Well it's been a long time since I've attempted any sort of writing so forgive me if this isn't that great. I'm fairly new to the whole Naruto thing so if there are any mistakes with names or anything like that I apologise. This was inspired by a Bat for Lashes song though is in no way a song fic. I wholly reccommend giving the song a listen if you can, it is beautiful.

Summary: Hinata sees every detail, she notices things others cannot. What could possibly happent that even she couldn't see coming?

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Change

It had all started innocently enough, as it tended to when dealing with my team mates. We try to meet up once a week nowadays. Usually we'll see each other more than that, but we promised, years ago, that despite everything else we have going on; we should always meet up at least once a week. Of course plans have to be re-arranged when one of us has a mission, it can't be helped, and we all understand our duties, but whoever misses the meeting has to buy the first round of drinks the next time. It's an incentive to get the mission finished more promptly.

Akamaru sits by my feet, watching his master intently. I exhale slowly, enjoying the warmth he offers, reaching down to give him a reassuring stroke every now and them, luxuriating in the feel of his fur under my fingertips. He'll close his eyes upon the contact, savouring the attention, letting out a slow breath himself. I smile at the dog and he, in turn lets out an appreciative yelp.

"They are being silly aren't they?" I ask the canine quietly, he barks once, and his eyes roll slightly, as if he were agreeing with me. I chuckle quietly to myself and give his head an affectionate scratch. "Of course they are." I answer for him.

We watch the sparring for a few more minutes, Akamaru's eyes fixed on his companion, barking excitedly when he manages to land a blow against his former team mate. I watch both of them quietly, cheering neither of them on, instead smiling at how the two had grown since we were first thrust together eight years ago. Some things never change though.

Last night had been our weekly gathering and it had started as usual. I arrived at our usual bar to find Shino already there, sitting in our usual booth, sake in front of him. I raised a hand to give a slight wave, in greeting more than to attract his attention. Even behind his dark glasses I could tell his eyes were on me from the moment I stepped through the threshold.

"Good evening Shino." I said to him as I near the booth, bowing slightly before taking my seat. He said nothing in return but the slight shifting of his features under his collar assured me that he was smiling at my presence.

"Kiba is late again." I said to my old team mate who nods in response.

"This is the third time this has happened." His voice is monotonous but I know his words are more contemplative than annoyed. I smiled slightly, knowingly, but did not respond.

Kiba did arrive ten minutes later, loud and unapologetic, a wolfish grin lighting up his whole face.

"You're late." Shino said before I could greet the dog-nin. If possible, Kiba's grin got ever so slightly wider and he barked out a laugh.

"It's nice to know you miss me so much old friend." I can sense Shino's eyes rolling behind his frames but the smile remained.

An hour later we were slightly worse for wear, drink and laughter taking their toll.

"Gotta go see a man about a dog." Kiba announces after he finished his latest drink, standing on slightly unsteady feet to make his way to the bathroom.

"So why do you think he's always late?" Shino asks me as soon as Kiba was out of earshot; the only sign that the drink was having any effect on him was his lack of reticence. I smile to myself.

"Only Kiba knows." I say lightly. "If we were meant to know we would." I don't mention the slight flush that had been around Kiba's cheeks, the pounding flow of adrenaline flowing throughout him. I also neglected to mention the channels created in his hair by the flow of fingers or the stray hair that rested on his shoulder, several shades too dark and several inches too long to be his own, or the lips slightly reddened by too much contact with someone else's.

"He will tell us when he's ready." I say, smiling slightly. Shino's eyes flash with accusation that I am hiding something from him but before he can probe any further Kiba returns, with fresh drinks for each of us.

Another hour later it was decided. It had started with me expressing my regret, as always, that Akamaru wasn't allowed inside the bar, which led to Shino joking that Kiba was nothing without his faithful friend. Kiba had responded in turn with a playful claim that without his bugs, Shino would be next to useless. And so the match was set for the next day, no bugs, no dogs, nothing but the body the gods had graced them with. I already knew who would win.

*

"Let's go get a drink Akamaru." I say to the hound at my feet. He looks from me to the sparring going on in front of him, then to me again, whining a little. I laugh. "You're not going to miss anything." I tell him calmly. He follows my gaze to here Kiba and Shino stand, several feet apart, chests heaving with the effort of taking in air. The fight was proving to be difficult for the both of them, though neither were going to admit defeat. Akamaru cocks his head to the side in contemplation and decides that I was right, and starts towards the stream some eighty metres southwest of our current location. I follow him smiling, grateful for the opportunity to stretch my legs on what had turned out to be a beautiful day.

I have always loved walking through woodland, the narrow strip separating the sparring ground from the stream being no exception. I love the way sunlight filters through the canopy, casting a speckled green shadow on all that falls underneath.

Akamaru stops suddenly, ears picking up staring straight ahead, a small growl alerting me there is something ahead. I put my hand on his head, both to comfort and to keep him from bolting in the direction of whatever it was he had heard. My eyes followed his gaze and beyond, seeing past the woodland and to the meadow the stream flowed through. There are children there, around 20, and two women who have them captivated with smiling faces and exciting hand gestures.

