A.N.- OH MY GOD! I am so so sorry. I didn't get to review yesterday! I had my house filled with family members and I couldn't get to my lap top. But now my 3 brothers are standing guard at a closet door while I hide and quickly post this. So I am so sorry but I hope you all enjoy it now!
To HalfBloodPhoenix- Cool! Thanks for that, its really neat how you know so much about it. And jealous Gaara is really really fun. Hope you enjoy the next chapter! Thank you for reviewing!
To BluePanda22331- Hi! Am I so happy you liked all of my chapters and I'm really glad you thought chapter 13 was cute. Cuz I did too. Hee hee. And I absolutely adore Kankuro so I wanted him to have some spot light. Thank you! I'll try. J I hope you like chapter 14 and thank you for reviewing!
To superme383- He does. All the time. Probably cuz I do it all the time. Hee hee. And I dunno…Lol you could be right. Laughing 24/7 period might just worry him but if its at yourself then I think he would take slow steps backwards turn then run away screaming like a little baby. Lol but for the record I think its cool if you do. Laughter is the greatest thing in the world to me. It can heal and it can hurt. Its got lots of power. hee hee. So you go superme383, keep laughing! I will too and maybe it will spread. I hope you like my next chapter! Thanks!
To xoLovelyEyesox- Thank you! I love Kankuro he's great and I just love how everyone is okay with me giving him a softer side. And yes I asked my sis and Max was like 'I wouldn't be anything but team Edward!' so yes definitely one more for that team. Lol. that's what Max told me. Except she didn't care if she came off as a pushy fangirl. With you two saying its good I just may have to check it out. Especially since Z said he'd liked them. But Lan was like 'I'll wait for the movie' which led me to discovering the movie comes out this November so I got excited about that. I told Max I'd wait till the movie to decide if I was going to read it or not. I actually plan on reading it just don't want to let her know that. Then she will talk to me about it all the time. Hee hee. Oh don't say that…don't say you love him Z has a big enough ego as it is. You just encouraged him. Lol. Jk. Its fine I love him too. that's cool how you got your brother wrapped like that. I admire you for it. And yes doesn't it just suck to be short? Except for my two friends Wynna and Chesa I am the shortest ( I at least got two who are as tall as me, not taller) but I hang out with a bunch of guys most of the time and they are all taller. Like with most 'm lucky if I come up to their shoulders. And they pick me up moving me around like I'm a doll or something! It gets on my nerves but I also kind of think its cute. So eh. Whatever right? But almost anywhere I go they think I am the younger sister-like that I'm 13 or something and I have to tell them no…16. Sorry. They always stare and say but you look so young. Lan says its cause I have a cute baby face. I punched his 'cute baby face' for that. Yeah they were totally fighting like throwing cheese doodles and everything it was hilarious. And that is diabolically evil of you. I like it! Yes let them wait. But I have to tell you- Sunday we were having a big family get together and that was why I couldn't post my next chapter but today it kind of continued…like everyone just showed up again. T was funny actually cuz my mom answered the door this morning at 6 and it was Uncle D.(her older brother) fun fact I have to tell about my uncle- he's the coolest btw, anyway his voice is exactly likeAyame's from Fruits Basket. Its awesome! Anyway he was like hello Mori! good morning you are looking ravishing today!' she slammed the door in his face and went back to bed! She seriously stayed n bed for 3 more hours. I went out and sat with him. It was fun. So anyway the point of this is I had to sneak into my house grab my lap top and lock myself in a hall closet. Half because I really wanted to post my net chapter but also cuz they were like tell her who is the best! We have to know! So they are all three currently acting like secret service or something standing in front of my closet with their arms crossed over their chests. Its hilarious! My dad asked what they were doing and Lan was just like 'sorry sir you are not authorized to be in this area. Evacuate!' and then Link and Z grabbed his arms and tugged him out. I was in the closet cracking up. So I just thought I'd tell you that. They want to know how you will decide. Like if they have to do something or be something or anything like that. So yeah… And yes it is most definitely just a mom thing. Z hates it the most cause he despises his name with a passion. Lol. Usually I just go by Atty or AT. Not sure why AT my bros just do it. But that's the extent of my nicknames. Well unless they're angry at me…well anyway thanks and talk again soon! My three stooges say bye too. Lol.
