AN: sorry for the late update, but the summer holidays were really long as I was doing the bulk of the childcare and that took up most of my time and sanity! But I'm pleased with this chapter, hopefully the next one will be the last. On with the show!
Chapter 16
Hinata was now snug inside a cosy small restaurant with simple decorations and an even simpler menu. She was currently waiting for her food to arrive while trying to restrain her smile of contentment from appearing too wide on her face. Naruto sat opposite from her, his tie long gone, his jacket slung behind the back of his chair and his shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Not for the first time she sat in silent awe that the object of her love was actually sitting in front of her, and that they had spent the past few hours together, discussing a potential life together. It was a happy bizzarity that spun her head considering she thought he would be forever out of her life only that morning.
Her gaze lingered on his exposed forearms, noticing it was the first time she had seen the skin bare, slowly she traced up the cords of his muscles from his wrists upwards until they disappeared suggestively beneath his rolled shirt sleeves at the juncture of his elbow. She wondered what the rest of his arms looked like, what the rest of him looked like. The thought disarmed her from her musings as she suddenly felt a shame she couldn't place… what was she thinking while Naruto was literally in front of her, what if he knew what she were thinking! She couldn't bear the mortification of being so exposed, quickly she looked up at his face to gauge if he had come to understand about her guilty curiosity, but she was met with a face that wasn't looking at her, but at the kitchen door with abject impatience. It then dawned on her that he had his chopsticks ready in his hand, as though being prepared for the food might make it come faster, making Hinata giggle.
"Oi what are you laughing at?" He asked teasingly.
"Oh nothing." She replied shyly.
He smirked at her as though knowing the answer already, "It's a sin to keep a good joke to yourself."
"Alright. I was thinking how funny your impatient face looks"
Said face grinned back in bemusement, "haha, yeah I guess it's pretty obvious I'm looking forward to the food."
"Are you very hungry?" She asked anxiously, feeling almost instantly bad for keeping him hungry.
"No no, well, a little. But I'm just impatient, pretty much always have been."
But that wasn't how she saw him at all, he had abstained from sex for years, an impatient man certainly would not wait for the right woman to have sex with. "You've not always been impatient. At least not in matters of…" she gulped, she had already started so she pushed herself to finish, "… in matters of relationships."
He gave her a curious look in reply, one that crossed between remorse and affection. "I don't know about that, you may not know…" he began playfully, but his voice held a somber tint, "But I was once very impatient with a rather important relationship when I was nineteen, and I ended up losing it completely."
Immediately Hinata blushed red to the tips of her ears, her eyes shot down to her lap, not knowing how to handle bringing up what had happened between them, after a few moments she gathered enough courage to look at his face not knowing what to expect, but the decidedly guilty expression he wore stirred a fire within her she had not known she had. "You never lost it, it was just waiting for you, even when it was confused and… and frustrated at not being able to break free, it was always there for you" she turned her gaze down again unable to sustain receiving the look of pure adoration on her listener's face as she finished in an almost inaudible voice "…for us."
They sat there awkwardly for a few moments as both were overwhelmed by their respective emotions, one shyness, the other indescribable love.
"You're amazing." Blurted out Naruto, causing Hinata to look up from her hunched shoulders with a face of a sun-ripened tomato. The blinding smile she received from an equally red faced Natuto shocked her slightly, she didn't know he could blush. "I don't know what else to say."
She nodded her head in understanding, "it's a bit overwhelming isn't it."
"Yeah, maybe because we've not spoken like this in…. In a long time."
Hinata again didn't know how to respond, and was fortunately saved from having to by the arrival of the food.
"Ah yeah! Food time!" Declared Naruto breaking apart his chopsticks and almost singing "Ittadakimas!" Before digging into his beef Ramen. Hinata smiled at him as she repeated his action with much more decorum and grace, consuming her Yasai Yakisoba with as much delight as Naruto's gusto.
"Don't you want to eat some meat with that?" Asked Naruto curiously.
"I don't eat meat very often."
"Oh, why? Don't you like it?"