"It's ok." I tell Akamaru, who looks at me expectantly. "They're friends." The hound relaxes under my soft gaze. "We have to be quiet though." I explain, putting a finger to my lips. "I don't think they want to be interrupted."

We made our way slowly, silently through the forest, Akamaru being as stealthy as his size would allow. We reached the stream some minutes later, the open air class still going on ahead of us. Akamaru leaned to the water to drink, huge, monstrous gulps of stream. I watched for a moment as the light danced on the water's surface and leaned to fill my canteen, taking it to my lips once it was sufficiently full. Now that I had time to observe closer I could see there were in fact, only 17 children, none of them older than the age of six, some of them younger. Akamaru twitched beside me, I could tell he was itching to run off to play with them, he was somewhat of a celebrity amongst the youngsters of the village, and they loved him dearly.

They hadn't noticed the dog yet, otherwise their attention wouldn't have been held so utterly by the two kunoichi tasked with looking after them. The first, a woman considerably taller than me with a head of cherry blossom hair, talks to the children with gentle tones, whilst her companion, a woman with hair the colour of sunshine, holds up different flowers and plants to presumably reinforce what the other is trying to explain to the children.

One child raises their hand and asks his teachers a question once he has their attention. The blonde nods at the child while the lady with pink hair looks past the children to the stream and then directly at me and Akamaru. Before she can say anything the children have all gotten up and turned around and have also spotted us.

"Akamaru!" One child yells with glee, waving at the hound, before he and the rest of the children start to run in our direction, eager to play with the dog. Behind them I can see the lady with pink hair shoot the blonde a dirty look and they too follow, each with a resigned look on their face. Akamaru looks at me hopefully and I give him a small nod, he barks happily and runs to meet the children. I smile and follow him at a more leisurely pace.

"You had to tell them it was ok for a break didn't you, Pig!" I hear as I near the group.

"Well I didn't know the mutt was going to be there did I, Forehead!"

"Sakura." I say, bowing to her slightly, before turning to the blonde. "Ino. I am sorry for the disruption."

Sakura's face softened.

"It's fine Hinata. They needed a break anyway. Still, it'll be hard to get them to settle afterwards though." She says the last part shooting a dark look at Ino, who merely rolls her eyes. "It's good to see you, it's been too long." She raises her hand to tuck a stray stand of hair behind her ears and the light reflecting off a modest, silver ring blinds me momentarily. I can't help but look towards to hills behind the village, to the freshly carved face of the newest Hokage. Sakura smiles. "Naruto misses you."

I blush, even after all these years, mortified that I could cause him trouble.

"I am so sorry; it's only been two weeks." I offer as an apology.

"Well you know Naruto." His fiancée laughs. I do, though not as well as she does. Ino clicks her tongue, seeing how excitable her charges have become.

"What are you doing here with Akamaru anyway?" She asks. "Where is Kiba?"

"He is sparring with Shino." I explain apologetically. "Akamaru and I came to get a drink."

"Well just make sure it doesn't happen again." She continues, sticking her tongue out and smiling. "These kids are a handful enough as it is." I assure her it won't and we spend a leisurely few minutes catching up on each other's lives. Sakura's eyes soften whenever Naruto is mentioned and Ino's roll, as if she's tired of hearing the name.

"Akila!" Ino suddenly yells to the throng do scrambling children. "Akila, don't do that!" And with that both Ino and Sakura descend amongst them to try and calm the madness. I am so absorbed watching them that I don't notice one of them sidle up beside me, giving my sleeve a tug in order to get my attention.

"Aunt Hinata." She says quietly. I grin upon recognising who it is and crouch so that I am on her level, gazing into round crimson eyes.

"Kohana." I beam at my god-daughter, tapping her on the nose affectionately. She giggles and its so infectious I can't help but laugh myself.

"Aunt Hinata." She repeats, her tone is leading. I raise an eyebrow.

"Yes?" I ask, knowing she has more to say. Her eyes fix on mine.

"Uncle Shikamaru-sensei says you're going to look after me tonight, are you?"

This is news to me. Kurenai had been sent on a mission two days ago and so she left her daughter in the care of an insistent Shikamaru.

"It was supposed to be a supprise." I tell her, trying to hide my own. She claps her hands over her mouth and looks horrified for a moment. "It's ok." I say soothingly. "Just don't tell Uncle Shikamaru I know ok?" She smiles and nods, before giving me a quick hug and running to join her classmates who are being assembled to return to their teachings. It was nice of him to let me know, I think sarcastically to myself.

Fifteen minutes later Akamaru and I return to the training ground, with much complaining at having to leave the attention he was getting from the children and with a promise from Ino and Sakura that we would meet up soon for a drink, to find Shino and Kiba in pretty much the same place as when we had left them.

"I told you." I said to Akamaru. "We wouldn't miss much." We settle in much the same position we had started in, a yawn escaping from his lips. I scratch his head and consider how things have changed. Shino rises to his feet and not wanting to be beat, Kiba rises too. Some things will never change though.

Ok, Chapter one, quite slow I admit but I promise it picks up.

Next Chapter: Babysitting