Chapter Seventeen

Birds were chirping and the leaves of the trees close to the window of the Konoha hospital were rustling. Early sunrays peeked through the glass into the room were a dark-haired girl lay asleep in bed, a blond boy sitting next to her, also asleep. Slowly the girl opened one eye, then another.
This rooms looks familiar…I'm in the hospital again? What happened this time?
With a jolt she sat up as she recalled the events of the night before. He's alive!
Just as she was about to jump out of bed and do a little dance, the boy let out a little groan, reacting to the sudden movement of the bed he was using as a pillow. Hinata watched him sleep further and smiled. He must've brought me here after I fainted and stayed with me all night. Carefully she touched his whiskered cheek, afraid to wake him, and caressed the warm skin. I am so thankful you're alive. Heaven knows how you did it, but I am so, so thankful.

He looked so peaceful asleep, it was almost childishly cute. For a moment Hinata had the urge to…No, I can't do that. That would be taking advantage, wouldn't it? But I suppose I can-
She kissed the fingertip of her right index finger and placed it on his…forehead. His forehead? You could at least have given him an indirect kiss by placing it on his lips. She felt her cheeks burning as that thought ran through her mind, and bit her lip. I guess I still am this shy towards him, even if I confessed…Wait, I confessed? I actually confessed? She brought her hand to her forehead as she now remembered that minor detail. He probably heard all of it too, considering he showed up right after I was done. Good grace, I don't even want to know what he must've thought while hearing it. Last night he must've gotten the shock of his life.
The blond murmured something in his sleep.
Well, I guess that would make two of us…

'Good morning Hinata' it sounded from the door opening.
'Good morning Sakura.' She greeted the pink-haired girl with a tired but sweet smile.
'I see you just woke up, so you must've been out of it all night, eh?'
'I guess.'
'Yeah, well, that would probably be partly my fault too.' Sakura said as she took a chair and sat down at Hinata's side.
'What do you mean?'
'From what I know and heard from Naruto when he brought you in last night, there's been a little misunderstanding, but I suppose you've noticed that already.' She let out a little chuckle, partially in shame and partially in head shaking due to the irony of the whole situation, and continued with a sigh: 'I should probably tell you everything from the beginning. As I just said, Naruto told me everything after he'd brought you here; we talked until very late last night, that's probably why he's still asleep right now… So, I know everything about what happened. Also about the fight with Yushiro. He said you'd lost consciousness due to exposure to Yushiro's chakra-drain-technique for a very long time. After he'd ended the fight he took you on his back and ran a night and a day straight to get you here in time. It's thanks to him you're still alive too.'
A short silence followed as both kunoichi watched the young boy at the other side of the bed. One full of admiration and pride of her teammate, the other filled with sheer gratefulness. He really is something.
'Mmmm…….Ramen….' he mumbled in his, obviously very nice, dream.
'Anyway, you were still unconscious when he got sent away on a next mission shortly after that. He really didn't want to, I should say, but you know the Fifth. When you woke up, I assumed you knew Naruto had killed Yushiro, so-
'-when I asked you if he was dead, you thought I meant Yushiro…' Hinata filled in.
'Yeah. You meant Naruto, but I told you he died…' Sakura took Hinata's hand in hers. 'Heaven knows what I must've put you through the last two weeks. I am so incredibly sorry, Hinata! I am so, so sorry! I truly am-'
Hinata squeezed Sakura's hand. 'It's okay, Sakura, I know you didn't mean for this to happen. And I know this sounds weird, but…In a way I'm grateful this happened.' She leaned her head back against the wall and focused on the white ceiling. She felt like watching the past from the present and suddenly understanding how things happened.
'If it hadn't been for that situation and the suffering it caused me, I probably wouldn't have told him, even if it was accidentally. At least not at that moment…'
'Wait, you mean, you told him?' Sakura exclaimed with wide eyes.
Hinata blushed and turned her gaze to her fidgeting fingers. 'Eventually yes, I think he heard me when I was confessing to his remembrance at the memorial stone. Didn't he tell you last night?'
'Well, no…' Sakura smiled. 'Really, fate must have had a hand in this.' She then whispered.
'And I'm sorry it had me play such a terrible part in it, Hinata, I really am. Please forgive me. '
'There's no need to, really, it was a misunderstanding on both parts. We're either both to blame or none of us is.'
Sakura was silenced by this unexpected statement of the girl. Hinata had every reason to blame her, but she didn't. She accepts the prank fate pulled on her through me, and doesn't love me less for it.
'You really are an amazing person, Hinata, has anyone told you that before?'
Hinata had a soft glance in her eyes as she turned them to the sleeping boy. 'He has..'
'I see…' Sakura said, her smile an understanding one, and let go of Hinata's hand. Standing up, she took her clipboard and wrote something down. 'Well, you look a little tired now. I'd advice you to get some more sleep and then I'll sign your release forms.'
She helped Hinata into a vertical position again without waking Naruto and made ready to leave. She held still in the door opening.
'Oh, Hinata? I really hope things will work out for you and airhead over there.'
Both girls smiled at each other, and Hinata felt sleep taking over her consciousness.

Around three hours later she was awoken by someone entering her room. A nurse put a glass of water on the night table next to her bed. 'Glad to see you're awake, Hyuuga-san, someone will come soon with some breakfast for you.' She helped Hinata sit up and handed her the glass. 'You can take a shower after that if you like, and then come to the reception desk to be discharged, please.'
Hinata had to blink with her eyes several times before it occurred to her someone was missing.
'Nurse? Where's the boy who sat next to me?'
The woman had a look of confusion on her face for a moment, but then replied: 'Oh that blonde kid? He walked out about an hour ago. Said there was something he had to do. He asked me to tell you to meet him on the Hokage mountain when you'd wake up.'
Hinata nodded and took a swig of the water.

Half an hour later, she stood outside. For the first time since her last mission she felt the sun on her face and enjoyed it, and couldn't wait to go see Naruto, of course. Some leaves swirled downwards from the treetops above her, and were blown into her face. She pushed them away, but not before taking in their scent. There is no scent as pure as that of autumn leaves, she knew. In a way, they smelled like solution. Or resolution. Either one.
She picked one up, the golden colour reminded her of a certain hair colour. She placed it in front of her mouth and blew it away, like a kiss, almost.

Naruto was sitting on a bench on top of the Hokage mountain and watched the wind play with the leaves. One of them got pushed into his face. He wiped it off and wondered whether Hinata had woken up yet.