It had been a little over a week since he brought Hinata to his home.

"The hell is going on, Kiba?" Tsume asked, arms folded disapprovingly as he came down the stairs from his room after laying Hinata in his bed to rest. Hana was behind her, eyebrows raised expectantly. Kiba let out a tired sigh as he fell back on their couch, running his hands down his face. He was exhausted, and really didn't want to deal with his mother and sister right now, but knew they deserved some semblance of explanation.

"When did she even get back?" Tsume pressed, unyielding.

"A few days ago…she tried to take off again," Kiba grumbled, crossing his arms.

Hana raised an eyebrow before asking "and what? You kidnapped her?"

"No!" Kiba snapped his eyes up at her, forehead scrunching in irritation. "Naruto asked to bring her back…and she can't go back to the Hyūga compound."

"Disowned her, huh?" Tsume guessed, turning her back to him. Hana frowned, eyebrows wrinkling. Kiba nodded slowly, eyes trailing off in thought. She sighed and before she exited, she told him, "she can stay as long as she needs."

She hadn't said one word to him since the day at the Hokage's tower. Instead, she stayed cooped up in his room, unwilling to budge. He spent the nights on the couch and tried not to intrude on her space much. He had to bring her meals like she was some sort of prisoner. He loathed it but supposed he could wait her out. She'd go crazy in there at some point, and Hanabi was due back soon.

Naruto's chakra tethered her to the village, and Anbu were consistently keeping an eye out for her. She knew it was pointless to run. It hurt him to see her like this, but he figured she was better off with him than in some random inn out in the village where he knew she was likely to not bother eating.

So, when he got that knock on the door and caught a whiff of Hanabi's scent, he was elated. If anyone could jostle her, it was Hanabi. She was a sucker for her sister, he knew.

"Hanabi, thank gods." He immediately ushered her in.

"My sister? Where is she?" she started immediately, activating her byakugan as she kicked off her sandals.

"She's—" he didn't bother to finish as she jogged up the stairs, already sensing her chakra. He sighed in release, knowing he had no place in this conversation, but was relieved for it.

Hinata's eyes blew wide at the familiar pulse of chakra from downstairs. Within seconds, the door was bursting open and a tall, slender form was wrapped around her. Her mind went fuzzy as the voice immediately launched into berating her, a million questions and a million accusations all at once.

"Hanabi." Her quiet voice finally silenced the girl. Hanabi drew herself away from the embrace, angry eyes full of tears.

"Where the hell have you been, elder sister?" she hissed, fingers death gripping her shoulders. "Two fucking years." Hinata cringed at the language. Her sister had certainly grown up. Hinata got to her feet and pulled Hanabi up as well, taking a step back.

"Let me look at you," she said, simply as she scanned her. She had shot up in height to her surprise. Hinata had always been a bit of a runt, she supposed, but Hanabi's height was almost enough to match their father's, now. Her hair was beautifully long, cascading down her shoulders. She was slim and fit, and her knuckles wore callouses she had been working hard to get. Her little sister was truly a full-grown woman. "Oh, Hanabi," she sighed wistfully, "I missed you." Hanabi softened at the words as Hinata stepped towards her for a hug.

Hanabi let out a longing sigh. "I missed you so much, sister." She enveloped her older sister and they remained in embraced for several minutes before Hanabi opted to end the hug. "You're back now…"

"Mm…" Hinata averted her eyes, dropping her hands to her side, betraying herself.

"Don't tell me you're leaving again?" Hanabi's voice cracked as she said the words, ducking her head to catch her eyes. When Hinata looked away, the anger returned. "Do not tell me you're leaving again, Hinata! No, you can't!" Hinata sucked in a shuddered breath, turning her back. "You can't leave me again!"

"Hanabi, please…" Hinata voice was barely a breath as Hanabi's frustrated tone turned to one of desperation. She flinched as Hanabi snatched her elbow, forcing her to turn around.

