Hiya! I know it's been awhile-ish but here's the fourth chapter! Enjoy~ (Sorry if it's kinda bad ^-^;)
ミ コ ト • Mikoto
NOTE: UPDATES WILL TAKE LONGER BECAUSE OF STUDIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!
Chapter 4: Hidden Thoughts
Previously:
"Can I call you 'Hinata-Chan'?"
Hinata's eyes widened. Everyone normally called her either 'Hinata' or 'Hinata-Sama'. Never 'Hinata-Chan'. She nodded cheerfully. "Hai!"
Neji gave a generous smile at her and handed her the flower. "It's a Lily. It symbolizes Hope, Faith, Purity, Promise and Passion. It kind of reminds me of you. You can have it, Hinata-Sama."
Hinata could feel her cheeks starting to heat up again. She couldn't believe it; Neji was doing exactly the same thing as the memory he just said.
"It's... your eyes. When I look at them, it…it makes me feel, nervous and it feels like so much pressure is weighing me down. And it's probably just me but…sometimes; it feels as if...as if you're looking at me with pity or hatred. Then, it starts to m-make me feel w-weak. Though, it might just be…because I'm not strong enough." She clutched onto her hoodie. "When people look at me with strict eyes or sharp eyes or…anything like that…it makes me feel so…frail."
"I…have one last question." I have to know her answer to this last question…!
"...Do you hate me?"
Her eyes widened in shock. Hate…that word. It's such a cruel word. Do I hate him? Neji-Nii san...how do I answer your question?
He shook his head and stood up. "Forgive me, I shouldn't ask you such a question."
If I don't answer his question…then I'd just keep thinking about it, and then I'd regret not answering it. But, I don't want to stop him again. "Neji-Nii san…"
"Hm?" he turned.
"Can we…talk more?" she whispered.
Neji blinked twice, he was surprised.
"I-I mean, if you have time!"
He smiled. "Of course, Hinata-Sama." He looked around. Someone…someone is watching us.
"?"
"Hinata-Sama, care for a walk?" he offered his hand to her.
"Um…okay." She placed her small hand onto his, and he pulled her up gently.
They started to walk away from the meadows, and into the trees. He still kept his grip on her hand, and Neji lead her. He slowly pulled her, so that she was next to him.
She blushed slightly. "Neji-Nii san…?"
He moved his head closer to hers.
"…!" Close…he's so close…
She could feel his breath on her skin, his lips were touching her ear, and when he whispered, it felt ticklish. Neji knew that whoever was following them, was quite close by. He didn't want that person to know that Neji was aware of their presence, but Neji wanted to notify Hinata, just in case. He didn't want that someone to hear him, so he had to go closer than usual to the young Hyuuga heiress.
"Hinata-Sama…there is someone following us."
"Nani?" she was about to activate her Byakugan, but then, Neji's grip slightly tightened.
"They don't know that we know."
"Why are they…?"
He shook his head and pulled away from her. "No clue. But after this, I'll find out who it is."
She nodded.
"Anyways, your answer to my question…?" he changed the subject.
"Oh, um, right! Well…" His voice echoed in her head. …Do you hate me? Hate me? Hate…
"I see that you are struggling to answer."
"Eh? N-No, I'm not...!"
He glanced at her in the eye. "Once I had changed the subject, you paused and thought about it. Then, I felt you tighten your grip on my hand, and your gaze shifted down, you were thinking of something negative."
"!" he always analyses me so accurately. That's when she noticed, that they were still holding each other's hands. Her face turned deep red, like an apple, and she immediately let go. "G-G-Gomenesai!"
He only chuckled. "Ee."
"Tomokaku, I…I don't hate you, Neji-Nii san!"
His eyes widened. "Anata…"
"I don't hate you, or dislike you! It's wrong to hate someone who has done nothing wrong! You…you may have disliked me in the past because I'm a Main, and I'm weak…but, I don't hate you."
