Hinata's POV

I went with Sakura to have some tea. It seemed like she wanted to talk to me, though I couldn't imagine what about.

"Hinata, how are you feeling?" What a loaded question...should I confide in Sakura? What if she tells Naruto? "It's...been difficult." I looked down at the table, trying to hide the tears in my eyes, but Sakura could see right through me.

"Hinata..."

I interrupted her. "Sakura, you don't have to try to cheer me up. I did this to myself. I want to talk to Naruto, to apologize, but I just can't find the words. Until then...I can't face him, I just can't!" I cried.

"Well, maybe I could mention it to him in passing? I know he hurt over what happened to you for awhile...I think he's afraid, honestly. But you two need to clear the air. Regardless of what was said, I know the two of you care for each other. It's hard to watch you so distant from each other."

I nodded. I guess it's okay...the worst he could say is no, and I'm prepared for that. "I will try not to get my hopes up. He owes me nothing at all."

Naruto's POV

"Naruto! Hey, Naruto!"

"Oh, hey Sakura!" It'd been a while since I'd seen her, she's been apprenticing at the hospital, helping Granny with the remnants of the injured from Pain's attack.

"Hey, can I treat you to ramen? There's something I need to talk to you about." Sakura looked pretty serious. I wonder what it could possibly be...

We sat down to ramen. Sakara put her hand on my arm. "Naruto, this might be a tough subject, so bare with me, okay?"

"Oookaayy.."

"It has been quite a while since any of us saw Hinata, so I decided to drop in and check on her." Oh no...I had a sinking feeling in my chest. I wonder how she is...do I even want to know?

"How is she, Sakura-chan?"

"She looks tired. It's been a month, but Neji mentioned to me that Hanabi still hears her cry occasionally. I wanted to ask her how she was, so I took her out for tea."

"And?"

"She's absolutely crushed with guilt. She's holed herself up inside her house because she can't bare to face you until she can make amends for causing you pain. Apparently, she asked Kiba to check on you when things first went down, and Sai...well...you know Sai."

"Aaah...Dammit! What am I supposed to do? I don't know how to face her either...I feel like it's all my fault!"

"Why don't I bring her by for ramen tomorrow and you could just *happen* to be there? Then you can take her for a walk or something.."

"Okay." Suddenly I felt nauseous. "I think I'm going to go home, Sakura. I've lost my appetite."

Hinata's POV

*Knock knock* "Oh, that must be Sakura. Father, I'm going out with Sakura for tea, okay?"

He looked at me and smiled gently. "Okay, Hinata. Take care."

Sakura smiled at me as I left the house. "Hey, Hinata! Change of plans? How would you like to go for some ramen? I know Teuchi is chomping at the bit to get business drummed up again."

"Oh, okay."

We walked toward Ichiraku. I didn't think too much of it, but Sakura seemed...antsy? As we got closer to the shop, I realized why.

I gasped. "N-n-naruto-kun?" The room began to spin. I couldn't breathe.

"Hinata? Hey, Hinata! Snap out of it, Hinata!"

I collapsed. The next thing I knew, something cold was splashed on my face. "What?!" I sputtered. As I came to, I realized that Sakura had left, and it was Naruto helping me stand. Normally, I'd be flustered and embarrassed, but at the moment, all I could feel was shame. "Oh, Naruto...thank you." I put my head down. "I'm feeling a little weak. Maybe I should go home."

Naruto smiled. "Listen, Hinata, can I take you for a short walk? I wanted to talk to you, and thought maybe we could sit at the park. I'll catch you if you fall, okay?"

He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Okay Naruto, I'll go."

Naruto's POV

I didn't know where to start, but I had to say something. "How have you been, Hinata?"

"Well, I've been pretty tired."

"Yeah, I can see that. Hey, there's a bench we can sit on, okay?" Hinata looked at me and nodded.

Hinata and I began to speak at the same time. "Naruto-kun-" "Hinata-"

"Wait, you go first!" we said in unison.

"Hinata, you start."

"Ooo-ookay, Naruto-kun..." She kept wringing her hands and looking down, like she didn't want to make eye contact with me.

"Naruto, I-I-I...I'm so sorry for all the trouble I caused you!" she burst out. Then, she put her head in her hands and began to weep. Oh no, what do I do?!

I took her hand. "Hinata...I just wanted to thank you. And say...I'm sorry too, okay? I didn't want to put anyone in danger...I didn't want anyone to get hurt because of me...and you got hurt...because I was too reckless."

She looked up at me, somehow more determined or something than usual. "Naruto-kun, I have no regrets about helping you. My only regret is that watching Pain hurt me caused YOU pain in turn. I honestly didn't expect to survive."

Now it was my turn to get emotional. "Hinata-chan...I don't want you to die, okay? Please, don't put yourself in harm's way. I care about you. I don't want to lose you that way."

I don't understand this feeling of pain and tightness in my chest. "Hinata, I want you to be safe, always. The Akatsuki are after me. Let me be the one to protect the village, and you."

She looked up at me with tears in her eyes, and I couldn't stand it anymore. I reached out and gave her a hug. She smells amazing. I blushed a little, hoping Hinata wouldn't notice. I stepped back to look at her. "Hinata, I appreciate you. Please don't trouble yourself any further, okay? Can we...just forget the whole thing? Be just you and me again?"

"Okay, Naruto-kun." And she smiled at me, for the first time in a long time.