Chapter Fifteen
The sun was setting, colouring the sky above the city brightly red with here and there a hint of purple. Her rays had entered through Hinata's window and the bright light had woken her up. She yawned and rubbed her eyes. Still feeling a little dizzy, she got up and walked to the window. The heavy rain that morning had cleared the sky from any cloud, and she found the sunset to be exquisitely beautiful. It must be a sign…
The soft evening breeze blew through the training areas as Hinata made her way towards the memorial for the second time this day. Today she would complete the mission her heart had given her. Still, she was as nervous as if she was actually going to tell him to his face. Even though she had thought her actions thoroughly through, and even though she had repeated the things she would say in her head, and Naruto wouldn't be able to laugh at her, she felt her heart pounding in her chest. Today, she would confess the feelings she had always kept secret from him. She would end the chapter in her life where she was weak and shy and unworthy.
She sat down by the memorial stone and watched the sky until the last sun rays had disappeared behind the border of the visible world.
I guess it's time.
A little confused as to how exactly she would begin her story, she turned to face the stone and took a deep breath.
It had been one hour since the sun set, and Hinata was still there, mustering courage. She was still standing in front of the memorial stone. I've never thought something like this would be this hard.
To calm herself down, she closed her eyes and tried to imagine the face of her beloved one in her minds eye. It was still there, it had not faded one bit. And I will keep remembering his face, so it won't fade. He won't fade.
She sighed. Why is this so freaking hard for me?
Ten minutes later; still nothing. She smiled at her inner self. This is so typically me. I couldn't talk to him while he was still alive, and now that I'm about to confess to a dead person, I still can't face him. I couldn't gather the courage to tell him when he was among us, and I still can't. I guess I haven't changed after all.
'Courage is a remarkable thing if you don't possess it, isn't it? Naruto?' she softly whispered to the face in her head.
One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. If anyone, Naruto definitely carried a lot of that potential. Unlike her, he would stand up for himself and what he believed in. Before she met him, she was what he had once said she was, a dark, timid and shy girl. Was she still that girl? Had she really not changed? Well, the current situation kind of proves I don't, doesn't it?
Suddenly, something snapped inside. What am I thinking?! Am I giving up on this? That would be the most disrespectful thing I could possibly do in his remembrance! He has never wanted me to give up on anything. Heck, he never gave up himself! Who am I to consider giving up? This is something I must do, and I will not fail. This is the moment I will sacrifice what I am for what I can become, and I will do it in his honour. Now is the moment I will look my fear and my incapability in the face. I will fulfil the promise of a lifetime to myself. I won't allow myself the right to give up. Ever!
She looked up to the night sky and focused on one star in particular, the one that had been special to her ever since childhood. Watch me, mother.
And for the second time that day, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
It had been a wonderful day for Hatake Kakashi. Ever since it had started to rain he had been strolling through the forests surrounding the Village, something he needed to do when things were starting to get to him. Sometimes it was just too much; the fights, the blood, the kills, the losses. But the soothing atmosphere of the forest and the humid air of a rainy day would then clear his head and keep his emotions locked inside, as he liked it. This day too, he had been wandering around until far in the afternoon.
The evening had then provided him with a clear sky and a perfect opportunity to lay down on a rooftop and read his favourite series, Icha Icha, a fortunate pleasure in his unfortunate life. When the stars had started to appear he'd decided it was about time to go home and have some sleep.
With a sigh, he closed his book, put it back in his pocket and, standing up, stretched out.
Jumping over the roofs, his glance fell upon the training fields, in particular the area where the memorial stone was situated. He stopped and watched the girl from the rooftops. She's there again? Or has she perhaps been there all day? She was just standing there, deep in thought, it seemed. She was wearing different clothes than that morning, though, so she was apparently visiting the stone again. Who knows how many times she's visited today...
For a moment he felt the urge to come down to her and say something to her, but his experience restrained him. His experience told him it was best for her to be left alone right now, while being closest to her memories…
As he was walking down the street leading to his house, a voice reached his ears from somewhere behind him.
'Hey! Kakashi-sensei!'
He turned around to face the caller. 'Yes?'
'Ah, finally found you. You're kind of hard to find, you know?'
'Only when I don't want to be found.'
'…Right. Anyway, have you seen Hinata? I've been looking for her all day but I can't find her anywhere and she won't answer her door.'
'Maybe she doesn't want to be found either?'
'Huh? Why wouldn't she? Have you seen her or not?'
'I have, but I should probably warn you a little. Whatever you need her for or whatever you want to say to her, be careful and gentle handling her, okay?'
'Uh. Fine, I guess. Sure. Why?'
'Well, she's at the memorial at the moment…'
'Oh. I see….' His facial expression changed. 'I understand…Thanks, Kakashi-sensei!'
Holding back a little smile, said sensei watched his former student go.
That Naruto…Always compassionate about your comrades, aren't you?
A/N: Tehehe. Don't worry, it'll all be explained in upcoming chapters.