My apologies for the long delay. Happy reading and have a great day!
Chapter Eleven.
And that is all you know about her?" Shino asked.
Kiba nodded, with a happy, almost soppy expression on his face. He looked like a love-sick puppy and all Shino could do was smile at his friend's confession to him.
"So, she's an ANBU member, you have only ever seen her with her mask on and when you have talked with her, she only reveals herself to you by the initials SS? Sounds very mysterious, Kiba. How do you know you love a girl you have not ever seen?"
"Because of her way." Replied Kiba smiling. "The first time I saw her, she had saved a little girl from falling from a tree by catching near the forest around my home. Akamaru and I ran towards them to see if there was anything we could do. The little girl was completely unharmed and when we arrived, asked the woman if she could do it again. The woman laughed and produced from her kunai pouch a small ball and gave it to the girl… but made her promise not to climb trees to highly. When the girl had gone, I tried to say how impressed I was with what the woman did but she disappeared in a cloud of smoke, leaving the words 'SS' carved onto the bark of the tree the girl fell from. She had a wolf mask on and smelt of roses and lemon…" Kiba started to drool and his eyes rolled to the back of his head. Shino merely watched at the sight of his friend lusting after the ANBU lady and making a clearing noise with his throat, Kiba shook his head wildly and apologised for his behaviour.
"Have you seen her since?" Shino asked.
"Yeah, but only once after that. Akamaru and I had been trying to track her for weeks after the incident when 2 weeks ago, we saw her again. She was walking along the main streets in Konoha with another two ANBU members. I walked up to her to say hello and just as she was about to say hello back, her team mate said they had to go. She apologised to me but asked if we could meet again. I said "Of course" and she disappeared again… leaving on the floor 2 dog biscuits and a little note with the words 'SS xxx' on them."
"You must have wanted to get back home soon – Kiba, you're a good friend."
"I could not have done nothing when Hinata may need us." Kiba said, folding his arms whilst Shino tried to rise himself up in the bed. "The same can be said of yourself too, Shino." He winked at the recovering bug lover and the two started to feel embarrassed by all the praise they were giving each other.
"Boy, this feels a little bit strange." Remarked Kiba and Shino nodded with a slight smirk on his head.
A knock was then heard at the door as Nina came in, bringing with her a large pot of tea and some sweet and savoury snacks, including a large packet of dog biscuits which made Akamaru spring from the bed and turn around Nina's expectedly.
She giggled as she carefully manoeuvred around the happy dog, put the tray on a small table, took from the packet a dog treat and fed it to Akamaru. The flush appeared again on Shino's cheek before Kiba cleared his throat, attempting to try and get Shino to take control of his emotions. Shino nodded gently in response and clearing his own throat thanked Nina.
"Nina-Sama, you are very kind to us. But shouldn't you eat some dinner. You must be hungry?" Shino was truly worried that she may be hungry and Nina smiled sweetly at him.
"I'm fine, thank you and besides," She said pointing to the large tray. "I thought I'd bring you three up something to eat and drink. You both looked quite funny when I came in just now… what were you both talking about."
"Dogs." They both said at the same time. After years of knowing each other so well, they knew how to cover each other.
"Okay." Said Nina, not believing them for a second but wanting to not seem rude, spared their dignity. Their faces when she came in showed they were not talking about dog. It was something more personal that was being discussed and she knew exactly what that might be…
Downstairs, the Mizukage, Kakashi and the two bluenettes were having a nice talk together. Hinata had sat to the Mizukage's right, beside Kakashi. He sat up straight at the smell of lilacs hit him as she moved towards the chair and pulled the chair for her to sit in. As she sat down he leaned into her as he pushed the chair with her closer to the table. He saw the white of her neck and her collar bone and nearly going forward to nibble it, reluctantly stopped himself, sat in his own chair to stop himself from trying to touch her, sat down quickly onto his his own hands. He did not trust himself with them from wandering over to her but he'd try not to do it. The subject had now gone onto favourite games to which Hinata and Chōjūrō both said the same thing with their faces like mirror images – eyes closed with big smiles.
"Chess." They both then looked at each other and giggling, apologised to each other. Kakashi arched an eyebrow as the Mizukage smiled. She quickly looked at Kakashi and then, turning to the two younger Shinobi, remarked something.
