A/N: HI EVERYBODY! I'm so happy about this chapter especially the ending (wink wink). After this chapter however, will be the start of the second saga in Hinata's Respite where you guys get to find out more about Hachiro's family and his village. I would also like to thank all of you for reading and following so far. This story is going to be a long I'm just gonna let you all know lol
Chapter 21- Safe In Your Arms
"Calm it down Hachiro or you'll worry yourself to death." Tamotsu said as he and Hachiro were sitting in their hotel room. Hachiro looked at Tamotsu for a second then continued to pace around the room with a nervous aura around him.
"H-How can I calm down?" Hachiro stopped and looked at Tamotsu. "This is going to be our first actual date together, with no interruptions or anything. I'm nervous that I might do something stupid." Tamotsu sighed and shook his head at the young ninja.
"Listen, if you keep worrying about you doing something stupid, than you're going to in up do something stupid. All you need to do is calm down, relax and be yourself." Though Tamotsu's words seem to help slightly, Hachiro still couldn't shake off this weird feeling in his stomach. Hachiro looked at the time and realized that he had to meet Hinata in about another hour and the feeling started to grow. Tamotsu sighed 'God this guy worries too damn much' Tamotsu thought with a frown on his face. He looked at the door, easily sensing his Sensei and teammate approaching the door. "It's open." He said. Kiyomi pushed opened the door and grinned at Hachiro.
"Word on the street is that you have a date with Hinata!" Kiyomi flipped over to Hachiro. Hachiro nodded while looking over his clothes. "Well Masami-sensei and I are here to help!"
"And by help we mean watch you suffer slowly with anxiety slowly eating you away." Masami smirked as she sat down and with a calm aura around her, scaring her students at how calm she is.
'Our Sensei is one crazy chick….' Tamotsu frowned. "Anyways….Hachiro will you just relax. Don't you have to be at her place in an hour or something?" Hachiro stopped and screamed then ran into the bathroom. Kiyomi jumped over to Tamotsu and giggled. It was nice to see their friend becoming so stressed over a girl, calming actually. Hachiro has been through a lot this year and Hinata sort of taking that stress away was pleasing to the teammates. Even their Sensei was smiling a little bit.
"Is this Hinata girl really all that to stress over?" Masami crossed her arms.
"She's awesome. She's so sweet and kind!" Kiyomi said cheerfully.
"She's also kinda hot, nice rack-." Tamotsu shouted in pain as Kiyomi punched the back of his head causing him to fall face first to the ground.
"Plus she's an amazing cook!" Kiyomi grinned. Masami chuckled at her students antics then turned to see Hachiro slowly walk out with a small blush on his face.
"H-How do I look?" Hachiro asked while walking in front of his team. He had on a short-sleeve white open button down shirt with a nice black shirt underneath. He also had nice blue jeans with black sandals. His hair was still the same just not with his headband on.
"I think you look great!" Kiyomi giggled.
Masami yawned and smiled. "I think you look decent enough for a date." Hachiro grinned in relief.
"I think that you look like a tool…." Tamotsu yawned. "…but a decent tool." Hachiro nodded and looked at the time.
"Guess I should be going…." Hachiro said with a slightly shaky voice. Masami noticed this and stood up.
"Listen Hachiro, I've heard Tamotsu say to relax multiple times and yet you seem to not get the message so I'll try." She walked up to Hachiro, grabbed him by his shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes. "Calm down!" Hachiro looked into his Sensei's dark eyes and nodded quickly. He quickly stepped back and ran out of the room. Tamotsu burst out with laughter seeing his friend run out with his tail between his legs. Masami turned to Tamotsu and flipped her hair. "Now that that's over….It's time we discuss something important."
Hinata's Respite
Hinata yawned as she continued with her cooking. She and Neji spend the whole night reading and studying her mother's heritage. What Hinata found though was very interesting and shocking to say the least. She never would have thought that such a clan with such powerful techniques, some of which Hinata has never believed possible. Hinata looked at the time and noticed that Hachiro should be here soon. Hinata blushed at the thought of Hachiro then smiled.
"You seem chipper today." Hinata turned quickly to see her cousin walking in with a tired look in his eyes.
