A/N
Promo for twitters #NHArtxFic event.
Author; Chaos Art by deehinataaa
Summary: Tragedy falls on the Hyuga clan. The darkness was all too alluring and consuming for one ex-heirs. Out to make sense of the matter she first has to adapt, change and accept that she will never as she is be worthy. Naruto familiar with the pain of loss, regret, sorrow and sadness tries to help, but will she accept him, accept his help or will she turn to another.
Hinata embarks on what she expects, hopes to be the last mission.
The night was cold, air dense, as it grew more humid. Standing in rows and columns were a dozen attendees at the memorial grounds, comprised of some Shinobis, clan heads and what may appear to be the feudal lord.
If the air pressure wasnt any indication then the light drizzle was. "Looks like it's going to rain soon." One of the attendees spoke.
'Why does it always rain?' She thought. The service was commencing and slowly everyone who had already paid their respect started to vacate before it would actually pouring. Pretty soon leaving the immediate members of the main house.
Then there two and one other.
"Come Hinata. It's time we leave. There is much to do tomorrow." Hiashi spoke. She remained silent and still.
"Hinata" he ordered once more, his brow furrowed at the blatant disrespect he felt from his oldest.
"..." no answer or action as to indicate anything was heard.
Hiashi grew annoyed. And with all reason he can, this was his window of unreasonable with reason. Having no more bandwidth of his own he turned towards her and spoke again. More stern, More irate. And more desperate to mask and stay composed.
" ." Hiashi raises his hand to grab for her shoulder to jolt her awake and present, but before he could someone else did the very same to him. Looking over his shoulder he saw the young man, the village hero.
"Let me. I'll make sure she get home safely." He spoke. Hiashi sighed in defeat. Surprisingly, he nodded in agreement. He truly didn't have the bandwidth in him for it, or anything.
"I will always be in your debt." He sighed and took his turn to leave.
10 mins later it rained. Rained like the emotions of 100s in pain, yet she had yet to express that pain.
Since he caught sight of her hours before the service... he didn't see her, no not anymore.
Feeling that he was loosing his own strength to withstand the cold showers he called for her. "Hinata?" No response. "Oye..." his hand reached for her shoulder in an attempt to grab her attention. "Hinata?!" His voice grew soft.
"It should have been me. If I had been home that night. If I had gone with her that night. If I hadn't been..." her voice was close to breaking. It shook her and Him.
Before she could continue he spun her around to face him. "Stop. Stop it Hinata. Don't blame yourself" he scolded reason, the boy was not new to pain.
He lived his entire life in pain. It wasnt untill he forged the many bonds he did, its due to his friends, his comrades and his mentors that he survived and fought on.
"If you had it would have been you."
"It should have been me" she spoke low, his brows furrowed is as her pain echoed to him.
"No. Stop. Don't say that Hinata" he said more urgingly as he squeezed her shoulders.
A Small laugh escaped. "If I were there I co-" but he cut her off interrupt her train of thought. Unknowingly he pulled her closer as he focused his own intense gaze on her.
"Could have been both of you." The words came out so fast. Harsher then he had intended yet calmer then felt.
Finally looking up at him in his dark piercing blue eyes. Masking a tone of anger and hurt. But She couldn't see past her own.
For a moment everything stood still. The pouring rain didn't pierce their skin with it's icy droplets. The harsh thunder didn't shock them either.
"Hinata" he pleaded silently for her.
"Both of us?" Soft cold and hurt was her voice. Her face tightened as both her hands rose to grab his wrist that held her shoulders forcing herself free but not nearly enough.
"You don't think I could have saved her? I would have given my life protecting her? That my abilities can't even-" he had to stop herself before fully loosing it. She scoffed relaxing her facial expressions. "You are right." She let go of his hands dropping her own to her side.
The realization of his words shook him, he didn't mean... he had never intended. Shit. "No Hinata that wasn't...". Quickly trying to correct and explain, but she had raised her palm in order for him to stop.
"You are not wrong. I get it." Defeated dejected and now exhaustion finally settling in. She turned to take her leave. "Sayonara Naruto"
And with that she left leaving the young man to stand all alone in the storm.
He looked back at the little grave and he spoke. "I am sorry Neji. Hanabi." He bowed once more before he began to backtrack taking his leave.
He promised Neji he would do better for the Hyugas... and already he noticed how hard he was failing.
Not even close to her own district he watches her slow her pace, lazily dragged her feet at the edge of the streets leaning against the walls for support.
He wanted to go to her, help her, but... he knew better. She needed space. He needed what he felt she did.
Not even two blocks later she slows almost stopping before her legs give way. She falls but not on the hard cold wet ground but into strong tan muscular arms...
Naruto looked at Hinata, but she had already passed out due to extreme overwhelming and exhaustion.
Her wet hair plastered over her face, he looked, observed more and noticed she... is hurting so bad even with her eyes shut he knew. There was stress along her once porcelain skin.
His jaw cleaned tighter in anger. He held her tighter. Closer to his own wet form.
They were still much further from her district. The Hyugas as noble they were, would never reside in common areas so definitely not near the memorial sight of the dead and fallen. So by this Narutos house was much closer. He concluded to first get out of the rain. he shall take her to his place, he wouldn't want Hiashi seeing her like his either. Removing the final strands of hair from her wet face.
