3rd Tenketsu ~ Luceti Valley Fallout

[twinlionfists]

August 10th ~ Shortly after Zampano's Death

[She'd fought beside both Saori and Yuuna at the plaza in Old Luceti, sustaining enough injuries to warrant a little fussing over. She deflected all worry about herself to make sure that Saori, who obviously had passed out from her leg injuries and the intense battle she'd gone through. No, Hinata wanted to make sure that the goddess was safe and under a fully capable healer's care while she dealt with what was warring inside of her, her false memories versus what she'd always known to be true.

If someone pushes her towards the smaller clinic where she normally works, Hinata will go to have her obviously broken arm set and the cuts, scrapes and few bites she's sustained  tended to.

She will stay close to Saori though, avoiding Neji, Naruto, Kiba, Rin, Bulla, and—most obvious to anyone—Sasuke.

However, after she knows that Saori is okay. She's gone.]

August 11th ~ In the Woods

[She couldn't stay in the village. Not after what had happened. Neji, her twin, the younger sister to two perfect strangers. Hitting Uchiha Sasuke-kun. In public. Kissing Rin Okumura. Being rather familiar with perfect strangers...

But the most horrible in her opinion was how easy it had been to forget Naruto-kun. How simple it had been for him to be married to another woman, to only see her as some distant relative through marriage a few times over. H-how replaceable she'd been to everyone around her.

She'd needed space to deal with it all. To process her emotions and her pain, physical, mental and emotional.

It didn't help that she'd had her arm only attended to by someone who hadn't actually healed her with medical ninjutsu or the magic she'd seen some of the other residents of Luceti using. No, it was in a splint and the pain medication that she'd been giving had worn off.

And yet, she was still avoiding going back to have her arm looked at by Sakura-san or Ino-san. She didn't want to deal with any of her friends at that  point in time. Not until she was ready.]


August 15th ~ In the Woods Still

[It had only been a matter of time before someone else found her. So, she wasn't at all surprised to be face-to-face with her new visitor.]

I have been expecting you.

[OOC: Depending on how good of a tracker your character is, Hinata may or may not be seen. Also, special abilities will probably make it easier for you to find her. Since she's a ninja.]

Comments

The 15th...

[windandrain]

[It'd taken her three days to notice Hinata hadn't been by to visit yet, and after asking around it wasn't hard to figure the young woman who'd been her sister only a week before had gone to ground. Honestly, the goddess couldn't blame her for wanting an escape. The reality that'd come crashing down on each of them in the wake of Zompano's cruel parting shot weighed heavily on everyone. But for someone as private and shy as Hinata had seemed to be, it wasn't a stretch for Saori to figure that suddenly gaining and losing a sisterly relationship with a complete stranger would be particularly traumatic. Stars knew, she could relate to that.

It took another 2 days to locate the girl, no easy task when confined to receiving reports from the poor imitations of shinshi that made up Luceti's crow population but eventually the ensorcelled birds had spotted their quarry in the forest. And due to the various troubles associated with being completely unable to walk and generally in poor health, the goddess had taken her time about making it out to find Hinata.

So, when Saori drifted down into her wayward 'sister's' hideaway, heralded only by a trio of enormous black birds it was nearly dusk. Born on a cloud that seemed to take the shape of a comfortable seat, she floated noiselessly into view. The greeting, given how much trouble she'd given her avian seekers, was expected.]

I'd hoped you would be. [She tries to keep her tone calm and pleasant, but there's a note of sadness there. Seeing Hinata like this. someone she called sister, injured and clearly unhappy was painful. It triggered long dormant instincts, and could she have done so she'd have scooped the girl into a hug.]

I think, perhaps, that you and I should talk. About a great many things.

The 15th...

[twinlionfists]

[How could she have missed the crows that had been circling the cave area she'd been staying in? They'd only been causing a ruckus all day. And, Hinata knew enough about the wild birds to know that that was not normal behavior, that they were probably the work of someone looking for her.

