Hazuki:: hi everyone! this is my first fanfic. nejihina is my favorite pairing from naruto! but, this is just a little fluffy oneshot -.-;; anyways! enjoy my little ficlet! and just so you guys know, they're about 4 and 5... And if you see any spelling, grammar, or usage mistakes, please don't hesitate to point them out! I tried to proofread to the best of my ability, but I still think I might have missed a few things.

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It was that time he hated most once again, when the precious light of day was swallowed up by complete darkness. That's when the monster's came out and after him. Little Neji lay sound asleep, his breathing even and steady.

It seemed as if nothing could wake him, but suddenly, he jumped. His eyes were wide with fright at the noise he had just heard. Hyuuga Neji had always been scared of the dark.

He desperately wanted to call out for someone, but when he opened his mouth, the only sound that would come out was a whimper. Pulling the cover higher up to his chin, he thought, 'This is r-rediculous. No one would come after me... I'll be perfectly fine.'

Neji squeezed his eyes shut, his shoulder's shaking as he tried to reason with himself. Then he heard it again. The sound of sticks being stepped on and broken in two outside of his window.

The paralyzing shock of fear went down his spine and throughout his small body, making him forget all of his logic.

"N- nii san..." a soft, whispering voice and a yawn came from his doorway. Frozen, Neji couldn't move to see who it was. "Neji nii san?" it was closer now. He slowly turned over to see hinata sama, rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes, standing beside his tatami. "I- woke up and h-heard you..." She said, bending down to get a better look at his face.

"Gomenasai Hinata sama." he replied roughly, trying to make it seem like nothing was wrong, but the sound came again and neji yanked the cover over his head.

"Are y- you scared, nii san?" she asked gently. He pulled the sheet down so that it was just below his eyes. Hinata put her little hand to his forehead and swept a few hairs out of the way. "If I told nii san a story," she whispered, "would nii san not be afraid anymore?" he glared at her, but nodded slowly.

She smiled to herself. "Well, a long, long time ago..." and so began her story, in which a princess was destined to marry her true love, but was forced to marry someone else instead. So, the night before her wedding, she and her true love ran away together. They lived happily ever after, because no one could find them way up in the mountains.

"Hinata sama..." Neji yawned, "that was a dumb story." Hinata's feelings were hurt, but she tried not to let him know. There was a moment of silence as she stared down at her hands, folded into her lap.

"I'm- sorry nii san..." she said, sniffing a little.

Neji blushed and felt bad that he had hurt her, "It's only bad because- i'm still a little scared." he said grudgingly. She brightened up a bit and he turned his back to her, leaving room on the tatami behind him.

"Ah!" she exclaimed, getting an idea. Pulling down the blanket, she climbed in.

"Hinata sama! what are you d-?" his whole face was red and he was glad that it was dark for once so that she wouldn't be able to see. His body was tense as he turned back over. Now his face was in her hair, and he felt too close.

"Good night- nii san." she whispered sleepily.

"G- good night Hinata sama." He put the blanket over her shoulder and closed his eyes peacefully, not afraid of the dark anymore as long as his hinata sama was by his side.

FiN~