"Hinata, we need to talk later. Maybe at home after class? I'll try to skip from practice later." Home. How I wish I can really share it with you. He said as they approached her classroom. She can only nod. She cannot bear to open her mouth or she might cower and just cry from the pain that she was feeling right now. Before Hinata could react, he kissed her briefly on her lips. The only consolation for her is that no one is there to see their public display.
She entered their classroom feeling down. She felt confused. She can feel her heart throbbing. I never had any attack since three years ago. She became afraid that she might hyperventilate and lose consciousness that she had to excuse herself from their class. Good thing it was Kurenai Yuhi's class, her adviser, which it became easy for her to go since she was aware of her condition.
Instead of heading straight back to home to the Hyuuga Estates, she rode the bus to Naruto's place. I will just wait for him here. She gets her medicine from her bag and took one. She lied down and did not realize that she fell asleep. She woke up hours later with Naruto kissing her eyes. "Wake up, Hime," He kissed her lips, "you might want to go to bed." He touched her face and kissed her forehead, "I went to your class earlier and Shino told me that you excused yourself and went home." She can hear the concern in his voice that she just wants to stop the time and remain in this moment that she can feel loved. He brushed the unrestrained hair from her face and softly asked, "Are you okay?"
She smiled softly and kissed him in the lips before slowly sitting up, "I am fine. I just want to skip classes and wait for you here." Lies and lies again. Naruto smirked hearing this from her and stood up. He sat across her, "So, what do you want to talk about Naruto-kun?"
He cleared his throat and assumes his dominant position, sitting straight and looking serious, "I want to marry you."
Inasmuch as Hinata wanted to celebrate, she knows that there is still the hanging 'but'.
"But, why Naruto-kun? I know you-" she swallowed "love Shion. So, what made you change your mind?"
"That's exactly the reason why I will marry you. You already know how Shion does not want to date me even if it is already obvious that she likes me. But when she read the article of our engagement, she started talking to me more frequently. And just earlier at the cafeteria, when she saw us, she looks so jealous that I feel like she wanted to strangle you and snatch me away from you." He laughed lightly, and Hinata frowned, He is happy Shion wants to strangle me? How dare he? "Hinata, can't you see? She is starting to let me in. The girl of my dreams is finally recognizing me! And this is all thanks to you and our engagement."
So this is where it falls, huh? I won't be living long enough, anyway, with how my heart constricts earlier. Might as well marry the man I love and die happy. Hinata looked at Naruto's happy and hopeful face, she cannot just take that away from him. Not when he just started to look that bright again after all this years of his pursuit with Shion.
"Okay, if that's what will make you happy. I will marry you, Naruto-kun."
Naruto cannot contain his happiness and kissed her on the lips, and hugged her "Thank you, Hinata."
It's almost time for them to meet. She was feeling nervous. This is the official day that they will be announcing their engagement to the public. Two weeks ago, their families already discussed the plans for their wedding and two weeks from now they will be officially married to each other.
She was wearing a beige off-shoulder dress. And she can already feel the nervousness eating her from inside out. She can feel her palms sweating and her heart is beating rapidly. She was pacing around her hotel room when somebody knocked on her door that made her jump.
She gently opened the door and peeked outside. Naruto pushed him inside and locked the door behind him. When he saw her, she noticed how her mouth gaped at her. He eyed her up and down. She felt even more conscious and embarrassed by the way he stared at her.
Naruto, maybe realizing his scrutiny, looked away and blushed. "Uhmm, we have to be there in a few minutes." But then he suddenly snapped his head and frowned as if realizing something. He pointed his finger at her as if accusing her, "and what are you wearing?! You cannot go in public looking like that!"
Hinata frowned, confused, "what do you mean? Why can't I wear this?"
"Because it shows too much skin, that's why! And men will stare at you!" He reiterated, feeling frustrated as he still points at her. Hinata does not know what to feel. She felt lightheaded, he cares men will look at me?
"Naruto-kun, you cannot always make me do things your way." Hinata argued, "besides, I like this dress. You are acting like a jealous boyfriend." She added.
"Change now or I'll make you." Naruto challenged, smirking. Hinata would not allow Naruto to have his way, not when she feels so lost. She needs this sense of control, just even in her dress.
