Fragile Hearts: Twenty

"Why are we open today again?" Hinata asked as she slouched in her seat. Shino shrugged and pushed his glasses further up his nose bridge as he read over a few papers. "Ugh."

"Business has been slow for a while," he said. The pale girl sighed and looked at her watch, it was almost noon and they haven't had a single customer all day. She felt that she'd have been more productive at home watching TV and stuffing her face with junk food.

"Happy thoughts," she chanted softly resting her head against the counter. Though somewhere in her subconscious, under all her thoughts of food and solitude there was the lingering topic of her feelings concerning Naruto. Shion's words never left her mind after their encounter on Thursday and she hadn't mentioned it to anyone. It was Saturday and still she was indecisive about her answer. And to make matters worse she hadn't been able to spend much time with Naruto since their dinner on Sunday with his godfather. Maybe he was just busy...or avoiding her.

Don't be silly. Why would he be avoiding you?

She frowned and thought about it, he'd basically confessed his feelings for her at his house and yet she was unable to give him a clear answer. Maybe he felt hurt? He's impatient...tired of waiting for her to make up her mind? Maybe—

The Hyūga's chain of thought was broken when the door opened the bell above it was heard. She quickly sat up expecting to see a customer, but instead she was met by her friend. "Kiba-kun."

"You don't look too happy to see me," he chuckled leaning against the counter as he always did.

"I thought it was a customer," she admitted.

He frowned and looked around, "slow day?"

"Make that week," Shino interjected looking at him.

The Inuzuka nodded and turned his attention back to the Hyūga. "It's been a while since we last spoke to each other."

"I suppose...you never visit me anymore," she said pouting. It was true, Kiba's presence in her life was fading, but she didn't really notice since there was someone else to fill the void. There was always someone else.

The fanged cheeked man chuckled and ruffled his hair, "sorry, it's been hectic at work."

"Even with Tamaki helping?"

"Yeah." He replied looking away.

Hinata fidgeted as she thought about asking him about Tamaki, she still hadn't spoken to her since Sunday and it was eating her up inside. Did I really do something wrong?

"H-how's Tamaki?"

"She's okay," he shrugged. "Why?"

She shook her head, "no reason." There was no need for her to involve him in her personal matters, she'd simply have to face her herself. Though she failed to understand just what would cause her neighbour to just stop talking to her like that, she was even avoiding her. And honestly, it hurt Hinata because she really considered her as a friend.

"Why don't you just go home?" Kiba asked.

"I can't just leave Shino-kun alone again. I do have a job to do."

"Honestly I don't mind. It's not like we get much customers anyway. I just take it as me time and lounge around." Shino explained.

Hinata furrowed her eyebrows, "me time?"

"This is why you're single," Kiba said.

The raven haired man scoffed, "the pot calling the kettle black."

"Touché," he chuckled in response.

The Hyūga rolled her eyes, "we all are single, so what's the point of this conversation?"

Just then her co-worker turned to face her, "you're single?" She nodded, "since when?"

Hinata deadpanned, "since shut up." Both men chuckled and she smiled, she missed the times when they'd sit together as friends and have silly conversations to annoy Shino. But as times change, people change as well.

Kiba spent his lunch break with them, but when the time came for him to leave he was reluctant. "I don't want to work."

Hinata rolled her lavender orbs, "you big baby." He whimpered and she laughed.

"I told you that you spoil him," Shino said.

"No one asked you four eyes."

"Behave," the Hyūga said reprimanding him. "Now you need to go back to work."

"Yeah yeah," he muttered straightening his jacket. "You should come by sometime. Hana and Akamaru would love to see you."

A small smile crept it's way onto her lips, "I'll try my best." He nodded and smiled before saying his goodbyes. "Oh and don't be surprised if Tamaki comes by to buy a cat. She's been thinking of getting one for a while now."

"Okay," Hinata replied watching as he exited the pet shop.

It was silent after that as both workers had nothing to say, until Shino spoke up. "You really should head home."

Hinata smiled, "if I didn't know any better I'd say you're trying to get rid of me Shino-kun."

"Maybe I am," he said chuckling.

"Well you're stuck with me for today," she said sticking out her tongue at him.

"Ah, that's too bad," said a husky voice over the ringing of the bell above the door. They both turned to look at who had entered and immediately Hinata felt self-conscious.

"N-Naruto-kun."

"Hi," he said greeting both of them. Shino glanced at both of them before excusing himself. "Slow day?"

