Chapter 2 Neji heard the quick rustling and movements next door. Hiashi-sama had put Hinata in the room next to his in the hopes that they would get along, which failed explicably as Neji ignored mostly everyone in the Hyuuga house. The hate he had felt for Hinata wasn't there anymore as Naruto had seen to that. It wasn't really hate, he was just being ignorant and self-pitiful back then, as much as it pains him to admit. The Neji now and the Neji then were so different. Anyone who knew him back then would be completely astonished if they met him now. Of course his team was shocked. He still kept up the cold persona on the outside, as anyone who walks past him looks down as they walk in fear of looking into his glaring real Neji was just as vulnerable and insecure as any human being, not that he'd let anyone figure that out.
There was a thud. It came from next door. Of course Hinata couldn't sneak away unnoticed with the noise she was making.
Neji had successfully stayed awake throughout the night, he knew it was unhealthy but he couldn't help it. The need to close his eyes came but his cousin waking up had distracted him which he was really thankful for. He had listened to the shower being turned on and cupboards being opened and closed, all the while trying to stay awake.
He realised that Hinata was probably going to wait for Naruto and hide behind a tree even though Naruto was meant to arrive in the afternoon. It was a complete waste. He didn't know why his cousin even bothered to pine after Naruto. Everyone knew about her crush, except Naruto himself. He definitely knew that Naruto wouldn't date Hinata as she was too quiet and shy while he was all hyperactive. If they ever had a relationship, Neji shuddered at that, he didn't know what he would do. He didn't even know why he was even thinking about such things. Neji decided to forget about it as it made him feel strange and bothered. It was almost as if he was jealous... No... that can't be right... Ok that's it... He wasn't going to think about this any longer.
Neji came out of his thoughts to realise that people were starting to move around now, there were birds chirping and bright sunlight flickering through the curtains. He was lost in his thoughts for that long? There was no movement next door. That was to be expected. It was his day off today but he couldn't relax.
He was sleep deprived which was making him irritable. 'maybe a shower would help' he thought and made his way to the bathroom. He looked in the mirror to see bloodshot pale eyes and much more pale skin, his hair in a mess, without the headband. Looking at his eyes reminded him of not being able to use byakugan in the dreams, he quickly activated his bloodline to find out it worked, which was a relief. It wasn't a pretty sight with the swollen bloodshot eyes. After Neji had a shower, and had eaten breakfast, he was no better off than before. Neji slipped on a kimono from one of the cupboards, too tired to see what colour it was, as it also contained some of Hinata's custom made kimonos for battles which was similar to the male kimonos.
After this thought went through his head he realised was wearing one of Hinata's as it was too soft and smelled like blossoms. Neil couldn't walk all the way back to his room to change again, because of the lack of his energy. That was whole reason he wore a kimono as he was too tired to equip himself with his normal attire and Chunin vest and it was Team Gai's time off anyway after they went on that B-ranked mission which turned out to be an A-rank.
They had severe casualties, as they had been facing Orochimaru after they had unknowingly wandered into the enemy's hiding place.
He groaned and slumped in his couch, thankful that no one was there to witness this un-Neji like behaviour. He didn't want to think of that failure of a mission anymore. There was an ache building up behind his eyes, Neji rubbed them to get rid of it but that only made it worse. Just as he was about to doze off, the door burst open and in walked Lee, ( more like skipped in). "NEJI!" Neji was being shaken by the green clad ninja. There were black dots appearing in his vision, but he ignored it and tried to pay attention to Lee. He could only understand a minuscule of what was being said. Something like, "Naruto...today...arrived..." before he knew it everything was a blur, as he was dragged in a speed so fast that it knocked his breath away. He was going to kill Lee later, but right now he was focusing on staying conscious. Before he knew it, they were standing in front of something orange, which kept going fuzzy. It was saying something. The next thing he knew was, the fuzzy orange thing putting it's hand on his forehead. He was going to shout at it, to mind his personal space, but he couldn't muster up the energy to. His head hurt, everything was going too fast. And it was too cold, the summery breeze went through his kimono as he wasn't wearing anything over it.
He could feel warm arms wrap around him as the world tilted sideways. There was something on his face, he tried to shake his head to get rid of it only to realise it was his hair still slightly wet from the shower and he'd forgotten to tie it up.
He must have looked a real sight, he started to feel ashamed at himself for showing weakness in front of all the others that were crowding over him. He turned in someone's arms, away from the crowd and a pink blur trying to use chakra to do something to him and towards the warmth and the orange. He gripped weakly onto the orange and whispered quietly, "No, the fox is going to get me," Neji was startled when the orange figure stiffened and became cold trying to pull away, "no... don't go... it will get me..." Neji gripped him harder not letting the orange move away, "...stay..." he whispered hopelessly, bordering on tears.
Before Neji blacked out, the only thought on his mind was how Hinata-like he was acting and a dreadful terror that he was succumbing to his dreams again.
