Midsummer Afterglow: Hey everyone! Thanks for subscribing to this story and for the comments! I hope you enjoy this next update. Oh and since I did not mention it, the first couple chapters will be from Hinata's POV and then switch to Neji's.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

The bustle of people going in and out of the tall building was nothing short of the normal scenery which could be viewed anytime one made their way to the great Hyuga Corporation. Daunting as it was, not a single person seemed to be afraid to enter the Hyuga's mighty tower.

Hinata knew better. Releasing a long breath, she brushed the front of her beige skirt with two hands, hoping to smooth away the wrinkles she had been unable to iron out in her rush to get ready. She always tried to improve her appearance as much as possible, but no matter how hard she tried, her lack of fashion seemed to belittle her efforts.

She could hardly help this though. Her tastes were simpler than others and no amount of money was about to change that. A decent length skirt, white button up blouse, and a pair of white heels was the best she could put together for her scheduled meeting with her father. And besides for the pair of flat, sliver stud earrings adorning her ears, Hinata's hands, arms, and neck were devoid of jewelry.

Upon entering her father's domain, Hinata made her way past the crowd of citizens lingering about. Making her way to the first floor elevator, Hinata forcefully drowned out the noise of everyone around her, by concentrating on the echo her heels made as she strode across the marble floor.

Many floors meant many buttons to choose from as one stepped casually into the elevator. As a group of suited men and women were waiting on her, Hinata quickly pushed the only button that seemed to have not been touched. The moment her fingers came into contact with the 9th floor button, the round circle lit up and as Hinata stepped back into the rising box, she silently settled on standing beside an older gentleman with gray hair and unusually bright blue eyes.

The tight space made her feel overly claustrophobic and her every instinct urged her to close in on herself. Luckily, before she could, a loud ding sounded and the people beside her began exiting the elevator the moment the electric doors slid open.

"You wished to see me?" Hinata inquired carefully, unsure of the reason behind her father's urgency to meet with her.

Across the large space, an older man, with long dark hair and bold colorless eyes, sat in an office chair made from the finest leather. It had been a while since Hinata had seen this particular chair. Back when she was still a little girl, her father had allowed her to swivel every which way in his chair while he left her to spend hours in business meetings, expecting her to find a way to amuse herself without his help.

Hinata mentally recalled the younger appearance her father had sported back then and as she did so a knowing smile creased her lips. How time did fly when a simple tower office was larger than the world to one so young.

"Yes; there is a matter I wish to discuss with you Hinata," Her father told her, as simply as if he was remarking on the weather or the time of day.

In any other young woman's circumstances, a meeting with her father might entail some conversation pertaining to the family business, but for Hinata, this was not the case. The discussion about to ensue was very much related to issues she would rather not delve into.

But with Hiashi, she would not be given a choice.

"Are you thinking of sending me to study abroad?" Hinata asked, desperately hoping this wasn't so. She was not prepared to leave Neji so soon.

"I am. Do you believe you will be ready to depart in three week's time?"

And just like that, her dreams were dashed and any and all hope completely discarded.

"I will go whenever you think is best."

Hinata searched her father's eyes for some parental emotions but there were none to be found. This entire meeting was to be held from one adult to another. How ironic it was that a father could meet with his eldest daughter and then treat as if she was any other stranger begging him for chance to prove herself.

Which most pathetically, in her heart, she was.

A/N: To be continued...