To Itachi2011- Thank you! I am so glad that you did. I hope Kankuro gets to, I like him bunches and want others to as well. And I was too. Chesa was beaming the rest of the day because of it. And I'm glad you were cheered up as well. You're shy too? Wow I would've never guessed that. But its okay if you are. Honestly if my Chesa was not shy she wouldn't be my Chesa. So maybe if you weren't shy you wouldn't be you. J of course she is working on it too cuz she wants to be brave enough to talk to her crush so if you two don't want to be as shy anymore I say more power to you and go for it! I hope you do good!Thank you for reviewing! I hope you enjoy this next chapter!
To Gothic Saku-chan- Thank you so much. I hope you enjoy how chapter 14 goes and thank you for reviewing!
To JPLteen- Thank you very much! Yeah a confession would have been nice but then my story would end faster and I have stuff want to do that I havent done with them yet. But don't worry the long awaited confession will surely come. Hee hee. I hope you like this next chapter. Thank you for reviewing!
To chikkachoo- It did ! Really! that's awesome! It did me too! I giggled while I was writing it actually. And you thought their conversation was cute? that's great! And yes jealous Gaara is just the greatest and it was cute to me how he tried to tell her why he was angry. Fluff is the best isn't it?
And nope sorry you guessed wrong. Hee hee. Vietnam? Neat! I hope you have oodles of fun! And I look forward to the super long review when you return.
Thanks everybody! Enjoy!FanggirlXJ
Disclaimer: Naruto and co is still not mine.
Naruto raced across campus trying to find any sign of a blood red headed boy or a pink haired girl. But so far there was no such luck.
He'd checked all the buildings he could think of and after finding nothing Naruto had figured Gaara would go somewhere outside anyway.
So here he was, running all over the campus checking every hiding place he could find.
As Naruto ran across a section of grass towards a big tree in the distance, he found himself falling.
Being a ninja, he had enough skill in him to avoid falling completely. So instead of falling on what he'd tripped over he'd simply did a tumble through the air and landed in a crouch a few inches away. Shikamaru who was across the way leaning against the huge tree without opening his lazy eyes slowly held up a sign with the number ten. Naruto grinned, a perfect ten on his recovery. Yes!
Standing and turning back he saw a sight that horrified him, making his previous high score to be forgotten instantly.
It had not been a stick or a log or anything like that that he'd tripped on. Oh no. It had been Hinata!
Falling to his knees beside her Naruto exclaimed, "Oh god, Hinata, I am so sorry I didn't even see you there! Are you okay? I didn't kick you too hard did I?"
Hinata looked up at the person who had indeed kicked her fairly hard in the gut and her face turned a bright shade of red.
"N-Naruto-kun."
"Well at least I know I didn't kick your head." Naruto said with a slow smile, "Or then I might have given you amnesia. But you know who I am so don't have that. So that's a good thing." he gave her and encouraging thumbs up.
Hinata nearly fainted when he reached out and touched her.
Naruto had begun searching her to see where he had hurt her.
He figured Hinata was much too quiet and much too shy and much too polite to tell him where and how badly he'd hurt her.
But with it being Naruto he didn't make the connection that if she were too shy to tell him she would definitely be too shy to show him. So he thought nothing of it as he lifted her shirt up so he could inspect her back, sides, and stomach.
His hands were on her! Under her shirt touching her skin!
Don't faint, don't faint, she told herself mentally.
His hands were calloused but gentle as they carefully searched her for signs of damage.
She doubted she would ever forget this moment. Even if Naruto ever did kick her in the head Hinata was almost positive that she would never forget this moment.
Suddenly he let out a harsh hiss when he found where he'd hit her.
There on her stomach close to her side a huge dark bruise was already forming.