"The more I see of you both, the more alike I think you are. You both share the same sense of dress, attitudes, manners and behaviour…" Even though Hinata's hair was darker, she had Byakugan eyes, and Chōjūrō had sharp teeth and had such poor eyesight he wore glasses; they both really did look and acted alike. An idea crept into the Mizukage's head and sitting upright, looked both to her left and then to her right as they were both sitting opposite her, made a request. "Hinata-Sama, would for a moment go and sit next to Chōjūrō?"
Hinata nodded and walked around the table to sit beside her friend. The kimono wearing shinobi smiled shyly at the older two dinner members and saw Mei-Sama and Kakashi share a look. The bluenettes then did something unexpected. They looked at each other knowingly, trying hard not to laugh at their plan. Chōjūrō then looked at his Mei-Sama and spoke.
"Mei-Sama, can we both ask you and Kakashi-Sama to honour a request of ours as well?"
Mei-Sama looked shocked, as did a very dirty minded Kakashi whose mind was racing through all the possible requests they could make of them?
"That depends," Mei-Sama said, her eyes twinkling as she bit her bottom lip. "What would you both like to ask us?"
Hinata blushed heavily and so as to make it easier, Chōjūrō spoke on her behalf. "The 'Big Rain Festival will soon be here and we'd be honoured if you could both accept us as your escorts. Is this okay?" Chōjūrō looked slightly worried in case both he and Hinata were rejected. Kakashi looked goldfish-like whereas Mei-Sama was slightly taken a back.
"Kakashi-Sama?" Prompted a very happy Mizukage, making Chōjūrō grin as he knew that her answer would be yes.
"How could I refuse?" Smiled Kakashi with creases coming from his eyes in happiness. Of all the things that they could have asked… he thought slightly in disappointment but was happy at the sweetness of it. As was Mei-Sama.
Everyone was happy and as Chōjūrō and Hinata went upstairs to check on the others, they both winked at Mei-Sama and Kakashi, making them both blush brightly. When they heard their footsteps faintly and the door to the spare bedroom closed with a click, the Mizukage asked Kakashi a question.
"Kakashi-Sama, you arrived at Kirigakure VERY quickly. 15 days early…" She trailed off the sentence. There was no need to ask hin so bluntly why he was so close by uninvited.
"After a small disagreement with the Hokage, I thought it best to stay away from home for a while. Along the way to the Lightening Country, I heard of something disturbing which made me change course. You probably already know about it."
"What did you find out?" The Mizukage asked, serious and without a smile.
"The Hunter-nin are thinking of rebelling against Kirigakure." It came out badly and the Mizukage immediatly stood up.
"Nothing has been told to me about this." She said angrily and quickly apologising to her dinner guest, made for her office to arrange a meeting with her ANBU members. Kakashi stood up nonchalantly, cool as a cucumber and went upstairs to see the others.
After knocking, he entered the room to the sounds of laughter as they were talking and chatting together. After explaining the Mizukage having to leave quickly, he advised it might be best for them all to leave. Nina looked very upset but the friends swore to meet the next day.
"Nina-Sama?" Shino said after getting up and re-making the bed. "Would you come to the festival with me?"
Nina's eyes shone and she kissed Shino on the cheek, making him sweat but smirk.
"I think that is a yes." Commented Kakashi and laughing gently, everyone made their goodbyes and as Nina showed them to the door, waved goodbye.
It was a new day and the 'Big Rain Festival' was forecast to begin tomorrow. Hinata thought it best to waste no time in going to see Ao. She had bought some daffodils from a flower shop near the hospital, stopping to pet a pretty Pekinese who was waiting for her owner outside. Entering the hospital, she saw Kiri in the main reception and chatted to him. He was going to be taking the Senior Doctor to the festival tomorrow and asked for Hinata's advice on something nice he could do for his date. She smiled and modestly advised on a few things that Kira might like. Kira was sadly an ironic name for the medical-kunoichi as it meant 'Killer' in Japanese, hence why many people never addressed her by name – especially in front of patients. Her parents called her it in an attempt to make her sound strong and therefore less likely to be a target from her peers for bullying or the dreaded Chuunin exams were classmates were forced to kill each other. A real-life version of 'Battle Royale' except that ALL students took part in it and not just the naughty ones.
