27 December 2006
A word from Starry: Hello minna-san, I bring you the tenth and final chapter of this story. I like how I ended this story and think that you may like it as well. If you don't like, please don't flame me or say mean and immature things. I understand that not everyone will be satisfied but it's fanfiction and well sometimes things don't end up the way we want them to. I hated Rumbling Hearts ending but yeah... anyways, I hope you all like it. Also, if any of you are My Chemical Romance fans then I suggest you read while listening to these songs: Famous Last Words, Sleep, Cancer and Disenchanted. I listened to those songs as I wrote this whole chapter so yeah. Enjoy!
Summary: "I hope he remembers me," she thought, dropping her gaze to the ground. "Remember me," he said softly, as he watched her walk towards the river. First love is never forgotten, right? So will she be able to remember him?
'Thought'
"Spoken"
Past/Memory/Jutsu
Disclaimer: I wish I owned Naruto, but sadly I don't! So don't bring trouble, please.
Remember Me – Chapter Ten – Final Chapter
The two walked in silence with their thoughts to themselves. They both had feelings for the same woman and they both knew it. It was interesting though, that they were calm about it without actually getting their kunais out and stabbing each other in the throat. Was it because of the situation Hinata was in? That all they wanted to do was spend the last moments of her life with her and see what they could do to prevent it? Right, the medical ninjas needed to know this.
Arriving at Hinata's room, they found a sleeping Hinata with a pained expression on her pale face. It actually made Naruto feel as though his heart was being squeezed when he saw how un-peaceful she looked. Gaara immediately went to her side and gently took her hand with his and squeezed it gently.
The ramen loving young man found himself being pulled in as well and he too went to sit beside her and continued looking at her. His injured hand rested on his lap as his right hand slowly came up to touch Hinata's complexion. She was cold but he was glad that her skin was still soft and smooth, just like her lips.
Gaara watched Naruto's actions and felt jealousy arise when he saw the Kyuubi holding boy touch his wife in the way that he was touching her. All he wanted to do was thank him for saving his wife and that he was no longer needed but as his gaze moved down to his wife, he felt something that was telling him that that was something Hinata didn't want.
"Hinata-sama, you're looking lovely today." A twenty-year old Gaara said as his nineteen year old wife walked in slowly with a hand on her swollen belly.
The dark haired girl blushed and nodded slightly. "Thank you, you're looking handsome as usual, Gaara-sama."
Once more, Gaara felt that feeling that he couldn't explain and it was something that kind of bothered him. He'd felt it before when he'd heard that Hinata was pregnant was his child. "Thank you," he said, pulling a chair out so that his young and pregnant wife could sit. It was weird that he knew so little about her yet they were destined to spend their life together. That was why he'd called this little get together, to get to know each other more.
"What would you like to know, Gaara-sama?" Hinata asked, her head tilted to the side a bit making her now mid-back long hair move a bit.
"Tell me about your life, please. I'll be doing the same…" He averted his gaze from hers and found that this was going to be hard for him. Not even his sister and brother knew much about him because he rarely talked to them about those things.
This seemed to have surprised Hinata because she blushed and her light lavender eyes widened somewhat. She immediately changed her expression and gave him a small smile with a slight nod. The Hyuuga heiress began in a small timid voice with her young years in the academy. She talked about how hard it was to know that her father was disappointed at the fact that maybe she wasn't the one to carry the Hyuuga pride in the head branch.
The red-haired young man listened as she spoke and felt some connection with her as she spoke about the troubles and all the struggles she'd done. As she spoke, he noticed that every time she spoke of Naruto she'd either blush or a small smile would appear. After she was done, Gaara felt some kind of jealous feeling at the fact that Naruto was held in a high pedestal in Hinata's life.
"It wasn't fair that your future didn't go the way you wanted it to. It's not fair and I'm really sorry, Hinata-sama." Gaara stood from his seat and before walking out of the door he turned to look at a confused Hinata. "I'll be back to tell you about my life." With that Gaara walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.
"Gaara?"
Gaara was pulled out of his memories by Naruto's voice. The Kazekage turned to look at him and felt sadness as well other emotions tug at him. "I have to ask you something, Naruto." Gaara let go of his wife's hand and stared at Naruto with an earnest expression. "Could you give my wife and me a few moments to be alone?"
The request didn't really surprise Naruto because… well Hinata and Gaara were married and Gaara had all the right to ask for that. Not really wanting to do that, Naruto only nodded and with one last glance at Hinata, he slowly got up and walked towards the door.
"Naruto,"
Before closing the door, Naruto turned back to look at Gaara and waited for the other guy to continue.
"Tell Omoi to check your hand and then come back."
