With You in the Future

699.7 (Part 4)

The street lighting by the streep lamps, Hinata arrived at her house gates. She then noticed an ink arrow beautifully drew on the floor pointing inside the house. Curious, she climbed the few stairs then opened the door.

No lights were on. No sounds were heard. Her eyebrows raised. Was Naruto out?

"You should go back home Hinata. Naruto is waiting for you." her father had said to her when he arrived at the meeting.

She had found her father's attitude oddly relaxed today.

She then saw another arrow pointing inside the kitchen. Once she had removed her shoes, Hinata made her way towards the kitchen, opened the door and noticed that the dining table was set. Surprised, she stepped in the room and a smelt of half-cooked, half-burnt food around her. Looking at the sink, she saw dirty saucepans. Did he cook?

The thought made her smile. She knew Naruto wasn't really skilful at cooking. Having doubts about the edibility of the meal, she approached the table, but saw another arrow on the coffee table.

Once in the sitting room part of the house, she brushed the arrow on the table. The drawing was still fresh.

"Naruto?" she finally dared to call

"I'm here! On the patio." he added.

Her head followed his voice from outside and her hair gently whipped her back as if it was pushing her towards the french window she opened before seeing Naruto sitting cross-legged on the floor.

She tentatively approached him before noticing flowers recovering the floor, their strong perfume giving her the feeling to be in a true field.

Still staring at the Hokage lighting by the full moon, Naruto hadn't landed his eyes on her yet. However, as soon as she was close to him, he caught her wrist and forced her to sit next to him. She missed his warm touch so much that she felt chills go through her whole body.

Now both sitting on the floor, Hinata glanced at Naruto's profil, his frown showing he was worried. Feeling somehow guilty, she faced the landscape, playing with her fingers.

I have to tell her.

I have to tell him.

Eventually, she looked down, her hair hiding her face, while Naruto breathed deeply. "I'm sorry" they both said. Then, their gazes met, and seeing each other surprise, they blushed.

"I-I'll go first."

"O-Ok"

"Naruto-kun, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted at you while you were just worried. I should've warned you, I should've left a note or something to explain to you that I just wanted to help my father and my sister-"

"Hinata... Don't worry, I saw you father today." he said with an reassuring smile.

"My father?"

"Yes. He explained to me that every year, the clan leader has to manage the future weddings for the young generation of the clan. He even apologised to me."

"My father... a-apologised?" Hinata couldn't believe her ears.

"Yes. He told me that his mission had lasted far too long and that it shouldn't have happened that way." Naruto looked down, biting the inside of his cheek. "Anyway, this doesn't excuse my behaviour towards you and your clan. I have no rights over you." She was about to argue back. "Let me finish. I just felt this anger rising inside me when I heard you were organising weddings and, like the idiot I am, I thought it was for you." Hinata looked at him with surprise as Naruto scratched the back of head, embarrassed. "You said I was acting like a child-"

"I regret that. I didn't mean to-"

"No", Naruto spoke. "You had to. It made me realise I was really acting like a child."

Still looking at him, Hinata witnessed his sorry, blue gaze turned into determined and confident eyes.

"Hinata. You are not a doll. You're my girlfriend, the woman I love. You're the first one who spent the night with me. You're the first one who cooked for me. You're the one who welcomed me at home. With you, I don't feel empty. That's probably why I acted like that. I was scared someone was trying to take you away from me. I'm so stupid." Naruto added. "I love you. I love you so much and I trust you. I just don't trust others."

As he took her small hands in his, Naruto faced her.

"That's why I want to marry you, Hinata."

Her heart stopped as her pearly eyes were wide open. Did she hear him correctly ?

"I mean... Hyuuga Hinata, would you marry me?" he asked confidently. "I want to show to the whole world that you're the one and only who makes me happy and I'm ready to give up my life for you."

His words echoed in her heart and way before her brain could process what Naruto had just said, Hinata was already nodding her head. Caressing Naruto's cheeks, she felt her tears falling down her cheeks, but despite that, she kissed him before looking at him in his eye. "Yes" she murmured just loud enough for him to hear.

His own heart exploded and way too happy to hold back, Naruto took her into his embrace, crying in her hair.

"Naruto-kun..." Hinata whispered. "Too tight"

"I'm sorry! Dammit, I'm sorry!" he said and let her go. "I"m so-"

Her delicate fingers caressed his whiskered cheek while she kissed him again. Words hadn't their place here. Only their beating heart was enough while they were cuddling.

"Are you hungry?" Naruto asked after a while. "I tried to cook. Choji swore those receipts were easy, but I think I'm just not capable of cooking. So I went out to order some ramens at Ichiraku but if you want something else-"

"Ramens sound great." she assured and Naruto smiled, relieved.

"So, you saw Choji, didn't you?" Hinata asked as Naruto nobbed. "And the flowers are from Ino?"

"Do you like them? She tried to explain their meaning to me but I forgot" Naruto confused.

"They're beautiful." Hinata smiled cutely. "So, I won't surprise everyone tomorrow when I'll say that we're engaged?" She couldn't believe it. Was she dreaming?

Naruto blushed and shocked his head, "Even your father knows." he added. "So I have to be present to one of those meetings like the one I disturbed."

Hinata understood now why her father wanted her to go home. She heard Naruto laughing next to her. "I'm an idiot."

She saw him hit his forehead with his hand.

"You're my idiot." she murmured as she leaned in a bit more against him.

Under the moonlight, she was so beautiful, so perfect before his eyes overflowing his love for her that he caressed her face and, before kissing her with that same passion, he promised her eternal happiness.