The courtship of Naruto Uzumaki

V. A date with Naruto, part one

Rebound girl.

That ugly name Kiba had given her echoed harshly in her head.

Rebound girl.

It couldn't be true! Kiba had to be wrong!

Rebound girl.

If Kiba was right why did he have to say anything about it? Why did he have to hit her with that kind of truth? She'd never have realized it. She didn't have a clue about interpersonal relationships and their dynamics. She could have remained happy and oblivious on cloud nine—at least for as long as it took Naruto to realize she wasn't the one for him. If her dreams had to eventually be shattered why couldn't it be much later? Why couldn't she have enjoyed the illusion for a little while longer?

Rebound girl.

Now her life seemed drab and empty without the dream she'd cherished for so long. She'd almost rather Naruto hadn't noticed her at all than to just be picked up and dropped by him so briefly. Of course, it hadn't happened yet. She could still enjoy his present interest as long as possible. She could simply put the ugly thought away, and never think about it until Naruto's final rejection forced her to. Yes, that's what she could do.

Rebound girl.

If only she knew how to turn off her doubts and worries. Her negative thoughts had a way of rearing their ugly heads at the most inconvenient times. Why did Kiba have to stop by today of all days? Why couldn't he have waited at least until after her first date? He knew how much Naruto meant to her. Why couldn't he have realized how much what he'd said would hurt her?

Slowly, Hinata made her way into her bedroom. She felt completely drained. With clumsy movements she bent down and removed her flimsy, red shoes placing them carefully on the floor of her closet behind all her other shoes where they wouldn't mock her with the memories of that pretend girlfriend mission she'd once had with Naruto. She clearly remembered how he'd admired her shoes.

Sadly, she removed her pretty red dress hanging it in the back of the closet where she couldn't be reminded that she'd once attempted to look completely different from her usual self—what she thought was a more attractive, vibrant Hinata. Even the Fifth had had her convinced that she'd looked attractive. Had she just been acting kind? Was the Fifth just trying to give her self-confidence by exaggerating how she'd looked? Was that really kind at all? Was it self-confidence she lacked or everything to make her really attractive to Naruto?

Continuing with slow deliberate movements, she washed the make-up from her eyes, cheeks and mouth until there was no trace of any attempts to enhance her features. Wasn't that simply an illusion, too? She drew the red silk scarf from her hair, and combed it out in her usual unfussy style. Red no longer reflected her mood.

She opened her bureau where her everyday clothes resided in neat piles. As she rifled through the folded stacks of clothing navy, dark green, white and black were the colors that met her searching eyes. Any one of those colors would have fitted her present state of mind, but she chose to pull the blackest, plainest clothes she owned from the drawer, and slowly cover her petite form.

When she was dressed, she stood before the mirror in her bedroom, and studied her dark, somber appearance.

She was plain, timid, dark and weird once more. Naruto had described her that way when she was younger, and it was still an accurate description. She would not forget that again. This was who she was, and who she would always be. She could never be like Sakura no matter how hard she tried. She'd just never have Sakura's confidence or sparkle. Sakura lighted up a room. She, Hinata, simply took up space, but as little as possible. She would simply be embarrassed by the attention Sakura garnered. That was never what she'd wanted. She'd only sought Naruto's attention.

If Naruto wanted a girl like Sakura then he would not want Hinata. She would simply have to face that awful truth. She would always be just Hinata Hyuga, the girl not even her family wanted.

She didn't know how long she stood there unhappily studying her reflection seeing nothing positive in her sad, familiar face when she heard the jaunty rap on her front door. She knew this time it was Naruto. She straightened her shoulders, raised her head, and pasted a false smile on her lips before she went to face her dismal future. Unfortunately, one thought popped into her head just before she opened the door.

Rebound girl.

His face lit up when he saw her, and his expression didn't dim a watt when he took in her black on black ensemble.

"Hi," he said huskily, and smiled widely at her as he leaned in her doorway, one hand resting on the top of the door jamb, the other held behind his back.

"Hi," she returned softly. Her false smile melded into something real. She couldn't forget what Kiba had said, but just seeing Naruto made her feel happy, and gave her a feeling of hope.

"Hey, I thought maybe you'd wear your pretty red dress you wore on that one mission with me. I really liked that red dress." He had good memories about that dress. It was the first time he'd actually recognized Hinata as the girl of his dreams. He could have kicked himself every time he realized how oblivious he'd been to every girl except Sakura. Now when he saw her, he couldn't remember what he'd liked so much about her.

"Are you disappointed?" she asked searching his face for a sign. She'd decided that she couldn't bluntly ask him anything about being his rebound girl. It would be too awful to simply confront him with Kiba's theory. She might even put the idea in his head if it weren't already there. She'd just have to watch and listen interpreting his words and actions as best she could to get an idea for how he really felt. She still so much wanted Kiba to be completely off base that she was willing to risk future major heartbreak just to have her dream realized for the short term.

