CHAPTER 1

Sometimes, Hinata was amazed by human stupidity. Looking at almost all of her classmates left her with disgust and she asked herself how it was even possible. Of course, there were exceptions, like in everywhere, but majority was terrifying for her.

She sighed, hearing another discussion initiated by Ino. That particular one was about living without parents and most of class agreed that it must have been fun to be able to live without any boundaries and restrictions. Idiots, they didn't know what they were saying.

She focused on class when Ino went to Sasuke Uchiha, one of the most desirable boys in the school, to ask him for expressing his opinion. He just glanced at her and shrugged.

"I think you are all incredibly stupid."

Good boy, Hinata thought inwardly, smirking in her mind. He never disappointed her in having similar attitude towards life and people, although he was more brave than her and bluntly answered all the questions. On the other hand, majority seemed to be insulted. The only one unaffected except was Gaara Sabaku, another who shared their opinions. The redhead snorted, exchanging looks with her, when Ino pouted, demanding apology for his comment. Oh yeah, she loved her friends.

"I do not understand why I should apologize." Sasuke said coldly. "You asked me what I think, I answered."

"But it was mean!"

"It was true."

"Then explain why you think that we' re all stupid!"

"What do you know about life? Nothing. Because you are still children, living peacefully with their families, cherished and pampered. You do not know ANYTHING what life of orphan looks like. Do you really think that it is so cool to live in orphanage? Alone, without anyone to love? Well, I DO know, as at least two more people in here. We had to go through living hell to finally find a family to live with. So shut the hell up and stop yelling about something that you have no clue about!"

It was pretty impressing, even Hinata had to admit it. Sasuke almost never lost control, but family was always sore point for all three of them. She decided it was time to step in before he would do something to regret later. She approached him quietly and laid her petite hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly. He calmed a bit, as always as she was touching him and sent her brief glance to assure that everything was okay.

"And she's not stupid for you?" Ino asked dryly, having recovered from shock.

"No."

"I have no parents either, Ino." Hinata whispered almost inaudibly. She had grown up from her terrible stuttering but wasn't able to speak louder while being in the big group.

"Sorry..."

"You are not." Gaara muttered. He looked at the clock and stood up. "We should go, the rest is waiting."

The two quickly got ready and left behind him, not sparing even single glance. They exited the school, only to find another two boys. Kankurou Sabaku and Neji Hyuuga were quarrelling about something again but soon stopped when the rest joined them. Hinata smiled, kissing both boys' cheeks in greeting and sank in her elder cousin's embrace.

"Why is Sasuke so upset?" he muttered into girl's ear.

"Class was discussing advantages of living without parents." She whispered back. "One of girls pissed him off by asking for his opinion."

"Well... Understandable. Why are you so... happy?"

"Because we're coming home. Because we're almost together."

"Sometimes you're incredibly childish, starlet." Kankurou sighed amused, patting her head.

"That's why you all love me." She laughed, gently setting herself free. "Let's go, Anko will be mad if we're late for dinner."

Her family was weird, Hinata decided, looking at walking boys affectionately. They didn't have actual parents, care of them took Itachi, Sasuke's elder brother and his wife, Anko. There were seven 'children': Temari Sabaku and her two younger brothers, Sasuke, Neji, Hinata and her younger sister, Hanabi. They were all different, arguing a lot, but also helped each other all the time. For girls, boys had strange ways to show each other that they really care, but it didn't matter at all, HOW the cared, it was important that they DID.

"Hinata?"

"Huh?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, glancing at her amused. His previous anger vanished, leaving usual wry attitude.

"I was asking if you want to join us. We're going to the swimming pool tonight."

"I would love to but I have to spend some time on Physics. I totally can't understand this shit."

"I can help you." Gaara offered. "But you will help me with my History project, deal?"

"Deal." She smiled. "Are we taking girls?"

"Temari has a date and I don't think that Hanabi will be allowed with us in the evening."

"Okay, I will go out with her this weekend. It's high time for girls' day." She said, suddenly halting. "Wait, Temari is going for a date?"

"Yeah. But I don't know the guy."

Hinata choked, trying to suppress the laughter. So, apparently, even her brothers didn't know...

"I don't think it's a guy on the first place." She managed to say finally. "I thought she told you she's rather into girls.."

"Great, our sister is a lesbian." Kankurou muttered gloomily.

"Bisexual. Lately, more homosexual."

"I don't want to fight with her over girls!"

"Come on, let's be tolerant." Gaara sighed. "It's fine with me, I guess. At least until I see her doing another girl."

"Did she try with you?" Neji questioned, turning to his cousin, who just shook her head.

"We talked about her orientation and she admitted that I'm kind of attractive for her, but she won't try, because I'm her sister and she respects me and my likes. And I'm definitely NOT into girls."

"Good to know."

"That she didn't try or that I don't like girls?"

"Both."

They finally reached their destination: huge detached house with big garden, situated in the suburbs. The whole surroundings was designed to calm down the habitants, to make them feel safe and relax. All teenagers came in, quarrelling as soon as they started to take off their shoes and jackets. They stopped, hearing childish voice.

