, naïve person.'
She smiled at him warmly, almost laughing because of his juvenile behavior but glad he spared her some 'words of wisdom.' "O-Okay."
"Na-ru-to," a voice rung from behind the blonde. So low and in a way, insulting. "Perhaps maybe you've taken a liking to Hinata? Hmmmm?" Kiba snaked from his back and lied on Hinata's desk. The way Kiba raised his brows up and down and that annoying, intentional evil grin was driving the two of them at their wits end.
"T-T-That's not how i-it is, K-Kiba-kun! N-Naruto-kun was j-just encouraging m-me!"
"Eeh? Reeeaallly?" The brown haired guy neared the two of them, looking at them as if they were convicts. "Perhaps you two are becoming intimate? 'Ooh, N-Naruto-kun, stop it! I don't want this kind of relationship. I-It's not right-desu!' 'Then… let's be sinful' 'No, please!'" Kiba imitated them which greatly annoyed the pair.
"I'll stab you with this pencil." Naruto proclaimed, his eyes glinting.
"Okay, okay, fine! I'll let you off the hook this time." Kiba grinned cautiously and with a blink of an eye, sat on the chair in front of Hinata's desk. "So, Hinata, what're you guys talking about? Is he sexually harassing you?"
By that time, Naruto was sharpening a pencil.
"I'm, just kidding!!" He defended himself and then looked at Hinata. "So?"
"I-I was just n-n-nervous a-about the upcoming c-contest." With this Hinata remembered that she still had no solution to this little… dilemma.
"What? That's it? What're ya nervous about? If you win, then you win. If you don't, then that's it! It's not like we care if we win or not. This is just one-sided hostility anyway. All their efforts to win against us, it's pathetic."
"No…" She responded… almost too firm and loud for something coming out of Hinata. "I have to win."
"Aww, don't be like that, Hinata! It's just a little match." Naruto exclaimed, reassuring her while patting her head.
"I… c-can't l-lose."
Beneath Hinata's desk, on her lap, her fists trembled.
--
And so…
"So, are you ready?"
"N-N-N-N-Not r-r-r-r-really." Hinata stuttered while trembling and clutching her hands together.
Kiba scratched the back of his neck. Sighing whenever he sees Hinata in that girly state. In his point of view, it was very disgusting… and oddly cute at the same time. "Whatever. Anyway, putting that aside." He stared at her with a disappointed look. "What the heck is up with that get-up? You're not going to impress the girls from the other schools if you wear that."
"I-I don't want t-to impress gir—T-THERE ARE G-GOING TO BE O-OTHER PEOPLE?!"
"Well, duh. It's a swimming competition. From an elite all-boy's school. Girls are bound to show up."
"WHY WOULD T-THEY KNOW IN THE FIRST PLACE?!"
"Don't ask me." He replied rather monotonously. "But to tell you the truth, Hinata."
"I like it better when your voice is loud like that." He grinned and afterwards left Hinata all alone, shivering with anxiety. Truthfully, Hinata didn't like to be alone at this time. 'Where's that loud, obnoxious guy when you need him?'
"You're walking into a dead end."
Hinata's eyes widened as a gasp escaped her lips. She realized that being alone wasn't so bad after all. The low, husky voice belonged from somebody she least wanted to see at the moment.
"… I-I'm s-sorry… B-But I r-refuse to lose."
Hinata could feel it. Him smirking behind her back. "As if you have a choice."
She swiftly turned around, with an obvious miserable face. "N-Neji-nii-san…" She whispered, almost scared.
"You won't fool anyone with that oversized shirt, Hinata. What if they see through your miserable disguise?Don't be an idiot! If you go, there's no turning back."
She shut her eyes tight. 'Damn it, I still can't look straight into his intimidating eyes. Pull yourself together!' With this conclusion, slowly she opened her eyes and looked at him.
She was doing well…
Until he smirked at her. It was so sudden, she stepped back a little.
"Fate has decided that you will lose to me. Get that drilled on your head."
'I know that… You don't have to rub it in every time! I ALREADY KNOW THAT.'
