Run Away and Pursue

Ch. 11 "A Phone Call to Ruin It All."

I don't own Naruto, but I wish I did.

Hinata held the bowl of mozzarella cheese as Keiji finished sprinkling the contents over their raw pizza.

"Now what?" He asked as he took the bowl from her hands and dumped the last few pieces of grated cheese onto the pie.

"It's ready to bake. Fifteen minutes and we'll be eating our master piece." Hinata smiled warmly at the boy.

She observed him more closely, comparing him to his father.

Unlike Naruto's sun-bleached hair color, where it seemed as if he had sucked the color of the sun, Keiji's was more of a sandy red. As father and son, they both held the sky in their orbs, though Keiji's was a bit more faded whilst Naruto's were fierce. Keiji was pale with even paler freckles that could only be distinguishable when you leaned close enough to look at the boy, where as Naruto was a bit tanned with scar looking birthmarks of whiskers on both sides of his face.

She shook her head and wondered how she got herself into this web of a mess.

"That's not very long." Keiji stood back while Hinata opened the oven and slid the pizza in to cook.

"Nope, it isn't."

"It's enough time to play a game, right?"

"Sure, but we'll have to go downstairs and borrow one from Ms. Kurenai." Hinata washed her hands thoroughly and gestures Keiji to do the same.

While he did that, she stepped out of the kitchen and braced herself for what she knew she would see.

Naruto was sitting at the small dining room table, his laptop in front of him as he worked. He stared intently at the screen as his fingers furiously moved as he pressed into the keys to type out the words.

He had retrieved it from his SUV when she had said her gallery kitchen was too small to accommodate more than one helper.

Of course, that was just another excuse to not be close to him.

She had avoided having him under her feet and succeeded in creating the kind of wholesome domestic scene that could have come from any 1950s-era television show in America; which was exactly the kind of life she had wished for when she was Keiji's age.

She could still remember lying in bed, listening to her mother's hard-partying friends and imagining that she lived in another home with another family.

One that cared.

She'd been young then and naïve enough to think she really could make a better life than the one her mother and grandmother had created.

And she had been able to eventually.

She wasn't going to mess that up by allowing a man into it.

Naruto looked up as she walked into the room, as if sensing she was coming, offering a half-smile, his blue eyes as warm and inviting as the sun after a winter storm.

"You guys done?"

"Yes." Hinata said coolly, trying to calm her nerves. "The pizza will be ready in a few minutes. Keiji and I are going downstairs to borrow a board game from Yuhi."

He stood and gave a half-hearted laugh. "I'll come with you guys. I need to get off my lazy butt and stretch anyway."

Hinata couldn't help but notice the way his shirt hugged the well-built shoulders and muscular biceps; couldn't stop from thinking that having him around brought renewed energy into her tire little attic apartment.

"I'm ready." Keiji walked out of the kitchen. "Can we go get the game now?"

Hinata turned away from Naruto, her cheeks ablaze, glad for the distraction and determined to ignore the man as much as possible for the few hours they were going to be there.

If she didn't, she might find herself sinking way deeper into a relationship with him than she wanted to.

"Sure." Hinata urged Keiji out into the hall that led to the stairs. "Mrs. Kurenai has dozens of games. She says they're for her grandkids, but I think she likes to play too."

"I hope she had Monopoly!" Keiji bounded down the steps.

"You like that one?" Naruto wrinkled his nose, following them out the hall. "I never really liked it. It's too complex and required strategy; kind of like Shogi."

Did he feel like a third wheel? An outsider trying his best to become one of the gang?

The thought made Hinata rethink her plan to ignore the man.

Doing so wasn't fair to Naruto, it wasn't fair to Keiji and it probably wasn't even fair to herself.

She was, after all, a grown woman.

Completely capable of having a man in her home, in her life, without falling for him.

She hoped.

She had a feeling it was already too late.

"I was always more of a trivia nut, but I'm up for a round if you guys are." Hinata's voice was light, making sure Naruto couldn't hear the uneasiness in her voice.

The rounded the corner and walked past the front door.

"Did I hear someone mention Monopoly?" Kurenai asked, peeking her head out of the living room.

"We were going to borrow the game from you." Hinata giggled, surprised that Kurenai was home.

Naruto cleared his throat.

He felt as if he were on pins and needles for some odd reason.

