A grain of truth

VIII

“Wow look at him! Hey, hey that’s just like when Naruto’s still a baby!” Kiba hollered excitedly, nearly plastering his face against the glass window of the nursery hospital. Tsunade placed the triplets to the nearest window for them to be seen easily. The incubation had already finished and the two of his friends along with Hinata took their time observing the babies while they were waiting for Naruto to leave with them.

Kiba was just about to exclaim with utter enthusiasm his priority of being their godfather when he was hit upside the head by Hinata’s handbag that Shino happened to be carrying and growled. Rubbing his frequently being abused head.

“Shit Shino what the fuck!?”

“Kiba shut up. This is a hospital.” Shino said, but obviously happy gazing at the triplets along with Shikamaru.

“Oh come on, don’t tell me you’re disagreeing with me here. Aren’t they all cute? Ah… somehow I feel nostalgic.” The faraway smile on Kiba’s face made Shikamaru quirk an eyebrow, sharing a look with Shino since the two knew Naruto from university and only got to know Kiba because of him.

“Kiba took care of Naruto when he was still a baby.” Hinata for the first time didn’t stutter to explain, she was too happy to be shy anyway.

“Kiba, exactly how old are you?”

“I was eight then. We’re the Uzumaki’s neighbors so it’s natural that I go there to visit from time to time.”

“I doubt that. Kiba you don’t look it but you’re actually in the same line of age with Hyuga aren’t you?” Shino smirked mockingly at Kiba, the man’s temper slowly arising.

“Shut up Shino. We’re buddy buddies, just because I’m eight years older don’t categorize me with him. I’m still very much young and energetic.”

“Youthful.” Shikamaru added, noticing the shudder that seemed to envelope the other two as they remembered a certain green clad professor in one of their subjects and the pony-tailed man smirked.

“Speaking of which. Hinata, what the hell’s wrong with your cousin?” A slight frown marred the immaculate face of the only woman in the group with concern, they had noticed it too, how the interaction between the couple had somehow gone cold. Naruto kept attempting to make Neji smile, to talk with him like they had used to before, but the man would only nod, or shake his head and talk when only needed. Neji looked as if he had gone back to being the cold Hyuga Neji Hinata had grown up with even worse.

“I don’t know… And I’m worried for both nii-san and Naruto-san.” She put her hands together in front of her, her eyes staring at the floor but her mind somewhere else.

“Naruto told us that it was because he didn’t call Neji that time.”

“So he didn’t. Big deal. He should understand Naruto did it for him. Although I somehow feel for Neji, if Hina here was in the same shoes as Naruto, I would have been mad too.”

“Although the fact that Uchiha Sasuke was the one who was with Naruto that time makes it a little difficult for Hyuga to understand. It’s reasonable that he feel insecure.”

All four of the group shared a look, hoping that the silent argument between the two would soon end.

A flash of black suit, pale face and the unique duck butt hairstyle that just refused to be erased in the Inuzuka’s mind suddenly stopped behind them, pushing his way inside the group to look at the same babies they were gazing at earlier, a certain softness behind those usually hard black eyes.

“Uchiha.” Kiba growled lowly, hand immediately fisting on the man’s collar faster than the others could react and he backed the man against the glass window, back slamming hard against the hard material and he glared intensely. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Kiba! What are you-Uchiha-san?” Small feminine hands went to restrain Kiba’s arms, but right then she felt under her palms the hard muscles that just refused to budge from their current position.

As the air left the Uchiha’s lungs forcefully he was able to remain calm, coughing a little as he tried to regain composure and the man’s angry form facing him so close that the tips of their noses were nearly meeting reminded him of the man who he used to always see Naruto with every time he would call him from some place. And the name of the man registered instantly in his mind.

“Inuzuka.”

“Oh you remember? I’m honored.” Kiba smirked sinisterly, further shoving the man against the wall and the brunette’s knuckles pressing hard against his throat making it difficult for him to speak and breathe, but he remained impassive. “After leaving Naruto to take care of your shit for you, you suddenly appear here like nothing happened. I wouldn’t say this as mere coincidence.”

“It’s not.”

“So you’re acting all righteous now, you damn prick? Did you know what kind of shit Naruto had to go through because of you? Huh? And now that all’s well for him you just had to barge in and ruin everything…” Somehow at the back of Kiba’s mind, the moment he saw the Uchiha he knew, he just knew that it was because of the cold prick that Neji was acting like some empty eggshell.

