.Pearl.

"N-Naruto-kun . . ." Hinata stammered, "I can't accept this."

She placed the velvet-covered box back into Naruto's outstretched palm. His eyes filled with hurt, and the Hyuga heiress had to turn away. Her hands then covered her face, trying earnestly to hide from him. She couldn't let him see her tears.

"But– why? I thought . . . " He left his sentence unfinished, afraid to say the words– afraid that by saying them, they would no longer be true.

The weight of the small box seemed to grow within his hands. It had taken him so long to save enough money to buy it. He remembered seeing the desire in Hinata's eyes when she saw the pearl necklace in the window of the jewelry store. It was then when Naruto decided he would buy it, regardless of the extremely high price, and give it to her. It was time he addressed the girl's feelings.

Naruto glowed when he finally purchased the expensive necklace, and he couldn't help but imagine the look on her face when she received it. He wanted to see her smile, for her to be happy. He was certain that Hinata was special to him, and just as confident in starting a relationship with her. He didn't know if he loved her, but he couldn't let her go. His heart seemed to restrain him from doing so, and he had decided to trust it.

The air was heavy and uncomfortable. Naruto's throat felt dry, and he wanted to just run away. His body felt hollow, and this rejection seemed to hurt so much more than the rejections he received in the past. He didn't understand. Hinata told him she loved him . . . so why wouldn't she accept it and be with him?

"Just take it. . ." he croaked out, unable to even say the girl's name. "It doesn't have to mean anything if you don't want it to. I just– want you to have it." His eyes were begging for her to respond, for her to turn her face so he could see her. The breath Naruto had unknowingly held was let out when he saw Hinata shake her head slowly, and remove her hands.

"You don't get it Naruto!" Hinata almost shouted, finally letting her tears fall without restraint. "I did what I did selfishly . . . I couldn't lose you. And I know I've put a burden on you. Just another unwanted problem. I don't want you to feel like you have to do anything for me. I–" Hinata gasped, struggling for her breath. She could feel herself slipping out of control with each second that passed. Her head was spinning.

"Hinata . . . don't say that." His words calmed her slightly, and she felt her breath return to her.

"I still love you, Naruto." Hinata finally said. She closed her eyes tightly, and gripped her heart. "I love you so much. But that means, I want you to be happy. That's why I don't want you to be tainted by my feelings . . . but look at me as a person. And I know that. . . I'm a person you could never be truly happy with. I know that I'm just not someone you could love– in the same way I love you. And it just hurts me that much more to see you try."

"That's not true." Naruto said bluntly, looking straight into her pale eyes with new found confidence. "You're Hyuga Hinata. The shy, dark, weirdo. Probably the most kind and caring person I've had the chance to meet and grow up with. The Hyuga heiress looked down upon by her own clan, until she proved herself with her own strength and gained their respect.

"Hyuga Hinata is a girl who never goes back on her word. The person who had faith in me when no one else did. She's the one who went up against Pein trying to protect me, and didn't show any fear at all. The person who wanted to be acknowledged, and who I idiotically didn't notice her feelings for me until I thought she was dead. She's someone whose precious to me. Someone that loves me. Hyuga Hinata. . . is honestly a person I think I could really love too, if I'm given the chance. It would be effortless."

"Naruto-kun–" Hinata choked, more tears flowing down her cheeks. Naruto embraced her inside of his strong arms, not caring anymore.

"Hinata–" He whispered, still holding her shaking body, "You're a person I really do want to be with."

Her arms then wrapped around his body too, her hands gripping his orange jacket tightly. Once Hinata's crying ceased, Naruto let go.

"You don't have to take it," He said.

Before Naruto could do anything else, Hinata's hand found the box containing the pearl necklace and took it wordlessly. Naruto reached out and took her other open hand, and intertwined her fingers with his.

The two walked away together, blissfully, still hand in hand.

A/N: Okay, as you all can probably tell, I love making Naruto and Hinata hold hands. I think it's the probably sweetest gesture one can do to show love, so sorry if I overuse it.

I know this is very loosely related to the prompt "pearl" but, this is where it took me. Sorry for making it so drama-y in the begining, haha. I love my NaruHina angst P:

This is also the longest I've written so far for this prompt thing, ohoho. Still not over 1,000 words though. Darn.

Fave, review, alert. The usual. Thanks for reading! And cheerios to the NaruHina FC that just continues to be awesome.