Chapter 14:

Can't See The Light

Why is life so difficult? Lost in thought, TenTen walked towards the entrance of the academy. Neji still wanted to be with her and she knew that despite trying to avoid the subject altogether, she did too. That was clearly apparent by recent events. Taking a deep breath she opened the door, letting the noise of the school drown out the another loving memory before it could pop up. Glancing over her shoulder at the clock above the huge entrance doors she sighed, thank god today is only a half day. None of the kids really liked it, but starting the school day at 1pm instead of 8am was great for administration. Everyone liked being able to have a nice slow morning before dealing with the young ninjas in training. She shivered at the thought, so unpredictable! She frowned, but what to do about Neji? The last thing she wanted was to be sneaking around with him while this girl had no idea. That wasn't fair either, it wasn't the girls fault the elders chose her. But is it really fooling around when I was there first? Maybe he could at least tell her his intentions and then she wouldn't feel so hurt if she saw us together? She felt bad even as the thought crossed her mind. She waved absentmindedly to passing instructors as she made her way down the hall, "Ah what am I thinking?..." she muttered to herself, "I hated sneaking around anyways..."

Turning the corner into another shorter hallway, she headed straight for the door just past the teachers bathrooms. I bet life isn't this difficult for civilians, she thought gloomily. As she pushed open the door into the teachers lounge, she looked towards the wall next to the door.

"Hmm... Konohamaru shadowing again?" she murmured as she scanned the schedule.

The young ninja had recently shown interest in becoming a teacher at the academy and would shadow the regular teachers as much as Iruka would let him. A chuckle escaped her lips, she may be good with the kids, but Konohamaru was popular straight away. Mostly because he laughed at their pranks or juvenile jokes, but he was on his way to being a top notch teacher like Iruka, minus the temper. Slowly she made her way to an empty table, sitting down tiredly. I'll have to do something at some point right?

"...And this is the teachers lounge, you can eat in here or just take a break..." She looked up to see Iruka leading a woman into the break room, smiling brightly when he took notice of her, "Oh good timing, you'll be the first introduction!"

He motioned behind him as the woman walked up, "This is Kurosawa Reiko, she's interested in becoming a teacher here."

Wow, Tenten thought as she got up, she's stunning. The woman standing next to Iruka was long legged, tall, blond, and obviously had a fashion sense. "Nice to meet you! My name is TenTen! What are you interested in teaching here?"

Reiko tapped her chin thoughtfully before answering, "Well... I think I would be really good at teaching kids about the basic types of jutsu and the basic moves. Also handwriting, that's important!"

"That's great, I think you would actually fit in really well her!"

"Maybe just part time right now," Iruka started, "At least until you get acclimated to the village, and I'm sure you want time to get used to the Hyuuga clan!"

Tenten blinked, that was a weird thing to say...

Reiko smiled shyly, her cheeks slightly pink, "Oh not really, I get along with everyone there, they have all been very welcoming! It's honestly just Neji... he's so hard to talk to..."

"Ha ha! Well I'm sure Tenten could help you out with that. They've been together so long she must know all of the ins and outs of the Hyuuga!"

Reiko turned to Tenten questioningly, but whatever words she was supposed to say were caught in her throat. Her? She could feel cries threatening to spill out of her mouth as she stared blankly.

"Uhm..." Iruka looked from Tenten to Reiko, "What I was getting at is Tenten was on the same team as Neji when they first started in the academy until a couple of years ago actually. They're still great as team so more often than not the hokage sends them out together, now that I think of it."

"Oh, how nice..." Reiko stared at Tenten, smiling slightly.

Why is she looking at me like that? Is devastation written plainly on my face? Tenten cleared her throat as she sat back down, "I-I guess I could give you some insight."

She closed her eyes, waving an arm nonchalantly, "Don't expect any love advice though, I am literally clueless when it comes to Neji's tastes. Ive seen him shoot down probably hundreds of girls on missions and here in the village."

Reiko relaxed as she sat down at the table, "Ha! So Neji, he seems like that type!"

Tenten wanted to vomit, what would you about Neji? "Right? It actually wasn't until he became jonin that he eased up and actually started accepted love letters and things like that... but he still tossed them secretly."

