Chapter Twenty-One

After a long night of lying awake and thinking about what was happening in my life, I finally got up at ten o'clock in the morning and began going through my closet, preparing to begin packing all of my belongings. I started removing all of my clothes from the closet, laying them gingerly on my bed. I didn't know where I was going to put them when I transported them to Tenten's apartment, but I guess I could borrow some lawn and leaf bags from one of the neighbors.

I felt a stab of pain every time I reached into my closet and ripped an article of clothing out. I knew that with every object that I moved out of place, I was one step closer to leaving my house. That was a large burden that sat on my shoulders like a rock.

When about half of my clothes lay piled on top of each other on my bed, I changed my course of action and moved to my nightstand, where I fell to my knees and began going through the miscellaneous and sentimental junk that was scattered. I opened the only drawer, and I came to that box of condoms that I had bought to ease Naruto's concern. Despite the fact that I knew I wasn't going to be needing them - especially once I moved in with Tenten - I tossed them on my bed anyway.

I still didn't know how I was going to tell Naruto that I was moving. We would no longer be a few blocks away from one another, and so I probably won't get to see him as much. I was almost positive that Tenten wouldn't approve of him practically living with me once I entered her apartment.

My heart broke a little bit as I thought of having to kiss Naruto goodbye. I'd probably only get to see him at school, basketball, work, and maybe on the weekends. Others would say that that was plenty of time to spend with another person, but when you had been practically conjoined at the hip, it seemed like only a few moments to spend together.

I would probably be lonely at night; I had quickly grown accustomed to falling asleep bundled in Naruto's arms. We would talk and laugh, and I never really knew what time we would end up falling into unconsciousness. The time passed by so swiftly whenever I was with him, and I wished that we could have more time together before I had to leave.

Since the insurance company lost the record of my father, I realized that my dream of attending college would no longer come true. I would be graduating in five months, and I'd probably have to enter the workforce immediately. What my living condition would be at that time, I wasn't entirely sure. However, I hoped that I would be able to see Naruto more than I will until that time.

After going through most of the scattered stuff on the bedside table, I stood up and turned around, moving towards the door. I stepped into the hallway reluctantly, and I planted my feet there and stood unmoving. My eyes were glued to the closed door on the opposing end of the hallway, and I stared at it for the longest time.

I gulped once, and I could feel myself perspiring as I used every muscle in my body just to lift my leg and move it closer to that door. My heart felt as though it wasn't beating at all as I reached out my hand to grasp the cold doorknob. I twisted, and I let the door move away from me on its own.

Inside, the room was pitch black, shrouded in complete and utter darkness. The blinds were folded closed, never letting sunlight in. Only shadows crept throughout the room that I had not dared to open for over a month.

In a flash, familiar stenches filled my nasal cavities, engulfing them and triggering my mind with so many tender memories that excruciated. The light smell of citrus and the bold scent of pepper filled my entire being with the two things I didn't want to think about.

Mom...and Dad...

I hadn't had the guts to go into their room since they were killed in the accident in November, for this reason exactly; I didn't want to have to bear the pain of remembering them. It would have been so much easier if I could have just hit my head and forgotten everything that happened. Being haunted like this, I wondered how long my brain would obsess over their absence. Sometimes, I wish their memory would leave me alone. I didn't know how much longer I could stand the pain of remembrance.

I don't know what possessed my brain to control my body without my consent, but it moved my feet, and forced me to walk into the room that my parents used to share. With every step I took, the bitter tears were closer and closer to flowing down my cheeks.

I choked on the air that was supposed to be supporting my life, and I clutched my chest, gripping the fabric of the black Hello Kitty T-shirt that I had worn to bed. My hold on the material was so tight that I swore the bones of my knuckles would tear right through my pale skin.

There were warm lines streaking down my face, and I realized that, yet again, I had lost the fight against my tears.

I remembered what my mother had said to me whenever I had succumbed to the pain and was sucked into the darkness for a second time: "I was so happy, because you weren't there. You weren't in that car whenever we were hit. I never would have forgiven myself, had you been hurt like Neji was."