"Itachi asks for silence, he has a headache." Hanabi announced, hugging every newcomer. "And Anko wants you to hurry up, she has something important to say."

Having changed and washed their hands, they gathered eventually in dining room where everything was prepared to dinner. Everyone took their proper places and waited for Anko to start.

"Well... Shit, I didn't know that it will be so hard to say." She muttered. "Uhm, I... I'm pregnant."

"When do we have to move out?" Hanabi asked quietly. They all had experienced something like this before and it always ended with them returning to the orphanage. Even if she was only twelve, she wasn't stupid enough to believe that the fairytale could last longer.

"What?" their guardian seemed to be genuinely surprised. "No moving out until you are eighteen, Hanabi."

"It doesn't mean that we don't want to take care of you all, kitten." Itachi sighed. "We hoped that you will understand that we won't be able to be for you always, since we'll have to babysit our child. That's all."

"Which week?" Temari asked, turning to Anko.

"The seventh."

"We have 14th April... So your delivery is scheduled about the end of November... It'll fine, I will be able to help."

"Thanks."

"I told you that younger sisters aren't only pests to kill." The blonde smirked. "We can be useful and nice sometimes."

"Hard to believe." Hinata mumbled, glancing at Hanabi, who just stuck out her tongue. "I hope we'll have another sister or I'm going crazy."

"And who said she would be better than another boy?" Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Look at the kitten, for example."

"Do you really want to be castrated, Uchiha?" the youngest girl snarled, pointing at him with her fork. "Don't forget that I know where you live."

"Do you really think I would let you?"

"I know where Gaara has sleeping pills."

"Touch them and I'll burn all your things." The redhead threatened. "Even that pink plush bunny that is hidden under your bed."

"How did you find out?"

"I talk to my sisters, you know."

"It's unfair! Hinata, you are MY sister!"

"So what? Gaara is my brother, too."

"But we're connected by blood."

"Hanabi, we're the same age, so I think it's natural that we spend a lot of time together and we talk about everything. Okay, almost everything."

"It's unfair that you're all around the same age and I'm way younger than you!"

"Any complaints to our parents. I don't feel responsible for being older than you."

"Excuse me for interrupting your very interesting discussion." Neji said bored. "But I wanted to ask if we can go to the swimming pool tonight."

"'We'?" Anko repeated, raising her eyebrow.

"Our four and Hinata."

"What about me?" Hanabi asked furiously. "I'm here too, you know!"

"We planned on taking you to the cinema, kitten." Itachi said absently. "But if you don't want to..."

"I do." The girl muttered a bit sulkily. "But I think it's unfair that they exclude me from everything they do."

"We don't." Kankurou denied calmly. "For example Hinata wanted to take you out for all day. Besides, you have to understand that sometimes we want to talk freely and have fun without constant babysitting you."

"You can talk in my presence."

All adults burst into laughter, looking at her incredulously.

"I don't think so." Temari smiled, after she calmed down a bit. "You're too young yet to know about some matters."

"For example?"

"I don't find it appropriate to discuss my sex life with you as I can with the rest."

"Oh." She blushed bright red, looking away.

"See? Some of our... hm... habits could scare you."

"Like Gaara?" Sasuke snorted. "I think she wouldn't dare to approach him."

"I'm not that bad... I guess."

"I had nightmares after your first story." Hinata laughed. "But I was like... thirteen? Now, it's rather amusing."

"I knew you're kinky closet pervert!"

"I'm not!"

"Change the topic, please." Anko rolled her eyes. "As Temari said, Hanabi is a bit too young to participate in such a conversation. Besides, I think it would be better for us not to know too much about your sex life."

The dinner went on rather quickly and later all kids appeared in the library to do their homework. It was their little ritual- no matter what they had to do for school, they did it in common room, talking and helping each other.

Today, they separated into a few groups: Gaara and Hinata sat in the corner, Temari with Hanabi took the floor and the rest was on the couch. There was silence, disturbed only by Gaara's quiet explanations and sound of scribbling. Eventually, Sasuke broke it, asking the question that was on everybody's mind.

"What do you think about Anko's pregnancy?"

"That it's high time for them." Neji answered. "I mean… they are twenty-two and all they do is caring for us. Although I'm very grateful for it, I think that they should have their own life."

"And I'm afraid." Hanabi confessed quietly. "You will move out soon, but I will stay with them and… I don't want to be unwanted burden."

"You have nothing to worry about." Temari assured. "I talked to Itachi some time ago and he said that we are like younger siblings for him, but you are his child. Anko feels the same."

The girl stood up and left without any word, to storm in the kitchen, where both guardians were. Anko started saying something but was stopped with tight hug from sobbing Hanabi. She exchanged surprised glances with her husband and embraced petite form that was mumbling something in her stomach.

"Kitten, what's wrong? Did they tell you something bad?"

"Do you really consider me your child?" she asked bluntly, looking elder woman in the eye.

"Well… Yes."

"Although it's kind of weird since we're older only by ten years." Itachi added, hugging both of them. "Kitten?"

