Say it.

Oh my gosh thank you those of you that reviewed, and those of you that didn’t… shame on you!

Only kidding, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the next chapter it took so long to put up because I have exams.

*-*-*

“Hinata?” Naruto stared at the soaking wet young woman on his doorstep, she was covered in blood and dirt “Oh my god are you hurt?”

“No” she sounded numb. He pulled her into the house and immediately pulled off her shirt and trousers checking for injuries. He couldn’t believe that she could have so much blood on her and not be hurt. Once he was done and had found no serious injuries he noticed that her eyes looked dull and void. Picking her up he carried her into his room, placing her on the bed he wrapped his arms around her before covering them both up in his duvet.

“What happened to you?” he asked holding her trembling body tight

“Simple mission… it got… complicated.”

“Is everyone alright?”

“Kiba‘s hurt pretty bad but he‘ll be ok… Shino… Shino‘s in a coma”

“Oh God” Immediately Naruto placed a kiss on her head, he wished there was something else he could do. “I‘m so sorry… why don‘t you tell me about it?”

“I can‘t… classified” Hinata whispered “I should have been able to do more for them, this is all my fault. I should have been stronger, I should have…”

“No! Don’t say that. You listen to me” Naruto climbed off the bed and crouched down in front of her “This is not your fault. Ok? Ok?” Finally she nodded sniffing, Naruto smiled and wiped gently at her tears with his sleeve “Good, can I get you something?”

“No, I shouldn’t have come here” still sounding vague Hinata stood making her way to the door seemingly unaware of the fact that she only wore her black bra and panties “I should go home”

“Why did you come here?” Naruto asked desperately, he had been longing to see her for so long and now, finally, here she was and she wanted to leave? “You‘ve avoided me for ages and now you show up for like two seconds and then leave?”

“I needed to feel…” she stared at him before looking dazedly around the bedroom she stood in “I needed to feel safe, I wanted to feel happy”

“And you couldn’t have got that at home?” he sounded ever so slightly spiteful and he cringed hoping Hinata hadn’t noticed “You ought to have gone to your family, they might be worried about you” he amended quickly.

She stared vacantly at him for several minutes before smiling slightly “You‘re the only one who makes me feel safe and happy. You were the only one who could help, you were the first person I thought of. I’m sorry you don‘t want me here but…”

“But?”

“I need you, I‘ve always needed you”

Naruto didn’t know who started and, talking about it with Hinata later he soon discovered she didn’t know either. All either of them remembered was landing on the bed tearing at each others clothes (Well Naruto tearing at Hinata’s underwear) and their mouths finding each others skin. It was a mess this time around as Hinata lay face up half on the bed half off and Naruto ended up standing on the floor by the bed leaning down to kiss her lithe body. He stayed firmly between her legs thrusting into her as his hands held her hips and their two bodies met as one.

She had cried for a long time after that, the two of them laid together completely naked and completely comfortable as Hinata revelled in the comfort Naruto had always given her. Unable to say anything suitably comforting Naruto had merely whispered to her again and again that everything would be ‘ok’ as he kissed her repeatedly.

*-*-*

Hinata shifted sleepily trying to get comfortable, something was stopping her from being able to relax properly. Why couldn’t she lie properly here? She really didn’t want to wake up now, she wanted to stay here… she felt oddly happy, unusual for her.

“Hinata?”

Upon hearing her name she rolled onto her side mumbling ‘just a bit longer’ before cuddling the arm that was wrapped around her… wait a minute… arm? Hinata’s eyes flew open and she froze in place.

Staring at the beautiful woman in his arms Naruto laughed, he had never imagined Hinata would be the type that refused to get out of bed. Pressing his lips to her neck he smirked as she shivered involuntarily.

“I know you‘re awake!” he whispered against her skin.

Smiling sheepishly Hinata rolled over to face the man holding her, at first she looked into his eyes but they were so focussed on her it made her nervous, unable to think of anything to say Hinata just stared at his chest whispering nervously “Hi!”

Smiling foolishly Naruto responded “Hello” noticing Hinata’s slightly worried expression he placed one hand on her cheek asking “Did you…. sleep well?”

