Fragile Hearts: Twenty-Eight

The sound of birds chirping was the first sign of morning that Hinata chose to ignore. The sunlight that streamed in through the crack between her curtains didn't seem to phase her nor did the ringing of her cellphone. Only when the was a knock on her door did she choose to budge.

"Hinata-nee," she heard her younger sister calling from the other side of the door. The midnight blue haired girl groaned and lifted her head at the sound of her voice. She peaked open both eyes but instantly closed them due to the brightness of the room. "Nee-san," came from the door again.

"Yes?" She called out still half asleep.

"Breakfast is almost ready, Father sent me to get you," Hanabi explained, but Hinata didn't hear one thing, too busy with trying not to go back to sleep. "Nee-san? Nee...I'm coming in," she announced causing the pale girl to sit up immediately.

"I'm up!" She exclaimed grabbing a pillow. Hinata swiftly began hitting the sleeping body on the ground with it, praying that her sister wouldn't open the door. "I'll be down in a minute Hanabi."

"Okay...should I wake Naruto-nii?"

"N-no, I'll wake him, you j-just get ready for breakfast," she said getting out of bed.

"Fine but hurry up!" With that said Hanabi left and Hinata sighed. Dropping the pillow on Naruto she placed both hands on her hips and looked down at him with disapproval.

How can he still be asleep?

The Hyūga crouched down and poked his cheek. His soft snorts got louder the closer she got to his face. "Naruto-kun," she whisper yelled, but the blonde merely frowned and swatted her hand away. "Wake up."

"I don't want to," he groaned turning away from her.

"I need to get ready for breakfast and so do you," the Hyūga said grabbing the pillow once again.

"Just five more minutes," he whined. Hinata then began hitting him with the pillow until she was tired. Once she stopped the blonde opened one eye and smiled at her. "Done?" She nodded and he laughed.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?"

Naruto sat up, "maybe."

Throwing the pillow onto her bed Hinata sat on the floor beside the Uzumaki. "You need to go before someone sees you."

He yawned and nodded, "yeah yeah."

"Don't you usually wake up early to get to work?"

Naruto shrugged, "I guess, I get up and run with Kurama, but this morning I just felt lazy. Maybe it's because I slept really well last night."

Hinata frowned, "you slept on the floor, how could that be possible?"

He stared at her, drowsy, cerulean blue eyes gazing at her lavender ones. The sunlight gave her pale skin a light glow which complimented her disheveled bed hair nicely. Rose pink was a nice colour on her and her cheeks proved it. In all, she was simply breathtaking. "Because of you."

Hinata blushed, heightening the colour in her cheeks. She quickly scrambled to her feet and cleared her throat. "I-I'm going to get ready...y-you should too."

Before Naruto could respond the Hyūga was already out of the room. He smiled and shook his head while getting up. Folding the blanket he'd used he placed it and the pillow neatly on Hinata's bed before leaving. He managed to make it to his room without being caught, or that's what he thought at least.

"Neji."

The brown-haired man moved away from the window in Naruto's room with his arms crossed. "The typical thing to do when given a room is to sleep in it."

Naruto blushed and scratched the back of his head. "Ah...I don't know what—"

"It's fine, I don't need to know. Just be grateful that I didn't let Hiashi come to wake you. He was halfway up the stairs when I stopped him."

"Um...Thanks," he said looking straight at him.

Neji nodded and looked around, "well you should get ready...breakfast is done."

"Uh—Neji," the blonde called before the Hyūga could leave. The brown-haired man stopped at the door and turned to face him. "How are you and Tenten?"

Neji sighed, "we're...getting there."

"And Nori?"

A smile graced the Hyūga's lips at the sound of her name. "She's wonderful. It makes me sad to know that I've missed out on so many years of her life."

Naruto placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled, "you'll have the rest of her life to make up for it."

Neji chuckled and nodded, "I plan to...now get ready."

...

Hinata took a few deep breaths as she descended the stairs to join the others for breakfast. Her toes curled as soon as they touched the cold, wooden floor. Her fingers clenching and unclenching the material of her knee length sundress while her hair was pulled back with a black headband.

Upon entering the dinning room, the first pair of eyes to glance at her were none other than Naruto's making her feet a bit more self-conscious. His words from earlier ringing in her head, making her blush slightly and shy away from his piercing gaze.

"Good morning Hinata," her father spoke up snapping her out of her thoughts.

She cleared her throat and approached the table, "good morning." There were two possible seats available to her, one beside Naruto and the other beside her younger sister. Again her brain started over analyzing the situation, throwing her into a state of utter confusion.

"Sit," her father said after she began lingering.

Hinata sighed sensing his impatience which caused her to choose the closest seat, which happened to be the one beside the Uzumaki. Naruto smiled sweetly at her before taking a bite of his French toast.

"How did you sleep last night Hinata?" Neji asked glancing at her.

Taken aback by his question the Hyūga froze and glared at Naruto through the corner of her eyes. "W-well...why?"

The brown-haired man shrugged, "just asking. What are your plans for today?"

Hinata began to relax just then, "I haven't made any, but I'd like to spend some time with Hanabi though." The midnight blue haired girl smiled at her younger sister who returned the smile tenfold.

"What about me?" Naruto interjected feeling left out.

"You can take care of yourself," the pale girl said. The whiskered face man pouted and continued eating causing Hanabi to giggle, but the room became silent when Hiashi cleared his throat.