Reiko frowned, completely absorbed in the gossip, "So he never had anyone special?"

Iruka chuckled awkwardly as he backed out of the room, "Okay I'll just get going now..." he paused in the door frame, "Reiko just make sure to meet me in my classroom, you can shadow me today. I want you to know what these...kids...are like and how you should deal with their constant pranks..."

"O-oh, of course!" she turned back to Tenten as Iruka disappeared, "Did you hear that emphasis on 'deal'...?"

Tenten leaned back in her chair, glad the topic had switched, "Let's just say Iruka is not one to be messed with..."

"I'll for sure remember that..." Reiko shook her head, blinking as she leaned into the table again, "So...did he ever have someone special?"

Tenten winced, her throat tight as she tried to swallow, "I-I don't think so, we haven't really spent much time together since I became a teacher here. I think we actually only really have time if all our friends eat out together or we group up to go on a mission."

"But there has to be someone who caught his eye... after all this time."

"Not enough to tell anyone if so." She grew quiet, at least that parts correct... "Hiashi told him a while ago that anyone he would be with shouldn't be serious..."

Reiko cocked her head, "How did you know about that?"

Oh god... She panicked as she tried to think of an excuse, "Well... of course I uh... I had the same question! I-I mean by that time I was thinking there must have been something wrong with him!"

Laughing nervously, she looked at the clock on the wall, 5 minutes till the warning bell.

Tenten shot up, "Well the kids will be coming in soon and someone needs to round up the stragglers, I'll see you around?"

Reiko smiled warmly, "Sure."

Tenten walked quickly towards the door, wanting to be away from this room as soon as possible.

"Tenten?"

She turned, forcing another smile onto her face, "Yes?"

Reiko was staring at the table, before looking up shyly, "...I'm glad there is someone here who understands Neji... I really just need a friend to be honest."

Pretty and nice? "O-Of course..." she stuttered, turning quickly to continue out the door, what did I do in my past life to deserve-AHH!"

"I'M HERE OH GOD PLEASE DON'T TELL IRUKA-SENSEI I WAS ALMOST LATE."

"Dammit Konohamaru! You scared the crap out of me!" She bent over clutching her rapidly beating heart, "What kind of person just appears in doorways yelling like that?"

Konohamaru laughed nervously as he rubbed the back of his head, "Sorry Tenten... I just didn't wanna get Iruka upset with me again! I wanna do a good job ya know..."

Reiko's eyes were wide as she got up, "Is Iruka really that scary?"

"YES." both answered immediately.

"O-oh, I should get going then!" She nodded towards Konohamaru as she walked quickly out of the room.

Konohamaru watched as she left, casually leaning out of the door with both hands planted on the frame, "Who's that?"

Tenten waited a moment, hands still on her knees. I though there's supposed to be light at the end of the tunnel...

"Gah!" She flinched as Konohamaru shrieked when the warning bell went off above them, "Oy! Tenten, we gotta go!"

Straightening, she walked after Konohamaru, "Right behind you..."

But what if you couldn't even see the light? What then?

"Oh. My. God."

"What?"

Ino huffed, waving her hand with the remote towards the TV sitting across her room on top of her dresser, "Tell me why your confused about what just happened."

Hinata leaning forward to look past Sai at Ino, "Maybe if you just let it pla-"

"Sai looked absolutely confused," She interrupted, "He needs to understand both sides! He's totally falling for the idea that Erika really does like Kusakabe when she's still in love with Kyoya!"

An annoyed groan drew their attention to the foot of the bed, "Is that why we keep watching these terrible romantic Shojo's?"

Hinata covered her mouth as she giggled, meeting Neji's less than pleased gaze.

"Ino scoffed, "What the hell is wrong with my shows? You don't have to be here you know..."