Staring up into his eyes Hinata recognised his insecure side showing through so, returning her gaze to his chest so she wouldn’t get too nervous she nodded whispering “Amazingly”

Grinning widely Naruto pulled her even closer to his chest, a feat Hinata wouldn’t have thought possible, and pressed his lips to her forehead. “I missed you”

“I missed you too” Hinata replied nervously “I… I‘m sorry I…. I just got…”

“Scared?”

“Yeah” giving a relieved sigh Hinata finally allowed herself to look up into Naruto’s beautiful blue eyes “sorry”

“You’re forgiven” Naruto told her causing Hinata to grin. After a while, looking down at Hinata he noticed her expression change from blissful happiness to one of worry and fear, it confused him but then he remembered what had brought her to his doorstep “Wanna talk about what happened on the mission?” he was loathe to bring up a mission that had been obviously so traumatising but he wanted to help her.

“I can‘t… remember? It‘s classified? It‘s my fault though…”

“Hinata it‘s never your fault, if someone attacks you all you can ever do is your best. Now. What’s up with Shino?”

“There was a gas, it knocked out his insects, he was completely defenceless…. I didn‘t see what happened but…” Hinata gave a shuddering sob and clutched Naruto tighter “He wasn‘t even breathing, I managed to revive him but I‘m just not good enough at medical stuff.”

“Has Tsunade seen him yet?”

“She was with him when I left last night”

“Then he‘s with the best medic nin in the world,. Plus she‘s the Hokage. Tsuande‘s amazing and I really believe if anyone can succeed it‘s her… don‘t tell her I said that though.”

Managing a small smile at his joke and encouraging words Hinata whispered “I don‘t want to go to the hospital alone.”

“Then don‘t, go home get dressed and meet me at the hospital. We’ll go see him together.”

“Y-you don‘t mind?”

“Well I can think of better places to take a girl for a date but… of course I don’t mind. He’s my friend too.”

“Thank you” Hinata smiled resting her cheek against Naruto’s bare chest for a moment before leaning away from him and asking “Where did my bra end up?”

*-*-*

When Hinata walked towards Naruto after going home to change she wasn’t actually alone, Neji was walking beside her looking thunderous. For a split second Naruto considered bolting and getting away while he could but after a quick shake of his head he decided that he would face the wrath if the Hyuga like a man… he was near a hospital after all!!

“Hey Hinata! Neji!” Naruto gave the two of them a nervous wave reminding any gods that may be listening that he was ultimately a good person and that he was a protector of many innocent people and he didn‘t really deserve to die yet!

“Naruto-kun” Hinata gave him a smile… she seemed ok, not like she was expecting a massive fight.

“Naruto” Neji nodded to the man before crashing through the hospital entrance, Naruto watched him go a confused look on his face.

“What’s up with him?” Naruto asked thanking the gods that had protected him and promising to be a good person and give half his wages to charity…. Perhaps lying to the gods wasn’t a good idea, he may need them again one day!

“He and Ten-Ten had a fight, she‘s got some new boyfriend and he‘s not taking it well.”

“Are those two still” Naruto raised his hands and made imaginary quotation marks with his fingers “just friends?”

“Yes” Hinata nodded laughing “It‘s his own fault”

“So why‘s he here?”

“Lee‘s in hospital… that’s part of the reason he’s currently so pissed, normally Ten-Ten would come with him but she’s left him to deal with Lee alone as she’s got a date.”

“Will… will we have that problem?” Naruto asked feeling nervous for the first time that day. He’d been on a high ever since he’d woken up this morning but realising just how bad things could go from here he was beginning to feel nervous.

“Visiting Lee?” Hinata asked amused

“No… being” he raised his hands again to make the air quotation marks “just friends”

“I don‘t know…, are we still” she imitated the gesture “just friends?”

“No… I don’t want us to be ‘just friends’ but… I recognise that with your family around we may have problems. I‘m the ‘demon boy’ you know?”

“I see” Hinata gave an almost imperceptible sigh of relief, he didn’t want to be ‘just friends’ “well… we should probably keep it a secret for now… just until the councils… relaxed a bit. They‘re kind of strict with me at the moment”

“But we are dating?”

