CHP3
Dear Neji,
I hope you received the package I sent to you, I also included some things for your friend, I hope he doesn't mind. I trust you and we welcome him with open arms, I already have his room ready for him. Will there be anything else that I can prepare for your visit? Tenten and the others are preparing a party for all the home-coming shinobi on the docks. Hanabi is doing really good, she has a new boyfriend. I really like him, and he has a great family heritage. Including the Sandaime Hokage, he's his grandfather. Can you imagine? Hanabi dating the grandson of our nation's leader! From what I understand he plans to join the forces once he graduates. Tenten of course misses you and will send a separate letter to you, I'm very grateful to her, she helps us so much. If you don't keep her around, then I will, she's basically like a sister to me. Things have been alright, we just miss you. It's been too long since you've been home, and I'm glad you get to stay for a whole 6 months! I included some new photos for you, even though you're coming home soon, I thought you might want to know how the three of us have changed. Two years is a long time Neji, we all miss you so much. Well, I guess I'll let you get back to training, or to just relaxing.
With love; Hinata and Hanabi
Neji read over the letter again and peered through the contents of the box of goods she sent him. He never showed his cousin how much she really meant to him. He cared for Hanabi as well, but there was a bond with him and Hinata. He despised her growing up, but that was childhood foolishness. The woman she was becoming was indeed a rare one. She did everything for everybody, including sending goods for the Uchiha as well, all without even knowing the man's name. She was so selfless it amazed him.
She sent baby wipes, sunflower seeds, hand lotion, batteries, stamps, plastic bags, chap stick, sun block, toothpaste, toothbrushes, disposable razors, two medical kits, deodorant, paper and pens, some books, and even the latest albums of some of his favorite bands. There was also a nice set of shuriken that just screamed Tenten.
Photos, she mentioned photos. There weren't any in the envelope with the letter, so he sifted again through the box. Ah…in one of the plastic baggies. Smart girl, would've been a fine kunoichi. He lifted them out of the bag and just stared in almost near shock at the three photos.
Hanabi really had grown in the past two years. Her hair was still long with the same Hyuuga all-seeing eyes. She was taller though, and more…dare he think it, more womanly. She was still too thin though, in his opinion. And still had that devil-may-care look on her face. She was posed in the backyard of their home, backpack on, headphones in, and a smile and a wave to the camera. He didn't like the fact that he was missing out on everything. He too felt responsible for the teen.
The next picture was of Hinata, and the photo made him gasp. "She's beautiful."
And she was. She appeared to be the same height, and she let her hair grow out. She left bangs to frame her face, and you could just see the softness of her heart in her pale lilac eyes. She'll make an amazing physician once she completes med school. She too was in the backyard of their home, hands behind her back with her head just slightly tilted, it looked like she was under the willow tree, oh look…the girls put in a pond.
He'd gotten pictures of the new home after they'd moved in, so he knew what was new and what wasn't. The fence around the yard was also new. The trees larger of course, and a new flower bed too. Smirking at the discovery, he also found an herb garden. "Just like you Hina," he said to himself.
He didn't want to look at the next one. He knew it was Tenten. The Tanaka girl had his very heart, and he was always a little fearful that she would move on while he was stuck pining for her. Slowly, he moved Hinata's picture to the back.
His heart rate increased, his breaths came short. She looked amazing. He could see her small lithe form under the pink training robes she garbed. Her hair was longer, he could tell by the thickness of her twin buns. She wasn't in a warrior's pose this time, no, she was sitting in what seemed to be…it was his bedroom. Oh my. She was, she was sitting on his bed that the girls set aside for him. He couldn't glance away, and the thoughts going through his mind were not appropriate. He longed for her, he needed to be with her. He missed her voice and those beautiful sparkling brown eyes.
"You alright Hyuuga?"
Neji looked up to see Sasuke looking at him worriedly. Maybe he should be worried, he didn't even notice the Uchiha entering their cabin. He just knew the look on his own face mirrored his longing for home, for Tenten, for his cousins.
Taking a couple deep breaths he replied, "Yeah. Just…my family sent some recent pictures of themselves. And. And one of Tenten." His voice was hoarse. Sasuke was the only one he'd met outside of Tenten and family that he opened up to.
"Oh really. So now you have a new picture of your girl to moon over?" Sasuke asked with a smirk.
"Hn. Which reminds me, Assuke, half of this is yours too." Neji said pointing to the box beside his bed, while flipping to the picture of Hanabi again. Taking in all the changes.
"What? You don't need to share that with me, I'm not some charity case." Sasuke said, taking offense.
"Whether you were the Hokage or Rock Lee, Hinata still would have sent this for you."
"What?" he asked again, "Why would she send me anything? Did you tell her about me!?" he said getting highly agitated.
"Of course I did, and she agreed to let you into her home while we are on leave."
"What!"
"You heard me."
"What the hell Hyuuga! I'm not some orphan who can't fend for himself!"
"Calm down Sasuke, before you wake Naruto," he said, mentioning the hyper blonde living in the cabin next to theirs.
