Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto - if I did, he would have been addicted to ramen AND bacon.
Hinata walked into her room and closed the door. She slipped out of her sweater, hung it on the back of the door, and collapsed onto her bed. Looking at her bedside stand, she rolled towards it and opened the bottom drawer. Feeling around under the folded pajamas, she pulled out a worn notebook labeled "Hinata - Poetry" and a pencil. It was the notebook where she artistically printed her thoughts and feelings. Little doodles adorned the sides of this precious possesion - the one place where she could truly convey her deepest yearnings.
She closed the drawer, placed the notebook on her pillow, opened to a clean page and began to write.
"A Glimpse of the Eyes"
by Hyuga Hinata
My power of eyes, they saw you today.
You spoke to my heart, and it bid you stay.
Train eat sleep train - that is your routine.
All that I wish is for it to include me.
You on the path, I behind tree.
I just can't believe
You stopped
for me.
Hinata pulled her pen off the paper. She looked over the poem and blushed deeply...
...when she noticed the shape her poem had taken.
Knock knock. "Hinata."
Her head snapped up at her cousin's voice. "Yes, Neji? Come in."
As the door opened, she sat up, grabbed the notebook, and shoved it under her pillow.
Neji stood cooly in the doorway. "Hiashi wishes to see you."
She jumped off her bed. "Yes, I'm coming!"
Neji stepped sideways to let her run pass. Once she had rounded a corner, he flipped on his Byakugan.
What was she doing?
He saw the notebook instantly. He found it curious, though not suprising, that she was writing poetry. Though he knew it to be wrong, he nonchalantly sauntered to the bedside and pulled out the notebook. He flipped through, glancing at titles along the way, and looked for something interesting. Then a title caught his eye. He began to read.
"My Blood, My Caged Bird"
by Hyuga Hinata
Two men.
Two Children.
One family, but two destinies.
Always two, why never one?
A united family of love, not hatred and bitterness.
Born to protect me
Burning to hurt me.
I never cursed you.
I never looked down or looked angrily.
Why?
Must birth cause death to any friendship?
I never cursed you.
Brother, please -
Cease cursing me.
The notebook was shaking with the Hyuga boy's hands. Gently, he closed the notebook and returned it to the hideaway he had removed it from. He left the room and started down the hallway. As he turned the corner, Hinata pummeled into him. They both fell to the ground. Hinata shook her head and looked up to see who the wall was.
"Gasp! S-sorry, Neji!" she stuttered as he stood up slowly. She flinched, waiting for him to begin yelling or telling her how she should watch where she was going, or should try not to be so clumsy, or that she was a stain on the Hyuga name. Hinata was shocked to see a soft smile spread over his face.
"It's okay, Hinata." He reached out his hand and helped her to stand. As he walked away, she watched him leave - still stunned. When she found her senses, she smiled in relief...and hope.