The Kyuubi holding boy nodded and closed the door, leaving Gaara alone with a sleeping Hinata.
It wasn't hard to find Omoi because right after he'd closed the door he bumped into her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you," he said, not really in the mood for conversation or wanting to get his hand healed. All he wanted to do was stay with Hinata until she opened her eyes and smiled at him.
"Oh! Your hand!" Omoi grabbed Naruto's left arm and lifted it up to inspect the injury. Her face showed great concern. Looking up at him she said, "I need to give you antibiotics as well as disinfect this right away. Come with me."
With one last glance at the door, the blonde was dragged away from Hinata's doorway by the young girl.
Inside the room, Gaara sat in silence just staring at Hinata while holding her hand and gently caressing it with his thumb. How cruel, he thought, as he leaned closer to her. How cruel that right when he'd discovered such a wonderful feeling, it was now being taken away from him.
--
She felt like her lungs were being filled with lead and she was being pulled down into the dark abyss below her. What was happening to her? Her whole body ached and all her eyes met was a darkness that was frightening her. "Naruto-kun?" she yelled out, scared that she didn't even hear an echo. "Gaara-sama?" She felt strange calling a person she didn't know at all.
"I don't expect you to be attached to me emotionally or attracted to me in any way, so don't worry."
That voice… Hinata turned around to see if she could get a glimpse of the person speaking, but once again all she met was darkness.
"Hinata! That was an amazing technique! You're really amazing!"
"Where are you?" Hinata yelled, tears starting to fall from her eyes. Her head was hurting and her chest burned.
"Remember me, Hinata, It's me, Gaara. Remember me."
Hinata turned around searching for Gaara. "Come out! I can't see you, where are you? Please!" The pain was getting stronger and what was that? She lifted her hand to her ear and felt a streak of liquid down the side of her neck.
"Remember, Hinata, it's me, Naruto. Remember."
"Naruto! NARUTO! NARUTO! GAARA! WHERE AM I?" Hinata screamed and fell to her knees clutching the sides of her head. "STOP IT! STOP IT!" She shook her head and continued screaming.
--
Gaara got worried when he noticed that Hinata was now bleeding from her ears as well as her nose and… were those tears of blood? Yes! Getting up from his spot, Gaara ran out of the room in search of the medical ninjas.
"Hold still!" Omoi scolded Naruto as she wound his hand with a white band and placed a small metal band to keep it from unwinding. "There, see, all better!"
"Thanks…" Naruto glared at the short blond and hugged his hand to keep it away from her. "Are you sure you're fit to be a medical ninja?" he asked, immediately regretting it when he saw fire in her eyes. "I mean, ignore that question. Of course you are." Naruto got up and before Omoi could do anything, he bolted out of the room and decided to go back to Hinata and Gaara.
Arriving at the room, Naruto was alarmed when he saw Gaara gone and Hinata coughing up blood and grimacing in pain. He quickly rushed over to her and rested her head on his arm while he lifted her up in a sitting position to stop her from choking on her own blood.
"Hinata!" he whispered, hugging her closer to him. He heard as small sob escaped from his throat as well as tears began forming in his sky blue eyes. "D-don't l-leave me…"
"N-Naruto…kun…"
Naruto looked up at Hinata and saw her eyes were half opened and small drops of tears were forming in the corner of her eyes. "Hinata!" He felt his heart jump with joy. She wasn't dead! She was alive and talking to him.
"Where's… Gaara?" her voice was so low that Naruto had to lean in to hear her. Every time she spoke, she looked as though each word was killing her to say.
"Don't speak, Hinata, don't force yourself. I think he went to look for help." Naruto wiped a tears that were falling from her eyes as well as the blood that was slowly coming out of her ears. Her whole face was smudged with blood and her clothes were stained and so were his but he didn't care.
"I… remembered… you…" her breathing was becoming harder and faster and more tears were beginning to leak out. She smiled a small smile and lifted her hand slowly up to his face. "You're… all… grown… up… you… are… still… the… same… Naruto-kun… though… I'm… so… happy… that… I'm… with… you…"
At that moment, Gaara ran in with Omoi and the rest of the medical team behind. They all stopped in their tracks when they saw the scene in front of them. Hinata's hand was gently brushing over Naruto's face while he held her in his arms in a sitting position. His bandages were all stained from the blood and his clothes along with Hinata's.
Hinata slowly turned her head and saw Gaara walking towards her. She smiled and extended her other hand towards him.
"Gaara… sama…" Hinata inhaled sharply but didn't let that stop her from speaking. "Please… bring… Tsuki… I… want… to… tell… her… something…"
Nodding, Gaara turned around to leave but found Omoi blocking his way.
"You stay here, Gaara-sama, I'll go get her. You stay here with Hinata-sama." Omoi ran out of the room in a hurry to get the small heiress.
