Sweet Dispositions

-Chapter 32-
Golden Times

Mitsuyo left. She didn't leave anything significant but Hinata felt the absence. The kids, especially Hiromitsu, missed her.

She left behind a small, worn leather book the size of Sasuke's palm. It had a bunch of runes, numbers, and letters she'd see in an old temple. It seemed like names written with a forgotten dialect. Tens of names were crossed out. She wasn't sure of anything until visiting an old patient at the Kumogakure graveyard. She saw a name from the book on a tombstone.

That is when she got concerned. Miyana was a doctor, this could be a written memoir for all the patients who died. Hinata had one and some patients haunt her to this day. However, Hinata checked the name of the fallen and the circumstances of their death was unknown.

She hasn't told Sasuke and she was suspicious. She didn't want to hurt him. She would investigate.

He was pre-occupied with Amarante and Hiromitsu.

Even now, when the children's eyes seemed to ache. She couldn't figure out why but their eyes hurt. She believed it could be blindness but she couldn't tell. All the specialists willing to see the twins said their stunning eyes were in perfect condition and healthy.

It just befuddled her.

¤¤¤

September 7th. Mid-morning.

Hinata and Sasuke did some gyotaku before coming into Benjiro's room. Sasuke decided to do his weekly sparing duel with Suigetsu, so he left to the Hōzuki household, leaving her with their children.

Amarante laid her head on Hinata's lap while Taiyo slept beside her. Hiromitsu was cuddled beside Benjiro. They all wanted to sleep near Benjiro at naptime.

Whenever the dojutsu kids wouldn't sleep on time, Hinata and Sasuke told the children scare-tactic stories about the monsters namahage and otoroshi. It got some sense into them and made away the disobedience. They stopped misbehaving.

Since the snake bite, the center of life became Benjiro's room.

Poor Benjiro.

His body temperature wasn't regulated a fever spiked. He was sick and miserable. She hated it. Karin stopped by, helping her by cooking up various medicines and remedies with trial and error. Jugo supplied her information about senjutsu and did absorb most of the poison in Benjiro's system.

It's honestly a miracle he's alive.

He was fighting off the leftover poison and adjusting to the influx of natural energy in his system. He was lucky that he was young. It probably felt awful. She tried her best to make it less painful.

Someina was at the door, waiting and watching. Someina took it the hardest. It was her fault but the green-headed woman looked so guilty and worn. She hasn't really spoken to Hinata because she's frightened to but she's watching the Hyuuga in her periphery. Hinata read the knots on her forehead.

"Can I talk to you? In the hall?" Someina asked, her body shifting anxiously.

Hinata wordlessly got up.

Someina stood across from Hinata, playing with the beaded bracelet her sister gifted her. "Whenever my sister was mad at me, I'd say- give me the chance I don't deserve. I didn't mean to mess up. It's hard. Not talking to you," Someina admitted.

Hinata looked away. It... has been hard. Sasuke was always gone for weeks on end and it was nice to speak to a fellow adult instead of children. Everything was private outside of the house- women and men were wary of Hinata because of her relation to Sasuke. Besides, it was this culture to be modest and subtle. Her tattoos were frowned upon.

That meant little to no communication with others during work.

At home... with Someina- she had company... They'd go shopping at boutiques, laugh at magazines in cafes, talk about everything, clean and bake. She had someone to complain to about struggles and gossip for all the things Sasuke deemed garbage irrelevant girl talk.

Someina toyed around with her fingers. "I can't even remember why I stopped speaking with you. I'm sorry I didn't drink the tea. It was stupid of me but I would never, ever try to hurt Benjiro... not even if it meant saving my own life. It just happened,"

Hinata sighed. Perhaps Someina did have a point. The bodyguard didn't will for Benjiro to get bitten. She roamed his memory- Someina tried to stop the brazen boy. It was just easier being angry.

"I was being a bitch," Someina frowned. That's true. "Sorry," Someina said for the umpteenth time.

"You really don't deserve it but... okay. Forgive and not fight. Cherish me more, Someina. Alright?"

"I will," Someina promised.

The doorbell suddenly rang. Someina dashed to open the door and Hinata sniffed the air. She knows that... smell. She used a higher concentration of chakra in her ear to hear the mysterious visitor better.

"My boss doesn't want you here. We don't allow skanks or diseases in this house. You qualify as both," Someina snarled.

"I just need to see Benjiro," the high voice -probably female a voice- responded. It was squeaky and girly compared to the mellow, husky drawl of Someina.

"You need to get off of this property before this situation gets ugly," Someina snapped.

"It's my legal right to see him," the woman's vocal tones carried the indication of her being crossed.

Someina sighed, frustrated. "Your rights aren't recognized here. Get away or suffer,"

"You guys are less stable than everyone thinks. Only a crazy person would do this,"

"You're more alive than people believe at the moment. Let's not change that," Someina threatened.

"Oh yeah?!"

Hinata had enough of eavesdropping and went downstairs.

At the door stood Himarayasugi Yoki. Her hooked nose was turned upwards as if she just witnessed something unsightly. Her teal hair was cut down at her jaw for a messy, fringed bob effect. She held her stomach and inched away from Someina.

She's still pregnant. Still awful.