"Yes, I do really like meat but…" she felt uncertain to say more, would he think her weird if she answered truthfully? Biting her lip as she played a little with her food she answered honestly, "I don't think eating meat a lot of the time is… well… ethical."
She saw Naruto pause mid bit of his beef as he eyed her curiously, "is that because it was a living thing?"
"Yes and no…" he waited patiently for her to continue, smiling encouragingly, "I'm not against meat per se, just at how large meat corporations are, I think an animal should have lived a good life before being slaughtered, not lived for slaughter… and… cows are a major air pollutor, our greed for beef has seriously harmed landscapes, biodiversity and increased global warming."
"Wow, I didn't know all that. So are you a climate activist?" She was relieved he sounded impressed rather than put off or intimidated.
"Sort of… I try to do my bit, but if I think about it for too long I get depressed."
"I think a lot of people feel that way, some issues in life are too big for us to cope with that we turn our backs on it."
Something in her ignited at that, "I've felt that way before, but also… also I feel angry that problems like these aren't being addressed by people who can actually change it."
She looked up at him across from a broccoli caught in between her chopsticks and was surprised to see very sparkling blue eyes focused on her with a new intensity to them, "You're really beautiful when you talk passionately about what you care about."
"I-I didn't expect you to say that."
That made him chuckle, "why?"
"I thought the conversation was a bit depressing rather than…" she struggled for the right word "alighting."
The sparkle in his eyes was back, even though he shrugged his shoulders, "it's attractive to see someone enthusiastic about what they care about. At least for me it is." This caused her to blush for the hundredth time that night, "So do you not eat beef at all now?"
"No, I do enjoy meat, but I eat it once a month now."
"Wow! That's awesome! So when you do get to eat it, what's it like?"
She giggled again. She liked that he made her feel good about herself, "A bit like a reward, like you really earned it after waiting so long."
"I think I'll try it out."
"Really?"
"Yeah, it sounds good. Probably more healthy too. The only bad thing about it is waiting, but maybe this way I can practice my patience some more."
"Naruto you don't need to do what I do. I'm not expecting you to adopt my… diet."
"But I think it's a good idea, this is part of relationships isn't it, learning from each other, and taking the good from each other to become better people."
Hinata couldn't help but smile her widest most open smile yet, "Yes, I guess that is what relationships are about."
"I didn't have any conversations like this with Sakura." Hinata's smile almost immediately dropped, she wasn't unhappy, but she felt her little happy bubble had suddenly burst. "Are you okay Hinata-chan?"
"Y-yes.. I'm okay."
"You sure? You don't look it. I mean one minute you had a really pretty smile on your face and then next it was gone. Kind of hard to miss that."
She loved his frankness but his bluntness may be something she would have to work around, initially she was going to wave off his concern, but something stopped her… perhaps she should try to be honest like him, frank… but maybe with a more compassionate tone. "I was thrown a little when you mentioned Sakura-san… hearing about interactions with a different woman isn't very… uh- romantic."
He blushed again, but continued with "sorry, didn't realise that."
"It's nothing Naruto-kun, I might have been a bit sensitive."
"Don't say that Hinata-chan, you feel what you feel. I'm glad you shared that with me."
She smiled at him, and decided to be more honest with him, "but I am curious to know, what were your conversations with Sakura-san about?"
He looked a little ashamed, "she complimented me a lot."
Hinata understood what he wasn't saying... she flirted with him a fair bit. "It's nice to be told nice things about yourself. It's also nice to feel noticed in that way."
He grew pink at that, "Yeah it's nice… it certainly made me feel good. But It can get a bit… boring… ah shit, I'm not trying to say she was boring, she was a really great person but… I prefer talking about stuff where you learn something new."
"I like conversations where I learn something too. But I admire Sakura-san for being able to convey her admiration for others so well. I wish I was a bit bolder like her."
