Fragile Hearts: Twenty-Seven
Naruto sat awkwardly in the room with everyone else in complete silence. His cerulean blue eyes glanced from Hinata who was seated beside him, to her father then the little girl in question that sat with Tenten opposite to them.
No one spoke as they were all too baffled by the sight of whom they all assumed was the brunette's daughter. Though the question on everyone's mind was regarding who the father was, though they all had a pretty good idea.
Naruto cleared his throat and decided to say something. "Um...Tenten I've heard so much about you," he said with a smile. The brunette lifted her head and glanced at him, seeing the smile on his face she returned it sheepishly and nodded.
"You must be Naruto," she replied quietly. The blonde nodded but didn't miss the glare that he was receiving from Neji who sat on the other side of Hinata. "I've heard much about you too, it's nice to finally...meet you." Her voice grew thinner the more she spoke, frightened by the deafening silence in the room.
"Tenten-"
"H-how have you been?" Hinata asked cutting into her cousin's sentence. The Hyūga narrowed his eyes at her, but she merely ignored him.
"Good," she replied just as Hiashi stood.
"I'll leave you all alone to catch up. Come with me Nori," he said gesturing to the little girl. She glanced at Tenten with her pale eyes and only got up when she was given permission. They all watched the little brunette take a hold of the older Hyūga's hand and turn to stare at Neji as she was led out of the room. However once they were gone, the silence returned and the tension in the room rose.
"So what brings you here Hinata?" Tenten asked.
"Uh, well Neji-nii convinced me to come with him." She answered while Naruto flinched slightly from all the awkwardness.
"Oh...you didn't tell me he was back," she muttered.
The pale girl looked away, "it wasn't my place to."
"Right...when did you get back?" Tenten asked shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
Neji frowned, "I don't think that matters right now Tenten." She scoffed and he furrowed his eyebrows, "are you going to explain or do I have to ask?"
"About?" She countered with dull eyes.
"Nori, is she-"
"My daughter?" At that everyone else froze awaiting her answer. "Yes."
Neji felt as though he'd been slapped in the face with a wet rag. The shock of finding out that Tenten had a child was mind boggling.
"Tenten you...why didn't you tell me?" Hinata asked.
"If you guys will excuse me, I have some...stuff to do," Naruto said standing. He could see that they needed privacy and he'd respect that.
"I didn't know how to," she said. "I thought you'd hate me."
"Hate you? Tenten I told you that I could never hate you," she said going to sit beside her.
The brunette offered her a small smile, "I'm sorry."
Neji stood and started pacing around the room, running a hand through his hair he sighed. "I have a daughter," he muttered repeatedly, still in shock. Never had he expected to return from his time in the army to a daughter he never knew he had. It was all too overwhelming.
"How do you know it's yours?" Hinata teased with a small smirk on her face.
Neji blushed slightly and turned to face her; flustered he choose his words carefully. "Well...she looks just like me."
"A lot of men in the family look like you," Hinata pointed out just to provoke him.
Neji frowned, "but Tenten has only been with me-right?" He asked narrowing his eyes at her.
The midnight blue haired girl laughed and got up, "I'm just teasing you."
"This isn't the time," he huffed.
"I'll just leave you two to talk," she said making an exit. As soon as she was out of the room a hand grabbed her arm pulling her to the side. She gasped and got her footing quickly preventing her from falling.
"Sorry," her attacker whispered once she was stable.
Hinata pushed her bang to the side and stared up at the blonde. "You could have simply called me."
"Where's the fun in that?" He asked releasing her arm.
"I thought you had something to do," she said crossing her arms over her chest.
Naruto averted his eyes, "I just needed some air...it was getting a bit...awkward in there."
The pale girl nodded, "I know what you mean."
The Uzumaki sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "it's stuffy in here."
"Yeah..." The midnight blue haired girl looked around before nodding towards the front door. "Come with me."
"Huh?" Hinata didn't reply, she merely took his hand in hers and pulled him towards the entrance of the house. Once they were outside she let go, much to his displeasure, but he'd never voice such personal thoughts. It was much brighter outside, causing him to quint and place a hand above his forehead. His cerulean blue eyes glanced around the front yard while Hinata started off around the house. "Hey, wait for me!" He called sprinting after her.
The Hyūga merely smiled and continued leading the way. It was a long time since she was last at home and she wanted to see just how much things had changed. Although a part of her knew that everything was the same. "There's a seating area around here," she explained.
Finally able to sit, Naruto stretched his legs against the wooden floor and leaned back with his elbows bracing against the wooden table. "I never thought driving could be so tiring."
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Bothering you like this," she elaborated gesturing to her family's situation. "It must be hard."
Naruto closed his eyes and turned his face towards the shinning sun. "It's okay. For you, it's worth it." At that he peeked an eye open and turned to see her reaction. Hinata blushed crimson but looked away, using her loose hair she hid her blush-stained cheeks causing Naruto to chuckle.
"Still...thank you," she said.
