It's a long one this time, with plenty of SasuHina

Chapter 44: Wrap me up, unfold me

The disturbance at the hospital had likely tipped Kiyoko and Daishiro off to Sasuke's presence. Kiyoko had moved past Fujiwara's room without pause and met back up with Daishiro to have several tedious conversations with the hospital staff about resourcing, number of personnel and quantity of supplies, tardiness and understaffed shifts, overprescription of medications and waste of materials.

When they finally left, Sasuke sent a pair of snake summons after them. Kiyoko left the grounds, but Daishiro stood at the entrance, waiting.

When Sasuke approached, it became clear Daishiro had been waiting for him.

"Uchiha." The older man's face was as serious as usual.

Sasuke didn't return the greeting.

Daishiro's answering sigh was almost exasperated. "It seemed that you needed something, so I thought I would make things easier."

"You want to make things easier for me?" Sasuke asked, mild disbelief colouring his voice.

"Cooperating with the Hokage is the expectation of any villager," Daishiro said. "Assuming this is indeed a sanctioned mission and you have not gone rogue." He left the 'again' unsaid, but Sasuke heard it loud and clear.

"Undermining the Hokage doesn't run in the family?" Sasuke prodded.

Daishiro raised his eyebrows. "I could say the same to you."

The cool façade Sasuke had been wearing slipped just a little, irritation shining through.

"You don't like me," Daishiro noted. "It's understandable. I don't trust you. And I can say that my judgement is based on your actions and yours alone. Not that of your family."

"Because I killed your uncle?" Sasuke asked caustically.

"Yes," Daishiro said simply. "You sentenced him to death for his crimes. Yet you walk free despite your own."

Sasuke sneered. "If you want an apology, you'll die waiting for one. He deserved worse."

"I wouldn't presume to expect any remorse from the avenger." Daishiro spoke levelly, but at the last word a hint of mocking entered his tone. "But never mind. It seems you have no intention of asking your questions straightforwardly. If you prefer to skulk in the darkness, I will leave you to it. I have other matters to attend to."

Sasuke scoffed. "How self-righteous coming from a shinobi."

Turning to leave, Daishiro paused halfway, eyes sweeping over Sasuke. "Perhaps. But we ninja are entering a new era. You should know this. After all, it is your friend, Uzumaki-san, who is leading the charge from the shadows to the light."

Biting back an insult, Sasuke watched Daishiro leave with narrowed eyes.

With Sasuke presumably occupied with shadowing Kiyoko and Daishiro, Hinata made the trek back to the Hyuuga compound alone. It felt a little lonely and she couldn't stop replaying her encounter with Naruto in her head. It seemed that now their every interaction left them both feeling hurt or uncomfortable. It was a terrible development and Hinata wished she knew how to change it, to make it better.

But if that meant undoing the last few months, Hinata couldn't honestly say that she would make that trade.

As she passed through the compound gates, Hinata was still so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice Ko's approach until her was right in front of her.

"Hinata-sama!" he said urgently. "Your presence has been requested in the meeting room."

Hinata blinked in confusion. "I didn't think there was a council meeting scheduled today?"

"It was just called."

Hinata pursed her lips together. A sudden council meeting with no new imminent threat was strange. Perhaps there was new information about nae-ROOT that she wasn't aware of. But for Hinata's attendance to be required when the elders had expressed their disapproval of her sitting in on previous meetings…

Despite her misgivings, Hinata nodded and let Ko bring her to the meeting room. It was already full, the elders arranged around the long table in the center. Hinata murmured a polite greeting as Ko shut the door behind her.

"At last she arrives. We have been waiting for you to begin, Hinata-sama," Hayate said lightly enough that it could almost pass for teasing except for the snide undertone.

Hinata took the empty seat beside her father. He didn't look at her when he responded, "My daughter is returning from an important mission assigned by Hokage-sama himself." His voice was emotionless, not defending her nor reproaching Hayate, simply stating a fact.

"Yes, of course. Certainly one befitting of a chunin with her talents," Hayate agreed pleasantly.

Sitting seiza with perfect posture, Hinata remained silent, not rising to the bait. Her rank was another point of contention, lower than Neji's and behind some of her peers who had already made jounin. Worse still that she had not made plans to take the exam for promotion. Nothing she could say would change the elders' minds and would only serve to make her look weaker in their eyes.

