Chapter 4 Yay, And finally some more naruhina
Its really annoying that naruto and hinata haven't seen each other yet. Theres no way naruto would ignore such a sacrifice and confession. Something us hina have been waiting for. And it couldn't have been any more awesome
Wasn't hinata like the best cookie ever! All extra Bold and Beautiful- which by the way finally won for best soap at this years Daytime Emmy Awards. I'm a huge soap opera fiend and keep tabs on all of them. Though my favorite has to be General Hospital. Carly Carinthos is one bad chick. But I heard a terrible rumor that ABC is going to cancel One Life To Live in a year. I love that one...Its got all the black people.
Haha what can I say. Yay for diversity!:)
anywho, either he's avoiding her or she's avoiding him but the following is my own little spin on the matter. I'll probably go over it in like a week or so since it reads just a little sappy. I'm trying to make this work for them. But this story is all about progress for me and learning so I will hopefully get better as I go.
Again, This is designed around reoccurring themes. Anywhere from repeated lines to similar situations and experiences. Its loosely a concept piece so bear with me and enjoy^^
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
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Summary: Cuz in the end, I'd thought they'd all be standing.
Chapter 4- Nocturnal Wistfulness
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"Hold fast to Dreams"
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'Though you were stronger than all others- I knew your weakness
I watched over you on those nights when your scars seemed overpowering'
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His father had told him that this could be rebuilt.
His father had said that he'd given him the power of the fox for a reason.
But standing in the make recovery hearing the moans and groans, watching as dozens of shinobi carried limp bodies off to an impromptu morgue he really didn't think it was going to change anything.
His heart felt heavy. His body was beyond tired. For the very first time he just wanted to give up. He thought it quite ironic that the Hyuuga compound had only slightly damaged. They built the infirmary within the wing of what was technically the branch family quarters. This was where many of the wounded were now resting. He didn't say anything to anyone as he made his way through the mass of people.
Some looked at him in shock, some with so much frigging hope and gratefulness he felt sick. A few in hatred. He preferred those. He deserved those nasty heated glances. But mostly he made his way through uninterrupted. Everyone adsorbed in their task and thoughts. He had already informed Tsunade about what happened with Pein, about meeting his father and Madara.
He wished someone would interrupt him though. Give him somewhere else that he needed to be. He wished he was still fighting Pein anything that would put this off. He didn't want to listen to the ringing in his head anymore. Naruto didn't want to feel sorry or forgiveness for Nagato. Naruto didn't want to think about Kakashi and he didn't want to push away the precious people he had left.
He was beyond exhausted but if he focused make out her chakra signature.
Hinata
He stopped walking and hung his head.
She had appeared out of no where. The sight of her leaping down between him and Pein was a still picture in his mind. Her words replaying in a never ending stream.
'chasing you, over take you, walk with you, be with you,
I almost went the wrong way, your smile saved me.
He had never been so hopeless, pinned forced to do nothing as Pein tried to kill her. All at once his heart had jumped in his chest and everything exploded.
He knew that sooner or later it would have. The sight of his village nothing but dust, his Sensai dead, Tsunade about to be stuck- moved him to a cold steel like focus to defeat the Akatsuki leader. But actually watching her fall?
The Third, Jaraiya, and Kakashi, Garra even Asuma for all of them he'd been absent or too far away to even attempt to protect them. Too far away to prove to them that he was willing to give his very breathe to keep them here, alive and safe. But to actually watch someone he cared for, a someone who loved him die mere steps away... He wasn't that strong.
But he was cruel. To her. For all of these years. So so oblivious, and even once he stated to sense something, what had he done? He could claim ignorance to everyone else but he knew his own truths. These last couple of months something had started to happen to him, to them. When he was with her, how she looked at him but he had kept it at a distance. Too caught up in his anger, transfixed by the growing urge to give in to that dark knot in chest, the tainted blackness of his mind that it had actually been easier to be angry with her than to acknowledge that something between them was changing.
Naruto recalled the way she had shied away, no cringed away from him. He had quite possibly said thy single most terrible thing he could ever say to her. It was so untrue.
Your smile saved me
Knowing that made what he'd done all the more terrible.