"At first I thought her boldness was a good quality, I thought it was confidence, and being the stupid idiot I can be sometimes I convinced myself it was what was best for me, that it was what I was looking for." Here he paused for breath, his voice edging with guilt again. "After… what happened with us, I thought a woman who was set in her decisions would be best, I thought that boldness in Sakura would make her a good partner. But you proved me wrong, that day at the coast when we all thought Sakura died, it was her boldness that caused the tragedy, my weakness for not managing it well, and your strength and calmness that got us through it all." Naruto put his chopsticks down as he spoke, his blue eyes piercing her soul, "so please Hinata-chan, never think you have to change anything about you."
"Th-thank you… it's really nice to hear that. But I think changing is kind of inevitable, we're always changing, I mean, neither of us are the same people we once were when we first met."
"True, but there are somethings about a person… about you that haven't changed, and I hope they never do."
"I- I… I'll try to keep that in mind." In truth, she wouldn't want his frankness, his confidence or his kindness to change either.
"Let's promise to change for the better then" suggested Naruto.
"I'd like that."
He smiled serenely at her, like she held the answer to all the worlds problems, "me too."
Later, after their dishes were cleared and they had treated themselves to dessert, the peace of the evening settled from their stomachs to their hearts. As Hinata relaxed back in her seat with a cup of tea in her hands, she felt it was all the more believable that the love of the past ten years of her life was contentedly sipping his own tea.
"You know, I'm starting to believe that this is all real." Commented Hinata.
He grinned at her happily before replying with "You better believe it! But I didn't expect to spend my evening this way."
"Me neither, but I'm happy that we are."
"Yeah, and hopefully for many more to come."
"But if we keep meeting for three course meals it will drain our bank accounts."
"You don't expect me to let you pay for any of it!"
"No, but that's because we should do something cheaper."
Naruto looked on the edge of insulted. "I'm very capable of taking you out Hinata-chan, I want to do nice things for you."
"I appreciate that, and I know you are, but if we want to get to know each other it will take time. Dinner dates will get expensive and won't feel special if we don't treat it as something special."
He frowned "I don't understand."
"We could have picnics with home cooked food, or have coffee and cinnamon rolls at cafes, or go to museums, or walks. It doesn't always have to be going out to dinner."
"How is it that you're so prepared for all this? Have you dated before? I feel like a bit of an idiot for being so random about it all."
"Oh please don't feel that way Naruto-kun, I haven't dated anyone before, just you back at uni, but I've learnt a lot from friends who have dated, some of them have dated rather badly… and they lost quite a bit of money too, and… err… I'm a bit of an overthinker… so I just think about these things and have thought about how I would have done things differently."
"Ha! I wouldn't call it overthinking, more like being clever, I should warn you that my brain can be completely empty."
"That sounds like a dream rather than a warning. My brain can be my worst enemy sometimes."
He laughed at her in comical disbelief, as though any imperfection in her couldn't be, "Then how about you do the thinking for us and I'll keep things simple."
"I wouldn't call it simplicity, but more like cultivating peace." Replied Hinata shyly. He played with his tea cup for a moment before declaring with a touch of vulnerability, "I like the sound of the picnic by the way, It's been a long time since I've had some home cooked food."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I grew up in an orphanage, and then was shifted from different foster homes, a few were good, but most were quite clear that they didn't… that I wasn't part of their family. So I sometimes had home cooked food but not with… with that kind of Love I've seen others have… then I went traveling with Jiraiya sensei and he's a hardcore barbecue on legs, then since 16 I've lived solo. I ate nothing but ramen until my uni mentors demanded I learn to cook something."
"Can you cook?"
He grimaced as though in pain, "yeah.. if boiling an egg counts as cooking."
She grimaced as though in pain too, the delights of food were so important to her, especially in a life were she had such few delights, "I mean I can make something decent, and at least healthier than Ramen, but I wouldn't call myself a confident chef, or even a confident cook."
"Well, how about I share some recipes with you?"
"How about we cook together one day?"
She blushed, the intimacy of a kitchen being shared between them feeling homely and… well… married. "Y-yeah… one day let's do that."
He seemed to notice her pause, "Unless you don't want to, if you feel that would be moving too fast we can wait a while, even a loooong while, I'll wait for as long as it takes."