He glared at Ino before turning back towards the tv, sliding back down against the end of the bed out of view and mumbling about how emotionally upsetting and sickening these shows are. Hinata sighed, Neji didn't want to be here, but he had practically begged her to let him come along. She had really gone to see Naruto, knowing Ino wouldn't have noticed her missing, but she couldn't just leave him at home. Not with Reiko showing up to cling to his side every other second. After she had finally asked if he wanted to go with her, Neji had excused himself to the "bathroom" immediately after finishing his dinner, watching Hinata with his byakugan until she too excused herself and made her way to the gate with him following along the roof. As soon as everyone arrived at Ino's, Ino had immediately dragged Sai to sit with her on the bed and waved for Hinata to join before starting the show. Neji was adamant about sitting on the floor against the end of the bed, especially after Sai had offered his own lap. Hinata giggled remembering Sai's innocent smile, Ino rolling her eyes, and Neji's face going completely red. She looked back to Ino as she snatched Sai's notebook away, "Don't look in your book Sai! Just think about what happened!"

"So... "Sai started, staring at the ceiling, "Your telling me that even though Kyoya routinely calls her a dog and tells her how un-special she is, she still loves him? Why would she allow herself to be demeaned in such a way? It's not very realistic. This would never happen outside of the show."

"You would be suprised. Plus he's obviously emotionally unavailable due to some past incident! Did you not see the snowman flashback that came up for half a second?"

"He's unavailable because of a snowman?"

Hinata laughed freely at that, ignoring the glare Ino directed at her, "Sai ignore Hinata, it's not specifically the snowman, it's the whole event that hurt him to where he can't love openly."

"Huh, so he's like Sasuke... and Sakura is basically Erika...?"

He looked to both Ino and Hinata as they both stared back in silence. He nodded taking their silence for agreement, "So basically he's going to be that way forever and Erika is just going give in and deal with it even though it causes her pain and she doesn't receive love the way he can give it?"

"U-Um...that's n-not really where I was going with that..." Ino said quietly. "W-Why don't we watch something else?"

Pointing the remote towards the tv she exited the show, searching quickly for another, "Oh perfect!"

"What is this one?"

"My Little Monster!" Ino exclaimed excitedly.

"This is another romance shojo?"

"Uh huh! One where your basically the main character, so watch closely!"

Hinata sighed, looking to Ino's alarm clock on the end table, It's already 9:15pm? Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back. At the rate we're going, by the time we get through 3 episodes it'll be too late to go see if Naruto's home... I didn't even get to see him all day... There had been too much to do at the Hyuuga household, her head hurt just thinking about it. From having to be present while Hiashi discussed matters concerning the family to working part-time at the hospital, she hardly had a minute to spare. Not that I could focus anyway... She looked down at her hands, all I can think about is... the blush crept over her nose, is... that stupid kiss! She shut her eyes as she felt her face heat up entirely. I'm such an idiot! I still haven't apologized for that or for the other night! I have to do something!

She slid off the bed before she could talk herself out of it, "I-I'm going downstairs... to go to the bathroom."

Sai smiled to her, Ino nodded absently, her eyes glued to the show. Everyone was to caught up to point out that there was a bathroom upstairs, Walking past the bed, she looked down to Neji wondering if he heard her. He was laying flat on the floor, his hair splayed out around him as he stared blankly into the ceiling. He's not even watching... Well at least he's not at home, so I did something good? She took her time as she walked past the bathroom, going quietly down the stairs. What if this is all in vain? Naruto has never noticed me before... She sighed as she rounded the stairs, going into the family room that led to the shop. Maybe he really isn't oblivious... it's just that he really doesn't feel anything for me and just doesn't want to hurt me...? She smiled in spite of the sad thought, that would be just like Naruto. Her hand toyed with the tiny bonsai tree Ino had trimmed earlier as she walked through the living room, "I'm trying to be clear," she whispered to herself, "I want him to know now..."

Her fingers pointed together as she walked slowly into the shop, fidgeting by the door. Activating her byakugan she glanced up towards his apartment, seeing it completely empty. He's not there... Where in the world could he have gone? Feeling defeated she pushed open the door, turning to sit on a bench underneath the shop window. He never even said where he was going... he just left. She could feel tears forming in her eyes, threatening to spill out as she stared at her palms. Am I so forgettable?

"I just want to mean something to someone..." Her voice was shaky, barely a whisper. She shook her head, tears gathering on her lashes. No, not to anyone she thought, just to you.

"Hinata?"

Her head shot up, recognizing the familiar voice. He stood by the railing squinting at her, "What are you doing outside Ino's so late?"