But that was a different time, a time that thankfully was now gone. Kiri then told Hinata about Ao's progress and that now he seemed to be suffering from nightmares. He would now wake up screaming and begging for forgiveness at least twice a night.
Hinata thanked Kiri for the update and then proceeded to walk through the hospital to Ao's ward. She still wore her glasses and so as she walked through, wearing a white medical coat and her usual dark navy and white uniform, no-one passed her a second glance until she was there. Ao looked at the young lady in front of him and when she handed him the bright yellow flowers he smiled slightly. His eye patch was now off and the sight of his different colour eyes hit her, reminding her of her aunt's death and how he now had her eye. She did not show a reaction but then forced herself to make a polite smile to show she was pleased he liked the flowers. She put them in a glass vase which contained some dying violets that Chojouru must have brought him and replaced them with the daffodils and fresh water, putting them beside his bedside.
"Hyuuga-Sama, thank you." His smile dropped but he did appreciate the gesture. He could feel the fakeness in it and knew this was going to be a very awkward meeting… no, interrogation. This is what was going to happen. She wanted something from him he did NOT want her to have. He was going to have to fight her to save that woman's memory and he WOULD fight.
Hinata pulled up a chair close to him and sat down. Her gestures were relaxed and open but there was tension already in the air. This was going to be a very difficult talk but it needed to be done. Not just for her or her family but also, for HIM.
"Ao-Sama," Hinata began. "I need to ask you a few questions. I will not force you to answer anything you do not want to but you must forgive if I try to persuade you to answer them of your own free will. Doctor Kiri tells me you have recently been suffering from nightmares, asking to be forgiven. Is this to do with my aunt?"
Ao looked straight into her – through her eyes and literary looking at HER. He knew he could not deny the answer and so admitted it.
"Yes. It's always been her."
Hinata sighed and hated herself for what she was going to say … but she knew what she was about to say was true and needed to be said. She truly despised herself now and there was no going back …
"The times you lived through in the past was so different to now. I am sure there was no choice for you…"
Ao sprung up and grabbed Hinata's arm. She shrieked as both eyes bulged wildly and his grip got tighter. How could she have been so stupid to have let her guard down? This man killed her aunt and she had idiotically told everyone she would be okay in seeing him alone. Of course, he would kill her and he had deliberately taken his time to get her alone to do it.
There was a large puff of smoke and quickly removing the Kiri-shinobi's arm away from the girl, stood Kakashi. He was looking angrily at Ao but kept the tone of his voice balanced and unemotional.
"Ao-Sama," Kakashi began. "I think you forgot your own strength then. It looks like your recovering well." He pulled Hinata gently up from the chair and looking over her to make sure was okay, looked back to Ao. "I'm sorry to have interrupted you both, but I urgently needed to see Hyuuga-Sama. Is it okay for you both to arrange to meet another time?"
Hinata had gone into shock, as had Ao. They both nodded their heads slowly and with that done, Kakashi led Hinata away from the ward and promptly into one of the family rooms the hospital had for when relatives were waiting for news from loved ones in critical care. The room had white walls with a green skirting, a green sofa and large black leather chairs. It was actually quite a pleasant looking room but they both had not noticed. Kakashi helped Hinata onto the sofa and sat beside her.
He gently brushed up the right sleeve of her lab coat and jacket, checking the arm for any possible bruises. There was a red mark where Ao had grabbed her but it would soon disappear. He gently rolled it down, looking relieved and then closed his eyes for a moment. It was good that she was okay, but what made her feel she could trust that man enough to be alone with him?
Hinata looked at his face, slightly coming to after the shock of what had happened. She placed her left hand on the hand that had just finished checking her right arm, making Kakashi's uncovered eye pop open in surprise. Her attitude was so unassuming and caring that he relaxed. The touch had made the electrical spark within him crackle and had he not had good chakra control, he could have electrocuted them both.
The atmosphere between then grew like static – both of them over time scared to say or do anything more because they knew what could happen. Tension steadily grew until Kakashi couldn't hold back anymore. He took her hand again and putting it in his, caressed her fingers. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his skin against hers and when he leant in to kiss her, she had parted her lips slightly for him. However the door to the room banged open, Ao standing in the doorway.
"You better come with me." Ao said.