Chapter 25- "Y-E-S!"
At 4:23 on the morning Naruto was leaving, Hinata gave in and called.
"I'd like to sail with you…if the offer still stands."
"You like it down to the wire, don't you?" His voice was groggy with sleep. Naruto's flight was booked, but Hinata got a seat on a later one. When she arrived at Neder cay, Naruto was at the bar with Omoi. He waved, and she smiled a bit too brightly.
"Care for a rum punch?" He teased. He was going to treat her like always. He decided it was the best way to get the old Hinata back, and he missed his sparring partner.
"Club soda for me." Hinata remembered the effects of Omoi's potent drink. Naruto's itinerary called for a predawn departure, and she wasn't starting the trip hungover.
Toward sundown they headed to the slip where Brother's keeper was moored.
"I'll show you below where you stow you stuff," Naruto said.
Hinata followed him past the wheelhouse. "So this is the living room and kitchen?"
"Saloon and galley. Yep. Your bunk is down these stairs. I'm at the other end."
Instead of a narrow cot in a tiny room, like she expected, Hinata found a cozy cabin with watercolor seascapes on the walls. The double bed had a brass head board, built-in oak drawers provided plenty of storage, and curtains fluttered at the open portholes.
"You have you own head." He pointed to another door.
"Always."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "The head is the bathroom."
"Right. Whatever…A real bedroom! Pretty spiffy for a boy from Hidden Leaf Village!"
"Stateroom. It's not the QE2, but it'll be home for a while."
"Tell me something. Are you going to correct me the whole trip?"
"I'm betting you'll learn quick to keep me from pointing out your mistakes."
She knew he was right. "This is so…you know. Luxurious. You've done pretty well for yourself, haven't you?" 'Like I thought I was doing.'
Naruto saw her face cloud over. "Anyway, freshen up, or whatever it is you women do and come up when you're ready. I'm gonna toss a couple of sword fish steaks on the grill. I gotta go over charts and weather reports so I need to make it an early night."
"Aye! Aye! Captain!" Hinata saluted, and when he left she unpacked, showered, and found Naruto upstairs, taking fish off the grill.
"You look nice."
Hinata fingered the skirt of her purple maxi dress self-consciously. "Glad you like it. I bought it in three colors on the way to the airport. I've eaten myself out of most of my clothes, and this hides a multitude of sins."
"Give yourself some slack."
"I did." She patted her hip. "Twenty pounds worth of slack."
"I think you look good. Kinda like you used to when we were growing up."
Hinata raised her eyebrow.
"Not that I thought you didn't look nice all corporate and pressed for success. That's just not how I think of you."
She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes.
"I'm steppin in it for sure now. Why don't I quit while I'm behind? Thought we'd eat out here." He had set a small table in a corner of the deck.
"I didn't know you could cook, much less navigate this thing. You can find Florida?" 'And what am I gonna do in the middle of the sea for three weeks while you're looking for it?'
"Gimme a break!"
In fifteen minutes Hinata was sampling her swordfish. "I'm impressed, Uzumaki."
"Can I quote you?"
"No. But you can quote me on the view. It's beautiful." The sinking sun left streaks of rose and plum on a Sienna sky that was fast turning indigo. 'Maybe this is what I need.'
"Just wait. There's nothing like sunrise and sunset at sea. It makes you remember we're not in charge as much as we think we are."
Hinata wondered if his comment was aimed at her, but she left it alone. After the meal Naruto leaned into the curve of the banquette and put his feet up. Hinata took her cigarettes out of her pocket.
"There are three rules for this trip. You can't smoke those funky things below. You can't talk about the good old days at OSA. And as far as the boat is concerned, I'm the boss. You do what I tell you."
"Okay. I'll only light up outside." She put a flame to the tip of her cigarette for emphasis. "Rule number three I guess I have to go along with, but only about the boat. But two? I'll give it a shot, but I can't make promises."
