Notes: (2010) - Did some heavy editing. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Don't own shit.
It's in the Rain
It was a quiet evening in the Hyuuga manor; the only sounds heard in the courtyard were raindrops splattering against the roof of the porch, where a young woman was sitting calmly. She was slowly playing with the long locks of hair that flowed from her scalp, that wasn't even bothered to be pulled back up. On the outside, the woman stared blankly at her hair, with no real emotion visible in her silver eyes. Deep within her heart, the woman wanted to slash the strands of hair clean off of herself, and be rid of the nuisance. "I… hate them…" she calmly whispered to herself. She tightened her hand into a balled fist and continued to glare at the curls streaming down her back and chest.
Suddenly the soft raindrops gained speed and volume, and they crashed into the roof loudly, grabbing the attention of the woman. She brought her head up and looked into the sky. "Rain…" she whispered, then softly smiled. "You would think, with my name being Hinata, I would prefer the sun and despise the rain, but…" she drew a hand out from under her yukata and reached over the side to let the water droplets splatter over her fingers. "It's so calming…I find myself forgetting all of the troubles I am in…like I'm in my own world…" she smiled, and brought her hand back in. "So many events have happened in the rain…" she whispered, watching the water seep down her knuckles. The woman named Hinata looked back up to the clouds. "Oh heavenly sky, why…why do you cry so, today…?" she asked to nobody. Oh…the sky never answers, anyway. Hinata sighed, but then paused, remembering something. She then softly giggled to herself. Asking that reminded me…of that time with Neji…
.o.
It was the morning of a quiet Sunday, the pitter-pattering of raindrops echoing throughout the courtyard. Nobody seemed to be present, perhaps an event was taking place elsewhere.
A ruffling sound was heard toward the manor, and one of the many sliding doors was pulled to the side, revealing a small boy with long brown hair, and a timid little girl with short hair. "Here's the courtyard, Hinata-sama! I like to play here sometimes."
The little girl was standing shyly behind the boy, but then leaned over to peer over his shoulder. She gave a small gasp. "W-wow, Neji-niisan…it's really pretty…" she smiled.
The boy looked at her, then smiled proudly. "Hey look, Hinata-sama, it's raining!" he pointed outside.
Hinata gasped and buried her face in the boy's back. "No!"
Neji stood there for a moment, confused as to what made Hinata react so. "Huh? Hinata-sama, are you afraid of the rain?" He titled his head to the right.
Hinata looked back up at Neji. "N-No…I'm afraid of the…of the…" she took her finger and touched her lips, trying to decide the right words. "The…um…bang bang boom!" she stretched her arms around her and waved them about.
This only made Neji even more confused. Bang bang boom? "Oh…" he laughed slightly and put his hand on her shoulder. "You're afraid of thunder?" he smiled.
Hinata's gaze dropped to her feet, and she blushed slightly. So it's called thunder? "Y…Yes…" she fiddled around with her fingers, feeling ashamed. Neji-niisan knows everything…
"Well, I don't think there's anything to worry about. It's just drizzling, see?" the boy drew his hand from his clothes and reached out in front of him, letting the rain splatter on his own fingers. "It's ok—"
"Ne…Neji-niisan!" Hinata jumped forward, grabbed Neji's arm, and drew it back from the rain, protectively. She looked at her cousin, as if to ask, 'What are you thinking?'
Neji stared at the girl, shocked. "Umm, Hinata…" he took his hand back from the girl's grasp. "I was just telling you that it was safe. We can go out and play, now!" he smiled at her.
Hinata stared at him, and looked out from the door. "Go out and…play? But…Neji-niisan…it's raining," she took a small step back, not willing to get wet.
Neji only looked at her, with a slightly devious grin on his face. "That's what makes it all the more fun, Hinata-sama!"
"I don't wanna play in the rain…Father will get mad at me…"
"Huh? My Father let's me play in the rain, sometimes. I don't think your Father will mind."
"But…"
Neji rolled his eyes and smiled. Suddenly he scooted back so he would be behind Hinata, brought his hands out, and pushed her forward.
"Ah!" Hinata tripped and fell down. Standing on all fours, she turned her head around and glared at her cousin. "N-Neji-niisan…that…that wasn't nice!" she started sobbing quietly. Maybe if she started crying, he would feel bad and help her. Maybe if she started crying, her Father would come out and get mad at Neji.
But Neji didn't stop and help her. He only stood under the porch roof and grinned at Hinata, who was crouched down in the rain. "Hey, you better get up and run…" he slowly stepped down from the porch, "'cause I'm…gonna…get you!" he suddenly sprinted over to his cousin and started poking her in her ticklish spots.
Hinata started screaming. "Ah! No, Neji-niisan, don't!" she tried pushing him away, but to no avail. "Ne…hee-hee…Neji-nii…ha ha…! Neji-niisan, stop it! Ahahaha!" Hinata started squealing in laughter, having difficulty speaking.
"What's that? I can't hear you!" Neji said as he continued poking the small girl. He was obviously enjoying himself, playing with someone even close to his age.
The girl finally rolled around on her stomach, pushed up with her arms, and started running away, toward the center of the courtyard. "You can't get me!" she yelled behind her, showing that she, herself, was also having fun.
Neji stood up and grinned. "Ha! I bet I can, too!" he shouted, and started to chase after her, the rain spraying against his clothes.
Hinata squealed in response, and started running faster. For a while, the two children chased each other around the center of the courtyard, laughing and screaming. But after a few minutes, they both got tired, and decided to sit on the small hill in the center of the courtyard together. Head against head, they laid down and stared up at the sky, watching the rain droplets land around their ears and into their silver eyes. Neji sighed contently, and smiled.