"N-Naruto!"

She jumped up, completely forgetting her earlier woes as she ran over. He stared at her quizzically, his mouth opening wide in a sleepy yawn, "Hey..."

He started climbing the stairs, his arms limp by his side as he went. Is he alright?... she thought, coming around the railing, "Naruto? Are you..."

"Eh?" he muttered, looking over his shoulder tiredly as he fished his keys out, "Oh... did you wanna come inside?"

Her stomach flipped inside her, "N-No! I just wanted to s-say I-"

"Come inside Hinata, it's cold and I'm so tired of standing tebayooo*..." he groaned as he went inside.

Her body felt frozen as she stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching him disappear inside. Go inside dummy! Swallowing, she gathered her courage to rush up the stairs, before she could convince herself not to. Her heart pounded while she leaned quietly against the closed door. I'm inside Naruto's home... She had already seen his apartment before using her byakugan, but being inside felt like an entirely new experience. Glancing around she noticed how small it really was. From the small twin sized bed in the right corner, a TV across from it atop an tiny old dresser, to a small low table in the center of the room between her and the kitchen. Left from the kitchen was a thin hallway, a closet on the wall before a door to what she knew was bathroom. A tiny end table with a small plant by the door. Her eyes flitted to the fridge as it opened, watching while Naruto bent to examine its contents. He muttered to himself as he pushed items around, "Aha!"

He turned around, a half eaten takeout box of ramen raised triumphantly in his hand, "RAMEN, hehe!"

He immediately sat down on the floor in front of the table, not even bothering to warm the noodles as he wolfed the noodles down. Wasn't he exhausted a moment ago? Can just the idea of ramen really energize someone this way? Should it?

She smiled as she sat down across from him, nervously poking her fingers together, "I just wanted-" she blushed, looking down when he looked up to her sleepily, "I just wanted to apologize for before... I-I wasn't trying to be rude or anything I just...Naruto?"

She stopped, blinking curiously as she looked at Naruto. His chopsticks floated in front of his open mouth, eyes glazed over, "Um... N-Naruto?"

"Eh?" He blinked, shaking his head.

His eyes are so red... "Have you slept lately?"

"Sleep..." he repeats, "Yea.. thas' a good idea..."

"Huh? W-Wait Naruto, I really need-"

He was already moving away, not bothering to stand again as he made his way to his bed. Climbing on top he went on his knees, pulling his shirt from the back of his neck over his head. Oh gosh... Hinata blushed as she looked away but soon found herself looking back as he flopped down on his back with a sigh, halfheartedly lifting his hips up so he could push his pants down, until they were around his feet. He dangled his foot around until they completely slipped off, Hinata completely red as pushed around the comforter to get underneath. She swallowed as the silence grew longer, H-He must have forgotten I was here... Her eyes went wide, did he even hear my apology? This isn't going well...

She sighed as she stood up, it's not his fault, he helped with the search and he was out all day and night doing something. Frowning, she folded her arms, a hand going to her lips in thought, Teuchi said he hadn't stopped by at all so it must have been important. She blinked in realization, come to think of that Teuchi was acting funny... the way he smiled at me when I asked where Naruto had been was a dead giveaway that he knew something! So maybe it was ramen related... She looked around, still it wouldn't be very good to wake up and see you still had all this to clean up. She smiled, maybe I can do that as way of apology!

Unsure of where to really start she went around the room designating piles. One pile for trash on the table, one for clothes, dishes in the sink first, another pile for bathroom items on the counter. Hinata was nothing if not organized, so Naruto's messy habits hardly fazed her. Pushing the pile of clothes towards his bed, she came back to stand in front of the pile of dishes she had made in his sink, "Ok..."

She paused, grabbing a hair tie out of her pocket to pull her long hair into a bun messily. Now I'm ready! The knob turned with a squeak as the water flowed out slowly, it might take longer this low but I don't wanna wake him. She could feel herself smiling as she got into a rhythm, putting wet dishes aside to dry on a towel. I wish I could come over whenever I felt like it... Her eyes drifted upwards as her hands repeated the same circular motions on the dirty dishes. From here, Naruto had a perfect view of the sky and the stars at night. I wish this could be a normal day to be here with him...she looked back down, her cheeks tinted pink, even if does fall asleep when I'm here...

