Let's Back Up
By Vi
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Hinata fidgeted nervously as she looked at herself in the mirror. The mesh-jacket like thing that Ino had got her was literally made from materials that would have made a better tea strainer than a wearable garment.
It wasn't really a jacket, what could she call it—a sweater that left NO room for imagination?
It literally was painted on her, and Kurenai's words floated in her ear as she stared at her figure. "Wear something your comfortable in…"
She looked down at the fabric and simply shook her head… if she was going to dress up, she might as well dress up in something she felt confident in. She simply looked ridiculous in this.
Scandalous and sexy just wasn't her look and she nodded to her reflection before peeling the material off and diving back into her small collection of formal dresses in her wardrobe.
"Too stiff." She lifted a purple Kimono, and pushed it aside. She then found a box and lifted it open to frown yet again to find a black yukata.
"Too morose."
She went through what seemed like every single yukata and kimono that was in her stack of formal wear boxes.
Why couldn't her family just buy dresses like other families?
Why is she dressing up anyway? It's simply a meeting with Naruto about exchanging secrets… maybe the slightly romantic way of inviting her to the meeting via letter was what's driving her so insane about looking prettier.
She sighed, almost loosing hope when a thought struck her.
Her mother's collection.
Her father's new and only praise toward his eldest daughter was that she was the spitting image of her mother. And how right he was, if Hinata was to look at her mother's picture, it would be slightly eerie how many attributes she carried.
The lovely raven hair and the full lips, along with the dark lashes that fitted perfectly alongside the flawless lavender eyes. Hinata was never saw herself as remarkable—but she was slowly resembling the very woman who was said to be the legendary Hyuuga beauty.
Maybe Hinata herself wasn't sure what style attributed to her looks, but surely—her mother, who was raised by a main family that loved and cared for her happiness, would surely know how to please herself with fine silks and dresses.
She pursed her lips and slowly rose to her feet, tip toeing across her now disastrous room that was littered with Kimono-boxes before entering the hallway, looking extremely nervous and very guilty along the way. It was a marvel that she wasn't stopped by a relative, she looked especially dangerous as she nervously checked her surroundings before entering her mother's main storage room.
The room was dark, murky, and extremely dusty, with a hint of mildew stink in the air. She hated it there, but with the new mission drilled into her mind, she knew exactly what to do. With her Byakugan activated, she trudged through all the junk to a trunk that looked like it was filled with fabrics.
It wasn't long till she was opening the trunk using blunt force and sighing at gorgeous colors and fabrics underneath.
Thank goodness the clothes weren't harmed with the dust or the mildew smell, it seemed the Hyuugas elders were smart about something, and actually kept some sort of special herbs inside the robes to keep any moths away from the beautiful dresses.
Dresses—not kimonos, but a sweet, long blue dress seemed to stare up at Hinata the minute she kicked the trunk open.
She sighed as she lifted it up—the fabric was stretchy, but the style was very modest—even if it hugged her curves, it would make sure not to flaunt too much cleavage or keep her legs feeling overly-exposed. She only had to look to the trunk's left to see a matching pair of sandals. She showed her outward delight by squealing—actually squealing. She hadn't squealed since she was eight.
She didn't even bother to change in her room—she stripped and pulled on the dress right then and there—pulling the cute matching sandals on and rushing to a nearby mirror that was covered half-heartedly with a dusty sheet.
A content sigh hummed in the air as she twisted her upper body to see how the dress complimented her figure. It was simple, clean, and breezy—everything Hinata loved in clothing. Perfect.
Hinata mentally thanked the trunk of clothes before quietly shutting it. She promised herself to check the trunk again later…if she ever had another date with Naruto.
When Hinata walked down the street to the arranged meeting place with Naruto, she was glad that she looked like she was simply enjoying the wonderfully sunny day outside in her mother's lovely summer dress. She wasn't much for explaining to familiar faces that she was obviously dressed up for a date. The dress was very casual, and very her…nobody would think it would be weird…would they?
"Da-amn."
Hinata jumped and whirled around to see a group of slightly older Chuunin males looking her up and down from a distance. They grinned when they saw Hinata's shocked face and waved their eyebrows and fingers cheekily.
Blushing madly and suppressing a smile, she turned back toward the road.
That was the first time she got a two-syllable 'damn' by anybody.
Then again, she never dressed up before…not like this.
She then felt dread as she saw the Academy clear in her view. She would feel slightly crushed if Naruto didn't say anything…she'd actually feel worse now that she got a positive comment from total and complete strangers. How awkward would that be if he did compliment her, though? Would it seem like she was asking for a date?