"Please!" Hanabi clung to her, eyebrows furrowing. "Whatever's wrong, we can fix it! Please-just let me help!" Hinata was soon enveloped once more in Hanabi's embrace, tightly. "I don't give a good god damn what father says, I'm not losing you again. Do you hear me? I'm taking over as clan leader, and you are my big sister." Hinata felt hot tears pooling in her eyes at her sister's charged words. "Whatever it is, we'll get through it. We always do."

Finally, Hinata crumpled. Her sister's desperate begging of her to stay was like a vice grip on her heart, and it hurt. She wanted to be here for her sister, she really did, she just didn't know how. How she could possibly be the big sister she needed her to be when she was a wreck, herself. Deep down, Hinata truly thought she was more of a burden than anything to the people around her. Always crying, always fainting, always being weak. How could she continue to subject those she loved to that?

Hanabi gently pulled her into Kiba's bed, which Hinata knew she was brutally enduring the smell of and held her big sister as she sobbed. It was a full body sob, harder than she had cried since Kiba presented her with Neji's lifeless body. Hanabi couldn't help but let some tears escape as well, something she never did as was drilled into her from a very young age. But for now, they allowed each other to be vulnerable.

Hinata didn't know how long she had been asleep and was only awoken by the light fingertips of her sister brushing strands of hair from her face. She was pleasantly surprised that her nightmares hadn't been quite as bad for whatever amount of time she'd slept…must've been the exhaustion. When she finally opened her eyes to meet hers, she was smiling down at her. Hinata couldn't stop a small smile from forming on her lips as well.

Despite it all, she had missed her sister dearly. It was one of the few things that consistently called her back to the village, was to see her. See how she'd grown. See if she'd taken over the clan yet. See how she would change it. See her mature and get stronger and stronger. She wasn't disappointed. Based on what Konohamaru said and now seeing her, she could tell she was far stronger and far more skilled than when she left.

Hinata slid her hand over her sisters and held it carefully. Hanabi tilted her head as she spoke, "why am I not surprised you're at the Inuzuka household?"

Hinata let a gentle giggle escape at the question. "I didn't have much of a choice, to be honest, dear sister." Hanabi raised her eyebrows and blinked down at her.

"Is that so?" Hanabi pressed her lips together into a thin line, looking up towards the window, out to the village. "So, father is still posturing then."

"You haven't spoken to him yet?" Hinata asked, surprised.

"I came straight here. Konohamaru…" Hanabi uncharacteristically let a blush dust her cheeks, "…sent word that you had returned, and I left immediately. I asked where you were staying and here I am."

"You need to go, now." Hinata shot up into a sitting position, tugging her hand away. Panicked, she got to her feet and yanked Hanabi up, who let out a laugh to Hinata's discomfort. "Hanabi, father will be—"

"It's fine, Hinata." She waved her hand before setting it on Hinata's shoulder to still her. "Father has little control over me, these days. Don't worry about me, elder sister."

"Oh." Hinata's lips fell to a frown.

"It's you we should be worried about." Hanabi's voice dropped to a serious tone. "I'm not kidding. You can't leave."

Hinata shivered at her low pitch, swallowing. She shifted on her feet and dropped her eyes to the ground. "I understand how you feel, Hanabi, but—"

"Do you?" Hanabi snapped, making Hinata flinch. She could feel the frustration radiating off her sister as it grew. "We lost Neji. We lost several of our clansmen. The entire war, I had to stay here like a sitting duck, wondering if my family would return to me. I had to watch Neji's body be buried. I had to put on the brave face of the clan and continue everything as normal, more and more responsibility by the day while also trying to mission and become a shinobi in my own right. I promoted to jōnin, not that you would know that. Because then, you left me. I had no idea I wouldn't see you again for two years. How can you know what that feels like?"

Both women drew deep breaths for different reasons. Hanabi, as she hadn't stopped to inhale her entire rant. Hinata, as she had been holding her breath for the entire tirade. Hinata's eyes were sorry, full of regret, but she didn't know how to respond to her little sister. While the words were heavy in her soul, she still knew she could not stay here. But perhaps she could linger, for just a bit longer.

"Hinata, come with me to big brother's grave." Hanabi softened with the silence, grasping her hand. "Please. You should talk to him."

