Series: Naruto
Pairings: NaruHina
Author: Lynns
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi
Type: Alternate Universe/Romance
Sparks Fly
Chapter 14
Usually, Neji didn't mind when his father and uncle had a meeting, and it went on far longer than he had expected. It didn't happen all the time, but when it did, he would usually come back to the boardroom later with a cup of coffee or sit on one of the comfy couches located nearby. However, in this situation, he was so agitated that sitting would only make him feel worse, and there wasn't a beverage on the planet that could calm him down right now. Instead, he paced back and forth, glancing either at his wristwatch or the clock on the wall continuously, wondering what on earth was taking the two men so long.
It's only their end-of-the-day meeting with a few of the managers. So what the hell are they talking about that is so important?!
His pale eyes darted down to the two phones in his right hand; one was his, and the other his father's.
Whenever there was a meeting that Hizashi needed to attend, he would give his work and personal cell phone to him so that his father would not be distracted or have the meeting interrupted by nagging phone calls. However, for the most part, anyone who dealt with his father knew he was in a meeting anyways and would not bother calling until close to 4:35 pm. Which was why he was shocked to see a call from Kakashi just a little bit after 4 pm. While it was odd, Neji had answered it casually and figured it was just the Back Shift Project Manager telling his father that all the transformers that Hinata had been testing were done.
Instead, he ended up getting a long-winded story of there being a man-down incident. Not only was his cousin involved in it, but she was also currently being taken to Fort McMurray Hospital with a possible minor concussion and short-term memory loss. Neji had to resist the urge to sprint from his desk and instead walked as quickly as he could to the board room on the fourth floor.
Hyuuga Electric and Hyuuga Power Head Offices all resided in the same building. It was a moderate six-story construction with Hyuuga Electric on the second and third floors, and then Hyuuga Power was on floors five and six. The first floor was only for the receptionist desk and the massive warehouse where they kept all of their tools, stocked supplies, safety gear, and where their mechanic did regular maintenance to all of the fleet trucks. Meanwhile, the fourth floor was a median for the two companies with it having a large board room, along with a view mini meeting rooms, and a large lunchroom with plenty of tables for people to sit at; not to mention a small gym that had locker rooms attached to it with showers as well for anyone who wanted a workout before or after their shift.
Neji bit the tip of his thumb out of apprehension, glancing at the double big oak doors and wondered if this was warrantied as an immediate emergency. Technically speaking, Hinata was not in any critical danger. The doctor at Konoha Energy, who Neji knew very well and trusted, only thought it was a minor concussion and that the short-term memory loss would last a maximum of 48 hours. He looked down at his watch again, 4:36 pm.
Screw it; I'm just going to knock on the door, apologize and ask to speak to my father and uncle privately. I can't stand pacing back and forth any longer.
Decision made, he marched straight to the doors and raised his hand to get their attention, but suddenly stopped when something whacked him in the back of the head. The object that hit him fell to the floor with a small thunk, and he looked down to see a black six-inch heel by his feet. To say he was confused would be an understatement, but when he turned around, the culprit behind the heel was hobbling quickly towards him; and for only having one shoe on, Hanabi was moving quite fast.
She had a very serious look on her face and was pointing a finger at him as if threatening him with harmful consequences if he attempted to touch that door again. He lightly rubbed the spot her high heel had struck him and briefly admired her deadly accurate headshot on him. Neji wasn't sure why she looked so angry, but he picked up her footwear anyways, and when she was close enough, he tossed it to her.
"I'm assuming you got the news too?" asked Neji.
Hanabi pointed to her father's phone. "I just got finished talking to Shino. He explained the whole situation to me."
While usually Hanabi could be childish and overstep her boundaries at times, right now, she looked like a true businesswoman with her long hair up in a braid and the striped business suit she wore. The expression on her face looked like she was ready to kill someone.
"I understand that you're upset that Hinata has a concussion, but until I can talk to our fathers' there's nothing much we can do right now. I was going to knock on the door, but then you decided to throw your shoe at me!" hissed Neji, emphasizing the last bit by rubbing the back of his head.
Hanabi rolled her eyes, and once she got her shoe back on, she pointed at the door. "This isn't just a regular manager's meeting! Mei and Chojuro from Kirigakure Industries are in there! They have oilfield sites to the south and want to sign a contract with both companies! They showed up unexpectedly, which is why the meeting is taking longer than normal!"
Neji felt his blood run cold, and he glanced at the door behind him.
"And don't tell me I can't be pissed off about my sister getting hurt! Did Kakashi happen to mention that Hinata has been working over fourteen hours each day or that they kept her separated from Naruto the whole time because they thought he would be a distraction to her? Or how about the fact that Deidara was her work partner? Has Kakashi completely lost his god damn mind!?" Hanabi whispered angrily.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked back down at his cousin, who was almost nose to nose with him.
Fuck me, Hanabi is scary when she is angry . . .
Her words finally sunk in, and Neji gritted his teeth. "Wait, did you say fourteen hours?!"
Hanabi nodded. "And you know that if I know an employee's name in your company, and he's not one of the higher-ups, that's a bad sign, right?"
Neji sighed and rubbed his temples.
Well, I can see why Kakashi didn't accentuate when he said Hinata had been working long hours. I thought he was talking about just an hour or two longer than everyone else on the odd day, but not every day!
"I know, I know. Deidara was pretty much on his last thread. I understand why Kakashi decided to put him with Hinata. He would only be her assistant, and she would be doing most of the work, so it would keep him out of trouble."
It was never easy to let an employee go, especially when you wanted to see the good in all of them. But Deidara was one of those cases where no matter how many chances he was given, he always seemed to screw it up.
And now that he's involved in a man down incident because he wasn't wearing his gas monitor, he pretty much just threw himself out the door . . .
Neji glanced at the boardroom one more time and then turned back to his cousin. Both of their fathers weren't there to make an executive decision, so they, as the ones who were second in command, needed to do something.
"I assume you've already come up with a plan?"
Hanabi smiled. "I've already talked to Rin, and she will deliver the message to our fathers once they are done with the meeting. As for us, I hope you're prepared for a long road trip."
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Her room was dark, and the only sounds she could hear from under the blankets were the soft beeping of the vital machine attached to her finger and the odd soft sigh from Kiba, who was busy playing games on his phone; plus the footsteps of the odd person walking by. While the lights were off in her room, it was still blindingly bright in the hallway, and no matter how many times Kiba tried to close her door, a nurse was always there a few seconds later to give him a scolding and tell him the door needed to stay open.
Hinata shifted uncomfortably on the hard hospital bed and bit her lip from both the throbbing pain in her head and the loud growling sound of her stomach. Then, lifting the blanket up slightly, she slipped her arm out to grab the glass of water beside her bed. Her pale eyes briefly fell on Kiba, who was staring at her with a sad smile.
