Sparks Fly

by Lynns

It's been three years since Electricians Naruto and Hinata have seen each other. Will sparks fly between them as they endure the cold up north at the Konoha Energy Oilfield Site? Or will the obstacles they face be too much for them to take? Based on the Characters of the series Naruto and Naruto Shippuden in an Alternate Universe

21. Chapter 20

Series: Naruto

Pairings: NaruHina

Author: Lynns

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi

Type: Alternate Universe/Romance

Sparks Fly

Chapter 20

The inside of the limo was deathly quiet the moment the door closed shut behind Hinata. Naruto's jaw clenched in anticipation, his fingers gripping the leather seat. When he had seen her exit the bathroom moments ago, he could immediately tell that something was off. At first, he had chalked it up to her being tired from chatting non-stop with the Old Perverts, but then she told the driver to take the long way back to their hotel.

Kankuro had told him not to interfere with Hinata's group talk, and now she was more than likely going to scold him for meddling.

Hinata's pale eyes were focused on her lap, and her slim fingers were gripping the briefcase way too tightly. She would bite her lip a few times, either holding back her words, or pond

She told the driver we needed to talk, and we do, about so many things, though. Perhaps I should be the one to . . .

"Thank you, Naruto. I was trying to figure out a polite way to exit that conversation, and you stepped in at just the right time. I greatly appreciate it." Hinata smiled kindly at him, her hand reaching forward to grasp his.

Naruto's first response was to simply say, 'you're welcome'; however, there were questions he needed to ask that he wanted answers for. His fingers wrapped tightly around hers, "So, was that something that happens all the time? Does your family just stand idly by while you talk to people you don't want to?" His voice trembled slightly while trying to hold back his resentment. The woman he loved had a gentle soul and a kindness that knew no bounds, which irritated him beyond belief that her family would take advantage of her like that.

Obviously, Hiashi and Hizashi relied heavily on Hinata for specific tasks with both companies. The fact that they wanted to send her to New York by herself was evident enough.

But you know damn well that they've been doing that to her for a long time . . .

When he had left to travel the world, it was subtle at first, but he had noticed that Hinata had been putting in more overtime at the head office. An hour here, an hour there, it didn't seem like a big deal at first. But, the longer he was gone, the longer Hinata started to throw herself more into her work.

Her smaller hand gripped his hand a little tighter before his brain could stew about it more. "Please don't think ill towards my family. I know they sometimes take advantage of me, but I'm not naïve. However, I know my father trusts me to complete certain tasks that aren't always enjoyable to deal with." Hinata paused and scooted closer to him so that their legs were touching. "It is also my fault as well. I know that if I were to tell him no, or that I didn't want to come to New York by myself, he would have accepted my decision and sent someone else with me, or I could have stayed home too.

"However, and I think you know this better than anyone. We have to do unpleasant tasks and talk to people we don't want to. My family does own a huge company with a lot of customers. So, if it helps our business, I will put a smile on my face and have social conversations with them."

His teeth gritted together.

I get what she's saying . . . but I still don't like it.

"But, with how things were going today, I definitely should have ended it sooner than later. It's just, that they were so happy with the work that was being done that I didn't want to be rude. However, your timing could not have been more perfect." Hinata said with a smile.

Naruto let out a huff. "Well, I understand what you're saying, but I have to say, I don't approve of the way they were looking at you or how that one guy tried to touch your lower back."

The limo was briefly silent, and you could hear the soft sound of the rain bouncing off the roof and the tires driving through the puddles outside.

Hinata hummed and leaned her head against his shoulder. "Mr. Takahashi is a very . . . friendly man. It's not the first time he's tried to do that, but I certainly am not the only one either. He knows my boundaries, and there is the odd time I have to remind him of that."

"Is he also friendly with those Nagging Harpies? I saw the one blonde blatantly rubbing her ass against that old guy's hip as if she was giving him a lap dance." The words slipped out of Naruto's mouth before he had a chance to stop himself.

Instantly he regretted what he said; Hinata stiffened beside him and leaned forward so she could look him directly in the eye, her pale ones giving him a stern look.

"I see you were talking to Kankuro a lot."

Naruto bit his tongue and everted his gaze to their clasped hands.

"You know I would never do anything like that, right?" her tone was confident; however, it wavered slightly, as if she was scared that he didn't trust her.

He brought his gaze back up to hers and, in a firm voice, said, "Of course, I trust you, Hinata. I trust you with every fibre of my being. I just don't like it when guys look at you like a piece of meat that they can't wait to taste."

Hinata giggled softly, her free hand patting his knee comfortingly, "It would be the same with any job that I do, unfortunately. However, like I said, I make sure to make my boundaries known, and for the most part, those gentlemen respect it. If I was anything like those nag *ahem*,other women, I would have thrown myself at Toneri a long time ago, and then we wouldn't even be having this conversation."

He knew she meant it as a joke. However, the image was there in his mind before he could stop it. Soft moans of pleasure escaping Hinata's mouth while her hands ran through Toneri's white hair, his lips exploring the naked skin of her neck.

His briefly regained confidence took a few steps back into the shadows, and Naruto suddenly felt insecure and doubtful about their relationship.

Stop it! Stop thinking about that shit right now!

Naruto tried to hide his emotions and fears; however, the way he suddenly turned his head away from her to look out the window and how tightly his jaw clenched, it was pretty noticeable that something wasn't right.

"Naruto? What's wrong?"

Hearing her concerned voice only made him feel guilty for even having these thoughts. He wanted to tell her that everything was fine and that he would deal with it independently.

However . . .

He suddenly could hear Sasuke's voice in his head for some reason.

Look how that's been going for you so far, idiot. You've been acting pathetic for the last two weeks. Keep this up, and she really will leave your sorry ass.

His free hand tightened into a fist, and he temporarily closed his eyes.

I can't deny anymore that I need to tell her the fears going through my head; however before we have that discussion . . .

"Naruto?"

Taking a deep breath, he instead asked a question that had been bugging him for a while now. "Are you happy with your job right now?"

Hinata's eyes widened for a second, and when she smiled, he could instantly tell it wasn't really genuine. "What do you mean?"

Naruto sat up a little taller. "That smile may be able to fool those old geezers, but I can tell when you put one on for show. I know things are a bit off between us right now, but I can see that you're not really happy. My assumption is that it has something to do with your work; otherwise, my second guess is that you're not happy with our relationship."

He wasn't shocked by the surprised look on her face, and before she could say anything, he continued on.

"I've worked with you for over four years, Hinata. You were happy even when we were pulling cable through the mud or had to terminate a control panel in minus thirty-five degrees Celsius winters. Sure, the tasks might have sucked, but you were smiling with the rest of us at the end of the day.

"When you came back to Konoha Energy, even then, you seemed cheerful too. However, when we would facetime while I was gone, you didn't look happy when I asked about your day at work. I feel like you're putting yourself through hell because you want to make your family proud." He was now holding both her hands in his securely. "You're very good at your job, Hinata. Even taking on extra tasks to help your co-workers or your family. However, if you're not happy . . ."

Suddenly, it was Naruto's turn to be cut off, but it wasn't by Hinata; rather, her phone, which was ringing loudly in her pocket.

He let out a sigh of frustration but released her hands so that she could answer it.

Hinata remained still for a few moments. She blinked a few times, but her eyes seemed unfocused, even though she was still staring at him. As if she were lost in a trance.

She blinked a few more times, but suddenly, tears pooled in her pale violet eyes.

Shit! Did I say something wrong?

Before Naruto could attempt to apologize or ask anything, she pulled out her phone and stared down at the loud, vibrating electronic device. He tried not to look disappointed upon seeing Hiashi's name at the top of the screen and just knew that their conversation was now over.

He's probably calling Hinata to see how everything went and then to go over what she has to do once we get back to the hotel. Damn it. I wanted to talk more with her; plus, couldn't he give her a decent amount of time to at least have lunch?

Just as he thought Hinata was about to answer her father's call, she instead hit the red decline button on the screen and then turned it off completely.

Naruto was utterly speechless. It was probably the first time he had witnessed Hinata defy her father.

He watched as she took a deep breath and quickly tried to wipe the tears away from her eyes.

"Sorry about that," she said softly, her voice cracking slightly as if she was about to cry some more. "I will call him once we return back to the hotel. But, to go back to what you were asking, I didn't think my emotional state towards my job was that obvious."

Naruto smirked a little and then grasped her hand. "To me it is."

Hinata nodded, her gaze now downcast to the floor, "There was a time when I did enjoy my job, but like you said, and for the last little bit, I feel as if I'm doing it more out of obligation. Although I can't deny that it is nice that I have my own office, I'm always inside and out of the harsh conditions the weather can sometimes bring. But . . . I also feel dead inside.

"I think that because while you were gone, I threw myself so deeply into my work that what I once enjoyed I now despise. Some days, I just wanted to stay in bed and not go into the office at all."

He pulled Hinata closer, their foreheads now touching. "Heh, well, you're not the only one guilty of doing that. I did the exact same thing while I was abroad. To the point that some nights, I just wanted to keep drinking until all my frustrations went away. It was almost to the point that I hated being an electrician."

She nodded again, and he could see her bottom lip begin to quiver; new tears were slipping down her cheeks.

Naruto wanted nothing more than to wipe her tears away, but paused when she moved to sit on his lap, and her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. "I-I missed you so much, Naruto! We didn't g-get to really talk about it when you came home, but I missed you! I m-missed you!"

She was crying heavily now, her body trembling as she sobbed against him.

He could feel his breath start to hitch, and he had to stomp down the temptation to cry along with her. Instead, he wrapped his arms just as tightly around her waist. "Damn it, Hinata. I missed you too. Every damn fucking day." His whispered words fanning against her ear.

Over the next few minutes, the two of them just held onto each other while continuously voicing how much they had missed one another. It was something they never got a chance to do. From his long voyage home, tracking her down and then taking her back to his place. It wasn't quite the reunion he had pictured in his head.

We both were holding back. Not wanting to show how vulnerable we were or felt while the other was gone . . .

As the emotional high came down, Hinata reached into her pocket to pull out a Kleenex, dabbing her eyes carefully so that she didn't completely ruin her makeup.

Naruto chuckled softly, his hand caressing her cheek. "So . . . what should we do now? Do you think your job will get better now that I'm back?"

Hinata took a few deep breaths. "No. After what just happened, I honestly think I need a break. A long break. Do something different for a while."

He nodded in understanding. "I second that motion. Not that I'm trying to persuade you, but we always enjoyed your company at Konoha Energy."

She giggled softly. "I'd appreciate it if you would stop reading my mind like that; kind of creepy."

Naruto smiled, "Can't help it; I can read you like an open book sometimes. But most of the time I'm pretty dense, and it just flies right over my head. Personally, I think you need some time out in the field and get your hands dirty for a bit. Although . . . I'm sure your family won't like it at all."

The joy in Hinata's eyes dimmed slightly, and she glanced down at her pocket where her powered-off phone was. "I know . . . I know they will be quite disappointed in me. However, I think they owe it to me. For over a year, I've done everything they have asked for and more. I think it's high time I did something for myself now."

He couldn't help but lean up and give his girlfriend a quick kiss. It was so sudden that he didn't give her a chance to respond, "That's my girl."

Hinata giggled again but sternly said, "Now, what about you? Are you still feeling uncertain about what you want to do with your career?"

The blissful atmosphere they were just having dulled a bit, and the smile on his face fell to a frown. He rubbed the back of his head, "Heh, my turn then, huh? I guess that's something I've been trying to avoid talking about."

She didn't respond but simply gave a nod and patted his shoulder.

Taking a deep breath, he started to spill out what he had been thinking over the last few weeks, "Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that I get to head back to Konoha Energy and take on the position of Field Foreman. I'll get to see everyone again, work with some new faces, and be at a place that I'm very familiar with. However, I just don't know what I want to do after. Do I then go for Project Manager like Gaara and Kakashi? Do I look into an office job, perhaps with Hyuuga Electric? Or maybe I find something even with Konoha Energy directly? Kenji mentioned talking to me about my career tonight at supper, which, by the way, we were invited to with his family and Kankuro as well.

"I just feel like so many doors are open, and I don't know which one I should go towards. I want to make sure that I'll be able to provide for my family too, not hop around from position to position just because I'm uncertain with what I want to do."

The back of the limo was quiet for a moment.

Naruto waited for Hinata to say something, anything for that matter! But she was eerily silent, which caused him to stop staring out the window and look at her.

She had a weird expression on her face, but when she opened her mouth . . .

"What if I said that I didn't want to have children or get married? Would that change your decision at all?"

It felt as if he had been decked across the face.

His brain didn't want to comprehend the words that had come out of her mouth. However, they continuously echoed in his head over and over again. A statement that he feared to be true and didn't want to think about.

A long-term goal that he had been looking forward to achieving one day, abruptly crumpled in his hands before falling into pieces at his feet. He suddenly found it hard to breathe, and his eyes could no longer focus on the woman still sitting in his lap, so he shut them immediately.

Strings of images flashed through his mind before disappearing into the abyss.

Hinata walking towards him during their wedding ceremony.

Gone.

His hand on Hinata's swollen belly while he waited to feel their child kick.

Gone.

Holding a tiny bundle in his arms while a little hand reached forward to grab his finger.

Gone.

He suddenly had the urge to push Hinata out of his lap, not wanting to have any contact with the woman who crushed his dreams, but he resisted, and instead gritted his teeth in frustration.

Mom and Dad were right . . . I should have had this conversation with her before getting my hopes up . . . now I . . .

Naruto tried to think rationally and tell himself that everything would be alright. That he didn't need to get married or have children. He would just stay together with Hinata, they could be a power couple and focus on their careers, and instead of being tied down by kids, they could travel the world together. That sounded good, didn't it?