"Naruto-kun you're not moving too fast, it's just cooking. I mean I do think it's an intimate thing to do, but not something uncomfortable. Please don't worry about my comfort, I'm very comfortable with you and if something is too fast I'll let you know. For now, I just don't want us to spend too much money in these early days."
"I've told you already it isn't an issue." He rebutted
"I love your kindness Naruto-kun, and I know you want to express your feelings by how you spend on me, but for me, I would rather a man express his affection by treating me kindly rather than with displays of wealth. One way to do that would be to respect my wish of us not spending a lot of money, that way we can save for things we… we might need later on."
He set his tea cup down and leaned back in his chair, running his fingers through his hair in slight agitation before gazing at her with eyes darkening in a mixture of wonder and want. "I really like that you know yourself." He shook himself slightly before continuing, "and what things might we need later."
"O-other things… like a car, a-and.. a… wedding." The look in his eyes had temporarily disarmed her.
"Wow, you really have everything planned."
"Sorry, it's my overthinking, I can't really help it."
"No, I think it's a good idea. Just, let me do things for you okay? I promise I won't go over board." Shyly she consented, she supposed she needed to meet him half way on this, but she remained concerned that he still attributed masculinity to his ability to spend money on her, it was something she felt was quite self destructive, but he seemed so happy now that she felt it better to bring it up another time when both didn't feel too new to everything.
Later, Hinata realized she had four missed calls from her father and it was two hours after she had informed him when she would be home. Quickly she texted her father informing him she was on her way home, and made her excuses to Naruto trying at first to hide the reason at the shrewd look in his scowl. He easily read her discomfort and questioned rather succinctly if her family were worried about her. Resigned, Hinata confirmed his suspicion, though 'worried' felt like a strong word, it was more accurate to state her father would unseat himself at the notion of his daughter not following plans as promised. Naruto, with no hesitation, declared his intention to take her home.
Wanting as long a time as possible with him, Hinata readily agreed, he suggested a taxi, she suggested walking, they both agreed on the latter for the simple solution that it elongated their night together. Feeling time was running out, Naruto felt compelled to say all that he had really wanted to say but didn't for fear of her disappointment. He described his foolishness at flirting with two women at the same time.
"I hadn't been around many women, especially women my own age. After you I just kept my head down, I wasn't ready to try again, I was also… a bit… angry. After Uni I went traveling with Jiraiya sensei. We were in a lot of remote places and when he was on the prowl he was very rarely successful, it kind of put me off his lifestyle. He was the kind of guy that talked alot about women's nature without really understanding women you know?"
"Yup, I have a few uncles like that." Conversations with those uncles always grated her.
"Well…anyway, when I started work I was older than a lot of my peers, so I focused on moving upwards fast, by the time I joined as a senior civil servant I felt ready to find a woman." He looked at her sideways for her reaction, knowing what was coming she kindly asked him to continue, "so when women did show me attention I didn't shy away from it. I'm not going to lie and say I didn't enjoy it, but I wasn't honourable about it… I got carried away with my ego rather than telling myself I shouldn't split myself between two women." He sighed, "I liked that Sakura and Ino were bold, I thought they were confident, I told myself it was okay to take my time to choose between them." A strike of pain hit Hinata, and it caused her to inhale sharply. She had felt it all before, seen it happen in front of her eyes, was forced to bear the repetitions of it from the women themselves, but to hear it from Naruto hurt more than she had anticipated.
Naruto, hearing the pain in her breathing, took her hand in his as they walked side by side, making Hinata gasp again but in a very different emotion. "You proved me wrong, that day at the coast, when everyone, myself included, lost their heads and you were the only one with it screwed on, you proved to me then how much of a fool I had been. That I had let a strong, principled, generous and understanding woman fall out of my life, and when she came back into it, I was a more stupider fool for trying to keep you out of it, for thinking that you were weak! When all along I was the weak one. Seeing you conduct everyone like this brilliant composer just… it made me feel safe, Hinata-chan, no one has ever made me feel safe before that day. I've always believed I could depend on myself alone, but you proved to me how very wrong I was."
