Recovery

I do NOT own Naruto or anything associated with it. It all belongs to Kishimoto.

It had almost been 3 weeks since Neji's return to the village. Since then, he has been in the hospital cared to only by female nurses, his fear of being hurt again seeming to get in the way of his socializing. Even his team was scarcely allowed to visit. Tsunade thought the over-exuberance of his two male teammates would have a negative effect on Neji's recovery. She wanted to keep him here in the hospital until he was back to normal again.

Neji had other desires. He wanted nothing more than to go home. He had made it abundantly clear that he hated hospitals, and being stuck in one place for so long was driving him crazy. One day, he woke up to Tsunade opening the door, as she always did at this time of day. Shizune was carrying a tray of food behind her. After setting the food down on the nightstand, Shizune took a few steps back and looked at the Hokage, who was smiling warmly at her patient.

"How are you feeling this morning, Neji?" she asked.

"Fine," he answered simply.

"That's good to hear. Do you need anything? More pillows or blankets?" she asked.

Neji gave her a blank stare. He gave her this same stare every morning hoping it would get the point across that more bedding would not make him happy at this point. The only reason he would want a pillow would be so he could use it as a projectile to nail a poor innocent bystander in the head with. That would defiantly alleviate some of the boredom.

"I'll take that as a 'no'," Tsunade said with an equally blank stare.

Damn right, that's a 'no', Neji thought, sourly.

"Look Neji, I know you don't like this, but until you start to cooperate you are going to stay here," the Hokage said as if responding to his stark internal comment.

Neji was about to open his mouth to retaliate when there was a soft knock at the door. Both Neji and Tsunade turned to see Hinata pull the door open and quietly slide inside. She smiled timidly at her bedridden cousin and bowed to the Hokage.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," she said in her usual soft voice.

"Nope. You're fine. I was just leaving," Tsunade said as she scribbled something down on Neji's medical chart and walked briskly from the room.

Hinata inched closer to the bed, her long hair swaying as she walked. She smiled at her cousin and sat in the chair next to him.

"How are you feeling, Nii-san?" she asked.

"I've been better," Neji replied truthfully.

"I figured as much," Hinata stated, her voice dropping in volume. Neji was staring hard at her, trying to read her eyes.

"What's wrong, Hinata-sama?"

"How many times do I have to tell you to drop the honorific?" she asked, avoiding his question.

"Don't blame me. It's a habit," Neji replied, shrugging, "Now will you please tell me what's wrong?" She paused.

"Father wanted me to come over and check on you. He's been worried," Hinata stated softly.

"What for? He has no reason to worry about me," Neji stated bluntly.

Hinata looked appalled. "Of course he does! You're his nephew. It's only natural for him to care, especially now."

"Is something important going on today? I'm afraid I've been kind of out of the loop."

"Well," she began, sounding hesitant, "The elders gathered today…"

"And?"

"They were discussing your current situation. Apparently some of the elders of the Hyuuga want to have you excommunicated from the clan."

Neji wasn't at all surprised. Leave it to a room full of senile old men to jump the gun on something he had no control over.

"And what's your take on that, Hinata?" Neji asked softly, "Would you prefer if I was excommunicated?"

Hinata looked at her cousin. She seemed shocked that her cousin would ever think that she would wish this on him. She searched his face for any sign emotion. His face betrayed nothing, but his eyes told her that he was expecting her to agree with the elders. How could he not? She was Main, and all Main Branch Hyuuga thought alike. Right?

"Neji, I would never wish something like that on you! I know you had no control over what happened and I don't blame you for anything. In fact, my father and I have been fighting the elders almost nonstop for over a week now. Seeing you leave the Hyuuga would be the last thing that my father would stand for. He loves you, Neji," Hinata insisted.

Neji looked down at his hands once Hinata had finished. He wished with all his heart that he could believe that, but he couldn't follow words blindly. He was fully aware that the elders usually got their way and that no matter what Hiashi said, if this was the elders really wanted, it would happen. That was one of the things that he hated most about Hyuuga politics.

Neji took a wary look around his hospital room and frowned. As much as he hated it here, perhaps it would be best to stay here until everything blew over. The elders couldn't get to him here.

Hinata, as if sensing her cousin's unease, placed a comforting hand on his. Neji glanced at her and smiled. She always knew how to lighten his spirits.

"When do you think you would want to come home?" Hinata asked, breaking into his reverie.

Neji paused. "As soon as I can… I hate it here…" Hinata smiled at her cousin's soft but blunt reply.

"I bet I could pull a few strings and get you out of here soon," she told him. He looked up at her hopefully. "There is a small condition though."

Neji waited expectantly for her to continue.

"You would have to stay here for a few more days just for Tsunade to be sure. And you would have to be pleasant. That means no back-talking, refusing treatments, or harmful wishes on the staff," the Hyuuga heiress stated, counting the conditions off on her fingers. Neji scowled for a moment. Then he sighed.

"Fine. I promise," he said compliantly.

I know this is really short. It just didn't want to cooperate and wouldn't let me make it any longer! I really tried!

So as always, reviews are loved, haters are burned by the heat of their own hateful comment, and I love NejiHina!