Yo! So this is my first venture into the NejixoHina world and, from what I understand, there are those out there that have an affiliation for such fics and there are those out there that...well…don't.

In any case I would like to first of all say that – if you like this first chapter then please – REVIEW, and if you don't then you're welcome to review also – if it is with some constructive criticism.

Second – well, there wasn't really a second in the first place so…enjoy ^_^

She always had lunch with him on Friday's. Unless they were otherwise preoccupied with missions, Friday lunches were a ritual for which neither of them disputed. It was as sure as the sun rising and the rain falling.

Sometimes, on the odd occasion, she would arrive in that pretty blue dress that he so loved. It was a rare occurrence and, when it happened, always sparked a level of suspicion.

And today was such a day. As it always happened, he was first of all awed then curious. What would she ask for this time?

Last time she wore that dress…

Neji all but cringed at the memory of what he'd been made to do…

But his qualms were pushed aside a moment as he watched her, marveling at the way the midday sun seemed to illuminate her bare shoulders. She was walking towards him as he sat at their customary table, the blue material flowing just above her knees, her hair lose and flowing carelessly down her slender arms…

Neji shook himself slightly, endeavoring to concentrate his gaze away from those arms and that body. Instead his eyes led him astray and wandered to her legs; long and beautiful. Kami Neji, he reproached, opting instead to close his eyes.

"Neji?"

Neji opened one eye, albeit reluctantly. Satisfied that his body was going to behave, he opened the other and smiled politely.

God how he hated that she could do that to him.

He cleared his throat and rose from his seat to pull out her chair.

"Hinata," he replied, careful to mask any other emotion besides courtesy. He wouldn't let her know that he had just been admiring her very attractive figure – although not much ever escaped Hinata, much to his dismay. Still, so long as he didn't mention anything the subject could be politely ignored…for now...

He took his seat, casually assessing the menu while sneaking glances over the top at Hinata as she tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear or flexed her slender fingers subconsciously every now and then.

When the waiter came around, a young boy about their age with eyes the colour of the sky, Neji placed his order.

"And you?" The waiter asked, turning his blue gaze on Hinata. When she didn't answer, Neji noted that her cheeks were tainted a light shade of pink – growing darker with every moment. Endeavoring to spare her some of the embarrassment along with his frustration that such a man could administer his Hinata a blush the colour of blood red roses, he said sharply, "She'll have the same, thank-you."

The waiter nodded, seemingly indifferent to either of their efforts, and left the table promptly.

Hinata, meanwhile, was glancing nervously from Neji to the waiter making his way back into the restaurant and back to Neji again. Curious and still slightly put off at her diverted attention, he took a tentative sip from a glass of water, taking a moment to steady his voice.

"Who is he, Hinata?" He asked, hoping that she would have the sense to elaborate the question to what he truly meant – 'who is he to you Hinata?'

Some days he was glad that she was the only one who seemed to be able to read him inside and out, and today was such a day.

She turned her gaze to settle on him, her eyes steady as she regarded him. He could feel his insides squirm restlessly as he returned her stare, desperate to know what she thought at that very moment when everything else seemed so unimportant. It seemed like an age before she spoke, her voice soft but clear, reaching his ears like silk over his body.

"He is nothing to me." She said simply, still staring intently in his eyes. Neji nodded, the tenseness in his stomach that he hadn't noticed was there releasing slowly in his relief.

And he was relieved. Relieved that Hinata hadn't worn the blue dress as a sort of parting present – a thought that he realized had been sitting at the back of his mind rather uncomfortably.

Relieved that perhaps he would have a chance to tell her –

Tell her what? What did she mean to him?

Shaking his head of the despondent thoughts, he took another sip at his water. He wasn't going to think about that right now. Not now while she was so close to him. For fear that she might uncover the emotions that he desperately tried to shove aside every day.

And she was still staring at him – albeit politely – but enough to make his checks feel warm.

He looked at her then averted his gaze slightly so that he was staring pointedly at the blue material that hung on her shoulders.

As she followed his gaze she smiled an amused smile, going along with his change in subject without a word.

"Oh," she said, "you noticed that, did you?" the way she said it reminded him of how some older woman would be complemented for their attire and they would respond saying "Oh, this old thing?" but the pleasure was always clear in the way they regarded you – their eyes sparkling with delight.

Usually the response pleased Neji, but not right now.

Neji grunted his reply. Of course he noticed it! The way she walked up to the table – the blue material swaying suggestively about her hip, her hair that sparkled a deep, vivid blue against the sun; the tight waist fit that accentuated her rather generous breasts…god it hurt just thinking about it.