"Yeah...w-what are you doing here?" She asked still shocked by his appearance. It was no where near the time when he'd usually pick her up, plus he did say his schedule would be packed that week, so seeing him in front of her was a shocker.

The blonde smiled and handed her the latte that was in his hand, "cinnamon dolce latte," he said.

"You know me so well?" She asked with a smile while wrapping her fingers around the cup.

He cranked his neck from side to side, "well enough."

"Hmm," she hummed while taking a sip of her latte. I needed this. "Still doesn't explain why you're here."

"Well I wanted to see you and also I came to ask if you'd like to go with me to watch the test drive being done for the new line of cars. I know it sounds boring, but—"

"Okay," she said with wide eyes.

Naruto chuckled once he heard her response, "really?" She nodded and started looking around for her bag. "Great."

"Shino-kun," Hinata called walking around to the storage room. "I'm leaving."

"Okay, take care."

"Jeez you can at least act like you're sad," she said picking up her handbag.

"Not my style," he said joining them around the front. "Will you be back today?"

"No," Naruto spoke up. Shino nodded and watched as Hinata walked around the counter to Naruto's side. She turned, smiled and offered him a wave, he returned the smile and waved back. Watching as his friend left, he sighed and got back to doing nothing.

"Is there anything I'll need?" Hinata asked before getting in the car.

The blonde shrugged in response, "some snacks maybe. We can stop at a store on the way." The pale girl nodded and got inside the car; he closed her door and jogged around to his side. Her lavender eyes followed his every movement while she tried to buckle her seatbelt. She noticed that he was dressed casually despite still going to work, he was simply dressed in a navy blue, long sleeved T-shirt with the word 'Zero' written on the front in white and regular blue jeans. If perhaps her past had never happened and she was as she wanted to be then maybe they'd have gone further in their relationship.

They did as Naruto promised, on the way they ended up buying a bunch of snacks much to Hinata's dismay. By the time they were at the site she had finished her latte and was ready for anything. "Where are we?" She asked looking around. It felt as though she was still in town, but the place also seemed secluded.

"We are—"

"Naruto," they heard his name. The blonde turned to see Shikamaru walking towards him along with Sai. They were squinting due to the brightness of the sun, but soon it would be setting. "You're finally here."

"Yeah," he said. "This is Hinata Hyūga—Hinata this is Shikamaru and Sai."

The Hyūga shook both their waiting hands and smiled, "nice to meet you."

"Same here, Ino wouldn't shut up about you the other day," Sai said withdrawing his hand.

She blushed and the Nara rolled his eyes, "it's a pleasure."

"Same here," she replied shyly.

"Have you guys started?" Naruto asked diverting the attention his way. They started walking towards shelter, just to get out of the sun.

Sai frowned, "about half an hour ago."

"And how's it going?"

The spiky haired man pushed both hands into his pockets, "good so far."

"Good."

"I'll be leaving soon, I have some work I need to finish up," Shikamaru announced.

The pale man beside him chuckled when they came to a stop in what seemed to be a very large garage to the Hyūga. "Sucks to be you."

He sighed and frowned, "it's such a drag."

Naruto smiled and looked down at Hinata, "don't mind them." She simply shook her head and looked around at the many different cars. It was going to be a long and hot evening.

...

By the time the sun began to set they were almost done. Shikamaru had left and Sai kept roaming around. Naruto sat with Hinata majority of the time only leaving her when his attention was needed elsewhere. The snacks came in handy, even though there were a lot left in the bag. All in all she was content with the view she was privy to.

"Tired yet?" Naruto asked.

She shook her head, "not really."

"Well I am," he said getting to his feet. "Come on."

"Where are we going now?" Hinata inquired as he called Sai.

"Yes?" The raven haired man responded.

Naruto shifted from one foot to the next, "you can handle everything on your own right?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Good, you're in charge...don't tell Shikamaru about this." He said unintentionally offending his employee.

"Pff no promises," Sai scoffed.

The blonde rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to Hinata. "Come with me." She did as she was told and they walked back to where most of the cars were. "Pick one."

She arched an eyebrow, "what?"

"Let's go for a drive. You pick the car." He said as though it were the most obvious thing on earth.

She sighed and looked at the cars lined out in front of her. It wasn't long before she went for the silver convertible with the top pulled back. "That one." Naruto glanced at it and got it's key from the rack on the wall. "Has it been tested?" He nodded and she went back to the car they came in for the rest of their junk food.

