I Would Wait Forever

Title: I Would Wait Forever
Author: Monkey Lady
Summary: Naruto finally figures out…or rather is told, that Hinata loves him. After several blunders on his part, they get together. It’s sweet and a little dirty.
Rating: NC17
Pairing(s): Hinata and Naruto, Sasuke and OC Male
Feedback: Desired and appreciated
Characters: Hinata, Naruto, Sasuke, OC Male
Beta: xgirlrogue is my very sweet beta. She’s been awesome and very thorough.
Author’s notes: This is set approximately a year after Shotgun Wedding, making Sakura’s ‘baby’ about three months old. Why the quotes? Read this chappie to see. :) (Okay so maybe I have a small weird obsession with twins, hint, hint.) By the way, for fans of Shotgun Wedding, this is the Naruto/Hinata fic I promised. If you haven’t read Shotgun Wedding, you really should before reading this one, but you probably don’t have to. Some of the references will just make more sense.
*Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters. I just like writing about them. I’m not making any money off of it…*sigh*.

I Would Wait Forever

Naruto sighed and wiped his forehead on his arm, panting softly from his training with Sasuke. Sasuke was sitting in the grass a few feet away, drinking from his canteen. For early Spring it was surprisingly hot. Naruto had abandoned his shirt a few hours ago during a particularly long sparring session. Sasuke, of course, chose to stick it out and his shirt was soaked through.

“You’re far too modest for your own good Sasuke,” Naruto teased, picking up his shirt and settling down in front of his dark-haired friend. “How can you even stand to still be wearing that many clothes?”

“If it were legal, you’d spar naked, wouldn’t you?” Sasuke murmured with a smirk.

“Ah, you’re just jealous I look so much better without a shirt on,” Naruto responded, rubbing his hand over his muscled chest and winking.

Sasuke snorted and shook his head. Naruto was partially correct though. He did look good without his shirt, though Sasuke would never admit it aloud. Men just didn’t do that…especially with their best friends. Naruto had finally grown a few years ago, shooting up drastically. He rivaled Asuma in both height and bulk now. On top of that, he tanned easily. Woman thought he was some kind of god, Kyuubi vessel or not. It had been surprising how well the people their age had taken the news a few years back. Hell, most women kind of liked the idea of the Kyuubi at this point. All the women old enough…or young enough, for that matter, couldn’t really remember much about the nasty nine-tailed demon. The fox gave Naruto that dangerous, animalistic appeal that drove women nuts; like he was some kind of bad boy. Women loved bad boys…or at least loved to date them for a while…right?

Sasuke smiled to himself. Finally Naruto knew what it was like to be hounded by women night and day. Sasuke still had his own following that preferred prettier, brooding men, so he unfortunately had to deal with them as well. This was one of the rare places where they were actually safe from their fans, mostly due to the training grounds being off-limits to civilians. It was safe to relax here and just be themselves.

“Did I hear something about Naruto sparring naked?” an amused feminine voice asked. “This I would pay to see.”

Naruto threw an amused glance over his shoulder as Sakura and Kakashi wandered into their training grounds, a tiny bundle cradled by each. “How much?” he asked with a grin.

She nibbled her lip thoughtfully. “Mm, two dollars?” she asked digging into her pocket. “I think that’s all I have with me. What do you have Kakashi?” Kakashi grinned under his mask and pulled out another dollar. “That’s it?” she murmured. Kakashi grunted something about diapers. Sakura sighed and turned to look back at her half naked friend. “Three dollars?”

Naruto scoffed and waved her offer away. “Forget it. I’d charge at least five.” Two dollars floated in front of his face and he flicked his liquid blue eyes back to a smirking Sasuke. “Bastard.”

Sakura laughed, “Watch the language. There are innocents present,” she reminded the blond, depositing a squirming bundle in his arms.

Naruto grinned and opened the little pink blanket as Kakashi and Sakura settled down next to them. Tiny green eyes blinked up at him and a pixie mouth split into a toothless grin. “How’s my favorite little kunoichi today?” Naruto purred in a teasing tone. The tiny girl squealed and flailed her arms in excitement.