Naruto just sat there with the love of his life in his hands observing everything that was happening through his teary eyes. In his heart he knew that this was the last time he would be able to hold Hinata this close to him and he didn't want to let her go, so he was thankful when Gaara sat down across from him and didn't ask him to put her down.
"The medical ninja should start some procedures…" Inin began saying but quieted down when Hinata locked her eyes with him and gave him a warm smile.
"It's… alright… Inin… can… you… please… leave… Naruto… Tsuki… my… husband… and… I… alone?" Hinata's voice was getting lower and her breathing was getting slower and slower. The bleeding from her ears wasn't stopping but at least she wasn't crying that much blood.
Inin nodded and knelt down in front of Hinata. "It was an honor to serve you," his voice shook a bit but he managed to keep it strong. "I will be outside if I am needed. Excuse me, Hinata-sama, Gaara-sama." With that, Inin got up and walked out of the room.
The rest of the medical ninja's did the same before slowly walking out while wiping their tears. Before the door could close, Omoi ran in with a sleepy looking Tsuki in her arms. At the sight of her mother, Tsuki immediately woke up and jumped out of Omoi's arms and rushed over to her mother. Gaara was able to stop her from jumping on Hinata and held onto his daughter so that she wouldn't hurt Hinata. Omoi bowed down in respect before turning around to leave them alone.
Once the door closed, Tsuki's voice broke the silence with, "Mommy! You're hurt! Daddy, can I kiss mommy's hurt away and make her feel better?"
Gaara nodded. "Be careful, Tsuki," he said in a low voice. He kept his eyes on his daughter as she walked over to her mother and began kissing her cheeks and forehead.
All three adults watched the little girl try and heal her mother. Naruto had to turn away because he knew he would start crying and he didn't want to scare the little girl and ruin this moment. Gaara too turned away because he knew that it would worry Tsuki even more.
"Thank… you… Tsuki…" Hinata sighed slowly and turned her attention to Gaara and extended her arm once more. A painful moan escaped her lips as another stab of pain hit her in the head but she quickly recovered and squeezed Gaara's hand to bring him closer.
Naruto felt like an intruder and wondered if he should put down Hinata and turn away to let the family be but Hinata stopped him.
"Naruto…kun… you…hear…this…too…" She turned back to Gaara and Tsuki and smiled at them before her face changed to show the sadness she was feeling as well as some pain. "I… love… you… both…" she couldn't continue because she began crying. "I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" she screamed, before clutching her head from the pain.
Tsuki became scared and tried to run over to her mother but Gaara held her back in his arms.
"Mommy!" Tsuki began crying, fat tears rolling down her cheek. "Mommy!" Gaara turned Tsuki around and hugged his daughter tight.
Hinata tried her best to control her crying but it really wasn't working. The pain was killing her and all she wanted to do was hug all three of them and keep them close to her. Her gaze moved to Naruto who was facing away from her with tears slowly sliding down his cheeks.
She lifted her hand and touched the blonde's cheek softly. "Naruto…I… loved… you… too… forgive…me… for… not…"
Gaara looked up when he heard her say that and felt his heart stop when he saw Hinata's hand falling from Naruto's cheek to her chest. His green eyes widened and the whole world seemed to have stopped moving.
Naruto sat there, frozen, tears no longer fell out of his eyes and his blue eyes were widened just staring down at Hinata. He felt numb all over and didn't even want to move because if he did, then he would find out that this was reality and he didn't want it to be. Hinata's warm body was still in his arms and as he continued to look down at her, he noticed how peaceful she looked right there. Her eyes were closed and her mouth wasn't smiling nor showing any emotion, it was just there. Her hair was pushed aside from her face but some strands had freed themselves and were hanging. Her right arm was extended out towards Gaara, who still held onto Hinata's hand, while her left hand was resting on her chest.
"Is mommy sleeping?" If it weren't for Tsuki's voice, they would have continued to be in silence.
Neither Gaara nor Naruto wanted to leave but they both knew that Tsuki was too young to understand what was happening.
"Tsuki, mommy needs to rest right now." Gaara's voice broke and a sob escaped, allowing tears to start falling from his eyes.
"Daddy are you hurt too?" Tsuki asked, placing her hand on her father's head.
"Let's go look for your Omoi." A little composed, Gaara slowly got up from the chair and before placing his wife's hand down, he gently squeezed it. She looked like a sleeping princess, he thought, as he turned around and walked out with his daughter.
Naruto too got up from the seat and gently laid Hinata down on her bed. He still felt numb and couldn't bring himself to do anything but just continue to stare at her. Tears leaked out of his eyes and he eventually began making his way out of the room. After closing the door behind him, he fell to the floor on his knees and cried.
