A/N: Yes, Yes, calm down. Here's the second chapter. I apoligize for the delay, but i was in a runt with Sesshomaru-sama, so you can imaginge...i valiently escaped so i could finish this chapter. Your, welcome.

Disclaimer: Hn. I do not own the masterpiece that is Naruto, of course.

Every Heart

Chapter 2

"...Naruto-kun...could you love someone...like me..."

Naruto ran up the steps to his apartment, key in hand, looking forward to a nice bowl of hot, steaming ramen, his personal fix.

"Uzumaki"

Apparentlty someone esle had other plans. The blonde ninja turned around, to meet the cold, hard, glare of Hyuga Neji. Now, Naruto was use to Neji giving him a variety of expression ranging from slight amusement to obvious irritation, but this look he was given now was in no other words, hostile.

Killer intent.

Naruto's warning bells kicked into overdrive.

"Uh...Neji...you o.k.?"

It was obvious that 'something' was bothering the guy. The Hyuga only stared (or in this case glared) at the the unsuspecting Jinchuriki host, and Naruto was began to feel a little uneasy with the usually quite ninja. To tell the truth the former wanted to dive into his house and barricade the door down. The murderous aura coming from Neji was really unsettling.

"You...need something...or something?"

The Hyuga remained silent, and the black aura seemed to increase drastically. Now, the blond ninja was sure something was up. Naruto didn't remember pissing Neji off lately, but it wasn't plain to see that not happy with him.

Finallly, after what seemed like an eternity, the stoic member of the Hyuga clan addressed the confused and throughly freaked out ninja.

" Because of you...Hinata is in a lot of pain"

With a humorless laugh, Neji slipped predator like up the blonde ninja's steps,making the Jinchuricki back up until his back hit a hard surface. The door.

"And i don't like seeing her as such."

Hinata...he came here because...to...to...

Oh, damn.

It was the only thing the blonde ninja could think at the moment. It was plain to see that the Hyuga was out for blood, his blood.

Oh, damn.

"N-now Neji...let's talk about this. I was going to-"

"Be quiet."

Naruto mouth snapped close; neji's lethal eyes told exactly of how much he wanted to 'talk' to him alright.

"There are some things i want to tell you, Uzumaki, and i want you to listen carefully. Understood?"

Naruto was all to happy to agree with the irate Hyuga.

"S-sure thing, Neji"

The Hyuga looked down at the Jinchuriki with a blank expression only for a second before he said in his smooth, clear timbre:

"Good. May i come in?"

...

Nara Shikamaru was a very lazy man. No one could deny the fact that his IQ was very impressive, and that his leader skills could but the best to shame, but...

He was lazy, and lacking motivation.

He'd complained, and he was nagged for it. He'd lay around...and was nagged once again. When he went out of his way to help a friend, what did he get in return?

Figures.

All he wanted to do is lay in a comfortable patch of grass, on top of some high hill, and watch the clouds slowly go by. He envied their freedom, their carefree movement, taking them anywhere, and without a worry in the world.

Shikamaru wanted that. So very badly. To get away from all the work and the nagging ( especially te nagging) would be his dream come true, but it would never happen. Not at the moment at least. Konaha was in dire need, and every Shinobi, civilian, and child were needed in the process of rebuilding their once bustling city. Of course, Shikamaru didn't want to 'work', he so asked the Hokage to spare him another, less tiring, job.

So, now, reading a letter sent from said lady herself, Shikamaru really wished he could take back those words of his.

"This is a drag"

"What are you complaining about now, Shikamaru" His mother asked, though she had good reason to believe a certain blonde haired, aqua eyed girl from Suna was the centered of all his 'grief '. In the process of making dinner for the family, she turned her around, eyeing a very vexed Shikamaru, rubbing her belly unconsciously.

"Well, stop complaining about it, and say it already"

Shikamaru looked at his mother, and his eyes softened momentarily. He didn't want to put his burdens off on her, she didn't need the exxtra baggage. Especially in her delicate condition. For years Shikamaru had been a only child, and he had enjoyed that solitude greatly. However, all of that was about to change.

"It's alright, ma, nothing i can't handle. You should get some rest, and i can finish, alright"

A smile small appeared on his mother's lips, as she hobbled over to her son giving him a kiss on the forehead. Gently, Shikamaru pushed her away, Sighing in faked irritation.

"Alright, Alright, you're welcome... Hormonal"

"Pregnant, remember?" His mother said, shuffling away to the living next door.