While she hadn't thought that it would be Saori, well, it wasn't really surprising either. The older woman had played a big part of who Hinata had been during the time the village was under the control of the Third Party. In a way, she finally and truly understood what her friends had been trying to warn her of. There was only the fact that she would forget this place once she left that kept her from going insane.

So, to see the goddess approach her on her makeshift transport, Hinata wasn't at all surprised. To be honest, a part of her wondered if she'd see the other woman again. Just not so soon.]

I am afraid that I have nowhere suitable for us to discuss things at the moment, Saori-sama.

[windandrain]

[She studied the young woman from her seat, at once both angry that she couldn't actually make a move to comfort her and saddened that Hinata had suddenly become so formal. She was a bit more relaxed about mortal formalities than perhaps was proper, but it was fair to say that having a human companion had been the root cause of that.

All she could really do was make a little gesture towards the sky and give her best approximation of a pleasant smile. Pretending it didn't hurt she could do, at least.]

Under the sky is suitable enough for me. It's nice outside, this evening.

[The birds had, for their part, vanished off into the trees but anyone with eyes like Hinata could probably see that they'd taken up positions around the little clearing. Strange sentinels, perhaps, but effective. Another twist of her wrist and a second cloud appeared, a seat for the girl if she'd take it.]

There is a lot to say, and I...do not truly know where to begin. So, I'll start with the simplest thing.

Thank you, Hinata.

[twinlionfists]

[Hinata stared at the goddess in shock before allowing herself a tiny, self-deprecating smile.]

It is I who should be thanking you for all of your assistance during...that time.

[windandrain]

[The goddess shifted in her seat, gesturing for Hinata to sit.]

Not at all. I did what was right and proper. You...have no idea what it meant to me, having a family like that. To...something like me, that was a dream. Even if it wasn't real.

[She gives the girl an earnest look.]

Dear, I'm sorry...that it hurt.

[twinlionfists]

[She tentatively takes the cloud-seat, unsure of this lack of protocol that is what she falls back on in times of distress. She...can see that the woman who was her sister also resides in this terrible goddess before her and it's a bit comforting.]

It was a dream to me as well. I have only a younger sister at home.

[The less said about Hanabi is probably for the best. Actually, the less said about her family and clan...at least while the wound is so fresh...is for the best.]

It is...nothing that anyone could have prevented. [She stared down at her hands, which were tightly grasping one another until the knuckles had the same color as rice paper.] Y-you were not at fault, Saori-sama.

[windandrain]

[Saori's seat floats closer, within arms reach, at least. But she resists the urge to reach out for now. Familial bonds linger, and for an immortal being change comes slowly. Hinata, in the span of those ten days, had completely eclipsed people she'd known for most of her stay in Luceti in terms of sheer importance. But she still only barely knew the girl and didn't want to make her uncomfortable.]

Hinata. Before all this, I know we'd never met. I don't know...about you, outside of that dream. But I-I want to. [She looks away, trying hard to be calm, rational, and keep the goddess mask on. But it slips for a second, and she's forced to wipe away a tear. Her voice breaks for half a second, then firms.]

I...don't know if you're interested, but I want a chance to have some of that back. Maybe it's strange but that's...that's how I feel.

[She waits, watching Hinata intently...wondering how she'll react.]

any day you want

[16autumnroad]

Chouji has been throwing himself into training as much as possible since remembering who he is. When his memories came back to him, when the village reverted to its previous state, there were too many feelings and memories to reconcile. How do you deal with losing the good parts of your dream life, even when you're glad to be yourself again?

The physical movement drowns out all the doubts in his head. It reminds him which life is real.

That's why he's running through a series of jutsu in a large clearing within earshot of Hinata. And Chouji's jutsu have never been particularly quiet. At the moment, he's in meat tank form and digging his way down into a deep hole. He is far from being over Asuma's absence or the discovery of Prim's death, and now he has the loss of this whole second life of his own to deal with. It won't take much effort for Hinata to figure out where all the sounds are coming from.