Scooping her bridal style jolted her closer, hoping their body heat would keep them somewhat warm.
He leapt into the air jumping from rooftop to rooftop till he arrived at his own roof, descending into his own balcony he made his way in. In along he dragged the rain. As he walked puddles started to form.
He laid Hinata on his couch before... he sat on the floor observing her and just quickly checking her forehead for fever. "Id be surprised if you didn't catch a cold Hina" he said to himself.
He got up to crank the heater in his apartment and went to get out of his own rained on clothes to change into something warm and comfortable. He also picked out a pair of joggers and Tshirt for her.
When he returned from his bedroom, he saw her up and sitting on the couch ."oh..." sorry I didn't mean to wake up...
"Sorry didn't mean to be a burden." She said flat
"Never." He responded. "Here" he held out the articles of clothing. "You should change before I take you home. We can wait the storm out here." He offered.
From where she sat she looked at the heavy rain that was out side. She would then Get up, accept the clothes. He led her to his room to change before closing the door behind him.
Naruto was worrying. He didn't know... he didn't know how to help her and also what to do. He has amazing friend and none of them deserve to go through it.
The door unlocked, out walked Hinata in Narutos joggers and grey T. Everything was too big. And was too small.
Naruto wanted to do nothing more hug her, squeeze the pain out of her and away.
If only it were that easy.
But he had to stop himself from going there.
Naruto also noticed, her clothes may have changed but her expression and demeanour was still the same. Hurt, lost and anywhere but here.
"Want me to make you… mmm" he hopelessly looked in his tiny kitchen to find her something anything...
"It's fine. Please don't trouble yourself" she said, though Naruto didn't miss her defeatist tone.
"Oh, Found it." He beams as he pulls out two cup ramens. "Soy! Soy ramen is the best, especially if you are about to catch a cold" he informed.
"But.." low in her voice her brow furrowed. "I don't have a cold" she replied
He walked to where she sat on his couch, bent to come at eye level with her before placing a hand under her bangs. Hinatas eyes widened at his bold movements and close proximity.
"Mmmm. Your hair is still wet so I can't tell yet with the bangs... but..." he was about to continue the word paused when he looked at her, his gaze deepens looking at her and subconsciously his hands trailed from her forehead to the side of her face.
Hinata still as ever couldn't act react as she was loosing herself in his deep blues.
When the back of his hand slowly grazed the side of her face he felt the heat radiate. Her face slowly burned, her heartbeat loudly for the first time since... she heard the news.
"You are warm" his words so soft almost a silent whisper.
-THUNDER AND LIGHTING-
Jolting them to the present now both their backs straightened in realization of them self absent.
Clearing his throat Naruto got up, swiftly walking back into the Kitchen.
"Give me 3 minutes" he informed from the stove.
While Hinata waited from her only position she couldnt help but have her mind run a mile a minute. Frustration rose within her, her mental state was questioning herself, doubting herself and expressing new levels of loath for herself.
"Hinata?" Naruto called for her, drawing her out of her mental battles. She looked at him, standing with two bowls of fresh hot Ramen. "I haven't lost you again have I?" He joked with a small concerned smile.
Hinata didn't respond as she just reached out to accept the bowl of ramen. "Thank you." She said.
Avoiding his gaze, she looked at her meal. Naruto sat where he stood on the floor opposite her. More than a minute went by and she didnt say or do anything.
"Hina..."
"..." reaching for the chopsticks "Itadakimas" tender and quite her voice.
Sitting there eating in silence as the storm was the only note of echoing sound. Naruto found solace in current company, oddly enough he was deeply worried for her by her.
Where as Hinata was the absolute opposite, she didn't have peace, hasn't had one since the tragedy of losing her sister. If anything the storm only mirrored her internal state of both mind and spirit.
Two hours had passed, the storm was finally subsiding taking its leave. Hinata took the opportunity of Naruto washing the dishes for her to change back into her clothes.
When she exited, Naruto couldn't help but feel a pinch of sadness now that she had changed out of his clothes.
"I should go now. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me and my family" Hinata said very formally.
Naruto furrowed his brow. He didn't like it. "You don't have to be so formal. I'll take you home" wiping his hands dry.
"No." She said stopping him in mid "I'd like to go. On my own. I appreciate you taking care of me but I've imposed far too long and too mu-"
"Why are you saying that?" Naruto grew irritated. What was going on with her, why was she being this way with him? So many questions ran through his mind.
"Naruto... I just need to be left alone. I need time and space. Please" she spoke dead straight in his face as she proceed to move and walk out the door.
Quickly Naruto stood before her blocking her path. He looked in her eyes his face contorted and eyes burned intense, only to be broken short when she met his eyes. Taking a deep sigh he lost the battle with her.
"Fine, I won't press. But... promise me. You will go home."
With the single Nod she provided he stepped to the side allowing her to pass.
"Sayonara Naruto-kun" she said softly. Before she closed the door on her way out.
Leaving a defeated Naruto aloof in frustration "Damn it." He cursed as he slammed a fist on the counter. "Hinata…." He spoke her name with soft pain before retiring on the couch, where she had sat his hand grazed over the space she sat.
His brow furrowed more as he felt her warmth slowly start to disappear.