She saw Hinata and her countenance became calmed. "Oh. Natsukawa Momo! I expect you to be kind after the treatment I received from this woman. Just checking... did you get the flowers I sent?" Yoki asked sweetly.

Yoki gave Hinata a bouquet of carnations, snapdragons and the rhododendron. All of which... are interesting. The yellow carnations can mean disdain, snapdragons can mean deception and the rhododendron means beware because they can be quite poisonous.

Hinata thought back to the time when she stood in the kitchen of Karin's house, staring at the wrapped flowers that had no coherence. "What do you wanna do now?" Karin asked. "You obviously don't want them. Ha. We could... make a smoothie out of this,"

Hinata let Karin shred the flowers in her new blender and they both laughed. They didn't drink it.

Hinata regarded the Himarayasugi and skipped the answer. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see Benjiro," Yoki said, nodding with more confidence.

Hinata shook her head. "Understandable but no. Have a good day,"

"Or an awful one, we care not," Someina laughed and shut the door.

At the last second, Yoki blocked it with her foot, stopping the oak door from completely locking her out.

"Come on. He's hurt. I want to see him," Yoki pleaded.

"No, you may not," Hinata said strictly.

Yoki's expression dropped. "You should give me a chance. I want to know if he's alright. Blame it on human nature,"

Hinata felt a frown on her lips. "You had three years of chances. Over one thousand and ninety-five days of chances. You ruined those. I blame that on your human nature," Hinata hissed. "The worst thing you could ever do to him, my baby, is say hello,"

Yoki sighed and pulled out a clean-cut piece of paper she waved in Hinata's face. "The court date could not come any sooner. He's still my sister's only child," Yoki argued.

Someina balled up her fist and bared her white teeth. "Lady, do you want me to break your front-"

Hinata held up her hand and Someina clammed up, eager to follow Hinata's orders.

Hinata is so miffed that she's scared her Naitochi blood may show its dark side. She can't. Remember. Reflect. Release.

Hinata spoke slowly. "Even his mother didn't want Benjiro. His birth mother said to kill the child. The Raikage, my dear friend, isn't allowing you to take Benjiro back. The judges who were on your side already spoke to me," Hinata said evenly. "You have no chance of getting him back,"

A few weeks ago, Sasuke used his ningendo technique on Benjiro in the presence of the Raikage and a Yamanaka. He found awful things and stories of abuse that the Yamanaka confirmed happening. The Raikage was angry enough to go to the Himarayasugi bar and personally give a few choice words to the pair.

Yoki got small and Hinata's sure she's teetering on the edge of a breakdown. "When the Raikage hates me... I know I can't win in this..." she looks up in earnest, her blue eyes drowning in guilt. "He's family. I just want to make right in this," Yoki said, all pathetic, somber and sad. Her voice wobbled so she cleared her throat. "You can't do this! Don't act horrible,"

Hinata let out an involuntary growl. "I wish someone told you that four years ago. Stop acting like the victim. Raising him won't clear your conscious. I may be acting horrible but you are horrible,"

Yoki yelled, "Hey!" With betrayal heavy in her mind, Yoki stepped forward, ready to argue or fight. Whatever the case, she was violent.

Someina slid in front of Hinata, with her hands shrilling with electricity. "Don't," Someina warned. "or that word will be your last,"

Yoki, after regarding Someina warily for minutes, backed off.

Hinata continued, her adrenaline still fresh. Her eyes roved back to Yoki. "He's my son and I know you won't put forth the effort to love him. This will hurt him. He already loves his siblings and his life. He trusts us now. You will hurt him, badly. I can't let him feel that way again. What type of mother would I be?"

"Whatever. You still owe me a table,"

"She probably did you a huge favor," Someina snarled.

Yoki shredded up the letter and walked away.

¤¤¤

A while after Yoki left, Hinata sighed.

On days like these, she missed Neji and his guidance. She wrote him letters. She prayed for him at a waterfall she found ages ago. Neji loved training at waterfalls. He didn't like the peaceful, slow-moving water that piled into a still divinity pool. Nor did he like the honey-sweet smell of the nodding flowers.

He liked practicing near the loud waterfalls that shook the large, slippery rocks they stood on. The aquarium-blue water surging and plunging down the side of the mountains. It was cold and the way it felt was... thrilling.

He would know what to do... He would know what to say. She missed him.

She looked at her palms, which held the ying and yang symbols.

She finally took a look at the nightblood clan jutsu scroll. It's been hard to process being a huge magnet. She felt it in the air... She tasted the copper. She didn't like it but it was there.

She was in the middle of the floor of the library and unsealed the scroll.

Many books and papers surrounded her. Then she learned.

¤¤¤

September 12th. 3 o'clock.

One late sunny afternoon, she dragged an old easel to their bedroom. Not to be a creep or anything, Hinata painted Sasuke when he slept this one and only time. The kids were asleep, piled atop of him haphazardly.

She wondered why it was so quiet then she figured out why.

They all just passed out. He was perhaps giving them a genjutsu storytime again. They liked her reading voices but nothing topped actually smelling, listening and hearing what the story was like.

They liked when he talked about Konoha, telling them the crazy stuff he's heard from Hinata about Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura.

It was sweet and thoughtful. When they missed Hinata and Sasuke was at home, Sasuke asked her questions over the phone about what she wore, how she felt and where she was. Followed by a cute message about a story she'd tell to the kids if she were there, Sasuke prepared a genjutsu.