Didn't it?

He loved Hinata to the moon and back, but seeing that she didn't want the same things as him was like a sucker punch to the gut. Naruto wasn't quite sure what to think of their relationship now, or if it was something he even wanted to continue. Could he look past her not wanting to have a family with him? Could he just be satisfied that it would only be the two of them from now on? Or . . .

No . . . I don't want to break up. I don't want to lose her again. Maybe . . . maybe she's just scared of having kids from what she's experienced in her childhood. Perhaps I can convince her that having a family with me would be great and not terrible. Or maybe that's what she's trying to tell me . . . that I would make a terrible father and she doesn't want to have children with me . . .

Naruto bit his lip and tried to fight back the tears threatening to come out.

Why is this happening now? Just as we were starting to clear things up between us, now this huge giant wedge is splitting us apart. I don't understand! This isn't like Hinata at all!

Wait . . . this isn't like Hinata at all . . .

A sense of calm suddenly swept over him, his teeth unclenching and his body finally relaxing. His confidence, which had been absent until now, suddenly came stepping back into the light and said in an almost booming voice . . .

Think about what she said more clearly! She's not saying that she doesn't want to have a family with you! She's just asking if that were an option on the table, would it change your mind about the kind of job you want!?

Naruto suddenly realized how foolish he was being, and the anger and hurt that he had been feeling seconds ago, quickly faded as if they hadn't been there at all.

I was so quick to jump the gun there without thinking over what Hinata really meant. First my fear that she wants to be with someone else, and now jumping to conclusions that she wants to break up or not be with me . . .

He felt her hand gently cup his cheek, which made his eyes slowly open to look at her. As expected, she had a concerned expression on her face, her pale eyes searching his silently for answers to see what was wrong with him.

Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, Naruto took a few seconds to ponder his response before saying, "Yeah. At least, I think so. I mean, getting married and having children with you, I'd probably want to be home more often, especially when they are little. However, if you and I were in a casual relationship, I could maybe see myself working away more at Konoha Energy."

Hinata gave him a gentle smile, her hand still caressing his cheek. "Then, my suggestion to you would be to look at some positions that you want to try at Konoha Energy first. Whether it's a Foreman or Project Manager, there's no harm in trying out for those positions, which I believe you would be great at. Then, when the time comes for us to settle down, you can look into positions that are closer to home.

"I know that Uncle Hizashi or Neji could find something for you at the head office. However, I just don't think you would like a full-time office job, at least not one where you have to dress nicely every day. I feel like that would be complete torture for you."

Naruto chuckled and leaned forward so he could wrap his arms around his woman. What she had just said was completely spot-on, and he couldn't deny the ultimate relief he felt hearing her agree on settling down with him.

However . . . just in case . . .

"Say, Hinata, I know we've never really had a conversation about this, but you do eventually want a family? With me?" Naruto asked hesitantly.

Her pale violet eyes widened momentarily before a dark blush spread across her cheeks. Hinata's gaze never left his as she stuttered, "Y-yes o-of c-course I-I do."

He was now grinning from ear to ear.

Any doubts and fear that had been plaguing his mind were, for the most part, gone. However, when he intended to pull Hinata into a kiss, he paused when he noticed that she looked nervous, no longer looking at him or caressing his cheek. Instead, her hands were clasped in her lap.

"Hinata? What's wrong?" Naruto pulled her closer so that their foreheads were almost touching again. "Tell me what's going on in that head of yours."

Hinata tried to shake her head, and he knew that she was just going to brush him off; tell him that it was nothing. But, he kept his gaze firm and wordlessly pushed for her to tell him what she was thinking.

She took a shaky breath before saying, "It's . . . I mean . . . do you remember when you first got back? You were talking about maybe looking for a house for our future family?"

Naruto nodded his head.

"Well, I know this wouldn't be ideal for you; in fact, you would probably hate the idea. But, my father has offered me to buy the family home from him, with me being the eldest daughter. I didn't give him an answer yet. But, he's well aware that if I take him up on his offer, that means you would be moving into it too, which he is perfectly fine with.

"I know that home holds some painful memories, but it also has a lot of good ones too. It's in a great neighbourhood, and while my family can be a little nosey at times, they always call before coming over; they don't just burst through the front door without an invitation. However, lately, I've just been worried about talking it over with you. Eventually, I would love to move back into that house to raise our family, but I was worried that you would hate the idea."

Naruto was unsure of how to respond. His first impression was that Hinata wanted nothing to do with her childhood home, but now, it seemed that he was utterly wrong about the subject.

He couldn't deny that the house where Hiashi currently resided was beautiful, well-kept and a lovely home for a large family. However, Naruto would be lying to himself if he didn't admit that having her family THAT close bothered him a little bit. He had met most of them during the New Year's Party, and they all seemed like pretty decent people.

Except for Hinata's Grandfather. Holy smokes, that man has an icy cold glare! Even when we were doing the count down, he looked irritable.

However, even though he was a little uncomfortable with the idea, he knew that it would mean the world to Hinata. Especially if she ever needed help while pregnant or with their children.

As much as I would love to be able to work close to home all the time, I have to at least acknowledge that there will be times I won't be there, even if I do find an eight to five job. If Hinata can't get a hold of me, at least one of her relatives would be there to help. Not to say that my parents wouldn't help either, but half of the year they are away too, that is until they eventually retire.

He could tell Hinata was waiting anxiously for his response, and he didn't want to keep her waiting any longer. Clearing his throat, he answered, "Honestly, Hinata, I think that's a wonderful opportunity."

His heart fluttered with the way her eyes lit up. "Really?!"

Naruto smiled and nodded. "Well, yeah. I mean, it might be a little strange having your family so close like that. But, if we set up some rules and let them know our boundaries, I'm sure it will be great. I'm just not sure how I feel about us hosting the big New Year's Eve party."

"Hmmm, I definitely would agree with that. However, I'm sure someone else can play host for a bit. Even if we just let one of my cousins use the spare bedroom, no one will complain. "Hinata said with a joyful tone, "But, I think for now at least, we can just focus on moving in together, and take things slowly like you wanted."

The way Hinata had said 'take things slowly', for some reason, started to rub him the wrong way. Even though it was something that he had suggested at first . . .

I don't want to wait anymore . . . why in the hell did I even think that was a good idea to begin with? Ah, that's right, I felt guilty about how things initially seemed so rushed between us. But, even if I do feel a bit remorseful, does that mean I completely regret how things transpired between us? Do I regret kissing her that night beside the truck? Do I regret making love to her the night of the Christmas Party?

The answer to those questions were obvious, and he wanted to give his past self a swift kick in the shins for being so stupid.

Naruto let out a sigh and rubbed the back of his head. "Hinata, what if I didn't want to take things slow anymore? Would that be okay with you?"

To take things slow in a relationship seemed like the right and reasonable thing to do. It was widely taught that before you got married or had children that you needed to have your career in order, that you had enough money put away in savings, and that you were old enough to deal with all the stress and weight of such a life-changing experience.

Perhaps for some couples, that's what they needed to do. However . . .

Everything just feels so right and perfect with Hinata. Sure, we both have our flaws, and I have no doubt that we'll have our disagreements, but I know that she's the one I want by my side for the rest of my days.

Hinata looked confused. She was in concentration mode, trying to figure out what he was talking about, but Naruto felt it best to simply fill in the gaps instead of letting her ponder.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is, if I wanted to take the next step in our relationship, would you be okay with that? If after we move in together, and everything is going great between us, I would probably like to ask you a certain question, but . . . if you feel like we need more time together, then I understand."

He didn't want to be too pushy or forceful, but at the same time, he didn't want to be dragging his heels in the dirt either.

Her eyes slowly widened in realization, and her mouth opened in a silent gasp.

He wasn't sure what her response would be, and as the seconds ticked by while waiting for her answer, he felt his torso tighten up while holding his breath. But when the redness returned to her cheeks, and she nodded her head, Naruto felt like his racing heart was going to burst out of his chest.

A sigh of relief slipped out, and he closed his eyes.

Even though Hinata was beet red and she was obviously self-conscious, his ears picked up her whispered question. "I know you told me a few weeks ago that you felt guilty about how fast things went between us. And I can't deny that I've had the same thoughts too. But Naruto, if I didn't want to do any of those things with you, I could have said no too.

"You may have initiated our first kiss, but I could have pushed you away. And our night at the hotel for the Christmas Party? I was the one that wanted to book the room. Not because I felt that it was the next step we had to take. I wanted to show you how much I loved you, and I'm so happy that we did. I don't have any regrets between us, aside from maybe a little bit of miscommunication while you were away. However, now we've cleared up everything between us."

Her last sentence made him wince. While he tried to be subtle about it, Hinata had obviously noticed his reaction.

I don't want to ruin this happy moment between us . . . but I've also been silent about this for too long. I know it's normal to be jealous sometimes with your partner, but it's gotten ridiculous for me. Time to spill your guts, Uzumaki.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head, "Well, not everything . . ."

Hinata's head tilted to the side.

The blonde electrician took a deep breath, "Hinata, I've been having some really messed up issues lately, ever since I got back from Australia. For example, the night I went to your apartment to surprise you, and I saw a pair of men's shoes that weren't mine in your entryway . . . it's been really messing with my psyche. I know that it was Kiba and Tamaki that were making out, and I know that you would never ever cheat on me like that. But the image is still there, and I can't get it out of my head.

"Even now, when you were joking about throwing yourself at Toneri, I immediately started to think about you two being intimate. I don't know what to do about it or how to fix it. Of course, you've done nothing wrong, but if I don't tell you what's going on in my head, I fear you will think I'm just a jealous jerk who doesn't trust you around other men."

He also couldn't deny that it was affecting their intimate relationship. While they had made love multiple times since he had arrived back home, their sexual encounters didn't feel the same as before. Aside from the night in her office, it felt as if there was a small barrier between them, like a thin layer of siran wrap. They were still touching each other but not feeling the full passion and excitement.

Naruto wasn't sure what Hinata's response would be to his confession. He half expected her to apologize or somehow try to shift the blame to herself, which he didn't want at all. Nevertheless, it was his problem, and he was the one that needed to repair the damage.

In the end, Hinata didn't say anything.

Naruto found himself being engulfed by her warm, slim arms wrapping around his neck and shoulders. She tucked his head under her chin, pressing his face against her chest. Initially, he felt vulnerable and even a little scared, but now that he was enveloped up in her arms, and her fingers were soothingly running through his hair, all of his problems suddenly disappeared.

Her natural scent and heartbeat against his ear lulled Naruto into a calm sentiment. His eyes slowly closed as he relished being held by the woman he passionately loved.

How is it, without even saying a word, that she's able to calm me like this?

Her soft voice graced his ears after taking a few deep breaths, "You shouldn't be beating yourself up like that, Naruto. I think that's a very common reaction to have in this circumstance. We were apart for so long, I think if you weren't jealous, then perhaps that would be something to worry about. I've felt the same way too."

Naruto's body twitched slightly when he heard her say that, but he was so comfortable in her embrace that he didn't want to move. So, instead, he simply asked, "You too, Hinata?"

He felt her nod, "You probably didn't notice at all, but some of those harp . . . I mean, those ladies at the meeting were looking quite intently at you. I have no doubt they were having some fun fantasies about you. Of course, I was a tad bit jealous that they were looking at you, but at the same time, you shine so brightly that it's hard for women not to stare at you."

Naruto gave a doubtful huff at her declaration but kept silent, her fingers still continuously running through his hair.

If she keeps doing that, she's going to put me to sleep . . .

"I'm sorry I took my ring off too. There's no doubt that it only added to your anxiety by me doing that. I will put it back on, and I won't take it off unless it's absolutely necessary. I knew today would be stressful enough, and I was being a coward; I didn't want to announce my relationship to those women, especially since they see 'commitment' to one partner as a bad thing."

He sighed loudly, "Well, that just tells me they are jealous of any happily married woman. Will those ladies be at the meeting tomorrow as well? If you really don't want to have a confrontation with them, you can keep it off for now."

Hinata's arms tightened around him a bit more, "No. I'm honoured to wear the ring you gave me. I promise I'll wear it proudly tomorrow for everyone to see."

For the first time since he had left almost sixteen months ago, he finally felt like everything was back to normal between himself and Hinata. The tension and miscommunication between them was abruptly gone.

While his jealous side was still present, it wasn't as intense as it had been over the last few weeks. It was then that Naruto realized it was just a part of him that would always be there from now on. However, instead of worrying if Hinata would ever be unfaithful, he would rather trust and believe in her.

The fire in the pit of soul that always burned and yearned for her suddenly flared. It caused a shiver to ripple through his body. But, while his love for Hinata never waned, the fiery passion that he normally had, had been mediocre the last few weeks.

In that instant, even though they were in the back of a limo, he wanted her there and now.

I need her . . .

Naruto pulled out of her embrace slightly, just enough so that he could look into her eyes. His fervent gaze met hers, and it seemed she could tell what he was thinking, a blush dusting her cheeks.

"Hinata . . ." he whispered huskily, tilting his head so that he could kiss her.

But just as their lips were about to touch, a loud buzzing sound filled the back of the vehicle, making the couple jump.

Naruto bit back a yelp and then gritted his teeth in frustration at the perfectly timed interruption from their driver.

He watched as Hinata's hand clutched the front of her chest as if trying to settle down her rapid heartbeat. Finally, after a few moments, she took a deep breath and then pushed the red button close by.

"Yes?"

The driver's voice came through the back speakers, "I'm so sorry to interrupt Miss Hyuuga. However, your father seems to be trying to get a hold of you. He's called our office multiple times wondering why you are still in the limousine and not back at the hotel yet."

Hinata let out a frustrated groan while he couldn't help but laugh at the situation.

