I don't own Naruto.

I bet you all thought I was just gonna leave it at the kiss, didn't you? Now what fun would that be? Not any at all. I believe this deserves a better ending than that, my lovelies!

Tobirama watched Hinata as she made her way over to him. She hadn't seemed to remember anything from the night of his birthday, which was a bit of a relief for him. Not in the fact he hadn't wanted her to know how he felt for her, but more so in the way of that was not how he wanted to tell her that. He also didn't want her to think he said that just because she had sacrificed herself for him. He watched as she got ever closer and offered a small smile to him. "You wanted to talk to me?" he asked and she nodded. Something deep within him was worried that this was about that night, but he wasn't sure.

"So, Neji and Tenten didn't wait long to pick up where they left off..." She began and he nodded. He had seen the two of them together and couldn't help the soft smile that tried to cross his lips. He was happy for them. He and his brother had been enjoying the peace of this time and the fact they weren't having to fight all the time. His attention was brought back to her when she stopped walking next to him. He could tell she wanted to say something, but she seemed unsure. He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. "They are planning their wedding and I wanted to know if you would go with me!" she blurted and he quirked a brow at her. He scanned over her to see if she had any other questions, but it didn't seem like she had any.

"So, like you're asking me to go as your date? Or as a friend?" he asked and she narrowed her eyes at him, a soft pink blush crossing over her cheeks. "Nevermind, I rescind the invitation." She grumbled and he could only smirk as he brushed his fingertips over her wrist. He couldn't help the smirk as she blushed a little darker. She cleared her throat softly and he watched her carefully. He enjoyed the way she reacted to his touch, he wanted to show her how he felt. He wanted nothing more than to feel her lips against his own once more, but he wasn't sure if it was truly what she wanted.

The whole drunk words are sober thoughts thing didn't apply to this. He wasn't sure how to truly go about it either way. He may have had a reputation as a massive flirt, but flirting is much different when you're trying to find a wife. He honestly wasn't sure how to go about it. He knew he wanted her, but his usual flirting routine was not going to work with her and he knew it. "I would be honored to attend their wedding with you." He muttered softly and she stared at him in surprise. He honestly felt as if it shouldn't come as a shock to her that he agreed. She smiled and hugged him tightly, which sent a calming feeling through his being.

When she stepped away, he could see it in her entire being that she was thrilled. She bowed to him lightly and took off in the opposite direction. He sighed and shook his head softly as he watched her go. The warmth from her hand still lingered on his own and he brushed his fingertips over that spot gently. what he wouldn't give to feel that every day for the rest of his life. It was settled then, he was going to figure out how to go about courting her. He looked up to the sky and thanked the Kami for the gift they had bestowed upon him. This second chance at life... perhaps he could truly be happy this time around.

Well, about as happy as he could be with his grouchy demeanor anyways. He chuckled to himself at this thought.

:-:-:_:-:-:

Hinata clutched her hands to her chest, trying her best to slow her racing heart. She was trying her best to force the thoughts out of her mind, but all she could think about was the night he kissed her. Had it actually even happened or was that something her alcohol overwhelmed mind had thought up. She so desperately wanted that... to be with him. It was all she could think about whenever she saw him. How she craved his touch, and not in a sexual manner. The rush she felt every time he touched her, she wanted that more than anything. She was also scared just because she didn't think he wanted the same. She knew he was possibly still chasing after whoever he had heard speak to him while he was trapped in limbo, so she didn't want to get in the way of that.

She was yanked from her thoughts by a hand waving in front of her face. She blinked a few times, only to see that Hashirama was staring at her oddly. "Some situational awareness you have there." He chuckled and she blushed lightly. "What's got you so deep in thought that you were wandering aimlessly?" he asked and she struggled to find her words for a moment. "N-nothing!" she stammered and he could only chuckle at her once more. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and forced her to walk with him once more.

"I just wanted to check in on you and make sure you were alright. You seemed a little out of it there for a minute." He said and she looked down to her hands. She didn't even know what to say anymore. It wasn't often that she was at a loss for words, but right now she was. "I can help, you know?" he offered and she looked up at him in confusion. "With my brother. I see how you look at him." He said and she blushed a dark red and began stammering once more. He only laughed at her reaction. When she was finally able to gain her resolve back, she took a deep breath and looked up at him.

