Chapter11: Kawaii, ne?

Snow after rain

Tsunade's office---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hinata with the other jonins were in the hokage's office. Hinata has no idea why did the hokage called her. This morning while Hinata and Sasuke were having peaceful breakfast, Kakashi suddenly popped from somewhere. Since Kakashi became more annoying to Sasuke he usually throws anything on Kakashi. Today, Sasuke had broken two cups.

Hinata giggle while looking at Kakashi who is scratching his head. Tsunade starts the conversation. "Hinata, we would like to congratulate you for passing the year's chunin exam and accelerating to chunin. And because Sasuke became a good mentor to you, I now give his freedom." Hinata did not understand what tsunade just said about Sasuke's freedom. Sasuke can do anything he want to do and it seems that no one's telling him that he should do this and that.

Hinata looked at them and when her gaze came to Kakashi…"Well, you know, the Hokage asked us to observe and follow you two everyday."

"Hinata, about your father…I want to why did you refuse to go back to your clan. I thought that the reason why you want to enter the chunin exam again is to prove yourself to your father? Then why did you refuse?" Hinata shook her head.

"Yes, master that's my first motive but then it change. While I'm with Sasuke I realized something. Now, I want to live by myself even without the clan, the byakugan I'll prove them that I can still become strong for myself. Besides I don't deserve to become a heiress and I think father will be happy if I'm not there."

"I see, now tell me what is your plan?"

"uhm…Master, I…I plan to stay with Sasuke so that I'll be train more and maybe do some missions so that I could rent my own apartment."

"Well then, if that's your decision. You can leave now." Hinata bows at her then leave.

"Hey! Sasuke!" naruto wave at his friend. "Hey! Where's Hinata?"

"Oi! Naruto wait! Oh…Hey Sasuke!" kiba jumped down from akamaru. "Where's Hinata?"

"That's what am I asking him." He turns to Sasuke. "Where is she?"

"Talking to Tsunade."

"I'd just remember today is her birthday."

"Oh! That's great! Hinata became a chunin this year and now today is her birthday!"

"What do you want to tell us?" Sasuke said uninterested but he still asks.

"What are you stupid? Oh…I forgot you are already stupid. What I want to tell you is that why don't you celebrate it?"

"That's just a waste of time and talking to you is more a waste of time." He left.

"He became stupider than ever. Oi! Sasuke wait!"

"Heh! They're both doofus! Let's go now akamaru, shino might be waiting." He rubs his companion's back.

Hinata sneeze. "It's getting colder everyday, what do you think Sakura?" Sakura nod.

"Uhmm…Hinata" Hinata looked at the flowers.

"Sakura, aren't they beautiful?" She giggled and looked at Sakura.

"Uh, Sakura is there something bothering you?" Sakura shook her head.

"No, nothing. Uh, Hinata I want to congratulate you!" they shook hands

"Thank you Sakura"

"You really surprise us. You prove us that you really can change."

This reminds her of something. 'Naruto…can I…can I change…even…just a bit?"

I can really change and that's my thanks to them, To Master hokage, Naruto, Kiba, Shino, My teachers and Sasuke…I'm glad that I have them and they all believe on me.

Hinata snap back to reality when Sakura call her name. Hinata shook her head and said that she's just thinking about what she will cook for their dinner.

"Hinata, you and Sasuke were good couple. You cook for him and do things what a lovely girl do to her beloved man." Sakura teased and because of that Hinata blushed.

"No, that's not true. It's you and Sasuke who really looks like a perfect couple." Sakura giggled.

"Heh! If you said that three years ago I may said that to Ino and laughed at her. But now I won't go after him again and I think that Ino think the same thing. Come on Hinata don't tell me that you don't feel anything on him?" she blush.

"Uh..him?" her face is red

"See your blushing. Or maybe…you still have a crush on that bonehead Naruto? And tell me why did you refuse to go back to your clan, is it Sasuke?"

"Uh…"

"come on Sasuke" Naruto is still bugging Sasuke about celebrating Hinata's birthday.

"No"

"Come on you…" he was stopped when a familiar voice call him.

"Naruto! Sasuke!" it's Sakura. She shouted at them but she is paying more attention to Naruto than to Sasuke. Hinata and Sasuke were looking at each other. Hinata blush more and Sasuke looked at the wall, blushing too.

"Sasuke, Hinata, we need to go. See ya!" Sakura winked at Hinata.

"but…"Naruto said.

"Come on let's leave them."

"O---Okay…" she turn to look at Sasuke.

"Sasuke let's go home too." She smiled at him and move to his side. Sasuke blush more.

"I…I want…Would you…like to take a walk with me?" he became redder than her.

"Uh…Sasuke…you're red are you okay?" she put her hand on his forehead. He take her hand away from his forehead. "No I'm not."

"Oh…sorry…" he start to walk away.

"grr…if I did not listen to that doofus, I may not be blushing like that." He said to himself. A hand clutches his arm and followed by a soft voice.

"Sasuke, I would like to…walk with you."

"O…okay" "why am I so nervous"

The two walk silently feeling the cold winter air. Anytime now the first snow will fall. "It's cold." Sasuke look at the petite form beside him.

'Do you want to go home now?"

"No, it's okay."

"come."

The two sit down in a long narrow seat. They were silent but Sasuke broke the silence. "hinata do you still…like…Naruto?" 'Why did I just ask that?'

"Uh…him? Why did you a…ask?"

"Now how will I answer that?" he said to himself.

"Do…do I…do I need a reason?"

"Oh" she did not answer and Sasuke thought that she would not answer but in his surprise she did. "Na…Naruto, he is only a friend. I only admire him and I like his great determination and fighting spirit. But since I left the Hyuugas, you're the only one who helped me. You became my inspiration. You are strong and just like Naruto, you have great determination to fulfill your dream. But compare to other's you're the only one who really understand me. Sasuke…I…"

The first snow starts to fall slowly. Hinata open her hand and stare at it, letting the cold snow fall in her palms. Hinata close it and looked at Sasuke. "Sasuke I…like you or maybe I feel…something on you more than that. I promise…I'll help you on anything. Sasuke."

Sasuke hug her and she hug back. "Thank you, Hinata. And I'm the same to you." Hinata bury her face to Sasuke's shirt feeling his warm body. He gave her the warm she needed by hugging her tighter she feel safe. "I wont let you get hurt again, Hinata." It's not pity but the real thing he feel for her.

Gomennasai if I can't give you everything,

This unsure feeling will soon be clear

I never thought that I will love someone like this.

Loving her more than myself.

--------Author's note----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next chapter…chapter12: tears

Sorry for a short chapter I promise that I'll edit this and the next chapters when my computer got repaired.

(Otanjoubiomedetougozaimasu!) Naruto's Birthday Oct. 10…Nika-chan's Birthday Oct. 29.

Nika-chan