Chapter 17: Framing

Hinata walked into their apartment and saw that only her father was home this evening. She could hear the television in the living room blasting gun fire, the squeal of car brakes, and the badly-dubbed Japanese-speaking characters yelling at each other.

Pops was watching his favorite show then.

Sure enough, Hiashi was laying on the couch, eyes glued to the screen as detectives of the Miami Vice Squad, Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs, armed in jackets with the wide shoulder pads, discussed the perp they were chasing and exchanged wisecracks in the process.

"Tou-chan, tadaima."

He paused the DVD player and looked at her when she walked into the living room. His gaze was sheepish. "You know, I don't even really like this show. But it was Hizashi's favorite and I'm kinda just watching it for him, continuing the tradition in his honor."

"Uh-huh." She grinned at him then pointed to the plastic bags she'd placed on the dinner table. "Hana and Tsume came over today at the studio. They gave me some persimmons from the Inuzuka garden. I also bought dinner. I hope you guys don't mind that I grabbed some konbini bentos. Soba okay with you?"

He nodded. "Tell them I said thank you next time you see Kiba. Soba sounds perfect. Thanks, Hinata." He looked at the clock. "Hanabi said she'll be home in an hour. Neji, I'm not so sure. He'll probably text later when he's on his way home."

"Okay."

With a sigh, Hinata plopped herself facedown on the carpet after clearing some space for herself by the coffee table. Hanabi's fashion magazines, textbooks, and the living room cushions cluttered the area, but she was able to lay down on her stomach and stretch her arms. She rolled her head a few times. She was in front of the television so she turned her head towards the couch, in her father's direction.

"What's wrong, Hinata?"

She smiled. "Tou-chan, you don't miss anything."

He only raised his eyebrows. "Of course not. I'm your father after all."

But she closed her eyes to avoid the concern in his. "Mmm. Just work stuff."

"Right."

She was torn on what to do. Hinata was still miserable, but she didn't have to be because Naruto had left it up to her. They were so close to the end, though. This far in the competition, what she and Naruto needed was to really concentrate and focus in order to produce their best work. Just a few more months, and then maybe they could do this again. Now that she knew that he was really single, she badly wanted to be with him.

Hinata's mind was filled with Naruto's message. He'd texted her earlier while she'd been on the train on her way home.

I'm still single, Hinata. Ino's not even in the picture anymore. She just got engaged to Sai. Kisame and Ino will hold a press conference soon to announce that she's leaving for London next year to join Sai there.

My mom checked directly with Nara-san about the competition. There's no rule that says people can't start relationships while competing against each other.

The silence in the living room meant her father wasn't going to put his show back on until she'd spilled what was bothering her. He was still waiting expectantly, still lying on the sofa.

"Tou-chan, I really want to win this thing. But—"

"Sometimes, Hinata," her father uncharacteristically interrupted, "being happy is more important than winning."

Her eyes were still closed, but she smiled when she heard her father's advice.

"I know you want to win this competition because this is really important."

Hinata nodded and made a noncommittal sound from the floor.

"And you know that we will support you and will be proud of you no matter what happens with this contest."

Hinata sighed with appreciation, but she refused to open her eyes. "I know."

"With all that said, I don't like seeing any of my children miserable."

"I'm not mi—"

"You can't fool me." Her father's tone was implacable, wise, and filled with confidence. He'd raised three children all on his own, he knew what he was talking about.

What Hinata didn't know was that Hiashi was at this moment remembering her when she'd been younger: the way she used to hang upside down on the jungle gym bars in the neighborhood park, her hair a long glorious mess while she dangled like a monkey; the way she would always stop and pester the neighbors when they were walking their dogs to pet and hug each one, delaying them from getting their exercise; the way she always took the long path home after she'd gone to the local store to get the things he'd asked her to buy, but she would have rocks, bugs, leaves, and flowers spilling from her pockets.

His exuberant, joyful, tomboy middle child was gone. In her place was a woman who was wrestling with a difficult choice.

Hinata was still quiet, still not responding.

However, sensing that she was willing to listen to what he was going to say, Hiashi continued speaking. "Did you ever think that maybe there was a secret sauce to your success this entire time? Your photos are always amazing, but this time around, did anything change? What happened that made you get through the rounds of the competition so easily?"

