At Death's Door
9. Adapting


The next time she returns, he summons Hinata.

Saukra smiles at the gentle woman and is, as always, full of questions.

"So there are others like you?" her eyes are bright as she sits cross-legged on the couch. Her hands are wrapped around a warm mug of tea that Sasuke prepared at Hinata's urging.

"I am from a large clan," she allows, curling her legs under her as she sits on the other end. "Our job is to find watch over any souls that might go astray."

"But there is a gate that can go to other realms, and you guard that. And Sasuke's family are Guardians in other realms, just like your family are Shepherds and Gate keepers."

"That is about right."

"And then," Sakura tucks a long strand of hair behind her ears, "while Shepherds generally stick to a territory, there are Hunters that can go across realms looking for different souls. And you and some of your friends are trying to figure out how and why I keep showing up here, is that it?"

"I knew you were smart," Naruto chuckles as he entered the room. "Didn't I tell you she is smart?" he asks Hinata.

"You did," she smiles pleasantly as he sits in a comfortable chair opposite the couch.

"Love what you've done with the place," Naruto looks around the room. "Way better than the 'I hate everyone' vibe Teme was going for."

Sakura laughs as she sets her tea to the side. "It started out as an accident," she admits, "but now it seems like things change even before I think about changing them."

"It's annoying," Sasuke intones, replacing her empty mug with a full one. "I never know where anything will be."

"Where's your sense of adventure?" she teases him, eyes alight.

"Probably with everything else you misplaced."

Naruto and Hinata exchange a knowing glance that goes unnoticed by the other two. Later that night, when they are a tangle of limbs and he is idly tracing patterns on her skin, Naruto gives voice to his thoughts.

"What do you think about them?"

She worries her lip as she considers her answer.

"I think that they are connected," she ventures, "but I can not say to what extent."

"She is changing his home without even trying," Naruto half snorts. "I'd say it's to a pretty good extent."

Hinata hums her agreement.

"Have you asked the others for help?"

"Not yet. He wants to wait and see what Shino and Kiba turn up."

"What about Itachi and his Hunters?"

Hinata gives a small shrug. "I haven't heard."

Naruto lapses into silence but Hinata knows better than to think he has fallen asleep. Instead, she listens to the lull of his heartbeat while he gathers his thoughts.

Just before she drifts off, he murmurs into her hair:

"It has been good to see him happy. I hope she will stay."

Her eyelids are heavy, but she uses her last wisps of consciousness to press a kiss to the underside of his jaw and whisper, in all sincerity, "Me, too."