STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIED

Summary: Sasuke have sworn off love forever. He vowed never to let another girl get close enough to hurt him except for Hinata. He and Hinata make the perfect non- couple. He even helped her to get noticed by Naruto. But when Hinata's gentle touch begins to make him blush, things gets complicated. Is being 'just friends' enough anymore?

Suddenly Loving You

By: Magayon

Chapter 7

Sasuke watched Hinata carefully as she washed the dishes. He looked at her face to find some traces of what had happened to her when she disappeared but still all he could see was her angelic face, as if there was nothing bothering her. He is sometimes jealous of her because she could hide what she feels. Sasuke knew that all girls are 'emotional' but Hinata was not that emotional as he expected her to be. When he and Sakura were still together, Sakura would have her mood swings. Sometimes she would cry over a death of a bird or she was overly happy when he's give her flowers. But Hinata is different. She just smiles and says thank you every time a person had done something good. She didn't even laugh out loud like other girls do. She's just simple and timid.

"Sasuke…" Hinata said as she takes a closer look at Sasuke's face.

Sasuke raised his head and was about to fall from his chair when she saw Hinata's face too close to his.

"What the"

"It seems you have something in your mind. Do you have a problem?" she asked, still not moving from her position.

"Nothing" he said and cleared his throat. "Will you step aside? I don't want you standing too close to me." He looked away from her feeling heat crept across his face.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She said and stepped back. "I was asking a while ago if you could accompany me later but I guess you're not interested."

Sasuke looked back at her and noticed her disappointment. "Where are you going anyway" he suddenly asked.

"At the festival. Today is the Moonlight Festival."

Moonlight Festival. How could he forget this event? This is the first festival that he and Sakura had gone to as lovers. They were so happy back then. He even had won her a teddy bear on one of the booths. They also watched the full moon together. The elders said that if you watch the full moon together with your loved one then you'll be with you love forever but Sasuke could prove them wrong.

"I don't think I can accompany you." Sasuke stated and walked inside his bedroom, leaving Hinata dumbfounded.

"What's wrong with him…" Hinata asked herself as she walked her way home. She was still bothered on how Sasuke looked like when she mentioned the Moonlight Festival. She was thinking of Sasule was angry because she asked him to accompany her. He might think she was planning something. Hinata sighed at the thought. She wants Sasuke to be back to himself again. It makes her sad when someone is lonely. She knows how it feels and it's not healthy also.
Hinata wore a lavender kimono with a big flower printed on it while Hanabi wore a pink kimono with butterflies printed on it as well. Neji on the other hand wore his usual clothing. He just decided to accompany his cousins to the festival. It is good if the girls have a male companion if something unexpected things happen to them.

The three went to the festival that night. Hanabi had her goldfishes and Hinata had her cotton candy while sadly for Neji, he was left with only coins inside his pockets.

"Hey! Are we not going home yet?" Neji called as the two walked in front of him.

"The night is still young. We want to have fun, Neji-niisan." Hanabi said as she ran towards a booth.

Neji sighed. He'll be running out of money if his cousins continue pointing the things the want, especially Hanabi.

"I'm sorry Neji-niisan if I dragged you here." Hinata said. "But I'm really thankful that you agreed to accompany us. I have asked Sasuke earlier but I think he's not in the mood on going to places like this."

"You mean Uchiha Sasuke? You asked him to come here with you?" Neji asked in disbelief. His cousin asked Sasuke to accompany her to the festival? Hinata must be sick or something.

"Yes, I've asked him but he refused."

Neji's brow knitted. "What is going on between the two of you anyway?" he couldn't help to ask.

"Umm…" Hinata thought for a moment. "We're close on being friends, I guess." She said innocently. "He's just too moody sometimes."

"But you're not…" Neji stopped and looked at Hinata meaningfully as if he wanted to tell her that whether she's in love with Sasuke or not.

Hinata nodded as a sign that she got what he meant. "I'm not in love with him."

Neji sighed in relief as he heard her answer. "Thank God you're not."

"Neji-niisan," Hanabi suddenly appeared and held onto Neji's hand. "I want some balloons." She said, pointing at the colorful balloons nearby.

"What?" Neji pretended that he didn't hear her.

"Balloons! I want some balloons, Neji-niisan!" she exclaimed and dragged Neji towards the booth with all her might.

"Do you think I'm rich, Hanabi? Now I'm telling you, I'm not." Neji said as he let the little girl drag him in defeat.

Hinata smiled at the scene her sister and cousin were making. She thinks it's cute.

