"I'm not really a fan of clay," Hinata told Deidara as he pouted. "I get it under my nails, and they're short, so it's hard to get out." She wasn't a fan of the mess of any art. She wasn't particularly fond of that lead stain she got on her hands if she wasn't careful when sketching.
"Fine, uh," Deidara mumbled. "I'll text you a pic when I'm done then, yeah? Oh! I like the sketch you sent, Sasori wasn't as big of a fan, but he's probably grouchy. It's better than he can draw."
Hinata frowned. "His puppets seemed to have nicely painted faces."
"That's painting, yeah." Well, Hinata wasn't any good at painting, so she guessed she could understand.
Kisame came in, ending the conversation as her attention was drawn by the large crack in his lip and the foul mood Itachi was in.
"Are you okay!?" Hinata squeaked as he lay down on the desk, rubbing his temple.
"Did you lose a fight, uh?" Deidara laughed. She didn't think this was funny.
"No, it was just a lucky shot," Kisame grumbled, giving the dried blood a lick. "Hope there isn't anything salty for lunch."
Hinata really didn't like how light-hearted they were all being about this. In the three weeks she had been in this class, she had noticed bruises and bandages, but no one had ever talked about it. She was growing more worried by the day, honestly.
"Mouse?" Kisame asked. The small nickname he had decided for her felt bitter right now.
Hinata turned her frown to her the new message on her phone from her uncle, trying to act distracted and keep her glances off the darker blotches littering his blue skin.
Hinata still didn't seem happy with him by lunch. Itachi gave him an annoying, amused raise of his eyebrow. Another 'I told you so.' Great, both of them were pacifists.
What did he expect from her, though, to think he was tough and cool?
Kisame sighed, folding his arms and laying his head down. Today was going to be no help to his headache, was it?
Itachi came to join them as the last class ended. "I have to watch Sasuke for his martial arts club. He wants to show me how he has improved."
"Has he been doing well?" Hinata tilted her head.
"Yes, would you like to come?" Itachi offered.
"I don't want to impose. I'm sure he would prefer I wouldn't. I know he's not fond of girls." Hinata declined.
Kisame snorted. "Well, that would explain how he and Naruto are never seen without each other."
"That's not what I meant." Hinata pouted.
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind you, of all people, Hinata. He hasn't even seen you since we were kids." That might be where his interest stemmed from.
"Just don't offer to bear his children," Kisame noted. Hinata ignored the comment.
"I guess, but I have no idea where the gym is. We've only had PE outside." Hinata fiddled with the ends of her skirt.
"Kisame could take you. I have to meet him in the locker room, and I'm sure you don't want to wait outside that door." Itachi gave a small, innocent smile.
Kisame glared at him. This was a setup.
"That would be for the best." Hinata agreed.
And Hinata had to walk right into it, didn't she?
"Kisame?" Itachi asked with the same innocent smile, just smuggler.
"Yeah, I'll take her," Kisame wished he had had to work early tonight to have an excuse not to go.
Hinata walked slow, incredibly slow. Her footsteps joined with the click of the umbrella. The bag was too big for her, and she stumbled on air. Maybe the umbrella just kept her from falling forward. Kisame finally just plucked her bag from her shoulder.
Hinata looked up at him in surprise. "It's heavy, right?" Kisame said blandly with a straight stare forward.
Hinata gave a thank you as they slowly started down the stairs. He was just grateful she wasn't offended.
They joined Itachi on the indoor bleachers as the martial arts team did their warm-ups. Itachi offered his arm to help her up the bleacher stairs, walking behind Kisame. Thankfully, Kisame didn't seem to notice her struggle. Hinata gave Itachi a thankful look at his quiet courtesy. They let her pick a seat. She picked one at the top of the bleachers against the wall.
Kisame set her bag down beside him. "Neji-san's out there too." Hinata pointed toward him. Neji's hair was pulled back in a messy bun. He looked adorable. She had forgotten about him being in martial arts too. She used to do it with him. That was why he couldn't take her home today, she realized.