"Now, do you still have the compulsion to fight me when we all know that I, as decided by fate, will win?"
'I… know. Fate decides everything. Just as how it resolved… That weak people… should never exist.'
"What the… so you are here, Hinata!" A loud, obnoxious voice rung and before Hinata could even react, she felt an arm wrap around her face, a warm hand covering her lips. "Don't talk to the Class 2-A student, Hinata. He's not worthy of talking to you at all." He gloated, grinned, and pushed her towards the exit of the Changing Rooms.
"Let's go. Let's go. The beach is waiting!!"
"B-BEACH?! I-I-I thought… W-Wait, N-Naruto-kun—"
"It wouldn't be as fun if only people from other schools will watch! MORE PEOPLE!!" Naruto gave her another push… or rather a shove as she stumbled at the exit. Whining silently about how everything goes according to their preference and not hers. With that, Naruto stood behind.
"Will you quit talking about trash like what fate decided?" He spoke in a manner that was unusual. Serious. And also… intense. "Because you know," he continued and looked back at him. "Liars go to hell."
--
'I refuse to lose? Even if I said that I still don't know what to do. What should I do?... What could I do? I don't want to lose again… but if I don't they'll find out my secret and I have to be kicked out and transferred to some school with girls which would mean I failed the test and my Hyuuga name'd be stripped off me and my stupid damn cousin would once again rub it in my face!! Either decision would end up Hyuuga Neji gloating how great he is and how fate had decided it!! WHAT THE HELL SHOULD I DO?!'
"Hey, Hinata!! What's wrong? Are you sick? We're almost there, you know. Hey. Hey. Why are you so quiet?" Naruto as always would ask. He poked her arm continuously until Hinata couldn't take it.
"I-I d-don't think I-I-I could do it!" Hinata confessed. Of course she knew of this from the very start but somehow it was very hard to admit it to everybody… including herself.
"I knew it." A voice from the back of the van called out. It was so sinister… so knowing… so… arrogant.
"Shut up, bastard!!" Naruto defended and scowled deeply at this said person… with a chicken's butt as a hairdo. "Sasuke, don't talk as if you know him better."
"As if you do." The onyx-eyed guy replied. After a bothered sigh, he glared at Hinata straight into the eyes. "Just because the lot of us acknowledges you as a Class 2-G student, doesn't mean we trust you, Hyuuga Hinata. You are our classmate or this so called Class President. But you are just that and nothing more!"
"Excuse me for interrupting but," another voice exclaimed. "I'm Hinata's first friend."
"K-K-Kiba-kun." Hinata exclaimed, surprised that Kiba would even defend her. Usually his way of doing things are making fun of her as entertainment.
"First rule, bullying him is restricted." Kiba said… with a sweet but obviously sarcastic smile.
--
'Great… now that, that conceited goose ass said that, I feel a lot worse. If what he said was true then if I back out now, not only will I lose willingly, I'll make them hate me even more. Well this sucks.'
"Well we're here!!" Kakashi announced… yeah we all forgot about him, we have to admit. More importantly, shouldn't the teacher be the person who would most likely disagree in these kinds of situations such as a fight? Putting that aside, the masked teacher opened the door to the van and as he did…
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
'WHAT THE HELL?!'
Hinata brought her hands to her ears as they walked out. Of course her two friends noticed this. "Don't worry, Hinata! It's always been like this. You'll get used to it!!" Kiba yelled for Hinata to hear. Naruto, however, waved his arms rather too anxiously and… obnoxiously. "Smile Hinata, SMILE!!" He laughed and continued on.
"What? Is that the new transferee that's going to compete?"
"What's with his shirt?"
"Still… it makes him look so cute!"
"KYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
"TRANSFEREE, GOOOD LUUUUCKK!!"
"So cute."
"Wow, Hinata, you're becoming popular." Kiba complimented.
'I don't want to be popular with the girls!'
Hinata wept inwardly. First time she'd was worshipped by the human population and they were all girls… And some guys that belong to Female population… if you know what I mean.
'This seriously sucks.'
