Not Your Average Fairy Tale

Part 2: Surprises

A week passed by since Naruto's birthday, and Hinata's heart broke. Even though Hinata is a quiet person, you could never really call her 'depressed' or 'emo'. But as the week progressed slowly for the clear eyed kunoichi, even Akamaru noticed the change in her.

While training one sunny afternoon, the three memebers of Team Eight took a break. Hinata simply sat under a tree, staring off into the distance, remaining silent. Sure, Hinata was always silent, but she did talk to her teammates. But today, and for the last three days, she barely stuttered a word.

Shino and Kiba glanced at each other before glancing at thier teammate. Akamaru whimpered lightly as he felt the tension in the group. "Hey Hinata," Kiba finally asked. "Are you okay? You're really out of it.."

Hinata turned her head slightly and fixed Kiba with a blank stare. "Hmm? Oh, I-I'm fine Kiba-kun, I've just b-been...out of it.." Hina confessed before turning away again.

The two males of her team looked at each other again, but questioned no further. This was a girl problem, and Shino and Kiba, being males, didn't know what exactly to say. Kiba cocked his head to the side slightly. 'Exactly what happened to Hinata? Does it have something to do with Naruto and Sakura..?' Kiba wondered silently as his hand clenched into a fist.

After a couple more hours, training was over. Hinata muttered a forced good-bye to her teammates before slowly going home. Her mind was blank except for her mantra that she chanted in her head, hopiong that it would take effect over her. 'I can get over this, I can get over this, I can get over this..' Hinata thought continuously to herself.

"Hey Hinata!" Kiba called to her, jogging a little to catch up to her. Akamaru followed behind him. Hinata looked at her energetic teammate, an eyebrow raised. She didn't feel like socializing, she wanted to go home, sleep a little, maybe even cry, but she just didn't want to talk. Hinata felt as though if she started talking, she would break down and cry, she rarely ever let anyone see her tears.

"Hmmm..?" Hinata murmured softly as she glanced back at her teammate. "I-is there something you needed, Kiba-kun."

"What's wrong with you?" Kiba asked bluntly, wanting to get straight to the point.

Hinata's eyes widened for a brief moment before they returned to normal. She glanced down, avoiding Kiba's intense gaze. "N-nothing's wrong, Kiba-kun, I'm fine.."

"Does it have to do with Sakura and Naruto?" Kiba asked, still being blunt. These were the magic words. Hinata's eyes welled with tears, she looked down and turned slightly so Kiba wouldn't see the small drops of moisture threatening to flow from her eyes. "N-no, it's fine, Kiba-kun, it doesn't matter.." Hinata glanced back at Kiba and tried a small smile to make her seem true.

Kiba's hand sout out and took Hinata by the arm. Hinata's eyes widened as she looked up at Kiba. "K-K-Kiba-kun?" she stuttered out in surprise. Kiba's eyes were serious, there wan no mischevious sparkle in them this time. "Hinata, don't let that get to you, try to forget it."

The tears fell now, plopping to the ground beneath both Kiba's and Hinata's feet. "I know K-Kiba-kun," Hinata murmuered. "I know, b-but I can't.." Hinata averted her gaze to teh ground as tears continued to flow.

Kiba pulled her into a tight hug. Hinata's eyes widened as she felt herself being pushed against Kiba's chest. He was warm, and he smelled nice, well, as nice as anyone could smell after long hours of training. But it was nice to have someone embrace her in her lonilness.

"It's okay Hinata, you can cry."

Hinata nodded weakly as she cried in soft, barely audiable sobs against Kiba's chest. She cried for Naruto, she cried for herself, and she cried for Kiba, tears of gratitude, that her teammate would be there for her.

Hinata pulled herself away from Kiba as she gently wiped her eyes. "T-thank you Kiba-kun," She said, blushing a little. "I'm sorry I fell apart like that."

Kiba smiled a little as he looked at her, still not letting her go. "It's fine Hinata, I don't mind. I don't want to see you hurt."

"Thank you Kiba-kun," Hinata repeated again. "You're very kind to me, I'm glad to have a teammate mate like you." Hinata said with a small, but genuine smile.

Kiba grinned a little, but turned grave again. "Are you sure you'll be okay with Naruto and Sakura.." Kiba asked.

