Merry Christmas, everyone! Or Happy Hanukkah, I don't discriminate.
Hey guys! I haven't posted two chapters in the same month in quite some time. I was considerably less busy this December, and figured I'd use some of the free time I've been granted to get another chapter out there for you all. I just got my new computer and she's a beauty, so hopefully I'll be able to have my updates out sooner than before. I'm making no promises though.
Thanks once again to Serious Sam for editing this chapter! That guy is a Christmas miracle, I'm tellin' ya, because without him this chapter wouldn't be posted right now. To hell with Obito, you're the coolest guy, Sam.
Before anything else though, I'd like to thank everyone for over five-hundred followers, which was my goal when I began writing this story. It means more to me than you could know. I'm truly honored by your support. Hopefully I can make it to the end of this thing without disappointing anyone too much, yes?
I also wanted to point out that I edited a few segments in the last chapter, namely a few moments where it changes from first to third person. I also changed when the next date will occur. I've chosen the next night because if not, I'd either have to skip an entire day or add a pointless filler chapter to make things work. This is a minor detail change, and one that I feel readers will appreciate. Plus it means the next date comes next chapter. Hooray!
I'd like to let you all know beforehand that this chapter feels like a 'filler'. Wait! Don't close the tab yet! I can explain why. You see, a lot is coming up – Gaara's wedding, the kage summit, another date, Naruto's birthday, a few more things I can't say yet and all of the romantic development that is still to come, including the eventual lemon. So, I figured that before every chapter becomes something very important, I'd throw something in just for fun. But like any of my filler chapters, this still has its important moments. So think of it as less of a filler chapter and more of a 'set-up' for future ones.
Please don't take this chapter too seriously, and thanks for reading! Please enjoy!
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I rubbed my fingers together in the pockets of my new – well, new to me at least, and apparently very stylish orange coat, trying to warm my hands as I neared the end of the street that led away from the Hokage's residence. My cheeks ached; not because of the brisk autumn air, but because of the smile that had occupied my features from the moment I had left until now.
My footsteps made a soft tapping noise that could barely be heard over the sound of my pounding heart. I tightened my hands around the fabric of the jacket and did my best to calm my breath. I swallowed heavily and stopped moving, pressing my back against the comfortingly warm surface of a nearby shop. Whatever they were making inside was creating a wonderful, sweet-smelling scent. I ignored the intoxicating aroma and allowed myself a much needed moment to relax.
I struggled to stop grinning, to stop the frenetic pattern my heartbeat had adopted and to steady the slightly gasping breaths that left small clouds of condensation in my wake. Perhaps struggle was the wrong word. A struggle implies that, by some chance I could win. And it was extremely apparent that I wasn't going to find any sort of victory here, in the middle of the street leaning up against what looked like a bakery. Maybe the solace of my house would help me collect my thoughts. A nice, hot shower and perhaps a warm beverage surely couldn't hurt. I still clung to the hope that I could get my heart rate back to normal. Then I could reminisce in peace, at least.
With a deep breath I gathered myself and continued at a leisurely pace, head full of thoughts relating to the night before. I still felt partly in shock as I rounded the corner. Not at the events that had occurred, but that I'd kept myself under control. I completely expected to screw everything up and yet, despite my prediction… the night was perfect.
I continued to rack my brain, examining every detail of my evening with Naruto. Trace amounts of heat graced my cheeks when I thought of how physical I had become. Looking back on it, perhaps I was somewhat too forceful with the issue. I vividly recalled practically begging him not to stop. Oddly enough though, I didn't regret anything that I'd done. It simply needed to happen. I just wished I knew what he was thinking.
I sighed lightly upon reaching the gate that separated where I lived from the rest of Konoha. To be perfectly honest, I had no idea what awaited me inside. Memories of leaving a staggering, drunken Tenten with an especially snarky Kiba resurfaced after having been buried by the weight of my time with the love of my life.
I quickly closed the gap between the gate and my front porch, readying myself for the smell of something burning, or blood splattered against a window. Surely something had gone terribly wrong, and my assumptions seemed to be confirmed when I opened the door and heard the sound of glass shattering.
I burst into the den, unsure of what to expect after leaving the two unattended. I was admittedly surprised to find the weapons mistress sprawled out on the sofa. I watched her rhythmic breathing, and the rise and fall of her torso led me to believe that she was sound asleep. Her hair had been released from the usual tight buns that rested atop her head and now spilled around her face. A small quilt that I didn't recognize covered her sleeping form. Akamaru rested at her feet, curled up and looking just as peaceful as the woman he lay near. I couldn't help but smile at the scene. This illusion of tranquility was broken however, when a husky voice began stringing together obscenities from the kitchen.
Completely aware of the sleeping duo on my sofa, I tiptoed toward the kitchen and wasn't surprised to see Kiba standing there, with his hair stuck up at awkward angles. He looked at me with sleepless eyes and, rather than greet me as a friend should, he shook his head and continued picking up pieces of a broken dish.
"You should invest in some dinnerware that doesn't shatter when it's dropped," he grumbled before lumbering toward the trash bin. He cast a glance after disposing of the remains of a fine Suna plate. As if breaking free from some trance that had enveloped him, he abandoned his disheveled and angry look and flashed a smile. He flattened his hair back down with his palms and shook his head to clear the cobwebs and fatigue from his mind.
"If you don't mind me asking," I began cautiously, "what's going on here, Kiba-kun?" He ignored the question for a brief moment. Instead, he rummaged through a cabinet until he found another plate. He set it down on the counter with a clatter and began depositing leftovers onto it.
"You had some food left in the fridge, and I'm hungry. Figured it wouldn't bunch your panties up too much if I grabbed a bite to eat." He dramatically began shoveling the makeshift meal into his mouth. "What did you just ask?" He jumped onto the counter with the dish still in his hand and took another bite. "Something about what I'm doing?"
I scowled at his choice of seat before elaborating. "Well, I just didn't expect you to still be here is all. Could you explain what happened while I was gone last night?"
"Well," he mumbled through a mouthful of food, "you asked me to babysit." He paused and pointed his utensil toward where Tenten still slept. "Figured I'd do what you asked me to, since it was an important night for you and all. And after an hour or two she pretty much tuckered herself out. It got kind of chilly, so I went out and bought a cheap little blanket because I didn't want to dig through your stuff. I didn't want to accidentally see anything too personal."
Despite what he said sounding somewhat rehearsed, I nodded. "Have you been to sleep?" I questioned, focusing on the bags under his eyes.
He shook his head and took another bite. "Tenten slept on the couch. I sure as hell wasn't going to sleep in her bed, and I figured that by the end of the night you might be using yours." He winked, much to my disgust before continuing. "So I figured I'd clean your oven up for ya. After that I hung around, perused through your books, lounged on what furniture wasn't being occupied by drunken bimbos, and enjoyed your cozy little pad. Finally got hungry and now here you are." As if smacked in the face by the hand of some new realization, his eyebrows shot up and his mouth gaped open slightly.
"What?" I asked through a laugh, his new expression still present on his features. "What is it, Kiba-kun? You look surprised."
"That's not your coat," he said plainly.
"It is now."
"You had sex, didn't you, you sly little vixen?" He tossed the half-full plate aside, thankfully not spilling anything. He began furiously sniffing the coat I was wearing before moving upwards, gripping a handful of hair and holding it close to his face.
