Preview: They closed their eyes in delight and freedom. The night was theirs, as they held each other close, with the love they had revealed. Boundaries of their life were lost in their minds; all they knew was that they were misplaced in a dream of eternal bliss. As he rubbed her back, and kissed her cheek…..As she wept pure tears, and held him close. They soaked themselves in the night of water, where not a presence of being was in sight to see. Alone and in love, the time has come for them to confess. Who were once just friends have learnt pure love? Could it be the rain….Which binds lost souls….. Erases dire memories……gives pure joy…..and unites lost hearts. Could it have done its magic tonight?
SORRY AGAIN for the very late update. You can see I am a slow writer. But because school is going to close in about 27 days, our teachers are bombarding us with homework (dam teachers, don't you just hate them ) so I have to work all the time. But I am a slacker, so instead I do nothing half of the day, and then sweat myself to death the other half doing homework. Anyways enjoy this chapter. It took me a while to think of an appropriate title because so much happens in it :P
Grown with Grace
A new day has begun, and a new story. Who once were friends, have united their hearts after the one faithful rainy night. Hinata sat on her window sill, wondering how the truth should be told. The hokage and the Hyuga girl's relationship hadn't advanced at that time, but Hinata knew one thing, and that was that she couldn't walk further in life without accepting her feelings. She had decided that she would tell the prince the truth.
Naruto was in his hokage tower, fidgeting with little glass ornaments sitting on his wooden, tall table. Countless work documents sat on the blonde's desk, just sitting to be signed, but the hokage's mind was misplaced some where else. He couldn't believe that he had just sent Hinata and her team to an S class mission. What astounded him even more was why he was strained at such a common thing. Sending them on these S class missions was his daily usual thing, yet now he felt more concerned. He laughed at himself in his mind as Shikamaru stepped into the hokage tower. "Oye, Naruto?? What you dazing off at?" He waved his hand around the blonde's face before Naruto shot back into reality, shouting out an echoing reply, "IT'S HOKAGE-SAMA!!" Shikamaru slouched on his desk as he calmly replied, "Ya very nice. Why is it that when we, Konoha 11 call you Hokage-sama you get so pissed, yet when I call you Naruto you have a fit. I bet you're just trying to act high and superior, H-o-k-a-g-e S-a-m-a." Naruto narrowed his eyes at Shikamaru as he sighed on his desk. "All ways acting cool eh Shikamaru. Anyways…..WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY HIGH AND SUPERIOR?! HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THE STATUS OF HOKAGE?!"
"Have you signed those papers yet?" Shikamaru stated calmly handing him another huge pile. "DID YOU EVEN LISTEN TO ME??" The Nara clan boy turned his gaze to Naruto as he grabbed the blonde's ears with his dominant right hand and rubbed his own head with the other left one, "What a drag, being your assistant really pisses me off. Whats wrong with you lately? I know you are a slacker Naruto, but to an extent only. You have been lost lately. You didn't sign one paper. You're a very troublesome guy you know." Naruto's eyes widened at the question as he twitched his head to the right in a sulky, kiddish manner, "Some assistant. You treat your hokage like a baby. Anyways it's nothing really." Upon saying the last words, Naruto reddened a light color, surprising Naruto himself along with Shikamaru in the back, who stared at his leader with disbelief. After a few brief seconds, it finally hit the genius Nara boy, "You leave this guy out of work for one or two days and he falls in love. I hope he solves his love life quick, or this work would just bundle up more…..But even so, it's startling to know that of all people, this blonde kid has finally fallen in love." Naruto turned his head back to counter the Nara staring at him sweetly with a calm, pleasant smile. The blonde raised his eyebrow at the sudden, strange expression as he waved his hands around Shikamaru's face, "Uh, hello? Shikamaru, you ok?"
"So who is it Naruto?" Naruto blushed all crimson upon the unexpected question, "Who's who?" "Come on. They don't call me boy genius for nothing." Naruto lowered his gaze to his desk as he hesitantly replied, "H-hey get off my case. It's n-no.." Shikamaru patted Naruto's shoulder as he interrupted the hokage's reply, "I think I know already. Listen, I ain't so good with this love stuff but take my advice and take her out somewhere to a preferable place, that possibly she may like"
"So did you like, do that to Temari as well before getting married and all." Naruto wondered. "Well, some what like that." Naruto closened up to Shikamaru as he carried on his questions," What place eh?" Shikamaru rubbed his hair as he timidly answered, "T-the sand village is a place without spa's so—we like went t-o the sp-a together and all." Naruto's eyes bobbed at the answered as he hollered out with a blow. "NO WAY. SO YOU GUYS… DID YOU LIKE IN THE BATH… YOU KNOW….DO THAT?! I ME-" "OK, this conversation is over." Shikamaru interrupted, as he bonked Naruto's head, ending their silly little talk "Listen Naruto, my point is, the girl you like is different from Temari,-"
"How do you know who it is - OUCH"
"Shut up. My point is, well just let her know you care. OK!! And do it quick, or else we might end up calling you the hokage of paper mountains as well!" Naruto flinched on the request and smiled slightly. Yeah Yeah….thanks Shikamaru anyways…even though you try to act cool…. you are thoughtful…hehe. Naruto grinned at Shikamaru as he left the room. After that, the blonde stared out the window, at the huge village in front. That's when he finally got it. A way to make the night pleasurable and fun for all!
