New Found Attraction

Chapter Four

Hey big spender…

Naruto and Hinata had left the park as soon as Hinata's tears had dried up and Naruto had gotten her to smile again. Naruto was feeling rather hungry, and wanted to suggest that they make their way over to Ichiraku Ramen, but didn't want Hinata to think that he was only thinking of food, especially after she had just confessed to him that he had always been loved.

He didn't understand why, but as he walked beside her; their feet falling automatically into step, their hands brushing slightly every now and then, he felt his heart beat faster and his face become hotter. What was this strange new feeling that had erupted in the pit of his stomach? He felt as if he was falling down from a cliff, his stomach turning and clenching at the height and fear of it all, and yet this feeling wasn't a bad one…it felt good…

And not only was his stomach experiencing new sensations, but his heart was also aching slightly whenever he glanced towards the dark haired female ninja beside him. Her face was a pale, creamy colour, except for her cheeks which had a permanent pinkish blush upon them. Her eyes were sweet, honest and sparkly, and every time their eyes accidentally met Naruto's stomach and heart went into a fresh set of strange sensations. His eyes traveled down to her lips, which were also a slight, shiny pink, and they looked soft and warm to him in the early morning light. He wondered how it would feel to touch those lips. He unconsciously found himself leaning closer, curious to see, taste and feel those gorgeous lips, when he was suddenly brought back to reality by a tiny voice.

"N-Naruto-k-kun…" Hinata said quietly as the handsome blonde boy moved very close to her face, causing her cheeks to burn as he came closer and closer, his eyes focused on her mouth, and she very quietly moved those lips to speak. He seemed to have been pulled back from a far distance by her voice, and stopped suddenly looking slightly confused as to why the two of them were so close. He then realized suddenly as to how close they were and he drew away quickly, his eyes opening wide in shock.

"S-Sorry, Hinata-chan!" he said taking a few steps away from her. Hinata gulped slightly at what she was sure was an attempt at a kiss, and almost cursed herself for speaking and causing Naruto to draw away from her. Wait, Hinata-chan? Naruto had never called her that before! Why now? Why? Hinata got caught up in her train of thought as she wondered the hundreds of reasons as to why Naruto had suddenly called her by a name which meant she was close to him… she barely heard Naruto's apologies through her quickly spinning thoughts.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" Naruto kept saying, but he suddenly stopped as he paid attention to his senses again.

"Hinata," he said, looking at his hands as she answered with a hurried 'yes?', "Are you wearing some kind of lip gloss?" he asked bravely, and Hinata's face turned a pure shade of red before she found the strength to answer him.

"Y-Yes, I a-am," she said, not daring to look at him as her eyes strayed to her shoes.

"What flavour is it?" he asked, and she hurriedly said, "Strawberry."

"Ok, thanks!" Naruto said, and Hinata looked up at him, confused.

"Why do ask such a question, N-Naruto-kun?" she asked just as bravely and this time it was Naruto's turn to blush furiously and give a nervous laugh.

"Well, he he, it's just that I've been having this weird dream, remember? With strawberries in it? The smell of your lip gloss just suddenly reminded me of it…"

"Oh?" she said and smiled, "That's a coincidence isn't it?"

She said it without thinking, and the next thing she knew Naruto was asking her curiously, "Why's it a coincidence?""

Hinata turned, if possible, even redder, and shook her head hurriedly, ":N-N-Nothing!" she said, for the image that had come to her mind was certainly not meant for Naruto's ears, and she felt embarrassed just thinking about it.

"Hinata?" Naruto said evilly. He suddenly felt the urge to say something daring, and him being who he was (untactful, unthinking and certainly not cautious), said it, "Were you imagining me kissing you and your strawberry lip gloss?"

Hinata froze. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't say yes, because what would Naruto think of her if she did? She also couldn't say no because it was a lie, and she was certain he'd be able to tell that she was lying when she tried to cover it up. The only thing that she could hope for was that Naruto was treating it as a joke, and she then decided on rather playing completely innocent.

"Naruto, why would you say something like that? It's nothing to joke about!"

"Sorry…" Naruto said worriedly, scared that he had offended her. Hinata tried to play a role that she had seen Sakura do many times when Naruto had offended her, and she crossed her arms tightly across her chest and thrust her nose into the air, looking away from Naruto with a 'humph'.

"Ah, sorry, I'm sorry, Hinata-chan!" Naruto said for the hundredth time that day, "I didn't mean it, I was only kidding, really!"

Hinata smiled shyly, proud of how her performance had worked out, and she looked towards him sweetly.

"It's okay, I know you were only joking," said Hinata, and Naruto sighed with relief. His stomach then gave an almighty growl and Hinata laughed quietly as he clutched it in embarrassment.

"I guess I'm a bit hungry," he said and grinned nervously, and Hinata laughed a bit harder. It felt so good to spend time with Naruto like this. She could really get used to it. Little did she know that he was thinking exactly the same thing…

"Well," said Hinata when she had regained some of her breath, "The restaurants and shops should be opening in about ten minutes, so how about we go and find some place for breakfast?"

"Really!?" Naruto exclaimed and he rushed forwards and grabbed Hinata by the hand, leading her towards his favourite place to eat, "Then let's go and get something at Ichiraku Ramen! Will you come with me Hinata, please?"

