Heartbreaking
By zenithoflife
Hiashi pretends not to notice how Neji's body posture blatantly seems to scream 'Mine!' possessively when he stands next to Tenten after yet another harrowing mishap that could have cost both of them their lives. He ignores the how Neji always walks a step in front of Tenten. Some think that it's his arrogance, others his defiance, but Hiashi notices the little details that others don't. He tries to turn a blind eye when he recognizes that Neji only does it when Tenten is near; his eyes watchfully skimming his surroundings, calculating, analyzing for any invisible potential threats that may have the audacity to even think about injuring his Tenten. Hiashi thinks that Neji is most like Shikamaru in that aspect, and try as he might, cannot help but finds this streak of possessiveness that he never knew his nephew to have, heartbreakingly beautiful within their layers of veiled secrecy, as Neji and Tenten try their best not to acknowledge the presence of what is blatantly obvious to him.
Hinata tries to deny the growing forbidden attraction that is blossoming between two of the people closest to her. She rages against the injustice and the woven web of heritage when she notices Neji's irate glance softens perceptibly when it rests on Tenten, and how his eyes glaze over slightly (barely noticeable even to the Byakugan) when Tenten's hair cascades down her back in waves. She looks away when she sees Tenten's eyes gazing sometimes wistfully, sometimes so tenderly at Neji when he is not looking; that Hinata feels like crying at the beautiful thing that could have been so much more, if only—if only he was a Head House member instead of being to the insignificant Branch House. If only Konoha knew her background and heritage. If only, if only. The words taunted and mocked her because she was powerless to stop the undulating wheels of Fate turning and the tragedy doomed to a fatal end unfolding before her troubled eyes.
And everytime Tenten's eyes trace gently the hard rigid contours of Neji's face and graze over his blind spot; and Neji's eyes linger just a little longer on her; Hinata's heart breaks anew.