"How can you help me?" she asked and a grin broke out over his lips. This excited him. "You didn't even deny it. And it wouldn't have even if you had tried. You look at him the same way Mito always looked at me, that's how I know." He chuckled softly and ruffled her hair. "He looks at you the same way, you know?" he said and she shook her head. "I don't believe that one." She grumbled as she struggled to fix her hair. A smirk crossed his lips then. She watched him cautiously for a moment, trying to decipher the look on his face. She reached and pulled her drink out of her bag and opened it to take a sip.

"Why do you think he kissed you then?" he asked and she choked on her water. She jolted up to look at him and he just laughed as she wiped water from her lips. "What?!" she managed and he laughed some more. "You don't remember?" he asked with a smile and she was once more at a loss for words. She didn't know what to think. She didn't believe it had actually happened; she had quit drinking since that night two months ago. "I... I thought that I had imagined that while drunk..." She whispered and he smiled softly. "He may not remember either, because he was actually shitfaced that night as well." Hashirama chuckled and she watched him carefully.

"Come, lets get something to eat while we discuss." He said and she nodded and followed him into the restaurant. He let her sit first and then he sat across from her. "So what do you know about that night?" she asked and he couldn't help the smile that crossed his lips, it seemed. "Well, for starters..." he began, the smile never once leaving his lips. "I don't think he has ever said he loved anyone before." He said and she sighed and looked down at his fingers. "Then how does he know if he actually feels that way about me?" she whispered and Hashirama's smile faltered slightly.

She took this as he had no idea how to proceed and her heart sank. She looked down to her fingertips that brushed over the rim of her glass and he sighed deeply, tapping his fingers on the tabletop. "You know I thought this would be easy, but the both of you are going to stress me bald." He grumbled and she blinked up at him. "What do you mean?" she asked and his eye twitched slightly. "I'm saying that I have never seen my brother struggle with anyone as much as he has struggled with you." He said and she watched him carefully. She just stared at him, no words left her and he seemed to be getting frustrated with her. Why, she had no clue. She wasn't trying to be complicated.

"Ok," he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Then think about it this way..." he grumbled and took a deep breath. "My grumpy ass brother has never had issues with the ladies." He said this slowly and she just listened. "And I mean never. He could pull any woman he wanted, but he is having trouble with you." He also said this slowly, and she was starting to get amused with him. She was going to continue letting him explain this to her slowly, because the way he was stressing about it was kind of adorable. "Uh huh... and?"

He blinked at her then buried his face in his hands. He looked like he was about to have a mental breakdown because she was playing dumb. She fought back the wicked and amused smirk because if she set that free he would know she was messing with him. He sighed deeply once more and his chocolate brown eyes met hers once more. He leaned over the table and furrowed his brows at her. His pinky finger twitched and his chakra flared at her, this set the smirk free and her amused laughter rang out. This was so funny to her. His chakra calmed down and he began laughing as well. She met his eyes once more and couldn't help the smile that crossed her lips at the pure mirth that resonated within his eyes.

"Stop messing with me." He said after a bit and she nodded. "I promise I will take this seriously." She said and he nodded. Her heart twinged and she looked out the window but there was no one there. She pursed her lips but shook it off. She could have sworn she had seen movement out there. She turned her head back to Hashirama and smiled once more. "So go on, tell me how you plan on helping me get through to that grumpy old dinosaur." She said and his entire demeanor changed, the pure happiness and excitement that radiated off of him made her soul smile.

His heart ached, her contagious laughter and that beautiful smile... she never did that with him... Was he going to lose her to his brother? He shook his head of those thoughts and fisted his hands by his side. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. He refused to lose to his brother once more. He always lost to Hashirama and it wasn't fair. It wasn't going to happen this time. He refused to let that happen. He knew exactly where to go to get help with this...

He crouched and placed his fingers against the ground, his eyes slipping shut. His sent out his chakra and when it washed over Hinata, it lingered over her form and caressed her chakra gently. the feeling this gave him was indescribable. It just felt right, and he didn't realize he had been found out for a second before he felt the jolt of someone's chakra bumping his chakra away from hers. He shook his head and focused on the task at hand and sought out the person he knew could help him.