Dammit! He'd hurt her! He'd hoped maybe he hadn't. Or if he had it hadn't been anything bad, but here she was with a bruise the size of the frigging world on her precious soft skin.
Naruto cursed himself for being so foolish.
"Hinata, I am really sorry." he apologized softly, his head drooped so she couldn't see his face.
"I-it's a-alright, Naruto-kun. I-I'll be f-fine."
"No. Its not alright." Naruto shook his head.
There was no use beating himself over it right now. That wasn't important at the moment. Right now what was important was helping Hinata.
Naruto lifted his head to meet her stunning eyes.
He'd always liked those the best.
"Let's get you back to your dorm. Hopefully Sakura will be there and she can heal this awful thing." Naruto said with a smile.
Her blush darkened when he smiled at her but she nodded nonetheless.
He had always thought that was cute. How she was so shy that if she got any focused attention on herself she blushed. It made her seem…really innocent. Which was weird because the blushing girl before him had enough packed in her punch to take out most anybody. But she didn't fight often. Unlike him she didn't enjoy it. Not like most. Hinata fought to prove herself. To defend her name and right as a ninja. To protect her friends.
Though they're reasons were kind of the same their reaction to it was very different.
Naruto took her hand and gently helped her to her feet.
When she was standing straight he noticed her wince and saw her begin to reach and grab her side. But she stopped herself.
She didn't want to make him feel bad.
He couldn't believe it!
He'd kicked her like a football and here she was trying to make sure he didn't get upset.
"It hurts that bad, huh?" he grimaced.
"Hey, how about I carry you? It's the least I could do for what I did. I promise to be super careful so I don't jar your injury. How 'bout it, Hinata?"
She blushed and looked down to the ground as she fiddled with her fingers.
She was going to say no. her body language said it all. Right now, he knew that she was trying to come up with some valid excuse so as to prevent him from 'wasting' his time doing that.
Naruto would have none of that. Besides he wanted to hold her. He had an excuse to do so, there would be no stopping him, not with this.
Before he could think about what he was saying, he was saying it.
"Please, Hinata? I already feel like the worst for hurting you. At least let me make it up to you."
It was kind of a guilt card. He knew that if Hinata thought she were doing him the favor instead of the other way around then she would agree to it.
Hesitantly she nodded.
Grinning with his triumph Naruto carefully scooped her up and began carrying her bridal style back to her dorm room.
He could feel the heat of her blush as it covered her from head to toe. With her body pressed against his the way it was how could he not?
With having her this close Naruto could plainly smell how great her scent was. She smelled like oranges mixed with some kind of sweet flowery scent. Which was strange because he'd never have pegged her as an oranges kind of girl. But apparently the very sweet Hinata loved the tangy citrus smell of oranges. Interesting little tid bit to learn.
He had to resist the urge to bury his face in her hair.
Hinata.
He'd liked her for quite a while. It had started…god, it'd started way back when he'd been real young. He'd declared that Sakura was his one and only, but some where inside a voice asked, Is she really?
As it turned out she wasn't. He and Sakura eventually agreed they loved each other but not like he'd always hoped. She was his sister. Nothing more. Nothing less. He loved her with all of his heart, would do anything to protect her because Sakura was special. But he didn't love her the way a guy should have loved his true love.
Sakura maybe in his heart but she wasn't his heart.
No, that title had been secretly given to the girl curled up trembling in his arms right now.
Hinata Hyuga. The quiet but ever beautiful girl who had a heart of gold.
Hinata had believed in him when others hadn't.
She'd quietly cheered for him when everyone else had laughed.
He didn't think she even knew she'd done it, but sometimes instead of thinking things to herself Hinata mumbled them out loud. It was barely ever above a whisper but with his fox demon enhanced hearing he'd always caught it.
He'd heard every encouraging whisper she ever uttered.
She'd helped him more than almost anyone, and she didn't even know it.
The Hyuga heiress in his arms was a wonderfully sweet person. This he knew.
