So I'm not even going to try to give an excuse. I'm losing my inspiration for this story. I had so many ideas about where I wanted go and so far it's not happening. I'm not giving up on this, but updates might be few and far between (I pray the next one won't take near as long) until I get my mojo back. Thanks for all of the encouraging reviews.

Hinata learned a very valuable lesson in those first few weeks alone with Naruto, never ever play Truth or Dare with him. She could still feel her cheeks grow warm remembering the mortifying things he had her admit to. From her first kiss to her most recent sexual fantasy, no subject was too taboo for him. Hinata thinking to turn the tables on the handsome blonde asked personally invasive questions, found that the young man had absolutely no shame; cheerfully recounting his first sexual experience without a hint of a blush in sight. She didn't realize that having the Gamma Sannin for a sensei had broken Naruto of all sense of modesty and embarrassment.

Hearing of Naruto's sexual escapades with many older women further depressed the young heiress. Even though she knew it was impossible she'd always dreamed that Naruto and she would take that final step together, that they would learn the ways of love together. To know that he held the act itself in such low regard bothered the young Hyuuga greatly. She recalled the heated discussion they had several days ago during one of their endless games of Truth or Dare.

FLASHBACK

"So Hinata hit me… what do you want to know?" smirked Naruto. He had every reason to smirk, he always picked Truth, because as he stated he had nothing left to hide, why be ashamed. They were both lying by the pool, unlike Naruto who comfortably dry, Hinata was soaking wet. The sheer orange gown she wore was rendered practically transparent. She'd just emerged from the pool after having completed Naruto's latest dare. He'd dared her to try water walking; needless to say it was an epic failure. In this mindscape, chakra didn't behave normally. It was much harder to manipulate, and even Hinata with her precision control had a hard time.

Hinata couldn't meet Naruto's eyes. Even though Naruto had seen her naked before, it was different now that she was aware of him observing her. However, with her shinobi training, she couldn't help but feel the intensity of his stare. The weight of it felt almost like a caress as it traveled the length of her body, pausing upon her ample bosom. In some twisted fashion, Hinata enjoyed the fact that he found her pleasing to look at. Trying to mask her discomfort, Hinata pulled her hair forward until covered her breasts from view. Naruto just gave her an unrepentant smirk and a wink.

"O-okay Naruto, answer this question for me…Do you regret losing your virginity the way you did?" she asked, unable to look at him directly.

Naruto's brow creased in open confusion. "No, why would I? I had the help of one of the best courtesans in Fire Country, why would I trade that for fumbling around with someone less experienced?" he asked, his voice reflecting genuine curiosity.

"Don't you think it would have been better with someone you cared about, someone you had an emotional investment in?" she demanded.

"Ha…that's just something girls are taught to believe. Can't have you all out there just giving it away right? Let me tell you something Hinata, sex is just sex. It's not this big transcendent epic thing that automatically changes everything around you. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Would it be nice to have feelings for your partner, sure of course it would. But in the end, it all feels the same. Please don't think that love is a prerequisite for sex. Believe me I know, I once slept with this chick that I really couldn't stand, I mean I really disliked her…yet in the end I finished just like I always did. It felt no different" he expounded.

Hinata felt heart broken and horrified at every word. What happened to her Naruto? Who was this callous person wearing her beloved's face?

"But, don't you believe in love Naruto? Don't you believe that there is someone you're meant to be with?" she demanded.

"Of course I believe in love Hinata, I just don't think that you need to be in love to enjoy sex. Don't get sucked into all of the nonsense that the poets peddle; you don't have to be in love for sex to feel good. It's all a matter of biology" he insisted.

"I will not accept that Naruto. I have to believe that giving myself to someone that I love is different than lying with a stranger" she insisted.

Naruto gave a world weary sigh. "Believe what you will Hina, just don't expect things to be all rainbows and fireworks just because feelings are involved. If your partner is skilled enough, you can enjoy sex with someone you don't have feelings for" he said.

"We'll just have to agree to disagree Naruto" she sighed.

END FLASHBACK

That was several days ago. Although the term day was all relative, there was no actual time here. The lack of any form of day/night structure was slowly driving Hinata mad. They needed to find a way out of here. She and Naruto had explored the pavilion that they'd found themselves trapped in. The marble columned structure seemed to be endless. It contained and vast array of rooms, each different than the last. They continued returning to the central courtyard as they had come to call the place they first appeared.

Hinata was once again sitting beside the pool. Idly she twirled the fabric of the sheer orange gown. She was puzzled as to why she appeared wearing this whenever she was pulled into this mindscape. The garment is hardly something she would choose to wear; in fact it was something out of a horny teenage boy's fantasy. That thought brought her up short. This dress was exactly what Naruto would find sexy. It was sheer and in his signature color. Could Naruto have a subconscious control over this place? It was a theory Hinata was eager to test.

Finding Naruto proved to be a challenge.

She found him a while later in what she privately called the green room. The room was a botanist's wet dream. Plants of all kind filled every corner of the room. Hydrangeas mingled with Orchids, which were interspersed by Camellias. Naruto lay beneath a giant cherry blossom tree. He appeared lost in thought. Hinata took a moment to simply watch him. Here was the boy she had fallen in love with. A small smile graced his handsome face, as his golden locks fanned around him.

