Fragile Hearts: Thirty-Seven
"You look so beautiful," Ino squealed as she stared at her best friend.
Sakura blushed as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her day had finally come and she'd never felt happier nor more alive than she did at that moment. Her hands gripped the bottom part of her dress and she spun it slightly, watching as it swayed with a small smile on her face. She felt no less than a princess.
"Thank you Ino," she said accepting the compliment.
"Sasuke is going to fall in love with you all over again when he sees you," Temari said looking at the pinkette.
She blushed crimson and Ino snickered as she watched her. Sakura opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say anything the door opened and an old friend walked in.
"Hinata!" Ino exclaimed upon seeing her.
Hinata smiled at the blonde and turned to face Sakura. "Hi," she said awkwardly not knowing how else to greet the bride.
Sakura frowned and began walking towards her, "hi, is that all I get?" She asked seemingly upset. The Hyūga frowned sadly but didn't respond. She didn't know how to, she'd left without telling anyone, she wasn't exactly expecting a warm welcome. Her eyes widened however when Sakura pulled her in for a hug. "I missed you...don't ever leave like that again."
Hinata blinked twice before returning the hug, "I'm sorry."
Sakura chuckled, "I'll forgive you if you hurry up and get dressed."
"What?" Hinata asked pulling back.
"You're one of my bridesmaids silly."
The Hyūga's eyes widened, "y-you still want me—"
"Yes, now go," the pinkette responded and urged her towards the other girls who were already ready.
Hinata was dazed by all their smiling faces and Ino's hand taking hers. "Come on, I'll make you even more beautiful than the bride," Ino smirked.
"Watch it Ino Pig," Sakura said glaring at the blonde. The Yamanaka stuck her tongue out at her before pulling Hinata into the next room.
...
"It's not too late to cancel," Sai said standing by the door.
Naruto chuckled and Sasuke merely deadpanned, "I think it is."
"Unless you want Sakura to murder you," Naruto added.
"She wouldn't," Sasuke said staring at the mirror. "Would she?"
Both Sai and Naruto laughed at the Uchiha's dilemma. "It's time," Itachi announced as he entered.
Sasuke took a deep breath, mentally coaching himself. "Alright."
"Good luck," Naruto smiled placing a hand on his shoulder.
The raven-haired man nodded and left with his older brother. "So troublesome," Shikamaru muttered while fixing his tie.
"They're about to line up," Gaara said standing by the door.
"Let's just get this over with," Shikamaru groaned being the first one to leave.
"I hear you," Gaara agreed leaving behind him.
Sai sighed and glanced at Naruto who only nodded. "It's show time."
"Let's just go," Naruto grumbled walking behind him. He closed the door behind him and quickly caught up with the others as they walked down the aisle. Surprisingly a lot of people were already seated waiting for the ceremony to begin. The blonde suspected that they were mostly invited by Sakura, because Sasuke's circle of friends was small.
His cerulean blue eyes focused on where he was going and in no time he was standing behind his best friend. "Nervous?" He whispered to the raven-haired man.
"No," Sasuke frowned, but Naruto merely smiled. He knew that under his cool façade he was quivering, he could tell by the way he kept fixing his tie even though it was perfectly fine.
Deciding to let it be, Naruto faced forward and covered one hand with the next as he waited for the bridesmaids to enter.
The room was quiet, besides the low sound of classical music playing in the background. It got louder however when the first bridesmaid emerged. Ino walked gracefully down the aisle with a bouquet of white roses in her hands and a radiant smile. She made eye contact with Sai, which everyone saw. Naruto turned to the pale man behind him and smirked as he looked away embarrassed.
Next it was Temari followed by Shijima. There was the sound of a baby beginning to fuss about in the audience. Naruto quickly located the source of the sound and froze when he saw the baby.
His heart raced as he stared at the toddler with long brown hair and pale eyes. Taking a deep breath he glanced at the mother and then at the male sitting beside her.
Neji...Tenten?
Naruto shifted from one foot to the next uncomfortably. Memories and thoughts of Hinata resurfacing.
Maybe she didn't come...why would she?
He tried to keep himself from wondering about the Hyūga. She had made a decision and they both had to live with it. He couldn't dwell on what wasn't meant to be. But, as if on cue his eyes shifted to the entrance and his entire body went up in flames when he saw her.
"Hinata," he whispered to himself as she made her way down the aisle. Though she was equally as gracious as Ino, her movements were timid and she seemed out of place. A line of blonde bridesmaids ending with midnight blue hair and pale skin. No, it would have been more fitting if she herself were the bride.
A small smile was present on her nude painted lips. But Naruto knew that she felt uncomfortable with all eyes on her, the smile merely represented her happiness for Sakura's wedding and was just for show.
Her journey ended soon, but her eyes were still on the audience, she was looking for her cousin Naruto assumed. He shifted quickly as if to hide behind Sasuke though it was impossible.
Hinata finally turned around, having already located Neji and Tenten, she was at ease. Though she wasn't surprised when she saw a familiar blonde standing behind one of her close friends.
Naruto...kun.
She quickly looked away, unable to face him. She did what she thought was right to protect him, but he'd never see it that way. Lowering her gaze to the bouquet of flowers in her hands she yearned for the wedding to end quickly so she could go back into her peaceful solitude. Away from all the guilt and lingering memories.
Maybe then her heart would be at peace.
...
The first part of the wedding seemed to be the longest. Hinata was relieved when Sasuke and Sakura were pronounced husband and wife. The audience cheered and Hinata smiled when they shared their first kiss as a married couple. They truly were a match made in heaven, perfect for each other in every way.
