A change of heart

Sorry for not updating soon… I hope you bear with me : )

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Recap:

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.

--

It was cloudy the next day; rained had poured endlessly for the last few days at Konoha, as if weeping with the villagers. And now clouds that threaten the place were still grimacing low over the blunt, lifeless sky.

In her hospital room, Hinata looked out of her window, sighing at the sight of the clouds. She withdrew and went back to her bed to lie down, just a little, before Naruto comes.

A few moments passed when she heard indistinct voices on her door, apparently boys, and so quickly raised herself from her position to greet the visitors lest they found her awkwardly sprawled across her messy bed.

"So Tsunade-sama cancelled the execution?" The other voice came, coming louder and nearer from the outside.

"Yes," answered the other one, "Apparently the high-ranking leaders are wondering about what they'll do with Uchiha Sasuke."

As this was mentioned, the door was opened, and two lads, slightly older than the heiress, came in halfway through the door. And when I say halfway through the door, I mean the new comers had realized they stumbled upon the wrong room.

"Oh…wait, this isn't Sayo's room!" exclaimed the lad who had a ring on his left ear.

"Goodness, it's on the other building!!" replied the other one. Then the two eagerly left without another word.

…Uchiha…Sasuke? Hinata asked herself as soon as the door closed. She really wasn't interested in him; in fact, she was the only girl who does not have a crushin him. She was only curious in the mere fact that this boy who was once a pride of her nation was back from being a traitor. And what was that she just heard? He was supposed to be executed?

But what is this feeling that he has? It's like, she was more than curious to see Sasuke. She just can't help feeling happy and excited and nervous at the same time. She wanted to see him, but that would be questionable, won't it?

She again sighed and went back to bed, half disappointed that it was not Naruto who came, yet half excited at the thought of having someone "old" around again, even if they weren't close to each other.

"Ohayou, Hinata-chan!" Naruto's beaming guise blocked the doorway. Hinata quickly rose up and bowed, greeted him a great morning, a little chit chat, and off they went to visit Haruno Sakura's and Nara Shikamaru's grave.

--

The walk to the cemetery was short and they had arrived there in just a matter of minutes. Naruto walked alongside Hinata, who was still very much weak from her operation, but nonetheless strong enough to talk to her late friends.

"Ah, here we are!" Naruto said, smiling, as he slapped Nara Shikamaru's flat tombstone, "Hey old buddy! Nice to see you again!"

At this sight Hinata was confused and surprised at the same time. Naruto acted like it was just…normal! Like nothing happened at all! Is this… is this how Naruto feels about his friends? Like they were nothing? That they just come and go? No. This is not Naruto. Naruto cares for his friends. He loves them, cherish them, fights for them. Yes, Naruto fights for his friends with all his might, just as he had done for Hinata 7 years ago.

"Naruto-kun… the wrong grave." Hinata whispered softly as she pointed with her small, delicate fingers another flat tombstone beside the one which Naruto had spanked. Naruto laughed - an empty laugh, Hinata noticed – and then apologized to the rock. He scuffled along, going to the other grave, and slapped and greeted it again, just like he did in the first one.

Sakura's grave was on the other side of the field, and after Hinata had prayed for Shikamaru they quickly headed over where Sakura's remains lay.

Sakura's grave was a little more cheery than Shikamaru's. Shaded by a cherry blossom tree, its flat tombstone was polished and shining, however dim the light is. Engraved on it were her birthday and deathday, a small little passage from her family, and the Haruno Clan's crest.

Hinata kneeled down in front and with her pale hands she touched the tomb, cold from the rain last night. She sighed. And sighed. And squinted her eyes. Then her jaws trembled. Then she couldn't hold herself anymore.

--

Hinata poured her heart out in front of her best friend's grave, not even once caring that her love was watching her. She cried her worries, her anger, her loneliness, and most of all her guilt of having Sakura's heart.

"I… I want to die…" She whispered wearily after hours of weeping. Her head was bowed closely to Sakura's grave, which is now flooded with her tears.

"Eh…? Hina—"

"Why…didn't they…just kill me…?" Hinata's voice grew louder.

"Hinata-chan, what are you say--"

"Kill me!!" Hinata quickly rose up, turned around to face Naruto. She had an angry looked that scared even the beholder of the Kyuubi, a look that sent chills to the ramen-lover.

A pause. Hinata repeated her request, this time in a tone full of disappoint and sadness. Naruto looked away, and smiled. It was not one of his fake smiles, but a smile so warm Hinata stopped being so grumpy.

"I can see myself in you, Hinata-chan…" Naruto started, his words surprising Hinata.

"It appears that that was the same wish I had when I learned about our friends' death. I wanted to die, just pass away. I believed that if I did I would never feel hurt and pain anymore. I believed that when I die everything will be alright. But I realized I was wrong.

"To be frank, but don't tell this to him!, I was really angry with your cousin for having Sakura's heart in replacement of yours. I was about to give him a piece of my mind when suddenly I realized, I won't change anything by doing that. And I also realized that if he had not done that I will lose another friend, one much more important than Sakura or Shikamaru."

Naruto went close to Hinata and smiled again.

"Soon I learned to let them go. There is nothing else that I can do, anyway. Life is such a troublesome thing. But in order to ride with its flow you just have to basically accept everything that comes… and goes. I'm not saying that I don't care about them. Let's just say that I can't care for them anymore, since they're gone.

At least I now appreciate the people close to me more than yesterday. I promise, Hinata-chan!! I'll protect you no matter what!"

"Arigatou, Naruto-kun…" Hinata said as she nodded in agreement of what Naruto had said, regardless how senseless it was.

Naruto stepped towards Sakura's grave, bent his head, and whispered something. As he was doing this a Jounin appeared and requested Naruto to come with him.

"Okay… but I'll take Hinata back to her room first."

The Jounin nodded. Hinata swiftly went to Sakura's burial place, kissed it, leaving a promise of coming back

cheesy, i know. gomen for Naruto's speech

I hope you guys liked this chapter. Sorry if the Story's too slow. Lots of things are bugging me. They're pinching my brain.

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