Our Paths Ever Crossed

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Kaze no Stigma.

"Normal Speech"
"Thought"
Demonic/Pissed Off

AN/ Watched 47 Ronin again and felt like dabbling with this. Burnt through this in five hours. Hope that doesn't mean decreased quality.

Chapter 3: The Walls Come Crashing Down

"What happened? After… After I…" She didn't know quite how to say it. "Our friends. Everyone." It was just…surreal...asking such a question. Fortunately, he was quick on the uptake.

"After…" Sighing, he paused mid-stride, losing himself to memory. "We defeated Toneri."

Stopping beside him, she looked up into his eyes, "…Did you-"

"I wanted to." Distant gaze sharpening, he looked into her eyes. "I wanted to so…very…badly." His fists balled up at his side. The very memory was enough to evoke such a rage within him, it was like his heart was about to explode in fury. Fortunately, that fire was quelled by soft, nimble fingers prying his apart with preternatural ease.

"But you didn't?" she asked, insistent on knowing. It took a moment, but, eventually, he shook his head. Exhaling in relief…relief that his better side had won-out, "Good. You were never meant for revenge, Naruto-kun. You were better than that." Pulling him along both in the real world and from the bitter memories, they continued their walk.

It was Saturday, some two weeks since their reunion. And Hinata had planned a day out for them. There was no movie, or anything ostentatious. Just the pair of them walking, talking, and generally taking in all that they could of one another's presence.

As irony would have it, her choice of their date had been to take the train down to the Nara Prefecture. They went to the Todai-ji Temple and milled around the park.

Hinata had even become something of a celebrity to the local sika deer. Practically the moment she'd stepped in range, the small deer followed her around like an entourage. And when they'd sat down on the grass to snack, backs against a small tree, the deer encircled them, laying down around them in the shade. A young doe had even come along and nestled along beside them, resting her head in the bluenette's lap.

Giggling, Hinata gently stroked the little deer's head.

Naruto could fathom a guess or two, but, he might assume their reaction was because of the one big thing that set the pair apart from others. Reincarnation.

If he was a bit more romantic about it all, he'd say it was because they could sense her innate purity and gentleness. In fact, he did say as much, rather awkwardly, and received a blushing kiss from his date before she looked away in embarrassment.

While they relaxed though, "What else happened? And the others," she asked, refreshing the earlier conversation. "Did they all have good lives?"

Okay, that would take some time to answer fully.

"The peace was shaky, but it held," he answered first. "It took time, but it grew stronger. We only saw two more generations of shinobi before The Agreement."

Slight alarm filled her, but she was patient. It was, after all, the long-ago past. "The Agreement?" She could practically hear the bold-face in his statement.

He nodded. "The end of the shinobi system," he answered simply. Hinata's eyes widened drastically, but she remained silent. "With so much discord in the past, and the lessening of conflict between the countries, the shinobi system was quietly, slowly dissolved." Eyes scanning the crowd, "And from what I can see, it must've worked. I haven't seen or heard of anything remotely shinobi-esque. And I have looked," he murmured with emphasis. Quietly, but thoroughly, he had searched libraries and the internet. "Family stories could still be passed down, but all scrolls and instructional literature were locked away. Parents and clans agreed not to teach their children jutsu or chakra techniques. For a better future, we buried the shinobi way of life."

Hinata was momentarily floored. Such drastic changes… And yet she could appreciate them. Times had indeed been changing after the war. A relative calm had fallen over the world, and as communication between the countries had increased, conflicts had steadily begun decreasing.

Logically, shinobi…mercenaries from a broader viewpoint…would be affected by that. She could accept that, but a part of her was sad. Sad that the people she knew, friends and family, had been forgotten so easily.

Though…she guessed it was fitting. Shinobi, stereotypically, were meant to be ghosts, entering and leaving with no sign. In one stroke, shinobi…true shinobi…had left behind no proof that they'd ever existed. Nothing more than myth and imagination.

Jarred form her reminiscence by the uttering of familiar names, she focused back on his words as he continued, going into depth on their friends and comrades from the now personally dubbed "forgotten era".

She wasn't terribly surprised to find out about Temari and Shikamaru. That had been a steadily growing thing. She'd even giggled to herself at the thought of the generational appearance of another grumblingly lazy Nara, Shikadai.

Sakura and Sasuke, eventually leading to Sarada.

Chouji and Karui had been something of a shock, mainly given that the Kumo kunoichi was something of a hothead. Their daughter Chocho who actually sounded like a young Ino.

Ino and Sai, the emotionally awkward young man being taken in by the Yamanaka clan, and their son, Inojin.

Lee, being Lee, would actually be sought out by a kunoichi from Nadeshiko, initially attracted to him by his strength, both physical and of character. And their son, Metal.

Tenten had never fully recovered from the loss of Neji, but she had filled her life with a pair of orphans that she'd adopted, and, eventually, fell in love again.

The memory of her lost cousin awoke a deep sadness within her soul, but she carried on.

She had sighed at her two teammates, both remaining bachelors for many years before eventually settling down.

Kiba being an irrepressible horndog, had hit on women all over…with moderate success, before, at age thirty-five, his still clan head mother had beaten the lessen into him to take his relationships more seriously. If he wasn't going to give her grandkids, then she would make it official…by having him neutered.

And Shino…being Shino…looking for the most logical partner, eventually finding what could only be a perfect fit with a surviving member of Iwa's Kamizuru clan.

Though she warmed inside at thoughts of her sensei and her daughter.

