ᗰOᑎᔕTEᖇ [🧡 ᑎᗩᖇᑌᕼIᑎᗩ 💜] [Ɱҽէąʍօɾքհօʂìʂ] Bσσƙ Oɳҽ

A Deity Speaks

Chapter Thirty-Eight

A Deity Speaks

May 3, 2010

He held her hand as they walked through the corridor of the Hokage office. The little palm in his grip felt cold and clammy, otherwise, the woman next to him gave an outward appearance of calm control. It was only partially a front.

"It's going to be alright, 'ttebayo," he told her, giving her hand a comforting squeeze, "I'll be right there with you. You're strong, and whatever this side effect is, we'll find away for you to not only deal with it, but feel comfortable using chakra again. Don't worry, okay?"

She nodded quietly.

He knew she was scared, but he also knew she was prepared as much as she could be. He had made sure of that to the best of his ability in the days before this fated meeting. The two had visited Yuma, the news that the kunoichi was doing quite well now doing wonders to life his lover from the guilty depths she'd been struggle to climb from. They'd even meditated together that morning. Anything and everything to calm her mind and spirit. It seemed to have worked, there was fear, but not that deer in the headlights look that made his stomach churn and his heart bleed.

Just outside the door, he stopped them, then lifted her chilly fingers to his lips, kissing both knuckle and ring. He didn't speak with his mouth, but with the intensity in his eyes.

And she heard him, clear as day.

Reaching up, she smoothed the back of her fingers along his whiskered cheek before gracing him with an answering smile and milky orbs that bespoke of preparedness.

She was ready.

Reassured, he raised a hand to rap on the door. It opened before he could knock. Naruto stepped back as Kakashi entered the hall, Shikamaru a step behind him.

"Perfect timing, Naruto," the sixth Hokage announced, "saves me the trouble of having to collect you both. Good morning Hinata, I trust you're feeling better?"

Hinata bowed informally before giving him a demure smile.

"Yes, Hokage-sama, much better. Thank you for allowing us time off. Naruto-kun took very good care of me."

"Of that, I have no doubt," the half masked man said, and from the crinkles at his eyes, he could tell his former sensei was smiling, "if anyone could be trusted with your care it's the husband to be next to you."

"Yes, I could never have gone through that without him," Hinata agreed, a charming pink of happy painting her cheeks.

He wasn't the least bit flustered by the exchange. The fact that it was common knowledge that the only person that could care for her in the way she needed was him brought only warmth and pride to his chest. That he could be that for, to anyone, was a secret desire made real, one he would always revel in.

"Who would have though my most hardheaded would not only turn out to be Hokage material, but husband material," the white haired man teased, "you've come a long way from wedging chalkboard erasers between doorway."

Now this, however, did bring a bashful smile to his face. Hinata knew the troublemaker he had been in his youth, all of them did, but he was her big, strong, mature man, now. The less said about his antics the better. She didn't need a reminder of just how clownish he'd been. Seeing his face, she giggled behind a delicate hand.

Well...if it made her laugh, he supposed it was alright this one time.

"Oh, speaking of husband," he said, "We set our wedding date for August 1st."