A/N: Just one of the many NejiHina stories floating in my head. I finally wrote one out and hope to have more in the future. This story might have daily updates as I have it covered already. There is just something about this pairing which makes my mind return to this ship. This pairing is the closest thing to canon in the manga/anime as the others have virtually little to no interaction or chemistry. They don't even make sense!

So here's to all the NejiHina fans. All together now: DAMN you Kishimoto, for what you did just to try and sail useless ships like that of a stalker and her crush to appease the majority of fans. (Even that didn't work)

I opted for a vague writing style to go with the feel of this story. I hope it works out.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did, I would have known to end things after the Pain arc if I wrote myself into a corner like Kishi did.

Part 1:

A Question of Duty

It was supposed to be a question of duty, but Neji honestly did care about her. Not only that, he thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world and should be cherished and loved with every ounce of emotion. His fire burnt deep but he could never let it show, because it was far from what she desired.

She was stuck with him because she wasn't given much of a choice. It was the only way she could be free, because she had put her trust on him. He had done all he could for her to see her smile and he sacrificed too much to see her happy. She still loved another, he could tell, but that was alright. He had accepted it.

She was found at the brink of the forest, her basket trodden and the sunflowers she had collected scattered all around. He knew they were an ingredient she used in the medicine she makes.

He remembered her telling him clearly, "Winter would be upon us soon and the sunflowers are necessary to be picked at night."

He had found it strange, and she had even refused an escort.

"Neji-niisan, I'm old enough to go on missions. I'm a chūnin! I don't need someone always taking care of me. I also don't need Kō or you to be babysitting me all the time."

Looking at her now, he could not curse himself bad or loud enough for listening to her and letting her go unattended. She had always been his soft spot, especially after the first dreadful chūnin exams, and he easily went along with anything she suggested.

She was still unconscious, her clothes torn, blood coating her trousers. The Konoha surveillance guards who had found her when she was reported missing did not take her to a hospital, as policy indicated. Because she belonged to a noble clan, it was to her family she was taken to first to see what was decided.

The Head, her father, could not control his rage.

"I'll disembowel them!" he yelled.

Without looking at logic or listening to the guards, he stormed out of the village. Taking his right hand man - his nephew - with him, they departed in search of the attackers who had despoiled her. His precious daughter's rapists had not wandered across the border yet. With their superior eyes, it was not hard to track them soon. The sun started to glow on the outskirts of the horizon when they were finally done with the battle. They stood amidst the mess of dead bodies, their brains spilling out from their skulls as he had bashed their skulls together and intestines crawling out, just as her father had promised. Spitting on them, they left them for the birds to feast on.

He, her cousin, was not without injury himself. He had suffered a serious blow to his blind spot. Their attackers had been familiar with their ways, which would explain how she was taken down quickly, even if she was alone. She had already injured two of them. But her father and him were exceptional even in their own clan. With blood dripping from their fingers, they wearily entered the village by the time the sun had risen up fully.

She was awake, and in a state of trauma. She refused to talk to anyone except her sister, who informed them in distress that all she did was hug her and sob on her shoulder.

"I am weak!" She blamed herself.

His blood boiled when he heard. She was far from weak. He sneaked into her room late at night.

"You are a survivor!' he insisted. "And I'll always be here for you."

She only began yelling and throwing things at him. He realised that in her state of panic and the tragedy, she hadn't even recognised him in the shadows and saw someone sneaking up upon her again. He cursed himself for giving off an impression of yet another predator.

Everyone had heard what had happened and her room filled with flowers, many of them including sunflowers, known to be her favourite.

Winter was here and she steadily recovered from her trauma. She would smile at them all lightly. He did all he could to make her laugh in delight and find joy in little things.

"Make that face again," she whined playfully.

He pulled off yet another exaggerated reaction in his always stern expression just to hear her squeal in laughter.

"Please catch the falling snow flakes with your tongue," she insisted, and he obliged, sticking his tongue out as she giggled in joy and did the same.