"Get off of me! What are you doing?" I asked defensively. He complied and released my indigo locks. As if nothing had happened he hopped up to where he had sat previously and continued eating.
"You don't smell like sex," he said calmly, "but I know something happened. There's no way something didn't happen."
I smiled coyly and turned my shoulders slightly. "Well of course something happened. I just don't know if I should tell you or not." I watched in delight as his face twisted up in frustration. He leapt from where he sat and held his eyes close to mine.
"Not again, Hinata-chan," he said with with more than a hint of annoyance. "No more of this 'let's dart around the subject to annoy Kiba' shit. I want some answers." Despite how angry he sounded, I couldn't help but notice his lips twitch slightly before pulling into the smallest of smiles.
"But if I tell you, then who knows who you'll tell? Naruto-kun is probably trying to keep this under wraps. I'll bet that he's not telling anyone, and I shouldn't either." I barely got the words out before his hands gripped my arms.
"Just tell me!" he demanded, shaking me slightly. "I need to know. I've waited years to hear about this and you're not backing out on me now. Just tell me a little bit. That's all I ask. You can keep most of it to yourself but at least tell me something."
"Fine." I raised my hands in defeat and laughed once again when a smile broke out across his face. "I can't tell you everything, but I can tell you that we didn't have sex–"
"You totally wanted to though, right?" His question interrupted me. Heat blossomed in my face but I nodded regardless, unable to lie given the subject of the conversation. Without warning he scooped me up in a hug and spun in a small circle.
"Put me down, Kiba-kun!"
"I knew you'd finally come around!" He complied with my request and released me. "I knew you weren't the wallflower you pretended to be. Okay, let's ignore the fact that you're actually a red hot ball of sexual desire and move on. What else am I allowed to know?"
I shook my head in annoyance and continued. "We almost did, though. I mean, we were…" I was unsure of how to explain what had transpired, especially considering the audience I was dealing with. "I mean, there was physical interaction going on. We kissed, and –"
"Say no more," he interrupted once again. "Not that I don't want to see you cringe when you try to explain every little detail, but I think I know what you're getting at. Just get to the point. If you two got that close, then why did you stop?"
"I can't say," I stated flatly. "You wouldn't understand. That's something I need to keep to myself. I think you know enough for now though, Kiba-kun."
"Not a chance in hell, Hinata-chan. I wanna know why you left the prized stallion in the barn, instead of letting it roam free." It sounded like Kiba had been saving up that particularly crass euphemism for quite some time, waiting for the juiciest moment to use it. "Was it him? Did he call it off? Does that jerk think you're not good enough for him?"
"This is why I didn't want to tell you anything, Kiba-kun. I knew you'd get like this."
"I'm just uncomfortable with the idea of him calling all of the shots, knowing how much you care about him. Who the fuck is he to just act like you're not worth his time, huh?"
"It's not like that!" I said, raising the tone of my voice to match his. "And you know it, Kiba-kun. He's not 'calling the shots' and he's not trying to be mean. We're seeing each other again, actually. If you'd stop being so thick-headed for a second then maybe I could have brought that up."
He opened his mouth as if to respond but snapped it back shut. "I'm not trying to be an asshole," was the response he muttered after a brief silence. He backed up, creating a small space between us. "It's just that I'd hate to see this go wrong. My defenses are gonna be up for a while. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that though."
"You're right, you shouldn't have." My arms were firmly crossed against my chest; however I lowered them when he continued.
"I'm sorry, Hinata-chan. You can't be surprised if I'm a little on-edge about this. You're like the little sister I always wanted. You can't be mad if I get defensive whenever your boyfriend doesn't treat you the way I think you should be treated."
"He's not my boyfriend. Outside of teenagers, who even uses that word anymore?"
"Fine, then what the hell am I supposed to call him? I'm not calling him your 'lover' if that's what you're suggesting. I'd rather be hit with a shovel."
"I don't think you can just put a label on us," I declared. "It's too soon for that. That's why we're going on another date. Just to make sure this is something we want to do."
"No," he corrected, "you're going on another date to make sure it's something that he wants to do. He knows that you're completely committed. He better hope that you're happy by the end of tomorrow night. If not…" He punctuated his statement by smacking his fist against the palm of his hand.
I laughed in response. "Are you sure you're not underestimating Naruto-kun just a little bit?"
"Oh, that guy would flatten me without a doubt. But Akamaru and I would bite a chunk out of him before that happened, at least. We've got the element of surprise."
"Well it won't come to that, I promise. Naruto-kun isn't going to back out of our date tomorrow night."
He raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you so sure of that, huh? You never know. The guy might just move on. See if there's any other fish in the sea to taste."
I ignored the crude metaphor and answered his question. "It's because I know Naruto-kun, probably better than anyone. It's why your fears about him 'mistreating me' or whatever it is you think will happen are just that – pointless fears. Please Kiba-kun, for my sake, believe me when I say that this will work, because it will. I know it will. I can't explain exactly how I know, but…" I paused, before finishing with, "I'm positive that this will work. Just please, trust me on this."
He stopped giving me that interrogative look and closed his mouth, evidently unwilling to respond. Rather than protest like I expected, he simply stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me just like before, but this time he didn't spin me around or laugh. I couldn't see his face, but I could tell he was smiling.
"Forget what I said, then. Just understand how happy I am for you, Hinata-chan." His grip tightened and the ache in my cheeks began to form once more. "You're right. I'm just being an asshole. I know where this relationship is heading, and I'm so happy for the both of you."
"Was that so hard?" I asked into his ear. "I know what I'm doing. And you know Naruto-kun. He's not as selfish as you're making him out to be."
"I know." He let me go and took a small step back, once again putting a comfortable distance between us. "Just be happy, alright? And don't fuck this up. Seriously. If you can avoid getting nervous and throwing up at a critical moment then that would just be wonderful."
"And if you could avoid ruining our few tender moments by being disgusting, then that would be wonderful." He laughed, as did I, before a third presence made itself known.
"G'morning," muttered Tenten through the drowsy haze she seemed to be fighting against. One hand shielded her eyes from the sun coming through the window across from her, and she yawned loudly into her other hand.
"You feeling okay, Tenten-san?" I placed a gentle palm on the girl's shoulder. "Sorry for leaving you with Kiba…"
"Don't apologize for that, I'm great," he interrupted with a goofy grin.
"…I just had to go out with Naruto-kun." Tenten nodded vaguely and crossed the room, extending the hand that was shielding her eyes towards the window, attempting to keep the bright light from assaulting her pupils. She recoiled slightly when her strategy failed and sunlight washed over her features.
"It's fine," she croaked. "I have a bone to pick with him though. Now I have to explain to Kakashi that the reason why I didn't report in this morning is because I was passed out on the couch."
"Hey, we're in the same boat there." Kiba's words seemed to slap her in the face. I watched as her eyes darted around confusedly, a look of surprise and disgust meeting her face when her eyes landed on him.
"What're you still doing here?" she asked.
"I said something just a second ago; wouldn't that have been a good time to ask that question?"
"Just answer me!" she snapped. I flinched slightly as the tone of her voice changed.
"Tenten-san, what's wrong?" I'd be a fool not to notice the shift in her demeanor. She walked angrily toward the sink, snatching a glass from the cabinet and filling it. She took a long drink, and a lone droplet made its way down her chin before being wiped away by the sleeve of her shirt.
"I don't want to talk about it," she answered sharply. Kiba raised his hand as if to say something, but apparently decided against it.