He shook his head. "I like bright colors, and you look good in red, but I'm not disappointed. You'd look great in any color."

"Thank you," she said shyly and blushed. That was the right answer. Hinata felt the tension in her body begin to seep away.

"This is much better any way," he continued.

"It is?"

"You bet. We look more like a couple—both of us wearing all black." He winked at her, and if possible his grin widened. He'd chosen to leave his trademark orange behind, and wear all black, too. He thought it added more formality to his outfit making it more suitable for an important date—not that he'd had much choice. His wardrobe was rather limited to black and/or orange.

He was definitely saying all the right things. It was almost as if he knew she needed reassurance. "I wasn't certain what to wear. You never set any parameters for our date," she explained uncertainly. It was sort of true. She'd only thought to wear the red dress originally because she'd known how much he liked it. Her doubts had made her wonder if it were just the dress he liked rather than her in the dress. Now she thought perhaps, he might like her with or without the dress.

He grinned sheepishly, and scratched the back of his head. "I guess I didn't. I've never been on a real date before. I'm not sure what to do. You're the experienced one here. You tell me what we should do."

She blushed again. "I've only been on one date, and it wasn't a real one. Oh, what a terrible hostess I am," she stepped back and opened the door wider. "Come in, and sit down. We don't have to decide at the door—especially when we have no set plans." She gestured for him to enter the house.

"Wait! These are for you," he announced as with a flourish he brought a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. Flowers had been a last minute, fortuitous thought.

He'd passed the Yamanaka flower shop on the way to Hinata's house, and seen a guy come out with an embarrassed, grinning face, and a big bouquet of flowers. The flowers must be a gift for someone else, he'd thought. It had suddenly occurred to him—girls liked flowers, ergo Hinata would like flowers. A gift would start the date off on the right foot. He had to get Hinata a nice bouquet of flowers. Fortunately for him, Ino hadn't been working there at the time so he hadn't found it necessary to go into any embarrassing explanation why or for whom he was buying flowers. Dissembling sat right up there with sneaky as another skill he sucked at.

She took the bouquet, and buried her face in the soft, bright petals breathing in their sweet scent. They were a vivid and varied selection in a flashy blend that only Naruto could have chosen. No one had ever given her flowers before. She'd always cut her own flowers from her garden to decorate her home. She rewarded him with a brilliant smile. "They're beautiful, Naruto."

"Beautiful flowers for a beautiful girl," he said gallantly. Charm was another of his weak points. He knew he needed a lot more practice, but Hinata always seemed to find his attempts acceptable. At least, he seemed to keep her in a perpetual state of blush. He took that to be a good sign.

She stood behind the door as he came through, holding her bouquet before her face, and softly closed it behind him. He was being so sweet she could feel her face in a constant burn. She watched him longingly as he sauntered with his usual cocky walk across her room and sat down in the chair Kiba had quitted not so long ago.

Naruto looked around her little home with interest while she retrieved a vase for her flowers. As far as he could remember he'd always lived in his meager little room, and he'd never thought of it as a home. Most of the time he spent there he had his eyes closed, and he was unconscious.

Hinata's three rooms plus bath home seemed large and spacious to him. Her main room was bigger than his own measly little room. It also seemed very clean, attractive and welcoming. Maybe it was a girl thing, but he'd never have thought to keep arranged flowers, or knick knacks, or books arranged attractively around the room. He'd never thought pastel colors could look so warm and pleasant. His philosophy had always been the brighter the color the better, but Hinata's decorative skills were very nice and relaxing. He would have been happy coming back from missions to such a nice place—especially if someone pretty and sweet waited there for him.

"I like your home. It's nice and attractive—like you," he told her as he took a seat. He was successfully erasing the negative pall Kiba's presence had bestowed on her home. Naruto looked completely comfortable sitting in that chair—perfectly at home—a happier addition than Kiba had been.

She sat down opposite him. "Thank you. I've been happy here."

Still looking around, he asked, "This is part of the Hyuga estate, isn't it? Weren't you raised in the main house? How long have you lived here?" He was curious about everything concerning her, but he suddenly realized that his questions might be tactless and intrusive. He knew little about her family situation, and what he did know he didn't like. He didn't want to upset her so before she could speak he said quickly, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to ask nosy questions. You don't have to answer. I just want to know everything about you, Hinata. Isn't that what a date is all about?"

She felt a surge of warmth in her chest at his interest. He was being so sweet. She really wanted to believe he meant all of his interest and compliments. "I don't think you're being nosy. I suppose dating is getting to know someone—their background, their likes and dislikes, their goals and values. We already know so much about each other since we're the same age, attended school together, been assigned missions together. Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you. I don't mind."

