AN - Thank you to everyone that reviewed last chapter :) :) Hope you like this chapter!

And to Midnight-The Angel of Darkness this chapter may answer your question :P

Reminder:

Precipice ~ Hinata: 13/14, Kakashi: 23

In Between ~ Hinata: 17, Kakashi: 27 (about 2 years before Eclectic Love)

Eclectic Love ~ Hinata: 18, Kakashi: 28

Eclectic Love - Chapter Twenty-One

Recently healed from his spar with the woman siting across from him on her bed, Kakashi leaned into the pillow cradling his stiff back and neck. A towel draped overtop his bare shoulders, catching the falling droplets from his freshly scrubbed hair. He listened to her spirited voice ramble on about a new fūinjutsu she'd been developing.

Kakashi's head tilted, his eye lightening as a smile lifted his lips. He loved the way she glowed when she talked about something she was passionate about. The way her normally quiet voice raised a little bit louder. How her eyes wouldn't stray from the scroll she focused on except to peek up at him from behind those dishevelled bangs to see if he was still following.

His eyes began to wander. He drew them down her neck to the collar of the baggy t-shirt that had begun slipping off of her shoulder. His eye dared lower, glazing as they scanned over her bare legs, covered only by a pair of navy blue cotton shorts.

"I wonder what Jiraiya-sensei will think of it," Hinata mused, pulling Kakashi out of his perusal.

Kakashi blinked himself out of his haze before he gave a lopsided smile. "He's one of your longest running fanboys so I have a guess."

Hinata's cheeks tinged pink as she parted her mouth to argue.

"Ah, don't tell him I said that," Kakashi hurried.

Hinata giggled. "Oh I plan to," she said with mock seriousness.

Kakashi lifted his brow. His hands darted forwards as he grabbed her ankles. Uncrossing her legs he pulled her towards him, making her fall back. He pounced, trapping her body underneath him. "Now that's not nice, Hinata-chan. Threatening your poor partner like that."

Hinata clutched the scroll in her hands as she felt her face heat. Swallowing, she pushed aside her fumbling stomach. Her eyes twinkled before she flipped their positioning, dropping the scroll to the side. Her hands pressed against his chest as she sat atop of his bare stomach.

"The ever defenceless Copy Ninja," Hinata teased. "Don't worry, I'll protect you."

Kakashi released a dramatic exhale, his body slumping into the bed. "That's a relief. I was getting worried."

Hinata rolled her eyes but couldn't stop another giggle from escaping. Her laughter choked off as she found the world turning as Kakashi maneuvered himself back on top. "Kashi," she groaned.

"Sorry," Kakashi disarmed her with a grin; without his mask she really didn't stand a chance. "I have my rugged image to protect."

"I didn't know you possessed such an image," she said with a proud smirk that rested as more of a grin.

"I'm a very sought after bachelor in Konoha, thank you."

Hinata lifted a brow.

"I'm told it's the 'sexy mystery' that surrounds me."

Hinata's eyes dipped across his face. "Was it Genma-san who told you that?"

"He was my first love," Kakashi sighed before he let his arms give out, dropping on top of Hinata.

Hinata's laugh cutoff to another groan as his weight crushed her. "Ka-Kashi, you're too heavy," she forced out between constricted giggles.

Kakashi rolled them over so that half of Hinata was strewn across him. He sighed as he relaxed his head into the mattress with one arm wrapped around Hinata's waist. He ran his free hand through his spiking locks as he stared up at the ceiling. He shouldn't be doing this.

Hinata glanced up to see Kakashi's sharp jawline. She relaxed her head down onto his chest, her warmed cheek meeting his cooler skin. She heard the steady thrum of his heartbeat pick up before she felt him raise his upper body.

Lifting herself onto her forearm she turned her head to meet Kakashi's dark gazing eye. Her own heart picked up its pace. She felt her heart thump as one of his hands reached towards her, cradling her cheek. Her head tilted into his hand as his thumb drew along her heating skin.

"Kashi?" Hinata whispered his name with what remained of her shallow breath.

"You can stop me," Kakashi's husky voice thrummed as his eye drifted to Hinata's lips.

Hinata's mouth parted to respond but no sound escaped.

"You can tell me to stop," he repeated, bringing his head down to hers as his hand led her head up.

Hinata's fingers clenched her bedspread, her other staying flat on his chest. She released a shaky breath as their faces neared.

Kakashi paused as their noses touched. "Say stop and I'll stop."

Hinata felt his warm breath mingle with her own. Her sensitive nose filled with his deep scent. As the seconds ticked by neither of them moved: Hinata frozen in wide-eyed surprise and Kakashi frozen with uncertainty.

She felt him sigh. She felt as he pulled back.

Her heart flipped.