As Hinata gazed into the depth of the heavens, suddenly a question popped into her head. Huh…She sat up straight and turned her head towards Neji, who was now looking at her with a confused face. "Neji-niisan?"
He hesitated. "Yes, Hinata-sama? What is it?"
Hinata paused for a second, and lied back down on her back, her hands behind her head. "Neji-niisan, why…" she took a small hand and pointed to the gray clouds. "Why is the sky crying? Did someone hurt it? Or is it sad?" she drew her small hand back down and rested it upon her chest.
Neji looked at her, confused as to how to answer. Should he say something childish? Or should he go ahead and explain the concepts of the water cycle to Hinata? She wouldn't know that kind of thing, though. Neji had already been taught the science, but it seemed as though Hinata hasn't. "Well," he said, turning his head back up toward the sky. "I'm afraid I can't answer that. I have tried asking the sky why it cries so much, but it only ignored me, and continued to sob," he sighed, gazing into nothingness.
"But why would it do that?" Hinata asked loudly. "All it will ever do is weep, but what if someone can help the sky? What if someone can help it stop crying?"
At her sudden outburst, Neji looked at her, shocked. He started thinking about his next answer, and was having great difficulty deciding on what to say. "Maybe…maybe the sky doesn't want anyone to help. Maybe it just wants to cry."
"That doesn't sound right…does it like to cry or something?" Hinata asked quietly.
"Perhaps, Hinata-sama," Neji answered.
The girl paused, and then turned her head to him, and started laughing. "Hahaha. Well, I'm not like the rain," She smiled.
Neji smiled back. "No, you're not anything like rain. You're like the sun."
Hinata beamed, and directed her attention back to the clouds. "I wonder what Neji-niisan is like…"
Suddenly the ruffling sound of sliding doors reached the children's ears, and they perked their heads up to see two men that looked almost exactly like each other.
"Hinata, Neji, what are you two doing out in the rain? Your clothes are going to be ruined, Hinata. Come here," one of the men barked. "We're going to change you, then I'll give you some basic training, to get you started. Your uncle and cousin will accompany us."
"Yes, Father." Hinata sat up, tried to wipe the mud off of her sleeves, and stood up. After giving Neji another glance, she started running over to her father. "Forgive me for looking inappropriate…"she said, carefully using advanced vocabulary in front of her father.
"I will overlook it for now," the man replied. He placed his hands on his daughter shoulders, and looked over to the man beside him. "Are you coming?"
"Yes, Hiashi-sama. In a minute," the other man replied. He then looked over to the boy. "Neji."
"Coming, Father," Neji said, and got up to go over and greet his father just as Hinata did.
"Now, then. Let us go."
.o.
Hinata sighed as she remembered the experience. That was the first time she conquered her fear of the rain and thunder. Since then, she was able to go out and play in the rain without any worry. But after that day, Neji wouldn't play with her anyways. Oh, now I remember, Hinata thought. That was the day my Father activated the curse mark on Neji's Father, with Neji present…She sighed and started playing with her hair some more.
By now it was practically storming. The wind was gusting and howling, the rain was splashing, and soft thunder was rumbling in the distance. Hinata didn't mind, by then. And sitting under the porch provided the proper protection to her yukata, so she was comfortable and dry.
Without the rain's many sounds and distractions, Hinata continued to sit and think about the many events that proceeded during the rain time. "After that, Neji-niisan started to become more…sour…"
.o.
It was the morning of a Tuesday, and the muggy, humid outdoors had caused most of the Hyuuga residence to take refuge indoors. All except for one Hyuuga branch member, who stood on the small hill, in the center of the courtyard. He stood completely still, putting every fiber in his body to his concentration on his surroundings. Enlarged veins creeping around his silver eyes, he suddenly noticed someone coming up behind. He wondered what someone would do in this weather, and then suppressed his Byakugan.
"Ne…Neji-niisan…" a soft whisper brushed against his ears.
Without turning around to greet his visitor, Neji said in a flat voice, "Hinata-sama, it is raining, and it would be best for you to go inside before you catch cold." He sensed Hinata's gaze dropping to the ground in embarrassment.
"I-I know, but…I was just wondering…what you were doing out in the rain…and, you might become ill as well…"
"No one is concerned with my health," Neji replied.
I…am concerned with your health…"Oh…s-sorry, Neji-niisan." Hinata's eyes half-closed as she continued to stare at her wet, mud slicked feet.
For a few minutes, they paused, neither moving nor saying anything. Neji continually stood in his spot, and Hinata stared at his back, long brown strands of hair sticking to his clothes.
"Are you concerned for your safety in the upcoming Chūnin exams? Don't take them. It is certain death for those with a unique self-esteem system such as yourself," Neji suddenly said.
Hinata let out a small gasp and looked up. "Oh…but…but I really think I can do it—"
"Please do not push and convince yourself that you can pass this easily, Hinata-sama," Neji cut Hinata off. He slowly turned his head around and glared at Hinata with flashing silver eyes.
Hinata's own eyes widened as she touched her finger to her lip. "I…I…I think I…" she stammered, becoming intimidated by Neji's fierce look. "Well, I…" He's so cold…Hinata stood up straight and clenched her fists. "I am going to take the Chūnin exams, Neji-niisan. I do not know if I will pass, but…there is no other way I will find out…" Hinata whispered softly.
Neji turned his head back around. "Hn. Do as you must, Hinata-sama."
Hinata's head dropped, and she closed her eyes. Neji's so angry inside, and she felt like there was no way she could help him. It was so sad…
"Oh…!" Hinata's head jerked up and she looked at Neji's back. "I just realized something, Neji-niisan…and it's…well…"
Neji stood there; being patient enough to listen to what Hinata was going to say.
"Neji-niisan is just like…the rain." He is crying inside…and will not accept any help from anyone. She thought, sadness choking her throat.
To be continued...