Redemption In Your Eyes

Training Partner

Hinata dragged her feet, kicking up dust as she made her way down an empty side street in Konoha's fading twilight. There were many things to ponder now that the Uchiha had returned to the village, but most of her worries lie with what connection they had to Naruto. She was struggling to understand the friendship between him and Sasuke, but without his help, it seemed an insurmountable task. How could she comprehend something she had never witnessed? Being on separate genin teams was making things even tougher. Although she was now chunin, she still kept her closest associations amongst her old teammates.

With a soft sigh, she tried to dismiss the thoughts and focus how wonderful their day together had been. It wasn't a date, but it was close enough for her. Hinata smiled in remembrance. Trying to push aside its ending, she moved just a little faster, her feet making quiet tapping sounds on the ground. With her concentration set on preserving her high, she arrived in front of the looming Hyuuga house faster than she appreciated. Although tempted to turn away and take an unnecessary stroll, she stepped in the front gate quietly.

The front door swung open and Sasuke stalked in. Aster and Itachi turned, watching him. Still guilty over there last meeting, Itachi let his eyes fall to the floor as Aster called warm, witty greetings from the living room. A few steps in, Sasuke stumbled, his ankle still sore. Aster was up in an instant.

"You were training," She accused, glaring at him. Even though Itachi was trying not to get involved, the idea that his brother may have injured himself during a guarded training session caught his attention.

Sasuke shook his head. "So what?" He took another step, almost fully disguising his limp. Only someone looking for it would have noticed. And Aster did, immediately.

She grit her teeth, trying to control her temper. Yelling at him would only make it worse. "'So what?' Weren't you told to rest?" Aster approached him slowly, treating him like a frightened creature of the wild, as she sensed his agitation. "Sasuke... Answer me..." In an after thought she added, "Please."

"I'm fine." He made to dodge her.

Aster caught him by the elbow. "Oh no you don't," She muttered, slipping a little. "I want to look at it."

Tugging his arm away from her in vain, he met her eyes sternly. "Sakura looked at it already. I'm fine."

Catching the flicker in his gaze, she took a firmer hold on him, guiding him towards the couch. "Fine is a loose term. I'd like to check it myself."

"It's going to be alri-" He started, trying to shake her off gently.

"Sasuke, sit down." Itachi was still sitting on the ground, but he spoke with authority. He didn't need to be loud to make Sasuke realize it was order and not a request.

Giving his older brother a sullen look, he hoped to convey a reminder of their argument in this setting only days prior. Itachi pulled his stare away before Sasuke could get the satisfaction of making him more uncomfortable and guilt-ridden. As Aster crammed him into a corner against an armrest, she appeared ignorant to the importance of the exchange.

Flopping down opposite Sasuke, she crossed her legs. "Give that leg to me." He obeyed slowly, scowling at her as his thoughts focused on Itachi. "Don't make that face at me." She scolded him briskly.

Realizing he'd aimed his glare at the wrong person, he flushed and became more cooperative. "It's my ankle..."

She smiled. "Now we're getting somewhere..." Aster pushed back the wrappings, tsking the quality of the redo. "So, training accident?"

"Harsh landing."

Itachi curled his fingers, anxious as he listened to the conversation, and disappointed at his own trepid choice to reframe from it. "You should always have someone with you when you train..." Sasuke looked at him, making his vehemence clearer. "It's safer..." Itachi met and held Sasuke's unkind gaze with seriousness. "You need a partner to watch out for you. You never what will happen."