Simplicity is Complexity
Chapter 12: Realizations.
Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. Who would want to own this crap?
AN: What irony this is! I hate Naruto the anime and manga, but I love making fan fictions out of their characters. Kind of makes me wish that Kishimoto would put some time and effort into his creations than wasting them pointlessly like a bunch of stupid mother fuckers. Well, it can't be helped if all he cares about is money, money, and more money. And so forth, my fellow readers, in the future if you wish to make an anime, or series, or manga, please do not follow Kishimoto's terrible example! Naruto, the anime and manga, turned from genius work to pure retarded.
I, of course, despise works of the stupid –especially when so many blind fools fail to see what dozens notice.
So, my friends, if you find my work to be at least decent, then I thank you so much! After watching Seed Destiny… I finally realized what the word shit meant, and it really wasn't pleasant. I endured 50 weeks of crap! I could've stopped at episode 20, but I didn't! OpForce had been a moron for a year!
Ah, sorry for the irrelevant trash talk. Please, go on ahead and read to your heart's content!
(At Party Room 2 that evening)
Today was weird the way it was, and dinner alone got it more awkward and strange. Never had I eaten under this unexplainable feeling of being farfetched, and I didn't like it one bit –not even for a second. Neji, Lee, and Shikamaru didn't dare to enter party room 2, which was the dinner and game room I booked for the entire night, as if they were going to be killed if they stayed any longer than necessary. In order to preserve their lives, the three sat at the far end of the room, which was at the corner and ate in absolute silence. They only spoke to the waitress when they wanted refills or more dishes. Other than that, I didn't hear a single word from them during the whole dinner.
I was sure that the inn workers found our group to be exceptionally strange. Not that I could blame them though, anyone would've thought the same way.
The women, however, were sitting on the main table as they ate, had great conversations, drank sake (whoever was age legal, of course, but Sakura and Ino drank regardless of the age restrictions), and a lot more. Long story short, they seemed to be having a great time with no signs that showed disappointment anytime soon.
Overall, that was a fortunate thing for my sake.
Tsunade and Shizune invited me to sit with them, since I was the only guy that they had no grudge against, but when they found out that I needed to feed Jiraiya in his current state, I couldn't help but coldsweat once I saw their deadly glare on my mentor. At first, I really believed that they were staring at me with those hateful eyes, but I relaxed by the tiniest bit once it was Jiraiya who they were targeting. Even so, that did not make me feel any easier. They seemed to be saying, 'It's your fault that Naruto can't enjoy himself', but no words came out. It wasn't needed, for I caught Tsunade's meaning as quickly as I noted it. After apologizing, I moved to another spot of the room and got my share of food to feed my disabled mentor.
I found no pleasure to be a servant, especially one that didn't get paid, yet who was going to help him after what he did earlier in the springs? He deserved no grace. I was grateful to whoever was nice enough to come help me take over, but the girls didn't deserve such boredom and dread. I switched my attention to the guys, and I frowned when I saw them sulk in their own little world. Or were they plotting some kind of conspiracy? Why should I have cared? As long as I played it safe, my popularity with the girls would survive -but not like it was such a big deal though.
"I want more shrimp, Naruto," called Jiraiya, moving his head towards the plate of shrimp in front of me. I turned my body to my right to look at his lying form with a face showing no emotion as I grabbed two shrimps and placed it in his mouth.
"You shouldn't eat that much seafood, you know," I said, taking a BBQ pork bun and chewed on it, "Your doctor did say that vegetables would do you good. Also, cut down on your sake."
"Speaking of sake, give me a cup!"
Jiraiya was impossible sometimes. "Don't have over two glasses, okay? Hey, can you sit up?"
"Can't you pour it in my mouth instead?"
"You are a demanding one, you know that? Besides, I don't want it to spill in your nose and eyes. You are better off sitting up."
"I guess you're right… hey, mind if you help me level up?" If I didn't, who would? As he tried his best to push himself off the floor, it gave me enough room to slip my hands under his back before pushing him to sit straight up. Jiraiya sure looked like a mummy in a way, but his clothes and bandages look too new to resemble a thirty five hundred year old artifact. "I love sake!"
"Just don't drink too much, okay?" My eyes nearly exploded in shock when I saw him serve himself a drink. "Wait! I thought you were disabled!"
"I got some of my strength back," he told me, chuckling in a carefree fashion, "Or maybe I am just passionate for my sake… so obsessed that no injury could stop me from tasting it." Passionate for alcohol… that was just plain crazy. Such insanity!
"Am I still needed or can I go?" I questioned, taking a piece of cooked salmon and placed into my fresh udon noodle bowl, "I would rather sit with Hinata or something than to sit with you. Watching paint peel is no exception."
"You would rather sit with Hinata-chan? Are you implying something now?"
"Weren't you trying to imply something instead?"
"No, of course not,"
"Really? I am saying nothing more than that,"
"You're lying,"
"I am so not," I retorted back, looking a little surprised at Jiraiya's persistence, "I am just saying accompanying someone else is a whole shit load better than hanging around you, moron." I quickly grabbed a handful of buns before I jammed it into his mouth without his permission or consent, "Look, I might've said Hinata, but you and I both know I could've said Sakura, Ino, Shizune, Tenten, and even that old lady. Any one of them is a million times better than you, if you want my honest opinion that is!" I smashed the second last piece of bread into his mouth, and it appeared that he was suffering badly when he could barely breathe.
Yes, sensei, you could die all you want for all I care.
My sense of morality usually surpassed my concealed darkness, but my ghetto side was telling me to make this mother fucker suffer.
I felt better just thinking about it with such confidence.
"Yamaro (stop), Naruto, yamaro!" he screamed. At least that was what I thought he said under all that struggling muffles. This was what I call music to my ears; someone suffering and had no power to retaliate. "Stop it!"
"Indulge yourself with this last piece of bread!" I declared with threat as I raised the last bun above my head. Jiraiya really wanted to scream but words could not come out due to the bread stuck in his mouth. He pitifully turned away when I was about to jam another one, but his fears did not go unnoticed by me. To add a small element of surprise, I smashed his wounded stomach with my fist than to choke him. As if an injury wasn't enough, I basically added salt on top of it for the additional, uncalled for effect. Although Jiraiya spat out all the bread from that prior attack, he immediately went unconscious afterwards –most likely from choking. Perhaps I should not have hit him that hard, but I couldn't change the past, nor did I really want to after taking such a pleasure in beating him.
"…" Words did not seem to form from my mentor's lips, and judging from his pulse at the neck he really fainted. This made it all better.
"Nuisance finally out of the way…" I murmured a little darkly, silently congratulating myself for this small success, in which was like claiming the crown of 'King of the World' in my eyes. And in a flash, I boasted with energy. "Hey, Neji!" That got the Hyuuga genius halt in his eating a bit too quickly. At first he didn't even turn my way. Was I someone to be afraid of? As his head finally faced mine, which was at least seven seconds after, I realized he was too scared to even take a glimpse over to the girls without sweating out a waterfall. "Um… are you okay?"
Neji took all the confidence he had and used it in his speech. "I'm… f-f-f-f-fine…"
This man really needs better lying skills….