Mom was happy, but I just couldn't stop the pain from coming, despite the fact that she expressed her joy. She left me here on this earth, just like Neji's parents had left him. The only difference between Neji and me was the fact that the person I loved wouldn't let me push him out of my life. Tenten and Lee; they had both given up whenever Neji fell into his darkness. Naruto; he refused to let me writhe in pain by myself.

That's when it hit me: Mom and Dad - my parents...they didn't leave me alone. They may have left me, but they entrusted my care to the people around me. Naruto, and Sakura and Sasuke. The guys on the basketball team. Minato and Kushina. Lee and Tenten. Temari. Coach Tsunade and Orochimaru. Neji.

My parents had placed me in the care of so many wonderful people, and they knew that I would be okay. I would be okay, because I wasn't in solitude. All of the people in my life were all incredible beings that have altered me, supported me, and gave me their unconditional love.

I could slap myself for taking so long to realize this. As long as all of these people were with me, I never will be desolate.

"Mom, Dad," I whispered, turning my eyes to the ceiling. "I finally understand. All these people that care about me; you left me here with them. You knew they'd take care of me." The grip on my shirt was loosed greatly, but I still held my hand to my chest. A deep sigh emerged from my lungs as I began to accept the fact that they were gone. "Thank you."

There was a knock on my front door, and I turned around, wondering who it could be. Typically, the people who come to my house - if they know me pretty well - come to the back door.

What if it was the landlord?

I was afraid, because I wanted to stay in this house a little longer, at least until Christmas ended, because I wanted to be close to Naruto.

I turned around slowly, my trajectory being the hallway that was still dark, due to the electricity being shut off. As if my feet were bricks, I trudged heavily down the hall and to the acme of the staircase. The person who was outside knocked again, and I felt my fear grow.

The moment I reached the base of the steps, I turned my head to my left and gaped at the front door, whose window was also covered by blinds. There was only a dark silhouette that reflected from the front porch, and I could tell that the person was definitely a man.

I sighed again and moved my heavy body towards the door, unlocking it slowly and yanking the door open. The light of late morning shot in my eyes, blinding me from the details of the man who stood there on my porch, awaiting my greeting.

"Hello, Hinata!" Lee's voice struck my ears, and I blinked through the sun's rays and was able to make out the form of my dear friend Rock Lee. Immediately, all of my fear turned to shock as Lee stood erect, with one hand on his hip, the other up and waving hello to me.

"Lee?" I said, befuddled to see him standing before me, and he walked into me, constricting warm and friendly arms around my shoulders. Was he always this tall?

"Hinata, how are you doing?" he asked me, stepping into the darkness of my house and closing the door. "Why is it so dark in here?"

I sighed and led Lee over to the cheap sofas in my living room, where we sat down together, ready to reminisce and catch up with one another. I also had to answer his question, because he stared at me with a soft gaze, awaiting my reply.

"I have no money," I confessed to him embarrassed. "The electric company turned off my electricity."

Lee's face scrunched and his eyebrows pulled together in sympathy. "That is truly terrible, Hinata. What is going to happen to this house?"

"I've already started packing my things." My hands balled into fists against my knees. "Tenten has offered for me to stay at her apartment. She said that Neji is going to come there, too whenever he is able to leave the hospital."

Something painted on Lee's face, and he sat there for a moment with his lips pursed. "Neji...and Tenten?"

That's right. I had forgotten that Lee did not come to see Neji in the hospital before he had returned to college after the funeral. He did not want to be pushed away by the person who used to be his best friend; not again. I had known that, and so I hadn't pressured him to go. But at the same time, he was unaware that Tenten couldn't keep herself away from her past love.

"They made up," I said hesitantly, and Lee forced a sorry smile and turned his eyes to his lap.

"I am so happy to hear that."

My eyes observed him carefully through the darkness. The only light that was casted was through the windows, which were also smothered by curtains. Though Lee said he was happy for his friends, I could tell that he was unhappy. He didn't like the fact that he had not gone to see Neji, and had not made up with his former friend.

"You don't sound happy," I murmured and slid closer to him carefully. I repeated the gesture that Sakura always gave to me whenever I was feeling down; I grabbed a hold of Lee's hand and squeezed it tightly.