Her train of questions were forced to come to a screeching halt as she saw a very nostalgic sight at the entrance of the Academy.
She pushed the gate open very slowly, her eyes never left the sight of a lone hyperactive ninja sitting on a simple swing. She couldn't help but smile, remembering that he used to go to the swing as his small corner of solitude when he was a child. It was a swing that nobody dared to go near once he touched…but it was also a safe place to sit—angled in such a way that the teachers could spot if he was being bullied. At the same time, the swing offered something to do, and a wonderful place to daydream freely.
On top of that, the swing was angled—in such a way so that you could see the top of the Hokage monuments.
Hinata always wondered if that was one of the daydreams that Naruto dreamed of while in the Academy.
She didn't need to call out for him, for he heard her entering once the gates clattered shut behind her.
She smiled and waved just as he froze momentarily before offering her a sincere smile of his own—picking himself off of the swing and walking toward her casually with his hands in his pockets.
"Hinata." He was now freely looking her up and down. "I've never seen you in a dress before."
Hinata was proud that she didn't blush so hard, this time. "It's my mothers."
"It's really pretty—I mean, on you." Naruto coughed when he realized his throat suddenly felt dry
An immediate smile gracing her features that she couldn't properly hide by simply ducking her head closer to her chest—Naruto grinned openly as well, as Hinata blushed and fidgeted nervously.
"I'm just telling the truth." He said with a shrug, "You don't have to look so embarrassed." He laughed at the last part and made a bold move, as he lifted her chin.
This only embarrassed her more, and a healthy blush dusted her cheeks—her eyes cast downward to keep them away from Naruto's observant gaze.
When his stare lasted for a split second longer than it should have, Hinata finally lifted her gaze from the ground to Naruto's eyes. Where, she was shocked to be instantly drowning in his azure blue pools.
"N-Naruto-kun?"
"Huh? What?" Naruto shook out of his strange trance. "Wow, sorry." He jumped back, his hands tucked securely behind him and away from Hinata's face. "I stopped—thinking, for a second."
'Me too.' Hinata said to herself, mentally.
"Anyway—oh! I'm thinking, after we tell our secrets, we can head out to eat. How does that sound?"
Hinata blushed and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"That sounds wonderful."
She blinked in surprise when Naruto grinned and a blushed for a split second himself before he ran toward the swing and sat on it. He patted the open space next to him.
Hinata calmly walked toward the swing, and was surprised at how much space there still was for another person, and nervously settled her self down next to him—their thighs touching. It didn't seem to bother Naruto very much though, as he grinned at her.
"You ready?"
"For—?"
He pushed off the ground and the swing was suddenly pushed up into the air. Hinata's instant reflex made her grip the swing's rope, while her free hand managed to loop around Naruto's closest arm. Before she could even blush and faint at her position—she was enjoying the calming and relaxing breeze as the wind played with her hair and the swing pushed both Naruto and Hinata back and forth.
"So, like I was saying, secrets." Naruto said, almost in a business-like manner.
"I'm listening." Hinata said, though she was just extremely marveled at how fun swinging was. Was this her first time? She looked around almost eagerly—she was even surprised at how high it came up before it went down.
"I'm the container of the Kyuubi." He said bluntly, waiting for the impact of his words. It didn't come right away—and he frowned, "And…I understand if you don't want to be my backup anymore, Hinata?"
Hinata snapped back at him with a smile he'd never seen her wear before. "Look, Naruto-kun! You can see the Hokage monuments!"
Naruto stared at Hinata. Why was he doing that more now? He was just so shocked to see how bright she looked—everything about her seemed more…intense all of the sudden. Even her cuteness seemed to be magnified.
But that smile must've done something, for his seriousness slipped from him that split second he saw a flash of what looked like dimples on her cheeks.
Hinata had dimples?
Cute.
"I know." He said, transfixed by her brilliant smile. "It's great…"
"The Fourth Hokage, especially." Hinata said, not realizing she was talking free of her stutters. "I always thought he looked so much like you." She trailed off as she stared off—giving a good view of her lovely profile.
Kurenai-sensei's question suddenly trickled into Naruto's mind.
"Do you like Hinata?"
Naruto licked his lips.
He could honestly say, that yes—he liked her.
The other question that followed that one—the one about having sex with Hinata… it was suddenly repeating itself in an endless cycle in his mind.
He snapped out of his perverted mode and felt the breeze still and noticed that he and Hinata were high enough to see the top of the Fouth's eyes.