"Big Brother, you should be asleep." Hinata said while packing more food into a basket. Neji looked at the basket with the aroma hovering over him and cleared his throat.
"Lady Hinata, you and I both know that I cannot sleep in like I do not have my duties to the village."
Hinata giggled. "You know a tired ninja is a useless ninja. You should be resting after spending the whole night studying my Mother's clan with me." Hinata smiled and saw Neji's attention fazing from her to the basket and giggled again.
"Anyways, what is all this food for anyway?"
Hinata blushed. "I-I'm going with Hachiro on a picnic." Neji's eyes immediately narrowed and a frown was formed on her face.
"Hmm…" Neji said suspiciously. "…I thought that you didn't like him."
"W-Well um w-were sort of….um….going out…." Hinata stuttered.
"W-What…going out?" Neji nearly shouted. "But you haven't even known the guy for 5 minutes!" Hinata giggled at Neji.
"Big Brother….I like him and he likes me so….you know…" Neji muttered and sat down. His gazes slowly went to the basket once more and he let out a small whimper. Hinata heard Neji's whimper and quite loud growling from his stomach and quickly pulled out a bowl of Herring Soba and placed it in front of him. Neji looked at Hinata with shock as she also placed two chopsticks and a tea cup as well.
"L-Lady Hinata..." Neji said softly.
Hinata smiled and poured the steaming hot tea into the cup and turned back to the stove. "I know that you must have been hungry so I fixed you y-your favorite." Hinata said then looked at the time. "O-Oh my I have to get dressed, Sorry Big Brother." Hinata bowed and ran out of the large Kitchen. Neji watched Hinata exit and looked down at his food. Neji couldn't believe that Hinata was actually going out on a date. Neji thought back at one of his precious memories when the last guy that told Hinata they liked her while Neji was standing next to her, it was a fun memory for him.
"W-What…?" a young Hinata, about three yrs. old, blushed as the boy smiled at her.
"I asked if you want a kiss…." Hinata blushed and looked away. A young Neji glared at the boy with fire in his eyes. The boy smirked at Hinata with a cocky aura around him and looked over at Neji.
"What are you glaring at weirdo?" The boy asked with an attitude in his tone. The boy was about the same height as Neji with short black hair and blue eyes. He had a short black shirt with black shorts. Neji stepped in front of Hinata, protectively.
"I don't know who you are but talk to Lady Hinata like that again I'm gonna beat the snot out of you!" Neji threatened. The boy smirked and pushed Neji aside.
"Whatever loser." Neji growled and tackled the boy to the ground and fiercely began punching his face in. Hinata gasped and called for her Uncle. Hizashi heard Hinata and quickly excused himself from the other Hyuga members and ran over to see his son and some boy rolling on the group beating at each other senselessly.
"Neji...!" Hizashi shouted and pulled the two boys away from each other. The boy held his bleeding head and ran off. Hizashi looked at his son who was still fuming with anger. "Neji Hyuga, what on earth has gotten into you?" Hizashi said while he narrowed his eyes and his son.
"That jerk was going to try and kiss Lady Hinata!" Neji crossed his arms. His Father looked at him confused.
"Lady Hinata….is this true?" he looked at Hinata and noticed her nodding slowly. Hizashi sighed and rubbed his temples. "Lady Hinata, take Neji to your Mother so that she could clean him up okay?"
"Y-Yes Uncle…." Hinata gently took Neji's hand and began to walk to her mother. Neji heard Hizashi whisper his name and turned to see his father looking around.
"Um…good job." Hizashi muttered. "Make sure that no boy tries to kiss Hinata." Neji nodded and continued to walk to his aunt.
"Oh Neji…" His aunt smiled while wiping the blood off his cheek. She had long Indigo hair with beautiful Lavender eyes. She had on a light purple-grey Kimono with a dark purple sash wrapped around her small waist. Neji mumbled and looked away. "….I know that you and Hinata are close but you can't beat up other boys for liking Hinata."
"B-But Aunt Hikari, He was going to try and kiss her!" Neji argued. She sighed and smiled at Neji.
"I know and I'm glad that you didn't let him but….when Hinata gets older, boys are going to want to kiss her and maybe she would want to kiss them back."