Lee's eyes flickered to our hands, and immediately his face twisted in confusion. I didn't know why; this was a friendly gesture, wasn't it? Was this weird?

"I should have gone to the hospital with you," Lee said, ignoring that moment of awkwardness between us, but he still clutched my hand and held on tight. "I should have gone to see Neji that day." As he said this, I felt a pain in my chest for him; he missed his friend. Neji had abandoned him, and Lee didn't want to pick open the scabs from that, and so he chose not to go to the hospital. But to hear that Tenten had gone to the hospital, only to make up with Neji for the lost years? That had to be hard on him.

"It's not too late, Lee," I told him, putting one of my feet on the sofa, compressing a single knee to my chin. "You can come with me to see him tomorrow."

Lee sighed and rested the back of his head on the couch, staring at the ceiling.

"Thank you, Hinata," he almost whispered. "Maybe I will." With a flash in his eyes, he turned his attention back to me, a sort of energy in his gleam. "Are you going to Temari's party tonight?" he asked me, and came to the realization that I had completely forgotten about it. I was going to ask Naruto, but I haven't seen him since yesterday morning, and I found out that there was such a party last night.

"I'm going to ask Naruto about it," I said, smiling a little bit.

"Oh yes, Naruto has gone every year, and it is such a blast!" Lee laughed out loud, and I wished that I had met all of these wonderful people sooner. I would have loved to have been there with them, if they wanted me there.

"He never said anything about it," I said, wondering the worst possible scenarios. Maybe this was his thing, and he didn't want to drag me along.

Lee had opened his mouth to say something, but the back door opened and closed quickly, and there were footsteps in my kitchen, moving briskly for the living room. Both Lee and I turned to look at the arch that connected the kitchen and living room, and we saw my blonde love. He was headed in a B-line for the stairs, and almost completely missed us in the darkness; but he saw us, and his grin faded into a confused look.

I realized that this must look pretty suspicious to him; Lee and me sitting in the dark together, our hands interlocked. Nonchalantly, I tugged my hand away and put it in my lap.

"Naruto." I smiled at him, and he cocked his head, a strange look in his eyes.

"Hinata? What's going on?" he asked, and I could hear a pinch of hurt in his tone. His face had dropped and he looked as if somebody had just died. "Why are the lights off, and what's Bushy Brow doing here?"

"It's not what you think," Lee interjected, and I think that may have been for the worse. I could see Naruto becoming angry with the situation, and I realized that he may have been jealous. I blushed.

"Shut up, Lee!" Naruto shouted. "Hinata, what the hell's going on?!" In an instant, some sort of fear had arisen on his face, and he darted up the stairs. Filled with concern, I leapt up off of the couch and bounded after him on light feet. I took the stairs one at a time, shuffling my feet quickly as I went, careful not to miss a stair. I saw Naruto disappear into my room, and I was worried at what he was looking for.

The moment I reached the acme of my stairs, I relayed down the short hallway and rotated right ninety five degrees, speeding into my room, only to come to a sudden halt. Naruto stood with his back turned to me, hovering over my bed. I wondered what he was staring at, and I cocked my head.

"Naruto?" I asked him quietly. "What's wrong?"

He didn't answer me right away, and I watched as his body began to tremble. I could tell that he was holding something in his hands, but his body blocked me from seeing what exactly it was. Blinking a few times, my eyes scanned my room as I thought about it. I caught sight of my nightstand, and I realized that I had taken everything out of its drawer.

"How could you, Hinata?" he choked up, and then he turned around to face me, the box of condoms that I had bought in his hand. He was implying that I had had a physical relation with Lee, and I almost felt sick to my stomach; not because it was Lee, but because I couldn't imagine betraying Naruto. The very thought made me nauseous.

I knew that there was one missing, but that was only because I kept one in my wristlet, just in case we became passionate outside of my house.

But Naruto didn't know that, and he had come to the conclusion that one had been used between Lee and me while he wasn't here.

