Author Notes: Hello people who read this fanfic...
(Including those of you who are HIDING and not leaving any reviews HINTHINT)
This is the finale...gasp
So here it is...and please review...thanks
Disclaimer: Nothing fancy. I do not own Naruto.
Key:
Bold writing is Inner Hinata. (I believe under all that shyness, Hinata can be bold and loud too…)
Messages are written in italics
Dedicated to: Simmering-Tofu
Thank you for giving me this idea as my first ff!
Naruto's POV
I wake up and rub my bleary eyes.
Today was another new day.
This meant another day trying to keep up my acts, withstanding the torment of the villagers and trying to find someone who believes in me.
Life was so dreary. The bright sun was shining outside, taunting me.
Suddenly, my stomach rumbled. Loudly. This meant one thing...
TIME TO EAT RAMEN!!
Of course I ate ramen for breakfast. What else do you eat?
Toast and milk? I scoffed at the ridiculous idea. What were those things anyway?
I quickly got dressed, rushed into the kitchen and made a beeline for the ramen cupboard.
Or one of the many ramen cupboards...
Hinata's POV
I groaned as I woke up. My head hurt, my eyes were swimming and my back was sore.
Why was I even in such a state?
You stayed up all night, silly. You only slept for 3 hours, and that ruined my plan for a long beauty sleep. evil glare
What beauty?
Che No self confidence at all!
I looked at the clock. It was eleven minutes and thirteen seconds to eight.
Pfft...Such a perfectionist. Who reads the time like that??
You do...you are me; so ultimately, you read the time like that too.
Scowl Why do I have to be such I freak?
Thanks for your heart-warming words; I feel so much better about myself.
I got up and stretched. My back felt better now, but my head still ached.
I slowly got changed into my usual attire and tidied myself up (washed face, etc.).
Settling down to eat my breakfast, I thought about the next step of my plan. It was like a light bulb lit up above my head.
EUREKA!!
What does that mean??
How would I know if you don't?
Then why did you say that?
I don't know...it just came to me...
After eating my breakfast of toast and milk, I ran outside to complete the last part of my plan.
Naruto's POV
I decided to take a stroll in the park after my ramen feast. The park was near my little apartment.
As I breathed in the morning air, watching the birds fluttering about, I thought over my choices in life.
I could carry on stubbornly pursuing my hopeless dream of becoming the Hokage, or I could find another option. Maybe I could open a ramen stand and create new flavours of ramen!
I scoffed at my idea. As if anybody would buy ramen from me.
My leisurely walk had turned into a trudge, and the smile plastered on my face had transformed into a frown.
What am I to do? Will anyone have faith in me?
Hinata's POV
I had decided to find Naruto and execute my plan. I knew he would either be in the ramen stand or the park by it.
Stalker!
I don't stalk him! He's just...really predictable...
I took my basket, loaded with the necessary items, and headed outside.
First I went to check the ramen stand, however, he wasn't there.
Duh! Who has ramen for breakfast?
You'd never know...
So I headed out to the park, the morning dew still visible on the lush green leaves. The sunlight was filtered as I walked underneath the shade of the trees.
It was a typical morning in the park. Sparrows were hopping about, Kiba was taking Akamaru out for a walk, a blond boy was moping about on the bench, and children were swinging on the playground equipment like monkeys...
A blond boy moping about on the bench??
Although the sun was shining directly at me, I walked over towards him.
He suddenly looked up and me...disbelievingly?
Naruto's POV
I was sitting on the park bench, feeling lonely and dejected. I heard the sound of twigs crackling. I looked up.
There, in front of me, was an angel.
An angel??
I squinted my eyes to have a better look.
Hinata's POV
Hey! It's Naruto! We found him! does a lame victory dance
I shyly greeted him. His face transformed into one of recognition.
I smiled and held out my basket, waiting for him to accept it.
He tentatively reached out, as if the basket was a lethal weapon.
He finally received it, and opened the lid.
Naruto's POV
Everything happened in slow motion.
Hinata, my "angel", appeared in front of me...
She gave me a basket...
I opened it to reveal...
Fortune cookies...
Lots of them...
My eyes widened.
Memories of the mocking man by the street flashed in my head.
I was stunned. Looking up to see Hinata's kind face, I gingerly reached in the basket.
Hinata's POV
His quivering hand faltered, hovering over the cookies.
"Please take one." I whispered gently to Naruto.
He hesitantly took one.
I looked into his eyes and saw pain, fear and a hint of resignation.
I smiled at him, prompting him to open the cookie.
Naruto's POV
I was scared. Frightened.
I didn't want to know the fate the cookie held, dreading another crushing message.
But as I looked at Hinata's caring face, I decided to take the risk.
Closing my eyes, I cracked it open.
Reluctantly opening my eyes, I peered at the fortune message:
Reach for your dreams and don't ever give up. Eventually, you will achieve it, because others care for you. Don't stop smiling, and remember that the sun is shining.
A tear fell onto the thin piece of paper.
I felt a genuine smile tug at the edge of my lips.
Looking up, I saw Hinata with tears in her eyes too.
Maybe there was light at the end of the tunnel after all.
AN: There will be an epilogue, although it will be short. If you liked this story, please review! All reviews are very much appreciated!