He would make it all come to life in a genjutsu and it's like she was there at bedtime, telling them she loved them, or nagging.

When he was gone, he left long letters about what he wanted the kids to know. Farewells, he called them. He wrote a new one every time he left. And she would recite them from memory and tell them exactly what he said without the air of finality.

But painting them... that was more permanent than fleeting moments at bedtime. She couldn't resist as she set a canvas, her best watercolor paints and-

Oh lord, Sasuke is actually awake. His body wasn't loose and he was awake! She scrambled to get a shawl or a blanket- to cover her work.

He eyed Hinata in her panicked state after stretching and smiling absently at the kids. It always made her heart beat faster. "Morning, beautiful," he said in his drowsy, slow morning tone.

"It's three in the afternoon," Hinata said, in a renounced matter-of-fact way.

"Oh," he yawned, suddenly aware of his surroundings. "Afternoon, beautiful,"

It still chilled her to the bone that he's with her- doing this, with her. He calls her beautiful and she's confused. It's been four years- he's seen her with countless dreary-eyed crying faces with snot and tears.

She remembers wincing, three or four weeks ago. "Still?" she asked, after he said, "Morning beautiful,".

He pulled her in for an uncomplicated kiss. "Always,"

Instead of melting into a Hyuuga puddle, she kissed him harder. But that was weeks ago. Since he isn't romantic or a give-out-compliments guy, it's strange. He's made it a point to say it lately. It makes her dazed. Happiness blooms in her chest.

"Come back to bed," he said. Hinata opened her mouth to refuse but he took a glimpse at the huge hand-carved easel he made years ago. His lips twitched into a smirk. "Nevermind... Painting, again, ocha?" Sasuke asked.

She nodded, hiding behind the canvas. "Don't look,"

Sasuke discerned this and chuckled. "Don't get shy on me. You're good at this,"

Hinata blushed. Compared to Sai, her skills were nebulous, underdeveloped. She was proud of her work, mostly that he liked it. It was a gift for him, after all. Besides, she was giddy like a schoolgirl because he called her ocha.

"You're not used to compliments," he realized aloud.

Hinata gasped. "I get plenty of compliments as an ocular spectacle," Hinata protested. Then she watched the peach trees outside of the window, feeling put on the spot. "But rarely from you, lately yes. It's sweet, one at a time. Overwhelming,"

Sasuke took her words to heart and seemed apologetic. "I'll try harder on that, make you used to 'em,"

She smiled, letting a veil of comfortable silence fall over them. She mixed a little blue with black and white, trying to find the flawless navy color for Hiromitsu's hair.

Sasuke took time to properly stare, shamelessly. "You know, you're actually quite the artist. Flower pressing, scrapbooking, taking photos of us, bringing home different knick-knacks that Mitsuyo and I throw away. And let's not forget the random moments like this,"

"You throw them away?!" Hinata yelped and immediately covered her mouth. Sasuke gestured to the kids, scowling at her incredible volume.

He whispered, mindful of the kids. "No... We knew that you'd kill us,"

"I wouldn't," Hinata rolled her eyes. She focused on her wooden painter's palette. "Stop moving,"

He did but looked at her intently. "I don't do promises but I like favors. Do me a favor and recognize your potential?" Sasuke asked, moving more.

She pointed her organic brush tip at him. "Stop moving, anata. Hush up, I'm not that good,"

"Then why paint us?" Sasuke challenged.

She beamed, holding a hand to her heart. "The kids look so peaceful. I couldn't help it. They just fell asleep on you. You, my love, look so harmless,"

"Wha- hey," Sasuke squinted. "That's my shirt," Sasuke pointed out.

She doesn't have to wear pants. "You mean a dress on me?" Hinata danced around in her not so black artist shirt. It was originally his but she stole it. Now, it's ornated with paint streaks and baby milk.

"You're a short stack of pancakes,"

"Or you're much too tall," Hinata said.

"Better my shirt than another man's,"

"Jealous?"

"Hardly. Territorial? Yes," Sasuke corrected. His sharp brow arched. "I don't want to stay still. Why not just take a photo like you always do and scrapbook the heck out of that?"

"Too bad," she shrugged, peeking at him over the easel. "I do this 'cause paintings are eternal. Mostly. I like painting the best moments of our lives. Photos are more everyday things,"

He nodded, thoughtful. "Is that why you painted Karin's and Suigetsu's wedding photos? You got them their gifts three months late,"

"Yes. It was the most important moments in their lives. Would you like me to paint or take photos during ours?"

"Photos. Then paint your favorite moment," Sasuke said.

"Probably when you actually uh, propose and those things," Hinata blurted.

"Hmmm? What'd you say?"

She laughed, blushing harder. "It's fine. I say probably I'll worry about every little thing,"

He stroked Hiromitsu's hair, working out the tangles. "Fine... paint me, under one condition,"

"What is it?"

"Let me paint you nude,"

"Sasuke!" she scolded. She lowered her voice. "Stop with the vulgarness! The kids are right there,"

Sasuke shrugged. "None of them know what nude is, except for Ben if you give him time,"

"You don't know how to paint," Hinata laughed.

