with every beat
Sunshine Family Week 2019
Day 1 A Day in the Life / Treasures
Day 7 Memories / Future
It was the midst of nightime again when he came home. The lights were off and everything was quiet.
He went into his room and saw his wife sleeping. Her soft breathing was a warm welcome home.
At the table beside him, was her wicker box. He sat at the foot of their bed and opened it. It had been awhile since he added a piece into his wife's collection. It had been awhile since he was adding up a memory into her treasure.
With a reminiscent look, he roamed his hand into its content.
He could still remember the first time Hinata showed him what's inside the box. They were newlyweds and he was like a naive child excited to discover the things Hinata dearly held in her life.
From their first movie date to their first photo together. The box contained their life together and her every memory of him.
She still kept that gift wrapper he used for the earrings he gave her. He could still recall how captivated he was by the fact that those earrings fit her perfectly, not to mention the many months he took strenuous missions just to get her those. The best part was seeing her wearing the gems; she looked like a dream come true, her smile even shone brighter than the diamonds, and it's one of the images he'd like to ignite whenever the paperworks would keep him from coming home at night.
Then there were his children's artworks. Their pieces usually involved them altogether and there were those that only include him and Hinata in it.
How he wished he could go back to the days when he'd spend his morning waking up with the sight of his beautiful wife, the afternoons full of laughter with the antics of his children, and nights knowing that he'd be sleeping surrounded by the warmth of his family.
He wished for the days when only long missions distanced him apart from them and not this stack of neverending paperworks.
What bothered him the most was knowing that they were just few kilometers away yet he couldn't make time for them. He never wished to be this kind of father when he was younger. Hell, he didn't even wish to have the kind of father he was now when he was a child!
But he loves the village like a family and he had a responsibility.
He sighed dejectedly.
As a kid, he knew that becoming a Hokage was his dream. As an adult, he learned that dreams have consequences.
These sentiments were hidden in his heart. He didn't want his children especially Hinata to worry about him.
Looking in awe at her sleeping form, he was wishing that time would stand still; that he could have a little moment like this to marvel at her.
"Naruto-kun?"
He jumped at her soft voice. He didn't want her to see that he was troubled.
"Have you eaten already? You must be tired. I should get you a fresh set of clothes so you could rest a little," she told him while rising up from the bed. However, he wanted the both of them to stay wherever they were somehow.
Gently clasping her shoulders, he stopped her from going. "It's fine. Don't worry about me."
His hand cupped her cheek. Silence embraced them as they both let their eyes speak about the longingness they held, wondering when was the last time since they got lost in each other this way.
Serene. Pure. Affectionate.
"You have my wicker box." She said softly.
He gently chuckled, and with the back of his hand, he caressed her cheek. "Well, I have a precious box too, y'know."
She smiled at the hint of playfulness in his tone. "Oh, really?"
"And I'll be showing it only to you." He whispered in her ear. "Here."
His hand guided hers at the top of his chest, right at his heart.
"I may have a heart for everyone and for this village, but I wouldn't know how it truly beats without you." His voice as cold as a winter day yet it hummed with soft warmth. "Can you feel it beating?“
He entwined their fingers together, pulling her close to him. Close enough to let her feel what he was feeling.
She looked up to meet his eyes and he firmly pressed their foreheads together, as if eliminating any space that's left between them.
"I want you to know that with its every beat, is a memory of you, Hinata."
Sharing the same breath, she whispered, "Then, let it keep on beating."
A/N: Hinata's wicker box as featured is the one in Naruto Retsuden LN. Naruhina-centric with a dash of family.
It was a while since I have last written because I really lack motivation these days, so I hope this finds you well.