"Maybe you should tell her about what happened with Naruto?" His suggestion sounded forced but I said nothing. Whatever they didn't want to tell me, I wasn't about to pry.
"That sounds like a great idea." She kept her eyes on me. It seemed she was doing her best to avoid looking at the Inuzuka, who mouthed something to her.
I looked up to see that his jaw was clenched, as were his fists.
I tried to find a place to begin, a task that proved difficult with all of the tension building around us. I explained everything I had told Kiba, going into more detail when she asked me to describe exactly what 'physical interaction' transpired.
It took about ten minutes of awkward conversation for Kiba and Tenten to stop acting tense. The daggers glared between the two were sheathed and it seemed like once again, my cautious approach toward peace between the two had proven successful.
"So what now?" Tenten asked from the spot she had taken on the sofa. Our conversation moved to the den somewhere between the waterfall and Naruto's house, where I'd stopped telling them the story.
"What do you mean?" I questioned with a sip of the water I had poured for myself. I ran my fingers through Akamaru's soft fur – who was apparently doing the smart thing and continuing to sleep in the same spot I'd found him in earlier. His head rested in my lap, and I couldn't resist laughing at the memory of his entire body fitting there at one point.
"I mean, where does it go from there? You can't tell me that you two didn't come up with some course of action." She leaned forward, overcome by eagerness. "When are you two seeing each other again?" Chocolate brown pools bore into me, demanding an answer. I couldn't help but smile at how invested she had become in the story of Naruto and I.
"Tomorrow night, believe it or not." Kiba chose to answer the question for me.
I confirmed with a small nod. "We agreed that the sooner, the better. I'm… not sure what to expect. But I feel anxious. Even more so than before."
"Why?" It was Kiba who asked. "That last date should have been enough to kill those butterflies in your stomach. Just get over your shy demeanor and come at him all hot and heavy. Surely that'll reel him in. Easy enough."
"Listen to him," Tenten added sarcastically. "You do know that the surest way to reel a guy in is to just crawl all over him, right? Be sure not to add anything substantial. Don't show him how smart you are, don't be cute, don't try to have fun, just constantly try to shove yourself onto him and he'll fall head-over-heels in love with you. Works every single time."
"See?" Kiba's fake smile widened. "She gets it."
"Guys, be serious. This is very important to me." Tenten nodded and Kiba shrugged in response. "Last time went so well. I guess I'm just worried that I won't be able to top myself."
"That's not really how it works, Hinata." Tenten scooted forward slightly, locking her eyes onto mine. "You're not supposed to top the last date. You're not supposed to top anything."
"She's right," Kiba agreed reluctantly. Tenten looked almost surprised at how suddenly he latched onto her train of thought. "If you have the mindset that you're supposed to continuously get better, then you're fucking things up."
"Just relax. Remember that this date isn't just about you. It's not like he's giving you a chance to earn his affection. You've already got that. He's obviously into you; just keep doing what you're doing."
"And Hinata-chan?"
"Yes, Kiba-kun?"
"All jokes aside, showing a little skin isn't really a bad thing." Tenten smacked his arm lightly in response. "What? It's true. It's not like making yourself as pretty as possible wouldn't hurt things. You had your first date when you were dressed all casual like. Since that worked, you should take this opportunity to knock the guy's socks off."
"I couldn't," I said defensively. "I'm not really comfortable with the idea of dressing up like that and putting on too much make-up. I did it at the party and I think that was more than enough."
"Plus," Tenten began, "I sort of used all of my beauty knowledge for that. My assistance in the make-up department is pretty limited."
"So? You're friends with Yamanaka Ino, right? We were together for a while, and –"
"If you tell us that you picked up some beauty tips from Ino then I'm going to laugh until I die," Tenten commented in the middle of Kiba's sentence.
"No! I was just saying that she helped tons of girls look nice. I always said she should open a beauty shop or somethin' but she always laughed it off. Anyway, you should go to her. She'll have you looking like the most beautiful girl in all of Konoha in no time. By the time Naruto catches sight of you he'll be drooling all over you like a perfectly cooked steak. And looking that good, you won't have to worry. Look good feel good, right? Simple as that."
"I don't know, Kiba-kun."
It's not that I wouldn't mind looking nice around Naruto. In fact, it might even be as good of an idea as Kiba was suggesting. I remained apprehensive however, due to my wish to simply 'be myself'. I didn't consider myself a woman who needed to constantly gussy up in order to impress others. Demure as I was, I was more than comfortable in my own skin. Naruto didn't object to my casual attire from the previous evening, so why would it matter now?
And yet, at the same time I thought perhaps Kiba was right. While I didn't need to gussy up, what would be the harm? It's not like I wasn't used to it. It was mandatory that I be presentable whenever the Hyuuga compound acquired a visitor. Then I had not just one, but sometimes a team of beauticians applying my make-up and stuffing me into a variety of kimonos and tight dresses. While I didn't like the process, I couldn't deny that afterwards the women involved had me looking stunning. Maybe if Ino could recreate a bit of that, just for the occasion, then there would be no harm. I didn't need to look marvelous. But forcing him to see me in a different light wouldn't harm anyone. Maybe he would even be appreciative of my effort.
"Come on Hinata-chan, you know I've got a point. This could really help you out."
I averted my gaze toward Tenten, who offered me a shrug. "It's whatever you want. I'm pretty indifferent. He's right in saying that it wouldn't hurt anything. It's a bit unnecessary, but why not?"
I smiled. "Alright, I think I'll go talk to Ino-san later about this. Nothing too embarrassing or uncomfortable, but… I'm sure she could help me out in some way."
"Woo hoo!" Kiba's drowsy cheer was enough to startle his loyal ninken awake, who jerked his head up to find the offending noise, earning a startled 'eep!' from me.
"Just keep in mind that he's already into you," Tenten added. "I mean, there's no way he isn't. This 'dressing up' business, while it's fun and all, isn't really that important. Just make sure you don't veer too far from whatever the hell you did last night to make him almost ravage you uncontrollably."
"I didn't really do anything though. If anything, I was more shy and reserved than usual – at least at first. Being around him though, it's like he brings so much out of me. It's indescribable. Looking nice probably won't have an effect on anything. What'll impact our night together I think, is just being around each other."
"And showing a little bit of skin," Kiba said with a fanged grin. I scowled at him but didn't add to his statement, in fear of what he could say next. With Kiba, sometimes silence was the smartest way to handle things.
"Shouldn't you head home now, Kiba-kun? You still seem awfully sleepy. Perhaps just laying down and going to bed would do you a world of good."
"Psh, I don't need to go to bed." Despite his words, the drowsy current that flowed beneath his sentence was plainly obvious. "I'm a shinobi; this isn't the first time I've had to stay awake for long periods of time. What the hell do you take me for? I'm a trained…" I figured he was about to say 'jonin' but he never got the word out. Instead he yawned. Akamaru whined softly, apparently still tired as well.
"If you want to stay here then just go sleep in my bed," Tenten offered. I watched as Kiba immediately recoiled, although I could not decipher whether or not the action was done out of surprise or disgust.
"I couldn't," he answered in a surprisingly non-snarky manner. "It's yours and who knows how long I'll be out of it? Plus, don't want your sheets smelling like dog."
"You don't smell that bad."
"I was talking about Akamaru," he growled, almost playfully.
"Why don't you, Kiba-kun? She offered, and it's the least she can do since you looked after her last night."
