A/N: Last chapter was pretty depressing, but there shall be more. And to those who wonder if this is a NaruHina story, I can't just tell you, you just need to read and find out. Don't worry, this won't be a long story.
:D (Lucky for you)
"Naruto..." I mumbled, staring dead-eyed at the light bulb above me.
It was turned off just so I could feel the comfort of the dark, because obviously, the only light in my world was broken now, and I could no longer turn it back on and interact with it. I can't stare at it from a distance, and I can't conversate with it anymore. I can't turn it back on...ever again.
A single tear rolled off my cheek. Tonight I realized, that there's no chance for us to be together. It's impossible. Sakura likes him, and Naruto likes her, and there's no room for me anymore in Naruto's world. I gave it my all, even confessed my love to him and was rejected in his own sorta way. I understand though...you shouldn't try to love someone you don't love.
I..I should be happy for him. His long-time crush showed him affection, I should cheer him on. But happiness was far too distant from me, the only emotions I felt was jealousy and bitterness.
I turned in my sleep, and my disgruntled thoughts started to form into a decision. I decided I would stay away from him..forever.
Naruto's P.O.V.
Life was pretty good before, and after the..kiss. It got a lot better. I started to think that maybe Sakura had feelings for me. Feelings I couldn't quite yet explain. She was a tough nut to crack so to speak, and her actions were confusing to me. Especially now.
I'll admit I'm a little socially overboard, but now..I feel shy and conflicted with my feelings. I wanted to knock on her door, I needed to talk to her, figure out why she did what she did. I still can't believe she kissed me. ME. After a few minutes of hesitation, my palm grazed the door, my fingers separating from another. My fingers retracted, and slowly knocked on the door. Too quiet. I knocked again; I heard the sound of footsteps and I backed away from the door.
"..Hello?" A tall, older-looking woman answered, slightly opening the door. Obviously Sakura's mom.
"..Hi! I came to see Sakura." I told her anxiously.
Her mother suddenly opened the door wider than ever, and pulled Naruto right in. "Come on in!"
I was shocked at first at the mother's hospitality, but then she started to gawk over me and tell me how appreciative she was of me saving Konoha. Then she told me with a nudge, "Sakura's in her room. I'll make sure to leave you two alone."
My face was beet red, and she walked off, giggling happily to herself.
"M-maybe I should go-." I whispered to myself, but stopped in place when I saw Sakura standing in front of me.
"Naruto!? What are you doing here?" Sakura asked, looking flabbergasted.
"I need to talk to you.." I reply awkwardly, and Sakura shrinks back, but then motions for me to come in her room.
We walk into the room and Sakura all ready looked uncomfortable. I started to feel like the kiss didn't mean what I thought it did.
"Naruto."
"Sakura."
We said each other's names at the same time, our voices cracked and nervous.
"Go ahead.." Sakura insisted with a wave of her hand.
I shuffled my feet nervously once I finally gathered up the courage to speak. "Sakura..why did you kiss me?"
Sakura shifted on her bed, her eyes glancing to the floor as if hoping for an answer from it. Sweat dripped off her forehead, and she looked embarrassed when her eyes met with mine.
"It was the adrenaline talking. You were hurt...I was scared for you, and I..I killed someone. It was just a spur of the moment thing. All right?" Sakura answered, her pupils reverting back to the floor.
I got up from the chair, not saying a word as I left her house. My thoughts unclear.
Konoha Streets-
I walked through the streets just to clear my head. I couldn't seem to comprehend what Sakura had confessed to me, and it's almost felt like my heart wouldn't believe it. I really..really wanted her to like me back..but of course, it wasn't like that. It never was.
My head drooped while I stepped farther into the streets, not even looking at the surroundings adjacent from me, until I stumbled against someone. Almost falling back, I place one foot deep into the ground and keep myself steady on the dirt; seeing the person I stumbled into, I grab them on instinct and pull them up. I almost gasped when I saw the person in front of me.
