Love The Way You Lie Part 1
Author's Note: So I've had this sitting for ages! The writing's not great but I don't really want to tamper with it either so I just thought I'd upload it but please don't flame! Some of it might seem to not make sense either but I've just tried to keep it matched to the lyrics of the song that inspired it.
Curled up and panting on the floor at the foot of the bed, Hinata's body burned as the foreign chakra continued to run through her system. She was surprised it still affected her this way really- this chakra coursed through her body almost as often as her own. The searing pain of it was almost a welcome sensation now. He continued to stand over her, still panting as well, though for very different reasons. "Sorry," he mumbled. Hinata's breath hitched slightly. There it was again- the word that always made everything alright, she thought bitterly, the greatest lie of all in their marriage. She raised her head to look at him.
"Sorry," he mumbled, as usual, waiting for her muttered forgiveness before they could get on with their lives. She raised her head and as her eyes met his, he could barely describe the sensation. He could have sworn that she'd thrown a kunai at his throat, the steel knife embedding itself in his windpipe. His eyes widened as he continued to stare at her. "Bloodlust?" he thought, astonished that this fragile girl could display such fierceness in her eyes. Though Neji couldn't breathe, he forced himself to move, sending chakra to his palm once more in order to stop the unwelcome feeling. He knew that it was wrong to hurt the one that he loved but every time he did, it felt like he was proving that the Main House weren't superior. It felt right and it made him feel like he was free- not a bird trapped in a cage but a bird that was free to fly.
Neji panted heavily, feeling some sort of high in a mixture of emotions. He loved Hinata but he hated everything that she represented, and he loved the buzz that he felt right now. But he was suffering. Making her hurt made him hurt too, as though he were dealing each blow to himself as well. As he felt himself drowning in his hatred, he didn't notice Hinata approaching until she had pushed herself against him, capturing his mouth with her own despite the difference in their heights. It drew Neji out of himself as she pushed him slightly in the direction of the bed. He could sense her passion and fierceness in the kiss, her hatred. He revelled in that, losing himself...
Air filled his lungs and when he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on the bed, Hinata walking away from him. "Where are you going?" he murmured groggily, cursing himself for letting her take control. "I'm leaving," she answered emotionlessly, without turning back. Neji's eyes resumed their usual glare as he replied in a deadly whisper, "I don't think so..." He was suddenly behind her, catching her wrist in his hand. "Come back." The words should have been spoken softly, conveying his love for her and begging forgiveness. But they were a growl in her ear, and Hinata pulled away and was out the door before Neji could think of anything more to say. In the empty room, he sighed. Their life was so repetitive- the same cycle of anger, passion, forgiveness over and over, and they both knew how insane it was. When things were right between them and everything was going well, they were the perfect couple, the models of the future Hyuuga. He played his part as her protector willingly, although she was a strong enough shinobi that she didn't need protection like she used to, not from the people that he was expected to protect her from anyway. It was ironic that the people that the future head of Hyuuga needed protecting from the most were people of the Hyuuga clan itself, including him. He thought of their arguments, their fights and the shame he felt for his ill-treatment of Hinata consumed him once more. He knew how awful they were as a couple at those times and he knew that when she came back- which he knew she would- he would apologise again. He glanced out of the window and saw her returning. She wasn't smiling but he could tell that she was no longer angry. As he watched, she stopped and began speaking to someone, and as she spoke to them, she smiled. A man. A man that Neji did not know. Neji felt his control waning once more. When Hinata entered the apartment, he was barely aware of grabbing her, slamming her against a wall, beginning his attack all over again. But as she lay on the floor coughing up blood again, he realised his mistake. The stranger had only been a comrade on a previous mission. Neji hadn't really meant to beat her- sometimes he forgot his own strength. Once more, he begged her for her forgiveness.
Two attacks in a day- that was new. That was probably why she found herself on all fours coughing up the coppery fluid, her lungs on fire. She could feel Neji's eyes on her again as he spoke, a more long-winded apology than usual as he admitted his mistake for once. But she couldn't hear his pretty lies over her coughing. With her senses slowly coming back to her, she pushed herself onto her feet.
As Neji watched Hinata struggle to stand, he felt his heartbeat and his breathing quicken. There was something familiar about the way she was getting up- a flashback to the Chuunin exams when he first began to admire her character, when he first began to fall in love with her. They both remembered and cherished the memory of the day that they first met. They didn't exchange any words with each other, just smiles. But they had both instantly connected though they were too young then to understand the feeling. Neji had remarked to his Father how cute she was. Hinata had felt a warm fuzzy feeling that she'd never experienced around anyone before and it made her happy. Now they looked at each other, sick of seeing the other's face every day- disgusted by the memories that they associated with the face that they were looking at.