He's had avoided her so diligently afterward. And if it wasn't for accidentally happening upon her twice, even now his angry words would have been the last thing he'd given her before she had very nearly given up her life for his. But the sight of her bruised and despondent had stunned him. He held onto her while she cried. He wanted to. He didn't let her go even when she fell into an exhausted sleep. Naruto remembered how Hinata felt in his arms as he carried her back here. He didn't wake her but he had no desire for her to be punished for not returning home. It has been a surprised Neji who had discreetly pointed him the way to her room.
The last time he stood here weeks before his feelings had been jumbled and excessive. He wanted to stay with her, wake her before he left. Hell, he wanted to rip down the walls of the silent compound, kill her father and take her with him. She was sweet and good. How could you hurt someone like that.
'yeah he thought how could you'
Naruto opened the door to her bedroom slowly. She rested in a bed against the wall just under a cracked window. She was propped up, with a mountain of pillows under her head. Her dark hair was spread out, face tilted towards him. The only light in the room was what streamed through the splintered glass falling on her face and bed, framing her.
'I'm not scared to die for you'
As he closed the door softly her lashes fluttered, slivers of translucent lavender visible before her eyes opened completely to stare at him. He watched them focus then deepen at finding him simply standing watching her. A slow red flush rising to her cheeks.
'because I love you'
All his life he had wanted someone to say the things she said. It made so much sense didn't it, the blushes, the fainting. Her motivation to get stronger had been him.
Why Kami had he realized earlier. How? She was-
"N-naruto-kun," she whispered.
He stood there a moment more really just so he could look at her. He knew that right now he could go to her, fall into her and she'd hold on and never let go. If he wanted to cry she wouldn't judge him, if he told her everything that was in him, he knew she would be the one person to understand all of it.
He walked forward but stopped a few feet from her bed. She was too pale and he wished he could wipe the worry and apprehension from her brow but he stood where he was.
"How do you feel?" he asked voice low.
"Jus-just a l-little tired, Naruto-kun," she said softy.
Hinata was taken back. It took her a moment to gather her composure. It seemed like but a moment ago she had her back to him. Trying to protect him ... confessing to him. He was staring at her so...
"Are you going to be alright." his voice was rough concern.
"Sakura s-said I j just ne-need to rest and heal." It was slightly difficult for her to talk. Her throat was dry, everything felt sluggish and he kept staring at her.
"They told me what you did. That you saved me from Pein."
Everything around her and in her froze for a long intelligible second. 'They told him...'
"I don't remember...before I ...during the fight don't really know what happened ...but they said that if you hadn't t come I'd be dead," He said eyes intent upon hers. "That you, you really stood up to him and saved me."
He could so see the warmth in her eyes, the slight confusion, the tempered disappointment.
"You saved my life life Hinata."
She bite her lip to keep from loosing herself. His eyes were focused and intense. Hinata felt her self falling way.
"Y-You don't have-
"You are not a coward."
Her eyes widened.
"When I said that I was wrong."
"Nani you don't have to apologize Naruto-kun."
"Yes. Yes I do Hinata. You are one of the strongest people I know. You have never been a coward. And for you to stand against Pein, for me," He shook his head. "I am beyond grateful."
She was past needing to faint. The air felt charged. It would be impossible for her to do anything but keep attention to him. To think past his eyes. She was sure she had never looked at him for so long, certainly not when he'd been aware. She didn't know what to think, she was humbled, relieved yet...
She broke the connection and turned to look out the window.
...yet she was terribly sad.
Everything was still, all of the frenzy and chaos of the day now quiet. Midori-chan was high, illuminating the damaged buildings and long stretches of rocky ground where some type of structure should have stood. She stared at her until she could see her own eyes reflecting back. She was full tonight. The first one since that night weeks ago when he had held her for the very first time.
She remembered how his arms had felt around her, pressing her close. His scent heady, his heart's rhythm under her ear lulling her to sleep. She thought about how he'd appeared in the village out of nowhere. The way he stepped in front of Lady Tsunade and stuck down Pein's clone, his strength and his fury. The hope and pride that had burned though her at how he faced off with him.
and the fear when he began to struggle.
