- Pluck -
Part II
Chapter 19: To the Moon
Companion song: Take Me Home by ATEEZ
The location of Hinata's family was there on Naruto's desk, folded into a large, white folder with the simple name 'Hyuuga' written in neat handwriting on the front. It was thin and wrinkleless, alluding to a lack of paperwork inside for him to read. And because Naruto, down to his heart, was a true optimist, this could surely mean good news.
But kings had to be careful and, at times, cynical. Somehow, the silk robes weighed his shoulders down as he paced about the office, eyes trained on that white folder that had the answers to the questions that had been plaguing his mind for months. Whenever his heart would soar and beat courage into his outstretched fingers, those heavy robes would pull his arm down, dissuading him from taking that folder into his hand. Because he could pretend that everything was fine when things were like this, when it stayed on his desk, untouched.
He couldn't pretend when the answers were right in front of him.
What if they were dead?
What would he do then? What would he say to Hinata?
But . . . what if they were alive?
"That's an odd look on your face."
He smelled the sand before that stolid voice whisked through the blazing air. No footfalls or screeching door announced the arrival of His Majesty, and when Naruto looked away from that folder on his desk, he saw that one of the windows was open.
Cheeky bastard.
Smiling, he turned to find Gaara, King of Sand, near the middle of the room. Expanding from his back were beige, morphing wings made by the very sand Gaara lived upon. Kings outside of the Sky Realms were unable to reach his office without their own pair of wings, so they often sent ambassadors to send their messages. But since their meeting of one another as princes, Naruto has known very well that the people of Sand hated to rely on others - most likely because of their monarchy, which was made out of some of the most stubborn people he has ever met.
He was used to seeing Gaara in Sun. A few years, he would come a few times a month, if just to prove that matters such as wings could not prevent him from handling things his own, specific way. But the past year had been busy for both of them, and Naruto was quite sure the Sand King had no time to come, unannounced, to simply chat.
"You do not often have such a pensive expression, Naruto," Gaara continued, robes sweeping behind his legs as he walked over. Another aspect that was normal of him. Gaara liked to tackle things head-on, usually not leaving room (physical and metaphorical) for debate or issues to arise.
Which, of course, Naruto also happened to believe whole-heartedly. Thus, with one, large step, he met the Sand King in the middle and grabbed his shoulder, laughing. "What are you trying to insinuate, Gaara?"
"Nothing. Just an observation."
Shaking his head with amusement, Naruto gave him a sunny grin. "Well, I doubt you came here just to astound me with your profound observations."
"That's correct." Gaara nodded. His sand wings flapped slowly and in a periodic rhythm, barely creating a big enough gust to even mess with Naruto's already wild hair. "You haven't replied to my letter."
The night had been long and sleepless.
Shame wouldn't let her find peace in the darkness. Every time her eyes closed, images of her and Sasuke would spill into her mind, and she would be reminded that she had confessed to him. Her.
Hinata knew it wasn't necessarily her fault. She had been naive and scared. She didn't remember anything and only had Suigetsu's word to go off of. If she had been told that Sasuke Uchiha was in love with her, then of course she'd believe it. Of course she would trust him and stick with him - because someone who loved her wouldn't hurt her. And he had been nice to her, visiting her to make sure she wasn't lonely and bringing her food and comfort. He let her see Suigetsu twice, going against his strick and unbending protocols. Of course, in her innocent, memory-lacking brain, she'd attach herself to him. It was simple psychology. It wasn't her fault.
But it wouldn't stop replaying in her head - her hugging him and clinging to him, even after he'd pull away and show his clear discomfort with the situation. And why wouldn't he? Suigetsu had lied. Sasuke wasn't in love with her. There was no reason for him to be comfortable with her advances.
All these new memories were making things messy.
He was her friend, but he also acted so distant to her after they had met in the bar. He continued to call her that silly name, as if to strip her of the only, personal thing she had of her past. Was that what he wanted? To forget about their past?
But why? They never had a falling out. There was no significant argument that would make either of them distance themselves from the other.
And Hinata knew there was a very simple way to get the answers to all of her questions.
But . . . she couldn't. She knew if she ever so much as looked at Sasuke again, her heart would explode from shame alone. Her courage and boldness was long gone. All she wanted to do was wallow in her cell, alone and away from the world.
But time did what it always did and flew past her fingers, and after hours of staring at the same spot in the ceiling, the door creaked open.
Sasuke? Hinata shot forward, chest ready to collapse onto her lungs. She folded her legs beneath her and curled her arms around her body, trying to seem as small and insignificant as possible. Leave. Please, leave. I can't do this right now -
"Good morning, Hinata."
But the sound of her name, alone, gave her relief. A gallon of air left her body, allowing it to slump over as Shizune walked in after closing the door quietly behind her.
"How do you feel? Is your head alright? Do you feel overwhelmed at all?" The onslaught of questions helped Hinata distract herself from the hot embarrassment rolling off her body. As she answered, Shizune pulled up the back of her shirt and looked under her bandages. She gave a happy hum and leaned over to offer her a kind smile. "Your stitches are nearly completely healed, so I think we can take off the bandages, if that's alright with you."
Hinata tried to match her smile, though it was awfully forced. "Please."
So, after stripping her of her shirt, Shizune began to unravel the bandages. "You left so quickly last night. Ino was worried she had somehow gone overboard, but I told her you were just tired." Throwing the pile of bandages to the side, Shizune pressed her fingers against the skin of Hinata's back, getting a better feel and look of the healed wound. "But was that really the case?"
Hinata bowed her chin, lips pinching together. "I just wanted time alone to deal with all these new memories in my head."
Shizune gave a short nod. "Of course." Her cool hands left her back. "There will be a scar, but at least it healed nicely."
Hinata managed a genuine smile this time. "Thank you for everything, Shizune."
She picked up the bandages and said, "I'll let Sasuke know about the good news." She shot her a cunning smile, and Hinata felt hers drop. "I'm sure your lover boy will be quite thrilled -"
"Sh-Shizune!" she yelped, feeling fire engulf her entire face.
The woman blinked, confused. "Hm? Not so bold today, are you?"
No, not at all. Because she knew the truth now, and Hinata couldn't believe how sure she had been of her and Sasuke's relationship. Her mouth, dry, opened to tell Shizune such, but then -
She felt it. Him.