In trying to be sociable and obey the OSA gag order, Hinata was painfully aware that most of her chitchat over the last ten years had been about her work.
Naruto watched Hinata as she spoke. Her hands never stopped moving, brushing her dress, smoothing her hair; her index fingers touched together sometimes also then when she tried to keep the conversation moving they would flap like spastic bird wings. He wanted to tell her to relax, but he knew that would make it worse. After an hour Naruto announced he had work to do if they were going to leave on time.
Hinata helped clear the table and went below, glad for the getaway.
Before dawn, they weighed anchor. Naruto had charted what he called the easy does it route that would take them on a leisurely course around the eastern Caribbean. Then north through the Atlantic until they reached Boca Raton.
Hinata was green around the gills so she laid low, but with music to keep him company, Naruto stayed "on the good foot." On day two she felt less wobbly. They anchored in Grenada Prickly Bay, found grub in town and retired early, bushed from the sea air.
In Martinique they docked at Fort-de-france. Naruto dined on blood sausage and conch fricassee. Hinata ate bouillabaisse and sampled the local rum Vieux, hoping it would help her calm down. Here she was surrounded by the most beautiful scenery imaginable, but instead of enjoying herself, she wondered if she was ruining the trip for Naruto.
But he never complained. Occasionally he could coax smile with a silly story. He dared her into trying her hand at the helm, and when she seemed interested he explained the how or why of sailing. He was giving her time.
A few hours from St. Kitts, the afternoon sun was high, the water calm, and Naruto was at the wheel. He glanced over his shoulder to where Hinata lounged on the deck. A book lay open across her lap, but she stared off in the distance, lost in thought.
For weeks Hinata's mind would stall when she least expected it. Highs was the usual culprit. She'd see him sneering as he asked how much it would cost him to make her go away. But this time it was the guard posted in her office and the boxes waiting on her desk when she returned from her meeting with Kakuzu. 'How did I miss all the signs? "So busy looking, you forgot to see." Out of the blue Hinata heard Sakura's little girl voice. 'Where'd that come from?'
"Hey come here!" Naruto called.
"What?" Hinata jumped, and her book tumbled to the deck.
"Just come here! Quick!"
She joined him on the bridge. "What is it?"
"Look…there!" He pointed as a silvery iridescence vaulted in front of the boat. "Flying fish!" Another one arched over the bow and splashed into the sea on the starboard side.
"I always thought they were fake. You know like mermaids."
"They'd hate to hear you say that! Look at em!" Dozens of the wing-finned creatures took flight, and Hinata and Naruto marveled at the brilliantly choreographed ballet.
"How do they do that? Know exactly when to jump so it's perfect?" Hinata watched in amazement. She'd spent years trying to perfect her own leap. One that would take her soaring into a dazzling future where things fit together neatly. It didn't work.
"They probably don't plan it at all." The performance was over, and the sea settled back into its random rhythm. "I think they just stick together. One goes then they all follow."
Hinata went back to her seat and buried her head in her hands. Naruto debated what to do. After a few second he eased up on the throttle, and set Keeper on auto pilot.
"Life doesn't always work out how you plan it." He sat next to her, stares at his sneakers a minute. "That's not all bad." He turned to look at her. ""Sometimes it's even for the best."
"I don't wanna talk about this, Naruto."
"Well I think you do. You said it yourself. One of us needs to talk…poof, the other appear. Think it's an accident? I don't anymore."
"You don't understand. You have no idea what it feels like to be unwanted! Everybody loves Naruto. You were a cute kid, annoying as hell, but cute. You had two parents who loved you and each other. Do you know how lucky you were? All right, what happened with Yahiko was terrible. But even then, you had all the backup in the world. I was a homely, fat, emo looking kid. My mother actually lied to keep from claiming me!" She stood, then sat down again. "Sakura's folks took me in but I always knew her mother was against it, and I wanted to leave before I wore out my welcome. My first year on the job I got knocked up, and my so-called boyfriend had married an acquaintance of mine behind my back! The only time I ever asked Sakura for anything, she stood me up. And my father! I did everything I could so he'd be proud of me, and that wasn't good enough! I haven't had a damn thing to count on, but my job, and now that's gone! So don't talk to me about what I need, Naruto! You don't know anything about it."
