I'm not alone

I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed! All of you
inspired me to write another chapter to this story that
I intended on being a one shot. You all keep me
writing...so keep those reviews coming! ^^

More extreme corniness...I hope it didn't come off as
too disgustingly sweet.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto...blah blah blah

***************

I love you

These words ran through Hinata's mind as she ran home
as fast as she could. After Kakashi's little visit
(She'd never been so mortified in her life! She'd
never be able to look Kakashi-san in the eyes again!)
Hinata had to go, even her family would notice her
missing this long and get angry. Before she ran out
the door, Naruto had said thoseee lee little words.
She could've diedpy rpy right then and there. Blushing
happily to herself, she picked up the pace and hurried
home. She had training in an hour and a half, and she
still needed to shower and get ready.

Reaching the Hyuuga family compound, she ran through
the gates and towards her room, warily keeping an eye
out for her father. If he learned the events that took
place last night...well, it wouldn't be a good thing,
she was sure of.

"My, aren't we a little late from practice?"

Hinata spun around in surprise to see her younger
sister staring at her, her white orbs strained with
Byakugan, boring into her own.

"H-hanabi-san!" Hinata squeaked. "I-I-I was...."

"Save it," Hanabi retorted with a scowl. "I know you
were with that boy you're always looking at; I can see
quite plainly what happened. I see his presence all
over you"

Hinata paled. "Hanabi-san...please do-"

"I won't snitch on you if that's what you're worried
about." Hanabi said. "That's not my style. But you'd
better wash up before you see father, he'll be able to
tell what happened in an instant."

"H-hai..." Hinata nodded and hurried towards her room
qui, no, not making eye contact with Hanabi and her
hear pounding. Hanabi and her were never close
siblings; to be honestabi abi really scared her. She
was always so emotionless and and curt...she acted
more like she was thirty years old rather than a 12
year old.

Finally reaching her bedroom without further
confrontation, she collapsed on her bed, exhausted.
She was sore and tired, and felt very sticky. Wanting
nothing more than to disappear in to the sheets and
sleep for a while, she forced herself to get up and
shower.

***************

Later that day

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Hinata canceled her
Byakugan and turned towards Kurenai, panting from the
strenuous training they'd done today.

"Well done Hinata, you've made far less mistakes today
than usual," Kurenai said with a smile.

Hinata beamed at Kurenai. Kurenai was the only adult
person in her life that she really felt like she could
trust; she valued her input more than anyone else.

"Oi, Hinata!" Kiba called. "What's up with you? You're
all smiles and giggles today. That's so not like you."


Hinata flustered for a bit until Kurenai interjected.

"You're still a boy Kiba, you'll understand when
you're older" she said with a sly smile towards
Hinata. Hinata paled.

Is it really that obvious?

Kiba scowled. "What's that supposed to mean!?" he was
about to argue more until Shino put a hand on his
shoulder.

"It's alright Kiba, at least I know that you're a
man," he said, smirking and causing Kiba to flush and
Kurenai and Hinata to dissolve into giggles.

After Kiba and Shino wandered away (presumably Kiba
wanted to prove he was a man just in case Shino wasn't
convinced enough) Kurenai turned to Hinata.

"Can I treat you to some tea, Hinata?" she asked.
Hinata nodded happily. Anytime spent with Kurenai was
nice; she was really the only mother figure she'd ever
known these past years and as a result the two had
grown close.

A few minutes later, the two female ninjas found
themselves at a nearby restaurant, sipping tea (or in
Kurenai's case, sake) and munching on takoyaki. Hinata
looked up at Kurenai, who was staring at her with a
smirk.

"It's that Naruto boy, isn't it?" Kurenai inquired
suddenly. Hinata flushed and looked down.

"How did you know?"

"Sometimesan jan just know these things. You seemed
very different this morning; unusually cheerful and
determined; all signs of a new love in the air,"
Kurenai replied, smiling with a hint of wistfulness.
She laughed softly. "Sounds really corny, huh? But
it's true."

"Sometimes you get like that whenever you get back
from missions with Asuma-san," Hinata accused,
causing Kurenai to blanch. She coughed.

"This isn't about me, Hinata, it's about you. Now t me me all the details!" She leaned over to whisper in
Hinata's ear. "How far did you guys go?"

The redness of Hinata's face was answer enough for
Kurenai. She looked slightly shocked, then sighed.

"Ah...to be 17 again..." she said, her voice deep with
longing. "Actually, this isn't why I invited you here
Hinata," she said with sudden seriousness.

"Why then?" Hinata asked, confused.

