The Things That Don't Match
Moving On
Chapter 22
Kimimaro frowned at Shikamaru when he did the introductions and looked at Naruto, “He’s your best friend? With friends like him I’d like to meet your enemies.”
Naruto tensed and Shikamaru narrowed his eyes, “I care more about Naruto than you ever will and I will be here long after you’re gone.”
Kimimaro glared, “Well you’ll be here for a while then because I don’t plan on leaving Naruto.”
Shikamaru was about to snap back at him when Naruto sighed, “Guys, don’t fight. At least let me introduce everyone. Kimimaro, this is Ino, Kiba, Neji, Hinata, Shino, Lee, Tenten, Gaara, Chouji, and Sai,” he pointed to each person as he said their name, “Guys, this is Kimimaro.”
“Is he your boyfriend?” Sai asked.
Naruto’s shoulders hunched a bit, “Yes.”
“What!” Ino screeched, “After Sasuke you’re doing this again so quickly? He’s a rebound, that will never work! What were you thinking, Naruto?”
Neji put a hand on Ino’s arm to stop her rant, “There’s no need to yell at him, Ino,” he turned to Naruto, “She does have a point, however. Are you sure you should be getting involved in another relationship so soon? Sasuke almost destroyed you, this might not be a smart idea.”
“It is nice to see the power of your youth shining through, Naruto! But perhaps your power of youth would shine brighter if you focused on you a bit,” Lee added in solemnly.
Sai blinked at the two of them, “He’s a rebound? I’ve read that those sorts of relationships rarely work out.”
“You guys are treating me like a child,” Naruto started, “This is my decision and I’m not breaking up with Kimimaro just because you think I should. I like him.”
“But will you be able to separate him from Sasuke? Things are fine now but what will happen when you reach a rough patch or start to fight?” Chouji asked quietly.
Hinata just looked between Naruto and Kimimaro before tears filled her eyes and she hurried to the kitchen.
Shikamaru sighed when he saw Hinata leave and got up to follow after her, he snagged Gaara’s sleeve on the way and left everyone bickering loudly in the living room.
Gaara looked at him in question and Shikamaru answered, “You guys would make an interesting couple and things have worked out with less than the main commonality you share.”
Gaara crossed his arms, “Trying to get rid of the competition?”
Shikamaru shook his head, “None of us are competition, Naruto will never see any of us as more than friends no matter how much we love him,” he stated bluntly, “As hard as this may be to accept, you are my friend. You two would be good for each other so help her.”
Pale green eyes stared at him for a while before Gaara nodded, “Fine.”
When Gaara left Shikamaru leaned back against the wall by the little nook that was formed by the entrance and the kitchen. He smiled. Gaara and Hinata would definitely make a good couple if they worked out, they would balance each other out and smooth out the other’s rough spots. It was something he’d look forward to seeing progress. His smile faded when he noticed Kimimaro approaching him, he looked around him to see Naruto still arguing with the rest of their friends. Good, they’d stay busy for a while. He and Kimimaro, well a private conversation was way past overdue.
***
Gaara approached the silently crying Hinata, “Why are you crying?”
The black-haired female didn’t say anything, “Ah, you’ve realized he’s unattainable. I’ve realized it too, I think Shikamaru’s always known.”
Hinata looked up at him, eyes wide, “Y-you liked h-h-him t-too?”
“Yes. He was the only one that accepted me completely even when he found out about my past. He’s my precious person.”
“T-then why aren’t you m-more upset?”
“Because he’s never shown any hint of reciprocation; Shikamaru pointed out that he will never like any of us. It’s time to move on.”
“But how? Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Yes, it does but Shikamaru seems to think it’ll work out. Let’s distract each other and see where that takes us.”
“D-doesn’t i-it bother you t-that we d-don’t l-l-like each o-other?”
“No. You can grow to like and accept a person. I expect that will work for us too.”
“W-what a-about our f-f-feelings for N-naruto?”
“What about them? We are doing something about them. Either we’ll distract each other and it will work or it won’t. What have you got to lose?”
“N-nothing,” Hinata whispered.
“Then let’s date.”
“O-o-kay.”
“Good. Then you are my girlfriend and I’m your boyfriend.”
“Y-yeah.”
“Why do you stutter?”
“P-people m-m-make me nervous. I-it started w-w-when my family d-disapproved of everything I d-did.”
“I will protect you. I have heard you complete sentences without stuttering and everybody here cares about you. You will stop stuttering.”
Hinata’s face burned, “It- it’s n-not that e-easy.”
Gaara’s face was stone, “I will protect you, you do not need to worry about anybody. You will try.”
Hinata looked down and whispered, “Okay.”
Gaara tilted her chin up, “You do not need to look down when I, or anybody else, am talking to you.”
A tremulous smile spread across Hinata’s face, “Okay.”