A Single Leaf

She coughed and curled up in her blankets. Her forehead was on fire, and her skin was as pale as snow. Hinata had been on bed rest for a long while. They called her illness a minor infection. This was no minor infection. On a mission, she was bitten by a very poisonous spider. Shino had accidently summoned it. In fact, this spider was not poisonous at all; it was actually harmless. But, an old legend told of this spider infecting a unrequited love's holder. Hinata fit the bill perfectly.

Naruto Uzumaki, the holder of her heart, had not yet returned her feelings. She felt worthless and forgotten. She tossed and turned in bed weakly, with cold sweats covering her starved body. She coughed up blood and mucus. This was truly disgusting. She was still beautiful though. She was still a lovely Hyuuga, but a very sick one indeed.

Hinata coughed more and sighed. "N-Naruto-kun..." She whimpered. Her life was meaningless without him; she loved him unconditionally. But, one cannot live without a fulfilled heart. She coughed more and teared up. She slowly felt her strength fading, and she was losing breath. Suddenly, her window slung open.

"Hinata! I heard you were sick so I brought you some-" Naruto dropped the white roses and teared up. Hinata lay in bed; weakly moving her hand in front of her face. It was almost like she was waving away death. Naruto kneeled next to her bed and touched her forehead. She was burning up. And, no one was in there to take care of the dying Heiress. Naruto grabbed her wrist and lied her arm beside her. "Hinata? Its me, Naruto." He caressed her cheek.

"N-N..." She drew a sharp breath and stopped breathing. "Hinata?!?!?!?! Hinata!!! Hinata!!!!" Naruto yelled. He thought on his feet, and began giving her CPR. She took a bit, but eventually regained her breath. "Never give up Hinata! That's your nindo!" Naruto cried out. "You made me believe in myself when no one else could! I saw you fight with so much passion and desire; you cannot go out like this!"

Naruto began crying. "Why in the hell isn't anyone in here?!" Naruto cried out loudly. Hinata coughed up more blood, and groaned. "Hinata! Stay with me!" He held her hand to his cheek. "N-Naruto-kun... I can feel you blushing..." She squeaked out. Naruto smiled and kissed her burning forehead. "Hinata, please don't give up..."

Hinata flinched and began to speak. "I see an angel... I see..." She was fading away quickly. "I-I l-love you... N-Naruto..." She exhaled her last breath, and succumbed to her demise. Naruto cried. "Why couldn't I had just told her I loved her from the beginning?!?!?!?!?!"

A breeze came in through the window carrying a leaf. He heard an angel's whisper. "I will always be with you Naruto-kun... I love you... And I'll be waiting for you..." The leaf landed in front of Naruto. He cried more and lied a rose on Hinata's corpse, and carried the leaf with him for the rest of his life... because Hinata was with him... He had a reason to live.