Hinata thought her heart would burst from how fast it was beating, she thought her face could brew another cup of tea with how hot it felt, but her hand, the one in his, felt perfectly content. Feeling loved, she squeezed his hand in a silent communication of feelings she didn't feel brave enough putting into words.
Getting the hint, Naruto carried on, "from that day on, I knew…. I knew who I wanted, and it wasn't Sakura, and just when I made that realization I felt chained to her more than ever. You know the night before her injury we had agreed to formally date, she even kissed me, I should have known then that it wasn't right because I…" at this he looked sideways at her again, his cheeks reddening in shame, "I thought of you, not exactly respectful right?and even then I wouldn't admit to myself my feelings for you. So here I was, in an arrangement to date someone who made me feel good but who I knew wasn't as good as the person I really wanted to be with, and now she was unconscious with a possible lifelong disability and I was to blame. Even if she hadn't been injured, I had flirted with her too much, I had raised many people's expectations. I needed time to figure things out, so after I spoke with her parents and explained who I was, I left to visit a close friend of my parents. She let me stay with her while I figured things out."
"Who was she?"
"Have you heard of a woman called Tsunade? She's a famous doctor."
"Yes I have heard of her! Wow! She's really famous, she's always in the science magazines and things."
"Yeah, she's pretty awesome, she was friends with my old man."
"Did you tell her what had happened."
"Not everything… she would have given me beats if I had. I just told her about the incident. But I think she read between the lines a bit, because she told me I should follow my instincts."
"She sounds like a clever woman."
"Boy does she know it too." Hinata grinned, hoping to one day meet her. "So, I told myself, that I had made my bed and would have to lie in it. I had caused too much… damage.. if that's the right word. And even though I wanted to be with you, I knew I had acted callously in front of you and you probably wouldn't still love me anymore. So I resigned myself to be with Sakura… what sort of person would I be to leave her while she was so vulnerable and because of me! I came back to work, and I wanted to be civil with you rather than cold like I knew I had been before… but I couldn't be truthful about my feelings while Sakura was on sick leave, but I selfishly wanted to make you feel, even though I couldn't make you know, of my… of my feelings for you." Hinata took a quick peek at his face as they continued walking, now slower and slower, as though in fear of arriving at their final destination. His face was dusted in a healthy pink and she thought he looked so handsome and kissable at that moment.
"When Sakura did come back, I was nervous, Tsunade told me to trust my instincts, and they were screaming at me to end it with her, but I couldn't do that to her when she had just come back to work. Strangely she was the one to ask to speak with me, I thought she might want to arrange a date, but when we did talk she explained that she got close to Sasuke while staying with him and the Lees during her recovery and that she was dating him now! She thought I would be upset with her but I had to try really hard to stop myself from thanking her for releasing me." Hinata couldn't help but laugh along with him.
"I guess you were relieved?"
"More than anything. Now that sasuke had taken Sakura off my hands, the next steps were to get your attention, and see if you would want me again. But just as I was starting it felt like the world was trying to keep you away from me."
"What do you mean?" Asked Hinata, genuinely at a loss.
"Your father, he tried to get that asshole to be involved with you."
"Do you mean Hamada-san?"
"Was that his name? I thought it was 'asshole'"
That made Hinata giggle again, "his name was definitely Hamada-san."
"I prefer Asshole, it feels more suited to the guy." Hinata gave him a bemused look, "Your dad was obvious about wanting you to be with him, I don't know in what way, but I could tell it was something important."
"Father wanted me to marry him." Naruto looked simultaneously pained and disgusted as he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"A-are you marrying him?"
"What! Of course not. He was a terrible date, I didn't even want a date that evening, I came alone even though many people told me I should take someone. But my father made me sit with him and dance with him. I was actually hoping to be with you instead."
"The feeling was mutual then"
She nodded then said more sterner. "So I can reassure you that I haven't seen him again and don't intend to."
