Disclaimer blah blah blah
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They say that digging up memories is like digging up a grave…
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Every day they would meet each other at the same place, same time, see the same things, say the same things - but never do the same things because the same things were boring - yet everything was still the same .Never changing - always changing - same, same, same…yet different.
"Meet me under the big oak tree."
And she did.
Because the big oak tree at the center of the park was always there and always would be. Of course it would change with the seasons - winter, spring, summer, fall - yet it was always the same tree - always would be.
It was spring now, flowers everywhere - as promised by the life-giving season - and she met him, as always, by the big oak tree - as promised.
They talked about her strict life with her father, his strict life with his caretaker in the orphanage, and their life in the future. Always hoping for some things to change, some to stay the same.
And then he did something different. Well not different exactly because "different" was always expected to be the same, as everything always was. So in truth what he did was something else that had never been done before. He reached over and took her hand. Whether it was involuntary or on purpose she didn't know, yet she didn't mind - his hand was warm, just like everything else about him. It was like having your own personal piece of sunshine.
And the next day, and the next day, and the next, he did the same.
Just as it always was, and always would be - as promised.
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Chapter 3: Familiar
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"Ino, you have no idea-"
"All clear," Sasuke interrupted.
"What?" Sakura stood mouth agape. They had been running around for hours after the angry mob decided to call the police on Ino, and when they finally caught her it took Sasuke only a matter of minutes to calm them down.
"Ha!" Ino pointed a finger at Sakura. "I'm not dead!" She then proceeded to dance around a fuming Sakura.
"Unfortunately," grumbled Sasuke.
Ino stopped and looked up at him. "Hey, I thought you were on my side!"
"I'm on no one's side. I just didn't feel like bailing you out of jail."
Sakura giggled. Sasuke glared. Sakura shut up.
"Well I'm glad that's over," said Tenten walking over to the trio.
Sakura shot Tenten an incredulous look. "Tenten, all you did was stand here the whole time."
Tenten nodded. "Yup, lots of work."
The others rolled their eyes.
"Hey guys guess what!" yelled a particular hyperactive blond followed by a blushing Hinata.
"Ooh! What is it Naruto!" said Ino, already excited.
"Well," continued Naruto, "I was talking with Hinata and I had the greatest idea!!! How would you guys like to meet Gran?"
Sasuke raised a perfect eyebrow. "Gran?"
"Well she's kinda like my grandma but not really," explained Naruto.
"W-well I think it's a great idea," said Hinata. "The day's almost over anyway."
"Yeah, and I'm hungry!" Naruto added. Hinata giggled. He had seventeen bowls of ramen, and he was still hungry? The others all agreed-they were tired after all.
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The lock clicked as Naruto opened the door.
"Gran! I'm home!"
They stood in front of a relatively small house painted a bright, and I mean bright, pink. Naruto noticed them staring and said, "Gran liked the color so I painted it last summer."
Tenten raised her eyebrows. "She picked this color?"
Naruto laughed sheepishly. "Well…actually she picked out this light peach-ish color, but I got the wrong one, heh."
"Figures."
"Well anyway, do you guys wanna come in?" Naruto opened the door wide, and after one last look, they all filed inside.
"Hi Gran. "
Inside was a kind elderly lady with warm brown eyes. "Hello Naruto. And who might these be?"
"These are my friends, Hinata, Tenten, Sakura, and Ino," he said, stepping back so that she could get a better look.
"Ahem."
"Oh, and that's Sasuke." Naruto added, gesturing toward the other male.
Gran smiled. "Welcome." She paused and glanced back at the kitchen. "Well I wasn't expecting visitors. It looks like I'll have to make dinner for seven."
"Oh, you don't have to. We can just order pizza or something, if that's fine with you," suggested Sakura.
"Oh!" Naruto perked up as if just realizing something. "That's great because there's this new pizza place that just opened called Mr. Hall's and-"
Sasuke silenced him by pulling him up by the front of his shirt. "Not that place," he growled, and Naruto could've sworn his eyes were red for a split second.
"O-o-ok, we can order somewhere else."
Sasuke let go and turned away, completely calm once again. Naruto adjusted his shirt and went to get the phone.