“I thought I was your favorite,” Sakura, said with a mock pout.

“Not anymore, but you’re my second favorite at least. Little Rin here is much easier to deal with,” he murmured with a grin. “How’s little Obito?” he asked, his gaze wandering away from Rin to the bundle in Kakashi’s arms.

Kakashi leaned over and deposited the tiny baby boy in Sasuke’s lap and sighed. “He’s the same. Mellow, easy going, happy.”

“He’s exactly like his father,” Sakura complained. “He never really makes any sound, no giggles or squeals. It’s like he’s just hanging out, waiting for something to come along and amuse him. Once he learns to read…I don’t even want to think about it.”

Sasuke ran gentle fingers over the little boy’s fuzzy head and smiled. It was hard to tell what color it would be, since both had light pale hair. A little boy with pink hair would be a shame. “He’s just not challenged yet. He’ll react when something interests him.” Tiny dark eyes regarded him seriously for a moment and then the baby broke into a smile of his own, happily blowing bubbles between toothless gums. “See?” Sasuke murmured. “We understand each other.”

Naruto chuckled and rubbed Rin’s plump tummy, drawing more giggles out of her. “I still can’t believe there are two of them.”

“Neither could I at first,” Sakura admitted. “When Hinata and Neji told me I was pregnant to begin with, I was shocked enough, but when Tsunande found the second baby a few days later….” She shook her head and sighed. Reaching over to stroke Rin’s fuzzy head, she smiled. “But I love them both and wouldn’t change a thing.”

“You’re only saying that because they’re sleeping through the night finally,” Kakashi reminder her with a teasing smile. As if on queue Obito started to fuss in Sasuke’s lap and stuck his tiny fist in his mouth.

Sakura sighed softly. “I swear they get hungry almost as soon as they’re finished eating the last meal.” She reached out for Obito. Sasuke smiled softly and handed over the squirming baby to his exasperated mother. “Does it bother either of you when I feed them?” she asked. She always asked.

Naruto shook his head and Sasuke blushed a little, but also shook his head. “It’s still kind of weird and I’m always afraid Kakashi will kick my ass, but it’s kind cool to watch too,” Naruto admitted, throwing a cautious glance at his former teacher. Kakashi, unphased as ever, simply smiled lazily and shrugged.

Sakura smiled and nodded a little, tugging down the zipper of her tunic. “I’m glad, because I hate running home every other hour to feed them, when I could just as easily do it where I am.” She cradled Obito gently and spoke softly to him while he greedily attached himself to her offered breast.

Despite their relative comfort with seeing Sakura like this, the two younger men still avoided directly watching her and instead turned to speak with Kakashi. “Are you going to take on a new team now Kakashi?” Naruto asked curiously.

Kakashi turned his lazy gaze from his wife and shook his head. “No. I’ve decided that one team was enough for me. I don’t think any other students would ever be able to impress me like the three of you did. Besides I’m nearly 37. I’m getting to old to deal with teenagers.”

“What about your own?” Sasuke murmured with a small smile.

“I’ll deal with that in thirteen years. No need to worry about it now,” he murmured with a small smile.

Naruto lifted Rin up and cradled her gently against his shoulder, rubbing her back unconsciously when she began to fuss softly in his arms. “We just sent our first group back to the academy,” he said with a sigh. “They ended up beating on each other instead of trying to get the bells from either of us.”

Sakura watched the two young men discuss their first attempt at teaching with Kakashi, but didn’t really pay attention to the conversation. Instead she noticed how comfortable Naruto was with little Rin. She was a rather volatile little girl; happy and giggling one moment and fussing the next. But Naruto handled each shift with unconscious easy; tickling her or patting her back soothingly, depending on the need of the child. He was going to be an amazing father.

“Naruto,” she murmured, handing Obito to his father and reaching for Rin.

“Hmm?” he asked distractedly, turning his gaze away from Sasuke. He’d been asking the other man what they should do with their next group of students. “Oh!” he said, handing Rin over when he saw her outstretched hands.

“Thank you,” Sakura murmured, “But I was also trying to get your attention so I could ask you a question.” She gently settled Rin at her other breast and then smiled up at the blushing blonde. “Do you plan on having children some day?”

