Chapter 6: Friends

His hair caught the sunlight like it always do; sparkling. Hinata had a hard time reading his face as he ruled over her like she was worthless trash. Though, she was glad he came before she had been alone too long. Even if he came to yell at her, she was glad she wasn't all alone. Hinata had this habit to beat up herself mentally when she was lonely. She would start to believe everything her father told her; that she was worthless, useless and helpless... and she would hate herself for that. It would feel like her chest has a black hole filled with darkness, and it would eat up more and more of her. But she would at the same time feel so heavy, like the whole world's burden lies on her shoulders. Then she would start crying for real, even though it wouldn't help at all.

But she wasn't alone now, because Naruto stood there and watched her crying. 'What does he think of me?' Hinata asked herself. Through her swollen, tearful, lavender eyes she could see him start to get a sadden expression. Hinata tried to wipe her tears away from his sight, but new ones appeared anyway. Her shirt was soaked so she gave up the wiping. Now, she wasn't sure what she cried for as liquid rolled over her cheeks. She suddenly felt something else on her flushed cheek. It was warm and soft and gentle and... caressing. She recognised Naruto's touch and lifted her head a little to look at him. He had knelt down in front of her, like he was her shield against the rest of the world. Then, without a word, he carefully placed his other hand on her other cheek. Hinata could feel her heart beat faster and heavier in her chest, but she was unsure about the reason.

Naruto used his thumbs to wipe Hinata's tears away while still holding her head. Instead of crying, Hinata had started to hick sobs. She held onto her silver flute around her neck like it was a cross. "I... I... I-I'm... ah-" she tried, but Naruto shook his head lightly without losing her gaze.

"You don't need to say anything, Hinata," he told her and took place beside her on the bench. He let go of her head and suddenly embraced her. Hinata's eyes went wide and her heart trembled. She had never been hugged by someone except her family before, at least not by a guy her age.

But even so, she felt like she needed it. She needed someone to help her; making her feel better. It felt like he made the darkness smaller. It was still there, but with Naruto so close... it seemed to be almost gone. His chest was also warm, like the rest of his body. It felt so welcoming to Hinata, a feeling she had never experienced before... It felt like a home. Not her new or old home, but like a place she would always belong to. It was different from being embraced by her sister or her cousin. ...Her father had never embraced her...

With that thought she grabbed hold of his cloths and held him closer to her. She hid her face into his chest and kept sobbing quietly. After awhile Naruto silently asked her: "What's wrong, Hinata?"

Like on instinct she clenched her fists even harder into his shirt. "I... I... I d-didn't w-want... want you t-to know..." Her voice shook again. "None of you..."

Naruto carefully pushed her away from him. Still, they sat very close to each other. Hinata let it happen, even though it hurt her deeply. He shook her shoulder, making her look up to his eyes. 'They sparkle as well?' Hinata thought amused. "What didn't you want us to know?" he asked her serious but caring.

She blinked and then turned her gaze to the ground again. "I... I wanted a chance to be... just me. I wanted people to know me before they judged me for being... a Hyuga. I know my family have pretty bad reputation here, so I knew I would get it as well, right away when you guys got to know my identity. I just wanted to be... accepted... before you knew." Hinata took a deep breath before looking up at the blue sky. She would never tell him, but Naruto's eyes could even put the sky to shame. "I've never tried to hide it before, though. I didn't need it. Before, I had giant walls protecting... or keeping... me from the outside world. So I never knew someone else outside the gates really well." She smiled. It wasn't because she enjoyed being a prisoner in her own house, but because she finally was free from it. Still, she had that condition...

"Do you mean it?" Naruto asked in a somewhat weird voice. She looked back at him, but he turned away from her. Like he was annoyed or... embarrassed.

"What?" she asked him.

"I mean the fact that you were afraid of your family's reputation!" he answered, turning back to her. This was very close. Even Hinata knew that. It was briefly five centimetres between their faces. Both of them blushing, Hinata nodded quickly. She didn't know why but she just could look away from his eyes. It was like an ancient instinct buried deep down in her; she was not allowed to move... except forward.

'Kissing.'

Hinata swooped herself backwards without another thought. She still didn't manage to look away from the brilliant blue eyes. Naruto seemed unaffected by her sudden move as he, too, didn't stop staring at the other one.

Hinata: 'What did he ask me? Oh no, my face is flushing again. Was we really about to...?'

Naruto: 'Did we almost...? Wha... eh... I... I... ah... huh?'

Hinata choked once and finally looked ashamed at the grass under the bench. "Just what did you... ask me, Naruto?"