"..Hinata?" I say, aghast.
Her eyes were puffed up and red, clearly swollen from crying. Tears stained against her cheeks, and she was in her pajamas, stains completing the heart-broken look. Her lips were straight and her fingers were clasping a tissue as she glared at me.
She didn't even bother to answer me, and walked past me. She always greeted me in her shy, sweet way. Why won't she talk to me?
I run after her, desperately trying to get her attention.
"Hinata. What's wrong?" I ask, forgetting about what happen with Sakura.
She didn't even bother to look at me, and stood in front of Ichiraku's, a bitter smile placing itself on her face.
"..Hey...what's love to you..?" She asked me all of the sudden, and I almost smiled when she finally talked to me.
But then I realized I had to answer her softly-spoken question. "..Well, I think it's when you'll do anything to keep that person happy. Right?"
"Exactly." She stated, and walked off, leaving my thoughts to conclude what she meant by that.
Hinata's P.O.V.
I know I shouldn't be walking around town and looking at the places we'd usually meet. I guess I'm one who lives in the past, but even so, when I stared at the tree where I first interacted with Naruto, I wrapped my arms around it and let my tears fall.
"..I love you..so much." I whisper, as if I was talking to him. "So much.."
I let go of the tree and my eyes fixate on it for a few minutes, and my hands interlocked as another tear fell off my chin.
"So I'm going to try to let you go." I finish speaking, and I walk back home, quickly wiping away my tears.
People gave me quick, judging glances while they walked by, and kids seemed to engrace me with their sympathetic faces. I craved their innocence, their happiness. Right now, all I felt was pain and regret for loving someone so much that it killed me on the inside. But this killing was slow and much more agonizing than a kunai to a throat. Yeah, as of now, that sounds much better than what I'm going through.
I stopped in front of my house after crumpling up a piece of paper with my shoe. My curiosity got the better of me and picked it up instead of leaving the tradition of the man of the house to read it first. It had a small kunai going through it and a dab of blood on it as well. My name was on the piece of parchment in dark, bold letters. My fingers shakily opened the letter and I skimmed the words.
It was a demand..for my life.
Spit developed into the back of my throat, and I couldn't swallow as I read the rest of the words on it.
We demand for the life of you, Hinata Hyuuga. If you do not comply, we will kill everyone in Konoha, seeing that nobody else can see us but you. And well, the other Hyuugas. Too bad they're gone now.. You have up to two days to decide..we'll be waiting where you killed our friends, or we will come the day after and kill your friends and every innocent person in the village. Your choice. Remember, you can't tell anyone about this letter. If you do..our assassinators, which we have ready to go, will kill everyone else while you attempt to be rid of us. Have fun deciding. ~ Sincerely, the Invisible Clan.
"Oh no.. No! No!" I whispered to myself, and fear enveloped my whole being.
What was I going to do?
Naruto's P.O.V.
I didn't understand. Hinata was like a whole different person when I spoke to her. Her voice appeared forced and depressed, and you could see stale tears blurred on her face through the light of the moon.
She was fine the day of the mission, happy even, but then her mood immediately changed after the mission. What was her deal? Well..women are pretty confusing, and this wasn't the first time I was confused by a woman.
I laid onto the long grass, creating an indent as I stared at the beautiful sky above, along with the contorted clouds that could be anything with the right imagination. I looked up at them for inspiration and answers to Hinata's behavior. I was her friend, and she never acted this way around me before. It worried me. Maybe it was a bad day? I got up from the grass and a shot of pain went through me.
Suddenly, my heart felt squeezed and my hands instinctively grabbed at the wrenchingly painful area. I couldn't fully comprehend it, but..it felt like something awry was going on.
"Ouch!" I yelped, and the pain slowly went away, but before leaving me, I saw a mental picture of Hinata. "..What was that about?"
I continued walking, eyebrows arching in concern. Hinata? I shook my head, trying to get her out of my head; I shouldn't worry about her, she'll talk to me eventually. Right?
