Cosmic Palette

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Summary: Hinata Hyuga is a talented, aspiring, beautiful painter, Naruto Uzumaki is the handsome heir to a famous company that trades talented works of art. What happens when you add love and business together? A Cosmic Palette. Rated T. NxH

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Chapter Four:

December:

Sakura's and Sasuke's wedding was set to be in March, the 30th to be exact, and right now, it was currently December. Hinata set her tea down, and blew out a breath. That gave Naruto and her around 3 and a half or so months to plan, which may not have seemed as a lot of time, but Sakura wanted a small, simple wedding that didn't require much decoration.

Taking another sip, she ran her hands through the journal that contained all the plans and ideas. They were promising, but needed work and other opinions. Sighing, she thanked whatever higher power there was that she was just helping out in decorations. If she had to do guests, food, and building deals she would drive herself insane. As the maid-of-honour, surprisingly she didn't have that much to do. Sakura had just asked her to do the decorations and other 'artsy things', while she and Ino would take care of the rest.

Sinking into her chair, she glanced at her watch. In 15 minutes she would meet Naruto in a restaurant to talk some more about the budget, and where to buy the goods from. A bubble of excitement burst in her stomach, and she smiled begrudgingly. She was happier to talk to the boy she had once known than she would like to admit.

Hinata spotted Naruto right away in the restaurant, as his neon yellow hair, and enthusiastic greeting were, kind of, hard to miss. Affectionately, she smiled at him, and settled herself comfortably. His eyes shined at her, and he launched right away into his idea of what the hall should look like. He had been thinking about it all night, and as Hinata listened to him, she was amazed at how persuasive he could be.

His passion, and the way he talked joined together to form an effective speech, and she was instantly pulled into his discussion. Tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, she allowed herself to loosen a tad bit more.

After they had thoroughly discussed his idea, and the budget, they took a minute to relax. It was hard work, and the finance for the budget was driving them both insane. Hinata had been decent at math in school, but Naruto had abhorred the subject, and had only struggled through it because he had known it would be useful.

"So, Hinata," Naruto asked, stretching, "What are your plans on Friday?"

"I'm free," she said easily, but creased her eyebrows a moment later, "I think we shouldn't discuss budget that day though, let's see how this works out, and then see what to do. Why don't we focus on the center pieces for the table on Friday? If we want to have them all handmade, we need an idea fast."

Naruto blinked, and then a slow smirk spread over his features. "I wasn't asking to discuss the wedding on Friday, Hinata, I was just asking to see if you were free."

It was her turn to blink, "Why?"

He chuckled, "I don't think it's good for us if all we talk about is the wedding, I think we need a break to relax. Besides," he grinned childishly, "I like spending time with you, and want to do so over something non-work related."

Her cheeks slowly turned deep pink, and she stuttered out a faint reply, before rapidly focusing on her food, and desperately wishing Naruto didn't make her feel the way she did when he said a comment like that.

Watching Hinata from his seat opposite her, Naruto decided he quite liked the way he could make her cheeks turn pink like that.

Over the entire month of December Naruto and Hinata kept on meeting each other, though only two-thirds of those were to work on Sakura and Sasuke's wedding.

January:

"You've been meeting Naruto a lot, huh Hinata?" Sakura's grin was like that of the Cheshire Cat's, and her eyes twinkled at Hinata's embarrassed expression.

"W-We're decorating your wedding," Hinata tried to retort, "Of course we have to meet a l-lot."

"Sure, sure." Sakura waved her hand nonchalantly, but there was a wicked gleam in her eyes, "I think you're starting to like him."

"What? No!" Not that she would be opposed to the idea or anything, but it-just-no. Flustered, she got up. "I have to go," she said shortly.

"Why? Aw, c'mon Hinata, you know I didn't mean it like that."

"No, it's not that. I have an appointment."

"With who?"

With Naruto, but if she told Sakura that, she would never hear the end of it, so quickly conjuring up a lie of how she had to meet Hanabi, Hinata fled.

Occurrences like that happened often between Sakura and Hinata, and occasionally between Sasuke and Naruto too, and even though theirs were more subtle, they always left Naruto equally as embarrassed.

In January they had finally set the budget, and bought all the materials. The center pieces were still being talked about, but progress was happening, and to celebrate Naruto decided to take Hinata out for dinner. Not to a restaurant, however, but someplace more...special.

"Naruto, where are you taking me?" Gradually getting more comfortable around him (Naruto had a knack for making her feel at ease), Hinata giggled, and tried not to peak from her blindfold.