"Secret sauce," she murmured, frowning. Behind her closed lids, in her mind's eye, a picture of Naruto smiling at her immediately popped up. She was reminded of the days in Osaka, when he'd tried to hold his umbrella over her to protect her from the rain and then later when he'd held her in the train. Then her mind shifted to the next festival. They were in Kyoto and he'd tried to pay for lunch. Then Aomori, she was pressed up against him that night when he'd offered to share his bed.

How safe she'd felt when she was around him.

And how happy it made her feel when she thought of him.

Tears threatened to form, Hinata engulfed with emotions that confused her.

Still with her eyes closed, she heard her father finally add, "Besides, happiness could be that final boost to make you win. There's only one more round left. You'll win this for sure."

Secret sauce.

Naruto.

Happiness.

The final boost.

Hinata abruptly sat up and finally looked at her father, her face a picture of amazement and respect. "Tou-chan, damn it! Why do you gotta make so much sense?!"

Hiashi laughed in response, relieved to see the flood of euphoria bloom across his daughter's cheeks. She looked radiant and less despondent than when she'd first walked into the house.

"Because I'm your father."

This was not how he'd pictured their reconciliation. He'd wanted some candles, a nice romantic dinner, some peace and quiet.

Instead, he was here in the bright lights of Shinjuku, avoiding the crowd of young folks screaming and laughing drunkenly at each other as they bustled about. His head was spinning because he was struggling to find his location on his phone.

Naruto scratched his head trying to figure out the place that Hinata had texted him earlier today.

But he'd long ago given up on expecting anything from her.

Even her messages were messy.

She'd written him a long text that didn't make sense. In fact, he was still trying to figure out what the gist was. It came in the end, Come see me tonight?

Or, he thought that was it.

So he came to the address in Shinjuku she'd sent him, to an area he wasn't too familiar with despite living in this part of Tokyo for the last two years, which was why he was struggling to read the map on his phone. In her text, there was also something about a friend, a professor, a club, and—he shuddered—some dancing.

There was also more gibberish that he just couldn't figure out.

"Oh, crap!" he suddenly blurted out as he stopped himself from stepping on a human leg on the sidewalk.

Because he'd been looking at his phone, Naruto had almost stomped on a salary-man still dressed in his business suit, sprawled, unconscious, on the road. Luckily, he managed to walk around the drunken man.

He looked at his watch.

Already passed out this early?

It was only 10:00pm.

Naruto walked on, not bothering to help him. It was a common scene if you lived in Tokyo. Besides, up ahead, a couple of the local police were stepping out of their koban and were already on their way to check up on the guy lying on the sidewalk.

Finally, he got to the address she'd sent him.

The loud music was already vibrating through the building's walls and he could feel the pounding beats echo the thump of his heart.

He flashed the bouncer at the door the special QR code that Hinata had sent him beforehand. The bouncer, muscled arms bulging out of the sleeveless shirt they wore, allowed him inside the club without any problems.

Naruto was not a fan of crowds and loud music, but Hinata had asked him to come and he wasn't going to refuse her.

He just couldn't. She was like a drug he couldn't quit. And she'd promised that it was going to be an interesting night. Whatever that meant.

Naruto was hoping that 'interesting' was going to happen in his bed, once he finally convinced her to come back to him and forget being adversaries for this contest.

Knowing how unpredictable she was, he was not going to keep his hopes up, though. Because maybe she was going to reject him again. Maybe she'd messaged him because she wanted to personally tell him directly to his face to go to hell again.

But like an idiot, he'd still come to her because of that text she'd sent.

It was going to be so hard to find her in this crowd, he thought as he walked into the tightly packed dance area.

"Naruto!"

A hand suddenly smacked him in the face, and he knew right away that it was Hinata who'd called his name.

"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to hit you," she said with an apologetic giggle. "I was just trying to get your attention."

"Mmmf! You have it."

Naruto turned to face her. She was smiling as she placed a hand on his lips and did that thing she did with her thumb, rubbing gently to ease the sting. "I'm sorry for hitting you, Naruto. It really was an accident."

"Don't worry about it."

She wasn't aware that she'd smacked him on his cheek, not his mouth, but he wasn't going to tell her to stop doing what she was doing, caressing his lips.