The cerulean eyes which she spent many a night dreaming of were closed. As she watched, sakura petals from a nearby tree drifted into Naruto's outstretched hand. With her new theory in mind Hinata wondered if it was symbolic of Naruto's thoughts. Before she could step forward, in front of her very eyes a delicate violet iris formed. The flower was a magnificent specimen, its colors were vibrant, and its petals looked velvety soft. Naruto opened his eyes, and tore his attention from the hand holding the cherry blossoms to look at the flower beside him.

Hinata could only stare as he used one finger to stroke the delicate petals. Feeling a flush stain her face, Hinata quietly made her way to Naruto. "Hey Hinata, I was just thinking about you" he smiled. "Where you also thinking of Sakura, Naruto?" she asked. Naruto gave her a surprised glance.

"How did you know that?" he asked.

To Hinata, this was evidence of her theory. This entire place was Naruto's mindscape; it would make sense that he has some control over it, unconscious though it may be. Hinata explained her theory to Naruto. He frowned.

"If I'm in control of everything, then how come I can't get us out of here?" he wondered aloud.

"Maybe…maybe it won't look like an actual door. Earlier when you were thinking of Sakura and me, your mind conjured up a representation of us. Maybe the exit will be the same" Hinata replied.

"Well Hina, let's get looking" he said jumping up. Before he could move, her voice stopped him cold.

"So what exactly were you thinking about me earlier?" she asked.

They searched for weeks for an exit. In between searches, they continued to learn more about each other and grow closer. Hinata learned of Naruto's love of gardening while he in turn learned of her love of cooking. They also learned things about the other that they didn't like. Hinata learned of Naruto's job as co-author of his master's bestselling series of written pornography, and he was disgusted to learn that Hinata didn't like ramen. Hinata continued to practice her chakra control, gradually getting better. She was now able to traverse the expanse of the pool at least once before falling in. Naruto laughed at her at first, but eventually he began to join her.

It was during one of these practice sessions that something truly unexpected happened. Hinata was once again standing in the middle of the pool; all of her focus on maintaining her position above the water. She was so focused that she didn't notice Naruto watching her. It had become one of his new favorite pastimes. Every move was pure elegance, deceptive strength, a subtle power infused with every stance, all imbued with an unconscious sexiness. He found himself increasingly more attracted to her. It wasn't just her body, although that was a large part of it. As he got to know her, he found her to be sweet, smart, and possessing a very dry sense of humor. Almost against his will, he found himself joining her in the middle of the pool.

She must have sensed him coming, because she did not tense at the touch of his hand upon her arm, nor did she resist when he pulled her against him; her soft curves fitting perfectly against the hard plains of his body. She turned sharply in his arms, facing him with barely a hairs breath between them.

"What are you doing Naruto?" she whispered, her silver white gaze boring into him.

"I don't even know anymore. We agreed to be friends, but I find myself thinking about you in ways that are decidedly less than…platonic. I…I think…what I'm trying to say is that I think that I could see myself in a relationship with you" he said, his voice low and full of disbelief that he actually said the words that just came out of his mouth.

Her gaze snapped to his, white boring into blue.

"W-what do mean Naruto? We agreed that we would be friends, that my infatuation on with you was one sided, and I accepted that. Why are you changing your mind now? Is it because we are trapped here and I'm the only female available to you?" she asked.

He felt his anger surge at her accusation. He felt his eyes narrow and brow furrow.

"Don't look at me like! You have to admit with your callous views on sex and relationships in general it is a legitimate concern" she snapped before he could reply.

Her words stilled his tongue.

"I think that our forced confinement has confused you Naruto, being stuck here with me has only made you think that you want to be with me. When we get out of here, you will find your attraction to me fading…trust me" she said, trying to pull away.

Before she could get away, he pulled her back into his arms and claimed her berry red lips as his own. He felt her tense and heard her muffled squeak before she surrendered to his tender assault on her mouth. The kiss lacked his usual finesse; using more teeth and tongue .He released his grip on her shoulder and trailed his hand up the tender column of her throat, changing the angle of the kiss.

Naruto allowed his tongue to explore the warm cavern of her mouth. It was obvious to him that sweet little Hinata Hyuuga hadn't been kissed all that much if ever. Gentling his touch, his coaxed her tongue to slide sensually against his. He was rewarded with a small feminine moan of desire.

So caught up in their exploration of each other, they didn't notice the pool they were standing on fill with blinding white light. It was not until the water began sloshing over their feet that they pulled apart breathless. The application of chakra to their feet became much harder to maintain in the wildly churning water. Naruto was the first to fall, Hinata quickly followed.

Desperately he grabbed her hand as they struggled toward the pool edge. They found themselves caught in the center which had become a swirling whirlpool, much like the ones his mother's village was named for. Deeper and deeper they sank. Neither screamed and both continued to fight, their training not allowing them to panic. The more they struggled the faster they sank.

Their eyes met as they shared one last desperate look, by mutual decision they stopped fighting. Naruto pulled her close and they shared one last wet frantic kiss before the whirlpool pulled them under.

Yeah, I lost all of my notes for this story so I'm having to rewrite it. I have no idea where I was going with them being trapped in Naruto's mindsape, nor how the hell they were supposed to get out. It feels good to be back and posting again. I'm already working on the next chapter, so hopefully it will be up by the first of the New Year….