It's been a while…apologies to everyone. Hope this makes up for a little of my idleness. Please enjoy! (And thanks to MissMinnie08 for the correction :D)
The Autumn Wind
She closes her eyes, enjoying the autumn breeze and his feather-light touches on her hands. The calloused pads of his fingertips brush over her skin and she feels a faint smile at the corners of her mouth.
A sharp pain rushes up her arm, and she gasps lightly in surprise. Her wrist jerks involuntarily from the sting, her fingers tremble; but his grasp tightens gently and he strokes her hand comfortingly, carefully avoiding the slash across her palm. His warmth seeps into her, soothing away the pain, and a moment later, her muscles relax and she breathes out in relief.
She loves the feeling of Neji's hands.
"Forgive me, Hinata-sama…" he says, and she can hear the apologetic tone in his voice. She turns towards him slightly.
"It's alright, Neji-neesan." She reassures him with a smile, eyes remaining closed. His fingers loosen slightly, but she can still feel his questioning gaze. She nods but says nothing in reply, before turning back. She hears him cork the bottle of iodine with one hand, his other still holding hers.
And she hears the autumn wind whispering through the trees, muting the pounding of her heart.
He's bandaging her hand now, deft fingers guiding the cloth into place. Around and around, gentle hands cradle hers reassuringly. His presence is peaceful. She wants to sigh in content, but doesn't. She wants to open her eyes, but doesn't.
For if she opens them, she is afraid of what she might see. She is afraid of what she might find within his gaze; afraid of seeing the things left unsaid.
It's better this way, she tells herself.
Perhaps he is not ready; certainly she herself is not. So in moments like these, when they are vulnerable to each other, she will spare them both the intricacies. For now, he is simply himself, and she is simply herself, and they are simply a boy and girl sitting on a courtyard deck.
He finishes, and pats her wrist gently. She smiles.
"Thank you, Neji-niisan." she says genuinely. He says nothing, but she imagines that he is nodding. She takes one more breath, savoring the moment. It's time. And as she opens her eyes, he drops her hands and rises.
When their eyes meet, his eyes are steely as always, his mask donned. And perhaps hers is as well. Her smile fades, and with a polite exchange of nods, he departs, hair swishing behind him. She watches him leave, memorizing the slope of his back, and the rhythm of his steps, before her vision inevitably blurs.
And then her eyes close once again, and the tears fall silently, soaking into the bandages he so tenderly wrapped.
And she hears the pounding of her heart over the whispers of the autumn wind.
And there you have it: an angsty moment-in-time for Hinata. ;) Review!