Change of Heart
Gomen for wrong grammars or spellings or senseless thoughts. It's my hands' fault.
I don't own Naruto. hihihihi…
"Hinata, listen to me," Neji started. Kiba and Shino had just gotten out of the room to call Naruto.
Hinata cocked her head to one side, letting Neji know that she'll listen.
"I'm not supposed to tell you this, but I think it's time for you to know, since I'm concerned on your health. I think the sooner you hear the sooner and the better you'll cope up."
"What is it that you want to tell me, neji-nii-san?"
"The heart that was given to you… was Haruno's."
"W-what…what do you mean…'Haruno's'? Sakura Haruno, nii-chan?"
"Yes, Haruno Sakura. It is her heart that made it possible for you to live longer, Hinata. We took her heart and --"
"That's impossible!" Hinata fiercely whispered as she felt the tears coming to her eyes.
How is it even possible? Her best friend, her very best friend…?
"Hinata, listen to me, this is important --"
"Neji-nii-chan, please," Hinata said as the tears started flowing from her eyes down to her cheeks.
All this time, Sakura had helped Hinata gain Naruto's affection. She helped her dress up, had given her advice, told Hinata all the things Naruto like and dislike, and such. And Naruto had really noticed the Hyuuga, and things are getting better.
So that's why she wasn't at her room, to greet her and give her flowers and reprimand her. Hinata could just see Sakura standing by the bed, telling her not to get too excited, promising her to drop by everyday, to tell her Naurto's deeds…
And then Sakura said she was off on a mission.
"Well, I'll be out for a couple of months, Hinata-chan." Sakura said as they sat at one of the stools at Ichiraku, waiting for Naruto. Hinata looked at her friend.
"Would you like to come? We still lack a member. Shikamaru and I are still looking for the third ninja. The mission's ranked C, so it's probably alright to have you along. You could get some exercise, y'know.."
Hinata politely shook her head. She said she had plans for the next months, and didn't want to ruin them.
"Oh, alright." Sakura said with a smile and added, "But make sure after those couple of months you and Naruto are together already, okay?"
Hinata nervously laughed along with Sakura.
"S-sakura-chan, thanks for all your help. I'm going to train hard this and next month. I hope you'll help me pick a dress after your mission. Please?"
"Of course! You needn't say so!" with that answer from Sakura the blonde arrived and the three started to eat.
"H-how…Nii-chan?" Hinata weakly said.
"She…died. From the mission. With the Nara Boy and a nin from Suna. My deepest Apologies, hime." He simply stated, not bothering to give details.
So that's why Kurenai wasn't in the room.
Shikamaru is Asuma's special favorite student, and Shikamaru's sensei's wife and him had gotten close now that she was left preganant.
And soon, to Hinata, the pieces are coming together for her to weave.
How come Neji needed to be so cold?
With that he left, for the frail figure had already started to cry and weep and sob and wail so bad.
Konoha had wept before her. Sakura and Shikamaru are one of the best of Konoha, and the two are one of the village's prides.
Kurenai, the Nara clan, Chouji and Ino wept terribly, and Naruto, Tsunade, and the Haruno clan cried for Sakura.
The people who had lost someone precious to them had not even known that Sakura's heart was given to the supposed-to-be-heir. Why, they didn't even know about her condition! Except Naruto and Tsunade, of course.
Naruto mourned for 2 days and a night. Of course she was still his best friend and his first crush, and she was still precious to him, but somehow, Hinata weighed heavier to him now than Sakura. And Hinata's condition worries him, and then, there was Sasuke.
Sasuke who is now in under quarantine.
Tsunade said that he already talked to her, and she said that Sasuke had given up. She said that he said he realized his mistake, with Konoha's destruction and all. Tsunade decided to have him executed.
And again Naruto protested and wept.
Naruto had so many things to cry that his tears had given up and so had dried inside him.
--
As Hinata wiped the tears off her eyes and from her face (She wept for many hours. It is night time already), the door suddenly opened and in it was the loudest ninja of all.
"Good afternoon, Hina-chan!" Naruto happily said (he tried to be happy for her although inside he just wanted to break down) as he sat on the sofa that was leaning against the wall.
Hinata didn't look up to him.
"Oi…Hina-chan? What's up? Aren't you feeling good? Tsunade-sama said--"
"Gomen, Naruto." came Hinata's steady voice.
Naruto was startled by the sudden change of Hinata.
"Please…please…let me visit Sakura's and Shikamaru's…grave." Hinata added after a long, silent pause, and this time milder.
"N-nani…? You…you know?" Naruto asked in surprise. It is decided that Hinata must not know until she had finally recovered, because her heart may fail when she hears the news.
Hinata nodded.
"Neji-nii-san told me… Naruto, I know that you…love Sakura so much…and…"
As Hinata was still speaking, Naruto shook his head.
"That's what I believed, too," Naruto looked straight at Hinata's eyes, "but now I know who I really love. I hope you realize that. All this time…it was you…"
A pause. Hinata wanted to cry still; how could he tell her that in the midst of pain and sadness?
"Gomen, Naruto…" Hinata said again, "I…can't…"
Hinata was confused with what she feels. Perhaps it is because of her dear beloved friend's death that she cannot feel happy for herself. She doesn't want Naruto's romance right now. She didn't want anything. She feels numb, broken.
She's still in the state of denial, Naruto thought. I think now's not the right time for me to say what I wanna say…
"Fine. First thing tomorrow. Let's visit our friends' graves."
Hinata nodded with satisfaction.
Flames burn my heart to ashes. I'm thankful that no one still had given me one in this story. If you're planning to, then at least, please, say it in a nice manner. That way I can still have time to extinguish the fire. hehehe : ) Send me your love!!