Chapter 3- "Dancing In The Wind"

At Hinata's House

Hiashi had just returned from the vacation and Neji knew he was going to go ballistic knowing that his eldest daughter was missing. It would be worse if he found out what he did to her and he would be grounded or worse, Hiashi was strict when it came to disciplining and he certainly wasn't going to let Neji off with a warning. There was going to be punishment and that was how it was going to go.

Hiashi thought Hinata was in her room and that she would come out when she was ready but Neji knew that she wasn't there and the guilt started to affect him. It was only an hour when Hanabi went to go check on her and ran around yelling for Hinata and scrambling around to find her, the suspicion rose in Hiashi as he began checking and looking around for her. He wanted to think that she went to train by herself like she sometimes did but she was no where to be found.

Neji sat on the stairs as he watched to two Main house members look, he felt like he shouldn't tell but he knew the consequences would be great with Hiashi if he found out. Hiashi came over to him knowing that something was wrong and took Neji into a separate room and slammed the screen shut, he began to pace and worry about Hinata as Neji looked at him directly.

"Where is she?!?!" He glared at Neji. "Something must have happened to her to end up missing, she normally doesn't walk off on her own! Neji, did something happen?"

Neji wouldn't move and he began denying things. "I don't know, I don't remember if anything happened, Lord Hiashi..."

He stood still. "Neji, you were the only one with her...unless someone else was here that I don't know about..." He look directly at Neji who didn't change expression. "Answer me, boy!"

Neji raised his eyebrows. "I-I can't tell you what happened...She just ran away and she left you a note right behind you..."

Hiashi turned around as he picked up the note and read it, it was Hinata's handwriting and he dropped it right away in shock. "...She feels like she can't prove herself here...I know she's trying but it's like it's all my fault..." Hiashi sighed in frustration as he looked at Neji. "That wasn't the only reason, something else drove to the point where she just had to run..."

Neji still remained the same as Hiashi watched him carefully, he knew something wasn't right with the story. "Lord Hiashi...If I told you what happened then it would be considered a disgrace and it might sound terrible as it was..."

Hiashi went still. "Did you do something to her, Neji?!?! Don't lie! We have a situation and if you do, it can do more harm than good!"

Neji looked down letting his guilt show as he struggled to get the words out. He didn't want to tell but he had to otherwise Hiashi would find out later. "I...I...hit her..." Hiashi sat up and glared. "I also was too mean to her and I lost my temper, I apologized many times but she still packed her bags and she ran away...I'm sorry, Lord Hiashi..."

Hiashi turned away and opened the screen door. He was angry and Neji could feel the punishment coming on. "You hit an heiress and you know how to control your actions! You will be grounded as a result and I'll just have to deal with you my way!!!" The screen slammed to the side as Neji got up to leave as Hiashi turned him around. "You will go and find her, since you decided to show disrespect to the Main House and to your cousin! I will think of a punishment but for now you will be grounded three weeks starting today!"

Hiashi stormed off as he slammed the door to his room. Frustration. That's what ws happening to him and Neji stood around as he walked back to his room quietly, now he was going to have to find her and that would take more than a few days to do it. He didn't even know where she was, he sighed and sat against the wall and slammed the ground, if he didn't act the way he was the past three weeks he wouldn't be in this situation.

He began to pack his bags and waited for Hiashi to calm down.

Naruto And Hinata

Naruto's wounds healed nicely and he began getting around to being his hyperactive self again, he would go out for awhile and find other flowers for Hinata to press for him. He liked to watch as Hinata pressed them carefully, she noticed that the basket that held all the meat and fish were gone and that they had no food to eat as a result. Naruto scratched his head, he had filled up a few hours ago.

"I'm going to have to put a trap on that..." he replied. "It seems the animals like to have snack when they can't find anythin' in sight..."

Hinata smiled as she continued to press flowers, she was still kind of shy towards Naruto but she began to get used to him as they worked together on things when they needed to. A bird flew in as it sat on Hinata's back and she fed it, Naruto couldn't help but smile at the way Hinata looked at the bird as she watched Naruto wink at her. She blushed again and smiled, Naruto still was until he frowned and looked over at the trap he had built and began testing it out.

Hinata noticed something was wrong with him, she crawled closer and watched him. "Naruto, is there something wrong? Are you okay?" He looked back and still frowned.

