Fragile Hearts: Seventeen

Since their encounter at the amusement park, things took a turn for the best for both of them. They would go out more and Hinata finally allowed Naruto to pick her up after work most evenings. She hadn't seen the mysterious man that was allegedly following her that one night again to her relief and overall everything seemed normal.

"So I think I can come over early next month," Tenten said over the phone.

"You said that last month," the pale girl groaned while stirring the noodles in the pot. "Just tell me that you hate me and never want to see me again."

The brunette sighed and Hinata could tell that she also rolled her chocolate orbs. "It's...complicated and besides I just got assigned to a new case...this kid needs me Hina."

"Yes, but I also need you," the Hyūga replied removing the phone from her ear. She placed it on the counter and tapped the icon for loudspeaker.

"Last time I checked you could take care of yourself."

"That was then, this is now," she smiled while tipping on her toes to get a dish from the cupboard above. Tenten was silent on the other end, "come on Tenten, I haven't seen you in what? Two years."

"A lot of changes in two years Hinata," she replied quietly.

The lavender eyed girl furrowed her eyebrows and began emptying the ramen she was making into the dish. "Is something wrong?"

"No, not at all."

"You know you can tell me anything Tenten."

She sighed, "trust me it's not that simple. You'd probably hate me if I did."

Hinata frowned and picked up the plastic cover for the container and placed it on it. "Okay, what's going on? And I could never hate you Tenten...you stood by me when my whole family-"

"Just...I'd rather show you then tell you." Tenten replied cutting her off.

"Fine, but make sure that you're here early next month," she said with an edge in her voice.

The brunette chuckled, "yes ma'am."

"And just for the record, I could never hate you."

"Yeah yeah, I know I'm too amazing for anyone to hate," she replied.

The Hyūga scoffed, "here we go again."

"Are you done?"

Hinata placed the last item in the bag she was packing, "yup." Her friend released a squeal which made her wince. "Tenten."

"What? Can't I just be happy for you? You're finally in love." She almost sang the last part.

The Hyūga frowned, "I wouldn't say I'm in love."

"Denial is the first stage."

She sighed and picked up her phone, "I'm leaving now Tenten. Take care."

"Okay," she replied. "I love you, bye."

"Love you too, bye mom." Hinata listened as Tenten laughed before hanging up. She pushed her phone into the pocket of her jeans and rushed to the bathroom to wash her hands. Her lavender eyes scanned over her features in the mirror over the face basin and she smiled, pleased with her appearance. Drying her hands she ran her fingers through her bang and shook her head watching her ponytail swing from side to side.

With a small smile Hinata grabbed her jacket from her bedroom and pulled it on during her walk back to the kitchen. She carefully picked up her blue and white dotted pattern nylon lunch bag from the kitchen counter and grabbed her house key on the way out.

While locking the door she saw Tamaki who had just exited the elevator. "Oh, hi Tamaki," she said with a small smile, but the brunette didn't respond which made her frown. Putting her keys in her bag she turned to face her fully as she passed her to get to her apartment. "Tamaki?"

Acting surprised Tamaki spun around to look at her momentarily. "Hi Hinata."

"Are you okay?" Hinata asked concerned, it was unusual for her to not be smiling. She furrowed her eyebrows as she realized that in the past few weeks they were hardly in each other's company. But she always assumed that she was simply busy working for Kiba.

"Yeah," she said continuing on her way.

"Well, I uh-" she got cut off when Tamaki entered her apartment and closed the door. The Hyūga's eyes widened and she winced at the sound of the door closing. Did I do something wrong?

Deciding to think about it later, Hinata walked towards the waiting elevator. It wasn't long before she was half way to the bus stop, the smile she had lost once before returning. It was Sunday and so not many people were on the road, the day lovely to be honest and everything was simply calm. She squinted when a light wind picked up carrying dust and dirt with it. Since she was alone at the bus stop she sat and waited for the bus to arrive.

Usually on Sunday's she'd sleep throughout half the day and then watch movies and cook in the evening. But here she was, waiting on a bus to arrive she that she could go about her business and get home.

Once the bus arrived she quickly found a window seat and sat with her bag in her lap. Her phone started ringing and she quickly answered it so that it wouldn't disturb the other people on the bus. "Hello?"

"Hinata, it's Sakura." She heard on the other end.

"Oh, hi Sakura," she smiled looking out the window.

"Well I have the day off this Thursday and Ino is also available so I was wondering if you were too."

The pinkette had asked her if she could be one of her bride's maid along with Ino, Temari and Shijima. "I can be," she said. "I'm so Shino can manage on his own at the pet shop."

"Okay great!" She beamed on the other end.

Hinata chuckled, "what about Temari-san and Shiji-"

"Temari already had her fitting and Shijima asked to postpone hers." She explained.

"Okay," Hinata responded. The two talked for a while until she was nearing her stop and she had to disconnect the call.

"I'll pick you up on Thursday then?" Sakura asked.

"Sounds good." She smiled and said her goodbye's. Pressing the buzzer Hinata waited for the bus to stop so she could get off. She offered the driver a sweet smile as she got off the bus, since lately she was rarely sad. The bus drove off and she straightened her shoulders and tightened her hold on her bag.

Here goes, she thought approaching two glass doors. Hinata failed to understand why she always became nervous whenever she did that, it wasn't as though she hadn't done it before.

"Miss Hyūga," the woman at the front desk said upon seeing her. She merely smiled and continued towards the elevator, memories of her first time coming there flashing in her subconscious. By now all the workers were used to her, contrasting greatly with their first encounter.

