DISCLAIMER:
This story is my property. The characters within it, are not.

Hinata opened her eyes, ready to mask the pain her body remembered from the previous day's fight with Hanabi. Hanabi did not understand what she did for her, Hinata was sure. But then again, Hanabi had no idea what a burden the title of Lady Hyuuga was... Her thoughts were cut short as she realized that there was no pain in her body but the slight soreness of overexertion in her chakra coils. With much trepidation, she activated her Byakuugan, wincing as even that small amount of chakra began to drain her already low reserves.

The few seconds of her bloodline limit's activation left her with a wealth of information and a headache. She learned that she was in Sakura's house, where said kunoichi was speaking to Naruto: as indicated by his vast chakra reserves, Shino: whose Kikaichuu left a recognizable imprint on his chakra signature, Kiba: whose untamed chakra flared wildly as his attention shifted, and Sasuke?: the subdued chakra with a tint of darkness could only indicate three living people, but she was sure only Sasuke would be received with any less than certain death here...

Hinata shook her head and gathered her strength, gently sliding off the bed and making her way slowly to the kitchen. She leaned against the wall opposite the kitchen table where the four were seated, inadvertently placing herself directly in Sasuke's line of sight.

"Any questions?" Sakura's voice was strong and steady, the usual tone for the strong kunoichi.

As Kiba began to bluster out something that would, invariably, become an insult, Sasuke nodded once at her, causing Shino and Sakura to look at the point where his gaze was directed. Kiba quieted after a second of noting that neither of the people seated beside him were paying attention to the half formed words spewing out of his mouth. He quickly turned, craning his neck to see Hinata standing behind him. He opened his mouth to greet her, but was cut off by her soft declaration.

"Good morning, Sakura. Thank you for treating my injuries. I was... clumsy in a fight yesterday." She ignored Kiba's scoff and Shino's raised eyebrows. "Good morning Naruto, Sasuke. I hope I did not inconvenience you in any way?" She paused as the two muttered words of dissent. "Good morning, Shino. I apologize for having disrupted your morning." Her eyes were worried, but she smiled slightly as Shino shook his head once. "Kiba, good morning, as well. I hope you did not spend the night worried instead of asleep..?" Her voice was soft and sincere.

Kiba blushed slightly and stammered what may have been an agreement, though the others were not too sure of it. He stood quietly and approached Hinata, watching how her eyes darted away from him in a slightly fearful way. Though he was almost sure she did not fear him, he was still slightly hurt at the glimmer of caution in her eyes, as well as terribly angry with whoever had caused shadows to haunt her.

Hinata braced herself against the wall, fighting to convince herself that she was among friends, that, though there were four men in the room, they would never... she jerked slightly as Kiba stretched a hand toward her, violently wrenching herself from that train of thought. She forced herself to take the outstretched hand, leaning on him slightly as he escorted her the tiny distance to the table. As she sat down, she allowed herself to tremble briefly before raising her eyes, looking straight into Sasuke's: possibly the worst place for her gaze to land. She cringed, waiting for the inevitable question.

"You are not surprised to see me." Sasuke stared that the cowering woman sitting before him. She looked so frail, weak: breakable.

Hinata shook her head slowly. "Your chakra is... different than most. It is not easy to mistake it."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, but nodded and let the subject drop, easily switching the topic of conversation to Naruto by flicking a peach pit at the loud blonde. In the ensuing commotion, Hinata's lack of surprise was overlooked by all but her teammates who shared a glance with many meanings: worry, fondness, a wish to protect, and confusion.

Several hours later, Sakura cornered Hinata in the mini hospital room. She gave the young woman a searching look. "I don't know what you're hiding, Hinata, and I won't pry, but your team needs you. And‚ maybe it would be better for you to tell them why it is you're so scared of them..." She waited for Hinata to stop stuttering a denial. "Or why you're so scared of men in general." She nodded at her patient and walked away, passing Kiba in the hall.

He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, brows furrowed, glaring at the floor. As Sakura passed by him, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "She's scared. Of me?"

"I don't know what she's scared of, Kiba. Only she does." She shrugged off his hand and walked away, back to her roommates and their raucous yelling match.

Kiba watched Sakura walk away before trudging down the hall. He knocked lightly on the doorframe, waiting for Hinata's soft reply before walking in. "Hey..."

She smiled at him, but her eyes were wary. "Kiba. I am sorry for the inconvenience. You did not have to..."

"Hinata." He couldn't help the undertone of steel in his voice, nor the hurt that flooded him when she flinched and looked at the floor. "You're my teammate. My friend. 'All together or not at all' remember? We've gone against Konoha's rules to stay together." He waited for her to meet his gaze, then stepped closer slowly. "I'd do anything for you. Just like we'd do anything for Shino, and he'd do anything for us. I did 'have to'. And I always will." He gently brushed a knuckle across her cheekbone, smiling slightly as she leaned into the caress, eyes losing their wariness for the first time. "Let's go. Shino's waiting."

He stepped away from her and smiled, letting her pass in front of him and walk out of the room, leaving a few of her worries behind, and trusting in him. Maybe she hadn't spilled all her secrets to him, but it was a start...

Author's Note:
Well, this chapter was a bit difficult to write without knowing which direction i'm headed in, but I suppose it came out pretty well...
Thanks goes to Fishy, who insisted on being called so, and, consequently made me chuckle and think of Sasuke tossing part of a peach at Naruto... so, that bit's all yours.
Until next time, then.