He wasn't even there, but she knew he was approaching her cell. Even before she heard the footfalls that creeped under the thin gap beneath the door, she knew. Every hair on her body stood, reacting to the immediate, growing static seeping into the room. She was hot before the door even opened, but when it did and he stepped inside, adorning his cloak once again, she -
She couldn't breathe.
"Hinata?"
Her gills stretched away from her neck, searching for moisture. Her lungs wouldn't work. It was too hot.
"Bend your neck." A big hand pressed against the side of her head, persuading her to cock it to the side. Her vision was blurry, but she didn't need to see well to know who was there, pouring cool water down the left side of her neck, over her gills. His hand was practically burning her skin, and when it moved to her other side to get access to the other half of her neck, Hinata was quite sure he'd see the burned scars he left behind. "Is that better?"
Her mouth was still too dry, but she nodded, if only to get him away from her.
He did, eventually, after seeing that her gills had relaxed. The glass of water, now half-full, was set next to her knee. There was a shift. Cool air hit the tip of her nose, and she knew he had given her room to breathe.
Thank the Gods.
"I'll see if I can get you to the baths today," Shizune said, still standing in the same spot with the pile of bandages in her hand. When Hinata's gaze cleared and focused, she saw the concerned look the woman shot her way before it slowly turned to Sasuke. "Do you wish to join her this time, as well."
Gods, stop.
Hinata hid her face behind her hands, pressing her nose against the cracks of lava in her palms.
"Not necessary," was Sasuke's nonchalant reply. She was sure he was hiding his discomfort. "Is her back healed?"
"Oh, yes!" Shizune piped. "There will be leftover scars, but today is the first day she does not have to wear any bandages." There was a pause, and when Hinata finally pulled her hands away from her face, she saw the plate of food on the table. The fact that Sasuke had brought it for her made her stomach twist. "I'll leave you two to breakfast, then."
"Thank you." Again, a casual answer from Sasuke.
The total opposite of her.
"W-Wait!" Hinata sputtered just as Shizune's hand fell on the door's handle. Two heads turned her way, and she dropped her gaze, blushing. "You can . . . join us."
The heels of Sasuke's boots tipped to the side as he shifted from one leg to the other. She saw a hand pull out from the depths of his cloak, and then he left the line of her bowed sights.
To leave? That would be nice.
But those flittering thoughts shattered when she heard that door open and only one, light pair of feet leave for the hallway.
"She doesn't realize you have your own breakfast to attend to," Sasuke said, door already squealing to a shut. "Take your time, Shizune. I'll watch her."
And before she could protest, the door was shut and locked, and she was trapped.
"What are you doing?"
That hand that hung away from the dark fabric of his cloak was curled, knuckles protruded and slightly white. Was he angry? He was definitely, at the very least, frustrated. His voice alone revealed that much.
When he stepped her way, she sunk further onto her futon, nearly knocking the glass of water over. "I don't know what you -"
"Bullshit," he hissed, stopping, giving her an inch of relief. "You're avoiding me."
She knew she shouldn't be surprised he figured it out so quickly - it wasn't like she was doing a good job at hiding it. "I'm just . . . tired."
"You haven't been acting yourself," he said, sighing. It filled the entire room with fire. "Just a few days ago, you would have -"
"Don't!" If she heard the rest of that sentence, Hinata was sure she would melt away or die or something. "Please don't."
Sasuke didn't move or speak for a good while, leaving her to burn in the shadows. She was just embarrassing herself more. She needed to get a hold of herself and act like an adult - but it was so hard when he was there, watching her every move.
And when he did move, it was towards the table. "Come here and eat."
"I'm not hungry right now," she whispered.
"Moon Witch, stop being stubborn."
He didn't leave her any room to rebuttal, so she got onto her shaky legs and walked herself over, slowly dipping down to sit on the cushion. The smell of the food made her feel a bit sick, but that hard stare she could feel him giving her made her pull out her silverware and begin to eat.
"Am I making you nervous?"
That should be obvious. Hinata gave a small nod, making sure to keep her eyes planted on the table.
"Will you explain why?" he asked.
It was only fair to do so, but her heart still felt like it was about to stop. "Last night," she began, lips moving with slow hesitation, "when I was getting some of my memories back, Ino asked what I wanted to remember first. Do you know what I said?" She waited, wondering if someone had told him anything. Based off of the silence, it was clear he hadn't a clue. "You."
When the next wave of silence came, her curiosity overcame her shame, and she finally looked up at him. His expression was pensive. Of course, it was. But his eyes seemed a bit too open to be normal, and his jaw flexed under its cover of stickers, which looked denser than normal.
A low exhale left him. His shoulders fell with the rest of him as he seemed to contemplate the depths of her statement.
She ate and waited, ankles rubbing anxiously together.
When he did not speak, she said the first thing that came to her mind.
"Who's the woman you like?"
His eyes zoned in on her, lighting up with that familiar, electrical glow.
"Are you putting it together?" he asked. "Is that why you're avoiding me?"
What's that supposed to mean? "What I mean is - back then, when I told you it was your turn -"
"My turn to what?"
Did he not remember? She supposed a few years ago wouldn't be fresh in his memory. "When we were at the bar, with Naruto. I was engaged - to Naruto, I think. You congratulated me, and I said it was your turn. But who would you be proposing to?"
"I don't -" He stopped himself abruptly, huffing, leaning back onto his palms. "When you were engaged? But we never met when you were engaged to him." Huh? But the clean, fresh memories that had been drilled into her mind told her a totally different story. "The woman I like . . . ? If you mean back then, then you must be talking about Sakura. But I do not -"
"S-Sakura?" Sakura Haruno? The pretty woman she met yesterday? "You're in love with Naruto's fiance?"
"Was." He leaned forward, glaring. "I was."
Warning bells chimed in her ears, and Hinata felt her face heat up before she could look away. Somehow, the information did not seem too startling. Had she known this beforehand? But if that were the case, why wasn't it included in her memories of him?
"Why are you asking about Sakura?"
Her appetite was gone, and she couldn't even force herself to eat. Pushing away her plate of half-eaten food, she said, "When I was remembering everything about you, there was a name that I could never distinguish. She was always there, unrecognizable. I was just . . . curious . . . ."
The weight of his gaze never left her; not even for a second. "Is that it?"
She gave a meek nod.
"That doesn't explain the fact you can barely meet my gaze." He stood, like a tower, like a giant. He was always tall. Even as kids, he was enormous compared to her. Yet it had never intimidated her as much as it did then. "Are you scared of me?"