"I'll still beat them up." Neji muttered.
"Neji….Hinata is growing up the same as you are growing up and eventually she's going to find a boy that she likes and wants to kiss. Same as you growing up and finding a girl that you want to kiss." Hikari giggled as Neji blushed. "Now unless a boy is trying to kiss her and she doesn't want him too, I don't want you to go and beat up anymore boys, can you promise me that?" Neji mumbled. "Neji….."
As soon as Neji heard the stern yet kind tone and nodded quickly. "Y-Yes Aunt Hikari!" Neji stuttered. Hikari smiled and gently placed the bandage on his cheeks.
"There we go, now go and play with Hinata while I get dinner ready for everyone." Neji nodded and ran out of the bathroom to see Hinata smiling at him. 'If a boys' gonna kiss Hinata, they're going to have to go through me!'
Neji smiled at this memory and gently slipped the noodles into his mouth. 'Guess Hinata has found a guy she wants to kiss….that isn't Naruto….' Neji looked down at his food with a small frown. "I hope this boy isn't as dumb as Naruto…." Then the memory of the hot springs came back to him creating a large frown. "…dear god…."
Hinata's Respite
Hachiro looked up at the tall guards and grinned.
"H-Hey um I'm here to see Hinata." The tall guard with long brown hair a high ponytail glared at him.
"Aren't you that little Waterfall ninja from the other day?" Hachiro nodded slowly. Hiroki chuckled and turned to his brother. "Hey Brother you remember this guy?" the just as tall short haired one stared down at him.
"Yeah, he was with Lady Tsunade when she visited Lady Hinata…" He looked down at him. "What do you want?"
Hachiro cleared his throat. "I'm here to see Hinata, we're supposed to be going doing something today…" Hisoka frowned and narrowed his eyes at the young ninja.
"What kind of something?" Hachiro stepped back.
"U-Um….We're going on a picnic…" Hisoka gave Hachiro the up and down and nodded.
"Very well…." Hisoka looked back and saw a branch member walking by. "You, Go and retrieve Lady Hinata, Someone is here for her." The branch member nodded and ran off to their future head of the clan. "You may wait here until she arrives." Hisoka said then returned to standing straight and tall. Hachiro nodded slowly and waited in the awkward and uncomfortable silence of the two Hyugas and him. 'Man, I was hoping that they would let me go to her instead.' Hachiro thought. Eventually Hinata came out with a large basket in her hands. Hachiro looked at Hinata and couldn't help but get hypnotized by her beauty. She wore a white flowing dress that ended at her knees with nice white sandals. Hinata smiled at Hachiro then nodded at the two Hyuga guards.
"Thank you Hiroki and Hisoka." She said with usual kindness. They nodded and watched as Hinata and Hachiro started to walk away.
Hachiro's heart was racing with emotions as his mind was racing with questions. 'What do I say to her now?' Hachiro asked himself until he looked at her and smiled. "You look really pretty Hinata…." Hinata blushed and looked down.
"Y-You look nice too…" Hinata smiled at her feet. Hachiro grinned and gently took the basket out of Hinata's hand and placed it in his hand then grabbed Hinata's hand with his other hand. Hinata looked up and him and smiled. "I didn't know what kind of food you liked so I made practically what I thought you would like."
"Anything made by you is my favorite food…" Hachiro grinned. 'Awesome line..!'
Hinata couldn't help it but burst out laughing. "T-That was a very interesting line Hachiro." Hachiro chuckled but inside he was screaming 'Damn it she thinks I'm an idiot!' Hinata noticed his change of mood and squeeze his hand gently. "It's was very cute and nice though." Hachiro blushed and smiled at Hinata.
"So where are we going anyway?" Hinata smiled and pointed to the top of the Hokage's Monuments.
Hinata's Respite
Ino sighed as she sat in her room staring at a picture of her and her team smiling, well excluding Shikamaru. Ino had no idea why Shikamaru was being so angry a d distant towards her. She thought that he would be at least happy that she was alive but no he has to be a douche and not even talk to her and when he does talk to her he acts like even more of a douche. He had the nerve to call her selfish! Ino growled and slammed the picture on her desk. Ino turned from her desk hearing a knock on her door. "Come in…" She muttered.
