Sorry this took longer than I had intended. I actually got sick the day I posted that last chapter and spent the next week sleeping during my free time instead of writing.
To make up for it, this chapter is almost twice as long as the other chapters so far.
Chapter Five
Oh no. Why did she have the worst luck? She didn't feel like she'd done anything awful in her life to deserve this. She tried to be nice to everyone, assume the best intentions from people who were mean, protect her teammates and precious people, do her best in serving her village.
Though, there was that time when a bird had pooped in her father's medicinal tea while they were in the garden and she had been too afraid to tell him before he drank it. Was that it? She had been eight at the time! How long would that continue to haunt her?
Out of everyone who could have seen her in this state of mess, it had to be him? Then again, he already thought she was plain, dark, and weird. What more could seeing her hungover in giant clothes and an emotional wreck do to that opinion?
It didn't stop her from feeling embarrassed and panicked, though. She was not ready to see Naruto yet.
She had thought that she was prepared to know that he didn't reciprocate her feelings. Ever since they had returned from the war, Hinata had figured that his lack of response meant that he didn't love her and just didn't want to hurt her feelings. She thought she had made peace with that.
However, hearing it outright had been like accidentally ripping a scab off and finding the wound had gotten worse.
And now, she couldn't even be presentable when seeing him for the first time since then? Of course not. I mean, why would the world allow her to feel comfortable or, dare she say, a little pretty when seeing the guy she's been in love with her whole life after finding out he didn't feel the same way?
She needed to find some way to make up that bird poo incident to her father so that the world would give her a break. This was just not okay.
She stood there, not willing to leave the shelter of the trees for this confrontation. At least this way they wouldn't be too conspicuous talking in the middle of the road. Kami knows the last thing she needed was for some of his fangirls to find them and barge their way into whatever conversation she had to have.
Naruto jogged over, unsure why he got the feeling Hinata didn't want to see him. Usually, she would blush and smile shyly at him, but now she just looked like someone being cornered by a dangerous missing nin. Her eyes kept darting to the side like the was trying to find a way to escape.
That couldn't be the case, right? Hinata was always nice to him. Even though Kiba yelled at him sometimes for making her faint - and now he finally knew why - Hinata never seemed to hold it against him. Then again, she hadn't even looked at him that morning in Sasuke's apartment. Was she mad at him?
He walked quicker at that thought, his jaw set firmly. He was more determined than ever to find out what was going on.
"Hey, Hinata!" he said, as he stopped in front of her.
She was half hidden behind a tree and looked a bit uncomfortable. He frowned. Was she uncomfortable because of him?
"Hello Naruto-kun," she said and patted herself on the back for not stuttering, even if she had said it quietly. She had been working on her stutter and was over it for the most part, but it always came back around her blond crush.
Now that she had greeted him back, he realized it was his turn to talk, but couldn't come up with anything. He had wanted to talk to her, but hadn't actually thought through what he was going to say when he approached her. He chuckled nervously and blurted out, "So, uh, how was lunch?"
He winced. That sounded so lame! Kurama chimed in his agreement and he scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
It didn't help that Hinata was looking at him, confused. He had flagged her down to ask about lunch? That seemed odd. Why did he care about her lunch?
She wasn't responding, so he amended his question, "You know, the pasta you were making Tem - er - Sasuke. Was it good?"
Now she looked surprised and was wracking her brain trying to figure out how he knew about her lunch with Sasuke. It hadn't exactly been top secret, but she couldn't remember anyone being there when they'd talked about it...
Her further silence made Naruto think that he might have offended her with that last question.
"Um, not that I didn't think it would be good! If you made it I'm sure it was delicious! You're an awesome cook!"
And now she was blushing profusely. Kami, why couldn't she just be normal around him?
"Th-thank you, Naruto-kun. It, um, it was good."
Way to be a great conversation partner, Hinata. She had to say something else.
"Is, um, do you mind if I ask how you knew I had pasta with Sasuke?"
Great, now it sounded like she was accusing him of stalking her. Not like that would ever happen.
"N-not that it's bad or anything, I was just surprised," she quickly amended.
Naruto frowned.
"I was there when you told him that's what you were making."
Now it was her turn to frown. Surely she would have noticed Naruto in the room with them. When she tried to think back, however, her memory felt fuzzy. Thinking harder, she did recall Sasuke had been speaking to someone at some point, but she couldn't seem to remember who it was or what they were talking about. Strange.
