"Misery"
Heavy rains covered the whole village. It was a sudden change of climate, yesterday it was shining bright.
Is there a storm? She thought while watching the rain outside.
"Why do we feel sad when it's raining?" A girl asked behind her.
"I don't know, maybe because we feel cold and we can't do anything other than reminiscing some sad things." She replied.
"Is that so?" The girl asked in confusion.
"I don't know." She answered her. She walked towards the chair beside the window where she puts the needle and the thread she was using for knitting.
"Knitting a scarf again?" The girl asked.
"Yeah." Her short replied.
"For whom?" The girl asked. She remained silent.
"For big brother Naruto? You just gave him a scarf, remember?" Hanabi said while pouting. Hinata looked at her younger sister without saying a word. She then continued to knit.
"You are acting strange lately, big sis," Hanabi added.
"Really?" Hinata asked in astonishment.
"Is there anything wrong with you and big brother Naruto?" She asked. She stopped knitting for a while.
Hinata wondered how her younger sister noticed the sudden change in the atmosphere. She was too young to know about such things or maybe they were too attached to each other that she could easily read her movements. She was wondering if it's also part of their bloodline's ability.
Hinata shook her head to make the discussion end, she continued knitting and Hanabi was left with no option but to keep quiet and leaves her in the living room. Hinata paused and looked outside the window. It was still raining.
Some random scenes enter her mind.
The part when she saw Naruto and Sakura hugging each other when they were having a meal with their friends.
The scene when she saw them hugging each other from their last mission.
"..Have you ever heard of Naruto having a crush on Sakura before?" she remembered Ino asking her about it.
What if Naruto still has feelings for Sakura? That question wandered in her mind.
...Hinata, I love you...
...the one who's going to marry Hinata is me...
Were you lying when you said that, Naruto?
She shook her head and grain of tears dropped on the unfinished scarf she was knitting. She clenched her fists out of frustration.
She did not know what to think anymore. Her mind was messy as well as her heart. Fear miserably penetrating her system.
She'd loved Naruto ever since. She never doubts him, she always believed in him but she has doubted herself instead.
***
"Yo, Naruto!" Shikamaru interrupted Naruto's daydreaming. He was sitting on a bench near the park.
"Shi-kamaru." He muttered.
"You okay?" He asked him. Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"Ye-Yeah. Do you think I'm not?" He replied. Shikamaru sat beside him.
"You seem like wool-gathering just now," Shikamaru muttered.
"Really?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"I think you're unconscious," Shikamaru remarked.
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.
"You're dumb," Shikamaru commented.
"What did you say? Are you picking a fight with me?" Naruto said while grabbing his collar (in a comic way).
"Hey, hey, calm down Naruto," Shikamaru said with a boring look. He then looked at the clouds. Naruto released him and sat down with pouty lips.
"Why are you here by the way?" Naruto asked him.
"Just passing by." He quickly replied.
"Liar!" Naruto muttered.
"I'm not lying though. You look like you're daydreaming. Did something happen?" Shikamaru asked. Naruto's face suddenly turned sad.
"I don't know what happened to Hinata. She's acting weird lately, I mean right after we got back from our last mission." Naruto explained.
Shikamaru stared at him for seconds then turned his gaze to the sky.
"So it's about Hinata," Shikamaru muttered.
Naruto's expression had never changed. He was thinking about Hinata. He wanted to talk to her but he did not know how to start.
"What should I do, Shikamaru? I am not that good in handling relationships, ya know." He said.
"Neither I." Shikamaru replied.
"I've heard you and Temari are getting along just fine." He commented.
"Not really. Temari's hard to handle though, you know her." Shikamaru said while smirking. Naruto laughed awkwardly at his statement.
"But we don't argue much." He added.
"How often do you see each other not to mention she's from the Sand?" Naruto asked.
"Barely," Shikamaru replied.
"Are you okay with that?" Naruto asked.
"How often do you see Hinata?" Shikamaru asked him the same question. Naruto was a bit shocked.
"Same here." He replied.
"You see? We are in the same situation though you and Hinata live in the same village." Shikamaru said.
"You're right there," Naruto said with a sad face.
"But, what exactly is happening between you two?" Shikamaru curiously asked. Naruto was hesitant at first but knowing Shikamaru was his best friend he told him.
"I feel like Hinata's avoiding me." He revealed.
"But why? Maybe you did something stupid again?" He asked him.
"Of course I did not." He refused.
"So what could it be the reason behind her actions?" Shikamaru muttered.
"That's what I don't know," Naruto replied.
"Why not talk to her?" Shikamaru suggested.
"I was thinking about that too but, I don't know how to start the conversation." Naruto honestly said.
"If you want to fix something, do something about it. Don't be a jerk." Shikamaru said.
"What did you say?" Naruto gave Shikamaru an angry face.
"I was once slapped by Temari because I was a total idiot hiding things from her instead of telling her what I really feel. From that moment I realized that I could not be able to fix a problem if I will not do something about it and let the woman instincts do the job." Shikamaru explained.