"Ms. Hyuuga and I made pizza and we're going to start the game while we wait for it to cook!" Keiji happily explained.

"Pizza and Monopoly, huh?" Kurenai pretended to ponder. "Now that does sound like a bunch of fun. I don't suppose you all have room for an old lady, now would you?"

Hinata smiled, nearly jumping with relief at the thought of Kurenai joining the game.

At least with another adult around, things wouldn't feel quite so comfortably domestic.

"You're not old, Yuhi." Hinata giggled again. "What do you think, Keiji? Naruto?"

"Works for me." Naruto shrugged, a smile planted on his face, and Keiji nodded a slightly less enthusiastic agreement.

"We can set up the game on my kitchen table and eat in the dining room." Kurenai suggested, offering a sly smile. "Your table is just a little too small for a family meal."

"K-Kurenai!" Hinata cried out after Kurenai, who bustled down the hall and into her kitchen, her face a bit pink.

"You three get settled! I'll get the game!" They heard Kurenai's shout.

"Want me to set up the table while you do that?" Hinata inquired, glad for any task that would get her out of the same room as Naruto.

"Go on ahead. You know where everything is." Kurenai returned with a box. "You boys have the pleasure of setting up the game while I help her."

Boys?

Hinata glanced at Naruto, barely hiding her amused smile.

He grinned, flashing his teeth.

Not a boy.

A man.

And that was something that she couldn't ignore, no matter how hard she tried to.

She opened a cupboard and pulled out a handful of plates, her heart beating just a little too hard and fast. She opened another cupboard, pulled out a stack of plastic cups and then started to carry them across the room.

"Looks like you might need some help."

Naruto took the entire stack from her hands, his fingers brushing hers, the spicy scent of his aftershave drifting around them.

Hinata looked behind him and glared at Kurenai, who was leaned on the table with Keiji as they set up the game.

Catching the glare, Naruto raised a brow.

"Really," Hinata gave a sigh as she shook her head lightly. "I'm fine."

But Naruto was already gone, out the door and probably in the dining room setting the table while Hinata stood in the kitchen trying to protest.

Hinata walked into the dining room just in time for Naruto to finish setting the table.

He looked up, sensing her coming presence and smiled. "This table is big enough for an army."

Hinata nodded, wondering why he said that. "Kurenai has a large family. You only saw about half of them the other night. If you can lift the plates and cups for a minute, I'll look for a tablecloth."

"Lots of kids?" He stepped aside as she rummaged through the china cabinet.

"Just three, but each of them gave her a truckload of grandkids." She found a tablecloth and spread it out on the table. "I think she was up to fifteen at last count. Plus three great-grand-kids."

"Whoa." Naruto smiled, trying to imagine that many people around such a table.

"Yep. Things can get pretty loud here at Christmas." She smoothed the tablecloth, then gesture for Naruto to put the plates and cups down. "There. All set. Here, I'll do that."

"You just want me to leave."

Hinata glanced at him when he said that. He had on a smile, but she could tell that it wasn't genuine and he was pained.

"No." She said softly. "I just figured you wanted to go with Keiji."

"Really, because I was thinking I make you uncomfortable." Naruto motioned with his head. "Besides, he has Kurenai."

Hinata flinched, hearing the slight anger behind those words. "You don't."

Naruto took a step closer to her, Hinata stiffening up a bit. "Then why do you keep trying to avoid being close to me, much less in the same room?"

"Wh-what makes you think that?" Hinata gulped, staring him in the eye to prove that she wasn't, even though she knew that it was a lie.

"The fact that I enter the room, you leave it."

"I haven't done that!" Hinata's cheeks burned.

"But you'd like to." Naruto smiled.

Hinata mentally groaned. He was enjoying making her uncomfortable.

"Look, Naruto," She looked away from his azure eyes.

"What?"

Good question.

What did she want to say?

"You're Keiji's father, a man I barely know, and suddenly we're having pizza and playing games on Sunday afternoon. I'm not sure it's a good idea."

"What is?" Naruto got her cornered.

"U-uh," Hinata's mind came up blank. "This whole thing."

Naruto gave a half-scoff, half-laugh. "Why not?"

"Because," she turned around and began to set the plates. "Just because!"

She expected Naruto to leave.

Was waiting for him to leave.

He didn't.

