Chapter 7 - Day 4 Evening

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Note: Thank you again to all of you that have supported the story this far and have hung in through all the long pauses! You are fabulous! For those of you reading for the first time, welcome! I would love to hear what you think and apologize ahead of time for the delays that sometimes are out of my control. Much love ~Luna

Hinata was ready long before she had to meet Naruto. She took the time to meditate and center herself for the night to come. With such little time left to prepare for the mission she felt the urgency of pushing forward. How far was she willing to go with this, how far before she was shattered irreparably? Pushing those thoughts aside she rose from her seated position in the middle of her room and moved to look at herself in the mirror once more. The jumpsuit that she wore was pale green, the fabric shimmering in the translucent light of the setting sun as it slid through the windows. It hugged her shoulders with cap sleeves and a deep v came to just the right depth on her chest, revealing more than she had ever done so in the village and certainly more than Naruto had ever seen but still allowing her to be comfortable enough wearing it. The legs brushed the tops of her feet, which were strapped in low heeled sandals. The shoulders connected across the top of her back but opened to expose her skin to the dip of her spine above her buttocks. The weather was warm enough she carried a light jacket but did not plan to don it until absolutely necessary. She swayed from side to side for a moment checking the fit and movement, loving the feel of the slick fabric on her skin, yet always the shinobi. She could move and fight if needed. Her hair was up in a simple bun, bangs shading the tops of her eyes. Nodding to herself she turned and headed out, the sun would be down shortly and she didn't want to be late.

Arriving at the monument Hinata saw she'd beaten Naruto there. She settled in to wait refusing to fidget and trying to forget the many looks she'd received while walking from the compound to her current location. The night remained warm and the slight breeze felt good on the exposed skin of her back. Hinata felt his chakra well before she saw him, turning in his direction with a small smile on her lips and her eyes showing her pleasure. When he came into sight her smile became more genuine. He was dressed in his more typical pants, loose and easy to move in. His shirt was similar to the one he'd worn the night before, tighter but in a blue that matching the inner ring of his eyes.

Naruto was smiling as he came to a stop in front of her, his foxy grin. Eyes crinkled with happiness and she felt her smile widen slightly. She was getting used to seeing him, getting used to being the recipient of his smiles. If she somehow made it through the mission with her heart intact, she would miss being with him, would miss the warmth he injected into every moment in his presence. Naruto stepped closer even as she leaned toward him and it was easy, natural really, to greet him not with words but with a kiss. One that lingered just past a polite hello, a happy greeting. Hinata felt the shift in Naruto's body, the prick of awareness that she now knew was present. When she pulled back his mouth followed hers for just a second before he copied her motion. It was a good sign, an attunement that would work well for the mission. "Konbanwa Naruto-kun" she said, tilting her head slightly to the side, smile back in place. "Konbanwa Hinata-chan" he replied again mirroring her motion, head tilting, then he reached out and brushed his fingers down the bare skin of her arm, "Are you warm enough?" She nodded, goosebumps rising where he'd touched her and then spreading to cover the rest of her body. "It's still quite warm and I brought a jacket in case." He nodded and then asked, "What are we doing this evening?" "I thought we could go for ramen and then a walk, then we can see." Hinata watched his foxy grin reappear and then broaden at the mention of ramen. He was so easy to please, she ducked her head with a smile of her own and reached for his hand.

Naruto took her hand easily and then took the lead, guiding her towards Ichiraku's. She listened happily as he chattered about the rest of his day. Apparently, he'd gone to see Kakashi for a bit and then met up with Sakura who was helping him to prepare a wardrobe for the mission. He blushed slightly at the mention of his wardrobe and Hinata found her face flushing as well. What exactly would Sakura have helped him pick out? Strangely Hinata felt herself bristling just slightly at the thought that Sakura was helping him, shouldn't she be the one that did that? Immediately after that she imagined him coming to help her choose outfits for the mission and her face flamed. She shook her head vehemently at her own rejection of that idea, only to feel Naruto's eyes on her. She looked up quickly, embarrassed. "Gomen Naruto-kun, my mind wandered for just a moment." He waved it away before she had even finished speaking and was back to his stories. She scolded herself internally for her feelings and lack of attention to the man beside her and focused back on him. "How was the rest of your day Hinata-chan?" he asked when he'd come full circle, even describing seeing her at the monument waiting. She smiled with affectionate warmth at the detail he'd put into his description. "I visited Ino-chan briefly after I left you, then headed to the compound to take care of clan business. I did a bit of meditating and got ready to meet you. Not very exciting I am afraid." Naruto shook his head, "That sounds nice, well maybe not the clan business but I don't really know what that includes so…" he trailed off rubbing the back of his head with his free hand. She smiled and shook her head "Not much really, just letters and some research for my father." By this time, they had reached the street where Ichiraku was located. Hinata had managed to ignore the stares while she'd been listening to Naruto. Now, for just a brief instant she was acutely aware of the many eyes watching them, taking in their entwined hands and civilian clothing. She struggled to keep her discomfort to herself and her blush down.