His eyes sparkled and his excitement was very apparent to her, so there was no way that she could say no, even if she had wanted to.

"Of course Naruto-kun!" she said, realizing that this was the first time that he had asked her to do something alone with him. It was almost like a date…

She blushed as she was pulled down the street by Naruto, tightening her grip on his hand, never wanting him to let go…

They spent the morning together, much to her enjoyment; they went and had breakfast at Ichiraku Ramen, during which time the owner of the store kept looking for hints as to whether or not she and Naruto were together; they had then walked around the village, stopping in stores that Hinata had planned on visiting that day in order to do some shopping, and Naruto obediently followed her into each and every one, remarking on the price or the appearance of certain things, and Hinata offered some useful tips on where to buy the best quality supplies for the best prices.

At one stage the two of them passed a gift shop, and Naruto insisted on dragging Hinata in so that they could look around. After some time she picked up a necklace from a shelf which had a tiny charm of the letter "N" hanging from it. It had red, gold and silver diamonds placed into it, and she admired the handiwork and detail put into it, but as she was about to put it back on the shelf, Naruto took it gently from her hands and asked her if she liked it. Hinata had nodded shyly and Naruto smiled.

"Then I'll buy it for you!" he exclaimed, and she shook her head hurriedly.

"N-No Naruto-kun, you don't have to…"

"I want to Hinata-chan," he said, smiling down at her, and the next thing she knew he had paid for it and handed it to her in a tiny gold box. She smiled as he handed it to her.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun," she said, looking up at him, and he grinned down at her, but then his smile and eyes softened, and he felt a warmth of admiration grow in his heart for the girl standing before him. Both their hands were now holding the box, and her small, soft hands felt very nice in his, so that when he eventually let go of the box and placed it into her hands, he longed to take them again.

"It's my pleasure, really," he said, and they left the shop soon after that. When the morning grew closer and closer to the afternoon Hinata admitted sadly that she'd have to get home; her cousin Neji had promised her a training session after lunch, and she didn't want to upset him by missing it. Naruto walked her home happily, telling her for almost the third time about the battle in which he had beaten Neji at the Chuunin exams the first time he had taken it, while she listened happily, enjoying the attention he was showing her.

They passed Kiba and Shikamaru who had watched them curiously while Naruto walked her home, and she felt a little uncomfortable under their gaze, almost as if they were looking to find something between her and Naruto which wasn't there. Well, to her there was of course something there…but they didn't need to know that…

"Thank you for walking me home, Naruto-kun," Hinata said as they reached the gates of the Hyuuga Estate.

"No problem Hinata-chan," Naruto replied and he grinned over at her as she fumbled nervously with the little gold box clasped in her hands.

"And thank you for the…the necklace…" she trailed off, feeling slightly embarrassed again. This was the first time that she had spent so much time with Naruto away from missions…this morning Hinata had left her home as an observer of Naruto Uzumaki's life, but she had returned to it as a part of Naruto's life…

"Hey, Hinata-chan," Naruto said, and she snapped out of her daze, "Could you do me a favour?"

"Y-Yes?" she stuttered, wondering what he wanted to ask of her.

"Would you wear that necklace…for me?" he said quietly, and Hinata had to lean in to hear him, "Would you wear it so that whenever I'd see it around your neck I'd know that I was really loved?"

Hinata blushed furiously again, but answered him with a curt nod and she felt as if she may faint from it all. This was unreal…it had to be unreal…

"Can I put it on for you?" asked Naruto, and Hinata handed the golden box over to him. He pulled out the chain and motioned for her to turn around. She did as he asked, lifting her long black hair away from her neck so that he could place it around her neck, and she shivered slightly as his arms wrapped around her and his body came close to hers.

Naruto had seen old films of men doing this for girls whenever they bought them necklaces, so when he had seen Hinata staring at it he immediately planned this scenario in his head. He came as close to her as he dared, and he felt the shiver run down her body as he placed his arms around her neck and onto her shoulder's. He fastened the necklace and then took Hinata's hand which was grasping her hair, motioning to her that she could let it fall. She dropped it lightly, and as the thin strands fell before his face he caught the slight whiff of strawberries again.

"There," he said as she turned around, looking down at the fine chain hanging from her neck, "It suits you! Hey…"

He leaned closer to admire the glowing stones in the charm, and straightened up with a goofy smile on his face.

"It's and N! Like, for Naruto!" and he smiled even wider at the thought that Hinata was wearing something representing him around her neck.

"Yeah..." Hinata sighed, running her fingers over the charm and secretly dancing on the inside, "I'm wearing it for you, Naruto-kun…because you bought it for me…and because you are loved…"

She looked up at him then and cocked her head over to the side with a small smile, and Naruto felt his cheeks redden, turning away.

"W-Well, I g-gotta get going!" he said hurriedly and began to walk away briskly in the other direction, Hinata staring after him. He then stopped and turned around, waving wildly and shouting at the top of his voice: "Bye-bye Hinata-chan! See you tomorrow!"

And with that he dashed off, leaving Hinata standing there, unable to comprehend the situation that she now found herself in.

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Hey all, hope that you're enjoying this story so far...very soon the plot will thicken! He he he

But please, if you have time leave me a review, I'd like to know that people are enjoying this, and if they maybe have some suggestions on improvements?

Until next chapter!

Mwa