AUTHOR'S NOTE: IT'S BEEN A WHILE! SORRY FOR THE WAIT! The chapter's extra long to compensate for all the waiting. HAHA! Please forgive me for the wait. Take note that I'm receiving my examination results next week! Do pray for me!


Thoughts and Decisions

"WHAT?!"

Hinata only realized for a brief moment that she just shrieked at Naruto and Minori. Sakura placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Having felt the embarrassment, Hinata retreated away from the window and covered her lips with her hands.

Why did she overreact? It was so unlikely of her.

Sakura continued to pat on Hinata's shoulder, calming the Hyuga down before Sakura herself glanced down at the window and declared loudly to the two "children" below.

"Don't be stupid, Naruto. We need to finalize the case quickly!" Sakura glared. It was not that she was against the idea; it is just that it would be difficult and it was guaranteed.

Naruto held his stare at Sakura's eyes before he gazed at Hinata's.

"Believe me! I've got a plan!" Naruto pointed at them with a large grin while Minori did the same.

It was true that Minori was quite attached to Naruto in just a short period of time but, would it be a good idea to let him out of the orphanage? Would it help lead them to a conclusion to Minori's case? They had a week left before the two parties involved would grow impatient.

Hinata gave Sakura a worried look. Hinata knew then that they weren't so sure themselves.

"It's not a bad idea," Hinata heard a quiet voice coming from the doorway of the room they were in. Noticing it was the owner of the orphanage, Hisao-san, both Hinata and Sakura bowed in respect. His hair was graying and when he smiled; his wrinkles became more vivid even in the light of the setting sun.

"Pardon me but, you think it's a good idea?" Sakura arched an eyebrow at the old man because the man didn't even show any hesitance to his decision and made her question it.

"Yes," the man smiled sincerely, "I can leave him to you for a few days."

Hinata nodded with a smile. She knew how kind Hisao-san was as she didn't need to demand a reason why. Hisao-san simply was concerned about Minori's welfare and how the little boy should experience new things once in a while when given the opportunity. It was lucky for Minori to be taken under the care of such a wonderful man! That's his explanation if they asked, right?

Naruto who overheard the conversation shouted from below, "We'll be happy to take care of him!"

With that, Hisao-san smiled towards Minori's direction -who had a startled expression upon his face.


The sky grew darker and darker as Naruto turned into an exit and away from the highway. He could hear Minori's light breathing as he slept at the backseat, leaning on Sakura's shoulder who was busily replying her emails on her tablet. Naruto peeked again at the rear view mirror when the car came across to a traffic light.

"How old is Minori?" Naruto asked the girl beside him who was staring out of the window quietly.

Hinata flustered a little before she replied.

"He's turning 7 next year," Hinata smiled.

Naruto squeezed in a short laugh before the traffic light turned green and signaled him to start off the car again. Nobody exchanged a word again until Naruto asked directions to where Hinata lived.

And it surprised Hinata. She never expected she would be driven home, especially by the man she just met.

Once Naruto pulled over to what seemed like a tall apartment building found at the end of the street, Hinata nudged him with a question she had been concerned about from the beginning.

"Where is Minori staying?" Hinata questioned Naruto. Her eyes sparkled against the moonlight and Naruto could feel the same sensation he felt at the bar that night.

"He's going to stay at my place!" Naruto grinned, trying not to worry Hinata, "You could come visit! Here, gimme' your phone."

"Huh?" Hinata stared widely at Naruto. What?

Naruto grabbed Hinata's phone from her dainty hands before he pitched in his number on her iPhone. He called his own phone from hers until he smiled back at Hinata.

"That's my number. I'll text you again tonight about directions to my place if you wanna' visit Minori," Naruto busied himself on his phone, saving Hinata's number, trying not to give away how embarrassed he was feeling after saying that. If he looked at her, she might see how red his face had gotten. How embarrassing that would be!

Hinata nodded with a smile before she said goodbye to her companions and left the car.