"Okay. You told me some things I didn't know. Let me tell you what I do know…"
"I won't talk about this! I've already said too damn much." Hinata got up.
Naruto grabbed her arm. "Sit down! I'm not through yet."
"This is not about the damn boat! I'll do what I please!" She wrenched her arm free.
"You gonna hide in your stateroom until we get to Florida?"
"No. Only until we reach a port where I can get a plane!"
"I'll take you to the airport! But you're gonna listen to me."
"What choice do I have? I'm a captive audience!" Hinata folded her arms across her chest and glared. "I knew this damn trip was a mistake," she muttered.
"I'll ignore that." He stood and stepped closer to her. "I know you're hurting. You've been treated bad, and I'd do anything I could to change that, but I can't. Neither can you. It's what you told me. We can't undo what's in the past. What happened at OSA is lousy luck. You got the short straw. But, tell me if I'm wrong, that shit happens all the time, and you know it ain't personal. I bet you fired people who were doing a good job, because the almighty bottom line said you had to." Hinata glanced away. "And Hiashi Hyuga is an ass, plain and simple. I don't care how important he's supposed to be. I read him the first time I laid eyes on his pompous, monogrammed-drawers-wearing ass. But he'll get his. One day he'll regret the way he treated you, but it'll be his loss. Don't you know how wonderful you are, Hinata?"
"Yeah, Oprah's hosting the special." 'He won't make me cry with this sentimental crap.'
"When we were little, I used to think, damn, how come she gotta be so smart?"
"Oh yeah, right."
"For real." He looked past her and shook his head. "The day Yahiko was stabbed, it was you that called the police, answered questions. Sakura was screaming her head off, and I zoned out. You're all the important things, Hinata, kind, strong, bright, honest…"
"Uh-huh. Me and the damn girl scouts!" Hinata shot back.
"I usually don't have to wonder what's on your mind cause you will speak it! But I always loved that about you. Hinata…look at me."
She rolled her eyes. "I've loved…"
"Don't, Naruto. We barked up this tree before…"
"It's the tree I want, and I'm tired of running circles around it. I was jealous of Hyuga when we met him at the museum. I thought you had the hots for him. How could you not know, I acted stupid enough." He rested his hands on her shoulders. "I can't play this game anymore, Hinata, I love you. I guess I have for years."
Hinata shocked at his confession just looked at him then narrowed her eyes at him "Don't confuse pity with.."
"Stop it! It's taken me fifteen damn years to say what I felt in Sakura's basement."
"You remember that?" Hinata never let herself believe it meant anything special to him.
"I tried to forget it. I convinced myself you'd never be interested in a dumb jock. That you were too smart for me." He pulled her closer. "You're a real complicated woman, but I love you. If you're not interested, if you don't want me in you life, you'll have to say so."
Hinata felt a tremble from the place only Naruto had reached. "Beautiful women must camp outside your building! What do you want with me after somebody like Shion?"
"Shion was a distraction. But I didn't invite her on this trip. You're the one I want to be with. I think you're beautiful, in every way, and I love you."
'Nobody's said they love me. Not since Sakura, when we were kids.' "You can't Naruto."
"I can, and I do." Naruto covered her mouth with his and they spoke all the pent-up feelings, lip to lip, like the first time, the time neither had forgotten. He held her close when her knees quaked and without another word, he eased her onto the deck. She found herself in his kiss, clung to him like her life depended on it, and at this moment, it did.
