Disclaimer: See previous chapter.
I updated…what a miracle! For those of you who might want to know I aced my reading and science finals, am studying as hard as I can for my biology exam, and I flunked my algebra one…bad. So, there will never be any kind of math in any of these chapters! w00t!
When Neji first became a caged bird he wished it had been dark. If it had been, he wouldn't have had to see Hinata's horror, or Hiashi's emotionless gaze. He wouldn't have seen his own pain reflected in the mirror, or the uncaring faces of the elders. He wouldn't have seen himself begin to cry and shake and he wouldn't have watched the horrid seal carve itself on his forehead.
The first time Neji saw the seal's power he wished it were dark. Then he wouldn't have seen his father, the greatest man on earth, collapse in pain. He wouldn't have seen his uncle's fury, or his cousin's shame. He wouldn't have been able to tell that the cries of pain were Hizashi's, or that the cold voice was Hiashi, or the pathetic whimpering of Hinata, and maybe he wouldn't have even felt his own tears.
The day Neji accepted fate was unchangeable he wished it were dark. The darkness would have hidden his father's corpse, and the shinobi who had come to take it. The darkness might have muffled the voices claiming it was the body of the elder. It would have hidden how little anyone cared that a life, his father's life, was over. The darkness wouldn't have told him how relieved everyone was...how no one spared a glance to the orphaned Hyuuga.
The day Neji considered that fate was not carved in stone he wished it were dark. If it were dark, he wouldn't have felt so much shame at being beaten by a failure. He wouldn't have been so ashamed that Lord Hiashi had seen his embarrassing defeat. He wouldn't have envied the birds soaring through the skies, wouldn't have seen his father's face when he looked at the sun.
But on the day Neji realized the woman who had the key to his cage had been next to him the whole time he wished it hadn't been so dark. If it hadn't midnight, he would have seen the blush on the weapons mistress' face when he kissed her. If it hadn't been so dark, he would have seen her words murmur an inaudible, "I love you." Moreover, if it hadn't been so dark, she would have seen his lips form the words, "I love you too."
Neji and Tenten: an unspoken bond that finally finds words. I always end up liking the last paragraph better than the rest of the chapter. Next one will have more Tenji than all the other chapters combined, promise!