Hinata stiffened at the suggestion, her throat feeling tight. "I-I don't think-"

"Have you been since you've been back?"

"Well…no…"

"Come."

Hinata was already being dragged from the room, down the stairs. She blushed as Tsume's questioning eyes met hers.

"Hey, hun," Tsume said, softly, as if she was a tiny kitten that could be scared off at the tiniest of sounds.

"I'm gonna borrow her for a bit, but I'll bring her back." Hanabi offered a smile Tsume's way, who glanced up at the younger Hyūga. She reluctantly nodded her head, well aware it wasn't her place to question Hinata or Hanabi's endeavors, even if Kiba asked her to keep an eye on her. "Ms. Tsume."

"Bah." Tsume finally relaxed, throwing up a hand. "Just Tsume."

Both women bowed to the Inuzuka clan leader before Hanabi tugged Hinata out the door.

Hinata felt her stomach contort as they drew closer to the cemetery where the fallen shinobi of the Fourth War laid to rest. Neji's lifeless form flashed across her mind. The wooden stakes flying down as Neji steps in front of them. His last words to Naruto. The curse seal activating. She can no longer see the Neji who pushed her forward, the one who spoke words of encouragement, the one who protected her. She can't even see the cruel Neji of her academy days, the one who harbored resentment for her. All she can see is the Neji, succumbing to a lethal blow, and the Neji, who is dead.

Once they were passing through the entrance, she stopped in her tracks; her hand stiff in Hanabi's. Hanabi stumbled slightly at the sudden cease in movement and looked back, questioning. Hinata's eyes looked haunted, staring forward as a brown head of hair in two buns came into view—Tenten. She was kneeling in front of Neji's grave, and a flood of memories washed over her—of all the times she had crossed paths with Tenten after the war. The way she couldn't seem to bear to look at Hinata.

Guilt, now.

Hanabi tilted her head, gently tugging at her sister's hand to no avail. "Hina…ta…?"

"I c-can't," Hinata choked out, bringing her other hand to her heart, clutching. "I can't. I can't. I can't."

When Tenten's head turned to look over her shoulder, locking eyes with Hinata, her heart began to thrum against her ribcage.

"You can—" Hanabi tried to grab the other hand, but Hinata stepped back. "Sister—!"

"No." Hinata shook her head, finally lowering her eyes to her sisters as her breathing quickened. She felt the beginnings of a panic attack. "No, no—I can't. Hanabi—no. I—I can't, I won't, I can't stay here! I can't!"

Much like her other attempts, Hinata's feet had a mind of their own as she leapt away, towards the outer barriers of the village. She heard Hanabi's voice call after her, "Hinata, no!"

But this time, everyone seemed to be ready for her. In a blur of movement, she was grabbed midair and pulled to the ground with an "oomph." She scrambled to stand, trying to push her captor off, stumbling about.

"Hinata—please—" her eyes shot up to meet Konohamaru's and she gritted her teeth, pulling from his grip. "Just—calm down, we can solve this—"

"Were you following me?" Hinata spat, suddenly feeling angry. Konohamaru shrunk away as she ripped herself from his grip.

"Hokage's request," he answered truthfully, folding his arms behind his back as Hanabi appeared next to him.

"Hinata!" she snapped, grabbing her shoulders. "How could you—seriously?!"

"Please stop this." Hinata balled her fists, head falling forward. "Please let me be."

"No!" Hanabi cried, trying to shake her. "No Hinata! I'm sorry I tried to take you to his grave. I'm sorry, okay? But please stop trying to leave!" Konohamaru placed a heavy hand on Hanabi's shoulder.

"Perhaps you need more time, Hinata?" Konohamaru's voice was soft, but for some reason, it angered Hinata.

"You know nothing!" Hinata didn't often yell, it felt wrong from her lips. Konohamaru instinctively backed away.

"Konohamaru…" Hanabi whispered over her shoulder, and he immediately understood, leaping away in an instant. Her grip tightened on Hinata, who was staring at the ground with a blank expression. "Sister…I need you. I need my big sister."

