Hello? Someone still reading this story?

First you both go out your way
And the vibe is feeling strong

And what's small turn to a friendship,

A friendship turn into a bond and that bond will never be broken

and the love will never get lost

So let the light guide your way hold every memory
As you go and every road you take will always lead you home

It's been a long day without you, my friend
And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
We've come a long way from where we began
Oh I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

Wiz Khalifa, "See you again"

6. Mending Souls.

All she wants is a quiet place to sleep for a moment. Just that, Sakura sighs.

She thinks about the times she had pictured herself with kids, Sasuke's kids. Now she knows that's definitely not for her. Maybe Hinata can put out with a kid who wakes up in the middle of the night and cries a lot, but she can't. She needs her precious hours of sleep, especially when she gets the loads of work she's had today. Besides, Haruki is a one year and a half old, at least. He's not a little baby anymore!

After she checks on the last of her patients and she reports to her taichou on the progress of the new members of the division, Sakura is finally free to go and sleep…

"Slacking off during work time, Haruno?"

She straightens herself up as she hears the familiar voice of the ice cube.

"Sorry, taichou, I… I've actually just finished my shift." She wasn't doing anything wrong, why should she offer any excuses. And why is she running into Hitsugaya-taichou again?

Then Sakura remembers that it's usually her who visits the 10th Division, Hitsugaya-taichou rarely comes here.

"Are you feeling unwell, Hitsugaya-taichou?"

"Hmm?" He raises an eyebrow "Of course. I just had some matters to discuss with your taichou."

"I see."

That's good.

Then she'll just go to her room and sleep. She really deserves it. She'd originally thought about staying in Hinata's new big and comfortable house, but suddenly Sakura thinks it's better to wait until Haruki grows up.

"Kids are really a nuisance…" She mutters as she drags herself across the corridors. "So troublesome…"

Toshiro is left wondering what the hell is up with that girl now.

"I think these two are ready to go on missions to the human world." Hinata says softly, holding the files of the officers she's been training during the past months.

"I will trust your judgement. However, have more experienced men keeping an eye on their performance."

"Yes, taichou."

She takes notice that the room was too cold, she will later ask for someone to bring some charcoal to make the place warmer. As she doesn't have anything else to inform her taichou, Hinata is already retreating when he surprises her with another question.

"How is the child doing?"

"He's fine now." She says, a smile appearing in her face. "It's all thanks to you, taichou."

"Hmm."

Hinata holds in a laugh. She already knows that her captain, despite of being an attentive person to those closer to him, isn't really used to do this type of kind act so in the open. Therefore, he's not used to receive gestures of gratitude, either. She'll never reveal it to others because her captain would really get mad, but she finds this silence of his rather cute.

"I'll bring you tea in a while."

"Go ahead."

Byakuya just shakes his head when she leaves his office. Then if the child is fine, why does she look like she didn't get any sleep at all?

Well, to be honest the boy is very cute, crawling around the room in search of Hinata, who is in the kitchen preparing dinner.

"You are too fast for your own good." Sakura declares, lifting Haruki from the floor and sitting him on her lap.

He blinks as he looks at her, and the burst into a happy laugh. His rosy cheeks and dimples make him all the most adorable. Sakura is satisfied to see that, after some weeks and under Hinata's care, Haruki is finally looking healthy again.

"Mama… mama…" He calls for Hinata when she enters the room.

"It's time for you to have dinner, Haruki." She says with a smile, and takes him from Sakura's lap. "Our dinner is also ready. Come over."

Sakura comes to eat with Hinata and Haruki almost every day, and the she stays to sleep at her friends' house. Now that Haruki is not sick, and Hinata has taken to sleep next to him, he doesn't cry as much as the first time, when Sakura got scared. Therefore, she thinks that kids are not that bad, and Haruki is especially a good child, but she still admires Hinata for deciding to be a mother for this boy.

"This afternoon, Rangiku was complaining again that you don't go to the SWA meetings anymore." Sakura says, serving herself more soup.

