DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO AND ITS CHARACTERS. THEY BELONG TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNER AND PUBLISHER.
FORGIVE THE GRAMMAR AND TYPOS.
I AM TOO LAZY TO REREAD AND REVIEW.
WHY DO I HAVE A FEELING IT WILL BE NARUSAKU? :(
The hands that grip too tight bleed
Hurting, painful, broken
Cry and let go under this starry night...
The orange color of the setting sun reflects on her eyes. It is another day I spent in secret with Hinata. I know what I am doing isn't good. I am lying to Sakura chan by not telling her that the issue between Hinata and I was solved already although until now, I do not know the reason why she slapped Sakura chan. I just know that there might be a good reason behind it. Now that I gotten to talked with Hinata more, I am beginning to understand her.
Her calm personality, cools down my heated head. With her I feel at peace, I do not need to show off just to get her attention. I just act the way I always did, clumsy at times and stupid most of the times. I got no fear of showing that side of me to her because I know she won't ever judge me like she always did. I am such a lucky person to have her as my friend.
"So how is Sasuke?" her gentle voice broke my train of thoughts.
"Well, he is still the bastard that he is. So arrogant thinking that he is still above me. Geez I thought after all this time he had accepted me as his equal rival." I told her getting annoyed at the very thought of Sasuke. Don't get me wrong, I am happy that he is back, it is just that old rivalries don't vanish easily.
"I don't really know the bond between the two of you but I think the two of you treated each other as brothers."
"Eh you think so?"
"Yes because that how brothers are. They will call each others name, will have cat fights and be rivals but at the end of the day they will always come to the rescue of one another."
"I do not have any brother nor did I experience having one so I can't say if that is how siblings should be. But I agree when you say we will always come to the rescue of one another even so none of us will be willing to admit it."
"You admitted just now, Naruto kun."
"Well that would be a secret then. Don't tell any living soul about that."
"Got it."
"Is that how you and Hanabi are? I mean you cat fights and consider each other as rivals?"
Stupid! Of course they treated each other as rivals. Hanabi, although she is the younger one was chosen to be the next head of the Hyuga clan. Hinata must have been really bothered by that.
"No. I never seen Hanabi as a rival. Sure she is always being favored by my father and by the others. She is being praise by a lot of people but still I never seen her as a rival. I am proud of her if truth be told. She had achieved that things I have been aiming and as a sister it is natural for me to be proud right?"
"But don't you feel any grudge that she had taken what is rightfully yours?"
"I never held up any grudge against her. I know she is deserving of it. What about you Naruto?"
"What about me?"
"What if it is Sasuke who becomes the next Hokage? Would you harbor grudge against him?"
I knew the answer even I did not think of it.
"No. I will be proud too cause I know he will be deserving."
"I knew you would say the same thing too."
"But anyway I will be the Hokage!" I shouted and Hinata laughed. "Eh why are you laughing is there something funny?"
"None. It is just you are so energetic. Same old Naruto kun."
"Sometimes you should shout too. It isn't bad to do it once in a while."
"It is?"
"Yeah, try it."
"Alright." She stood up and inhaled deeply. Then shouted. "I will be a great ninja! Strong as my father and gentle as mother!"
I look at her with a smile on my face. She is already a great ninja, she just have to realized it herself. She is also a great person. Gentle but with strong determination.
"How is that?" I asked.
"It feels good." She said and smiled.
Then there is silence between us. We just stared back at the sun as it sets and wait for the first star to bright up the dark sky. I like this too. Just sitting beside her, not talking but still knowing that I have someone beside me who looked up at the same sky and see the same things I can see. It is peaceful. I want to forever stay in this state of peacefulness with her but it can never be. The guilt of me lying to one of the closest persons in my life destroyed the moment. It is during times like these, when I am contented and feeling at peace when my conscience reminds me of my sin. I want to tell Sakura chan, I want her to understand that Hinata never meant anything wrong, that everything that happened will be sort out. But I don't know how.
"Naruto kun, you are worried again, aren't you?" I heard her softly said.
"Me? Worried? Of course not."
