Hinata screeched as she was fully doused in ice-cold water. She froze and coughed, clearing her nose and eyes. Before she could even look up at the balcony that it came from, she heard yelling from Hidan, of all people.
"What the hell, yeah!?" Deidara got caught in some of the crossfire after his initial shock helped her peel off her wet jacket and replaced it with his own that was only splashed.
Sasori pulled her under the balcony to keep further damage from happening Hinata cleared her face. "Are you okay?"
"What was that?" Hinata coughed. It didn't smell like mop water.
"I think that was retaliation." Sasori pulled the plastered wet hair from her face. "Be grateful they didn't throw the flour."
"Flour?" Hinata pulled her hair back and shivered.
"Let's get you inside." Sasori pulled her toward the door.
"Do you have a change of clothes, uh?" Deidara hovered behind, looking over his shoulder.
Hinata ducked her head as people who didn't see the ruckus outside stared at her soaked form. "I don't even have a gym uniform."
"You can wear mine." Sasori offered.
Hinata let out a squeak as her feet slid on the linoleum. She tried to put her weight down on her umbrella, but it was just as wet. Sasori caught her, but he was just getting more soaked the tighter he held on. "Sorry."
"Stupid fan girls, yeah." Deidara cursed.
Hinata sat outside the office in Sasori's gym wear with her wet hair wrapped up in a bun, with his Akatsuki jacket over her knees. She called her uncle to pick her up. She didn't want to walk home like this, her underwear was soaked through, and her prosthetic poked out in the sweatpants. She was glad Kisame left early for work. She didn't want to know what he would have don't if he saw that.
Neji was going to be fuming when he got out of practice.
"Hinata!" Sasuke came to a stop from a run. Hinata put her hands up to show she was fine. "I'm so sorry."
"I'm fine, just wet." Hinata waved her hands.
Sasuke rubbed the back of his head. "This is my fault. I shouldn't have asked you out publicly."
"I don't think…" Hinata tried, but she already knew it was a fan girl. Sasori was right about the flour. Hidan caught it before it got tipped over onto her, too, tossing it at the girls that doused her. Girls that saw Sasuke asking Hinata to the dance. What Hinata didn't understand was she declined. Were they upset that he asked or that she turned him down? "It's not your fault."
"I'll stop. This was a stupid idea." Sasuke sighed. "I should have known it would cause trouble. It's not even the first time."
"I'm okay," Hinata repeated. "I was happy to help you with your brother."
Sasuke huffed. "Can you not be so forgiving for like two seconds, so I can apologize?"
Hinata giggled. "You can tell Itachi-san that I borrowed your clothes instead of Sasori-san's."
Sasuke relented. "Are you trying to make this worse?"
"What?" Kisame's voice roared over the hallway.
Hinata hushed him and swatted at Hidan. "Why did you tell him?"
"What? No, thank you?" Hidan countered.
"Yes, thank you." Hinata gave him a look. "But you're not helping now."
"Who?" Kisame interrupted.
"Kisame-san, they're already getting detention." Hinata tugged on Kisame's jacket. Hinata's was missing, still at home drying. "I already got you in trouble once."
"Why would they even do that?" Kisame barked, making people stare.
Hinata tried to pull him toward the classroom. "Sasuke-san…"
"Fan girls? Again?" Kisame was only mildly letting her drag him down the hall. Irritation crossed his face, and a decision was made. Kisame turned around against her pulling to shout down the hall. "I am dating Hinata Hyuga!"
Hinata squeaked, yanking on his jacket. "Kisame-san!"
"Really, yeah!?" Deidara shouted cheerfully from the other end.
"Yeah, back off!" Kisame bared his teeth at the passersby.
"You made your point!" Kisame stumbled back as Hinata yanked him into the classroom.
It only took until lunch for Kisame's declaration to make it to Neji. Hinata was surprised it took that long. Hinata ducked her head behind her bento as he appeared in the doorway, but he stalked toward her anyway.
"Back off," Kisame growled before Neji could open his mouth.
Neji jabbed a finger at him. "You stay out of it."
"Too late." Kisame nose twitched as he bared his teeth.
"Stop." Hinata whimpered. "Neji-san, I will talk to you at home."
"You are not dating this thug." Neji ignored.
Hinata slammed her hand down on her desk, making Neji flinch. "I will talk to you at home!" Neji's mouth snapped shut. "Please leave." Despite Neji's puffed chest and the fire in his eye, he relented.