"But I already explained to her why I can't go."

"I think what she actually wants is for you to take Haruki so they can meet him."

Hinata bites her lip. She actually likes Rangiku-san, but as for some of the other members of the SWA, she isn't sure she wants them around her child.

"Where are you having your meetings now that you got caught by Kuchiki-taichou again?"

They actually dared to secretly use the Kuchiki Manor for their meetings.

"The 10th Division."

Hinata is actually surprised with this.

"Hitsugaya-taichou didn't lick you out?"

Sakura smiles. For all what the ice cube complains and yells at them, he is a softie when it comes to Rangiku, and always lets her have her way.

"He didn't. We'll until what point he can endure."

They are laughing when they hear a knot-knot.

"The door!" Haruki points.

It's unusual for them to have visits at that time. Hinata signals for Sakura to stay there with the child.

It's even more surprising when, on the other side, there's Captain Kuchiki waiting for her.

Byakuya has even questioned himself about this. Perhaps he is meddling too much in matters that don't concern him at all. As her captain, he knows more than anyone that Hinata is a very capable person, yet he finds himself insisting in helping her somehow.

"Kuchiki-taichou?"

She's surprised to see him at this time, but he's sure she will be happy with this.

"I thought you would want to see him as soon as possible." He gives a step aside, revealing the person she's been looking for such a long time.

It's good that he visited the academy today. Byakuya was almost sure from the moment he saw him, and became certain as the boy recognized the name.

"Hinata-sama."

"Neji-niisan!"

Hinata smiles and cries at the same time, and Sakura comes with Haruki in arms to see what has caused this commotion.

"Neji?"

"So this is truly your cousin. I found him today in the academy."

"Thank you, taichou. Thank you. Please, come in. Come, Neji. Was it difficult after arriving to the Soul Society."

"Just as it usually is for everyone else. How have you been, Hinata-sama?"

Hinata smiles. "You don't have to call me Hinata-sama anymore. Just Hinata is good."

"I'll try."

Neji doesn't remember much of his previous life, but he remembers Hinata and his promise to protect her with his life. It's a relief she isn't suffering in some place as the Rukongai, and that she actually managed to become a trusted lieutenant of the Gotei 13.

"Who are these?" He asks, looking at the pink haired girl and the child in her arms.

"Sakura, our friend back when we were ninja." Hinata tells him "And that's my son, Haruki."

"Son?" Neji immediately tenses. "Just who dared..." Who dared to touch his little cousin? He immediately throws a suspicious glare to the man standing behind him.

Sakura notices, and gives a step to kick him on the leg, whispering. "She adopted her son, you idiot."

"I think I'm not needed here anymore." Byakuya tells Hinata, totally ignoring Neji's accusing eyes.

"Thank you very much, taichou."

"There's no need for that. Be early tomorrow."

"Yes, taichou."

Hinata feels there's nothing in this world she can do to give back to her captain all what he's done for her in this short period of time.

"Mama…" Haruki hands Hinata a flower that he just picked from a vase. Hinata is worried by the way he moves around the house, but is still touched because her son is giving her a flower.

"You are so sweet, Haruki. Thank you."

"I'm home!"

Sakura is the first one to arrive, carrying a bag with groceries. They are preparing a dinner and invited friends to celebrate that Neji is finally back. Not that Neji wants any of that, but Hinata thinks is a good thing to do. In the past, as members of the Hyuga Clan, they didn't have a lot of merry moments. Besides, she's also invited Renji, Rukia and her captain, who Hinata still feels that she needs to thank properly.

"Rangiku is bringing something for dessert later."

"I think none of this is necessary." Neji says, having arrived silently to their home.

"Just go along with this." Sakura says. For a long time, they didn't have reasons to celebrate, but now there's Haruki and Neji, she agrees with Hinata that a celebration with friends is needed.

"Very well. How can I help you, then?"

Sakura and Hinata smile.

Their family is formed this way.