"I promise that I'll run out and get you some food once your CT scan is done. I know you're hungry, but try to hang on just a little bit longer. "Kiba said quietly before reaching forward and gently patting her hand.
She nodded, took a sip of water, and then slipped back underneath the covers. Her eyelids were beginning to feel heavy again, and Hinata wanted nothing more than to fall asleep. However, the doctor had warned her to try and stay awake, at least until her scan was complete.
Hinata still couldn't quite believe what was going on.
The last thing she remembered was a full day of work at the office, then going home and falling asleep in her bed at her apartment, and that it was near the end of November. The next thing she knew, she was waking up in a hospital room with Naruto leaning in to hug her!
A deep blush spread across her cheeks, and she covered her face with her hands.
I feel so bad for slapping him like that! He just caught me completely by surprise! And why was he going to hug me anyway?
She still wasn't sure what was going on, but Kiba had managed to explain a few things to her, like how it was December and that she had been working her second shift with Hyuuga Electric. Hinata felt beyond confused, but she tried to rationalize that she had a concussion after all, which explained the pounding headache currently occupying her head.
At first, she had found it hard to believe that she was up at Konoha Energy, even though she had been told by both Kiba and Tsunade. However, once she was carried outside to the truck, she was shocked to see the familiar oilfield plant she had worked at for over four years.
The truck ride to the Fort McMurray Hospital had been very uneventful. Sakura had driven, Kiba and an electrician named Deidara had sat in the back seat, and she had taken the front passenger spot with the seat reclined so that she would have an easier time falling asleep. It had been very quiet inside the cab, and she had slept most of the way with Kiba draping his sweatshirt over top of her to block the light out. The blonde electrician would try to make conversation the odd time, but he was quickly interrupted by either Sakura or Kiba and told to be quiet. She couldn't deny that she was curious why he was in the vehicle in the first place, he looked fine after all, but Hinata decided to save her questions for later and gave into her body's demands for sleep. Once they had arrived at the hospital and were shown to their rooms by the nurses, Kiba stayed with her while Sakura went with Deidara.
And here she now was, waiting patiently for a CT scan.
After another ten minutes, thankfully, her patients finally paid off. Both Hinata and Kiba breathed a sigh of relief when the nurse came in and said they were ready for her. Even though she offered to walk herself down there, both Kiba and the nurse insisted that she use the wheelchair brought in for her. It didn't take much convincing for her to agree with them, and she took a seat in it. Then, just as the nurse was wheeling her down the hallway, Kiba grabbed her hand one more time.
"I'm going to head out and get you something to eat. Any requests?"
Hinata was so hungry that she could have gladly gulped down a greasy burger, hot fries, and a milkshake. However, eating that much junk food would only make her feel worse. But, she didn't just want to order a salad and have a meal that wouldn't satisfy her hungry stomach. So she chose a median. "A hot chocolate with a chicken sandwich and, only if you can find it, maybe a cinnamon roll too?"
Kiba smiled. "I will buy all they have in stock if you want me to. I'll be back soon, okay? If you need anything, Sakura is around, so just ask the nurses for her."
Hinata nodded, and she watched her friend turn to leave down the hallway.
She had never had a CT scan before, and the enormous rotating x-ray machine was undoubtedly intimidating. Hinata felt nervous lying her head down under the huge machine, almost like that feeling when you were a little kid going to the doctor for the very first time. However, once the scan began, she realized that there was nothing to be afraid of.
Before Hinata knew it, she was being wheeled back to her room, and just as she was climbing back into a bed, a soft knock at the door caught her attention. Sakura was standing in the doorway with a faint smile on her face.
"How are you feeling, Hinata?" Sakura asked when the nurse left the room.
Hinata shook her head and grabbed a pair of sunglasses that Kiba had left for her on the table nearby. She put them on so that the bright lights from the hallway didn't hurt her eyes. "I feel about the same. Ah, has anyone found my phone? I should really talk to my family about what's going on with me."
Sakura took a seat beside her and grasped her hand. "I'm afraid your phone isn't here, Hinata. It's back at Konoha Energy, but don't worry. We have someone taking care of all of your stuff, and on their home day tomorrow, they will bring it all to your family. I was just talking to your cousin Neji, and he and Hanabi are actually on their way here. They left almost an hour ago, so they should be here before midnight. Depending on what your scan shows and how you're feeling, they will get a hotel room here in town if you need to spend a night in the hospital. However, if everything is alright and you're good to leave, then Hanabi will drive you guys home tonight. At first, I thought maybe we could just fly you home tomorrow morning; however, after thinking about it, I don't believe it would be wise to put you on a plane with your injury.
"Kiba and I can stay until your family arrives. Deidara is still being looked at, but he will be fine from what the doctor told me. It was only a little exposure to H2S that caused him to fall unconscious, so he wasn't even in any real danger; that is, aside from maybe freezing or inhaling any water when he collapsed into the puddle."
Hinata frowned and looked up at Sakura. Since waking up at the Konoha Energy Hospital, no one had talked to her about what had happened or what memories she was forgetting. It was the first of her hearing that the man who had been riding with her in the truck had been exposed to such a deadly gas.
"And . . . was I exposed to H2S as well?" Hinata asked hesitantly.
Was that why she had a concussion? Had she fallen unconscious too?
Sakura's eyes widened, and she suddenly realized the words that had come out of her mouth. "Ah! Shoot, I'm sorry, Hinata. I shouldn't have told you that. We haven't told you anything because we didn't want to stress you out or cause a panic attack."
Her lips pressed together tightly as Hinata resisted the urge to hold her true thoughts back. While she was grateful that her friends were looking out for her, she was starting to get tired of being treated like a child. "I understand. But, can you at least tell me how I got a concussion in the first place?"
Sakura sighed and squeezed her hand a little tighter. "The only person who saw you fall was Toneri. I spoke to him briefly, and he said that after the man-down call was made on the radio, he ran over as fast as he could to you and Deidara, who was working in his area in the South Tank Farms. He said you were wearing an SCBA, didn't have any winter gear on from the waist up, and that you were dragging Deidara towards the MCC. Unfortunately, you were tired from the shift and slipped on the ice, which caused your concussion.
"And when I talked to Deidara, who you were working with, he admitted to not wearing his gas monitor, and when he knelt down to pick up some bolts you had dropped, he suddenly felt light-headed and passed out. He doesn't remember anything after that aside from waking up in the Konoha Energy Hospital. So pretty much Hinata, you were the hero of the day."
Hinata felt a blush spread across her cheeks.
"But, that's all I'm going to say for now. I don't want to overload you with information about what's been going on the last month." Sakura released her hand and stood up. "I'm going to check on Deidara, and hopefully soon, Kiba will be back with food for all of us. I can only imagine how hungry you are. I don't think you've had a proper meal since your coffee break at 10 am. I'll be back soon to check on you."