Shino and Shikamaru were holding him down now, Shika bracing his arms around each of the man’s shoulders and Shino forcefully prying Kiba’s hand off the Uchiha’s clothes although they would be lying if they said they were doing this for Sasuke, they just didn’t want to make a fuss in the hospital, the Uchiha after all owns parts of the hospital’s properties.

“You’ve really got the habit of saying nonsense you have no idea of aren’t you Inuzuka. Get off my face before I forget that you’re Naruto’s friend and ban you here.”

“You fucking bastar-” Kiba was more than ready to punch the lights out of the Uchiha but he was stopped by his girlfriend’s plead, suddenly becoming aware of the curious gazes they were receiving. And he reluctantly let go.

Sasuke’s feet dropped heavily on the floor, he didn’t realize it earlier but the Inuzuka had some power behind those arms, able to lift him off his feet just with the use of one hand.

Just watching Sasuke straighten himself up coolly was enough to piss the three men off, Kiba was ready to start on him again but Shino glued him to his side, Shikamaru putting a strong grip on Kiba’s arm should he attempt to strangle the Uchiha to his death again.

“I’ve already talked about this with Naruto. I am free to visit the children as I please with the condition that I keep this thing a secret. Although it’s not as much as a secret now…” Sayuri must have known somehow, because even though she still hadn’t called off the incoming wedding she had suddenly grown uneasy towards Sasuke, acting as if he would do something to her every time he’s near it’s really pissing him off.

All four remained fastened to their position as they observed Sasuke’s every movement, with the intent of stopping Sasuke from entering Naruto’s room because the Hyuga was there. But Sasuke just stayed still, eyes fixed on the three babies in front of him, the second child the mirror image of his face when he was still a baby that Kiba wanted so much to deny.

“So the supposed wedding of the year will go on as planned…” Shino muttered dryly behind his white chin high collared long sleeve, dark lenses blocking anyone’s view of his glaring eyes towards the Uchiha as he kept his hands deep in his pockets.

+++

“Are you ready?” Hiashi asked for confirmation from the blonde, Naruto nodding with a faint smile towards him as he slipped on a thick white jacket over his orange turtle neck sweater, wrapping the scarf of the same color around his neck with his gloved hands.

“Yes…” Glancing towards Neji’s direction who was quietly packing his clothes with methodical precision he couldn’t help sighing silently, the silent treatment was still on and it’s making it hard for Naruto to act as carefree like he used to before.

“I’ll go and inform your friends, I’ve already called for the car to pick us up” Hiashi had put it upon himself to supervise the care of the babies while Naruto was still recovering, with his niece acting like a stranger towards Naruto it would be hard for the blonde to take care of all three of them at the same time so it wouldn’t be much to invite them over for a vacation over at the main house.

As he was leaving the room, he gave an encouraging smile to the blonde, silently motioning him to go and talk it out with Neji as early as possible, cure it while the wounds are still fresh or it will leave a very bad scar afterwards.

“Neji…” Naruto flinched as the Hyuga zipped the duffel bag closed sharply, eyes fixed low on the bag near the window, the hospital bed separating the two of them.

“I understand that you’re mad at me for not telling you but we can’t just go on and keep acting like strangers.” Naruto lowered his voice, feeling the stitches pull a little under the dressing and the stomach wrap with every tensing of his stomach. And he continued.

“Look it’s not like I could call you knowing you’ve got a trial going on. I just didn’t want you to worry…” Naruto bravely walked around the bed, taking each heavy step towards Neji, although he’s not sure what he would do afterwards.

“… stead.” Neji’s mouth moved, his head remaining lowered and his voice lighter than a whisper.

“What?”

“So you called him instead… you were probably thinking I won’t be able to make it weren’t you?” As Neji’s voice slowly grew louder, his head was turning to face Naruto, the look of anger and bitterness evident in his eyes rimmed with dark shades under them.

“Neji I didn’t call him. He just saw me on the road it’s not what you-”

“And it just happened that he was there? Quit lying to me Naruto. You had it all planned.”

“I’m not. I didn’t cheat on you. I love you. I wanted so much for you to be there, but I just can’t be selfish and do that, can I? Of all people you’re the first person I had thought of when I woke up. All through that time you were the one that I was thinking of. Believe me Neji.”

