It didn't really make sense. Life, that is. Hinata can remember her first memories with her father like it happened yesterday. When she first started to walk, her father called her name again and again with his arms stretched out to catch her in case she fell. The memory changed when he tried to teach her how to say his name and she can vaguely recall his laughs when she couldn't quite say it. It changed again to her first birthday, to her first bike, to her first heartbreak, to her first everything. He was there.

But it changed to when they had their argument. How he couldn't see why she decided to pursue her own career and how he couldn't support her. The pain she felt that day caused her to ignore him for many years until recently. She didn't realize how much she missed his laughs or the way he smiled or even his sometimes serious manner. She missed the timber of his voice and the small pats on her shoulder. She missed it all.

"Father," her voice broke. She was alone in the hospital room for a while now. Her mother has decided to unplug him. They decided to have a few more days with him. They gave her some time alone and she didn't know if she can do it because every time she glanced at her father's body all she can see was his living smile. She refused to add this to her memories of him.

"Father," she cleared her throat, wiping away the few tears running down her face, "I don't understand how this happened? How can you leave us so quickly? How—" She stopped, blinking back tears, "How can you leave me when you haven't seen me get my degree yet? You haven't seen Hanabi graduate or Neji taking over the business or mother…why did you leave us?" The pain was awfully hard to bear. She kept seeing his smiling face. She kept seeing him alive.

"I wish you were here still. Alive and well and breathing. I wish your last moments weren't filled with pain. I just wish—"

The door opened and she stood up quickly, wiping away her tears.

"Hinata?" Hanabi entered the room, her eyes closed shut.

"Hanabi? What are you doing here? I thought you didn't want to see him."

"I don't," her voice shook and she gripped the handle. "I don't but I can hear you crying and mom is with Neji 'cause she's in hysterics and I don't want to be alone right now."

Hinata rushed to hug her younger sister and only then did Hanabi cry.

"I'm going to miss him."

"Me too, Hanabi, me too."


Naruto leaned against his car and dialed Ino. He's been calling Hinata for the past two days but she hasn't picked up, called him back, or texted him. It's been too quiet and he was worried. He called Sakura yesterday but it went straight to voice mail. Maybe he was over thinking but now that he was near home something didn't feel right. Hopefully Ino does pick up.

"Hello?"

Ino's raspy voice brought him back and he smiled. "Hey Ino! It's Naruto. How are you?"

There was some shuffling and a door closing before she said, "I can be better and you?"

She sounded sad.

"Oh, uh, good. Hey I was just wondering where's Hinata? I've been calling her the past two days but she hasn't picked up. I know I shouldn't be worried or anything but it's just so weird—"

"Naruto," she sighed, cutting him off, "Hinata is…she's…I can't say it. It's not in my place…just…when are you coming back?" It sounded like she was holding back.

"Well I have a surprise for Hinata. I'm already on my way home. Just don't tell her." He bit his lip before adding, "Is everything okay?"

There was a long pause before she said, "Just hurry up. She needs you, okay?" With that, she hung up. Naruto stared at his phone, an unsettling feeling in his gut.

Something is definitely not right.


"Hinata…" Ino popped her head inside the hospital room, gesturing for her best friend to come outside. Thinking back to the sudden turn of events, Ino can't imagine what her friend's going through. For the last couple of days, it was hard separating any of her family from where her dad is currently staying. They decided to keep him in life support for four days—enough time to spend with him and enjoy the last bit of life he has. Today, Sakura and herself decided to stop by to give their last goodbye to Hiashi. Tomorrow, Hanabi told them, would be the day they're going to disconnect him. Ino quickly wiped away the tears rolling down her cheeks. It was painful seeing all of this. Despite not knowing her family too well, it was as if it was her dad laying there.

"What's wrong, Ino?" She can only laugh. Of course this is Hinata.

"He's coming back," hesitated Ino.

"Does—does he know?" Hinata quietly asked.

"Of course not, honey. No one has told him…" Ino continued, "Maybe it's not my place to say but you have to tell him. He said something about a surprise. He can maybe be what you need right now."

After a pause of silence, Hinata nodded slowly. "I'm going outside real quick. Can you, perhaps, stay with Sakura and my father until Hanabi and Neji come over? I'll be right back, okay?" She began her walk down the hallway, down the stairs, pass the lobby, and right out the double doors. It all was too familiar now. How many times has she paced that lobby? How many times has she cried within the stalls of the bathroom? How much more can she take?

She was dreading the reunion she'll have with Naruto. She didn't want to distract him but she also didn't want to feel like a burden. Not only to Naruto but to everyone. Her family was already going through such a dramatic change, her yells and tears shouldn't add the list, right? And Naruto had to focus on his school! It was his dream job. It's all he's ever wanted…

But if his voicemail didn't bring joy—just his voice—what other hope did she have?

She shakily dialed him and held her breathe as the phone rang.

Once.

Twice.

"Hello! This is Naruto Uzumaki and currently I can't—" The sound of a hiss came and Hinata giggled, remembering the story he told her about his message. Apparently he was eating ramen while doing this and he accidently dropped some hot broth on his thigh. He never changed it. "—come to the phone right now. But leave a message!"

"Naruto? I—" Her voice cracked. She had to pull it together. "I have some news to tell you." She looked up above her and felt a drop of water. "My father…he—he…" She covered her mouth quickly before the tears started to come down. She can't. She just—

"HINATA!"

She looked off to the side to see Naruto breathing heavily. He looked messy and tired but he was there. In person. He was there! He was here!

"How?" Before she can process the fact that he was here in the flesh, he rushed to her and hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, pulling her close. "I'm sorry I didn't keep asking you what was going on. I'm sorry that you couldn't open up to me about this. Kiba…he told me what was happening. He said he couldn't tell me because it wasn't his place. I'm sorry…"

Her eyes welled up and she hugged him back.

"How can…he leave us like this?" she asked between sobs as everything came out. "How could this happen to me?! Why did this have to happen right when we got back into good terms?!" She yelled in pain as he pulled her closer.

"Why?!" she bellowed, her knees giving out and the rain starting to come down.

"Hinata, let it all out," cried out Naruto, his own tears making its way down. "It's okay to cry. It's okay to show your sadness! It's okay! I'm here. We're all here for you."

As the rain poured down, Hinata felt nothing but an overwhelming pain of disbelief, grief, and heartbreak.

But she, for some reason, felt relief as a few sun rays peeked out between the gray clouds.