Hinata's been moping a bit, but she's ready to get up again.
Chapter 20: We find love, we get up
A tickling sensation on her arm brought Hinata to consciousness. She blinked her eyes open and saw Mirai scribbling on her skin with marker, undoubtedly adding yet another masterpiece. Hinata shut her eyes again.
Suddenly Mirai squeeled in excitement. "Shika!"
"Hey there, kiddo," Shikamaru greeted fondly. "Hello to you too, Hinata-chan. Kurenai-sensei's out running some morning errands."
Hinata mumbled a halfhearted greeting. It was day six of her laying on Kurenai's living room floor and she was past the point of embarrassment. Both of her arms had become canvases for Mirai's drawings. Usually at least one member of Team Eight or Shikamaru was around to stop Mirai from moving on to Hinata's face.
Hinata supposed she was lucky the rest of Team Ten hadn't had a chance to stop by in the past week.
Kurenai's home had become a revolving door for Team Eight and Team Ten after Asuma's death. They had rallied around her pregnancy, channeling their own grief into taking care of Kurenai as she grieved the father of her unborn child. Kurenai and Mirai had lost a partner and father, but their students had been determined that neither mother nor child would ever feel alone.
But before that, before Mirai, Kurenai's home had been Hinata's safehaven. When her father had all but disowned her, Kurenai had taken Hinata under her wing, had given her an unconditional support that Hinata had never experienced before.
But twelve year old Hinata hadn't moped on Kurenai's floor for days on end. Twelve year old Hinata had continued to train until her hands bled and her vision blacked out. Twelve year old Hinata put eighteen year old Hinata to shame.
This was the first time in her life she'd gone without daily training sessions. Even injured, she would still go through basic katas and a few laps.
"Cut yourself some slack."
Hinata stared up at Shikamaru from under her eyelashes. The shinobi was sitting crosslegged on the floor, arms on his knees.
"Shikamaru-kun…can you read my mind?"
Shikamaru huffed out an amused laugh. "You get this look on your face when you're being too hard on yourself. Ever since we were kids, you've worn it too much. But I see it less often now. Gotta say, I'm not a fan of its return."
"You look tired," Hinata observed. Red veins stood out around his brown irises.
"I'm always tired. Comes with dealing with our Rokudaime," Shikamaru said dismissively. "He's worse than a toddler sometimes. Mirai-chan is proof."
Hinata's lips stretched into a smile despite herself. Her dry lips strained at the motion. "Was it another black cat?"
"He had to help a group of ducks cross the street yesterday," Shikamaru deadpanned.
Hinata giggled faintly. Mirai dropped her marker, face lighting up as she laughed along.
"Alright, so do I need to tell the obaa-sans that you won't be coming today?" Shikamaru asked. He scooped Mirai into his arms and set the toddler down in his lap.
Hinata's brows furrowed in confusion before she shot up. "Ah," she moaned, lightheaded. She put a hand to her head.
"Easy there," Shikamaru said. He leaned back, trying to avoid Mirai's searching hands aiming for his hair.
"What time is it?" Hinata asked. Her volunteer shift at the Konoha community center started at noon.
"Eleven thirty."
"I've got to go!" She didn't have time to go home, so she settled for using Kurenai's shower and borrowing one of her dresses knowing her former teacher wouldn't mind. The dress was shorter and more low-cut than Hinata would have preferred and the red colour contrasted sharply against her pale skin. Throwing her wet hair into a messy bun, Hinata slid on her ninja sandals and her coat and then called out a harried goodbye to Shikamaru and Mirai as she ran out the apartment.
Hinata made it to the community center with about a minute to spare. The obaa-sans showered her with compliments on her appearance.
"Hinata-chan looks so good in red!"
"Oh, it's so much easier to see your pretty face with your hair out of the way!"
"Look at that figure!"
It was hard to tell if Hinata's red face was caused by their flattery or their pinches to her cheeks. Despite the heated room, Hinata felt the urge to put her coat back on.