"I sincerely apologize. Can you please take us to the Kitano Hotel? I will call him as soon as we are back."

Naruto tried to stifle his laughter, "Wow, your father is persistent."

Hinata rolled her eyes and started to rub her temples, "And just when I didn't think today could get any worse . . ."

"You deal with your old man, and I'll order us some ramen from that shop again. Should I also order you a bottle of sake as well?"

000000000000

The Hakubai Japanese Restaurant inside the Kitano hotel went beyond Naruto's expectations. He had tried Japanese cuisine before back home, but the food they had served here was a solid five stars.

Supper had been a large gathering that included himself, Hinata, Kankuro, and Kenji with his family. Sake had been passed around the table to everyone over twenty-one, all the food they had ordered was consumed, and they even added a few fancy desserts.

At times it felt like perhaps they were all being too loud. However, the section their table was at was closed in by shoji doors, giving them a sense of seclusion. Furthermore, their hostess never said anything to them, even when it was pretty blatant that Kanukuro was flirting with her.

As the hour struck 9 pm, Arisa announced that she and the boys would head to bed. Hinata was also quick to chime in that it was time for her to retire for the night as well. However, it was apparent that the three men still weren't done socializing. While Naruto wasn't completely wasted like the other two, he did have a good buzz going on.

As Hinata stood up to leave, she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You can stay if you want to, Naruto. Just keep in mind that we have to be up by 6:30am."

He nodded and gave her a drunken smile, "Don't worry, Hinata! I won't disturb you, and I'll just go to my room when we're done."

She gave him a worried expression, but Arisa comforted her by saying, "It's okay, Hinata. I'll make sure these three aren't drinking late into the night. If you guys aren't back in your rooms by 10:30pm, I'm going to have hotel security drag you back to your rooms."

Her tone was threatening enough that all of them stiffened a little and nodded obediently.

A moment of silence fell over the table as the women and children exited the room, but as soon as the shoji door closed behind them, Kankuro took another sip out of his sake glass, smacked his lips and then slammed it down on the table. "Oh yeah . . . that's the good stuff right there." He slurred out.

Kenji rolled his eyes and then started to pour the three of them another round. "So, Naruto, what are your plans once you're done taking this course at the end of July?"

Naruto tried to focus, and it took him a moment to think of what he wanted to say in his intoxicated mind, "Uh, I'm going to be heading back to Konoha Energy to be a Filed Foreman. Not sure on which pad yet. I'll probably do that for a bit, see how I like it, and then I'm not sure after that. Maybe I'll like that position so much that I'll just stick to that or try something different. Maybe try being on the maintenance crew, or I'll try being a Transformer Technician. It's a course that I'm taking while I'm here, so it couldn't hurt to give it a shot too."

Kenji let out a wholesome laugh and held his shot glass up, "Well, cheers to that my new friend! Always excellent to hear a man wanting to try out new things in life." And with that, he downed the clear liquid in a matter of milliseconds. "O-once you're done playing out in the field, don't hesitate to give me a shout. I can most definitely get you a spot somewhere in our electrical department with Konoha Energy."

"W-well, thank you for that. I'm not ready to be committed to a full-time office job yet, but I will keep that in mind." Slurred Naruto as he followed suit with his drink.

Kenji smiled at him, but the other man's attention was drawn to Kankuro, who was staring at the closed shoji door. "As for you, can you stop harassing our hostess? I'm surprised she hasn't slapped you already."

Kankuro let out a frustrated sigh, "Oh, just mind your own business. I'm this close to getting her to come back to my room with me."

Konohamaru's older brother shook his head but then diverted his attention back to Naruto, "The best advice I can give you is to stay out in the field as long as you possibly can. It's hard work, but there's no going back once you get stuck in an office setting. Hearing my little brother's stories makes me miss the days when I was out there welding pipe together."

It was commonly known that anyone in the Sarutobi family that worked with Konoha Energy had experience with some sort of trade. Naruto knew that Hiruzen was not the kind of man that just gave an easy position to any of his children or grandchildren; they had to earn it. Unlike the Otsutsuki family, which just handed out positions to their family members. The only Sarutobi's he had heard of was Asuma and Kono being electricians, and now Kenji being a welder.

Naruto wanted to ask why Kenji had left the field; however, before he could say anything, the older gentleman sitting across from him started to loosen the buttons on his coat and rolled up the sleeve on his right arm. While Kenji's hand was a normal skin tone, two inches up his wrist and up past the elbow was a sight that made Naruto feel sick.

The hair on his arm was gone entirely, and the colour was almost a deep purple. His skin was bunched, deformed, and had small bubble pockets as if it had been brought to the point of boiling.

Kenji formed a fist with his left hand and slammed it down on his right without hesitating. Naruto couldn't help but let out a horrified gasp. However, what surprised him even more was how relaxed and calm Kenji was.

After having no reaction from his hitting his hand as hard as he could, Kenji smiled and then wiggled the fingers on his right hand, "From my elbow down, I can't feel anything. My fingers still function, and I can work at a computer just fine. But when I'm eating or helping my wife cook, I have to be careful with knives. I've cut myself the odd time and not realized."

Naruto stared at Kenji's damaged arm for a few more seconds, his drunken mind trying to figure out what on earth had happened.

As the older Sarutobi adjusted the sleeve on his suit to cover it back up, he explained, "I was welding underneath some pipes one day, and the last section we did, the battery on my gas monitor had died. Didn't think much of it. It was the end of the day, and it was the last one. I crawled under, rolled my sleeve up a bit so it wouldn't get muddy and then lit my torch. Unbeknownst to me, there was a small residual of H2S in the mud, and I stirred it up. So soon as there was a spark, I was engulfed in flames. My FR gear, face shield, and gloves protected most of my body, but I got the most damage where I had rolled up my sleeve. My welding career was cut incredibly short. I was only 22."

Naruto couldn't help but wince as he listened to Kenji's story. It was always hard to see other tradesmen's careers destroyed by simple mistakes.

"So, promise me that you won't do anything stupid like that! I was such a stupid kid back then, thinking I was invincible." Kenji started to pour them another round, "I know some of those safety rules seem stupid as hell, but as you can see, it's definitely not worth it."

Their table suddenly took on a sombre mood.

While Kenji threw his head back to down another drink, Naruto could only stare at the older man for a moment with a sense of pity. Of course, Konohamaru did talk about his brothers, nephew and grandfather from time to time. But he had been entirely unaware that any of them had been involved in any kind of incident.

I don't remember reading anything about it either when I first started with Hyuuga Electric. Granted, if he was 22, I would have been 17 and finishing high school.

As he was tilting his head back to down the sake in his hand, Kankuro's voice suddenly chimed in, "So I gotta ask this, what's it like to fuck Hinata?"

The question was so unexpected that Naruto choked on his drink. He started coughing and trying to keep his mouth closed so that the clear liquid wouldn't spray all over the back wall. Tears welled up in his eyes at the feel of the liquor trying to make an escape out his nose.

Kenji didn't say anything, but he still gave Kankuro a silent glare.

"I know she's really flexible with her Judo Training. I've always been curious what it would be like to roll around in the sheets with her."

Naruto was still trying to catch his breath and get the coughing fits under control; however, thankfully, Kenji stepped up to the plate . . . or so he thought, "That's enough, Kankuro. You can't just ask Naruto an inappropriate question like that! First of all, you at least have to tell him one of your sexual escapade stories first. For example, I know Arisa seems like the reserved and innocent time, but dear god, she loves it when I take her on her knees."

Instead of his coughing fits dying down, they intensified, and the blonde electrician was now finding it difficult to get oxygen in his lungs.

Kankuro let out a chuckle. "Ah, that's right. My bad there. I should have told him about when I snagged those two blondes last January at that social fundraiser. Holy hell, now that was a fun night."

Naruto finally found his voice and managed to wheeze out, "O-okay you two! That's enough!"

It was Kenji's turn to let out a light laugh. "Aw, you are so adorable, Naruto. Hinata's always been the mysterious one in our work circle. No one's ever gotten a taste of her, so what she's like in the bedroom is a complete secret. You at least have to give us a few details."

After clearing his throat and letting out a few more coughs, Naruto glared at the two other men sitting across from him. "No way in hell am I saying anything . . ."

Before they could tease him more, their hostess returned with another full bottle of sake. "Here you are, gentlemen. Can I get you anything else?"

"You still haven't told me if you want my extra room card." Chimed in Kankuro, giving the young woman a seductive smile and a wink.

While rolling her eyes, she also gave Kankuro a flirtatious smirk before walking away from their table. When the shoji closed behind her, Gaara's older brother let out a soft 'yes' and punched the air. "Only a matter of time now, fellas. Does anyone want to make a bet? I say by about 10:15pm, I get her to come to my room."

Kenji suddenly leaned forward over the table, and Naruto had to pull back with how close they had gotten. "Come on, Naruto. It's just between us guys here. You can at least tell us if you've seen her orgasm or not."

Naruto's cheeks began to heat up. His drunken side wanted to puff up his chest with pride and brag to the two other men about his sexual encounters with Hinata. Meanwhile, the small, logical side told him to keep his mouth shut and not spill the beans.

He ended up choosing a middle ground. However, while his lips were shut, he did give his head a little nod.

Both men were now giving him a shrewd grin, but before either of them could ask any more questions, Naruto cut them off. "No! No no no no! I'm not telling you guys anymore! That's between myself and Hinata!"

Kenji frowned, but Kankuro started laughing. "I'm not sure how to take that, Naruto! Either Hinata is an amazing lover in bed, or she's so bad that you don't want to talk about it! "

Naruto knew that they were egging him on. Trying to fluster him to the point that he would tell them everything in order to defend Hinata's honour that she was a fantastic lover.

While Kenji poured himself another drink, Kankuro continued to cackle away, saying things like they only did it with the lights off or in the bedroom. Naruto started to feel his resolve to start to waver. Then, unexpectedly, the words were spilling out of his lips before he could stop himself, "Hinata's fucked me in her office, right on the couch. Bound my arms so I couldn't touch her, and she tormented me for a good ten minutes."

The two other men were temporarily silent. Kenji had a surprised expression, and Kankuro's mouth hung open in shock. Immediately, Naruto regretted what he had admitted to them, but before he could take it back, Gaara's older brother gave him a wicked grin. "You lucky son of a bitch. That must have been an exciting fuck session for you two. Late at night in the Hyuuga Main Office, with no one around. Damn, good one, Naruto! How many days did it take for you two to get all your sexual frustration out from you being gone for almost three months? At least a week, right?"

Naruto flinched and tried to keep his face neutral. However, it was hard to keep a straight face while being intoxicated. In fact, most people said he was like an open book once he had consumed too much alcohol.

It also didn't help that Kenji and Kankuro were very observant people.

He kept silent and tried to focus on pouring himself another shot of sake.

"Hey hey hey. Don't tell me you two didn't fuck each other's brains out once you got back?" Kankuro said in a severe tone.

As Naruto downed another shot, his first instinct was to stay quiet. Instead, however, with the liquor coursing through his body and the last shred of his rational thinking out the window, he ended up spilling his guts to the two older men.

He came clean to them about everything that had transpired over the last few weeks between them. From the argument they had over the phone while he was still in Australia, to finally clearing the air between them just this afternoon in the limousine. While Naruto talked, Kenji and Kankuro stayed silent the entire time, watching him with amusement dancing in their eyes.

Once he was finished, Kankuro was the first one to speak up. "Well, looks like you two learned a romantic comedy life lesson there. My suggestion for next time is, don't be a fucking idiot."

Naruto let out a defeated sigh. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I really messed up, but things are good now between us."

Kenji gave him an approving nod. "Good. Now, you're going to make it up to her, though, right? Show that you're not a terrible man and spoil her rotten?"

Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah. I'll try and get her some flowers tomorrow after the course is done. There's a spa in this hotel too, right? I'll also book her a massage while I'm at it.

In his mind, these seemed like great ideas. However, the glare Kenji and Kankuro were giving him said otherwise.

"Oh come on, Naruto! You can do better than that!" scolded Kankuro, "Put some more damn effort into it! Show that woman what kind of man you are and make her putty in your hand!"

Naruto tried not to look confused and play it off as if he knew what Kankuro was talking about. "Oh, yeah, your right. I'll uh, step up my game tomorrow then."

He really hoped that they would drop the topic and they could move on to something else, but the two other men were still glaring at him, clearly doubting what he was saying.

"Well then, Mister Uzumaki, tell us exactly what you plan to do then." Kenji cunningly asked.

Naruto felt his body stiffen, and he tried to rack his drunken brain on what was a good romantic go-to. "Y-You know, I'll do this, and a little bit of that; I'll get this all figured out and planned."

Kankuro chuckled and shook his head before turning his attention to Kenji, "You're right; he is completely adorable and innocent. Let me guess, Naruto, you don't have a lot of experience with women, do you?"

He really didn't want to have this discussion anymore. However, the reasonable side of his brain that was telling him to just leave was nowhere to be found. So instead, Naruto simply sat there and nodded his head.

Kenji let out an exhausted sigh, "Ah, to be young again and be so naïve on lovemaking techniques."

Naruto felt his temper flare a little.

"Alright, let's get down to business. Give me your hand, Naruto." Kankuro held out his hand to him.

His blue eyes widened, and he was beyond confused about what stunt Kankuro was trying to pull on him. He tried to look at Kenji for answers, but he also looked muddled. Finally, sighing in defeat, Naruto hesitantly reached his hand forward for Kankuro to take.

Naruto was half expecting this to be some sort of prank, either having Kankuro smack his hand or spit on it. Instead, however, he was stunned and even a little weirded out when the guy took his hand and ever so softly started to run his fingertips on the back along his knuckles.