"Hinata..."

She let out a surprised squeak as he turned about in his bed, her heart beating faster.. Did I wake him? She waited, the only sound the slow steady stream of the faucet as Naruto stilled, snoring now.

She breathed out quietly, "Phew.."

Setting the last dish aside she turned the water off, turning around to lean against the sink as she look around, glaring at the pile of wrappers and old papers she accumulated on his table, trash next. Looking under the sink, she grabbed a larger trash bag and attempted to quietly shove all the contents inside. Naruto still didn't wake up. Walking on tiptoes anyways, she put the pile by the door for him to take out tomorrow, then headed back over to the kitchen counter to take all his bathroom items she had placed there back into the bathroom. Walking back into the room, her hands landed her hips as she looked around. Pretty good... except... She looked towards the pile of clothes by his bed, I cant just leave those... When it came to cleaning there was no way she could leave something undone if she had done everything else. No matter how hard she might try to ignore it. Walking up to the pile she sat down, starting with separating the tops from bottoms. She giggled to herself when she realized almost everything was either black or orange.

"You need a little bit of variety Naruto..." she whispered, holding up black long sleeve to smell it.

She smiled, it smells like Naruto, so nice. She went to smell it again when she froze, the thought running through her mind again, it just smells like Naruto. How am I supposed to know what's dirty and what's clean if I don't think he smells?! She grabbed shirt after shirt, frantically smelling each to no avail. Her eyes stared into the pile of clothes blankly, That's it... it's over... I cant do this part. She groaned as she let herself fall back on the floor, turning her head towards the bed, "Naruto..." she whispered, "Why don't you stink?"

She raised an eyebrow as she looked up to the ceiling, "Maybe he does stink and I'm too biased to sense any difference."

She laughed quietly as she sat up. Wait till I tell Hanabi she has better senses than I do... she'll love that. She stared at the pile, after a while picking up the shirt she had seen him wearing when they first came in. Well I at least know this dirty... and these, she thought as she grabbed the pants he had also been wearing. Standing she started walking towards the bathroom where she had seen a laundry basket. I'll just-

*CLACK*

"Hm?"

She stopped in her tracks, looking down for the source of the noise. Scanning the ground, her eyes fixed on a golden chain that hadn't been on the ground a moment ago. She picked it up, a charm hung at the end swaying from the movements. Lifting it higher in front of her eyes, she blinked in recognition. A narutomaki? Her head cocked, This is in ramen... She had no idea he like the side so well. Laying it flat in her hand, the long chain hung from her palm as she flipped it over. The back of the narutomaki was gold plated, tiny letters carved into the middle. Squinting she could make it out, seeing that the letters were 'N&H' inscribed in. She blinked. N? H? Frozen, she stood there trying to think what it could mean. Narutomaki hot? Naruto hot? Never ... horrible? She smiled softly, whatever it is it's so cute. Flipping it back over, she ran a finger over the pink lines. Every time I see one of these... I can't help but think of Naruto... it always reminds me of his family symbol. Plus he and ramen are basically one and the same! Her head whipped to the bed as Naruto stirred, startling her out of her thoughts. Oh gosh I need to hurry! She put the necklace in her pocket, not wanting to misplace it as she finished cleaning. Settling for two neat piles of separated shirts and pants, she took one last look around the now wholly cleaned apartment before a sense of dread sets upon her. What if he thinks the purpose of me cleaning was to start snooping around?! He would never talk to me again. Running over to the bag of trash by the door, she dug around for a piece of blank paper. Pulling her hand out she examined the paper, discovering the half crumpled paper to be a discount coupon-unexpectedly expired-for ramen. Uncrumpling it and examining the other side, finding it white and blank.

"This will have to do..." she muttered.

Grabbing a pen from the drawer of the end table, she sat on the floor in front of the table with her legs folded under her as she smoothed it out as best she could on the wood, I'll write a note and then I'll leave the necklace with it. The pen hovered above the white paper as she stared down, frozen. What do I say? Thoughts faster than she could process rushed through her mind. She shook her head, don't overthink it! Just be as honest as possible... Calming she set the pen to paper, writing as neat as possible where the crinkles made it hard. The door pounded loudly as she finished the note, just as she was starting to sign her name, "Hinata! What are you doing in there?"

