Under the Sun

Chapter Twelve

Hinata was pregnant. It had finally happened. Sitting in the warm bath water, she rubbed her belly, feeling for the small but distinct bump that had formed. She pressed her fingers against it, making light indentations in her skin. She couldn't remember the last time she was this happy. A new life was growing inside her, preparing to be born into the world as her son or daughter.

Much time had passed since her sister's disappearance. The clan was thriving again, precious pieces from the previous winter picked up and mended. Hinata had seen it all happen - the people coming together to protect what they still had. As awful as it seemed, Hanabi's leaving had awakened a restorative giant that was a long time sleeping.

Bath water pooled over her hand where it lingered, caressing the bump. Hinata smiled down at it. In seven months she'd get to meet the child everyone was waiting for. In seven months, she will have achieved her greatest accomplishment yet. She had accepted how wrong she'd been about dismissing this important task. The struggle with the elders, the journey to conceive, had all been worth it to have come this far.

A second hand appeared next to hers. It had snuck around her middle from behind. The water swooshed beneath it, settling only after all movement had stopped. Neji's voice whispered in her ear.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

Hinata leaned the back of her head against Neji's broad shoulder. His body was firmly seated behind her, arms secure around her waist.

"Just that I wish my sister could be here for this," she said, indicating her pregnancy. "There's so much I want to tell her."

Their relationship was unstable. One day they'd be fine and the next, things would spiral out of control, and either Neji or she would resort to spending the night alone. Nevertheless, for now they had come together as a team to see this pregnancy through to the end. Even with Hanabi missing, this responsibility was their top priority.

"They'll find her."

Neji's reassurance was good to hear. Hinata trusted him above all others. If he believed that her sister was going to be found, then she should too.

"Has your father heard back from Tokuma?"

"Not since a week ago."

"It's been two months since the search started. Do you think anything's changed?"

Neji avoided directly answering her question. "Even if it hasn't, at some point, Hanabi will have to come home."

Hinata pondered this. She pressed her feet into the bottom of the tub and flexed her toes. The two of them were cramped inside the cozy space and were making due by occasionally stretching their limbs before settling back into position.

"She might come home and then run away again," Hinata said, not entirely convinced.

"I know you don't believe that."

Hinata turned her head and looked back at Neji. "You don't know what I believe," she told him sternly, fixing her gaze upon his lips. They were close, so, so close.

She went back to staring at the water. It rippled over her belly bump.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

Her apology came off sounding insincere. She hoped Neji wouldn't notice. One of his legs shifted and his skin rubbed against hers. She could feel his breath ghosting over her neck when he spoke.

"I get it," he said. "You're in a bad place right now. Just try not to let the rumors get to your head."

"I've heard them say that Hanabi was behind everything - that she was manipulating Seiichi and conspiring with Kazuko."