The following day, Hinata and her team returned from the wind country after a difficult and stressful S class mission. Bruises, cuts, scars, and all sort of other injuries covered their bodies, but in any case, their lives were in no dead state danger. In plain words, they were just tired! Kiba slouched as Akamaru supported his weight on the journey back, and Hinata straddled the whole way through sighing with her head down. Shino walked the way he did as always, with his hands crossed around his chest. To put it in short, it was Hinata's fault they got so beaten up. During the battle against the five rogue ninjas, she dozed off suddenly, allowing herself to give out an opening for the enemy. Lucky for her, Kiba and Shino blocked the attack before she got hurt. Obviously this made the girl feel guilty, for because of her actions, her team had to suffer a fatal attack, otherwise the mission would have been a cinch. The more frustrating thing was that no one would even taunt her for her mistake.
Usually in such situations, she would get scolded by Kiba before Kiba getting knocked out by Shino. All the tension was getting to her head, as she glared at her two team mates from ahead, walking peacefully throughout the empty desert lands. All of a sudden, Hinata stopped in her tracks causing Shino and Kiba to halt as well. The two boy ninjas gazed back at the Kunoichi, who was staring at the floor with a solemn innocent face. "Ano…..Kiba-kun, Shino-kun...I-I am very….very….." "Sorry, like for what?" Interrupted before ending her sentence, she was now facing the dog boy eye to eye as he held her by her head with one hand, glaring at her curiously. Her eyes widened at Kiba's strange expression, and droplets of sweat began pouring down her face as she mumbled out with pressure. "Uh…you see….i…..uh….sorry?"
"Hinata, like I care what happened in the mission, BUT WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU NOWADAYS?! You just dazed off like that?!" Kiba began screaming in her ear like an immature baby when Shino closened up to him to bonk him on the head. "Ouch! What was that for Shino?!" Shino glared viciously at Kiba as a huge sweat drop plunged of Kiba's forehead. "Uh … oh… what I meant was Hinata, I don't think it's your fault we got hurt. I mean, that has happened to you guys as well too because of my actions in the past? Uh…How many times?" Upon hearing the question, the Kunoichi began counting on her fingers as she replied with a smile, "Eto….About 24 times." A sudden blush appeared on the dog boy's face as he turned his gaze with shame. "It's not… that much you know." "It is." Shino replied. "SHUT UP! Anyways this isn't what we are worried about. It's the fact that you haven't been your self lately. What's bothering you?!" Hinata's eyes widened at the question. She twitched her head to look at Shino, as to her surprise, was smiling at her sweetly.
It had been 4 years since she first had seen Shino smile like that. They were all 16 of age, and Shino had given all he had to protect his team mates, and in exchange for his team mates to retreat, he had shown them his first smile. "Hinata, we are your team mates. Just speak your mind." Shino spoke. Of all the 3, Shino was the most wounded from the mission, as he had taken the main attack. This wasn't the first. This had happened repeatedly before in the past, but even so, he was always calm and quiet. The truth was, there was much more to Shino than it looked. From the outside, it seemed as if he was a mysterious, quiet Aburame, but deep inside, he was a soft, kind caring leader. But even so, he never revealed his emotions; instead showed his appreciation by fighting for his friends. He was like an older brother, which Hinata cared for greatly. He was the one main person before Neji who understood her feelings ever since childhood; achieving strength, reaching her goal and most of all her affections to Naruto. Looking at him wounded like that began making her depressed from inside, as a sudden urge to cry approached her mind. But before she knew it, after looking at him smile, she had forgotten to cry. It annoyed her a bit because whenever she wanted to feel like crying or apologizing for her silly little mistakes, he would always smile so calmly at her, causing her to forget her sadness. He would never let her sadden on his injuries or misfortune. He really was like an older brother. "Kiba, you can let go of her hair now. You're gonna hurt her if you hold any longer."
