Updated! Finally I got around to write this chapter. It's not much since my English and my flow are as dry as the Sahara desert -.-

Anyway on with the chapter!

Hinata woke up feeling refreshed. Last night hadn't been particularly special but just having her family over had been an emotional boost. Another two weeks had passed by quickly and she had finaly found a job. The small day-care center didn't exactly pay much but she was helping and that was what mattered to her. The kids were mostly kindergardens and a couple of pre-schoolers. She loved working with them, watching them and talking to them. The other two people that worked with her were nice too.

The only thing that bothered her somewhat was the fact that she hadn't seen the blond man at all since their first meeting. Hinata gently placed a pot of lavender at her kitchen window. She moved about the house, checking to see if there were any chores left to do. Finding nothing, she sat on the couch. She didn't want to turn on the TV as it would only spoil her good mood. A few minutes later she got up again and made a mental list. She had finished her chores for the day, her pantry was stocked and she didn't work today.

"Hinata?" A voice through her door made her jump. She hurried to it and hastily opened it. Ino stood on the other side, a curious expression on her face.

"I-Ino-chan." Hinata smiled at her and made way for the blond to enter. Ino whistled when she took in her new decor. The style was simple, elegant and in soft colours. It reflected Hinata through and through.

"I'm not staying long and neither are you." Hinata blinked at her. "We are going to a new patisserie, you know the one that opened recently. Their soufle is heavenly and I heard the chefs are all guys. What wouldn't I give to be in that kitchen." Hinata giggled and made her way to her bedroon to change, leaving Ino to fantasize by herself.

"Is a-anyone else coming?" She asked as she slipped on her flats. Ino nodded and closed the door behind her.

"I invited Sakura. Poor girl was holed in her apartment for three days, finishing a painting. I swear I have no idea how she survives with yogurt and a few salads for a whole week." Ino tsked. Hinata walked along with her, listening to tales about Sakura.

"Hinata-chan?" A voice sounded behind them and both females turned to a wide-eyed Sakura. Hinata immediately recognised the other woman by her shock of pink hair and brilliant green eyes.

"Sakura-chan." Hinata smiled warmly at her and Sakura gladly returned it with a brief hug. "It's b-been a while." Sakura nodded and walked with them to the store.

After they were showed to a table and given their orders, Ino wasted no time filling both girls on what they had missed. At some point it dawned on Ino that it was taking too long to finish in one night and switched the topic.

"So, Hinata, what have you been doing?" The lavender-eyed girl smiled.

"Oh, I found a j-job at a daycare center. The c-children are wonderful. I only have a couple of weeks b-before I go back." Ino grinned at her and Sakura shot her a dubious glare.

"That's nice and all but I wanna know" her lids lowered, partially hiding her icy blues "how's Naruto?" Sakura almost chocked on the crème burlèe she was eating.

"Naruto? As in Naruto that has no idea how romance works?" Ino nodded solemnly. "How did you meet him, Hinata-chan?" Hinata shifted a little in her seat, suddenly fidgety, as if she was trying to gain approval from an older sister. A protective older sister.

"He lives next d-door and I woke him up o-one morning. We just t-talked a bit and he l-left." She glanced up at Sakura. "A-Ah, but I h-haven't seen him since." She trailed off a little disappointed. A hand settled over hers.

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad, Hinata-chan. I'm just worried." Her brows scrunched up. Ino just shook her head.

"Both of you worry-rats need to loosen up some. Come on." She picked up the tab, waiting for the two other women to follow her.

"Where are w-we going?" Hinata asked as they donned their light coats. Ino simply shrugged. Sakura and Hinata looked at each other, wondering what their scheming friend was up to now.

The air was quite chilly at this time of night and the three friends huddled a little closer. A few blocks and lots of small talk later they were at their apartment building. They argued a bit about where they should go; Ino wanting them over to her place and Sakura not wanting to intrude before Hinata softly spoke.

"We can g-go to my apartment." A moment's hesitation later, the girls nodded and they entered Hinata's place. Ino gave a mini-tour to an excited Sakura while Hinata took out a couple of refreshments and a plate of cold finger-food.

They settled on the couch, their earlier talk continuing smoothly. It was a little after one in the morning that Ino convinced both girls for a sleep-over, even though her place was a few steps away.

Hinata giggled as Sakura pushed a sprawled Ino over. She hit the light, whispering a goodnight. She padded to her bedroom when Sakura called her back. She found her friend biting her lip, Ino bleary-eyed beside her.

"Hinata, do me a favor and pick up some things from her apartment. She's kinda woozy and it'll take too long for me to find them." Sakura said sheepishly. Hinata nodded and took the keys from Ino. She donned a light jacket and made her way down the stairs.

She gasped when she turned a corner near the entrance. Naruto was sitting on the pavement, leaning heavily against a wall, his face full of bruises and his clothes torn at some points.

"Na-Naruto-kun!" She rushed to his side, kneeling to his side. Her hand trembled as she brought it to brush a strand from his face. She let out a small cry when her hand was snatched and her eyes shot to his. They were dark and scary, nothing like the goofy young man she had seen.

A split second later his eyes widened and he let go of her hand, instead covered his beat-up face. A chuckle escaped him.

"Sorry that you had to see me like this." He smiled but it was gone when he winced. Hinata remained still.

"Naruto-kun, please let me take you to the hos"

"No!" His sudden shout startled her. He coughed heavily and started again, this time more gently. "No hospitals." His hand fell from his face and he stared at her worried form. "Go back, Hinata-chan. Please." He turned away and heard her shift. 'Good. Now she won't be scared anymore.'

He didn't hear her footsteps and turned once more to see that she had moved closer instead. She was looking at him in silent determination. Her hands lifted and she wordlesly took his arm, wrapped it around her small shoulders and lifted him with surprising strength. He grunted and grimaced at the pain shooting through his body as he didn't lean on her; merely keeping balance.

The walk up the stairs was torturous on him but he held on. A few agonisingly slow minutes later they had made it to his apartment. A pacing Sakura greeted them.

"Oh my God, Naruto! What happened?" Sakura helped Hinata into his bedroom and they laid him gently on the bed. Sakura started looking for the first aid kit while Hinata found some towels to clean the wounds.

"You haven't changed at all, Naruto." Sakura whispered to his unconscious form. She quickly tore his shirt with a swiss army knife and assesed the damage. She was no expert but a few years with brawling boys and a close friendship with the school nurse had taught her some things.

"Sakura-chan." Hinata entered and both women started wiping away the blood and dirt. In the end he only had a few cuts and even fewer bruises. His face was the worst though. A split lip, a black eye and a big wound running from his eyebrow to his cheekbone. Sakura shook her head.

"Can you wait here with him? I'm going to bring Ino to patch him up." Hinata nodded and continued to press the wound with a cold cloth. Not even two minutes later Ino walked in and Hinata knew her friend was in business mode.

"Sakura, bring me the kit I have in the bathroom." She said crispily and handed her the keys. "Hinata, keep pressing the wound until Sakura is here." Ino scowled at Naruto. She though he had stopped, that he wasn't involved anymore.

"Here." A slightly out of breath Sakura handed the kit to Ino who went to work immidiately. The other two women aided their friend as best as they could. In the end all of them were exhausted. Hinata tucked him in, squeezed his hand and left.

On a side note I'm not sure when I'll be updating any of my stories for a while. But, hey, there are other stories out there so cheer up!

Ciao,

Nelly