December 27th

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Two years passed for the child couple. Hinata found herself soon dressing up in the clothes Naruto had delivered on several lunch occasions, hiding them in a box buried underground hidden in the hay. Naruto had learnt that ramen was not always the best choice to greet her with. He occasionally went to other restaurants and ordered healthier choices.

It was the second anniversary of their meeting. Naruto was planning a special lunch; he had the food being prepared at home by Karei-sensei. He just needed flowers, but not just any flowers, perfect ones that would light up that dimly lit cabin. Naruto spotted a huge patch of flowers of every color and shape. His eyes widened as he jumped the fence. He spotted a perfect blue tulip, and bent down to pick it up. The moment his hand touched a leaf, he felt something grab his leg and toss him to the air. Moments before he collided face first with the earth, something grabbed his legs and wrapped around them, supporting him inches from the ground. A girl clad in green walked up slowly to the boy, her smile growing bigger with each step. She kneeled down to be at eye level with the boy and laughed smugly.

"Picking my garden again, Naruto?" The girl placed her hand on his forehead and gave a gentle smile. "Why not buy them at the store like everyone else?"

"Kaben Ha, caught me again?"

"You're not that hard to predict, kid" She released the vines that held his legs, having him fall on his face "So, what brings his mightiness to petty theft?"

"Haha," he replied sarcastically. "It's nothing special."

"So you are committing petty theft?"

"I'm not stealing! I'm...just borrowing."

"It's for a girl, isn't it?"

"Errgh, can't pull the wool over your eyes." It was at this point that Naruto noticed the girl's apparel.

She wore an odd gathering of leaves, vines, and other objects of nature. Large leaves patterned her chest, smaller leaves linked together to a dress that fell down just past her knees. A flower bud was placed above each ear, pink on her right, and a bright yellow on her left. Her green hair and eyes seemed to be unnatural, yet befitted her looks. Naruto merely coughed to break his long silence.

"Take it."

Naruto blinked once, not quite catching her words.

"Take it, but you're gonna help me tend to this garden later!" She turned and left with a giggle.

Naruto looked over at the tulip. It was cut and wrapped already. Naruto just scratched his head and headed out.

Naruto set up the meal in his apartment. Candles were lit, there was a cloth over the table, Barry White played in the background...

"What!?"

Oh, uh, sorry...

Karei stepped out of the kitchen and distributed the meal. She looked at the boy with a smile, "Best get your guest here, I don't want my meal to get cold."

"Right." Naruto placed his hand on the symbol and teleported.

\/\/\/

Hinata was pacing in her hut, her hands placed together tensely. Though she was smiling, her eyes showed her stress and tension. The sound of Naruto appearing nearly forced her heart to burst from her chest. Naruto laughed sheepishly as he extended his hand, not lifting his other from the seal.

"A-Are we not eating here?" Hinata could feel her fear returning.

"No, I thought I'd take you to my home; I got everything ready. Come on!"

"NO, no I can't! You'll get me killed!" Hinata retreated from his grasp.

"Hinata? What's wrong? You can't honestly want to stay in here?"

Before Hinata could respond, the sound of steps in the grass alerted her attention. "Quickly! Get out of here!" Hinata pushed Naruto away.

Naruto activated his jutsu, leaving in a flash. The door opened to reveal Hiashi staring into the hut, the smoke clearing.

"Girl! Child, where are you!?" The smoke settled and Hiashi had a look of anger come to his face. Nothing was in the hut. His gaze shifted to a symbol on a plank. He placed his hand on it and focused, but nothing happened. "Grr, is that girl learning jutsus already?!" Hiashi stormed out from the cabin and returns returned to his chambers, plotting his actions for when he found her.

\/\/\/

Naruto returned to his house, his eyes closed. Karei looked at the smoke with a smile, not seeing the girl in his grasp.

"What? She get cold feet?"

A small gasp alerted both of them. Naruto felt something release from his leg.

"H...Hinata?"

Hinata crawled out from the clearing smoke and gasped. Her eyes were as wide as an animal's would have been in the same situation. The odd lighting of the room set something off. She was almost in tears.

Karei quickly stepped towards the girl and held her hand, comforting her the best she could. "Naruto, run some cold water and get a place comfortable for her to rest."

Naruto just nodded and did as he was told.

Minutes later, Hinata's complication returned, as did her calm, shy stature. Karei was simply stroking her hair as she shushed and hummed a tune. Naruto was sitting in the corner, trying not to look at Hinata. Eventually, she broke the silence.

"This isn't good; I'm not going to make it home. Father's going to kill me!"

"Wait" Karei looked closely at the girl in her arms and she gasped, almost in fear. "Y-You're the Hyuuga child! Aren't you?"

Hinata broke away from her grasp and gave her a look that turned Karei's gaze to a slumped saddened gesture.

"Well, she was in a shed in the Hyuuga grounds; I thought she was a run away. Why is being the Hyuuga girl so important?"

Karei was silent, as to not break the law. "I can't tell you, only she can."

"Stop! Take me home!" Hinata closed her eyes and hid her head inside her arms, forbidding anyone from looking her in the face.

"Wait, Hinata!"

"Enough." Karei placed her hand on the blonde's shoulder. "I'll take her home and explain this to the household head. Naruto, clean up, I'll be back to tuck you in."

"Right, good night Hinata."

Naruto's comment broke her fear and behind her arms her eyes softened. A small smile was all she could muster before Karei picked her up and leapt out the window.

Karei appeared in front of the gates; the guards merely froze as they saw the child in her arms. They took a step towards her and she just coughed aggressively to keep them back. She headed to the doors of the compound and knocked on the door hard.

Hiashi opened it with his casual intimidating gaze. Karei was not intimidated one bit.

"What could you be thinking!?" Karei raised her hands to slap the man but he stopped her before she could even lift her arm.

"I'll take that." He grabbed the bundled child and closed the door. Karei responded from behind the thick wood.

"And what do I get for keeping my mouth closed about this?"

Hiashi stopped; he turned and reopened the door. "You can walk off our compound, as apposed to being escorted." Then he closed the door.

"Hmm, well, at least the kid will be alive"

\/\/\/

Naruto was cozy in his bed, the night slowly creeping up the horizon. Karei entered the room and looked at the boy, her smile faded slightly, but she held it as to get one back from the boy. She tucked him in and set off to her own bed, thinking of what might happen if this judgment keeps going.

"She'll be free...soon enough..."

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I'd like to thank Gaara, for coming up with the word "intimidating" To describe Hiashi's stare (I'm so stupid! why couldn't i think of that SLAP! ). And also for him and viewers, Kaben Ha is her full name.