"I would have expected this from anybody else I could have dated. But you?" His eyes squinted in rage at what he thought had happened. I heard Lee coming up the steps, and I immediately feared for him. I knew that Naruto could pack a punch; I had seen him up close when he and Sasuke fought. Lee's presence emanated from behind me and I heard a gasp come from my mouth. I didn't turn around; rather, I kept my eyes on Naruto, who glared viciously at Lee, who didn't even know what was happening and what Naruto thought we had done.

"I'm gonna kill you!" Naruto shouted, directing his anger at Lee, and I almost cowered like I had done during the fight before practice. But I realized that I didn't want Naruto to get into another fight. I didn't know if I could stand the pain of watching him punch and be punched. I didn't want to see his blood come out of his body.

Despite the fact that my body was wracked with terror, I ran forwards towards Naruto, who didn't see me immediately through the veil of his fury. Whenever we collided, I constricted my arms around his waist and pushed him backwards, and I fell on top of him on my bed.

Naruto's face was filled with shock as more tears slipped out of my eyes and dripped down onto his cheeks. More than likely, he wasn't expecting such a shy girl like me to counterattack him and prevent him from coming in contact with another fight. My long, dark locks fell down onto Naruto's shoulders and laid by his ears.

"Hinata..." he whispered.

"You have it all wrong, Naruto!" I cried out in such a small voice. "I love you; I would never dream of betraying you like that or in any other way."

I watched as he blinked, processing what had just happened, but I was positive that he did not know what was actually going on. He didn't know about my financial struggle, and about the insurance checks that would never come. I never told him about any of that.

"It's dark in my house because they shut of my electricity," I shed bitter tears of degradation. "There's a condom missing because I keep it in my wristlet, just in case something sparks between us and we're not at my house. Lee and I held hands because I was sympathizing with him about Neji," I admitted everything, poured out all of my secrets to Naruto. "Please, just don't fight."

"Hinata," Naruto murmured from below me, and he didn't move any muscles. "What do you mean they shut off your power?"

"I can't pay the bills," I sobbed. "Neji said my dad paid for life insurance, but the insurance company lost the record of my father paying for the service, and so they're not going to help me. I'm moving out of this house after Christmas, and I'm going to be living with Tenten."

Naruto sucked in a breath and held me in his stare for too many moments. I could see hurt in his eyes as I unravelled my problem to him. "You're moving?" I could almost hear his heart sink to the bottom of his chest as he said those two words. "Why can't you come live with me?"

"I've debated that, but I found two reasons why I didn't ask: I didn't want to inconvenience you or your parents, and I didn't want to be away from Neji."

"What do you mean, 'be away from Neji'?"

I sighed. "Once Neji gets out of the hospital, he's going to move in with Tenten, too. I wanted to be with him."

Naruto reached his arms up and wrapped them around my body, tugging me down gingerly to lay on his chest. I didn't fight against him; I was really going to miss laying with Naruto, being in his arms for hours on end.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he murmured, stroking my hair and staring up at the ceiling. My ear was pressed to his chest, and I could hear his heart thumping away inside his thoracic cavity. The long locks of hair that hung from my head fell in my face, but I didn't care. I didn't want to move. "I could have helped..."

"Nobody could have helped, without having to pay all of my bills." I shook my head gently. "I couldn't allow that."

The idea that Lee was still standing in my room left my mind, and all I could think about was drowning in Naruto's embrace. I never wanted to leave him, but unfortunately, fate called us away from one another. I was to go live with Tenten, and he was going to have to reside back in his own home. This lifestyle would seem quite different for both of us, and I fear it will be difficult for us to adapt to. We had become so accustomed to one another, and now it was all changing.

I just hoped that the flame of our relationship didn't die due to our separation. I didn't know what I would do if that happened. Surely, I would be torn apart, and nobody would be able to be brave enough to leap into the darkness headfirst and save me, just as Naruto had whenever I was drowning in my own sorrow.

"Hinata," Naruto murmured in a light hum, and I moved not a single muscle. My eyes continued to stare at the head of my bed, where they had been glued since he pressed me down onto his chest.

"Hmm?" I answered lightly, almost inaudibly. I was content right here and right now. I never wanted this moment to end; I wanted to be with Naruto forever.

"You are the greatest thing that ever happened to me..."