Fragile Hearts: Nineteen
Hinata listened to the car horn blowing downstairs and ran to the window in her bedroom. Pulling back the curtain she caught sight of a red car which she assumed was Sakura's. A small smile grew on her lips as she closed the window and pulled on her black flats. It was Thursday and as promised she was going wedding shopping with her friend. Shino didn't have a problem covering for her for the day, which she was extremely grateful for.
The Hyūga caught her hair at the nape of her neck, just to keep it from blowing into her face, as she descended the stairs. Since the week started the elevator was out of use and although Yamato was notified, it was still not fixed yet. Once she was downstairs her hands tightened around the strap of her bag that was slung across her body. She felt happy and a bit adventurous that day for some reason.
"She's here!" She heard coming from Sakura's blonde friend who was in the front seat.
"Woo!" Sakura exclaimed waving at her as she approached her car. The pale girl simply rolled her eyes playfully and opened the door to the backseat.
"Hi," she squeaked on entering.
The blonde turned in her seat in order to face her, "you remember me, right Hinata?"
She nodded in response, "of course Ino-san."
Ino smiled, "no need to be so formal, it's just Ino."
"That's Hinata for you," Sakura piped in as she focused on getting onto the main road. Hinata blushed and Ino offered her one last smile before turning around to face the road. "So Hinata, I heard you had dinner with Naruto and his godfather the other day. How'd it-?"
"You met his godfather?" The blonde asked cutting her off.
The pale girl who was focused on putting on her seatbelt nodded. "Yeah, it was great really. Mr. Jiraiya is a nice person."
"I wouldn't use nice to describe him," the pinkette muttered causing her best friend to pinch her arm. "Hey! That hurts!"
"Good," she huffed. "It's good that you're getting closer to Naruto though."
The Hyūga arched an eyebrow, "why?"
"Because he could use someone like you in his life. I can't remember the last time he even dated anyone," Ino spoke up looking out the window. Sakura glanced at her through the corners of her eyes when she spoke, unsure if Hinata was ready to know that Naruto was infatuated with her at one point in his life.
"O-oh okay," Hinata responded.
"So are you ready for today?" The jade green eyed girl asked as they turned left.
"As I'll ever be," she replied fiddling with the end of her blouse.
Ino glanced at her best friend just then, "if anyone should be nervous, it's you. You're the one getting married."
"Surprisingly I'm not nervous at all," she replied.
"We'll see on your big day," the blonde commented with a mischievous smile.
Sakura chuckled, "well that's why I have bridesmaids, to help me on that day."
"Right, you have no need to worry Sakura-chan," Hinata smiled.
The Yamanaka scoffed, "you guys better be this supportive on my wedding day."
"Sai proposed?" The pinkette gaped trying to focus on the road.
"What? No," Ino answered with a frown. "I was just saying that if and when I eventually get married-"
"You got us excited for nothing," she deadpanned.
Narrowing her blue eyes at her friend she spoke up, "I'm sure it was just you Billboard Brow."
"I told you not to call me that."
Ino smirked, "sorry."
"Ino Pig."
The Hyūga merely watched as both of them started bickering in the front seat. She was amused, but a feeling of nostalgia washed over her as well. Ino and Sakura reminded her of Tenten and herself and how they'd often argue over trivial things and end up laughing in the end. To say she missed her best friend would be an understatement, but there was hope that she'd see her soon. But not only did they remind her of Tenten, but also her younger sister...Hanabi. And although she wanted to see her, she knew that was far from possible.
...
"Yeah schedule it for this Saturday." Naruto said holding his phone to his ear. He spun around in his seat in order to face the glass window behind him. Listening to the man on the other end of the line, his cerulean blue eyes roamed over the bustling city that was in his line of sight. "Look it's been long overdue and this Saturday is the only free..." He paused to listen to his counterpart. "Yes I want to be present there." There was a knock on his door which caused him to spin around to face his desk. "Come in."
His vice president waltzed in with his hands in his pockets, "I'll wait until you're fin-"
Naruto cut him off by raising a hand, "good. I'll be there in the evening." With that said he ended the call and placed his phone faced down on the desk. "Shikamaru."
"I just came to give you this," he said withdrawing an envelop from his jacket pocket.
"What is it?" The blonde asked taking it from him.
"Your invitation to the car launch coming up," he said as the young CEO opened it.
"It's next week," Naruto groaned.
Shikamaru nodded, "apparently."
"Can't I ever catch a break?"
"We need to schedule a date for our launch," the spiky haired man said while sitting in one of the chairs in front of Naruto's desk. "Have you even scheduled a date for the rest drive?"
"Yes, it's this Saturday. Come if you want." Naruto replied. "In the evening."
Shikamaru nodded in approval, "good. If all goes well we can choose a launch date some time next month."
"This month is almost over," he said realizing that next week was the final week in April.
"Yes, but our competitors are moving much faster than we are."
Naruto sighed, "board meeting."
"When?"
"Tomorrow at 1:00, tell the others." He said opening the top drawer on the right side of his desk. The Uzumaki withdrew a book and penciled in the meeting he'd just created on a new page.
