As always Naruto belongs to Kishimoto.

For once Neji was happy to be returning to the main house. Hizashi had been spending the last three days going back and forth, while Neji and his mother had been packing things to be moved. Neji didn't quite understand what was going on, but Hizashi said things would calm down once they had moved.

Neji tugged at his father's kimono as they walked. "Dad, why are we moving? I liked our house."

"We have to move. Things will be changing for us now." Hizashi didn't look to his son when he spoke.

"What kind of changes?"

His father's eyes were different today, Neji saw. They looked tired. Hizashi stopped and halted Neji with him. They were both still for a moment before Hizashi knelt down and took Neji by the shoulders. "Neji, you remember how I told you it's our duty to protect Hinata?"

He nodded. "You said I should take care of Hinata-sama. Are we not, now?" Neji hoped that wasn't changing. He wanted to help Hinata since she was so sad the last time he saw her. He was planning on trying to cheer her up once they got to the main house.

"We still are, but you don't have to call her that anymore. That's one of the changes. You can call her Hinata-chan. And people are going to call you Neji-sama from now on. That's another change."

"Why are they going to call me that?"

"Because you're my son, and I'm taking over as clan head now that Hiashi-sama is gone. I'll have a lot of responsibilities now, and I want to trust that you'll do everything you can to help Hinata. This isn't an easy time for her."

Neji nodded, though he still didn't quite understand everything. He did understand the part about taking care of Hinata, and that his father knew he was capable of helping her. Neji couldn't stop the small swell of pride at being entrusted with something important.

They began walking again and soon the main house could be seen in the distance. Two figures were waiting, a woman, whom Neji vaguely recalled from the day Hiashi died, and Hinata. He could tell by the way that she was trying to hide behind the woman's legs. Then, without warning, Hinata bolted into the house, her small hands covering her face.

Neji wanted to go after her, but Hizashi placed a hand on Neji's shoulder to keep him in place. Once they were close, Neji saw the same tired expression on the woman's face as he'd seen on his father's.

"Hizashi," the woman said with a half bow, which Neji and Hizashi returned. "Forgive her, she thought . . . from a distance, that is, she thought Hiashi was coming home. When I explained, she ran away."

Hizashi closed his eyes and sighed, almost as if he had expected it. "It's all right, Atsuko. It'll take time for her to adjust to us living here. But, hopefully, Neji can help with that." Neji felt his father's hand squeeze his shoulder affectionately. Hizashi knelt down again and looked from Neji to the woman. "Neji, this is Atsuko, Hinata's mother. You are to do whatever she tells you to, is that understood?"

Neji nodded and bowed to Atsuko again. "It's nice to meet you, Atsuko-sama."

Atsuko nodded and a faint smile graced her lips. "And you, Neji-kun."

"Neji, why don't you go and find Hinata and stay with her while I discuss a few things with Atsuko. Maybe ask her to give you a tour of the house."

"She probably ran to Hiashi's study. Hinata seems to have made it her own little haven." Atsuko waved one of the movers to them. "Neji-kun, this man will take you there, so you won't get lost."

The man bowed in acknowledgement and held out his hand. "Come with me, Neji-sama."

Neji wrinkled his nose ever so slightly when the man added the –sama suffix to his name. It just felt wrong to have an adult call him that. Idly, he wondered if Hinata felt the same way. The man directed him through the maze of halls (at least to Neji) that made up the main house until they finally reached the hall he'd been taken to the day Hiashi died. Like the woman on that day, his guide didn't approach the study himself, but motioned which one Hinata would be in, not that Neji didn't remember.

He waited by the door for a moment, a little nervous about seeing her, but the faint wisp of crying that carried from inside helped Neji gain the courage he needed. He turned and stayed in the doorway to scan the room for his cousin. Unlike the last time, the room was stripped clean now. All that remained to remind anyone what the room had once been used for was a large cedar desk, well-polished for appearance sake, but obviously long used as could be seen by the nicks and gouges on the surface. With the shelves bare and the walls blank, the room felt as dead as its previous master.

The only sign of life left was a sliver of cloth visible just beneath the desk and the soft, erratic sobs of a wounded child. Neji approached the desk slowly so as to not frighten her, and –tentatively– he called out to her, "Hinata-sama?" When he received no response, Neji moved to the other side of the desk and looked upon the hiding girl.

Hinata sat with her arms wrapped tightly around her knees, which were drawn close to her chest. Her face looked like the adults, that strange tiredness that seemed to dull the life from their eyes. Her skin was rubbed raw from days of crying and glowed a brighter red as tears once again wet her abused cheeks.

