Chapter 5

"Hinata! Stay still!" Ino whined and tightened her grip on Hinata's chin, causing her to yelp and shake her head even more.

"It itches!" She complained and took one more attempt at shaking her head away, which was squashed futilely as Haku jumped in and aided Ino.

"Thank you, Haku."

"No problem." He grinned and pressed his cheek against Hinata's. "Good god, girl, you're gorgeous."

"Impressive use of alliteration." Hinata giggled and squeezed her eyes shut to prevent foundation and various other forms of makeup from blinding her as Ino brutally applied it against her itching skin viciously.

"Honey, I am impressive." He stood up and flexed his muscles proudly. "I am the definition of a hottie with a body." He wriggled his eyebrows in the mirror, which sent Hinata in another round of giggles.

Ino growled at the two, "Haku! Stop messing around! You're not making putting on her makeup any easier!" She gripped Hinata's chin tighter, causing a small yelp come from Hinata as she wormed around in her chair.

"Ino, that hurts…" Hinata whined and glanced up at Haku for help.

"Sorry, hon, I'm afraid this must be done. We want your date to be so wowed that he'll be tongue tied and frozen stiff." He nodded and held her still.

"Why?" The pleading wasn't going to get her anywhere, sadly.

"Because," Ino teased and tickled Hinata's ear with the brush, "Then he won't be tempted to stick his tongue down your throat and grope you. He can look all he wants though." Both she and Haku shared a grin that Hinata frowned at.

"Naruto isn't like that though!" Hinata protested and nearly cried with relief when Ino let go of her chin, but remembered the long and painful process to get all of the makeup on and tears would only ruin it. She was firmly against going through that again. "Besides, Naruto's only taking me because I needed a date…and he's a friend." She thought about that for a second, and then decided, "Kind of."

"'Kind of'?" The two asked, their grin widening.

"You two are my only real ones!" Hinata insisted and wrung her hands together, suddenly feeling stupid.

Ino's eyes watered and Haku burst into tears as both of them wrapped their arms around her in a tight bear hug. "Hinata!" Ino cried, "I love you!"

"Me too! You are the cutest thing ever." Haku sobbed into her shoulder and patted her head.

"Guys," She whined and struggled against them, "You're going to mess up my makeup and I don't want Ino to hurt me some more!" She returned the hug nonetheless.

"My little girl's all grown up." Haku wiped away a tear from his eye and leaned against Ino who absentmindedly patted his head.

"You really do look gorgeous." Ino smiled softly and looked like she might be able to cry too.

"I remember," Haku was now choking back more sobs as he held Hinata's head in his hands. "When we first met in detention and you were this meek, silly thing." He pulled her into a tight hug that seemed more for his benefit than hers. "Now you're a strong, gorgeous woman who can nearly take care of herself."

Hinata laughed uneasily, if only they knew. She wasn't strong, nor was she capable of taking care of herself; it was Haku and Ino who still did everything for her. Everyday weighed on her heavily like life was a burden; it took her so much just to get out of bed everyday and pull a smile on for everyone believe. Everyday since The Departure.

"You're so pretty!" Ino wailed and joined the hug again. "If Naruto hurts you I'll rip out his balls and shove them up his ass before shoving them down his throat!"

Hinata laughed and rested herself against them. It was times like these when the pain was dulled and numbed like ice; it was easy to breathe and remember why she was still alive. It was for these people.

She patted their backs and said, "You guys are acting like I'm leaving you. I'm only going to prom--with you guys for that matter!"

Ino gave her a smile that seemed too sad for such an occasion. "Yeah, I guess."

The doorbell rang, ruining the moment and causing fire to blaze in Ino and Haku's eyes. They looked at each other in the way that Hinata sometimes wondered if they were mentally communicating and grinned in a way almost…feral.

"It's go time!" The shouted and pumped their arms in the air.

Hinata laughed again and followed the two and their crazy antics down the stairs where they were pushing at each other to peer through the eye hole at what Hinata supposed was her date.

"Guys!" She pushed the two away and opened the door to graciously welcome the boy in the house.

She was nearly stunned to see how…good Naruto looked. His hair looked tamer and his eyes looked so much bluer in his incredibly dashing suit. Yet…she involuntarily began to go back to the part of her brain that she had intentionally blocked out that said, "He's still not as handsome. Not by a long shot."

Pain. It shot through every part of her with that thought and she used all of her might to push it back into the vault. Plastering a shy smile on her face, she greeted the boy.

He grinned back at her and stuck his arm that held a large bouquet of beautiful flowers. "I didn't know what type would be the best…so I just got the biggest and brightest one."

"You're supposed to get her a corsage, dumbass." Ino snapped dryly.

