CHAPTER CORRECTED THANKS TO PRINCESS RIMA FOR HER BETA READ WORK

CHAP 10

Days passed and Christmas was around the corner. The group was meeting up at the orphanage to throw them a special Christmas party. The ninja that are quite familiar with the place now were mixing up with the kids. Shikamaru witnessed that the blond ninja wasn't in his usual cheerful mood. He was still smiling but something was off. He looked around and noticed that his favorite teammate wasn't around. He casually approached the future Hokage-to-be, still wondering why he was putting himself in such troublesome situations.

"So what's happened with Sakura?" He asked, his hand resting in his pockets.

Naruto was taken a back. Was he so easy to read? He thought but decided better to believe that Shikamaru wasn't called the genius for nothing. Maybe he could help. "I wanted to help her and I don't know... she screamed at me and told me to mind my own business... I don't understand what I have done wrong." He answered honestly.

The strategist sighed. "Troublesome women."

Naruto nodded at the comment. Neither of them were able to understand their logic. He plastered a false grin. "I am sure she will get over it soon... she never stays angry with me for long, I will just have to wait I suppose."

The little five year old spotted her favorite person in the world and jumped on him. "Naruto-Nii-Sama!" She called him happily.

For the first time that day, he gave the child a real smile. "Hello Myu-chan!" he greeted her and lifted her up in his arms.

The little girl curiously touched his short hair. "Why did you cut your hair? I liked your hair!"

He looked at her adorable little pouting face. "You don't like me anymore without my hair?" He joked and she kissed his cheek innocently.

"I always love Naruto-Nii-Sama." She declared full of her childlike certitude.

Both men laughed. Shikamaru patted his friend shoulder. "Maybe the younger ones are easier to deal with." He teased.

Hanabi came closer to her big sister and joked: "This kid will have him before you if you keep being a coward."

The taller brunette nodded, she had sworn that she will do her best and she wasn't going to back down today.

XXXX

Sakura was feeling so awful that she couldn't bring herself to go to the Christmas party for the kids and meet him in front of all their friends. She thought about the best way to apologize and wanted to do it in a more private manner. She went to wait near his apartment with a Christmas gift. She had thought that without his longer hair, he might get cold so she bought him an orange cap, his favorite color. He shouldn't be too long as the night was beginning to fall. She heard his name be called and she bend over the railing. Hinata was jogging toward him. They talked briefly and she followed him through the stairs. Sakura looked around. This wasn't part of the plan. She didn't want to explain herself in front of a witness. She jumped to the rooftop and went waiting on the building in front. She will just come after when he will be alone.

From where she was hiding, she was having a pretty clear view of his one bedroom apartment. She saw them entering and Naruto helping her taking off her over-coat. Sakura smiled, Tsunade-sheishou had finally managed to teach him some good manners. She shifted a little to have a better look. His back was turned towards her and Hinata was talking to him a blush spread all over her face.

She realized, a confession. She witnessed the Hyuga heiress crying and she felt somewhat relieved. But Naruto bended over her, hugging her. From where she was, she couldn't hear anything from their conversation. Unfortunately for her, she didn't need the sound to know what's was happening. When her teammate straightened up, she saw the Hyuga heiress going to the tip of her toes to kiss him. What was this broken sound in her chest, this pain that she had believed to never live again? She felt like she was suffocating, she felt like vomiting. This couldn't be happening. She lost her chakra control and lost her balance. She held onto the edge of the rooftop and closed her eyes to retain some treacherous tears. She couldn't bear more of it so she escaped, to barricade herself in her room.

Naruto heard his name being called from behind and saw Hinata jogging towards him. He waited for her and she told him that she wanted to talk to him. The night was beginning to fall and in this winter season, the air was already quite chilly. He offered her to come and talk at his place to be more comfortable, the black-haired girl nodded and followed him up the stairs. She was feeling a knot forming itself with her gut.

Insecure, she entered after him in his small apartment. Her heart beat loudly in her chest when he helped her take off her coat. He was the love of her life and she needed to have the courage to try to stand by his side.

She called him "Naruto-kun", stopping the blabbering of the young man that was offering her to make some tea and inviting her to make herself comfortable. He turned toward her at the call of his name. She was so red that even her ears turned red. It was like she was on the verge of exploding. People can call him dense, naive or whatever... but to him, it was another strange behavior of the timid, weird girl he had always known. But he liked her, just the way she was. She was always trying her best after all. And she blurted it out:

"I love you Naruto-kun! Please go out with me!"

He was shocked.

Suddenly he realized that she was in the exact same situation as him... in love with someone that loved someone else. "Hinata" he said softly. He didn't know how to make it less painful as he knew how painful this situation was for both of them. "I am sorry...".

The Hyuga heiress began to cry hearing those words. "I swear Naruto-kun that I can make you happy... I would do everything to make you happy... I would be whatever you want me to be." She pleaded, the flow of tears running on her pale cheeks.

