Hi all, yes it's been a while. I have tons of excuses, but I'm not going to bore you with them. This is a short chapter, and I am working up to a big part of the story. Also, this chapter and the one to follow will be in Naruto's perspective, so he will be narrating. Big things happen in this chapter, even though it is so short. It is a new twist in the story, more to get you thinking, more implications of what is going on! The next chapter coming, Naruto and Hinata will get their date out at the club, and I really think you will like that one a lot. For now, chew on this, and hope that I don't take months on end to write it! Thanks for the continued support and patience from my readers. Let me know what you think! Here we go, short and not so sweet...hope it doesn't feel to rushed at the end. I couldn't really go anywhere else without starting up on the night out.

I don't own the knuckle headed ninja or any of his friends.

I laid there for the rest of the night thinking, listening for the "snake's" thugs to come back, and trying not to sexually assault Hinata in her sleep. Damn, she was killing me. Did the girl seriously not know how incredibly hot she was? I sighed and moved slightly closer to her sleeping form. It had been a rough night, and I was surprised she could sleep at all.

I don't know how I got so lucky as to get her to fall for me this time. I really thought I was screwed when I saw her that day in the library, because, man, that girl knew how to play rough. I couldn't believe it was her. This Hinata was the yummiest sex kitten I'd ever seen, but she also had a temper she never had before. She had turned into the independent woman I always knew she could be, confident and not overshadowed by her father's wishes. True, she was a little repressed, but considering the damage that had been done...by me, no less...well, I guess I would just have to give her a break on that. I could be patient, I could wait on her. It would make the inevitable so much better.

I knew that sounded cocky of me, but honestly, I really did know how to handle Hinata. In so many ways, she really was the same person, that wasn't just some line I threw out there to get her to trust me. Those first few days after I finally located her were rough, so much pain flooding back for both of us, but for different reasons. I swear, if I could meet that version of me and Sasuke that she had known, those two brats would be in a world of hurt after the beat down I'd inflict on them.

I laid there wanting to beat the shit out of myself after those guys got through trying to break into my apartment. I know she was really scared now, and I couldn't protect her from that. She would have to stay with me from now on, there was no getting around it. I knew she would balk, out of some sense of duty, or whatever, but she had to think about this sensibly. The enemy was gunning for us now, and the rules of the game had obviously changed since we sent that email. She couldn't just think that her world would stay the same now. We were both going to have to adapt on the fly and that meant that we would be living in the same space. I hoped she would understand the merits of me keeping close to her. Oh yeah, those merits, too.

I looked over at the beautiful woman sleeping next to me. She was stretched out on her stomach with her arms reaching under her pillow and her face smashed into the soft cushion with drool smeared all over her face. She was out cold. Next, I looked at the clock. It was getting ready to go off. Man, this day was going to suck, I needed to take a nap later while she was in class. Maybe some espresso would be in order, as I was going to take her dancing tonight. Anything to ease the tension and make her happy for a while. I felt things were getting too tense, and if the big Snake's henchmen were going to up the game like that, there wouldn't be too many occasions to have fun from now on.

I watched the last few minutes on the clock and then the alarm went off, loud and maddening. I let it go for a little while, wanting it to wake her fully, and also act like I had been asleep all night. She stirred, whining slightly at the skull-invading alarm, and then she pushed herself up from the pillow on her elbows and looked at me expectantly. She was dying for me to smash the button on the clock.

I rolled over and did just that, mushing the wide snooze button and then rolled back to face her. She smiled sleepily and fell back down on her face into the damp pillow. I scooted closer to her and gently rubbed her back through my t-shirt that she wore. "Morning, beautiful," I sang to her quietly next to her ear.

"Uck, don't look at me, I'm a disaster," she moaned as she flipped a pillow over her head.

"Oh, I don't know, dried drool caked on your cheek sort of suits you, I think", I teased.

"Noooooo, dammit!" she whined as she jumped up and ran to the bathroom in one fluid motion. I laughed heartily at her childish antics. Why were girls so crazy about the way they looked? Everyone looks like shit when they wake up in the morning. It's a law of life. I never would understand that one. Hinata could be rolled in mud and I'd still think she was sexy. Hmm, thinking of that gave me a twitch in my shorts, actually. I needed to think of something else. I had to be on my game today. I had a damsel in distress to take care of, not that I minded that. She was already precious to me, it almost felt like I was destined somehow to take care of her. I felt that a lot, especially after my crazy dreams.

"There's clean towels in the wall cabinet!" I called to her. A few seconds later, I heard the shower start up. Oh, how I wanted to sneak in there with her. Now wasn't the time, though. I shook it off and went to the kitchen to start some coffee brewing. I also threw some frozen waffles into the toaster oven and set the timer. They'd still be sort of warm by the time we got dressed and ready.

A little while later, she stepped out of the bedroom, dressed in her clothes from yesterday, but looking fresh and bright, her beautiful hair down around her shoulders like a cape of midnight. "Your turn," she yawned. She walked behind my chair where I sat at the dining table and scruffed my hair with her left hand.

I smiled at her, dazzled by her beauty yet again. "There's coffee and waffles in the toaster oven," I offered. "Eat up and I'll be out in a few minutes."

I showered and shaved quickly and then got dressed in something casual but neat, as I was going to class as well, just not as long as she was on this day. Then I ran back in the bathroom and swiped on some deodorant and ran a little hair gel into my floppy locks, trying to tame them yet again. I don't know why I bothered, but I guess I would always keep it up. Why did I have to get my dad's hair? Mom's was so much nicer to deal with, I bet myself.