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The laughter died down around the too small table. Naruto had just finished eating a whole large-sized pizza. After all the bowls of ramen, no one thought he could do it. No wonder he ordered an extra pizza.
Sitting back in her seat Hinata noticed a bowl of fruit on the table & sat up again. Gesturing toward the bowl she asked, "Can I have some?" Gran nodded and she took a handful of the sour sweet fruit and plopped them in her mouth, the juice sliding down her chin so that she giggled. "Mmm, I love blueberries! They're my favorite!"
"No kidding! Mine too!" exclaimed Naruto as he reached for some as well.
Gran laughed her gentle, silent laugh. "I remember the first day I met Naruto, he was covered in blueberry juice!"
Hinata looked at Naruto and the two burst out laughing, the others all joining in. When they quieted down again Gran stood up. "Well I should probably clean this all up now."
"Oh! I can help," volunteered Tenten, standing up as well.
Gran smiled. "Thank you dear." The two proceeded to clean up the dishes as the others followed Naruto to the living room.
"You really are a great help, dear," said Gran, washing the dishes then passing them on to Tenten to dry.
"Oh it's nothing," responded Tenten. "I'm used to doing these kinds of things."
"It is a pleasure having company," commented Gran, handing a dripping plate to Tenten. "It's usually just Naruto and me, always has been."
Tenten finished drying the plates and began placing them in the cupboard. "You don't have any grandchildren?"she asked over her shoulder.
Gran paused for a brief second, then continued washing. "No. My family died in a horrible accident."
Tenten closed the cupboard and went back to dry the cups. "I know how you feel. I lost my family too. I barely remember my parents."
Gran sighed. "It must be harder at such a young age."
Tenten shrugged. "I don't know. But I like to think that they were really great people. I've had my friends to help me a lot as well." She smiled, thinking of all the great times she had had with Hinata, and sometimes Neji as well. "And of course you have Naruto," she added.
Gran chuckled. "Ah, yes. Naruto is wonderful." She paused, turning off the sink and picking up a towel to help Tenten finish drying the cups. "And friends are such a great blessing." The two looked at each other and smiled. Tenten liked the way Gran's eyes twinkled when she smiled. It was comforting and somewhat familiar, as if Gran had smiled at her that way every day of her life. And it made her feel empty, because for as long as she could remember the only one's who would ever smile at her with even just a hint of loving care, were the nannies, criticizing her every action, who were paid to watch over her.
As they were just finishing up, they heard Naruto calling them to the living room because they had come up with a dilemma: Hinata, Tenten, Sakura, Ino, and Sasuke did not have a place to stay for the night. When Hinata suggested they just go and find a cheap motel to stay in (as they had been doing previously) Naruto argued that it was too late and they probably wouldn't find a place anyway, so they should just spent they night here. Hinata said that she just couldn't burden them any longer but Naruto persisted, saying that it was no big deal.
"It really isn't a burden, dear. It will be a pleasure having you spend the night," insisted Gran. Naruto smiled brightly.
"But-"
"Tsk tsk tsk, no buts! What Gran said is final," said Naruto, placing a hand on Hinata's shoulder. He smiled so brightly that Hinata just had to give in and smiled as well.
"Ah, but there is one little thing," Gran admitted. Naruto turned to look at her with a less-enthusiastic face. "There is the matter of space."
"Oh well that's easy!" said Naruto, obviously expecting something much worse. "Hinata and Tenten can stay in my room. I'll stay down here on the couch. Sakura and Ino can take the guest room, and Sasuke can sleep on the floor!" There was a stern look from Gran and Naruto changed his mind. "Fine I'll stay on the floor. Sasuke can have the couch."
The others agreed but Hinata was still having doubts. "A-are you sure you don't want to stay in your room? Tenten and I-"
"No way, Hinata! Out of the question! How could you possibly deprive me of experiencing a one-on-one bonding session with the floor? I've been dreaming of this moment for years!" He smiled that dazzling smile again, and Hinata, again, could not argue. There was something about Naruto that made her just want to jump and scream for joy, something that just made her feel so complete. And nothing else mattered when his eyes shone in that precise way-
But no.
