I Do Not Own Naruto
Chapter 44
Itching was… well, it was the center of his attention as he sat on his bed and tried not to itch his stump. It wasn't easy, it wasn't even simple. No, it was insanity and it was tearing him apart at this moment as he sat on his bed going over the past week. It wasn't fun, it wasn't easy, but he was seeing now that things were changing. It wasn't an easy admittance, but the world was different from what it had been before. It was maddening.
Getting up he yanked on his jacket then as he left his apartment and walked down the stairs. January, it was an unforgiving month but at this moment it felt good to be in the cold, which distracted him from his itching problem.
It was time to get to work, again, he'd be working with the Hokage some more, and the Shinobi Union. It was interesting, and it was fun which was why he was looking for a distraction.
"Hinata!" he grinned and her black head turned around and he jogged up to her.
"N-Naruto!" she gasped.
"Yeah, it's been a while, I was… uh… out," he shrugged lamely as he stared at her.
"Uh-huh, have you started getting your prosthetic?" she asked in a near hum as they continued walking through the village.
"Yeah, it's itchy!" he complained.
"I've heard that," she nodded.
"Yeah, but it's so itchy that it's distracting, and I can't focus or think, the itching is all consuming," he sighed. It wasn't easy to explain the bone deep itchiness that he was feeling, it was semi-maddening at this point.
"I bet," Hinata smiled.
"How's everything been going for Tenten?" he asked thinking of a distraction at this moment. He needed the distraction.
"Hajime and Tenten are good, a bit stressed, but they're good. Being a new mom is different," Hinata explained.
"I get it," he lied. He really didn't get it, he'd never had a family or kids of his own and he was never going to be a mother.
"What are you doing?" Hinata asked.
"I was going to go to the Hokage's office to try to work. I can't leave my arm alone and if I itch it then Tsunade will have my head," he muttered. He knew that he couldn't touch his stump at the moment because of the bonding but he wanted to. He really, really, really wanted to itch it.
"Hmm… I was having tea if you would like to join me," she gestured when they stopped in front of the local tea shop. For a hot second he hesitated but he nodded.
"Sure," he smirked and walked with her.
"Come on," she smiled and gestured for him to follow her. Walking in he was immediately hit by the warmth of the shop as he followed Hinata. The scent of lavender caught his attention which had him looking Hinata over carefully, she smelled good.
"You smell good," he commented, and felt his face turn scarlet.
Hinata stumbled for a moment when she heard those words from his lips, and she stared at him as she felt her face turn scarlet. Her heart was slamming painfully in her ribs as the butterflies started tying her stomach in knots then as she turned back and looked at Naruto. He wasn't looking at her now.
"T-Th-T-Thank you…" she stammered as she continued through the tables to get to her seat. She didn't want to lose her composure, but Kami was it difficult not to when he had her mind in mush for a slight off handed comment from the man she loved.
"Yeah, what are you having?" he asked as they sat down.
"Jasmine tea," she replied as she placed the order and looked at him.
"Same then," he decided as he sat there staring at the table. Hinata could only look everywhere but at him at this moment as she tried not to turn into a nervous wreck. He was so close, and the fluttering in her stomach was distracting her for the first time in a year. It felt good, again, but it was also tying her tongue in knots.
"So… um… How… How are you?" Naruto stammered.
"Good… I've been well," she managed, she was a bit amazed she'd been able to talk to him with how heavy her tongue felt and how she felt like everything was in a knot. She wanted to reach out for him, she wanted… she wanted more, she wanted something, and it was something she hadn't thought about since before the war.
"That's good, I… I kind of miss living at the Hyūga compound," he said then.
"Really?"
"Yeah, it's… it's lonely, I kind of liked having the company. My place is too quiet," he sighed.
"You're welcomed to come over whenever you please," she smiled.
"Really!?" he perked up.
"Yes, it'll be nice to have the company," she admitted. Mostly she liked the idea of being that close to Naruto again. She had liked having him with her.
"I would think that your father wouldn't like having me around," he shrugged as they were served their tea. Hinata smiled politely at her server before they were alone again. Gingerly she picked up the warm tea and lifted it to her lips as she savored the flavor and the warmth.
"You're the hero of the world, my family would be honored to have your company," she hummed as she smiled a bit at him.
"Really!?" he perked up.
"Yes," she nodded as she felt a blush coming on her cheeks. It felt nice to think that he wanted her family's; and possibly her, company. She liked his company, and she was a bit hopeful that he liked her.
"Great! You're a great friend Hinata," he smiled.
She smiled back slightly.
"You're a great friend too," she hummed as she set her tea down. Naruto started babbling, and she enjoyed her afternoon with him.
Hey... Long time no update... So, I have a legitimate reason for my lack of updates aside from Murphy's Law ruling my life.
I sent off three of my books, a few months back, and I've received two rejection notices so far. Yipee!? Rejections are both good and bad, so... I'm not certain how to feel about this. Anyway, I'm awaiting my third rejection notice, working on another book to submit for publication (which will probably be rejected), and I haven't been having a great life at the moment, making me busy. Sorry for the lack of updates, but we're getting regular again! =)
That's all for now folks.
Enjoy Until the Day I Love =)
