Chapter 22: Stronger Bonds

Hinata rolled over in her bed, then sat up. "I can't sleep…" She looked around. "Huh? Where's everyone else?" The other girls were gone. "…Hmm…" There was a light knock on the door. "Oh, coming!" She walked over to the door and opened it.

"Ah! Hinata!" Naruto blushed lightly.

"N-Naruto?" She held on tightly to the door. Naruto's here!

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" He began to flail his arms nervously. "I did, didn't I! I'm so sorry! I'll go away if you-"

Hinata giggled. "No, no. You didn't wake me Naruto. I couldn't sleep anyway."

"Oh…Then…would you like to go out for a bit?" He blushed even more. "You…You don't have to if you don't want to though…"

"I'd love to go out with you…er, I mean…" She blushed as well. "That didn't come out right…"

He smiled. "That's okay! I understand! Let's go!" She followed him out. "Hinata…I'm glad we could spend this mission together."

Wh-What! N-Naruto… "Oh, really?"

"Yeah. I've learned so much about you. I never really got to know you, but this mission has proved to be a great one!"

"Thanks, I'm glad too…" I shouldn't be so happy. My best friend's life is in danger…

Naruto glanced over at Hinata. Hinata's so…so…so beautiful. Everything about her is just about perfect. She's such a sweet girl… He began to fidget with his hands. "Erm, Hinata?"

"Yes?"

"I…I really…What I mean to say is…"

"…Naruto?" They gazed into each other's eyes.

"Hinata, I have something to…to tell you…"

Her heart began to race. N-Naruto!

"U-Um…I…you…uh…" He looked down. "You're a great friend!"

She blinked. "…O-Oh, thanks. So…So are you…" …But I thought he was going to…I'm so stupid…

Naruto mentally beat himself up. Dammit! Why couldn't I say it!

----

Airas sighed. "We'll never get anywhere at this rate! Agh! Aurion and I should've just done this on our own!" She paused. "But…I…I don't think we would have gotten this far without them…Without…our friends…" She smiled. "Friends. Ha. Yes, they're our…friends." She turned another corner and crashed into someone. "Ah! I'm sorry!" She rubbed her head.

"That's alright."

"Huh?" She looked up. "K-Kakashi, what're you doing out here?"

He helped her up. "Oh, I'm just out for some fresh air and I'm trying to catch up on some reading."

"You read?" She smiled. "I'm sorry, what I mean to say is you read for fun?"

"Yes." He bent down and picked up his book.

"No way, I've never met anyone with the same hobby as me! I love to ready for fun!"

"Really?"

"Yes! I love books!" Like an innocent child, She looked curiously at Kakashi's book. "Whatcha readin'?"

"Oh, just a little something I picked up at Konohagakure…" He smiled.

"Eh?" Her interest dropped. "M-Make-Out Tactics! What the hell is that?"

"A book!"

She looked at him. "You're a perv." He merely laughed. "Keep that away from my brother or he'll steal it."

"C'mon, let's walked back to the inn." They began to walk in the opposite direction. "So, why were you out here?"

"Me?" She looked down. "…I…I'm scared. I'm scared that Shinji will kill my little sister. And I'm scared that if he does, I'll never have the chance to say I'm sorry to her. I've made her life a living hell and I can't forgive myself for that…I…I hate myself!"

"Don't say that Airas. You might hate your choices, but you can never hate yourself."

"But-"

"Listen to me Airas. I know, alright?"

She looked at him. Kakashi…There was a feeling inside of her that made her feel hot. What's with this feeling? She blinked. Oh no…this feeling…it can't be…love! She made a face.

"You make some great faces."

"AH!" She jumped to the side. "Why are you watching me!"

He smiled. "Cuz you're cute!"

She froze. "I'm cute…?" She shook off her blush. "Don't try hitting on me, got it!"

"I'm not. I'm just complimenting you." She blinked dumbfounded. "You don't know what to say, do you?"

"…Sh…Shut up!" She looked away.

"C'mon Airas, don't be so stiff!"

"I'm not stiff! I'm…" Airas burst out in tears. "Oh Kakashi! He's gonna kill her! There's no way we can save her in time! Kakashi, I'm afraid!"

Airas… He took her in his strong arms. "Airas, don't be afraid, alright? We will save your sister, don't worry. And after that we'll make peace with the Aburames and the Nozomis. I won't let your sister die. She's got good friends that are willing to give it their all to save her."

She looked up at him and her lower lip quivered. "…Ka…Kakashi!" She hugged him back. I feel so safe in his arms…

She is human despite how she acts. She is actually a sensitive girl. He rubbed her head. "I don't want you to be sad Airas…" I don't want to see her cry again. I have to help save Airi! He hugged her tightly.

----

"Things have gotten pretty hectic," Kurenai said. "To think we got involved in all of this because a Nozomi girl came into our village to sell charms. But…If we can't stop this war, it's possible that people other than Nozomis and Aburames will die. Everyone else is caught in between…"

"Kurenai!"

"AH!" She jumped up.

"Oops, sorry! I didn't mean to scare you." Aurion hopped down from the tree and sat on the bench.

"Oh, it's only you Aurion…" She sighed and sat next to him.

"I thought ninja don't get scared."

"I'm human you know."

"Oh yeah, I'm sorry. So what're you doing out this late?"

"I'm just worried about everything…" She looked at him. "What're you doing out here?"

"Uh, ah, you don't need to know that." He rubbed the back of his head.

"Aurion! That is so typical of you!" She looked away.

Crap… "I'm sorry Kurenai."

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry about everything and about how I've been acting."

"You mean like a childish pervert?"

"You didn't have to be so blunt!" He sighed. "I'm always telling myself that I love you, but the way I act says something else. I don't mean to act like this, I just…Never mind…" He looked up. "That damn book Shinji asked us to get for him…Where are we supposed to find it!"

"Aurion, we'll save your sister."

"…Yeah…I know…It's just that I want to protect everyone and my sisters and…you."

"Hmm?" She looked at him.

"Kurenai, I don't want to see you, or anyone else, get hurt. I'm tired of the suffering and pain."

"Aurion, there will always be pain-"

"But there doesn't have to be so much of it!" He sighed again. "…Do you believe me when I say that I love you?"

"What?"

"Do you?"

"Um…I'm not sure…"

"…I love you Kurenai…"

She quickly looked at him again and their eyes met. "Aurion?"

"I've never been in a real relationship before because I didn't want my sisters to feel as if I didn't love them anymore. I didn't want them to feel like they were being replaced."

"…Aurion…"

"There are some things I have to do before I can actually tell you how I feel about you, so until then…" He leaned over and placed a kiss upon her lips. "Until then, remember that I'm waiting for you."

She blinked in shock. Aurion just… "…Why did you…?"

"Hey, I'm not a childish pervert all the time." He smiled at her and winked.