Fragile Hearts: Twenty-Six
"All set?" Neji asked entering his cousin's room.
The midnight blue haired girl sat on her bed and began pulling her brown pair of flats on. "Yeah."
"When is your boyfriend getting here?" He asked glancing at his wristwatch.
"He's not my boyfriend," Hinata said correcting him immediately. "And I'm not sure."
The brown haired Hyūga sighed and glanced around at her packed suitcases. "It's only for a few days Hinata."
"So?"
"You packed as if you're leaving for months."
She placed a hand on the suitcase on her bed, "everything I've packed is essential."
"Alright," Neji replied holding his hands up to admit defeat. Just then the door bell rang and they both froze. "He's here I'll go-"
"No it's okay, I'll go," she said quickly getting to her feet. Her cousin agreed and she made her way to the front door, on opening it she was greeted with a back view of the Uzumaki which surprised her. She was about to call his name when she heard him chuckle, only then did she choose to look around him at whom he was talking to.
It didn't surprise her much to see Tamaki standing there smiling, but it didn't make her in the least bit happy. If she refused to associate herself with her then why still talk to her boy-
He's just a close friend Hinata! Get it together!
"Naruto-kun," she said interrupting their conversation. The blonde turned and saw that she was standing in the doorjamb and offered her a small smile.
"It was nice meeting you again," he said ending the conversation.
Tamaki nodded and glanced at Hinata. They both made eye contact, but the awkwardness of the situation was stifling. "Same here," she replied with a smile. They both said their goodbyes and the brunette continued on her way out of the complex.
"Sorry about that," Naruto said on entering.
Hinata frowned, "w-what?"
"I know that was very awkward for you," he said scratching the back of his head.
She blushed in response and shook her head, "it's okay." The blonde nodded and looked around, while Hinata's lavender eyes scanned his attire. He was dressed casually in a white, button up shirt with the sleeves turned up and denim jeans.
"Ready?" He asked.
"I've been asking that question since I woke up," Neji interjected as he entered the living room with his luggage. Naruto smiled and he continued, "so I heard you offered to drive us."
"Yeah, but Hinata wasn't sure if-"
"It's okay, as long as you're up for it. It's a... what? Five hour drive."
"Six actually and I'm prepared for it," he smiled broadly.
"I'll go get my stuff," Hinata said walking towards her bedroom.
"I'll help," Naruto said before turning to Neji and throwing the keys his way. "I parked outside, you know which car."
Neji sighed after catching the keys, "yeah."
The blonde lingered by the doorway as he watched Hinata get her stuff together. After a few long moments she decided to confront him, "are you going to stare at me all day or help me?"
The Uzumaki smiled and walked towards her slowly, "I'm content with staring at you all day, but I don't think you'd be."
She furrowed her eyebrows and glanced at him, "you're right."
He chuckled and went to lift the suitcase from her bed, after a few times he finally moved it. "What do you have in this?"
Hinata shrugged, "stuff."
Naruto shook his head, "women." She giggled and he smiled triumphantly, "you laughed."
"What?"
"You've been looking a bit down since I saw you. Is something wrong?"
She shrugged once again, "I'm not sure."
"Nervous?" She nodded and he dropped her luggage and approached her. "Come here."
"Why?" Hinata eyed him suspiciously up and down.
"Just come here," he said. She rolled her eyes and walked towards him, however when she was close enough she was pulled into his embrace. Neither said a word, she didn't protest or pull away, instead she allowed Naruto comfort her the only way he could at that moment. "It's going to be okay."
"I keep telling myself that, but I-I don't kn-"
"Shh, it's okay. It's going to be fine...I won't let anything happen to you."
Hinata pulled him a bit closer before asking, "promise?"
He stroked her hair gently then replied, "I promise."
The pale girl pulled back and smiled up at him, "thank you."
Naruto opened his mouth to speak, but he was cut off by someone else. "If you two are done being lovey dovey, can we leave now?"