For a moment, time was suspended. Nothing mattered except Hinata weaving her magic again. Like a dumb fool, he allowed her to do it. She was still caressing his mouth, but she seemed looser today, different from the girl who'd faced him and his friends a few days before. Tonight she was gazing at him, a dreamy smile on her lips. And as the seconds ticked by, her body was inching closer and closer into his space. Her scent teased him again, faint because she was clothed right now. But he remembered the night she'd been gloriously naked, when her scent had wrapped him in a cloud of bliss.

It was unsettling—and unexpected. He was remembering everything in detail again.

Already, this was getting way too dangerous because Naruto still didn't know what this meeting was all about.

He cleared his throat then asked, "Where's your friend, the professor you mentioned? I thought you said he was going to be here."

For an answer, she laughed, raised her hand, and then pointed to the stage.

He squinted and saw a man in a khaki green t-shirt with the iconic image of the four shaded faces of the Queen band members from their Bohemian Rhapsody music video staring back at him. Despite how dark it was inside the club, he had a pair of circular glasses perched atop his nose. He was high up on a little stage, behind the DJ table, bobbing his head to the beat, headphones precariously tucked between his ear and shoulder, right hand scratching a disc, the left one fiddling with the switches of the turntable.

"That's your professor friend?"

She grinned at him. "Yup!"

Naruto's jaw dropped. "Are you telling me he's a DJ?!"

She laughed again. "Not a professional one. Tonight's amateur night. This is his other passion."

Amateur?!

Naruto looked around at the clubbers screaming and jumping around to the hiphop music and shook his head. They didn't seem to mind that the DJ wasn't a professional.

He blinked again, having trouble wrapping his head around the fact that it was possible to be both a university professor and an amateur DJ.

The strains of a familiar classic club anthem suddenly started playing.

Shawty had them Apple Bottom jeans, boots with the fur, came FloRida's voice. The whole club was looking at her. She hit the flo'. Next thing you know—

The DJ grabbed the mike, suddenly killed the music, and in that silence, yelled, "Alright, you guys know what's coming! I need everyone to sing this part right here!"

As one, without missing a beat, the dancing crowd shouted enthusiastically, "Shawty got low low low low low low low low!"

Then the blast of the music nearly blew out Naruto's eardrums when it came back on again.

Them baggy sweatpants and the Reeboks with the straps. She turned around and gave that big booty a smack…

Naruto kept staring at the DJ. He wouldn't have thought that it was possible but he would take Hinata's word for it. And he belatedly realized that she was no longer next to him but was walking towards the bar counter. He quickly followed her.

When he was close enough, Hinata leaned into him and screamed into his ear, "Do you want a drink?"

He shook his head. "No, thank you."

She laughed again, "Are you sure? They know me here because I'm the DJ's friend. I'm a nobody, not a somebody like you, but I can at least get you free drinks."

She held up a hand and the person behind the bar came over. "Some tea for my guy here," Hinata said with a laugh, pointing to Naruto first before she took a sip from her own glass.

He frowned but shook his head, looking more closely at Hinata, who was swaying dangerously on her feet, but she managed to keep her drink from spilling. That explained why her earlier text to him was a mess, she'd been drinking when she'd sent it. But at least, she was back to her demented self and not the desolate creature she'd been the last couple times he'd seen her.

But, he suddenly realized with panic, that meant he was in danger whenever she was like this.

He quickly turned to the bartender. "I think I need something stronger than tea," he said. "Gin, please. On the rocks." He hoped it was potent enough to give him courage for the night.

The bartender smiled at him. "Sure thing, cutie."

She added a very obvious wink at him, making him blush by the unmistakable invitation in her eyes and red-tinted smile, but then she went to get his drink.

Hinata must have seen the exchange because she glared at the bartender, who was reaching for the bottle of gin on the shelf behind her. "Mei! You're not getting your grubby hands on him! He's mine!"

The bartender only grinned back and winked at him again—slowly this time.

"Dammit!"

Before he knew it, Hinata banged her drink on the counter, reached over, and pulled his head down for a kiss.

Ah, shit.

Of course.

The instant she'd touched him, he was gone. She wasn't even being subtle about anything. Her lips were pressed against him, open, hungry and demanding, drowning him in lust, in how much he wanted her again. Her body braced against his brought back the memories of her making love to him in his apartment. His arms tightened around her, his hands tangled in her long dark hair, wanting her so much to come back with him.

The loud music around them faded, and all the anger, the heartache, and misery she'd put him through disappeared inside him, only to be replaced by hope.

He's mine.