Hinata just raised her eyebrows. Naruto smirked again and pushed her on the bed and kissed her neck and breast. Sucking on her flesh, leaving marks all around her breast. Hinata heard herself moan when Naruto pulled her dress and bra down and lapped on her nipples. "Change."
"No." Hinata answered stubbornly and moaned when Naruto bit her flesh on her neck and her breasts simultaneously. Hinata felt one of Naruto's hands on her leg crawling to her panties when they heard a knock on the other side of the door.
"Hinata, the press are already here." It was her sister, Hanabi. She felt herself and Naruto's body tensed. But, Naruto having a playful nature bit her earlobe that made her moan quietly.
"I'll be out in a minute." She called back trying to suppress the tension in her voice. And just like that, the magic was lost. Hinata looked down at her breasts covered with red and purple marks. She rolled her eyes, groaning, and Naruto just laughed at her. That was his plan all along.
The couple entered the venue holding hands. Hinata was now wearing a turtleneck blue dress and Naruto was laughing beside her. The moment the door opened, cameras flashed and questions were thrown at them. Hinata tried to remain calm despite of being in this situation. Naruto helped her to her seat. She is now in her engagement party with Naruto. And the press just cannot seem to stop barging in their privacy.
Minato, along with his wife Kushina, went to the stage followed by Hiashi.
"We would like to thank everyone who shared their time with us to celebrate a very special union." Minato softly started.
"This union has been decided upon by my dearest late wife and her best friend Kushina," Hiashi added.
"However this is not just a simple merger between two strong companies, but this is a unification of two simple families, the Uzumaki-Namikaze and the Hyuuga," Kushina then giddily smiled, "We would like to formally announce the engagement of my son, Naruto to Hinata Hyuuga."
Everyone in the room applauded. Cameras were back to their faces. Smiles were thrown at them instead of questions. Somehow, Hinata relaxed; even more so, when Naruto squeezed her hands. She looked at him and she saw him smile that smile that she loved so much. Everything felt right at that moment.
The members of the clans in the party started talking to them especially when they are done eating their dinner. Hinata saw the Nara, Sabaku, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Uchiha, Aburame, and Inuzuka head families. That just means that most of their friends are there, since most of them are the heirs of their empires.
However, she did not expect the arrival of the Otsutsuki head Kaguya and her four children, Hamura, Hagaromo, and the twins Shion and Toneri. Although, she should have already expected it from the beginning since Kaguya is the cousin of her mom. And that made her and Shion second cousins.
Hinata knows that Naruto already noticed their arrival. She can clearly see the worry in his eyes; 'maybe it is because of Shion' she thought sadly. Hinata's perfect evening started crumbling down the moment Naruto let go of her hand and approached the Otsutsukis. She saw how Naruto's kiss on Shion's cheek lingers a little longer than the others they have already greeted. Slowly, Hinata breathed in and followed her fiancée to greet the new guests.
"We are glad you made it, Kaguya-obaasama," Hinata greeted her aunt kissing her cheeks. Unlike Shion and Toneri who she is not really closed with, Hinata felt secure with her two other cousins, Hamura and Hagaromo. And as if to show how glad they are to be with their little cousin, they each enveloped her in a bear hug. Hinata cannot contain her happiness seeing her older cousins who are already working abroad with Sasuke's older brother Itachi in the Sound Village.
"I can't believe our little princess is already getting married." Hamura noted.
"And to Naruto, of all people!" Hagaromo jokingly stated.
"And what is the problem with me?" Naruto asked irritated. Hinata can only giggle and hold his hand to calm him down.
"Naruto-kun, there is nothing wrong with you." Hinata giggled again which made Naruto look at her and calm his nerves down. "My cousins are just kidding."
Naruto scoffed and they all laughed except for one white-haired girl whose eyes are murderous and jealous. Shion walked out from the group, leaving everyone joke around. Hinata somehow felt at ease, until Naruto just screamed. Everyone in the hall stopped what they were doing, even Shion who is in the middle of fetching herself an alcohol. "Cousins?! You are cousins?"
Hinata can only nod and she noticed how Shion rolled her eyes from across the room. As briefly as possible, Hinata explained her relationship with the Otsutsukis, Kaguya filling in some details of their family tree. Naruto listened with an open mouth and disbelief. Hinata then realized why Naruto is acting this way, of course, Shion and I are cousins. How ironic.
