Naruto belongs to kishimoto
"Lets dance." She said tugging the reluctant man up on to his feet. "I've been practicing so I must be better than before." Noticing his still gloomy demeanor she twirled on the spot. "See" she said proving her point with a brilliant smile.
He couldn't help but let a gentle smile escape him, when he looked upon her. She held such a radiant, carefree expression; it made him forget everything else, if only for a moment.
He stepped forward and straighten his back, and throwing his chin into the air, to emulate the posture of a dignified gentleman, offered his hand to her. She in turned did a slight curtsy to play along and laced her fingers with his.
They danced together roughly and crudely devoid of any sort of rhythm. "Practiced really?" he asked skeptically.
"No" she admitted " but I still got you to dance with me." She added triumphantly.
"I really don't like seeing you mad at me." She said seriously with her head down.
"I wasn't for a second angry at you, just at my own luck." He said sheepishly. "I mean I couldn't stand that jerk you were with before, but this guy." He shook her a little and asked with a stern voice " The one your married too, can you really trust him, he's dangerous."
With a straight face she answered him honestly " He is dangerous, and no I don't trust him, but he's still my husband." However her expression changed, her invisible pupil grew wider with excitement and anticipation as she inspected him.
Whispering ever so quietly "I know you're a ninja."
Shock and panic spread across his face "Don't worry I won't expose you." Hinata reassured him quickly.
Leading him to a more remote area of the bar, she sat him down at a table, before she continued. " I propose an alliance."
The man frowned with suspicion "With what nation, this is not a decision I can make by my self."
" With no nation mealy with myself."
"you're a missing nin" he asked surprised
"No."
" Then wh…" he began to ask confused, she halted him by raising her hand.
"I am not now, but I may need to become one in the future. That's why I am asking for help, I don't know how many if any allies I may have."
She gave him a minute to truly grasp her situation before she asked him again. " so are you willing to help me."
The young ninja was silent for a long while, she could read all the thoughts of considering in his face. Then finally he hesitantly spoke "Ok, I'll help you, as best I can, with in a limit. I won't do anything that could directly harm my village."
" Of course" she said tilting her head considerately " I wouldn't of, asked for anything more."
The ninja fished around for something on his neck, he pulled out a necklace from under his top. The necklace had black metallic beads strung along it. Pulling one off he handed it to her. "Keep this on you at all times, I will be able to track you."
"How should I contact you." She questioned
"Apply a little chakra to that bead and I'll be able to sense it."
Looking at the little inanimate object in the palm of her hand she was impressed. It made things a lot simpler, there was no way anyone else could breach a communication system like this.
"Thank you" she reached over the table to squeeze his hand. As if sencing something she slowly withdrew it.
"Where being watched." He noticed, trying his best to act inconspicuous and normal.
"Yes" Hinata confirmed " they haven't herd anything, I'll be leaving first then." She stood to leave but paused at his side, looking over her shoulder she very discretely added. "Don't forget this is an alliance, this deal goes both ways. If you ever need anything, find me." With that she left.
"Where have you been?" Kakashi asked before she had even fully entered the warehouse.
"Huh" she looked at him with a dumb look on her face. " Out. Why you miss me"
" Of course I did" he said cheerfully whilst hugging her.
"Smell anything interesting?" she pushed him back with one hand, he looked at her with a puzzled expression "O don't play dumb, I know what you where doing, trying to pick up a scent."
"I was on the same team as Inuzuka, I know how you Hound Nins work." she shooed him off. "I am hungry." She said off topic and started rummaging through the boxes she kept everything in.
" I thought a hug was rather subtle," he disputed
"As subtle as a ten foot sign"
"I guess you're just too smart for me."
"Don't patronize me, It's really irritating. In fact the next time you do I am going to cut a chunk of your hair off, because that irritates me too." She declared, as she bit into an over ripe pear. Not liking the texture or the sweetness she spat it back out.
" Well someone's in a bad mood" he said in an overly upbeat manner.
She flung a shurikan at his head, but missed. "When we get back to Konoha your going to have to train me, my aim been off a lot lately." Hinata noted as she slumped down on the floor.
"I've noticed" Kakashi acknowledged sarcastically.
"Are the rest of the team still trailing you, yamy and the others."
"Yamy?" He repeated with a raised eyebrow.
