Chapter 18: Knowing the truth…

It was the next morning Hinata was currently in the kitchen eating cereal. As she was eating her cereal her thoughts went towards Sasuke. She couldn't stop thinking about him no matter what. No matter how much she told herself that she despised him for leaving the way he did and part of her scowled herself for thinking of him in such as way. She just couldn't bring herself to hate him.

She sighed as she stood up with her cereal bowl in her hand and as soon as she stood up she ran into Kakashi and spill the little bit of milk that she left inside the bowl on her shirt.

"Ah, I'm sorry Hinata I thought you saw-"He stopped talking as he stared at the stop where the milk had spilled on her. A blushed crept to his face as he looked at the spot that was now see through since the milk had wet that spot.

"What is it sensei?" She asked as she looked at him and then followed his eyes and noticed that he was staring at her…chest.

She blushed as she covered up herself as she quickly turned around. "Sensei!" She nearly screamed in embarrassment. He chuckled to himself but then he stopped.

"I mean…sorry I didn't mean to stare" He stated. He watched her walk around him to place the bowl in the sink as she quickly walked out the kitchen and into her room.

He heard her slam the door as he sighed to himself.

XXX

"I can't believe that just happened? That was so embarrassing and awkward" She blushed at the thought of how her sensei stared at her…well staring there of all places to stare.

A blush came to her face but then it quickly went away as she decided to go take a shower.

XXX

"What's wrong with me? Why did that have to happen? Why can't I stop myself from thinking of her like that? It isn't right…I shouldn't be thinking of my student like this. I guess living in the same house with a girl can do this to you…but still I'm fifteen years her senior and I really—"His thought were caught off when he heard someone knocking on the door. He picked up his mask and placed it on before he opened the door.

When he opened it there stood Sakura, Ino and TenTen. "Hello sensei is Hinata home?" They all asked in unison. He smiled from behind his mask as he nodded.

"Yes she is here…come on in" He stated as he opened the door a little more to let them inside.

When they were inside they all stared at him blushing. He looked at them feeling rather awkward since they were staring so much at him. "Um…" Kakashi started as he looked at the three girls who were still giggling and blushing while looking at him.

"Hinata you're friends are here…please come get them" Kakashi yelled out to Hinata. Hinata then appeared not too far from behind Kakashi. He sighed in relief at the sight of her as he then quickly turned to Hinata.

"Well I'm be leaving now…" Hinata nodded as she watched him quickly leave the apartment. She sighed fully well knowing that he only left because he didn't want to be there while Sakura, Ino and TenTen were there knowing that all three of them liked him.

"So what did you guys come here for?" She asked as she sat down on the couch. They all sat down as well; Ino sitting to Hinata's right while Sakura sat to her left while TenTen sat in the chair.

"Well can't we stop by to visit our best friend" Ino asked as she looked at Hinata slightly frowning.

"Yeah you sound as if you don't want us here?" Sakura stated. Hinata shook her head.

"Ah-no it isn't that…I didn't mean for it to sound that I way. I was just asking…" Hinata trailed off not saying anything more. Ino and Sakura grinned.

"We were only kidding with you Hinata" Sakura said with the grin still on her face. TenTen shook her head as she then directed her attention to Hinata.

"So Hinata my friend, you have been living with Hatake Kakashi for three years now, isn't that correct?" Hinata nodded her head slowly not knowing where her question was leading to.

"I have" She answered.

TenTen then looked at Sakura and Ino while smiling in a devious way. Ino then turned to Hinata. "Have you seen him…his face I mean?" Ino asked.

"Yeah I mean three years living under the same roof as him I'd expect you to at least see his face at least once or maybe three times" Sakura said as she looked at Hinata awaiting her answer.

Hinata blushed as she nodded her head and as soon as she did all three girls were crowded in her face. "You SEEN his face?" Sakura screamed the word 'seen' in her face.

"Tell me Hinata how does her look?" Ino asked.

"I bet he is the most handsome guy you have ever laid eyes one" TenTen sighed in a dreamy way as she started blushing.

"U-Um…please give me some air to breath" Hinata mumbled as she gave them all an odd look.

They all mumbled out a sorry before backing away from her but they all still looked at her waiting to hear how Kakashi really looked.

"W-Well…he doesn't wear his mask when he is home…and actually I've known how Kakashi looked ever since I was twelve but I promised him that I wouldn't tell anyone what's really behind the mask" She giggled when TenTen, Sakura and Ino all sighed in a sad way.