Scared? That couldn't be it. She just couldn't be another moment in that cell with him, that's all.
"I just want to be alone."
He moved around her, the hem of his cloak brushing along her arm. She immediately pulled it to her, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip.
"Strange," he muttered from behind her. "Just yesterday, that was the exact opposite of what you wanted." When his footsteps beelined for her once more, her shoulders curled around her. She felt him lean in. It was hot. He was hot - but she was shivering like she was at the bottom of the ocean. "When I leave, I'll eventually come back, Moon Witch. I always do."
His words crept over the bridge of his nose. When she glanced up, she saw the glass of water on the table and a curtain of black wafting to the door. He paused as light filled the dark cell. The distant noises of the Guard filtered in, attempting to distract her from the more prominent buzz in the air.
"Also . . ." Sasuke's voice drifted. Hinata had to watch his jaw to make sure she wasn't missing what he was saying. It was getting louder. Everything was. "Suigetsu survived."
H-Huh?
Her jaw fell, leaving her mouth open enough for her heart to spring out of her body.
Suigetsu!? her mind screamed. Suigetsu's alive?
She jumped to her feet, leg knocking into the side of the table, and Hinata had to catch the glass before it fell and spilled its water. She couldn't believe it. They had told her there was no chance of him surviving. Her head snapped up as her fingers pushed away from her body, untucking from the shell her body tried to hide her in; but just as she found her courage, her curiosity, her ability to look him in the eye -
He was gone.
Her shoulders sank. The room was dark and quiet again. She was alone.
This is what she wanted, right?
So why did everything ache?
...
"Can you tell me about Suigetsu, please?"
Steam hovered about the bright bathing room. Warm water surrounded her, and for the past ten minutes, Hinata simply sank into the depths of the water, enjoying the feeling of it brushing over her gills and filling her lungs with fresh, tepid air. But after she gave herself time to relax and savor the water, reality crept into the corners of her eyes and within the depths of her mind. The loud parts that had kept her awake just that night.
So she lifted her chin from the water, turned to Shizune, and asked the main question on her mind. The woman was on the other side of the expansive bath, short, dark hair pulled up into a small updo so that her bare shoulders could soak without her hair getting in the way. Her dark eyes turned on their surroundings, her head tilted a bit to arch her ear towards the doors that led to the changing room, and upon hearing and seeing no one, swam over to Hinata.
"Did Sasuke tell you?"
She nodded, ignoring the tremble his name alone sent down her spine.
"It was a miracle of the Gods, I've heard," Shizune said. "His Grace had suddenly come to the Guard last night, demanding the whereabouts of Suigetsu. His mind had changed. He didn't want to go along with the sentencing, so he and His Highness -"
"His Highness?" Hinata asked.
"The Moon King," Shizune clarified. For whatever reason, her voice lowered when she said that title. "His Grace had brought him with him - I've only heard rumors that His Highness had the ability to absorb other's wings during the wing process, but from what I've heard had happened last night, it seems to be true."
"Toneri . . . saved Suigetsu?"
Her eyes stung, and Hinata quickly splashed water on her face. The sheer relief she felt was . . . beyond words, really. Like a dagger had been pulled out of her back, and instead of bleeding out, the wound healed immediately. She was so glad; but she was also confused.
Naruto had been the one who pushed for the sentencing in the first place. What made him suddenly change his mind?
Had Sasuke said something to him?
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
Shizune watched her for a moment, then said, "You remember His Highness's name? That's good." Was that strange? Hinata supposed so. "Here, let me wash your back, Hinata. The stitches have healed, but it would be best if you would avoid straining yourself for another few days."
Hinata turned without question, placing her hands on her knees as she felt a soapy rag rub along the curve of her spine. The pressure lifted significantly when it reached her healing wounds, and Hinata was sent back to the pain. The excruciating, hot pain of her skin being ripped - the same pain Suigetsu had probably felt.
"Is he alright?" she asked Shizune. "Suigetsu."
"He's currently in a coma, but the doctors have informed Our Head that he is healing speedily."
A coma. That made her heart fall, but she didn't let it ruin her mood completely. He was alive, after all.
The rag slipped from her back, replaced by flowing water that washed the suds off her bare back. "We've had two very lucky cases these past few weeks," Shizune mused. "I just hope we haven't used up all of our luck."
Now clean, both she and Shizune stood and stepped out of the baths. Hinata wrapped one towel around her body as she used the other to dry herself and her hair. It was still a little embarrassing to bath with someone else, but Shizune kept her gaze on the door as she dried herself, and Hinata was thankful for it.
"I understand why Suigetsu survived," she said after a while, when they were in the changing room and getting dressed, "but why did I?"
There was a pause in the shuffling of cloth as Shizune seemed to ponder her question.
"I'm not sure."
"Was it purely luck?"
For some reason, she couldn't believe that. It all seemed too coincidental.
Just then, images replayed in her head. They were quick and fast and bright, but she understood them perfectly. It was her and Sasuke again, flying through a starlit sky. Flying. Flying.
Right. She had wings.
But . . .
Wasn't that impossible? Because she was from Ocean. She had gills. People from Ocean didn't just have gills.
They had been flying over a silver place bathed in twilight. She had wings - she didn't remember the color, but she had them - could practically feel the muscles in her back stretching, as if to let them snap out of her back. She was friends with Naruto, the Sun King, and her cousin - he was a Moon Man. She was related to him, to the one with glowing eyes that pierced through the darkness of her cell. She had been able to see through the murky depths of the Ocean floor, and for a while, she thought it was because she was from Ocean.
But what if that wasn't the case?
What if that silly name Sasuke always called her actually had to do with -
"A-Am I . . . from Moon, Shizune?"
Her immediate reaction was not to answer, but to snap her head about the place. Grabbing the damp towel around Hinata's neck, she pulled it over her face, and whispered, "Not here."
They were both dressed, so Shizune took her back to her cell, making sure the towel kept her face hidden. When they were inside and the door was locked, she finally turned to Hinata, eyes wide.
"Were you not aware of that before?"
A simple, innocent question, she knew. One brimmed with shock. But, still, it made her feel stupid. Was it that obvious - well, of course it was. If she and Neji shared the same eyes at all, it would be obvious to anyone who laid their eyes upon it. But it wasn't to her. For the past two weeks, she had been living with the idea that she was from Ocean.