"Now, let me guess, in your mind, the way you arouse your woman is to kiss her and then either start playing with her butt and boobs, right?" Kankuro interrogated with a stern but calm tone as well. "That's just the basics, and this is where you step up your game. It's amazing how you can pleasure a woman without even touching her between the legs or her ass and breasts. Gentle caresses like this on the hand will make her skin tingle, and don't even get me started on the Erogenous zones."

Perhaps the amount of liquor he had consumed caused him not to care how awkward this situation was. Instead, Naruto was listening intently to every word Kankuro was saying.

On the other hand, Kenji turned his head away from the hand lesson and covered his eyes. "Good fucking lord . . ."

"If you touch her like this along her hands, back, neck and legs, she is practically going to beg for you to fuck her. Oh, and don't forget the ears!" Kankuro released Naruto's hand. "Tomorrow, after we're done with the course training, you're coming with Kenji and me. We know New York quite well and can help you get some accessories."

"I mean . . . that's . . ." Naruto tried to stutter out a refusal but was interrupted again.

"No ifs, ands or buts! Tomorrow is the last day Kenji and I are here, and we are going to do our very best to help you out as much as we can. Trust me. If you put this much effort in for your woman, I guarantee you she will return the favor. In the meantime, I'll give you a few more pointers, especially when it comes to kissing."

Kenji groaned loudly. "I swear to god, if you two start smooching at this table, I'm going to fucking hurl."

0000000000

Over the next several weeks, Hinata and Naruto's time in New York felt like something out of a fabled story. Monday to Friday, they attended the programming course religiously, ate lunch together, and then retreated to their separate rooms to complete their personal tasks for the rest of the afternoon.

Then, by around 4pm, when they were done, they would take to the streets of the Big Apple and explore all it had to offer. From sightseeing Central Park, the typical tour guided ride to see the Statue of Liberty, and if the weather permitted it, they ate their dinner at Roof At 66 Park, which had outside tables and a view of the Empire State Building.

While both of them knew that New York wasn't exactly the most safest city in the world, the two of them minded their own business and made sure not to create any unwanted attention.

They would sometimes head over to New Jersey during the weekends to get a break from the loud, big city with the towering skyscrapers. While neither of them were really beachgoers, it was still amazing to check out the Jersey Shore, along with taking long hikes on the Appalachian Trail.

The weather had also taken a drastic turn since they had first arrived. Rain was now seldom, and most of the days were hot and humid. Never before had Hinata been so grateful for air conditioning in the board rooms. It had been torturous enough just climbing in and out of the limousine with their full attire business suits.

For Hinata, everything was going along swimmingly for them.

That is until they approached the last two weeks of the programming course. After a particular boring segment was over and they were heading out for lunch, Hinata could tell that Naruto was looking worn down.

When she tried to ask him about it, he only brushed her concerns aside and told her it was nothing to worry about. "It's all good, Hinata. It's to be expected, right?"

Hinata frowned a little, "I know, but . . ."

Before she could finish, Naruto leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on her temple. "I appreciate you looking out for me, but I promise you that nothing's wrong. I may be a little agitated right now, but I know I should just enjoy our time here. I mean, in less than nine days, we'll be heading back home."

Hinata nodded and leaned her head against his shoulder.

"With that being said, though . . . do we really need to attend the Gala tonight?" whined Naruto, his blue eyes practically pleading with hers.

She tried to give him a gentle smile. "You know I've tried to avoid them as best as possible. Unfortunately, however, this one we have to attend. Uncle Hizashi and Neji are making a special trip to attend, and you know Gaara and Kankuro will be there as well."

Naruto let out a frustrated groan as they stepped onto the elevator, but Hinata continued. "I know you really don't want to go, Naruto. But, it would mean the world to me if you did. However, if you're really against it, I can have Neji escort me tonight."

Hinata tried to act a little sad, but she was more so calling out his bluff in reality. She knew that he really didn't want to wear a tuxedo, even if it would be the first time he had worn it their entire trip. There was no way he would let her go to the Gala alone, especially when the older gentleman who all had attended the first few days of the course program would be there.

It also surprised her that Naruto wasn't exactly looking forward to seeing Kankuro at the party. She had initially thought they had become good friends. However, when they had bid him farewell on the second day, Naruto wouldn't look the other man in the eyes and had been very quiet. It also puzzled her why his cheeks suddenly turned red when he spoke to Gaara's eldest brother. She pondered if something had happened the night Naruto, Kankuro and Kenji had stayed behind to keep drinking, but she didn't want to pry.

Hinata held back a smile when Naruto let out a sigh and said, "No, I don't want that either, Hinata. I'm sorry. Would it surprise you if I said I wasn't looking forward to wearing a tuxedo and spending my time at a fancy party?"

Hinata giggled softly as the elevator doors opened. "No, not in the slightest. I promise we won't be there for too long. We'll have a few drinks, sit down for dinner, I'll do a little mingling with my uncle and cousin, and then we can head back to the hotel. It is Saturday tomorrow, meaning we can sleep in as long as we like. However, the plus side is that it's being held at the Central Park Zoo. So even if you do get bored, we can always take a small stroll and see the animals."

It would be their last weekend in the Big Apple. They would be on a plane by Friday evening next week and making their way back home. While Hinata had enjoyed the last two months with Naruto, and it had almost felt like a mini-vacation, both of them were starting to feel homesick.

I'm not exactly sure what we should do tomorrow. Maybe visit a few of the tourist attractions we have already seen one more time and try some more food here. Probably going to be a long time before I come back to this city.

The sun beat down so intensely as they walked through the front doors, making Hinata almost gasp with how hot she already was. As on cue, their limo driver was waiting for them, and the two of them slipped into the back seat.

"Although, I'm not going to lie when I say that taking a limo every day has spoiled me quite a bit. I wonder if I could rent one while I'm back at Konoha Energy.

Hinata giggled before grabbing her phone to quickly go through her emails and let out a sigh of relief when there were no new messages. Then, she turned her attention to Naruto, "How is your transformer technician course going? Do you still have a lot to do for this afternoon and next week?"

Naruto shook his head, "Nah, I'm still milking it hardcore like Hanabi told me to. I only have six more sessions to watch, and all of them are only fifteen minutes each. Your sister told me to watch one today and then save the other five for next week. Then on Thursday, I can take the online test and be done with it."

"Well then, let's just enjoy the rest of the afternoon together. My appointment at the hair salon isn't until 3:45pm, so we have lots of time to kill."

He frowned slightly, "Are you sure I can't escort you to the hair salon? It'll be no trouble at all."

Hinata shook her head before a light blush spread across her cheeks. "I know this may sound silly, but I want it to be a surprise when you see me for the first time for the Gala tonight."

Naruto smiled, "I finally get to see you in that strapless black dress in person, huh?"

"And I finally get to see you in a tuxedo. So I would say we both win in this case."

Naruto chuckled softly and then began to quiz her on where they wanted to eat lunch today.

While it had been nice having their food prepared for them all the time and being able to eat wherever they wanted. Hinata couldn't deny that she was craving a home-cooked meal in her apartment.

I swear I'm not going to have another bowl of ramen for at least a year . . .

The rest of their afternoon went on without a hitch, and before Hinata knew it, she was already sitting in the salon chair and requesting the type of hairstyle she wanted for the Gala. Since it would be outside for the most part, and the weather was still very humid, the hairdresser styled her hair with braids that flowed to the back of her head into a low bun.

Once her hair was done, Hinata moved over to the next chair, where the makeup artist would take care of her cosmetics. Even though she had been going to these kinds of events for years, Hinata never felt comfortable enough to do her own makeup for them. She could never fully wrap her head around all the details and different kinds of products you needed to use. So instead of giving herself a headache, she opted to hire someone to do it for her.

The Gala didn't start until 5:45pm, and now that she was done at the salon, Hinata did her best to hurry back to the Kitano Hotel to get dressed. It was 5pm, which only gave her thirty minutes to run back up to her room, slip into her dress, make sure Naruto was ready, and meet up with Uncle Hizashi and Neji before they all hopped into the limo that would take them to Central Park Zoo. It was always best to arrive early.

When Hinata finally reached her room, she was almost out of breath and thanked her lucky stars that the hotel's air conditioning was on full blast; otherwise, the heat would have melted the makeup off her face. Then, bustling into her room, Hinata pulled out her evening shoes, a small handbag that she would carry all her cards in, and the proper undergarments she would need for her strapless dress.

Once she was satisfied that everything was ready to go, Hinata stepped toward her closet and pulled out the garment bag that contained her dress. As her fingers pulled down the zipper, she smiled fondly at the opportunity to wear her mother's dress again. However, the sentimental feelings she had quickly slipped away as she pulled out the dress in the bag.

While it was black, it wasn't her strapless one.

It was a chiffon, spaghetti strap, floor-length dress with a slit in the front that would almost go a foot past her knee. Hinata pressed her lips together and tried not to panic. Then, dropping the black dress onto the bed, she frantically checked her closet and drawers, wondering if she had simply misplaced the dress she usually wore.

How did this happen!? I know I put my dress into that garment bag! Then I handed it over to Hanabi to . . . to . . .

Realization suddenly dawned on her.

And before Hinata could stop herself, she stormed over to her phone and dialled her little sister's number. Hanabi picked up on the first ring, "Good evening, Hinata! I take it you found my little surprise for you?"

Hinata tried to keep her temper in check. "That's not funny, Hanabi. Please tell me that my dress is somewhere in my suitcase. Did you hide it in one of the side zippers?"

Hearing her little sister's laugh confirmed her worst nightmare. "Nope, afraid not, big sister. Looks like that's the only dress you can wear tonight."

She tried not to panic, "Hanabi, this isn't funny! I can't wear this dress! I know this is something you usually wear, but I can't!"

"Sure you can! I know you'll be the sexiest lady there tonight. I sure wish I could have joined you with Uncle Hizashi and Neji. Be sure to tell Naruto to take lots of pictures for me! I just know you'll knock them out of the park with that dress."

"Hanabi . . ." Hinata growled in a threatening tone.

"Besides, I didn't send you that dress so you would impress others. It's a gift for a certain someone, and I know he'll appreciate it!"

Hinata sighed, her eyes glancing at the clock on her nightstand. It was almost 5:15pm, and she knew that her entourage was waiting for her in the lobby by now.

I don't have time to find another dress. So I either put on this one or not go at all. God, how could Hanabi do this to me?!

"Hey, Hinata. You still there?"

She suddenly realized that Hanabi had been talking, but she had been so lost in her own thoughts. "I'm sorry, Hanabi. What was that?"

Her sister's tone suddenly took on a different manner. "I know you always go to these types of events with the intention of doing what's best for the family business. But not tonight. Uncle Hizashi and Neji can handle all the business chit-chat. So, slip on that dress, and have a good night with your man."

Hinata hung her head in defeat. She no longer had the energy to argue with her sister, and she was running out of time.

"The correct underwear you need for that dress is in the bottom of the garment bag. Have fun tonight!"

And with that, Hanabi hung up on her.

Succumbing to her situation, Hinata placed her phone down on the bed and slowly started to take her clothes off so she could put on the little black dress. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pulled the zipper down on her suitcase, revealing a pair of black nipple covers and a new pair of black lace underwear, still sealed bag in the bag.

Hinata had always worn conservative dresses to social functions such as this, including her undergarments. A pair of black nylons, seamless panties and a tight strapless bra that held her ample breasts down. She never tried to show off her chest or legs, always wearing a long dress.

The only time she had shown off her curves had been at the Hyuuga Electric Christmas Party, and she had only done that, because she wanted Naruto to notice her. In fact, the Christmas Party they had attended together was the last time he had seen her in a pretty dress.

With the nipple covers and underwear on, Hinata easily slipped into the black chiffon dress. It almost seemed like the dress was made for her body, hugging her form in all the right places. When she turned around to look at the mirror, she didn't recognize the woman staring back at her.

It felt nerve-racking to be showing off her cleavage or her right leg with the long slit. She slowly turned a bit to see the back of the dress, which was practically open back with black strings that crisscrossed. Quivering fingers did up the small zipper that reached the top of her lower back.

Her first reaction was to surrender and not go to the party at all. Instead, she wanted to call Naruto and tell him that he was right and that they weren't going. However, a little voice deep inside her told her not to. While Hinata continued to stare at her reflection, her sister's words continued to echo in her head.

She doesn't want me to play the role of the daughter of a large company that is there to talk with our customers . . .

While she was still mentally trembling from head to toe, Hinata still found a bit of courage to proceed with the thought that this outfit was for Naruto.

She was dressing to the nines for him.

After taking a few deep breaths, Hinata added the final touches to complete her look; black high heels, white pearl earrings and a necklace. Once the ensemble was complete, she grabbed her little black leather purse and headed toward the door.

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His fingers wouldn't stop playing with the bow tie that was tied tightly against his neck. It kept tickling under his chin, and Naruto had to resist the urge to take the damn thing off and toss it across the lobby. While the tuxedo itself was relatively comfortable, he wished he could have put on a tie instead.

He leaned over towards Neji, who was standing close beside him, "Are you sure I have to wear this tonight?"

Neji, who had been staring towards the elevators, glanced at the bow tie he was pointing to and smiled. "You'll get used to it. Besides, once you see my cousin, I'm sure you will forget everything."

Naruto grumbled and sighed. "Doubt that. I'm probably going to be glued to her side all night. Make sure none of those older creeps bother her too much."

His girlfriend's cousin let out a choking sound while trying to stifle his laughter. It bothered him slightly that Neji found it funny, but before he could say anything . . .

"Don't worry about that tonight, Naruto. My father and I will take care of all the business discussions. As for you two, just have a good time at the party and enjoy the food. Plus, if you really need to make a getaway, just leave for a stroll around the zoo."

Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly. "So, if you don't need Hinata there, why are we going in the first place?"

Neji shrugged. "Well, we did rent you that tuxedo for a reason; might as well get one-night use out of it. So try and cheer up a little bit; it's just for a couple of hours."

He sighed and leaned his head back to stare at the ceiling.

Naruto knew he was being unreasonable. He had never worn a tuxedo in his life, and he was rather impressed with how soft the satin material was. But, to anyone on the outside, it seemed like he was acting childish over having to go to one party for a few hours.

No.

The part that bugged him the most, and the reason he was so irritable, was that everyone there would see Hinata in a beautiful dress.

It was different when they had gone to the Hyuuga Christmas Party together. No creepy old man was trying to get a chance to sleep with her, and they also knew everyone at that gathering, which made the evening more enjoyable.

However, this time around, Naruto knew the jealous part of him would be in full swing. If any strange man even approached Hinata, they would likely be met with a death glare.

On the other hand, he couldn't deny that a part of him wanted to show off his woman. Have his arm wrapped around her waist, and make all the other men jealous, that he was the one she was with.

Neji suddenly turned and headed towards the front doors with long strides. "I'll meet you in the limousine with my father."

Naruto's eyebrow arched in confusion. However, before he could say anything, a soft voice to his right said, "Y-you look very handsome tonight, Naruto."

Hearing Hinata's voice, Naruto berated himself for not noticing her get off the elevator sooner. Putting on his best smile, he turned to greet her, but he suddenly lost the capability to speak when his eyes met her pale ones.

If it hadn't been for her indigo hair or violet eyes, Naruto wouldn't have recognized his girlfriend. She was never one to flaunt all her curves, but it showed them off generously to any onlooker in the dress she was wearing.

The only words he could find to describe her were elegant and sexy, something most men only saw on the cover of a magazine. But for Naruto, the real thing was standing right in front of him. His groin twitched in agreeance, and he had to stop the string of erotic fantasies that were now crowding inside his mind.

There was also a part of Naruto that was frustrated and angry. He didn't want Hinata to look this sexy in front of anyone else; she was for his eyes only! The thought of other men looking at her made his blood boil, and he resisted the urge to just drag her back to her room.

As Naruto adjusted his tie and berated himself for having such immature thoughts.

I'd be willing to bet Hanabi has something to do with this. There's no way in hell Hinata would willingly choose a dress that was this revealing.

It was also a dead giveaway with how she presented herself not just to him but everyone else in the facility. Her body language practically gave away how uncomfortable she was, and the restless expression she had only added to his suspicion.

He either had two choices.

Continue to act like a child and make a big deal out of this Gala.

Or.

He could man up and become her rock.

Clearing his throat, he offered her his arm and a big, genuine smile. "My lady. Our chariot awaits outside with your family."

The nervousness plastered all over her face was erased almost entirely, and she smiled back at him. As they walked towards the limousine, he continued to compliment her attire and even teased her about how he couldn't wait for them to get back to the hotel for some 'private' time together.

The group arrived safely at the Central Park Zoo in less than fifteen minutes.

While Naruto had come with Hinata twice during their days off, he had never been during the evening hours or at night. As they all climbed out of the limousine, he noticed that there weren't many people idling near the entranceway, only a few groups chatting amongst one another.

Hinata leaned up to his ear and whispered that most of the guests for the Gala were probably already in the Intelligence Garden. Naruto shivered when he felt her hot breath against his ear, his body heating up in response, and it wasn't from the humid, hot weather either.

Hizashi and Neji lead the way inside after showing the security guard their entrance passes. While Naruto tried his best to keep his eyes forward, either focusing on the animals or the back of Hinata's cousin, his gaze kept drifting to his right side, where Hinata was. From the way her breasts lightly bounced as she walked to the way the light wind caught her dress just the right way for the slit in it to show off her entire right leg.

All he could hear was his heartbeat thundering in his chest, and so could anyone who was in close proximity to him. He could tell Hinata was still very self-conscious about her appearance. However, as they drew near to where the party was being held, the tension in her face lessened slightly.

While the men were all dressed up like penguins, the women, on the other hand, had dresses in all different colours and fashions, but their one similarity was how revealing they were. It caught Naruto a little off guard, especially now looking at Hinata's dress; she seemed to be the conservative one. But this was New York, and the style and fashion of what was acceptable and typical of the city were quite clear here.

White lights had been strung along the trees, and the odd patio furniture was set up for people to sit and drink at. In the center was a large, glass-roofed tent. Exquisite bouquets of flowers lined the outer plastic walls, lanterns hung from the roof and two long tables with a white table cloth and plates and wine glasses. Jungle sound effects could be heard playing through the speakers above to top off the zoo ambience.

The crowd was much larger now, but with the large, hovering trees and a light breeze, the temperature was at least a few degrees cooler than before, which everyone was extremely grateful for.

Neji briefly turned around to tell them that he and his father would mingle with a few clients and told them their seat numbers before disappearing into the crowd. Hinata and him now stood alone in a sea of people all dressed to the nine's, and suddenly he felt extremely nervous being in an unfamiliar situation.

I need to calm down; otherwise, Hinata will think I'm being pathetic. So just take a few breaths and treat this like you would one of the Hyuuga Electric Christmas Parties.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Naruto turned his attention to Hinata with a small grin on his face. "Shall we go get a couple drinks? Or do you just want to walk around for a bit?"

Hinata glanced around the area before saying, "I think a drink would be nice. My mouth is rather parched right now."

You and me both . . .

Quickly, they found one of the many bars set up, and soon Hinata was holding a glass of white wine, and he had a tall glass of rye and coke; they weren't serving beer until after Dinner was over. The two of them slowly walked through the crowd, trying to see if they could recognize anyone.

"So . . . at 5:45pm, do we just automatically go to our seats?" Naruto asked while his eyes scanned the people around them.

Hinata shook her head after taking a sip of her wine. "No. Someone will ring a bell which will designate us to sit down. Then, after a few announcements, they will bring us our meals."

As Naruto took a sip of his cocktail, a flash of white got his attention, and he turned his head to the right. It didn't take Naruto long to recognize the tall young man less than 15ft away from him. He could practically feel Toneri's confidence radiating off of him as he stopped to talk to a group of people. Naruto was about to point out the operator to Hinata but paused when he saw the woman attached to Toneri's arm. Her appearance was eerily similar to Hinata's with her violet eyes, but her hair was even blonder and lighter than his. The woman wore a light purple halter top, her midriff was completely exposed and then a long light purple skirt that went down to the floor.

While he pondered who Toneri's date was, Hinata suddenly noticed the couple. "Oh! There's Toneri and Shion. I figured the two of them would be here tonight. When they don't look busy, we should go over and at least say hello."

"Shion? Is that someone he's been dating recently?"

Hinata's eyebrows scrunched a little in confusion as if she was wondering why he didn't know who the woman Toneri was with. But then her eyes suddenly widened. "Oh! That's right, I never got to finish telling you!"

"Hm?"

His girlfriend giggled softly. "That night when you broke your phone. I said that I had some interesting news about Toneri, remember? Shion is his fiancé'. They are getting married next summer."

Naruto suddenly felt like an idiot all over again. He had broken his phone and had a hissy fit over Hinata simply wanting to tell him that Toneri was engaged. With all of his might, he tried to not let out a frustrated groan, but in his mind, a loud voice repeatedly reminded him of how much of an idiot he was.

"Well, good for him. I take it she's the daughter of a company that does business with Konoha Energy?" He hadn't meant for it to sound rude. However, the brief glare that Hinata gave him clearly stated that he had crossed the line.

However, she let out a sigh and said, "Yes. Or rather, her father owns the Otoga Energy Oilfield site, which is just a little bit south of Konoha Energy. I'm sure you've seen the sign for it when you drive along the main highway."

The name sounded eerily familiar, and Naruto was positive he had seen the sign before. "Does Hyuuga Electric or Power do work for them?"

Hinata nodded her head. "A little bit. Usually small projects with a crew no bigger than ten, but they mostly use us for our Transformer Technicians, the high voltage ones."

Naruto stole a quick glance at Toneri and his fiancé one more time before they moved on.

A few seconds later, they finally ran into Kankuro and Gaara. The four of them quickly exchanged greetings, with Hinata hugging the two brothers and Naruto shaking their hands, although he was quite hesitant to grab Kankuro's.

"It's so good to see you, Naruto." Gaara said with a rare genuine smile on his face. "We definitely need to catch up and talk about what you've been doing the last eighteen months, but regrettably, that will have to be a more relaxing setting at another time."

Naruto chuckled. "You pick the pub, and I'll buy the beers."

"Has it been hot a lot here? I miss the cooler weather when I was here last time I saw you two." Kankuro huffed while using his hand like a fan.

For a few minutes, the four friends chatted amongst themselves, laughing at a few stories and experiences they so far had in The Big Apple.

As their conversation drew to a close, Hinata turned towards Naruto and pointed at the large brick building beside them and whispered. "I'm just going to use the washroom quick before Dinner starts."

"I'll be waiting here for you." Naruto reached for Hinata's drink, so she didn't have to take it with her to the bathroom.

Gaara also passed his drink over to his brother as she turned around. "Mind if I follow you, Hinata? I'd better do the same thing, and I'm not entirely sure of the layout of this place yet."

Naruto's teeth clenched together as he watched his girlfriend and boss walk away. Suddenly his body stiffened, and he glanced over at Kankuro, who was grinning mischievously.

"So . . ." Kankuro said in a low voice, "How did it go with Hinata?"

He bit the inside of his cheek and quickly tried to change the topic to something else. During the afternoon, after their drunken escapade, Kenji and Kankuro had kidnapped him for lunch, telling Hinata that they were taking Naruto with them to get new shoes. Which wasn't a total lie. With the other guys' help, he was able to find a new pair of leather shoes that didn't hurt his feet for a reasonable price. They had also visited a few stores in the process, with the intention for Naruto to plan a romantic and erotic evening with Hinata.

However, as the days had passed by, either he completely forgot about his plan or chickened out at the last second when Hinata would come into his room. Naruto was now down to his last nine days in New York, and the items he had purchased were still sitting in the bottom drawer of his bedside table.

Before Naruto could utter a word, his demeanour and body language were apparently a dead giveaway to Gaara's older brother. The shit-eating grin on his face quickly disappeared, and Kankuro let out a frustrated sigh. "Jesus fucking Christ, don't tell me you haven't fucked your woman senseless yet?"

Naruto closed the gap between them so that no one else could hear their conversation before he hissed, "Would you keep your voice down? Of course I've had sex with Hinata since you were last here!"

"But not using the techniques I taught you?"

His mouth immediately closed, and a deep chuckle escaped Kankuro's throat when he saw how Naruto's cheeks had turned a dark red. "Still adorable as ever, Naruto. Well, if tonight isn't a clear indicator that you should bang Hinata good, then I don't know what is. Here, take this in case you don't have any on you."

His cheeks reddened slightly when Kankuro briefly put down the drinks he was holding onto a table nearby, slipped his hand inside his tuxedo pocket, and pulled out a condom, which he quickly put into Naruto's tuxedo. To say he was speechless would be an understatement, but what Kankuro said next almost made him drop his and Hinata's drinks.

"Oh, and just so you know. If you want alone time with Hinata, head towards the Snow Leopard exhibit. Rarely any guests or staff venture into that area during the evening, and you can be a little loud if you want to. Trust me, I know." Kankuro whispered while giving him a little wink.

Naruto didn't doubt it.

Not only had Kankuro managed to sweet talk their hostess that night to follow him back to his room, but the next day during the programming course, Naruto could have sworn Gaara's older brother had snuck a quickie with one of the nagging harpies in the handicap washroom.

This guy puts Kiba and the welders to shame with how much he sleeps around.

Before Naruto could retort, Gaara and Hinata had returned, along with a loud bell clanging that Dinner would soon be ready.

Slowly, everyone made their way towards the tables and found their seats with the help of the catering staff. Naruto and the Hyuuga's were seated near the middle of the second table; Neji and Hizashi were to his left, while Hinata was to the right.

Just as he finished adjusting his seat, a familiar voice beside his girlfriend caught his attention.

"Hinata! What a wonderful surprise to see you here tonight! And I get the pleasure to sit next to you too!"

While Naruto couldn't remember the man's first name, Hinata had addressed him as Mister Takahashi, the man who had tried to touch her lower back during the first day of the programming course.

Hinata's body stiffened subtly, and the genuine smile on her face was replaced by an uncomfortable replica. As Mister Takahashi took a seat beside Hinata, Neji reached across Naruto and quickly tapped his cousin on the shoulder and motioned that they should switch seats. Nonverbally, Hinata declined his offer and then turned her attention back to Mister Takahashi as they quietly discussed the weather and décor at the party.

Naruto tried to control his jealousy, but he was interrupted briefly when Neji jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow and then muttered, "Keep an eye on that guy. He can get really touchy-feely if he's had too much to drink."

He bit down on his tongue to the point that he almost drew blood. However, instead of just sitting there fuming over another man talking to his woman, Naruto decided to take a different and restrained approach.

While Hinata still held her conversation with Mister Takahashi, he gently draped his arm across her shoulders, his fingers gently caressing her bare skin. Which definitely had an effect on the man sitting to Hinata's right. Naruto had to fight off a smirk when Mister Takahashi shot him an irritated scowl.

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Hinata held her composure like an expert over the next hour.

The hosts for the Gala spent almost ten minutes thanking everyone attending, narrating what their charitable organization was about, and finally finishing off by explaining the door prizes that would be announced throughout the rest of the night.

As dinner was being served with the first course, the battle of testosterone was raging rampantly, and she was stuck in the middle between the three versus one fight. While she was very grateful that her uncle, cousin and boyfriend were being protective of her, Hinata wished they would at least tone it down a little bit so that it wasn't so blatantly obvious to the man sitting to her right.