No. The next day I saw her at an ice cream store, and I walked up to her to try to talk to her.
"Hey, Hinata!" I greeted, more excited than I thought it would sound. "How's the ice cream?"
Hinata gave me a nasty glare, took a quick bite, and left without saying another word.
"..Hinata.." I breathe out.
A few hours later, I met her again near a tree, and she just stared at it with a depressed, but somehow blank expression. Her ice cream carton was loosely placed in her hand, likely to drop it if she didn't put more of a grip on it.
"Hey! Hinata-chan!" I yelled out to get her attention, and she walked away, ignoring me.
My arm fell to my waist, and I felt a sense of loneliness when she ignored me.
And during the night I saw her outside her house, sitting on her porch as she read a bloody letter. I hesitantly walked up to her and tried to greet her, but before I could, she went inside without even looking at me and locked the door.
"H-Hinata.." I stammered, confused at her actions.
But..she always talked to me..
The day after, I saw her on the swing set in the ninja academy, swinging ever so slowly. I ran to her, and bent down to look at her at eye-level.
"Hey-." I tried to say, but she pushed me back and ran out from the ninja academy's plot.
I didn't want to let her get away this time, so I ran after her and grabbed her hand, pulling her to me. My eyes were fierce, and my heart felt heavy when I noticed her trying her hardest not to look at me.
"Hinata! Why aren't you talking to me!?" I ask her, and she still refused to look at me. "Hinata!"
Hinata finally looked at me, tears falling from her cheeks. "CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!?"
I let go of her hand in shock and she rushes away from me, my body frozen to the ground as I watched her go farther away. She never yelled like that at me before.. What was wrong? I fell to the ground, not even caring to stand up. Hinata...I miss talking to you, I miss your smile, I miss..you. Why are you acting this way?
Instinctively, I got up and began to walk, slower than I ever have before. My body almost limped as my legs continued to go over the other one, and my hands hid in my pockets while I walked. I...don't get it. Does she hate me? My eyes narrowed, emotions turning to anger and frustration, I walked faster and my thoughts lead me to Hinata's house. There wasn't even a minute of hesitation when I trudged up her house's stoop, and my heart guided my hand to touch the door. But I didn't knock. There was hesitance when I stood in front of her door. I guess you could say I was confused and furious with myself, 'cause for some reason, I felt at fault. My back leaned against the door and I slipped downward, my eyes viewing my surroundings. There it was..the letter Hinata was holding not too long ago. My fingers crept closer to it, and eventually grasped it and held it to my curious optics. I read the letter..and I crumpled it up and threw it to the ground in fury.
"That's why..damn it! Hinata.." I cursed under my breath, and my ears perked up once I heard a window open.
My head arched over to the sound, and I saw Hinata jump out from her window and start running as fast as she could. My body jolted up, and I, without thinking, recklessly ran after her, and I felt myself tumble over a body.
"Ouch! ..Sakura?" I called when I saw a puff of pink hair.
"You asshole! I'm gonna beat the shit outta you!" Sakura screamed angrily, her fist daring to pulverize me.
"Wait! I need your help!" I plead, knowing that numbers would help me in this situation.
Hinata's P.O.V.
"I'm here.." I manage to speak, and my fingers trembled as I felt cold skin grab my palm.
"Hello..." A voice murmured, and his other hand caressed my neck.
It was so cold..
A/N: Cliffhanger..sorta! A couple more chapters (Should be), and this story will be finished! It going to be so fun to write the next chapters! Note: For some reason, I can't put the horizontal line between my paragraphs, at times. I don't know why for sure, but if you know, it would be a great tip. Also, critical criticism would help if you have any, it would really improve my writing. :)
Extra note: When I typed, "Too bad they're gone now," in the letter, it just meant that the rest of the Hyuuga were away on a mission. Convenient, I know. *Eye roll*