"But you don't like me either." He pointed out.
"Sonna koto arimasen!" she faced him.
"…" he remained silent.
"I…I admire you. I look up to you…" her eyes moved to the power left corner and she felt her cheeks color into a pastel pink.
He blinked. Now this, was a shocking surprise that he was not expecting. "Me…?"
"…Neji-Nii san is strong, confident, calm and cool. You're popular with the girls, and some boys actually want to be like you as well. You…you truly are a genius, a branch member who can surpass the main…I wish to be strong, and to have confidence in my skills, like you…" she started to fiddle with her hands.
"I'm…flattered." He was still trying to recover from the unexpectedness.
"Dakara…" She looked up at him, with strong eyes. "I need to get stronger, to be able to protect those who are important to me! I don't want to run away anymore! So, Neji-Nii san's training will-"
"Me training you, will help you improve, right? Because since we're from the same clan, and you want to be more like me in strength wise…then it would be convenient, and it would kill two birds with one stone." stated Neji.
"Hai!" she nodded, she was very happy that she managed to tell him how she really feels.
He smiled a true smile from the heart. "I understand. Then, I will train you…not because Hiashi-Sama told me to, but because I chose to. Hinata-Sama, I'm going to help you become an excellent Kunoichi."
Hinata's face brightened up and she was full of joy, because of his reply. She bowed a very low bow. "Arigato Gozaimasu, Neji-Nii san!"
"Don't mention it. Sa, let's talk about your training."
"Un!"
Neji always loved to see his younger cousin being cheerful, she always made him smile, and it was a refreshing feeling to watch someone try so hard to reach their goal.
•
The person behind the tree, death-glared at Hinata. "Since when did those two get so close?" they continued to watch the two Hyuuga's talk. "I can't even hear what they're saying! If only I knew what they were talking about…" Tch! She's in the way…of my goal. Neji.
•
"For today, how about a training session before dinner, and one more after dinner?" asked the Hyuuga prodigy.
Neji and Hinata were still on their stroll around the village. Both of them were clearly enjoying one another's company.
"Is that alright with you? I have nothing else planned at those times." replied Hinata.
"Yes, it's alright with me. Where will we meet?"
Hinata put her index finger to her chin, and thought. "…Hmm…um…for the session before dinner, maybe outside, in the Hyuuga courtyard?"
He nodded. "Hyuuga courtyard it is."
"And the after dinner training session…" she trailed off.
"I'll come by your room."
"Okay!"
He beamed. "Good. You just have to be prepared."
"Hai! Watashi wa kenmei ni shigoto o yakusoku shimasu!"
"Oi, Hinata!" yelled a familiar voice.
"Hm?" Neji and Hinata both spun around to see who it was that called her.
Shino and Kiba walked up to them.
"We just finished the mission." said Shino.
"Yeah, and man, was it a pain! Naruto just wouldn't shut up! Geez, Hinata, you should've been there." said Kiba.
"Ah, Okaerinasai, Shino-Kun, Kiba-Kun!" smiled Hinata.
"Thanks!" replied Kiba.
"Thank you, Hinata." replied Shino, calmly.
And that's when Kiba and Shino both noticed Neji standing next to her.
Shino adjusted his sunglasses, and Kiba had an immediate suspicious look.
Neji raised an eyebrow. "Nandayo?"
Kiba shot Neji a glare and grabbed Hinata's wrist.
"Eh? K-Kiba-Kun?" gasped Hinata.
Kiba pulled her away from the others and lead her to a bench; he made her sit down. "Hinata, explain."
"Nani?" she looked at him, innocently.
"What the heck happened while we were gone?" he asked.
"Nani mo okoranakatta…"
"…You really expect me to believe that?" he folded his arms.
"We…we were just on a walk together…"
"Hinata, Neji hates the main family, remember?" Kiba tried to stay calm.
"Iie! Sonna koto arimasen! He…he's changed."