He let her fill his beanie with snow and pretended not to notice it when he put it on. Her laughter was music to his ears when the snow fell down his hair, his face, and down his shirt.

When talk came for her match, it was known that an excellent one would be hard to come by after what had happened, even if she is nobility. But anyone could be swayed by a large dowry and their name. The problem lay in the fact that she wouldn't accept anyone because she felt scarred for life. Especially after the war, it was all too much to take.

"I feel tainted!" she cried. "Tell him to leave," she ordered, not for the first time.

That's why she even stopped them from approaching the one she loved for her hand. She had stopped seeing him and sent him away when he attempted to visit her, his goofy smile dissolving and his blonde hair a mess.

"He deserves better," she said with resolve. "I do not want to see him. Ask him to leave."

Neji could not see her in pain, trembling in fear and steadily losing her resolve.

"You are far more than who anyone deserves," he told her. "You're a gem!"

"I never wish to marry," she told him in one of their private discussions. "But I'm not brave or steadfast enough to argue with anyone. It just isn't worth the trouble and my peace of mind. I want a peaceful life where no one disturbs me or lets me mind my own business."

Swallowing his nervousness and wiping the sweat on his palms by his sides, he stood up in a bold declaration in front of everyone and knelt before her father.

"I humbly request for Hinata-sama's hand in marriage," he proclaimed, bowing low, his hair sweeping the floor.

If he had taken a moment longer, he would've lost his resolve because he was not one to showcase his feelings so openly. Her father was moved and secretly overjoyed.

"Nothing would make me happier," her father declared. "But the final decision lies with my daughter. It's up to her if she accepts you or another candidate, Hyūga Kō, from the Main House of our clan who has given his proposal earlier today. She also has the choice of several nobles who have put in their offer and Uzumaki Naruto. I will only give my blessing to the one I'll be sure would respect and cherish my daughter his entire life, no matter what has happened."

Listening to her father with his head still bowed, he finally brought up the courage to raise his head to look at her and meets her eyes after her father was done speaking. Her face clearly depicted the disbelief, hurt, and betrayal she felt. She had misunderstood him. She ran away from the room. He excused himself, bowing quickly, before running after her.

He found her sitting at her favourite place in the garden, knees tracking mud, crying her heart out. She was heartbroken.

"I thought... I thought you understood!"

"Please listen Hinata-sama, I beg you!"

She wouldn't let him near her and shook off his arm. "You said I'm not a victim!"

"You're not!" he cries. "I am simply trying to show you a way of choosing your own fate, as taught to me by... him." He could not say her lover's name without stumbling his tongue. "I did what I just did because I have a plan to make you free. I have not forgotten our discussions and your dreams."

That made her just a little curious to hear what he had to say. He could never show her how much she truly meant to him. This was her reaction to his proposal and she didn't even have an inkling of the way she made him feel.

He knelt in front of her and brushed her hair behind her ears.

"I did not mean to pressure you in any way," he swore. "I asked for your hand so you can just have an empty label of marriage stamped upon you, and the clan elders would leave you alone. You'll escape your fate as the heiress by marrying into the Branch. You do not have to be with me as a dutiful wife. You can have the freedom you want, I'll make certain of that. Our "marriage" would be just on paper. Your happiness means the world to me," he finished, but he did not mention the lengths he could and would go for her.

She calmed down steadily. "You-You're willing to sacrifice your entire life just for me? Does your dedication and duty stretch this far? Please see sense! You're not obligated to do so even as a Branch member. My happiness or freedom is not your duty."

"It's what I want," he insisted. "It's my destiny to take care of you till my dying breath and this destiny is what I've chosen for by myself, not because I'm honour-bound to."

She was very touched. "You... You really are my best friend after all!" she cried, throwing her arms around his neck. He hugged her in return as he rested his nose on her hair and caressed her back.

