A.N.- Hello again! Sorry for the wait but I finally have it! The next chapter of SCA! In this one things finally get focused on Naruto and Hinata again. Naruto finally learns the truth (dun dun dun!) heehee couldn't resist. Anyway a lot of you guessed this would happen next so I hope it goes something like you expected. But don't worry the story isn't quite over yet and the next chapter will be out...as soon as i write it XD I love you guys! Thank you for your continuing patience. Please enjoy this next chapter!
Sakura smiled at Gaara who was looking quite murderous. His blood red hair a tad ruffled from the many times he'd jammed his hands through it. His eyes looked bloodshot and extra wide because he'd been staring anxiously and intensely for far too long. His hands were fisted tightly at his side because of his ever-growing frustration levels. Glancing around the jewelry store at the other patrons she waved at the rude ones who were openly staring at her beloved red headed grumpy guy. Scratch that, her beloved red headed grumpy mate. She had actually mated Gaara; a concept she still couldn't quit grinning about. Throughout the day he'd catch her smiling like a creeper and silently question the motive behind her wide smile and she couldn't do much more than giggle and say, "It's because I love you."; an answer that seemed to truly baffle him. For her to smile like a pedophilic rapist simply because she was in love with him…he couldn't grasp the connection. And she honestly didn't think her smile was that creepy, though everyone she'd talked with begged to differ, including Gaara. Though he hadn't said creepy, he'd said disturbing.
Sakura sighed as quietly as she could and put her hand on her lover's back.
He was stressing himself out.
Earlier today he'd found out from his sister that he needed to finalize everything with a ring. That apparently Sakura wasn't truly "off the market" until there was a ring on her finger to show she was Gaara's: aka engagement ring or for accurately considering the finality of their decision, a wedding ring.
Now, while looking at wedding rings with the one man she loves sounds like a wonderous joy filled occasion, it wasn't. It had been quickly destroyed by well-meaning friends trying to be helpful in saying the ring had to be perfect and a pushy salesman saying certain rings were indeed perfect…even after Gaara declared they indeed were not.
Gaara growled for what had to be the six-hundredth time, most likely a new record for number of growls per day.
"It's not right. I don't like that one." The red head said between clenched teeth.
The salesman with bad hair implants smiled, showing his pearly whites, "Sir, this is exactly what you asked for, you have looked at every ring in the store and refused them all, this is the last and final option for your viewing."
Huffing like an enraged five year old Gaara grabbed Sakura's hand and headed for the door.
"Sir wait!" the salesman shouted after them.
Gaara ignored the man and continued out the door, if he didn't leave now he'd surely kill the fool behind the counter. That would displease Sakura.
Once outside he frowned at the ground. His frown deepened when he caught sight of their clasped hands, a sight that normally made him feel happier. He still didn't have a ring for her to wear. He still couldn't publicly proclaim her as his to all would be suitors. More importantly, he didn't have a way of showing his love and appreciation to Sakura, which apparently this damn blasted ring was supposed to do! Why couldn't just mating her be enough? Why did everyone have to make it so fucking complicated?
Sakura squeezed his hand softly, reminding him she was still with him.
His anger began to slip away from him and he looked to her. Receiving her warm smile he relaxed even further.
"I will find you the perfect ring." He assured her before heading down the sidewalk.
"Gaara, really I will like anything you choose." She promised him.
"Yes, I know. But I have to like it first so I can choose it. And nothing is good enough." He snapped.
Sakura smiled, her joy filling her eyes. Nothing in that extremely expensive store had seemed good enough for her…god, the man had a way of making her feel amazing. And because it was so sweet and adorable, what he was doing, she would follow him forever.
"Take your time. I'm just happy being out with you like this." She told him. Inching closer to him, she snuggled his arm and nuzzled his shoulder as they walked, "Being out with you aaaannnnnnd showing off my sexy mate."
Gaara smirked at her and squeezed her hand.
He was content to be walking hand in hand this closely with her as well.
He was happy to be with her, for her to be his for eternity, for her to have agreed to be with him for eternity. She'd agreed to that…willingly…
Which is why he'd find her the best damn ring possible!
Looking up from her book Hinata smiled as Naruto brought in her lunch. He'd begged and pleaded to know what she wanted to eat, anything to help make her feel better.
Feeling flustered she hadn't really known what to ask for so she'd held up a note asking for ramen, from a stand.
Twenty-two minutes later he was now back with two very large bowls of it in a big brown paper bag. She watched him lay out the bowls and the utensils and the napkins.
He kissed her forehead as he scooted onto bed beside her, on top of the covers.
"I hope it's the kind you wanted…you just said ramen you didn't say what type…" he said rubbing the back of his head in a sort of shy manner.
She shook her head and quickly scribbled a note: Oh no, this is wonderful. Thank you so much.
Naruto grinned brightly, "Ah it was nothin'. I just want you to feel better so you can start walking and talking again." His smile changed temperatures as he added, "I miss your voice."
Shocked by the heat in his eyes and in his tone Hinata's face went beet red. Naruto chuckled, "At least I can still see your blush. Glad that didn't change."