"How do you know? He could be trying to gain your trust, and then he might just end up killing you!"
"Neji-Nii san's not like that! Naruto-Kun changed him at the Chuunin exams! And he even came to my rescue when the cloud ninja tried to kidnap me!" she fought back.
"And so did I!"
"If he wanted to kill me, he had all those chances back then!"
"Yeah, but-"
"People can change, Kiba-Kun! Watashi oShinjite Kudasai!"
He hesitated. "…"
Hinata fell silent. Kiba and she hadn't had a fight like that in ages.
Kiba sighed. "…Sorry. I'm just worried." He looked at her. "I don't want to see you close to death again…and worse, if it was by the same guy."
"Kiba-Kun…I'm sorry as well."
He shook his head. "Maybe Shino was right. Neji training you…might be good for you. But, if he ever shows any signs of hatred towards you…then I'm going to hunt him down."
She laughed. "Kiba-Kun, that sounds silly!"
"It's true! I seriously will hunt him down if he does anything bad to you!"
Akamaru barked. "Woof!"
Hinata giggled. "Arigato…Kiba-Kun."
He slightly blushed. "...No problem. If you need anything, then I'm here, alright?"
She nodded, "Hai!"
"Now, let's get back to the others." grinned Kiba.
"Un! Let's!" they walked back to where they left Shino & Neji. Only Shino was there.
"Where's Neji-Nii san?" questioned Hinata.
Shino looked at both of them. "He…"
•
Right after Hinata & Kiba left…
"Where do you think they're going?" asked the quiet bug user.
Neji folded his arms. "I wouldn't know."
They went quiet.
"Did I do something wrong? Kiba seems to be upset about Hinata-Sama and I." said Neji, as calm as ever.
Shino thought for a few seconds. "Kiba doesn't trust you, perhaps?"
Neji tilted his head. "Hmm…really now? I-"
Someone suddenly interrupted their conversation, "Ah~ Neji! I can't believe you left me behind!" whined none other than Tenten.
He sighed. Neji really wasn't in the mood to deal with his annoying teammates. "I didn't leave you behind, because I never recalled promising to take you with me."
"Aw, Neji, don't be like that!" laughed Tenten.
"I can be like however I want." He replied, coolly. Why won't she leave me alone?
"Well, anyways, are you free right now?" questioned the weapons specialist.
"Actually, I'm no-"
Tenten grabbed him and speedily dragged him away, before he could finish what he was saying.
"Where are we going?" growled Neji, angrily. His patience was running out.
"Somewhere!"
"And where would this somewhere be?"
"Some place!"
•
"…And that's what happened." Shino finished explaining.
Kiba smiled. "So, that means Neji's out of the picture for now! C'mon Shino, Hinata, let's go have some team-bonding time!"
"Team-bonding?" mumbled Shino, questionably.
"Um…what will we be doing?" asked Hinata, shyly.
"How about…we stroll around just for now?" suggested Kiba, as he patted Akamaru.
"Sounds good." replied Shino.
So they did just that.
Minutes later…
"Ahaha, Hinata, Shino! Check this out!" laughed Kiba.
"?" they looked at him.
"Akamaru ate all the Dango I had brought for you guys!"
They watched the little dog munch away at the sweet dumplings on the sticks.
"…Go buy more, Kiba."
"WHAT? I have to pay more?"
Hinata giggled.
"Do it. Otherwise…" started Shino.
"Okay, I'll go back and get some more!" he quickly ran off.
Shino looked at Hinata. "You seem troubled."
Hinata glanced at him. "Me? No, no. I'm not troubled at all!"
"…Are you worried about Neji suddenly disappearing?"
She froze. He was right on the mark. "Um…no, I'm not worried. I'm sure Neji-Nii san is fine…"
"Hinata. I know that you aren't telling the truth."
She went silent.
"Then, why don't you go check on him? Or use your Byakugan?"
"I-I couldn't possible watch him with my Byakugan! H-H-He'd notice right away!"