The night flew by smoothly. Hinata is on the powder room trying to relax a bit. She can see how flushed she became with all that is happening around her earlier this night. She felt exhausted entertaining people, drained from answering questions from the press, and aching from all the smiles in front of the camera. Sure she is happy with her engagement to the person she loved for years, but she cannot help but feel sad as she thinks that this are all arranged. Her heart clenches painfully. She placed her hands on her heart trying to calm her palpitating heart. This is becoming a problem.
She decided it was time to go out when she feels sleepier than ever. But her tracks stopped when she saw Naruto and Shion talking in one of the empty halls. She hurriedly hid away from their view and tried so hard not to listen.
"Naruto, I like you and I know that you will just marry my cousin because you want to make me jealous." Hinata heard Shion said sloppily.
A laugh from Naruto, "You may be right but it is not the whole reason. My mother blackmailed me to marrying Hinata or else they will disown me. And you know how my father's health state right now. I cannot disappoint them."
"I know. That's why I am here to tell you that I would still go out with you even if you already marry my naïve stupid cousin." She can taste the venom from Shion's voice when she mentioned her.
"I am happy to hear that." And there is nothing. She fought off the desire to look but her body said otherwise. What she saw killed her already dead heart. Naruto and Shion were kissing.
Hinata felt her whole life crushed. She did not even realize that there were tears falling from her eyes, until she felt like the world is spinning. Her eyes got blurry. Her heart palpitated. Her breathing hyperventilated. She lost consciousness.
Hinata regained her consciousness in a hospital bed. She can hear voices from the other side of the curtains. She recognized the voice as Shikamaru Nara and his wife Temari Sabaku-Nara, Gaara Sabaku's sister which also happened to be the other best friend of Naruto.
She already met the Sabakus earlier, as well as Shikamaru who happened to be one of Naruto's closest friends. Hinata tried sitting up and moaned from the headache.
Temari might have noticed this, because seconds later, she is already assisting her. "Hinata, try not to move. We'll call Dr. Tsunade for you."
Hinata can only nod, but asked Temari anyway what happened while Shikamaru called for her doctor, which also coincidentially Naruto's grandmother. "You have fainted after watching your fiancée eating the face of your cousin—which by the way confused me and Shikamaru because you are supposed to be the one kissed, not your bitch of a cousin." Hinata felt her body weaken as she remembered the details before she fainted, I had an attack. He does not care. Hinata was about to ask Temari where Naruto was but Temari cut her off, "We didn't tell him or your cousin or anyone from your home what happened. My genius of a husband told me to keep this to us first. You are just lucky we are passing that hallway the same time you fainted."
Hinata nodded once again in understanding. "Thank you, Temari-san."
Temari only laughed her throaty laugh and brushed her off. That was the exact moment Shikamaru and Tsunade entered the room.
"Hi Hinata." She greeted her doctor back, "how are you feeling?"
"Exhausted." She answered as-a-matter-of-factly.
"Yes, yes. I heard from Shikamaru what happened. That grandson of mine really has every bit of Jiraiya in him. Ugh. It really runs in the blood." Hinata saw how her doctor's fists clench before relaxing once again, "Anyway Hinata. I have already told you that physical activities are required for you and I guess you are doing just fine on that aspect, with what Kushina told me." Tsunade laughed, boisterously making Hinata flinched and the Nara couple looked confused, "And of course your tests looked positive. But, I need you to tone your emotions down a bit. It is making your heart respond negatively, and it might be the death of you. Do you understand me, Hinata-dear?"
As of the moment, Hinata cannot feel anything. She cannot understand what is being told, but for the sake of being a good patient, she nodded, "I understand, Doc."
Tsunade touched her head and pat her head, "call me, grandma."
Hinata only smiled, not rejecting but not also affirming.
Tsunade is about to go out when she heard Hinata said, "Please do not tell this to anyone, especially him."
Hinata can feel the hesitation from Tsunade, but she knows that she won't because of their doctor-patient relationship. But she needs reassurance that this will never be on Naruto's knowledge. And she knows that when Uzumaki-Namikazes promised something, they never go back on their words. Ever.
"I promise, Hinata."