"No, no." Hinata took the flowers from him and gathered them near her face to smell. "I really like them; they're much better than a single flower." She smiled at him, "Thanks, Naruto."

"No problem."

She scanned him again, using extreme caution this time. "You look really good, Naruto."

He seemed to finally see her and stared, his mouth open slightly and he reached out to lightly hold a strand of her curled hair between his fingers.

"Wow." He said, "You look…" He opened and closed his mouth several times, searching for the right words. "You look great."

At that moment, indignant shouts and slaps assaulted Naruto from the sides.

"What do you mean, great? She looks stunning."

"Hey, buddy! Hands off! You can look, but don't touch."

"Apologize!" Both demanded and slapped his arms harshly once more.

The boy cowered behind raised arms and whimpered, "Okay! Okay! I'm sorry!"

"To her." They pointed at Hinata who was frowning at the two melodramatic teens as she put the flowers in a conveniently empty vase placed beside her.

Naruto gathered her hands in his and gave a genuine look of apology to the girl. "I'm really sorry, Hinata. You looking incredibly stunning and I promise not to touch your hair that probably took a zillion years to make like that."

"Thank you." Haku sniffed and crossed his arms.

"I said not to touch!" Ino shrieked and slapped at Naruto's knuckles.

"Ino!" Hinata whined and gripped back Naruto's hands that were turning red from Ino's attacks. "He's my date. He's going to touch me." She and Naruto turned a bright red at that which Haku chuckled at. "Not like that." She added quickly.

"No!" Naruto denied loudly. Embarrassedly. "I promise!"

"Anyways." Hinata brushed her cheeks with the back of her wrists as if to rid them of the blush. "Ino, you can't beat on my date after all I had to do to get him to be it."

"You didn't have to do that much, other than ask." Naruto insisted.

Hinata blushed and ignored that. It had been hard. As much as Haku thought that she had grown up strong and independent, she was still shy ole Hinata who found talking to boys, much less asking them to prom, so hard. "Um, yeah. You didn't have to apologize, by the way."

"Of course he did!" Haku persisted with loud and dramatic arm waves. "You aren't some trash to be handled around! You are a beautiful masterpiece!"

"Can we go now?" Hinata asked quickly and dropped the hands she hadn't realized she was still holding.

"Sure." Naruto grinned and held out his arm. "I suppose if we do this, we do this the traditional way, right?"

"He's not totally stupid then, I guess." Haku rolled his eyes and held out his arm too for Ino who nodded and hooked her arm against his, patting it idly.

Hinata looked at Naruto's smiling, expectant face and wished with all her heart that he was the one she could fall for, the one that would make her heart pump ten times the speed whenever she thought of him. Alas, she was cursed to be a stupid, masochistic girl who just could not let go. Tentatively, she took his arm and tried leaning her head against his shoulder, wondering if this is what she should do.

He looked down at her, surprise faintly glowing in his eyes, but disappearing behind his usual roguish grin. They left the house and walked down the path that led to the limousine rented by courtesy (more like threat of Haku and Ino's wrath) of Naruto, followed and watched closely by the dynamic duo.

He held the door open for her and motioned her in before sliding in beside her. They waited for Ino and Haku to enter before having it closed again and driving away.

Ino and Haku examined the inside of the vehicle closely before giving Naruto a reluctant nod. "I suppose you did fine this time, Uzumaki." Haku crossed his arms and glared at the boy.

Naruto grinned back. "Well, I'm glad to have met your standards, guys."

"I'm a lady, not a man or guy." Ino snarled, "And you met them just minimally."

He shrugged. "Still met, though." He wrapped an arm around Hinata who reluctantly moved closer to him with a blush across her high cheekbones and realized she did enjoy the feeling. She glanced up at Naruto who grinned at Haku and Ino's snarling expressions.

"Don't touch!" They yelled angrily at the boy who seemed to be a likely target to attack anytime soon.

"Haku! Ino!" The exasperated girl within Naruto's hold cried and held onto him. "Come on! There's no need to be so overprotective, though I really appreciate your guys' concern."

The two gave each other uncertain glances before slowly backing down in there seat to silently glare at Naruto who had leaned his head against Hinata's.

"So…" Naruto coughed in order to eliminate the stifling awkward silence. "Why didn't you bring a…well, no offence Haku, but it's no secret that you're gay--a straighter date to the prom? I'm pretty sure you had the captain of the football team and basketball team at your feet begging in the cafeteria the other day, didn't you?"

Ino crossed her arms and stared out the window. "To them I'm merely a face with boobs." She cupped said part of her anatomy and pursed her lips. "An incredibly and undeniably pretty one though." She grinned at Hinata who felt something like concern flash through her mind. Ino's previous word seemed to serious not to have it bother her.