"If you don't mind… yeah… can you take Jiraiya back upstairs for me?" Hearing that request, I saw both Shikamaru and Lee react –in a violent temper. They practically trampled over poor Neji and raced another to reach Jiraiya's body, which was almost like they wanted to keep him or something for a reason I did not know, nor want to find out. Neji, who had a minor setback, came attacking at me. Not directly at me, of course, but yet I could not deny that he seemed kind of desperate…
To the least… more than ordinary…
"Let go, you fools!" hissed the Hyuuga genius to the other two male adolescents, in which almost practically incomprehensible as to why these people were friends to begin with. "Naruto asked me to do it! Learn your place and back off!"
For a bystander to witness this, it was undeniably overwhelming.
"You were just sitting the closest from him," Shikamaru yelled out a logic that had no rational facts whatsoever, "He would've asked me if I was sitting on your spot!" This was just getting out of hand alright… I had never seen them this ridiculous after living for fifteen years. And I thought I was the one insane and inhuman.
Whenever I thought I had hit bottom, somebody always threw me a shovel…
"Naruto-kun just called upon Neji to see if he's a good brother-in-law," Lee argued, and that made me fall anime style. "You know Naruto-kun likes Hinata-san, and he wants to know if Neji is going to be as helpful as Hinata-san wants him to be to test his loyalty! But Naruto-kun's friendship with me needs to start budding, and therefore I am the best person for the job!"
What in the fuck is Lee talking about? Don't speak such words in front of Hinata! And moreover, I never considered anyone as family.
"Naruto asked me to do it first and that is final!" yelled Neji, who began to drag Jiraiya away on his own.
"Oh hell, you are," said Shikamaru, jumping to the Hyuuga's rear, "I won't let you leave without a fight!"
"Neither will I," concurred Lee, taking a battle stance that was uniquely his.
Were they serious in engaging another in battle? Taking a look on it now, perhaps they were once they stood in complete solemnity. Hold on… this was a perfect time to look at their abilities. Gathering enough chakra to focus on my eyes, I quickly read them without them knowing that I had such ability.
The skill to scan was such an awesome advantage indeed.
Nara Shikamaru (Level 6):
Attack: 210; Agility: 70; Intelligence: 420
Rock Lee (Level 7):
Attack: 230; Agility: 460; Intelligence: 110
Hyuuga Neji (Level 8)
Attack: 470; Agility: 190; Intelligence: 240
I was a liar if I wasn't surprised at Neji's lack of speed compared to Hinata. There was a distinct difference that no one could ignore. I was beginning to understand how the Hyuuga style combat worked. Their variance from iron-fist style fighting not only differed in internal damage than outside damage, speed was another factor. When iron fist required the user to have amazing agility, gentle fist only needed quick reaction in punching and striking since they usually remained stationary. The only time agility became an issue was to dodge or attack, but never charging when they could play the defensive role better than offensive.
In short, Hinata's speed was an unbalanced method to her fighting style. I failed to understand why she could benefit from it, or rather, how was it useful? It gave her speed, but at the same time destroying her style of combat. In an utilitarian's point of view, was Hinata doing a smart thing? Was sacrificing strength for a great deal of speed a prudent, beneficial, worth-taking choice? I preferred to make an analysis out of this, but the previous scenario with the guys eliminated all sort of curiosity I had left. I was still star-struck, and which was not something to admire.
"You guys… why are you guys so willing to help me?"
"No reason! Because we want to, okay? You got a problem with that, Uzumaki?"
Uzumaki? When I recalled my memories, no one ever referred to me with a simple, plain, flat Uzumaki. It was new, yet not appreciated.
I didn't know what to say… what could be said anyway? They wanted to help so badly… but for what? Whatever could this small favour benefit them? No matter how hard I tried to focus on possible outcomes, I found none that was suffice. Not a single one made sense! At the same time, what in the hell were they thinking, hogging Jiraiya like that? Please, Kami-sama, He could not have made them… gay… right? I never imagined they had taste for older men…
Hold on a minute… something just occurred to me…
"You guys aren't doing this because… you are afraid of the girls… are you?" They totally freaked out right after I said that. Sure, it was half amusing, yet undeniably disgusting. I knew I struck the truth in less than an instant, and I didn't think that any more reminders were necessary. In the end, I played along nicely. "Sure… if you all want to help me… how could I say no, right? If it makes you all happier… then, yeah, help… yeah…"
Goddamn mother fuckers…
Their next reply almost destroyed any remnants of respect I had left for them. "We won't disappoint you!" In an extreme rush, those three grabbed onto my mentor, bowed a several times hurriedly (Neji bowing to me was a sight I never expected to witness with these two corrupted eyes of mine) and finally ran out of the party room leaving me and the women alone.
I stood there dumbfounded, and at the same time I had no energy to complain anymore. I was more than shocked. There I was, standing on the fine line of losing my sanity or keep the last, insignificant remnants of it. First of all… what the shit just happened? Secondly… that damn Rock Lee… how dare he blurt out something that wasn't true while Hinata was here? He was speaking as if Hinata and I were engaged, where in fact we weren't even a couple yet! That kind of false hope was one vital factor that I didn't want to spread because at this point I still did not know if I could love Hinata. I had no courage to turn around, for I found no reason to be here anymore. My appetite was not the only thing that was ruined… Never had I felt so embarrassed –humiliated even!
"You know, Naruto," I heard Tsunade calling to me from behind. "I should really promote you to assistant-Hokage soon."
That caught my attention. At least it was enough for me to turn around. "Assistant-Hokage? What do you mean by that?"
Tsunade laughed, but not a Merlin's Laugh though –thank goodness. "You know what I like without me needing to tell you. I like that in a person, and what makes it even better is how you take initiative to please me."
"In short, you can always get what you want from me, right?" The Hokage's temple developed an angry mark.
"You are making me sound like a greedy witch, Naruto!"
"It's not like you aren't… I've seen you gamble," The rest of the girls giggled at my comment simultaneously, and to a degree I found it fortunate. Tsunade's anger had no limits, so it seemed. "You crack me up."
Talk about a pointless conversation we were having… why was I here to endure this senseless crap? Going back to my room and sleep was more logical and more enjoyable than hanging around these people, and that was what I was going to do. My plan would have succeeded if someone didn't grab my arm and hugged it without a sense of letting go. This familiar touch was known to me all too well, I could not just forget it even if I wanted to. Hinata's touch was too special… too unique…
"Where are you going, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked, increasing her grip with her face not making any changes as she looked at me adorably.
"What do you mean? I am not going anywhere."
"Yes, you were,"
"What?"
"You were, Naruto-kun, you were. I know that you thought dinner was stupid and awkward, and Neji-ni-san's prior actions made you feel even worse than before. You can't wait to leave, and once you leave this room you will be at your freedom with no worries. But, Naruto-kun… everyone here wants you to stay, why would you want to leave and abandon us? I want you to stay especially."
Damn this woman… she read my mind! What was she, a telekinesis artisan?
"Sure…" Good god, did my brain have to die on me at such a critical moment? At times like this, best friends never went around dying on people!