She was also much to good for him. This he also knew.
Naruto was a boy from the low side of tracks. And that was before you even counted the fox demon into the equation.
Hinata was practically royalty since she was a Hyuga, one of the top clans in all of Konoha.
Okay, so maybe royalty was a little bit stretching it but she was definitely too good for him.
And even if he could win her heart, he'd never win over her father. That man hated him. With a passion. Naruto didn't know why. But he figured it was probably the same reason as the one that everyone else that had hated him for. The nine tailed fox. The fox was almost always the case.
But he couldn't hate the fox. It may have brought him lots of pain and trouble but the demon more than made up for it with granting him the needed strength to protect his friends and home on several occasions.
The dorm building came into view.
"We're almost there." he told her.
Naruto made it into the building easily and Hinata handed him the key which he carefully used to unlock her dorm room.
He walked in and called for Sakura. But he knew from how old her scent was that she hadn't been in the room since early this morning. The same for Temari. So he'd gotten Hinata to her room. But not to any help.
Which to do? Let her just rest in her bed or continue carrying her around until he found Sakura, who he hadn't even been able to find when on his own and running at top speed from place to place.
He knew which answer he wanted to give.
He wanted to keep holding Hinata and continue searching but that wouldn't be fair to her just for his own selfish wants.
She was hurt. Rest would do her good.
He could tell from the decorations, not to mention the scent that the room closest to them was hers.
So she'd taken the middle room huh?
She'd probably only done that so that Sakura and Temari could have the room they wanted.
He knew that because, Hinata was unusually thoughtful of others.
And she tended to put their wants and needs before her own.
Sakura did that a little, but with Hinata she never quit. There were times when Sakura decided that Sakura wanted this and she was going to have it.
Hinata never took what Hinata wanted.
He walked to her bed and set her down on it softly.
"Sorry, I thought Sakura would be here." he sad smiling sheepishly.
Hinata shook her head, "I-it's al-r-right. S-she has things t-to do."
She still stuttered around him.
That made Naruto a little sad. Sakura could get the girl to talk almost normal and could make her laugh out loud. Granted Hinata's out loud laugh may be another person's hidden laugh but if the person watching knew the real Hinata then they knew it was a rare treat to hear.
"Yeah, but maybe she'll show up soon." he offered.
"You wait here okay, Hinata? I'm going to go get you a drink so you can take some medicine. You know to at least cut down on the pain."
"O-oh n-no. I-I c-couldn't a-ask you t-to do t-that." she whispered horrified at the thought of him waiting on her.
"Hinata. I practically punted you. I feel bad about that. Please. Just let me do this for you okay? Will you do that, Hinata? Will you let me help you until Sakura comes back?"
Her face went a very dark red but as she looked into his eyes he knew he'd won this round. Hinata would allow him. Not because she wanted him to. But because she knew that he wanted to. But currently, Naruto didn't care. He got to sit with her in her room, surrounded by her scent talking with her maybe listening to her sweet voice talk back. That sounded almost like heaven to him.
Naruto flashed her a bright smile and asked, "So what can I get you?"
Hinata stared down at her sheets and tapped her fingers together as she answered quietly, "W-well, I r-really like g-grape s-soda."
"Grape? Not a problem I'll be right back. If you want you can change into something softer or more comfortable while I'm gone. But if you need help just let me know when I get back okay? I promise not to look if you really need me to, okay? Be back in a sec!"
He waved at her as he shot out of the room and headed for a drink machine.
Hinata stared at the closed door and nearly sighed from happiness.
She may have been practically punted as he'd said it, but she would gladly deal with this pain again and again if she knew she'd get the chance to have Naruto himself carry her all the way to her bed and then offer to take care of her.
Hinata's eyes widened, was she becoming a masochist? Giggling ever so slightly at the sudden , not to mention outrageous thought that crossed her mind Hinata shook her head. She may not be a masochist but she was definitely pathetic.
But she wouldn't think of that right now. For the time being she would simply enjoy whatever attention Naruto wanted to grant on her.
