Chapter 10: I can't say it, but I will mumble it to myself

Millions of millions of Christmas tree lights came to life, writing a note in the hall. When she read it silently, it said, "Hinata, I really, really care about you. I don't want anyone else, but you.'

She looked back to find a flustered Sasuke. Hinata was dumbstruck when she read it. Pointing to the sign, she asked a question in her eyes ('For me?'). Sasuke nodded embarrassedly to that question.

"Ever since that day in the rain… the nights where your face comes to mind, I whisper that I want to be with you," the Uchiha replied, taking a glance at Hinata. There was dumbstruck smile on her face; it was pretty funny. She covered it up in embarrassment. "It's okay if you don't want to—"

"We can be friends, Sasuke!" Hinata replied happily. Sasuke dropped to the floor. That wasn't what he meant. He didn't want to be friends, he wanted them to meet everyday and no matter what anyone said, he would protect her from everything.

"I don't mean that!" Sasuke snapped. He wrapped his arms around Hinata's neck and rested his head against hers. "When I saw you leave the classroom because of Naruto, that's the instant I knew for sure."

"S-sasuke?"

"I was jealous. I wished for you to love me as passionately as you do him," Sasuke replied softly. He brushed his lips against her forehead. "I love you, Hinata."

Hinata's eyes were opened wide in shock at his statement. Who did she love? Naruto gave her hope, but Sasuke knows how she feels about everything. "I… I love…"

"I love Naruto," Hinata replied softly. Sasuke felt his heart drop when he heard that. He got angry—the same boiling bubbling angry that Hinata had gotten a while back. He turned around irritably.

"Now I know how you feel ENTIRELY," Sasuke muttered angrily. He left the room and started to walk down the halls.

"B-but, I want to change!" Hinata shouted. Sasuke paused, but continued on. Hinata dashed to Sasuke and held her arms out to block him. "I-I want to change. Love is a difficult thing. To love too many things at once hurts; I'm stupid like that. Don't think I don't like you! I like you—a lot!"

Sasuke's eyes seemed to hide all of his emotion. Then a flicker of anger crossed his face. "So, you can say you love Naruto, but you can only say you like me? I guess I just embarrassed myself in front of the only girl who hasn't gone goo-goo after me. Thanks."

"N-no! You can't go!" Hinata said. "I can't say I love anyone but Naruto because he's my rainbow."

"Why can't I be your rainbow?"

It was a more of a statement than a question. Hinata shook her head. "I want you to be, but change is really hard for me."

"Change isn't hard. See?"

Sasuke wrapped his hands around Hinata's waist and kissed her. It only lasted for a moment before Neji came walking around the corner. There was a moment where everyone stared at each other, until Neji suddenly punched Sasuke.

"STOP SUCKING OFF MY COUSIN'S FACE!" he exclaimed. Regaining composure, he bowed to Hinata. "My lady, are you all right?"

"I love you…" she mumbled. Neji freaked at hearing that from his cousin. What sort of incest feelings are these? However, Hinata turned to Sasuke—which brought relief to Neji.

"S-sasuke, I-I… l-l-love you…" she stated in a voice fairly louder than usual, but she faltered at 'you'. Sasuke got up and rubbed the sore spot on his head where he landed. He grinned, a rare thing in his case.

"WHAT THE HECK HAS BEEN GOING ON!" Neji exclaimed. He massaged his temples. "I was told to come get Hinata-sama, but suddenly there's love everywhere and I'm so confused."

"Neji, I want to change," Hinata replied softly. The boy raised an eyebrow, but suddenly realized she was serious. He frowned.

"Sorry, my lady," he muttered. "Everyone is tied to destiny."

"My destiny is to change!" she said with such assertiveness that Neji backed away. He frowned, taking note of Hinata's sudden change.

"As you wish, but you cannot stay here with him."

"Of course she can't, but did you taste her chocolate? It's great," Sasuke remarked. Hinata worriedly looked to Neji, then Sasuke. Neji smirked.

"I always eat her chocolate every year. What happened to Naruto's chocolate? Did she give it to him this year?" Neji inquired.

"No because I stepped on it, smashed it, burned it, did all attack jutsu possible on it, and fed whatever was left to the dogs."

"S-Sasuke!" Hinata exclaimed.

"Just kidding. It's right here," he said, holding up the package. He tossed it to her. "It's okay if I'm not your number one right now. We don't need to hold hands. We don't need to talk. I'd like to, but I can wait… until I am, for sure, your number one."

"Of course, Sasuke. I hope that day comes soon."

"Me too."

"I DON'T," Neji butted in. The other two sweat-dropped. The two boys smirked at each other. "Prove to me that you're worthy."

"Fine," Sasuke stated. "It's not my fault if you start crying because it hurts so much."

"That only applies to you, Sasuke," Neji retorted. Hinata looked from Sasuke to Neji and back to Sasuke. She sighed as the two clashed into a blur of black and… well, black. Making Sasuke her number one would take a while because change is hard—but she knew she was getting stronger everyday and maybe… it won't take that long.

The End

Author's Note: Yup. That's it. Did you think I'd put them together? Hehee! No, just kidding. You have to read the Epilouge. Well, technically, I never really make ANY of my fanfics have actual dating people. -sweatdrops- Maybe it's because I've never been on a date OR been asked out. Haha, I just daydream. I wouldn't really care for a date either. So time consuming. -sigh-

Happily singing,

Sammy