"You're right… he does kinda look like me."
"Right?" Hinata said. "Maybe that's why he sealed the kyuubi into you."
Naruto snapped his gaze toward Hinata. "How did you know that?"
"Hm?" Hinata turned to look back at Naruto, and her shynes returned quite quickly as a blush painted her face. "I-I thought everybody knew that now."
"No." Naruto shook his head. "Not everybody."
"Oh…Well, I think I found out…on my own. Around the same time you went off to train with Jiraiya-sama."
"Wow." Naruto said, quietly impressed. He slowly felt himself daydreaming again, watching Hinata as she enjoyed the breeze the swing provided.
"I never knew swinging could be so fun." Hinata blurted out. "I think this may be my first time."
"WHAT? Seriously?" Naruto gaped.
"I- I didn't play much when I was a kid. I only remember training."
"That's why you're so good at martial arts." Naruto smiled, but frowned when Hinata only sighed.
"Barely. I was always finding excuses to play… I never practiced as hard as Hanabi or Neji."
"But you were a kid! It's normal! And healthy."
"I can see that now, but—" Hinata sighed, "I used to think I was such an odd-ball when I was younger. I felt like the only one being singled out…and downcast…"
Naruto stared at her.
"Swinging is nice." She repeated, a smile on her lips again as she slowly turned toward Naruto.
He turned toward her and nodded, enjoying the silence that quickly encompassed them. He then seemed to finally realize the warm arm that looped around his. He smiled at how Hinata's fingers curled around his sleeve cuffs.
"Is that all the secrets you wanted to tell me?" Hinata asked.
Naruto shrugged, "That was the main one, yeah. I guess I could tell you that I want to be Hokage, but I'm guessing that's no secret."
Hinata laughed softly. "No."
"How about one of your secrets?"
"Hmmm," Hinata pondered aloud, "Ok…"
"You don't have to, if you don't want to."
"No, no… I thought about this… all right. I once ran away from Konoha."
"You—You WHAT?" Naruto gaped.
"Yeah." Hinata nodded, "It was just before my second Chuunin exam. I had a very nasty fight with my father, and he said some things…things that still hurt…"
"What did he say?"
"It's not important."
"I wanna know anyway."
"He said… the usual things to me, that I was weak, and when I fail in the upcoming Chuunin exam… that I would be officially marked as a branch member. I told him I was definitely going to pass, and I wasn't going to let his words hurt me… but it was all an act. I remember packing my things, and running away… only to finally snap out of it, and rush back to Konoha to my team. My team needed me." She smiled, "It made me feel better, that even if my father didn't think I was crucial in our clan… that my teammate did…in a way they became my second family."
She looked over to Naruto and instantly regretted telling her secret.
"Oh Naruto, I'm so sorry—" she blurted out, realizing this must hit him hard—reminding him of Sasuke Uchiha.
"It's ok." Naruto said, he looked up with a genuine smile. "Really. I'm—I'm really glad you told me this."
Hinata felt her arm—the one looped around Naruto, to receive a sudden squeeze. Her fingers were now laced with his and when she looked up, she saw Naruto's blushing face again.
"I want you to know… that when we're married." He paused, "I will never make you unhappy. I'll make sure you'll never want to run away."
Hinata smiled, "I know you wouldn't."
"Yeah." Naruto said softly. "You know me too well, Hinata-chan."
"I- I'm sorry I brought it up. It must be hard. Without Sasuke-san."
"No… No, I'm fine. Really." Naruto said, "I mean—he chose to do it, and he didn't realize that his team was there for him. I wish… I wish he could have snapped out of it, like you did."
"I'm sure he's already realized what great friends he left behind." Hinata looked down to stare at her hand that was linked with Naruto's. "I'm pretty sure Orochimaru isn't great company compared to you and Sakura-san."
Naruto chuckled in agreement. "Hopefully."
Suddenly, a loud grumbling sound filled the air just as the swing swung toward the ground.
"Someone's hungry." Hinata smiled over at Naruto. "Lunch?"
He grinned at her while digging his heels on the ground for the swing to stop. "My treat!"
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To be continued~!
(A/N: I just added the 'two-syllable' damn part, because I had to pack away my favorite summer dresses while I wrote this chapter. I was very sad *sigh* i miss their warm splendor...until next year when the sun can actually warm my toes! But on the brighter note; I just LOVE sweaters, hoodies, and turtlenecks! Autumn is totally MY season. Horrah for food and leaves!)
