Always

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto but I wish I did.

Chapter 2: Dream

A 4-year old blonde haired boy with ocean blue eyes was innocently playing in the sand box. Hoping to see his female best friend soon. Beside him was a 4-year old black haired boy with obsidian eyes. He was also cheerful to be playing with his 'brother'. (A/N: Sasuke's family took Naruto in after his parents died in a car crash when he was 3. You'll know more about it later on in future chapters.)

"Naruto-kun! Sasuke-kun!" A little lavender haired girl with creamy white eyes yelled to her friends. A 5-year old boy with brown hair and creamy white eyes followed close behind her.

"Hey Hinata-chan." A very enthusiastic blonde yelled. "Hey Neji."

"Hey Naruto. Hey Sasuke."

"Hey Neji. Hey Hinata." They began playing in the sand box for about an hour.

"Naru-chan! Sasu-chan! It's time to go!" Mikoto yelled before facing her oldest son Itachi who was 9 and talking with her.

"Hai Okaa-san!" Both yelled in unison.

"Sayonara Neji, Hinata."

"Sayonara Sasuke, Naruto."

"Sayonara Sasuke-kun, Naruto-kun."

"Sayonara Neji! Hinata-chan !Hey Hinata-chan!"

"Hai?"

"When we get older, let's get married." Neji and Sasuke looked at each other. Then at a blushing Hinata.

"Ok Naruto-kun. Let's." Naruto then hugged Hinata to make it 'official'. He then ran to Mikoto and jumped into her arms. Sasuke doing the same with Itachi.

"Guess what Okaa-san? When I get older, I'm going to marry Hinata-chan. We made a promise on that." Naruto said grinning widely. Mikoto and Itachi couldn't help but smile back. Same as Sasuke.

"That's wonderful Naru-chan."

"Way to go bro." Itachi ruffled Naruto's hair. "When is it going to be your turn little brother?" Itachi asked Sasuke. Everyone started laughing at Sasuke's tomato red face. He then saw a cherry blossom tree in full bloom. He gazed at its beauty. "I'm going to marry a girl named Sakura."

Brrriiinnnggg

"groan." A blonde haired boy said while slamming his fist down on his alarm clock to turn it off. He opened his tired, dazed cerulean eyes and stared at the ceiling. Why do I keep having that dream? It's been years since I made that promise. I wonder how she's been since then.

Flashback

Naruto was chatting with some of his football buddies after practice. "Naruto-kun!" Naruto turned his head to see his lavender haired female best friend running towards him. He waved goodbye to his buddies and ran up to Hinata. "Hinata-chan, what's up?" "We need to talk Naruto." "Okay. What about?" "You." "Me?" Hinata nodded her head.

"Doshitte?" "Because you've changed." "Nani? I didn't change." "Yes you did Naruto-kun. You've changed from being a cheerful, caring and goofy self to a heartless, flirty, playboy. You should stop hanging out with those football players." Naruto became furious.

"How dare you say that Hinata! They're my friends and I'll hang out with them if I want to!" By this time the rest of their friends joined them.

"I'm your friend too Naruto-kun! I'm worried about you!" "Well stop!" "No! And the way you treat those girls, it's not right! They're human-beings not your play toys!" By this time Naruto's anger overpowered him. He started beating Hinata all over.

"You're just jealous. You know I never liked you. Never had never will. We were never friends. You're an ugly ass bitch!" He was then grabbed by the shoulder and punched in the face by Neji soon followed by Sasuke and Shikamaru. Hinata stayed lying on the ground with a tear stained face and blood coming from her wounds.

End Flashback

Naruto continued staring at the ceiling. Remembering Hinata's face then, how heartbroken she looked. A pang of guilt now enveloped Naruto. He regretted what he did then. Suddenly his door opened breaking him out of his trance. "Hey Dobe wake up or you'll be late for our first day of senior year." "Hai Teme." Naruto then got up , showered, brushed his teeth and got dressed. He walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Ohayo Okaa-san." Naruto said while kissing Mikoto on the cheek.

"Ohayo Naru-chan. Sit down and have some breakfast." "Hai. Where's Otou-san and Itachi-nii-san?" "They had to go to the police department for something." "Okay then. Ohayo Teme." "Dobe." Both 'brothers' ate their breakfast in silence. Then they started heading towards school. When they reached they walked to their group of friends.