"That's a relief to hear." Naruto squeezed her hand and carried on the very slow pace they had unconsciously set. "At the onsen, I noticed guys noticing you, and even though it made me jealous I told myself I didn't care, that I had nothing to do with you anymore. But that night at the ball… I went kinda crazy… especially with you looking so beautiful and wonderful and lovely, to see you dancing with that asshole just made me realize what I had lost all over again."
Could he feel how fast her pulse was though her fingers? She wanted to communicate her empathy with him but didn't know how, so she squeezed his hand again, this made him turn to look at her, the pink in his face was deeper, the blue in his eyes sharper.
"I was angry at myself for wasting time letting myself be pursued by two women I didn't care about when I should have been chasing after the one woman I cared for…. immensely. It all felt so helpless, like my chance had gone and there was nothing I could do about it… you had left me on the advice of your family before, I didn't know if I could convince you to try me again, especially as your dad is so powerful." He gulped, looking ahead as he carried on his explanation "I didn't want to give up, but I didn't know what to do either, I'd never been in this situation before. But then I found out you were resigning, and suddenly it felt like the end was approaching, like in a video game when you're doing so badly you can hear the game over music tone playing before you've officially lost the game. I knew then that I had to stop moping about and actually do something, or you would be gone again."
Hinata squeezed his hand again, "I'm only going back to my father's firm, it's not like I'm leaving the country."
"It felt like it though! I had no way to communicate with you, I didn't have your number, and your work email would expire. I don't know if you're on any socials and I'm not on any myself. So I knew I had to do something, but I was still a coward, I was too scared to be rejected again that I kept putting it off, even though I knew I had to talk to you. It was only when I overheard you talking to Kakashi sensei… about loving even against hope…" he stopped talking then, his frame suggesting being replete with emotion.
"I meant every word. My regard for you has not changed since we were nineteen, I've felt the same even when it felt hopeless, even when I wanted to move on, I've always felt so… so… cemented to you."
He squeezed her hand in his, "Was that why you rejected a proposal your dad arranged?" She remembered overhearing Sakura tell Naruto about that, she answered with a simple nod of her head and a squeeze of his hand. He grinned at her in pride and joy, his eyes alight with adoration, "I wondered at the time if you had done that for me, I should have known then how confident you are, but I had a fool's idea of confidence and didn't appreciate you."
Hinata regretfully made Naruto stop walking, he looked at her in question, she pointed to a grand townhouse with Greek pillars on either side of the front door, "This is my family's house." She explained simply, but with a hint of sadness, there was no way she could stretch out the night any further, his face fell slightly, so she guessed he felt the same as her.
"It's a big house."
"Yes, yes it is." She replied on a sigh, she did not like the place, the only part of it that felt like home was her bedroom, she longed for a place of her own, that she could fill with love and not silences. She turned to gaze at Naruto, hoping one day she can build a loving home with him, for now she will have to return to her Father's metaphorical palace. "I guess this means goodnight."
He had a hooded look in his eyes as he gazed at her while nodding his understanding. "Hinata-chan?"
"Yes Naruto-kun?"
"Are you going to tell your father about us?"
She sighed, she knew the topic of her family would need to be discussed but she hoped it wouldn't be tonight, Naruto was certainly not a coward as he declared to be.
"Yes I will."
"What if he says no?"
She squeezed his hand, "Even though my family are not the easiest, or the best, they are important to me. But I have to live my own life, and not have it lived for me."
He squeezed her hand back, "I understand." He looked conflicted for a moment, then said with a voice of resolve, "would it help if I speak to him first?"
She gave him a small grateful smile but shook her head, "It's best if it comes from me first, but I would appreciate it if you speak with him another time. For now, please be patient with me."
He said nothing, at first she thought he said nothing, but when she looked up she discovered he was standing in front of her rather than by her side and was reaching for her second hand. Realizing this she placed her free hand in his. They gripped each other's hands simultaneously, a reflexive response at having their souls finally reconnected.
"I'll wait for as long as it takes."