August 13th (because why not!)

[twinlionfists]

There's nothing wrong with her hearing, but her eyesight is far more developed, so of course she spots him practicing. It was a rare sight, since the Akimichi tended to be rather guarded about their clan techniques. Even as open and friendly as Chouji tended to be (so long as you didn't call him fat), he didn't talk much about his special jutsu. It was impressive nonetheless.

She stops and watches her friend, feeling a sort of kinship with him over forcing yourself to the point of exhaustion to ignore the things going on in your heart and mind. She's the mistress of that, after all. In fact, she's strained her already broken arm too much and has been forced to resort to meditation to push the pain far enough down so that she can do things like hunt, cook, sleep, breathe without crying.

So, when he's done, he can see that he's had a silent companion. One who isn't bothering to hide from him. One that is injured and the pain is pretty high, if he can notice the lines around her mouth and eyes that aren't from smiling, although she's attempting that as well.

August 13th (because why not!)

[16autumnroad]

Earlier in the day, Chouji talked to Prim. The day before, he sought out Luke. That was it. He was responsible, and kind, and considerate. He tread carefully, watching what he said to people he'd loved in a dream. He's figuring out what can be salvaged now that they're awake.

But it's hard, knowing how easily he forgot who he is. Knowing that things will never be quite the same with the people he cared about so much in that other life. Knowing that even more people he cares about will go home from Luceti and straight to their deaths. The hole in the ground is deep, straight down almost like a well, before Chouji stops moving and opens up his awareness to other things. Hinata was familiar enough that she didn't register as a threat and jar him out of what he was doing, but he can tellhe has an audience now that he's paying attention again.

Calling chakra to his feet, Chouji jumps. He lands lightly in a crouch on the edge of his hole, managing a smile when he sees who's been watching. "Hey, Hinata."

August 13th (because why not!)

[twinlionfists]

She is here in the forest because she cannot make herself face the boy she cared for almost as deeply for Naruto-kun in the dream, her strange but caring family...Her behavior towards those who were perfect strangers...The fact that she forgot about Naruto-kun's very existence.

Although, now that she thinks about it, she didn't even know Chouji during that time, or many of the others for that matter. But that familiar, warm smile on the face of her friend makes the pain in her chest that much more that she has to force herself around.

"Hello, Chouji-kun. I hope I am not interrupting your training by being here."

August 13th (because why not!)

[16autumnroad]

He shakes his head. "Of course not. It's good to see you." Chouji may not be comfortable with forgetting all the people most important to him (Ino, for instance. How could Ino not be anyone other than Shikamaru's sister-in-law to him? She is his teammate, one of his best friends) but he's not dwelling on what he lost in that dream life so much as what he lost when it ended. And even thinking Asuma-sensei's name hurts.

"I wasn't exactly quiet, though. I hope I wasn't disturbing you." She was out in a fairly isolated area, after all. Hinata might have wanted the isolation. Funny how both times things have gone wrong, they've run into each other in the forest afterward.

August 13th (because why not!)

[twinlionfists]

Hinata finds it ironic that she and Chouji have run into each other in the forest again. Not that she minds. Chouji is one of the nicest people she knows, either in Luceti or back home.

"Not entirely. I was only meditating, but I can do that at any time."

10th!

[sun_showers]

[The battle was hard and the two of them didn't get out of it without their own injuries- and after making sure Saori was safe and in the hospital, Yuuna knew she'd have to return to her as soon as another was taken care of- Hinata.]

Come, you have to get that arm of yours taken care of.

10th!

[twinlionfists]

[She tore her eyes from the injured older woman who had been the reason they were still allowed to have the little bit of freedom Luceti granted them to face Yuuna fully.

Hinata could read how worried that Yuuna was for her, but she didn't want it. Not when someone else needed it more.]

I am fine, Yuuna-san.

