Three hundred years later, they meet again. [Neji x Hina]
Set of drabbles with side pairings.
EDIT 8 December 2015: Hi everyone! I started this little ficlet in 2013 and reread it a little while ago and decided I would try to fix it and try to give Neji and Hinata the ending I so badly wanted for them. Unfortunately, I stopped reading the series around the same time, so I'm not super familiar with what happens beyond Naruto and Hinata getting together. I'll try to keep the past lives story as canon as I can, but if it's not, please bear with me and either accept it as an AU or feel free to let me know where I went wrong.
Thanks! Hope you enjoy.
AGW 303
(After Great War, year 303)
Hyuuga Hinata meets her distant cousin Neji when she is three years old. He and his father are visiting from afar to celebrate her father's second marriage. Her mother had passed away shortly after Hinata's birth, and her father, pressured by his honored parents, remarries a year and a half after Hyuuga Hanae's premature death.
Hinata, tired from the day's excitations, shies away from the well-wishing guests and hides behind the silk of her father's kimono. Despite her exhaustion, she peeks around his leg curiously as a new guest and a young boy her age approach.
"Hizashi," her father cordially greets the older man. "I am honored you could be here today."
"The honor is mine, Hiashi-sama. I am grateful that Hokage-sama granted me a temporary leave of absence from Suna to attend your marriage," Hizashi replies with a deep bow.
"I am, as well." Hiashi focuses his stern gaze on the child next to Hizashi. "And who is this young man?"
Hinata watches as the boy's tiny chest swells with pride at being addressed as a man. She giggles at the silliness of it all, and the small, tinkling sound makes the boy's head swivel towards her. He gapes at the little fairy, his chubby cheeks reddening.
"This is my son, Hyuuga Neji," Hizashi replies amusedly. "Usually Neji is well-mannered enough to offer his respects, but I think he's a little enamored with your daughter."
That seems to get Neji's attention, and hastily, he bows deeply to an entertained Hiashi.
"M-my apologies, Hiashi-sama."
"Worry not, Neji. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Hiashi again shifts his attention to the adults and introduces his bride to his distant cousin. Despite her own curiosity with the blushing boy once again staring at her, Hinata can stand no more. She's tired and her eyes start to well up. She sniffs and looks up piteously at her father.
Hinata is a patient and quiet child, but a child nonetheless. Hiashi, sensing the impending tantrum, calls for Hinata's nursemaid to attend to her. Hinata feels herself be picked up and her eyes slowly shut. But even as she is taken to her room, she sees Neji's wide, light grey eyes follow her until she disappears around the corner.
You know him, she thinks, and she falls asleep in her nursemaid's comfortable arms.
Original AN, 14 Feb 2013:
I made this story about a month and a half ago, but I couldn't finish it because there were some scenes that were eating away at my mind-I just wasn't happy with them, but there were a few scenes that I loved. So instead of writing one long story that I half loved and half hated, I decided to make a drabble set! Why not, right? Anyway, I really hope that you all liked this...it's just meant to help me get over my writer's block.
EDIT 8/25/13 - fixed "pitifully" to "piteously". Thanks to ruikumo for pointing it out!