The shift went smoothly. Hinata was thankful for the apron and cap as she served hot meals to the villagers that came in. At the end of her shift after cleaning up and waving off the obaa-sans, Hinata stood at a crosswalk, wondering where to go.
It was the first time she'd been alone since Kiba and Shino had taken her to Kurenai's apartment. Hinata felt a little bereft without her teammates hovering over her or Mirai distracting her.
She had no desire to go back to the Hyuuga compound. Kurenai had never quite forgiven Neji for his actions during their first chunin exams and so her cousin was tactful enough to give both Kurenai and her apartment a wide berth. And as useless as Hanabi found her ettiquete lessons, she would at least refrain from inviting herself over to someone else's sensei's home. No doubt they would both have six days worth of concern pent up and ready to release the moment Hinata set foot in the compound.
Nor did she want to risk running into any Hyuuga elders. She didn't think she could handle a snide remark about her and Naruto in this state.
Suddenly another consequence of her past few hermitic days hit her. Wide-eyed, Hinata took off in a run towards the aviary. Jogging up the thin, winding staircase, Hinata came to a stop at the desk manned by a chunin.
"Is there any mail for me?" Hinata asked, panting.
"Sorry, Hyuuga-san, nothing today," the chunin said.
Disappointed, Hinata bowed and scurried off. Back on the streets of Konoha, Hinata walked aimlessly. Turning a corner, she froze.
"Oh, Hinata."
"Sakura-san." Hinata's heart plummeted even as she forced a smile.
Sakura's smile was only a little awkward. "How are you?"
Anxiously, Hinata searched Sakura's face for a hint of unfavourable feelings towards her. It was a habit she had developed in her childhood. Although unable to perceive any negativitiy, Hinata still felt wary. She was in no way prepared to face Naruto's closest friends and teammates. Not after she had hurt him so much.
"I'm…fine," Hinata said. She twisted her fingers into her coat sleeves.
"That's good," Sakura said, sincerity shining in her green eyes.
Hinata felt terrible about doubting her. She and Sakura may not be particularly close, but the pink-haired kunoichi was a compassionate person. "Sorry to worry you," Hinata said quietly.
Sakura waved off her comment. "We should get all the girls together soon, have a boy-free night. I could really use one."
Hinata smiled noncommittally.
"Anyway, it looked like you were in a hurry. But before I let you go…" Sakura paused, lips pursing almost into a grimace. The next second she had wiped the expression from her face, replacing it with a bright smile. "Actually, never mind. See you later, Hinata!"
Hinata hesitated, wanting to ask about the reason behind Sakura's troubled expression. In the end she hedged too long and Sakura was already walking off.
Shaking her head at her own indecisiveness, Hinata stayed rooted to the ground. Meeting Sakura had been stressful, but ultimately fine. This brought her thoughts to another member of Team Seven and her stomach churned.
Hinata took a deep breath and exhaled. The feeling of the chilled air traveling through her lungs invigorated her.
She wanted to see him. She wanted to sit at his kitchen table and drink tea. She wanted to talk to him, to pour out her feelings and be met with a comforting smirk or a teasing remark. She wanted to be distracted by his vivid storytelling.
Now that she was out she didn't want to let herself be entrapped by social anxiety. Sasuke was her friend and didn't deserve to be avoided because of Hinata's personal failings and insecurities. Especially as the last time they had spoken he had been so distressed. Still, her nerves were alight at what she might be met with.
"Byakugan," Hinata whispered. The veins at her temple pulsed with the rush of chakra.
Hinata stepped onto the docks gingerly. Dead grass crunched beneath her feet. Despite the snowflakes floating down from the sky, there was a large circle in the grounds behind the Uchiha district that was devoid of snow. At its center, stood Sasuke.
There was a tree trunk in front of Sasuke set ablaze in flames. The ashes and withered bark at his feet suggested he'd dragged more than one tree trunk onto the grounds. As she approached, Hinata could feel the change in temperature and she felt overheated in her coat. Hinata dragged her gaze upwards from the burnt remains and found Sasuke staring back at her.