Hinata reluctantly lifted her eyes to meet Hanabi's. Hanabi hurriedly pulled her bangs out of her own face, searching Hinata's expression as she rested the hand back on her shoulder. Guilt stabbed at something within Hinata as her lips down turned into a taut frown. When did her sister become so grown?

"I'll…I'll give you space," Hanabi sighed, slowly releasing her shoulders. "I'm sorry I pushed you."

The two women stood in thick silence for what felt like ages.

Silently, in the distance, Kiba had been watching, choosing not to intervene as he watched the events unfold in front of him. He watched as awkward silence hung over the two before Hinata finally broke it.

"You should report in, to father…" she whispered, turning away from her younger sister. Kiba felt a pang of sadness as he watched Hanabi reach out for her older sister, only for Hinata to ignore it and simply walk away, leaving her reaching for nothing. He wondered where she would go. Hanabi's hand dropped, and her head hung as she dragged herself away, towards the Hyūga compound. He knew it wouldn't help if he tried to comfort her, so he simply watched her go before looking back at Hinata.

Finally, he shook his head and dragged his hands over his tired face, choosing to return home for now.

The sun hung low, and the moon began creeping from beneath the earth when Kiba found Hinata.

She sat with her back against a battered tree stump, knees to her chest and one arm wrapped around them. Her other hand plucked at the grass next to her, eyes blankly staring out in the distance.

What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she stop this feeling? This need to run away? No matter the comforting words her friends and family offered her, she couldn't stop the overbearing push to run. It was swallowing her whole. Everywhere she looked, she thought of how miserable she was.

Kiba was right. It had been two years. It was more than enough time to get over a 'stupid crush' as he so untactfully put it. But it was more than that. It was the loss of something greater, she felt. Something she had been chasing since she was just a tiny, frail little girl. To feel loved, acknowledged, powerful. To feel like she was worth something. Naruto was the first person to make her feel that, like she was worth fighting for. She was worth it. To have his love would be the ultimate acceptance.

But he had never seen her that way. Naruto was the kind of boy that made everyone feel loved, no matter what. In retrospect, she could see where she went wrong. She took his overly friendly, overly protective nature for love. But it wasn't what love was, not to be in love. Even now, she was convinced she was in love with him. She was convinced she would always be in love with him. And it tore her up inside. Of course, she felt pathetic. Of course, she felt ridiculous. She knew what people thought. She knew that people looked on her with pity, knowing full well she was a silly girl.

Like her father had always told her.

Perhaps if Neji had still been here, he could have…

No. She had to block out those thoughts. But as she looked over her village, her home, she couldn't. And that was the problem.

Being away, constantly thinking of where she would go next, where she would find food next, where she would work to earn cash next, had been her escape. It worked her mind, but also put it to rest. While she was out, she had no time to dwell on thoughts of Naruto, Sakura, Neji, her father, or anyone else. It was only when she slept that she would be plagued by those thoughts. But fortunately, she didn't have to sleep much.

Now she was here, and she couldn't escape the dark thoughts.

Naturally, she wasn't surprised to look up to see Kiba looking down upon her, like he had so many times before. She knew he had no difficulty finding her, he could probably take one whiff and find her with his eyes closed. He was probably giving her time between her meltdown with Hanabi and when he would finally pick her up. Part of her hated how much he cared about her. At least if he didn't care, she could have left. If he didn't care, she could have been alone with her dark thoughts, not have to answer to everyone around her.

So, when she looked up at him, finding him standing tall, bulky arms folded, a hint of sadness in those sharp eyes, she couldn't help but feel guilt. He embodied everything she left behind, and he wasn't afraid to make sure she knew it and felt it.

"Hina…" Her lips pressed in a thin line at the nickname. Such a nickname should bring fond memories. But it brought her emptiness. She looked back down when he crouched to her level, resting on the heels of his feet and wrists on his knees. His eyes always felt like they could see right through her, or was it his nose? "Get up."

She shot her eyes up at the command, a grimace overtaking her face. His trademark smirk danced on his lips, and it only served to anger her. "Excuse me?"

"Get up. Now."

She turned her head from him defiantly, exaggerating her frown. "I may be stuck here, Kiba, but I am not your plaything."