"Come and sit down with the rest of us," she said, slowly guiding me back to an empty cushion seat –and that was next to hers, conveniently. I observed each woman, and damn they weren't making my life any easier. They were nodding, as if they agreed to Hinata's terms, and despite that I was welcomed, there was no way that I could not detect this uneasy feeling of being conspired against. But Hinata was so gentle… there shouldn't be a reason why she would plot something evil. No… that cuteness must have been a mask! Hinata was a manipulative, dangerous woman who had the skills to play around with my emotions when I barely had any.
I could not take her lightly, not even for a second… Hinata, in an extremely indirect fashion (that wasn't expected from any normal human being) made me understand what fear is really like -the real fright of seduction and affection.
In the end, I humbly obeyed not asking what was going on, since my intuitions kept telling me questioning this was more hazardous than being ignorant. And so I sat quietly, not daring to say a word when I watched everyone other than Hinata resuming their conversation and picking up food in the center with their chopsticks. Occasionally, Tsunade, or anyone else, called over to the workers to ask for more food. These ladies were cannibals who were never satisfied with what they have. Guinea pigs were a nicer way of referring to them, since they were animals that always ate more than they needed.
Despite that… their appetites were ridiculously large. I was surprised that they were still fit and charming–especially Tenten. They were growing teens after all… but Tsunade's puberty passed ages ago before I was born. And still she was indulging as if she was at a time where swallowing anything down wouldn't be a problem where her immune systems were at top notch. Unfortunately, such thoughts were a dream, since she wasn't going to get any younger.
As the only male around this table, there wasn't anything that didn't tell me that I didn't belong. I went along with this charade just because Hinata wanted me to be here for her, but didn't she sense that I was having some significant difficulty just trying to act normal? I was a quiet one, yes, but not to an extent where I felt like I didn't exist. Sakura and Ino, under Tsunade's unbelievable amount of influence, picked up drinking ten minutes ago, and it appeared that they were having a time of their life. Alcohol, adding Sakura and Ino into the equation, was not an answer worth risking.
What made it more outrageous was when they tried getting Tenten to have a taste. By that time, I could have cared less about the ordeal, since my chopsticks and my bowl of plain rice were the world to me. All my eyes were concerned were my chopsticks (which carried food) that brought into my mouth occasionally after a ten second cooldown. Those alcoholics, or soon turning to be alcoholics, could go fuck themselves for all I cared. Get drunk, be merry. Get pregnant after having sex with a woman, whatever! As long as I wasn't the cause of it, I was a happy man who could go six feet under without any worries worth regretting.
Nevertheless… those three were getting increasingly loud to a degree where simply ignoring them no longer worked. I silently looked at Tsunade… and she seemed to be too drunk to have any common sense left to stop blond flower woman and forehead girl from their harassment. Was I going to do something? Probably not…
"You shouldn't be eating just plain rice, Naruto-kun," I heard someone from my left talking to me when my mind was half conscious. Fortunately, I wasn't lost enough not to react. The only person beside me was Hinata, after all.
"What…"
"Here," she said, taking the liberty to snatch my now empty bowl away from me before she picked up a great deal of fried udon as a replacement, "You need to eat more."
"Are you fattening me?"
"I don't want Naruto-kun to get fat, but I know you haven't been eating. You were feeding Jiraiya-sama and not yourself. You don't want to go hungry, do you?"
"Well, no… but I don't have the appetite right now…"
"And let this buffet go to waste?"
"I didn't pay for it. Why would I care?"
"You didn't pick to have buffet out of vengeance, did you?"
"Perhaps,"
"You shouldn't waste food," she told me sternly, "Okaa-san and Otou-san said that plenty of countries are facing famine and here we were wasting food. That's a no-no, Naruto-kun. We will finish as much as possible, and I know you can eat the most amongst all of us." And without further adieu, she got another plate holding varieties of food and placed it in front of me. "I know Naruto-kun loves ramen and noodles. I hope you would like what I picked for you… please?"
It was not necessary for me to look down anymore, since the height of the servings reached to my eye level.
Are you trying to kill me, Hinata? How can I consume servings of two men's worth?
"I like it, yeah… but…"
She blinked innocently, along with a soft touch of majestic charm, in return. This woman… Curse her and her unspeakable cuteness. "But what, Naruto-kun?"
I sighed at the amount I received. Maybe sighing just didn't cut it. "It's too much though… I can't eat this…"
She smiled understandingly, and moving her hand over mine as she gave a small squeeze to be affectionate. I didn't know whether I should be allowing her to do this. Slowly, but noticeably, she was getting more ground on me. How should was so manipulative was no surprise, not when her gracefulness and sweetness smothered all her real intentions. Although I could not picture Hinata having any sort of dark, corruptive conspiracy or plans, that didn't mean that she wasn't having something up her sleeve. This woman, although weak but determined years ago, was now smart, wise, powerful, cunning, adorable, sweet, loving, and extremely manipulative. And it was clearly obvious that her firmness of mind was still burning more powerful than ever.
Absolutely everything that related to Hinata was hazardous to my well being in some ways.
If I had that knowledge buried deep in my head… why was I falling for it like a moron? But her smile… it always made me smile, too… Things that appeared simple were always complex. That was a factor of life that could not escape. In fact, if there were no difficulties, then we were not on earth but in heaven. Nothing was easy. Life itself was short, hard, and most importantly unfair.
"What are you doing?" I inquired, noticing how her smile got wider without me knowing.
"If you don't think you can finish quickly… we can always eat it slowly,"
"What do you mean 'we'? Who is this 'we' that you speak of so freely?"
"I can always feed you."
No… Not this again…
"Feed… me?"
"Why, yes, I would love to feed you."
No way in hell was I going to do something so un-dignifying with everyone here. Goddamn it, not even if I was alone with Hinata would I be that courageous to commit something this crazy. Sorry, I did not have that sort of guts that she wanted. "No, no, no, no, no, I can eat myself. I'll eat fast!" I immediately took my bowl of udon without having a second thought anywhere and chugged it down, in which was actually another method of suicide but I didn't care now. If I ever dared to permit my mind to imagine Hinata feeding me, I'd rather kill myself. Endearing as she might be, I was not prepared to face such a big step. Realistically speaking, I was nothing but a friend.
And friends didn't go around offering themselves to feed another friend as if it was nothing and okay.
I wasn't as lucky as the last time I ate this fast… not when I choked –hard. Hinata hurried to my aid out of kindness and love, but I forbade it for the sake of pride. Instead of accepting her assistance, I took a cup of sake, which belonged to Tsunade but not anymore obviously, and in a pathetic attempt I drank it down with an unlikely hope to crush through that blockade jammed in my throat.
People, don't EVER try that at home –because it will ruin your life.
Regardless if Kami-sama blessed me with a powerful throat or digestive system, I surely did not learn when I ate just as fast as before for the second time. As long as I didn't get Hinata needing to offer her time to feed me, I was a happy demon. I coughed enough though, not choked.
"Naruto-kun…"
"Nani-desuka?" I asked, finishing all the food she gave me earlier at long last. I felt like my body was going to suffer badly after this. In fact, it was getting increasingly difficult to speak. "Is something wrong?"