"We've got a mission tomorrow; an important one. Class
B rank. It's a special mission, and the clients have
personally requested more than one group. It will be
us and team 7. What I wanted to make sure is that your
being around Naruto during this mission won't hinder
you...I had to have this same talk with Shino and
Kiba; if Kiba can manage it I think you can Hinata.
But I just need to be sure." Kurenai gave Hinata a
piercing look.

Hinata nodded furiously. "I won't let it affect my
mission," she said with conviction. Kurenai smiled and
sipped her sake.

"I know, Hinata," she said, putting her cup down. "I'd
better get going, be at our meeting place by 5 o'clock
tomorrow morning, ok?" Kurenai paid the bill and gave
Hinata a small wave goodbye.

Hinata walked out of the restaurant, making her way
around the city. She had no desire to return home at
the moment...she just wanted to see him...and make
sure it wasn't a dream like how it felt to her right
now. She realized she really didn't know what to say
or well...even act around him now that the two were
lovers. She'd dreamed of being with Naruto for so
long, but now that it had finally happened she was in
a state of shock...confused and helpless at how she
was supposed to act. Should she meet him at his house?
Wait, that wouldn't work, she didn't have a key. Well,
she could break in if she really needed to, but she
doubted that Naruto would appreciate that.

"Hey, what are you doing here, Hinata-san?"

Hinata was snapped out of her reverie instantly and
looked up into the face of Haruno Sakura. She realized
she'd made her way to team 7's training area without
realizing it. It looks like they'd just finished up.
When Kakashi walked past her she carefully avoided eye
contact, staring at the ground. Sakura regarded her
with a strange look.

"Sakura-san! I...um...is Naruto-kun here?" Hinata stammered, after
Kakashi was out of hearing range. She noticed Sakura's
face darkened at little at the sound of his name.

"I think he's on his last lap...for some reason the
idiot didn't show up for training yesterday. Serves
him right...it'll teach him not to sleep in," Sakura
answered with a haughty sniff. "Why do you want to
know anyways?"

To her relief, Hinata was spared having to answer
when Naruto running up at that moment, sweaty and
dirty from running all morning. He noticed Hinata and
ran over to her, his eyes lit up.

"Hinata-chan!" He cried, wiping the sweat and grime
from his face as best as he could. Sakura grimaced
visibly as he used his sleeve to do so. She gave the
two a strange look.

"Why are you here to see Naruto, anyways?" She
inquired, glancing between the two, mostly at the
flush that appeared on both their faces.

"She just wanted to ask me something about tomorrows
mission, right Hinata?" Naruto blurted quickly,
noticing the look in Sakura's eyes and getting a
little nervous. He wasn't ready to tell everyone about
them...not yet.

Sakura didn't look like she quite believed him, but
didn't say anything more about it.

"Well, I'm going home, see you all tomorrow," she said
darkly in Naruto's direction, walking off. Naruto held
his breath and waiting for her to get out of sight. He
turned to Hinata.

"Hi..." he said dumbly, scratching the back of his
head and looking more than a little uncomfortable.

"H-hi..." She answered, equally uncomfortable.

They stood there a minute until Naruto cleared his
throat to dispel the silence.

"You...didn't get in trouble this morning, did you?"
he wondered. Hinata shook her head.

"No," she answered shyly. "Luckily I didn't run into
my father." Naruto looked a little crestfallen.

"Would he have been that upset at the thought of us
together?" He asked with a hint of disappointment in
his voice.

"No!" Hinata shouted suddenly. "I mean...he...he-"

"It's okay," Naruto interrupted. "I know how most of
the people in the village think of me; why should your
father be any different?"

Hinata bit her lip and stared at Naruto, who was
looking at his feet with a pained expression.
Gathering a little bit of courage, she planted a
small, chaste kiss on Naruto's forehead.

"But I don't think that, Naruto-kun," She said
quietly. "I don't care what my father or anyone else
will think about us. I just..." she broke off.

Sliding his arms around her waist, Naruto pulled
Hinata close. He'd almost forgotten in only half a day
what it felt like to be accepted and loved. He didn't
care about the others anymore...he had Hinata, that
was all that mattered.

"Hinata..." he said...burying his face in her hair.

"NARUTO!?" Came an incredulous voice that Naruto knew
all too well. He hastily dropped his arms from
Hinata's side as he faced the newcomer.

"H-hi....Sakura-chan."

To be continued!
~~~~~~~~~

Oho...a cliffhanger! Will Sakura be jealous? Will she
blab to everyone? What is going to happen on the
mission tomorrow? Will there be more lemon scenes?

We'll see in next chapter...stay tuned!