Squeezing her eyes shut she pushed herself forward to close the distance, pressing her lips against his.

Hinata waited as heat climbed up from her chest to burn her face. 'He's not moving,' she thought as her heartbeat picked up its pace. 'What if there was just something on my face. What if-' Her thoughts cut off as the hand resting on her cheek slid around to grab the back of her head, tangling through her locks to pull her closer.

Hinata relaxed into the kiss as his lips began to move. Her hand glided up his chest to cradle his neck, her thumb running along the line of his jaw. Kakashi kept her body humming as she felt his hand splay across her lower back before dragging her body to lay fully on top of him as he laid back.

It took all of his self control to not let his hands stray as he felt her legs settle on each side of his hips. To draw them along the backs of her legs, squeezing the soft flesh. To dip them under the slip of a shirt she wore and feel as her back arched into him.

As he felt his member throb he pulled his lips from hers. He rested his forehead against her own. Just a second apart and he already wanted to taste her lips again, feel her pressed even closer.

Hinata pressed her face into the crook of his neck and he felt her body shake. His salacious thoughts paused as he turned his head with a lifted brow at her restrained giggles. "Oh no… I broke her." Kakashi grinned as he heard her laugh louder. "Hokage-sama's gonna kill me."

Hinata pressed herself up, a hand covering her tittering mouth. She stared into Kakashi's amused eyes, her lips still tingling. The ANBU of many a people's nightmares felt giddy for the first time in her life.

Kakashi pulled her hand away from her face, wanting to see the stretch of her lips with the squinting of her eyes. "That's usually not the reaction I get when I kiss a woman," his grin fell into a sheepish smile.

Hinata hid her face in his neck again as another bought of laughter shook her core.

Kakashi flipped them over, holding himself on his forearms as his body settled between her legs. Leaning down he quickly captured her lips. Feeling her giggle into him he couldn't help but smile against her.

He felt her heartbeat quicken and her laughter settle as his hand slid down her stomach to caress the side of her bare thigh with a featherlight touch. Pressing his chest into hers, he felt as her timid hands began to respond, searching along the muscles of his back as he deepened the kiss.

'That's better,' Kakashi thought as he heard a soft moan. His hands tightened his grip on her thigh, his lips tilting in a slight smirk.

"Arrogant man," Hinata mumbled against his lips.

With a grin he captured her mouth in another kiss. He nipped at those lips that always tempted him with their pout before finally tasting that silver tongue. He pushed himself closer loving the way her soft body moulded underneath him.

With a sudden change Kakashi groaned as Hinata shoved him off to her side. He glanced to her widened eyes as she sprung off the bed, apprehension built in his chest at the thought that he might have done something wrong.

Hinata quickly straightened her clothes and ran her hand along the back of her head. "Hanabi passed through my barrier," she informed as she exited the bedroom.

Kakashi's anxiety silenced as he cursed under his breath. He grabbed his shirt from his pile of shinobi gear and forced it over his head. Lifting his mask to cover the bottom half of his face, he followed Hinata.

He found her in the kitchen, waiting for the expected knock with tense shoulders. He slid his hand across the small of her back, turning her towards him. "Should I go?"

Hinata's heart fluttered at his actions, at how easily his arm had wrapped around her. It was a small but notable change from how he would've responded just a few hours ago before… Her cheeks heated. She swallowed, casting her eyes to the ground, "Yeah."

Kakashi tipped her chin upwards before pecking her on the lips with a smile. "I'm here if you two need anything."

Hinata's nerves settled at those assuring words. This was Kakashi. Her body relaxed as a timid smile graced her lips, "I know."

As a strong whack of a fist hit her door she felt the hand on her chin disappear. With hurried steps she strode to her front door. She pulled it open, making Hanabi's knocking hand pause midair.

Hinata's eyes widened as her normally composed sister flung herself forward. She pulled Hanabi in through the door and shut it behind her. Hinata curled herself protectively over her sister, feeling silent sobs wrack the young girls body. She rubbed soothing circles along her back.

After a moment Hinata maneuvered them to the grey upholstered couch in her living room. In the small space all that could fit was the couch and a glass tea table.

Plopping them down, she let her sister curl into her side. Hinata ran her fingers through Hanabi's damp brown locks to untangle a few clumps.

"What's wrong?" Hinata murmured as she felt Hanabi's shoulders settle. She peeked at the clock on the wall. It was almost midnight.

Hanabi scuffled a few inches away from Hinata as she realized her actions. "Sorry," she sniffled, whipping her eyes with the back of arm.

"What's wrong, Hanabi? I can only help if you tell me," Hinata insisted, tucking a stand of Hanabi's hair behind her ear.

"I was up past curfew. And… I overheard Otou-sama talking with the elders."