The Uzumaki closed his eyes and turned away again, "I guess you didn't need me after all."
"I wouldn't say that...this trip isn't over yet," she retorted muttering the last part to herself. They were silent for a few minutes, Hinata folded her arms on the table and rested her head on them. "I still can't believe Tenten has a child."
Naruto frowned, but didn't open his eyes, "I can't believe Neji has a child...will they be okay?"
She shrugged, "Neji-nii is unpredictable...so is Tenten. But I'm sure things will work out for them."
The blonde smiled, "does that make you an aunt now?"
She opened her mouth to reply, but the truth in his question made her freeze. After a few seconds she chuckled and agreed, "I guess so."
He then turned to face her fully, "Hinata-obasan."
She frowned, "when you say it, it makes me feel old."
"Maybe you are getting old," he said grinning. Hinata gasped and sat up, slapping his upper arm Naruto chuckled and pulled back his arm pretending to be hurt.
"You should have more respect for your elders," she said playing along.
"If I recall, I'm older than you," he said evoking a mischievous smile from his counterpart.
"The pot calling the kettle black."
"It doesn't count."
"I believe it does," she disagreed.
Naruto got up smiling, "it doesn't change the bottom line."
"Which is?"
"You're old."
The Hyūga got up which caused him to start running, "I'll show you old," she muttered chasing after him. The whiskered face man laughed at their childish antics, it was a while since he last saw her that happy and he was glad to see her laugh and smile again.
"Hanabi's home," they heard coming from inside the house. The Hyūga froze before jogging towards the main entrance leaving a dazed Uzumaki. Naruto simply watched her with a small smile on his face. He knew her returning home would do her some good and although he really wasn't needed, he was content with watching her have fun.
...
The day few by quickly and soon it was time for everyone to go to bed. They were all shown to their rooms, however Naruto had a hard time sleeping. He laid in bed staring at the wooden ceiling, thinking about the day. Shikamaru called, filling him in on the day's events, everything was in tack as he expected. The following night Shikamaru would be attending the company's car launch in his place, they still needed to keep a close eye on their competitors.
The blonde sighed and pulled the duvet covers up to his chin, willing sleep to come, but it was no use. Rolling his eyes, he threw the covers off and got out of bed. Pulling a T-shirt from his suitcase he proceeded to put it on on his way out. He could no longer fight the urge.
Closing the door carefully, he tip toed down the hall until he reached Hinata's room at the end. The lights were still on, meaning she was still awake, much like himself. He fixed his shirt before knocking on the wooden door. Naruto's cerulean blue eyes glanced down the hall to make sure that no one was coming.
"Coming," he heard from the other side of the door. Running a hand through his hair he waited rather impatiently. Once the door was opened he quickly entered while placing a hand over Hinata's mouth. Using his foot to close the door his blue eyes clashed with her startled lavender ones.
Cracking a smile Naruto whispered, "hi."
The Hyūga pulled his hand away from her mouth and frowned, "Naruto-kun, w-what are you doing here?"
The blonde looked around her room until finally his eyes landed on her television which was on. "Can't sleep and by the looks of it neither can you."
Hinata folded her arms over her chest and deadpanned, "I was just about to go to bed."
"Good, so was I," he smiled advancing towards her bed.
The Hyūga's eyes widened and she quickly blocked his path, "Naruto-kun what are you d-doing?"
"Going to bed..."
"You should go to your room," she said.
Naruto sighed, "I can't sleep there...I figured if I came here I'd be able to."
The pale girl rolled her eyes, "goodnight Naruto-kun."
"Come on Hinata, please?"
"No," she replied getting in bed. "Now can you please close the door on your way out."
The blonde frowned and watched as she switched off the television then placed the remote on the bedside table. "I guess you leave me no choice," he said.
"W-what?" She asked, but she got her answer when the Uzumaki laid down on the cold floor. "What are you doing?"
"Um...sleeping? By the way do you have an extra pillow? And blanket?" He asked.
"What if someone catches you in here?" Asked before biting her lip nervously.
"What if no one does?" He asked before yawning. "Sorry."
"You really are the oddest creature," she muttered.
Naruto smiled, "you said that-" He was cut off by a pillow landing on him. "Hey."
"You asked if I had an extra pillow," she explained.
"Still...what about the blanket?"
"I don't think you deserve one."
"That's cold."
"Like the floor you're sleeping on."
He opened his mouth to reply, but he didn't quite have a comeback. Hinata giggled and threw her extra cover on him. "Sleep tight."
Naruto smiled and gathered himself in the warm bed sheet. "You too."
Turning out the light on the lamp Hinata pulled the duvet cover up to her shoulders and turned on her side, facing the blonde on the floor. "Goodnight Naruto-kun."
The blonde did the same, turning on his side, facing her. A small smile graced his lips as he looked at her hand that was thrown over the side of the bed. Reaching up, he traced her fingers with his slowly.
"Goodnight Hinata."
Fragile Hearts | A NaruHina Story
©Infinite_Writer01™2016
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