"I used to be too, but my eyesight is going," Itachi explained. "Hand-eye coordination is becoming harder even with contacts, and Kendo is enough for me."
"You have contacts?" Hinata asked. Itachi nodded. She hadn't noticed. Then again, she really wouldn't know how she would.
Neji spotted her at some point, and Hinata gave a small wave. He looked surprised, and so did Lee. Neji scowled, but Lee lit up. Before Neji could stop him, Lee ran right up to her jumping up the bleachers, skipping stairs with each bound, and immediately picked her up in a massive, hard hug.
"Hinata-chan! I missed you! You haven't come to lunch or practices! It's so great to see your beautiful, youthful face!" Lee hugged her even tighter before setting her down. The wrong leg came down first.
Hinata squeaked as she wobbled and fell. Massive hands engulfed her waist, keeping her upright and guiding her down. He quickly released her as soon as she was safely sat down.
"Oh!" Lee exclaimed, covering his mouth. "I'm sorry I forgot!"
"It's fine, Lee-san. Kisame-san caught me." Hinata shrank in her embarrassment at her inability to even stand straight. "Neji-san looks like he wants your attention." Actually, he was glaring at Kisame, but Lee didn't need to know that.
"Bye, beautiful Hinata-chan! I'll come to see you at the home sometime!" Lee pranced gladly back down the bleachers to be yelled at.
"You okay? That didn't hurt, did it?" Kisame rubbed his palms on his pants.
"No, he didn't hurt me. He's just a little hyper?" Hinata tried. "He's really nice."
"I meant me." Kisame's eyes shifted to her hips, where his hands had been.
"Oh! No, thank you for catching me." Hinata smiled reassuringly. Kisame rubbed the back of his head with a tinge of purple to his cheeks that she didn't catch. "I'm sorry for being so clumsy."
Itachi smiled.
Sasuke eyed Hinata as he approached his brother after the meet. His hair held a heavy layer of sweat and drooped.
"Come on! I want a rematch!" His blond opponent whined. Rubbing his shoulder where the winning blow had been struck.
"I won. Give up and take your losses more gracefully or at least wallow in silence," Sasuke snapped back.
Kisame leaned down a foot to whisper. "Maybe we would all have a little peace."
Hinata covered her lips with the tips of her fingers to hide her smile. "That's mean Kisame-san."
"You did well." Itachi gave a short nod to his younger sibling.
The side of Sasuke's mouth came up with approval. He then dipped his head into his towel to try to dry the sweat out of his hair.
"Who's this?" The blond asked, inches from her. Hinata felt her face redden as she found him without a shirt as he was using it to dry his face.
Hinata squeaked, stumbling back.
"Woah there, mouse." Kisame again guided her down to the seat behind her once more.
"Hinata Hyuga," Sasuke answered. "Weren't you living closer to the center of the city?" He asked her.
Hinata held on to the closest thing she could for dear life, willing away the blush. It happened to be Kisame's arm. She couldn't even fit her hand around the blue forearm that she was holding onto. "I've been staying with my uncle. I've been going here for three weeks now."
"Oh? I haven't seen you. Are you in class B?" Sasuke looked to the side and cringed as two girls started bounding up the bleachers toward them.
"She's in our year," Itachi explained.
"Aren't you my age?" Sasuke wondered openly.
"She jumped grades," Kisame added.
"Oh, she's smart, then?" Naruto asked. "Maybe she could tutor me. I'm near failing." He grinned wildly. Hinata wasn't sure that was something to be proud of.
"You need more help than a tutor." Sasuke rolled his eyes as the girls reached them.
"You're going to want to come with me," Kisame picked up her bag and handed her her umbrella.
"Why?" Hinata then heard the screech of the two girls talking to Sasuke, fawning over him while he glared. "Oh."
"Come on." Itachi rushed them.
They walked to the end of the bleachers. Kisame and Itachi both hopped down the side rather than walking down. She frowned, looking at the distance. She wouldn't be able to jump in good health. Kisame raised his hands up, hovering over her hips, asking permission. It would be quicker, and they seemed in a rush. Hinata handed her umbrella to Itachi, and Kisame closed his hands on either side of her hips. She covered her hands over his for balance and was picked up, then gently placed down.