"Hinata-sama?" Neji reached out again, placing his small hand on her arm. He honestly couldn't image what it would be like if he lost his father, and then have to see his face on someone else. Constantly being reminded her father was no longer there in that way had to be painful.

Her bloodshot eyes were almost too much to look at, but Neji didn't turn away from her. "Neji . . . kun," Hinata hiccuped beneath her sobs. "They keep taking him away."

"Taking him away?" Neji repeated, confused. "Who?"

"Father. They took everything." Hinata's head fell back into the corner of the desk, and her tiny hand brushed the smooth cedar desk like it was sacred. "It's not theirs, but they took it."

Neji looked around the room again, wondering what it must have looked like when Hiashi had used it every day. What it must mean to Hinata to have it stripped of everything that was her father. The desk seemed to be the only thing left for Hinata to connect with, and if they took that away it would just be another room with no life and no meaning.

The last thing it looked like Hinata wanted to do was leave this room, so Neji wasn't about to ask for a tour of the main house. Maybe when she didn't look so miserable. But he felt the need to try and get her talking and maybe cheered up a bit. "You know, they called me Neji-sama when I came here. It felt really weird. Is it weird when people call you Hinata-sama?"

Hinata wiped her cheeks off and turned to look at her cousin with a slight confusion. "Everyone always calls me Hinata-sama."

"Right," Neji said awkwardly. Of course, she'd be used to it by now. "Dad says I don't have to call you Hinata-sama anymore. He said I can call you Hinata-chan."

"Why?"

Neji paused, trying to figure out an answer. "I don't really know. All Dad told me was that I could. We're moving here, so maybe it's cause we'll live together. Like brother and sister."

Hinata sniffed, but it seemed the tears had ended finally. "You're going to be my brother?"

"I guess I am. Kinda." Neji never had a sibling before, but he knew that they were supposed to take care of each other. He felt just as proud at the idea of being a big brother and protecting Hinata as when Hizashi had complimented him. "I'll take care of you."

Hinata stared at him, as if she couldn't decide whether or not to actually speak up. Finally she managed to squeak out a question in her soft voice. "Can I call you Neji-niisan, then?"

Neji smiled, excited to see her no longer crying and really enjoying the sound of his new name. Neji-niisan. "Yeah, you can." For a moment there was a hint of a pull at her lips, but it was too faint to know for sure what it was. Neji just smiled back for her.

Hizashi watched his son be led away and let out an almost unnoticeable sigh. The boy didn't truly understand what was happening or the inconceivable ramifications it would have on the rest of his life. Hizashi had come too far to change his mind, and he tried his best to remember this was all for the Hinata's wellbeing, but it was difficult to fully ignore the fact he had agreed to –in essence– replace his brother. Of course Hizashi refused to become Hinata's father, but he would do his best as her uncle and guardian.

When Neji was out of sight Atsuko sat down on the porch and closed her eyes. She looked far more tired than the rest of the family, but then along with Hinata, Atsuko was suffering the most from Hiashi's death. Even so her complexion had paled to near white and any exertion showed in her slender frame.

"How are you dealing with everything, Atsuko?" Hizashi asked, choosing to stay standing in front of her.

"Forgive me, Hizashi, I fear I'll be asking much from you from now on. Ever since they took him away—" Atsuko stalled, her face looking as if she didn't know whether to get sick or cry. Hyuugas normally controlled themselves better than what she displayed, and even though Atsuko grieved deeply, her open weakness (as the second most powerful Hyuuga next to Hizashi himself now) told more of her trouble than she said.

Hizashi lowered to one knee so that he was level with her again and brushed her hair away from her face. Despite her pale complexion Atsuko's skin was hot to the touch, and being so close Hizashi could hear how shallow her breaths came. "Atsuko, you should be resting if you're ill."

"Hinata shouldn't see her mother sick right after her father died. She needs assurances and I'm doing my best to give that to her. In this condition I can't do much." Atsuko was so obviously in pain that Hizashi wondered how long it would be before she could no longer put up even the weak front she maintained at the moment. "If Naomi and Neji could keep her active," she continued, "if they could get her out of the house and doing things again. Anything to distract her."

Hizashi nodded his understanding. His own appearance would be painful on the girl at this point, so it would be foolish to attempt to help her himself. But the others could help Hinata as she dealt with her grief. It was amazing how one man's death could cause so much turmoil in such a short time. How many lives had been uprooted already because of the loss of the clan head?