He knew how she felt and was so sad to make her feel that way. If only he could love her, overcome his one-sided love... at least she would be happy. He hugged her tightly, some compassionate tears escaping his closed eyes, his head buried in her neck.

"I am so sorry." He repeated truly pained to bring such tragic answer.

He did not want to hurt her; he really did care for her. She was his precious friend that has always encouraged him. She had been here by his side in the battle and helped him to hold on for everyone else. This was so unfair that he has to hurt her. So unfair that someone have to suffer because of him.

He straightened up and the look in her eyes brought him in a state of complete confusion. If only he could save her. She pleaded again. "I love you Naruto-kun... give me a chance... I love you so much Naruto-kun."

He didn't know what to say anymore. She went on the tip of her toes and kissed him. The kiss was so desperate that his heart clenched in compassion. If only he could love her that way. If only... she kissed him again. He didn't want to hurt her like he was hurt himself. He let her. He could try. He responded to her kiss. He let her roll her arms against his neck and press her body against his. She was beautiful, intelligent and kind. She loved him and he should be happy for that. He felt her soft breast against his torso. She was really desirable. His blood was turning hot in his veins. She was kissing him all over the face, on his neck. He was certainly blushing as much as she was, confused and excited at the same time. If he could make her happy, may be...

He was a perfectly healthy young man being kissed thoroughly by a beautiful woman. He felt loved. He felt horny. His body was reacting on his own free will. Instinctively his hand roamed over the woman pressed against him. She was so soft. His hands weren't big enough to take hold of her ample breasts. He felt another jolt of excitement, his pants becoming more and more tight by the second. She was moaning so sweetly, it was intoxicating.

He wasn't able to think anymore, they ended up in a mess of limbs on his bed, his kiss as ferocious as her. She was bucking her hips to him, pressing their bodies, pressing their intimate parts together. His eyes were clouded by desire when they parted to breath again. He didn't even realize that he had opened her blouse. He looked hungrily at her bra. She has a body like those sexy-jutsu's, except that she was real. He bent his head towards the offered breast and kissed the delicate skin softly. His fingers slide slowly on the generous curve and tucked down the lace.

His tongue rolled over and over the pink nipple making her arch her back from the ministration. His erection was painfully full and the movement of her hips wasn't getting him any calmer. He felt her hand grip his shirt and he helped her taking it out of the way before returning to her lips. He felt her hand caressing his arms, his chest, his toned abs, and her fingers stopped hesitant on the waistband of his pants. His body was on fire. He panted releasing her mouth again ready to get rid of all of the clothes that are separating them. His eyes plunged in hers.

She looked at him so dearly, welcoming him with her body, with her soul. "I love you Naruto-kun." She repeated and the shock was violent for him.

He was not able to say the same… not in the same manner. He felt so wrong, so terribly wrong. What was he ready to do to his precious friend? Some tears escaped his eyes and fell on her face. He untangled himself and seated on the end of his bed. His back crouched down and his hands in his hair, holding his head down. She had known that he didn't love her the second she confessed to him the first time.

She had hope beyond hope that maybe she could convince him, that her love for him could be contagious. She had hoped and hung onto every bit of hope as he responded to her kiss. She stifled a sob. She loved him so much. His head popped up as he heard her muffled cry. He turned toward her wanting to console her. He wanted to hold her tight to protect her. But he was the one hurting her. So he didn't know what to do.

"Am I not good enough?" She asked wanting to know what she could do.

"No! It's not that! You are beautiful, sweet, and smart! I like you very much... but..." He was searching his words.

"I am not attractive to you?" She whined.

"I would not say that." He looked down at his evident erection making her understand that his body was still very willing to continue on what they were doing before meeting her eyes again. "I can't just do that to you, not like that. I respect you... you are precious to me... I wish I could love you back. Everything would be so amazing if I could do that. You are an amazing person Hinata." He inhaled deeply. "I can't lie to myself, I can't lie to you... I am in love with someone else." It was hard to say, even harder to say to her, hurting her. She nodded. "I am so sorry..." He repeated sincerely when she stood up gathering all onces of energy to not break in front of him.

She loved him so much that she couldn't stand to make him feel guilty. She smiled softly. "I understand... I am fine." She lied.

She put some order to her clothes. He was looking at her with his big cerulean eyes, so full of remorse. Those eyes contained so much emotion all the time; they were never dull or emotionless. She adored them. She adored him; he was such a kind man. She took her leave, he wanted to accompany her but she refused.

He stayed up all night, not able to find any peace. The next day, he went to visit her, not wanting to abandon her harshly by herself. She told him that she was fine, that he didn't need to worry. She assured him that they were still friends, that no matter what, they still have that bond together. She wished him a safe trip and promised to go eat some Ramen with him when he will come back from Suna. And he left.

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