“Yeah” she smiled happily “we just can‘t say anything.”

“So… it’s a secret for now?” Naruto didn’t look too happy about the situation.

“Just for a little while” Hinata pleaded desperately and after seeing her begging face Naruto exaggerating a sigh nodded.

“Fine!”

“You’re the best Naruto”

“I know!” he raised his eyebrows lecherously “But it‘s always good to hear it.”

When they entered the hospital both Hinata and Naruto were thrilled to discover that Tsunade had indeed lived up to expectations and that Shino was awake. The two of them celebrated with a ‘date’. It was an odd date all things considered, neither of them were at all experienced with dating and they were unable to show any outward displays of affection. In the end they were joined by Shikamaru and Chouji completely obliterating any semblance of romance.

*-*-*

That second night together ended up being the beginning of many other times for the two of them. He could never really go to her like she could come to him but he would gaze at her during meetings and with a mere raise of the eyebrow or quirk of the mouth he would get his message across, she would blush and incline her head agreeing to meet. Usually she would sneak in through the windows or come henged as someone else, in return he had snuck into the compound once, he had just got back from a mission and had been unable to rest until he had checked in with Hinata. It was a pretty admirable feat considering how many guards that place had, and though Hinata later admitted to being secretly thrilled she sent him packing very quickly, the memory of that searing kiss secretly given in a house filled with all seeing eyes was emblazoned on his mind forever.

It was actually Naruto’s first monogamous relationship, he didn’t even think about looking for someone else, he was… happy. Ok, so they never went out, that kind of irked him, Naruto wanted to take her places, arrange for nice meals and dates but she wouldn’t let him. She feared her family and their inevitable reaction. After all if her father hadn’t wanted them to be friends as kids it was highly doubtful he’d want them dating as adults.

Still they managed to make their ‘dates’ as romantic as possible, Hinata would usually cook and so the food was always excellent and Naruto spent extra time making the place tidy and romantic. In fact they were due to have a date tonight.

This time Naruto had attempted to be more romantic, he wasn’t good at the romantic stuff really, sure he knew his way around the club scene and he knew a lot about how to treat a female in a pleasurable way (God bless Jiraiya‘s books, the man really was a genius) but he was new to romance. Luckily for him Hinata always seemed to appreciate his efforts, this time he had sent a letter to her asking her to ‘join him for dinner’ he was ordering take out (Hinata already knew what his cooking skills were like) but he had made sure that he had scented candles and he had purchased dessert… Hinata was a shy little thing but with the offer of some chocolate sauce he was hoping she would become a little more adventurous.

Naruto could still remember the first time that he suggested she go on top, the red faced Hyuga had actually passed out halfway through…. Was someone calling him?

“uto…! Naruto!! Hey Naruto” Kiba ran to catch up with the blonde

“Kiba hey” Naruto grinned at him before turning briefly to look behind the man and large dog, unfortunately Kiba’s team wasn’t with him.

“Look I‘m going out tonight you wanna come with? We haven’t gone out in ages, I need my wingman!”

“Um… no” Naruto shook his head trying to think of a suitable excuse “I have… plans”

“What kind of plans?”

“Um… I‘ve kind of got someone coming around”

“I knew it!” Kiba yelled triumphantly “you‘ve got a fuck buddy.”

“What?” Naruto asked confused

“You haven‘t come out to chase tail (A/N lol) with me for ages, you’re obviously not dating so you have a fuck buddy!”

“It‘s not like that” Naruto shook his head “she‘s not allowed to date properly so we‘re kind of keeping it low key”

“Oh… but you are sleeping with her right??” Kiba raised his eyebrows lecherously and Naruto couldn’t help but grin. “I mean she must be the best fuck ever if your willing to keep it secret like that”

“Yeah” Naruto couldn’t help but smile as he thought of Hinata, he wouldn’t put it quite as crudely as Kiba had but he had to admit that Hinata was the best thing that ever happened to him.

“Alright” Kiba shrugged nonchalantly “but I better get some details… you are coming to poker night on Thursday right?”

“Sure” Naruto nodded, it was a bit of a tradition that the guys met up at least once a month to play poker and just relax, they usually managed to get an evening where all the guys could be there, it was a nice way to relax and forget about there way of life for a few hours. “But I respect her privacy.”

