The tension of the unspoken words forced her to look away, reverting her to the age of twelve. She stared at her feet. He took a few steps forward, moving closer to her. He was now just an arms length away. She felt an uncertainty she hadn't experienced since she was much younger. It was as if they had never been…as if he was still simply the boy she liked and she was a weird, shy girl. But he wasn't, no, now he was the man who had broken her heart once and she was the woman who loved him still.

He spoke so softly, as if he were as nervous as she was. Maybe he was. "Do you hate me, Hina?" Hina…he was the only one who had ever called her that. She had missed that name, his voice calling her. She shook her head, of course she didn't hate him. She would probably never not love him. But that did not mean she could forgive him.

He moved even closer, so close that she could feel his breath, but they remained not touching. "Promise me, Hina? Promise you don't hate me?" he whispered in her ear. She nodded. He tilted her head up with his hands in either side of her face. His touch was welcomed and it warmed her body. It was amazing that he could still do that, even after five years of absence. He forced her to look into his beautiful eyes.

"I never meant to be away from you this long, Hina. I promise," he looked at her and she knew he wasn't lying. Promise was a word that Naruto did not use unless he meant it. She searched his eyes and saw the faintest glimmer of fear.

"That doesn't mean it we can pretend it didn't happen. Five years is a long time, are you even the same person? Am I?" She looked away, unable to stare at him any longer. He always made her weak. He kissed her, desperately. Just in case she said no. At least he got one last kiss. She kissed him back, heatedly. Five years of emotion and passion and pain flowed into the kiss. She pushed him back. No, it couldn't be that easy. He needed to know that it was not that easy to get everything back. To get her back.

"You can't do this! You can't just assume that I spent five years waiting for you. You can't…" she trailed of, her words choked by the tears she was trying not to cry. He hugged her tightly.

"I never meant for you to be hurt. Please…" he pleaded in her ear. "Please."

She almost gave in. She pulled back and looking into his incredible eyes, "I don't know if it's that simple."

"Nothing worth having is simple, Hina. Nothing simple is worth waiting for. Nothing simple is worth fighting for." He stroked her cheek and brushed his thumb over her lips.

"You broke my heart."

"I broke mine, too."

"How can I trust you with it again? How can I be sure you'll be around tomorrow?" Naruto sighed. He knew it was true, but it hurt to hear. The one he loved was in pain and it was his fault.

"I'll prove it to you." He whispered. She looked at him shocked, a sad, unsure smile floated across her lips. He kisses her chastely one last time and slowly walked away from her. She watched his back until she could no longer see it, then ran home.