Hinata leaned against the back of the empty elevator and stared at the numbers as they appeared over the door. It felt like an eternity before the awaited ding was heard and the doors slid open. Exiting the elevator she approached the blonde that was seated at her desk. "Shion...hi," she said stopping in front of her desk. This was the part that she hated the most.

"Miss Hyūga, what are you doing here?" The pastel blonde asked glanced at her watch. "It's not even lunch time yet."

"Is he in?" She asked getting to the point. If there was anything she was aware of, it was Shion's hate for her. Which she didn't quite understand since she's done nothing to her.

"Yes, but he already has a visitor," she replied with a smug look on her face.

"I can wait..." The Hyūga deadpanned.

"I don't think he'll be done anytime soon," she commented raising her voice.

Hinata frowned and narrowed her eyes at her, "then I'll just see him quickly and leave." She didn't wait for her to reply this time, instead she walked away, eager to see just who was the visitor.

"Miss Hyūga! Miss Hyūga!" Shion's voice was drowned out by her own thoughts. The pale girl wrapped her fingers around one of the door handles and was about to opened it when a hand latched onto her arm. "You cannot go in there."

"I just want to see him," she hissed back.

"Well he's busy!" Shion retorted. The midnight blue haired girl shook her head and opened the door regardless of what the blonde said. Shion never liked her and for that she would always try to hinder her.

Hinata entered with the secretary still holding onto her arm, her fingernails digging into her skin causing her to hiss from the stinging pain. "C-can you please let me go!" She whisper yelled trying to pull away from her.

"I told you not to-" Shion stopped when she heard someone clear their throat. Both girls turned their attention to a white haired man sitting behind the desk. He stared at both of them with his eyebrows arched. "Mr. Jiraiya." She said finally releasing Hinata.

"Is there a problem Shion?"

Her pale lavender eyes glanced at the pale girl beside her, "she wants to see Mr. Uzumaki and I told her that he had a visitor, but she still barged in."

Jiraiya glanced at the Hyūga just then, "come on Shion, it's just me. That's no reason for stopping her."

"B-but Mr-"

"Enough. I'm sure you have a lot of work to do...leave us." He said standing. Shion threw one last glare at her counterpart before leaving her alone with the white haired man. On hearing the door close Hinata felt her nervousness returning as she realized that she knew nothing about the man that was in Naruto's office. He was dressed casually in a red button up shirt and denim jeans. His hair was caught at the nape and it cascaded down his back in unkept waves. "Come, sit," he said sensing her nervousness.

She nodded and quickly sat in one of the seats in front of Naruto's desk while placing her bag in the seat beside her. "Uh...I-is Naruto-kun here?" She asked hesitantly.

A smile played upon his lips and he nodded, "yeah I just sent him on an errand." He replied casually. "What's your name?"

Even such a simply question she felt nervous answering, "H-Hinata. Hinata Hyūga."

"You're Hinata?" Jiraiya asked arching his eyebrows. She nodded and his eyes widened as he came to sit on the edge of the desk close to her, "but you're so beautiful!" She giggled softly at his reaction. "Naruto's better than I thought," he muttered to himself.

"A-and you are?" Hinata asked feeling a bit more comfortable.

"His godfather," he said extending his hand.

She took it with wide eyes, "I-it's nice to meet you Mr. Jiraiya."

"Please, call me dad."

Hinata gingerly pulled back her hand just as the door opened and a blonde rushed in. "I got file you wanted old ma-" he stopped when his eyes landed on Hinata. "Hinata."

"Took you long enough," Jiraiya scoffed standing to his full height. The Hyūga smiled and stood as well watching them both.

"Yeah yeah," the Uzumaki said handing him the folder. He then turned to the only girl in the room and placed his hands on both her arms. Bending his head he looked her in the eyes, "did he do anything to you? Anything inappropriate or obscene?"

Hinata shook her head confused as to why he'd ask her something like that. "Jeez kid calm down. All I did was introduce myself to your girlfriend."

The young couple blushed at his words and Naruto released her. "Ignore him," he said glancing around the room. His eyes landed on the bag on the seat and his lips curved into a smile.

The Hyūga noticed and smiled as well, "I made your favourite."

"Thank you," he grinned hugging her suddenly. Her eyes widened and she didn't get a chance to hug back as it all happened so quickly. Naruto took his seat behind his desk and began going through the bag containing his food.

"Bringing him lunch at work already?" Jiraiya commented watching his godson. "Might as well marry him."

"No one asked you Pervy Sage."

He frowned and walked around the desk to smack him on the head. "What did I tell you about calling me that?"

Naruto groaned and rubbed the side of his head, "sorry old man."

Hinata giggled as again he smacked him. "I won't have you influencing Hinata into calling me those names."

"Well then what else is she going to call you?" Naruto asked as he began eating his ramen.

"Dad or daddy. I'll answer to both." At that the blonde began choking on his food. The lavender eyed girl rushed around the table to pat his back while Jiraiya merely deadpanned.

"Are you okay?" She asked once the coughing stopped.

He nodded and looked at his godfather. "Are you crazy?"

"No, in fact," he took Hinata's hand and led her around the table. "Why don't you have dinner tonight with us?"

She glanced at Naruto for advice but he was merely eating his ramen with a sour expression. Deciding that it couldn't be that bad she agreed. "Okay Mr. Jiraiya."

"Ha!" Naruto laughed at what she called him and she smiled upon hearing it. The white haired man frowned and released her hand.

"It's Dad."

Fragile Hearts | A NaruHina Story
©Infinite_Writer01™2016
Thank you for reading!