She'd yelled it with so much conviction and so much passion—the same way she'd always asserted that she was going to be the next imperial photographer. For her, it was an unmistakable statement of truth.

Hinata, I'm yours.

He kissed her back with all the fierceness of his feelings for her in his soul—in that club, with all the noise and energy that seemed a fitting backdrop for this merry dance of theirs, this strange romance that started with a contest.

Until Mei the bartender came, loudly cleared her throat, and slammed his drink down on the counter. The clink of the ice against the glass made him blink and realize that maybe they should take their reunion somewhere else.

Or, he thought it was a possible reunion…maybe?

He still wasn't sure because she hadn't said anything about being together.

Arms still wrapped around him, Hinata pulled back from the kiss and grinned up at him. He couldn't help but smile back at her.

And then he belatedly realized that the hiphop music was no longer playing, that the music genre changed to the more fast-paced and percussive EDM beats. The dancing styles changed, too, but the energy remained the same.

Hinata's friend had finished his set and was making his way towards them. How he was able to find them in that dark club while wearing glasses, Naruto never found out.

When he was close enough, Hinata introduced them. With a huge smile on her face, but in a serious voice, she said, "Naruto, this is Dr. Shino Aburame, Professor of Entomology at Keio University, known here in these parts as DJ Aphid. Shino, this is Naruto Uzumaki, fashion photographer and son of Governor Kushina Uzumaki."

And then she laughed maniacally. "Hahaha! Do you guys realize that not many people get the chance to say that?!"

Naruto bowed nervously at her friend because DJ Aphid, er, Shino didn't even crack a smile.

Instead Shino returned the greeting with a shallow bow, surveyed the quiet Naruto, with Hinata standing so close to him while she took another drink from her glass.

Shino turned to Naruto. "How many beers did she have?"

Naruto started with surprise. "I'm not sure."

Shino was silent, but even while wearing the glasses, Naruto knew the look in his eyes was disapproving.

"Did you make sure she'd eaten before that?"

Naruto turned red. He hadn't thought to ask. "I didn't ask her. I just got here right now. She was already drinking so I just assumed she did."

"You thought wrong." Shino then turned to Hinata and suddenly grabbed the glass out of her hand.

"Hey!" she protested and went to grab it back, but she swayed precariously forward. Since Shino had the quicker reflexes, he caught her before she fell flat on her face and before Naruto could even move.

"Hinata, you're done. You're going home right now," he said, frustration clear in his voice. He grabbed Hinata, and hoisted her behind his back, piggyback style.

"I'm not!" she protested angrily and tried to get down, but Shino held firm.

"Did you even eat dinner?"

At his question, she gave a guilty start and then stilled. "You mean lunch?"

He sighed with annoyance. "And I bet you haven't been getting enough sleep, either."

She squeaked then buried her face into the back of his neck to hide her yawn. "It's just today that I feel really tired. I didn't think it would get this bad."

"Oh, it's bad."

A drunk, sleepy giggle only answered him back.

"Dammit, Hinata! You know Kiba and I always worry about you. You always do this when you get so wound up about shit."

"You try working with Kiba, then!" She hiccuped and then burped. "He just kept harping so much about the documents I had to send to the local government office for this month's grant for the studio."

"Did it work? Did he get you to send them off in time?"

"Yes," she mumbled.

"Hmph! So then Kiba was right."

Hinata, used to this routine, wrapped her arms around his shoulders and then murmured, "Shino, you always look out for me."

He sighed in frustration. "This is the last time I'm doing this for you."

She laughed softly. "You said that the last time, too."

"But I really mean it this time, though," came Shino's quick retort. "Hinata! Why do you keep doing dumb shit?"

"You think I know?!"

"I wish, Hinata, that you'd just take it ea—"

She snorted loudly and interrupted him. "Shino, you ever been mauled by a lion?"

Shino shook his head.

"Ever had your throat and shoulder gripped in a deadly predator's jaw?"

Of course Shino had no comeback for that.

"No? Well, I have. And I think I deserve the right to be stupid—and maybe even reckless!"

Shino was quiet, because there was no way anybody could ever trump that.

But then maybe because she was tired, she shifted her body to snuggle more comfortably against him, making Naruto wish he could trade places with Shino.

Her voice when she next spoke was hushed and apologetic. "Don't give up on me, okay? I'm sorry for being this chaotic."

"You know I won't," Shino responded.