“Nice” Kiba grinned lecherously “keep using lines like that and you‘ll have her eating out of your hand!”

*-*-*

The team were finally together were finally together again, Shino had been in hospital for three weeks in all. He had spent a lot of time in physic therapy and tomorrow would be finally ready to train with his friends. Hinata had been very eager to help him out offering to meet up with him as early as he liked but Kiba had been less than willing, it was a Friday night and he had been hoping to go on the pull meaning a late start in the morning.

“So what time are we meeting tomorrow?” Shino asked hiding his irritation at Kiba’s behaviour

“Dunno, some time after ten?”

“Fine with me” Hinata nodded enthusiastically smiling at the idea of the old team being together again.

“Sure” Shino nodded “so… you and Naruto going out tonight?” Shino asked quietly. For a split second Hinata almost gave the game away, she almost thought that sentence was for her and answered. Luckily the smirking Kiba cut in before she said anything.

“Nah, he isn’t coming.”

Hinata coloured slightly but as she always did this when Naruto was mentioned the other two thought nothing of it “Why not?” Shino asked noticing Kiba’s odd smile

“Naruto has a fuck buddy” Kiba announced to his two friends

“A- a what?” Hinata asked turning pale

“A fuck buddy” he repeated “you know a friend he sleeps with, he was basically saying she was the best lay he ever had. He has her eating out of his hand…”

“O-oh” Hinata nodded understandingly, she didn’t show it but inside her heart was sinking. Was that really what Naruto thought of her?

“I see” Shino nodded “well I suppose that explains why you find it so amusing” the stoic Aburame was very respectful when it came to women and he was always disapproving of Kiba’s antics

“Oh c‘mon Shino, if the girls ok with it why should it bother you so much.”

“I just thing that… Hinata? Where are you going?” Shino was surprised as Hinata didn’t even turn to respond.

“Hinata… you ok?” Kiba called concerned, she didn’t stop walking merely looking back to respond.

“Fine… I just… I just have to get home” and with that they shy girl broke into a run.

“Damn” Kiba muttered “I thought she was over him”

“As did I.” the two team mates shook their heads helplessly, Hinata was long gone and there was very little they could do to help her anyway.

*-*-*

“You‘re early!” the grinning Naruto exclaimed when he opened the door, upon seeing the angry Hyuga glare at him his smile faltered “What’s up?”

“Can I come in?” her voice was cold, as though she was incredibly angry… what had he done? He couldn’t think of anything offhand…

“Of course” Standing back he allowed her to enter his apartment swiftly closing the door behind her.

“Is that what I am to you?” Hinata yelled the minute the door was closed

“Sorry what?” Naruto asked totally confused, he really had no idea what she could mean right now.

“A fuck buddy? Kiba says you have a fuck buddy, in fact he says that you were boasting about it.” Hinata wasn’t surprised at Naruto’s slight look of fear Naruto had never seen her so mad, hell, she had never been this made before! How dare he!!

“Hinata listen”

“No you listen!! I am not some plaything, I am not a… a piece of meat or some…. Some sort of whore you can just…”

“Hinata!!!” Naruto yelled trying to silence her

“WHAT?” she yelled right back not wanting to stop yelling but her ever sweet side was regaining control and she was willing to listen to his explanation… as long as it was good.

“I do not think of you like that! Kiba was asking and I was trying to brush him off so he wouldn’t ask any more questions, he‘s the one who came up with the fuck buddy theory. I‘m respecting you and your wishes to keep this a secret. If I had my way I‘d be announcing what’s going on between us to the world! You‘re the one who wants to keep this quiet!”

“Because of my father and the bloody council, you have no idea what it‘s like to be constantly repressed and ordered around.” she shouted at him

“No and personally I don‘t see what the big deal is!” he yelled back

“No because you see the world as a place where you can ignore all the rules be as rude to anyone as you like and still somehow get along just fine.”

“And you‘re just willing to obey the people you can‘t stand! How the hell is this relationship supposed to go any further when no one knows about us?”

Damn he had made a good point.

Hinata stopped yelling.

Naruto was silent as well.