The way he looked at her was intense, penetrating and yet laced of sadness and guilt. She didn't want him to feel responsible for her. It had been her choice. And she knew that the slight relief she felt was inappropriate. Today she had discovered something powerful and intangible; she cared for him far more deeply than she ever thought she could. She couldn't, wouldn't be scared any longer.
She closed her eyes and exhaled.
"Even knowing the risks," she admitted softly, "I would do it again."
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-" but it was very foolish."
When Hinata brought her head back up, her shocked face clashed into his hard expression
"Pein could have killed you." He said firmly, voice chipped. "It was beyond reckless to interfere."
Hinata simply stared at him tears rising in her eyes. Unlike the time when he had spoke to her in anger this time there was reprimand and disapproval. He couldn't know that from him this was worse. To hear him sound so much like her father hurt her.
'Get out of here its dangerous/ Your no match'
"I'm sorry," she whispered. Her eyes were big, silvery liquid gathering around her lashes. "B-but I couldn't wat-tch that man hurt you. You shouldn't have to face the Akatsuki alone! I wanted...I- I wanted to be there for you," her voice broke and she finished in a rushed small voice," like you've always been there for me."
Naruto swallowed as a single tear slid from her eyes. "You were," he said quietly. "If it wasn't for you I woulnd't even-. He shook his head. "But that was my battle to fight."
He didn't know what else to say to her. His knuckles were white with tension. He couldn't do this. It wasn't fair. He had to leave. Naruto turned on his heal ready to flee.
"Naruto please wait," Hinata cried.
He only half turned towards her facing the wall, his shoulders stiff.
Hinata's hands were shaking and she felt faint but still she pulled back the sheets and slowly stood from the bed. Her body was exhausted and her chest hurt from puncture of Pein's chakra rod. And despite healing the wound continued to throb.
"Hinata, you shouldn't get up," Naruto warned taking a step back towards her.
She shook her head and used the head broad to hold herself up.
Naruto stood stiff. He was shamed that he was suddenly aware of her. She only wore a sleeveless dressing gown. Her legs were slim, lightly toned, her arms graceful. Her high chest rising and falling with slightly labored breathe as she inched over to the desk next to the bed. When she turned back to him arm held out, the first Hokage's necklace dangled from her fingers.
Naruto's hand reached up instinctively reaching out for what should have been around his neck. He vaguely remembered wanting to tear aware any restraints after watching Pein bring the bloody rod up for him to see.
"How -
"I couldn't leave it laying there."
Naruto wasn't prepared for this. The sight of her, dark hair framing her smooth features. The flushed skin and pale gaze, the death necklace swaying gently from her fingertips.
Everything that he'd always wanted.
'I was always chasing you/ because I love you'
He stepped close to her and reached out. Naruto's fingers brushed against the gem, the skin of her hand felt the familiar subtle energy of them both when the stone caught the moon light and from within the turquoise gem he could see himself.
Tired, terribly young and beaten. This was him. Naruto Uzumaki. A child of prophecy, the son of the 4th... He didn't look impressive.
He dropped his hand. "I can't accept that," he said finally.
Hinata only stared at him as his shoulders relaxed and his face smoothed.
"Naruto?"
He shook his head again.
"Keep it," he said almost nonchalantly, turning for the door. He stopped and looked over his shoulder at her. Eyes hard, voice remote and distant.
"I'm grateful for what you did Hinata but please don't ever interfere like that again."
She flinched when the door clicked firmly shut and could only stand there trembling. The necklace clutched tight in her fist.
'Look what they've done to him' she thought as tears slid down her face. She told her self that it wasn't important that he told her that didn't remember what she'd said proir to attacking pein. But Hinata couldn't accept the defeated look in his eyes. Just that quick her golden haired boy wasn't the one that she knew.
"Oh, Naruto." she whispered breathing heavier. This pain in her chest was too much. Her heart, her wound.
She didn't know what she expected but it wasn't this.
For one moment Hinata had been truly brave. She'd pushed her own fears aside and lept forward. What she'd done had not been for herself. It hurt to think that she wouldn't ever see him again but that boy, her feelings for him were too strong and Naruto was the Hokage this village would needed to face down the Akatsuki and any like them who would eventually take their place.
It was not been something she could do; To sit by and watch him fight alone. It had killed her to see him begin to struggle.