"No need to deny it. I know that you are torn between me and Sakura chan."
I did not answer. There's no need to. She already knows.
"I did not agree on how things are or what Sakura chan has in her mind. But I think when the time comes you tell her that you are still friendly to me and she tells you to stop, for her sake do it."
"What?!" I was enraged. "Why would I do that? You two are my friends and I don't have any plans of turning my back to any of my friends."
She is quiet for a moment. Lost in her own thoughts. I do not know what came on her mind to suggest those kind of things but I definitely won't do it.
"Sakura chan is hurting inside. I have seen the broken her inside the strong facade she is showing us. I still disagree to her means of healing but I guess in time she will learn to truly love you the way I do."
"What do you mean by that? That she will learn to truly love me the way you do?"
"I," I saw the hesitation in her and I somehow understood the reason why she had slapped Sakura chan that night. " I got to go. See you around Naruto kun."
I nodded and I did not make any attempt to stop her. I was rooted on the spot where I am sitting, that if anyone attack me, I probably won't notice at all. It is not like I haven't expected this. I knew it already that Sakura chan is using me to forget what she feels for Sasuke. I realized it already that night when she kissed me. What surprised me is Hinata's action.
She is happy because she thought Sakura chan's feelings for me are real. That I finally be able to get the girl of my dreams but when she realized her lies, she got mad. But maybe there's a possibility that Sakura chan will truly love me and when it comes Hinata will sincerely be happy for us without minding that it might be her who will end up broken. She had dirtied herself, made it look like she is the villain and will be willing to be the sacrificed for my own sake. That is what love truly means. My feelings for Sakura chan, compare to that is like comparing an ant to a lion.
What a selfless person you are Hinata.
"Naruto you are there!" Sakura's loud voice is calling me. I just nodded at her as she approached me. "What are you doing in this place alone?"
"Looking at the stars. Aren't they lovely?" I asked and I was surprised at the calmness of my tone.
"Yes they are. Like countless of diamonds thrown in a velvet black cloth." She said staring at the night sky.
"Hey Sakura," I am still calm.
There is nothing to be afraid of. If she cries, shouts, slapps me and punches me, I will accept it. I will wipe her tears away. I will calm down her voice. I will willingly give her my cheeks for her to slap. I will accept the punches even if it will send me to the hospital. This kind of pain has nothing compared to the pain they had suffered.
"You seem to be surprisingly calm today." She said.
"I know that you are only using me to forget Sasuke."
"Hinata told you?" she asked in a toneless voice.
"She does not have to. I already knew it. It is impossible for you who love him so much to just throw it all away."
"You aren't stupid as what I thought you are."
I did not mind her calling me stupid. I'm used to that and I probably am for not doing this before. For lying instead of telling the truth.
"That night, when you got your heart broken, I do not know what to say. I just accepted you. But now let me tell you what I should have told you. Even if your feelings are not reciprocated you should still be happy. Be happy for the happiness of that person you love. Cry then let go. Let go of it naturally." I looked at her and I see the tenderness in her green eyes. "You don't have to lie to yourself and use others just to forget the pain. I know you are a strong woman. You can get through this without forcing yourself to love me."
My eyes did not leave her. I saw her cry. I saw her break down like before. But unlike those times, I know that after this she will be fine. I made no attempt to go near her this time, I want her to feel what I feel when I am with Hinata. That even if there are no words passed between us, she would still feel my presence right there beside her.
After a while she stopped and looked up at the sky.
"The stars are really beautiful." She said and I looked up too.
"You are right. They seem to be brighter than it was awhile ago."
"Thank you Naruto." She said and out of the corner of my eyes, I saw her smile.
"No need to."
"I need to apologize to Hinata."
"That you have to."
"Do you think she will forgive me?"
"I'm sure she will. She has a gentle heart you know."
"Heh, seems like you are getting pretty close to her?" she teased me.
"Hey stop that! It's not like that." I shouted all my calmness gone.
But maybe she is right I'm getting closer to her.
"Hey Sakura, one day let's watch these stars with everyone of our friends." I said after awhile.
"Right."