He blinked and looked up from Rin. “I guess so. Kids are great and all, so I think I’d like to have a few. Why?”

“Because you’re very good with them,” Sakura responded, gently stroking Rin’s soft hair. “Rin adores you. I think Obito is a bit more attached to Sasuke, but he likes you too. I just wonder when you’ll have your own.”

Naruto sighed and shrugged. “I need to find a nice girl to marry first.”

“You have lots of girls all over town,” Sasuke reminded him softly. “I think your fan club rivals my own.”

“Yeah but none of them want me for…well me. They think the fox is cool, or they think I look nice, or they think my connection with Tsunade is their ticket up the social ladder,” Naruto grumbled softly. “I want a girl who understands me and loves me for who I am.”

“What about Hinata?” Sakura asked curiously. “We already told you how long she’s been in love with you. I highly doubt she’s interested in your position in the village or the fox, since they weren’t an issue until a few years ago.”

“Hinata? She likes me?” Naruto asked in surprise.

“Just when you think he has a brain,” Sasuke grumbled softly. Kakashi sighed and shook his head both at the comment and at Naruto’s obliviousness. He idly wondered if he’d need to move his little family out of range of the impending battle.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Naruto groused in irritation.

“Naruto,” Sakura said with a sigh. “We told you over a year ago that Hinata has been in love with you since she was like nine or ten. Remember we were walking back to the inn, while we were on that mission, and we told you.”

“I thought that was part of the act,” Naruto murmured in confusion. “She really likes me?”

“Yeah, though I can’t figure out why if this is the response she gets from you,” Sasuke said with a scowl. He had grown rather fond of the quiet, dark-haired woman over the past few years and couldn’t believe how much she put up with from the blond. “She hides behind buildings and watches you all of the time, especially when you’re getting ready to leave on a mission. I think she always wants to say goodbye but isn’t brave enough to approach you.”

“Yeah,” Sakura agree softly, settling Rin in her lap and zipping her top. “When you left for those three years with Jiraiya, she barely spoke to anyone for weeks.”

Naruto frowned and picked his shirt up off the grass, tugging it over his head. After settling the black tee in place he sighed and rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. “I guess since she never talks to me, I just didn’t notice. Man I feel like a prick,” he said softly. “Does everyone notice but me?”

“Pretty much,” Kakashi admitted softly, gently rubbing his son’s back in his lap. “Mostly because she asks all of us how you’re doing or where you are.”

“She’s really sweet and cute Naruto,” Sakura murmured. “I’m not sure you could find a better girlfriend in Konoha, honestly.”

“You’re probably right,” he sighed. “After all you’re already taken,” he murmured in an attempt to lighten the moment. That’s it, make jokes to cover up the fact you feel like an ass, he thought. How could he have missed Hinata? She was cute and shy and sweet, or at least she had been the last time him really spoke to her. Maybe he should go talk to her again. Soon. It couldn’t really hurt, since not talking to her hadn’t seemed to shake her feelings.

“Man,” he muttered. “I need to really think about this.” He stood up, frowning. “I’m going to head home…figure some stuff out, if that’s okay with you guys.”

“Sure,” Sakura said softly. “I hope we didn’t hurt your feelings. That wasn’t our intention Naruto.”

He shook his head. “No, it’s okay. I just can’t believe I didn’t notice something this important. I need to sort it out before I decide what to do about it. I’ll see you all later,” he murmured. “See you tomorrow Sasuke,” he said and then leapt up into the trees and out of the clearing.

“Did we do a bad thing?” Sakura asked softly.

“No,” Sasuke grunted, standing up. “He needs to be told, sometimes, about things that are right in front of his face.”

“He didn’t grow up with any really love or emotional attachments,” Kakashi reminded his distressed young wife. “Sometimes he misses signals that the rest of us don’t. He’ll be fine. He just needs to wrap his head around the idea and figure out what to do. Maybe Hinata won’t have to wait forever now.”