A part of Hinata wanted to call Sakura back to her room and demand that she tell her more of what was going on. However, the throbbing pain in her head only reminded Hinata of how tired she felt and needed sleep. Surrendering to her body's needs, Hinata slipped under the blankets, removed the sunglasses, and closed her eyes.
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It was pitch black all around her.
She couldn't hear anything or make a sound.
Hinata turned and looked in every direction, but there was no one to be seen. Just her in the darkness. While a part of her was scared, it did at least bring her some comfort that her body was not covered in black; she could still see her hands, arms, chest, legs, and feet. She was only dressed in a long orange nightgown. However, she was neither hot nor cold.
She started to move forward, walking in an aimless course.
But no matter how far or long she walked, she still couldn't see or hear anything. For a moment, Hinata stopped and stared down at her bare feet. What was the point? Perhaps it was best to remain still and not move at all; hope that someone would find her.
No . . . I can't do that . . . as scared as I might be, I need to keep moving forward!
Feeling determined, Hinata took a deep breath and started to run forward.
Hinata didn't know how long she ran for, but she knew that she would find the answer she was searching for somewhere in this pitch dark blackness. Then, suddenly, something caught her foot, and she fell forward with a little tumble. There was no pain, but she sat up quickly to see what she had tripped on.
It was a purple filing cabinet that had been tipped over on its side.
The two bottom drawers were still closed shut, but the third top drawer was wide open, and while there were files still inside it, she could tell that some were missing.
Hesitantly, Hinata approached the metal container. She wasn't sure what it was or why it was here, but curiosity got the better of her, and she gently placed her hand on it. A gust of wind suddenly came from nowhere and swirled around her. Before Hinata could react, movement to her right caught her attention. File folders shaded in different colours were scattered around her, being gently moved by the now calm wind. Hinata stared at them for a moment and then looked down at the filing cabinet beside her. Something deep within Hinata told her she needed to put them back.
First, she stood the filing cabinet back upright and quickly inspected it to make sure nothing had been damaged. She then took a closer look at the top drawer that was still wide open. While the files in the front were fine, it appeared that the ones that were missing were from the back. Then, turning around, Hinata saw a blue file folder close to her feet, and she immediately picked it up; it felt warm and comforting in her hands.
Knowing what needed to be done, Hinata placed the folder back inside, and suddenly, her world was once again filled with sound, and the voice of her uncle graced her ears.
/
"I'm so sorry for the very short notice Hinata, but I'm sending you up to Konoha Energy with Neji tonight. Unfortunately, the office administrator there created a huge mess, and I know you're the right person to clean it up. Hanabi told me that you're all caught up on your work and even ahead of schedule. Would you mind doing this favour for your old uncle?"
Hinata gasped and clutched a hand to her chest. Pale violet eyes locked onto the other file folders that were slowly moving around her, and she was determined to catch them all.
One by one, she collected them and placed them back inside the filing cabinet.
/
"I know you're tired, but I need you to stay awake for a bit longer. We are almost at the security gate, and I need you conscious so you can check into your room at the camp. Here, read this instead. It's a list of all the lead hands and foreman's that are at this site. I'm pretty sure you will recognize most of the names."
/
"Welcome back, Hinata. It's so good to see you."
/
"I'm not sure when it started. Second-year electrical, I think. That's when I at least remember starting to see you differently. I had no problem flirting and talking with other women, but when it came to you . . . I always froze."
/
"If . . . if he doesn't . . . if things don't go how you would like them to and he isn't interested in you, then just know there is a stupid man out there who would like to have a chance with you, okay?"
/
"I will say this though if you are ever looking for a good roll in the sheets, I highly suggest Kiba; that man just has this touch that leaves your skin feeling like it's on fire. He's also a decent kisser too, but you already know that, right? However, if you want someone a little more gentle, then go with Naruto. He is one hell of a kisser."
/
"How do you always do that? Say the right things just when people need to hear it the most? You did that all the time when we were in school and at work together. I miss those days so much . . . I've missed you."
/
"Did you . . . at any time . . . did you ever see me as more than a friend?"
/
"Dad . . . I know you want me back as soon as possible at the head office, but I just can't do that. I know right now I'm being very selfish, but . . . being back up here has made me really happy. It's been so long since I've seen everyone up here, and to me, they are like my second family. I was invited to come to the Hyuuga Electric Christmas Party this weekend, and while they may not 'need' me to come back next shift, I want to come back. I want to make sure everything is in order for them and to just spend a few more days with the crew. I would feel terrible if I overlooked some important paperwork here and left the new office girl, Temari, all on her own to figure it out. But more importantly, there are people up here who mean a lot to me, and I just want to spend more time working with them. I forgot how much I've enjoyed working with this crew. So please, let me come back up for one more shift, and then I will return."
/
"Hinata, you and I have known each other for quite a few years now. However, every time I have asked you out, you either have brushed off my request or have not given me a clear answer. Granted, I know when we first met, we were still young, and I'm sure you wanted to spread your wings and not be tied down to anyone. Which is fine. I won't prod or ask about your previous relationships. But we aren't getting any younger; I was hoping to see you last Friday when my father and I stopped by Hiashi's office for lunch, but to my surprise, you weren't there. Hiashi was very vague about where you were, but you cannot believe how relieved I was to see you up here. So, Hinata, would you do me the honour of becoming my girlfriend?"
/
"We've got a rather odd request from Konoha Energy. Since you're here on site, they are wondering if you would be up to test all of the transformers here on site, including all the pads as well. I know this is short notice, but Gaara and I would be forever grateful if you could get them all done before the end of the shift. So we'll get all the paperwork set up, and I'll find someone to work alongside you for the remainder of the shift."
/
"Hinata this is Deidara. You will be working with him for the rest of the shift."
/
"Well, what's stopping me from radioing them and spilling the beans about your relationship? Seems odd to me that you two have been trying to hide it."
/
"Last I checked, you're the one that has been lying to me this whole shift! You said your boyfriend was back home and didn't work up here!"
/
"DEIDARA! DEIDARA ANSWER ME!"
Memories that had been forgotten came flooding back to her with the more files she returned to the cabinet. Many of the voices she recognized, but some seemed unfamiliar to her. The last file she placed inside made her cheeks burn.
/
"That's none of your business, Kono! But for the record, the only woman I want to sleep with and fuck senseless is currently in Tin Town sorting out the paperwork our last office administrator screwed up!"
She couldn't tell whose voice it was, but it was so familiar to her. It was on the tip of her tongue, but for some reason, she just couldn't figure out who. After returning the last file folder, Hinata suddenly felt exhausted. However, she knew that her work was not done yet. She leaned against the filing cabinet for a moment and caught sight of a few more folders that were scattered off in the distance. Some of them were red, and there was a figure standing beside them.