She did not fully comprehend the deep passion in his eyes and mistook it for something else entirely. After thinking long and hard about his offer, she accepted it after a week and told her father of her decision. They were married soon after.

They were married in spring, when the sunflowers bloomed around them in the meadow once more. The ceremony was exclusive as is a marriage of a noble, with all the joys and no limitations. All who saw him that day gossiped to each other that they had not seen a happier man than him that day. He hid his smile, but it escaped his lips every few seconds when he looked at his blushing bride, like his smile was meant to stay stretched on his face. His joy was obvious.

The man she loved was also in attendance, and he appeared just as forlorn as Neji himself used to be when he was a kid.

He was well aware of the fact that Uzumaki Naruto returned her feelings and they had spent time and close moments together, and even an intimate relationship. It pained him to think that she still thought she was tainted and rejected her lover because of it.

She thought so even after he declared that he "didn't care about what had happened and never will-dattebayo!"

She had silenced him by saying, "People will never stop talking if a future Hokage's wife was known to be a non-virgin upon marriage."

That had stopped him cold and silenced his ranting.

"The legitimacy of your heir would be put into question and my own character questioned and picked upon constantly. Your rivals will make sure of that, and it's not worth risking your dream and my peace of mind. You are well aware that I'm emotionally very weak. They will also question your poor "decisions" throughout your tenure. Nor would any heir I'd be able to provide you will ever be respected."

She was a daughter of a noble clan. She had an idea how politics worked and she spoke like a true politician. But they both knew that wasn't the real reason why she rejected him.

She had confessed to her lover what she had planned with her best friend, confidante, and now a husband on the surface. Naruto's heart had broken piece by piece with her every word.

"Your happiness matters a lot and means the world to me as well, and I'll let you have it."

Her lover had volunteered to play the same role as Neji professed to play but they both knew they desired each other too much and he would be unable to contain it.

"It's not what I want," she said sadly. "I do not want to be or play the role of a Hokage's wife. I want to be free."

Neji knew it would be terribly hard for him as well, but he could never let it show or she'd feel betrayed. He had done a good job to hide it so far. To be close to her everyday and guard her was enough joy in itself for him. That's how she thought of him and always had, her personal protector and bodyguard who safeguards her through every hardship she faces.

Later that night, she stood trembling in their new bedroom. It hurt him to see that she still didn't trust him fully.

He took her in his arms and vowed, once again, to protect her all his life.

"We do not have to consummate our marriage," he had already told her. That had been the basis for their plan but she needed reassurance.

"We need to sleep in the same room, so no one will talk," he told her now.

She felt uncomfortable, but she had to accept this fact.

"You can take the bed. I'll sleep down on the futon," he continued and she felt relieved that they would not be sleeping on the same bed.

He spread the futon beside her on the floor and turned away from her so she'd feel more relaxed. As her hand dangled down when she slept, he took it and held on, thinking about how much he loved this woman and admired her strength, but he could never let it show. Not for fear of appearing weak, but for the fear of hurting her.

The night before their wedding, he was confronted by her father in private.

"Neji, are you satisfied with my daughter and can you, in turn, make her happy?"

His concern lay in the fact that the boy had not felt pressured to accept her or had even asked to take care of her because he was of the Branch House.

"It's more than just a question of duty, it's my destiny," he replied back. "My job has always been to serve and protect her family. I have been chosen to take birth in this role. I have stuck by it willingly because I desire it, and now desire her as well. And I wish to die fulfilling my role, just like my father has done before me."

Hiashi tried to speak but he interrupted him again, for he knew what the Head of the Hyūga had in mind.

"It is my own decision and I have not been pressured in any way. There is no greater honour for me than being assigned the role of her guardian and ensuring, with this marriage, that it'd stay like this for the rest of her life, and mine as well. There is no greater joy for me than receiving your daughter's hand and your blessing along with it."

Her father had teared up hearing his response and hugged him, having already accepted him as son-in-law.

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