4th themed short story! This one is different from the other 3 because of such a conflict. When I wrote this, the anime that kept popping into my mind was Cardcaptor Sakura, and it kind of turned into like that from both the manga...
Disclaimer: The characters of Naruto belong to Masashi Kishimoto, Hibonhana Nomi and Nekoba Kouhei belong to me!

I'll Be Waiting
Rating: T

The bell rang, end of the school day. End of school for the 1st trimester and the start of Summer Break. Everyone happily packed up and went to meet their friends as they discussed their plans for summer break as they walked home. Hinata closed her foot locker as she solemnly walked outside. She couldn't be happy; the day had left her stoic, almost a wondering body with no spirit, earning strange looks from everyone. She continued walking farther away from the school building when she heard her name be called out.

"Oi, Hinata!" Hinata turned to see Naruto. He was waving to her at the school entrance. "Wait up, Hinata!" He called as he began running over to her. Her eyes widened when she realized what she did today that was probably going to make it worse.

'I forgot... I was walking with Naruto today. I almost left him…'

He arrived moments later panting from the run.

"Sorry Hinata, I was talking to Kakashi-sensei about my homework." He explained, grinning sheepishly.

"No, I'm sorry for not waiting on you!" Hinata said, blaming herself. "I forgot about meeting you after school, even though it was my idea." Hinata sighed, looking down. Naruto saw this, and was trying to think of a way to cheer her up.

"What? No, it's okay Hinata! You forgot since I was late, that's all! Come on, are you going to your house?" He asked as he took her left hand. She looked up to him with a small smile, but sadness that had been in her eyes all day remained.

"Y-yes." She stuttered out. "Sorry I'm making you go this way." She apologized. Naruto looked at her face, seeing what was wrong.

"Its fine, Hinata. You know that." He then saw the something strange about Hinata's eyes.

"Hinata? What's wrong?" He asked concerned. Hinata slightly jumped, and shook her head after she recovered.

"I-I'm fine." She said, and stared at the beautiful trees to their right in the park. Naruto made a face as he saw she was trying to avoid his gaze.

"Hinata, something is wrong. You know you can't hide it from me when we have been together for more than a year now." He said. He gave Hinata's hand a slight squeeze, trying to comfort her. "Will you tell me?" He asked.

"Naruto-kun…" Hinata murmured. He saw as she led him off the sidewalk and they entered the park. He could hear the seriousness in her voice, and he didn't know for sure, but a bit of sadness. They continued on down the dirt ground in the park, passing the plants. Naruto then realized what Hinata was doing.



"What do you want to tell me, Hinata? How serious is it?" He started asking, getting worried. "Just tell me now, Hinata." He said. Hinata slowly stopped as they found themselves under a large Sakura tree.

"Naruto-kun… I'm sorry…" Hinata whispered as she turned to face the tree. She let go of Naruto's hand as it went down to her side.

"Hinata, what is it-" He placed his hand on her arm and turned to face him. His eyes widened in surprise and shock when he saw tears rolling down her eyes. "Hinata…" His hands went up to her face as they wiped away the tears. It was now clear that she had a look of sadness, depression in her eyes. She turned her head back to the tree, forcing him to let go.

"Hinata?" His face was confused as to why she broke away. Then the terrifying thought that he told himself that would never be true popped into his mind.

'She…'

"Hinata…" He whispered, trying to believe it wasn't true. "Do you not… love me?" He couldn't bear saying the words. He saw her make no move. "Hinata… No…" He couldn't believe she would say that. He was about to overreact when he felt her hand grasp his. He looked back at her and saw her face with more tears.

"Of course not, Naruto-kun." She murmured. Without thinking, Naruto gave her a large hug, surprising her. He held tightly, thinking if he loosened his grip, she would disappear from him.

"Hinata…" He said in a relieved voice. Hinata didn't try to get away, but he could feel she was stiff.

"Demo… I don't know if this is worse than that." She whispered. Naruto let go and held to her arms as he placed his forehead on hers.

"Hinata… what is it?" He asked concerned.

"I…" She began saying, but hesitated. Naruto remained silent, patiently waiting for her to finish. He stood back up straight as he took her hands in his, squeezing both.

"I'm moving."

The words stung Naruto, as if she did say she didn't love him. His hands grew numb, not able to squeeze Hinata's.

"You're moving… No, Hinata, you can't be serious!" Naruto said in a whisper. Hinata kept her head down, as more tears streamed her face.

"Father had received a job… and we're moving." She said between her silent gulps. "We're heading to… America." She finished, as Naruto heard a almost inaudible sob. 

Naruto had never seen her this upset, and he could feel tears well up inside of him. He dropped his hands and tightly embraced her.

"I'll be leaving… in a few days." Her voice was muffled, but Naruto heard it clearly.

"Hinata, you can't leave me… Hinata!" He pleaded as he held her out arms' length.

"He wouldn't let me stay, no matter what, and he wanted it be kept a secret." She said. He saw, she had given up. "I'm sorry Naruto-kun…" Her face grew red and puffy from the tears that were still coming down her rosy cheeks. Naruto looked at her hopelessly.