There was a long angry silence as the two of them stared at each other breathless and angry. Hinata shook her head and sighed before heading to the couch and sitting down, Naruto watched her move and then went to join her sitting at the opposite end of the couch.

“I didn‘t think it would end like this” Naruto admitted

“E-end?” Hinata asked feeling tears start in her eyes

“Yeah” he shook his head sadly “I… I guess I knew it would end one day, but just so you know… I don‘t want it to end”

“N-no?”

“No… and if you think I‘m gonna let some other guy have you in any way you‘re wrong.”

“Naruto?” Hinata stared at him confused, was he finishing with her or was he not? “What are you on about?”

“I mean it…, the idea of you sleeping someone else makes me so angry I‘d…, I‘d kill the guy” Naruto’s fists were clenched so tightly his knuckled turned white.

On the whole Hinata wasn’t sure if she found that last statement severely terrifying, ridiculously unfair or just plain hot. She turned to look at him properly and saw that he looked distressed. “Are you…? Are you breaking up with me?”

“No…” he turned to look at her “I thought you were about to break up with me…”

“Why?”

“Cos you were mad at me” Naruto knew he sounded like a child but he was too depressed to care.

“Naruto” she laughed and moved closer to him “Couples don‘t just break up because one of them got mad or because they had a fight, people always fight and sometimes solving the problems from the fight makes them stronger”

Naruto‘s depression suddenly lifted, he gazed at her hopefully “So… we‘re…, we’re good? We’re not breaking up?”

“No” smiling now Hinata climbed onto him straddling his lap “never.” she leaned in and kissed him.

“You don‘t hate me?” Naruto mumbled against her lips

Pulling back Hinata smirked “Does it seem like I hate you?” grinning back at her Naruto shook his head and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“So it‘s ok to fight?”

“Naruto, have you never heard of make up sex?”

“No” he furrowed his brow but then seeing her sly grin he smiled “are we about to have make up sex?”

“No…, not really we already stopped fighting but next time I‘m yelling at you if you have an urge to just shut me up by grabbing and taking me that’s fine by me!!”

“Good to know!” Naruto continued to kiss her as he twisted them on the couch.

*-*-*

“I don‘t want to let you go” Naruto whispered gently into his girlfriends soft hair she had just finished dressing and was pulling on her jacket.

“You have to… people will notice if I‘m gone much longer.”

“Remind me again why I agreed to keep this a secret?” he sounded more than a little peeved as he placed his hands on his hip staring angrily down into his lovers pleading face.

“Ok” she shrugged leaning forward placing he hands gently on his chest as her mouth landed at the junction where his neck met his shoulder. She grinned as he trembled shakily bringing his hands up to rest on her back, it was his most sensitive spot and she always remembered how much he was affected by her ministrations there. After a few moments he had moved her lips onto his mouth and the two of them melted into a firm but loving kiss.

“Oh yeah” he mumbled as she pulled away and leaned down to tie her pouch around her leg. “That’s why!”

He had been momentarily appeased and as long as she got away soon his pretty girlfriend would be able to escape out the window before he came to his senses. Still…

Hinata watched him smile dreamily at her and the two of them headed to his bedroom window.

“Wait” as they arrived at the window she placed her hands on his chest again and looked him in the eye.

“What?”

“Just close your eyes for a second” his wide eyes gazed into her pale ones for a moment until finally he obeyed. He felt her small fingers trace over his forehead where skin was unusually pale compared to the rest of his face (due to it’s being hidden by his forehead protector), they moved down brushing over his closed eyelids following the outline of his nose

“What are you…?”

“Shhh…. Just hold still” She was still gathering up her courage, ever since she had been a child she had longed to say this to him and she still needed a few seconds to ready herself for it. Her hands cupped his cheeks before one ran down to hold his chin and then light fingers were on his lips, he moved them again only to be stilled by her next words “Naruto Uzumaki…I love you”

He was frozen, by the time he managed to regain his higher brain functions she was gone, he ran to the window and looked first in the direction he knew she’d have gone and then the other way.

Damn it! She was out of sight.

*-*-*

Not a lot of hot sex in this one… I guess I wanted to concentrate more on them as a couple!

R&R