Hinata couldn't sleep, it had been weeks since she had heard the blonde haired man play, since Naruto had first brought the pink haired girl over. Now she was with him whenever her arrived for training and every time he looked at her made Hinata feel uncomfortable and insecure. Hinata lay in bed, her eyes open in the darkness, the loud thoughts in her head keeping her from sleep. Conceding defeat, Hinata kicked the covers off of her legs and made her way down the hall, her book and a blanket in hand.
Hinata made her way down the stairs and through the hallway to the sitting area, where she draped herself over the oversized couch. His scent faintly tickling the bottom of her nose, only to disappear again with the turn of her head. Hinata opened her tiny book, wanting to feel the simplicity and sense the written world had to offer, instead of the chaotic confusion within herself.
That night, while the chief was sleeping, his daughter snuck away into the thick forest, the soft pull of the wind gently leading her to a spot protected by a thick grove of spruces.
When she entered the tiny fortress, the breeze disappeared, and for a moment, she thought she was alone, but suddenly, the Wind appeared before her. His dark eyes gentle and warm as he looked upon his love.
"Did anyone see you?" He asked taking her into his arms.
"No, everyone was sleeping." She told him, as she leaned in and stole a kiss. When she pulled back, he could see a deep sadness in her eyes.
"What is wrong my love?"
"My father has arranged for me to marry?" She said. The sorrow in her voice cutting into the Winds heart.
"When?"
"Two days from now." She said, the tears pulling in her eyes. "To the best huntsmen in the village."
"Then you must run away with me, tonight." He said desperately, taking her hands within his.
"But what about my sister? I cannot abandon her."
"Go back to the village and tell her farewell. One day you shall see her again, when it is safe, but for now, you must leave in order to secure your happiness. When you are done telling her that I want you to return here and we will leave together." He said, embracing his young love.
"But what if I am seen?"
"Then use this." He said, handing her a small wooden whistle. "Just one blow will call me to your side."
The young woman tucked the whistle safely away and kissed the Wind good-bye. Tears pouring down her face as she looked back at him in the darkness. Then she made her way back to the village, to see her sister one last time. She was so torn in her grief, that she did not see the pair of glistening white eyes following her from within the trees.
--------------------------------------------------
"Hinata...Hinata." A gentle voice broke through the fog in her mind.
"Kiba?" She groaned, her eyes still shut as her consciousness finished emerging from the depths of her mind.
She heard a small chuckle and Hinata tried to force her eyes open to see, but all she could manage was the slight parting of her lids.
"Hinata." She heard the mocking voice once more. Hinata looked through the blurry slits of her eyes and, even though she couldn't make out his face, there was no mistaking the familiar yellow hair.
Hinata's eyes instantly flung open and she sat up, pulling her blanket up around her, causing her book to fall onto the floor with a clatter.
Hinata watched as the man in front of her bent down and picked up her novel. "Why the Face of the Moon is White." He read out loud with the same sly smirk he always gave her.
"Let me guess, a romance novel." He chuckled.
Hinata's face flushed and her cheeks burned as she reached out to take the book back.
"You should let me read this when you're done with it." He laughed as Hinata clutched the the novel tightly to her chest.
"Why, so you can laugh at me when you're through with it?" She spat.
The blonde haired man gave her a quizzical look, as the malice in her voice lingered in the air. Embarrassement quickly washed over Hinata and she looked away.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so short with you. I guess I more tired than I thought." Hinata apologized, as she cursed herself for her outburst.
The blonde haired man shrugged as he made himself comfortable in the armchair next to her.
"You have been training really hard." He laughed. "If I trained as hard as you did, I wouldn't need Neji to help me."
"Train, oh my god what time is it?" Hinata jumped up from the couch and began grabbing her things.
"You shouldn't bother getting up now." Naruto laughed as he began to strum his guitar.
"It's already four in the afternoon. I've finished training with Neji for the day." He laughed.
Hinata's heart raced as she realized she had lost a whole day of training.
"How could everyone just let me sleep like that." She said in frustration.
Naruto looked up at her from his guitar. "Well, you've been training hard everyday for weeks, it's good for your body to rest too." He said absently.
"How would you know." Hinata said rolling her eyes.
"Because that's what Neji said earlier when he discovered you were asleep."
Hinata cursed Neji under her breath as the thought of him just letting her sleep the day away angered her. It wasn't until Naruto began playing again that she really looked at him.
"If Neji's already trained you for today, then why are you here?" She asked.
Naruto flashed her the first real smile he had ever given her and Hinata felt her heart skip within her chest.
"Oh, because I'm gonna hang with Neji tonight. When he gets back from his meeting with Lady Tsunade." He said, absently picking the strings of his guitar.
Hinata furrowed her brow as confusion welled within her.
"Oh, well, I'm gonna go.'' She said, as she grabbed her blanket and her book. When she walked into the hall, she found Neji there. His knowing eyes looking through her as a small smile appeared on his face.