"Then he'll wake up Lee." Sasuke said to Neji in revenge, speaking of Naruto's cabin-mate.
"Exactly Uchiha. Do you want both Naruto and Lee in here? Then keep on screaming, I'm sure it will be a youthful adventure that ends with ramen."
"…"
"Hn. Don't be annoying. Look, I asked her if you could stay with us while we're on leave. Swallow that damn pride and accept the fact that you will have a warm bed to lie in that isn't military issued."
"Why?"
"…Because Sasuke, I want to help you like you've helped me. This was the only way I could think of to return the favor."
"You still owe me."
"Then you accept." Neji observed, looking back at Hanabi's picture, before switching again to Tenten's.
--
It was over a month later and Hinata received the confirmation letter from Neji. He greatly expressed his appreciation for the package, and for including his friend as well. The shinobi they were housing was Sasuke Uchiha, the name sounded familiar, but she couldn't be sure. Perhaps Neji mentioned him in a letter before, she would check later. He told her that this Sasuke person would be a suitable guest and polite. Well that was good news to her! She trusted Neji, and if he said the man would be nice to get along with, then he would be.
Neji would be arriving on a Friday in mid-August. That left the whole weekend to recover and reunite with him. The graduation party for Hanabi was just last weekend, and it went off quite well. She found out that Hanabi was thinking of either going to law school, or joining the air force. Needless to say Hinata fainted at the thought of her sister being in the armed forces too. At this rate, her and Tenten might as well join as well. Hinata agreed to give Hanabi the summer with Konohamaru before making a full on decision. So she gave her until the end of August to make up her mind. It was, after all, only her future. It was a big decision, and she wanted her sister to do what was best for her. Not her father, not Konohamaru, not herself, but her. Hanabi. So Hinata thought if she let Hanabi wait until August, she could get some insight from Neji.
Hinata herself was preparing for another party on the Saturday after Neji's arrival. She was planning a small get together of all their friends over the years, and will host a pool party. Yes, her home came with a pool when she bought it, and this would be the first year they actually opened it. It was the first year they could afford to. Konohamaru was decent enough to be doing most of the work for them by cleaning it and prepping it for the water. Then he said he'd check it often to keep it clean and make sure the water levels were safe for swimming.
Sometimes she felt like a fifth wheel, but didn't let it get to her too much. She was happy where she was in her life right now, and knew where she wanted to go. Already, she was off to a great start with the house and car. It was really a nice home, and they found it through a list from the bank. Apparently the previous owners filed bankruptcy and let their loan fall through. She did feel left out sometimes though. Hanabi now had Konohamaru, and it was clear to see they were crazy for each other. It was obvious in the way he looked at her sometimes, or the way she'd smile a certain smile only for him. And Tenten had Neji, granted he hadn't been here for the past two years. Still, she had someone. She shouldn't think like that, she didn't actually want to be in a relationship or anything, she didn't have the time! No, she just didn't want to get in their way of happiness by making anyone feel guilty. Desires for the opposite gender just were not for her, there was no one she was even interested in at the moment.
Shrugging it off, she got out of her car and swiftly entered the prestigious university. She had to drive an hour from her home to get there, but in the end it will be worth it. Looking down, shuffling through her papers to turn in her assignment for the next class, she steadily bumped into someone, making her drop her folder.
Looking up she apologized over and over again to her old acquaintance and fellow classmate.
"I really am sorry Sakura!" she said again, blushing furiously.
"That's okay Hinata!" the girl replied.
"W-what are you doing here so late, did you switch to night classes?"
"Oh, Miss Tsunade asked me to be her apprentice! Isn't that wonderful! So, I have to run errands for her after my classes are over for now, but next month we'll start in specialized training."
That was great news for her pink-haired friend, Hinata wished she could have an opportunity like that, but she probably wouldn't be able to participate right now anyway. Someone has to look over Hanabi and make sure her and her boyfriend weren't getting to close.
"That's really great! I have to get going now, but it was nice...um...running into you." she ended with another blush.
"No problem Hinata, good seeing you too. Bye now."
Class was intriguing as usual. Once she finished med school, she was lined up for an internship at the Konoha Leaf hospital, and then decide which field she wanted to practice in, or specialize in. At first she wanted to be a family practitioner. But after thinking it over that last couple months, and knowing that she loved children, she was vying for either a neonatal or pediatric surgeon. She hadn't told Hanabi of this yet, it would mean really late hours and sleepless nights ahead, it wasn't like she would have anyone to come home to anyway once Hanabi was off to college. Most importantly, Hinata felt confident she was making the right decision. She was patient, and would do her all to be the voice of young ones who didn't understand why they were in pain. Plus the help with her family's bloodline she could activate to look further than anyone else in the field, she knew that would lead to greater results faster, and also more responsibility on her shoulders. It was a life long dream of hers to make those who are sick better, and improve their lives.
On the long drive home, besides thinking about her last assignment in that class, she was thinking about what else she could do for Neji's guest. He mentioned that he had no family and friends. She wondered if his parents died young, or if he was an orphan. Whatever the case may be, she would do everything she could to make the man feel welcome in their home. But she had homework first.