"That's the beauty of it. I'll use paint, my hands and no canvas, just you,"

She took a moment to reflect. "That does sound fun,"

"It will be,"

And it was. It really was.

¤¤¤

September 17th. Noon.

The next week, Hinata spent time with Taiyo. It was just before his birthday.

After getting a dozen or so Kunai for Sasuke, Taiyo and Hinata ran errands. On Sunday mornings, Hinata went shopping with the kids. They'd cruise go for some exotic soup and fish then browsing for new things.

Hinata normally took all of the kids but Benjiro refused to leave the house because of his ten feet block building he created with Someina and the twins wanted to spend time with their dad. Taiyo was eager to leave.

She could feel everything that had to do with metal. It was a novel sensation that she didn't particularly like or detest. It was strange because she refrained from touching anything metal. Sasuke was kind enough to buy her wooden appliances.

Everything metal was annoying. She couldn't touch any scalpels without it melting on her. She had to monitor her every emotion and it was troublesome.

Taiyo looked at the marbles in the shop, clapping. He's been staring at them for a while and Hinata nudged him softly. "Whacha looking at, love?"

"N-nothing," he said quickly, stealing a look at the marbles.

"You can ask for anything you want or have anything you want. I'd steal the sun for you, Taiyo," Hinata reminded him. He laughed when she bopped his nose.

He looked pleasantly thrilled at her exclamation. "Oh... can I have one?" he asked. "Just one?"

She looked confused. "You can have as many as you want, love. They're marbles, after all. They're not expensive, they're fun with your siblings and you want them,"

His stream-blue eyes widened and he hugged her middle so tightly, burying his head in her now straight hair. "Thank you, thank you, thank you,"

"You're welcome,"

Taiyo looked shy and inquisitive. "Mama always said buy one and nothing more- it's wasteful and she never liked buying toys... when she was there. She never spend money on groceries and my clothes had holes in them an' I never got any marbles, always staying with Mitsuyo,"

Hinata paused, awkwardly fumbling with her words. "Well, oh. We love you, you know?"

"I know," Taiyo got all sheepish and hid his face in her kimono skirt. She ran fingers through his hair. "Only Mitsu and you say that all the time. It's embarrassing. Sasu only says, 'Tremendously,' that he hearts me. So embarrassing and mushy,"

"It's not embarrassing," Hinata laughed. He's just not used to it. She was like him. However no one said they loved her. "Did... your mother say I love you?" Hinata asked.

He shook his head, still hiding his face. "When you and Sasu were there," he mumbled through the fabric.

"And when we weren't there?"

Taiyo shook his head. "Nope... is that weird?"

She smiled sadly. "Very,"

Hinata held her heart and got down to Taiyo's level, acutely aware of how her gray hair skimmed the floor. She held under his cheek with her index finger after setting the groceries down. "Can I say I love you without the red and mushy stuff?"

"Girls are always mushy. Do they even fart?" Taiyo asked. Hinata nodded. "And they have cooties but they're still very cute,"

"Have a pretty girl in mind?" Hinata teased.

"Edena," Taiyo admitted and shifted away. The color drained from his face. "Please don't tell her!"

So cute!

"I won't. Your secret is safe with me," Hinata promised. That's why Sasuke told Taiyo tips about girls. Made sense.

"Well... then how can I not be mushy?" Hinata asked. "I don't want to embarrass you,"

He looked away and thought for a minute, laughing every time Hinata poked his stomach. He eyed her manicured fingers, grabbed her hand and squeezed three times.

Hinata smiled. "What was that for?"

"You do it to Sasu, right? To say- I love you three times but not saying it," Taiyo said, looking at his feet.

She squeezed his small hand three times. They shared a genuine smile. "Well... yes, I love Sasuke, lots. We don't have to say it, kay? I have to meet C-san then we'll get Chuhei, alright? Deal?"

Taiyo grinned. "Deal,"

¤¤¤

It was still her mandatory day off, ordered by the Raikage. After hearing about the nightbloods incident, he forced her not to work. It didn't really help that he placed ANBU over the hospital to kindly escort her when she attempted to come back.

It was a hassle and she hated it. She stopped by, hand in hand, with Taiyo at the hospital. She lied and said he needed medicine. He acted sick and gave convincing coughs here and there. Once inside her domain, Hinata discussed medical procedures, the ins and outs of the hospital and her favorite nurses recounted the daily drama and what has been happening in her trauma department.

She finally wandered over to C's huge office that she was, in fact, jealous of. He wasn't even there three-fourths of the time yet he had a better office than her.

She wanted to leave Taiyo at the daycare center, where ANBU would watch his every move while she spoke to C for a few minutes.

While placing more protective barrier seals on him, Hinata picked invisible lint off of Taiyo's small shoulders. "You stay here while I talk to C, alright?"

He frowned. "I wanna stay with you," Taiyo whined.

She sighed. It couldn't hurt to be in the same room. And he really didn't want to leave her, so she shrugged and allowed it. "Okay but behave. Nice boys behave really well. Let's impress C, okay?"

Taiyo promised.

¤¤¤

A couple of days ago, C found out that her real identity was Hyuuga Hinata. He heard Karin say something about her clan and did investigate. He also somehow got her 'Natsukawa Momo,' blood samples and somehow tested it against Hyuuga Hinata's blood. It was a match. They had a lengthy conversation but it ended with him being more interested in her.

