A/N: Hey guys, how have you all been? I'm hoping to have this series completed soon so I can focus solely on It's High Tide; which, by the way, I have not abandoned or put on hiatus. Sorry, it's just that I received some messages from a couple of people who were concerned, and I wanted to clarify that I am still working on the latest chapter. It's just taking me awhile... Surprise, surprise. lol

I've also recently posted a oneshot based on that pairing called Breaking the News, which, if you're a fan of MinaKushi, I think you may enjoy reading. ;)

...Anyway, now that the shameless plugging is out of the way, this next addition is called Affliction and is based on kerchiefs/bandannas. Again, I don't actually refer to the article of clothing in this piece. Rather, it was the inspiration for the idea behind it. I threw this together rather quickly, so sorry if you feel it is vague.

I hope you like it!

Summary: She could feel her throat tighten uncomfortably at the sight, the sensation, the sheer evidence of her affliction surfacing before her very eyes...

#21. Affliction

It was coming out in chunks.

Thick, soaking, tufts of darkness that were being carried helplessly by the powerful stream of water and seeping uselessly into the open drain.

Washed away.

She sifted her hand through the tresses, feeling them break and pull away, even underneath her hesitant, gentle grasp.

She could feel her throat tighten uncomfortably at the sight, the sensation, the sheer evidence of her affliction surfacing before her very eyes, as the water continued to pound relentlessly against her naked, vulnerable flesh.

Reaching out for the tap, her free hand, wrinkled from the prolonged immersion in the liquid, scraped against the tiled wall blindly. Her eyes refused to look away from the stray hairs that were caught within her clenched right first, captivated in utter disbelief.

Finally reaching the porcelain handle, she turned it back, almost cautiously, allowing the stream to die down slowly.

She padded out of the bland cubicle, her feet squelching audibly against the sopping mat beneath them, retrieving a towel to wrap around herself.

The view of her reflection was obstructed, the mirror had almost completely clouded over from the steam, as her shaking hands fumbled through the array of toiletries littering the sink's rim and surrounding counter-tip anxiously, before finally locating the device she had been looking for.

She gripped the clippers firmly, her knuckles white and sweeping back the thick, raven bangs lining her forehead, as she raised the edge of the blade up to her hairline.

As the device whirred stridently into life, she shuddered, her eyes clenching shut, as she felt her resolve falter momentarily. The young woman exhaled deeply, silent willing herself to proceed.

Her actions were halted however, and the young woman broken out of her stupor, by the firm, distinct rapping of knuckles against the door.

"Hinata?"

Her heart lurched painfully in her chest at the concern etched clearly in that all too familiar voice.

"Are you okay?"

She didn't want to face him. Not now.

"...You've been in there for awhile now."

She couldn't let him see her in this state.

Of weakness.

Of fraility.

"I'm coming in, okay?"

She wanted to protest, but remained silent, allowing the man to enter.

Her teeth scrapped lightly at her lip apprehensively, as her lavender eyes glanced down at her feet, not wanting to meet his gaze.

She felt completely exposed, vulnerable and self-conscious, and not because she was standing half-naked before the man she harbored deep, emotional feelings for. Sure, a few years ago, such a notion would have truly mortified her, most likely to the point that she would have lost consciousness, yet right now, that was not the case...

It was because she had been broken.

Broken by something stronger than she had ever faced ever before.

Something stronger than her cousin, her father, the entire combined forces of the Leaf nation. Something more challenging than the hardest, most excruciating mission.

Something that transcended hours of rigorous physical training and chakra manipulation. Something that she wasn't entirely sure she would be able to defeat.

It was because she was scared.

He had always loved her hair.

She could remember his lips caressing it, his nose burying itself amongst the tresses and inhaling its scent, his face being obscured by the dark mass as it cascaded around him. She could still feel his lean fingers sifting through it.

Naruto sighed deeply, his hand reaching up own to brush through his own unruly blond mop. A typical nervous tick of his, yet one that, upon reflection, he realised was inappropriate. He grimaced at his carelessness, his hand suddenly shooting away as if it had been burnt.

He hated this.

There was nothing he could do to help her, and no matter how much he tried to sympathise with her, no real way he could relate to the condition she was currently in.

He had never been good with words, but at this point, he realised that probably didn't make a difference. He imagined that even the most literate, intelligent person would have difficulty bringing comfort to the woman before him, and finding a way to relieve her of the burden she currently carried.

His hand reached out to stroke hers reassuringly, before gradually moving to take the device from her own. He was acting purely on impulse, not really thinking his actions through. Taken aback, Hinata's eyes widened as he moved away from her and stood before the mirror. Naruto studied his reflection momentarily, the clippers still in hand.

"What are you doing?"

Her voice was barely audible, and almost immediately drowned by the monotonous drone of the blades whirring into life when he clicked the power button. He slowly raised the device to his head, an action followed by the sharp, unmistakable sound of serrated steel slicing through hair follicles.

A distinct gasp tore from her lips, as she watched a bright clump of blond hair droop from the man's head, a stark contrast to the dull tiles beneath them.

"You don't have to do this alone." He spoke decidedly, his eyes not straying from the task.

"But, Naruto-kun! I-"

"I know I can't understand exactly what you're going through right now, Hinata, but that doesn't mean I can't be here for you... Let me help you through this, let me carry the burden with you."

Hinata pressed her fingers together subconsciously, a light blush crossing her features, as she watched him continue to remove his hair.

"Oh, by the way," Naruto spoke through the reflection of the mirror, a playful smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. "When I'm done here, I'm moving over to you next."

In spite of herself, and the gravity of the situation that had presented itself, Hinata smiled.

For it was in that moment, when she realised that she wasn't alone in this.

It was in that moment that she no longer felt scared.

A/N: I hope I didn't make this too difficult to follow. If you're unsure about anything you can just let me know via review/message and I'll do my best to explain it, but hopefully it's pretty straightforward. Anyway, please R&R!