"And you said I bought too much," he smirked watching her dump the bag in the back seat.

"Yeah yeah," Hinata muttered getting in. Naruto shook his head and did the same, he fastened his seatbelt and started the engine. A small smile graced his lips as the engine came to life which she noticed. His love for cars was obvious, maybe it was because he had a hidden wild side. She bit her bottom lip and looked up at the evening sky as they drove off, here she was once again, trusting him with her life.

"Which way?" He asked once they were away from the site where the test driving was taking place.

Her eyes widened and she turned to look at him. "Are you serious?" He nodded and she felt like pulling at her hair, he didn't know where they were going and worse he wanted her to direct him. "How about going home before we get lost?"

"Pff, that's no fun. Live a little Hinata. Now which way?" Her lavender orbs never left his face, she was unable to believe that he was serious, but the way he spoke made her want to do just what he said. After all, she had learned to trust him.

Hinata sighed, "I'm going to regret this."

"What?" He asked unable to hear her over the sound of the wind and roaring engine.

"Left."

Naruto grinned and did as she instructed when they came to their next turn. There wasn't any traffic on the road and she had a feeling that they were going uphill. On either side there were trees that seemed to reflect the very meaning of spring. They were full of life and seemed as evergreen as the man sitting beside her. A small smile graced her lips but it soon fell when she felt her hair flying in her face.

The Uzumaki chuckled watching as she tried to contain it. "Why don't you just let it out?"

"I think that would make it worse," she said fighting against the wind. He shrugged and continued to smile, which made her consider his solution. She'd already thrown all caution to the wind with going on this crazy adventure with him, so why not? Grabbing the scrunchie at the root of her hair she pulled it and let her hair out. To say the feeling of the wind blowing through it was heavenly was an understatement. Her slender fingers ran through it as she sank further in her seat.

"See," he said with a smile which was contagious since she began smiling as well.

"You're the oddest creature," Hinata said looking around. Naruto chuckled and pressed on the gas some more, they both wanted the moment to last forever. Unbuckling her seatbelt she turned and knelt in her seat, her hands holding onto the headrest. She blinked as her hair was flying wildly around her face but she didn't mind anymore, the sight she was seeing had all her attention. It was the final stages of the sunset and the sky was a collage of red, orange and yellow; that mixed with the tall trees that lined either side of the long stretch of road. "It's beautiful," she said with a smile.

"I agree," he said secretly glancing at her. His cerulean blue eyes left the sight of her reluctantly, she was having fun and for him there was nothing more beautiful.

They finally parked at a clearing overlooking the city below. The sun had set and the many light were lit down below creating a view that was nothing less than aesthetic. "You really outdid yourself this time," Hinata said opening a packet of Umaibo.

"I have haven't I?" He smiled putting an arm behind his head as he leaned against the windshield. They were currently sitting on the bonnet of the car looking out at the scenery. She sighed and leaned back as well, her toes curling as a light breeze blew. "Pervy Sage left yesterday."

"Really?" She glanced at him and he nodded while taking a deep breath. "I'll miss him."

Naruto chuckled, "I wont, besides you just met him."

"He's a fun godfather," she said in between munching on her snack.

"Yeah, but...I miss my parents sometimes," he said breaking the good mood.

Hinata bit her bottom lip and offered him some of her snack, but he simply shook his head. "I miss my parents too."

"What happened to them?"

"It's a long story," she sighed.

"Do you trust me?" Naruto asked looking up at the darkening sky.

She frowned, "I don't think I'd be here with you if I didn't Naruto-kun."

"Then talk to me," he said turning his gaze her way. "Let me in Hinata. You don't know how frustrating it is having all these unanswered questions about the woman I think about constantly."

Hinata blushed and looked away, using her hair to shield her from his piercing stare. She sighed and looked up after a while, he was right and after her encounter with Shion the other day she had decided to make things right. She said she trusted him, shouldn't that be enough to let him into her life completely? If not as a life partner...then as a friend at least, she owed him that. He'd been so good to her, he reawakened a side of her that she thought was dead forever. With him she was no one but herself and in truth she did little by halves. If she were to give herself to him, it would be in full. Past and all.

"Alright...what do you want to know?"

Fragile Hearts | A NaruHina Story
©Infinite_Writer01™2016
Chapter inspired by El Dorado - EXO
Thank you for reading!