"Alright...how's Mr. Jiraiya?" Shikamaru asked.
Naruto nodded slowly, "he's great. He's leaving tomorrow though."
"Oh, why was he here anyway? He hardly ever visits."
"I told him I met a girl," Naruto deadpanned regretting ever doing so.
Shikamaru chuckled, "sounds like him."
"Yeah, well I have a meeting-"
"Yeah, yeah I'm going," the black haired man said getting to his feet. Naruto chuckled as he watched Shikamaru leave, however his smile faded when Shion walked in. "Shion."
"Mr. Uzumaki," she said greeting him. "Mr. Ōtsutsuki is here for his meeting with you."
The blonde sighed, "send him in." Shion nodded and left, although Naruto didn't trust Toneri one bit, especially around Hinata he had some very interesting business offers that he promised he'd look into in his last meeting with him.
His full head of shaggy, white hair was the first thing the Uzumaki noticed when he entered. His pale skin and his light blue eyes following. Toneri nodded at Shion as a thank you before turning his attention towards Naruto. Their blue eyes clashing with each other, tension filling the air.
"Mr. Uzumaki," Toneri greeted him with a smile. "Thank you for allowing me to have another meeting with you. I know you're a very busy man."
Naruto wasn't phased by his fake gratitude, he merely wanted to get the meeting over with so he could move on to more pressing matters. "Please, sit," he said gesturing to the seats in front of his desk. Toneri did as he was told, "coffee?"
"Yes please."
"Shion send Kirika out to-"
"Kirika called in sick today," Shion said cutting him off. "But I'll go and get the coffee."
"Are you sure?" He asked. She nodded and Naruto allowed her to leave. His eyes then met Toneri's and he knew that it was going to be a long meeting after all.
...
"...and a cinnamon roll," Hinata told the cashier with a small smile. Sakura agreed to a break and with a lot of begging she agreed to let her venture out to find a coffee shop. It was slowly becoming an addiction for her, but she didn't care. Coffee gave her the relaxation she craved and she simply couldn't live without it.
The Hyūga got her receipt and walked towards a window seat as she waited for her order to be done. Inside the shop wasn't as full as the coffee shop close to her workplace, she supposed that it was because she was in a completely different vicinity.
The chatter in the enclosed space was at a minimum due to the small amount of people inside. She turned in her chair and looked out the shop window at the busy street and passersby. "Is this seat taken?" She heard a female voice ask. Hinata turned around quickly and frowned as she faced one of the few persons in her life she regretted meeting.
"No," she whispered in response. The pastel blonde sat gracefully and proceeded to stare at her with her pale lavender eyes. Feeling uncomfortable under her scrutinizing gaze she turned to face the window again, not daring to confront her in public.
"Hinata was it?" Shion asked after a while. Hinata nodded, still not facing her she looked at the receipt in her hand praying that her order would be filled soon. "Can I ask you something?"
"What?" The midnight blue haired girl asked.
Shion fiddled with her receipt before opening her mouth, "do you...love Naruto?"
Hinata's eyes widened when she heard those four words. She turned around to face Shion quickly with a shocked expression, never had she imagined a question like that. "W-what?"
"Do you love Naruto?" She asked again with a dull expression.
"I-I don't understand-"
"Yes or no?"
The Hyūga froze, she didn't exactly have an answer to her question. Sure she'd been thinking about it all week, but was she ready to confess her feelings out loud? More over, what exactly was her answer? "I don't know. I-It's complicated."
Yes, your favourite line, isn't it Hinata?
Shion scoffed, "seriously? You don't know? I swear women like you-"
"What? Why are you getting upset?" She asked.
"It's none of your business," she spat.
Hinata furrowed her eyebrows, "do you...like Naruto?"
"Like?" She scoffed looking away. "Try again. It's way past like and it's so frustrating because I knew him first. I did everything to make sure that he was happy. I'd bring him food whenever he was overworking himself and he'd forget to eat, but I guess I'm not needed anymore since you started bringing him lunch...and the worse part is that he's so focused on someone who doesn't even know if she likes him or not."
"S-Shion I-I-"
"Save it," she said getting to her feet. "I don't even know what he sees in you."
Hinata was about to respond when she heard her name being called. Shion walked away and she didn't go after her, she merely collected her food and sat at her table once again. The atmosphere had changed, she no longer felt happy or even content...instead she felt guilty.
Two persons she'd hurt so far with her inability to express herself. Naruto and his secretary...she always knew she liked him, but she never imagined Shion being that much in love with him. Taking a sip of her latte she thought of what the blonde's life would be like if she hadn't met Naruto. Maybe he'd eventually reciprocate her feelings for him. Maybe he'd fall for someone else...
She sighed and shook her head, why was it always her? Why couldn't she just have a normal life free of heartache and with someone to love unconditionally who would love her just the same. Why did it have to be so complicated when it came to her?...Why did she ever have to meet Toneri?
Hinata's lavender eyes were fixated on her untouched cinnamon roll. It was time she figured out her feelings for Naruto. She needed to set things right.
Fragile Hearts | A NaruHina Story
©Infinite_Writer01™2016
Thank you for reading!
