Chapter Text
CHAPTER 5
“Again, two fingers should be able to easily fit between your subject and the rope like so” Hinata kneeled on a black pillow, hands clasped behind her back as she breathed deep and evenly; the snug of the rope rubbed at her skin softly as Itachi’s two fingers tugged at a section showing proper rope etiquette. She could imagine all the eyes following his precise movements, enthralled just the same way she had been the first time she watched his ropework.
It’d been months since she’d participated in a shibari workshop, briefly remembering the first time she had ever seen it in the club. She’d admired the woman who’d been beautifully knotted, displayed hanging midair with such a serene expression on her face and Itachi next to her with something akin to approbation on his features.
The last time she remembered herself in shibari seemed like distant memories, flashes of pale skin and hauntingly bright eyes; she shook the thoughts of the man from her head as she tried to focus on Itachi’s deep voice, trying to ground herself. No need to bring up the past.
“Here, we’ll use our working end to loop around her thigh like so” She spread her legs a bit wider as she felt his hands coming to loop around mid thigh. Her eyes were cast down towards the floor as she felt the gazes on her, watching and observing as Itachi instructed them. She took another deep breath, feeling Itachi’s observing eyes on her as she tried to focus her mind on something other than the floor and her spiraling thoughts. A small tap just above her knee made her glance up briefly, seeing Itachi’s expectant face. She murmured green, watching his eyes pause onto her before he nodded his head, and continued his instruction. She couldn’t explain the mood her thoughts had created for her; honestly, she couldn’t tell if the feeling of being bound again was overwhelming her or rather the trail of thoughts that dragged her along. It felt like hell.
Her week was hell, work was hell, and even her latest session with Kiba was satisfying but she just couldn’t get herself in the mindspace to just exist in the moment. Too far into her head, too deep in making herself busy so she wouldn’t have to deal with any proverbial skeletons rattling her closet door.
She sat, listening to Itachi’s smooth voice as he taught, hearing questions from the small class intermittently until their workshop came to a close. She latched onto the conversation as best as she could, keeping her body still and her breaths even. This was a feeling she could shake off. Itachi leaned against the desk, as some of the class lingered; asking him about small details or parts of the lectures they wanted clarified.
“Your sub, she sits so beautifully when she's getting roped” A familiar hand nestled the top of her head, fingers coming to rub her scalp as Kiba’s deep voice replied. She felt herself tilting her head just the slightest, relishing in the comfort of his touch.
“That she does. I’m very proud, she’s a well behaved sweetheart” She blushed at Kiba’s response, trying to take comfort in hearing him speak praises of her as small conversations continued above until the last student shuffled out.
“Come on up, Hina” Seeing his hand come into view, she unclasped her own to take his hand as she helped her up from the floor. His fingers caressed her chin as he tilted her head upwards, his warm brown gaze meeting hers as she smiled up at him.
“I’m very proud of you” Her cheeks reddened with a blush as she stretched, picking up the pillow that she’d been kneeling on as she held it in her hands.
“Thank you sir” She cradled the pillow in her grasp as Itachi began packing away the surplus of rope that was now laid across the desk. She felt the rope laying against her skin as she hugged the pillow to her chest, her eyes no longer casted downward but not quite meeting their eyes.
“Hinata, you were excellent as always” She murmured a thank you respectively as Itachi’s coal eyes turned towards Kiba, settling into their familiar banter. Hinata felt odd.
“Kiba, thank you again; you know, you could always lead this class. It’s the least you could do for stealing my most beloved student away” Kiba chuckled, his hand coming to rub at the small of Hinata’s back as he shook his head; Itachi was kneeled behind the desk, neatly packing away the bundles of rope in his normal, orderly fashion.
