Ponds and lakes were frozen solid and people could be seen skating on the surface. Snowflakes danced in the skies. One fluttered down slowly onto the Hyuuga's nose. She shook it off and sat in the sidelines, watching the skaters whiz past gracefully on the ice. She sighed.
'If only I could ice-skate...' she thought.
"Hinata-chan!" squawked a familiar voice.
She looked up, blushing furiously when she saw who it was.
"Na-Naruto-kun..." she said shyly.
"What are you doing sitting down?" he asked curiously.
She looked down at her ice-skates resting on her lap.
"I-I-I can't skate..." she murmured, embarrassed, blushing even redder.
"Well I'll teach you!" The blonde looked at her expectantly. Hesitating for a few seconds, she finally got up from her seat.
Hinata fumbled with the laces on her ice-skates. Naruto helped her tie them, and after ten unsuccessful minutes or so, he called Sakura over.
"What, Naruto?" she said with frustration. "I've got-"
"S-S-Sakura-chan... can you help with m-my laces?" stuttered Hinata.
The pink-haired kunoichi softened her tone.
"Whatever you say, Hinata." she said, giving her a warm smile.
She returned it, with Naruto blinking dumbly at the pair. With Sakura's quick fingers, Hinata was ready to skate in a few seconds.
Refusing to even step onto the lake, Sakura managed to persuade her in the end. Gulping, Hinata stepped onto the ice with uncertainty. She wobbled precariously on the surface, crying out before Naruto held her up. Of course, there was nothing to hold onto for support on the sides of the so-called ice rink. Sakura skated off to none other than Sasuke, leaving them two both alone. Naruto grabbed her hand, causing her to stiffen.
"Remember, if you fall, I'll fall, Hinata-chan!" he said, laughing. "Take little steps at first, like this."
He demonstrated it. Hinata followed reluctantly. After practising for half and hour with Naruto patiently praising her, she was ready for the next step.
"Good. Now are you ready to take strides?" She shook her head frantically.
"Aw, come on," insisted Naruto. "That way, you'll never improve."
Hearing this, Hinata quickly took back what she said.
"Easy, now." Hinata hesitantly took a stride, then another, and another. She was sliding slowly across the surface.
"I'm… I'm doing it!" she exclaimed.
Suddenly, she slipped on the ice, dragging Naruto down with her.
"S-sorry, Naruto-kun!" she cried, cheeks burning.
She had landed on top of him.
"It's okay." said the fox boy, rubbing his head.
When attempting to get up, she slipped yet again. Scrambling up to her feet, she held out her two arms to regain balance. Naruto got up and wrung his arms around her waist. Hinata let out a little squeal.
"Try again," he whispered in her ear. "Bend your knees a bit."
An icy breeze chilled her to the bone. She fainted.
Her eyes fluttered open. She got up in her bed, observing her surroundings.
"Hinata… you've finally woken up." The Hyuuga's cheeks burned.
"You're saying my name without an honorific title…"
"You're not stuttering!" he exclaimed.
"Oh! Um… I don't know what to say…" He leant in and gave her a soft yet passionate kiss.
"You don't have to say anything, Hinata."
After a few more practices, she could ice-skate properly and talk… with confidence.
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