"Shino! Hey I have enough sense of knowing if im hurting her or not." Kiba tongued at Shino before turning his head to pleasantly grin at Hinata. Hinata smiled back as she stuttered out her answer. "I'm f-f-ine! Hehe. I just dazed off b-because I had happen to see a v-v-ery pretty bird in the sky." Kiba looked at her confused as Akamaru barked at the back happily. Kiba was like her other older brother. He often bugged her on many different things, most notable one being Naruto. Even knowing that, she knew he was kind. He would always help her in a cinch. The most incredible relationship change would be mainly Shino and Kiba's. From being sworn, bickering enemies, they had bonded as best friends somehow. Even though that was true, it was only Hinata and Naruto who could see that bond between them. Mainly because they still bickered on mindless topics such as food, shelter and etc. It was kind of funny for Hinata to watch actually. What surprised her even more was that even though Kiba sensed weird reactions from Hinata often after approaching Naruto, he never seemed to figure out the huge crush she had for Naruto. But she was happy she had ever teamed up with Kiba and Shino. They were like her family.
"Hinata, Lets go now." Shino said from affront. "Hurry up, or we are going to leave you!!" Kiba screamed. She was gazing at them with a lost smile, before she returned back into reality and rushed to her team mates who were meters ahead. "W-w-ait for me!" Kiba patted her back in attempt to push her down as Akamaru licked her face in delight. The dog boy laughed at her sweetly as she hesitantly giggled. There always is one person in the family who is the taunting, bugging type. The mission had lasted long and had made many of them injured; nevertheless, they are still alive and are together. "My little, sibling family," as she always said to herself with a smile.
As they returned to the village, they were taken to the medical department, where they were treated of their injuries. Turned out most of them had already been taken care of by their team leader Shino, so there wasn't much to heal. After some time, Hinata received a message from Neji to come over to her clan house for some important matter. She bet farewell to her team mates as she returned to her household the late afternoon to come upon a visiting by the prince, Hiro Nami. She stood in front the gate for a split second, paralyzed with numerous thoughts, when suddenly a hand reached out to her elbow, pulling her into a nearby room.
"Neji nee-san? What's going on? And why d-did you pull me in here?" Neji smiled at her calmly as he stated, "Hiro-kun decided to come over to pay a visit Hinata-sama. You look stunned there for a second, so I thought I should release that tension from you." Hinata's nerves calmed down as she sweetly thanked her older cousin. She then backed down to sit on her bed as she fidgeted with her fingers. Then, out of nowhere, she felt the touch of her cousin's warm hand, on her head. She raised her head to see Neji, kneeling down on the floor, smiling at her. "Neji nee-san, d-don't you think this is too….early?" Neji brushed her head softly in a brotherly manner as he replied soothingly.
"Well obviously Hinata-sama. I always found it hard to believe that you might be getting married. To me, you still are my little cousin and a young girl. But this is not the real question is it." Hinata's gaze lowered back down as she realized the meaning of his words. "You had a crush on him ever since childhood hmm; it was you who decided to use his inspiration to carry on life. You were discouraged at first, but it was your own say and determination that made you the strong Kunoichi you are today. At first I wanted to speak on your behalf to Hiashi-sama about this matter, but it has always been you who has made your dreams reality. I wanted you to realize it before. Speak what's on your mind Hinata-sama. You can make it happen again." Hinata's eyes widened at her cousin's words. "Speak what's on your mind…" She remembered those words from the day before, as she recalled Shino saying the same. How warm and true.
A smile flashed her face, as it grew and grew. She was happier now, knowing it was her job to change her future once more. To make it the way she likes. To never give up! She rejoiced in a sudden split second as she fell into her cousins warm arms with pure delight. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she happily yelled, "Arigato, Neji nee-san. Hotoni Arigato!" Neji blushed in shock, as he felt the press of his young cousin's breasts against his chest. Yes Neji admitted that Hinata hadn't grown that much in personality and habits. She was still innocent and young, but when it came to overlooking her figure, she had matured a lot. Ya she was his cousin, but isn't it just a normal guy reaction. He would obviously blush when something big and soft touched his chest. Returning back to humanity, Neji tapped Hinata's back softly as Hinata swirled back up. "So, let's get ready to go outside now Hinata-sama." Hinata peered at Neji calmly as she took a huge gulp, "H-hai!" It all comes down to this Hinata, you can do it. Do it! All I have to tell is the truth…why does it seem so complicated…But I can do it….can I?
Neji stared at Hinata, twitching her fingers, as her moods transformed from happy to sad. He could see she was arguing in her mind. The branch clan heir sighed as he watched; a bit hilarious in real. As Hinata sighted her cousin's gaze, she grinned at him babyishly as sweat droplets plunged down her head. "Uh…stress?" Neji laughed elegantly in his normal serious voice as he nodded back. What next will happen in the future to come?
It all comes down to truth from now. With her friend to guide her through, can she make it? Obviously
she can….this is a happy story, it don't go bad bad :P Anyways, it took me time to write this. Please R & R!
