Authors Note: Firstly, thank you to everyone who has kept with this story! I love you for it! Especially those who have reviewed and favourited etc. I started writing this in the middle of last year and was only expecting it to be like 5 chapters long... well, as you can see, ideas extend lol. At times I thought I'd give up, but those reviews kept me going! So I hope you have thoroughly enjoyed reading it as much as I have writing it! My friend also plans to write a sequel/side story to this one, centered around the Naruto Neji pairing/friendship, so I'll give you the link to his page so you can keep checking to see if it's up.
LINK TO PAGE: .net/u/1350057/0dd0ne0ut
LINK TO EPILOGUE: .net/s/4884068/1/My_Dear_Pal_Epilogue
The next stories I intend to hopefully write are as follows...
THE WORD JUST:
Disgrace, dishonor, disloyalty, disapproval, disappointment.... disciple. These were words used to describe Hinata's mother all those years ago, before her death at 28 years of age. Hinata has never been told much about her, and now in her mid twenties herself, is finding she has more in common with her than she would have ever expected. Disciple, that is indeed what Hinata is; a disciple of honor, of duty, of order. Stuck in an arranged marriage, an arranged life with her cousin Neji, she finds herself still peering after that boy she always admired as a naive teen, a man beyond her reach. Neji, frightened of his own self, his own feelings which he cannot understand finds himself only capable of a plastic love towards Hinata, and Hinata feels the same. With two children linking them together, they find their family has been built only on the foundation of pretend. HinXNaru
MAKE OUT EDUCATION:
Sex ed... Hm that doesn't sound too hard to teach! at least not for Anko. But Iruka has other plans, recently left by his girlfriend of two years, he will not allow for Anko to invade his life at the academy... and doesn't want to accept his true feeling for her. AnkoXIruka first chappy up!
UNTITLED:
Tsunade Finds herself looking back at the story of her life and childhood through a book written by her ex-teammate. A book he left behind before his death, just for her, to put into words what he never really could properly.
PLEASE REVIEW!!
MY DEAR PAL
Chapter Twenty One
(Que sera, sera)
AYAME:
I wiped the sweat from my forehead. Today had been hectic in the ramen stand, and I was just thankful customers were scarce around this time. I could see my fathers arms were virtually melting away with exhaustion from all the heavy stirring. "Father, take a break already,"
"Can't," he huffed, "More customers will be crowding this place any moment. Especially that Naruto one, he has twenty bowls just for himself."
Just then the bell at the counter rung, "Speak of the devil," I sighed, walking to the front, "You know we really need to hire another worker here…" but I paused in mid sentence when I saw her. My eyes started from her curving ankles, up her body to her face. She had the fairest skin, and long, sandy blond hair, that rippled down her back. She looked almost like that Naruto boy with her electric blue eyes.
"Hi," she said, "My names Lucy, and I was looking for some work."
HINATA:
I stabbed in the final ear of the cat rice balls I had been baking. I placed it on the tray, leaning back with a slight smile, examining them. I have to admit, it felt quite nice polishing food up again. I hadn't done it in a while, for fear that my father would find it, and be horrified. He would certainly disapprove of cat faced rice balls; that was for sure. But I was in Kurenai Sensei's home now, where I could do as I pleased, without criticism. Wiping my hands on a rag, I trotted into my bedroom to change into my funeral garments. When they were pulled over my body, I trailed my fingers down my stomach in the view of the mirror. The nurse was right, instead of curving outwards slightly, like normal, it caved in. pressing my face up against the glass, I scrutinized my pale, wilting skin. Who was I kidding? How could I go out looking like this? I was about as healthy as a leper right now. Moaning slightly, I sat on my bed in dismay. I couldn't face this, I just couldn't. Going to his memorial service would just confirm what I didn't want to be true. I flopped back, letting it all soak right in, and with that, it over flowed, causing the weakest slither of tears to run into my ears. I had promised myself when I woke up that morning that I would be strong, for at least one day. But now I felt as though I was completely incapable of moving. The whole truth was, I didn't want any of this to be happening at all. I just wished that I could go back to when I never imagined any of this could ever happen.