"Then go see him."
"But…He's with Tenten-San, I wouldn't want to intrude. And besides, this is team-bonding time, isn't it?"
"…"
Kiba came running back. "Hey guys, here, I got the Dango back safely!"
"Good, now let's eat." replied Shino.
Hinata smiled, a fake smile. "Yes, thank you for getting it for us, Kiba-Kun."
"Heh, no problem! Right, Akamaru?"
No reply.
"Huh? Akamaru?" Kiba looked over his shoulder. "AAGGHHH! AKAMARU, YOU'RE EATING MY DANGO!"
"Woof!"
Shino smirked and Hinata laughed. Kiba yelled, "It's not funny!"
•
"Ahh! The breeze sure is nice, ne, Neji?" Tenten smiled.
"…Why am I here?" he mumbled.
They were on top of the Ninja Academy Rooftop. The clouds were gliding by slowly, and the wind was blowing gently.
"Neji, some team-bonding time won't kill you, you know. This could help us improve our teamwork!"
"If it's team-bonding, then where is Lee and Gai-Sensei?" he looked at her curiously.
"Oh forget about them! Unless, you want them here?"
"I don't!" he said, strongly.
She laughed, that kiddy-ish laugh she always had. "Then it's better to just have me here, isn't it?"
He ignored her question. "I've been meaning to ask you this for a while now but…"
"Hm?"
"You were the one who was following Hinata-Sama and I, weren't you?" he faced her.
…How'd he know? Tenten had a shocked expression on her face, but she quickly turned it into a smile. "W-What are you talking about? Ahaha, I would never!"
"Your expression suddenly changed, once you realized that you had to lie. The way you paused before speaking also signifies that you were wondering how I knew, and how you should respond to that. Your slight stutter at the beginning, also gave away the fact that you are obviously lying. And lying means the opposite of the truth. Which means you really were the one who was stalking us."
H-He's so accurate! "Wow Neji, as good as ever! I was just testing to see if you would be able to find me out or not!"
"Another lie. You now admit that you were stalking us, but you also just created another lie to cover up your true reasons."
Cripes, how much does he know? "Okay, the truth is, I saw you and Hinata walking together and I got curious. So, I decided to follow." She bit her lip, hoping he would buy her lie.
"When are you going to stop lying and just admit it?" glared Neji.
"…I did admit that I was following you."
He sighed. "Forget it. Now tell me why I'm here."
"I already said, Team-bonding will help our teamwork!"
He raised an eyebrow. "If I recall, didn't Haruno Sakura use that as an excuse to try and get with Uchiha Sasuke?"
"Excuse me?" Tenten blinked.
"She said something like, 'Sasuke, how about we improve our teamwork together and leave Naruto?' then, Sasuke simply said, 'Instead of flirting, why don't you improve your skills? You're worse than Naruto.' And so, Tenten I will say this to you, 'Instead of wasting your time talking to me, why don't you improve your skills or sharpen your weapons?" And with that, Neji walked away.
Tenten got annoyed at Neji rejecting her. "Matte! Neji!"
•
The golden sun was lowering in the peach skies. And Team 8 decided to call it for a day.
"That was fun, let's do it again sometime! Well, Ja ne!" Kiba waved and left with Akamaru on his head.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Hinata. Take care." Shino walked back to his house.
"Un! Sayonara!" she waved as well, and started to head to the Hyuuga mansion.
She paced by trees, shops, streetlights and people. She observed the skies turn from tangy orange to dark navy blue, with glittering lights on the dark wide blanket, the moon glowed yellow and dim blue-grey clouds floated gracefully by.
Hmm…I'm supposed to have a training session with Neji-Nii san right about now…is he waiting for me at the courtyard, or will I be the first one there? She kept on walking the path to her house. I wonder why he suddenly left with Tenten, without telling me where he was going. Then again, he doesn't really need to tell me, I guess it's just curiosity. Neji and Tenten…could they be…seeing each other? Like, dating...? No, no, that can't be true! Right…?