Naruto pushed his tongue into her mouth, feeling every nook and cranny of the moist cavern. Hinata's tongue meets his eagerly. Their tongues danced, each memorizing the other's taste. After a few minutes the pair parted for air, staring into each others eyes. Naruto then decided to go even further. He disappeared trailing kisses down her jawline, neck, and collarbone and returned ready to love her, in the time it took her to catch her breath. Hinata loved the sensations of Naruto's lips and tongue on her body.
The frenzied urgency of their groping submitted to the gentle sway of the boat on the swells. Miles from landfall, inhibition peeled away like their clothes. He pulls away her final garment, her panties to reveal her glistening soft skin. Now completely naked in front of him with a red face, she was surprised at herself for not attempting to cover herself. Naruto sat up to stare down at her. Trailing his eyes up and down from her face, down her whole body and back to her face. "Damn, Hinata! You look so good…beautiful, just like I knew you would."
Hinata, blushing even more, reached up to grab the back his neck and pulled him down to continue their kissing.
Slowly and seamlessly they stroked, licked, nuzzled, and kneaded. He suckled and massaged her breast, flicking her nub with his tongue fervently. After a minute, he released her mound from his mouth with a pop, began to give the other one the same treatment, whilst his one hand remained on the first breast, sculpting it and imitating his tongue's actions with his thumb. Hinata put her arms around his head but kept her grip loose enough to allow him to periodically switch between the mounds. She moaned, wanting even more. As if reading her mind, Naruto got a bit rougher, carefully biting the hard nub in his mouth while tweaking the other between his thumb and index. She called his name and showered him with encouragements as he toyed with her supple bosom. "Yes, Naruto! So… good!" All too soon for Hinata, Naruto slipped out of her hold and abandoned her breasts. She let out a disappointed whine, until she realized where Naruto was headed. Spreading her legs wider, he leaned closer, and ran his tongue up her wet slit, lapping all her juices. Hinata let out another long moan and yielded to him, eyes rolling back to the feeling, free to be herself, because Naruto knew her, everything there was to know. And she knew him. Extension of each other, they shared the touch and the sensation.
Next day, they put in at ST. Kitts, off schedule but on a new course. Playful and teasing like kids, they wandered the streets and shops, then lunched at a restaurant called the ballyhoo and watched people queuing for the ferry to Nevis. With Hinata behind the wheel of a rental car and Naruto navigating, they explored the island until almost sunset, when they stopped at Dieppe Bay, left their shoes in the car, and headed toward the shore. Three cows ambled along the black sand, unperturbed by the human intrusion.
"So what do you think?" Naruto asked.
"What's the topic?" Hinata walked a little ahead, flirting with the surf.
"Marriage."
Hinata stopped in her tracks. "They say it's lovely, but I've never given it much thought."
Naruto spun her around to face him. "Well think about it now. Will you marry me?"
'What did he say? I know I heard wrong. I'm standing on a beach at sunset in the Caribbean and Naruto just asked me what?' "Huh?" Was all she could manage.
"Fine. You're gonna make me say it again." His face was inches from hers. "Hinata Mitarashi, will you marry me? Did you understand me this time?"
Hinata's head bobbed up and down. "I…I…understand…But isn't this kinda soon?" The water rushed in and bathed their feet.
"I think it's kinda late. You were so stubborn and contrary, every time I'd get close, you'd run or pick a fight ya'know."
"I did not!" Hinata folded her arms across her chest.
"Did so. Anyway, I know I love you, and I want to marry you. It seems pretty simple to me." Naruto closed the tiny space between them, and covered her mouth with his.
Hinata wasn't used to feeling out of control, but reason and planning couldn't stand up to the simple truth. 'I do love him!' She melted into his chest, and her heart thudded against her ribs, or was it his heart? She couldn't tell, but she knew she was happy. Hinata looked into his eyes. "Yes."
"Pardon me? I didn't understand you."