She could feel his glare burn into her skull. Then she heard him laugh awkwardly, and looked up at him. He scratched the back of his head and now, he was embarrassed for real. "I honestly don't remember! Sorry Hinata."

She made a face and then sighed softly. "I guess it can't be helped, then. By the way, shouldn't you go back to class?" Hinata questioned the blonde.

His smile vanished with the soft breeze. He once again got a saddened look in his beautiful eyes. Hinata tilted her head to the side, wondering what kind of memories he must have been lost in for spacing out like that all of a sudden.

"No," he said at last. "They don't bother if I'm gone. They're used to it."

Hinata swooped a little closer to him and lightly pat his knee. "Would you tell me about it?" He raised an eye-brown suspiciously. "You listened to me, so why can't I listen to you?" she tried to encourage him, but to no use. She understood the light side about this topic was long lost and forgotten.

"I don't do very well in school. That's all," he muttered.

Hinata was confused at first, but then they heard someone scream "HINATAAAAAA!" from the school entrance. They looked over and saw the same brown haired girl who had asked about Neji, looking around for them. Naruto started waving energetic.

"OVER HERE, TENTEN!" he shouted, forming a megaphone with his hands. She looked at him and then started running full speed. It looked like Tenten was about to throw her arms around Naruto at first, but she literally stumbled over him and threw herself at Hinata, tackled her to the grass with the brunette upon her.

She looked excited at Hinata, so excited it scared her. "Hinata, tell me; how was Neji as a kid? Have you even seen him naked? Is he always so quiet? Why did he hug you? Are you two close? Has he ever smiled? What if-"

"Tenten!" Hinata exclaimed, cutting her off. Tenten placed her hands on her mouth and giggled. Hinata sighed and struggled to get up. Tenten offered her hand and helped her up. Together, the three of them sat down on the bench; Hinata and Naruto at the sides with Tenten in the middle. "Can you please ask me one question at a time?" Hinata said.

"Hey, you three!" a female voice called behind Naruto. She had pink hair, green eyes, and wore matching cloths. It was Sakura.

"Hey Sakura! I was just about to ask Hinata about Neji," Tenten said and turned back to the dark haired, young woman. She was about to say something, but stopped herself. Hinata could clearly see that she thought hard to find the right question. Her face lit up. "How is it to live with Neji?"

Hinata blinked surprisingly. "Eh... normal, I guess. But it was a hell to share bedroom with him a period," Hinata sighed and rolled her eyes.

Tenten moved closer with an unbreakable curiosity. She nodded energetic. "Why?"

"Because he snores like a freeway in the afternoon-rush!" she exclaimed. It was a quick moment of silence before Naruto burst out laughing with Sakura tagging along right afterwards. Hinata could only smile of the new feeling of friendship staring to form. It was like the invisible bond the three friends shared, suddenly wrapped around Hinata as well. Then, the strangest thing happened, at least that was how Hinata looked at it. Sakura's laughter went over to small scream; like when a girl suddenly faces her favourite rock star of all times at the street. Naruto stopped laughing as well and turned to stare at something behind Hinata. Tenten only rolled her eyes.

Hinata looked confused from one friend to another. Then she heard the voice say in way to much disbelief to match the character: "Hyuga?"

Hinata jumped up from the bench, scared by being called her surname. But she hadn't been called that in years, and only one person outside the Hyuga gates had nick-named her that. She moved her glance slowly to the boy... no guy, he wasn't a boy anymore. He had a dark blue shirt and, like Naruto, dark jeans. His hair was duckbutt-formed and black, and his eyes were much colder than before. He stood a couple meters behind her with a shocked expression. Hinata didn't hesitate at all. She gave a huge grin. "Uchiha!" she said happily and gave him a friendly hug. Those others didn't quite understand how fast she had moved. Sasuke hugged her back for a moment and Hinata let him go. "It's been so long! How are you?"

Hinata guessed he was about to say something gloomy, but then he saw Hinata's silver flute shining in the sunlight around her neck. He carefully reached out a hand and held it between his index and thumb while he studied it closely. "Your mother's?" he asked her silently, but the other three hear him anyway.

Hinata got captured by old memories about her mother. How her smile always made her day and how much Hinata loved her more than anything in the whole world. Her mother had always been there for her. She nodded.

"How is she? Still liked to the bed?" he guessed without any humor. Sasuke, of all people, knew how it had been for Hinata at that time. She had, with six-year-old Sasuke right beside her, seen her mother in unbearable pain.

Hinata's face darkened. She looked at nothing in particular and her voice sounded... empty. "She died eleven years ago."