They were now leaving for the reception although the bride and groom had already left. Everyone else began pairing up apparently to go to the reception.
"I fail to understand how you still don't have a car," Neji said looking around.
Hinata rolled her eyes, "why can't you buy me one?"
"Arguing won't help," Tenten said holding Nori who was half asleep. "I think we should go home now. Nori is getting fussy."
Neji looked at his daughter with furrowed eyebrows and nodded. "Good idea."
Hinata stepped forward just then, "okay I'll go get a taxi."
Tenten shook her head while handing over the toddler to her father. "No, you're staying."
"What? B-but Nori—"
"Is our responsibility," the brunette interjected. "Now go have fun. You've been avoiding your friends for three months - don't you think that's long enough?"
With that said Tenten left with Neji and their daughter. Hinata watched silently as their moving figures shuffled through the crowd until they disappeared. Her friend was right, for how long would she use them as a distraction? The pale girl sighed and turned around; it was time to face her demons.
From a distance she could see Ino and Sai getting into a car followed by Gaara and Shijima. They decided to travel together, how convenient. She began walking around when she overheard a conversation.
"Sorry Naruto but I'm going with Shikamaru," Temari said offering him a smile. Hinata quickly turned around but was caught. "There's Hinata! Hey Hinata!"
She winced and turned slowly to face both blondes. "Temari-san."
"You'll go with Naruto right?" She asked seeming oblivious to their history.
"I-I wouldn't want to bother h-him."
The teal eyed girl shook her head, "nonsense, come on." She quickly took Hinata's hand and led her to the passenger's side of the front. Opening the door she made sure that Hinata was inside before saying goodbye to both parties. Hinata sheepishly fastened her seatbelt just as Naruto entered the car. Neither made eye contact.
The air was tense, unsaid words hanging between them. Hinata's hands tightened around the strap of the seatbelt as she waited for him to explode, but he never did. Naruto merely sighed and started the car.
There was a lot of traffic on the road making the ride long and awkward. Naruto's phone began to ring which caught both their attentions.
"Ryoko," Naruto said as he answered. He chuckled suddenly before saying, "no this isn't a bad time."
Hinata looked down at her lap as she listened to his responses. With each laugh that escaped his lips she felt a spare pierce her already damaged heart.
Has he moved on?
The question failed to leave her mind. She couldn't expect him to wait for her, not after the way she left. As if Naruto could sense her discomfort he quickly instructed his secretary on what to do and hung up.
Clearing his throat he glanced at her momentarily, "my secretary."
"W-what?" She asked surprised that he was speaking to her.
"She's my secretary."
"Oh." She nodded slowly feeling a bit relieved. "You didn't have to t-tell me."
"And you didn't have to leave the way you did," he shot back tightening his grip on the stirring wheel. Hinata didn't respond, she merely looked out the window which made Naruto even more upset. He wanted answers, he needed to know why she broke his heart, what he'd done to cause it. He was tired of her silence.
At the next stoplight Naruto turned left instead of following the other cars headed towards the reception. Hinata noticed but said nothing, she expected this reaction from him. They didn't speak until they reached his house. The blonde got out of the car and walked around to open the door for her. He reached for her wrist and she let him have it, she didn't feel as though she had a right to protest. Having broken his heart, he had her consent to do whatever he wanted with her.
Once they were inside both of them were greeted by Kurama who Hinata was happy to see. But Naruto pulled her into the living room then released her wrist.
"Why'd you bring me here?" She asked softly looking at his back.
Naruto placed both hands on his hips before turning. She expected to meet his eyes, but his head was bent and he was frowning. "I'm not sure."
She hated the way he looked, he wasn't a reflection of his usual self and it killed her because she was the one who broke him. She looked away and bit the inside of her cheek, "take me back."
"Not until you tell me why you left," he said.
"Naru—"
"I at least deserve that," he said making eye contact with her.
Hinata sighed softly, "t-this isn't the time." She began backing away.
Naruto scoffed, "do you hate me that much Hinata? Is it so hard to spend five minutes with me?"
Her heart ached, what had he become? No, what had she made him?
"I-I never meant to hurt you..." She explained as tears whelmed in her eyes. Don't do this to yourself.
"You agreed to marry me," he said. His throat felt dry as it began to close on him, it wasn't only his heart that threatened to begin weeping.
Stop.
He'd never felt so low in his entire life, not even when Sakura turned him down. At least she didn't lead him on and give him false hope. When he woke up without her the next day he felt as though a part of him was gone. Hinata had taken his hopes and dreams with her. Even his soul had left him, such a split made it hard for him to move on knowing that he was incomplete.
"I thought," he reached out and took a hold of both her arms. "You loved me."
Hinata covered his hands with hers realizing that she'd lowered him to her level. They both had become fragile hearts, wounded and weak. Shaking her head she looked up at him, her tears threatened to spill though it felt weird, she hadn't cried in months.
"I had t-to leave you," how wretched she felt in that moment. He removed his hands and turned around but she hugged him from behind without a care in the world. She merely wanted to explain herself, he could hate her after. "I-In order to get you a good lawyer...father said I had to leave y-you." Naruto didn't respond, "I'm sorry I left the way I did...b-but what else could I do? If you'd known where I was surely you'd come looking for me."
Naruto removed her hands and Hinata felt her heart drop. But that quickly changed when he hugged her tightly. The smell of her hair was intoxicating, much like her personality. "Don't ever do something like that again."
"I can't if it's to save your life," she whispered truthfully. There was a moment if silence, "d-do you hate me?"
"Was that ever possible?"
Fragile Hearts | A NaruHina Story
©Infinite_Writer01
Thanks for reading!