"I'll do the best I can." She gasped when she felt a ring of warmth on her forehead and only registered he had kissed her when he pulled away after a lingering moment.
"You always do." They stood in silence, in the middle of the street, late in the night, with only the swaying of a nearby apple blossom tree to interrupt their peaceful silence, "Hinata-chan?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for sticking with me, for… everything." And just like that the past ten years of pain and regret seemed to vanish, overcome with love for the man in front of her, she couldn't string words strong enough to evoke what she felt, instead she began to cry, the first one that was happy and not mournful in a decade. Worried that he had made her tearful Naruto separated one of his hands from hers to begin rummaging in his pockets for a tissue, "Please don't cry Hinata-chan, I didn't mean to make you cry, I just wanted you to know that I appreciate you." He pulled out what he thought was a tissue but ended up being a used sock, which he stuffed back into his pockets in embarrassment, "how did that get in there?" He whispered to himself.
Unable to contain herself, Hinata laughed through her tears, "Oh Naruto-kun, I love you."
"Really!" He had taken her hand in his free one again.
"Yes! Yes of course I do!" How could he ask such a thing?
"Then why are you crying?!"
"Because I'm happy, I'm relieved, I'm healed. I'm a lot of things right now!"
They clinged onto each other's hands tighter, "how can you be all those things at the same time?"
"Because it's been a long journey for me, like I've finally come to the end, like the last ten years finally make sense!" The words were out before she knew she had expelled them, worried she made him feel uncomfortable, she looked up from their entwined hands, and was faced with a gale of affection in his piercing blue eyes.
"I love you Hinata-chan, so so much."
"Thank you Naruto-kun."
"Hinata-chan?"
"Yes?"
"When can I see you again?"
Her heart tripped at the words, to feel wanted was such a beautiful feeling, "I'm free the day after tomorrow."
"Can we have a picnic together?"
"Sure."
"I'll call you then?"
"Okay."
"Hinata-chan?"
"Yes?"
"Can I have your number?"
She laughed again, "Sure." She waited for him to let go of her hands so they could get their phones out, but he didn't move.
"Naruto-kun, we can't exchange numbers like this."
He kept his gaze on their hands, "I don't want to let go of you." Oh she was falling in love with him all over again. "Is there a way we could do it telepathically?"
She laughed, she was beginning to think he just wanted to make her laugh. "Unfortunately technology hasn't developed that much yet."
"Dammit, the world is failing me."
"As much as I don't want to leave you either, I'd rather my father not find out about us like this, we are outside his house after all."
He sighed, "You're too clever for your own good sometimes, you know that?" Said Naruto as he slowly let go of her hands, which felt immediately cold and lost without the touch of his.
"Call it self preservation." They exchanged numbers, and she braved herself for the inevitable goodbye, hoisting her handbag higher on her shoulder, she looked up into his wonderful clear blue eyes, "I guess this is goodnight."
"I guess it is."
"Well… Goodnight Naruto-kun,"
"Goodnight." He replied, and with a last smile of love at him, she turned to enter her home, but found herself being stopped by a tug on her handbag, she turned around in confusion, only to see Naruto had been the one to tug her handbag. "Sorry, couldn't help myself."
He was so sweet, looking sad at their separation, as though he'd rather never be apart from her again. Resolved, she gathered her courage, took the two steps needed to reach him, stood on her tip toes and slowly inched closer to his face to kiss his cheek, she noted the feel of his stubble against her lips, and the smell of his scent wafting from his neck, but especially the sound of his shocked but delighted gasp.
When she reclined away from him and returned to the soles of her feet, Naruto's eyes were wide open in astonishment which turned slightly dazed, "You kissed me!"
"Yes I did."
"Why?"
Feeling both reckless and playful, she smiled at him with just a hint of suggestion "Goodnight, Naruto-kun" she said for the last time, and walked to the house of her father, when she closed the door, she caught a glimpse of Naruto, still standing in the street looking at her in a mixture of adoration, confusion and desire.
When I used to date my husband, he would always tug on my handbag when he dropped me off home. Hope you enjoyed the chapter :)