Asahi Takashi. She had known him for a few years now, and he was always eager to talk to her anytime they were in the same room together. He was two years her senior, and his long shoulder-length hair made the ladies swoon over him. However, while his attraction for her was very noticeable, she had never given him any indication that she felt the same way. And yet, he was never afraid to invade her personal space or attempt to touch her.

A few times during their Dinner, she tried to indicate that she was taken and even purposefully brandished her promise ring in front of him. However, either he wasn't getting the hint or decisively chose not to notice. He continued to ask for opportunities for them to hang out more, but each time she politely declined.

Part of her wanted to be brutally honest with him like she had been with Toneri; however, she also just didn't want to blurt it out of nowhere either. There was never a private moment between the two of them, and so, for the time being, she hoped that her obvious clues would click in his head soon.

While starting the main course of their meal, Asahi reached across her a few times to grab either the salt and pepper or the small butter plate. Then, ever so subtly, his arm brushed up against hers. She could practically hear Naruto's teeth grinding together every time he did that. Hinata had to place a gentle, comforting hand on her boyfriend's thigh to calm him down, fearing that he would tackle Ashai to the ground in front of everyone if she didn't.

The subtle performance she was putting on was mentally and physically exhausting. She wanted nothing more than for the evening to be over with. The stares and whispers she had experienced all night were strenuous enough, but now that she had to wear a fake smile for the next hour, it was beginning to take its toll on her.

Hinata tried to focus on her dessert, even though Asahi was trying to get her attention once again. She tried her best to ignore him, but instead, her focus shifted to Naruto, who was having a conversation with her cousin.

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach with how handsome and masculine he looked tonight. She was never one to openly admit when she was worked up by him. Instead, she kept a secret to herself until they were behind closed doors where she could fully show him the effect he had on her.

While Asahi was rambling on about the current state of the stock market, deep in her mind, she was fantasizing about what she couldn't wait to do with Naruto once they returned back to their hotel rooms. Hinata was a little conflicted about how she wanted the rest of their night to go once she had him all to herself, slow and steady or hot and fast.

Just as she thought about how she wanted to touch him, she was brought out of her thoughts when Asahi suddenly grabbed her hand. The sudden contact with him made her skin tingle, and not in a good way. Her mind was screaming at him to let go and swipe her hand away. However, Hinata did her best to simply smile and gently claim her hand back.

But, Asahi had different plans.

The moment she tried to pull her hand back, his fingers tightened around hers, almost to the point of being painful. Hinata did her best to avoid anyone noticing, but she could already tell that Naruto and her family were now watching.

"Mister Takahashi, could you please . . ."

Her gentle attempt to let get him to let go of her hand failed when he said, "Miss Hyuuga. Would you please take a stroll with me around the zoo? I would very much like to spend some one-on-one time with you."

Ah, there it is . . .

Asahi had to know that she was taken. If he hadn't clued in when Naruto had introduced himself weeks ago, it was blatantly obvious here at the party when they had been walking around with linked arms.

It was a last-ditch effort for him in hopes that maybe he could get her alone for a bit, and he would be able to change her mind or think that he stood a chance. Or perhaps she had misjudged his character, and he wanted to see if he could have a sexual moment with her, away from peering eyes.

The mere thought of being intimate with someone other than Naruto made her sick to her stomach, and she once again tried to gently pry her hand out of his without making a scene. However, it almost seemed like things were about to escalate quickly. Naruto was probably only seconds away from ripping Asahi's hand away from hers; not to mention, she could feel the irritation radiating off of her cousin and uncle.

Suddenly, the loud screech of a chair sliding back caught everyone's attention as Naruto suddenly stood up. While the odd person had finished their meal and left to either head to the bar or use the washroom, almost everyone was still sitting down.

She expected Naruto to have an angry expression on his face, or at the very least, his eyes to be glaring at Asahi. Instead, however, he looked down at her with concern and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Hinata, you're looking a little pale. Did that cake have too much sugar in it? Do you want to walk it off?" he asked softly.

All eyes spying on them suddenly turned away in disinterest; it was only a man worrying about his girlfriend after all.

Hinata let out a quick sigh of relief and nodded her head.

Asahi at least had the right instinct to let go of her hand when she stood up. She didn't give him a second look but also had the feeling that Naruto was glaring at him on her behalf. So, at a medium speed, she walked out of the tent they had been eating in, not wanting to draw attention if she left too quickly with Naruto right behind her.

As soon as they were outside, Hinata took a deep breath and let out a loud exhale. Her hand came up to feel her racing heart, and she tried her best to slow it down.

She wanted to explain to Naruto what had happened. However, she didn't get a chance to. He suddenly took her hand in his and led her out of the garden and away from the party. They passed by a security guard who asked if everything was alright as the Dinner wasn't technically done yet. Naruto merely gave him a smile and told the guard that his girlfriend wasn't feeling well and that she just needed to go for a quick walk to feel better. While perhaps in another situation, his story would have just seemed like an excuse, but when the guard glanced at her and saw how pale her face was, he simply nodded and let them pass.

"Just don't do anything stupid. Two weeks ago, we had a group of people start throwing stones at the animals because they were sleeping and wanted to take pictures." The guard grumbled.

Naruto gave him a quick salute, "Not to worry, boss, we won't do anything like that. One quick lap around the place, and we'll be back."

The Zoo was so peaceful as they walked together towards the park's west end. While all the remaining buildings were locked up, the paths remained open so that you would be able to see some of the animals. They were now walking side by side as they passed by the Tropic Zone building, and Hinata glanced over her shoulder to make sure that no one else was around.

Aside from the jungle noises coming through the speakers and the sound of cars driving in the distance, it remained quiet between the two of them. Which wasn't a bad thing; it was a comfortable silence after all. Even though they had walked through the zoo twice on previous visits, Hinata still glanced at the exhibits and cages as if she was trying to find the animals for the first time.

The snow monkeys were mischievously playing, grunting and squeaking loudly to one another while jumping and leaping through the trees. Then, as they left the furry playful creatures behind, they turned onto the path that would take them to the snow leopards. With it just being the two of them now, Hinata thought it was appropriate to break the silence.

"Thank you." She whispered, her hand tightening around his.

Naruto smiled and leaned down to kiss her temple briefly. "Don't mention. My choices were either to get you the hell out of there or grab that guy by the collar and drag him out. I think the choice I made was a more sophisticated and less embarrassing one."

Hinata giggled and leaned her head against his shoulder. "Yes, yes it was."

The snow leopard area was vast and surrounded by high fences. However, there was a viewing area in a cement cave enclosure with huge windows. Large signs lined around near the glass with statistics and facts about the big beautiful cats. No lights were shining directly into the trees, and after a brief look around, Hinata couldn't see any of them walking around.

Turning away from the windows, she saw Naruto was sitting on one of the benches behind her, and he patted the spot beside him, inviting her to join in.

The couple sat on the bench for quite a while, savouring the calming atmosphere and enjoying each other's company. Finally, their hands were clasped together, and she relished having his large, warm hand wrapped around hers. Tentatively, she brought her free hand up and began tracing across his knuckles and the backs of his fingers.

Naruto suddenly shot up like a rocket, his hands releasing hers. His eyes were wide, and a deep blush quickly spread across his cheeks.

Hinata couldn't even begin to explain how confused she was by his reaction. However, she concluded that she had merely caught him off guard. "Oh, I'm sorry, Naruto. Was that really ticklish?"

Her boyfriend rubbed the back of his head out of embarrassment before giving her a nod. "S-sorry about that, Hinata. I was lost in my train of thought, and then suddenly, feeling your fingers tickle my hand made me jump."

She smiled at him understandingly and then glanced back at the windows. She could see that Naruto looked a little stiff and uncomfortable through the reflection. The sun was just about to set, and he had endured wearing his tuxedo for almost two and half hours now.

He's probably itching to get out of that penguin suit. We should probably head back, say our goodbyes, and return to the hotel.

Hinata started to stand but halted when she felt Naruto's hands on her shoulders, gently pushing her back down.

"Wait." He whispered, "Let's just stay here a bit longer."

His hands started to gently massage her shoulders, and she hummed in approval to his kneading hands. Hinata closed her eyes and leaned back, her head coming in contact with his stomach. Naruto's thumbs and fingers worked across her neck and shoulders, and she sighed in contentment.

Hinata's skin started to tingle, and a shiver ran up her spine.

His hands worked their magic across her body, making it hard to focus. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around his shoulders and give him a kiss. With her eyes still closed, she tried to picture what she wanted to do with him. However, as she sat there fantasizing while his fingers moved across her upper body, Hinata realized that she needed to stop him.

If he keeps touching me like this, I'm not going to be able to keep my composure, and we still have a few more people to talk to. I should . . .

His hands were now slowly moving down her arms. While it was a lighter massage, he was also caressing her skin with the tips of his fingers. Another shiver ran over her, and Hinata had to fight a moan from passing through her lips. She knew Naruto was just trying to make her feel better from the previous state of affairs with Asahi and probably didn't understand his effect on her right now.

Hinata's eyes crept open slightly. The sun was now barely visible over the horizon, and the viewing enclosure they were in was getting darker and darker. Soon, the only light coming in would be from the lamps along the pathway.

"N-Naruto, we s-should . . ." Hinata tried to stutter out that they should leave and continue this intimate moment somewhere else.

However, either Naruto didn't hear, or he didn't care. He leaned down; further, his upper body was almost engulfing hers. His head rested on her shoulder while his hands continued their playful gesture down her arms until they reached her hands. Strong fingers were now massaging her palms, and she could feel his hot breath against her temple.

Before Hinata could object, she felt him start to press kisses along the curve of her ear. Slowly he made his way down before reaching her neck, where his lips and tongue started licking and sucking along her skin.

Time stood still.

It felt like his hands and mouth were everywhere on her body, causing small shocks of pleasure to course through her entire being. Multiple times she tried to tell him to stop. However, the only sounds she could make were pleasurable sighs and groans that echoed off the walls. The pulsating throb between her legs had been small at first, but now it was to the point where her body wanted, no, needed to find some sort of release.

Her breathing started to come out hard and fast, almost as if she couldn't get enough oxygen in her lungs. His hands released hers, and she fully expected him to grab her breasts. However, instead, his devilish fingers moved to her hips, lower back and thighs, still massaging and caressing her form. Soft lips continued to taste the skin of her shoulders and neck.

Hinata felt as if she was about to burst. She was trembling and unable to control her movements or her voice. His teasing tactics were completely different than in previous times. Not that Naruto couldn't be romantic or gentle, but at a certain point, he would snap, and his soft caresses became rough and hurried.

With her hands free, she attempted to make some form of physical contact with him by either reaching for his manhood or to run her fingers through his hair.

But he stopped her.

Her mind was in such a haze that before she could contemplate what was going on, he held her wrists tightly in his hands, preventing her from moving.

"I don't think so . . ." he whispered against the nape of her neck before his lips continued their delicious torture.

It was then that Hinata realized what was going on.

Payback.

Naruto was doing this as reimbursement for when she had tied him up in her office.

While a part of her was a little irritated that he would do such a thing in a public place, in the end, it didn't matter. Payback or not, he wasn't teasing her out of malicious intent. If she were to suddenly tell him to stop, he would do it on a dime. But . . .

I don't want him to stop . . . I want . . .

The enclosure they were in was pitch black now, only a few rays of light coming from outside. Hinata could barely make out Naruto's hands still caressing her legs and hips. She could no longer see their reflections in the window, giving her a false sense of privacy. Her body felt like it was on fire, and the more he teased her, the more her logical voice was now silent in her head. The pulsating pleasure coursing through her was becoming too much to handle.

Hinata couldn't take it anymore.

She suddenly stood up and pulled herself away from his wicked hands. Her form continued to tremble, and she tried to take deep, calming breaths. A part of her wanted to stop. She was Hinata Hyuuga, daughter of Hiashi Hyuuga, who owned Hyuuga Power, and doing something so scandalous was immoral in so many ways. However, that quiet voice in her head was quickly overcome and buried by her desires and love for the man standing behind her.

Yes, she was Hinata Hyuuga, and she was utterly and undeniably in love with Naruto Uzumaki. Her burning skin wanted him to touch her more, and she wanted to get lost in his embrace and kisses.

Heavy breathing resonated between the two of them. The ecstasy high they had been riding on was starting to come down, and Hinata knew she had a decision to make. She didn't have a lot of time and quickly tried to weigh the pros and cons in her head.

"S-sorry, Hinata. I-I shouldn't have done that. We . . . we should head back to the party."

Naruto's soft, sorrowful voice reached her ears, and she turned around slowly to face him. He was still trying to catch his breath, and his hands were clenched at his sides. She could also see the slight trembling of his body too, along with the dark blush gracing his cheeks.

Hinata already thought he looked handsome and dashing in his tuxedo, but seeing him worked up and flustered like her . . .

Screw formalities.

She knew what she wanted, and she didn't care about the consequences that may follow.

Hinata walked toward Naruto with a bit of a rush in her step while her heels clicked against the cement floor. His blue eyes were filled with guilt, and when it looked like he was about to apologize again, she silenced him by grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the corner of the enclosure. Fortunately, it was even darker there, and she could just barely see her own hand.

She turned, and her back came in contact with the cool cement, which felt nice against her fiery skin. Her pale eyes could just make out Naruto's face and the confused expression he was wearing. But when she tugged on his hand to come closer, trapping her in the corner completely, an audible surprised gasp left his mouth.

His tall form towered over her, shielding her away and making her feel like it was just the two of them in the entire world. It may have been dark in there, but she didn't need light to touch him.