Slowly, mindful of her big bruise she scooted off of her bed and gingerly made it to her dresser where her pajamas were. He may be right about that. Something softer brushing against it might not hurt as badly.
--
Naruto knocked on the door warning her he was there, incase she had decided to go for her pajamas.
He secretly hoped she did.
And if he wanted to allow himself a moment to be a true guy he could always hope she slept in the nude and was suddenly brave enough to be sitting on her bed wearing nothing but that incredibly sexy shy smile of hers.
Frowning at how perverted he'd become Naruto simply blamed it on Jiraiya and pushed those thoughts away.
"Hinata? I'm coming in, okay?" he called before entering.
When he came in she was sitting on her bed with the covers pulled over her legs. She was reading a book. A small smile on her lips as her eyes roamed the page she was reading.
He gently shut the door and the click of it closing alerted her to his returned presence.
Gasping inaudibly, Hinata marked her page and shut it quickly.
Naruto smiled at her and shook his head, "Don't stop on my account, really. You looked like you were enjoying it."
Blushing she nodded quickly before averting her eyes away from his.
He walked over and handed her the cold grape soda can.
"Sorry it took so long."
The machine behind this building had been out of grape soda but grape soda she'd asked for grape soda she'd get.
So he'd run to the next building over and looked, but that machine hadn't even sold grape soda. But the next building over did and he'd been in luck because there had been some left.
He'd hurried but he wouldn't tell her he'd had to search for her soda. Then she'd feel bad and he would not allow that emotion to enter Hinata while he was with her if he could help it.
"T-thank you, N-Naruto-kun." she said quietly as she stared softly at the can in her hands.
"Oh yeah!" he reached in his pocket and brought out the little packet of aspirin he'd bought from another little ending machine while on his soda search. Apparently you could get almost anything out of vending machines these days. Food, drinks, medicine, …girl products…, condoms, batteries, school supplies. The list of vending machine types he'd seen went on and on. It was an amazing discovery. He wondered if there was a ramen vending machine. Then he remembered Hinata was waiting and he smiled at her.
"I wasn't sure if you had this. And I didn't want Sakura to kill me for trashing her room trying to find where she kept all her medicines. So I figured this was the best answer." Naruto explained as he handed her the tiny packet.
"T-thank you." she whispered, a tiny smile on her face as she opened the packet.
Nodding he went and pulled a chair closer to her bed.
She finished swallowing her medicine and he gently took the drink from her so she wouldn't have to stretch to put it on her bedside table.
She nodded her thanks but then just sat there staring at her hands.
Naruto picked up her book.
It was a romance. But it seemed there was a little action in it.
"So what is this about?" he asked still studying the front and back covers.
"W-what?" she asked shocked.
He looked up at her with an easy smile. "Your book here. What's it about?"
"O-oh. W-well. I-it's about a g-girl who i-is in l-love w-with a s-soldier."
"Soldier, huh? And does he love her too?" Naruto asked.
Hinata shrugged slightly as she trained her eyes on the book in his hands.
"I h-hope h-he does." she admitted.
Naruto nodded, "The back mentions a killer is after her?"
Hinata blushed but nodded again, "H-he w-wants her d-dead."
"Why?"
"B-because she s-saw h-his face w-when he k-killed s-someone."
"Oh and he has to kill her before she can tell who he is." Naruto guessed.
Not looking up at him Hinata nodded again, "Y-yes. B-but a s-soldier saw h-him attack h-her and h-he's helping h-her n-now."
"The one she loves?"
Hinata nodded.
"You're close to the end aren't you?" he asked noticing where she'd marked her page.
Again she simply nodded, unable to meet his stare.
He handed her the book back.
"Here. Finish it. It sounds good." he said smiling at her.
She always made him want to smile more. Maybe so she'd feel more comfortable with him? He didn't know but he always found himself smiling a lot more around Hinata.
"I-I c-couldn't." she objected quietly as she handed the book back.
