Another day passed, then another, and another. Once green leaves-changed, rained, disappeared and bloomed. It seemed like 'another day' wouldn't appear no matter how many days dragged on. Countless times he happened to walk by the premises, but to his dismay 'another day' was yet to come. Almost as quickly as she appeared, she vanished. Erased from his sight. Naruto longed for her voice, her eyes, her warmth, her shy-radiating smile. It intrigued him how she could have such lasting effects on him. It was a chilly day, in December. He was alone this year again. It seemed, after the joyous Christmas holiday everyone relaxed and reminisced about the previous night's events. Together as a happy family…
Swinging gently with the chipped swing, a cold wind caressed his cheeks- as if to say "you're not alone, I'm here too". Another year flew since then.
Moments like these he imaged how it would be if he had someone to share stories with, to talk about what he had received, maybe even show it off to neighborhood friends.
"Yeah, right" he dismisses such foolish thoughts, and once again recalls those bitter-sweet moments. He had his first decent friendship with a kid his age, and not just any kid, she was a Hyuuga. Like that Neji. His and her eyes were the same in size and shape, but not color. His were pale, her hues shaded light violet, and if she smiled, a pure silhouette appeared- like a sparkle only she dominated. Sigh. "Another day, huh?" His breath flew away in a white winter whisper. Crunch Crunch, snow pressed down by footsteps arose slowly from behind them.
"You mean today?" They came to an abrupt stop. His eyes opened wide in shock. He recognized this voice...almost. Naruto swung around- a bit of piled up snow falling to the side, and there she stood. Her hair, straight and smooth looked the same...slightly longer, her voice- he noticed- was lighter...more mature. Even her eyes seemed to have changed, though not completely. "Ohayo Naruto-kun." there it was, the sparkle he longed for.
"O-ohayo..." His heart beat violently at the excitement. The excitement? "H-how are... When...where did you...?" He questioned her, not once, finishing a sentence.
"I'd rather not say...H-hey! I have a present for you, though I'm a day late. H-here." Her voice, although matured, seemed to have developed stuttering. He finds it fitting.
She hands him a knitted red hat tied with a white bow. "Merry Christmas...It's not much, but it'll keep you warm." Hinata shows him his shy smile. Her cheeks tinted a pastel red...because of the cold? "That's one part. I'll give you the next one at another time."
"Another...?" Naruto's heart fell to his stomach. Gloom filled his chest- unknown pressure against him. A knot in his suddenly dry throat. "You're leaving again?" his raspy voice questioned. She smiled sadly, the one he last witnessed.
"Not yet." She appeared once again in a flash...she'll do the same when she leaves, he thought. "I'm surprise you remembered." He raised an eyebrow. "I thought you had forgotten." I thought I chased you away. "But, I've been reassured." She smiled.
Naruto suddenly regretted seeing her again, soon, he would feel the loss from her absence, even now, he felt she wasn't there, she could easily disappear into the wind again. "The second gift has two parts. Before I leave I'll give you one." Hinata walked closer to Naruto. He took a step back, as if touching her would wake him from this bitter-sweet dream.. A tree deep- rooted behind him, its long and thick bark stopping any further movement. Like last time, he shut his eyes. Hinata took the last step- the snow crunching underneath her, she placed both hands on his frozen chest, stretched on her tippy toes and planted the same kiss on his cold cheek, afterwards planting the hat on his golden crown. Naruto bit his lip, and gripped the hem of his jacket as if his heart had melted at her touch. Hinata then reached for his ear and whispered, "Until another day." No! desperately, he opened his eyes to see her one more time. She's still here, he thought and brushed her blushing cheek.
"Sorry, I've already left". A single drift blew in. Hinata's hair twirled freely before morphing into recent bloomed, pink blossoms. He eyes her in sadness, another minute passes, once more disappearing along with the sparkle in her eyes; slowly erased from sight.
