Day 2 – Firsts/Lasts
"Do you remember the first time I called you nii-san?"
"Yes. It was a year after my father died; when they told me that nothing had changed that I was still destined to live as your shadow."
"I'm really sorry. I just wanted to you to feel that I saw you as family, not a servant, not a slave."
"I know that now, Hinata-sama"
But she frowned.
"I must have felt like I was mocking your suffering."
He said nothing.
"You know, that was also the day they said we would be getting married."
He remained silent, but the heaviness of his gaze was gone.
"I don't see you as my brother anymore."
His step almost faltered.
"I wouldn't want you to… after tomorrow."
"Really?"
Her question sounded incredibly sincere, even surprised; if he had a sense of humour he would find that almost comical. Neji nodded. Hinata smiled.
"So today is the last day I'll be calling you Neji-nii-san, tomorrow…" she sighed. "Tomorrow I will be your wife, we will be family in a way that branch or main family will not matter anymore, and no one will be able to say that you are anything but my equal."