"Hinata," Kurenai Sensei brushed a few strands of wispy hair from my clogged eyes, "You're gonna be late,"
I sucked in a large breath, holding it, and nodded slightly.
XXX
The sound of the doorbell seemed to rebound through the house, which I was sure for a moment was ghostly empty, until the paper screen slid open.
Hana almost leapt back in shock when she looked down at me. For the first time in my presence she had her hair let down, dangling over her shoulders.
"Oh… Hinata," she stuttered, bewildered.
"Here," I shoved the trey of rice balls up to her face, trying to be rid of this awkward moment as soon as possible.
"Oh," I saw a slight smile twitch across her cheeks, "Thank you," she steadily took the plate from my hands and placed it on a small coffee table in the doorway. I leaned back and forth from each foot, the words stolen from me by an unknown force. I couldn't help but notice she was not dressed in her black clothing. In fact she was wearing a much different outfit from her usual wear. Instead of her shorts and that same old rugged chuunin vest, she wore a light, cream skirt and brown singlet, something any normal civilian would wear.
"I uh… presume you're not going to the service?" I muttered
She looked up, soaked in thought, "No…"
Just then a man emerged from the darkened hallway, standing behind her, and rubbing her shoulders gingerly. She glanced up,
"Oh Hinata, I'd like you to me Dr Shen,"
The man with spiralling brown hair waved slightly with the tips of his fingers, throwing me a simple grin, and I bowed in return.
"Satsu?" Was the first word Dr Shen said to Hana, and her eyes widened.
"I almost forgot!" She chuckled, "Wait there Hinata," she said before shuffling away into the house and returning with a strong, large husky. It took me a moment to recognise her, but when I did, I collapsed onto my knees and wrapped my arms around her wide neck, "Satsu!" I whispered as her tongue rolled over my cheek. She looked as healthy as ever, and had grown profoundly since I had last seen her. "Your ok!" for the second time that day I almost felt liquid in my eyes, but this time it was not through sadness.
Hana looked at Shen who nodded, a silent agreement. She took a deep breath before finally speaking, "Hinata, we were thinking… We have a lot of working dogs, so naturally we don't particularly need anymore, so we were wondering if you," she paused for a moment and smiled, "If you would like to take Satsu,"
My eyes widened, and I felt my lungs closing up, for an instant I couldn't breathe. Was this a dream? Or was Hana really offering this to me?
"Of course," she said, filling the gap of quiet, "you don't have to decide right now, you can take a few days to…"
"Yes!" I cut in, shock turning to excitement, an emotion I had forgotten existed, "I'll take her, in fact, I'll take her right now!"
A large grin extended across Shen's face, "I think the little lady has made her decision."
"Well I'll get her lead for you then," she disappeared and returned in a flash with a red piece of rope. "Here we go," she said, crouching down and tying it around Satsu for me.
"Thank you," I heard myself say from the deepest pits of my appreciation as she handed me the lead, as she handed me Satsu, as she handed me a friend.
"Thank you for the muffins… I mean rice balls," she replied, leaning back against Shen, "I could teach ya some Inuzuka clan tricks on how to understand canines,"
"Mm that'd be great…Well uh… I best be off, or I'll be late… You sure you ain't coming Hana?" I looked up at her with large eyes, knowing I was not capable of swaying her.
"Yeah," she looked down, "I… I just don't think I could handle it, I don't really wanna make a scene," she laughed hoarsely, trying to keep the lump in her throat at bay.
"Oh," I nodded my head slightly as I turned, tugging Satsu along, "Ok, see you then," though Satsu had much different intentions. She jerked me back, whining deeply. When she finally reached Hana, she locked the bottom of her skirt in her jaws and began to tug, intent on her following.