Once again, she knew who it was, but she also didn't know at the same time.
Who are you? I know you're important to me . . . why are you so far away?
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A soft groan escaped Hinata's lips when she woke up.
Her head wasn't pounding like before, but the pain wasn't completely gone either. Slowly, Hinata sat up and pulled the blanket off of her head. The room was still dark, the door was slightly closed, and Kiba softly snored beside her. On the small table beside her, there was a small bag that read 'Tim Hortons' on the front, and she could just make out the smell of chicken coming from it, along with medium-hot chocolate and a box of a dozen cinnamon rolls. Pale violet eyes moved back up to the man slouched over in the chair beside her, his face peaceful and calm while he slept. Smiling at his efforts, Hinata mouthed a soft thank you to her friend before grabbing the cup of Hot Chocolate and taking an experimental sip. It wasn't hot, but it wasn't cold either, just lukewarm.
As she sipped on her drink, Hinata glanced up at the clock in her room and almost gasped when she saw it was 11 pm; she had slept for almost over five hours. For a few moments, Hinata started to feel bad that Kiba and Sakura were still here with her at the hospital; they still had an hour's drive ahead of them to get back to site.
Granted, I am feeling better too. Maybe I should just ride back with them and get my stuff from my room. Plus, I still need to finish up the paperwork from the last transformer we did, and I . . . I . . . wait a minute . . .
Hinata gasped when she suddenly realized that some of her memories were back. Things that had been fuzzy or non-existent in her mind before were now clear as day, well, some of them at least.
It's December! I went up to Konoha Energy with Neji to clean up the office, which was last shift . . . but this shift, I was testing transformers with Deidara. I remember seeing Naruto, we had supper together and caught up . . . I think we are back to being friends now! And Kiba he . . . he . . .
Her cheeks suddenly became red, and her pale eyes darted over to the man sleeping in her room.
He confessed to me . . . he told me that he's wanted to be with me since second-year electrical . . . but did I agree to date him? Wait . . .
She closed her eyes and tried to remember.
Toneri's voice was suddenly ringing in her ears. He had also made some kind of confession during a cable pull. However, that had been quickly resolved, and she had rejected him. But what about Kiba? Had she said yes to his confession?
Even though her memories were a bit jumbled, she tried to put them back into her timeline in order, but there were things that either were still a bit foggy to her, or she still couldn't remember them. It felt like her memories were one big puzzle, but certain pieces were missing.
After having dinner with Naruto, I can't remember anything until Toneri confesses to me in front of . . . Oh My God! He said that in front of everyone during the cable pull! How did I not faint after that? But I told him no, right? I think I clearly told him no because I . . . because I wasn't interested and . . . I'm seeing someone?
It was something that she had told Deidara, and he had been mad at her.
"Last I checked, you're the one that has been lying to me this whole shift! You said your boyfriend was back home and didn't work up here!"
Hinata's eyebrows scrunched together. She tried to wrack her brain for more clues, but unfortunately, she found no answers, only more questions. Her hand lightly came up and touched the large goose egg on the back of her head, and she flinched from how tender the bump still was.
A loud gurgle from her stomach and a slight sickly feeling that swept over her was a brief reminder that she hadn't eaten in almost over twelve hours. Then, as quietly as she could, Hinata grabbed the chicken sandwich from the bag, and she ate her meal quietly while keeping her eyes locked on Kiba.
Deep down, Hinata knew there was something different about herself, but she just couldn't quite put her finger on it. If she did now have a boyfriend, who was it? Is that why Kiba was here with her? Or did he only come along as a friend? Had she kissed someone for the first time?
With her sandwich finished, Hinata sat herself up properly and swung her legs over the side of the bed so she could face Kiba. She gazed at him for a minute before glancing down at her own hands. Experimentally, she clasped her hands together, mimicking them in a way as if she was holding onto someone else's hand. Hinata repeated this gesture a few more times, unclasping and clasping her hands back together as if it was something she had recently gotten used to. Unclasping her hands one final time, she looked back over at Kiba and eyed his left hand, which lay resting on the arm of the chair he was in. Biting her lip, Hinata gently reached forward and grasped his limp hand with hers.
Hinata wasn't sure what she was expecting, but holding Kiba's hand didn't make her feel anything. There was no spark, or butterflies in her stomach, or that giddy sensation she expected to feel when holding onto the hand of someone she loved.
But that's not fair for me to judge either. I've known Kiba for so long. Maybe because I don't have any memories of us together is why I don't feel anything when holding his hand. Or am I completely wrong, and I'm actually dating someone else?
She could feel herself starting to become impatient. Deep down, Hinata knew that right now, her theories and questions were only going round and round in a circle with no solution in sight. She was not fully recovered and knew that the best way to help resolve this was simply to rest and let her brain heal.
However, she was a problem solver. While she didn't have all the clues she needed to solve her circumstance, the stubborn part of her wanted to figure it out as soon as possible. So, without even really thinking it through, Hinata suddenly leaned forward until her face was only a few inches away from Kiba's. She could feel his breath fan against her cheeks, and she could smell a light tinge of hamburgers on his breath. Pale violet eyes moved across his face, gazing into his closed eyes, his nose, and finally down onto his lips.
She felt nothing. No urge to kiss or touch him.
If anything, she felt a little embarrassed being so close in her friend's personal space, so she pulled back just a little bit.
If I'm not with Kiba, then who else could it be?
Naruto's face flashed before her mind, and her cheeks immediately darkened to a deep beet red, her hands flying up to cover her face.
No! No, that is simply impossible! There's no way that could be true! However, that would explain why he was at the Hospital . . . and why he was so close to me . . . but it just seems so farfetched! I haven't seen him in over three years, so there's absolutely no chance we went from just being friends to lovers so quickly! Hell, he doesn't even remember my confession, so I must be with someone else. . .
Her heart fell at the thought; being with Naruto was something that she had longed and dreamed of for so long, but there was no chance that they were together in reality.
Before Hinata could contemplate the thought any longer, a soft knock at the door caught her attention. She expected it to be either Sakura or one of the nurses, but when she saw the face of her little sister Hinata was immediately filled with excitement and relief.
"Hanabi!" Hinata cried as the younger Hyuuga flung herself towards her with a giant bear hug.
"Hinata! We were so worried about you!"
A loud snort and a few grunts from Kiba indicated that he was awake. "Oh, frick me, I didn't mean to fall asleep. Oh, hey Hanabi . . . yawn . . . did you guys just get here?"