"Come Atsuko, Neji's with Hinata so why don't you rest now." It wasn't as much a suggestion as an underlying insistence. The sooner she became healthy again, the better it would be for Hinata. Hizashi held out his hand and carefully helped his sister-in-law up.

"Perhaps you're right. As long as someone remains with Hinata." Atsuko quietly allowed herself to be led inside, not protesting to the helping arm Hizashi offered or his request that her mother come to check on her. Yumi was well-regarded as the best healer in the clan, Atsuko herself was probably the closest match to her mother's skill.

On his way back to oversee the moving progress and meet his wife, who would come with the last of their things, Hizashi stopped by Hiashi's old office to make sure the kids weren't still there (and if they were to get them out). Like Atsuko said, it would be best if they could keep Hinata active with the family through all the changes, then perhaps it wouldn't be as difficult for her to accept them living in the main house.

They'd see the first test of it that night. In truth, Hizashi and Naomi might have the hardest time adjusting after living so long with the prejudices and division of the clan. The children were too young and still didn't understand what it meant to be main or branch. To them, they were just cousins.

Hizashi suppressed the disappointment when he heard voices coming from inside the office, though at least he didn't hear any crying. He'd just have to take things slowly and have plenty of patience. Taking a step past the doorway, Hizashi looked for the source of the voices he'd heard and found a hint of feet peeking out from beneath the desk. It felt strange being in his brother's office and knowing it would never again be used by him. Hizashi pushed the twinge of pain back and focused on the children.

"Neji, Hinata, are you two in here?" Hizashi asked in order to get their attention.

Neji was the only one to pop up from behind the desk. From the spot at the door Hizashi could see Hinata's feet curl under the desk at his question. "Dad. We're still here."

"I thought you were going to ask Hinata to show you around, Neji. You'll need to learn your way." And surely it wasn't healthy for Hinata to lock herself in this barren room.

Neji fidgeted and glanced down at Hinata for a moment. "I was going to, but Hinata-chan was scared they'll take the desk if she leaves. So we're staying here."

"Why doesn't she want them to take the desk?" Normally he'd have asked Hinata herself, considering he would be her acting guardian now, but perhaps it would be best she wasn't forced to see her father's face on someone else just yet.

His son looked down to her again before answering; at least he seemed to be making a connection with Hinata. "She doesn't want them to take all of Hyuuga-sama's things."

The sharp intake of breath Hizashi couldn't stop went unnoticed by his son, but he still couldn't help but feel unsettled. Hizashi had been so adamant that he would not be considered merely a replacement for his brother that he had insisted on having a different room for his office. Therefore everything pertaining to the duties of Hyuuga-sama had been moved, and most of Hizashi's personal mementos had been packed up for storage or sent to Atsuko. Since it was Hiashi's office none of them had considered what Hinata would think of it or whether she would want anything. Obviously, they were mistaken to overlook her.

A heavy guilt weighed down each step as Hizashi slowly approached the desk and knelt on one knee in front of it. A thin piece of wood separated him from his young, frightened and grief-stricken niece, and while a part of him desperately wanted to comfort her –remembering how terribly she cried when they brought her to see Hiashi's body– this way was the best. He would leave the consoling to Neji.

"Forgive me, Hinata. We didn't think of you, and I'm sorry. Would you like to have this room and anything that was taken from it?" Hizashi kept his voice soft and calm, betraying none of the pain still stinging him.

For a long moment the room was silent, the only sound a slight shifting of cloth beyond the wooden barrier. Finally, Hizashi heard a faint voice speak up. "I can have . . . everything?"

Hizashi nodded, though she couldn't see. That Hinata had spoken to him was enough of a first step. "Yes, you may have anything that was taken and this room will be yours for any purpose you choose."

There was the sound of tiny fingers scratching against wood before Hinata was willing to reply again. Her voice was a little stronger this time, and no longer holding the fear it had before. "Promise? Anything?"

The girl sounded so frail, and yet she was just as stubborn as her father, even if all she could do was hide beneath a desk until someone noticed her. Maybe it was Hinata's physical weakness that made her act passively. Hizashi could still remember those first two years she suffered from constant fevers and coughing fits. The last time he'd watched her train with her father made it clear how detrimental the loss of those two developmental years actually was on her body. She was considerably weak for her age and had difficulty with her coordination, and while it was understandable, for the heir it was not acceptable. The council had considered her to be growing unfit –her timid disposition didn't help matters– and yet in her own way Hinata understood how she could take control.