"Ino are you okay?" Ino's father walked in slowly and looked at his daughter.
"Yeah…I'm perfectly fine….." Inoichi sighed.
"You know I've been with your mother long enough to know that when you two say 'You're perfectly fine' it only means that you're not perfectly fine." He sat down on Ino's bed and smiled at her. "So you mind telling me what's on your mind or do I have to read it myself." Ino knew that her father was serious about reading her mind and sighed.
"It's just….you know about what happened on the mission I was on right?" As soon as those words left Ino's mouth Inoichi immediately felt his heart tightened and his gaze slowly fall to the floor.
"Yes….Lady Tsunade informed me…." Ino looked back and saw how her father was and frowned.
"Dad…it's not like I'm still dead…." Ino eye's widened seeing a small tear fall from her father's eye. She sat down next to her father and gently touched his slightly shaking hand.
"Dad…."
"I know it's just…the mere thought that you were and still would've been dead if it wasn't for your friend Hinata…it just hurts to think about it." Ino looked down. "Ino, I'm very proud of you for defending your friends like that and fighting and winning against a demon, but it's just hard to hear from someone that you died, even if it was for a brief moment. That one second when she said that you died….I fell down to the floor with tears just pouring out of my eyes. I couldn't bare it; I never felt such a pain in my heart before in my life. Of course I was overjoyed when she said you were revived but That small moment scared me to death." Ino has never seen her father so emotional before. Usually he was calm and pretty chill but at this moment Ino saw a side of her father that she never knew he had.
"Is that why…."
"Shikamaru is acting the way he is….yes." Ino gasped. "Ino I don't know if you noticed or not but Shikamaru cares for you dearly. I'm sure that the emotion of lose and fear he felt was close if not the same emotion that I felt. He's just having a hard time trying to cope with it that is all. It's hard for a Nara to truly express emotion to someone he cares for, Choza and I had to force Shikaku to ask his wife out." He chuckled. "Just give him some space, let him cope with those feelings he has and then let him come to you."
Ino smiled. "Okay two questions Dad. One, Did you read my mind before you came in here to talk to me." Inoichi chuckled nervously and looked away.
"U-Um well…." Inoichi tried hard to think of a logical excuse but immediately stopped when Ino embraced him lovingly.
"Thank you Dad…." Ino said with a gentle tone.
"You're welcome Ino…" Inoichi smiled. "What was your other question?" Ino pulled back and blushed.
"Well…how do you know that Shikamaru likes me….like that…" Inoichi chuckled.
"Well for starters he continues to knock on our door asking if you're back from a mission. Not to mention that his father told me that Shikamaru talks about you an awful lot." Ino blushed and let a small smile grow on her face. "Well I have to get going. I have to go meet with Shikaku and Choza for lunch." Ino nodded. "But think about what I said okay?" Inoichi said then walked out the room. Ino looked at the door with a small frown on her face. 'So Shikamaru's just having trouble with his feelings….' She sighed and stood up.
"Why is life so freaking difficult?"
Hinata's Respite
Hachiro never knew how beautiful Konoha until he saw it from high above. The tall colorful buildings, the trees surrounding the village and the ones sprouting in the village all coordinated in some strange design by nature. His village was never this pretty 'Man Hinata sure is lucky.'
"Hachiro come and sit." Hinata called as she finished setting up the blanket with the food placed on it in an organized manner. Hachiro turned and gasped as soon as his gaze left the village to the food that she had prepared for them. All assortments of different types of food from sandwiches to cakes and Hachiro couldn't believe that it was all for him.
"Wow Hinata….you made all this?" Hinata blushed at Hachiro question and nodded. He grinned and jumped down on the ground and licked his lips. He scanned the buffet and quickly grabbed a bowl of ramen and slurped the noodles into his mouth. "Wow this is good!" He said with a full mouth. "You're an amazing cook!" Hinata smiled and giggled. 'His manners are so….interesting.' They sat there eating and Hinata has never felt so calm and relaxed before. With all of the events that's happening to her it's nice to just sit down and relax with someone special. "So, I have a question for you." Hinata nodded. "Why are you so pretty?"
