No More Lies

She would let him think that he would be her first kiss. After all; only she and the other participant of the kiss even knew about it-her real first kiss, that is.

Yes, Hinata knew that lying to her fiancée Naruto was probably not the best thing for their relationship, but it wasn't like she could just tell him. Yes, she could imagine how that conversation would go quite well.

"…and by the way, Neji was my first kiss."

"What the… isn't he your… your cousin was… goodbye."

And then he would leave her.

Forever.

Sometimes she could even convince herself that it wasn't even a kiss; it wasn't out of love, just young innocence and curiosity. Neji was seven at the time; Hinata six. Neji hadn't quite gotten around to hating the main branch of the clan and the two young children often took walks around the compound's many gardens, talking for hours on end.

One day when the weather had turned dreary, they found themselves stuck inside. Being adventurous young children as they were, they took advantage of the situation and explored the many halls of the compound. Once they found an empty dojo, they proceeded to sit and talk. As it often did on days such as this, the conversation turned to more serious subjects.

When the two stopped laughing from a story about a squirrel interrupting a training session, the young girl put on a serious face.

"I found out something. I overheard a conversation between Tou-san and the Council…"

"Eavesdropping again, Hina-chan? I'm disappointed in you," said Neji, mocking disappointment for a second before a silly grin spread over his face. When he saw her solemn expression, the grin slid off his face and gestured for her to continue.

"My marriage is already arranged. I have to meet him when I turn twelve."

"Oh Hina-chan, that's horrible!" he said, pulling the sobbing girl into a hug. He just stroked her hair until the sniffles subsided. The young girl pulled away, seeming resolute.

"I'm not going to let him be my first kiss, so I'll fall in love before so he isn't the first and only one I kiss."

"That's a stupid idea, Hina-chan. You can't make yourself fall in love just so you can have your first kiss. Do you even know what a kiss is like?" When the little girl shook her head, he continued. "I've heard that it's like the joining of two souls and that's why they end marriages with it."

"I wonder if it's really like that. I wonder what a kiss is like."

"I wonder that, too." The little boy seemed to think hard for a minute, then perked up. "I've thought of a solution to our problems! If we kiss, we'll both know what it's like and you'll have your first kiss with someone you know!"

This seemed to delight the young girl. "Yes!" she shouted. "That's a great idea! But… how is a kiss done?"

"Well, I think you turn your head to the side, meet your lips, and close your eyes," replied the little boy. After quite a bit of forehead and nose bonking, they finally got their lips to meet.

Both immediately felt an earth-shattering connection, like they could live forever in peace and harmony in the other's arms. But when they pulled away, they both promptly forgot it and said: "I don't get what the big deal is, it wasn't very important."

Thinking about that made Hinata think of her second kiss with Neji, one that she had buried so that she sometimes forgot about it altogether.

It happened the same year that they became Genin, but it was before that, when her permission to rise as a ninja depended on her father's decision on her engagement. If she was engaged to the foreign prince, she would have to discontinue her training and become both mother and housewife. If she was not, she could be put on a Genin team and continue her training. All day Hinata waited in her room while her father held counsel with the Council of Elders, waiting for the news and hoping desperately to be allowed to continue training.

At last her father walked into the room. She kept composed as he told her she was not to be engaged. Once she was sure he was gone-or at least too far away to notice-she slipped into Neji's room next door.

"I don't have to be married!" she frantically whisper-yelled to the young prodigy pouring over scrolls. When he looked up, she pulled him up and into a kiss with one swift motion. They fell onto the bed and the kiss grew passionate. Finally, they broke apart. Hinata nearly teleported back to her room and Neji went back to his scrolls.

They had mutually decided to forget about that and never mention it again. And Hinata had mostly forgotten about it until she was reminded, sitting on her bed, thinking about her upcoming marriage to Naruto. As she lay there, she spoke her decision softly to herself.

"Naruto-kun, Neji-nii-san… no more lies."