"Very" Shikamaru mumbled.

Everything had gone completely silent, saved the cooking soup on the stove.

"Shikamaru..."

Shit.

He was screwed.

"Make sure you invite that nice, sweet, Temari girl over for dinner when she arrives from Suna. Better yet, invite her to say over for the duration of her stay"

"What! Ma, you can't be serious!"

Shikamaru could tolerate with being dragged around Konoha, day in and day out, bearly, but he could. However, living under the same roof with the spoiled, bossy, Suna chick (for Kami knew how long) was pushing it to far, and his mother knew.

Masochist.

Shikamaru's mother turned to face her son, a sickly sweet smile plastered on her face.

"Very" was her only reply. In any word the end of the conversation for Nara Shikamaru.

"You have to be kidding me!" Shikamaru sputtered. She couldn't be serious! His mother had to be kidding! She just had to be!

Oh, but Shikamaru knew very well that his mother wasn't the type to kid.

Again.

He was screwed.

...

"Uh...what?"

The Hyuga give the Jinchuriki an incrediblious look; as if it wasn't so hard to fathom. Kami, was he that thick?

" I am not standing out in the here all night 'trying' to explain this to you"

It suddenly clicked.

"Oh! Heh, you wanna come inside"

A curt nod was the simple answer.

Lifting the forgotten keys to the knob, Naruto quickly opened the door. The two slid inside of the building, greeting the landlady(or Naruto did, anyway.) with open vigor. Silently the two took the flight of stairs.

"Ya know, at first, i thought you were gonna kill me?"

"I was...and i'm still considering it"

Naruto paused half way up the stairway to really think about Neji's words. Should he really be letting the Hyuga inside his place after a annoucement like that?

Was he sucidal?

" Even though it would...bring me great pleasure to 'beat the livig daylights' out of you, Uzumaki. I won't. For Hinata-sama..."

Naruto inhaled audibly. Hinata was saving his ass again; indirectly, but she was.

Oh, the quilt.

Sighing, Naruto lead the rest of the way up the stairs, and onto the second landing. He sauthered to his door, the second one on the right, and still quite reluctantly, opened it. The blonde ninja stepped aside,and let the long-haired man inside. Neji did a once over of the small settings, noting the tiny sitting area, the cramped kitchen, and the two lone doors sitting to the left. The stoic Hyuga, quite on his own, thank you very much, took a sit on the worn, orange couch in the middle of the living room.

"Uh...i only have water, but you're welcome to it"

"No thank you"

So it was going to be like that. Fine.

"Alright, Neji. You wanna talk..."

For several seconds, the Hyuga sat still, and quietly, staring intently at a random spot on the wall; however, Naruto didn't let down his guard, so he stood near front door, precautiously. It didn't seem like the man would ever move again until finally, he shifted slightly.

"What are your intentions towards Hinata-sama?"

The blonde ninja didn't need to think about this, for the matter was already settled.

" I'm gonna talk to her...tomorrow. I know i'm long overdue, and i should've left her waiting like i did. I just -"the emotion before. You are frightened, and you do not know how to respond. I'm i correct"

It wasn't a question, but an obsevation. Was he that much of an open book, or what?

"uh...yeah...how'd ya-"

"Nevermind. You need to talk to her...immediately"

Demanding, much?

" I really want to talk to her, Neji, but... i smell, i'm starving, and honestly...i need to get my nerves in order before i face Hinata."

The Hyuga averted his eyes directly on the fellow ninja, his eyes narrowing into tiny slits.

" You don't have a say. My cousin is very important to me, and i want her to be happy again. Now, get ready."

Yup, definately demanding.

...

" Since Hiashi-sama is away on a mission this will be very simple"

The two ninjas were lurking in the shadows, the unsuspenting campsite none the wiser. The man with the long hair observed the many tents and surrounding grounds with all seeing eyes.

" Hinata-sama is currently in her tent. No one else is around at the moment, but i don't know for how long, so hurry"

Before Naruto could take a step forward, a firm hand was placed on his shoulder none to gently. The blonde ninja looked at the man crouching beside him, the former giving the latter a unforgiving glare.

" Hurt her, and i will make you wish for death before i've finished with you."

Naruto shuddered. Neji was even scarier than Sakura when he wanted to be.

...

Kakashi sat alone in his dark, cold apartment, a letter in his large hands. He looked over the letter for a second time, his eyes roaming over the words in a fixed trance.

