Lies of Love and Loathing

Ch. 5 Fantasies

Hinata's POV

His hand is on my cheek while his thumb is lightly brushing against my skin. I can't believe I'm crying, it's completely irrational but it won't stop. "Hey, what's wrong?" his tone is soft and patient, which seems really out of character for him. Then again so did his small speech about loving me. I don't know if I should believe him or try to wake up from this beautifully cruel dream. "Hinata, please just say something. Please just tell me waht's on your mind."

I take a deep breath and for a small moment I allow myself to lean into his hand. "I'm afraid I'm going to wind up waking up and this will all be a dream," I whisper just barely loud enough for him to hear.

"Hinata, I promise you this isn't a dream. I love you." He smiles and then chuckles quietly.

"What?" I ask not knowing what is so amusing.

His hand moves to the top of my head. "I almost kissed you, but I don't want you passing out again," he laughs lightly. I can feel my face begin to heat up as I look everywhere but at him. "Hey, I wasn't trying to embarrass you," he says smoothing down my hair. He bends down and kisses my forehead, making my face that much warmer. "I'm sorry," he mumbles when he sees the color of my face. "I didn't mean to make you blush more."

Naruto raises my to his lips, with the inside flipped upwards, and gently kisses my inner palm. "Should I go?" he asks quietly.

I almost shout "no" but then think about how long he's been here. He's probably bored out of his mind. I think finally looking at his face. "Yeah I guess you probably want to get out of here," I murmur looking away once again.

"No, that's not it," he tries assuring me.

"You've been here for a while. I understand if you want to leave. I'm sure you've had people offering to take you to Ichiraku's."

"No, I only asked because I just thought you might be more comfortable if I left."

"Naruto, if you want to go you can. You don't have to stay here if you don't want to, I understand. And besides you must be exhausted."

A certain look washes over his face that tells me I'm right about him being tired. "well I do need to go home to bathe, but I'll be right back after that. Okay?"

I lightly shake my head and give him a weary smile. "You don't have to hurry. In fact, you should really get some sleep."

"No, I'm gonna take a shower, then come right back. Alright?"

When I give him a nod, he leans down and kisses the top of my head once more. "I'll be right back," he tells me before exiting the room.

Naruto's POV

I can't believe all of that just happened. I think as I run back to my place. In seemingly no time at all I'm in my apartment and and stepping into my shower. "I just told Hinata I loved her," I mumble aloud. My brain is desperately trying to make sense of how I feel about all o this but I keep coming up short.

I try to think about something else, anything else, but somehow my thoughts always lead back to her. Before I know it I'm getting out of the shower and grabbing a towel. I look in the mirror and just stare.

I let my mind wander off and picture Hinata standing in front of me. Her arms winding around my waist as I lean down to kiss the soft, perfect lips. My hands on her back as I pull her body closer to mine. The way she shivers ever so slightly when I hold her tight and whisper, "I love you."

Through the haze of my fantasy I begin to wonder how Hinata feels about all of this. Although she's said she loved me before, that was a while ago and I never addressed the issue since, her feelings might have changed. She was blushing so much when I kissed her forehead, but that doesn't mean anything. Hinata has always been shy, so that could the only reason she was blushing. Although she seemed to enjoy the idea of me loving her, she didn't actually say it back.

I have to get back to the hospital and get my answers. After hurriedly getting my clothes on, I bound out the door and begin rushing to the hospital. The entire way there I can't stop the back and forth thoughts in my head. It won't stop going from "I'm pretty sure she loves me too," to "Her feeling might have change like yours did with Sakura." The back and forth, swing set like, thoughts remind me of the game little girls play as the pluck the petal off a flower one by one. All the while singing "he loves me, he loves me not," as each new petal falls to the ground.

When I finally reach the hospital my thoughts have me wound tighter Grandma Tsunade when Pervy Sage tried peeking on her in the bathhouse. "Hinata!" I all but yell as I burst her room. "I have to ask-" I stop mid-sentence, seeing her eyes closed and her chest rising an falling with deep, even breaths.

All the urgency I felt just moments ago, melts away as I take in the sight before me. I sit down on the chair next to her bed and I feel the small smile begin to spread on my face. My questions can wait until later, right now the only thing I want is to be with her as she sleeps.