But the more he did think about it, the more he couldn't help wondering whether or not it was a deliberate attempt to disarm him. Would his shy, meek Hinata ever dare stoop to such measures of attention?

The small smile that continued to play on her lips only served to confirm his suspicions. He glared now, annoyed that he had been all but seduced into…into what?

Aw crap! He thought, annoyance replaced with panic, what is she doing?

He cleared his throat and took a deep, steadying breath.

"Hina-chan" he began carefully, "what are you planning?"

Her eyebrows rose in what Neji suspected was a mock-surprised look. She can't seriously think he wasn't on to her and her blue dress by now? She huffed, dropping her little act, and averted her gaze to her side, affording Neji a profile view of her features, the sun behind her acting like a halo to illuminate her face.

"Well," she drawled as if carefully planning her words out, "I wasn't really planning anything as much as thinking about it." She waved her hand to silence Neji's words before continuing. "They are two different things, you know."

Neji just kept glaring. Nodding for her to continue, he didn't even glance at the waiter as their food was set in front of them. He did notice, however, Hinata as she dropped her eyes deliberately to her lap to avoid having to look at the blue eyed boy.

Neji was annoyed again.

Hinata knew what she wanted. More than that, she knew what she didn't want. She didn't want to be one of those heart-broken fan girls that dote over the one boy they could never have. But it was a little to late to try and avoid that charade now. It wasn't too late, though, to get over it. That's why she was sitting here, at this table, with this ridiculous dress. She wanted Neji to help her forget.

Thinking about it, she wasn't all too sure why she brought the blue dress into it at all. She was sure he would've helped her without the further incentive.

Looking across the table at him now though, a scowl gracing his face as he stared after the blue-eyed waiter, she found that she could bear the stress of skimpy material if it meant provoking a reaction like that out of Neji – the ever stoic and undeterred Shinobi.

"Nii-san," she said, forcing whatever confidence she had into her words, "I have told you already. He is nothing to me."

Neji turned his gaze on Hinata, his face wearing an odd expression. "You haven't called me that in a long time,"

"What?"

"Nii-san."

"Oh," Hinata blushed slightly. She had gotten so used to calling him by his name…it was natural. "Neji," she said carefully, "he means nothing to me."

The odd expression didn't falter. Hinata sighed, "Did you see his eyes?"

"What?" Neji said blankly.

"The waiters eyes,"

"Yeah, blue…"

Hinata steadied her breath, not sure why she was all of a sudden nervous. "Blue like…" she encouraged

Neji was still staring at her with a blank expression. Blue like what? He thought the sky?

"Naruto," Hinata finished

Realization dawned on Neji. "Oh! Of course…" to Neji, it didn't really make much sense and annoyance was creeping into his mind again. Naruto was even worse than the waiter…

Hinata could sense his displeasure and hastened quickly to dispel it. "You know how I was 'planning' something…" she glanced down at her dress,

"Hn," Neji said warily,

"I need you to help me forget Naruto!" Hinata blurted. The outburst caused a red Hinata to turn several shades darker and she covered her eyes with her hands.

A dead silence followed - Neji was making no sound and Hinata was getting anxious. She peeked through the gap between her fingers to see him staring at her with an incredulous expression. His mouth was moving in a fish like motion but no words were coming out.

"Neji?" Hinata said quietly. "A-are you okay?"

"Okay." Neji said, his face resuming his normal hard look. "I'll help you forget."

It took a while for the words to sink in. Hinata was trying to stare somewhere other than the blank orbs that mirrored her own. But when she realized what he had said, her face lifted slightly.

"I would be so grateful."

She blushed and stared down at her food.

Neji couldn't make sense of the girl sitting in front of him. In any case he would help her forget the blond-haired Shinobi with pleasure, but Neji couldn't help but wonder if that was all Hinata wanted from him.

Was it prudent to presume that the wonder was something nearer to hope?

But surely she could've taken up the feat herself – it was a simple enough matter. But Hinata wanted help to forget not get over. That would mean that she is already thoroughly over Naruto.

Forget. How does one help one to forget?

Neji shivered at the ideas that his insubordinate mind was lending him – 'she needs a new crush, someone that far exceeds Uzumaki Naruto's lure.'

No, he was sure she didn't mean to ask that of him…although he was prone to that idea more and more as of late...

But if not that, then what?

Frustrated, Neji shoveled food into his mouth with more vigor that necessary.

He would find out soon enough, he was sure.

I'm not sure when the second chapter will be out – I have yet to start it – but please R&R and…erm…that's all for now.

dnl8