"Why is he ashamed or something?" Sakura asked.

"No…he shouldn't be Kakashi-sensei is um…s-sexy" Hinata blushed a darker shade of red when she said the word 'sexy'.

They all stared at Hinata in shock as the room filled with silence for about a good ten minutes until Ino spoke.

"Sexy you say?" She smirked as she looked at the now embarrassed Hyuga female.

"Now I really want to know what's behind the mask" Sakura mumbled as she found herself blushing at the thought of Kakashi. TenTen just smiled as she looked at her three friends.

"Well I—"TenTen stopped talking when she heard a loud bird chirp. "What the hell was that?" Hinata smiled as she walked off into her room without telling them what the noise was or where it came from.

"Where is she going?" Sakura asked. Ino and TenTen all shrugged as they got up as well to follow Hinata.

XXX

Hinata looked at the bird and grabbed the letter from it as she smiled to herself as she opened it. "A letter from Naruto…" She thought as she began to read it.

Dear Hinata,

Hi Hinata-chan sorry I didn't write you last week I've been really busy with training and trying to keep Ero-Sennin from getting in trouble with the women he flirts with. I'm telling you he's just won't stop we even got kick out of this inn we were staying in because the women he was flirting with turned out to be the owner's wife. Gah! Ero-Sennin really gets to me sometimes but he is a great teacher and an all around good guy besides his perverted ways.

Well how have things been going for you over there in Konoha? I hope you're doing well Hinata-chan. I really miss you and Kakashi-sensei a lot…but I really miss you the most Hina-chan. I know right about now you're probably blushing. Man, I wish I was there so I can see that blush of yours. You look so cute whenever you do blush.

How is everyone else doing? Like Sakura-chan, Kiba, Yukki and Konohamaru? Are you and Kiba still best friends? It's just a random question that I wanted to know. I thought about writing Sakura-chan but I don't know what to write to her so I don't write to her besides enjoy writing to you a lot Hina-chan but tell Sakura-chan that I did say hi. Oh if my brother is giving you any trouble what so ever just tell him when I get back I'm going to kick his ass for messing with you.

Well Hinata-chan I have to go now Ero-Sennin is rushing me and he's starting to leave me so I'll write you again soon.

P.S - When I get back from my training I hope that you are ready for to do what we promised each other and that is to bring Sasuke back to Konoha…where he belongs.

Naruto

Hinata smiled to herself as she finished the letter and sure enough she did blush at the part where he had written that he knew she would blush.

"Awe, you're blushing. Is that a letter from Naruto?" Ino asked in a mischievous way as she started smirking.

"So I was right Naruto does write you certain things that are just meant for you to read" Sakura smirked as she looked at the letter in Hinata hands.

Hinata pulled the letter closer to her. "Sakura!" Hinata gasped as she looked at her in shock.

"What?" She asked as if she didn't do anything wrong. TenTen smiled. "So do you still like him?" She asked.

Hinata looked away from the three. "To be honest…whenever I think about Naruto now I don't feel my heart racing fast or get that fluttery feeling that I use to feel whenever I thought about him. Sure I do still hold some feelings for him but my feeling of love for him is slowly fading away" They all stared at her not knowing what to say.

"So you're saying that you don't like him anymore?" TenTen asked.

Hinata shook her head. "No I'm not saying that…I do still like not but just not as much as I use to" TenTen nodded understanding what she was saying.

"If not Naruto…is it now Gaara?" Ino asked knowing that Hinata held feelings for the red head.

She blushed at the name Gaara. "Oh yeah she likes him" Ino sighed as she rolled her eyes.

"But why Gaara, Hinata-…? I mean sure he isn't bad looking he's actually rather cute but why him?" Sakura asked as she looked at her best friend.

"Well…Gaara is well someone that I care for a lot, he's someone that I can trust…I'm not saying that I don't trust Naruto or anyone else for that matter but Gaara he just…it's kind of hard to explain" She stated as she started blushing.

"Oh I think I understand no need to explain it Hinata" Ino stated as she smiled.

"I haven't seen or heard from Gaara in three years but I know he doing okay that's what Temari-san told me the other day when she was here in Konoha" She said.

They all looked at her and nodded. "Oh crap! I forgot that I told Lee that I would train with him" TenTen hurried to the door. "It's been over an hour and I told him to wait for me. And I'm late! I have to go now I'll catch up with you three later" TenTen then rushed out Hinata's room and the front door was heard being opened and the closed.

