Heartbroken? Open to all but heroscomeback)

[twinlionfists]

Naruto-kun had been in Michi no Sato for a few days now, and while after their first talk they'd shared many more, it still felt awkward and painful to be around him.

No matter that he'd said, and she understood, that he needed time to adjust to being away from the fighting and other things that had occurred back home, her heart was still heavy.

She didn't know how to talk to anyone about it. Would it be proper? Who would understand? Could she do it?

Lost in thought, she sat down in the dojo of Mikoto-san's house with the intent to meditate and clear her head, but it wasn't really working after an hour.

Comments

[openedthebasket]

"We very well may have," he conceded with a small nod, smile fading at the thought of that failed mission. "It was my honor that I was invited with them to lend my assistance, though in the past I had offered them nothing but harsh words and pain."

He only inclined his head at her admission of jealousy; it hurt, but he understood. If anyone had the right to envy his position, it was her, even if... once they returned home, she was the one who had a future.

Instead, at the sound of her choking back a sob, he opened his eyes and reached forward, lightly touching his fingers to her shoulder as a small kind of comfort, the kind he'd gotten better at offering since his relationship with his own Naruto. "It will hurt," he confirmed, seeing no reason to give her any kind of false hope or lies. "But you will emerge the stronger for it, Hinata-sama. I have faith that you will make the right decision."

[twinlionfists]

She gave him a small smile. "You know intimately of Naruto's kind, forgiving nature. Once he understood you, you were his friend."

She brushed her hand down his forearm before placing it back in her lap, grateful for the touch he was offering her even while refusing to soften the truth of the situation. "I can only hope so, Neji-nii-san."

She closed her eyes again, and soaked up the contact of someone who cared for her back.

[openedthebasket]

He only inclined his head in acknowledgement, shifting back rest more comfortably back on his heels, fingertips on her knee. "Whatever you need from me, Hinata-sama, you need to but ask," he added softly.

[twinlionfists]

She gave him a smile that was only a little sad. "Shall we practice? I can't just sit around, right?"

[openedthebasket]

One of his rare, contented smiles crossed his face, and he pushed himself to his feet in a motion as easy as breathing. "It would be my honor."