Hinata had assumed that, since Tsunade-sama had finally seen the light and allowed her to stay in the village until further notice, the insanity that was swirling around her like a whirlpool would finally dissipate.
The mere thought was enough to make her break out into giggles now.
No. No, the insanity would never dissipate. Hinata would just have to learn to be the calm sunshine in the eye of the storm.
It all started with Hanabi coming into her room one night just as she was getting ready for bed.
"Nee-sama, go shopping with me tomorrow," she announced, flopping onto Hinata's futon with no preamble.
Hinata raised an eyebrow at her little sister. "Hanabi, I have training tomorrow."
"You can join me after your training. I heard you and Tsunade-sama talking. She's given you a pay raise and a vacation," Hanabi said blithely. "So you have to go shopping with me."
"You were eavesdropping on our conversation? Hanabi – "
"Just go shopping with me!" Hanabi repeated. "Your clothes are too baggy, nee-sama. You're a celebrity now – "
"I'm not a celebrity!"
Hanabi gave her a disbelieving look. "Uh, nee-sama, the daimyo wanted to meet you to get your autograph. You are a celebrity. And you don't know the first thing about fashion. We need to fix that."
"I-I don't care about fashion," Hinata protested. "I just like wearing what's comfortable." And easy to hide in, she thought. She could always burrow her hands into her long sleeves, cover her head with a hoodie, and scrunch into her oversized jacket whenever she felt a certain someone's gaze sweeping over her.
"And that's the problem!" Hanabi said. "How are people gonna know how awesome my big sis is if she hides like a turtle? And...and besides..." Hanabi stared at the floor fixedly, puffing out her cheeks and ducking her head so that her long, dark hair obscured her face. Like a little kid.
A pang rose in Hinata's chest at that. Hanabi was a little kid. A little kid who despite giving off "super serious heiress vibes" to outsiders as she put it, as recently as two years ago would run into Hinata's arms, asking to play ninja, would sneak into Hinata's room at night to show her a particularly good grade she'd received in the Academy, would pout whenever Hinata let her win in a sparring match.
"You never spend much time around me anymore, nee-sama. Ever since you became famous, all these people keep calling you out on missions and stuff and you're barely in the village now."
Hinata's heart warmed. She wrapped her little sister in a hug, and to her shock, Hanabi did not object.
Looked like she wasn't the only one having a tough time because of the fame.
"Okay, let's go shopping."
Hanabi smiled and snuggled into Hinata's arms, and little did Hinata know that she would seriously regret that decision.
"Nee-sama, doesn't this look fashionable?"
Hinata stared blankly. It was a weird-looking "theme" dress, one with a cat tail, bunny ears, and (Hinata cringed) a plunging neckline that left nothing to the imagination.
"I'm not wearing that, Hanabi."
"Why not?" Hanabi demanded.
"Because it's too..." She gestured vaguely, trying to convey everything wrong with the dress without words. Unfortunately, Hanabi took this in a different way.
"Well, then how about this?" Her little sister swiped another bizarre-looking dress off its coat hanger and waved it around triumphantly.
She stared again.
"Hanabi...I'm not going to dress up as a lion." Hinata held up a tasteful-looking purple hoodie type, the sort of thing she usually liked to wear. "I think this is better."
"That looks fugly," Hanabi said flatly. "I won't let you buy it."
"Fugly?"
"Yes, fugly. At least wear high heels! Those are fashionable."
"They are difficult to run in. As ninja, we have to be practical," Hinata pointed out.
"When you're on duty, yeah. But when you're just hanging out with friends, you could afford to look nice, nee-sama." With that, Hanabi wandered off to a far corner of the store, returning a few minutes later with another godawful "fashionable" dress.
Hinata's jaw dropped. Blood slowly flowed from the crown of her head to her ears, to her chest, and to her belly, before finally sinking to the soles of her feet.
She was sure she was sporting a full-body blush by now.
Her sister was evil.
"No," she said. "Absolutely not. I won't wear that. I won't."
"But nee-sama!" Hanabi whined, actually stomping her foot on the floor in frustration. "You've refused everything I've suggested! At least try this on for your harem!"
Hinata was normally a quiet person. She mumbled and stared off to the side or to the ground and didn't always speak when spoken to. She had devastating performance anxiety and didn't loudly shout her feelings for the world to hear.
That day when she took Hanabi shopping was the exception. As she gazed at the white and pink spiral-shaped dress, with little arm and leg holes the only concession to practicality at all, something deep inside Hinata snapped.
"I'm not dressing up as a naruto fishcake! AND I DON'T HAVE A HAREM!"
Fists clenched, cherry-faced, breathing heavily, Hyuuga Hinata lost her temper once and for all. She forgot all about using indoor voices, just like her cousin and potential addition to her harem had, during those fateful Chuunin Exams.
The words "I" and "harem" echoed off into the distance, reaching into the farthest corners of the store and penetrating every single person's eardrums.
Including a gaggle of paparazzi.
A/N: Yay, finally she runs into the paparazzi, just like in a request. :)
I love Hinata and Hanabi's big sis-little sis relationship. Who's with me? :)