Hitori looked around in wonder and amazement. "It's so big!" she said for the four-millionth time. Akihiro laughed. "Yes, darling, it's just as big as it was the last time you said that." HItori sidled close to him and hugged his arm. "Akihiro-san, are we really going to live here?" she asked for the four-billionth time. He smiled down at her. "Yes, we're going to live here. Just you and me." he reaffirmed. Hitori frowned and looked at the ground. Akihiro frowned too. "Ah, you're still holding out hope for your sister." he said troubled. A single silver tear slipped down HItori's cheeks. "I never stopped believing in her. It's been three years, and all the time I hoped..." she stiffled a sob. Akihiro cupped her face in his hands and made her look at him. "Hitori, we've been through this. I don't doubt that your sister did everything she could. But...but you have to think of the possability that she..." Hitori nodded. "I know. You're probably right." she said defeated. Akihiro wrapped Hitori in his arms. "Forget about it, Hitori-san. That life is behind you now. We'll be married soon an you'll be a new woman."
Hitori burried her face in Akihiro's shoulder. "Akihiro-kun.' she murmured.
"Naruto-kun." Hinata murmured. Naruto had finished his Ramenand the two of them were in the park under a tree, cuddling. Naruto made a trail of kisses from Hinata's temple to her neck. Hinata grew redder the lower he went. He stopped when he reached her collarbone and chuckled. He straightened up and looked at her. "Hinata-chan. I've never felt this way before." he said, eyes sparkling. Hinata looked down and twidled her fingers. "N-Naruto-kun..." she said breathlessly. He cupped her cheek in his hand and turned her head toward him. His eyes burned. "HInata-chan. You've loved me for a long time...haven't you?" he asked. Hinata grew bright red. "N-Naruto-kun.!" she said shyly. Naruto positioned himself to kneel beside her and looked her in the eyes. "Please, HInata-chan, I want to know. How long have you loved me?" he persisted gently. Tears sprung from Hinata's eyes as she looked deeply into Naruto's big blue eyes. "Do remember a long time ago when those boys were bullying me? And you came over and stopped them?"
Naruto looked shocked. He remembered. Hinata had been so fragile and shy back then. Some stupid boys were making fun of her and Naruto had told them to buzz off. They got into a huge fight and Naruto was knocked out. When he woke up, everyine was gone. "You mean...way back then?" he questioned. Hinata dried her eyes and continued. "After that day...I was always wanting to reach out to you and be your friend, but I was too shy. " She looked up at the sky. "And then, it happened again, much later. At the chunin exams" She closed her eyes. "Neji-nii-san was saying such awful things...I started to give up hope." She looked at Naruto, eyes half closed and full of joy. "But then you told me I could do it. You beleived in me. And that's when I fell in love with you. " she said softly.
Naruto looked at Hinata, amazed. Tears pricked at the back of his eyes. He smiled. "I'll never forget the first time someone beleived in me." he said in a choked voice, "It made me turn my whole life around...To think that I did the same for you..." He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, cupping his hand behind her head. Hinata didn't hesitate a moment this time. She threw her arms around Naruto's neck.
"Come one, guys, let's leve them alone." Tenten said as she walked away. Ino sat shell-shocked. 'Gosh, I never realised how alike those two were." she whispered awestruck. Shikamaru stuck his hands in his pocket and walked off, looking as though he were concentrating on something. Choji had left long ago in serch for food. Lee had gone off to train with Gai. Sakura sat beside Ino, staring at the ground. She had calmed down considerably and she now sat deep in thought. Ino looked over at her, concerned. "Hey are you alright?" she asked. Sakura ran her fingers throuhg her hair. "I'm fine." she replied. Ino looked away. "You'll find that too, you know." Ino said. Sakura scoffed. Ino stood up. "You will. And until then, you have me." she said, facing away from her. Sakura looked up at Ino dumbfounded. She watched as Ino walked away.
Akihiro was negotiating with a local farmer so Hitori wandered around aimlesly. She was looking around at the various shops when a woman came up and tapped her on the shoulder. "Excuse me, Hitori-san?" The woman asked. Hitori looked puzzled. "Yes." She confirmed. The woman smiled, "I have a message for you from Hokage-sama." She took a small scroll from her belt and handed it to her. Hitori thanked her and untied the scroll. As she read, her eyes widened. She dropped the scroll and looked at the woman, tears welling in her eyes. "Can you please direct me to the hospital." she choked.
Hinata walked home with a smile plastered on her face. Today had been a dream come true. Naruo loved her. Everything was right with the world. Just a few block from home, she heard someone calling her. She turned around to see Ino running toward her with with a paniked look on her face. "Ino-san, what is it?" Hinata asked, worried. "Neji-san attacked Naruto-kun!" she panted. Hinata gasped. Ino grbbed her hand. "You have to come! Hurry!" Ino gasped as she pulled Hinata along. Hinata's movements were all automatic. Her mind was numb. "W-what happened?" she asked brethlessy. "He just attacked! He came out of nowhere!" Ino explained. Hinata felt fear, panic, anger, and sorrow rise in her all at once. Naruto and Neji. The two boys that meant the most to her and now she'd have to choose which one to defend.
Takano was restless. It had only been an hour or two since she had seen her sister out the window by chance, but it seemed like a lifetime later when Tsunade came back. She slowly opened the door and peeked in. She smiled at Takano. "I have something for you." she said kindly. She ducked out and opened the door wider. A slim, brown haired figure slowly entered the room. Hitori's saphirre eyes locked with Takano's emeralds. The Hitori gasped and rushed over and threw her arms around her sister. The sibblings sobbed into eachother's shoulders. "I thought I was dreaming when I saw you." Takano wept. Hitori was beside herself. She just cried and hugged Takano tight.
