Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. But the poem was made by me to actually convey the message to the one whom I admire. XD

Note: Sorry, Hinata was a bit not close with her character in the actual story and I have used quite Hinata-Neji Incest. The setting was of during this modern time. I hope you all could bear with me, please.

Chapter 1

The world is mainly made up of two kinds of people, the superior and the inferior. Most of the time, the superior got their heads high while the inferior ones just let their heads low. And really most of the time—always—the inferior admire the superior and when they do, the more they feel how inferior they are.

My love, I do not ask you for anything in return

I wouldn't want to expect again for another reason

You are majestic, unattainable by my reach

A god of excellence as what my instincts preach

Hinata was a high school student in Konoha High, just a typical teenager, a mediocre, doing just average in class. Neji, his cousin, was a year older than her, always at the top of his batch and was almost good at anything. They were related by blood and just living at the same house yet they seldom speak to each other meaning they are not close or acquainted with each other.

Despite their not being close, Hinata felt this certain admiration for his cousin for being talented and all.

It's hard for her, being always compared to Neji by his father. She was never good enough for him and it was true. She never excelled. She's simply good at anything but never best at anything. Not only was she being compared to Neji but also with her sister, Hanabi. Her life at home isn't perfect; her life in school isn't perfect for she is much less than being perfect.

Hinata reread the four-lined poem she wrote during math class. It took her a hard time sneaking to write those lines so as not to be caught by their math teacher. The poem isn't good enough, she knew. But at least, she was able to translate into a good piece of literature what her soul was dying to proclaim. She was infatuated with Neji, his cousin. The feeling was just infatuation, as what she strongly believes or makes her self believe, for love towards someone in the family is highly condemned by the society.

The bell rang, signaling all the students that it's finally dismissal time. Everyone got up hastily and rushed out of the classroom. She stood up from her chair and grabbed her backpack, the piece of paper where the poem was written still clutched in her hand. The room was almost empty when she went.

As she walked down the corridor, her friends, Gaara and Naruto, saw her and called her attention. She turned then halted for them to catch up. When the three of them were already walking together, Gaara saw the paper crumpled inside her hand.

"What's that?" He pointed at her hand. "May I see it?"

Hinata looked at her hand. She just then realized that the paper with the poem was still in her hands. "Oh, it's nothing." She right away tried to put it inside her bag when Naruto suddenly snatched it out of her hand.

"What's this, a poem?" He read the poem loudly. "My love, I do not ask you for anything in return…"

Hinata stood on tip toe and snatched the paper out of his hand. She quickly stuffed it inside her pocket then hurriedly walked away while feeling annoyed by Naruto's act. The two males quickly followed her. Naruto asked, "Hey, sorry for reading that too loud. Anyway, to who is that addressed?"

Gaara looked at him in a strange manner but remained silent. He knew to whom that poem was addressed.

"I-It's for no one in particular. I j-just made that because I am feeling too inferior again." She avoided their gazes and her mind wandered again. Her thoughts drifted away from the present, not wanting to face her friends' interrogations.

"Don't. Don't feel inferior, 'coz you're not." Gaara was the one who spoke, consoling his friend although he's aware that that was not the reason why she wrote that poem. "You're good at anything. You can do almost anything."

"Yeah, but I have not got any best skill which I could be proud of."

The two just fell silent and the rest of their walk as they go home remained the same. Both boys knew that there was no point arguing with Hinata in helping their friend lift up her self esteem. It had been an issue always and their conversations always end up in this manner. When Naruto said goodbye, Gaara and Hinata were left and a small talk passed between them.

"That was for Neji, right?"

Hinata looked at him, her face blushing deep red. "Yes."

Gaara knew her feelings for Neji. She could no longer contain her silence one day and spilled her emotions only to him, but not because he didn't trust Naruto. She thought that it would be safer to turn to her other best friend.

"Why do you feel that way for him?"

"I don't know… because he's my cousin and he's really great, maybe."

An awkward silence devoured both of them. No one really knew what to say. Not until, Gaara again spoke.

"I don't think it's good for you to heed that feeling."

"Why?" She looked up to him not knowing if it would be good or not to listen what is in her friend's mind. And I am not heeding it.

"Because all it did to you was think less and lesser of your self." He paused and licked his lip for moisture. "I mean, when you started admiring his greatness and all, you just suddenly felt that you are inferior when actually you're not."

"What?" Hinata stopped walking and faced him, "Let's face it. I am inferior. I was never good enough for my father. I am a disgrace to our family." She started walking away again, Gaara still following her closely.

"May I read the poem?" He wanted to read the poem she's written and then say more things to convince his friend to see the brighter side of things. He concluded that the poem might be something again about her being inferior again to Neji and he, for like a millionth time, would do everything to prove her wrong.

Hinata hesitated. But then, Gaara knew all these things already. What's the matter if she shows him her poem? "Here." She handed her the paper and then started walking again. She was a bit ashamed of letting him read the poem for its shallow meaning and that she sucked in writing poems, in her opinion.

Gaara, while walking, read it and afterwards asked her another question. "What do you want to say in this poem?"

Hinata stopped and pondered for some time to find the right words to express her message behind it.

"That, he is truly a god of excellence, of pure talent—totally superior. I wouldn't expect for him to like me for first, we're tied by blood and that I am too low to reach his standards." She sighed. The pain of inferiority was again attacking her mercilessly. "And that, if ever, the day comes when he discovers my feeling for him, I won't ask him anything in return for all the things I've done for him."

After explaining this, Gaara felt silent and then told him that he needed to leave already. He returned to her the poem then left.

Hinata was alone now. Alone walking and alone to suppress her feeling for his cousin whenever their paths meet within the walls of their house. She sighed.