"Hinata," Naruto said as he gently took her hand and closed it around the spine of the book. "It's a good story. Finish it. I want to know the ending. Please? I would hate to keep you from finding out if the soldier loves this girl or not. And if she gets away from the killer or not."
Blushing she nodded, "Y-you're s-sure?"
Naruto nodded, his grin broadening, "I'm sure. Believe it."
She giggled softly into her hand.
Success!
He'd hoped that would work.
"B-but w-what will y-you do?" she stammered out.
He shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe take a tiny nap that is if you don't mind. I didn't sleep much last night."
"O-of c-course. G-go ahead."
Now he could watch her read without her knowing.
But…what if he could do better than that?
Inwardly grinning he asked, "Do you mind if I just lay my head here beside you on your bed? I want to be close by incase you need something."
"B-beside m-me?" she gasped out.
"Yeah."
She stared down at her book cover a moment and then slowly, almost hesitantly nodded okay.
"Thank, Hinata. You're so nice. Wake me if you need anything you got me? I'll be hurt if you don't, not to mention a little mad. And I sleep lightly so if you try to get up off this bed without me I will know and I will wake up. Okay? Promise you'll ask me?"
Unable to speak when faced with his incredibly blue determination filled eyes Hinata found herself simply nodding yet again.
"Great. Well g'night, Hinata." he said yawning as he lay his head on his folded arms beside her leg.
"G-good night."
It wasn't night time. It was barely evening. But she'd said it anyway. He smiled at that. She was too sweet. But perfect anyway. He settled in to silently watch her read while he 'slept'.
--
Naruto actually did end up falling asleep. The soothing sight of Hinata peacefully reading lulled him right into it.
Hinata sniffled as she finally finished her book. Naruto had been right. It was a good book. The soldier had admitted to loving her and she had left her family who'd been against her marrying a soldier to be with him. And the killer, though he'd managed to take the girl, had been stopped and taken to jail before the girl was hurt. So they got together, got the bad guy and got their happy ending. She sighed quietly. Too bad life wasn't like a story book where it had a clean and clear ending which was usually a happy one.
Naruto was still sleeping beside her.
He mumbled incoherently every now and then. And he snored slightly. It was a quiet snore and Hinata found it absolutely adorable.
His spikey blond hair was brushing against her thigh.
Hesitantly she reached to touch a piece that was on her.
It was soft. Not femininely soft but it wasn't rough.
Timidly she allowed her fingers to stroke further into his hair until eventually inch by inch she had made it to his head and was simply running her fingers through his bright hair. She was beside herself with joy. He was so cute when he slept. And she was getting to touch his hair. She liked doing it. It seemed so intimate to her. Him asleep beside her, after watching out for her. She herself just reading a book and then stroking her fingers through his hair as she calmly waited for him to wake up.
Would you listen to her? She sounded like she was reading one of her books. It was nothing like that. But maybe…while he slept she could pretend it was.
Hinata noticed him scooting closer into her touch.
She smiled at this.
His unconscious encouragement making her the slightest bit bolder she continued her ministrations to his hair.
Then she thought about what she was doing. Wasn't this considered taking advantage of him? He had not voluntarily told her to do this.
Sadly, Hinata forced herself to remove her hand and place it back in her lap.
Naruto moaned slightly, and mumbled sleepily, "…No, don't quit. That felt really nice…Hinata."
Gasping quietly, Hinata felt her face heat up again. Timidly she put her hand back in his hair and began running her fingers through it again.
He sighed happily and snuggled back into his arms. "Thank you…Hinata. Please…don't stop." he said softly.
"A-alright." she whispered, hearing the tremor in her voice, but hoping he didn't.
If he did he said nothing about it. He simply sighed with contentment again and slowly one of his hands reached out and sought her other hand that was resting in her lap. He gripped it gently and the pad of his thumb began to brush soothingly back and forth on the sensitive skin of the back of her hand.
"Perfect." Naruto sighed quietly as he soon began to drift asleep again. Leaving a very red, very stunned Hinata to contemplate his last word as he slept soundly beside her.