"Someplace really wicked!" was his reply, as always, giving nothing away. "Don't worry Hinata, we're almost there."

He led her through what seemed like trees (were they in a forest?), and after a few more minutes Naruto finally took the blindfold off. Rubbing her eyes, Hinata took a step forward, and looked around.

They were in a clearing, and even though it was still winter, there was barely any snow. Since Naruto had told her to bundle up, Hinata wasn't feeling cold, and she took in the beauty of what was surrounding her. The trees were frosty, and dangling ice-pieces could be seen hanging from them, glinting in the late-evening night. The picnic was set up a little differently than most, with historical aspects put into it that only people like them could recognize.

Hinata gasped, as she saw something else, and voicing her admiration the entire way, she moved towards it.

Naruto gazed at Hinata as she made her way around the clearing, her expression one of surprise, and delight. In the snow, her face seemed to stand out more, and as she thanked him repeatedly for he had done, all he could do was uncharacteristically blush, and say it was 'no problem'. For her, it hadn't seemed like a chore.

There was something about Hinata that made him always want to go that extra mile.

The rest of January passed peacefully, and decorations were starting to get completed. There were some set-backs as Naruto often got distracted, and decided it would be the perfect time to start a 'paint war' or 'clay fight'. Soon, Hinata was sure that there wasn't a single article of clothing in her closet that didn't have a stain on it, or a paint smudge.

She didn't regret any time she spent with Naruto, though. His company made the world seem lighter, and she found herself laughing more than she had ever done before in her entire life. He was this ray of light that kept her afloat, and his childishness and plain belief in the good of anything made her feel stronger.

For Naruto, Hinata was unlike any girl he had ever met. She was beautiful in everything she did, inside and out. She had a bigger heart than anyone he had ever seen, and incapable of hurting a fly (her friend was a major bug lover). The way her cheeks turned pink was endearing, and she listened to him, like really listened to him. She never tuned him out, or pretended to agree to whatever he was saying. Her attention was always on him when he talked, and she cared about his opinion.

Whenever they were together there was a fuzzy, swirling feeling in the air that neither could quite explain.

February:

When February rolled around, time got more valuable and stressful for the duo. The wedding was right around the corner, and there were still things that needed to be done. They met almost every day, and worked non-stop. Measuring, creating, and setting. Naruto always made sure to take a break, however, as Hinata was the type to pull an all-nighter to finish something for a friend, and he didn't want her to push herself.

Sakura was flitting about as well, organizing everything else with Ino, and becoming overly frazzled, never good for a bride. This caused Sasuke to quietly escape whenever he could to avoid being caught in her path of terror. He loved his fiancée to death and back, but when Sakura got mad she tended to hit things...

Sasuke wasn't scared, no, no, no. He was merely concerned about his welfare.

Mid-February Hinata finally finished the wedding's main center piece, and in elation, Naruto hugged her. Startled, but feeling a flutter of happiness she hugged him back, and when the two let go, Naruto gave her a beaming smile.

That caused some confusion between them though. Hinata was slowly coming to terms that she, kind of, maybe, slightly liked him, and Naruto was just discovering that Hinata was pretty, like really, really pretty.

Alas, the tension, but things continued as they always had, albeit with Naruto thinking of Hinata in a different light. It was a confusing time for the young man, but he responded to that notion by spending even more time with Hinata.

By the end of February he had finally figured it out.

March:

There became a problem, however. With the wedding in less than 5 weeks, everything and everyone was in a frazzle, rushing around to get things done. There was no time for him to talk to Hinata alone now, as they were accompanied everywhere by either Sakura or Sasuke to survey the decorations.

Both were wondering what would happen when the wedding was over, but the topic was hard to bring up, so neither did.

3 weeks to the wedding:

Hinata was spending most of her time now calming down a frantic, nervous Sakura.

Naruto was making sure Sasuke didn't melt into a puddle of his own nerves.

Both didn't get to talk to each other very much during this time. The decorations were all done, but now they had to help their friends.

2 weeks to the wedding:

Sakura was gradually becoming calmer, even though there were a few lapses here and there. Hinata made sure she ate every day, and tried to distract her from the prospect of the wedding, all the while her thoughts occupied of a smiling, blue-eyed young man that seemed to make the world seem a bit brighter whenever she was with him.