Hinata only allowed sympathy to rest across her face despite the anticipation blooming in her stomach.

Hanabi broke eye contact, staring off to the side. "The elders want me pulled off my team and to start learning how to run the clan instead."

"Hokage-sama could insist. I'm sure she's recognized your improvement these past months," Hinata's eyes squinted with her smile as she saw Hanabi's cheeks tinge pink. "The elders don't have a final say in the placement of a shinobi." Seeing that Hanabi's gaze remained on the floor Hinata guessed there was more. "What else?"

Hanabi shook her head as a scowl morphed her thin lips. "They've already found a suitor for me. And you won't believe who the fucker is!"

Hinata muscles clenched along her back as she predicted who's name would be said.

"Hiraku! That controlling, overbearing, kiss-ass who always looks as if a stick has been shoved deep up his-"

"Hanabi," Hinata chastised lightly making the other girl pout. Hinata's eyes softened as she watched the pout crack and tears begin to form. "I'm sorry," she pulled her sister into a hug. "This is my fault."

Hanabi forced herself back. "What? Of course it's not your fault, Oneechan."

Hinata turned and crossed her legs in front of her on the couch. "Hanabi there's some things you don't know." Seeing Hanabi narrow her eyes, she smiled at her determination, "I was also promised to Hiraku many year ago. I managed to get out of the contract with some help." She grabbed Hanabi's hands in her own, "I should've predicted this outcome. I'm sorry." There were only so many pureblooded Hyūga—far enough away from their immediate family—left to continue on the pure blood of the clan.

"It's still not your fault," Hanabi assured with fired eyes. "You had to protect yourself too."

Hinata's smile wilted as she looked down.

"If you got out that means I can too, right?" Hanabi's excitement quickly died as Hinata's sympathetic eyes met her. "I can't do whatever you did, can I?" She mumbled pulling her hands into her lap.

"When I was first disowned tensions were very high between myself and the Hyūga." Hinata pressed her hand against her forehead, "The Caged Bird Seal would always tie me to the clan and, regardless of their view of me, I still was a pureblooded Hyūga."

"So they were going to force you back in once you were of marrying age…" Hanabi pieced together.

Hinata nodded. Not wanting to get into the more violent details, she kept her explanation vague, "The Sandaime was concerned about this."

"But the Hokage can't interfere in clan matters," Hanabi recited the ingrained lesson.

"Exactly. So, to lead me to a place where I could help myself, he sent me to retrieve a scroll from the Hokage's Library. This scroll was listed under laws and their exceptions." Hinata pressed her lips together.

The information she was about to share was public. If someone searched it up it could be easily found. But it was not well known throughout the village. It remained hidden in plain sight; the Hyūga wouldn't be parading it around.

"After reading the scroll I learned that if I were to be adopted into another family then my new guardians would obtain parental rights over me… And the Hyūga wouldn't be able to accept a marriage proposal on my behalf. But," Hinata paused, "that would also mean I would never be able to become a clan member again."

Hanabi stared at her sister, listening as she steadily explained. "So I can't, I can't make you a part of the Main Branch again once I'm Clan Head?"

Hinata's neutral expression broke as she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Hanabi."

"It's okay," Hanabi responded a bit too quickly. "Did you just go with some random family or…?"

"A civilian family could be bullied by a clan the size of the Hyūga," Hinata reasoned. "I originally didn't want to involve anyone. But after my injury, I knew the elders would use that opportunity to try and regain control."

"So who-"

"Tsunade-sensei."

Hanabi blinked. "Huh?!"

Hinata blushed as she brushed another falling strand out of Hanabi's eyes. "It was very generous of Hokage-sama."

"You're the adopted daughter of the Hokage?! A Sanin?!"

"Only legally. It was simply a means to help me avoid a battle with the Hyūga Clan," Hinata responded, her voice remaining calm despite her sister's excitement.

Hanabi held up her hands, "Okay, sure, whatever you say, Oneechan."

"This needs to stay between us, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah," Hanabi waved off. As if suddenly remembering her own predicament, her shoulders slumped. "I'm screwed then."

Hinata shook her head. With a smile she patted her sisters head, "We'll deal with this together. I promise you that you won't have to go through with any marriage that you don't want to."

Hanabi gave an impish smile as her cheeks warmed. "Can I stay here tonight, Oneechan? Please?"

"Of course. Does anyone in the Clan know where you are?"

Hanabi rubbed her hand down the back of her head as she looked away. "No… I sort of yelled at them and ran off."

Hinata sighed. "Okay. We'll deal with it tomorrow."

AN - Hope you liked this chapter! If you're a KakaHina shipper then probably :P If not then there was still some sisterly bonding :) Next chapter is some Hyūga confrontation! Leave a review and let me know what you think :D