:-:-:-:-:

Hashirama couldn't help the amused glint in his eyes when he had noticed Hinata had gone silent. Her eyes had fluttered shut and she clutched her hands to her chest gently. he could feel his younger brother's sensory chakra wash over the both of them. It made him happy that his brother was so deeply in love with this woman, that even his chakra showed it. It was so gentle as it mingled with her chakra. He could feel the bond they had without even having to try. He used his chakra to carefully bump his brothers away from Hinata so they could speak once more, and he could go find whoever it was he was really searching for. He felt Tobirama's chakra leave and he grinned at Hinata when her eyes slowly opened back up.

She blushed a rosy pink and he couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him. He propped his head up on his palm and tapped his fingers on his cheek, the knowing smile never once leaving his lips. "And you doubted his love for you." He chuckled and she bit her lip slightly. "I did, but now I don't." She whispered and he smiled a bit wider. "Do you want to go after him?" he asked and she looked down at her fingers as they fiddled. "Yes, but also no." she sighed and he chuckled. "That's fine by me." Hashirama said and she met his gaze once more. "But, may I ask why?"

"I'm tired of always saying it first. I'm tired of always making the first more and telling them how I feel. For once I wanted someone else to say it first." She said and he nodded. He could understand that. "Then let's get to our plan then, shall we?" he offered her some of the food that had been placed on their table and she took it graciously. He looked out the window once more, only to see a certain blonde couple and their child outside gawking at them. A smile broke out on their lips and they couldn't help the laughter that escaped them when the blonde couple grabbed their child and took off.

"Well damn, that was a bit easier than I thought it would be to get the word out." She laughed and he shook his head. "Well my brother already knew we were having lunch, so I knew it wouldn't take long either way for others to make assumptions. Naruto and Ino are just an added bonus to get him in gear." He said with an amused tone. "I do suppose a bit of jealously is a hazard of helping you get my brother to admit things sober. If he tries to fight me, I'm telling him it was your idea." Hashirama said and she scowled at him from across the table. He reached across and ruffled her hair lightly.

"Don't worry, even though Ino and Naruto may run and spread rumors that we might be dating, I don't think my brother will believe it just because we were eating together." He chuckled and couldn't help the small smile when relief washed over her. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything Hashirama stood and placed money on the table to pay for the food. "I will see you around. You can always come to me if you need help." He said and made his way out of the restaurant. His chocolate brown eyes clashed with his younger brother's red eyes and a smirk crossed his lips. His smirk was returned with a scowl and he couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him.

"I won't lose to you. Not again, Hashirama." Tobirama bit out and Hashirama couldn't help the smile that crossed his lips. He knew his brother was jealous, it radiated off of him in waves. "Brother... I'm not even trying." He said and this only seemed to enrage Tobirama more, but he was being honest. He wasn't trying to take her from him. This was not his intention in the slightest. He truly wanted his brother to be happy, but as smart as his brother was, he could be a full fledged idiot at times. Hinata had come out of the restaurant at this point and he offered a small smile to her as he continued to walk away. His brother's jealousy still burned at him, but when he turned to see why it had suddenly stopped biting at him he could only bit back a laugh.

Hinata had begun scolding him and Tobirama's cheeks had dusted a slight pink. Hashirama knew Hinata was laying into him for being jealous.

:-:-:_:-:-:

Hinata watched both her cousin and Tobirama in confusion. "So... um... what are you two doing?" She asked and Tobirama looked away from her. She rolled her eyes at this. He was still crabby from when she had chewed him out for being an idiot a week ago. She glanced over at Neji who had an amused glint in his eyes. They were sitting in the middle of the old chunnin training grounds discussing something and it seemed they didn't want to talk anymore while she was around. She glanced from one to the other and sighed. Her heart twinged when Tobirama finally met her eyes. She could see it there in his eyes, the suffocating explanation of how he felt for her. But why couldn't he just say it?

Why couldn't he just say he loved her?

Perhaps he didn't know how to go about it while sober?

She didn't know, but she longed for him to say it. She wanted so dearly to reciprocate these feelings to him while sober. She didn't want to give up on him. He was who she wanted, she just needed him to feel the same way. He kept seeking her out, day after day. She felt his chakra reaching out to her every single day. The thought alone of his chakra caressing hers so intimately made her heart flutter. The desire to feel that burning contact of their skin once more was overtaking her. She wanted to reach out and take his hand in her own once more. She wanted to feel his lips on hers once more.