Her hand released his and moved up to grab the satin lapels on his tuxedo coat, pulling him even closer to her, their chests pressing together. Another gasp left his mouth, and she could feel his breath on her cheeks.

"Naruto . . ." she sighed seductively.

"Hinata . . ." he whispered back to her.

She wanted nothing more than to touch him and run her hands up and down his entire form. But there was no time for that now. Somewhere in her hazed mind, she knew that they couldn't stay here for much longer. Either someone could accidentally find them, or her family would start looking for them.

No, what she needed right now was a quick release. Something to hold her off until they returned to their hotel rooms, where she could ravish him, and they could make love long into the night.

As his trembling hands came to rest on her hips, she raised herself up onto the tips of her toes, her lips brushing against his as she whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too, Hinata . . ." he answered softly.

Her lips placed a gentle kiss on his before she sighed, "Please . . .I need you . . ."

At first, he returned her gentle plea with a kiss to match it. Tenderly, their mouths moved together, silently conveying their love for one another. However, the delicate moment only lasted a few seconds before their lips moved more rough and feverishly. He would suckle on her bottom lip before enveloping her mouth to taste her with his tongue. His once gentle hands were roughly grasping her butt, kneading the mounds of flesh through her dress.

They both tried to be quiet, but it was humanly impossible. Soft squeaks and grunts tickled their ears, and they were so lost in ecstasy that the outside world wasn't important right now. All that mattered was finding that climatic release together.

His hands started to make work of her dress, sliding his palms against her right thigh and slipping under the slit. The moment his fingers traced the black lace underwear she had on, they simultaneously groaned. No doubt he could feel the heat radiating from between her legs, where it was throbbing so badly that Hinata thought she was about to lose her mind.

"Please, Naruto, Please . . ." she breathed desperately, rocking her hips against his hand.

She wanted to feel him so badly. It was something she could no longer deny. She wanted him the moment he had started kissing her neck on the bench. To feel him fill her up and become one.

His fingers traced over the lacy undergarment, teasing her even more while his tongue danced with hers. She wanted to tell him to stop taunting her, but any words she wanted to say turned into a low groan when his fingers slipped inside her underwear and found her soaking folds.

"Dear god you are so wet . . ." Naruto groaned with a restrained voice.

While it wasn't his manhood inside her, his fingers still felt amazing as they slipped in and out of her tight canal. Her nails dug into the satin material of his tuxedo, gripping his shoulder tightly for support, which freed up her one hand to grasp his throbbing member through his pants.

Naruto bit off a growl, his head tilting back.

How long they stayed like that, his fingers pleasuring her while her hand stroked his throbbing member, Hinata didn't know. Wave after wave of pleasurable shocks swept over her body. It felt so luscious and amazing.

But she wanted . . . no, needed more.

Her voice started to break with incoherent words as she tried to plead with him again. "P-please . . . I-I, c-can't . . . Naruto . . . n-need y-you . . ."

It seemed that he had reached his limit too.

His hands hiked her dress up with a rough snarl, bunching the material around her hips. She followed suit and began undoing his coat and pants. Her nimble fingers made quick work of the belt, zipper and satin buttons. Soon, she touched his throbbing member directly, hot and hard in her hand. Hinata stroked him a few times, relishing in his reactions to her simple touch. She wasn't sure which one she enjoyed more, the way his body trembled against hers or the sounds emitting from his throat.

Gently she started to guide him closer to her but stopped when he pressed something into the palm of her other hand. Curiously she felt the thin plastic wrapping of the item in her hand. A condom. A hundred questions would have swept through her mind in any other scenario, but here, right now, she didn't even care where he had gotten it from or why he had one on him.

Once she slipped the rubber on his cock, his mouth found hers again. Large hands slid around to grasp her ass, gently hoisting her up off the ground. Her black high heels slipped off her feet and landed on the floor with a small clunk.

Without hesitation, she pulled her panties away just enough so that he could sink inside her. His initial entry was slow and taunting, filling her up inch by inch.

"Ah, Naruto . . ." Hinata gasped, her arms holding onto his strong shoulders while her legs wrapped naturally around his waist. Her body twitched and pulsated upon finally getting what it wanted when he slipped fully inside her.

The tender moment did not last long though.

Gripping her behind tighter, he began to thrust inside her. Naruto's movements were awkward and clumsy at first, trying to keep his grip on her while maintaining his balance. His technique was not perfect by any means; however, Naruto was a fast learner. Soon enough, he got the hang of it and was making love to her as if they had done it this way over a thousand times.

He pushed her against the wall, thrusting deeper and deeper into her. Finally, she felt complete, and her body thrummed in agreeance as the signs of her orgasm were approaching.

Perhaps it was the way he had teased her.

Perhaps it was the excitement of getting caught at any moment.

Or perhaps it was just how Naruto felt so magnificent inside her.

Whatever it was, the coil in the pit of her belly snapped, and her climax erupted over her entire form. Her toes curled, and her back arched off the wall. She almost let out a cry of pleasure, but she quickly muffled it with her hand, and the only audible word that Naruto would be able to make sense of was his name.

Naruto slowed down when he felt her inner muscles clamp around him. Pausing his movements for now while she rode out the waves of her orgasm. Hinata couldn't quite catch her breath, and she was starting to lose her strength, making it difficult to hold onto his shoulders.

"I've got you, Hinata, I've got you," Naruto whispered against her ear.

Pale violet eyes closed, and she took a moment to enjoy the feeling of being wrapped in his embrace. In such a vulnerable position, she felt nothing but trust and love for the man holding on to her. He was the only one that she loved this way, the only one whom she would dare do something so outrageous with and not worry about the outcome.

Her weary mind wondered if anyone had heard them yet, but was quickly reminded that their love-making session was not over yet, upon feeling Naruto's member throbbing inside of her and his lips kissing along the bare skin of her neck. He had kept still this entire time, waiting for her to give him consent to continue while she recovered from her orgasmic high.

With a sense of rush and wanting him to continue, Hinata tightened her legs around his waist and rocked her hips against his.

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Naruto wasn't sure where he found the self-control to stay still while being inside of her, but it was one of the hardest things he ever had to do. The moment he had felt her orgasm, it had taken every ounce of willpower to just not slam his hips into hers. However, Naruto knew how her body worked and reacted, and if he wanted to continue this back at their hotel room, he needed to be patient.

His manhood throbbed painfully, her inner muscles still clamped tightly around him. He tried to distract himself by placing gentle kisses along Hinata's neck while hoping that they would be able to continue soon.

She was limp in his arms, and he momentarily feared that she wouldn't want to keep going. However, her legs suddenly gripped his waist tighter, and she moved her hips. A low groan slipped out of his mouth, and he closed his eyes tightly as she silently gave him permission to continue.

He tried to start off slow again, but his efforts were in vain when he felt Hinata's lips and tongue against his ear. His entire form trembled, and the last bit of control he had snapped. Groaning with satisfaction, he gripped her ass tighter and pulled his hips back but only snapped them forward to bury himself in her warmth.

A pleasurable gasp graced his ears, and he silently apologized to the woman in his arms. Her back was probably sore against the cement, his hands were cupping her bottom way too tightly, and he wasn't moving gently against her, more like wildly thrusting as hard as he possibly could.

He was still holding back a little bit, trying to hold onto what little control he had while making love to his woman. However, it was taking him a bit longer than usual to reach his peak. While their surroundings were exhilarating, along with the excitement of getting to have Hinata like this here, the condom he wore dulled the sensation of her tight, wet canal wrapped around him. He almost wanted to take the damn thing off and feel her with no restrictions. But before he could act on it . . .

"Please Naruto . . . Fuck me . . ."

He completely forgot how to breathe.

Her words echoed in his mind, pushing away any sensible logic, only for the feral, insatiable beast inside of him to break free. Typically Hinata wasn't the type to say anything provocative when they were intimate, but when she did, he knew that was his cue to use any means necessary for his release.

Closing his eyes, he focused on the sensations that surrounded him.

Hinata's arms were tightly embraced around him, her lips attacking his ear while her nails raked across his scalp. A strewn of pleasurable whimpers and mews escaped her every time he thrust upwards. He could feel her breasts bouncing against his chest and almost regretted not paying any attention to them when he had the chance, but there would be plenty of opportunities once they were done here.

And then he felt it, her inner walls squeezing him even tighter than before. She was doing it on purpose, urging him to join her in the land of ecstasy.

It was all too much to take.

He buried his face into her shoulder, trying to keep his voice down as the waves of his orgasm flooded over his entire being. Hinata breathed his name against his ear, her legs not letting go of his hips as he gave a few mild final thrusts into her. In an instant, his energy was sapped. His leg's started to shake, and he was scared of suddenly dropping Hinata. Leaning his entire weight into the wall, he tried to keep them sturdy while he regained his breath and composure. He was still seeing stars behind his closed eyes.

As he took deep breaths, the body spray she was wearing and her natural scent drifted into his nostrils, along with the faint smell of their lovemaking. Even though he had just climaxed, he wanted to do it again with her. Over and over again.

Hinata's hands lightly stroked his hair and the back of his neck while planting soft kisses along his temple. He was starting to feel lethargic, but her light touches were stoking the dim fire inside him. He may have felt burnt out, but the flames were not completely gone.

Naruto lifted his head up and did not resist when he felt her hands cup his cheeks, bringing him in for a loving kiss. They basked in the afterglow of their orgasms, giving each other light, delicate caresses with their lips.

The sexual deviant that lurked deep inside him was beginning to stir again. They needed to leave as soon as possible, but before he could convey this to Hinata, his body froze, and a sense of dread made his blood run cold. He could hear the faintest sound of laughter and the soft clicking of high heel shoes against the cement path.

"Someone's coming!" Naruto whispered in a hushed panic.

Hinata stiffened in his arms. He was about to let her down, thinking they had enough time to compose themselves before someone discovered them. However, suddenly two shadows appeared and started to head towards the entrance of the viewing enclosure. They both held their breaths while trying to remain as still as humanly possible. Even though it was dark, he could still see Hinata close her eyes and use her hands to cover her mouth. Meanwhile, he positioned his body to hopefully isolate them from their unwanted guests.

The voices and shadows got closer and closer until Naruto could clearly see the outline of a couple about to step inside. Neither of them made a sound and prayed to any god listening that they wouldn't be discovered.

Whether it was the gods listening or sheer dumb luck, the female suddenly stopped and let out a sigh of disappointment. "Aw, you can't even see the snow leopards right now. They don't have any lights on."

The woman's male companion hummed in agreement. "That's too bad. Well, while we're here, you wanna make out a little bit?"

Naruto's heart was thundering in his chest so loudly that the couple could probably hear it.

The couple laughed, and the woman lightly slapped her partner's shoulder, "Not a chance. I think everyone is starting to make their way over here, and I don't want to get caught. But, God, can you just imagine how embarrassing that would be?"

They continued to hold their breath as the intrusive couple slowly started to leave and make their way to another part of the zoo.

Quickly and quietly as they could, Naruto gently put Hinata down before they started to address their wardrobe issues. While Hinata attempted to adjust her dress, Naruto took a few steps back and removed the condom from his limp manhood. After tying the end in a knot, he strode over to the garbage can nearby, where he could see an empty coffee cup near the top. Hastily he grabbed it and placed the dirty condom inside before securing the lid back on, hiding any evidence that they were there.

He swiftly made it back to Hinata, who was attempting to put her high heels back on.

"We have to go now!" she hissed, trying to smooth the rest of the wrinkles out of her dress.

Naruto nodded before grasping her hand and b-lining it for the entrance/exit. After quickly scanning the area, he pulled Hinata out, and they lightly jogged across the path, hoping that no one had seen them. He could just make out the couple that had interrupted them ahead on the trail towards the Grizzly Bears. They didn't turn around, and when Naruto glanced behind them to see no one, he finally let out a breath of relief and a nervous chuckle.

"That was close." He said with an uneasy smile. "Next time, we should do it in a place with both an entrance and an exit for a quick escape."

Naruto expected Hinata to stutter out a response that they would never do something like that again or playfully smack his shoulder and call him a lecher, but instead, she just looked down at the ground and gave a single nod.

"Really?!" He said excitedly. "We can do that again?!"

This time she did lightly smack his shoulder.

"Naruto, please! Keep your voice down!" She whispered embarrassingly, her face an even deeper red than when they were going at it moments ago. "B-but yes. If the opportunity presents itself, I may say yes."

He knew that he had a shit-eating grin on his face but chose to keep his mouth shut so he wouldn't ruin the moment or embarrass her so much that she changed her mind. So instead, they basked in the silence and the cool air from the wind passing by.

While during Dinner, Naruto had silently cursed Kankuro for putting wicked notions into his head, along with the condom in his pocket. But after the incident with Mister Takahashi, they had simply ended up at the place Kankuro had mentioned to him. He had tried to forget about it and just enjoy a quiet moment with his girlfriend before they headed back to the party. However, then she had started caressing his hand in a way that brought back unpleasant memories of his drunk escapade with his two new friends. After that, he attempted to patch the cracks and act like everything was alright. He tried giving Hinata a light massage, but the damage was done, and her warm skin against his hands only added fuel to the fire, to the point that it was a raging inferno, and there was no way of putting it out.

Naruto couldn't help but chuckle. While it had been a little awkward and raw lovemaking, he would forever remember the time the two of them had sex in a public place.

He was only brought out of his blissful daze when he heard Hinata sigh sadly.

She was staring down at her dress and the obvious wrinkles, making it quite clear that something had transpired from their walk around the zoo. Her hairstyle was also not the same, and her neck and shoulders had light red scratches and blemishes from his teeth and lips. Now that they were in the light, Naruto could also see the noticeable wrinkles in his tuxedo, along with the white shirt being slightly lopsided as well. He couldn't help but laugh at their situation and attempted to help by draping his coat over her shoulders to hide her marks.