Hinata ignored her cousin and finished making her way upstairs. The moment she was inisde her room, she threw her things onto her bed and walked over to her dresser. There she stared at her relection in the mirror, her eyes moving from her disheveled hair and sleepy eyes. She still even had a few marks left on her face from the creases of the couch.
Hinata let out a breath of air, causing her hair to fluff up and gently fall back down. Then she gathered a towel and a change of clothes from her closet and made her way into her bathroom, eager to wash away the disgusting feeling crawling through her body.
---------------------------------------
Then next day, the blonde haired boy returned again without the pink haired girl, and the natural rhythm of Hinata's life returned. She had managed to run her previous best time in her daily run and even her combat training had improved. Her movements no longer felt awkward and choppy, as they had only days before. Now they felt graceful and fluid. The Kunai flawlessly flew from her hand, each one hitting their target one after the other.
Hinata was even able to completely lose herself in her book once more, the irritating playing of the blonde haired man filling her ears once more. The day had gone by easy and peacefully, and Hinata felt a happiness she had not known in a long time. In the evening, she sat in her room, staring out the window, her eyes drawn to the two men battling it out oustside. She smiled to herself as she noted the way Naruto had improved. He no longer tried to attack Neji head on, instead, he would try to lure him within mid-range, and then throw a kunai or surprise her cousin with a head hunting kick. Their fighting had become less of a brawl and turned more into a live action game of chest, which Hinata found more interesting to watch.
Hinata didn't remove herself from her window until Neji had Naruto in check mate, and he conceded defeat. Then the two men limped back to the house, while Hinata went to grab her book from the dresser. As Hinata walked out the door, the small, blue and green object caught her eye, and her whole body went numb. She chewed the inside of her mouth as she closed the door behind her and leaped down the stairs. Strategically sitting on the fluffy red couch.
Hinata quickly opened her book and began reading as fast as she could, as the footsteps came walking down the hall. Hinata's heart raced, from her flight from her room, and she tried to look nonchalant as the two men entered the sitting area.
Hinata only dared to glance up at the two men from behind the shelter of her book, as they entered the room. Naruto gave her the same smirk he always when he saw her sitting there, bringing an involuntary smile to Hinata's face. Neji just gave her the same knowing look he always had and immediately, Hinata wiped the smile from her face as she squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze.
"Your cousin seems to have claimed this room before we could Neji." Naruto said with a smile, as he leaned over and pulled his guitar over the side of the large chair he had settled into.
"It would seem that way." Neji said solemnly.
"It looks like she's reading that romance novel of her's again." Naruto chuckled. "It would be rude of us to break the spell of the only true love she'll ever know."
Hinata adjusted her legs uncomfortably as Naruto looked at her, before strumming the strings of his guitar.
Neji just stared at his cousin, unamused by his friends comments.
Hinta felt uneasy under the scrutinizing gaze of her cousin and she quickly shut her book and got up to leave the room.
"Where are you going?" Neji asked, his voice serious and unfeeling.
"I-I was going to leave you guys alone." She answered, uncertain of how she should respond.
"You don't have to go. We're just going to talk and watch a movie." Neji said, the offer sounding less than appealing.
"That's okay Neji, it's fine really."
"As you wish." Neji said, bowing slightly to Hinata as she made her way out of the room, her cheeks burning as she wondered through the hall.
Hinata didn't even make it to the staircase before she could hear the sounds of Naruto's guitar. She stood in the entry way, listening to the beautiful music, as she stared absently at the overbearing staircase in front of her, part of her urging her to continue up to her room, while the other part of her battled to stay downstairs.
Hinata closed her eyes in confusion, allowing the music to overtake her senses. Then, without thinking Hinata took her book and made her way into the kitchen. She made herself a bowl of ice cream and settled into the nook. She sat there quietly eating her ice cream and reading her book, as she mentally replayed the embarrassing scene in her head. Cursing herself for her juvenile and transparent behavior. Still, she couldn't bring herself to go back to bed, her heart still hoping to steal a moment alone with him.
Hinata sat up, reading her novel, long after the music had stopped and the last person had gone to bed. Her mind no longer belonged to the real world, as her heart raced in anticipation and melted with every touch. When the two lover's parted, Hinata's eyes watered as her heart shattered in two.
"It's that good." Hinata jumped in her seat, causing the spoon in her bowl to smash against the glass. Hinata grabbed her chest as she tried to slow her down her breathing.
Naruto looked at her with his dark blue eyes, the same smirk on his gorgeous face. Hinata flushed as she tried to wipe the tears from her eyes.
"I guess it must be." He said turning around and grabbing a cup from the cupboard.
"I-I thought everyone was asleep." Hinata said, as Naruto poured himself some water from the sink. "What are you still doing here?"