Neji?! She looked to Naruto nervously as he thrashed in the bed, coming out of the sleep. If he sees me then this whole note is purposeless! The door banged again as Hinata scrambled onto the kitchen counter. Naruto cursed as she slid the window up, just wide enough for to slip out before jumping down into the alley bellow. Activating her byakugan, she turned looking up towards his apartment to see if he had spotted her exit. Neji stood in an open door, his hands behind his back as he looked to Hinata with his byakugan as well.

"Well?!" Naruto demanded.

Neji rolled his eyes as he looked back to Naruto, "Has Hinata been by here? I thought I saw her this way."

"Eh? No way! Why?"

Hinata covered her mouth, giggling. Neji knew for sure she had been in there and Naruto denying it because of sleep deprivation would only made Neji more suspicious. True to her prediction, Neji eyed him skeptically, "What are you guys hiding?"

Neji looked Naruto up and down as if only just realizing he was only in his boxers. "Where are your clothes? Were you like this the whole time she was here?"

"Haaaah? What kinda question is that? I was sleeping and ima do it however I like! And anyway, she wasn't here, shes not here now, and actually so what if she was? She's good company unlike SOME people!"

Neji sighed, "Look Naruto, I don't mean to pry but she's like a sister to me, I am very prote-"

"She's sweet and shes nice," Naruto continued like Neji hadn't spoken, on a roll now, "She cares about everyone Neji! Like genuinely cares! She's like an...an angel with the most beautiful bod-!"

"Okay okay, I get it. I don't think I need to hear anymore Naruto. So ah...I guess I'll be leaving then."

Neji took a look around the studio before turning to head down the steps, "You're a lot cleaner than I thought you would be, by the way."

"Huh?"

Hinata could feel her heart pounding as Naruto looked around, frowning in confusion. He noticed the open window and almost walked past the table, doing a double take when he noticed the slightly crumpled paper. He frowned as he picked it up, and for half a second he looked ready to cry. She held her breath as his eyes widened, his body seemingly frozen. Oh god, oh god, oh god! She covered her eyes with her hands, he definitely thinks I'm the worst... Forcing herself to look back she gasped. He was staring at the note... blushing? She felt herself mirroring the small smile on his lips. Not daring to blink, she watched as he put the note against the fridge, holding it against the door with a magnet. He's keeping it? She felt like her heart was going to overflow from the feeling of pure bliss. A note on the back of an old coupon? a laugh escaped her lips, from me...?

"Psst."

She looked up to see Neji leaning over the roof, "Can we please go now? And I absolutely refuse to go back to Ino's, I can't watch any more of that stupid angst."

She nodded, feeling euphoric as she meet with Neji as she landed back in front of Ino's. That's a normal thing to do right? Putting a friends note on your fridge.. she thought while pulling the tie out of her hair as they began walking home. I don't want to get excited but I cant help it... Her fingers pulled at the hair band, He is the nicest person I have ever known...his ability to make everyone feel just as special...

Neji sighed next to her, pulling her out of her thoughts, "So Ino and Sai?"

Hinata looked to him, surprised, "H-huh?"

"Are they... together? I feel like neither of them have really paid much attention to each other before..."

"Oh..."

She looked back down, trying to think of something that didn't give away Ino's ulterior motives, "U-um well... who knows! L-Love can spring up anywhere, even when your not looking for it..."

Neji smiled sadly, "I guess that makes sense..."

Hinata winced, "...Does Tenten know?"

He nodded somberly, Hinata's stomach curling inside her at the thought of the pain her friend was in, "How did she take it?"

Shrugging he looked up into the night sky, "As well as someone in her position can I suppose." He was silent for a while before sighing, "I'm worried... I don't want to lose her."

"What are you gonna do?" Hinata asked, her fingers toying with each other in her nervousness.

He took a deep breath through his nose, "The plan is to tell Hiashi... that I am going to be with who I want."

"Your not going to tell him about Tenten?"

"I don't want her to face any scrutiny if there's issues that come after me saying that."