Hiashi made a noise of impatience. "Now that we are assembled, you may explain the purpose of this meeting Hayate-san."

Fingers flexing on her folded legs, Hinata forced her eyes not to dart to her father. Hiashi didn't state it as a question, but it was clear he was also in the dark about the impromptu gathering.

"I thank you for accommodating it at such short notice, Hiashi-sama. I understand we have our scheduled meeting next week, but this matter simply could not wait."

"A matter concerning Hinata," Hiashi observed.

Hayate sent a scathing look to Hinata before addressing the council as a whole. "There are stirrings around Konohagakure that have come to my attention. It appears that Hinata-sama has become quite the expert in juinjutsu."

Hinata felt her blood run cold.

It was the worst case scenario. She had been hoping against hope that it would be anything else.

The Hyuuga elders were masters of restraint. No whispers or gasps broke out amongst them, but Hinata could feel their sharp glares aimed at her. She struggled to keep her gaze level.

"Perhaps Hinata-sama is finally showing interest in expanding her capabilities as a ninja. The Hyuuga rarely need to look beyond the jyuuken, although if one is unable to unlock its full potential it would make sense to try at other techniques," Wataru simpered.

"Expanding into elemental chakra techniques is one thing, however the study of juinjutsu among Hyuuga is not something to be taken lightly," Shigeru noted. "There are restrictions around the practice in the clan bylaws."

"You are absolutely correct, Shigeru-san," Hayate said, malicious delight sparking in his eyes. "It's been some time since I've studied those texts, but if I recall it's something to the effect of use of the Hyūga Sōke no Juinjutsu specifically being permitted to all Sōke Hyuuga to maintain order whereas the study and use of general juinjutsu is limited to the clan head or to any Sōke Hyuuga with written permission from the clan head. Both using and studying juinjutsu is naturally forbidden to Bunke Hyuuga." Hayate barely let that declaration settle in the air before plowing forward. "Studying juinjutsu without permission is one strike for Hinata-sama, but —"

"She did have permission," Hiashi cut in smoothly. Hinata didn't dare blink or even breathe.

"She — ?" Hayate nearly spluttered.

"Had permission," Hiashi reaffirmed banally.

The elders shifted but no one else spoke, the movement of fabric the only noise in the room.

Hayate lost some of his vigour, but seemed to gather himself. "How conscientious of Hinata-sama. As to be expected of Hiashi-sama's eldest. However, though the bylaws were followed, this does bring to mind another matter that has been unresolved for quite some time. Permission may only be granted to Sōke Hyuuga…" Hayate trailed off meaningfully and Wataru picked up the thread like a choreographed dance.

"And Hinata-sama is Sōke. Not Bunke," Wataru inserted smoothly.

"Indeed. However, while Hinata-sama is not Bunke, neither is Hanabi-sama. And of Hiashi-sama's two children, it is expected that one of them become Bunke."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop. The long unspoken grievance being uttered aloud had the same effect of a gauntlet being thrown. But the person to whom the challenge was being issued was less clear. Hinata knew herself to be the object of Hayate's ire yet his method of attack had an unintended collateral.

So focused on Hinata, Hayate was oblivious to his misstep. He raised his chin confidently and said, "Perhaps it is finally time to settle the Hyuuga clan's future."

All eyes flew to Hiashi. To her father's credit, his expression didn't waver.

"The future of the Hyuuga clan has never been in question. Hinata is my first born."

A gasp echoed through the room. It took Hinata several seconds to recognize it as her own.

Hayate's smirk faltered. From beside him, Wataru murmured, "B-But the incident when she was made genin?"

Hiashi's eyes narrowed. "If you are referring to the private conversation between myself and her jounin instructor, that never had any bearing on the clan registry. Hinata has always been my documented heir."

"…then Hanabi-sama will receive the seal?" Shigeru dared to ask.

The look on Hiashi's face had Hinata's heart filling with dread. "There's no need for that!" she interjected. Hinata couldn't hide her desperation. "Ten years have gone by without it, so —"

As if finally sensing some way to triumph over her, Hayate's voice was filled with condescension. "It is understood that the clan head is afforded certain privileges, but all Sōke families with more than one child have had to make this sacrifice. Think of the uproar among our Bunke brothers and sisters if this rule were to be ignored…more than it already has been. It would be difficult to justify."

"The seal itself is unjustifiable," Hinata countered. She was in fight or flight mode. Hanabi's fate was on the line and their father was saying nothing to defend her. As much as she tried, Hinata couldn't temper the shakiness of her voice.

