- ok guys. sorry again about the boring last chapter, but i needed it to explain things or my stories won't have a plot. P well I hope this chapter isn't as bad. -
- plz people, reviewing only takes a half a minute of your life... -
----- Chapter 10 -----
Hinata's soft footsteps padded down the road, towards the Hyuuga home. She had something on her mind. Usually her mind was on Naruto but today something else had distracted her. Someone else to be exact.
She walked pasted a bush a daisy. Without thinking she automatically plucked a flower. "He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not..." She muttered under her breath while delicately picking off its petals and letting them fly away behind her.
"he loves me...?"
Hinata shook her head, with a smile. It was foolhardly to trust a flower yet...yet why did she feel like she really want to believe it? Hinata paused. She had always loved Naruto, ever since she had started at the academy but now she had the same feelings for someone else. Hinata never use to notice anyone except Naruto, but these three days had made her more aware of him. Especially the past three days since they were stuck in a tunnel together.
A sudden thought struck Hinata. What if he's never noticed me? She frowned. Naruto never noticed me but maybe that's because I never told him of my feeling. Hinata decided not to make that same mistake again.
She started walking again, but this time she headed for his house. She was going to tell him that she had feelings for him.
Slowly she approached his house. With each step she took her confidence dropped little by little. When she got to his front door, her hands we're shaking. When she was about to raise her hand to knock on his door, when her confidence faltered and died. Hinata dropped her limp arm back down to her side.
Slowly she sat down on the porch, head propped on her hands. I'm such a coward! she thought furiously. Sometimes I wish I was a bit like Sakura or Ino. They told Sasuke they liked him without hesitating.
As she fumed silently she spotted a bush of daisy out the front.
Hinata stood up and walked over to the bush. Snapping a flower of it's stem she started pulling off the petals, while muttering- "He loves me, he loves me not..."
Again, she ended up with, "he loves me."
Hinata made up her mind. She walked up to the door, then hesitated. Clenching her fist her rapped hard on the door. Wiping her sweaty hands on her jacket, she waited. A moment later the door opened and Hinata stared into a pair of sunglasses.
"Hi- hi, Shino."
As all that was unfolding, Shikamaru was on his way home. His hands were in his pokets and he kicked the dirt with every step that he took. I was so close, mused Shikamaru, I had my arm around her and all. It was my perfect chance but I told her I was just helping her up! I should've told her then! Damn it!
Shikamaru's head worked through hundreds of different idea, but he kept on landing on the same plan. Shikamaru gritted his teeth. "Ok, ok, I'll tell her!" And with that he turned his heel and walked towards the Hyuuga residence.
"Oh Hi Hinata. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be home resting?"
"Ohh...ummm...well...." stuttered Hinata, who was growing redder by the second.
Shino looked concerned. He put his hands on Hinata's shoulders and looked into her eyes. "What's wrong Hinata? Did something happen?"
Hinata fliched and stepped back from Shino's grip. "I..uhh..I have some to tell you."
Shino was confused now. It almost seemed like she was going to confess her love for him. It was strange, but he kept silent and politely listened.
Noticing Shino's stilled silence, Hinata took a deep breath and went on.
"I always thought I loved Naruto but during these few days I've realized that...that I like...you." When Shino look even more confused Hinata realized what she had just said only came out as a whisper. Hinata's cheeks turned crimson. Clasping her shaking hands behind her back, she squeaked, "Shino, I think I like you."
Shino's eyes widened in surprise. Without warning he cried, "What?!?" Hinata's whole face had turned red and was slowly edging away from Shino. "Maybe I shouldn't have told you then." she spluttered.
Shino's usually expressionless face was gradually growing pinker by the second. "I'm sorry, Hinata but well..." Shino trailed off.
Now it was Hinata's turned to be curious. Forgettening about being embarassed she asked, "What is it?"
Shino tried to speak but his voice broke. Finally he said, "I'll tell you but you promise not to ever talk of it again?" Hinata nodded, now more curious than ever. Shino bit his lip then said very quickly, "I'm sorry Hinata, I'm gay."
Hinata stumbled back. "You are...? I mean- ok ok I won't tell." Shino nodded, unable to say anything. Hinata noticed the akward silence and decided to leave.
"I'll go then." she said, voice slightly quavering. Shino nodded again and walked back into his house, without a word. Only when he had shut the door did Hinata turned her back and walked away. When she rounded the corner, she began running hard, trying to get what had just happened, out of her head.
Shikamaru stood in front of the door. Every few seconds he would raise his hand to wipe the sweat out of his brows. After five minutes he gave. "I'm the coward of Konoha, " He muttered to himself. "And this is really troublesome." And with that he walked off. He jammed his hands into his pockets. He was deep in thought of what to do next that he didn't notice some running straight for him.
Hinata had her head bowed, running as fast as she could. She just wanted to go home and think of nothing else. She didn't care about anything anymore. Without warning she ran straight into Shikamaru.
"Oww....sorry...Hinata...?"
"Huh?" Hinata looked up surprised. "Ohh I'm sorry Shikamaru, I wasn't looking where I was going."
Shikamaru waved the apoplogy away. Now he gave Hinata a curious glance.
"What are you looking at?" asked Hinata. Shikamaru lifted his hands and touched Hinata's tear-stained cheeks. Hinata then realized that was crying. Furious at herself she began waiping the tears away. As soon as she did fresh tears leaked out.
"I'm so useless!" she cried. "Useless. Useless. Useless!" Then all of a sudden she flung herself into Shikamaru's arms. Shikamaru blushed, having never been so close to Hinata before.
I'll be even more closer to her by the days out, he mused silently. Then he shook his head in disbelief. I can't believe you're having dirty thoughts right noe, he scolded himself. You're suppose to be cheering her up!
Shikamaru lead her to a park and sat her down. Still with his arms around her, he asked softly, "Tell me what happened, Hinata-chan. I'll help you out."
Hinata hiccuped. After a moments hesitation she said, "I told Shino that I liked him."
Realizing his mouth was open in shock, he closed them quickly. Hinata went on, "He said that he was...I mean he wasn't interested." As she said this more tears streamed down. She buried her face in Shikamaru's chest. Instintivly he held her tight while think, Shino rejected Hinata?? What foolishness was that?
Shikamaru could hear Hinata muffled voice. "What should I do Shikamaru-kun?"
He dearly wanted to say, "Stuff that bastard and come with me," but he knew he couldn't. Hinata was hurt and confused.
"I think you should forget about him and move on." Hinata stopped crying. "He didn't deserve you." Shikamaru went on. Hinata looked up into Shikamaru's eyes. For the first time Hinata noticed how caring his eyes were, even though most of the time Shikamaru acts like he doesn't care. Hinata smiled up at him.
"You're right." she annouced, "He was the one for me anyway. Thank you Shikamaru!"
"Uhh, no problem." said Shikamaru, a little embarassed. He was surprised at her sudden mood change. Hinata stood up so Shikamaru stood up with her.
"If you ever have any problems, come find me. I'll help you out!" smiled Hinata. Shikamaru nodded. Before he knew what had happened, Hinata stepped on tip toes and kissed Shikamaru on the cheek. With that she ran off.
Shikamaru was stunned. Putting his hands on the cheek where she kissed him, he walked home, stunned.
- hehehe that whole chapter was dedicated to Hinata/Shikamaru. Hope you liked it. More things unfold later on. -