After a vet visit that no one enjoyed, a disheartening conversation with the vet that he probably wouldn't be accepted into an adoption program because of his age and temperament, and Hinata almost crying when the little monster actually sniffed her finger without hissing. Kisame reluctantly decided to keep him. He was old and would probably only live a few more years anyway. So it wasn't like he was signing himself up for twenty years by getting a kitten.
They name him Samehada, which was half a joke about how rough and chunky his fur was.
And after a bath that consisted entirely of Kisame holding him down the whole time so Hinata could get the clumps out of him, Kisame was sure Samehada regretted coming out to him, but he was starting to look like a normal cat.
Hinata giggled as Samehada licked himself endlessly, trying to dry his fur. "We should pick him up a few things." She glanced around his apartment.
Kisame suddenly felt subconscious about his tiny little apartment. He had thought he would never bring her here, but she didn't want to bring him to her apartment with Neji's allergies, and Kisame didn't think he was going to be able to clean him up on his own.
His apartment wasn't trashed, but he did make sure to gather some clothes he had tossed around the floor while she was changing in the bathroom. Her shirt was more than drenched, and his old hoodie was so big on her that it went past her uniform skirt.
"I should have asked how big the room was when making your bed." Hinata tilted her head at the unmade futon and his mouse plush. "It's a little cumbersome in this room."
"I'm not really using the space for anything else." Kisame deflected.
"Do you not have a stove?" Hinata realized, looking at the kitchenette.
Kisame followed her eyes to the kitchen. "There's a little burner thing, but it's a pain to use and takes little propane canisters. I don't get it out much."
Hinata blinked a few times. "How have you been cooking the dumplings."
"Rice maker." Kisame waved at the appliance that hated him. To be fair, he abused it. He put whatever in it and pushed one of the warn-off buttons. He wasn't sure what they originally said. If it wasn't done, he closed it and tried again. "Microwave makes them gummy." Hinata's mouth fell open. "What?"
"I… nothing." Hinata's face twisted sadly. This was why Kisame didn't want her to see his place. He didn't want her to see how he lived and feel bad for him. She already tried to feed him constantly.
Samehada gave up licking at his fur and came over to sniff the hoodie Hinata had pulled over her knees.
A smile spread back across Hinata's face. "Do I smell like Kisame-san now?" She lifted the other sleeve to her face to smell it. "It does smell like you."
"It's clean," Kisame said quickly, feeling his face heat up as she kept the sleeve up to her face.
"It's in your living space. It's going to smell like you." Hinata used the sleeve to pet Samehada's head. "You know, I wonder if he has bad eyesight. He's not reacting nearly as bad now."
"Maybe." Kisame hummed. "Do you know what he needs?"
Hinata nodded. "We can go shopping."
"You came home wearing different clothes!" Neji emphasized. "After going to his apartment."
"Because my clothes were wet. Would you have rather I wore nothing and just waited until my clothes dried?" Hinata waved her hands out.
Neji's face got red with rage. "You know that's not the point!"
"Nothing happened! Why don't you trust me?" Hinata shouted.
"It's not you that I am worried about!" Neji countered.
"Kisame-san wouldn't take advantage of me. None of my friends would even think of that." Hinata was actually getting really upset that he was trying to insinuate that they would. "Isn't just having the taser enough to keep you happy?"
"Hoshigaki is twice your size!" Neji slammed his hand down on the counter. "He could overpower you easily."
"Kisame-san would never do that!" Hinata screeched. "Stop villainizing him. He gets me home on your stupid, unnecessary curfew. He makes sure that people don't make jokes about us sleeping together because he's worried about my reputation. He's never even tried to act inappropriately. He's never even tried to kiss me. How much more does he have to do before you trust him?"
Neji's silence told her everything. He was never going to trust him. Hinata could only hope that was just because he was a boy and not something worse happening in his head that applied specifically to Kisame because if he ever said it out loud, she might actually slap him.
Once Samehada had settled in, mostly what he did was sleep. Kisame wasn't sure what he expected from an old cat, but all he did was sleep, eat, and move to another sleeping spot. Kisame had to admit now that he was clump free and just a spiky old ball of fur. He was cute.
It was kinda nice to wake up to the little ball sleeping somewhere just off his bed.
As long as Samehada had food in his dish, he didn't even make a fuss when Kisame came home late. However, he did seem less of a fan of the smoke smell.
Kisame sat down and gave the mangy cat a few pets before he laid down. He was a good cat, but he was going to have to warm up to Hinata if this was going to work.
Hinata's heart dropped into her stomach as she looked at the handout that wanted her to fill out her university plans. She knew admission was coming up, but she really just wanted it to be something that she didn't have to think about.
Kisame's handout was tucked under his arms with his head folded in his arms as he continued to nap until class formally started. Hinata was sure that at this point, even he had some kind of plan as to what he was doing, even if it was skipping university altogether to continue working.
She should ask her uncle tonight.
She couldn't avoid it anymore.
"Hinata, can I talk to you for a minute in my office." Hizashi peaked his head into the kitchen for a moment. Hinata's heart rate shot up as she wiped off her hands, putting her chopping aside to follow him. "Close the door."
Hinata did and obeyed his wave at the chair across from his as her stomach twisted up. She had waited so long that she didn't even get a chance to ask.
"I just got off the phone with your father." Hizashi looked down at his hand solemnly. "And I want to talk to you about what he would like you to do."
"... Is this about school?" Hinata clarified, tightening her hands into her apron so they didn't shake with her heart rate.
"Yes." Hizashi sighed. "He wants to send you abroad to explain why you have been missing from the public eye." His eye slid up. "Before taking you back."
Hinata's heart stopped. "Wh… What?"
"I don't know what changed his mind. I do not like him playing this game." Hizashi clarified. "Because this does come with the threat of not giving you access to your University fund if you refuse." His hand tightened in front of him. "But, I do think studying abroad would be good for you to know that you have found your confidence again."
Her father wanted to ship her out of the country and then have her come back like nothing happened? Why would he want to make her come back when he could barely look at her the last time she saw him? Did the council force his hand? She couldn't think of another reason for him to even think about her.
… And what about Kisame. She couldn't even ask the question if he would try to stay with her if she went abroad because the bigger glaring issue would be that her father was never going to let her stay with him and whether or not she was an adult when she came back if the Hyuga Corporation had a hold of her image again, they would strong-arm decisions that were 'best for the company.'
"Now. I know you're only seventeen, and as your guardian, I legally can make the decision for you. I won't." Hizashi finished. "I think you're mature enough to make a decision on your own. Just know that choosing to defy your father will come with consequences that I may not be able to help you with."
Fear ran through her heart as she knew exactly what he meant. Her father was a stubborn man and would absolutely do whatever he could to make her life miserable if he needed to get his way.
What was she going to do?