“You’re really good at handling me aren’t you?” A cynical smile graced the Hyuga’s face, and Naruto’s hand went to press on the stitch on his belly, feeling it painfully pull at the still healing flesh as he fought the urge to hyperventilate and shout. “Aren’t you glad. Two of the wealthiest men in Japan are fighting for you. You know what I just realized how much of an idiot I have been… with just a couple of sweet words from you I’d get happy, I should have seen through the meaning behind those words… I’ve known from the start that you won’t be able to love me like you did with Sasuke but still I hoped that you’d love me like that even just a little…” Pallid lilac eyes turned hard as every icy word left him.

“I’m not deceiving you! I-” Tanned hands grabbed for anything in his reach to hold him up namely Neji’s arm, the other one pressing hard where the healing wounds were as the stitches pulled hard that it hurt because of the shout he let escape his mouth earlier. For a moment Neji’s anger wavered, overwhelmed by his worry for Naruto.

“Neji… please trust me a little bit more. It’s true... that Sasuke was there with me, but it didn’t mean anything. You know I love you, why are you suddenly acting like it’s over for us?” As Naruto was saying this, his eyes were searching for any kind of warmth beyond the cold façade of Neji’s eyes, but all he saw was hurt and insecurity in there.

“Because I felt it Naruto…” The Hyuga’s smooth tenor broke, the usually highly held head lowered so much that Naruto could only see the back of his head as the man leaned on the blonde’s shoulder, hand clutched firmly on Naruto’s arm. “When I saw his name on that paper… and how Hikari looked so much like him… I was so afraid… every time I look at them, at you and Sasuke the unbreakable connection between you and him becomes more and more obvious… and I couldn’t help feeling so unwanted… that you would be much happier with him especially now that-it’s like all they need to do is remove me from the picture and it would be perfect.”

“Neji… you don’t have to feel like that. I chose you didn’t I?” Tanned fingers caressed silk black strands at the back of the Hyuga’s head, its woodsy scent lingering under the blonde’s nostrils. “I’ll tell you as much as you need to hear it, I’ll tell it to you until you believe me Neji. I love you more than anyone else.”

Using both tanned hands he lifted the Hyuga’s face to look at him, the tear stains still evident on his cheeks and he kissed him on the cheeks, on his jaw, his lips. Neji leaned in, the both of them sighing with relief as the dark-haired man’s hand moved to caress the small of the blonde’s back, his other hand slipping under the sweater as two arms snaked around his neck. It had been so long since they had kissed, and once they did it was an act performed with intense feelings, like a thirsty man having his first taste of water for the first time for so long.

Naruto hadn’t noticed it. Because of the feeling of being swept away with Neji’s kiss and how his eyes remained shut all that time he didn’t realize that Neji’s hand was slowly dipping into his pocket, pulling out a silver necklace to put it around the blonde’s neck, deft pale fingers feeling the cold smoothness of the chain down to the thin cross and Naruto gasped.

“Neji this…!” Blue bewildered eyes switched incredulously from the familiar cross to Neji’s smiling face.

“How-”

“Shh… let’s talk later…” And Neji’s body gently moved Naruto’s own down the bed, the back of his knees hitting the edge of the hospital bed and then him falling with a mute flop. “We’ll have plenty of time to do that afterwards Naru… right now… right now I just need you.” Sometimes words aren’t necessary. Sometimes actions get mistaken. Sometimes people misunderstand. But Neji had the feeling that starting from that moment even if things go wrong… they would eventually without a hitch end up right.

“Ah! My eyes!” Kiba’s body whipped around a hundred and eighty degrees by the opened door, hands covering his eyes with a deeply blushing Hinata doing the same thing.

“Didn’t I tell you no rough activities for a year?” Tsunade leaned her side on the frame of the door, smirking cheekily towards them.

“And that includes here. Have some respect in our work place at least.” Sakura did the same on the opposite side of the frame of the door, arms folded and winking at the shocked couple, but they were too happy to be embarrassed.

“They’d have a tribe by the end of the year. Don’t you think so?” Shino smirked behind his chin high collar towards Shikamaru who just shrugged, a lazy smile gracing his features before he yawned.

And all of them laughed even Neji. Save for Naruto of course since he couldn’t.

*Hn, I realized this chapter is kinda short. Because Naruto’s recovering there’s no space for smut, Neji’s angsting has ended… for now, everything here pretty much ends happily for the couple. But this is not the end! I’ll be back for more… he he he… let’s make it a little darker… a li….ttle itsy bitsy domestic violence here, some affair there… I’m wondering if I should make the next chapter an epilogue or lengthen the story what do you think?