Chapter Six - Reality

Hinata saw Neji outside her bedroom before she heard him slide open the shoji screen and enter quietly. Hinata, her byakugan activated, was sitting on a cushion facing away from the entrance her visitor had chosen to take. She managed to clamber to her feet to greet her cousin, only to tumble to the ground no more daintily that would a rag doll. Neji made his way swiftly over to his cousin and knelt quietly next to her helpless figure, one hand on either side of her body. Hinata gazed up into the pair of clear grey eyes hovering above her face before turning her head sideways in an attempt to escape their unwavering stare. Seconds later however, her eyesight was inhibited by a cloud of dust and a strange 'poof' sound reached her ear that was not positioned on the floor. Hinata turned her head towards Neji in bewilderment, as though he would be able to explain what had just occurred. However, the clear grey eyes she had expected to meet were now a terribly familiar dark blue. Naruto. Naruto! Hinata let out a wail of anguish and attempted to crawl out from beneath him. Sliding backwards in a crab-like manner, her face burning, Hinata placed her hand on a scroll. It rolled out from beneath her hand and caused her to collapse once more onto her back, splayed out on the tatami mat, in her Western-style flannelette pyjamas. She didn't understand how it had come to be that Naruto was sitting in her bedroom; all that she cared to confirm at the moment was that he was actually there. Daring to open her eyes for a millisecond, Hinata caught a flash of orange hovering above her dishevelled form. What…what should I do? Hinata panicked, her eyes closed tightly. She contemplated simply remaining on the floor, her eyes firmly closed until Naruto grew tired of the situation and decided to leave. Maybe she could manage to pretend she was asleep? Yes, she would try that. Naruto grasped her hand. Too late. Hinata's immediate reaction was to create a fist. However this time, seemingly against her will, her hand soon relaxed into the warmth of another. She allowed herself to be helped to her feet, and was soundlessly guided out onto the icy veranda. What was this? What was happening?

"It's happening!" cried Hinata croakily into her futon. "It's real!"

Knock, knock.

Hinata was awoken by the sound of two sharp knocks on her bedroom door. Slowly, she pushed away her lumpy quilt cover and peeled lengths of her raven-coloured hair from the back of her sweaty neck. The excitement she had left her bedroom with that morning was nowhere to be found. In fact, the vivid dream she had just experienced had caused her to feel even worse, if that was possible. Upon returning to her familiar squalor after the events of the morning, Hinata had hastily removed Shino's coat (she had released the transformation jutsu) and clambered into bed wearing her usual stained and oversized pyjama shorts and t-shirt. Assuming it would be a family member who had come to see her, Hinata did not bother to change before opening her door.

"K-Kiba-kun!" Hinata squeaked in utter horror.

Kiba was standing in the hallway and appeared slightly confused and worried as he gazed at his wretched-looking team member. He also seemed to be standing quite far away from the threshold into Hinata's bedroom. Hinata felt her face prickle uncomfortably. It was the smell.

"Hinata…what is going on Hinata?"

Hinata could not think of a suitable reply. Instead, she felt bold enough to ask Kiba a similar question.

"Kiba-kun…why have you come here?" Hinata questioned meekly.

"Well…I actually came to deliver a message from Kurenai-sensei," Kiba replied, staring determinedly at the ground, slightly embarrassed by the way in which he had discovered his friend.

"Oh? Ah…I see…"

"Well, Hinata-san, Kurenai-sensei has asked her friend to come to speak with you for a short while. If you are alright with that, I mean," finished Kiba.

"Oh…well…yes, please tell Kurenai-sensei that there was no need to ask! To send her own friend here to see me…she must…she must be…" Hinata hesitated.

Kiba sighed. "She is very worried about you Hinata… We all are," Kiba stated. Then, losing all pretence he continued recklessly, "Hinata! Can't you just tell us what is going on?"

Hinata blinked in swift succession as she attempted to combat the tears that were threatening to escape her large eyes.

"I…I c-can't," she choked.

Hinata expected Kiba to glare determinedly in the other direction, but instead he continued to glare at her face as she tried in anguish not to burst into tears. He squinted slightly and cocked his head. Finally he relaxed his face and sighed once more.

"Well," he said, turning on his heel. "I honestly hope that I see you soon…I…we…we miss you!" Kiba exclaimed hurriedly, his cheeks pink, before running away down the corridor.

Hinata listened to the sound of his moving feet growing softer and softer as he moved further away from her. She turned and closed the door to her bedroom, sinking into a heap on the floor against the wall, her face in her grimy hands.

A/N: The next chapter is going to be quite major! Hopefully, you will also find it amusing in a very Naruto way! Unfortunately, I cannot see the LeeSaku relationship playing a major role in this story. Just a tiny one towards the end! It will not be explored in depth. However there is plenty more to develop in regard to Hinata and Naruto!