Although they'd both felt a connection, neither of them would have imagined that they'd end up marrying one day. Neji's feelings continued to grow after the Chuunin exams and he finally stepped up to his duties to protect her. They began to train together and he was proud of how much stronger she was getting, and was sure Hiashi would be too. Therefore, he was completely astounded when, on arriving early for training, he witnessed his Uncle striking Hinata. Several blows were dealt and Hiashi left, stating as he passed Neji that their training session for the day was cancelled. Neji watched his Uncle go, then moved to Hinata's side, helping her to sit up and pulling her into his chest as she wept. He swore then that he would never let anyone hurt her and asked if she would marry him. Hinata was surprised but was sure she could rely on him to protect her and so they moved out of the Hyuuga compound, full of the hopes for their promises. Now they were in each other's faces, maliciously attacking each other with those broken promises. Neji pushed Hinata away and she grabbed hold of his hair to prevent her losing her balance. In agony, he pulled at her locks too and Hinata began clawing at any bare skin she could get to, leaving angry red marks on his pale skin. He took a swing at her face, sending her staggering back a few paces before advancing on her, throwing her down on the couch and pinning her there using his body weight. They'd lost sense of why they were fighting now, completely caught up in the moment.
They lay, panting and aching in the aftermath of their fit of rage, not really sure how they had injured one another. Neji mulled over the number of times his team mates had suggested that he and Hinata split up and he knew that Hinata's comrades and friends had given her similar advice. But neither of them wanted that- it wasn't always obvious, but they both felt a security with each other that they had never experienced before in their lives. So the days passed and their unpredictable married life went on unchanged.
Neji glanced over at her, surprised at the damage that she had managed to do to him in return. He reached for her hand with his own and spoke in a gentle tone, "I promise I won't hurt you again." She turned her head to face him and appraised him for a moment before whispering, "Last chance." The next day, Neji was called for a B-rank mission which lasted for a week. It wasn't too difficult and there were no casualties or fatalities. Neji celebrated with his friends and when he returned home after a few sakes, it didn't take long before he began to fight with her again and his promise was broken, He watched her retreating form from their window and the pain in his chest was greater than any Jyuuken attack could create.
Hinata had always liked the rain and was grateful to it now for soothing her aching body. She could sense him watching her as she walked away and hoped he was feeling the same pain that she was. "Hinata!"She turned just in time to see him jumping out of the window, landing neatly on his feet and appearing before her only seconds later. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. She could smell the sake on his breath as he stammered out apologies, admitting to herself that there was something quite appealing about his drunken lies. "I love you," he told her breathily, capturing her lips. Yes, they were definitely very appealing but still, they were lies.
The rain and the cold air helped to clear Neji's head and allowed him to think more clearly. "Hinata, we've both said and done things that we haven't meant and we always vow to change things but we never do. We both have bad tempers and we need to change that." Hinata looked taken aback, her damp hair clinging to her face. "You're the same as me," he thought, "and we with the all-seeing eye are blind to the most natural of entities such as love." Seeing that telling her she had deserved what he had done to her and that she was to blame wasn't encouraging her to come back, he tried a different tact. "Baby, please," he murmured. "Come back. I know it's my fault." Waiting for her to respond, he contemplated some of their friends' relationships and wondered if theirs was really all that crazy. Like a tornado meeting a volcano, he was sure that they weren't the only couple that clashed that way. As she turned away from him, he knew he loved her too much to let her walk away.
"Come inside!" he called. "Can't you tell I'm being sincere? I've said it's my fault!" Hinata made no move to cooperate and did not respond. With a burst of chakra to his feet, he was behind her once more. He grabbed her shoulder and spun her round, using his other hand to raise her head, forcing her to look him in the eye. "Next time I'm angry or drunk, I'll break something or hit the wall, not you!" Hinata's eyes flashed. "Next time?" she asked, her voice low. Neji gazed down at her. "You're right," he agreed. "There won't be a next time. I'm sorry!" The lie was bitter on his tongue though he wished it could be true. But finally she agreed to return to their apartment. The next evening, Neji and Lee sat in a local tavern after a day of training and he recounted the events of the previous day with Lee looking at him doubtfully. Taking in Lee's expression, Neji conceded, "I know I'm a liar but our whole marriage is like a game and I'm sick of it. I just want her to stay." Lee contemplated this speech for a moment before replying, "And what happens the next time you fight?" Neji downed his sake and thudded the cup on the counter, turning to look at Lee as he answered, " If she ever tried to fucking leave me again, I'll tie her down and burn the God damned place." Lee didn't know what to say or do- Neji's words had been so fear-evoking! He watched as Neji tried, "I'm just gonna..." before slumping drunkenly on the counter next to his cup.
Hinata lay sprawled on the floor of their apartment, humming serenely to herself, the empty sake bottle sat on the table. The warmth of the drink in her system made a pleasant change from his burning chakra. She heard the door open and two sets of clumsy foot falls drawing nearer before her beloved husband, being supported by his team mate, came into view. His eyes began to narrow as he took in the scene and she could tell from his flushed cheeks that he had been drinking too. "Have you been drinking?" he snarled, rage contorting his features. "Yes," she whispered. "It lessens the pain." A single tear trickled down her own rosy cheek. Lee looked uncomfortable and uncertain of what to do as Neji stumbled forward reaching out towards her. "Why are you crying?" he slurred slightly, still nearing. "There's no need to cry."
"I love the way you lie," she thought to herself.
"We're happy," he breathed.
"I love the way you lie."