She laughed. "Y-E-S. Did you get that? I love you! Yes, I want to marry you."
He hugged her right off her feet and held her up in his arms. "I knew you'd see it my way!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Naruto Uzumaki. Don't you forget the choice was mine!" She tried to scoot away after he placed her back down on the sand, but he pulled her back and held her face in his hands.
"I'm glad you chose me."
Hinata felt giddy in love, like the teenager she never was. That night they ate lobster under the starry sky over Frigate bay, then found their way back to the boat, where they made love on the deck under the yellow moon that felt close enough to touch which Hinata looked right up at as Naruto thrusted in her repeatedly while licking ,biting and sucking on her neck and breasts. He releases her nipple and swoops in and captures a mouth. His tongue moves in her mouth so eagerly that he muted her moans. He's shoving himself deeply inside her grinding and hitting her spot. She feels her climax approaching. He then released her mouth, now she can breath. She looks at him as he's going thru the motions with hooded eyes. He's so strong, arms and shoulders boxing her in, his pelvis and abs are working hard to please her. It's all him, tan and gorgeous, she feels like this is a dream. The love of her life. He tells her he's going to cum. She moans his name. Her vision fades to white as Naruto releases into her passage. He then collapses on top of her. Trying to ground herself, she smooths her hands over his skin, massaging his muscles across his arms and back while he kisses her one last time.
They continued on their journey. During the days, Naruto fussed and Hinata argued. They kissed and laughed at themselves and at each other, like always only better. At night they'd drift off, bodies pressed tight together, and when they changed positions they were like the flying fish— one went, the other followed. Somehow, in the middle of the sea, Hinata felt grounded and secure.
When they headed for the Bahamas, they hit their first bad weather. Wind churned up the sea and cracks of thunder silenced the roar of waves. From inside the wheelhouse, Naruto steadies Keeper as she scudded over the creating white caps. He was surprised when Hinata appeared at his elbow, but he handed her a life jacket and started giving orders. She was a quick study and combined with what she had already learned to keep him off her back, she proved a worthy first mate.
They finally left the storm behind in late afternoon. Exhausted and relieved, he adjusted their course, set the autopilot, and they climbed to the flybridge. The water sparkled as the sun shamelessly exposed itself for the first time all day. "I'm glad you're not scared of lighting anymore." Naruto grinned and his dimple winked at her. "And I'm really glad you said yes. But I knew you would!"
"Hold on a minute! We aren't married yet!" Hinata started to unbuckle her life vest. "Can I take this thing off now, Captain?" She asked sarcastically.
"You can take anything off you'd like." Grinning at her like looking like a fox.
Hinata ignored him. "I've been thinking about this wedding business." She plowed down in front of the wheel. "You are a famous person. At least semi-famous." She smiled. "And you know the press loves love. I don't want a big deal, doves and limos show for the world to gawk at. So if we're still on, let's do it simple and fast. Before I change my mind."
"That's easy we'll see Killer B'."
"What?"
"Friend of mine He's a judge in West Palm, retired now. You should see his boat! He's the one who got me into it. Anyway, I know he'd marry us. I'll call him when we get to Nassau. Is there anybody you want to come down?"
Hinata thought a moment. "I'll find you a prince, too. We'll have a double wedding!" She could see Sakura's ponytail bobbing excitedly. 'Tayua is in Spain doing a movie. There's nobody I want to invite to my wedding?' "Not really. I'm sure your friend can scare up two witnesses."
"How about you mother?"
"Naruto, you know I don't know where she is."
"Maybe it's time you tried to find out. Don't look at me like that. You tried to include your father in your life. It didn't work. Doesn't your mother deserve a chance, too?"
The breeze whipped Hinata's hair into spikes she tried in vain to subdue. "Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't even know where to begin."
"For starters we can check Konoha. And lots of times folks go back home to start again. Swan City is pretty close to my parent's place."