"You have my word as your uncle, anything." Hizashi smiled just a little as he said that. He'd never called himself her uncle, nor really ever thought of himself as such, and yet here they all were thrust into a family relationship they'd never expected to nurture before. Behind the desk, Neji watched Hinata and mirrored his father's warm expression.

The scratching turned into tapping as Hinata considered Hizashi's offer. He waited patiently for her, knowing better than to rush her trust or acceptance. The hint of her Hizashi could see from under the desk suddenly disappeared and Hinata's head rose up just enough for her eyes to see over. She studied him for a minute (perhaps comparing him to her father) before dropping down into her hiding place again.

He wasn't certain what she had decided, or whether it would be advantageous for him to remain, but a tiny voice finally answered his patience with a simple, "Thank you."

As he lay in bed, Neji's face stretched from the strength of his yawn, revealing the little white lie he told his mother about not being tired yet. The day had been so eventful it was hard to believe it was already time for him to go to sleep. Considering he was a big brother now, certainly that meant he was old enough to stay up longer.

He'd spent nearly the whole day with Hinata, which meant that all the boxes for his room remained packed up and stacked against the wall. It felt strange being in a new room and a new house, not knowing where anything was if he needed it (he barely knew how to get to his parent's room). Still, his father had told him he'd get used to it, and in time it would feel just like their old home.

Neji pulled the cover up past his chin and rolled away from the door so the light from the hall wouldn't be so bothersome. He might've had to go to bed, but the adults were still at work unpacking and rearranging the main house to accommodate the new additions. That meant noise and light, though it seemed his parents were keeping the majority of the activity away from his room.

He was just starting to doze off when he heard a light knocking on his door, so faint he didn't realize what it was until the second time it sounded. Sitting up, Neji turned to the door and rubbed the struggling sleep from his eyes. "Yes?"

When the door opened, the light blinded him for a minute before his eyes adjusted. It wasn't surprising since there wasn't a lot in the doorway to block it. Just a small, frightened looking little girl.

"Hinata-chan?" Neji asked cautiously. She looked like she had early that morning and was obviously trying to keep from crying. It was painful to look at her and not do anything. Getting out of bed, Neji ushered his cousin in and closed the door in case any of the adults came by and saw them. Since he didn't know why Hinata was scared he didn't want any of the adults to get the wrong idea.

"Neji-niisan . . . can I . . . can I stay with you?" Her voice squeaked and cracked in her attempt to not cry. "I want to be with Mama, but . . . but—" Hinata finally broke into tears against his chest, grasping his sleeves with all the might her tiny hands could muster as she wept.

Neji wasn't sure what to do (somehow he always found himself uncertain when she cried) and, after a hesitant moment, he gently wrapped his arms around her. "Hinata-chan, what's wrong with your mom?"

"Sh-She's sick," Hinata whimpered into his robe. "She's going to Father. She's gonna leave me alone. I heard them talking."

Neji wasn't old enough to understand more than what he was told, and the fear and panic that consumed his little cousin was enough to make him believe anything she said. If he was older, he might have thought to ask what they said, who said it, or how Atsuko had gotten sick, but Neji was just four-years-old and wanted nothing more than to stop Hinata from crying.

"You can stay with me," Neji whispered soothingly. He remembered the last time he was upset his mother would stroke his hair, so he mimicked the tender action. "Anytime, you can stay. I'm your big brother now, remember."

Hinata finally looked up to him again as the last of her tears finished the familiar track down her cheeks. Neji'd begun to get used to what fear, pain, and grief looked like in her eyes, but there was something new when she gazed at him this time. There was hope – hope and comfort. "Really? You won't . . . leave me?"

"Nope. I promise," he said, shaking his head. "Come here." He carefully led his sister-cousin to the futon and covered her up before lying down next to her. Immediately she crawled over to him and clung to the front of his robe. She wasn't crying anymore and even seemed to relax the longer Neji held her.

It appeared impossible that this tiny, fragile little girl was destined to become the head of the clan one day. Hiashi had always terrified Neji, and even his father seemed to dislike going to see him. How was Hinata supposed to become like that? If his father and her father were brothers and ended up not wanting to see each other, would Neji and Hinata become like that when they grew up?

The two children slowly fell into a content sleep against one another with the simple belief that they weren't alone. Be they siblings, cousins, or nothing at all, they were not alone.