"Hey." Naruto's hands cupped her shoulders, urging her to face him. "I didn't mean to barge into your life, but I did. So that you know, I'm not going to back out of it."

"I don't expect you to." She eased away from his touch, but the warmth of his hand lingered. "I know that Keiji feels comfortable with me, and I know that he needs someone familiar in his life. I'm happy to give him that."

"I'm not doing this just for Keiji."

Naruto seemed to want to say more, but he was interrupted.

"Dad! Mrs. Kurenai sent me to get you. She says we need to get the game ready, and she said that the pizza is probably burnt." Keiji skidded into the room, cutting off further conversation.

"I'll go check on it." Hinata said quickly, nearly running from the room and from Naruto.

From whatever it was he might have said if his son hadn't interrupted.

I'm not doing this just for Keiji.

Then who was he doing it for?

She pondered on it as she walked up the flight of stairs to her apartment.

Himself?

Hinata?

Did she even want to know?

She shoved open the door to her apartment and considered slamming it closed and locking it, but Keiji would be disappointed if she didn't bring down the pizza and play with them.

Kurenai would be worried and come looking for her.

Or worse.

She would send Naruto.

Hinata hurried into the kitchen and took the pizza out of the oven.

The cheese was bubbly, and the crust was golden. It was perfect.

Hinata knew she couldn't put off the inevitable.

She had to carry the pizza down into the dining room, sit with Naruto, Keiji and Kurenai and eat with them.

"It's not like it's a big deal." She muttered to herself as she made her way back through the apartment.

The phone rang but she ignored it.

The sooner she got it over with, the better.

When she returned with the pizza, Kurenai was waiting for her, her eyes shining with curiosity.

Her arms were crossed. "I sent the boys down the basement to grab a few bottles of soda. I figured if you were providing the food, I could provide the drink."

Hinata felt like there was more coming her way and set down the pizza on the dining table. "I'll get the ice."

"Hold on a minute, Hinata." Kurenai demanded sternly. "You really think I don't have soda in the fridge? I sent them down so I could ask you something."

Here goes. Hinata sighed. "What is it?"

"What the heck is going on?" Kurenai nearly shouted.

"I'm not sure I know what you're—." Hinata was about to say but she was cut off by Kurenai.

"I'm talking about you and the kid and his father." Kurenai shook her head. "Sitting together at church, then playing games and having pizza? Together?"

"Keiji's having a tough time." Hinata shrugged a bit. "I'm trying to help him ease in his new life."

"You expect me to believe that that's all there is to it?" Kurenai frowned. "Hinata—."

"Yes, because that is all there is to it." Hinata hissed as the sound of Keiji and Naruto returning echoed down the hall.

Kurenai opened her mouth but shut them when she caught sight of the two coming closer.

"Smells good in here." Naruto entered the room with a bottle of grape soda in his hand and Kurenai used that as an excuse for her frown that was already there.

"Grape?"

"Keiji thought we'd all enjoy it."

Kurenai merely nodded, the frown receding only after she glanced at Hinata for a while. "In that case, we should get eating. Hinata is going to go get ice."

Hinata nodded at the message and left the room.

"I'm going to trounce every one of you!"

"No way! I'm going to win!" Keiji laughed at Kurenai.

She could hear the light, playful arguments between Kurenai and Keiji.

At least someone was having a good day, and that was what the idea of lunch and ice cream had been about.

Giving Keiji a good time, helping him relax with his father, bringing the two of them a little closer.

"Need help carrying those cups?"

Naruto's voice was so surprising that Hinata nearly dropped the cup she had just filled with ice.

She whirled around, her pulse racing. "I have this handled."

"You sure?"

"You want to help out so much? Here!" Hinata handed Naruto two cups filled with ice.

"Thanks." Naruto chuckled at this. "And thanks for today. It's great to hear Keiji laugh again."

"Thank Kurenai for that." Hinata felt guilty for snapping at him. "I didn't do anything."

"You brought the two of them together."

"Sure. Keiji is a special kid, Naruto, and I want to help him in any way I can."

"You're a good person." Naruto nudged her playfully with his elbow.

"No." She offered a smile, her pulse still racing. "I'm just someone doing the best I can."

Would Naruto think she was a good person if he knew everything about the kind of life she lived in Okinawa?

Would he think it if he knew she had worked as an exotic dancer at night and spent her days pursuing one drug thrill after another?

