Morning came. Hinata opened her lavender eyes slowly as the sun warmed her face. She rolled over in bed, not wanting to wake up yet. "Mmm...Two more minutes, Taiyou-san." She mumbled, covering her face with a pillow. Hinata sat up suddenly. "Morning?" She cried, jumping out of bed. She was still wearing the clothes from last night - some shorts and a wrap t-shirt. Hinata rubbed her temples, tyring to calm down and remember the events of the night before...

Sakura and Ino had dragged them all around downtown. Three clubs, two outdoor parties, four restaurants, a spa and a parade. She vaguely remembered a wedding ceremony as well. Certainly not hers...or was it? Hinata shook her head but still checked her ring finger to make sure. She last remembered wandering around outside the hot springs but not much else...

Naruto!

Hinata blushed furiously. He...he carried me! And I...I asked him out! This is bad! Terrible! Frantically she paced around her room. I can't believe this! How could I be so stupid! I was just so tired and he was so warm...Hinata stop it! You've got to focus and get out of this somehow! Hinata stopped walking and sat on her bed, hugging a pillow to her chest.

But...I'm kind of glad...that I did it. Who knows? Maybe Naruto-kun and I will work out... We could go on dates and be a couple. Hinata smiled.

AH! She screamed inwardly, burying her face in the pillow. Father will never let me go out with Naruto! I think he hates him... He wouldn't think it proper for me to out with someone like him. My marriage is probably going to be arranged anyways...

But...but...

:::

Hinata was slowly working her way through the traditional breakfast the chef had prepared when a maid walked up to her and bowed deeply. "Hinata-san, Uzumaki-san is at the gate for you. Do you wish to see him?" She asked. Hinata almost choked on her tamagoyaki but she managed to swallow the omelet.

"Y-yes. I'll go out and see him." Hinata said quietly, drawing away from the table. The maid shook her head.

"Oh no Hinata-san! There's no need for that! We'll just send him in -"

"I'll go." Hinata interrupted. The maid bowed.

"Yes, of course. My apologies." Hinata left and went to the gate. The iron bars slid apart and Naruto was standing there, smiling softly.

"Good morning, Naruto-kun..." Hinata murmured. Naruto grinned and scratched the back of his head.

"When...when you asked me out last night you never said...where." Naruto glanced up at her and looked at feet. Hinata nodded.

"I'm sorry." Hinata whispered. "I don't really know where we could go..." She trailed off. As long as I'm with you, I'm fine...

Naruto nodded. "It's okay. I'll think of something. Meet me in front of the academy at three, okay?" Naruto said. Hinata nodded.

"Right! Sure!" She was furiously embarrassed but more concerned about what her father would think...Maybe I just won't tell him. Hinata thought, waving to Naruto as he left. Maybe everything will work out in the end... Naruto rounded a corner and disappeared. Hinata sighed and turned away. Maybe...

:::

Hinata sighed, flopping back on her bed. The date was success. Naruto showed her his favorite places in Konoha - the top of the mountains, a small dock by a river, a quiet abandoned training field - and then he walked her home. It was nice...just hanging out with Naruto. She thought, smiling. There was timid knocking at her door. Hinata sat up and ran her fingers through her hair to order in. "Come in!" She called, still struggling with a particularly stubborn knot. A maid bowed after opening the door.

"Phone for you, Hinata-sama." She presented a phone and bowed once more as Hinata accepted, leaving quickly.

"He-hello?" She whispered, hoping with all her might it was Naruto.

"Hinata-chan!" A pair of voices screamed. Hinata nearly dropped the phone in surprise.

"A date with Naruto-kun? Do tell..." Ino crooned.

"How was it? Did he make a move? Did he kiss you?" Sakura gasped.

"Where did you go? If it was Ichiraku Ramen..." Ino growled warningly.

"Give me the phone Ino-pig!" Sakura bellowed. "Tell me everything!"

"Put it on speaker Billboard Brow!" Ino snarled. There was some shrieking and arguing but eventually Hinata heard a slight beep.

"So?" Sakura cooed.

"We-we...we went to a bunch of Naruto-kun's favorite places like the top of the mountains and a little training field and a really nice dock by a river... They were really nice and I brought us some lunch... Naruto-kun said he loved it and we talked a lot..." Hinata's voice was drowned out by Ino and Sakura's squeals.

"It's good thing it wasn't Ichiraku..."

"...the mountain show scenic! Did he..."

"...dress must have been..."

"...tell me did you guys..."

"...and did you..."

"HEY!" Tenten's voice barked. "We should all go out and celebrate. If Hinata's got a boyfriend now she might not be hanging out with us as much and who knows how many missions we'll have coming up." Sakura and Ino screamed and Hinata jerked the phone away from her head.

"Hot springs!"

"Festival!"

"Throw a party!"

"SAKE!"

There was silence.

"Ino-san we're not old enough..." Hinata whispered.

"I can look quite mature when I please..." Hinata could almost hear the smirk in Ino's voice.

"If we get arrested, I'm blaming you." Sakure snorted.

"What, are you scared Billboard Brow?"

"AGH! YOU STUPID PIG!"

The argument dissolved into senselessness. Hinata quietly hung up the phone and went to bed.

:::

Naruto tossed an empty ramen cup in the air. He was going to have to clean up his apartment if Hinata was to ever come over. His hands slipped and the ramen cup dropped on his forehead spilling a tiny bit of stagnant broth in his hair. Naruto tossed the cup over to a pile of garbage and rubbed his hair, frantically trying to get the disgusting liquid out. Now that he was dating Hinata, inviting her over to his apartment sounded like a really big step in their relationship, not to mention perverted.

The slimy broth trickled down his scalp and coated his fingers in a thin film that would come off no matter how roughly he rubbed it on his pant legs and bedsheets. Naruto sighed. I guess since I have girlfriend now, I should stop going out as Naruko...He grinned. One last run - just for kicks. He clasped his hands and made the chakra gathering sign. It only took a few moments before smoke filled the room and where Naruto once stood there was now a tall blond teenage girl. He flipped his long ponytail and dusted off his tight black pants. Naruko wore a net shirt and a black shirt that tied in front. Her hips were strung with an assortment of black and orange belts. She smiled. This is my last trip - better enjoy it!

The girls went from party to party, flirting with boys and dancing for as long as their energetic bodies would allow. Hinata even let herself loose, taking off her short-sleeved sweatshirt to reveal a tight tank top and a net shirt.

They went to the hot springs to cool down and again Hinata saw the woman. She seemed different than last time, younger actually. "Hi." She said while they were undressing. The woman looked at her and seemed to blush. "Oh." Hinata said quietly,thinking she was self-conscious. "I'll talk to you later..."

"No it's okay." She said shakily. "I'm Naru-" She cut herself off.

Damn. Naruto thought. Naruko! What a stupid name! She'll totally recog-

"'Naru?'" Hinata said quietly. "I don't think I know a 'Naru'..." She smiled and pushed her clothes into a locker. "Have a nice time Naru-san! Maybe I'll see you around sometime?" She left, her dark hair swirling in the humid air. Naruko smiled softly.

Hinata-chan...

Author's Note: "Taiyou" means "sun." She's referring to the sun as a person.