“Fat chance and if my memory serves me correctly-” A pale hand was held up to stop him as Kiba snorted “You were the one who graciously gave me the introduction. Of course I whisked her away, it’d be insane not too”
“Never begrudgingly, Dog” Itachi held a small smile on his face, showing that he held no ill regards in his words as he continued “She’s in great capable hands. Her well being is of the utmost importance to me” Hinata felt Itachi’s eyes on her, notes of concern laced in his last sentence when she felt herself shrink at such familiar words; her thoughts pulling her under in assaulting unrelenting waves.
She felt indebted to Itachi in more than one way, even though she could never form the words to tell him that. When she’d come into his club so long ago, naive with a biting curiosity about the whole new world that ended up splayed out before her, Itachi had taken no time taking the woman in under his wing as a training sub and with ease she’d always performed so well.
Itachi had always been careful, making sure to pay attention closely to her reserved and withdrawn demeanor, always providing her with a comfortable space that she could flourish in. As expectantly, she did beautifully; he could tell that there was this unscorned light inside of her, her demeanor so closed off from the world she had never had the misfortune of being jaded. She was kind, picturesquely submissive once bestowed with her full trust and he could say that she truly was one of his closest friends.
Until she met Toneri.
Hinata was naturally reserved, Toneri was an unreadable wild card. Once he’d laid eyes on Hinata, he seemed to worship everything about her and of course he’d become enraptured by her; Itachi was no stranger to the way that Doms seemed to gravitate towards the woman after lessons, compliments and praises flooded her and as always, Hinata shied away from it. Initially like she did with Toneri, until one day she did not.
When she found herself sitting in his office asking permission to be relieved of her full time training under him, Itachi found himself at an impassable standstill. However, looking down at the sparkle in her eyes, the happiness and undying curiosity that reflected back at him, he couldn’t help but surrender to her request.
“Hinata, listen to me very carefully. The well being of your physical, emotional and mental aspects will always be a concern of mine; truly, you are a treasure. Meaning, never should your light dim, do you understand me?”
“Yes Sir”
“With that being reiterated, I cannot stop you on whatever adventures you choose to delve yourself in. I just want you to promise me that you will be careful. Your well being is of the utmost importance to me” Toneri had never done anything to be portrayed as a bad Dom, he seemed studious, respectful with a good set of fundamental morals and principles. He didn’t show interest in many submissives, and with a few years less experience than Itachi himself, he didn’t have a reason to outright disagree with Hina’s request.
Itachi just didn’t think he was the one for her.
Toneri was never expressive to the outside world, usually cold and commanding but it seemed that he had these soft, warm spots for Hinata that she herself could never explain. She couldn’t help but fall in love with the stoic man, rose tinted glasses didn’t allow her to see his minor faults and misgivings. His lack of control. His impending spiraling. He’d burst with an emotion so ineffable, so formidable she’d never even seen it coming until it was too late.
She felt herself on her hands and knees laid over a bench, tears streaming down her face as her fingers were clenched around the rug. Her mind was gone, floating somewhere completely disconnected from her body; even though every muscle in her body was tense, she felt like she was so far away removed.
She had said her safeword. She had cried, yelled and screamed it.
It didn’t work.
The moment it clicked in her brain, that he didn’t stop her arms collapsed underneath her she fell to the floor face first, a hushed cry left her lips as her mouth struck the wood of the furniture below her. Then she felt it, a searing pain that spread all over, nasty stinging welts that littered her backside, viscous warmness that pooled to the back of her knees. In her fogged mindset, she found herself curling her body and scooting away, her ass on fire as she streaked the beige rug red beneath her.
Her body flinched in pain as she watched his lithe form drop the cat of nine tails to the floor with a sickening thud. Face devoid of any emotion; no regret, no empathy, no remorse. Completely unhinged.
Then he was gone.
She behaved slightly more withdrawn than normal the past few days but nothing that appeared too overly concerning. Initially her eyes followed both Dominants as they chatted conversationally until Kiba noticed that she’d developed this far away look in her eyes; in the next moment, she had hunched in on herself, her small frame wracked with tremors as her fist balled at her side.
