Part 6- Forgive, can't forget

Hinata woke up the next morning, she tried to move her arms but it hurt too much. She tried to move her legs but the pain was unbearable. She didn't know how she was going to train today, she wanted to, but she wouldn't be able to. She sighed, without being able to move she had no way to contact anyone. She'd have to wait until someone came to see her, whenever that may be.

Knock

There was someone at her door; she was going to have to find a way to tell them the door was open. She figured she was just going to have to shout. "IT'S OPEN!" She hoped she wouldn't have to shout again, even her throat hurt.

She looked over to the doorway to her room and saw a pink haired kunouchi.

"Sakura?"

"Hinata, there's something I need to tell you, you're not gonna like it…"

"What is it?"

"It's Naruto" a tear rolled down Sakura's cheek, "He was beaten up really badly yesterday" the tear splashed on Hinata's rug, then another, and another, and another…

"Do you know who?"

"Yes, I was there when it happened…"

"Who?"

"Shino and Kiba… well accurately Shino beat him up and Kiba stopped me from doing anything…" The tears were still coming, splash… splash… splash, splash, splash splash splash, faster and faster

"Shino and Kiba? Do you know why?"

"No, but I think that if Sasuke hadn't come when he did Shino would have… would have…" Sakura was becoming frantic; she was snivelling and sobbing into the tissue she had brought with her

"Would have what?" Hinata hoped the answer wasn't what she thought it was

"When he came he was oozing with killing intent… I think he might have killed Naruto…"

A tear rolled down Hinata's cheek, she couldn't cry. Even that one tear caused her intense pain, "Send him a flower for me"

How unoriginal Sakura thought to herself.

"Not just any flower, I want you to send him a white daffodil, a symbol of strength, prosperity and life"

Sakura remembered what she had said about daffodils when Lee and Sasuke were in hospital. "I'll make sure of it," with that, Sakura left.

Knock

Not again. Hinata thought to herself, she looked out of the window to see who it was. It was Kiba and Shino. She hoped that if she got no answer they would go away, but to no avail. Shino and Kiba entered her house. Both of them went straight to her room and stood in the doorway.

"She's asleep," Kiba whispered to Shino

"Wait outside," Shino replied to Kiba. Kiba left the room and waited at the front door.

Shino leaned against the doorframe for a few minutes. He then sat on a chair by her bed. "How long are you going to pretend to be asleep for?"

"However long it takes for you to go away."

"What's wrong?"

"Why?" She turned her head to look at him; her eyes were a bit pink from crying. Something had really upset her.

Shit, I hope she doesn't mean… "Why what?"

"Why…why did you do that to Naruto-kun!"

"Shit," he mumbled under his breath, "I take it Sakura told you?"

"Yes she did, why did you do it?"

"Because… because…" he really wanted to tell her, just so that she wouldn't hate him, "because… because I…" he started, "I… I don't know… because he hurt you"

"When"

"The other day, when you went missing. When I asked you why… all you said was Naruto, and then you started crying again…"

"He doesn't even know what he did, it was silly really. All that happened was that I found out a small truth…" She rolled over to look at him, it hurt but that's what she wanted to do, "I'm always being cast aside by other people even though they have no idea how I really feel…" A few more tears rolled down her cheek"

"Hinata…" he looked at her, he never knew she was hurting this much

"I'm sorry Shino-kun; I didn't mean to bore you." She tried to sniff back her tears; it still really hurt to move her arms so she couldn't wipe them away.

"Hinata, I'm not gonna force it out of you but… I know that… if you feel a particular way about something, or someone… you should… tell them" he was really saying this to himself more so than to Hinata but it still helped her pick up her spirits.

"If it makes you feel any better… I made Kiba do it, he didn't want to…"

"It doesn't but thank you for trying Shino…"

"So what are you going to…"

"Help me up…"

He helped get Hinata out of bed, she managed to get her sandals and jacket on without much effort but she needed Shino's support to walk anywhere at all. He helped her out of her house.