Naruto looked at him seriously then turned his gaze on the ground.
"I am telling you to fix the problem as long as you are still able to. Don't let the girls do all the work, girls are girls and they are troublesome." Shikamaru said.
Naruto realized what Shikamaru was implying and decided to talk to Hinata and clear his doubts.
"Thank you, Shikamaru." He told him. He stood up from his seat and headed towards the Hyuga Clan's premises. Shikamaru watched his back until it fades away from his sight.
***
Hinata was sitting on the same spot in their house still knitting. She was not even sure if the scarf she was knitting was for Naruto or for someone else.
But for whom could it be if it's not for Naruto?
What should I do? Should I talk to him? Should I ask him about his feelings for me? She thought.
She paused and shook her head and covered her face with both her palms.
Hanabi, who was sneaking behind the door let out a sad face.
"Sister..." she muttered.
"Lady Hinata." A man called out for her.
She lifted her head to see who was speaking to her.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Naruto was outside and he wants to talk to you." The man said.
"Naruto?" Hinata muttered with her eyes wide open.
"Yes." The man confirmed.
"But why did you not let him in?" She asked.
"He doesn't want to get inside. He is waiting for you there." He replied. Hinata immediately stood up and left the half-done scarf on the chair and headed towards the exit of their house. Upon arriving, she saw Naruto's back facing her.
"Na-Naruto?" She said. Naruto turned his back to her and cheerfully smiled at her.
"Hinata!" He blurted. He then approached her with a grin on his lips.
"What's the matter?" She asked in confusion.
"Ahh. Umm. Nothing really. I just wanted to talk about something." He replied.
Hinata's eyes darkened.
"Let's get inside." She invited him.
"Hmm. Can we talk somewhere else?" He suggested.
"Is it okay, Hinata?" He added. She nodded and they walked together. Both of them were silent. Naruto was gazing at her from time to time.
He was feeling uncomfortable as well as Hinata. He did not know how to start the conversation. He thought that Hinata might get bored or will just ignore him but he had decided to speak to her.
"Hinata..." he said and stopped walking. Hinata stopped as well and looked at him.
"What is it?" She asked in a calm tone.
"Is there a problem?" He asked. Hinata got confused and she then realized that Naruto might have already noticed. She shook her head and looked away.
"You are acting strange lately. So I was thinking if you are up for something I might help, ya know!" He said. Hinata looked at him with sad eyes.
"Really? Sorry for making you worried." She said and gave him a fake smile.
"Hinata..." Naruto muttered. He approached her and grabbed her shoulders.
"If you have problems tell me. If I did something wrong tell me. You are not the cheerful Hinata I know. What's bothering you?" He asked her. Hinata was shocked. So he really noticed? She thought. She had no intention of telling him. She might end up regretting asking him about his feelings for her.
"I'm sorry Naruto. I am not feeling well that's why." She lied.
"Are you sick? Wait, sorry for taking you out.." he said while checking her temperature.
"Wait? You don't have a fever." He said while checking his own temperature by putting his palm on his forehead.
"We-Well, I don't really feel okay today." She lied again. Naruto stared at her directly looking in her eyes.
"You are lying to me, Hinata." He said and then turned his back to her.
"Na-Naruto, wait a minute. That's not true. I..." he interrupted her.
"Did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me?." He asked.
"No. It's just..." she said.
"Then tell me what's wrong. I can tell that you're lying to me. Your eyes are telling me." He said. This time he was facing her. Hinata was shocked and kept her eyes wide open. Suddenly, she looked away.
"You see? You can't even look at me in the eyes." He said. He grabbed her hands and looked at her eyes.
"Naruto... I'm sorry." She said and burst out crying. She was covering her face with both her palms.
"Hinata..." he muttered.
"I'm sorry for lying to you. I just.. I just don't know how to talk to you about it." She said in between her sobs.
Naruto lifted her head and took away her palms from her face.
"Hinata, look at me and tell me what's bothering you." He said and gave her a smile.
"Naruto..." she muttered. He wiped her tears.
"Calm down and tell me." He added. Hinata took a deep breath and looked into his eyes.
"I was thinking about it since our last mission. I can't stop myself from thinking." She started.
"Naruto, do you really have feelings for me?" She added. Naruto was surprised by her question but, immediately his expression changed.
"Hinata..." he muttered.
"The moment I saw your memories from that genjutsu I came to realize that there is someone who really loved me ever since and it was you. I was an idiot for not realizing it sooner..." he continued.
"Hinata, when I told you I love you... I mean it. Remember when I told you that I want to spend the rest of my life with you? I was sure, so sure and that would never change..." he added.
"Naruto..." Hinata murmured while tears flowing on her cheeks.
Naruto grabbed both her cheeks and moved closer to her. He kissed her forehead and hugged her tight.
"Hinata, I love you..." he sincerely said.
"I love you, Naruto..."