“Hina?” Kiba’s concerned tone had Itachi straightening himself from his squatting position, his dark eyes going straight to the woman in question. Her teeth dug into her bottom lip, stifling her sobs as her chest quivered with her breaths; she tried to hold in her sounds and with that, instantly, Itachi knew. He had seen her like this a handful of times, while it was never as bad as the first time the pain at her distress was always unsettling.
“Hina” Kiba stepped forward, his hand raising to touch her upper arm and just as Itachi opened his mouth to warn him not to touch her, Kiba’s hands caressed her skin. He jerked back, his own wide eyes seeing her body flinch harshly and then pale eyes looking on at him widened in fear. She looked panicked, her eyes searching but not seeing as Itachi rushed over into her view, his hands raised as he slowly approached her.
“Hinata” She held this almost feral look in her eyes as she skidded backwards, eyes searching for an exit “Darling, it’s me. It’s Itachi. You’re safe now, okay?” She flinched, hearing a voice that sounded so familiar but she couldn’t place; her eyes blurred as her eyes searched, she needed to leave, she needed to go before he came back, she-
“Darling, it’s alright now. You’re safe” She trembled like a leaf, Kiba stood rooted in his spot; almost afraid to trigger her again but wanting to pull her close to reassure her that whatever she was afraid of would never touch her again. Kiba watched as Itachi approached her like a wild animal that had been backed into a corner. Who would ever think to hurt her like this?
Kiba watched observingly as Itachi treated her with such familiarity, like this wasn’t a first experience for him as it was for her brown haired dom. Hinata’s eyes searched and searched until they came upon Itachi’s tall figure, his eyes looking at her sorely. His fingers moved just the slightest as she took in both hands, a shuddering breath wracked through her body. She looked like at any given second she would just fall apart.
“-tachi?” Her voice wavered, her nails digging into her own palms as small beads of blood surfaced over her skin; even with pain she couldn’t pull herself from her sinking thoughts and as Kiba watched her trembling form, his heart broke.
“Yeah, yeah. It’s Tachi” For a split second, her vision cleared. Her eyes were so unfocused but she could clearly see Itachi with his hands up as tried to get her to concentrate on the present. As soon as his eyes met hers, her legs gave out beneath her as she let loose a heartbreaking sob; Itachi caught her in his arms as he lowered the both of them to the ground and noises Kiba never thought she’d ever be capable of producing ripped from the distressed woman in front of him.
Any thoughts he tried to sort through fizzled through his brain, chest aching as he watched his sub fall apart in his friend’s arms. He had noticed she seemed slightly more reserved yesterday during their session but she had assured him at every turn that she was alright; performed exceptionally well with her vocal ques and behaved phenomenally like she had always done.
Nothing could have prepared him for her circling descent like this; his brown eyes met coal black as she sobbed and screamed against Itachi’s chest. Kiba had experience with skittish animals but watching the woman in front of him unravel so quickly and so hard, he felt useless. How did he not notice that she walked around with all this pain, this hurt bubbling beneath her skin like this?
He had never so greatly doubted himself of his competency as he did in this moment. He didn’t know.
Itachi was rubbing at her head as Kiba’s nimble fingers began removing the rope; afraid to allow himself to touch her skin, afraid that his touch would send her into another descent. Kiba’s eyes met Itachi with his unspoken words, and the elder man motioned to Hinata as Kiba realized she was sleeping. Quickly picking up the sleeping woman in his arms without any hesitation, Kiba placed a kiss to her forehead as he hugged her close to him for just a moment; she breathed deeply, her face turning into his chest as she sighed.
He laid her on the large lounge chair in Itachi’s office, covering her with his jacket as Itachi waved him into the adjoining office. He felt the driest lump in his throat forming, head heavy with thoughts as he tried to form words to say something, anything.