"I wanted to finish watching the movie. I told Neji I would put everything away when it was over, so he could go to bed. Poor guy, he could barely keep his eyes open." Naruto chuckled.
"If the movie is over, why are you still here?" Hinata asked in confusion.
Naruto lifted the cup of water in his hand. "Just grabbing a drink before I make my way home." He said with a smile. "What's your excuse?" He asked.
"Excuse me?"
"What's your reason for still being up? It's already twelve thirty, shouldn't you be in bed? Or were you too enamored with your book to bother sleeping?" He said, playfully baiting her.
"For your information, yes, it's a really good book." Hinata said defensively.
"Wow, back down, I didn't mean anything by it." Naruto said, his blue eyes sparkling in the light. "There's no need to get so defensive. For your information, I happen to read them too." He said with a devilish grin.
"Yeah sure you do." Hinata said as she rolled her eyes.
"No, really I do." Naruto said through his incredulous laughter. "It's kind of...I guess you could say a dirty secret about me."
"Really?" Hinata said in disbelief. "You expect me to believe that? I'm a hopeless romantic, not a fool."
"Really, it's true." Naruto insisted, his amused smile never leaving his face.
"Okay, than tell me why you like them." Hinata pushed, unable to take her eyes off of his face.
"Okay, but if I tell you, then you have to tell me." He said, his voice becoming stern and serious.
"Alright. Deal." Hinata agreed.
"Okay then..." Naruto said, throwing his head back and rubbing his hands together. "I like reading romance novels, because...someday...I would like to find somebody who moves me and inspires me the same way characters in romance novels are moved and inspired by one another."
Hinata stared the blonde haired man in shock as he picked his head back up and dared to meet her eyes.
All Hinata could do was stare back at the blonde haired man, disbelief written in her eyes.
"Really? That's why you read romance novels?" Hinata asked trying to hide the laughter in her voice.
Naruto flashed a mysterious smile. "Well that, and the sex scenes."
Hinata giggled uncontrollably at his words and smiled back, his eyes watching every move she made.
"Okay." He said. "Now, it's your turn to tell me why enjoy reading them."
Hinata's smile faded instantly, as she squirmed uncomfortably underneath his lighthearted gaze.
"Well, I...uh." Hinata tried nervously.
"Come on now." Naruto said. "I told you, so now you have to tell me, that was the deal."
Hinata looked away as she played with the spoon in her ice cream bowl.
"I read them because...well...um...because in the end, the characters find their true love, and I like to think that I might find my soul mate one day too."
Hinata continued to stare at the dark wood table in front of her. Too afraid to look up at Naruto and see his laughing face.
"Is that really what you believe?" He asked, his voice calm and serious. "Do you really believe everybody only has one true love?"
Hinata's heart beat wildly in her chest, as she dared to look up at Naruto's sincere face. Relief flooding through as she stared into his sincere blue eyes.
"Y-yes, I do." She said. Naruto furrowed his brow at her answer.
"So you don't believe that it's possible to truly fall in love with more than one person?" He asked in curiosity."
"I don't believe anyone could truly love more than one person and if they do, then it was never truly love." Hinata confessed.
"I see." Naruto said, his voice deep in thought. "So if the love of your life is struck down, then by your standards, that's it, you could never love again?"
"Yes." Hinata said, confused by where he was going.
"So if your true love is killed before you ever meet him...then..."
"I'll never know true love." Hinata answered. Naruto gave her a hearty smile.
"Your world is very bleak indeed." He said with a laugh. "That is one pessimistic look of the world, but I guess it does have a more romantic quality than believing a person could love more than once."
"You're mocking me." Hinata said angrily.
"I would never dare mock you Hinata, why with one swing of a sword you could have my throat." Naruto said with a smile.
Hinata couldn't hold back her smile, no matter how much she resisted and Naruto stared at her with a satisfied look in his enchanting blue eyes. Hinata covered her mouth as she tried to hide a yawn behind her hand.
"I should stop bothering you." Naruto said as she finished his water and rinsed the cup out in the sink.
"You aren't bothering me." Hinata said, not wanting their conversation to end.
"Well, I'm keeping you from your sleep, and if you do not wake up to train tomorrow morning, your cousin will have my head." Hinata gave Naruto a curious look, her mind wondering what Neji had told the blonde haired man about her.
Helplessly Hinata watched as Naruto picked up his guitar and headed for the door.
"Well, good night then." Naruto said flashing her a wide smile.
"Good night." She said quietly, unable to think of any reason for him to stay.
Hinata walked back to her room, with thoughts of Naruto running through her. Her heart was light and she couldn't wipe the smile from her face while she laid in bed replaying their conversation in her mind. As she slept that night, all she could see was a pair of sad wild eyes in her dreams, along with a broken smile.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: Please review. Of course, so far nobody is reading this, so I don't know who I'm asking to review. Lol! =]