A/N: Thanks for the few but much appreciated reviews. Here's to chapter two everyone!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and the use of Naruto characters and settings are for enjoyment only.

Recap: Sasuke Uchiha is a shinigami. In order to retrieve the souls of the dying mortals, he needs to kiss them. Along with his job is his familiar, Naruto, an energetic fox. Their last and final mission before becoming an official shinigami and familiar brings them to the city of Konoha. Here, they meet Hinata, a girl who has a week only left to live. Right when Sasuke is about to kiss her, she happens to drop out due to embarrassment. "I'll let you kiss me," she says. "But you have to become my friend first and visit me tomorrow. 'Kay?"

My Guardian Angel

May 11th

Day Two

The Meaning Behind Her Smiles

Still remembering the girl's words from yesterday, Sasuke had returned to the hospital as she had asked. When the shinigami and his familiar arrived at room 303, they were alarmed to find that Hinata Hyuuga was not there. The thin cotton sheets laid in a jumble of white at the foot of the bed as the pillow sat in a crooked notion.

"Well," Naruto began, "She's not here. How about we ditch this job and get a new assignment?" He puffed up the fluff of fur on his chest and nodded sharply as he agreed to his own remark. Sasuke frowned. "Fine. We'll get the job done," the fox said.

They walked aimlessly amongst the hospital until Sasuke spotted the girl outside in the hospital's tiny but beautiful garden courtyard. She looked so much like an angel amidst all those flowers, he noted. Especially when the sun caught the highlights of her hair and illuminated her ivory skin. He hesitated for a moment as though he was afraid that if he made contact that the fragile picture he held inside his head would break. That she would break. And then ever so slowly, just fade away like the hundreds of other dying people he had met before.

Outside, Hinata Hyuuga was enjoying the weather. She loved warm days such as these, and it was on days like today that she would be able to go outside on her own and just sit. Just sit and breathe and feel a gentle breeze brushing against her skin. She also enjoyed looking at the flowers. Before she had been admitted to the hospital, her home had been filled with hundreds of the colorful plants. "Your mother," her father used to say, "Loved growing them." And so it happened, that Hinata ended up loving them too.

When the sound of approaching footsteps grew near, Hinata picked herself up and swirled around to see the shinigami and his companion she had met the day before. "Good morning, Sasuke," she smiled happily. Naruto had immediately turned his head to the side in disapproval. Hinata giggled. "Good morning to you too, Naruto. I'm glad you two came back."

"Shouldn't you be in bed right now?" the shinigami asked.

Hinata shook her head. "No, it's midday and besides, I want to be outside."

"But what if something happens? What if you-" He was cut off however when the Hinata had proclaimed, "Then it happens." What was wrong with this girl? He wondered. His dark brows drew themselves together as he contemplated her actions.

"Besides," she began after a long pause, "I don't have much longer to live. The doctors said that my heart isn't good." He watched as she ran her fingers over white flowers that hung from their stems. "Don't you feel sad at all that you can't live any longer?" When she made no reply, his mind began to drift away but was quickly brought back when she said, "Do you know the meaning behind these flowers?" Her lavender eyes held a steady gaze as she looked into his own.

"Return to happiness," Hinata smiled. "I've always liked the lily of the valley." Her attention resumed back to the flowers as she squatted down and hugged her knees to her chest. "Maybe if I keep smiling, I can return to happiness too." For a moment, Sasuke thought that the girl would burst into tears. But again, his thoughts were thwarted when she smiled.

He crouched down next to her and once again silence settled in. She was busy weaving together some dandelions into a wreath. Naruto had stepped off Sasuke's head and was sniffing the lilies when Hinata plopped the headdress onto the fox. Naruto stumbled as the flowers landed on and over his head before resting upon his chest. Sasuke smirked, "It looks good on you, Naruto." The fox blushed. "S-shut up," he yipped. Whether it was from embarrassment or from the compliment, the shinigami did not know.

Sasuke was startled when his own wreath of dandelions was placed upon his head.

"About your question from before… when you asked if I felt sad that I couldn't live any longer?" Sasuke remained quiet as she continued to speak. "I don't feel sad. I really don't. Even though I still have lots I want to do, I'm not sad. Because I know…" At this point, Sasuke noticed the slight change in her voice. It was growing slightly unsteady but he could tell that she was trying hard not to let it tremble. "Because I know," she repeated, "That if I am sad, then other people will end up being sad too."

Hinata didn't know when Sasuke had put his arm around her or when he had brought her close into a hug. She was confused at first and unsure but smiled when she realized that he was just doing his duty as a friend and that all he was doing was consoling her. "It's okay to cry, you know. Humans are strong but that doesn't mean they're invincible," Sasuke said. And for a moment, just a moment, she let her smile break and her eyes closed and all she could do was cry. It had been years since she had last cried and she was amazed at what all the tears she had. She was also amazed that Sasuke had not bothered to move one bit.

When she had finished, she turned a bright shade of red as she realized she had completely soaked his shirt. "I'm really sorry," she said. Sasuke shook his head as he disregarded her apology. "I really am," Hinata smiled. "But thank-you. I haven't cried like that in a long time." Just as though nothing had happened, Hinata resumed her weaving.

"Before," Sasuke began, "You said that you still had some things you wanted to do. What are they?"

Hinata paused for a moment before replying, "Well, I've always wanted to read this book. It's called, 'Penguin March.'"

"Penguin March?"

Hinata nodded furiously, her cheeks turning red once more. "It's a picture book but I love penguins and-and they're so cute and everything so…" She buried her face into her arms. "I'm really childish," he heard her mumble. Naruto flicked his ears at the comment, "I couldn't have agreed more." Hinata looked up at Naruto and glared at him sending shivers to run up and down his spine. She broke into laughter however and Naruto at once glared back. "Not funny," he huffed. Sasuke watched in silence as the two began a game amongst themselves.

He couldn't remember when or why he had decided to become a shinigami. Of course, it must've been after he had died but he remembered that even then, he was still reluctant about becoming who he was today. He did remember, however, that at the beginning he longed for a body and a place on earth, that he was most certain he wanted to quit and become a regular soul. He remembered wanting to be reincarnated and perhaps in that lifetime, live. Yet at this certain moment in time, he wished dearly that he was not shinigami nor a human, but an angel.

A/N: So there you have it. Chapter Two of 'My Guardian Angel'. It was a bit short this time but hopefully future chaps will be a little longer. Remember people, if you haven't reviewed yet, review! For the sake of this story and my sake (I can be quite lazy people and it helps to have motivation), please review. Anyways, thanks for reading. Next chapter will be titled, "Penguin March Pt. 1", yes?