"Maybe I could get past being mad about the way she treated me…maybe we could learn to understand each other. And maybe things are fine just the way they are." Hinata looked out on the ocean. She hadn't laid eyes on her mother since that night in the bar when Anko surprised her with the Hiashi Hyuga story.
"Maybe you won't know 'til you see her. You might not even find her, but you won't know til you try."
'Maybe she could be surprised again.' "I'll think about it, Naruto. Okay?"
He looked at Hinata sitting in the captain's chair. Her skin glowed with a sun kissed tan, her hair blew every which way. She looked… happy. "I do love you, ya'know."
"Naruto?" Her face turned serious. "Are you sure?" Because more than anything she needed to be sure because love had never been something she could count on. The boat pitched on a wave, she reached for the grabrail, and he put out his arm.
"I can't give you any ironclad guarantees about the future. You wouldn't believe me if I did. But am I sure I love you? Yes. Am I sure we belong together? Absolutely. Do you make me crazy? Often. But I'm certain I want to be you friend, your partner, your husband. I even got myself a job. Isn't that a respectable married man thing to do?"
"And I'm unemployed, but I don't want you to feel you have to take care of me."
"Marriage means you take care of each other. You'll figure out what you want to do next. Maybe start your own ad agency, I don't know, but you will, in time. I'll be traveling a lot. But we can handle this. Together I think we can handle anything."
"We can, huh? When is the first official Hatake & Uzumaki trip?"
"After Florida I'm back in Konoha a few days. I leave the day before Thanksgiving, big time of the year for sports…and I'm on the road almost three weeks."
"See, you've left me before we're even married!"
"And you're already nagging! You know, except for hospital stays, my parents have never spent a night apart? Amazing, huh?"
"They don't have to worry. Their record will be safe with us!"
"This could count as our honeymoon." He cut the engine and grinned wickedly.
"What about our first Thanksgiving?" Hinata arched an eyebrow.
"I'm feeling very thankful." He grabbed her hands and pulled her toward the hatch.
The Honorable Kirā Bī aka Killa B' was not what Hinata expected. Youngest of two boys, B' wanted to be rapper when he was younger and would constantly rap driving his brother A' and their father crazy. He eventually put his dream aside to follow his family path of lawyers. He worked hard so that his brother wouldn't be hurt politically as A' ran for Senate. Eventually B' became a judge and done pretty well for himself. People would often find him in his office blasting his radio on the rap station.
Killer B' met Naruto in his second rookie season with the Cubs and they became fast friends. He was the first man Naruto knew personally who owned a boat. Actually a 121-foot yacht, as Naruto later discovered. The fall after he and Sakura broke up, Naruto crewed for B' on a trip to Bimini and the friendship hadn't stopped growing since.
Hinata and Naruto enjoyed the judges hospitality and three days after their arrival they stood in front of a gurgling fountain on the palm-fringed terrace of his limestone palazzo. Naruto's mother wasn't well enough to make the trip, so Minato stayed home with her and Naruto promised they'd come for a visit right after the first of the year.
Hinata , her hair in soft waves with an Orchid on the side, looked radiant and calm in her Vera Wang ivory crystal T back crepe slip gown, Naruto, handsome in his Blue slim fit suit, held her hand tight as Killer B' began the proceedings.
Rather than select rings at the last minute, Hinata and Naruto had decided to do without band of gold and exchange them as Christmas gifts instead. But at the appropriate time in the ceremony, Naruto surprised her with sixteenth-century Spanish gold coin he'd found on a dive and had set as a pendant.
The judge remarked on the enduring luster of the doubloon, in spite of the rough seas it had weathered. He told Naruto and Hinata they would need to do the same. From beginning to end the wedding was over in less time than it took to scramble two eggs.
AN: I'm so happy I got to this point. I hope you like as much as I do. Thank you for reading. I don't know when the next chapter will be. I need to bring Hinata and Sakura back to together.