Sasuke did not like that.

They entered C's office.

Hinata released Taiyo's hand. "Don't touch anything, alright?" He nodded and wandered to the window. Like Hiromitsu, he was fascinated by heights.

She found C reading about Tsunade and her most impressive surgeries. He leaned agaist his desk, gears turning in his beautiful genius mind. "C-san, reading about the leaf village? Now, I have seen everything. I thought you hated everything about Konoha," Hinata teased.

"I hate a vast majority, yes but the mother of medicine lives there. I have all but a little respect. Aside from the Raikage, Tsunade is the only other shinobi I'd follow into battle," C put down his book.

She nodded. "It is rumored that the Raikage is choosing a successor... you are in the polls,"

"Yes. I do not want to be Raikage... Too little time to roam the streets of Kumo and enjoy the serendipity of our thunderstorms,"

Hinata smiled. "They really are charming, aren't they? The kids and I watch the lightning like a dance and listen to thunder like a song..." Hinata hummed.

"Now you sound like a true Kumogakure resident. I'm glad to have you in Kumo..." he looked at her face and reddened. "Er, as a doctor. Yep, as a doctor,"

Hinata found his bashfulness endearing so she laughed softly. "Konoha always did have better doctors," Hinata joked.

"Funny. I cannot help but be jealous of you and Sakura. You were taught by Shizune and Tsunade-sama. You also were present for a portion of the surgeries while I read about them," C said.

Hinata cringed at Shizune's name. "They are very talented, indeed," she responded, finally.

A few months after the war, Hinata hung out with Ino and Sakura more. Her father told her she only hung out with men (all in all, it was true. Shikamaru was there when she cared for Mira, she laid around Shino a lot and read, Rock Lee and Hinata visited Neji's grave and Kiba seemed more and more interested in her and stared a lot) so Hiashi pushed Ino and Sakura to speak with her.

Hanging out with the girls resulted in more time just healing people and survivors after the war. So, she eventually was scouted by Tsunade and Shizune. By springtime, she was being taught by them.

Shizune-sensei was very... strict and meticulous with Hinata but carefree and sweet to Ino. She understood Ino had been a student and friend longer and was more likable but Shizune had no confidence in Hinata. She was kind but she didn't trust Hinata's meek persona. She labeled Hinata a stuttering pushover and treated her as such. She never let Hinata touch patients and allowed her to observe, not do like she permitted Ino.

Tsunade got drunk often but would usually allow Hinata to read in her archives, take care of her patients and drink with her. At seventeen, it was a dream. She was understanding, not much of a talker. Once, Tsunade ran through her motel room, topless while Hinata was there. Hinata drank sake for the first time in her presence. Tsunade allowed Hinata to do all she wanted and was affectionate. It was... peculiar but Hinata did learn a lot about surgery and poisons.

Hinata was present for a lot of surgeries. Tsunade heavily implied that she liked Hinata the most and kept her around, though Shizune believed her to be useless. It made for conflict and resulted in Hinata holding the clamps in place, doing suction or taking notes in the OR gallery while Ino and Sakura performed the surgeries-

A crash got her out of her musings. She turned around. She saw Taiyo all ghost-white and standing over a broken framed document.

Taiyo jumped. Hinata sang apologies to C when she scooped up Taiyo in her arms. "I'm sorry, Nata," he whispered. She got away from the glass and touched his forehead, to check for injuries throughout his system. None.

Kids. Always breaking stuff. "Are you hurt? Any boo-boos?"

Taiyo shook his head and Hinata kissed his cheek. She noticed C shaking his head at the powdered shards on the floor. "Was that important?" Hinata asked. It was framed, of course, it was.

C sighed. "It was just an award. Nothing special. There's too many on my wall anyway,"

"I'm sorry. Their... sticky fingers," she apologized and sent a scolding look to Taiyo.

Taiyo avoided her gaze and smiled.

She set him down and summoned a chair and a book. Taiyo liked this book. It was about Momotarō, the oni-slaying peach boy. He adored myths and folklore, especially mukashibanashi stories. He sat and read.

"You have a lot of kids who are especially adventurous," C commented. He swept up the glass and threw it away.

Hinata smiled broadly. "Four is a grand number, don't you think? And Taiyo isn't mine. I take care of him but they are... troublemakers... you know, stealing my heart,"

C chuckled at the cheesy statement.

"Enough pleasantries..." Hinata said and fished out the small leather-bound book. "I need you to check this out. It's very... strange. It's one of the things Kaiya/Miyana left before departing,"

She handed it to him. C looked at the book and opened it. "This looks like a kill list. Similar to an actual one," he said.

Hinata got closer, to also look at the list. Her eyes roamed the yellowed pages until she noticed that C stopped breathing. "Ano, C-san, are you alright?" Hinata asked, beside him.

His face was all flushed and she rose a brow. "Is it too hot in here?"

She reached up and checked his temperature with a small hand to his forehead. He tensed before any contact then batted her hand away. "Too close, Natsukawa-san. Too close,"

Oh. She moved away, also flustered but to a lesser extent. He recovered and Hinata spoke again.

Hinata lowered her voice, so Taiyo wouldn't hear. "Yeah. I was wondering if you could look at your database to see who have those names. I have a feeling that... she might be... working with some bad people for the last ten years,"

By bad people, Hinata means the DCA or Akuma-oo-sama.