She stopped, two voices could be heard. A female and a male. Two voices she knew, it was Neji and Tenten. Are-Are they on a date together now? She didn't know why, but she felt as if she should hide. So she quickly went behind a tree and listened in on their conversation.
"Neji…" murmured Tenten.
"What now? You've been following me around for the whole day." replied Neji, without even looking back at her.
"Well…I just…"
He cut in. "Do you plan on following me to my room as well?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Seeing as how you just did, yes."
"Do you...do you want to have dinner with me?" her cheeks started to turn pink.
"Right now?" he turned to face the weapons specialist.
"Yes…"
"I can't." He didn't even hesitate.
"Eh? W-Why not?" After all the courage I used to ask him…
"I have to help Hinata-Sama with training." He replied, flatly.
"Surely you can do that after our dinner?" she smiled. Damn it! When did Hinata start to get training lessons from Neji?
"We've already got it settled. There's no way I can tell her to wait for you and I to have dinner first. That would be disappointing and offending the Main family."
"It'll only be a quick bite…comrades come first right?" she tried to persuade him to say 'yes'.
"For you, comrades may come first. For me, Hinata-Sama comes first. She is part of the Main family, and as a Branch member, my duties are to protect her, and to obey the Main's orders."
"You obey Hinata's father's orders." corrected Tenten. "So, it's fine if Hinata waits a little bit." She was starting to get quite irritated.
"It's already been decided. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a younger cousin to train." He strode past her.
She stood in front of him. "How about, I wait for you to finish the training, and then we can go to dinner?"
"Are you seriously that desperate?" he glared at her.
"W-What? No, I'm-I mean, yes!"
"Even if you do wait…"
"Yes?" she tried to stay patient.
"It's futile. After I finish Hinata-Sama's training, I have dinner with the Branch family members."
"Surely you can skip that dinner out, and go to a restaurant with me?"
"Skipping out dinner made by a member of the Main family, is an offence to the Main."
"Huh? A Main family member will be cooking something for the Branch family to eat?"
"That's right. In fact, it's Hinata-Sama's turn tonight. I never fancied Hanabi-Sama's cooking."
"…T-Then, how about after dinner? Instead of going to dinner with me, why don't we just take a refreshing night stroll?"
"Hmm…let me see. Do I have anything on after dinner?"
Please, please, please say that you're free after dinner!-begged Tenten silently.
"Oh, that's right. I have another training session with Hinata-Sama after dinner as well."
Her head dropped. Hinata…again? "B-But won't you have had enough of training her from before dinner?"
"…" He stopped walking and looked at her.
"?" Finally, I have his full attention on me!
"You make it sound as if I was ordered to train her, against my own free will." His voice did not hint any emotion.
"Weren't you?" questioned Tenten. There's no way he'd do it by choice!
His pales eyes looked directly into her hazel brown eyes. "Hiashi-Sama simply asked me to do it, it was not an order. And I decided to accept. It's not every day you get a choice from the Main family. I accepted by my own will, and for Hinata-Sama's sake and dream…I want to be able to help her reach her goal. That is the least I can do to repay her back for her kindness."
"But…why go this far for her?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Her words rang in his ears.
'I wish to be strong, and to have confidence in my skills, like you…'
'I need to get stronger, to be able to protect those who are important to me! I don't want to run away anymore!'
"This power I possess…" he looked at his hands. "I was strong, but not in a good way. And then, the preliminaries came…I wanted her to give up, and she refused. I took out all my anger on the Main family, on her. This power…I used it to hurt Hinata-Sama…"
He paused and remembered Naruto's words. 'Why does it have to be like that? Splitting the clan into Main and Branch! When I become Hokage, I'm going to change the Hyuuga clan for you!'