No.

Hinata wasn't good.

"Are we ready to eat?" Keiji asked as she set the ice-filled cup in front of him. "I'm starving!"

"Yeah, we are." She smiled, settling into a chair next to Kurenai, who raised a brow.

"Pray?" Kurenai held out her hands.

Hinata clasped one and Keiji hesitated but clasped the other.

It was then that Hinata realized she had hold hands with Naruto to complete the circle.

She could be childish and refuse to take it, or she could act like a mature adult she sometimes was and do what needed to be done.

She placed her hands in his and felt warmth shoot up her arm, felt his fingers tighten fractionally.

Kurenai asked them to bow their heads down.

Naruto bowed his down and Hinata did the same, her heart thumping too fast and too hard.

As Kurenai murmured a few blessings for the food, Hinata was so focused at the contact between them.

She should not be having this kind of reaction to Naruto.

She shouldn't have any for him.

As soon as Kurenai was finished murmuring, she tugged her hand away, grabbed the pizza cuter Kurenai had set out on the table and began to cut the pizza, studiously avoiding Naruto's eyes while she did so.

She would eat the pizza and play the game, but she would not let herself relax around Naruto.

She would not allow herself to think of him as a friend.

Or something more.

That was the new plan.

But as she set a slice of pizza on Naruto's plate, caught his easy grin as she watched his son sipping grape soda, Hinata started to relax.

Started to enjoy the easy conversation around the table.

By the time the meal was finished and the Monopoly game ended, she could barely remember what she had been so worried about.

Naruto was charming, but he paid no more attention to Hinata than he had to Kurenai.

Obviously fatigue and fear made her overreact and over think his words and gestures.

He was a nice guy, doing his best to create a loving home for his son.

To think he had have any time or energy left to devote to a relationship with a woman was ridiculous.

"How about some ice cream?" Kurenai asked as Keiji carefully put away the game pieces.

"Maybe some pie too?" Keiji responded hopefully.

"Keiji, it's not polite to ask for food when you're at someone else's house." Naruto pulled his cell phone from his pocket, glanced at it and frowned.

"Are they done running tests on your sister?" Hinata noticed him frown.

"They would've called me it they were." Naruto sighed. "At this point, I hope no news means good news."

"Is your sister ill?" Kurenai's attention was caught.

"I'm afraid so."

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

"It's all right." Naruto placed on a smile to not further worry the woman. "Senna's tough."

Kurenai smiled and changed the subject. "Now about the pie, I have so much left that I'll have to eat it for weeks! I'm more than happy to share them. But as for ice cream, all I have is vanilla, but I have a lot of that too."

Keiji beamed.

"I have chocolate ice cream upstairs." Hinata stood up. "Do you want any Keiji?"

"Keiji?" Kurenai stood also and headed to her own kitchen. "What about me? I'm a regular chocolate fanatic, Hinata, so you just go right ahead and get it!"

Hinata laughed and jogged up the stairs to her room.

Spending time laughing and enjoying herself was exactly what she needed.

The light on the answering machine was flashing as she walked into her living room, and she pushed Play as she passed it, going to the fridge and getting out the tub of ice cream.

She was walking back to the answering machine.

"Hey, babe. It's been a long time. Bet you thought you'd never hear from me again."

The voice froze her in her tracks and made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

"I saw you on T.V. You were looking good."

There was a sickening chuckle.

"Better than ever. The car business is booming, but as soon as things slow down, I plan on coming for a little visit and taking up where we left off."

There was a sudden change in tone.

"Bet you're looking forward to that as much as I am, babe."

The message cut off, but Hinata could still hear the voice.

Sasuke's voice.

It was crawling along her nerves, making her muscles weak and her blood cold.

He had found her.

She had known it when Itachi had tried to murder her.

But until she heard Sasuke's voice, she'd hoped she was wrong.

She wasn't.

And now Sasuke was coming to Sendai.

Coming to pick up where they'd left off.

Coming to finish what he had begun the day he had put his hands around her throat and tried to choke the life out of her.

Her hands shot up to her neck, trying to calm herself down but proving that nothing was around her neck.

No hands.

She shuddered, the ice cream dropping from her hands as she ran to the phone and dialed the sheriff's office.

She tapped her foot impatiently as the rings came slowly after one another.

She was dead meat.

Dun-dun-dun~!