“This is going to be a long conversation” Kiba sat, watching as Itachi sat in the armchair next to his, a large decanter set between them as he placed two snifters down on the desk “A long, painful conversation that I’d rather not have sober”. They sat in silence, Itachi sipping at his drink; he peered over to the man he looked at like a little brother before he began.
Itachi had spoken the truth.
It was a long, painful conversation that neither of them could have ever prepared for.
Then it all seemed to make sense, Hina’s careful consideration of his intro questions; her reserved demeanor, her insistence to repress herself vocally, her general hesitancy, her scars. She had given her ultimate trust to a partner that abused her so depravedly that she had been left with permanent scars. It was no wonder she was so cautious, so overly careful.
“I always pondered the what ifs. Had I told her that I felt like she’d needed more training she would have stayed” Itachi threw back the rest of the amber liquid in his glass, the burn seemed to soften the words that seemed so sharp in his throat.
“I remember it like it was yesterday. She’d had this light in her eyes, she wanted to be free; there was nothing else for me to teach her, but selfishly, I didn’t want to let her go. I didn’t want the world to snub her out when all she did was shine” Itachi would always carry that bit of guilt with him, from what he couldn’t save her from. When she’d first stepped into his club, he had been surprised. He’d known her as one of his little brother’s friends, who never seemed to give any particular interest in the lifestyle; his surprise had only grown when she’d approached him after a few visits and asked to enter into a dynamic with him for training; she wanted to be a submissive.
So he agreed, entering into a dynamic that wasn’t based on sexual release; teaching her everything that she showed even the slightest bit of curiosity in, how to manage the club and even being the subject he worked with when teaching. He shared all the knowledge that he had with her, and like a sponge she had absorbed it all; she flourished. If she was a growing bud when she entered his tutelage, she was fully bloomed when he let her go.
He didn’t want to see her wilt if she stayed.
“Miss Hina!” Hinata stood quickly at hearing the sharp cries, watching the tiny five year old with swimming pools of tears run towards her.
“Toka’s hurt” Her eyes saddened as tiny hands grabbed hers, tugging her away from the papers she was grading to the courtyard where another teacher stood on pickup duty. They didn’t have a Toka in her class, and her class should have been the last one for pickup. She could see relief paint over her co instructor’s eyes as he saw Kin back in his sight.
“Kin! What have I told you about running-” A sob fell from Kin’s tiny mouth as he urged Hinata over to a small tree, with Mizuki trailing behind the pair of them. Hinata kneeled, her hand coming to rub soothing circles on the tiny back as he slowly began to remove leaves from an organized pile in the shade.
Tiny hands picked up a small what looked like a lizard, with one of his tiny little paws missing.
“I don’t want Toka to die!” He wailed, absolutely devastatingly “I know’d I shouldn’t have tried to keep him but I didn’t want him to get hurt and now look what happened!” Hinata took the scarf from her neck, folding it as she held it out to Kin, eyes gentle and her tone calming as she spoke.
“It’s okay Kin. You have such a big heart, that was very kind of you. I have a friend who is a doctor to animals, and he could look at Toka and make sure he’s okay” Hinata’s eyes took in the small gecko, he didn’t seem to have been recently bleeding but he was still moving, breathing and blinking so that had to be a good sign. The separation still appeared fresh to some degree.
“Yes Kin, that’s exactly what Toka-kun needs. A vet, just like how your parents take you to the doctor’s to make you all better” Mizuki kneeled next to the small child, watching his hands place the sleepy looking gecko into the soft cradle of the scarf.
“Will he be okay?” Kin wiped at his face with his forearms, watery eyes shining blindly as he looked between the two teachers.
“I promise” Big brown eyes looked at pale lavender ones as she spoke. Miss Hina never lied.