Hanabi gave her one final squeeze before turning to the Lead Hand, "Yeah. Neji is just talking with Sakura right now and going over some quick details about the incident today." Her little sister then turned to look at her. "Good news! Your scan came back clear, and you're free to go! The doctor just said you need to take it easy for the next week or two, and then you'll be all better."
Kiba stood up and gave her a concerned look. "How are you feeling right now? Do you still not remember anything?"
Hinata opened her mouth to speak, but she held back. Biting her lip, she briefly glanced down at the floor before looking at Hanabi. "Can you give us a minute, please? I want to talk to Kiba alone for a moment."
Hanabi gave the journeyman electrician a questioning look, but he merely shrugged his shoulders and said that would be fine. Then, with a sigh, her little sister stepped out of the darkened room and told Hinata to come find her in the waiting area when she was done.
As the door closed behind Hanabi, Hinata stared up at Kiba, his eyes full of confusion.
"Are you okay?"
"I . . . I started to remember some things." She admitted.
Kiba smiled and knelt down in front of her. "That's great! But that means there are certain things you don't remember?"
Hinata nodded, and she asked the question that had been bugging her for the last fifteen minutes. "Are we . . . are we dating?"
Kiba froze, and his eyes were wide as saucers.
She continued. "Because I seem to recall you confessed to me and asking if I saw you more than just a friend . . . but I have no recollection of saying yes or turning you down. But . . . I do know that I'm dating someone . . . I just don't know who."
Her best friend suddenly stood up. Even in the darkened room, she could make out the deep blush across his cheeks. Kiba's mouth opened and closed several times, but he just couldn't seem to find the words. Instead, his dark eyes kept darting back and forth between her and the door. Suddenly, Hinata felt extremely guilty for asking him.
Before she could apologize, her friend suddenly reached forward and cupped her cheek. Hinata felt her body freeze, and his face was now mere inches away from hers. It almost seemed like he was about to kiss her, but just as quickly as it happened, he immediately pulled back and started to curse under his breath. His back was to her, and his hands were clutching the back of his head.
"Kiba, I . . ." Hinata paused, and then her eyes widened. It almost seemed like a distant memory or a dream that she couldn't quite remember. But for some reason, she distinctly felt like Kiba had done something like this before. "Have we . . . did you kiss me before? Are we really dating . . ."
He cut her off. "No."
Hinata looked back up at him. His face was a mixture between regret, sadness, and guilt. It confused her greatly why he was looking at her like that, but before she could ask, he interrupted her again.
"I really am a piece of shit." Kiba turned away from her and stared at the wall. "I thought I was over this, but the moment it looked like there was a glimmer of hope for me . . . fuck me, I'm an idiot. Yes, I did tell you how I've felt about you for the last five years. And yes, I did steal a kiss from you, but I did it so spontaneously that you didn't even react. We also aren't dating either. You let me down gently and told me that we were only friends.
"I'm sorry, Hinata. I should have answered you right away instead of hesitating like that. I just . . . had some really weird thoughts and ideas there for a second, and I even had the nerve to consider lying to you there for a moment. But I can't do that to you. Plus, your boyfriend would beat the ever-loving shit out of me if I pulled a stunt like that."
Kiba looked so miserable and dejected. Usually, Hinata would try to comfort him, but all she could focus on at the mention of her boyfriend.
"So I am dating someone? Who is it?" she asked desperately.
He didn't answer her at first, and as the seconds ticked by, Hinata was almost inclined to ask him again; perhaps he hadn't heard her, but she did not like his response. "I can't tell you."
Hinata rarely felt angry, but before she could say anything, the sad expression on Kiba's face halted any words she was about to say.
"Look, I know that's not fair to you, but I promised him I wouldn't say anything. I've been talking and texting him the last few hours here before I fell asleep, and he's more concerned with your health than anything. Plus, he wants to be the one to talk with you about it. Tomorrow is home day for him, and he has all your stuff too, so I'm sure you will see him soon enough."
A part of her wanted to argue and almost demand that Kiba tell her who he was talking about. However, it was getting close to midnight, and if Neji and Hanabi were here to come get her, she doubted they would want her dilly-dallying any longer. So instead, she simply nodded her head and looked down at her hands.
Kiba sighed and placed a gentle hand on top of her shoulder. "It's going to be alright, Hinata. I know it's not funny now, but when this is all over, we can look back and joke with your boyfriend about the time you forgot about him. Right now, though, we should get you out of here. So Sakura, Deidara, and I are heading back to Konoha Energy tonight, although there's no way I'll be able to go to work tomorrow with it being so late. Which I'm fine with; today has been enough of a shit show that I could use a day off."
Hinata smiled and nodded her head.
She had no actual belongings in the room, so it was a speedy clean-up and only grabbed her box of cinnamon rolls before leaving her hospital room. They found Neji, Hanabi, Sakura, and Deidara in the waiting area. Everyone looked exhausted, except for Hanabi, who was downing a cup of coffee.
"Hinata, I'm so glad you're okay," Neji exclaimed before pulling her in for a quick hug. "If you're up for it, we can leave tonight and head back home. I drove the whole way here while Hanabi slept. Plus, that's like her fourth cup of coffee, so I have no doubt she'll get us home in one piece."
Hanabi tossed her coffee cup into the garbage. "I can't tell if you're sincere or sarcastic."
Neji shook his head before turning to Sakura. "Are you three going to be okay? I can book a hotel for you guys if you don't want to make the hour-long drive back to Konoha Energy."
Sakura sighed. "Thanks for the offer Neji, but none of us packed any clothes, so it will just be easier for us to head back. Besides, Kiba had a short little nap; I'm sure he can handle sixty minutes of driving."
Neji gave her a nod of approval before turning his attention over to Deidara. "I hope you're feeling better, and the doctor said you were okay to fly tomorrow back home. However, I will need you to come into head office sometime over the next week here. We will have a lot of things to discuss, alright?"
The blonde electrician looked miserable and wouldn't look anyone in the eye, but he nodded his head that he understood.
"Alright, well then, let's all head out."
As they exited the hospital, Kiba gave her one last hug and said he would text her tomorrow to see how she was doing. She returned the gesture before he left her and headed towards the truck they had arrived in. Hanabi wrapped an arm around her and gently guided her to the vehicle they would take back home. Hinata was either expecting Neji's truck or Hanabi's black car but was surprised when Neji unlocked a white minivan that had Hyuuga Electric Ltd. printed on the side.
Before she could even ask, Neji had already read her mind. "It was Hanabi's idea. She wanted to borrow one of the company vans so that you would have an easier time sleeping on the way home. There are blankets and pillows in the back, so you will be comfortable."
Hanabi then grabbed the keys from Neji and climbed into the driver's seat. "You can sleep too if you want to, Neji. I will just plug my earphones in and listen to music, so I don't disturb you guys."
