Country of Oscura -5 Days Later-

Hinata

Oscura isn't as sad as Eskon was. The people around here were a little more stuck up but they knew when to be and when he desperate needed the help of doctors. At least I don't see children running around with either or a piece of clothing. Their clothes are still dirty but at least they won't get pneumonia.

The doctors that the Americans sent were in one simple terms: nerds. They kinda got excited a lot which was cute on their part and taught me a lot of different techniques how to treat burns, cuts, stab wounds, gunshots etc. If anybody needed to be here it should've been Kazuki.

Oh well. The man's about to give up his life altogether so spending the last few days of it in a medical camp is not what is really called ideal.

Even if Oscura isn't Eskon in many ways, sometimes I'd wander camp; spot a few of the promised soldiers walking back and forth then automatically flashback to me standing in the middle of the support base in the said country.

As much as I wanted to travel back in time; to the same exactly location and same exact moment when I realized I couldn't live without Naruto, I knew it's going to be a memory.

It doesn't mean that I'm not entirely okay with it being only a memory.

"Dr. Hyuga?" two soft knocks on my desk snapped me back to the reality I was in.

I blinked and looked up to a fairly attractive doctor with wavy blonde hair and dark blue eyes who was grinning at me.

"Oh, Dr. Hastings," I bowed slightly. "What is it?"

"You asked for the afternoon off," he continued. "Are you gonna take it?"

That's right.

I nodded, "I am. Thanks for reminding me."

He stood up and nodded, "Anytime."

Okay. I guess it's time to get ready.

I went into the nearby town yesterday with a few of the soldiers and got some fruits. I was surprised I could find some incenses as well so I got that part checked off. The desk in my tent and the fruits are already stacked and ready for the ceremony. I can't light the incenses until five and it's...oh I got about an hour.

Maybe I can wander into the small woods behind the place for a bit, relax and get myself mentally ready for the ceremony. There's a spring dead center, might as well hang there.

As I was walking back to my tent, my phone rang in my pocket.

"Hello?"

"Hinata~"

I giggled lightly, "Hey, Tenten what's up?"

"Just checking in, just woke up," she yawned loudly.

"Working already?"

"Hey clients can't wait."

"Your clients are cops," Tenten's career is to make weapons for the Tokyo police department. Well, she runs the factory that makes them. "Make them wait as long as it takes."

My cousin-in-law sighed heavily, "Well I like getting a head start in my day, thank you very much."

"Okay, o-okay," there are my tennis shoes.

"How are my b-boys?" I asked.

"The last time I saw them which was and I recorded errr-" I waited for a bit. "Ah! Nine last night and they were both sleeping peacefully."

Good, "Thanks."

"Yeah anytime," she laughed then in a serious voice. "So, today's the day, huh."

"Uh-huh," I stood up, trying to sound as upbeat as I could. They're already worried about my well-being and now since none of my friends can see me, it only makes them more anxious.

Seriously...Kazuki calls three times a day.

"Well, I have to go," I replied. "Two more days and I'm home so I'll s-see all of you then, okay?"

"Fair enough, Hina. Take care."

"Bye," we said at the same time, clicked the off button at the same time.

The phone suddenly felt a little heavy in the palm of my hand.

I sighed again, throwing it on my bed. I don't need any distractions for the next hour. I only need time alone, to remember to value and to mourn.

But I can't forget...that! There it is.

This is gonna help me let him go along with time alone.

"Hey, Hinata heading out?" I ran into the same soldiers that went with me to town. When they saw me, they only gave me a sad smile and said those four words.

"Yeah."

The soldier opened the gate, "Be safe, okay?"

I thanked each of them just as I passed. Their eyes watched me until I disappeared behind two of the bigger trees at the entrance.

There was a trail made by the locals to help escort people in and out of the place. This forest, they say, is named 'Erase.' Apparently, citizens come here to rest and forget whatever unfortunate event that happened to them in the past.

To erase as it's name implied.

I didn't want to erase anything, however. I'm only coming here because when I was first escorted here, I have felt...

Relaxed.

As if I was still in his arms.

Relaxed. Warm.

The first time in a year I felt so relaxed that I knew I had to visit once more before leaving.

The spring came into view, the water presenting the setting sun's light. In a few minutes or so while the surrounding atmosphere is touched with darkness, it's the moon's turn to enjoy reflecting its beams against the surface of the water.

Taking my shoes and socks off, I sat on the bank and let my feet fall into the cold water running against my ankle. I kicked once then twice before casting my gaze upwards; listening to the strange bird calls Japan didn't have. The soft beating of its wings; the soft footsteps of squirrels as well as other mammals preparing for the day's end.