"Hey guys. What's up?" "Not much. The girls are talking about clothes. How troublesome." "Shut up Shika!" Everyone then stared wide-eyed at Ino.

"Shika, Ino? Really?" "Shut up Billboardbrow!" "Make me Ino-pig!" Soon after Ino and Sakura got in an argument which everybody ignored as usual. As everyone was talking, Naruto couldn't help but stare at Hinata who was talking happily with Tenten. She's so…… beautiful. Her smile so sweet. She's so innocent and so kind. As Naruto was thinking about Hinata, she turned her head and their eyes met. Her smile turned into a frown, sadness was shown in her eyes. She turned her head away and walked towards the school. After Naruto saw the sadness in her eyes and walk away, he frowned. He felt a pang of guilt and regret fill him again. His eyes showed regret as he stared at her disappearing figure. I'm such an idiotic jerk. Teme's right. I am a Dobe. As Naruto was beating himself up inside, Neji, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Shino saw the regret and pain in Naruto's eyes and stared at him while he stared at Hinata.

What was that all about?Hinata thought while sitting in calculus with Kakashi-sensei. She was thinking of that earlier event before school started when she caught Naruto staring at her.

"Hey Hinata, what's up? Are you okay?" "Hai Tenten-chan." "Are you sure Hinata-chan?" Hinata glanced at Sakura, thinking for a moment before answering.

"sigh No." "Come on Hinata-chan. We're all best friends. Tell us what's wrong." "Hai Ino-chan. This morning while you and Sakura were arguing and I was talking with tenten, I caught Naruto staring at me. And early this morning I had a dream of back when I was 4 and then after I woke up I remembered freshman year. Also when I saw Naruto staring at me, I think I saw regret in his eyes." The 3 girls stared at Hinata, absorbing what she just told them.

"Wow Hinata-chan." "I know" "You say there was regret in his eyes?" Hinata nodded her head. "I see." "What are you thinking Ino?" "I'll be right back." Ino got up and walked across the room where the guys were in a circle talking.

"Ino? What are you doing here?" "I'm here on business Shikamaru." "What business?" Shino asked. Ino then pointed at Naruto.

"That business." The guys looked at Naruto who looked back confused. "Nani?" "Oh come on. You guys noticed it too right? The regret shown in Naruto's eyes when he looked at Hinata this morning." The guys looked at her, then at Naruto. Neji looked at Naruto with an eyebrow raised asking Naruto to give an explanation. Naruto took a deep breath.

"Fine you caught me. You see during the whole summer I would have the same dream." "What was the dream about Dobe?" "Well Teme the dream was when we were 4, Neji was 5, and it was when we were at the playground." "You mean when you proposed to Hinata?" "Hai." Shino, Shikamaru and Ino looked at each other stunned and then looked at Naruto.

"You proposed to Hinata when you were 4?" Naruto nodded his head. "Wow." "Yeah so anyway this morning I had the same dream and then after I remembered the time in freshmen year and-" "SHUT UP!" "What is it Ino?" "Troublesome women." "Be quiet Shikamaru. Anyways Hinata had the exact same thing happen to her this morning." 4 of the 5 guys stared at Ino.

"It's true. This morning I walked into her room and saw her curled up in a ball on her bed at like 5 in the morning." "Well anyways it was nice talking to you guys. Ja!" Ino skipped away towards the girls again.

"So Ino what did you find out?" "Well, I found out Naruto's been having the same dream as Hinata every single morning during the summer as well as this morning. Also he was taking a trip down memory lane. If you know what I mean." The girls nodded their heads in understanding.

"So that would explain the regret in his eyes." "Exactly Tenten. I think he wants to patch things up with you Hinata. Hinata?" The girls glanced at Hinata. Her head was bent down and her arms were crossed on her desk in front of her. She then got up and walked to the front of the room where Kakashi was at his desk reading his precious Icha Icha. From the corner of his eye he saw Hinata walking towards him. He tilted his book a little so that his eyes could see the approaching girl more.

"Can I help you Hinata?" "Hai, um may I go to the nurse's office?" "Is there something wrong? Are you okay?" Hinata just bent her head down in answer.

"Okay then sure. Go ahead." "Arigato." She then walked out the classroom, out of the school and headed home. She opened the front door, locked it and ran to her room.

The End

A/N: Sorry I didn't update earlier but I did anyway. Better now than never. Please review!