After what seemed like years to Shino and Kiba they finally arrived at the hospital.

"Uzamaki… Uzamaki… ah here it is! Uzamaki Naruto, room 104." The hospital receptionist looked them up and down, "He is allowed to have visitors, but you'll have to wait a few minutes" She directed them to where they could sit down. When she saw Hinata getting help from Shino she added, "Does the young lady need medical attention?"

"No, I'm fine" Hinata smiled at the woman and eased herself into a chair in the waiting room.

"So do you forgive us now Hinata?" Kiba asked, he hadn't had a chance to speak to her yet

"I'm not sure yet, I know why you did it and I thank you both for wanting to protect me, but…" She trailed off a bit, "How bad did you hurt him Shino?"

"I think I broke a few ribs, apart from that just minor cuts and bruises…" he made it sound like it was nothing

"A few?" Hinata raised an eyebrow at him

"Only one… or two… or… three…" he looked at her, "they all broke at once, it's not like I expected it to happen…"

The receptionist came over to see them; "if you follow me I'll lead you to Naruto's room," they got up and followed her to Naruto's room. They came to room 104, the receptionist knocked on the door, "Naruto, there's two gentlemen and a pretty girl here for you"

A reply came from inside, "let them in"

Followed by, "if that's you Ino-pig!"

The Receptionist opened the door. Naruto, even more so than Sakura, was surprised to see Kiba and Shino at the door. Kiba entered the room first, followed by Shino who was still supporting Hinata. The receptionist closed the door behind them and left.

"Did you beat her up too?" Sakura asked with a snide tone to her voice

"Shut up Sakura" Shino replied as he helped Hinata sit down in the only chair aside from the one that Sakura was using.

"What are you here for?" Naruto asked. He eased himself up a bit. Unlike Sakura, his voice wasn't hostile.

"I came to…" he sighed, this was more embarrassing then he thought it would be, "…"

"Gotcha," Naruto smiled, "Hey, can you guys leave for a sec?"

"Sure…" Sakura got up and left the room. She slammed the door in Kiba's face; who was helping Hinata along.

When the left and had closed the door Shino turned his attention back to Naruto, "I came to… apologise for the other day"

"No problem" Naruto smiled at him

"Don't you care?"

"Well yeah… but it's not a big deal. Since you brought it up… why did you do it?"

"You upset Hinata…"

"How?"

"I don't know, but she was really upset… when I asked why she was upset, all she said was your name"

"I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry for it…"

"That's ok, but if you ever hurt her again… I might actually kill you, even if someone comes to save your ass…"

"You really care about her, don't you Shino"

"…" He blushed, no one had figured it out this easily before, no one had figured it out at all, "… yeah…" he walked over to the door and banged it in a particular place, "Kiba, I know you're eavesdropping out there."

"Am not!" came his reply from the other side of the door, "Anyway, you hurt my ear!"

"Well you shouldn't be using your beast mimic to listen into people's conversations"

"I wasn't!"

"Liar" Shino mumbled under his breath, "You guys can come back in now anyway"

The door opened and Sakura came in, followed by Kiba and Hinata.

"Hey guys, I'm sorry you just got here but I'm kind of tired so I was wondering if you could…" out of nowhere Naruto fell asleep

"I guess we had better go" Kiba whispered to Hinata and Shino. They turned around to see that Sakura had already left.

"You guys go; I'll meet you in the waiting room." Hinata said absent-mindedly

Shino dragged Kiba out of the room to allow Hinata to be alone with Naruto. When they had gone she forced herself out of the chair and walked over to Naruto.

"Naruto-kun, I wouldn't have the courage to do this if you were awake…" she leaned over him, her hair had become really long so she held it back with her left hand. She used her right hand to balance herself as she leaned closer and kissed him on the cheek. She stood up and looked at him. He was smiling now; she smiled a bit herself, "sweet dreams Naruto-kun…" She left and met Kiba and Shino in the waiting room.

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A/N-I can't tell you what's gonna happen next, because if click the menu the next chapter comes up J