"Unfortunately Hanabi won't have much free time today."

"But Da—"

He cut the youngest Hyūga off by narrowing his eyes at her which made her hang her head and sink further in her seat. "She has lessons to attend."

"Father I'm sure she can take a break...just for today at least," Hinata countered.

"I can't afford to go easy on her."

"I-It's just one day..." She said looking at her discouraged sibling.

Hiashi frowned, "the answer is no."

Naruto piled various articles of food on Hinata's empty plate thinking that she needed assistance but she no longer had an appetite. Her lavender eyes stared at the food on her plate as she tried to gather the courage to speak up against her father. He was pressuring Hanabi...the same way he used to pressure her, if not worse. She knew she wanted a break—needed one. But her father didn't seem to care.

With a sigh the pale girl picked up her chopsticks and began poking at her food. Glancing up she caught sight of her sister mouthing 'sorry,' but she simply shook her head meaning that it was okay.

"I guess I'm stuck with you today," she whispered to the blonde beside her.

"You make it sound like a bad thing," he muttered concentrating on his food.

"I-I didn't mean...I'm sor—" But the Hyūga didn't get to finish her sentence as his rich laughter cut her off.

"I'm just kidding Hinata, lighten up." He smiled with bright, reassuring eyes. Hinata shook her head, though she was unable to hold back her smile. He had, once again, managed to brighten her mood.

...

"Are you sure about this?" Naruto asked with a frown.

"Yes, now give them."

He frowned and raised his hand with his car keys. "But...do you even have a driver's license?"

Hinata placed her hands on her hips and frowned up at him, "just give me the keys."

"That's not an answer," he replied smirking.

She tipped on her toes and reached for the keys, but Naruto merely rose his hand higher. "Naruto-kun!" She exclaimed frustrated with all his antics.

The blonde laughed and handed her the keys, "alright alright. But if you kill me, you'll regret it."

She watched as he walked towards the car, "I'm not so sure I will."

"I know you will," he smiled while getting into the passenger's seat.

"And why is that?"

"Because I'm your knight in shinning armor."

The midnight blue haired girl merely shook her head and entered the car. Naruto had agreed to accompany her to her mother's grave that day and in all honesty she was excited for him to meet her in a metaphorical sense. Though she had a condition, that he let her drive and the situation had worked out for her in the end.

"Ready?" Hinata asked wrapping her hands around the stirring wheel.

Naruto nodded after he fastened his seatbelt. "Wait!"

"W-what?"

"You wouldn't happen to have a helmet, would you?" He asked with a serious expression.

The pale girl deadpanned and started the engine. "Now I'm seriously considering your death."

"Good to know," he said with a grin. She giggled and turned her attention to the road before her. "Just...make it quick."

"No promises."

The two talked throughout most of the journey though Naruto clung to his seatbelt whenever Hinata sped up, but she managed to get them to the cemetery safely.

"You're still alive," she said once they both exited the car.

"Barely," the Uzumaki replied holding the bouquet of red roses they'd bought on the way tightly. The pale girl laughed while shaking her head then held onto his arm as they entered. "How long has it been since you last came here?"

Shrugging the Hyūga looked up at the evening sky. "Years...far too long I suppose."

The blonde nodded but didn't speak until they reached the spot where her mother was buried. She sat down on the green grass and simply stared at the headstone, while Naruto stood waiting to be introduced. A light breeze blew, lifting Hinata's ponytail and moving the grass in one direction. It was quiet and yet tense at the same time. All the guilt Hinata felt for not visiting her mother for so long seeped into the atmosphere around them, making him a bit uncomfortable.

"H-hi mom," the lavender eyed girl spoke up after a few long minutes. "I missed you," she continued. The Uzumaki gazed at her intently, watching as her eyes slowly filled with tears. How many times would he see her cry? Her tears seemed to have no limit.

"Here," he intervened handing her the flowers which she placed on the grave. It was clean, meaning that other members of her family visited there often.

"I'm sorry I haven't visited you I-in so long." She looked down at her covered feet, "it's inexcusable really...b-but this time I brought someone to meet you." Lavender eyes met with cerulean blue ones just then, "I'm sure you'll like him."

Naruto blushed slightly and scratched the back of his head. The Hyūga gestured for him to sit on the other side of the grave and he did, feeling awkward and out of place. But looking at Hinata reassured him that it would be okay and that she was with him.

They spent a long time at the cemetery, only when the sun had set did they decide to leave. "I'm tired," Hinata mumbled with her head turned towards the window.

"Go to sleep then, we'll be home soon," he said keeping his eyes on the road as he drove.

"Okay...uh Naruto-kun?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

Naruto smiled and placed his free hand on hers. "Don't mention it." Hinata returned his smile and closed her eyes preparing to go to sleep, but she was disturbed by the sound of her counterpart's phone ringing.

The blonde groaned and reached for it on the dashboard. "Shikamaru wh—"

"We have a crisis," the black-haired man interjected.

"Wait, what happened?"

At that Hinata was wide awake and on full alert. "Just...you need to get here."

"What happened? Shouldn't you be at the launch?"

"I am at the launch, but this is something that only you can handle."

Naruto frowned and glanced at Hinata's worried face. "Alright, I'll be there in the morning." With that said he hung up.

"Is everything alright?" Hinata asked.

The blonde made a sharp turned and sighed, "I'm not sure, but it looks like I'll be going home sooner than I'd expected."

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