When Naruto thought that his embarrassment was over, Sakura brought it up again with her comment.

"That's just an excuse right?" Sakura had a hint of laughter in her voice, referring to what she had witnessed of Naruto giving his number to Hinata, "I have her number, y'know? But you just wanted to ask the girl yourself. You're such a womanizer!"

Sakura kicked Naruto seat with a laugh as Naruto tried to deny it.

"Hurry up and drive! I haven't made dinner," Sakura crosses her arms, "You know how Sasuke-kun is."

"Make some for me and Minori too!" Naruto waved his other hand as he used the other to maneuver the steering wheel, "And I don't want tomatoes on my salad!"

Naruto felt a slight kick on his seat again.

"I think I'll be making food for Minori only."

Naruto halted the car once again when they came around another traffic junction. He took the time to turn to the backseat and whined.

"OI! I DRAGGED SASUKE TO THE FRONT OF YOUR DOOR."

"THEN WHY WAS HE LYING ON HIS OWN VOMIT?!"

"How should I know about that?"

"Exactly! You left him on the floor!"

"He's a grown man, Sakura-chan!"

"He was a drunk man last night!"

Sakura and Naruto continued to bicker on the way home, waking Minori up in the middle of their quarrel, not that Minori was complaining because Naruto and Sakura felt like family to him even though he just met them that day. Naruto would be the rebellious brother and Sakura would be the responsible sister. Minori could imagine it.

But, Minori wouldn't share that with them, especially when they were trying their best not to gauge each others' eyes out.

Also, they weren't a family.


"Who's the kid?" Sasuke pointed with a fork when all four of them were seated at the table after seeing Minori for the first time who was seating next to Naruto.

"That's your child," Sakura joked when she arrived on the table with a bowl of salad. It was Tuesday and she and Sasuke promised each other to eat salads at least every Tuesday.

Sasuke glared at Sakura before she laughed.

"Fine, fine!" Sakura leaned near to Sasuke as he planted a kiss on her cheek and she continued to run back to the kitchen and grab the spaghetti.

"Not in front of the kids!" Naruto covered Minori's eyes, referring to Sasuke's and Sakura's little moment a while ago.

"If you want explicit, I can describe explicit," Sasuke sneaked in a smirk during his statement, causing Naruto to cover Minori's ears instead.

"OI TEME! Hey, don't listen to this uncle here! He's insane," Naruto pointed at Sasuke, "He's really insane."

"Uncle?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes,looking as if he would grab a chainsaw and slash Naruto by the neck, "Do I look old to you?"

"See? He's insane! That's why these two are together. They match in levels of craziness," Naruto was referring to Sakura and Sasuke.

Minori could only giggle.

"Don't make me kick you out," Sakura came over the table, having everything ready and sat next to Sasuke, "And finish all of these, I don't want leftovers."

The four of them began to eat, with Minori head first, slurping onto the spaghetti happily. His face showed the happiness he was feeling as he gobbled down and chewed.

"The kid has got some appetite," Naruto stared at Minori, amazed, before he joined in with the boy.

"Manners, both of you," Sakura nagged.

"Yes, mother," Naruto and Minori replied sarcastically in sync, earning a small smile from Sakura and Sasuke.

"Are you sure they're not related?" Sasuke whispered to Sakura's ear.

"Yeah, I'm sure."


The next morning, Naruto was awakened by loud crashes and shouting. He wasn't surprised since it was Sasuke and Sakura that were living next door to him.

Naruto looked around his room for his glasses before he walked out of his room. He was greeted by Minori carrying a pillow with him as he wiped his eyes and yawned. They were both awakened by the same thing.

"Don't worry, they're always like that," Naruto patted Minori on his head, "What do you want for breakfast?"

"Eggs! And bacon!" Minori grinned before he ran off to the bathroom to wash his face.

Cute kid.