"Aw, why not?" She felt her blood boil at the innocent comment, a comment that was so well in his nature, but that only made her furious now. "Could be fun—"

"Kiba!" He chuckled when she finally shot her eyes at him, those big pale spheres possibly flashing red for a moment if he had looked closer. His grin only widened as he reached out for her forearms to drag her up. She sputtered "—what on earth—"

"I'm gonna kick your ass." She cringed at the way he spoke nonchalantly as he dragged her in a direction she knew all too well.

"Knock it off!" she snapped as he continued to drag her, digging her heels into the ground as they went on. She groaned and continued resisting childishly, despite knowing exactly what he was up to.

He wanted to spar. For what reason, she had no idea. She didn't have access to her chakra right now, she would be no match for him in her state. All she knew is she wanted to be left alone, and Kiba was doing what he did best: bothering her. Sometimes she wondered why she adored her teammate in the past, he was nothing but rude and pushy, this being exhibit A.

Entering training ground 8 was when he finally released her arm, causing her to tumble backwards onto her bottom, eliciting a high-pitched yelp. He chuckled with his hands on his hips looking down at her, causing her to redden with embarrassment and anger.

"I have no chakra, Kiba," she spoke lowly, looking away from him.

"Never stopped us before." He grabbed her forearm once more to yank her up to her feet. He took it upon himself to brush off her back and bottom, causing her to swat at his hands with a blush. It only served him further, evident by the ever-growing grin on his mouth. Her eyes darted to those shiny canines once more, finding herself sliding her tongue over her own. "Pure hand to hand, no chakra for either of us."

His words broke her from her trance, and she shook her head. "Where's Akamaru?"

"With Hana's new litter," he shrugged, holding his fists up in fighting stance. She simply held her palms up as a show that she wouldn't be participating. He stepped forward, and she couldn't help but let her eyes wander from his hands up his burly arms. "C'mon."

"No—Kiba, I'm not—" The hit against her shoulder caught her off guard. She never formally agreed to this! "Kiba!"

"Hit me," he commanded, shoving her other shoulder. She shook her head, leaping backwards. He closed the distance once more, choosing to sweep her leg now. She managed to jump to dodge it but continued simply dodging rather than engaging. "Hit me!"

"No!" she yelped, turning to break into a run. She knew she wasn't as fast as him without chakra. She would never be able to— "A—AH!" The wind knocked out of her with a swift tackle to the ground and he was looking down at her with a serious expression. "Get off—"

"Hit me," he whispered, leaning his face closer to her. Her eyes blew wide at the closeness of it all, and suddenly she was feeling the heat radiating from his face on her own.

"Get off—"

"Now." It was more of a rumble than a spoken word, and her breath caught in her throat. She stared at him with anticipation as he drew closer and closer, until their noses were touching. "Want me off?" She nodded gently, brushing their noses together as the heat from his breath hit her lips. She flattened her palms against his chest to stop him from coming any closer but found herself resisting her own instinct to get away. "Then hit me, princess."

In what felt like an instant, Kiba was laid up against the fencing of outer bounds of the training ground. Hinata was on her feet, hands on her knees and heaving deeply as she looked up at his crippled form. She almost felt bad, for a moment, until she heard a low chuckle from him. She drew her eyebrows together as he peeled himself from the fence, dusting himself off as if it was nothing.

"You can do better." He was mocking her, and she felt something in her snap tight. Abruptly, she was lunging at him, and he acted on her cue, leaping forward similarly. She moved to shove her palms wherever she could land them, anger boiling inside her as he continued to laugh, as if she was weak. "I know you can do more!" She felt her muscles pinch as she drew her shoulders back farther to launch harder hits. He was blocking them too easily, she had to be more unpredictable. So, she flipped backwards from him several times, causing him to break in a run towards her. After several flips, she slammed to a stop suddenly and landed a hit on his abdomen, throwing him backwards.

