Day 24


Hinata awoke to a loud thump from the bottom floor. She activated Byakugan. Itachi was face down. She scrambled out of bed. She barely noticed the stairs as she went, keeping Byakugan active until she reached him.

He was half on, half off the sofa. His head was turned toward her. The red pinpoints of Sharingan bore down on her. His clothes were black. Otherwise the room was cast in the deep blues of night. She knelt beside him. It was hard to tell if he was fully conscious. One of his eyes was closed and the other seemed to be following. As it slipped shut, Sharingan dissipated.

She looked at his chakra network, properly this time, with Byakugan. Dim, but not fading. His mission must have stretched him to his limit. Or close. A good night's rest and a decent meal would probably be enough. She reached over and held two fingers against his neck to time his pulse: fast, slowing rapidly. He was probably dropping off into sleep.

As she lifted her fingertips from his neck, his hand snapped to her wrist. She caught the glint of his eyes opening a fraction. His hand shook. It would be easy to tug her arm free. But she waited.

"Itachi?"

He grunted once.

His fingertips followed the line of her forearm and down her hand as he passed out.

She tried not to dwell on it as she made some broth for when he awoke.


AN: Whoops, forgot to send this through the pipeline the other day. Enjoy!