"Yamy's my nick name for Yamato." She explained
"No, Yamy's gone back to the village." He decide to adopt her nick name, it amused him.
"I don't have to live at your apartment do I." she asked with distaste
He took slight offence "What's wrong with my apartment. I thought it was rather cozy."
"Yes cozy did come to mind straight after the thoughts sterile, cold and impersonal." She said satirically, after a minute to compose her self she apologized " I am sorry, I don't know why I am being so hostile."
"Its ok" he gathered her up an sat her in between his legs
and kissed the top of her head. "its because I am a jerk."
"you are" she agreed
"When we get back to Konoha it not going to be easy, It probably going to hurt you." Kakashi warned of the future to come.
"I know." She uttered quietly
"You don't like me but, I am going to be by your side." Kakashi closed his arms around her till she was curled up against him in his embrace.
The next morning, they were heading out of the little backwater city, thinking how ironic it was that she didn't even know the name of this place, but how she would never forget it.
She speculated the thought of whether or if Sasuke would ever seek her out, or if she'd ever see him again. She smiled yes this place and Sasuke had indeed healed her, brought her out of this numbness of wanting to end it all.
She now wanted to live and on her own terms, she didn't regret a thing she was glad she met him the way she did and lived with him the way she did.
He was selfish, but could be very generous at times. He was thoughtful of the things he did for her, even if the things he did for her were rare and small. Rude and barely spoke, but she never felt lonely in his presence.
Gripping Kakashi's hand "You have a lot to live up to."
"huh?" he said not following her train of thought.
She gave out a little chuckle "good start".
It was a long journey home they had been traveling south for a couple of days now and they had made camp with a group of traveling merchants.
The climate had changed, gone was the dark broken slippery rock of the north, instead there was lush, soft mossy grass.
She felt the difference in-between her toes as she walked bare foot, along the rows of tents and wagons. They were lit with an amber and orange glow coming from the little campfires.
Little crowds of people were gathered around the campfires like moths attracted to the flame.
They shone out like little beacons, the light creating a safe haven from the looming darkness of the clear black summer night of the forest.
She wandered forward aimlessly she had forgotten where her and Kakashi's tent was. She wasn't in any rush to get back; he'd come looking for her eventually.
"Young woman" she herd an elderly woman yell, Hinata turned in circle bemused trying to figure out which direction the voice came from.
"Over here" the voice hollered again, an elderly female merchant was waving her over.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Hinata asked on her approach.
"No, I just wanted to give you this." She handed her a red ice pop.
She studied the little gift with confusion the only person who knew she liked these was.
"Did some one tell you to give me this" Hinata asked a little frantic.
"Yes the young man in the cloak." Her heart started to beat with excitement, he was here he had come looking for her. With out thinking she ran in the direction the woman had pointed.
She weaved in an out of the people, leaping over obstacles even ripping her long skirt a little, to allow more freedom to move. She came to a halt, there were several men dressed in cloaks.
A mischievous grin sneaked across her lips, no one can beat a Hyuga at hide and seek, and she initiated her byakugan and scanned the area.
There, she had spotted his chakra, but he was on the move. Their game of hide and seek had turned into a game of chase.
He was flittering here and there nimbly; she was running after him so fast her long hair was trailing in the air behind her.
She was laughing as she ran, she was enjoying it, and as soon as she got close he would run in the opposite direction. He was leading her into a small-secluded spot at the back of the large camp.
There she stood, confused she could have swore he came this way. Until she felt a presence a few inches behind her, she felt him lean over and whisper into her ear "I am back."
"Oh" she replied in that very familiar way.
She turned around slowly, to see that he also held a smirk of amusement on his face.
Adrenaline still coursing through her from the chase, her eyes were wide open and heart pumping, and the grin she held widened into an excited beam.
The heavens began to shake above them, and big fat drops of warm summer rain came tumbling down soaking everything it landed on.
They stood for minute just staring at each other, his face was hidden by the over sized hood and his dark hair clung to the side of his face. She instinctively reached out to brush it aside, he lent forward into her touch.
Their lips slowly gravitated to one another's she could smell the sent of summer on him, that rich earthy smell of the forest he must of traveled through.
Heavy beads of rain trickled down their hair, and rolled down the contours of their faces.
She stroked her nose with his, then placed a gentle kiss on his lips, then another and another until they were fully enthralled with each other.