But that wasn't the case at all.
She was from Moon. Moon. That foggy, silver place from her memories. The place her family was from - where she was from. The place where she met Sasuke and where, surely, she spent most of her childhood.
And yet -
"I . . . do not have wings, though."
Even with the majority of her memories gone, she knew the basics of the universes. People could not go to any of the Sky Realms without wings.
"I was informed you had lost them," Shizune said. "Tsunade told me that you would spend months in the bar to find someone you could trust enough to take you to Sky. No one seems to truly know what happened to them."
An acidic taste took over her mouth, causing her to scowl. So even if she somehow got all of her memories back - memories of her home, her family, her past - she would not be able to go back. Her cousin would still be a phantom in the corner that only she could see, and the only thing she would have left of her wings would be the two scars on her back.
"I-I . . ." She didn't know what to say.
And for a while, neither did Shizune. Her body shifted, feet moving along the dim light peeking in under the door.
"I wish we could help you." She inclined her head backwards, towards the door, hair sweeping across her shoulders. "Would it be better to discuss this with someone from Sky? I can call for Sasuke -"
"P-Please, I don't -" Her words rushed faster than she could breathe, leaving her to choke for a moment. Her right hand fell on her chest as she gasped in a gallon of air, already missing the warmth from the baths that soothed the muscles in her neck. Shizune took a step to her, silently offering her aid, and Hinata shook her head as she regained her strength. "I . . . I have many things to sort through. I think it would be best if I did this alone, so . . . please . . . ."
Shizune's eyes flickered, understanding. But her nod was reluctant as she pulled open the door. "Alright, Hinata," she said, slowly, "I'll give you your peace, then."
And like that, she was alone.
Her skin was cold, but her chest was hot and tight as shame lingered deep within her. Hinata lowered herself to the futon, wringing a few, stray droplets out of her drying hair.
You want this, she told herself, glancing at the ceiling.
But the gaping hole in her chest hurt as much as the sealed ones in her back.
Letter?
Naruto released Gaara's shoulder to walk over to the desk, pushing around documents and searching through drawers. "You sent me one?"
"A few weeks ago, yes." Gaara walked over, looming over the desk. He always looked natural in Sun. Brightness and heat was something here and Sand had in common. But even so, there was something off - something Naruto was too distracted to really consider. "Are you aware Hinata came to Sand nearly a month ago?"
"Huh?" No, actually. He wasn't aware of that at all.
Naruto stopped his searching, and Gaara continued.
"It was during the sandstorm - she stayed for a five days with Sasuke Uchiha to aid in efforts to combat what we had initially believed was a curse -"
"A curse?"
"That left me mute."
Naruto gaped. "Is that why I hadn't heard from you in so long? Gaara, why didn't you write me -"
"I couldn't." His eyes were narrow and sharp, yet void of any strong emotion. He wasn't angry. Wasn't frustrated in any way at Naruto. So why was he bringing this up? "Eventually, we realized there were two individuals who had planned all of this from the beginning. They were after her, and used me to get her to them." Heat filled Naruto's veins. He didn't recall this being mentioned in his briefs with the Guard about Hinata's well being and progress. Why the hell didn't they bring this up? "When she was there, it had come to my attention that she had lost her memory of not only me, but of Sand 1 altogether. From what I understand, for a few months before our reunion, she's had these memory problems. Problems you knew about but kept from me."
Oh. So this was about that.
"It wasn't that I was trying to hide it from you," Naruto assured. "It just . . . was never a good time. We were busy - I hadn't heard from you for a few months. The Guard wanted me to keep Hinata on a low down and - well, actually, if I had known you two were so close, I would have -"
"If you had known?" Gaara repeated, voice dipping. "Naruto, Hinata and I have been friends since I was eleven. You introduced us."
"I-I did?" He scratched the back of his head, thinking back. Gaara blinked, the sharpness and dullness in his gaze melting, allowing bits of confusion to surface in the seafoam greens. "I don't remember that . . ."
The Sand King's mouth twisted. He leaned forward on the desk, hands hoisting his torso up at an angle, and said, "When she was there, I also saw that her engagement ring was missing."
At that, Naruto's heart fell. Wait. Is he -
"I know you've also been hiding your engagement to Sakura Haruno," Gaara said.
What!? "How did you -"
"The things we want to keep secret are often the things that spread the fastest." Wings of sand dipped as Gaara pulled away from the desk and took a step back, eyes turned to the side. They swam in something dark and painful, and his jaw clenched with the hands at his sides. "Why did you hide this from me?"
That voice was filled to the brim with betrayal. Naruto felt his words get clogged in his throat. Fuck. He always knew something like this would happen - even if he and Sakura had both agreed to keep their engagement a secret until she was well, they both also knew this secret could be hurtful to their friends. And now that it was apparently out for everyone to hear, he couldn't be the one to tell those same friends and assure them on the spot it wasn't out of distrust or malice.
Rounding the desk, Naruto cleared his throat, and said, "I really wasn't trying to. Sakura and I - we -"
"You were in love with Hinata," Gaara said. "You always have been, even when we were kids. I don't understand how all of this could have happened in less than a year."
In love with Hinata.
Again, those words that made no sense. And now it was Gaara saying it - Gaara, who has always been known for his harsh way of telling the truth. Gaara, who had no reason to even joke about such things.
Why does this keep coming up?
"I wrote you a letter to ask you about this, but you never answered." He looked at the desk, at the folder, then back at him. "At first, I had believed it was due to you being busy, but now I'm not so sure."
At that, Naruto frowned. "Gaara, be reasonable."
"I have been," he drawled. "Even when I discovered you were hiding so much from me, I came here to listen."
"I never received your letter."
"How can I believe that?"
"What - you really have that little faith in me?" It was like lava was pouring into every inch of his body, but Naruto held back. It wasn't right to lash out. The last time he did that, he had nearly killed someone in the most painful way possible. "Look, I'll apologize about hiding the Sakura thing from you, but you have to believe -"
"Sakura thing?" That final word was low and hoarse. Sandy, almost. "This is an engagement. One that should be with -" Gaara took another step back, breathing out through his nose, eyes closed and face struggling to stay relaxed. "I'll explain it again. For nearly two decades, your eyes have been set only on Hinata Hyuuga. You proposed to her, and not even a full year later, you've suddenly changed your mind and are now engaged to someone else. You have to understand why I'm a little frustrated with this situation."