--
"The match'd be the first one who'd make it to that small island, take the red flag, and swim back to this sea shore would win!" Naruto explained to Hinata again… for the sixth time. You see, Hinata was frozen stiff at the moment and she wouldn't respond to anything. Just standing still there with a blank gaze on her face, mumbling: "Aah, so this is heaven. It's so wonderful, right, Mother?" "So do you get it?" Silence. "Okay, I'll explain it again."
"No use, Naruto. I think his soul has already passed." Kiba said mournfully, wiping the sides of his eyes with a tissue.
"Y-Y-You g-g-g-guys how could you be so c-c-calm?!"
"Ah! He's alive again."
"Sheesh, Hinata, you already forgot what I said?" Naruto complained but afterwards grinned again. "As long as you're happy the result doesn't matter."
'Y-you… Could say that because you don't know the situation… Naruto. From this point on, I'm digging my own grave. The Hyuuga Head is not a doting father. What he can do… and what he can make you feel… Is the worst thing you could ever experience but then again…'
"Thank you, Naruto-kun." Hinata smiled. "I-I feel much better n-now." She whispered and walked away.
"Hey, Kiba, let's go inside, I'm feeling kinda weird. The heat's warmer today, isn't it? Yeah that's it. Also I think it's not good for the health, my heart sorta skipped a bit."
"Yeah. For a minute there my face kinda heated up. Maybe we should've settled with the indoor pool."
--
Hyuuga Neji took of his shirt while the girls around shrieked like maniacs… well maybe except for one. "Ow, Ino, you're elbowing my face!" "Sorry, Tenten, but come on just look at him. He's so hot!! KYAAAAAAAAAAA!!" "That doesn't explain why. You. Are elbowing my face!! Quit it! He's not all that anyway!"
Gasp!
Then there was long awkward silence.
"So, what are you waiting for, Hinata-kun? Take off your shirt. It's gonna get in the way when you swim you know." One of the girls nudged her as Hinata inwardly shivered.
"N-No. I-I'm f-fine with this, thanks." She smiled… and the girl fainted.
Yes. Hinata had definitely become popular.
"No freaking way, she's becoming even more popular than us." Kiba said.
"Don't include me. I'm way popular since I'm the main character. What? My name is the title."
--
"Hyuuga Neji vs. Hyuuga Hinata!!"
'Should I run?'
"On your mark…"
'No…'
"Get set…"
'As long as you're happy…'
"GO!!"
-
"Whoa, so fast! That Neji's good."
"KYAAAAAAAA!! GOOD LUCK, NEJI-SAMA!!"
"Huh? Where's that Hinata dude?"
"Maybe he's already at the island?"
"No, wait there he is!"
"Wow… He kinda looks like some cockroach in water."
"TEH C0CKROACH OF DO0MZZ!!"
"Hey, do you think he's going to be all right?" Kiba asked Naruto while the blonde looked in shock at how… well Hinata was doing. His jaw dropped and all the blood drained from his face. "He's… pathetic."
"Yeah but he's…" Kiba scratched the back of his head. "He's doing his best."
--
"F-Finally! The island!" Hinata said, dragging herself at the surface. Wheezing, coughing, and panting heavily. "Gack-hackak!! This sucks." She groaned.
"Well, well, well, I was waiting for you to catch up."
She jerked her face up from the ground and saw her cousin lazily sitting at a rock beneath a tree. "N-Neji-nii-san…"
"So… what're you going to do now?"
"I-I… plan to win." She said between huffs of breath.
"I don't think you know your place, Hinata." He smirked and jumped from his seat. Walked towards her motionless figure. He stood before her and smirked more arrogantly if possible. "Well this is ironic. You're exactly at your level after all." He stepped on her head as she whimpered. "By planning to win you mean going back there, completely exhausted, wasted your time and energy and not only that… go back with that drenched shirt where your figure as a woman is exposed? What're you gonna say? You have swollen bumps on your chest? Like anybody'd believe that crap! Don't be more pathetic as you already are, Hinata. Destiny… has a very twisted sense of humor you see."
He took a dive at the waters that for Hinata seem deeper this time… Colder… and overwhelming.