[sun_showers]

You won't be fine if your arm isn't set correctly. That isn't something you want healing all weird. [Her hands set on her hips. She is a nurse and she knows better!]

[twinlionfists]

I-I can have Sakura-san... [Maybe not.]...or Ino-san...[Er, okay, maybe not again.

She heaved a tiny sigh, seeing that from the other woman's body language that she wasn't getting away without some sort of first aid, and relented.]

Y-yes, as you wish, Yuuna-san.

[sun_showers]

Good. Now come on, we're heading over there now. Saori will be fine for a little bit, the doctors will see to her. There isn't much we can do past this point. [She turns, expecting Hinata to follow.]

Nothing else is broken right? It's just the arm?

[twinlionfists]

[She allowed her mind to slip into the fuzzy place that it went when she gave verbal mission reports to Tsunade-sama back home.]

I have sustained many cuts and abrasions, but my arm is the only limb that is broken, yes.

any day you care for

[screw_fate]

[It isn't exactly the easiest thing, confronting anyone he's spent the last several days having a drastically altered connection with. But Hinata, at the end of the day, is still Hinata-sama, is still someone whose safety is paramount in Neji's hierarchy of duty.

So he goes looking for her, using the Byakugan to aid his search. It isn't easy, especially not with her being outside the village proper, but his range is not inconsiderable, and eventually, he comes for her.]

Hinata-sama? [His tone and posture hold not a whit of the twin from the last week; in fact, he's showing even more proper Hyuuga behavior than normal, as though cementing to himself what their true relationship is.]

August 14th

[twinlionfists]

[Her eyesight, while diminished here in Luceti, is still formidable. It's true that she can't see up to ten kilometres, but five is more than enough while she is sitting with her eyes opened and her Byakugan activated to see him well before he reaches her. In fact, it is hard for her to act as if she doesn't see him when she does.

There is nothing more than she wishes than to avoid certain people since she ran from the village.

And his voice, both dear and dreaded at this point, is nothing more but a lance through an already aching heart that roots her to her spot. She knows she can't live out here for much longer. Not before she is physically dragged away by one of her friends or someone else that means well.]

I am here, Neji-niisan.

[screw_fate]

Are you well?

[It's such an awkward phrasing. But in the aftermath of the fight against the invaders, in the aftermath of all that interference, the false memories, the false life -- he doesn't know what else to say. None of them are all right. Everything is some sort of shade of wrong. But he needs to know Hinata's condition -- and he can't separate how much of that is cousin-feeling and how much of that is twin-feeling. The concern, the protectivenes is the same; it's the level of intimacy that's different. The twin had few secrets and little reserve with his sister; the cousin, Branch to Main, has far more distance.]

[twinlionfists]

[She cocks her head to the side at the strange way he has asked the question. The formality between them after such familiarity is a blessing and a curse. It is something that she can fall back on without thought, so ingrained into her very being it is. However, she has to keep her hands firmly in her lap so that she doesn't reach out to touch him.]

As to be expected. [He will have seen her arm by now. There is no use in hiding it.] And yourself, are you well?

[screw_fate]

I am uninjured.

[Somehow; he doesn't even truly know how he got through the mess unscathed. That Hinata didn't bothers him more than he can say -- in that, too, both the twin and the cousin are in agreement. To have her injured, and him not -- that's not acceptable.]

How bad is it? [With a slight nod toward her arm.]

[twinlionfists]

I am glad. [And the heaved sigh of relief is probably a breech in proper behavior, but she can't help feeling grateful that he managed to come out with no major injuries.

And, to be honest, she could have died, so a broken arm and some cuts on her legs and other arm are welcome. The broken arm is uncomfortable and something that she should have let Sakura or Ino take care of, since bones are harder than cuts and scraps that take no effort to heal with medical ninjutsu. But, she isn't ready to go back to the village yet.]

It was a clean break. It will heal fine without seeking other treatment. Yuuna-san set it for me after the fight.