"Thank you. Why the hell are you still so good to me, Shino?" she murmured, and Naruto heard the wonder in her voice despite the fact that she was still sleepily draped over Shino's back.

Shino gave a soft sigh. After a pause, he finally responded with, "Because I'm stupid, too, that's why."

Hinata quietly laughed in response, and turned her head to glance at Naruto, her gaze warm and mellow, matching the lopsided, sleepy curve of her lips.

"Hey," she said before she fluttered her eyelids close. But not before she lovingly whispered his name. "Naruto."

Which had him feeling all heated and breathless again, but he didn't know what to do in this awkward situation she'd placed him in—considering she was sleeping on the back of another man while whispering his name so tenderly.

Shino didn't react outwardly except shift her on his back. Hinata, however, was now snoring quietly, slumped over his shoulders.

Deep inside him, Naruto recognized the longing in Shino's whispered responses to her barbs. While Hinata might have missed the depth of emotion in her friend's voice, he'd instinctively understood it.

Hell, it was the same with him.

That, and the quick, guilty sidewise Shino had thrown at him after his exchange with Hinata also revealed the truth of their relationship.

Still so good to me, she'd said.

Naruto remembered now, her mentioning that she'd gone out with a co-worker before. It was Shino. And even though things hadn't worked out between the two of them, Shino's feelings for Hinata went deeper than friendship.

He was unsure of how to feel about it.

Shino started walking then looked back at Naruto. "You coming?"

"Yeah."

They walked out towards the doors of the club, but not before Naruto saw the nods exchanged between Shino and the bouncer, who laughed when she saw who he was carrying.

"Hinata's out again?" the bouncer called out in greeting.

Shino adjusted Hinata's weight behind him. "Yeah. We're taking her home. Have a good night, Anko."

"See you next time, DJ Aphid!" she responded with a smile and a wave.

Her gaze turned feral, though, when she caught the people at the front of the line start to push themselves inside when Shino, Hinata, and Naruto tried to leave through the doors.

"Get your ass out of my club right now! I didn't say you could come in!" Anko roared and started for them with a threatening air, sending the two guilty guests skittering backwards towards their previous place in line.

Outside, the cool night air brought clarity and a sense of certainty—because Hinata didn't seem like she hated him, that she'd really called him over because she wanted to be with him again.

He was banking on it even though she hadn't outwardly said anything. Besides, if she really hated him, she wouldn't have kissed him like that.

He's mine.

Naruto was taking a deep breath to get his head clear because so many things were happening so quickly that he couldn't take in everything at once.

Hinata hadn't been lying. Tonight was definitely one of those interesting nights she'd promised.

It became even more interesting when Shino bumped into him with his shoulder and said, "Naruto. Hold out your arms."

Naruto promptly did as he was instructed and caught Hinata in his arms when Shino suddenly turned around and shook her off his back. He then took her arms, adjusted them so that she was holding on to Naruto's neck.

Still unsmiling, Shino looked at him, eyes assessing everything about him, the way Naruto held on tightly to the woman in his arms. "What is this thing between the two of you guys?" he finally asked.

Naruto met his gaze levelly and answered honestly. "I don't really know. I just know I want more from her."

"I'm not even sure if she can give that to you."

Naruto looked at Hinata, who'd sighed and burrowed more closely into his body. "I know, but at this point, I'm willing to accept whatever she'll give me."

He looked up when Shino snorted, but he finally smiled at Naruto. "Sorry for the cold shoulder earlier, man. I didn't mean to grill you that hard. I had to check, right? I'm only looking out for her."

Naruto flushed and then blinked to realize he'd revealed so much to Shino. "Oh, of course."

But Shino was still smiling. "She meant you, you know. You're the 'reckless' part she says she deserves."

"What?!"

Shino glanced at the sleeping Hinata Naruto cradled so tenderly in his arms. "She's been so mopey these last few days, and she didn't say anything to any of us, but it was probably you that caused all of it."

"She was?" He glanced down at Hinata…who'd moped over him. But he just couldn't picture it. It was impossible to think of her without that vitality that made her shine like the sun.

"Yes." Then Shino sighed. "I know she's a ridiculous mess, but she's a great girl. As her friend, I apologize for whatever she did in the past and what she'll do in the future." He smiled, though, when he added, "But Hinata looked really happy today—the first time in a while, so thank you for whatever you did."