"I think Neji is being robbed by your sister. Poor guy." A male voice suddenly said.

Hinata glanced to where the voice was and she instantly blushed when she saw who it was.

"N… Naruto." She muttered.

"Hi!" Naruto greeted with his distinct grin plastered on his face. "You also came, huh? I'm with Kiba and Shikamaru earlier but I think I lost them." He said taking a glance at everywhere. "Have you ever, by chance have seen them?"

Hinata shook her head, still blushing because of Naruto. "Nope… If you want I'll help you find them." She suddenly said, hoping that Naruto would accept her offer.

"Are you sure? How about them?" he asked pointing at Hanabi and Neji who were busy arguing.

"T…They can go by themselves…" she answered.

"O…Ok."

It had been an hour since Naruto and Hinata start looking for Kiba and Shikamaru but still there was no sign of the two. They have searched every single booth they have passed by but no Kiba or Shikamaru can be found.

"I wonder where those two went…" Naruto said a bit annoyed because he could not find his companion.

Hinata, on the other hand was so happy about what was happening and just wish that they could not find Kiba and Shikamaru. She always dreamed on what was the feeling of being with Naruto in a place like this. It makes her smile now that she knows it. She is overly happy and wants to jump for joy if she could do it.

"Do you think they have gone home?" the blonde boy suddenly asked.

"I don't know. Maybe not." She replied.

Suddenly a loud beat of a drum echoed the whole place. It was the sign that the moon would at be its most beautiful at that hour. The people around them began to find a good place to watch the moon and also there will be fireworks after.

"Come," Naruto pulled Hinata. "I know a place where we can have a good view at the moon." He said.

Hinata felt she was in heaven when Naruto held her hand and wished that moment would last forever.

"So, what do you think?" Naruto asked as they had arrived at the place he was telling to her. "It's beautiful, isn't?"

The raven haired girl nodded. This is the first time she reached this part of Konoha. She never knew that this kind of place existed here. They were in the river bank and there were fireflies flying around to light the place. It is so beautiful.

"Kakashi-sensei told me about this place." Naruto stated.

Hinata looked up the sky. "I could see the moon. It's so beautiful." She said.

"Yeah, sometimes I wished I could go to the moon." Naruto said and chuckled.

A few moments later, fireworks could be seen in the sky. There were different kinds of shapes like flowers, stars and hearts. Hinata could say that this is the happiest night she ever had. She has Naruto beside her and they were in a beautiful place like this.

"I wish I could bring Sakura here." Naruto suddenly said that shattered Hinata's fantasy. "Now, that Sasuke and Sakura are have broken up, I guess it's my time to declare my love to her." He said. His eyes were full of hope as he looked at the sky.

Hinata stared at Naruto and wanted to cry in that very moment. Naruto still liked Sakura all this time. She felt her heart sank through her stomach. Sakura has always been in Naruto's heart and it did not change even if Sakura became Sasuke's girlfriend and now Kakashi's secret lover. She wanted to say to Naruto that Kakashi already have Sakura but she couldn't. She knew she could ruin Kakashi and Sakura's reputation. She did not want to betray them even if it means losing Naruto.

"I guess… she'll be happy if you could bring her here." She said and forced a smile.

"Really?" Naruto said happily. "Um… shall we continue finding Kiba and Shikamaru?"

"You may go first." Hinata sadly said. "I still want to watch the fireworks."

"Oh, ok. I'll also look for Sakura also. Bye!" the blonde boy bid and went his way.

"So, he still likes her?" Hinata said to herself. "Why can't it be me?" she slowly sat on the rocky ground and wrapped her arms around her.

He had seen it all. He had heard it also. He had been there before they had arrived and had witness everything. Naruto had hurt her unintentionally. He pitied Hinata. He knew how it felt. He always thought she was not that emotional but he was wrong. He should not be jealous of her. A girl like her should be loved. She is lonely. Lonely like him.

He jumped down at the tree where he was sitting and walked towards her. Something in his mind wanted to console her.

He sat next to her, looking straight at her form. He guessed she did not notice his arrival.

"You can cry as loud as you like. Nobody will hear you here." He said.

Hinata raised her head and looked at the guy beside her. "It hurts here." She muttered, placing her one hand over her chest.

The guy placed his hand on her head. "It will be gone soon. Don't worry."

She smiled and tears began to fall from her eyes. "It really hurts!" she said letting out loud sobs which she could not even control.

To be continued…

Thanks for reading. Please don't forget to review so I will know your comments about the story and my writing. I really want to know on how to improve my writing skills. Thanks again for reading. –Magayon…