Because I really like the possibilities of a Tenten/Hinata friendship after Neji's death. May do more on them in the future.
Disclaimer: Characters aren't mine. Still not getting paid for this.
"Mama, why does Aunt Tenten come eat lunch with us?"
Hinata pauses in making their lunch. She looks over to where her daughter is sitting before the table. She is playing with a small shuriken, only a little bigger than her hand, personally crafted by the weapons mistress herself.
Hinata thinks back to when this whole ritual was started, only a few weeks after they buried her cousin in the cemetery. The female ninja had been drifting—everyone could see it. And Hinata was worried about her, worried what would become of her if someone didn't extend some type of understanding.
And who better to relate to this woman than herself?
"Tenten-san was very close to your uncle," says Hinata, settling on one of the least complicated answers for the child.
The girl's nose wrinkles as she stains the dragon's hide red with her crayon.
"She doesn't want to eat with her family?"
Hinata feels her shoulders sink a little. She passes the counter and sits down across from Himawari.
"Tenten-san doesn't have a family. At least, not a family like me and you and Boruto and your dad."
Himawari's blue eyes lift from the dragon and consider her mother, confused.
"You see," Hinata elaborates, "Tenten-san is very special because Uncle valued her very much. I think that Tenten-san knew your uncle even better than I did. She was his best friend and his first training companion. She means a lot to us because she meant a great deal to Neji-nii-san."
Himawari's picture is abandoned now, the girl's entire attention turned towards her mother.
"Did Uncle love Aunt Tenten a lot?"
Hinata feels moisture well up in her eyes.
"Yes, Uncle loved Tenten-san very much."
Himawari glances back down at her picture, and it's quiet, but then Tenten is knocking on the sliding door and slipping in, saying a cheerful greeting.
"Himawari-chan, I love your dragon," Tenten says, crouching down next to the girl, examining the picture.
The child smiles and looks up to her adopted aunt, throwing her arms around Tenten's neck. Slightly alarmed, Tenten glances over the girl's shoulder to her mother, puzzled. Hinata is smiling slightly, eyes glistening.
"This is for you, since Uncle can't hug anymore," Himawari says into the woman's hair, squeezing tight.
Speechless, Tenten closes her eyes against tears that threaten to fall. She grips the girl tighter, returning the embrace.
When they part, the child turns back to her drawing. Tenten meets Hinata's gaze, bewildered.
"Thank you for coming, Tenten-san. We always love having you here," Hinata encourages, rising to get their lunch.
"Uncle wouldn't want it any other way," Himawari chimes from her seat, enthralled in her coloring.
Tenten blinks, fighting back tears. Her mouth lifts into a smile.
"No," she agrees with conviction, "he wouldn't."
Review, yeah?