"You're only saying that because you think we're being nice to each other." Another yawn.
"Look, I'm not going to argue with you." Annoyance crept into Tenten's words as she continued. "You can either march your ass upstairs and sleep there, or you and your dog can stumble all the way home and that'll be it. Either way, it's time for you to go to sleep." I smiled at the motherly edge her voice had taken. "Now."
"For one," Kiba raised an index finger, "Akamaru isn't just a dog. He's a shinobi too, just like you or me and two," he raised another finger, "I'm used to women offering me a place to sleep. I hardly take the offer, but I will this time."
Tenten rolled her eyes in response but said nothing else. The Inuzuka scratched at his head sleepily and made it up the first step before stopping. He took a second to smirk before removing the simple grayish shirt he had been wearing, revealing a bare torso. I looked over at the girl to my left and expected a look of contempt to be etched onto her features, but instead I found myself surprised to see her eyebrows knitting together in curiosity. She watched emotionlessly as he trekked up the stairs, Akamaru trailing behind him.
"What a showoff asshole," she muttered with a half-smile.
When the sound of her bedroom door clicking behind the two of them met our ears, Tenten crossed the room. She glanced at the coffee table and finally found what she had been searching for: two hair ties. I watched as she carefully did her hair, a satisfied smile touching her lips when she had gotten the familiar look just right.
"Pretty sure I have to go see Kakashi now." She sighed lightly. "I'm never drinking again. Seriously. From this moment on, I'll never let another drop of alcohol touch these lips."
"Come on Tenten-san," I chuckled at the ridiculousness of the statement. "We both know that's probably not true."
"Probably. But I can still be a little pissed off for now. As soon as I've explained myself, I'm marching straight to Naruto and giving him a piece of my mind."
"Also probably not true."
"Well then, I'll write him a letter. He can have fun reading that in a few days." She gave a small huff and headed toward the door. Despite seeming ruffled, I couldn't help but notice the slight skip in her step. "I'll be back soon, I'm going to try and stay out for as little time as possible. Just kind of want to hang in and lay low tonight. Will you do me a favor though?" I nodded. "While I'm out just get some clothes out of my room? I should have done it before Kiba went up there but I wasn't thinking."
"Of course, Tenten-san. Are you sure you don't want me to do that now, though?" I looked her up and down, noticing every rumpled inch of her attire. "You drank yourself silly in those clothes and then slept in them."
"My clothes are fine. I put them on right before I left. I'll only be out a few minutes, and the only person who might care about how I look is Kakashi. More likely than not, he'll be too invested in rereading his smutty porn books to notice."
"Erm… don't you read those…" I found myself unable to say the words 'smutty porn books' so casually, even if it was directed at Tenten. "Installments of suggestive literature?" I found myself pleased with my less vulgar translation.
"Don't you?" She turned my question around and beamed a wide smile, evidently proud of her two simple words.
"I…" I could feel the heat in my face begin to rise. "That's not the point! Just go, I'll do what you asked."
"That's more like it." Her smile shone all the way out the door. She slipped a hand back inside to wave goodbye before finally exiting.
I looked forward to having a moment all to myself. Company was nice, however being alone, which I was unless a snoring Inuzuka counts as company, was also something I enjoyed and was used to. I expected a nice, quiet evening. Perhaps some wine, reminiscing about the night before, looking forward to the next time my path crossed with Uzumaki Naruto, and perhaps even finishing the Icha Icha novel that, while embarrassing to admit, was one of the most compelling and entertaining pieces of literature I had ever laid my hands on.
I went upstairs and did what she asked, finding an okay outfit that she could surely wear around the house. I didn't even need to be quiet, as Kiba and Akamaru seemed completely out of it. I headed back downstairs, expecting the evening to go according to plan.
What I didn't expect was a knock at the door.
I heaved out a small sigh and approached the door. I was almost appalled that it took less than five minutes before my absence of company was remedied. Not that I didn't mind having people around, as a lack of a social life had been a previous complaint of mine, however not having any time to myself also seemed like an issue.
I gripped the knob and paused, unsure whether or not I wanted to open the door to see whoever it was that was knocking. I immediately dismissed the thought from my head and pulled.
"Nee-san!" I had a split second to feel grateful about abandoning my reluctance before a pair of arms wrapped around my shoulders. Hanabi pulled away, wide smile present on her face.
"Hanabi-chan!" I responded happily. "I didn't expect you to visit so soon. I take it that Tokuma-kun got my message to you yesterday?"
"He did… after I showed up here expecting a nice evening with my sister. I stopped by and heard two people yelling at each other, and I could definitely tell that neither of them were you. So I headed home and he bolted up to me, huffing and puffing because he was out of breath and told me not to stop by because you were busy with 'you-know-who.' Ugh."
I ushered her in and closed the door behind us. I removed the thin jacket she was wearing and said, "I am so sorry, Hanabi-chan. I tried to write back to you and just couldn't seem to put the right words down on paper, so I asked if he'd just tell you."
She gave a flick of her wrist before taking a seat, flinging the quilt Tenten had been using over the back of the sofa. "It's fine. It rained on me and I got soaked, but the walk certainly didn't hurt. I just took a hot bath once I returned to the compound. Besides, I'm here now so let's just forget it. By the way, do you have anything to drink? I'm parched."
"I could put on some tea, if you'd like."
She grunted. "Tea's a little boring, isn't it nee-san?"
"Would you like some wine?" The question was met with an immediate shake of her head.
"Wine is the only alcohol we're permitted to drink because of the image we have to uphold as Hyuuga. I think it makes us look unnecessarily snobbish, and I have it much too often. Do you have anything stronger than that?"
"You're eighteen, Hanabi-chan. I'm not giving you anything that strong at this time of the day. Father would have my head if I sent you home drunk." I chuckled and entered the kitchen, fully aware of where Tenten kept the 'harder' stuff.
"Fine then," she huffed, "I'll have some wine but fill the glass. We're not allowed to fill them up at the compound and for once, I'm not under the microscope of the elders." I poured myself a small glass and, complying with my sister's request, filled hers almost to the brim.
"That's perfect!" she exclaimed as I entered the room. I gingerly passed the glass to her and took the seat next to hers, pressing my back against the arm of the couch and crossing my legs so that I could face her properly. "That's what I call a glass of wine. Now, you have something to tell me." She gave an inquisitive look and dove right in. "Your big night with the Hokage – how was it?"
"Are you sure that's what you want to start with? There are quite a few other things we could be discussing."
"Maybe, but they're not as important as this," she said with another vigorous shake of her head. "You've been looking forward to that night for years and as your sister, that means I'm invested in your happiness as well. You have to tell me everything that happened… seriously, don't spare any details unless it gets too… um, physical. Then just wiggle your eyebrows or something at me like this," she wiggled her own brows, showing me what to do, "and I'll probably understand."
"Alright." I laughed and looked her in the eye. "What do you want to know? I'm an open book, but only for you though – secrets between sisters and all that. I'd appreciate it if you didn't go around telling people about this, because I don't know if Naruto-kun wants to keep this under wraps and I've probably told too many people about what happened already."
She giggled and sat up giddily. "Well in that case, where should I begin?" she asked, scrunching up her features in thought. "Alright, I'll keep it pretty general for now. But to sum it up, how did things go? I mean, would you say that your date was a success?"
"Yes." I had to pause and allow myself to chuckle at how eager my sister seemed to be. "I'd say it was a success."