He was remembering Sakura at that very moment. "I-I sorta liked Sakura...but she was always into Sasuke and it became like an obsession...I wish she knew how I felt..." Hinata looked at him as he sighed. "I really wanted to date her, I don't think it would work out though..."

"Um, I always wondered why she was attracted to him?" Hinata wasn't jealous, she just couldn't see the two together. "She should have gave you a chance...M-maybe she would've known you better."

Naruto turned back as he heard Hinata talk. She was slowly opening up to him as he eyed her. "Hinata, ever since we've been trapped here I'm noticin' somethin' about you..."

Hinata gasped, she hoped Naruto wasn't on to her secret. She wanted to tell him in person instead of him finding out. She began turning red as she waited for him to talk, she looked straight at him as he became deep in thought over his reply. Hinata began flower pressing again as she waited for Naruto to say something, he got up and made another stick with five sticks going across and two more other sticks. They had been here almost a week.

Naruto regained his thought and continued. "...What was I goin' to say? Oh, I wanted to say that...you're cute doin' certain things...I liked how you fixed that bird's broken wing and you started talkin' to it and it seemed like it was listenin'"

Hinata felt her heart go out of her chest when he made another compliment, she blushed heavily and got up to walk out as Naruto followed her. She ran away to hide as Naruto began looking for her, he still couldn't get why she would hide from him and Naruto began calling her name and ran around like crazy to find her. Hinata poked her head out of the corner of a tree and hid again as Naruto went frantic looking for her. He finally found her as he tripped over stick and fell on top of her.

Hinata's eyes closed thinking that the incident had not happened, she opened her eyes too soon and realized Naruto was face to face with her. Naruto blushed as he tried to get up but feel back on her again and struggled to get himself off of her. Hinata was too dreamy to move or to blush anymore, she just smiled and sighed happily as Naruto rolled off her and looked up at the sky.

Naruto faced Hinata as she recovered from her dream. "Um, sorry Hinata. I tripped by accident because you went to go hide and I was wonderin' why you always do that"

Hinata wanted to tell him how she felt but she couldn't. The wind picked up as Naruto watched the leaves fall, he still waited on her answer as she fell and grabbed onto his jacket and looked up at him. She began to fight her shyness and began talking again to Naruto, he couldn't understand her.

Hinata swallowed hard as she looked Naruto in the eyes. "Um, I've never felt this way..." Hinata covered her mouth as she realized that Naruto could tell where she was going with the conversation and she began to look away, she looked back at Naruto. "...I-I like you, Naruto..."

Naruto eyes went wide. "Is that true, Hinata? Is that why you stand away from me? Is that why you blush at me, and hide from me?" Hinata didn't know what to do or say. "It all makes sense..."

Hinata never thought this day would come. She finally told Naruto how she felt about him, she blushed. "Naruto...you make me feel like I can get stronger, I like..." She stopped and shook her head, she didn't want to say too much and smiled. Naruto felt his cheeks get hot as he looked away, he was feeling good about what Hinata said to him. She admired him for who he really was and that was something Naruto always looked for in someone. "Maybe I shouldn't have told you..."

"Hinata..." He replied softly as he looked into her eyes, he began to get close to her as she began to back away. "You really see me for who I am...I never thought it would be you..." Naruto felt Hinata's hair as he moved in closer to kiss Hinata, she wanted to run away but closed her eyes as she shivered until she felt Naruto kissing her.

It was her first kiss, she didn't know what to do but she soon got the hang of it and began kissing Naruto. They parted as Hinata's face was more red than before, she looked at Naruto with a dreamy stare. Naruto winked at her as he began to lead Hinata to the meadow where they could see the stars, he had found it when he was looking for flowers for Hinata to press for his center piece. Hinata followed behind him slowly as he pointed to the stars that hid behind the clouds.

"Isn't it beautiful, Hinata..." He replied as Hinata looked to the right of the sky. "I was goin' to take you here when I was read but you surprised me all by yourself, huh?"

Hinata laughed quietly, she looked out into the open water and smiled. "It's wonderful, Naruto...I'm glad you brought me here..."

Naruto looked out as Hinata smiled with him, he reached for her hand as the two ran down the meadows chasing fireflies and chasing each other until they tired out and sat down. Naruto smiled as flower petals surroundened him as he caught a full bloomed flower for Hinata, she held it close to her heart as she laid next to Naruto as they watched the stars again.

Neji was only three miles away, he was getting closer to finding Hinata.

That's chapter 3, Please R&R