Hinata blushed and looked away. "H-Hachiro….."
"Well you are!" Hachiro grinned and moved closer to Hinata. "I'm just being honest." Hinata's blush only increased as Hachiro moved even closer. "What's wrong?"
"I-It's just that….I don't really get that many compliments from boys all that much…."
"Why not..?" Hachiro asked confused. He would have thought that Hinata was liked some sort of goddess for the guys in her village.
Hinata looked down. "Boys didn't really come to me all that much when I was little…." Hachiro frowned. 'The guys in this village are dumb! I mean back in my village she would be like a queen or something! Then again that does mean more Hinata for me so I guess it's not that bad.'
"It's probably because you're the Hyuga heiress and the guys might find that intimidating. Plus your cousin is a little scary." Hachiro chuckled. Hinata smiled at Hachiro who was slowly cheering her up.
"Thank you…." Hinata said softly.
"No problem. Beside now that I'm around there's not going to be any boys coming to you anyway." Hinata giggled as Hachiro went for a rice ball.
"Now I want to ask a question. Why don't you have a girlfriend?" Hachiro's expression quickly changed from happy to downright depress.
"Well….girls didn't really come to me either….I mean I am the youngest of eight kids counting myself. I don't have my brothers' charm or 'good looks' I didn't have my sisters' popularity or social grace. I was the odd ball kinda…My dad doesn't really pay attention to me…and my mom died a year after I was born." Hachiro's spirit was suddenly lowered and his eyes instead of showing cheerfulness showed sorrow and hidden pain.
"Hachiro….." Hinata wrapped her arms around him. "My mother died when I was young too and my Father didn't really paid attention to me either." Hinata said softly 'Even though he told me his reason' "Trust me I know how you feel."
"It hurts doesn't it…?" Hachiro said with a tear falling from his eye. Hinata nodded. "Hinata…thank you for listen….No one really listens anymore."
"….if it makes you feel better…I think that you're pretty cute." Hinata said while trying hard to cheer him up. Hachiro parted with Hinata slowly and stare at her with widen eyes. "And you're the nicest guy I've met in a young time. Some once told me that your family doesn't make you who you are….you do…"
"Hinata….thank you." Hachiro stuttered. Hinata nodded then stared at him lovingly. With the sun's light gently glazing his tan skin and his sparkling bright eyes and smile made him look like a sun god from heaven above. His eyes were so hypnotizing that Hinata had to subconsciously touch his cheek. Hachiro placed his hand over her and moved closer to the Hyuga until he felt her soft breath hitting his face. Eventually a gravitational pull moved their heads together until their lips clashed in a gentle and loving embrace. Hachiro closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist before pushing her to the ground. Hinata blushed as the kiss became more passionate and caring. Hachiro was in complete heaven….He could not think of any other place or time that he would rather be than her with his Hinata. Unfortunately they needed air to breath so they slowly disconnected and stared at each other intensely.
"U-Um….we better finished the food before it gets cold." Hinata giggled. Hachiro nodded and picked up another rice ball. Hinata was about to grabbed one when he took a piece of his and placed it in her mouth. Hinata blushed and covered her mouth.
"What I can't feed my girlfriend?" Hinata looked up at him and smiled.
"G-Girlfriend….?" Hinata stuttered out.
Hachiro smiled and touched her hand. "Yeah…" Hinata smiled brightly and pecked him on his lips. "I love you." He said subconsciously.
"….I love you too…" Hinata smiled and moved closer to him. Hachiro wrapped his arm around her shoulder and Hinata leaned her head on his. 'Yep, best day of my life!' Hachiro grinned and feed Hinata another piece of his rice ball. Hinata giggled and took a piece of it and put it in his mouth. Hachiro chuckled and pulled the young girl close to him, feeling like nothing could ruin this moment for him and Hinata. Hinata sighed and smiled at nothing 'I feel so safe in his arms….like nothing could hurt me with him next to me….'
A/N: Well that was a nice read now wasn't it lol Anyways hope you dudes and dudettes enjoyed my little creation. Thanks and I'll see ya soon!