“I’m sure Miss Hina’s friend will do their best. How about we say goodbye to Toka for now so that Miss Hina can get him his help okay?” Kin nodded sadly, his fingers coming out to pet the head and scaly skin, his tongue coming out to lick at a finger as Kin giggled.
“Get better okay Toka? I’ll miss you” Mizuki stood, watching as Kin’s father began approaching the gates, nudging the little boy whose eyes watered again as he saw his father. Hinata stood quickly, the tiny gecko safely cradled in her arms as she went back into the school; quickly she gathered her things and found herself placing the scarf in the passenger’s seat as she took off to the one place she knew could help.
Maybe I should have called.
She didn’t have time. If there was anything that Hina would go to the ends of the earth for, her students had to be one of them and she promised. Peering over at her small friend, tiny tail swayed every now and again; he didn't seem distressed given the situation.
As tiny as he was, it was a surprise that he survived out in the courtyard for so long with so many large birds. It seemed as if he wasn’t scared even after losing a foot.
She heard her phone dinging from somewhere in her purse on the floor, but as she turned the corner, the large pale grey building came into view. A large sign displayed over the door Inuzuka’s Veterinary Hospital; she pulled into a parking space, quickly grabbing her purse and her tiny passenger who peered up at her with slitted eyes.
Her feet led her through the doors, she blinked, taking in the modest but welcoming decor; watching as a brunette woman stood with a smile as she greeted her, eyes still shifted downward towards what sounded like paper shuffling.
“Welcome! How can I help you?” She found herself walking over to the desk, Toka still seated in her hands as she tried to focus. This woman reminded her so much of Kiba, the warm brown eyes as she smiled, a smaller version of his nose that was slightly upturned and a deep cupid’s bow; was this Hana? Granted, it had been such a long time since seeing the elder woman if it weren’t just in passing. Now it felt a little awkward seeing as she was in a dynamic with her brother but she’d just feign ignorance.
“I-” Her eyes drifted to the small body in her hands, trying to find words.
“Hinata?” Those brown eyes were now squinted in her direction as they widened in recognition, Hinata nodded quickly a small smile forming on her lips as she took in the other woman in front of her.
“Yes. It’s nice to see you again Hana, it’s been years. I need help with Toka” She offered the scarf to Hana as she bent, peering at the small guy before she sucked her teeth.
“That looks like a nasty bite. Is he kept indoors?” Hana had quickly put on a set of gloves, taking the small lizard in her hands as she examined his missing front foot.
“One of my students has been taking care of him, he’s been hiding Toka in the courtyard outside. Hopefully it’s not fatal, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind being a class pet from now on” Hana nodded, shooting her a small smile as she ditched a glove and waved her back to an examination room.
“He’s a curious little fella. Is Toka his name?” Hinata hummed in agreement. It was a sight to watch Hana as she settled into a groove, twisting and turning Toka as she peered at him and grabbed equipment.
“Yes, Kin, my student was very adamant about that. I almost want to say it’s short for Tokage but I’m alright with nicknames” Hana laughed, Hinata watched carefully as she broke a swab in half watching the cotton tint with the liquid as she began cleaning the stump. Toka let loose a vocal sound, followed by a hiss and then Hana cursed, a small thud on the table as Toka scurried away.
Hinata stood, looking at Hana’s now bleeding hand as she removed her glove.
“Hana, you okay?” Hana shot her a kind smile, nodding her head as her eyes tried to search for the small lizard before he got lost in the big room.
“It’s alright, he’s just a little agitated. I’m sure the stub is a little tender right now. But I don’t want him to agitate it any further. Did you see which way he went?” Oh no, as tiny as he was he could be anywhere. Hinata thought she heard voices outside of the door, but her concerns quickly went to the scared and agitated gecko who was now on the loose.
“It’s alright, we’ll find him” Three knocks came at the door, followed by Kiba’s voice.