The two quickly stepped away from each other and turned to face Neji. "Uh, y-yeah," Hinata blushed. Neji shook his head and left with them following.
...
"Are we there yet?" Hinata whined from the backseat of the car.
"No, not yet," Naruto answered. The Hyūga pouted and placed a handful of Cheese Puffs in her mouth.
"My legs are falling asleep," she complained.
Neji turned in his seat to look at her, "you can always walk." She stuck her tongue out at him and he frowned and turned away. "Why are you so anxious anyway?"
"I'm tired of sitting."
"Again, you can walk," he said.
Hinata groaned and leaned back in her seat. She turned her gaze towards the carbon copy landscape outside of the car and sighed softly. Everything was so familiar, yet unfamiliar to her; a surreal feeling washed over her just then. The car was quiet as Naruto focused on driving and Neji stared out the window, he would occasionally give him directions, but that was it. Completely silence reigned besides the humming of the engine and the sound of cold air leaving the air conditioning vents. Everyone was lost in thought, especially Hinata.
Her fear seemed to be getting the best of her as she was afraid to even fall asleep on the way. She wouldn't take the risk of having a nightmare or not being awake when they arrived. She couldn't afford to make her family-or rather her father, any angrier.
The stain of breaking her family was present once more and it was out to destroy her in the process. She crushed the empty bag and shifted in her seat. It caught Naruto's attention and he glanced at her in the rare view mirror, but still he said nothing. There was nothing more that he could say anyway, it was her fight.
"Almost there," Neji said about an hour later. Expecting a cheerful comment from Hinata he was disappointed with her silence. Shrugging it off he continued staring out the window.
"Hinata," Naruto called.
"Yes?" She blinked a few times and met his eyes in the rare view mirror.
"Okay?"
She nodded and looked away, but he didn't until he was satisfied. "Hanabi will like you," Neji said casually causing Hinata to smile.
"Really? That's reassuring."
"She's all grown up now, isn't she?" The pale girl mused.
"I suppose," her cousin replied.
They talked a bit until finally they were at their desired destination. Hinata stared out the car window at the house she'd once put behind her with frightful, nostalgic eyes. Memories came flooding back, both good and bad. Neji and Naruto got out to unload the car trunk, but she stayed in the car, too afraid to get out.
"Well?" Neji asked opening one of the backseat doors.
"I can't do this," she whispered looking straight ahead.
"What? Hinata we're already here," he said narrowing his eyes at her.
"I'm s-sorry, I-I just can't."
"Hinata-"
Naruto placed a hand on the Hyūga's shoulder, "Neji I'll talk to her." Neji huffed and reluctantly moved aside. The blonde entered the car, sitting beside her, as soon as he was there Hinata turned to him with eyes filled with tears.
"I want to go home Naruto-kun," she said softly. "I-I don't want to be here. I-I can't."
"But Hinata, we're already-"
She shook her head and turned away, "I-I can't face him."
"Yes you can."
But Hinata didn't hear anything he said, she simply continued shaking her head in denial and fear. She didn't want to be there, she wanted to go home where she was safe in the confines of her white washed walls. She wanted her orderly life back, where no one was there to judge her or her decisions.
"Hinata...don't you trust that I can protect you?"
"What?" She asked taken aback by his question.
"You don't believe that I can protect you."
"N-no I do-"
"Then let's go," he said looking at her.
Her eyes wavered, they searched his face for any sign of doubt or weakness, but they found none. Taking a deep breathe she nodded and exited the car.
"Finally," Neji muttered with his arms crossed.
"Let's just get this over with," Naruto said closing the car door. Hinata nodded and stood beside him.
"I couldn't agree more," he replied walking towards the door. The midnight haired girl hid behind Naruto as they approached the closed door. Neji rung the door bell then knocked a few times which made her cringe. Finally the door opened to reveal one of the helpers, but neither Neji nor Hinata recognized him.
"Yes?"