"Thank you." Hinata smiled as she was handed her umbrella.
"You're light as a feather, mouse." Kisame chuckled. "I could toss you in the air."
Hinata frowned. "No, thank you." It only made him laugh harder.
"Hinata-sama." Hinata flinched at the harsh tone her cousin gave her.
Hinata turned with a smile, trying to ignore his clear irritation. "Neji-san, I thought you did well."
"You were supposed to head home after classes." Neji reminded her.
"I came to see Sasuke-san with Itachi-san," Hinata answered with a frown.
Kisame glared at the small, angry boy. Hinata shrank shorter with each of his words in the authoritative tone he gave her. Didn't she get a say in where she went after school? She wasn't that much younger than he was, and she was surely mature enough to make her own damn decisions, so why was she being treated like a young teen who snuck out to go to a frat party? Moreover, she was letting him.
"We can take her home if you are concerned, Hyuga," Itachi said politely.
Kisame was annoyed by the civil reaction, but it was probably for the best. Not sure the mouse would like him too much if he punched the cousin she spoke so highly of in the face. Then again, if this was how he treated her, then why did she think so highly of him anyway?
"I don't believe I like the implication. She can make it home on her own." Neji also started being painfully polite.
Kisame got it. They were from two prominent, proper families. This was how they had to fight with one another. This was also his chance to get her out of this situation.
"Then can't she stay a while to see the after-school activities?" Kisame gave a grin to Neji's frustration.
"Neji! I told you to leave her be!" Another short human, this time female with falling-out double buns, came and grabbed Neji by his shirt, roughly turning him to face her. "Let her be with her friends. She's not Cinderella, so stop being the ugly stepmother." She then quickly turned to give Hinata a smile. "Go have fun, Hinata." She then dragged the boy away by the front of his uniform as he glared at her.
Hinata waved, seemingly bewildered. "Uh, careful Tenten-chan," Hinata called, seemingly worried about her cousin's safety.
"Guess your cousin doesn't like us," Kisame said.
"Hmm." Itachi rolled his eyes, heading toward the door.
"He promised." Hinata whimpered, following Itachi, looking back where her cousin was dragged.
"Promised what?" Kisame asked, stepping directly into her view, so she couldn't dwell.
"Uhm, nothing, sorry," Hinata looked at her feet as she walked.
"Want us to walk you home then?" Itachi asked.
"I don't want to be a bother," Hinata mumbled.
"Exercise, right?" Kisame grinned, coming to her side. It was hard to keep slow enough to stay beside her.
"Not at my pace." Hinata noticed his stunted steps.
Kisame grew a large grin looking over to Itachi, who looked at him with a knowing expression and then rolled his eyes. That wasn't a no.
Kisame stepped in front of her and kneeled fully. "Hop on then."
"I couldn't!" Hinata squeaked and covered her mouth to try to hide her embarrassment.
"Come on, you were worried about slowing us down, and we're going either way. This way is faster." Kisame grinned at her.
"But you're back." Hinata whimpered. Oh, she meant the bruises.
"As I said, your light, would you rather I carry you upfront." Kisame grinned.
"No!" Hinata squeaked, mortified.
Itachi held out his hand. Hinata frowned, outnumbered, and handed him her umbrella and leaned on his back. Kisame slipped his hands under her thighs, making sure his hands were quite firmly over her skirt. She fidgeted her hands, trying to find a place to put them.
Hinata found a place quickly as he stood. She squeaked, holding tightly to his shoulders.
Kisame laughed at her. He could feel her pout and hid her blush in his shoulder as she leaned into it.
"There, not so bad, not hurting you am I?" Kisame asked.
Hinata paused, hesitating before she spoke. "No, I'm fine."
Itachi tucked her umbrella under his arm. It looked ridiculous with him, but whatever. He was walking with a massive shark with a small mousy girl on his back.