She knew this was what she truly wanted. She had never felt this way before... sure, she had loved Naruto. But that felt like it had been derived because he had always been so kind to her, even in the times where she had been cruel to everyone around her. Her love for Tobirama was so different from that though. She honestly couldn't explain it. This was so different than anything she had ever felt that it had broken through all of the armor she had built up over the years. He did this so easily she never understood it.

She looked from one of them to the other and nodded. "I will see you both around then." She said and turned to leave. That familiar caress fell over her form and she felt his chakra intwine with hers once more. She turned to look at him and he wasn't doing anything. If anything, it made her angry. How could he show his affection so easily with his chakra but he himself couldn't actually get up and do anything about how he felt. She bit her lip and made her way back home. She crawled into her bed and began to cry.

She couldn't understand how this was happening. Their bond was so strong and yet he was keeping his distance from her. Why was he doing this to her? She pulled the blankets tighter around her and buried her face in her pillow. Her heart ached at all the times he had gotten so close to her only to push her away. She didn't know how much more of this she could take... He had said it... he had said he thought he loved her too... but he hadn't acted on it since that night other than the embrace of his chakra. A knock on her bedroom window pulled her from her thoughts.

She looked and saw the Uchiha brothers outside her window and she sighed. "Yes?" she asked and Itachi opened her window and leaned in. "You alone?" Sasuke asked and she narrowed her eyes at him. "You cant come in if you're gonna be a pervert." She grumbled and the brothers exchanged a glance then climbed in through the window. "What are you doing in here?" Sasuke grumbled as he threw blankets off of her. "Being depressed." She bit out and he rolled his eyes. Itachi sat on her bed as Sasuke continued throwing her covers away from her. "Stop that shit." Sasuke said and flopped next to her on the bed.

She looked from one brother to the other and sighed while sitting up. "What's going on?" she asked and they shrugged. "We heard you slam the door and figured you could use some company." Itachi said and she rolled her eyes. "We were also just bored." Sasuke said and Hinata rolled her eyes. "I'm not drinking with you guys." She said and the brothers shrugged. "We weren't offering that." Sasuke said and she narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm not sparring with you either." She said and they shrugged once more. She didn't know what they wanted to do but she wasn't in the mood for it.

"Wanna just stroll the village?" She asked and Itachi nodded.

:-:-:-:-:

Tobirama sighed as he watched her leave. He wanted nothing more than to talk all of this over with her, but he honestly wasn't sure how to do it. Which is why he was talking to Neji. He looked over at the other Hyuuga and noticed the man was watching him intently. The man could tell what he was doing, and he could also tell that it was irritating him. "Why don't you just sit and talk to her about this instead of making her wonder?" he asked, the biting tone made Tobirama feel bad. He pondered this for a moment and sighed.

"I feel like if I just outright go about it she will think I'm just being an old pervert like she always says." He grumbled and Neji rolled his eyes at him. "You're an idiot." Neji sighed and Tobirama gave him a dirty look. "Just admit she makes you nervous. It'll make my job easier." Neji said as he stood. Tobirama made his way to his feet as well and crossed his arms over his chest. "You keep pushing her away like this and she won't come back. I'm trying to help you and it's like you're not wanting my help. Your brother has already said he wasn't even trying, so why don't you actually go out there and try?" Neji tried to reason with him, but the mention of Hashirama irked him.

He loved his brother, don't get him wrong, but he wasn't sure if he could actually compete against his brother for Hinata. His brother always got the girl. After all that was the situation when it had come to Mito in the past. Hashirama always won....

He wasn't going to let him this time though. It was his turn to be happy.

"Then tell me what I need to do." Tobirama said and Neji actually smiled softly this time. "Come with me." He said and Tobirama followed him. They made their way around the village, Neji showed him things he knew Hinata would like. Tobirama tried to pay attention, but his mind kept wandering. He couldn't help but think about her. Those eyes that so dearly resembled the moon. Her smooth skin and how they had delicately touched his cheek and traced his markings. The smile that adorned her lips when she had told him she loved him. The overwhelming feeling he'd had to kiss her on multiple occasions. He just couldn't get her out of his mind.