--
"Naruto Nii-chan! You came! Just like you promised," fifteen year old Tsuki said, as she walked towards Naruto, who was standing in front of a small well decorated grave.
"Well I did promise to come by every year," Naruto scratched the back of his head and smiled.
"That's good that you're a man of your word."
"Of course I am, I'm Uzumaki Naruto!" Naruto laughed. "You should know that by now, Gaara."
Thirty-five year old Gaara of the Dessert walked up to Naruto and his daughter, who were both standing in front of his wife's resting spot.
Twelve years had passed since that tragic day in where Hinata had breathed her last breath. It had been hard on everyone, including the village of Konoha. Hinata was seen off the way a princess should wearing a beautiful lavender dress with her Konoha ninja protector tied around her neck. Both Naruto and Gaara didn't want to say their goodbyes but they knew they had to. The woman of their lives was taken away and the only thing that was left was a scar that felt un-healable.
"I promise you, Hinata, that I will become Hokage and I will erase your name on the traitor list as well as the whole Sand Village. I promise you." Tears fell out of Naruto's eyes as he kneeled down in front of the freshly dug grave. "I never got a chance to tell you how much you meant and will continue to mean me. I'm so stupid to have never noticed you before and I'm sorry. I love you."
"How is ninja school, Tsuki?" Naruto asked, smiling down at the young teen. It was amazing how much Tsuki resembled her mother. The only difference was the eyes and the hair color, but other than that she was a mini Hinata.
"What do you mean, ninja school? I will be participating in the Chuunin exams that will be held in Konoha this summer!" She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a smirk that she'd learned from her aunt Temari.
Gaara laughed at this because he knew what was coming.
"How old are you? Fifteen? And you're still a Genin? Ha! Your father, mother and I participated in the Chuunin exams at age 12 and you're barely doing that now! Slow poke," Naruto teased.
Tsuki rolled her eyes and shrugged. "You were still a Genin at my age though, so I don't feel bad being this old. Ha!" With that Tsuki turned around and walked closer to her mother's grave to pay her respects.
Naruto laughed and walked up to Gaara who was just shaking his head with amusement.
"Temari is doing a good job in giving her attitude," Naruto said, looking back at Tsuki, who was talking to the tombstone with a big smile on her face and a red blush.
"I know, I keep telling my sister to tone it down but you know how women are. Especially those who are married to lazy guys." Gaara grinned. "Who knew those two would hook up and start a family?"
Naruto shrugged. "I was surprised when I heard it was with him, but he's a good guy." The blonde ran a hand through his hair before glancing back at Hinata's resting spot and back to Gaara. "Listen, Granny Tsunade along with the elders are beginning to talk about the next Hokage. Sakura-chan told me that I should start getting ready. I asked her why but she just gave me a smile and left me with that thought." Naruto pocketed both of his hands in his pockets and continued talking. "Once I'm Hokage, we'll both make sure that things are back to the way that they should be."
Gaara nodded and moved his gaze towards his daughter who was now waving her arms in the air while talking. He turned back to Naruto and said, "I like that. It will make things less complicated for Tsuki's future as well as the future for both or our villages. You'll make a great Hokage."
"The best one in all of history," Naruto grinned. "Well I have my ANBU assignments waiting for me back in Konoha so I better be leaving now. I'll come back as soon as I can, if I don't, I'll be here for sure next year on this same date, like always."
"Alright, you go and do that." Gaara was about to add something but Tsuki came running back.
"You're leaving Naruto-niichan?" she asked, pouting.
"Yeah, I am. I've got some things to do."
"Alright, but you'll be back next year, right?" she asked, her long red hair waving in the wind.
"I promise." And with that, Naruto began making his way down the hill back to his life.
"Come daddy, you need to visit mommy!" Tsuki grabbed Gaara's hand and together they walked back to Hinata's tomb.
Starry: How was it? Yeah, I actually cried writing it... I imagined it so perfectly like an anime episode. It also sucks that I killed off Hinata on her birthday... yeah I'm the worst. I added the ending as a little finishing thing so you all knew what happened to Gaara, Naruto and Tsuki. Haha Temari doesn't want Tsuki to be as shy as her mother so yeah. Cute, neh? Meow! And yes... I'm a Shikamaru x Temari fan... don't flame me for that... Ino x Shikamaru is growing on me though so yeah. I've actually started writing another fic and that one will surely be Hinata x Naruto (only) ... I think?... so yeah. I don't know when I'll upload it though so yeah. It's called, "Oh, Brother" So be on the lookout for that one. I hope you all enjoyed it and will re-read it sometime in the future. Please review and tell me what you thought, thanks!
- Starry