I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

Hinata was waiting for Kakashi, her bags neatly packed and sitting by the door. She was dressed in pale lavender silk top with a darker purple skirt that flowed down gracefully around her legs, and a pair of matching sandals. She had pulled her hair up into a bun with a few tendrils hanging down on either side of her face. When she saw him, her face lit up with a shy smile. Kakashi stopped in the doorway, floored by how beautiful she looked in her new clothes, and by the happiness on her face at the sight of him. He didn't fool himself into thinking that it was all for him, he knew that she was extremely happy to be leaving the hospital, but he still allowed himself to bask in that look.

"Ready to leave, Kitten?" He asked her, as he smiled back at her. She nodded, a small blush coming up on her face at the smile he gave her. Kakashi looked behind her and spoke to Hideki.

"I am transporting us to the mansion. I need you to follow with her bags." He ordered. Hideki bowed to him, and Kakashi walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. She stiffened for a few seconds, and then with a sigh, relaxed against him, though her face turned a few shades darker, and she focused her gaze determinedly on his jounin vest.

"Let's go home, shall we?" He said gently, and waited until she gave him a little nod before performing the teleportation jutsu. She experienced a few seconds of disorientation, and felt dizzy.

"Are you okay?" He asked her when she clung to him briefly. She nodded and then looked up at him.

"I was dizzy for a second, but I am fine now." Hinata reassured him.

"Good, everyone is waiting to greet us." He turned her around gently, and she was astonished to see all her Hyuuga relatives bowing before her and Kakashi. Neji straightened up and walked towards them.

"On behalf of the clan, we welcome you home, Lady Hatake." He told her with a slight smile on his face. Tears filled Hinata's eyes, and she made a show of bowing back to her family, before motioning them to rise. At her side, Kakashi and Neji shared a brief look of satisfaction. They had arranged for this moment of respect the night before. Both men knew that Hinata needed moments like this to bolster her self-confidence. The damage that years of neglect and abuse had caused could not be healed overnight, in fact, she would probably always have confidence issues. Kakashi was determined to do as much as he could to reverse it, starting with their clan's treatment of her.

Haruna caught his eye, and he nodded to her. She approached Hinata, and began a conversation with her about all that had happened, and inquiring about her health. They stepped into the waiting crowd of Hatake-Hyuuga members, and Hinata greeting everyone with a smile and kind word. Kakashi looked on the scene with indulgence, while questioning Neji.

"Has there been any incidents yet?" He asked him.

"Surprisingly enough, no." Neji replied calmly. Neither man felt that the lack of aggression was any reason to relax their guard. If anything, they both felt that they should be more cautious. Haishi Hyuuga was not a man to allow an insult to go unpunished, and what his family and Kakashi had done was much more than an insult. He would see their actions as a rebellion against his authority, and act accordingly.

"I want you to increase the number of guards, and instruct them to report anything that appears strange or out of order immediately, no matter how small it may seem. I expect him to make a move soon." He instructed Neji. The young man nodded respectfully, and then approached his cousin, excusing her out of the group, and pulling her to the side. She looked at him with puzzlement, but followed him without complaint.

"I am glad that you are feeling better. I am ashamed that I did not do more to help you. I wish that-" He was silenced by her reaching up and embracing him. He stood stiffly in her arms for several seconds before unbending enough to loosely hug her back. They stayed like that for several minutes before Hinata pulled back and looked up at him.

"I never blamed you for anything, cousin. The Hyuuga clan is corrupt and has been for many years. Father knew of your hatred towards me, and he did everything he could to foster it. I forgave you a long time ago, and it is time that you forgave yourself." She told him tenderly. He bowed his head to her, as much to hide his tears than as to show of respect. Neji knew that he didn't deserve the forgiveness she so generously gave him, but he would accept it, and hopefully some time in the future he would truly earn it.

"I must go and execute some duties, cousin. I will see you later." He looked up and meet her eyes briefly before teleporting himself. She smiled to herself, and then walked back over to join her relatives. Kakashi let her enjoy herself for a few more minutes before going to claim her away for the tour of the mansion he wanted to give her.

"I am sure you will excuse us- I want to show your lady her new home." Kakashi said with a small smile at the elders she was talking to. They bowed to the couple and turned to shoo everyone back to their respective duties. Kakashi offered Hinata his arm, and she took it slowly with her customary blush covering her face. As they turned to face the mansion, Hinata let out a small gasp of admiration. The building was a two story plantation type house. She recognized the style from a book of Western history she had been forced to read as part of her heiress duties. Her father felt that she needed a wide knowledge of the rest of the world and not just the five nations.