Everything about her was incredible to him and he wanted nothing more than to be with her. He just didn't want to screw it up. He wanted to do this right every step of the way. He glanced back at Neji, who seemed to have asked him a question and was waiting on a response from him. "What?" he asked and Neji pinched the bridge of his nose. "How do you want to go about this?" Neji repeated and he pondered this question for a moment. How exactly did he want to go about this? He knew he wanted to do it in a way she couldn't show out and hit him that was for sure. He glanced back to Neji who was waiting patiently.

"When is your wedding?" he asked and Neji quirked a brow. "She cant show out and hit me or call me a pervert if I try something to win her over at your wedding." Neji rolled his eyes once more. "That's smart, but it's also kinda rude man." Neji sighed and Tobirama sighed. "I'm not going to propose to her at your wedding, I just figure..." "You want an excuse to get close to her and talk to her. But I want you to know there will be a chance for you to do that before my wedding." Neji offered and Tobirama was intrigued.

"Hanami." Was all Neji said and it clicked in his mind what he was talking about. The cherry blossom festival.

"I honestly hadn't thought about that, but I think that could work." Tobirama said softly and Neji offered a small smile. "How about we go choose her a kimono for it, from what I heard, she loved the one you got her for new year." Neji said and Tobirama's heart jumped slightly. He hadn't known if anyone else had actually knew he had been the one to pick that out for her. But then again he should have known Sakura and Ino wouldn't keep that fact to themselves.

His eyes landed on a beautiful white kimono, beautiful vibrant pink cherry blossoms adorned the sleeves and fell along the lower areas. The white on the sleeves faded to black around the wrists and the cherry blossoms there stood out even more. He pointed to that one and Neji looked at it and nodded. "I think she will love it." He said and Tobirama offered a small smile to the other man. Tobirama picked it up and the shopkeep offered him a hair ornament to go with it. He figured why not and bought that as well. He wanted so desperately for his idea to work.

He was genuinely excited for this festival now...

He glanced up to the afternoon sky and saw the colors of the sky beginning to change once more. He blinked when he felt like someone was watching him and he looked around but saw no one but the villagers making their way through the village. Most of them heading home for the afternoon, and others closing down shop. He furrowed his brow and handed the Kimono and hair ornament to Neji, who glanced at him in confusion.

:-:-:-:-:

Hinata and the brothers made their way through the village and she stumbled across both Neji and Tobirama. She shoved the brothers back around the corner without warning and peeked around the corner to see what the two of them were doing. She watched as Tobirama handed the wrapped bundle and a small box to Neji who seemed to be confused by this. She knew what was coming next as his chakra was over her. She slipped her eyes shut as she embraced the feeling of his chakra mingling with hers. Sasuke on the other hand, shivered in discomfort.

She peeked around the corner and his gaze met hers. The small smile on his lips took her breath away. She didn't think she had ever actually seen him smile that way. It was just so... heartfelt. She became flustered as he made his way over to her and the brothers, who were in process of slinking away into the ever growing darkness. His chakra had a different effect on them it seemed. She watched them vanish from sight only to turn around and see Tobirama was within five feet of her.

A chill shot down her spine, but it was not of fear... it was an anxious chill that swept over her. "So... why are you following me around?" he asked and she stammered, trying to find her words. Curse him and his ability to affect her in this way. She hated that about him, his innate ability to turn her brain to mush. "Are we jealous of something? Stalking me perhaps?" he asked and she still couldn't find the words to speak, but her heart began racing. He reached up and tucked the hair that framed her face behind her ear and an all too familiar heat flushed her cheeks.

"Hinata-chan..." was all he had to say before she took a shaky step backwards. "Y-you old pervert!" she managed and he smirked at her deviously. He knew what he was doing and she hated him for it. She furrowed her brows and took a step forward. Two could play this game. If he wanted to play dirty this way, so could she. She moved closer to him until their bodies were just a hair from touching. Her fingers reached up and gently traced over the neckline of his shirt and that hand rested on the back of his neck. She could see it in his eyes, the confusion, but also the want. The desire was mimicked in her eyes until she swiftly moved and swept his legs out from beneath him.

She scowled down at him on the ground and turned to walk away.

"You play the game well..." he sighed from the ground and she stopped in her tracks. She turned to look at him once more, but he appeared before her once more and she flinched. She was expecting him to drop her like she had done to him, but the only thing he did was run the back of his fingers over her cheeks. The sheer tenderness of this caught her off guard once more. Was he not going to retaliate? She reached out to him, but he was already walking away.

"T-tobirama..."