Theme: Illusion

i. When Hinata is away on missions for too long, Neji gets restless and develops a bad habit. The village notices.

A somewhat unusual case of coping

Neji Hyuuga was brooding.

They gathered outside and wondered what incited his mood, and most especially why he wore a delicate bracelet made of flowers.

"I told you if you give him too much work he'd eventually snap," Kiba said.

"It's not my fault," Naruto defended.

Their bickering was ignored. Ino squinted, not daring to go any closer. They'd seen the number of bottles poured into his cup but he somehow remained upright. "I was the one who taught Hinata how to make accessories," she suddenly said. "That one," she pointed at his wrist, "we made together."

Sakura shrugged. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"It's been a month since Hinata left," Ino reminded, watching Neji's cold eyes soften each time he touched the bracelet.

It reminded him of her feathery touch, light as air.

It was often fleeting that Neji wondered if he imagined it until he saw her shy smile. No matter how long they've been together, he blamed himself for her timidness. It was the result of all the failed attempts he tried when romancing Hinata until she finally got it.

He drank deep and the makeshift bracelet ruffled his skin. He could endure.

…

They were getting worried when Neji attached another item to his body.

It wasn't apparent, but the silk ribbon tying his hair made them look twice.

"This is getting ridiculous," Kiba told him. "You look like a fool."

"A fool in love," Shino muttered.

He reached out to forcibly remove it. A hand clutched his in return and squeezed hard enough to break bone. Kiba yelped. "What the hell!"

His white stare narrowed. "Don't touch me."

Kiba thought about it. Despite Neji's aloofness, there was probably aggressiveness beneath the surface. If it was dealt with, perhaps Neji could break the habit. With naturally born reflexes, Kiba snatched it.

Neji went after him. Kiba prided himself at being an expert in close-range combat. Particularly, all members of the Inuzuka clan were formidable. That was forgetting it was the Hyuuga's specialty as well and he was knocked out earlier than he would ever admit.

…

They wearily eyed him as he strolled to the market.

There was nothing unusual on his person this time. He browsed stalls, his steps restless. Winter was coming soon. After maintaining her room, he decided to replace the old comforters. He finally found a store; blankets and quilts were laid out and he critically measured its design. He picked one up. Hinata always did gravitate towards warm colors. "It will look good," he mumbled.

"Really," Naruto voice said from behind. "I don't think it matches you, Neji."

"It's not for me," he snapped.

"This one then!"

Neji gave a passing glance. "Too bright," he dismissed. Naruto muttered something inaudible. "It won't match the covers in her room," he went on. His brows furrowed. There was a unique coloring she would enjoy, but he knew she also liked her usual patterns. But Hinata would be disappointed if he let it go.

"I'll take both," he said to the vendor.

…

According to Neji, absence does make the heart grow fonder. It was proved to the extreme, the villagers noted.

This time a glaring item, a scroll, pocketed his vest. He ignored the strange looks thrown his way as he walked along the streets.

The only reason he was going to the market was to obtain more ink and fine paper. He wanted to prepare every necessity Hinata would like to do after a long mission. It sat by his feet when he decided to stop by the ramen stall. "This is embarrassing," Sakura said. "What is it this time?"

He ignored her.

It was a handwritten set of instructions of each stance and techniques of the Main House. Hinata had diligently worked on it while he supervised.

Her elegant scripts, the long strokes of each symbol reminded him of her femininity. He could easily imagine her voice as he looked over the scroll, how she often talked as she wrote. It also gave him concentration as he tried devising new techniques. Gradually, the body outlines gained more form. Neji knew why and smirked.

"Can I see?" a familiar voice asked. As he debated it, Tenten slid to the seat in front of him. He grudgingly showed it. "This is beautiful," she said.

Proud, Neji unraveled the scroll further. "She finished it before she left," he said. "There's not a single mistake."

"Oh," Tenten said impressively. She eyed him quickly, seeing the rare curve of his lips.