The blond noticed the look on her face as she tried to process what he was saying. Her brows were furrowed slightly in thought and she was biting her lip, drawing his attention to how full her lips really were. She looked adorable.
He shook his head, trying to rid himself of such thoughts and decided to take this opportunity to further inquire about Hinata's relationship with Sasuke.
"So, uh, I noticed Sasuke let you use his shower."
Hinata looked up at him, startled out of her thoughts, and he could practically hear Kurama facepalming in his mindscape.
Smooth.
"Um, yes. After I woke up this morning Sasuke was nice enough to let me use his shower."
What the hell. No one ever called Sasuke nice.
Hinata saw the incredulous look on Naruto's face and thought that maybe he was dissatisfied with her response. She wasn't sure what exactly he had been looking for when he mentioned it so she began to ramble.
"I-it was really very generous of him. I wonder if perhaps he'll let me use it again after our next session. They've been getting a lot rougher lately and a warm shower right after would really help me feel less sore the next day."
This was not happening. This had to be some kind of genjutsu.
Then, it suddenly clicked that she was saying he had gotten rough with her and Naruto started to get angry. That was not okay. He was going to kick Sasuke's ass.
Hinata noticed the dangerous aura that started to surround Naruto and recognized the protective look in his eyes, not realizing it wasn't for quite the same reason Kiba and Shino sometimes got like that. She actually felt a little annoyed that these people thought she needed to be protected and wanted to set the record straight.
"It's not that I'm complaining! I don't mind that he gets rough. I actually appreciate that he doesn't go easy on me. I've really learned a lot since we started."
Well that stopped his anger in its tracks and he went back to thinking this could not be happening.
"So," he started, unsure if he really wanted to ask what he was about to, "you and Sasuke are having se-"
It was like the word got caught in his throat and he coughed. He was having a hard time imagining sweet, shy Hinata doing something like that and an even harder time trying to say it out loud.
"Sessions?" she supplied helpfully.
He nodded.
"Well, yes. We've been meeting once or twice a week for a couple of months now."
It felt like his heart dropped into his stomach and he was starting to feel ill. He hadn't realized until now how much something like this would affect him.
Hinata was confused as to why he seemed so surprised.
"I thought you knew? I-it's just that Sasuke doesn't really spend time with many people and your team seems like you are always keeping tabs on him. That, and things can get pretty crazy. I was pretty sure there were a couple of times when somebody walked by and saw us."
She had no idea that she was practically giving Naruto an aneurism.
He could hardly form a coherent thought and Jiraiya's pervy advice of "It's always the quiet ones" was ringing through his head.
Naruto wasn't really speaking anymore and Hinata figured that meant he was probably bored with the conversation and just didn't know how to excuse himself without hurting her feelings. She figured she could give an excuse and then he wouldn't have to feel bad.
"Um, I should probably be going. My sister's probably wondering where I am, so…"
This snapped the Uzumaki out of it. "No!" he said, "I - "
"It's okay," Hinata interrupted with a sweet smile that somehow made him feel guilty. It was nice of him to pretend that he didn't want her to go, but he didn't need to do that for her sake.
She started to leave, but stopped suddenly, realizing this was probably her only chance to get Naruto alone. He may not have any romantic feelings for her, but she wanted to make sure he knew that he was still meant a lot to her. She was feeling a bit braver after talking about her training. If nothing else, she was proud of how much stronger she had been getting and it gave her the emotional strength to say what she needed to say.
"B-before I leave I just wanted to say, thank you."
"Huh?" was all Naruto could say.
"It may sound silly, but I think it is because of you that I've grown so much.
"Sometimes, when Sasuke's getting too rough and I'm not sure I can handle it, I think of you and am able to push through. I've really started to improve and it's all thanks to you.
"You've always inspired me, ever since I was a little girl, and I just wanted you to know that you'll always be important to me. No matter what."
With that, she sped off, not wanting the blond to see the tears that were forming in her eyes. It had been hard to face him.
Naruto stood frozen as he watched her leave, her final words ringing in his ears. He couldn't help but think, 'What the fuck just happened?'
Hehe awkward conversations are my favorite. And the innuendos were just too fun.
And that last part where Hinata says she thinks about Naruto when Sasuke is getting too rough and is able to get through it made me laugh in humor and horror when I thought of it. I was like... I wonder what everyone is going to think about that?
Was this what you were expecting? I had a hard time juxtaposing the awkward conversation and misunderstood innuendos with the emotional content of what was happening. I think it turned out like it was supposed to, but I would like to know what you think!