"I can," Naruto said, voice pitched, "because I'm also damn frustrated. You're not the first person to tell me all this - but I just can't understand it. Hinata and I have always been friends. I can't recall a single time where I would even insinuate I had feelings for her because I never did."
Gaara's frown lifted. "You . . . ."
"Sasuke said the same thing. He called her my ex, but I've never been in a relationship with her." Naruto looked down at his ring on his left hand. It's matching partner was on Sakura's hand, he knew. Not Hinata's. Sakura's. Why was that so difficult to understand? "Explain to me why so many people seem so sure about this thing that never happened. Please. I'm all ears."
The room flashed. Gaara didn't react.
"Calm down."
That was a steaming load of audacity right there. "You expect me to be calm about this?" He wanted to yell - he really did. Anything to get these people to understand. But it wasn't Gaara's fault - he knew that. But it was irritating as hell, and the room only got brighter. "You're accusing me of being in love with someone I consider my friend. Only my friend. And it's extra insulting because I love Sakura. With all my heart, I do! If you were in my shoes, would you be calm?"
Gaara stayed quiet, gaze bowed and narrow.
Exactly.
"I'm not accusin' you of being in love with her," Naruto said, "but if you are and this is just jealousy talking, then I think you're the one who ought to calm down."
He said those words in a way that didn't seem right. He was being too harsh - he knew by the slight curl on Gaara's shoulders as his wings snapped straight. Naruto knew he was just poking at sore spots. Gaara wasn't the jealous type. He was loyal and kind to his friends. This had nothing to do with jealousy.
What am I even saying?
The room cooled and dimmed. Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, ashamed. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean that. I'm just confused."
Gaara looked down at the folder once more, then shook his head. "We're both aware Hinata has lost her memory," he said, meeting his eye, "but . . . what if she's not the only one."
A hot blade sunk between his ribs, right into his heart. His mind latched onto the implication before he could wave it away.
"That . . ." Naruto frowned at the floor. "But I love Sakura."
"You don't remember the engagement to Hinata, or my friendship with her."
"There's no way," Naruto yelled.
Again, Gaara did not even blink. "Temari and Kankuro remember. Sasuke Uchiha seems to remember. We can't blame this one random speculation, Naruto."
His chest was heaving. This was making no sense at all. "But Hinata doesn't remember -"
"You said you loved me! Why are you doing this? How can you be so cruel?"
She had said that in Sakura's manor. She had seemed off, so he hadn't given it much thought at the time. But now -
"I . . . ."
His teeth sunk hard onto his bottom lip, blood dripping down his chin. Gaara watched across the way, shocked.
"I love Sakura."
The Sand King said nothing because he didn't have to. The revelation was already in Naruto's head, slamming against the walls of his mind. And no matter how he tried, how he pushed, how he attempted to muffle it, he couldn't ignore it.
I love Sakura. He knew he did. He's been in love with her forever. They were happy together. They were about to get married.
Married . . . .
. . . Right?
He woke up scowling.
Which wasn't totally unusual for someone like Sasuke Uchiha, but he was usually able to hide it enough so that his brother would not notice -
"Has work been hard?"
Shit.
He'd been scarfing his breakfast down at speeds that would make the Sun King himself proud, but he wasn't fast enough to avoid Itachi's watchful gaze across the dining table. Maybe that was what clued him off. Though a busy man, Sasuke wasn't the kind to messily inhale his food like he'd been starving for weeks.
Taking a giant drink of water to wash down the breakfast casserole, he answered, with as much affirmation as possible, "No."
And it wasn't a lie, so Itachi should just leave him alone.
"I know," mused his older brother, who folded his arms over the table, smirking, "that was just a test to see if you would lie to me."
But Sasuke was once again reminded to never assume when it came to his brother.
No longer attempting to hide his scowl, Sasuke stood and took his empty plate and silverware to the kitchen, washing it in the sink before placing it to dry on the mat beside it. Itachi's gaze never left him, and Sasuke shot him a pointed look as he walked to the door to tug on his boots.
"That's a particular look I haven't seen in a while." The amusement in Itachi's tone was clear as the irritation practically pouring out of every pore in Sasuke's body. "Is it Sakura?"
Sasuke slammed his heel on the floor to make sure his right boot was properly situated on his foot. "It's not Sakura," he muttered.
Itachi hummed. "But it's definitely a girl."
Sasuke ignored him, instead pulling on his cloak. A whiff of something washed over his face as he flung it over his shoulders and buttoned it at the front. He didn't know what it was - something sweet, almost; or maybe earthy. But he knew well how such a smell came to his cloak, and that only made his scowl tighten.
"I wish you'd talk to me again," Itachi said. "I could help you."
He saw his brother try to move away from the table, walked over, and took his plate to the sink and washed it for him, making sure to keep the water from splashing on him.
"I'm not a child, Itachi."
"Everyone needs help, Sasuke. Adults need help."
Not this again. Finished with the plate, Sasuke placed it next to his before moving to open the door. "I can handle it."
"You said that about Sakura," Itachi pointed out, lips stuck between a smile and a concerned purse, "and now look where you are."
...
"Sasuke Uchiha - ah - wait."
His fingers were a few inches away from the handle of Hinata's cell door when Shizuna suddenly appeared down the hallway, beelining straight to him with a bit of a rush in her step. He did as she asked and stopped, curious with the edge of desperation in her tone.
"What is it?" he asked.
She reached him, shoulders sloped a bit, and her eyes stayed on the door. "Ah," she breathed, lips pursing. "Well . . . it's about Hinata."
That only got him more curious. "And?"
"And . . . she's requested to have a few days of privacy." With every word she spoke, Shizune's voice fell, until it was just above a whisper. "To process, mostly."
His scowl returned tenfold as he crossed his arms. "She doesn't want me in there."
Shizune blinked. "I . . . think she's just overwhelmed with her new memories."
Her new memories of him.
Well, this just made the day all the more frustrating. He had hoped she would have gotten over whatever shyness that made her unable to even look in his direction, but that was clearly not the case. She was still avoiding him, still running away. Hadn't she been the one to accuse him of such things days ago?
But it didn't matter. Hinata had put her foot down, and he had to oblige.
For now.
"But she does not hate you," Shizune added. To be reassuring or to save her own neck, Sasuke wasn't totally sure. "I know . . . she still . . . ." Loves you, was the unsaid part of that sentence, and Sasuke felt something get stuck in his throat.
