"I'm so sorry, Kiba-kun, you started me." Hinata rushed to his side.

Kiba groaned, rubbing his sore chest. "I guess I should have made myself a little more known before I jumped you like that."

"I can accept the hug now," Hinata helped him up, then buried herself in his fluffy coat.

"Guess I'm not sneaking up on you," Kankuro muttered from behind her.

When Kiba let her go, she kneeled to Akumaru, whining for her attention, burying her face in his soft fur. "I missed you too."

"I was on my way to meet Shino," Kiba stated.

Hinata looked back at Kankuro for confirmation. "Go have fun with your team for a while. You'll be dragging me around all day. Tomorrow, I'll go get some paperwork done."

"Really?" Hinata asked.

"Yeah." Kankuro stretched. "I will need it if we spend tomorrow with your sister."

Shino wasn't a hugger but was happier to have a hand on her shoulder and keep a close, comfortable distance. She was glad to let him.

"He's been good to you?" Kiba asked, distant.

Hinata frowned. "Yeah, why wouldn't he."

"It's just he's not known for his gentle touch," Kiba grumbled. Shino cringed.

"I don't know what you mean." He was really going to be like this? "He's incredibly gentle."

Kiba rubbed his head and acted like he hadn't said anything. "So you like this guy then?" Kiba flopped onto Akamaru's side.

Hinata sat on her knees in the grass under the tree. "We have become close friends."

"That's good," Kiba mumbled.

Hinata fished in her robe pocket and held out their invitations. Now was as good a time as any.

"You're having a Suna wedding?" Shino idly flipped the card.

"Temari-san and I have been planning. We even have my wedding robes now. She hopes to find her mother's headpiece before I return." Hinata picked at her hem. "You'll come?"

"Of course." Kiba gave her a toothy grin that hurt to look at.

"Aren't Suna weddings short?" Shino looked at the times on the paper.

"Yes, the ceremony part is, but there is more of a… reception of sorts," Hinata explained.

Shino nodded, tucking the invitation away.

"I'm not answering that, and watch your words," Hinata told her sister pointedly.

"But, it's an important question." Hanabi giggled at her discomfort.

"I certainly disagree," Neji stated. Hanabi glared at him.

"It is!" Hanabi protested.

"I don't want to have a conversation about my brothers' attractiveness'." Kankuro crossed his arms and laid his head back in exasperation.

"Neither do I," Hinata did not want to discuss this, especially in front of Neji and Kankuro.

"He's your fiancé!" Hanabi whined.

"Hanabi-sama." Neji scolded.

"Hmph!" Hanabi crossed her arm and slumped in her shirt like a child.

Hinata rubbed her temple. "It doesn't matter. It's not that kind of relationship."

"What kind of marriage is that? Is he going to keep you in a tower like a monster or something?" Hinata didn't think Hanabi meant it, but what she said hurt. Hinata kept to herself as her cousin continued the argument in her place. She knew her sudden change didn't escape everyone at the table. She could only hope Kankuro would keep quiet about it for now.

"Hinata…" Kankuro started.

"I don't want to talk about it. Please…" Hinata begged.

"It's not true." Kankuro continued stubbornly. "How this started has nothing to do with your relationship with him. I can assure you he doesn't see it that way. You didn't know him before. He has changed so much since you have come along." Hinata felt tears rimming her eyes. "Even since he got his control and started letting people care, he never let someone in as he has you. He's never trusted someone so completely. I'm jealous. In just months, you have done what we couldn't do in years. Do you honestly think he would crumble so completely if you were just a woman held to him by a piece of paper?"

"I never thought that." Hinata whimpered. "It's just sometimes I let myself forget that this was just an arranged marriage."

Kankuro realized what it was. "Everyone else hasn't seen what we have."

"They think he only cares because he is publicly obligated or has to. They don't see what I see. They still see a tamed monster, not the trapped man." Hinata crumbled. Kankuro pulled into him rubbing her shoulder. "I just want to go back home."

"Hinata-chan!" Hinata turned to take the full weight of a grown man, forcing her back to the ground.

"Naruto-kun, you're too heavy." Hinata coughed as he held her with a death grip, ignoring her discomfort.

The weight was lifted from her chest by an annoyed Kankuro holding Naruto up by the back of her shirt. "You hurt her. Gaara will kill you." Hinata let him tug her up, making her dizzy.

"Sorry." Naruto smiled childishly, rubbing his head. "Sakura-chan said you were back. Is Gaara with you?"

Hinata gave a tight smile, feeling a jab she was sure he didn't mean to give. "No, he isn't. He's well, though."

"Oh." Naruto pouted. "Well, it's about dinner time. Come, tell me how you've been!" Naruto tugged her off. She looked back desperately at Kankuro, who followed, confused.

When Naruto finally plopped her in a seat and went to order, Kankuro leaned over and whispered. "The hell?"

"Please don't leave me with him." Was all she offered.

The lunch had gone off without a hitch. Naruto embarrassed her a few times, not meaning to, of course, but slowly she realized something.

Hinata stared as he rambled, hardly listening anymore. Words she would have happily held onto every syllable, every letter before. She looked through him as she truly realized she didn't love him at all anymore. She couldn't even say she liked him. He was a good person, a hero. Everything she had ever wanted, but not anymore. She didn't want him anymore. She didn't need the Konoha hero anymore.

Hinata excused herself, leaving his invitation as soon as she was done eating, lying that she wasn't feeling well. When had it happened? She let him go because she had to, but she accepted she would likely love him forever. Kankuro trailed her, unaware of what was going on.

Hinata turned to him and smiled. "I guess I didn't need you after all."