As I walked back into the kitchen with my jacket in hand, I noticed Hinata was finishing up the last bite of her waffle and taking her dishes to the sink. "You ready?" I asked and she nodded, smiling and grabbing her jacket. "You need to pack a lot of stuff, as you're going to be staying here for quite a while until things calm down."

"O-oh," was all she said, but at least she didn't argue with me. The last thing I needed was to have to talk her into staying at my place from now on. She could be a tough cookie when she wanted to be, and I wasn't used to having to spar with her. Part of me kind of liked it, though. I wanted her tough, I wanted her scrappy. She would have a better chance of surviving everything if she was emotionally stronger.

She was oddly quiet on the way to her condo, and I could tell there was something she wanted to say, but hadn't worked up her nerve, yet. I would ask her later if she didn't spill it soon. I didn't like secrets, though we hadn't really talked about things like that, yet. Since she was unofficially moving in with me, maybe I should start the ball rolling on what we expected of each other when it came to our relationship. I didn't like not knowing where I stood, either. Neither of us would be happy if we didn't understand the other and agree on what we wanted from the other. I didn't have a lot of demands, and I hoped she didn't, either. I couldn't help hoping things would turn out like before, with my other Hinata, but I knew that wasn't fair. I'd have to just hope for the best and adapt otherwise. I was determined not to lose my love again.

After pulling in to a parking spot at her complex, we both looked around warily before stepping out of the car. Good, we were on the same page as far as trying to be aware and stay safe. She and I jogged to her door, opened it, and both gasped at what we saw. The place was completely turned inside out.

Hinata spoke what was on both our minds. "WHY?" she half-sobbed. "I don't have anything that anyone would want. I don't have any secret items or letters hidden in here. What could they want from me now?" She dragged herself to the couch and flopped down heavily, her face in her hands.

"That does it," I growled. "You need to pack everything you absolutely need and we are going to carry it all to my place. You now officially live with me." I tried to loosen my demeanor to smile at her, but I know it didn't exactly turn out like the comforting look I intended to show her.

At first, she looked slightly shocked at my demands, but then she resigned herself and nodded her head solemnly. She sat there for just a second, and then she slapped her palms down on her knees and pushed herself up off the couch with a newly determined look in her eyes. "That's my girl," I said proudly. I let her go do her thing, and I stayed in the living room, trying to right the furniture and pick up what was strewn across the floor.

Five or so minutes passed, and then I heard a strangled cry come from Hinata's bedroom. I know I had to have flown to her side. She was visibly shaking, and she raised a finger to point at the full-length mirror standing in the corner. There, taped to the glass, was a note scrawled in Sharpie pen. I looked at the note, and a cold shiver went up my spine as I read.

GOTHCHA, Dumpy!

We know everything you do, and the boss is not happy with you two. We had to teach you a little lesson.

After I destroy goldie locks for everything he's done to me, you and I are going to have a REAL good time, Dumpy. You turned out to be a real babe, and I want my taste that I got deprived of a few times.

Sorry that I have to wait for the boss to give the go ahead.

Hang in there, though. It's coming...

Enjoy class today. Make sure you think of me.

-Sasuke

After staring at the note a few times and almost gagging, I turned to her and asked, "Dumpy?"

"It was the nickname he called me when you two were bullying me. I kind of lost my sense of self after a year or so of that, and stopped trying to look nice or anything. So yeah, it really did fit after some time." She spoke to me as if in a trance, and I could almost literally see the horrid memories swirling within her teary eyes.

I stepped forward to put my arms around her, but she backed up, holding her hands defensively in front of her. "Don't," she whispered shakily. "I'm sorry, Naruto, I just can't right now. It's too much." She ran into the bathroom and slammed the door. I heard her sobbing behind the door and my teeth almost broke I was clenching my jaw so hard. Sasuke, or whoever this was posing as him, hurt Hinata. They would pay for this, and pay heavy. He could threaten me all he wanted, but her? Oh man, was this guy going to get a full-on beat down. I didn't care who he thought he was or who he worked for. No one hurts her like that and gets away with it.

I ran to her closet and started stuffing clothes and shoes in suitcases and bags. Then I ran them all to the trunk of my car, stuffing it full. I trotted back into her unit and lightly knocked on the bathroom door. "Hinata," I called out cautiously, "Babe, we have to go. Grab your bathroom stuff and come on, ok?"

I heard rummaging and the occasional drawer and cabinet door and then eventually she came out, wiping her eyes with a bunched up piece of toilet paper. I reached for her travel cosmetic bag and took it for her. Then I took an arm and hugged her shoulder and kissed her on the top of the head. I felt her stiffen slightly, but I wasn't going to be deterred from letting her know that I would protect her and love her. I gave her another squeeze before I let go. We could get past this. I knew we could.

We ran to the car, both scanning the parking lot for more intruders as we got into the black and orange beast. I knew this marked an end to life as I knew it. I knew Hinata was just beginning to fathom the trouble we were in and where it was all going to wind up. And I knew eventually she would come to the conclusion that she would have to quit her job and drop out of college. I really didn't want to be in the same three mile radius when that realization hit her.

Classes went smoothly, and on the way home, we stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things in order to make dinner. Oh, and a couple of bottles of wine. Relaxing was a priority by this time, and I wanted to make sure Hinata wasn't going to get sick over this problem we were having. She was going to enjoy tonight whether or not she wanted to. Dancing and romancing were just what the doctor ordered, and I meant to deliver.