"You're not hitting me!" Hinata stomped her feet towards him as he laid on his back, slowly pulling himself up as he rubbed at his abdomen. For some reason, her eyes dipped to catch the outline of his abs as his shirt moved up and down with the movement. Heat crept in her cheeks as she looked back up to find his eyes watching her own, that smirk widening. That smirk! How dare he!

"Now that you're serious, I won't go so easy," he teased, pulling his shoulders back to come to his full height. She inhaled a sharp breath as she tilted her head back to look up at him. She couldn't help but wonder how he got so…tall. Then she was knocked back with force by his palm and so were her thoughts, only turning back to anger.

Snap out of it!

They were off again, but instead of blocking and dodging, Kiba was countering. She found herself receiving several blows but also returning with her own blows as well. Now, she wasn't holding back, at all. She was coming at him with full force, and they were both slowly becoming bloody and bruised as they went on.

After almost an hour of ruthless sparring, her muscles were screaming at her, begging her to stop, but she didn't feel like she could until he was on the ground. She wanted to keep hitting him, she wanted to keep bloodying her knuckles, she wanted to keep going because until just right now…she hadn't thought of anything except her next move. When Naruto's blue eyes flashed across her mind, she stumbled. Then Neji's empty eye sockets replaced those blue eyes, and that's when he took her to the ground.

"Hey!" he shouted, surprised by himself as he so easily had her pinned to the ground. He had his arm over her middle and was on his knees above her. Quickly, he pulled his arm back and rested on his shins, looking down to find her expressionless, if not just tired. They were both heaving labored breaths, and he evidently decided it was time to rest, because he fell onto his back next to her.

They were a sight to see. Both were on the verge of complete exhaustion, bruises spotting all over their bodies, blood smeared in various places, hair tangled, clothing ripped. They weren't outfitted for a mission or training, of course, in their civilian clothes that had taken a beating it wasn't prepared for. While they had been sparring, the sun had completely disappeared, and they were illuminated with only the brightness of a half-moon above them and some of the glow from the village spilling over.

Hinata lay silent, the only sound filling the air being the sound of their panting, and she contemplated. "Why, Kiba?"

"Why do you think?" His voice seemed hoarse. Probably from all the laughing and taunting he had done of her.

Why did she think? She had been spiraling before he came to get her. Alone with her thoughts of Neji and Naruto. Driving herself insane, thinking of the what ifs and the why nots. Then Kiba showed up and dragged her to spar. And she hadn't thought of those things the entire time. Is that why? Was he trying to distract her? She let out a sigh.

"To distract me?"

"Bingo. It worked, didn't it?"

"Just for now…" she said, truthfully. "But…I can't spar 24/7, Kiba. It won't keep me from my thoughts forever."

"But being with me will." She turned her head sharply to look at him, finding him already staring at her, looking serious. "And with your friends. And your sister." She let out a puff of breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. She scanned his face, biting her lips together as she contemplated his words and assessed his facial features. It wasn't until now that she noticed a scar running through his left eyebrow, about an inch long. She wondered when he got it. His sharp eyes made her feel small under his gaze. "I can help you, Hinata. You just have to let me."

"How?" she asked, finally turning on her side to face him properly, her hands curled in front of her. He mirrored her actions, reaching out to rest a large hand on top of both of hers.

"Just trust me." His eyes softened despite her scoff and attempt at moving her hands, causing him to tighten his grip. "If you trust me, I'll help you move on. But you have to trust me."

"H—how can…" She started, feeling tears start to well up. She cursed quietly to herself as she moved to wipe at her face but was beat by his hand delicately swiping away her tears. She shivered at the soft touch of his calloused fingers. Then, he rested his palm on her cheek and she let out a tiny gasp at the gesture. She looked up at him with worried eyes but didn't make a move to push him away. Kiba had always been a little too physically close for his own good, but right now, she found herself…enjoying it.

"Just trust me," he repeated, softly rubbing his thumb against her cheek bone. As if on cue, exhaustion crept over her, and she found her eyes fluttering closed at the simple touch. She breathed deeply as she felt his other arm tuck under her waist and drag her into his torso. She decidedly let it happen if only just for the comfort of being held by another. She had nearly no time to really comprehend how strong he felt around her before she felt sleep grip her.