*PAUSED*𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄: Naruhina

15. 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞

Six in the evening & the sky's entrainment was on full display. Hues of coral, princeton, peach, into the fiery shades of a deep pink all burned the sky through the thinning clouds. The sun held front and center , pointed perfection as a nice breeze brought in the close of day. Walking along the parallel bricked path that separated them and the river, nerves danced underneath his skin.

Leaves fell at an easy rhythm, plopping against others and children to the left played in the piles. One day, those would be his and her kids, frolicking around fallen leaves in the heart of the city they love best. In the state they call home. Their conversation was light airy, she was insensible. Not having caught his ambiguous language as of late regarding the topics of home and family.

Several feet away his eye connected with that of his companions, disguised in scarfs, big jackets, anything to not be seen. A cue was made, his heart pounded, suddenly she was stopped by the hold of his hand, the halting of his walk.

"There's something I've been meaning to discuss with you."

Her brows lifted in concern, now all of their fingers were entangled. Coffee and grey exchanged every ounce of love, fear, heart, and infatuation. He watched her eyes expand as he got down, bending on one knee. Several other people paused their park activities to catch the moment.

"I didn't know it was possible to love someone before truly knowing them. I've always been the logical guy, someone who assumed everything could be solved or equated to something else. But you have been my biggest mystery, puzzle, even at times my greatest challenge. I fought what I've felt for you so hard and for so long. Until we found each other as two lonely strangers on the internet, hiding in anonymity but feeling like we'd known each forever. When I found out it was you, the girl I'd spent my whole life crushing on, the girl who made my heart rule my head, I didn't care to try and find a solution any more. It's been you, it will always be you. And I want to spend the rest of my life being crazily in love with you, being everything you could ever want and need to me be."

Tears flooded down her cheeks. Everyone watched with pounding hearts and streaming tears as Neji pulled a black box from his back pocket. "If you'll have me, it'd be the honor of my life to be the man you call your husband..." he opened it, revealing a clean cut diamond ring, "Ten Ten, will you marry me?"

She launched herself into his arms and cried harder in the crook of his neck, "YES! Yes of course I'll marry you!"

Claps and cheers broke out the entire section of the park, to a stopped boat along the river, and nearby cars honking in celebration. Hinata, Sakura, Ino, Rock Lee, Hanabi & some others came out of the crowd to reveal themselves. Hinata got the perfect shots of them against the sunset. Ino brought some tissues, and everyone congratulated them.

Back at the Hyuga house, Hinata prepared a large exquisite dinner for everyone. The house was full with Neji's parents, Ten's folks and the others. The food was served in the large dining room, dessert as well, and everyone reveled into the joy of a couple taking that big step to become man and wife. When they had a moment to get her alone, Ten and Neji secluded Hinata on the back yard deck. "Hinata, there's something Ten and I... well really I have been meaning to ask you."

With the backyard lights shining in their faces, Hinata could see a deep emotion swelling in her cousins eyes. Ten and Neji looked back at each other and then at Hinata. "Of course what is it?"

Neji gulped, grabbing Hinata by her hands. Even then she could literally feel this emotion through her hands. "We want you to plan the wedding."

Blinks of shock took over her lashes. "And we want to get married... as soon as possible."