"Still n-no use… F-From the start I-I knew you were going to win again." Hinata whispered and sat up. While the tears fall down from her cheeks. "Game over."
--
"Wow, it's taking them too long, huh? Hasn't the first one arrived the island supposed to be here already?"
"Maybe the flags were lost?"
"Wait, there he is!!"
"KYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
"Where's the other one? I can't see him."
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
"He's not there?"
"Well… I kinda expected who would win anyway."
"Maybe the small one's resting?"
"KYAAAAAAAAA THAT WOULD BE SO CUTE!!"
"Eew, hey you pig! You're drooling on my head."
"Yeah? Maybe your forehead's so wide it's hard to miss!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
"Can we go home now?"
"What did you do to Hinata?" Naruto instantly accused at the very arrival of the popular young man. "What makes you think that?" He replied smugly and accepted a towel from a random girl… without even saying thank you.
"Why isn't he back yet?"
"Why ever would you think that? Maybe I didn't do anything to him. Maybe he's just plain giving up."
"That would never happen! Hinata would never let you win."
"But I just did." He answered quickly afterwards, smirking. "Didn't I, Uzumaki Naruto?"
Naruto grimaced at the way he spoke his name. It was cold and… hateful. "As expected from a Hyuuga… you guys have no sense of sympathy at all."
Before anyone could stop him, the rash kid named Uzumaki Naruto dived at the beach and swam towards the small island. Hyuuga Neji knew it was his victory. But he was definitely not satisfied. This simple defeat wouldn't make up the Head's mind. And also… That Naruto… says words that disturb him. Impressive for an idiot, he thinks.
'How could I show sympathy… when they never showed us theirs when we needed it the most.' He clenched his fists. And went into the shade of a tree. 'I can't even get out of this… darkness.'
--
'I wonder if Father… Will he really send me to that place, too?'
She sighed, unable to stop her tears falling down.
'If only Mother's still there… Then I'd gladly, willingly come. To that faraway place.'
"Hinata?! Hinata!!"
She snapped back to reality as she heard the voice she usually heard. "N-Naruto-kun…" She whispered and was about to show up to him… but remembered the moments that have just happened earlier.
Her shoulders slumped, and her eyes couldn't seem avert themselves from the ground.
"There you are Hinata! Whatcha doing? Everybody's waiting for you." This kid just couldn't read the atmosphere, can he? He jogged towards her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "What's up? Are you cold?"
"N-No…" Hinata mumbled. "I-It's worse…"
"Eh?"
"I've lost. T-There's n-no hope. I'll b-be just like M-Mother. N-Nobody'll acknowledge me. I-I'm never g-going t-to f-feel good for myself… N-not… even once."
"What are you talking about, Hinata? Snap out of it!" He shook her shoulders, and finally with enough force she looked at him. Tears streaming down her pale cheeks.
"Weak people should never exist." She whispered. And the both of them knew it perfectly. She wasn't talking to Naruto at all.
She was talking to herself.
He clenched his teeth and finally spoke up. "WILL YOU QUIT SAYING THAT!!" He yelled at her.
"Weak people. Strong people. That doesn't matter!!" He said firmly, shaking her every time he spoke. "Weak people exist to prove that they aren't weak after all!"
'There he goes again…'
She blinked. There was silence. Only the waves slowly patting the shore and splashing against the rocks can be heard. The wind blew a breath of warm air and gently touched against their skin.
'No matter how stupid they are…' Unconsciously she reached out her arms to him and unconsciously neared him. 'His words…'
And unconsciously, she hugged him. '… Always seem to be right.'
Of course, Uzumaki Naruto didn't know how to react. I mean a guy (or so he thought) was hugging him in an isolated island… where nobody else… is… around.
'I understand… I'll continue to exist then.'
Squish. :3
"Squish?" Naruto wondered what sound it was. Besides he just felt something tap him. Slowly he looked…
"Um… H-Hinata?..."
'Yes. I will continue to exist.'
"Why do you have swollen bumps on your chest?"
'Thanks a lot, God, why don't you just kill me now, huh? Kill me now why dontcha?!'
--
A/n: Wow this is fun to write. :3
Reviews greatly appreciated.