Acceptance II
Finding Naruto and Sakura was a lot harder than she'd anticipated without her byakugan. There were just too many people for her to navigate around so she decided to head to the training grounds. It was the closest area near the main street but far enough away that it was likely to be empty. There she could activate her byakyugan and search for them without distraction or suspicion. Her plan was a sound one however when she reached the training grounds she found that she didn't need to search anymore.
Naruto and Sakura were already there though neither one of them noticed her arrival. Part of her was relieved that there was no real danger to be worried about. They wouldn't have their defenses down the way they did if there was. Unfortunately, there was something else wrong. The way Sakura's shoulders shook. The way her hands covered her face. Hinata held her breath and hid behind a training post, her old childish habits resurfacing.
"I don't understand." She whimpered, her voice slightly muffled by her hands.
"Sakura-"
"What's wrong with me Naruto?"
Hinata peered around the post, her own heartbeat slowing as she watched Naruto pull her into his chest. His hand gently stroked the back of her head as she cried even harder. It hurt to see them. She felt her own eyes burn as Sakura's cries lessened. It was in the way he held her…so much closer than he'd ever held her. It was as if he wasn't afraid she'd break and she clung to him as if she would. Because she was breaking. Because Naruto was the only thing keeping her upright. Because he always had and always would.
Sasuke had said to accept it. They had always been like this. If she wanted to stay sane she had to accept it. He was right. However, she hadn't been accepting what was staring her right in the face. She'd only been in denial. Now though…now she accepted it.
When Naruto dipped his head to kiss Sakura…she accepted it.
When Sakura kissed him back through her tears…she accepted it.
Silently, Hinata left the training grounds, wiping her own glassy eyes with the edge of her kimono sleeve. The cold metal of her engagement ring stung her cheek as she did so.
When she returned to their house on her own that night. She took only what she could carry in a duffle bag and left the rest. She could always buy more. Her engagement ring was the last thing she removed. She placed it on the kitchen table where Naruto would likely find it whenever he came back. She didn't want to be around when he did.
With her things packed she left the house and slid her key under the mat.