"How so?" She rested an elbow on her knee and propped her chin on a closed hand.
"It was just… an amazing evening. It's hard for me to say exactly how. He was so incredible. We couldn't have dinner like I had planned though. The food… well…"
"Well what?"
"It caught fire in the oven. I wasn't paying attention because Kiba-kun dragged Tenten-san back here early. Naruto-kun gave her a free pass for liquor throughout the village to get her out of the house for our date, and she was drunk far too early. Everything was burned, and Naruto-kun showed up as soon as the fire was put out."
Hanabi looked skeptically at me for a moment, and then she leapt from her seat and dashed into the kitchen.
"Liar!" She called from the other room before I even had time to react. "You said dinner caught on fire, but there's no trace of one at all! Be honest with me Nee-san, how did it go?"
"I'm telling the truth! Kiba-kun cleaned things up while I was gone. Now can you come back in here?" She did as I asked and scampered back to where she had been sitting before.
"So you left the house? Where did the two of you go?" She talked faster the more excited she became. "Somewhere romantic, right? No, of course not. You guys were hungry. You burned dinner. Where'd you go to eat?"
"Hanabi-chan, please." I lifted my hand, signaling for her to stop with her mile-a-minute interrogation. "We didn't go to a restaurant; we just stopped at a vendor."
"That sounds boring."
"Not at all! The whole way we just… talked. It was great."
"If by 'great' you mean 'boring', then sure. Sounds like you had a marvelous time."
"You just needed to be there, Hanabi-chan. It was just so simple and lovely. Neither of us really had to try. Once I got over my initial nervousness everything just…flowed. We talked the entire time we walked around, and eventually I brought him to the waterfall."
"You love the waterfall." She smiled and leaned back into the sofa, pulling her knees up to her chest. "Well, that part doesn't sound boring. What happened when you guys got there? I'm sure that's where things picked up, right?"
"We kept talking." She sighed lightly and I continued with the beginning of a grin tugging at my lips. "I know it sounds dull, but at the waterfall the things we were talking about were…personal to him. I felt like it was something he very rarely shared with anyone, if at all. He told me that he met his mother once, and –"
"Isn't she dead though?" Hanabi asked bluntly, exuding the tact we Hyuuga were known for.
"It was all in his head or something; I don't exactly know how to explain it. But she gave him some advice about a lot of things, especially women and told him not to date a 'weird one' as she put it."
"You are pretty weird though, Nee-san," she teased affectionately.
"He said that his mother and I shared a few qualities, and that I probably wasn't what she had in mind, but he never was someone to follow the rules anyway. I wish I could explain it better. You just had to be there. It was one of the most romantic things I've ever heard."
"It sounds like you had a really good time." She smiled again and pulled Tenten's quilt down to cover her legs. "It's a little nippy in here – it feels like the Hyuuga compound right now. Anyway, what happened next? After the waterfall, I mean."
"Well, we went back to his house and…" I observed with glee as her eyes widened. I tried wiggling my eyebrows, but as I'd never done that before I failed miserably, making myself look like I had a nervous tick.
"Is something wrong, Nee-san?" I gave up with my brows and sighed.
"I'm trying to wiggle my eyebrows."
"Why would you be trying to do that?" She remained silent for a moment and then the realization seemed to hit her like a brick. "Oh!" She practically jumped from her seat, eyes wide and grinning broadly. "You two… really? Did you?"
"Almost. He said some very sweet things that I'd like to keep to myself, and then I just couldn't hold myself back. We stopped before anything serious happened though."
"Aww!" She slumped her shoulders dramatically and crumpled back into her seat. "What a let-down. What made you guys stop?"
"I… don't know if I can tell you. You might not understand, and I don't want you to laugh at me. Or worse, I don't want you to laugh at Naruto-kun because he was only looking out for me."
"I'm the last person who'd laugh at something so important to you." She raised a solitary hand. "I won't tease you or your precious 'Naruto-kun.' I promise." I frowned slightly. "Okay, that was the last time I'll tease you, I swear. Go ahead and tell me what you were going to say."
Her words seemed genuine, and even if they weren't I would have told her anyway. She was my sister, after all. "He stopped because… because of a scar that was on my stomach. You've heard the story of Pein, right? And his attack on the village?"
"Of course I have," she answered with a nod. "At this point, who hasn't? Everyone in the village knows it by heart."
"Well when I was stabbed through, it left a small scar on my stomach. He saw that and just… stopped. He told me he didn't want to take advantage of me and that I deserved so much more. At first I was a little… disheartened, but the more I think about it, the happier I am that he wants to wait."
"So what now? He wants to wait, but for how long? Is this a continuous thing?"
I nodded, the slowly-forming smile becoming clearer on my face. "We're seeing each other tomorrow night. It was his idea, I was a little reluctant to see him again so soon but he was pretty emphatic about it. I just couldn't say no."
"That's great news!" Her sudden exclamation caught me off-guard. "So what are your plans for tomorrow night? Dinner? Dancing? Staring at the moon all alone on top of the Hokage Monument?"
And then it hit me. We hadn't made any plans. We agreed that the next night would be the best time to see each other, however nothing beyond that was discussed. I squashed the panic that was bubbling up inside of me. This was classic Hinata, getting worked up over nothing. But I knew that now wasn't the time to start freaking out. Things like this always had a tendency to work themselves out.
"Not really, we hadn't discussed what we'd be doing," I admitted with only a few nervous trembles in my voice. "But I'm sure he'll come up with something. Surely he doesn't expect me to hatch an idea. He's the Rokudaime Hokage, coming up with a plan is part of his job."
Once again I had to force down a deep-rooted panic.
"I'm sure things will work out," Hanabi flicked her wrist dismissively, evidently aware of my newfound discomfort. "After all, this is hardly something to worry about. Just keep looking forward to tomorrow. If you worry about it too much, then you're bound to screw up." She smiled sweetly before saying, "Think about how long you've waited for something like this, and then think about how small this problem is. It's okay to latch onto something and worry about it, but not in this case. Just breathe slowly, calm down, and show me that pretty smile of yours."
Apparently what she said had at least some positive affect on me, because the smile that vanished with my nervousness returned, and it was even wider than before. I breathed in-and-out slowly, just as she instructed, and I could feel the calming effect it had on my nerves.
"That better, Nee-san?" She asked, sweet smile still gracing her lips. I nodded and, out of instinct, wrapped my arms around my sister who yipped in surprise.
"You're right; I'm just going out of my way to worry incessantly. For one, I'm just going to let things take their course." I released her and laughed as she tried to rearrange her now disheveled hair.
"Couldn't you have just said that?" She grumbled. "You know how my hair gets. Now it's gonna be all frizzy and ruined." Despite her complaints she still seemed happy.
"I need to have you around more," I commented with a sip of my drink. "You're way more useful in these kinds of situations than my usual company."
"Your usual company? I was under the impression that you didn't talk to people that often. Quite a few people in the clan said that you turned into a shut-in."
"Tenten-san moved in with me," I informed her.
I was about to bring up Kiba's almost constant presence as of late, but when I heard footsteps bounding down the stairs I figured I'd let him answer for himself.
"Aren't you up a little early?" I asked as Kiba and Akamaru came down the steps. "You weren't even asleep for an hour, Kiba-kun. Maybe you should rest up a little more."
He opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by the resounding "Whoa!" Hanabi let loose as she bolted toward him.