Sakura's induced sleep ment to heal wasn't restful.
Over and over she would watch Pein stalk to Naruto after stabbing her. Raising his hand rod at the ready. It would start with the Akatsuki leader's emotionless face as she charged him. Only to lay where she'd fallen as he turned back to Naruto. Thinking about it made her chest throb. She grabbed at it, staggering into the desk. Hinata drew her hand away to see it covered in blood.
Her wound was bleeding again.
Silently, slowly, droplets of tears splashed onto her palm, causing the red stains that covered her hand to swirl gently.
She deserved this pain though didn't she.
As the dream had begun to repeat it self suddenly a warmth had stole over her. Even before she'd open her eyes she knew that Naruto had done thy impossible.
But one look at him lay the truth.
It didn't matter if Pein was defeated. He had still won. Naruto looked like something in him had died. He looked at the necklace, his dream with such a tragic expression that broke her heart. She dropped her head against the wall in despair.
This village was supposed to protect him!
Instead they failed him... she had failed him.
Hinata's vision swam and she stumbled again, but was already unconscious when she hit the floor, the necklace rolling from her hand, forgotten.
He stood in front of the door for a moment trembling, his fist still tight on the knob.
He'd done the right thing. Repeating the mantra he walked slowly away from Hinata's room but stopped short at the figures a few paces away in the hall.
Sakura and Neji.
Sakura's eyes damp and disappointed. But it was Neji who had his attention. His mouth was tight, pale features were cold.
The moment stretched out, silent until a muffled thump sounded behind them.
Naruto thought about Hinata hardly steady holding onto the head board he and rushed back towards her room.
Instead he found him self slammed into the wall.
"No! You've done enough damage," Neji barked at him, tightening his fist in Naruto's tattered shirt forcing him to meet his angry face. To meet his flushed skin and slight red center of his eyes. Eyes that he was responsible for.
"Stop it," Sakura cried behind them torn between stepping in and rushing to Hinata. "Neji let him go."
"I won't kill him." Neji snapped over his shoulder.
Naruto nodded. "Go to her."
She hesitated before hurrying into Hinata's room. Neji met Naruto's eyes again. "Yet," he hissed.
"After all that she has given," He seethed. "I thought...I thought you were better than this Uzumaki." Neji glowered at him.
'Better' Naruto thought. No, he had just been too stupid to understand. He adverted his gaze from the taller boy.
"Ugh," Neji sneered pushing away from him after a moment. "To think that I once believed in you."
Naruto flinched at the words and Neji turned away giving him his back. His voice was frigid. "If you go near Hinata again, hurt her again I think I really will kill you."
Naruto watched him disappeared back into the room and stood rigidly, listening to the muffled questions and ensuing assurances before turning away.
Yes, Sakura would could heal her body because Naruto had dealt the real damage.
His eyes filled with hot tears. He really was nothing more than a demon who would in the end destroy everything he touched.
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And so he ran.
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Out of the chipped and rocky Hyuuga compound and away from Neji's eyes. Past the morgue and Kakashi, past dozens of people and their calls for him to stop, come back, whats wrong. He ran away from all the people he couldn't help, from all his empty promises all his thoughts he ran from Jaraiya and his father, from Hinata.
He fled, speeding through miles of grounded rock and rumbles. The night wind was icy against his damp face and he didn't care what he what direction he was going, just ran away...
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and right into Sasuke.
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The world started to burn.
Chapter5 coming soon...
at least I think so
the 2nd quote is from Mr. Deja Vu By Naja From the Anime Getbackers. I can't believe how much i liked that series. Lots of memgorable characters and the 1st set opening and ending themes really grew on me.
and i was really torn between two quotes so being so awesome i used both^^
And the 1st is from the Langston Huges poem "Dreams"
Hold fast to dreams
for if dreams die
Life is a broken winged bird
that cannot fly
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow
I felt like both held meaning for naruto and hinata. And I love it when you hear something and it just seems to fit.
Naruhina has such a devoted fan base because there is something so beautiful about them, their both strong, and enduring, heartffelt and just good people. sigh,can't wait for kishi to give us their next moment together. And I hope this does them justice. I think i'll cry if i butered them:(