It wasn't surprising at all that Shizune would think such things. He was sure, before Hinata's recent, returning memories, that they talked about her supposed feelings for him quite often. She had no one else to go to, after all.
But that just made things more complicated.
Sighing, he waved Shizune off before turning down the next hallway. Karin had given him his schedule earlier that morning - a simple day in the Guard, escorting guests and filing through paperwork. Not what he wanted at all. Definitely not enough to distract him from . . . all this . . . irritation.
Get over it, Sasuke.
He went on his way, glowering, unaware of the other Guards stepping around him, practically throwing themselves into the wall to avoid his powerful, electrifying presence.
This could be good.
Because hours over paperwork would give him enough time to figure out just how he was going to deal with his Moon Witch.
"I wish I could understand why you did all of this."
Sakura Haruno, for the past few hours, has been seeing nothing but grey walls and grey floors and blonde hair draped over a grey outfit. It got to the mind, that bland color. It made your mood low and made you feel cold and empty, sometimes.
She wasn't used to feeling such a way. She was used to bright petals and vibrant nature and sparkling sunlight.
But in this cell with her once best friend, Sakura could no longer ignore the harshness of reality. Ino Yamanaka was in a cell in the Guard because she had been working behind everyone's back with the enemy.
All because . . .
"People do strange things for love, I guess."
"Like wear a color that looks bad on them or maybe, maybe twist their ankle to try to impress someone they like," Sakura mused. "But betraying your friends? That seems too far."
And Ino only smiled. "You would do anything for Naruto, wouldn't you?"
Her throat closed up, and Sakura had to clear it before she could speak. "That's not the point. You were making me sick, Ino - extremely sick. I felt like I was dying, and for months, I . . . " She stopped to gather herself. "I thought you were my friend."
Blue eyes stared down at a grey-cladded lap. "I was desperate."
"What I want to ask is how. How did you do it? You don't have magic that can do such things."
The clink of metal whispered through the room as Ino lifted her cuffed hands. She was pale. They were draining her of every last drop of magic she had. That was the only reason Sakura felt like she could get a truthful answer from her without being manipulated.
"I put things in your head," Ino said. "I erased memories and made you feel things you did not feel. The stress of it all made you weak. That's why you got sick."
Sakura crossed her legs, frowning. "And I'm not the only one. You've been doing it to Hinata - stealing away her memories. Tell me, Ino: have you been manipulating her emotions, too? What are you forcing her to feel?"
"Is this an interrogation?" Blue eyes flickered to the side. "If so, you'll need a Guard here to write down what I say."
Sakura shook her head and leaned forward, catching her wavering gaze. "This is just a friend who's asking for answers. I think you owe me that much."
A small pause full of shifting fabric and clicking cuffs.
Then -
"Only when I needed her to trust me," Ino finally answered. "But never more than that. I don't like doing it."
"You did it to me just fine."
"It wasn't just you."
That caught Sakura's attention. "Who?"
Ino stared at the door, lips pinching.
"Who, Ino?"
"I-I'm sorry." There was a crack in her voice as she bowed her head, hiding her face. "I know you're my friend, but I had to do it. Had to."
Surprised, Sakura sat back in her chair. "Answer the question."
A strained inhale, followed by a watery, "Lots of people. Too many people. I had to make them angry, or change their loyalty, or make them fall in love with someone else -"
"Fall in love?"
Ino's mouth snapped shut, but it was too late. Crossing her arms, Sakura thought for a moment, and her heart dropped into her stomach. "Did . . . you force me to love Naruto?"
"No," Ino murmured, "not that. Not at all. Those are your real feelings, I promise." Finally, she looked at her again, expression careful and cautious. Scared. Guilty. "But . . . ."
And that was all she had to say.
In that instant, Sakura knew.
"Naruto . . . isn't in love with me."
...
Everything was numb and cold and empty. Like the gray. The damn gray.
"I'm so sorry, Sakura."
No more flowers or nature. No more sunlight. Definitely no more sunlight.
"I didn't want to do it, but I had to. It's unfair and cruel, I know. I . . . I wish I never had these powers to begin with."
It was all fake. A lie. That entire year of him coming over, checking up on her, sending her flowers and 'I miss you' letters, kissing her goodnight as he took the sun with him.
"But . . . we can work on this. We can figure this out, can't we?"
Naruto Uzumaki did not truly love her. The man she was engaged to didn't love her at all.
"Because what if . . . his feelings changed? What if he loves you now? Then we -"
"Ino." The blabbering stopped. The cell was as quiet as death, because that's what Sakura felt like. "If you could, would you be able to change him back to normal? The memories, his feelings - everything."
Ino's swimming eyes took in every centimeter of Sakura's face. "I - That would be difficult. Dangerous. If they found out . . . ."
"Answer the question. Please."
It was like she was searching for something in her expression. After a small moment, Ino's shoulders fell, and she gave a sad nod. "Yes," she whispered. "If we were careful, I could turn him back to normal. But . . . Sakura, do you want that?"
The question didn't reach her mind. It was too full of other things.
"Before me, was there someone else he loved?" she asked. "Truly."
"Sakura -"
"Tell me."
So, with a broken sob racking her entire body, Ino said, "Yes."
And Sakura found herself sick, empty, and in the middle of a predicament she never thought possible in her life.
...
"Welcome back, Lady Sakura."
"Thank you."
"His Grace is waiting for you in your chambers."
She was only a few steps into the manor, and she was already reminded of her predicament. A lump of something got caught in her throat, and she struggled to swallow it down as she feigned a smile at the maid before making her way to her chambers.
With every step she took, it got hotter. By the time she was pushing the door open, she was quite sure her skin was about to melt off.
"Sakura! Welcome back!"
And Naruto was there. Smiling and bright and chipper. Everything she needed. But her body could not relax as he swooped in and hugged her.
"Aren't you too busy to be visiting me?" she asked, placing a hand on the back of his neck.
He laughed near her ear, and said, "I can never be too busy for my future wife."
Future wife. Right.
Her eyes turned to the ceiling as she held him close, soaking in his heat.
"Say, if you have time, would you like to come with me to the Guard, tomorrow?"
He pulled away slightly, eyes flickering. "What for?"
She kept her smile, somehow. "Just to keep me company. I need a nice break from Ino every now and then."