"What about Hanabi?" she asked as he came to the last of the Konoha 12.

"She, uh, she married Konohamaru."

Hinata's eyes gleemed. "I knew it," she cheered to herself. "I knew I saw something between them." But, in spite of that sudden glee, she caught the stormy expression that flittered across his face. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"It's nothing."

"Naruto-kun," she insisted sternly. "No secrets. Please."

Sighing, he looked down at his lap. "She…never said it…but I could see it all the same. She…blamed me, for what happened to you."

Hinata choked back a sob. Never would she have wanted that for her sister, or for Naruto. "A-And father?" she managed, voice cracking.

"He… He understood," continuing to find his legs fascinating. "I told him everything…and he understood. He was very proud…of you for what you did." Every year, he had found himself standing alongside the Hyuga patriarch, both in sorrowful, respectful silence, before her grave.

The memory was almost enough to break him. Tears rimmed his eyes, unshed from sheer force of will at the sensitive memories. A soft weight fell against his shoulder. Eyes lifting, he found Hinata's head resting against him. Already, he could feel a few small spots of moisture against his shirt.

It took a few minutes, but the flow of tears ebbed, sharp-edged pain dulling. Yet she remained leaning against him. "…What about you, Naruto-kun?"

His blood chilled at that question.

It was the one question he knew was coming, but had feared answering. Simply because he knew what kind of person Hinata was, how she would react.

"Naruto-kun?"

"I became the 7th after Kakashi resigned," he answered quickly.

Head tilting, she looked up at him with a bright smile, "That's wonderful, Naruto-kun. What else? You spoke of the others and their families, but what about you? Your family." He had had many admirers both in and out of the village. And, knowing Naruto, she knew he would have wanted a big family.

Contrary to that train of thought though…

It was telling how he suddenly couldn't make eye contact. "Naruto-kun?" Looking anywhere but at her…he actually flinched. Now she was worried. "What is it?"

"There was never anyone else," he whispered.

The words hit her like a rock through a pane of glass. Reeling from the metaphorical blow, she sat upright. "Naruto-kun. P-Please, tell me you weren't-"

"After you died…there was never anyone," he answered, quietly, driving the nail in further.

Oh gods, it was true. He'd been alone! "Naruto-kun," she choked out. "Look at me."

"…"

"Look at me, Naruto-kun," more insistent.

She almost wished he hadn't listened. If only to spare her.

She had seen many sides of Naruto in their last life and this one. Sad. Joyous. Nervous. Fearful. Happy. But this… There was only one word to describe the expression etched across his face.

Listless.

Haunted.

It utterly terrified her seeing him like this.

So…broken.

And then it was that she pieced it all together. The way he always seemed to relax when he saw her, as if letting go of some deep worry. As if expecting not to see her at all.

This was not the happy-go-lucky man she had known, but one who had lost himself to loneliness and sorrow.

She didn't know when the tears had started anew, but they poured down her cheeks. Hands unclenching from their unknown hold on the hem of her hoodie, shaking, came up to cup his cheeks. Watery blue eyes looked on at her, devoid of barriers. No emotional walls, no omissions of truth. This was what he had been hiding from her all this time.

Eyes once full of joy, radiant and never-ending were now quite lost.

Sniffling, she pulled him towards her. Holding him against her, she hugged him as tightly as she was able. "I never wanted y-you to be alone, Naruto-kun," she murmured between sobs. "You deserved-"

"You deserved to live," he cut her off, his voice almost a pained whimper. "I promised I would find you again. That was the focus of my…everything."

It was all she could do not to breakdown entirely.

Her love had broken, and never put himself back together. He had chosen not to put himself back together.

This… This would not stand.

Stroking his hair, passing on any and all comfort she could, she made a silent vow.

Once upon a time, she had met a boy who would inspire her. A boy who would unknowingly bring encouragement to her and a sense of self-worth. A boy whose very verve filled her with the belief that anything was possible.

Now…

Now that same boy…

All the life seemed drained from him.

Now it was her turn. Her turn to kindle the cooling embers.

She would see to it that he became again the man that he had been. A man of passion, hope, and boundless life. A man who had become the center of a storm that had changed the world-over once upon a time.

Naruto Uzumaki had been a grand work, and she would see him restored, pieces put back together.

And gods forbid anyone tried to stop her in that endeavor.

Needless to say, the ordeal of "story time" had left the two thoroughly drained, emotionally speaking. A shaken silence settled over them as they stayed like that for over an hour, holding one another as if afraid the world was ending.

If anyone saw or cared about how they were acting, neither was aware, nor could they have cared.

Eventually, rivers of tears ran dry and emotions settled.

A rumbling stomach broke the silence, reminding them that though they had snacked, they had not actually eaten anything. And it was nearing four in the afternoon.

"Come on, Naruto-kun," she urged, taking the lead. Gently shooing the dozing deer from her lap, the creature reluctantly sniffing pitifully at her, she stood up, wobbling on her feet. All that emotion had sapped the strength from her bones. Taking the last of the special biscuits, she offered it to the deer, letting it nibble the offered treat amiably. Smiling at it, she turned eyes on her boyfriend. Leaning over, she took him by the hands and guided him to his feet.

At their sudden activity, the resting deer started to arise, paying the humans the barest attention before seeming to understand that they were leaving, doing so themselves.

"Come on, Naruto-kun," she repeated. "Why don't we go get something to eat. I'm thinking ramen." At that, she caught the weak smile.

Her Naruto was still there, she just needed to rekindle the fires.