Still Falling for You [NH year 2020]

February - Hands

Astonished, she looked at Naruto and was surprised to see him move his head in rhythm with the music. Eyes closed shut and bottom lip stuck between his teeth, his fingers were moving in the air like he was playing the guitar. If for her, she was out of her element because she couldn't hear and only feel, for him, it was like he was living the best time of his life while listening to the instrumental piece. For the first time, she saw him relaxed and passionate by something. She didn't know him very well yet it was like another Naruto - a one who think, hear and feel only the music that surrounded them - was in front of her.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes and, like if Hinata wasn't here, he stood up and ran to a paper ball on the floor before picking it up. He opened it, read it and threw it away. For three time in a row, he did the same before founding the one he was looking for. Quickly, he grabbed his pencil out of his pocket and wrote what came in his mind. Proud of him, he came back at his sit in front of her and showed her what he had done.

With words written down on a new paper, he explained to her that he was having serious writer's block for weeks on a song but listening loudly to the beginning of the demo tack had helped him. He wanted to tell her that it was her who gave him this idea but, after several minutes, Naruto was struggling. It was like he was writing a book just for a small explanation and, once he let go of his pencil, he took out his phone.

When he put it on the floor, Hinata noticed the signs of the sign language and she understood that the few gestures he had used with her, he had learnt them all by himself in order to talk to her. Like that, she hadn't had to adapt herself to him like she was usually asked to do.

That vision of him shook her even more than the vibrations coming from the floor and going through her body and even if she never saw Naruto like a bad boy, his little attentions towards her made her admiration for him grow. Despite their numerous differences, she was comfortable with him, she felt like she could be herself and she hoped he felt the same as her. 'Because if he showed me this place, it's mean he trusts me, right?' That realisation made her blush and, seeing him struggling, she caught his hands between hers to catch his attention.

Since that very day, Naruto learnt the sign language, Hinata enjoyed to lay on the room floor to be able to « listen » to the different pieces of music the band created and, little by little, the two of them never left each other.

Spreading all of their afternoon in the basement of the Sabertooth, she would help him when writer's blocks was striking and it also happened that she would run into the rest of the band that Hinata learnt to know. She loved to look at them creating something so powerful that it linked her - the one who used to be on the side because she couldn't connect with what was surrounding her - to the world. And did she have to say that they were good? No need, the mood at the bar during concert nights spoke for her.

Living now in this reality, Hinata could only admire those four teenagers in particular the writer and second guitarist of the band. She wanted to help him, she wanted to show him that, with his passion for music, he didn't have to envy the others. But, how can she confess her feeling to him first when she never heard the words « I love you » ?

End of the flashback

Ever since, they never missed an afternoon and, usually, if one of them couldn't be free - because of family or because of work - they let the other know. But, yesterday, Naruto didn't came to their appointment spot and didn't informed her. Therefor, even if Hinata was telling herself again and again that she shouldn't be worried, she couldn't help but be nervous and to fidget her fingers.

Suddenly, two strong arms were hugging her from behind, making her jump and scream of surprise. She then saw those tattooed hands, that she knew so well because of speeding hours and hours looking at them write, put something on her lap.

"I'm sorry, I'm late but Natsu was holding me back at the bar."

Narrowing her eyes, Hinata caught his hands while they started to go away and, like she had noticed it, one of them had a huge bruise on its back and the fingers were red and covered with scabs. Worry made the small hair of the nape of her neck rose and, getting away from his embrace, she stood up from the bench, turned around and stared at Naruto.

As soon as he hid behind her, she knew: he had faught, again. However, she didn't expected what she saw. A large compress covered his nose and, in addition of some cuts and bruises which were appearing on his skin, he had a black eye which had turn now more violet than anything. In front of this spectacle, she didn't dare imagine the rest of his body. Despite that, Naruto was smiling as if nothing happened.

"Not happy to see me?" he mimed with his hands.

"Are you kidding me?"

Pressing her thumb on his lips, Hinata tried to erase his stupid smile which annoyed her. Knowing she was tactile, Naruto did nothing to stopped her examine his injuries. Her so soft hands were leaving hot streams on his face and on every part of his body they were touching. As if it wanted to touch his soul, her gaze was piercing to be sure he was alright. It was under those lavender eyes that he was feeling alive and he will never grow tired of this feeling. At her mercy, he waited for her to calm down but she was more and more angry as the seconds went on. He could feel it every time her fingers were pressing on his sore muscles.

"Ok Hinata." he stopped her by catching her wrists. "I got it. You're mad at me for yesterday and for my fucked up face but can we moved on to something else and go to the studio? I've to practise with the band tonight."

"Moved on?" she repeated once she freed her hands. "Look at you Naruto-kun. How can you play like that? You promised me you'll take care of your hands."

"That asshole deserved it..."

"Please Naruto-kun don't tell me it's just for your ego that you fought because it's not a good excuse."

She saw his teeth bite the inside of his cheek then he turned around on his heels. However, for Hinata, their talk wasn't over. 'Fine!' Ever since, she had tried to be soft with him but if she had to push him to his limits to make him understand that it was only with his own will he could make things better, well, she was going to do it.

"Have you think that if you hurt your fingers, you can't play anymore?" she gestured with her hands in front of him to stop him. "All the work the band did until now will be good to be thrown away and with that, your desire to change things... Have you think that if you can't move your hands, you can talk to me anymore? Did you think about that?!"

For the first time since they met, the silence was awkward. Hurting for Hinata, who thought he was going to react instantly, and unbearable for Naruto, who never thought of losing one day the one who made his heart beat.

I haven't start translating the fourth part yet. Sorry, it might take a while.