Until Naruto passed by and spilled the bowl's contents over it.

Horrified, Neji stood. "What have you done?" he thundered. Speechless, Naruto could only hold up the empty bowl in response. "She worked hard," he growled and advanced on him. "And I'm supposed to tell her it's ruined because you couldn't hold onto that properly?" His voice rose near the end and the shop's occupants quickly fled.

Tenten tried recovering the scroll as much as possible. "You shouldn't have brought it then," Naruto said hotly.

Neji snapped.

…

They were disturbed.

His eyes were narrowed, lips set in a line but there was a shade of red by his cheeks. Was Neji…blushing? He looked on in concentration. They followed his gaze. He held a scarf and they didn't want to know what it reminded him of. "You need to listen to us," Ino said gently.

"No," he said shortly.

"You're acting crazy," Naruto said pointedly, an evident bruise surrounding his right eye.

"I'll show you crazy," he mumbled, the scarf twisting ominously in his hands, "if you keep disturbing me."

"Leave him alone," Tenten said. "He's not hurting anyone this time. As long as we don't interfere," she added when Naruto scoffed.

"She won't be happy though," Ino said reluctantly. His jealousy knew no bounds, they quickly learned once their relationship was made public. Only Hinata could intervene if it got violent, but Neji had a way without words to threaten others behind her back.

Misinterpreting it, Neji frowned. "I know how to make her happy," he said defensively.

"Not very happy, if you know what I mean," Ino mumbled.

Neji whipped towards her. "What was that?" he asked intently.

"You nearly had us all believing you two were...close."

Everyone in the village already knew they belonged together. But the implication glinted in her eyes and Neji stiffened. "How–"

"She told us."

The scarf fell from his hands and he stared, speechless.

…

Neji decided he wouldn't leave the compound today. It was aggravating hearing his companions belittle him.

So what if he liked to be reminded of her, Neji thought irritably.

"Neji," a soft voice said.

Neji looked down. He didn't wear anything that would incite her voice. Maybe he was losing his mind. He was prepared to escape Konoha and track her down to finally end the solitude. "Hinata," he murmured. He realized it was too long ever since he uttered her name.

A pair of sandals shuffled to a stop before his eyes. He looked up. "I'm back," she said quietly.

He was rooted in place and his arms settled around her once she came closer. She sighed.

Her body was warm and solid against him. There was no complaint from her as he swung her up. As he placed her down in her room, Neji paused. When she was exhausted and battle-weary, he stacked blankets and piled pillows around her. There wasn't enough and the ones he bought were in his room.

Reluctant, he went back. He lifted the bundle left in a corner. He surveyed the room; too many nights he was left alone here. He put it down. He gathered an extra robe, his brush, a couple of scrolls. Neji held it all and returned.

He carefully locked the slides in place and made sure the floor was clear. There was enough time for him to unpack while she slumbered. As Neji discretely packed it in her closet and dressers, he found his own belongings. His spare robe. Sandals that was too big to be hers.

He looked over his shoulder. She hadn't move.

He arranged the items he bought on her table and finally laid out the extra comforters. Several times he reached to touch her, to assure himself she existed. Once it was done, Neji tried to position himself beside her, but couldn't. There was too much in the way. It was hard for him to find an opening without disturbing her. His patience running out, Neji was about to throw out the entire pile when Hinata shivered and buried herself deeper. His mood eased and he fought his way through it until he felt her warm skin and gathered her close.

She moved closer then and whispered something by his ear. "I missed you too," Neji murmured.

It's such a simple one-shot but I like to imagine Neji can do silly things if he's left alone for too long and that he's pretty indulgent when it comes to Hinata. I'm kinda unsatisfied with this (for the life of me I don't have the skills others do to make something short amazingly good. Check: other fanfics for NejiHina Week) so I may edit it later. Lighthearted like I said because I had a feeling this theme was angsty and Neji deserves happiness dammit. Next one-shot for NejiHina Week will be uploaded here as the second chapter, etc.