Neji rolled his eyes and opened the sliding passenger door for Hinata. "I don't like the sound of that. I'm already a little concerned about us driving back so late."
She climbed into the back seat and hummed approvingly that it was still warm inside the vehicle. Hinata silently put on her seat belt and grabbed one of the blankets and pillows stacked beside her. Even though she had just woken up from a five-hour nap, she was still feeling fatigued.
Her cousin sat down in the front passenger seat, and once his seat belt was on, Hanabi shifted the van into drive, and they were off. Neji turned in his seat to face her, "Get some sleep, Hinata. There are also some water bottles behind you if you get thirsty. We won't wake you up until we get home. And by home, I don't mean your apartment."
At first, Hinata wanted to argue that she wasn't a little kid that needed to be babysat, but her sister interrupted her.
"I'm sorry, Hinata. But I promised Dad and Uncle Hizashi that we would bring you right back home to the Hyuuga estate. They are already pissed off at us for leaving and not telling them right away. However, by the time they were out of a crucial business meeting, we were already two hours into our drive. We know you can take care of yourself, but you do still have short-term memory loss, right?"
Hinata met her sister's eyes in the rearview mirror, and while a part of her did want to argue, the other, more reasonable side of her thought that this was for the best. She sighed in defeat and nodded her head.
Hanabi gave her a gentle smile. "We got you, Hinata. I know how strong and capable you really are, but for now, just rely on us, and we'll take care of you. So just relax, and before you know it, we will be home."
Wordlessly, Hinata reclined the seat back and slipped the pillow underneath her head. She could already start to feel her body relaxing, and she was on the verge of falling asleep again. Finally, with her last remaining strength, she pulled the blanket over her head and once again fell into a deep slumber.
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Once again, she found herself in darkness. It didn't take her long to find the purple filing cabinet, but as soon as she touched it, she couldn't see any file folders to pick up. So Hinata began to wander around aimlessly, desperately trying to search for her memories but not wanting to stray too far from the filing cabinet.
It started to feel like she was walking in circles, and there was no end in sight. Finally, Hinata collapsed to her knees, closed her eyes, and clutched the front of her nightgown.
I hate this! I hate this so much! I want to remember!
"Are you sure about that?"
Hinata froze.
There was a voice. It felt near, but far as well, as if it were whispering in her ear and at the same time yelling at her from a distance. She slowly stood up, looking all around her. "I do! I really do want to remember!"
The wind from last time began to blow again, and she suddenly felt a presence behind her. Turning around quickly, Hinata held back a scream and fell backwards onto her behind. The figure standing before her was shaped like a man, but he had no face and was completely naked. Hinata scrambled back when the figure took a step toward her, and she made sure to avert her gaze from his midsection. It was unnerving to stare at something with no face, so she settled on his feet.
"I thought you wanted to remember?"
The voice was distorted and crackled as if it were speaking through a radio. Once again, Hinata knew that voice, and yet it was strange to her as well. She could recall hearing it in her previous memories, but she couldn't put a face to its owner.
Taking a deep breath, Hinata stood back up but kept her gaze down. "I do. Of course, I want to remember! I just don't understand why you're . . . you're . . ."
A dark crimson blush spread across her cheeks, and it was hard to voice how embarrassed she was by the naked man standing before her.
"Why are you so embarrassed? You've seen me like this before. A couple of times, actually."
Hinata's eyes widened.
She looked up and fully took in the man's form without thinking. She searched for any clues that might lead her to his identity, but without seeing any of his facial features or hair, Hinata had no idea who it was standing before her.
The figure tilted his neck to the side and pointed to a small, bruise-like mark.
"You did that to me . . ."
The blush on her cheeks seeped down deeper, and now her neck and chest were a bright red.
"No . . . there's no way . . . I just can't imagine myself being intimate with someone that suddenly! Especially if I've only been dating him less than a month!" Hinata was in complete denial.
"Are you sure about that? Is there not someone in your life who you've wanted for years?"
Hinata flinched when the figure reached his hand towards hers, and she took a step back.
"Do you want a taste of what we've been through together?"
She stared down at his hand, heavily contemplating if she wanted to grasp it or not. Hinata was scared, but at the same time, she was determined to find out who he was and if what he said was the truth.
Hesitantly she reached her hand forward and clasped onto his.
A burning sensation swept over her entire form, making her tremble. Hinata let out an audible gasp. It felt like her body was on fire! There was a pulsating throb between her legs, and the sounds of moans and groans began to ring in her ears. The extraordinary sensation of skin-on-skin contact, a feeling of pleasure that she didn't know was humanly possible to experience, and the unconditional love she felt for this person.
/
"I love you too, and I want you. But if you are having any second thoughts, then we need to stop right now. Because the moment I kiss you . . . I won't be able to hold back."
/
"Only me. I want your firsts to be with me only, and I want mine to be only you. I don't think I could stand it if it was anyone else."
/
"Tell me that you want me."
/
She couldn't take it anymore and pulled her hand away; the erotic sensations that had consumed her slowly started to dissipate.
"Perhaps you aren't ready yet . . ."
Hinata turned her head towards the figure, but he was gone. She whipped her head around and tried to find him, but he had vanished. In his place were three file folders. Picking them up off the floor, she grasped onto them, sprinted towards the filing cabinet, and almost threw them inside. More memories flooded her mind, and she could now hear her own voice.
/
"After you told me how you felt, I want you to know that I thought long and hard about it. I had to take a hard, long look at myself and see if there was at any point I ever saw you in a romantic way. However, I came to the conclusion that . . . I do love you, Kiba, but not in a passionate way. Perhaps if things didn't turn out the way they did between #$% ? and I . . . maybe, just maybe, I would have had different feelings towards you. But as it stands now, the one I love the most is . . ."
/
"I will wait for you. I'll be sure to have my phone on me whenever you want to call or facetime. Then, when you do have time off, I will be there to give you a big hug and a kiss at the airport to welcome you home. I will be there for you. And I promise that I won't look at anyone else while you're gone. I've loved you for so many years; I can wait another eighteen months to be with you."
/
"I-I know that I said I didn't want to rush things between us . . . but after last night, I didn't want to take things slow anymore. I've been waiting and wanting you for over three years, and I just didn't want to wait any longer. I was even crazy enough to book a room at the Shinjuku Hotel for us so that we could . . . you know . . . but I will call them tomorrow to cancel it . . ."
Tears started to slip down Hinata's cheeks. She clutched her head and fell to her knees again, clenching her teeth as she resisted the urge to let out a sob.
It was undeniable now, the person whom she was with was . . .
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"Hinata? Hinata, can you hear me?" A gentle voice was calling to her.
Hinata jolted awake and almost collided foreheads with Neji, who was leaning over top of her. She stared at him with wide-eyed disbelief, and it took a few deep breaths to calm down her racing heart.
