Hidden Wings

swandreamer

"Don't faint." Neji closely whispered to Hinata's ear as a plain reminder to her habitual response to close proximity. She gave a simple nod as a sign of obedience.

Drag by the prodigy from the training ground to another place, Ichiraku Ramen was her most unexpected place to be at. They were given the whole day to train before the heiress spar with her father the following week. Instead of doing their responsibility, there they are, slacking. Covered with sweat and dirt, the heiress can't understand her cousin's impulse to stride and pull her away from the compound in the middle of their training while he mumbled something about taking a break from her hopeless romantic symptoms.

Taking a step forward from Hinata's back, Neji called out audibly, "Naruto!"

She stiffened from the mere mention of the jinchuuriki's name. She nervously pointed her fingers together while staring at the ground. This will be the first time he'd see her personally after her dramatic and most memorable confession in Konoha's love history.

"Oi! Neji!" a cheerful greeting from the Uzumaki, "Ohayo!"

Hinata instantly looked up to him. He immediately took notice of her.

"Hinata-chan! How are you?" she gave a weak smile and an obvious blush. Again, Neji restrained himself to twitch. This was the second time he saw her react this way on the same day when Naruto pass by their training ground an hour ago.

Wanting to keep it fast and straight to the point, he step back and gently pushed Hinata forward, only few inches away from Naruto, "She has something to ask you."

Hinata wrung her hand nervously, too self-conscious to even speak. Neji raised an eyebrow, both guys waiting to hear her voice.

"Well?" Naruto eagerly wait, "What about?" followed by an unnoticeable impatient question.

Neji couldn't wait for more than a minute to let her speak while watching her love symptoms takes an exaggerated visual manifestation. He took initiative to speak for her.

"She wants to know if you'd like to go out with her." He bluntly remarked, followed by a cold stare. Was he trying to intimidate him to get a favorable response? Hinata fidgeted in surprise and started to stammer, "Wh-what? I-I don-" When Neji realized that it gives an option, he abruptly change his phrase before Naruto can answer, "Go out with her."

It wasn't a question. Hinata's jaw drop, speechless and embarrass with her cousin's demanding statement. She kept quiet, waiting for Naruto's response. Neji bit his lower lip in annoyance as Hinata's pink blushed turned to bright red while taking nervous glances to the person in front of them.

He sighed heavily while shifting his gaze to Naruto, "Well?"

Though the Uzumaki was slightly confused why the prodigy approached him out of the blue. He gave an answer without having second thoughts, "Well, why not? I'll be happy too!"

"Good." He responded turning his back away from him, "We'll set the date."

Naruto scratch the back of his head and chuckled sheepishly with Neji's unusual behavior of being aggressive, nonetheless, helpful with Hinata. He watched Neji take a hold of Hinata's wrist and walk away, stating that they have to go back training.

On their way back, Neji thought playing cupid was the best solution to Hinata's annoying love symptoms. Hinata did not find him approachable; however, he made her happy, this time, he really did. Maybe she should thank him,

"A-ano… nii-san, ariga-"

"Don't thank me," Neji cut her maintaining his poise, "not yet."

Hinata smiled and hop one foot to another, over taking her cousin's slow walk while they return back to their training ground. Neji sighed admiring her, pleased by his plan put into action… slowly, his smile faded into a blank expression, then, a slight frown.

Should he really be happy about it?

A/N: Readers' Review, that's all it takes for me to continue. Let me know your thoughts.