C looked annoyed. "I cannot do personal favors like that and abuse the trust the Raikage placed in me,"

Hinata shook her head. "It's not abuse. I think that these people are dead. That book was made over ten years ago and she racked up a lot of names. What if that's the reason she got kidnapped?"

C looked irritated but gave in. "I will do it but you must tell the Raikage your findings," he warned. "Or I will,"

She smiled. C looked like he would have a heart attack. She left with Taiyo.

Twenty minutes later, she stood at an older woman's door. The old woman didn't like Hinata but she adored Taiyo and Miyana. Miyana and the woman apparently met up on Tuesdays for games and fun.

He tugged on Hinata's kimono skirt. "Nata- why'd we have to give Chuhei away for a couple weeks?"

"Your turtle was there during a dangerous time for us, darling. We didn't want him to get hurt,"

"Oh," he said then smiled. "Thanks,"

They soon got Chuhei and the boy was happily reunited with his turtle.

¤¤¤

September 19th. Midnight.

Two days later, it was midnight and Hinata was in the medical room.

She was showing Someina some potions and poisons that Someina could conjure to make someone fall asleep. They worked for hours while Hinata took care of lecturing and informing Someina. After six cups of coffee and four complete and unique poisons were made, they hit a lull in the conversation.

Hinata could hear the nocturnal owls hoo and the gentle pitter-patter of rain on the window. She mashed together dried wolfsbane and baneberries syrup. She used a syringe to transfer the slush to a test tube.

"This mixture has enough aconitine to kill a human in less than four minutes. Without symptoms," Hinata said, looking at the substance. "Finding wolfsbane- is very rare to in Konoha,"

"Why wouldn't you find it?" Someina asked.

"History... Madara used wolfsbane to poison Konoha's water supply to the Senju district. It backfired when the Uchiha were also hurt exponentially more. Now, it won't sell at any local shinobi tool store,"

Someina nodded and watched as the byakugan girl's hand flew across a guidebook with all her teachings.

Hinata wrote everything. A lot of the information Hinata tells is useful. Learning centres want her to do workshops with herbalists and healers to share her knowledge. To teach.

The Raikage had asked her to make a medical textbook for new foreign medical-nin hospital Sasuke helped funded. This current guidebook was getting shipped to Kirigakure's newly built hospital as a gift from the Uchiha.

"What does it feel like?" Someina asked.

"What?" Hinata said, putting down her stylus pen.

"Being... wanted,"

"Hmmm... ano, I'm not following,"

Someina nudged Hinata. She was a bit taller than Hinata so she elbowed her boob. "Don't be daft," Someina frowned. "You know... Most guys in the ANBU guard you because of your beauty. Akuma-oo-sama wants you, C wants you and Suigetsu wants you and Sasuke has you. It must be nice... you know? Having people ready and set to die for you?"

"That's not what happened," Hinata laughed. "The ANBU wait for a chance to kill Sasuke. Akuma-oo-sama wants my two sharingan children. C is just a friend. Suigetsu flirts with me to annoy Sasuke and Sasuke... he's the love of my life,"

Someina gazed at the varied amount of plants they have dissected. "It's like you're their ideal girl,"

"Perhaps. Don't worry- you'll find someone," Hinata said. "You're very interesting and charming,"

"That's what everyone says," Someina didn't seemed convinced. "How many guys did you have to go through to meet Sasuke? Is Sasuke the only man you've had a kiss with?"

Hinata smiled. "No. Actually, two weeks before Sasuke and I left Konoha, I got stuck in a cave for three days. It rained too hard and he was injured. I healed him. As a thanks, he kissed me. It was... strange. He said, "You offer me a thin veneer of temporal happiness when near,"..."

Someina lifted her green brow. "And?"

"And that was that. It was so brief, monochrome and I was crazy distracted so I always forget about it. That's what life feels like before you meet the one. Life then is in color,"

"It is?"

"Yeah, "

Someina grinned.

¤¤¤

September 22nd. 5 o'clock.

Benjiro, with time and energy, became better, healthy enough to go outside.

Later that week, Someina, Hinata, and Sasuke stared at Taiyo and Benjiro at the creek, playing in their swimsuit shorts. They weren't falling into the water, instead, they walked on as if they were on land. They just pushed and splashed water on the other boy. Laughing. At some point, mud got involved. Chuhei, guarded them, docile and big.

Someina shifted in place. "How long were they able to do that?" Someina asked Hinata. She referred to the boys balancing on the creek's docile waves.

Sasuke leaned against a pillar wall, crossing his arms and observing quietly. She couldn't tell if he was impressed or displeased. Sasuke sighed, answering. "Either weeks or months. They look at ease,"

Hinata took notes on Benjiro's chakra flow for safety purposes. "Their chakra control... is better than a genin's at twelve years old. Taiyo's control has always been better than Benjiro's... However, Benjiro's control is significantly worse than before because of the senjutsu chakra,"

"It would be no surprise if Benjiro's chakra boils that river or if he passes out because of it," Sasuke commented. "Those snake bites left him very weak but now, he's bursting with life. Problematic,"

Hinata sighed, unable to feel calm. Benjiro was supposed to be... dead. Now, his motor skills, fine or gross, were very clean. His cognitive function is very good, if not better. Now... there's this new chakra she read night and day about infiltrated his system. It could be the greatest or worst of all.