"You know, we can pretend we don't know the things we haven't told each other personally. Stuff you've heard about me isn't stuff that's necessarily true or stuff I'd want you to know. I don't suppose you've heard anything that's very flattering about me," he said worriedly. If people weren't afraid to say unkind and unpleasant things to his face, he couldn't imagine what people said behind his back. He knew he wasn't the most popular ninja, but he hoped he wasn't completely disliked by anyone. The only ninja he'd ever disliked was Sai, a sometime team mate of his—and almost no one liked him so he wasn't being the difficult one.

"I haven't heard anything bad about you, Naruto," not in a long time, she added silently. "I've only heard of your wonderful exploits and incredible skills."

He grinned. Flattery didn't embarrass him. "So I'm awesome, right?"

She smiled shyly back. "I think so."

He leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees, and clasped his hands together. He looked at her earnestly. "I think you're pretty wonderful, too, Hinata. I can't believe we're finally going on our first date." Thinking he might be embarrassing her, he suddenly straightened up and slapped his hands on his knees. "So where can I take you on our date? I want it to be memorable."

Oh, Naruto, she thought, I hope you really mean what you're saying. It won't matter where we go or what we do, I'll always remember this date. "I can't believe it either. But, it really doesn't matter. I'm happy just to be with you." She couldn't believe she was telling him exactly how she felt. Vaguely, she remembered some dating advice about being coy, but she didn't know how to do that. She was tired of hiding what she felt. If she only had a short time before Naruto came to his senses then she wanted to make the most of that time. She wouldn't dissemble or equivocate. That wasn't who she was.

He looked into her unfathomable silver eyes wishing he could tell more easily what she was thinking. He didn't know anything about women. He didn't want to make any mistakes on this date. He wanted Hinata to like him more than any one else. "I'm happy just to be with you, too, but I want this date to be the best one you've ever been on. What do you want to do?" he asked eagerly. "I'm game for anything."

"I—I don't know," she returned helplessly. She hadn't thought beyond just being with Naruto. She didn't feel it necessary to do anything, but maybe he felt differently.

"We could go to a movie?" he suggested and watched her reaction. When she didn't exactly light up at the idea, he threw out another suggestion.

"There's an acting troupe in town. They came in a few weeks ago. I've heard they're pretty good, but I haven't seen their show yet," he tried again. She looked slightly more interested this time, but still didn't jump at the idea.

"Or we could go dancing?" That wouldn't be his first choice, but he was willing to do anything she wanted to do.

"I don't know how to dance," she admitted hesitantly. She didn't want to admit her ignorance. She didn't want to give him even more evidence on how inadequate she was as a girlfriend, but he had to know sometime. Sakura probably danced wonderfully.

He grinned. "Neither do I. We could stumble around together. I don't mind. I never wanted to learn before, but I'm willing to learn with you. I bet you'd take to it like a duck to water. Don't forget I've seen your shugo hake rokujuu yon shou. If that move isn't as graceful as dancing I don't know what is."

He was wonderfully building her confidence again. Plus he made learning how to dance sound really fun, but she'd rather do that when she felt more comfortable being with him—if that time ever came. "I—could we—I just want to be alone together without a crowd of people. Do you mind that?"

He gazed at her in surprise. "I'd like that, too, but is that really a date? Shouldn't we do something on a date?"

"Isn't a date whatever we want it to be? If you want to go to a movie, or theater or dance, I'd be happy to do whatever you want."

"No, no. This is our date. We decide together. I don't have to do something on a date. I mean—go out and do something. I don't mind just the two of us talking—but at least let me take you out to dinner? We can talk during dinner."

"I could cook something for us here. I'm a fairly good cook."

He shook his head. "I don't want you busy in the kitchen. I want you where I can claim all your attention. We'll let someone else do the cooking tonight," he said determinedly. He'd love to have her cook for him sometime. He'd never had a pretty girl cook for him before outside of a restaurant. It would be nice, but not for their first date.

Hinata blushed furiously at his flattering words. Would Naruto be saying such sweet things if she were his rebound girl? If only she'd had time to consult another more worldly woman such as Kurenai to discover if this rebound thing was for real. She could enjoy this time with Naruto so much more if she thought she could be as important to him and he was to her. In the meantime, she would simply savor these precious moments with Naruto however brief they might be. "I'll agree to that if we can just walk in the park and sit on a park bench afterwards—somewhere without a lot of people."

"You bet. I can't think of anyone I'd rather sit in the park with. It'll be like that time in the city when you met me in your red dress, and pretended to be my girlfriend. This time when I kiss you on a park bench it will be for real," he promised jumping to his feet. He held out his hand to her.

Hinata blushed furiously. She put her hand in his allowing him to pull her up. She looked forward to his promise as she followed him out the door.