His lips tilted with concern, only to return to his normal grin as he nodded and hugged her tightly, resting his chin against her shoulder.
"Anything for you, Sakura."
And if the earlier news hadn't shattered her heart, this surely did.
The entire next day, Hinata was tired, so it was impossible to know when night had finally come. But in her spells of loneliness and desperate attempts to just not think, she had counted down the hours on her fingers, and once the fourteenth struck, she knew it had to at least be past sunset.
A few minutes later, dinner arrived.
"Sorry I'm late." By Shizune, of course. Hinata was stuck between relief and disappointment. Shaking her head, Hinata sat at the table as Shizune placed down grilled salmon and steamed carrots. "I had to . . . well, I suppose it doesn't matter. Please enjoy your meal. I'll return later for the plates."
Before she could reach the exit, Hinata called out. "U-Um, actually -" Dark eyes turned on her. Not dark enough. Stop, Hinata. "I wanted to ask you something . . . before you left."
Shizune turned to her completely, hands folded in front of her. "Yes?"
Hinata took in a deep breath to gather her courage. "I was wondering if it would be possible for me to, well, leave for a while. Nothing longer than an hour." No immediate rejection came to Shizune's eyes, so she continued. "I just - after learning that I was from Moon, I - er - I want to see it. I want to see my home, even if it's just from a window in the Guard."
There was a pause for Shizune to ponder, and after a minute, she smiled and gave a small nod. "I'm sure I can work something out. Tonight?"
"Please," Hinata whispered.
"You'll have to be escorted there."
She nodded, chest light. "You can -"
The door opened. "I'll take her." And fire caught the tips of Hinata's ears.
Sasuke.
...
"Uchiha," Shizune sighed, "I'm sorry, but I told you -"
"Start eating." Not even sparing her a glance, Sasuke walked over to the table and nodded towards Hinata's dinner. "We can leave after you're done."
She didn't, despite the commanding tone that filled her entire head. She felt the fire creep down the sides of her face and curl around her neck, choking her, keeping her from managing a word.
"Sasuke," Shizune started again, "I thought your schedule was already busy."
"I finished early." His eyes never left her. "Well? We're waiting on you."
Without much control over her own body, Hinata grabbed her silverware and began to eat. Sasuke settled himself on the sitting cushion opposite of her, resting an arm on the table as the other tapped impatiently on the scabbard at his hip.
"I won't keep her long." Why won't he look away? Her gills were shivering to the heat smoldering against her skin. "You can leave, Shizune."
Hinata locked eyes with her, and after a small nod, Shizune left, quietly closing the door behind her. Alone in a hot cell with Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata ate as quickly as she could without fear of choking. She took sips of water between bites, hoping it would bring some moisture to her dry mouth, but when she was finally done, it was as if the water had evaporated off her tongue.
"Here."
When she managed to get on her feet, a familiar, black cloak was held to her. She didn't think she could get any hotter as she looked away, mumbling, "I don't -"
"You need to hide your face if we're leaving." Before she knew it, it was thrown over her shoulders. His hands were under her chin, latching the cloak in a way to keep it atop her head. When her hands moved to brush hair out of her face, he grabbed her wrists, the stickers on the lower half of his face fluttering with annoyance. "Don't take it off, Moon Witch."
"A-Alright."
When he released her, she had expected there to be burn marks on her skin.
"Then let's go."
...
The Guard eventually became the Hall, the magic of portals roaring to life all around her.
"Sasuke," she whispered, trying to keep up with his long strides. He seemed to realize her struggle and slowed down. "Where are we going?"
He didn't answer, but when they reached the Ocean gate, she understood.
"Why?" She had thought he'd only take her to some inconspicuous place in the Guard where she could look out a window or something.
His right hand reached out and turned the dial to a district - Ocean 11. Blues and turquoise filled the gate, the rumble of magic making the hairs on the back of her neck stand.
"Someone once told me the night sky in Ocean is beautiful."
His voice was barely audible as they stepped into the portal, but she heard it clearly, perfectly.
Why? she wanted to ask him. Why are you being so nice to me? Because she'd done nothing but embarrass him and make him uncomfortable for the last few days. She did not deserve this kindness.
Had he already forgiven her?
But she hadn't even forgiven herself, yet.
The blues faded away, and when she stepped forward, an uneven, moving surface was below her. Unused to something unsolid beneath her feet, she lost her balance almost immediately, but a large hand caught under her arm before she could fall.
"Careful," he murmured.
Heart galloping, she nodded and leaned on him slightly as she fixed her footing. Soon, her balance returned, and when he released her arm, she was able to stay on her feet with little trouble. The wind was cool and salty and felt nice against her rosy skin. The edges of the cloak flapped against her cheek, and she laughed and pulled it away, allowing her a clear view of the night sky.
And Sasuke had been right - she had been right. Itwas beautiful.
Stars twinkled and winked and danced, some shooting across the sky. Different galaxies mixed with the midnight blue, creating a painting of purples and teals.
But what Hinata's eyes were trained on was the glowing, silver moon hanging in the sky, probably millions of miles away.
Her home.
That was her home.
She could see it, could gape at it, but she couldn't reach it. When her hand stretched upwards, her fingers felt nothing but air, but it seemed so close. So there.
That was Moon. That was where she was from, where her family was.
That's where she belonged.
And if she had wings, she would fly there right then. It would probably take her years to reach it, but she didn't care.
That was her home.
Her home . . .
Her . . . .
She didn't feel the sting in her eyes or the water down her cheeks until her vision blurred. Gulping, she dropped her hand to her face and wiped her eyes, embarrassed. She could feel Sasuke's gaze on her. That wasn't helping her predicament at all.
"Do you miss it?" he asked.
She smiled, though she had no idea why. "I don't remember anything about it."
A few moments passed as she tried to collect herself. When her hiccups quieted, Sasuke moved behind her, grabbed her wet hand, and lifted back up towards the sky. She yelped, chin ducking, facing on fire, but he didn't release her.
Not once.
"Don't stop." Her back was against him, and she could feel his voice rumble in his chest. "You'll get there eventually."
And just moments ago, when she had wondered why Sasuke was being so nice to her - well, she understood now. Because he was her friend, and no matter how she had treated him in her memory-less state, he was still her friend.
And she was moronic to forget that.
...
"So you remember me."
They sat on the ocean's surface, staring up at the sky, both enjoying the breeze and the lack of walls and people surrounding them. Time had passed - Hinata had no idea how much. She just hoped they wouldn't have to leave anytime soon.
