Author's Note:
So somewhere in the story there's a preview of what happened between Sakura and Sasuke.
Already started writing the next chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 3
Hinata woke up inhaling the mingled scent of cinnamon blended with the aroma of freshly baked cookies, the fragrance of richly scented candles and hearing a humming sound from the kitchen.
"Tenten? Is that you?" Hinata asked, walking towards the kitchen and stopped noticing a shade of pink.
"Sakuraaaa! I thought you won't be here till next week?" walking hastily towards her bestfriend.
Sakura Haruno turned around, teakettle in her hands. She looked wonderful as always. Tall and beautiful even after travelling across the sea. Her abundance of wavy pink hair was tousled, she looked like she just step out in vogue. Other women paid fortunes to try to achieve her natural wind-blown style.
"Hinata, I miss you so much, yes! but since I've heard all of us are here, I wouldnt miss the chance of seeing all of you" Sakura said as she hugged Hinata tightly
"I miss you too Sakura. We keep missing each other in our travels. So what are you making?"
Sakura's face lit up, her smile was brilliant. "So I was in the mood for a little lavender, but anything is fine.. but let's go for a little chamomile. Something soothing."
Hinata always enjoyed looking at her bestfriend. Sakura wasn't just beautiful, she was strikingly so, with her bone structure, abundance of pink hair that only she can pull off, her enormous, heavily lashed eyes and sultry lips. Beauty radiated from her. Hinata had always thought Sakura's extraordinary beauty came from the inside out. She watched the graceful movements of Sakura's hands as she went about making the tea.
Hinata smiled."You think I need soothing?"
Sakura nodded as she measured the tea into a small pot. "Tell me."
"I ran into Naruto-kun yesterday" Hinata tried to sound casual, when her entire body was trembling.
Only Naruto could do that to her.
Only Naruto moved her.
She'd never understood why.
"Naruto?" Sakura's huge green eyes settled on her bestfriend. "How did he seem?"
Hinata shrugged "Wonderful. Helpful. Guess what I'll be doing next week? He offered to look at the old mill for me and help with renovations. I'm hoping he'll finally notice I'm a grown woman, not a gawky teenager. You'd think the fact that I've traveled all over the world and that I'm a successful author would impress him? I think he would just look at me exactly the same way he did when I was high school"
"Do you really want to do that Hinata?, spend the afternoon with him?"
Hinata nodded. "I like to be with him. Don't ask me why, I just do."
"Okay. I'm just worried, you know Naruto has a certain reputation. He's always been easygoing on you, and he's very charming, but he's..." Sakura trailed off
"What? A ladies' man? I would presume a man his age has dated." Hinata walked towards the window. It allowed her to keep her expression hidden from Sakura. "I know he's been in relationships."
"That's just it Hinata. He doesn't have relationships. At best he has one night stand. Women find him charming. Seriously Hinata, don't really fall for him. He looks great on the outside, but he has- oh nevermind."
Hinata went back at the table and reached out to her, clasping Sakura's hands "I know your just worried about me Sakura, but really I don't need the warning. Men like Naruto-kun don't look at women like me"
"What do you mean he wouldnt even look at a woman like you?" Sakura was outraged. "What are you talking about Hinata?"
Hinata took another sip of tea and smiled at her bestfriend over the rim of her teacup. "Don't worry, I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I know I'm different. I was born the way I am. All of you stand out. Tenten, Ino and you Sakura, your looks , your personalities, you all embrace life. You all live with it. You don't let your weaknesses or failings stand in the way. I'm an observer, I read about life, I research life. I find a corner in a room and melt into it. I can become invisible."
"You traveled the world Hinata" Sakura pointed out.
"Yes, and my agent and my publisher smooth the way for me. I don't have to ask a thing, it's all done for me. Naruto-kun is like all of you. He throws himself into life and every moment. He's born a hero, riding to the rescue, carrying out the wounded on his back. He needs someone willing to do the same."
Sakura's green eyes filled with tears. "Don't say that Hinata. Don't ever say that. She wrapped her hands around Hinata and hugged her close. "I didn't know you felt that way. How could I have not known?"
Hinata hugged her hard. "Don't be upset for me. You don't understand I'm not distressed about it. My imagination provides a wonderful adventure without the risk of discomfort."
Sakura released her and look straight into her pale eyes "I just couldn't bear it if he hurt you Hinata...
Sakura's eyes were downcasted then slowly memories came rushing back in.
the scheme, the promise, the lies
the pain of seeing him with another girl in his house.
It's just too much.
I can't believe I fell in love with a complete jerk
If only her anger could wash away her love for him
It still hurts to think that whatever he did, he still have that much power over her.
Hinata sighed and continued "I've always been attracted to Naruto-kun, but I'm far too practical to make the mistake of believing anything could ever work between us. He runs wild. I remember him being right in the middle of every rough play in football in highschool. He's done so many crazy things, from serving the ranger to scuba diving for the fun of it. She shuddered delicately. He's a wild man Sakura, and he does very scary wild things. He's going to look at women who climb mountains and scoff in the face of danger. Can you see me doing that?"
"Hinata" Sakura said softly. "Your beautiful the way you are, don't ever doubt that, your far more beautiful than any of us. You embrace life in a different way, you attend charities, you volunteer on medical missions, you help people and you don't fake what your doing. You're just so.. "
"Don't say perfect" Hinata warned.
Sakura just laughed "but you are!"
Hinata just smiled and hugged her bestfriend once more.