This couldn't be right. It just couldn't...could it?

the copy-nin finshed the letter once more, but he still couldn't comprehend. So, again, he read it.

"Dear, Hatake Kakashi,

I know you probably don't remember me because we met long ago. 16 years to be exact. You came to the land of snow on a mission for your village, and we met in the Inn you occupied your last night's stay. I remember i use to watch you from afar. You intrigued me, and i wanted to know you. So, one night as i thought i was hidding, admiring you...you looked at me. I knew right then that you were aware of me the whole time, the many times i watched you. When you took me to your bed i didn't protest, and well...i don't have to explain the rest. The next morning when i awoke you were already gone. It was a couple months later that i learned i was pregnant.I know it had to be yours because i hadn't been with anyone after you. I didn't want to burden you, so i didn't tell you. I knew you wouldn't want this child. We made a beautiful baby girl. I named here Raiyoshia. I'm writing you this letter because i am dying, and Raiyoshia has no where esle to go. I have no other family, so i just thought maybe she could finally know her father. I hope this isn't a burden, but i didn't know what esle to do. I love out daughter, and i don't regret that fateful night. I just hope you can learn to care for her as i do. As you read this i will already be dead. Raiyoshia should be arriving in Konohagakure the day after you read this letter. She's excells in the ninja arts, and is very fast. I suppose she inherited that from you

Sincerely,

Juikai Meko.

A daughter?

He had a daughter?

Impossible, or was it.

Kakashi did remember that time in the land of snow when he had met that pretty village girl. It had indeed been in a Inn, and the last night in the foreign land. He remember it quite vividly because it was the same night he'd lost his innocence; meko had been a virgin as well. The next morning he had left before his lover had awakened. It would be easier that way. Kakashi hadn't even thought of the consequences. That Meko would...pregnant.

With child.

His child.

Kami.

What could he do?. The girl, supposedly his daughter, was coming here to Konoha. Kakashi didn't know how to be a parent! He was a ninja, a Shinobi, a cold blooded killer. It was all he knew how to be. What good could he be to the girl?

With a sigh, The copy-nin picked up the envelope off the kitchen table, and as he lifted it up a slip of paper fell out.

A photograph.

Crouching down, Sharingan Kakashi grabbed the picture from the floor. The face of a young girl was smiling back at him. At that moment Kakashi hadn't a doubt this young child was his daughter. Her ash blonde hair reached her mid back, falling across her forehead in a neat disarray. Her skin was fair, not a blemish in sight, except for a tiny mole under her left eye. Her lips were curved in a lopsided smirk that spoke of a very cocky attitude. This girl, Raiyoshia, was the splitting image of Kakashi. However, she had Meko's eyes; those uncanny amethyst orbs.

Kakashi looked at the picture for a long time. He didn't know how, but he would do his best to be the best father he could be.

...

Hinata was laying on her back, staring blindly at the beige cloth of her lonely tent. She wished she was back home, in her gardens; the many flowers there had nevered failed to bring her peace when everything else seemed to give her constant hell. However, the Hyuga heiress took it in stride, never complaining, always patient.

But today was difficult.

It was clear...that Naruto didn't feel for her...as she did him.

...Naruto...

Afterwards, Hinata had come back from the forest, to the campsite, finding that her father had already left for his mission. Hanabi was off doing kami knew what, and everyone else were to busy with their own business. She hadn't even seen Neji since that morning. Hinata was alone. Suddenly the pressures of the weighed down on the Hyuga Heiress,and her eyes slowly began to drift; sleep would be quick to come.

"Hinata...Hinata wake up"

The Hyuga Heiress was just grazing the edge unconciousness, but she knew that voice. Dreamed of it at night, constantly. Of course, this was a dream, as well.

Her mind was a wicked thing, indeed.

"Hinata...wake up... I need to talk to you"

Hinata smiled, and she opened her eyes. The cerulean orifices of her love gazed back at her with liquid intensity. The dream Naruto seemed so...real. His blonde hair, shimmered as the moonlight hit it through the slit in the tent opening. His face had lost all of it's boyish round, and in it's place was the face of a young man; strong and set. Before Hinata's mind could even process, her mouth was moving, and words began to spill out unwillingly.

"...Naruto-kun...could you love someone...like me?"

A/N: It is done,Finally. :)

...and now a preview of the next chapter...

" ...This is my best friend...Nisi. I hope you don't mind if she stay as well. Thanks a bunch!"