“Sis, everything okay?” Hana knew it was just the two of them in the practice today, probably growing concerned when she was missing up front and then hearing her curse. Hinata saw a flash of yellow slink along the wall of where the chair she had just vacated. She got to her hands and knees, carefully moving the chair as those large little eyes looked up at her.
“It’s alright, I got bit in an exam. Don’t open the-” Hinata slowly grabbed the gecko, who hissed at her, narrowing his eyes as she was careful to lift him from the floor. Kiba swung the door open, brown eyes first looking at his sister as she frowned at him, attempting to clean her bleeding hand; then to the woman on her hands and knees. The very familiar ass was tilted upward, dark blue hair splayed across her back like silk drapes as she wiggled herself free from between two chairs.
He swallowed hard.
Hana’s eyes narrowed as she watched Kiba watch Hinata.
“I’m so sorry Hana”
“Hina?” She froze, then quickly sat down on her bottom that she was just unconsciously parading in the air not too long ago. Hearing the familiar voice she missed so much had her feeling almost nostalgic.
“Hinata? Why would Hina be here?” Naruto?
“Kiba, please. It’s not like you to keep a woman seated on the floor for so long” Hinata felt her face grow hot, knowing he would, he absolutely would if she wasn’t on her best behavior. Hana’s eyes squinted, watching as Kiba moved to help Hinata from the floor; his large hands did lingering touches just like always. She looked up into his brown eyes, giving him a soft smile.
“Sorry I didn’t call. It was an emergency” She held her hand up, watching as the lizard vocalized his displeasure again. Kiba smiled at her, she took a deep breath, smelling the lingering of his cologne around him as he gently took Toka from her hand.
“You know where to find me, that’s enough for me” As he moved, the tall frame and baby blue eyes of one of her closest friends came into view; he smiled that huge smile just like he always did but his eyes were unreadable. In his grasps, he held a large container with a red toad in it.
“Naruto” She smiled, watching as he made his way to gather her in a hug, blue eyes cutting over to Kiba curiously as he released her.
“I didn’t know you were a reptile girl Hina. You definitely could have babysat” He held up the container, watching as Gamabunta’s tongue shot out against the glass as she laughed, pushing the container away.
“I am not. One of my students was caring for him until he got hurt and I promised I’d help” Her eyes glanced over to Kiba and Hana as they worked in sync, the gecko much more relaxed in Kibas gloved hands.
“Well, this is the best Vet in the county! I’m sure he’ll be fine” She nodded, looking over to Naruto’s face he looked conflicted.
“Kiba, I’m gonna borrow Hina for a second. Is it cool if we pop into an empty exam room?” Warm brown eyes instantly met pale lilac ones, taking in every detail of her face as he asked his silent question.
Hinata gave him what she felt was a reassuring smile. I’m okay, it’s Naruto. I couldn’t be safer.
“Sure. We’ll take good care of this one here”
Once the door was closed and the pair of them were separated from other eyes and ears, Hinata could clearly see conflict in the blue eyes that looked at her in such an indescribable way. He sucked in a deep breath, his chest heaved but even then he looked like he was still unsure of what he wanted to say.
“Hina” Hina felt herself nearly flinching under his gaze, not expecting to see the hurt flash so expressively across his eyes.
“I’m just going to ask, I’m sorry. Are you seeing Kiba?” She paused, guilt settled in her chest as she nodded; She hadn’t told him, in fact no one knew outside of Sakura and Itachi. It wasn’t that she was keeping it a secret, even though that’s what it felt like with the way the conversation now flowed.
He sighed heavily, clearing his throat as he scrubbed his face with both hands. He couldn’t quite explain how he felt. Kiba is one of his childhood friends, and even with the distance of said man leaving for college and vet school it left their friendship unchanged; and Hina, Hina was a part of his family. So, it hurt; to know that they had found one another only to keep it away from him, as if he wouldn’t be happy for his family too. Naruto knew that Kiba would never in a million years hurt Hina like he-wait.