"Neji? What's going . . . . where are we?"
Her cousin smiled at her and gently placed his hand on her forearm. "Easy there, Hinata, we just arrived home. Do you think you can stand and walk to the house?"
She was about to answer, but the sudden amount of memories she had recently regained made it hard to look him in the eye. A feeling of embarrassment and discomfort took over, and right now, all she wanted was to be left alone. Biting her lip, Hinata glanced past her cousin towards the house that was behind him; her father and uncle were standing on the snow-covered steps and having a conversation with Hanabi. Ducking her head down, she softly whispered, "I'm sorry, Neji. I don't feel so well right now. Can you carry me to the house?"
Her cousin didn't argue and obliged with her request. As he picked her up, Hinata grabbed the blanket she had been using and covered her head. She wasn't sure what time it was, but the sky was still dark out, and if she had to give an educated guess, Hinata figured it was around seven in the morning.
Hinata bit her lip and grasped onto the front of Neji's jacket. She felt like a complete coward, but she just didn't feel ready to face her father right now. Being so emotionally vulnerable right now, she just didn't think she could handle his criticism or harsh words.
"Hinata?"
She flinched at the sound of her father's voice, and she kept her head under the blanket. "I-I'm sorry, father. I just don't feel well. Can I just go to my old room, please?"
Hinata couldn't see him, but she could tell that he wasn't pleased with her behaviour after knowing him for so many years. On the other hand, her uncle stepped forward and took over the situation.
"Of course you can, Hinata. We'll leave you alone for a bit and get breakfast ready for everyone. I'm sure you could probably use some space with everyone hovering around you. So take all the time you need."
Hinata felt like she was about to cry. "T-thank you, Uncle Hizashi."
Hanabi's cheerful voice lifted her spirits a bit. "You're stuff should be here later this afternoon! And tonight, we are having pizza! So I'll put your cinnamon rolls in the fridge for now."
Neji carried her inside and silently brought Hinata to her old room. When her cousin laid her down on the bed, she finally pulled the blanket off and whispered a soft thank you to him.
"Don't mention it. So, how are you feeling after being able to get a good sleep in?"
Hinata let out a sad sigh. "I think I remember mostly everything. Just a few details are a little fuzzy."
Neji sat down on her bed beside her. "Well, be sure to take it easy. I know the doctor in Fort McMurray didn't see anything wrong with your scan, but I still don't want you over-exerting yourself. Now that you're safely home, is there anyone you want me to contact and let them know you're okay?"
She slowly sat up and looked down at her hands. "If you could please let Shino, Kiba, Kakashi, and Gaara know that I'm feeling better. Oh, and also Sakura and Ino."
Her cousin nodded and waited for a few seconds. "Anyone else?"
She knew what he was implying, and her fingers curled around the blanket in her lap. "You're not going to tell me either, are you?"
It was Neji's turn to let out a sigh. "No. I asked the doctor about it, and he said it was better to let your mind recover at its own pace. I understand you're frustrated, but I don't want you under any stress. Plus, I have spoken to your boyfriend, and he agrees with us. Besides, it's been less than twenty-four hours, and you've already regained most of your memories. So just be patient, Hinata."
The young Hyuuga woman let out another sigh and brought her knees up to her chest. "Is . . . is he at least going to come to visit me?"
Neji let out a soft chuckle. "Of course he is. In fact, he was rather pissed off that he couldn't accompany you to the hospital. However, he understands where Kakashi was coming from in sending Kiba with you instead. The choice is yours, but when he does come here, shall I bring him here?"
Hinata kept quiet, but she nodded her head.
Her cousin gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder, and then he stood up, leaving her room and closing the door behind him. After a few minutes of sitting there, Hinata finally stood up and looked around at her familiar surroundings. At times, this place had been her safe haven, but at other times it was practically a prison to her. Her old bedroom was pretty much the same and had been left untouched since she had last been here, which was just a little over two months ago. Shortly after that, she had moved out into her own apartment.
Most of the pictures that had decorated the walls were now in her new place, along with most of her belongings. However, her sister insisted that she keep a few pairs of clothes and belongings here if she ever needed to spend the night. She caught her reflection in the mirror, and Hinata eyed her current garments and appearance. Her hair looked like it had been through a wind storm and was all over the place. As for her wardrobe, the blue FR-insulated long-sleeved shirt and pants were comfortable. However, she was rather hot and had been wearing them ever since she woke up yesterday.
Almost on auto-pilot, Hinata headed towards the bathroom attached to her room; pretty much every bedroom in their house had an ensuite. She ran the hot water first for a bath, and when the temperature was to her liking, she pulled her clothes off and tossed them into the laundry hamper in the corner. Hinata then stood in front of the mirror and stared at her reflection for a few moments before climbing into the tub.
A sigh of relief escaped her lips, and she let the hot water surround her tired body.
That's right . . . I remember wanting to take a bath so badly after working hard this shift with the transformers.
Hinata could already start to feel herself become tired again, even though she had slept the entire drive home from Fort McMurray. However, she knew that rest was crucial, especially if you were recovering from a concussion. So she tried to relax and enjoy her well-deserved bath. However, Hinata couldn't deny that she felt somewhat overwhelmed at the moment.
In the last few weeks, she had made love to her boyfriend . . . they were now officially lovers, and yet she couldn't remember his face or name. Hinata couldn't deny that this bothered her greatly, and she felt ashamed. Taking a deep breath, she ducked under the water and tried to focus on what she could remember.
It mainly was feelings and sensations that she could recall. She had felt safe with him, and a feeling of happiness that she didn't know was feasibly possible. He made her feel content and loved. Even though she couldn't remember their intimate encounter fully, Hinata could tell that she had enjoyed it very much. In fact, it was as if her body was craving for him at this very moment, as if she hadn't been near him in a long time. But how was that possible? If he worked at Konoha Energy with him, wouldn't she have been able to see him?
Her lungs suddenly cried out for air, and she slipped back above the water's surface, rubbing the water from her eyes.
Ah . . . I was so busy working with the transformers that I wasn't allowed to see him. I remember missing him so much that I couldn't wait to see him again.
Hinata shifted her position and wrapped her arms around her upper body.
At this point, in her mind, it was rather obvious who she thought her boyfriend was. There was only one person in the world that she had ever loved this much and would have willingly given herself over to him full-heartedly. However, she was scared to say his name.
What if I'm completely wrong? What if it isn't him, and it's someone completely different? Here I am, hoping that it's him, but how will I react if it's not?