"Besides. Us two," She amiably wrapped an arm around Haku who grinned. "Will have an easier time keeping an eye on you two if we go together."

Hinata sighed and closed her eyes, nearly enjoying the atmosphere around her. It was stifling and slightly uncomfortable, sure, but it was filled with the concern of people who loved and cared for her. For that, she would willingly go through for it.

She glanced up at her date for a moment and examined the hardened lines across the face she once remembered to be so round and childish. She remembered once upon a time when she had never met That Boy, the ridiculously large crush she had on the boisterous blonde. He made her smile and inspired life in her. Like she said, it had only been a short, silly crush, but enough to make her breathing quicken when he had been around her.

He looked down back her and gave her a grin, then brushed aside some of her hair to whisper quietly, "You know, I hope you don't find this offensive…but I do enjoy teasing and pissing off your friends. I've never seen such violent and funny reaction."

Hinata looked back up at him with a frown, one to which he gave her a guilty look and continued, "I mean…that's just in my nature, I was voted class clown for as long as I can remember. So, I'm sorry if what I do offends you. I don't want you to be mad or upset at me, so just…tell me to stop if I cross the line."

Hinata's turned her face away from him and stared out of the window. She really had hoped that Naruto was a better guy than that. He wasn't bad or anything, but he enjoyed a laugh at other people's expenses a little too much. She hated being a teenager and experiencing all the necessary stuff that comes with teenage years such as stupid boys hyped up on testosterone and catty queen bees of the school.

Speaking of catty queen bees, Hinata was not exactly surprised when Sakura stopped being so mean to her after The Departure. Of course, things were not at all still warm and fuzzy between the two, Sakura, when the chance occurred, she would take no time in making Hinata's self esteem plummet. But at least she was no longer going out of her way to do so; Hinata figured it was partly because of her slight fear of Ino's wrath and ability to snatch the title of Queen from her, but mostly because she no longer had any reasons to be jealous of the quiet weird girl.

She glanced at Ino who had taken a moment from her glaring at Naruto to play with Haku's long hair. He smiled at her and tugged at a strand of her hair in turn. Even with the scowl on her face, her beauty was undeniable. Long, pale blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes and aristocratic cheekbones. In Hinata's opinion, she was by far the prettier one compared to Sakura whose beauty seemed fake.

A small gasp was elicited from Hinata when she felt lips press against her temple and a nose nuzzle her hair. She became rigid and had no clue what to do in this situation. It was by no means a feeling she disliked…but she certainly wasn't comfortable with it.

"You smell really good, Hinata." Naruto purred against the skin near her ear and sent shivers across her bare shoulders.

Without warning, Haku had pounced from his seat and grasped the collar of Naruto's suit roughly. "If you continue using Hinata just to piss us off…or even just for your sick, dirty pleasure, I will gladly show you what pain really means." He glared at Naruto in such an intensely overprotective masculine way that Hinata momentarily forgot that he was gay and remembered he actually did have testosterone somewhere in his body.

Naruto blinked, and before he could actually say anything, the limo came to a stop at the curb of the hotel. Haku pushed him back angrily and stormed out of the limo with Ino just angry on his heels.

"So…let's go, then." Naruto said awkwardly and gently pulled Hinata out with him. She nodded and followed him out meekly.

Once out of the limo, he held her hands and bowed his head, whispering, "I'm really sorry, Hinata. I know I already told you that it's in my nature, but I don't mean to take it as far as it usually goes." His voice sounded strained as he said this.

Hinata grasped his hands back firmly and gave him a small smile. She knew he grew up without parents, a terrible situation that must've triggered his crave for attention. Hesitantly, she kissed his cheek and looked at him. "I forgive you, Naruto. Just d-don't do it again, alright? You did promise not to touch, after all."

He stared at her with wide eyes and brought his hand up to his cheek where she had placed the light kiss. The way that he stared at her made her want to cry; he was so lonely. He had friends, she knew (he was, after all, one of the Popular), but none even compared to Ino and Haku who were her life support, the ones who she considered her blood. She wanted to be that friend to him; she wanted him to have someone to lean on.

"I--I'm here for you, if you need it, o-okay?" Hinata insisted with a flushed face.

Naruto pulled her into a tight hug, careful not to touch her hair at all, and whispered, "I know, Hinata. I know, and I wish I could've done more for you. If I had the choice, you would be the happiest girl in the world because you deserve it."

"Come on!" Ino shrieked from the entrance of the glittering hotel that had been stunningly made over for their prom night. She waved her arm urgently next to Haku who was frowning at Naruto and trying to convey utter abhorrence and wish to kill with his eyes rather successfully, actually.

Naruto and Hinata looked at each other momentarily before Hinata trotted up to her friends, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry."