She shook her head, yet it lacked spirit. "Not really…"
Not having compassion was not the Hinata I knew. Therefore, I demanded an answer from her no matter what it took from me. "If you got something to tell me, say it. No point in concealing it in now is there? You should be real to yourself than to lie, Hinata-"
And she was sincere indeed. "You don't want me to feed you, right?"
What could I say? I could play tricks, or I could choose to be a gentleman who was not afraid of reality. Perhaps some honesty would do me some good. "It is noticeably disturbing, if you care to notice. We are not in a private area, and it does get a little embarrassing."
"What's the difference though?" she questioned back, full of innocence, as if nothing was wrong if we had our share of affection in front of the other women. Either Hinata trusted them too much, or she no longer cared about what people thought about her feelings. Although she was brave, the problem rested with me. I was too cowardly, and it made me sick just remembering it. "It's not like they don't know how I feel about you…"
"I guessed that much…"
She wrapped her arms around me before they rested softly to give an embrace. "I love you, Naruto-kun,"
"I know you do, I know,"
"Even if you don't love me just yet… I just want to be with you. Is that okay, Naruto-kun?"
As if I could reject such a request when she already cuddled herself around my chest to claim me, "Of course it's okay, Hinata," I said, moving my arm around her waist before I pulled her in slightly closer. Why was I such a hypocrite? She accepted it with glee when she giggled. No matter how many times I heard it, I didn't find it boring nor could I have such hatred towards her loveliness. Swiftly, yet gracefully, she rested her head on my chest with her velvety hands holding onto my shirt for security of some sort. I found her utmost endearing.
"I love Naruto-kun…"
"Ano, Hinata…"
"Nani?"
This may spoil the mood, but I found something more crucial that must be taken care of. "Should we… stop Sakura and Ino from killing Tenten? Tsunade and Shizune seem to be a little too out of it to make a difference to stop anything."
"There's no need to do that,"
"And why not? You want to see Tenten drunk, Hinata?"
"Tenten-nee-chan drank alcohol before, she's not a novice. She'll be fine. A cup or two won't hurt her. Besides… it's a happy day."
"I fail to see how the fact you girls got peeked at is a good thing. And another thing… I just saw Tenten being forced to drink five cups just now. Are you really confident that it's okay?"
I knew her expression changed drastically right after I asked that. Hinata had a beautiful pale, but lively enough skin, and despite that sickly white was not much of distinct contrast, I noticed it. Her aura altered considerably, too. "How many cups did you say Tenten-nee-chan drank?" Seeing her so desperate and serious, I found no reason to fool around with this subject, and perhaps I should keep my humour to a minimum.
"I said five or six,"
"Oh, no…" she murmured with concern. "This is bad, Naruto-kun!" She crawled out of our little bonding and rushed to Tenten's aid, in which the attractive brunette was on the ground unconscious. Even I grew worried, but at the same time, I had a very hard time not looking at her heaving chest, because it was nearly completely exposed due to the night robe opening out of rough movements and struggling. I saw her breasts clearly once, and somehow, despite my libido carrier, I wanted more and yearned to see it again.
No… what in Lucifer's hell was wrong with me? The girl was unconscious due to alcohol consumption here, and here I was being a perverted bastard while trying to take advantage of this situation. But that perfect bust size and shape was so hard to find amongst women… and miracles didn't come twice!
It was actually a work of Kami-sama that my face refrained from changing. In short, I was being pervert without them knowing, which was a splendid advantage that was only known to me alone! "Is she okay… what happened?"
"Tenten-nee-chan… she…" Hinata tried her hardest to communicate, but Sakura and Ino weren't much of a help when they wanted poor Hinata to drink too. As a result, the Hyuuga princess had no choice but to shove them away –in a violent way. "Once she drinks too much, she faints."
"Oh, really? At least she isn't like Lee…"
"We got to get her back upstairs so she could rest. Can you help me, Naruto-kun?" She already took the initiative to give a shoulder boost from underneath. In other words, I already had no choice but to give a hand. However, another problem stood out.
"And do we leave the rest of them here? I don't think having four drunks in here is wise, especially not with someone who is sane enough not to do anything stupid."
"We can't leave Tenten-nee-chan here like this,"
Even if I did not find her reasoning to suit my interest, what could I do to object? Helping was critical, and it matched Hinata's personality entirely. Nothing escaped her if someone was in need, and her heart could not take the guilt of abandoning the needy when she could do something about it. That was the kind Hinata I admired. Without further adieu, we aided Tenten back to bed while leaving the remaining four women alone. I prayed nothing bad would come out of this hasty decision of mine.
(Moments Later, outside the women's sleeping room)
Hinata already went inside for ten minutes now… I supposed it was a reasonable amount of time to take care of someone she cared about. If I was sick… it made me ponder what the Hyuuga princess would do to nurse me up again. Why bother wasting my efforts trying to picture a possible outcome when I clearly knew what would happen? Hinata could smother me alive at that rate! And therefore, I dedicated myself a pact: Never get sick.
At long last, she came back out, and also I found leaning on the wall while waiting to be senseless. "So, how is she?" I inquired, somewhat concerned over Tenten's health although I didn't know her well.
"She took a few pills and now she's fast asleep," Hinata said back, smiling sweetly.
"You packed intoxication medicines?"
"The hotel has it,"
"It's almost like they are planning for us to get drunk or something…"
"This place has condoms, too…"
"That should be obvious," Something was not right. "Wait, why did you say condoms first?"
"No… reason…" With that thick blush on her face, she was a bad liar indeed. She was up to something, I could almost smell it. This… wasn't good… I fell for another one of her traps. Once she started an attempt to hide her flushed cheeks, she implied something. Hinata usually just showed her cuteness than to conceal it, I knew that much from knowing her for a month. "Don't look at me like that, Naruto-kun… I'll get shy…"
At that instant, I picked up vigorous laughter in my brain. "Ahahahahahahahahaha! You crack me up, Naruto." Seconds later, my demonic master in her gorgeous humanoid form, appeared in the depths of my subconscious. Once again, she was barely wearing clothing. That short kimono barely covered her panties, if it did anything. And at the same time, the human realm I saw earlier gradually faded, and was replaced with a domain with pure darkness. The only things I could see in here were my body, and my demon master.
This was our spiritual focus, where no one else could enter.
"You… Anthris… What are you doing here?"
"Can't a master visit her favorite little apprentice?"
"You are beginning to act like a mom, Anthris,"
"Only to my adorable little Naruto,"
"Okay, what do you want from me? Sweet talking is your way to get something from others, so spill it."
"Why so harsh, Naruto? I was here trying to tell you something, you know,"
"What could that be? Oh, I don't know, I should use my tongue to make you orgasm next time because you are tired of my fingers?"
My demon master laughed out loud. Her fit of laughter always contained more than it seemed, yet it was pleasant to the ears. "I am not talking about that, silly, and hey, I love your fingers. And I bet someone else would love it, too. I love it even more when they get wet from my… you know…"
She could've just said it than leaving it hanging. "Oh, really? Like who? Only you are that insane to love something like that."
"All women would love it after feeling your magic. You make them really feel like a woman, like how you did to me."
I snorted, half rudely. "You practically demanded me to do it, or you would see me as an egotistical jerk."