Hinata thought a moment. "I don't know, Kiba-kun. I-it may be a while before I'll really be over it a-and I--"

Hinata was abruptly cut off as Kiba pressed his lips against hers. Kiba pulled away after a few seconds. A fierce blush took place upon his light cheeks. "I really like you, Hinata, and I don't like seeing you hurt." Kiba looked away as his blush got deeper. "I-if you want, I can help you get over Naruto.."

Hinata's eyes widened once more before they softened. Hinata smiled gently and looked down. "T-thank you Kiba-kun..But I couldn't do that to you.."

Kiba tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean?" He asked.

"I-it wouldn't be fair to you. I-it would be wrong of m-me to use you j-just to forget.."

Kiba nodded and let his hands slid from Hinata's arms, back down to his side. "I get it," he said, still looking down, embarassed by his actions.

Hianta smiled softly, that was all she could manage. She couldn't even manage to say anything. There was nothing for her to say, what was she supposed to say to this?

"I-I'm sorry, Kiba-kun.." Hinata murmured before turning her back and walking away.

She did feel bad. What was Hianta to do, things like this don't happen to her. It was as if she came out of a bad fairy tale.

Instead of going straight home, Hinata decided on taking a walk around Konoha to clear her mind. Starting in the village she passed by people and shops. Hinata sighed a little, this wasn't like her to be depressed. Or at least, depressed this long.

'I need to forget him..' Hinata thought again and again. Her mantra didn't work. The more she tried to forget, the more she remembered. Finally, Hinata decided to head home, the tears started to well up again in her chest. 'Naruto-kun, why did it have to be her..' Hinata asked silently. 'Why Sakura-chan, and why would Sakura-chan be with Naruto-kun, didn't she always love Sasuke-san?'

Hinata shook her head, dismissing the thoughts. She needed something to occupy her time. Something like a mission. The thought struck Hinata as she walked home. "That's what I need, a mission."

That would probably be the only thing that would occupy Hinata's mind long enough to forget Naruto. And maybe, if she got a long enough mission, by the time she saw Naruto again, she'd be able to look at him as a friend, instead of a long time crush.

'So that's my plan now, I guess,' Hinata thought as she got home. 'My mission will be to forget I ever liked Naruto-kun, and regard him as a friend from now on.' Hinata thought this over again. Her eyes dimmed in defeat. That wasn't going to be an easy task.

The next day Hinata woke bright and early. Zipping up her jacket she silently left her room. After grabbing a rice ball from the kitchen she chewed and swalled her breakfast carefully as she decided to go on a wlak before going to the Hokage's office. 'I've never really been on a mission without Shino-kun or Kiba-kun. This will be different,' She thought as she finished off her riceball.

After an easy walk she took a deep breathe and made her way to the Hokage's office, or rather, Naruto's office. 'I just hope Skaura-chan won't be there this morning, it'll make thigns difficult..' she thought sadly as the brief memory of Naruto and Sakura kissing filled her mind.

Acending the stairs to Naruto's office Hinata took a deep breathe before knocking gently.

"Come in," Naruto's voice came muffled from the closed door.

Hinata turned the knob and wlaked in with a gentle smile on her face. "Good morning, Naruto-sama." she said in her delicate voice. 'Anyway, it's time for me to stop calling him 'kun',' she had decided on her walk.

Naruto looked up at her and gave her his famous wide and idiotic grin. That smile still made Hinata weak at the knees.

"Good morning Hinata! Why are you here so early?" Naruto asked, curisoty toned his voice.

"W-well, I was wondering if you could give me a mission, Naruto-sama." Hianta stated as boldly as she could.

Naruto raised an eyebrow at her before he looked down at the papers on his desk. He grinned up at her again. "I'm sure I can find something for you and you're teammates.."

"I mean, I want to do the mission alone, if that's not too much trouble, Naruto-sama." Hianta boldly said again.

Naruto looked up at her, question filled his ocean blue eyes. "Why?" He asked bluntly.

Hinata pressed her fingers together. "I want to see if I'm capable of doing it on my own.." She said shyly.

Naruto smiled sympathetically. "Oh, okay, I get it.." Narutp picked up the papers on his desk and shuffled through them. "I have one mission, but it requiers two.."

