Conversations
"Hinata"
"Hi Sakura, it has been a long time. How are you?"
"I am fine. What about you?"
"I am fine too. I guess"
"I spoke to Naruto" Sakura could not stop herself anymore, the five minutes she spent alone waiting for Hinata was filled with anticipation, she wanted to help Hinata and Naruto in anyway possible, and for that she needed to know the story from both sides.
"I really don't want to talk about it, Sakura, but I appreciate your concern." Hinata did not want to avoid Sakura but she also didn't want to talk about her relationship with Sakura.
"I understand. I respect your feelings. I just want you to know that I will always be here for you and if you feel like you need a listening ear, I am always here." Sakura's voice emitted understanding and concern. Hinata was touched, she realised just how many people were out there, who genuinely cared for her.
"I am really lucky to have a friend like you Sakura" Hinata said. Taking a deep breath after a long pause - right when Sakura was about to leave- Hinata continued "I don't know what he told you, but from my side I would like to inform you that it was my decision to end our relationship."
"He told me that" Sakura too took a break, as if contemplating whether or not she should say what she was about to say. Finally, she continued "That and something about not loving you right & manipulating your feelings"
Hinata flinched at the last part, maybe she wasn't as well accustomed to that fact as she thought she was. "Do you support what he did?" She did not know why she asked that question, because she already knew the answer.
"Of course not Hinata! not even in my sleep would I agree with that or support it" Sakura's voice was a mix of shock and honesty. Her face looked like she was accused of something scandalous.
"I just wanted to hear it out loud. Don't get me wrong, what I meant to say was if his loved ones openly tell him what he did is wrong, then he will make sure not to repeat it." The fact that Naruto agreed and accepted his mistake in front of Sakura made Hinata feel something. She could not pin-point it but it was something and it was something positive. Maybe her heart was hoping earnestly, trying to reason against reason that Naruto not caring about Sakura hating him for what he did was a sign that he is moving on, a sign that he will actually love her back
"No misunderstandings took place here. I really think I should go now" Sakura left her shift at the hospital to come and talk to her, she had to reach back as soon as possible.
"Oh, I will guide you back to the gates"
They walked in silence till they reached the end of the Hyuga compound. "Bye Sakura. Thanks for paying a visit."
Sakura smiled back at Hinata while waving her hand in bye.
Hinata, free for the rest of the day went into her room to take rest. Her break from missions was coming to an end tomorrow and she wanted to feel as fresh as possible on her first day back in field.
On his way back home, Naruto found Hanabi. He did not know how to face her. He decided avoiding her would be best for now. He turned back to move in opposite direction when this sudden urge to know about Hinata's well being kicked into him. He couldn't shrug it off, he needed to know.
"Hey! Hanabi" He called her.
"Oh! Naruto, hey" She clearly did not know how to respond.
This is going to be awkward he thought. But he needed to know about Hinata.
"How is Hinata?" There was desperation in Naruto's voice which did not go unnoticed by Hanabi. What was going on with him? First, he hurts her, now he wants to know how she.
"Well how do you expect her to be? Dancing and singing in joy. Of course, she is sad" Hanabi was mad at him and she wanted him to know that. She will not back away from being rude.
"I just wanted to know-"
"Know what? If or not mission break Hinata's heart is successful? Congratulations it is"
"Your anger is justified but I don't want anything bad to happen to her ok. I can never stand to see her cry." He was sad, broken and lost.
"Well, you failed miserably. Because of your broken relationship she is forced to marry some random suitor. Our clan heads forced father so much that he was left with no choice but to promise Hinata's hand to some random fellow from some far away village. My clan and their prestige issues. She is getting married on the exact same date fixed for your marriage" Hanabi did not know since when she started taking decisions on impulse, this was probably her first one. She couldn't help it. His voice, his body language, his words, his chakra and his everything looked so dull and desperate. She wanted to know if he loves her sister or not. This was the only way that came to her mind, make him jealous until his true feelings surface.
"What are you talking about? It is been hardly two days since we split!"
"We are Hyugas Naruto, we don't wait for the whole world to know that a Hyuga princess's wedding was cancelled. It is a damage to our prestige"
"This is so lame and outrageous!" Naruto was beyond mad. They can't do this to Hinata. Since she was a child, this always happened to her and now again. No, he can't let it happen.
'I have to snap out of my misery and do something' he thought to himself.
"I won't let it happen Hanabi. Nothing unfair will happen to her." There was determination in Naruto's voice.
Hanabi liked where this was going.
A/N- I do not own Naruto. I know you know that thing. Hope you enjoyed it.