"And you chose to please me? Oh, I am so happy!"
I merely gave her a look; a flat, boring one to be exact when I failed to gather the energy to be enthusiastic. "If I didn't, you'll keep bitching in my head to an extent where I cannot think nor do anything straight. If you can't get what you want under your endless seduction, you act like a brat about it. I know you a little too well, Anthris-sama."
She placed a finger to her lips cutely, and her voice matched her attitude, "Now you make me sound egotistical…"
"That's because you are," I stated, very bluntly without a need to make up trickery or lies, "We all are. Humans and demons are selfish, because they are born that way. However, you are excessively selfish, and that's what I like about you. You just do whatever you want without worries that resemble a natural risk taker. You have that kind of courage."
Anthris, to my surprise, became sympathetic, "You used to be like that, too… To be honest, Naruto, I missed that side of you. Ever since I revived you… you became different… but a lot more supportive emotionally. I love your kindness… but it's becoming so subtle that a normal person would not know how to appreciate it. In response to your change, not only were your true intentions well concealed, your view and actions in life shifted from downright obvious to surprisingly cunning where you came by the wind and left with it after."
"Yeah… I know…"
"But that's what I love so much about you!" she suddenly exclaimed with energy after all that seriousness. I, no doubt, jolted in a fashion that I almost fell. "My lovely Naruto in his secretive mask is such a loving person deep down. It makes any girl melt!"
Looks like the subject went back to square one… How… fantastic…
"If this is your way of persuading me to help you love yourself… then you can forget it. I had to replace the sheets last time because there was no way of washing most of the stains. It reeked of perfume of the most natural kind. Hinata almost saw it, too. Unlike normal human women, you demons have the stamina to keep going. Despite a whole night's worth of orgasms, which was at least fifty or eighty, you were able to handle more while you were wet from crotch down. You came so much that it was not safe for an aroused boy to sleep on the same bed. I don't want to sleep on the floor again, if you must know."
Anthris, my demon master, laughed once more at my ranting. Although she placed a kind, sensual touch in her laughs, this one was more than enough to make to my blood boil. "Oh, fine, you don't have to help me if you don't want to. But isn't there someone else that you would at least consider?"
I never found my master to be so unreadable. Perhaps today was the day. "What…?"
"You did want to know why Hinata-chan talked about condoms, right?"
My face immediately dripped with terror sweat. "Masaka… (Could it be) No… Impossible! This is happening too fast! Too fast goddamn it!"
She smiled, yes, but I saw nothing but evil in it. "Oh, looks like my cutie bug Naruto finally caught on! You aren't as dense as before. I am glad to be your master."
"Shut up!" I yelled out, completely out of my character, "You have no idea what this means, Kyuubi!"
"Anthris, Naruto, my name is Anthris," she corrected with mischief, "Would you like it if I called you Chibi-Human?"
I felt outraged, but not enough to take out my weapons and kill somebody. In reality, I already gathered chakra to summon my two-handed sword 'Destiny' (which is really the name of the sword I own in World of Warcraft) "I don't care what the shit you call me, Anthris. You just said Hinata wants to have sex with me! It's not funny, bitch!"
"Vixen, Naruto, vixen," my demon master corrected again with a giggle, moving her index finger from left to right and vice versa repeatedly. "Bitch means female dog, and I am a fox." As if that did anything to calm me down, and in fact, the situation became worse. "Oh… you are really angry, aren't you?"
"No shit, genius," I declared firmly, "She is in love with me, and now she is advancing by saying that she is willing to do it fully, too! How the hell am I supposed to react?"
"You could always just do it for her, you know, I bet Hinata-chan wants to get wet, too. And I mean real wet…" She left her statement hanging again, in which was a way for me to start fantasizing the outcomes. I was a wild imaginative man, but just not crazy enough to be constantly pondering about sex.
"No way," I answered flatly.
"Come on, Naruto," she urged on playfully, yet serious, "Make Hinata's panties so wet and stained that she has no choice but to get new ones because anyone who sees them will know she had multiples and multiples of orgasms."
"I said not in your life, old woman…"
"A thousand years for a demon is young, Naruto! I am not old!"
"You are considered an artifact in human years,"
"I hate it when you call me an artifact!"
That gave me a sinister idea. "Artifact bitch… that has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
"Vixen, Naruto, vixen!" Anthris screamed back, shaking her arms violently with mock anger, "And I am not an artifact! I am alive! I am young! I am not old!" This time around, I laughed. Not an evil one, but a real goodhearted laugh. My worries were temporarily forgotten, but it would come back to haunt me soon enough. Seriously now, I had not expressed myself like that for a long time. What happened to the old me anyway? Was he dead for good? Or could he only surface when I was under tremendous stress? Rather, was the one and only way he could rise was when I am in my subconscious mind? Why waste my efforts caring for someone that weak? He was the reason why I was killed before Anthris resurrected me. My old self was a frail weakling, and allowing that to come onto me again proved that my emotions were coming back despite I didn't want it to. Regardless of how important humane emotions were, I strongly preferred not to have too much of it to be lively.
"Whatever," I stated, coming back into my regular self, "What the hell am I supposed to do npw? Hinata wants to make love with me! I can't just pretend not to know, Anthris!"
My demon master gave her suggestion after a several seconds of wondering. "Play the ignorance game. Be like a dense moron. She can't do anything if you just don't know, right? You were a genius at being an idiot, Naruto." Was that supposed to make me like myself more? That was such an insult!
Damn you, you artifact bitch… I would get you someday… You sexy, old, evil, dark, delirious object of old age.
"That's not going to help," I replied, pretending that I wasn't affected by her witty comments. But I had an idea that she already knew long before hand. She wasn't my libido carrier for nothing, after all. "If I don't get the message, then she would tell me directly when we are in private. I can't pretend forever, Anthris."
"That girl changed quite a bit. Still timid, shy, and cute, but she grew sincere and bold." She made it sound like it was a good thing, where in reality was something much more dangerous than I first anticipated. Making the situation worse, Kyubbi had to compliment Hinata as if she was doing the right thing. No one had the right or position to judge Hinata's behaviour or sense of interest, but my safety was on the line and yet they neglected it with deliberation. I felt trapped with nowhere to go, like a powerless fool whose existence was to be manipulated and controlled by the stronger and influential.
"Is there anything you can do to help me?"
"Only if you make me feel like a woman," she ordered, "I itch with desire, Naruto,"
"No,"
"If that's how you want it, but you know you won't get any help from me then."
"Fine…" I agreed, completely powerless to complain. No matter how much pride Uzumaki Naruto had within him, there was no point in faking strength when everyone knew help was what could save my ass from falling into the pits of trouble and death. At least I was begging in front of Kyuubi and not anyone else. Besides, it wasn't like I was the one masturbating. I was just the helper.
"Great! I want to break the six hour record this time! I want to stain a larger bed!"
"I don't even know if I should smile with delight or kill myself…" I uttered to no one in particular, but her ears caught it as plain as day.
"What was that?"
