Hyuuga Neji gazed up at the last sunset that he would ever see, the warm embrace of his own blood spreading over him like a gentle tide. Strange that there should be no fear now. He wasn't even angry, to die so young. There was only the sunset. And peace. Such peace…
He was dimly aware of Hinata- Sama, of her arm beneath his shoulder. Small warm trails moved down his face. One hit his ear and slid down his neck. She must be crying, he realised. I wonder why?
He had never thought that it would be so simple. So easy. It was just as Hiro-Sempai had said, so long ago now. Sometimes your body just moved on its own. He had barely realised Hinata- Sama's danger before his legs had flung him between her and her attacker. Swift enough to save her, not quite quick enough to parry the blow. It had been a sharp blade. That was another blessing.
It turned out he was a good Hyuuga after all. Who would have guessed it?
The sunset was heavenly this evening, yellows and pinks flowing gracefully into glowing amber against a violet sky. Vaguely, he wondered how long it had been since he had taken time to truly look at the sky. How much had he missed, he wondered, how much beauty had just passed him by whilst he was too wrapped up in anger, too worried, just too busy to notice? Maybe that Nara kid had the right idea after all. Perhaps when you took life that slowly, without caring about too much, you could touch this peace, which came now that nothing mattered anymore but the gentle glory of the world all around you.
"So beautiful…" Neji murmured.
Far above, the first stars silently crept out. Their light glinted on the tears running down a young girl's cheek, and was reflected, twinkling, from the silent depths of two sightless pearly eyes.