"Is Hiashi Hyūga home?" The brown haired Hyūga asked. The worker looked at them before nodding hesitantly. "We're here to see him."
Hinata zoned out for the rest of the conversation. The only thing she knew was that he left and came back some time later to invite them in. The day was beautiful and as she said goodbye to the sun before the door was closed she knew that it was about to be ruined. She touched the walls in the hallways as they were led to what she suspected was the sitting room. Nothing changed, which scared her a bit...if nothing changed then what were the chances of her father changing at all?
The helper soon left them and Hinata's heart started pounding faster as Neji turned to enter the sitting room. "It's okay," Naruto whispered in her ear and held her hand.
She glanced up at him and nodded, "okay." Releasing his hand she went in without him since he wanted to give them some time alone. But she knew that if she needed any help he'd be there in an instant.
Neji cleared his throat and she was brought back to reality. Sitting before them was her father, the man she feared more than anyone else in her life. He looked the same, same pale skin, long brown hair and cold eyes.
"Well this is a surprise," he said breaking the silence.
Neji smiled slightly, "Hiashi-San."
"When did you get back Neji?"
"A few days ago," he replied sitting in the seat adjacent to Hiashi's making Hinata feel abandoned once again.
The older Hyūga nodded, "I'm glad you returned safely." As if the situation couldn't get any more awkward, all eyes then turned on Hinata. Lavender eyes clashed with pale ones for a while until Hiashi decided to break the silence. "I didn't expect to see you Hinata."
She hung her head and looked around, "I-I..." She didn't exactly know what to say and on top of that she was stuttering. He hated it when she stuttered.
He stood and she took a step back flinching, all the courage Naruto had given her left. Now all that stood before her father was an empty vessel, comprised of fear and shame. "Is that any way to greet your father?"
She froze at his question, feeling as though she'd messed up just by coming back. Can't you do anything right? She scolded herself mentally.
"I'm s-so-" She was cut off by the feel of two arms closing around her. Her eyes widened as her father of all persons pulled her into a hug.
"You never learn, do you?" He whispered causing her eyes to fill with unshed tears. "Why didn't you come home sooner?"
"I t-thought you didn't want to see m-me," she replied.
Hiashi sighed, "Hinata, a father doesn't stop loving his child just because she made a mistake."
Hinata, being too over joyed by the reality that her father didn't hate her, completely ignored the fact he still thought she'd made a mistake. A tear escaped and she could no longer hold it in, she hugged him back and began to cry. "I'm so sorry."
Naruto smiled as he listened to her, she was crying like a child, but he knew she was okay. It made a part of him long for his parents, but still he was happy that she wasn't at all rejected by her family. It seems he wasn't needed at all, the bitter truth made him scoff at her previous antics. Though he was still glad to be there with her.
After Hinata settled down, she proceeded to introduce Naruto at last. Of course she introduced him as her friend which made him a bit sad, but it was a cruel reminder that he was nothing more than a friend to her...nothing more, nothing less.
They got settled and Hinata began asking about her sister who was still at school. "Oh okay, when will she be home?" She asked.
"In about an hour," Hiashi responded. "So how did you manage to get the owner of a car company as your friend?"
The pale girl blushed and Naruto arched his eyebrows, "how'd you know?"
"As a fellow businessman, it's expected that I do," he replied.
The blonde was about to respond when the sound of the front door closing cut him off. "Master Hiashi, Tenten is here."
"Tenten?" Hinata asked surprised.
"She comes by often," he explained. Hinata got up, expecting to see a fully grown woman enter the living room at any minute, but she was shocked to see a toddler in her place.
The little girl froze upon seeing unfamiliar faces and so did Hinata. "What's wrong Nori?" Tenten asked entering after her. Only when she saw Hinata did she freeze. "H-Hinata."
Expecting the midnight blue haired girl to reply, she was surprised when she heard a male voice behind her speak.
"Tenten?"
Fragile Hearts | A NaruHina Story
©Infinite_Writer01™2016
Thank you for reading!
