AWHILE LATER:
Hinata stepped out of the bathroom. She wore black ninja pants and a gray off the shoulder t-shirt. Walking through the living room, she saw the room had been cleaned and the smell of alcohol had been scrubbed out of the room. She smiled and nodded contently before heading to the kitchen. Stepping into the spacious room, she smiled at Sakura, who was flipping pancakes. Her pink haired friend looked refreshed as Hinata felt. She wore black ninja pants and a black midriff tank top with a fishnet shirt under it. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail. She turned to Hinata, giving her a smile.
"Hi Hinata. How do you feel?"
"Good."
Sakura looked at her friend out of the corner of her eye. She was glad that Hinata was recovering. Turning back to the pancakes, she let lose a sigh when the doorbell rang.
"Hinata?"
"I'll get it Saku-chan."
Hinata stood and walked to the door. Opening it, she smiled at the visitors. Opening the door wider, she let them in, closing the door behind them. She led them to the kitchen, were Sakura was getting out 4 glasses and filling them with milk.
"Sakura, it was Shikumaru and Neji."
Sakura turned, setting the glasses down. She gave the guys a smile.
"Morning."
She sat, Hinata sitting across from her. Neji took the seat next to Sakura, giving her a kiss on the cheek as he sat. She smiled at him. Shikumaru sighed and muttered something about troublesome pancakes and sat next to Hinata, who giggled and gave him a small smile. The friends sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying each other's company. Then Sakura spoke.
"I'm guessing you didn't come over for breakfast. Do we have another mission?"
Shikumaru shook his head.
"No…that'd be troublesome."
"Everything is troublesome with you Shika. Did you know we're thinking of putting 'this is a troublesome cake' on your next birthday cake?"
Hinata choked, swallowing quickly so she could laugh. Sakura laughed with her. They finally got a hold of themselves and looked at Shikumaru, promptly bursting out laughing again. Neji chuckled and gave Shikumaru a sympathetic look.
"Too bad for you Shikumaru, hm?"
"Shut up Neji."
After a few minutes of bantering between the boys, during which Hinata and Sakura tried to no avail to help each other stop laughing, they settled back into a comfortable silence. Neji broke the silence.
"Sakura, we found the information you were looking for."
Sakura paused in eating, fixing the guys with a look. Disbelief was clear on her face. Watching the guys quietly, the look turned to shock then excitement then a neutral expression. Hinata watched all this happen curiously.
"Sakura?"
Sakura turned abruptly, her ponytail almost smacking Neji in the face.
"It's nothing Hinata."
Hinata raised a brow quizzically but shrugged it off. Sakura had her reasons, and when she was ready, she'd tell her. She was fine with waiting.
AWHILE LATER:
"Hinata?"
Said kunoichi appeared. She poked her head out of the bathroom door.
"Yes?"
"I'm going to the hospital. Don't expect me home in time for dinner."
"Oh. Okay. Can you do something for me before you leave?"
Sakura titled her head to the right and then shrugged. She began walking to the bathroom.
"As long as it doesn't take to long."
Hinata pulled her friend into the bathroom and shut the door. Pulling out a kunai, Hinata handed it to the medic. She turned it over in her hands, looking at it quizzically. Holding it up so Hinata could see it in the mirror; she gave her friend a confused look.
"What, exactly, am I doing with this?"
Hinata sighed and gave her a what-do-you-think-dummy look.
"Cutting my hair."
Sakura did this little cough-choke thing, her eyes widening.
"What?"
Hinata heaved a great sigh and turned around in the chair she was sitting in. Taking one of Sakura's hands in hers, she fixed her with a serious look.
"Sakura, I can't explain it, but I feel like I need to do this. It's not going to be a big cut, just a few inches off. Please. Do this for me."
Sakura, seemingly getting over her initial shock, gave Hinata a thoughtful look. Her eyes softened and she nodded. Hinata gave her a smile and turned around.
"Hey Hinata?"
"Hm?"
"I'm going to do a little more than a trim okay?"
Hinata was silent for a moment.
"I trust you."
ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER:
Sakura stepped back, examining her work. She reached out, snipping a few ends and fluffing Hinata hair a bit.
"There you go. What do you think?"
Hinata opened her eyes and looked at her reflection. Her once waist long hair was now about an inch below her shoulders. Her bangs stayed like they were. The front of her hair was a shorter than the back and it got longer as it meet with the rest of her hair. Hinata ran a hand through her newly cut hair. She was speechless. Sakura looked on with a worried expression.
"Do you like it?"
"Oh Sakura!"
Hinata stood and wrapped her in a hug. Sakura, stunned by this, was slow to respond. Soon she was wrapping her arms around Hinata's frame and smiling to herself. She pulled away a few moments later.
"I would love to stay and chat, but I need to get to work."
Hinata smiled and kissed Sakura on the cheek. They walked to the door and Sakura waved as she walked down the apartment stairs and onto the walkway. She waved again as she disappeared around the corner. Hinata smiled, unconsciously running her hand through her hair. Turning around, she disappeared into the apartment and closed the door.
END OF CHAPTER
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~!snow!~