Hinata dipped her head in shame. She would give anything to make herself talk, she had been trying and trying, nothing worked though…
She wanted desperately to tell Naruto that he'd mated with her. But also, at the same time, she was terrified to tell him.
Most likely, he'd be happy, but there was the slim chance he wouldn't be and Hinata wasn't sure she could bear it if he wasn't happy; no, she was positive she couldn't bear it. It'd be too painful.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Naruto asked softly stroking a loose strand of hair from her face.
Hinata turned her now teary eyes on him and focused on his beautiful blue gaze. It was so loving, he was so loving. Surely, this guy…this amazing guy who was sweet, funny, and undyingly loyal would be happy to be mated to her; he'd said he loved her afterall.
Sighing Hinata gave up on trying to mentally prep herself for this. Yes Naruto said he loved her, and showed it in everyway he possibly could and yes, she loved him but no, this would not be an easy thing to say no matter what.
Sakura's plan may have worked but given her condition…that option seemed long gone, there was no way she could seduce him like this, much less seduce him in her pique!
Feeling more than a little hopeless Hinata leaned against Naruto for what may be the very last hug he ever gave her.
She slowly wrote down her very grave message.
Naruto, I love you so much. You have been wonderful taking care of me, you're always so great at everything you do. I am so sorry, Naruto, but I have been keeping something from you. I feel horrible about it, but I was too nervous to actually tell you.
Naruto read her first half of the note and sat back staring at her.
Slowly, choosing his words carefully, he spoke through the hot lead now in his chest.
"Okay. I'm sure it's not as bad as you are making it to be. Just tell me what it is, Hinata."
Hinata closed her eyes, trying to fight her tears but they spilt through sliding down her cheek. She took a deep breath and nodded, taking her pen in hand she finished the second half of her fate sealing note.
When I went shopping with the girls Naruto; the day of the accident, I learned something. Sakura told it to me actually, she knew about it from recent first hand experience.
The night we played hooky and didn't go to that assembly, and we just stayed and hung out together. When things got intimate, and we-
Hinata tried to steady her hand. This was it. The sentence she'd been dreading. Calming her breathing so she didn't gasp her way to hyperventilating, Hinata struggled to finish her note.
-had intercourse, you actually mated me. I don't think you knew this and it's alright with me that you didn't. As long as it's alright with you I will live out the rest of my days happily belonging to you forever. It's honestly always been my dream to do so anyway.
Naruto stared at the note, at the small cutesy curvy handwriting that was his girlfriend's. he could read the words.
He rechecked. Yes, they were indeed real words. Words he knew. Yet…he just couldn't grasp, he couldn't understand… Mates? Forever?
Why would Hinata have kept this? Also, Sakura knew from first hand experience? That meant she too had kept something huge from him. What, couldn't anybody trust him? He wasn't that much of a goof that he couldn't handle big news.
Getting angrier and angrier, Naruto felt his fox rumble with low growling, growls of betrayal. He was hurt. Hinata…and Sakura…the two people he loved most…keeping giant secrets from him! How could they?
Standing up, Naruto didn't look at Hinata as he growled out, "I'll see you later, Hinata, I have to go think about some things. A lot of things."
Hinata sobbed silently as she scribbled a note down for him: Naruto wait! Pleasse!
But he didn't bother looking, he strode through the door and pulled it tight behind him with a soft bang.
Hinata stared at the door in horror, heart wrenching, heartbreaking horror. He'd left. He'd left her. whimpering softly she tried to call out to him before he got too far away.
"N-Naruto." She exclaimed with all her might. Unfortunately, all her might came out as a slight level above whispering. Even with his amazing sense of hearing he probably didn't catch it. At least, that's what she repeated to herself in her mind.
He didn't hear it. He didn't hear me. He didn't hear it. He didn't hear me.
He was too shocked and upset. Too angry…
Not knowing what else to do, Hinata clenched her fingers tightly together and worked to move her legs out from under the bedcovers.
Once uncovered, she struggled to place her feet on the floor. After several failed attempts she grit her teeth and forced her new muscle tissue to obey her. She was a ninja after all! She would not be held back from Naruto by her own body!
Sweat dripping from her trembling body Hinata placed her feet on the ground and rose to stand, leaning on her bedside table for support. Gasping in pain she held one hand on her chest trying to will the pain away, her other gripping the edge of the table so hard her fingers went numb.
Hinata stared at the door. That was her first goal. Then the stairs then the front door. Then Naruto. She could do this.
Holding herself up, releasing her hold on the table she slowly made her way to the door and opened it, walking out without a coat to cover herself or shoes on her feet. Her mind trained on one thing, and one thing alone. She had to find Naruto. She loved him, and even though he was angry she needed him. She would beg and beg and fall face first on the ground and grovel if she had to, she would spend the rest of eternity making this up to him, as long as he didn't leave her.
They'd mated afterall…she didn't truly know what happened if one tried to leave the other. But she did recall Sakura saying the only way out of a mating was death. And she feared for Naruto. Tears trickled over her cheeks and nose as she bravely tackled the stairs one at a time. She had to find him, before something terrible happened. Hinata missed her footing and fell down the last four steps, landing on her knees on the floor in front of them. Using the wall she got to her feet and headed for the front door. Nothing was going to stop her from finding her love.