"Will you ever come back to Japan?" He asked in a steady voice. Hinata shook her head, but he waited for a real answer before breaking down.

"Father wasn't sure…" She said. "I'm sorry…" More tears rolled down her face, and Naruto felt defeated. He didn't how he was going to go through life once more without her smile, the warmth she brought to him, her touch. He dug his face into her hair, inhaling her sweet scent he was so used to.

"Hinata…" His voice was regular and calm. Hinata looked up to see why he was so calm while she was a complete mess. It wasn't a second her face surfaced from jacket did she feel his lips press onto hers. Surprised, Hinata slightly opened her mouth, and Naruto took this opportunity as he slid his tongue into her mouth. She clenched onto his jacket as her tongue danced with his. He withdrew as they both stared into each other's eyes.

"I promise we'll find a way to see each other. I will wait forever here for you to come back. Hinata." He murmured as he smiled softly. Hinata could only stare into his blue eyes.

"I wait for you when you come back…" She said once more as he stared back into her unique opal eyes.

"Naruto-kun… Me too." Hinata finally replied, smiling back. Neither saw the sun was already going down.

9 ½ months. Naruto had been counting since the moment he said goodbye to her from the airport. Naruto had spent the remaining 2 trimesters alone with all of his friends like Sasuke and Sakura, but he still felt the emptiness inside him where Hinata always was.

He was the only one who didn't give a surprised look at the teacher when he announced she had moved. He could see the shock in everyone's faces, but he knew they didn't care about her as much as he did. The only person in the class that was as closed to Hinata after him was Nomi. Her face was expressionless, blank. This was definitely a blow to her, as he remembered her smile that seemed plastered to her face always.



Of course everyone paid sympathy to Naruto when they learned, but he told them it was alright, and he had known before break. At first, Naruto found it complicated to focus on his studies, but he knew Hinata would blame herself if she found out he had flunked out. After a few weeks, he started being his old self again, and enjoyed his friend's company. He wanted to keep all the bonds he had with everyone together, as they seemed very important. He continued school, as he always had something to forward to on the weekend.

A letter.

He kept in touch with Hinata through letters mainly, and email. Although her words to him always helped him pass through the next week, he grew a yearning to actually hear her sweet voice again, and feel her soft hands once more. He always asked her if she knew anything about coming back to Japan, and she always replied with the same response in the negative. Even with the long days, Naruto didn't notice when it finally was March, the last day of the 3rd trimester. Everyone was chipper, but he felt miserable. He stayed sitting at his desk with his head lying on the cold wood when he heard his name be called. He directed his attention to Nomi, who didn't sit far from him.

"Naruto-kun, have you been keeping in touch with Hinata?" Nomi asked with that smile once more. Naruto was slightly taken aback.

"How do you know-?" He asked, slightly confused.

"I send her a email and letter every month. She usually replies to my email." Nomi explained.

"How did you find out where she lived-?" Naruto asked.

"I could say I have a friend I keep in touch that can find her there." Nomi said, slightly amused.

"Friend?" Naruto said, confused.

"So have you two kept in touch all this time?" She asked, not feeling the need to explain her previous statement.

"Y-yeah…" Naruto mumbled.

"I'm so glad." Nomi said brightly. Naruto sighed, giving a small grin at her. The truth was much to his surprise, he didn't get neither a letter or a email back from her. It started making him panic, and trying think of an excuse as to why she didn't reply.

After the end of school, everyone was all happy for Spring Break. Naruto wasn't so excited for break since the only thing he wanted was far, far away.

"Later, Naruto-kun!" He heard Nomi's voice rang out, he turned to see her waving goodbye to him. Next to her was a boy with a blank face compared to Nomi's smile. He gave a small wave, and turned back to his foot locker as he slammed it shut. He 

walked away, and found his way to the entrance the field in front of the school was deserted as people had eagerly left to start vacation or homework. He sighed as he dragged on towards the streets when he heard a voice.

"Naruto-kun…" The familiar voice. He abruptly stopped and turned around as fast as he could when he met two opal eyes.

"Hi-Hinata!" Naruto was speechless. Hinata did have a new outfit on he never seen her in before, most likely bought when she was in America, but he could see the same eyes, same hair, same face, same smile.

"I came to visit-" She didn't have a chance to finish when she found herself in Naruto's arms.

"Hinata, I just want to see you again. I've been waiting for more than 9 months…" He whispered as he inhaled her familiar scent. Although there was a new smell that was probably from America, he could still smell the wonderful smell of her from before.

"Naruto-kun… I'm sorry," She apologized.

"No, it's not your fault, I could've visited you instead. I missed you Hinata."

"I missed you too, Naruto-kun… But I'll have to go back soon before break is over." She hesitated, worried about the short amount of time she had.

"I'll still wait for you again, even if we're so far away." Naruto said, and he meant it as the final sentence as they began walking away from the school building.

What is with me and making each short story long and longer?? Ah well.
I hope you enjoyed this, and also if you haven't, looked at my other story I'm typing called Hinata's Story although it won't have so much Naruhina fluff (especially right where I'm at), it is Naruhina, just you wait! Thanks for all the views too!