Sakura and Ino then looked at Hinata. "Well Sakura and I are just going to hang our today. Did you want to join us?" Ino asked.

Hinata nodded. "Sure I don't mind" The two girls nodded as they walked out of Hinata's room. "We'll be waiting outside for you" Sakura shouted out to Hinata from in the living room as they walked out the apartment.

Hinata looked at the letter once more before putting it inside her dresser drawer.

XXX

As the three were walking the streets of Konoha a loud voice could be heard calling Hinata's name.

"Hey, big sister Hinata" The voice yelled out. Hinata turned around to see not only Konohamaru but Yukki as well.

"Konohamaru and Yukki" They both grinned at her.

"So Hinata, have you heard from Naruto, yet?" Konohamaru asked as he looked at Hinata. She smiled and nodded.

"I have he asked about you both in his letter" Both boys grinned as they looked at Hinata. "And he also told me to tell you hi Sakura…but seeing as you were being so nosy by reading the letter you probably already know that, correct?" Hinata smirked as she looked at Sakura.

Sakura smiled nervously as she then stuck her tongue out at Hinata in a playful way.

"Well did he say anything about when he was coming back?" Yukki asked. He was quite lonely being at home without his younger brother being there but wasn't going to admit that to anyone.

"W-Well no he didn't really say but I know it'll be soon" Hinata flashed him a smile. Both Konohamaru and Yukki blushed as they turned away from Hinata.

"W-Well we'll see you later neechan" Konohamaru stuttered as he grabbed Yukki by his collar and ran off.

"Those two…" Hinata smiled to herself. Sakura and Ino smiled as they looked at Hinata. They both considered her as they're best friend and they care about her a lot.

"I'm surprised that you and Yukki didn't start an argument today" Ino stated as she looked at Sakura. Sakura frowned at the thought.

"That guy annoying trust me…" Ino then giggled. "Who knows maybe the reason he likes to bother you so much is because he likes you" Ino stated while smiling.

Hinata looked at the two. "I don't think that it's it…Yukki-chan really doesn't like Sakura. He doesn't like to argue with her just to toy with her because he likes her, he honestly doesn't like her or Ino for that matter" Hinata sighed at the thought of Yukki and his odd personality which would make you think he is Sasuke's brother more so than Naruto; if only Yukki didn't look like Naruto so much.

"Hinata-chan! Hinata-chan!" Hinata's head snapped up when she heard Sakura talking to her.

"Geez we've been calling you for the longest now. Did you have a nice trip to daydream world?" Ino smirked. Hinata blushed in embarrassment.

"So who were you thinking about? Gaara? Naruto? Or…Sasuke" Sakura's voice slightly cracked when she said Sasuke's name. Hinata hasn't told her or anyone for that matter what Sasuke had confessed to her before he had left the village three years ago.

Sasuke whispering just those three words to her made her heart skip a beat every time she thought about it. She didn't want to tell Ino or Sakura what he told her fully well knowing it'll break their hearts if she did tell them. The two girls have had a crush on the Uchiha ever since they were younger and they both loved him. Sure Sakura is pretty close with Lee now and Ino with Chouji but a part of them…well a huge part of them still both had feelings for…Uchiha Sasuke.

"I was actually thinking about Y-Yukki" She stated as she looked at them both. They both sighed and said no more.

"Well I'm sorry to say but I have to go now…my mother needs me in the flower shop" Ino stated as she looked at both Sakura and Hinata. They both nodded and waved her off when she walked away.

When she was finally gone Sakura turned to Hinata. "Hinata…can I ask you something?" Her voice was serious but it also held a curiosity in her tone.

"Yes, you may…"

Sakura looked to the ground for awhile before looking away from Hinata. "Hinata…you and Sasuke…you two um…he liked you isn't that right?" She asked still not looking at Hinata.

Hinata noticed the slight jealously in her tone and could tell that she was hurting inside.

"I—"

"I asked you this because the day I confessed my feelings to Sasuke he told me that…he wanted a girl that's more like you" Sakura then took a glance at Hinata to see her expression which was a shocked one.

"This is the same day you two were training together…but when I came you had left" Hinata had known right away what day she was talking about because that next day she turned down Sasuke; much to his dismay.

Hinata looked back up at Sakura when she heard her speak once more. "So is it true…did Sasuke like you?" Hinata looked at her not knowing if she should tell Sakura or not knowing how fragile she is when it comes to Sasuke.

"Um…"

"And please do not lie Hinata" Sakura said in a firm tone.