***

Naruto stirred his ramen distractedly, frowning into the rapidly cooling noodles. How had he never noticed or at least processed something this important? A woman, a beautiful, sweet, gentle woman, was in love with him and had been for over ten years. “Idiot,” he mumbled to the uncaring noodles. The shop owner looked at his best customer with concern, but the blond was too deep in his thoughts to notice.

Now that he was really thinking about it, Hinata was around him a lot, at least in the background, and whenever he spoke to her she turned red and immediately began to fidget. She did that with most people, though, so he hadn’t thought it strange in the least. He liked the shy young woman. She wasn’t mean to him or anyone else, for that matter. She tried really hard in everything she did, which he had to respect. If anything, her devotion to him, showed just how determined she could be. Her way of the ninja was apparently similar to his own; ‘don’t give up and don’t have regrets’.

He was snapped out of his brooding thoughts by a rough slap on the back and cheerful, “Hey man, long time no see!”

His eyes snapped up to see Kiba grinning wolfishly at him. “Kiba? Did you just get back into town?” he asked in surprise. Kiba had gone out to check on some of Naruto’s mercenary students with his team. “How are the men doing?” He’d wanted to go, but had been in the middle of working with his team from the academy with Sasuke. With Sakura still fresh from giving birth, neither she, nor Kakashi had really wanted to make the week long trip to Cloud Country.

“They’re doing good,” Kiba said with a shrug. “A few have disappeared, but most are still working on farms in the area and seem to be enjoying the work. It’s stable and they don’t have to kill people. Not a bad life. I have a few letters for your team…mostly for Sakura, but you, Kakashi and Sasuke were mentioned too.” He sat down and took his order from the blushing waitress before turning his attention back to Naruto. “How’s Sakura doing? Are the babies still healthy?”

“Yeah, they’re all doing great,” Naruto said with a small smile. “I just saw all four of them an hour or so ago. The twins are getting big too.”

“Ah, man,” Kiba sighed. “I need to start thinking about that stuff too. Never know how long we’ve got in this world. Sis just had her third kid a month ago. It’s another boy. I think she’s starting to despair of every having a little girl.”

“Yeah,” Naruto agreed softly. He slurped up some cold noodles and then sighed.

“You okay man?” Kiba asked curiously, accepting his own noodles from the waitress.

“I don’t know. I guess you know about Hinata and all,” he said, blushing lightly and digging into his noodles so he didn’t have to look at the dog boy.

“Hinata?” Kiba murmured. “What about her?”

“You know…about her feelings for me,” Naruto said softly.

“Yeah? So? Doesn’t everyone…” Kiba asked in confusion, trailing off when Naruto winced. “Wait a minute. You didn’t know?!”

“Not until today,” Naruto said softly, pushing the remnants of his meal away. “I’m am idiot Kiba. All this time and I didn’t have a clue!” he said in exasperation.

“Well Hinata isn’t exactly an open book Naruto. She’s pretty quiet most of the time, unless she’s mad,” Kiba amended. “Then she’s kind of loud and scary,” he murmured with a slight shudder. “I only know because she asked me about you so often I finally pried the truth out of her a few years back. I thought for sure you knew but just weren’t interested. I thought it was a shame, but it wasn’t like I could do anything about it. You seriously didn’t know?” he asked incredulously.

“No!” Naruto said in frustration. “Like you said, she’s not that open and talkative. Every time we talk it’s brief and to the point, usually about the mission we’re on.”

“Man,” Kiba sighed. He scooped noodles into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully for a moment. “You know,” he said finally, “You should ask her to dinner or something…I mean if you’re interested in her.”

“I’m twenty three and I have yet to get a date,” Naruto grumbled. “Of course I’m interested!”

Kiba’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re not going to just use her are you…because I’d have to kill you,” he growled.

Naruto blushed and frowned. “Of course not! If I just wanted to get laid I could ask one of the many that follow me around town all day! Sheesh!” he grunted.

“Why haven’t you asked any of them out on a date?” Kiba asked suspiciously.

“Because they don’t want to go out with me for the right reasons,” Naruto grumbled. His eyes flicked to the old man and the waitress, who were pretended not to listen. He sighed and shook his head. “I want to be with someone special…you know?”