"It provides order to the Hyuuga —"

"It subjugates —"

"— and it protects us! Ours is the only Konoha clan without any members snatched up by the likes of ROOT."

"Kiri no Ao," Hinata enunciated and it was like the air was sucked out of the room.

Hayate flinched. "How do you know that name? That information is —"

"The byakugan he stole…where was the seal's protection then?!" Hinata was shouting now to be heard over Hayate. Hinata looked at the other council members imploringly. The normally unshakable Hyuuga elders looked disturbed. "Its protection is not absolute nor perfect. There are better ways." She couldn't remember ever speaking this loudly or passionately, but if it was the only thing standing in between Hanabi and the seal Hinata had to do everything she could.

"You've been studying for a few months and already think you know better than your forefathers, the arrogance —"

"Enough!" Hiashi stood, expression icy. "Konohagakure is in a state of crisis and for this meeting to have been called under false pretenses shames us all. This council is expected to display more decorum than this. Hinata." He turned his gaze to her, face a mask.

The sting of saltwater at the corners of her eyes made it difficult for Hinata to meet her father's gaze, but she managed to do so without wavering. Her trembling hands were hidden beneath her thighs.

"Come see me once you've collected yourself," Hiashi said. With one last disparaging glance around the room, Hiashi swept out the doors.

Finally like a thread snapping, whispers broke out among the council, but Hinata was deaf to it all. Her ears were filled with the sound of her uneven heartbeat. Like an out of body experience, Hinata saw herself leave the room silently, ignoring an indignant Hayate jeering after her.

She couldn't think. She could barely breathe. She just walked through the compound halls by muscle memory.

She hadn't expected this. She thought she'd have more time, to prepare, to perfect her arguments, to re-read the bylaws, to talk to her father.

But she hadn't. And she'd failed. She was a failure.

Like Neji had always predicted. Like everyone had always known since her birth, since her loss against Hanabi…

Hanabi.

A wave of dizziness hit Hinata and she had to brace herself against the wall.

"I just want to be strong and kind like you."

Hanabi would be sealed because of her. Because Hinata had dared to challenge the Kago no Tori no Juin, dared to presume she was strong enough to challenge it. How could she face her little sister knowing that? How could she face Neji knowing she had gotten his hopes up with her lofty aspirations and been unable to deliver on them? After he'd put his faith in her despite everything she had cost him.

"Hiashi-sama only has two candidates to select from…And as far as I'm concerned, there is only one real option."

Hand clasped around her mouth, Hinata struggled to contain the scream trapped in her throat.

She had to get out of there.

Hanabi and Neji deserved to hear about this, but Hinata couldn't fathom telling them. The longer she remained in the compound without letting them know, the sicker she would feel.

She couldn't stand to be there another second.

Setting a brisk pace, Hinata took a seldom used back route to leave the Hyuuga compound, escaping over the gates with ease. Once her feet landed on the grass outside the compound she took off in a run, blindly tearing through the wooded area that surrounded the back of the property. She hadn't taken her jacket, but felt hot despite the cool spring weather.

There were a few places Hinata could go to for refuge, but there was only one destination in her mind.

Sasuke dropped onto his bed, ignoring its ominous creak. The furnishings of his paltry apartment were not of the highest quality, not for any reason other than a lack of motivation to get anything better. He'd moved in quickly with the vague intention of finding purpose, something that had eluded him outside of Konoha beyond short-lived missions that afforded only temporary relief from existential dread.

It had been a last ditch effort. He hadn't expected anything to come from it. Certainly not enough to invest in decent housing and sturdy furniture.

And yet here he was months later…

A kaleidoscope of midnight blue and lavender played behind his shut eyes.

His conversation with Daishiro had left a bitter taste in his mouth. Both Kiyoko and Daishiro were in their forties, reputable ninja who had retired from active duty after the war to pursue political careers, managing to endear themselves to the Konoha Go-Ikenban. Neither of them were considered persons of interest, but Sasuke had felt compelled to follow them when he'd seen them at the hospital only to end up empty handed.

And to have missed walking Hinata home.

Sasuke frowned. His poor mood wasn't helping his insomniac tendencies. The rotating patrol schedule was just inconsistent enough to disrupt his routine and have him feeling slightly restless.