"That same day right before you came, Sasuke told me that he liked me. I was shocked that he liked me out of all the other females in the village. To be rather honest I didn't see Sasuke in that way…and just as he was waiting for me to tell him what I felt you came. I had taken the opportunity to leave. The next day I had seen him again and he questioned me about my feelings for him" Hinata started laughing causing Sakura to look at her.

"I told him that I didn't know what he wanted me to say in response to how he felt for me and he got kind of irritated and told me that I was the first girl that he liked and he didn't know how to act in a situation like that and he wanted to know if I liked him as well" Hinata started smiling.

"That was the first day I seen Sasuke blush of embarrassment…but I had told him that I liked him but I only saw him as a friend. He became rather angry with me and didn't talk to me for awhile" She stated and then she paused as she looked at Sakura who was still listening to her.

"After the attack on the village when I was hurt badly we really became close but not in a sense where we were dating…I just became to think of him as a best friend" She explained this all to Sakura who was looking at Hinata but her expression was unreadable to Hinata.

"Another thing…you were the last person he saw before he left Konoha…what did he say to you"

Hinata blushed which Sakura noticed and started to become rather anxious to know what happened. "So something did happen?" She asked as she looked at her best friend.

"Um…" She started but end up trailing off while still blushing. "There is no way I can tell Sakura that Sasuke told me that he loved me right before he left. Hearing that will break her heart…I just can't do that to her" Hinata looked at Sakura.

"Nothing happened…" She lied as she looked at her.

Sakura looked at her and could tell right away that something happened between them that night. Hinata was hiding it from her…probably for the best but she couldn't help but to feel jealous that Sasuke liked her.

"Oh I see…well I have to get going now" Sakura stated as she flash Hinata a small weak smile. "See you later Hinata" Sakura stated as she walked away.

"Sakura…" Hinata whispered. She had known that Sakura was probably hurting inside knowing how Sasuke felt about her when she told her.

XXX

Hinata walked home in a sulky mood. When she entered the apartment she walked straight to the couch and sat down. She was starting to think about Sakura's facial expression when she told her that Sasuke liked her.

"Sakura is probably hurting inside right about now. Maybe it wasn't a good idea for me to tell her that. I know how that feels to like someone who only has they're eyes one someone else and not you. I've been through that with Naruto…but he likes me now and now I longer feel for him what I use to…maybe just a little but lately my mind goes over to Gaara and Sasuke" She sighed sadly.

"I miss them both…" She turned around when she heard the front door open. She looked over her shoulder to see Kakashi coming into toward her to sit down.

"What's wrong you look down? Is everything alright?" He asked his voice filled with concern.

"I'm alright…I was just thinking that's all"

He eyed her for a while before nodding. "Hinata…you know that you can always talk to me if you feel the need to talk, ne?" He looked at her noticing that she was looking anywhere but him; most likely because of what happened earlier that morning.

"I know that sensei…" She smiled as she glanced up at him. He smiled as he looked at her. He did care about her a lot but not in the way you would think…sure he does find her to be very attractive but when he sees her he thinks of her like a younger sister and is sometimes quite protective of her when it comes to guys. He was often worst than Kiyoshi and Neji put together.

Hinata giggled at the thought causing Kakashi to look at her. "What's so funny?" He asked as he looked at her giving her an odd look.

"I was just thinking about how you remind me of my two niisan's Kiyoshi and Neji"

"How so?" He asked her.

"Well the three of you act very protective of me…like an older brother with his younger sister" She smiled as she looked at him.

"Well of course, you mean a lot to me Hinata so it's only right that I protect you" He said as he then took off his mask and he smiled at her. She blushed as she looked at his handsome face.

He noticed this and slightly smirked. "What's wrong Hinata?" He asked still smirking as he looked at her.

"U-Um…it's nothing" She stated as she quickly looked away from him still blushing. He smiled as he looked at her. He watched her turn on the TV as she started flicking through the channels.

He smiles to himself. "I'm glad that you are here with me still Hinata" She turned to look at him. "With you here living with me…I don't so alone anymore. You're like my family and I'm glad that you are here" He admitted flashing a grin.

"Sensei…" She stared at him not knowing what to say. He turned back to face the TV to watch it not saying another word.

"I am too…I am too happy that I'm here with you" She whispered with a smile on her smile as did he when he heard her say that. For the rest of the night the two watched TV in silence but a comfortable silence just enjoying each other's company.

XXXX

Thank you for the reviews, the next chapter will be up soon.