"Hinata-san is on the way here," Naruto called out to Minori when he heard the water running, "She's going to tour you around the city."

"Really?!" Naruto heard Minori's excited voice, "I can't wait!"

Naruto adjusted his glasses before he went for the refrigerator to grab a few eggs and a packet of bacon then, he placed it on a new set of plates. He walked over to another cupboard to retrieve a pan before he set the fire.

"Naruto nii-san!"

Naruto ceased his work when he heard that.

"Nii-san". Minori said "Nii-san".

"Are you coming with us?" Minori sat on the dinner table and swung his legs happily.

"Should I?" Naruto smiled to himself and stared at the pan before him through his glasses.

"Yes, you should!" Minori went over to Naruto to give him a smile before the little boy grabbed dishes and utensils to prepare the table.

And Naruto didn't have to give instructions...

"ALRIGHT, SET!" Naruto grinned before he grabbed his phone and made a phone call to his boss' secretary to have him take leave. After having "persuaded" the secretary, Naruto gave a grin to Minori, signaling the boy that he will be spending his time with him.

Naruto was about to place the eggs on the pan when he heard the door bell rang. Minori ran over and answered to door, only to be greeted by someone familiar.

Minori grinned and tugged Hinata towards the house and made her sat next to him.

"Naruto nii-san is making breakfast!" Minori announced.

"Hello Naruto-kun," Hinata greeted happily. Naruto heard it and leaned his head to the side, giving a slight nod in her direction to acknowledge her presence.

Minori continued to be excited and swing his legs back and forth while Hinata played with her fingers, not knowing what to say. It was weird enough of how they met and it was weird enough that a few days later, she was visiting his home. Seeing the blonde in front of her with slacks, glasses on and his hair pointing in all different directions, she thought that it was a different look from what she saw of him the day before. This morning, he looked simply non-energetic and simply laid back. Was he not a morning person because he didn't even seem to wash his face...

Not that she was complaining.

She was more than happy when she was given his number solely by him but that also confused her. Didn't she just meet him?

She ran a finger over her hair, trying to keep busy.

Naruto motioned his hand to ask her to come over to the kitchen to help him. Hinata could feel her face red. What strange things will happen now?

She swallowed and tried to muster up her courage before she ran off to the kitchen.

"Could you help me cook?" Naruto whispered.

"Huh?"

Naruto stared down onto the wooden floor before he whispered, "I'm not much of a cook."

Hinata glanced at him in awe before she began to giggle. The two males in the household stared right up at her, wondering what was so funny and the fact that Naruto was being serious, he felt embarrassed. She continued to laugh crudely at that and wiped away a tear forming on her eyes. She smiled at Naruto with a nod before she took the pan away from Naruto's hand and settled it onto the stove. She placed a few tablespoons of oil into the pan before waiting for the oil to be heated, then she made her way to the counter to retrieve the eggs.

Before she cracked them open, Hinata glanced at Naruto who was watching her on her side.

"I thought you'd be a great cook," Hinata giggled. She thought that a man living off on his own apartment would be able to cook meals for himself at least.

"Yeah," Naruto leaned onto the kitchen counter beside her, "If I wasn't eating from ramen cups all the time."

Hinata angled her head. What did he say? Did he just say that he was only eating ramen cups? All of his life? Wouldn't he be tired of it soon?

As if reading her mind, Naruto grinned towards her direction before he knocked her head lightly with his fist -not that he was abusive like Sakura but, after living next door to them, Naruto had the habit too, and explained that he was usually eating at Sakura's place.

Hinata began to giggle again before she used a spatula and got the eggs ready onto a plate. Naruto wanted to feel rather more useful by getting the bacon from the counter he settled a while ago for her and placed it on the pan.

"I didn't know you were so close to Sakura-san," Hinata thought openly. She didn't think she would find a person from a bar to be Sakura's friend either because Sakura seemed like a person who wouldn't associate with such people. She laughed a little at that conclusion.