"What the hell?" Was all he got out before the young heiress was right in front of him, admiring his physique.
"Dude!" she exclaimed. "You got huge!"
"Hanabi-chan, you remember Kiba-kun." I chuckled as she marveled at the duo.
"Still surprised to see Akamaru when he's that big, are ya?" Kiba let loose a chuckle but was taken aback when Hanabi opened her mouth again.
"Nah, I knew he was all big now. I'm talking about you! You're all jacked and stuff. What have you been up to? You look like you have an unhealthy exercise addiction and also happen to be a construction worker with long hours." Without asking for permission she reached a hand forward and squeezed his bicep. "Ew! You feel like a lobster." From the look on Kiba's face I couldn't tell if he wanted to frown or smirk.
"I'm not even that much bigger than I used to be, you goofy little jackass." He gave a half-smile and she responded by dramatically turning her nose up at him.
"I beg to differ. Last time I saw you, you were a pencil-necked scrawny loudmouth."
"Scrawny!? We saw each other just a few months ago; what the hell are you talking about?!"
"Looks like I was right on the money with that 'loudmouth' thing I mentioned."
"I oughta pluck out your damn eyes you rat-faced little –"
"Kiba-kun, calm down. She's just teasing you." I did my best to alleviate the situation and he responded with a small growl.
"I am not, the guy was a twig."
"Hanabi-chan, don't egg him on. If you keep it up, he'll keep responding and there'll be no end to it. It'll be best if the subject is dropped altogether."
"Whatever," she said, shrugging. "How have you been, Kiba?" She asked the question as if the previous conversation hadn't transpired.
"I was just leaving," he answered her question but was looking at me while he did so. "Thank Tenten for letting me crash in her room. I should get out of here though. I've done a bit of thinking and there's someone I need to talk to."
"Sure you don't want to stay, Kiba-kun? I'm sure Hanabi-chan would love to poke and prod at your muscles some more." Hanabi nodded eagerly in agreement and Kiba playfully bared his teeth at her.
"Nah, I really gotta go now. I would love to stay and catch up with your bratty sister, but I just don't have the time." Hanabi took a moment to satirically stick her tongue out at the Inuzuka. "Plus I'd like to be gone before you-know-who gets back. I don't want to see her, and I'm pretty sure she really doesn't want to see me."
"Well, get home safe. I'll see you tomorrow morning, right?"
"I'm pretty sure, yeah. See ya then!" He wasted little time shortening the distance between himself and the door, exiting as soon as he reached the entryway.
"It might be a good idea if I got going as well," Hanabi said, turning to face me directly. "Father didn't know I was going to stay and chat. I told him that if I was out later than he expected it was just because I was heading to the market. Now I have to craft an elaborate lie about wine samplings. Speaking of which," she rushed over and lifted her mostly-full glass from where it had rested, draining it as fast as she could.
"So soon?" I didn't mean to sound pouty when the words left me, but I knew I had. "It seems like you just got here."
"Hey, you remember your promise, right? We'll see each other more often. This won't just be a one-time thing. I promise I'll come back soon."
We said our goodbyes and shared one more embrace before Hanabi stopped and pivoted on her heel, turning back around to face me.
"How could I forget? I have something to relay to you. Father actually wanted me to stop by the next time I was out. He'd like for you to come to the compound in a few days. He said there will be dinner and 'important matters that need to be discussed', whatever he means by that. I'm thinking he wanted you to stop by on Wednesday. I know you don't want to involve yourself with the clan anymore after the things that father said, but… I really think that you should consider it. Anyway, I really need to get home." She didn't wait for me to respond; instead she spun around quickly and scurried out the door.
—
An uneventful and yet simultaneously wonderful two hours came and went. I had used this seemingly rare spot of free time to, like I had previously intended, continue reading the novel that I desperately wanted to finish. A refilled glass of wine sat next to me, untouched, as doing anything other than turning the page seemed a futile task given just how much I was enthralled by the current tale.
It came as no surprise when a knock at the door broke my trance.
I sighed softly and marked the page I was on, somewhat agitated by the timing of the new visitor. Had they waited another five to ten minutes I would have finally finished the book and had it out of my mind forever. Now, it seemed like I'd never complete it.
I pulled the door open and found myself surprised to see a familiar pair of steely-gray eyes looking back at me.
"Tokuma-kun?" I said with surprise audible in my voice. "What are you doing here?"
"Good afternoon to you as well, Hinata-sama." He smiled as he entered my home when I motioned for him to do so. "I was sent by Hiashi, actually. He'd like to know if Hanabi relayed the message she was supposed to get to you."
"Hasn't she returned?" I asked, a newfound worry creeping into my tone. "She left about two hours ago."
"She has not. More than likely, she's gone off to see that Sarutobi boy again." He chuckled. "Please don't worry your pretty little head, Hinata-sama. Your sister does this more often than you'd think."
"Are you sure? I'd like to think she'd tell me if she was off to see Konohamaru."
"I'd like to think the same thing, but I guess she thinks it's fun to play 'secret love' and run around when she thinks no one is looking. I'm not telling on her though. Don't let Hiashi tell you otherwise – Hanabi going out and socializing with actual people isn't a bad thing."
"And the Hyuuga aren't actual people?"
"Hardly."
I let out a laugh and motioned for him to sit down once it became evident that we were going to have a conversation.
"You have a lovely home, Hinata-sama," he commented before being led to the sofa. His grin grew larger as he sank into the cushion. After thinking about the threadbare furniture he was used to, I wasn't at all surprised by his reaction.
"Thank you. Would you like some tea?" I extended the same offer to him that I had to my sister.
"No thank you," he said, raising a hand. "You don't have to be a gracious host; I don't intend to stay for very long. I must admit though, it's nice to just leave the compound and socialize for a bit. There's been less time for that recently, and I myself have been especially busy."
"With what?"
"Arguing with your father, mostly. You see, he has an idea that I sort of butt heads with him over. We have conflicting ideals regarding the direction our clan is heading. Despite being a Branch house member, he trusts me. But I don't think he trusts me enough to get over himself and his own ideals."
"He can get like that. Sometimes he just looks at things with blinders on. If he becomes convinced of something, there's no telling him otherwise." I sat down where I had been earlier and took a sip of wine. "What is it you two are arguing about?"
"I…" He looked troubled. "I'd rather not disclose that information. It pertains to you. That's all I can say. What was your answer to Hanabi?" His last question was spoken suddenly, as if he just then remembered why he came.
"How important is this dinner?"
"If it's about what I think it's about, then it's extremely important. Your presence is absolutely necessary. Hiashi would have you believe this is just another typical business dinner that can be had with or without you, but that's untrue. Fact is? You have to be there."
The more Tokuma talked, the more unsettled I became. It didn't come as a surprise that my father needed to discuss something. My departure was abrupt and many things weren't worked out before I left. I had already refused two meetings with him and other members of the Hyuuga clan. What troubled me now was the way Tokuma was acting. He was always very calm and collected, yet he seemed frantic and… almost desperate. It was plainly obvious that there was something he wasn't telling me, and I needed to find out.
"Why am I supposed to be there?" If there was any way I was going to find out what was going on, it would be through piecing things together. I could tell that he wasn't going to flat out tell me everything I wanted to know. But… perhaps if I could squeeze just enough information out of him then I could find out on my own.
