Into the Woods

The two lay together by the fire, clinging to each other and tied up in the blankets. They had made up briefly, and quiet innocently compared to before. Hinata had stopped him from going very far, surprising him by grabbing his hands firmly, telling him to wait as she tried to catch her breath. “The sun will be up soon,” she’d said sheepishly, avoiding looking him in the eye. “We have two days left till we reach the bridge....and...and I’m...still pretty tired...” She had seemed almost frightened, and although he didn’t understand it, Naruto accepted it. He was propped up against the stump again, but this time she was with him, her head over his heart ’She seemed to like that spot’ and the fingers of her left hand still tangled in his shirt where she had been fidgeting with it before she fell asleep.

Naruto was still awake, dozing in and out. He was tired, but his brain just wouldn’t stop...to busy trying to figure out what exactly was going on. Two days ago he never would have thought about Hinata in such a way, but now he couldn’t get her off of it. He tried to figure out how long she’s liked him, still feeling like such an idiot. As far back as he could remember knowing her (or at least about her) she had always been kind to him compared to the other kids. But she still hid her face from him and never really seemed to have much to say. Was that cause she was shy? Or just cause it was him, and no one wanted to be around him back then? He’d spent all these years with Sakura-tunnel vision to suddenly be dreaming of another girl.

He sighed again. He still loved Sakura, he knew he always would. And although she would never admit it, Naruto knew she cared about him on some level as well. She didn’t yell at him so much, and had started randomly coming to visit him. Since Sauske left there hadn’t really been much of a team 7, and she was busy training at the hospital with Granny-Tsunade. Naruto grinned. He was proud of her for finally finding something she was good at, some way she could be helpful, even if it meant he didn’t get to see her everyday anymore. She had started buying him groceries, making it out that she just happened to bump into him on the way home from the market and have a few to many bags and forgetting to take one or two after he’d help carry them home. And he’d drag her out of the library and her constant studying for dinner every so often in return. And then there were the night walks when he couldn’t sleep and would find her out wandering under the moon as well. They’d never say a word, but would always wind up back at the training ground, back at the spot where they first became a team...no....a family.

Hinata moaned softly, breaking his train of thought. She stirred a little, nuzzling up closer to his neck. His kissed the top of her head softly and began playing absentmindedly with her soft, fragrant hair. ’What is that scent.....Jasmine? Honeysuckle?’ he thought as he inhaled deeply, letting the scent overpower him. ’Whatever it is....it certainly is intoxicating’ His mind started drifting back to the waters edge, aware that her breasts are pressed up against him, that she still wasn’t wearing any underwear after that session, her soft skin right there within reach.....

’Stop it Naruto’ he ordered himself, fighting to stop his arousal. ’She’s right....we have all the time in the world for that after we finish this mission...it’s not like you’ll never see her again’

Or do we?

He gazed out into the dying embers of the fire. What would everyone back at the village say about all this? Normally he wouldn’t care, but for Hinata...? Her situation, her life was different. She was heir-apparent to the Hyuga clan, one of the most highly regarded families in the village....no, the country. She received birthday wishes from the feudal lords, and her father was not one to mess with. If Konoha had royalty, she would certainly be the princess. He sighed. There was no way her father would stand for this, for her to be paired with the “Kyubi Brat”, as some of the village still whispered as he walked past.. Most of them had forgiven him for this, letting his deeds show that he wasn’t the monster they had all feared in the beginning. But some were not convinced. Was her family one of them?

Neji had gained some respect for him, they were on reasonably friendly terms after they formed the 5 man team to try and bring back Sauske, all of them nearly losing their lives to it. He knew he was also a lot closer to his cousin then he originally had been. Neji was busy, always away on high rank missions, but he would still find time to help Hinata hone her technique, claiming it was for his own practice. He was the only one who would push her hard and not let up on her, forcing her to be faster, stronger. What would he do if he found out?

“And what about you, Kyubi?” Naruto thought to himself.

Technically speaking there were three of them involved in this. He gazed back down at her, sleeping peacefully in his arms, lying across the seal that bound his soul to a demons. If this relationship progressed, if they got really serious about this...he would have to tell her. She had a right to know his horrible secret. Not even Sakura-chan knew about it yet...and he hadn’t dared tell any of the others. They knew that when challenged he could call forth some unknown terrifying chakra, but they didn’t know why or how. Shinobi all have secrets about their technique, why should he be different? But with Itachi and the Akatsuki after Kyubi....

Naruto squeezed her tightly, chasing that last thought from his mind. He didn’t want to think of something like that happening to her because of him.

For the millionth time, he let out a deep, depressing sigh. The sky was getting lighter. There would be no sleep tonight for this weary soul.

~*~

Hinata woke up, pleased to find herself still wrapped up in Naruto’s warm embrace. ’I could get used to this... she thought with a quiet smile. The nightmare hadn’t come back, and now she felt silly for stopping him last night. He had done nothing to hurt her, hadn’t even gotten her clothing off yet, but as he kissed her deeply and slid his hands up and under she suddenly flashed back to those teeth and claws....and those burning eyes. ’I hope he’s not mad at me for that,’ she thought, looking up at his face. He was already awake, but apparently lost in thought. He gazed off towards the rising sun, a pained expression on his face. A pang of guilt stabbed her heart briefly. She turned her head and kissed his neck softly.
Naruto jumped as something warm touched his neck. Looking down, he met those deep eyes gazing up at him. He smiled. “Ohaiyo Hinata-chan, I hope you slept well,” he said quietly, lifting her face to his and proceeding to place a number of tiny, tender kisses on her nose, chin and forehead before coming back to let their lips meet. The guilt melted away as she returned his affection, parting her lips to allow their tongues to play lightly with each other. She wondered how she could have been afraid of someone so sweet, so gentle. As they separated, he couldn’t help but let a small laugh escape as she, almost predictably, let a soft blush cross her cheeks. He used to think it was weird...but was starting to find it quiet adorable. At the sound she realized she was doing it again, and buried her face in his chest as she flushed deeper, feeling her ears burning as well. This made him chuckle and squeeze her. “I will take that as a yes. Come on now..we’d better get up and get moving,” he said, realizing he was embarrassing her now.

They ate and packed up quickly, both afraid of never leaving if they stayed there much longer. They wanted to cover as much ground as possible. They would still have to camp again for the night, but the sooner they delivered this medicine, the sooner they could focus on....other matters.