"I believe that I told you once that my family likes to travel?" He asked her. She nodded at him, while allowing her eyes to take in the details of the wide covered porch with its wicker furniture, and potted plants.

"Well, my great-great grandfather had traveled beyond the five nations to the Americas. He stayed there for several years and fell in love with the architecture. When he came home to settle down and start his family, he had this mansion built. Of course, everyone thought that he was eccentric to say the least." His eyes crinkled in amusement as he told her this.

"I believe that your clan is known for their 'uniqueness' Kakashi." Hinata told him teasingly with a demure smile. Kakashi felt a lick of desire whip through his body at that smile. His exposed eye darkened and he swooped in for a fleeting kiss on her lips, then continued leading her up the steps as though nothing had happened. She starred up at him in shock, as he helped her up the stairs.

When they entered the house, Hinata's attention was turned to the many curious things lining the walls, and the large elaborate staircase that led to the upstairs. Her eyes seemed to bounce back and forth as she tried to see everything at once. I could spend weeks examining everything, and still have more left to discover!

Kakashi chuckled as he took in her reaction. It was a sight that not many in the five nations had ever had the privilege to see. Every generation of traveling Hatakes' had contributed to the collection of oddities and artifacts that lined the walls of the great house.

"It is a little overwhelming, isn't it? I spent a lot of my early years exploring, and I am sure I still haven't seen it all. Would you like to see what I brought back?" He asked her. She nodded eagerly, and he took her to a display case to the left of the staircase.

"This is my collection. I have always loved the dragons that represent the clan, and found that throughout the world most cultures had some form of dragon lore and artifacts. Each have their own look, and I've spent a lot of money and time amassing this collection." He told her proudly, as he pointed to the case.

Hinata looked into the case, and her imagination took off as she examined the contents. There were at least a hundred items of different sizes and materials. They ranged from simple wooden carvings to elaborately decorated statues, all depicting various types of dragons. She decided that her favorite piece was a richly detailed golden dragon pendent with amethyst eyes, hanging on a delicate gold chain.

"They are all so beautiful- but I think that this is my favorite." She told him shyly as she pointed to the dragon necklace. His eyes glowed with a secret satisfaction as he opened the case, took out the necklace, and then placed it around her neck. She gazed up at him in astonishment as he closed the case.

"I-why would you?" She questioned him dumbly. He reached out and caressed the small golden dragon where it laid nestled in her cleavage. Her breathe hitched in her throat, and she dropped her gaze to watch his long fingers as they traced over the pendent. She felt a strange heat overtake her, almost the same as when he kissed her, but different.

"When I bought this piece two months ago, it was because the eyes reminded me of yours." He told her in a husky voice. Hinata's heart rate increased, beating rapidly as her eyes met his exposed eye, and seeing the desire there. She was captured by that look, and so it took a few minutes for what he told her to sink in.

"Wait- you said two months ago! You were thinking of me, two months ago…" She inquired wonderingly, an intensely curious look in her eyes.

Kakashi wondered if it was time to confess his feelings to her. She had shown signs of deeper feelings for him, but he was still wary of leaving himself open to rejection. Still, they were married now, and even if she could not initially return his feelings, he had plenty of time to work on changing that. As he gazed down at her considering, he noticed that her face was pale, and she had a fine sheen of sweat on her brow. Cursing himself for not noticing how tired she was getting, he swept her up in his arms and started up the staircase towards her room.

"What are you doing?" Hinata asked him in a slightly panicky voice.

"Why didn't you tell me that you felt tired? It is important that you don't overdo it. This is your first day out of bed." He told her sternly. She lowered her gaze to stare at his adam's apple as she felt a flicker of shame come over her.

"I didn't want to stop the tour, I was really enjoying looking at everything." She told him in a small voice. Kakashi sighed as he shouldered open her bedroom door and walked over to place her on the bed gently. She gave a small gasp as he laid down beside her and pulled her into his arms.

"I am not mad at you, Kitten. I am mad at me for not taking good enough care of you." He told her patiently. Hinata looked into his eye with exasperation.

"I am an adult you know. With medical training. I am perfectly capable of deciding when I need to rest." She told him. He let out a huff of disbelief, and smiled at the look of disgruntlement on her face.

"Whoa there Kitten! Retract your claws, I am just following Lady Tsunade instructions." He told her with a grin, as he held up a hand defensively as though she was going to attack him. Hinata tried to hold her frown, but she ended up giggling at him instead. They grinned at each other in companionable silence. Kakashi grin faded and was replaced by a tender look as he tucked a lock of indigo hair into place behind her ear.

"Hinata- I have something to I need to tell you."