Kiba’s face cleared and he grinned. “Yeah I know. Still with all those girls around I can’t believe you’ve never…you know,” he teased.

“I’m not a whore like you,” Naruto grumbled good-naturedly. Kiba laughed and made some comment about being a dog, but Naruto had already faded into deep thought. Actually, he wasn’t sure what would happen when it came to being intimate with someone. With Kyuubi so heavily ingrained in his own personality now, he wondered if Kyuubi would influence his actions at all. He needed to remember to talk to Tsunade or Ero Senin about the possibilities there. Or, he supposed, he could sit down and have a chat with the fox himself. Might not be a bad idea.

“Dude!” Kiba’s voice yelled, breaking into Naruto’s thoughts.

“W-what?” Naruto asked, shaking his head. “Did I miss something?”

“I was just telling you that Hinata got a new place. It’s in the building next to mine, number three. She’s probably there now if you need to find her,” Kiba suggested, smiling.

Naruto dropped coins on the counter. “I need to go shower first, but thanks. I might just stop over there and see what happens. Thanks Kiba. Say hi to Akamaru for me.” He slid off his stool and wandered out of his favorite ramen stand, waving behind him as Kiba said goodbye.

***

Hinata sighed softly, rubbing her hair dry with a towel and wandering into her kitchen to find something edible. It was great to be home and clean again, but she still needed to go back out and do some shopping. All she really had were a few cups of instant ramen noodles. While they reminded her of her favorite blond shinobi, they weren’t very good for her or very filling.

After combing her hair and throwing on a comfortable pair of pants and a t-shirt, Hinata left her apartment and wandered towards the tiny grocery store that provided food for her neighborhood. It wasn’t a fancy place, but it had everything she needed.

Her father hadn’t been very pleased about her leaving the Hyuuga estate to live on her own, but she’d grown frustrated with the constant eye on all of her daily activities. She knew that if she wanted to be a good clan leader, she needed to learn how to be more independent. She needed to grow up a little away from the constant care of her servants. It had been a terrifying step for her to take a month ago, but never had she felt so happy and free.

The only thing that would make this time better was if she could get a certain blond idiot to notice her. Naruto hadn’t gotten any more observant over the past few years, but he had changed in other ways that were almost as nice. A short time after he’d gotten home from training with Ero Senin and dragging Sasuke back home, Naruto had shot up, passing most of their friends in height. Even better, he’d filled out around the same time; his shoulders and chest had broadened and his muscles bulked up. He was a kunoichi’s wet dream; muscular, tall and handsome. The only problem, if you could look at it that way, was he didn’t seem to notice; not really. Oh, she’d heard him teasing Sasuke about being skinnier, but she knew it wasn’t to be mean or prove a point. It’s just the way their relationship worked.

He also didn’t seem to notice how many women he attracted, or if he did, he didn’t act on it. Hinata had watched him for over then years and she could think of one instance where he went out on a date with any girl other than Sakura. She knew with Sakura it was simply a friendship thing and hadn’t worried about it. In a way, though, the fact he didn’t notice the women was a source of concern. She idly wondered if maybe the rumors were true, about him and Sasuke. Maybe they were actually an item, secretly. Hinata desperately hoped that wasn’t the case.

She wandered into the tiny grocery store and collected the vegetables and meat she’d been desperately craving on the mission she’d just gotten home from. Travel rations weren’t all that tasty and ten days of dried beef got old after a while. It would be nice to be home for a while and enjoy what she could in the meantime.

***

Hair still damp from his quick shower, Naruto bounded across the roofs of the village, headed for the grocery store. He hadn’t eaten much of his ramen at the shop and now his belly was protesting the injustice of it all. Deciding another trip to the ramen stand would be silly, he decided to just get something at the store. He wasn’t much of a cook, but he got by.

Landing lightly on the ground in front of the store he trotted through the door to grab what he need. Unfortunately a woman was just coming out and ran smack into his chest with a startled ‘oof’.

Naruto reacted quickly and grabbed both her paper sack and her arm as she flailed slight and began to tip. “I’m sorry ma’am,” he said quickly, making sure she was steady. “I guess I was just…” he trailed off as the woman adjusted her bag and peered up at him. Hinata.