So peaceful.

Yet the reason why I'm here is to try and forget a man that I've only spent a spam of a few months together with in two different time periods.

I'm here to let him go.

Captain Naruto Uzumaki.

A boy when I first saw/met him. Someone who was angry that he lost a girl he loved at the time to his best friend so he kicked a soccer ball so damn hard I got a minor concussion out of it. The same boy blushed because I called him 'Naruto-kun'.

The same boy who began dating me because a damn bet he made with his best friend.

I know now better than anyone that he did eventually fall for me while we went out. I was still so angry with him...

If I knew back then that I would lose him forever one day, I never would've transferred.

Never would've let damn faith let us meet again ten years later.

Instead, I would've picked up the phone and called him. Ask him if he'd give me a second chance instead of waste a flipping decade being angry at him because he was growing up.

Maybe then we would probably have so man years to be happy together instead of just a few months.

I thought I hated him because he destroyed trust for me completely. Well until I met the four bimbos who made me life worth living once again. But he more than made up for it when it came time.

Naruto Uzumaki.

A man whom I love so much.

A man I never thought would disappear from my sight ever again.

The father of my children.

Yet he never met one of them.

That same man...

I c-can't.

Hiding my face in my hands, I had to stop the tears now before it gets too late. I only had maybe three minutes before I had to make the quiet trip back to the camp for the private ceremony.

And I just can't seem to let him go.

I have to; I know I have to.

But I just can't!

I reached into my pocket, producing the familiar, creamy perfect stone; the smell of peppermint had made Hajime wander into my room a few times looking for it. He nearly got a hand on it once but I came in just time.

This stone was something that was so precious to Naruto. In my ten years absence, he'd go to a beach (that he found by stupidly driving a car off a cliff) and apparently he sat for hours; enjoying the smell of peppermint.

Because the peppermint reminded him of the many, many peppermint mochas I made for him way back when.

And now this smell is around to make me remember him.

I know it's not the only aspect holding me back from letting him go but I know it's a huge chunk of it. Because I have it at the bedside table, it helps me sleep; reminds me that for some reason Naruto is always there or he'll be coming home at any given moment.

I stood up, drying my feet before putting on my socks and shoes. I failed the one mission I came out here to do.

But I really, really need try.

The first step is probably to not let him go completely. No, that'll be too hard of a task for me to complete.

The first step is to let parts of him go.

I lifted the stone up; gently placing my lips on cold surface. This has to be the first thing I let go.

I took a step back, drawing my arm in a throwing formation.

I shut my eyes because I don't want to see it go. I'm literally letting his hand go here.

That doesn't mean I have to watch him leave.

"Can I have a cup of peppermint mocha, please?"

What the hell was that?!

I stumbled a bit, the sudden change of momentum almost making me throw my entire body into the stream. I whipped around, my eyes looking at every single inch of the forest surround me. The sun has yet to set so I could still see very clearly without the need of any sort of light.

My eyesight might be perfect.

My hearing, however, is a completely different story.

I could've sworn I h-heard someone. To be more precise asking for a cup of peppermint mocha.

I'm not crazy, right? B-b-b-because I know that voice from anywhere.

I turned back around, looking at the stone in my hand again.

"There's only one condition, though." there it is again!

This whole letting Naruto go thing must have some side effects or something because I swear I can hear his voice asking for a cup of peppermint mocha.

"It has to be made," the bush to the left rustle a bit. It wasn't long before my eyes recognized the outline of a man; at least six feet tall walking towards me.

My heart pounded heavily.

Not from fear, though. For some reason, I'm not afraid of some man coming to kidnap me or do much worse.

No, I was more afraid because the man had the voice I thought I would never hear ever again in this lifetime.

"Not by Marou," H-he knows Marou, too.

One step.

Crackle of dry leaves, a twig as well.

The blood running through my body drummed against my ears.

Another.

He's fully in the clearing.

His outfit.

A simple dark orange t-shirt.

Some ripped dark camouflage jeans.

One entire arm wrapped in bandages.

His other knuckle cracked and scattered with scars.

His ocean eyes as soft as the waves of warmth hitting me.

His whiskered cheeks quivered a bit.

A small smile on his lips.

Then they moved, his voice barely reaching me.

"Made by only you, Hinata Hyuga," the man finished, a small droplet of water sliding down his own cheek. "Because I, Naruto Uzumaki, love you, Hinata. I always have and I always will."