He continued, "Whatever I did, none of it could have possibly atoned for what I did to her that day. But, the moment Hiashi-Sama asked me to train her…I thought that this could be the opportunity I was waiting for; this could be the one chance that would finally help me be able to do something good for the Main family. So, now…with this power…I want to protect Hinata-Sama and help her…that's what I decided."
"But-"
"I'm not going to skip out on dinner to offend my clan, and I am definitely not going to stop training Hinata-Sama. I will do it, for my own sake, and for hers. You wouldn't understand, you haven't been in a situation like that before. You know nothing, so don't act as if you don't care to people who really do care. If something is important to you, don't go around ruining other people's important things." His voice was cold and that last sentence pierced Tenten through the heart. His words echoed in her head repeatedly.
You wouldn't understand. You know nothing. If something is important to you, don't go around ruining other people's important things.
Tenten recoiled. Neji…Hinata's lucky. She doesn't realize how much attention Neji is giving her. If only I was her… She turned away, trying to hide her depression. "I see…sorry for bothering you. S-See you!"
Tenten ran away with tears in her eyes. She saw someone up ahead, but didn't stop to greet them.
"Oh, Tenten-" the familiar voice said. But she still kept running, she ran right pass Lee.
He blinked, confused. "Tenten?"
•
Hinata felt tears of happiness at the corners of her eyes. Neji-Nii san… She wiped her tears away.
Hinata-Sama comes first.
I accepted by my own will, and for Hinata-Sama's sake and dream…I want to be able to help her reach her goal. That is the least I can do to repay her back for her kindness.
None of it could have possibly atoned for what I did to her that day.
With this power…I want to protect Hinata-Sama and help her…that's what I decided.
I will do it, for my own sake, and for hers.
Neji turned his head slightly. "Hinata-Sama, how long do you intend to hide behind that tree?"
She froze and held her breath. This is bad-He might know that I was eavesdropping!
"I know you're there. I've known that you were there from the very moment you hid."
Eek! Even worse! She had no choice but to show herself. She was expecting a long lecture from a furious Neji. Something like- 'Hinata-Sama, what the hell were you thinking? Eavesdropping is a serious crime! I've decided. I won't train a rude little girl like you!' He's going to be really angry with me… "Neji-Nii san…"
But, Hinata was wrong. All he did was smile kindly at her. "Come now; let's go start your first training session."
She felt relieved. "Hai!"
Neji was walking ahead of her. "Hinata-Sama…I'm not angry at you for eavesdropping."
"Y-You aren't?" she whispered.
He looked back at her. "I'm glad that you heard me, otherwise, you would've never known how I felt. There's no way I could tell you something like that face to face."
She gave him a sweet smile, her most bright smile of the day, and probably her best. "Arigato, Neji-Nii san!"
-End Of Chapter 4-
Japanese Translations:
Ee- It's fine or It's okay
Tomokaku- Anyways or Anyhow
Anata- You
Sonna koto arimasen- That's not true
Dakara- Therefore, That is why, Hence etc.
Hai- Yes
Kunoichi- Female Ninja
Arigato Gozaimasu- Thank you very much
Sa- Now
Un- Yes or agreeing
Watashi wa kenmei ni shigoto o yakusoku shimasu- I promise to work hard!
Okaerinasai- Welcome back
Nandayo- What is it? Or something around those lines
Nani mo okoranakatta- Nothing happened
Iie- No
Watashi o Shinjite Kudasai- Please trust/believe me
Arigato- Thank you
Dango- A sweet dumpling, a Japanese popular snack
Ne- Right?
Sensei- Teacher
Matte- Wait or Hold on
Ja ne- See you(ya) or just 'Later'. An informal way of saying bye, normally used with close friends.
Sayonara- Goodbye
•
Yay! I managed to finish this chapter! …It's long -.-'''
Well, see you next time!
ミ コ ト • Mikoto
NOTE: UPDATES WILL TAKE LONGER BECAUSE OF STUDIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!
See that little button down there that says 'Review'? Much appreciated if you click it! ^_^