Naruto reached out to lift the flaps of the ramen stand for her and ushered her in before him. She nodded her thanks and stepped forward. The sharp intake of breath and sudden electric curl of chakra up her spine told her Naruto hadn't noticed the back of her outfit until that moment. He wouldn't have seen it when he approached her at the monument or when they'd been walking. Hinata stutter stepped and flushed red as she caught sight of the proprietors' faces, their eyes were wide and the girl's face was flushed. Neither were looking at her. She was just getting ready to turn when Naruto's body came up almost fully flush to hers, his hands landing on her arms just below the cap sleeves of her jumpsuit. Hinata felt her whole body warm and was about to step forward to allow him to enter behind her when she felt more than heard the subvocal growl from behind her. It wouldn't have reached anyone else in the stand or passersby. Almost as soon as it happened it was gone and she questioned if she'd imagined it. Then Naruto stepped around her and began to guide her into the stand, to the stools set before the counter for patrons to rest on while eating. His hands slid off her shoulders as he moved, one hand sliding to the middle of her back and then down the curve of her spine to rest just above the dip. Hinata couldn't help it, her body reacted and she cursed herself for pulling up her hair, leaving her nothing to hide behind. She did allow him to lead her to the counter and even managed to order something to eat though she kept her eyes down and hands twisting in her lap. Naruto seemed almost normal when he ordered, making sure she was settled and had ordered first before sitting and placing his own. The owner and his daughter moved quickly and soon steaming bowls were presented. Hinata looked up briefly to thank them and then began eating.

There was a silence between Naruto and herself that bordered on uncomfortable. Hinata wished she'd thought to turn and show him her back at the monument, it hadn't occurred to her that he would have a reaction though after the other night she probably should have anticipated it. There certainly was no denying the attraction and chemistry between them, or that it was going to be more than enough to support them through the mission. She shivered remembering his heat and the low growl, still uncertain if she'd imagined the sound. Though she didn't see why she would have, she had never heard Naruto make such a sound before. "Do you need your jacket Hinata-chan?" her head came up and around to see him looking at her with concern. "Oh, no! I'm fine, thank you Naruto-kun." She brought her hands up in front of her chest in a wave of dismissal, Hinata's already warm cheeks warmed more and she quickly turned back to her meal giving him her profile. 'This won't do!' she thought, they couldn't be blushing every time they noticed each other, that would be a horrible detriment to the mission and a dead giveaway of their true relationship.

Hinata was still trying to figure out how to address it when they'd finished eating and rose to leave. Naruto once again held the flaps up for her and placed his hand on her back to usher her out. She forced herself to adjust to the feeling and not to allow a further blush to reach her face. Still the silence was stilted and they were off beat with each other even though they held hands as they walked. Hinata realized Naruto was letting her lead and she was unconsciously moving them toward the training grounds. She stopped, wanting to ease the tension. "Gomen Naruto-kun but I..." when she'd turned to face him intending to suggest they call it a night and pick things up the next day Naruto had stepped into her. Bodies pressed close and hands still entwined, his free hand had risen to the back of her neck. She had already been looking up at him so she didn't have to shift to accept the kiss he pressed to her lips. It was a light, sweet glide, a question. She brought her own free hand up to rest at his waist and opened to him. Eyes falling shut as his lips pressed more firmly to hers. It wasn't a long one, nor overly passionate but it was deep and it left her breathing off kilter. When Naruto raised his head Hinata opened her eyes to see him looking down at her, smile absent. "Hinata?" She shivered, no 'chan', and his eyes were serious, not teasing or apologizing. "Yes" she said, understanding instinctively the question he was asking and feeling the slow burn in her body move from simmer to boil. "Yes" she said again just to confirm it for both of them. As Naruto stepped back and air spilled between them, sounds began to filter in, and Hinata realized with a wrench that they were on a main thoroughfare in the village, close to the turn off for the training grounds but still very much in the middle of activity. Naruto didn't seem to notice that they had drawn attention from those moving past them. He kept hold of her hand and began to lead her in another direction. Hinata followed letting her eyes settle on his upper back and reaching to clasp her free hand over his hand in her other grip. She refused to look around. Minutes later they were walking upstairs, and stopping briefly for Naruto to release the guards on his door. Then it was open and they were stepping into darkness.