And wasn't that a thought? When had Sasuke settled into a routine? He'd had one before leaving Konoha the first time, but had quickly had to abandon that practice living under Orochimaru's whims and then had never had stable circumstances long enough to fall back into the habit.

The realization unsettled him.

Not because he'd developed a routine again, but because it had happened without him noticing. Because he didn't mind it. The thought of settling here in Konoha was no longer as viscerally unpleasant as it had been a few months ago.

He couldn't say it was because of a change of heart about Konoha itself. But the little pieces that comprised his new routine weren't filled with the ugliness he knew of the village.

Naruto, Kakashi, even Shikamaru and Sai.

Neji, Hanabi, occasionally Shino and Lee.

Togou from the dojo. The obaa-san at the corner shop where he bought his onigiri and the one at the market where he now bought fresh groceries. The shopkeeper at Amaguriama where he stocked up on wagashi.

Those were the pieces of his daily life.

And Hinata. Always Hinata.

Hinata with her gentle aura, her kind face and luminous eyes. Hinata with her soft voice and softer touch. Hinata who drew him to her without even trying, who let him into her life and who he wanted to occupy his.

Sasuke turned to his side, eyes falling on a beautiful, handmade fan sitting on his dresser. It had belonged to his mother. After his conversation with Hinata, he'd retrieved it and done his best to clean it carefully of any dust. He recalled the story his mother had recounted of how she'd come into possession of that fan.

If settling down in Konoha meant a life filled with Hinata…

Frantic knocking at his door, had Sasuke sitting up in surprise. He'd been so deep in his reflections he hadn't noticed the approaching chakra, which seemed impossible now.

He shot out of bed, made the short trek to the front door and threw it open. There was no time to take in the scene because Sasuke was too busy catching Hinata in his arms as she all but collapsed.

She was shaking, breathing laboured like she was having a panic attack.

Sasuke had only ever seen her so erratic when they'd escaped out of the white zetsu cavern and she'd been reliving the memory of her cousin's near fatal injury.

Instinctively, Sasuke held her close, pulling her further into his chest where she pressed her face as if she wanted to disappear into him. For a moment he was at a loss. He didn't know what to do with crying girls.

But it was only a moment, because this wasn't any girl. This was Hinata. And so even if Sasuke didn't know what to do, he would figure it out.

He moved them to the couch, Hinata clinging to him weakly. She wasn't crying; there was no telltale wetness on his shirt. Only the top of her head was visible to him, so he ran his hand from her crown to her nape, squeezing gently. His fingers followed the notches of her spine down to the space between her shoulder blades, stopping to lay his palm flat against her back. Her trembling had slowed during his ministrations, but her heart was still racing; he could feel it so strongly it was as if it was cupped in his hand.

With a shuddering breath, Hinata pulled away enough that he could see her face. He was right, she hadn't been crying. But her eyes were glistening with unshed tears and the moment their eyes met the dam broke and they spilled down her cheeks.

In the same way she did most things, Hinata was not a loud crier. Her lips pursed, as if to hold back sobs and her eyes shut tightly again as if to halt the flow of tears. She cried like she desperately wanted to not be crying and her skin was flushed from her efforts.

Sasuke cupped her cheek in his hand and tried to dry the left side of her face, frustrated that he couldn't tend to the right side at the same time. But Hinata relaxed under his touch, mouth falling pliant and eyelashes fluttering and the sight chased away any frustration.

When she spoke, the words were so mumbled he almost didn't understand them.

"I'm so s-stupid." Her voice was quiet and strained. "N-Nii-san was telling me to claim the t-title and I told him it could wait, that we had t-time. I really thought my f-father was being patient and giving me a c-choice…" She said it with mockery. "O-of course, he'd already d-decided. Of course. That's why he wasn't p-pushing me. It didn't matter what I w-wanted." She sniffled. "He told them it was m-me. And I was worried if I contradicted him in front of the elders…I thought it would make him lose face." A bitter huff of a laugh. "After everything, I was w-worried about him. W-When he doesn't care at a-all. I thought…I thought…Hanabi was supposed to be different. She's s-so strong. She's the heir he a-always wanted. I thought that at least for Hanabi he would — b-but he doesn't care. Whether it's me or her. One of us will be s-sealed and he doesn't care either way."

Saskue's eyes narrowed, hand dropping to his side. "Sealed? What do you mean?"