“Naruto?” she murmured gently.

“Oh! Hinata!” he cried, jumping back and rubbing his head. “I was just coming to get some food. I didn’t mean to run over you like that.” Oh god oh god oh god. What do I do now that I know? Shit!

“That’s okay Naruto,” she said sweetly. “I couldn’t really see. I should have been paying more attention. Are you hurt?” she asked kindly.

“Nah,” he said waving his hand and blushing. Was she kidding? After all of the times Sasuke had sent him hurling into a tree or mountain side? How could a little bump compare? “What about you?” he asked nervously.

“I’m fine, thank you,” she murmured politely, a blushed creeping over her cheeks. She nibbled on her lip for a moment and then spoke up again. “Are you here to buy something for your dinner?”

“Yeah,” Naruto said nodding, happy she was still talking to him. “I had some ramen, but didn’t really feel like eating it…so now I’m hungry again,” he said with a shrug.

“Oh,” she murmured shyly. Naruto not up to eating ramen? Was he ill? Did he even know how to make anything else? She’d always wondered what else the young man ate. Maybe she could cook for him…if she knew what he liked.

“Well I should let you go,” he said finally. “It’s good to see you Hinata. Don’t be too shy to come talk to me. We’re friends right?” When she nodded dumbly, he nodded back and moved around her to go into the store.

‘Do it, do it,’ her mind chanted. “Naruto,” she blurted out before she could think about it. “Come over for dinner.”

“What? Really?” he asked in surprise, turning to look back at her.

“Please,” she said drawing a breath. “If you tell me what you like, I could make it for you,” she offered. Please! Please don’t say no!

He smiled and nodded slowly, coming back to her side and plucking the bag from her arms. “Alright Hinata. I’d like that. I’m sure whatever you make will be great!” he said with a grin.

Hinata stared up at him happily, deciding that if she hadn’t already been desperately in love with the funny young man, that grin would have done it. She blushed furiously and nodded. “I live close, just down the block.”

“Yeah, Kiba told me today. Number three, right?” he asked thoughtfully and then smiled when she nodded.

He asked where she lived? What did this mean? Did he know she liked him?

Naruto saw her face grow even redder when he mentioned knowing were she lived and wondered if he should have kept quiet about it. Hinata probably hadn’t figured out the he knew yet and he wondered if he should tell her he knew. Would it just upset her or would she be relieved? He decided to wait a bit, at least, and see how she behaved. Maybe she didn’t like him in that way anymore and telling her he thought she did would just be embarrassing for both of them.

He discretely studied her out of the corner of his eye ask they walked. She’d changed a bit over the years. Her short hair had been allowed to grown out a bit, until it just brushed her shoulders. He had to admit it looked pretty nice that way. He’d always liked longer hair, but on Hinata, the shorter cut looked really good.

She hadn’t really grown much though. Her head barely hit the top of his chest. Yet, despite her lack of height, she wasn’t squat or anything. She was rather slim, except for full hips and breasts; everything in perfect proportion for men like him to enjoy ogling when she wasn’t looked. He wished he could look at her a little better now, but as she was walking at his side, the opportunity wasn’t really presenting itself.

She glanced shyly up at him and caught the flicker of his eyes jerking away from her. Was he looking at her? She tugged at her t-shirt and wished she’d worn something nicer than the old tee and loose pants. Naruto was finally looking at her and she was dressed in the most comfortable, thus ugliest, outfit she owned. Figures. She shrugged inwardly; at least this was the least feminine she ever looked. It could only get better, right? Unless he wasn’t interested in her after this. She frowned and sighed to herself.

“Is something wrong Hinata?” Naruto asked curiously.

Her eyes widened and she looked up at him. “What?” she asked softly. Very smooth.

“Oh, you sighed, so I was wondering if something was bothering you,” he said with a smile, shifting the paper sack so he could talk to her more easily.

“Oh,” she murmured. “I was just…I was thinking that this is the worst thing I could possibly be wearing at the moment,” she admitted shyly.