"You're part of the reason Hiashi and I have been arguing. Believe it or not, you're still a huge topic of discussion back home. You may think you've distanced yourself from the Hyuuga, but you couldn't be more wrong." I watched as the muscles in his jaw clenched and his eyes had a faraway look. When he came back to reality, he looked at me shook his head slightly.
"When you left," he began, "exactly what were you trying to accomplish? Why did you do it in the first place? You were a role model, and you instilled so much hope in all of us. I don't hold any ill-will towards you, and I'm not about to ask you to come back. I… I just want to know why. That's all."
"Where is this coming from?"
"Please, just answer my question."
"Tokuma-kun, it's not that simple."
"Isn't it, though?" His tone hardened slightly and I could tell he was trying not to raise his voice too much. "You left. It was that simple. One day you were the heiress and the next you're living alone, not even so much as checking in on your sister."
"It wasn't like that. You had no idea what I was involved in. I left for a good reason. Hanabi-chan can run the clan just as good as me. There wasn't any reason for me to stay."
"But what did it? What was the reason you left? You still won't tell me."
"It's not that simple," I repeated myself. "It wasn't just one thing. Yes, there was one event that led to me leaving but it's not like the decision was sudden. I had been thinking about leaving for years."
"But you made so many promises after the war. Why would you leave after all of that? It just doesn't seem fair. I can't think of anything that would justify letting that many people down."
"I promised that I would do what I could to change things. I promised change, and Hanabi will bring that change."
"Hanabi doesn't command the same respect as you. No one looks at her the way they looked at you. Our clan is becoming more chaotic every single day, and frankly we needed you. We still need you, and we're going to need you if things are going to get better any time soon. I wish I could tell you that I respect your decisions but… I just can't."
"Just have some faith in her. If you don't give her a chance… if you don't believe that she will do well, then you're defeating yourself. I know you and many others are still upset that I left. It was selfish, but it was something I had to do. And something you have to do is believe that Hanabi-chan can be the leader the clan needs. She may be just a bit immature but she means well, she's smart and it won't take long for her to conform to the role."
"And what makes you so sure of that?"
I couldn't help but smile. "Because I know my sister, and what she's capable of. Just have some faith in her, Tokuma-kun."
"Look, I don't mean to sound cross. It's just… there's something about you. I can't explain it. You're just… genuine. It's one of the reasons I was looking forward to you taking control of the clan. This iron-fist mentality has been tearing the Hyuuga apart for generations. I was just looking forward to someone like you taking the reins. And I wasn't the only one. Just… when Hanabi becomes the head of the clan, make sure you're nearby. You don't even have to be there. Just make sure that your sister can enforce your ideas and your plans."
"Even without that, I'm sure she'll do fine, Tokuma-kun."
"Are you coming to the meeting?" He changed the subject without warning, once again the question leaving him so suddenly that it was almost surprising.
"The one over dinner?" He nodded. "If it's that important, then I don't really think I have a choice – although I'd like to know more about it."
"I'd like to tell you more about it," he said, allowing a chuckle to escape his lips, "but I don't think it's my place to do so. Just… come with an open mind, okay? It's pretty important that you do so."
I began to respond but was almost immediately cut off by yet another knock at the front door. I let loose a deep breath and made my way into the foyer, Tokuma following curiously. I gripped the handle and let loose a shout of surprise when whoever was on the other side pushed the door open, rushing forward and gripping me tightly. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Tokuma take a defensive stance, Byakugan instantly activating. In that split second I prepared myself for a fight, which is why I found myself surprised when a now familiar pair of lips pressed against my own.
"Sorry," Naruto said, pulling away with a wide grin plastered onto his face, "I've been looking forward to doing something like that all day."
"Naruto-kun!" His name finally escaped my mouth. "What are you doing? We're not supposed to see each other until tomorrow!" Tokuma looked on with a perplexed look as Naruto rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment and my face heated up.
"Actually, I kind of did something. I'm not sure if you'll like it or not, but I did it anyway."
"What did you do?"
"I can't tell you." His smile grew more mischievous. "You'll see tomorrow. Just… don't leave the house, okay? Don't even go outside. It's my one request."
"Naruto-kun, what are you talking about?" To say I was confused was putting it mildly. "Why can't I leave? What is it that you did?"
"Shh," he placed a single finger against my lips, exactly like he had the night before. "You're doing that thing you do where you get all nervous and freak out. Stop that. I promise, it's nothing bad. Probably."
I couldn't decide whether his words were comforting or not.
"You can't go outside, though," he said again. "Seriously, it'll ruin everything. Also, you probably shouldn't invite anyone over. And if anyone tries to tell you anything then make sure you cover your ears."
"Naruto-kun, I am so confused right now." I couldn't resist but to smile at how lively he seemed despite my confusion.
"Look, just don't leave the house. Kakashi-sensei knows what I did and knows you won't show up at the Station tomorrow. I'm pretty sure the entire village knows by now. It's why you can't leave. Or look out any windows, for that matter."
"I…" His eyes pleaded with me to do what he asked, and I found it impossible to say no to him. "Alright, Naruto-kun. I won't go outside."
"Or look out windows?"
I laughed. "Or look out windows. There. Happy?" He nodded and before I had time to say anything else, he pulled me into another kiss.
"Naruto-kun?" I managed to say around his lips.
"Yeah?"
"Maybe we shouldn't do this in front of company." I watched as his eyes switched targets from me to Tokuma, who stood only a few feet away, leaning casually against the wall.
"Oh don't mind me… I'm just observing the fine decorating around here. I hardly noticed the passionate kissing." He forced a half-smile onto his lips and looked away.
"Sorry about that," Naruto said with a chuckle, removing his hand from where it rested on my hip. "I didn't even notice you there. I should probably pay a little more attention next time." He placed his other hand on the back of his neck, smiling apologetically. "Anyway, I should probably be going. I'd hate to stay too long and ruin our date."
"It wouldn't ruin our date," I said, delicately placing my hands on his shoulders as if asking for permission. He smiled and I took that as an 'okay' to touch him in whatever way I wanted. "You can stay for as long as you'd like."
"I really shouldn't. I've got some very confused and upset people I need to talk to. If it weren't for that though, you'd have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming." He glided his fingers across my lower jaw, pulling me gently into one more kiss. "See you tomorrow, Hinata-hime."
"I'll see you then, Naruto-kun," I said almost breathlessly. His hand lingered just under my cheek for the briefest of moments before he turned around and left, flashing me one more Uzumaki grin before closing the door behind him.
"Sorry about that, Tokuma-kun." I could feel the heat spreading throughout my face but I paid it no mind as I turned and faced my guest.
"It's fine. I should be going as well, though. I was just supposed to be checking in."
"Are you sure, Tokuma-kun? You can stay longer if you'd like. I'm sure it wouldn't be too much of a problem."
"I need to go, trust me." I frowned slightly at how agitated he still seemed, but said nothing as he approached the door.
"Hinata-sama?"
"Yes?"
"Please come to that meeting. It's… important. I know it is." He gave a pleading look and I nodded in response. The door closed with a small click.
I hadn't even made it back into the den before the door was carelessly pushed open. I didn't even bother turning around, fully aware of who'd just made their entrance.
"Sorry I was gone for so long!" Tenten shouted. "I stopped by Temari's house and hung out for a bit. You haven't been lonely, have you?"
"Not at all, Tenten-san. Not in the least." She strutted past me and into the den, taking a moment to chuckle at the Icha Icha novel still sitting on the arm of the couch.