"Nothing,"
"You should be honoured that you could touch me in any fashion that you want, Naruto. No other man will be allowed to do that other than you because I love you so much!" Sometime, I had to admit, Anthris acted like a little girl who wanted to be loved by somebody, anybody. I pitied her… maybe I loved her, too, but not romantically. She knew how I felt, but that didn't stop her from trying with undying persistence. Part of my old self must have rubbed off on her, and I could never be proud of that when my own 'creation' was used against me.
"Thanks… I think…"
"Be more intimate next time, okay? I am dying to have you touch me."
And then Anthris vanished from my mind, and my eyes engulfed in darkness for a moment before light came in once again. That perverted witch… I was overjoyed to have her gone when she did nothing but infest my mind with sex and more sex. How could she be aroused all the time? It was virtually impossible for a human. Possibly due to the fact that she was a demon, but demons had a conscience, too, and not one with lusts alone. Perhaps she was an exception, or Anthris was just too lonely of a girl who wanted someone for her no matter who it was. Unfortunately, I had to be the person to take on such a ridiculous role. I almost blamed her that my innocence vanquished in less than a day a year or two ago. In one masturbating session, I already knew what it took to make a girl happy if I ever made love. I knew how to please them in more than twenty ways.
Shocking, but believe it.
And now, despite a virgin, I was an artisan-masturbating partner. What a terrible title that was, yet that was who I was in private -at least when it came to Anthris and myself alone in a room. It was a miracle that I didn't lose myself to her seductiveness when most men would take her immediately once laying eyes upon a busty, gorgeous, sweet, sensual woman such as herself.
However, I had more problems to deal with when my vision returned to earthly existence.
(At that precise moment)
"Naruto-kun… I'm so glad you are awake…"
That was Hinata. Where in the hell was I? Did I fall asleep? I felt weak, unquestionably frail.
"Hinata… what happened?" I asked, groaning most of the way.
"You collapsed,"
"Collapsed?" That was humiliating to hear. How could I have collapsed? Out of what reason?
"You were exhausted, Naruto," she continued, stroking my hair and cheek lovingly during her talk involuntarily. I didn't fight it, because it felt right at that time. That was a common male problem, actually. Guys never put the past and future into consideration. All they were concerned was the present. As long as the issue seemed correct or satisfying at that time, then it was legitimate. For example, someone fell on the street and a guy came by and saw everything. He decides to laugh, and of course the victim would naturally be outraged. He asks, 'Why didn't you help me and laughed at my misfortune?' and the reply would be, 'Laughing seemed right at the time'.
It didn't matter whether it was right or wrong, since it wasn't a concern. Perhaps due to such ignorance and arrogance, this world was full of deadly corruption and avoidable mistakes.
"I was?"
"You were fast asleep after you fell… you were sleeping so… peacefully…"
"Peacefully?"
"As if you haven't had good sleep in a long time." She continued to touch me, not in the wrong areas of course, but in places that showed me that she really loved me for who I was. I didn't react much, to the least I didn't tell her to stop, and yet I didn't understand how she could fall in love with an artisan-masturbation helper. Not like she knew, and I never wanted her to discover it –ever. "Have you slept well?"
"I never had a good night's rest, Hinata," I told her, out of the blue. What in the shit was I doing telling her that fact? Words just come out whenever I was with… her! I wanted to stop, but my mouth continued to move on its own. "It's been like that ever since I was born."
Knowing Hinata, worries override everything else, and this time was no different. And at the same time, I used this brief moment to scan over my surroundings. It was no surprise when I feared where I was when I had no knowledge whatsoever in terms of my location. Sure, I was in a room, but definitely not my hotel room. This was when I started to pay attention to what Hinata was wearing. Surely enough, it wasn't the same skirt and tanktop she wore at dinner, but substituted with a translucent, smooth, short light blue nightgown that reached down inches above her knees (well, she was sitting next to me at the moment), and the bright colour outlined the dark colour lingerie she was wearing underneath.
A silky, stunning dark blue bra that seemed to be doing nothing but imprisoning her growing cleavage painfully, and a pair of matching panties that covered just enough not to get her arrested in public was more than suffice to get me aroused despite my master controlling my urges. Then again, something told me that she already abandoned her post to make me suffer further. Never would I have expected behind such a timid and sweet girl would possess such luscious undergarments and actually wear it!
Hinata knew her clothing caught my attention, and it was working as planned. For the first time, I quickly observed what I was wearing. Thank goodness I still had my long sleeved jacket and dark pair of pants that showed no skin. I didn't mind showing skin on the appropriate parts, yet there was a reason why I rarely wore short sleeved shirts, in which I could not reveal to Hinata so recklessly.
"Poor Naruto-kun," she whispered lovingly once more, stroking my cheek at first and then gradually grazing her fingertips lower down my neck before brushing over my Adam's apple. I swallowed almost promptly, extremely afraid to know what might happen to me if I remained still. I really wondered why I was still lying there… Did I like her touches that much?
Or maybe I loved it…
"Stop it, Hinata," I said in vain, because she clearly did not want to stop when she leaned in closer with admiring eyes glittering more brightly than the sun itself. Metaphorically, not literally. As she moved downward, I unintentionally stared down into her nightgown. Blood rushed into my cheeks when I noticed the size of her cleavage. They were much larger close up, and even more tempting compared to Tenten's since Hinata's breasts appeared large on her petite body. Luckily she had a bra on, but something told me that it would not be there sooner or later. It took everything I had (without Anthris) not to dive my head into that velvet silk and claim her breasts as my own rewarding treasure. If what Anthris said was true… then Hinata would not mind at all if I touched her in those forbidden spots. She didn't mind losing her virginity, then taking a feel of those mounds was child's play.
No… Self-control, Naruto, control!
"I won't," I heard her say, and my body froze altogether. She wouldn't stop? No… this couldn't be happening to me… why was I being molested by my only friend! Why, Kami-sama, why? "You need to be loved, Naruto-kun."
"I said I don't need it!"
"Yes, you do," she told me sternly but gentle at the same time, "You looked so sad when you were sleeping, Naruto-kun, I never saw anyone with this deep, bottomless pit of despair. I can't stand watching you like this when you deserve so much more. I love you, Naruto-kun… can't you see that my feelings are for real?"
"It's not necessary at this stage of the game, Hinata," I tried to move, but my arms did not budge despite my desperate panic. They were dead. The situation was from bad shifting to extremely awful, and I had no ability to stop this from happening. When I saw her gorgeous lavender eyes, I knew I could not escape this subject no matter how badly I wanted to. I needed more time to think about this, but Hinata kept attaching herself onto me like a leech without giving me space to consider my situation. Why did it end this way?
I was panicking the instant her fingers started to play with the waist strap that prevented her nightgown from opening. Was she seducing me, a helpless boy who wanted nothing but peace and quiet? I loved the life of no fear about my virginity constantly being threatened to be taken away! "Naruto-kun… do you love me?"
Good God, why this question again?
I believed that I lost it by then. Every trouble I had in my head whether forgotten or temporarily suppressed exploded all at once. "Do I love you? How can I love you? Do I know how to love you? You are asking something ridiculous from someone who knows nothing more but parental, or sibling love!"
