Hinata stared at the crumbled man in front of her and rushed to his aid. "I'm so sorry, Kiba-kun, you started me."
"I guess I should have made myself a little more known before I jumped you like that." He groaned, rubbing his sore chest.
"I can accept the hug now." She mumbled, helping him up and burying herself in his fluffy coat.
"Guess I'm not sneaking up on you," Kankuro mumbled from behind her.
When he let her go, she kneeled to the massive dog whining for her attention burying her face in his soft fur. "I missed you too." She mumbled to him as he curled around her.
"I was on my way to meet Shino," Kiba stated.
She looked back at Kankuro for confirmation. "You know what?" He gave her a grin. "Go have fun with your team for a while. You'll be dragging me around all day tomorrow I'll go get some paperwork done."
"Really?" She asked.
"Yeah." He stretched. "I'm going to need it if we are spending tomorrow with your sister."
Shino wasn't a hugger. She gave a brief light hug, but he was happier just to have a hand on her shoulder and keep a close, comfortable distance. She was glad to let him.
They reverted quickly into old habits in how they walked, talked, and even sat around each other.
They asked her questions about her new home, and Shino forced Kiba to explain his heart's recovery. She was happy she hadn't broken him. They had an awkward conversation about her sleeping in separate rooms from her husband-to-be that was quickly switched to how her new job was fairing. Thanks to Shino's discretion.
"He's been good to you?" He asked, distant.
Hinata frowned, looking over at Shino, who just stared back knowingly. "Yeah, why wouldn't he."
"It's just he's not known for his gentle touch." She blinked and could feel Shino cringe.
"I don't know what you mean." She stared at him, confused. "He's incredibly gentle."
He rubbed his head and acted like he hadn't said anything. "So you like this guy then?" Kiba asked, flopping onto Akamaru's side.
She sat on her knees in the grass under the tree and nodded. "We have become close friends."
"That's good." He mumbled.
Hinata fished in her coat pocket and held out their invitations, now was as good a time as any. They both took theirs.
"You're having a Suna wedding?" Shino asked, idly looking at the card.
"Temari-san and I have been planning. We even have my wedding robes now. She hopes to find her mother's headpiece before I return." She picked at her hem. "You'll come?"
"Of course." Kiba gave her a toothy grin that kinda hurt to look at, and Shino nodded.
"Aren't Suna weddings short?" Shino asked, looking at the times on the paper.
"Yes, the ceremony part is, but there is more of a… reception of sorts." She explained.
He nodded, tucking the invitation away.
"I'm not answering that, and watch your words." She told her sister pointedly.
"But, it's an important question." Hanabi pressed as she giggled at her sister's discomfort.
"I certainly disagree," Neji grumbled. Hanabi glared at him.
"It is!" She protested, looking expectantly at her sister for her answer.
"I don't want to have a conversation about my little brothers' attractiveness'." Kankuro crossed his arms and laid his head back in exasperation.
"Neither do I," Hinata said firmly. This is not something she wanted to talk about, especially in front of Neji and Kankuro.
"He's your fiance!" She whined.
"Hanabi-sama." Neji scolded.
"Hmph!" She crossed her arm and slumped in her shirt like a child.
Hinata rubbed her temple. "It doesn't matter. It's not that kind of relationship"
"What kind of marriage is that? Is he going to just keep you in a tower like a monster or something?" Hanabi grumbled.
Hinata didn't think her sister meant it, but what she said hurt. Hinata sat back and kept to herself as her cousin continued the argument in her place. She knew her sudden change didn't escape everyone at the table. She could only hope he would keep quiet about it for now.
"Hinata..." Kankuro started. She flinched at her door. She was close to hiding away from him and his question.
"I don't want to talk about it. Please..." She begged, looking at the handle desperately.
"It's not true." He continued stubbornly." How this started has nothing to do with your relationship with him. I can assure you he doesn't see it that way." He placed his hand firmly on the door to make sure she heard the end of it. "You didn't know him before. He has changed so much since you have come along."
She felt tears rimming her eyes.
"Even since he got his control, and he started letting people care, he had never let someone in as he has you. He has never trusted someone so completely. I'm jealous. You have in just months have done what we couldn't do in years. Do you honestly think he would crumble so completely if you were just a woman held to him by a piece of paper?" She let the tears fall.
"I never thought that." She whimpered. "It's just sometimes I let myself forget that this was just an arranged marriage."
He realized what it was. "Everyone else hasn't seen what we have." He mumbled.
"They think he is only caring because he is publicly obligated or because he has to. They don't see what I see. They don't see him. They still see a tamed monster, not the trapped man." She crumbled, and he pulled into him rubbing her shoulder. She trembled at the realization that Kiba's confusing question earlier in the day was much more offensive than she had realized. He had insinuated that he was violent toward her. What else had she missed in her nativity?
"You never see yourself do you." He sighed. "Just others."
She buried her face deep into his shirt. "I just want to go back home."
Kankuro patted her head lightly. She looked up in groggy form as he held out a cup. She took it as he sat down beside her on the bench. "Feeling better, at least?"
"Yes. Sorry." She mumbled into the steam of her drink.
"Don't even try." He rolled his eyes. "Just get through the week, and then we get to go 'home'." He teased.
She shrunk in embarrassment. She hadn't been there long, but she was already attached.
"It will all be okay." He mumbled, staring up at the rising sun. "We just have to survive your damned family."
Her uncontrollable giggles range throughout the morning, air brightening the whole day.
"HINATA-CHAN!" She heard. She quickly turned to get the full weight of a grown man on her and forced her back to the ground.
She hit the ground with a cough as the air left her. "Naruto-kun, you're too heavy." She coughed as he held her with a death grip, ignoring her discomfort.
The weight was suddenly lifted from her chest. She looked up to an annoyed Kankuro holding her favorite blond up by the back of her shirt. "You kill her. Gaara will kill you." He threatened half-jokingly, offering his other hand to her.
She let him swiftly tug her up, making her dizzy. He compensated by taking his hand from hers to her upper back. She blinked away the stars as Naruto was dropped roughly to his knees.
"Sorry." He smiled childishly, rubbing his head. "Sakura-chan said you were back. Is Gaara with you?"
She gave a tight smile, feeling a jab she was sure he didn't mean to give. "No, he isn't. He's well, though."
"Oh." He pouted. "Well, it's about dinner time. Come, tell me how you've been!" He excitedly tugged her off. She looked back desperately at Kankuro, who looked confused at her look and quickly followed.
When he had finally plopped her in a seat and went to order, Kankuro leaned over and whispered. "The hell?"
"Please don't leave me with him." That was all she offered.
He nodded.
The lunch had gone off without a hitch. Naruto embarrassed her a few times, not meaning to, of course, but slowly she realized something that made her have a chill.
She stared as he rambled, hardly listening anymore. Words she would have happily listened to and held onto every syllable, every letter. She looked almost through him as she truly realized she didn't love him. Not at all. Not anymore. She couldn't even say she liked him. She didn't dislike him. He was a good person, a hero. Everything she had ever wanted, but not anymore. She didn't want him anymore. She didn't need the Konoha hero anymore.
She excused herself, leaving his invitation as soon as she was done eating, lying that she wasn't feeling well. She stared at the floor, worried even. When had it happened? She had let him go because he had to, but she had accepted she would likely love him forever. Kankuro trailed her, unaware of what was going on.
She turned to him and smiled. "I guess I didn't need you after all."