Thanks especially to: suzerain, lunarlily828, and trenchcoatgirl-kyo for reviewing my last chapter, short as it was. Hopefully this chapter will not be only longer, but better written.
Disclaimer: How I wish I owned Naruto…
Summary: It's her sweet sixteen, and with almost everyone gone on missions, Hinata is spending it alone. She makes just one wish as she trains. 'I want to see him one last time…' When she pushes herself too far, he suddenly reappears, and she wonders just what exactly she was wishing for when she blew out the candles on her birthday cake that morning.
Wishes
It seemed like a perfect day ahead; there were no clouds in sight, the air was crisp and warm, a gentle breeze wafted a floral scent through her house, and the sky was a pure, creamy blue.
So are his eyes.
Some sweet sixteen… Hinata thought bitterly. Her friends were all gone on missions, her sensei, Kurenai, had a new team to train, and both Kiba and Shino were off doing… actually, Hinata didn't know exactly what they did nowadays.
And he had disappeared two years ago…
No one knew why he had gone, where he went, what caused his abrupt depart. And tears still fell, even now, two years later, when she thought of him.
It's today! How could I have misjudged the time? I have to be there! Another slash at the opposing ninja's throat, and he flitted off, wiping strands of golden hair from his eyes. I have to make it on time!
Hinata walked slowly through the woods, twirling a shuriken around her finger. Maybe if I become stronger, I won't… miss him as much…
Deep down, she knew that was unreasonable. She'd never stop missing him, but—
Thunk. The shuriken buried itself deep inside the tree trunk. Even the sound made her just a little bit number to the pain, and she got an eerie satisfaction from it. Hinata wiped away the desolate, bitter tears and began to train.
She trained constantly… desperately. She always had a habit of quitting… but at some point, she started trying to change.
Shaking his head, he tried to clear the thoughts from his mind.
She actually tried to change. She took her fears, her weakness, looked them in the eye, and fought against them; she defied the odds. Me? I ran away…
Hinata collapsed on the ground, exhausted. Blood and dirt streaked across her cheeks, and the Hyuga heiress wept from frustration. H-he wouldn't have given up… she thought, panting. I—I wished to b-be stronger, and now, I'm going t-to pursue my dream! Hinata painfully stumbled to her feet, and kept going on blindly, oblivious to the crimson trail she left behind her.
Night was falling, and he could see his breath dancing on the frosty air. Each translucent, delicate lacing in front of his lips reminded him that time was slipping away, just as the thawed crystals merged into the dimming sky. A light breeze skimmed through his blond locks, and he was distracted, remembering how a similar breeze had brushed her hair across her pink cheeks, her lips curved into a smile…
Slipping, he cursed at his carelessness; a loud, echoing 'thump' resounded through the forest. I'm nearly there! Placing his hands on the ground, he made to hop back up into the tree so that he could flee the area before the noise alerted nearby ninjas to his presence. But something warm and wet dripping from his fingers stopped him. Moving into better light, he held his hands in front of him, and drew in a sharp breath. Blood…?
Hinata clutched the kunai knife; her breath coming in short, ragged gasps for air. Feebly, she threw it at the target, but made a clean miss, barely making it past the thirty-foot mark. Although she started towards the scattered weapons, something deep in her gut told her that this time, she had pushed it too far. A loud thud startled her, and she slipped on a chain. Several shuriken sliced her shoulders and neck as she fell, and her cry was naught but a trembling, helpless whimper.
Everything hazed over, and she realized she was crying. Again.
I made a wish this morning two years ago… the day he left. I wished I could see him one more time. I knew I wouldn't make it when he left me; I just had no more will to live. But I wish I could see his face one more time…
Her eyes slowly slid shut, her surroundings darkening, and her senses dulled. Someone was talking to her, crying, but she couldn't see. My eyes won't focus. A pair of spectacularly blue eyes, tears glittering in the corners of them, locked onto her pale ones.
"Hinata-chan, I'm home."
He stared at the blood on his hands, dripping from his fists and forearms. Am I hurt? He wiped the liquid off on the grass and checked himself for cuts. No… must be… he spotted a figure lying on the grass, surrounded by various weapons. Listening carefully for any movement, he bent down and picked up one of the shuriken lying embedded in the girl's neck. He slid his thumb over it, clearing away the blood, and gasped.
Hyuga was encrusted on the side. Hinata! He brushed dirt and blood off her face, and studied the unconscious girl carefully. Her eyes were open, but blank, and she didn't seem to recognize him. Tears slid down her pale cheeks, putting streaks down her dirty face.
"Hinata-chan." He forced out the words, fighting to keep his voice steady. "I'm home." Bewilderment and hope flitted across her features, and she whispered something like 'wish', but her voice was too soft to be audible, and her eyes drifted shut. Maybe forever… He ignored the sadistic voice in his mind and carried her back to the Konoha medic center.
"I won't let you die again."
White. White everywhere. The walls, the bed, the furniture; it was all white. And white eyes opened, slowly, and blinked from the intense light.
"N-Naruto…?" She whispered. Is this a dream…? The one she had wished for, dreamt for, and trained for was finally here, and she was…
"Hinata-chan," he began, his voice steady, but concern relevant in his eyes. "I'm so sorry… I promised you I'd protect you, and I…" his voice, deeper now, trailed off, and the fox-boy looked away.
Coughing, the shy kunoichi eased her body out of the hospital bed, ignoring the aching throbs of her muscles, and placed a gentle hand against Naruto's tanned cheek.
"I—I made a wish when you… w-when you left," she said. "I told myself b-by the time I was sixteen, and a true g-grownup, I'd be strong enough f-for myself…"
Naruto swallowed. So she was training for me? But this isn't… Hinata never would have…
"I pushed m-myself farther than I ever had before…" her voice was slurred and dreamy, as if she had enjoyed the pain. Naruto suddenly smiled, and cupped her face in his palms.
"I'm making a wish now, even though it's your birthday," he teased. The Hyuga heiress blushed, and raised a finger to her lip. "I wish for you to come with me this time."
"W-wait," Hinata said. "This time?" Naruto grinned sheepishly.
"I've been on a top-secret mission in Sunagakure. I'm…" he broke off and blushed. "I'm going to be the next Hokage." His grin grew wider as Hinata threw her arms around his neck, wordlessly sharing her praise. The two caressed, glad to be back in familiar arms at last, but Hinata allowed a secretive smirk to cross her lips.
The wish I made on this birthday finally came true; Naruto's the Hokage at last…I apologize for that crappy ending. I thought it was a good idea, but then I didn't know how to end it, so I just… ended it. Whatever…
But there's a special 'contest' coming up, by yours truly!
Send me an idea for a oneshot, and if I like it, that will be my next chapter in any of my oneshot series! Also, choose between Neji/Tenten, Sasuke/Sakura, Naruto/Hinata, or Shikamaru/Ino. No OC pairings though.
Review or PM your ideas, and I'll see what I can do! Good luck to all of you chicas with all your great story ideas!
Peace,
Hikari