"But you said that you and Rika might have made love the last time you met another. You know how to love then, Naruto-kun,"
"Oh, we don't love each other like how you love me, Hinata. But human emotions can sway more dangerously than you think. Rika does like me, and I like her, and we were raging adolescents who didn't know what was good or bad. All we cared about was 'at the moment' or 'it felt right', and we could've easily did it because it 'felt right' that time. Luckily, that damned sensei of mine showed up and our mood was ruined severely, but that also made a memorable memory."
"But I think Rika loves you though…" she said, looking a little worried about Rika's feelings towards me although I kept telling her that there was nothing to worry about.
"You speak such absurdity, Hinata," I said, "Rika and I are just good friends," Again with the doubtful look… She sure was an envious girl.
"It's really hard to believe that sometimes, Naruto-kun,"
"Perhaps you ponder too much," I told her out of good nature despite my current dilemma, "I would never think that you are cheating on me or would I ever feel jealous if you liked somebody."
"Because you don't love me, Naruto-kun," she replied, moving her head to play with my cheek, "How could you understand someone who has been waiting for you to return the same feeling she has over all these years?" I caught all the sorrow and grief she attempted to suppress. Overall, she did a good job, but perhaps I was too sharp at these things because I thought she leaked out too much already. Once people become too skilled, they started to expect a lot out of their passion, and even the slightest errors meant absolute failure.
A bit of grief soaked my voice this time when I took her hand and held it warmly, which caused her to blush a little faintly. Did anyone tell this girl how adorable when she flushed up? I wanted to be the first to tell her that, but this was not the most ideal time –especially not when the girl wanted to make love to me. "You really cared about me from the very beginning, haven't you, Hinata?"
The only response I got from her was a silent nod with her eyes closed. The Hyuuga princess was too sincere with her passion, and she didn't dare to do anything that might destroy this beautiful relationship she worked so hard to build up. As far as I was concerned, my relations with people never lasted long when I was the one who always ended it permanently by killing them. In a way, I was terrible socially. Ending someone's life was even worse than a breakup –at least that was what my conscience told me from time to time. Occasionally, however, killing seemed to be the better choice. Maybe I was just an excessively morbid guy who could not stay calm without seeing death.
"Ano… Hinata…"
"Yes?"
Little did I know, I turned this powerless scenario to my control. Hinata no longer appeared to be as seductive and sex-crazed as she was a few moments ago. Praise Kami-sama for blessing me the abilities to shift positions in power with my constant skills of BS! Damn, was I proud, but of course I could not afford to allow Hinata to discover what was happening in the depths of my mind. "Sometimes… I really wonder what I did to make you feel this way towards me. I am just an ordinary man with no talent but persistence. I don't do anything different from any other guy, yet you are attracted to me."
"I love you even more for not rejecting me, Naruto-kun," she said warmly.
"We aren't even together, how could I reject you?"
"Not that kind of rejection. When I said that I loved you although you don't share the same feelings as I do, you were still my friend… and you let me be with you despite that I was stepping over the boundaries of a friend. You were with me often, you talked to me, and you lighten up my day all the time. Naruto-kun, do you know how lovely you are to me? That's why I love you so much. I love you even more because of that."
I grinned somewhat weakly, or due to force, "Because I treat you kindly? That's a very… weak reason, Hinata,"
"I'm drawn to you no matter what you say, Naruto-kun," Hinata assured me, taking the time to lift me up to a sitting position before she embraced me with her head rested next to mine in the most effective affectionate fashion. "But I still want to know why you want me around."
Somehow, I was stuck in another dilemma. I looked over at my right hand, which was unoccupied, and wondered what I should do with it. I actually wanted to curse out loud the instant I decided to wrap my hand around her body, in which was not the most prudent move on my part. I had the 'it felt right' syndrome to blame. Was it me, or did humans altogether loved shifting blame on others? Was it the safety? Or was it because it was no different from lifting all the pressure and turmoil, but the catch was just shifting it to someone else in comparison to eliminating it for good.
"Kuso…"
"I can't hear you, Naruto-kun," she said, sweetly and lovingly as she pushed me back down on the bed and laid on top of me with her elbow supporting on my chest. "You have to speak up." I gave her a questioning look when she giggled. "I'm sorry, I never thought that I would be the one telling you to raise your voice. Naturally, you should be the one doing it for me."
"People change, I guess," I replied, "Besides, I don't need to tell some people to raise their voices like a moron when I could simply listen to them better. It's their nature to speak soft, and at the same time once you know the person better, I am sure that they will speak up instead of talking behind their thick timidity."
To my surprise, Hinata actually blushed at that comment. I wondered what ailed her to do it.
"Naruto-kun… you still haven't answered my question…"
"Oh, of course…" How was I supposed to answer something as tough as that? I didn't understand women sometimes. Why did it always have to be questions that either rewarded with a kiss, or a punch in the face? "The reason why I don't push you away although I know that you love me but I don't feel the same way… I suppose that's easy, Hinata,"
The Hyuuga girl was now impatient. Even when she was anxious Hinata was adorable –especially if she had a pout on her lips. "Oh, stop stalling and tell me, Naruto-kun."
"Fine, fine. How do I say this… I don't want your feelings to be one sided… and so… I want to love you… just like how you love me without expecting anything in return. I want to learn how to love you properly, Hinata… because I don't know right now… If I don't have the knowledge to do so… I rather not risk it and hurt you. Although I don't love you, unfortunately, but I do know one thing, and that is Hinata should never be sad or hurt by the people she cares about the most.
"Keeping that in mind, you can say that I am the most guilty amongst everyone. The one that you love most has not only not loved you back, but always made delays and postponing your feelings… I think I am quite despicable for doing that."
"That's not true!" she exclaimed despite herself. "You're not despicable, Naruto-kun. Don't ever think yourself as such. No, it's my fault. I pushed my feelings upon you, and then expected you to return it without your consent. I know that you needed time to think things over, but I can't help myself but to be curious all the time. I haven't been giving you any personal space to reconsider, and yet all I do is keep on pushing and pushing because I love you so much… and I can't bare to see Naruto-kun be with another woman… I know that I've been in your way…"
"No, not at all, Hinata,"
"Naruto-kun, you are so kind to me… and that's what makes me love you even more. I know that you don't enjoy my presence like you say you do, but you say it nonetheless because you don't want to hurt me. Naruto-kun, in my eyes, your loveliness has no limits. You are like… a drug…"
That got me interested. In addition, never would I have thought that I was a stimulation for anyone –other than Anthris, but I didn't make her count. "Drug? Like something to be addicted to? I don't understand… how am I such a person?"
"I don't want to explain anymore," Hinata told me, as she silently wept happily before she fell onto me completely. Needless to say, with her head next to mine, breasts touching my chest, and legs nearly entangled, we weren't in the most innocent position. How I wanted to break free without breaking our moment. I felt my cheeks burn when her arms snaked around my frame, pulling me into a deep, passionate embrace. "I just want Naruto-kun to love me. I don't care how long it takes for you to realize it… but I want the girl you love to be me in the end."
I smiled regardless of our circumstances. "I really don't think it would be anyone else, Hinata,"
Having some reassurance of my feelings, Hinata knew that she should change the subject a little. "Naruto-kun… what do you want to do tomorrow?"
"Together, you mean?"
"Preferably, of course," Hinata chirped happily.