"Satsu," Hana ordered firmly, "Let go,"
But the dog did not obey, instead, she created a larger fuss, pinning her ears to the back of her head and jerking her snout upwards, howling. I expected Hana to powerfully scold her, but to my surprise, she just stood, helplessly. When Satsu finally gave in, Shen pressed his mouth against her ear, "I think the dog wants ya to go,"
What followed was a large fracture of complete stillness, where each one of us, even Satsu was completely quiet.
"Give me a minute, I'll go and get changed," and once again, Hana disappeared.
SHINO:
Two hours ago, I stood in the exact spot I was in, alone. I was the first here, Kiba's mother a close second, and I had not moved an inch since. Now, now I was surrounded by lines of shinobi, stark and conformed, their faces showing no sign of emotion, because that was how it was, that was how us ninja were, that was how it was meant to be. The day did not reflect the event, with the sun blazing down on us, stubbornly refusing to duck behind a single cloud. Surrounding us, in the shrubbery, small birds and cicadas chirped happily, probably, I thought, to fill the air back up with the joy it had been stripped of. I glanced around me, stretching my neck as far as I could, hoping Hinata would show, that she was somehow already here. But I had watched each person as they arrived, analyzing them, and none of them had been her. If one of them had, I would know, even if she were wearing a hood. That way she walked, how her shoulders slouched forward, reflecting her timid nature. Was she really not coming? After all that begging, all that pleading to post pone this service just so she could be here, would she really back down now? I felt tears of frustration and even fear building up inside me. If she didn't come, how the hell was I supposed to face this? That's when I realised it. Maybe I hadn't told them to hold this off for only Hinata's sake, maybe I needed her here with me, so I could face it. And just as I was about to show my real cowardice, and run, just so I could forget all of this even existed, I saw her walk up to the bench where Kiba and his fathers photographs were placed. At first I barely recognised her, because to my amazement, her shoulders were not hunched forward, no, she was standing up right in a hidden confidence.
HINATA:
I paused when I reached the table where Kiba's photo sat. I sucked on my bottom lip. It was the first time I had looked at his face since that day, and I was taken back by how much I had forgotten him already. Somehow I wished to reach into the frame, and loop my fingers through his, drawing him from the image. That way he would step out, and tower over me, grinning that same old cheeky smirk. That way I could creep up on my toes and brush my lips against his. That way his body heat would seep into mine, and I would no longer be alone. That way I would be protected. I was broken from my trance when I felt Satsu's tongue slide across my hand, a reminder. I reached into my pocket, pulling out another picture, and placing it beside Kiba. Akamaru was just a pup when it was taken, but he still had that same, dumb-founded expression, and for a second I understood why Kiba had missed him so much. I turned to face my stunned audience, and even though it was not code, even though I was not meant to speak, my voice ran away from me, "I never thought I'd have to say goodbye to him," Just then I caught my fathers stare, and for the first time in my life, he nodded, encouraging me, pushing me forward, which almost forced me to continue "I mean, we were pal's, mates, friends for life. We trained all day, and everyday, together… We were like one of those multiple bangle bracelets…" I sucked in air, unable to hinder the tears that withered down my cheeks, "each part of us connected in some way to the other, but when you turn those wrist bands in your palm, it's hard to tell where exactly its starts, and where it finishes. B-but now, those bangles have tumbled to the cold, hard ground, where they have made a splintering sound upon landing, and every individual one has fallen apart from each other somehow." A thousand pairs of silent eyes stared at me, and to my amazement, I had not been asked to step down. Through it all, they held there expressions like statues, and they refused to even twitch with the pain they felt. Kurenai Sensei, Naruto, Lady Tsunade, Neji, Hana, Tsume, Shen… Shino. Satsu nudged me softly, prompting me, and before I could stop myself, before I could find reason I continued, not a hint of nervousness in my body, "you know what. We all feel the same, so why are we doing this? Why are your faces so frozen? We all loved Kiba…" I had to wrench the words through the wall of my sobs, "So for Gods sakes, let's just show it already." And to my utter amazement, I changed something; for the first time in Konoha, it rained… shinobi tears.