Hinata gasped at the fire in Sasuke's eyes. The falling snow seemed to evaporate when it got within a few inches of him. Sweat gathered at the base of her neck and Hinata had the contradictory compulsion to let her hair down, if only to cover it.
"Sasuke-kun." Her frail voice sounded loud between them.
Sasuke blinked and the heat in his eyes seemed to transform. It was no less intense, but Hinata now felt drawn in. She walked closer, stopping in front of him.
Sasuke's gaze swept across her, leaving a tingling sensation from head to toe. "Hinata," he said.
Hinata bit her bottom lip. She couldn't read his voice to tell if he was angry with her. He was Naruto's best friend, she could understand if he no longer wanted anything to do with her. But it would upset her, Hinata realized, as her heart constricted in her chest.
"Sasuke-kun, I —"
An arm wrapped around her back, pulling her in until her nose brushed against Sasuke's sternum and his chin rested on the top of her head. He was incredibly warm. Hinata slowly melted into the embrace and, embarrassingly, tears started to prick her eyes. Her shoulders trembled as she tried to hold back her tears. Sasuke's hold tightened and his low voice vibrated against Hinata through his chest as he said, "You're okay."
Hinata screwed her eyes shut and burrowed closer, allowing Sasuke's warmth to calm her. Eventually she drew away far enough to rub her hands against her irritated eyes.
"I was worried," Sasuke said, staring down at her.
Hinata sniffled. "I'm sorry," she said pitifully.
Sasuke sighed. "Don't be. Let's get out of the cold."
Hinata didn't feel cold at all, but kept silent and nodded.
Without stepping away, Sasuke turned his head and his rinnegan glowed. A portal opened up and Sasuke ushered Hinata in before closing it. Hinata didn't say anything, but Sasuke took one look at her face and rolled his eyes. "Don't underestimate my chakra reserves," he told her.
Hinata started to unbutton her coat before stopping midway. She looked down at the red dress peeking through her coat and bit her bottom lip. Glancing up, she caught Sasuke's eyes from under her bangs and blushed at his raised brows.
"Um." Hinata's fingers stayed closed around the button.
Sasuke went into his bedroom and came back with a sweater. "Here," he said, handing it to her. Hinata accepted it gratefully with a soft "thanks".
Sasuke occupied himself in the kitchen and so Hinata finally dared to remove her coat and pull on the sweater. Naturally, it was too big. The neckline and sleeves hung loosely around her neck and wrists respectively. Likely if she curled up she could easily fit her knees under the sweater. Moreover it was long enough that only a few inches of Kurenai's admittedly short dress were visible below the hem. Most strikingly, the fabric was an exquisitely soft wool for something belonging to Sasuke, whose wardrobe appeared largely utilitarian.
Having just been pressed into him, Hinata could confirm the sweater smelled of Sasuke's soap.
Hinata tugged at the sweater nervously as she made her way into the kitchen and onto her usual seat. Before long Sasuke was setting down a steaming cup of tea in front of her along with a plate full of wagashi. Hinata's eyebrows flew up at the hefty amount of sweets. Sasuke pulled out his own chair and began drinking his tea without comment. Unable to resist, Hinata popped a mochi into her mouth, lips forming a smile at the taste.
The clattering of a cup against the table had Hinata's eyes fluttering open. Sasuke had his elbow on the table, head supported by a fist under his chin.
"Good?" he asked around a smirk.
Still chewing, Hinata nodded with a hand cupped politely around her mouth. After swallowing, she said, "Thank you, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke shrugged. "I think I managed to hold onto some of the manners my mother taught me. At least enough to be a decent host."
When he spoke to Hinata of his family, Sasuke's voice always took on a certain quality. Part reverant, part sardonic, part bitter. It was a complicated blend.