Hinata's face crumpled in misery. "They called a m-meeting. They found out I've been studying j-juinjutsu. I tried to convince them to — but it didn't w-work. I f-failed. And now they're going to s-seal my sister because of me."

The white, hot anger that had been rising inside of Sasuke at the thought of Hinata being sealed cooled by only a few degrees.

Hanabi, the little firecracker and apple of Hinata's eyes. There was no reality where Hinata let her sister take the seal. The Hinata Sasuke knew wouldn't give up. She had stumbled, was allowing him to see it, but she'd get back up and she'd try again. She'd keep trying to change her clan's ways. She'd try and she'd try and if that didn't work, she'd give up her own freedom in exchange for her sister's.

There had to be another way…

"We could leave." The words came out unfiltered, directly from his mind to his mouth. And now that they were out there, Sasuke found that he wasn't second guessing them.

If the clan wanted to seal one of Hiashi's daughters and Hinata was willing to sacrifice herself for it to not be Hanabi, then why not simply leave before they could act? Hinata would be free; Hanabi would be the defacto heir. The Hyuuga clan could continue their archaic and barbaric practices unhindered.

Hinata's face twisted in confusion. Her tears had stopped, though droplets still clung to her upper and lower lashes. "Sasuke…my clan —"

"Screw them. You don't owe them anything, Hinata," he said, looking deeply into her eyes to convey how serious he was. That they could leave right now if she said the word.

What did Hinata owe to a clan that had never seen her worth?

And what did Sasuke owe to a village that had forsaken him and his family?

The way Sasuke was living now, the meaning he'd been trying to find…at the root of it all was a debt owed.

A life debt to Itachi, who had spared Sasuke's life more than once. Spared him from the genocide of the rest of their clan and again when Sasuke had come to take his revenge. Itachi had done it without asking permission, with no thought to whether Sasuke wanted to live, but he'd spared Sasuke's life nonetheless and thus Sasuke owed that life to Itachi. And the only way to repay that debt was to live a life Itachi would have deemed worth living: a heroic one in service of others and in service of Konoha.

A debt to the innocents he had hurt, the destruction he had caused without care while chasing vengeance. Again one that could only be repaid by playing hero, righting wrongs to try to outweigh his bad deeds with good.

A debt to Naruto, for never giving up on him, for fighting for him, for forgiving him, for never holding a grudge. A debt Naruto would never claim, but that Sasuke would repay in the best way he knew how: by helping Naruto protect the village he loved.

But what was a life lived in debt? Could it be called a life at all? Hollow attempts to be deserving of the sacrifices made for him, as futile as trying to cut down a forest with a single kunai. Was that the kind of life Sasuke was fated to live?

Wasn't that the question that he'd been asking himself all those months on the road? The question that had brought him back to Konoha, where it all started?

Some kind of meaning to all of this. A reason he was alive when so many others weren't. A way to be good. Good like Itachi. Good like Naruto.

Good like Hinata.

Not a goal…

"I don't have dreams, just goals"

Perhaps a purpose, but even that wasn't quite right…

"…it's about finding what brings you happiness. What's most important to you…have you considered that what Kakashi-sensei wants is for you to want to live?"

Something to live for. Something to be good for.

Something…or someone.

Minutes ago he'd been considering settling in Konoha as a viable course of action. Now the only reason for that was sitting on his couch in tears.

"Maybe you're right…" There was a distant look in Hinata's eyes. Sasuke followed her gaze to where her hands were twisted into the fabric of his shirt. "Maybe I don't owe the clan anything. But I've never thought of love as an obligation."

Sasuke stilled. "…love?"

The corners of Hinata's lips curled faintly. "The elders may forget, but a clan is made up of people. Hanabi, Neji-nii-san, Ko-san, Natsume-san, Ryota-chan, Urano-san, everyone who came before, everyone who will come after…when I think of my clan, they're who I think of. So even if there are parts of the Hyuuga that I don't like, even if it means getting hurt or disappointed, even if it means failing a hundred times, a thousand times, never succeeding at all…" As she spoke, Sasuke could see the spark of determination returning to her eyes, muted but present. "I have to keep trying. Because I love my clan."

Sasuke's brows furrowed together.

Love…

"And no matter what you do from here on out, know this…I will always love you."

Itachi had said that, but Sasuke had trouble believing him.

"Why are you weak? Because you lack hatred."

Sasuke felt the phantom grip of Itachi's hand around his throat, his sinister whisper in his ear. Words that had broken him. Words he'd then rebuilt himself around.