Naruto shook his head. "Honestly, I didn't do anything. In fact, I'm still confused about the whole thing, why I'm here tonight. She hasn't told me why she invited me over." He smiled ruefully. "I'm not even sure she wants to see me."

Shino's face became earnest. "She does, she's just really torn up about it: the fact that you guys are competing against each other but still liking you despite that. Obviously Hinata wants to win, but she doesn't want you to hate her for it."

Naruto shook his head vehemently. "No, I don't think I can hate anyone for winning something fairly."

Shino shrugged. "That's what everyone says, but nobody really knows what happens when faced with the reality, right? Imagine she won and you lost. After pouring your heart out and working so hard on your photos, you don't win. That wouldn't sting at all?"

Naruto mulled it over for a little bit and eventually responded. "Yeah, I guess you have a point."

"But you guys do need to talk and see what this is all about. I don't know what she's truly feeling. Like I said, she hasn't said anything about your situation to any of us. This is all conjecture on my part at this point."

"I'll try."

"Good luck." Shino then let out a sardonic grunt. "Keep trying. She's still sorting things out. She always says she doesn't like being muddled and prefers things to be clearly black or white. Hinata's never been a fan of the gray areas of life, but the irony is that we all have to live with the uncertainty she brings into our lives."

Naruto had to laugh, the sound matching Shino's wry expression. "You are so right about that."

But he was coming to understand that her friends deeply cared for her as much as she did for them. Naruto remembered again the photos he'd seen in her dark room, the love she'd clearly captured for the people in her life.

"Thank you, Shino."

Shino nodded, and Naruto had to admire a man who cared enough for his friend that he would be happy to see her in the arms of another—even though he suspected that he would rather be the one holding Hinata in his arms.

He smiled at him. Shino smiled back, albeit briefly. Then he looked at Hinata again, a long while. It seemed to Naruto that he was saying good-bye to whatever lingering feelings were roiling in his heart.

"Again, just ask her so you can get some clarity. Because I guarantee you that once she knows what she wants, she goes for it hard," Shino said as he flicked Naruto a gaze filled with acceptance. He reached out and shook Hinata. "Hey, Hinata, it's time to go home. Where do you want to go?"

Hinata, annoyed and groggy from her disrupted sleep, took one of her arms to push off whoever was trying to rouse her. "Get off!"

Shino persisted, though, and tried one more time. "You want to go home?"

Hinata snuffled with irritation. "Yes," she mumbled.

"Whose home?"

"Naruto."

Shino laughed and then looked at Naruto, who was still holding on to Hinata. She shifted and then for one brief moment, hugged him tight, and Naruto couldn't help the reflexive squeeze he gave her, which must have gotten through her because she woke up briefly.

She opened her eyes and looked at him, her gaze fleeting, but surprisingly clear. "Hey," she said. "Are you taking me back to your place?"

"Yes," he said before she could change her mind.

"Okay, cool." She smiled, but her body relaxed and she was caught back in her sleepy stupor.

"See? She wants you, Reckless." Shino said.

Naruto slid his gaze back to Shino, his blue eyes wide with wonder.

With a mischievous smile, Shino then added, "Welcome to the Harem."

Naruto blinked in confusion. Harem?

Shino, though, didn't explain anything else. Instead, he laughed and patted him on the arm. "I can't shake your hand since you've got your arms full, but yoroshiku ne, Naruto. It was nice meeting you tonight, but you might want to take her back to your place. I'll let her family know she's with you. I'm sure I'll be seeing you around."

Then with a brief bow, a small wave, Shino turned around and hailed a cab.

Naruto bowed a farewell as the taxi sped away.

He looked down at Hinata, his arms tight around her, and hailed one of his own.

When he got to his apartment, it took some maneuvering to get her inside. He almost dropped her when he was fishing for his keys, but he managed to hold on to her with one arm while he opened his door.

It was only a matter of a few minutes when he brought her back to his bed, and looking at her there, peacefully asleep, Naruto knew that someday, he would love to photograph her like that so that he would have a picture of her looking so perfect in the place where she belonged—with him.

"Hinata."

She'd lured him to a noisy club with cryptic messages, kissed him without explaining anything, warned off a bartender who'd winked at him, introduced him to her ex, and now she was passed out drunk on his bed.

This would be the way they'd get back together, Naruto thought with a smile as he continued to watch the moonbeams play across her face.

How typical of Hinata.

But he wouldn't want to have it any other way.