No. no. no.
'impossible'
They had just met; she didn't know him. Unlike the boy from her past, he had had a family. And she was on a mission. You couldn't complete a mission by just staying in one place. The others she was dragging along- Sakura, Ino, Sasuke, Tenten…… Tenten- she had a duty to them as well. She couldn't let them down; she couldn't let herself down, and all because of some stupid thought…
But yet.
'If only' she thought as she lie down in his bed. Tenten had already fallen asleep, but Hinata was kept awake by her trivial thoughts. 'If only it was Naruto who would stay with me, and play with me, and notice me all those years ago' But what was she thinking? She must be very tired.
They had just met; she didn't know him.
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Hinata squinted as her eyes adjusted to the new light filling Naruto's bedroom. She hadn't noticed in the dim light last night, but the walls were painted a bright turquoise-her favorite color. It seemed that the whole house was full of bright colors. She liked it. Her house was all the same boring off-white almost grayish color. It seemed so depressing compared to this colorful home.
She lied in bed until she heard a knock at the door and sat up. Assuming it must be Gran she said, "Come in." But the person who walked in wasn't Gran, it was the blond-haired boy she had fallen asleep thinking about. Hinata thought briefly of how strange it must be to have to ask permission into your own room.
"Mornin'," he said as he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed next to Hinata. "You'll never guess what Gran's making for breakfast!"
From the look on his face Hinata was immediately filled with enthusiasm to match Naruto's. "What?" she asked.
"Blueberry pancakes!" he yelled, and the two started jumping up and down. They stopped abruptly when Naruto turned to look at Tenten. "Oh no, is Tenten still sleeping?" Hinata raised a hand to her mouth when she saw her friend stirring.
Tenten groaned. "Well I'm awake now." She sat up, yawned, and then stared at the two of them smiling at each other. "What happened to you two, it looks like you just found out an all-you-can-eat ramen buffet just opened down the street."
"There's an all-you-can-eat ramen buffet?!?!"
Tenten rolled her eyes.
"Okay, well, I'm gonna go wake everyone up so we can all eat blueberry pancakes!" He smiled and left the room. There were yells heard from next door-the guest room-a thump from someone falling onto the floor, and another thump of someone getting hit in the head. The door slammed and Sakura yelled, "GET OUT!"
Tenten laughed hysterically at this when Naruto came in, smiled, waved awkwardly, and left. The two got ready quickly and met Naruto and Sasuke down stairs. Ino and Sakura came down shortly after.
"Took you long enough," commented Sasuke. "What happened? Run out of eyeliner?"
"Yeah you should know you mascara wearing-"
"Blueberry pancakes?" Yelled Naruto as Gran came in with a plate full of the blue-spotted pancakes.
"Oh, sure," said Sakura as she sat down. Sasuke was completely calm yet again.
They all ate together, Naruto and Hinata commenting on how great they were. Naruto ate fifteen-this boy could eat!- and even Hinata ate more than she usually would. When they were all done it was time for them to leave.
"Do you have to?" whined Naruto and pouted. He was holding Hinata's hands as they stood in front of the door, ready to leave.
Hinata giggled at his childish antics. "Yes, Naruto, we do. I'm sorry."
"We're on a mission!" yelled Ino.
"You could come along if you like," suggested Tenten.
"Yeah, keep Sasuke company," said Sakura, glaring at said Sasuke. She had gone from completely adoring him to completely loathing him in just a matter of days. Ino had gotten over her obsession, but was still oblivious to his jerk-ness, as Sakura called it.
"Nah, I have to stay here with Gran." He paused. "Well good luck on your search. You're looking for a…guy right?"
Hinata nodded. "That's the plan." They both kinda stood looking at each other for a second, still hand-in-hand. "Well, yeah, we should go."
"Oh, yeah. Um, bye." Then Naruto hugged her. This startled Hinata ad she hesitantly hugged back. With a couple more waves and handshakes they left to continue the search. But something felt strange.
Hinata wanted him to hug her again.
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End of Chapter 5!
I'll be in Mexico for winter break but I'll try to have the next chapter up as soon as I can. Thanks to everyone who's reading and please review!