Sensing Hinata's doubts, Someina rubbed Hinata's shoulders reassuringly. "It'll be okay. Look at him, he's wonderful," Someina reminded her.

Hinata sent a weak smile, allowing Someina to drop her arm across her shoulders. "He still needs rest. Shouldn't we send him to bed?" Someina asked. "He did get bitten by... two huge snakes,"

"He's not a cripple. He hasn't been to school in weeks, though," Hinata said and moved out of Someina's embrace to look closer at the boys. "The public's getting suspicious,"

"Yeah... he hasn't gone to school because he is a hazard to other students," Someina reasoned, afraid to look at Hinata's face.

Hinata disagreed softly. "Don't say it like he's some type of dangerous child. He's eight, he still blows bubbles in his chocolate milk, laughs at fart jokes and finishes cartoons and manga on Saturday morning,"

Sasuke scowled a bit. "Someina has a point. Benjiro could have random outbursts that could hurt... us,"

Someina's golden eyes lit up when Sasuke agreed with her.

"Well. How... could we improve this situation? I mean, we could train them, right?" Hinata suggested. "Ano, they both have the sharingan... Anata, you should teach them something,"

Sasuke scoffed. "They already know a lot and we do have to visit the Great White Snake for safety reasons. Only the snake truly knows how to teach senjutsu and I doubt we'll be invited to Mount Myōboku,"

"I refuse to allow the Great White Snake around either of the boys," Hinata said loudly. She trusted the snake leader and he leaves her child bedridden.

The boys roughhoused a bit. He grimaced. "How about Naruto train him?" Sasuke said.

"Naruto? The hero of the leaf?" Someina asked.

"Yes... he is a senjutsu master. This is out of my extensive domain of skill. I hate to say it- he's not a dead last anymore. He's actually pretty... good, for a dobe," Sasuke coughed, looking pained. It was hard to admit that Naruto was at his level.

Hinata got all wheezy. She couldn't lie- she still felt a jolt of affection run through her when she thought of him. Which, when she pondered about Konoha, came to him a lot. She knows she shouldn't care but... he's Naruto. Her first love.

He watched her with perceptive black and purple eyes. "And what do you say?"

"We'll have to be in Konoha for that... and no. He'll probably say 'no,'..." Hinata told Sasuke.

"Say 'no,' to you?" Sasuke chuckled, genuinely surprised. "No. He'd bust through galaxies and move stars for you,"

"Not for me," Hinata shook her head, denying any notions of that.

"You would, too. I heard about Pein," Sasuke said. His expression was unreadable.

"I wouldn't," Hinata argued.

Sasuke rose a brow.

"Not anymore," Hinata huffed while red.

Pein... she hasn't heard that word in years. She didn't know what came over her. Rushing in front of Naruto, to protect him, to shelter him... It was her only objective and purpose to save him. It was reckless... but she was recklessly in love with him. She doesn't regret it- but she would never, ever do it again. It's good that she feels only a small jolt of affection when Sasuke's kisses are one hundred and one lightning bolts.

"What about Pein? I knew that Naruto saved everyone but what happened?" Someina asked.

Sasuke shrugged. "Ocha here, ran in front of Naruto to protect him from the double rinnegan bearing Akatsuki leader Pein or Nagato- if you will,"

Someina gasped. "Seriously?" Sasuke nodded. Someina cracked a grin at Sasuke. "Shouldn't you be jealous?"

"Maybe," Sasuke admitted. Guilt glued Hinata's gaze to the wooden deck of the updated porch.

He caught Hinata's gaze. "Whatever the reason, I know that you'll be safe with Naruto. If I die, which isn't rare for shinobi or Uchiha,"

Hinata strutted up to him and jabbed a finger at his chest. "You'll be there, no? No playing the hero card. No doing idiot things because it's your responsibility to come back to me,"

Sasuke leaned down and their foreheads touched. "No promises or favors," He inhaled, ready to argue.

Hinata sighed, turned around and leaned against him. She had no words. The warmth of his chest felt nice against her back. His arms curled around her waist and he exhaled into her ear, tickling her. "But I can assure you of the now,"

She wanted his now and forever without the death. Someina gazed at them, forlornly, like their affection was something that upset her. He disentangled himself from her to play with the hyper boys. Someina laughed when Sasuke stole six peaches from the backyard peach trees.

"What's so funny about peaches?" Hinata asked.

"Aside from it perpetuating your fake identity, nothing," Someina said.

Too soon. Hinata winced. Someina notices but laughed again. "I'm still waiting for Mitsuyo to yell at them for plucking all the peaches from the tree,"

"She'll come back... eventually," Hinata reassured her.

Someina hugged Hinata in a sweet way. "I hope,"

¤¤¤

September 23rd. 2 p.m.

While the boys played forts with Sasuke, Hinata was trying to decide a place for a portrait. Someina stayed silent, just helping her move it. "Where do you want it to be?" Someina asked, holding up the delicately designed frame.

"I dunno. It's kinda big but it's allowed to be since it has all of us on it. Ano. It's our family portrait. I didn't want to be stingy," Hinata said, wondering.