"Hm?"

"We would like to ask if you want to become our daughter."

"Like… You will adopt me?" she asked shocked, looking at them with wide eyes.

"Only if you want to, kitten."

"Yes!"

Itachi sent her almost invisible smile, releasing both from his arms. He kissed her forehead briefly and motioned to the door with smirk.

"Now go and do your homework, daughter."

"Yes, father." She smiled and ran back to the library to rejoin the group. "Hinata!"

"What?"

"Do you know that they want to adopt me?" she whispered, sitting on her sister's lap.

"Yes, they asked me if I agree."

"You agree, right?"

"Of course! I don't mind it, since I know I will never be able to replace mother." She smirked suddenly to her. "You know what? Not only will you have parents and soon sibling, but also an uncle…"

"Oh shit, I forgot about Sasuke…" she sighed, standing up. Sasuke eyed her warily when she smiled innocently, crawling up on his lap.

"What do you want, pest?"

"To tell you that I will be your niece." She muttered in his ear.

"So they finally told you." He stated, embracing her. "They wanted to tell you on your birthday, but Temari spoilt the surprise."

"I just wanted to comfort her!"

"You don't mind, Sasuke?"

"No. And I have a request."

"What?"

"Don't call me 'uncle'."

"Okay, okay."

They finally managed to finish their homework and started preparing to going out. Hanabi and her new parents left first, next Temari, looking odd in rather smart mini black dress and silver high heels. The last five packed up and made their way to the swimming pool, situated nearby. They split up in the locker rooms and Hinata was terrified to find her classmates, Sakura and Ino. Both girls greeted her politely although without enthusiasm.

'Sakura and Ino are here.' She texted Neji.

'Like Naruto, Kiba, Shikamaru and Lee.'

'Sasuke didn't attack?'

'No. Change, we're ready.'

She sighed, stuffing her mobile in the bag and put her shirt off, still turned back to the girls. Ino tapped her shoulder unsurely, trying to capture her attention.

"Yes?"

"Is it a tattoo?" the blonde asked amazed, touching her back. There was strange plant with silver stars blooming from the stew, instead of blossoms. It was situated on her entire spine, disappearing in pants.

"Yes, boys' gift."

"Wow! And Hinata… I'm terribly sorry for today, really. I didn't know about it."

"It's fine." She smiled. "I'm used to it anyway."

"Your three live together?"

"Uhm." She affirmed, quickly changing in two-pieced swimming suit. "Sasuke's brother and his wife are our guardians."

"Anyway, it must be funny to live altogether."

"Oh, believe me, it is." Hinata snarled, tying her hair. "I have four brothers and two sisters, almost the same age. We're arguing often, but I can always rely on them, no matter what."

"Finally." Kankurou sighed, when all girls appeared. "Sasuke went to swim, he seemed to be… a bit oversensitive."

Ino just looked away, shifting uncomfortably under Gaara's stare. Rolling her eyes, Hinata tugged on redhead's hair, pulling him away from embarrassed girl.

"You're going to pull out all my hair?"

"Sorry." She mumbled, releasing him. "I just needed to take you somewhere, you scaring the shit out of her."

"She deserves it."

"Since when are you so overprotective of Sasuke?"

He avoided responding, throwing her in cold water without chance to adapt. She yelled loudly, accidentally landing on Sasuke. Not expecting something like this, he started to choke under the water, crushed with her weight. She managed to pull him on surface eventually, hearing her classmates laughter in the background.

"You okay?" she asked concerned, when he recovered. "Sorry, Gaara threw me into the pool."

"I'm fine." He muttered.

"What's wrong?"

"I told you I'm fine."

"And I can see you're lying to me, Sasuke. Are you still upset because of the class?"

"No. Really, it's nothing serious, I just got slightly irritated with Inuzuka's comment. It's nothing to worry about, starlet."

He was relieved when she swam away. Because… how the hell was he supposed to tell her that he was totally pissed off, because Kiba dared to wonder how big her boobs would be in the swimming suit?

Sasuke couldn't sleep. He was rolling on his bed restlessly, even if he was exhausted after two hours of swimming. In his head he could still replay the scene in the classroom and it was pissing him off to no end. Had it been for Hinata... he could easily imagine himself slapping Ino. He cursed mentally and sat, when hearing Neji's irritated sleepy muttering from the other side of their room.

"Stop moving and go to sleep, idiot."

"I can't."

"Forget 'bout them."

"I can't."

"Oh, God..." the older groaned. "Come here."

He did what he was told, placing himself comfortably in the other's bed. Neji fumed something about noisy idiots and adjusted his position, spooning Sasuke, embracing him tightly. On the nape of his neck, Uchiha could feel quiet low chuckle, vibrating through his skin.

"What's so funny?"

"You stole Hinata's shampoo? Your hair smell exactly like hers."

"Shut up and go to sleep, Hyuuga."

"Touché..."

The sleep came quickly, followed by nice dream about fire in the hearth and soft furry carpet, about love and warm body to cuddle with, about strong bonds and family.