The Last Chinoike [A NARUTO LOVE STORY]

We're Way Past Smitten

Hayami had long since drifted off to sleep, Naruto's steady heartbeat continued to be the only sound filling her ears. As the steady metronome gave the girl a blissful sendoff, Naruto let his lightly calloused hands tangle themselves in Hayami's hair. Slivers of moonlight drifted into Naruto's living room, shining a metaphorical spotlight onto Naruto and the slumbering Hayami.

He looked down at her, smiling to himself. 'I'm the luckiest guy in Konoha. Hayami said she really likes me, like, she actually likes me. We even laughed about how we should've just blurted that out earlier!' He gently tugged Hayami closer, encircling the girl in his protective arms.

That night, while Naruto was stealing glances between Hayami and the beautiful star-littered sky, Hayami was having her own moments in her dream. Whenever the girl started to sleep, she naturally would jerk herself awake whenever anyone appeared- friend or foe. From all the months of nightmares, the months of missing her family, and those she's recently bonded with, Hayami naturally spooked herself out of sleeping from time to time.

That night, her brain showed the young lady very vague images of those she knew. Naturally, Hayami opened up her eyes with hastened breaths. Her purple eyes darted around, quickly trying to figure out where she was and if she was in any danger. "W-Where..." The slightly unfamiliar apartment shocked the young woman, causing her anxiety to spike.

Before her fight or flight instinct could force her up, Hayami looked down to her waist to see a tan hand wrapped around her waist. The hand was holding her tightly to another warm body, one that was functioning as a support beam for her during sleep.

Hayami's widening eyes trailed up to glance at a sleeping Naruto. He was sleeping soundly, almost completely relaxed except for the clear and strong hold he had on the girl. She smiled; tears slightly cloudy from the daze of just waking up. 'I'm okay, he's holding me and I'm holding on to him. We're okay.' Hayami continued to remind herself, most of the time her affirmations not taking due to being by herself and receiving no reassurance. However, this time was different as Naruto was there to show her how right she truly was. He showed her, without even knowing how much he was truly doing for her, that they were okay.

She slipped her arms around Naruto's torso, pulling herself closer to him. She peered up at his relaxed features; the unique whisker marks, striking blonde hair, and genuinely warming aura that flowed around him with such ease brought an immediate wave of relief to her psyche. 

After touching a soft kiss to his tanned cheek, Hayami slunk back down into Naruto's inviting hold. She was already holding on to him, and it could've been her tired brain playing tricks on her, but the brunette swore she felt that knucklehead squeeze her in tighter.

The purple-eyed teenager was not imagining it; in fact, it was Naruto who thought he had imagined the gentle kiss that graced his whiskered face. Naruto wasn't fully asleep, far from it actually. An overprotective tendency of his was rearing its head in the young man. Moments prior to Hayami waking up, Naruto was busy trying to make himself fall asleep. The young shinobi continued to worry about Hayami and whether she would be there or not when he woke up in a few hours.

The blond huffed as he scrunched up his face in thought. 'Damn it, why can't I just go to sleep...' Naruto was still thinking to himself, Hayami having fallen asleep a few moments ago on the couch. 'Why can't I just be normal? Why do I always have to be the one who thinks I'm going to get left alone. We really confessed to each other, and that was great, so I know she won't leave... but what if something happens where she has to go to another village? What if she leaves because of what happened with her clan? Or she feels the need to get stronger? Or she feels the need for revenge? What if I'm not enough to keep her here? What if-' His internal rambling was cut off by a tender peck on his cheek.