"I saw Takama leaving on my way in. He looked a bit troubled. Care to tell me what's up?"
"Tokuma."
"Gesundheit."
"His name is Tokuma, Tenten-san. And I'm not really sure what's going on either. He was being a little cryptic. When Hanabi-chan was here she asked if I could come to some meeting that father invited me to. Apparently he needs to talk to me about something over dinner."
She made her way into the kitchen and I heard the faucet kick on. "Is that what was troubling him?" Tenten asked upon reentering the room, small glass of water in hand.
"He just said that it was important, and that I needed to be there. He said some other things, but... I'd rather not talk about it." She gave me an understanding nod and took a large swig of her drink.
"I saw Naruto leaving, too." A coy smirk warped her lips. "Actually, everyone's talking about him. And you. But let me guess, he came here and begged you not to leave the house, right?"
"How did you know?" My words followed a heavy gulp.
"Oh, he told me not to tell you what he did because it would ruin everything. He saw me coming and dashed up to me. I had no clue what the hell was going on."
"Is it bad?" I couldn't resist asking, knowing that Naruto would probably frown if he were here. "Don't tell me what it is, but all of this mystery is driving me insane."
"Don't worry, Hinata." She smiled and I could tell immediately that whatever it was, it couldn't have been anything bad. "It's nothing to fret over. I don't want to tell you anything else because I'm sure your face will be priceless when you see it. Just don't worry about it, okay?"
I nodded apprehensively. "Hanabi-chan told me earlier that I do this thing where I get really nervous and start finding things to latch onto and worry about. I think I'm just doing that again. I'm just... this is all happening so suddenly. I just wish I could stop the world for a second, just so that I can breathe."
"You're not complaining, are you?" she wondered, raising her eyebrows.
"Of course not. I just wish things would slow down a little, that's all." I sighed softly.
A moment passed before she looked at me and asked, "Are you excited for tomorrow?" It seemed like she was trying to make small talk. "I'm just curious. Seems like a pretty big day for you, right? Second dates are never important in the grand scheme of things, but you should enjoy it while it lasts."
"I'm very excited," I admitted, cheeks instinctively pulling my lips into a smile. "I know it might not be as special as last time because it's not our first time together romantically, but I still feel like it's going to be..."
"Less awkward? I can only imagine how awkward the first one was. Adorable, but awkward."
I laughed. "I'm sure it will be less awkward, yes. But I also have this unexplainable good feeling. I can't quite put my finger on it, but... I just feel like something is right. About what we're doing, about where we're heading. I just know that something good is coming." I realized how foolish that sounded, but couldn't bring myself to say it out loud. It was the truth.
"Oh trust me, there's something good on the horizon." She laughed as if she had just heard some unbelievably hilarious inside joke. "Yeah. 'Something good on the horizon.' You'll get that one tomorrow."
I furrowed my brows and frowned slightly, but added nothing else. I wanted to know what the wily Uzumaki Naruto had in store for me.
"I think I need to lie down," she finally said. "I've still got a bit of a headache. I'm pretty sure going to bed early wouldn't hurt me at all."
Without a care as to whether she watched me or not, I sat down with smile still showing and reopened the book I had every intention on finishing. "Good night, Tenten-san."
She brushed past with a small chuckle before bounding up the steps.
—
Another hour passed, and I spent most of it floating in a sea of my own thoughts. Thoughts of my upcoming evening with Uzumaki Naruto, and how I'd try my best to keep from stumbling my way through it like last time. Thoughts about my discussions with Hanabi and Tokuma, and what could possibly be in store for me at this upcoming meeting. Thoughts of the upcoming Kage Summit, who I would bring, and if Naruto would somehow slip up and let all of the other Kage know about our relationship. That last thought lit my head aflame.
I also finally got around to finishing the Icha Icha novel that had eluded me all evening. I closed the book with a satisfied sigh, marveling at how brilliantly the final scene had been written. I glanced up at the clock to find that it was hardly past ten. I still had time. I rolled from where I had been laying on the couch and made my way over to the bookshelf. I knelt down and eyed the bottom row, looking for the sequel. My vision scanned every publication and I couldn't hold back the sigh that left my mouth after discovering that it was not here.
It was right there earlier. I'm sure of it.
I glided my fingers over the binding before deciding that Tenten's bedroom was the obvious place to look. It was likely that she had read it one night before bed, or maybe even hid it, knowing how much I would want to read it after how the first one had ended.
I'll be quiet. She won't even realize that I'm there.
I nodded, smiling to myself at the idea of sneaking through my own home to find hidden erotica. I felt like such a mature adult.
As best as I could I crept up the steps, placing one delicate foot after the other until I reached the top. I cautiously stepped toward her bedroom door, placing both hands on the knob and turning it as slowly as I possibly could.
With gentle pressure I pushed it open, not wanting to wake Tenten and simultaneously reveling in how good of a ninja I was. The candle by Tenten's bed cast shadows that swayed gently against the plain walls. It gave off more than enough light, and I saw the book lying right where I expected it to be – on the table right beside her bed.
I didn't take my eyes off of her the whole way over, readying myself to scamper away at the slightest movement. She lay perfectly still, tightly clutching the quilt Kiba had bought her the night before. I didn't get a good enough look at it before, but now that it was stretched out, the pattern featuring dogs and paw prints was easily visible. It took everything not to laugh.
I breathed a sigh of relief when the novel was within reach. I snatched it up, along with a piece of paper that I didn't see folded neatly on top of it. I hurried away, deciding that it would be worse to get caught going out than coming in. I closed the door gingerly and carefully went back down the steps into the den.
My body met the couch and a wide grin found its way onto my face. It was at this time that I felt the slip of paper that had been placed on top of the book.
Looking back on it, I probably should have realized that it was meant to be read only by Tenten. After all, it was in her room. However, the thought didn't cross my distracted mind as I unfolded the sheet and read its contents.
I'm not mad that you kissed me if that's what you were thinking. You were drunk. Mistakes happen. I'm just mad because you didn't want to talk about it.
Kiba
.
.
.
And that's it! Hopefully you guys enjoyed this chapter and even if you didn't, hopefully you're enjoying the holidays. :)
Let me say that the Hyuuga subplot isn't about to take center stage or anything. However, while romance is what I'm really focused on with this story, I have to elaborate on other things as well and I still think that some characters have some character development that still needs to get done. Some people have been asking about Hinata's relationship with the rest of the Hyuuga clan and questions like these will be answered in upcoming chapters.
Also, regarding the Kiba and Tenten thing, that's also not going to take center stage. But it's about time something happens with these two because they were getting just a little too repetitive for me. Hopefully you guys like the direction I take them in! And even if you don't, there will be a whole lot of NaruHina to enjoy. Way more of that to come as well.
Recommendation!: I had to edit this in because SOMEHOW I forgot it. Hopefully most of you see it. Damn these busy holidays... anyway, this next story is one that I've mentioned a few times but it's about time it gets an official recommendation. It dances with Love's Never Easy (my recommendation from last week) at the top of my favorite stories list. I'm of course talking about the fantastic writer Serious Sam and his enthralling story: My Precious People. Seriously, I could never give this story the credit it deserves so I won't even try. You've probably read it, but if you haven't then you seriously should.
And if you guys want to make my Christmas truly magical, you could leave a review! It only takes a second and it makes a world of difference. Be safe and enjoy yourselves, folks! Stay tuned for that upcoming date!
Until next time!