Ino glanced up at Naruto who had decided slowly walk his way over, obviously catching the hint that his presence was not wanted near the still bristling girl and boy and scrunched her perfect eyebrows together. "I saw you kiss him, Hinata. If you really like him…I won't do anything." She looked down at Hinata and held her face between her hands, "But remember you could do so much better. You deserve so much better than what's coming."

Hinata remembered something along the same lines that Naruto had said. 'Deserve better.' What made her so great? She hadn't ever done anything worthy of such a thing, not at all. Nonetheless, she smiled back at Ino reassuringly. "I don't like him like that, I just…I just don't want him to suffer anymore."

"Prom isn't going to wait just for us, let's go in." Haku grinned at the petite girl and held out his arm for Ino who gracefully took it. "You should go back to your date; he's looking a little lost there." He jerked his thumb back to Naruto.

Indeed he did, he was wandering around in a circle, staring up at the cloudless sky that already held many stars. She walked up to him and beckoned him to come with her into the brightly lit hotel.

"Do you ever feel insignificant? Like, what do we have to do in the big plan of…everything? Even those who think they have power…they're really nothing." Naruto continued to stare up at the night sky and closed his eyes. "I just want to do something that makes a difference."

"There were many people who made a difference," Hinata stood next to him and looked up. "And though they thought they thought they were doing for a good cause…really…" She looked at him. "They weren't. Think of Hitler, the terror he created. Think of the man who fathered the atomic bomb, the peace he thought it would bring. Would you really want to for that price?"

His shoulders drooped and he walked with her towards the inside of the hotel that the school had entirely rented out where loud music blasted. He stopped several feet short of the door.

"I don't know."

--

Hinata shifted uncomfortably and tried staying as far away from the mass of wriggling bodies as possible. The heat in the room was becoming unbearable with the sweat and body heat coming off the bodies that were squished together and moving against each other obscenely. She wrinkled her nose and leaned against the wall, this wasn't what she was hoping to get out of 'the most magical night of her life' (The theme for the prom).

She looked over to the other end of the hall where most of the attention was directed. There was Sakura, moving her way between boy after boy, stealing dates and breaking hearts. Hinata's eyes furrowed as she watched this; couldn't she see the hurt she was causing those stupid boys' dates? It was as if with a single shift of her hips, she controlled their hearts, toying and playing with them, leaving them panting and wanting more.

Hinata forced her eyes away from the scene and fanned herself. Where was that drink that Naruto promised? She looked back across the dance floor and was not at all surprised to find him dancing with Sakura, running his hands up and down her body with the heat and urge that made Hinata want to throw up. Smiling wryly, she crossed her arms across her chest. She wasn't sure what to make of him, at one point, he could act like the boy she wanted to befriend, and at another, he would act like such a…male.

Letting a hiss pass through her gritted teeth, she pulled her hair to one side of her neck, letting the other cool and air out. Her closed eyes suddenly flashed open as she felt lips brush against the bare part of her neck and breath against it.

"You taste the same."

There was no way to describe how it felt to have your heart stop. It…no…there was no chance. But she knew that voice. She knew it.

Desperately, she whirled around and found nothing but the blank wall. She cried out in anguish, knowing her cry would be unheard from beneath the deafening music. A flash of red caught the corner of her eye, and she went barreling into the mass of bodies to find it, not caring if shoes were being trod on, or if the same were happening to her.

He was here.

Hands placed themselves on her hips and lips replanted themselves on the side of her neck. Hinata leaned back into the firm body that held her and dared not turn around for fear he might disappear again. She didn't care if this was a trick of her desperate mind; she wanted--needed--this so badly.

"I couldn't help it. I had to break my promise." He rasped against her neck and gave a sharp gasp as she swayed along with him, pressing further against him.

"Thank you." She whispered and lifted her hands back to run them across the planes of his familiar face.

His hands removed themselves from her waist and gently gripped her wrists. "But it was a moment of weakness…I couldn't not see you. I couldn't stop. And for that, I'm so sorry."

His presence was suddenly gone and Hinata snapped back to her desperation. Panicking, she hurled herself out of the crowd, looking around frantically. A figure made its way out of the door and she knew in an instant that it was him; no one could move with that same pride and grace.

She sprinted outside and was met with an empty parking lot. She ran into it, searching around for any trace of him, anything.

"Coward! Don't you dare do that to me! Come back and show me your face!" When her screams were only met with silence, she collapsed onto her knees and began sobbing into her palms, scratching at her face and scalp.

"You coward!"

--

I honestly don't know what I'm doing with this story. If this is the last chapter I write, then don't be surprised. But….if you guys have suggestions for the plot, by all means, suggest away. :D

Ciao,

MissLe