"Big sis! Big sis! Lookie! I made you a crown!"
Sakura, startled, abruptly stopped from her brisk walk and turned to search for the voice. She smiled when she saw a little girl, not older than 10 years old, running towards her.
"You shouldn't run around in the hallways, Hinami." Sakura chided gently when the little girl came to a halt in front of the medic nin. Hinami gave Sakura a sunny grin, her wide brown eyes twinkling in delight. Sakura shook her head then knelt down, smoothed out the little girl's curly chestnut hair then fixed her patient gown.
"M'sorry big sis, but look!" Hinami quickly presented her handiwork with pride. "Miss Ino helped me make it! I picked the flowers and Miss Ino taught me how to weave them together." Hinami puffed her chest and nodded proudly at herself.
Sakura couldn't help but laugh amusedly. She gently patted the little girl on the head before taking the flower crown. It was a bit tattered here and there, maybe from all the running and manhandling the child did as she ran around the hospital wing. Other than the disheveled appearance, it was very beautifully made. Hinami apparently chose Daisies for her crown.
"This is beautiful Hinami, you're a very talented young lady, aren't you?" When Hinami grinned and stuck up her nose smugly, Sakura laughed again.
"That's for you, so you'll look like a princess even more!"
Sakura smiled gently.
"Thank you Hinami, I'll treasure this with all my heart." Hinami giggled. Sakura shook her head then took Hinami's little hand in her own. "Well, you've had an exciting day haven't you? But you've got to rest and take your medications later."
Hinami made a disgruntled face at Sakura. "Do I have to? I feel a lot better now." She directed her pleading gaze at the pink haired medic nin then pouted.
Hinami was a very sweet child. She had been born quite weak and was a frequent patient of the hospital. Her immune system didn't develop properly so she gets sick quite easily. When Sakura became an official resident of the hospital, Hinami was promptly thrown into her care.
"Yes you have to. Don't you want to go home earlier and go to school again?" Sakura encouraged. She looked at Hinami's conflicted face before the little girl sighed in defeat. Sakura smiled again at the child's exasperated huff and nod as they made their way towards her room hand in hand.
When they entered Hinami's hospital room Sakura was surprised to see Naruto sitting at the side of the bed, his face scrunched up like a bored child. When Hinami saw Naruto she squealed before running and jumping towards the blonde. Naruto noticed their entrance a bit too late and the little girl all but barreled herself to the blonde. He let out a soft 'oof' as Hinami tackled him, almost losing balance from his seat.
"Hey there Kiddo!" Naruto grinned at the little girl when she looked up her eyes twinkling with delight. She hadn't had many visitors whenever she was confined. Her parents were almost always busy and she hadn't made many friends at school because of the illness.
Naruto had visited Sakura in the hospital a few months back bringing her packed food he had bought. It was a very busy week at the hospital and he knew that she hadn't been able to go home for a few days. When he arrived at the hospital, Sakura had been taking care of little Hinami and after a few jokes and Sakura cuffing him at the back of his head, Hinami had unofficially declared Naruto as one of her favorite person.
Next to her big sis Sakura of course, no one could beat Sakura from the number one position in her list.
"Naruto? What are you doing here?" Sakura blinked as Naruto held out a plastic bag from the convenience store.
"Thought maybe we should eat together, 'sides I missed this little rascal." Naruto ruffled Hinami's hair while the child complained halfheartedly. Naruto then noticed the flower situated at the top of Sakura's head. Hinami noticed Naruto's gaze and instantly perked up.
"I made that big bro!" the little girl jumped gleefully. "Doesn't big sis look much prettier?"
Naruto grinned at Hinami the ruffled her hair again. "She does, doesn't she? Although she's been always pretty but you made her prettier that before. Good job!" Naruto high fived the little girl as she laughed.
Sakura shook her head a hint of blush dusting her cheeks at the compliment.
"C'mon then let's dig in!" Naruto started to unpack the bento boxes he bought.
"I'm still on rounds right now, just 2 more patients. Why don't you start eating and I'll just come back after I'm done." Sakura looked at her clipboard.
When Hinami opened her mouth to whine, Naruto cut her off and grinned at the pink haired medic nin. "Sure thing. I'll save this one for you then." He patted the box at the bottom. Sakura smiled appreciatively at the blonde before she left the room and checked the last two patients.
Hinami pouted. "I wanted all of us to eat together…"
Naruto shook his head and lifted Hinami to her bed. "She has to check on the others kiddo, it's her job." Hinami pouted a little but smiled again when Naruto opened one of the bento boxes. It was a teddy bear themed bento. Naruto laughed at Hinami's excited face and handed her the bento.
After a few minutes, Sakura came back and happily ate with them while Hinami told the two adults about her day. Sakura, after an hour of spending her break with Naruto and Hinami, went back to work. Naruto on the other hand stayed with the little girl and told her interesting stories about the other villages he had seen during missions. He refrained from telling her anything gruesome or morbid.
Hinami sighed wistfully and snuggled to one of her stuffed animals. Naruto gave her a questioning look and poked the little girl on the side which made her giggle. "What's wrong?"
The little girl pouted and fiddled with her stuffed toy. She hesitated for a bit then looked at Naruto sadly. "I… It's just that I wish you and big sis were my real parents."
A pained expression passed Naruto's face but was gone in just a second. He couldn't help but remember wishing the same thing about Iruka when he was a kid. He patted the little girl on the head. "Your parents love you. That's why they're working extra hard."
"But I don't want them to work hard! I want them here with me..."
Naruto saw the tears building at the side of Hinami's eyes. He sighed and raked his hair back. "Hey kiddo, look at me." Hinami refused to look at Naruto and hid her face at the back of the stuffed animal. Naruto shook his head. "Hinami, they're working hard so that they have money for you to be healthy. They want the best doctors in Konoha to take care of you so you'll be healthy and strong."
Hinami sniffed. "I miss them." Naruto patted the little girl on the head as she cried. He waited until her breathing became rhythmic before he himself left the room. When Naruto closed the door he gave Sakura a sad smile from where she hid.
"I wish we could do something more." Sakura gazed at Hinami's room ruefully. Naruto sighed and took Sakura's hand and enveloped them with his.
"You being here is helpful enough believe me I should know." Sakura smiled and squeezed Naruto's hand appreciatively. Naruto grinned then suddenly pulled her into a hug. Sakura let out a soft squeak then blushed at her lover's bold act of affection.
"Come on Princess, let's get you outta those stiff uniforms and into my bed." The blonde wagged his eyebrows while Sakura, scandalized, punched Naruto on the gut all the while blushing beet red. Naruto comically doubled over and clutched his stomach.
"Idiot!" Sakura stomped off leaving the blonde crumpled on the floor. She smiled to herself when she had rounded off at the corner where Naruto couldn't see her.
He really was an idiot, Sakura remembered Hinami's beaming mien and Naruto's goofy expression, but at least he was her one and only idiot.
AN: Oh bugger, this semester has been awfully hectic! Never fear for I shall upload and write whenever I have free time. For now I hope you enjoy this light little story!