"Hmmm," they both said, humming.

She spotted Amarante and Hiromitsu together, whispering and looking nervous. They usually spent around ninety percent of their time together doing what toddlers did. They were definitely less boisterous than Benjiro was at age three. Raising twins was quite... easier which is strange to think because there are two of them.

They did like taunting Taiyo and Benjiro- which was wrong and it wasn't fun to watch them fight over toys and unintentionally use their jutsu against each other. It was normal between siblings to fight and... argue and cry. Using their jutsu against each other- happened once.

Amarante nearly used the gentle fist technique on Benjiro when they fought over a crayon. Both Sasuke and Hinata interfered before damage could be done. It was scary... she could have shut down his entire chakra system without knowing how or why.

Now, Hiromitsu and Amarante sat in a corner, not jubilant or mischevious. She leaned down, her long hair brushing the floor. "Babies, don't you want to play with Tousan and your brothers?" Hinata asked the twins.

"They've been like this for the past couple of days, no?" Someina pointed out. "Should I get your medical kit? Or the eyedrops?"

"Please do," Hinata said. Someina shuttled off. The twins wanted to join their brothers but seemed to display discomfort. "Anata? Do you think there is something wrong?"

Sasuke reached out a hand for Hiromitsu and Amarante. "C'mon, join the wild knights of Konohagakure," he said friendly.

Hiromitsu shook his head and Amarante didn't respond. Benjiro jumped around, smiling a whole lot. "Hiro, Amara, we'll even let you face the dragon. Tousan is the dragon, the ultimate hard level!"

They shook their heads. "Nope. Hurt," Amarante said, usually talking for the both of them.

Sasuke got out of the fort with the two boys balanced on his shoulders, laughing as he tickled them harmlessly. He released them and watched them scramble to get back into their cushion fort, hiding from the ultimate monster Sasuke.

He gave an experimental menacing look as the kids ran for shelter, squealing with delight. He put on a serious front then observed the twins. "What's wrong?"

Hiromitsu tugged on Amarante's hand and said, "Hiro. Hurt,"

Amarante rubbed her eyes until they were irritated and red. She blinked pretty hard. Sasuke leaned down and removed her hands a bit. "Don't, Amarante,"

Amarante whined. "They itchy. I dunno why,"

He ran a smooth thumb over the line of her brow. He tried to send some chakra to her byakugan eyes but she shook her head away. Sasuke looked at her then at her brother. "Is it painful for you too, Hiromitsu?" Sasuke asked.

Hiromitsu nodded and rubbed his eyelids. "Why so itchy and hot?"

Amarante and Hiromitsu sighed. They ran into his legs and hugged him. "Make it better," she said, burying her face in his chest. Hiromitsu also did the same but was wordless.

Sasuke stroked her soft black hair and cupped Hiromitsu's cheek. "I'll try my best," he promised.

Hiromitsu grabbed Amarante's cheeks, looking into her eyes. "It's okay- Ama. We itchy but no hurt,"

Amarante sighed, frustrated. "Hurt for me,"

Sasuke pursed his lips. He looked to Hinata and asked, "Were there times when your eyes... felt itchy?"

Hinata sighed. "No... When I was young, my instructors made me practice so hard that I temporarily went blind at least three days a week from when I was eight to around thirteen years old,"

"Christ, Hinata," Sasuke said.

"When there is either a blockage of chakra around my eyes or... just when the prolonged use of the byakugan compresses the veins that transport blood to my eyes... it would hurt, a lot," Hinata said, thinking about it. "Which... is not normal. It's just another training ritual,"

"Amarante's eyes hurt. I think Hiromitsu's eyes hurt just as much... he's just showing less of the pain," Sasuke deduced, also reaching out and holding Hiromitsu.

She turned on her byakugan. Nothing was wrong. "There's nothing... amiss," she leaned over and checked Hiromitsu's eyes. "Nothing here, either,"

Giggling madly, Benjiro and Taiyo called out, "When's the dragon gonna take apart Fort Lauderdale? No one can defeat sir Benjiro and sir Taiyo!"

Looking concerned, Sasuke caressed the side of Hiromitsu's face and squeezed Amarante's shoulder. "Kids, I think we should pa-"

Hinata shook her head. "No... anata, don't spoil their fun," Hinata told Sasuke. She turned to the energetic boys. "The mean dragon would love to continue playing. I'll take care of this. Okay?" Hinata said.

Sasuke looked over at the boys and Hinata caught his eye. "It's alright, boys. The dragon will return," Sasuke pursed his lips, already weary. He caught her eye. "You think you got this?"

Hinata shrugged. "It's their nap time anyway," Hinata nodded. "Tell Someina we'll put up the portraits another time,"

She carried Amarante and Hiromitsu and brought them upstairs. She laid them down and she joined, hoping to at least find some closeness. She played little games and cuddled and hummed a sweet lullaby while the boys probably played on for hours.

As parents, Hinata and Sasuke used different times of the day to play with the kids. Sasuke preferred louder, more active types of bonding activities. Hinata liked winding down, enjoying habits and taking naps with them. They all took naps because they were kids and their energy burns out faster than a sparkler.

Hiromitsu and Amarante snuggled up while Hinata draped an arm over them. She suspects that the twins very much liked slow activities more too. It makes her smile.