"We could always go hang out at the town nearby… but I got a feeling that we would be leaving the springs by the afternoon … That wouldn't really give us enough time…."
Despite that, that didn't upset Hinata. In fact, she tried harder. The Hyuuga princess had something I truly admired, and that had to be her endless optimism. Hinata saw the good in almost anything, and it was not even a façade she deliberately put up to fool the most intelligent people. Hinata had nothing to hide. Unlike me, I had an undying passion of negativity, but I had been doing my best to hide it from her for now –just like how I was putting an effort to conceal how lively Anthris was in my life.
"How about we have lunch then?"
"Splendid idea. What do you have in mind?"
Once she gave a mischievous, playful smile, I really regretted agreeing with her. But the moment she relaxed it and turned it back to normal, it relieved me somewhat to know that she was not devising some sort of dangerous trap for me to fall in. In spite of that, keeping my guard up was better than not doing anything. "I was thinking of Chinese hot pot."
"Hot pot? How come?"
"You don't like it?"
"It doesn't give me the greatest memories…"
"You said it did when you told me that story earlier though."
I chuckled out of good nature, and that rewarded me with an excessive amount of her adorable features to rise to the surface. I loved her being so cute, yet she did not detect how much I cherished it. "With Rika, yes, that was a beautiful memory because we kicked Jiraiya's ass. At the same time, nonetheless, my bewitched Hyuuga Hinata-sama, I don't think that being called a mother fucker more than once is that pleasant and delightful for the ears and conscience."
Hinata, surprising me once more, was laughing with pure delectation. Did she find amusement in my words? "I remember. Delirious mother fucker… that adjective really sweetens that profanity, Naruto-kun."
"I didn't think you would have such fascination in profanity, Hinata,"
The girl suddenly leaned in close, and our lips nearly met another's. Fortunately, it did not happen –yet. "I may be gentle, but I am not innocent," she told me -very proudly, as a matter of fact. I did not dare not to pay attention to her next words. "Who is these days anyway? Just because I am in a noble clan, does that mean that they shield me from everything and allow me to become an ignorant, clueless moron? That is nothing more but stereotypical garbage that you find in fairly tales or childish children stories that bring forth stupidity to the mind than enlightenment. If we don't know anything that the people in the outside world know, we definitely won't be regarded as noble, but idiotic and extremely negligent dumb butts who think that they are better where in fact we are the useless ones. There isn't much that we don't know. In fact, as Hyuuga members whether it's the Branch family or Main family, well, we have to know about sex at a young enough age just to protect ourselves from anyone who wants to steal our abilities."
A legion of realization struck me like a whirlwind. However, I kept my cool for the time being.
"You are definitely smarter than me at that age. But… let's not talk about sex, okay?"
Hinata was very understanding to my disbelief. "Sure. I am open to anything."
She met the end of her bargain; she was very, very open just as she said she would.
And so we talked for another hour or so before the two of us fell asleep –on the same bed with her hugging me without a desire to let go until her consciousness returned. Did she know that she had her nightgown half opened with her flesh totally revealed? Perhaps she was forgetful tonight, but I knew that wasn't the case when her arms pulled me in closer to feel her body more fully. Whether she was awake or asleep, her seductiveness never left her for a moment. Luckily, I turned away from her, but it became increasingly tough to ignore her when she moved her head to my neck. Each time she took in a breath, Hinata's lips would involuntarily plant small yet sweet kisses that resulted with my face having to turn fully crimson.
I didn't tell her how much I loved her kisses, but then again, Hinata was a cunning lady very much like myself. I was sure her vigilance was twice as high as mine; there wasn't anything that could escape those eyes of hers. Curse her sharpness, along with her noble Byakugan. I had a great time with her, that I would admit, but during that past hour there was no way that I could have missed something vital.
I could confidently say that for the first time I had a conversation with the real Hinata. Timidity was her nature; a unique trait that she was born with that charmed plenty of men if she ever wanted to use it on them. In spite that, there was her true side. Her real self had no shyness from any corner, and most importantly she could open up herself to anything. Hinata's true nature was beyond words, like anyone would admire and appreciate the loveliness she showed if she was ever going to do that for someone. She was absolutely exquisite.
And however, there was another factor. I could not lie at this point. No matter how attractive her sincerity and loveliness was, there was something that did not make it perfect. Perhaps she did not show it to others, but in our conversation she definitely used it.
Hinata's charm was a manipulation of the deadliest kind.
And she had the nerve to call me a drug, where in reality she was the medication that people needed ever so occasionally if they were once affected by her attraction.
No longer did she need to force her feelings upon me, since Hinata's sweetness was a good enough lure. She knew how to shower people with love, and in reaction it created a delusion on its victim. People would believe that they were important, appreciated, cared for, loved, significant, desirable, etc, and naturally crave for more if Hinata ever stopped giving it to them. As soon as the hope and strength is lost, they need it once again to continue. Obviously, nothing is free in this world, and therefore (whether they knew what Hinata appreciated or not) they had to please the supplier with whatever they got in order to receive that love which satisfied them greatly.
Hinata's nature made weak people, such as myself, realize how frail and fragile we truly were when our refuge and strength disappears. It was almost entertaining to lay eyes upon the desperate, watching them squirm helplessly just because a woman had their lives in her grasp and ready to crush it if she used an ounce of force. To Hinata, she must have thought these people had no pride.
And thus, this was an ideal way to boost the Hyuuga princess' confidence –in the most negative way, of course.
I felt this way not because I found Hinata to be a terrible person to criticize, but it already had become inevitable that I enjoyed her presence more than I should have been. It felt too great to be loved no matter how many times I told her not to love a demon like myself. It was more than fantastic to know that Hinata always wanted to be by my side because I was her light and her hope. I was finally an important person in this world than some lousy demon that everyone despised day and night. Hinata was definitely not somebody that anyone could simply banish from their minds no matter how much they wanted to. I certainly could not either. I knew that even if I did not love her, I could not afford to lose her. The moment Hinata decides to love someone else, my world would be eternal darkness with no means to see the light for eternity.
At that rate, I would be better off riding a one horse open sleigh straight to hell!
Nevertheless, I truly admired Hinata, but spending more time with her each time made me fear the sweetness she used in her silent, yet dangerous, manipulation. I knew admiration was far from the real understanding.
To increase my worries, typical morons could never catch her deadliness due to the insignificance of it. Praise Kami-sama for blessing me with intelligence! As much I liked her, I was deeply afraid of her –and not without justifiable reasons.
Could I ever love Hinata then, and not have the need to be afraid? Because at this dire instant, I had not discovered one single thing that I shouldn't be 'pissing in my pants' frightened.
Please, metaphorically, not literally.
AN: What a long chapter that was. It has been such a long time since I wrote something as long as this! Well, I won't write that much the next time though. To be honest, I didn't notice how much I wrote within a two week period. I just kept going without a goal, but that was when I realized that constant BSing should have their limits. Very psychological, yes, and I hope you did not find it too dull to read.
Perhaps the next update would be in a week or two… or maybe during Christmas based on my hectic schedule. Please be patient with Forcie-Boy, his life has it hard on him, too. Sayonara, everyone.