Hinata tried to enjoy the rest of her bath, and when the water had cooled, she stood up and turned the shower on. After finishing her cleaning routine and even taking a few moments to enjoy the water cascading down her body, Hinata stepped out and grabbed the towels that were on the shelf nearby. Feeling refreshed and with a towel wrapped around her hair and upper body, she hesitantly opened the door and poked her head out. While no one was present, a plate of pancakes, bacon, and sunny side eggs were sitting on her desk, along with a glass of milk and a smaller plate with two cinnamon rolls. There was also a note that clearly had her sister's handwriting on it.
Hope you enjoyed your bath and shower! I didn't want to disturb you! Once you're done, you can just leave the plate outside your door. Father and I are home right now, while Neji and Uncle Hizashi went to the head office to return the van. Please enjoy the meal and get lots of rest.
A warm smile spread across her lips, and she silently thanked her sister.
Opening the first few top drawers, Hinata found a pair of fuzzy pyjamas. She put them on before heading back to the bathroom to comb out her wet hair. Hinata didn't waste any time and scarfed down the entire contents of her breakfast, leaving the plates completely empty before putting them outside her door.
Hoping to take her mind off of things, Hinata turned on the small TV at the end of her bed and flipped the channel over to The Food Network. Then, with the volume down low, she crawled into her bed and wrapped the blankets tightly around her form. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep once again.
Over the next few hours, she drifted in and out of sleep. Staying awake just long enough to understand the show's premise on the screen before dozing off again with silent snores.
As she rolled onto her other side and attempted to fall asleep once again, a light knock on the door caused Hinata to sit up. Hinata could see the shadow of someone standing outside, and her eyes darted over to the clock nearby to see that it was just after 2 pm; she had been in and out of sleep for the last six hours. Feeling a bit more refreshed but still sleepy, Hinata called out to the person who had knocked.
"Come in."
Hanabi's smiling face poked into her room, and Hinata couldn't help but smile back at her sister. "How are you feeling?" She asked, bringing in a tray that had a bowl of soup, grilled cheese, and a glass of water on it.
Hinata started to sit up in her bed. "A little better. Some things are still foggy, but I'll let you know when I remember everything."
Her little sister nodded, and she set the tray down on Hinata's lap. "Well, just so you know, we have a guest that will be coming by in a few hours. He's bringing over all your stuff, and Neji agreed with me that we should invite him in for pizza and beer with us."
She had started to eat her sandwich but paused. "Who is it?"
Hanabi smiled knowingly. "You know who it is."
Hinata frowned and went back to eating her lunch. "Maybe I do . . ."
Hanabi giggled and then started to head towards the door. "When you're done with your meal, just leave the dishes outside again. I'll come to get you when the pizza arrives, and father even has some of your favourite sake chilling in the fridge right now."
Hinata nodded and went to take a sip of her soup.
"Oh, and by the way. When our guest shows up, try not to slap him this time." Hanabi gave her a wink before shutting the door behind her.
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She was back again, and this time, Hinata knew it would be for the last time.
As soon as she opened her eyes, the filing cabinet was right beside her, and less than ten feet away were four red files. Without hesitation, Hinata strode forward and picked them up; she knew what was inside them. She walked back to the cabinet and was about to put them in, but the voice from earlier was back; however, this time, it wasn't distorted, and she knew who it was.
"I see you've finally reached your resolve, and you're ready now."
Hinata nodded and clutched the folders close to her chest, staring down at them. "I don't know why you were the last thing to return to my memories. You mean so much to me, and I love you in a way that words can't even begin to describe how I feel. I think . . . I think I was almost scared to remember. We've been through so much this last shift, and it's only going to get worse. Soon you'll be gone."
Strong arms wrapped around her waist and held onto her tightly; hot breath fanned against her right ear.
"I know . . . but we're electricians after all. Oilfield Electricians. We always endure and take on any challenge that comes our way."
Hinata leaned into his embrace; she had missed him so much. "I wish you were here right now. . . "
She could feel him smile against her ear.
"But I am here. So you should come find me . . ."
"Naruto . . ." Hinata breathed, and she turned around, but he was gone.
Biting her bottom lip, she put the last folders back in the filing cabinet and watched as the top drawer finally began to shut.
/
"Hinata, I'm an idiot . . . but if you let me, I can be your big idiot. I'm really forgetful sometimes, especially when it comes to important dates. I will say things without fully thinking them through, which has gotten me in trouble now and then, especially with women. I don't eat as healthy as I should, and I do snore a lot of the time when I sleep. However, if you can look past all these flaws, I need to ask you.
"Hinata . . . will you be my girlfriend?"
/
Her breath hitched, and her fingers tightened around his hand, pale violet eyes closing halfway as his lips came closer and closer. Her heart was racing so fast in her chest that it felt like it was going to burst. A shiver ran through her body when their lips touched for the first time, and an unexpected moan of approval left her throat, his lips feeling so soft and warm against her own. She could feel his breath through his nose and swore she could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his chest.
/
"Tonight, you prepared us a nice meal and wonderful dessert. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world right now. You've done so much for me, and here, I feel like I haven't done anything for you. Ever since I walked through that door, I've wanted to touch and kiss you, but I feel like that would be too selfish of me. Even now, I want to spend the night and get another taste of you . . . but I want you to be happy. I wish there was something I could do right now to make you feel . . ."
Hinata finally felt complete.
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Pale violet eyes slowly opened and looked up at the dark ceiling above. Then, slowly, she rolled over onto her side to get a good look at the clock; it was now 9 pm.
Hinata looked around at her surroundings for a moment, and then her eyes glanced down at her hands. She blinked a few times and realized that she felt completely normal now. No more missing memories, and the throbbing pain that had been plaguing her head was down to a dull ache. Of course, by no means was she fully recovered, but it was the first time in the last 24 hours that she felt good and like her old self.
A soft gasp left her lips as the current time really set in, and while she had slept right through supper, she prayed that the guest who had brought her stuff back was still within the house. Hinata slipped out of her bed, grabbed onto the bathrobe that hung on the back of her bathroom door, and immediately headed out into the hallway, hoping to find the man she loved more than anything somewhere within the vicinity.
To Be Continued . . .
Author Note: Personally, I have never had a concussion. However, family and friends around me have, and I've seen the effects that it can have on them. One of them had a concussion where like I put in my story, for almost twenty-four hours, there were things that had happened in the last few weeks that he couldn't remember, like them buying a new puppy or that his daughter had dyed her hair recently. The filing cabinet and the memories being file folders was something I had heard from a friend of mine a few years back. His brother had been in a car crash and had suffered a severe concussion, forgetting many things. It took a while, but he slowly began to remember things, and the doctor had said to think of it as his memories like a filing cabinet that had been tipped over and the contents of it spilled all over the floor. Slowly but surely, he would pick up everything and return to his usual self, which almost a year later did happen.
Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed this! Let me know if you liked it or not. I for sure two more chapters planned and then a small epilogue to tie this fic all together. Thank you so much!