XXX
"Hinata," just as I was about to turn and walk through the woods at this days end, I heard my fathers voice calling me. I spun around, looking him straight in the eyes for almost the first time. He composed himself, clearing his voice.
"I think… I think I was wrong about you daughter," he stroked my hair gently, sympathetically, "You may never of had physical strength, and for the longest time I have thought you had no strength in any aspect," he smiled, his lips curving up at the ends, "But I see now you are in fact strong, today, today you have proven yourself to me. If you continue working hard, you will become one of the strongest ninja, and, a great leader to the Hyuugan clan,"
I stepped back slightly, unable to believe what I was hearing. Then, I did something I would never of been able to do without Kiba, oh how he had taught me without even trying, "But that's just it father, I no longer need to prove myself to you, I do not need to prove myself to anyone, only me." I laughed slightly, not believing myself, "I'm leaving this life behind. I do not wish to be surrounded by this any longer."
His eyes widened with a hint fury, "What are you saying?"
"What I'm saying is, I am not going to be a shinobi anymore. I don't want to be part of it, and let Hanabi lead the clan she wants it far more then I."
"Hinata!" he hissed, "then what will you do with yourself?"
I grinned, feeling almost as nutty as Kiba, knowing without him I would never be able to do this "Cook." I said simply, "Now if you will excuse me," I bowed respectfully, before turning and walking from him, "I have places to be."
HANA:
Shen placed me on the mattress softly, easing my exhausted body down. Without my consent he had swooped me up when we reached the front porch and carried me inside. It was unbelievable how much energy could leak from your eyes. Once I was down, he smiled at me, tracing the frame of my face with his nails.
"You're beautiful," he whispered into my ear before brushing multiple kisses down my neck, then pausing briefly and retracing his steps, moving onto my orifice, "You did great today Hana, I'm proud of you,"
Was a response really needed? He knew I believed him, even if I would never admit it out loud. I felt his hands furrowing about as they tenderly popped open my top button.
"Sh-Shen…" I held my breath, determined not to release it until I became stone.
His head shot up suddenly, his whole body freezing in nervous confusion; sure he had made a wrong move.
"D-don't I… can't"
His eyebrows tipped upwards, squinting together. He sat up suddenly, pulling me with him. "Sorry," he muttered, looking away. I sighed, leaning into his chest, and looking off into oblivion.
I don't know how much time passed before he finally broke the silence, though it seemed stretch on for ever.
"You know," his voice seemed to echo back and forth through each corner of my mind, "He stopped us once before,"
Another endless pause slugged through our conversation, and I took a deep breath, crawling up the tower of my own haltering fear. He was right. Slowly, oh so carefully I turned into him, my lips merging with his, our bodies melting into one another. Yes, he was right. I needed to move, which was what I was doing, but not the right way, no, I was moving backwards, now, I needed to move forwards.
HINATA:
The cool liquid frothed, sifting through my toes. Normally the water was blue, but not today. Today it was made of all sorts of colours and textures, melting into one another. Peach, purple and pink, such serene colours, such naked, peaceful colours. They were a reflection of the sky, the wide, free sky. I let out one, silent giggle, red sky at night, shepherds delight.
I tilted my head, leaning against Satsu's large, panting body, my punishment being a wet sloppy lick across the cheek.
"So, where shall we be off to next? What will this life have in store for us?" I spoke not to myself, not to anyone really, just outwards. No one visited the dock at this time, they were all cooped up in their homes, comfortably devouring there dinner. For the life of me I couldn't understand why. Why would they want to miss the way the last flicker of sunlight soaked into your back? Or how the lake sounded exactly like wind when you listened hard, even though it was an entirely different element? Well in a way I was glad; glad they were willing to miss such an event, because, all the more for me.
My hand slithered down Satsu's back, gathering a bunch of her molting fur. I looked up, swallowing the fresh air, absorbing it into my lungs.
"Que sera, sera," I whispered, answering my own question.
Yes, normally the sky was blue, a cold, miserable colour. A colour used to represent sadness, a colour used to represent a bleak future. But not today.