Hinata hummed in thought. "I don't think my mother ever taught me those kinds of things. I always had tutors for everything. Father trained me, but Mother…She gifted me with a book of flowers once. I learned how to press flowers because of it. I gave her some, she kept them in the drawer by her nightstand."
Sasuke tilted his head curiously. "Like your bookmark?" he asked.
Hinata blinked in surprise and then nodded. "Mm."
"I wish I'd learned more things from her. Looked to her more often instead of chasing after my father's approval," Sasuke admitted. His eyes had a faraway look in them. "Afterwards…it was easy enough to find places that could teach me to fight. Now, I wonder about the life lessons I missed out on hearing from her."
Hinata frowned sympathetically. She'd also been chasing after her father's approval, still was. But she'd chased after her mother's affection too. Affection had been so hard to come by and her mother's time just as hard. "Children just want to be loved," she mused, almost to herself.
"Just children?" Sasuke looked at her, a few strands of hair falling into his eyes
Hinata said nothing, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
Sasuke grabbed her arm abruptly. His hand grazed against her skin and she realized the sleeve of his sweater had slipped down revealing a mess of colourful doodles. His thumb swiped back and forth against one of Mirai's drawings and Hinata shivered.
For someone so protective about his personal space, Sasuke could be quite tactile. Perhaps it wasn't that surprising considering his straightforward personality. Most likely he didn't overthink his every action the way Hinata was prone to.
"Artwork courtesy of Mirai-chan," Hinata said with a small smile. She watched as Sasuke turned her arm this way and that way, observing each ink stained scribble.
"What is this?" Sasuke asked, brows creased.
Hinata craned her neck to take a look. "Oh! That's Akamaru."
Sasuke shot her a disbelieving look. "…it has seven legs."
"One of them's a tail!"
"She could use some work on her realism," Sasuke said, as he continued to survery Hinata's arm with interest.
"Sasuke-kun, she's two!" Hinata exclaimed with a gasp.
Hearing the undercurrent of laughter to her words, Sasuke crooked a grin. "In a world with twelve year old ANBU captains, I expect a bit more."
"We have an unusual number of child prodigies," Hinata conceded. "But Mirai-chan is perfect the way she is. Whether she turns out to be a genius or not. And I think her drawings are cute."
Sasuke's thumb had settled in the crook of Hinata's elbow, fingers cradling the back of her arm. "Cute's one word for it." His eyes shone with mirth as he gazed at her.
Hinata bit her lip and averted her eyes. She faltered when her gaze landed on a new addition to Sasuke's living room. A framed photo of two young boys and a girl, and not the one she would have expected.
Hinata gasped. "That's —"
Sasuke followed her gaze. "Ah. I found that when I was looking for books on juinjutsu. I've been meaning to return the album you gave me, it turns out the Uchiha had copies of our own. And candids too," he said.
When he got up, Hinata followed suit naturally. Sasuke went over to the side table and picked up the leatherbound Hyuuga photo album then turned to pass it over to her, but Hinata's hands were occupied.
She stared down at the photo. A younger version of herself was sitting down on the edge of the koi pond in the back of the Hyuuga compound, dressed in a amethyst kimono and staring up in awe at a young Sasuke who was mid-speech with his arms gesticulating under the fabric of his navy blue kimono. A baby-faced Itachi was sat beside her in a slate kimono, the sleeve of which was caught in Hinata's small hand. His posture was relaxed and his eyes were closed in a smile of contentment.
Sasuke looked over her shoulder. "It was hard to pick one," he commented. "But in this one —"
"I think I remember this," Hinata said. She turned her head to face Sasuke, too ecstatic by the unlocked memory to gauge the short distance between them.
Sasuke stared down at her, eyes unfocused. He blinked, eyes clearing, and said, "Tell me."
Photo hugged to her chest and eyes brimming with excitement, Hinata began to recount the tale.
SasuHina friendship lives on despite the death of NaruHina! Slowburn is steadily burning.
MVH