Hinata should hate her clan. But as Sasuke looked into her eyes, he saw the love she spoke of and he felt humbled.

"Hinata…"

Hinata tilted her head at the call of her name. Sasuke could read tiredness in the sluggish movement, most of her bodyweight still supported by him. She'd had an afternoon shift the day before, trained with him in the evening, gone back to the hospital in the morning and then been ambushed by a Hyuuga council meeting when she returned home. Sasuke didn't know much sleep she'd gotten last night, but he suspected not a lot.

"…you need to rest," he said. He laid his hand across both of hers and felt them loosen their grip on his shirt.

Hinata looked up at him with big eyes. "I don't want to go home," she admitted softly.

Sasuke considered for a moment, visualizing the action in his head. Then he scooped her into his arms, right arm hooked under her knees and what was left of his left arm supporting her back. It was a little awkward, but as predicted, Hinata instinctively stabilized herself. Her arms looped around his neck, a squeak escaping her lips.

"Sasuke-kun!" Their eyes met, faces very close. Hinata squeaked again and whipped her head in the opposite direction.

Walking them to his bedroom, Sasuke carefully set her down on his bed. Ignoring Hinata's startled expression, Sasuke eyed her ninja gear. His dresser made an annoying sound when he pulled open a drawer to retrieve a pair of soft pants and a t-shirt.

Pretty much all of his shirts had the Uchiha crest sewn into the back. Like every time she'd needed to borrow clothes, Sasuke tried not to think too much about Hinata wearing it.

He dropped the clothes onto her lap. At Hinata's bewildered look, Sasuke brushed her hair away from her face. It was messy, like she'd been running. Resting his hand on the top of her head, Sasuke waited until understanding, along with exhaustion, dawned on Hinata's face. Then, he withdrew. "Sleep. I'll be in the living room."

The door clicked when it shut behind him. Sasuke stood on the other side, listening as the quiet movements on the other side settled into silence.

As Sasuke reclined on the thin and unforgivingly firm cushions of his couch, he had the stray thought that his bed was not much more comfortable. He glared absentmindedly at the ceiling and hoped that Hinata would be able to fall asleep. He knew he wouldn't.

When Hinata woke, her body felt stiff the way it did on missions after spending the night in a standard issue sleeping bag. She inhaled deeply, the scent of a familiar detergent filling her lungs.

Eyes flying open, Hinata sprung out of the bed and spun around, taking in the room. There was little in it to identify the owner, but the memory of being brought in here played out in her head and Hinata could feel her face grow hot. She felt dizzy, from the rush of blood, the vestiges of sleep, the spinning and the dehydration as a consequence of the all the tears she'd shed. The skin under her eyes and on her cheeks felt sticky and uncomfortable.

The reason for those tears washed over her again and her face lost its colour.

She shouldn't have run away.

She should have stayed to confront her father, confide in Neji, done something, anything.

She had to go back.

Despite feeling not quite rested, any hints of sleepiness had disappeared. Hinata determinedly pulled open the door and stepped into the hallway.

The rich aroma of matcha greeted her. Not the loose leafed green tea easier to prepare onehanded.

Instead of heading straight to the kitchen, Hinata stopped by the bathroom first. She washed her face with cold water and the bar of soap by the sink. As she wiped the excess water from her face, she avoided her reflection and kept her gaze down where it caught on something lilac in colour.

Hinata stared in disbelief.

The medicinal green toothbrush was sitting in the cup on the counter as usual, but it was joined by another toothbrush. A lilac one. Clearly unused and definitely not the kind that came in a twelve-pack.

With an unsure hand, she reached out and took hold of it. Her perplexed gaze shifted down to the lilac slippers she'd absentmindedly slipped her feet into upon getting out of bed.

Finally, she looked at the mirror and saw herself. Hair a tangled mess, face still damp and too pale, Sasuke's t-shirt swallowing most of her frame and holding onto a lilac toothbrush like it was a foreign object she didn't recognize, Hinata made for a pitiful sight.

But the light in her eyes gave her pause.

Hinata left the bathroom with the taste of spearmint coating her mouth.

Two toothbrushes sat side by side in the cup by the sink.

Poor Hinata breaking down, but Sasuke was there to make things better. And without her knowing she makes things better for Sasuke.

Thanks as always to all my lovely readers ^^

MVH