"We attended the same high school," Naruto gave a faint smile. He didn't want to elaborate the whole part of how they met. It was rather embarrassing. He could have planted a face palm then and there.

How he met Sakura? Well, let's just say Naruto had a crush on the quite soft spoken girl with the pink hair who went to library every day like Ino went to the mall. And when he decided to confess to her, Naruto went out of his way and found her at the canteen, declaring his love to her in front of the whole school. He didn't think his showiness would make her leave in an instant at that time. But, the more Naruto thought back about what had happened on the first year of High school, Naruto felt like he wanted to die.

"Naruto-kun?" Hinata stared at the blonde who grew mysteriously quiet. Did she say something wrong?

Naruto snapped back and grinned widely towards her before he dashed off to accompany Minori who was watching television from the dinner table. If it was high school they were going to have a conversation about, Naruto would rather avoid it.

Of course, being a social worker had its perks and Hinata understood Naruto's behavior completely. She wouldn't pry in further and why would she? She just met him and what more, they met with a kiss.

What a memory…

Hinata blushed at the thought of Naruto's lips on hers again, feeling the heat rush to her cheeks.

If it was one thing she didn't want to talk about, it was that night.


"Hinata nee-san," Minori asked without looking to her eyes, "What if I never actually had parents?"

Hinata blinked. She knew how to answer him but, would Minori accept it? She glanced at Naruto who was doing the same. He had a different approach then. He ruffled the boy's hair before he began to speak.

"Y'know kid, I never had parents," Naruto gave a smile at the little boy who was tossing the bacon on his plate.

"Huh," Hinata and Minori breathed out the word bluntly.

"Honestly, I never seen their faces," Naruto smiled, not that it was genuine at all.

Minori stood up and walked off without a word and ran to the bathroom. Hinata stared at the door that Minori had shut behind him. Was it alright to leave him that way?

"Did I say something?" Naruto blinked and gave Hinata a puzzled expression.

"No..." Hinata tilted her head a little to a side, "Minori just thinks that he was the only one feeling that way."

"What happened with him anyway?" Naruto poked his bacon before he gulped it down.

Hinata contemplated on the best words to say before she finally gave up holding the story back from him.

"Minori-kun thinks that his parents didn't want him and dumped him at the orphanage to rot. After his birth parents were hurt in an accident, the country was looking for their rumored son. Either one party wanted a heir to his parents' company or while another wanted to kill him off."

Hinata traced the table with her finger tips, not knowing what else to say.

"So, Minori feels that he was a burden his parents," Naruto stared off at the window where a blue sparrow perched onto the window sill. They were alike, too alike for that matter. Minori and Naruto...

Naruto had always thought that his parents felt that he was a curse and left him without a word. The only thing he had from them was their infamous name and hidden inheritance. He never got to find his father's will even if he wanted to and he couldn't find any remains for him to seek. Naruto always have thought that he was a cursed son. Left with nothing but being engulfed in loneliness.

"But no matter what Minori has faced or facing, I want to be there for him. I want Minori to get what a talented boy like him deserves, " Hinata smiled to herself when she shared that because she had liked Minori dearly that she didn't want to leave alone. All she ever wanted was for him to get a family that truly cared for him and if possible, she would take Minori in as her own. Hinata stared at the same blue sparrow that Naruto was staring. However, Naruto wasn't staring at the blue bird anymore.

His deep blue eyes stared at Hinata's figure. A beautiful woman in front of him with a dreamy smile and her hair flopped down to her side. She didn't take advantage of her features at all and was dressed plainly as usual but Naruto thought that was what made her beautiful in the first place.

"You're rather pretty," Naruto gave her a smile before he walked away from the table and tried to get Minori back.

In complete awe, Hinata flustered around in her seat, feeling faint and rather dizzy. Nobody told her she was pretty before. Nobody did.

And with that thought kept running through her head, Hinata collapsed onto the table with a loud thump.

"EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, HINATA?!"