--chapter two--
'Idiot.'
He rolled over onto his uninjured side and willed himself to sleep.
xxx
"Hey, I'm dead, you know," A familiar voice whined. "You shouldn't be calling dead people idiots."
Sasuke smirked and turned around to see the familiar fox faced boy.
"Not a surprise to see you again," He said. "Enjoy your funeral?"
"Meh," Naruto shrugged. "A bit too glum for my tastes, but pretty nice. I was a tad surprised when you showed up. Shame on you for sneaking out of the hospital."
"I figured Hinata could use a bit of company." Sasuke shrugged and looked away.
A mysterious smile made its way on Naruto's face; one Sasuke didn't manage to catch.
"Then I guess I've left Hinata in good hands," He ran a hand through his hair. "You'd better take care of her Sas, or else I'll haunt you forever. And I would hate to do that."
"Seeing you every night isn't exactly my idea of a blessing either." The dark haired man snorted and glanced over to him. "So I guess this is goodbye then."
"What are you talking about? I can't quite go," Naruto chuckled. "Not yet, anyways."
Sasuke simply raised a brow.
"I have some... unfinished business." He grinned and turned around. "But for this night, yes, this is goodbye. Remember, I'm watching you!"
He disappeared in the dream haze, leaving Sasuke to drift away into his own slumber until daylight.
xxx
Just as the sun was peeking out from behind the horizon, Hinata padded into the kitchen and began heating up some water for a cup of morning tea. Leaving it on the stove, she turned and began to rummage through the cabinets, pulling out various items, such as a small jar of ointment, a bottle containing a few round pills and a roll of clean white bandages. Setting them on the counter, she turned back to the stove and began preparing breakfast.
It wasn't long until Sasuke curiously scuffled into the kitchen, lured by the delicious aroma sitting on the table that happened to be eggs with a side of rice. Hinata looked up from the stove just as she finished the bacon and smiled, placing them onto a separate plate before setting it on the table as well.
"Good Morning, Uchiha-san," She greeted him warmly and gestured for him to sit down. "Are you hungry?"
Sasuke stood there looking unusually sloppy, still wearing his dress pants and white collared shirt he wore yesterday. His coat, however, was draped over the arm of the chair in the other room. His hair was rather messy and stuck up more than usual, which made her bite back a giggle.
He nodded and hesitantly sat down at the table, making Hinata beam at his acceptance and moved to get the tea pot. Turning around, she already found him with a mouth full of food.
"Uchiha-san," She giggled slightly when he looked up, face stuffed and rice hanging off his chin. "Would you like some tea?"
Sasuke swallowed and wiped his face, slightly embarrassed and nodded. "Just Sasuke is fine."
"Alright U... Sasuke-san," Hinata poured him a cup of tea before moving onto her own and sitting down across the round table.
They ate in silence until Hinata finished and pushed her plate aside, politely waiting to get up until Sasuke finished his own meal.
"I'm sorry," She blurted, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Sasuke paused, hunched over his plate and looked at her quizzically.
"I forgot to give you extra clothes to sleep in last night..." Hinata muttered, although she was much more confident these days, her old habits surfaced occasionally.
"It's not a problem." Sasuke shrugged it off carelessly and continued eating.
Another silence. He finished and Hinata surprisingly let him help wash the dishes when he offered. They went back into the room where Sasuke slept as he prepared to leave. Hinata quickly assembled the items she got out earlier in a small box and gave it to him before he went out the door.
"Be sure to take care of your wounds, Sasuke-san," She reminded him dutifully. "As long as you do, you won't have to return to the hospital. Take one pill a day after lunch for the next week, understand?"
"Thanks Hinata-san," He nodded as he pulled his jacket on. "You take care of yourself too."
Hinata smiled slightly and nodded as well as he stepped out the door and moved toward the stairwell. He suddenly stopped and hesitantly turned around.
"If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call me."
Then he was gone.
.-.-.-.-.
One Month Later
"Ino and Shikamaru got into another fight yesterday, it was total and complete chaos! When she kicked him out of the house, he went out to the bar and got drunk," Hinata rambled as she fixed the glass vase with fresh white roses and made sure the stone was well-kept. "Then Ino came to us today claiming that he'd gone missing! Of course, she got everyone else together and we went out to search high and low, but there was no sign of him at all. So, we all returned to Ino's house to regroup and try again."
She plopped down in front of the grave and kept talking as if there were someone there.
"Guess where we found him," Hinata giggled. "In the bushes in front of the house! Can you believe that? We looked so hard too!"
After her own giggled died down, her smile soon faded to a sad one as she stared at the stone solemnly.
"I wish you were here..."
With that, she flopped back onto the ground and let the summer rays warm her pale skin. The warm breeze raked its fingers through her short dark blue hair as she let her lids slide over her white eyes to hold back the tears that began to gather. It wasn't long until she found herself in a peaceful slumber.
xxx
Hinata opened her eyes again and stared at the clear blue sky.
"Hey Hina-chan. It's been a long time."
She sat up in a flash and stared into a familiar pair of blue orbs. Her jaw fell open as she blinked rapidly.
"N...Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked softly and hesitantly.
The yellow haired man sat in front of her, a blue rose being twirled in his fingers, and his trademark grin on his face as he nodded. The dark haired girl stared with wide eyes. Then, without warning, launched her at him and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck as she buried her face into his chest.
"Whoa, easy there!" He chuckled playfully as he encircled her waist with his arm and smoothed her hair down. "No need to cry, Hinata, I'm here now."
"I didn't think I'd see you again," She said in a muffled voice, "I missed you so much."
"I miss you too..." His smile faded a notch as she pulled back and wiped her eyes.
"Why are you here?" Hinata tilted her head slightly. "Did you forget something?"
Naruto shook his head. "Just visiting. I've been listening to all your stories."
"Really?" Her face brightened. "I'm glad you hear them..."
An awkward silence fell.
He cleared his throat.
"So, uh, how's Sasuke?"
Hinata played with the silver ring on her necklace and smiled.
"He's been fine, I haven't talked to him since last month," She said. "He was very kind."
He nodded shortly and leaned forward onto his knees, placing the blue rose on the stone behind him.
"Listen Hinata, I've got to go... I'd like you to do me a favor," Naruto murmured, catching her attention as she leaned forward as well.
"Of course, Naruto-kun," Hinata tucked her hair behind her ear and eagerly listened as strange mists began to roll in. "I'll do what I can!"
"Take care of Sas for me." His smiling face vanished from her sight, consumed by the clouds.
"W-wait!" She yelped, jumping up and forward to try and grasp him where he once was.
Hinata fell forward and down, screaming and tumbling through the darkness until she landed flat on her back.
xxx
She jerked awake with a sharp gasp.
Blue skies. Warm sun. White cloud.
It was all a dream?
Hinata sat up in a daze as she blinked slowly. Her gaze fell upon the black stone in front of her and a mix of feelings washed over her body. A mix of shock, wonder and happiness.
It wasn't the tombstone that brought these emotions, just what was on it, in front of the vase.
A single blue rose.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.x.-.-.-.-.-.-.
author's notes: hi there thanks for the reviews everyone. i'm glad some people are interested in the story! i thought that it sucked pretty bad when i didn't get any... TT; sorry for any unclarities and maybe a little OOC-ness oo; let me know and i'll try to er... clear them up. age wise... um. i didn't really think about it... but i guess the month this starts is around May... and they're both 19. might a little young to have been married oo; but... yeah. any suggestions will be gladly heard.