He took the chance to look her over. Very nice. How had he missed really noticing such a beautiful woman? “What’s wrong with your outfit? I think you look comfortable,” he said with a shrug. “So many girls cramp themselves into tight little dresses and pinching shoes; they end up looking miserable, rather than sexy. I like to see a woman happy and relaxed. That’s way sexier. Not that I really mind tight dresses that much,” he said with a teasing grin.

She smiled and blushed at his teasing. He thought she looked sexy? Or did he just think women who dressed like her had the potential to be sexy? She was feeling rather confused by this sudden change in the blond ninja, but she wasn’t going to complain. He was talking to her and he was having dinner in her home. This was a wonderful start as far as she was concerned.

She led him to her door and unlocked it, beckoning him inside. He followed her, smiling happily. The apartment was nice, bigger than his own. But Hinata was a Hyuuga, so no surprise there. The doorway opened into a large living room and dining room. A small kitchen sat at one end of the room, separated by a short wall and a counter. A short hall broke off from the living room, so he imagined that’s where her room and bath were located. “This is really nice,” he murmured, setting her groceries down on the dark, wood dining table.

“Thank you,” she said softly, digging into her groceries and sorting out what she needed. “Please sit down. I’ll get this started and we can talk while it’s cooking.”

Naruto nodded and wandered in the sitting area. Hinata’s furniture was a nice cream color and so fluffy he sank into it the moment he sat down. “Sitting in this chair is like sitting in marshmallows,” he said with a laugh, struggling to get upright in the mushy chair.

She smiled and started chopping vegetables. “I like my furniture,” she said softly. “It’s like being in clouds…or marshmallow I suppose. There isn’t a lot of softness in our profession so I like it at home.”

“All I have in my apartment is an old couch and my bed, but I’m not home much anyway, so it’s no big deal. Maybe I’ll just visit you more often,” he said with a grin.

“I wish you would,” she said softly.

Naruto was silent for a moment. “Hinata,” he murmured seriously.

“Yes?” she asked softly, setting her rice on the stove and heating a pan for the vegetables. It was just simple stir-fry, but easy and tasty. She doubted Naruto would complain anyway.

“I’ve been stupid and I just wanted to say I’m sorry,” he murmured finally.

Hinata froze, her back to him and her spoon falling to the floor. He knew!

He jumped up awkwardly from the mushy chair and hurried to her. “Are you okay? Did you burn yourself?” he asked turning her around. He glanced over her quickly and when he didn’t find any obvious wounds looked back at her face. Tears were beginning to pool in her eyes and her face was bright pink. “Hinata?”

“Wh-who told you?” she asked so softly he almost didn’t hear her.

“I…” he started. Damn it! He should have waited to say something. She looked like she was about to faint or at least cry. Was she mad? He couldn’t tell. “I should have already known…but I’m kind of dumb around girls. Sakura and Sasuke told me while we were on that mission in Cloud Country, but I thought it was an act…until this afternoon when they told me again. I’m sorry if I’ve upset you. I just thought you should know.”

“Is that why you’re here?” she whispered, mortified. Did he feel guilty…like he owed her something? “Did you feel sorry for me?” she asked tugging against his grip.

He looked horrified. “What?” He tightened his grip as she nearly slipped free. “No! Of course that’s not why. I’m here because you asked me to be here. I just thought you should know that I know how you feel. I won’t ignore you any more, I swear!”

“I need you to leave now,” she whispered hoarsely.

He jerked back, as if burned. His face fell further. “Hinata…don’t….”

“Get out,” she said softly, her lip beginning to tremble. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. He was supposed to fall in love with her first, not come to her knowing how she felt and taking pity on her. Naruto had such a big heart, he’d be with her, even if he didn’t feel the same…just because he felt it was right. He didn’t understand at all. “Just leave Naruto.”

He stared at her for a moment, as if hoping she’d change her mind. She just looked at the floor, holding in tears even he could see. Finally he nodded and turned. “I’ll be back Hinata. This conversation isn’t over.”

She didn’t answer, so he left the apartment with a soft sigh of exasperation and slammed the door shut behind him. He didn’t understand women at all.
***