Kisame lowered his head to her as Neji disappeared out of the hall. "Am I in that kind of trouble?"
Hinata cracked a smile. "No. It's embarrassing, but I understand why you did it."
"Better than tossing those girls off the roof." Kisame popped a large rice ball in his mouth.
"Don't talk like that." Hinata swatted at him.
"Yes, dear." Kisame snorted.
Hinata giggled. It did feel silly. Like nothing changed, and so far, nothing had.
Hinata closed her eyes to block out Neji's disappointed-dad-stance waiting for her when she got in the door. Was there a nice way to say you didn't want someone's opinion?
"Are you insane?" Neji started. Hinata huffed, taking a moment to take her shoes off. Neji waved his hand out the door "He's a big blue monster!"
Hinata snapped her umbrella down. "Don't call him that!"
"What do you call that?" Neji snapped back.
Hinata stepped into the apartment and dropped her bag. "You can call him his name."
Neji rolled his eyes. "You aren't taking this seriously."
"You're being a jerk!" Hinata pressed. "I don't want you policing my friends, and you certainly don't get to choose who I date."
"Your choice of friends is getting you bullied!" Neji countered.
"My friends are the ones who are defending me! Hidan-san got detention for dumping the flour on those girls." Hinata defended.
"And you think the whole school thinking you're dating Hoshigaki is going to help?" Neji barked.
"No one thinks. They know. I am dating him." Hinata didn't really need it shouted to the world the first week, but she wasn't embarrassed for everyone to know. She was embarrassed that Kisame declare it so proudly down the hall.
Neji's face twitched. "Absolutely not!"
"Hey!" Hizashi snapped from his office. Both flinched and lowered their heads. Hinata didn't realize he was home. He came out with his arms crossed. "Why are we yelling?"
Neji lifted his head first. "Hoshigaki announced to the whole school that he was dating Hinata-sama."
"And?" Hizashi raised an eyebrow. Neji's head shot up to look at his father. "I assume this has something to do with the attack yesterday?" Hinata nodded. "Are you okay with your boyfriend announcing it?" Hinata nodded. "Then why are we yelling?"
Neji gapped. "You… ?"
"Hoshigaki talked to me after receiving Hinata's love letter." Hizashi included his head to Hinata.
It was really cute to see Kisame ask permission to take her to the dance. Hinata was worried that her uncle would react like Neji, but he gave tentative permission and talked to her after he left. He was a little worried about her dating someone… different. There was no way to get around that, but he knew that Kisame was more than accommodating to her and her best friend.
Neji made a noise of disbelief. "Are you just fine with her dating a thug?"
Hinata tightened her hand on her cane. "Stop insulting him!"
"Do you think he gets the bruises from walking into doors?" Neji countered.
"Stop it." Hizashi snapped at them. "Hinata is old enough to date. She is old enough to choose her boyfriend. You can have an opinion, but you're not getting anywhere shouting."
Neji set his jaw. "I can't believe you're okay with this."
Hizashi raised his eyebrow. "What do you want me to do, lock her in a tower? You think she won't date behind your back if you act like she's not allowed?" Hinata pressed her lips in a line, she didn't enjoy watching her cousin be scolded, but it was funny that her uncle thought she would turn purely rebellious if she told her she wasn't allowed to date.
Neji's jaw tightened as he stormed off to his room, but he knew better than to slam the door.
"Sorry." Hinata lowered her head to her uncle.
Hizashi sighed. "I think he would rather I lock you in a tower. The Hoshigaki boy staked his claim, then?"
Hinata smiled. It sounds silly to put it like that. "It was his way to make the girls back off. It's fine."
"Do you need a dress?" Hizashi wondered. "For the dance?"
"Uh, no, Sasori-san and Deidara-san decided they were making me a dress before I even knew I was going," Hinata explained. "That's what we were going to do when I got drenched."
"Your cane?" Hizashi referred to her umbrella.
"Sasori-san made me a very fancy parasol for the dance," Hinata explained. "Though I am not sure how much of a secret it is anymore, Hidan-san tried to tell everyone, but because it's Hidan-san… I don't think anyone took him seriously."
"The one that…"
"Pushed me in the pool, needs help with math, and stopped the girls from dumping flour on me." Hinata nodded. "He's… complicated."
Hizashi waved his hand. "The less I know, the better."