"Yes," she said, smiling. It felt nice that she could do that without having to force it. "I remember everything about you, Sasuke."
"You said we met sometime during Naruto's engagement to you."
"Actually, we met when I was six."
He dropped his gaze to look at her. "I do not remember that."
She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "I think we were in Moon. You called me Princess, and then you dragged me into the sky when I couldn't properly fly yet." An amused snort sounded from him, and her smile widened. "I remember how you and Naruto used to race and how you'd hide in the clouds to scare me. And I . . ."
At her pause, his eyes narrowed. "What?"
She bit the inside of her cheek, then said, "And I . . . remember the death of your parents." His spine straightened, and the rest of him tensed. "They were killed in your house, I remember. You were eleven back then." Her eyes watched the stickers on his face, wondering if any more would show up. "Do you . . . still see them in the hallway?"
It was like he stopped breathing. Not an inch of him moved.
"You . . . really do remember."
"You thought I was lying?"
His head turned to the side, jaw under those weeds flexing. "But I don't remember anything. To me, we met in the bar just a few months ago."
Hinata glanced over at the portal gate, and said, "Do you think Ino wiped your memories, as well?"
"I'm starting to believe she's messed with a lot of people's memories."
A particularly large gust washed over them, and she shivered and pulled his cloak closer to her. "I also remember a moment in a bar. We were talking about Naruto. I said 'that's not him' and told you something, but I don't remember what."
Dark eyes looked her way once again. "Not anything?"
"Nothing."
Another moment of silence. Then, Sasuke stood and took a step to her, holding out his hand. "There are some things she can't let you remember - things I'm supposing relate to your stalker," he said. "Perhaps that is one of those things."
She looked at that pale hand for a moment, then took it and let him pull her to her feet.
"If most of my memories are gone, and some of yours are, then . . . how many other people are affected by this?"
When she found her balance, she moved her arm, but he did not release her hand. She looked up meekly, trying to find a reason why, but all she saw were flashing, smoldering eyes that swam to the side.
"I'm sure we'll find out, eventually."
...
When they returned to the Guard, it was dark and quiet, almost empty. Many of the Guard must have left for home, and the few that remained were most likely in their offices, working over paperwork. When Hinata unbuttoned Sasuke's cloak to hand back to him, she gave a small apology for the lower half being wet from the ocean.
"It's fine," he said, arms staying at his side. "Keep it."
What? Her heart skipped a beat, and Hinata bowed her chin.
"No," she whispered, holding it further out to him, "it's yours."
Sasuke remained still.
"Take it," she pushed quietly.
He didn't. Her face began to burn, and that shame from before was returning at full force.
"P-Please -"
"I don't need it."
"Just take it," she stuttered, voice watery. "It's yours."
And when he didn't, it slipped from her trembling fingers and landed in a pile on the floor. She pressed her hand to her lips, muffling a sob, ashamed at how she was moved to tears so quickly.
Sasuke shifted in front of her, obviously uncomfortable. You're doing it again, Hinata. When will you stop?
"Moon Witch."
She waited, but he didn't say anything else.
Almost like he couldn't.
Moron. Just -
"I-I'm sorry," she sputtered, falling onto her knees to pick up his cloak. "I'm so sorry, Sasuke. I keep doing this - and I don't mean to, but I . . . . I feel so ashamed. So embarrassed. I can't even look you in the face, I feel so horrible." She couldn't get up. Strength had totally left her. It was just her and the ground and the soaked cloak in her arms and the silent man who towered over her, unmoving. "I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable. I-I thought you were in love with me, and I - I had been so sure that I - u-um - and now I know the truth. But I didn't before, so I clung to you. I'm so sorry. If I had just known . . . I would have . . . never . . . ."
"Moon Witch."
She snapped her mouth shut before she could embarrass herself further. He knelt down in front of her, hands on his knees, flexing. She saw the patch of skin on the side of his jaw, where she had . . . .
But it . . . didn't match the cold white of his hands. Not even close.
In fact -
"I don't care," he said, finality clear and stern in his tone. "Stop worrying about it."
"B-But I -" He gave her a sharp look, and she stopped and gave a meek nod. "Alright."
Sighing, Sasuke leaned on the backs of his heels. "Is that why you were avoiding me?"
Again, she nodded. "I felt . . . so bad. I did and said all of those things to my friend, without even realizing it."
He stood and lifted her up by her wrist, grip tightening slightly at her words.
It felt nice to finally have it off her chest, and she felt silly for keeping it in for so long. Sasuke wasn't a horrible person. He was kind and understanding, she knew. And even if he didn't remember their friendship, he still treated her -
"But . . . I can still wait, can't I?"
Huh?
She gave him a questioning look. One he did not meet for a while. But when he finally spoke once more -
"For your confession."
He was looking straight at her. No flickering, no swimming, no hesitation.
...
She was back to that day, in the cell, surrounded by lightning. It was hot and loud and dangerous, but she hadn't been scared.
But now . . .
"Very . . . funny, Sasuke."
He's joking. He has to be. He -
"You think I'm lying?"
He mocked her words from earlier, so, surely, he was joking.
But her head had been so focused on the distant past that she had nearly forgotten what had transpired just a few days ago.
...
"I'll wait, Hinata."
"So wait until you remember. Then you can make your decision."
"Not yet."
...
Her back pressed against the metal of the door, shocked. His right foot moved forward, as if to follow he, but then -
"Hinata!"
Then there was light and a voice she knew.
Her eyes adjusted faster than they had last time, allowing her to make out the figure running up to them. No. Not them. Her.
"N-Naruto?"
The Sun King was suddenly there, panting, face a bright red and eyes sparkling and wide and - and -
"I'm so sorry."
What was he talking about? Sorry about what?
"I'm sorry I forgot."
Warm hands caught her face, and all she saw was blue. Watery and expansive and shining with adoration and guilt and -
"I'm so sorry, Hinata."
Wait. She knew that look, somehow. It matched the feeling in her chest, hot and fast and waiting impatiently for something to happen.
"I-I -" For a moment, a mere second, she glanced to the side. To Sasuke, who had stepped away, eyes wide and stickers reaching up and covering that spot on his jaw. That once clear spot. "I don't under -"
But then she looked back at Naruto as he leaned in, pulling her chin forward, and kissed her.
Chapter 19 - End