Sasuke was retreating back into himself, and Naruto had a hard time convincing him that Sakura would not abandon him on the special day. The famous Uchiha surprisingly had many insecurities when it came to Sakura, and as he consoled his best friend, Naruto's mind always drifted to a pale, gentle beauty that did something to his stomach every time he saw her.

1 week to the wedding:

All signs of a calm Sakura disappeared.

Sasuke elapsed into emo-ness.

Naruto was ready to slap Sasuke senseless, and Hinata learned the hard way that coffee plus a frantic Sakura equaled a bad day for herself.

The Wedding:

Whether it was the magic of the moment, or just divine intervention, on the day of the wedding both Sakura and Sasuke reverted back into their normal selves. Naruto was crying with relief, and even though Hinata was laughing with Sakura and Sasuke at his reaction, inside she felt the same way.

Hinata was dressed in a simple, flowing lavender dress for the wedding, and she was speechless when Sakura came out. The girl looked beautiful, and there was a sort of glow that surrounded her as she walked out.

"I can't believe today's the day," Sakura breathed out, eyes glowing. "Sakura Uchiha, FINALLY!" She punched a fist into the air, and Hinata burst out laughing.

"Sakura Uchiha," she repeated after Sakura, "Has a nice ring to it."

The wedding had been beautiful (Sakura's dress had stunned the crowd, most especially Sasuke, and there was a rare, wide smile on Sasuke's face the entire time), and Hinata had a sense of pride as she walked around the building. She didn't want to brag, but Naruto and her had done a spectacular job on the decorations, and the compliments on the center piece filled her with utmost delight.

Sakura and Sasuke were most likely in the temple by now, and Hinata was one of the last few people here. The wedding had been one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen, and she had been near tears when Sakura and Sasuke had unofficially tied the knot (the official tying of the knot was most likely happening right now in the temple). Naruto had looked sentimental himself, but he had denied it furiously when Hinata teased him lightly.

"I'm a guy!" He had stated it, pouting, "I'm too manly for tears."

Hinata had poked him in the ribs, and laughed when he pretended like it hurt. "Manly, indeed." She had giggled.

Now, Hinata was sitting on a bench, and sighing. She couldn't believe it was all over, what now? She didn't want to stop seeing Naruto, his company meant so much to her, but would he even want to see her after this?

Her thoughts were cut off quickly when the man himself walked in. "Hey Hinata!" He waved, jogging over to where she was, "Why so lonesome?"

His company was making her happier again, and seeing him smile at her, she decided that Naruto wasn't the type to cut someone off, or shove them out of his life.

"Just waiting for your company," she smiled. He pretended to puff his chest out, and plopped down besides her.

There was a comfortable silence for a while, before Naruto shifted to face her.

"Hey Hinata."

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to go out to eat?" He looked at her hopefully, and she grinned at him.

"Sure."

Naruto beamed, and pulled her up, dragging her to his car.

"Great! I know the perfect place, and it has the best ramen, and..."

As he continued to talk about the perfection of the restaurant (and continued to hold her hand), Hinata felt a warm feeling burst inside her, and spread all over her body. No matter what would come tomorrow, there was no where else she wanted to be, but here.

With Naruto.

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A/N: THE FLUFF! It blinds my eyes O_O

Just realized that Hinata and Sakura and Ino are all the same age in canon. Here Hinata is 19, and Sakura and Sasuke are getting married, and that I didn't explain to you something. Technically speaking, Ino should have been the maid-of-honour if something like this happened (at least to me), because her and Sakura are like best frenemies forever, but in this version Ino's 23, and her and Sakura are just regular friends. Besides I think Hinata and Sakura being best friends is wicked! I totally forgot to tell you guys all of that, though so I'm sorry!

Also, apologies for the cheesy picnic scene, I'm so unoriginal haha! Hope you still liked it though, I tried to make it a little different. And the fluffy sentences here and there!

Hope you enjoyed! ^_^ Reviews are most appreciated! :) I worked hard on this chapter, and made it long! :) Tell me if I made any mistakes, please!

I plan on finishing this story soon, like one more chapter, so hopefully this will be updated sooner. Feel free to laugh at me for the aforementioned statement.

...Thoughts?

Edit 5.12.13- Fixed up a few errors here and there. Ah, I must become better at proof-reading before I post! Heehee, if it's not too much trouble feel free to vote on my poll! It's about my story 'The Hyuga Avenger'. Shameless plugs, muahaha. Anyway, I'll most likely post the final chapter to this story sometime in June. Sorry if that's a long wait! :( Until then my lovelies! Have a fantastic forever xx