“Are you-Do you….” He paused “…..with him?” She hesitated, and while she didn’t necessarily owe him an answer she gave it anyway. She knew that it was hard for him to delve so deeply in her personal life, but she understood that his question came more from a place of concern.
“Yes” His fists clenched, blue eyes blazed as he gazed at her. He wasn’t angry at her, it was never at her; but it was hard for him to articulate that.
“Why keep that from me? Why not tell me? Was this a ‘Let’s not tell dumbass Naruto and see how long it takes him to get a clue’?” He felt hurt, but under the hurt he felt guilty; guilty that he had absolutely no clue about any of her lifestyle choices, not until that night. Then the guilt hit him again, because he wasn’t there for her until it was too late.
“No, Naruto. That- That wasn’t it” How could he think that?
“Hina, you’re my sister! Why would you keep something that’s so important to you away from me?” Hinata frowned, Naruto didn’t sound angry anymore he sounded-
“Why do you feel like you can’t share anything with me anymore? It’s like you just tried to shut yourself off from me after-“ He was hurt. He was hurt because he felt like she didn’t want to share anything with him anymore; Hinata could feel her eyes stinging, he was never angry at her, he was frustrated that they couldn’t be close again. He was the only sibling that actually wanted to be a sibling and she had completely pushed him out.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I never said thank you” Embarrassed, shameful, guilty for even getting him involved in this mess but now his outburst drudged up feelings that she locked away for the longest time. Of course she had shut everyone out, that was the only way she thought was the best way to heal herself but it seemed that it only served to further alienate everyone else around her.
“What?”
“I said I was sorry. I never said thank you for what you did for me that night. So, I’m doing it now, thank y-“ She looked a trembling mess, hands clenched around each other, eyes darting back and forth but never meeting his. Her body tense as she hunched in on herself.
“Hina, shut up” She cringed at hearing his voice, it sounded like he was about to cry.
“I know that it could have ended up terribly different for you, and I’m so glad that it didn’t. But I never said-” She was pulled into his chest, her eyes burned with tears as his bulky arms came to settle around her shoulders. She was a terrible sibling.
“Hina, you are my sister. I would do absolutely anything for my family and you know that so, please” His voice cracked, he squeezed her tighter as Hinata tried to blink away the swimming pools that seemed endless. She realized that she was crying.
“This is still so recent to me. I’m scared to open myself up again. I’m scared to let myself be vulnerable with people. I’m sorry for hurting you Naruto, I’m sorry I’m a bad sister” She was sobbing, fully sobbing; Naruto’s hoodie was darkened by wet patches of her tears and he held onto her tighter.
“I’m your big brother Hina, you can depend on me” He separated them, holding her at arms length as he bent to look at her, waiting for her eyes to meet his eyes before he spoke.
“You hear me in there? I’m here for you, I’m always gonna be here for you” He pulled her into a tight hug, feeling her squeezing handfuls of his hoodie. He hasn’t seen her cry like this since Hiashi’s passing. He pulled away, getting her some tissue as he pushed her into a chair.
She felt oddly calmed. Whether it was the tears or just the reaffirmation that Naruto wasn’t going to disappear from her life like her younger sister she wasn’t sure.
“You’re only older by t-two months” Hinata’s red puffy eyes glanced up at Naruto as he smiled brightly at her.
“It’s funny you said that, that’s exactly what a little sister would say. How about we go to that ramen place you like?” Hinata laughed, her eyes watering for different reasons this time as she clutched at her belly.
“It’s the ramen place you like” Naruto shrugged his broad shoulders, scratching at the back of his head as he grinned. Well, that wasn’t a lie.
“The Queen of Gluttony speaks, ladies and gentlemen!” Pale eyes widened as his words, she watched him chuckle his familiar mischievous smile he wore so well stretched on his lips. Naruto patiently waited as she wiped her eyes again before he waved her to follow him out of the room.
“Naruto!”