Hinata looked down, defeatedly. "There isn't any individual mission that I can do?" She asked. Naruto shook his head. "No, but this two person mission looks suited for you, and I have someone in mind who can accompany you.."

"I'll take it then," Hinata quickly answered. This was uncomfortable, she was never the one to be forward.

Naruto grinned at her. "Then in that case, stay here for a few minutes. I'm sure he'll be coming any moment now."

Hinata smiled gently and nodded as she took a seat on the couch. She looked around the office and smiled gently. She remembered being in here many atimes, when the Third hokage was still alive and when Tsunade-sama was in power. Each hokage had thier own personality. She couldn't help but giggled to herself sadly as she noticed the poster for ramen on a wall.

Naruto watched her curiously. 'I wonder what's up with Hinata. Maybe it had something to do with that kiss she walked into..Maybe I should apologize..' He thought as he put his papers down.

"Hinata..?" He asked carefully.

Hinata tensed and fixed her clear gaze on Naruto. "Yes?"

"About what you saw last week--"

Not again.

Hianta smiled and held up her hands in front of her. "D-don't worry about it, Naruto-sama. I-I'm fine. I'm sorry that I w-walked into you!"

Naruto's eyes widened. "Huh?"

Hianta giggled a little. "Y-yeah. I-I have bad timming."

'She's lying,' Naruto realized sadly. He could tell by the way she called him 'sama' instead of 'kun' like she used to. But there was no point in pushing her. It would be cruel of him. He sighed. "Ok then," He said, grinning at her. "If that's how you feel about it."

Hinata nodded quickly. "D-don't bother yourself w-worrying about me, Naruto-sama."

'P-please don't make this even more difficult for me,' Hinata thought sadly as she continued to smile.

A knock on the door startled you. "Come in," Naruto called.

You watched as a raven haired Jounin walked in. It was Uchiha Sasuke.

Naruto grinned. "Sasuke, I was wondering when you'd show up!"

"..Whatever.." Sasuke said, even after all these years he still had the same cold demanour.

Naruto smiled. "I found you a mission partner," Naruto contiuned, buisness as usual.

Sasuke glanced at Hinata again, this time a smirk tugged his lips. "Sure," He answered, agreeing to this.

Hinata blushed a little. She'd never been on a mission with the Great Uchiha. This would surely be an adventure.

"W-what exactly is the mission?" Hinata asked this time.

"Lately in the Star Village there have been many robberies and the Star ninja cannot locate the people who've commited the crimes. With Hinata's tracking abilites and Sasuke's quick-thinking, I think this mission will be easy for the both of you."

Sauske smirked. "Sounds easy enough." He glacned at Hinata. "What do you think?" He asked.

Hinata smiled gently at him. "I'll do my best."

Naruto nodded. "Good, then the both of you will leave as soon as you can."

After going home and packing quickly, Hinata and Sasuke met at the village gates. "Ready?" Sasuke asked.

"Yes," Hinata said, offereing a small smile.

"I only hope this mission will be a success, Sasuke-san." Hinata spoke, trying to break the silence, and get to know her mysterious partner.

Sasuke smirked. "You don't have to call me 'San'. Sasuke is alright with me."

Hinata nodded carefully. That would get some getting used to. She always put a suffix on somebody's name.

A silence loomed over the two as they continued their steady pace. Finally, Sasuke stepped up and asked, "Are you okay with Naruto and Sakura?" he asked.

Hinata's eyes narrowed and saddened for a moment. Her fingers came together as she thought. "I-I guess.." 'Did you like Sakura,' She wanted to ask, but she never would.

Sasuke nodded. He once thought fondly of Sakura, but then when he realized her emotions have changed and moved to Naruto he gladly stood aside for his blonde friend.

Hinata smiled. "B-but I don't want it to get me down. I-I hope I'll get over it. I-I mean, it was pointless for me to waste my time on a dream that would have never come true," Hinata sighed to herself. Sometimes being harsh to herself was the only way she could learn something.

Sasuke smirked, but didn't answer. Though he didn't like the sound of her putting herself down. 'Maybe this girl is stronger than I thought. She certainly is interesting..'

Hehe, my favorite pairing - v Sorry it's taken me a while to update, but things have come up and I've been busy. Hope you enjoyed!