Chapter 6

Swirling Leaves Teahouse, 367 W. Sannin

Thunder and lightening crashed throughout the city, causing the ground to shake. The pouring rain that joined the deafening sky show sent small children scurrying in fear to their parents and forced lovers to dodge under empty awnings for cover.

The weather didn't seem to affect the mood of those inside the Swirling Leaves Teahouse, however. The café was packed, with customers crowding the lobby hoping for a decent seat. One could hear the constant chatter amongst all of the patrons, with topics ranging from celebrity gossip to predictions for upcoming sporting events.

One table, isolated in the back corner, had a slight aura of tension surrounding it. Was it a fighting couple? Well…not quite. Was it two people bickering over a common love interest? Far from it! Was it two friends arguing like an old married couple? Well…

"Dammit Dobe!" the Uchiha growled, wiping his shirt. "Did you really have to do that?!"

"What?" Uzumaki asked, feigning innocence. "I had to dry off somehow!"

"By shaking as if you're a dog?!" Uchiha asked, a vein popping out of his forehead.

Uzumaki shrugged his shoulders. "Got the job done, didn't it?" he asked.

Uchiha tried desperately to massage away his oncoming headache, but to no avail. "You're impossible!" he finally yelled, throwing his hands in the air.

Uzumaki leaned forward with a devilish grin. "You didn't seem too upset when that girl behind us ended up with her bra showing," he said, winking at his partner.

Uchiha shook his head and snorted. "That's because she finally left me alone after asking me to go out with her for the seventeenth time in five minutes," he said. "She was being annoying."

"And obviously desperate if she wanted you," Uzumaki said. "I mean, you're obviously playing for the-"

A knife was soon embedded in the booth barely half an inch away from Uzumaki's left ear. "Finish that sentence and I won't miss next time," Uchiha said with malice in his voice.

Uzumaki laughed, pulling the knife out of the booth. "Lighten up, Teme," he said. "Not every woman is like that. So quit shutting them all out!"

Before Uchiha could retort, a beautiful woman stood before them. Her dark tresses, now soaked, were now plastered on her face in waves. Her once classy white top and skirt had long ago become a teenage boy's wet dream. Her heels weren't exactly helping her situation, either.

The woman, who looked about 35, stood between the two bickering detectives. "Are you the detectives that called me?" she asked, wondering how the guys before her could've ever become cops.

Uchiha and Uzumaki both nodded their heads. "Then I presume you must be Kurenai Yuuhi," Uchiha replied. With a nod, he continued. "I'm Detective Uchiha and this is my partner, Detective Uzumaki. We're with the Special Victims Unit."

Uzumaki? Kurenai thought to herself. Hinata, is this the man you left behind? She pulled up a chair and got comfortable. "I take it you wanted to talk to me about Hinata-chan."

"Yes," Uzumaki answered. "What can you tell us about Hinata's personal life?"

Kurenai stared at Detective Uzumaki strangely. I think I understand what made you fall for a guy like him, Hinata, she thought. He gives off a strangely warm aura. You can't help but feel cared about when you're with him. He just seems-

"Do you have anything useful to say, Ms. Yuuhi?" the Uchiha asked, tired of the spaced-out look in Kurenai's eyes.

Kurenai blinked, then blushed. "I'm sorry," she said. "What was the question again?"

Uchiha growled lowly, muttering yet another complaint about women. "What can you tell us about Hyuuga-san?" he asked.

Kurenai sighed, closing her eyes. "Hinata was a woman who was truly in denial of her own feelings," she finally said.

Uzumaki looked at Kurenai strangely. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well," Kurenai began, crossing her legs and leaning back, "she claimed to be a happy single woman. Yet, she never talked about dates, parties or anything even remotely like that. Her sex life was basically non-existent. Not to mention, she sighed a lot whenever we went out and some guy proposed to his girlfriend."

As Kurenai continued, Uzumaki closed his eyes…

"Naruto-kun, what are you so nervous about?" Hinata asked. "You act like we're going out for the first time! What's wrong?"

Naruto blushed, frantically waving his hands back and forth. "Nothing, I swear!" he replied, laughing and scratching the back of his head. "It's just been that kind of day, I guess."

Hinata stared at him. "Don't lie to me," she said. "I can see it in your eyes that-"

"Your cinnamon bun, ma'am," a waiter said, sitting a large pastry in front of Hinata.

Hinata's eyes sparkled. "Thank you very much," she said to the waiter, smiling.

The waiter then turned to Naruto. "Is there anything else I can get you, sir?" he asked, winking at the Uzumaki.

Before Naruto could answer, Hinata made a face. "Oww!" she yelled. "There's something metal in my bun!"

Naruto stood, walking to Hinata's side. "What is it?" he asked her.

Hinata pulled the object out of her pastry, gasping. "A ring?" she asked. "Naruto, what's-"

By that time, Naruto had gotten down on one knee and grabbed her right hand. "Hinata Hyuuga," he began, "will you marry me?"

"Wake up, Naruto!" Uchiha yelled, smacking the Uzumaki's arm.

Uzumaki stared at the Uchiha. "I wasn't asleep," he muttered.

Uchiha smirked, turning back to Kurenai. "I apologize for my partner's behavior," he said. "Getting back to the subject, did she ever mention other friends or anyone that she was interested in?"

"No," Kurenai replied, staring at the Uzumaki once again.

Uzumaki shuddered, feeling like he was being studied. "Um…thank you for your time, Yuuhi-san," he said. "If you think of anything else," he paused to give Kurenai his card, "please give me a call."

Once Kurenai left, the Uzumaki grabbed at his hair. "What in Kami's name did Hinata tell her about me?" he asked. "I felt like I was being examined!"

Uchiha smirked, thoroughly enjoying his partner's discomfort. "Better you than me," he said. "What, were you a lousy lay or something?"

Uzumaki threw a balled up napkin at the Uchiha. "Very funny, Teme!" he yelled.

Uchiha moved the napkin aside, then leaned across the table. "Seriously, though," he began, "how come you never told me you were divorced?"

Uzumaki's aura immediately changed. One couldn't help but feel melancholy once you entered his presence. "It's a sore subject," he finally said with downcast eyes. "I still love her, even after all these years. But one day eight years ago, I came home to three things: an empty closet, her wedding ring on a small pillow, and a note that simply said one word: sayonara."