"I don't think this will help, Naruto," Hinata said softly. "Anyone who gives us a second look will know something is amiss."

As they slowly made their way back to the party hand in hand, Naruto tried to wrack his brain if there was anything he could do to fix their situation. However, no bright ideas were coming to mind. The moment they stepped back into that garden, everyone would know what they had been up to.

The last thing he wanted to do was embarrass Hinata even more, so he decided to take matters into his own hands and decided what to do for the both of them.

"Well then, I guess the party's over for us, and we should head back to the hotel," Naruto announced.

Her pale violet eyes widened, and she looked horrified. "N-no, Naruto! We have to go back! I haven't said hello to Toneri or Shion yet; I also need to talk to Neji and Uncle Hizashi and tell them we are leaving, and I just . . . just . . ."

Naruto suddenly pulled her towards him, his lips cutting her off with a deep kiss. He kept it brief and pulled away before starting something he knew they wouldn't be able to finish. While her eyes were still full of worry, he could also tell that she was still feeling the after-effects of their lovemaking.

"Hinata, you and I are adults. We don't need permission to leave. And you can always talk to Toneri and Shion at another function. Right now, I just . . . I don't want to . . ."He paused and bit his lip, contemplating his next words so she wouldn't get the wrong idea. "I want to have you again as soon as possible. I'm not saying what we shared back there wasn't good enough, but I need you again. And again and again. The next nine days will fly by fast, and then I'll be heading back to Konoha Energy. So tonight, can we just forget about everyone else and focus on each other?

It was more of a plea than a question.

She seemed momentarily stunned by his statement, and he was worried that she would decline his proposal. But instead, she simply nodded her head and clasped his hand tighter with a shy smile.

Grinning from ear to ear, they picked up the pace and headed towards where they would be able to flag down a cab.

It seemed like they weren't the only ones wanting to leave early as they approached the entrance/exit to the zoo on 5th Ave. While the crowd was small, Naruto and Hinata did their best to avoid eye contact with anyone and kept their heads down. Just as they passed by the 4-D theatre, Hinata paused and looked back at the building.

"Everything alright?" Naruto asked.

Hinata nodded her head, but her cheeks suddenly reddened. "Would you mind if I used the washroom quickly? I just want to . . . freshen up before we get into a cab."

For a few seconds, he was confused but quickly realized what she was implying, his own cheeks darkening in the process. "Oh! Yes! Absolutely! Take all the time you need!"

She hastily made her way toward the theatre, and Naruto let out a tired sigh before taking a seat on one of the wooden benches nearby. As he waited, he grabbed his phone and started to text a few people, such as Gaara and Neji. He kept it short and sweet, making up an excuse that they were leaving and not to come looking for them. Gaara simply wished him a goodnight. However, Neji was more persistent and wondered why they were leaving so soon.

While he continued to wait, Naruto kept his eyes on his phone. He knew that some people were staring at him and whispering questions to one another about why he was missing his tuxedo coat. It didn't bother him in the slightest, but he didn't feel like glaring at anyone right now.

Suddenly, he became very aware that someone was standing next to him; his eyes shifted off the screen to a pair of black pant legs that were extremely close. Then, slowly, his eyes scanned upwards, and when Naruto realized who was standing so close to him, he had to fight the urge to jump up from his seat.

Kankuro stood next to him, a knowing grin spread across his face.

Naruto's body tensed, and he gripped his phone tighter than what was necessary.

Great. Just fan-fucking-tastic. I was in such a good mood, and now he's here to tease me some more. Why is he here right now?

Before he could react, Gaara's older brother walked around and took the seat beside him. The smile was still on his face; however, he was looking off into the distance, staring at the people heading towards the exit.

"Everything okay?" Kankuro asked, keeping his voice low so that no one would overhear them. "Hinata's not mad at you, is she?"

Naruto was a bit perplexed by his friend's suddenly calm demeanour. He had been half-expecting Kankuro to pester him for details about what transpired between himself and Hinata. However, when he shook his head to answer the older man's question, he let out a sigh of relief and a slight chuckle.

"That's good." Kankuro pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one. After a couple of puffs, he offered one to Naruto, who politely declined. "Not a smoker, huh? Fair enough. With how your night was going, I figured you'd want one in celebration."

Naruto rolled his eyes.

"Not that you want any more advice tonight, but in case you do, don't do anything like that again for a while. It might have been exhilarating, but give her some time to unwind. And keep things normal in the bedroom for a bit; I'm sure she's feeling self-conscious right about now. Oh, and by the way, you're welcome."

Naruto bit his lip in irritation. He didn't want to admit that everything happened because of the man sitting next to him, but he had played a vital role in all reality. So perhaps he did deserve a word of thanks.

He tried not to sound sarcastic when he mumbled, "Thank you. If you hadn't made the suggestion at all, none of this would have happened."

But when he finished, he was surprised when Kankuro suddenly burst out laughing.

"I can't believe you said that! Oh, you are so priceless, Naruto, simply priceless. But that's not exactly what I'm talking about. Do you have any idea how close you two were to being caught?"

Naruto's eyebrows scrunched in confusion, and he finally looked Kankuro in the eye instead of just staring at the pavement. "What are you talking about? We did have one couple almost stumble across us, but I don't see how that has anything to do with you."

Kankuro's eyes expanded in disbelief. "Shit. I didn't realize somebody else got past me. I was so busy dealing with Asahi Takahashi that I must have missed them."

It took him a few moments to realize what he was talking about, and in turn, he almost bit his tongue. "What?!" hissed Naruto.

His friend leaned in, keeping his voice down. "Yeah, the bugger took off a few minutes after you and Hinata left the table. I told Gaara to keep Neji and Hizashi distracted while I was gone. I didn't want her family stumbling across the two of you. That speedy motherfucker almost made it to where I told you to go, but I caught him just at the path by the Red Pandas. So I convinced him to take a walk with me and make up some business chit-chat. However, trust my luck that you two decided to be extra loud when we walked past the snow monkey's exhibit. I tried to convince him the sound came from the animals, but I'm pretty sure he didn't buy my story."

Naruto tried to remember if, at any time, aside from at the end, he had heard or sensed that someone, but his mind drew a blank. That is to say, however, he had been highly distracted at the time.

Kankuro suddenly gave him a hard pat on the back. "Ah, don't worry about it so much. If anything, word will spread quickly, and those old geezers will never bother her again! It's a win-win if you ask me."

While Naruto was extremely grateful for the lengths Gaara's brother had gone to help them out, he was still a bit agitated by the guy. Not that they would ever become best friends, but he chalked it up to this would be the feelings he would have had towards an older brother. Protective attitude, but also endless amounts of teasing.

Before he could attempt another 'thank you', Kankuro suddenly stood up and headed towards a woman in a short silver dress that had just exited the bathroom.

"Well, that's my date for the night. You have a good evening, Naruto, and tell Hinata I said hi. I'll see you two around sometime."

Naruto gave Kankuro a quick wave and watched the couple head towards the line of cabs along the sidewalk.

After that, it didn't take long for Hinata to reappear, his jacket still wrapped around her upper body. Finally, he stood up and offered her his hand.

"Everything okay now?" he asked softly, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. He briefly considered telling her that they had almost been caught by Asahi. However, he decided to keep his mouth shut for now. Perhaps weeks from now, he would tell her, and it would be something they could laugh about at a later date.

Hinata nodded. "I'm sorry that took so long; the bathrooms were packed and had a long line up."

With their hands clasped together, he led her towards the cabs and pointed to one that was free. The driver opened the back door after asking where they were headed. As he held out his arm for Hinata to use as leverage while climbing into the back seat, a chill ran up his spine as if someone was staring directly at them.

His blue eyes found the culprit immediately. Asahi was standing off in the distance, watching the two of them get into the cab with a depressed look embedded on his face. Perhaps some would call Naruto cruel for not having an ounce of sympathy for the man, but instead, he chose to only make him feel more miserable.

Just as Hinata was sliding to sit and keeping her legs together at the same time, his hand mischievously sneaked a quick squeeze of her right butt cheek. She squeaked and lightly slapped his shoulder, thinking no one else had seen. "N-Nartuo!"

He chuckled and gave a quick, assertive glance over to Asahi, who clearly had seen what had just happened. "Sorry darling, I couldn't resist."

Naruto sat down beside Hinata and closed the door behind them. Then, their driver took off into the heavy traffic of Manhattan, back towards their hotel.

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She was tired.

Unbelievably tired and completely drained.

Hinata was vaguely aware of her surroundings but had no energy to open her eyes and confirm which room she was in. The events of last night's gala were still fresh in her head, along with what followed after they had arrived back at the hotel.

The moment they had stepped onto the elevator, they could no longer keep their hands off each other and stumbled into one of their rooms.

Keeping her head hidden under the comforter, Hinata softly groaned.

We must have done it five times last night and early into the morning. The desk, the couch, the bed, and even in the shower . . .

Hinata winced when she rolled over; she felt so sore.

Even behind her closed eyes, she could tell it was sometime in the morning or early afternoon. She tried to go back to sleep, but the sound of someone talking in the bathroom caught her attention. Hinata wasn't sure who Naruto was speaking to and almost chose not to pay attention to what he said, but when she heard him say 'Mr. Hiashi Sir', she sprung out of bed as if someone had dumped a cold bucket of water on her.

Dressed like the day she was born and her hair a tussled mess, Hinata quickly made her way to the door and pressed her ear against it.

"I hate repeating myself, sir, but I'm afraid Hinata is still sleeping, and I don't want to wake her up. I'll let her know that you called when she's free."

Hinata couldn't hear her father's response, only his angry tone.

"Why is she so tired? Do you really want to know the answer to that?"

At that moment, Hinata could have died right there on the spot from embarrassment. As her hand was reaching for the handle, Naruto wrapped up the conversation.

"You have a good morning, and I promise I'll let her know you called."

Immediately the door opened, and Naruto was looking down at her with a playful grin, wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. A cloud of steam exited the bathroom. However, his hair wasn't even wet.

Before she could say anything, he pulled her into the bathroom and shut the door. Then, Hinata realized they were in his hotel room; she didn't have a large Jacuzzi tub, which was currently steaming with hot water.

The hooded look he was giving her made her nervous, and she wasn't sure how she was going to let him down if he wanted to do it again with her. But she didn't need to.

"You look like I'm about to tackle you to the bed again, relax Hinata," His hands lightly cupped her cheeks, and he gave her a small kiss. "Your family has been looking for you all morning, but I'd still like a little bit more time with you. We can hop in the shower, have a bath together, and then order room service. Sound good? I promise I won't attack you or anything. I think we got it all out of our system earlier this morning."

Hinata blushed and nodded, but she couldn't deny she was still a little nervous when they stepped into the shower together.

True to his word, Naruto didn't intimately touch her in any way, aside from washing soap all over her body and the odd kiss here and there.

Once they were thoroughly cleaned, she clipped her hair up and slipped into the hot water. Naruto was leaned back against the edge of the tub, and she settled between his legs, her back against his chest. They let out a contented sigh and enjoyed the relaxing moment.

She could feel herself becoming sleepy again, but she shuddered when Naruto started to trace his fingers along her arms and shoulders. He placed gentle kisses along her neck and lingered near her when he whispered, "Honestly, I've wanted to do this with you for a while now, but I was just an idiot and either kept forgetting or putting it off. I've got some bath bombs and a massage bar under the sink there. If you like, I can climb out and let you have some time alone?"

While his offer was very tempting, Hinata shook her head and gently bumped their noses together. "No. I'll be able to have plenty of baths alone when you've gone back to work. But, I could give you a massage tonight if you want to?"

Naruto chuckled and wrapped his arms around her naked form. "How about we take turns giving each other massages?"

The heat in her cheeks started to rise; it wasn't entirely from the hot water. Hinata shifted uncomfortably and whimpered when Naruto started to kiss her neck, his hardening manhood now making itself known against her back. The sensation of their naked bodies once again intertwined, the sweat dripping down their skin, once again, she found it hard to think straight.

Oh no, we need to stop now. I have to call my father; I'm sure Neji and Uncle Hizashi will want to have lunch with us. I have to . . . to . . .

No. She didn't have to do any of those things.

Yes, she was tired, sore and had a list of dozens of things to do. But what was more important right now was the naked man holding on to her. He was all that mattered. There would be plenty of other times she could have lunch with her family, and whatever her father deemed as an emergency could wait until tomorrow.

Her resolve was final, and before she second-guessed her decision, Hinata moved abruptly so that she was sitting in Naruto's lap, straddling his hips. The water splashed loudly and echoed off the walls, but she didn't care, and neither did he.

She wrapped her arms around his naked, wet shoulders and kissed him, even though her lips were sore too. His hands gripped her hips tightly, and a strangled cry left his mouth when she gently rocked her hips against him. "H-Hinata?"

Perhaps some would think she was being unreasonable or consider her a harlot, especially since they had done it so much already, like animals in heat. But she didn't care. He was with her here and now, and she would not let this opportunity slip from her fingers. His fantasies may have entailed them having sex in a public place, but one of hers was about to come true.

"One more time . . ." she breathed against his lips.

In the end, even though she was sore, Hinata was glad she had gone through with her decision. The only downside was trying to explain to the hotel staff why they needed so many towels to clean up the bathroom floor.

To Be Continued . . .

Authors Note: Well then, it seems like I told a bit of a lie when I said this was the last chapter. I wanted to finish it on a completely different note. However, it just felt right to stop it here. It would have felt like it was dragging on if I had written any more. So the next and last chapter will be a bit on the shorter side.

Thank you so much for reading if you've gotten this far! Greatly appreciate it!