He closed his eyes in mediation amongst the quiet sounds of nature in the rock garden of the Hyuuga compound.
Laughing brown eyes flashed across his mind, and the sound of mirth echoed teasingly. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth at the memory.
It had barely been two hours since they had parted after training and he was already missing her.
Hinata Hyuuga paused on her way to the dojo for solitary training, spying her cousin Neji mediating in his usual position in the garden. The soft tilt of his lips did not go unnoticed by his cousin, and Hinata marveled again at the feeling of peace that her cousin seemed to be emitting recently. Even though the Hyuugas were well known for their reserved nature, it was not a given that real peace and contentment were felt by them as well. Hinata knew personally that Neji had not always been the stoic yet kind nii- san that he was now towards her, and she had noted how his smiles and small acts of consideration had increased in frequency and warmth, starting from the chuunin exams. Though Hinata knew that Naruto- kun had been the trigger that had caused such a drastic change in Neji, she also knew that there was someone else who had never given up on her cousin, and had touched him finally with her ever- present warmth and kindness. And doubtless, he must be thinking of her now, Hinata thought with a silent giggle. Deciding to leave Neji in peace to meditate, Hinata continued on her way to the dojo. Maybe one day, she could be that kind of light to someone else too, to him.