She nodded in agreement, but immediately she was filled with worry again, "What if he and the elders say no? What will you do then?"

He laughed then, "What do I have to lose Hinata? I'm not part of the main branch, I-"

"But Neji, you kn-"

"AND," Neji continued, "We don't discuss it much to keep the peace, but with Sasuke attacking the Kage Summit, the Akatsuki assembling an army... you never know how much longer any of us have. We could be called to fight in a war any day now, " he looked to Hinata as he spoke, "And some of us may not come back."

"Neji," Hinata whispered, "Don't say things like that..."

Putting an arm around her shoulder, he pulled her closer as they continue to walk, "Hinata, don't worry... I won't let anything happen to you."

She looked down, feeling her eyes pooling with tears. It wasn't her life she cared about so much as the lives of her family and friends. She couldn't imagine living without any of the people she knew, and she quickly pushed the thought out of head. Neji cleared his throat, obviously trying to think of something to dispel the grim mood he had set, "Anyways! Even though those shows were god awful to me, did you like-"

"If we hardly have any time left why do you care so much about if I'm around Naruto or not? You've always known how I felt about Naruto..."

He sighed, "Before it was different. It was one thing when it was just one sided..."

She frowned, but it's still one sided...

"Your already so attached to him," he continued, oblivious to how lost she was from his last comment, "And yet you guys have never even held hands... or shared a kiss."

She blushed, "Neji... a-actually-"

"We're a lot alike Hinata. For you, the physical actions you take towards someone you like are always attached to emotions. There's no separating the two... I'm just afraid for you. The stronger the love, the stronger the heartbreak."

"Heartbreak?"

"Were coming into a war, and Naruto's going to be at the center of it all Hinata, you know that."

Neji took a deep breath, "It nearly killed me to know you tried to save him from Pein, while you knew you wouldn't be able to stop him. If you tried to do that again, you might not get so lucky. And I don't want to walk by your room and see that its empty, Hinata."

They walked in silence together as they headed home, the silence seemed to stretch on forever until she saw they were at their compound. She put her arm around his as they walked into the compound, "Your not going to Neji."

She looked up to him, frowning defiantly, "And after this war, I'm not going to walk by your room empty either."

He smiled, "Of course not."

"You're a lot cleaner than I thought you would be, by the way."

"Huh?"

What's he talking about? Naruto thought as he shut his door, my place is an absolute... He blinked as he took in his apartment, wreck...? He looked to his bed, all his clothes in two piles on the floor next to it. Looking to the door he saw a bag full to the brim of trash, and then to the kitchen, the dishes are done?! He could have danced if he wasn't so tired but why was it so cold? He looked above the sink, the window was even open. Did I leave the window open all day!? He walked across the room cursing himself for being so irresponsible, although all a robber had to do was take one look and they would change their mind since the place usually looked worthless. He stopped, his eyes catching a stray paper on the kitchen table; he almost walked passed it, being used to trash on the table. But a single paper? He picked it up, an expired ramen coupon!? He whimpered, tears threatening to spill out. What a cruel world I live in... his eyebrow raised as he noticed the tell tell marks of pen imprint, there's writing on the back? Frowning he flipped it over, holding it between two hands as he read;

Naruto,

I came to apologize for my rude behavior the previous night.

You fell asleep before I could properly apologize, so I cleaned your studio.

You're unsurprisingly messy, but I guess you wouldn't be you if you weren't completely scattered.

To me, you're perfect.

Not exactly sure why it took everyone else so long to see that.

Even back then, you cared about everyone the same, good or bad. I love that about you.

- H

He felt himself smiling, his eyes running over the same line again and again. He could imagine her sitting there as she wrote, being completely honest and matter of fact in her appraisal of how he lived. If she thought too much about it she might have never wrote it, a classic trait of someone who since birth second guessed every one of their decisions. He walked over to his fridge, pinning the note to the freezer. He yawned, the note going blurry in his vision as his eyes half-closed, I really need to get to sleep...

He plopped down in his bed as he covered his eyes with an arm, a smile forming as he remembered her words. I guess I do care about everyone. I mean every person has a story... he chuckled, but your still wrong. Out of everyone... I care about you the most.