"The White Nights describes the few weeks around the summer solstice during which sunsets are late, sunrises are early and darkness is never complete. The sun does not set until late at night, and twilight lasts much longer."


"Ni-sama? A Hyuuga Naïveté? "

There was almost an amused lilt underneath the incredulous tone. Uchiha Miharu watched unbelieving as Sasuke quietly took in everyone's reaction without replying.

A figure that sat closer to the door on a bent chair growled.

"That's what he said; you got no ears? "

Uchiha Miharu at the pertinent Inuzuka, but Kiba seemed to be at his worst mood today, moodily edgy and frustrated, snapping at anyone who dared cross him. Like a grouchy dog that did not get his dinner, Miharu thought pointedly, her small slender arms crossing in contempt.

Sasuke continued.

"…that girl. The one that sits next to me in Hatake's class; she's the one. "

"Ooh, that one who always looks like someone's groping her underneath? "

A voice piped up sassy and lucid in its own way, its tone obviously condemning.

A girl sat a few seats away from Miharu, a sophomore girl who had obviously shortened her uniform skirt past the school dress code. She had bubblegum pink hair, and was primping herself while she spoke, peering into a small compact that she held in front of her. Miharu eyed her disdainfully, her small perfect lips thinning into a line. She disapproved of the Haruno family; they tended to focus on immaterial matters, like one's attractiveness, for example. The girl probably spent every living hour in her life preening before a mirror.

Kiba jeered, his lime lit eyes narrowing as he spat:

"You have something against her, Haruno? "

Haruno Sakura looked scandalized, her drawn eyebrows arching and her posture rigidly straightening.

"She's a 'Hyuuga', Kiba. That reason enough for you? What's gone into you, doggy boy, you're in such a crappy mood! Stop biting off my head. "

She whined, poising her hand over her clutch bag and deftly picking out a lip gloss—Maybelline. Kiba leaned back into his seat, hands unnaturally stiff, the lime glow never leaving his eyes.

Sasuke eyed this with silence, then spoke to himself.

"She's an anomaly, I'll give her that much. "


White Nights: Summer Solstice

Chapter 1- Leviathan

(Session#6- Beginning )


To Hinata's shameful relief, Neji was missing from his usual waiting spot at her lockers.

School was out, and everyone was shoving papers and cramming books into their backpacks before the girls slunk arms around their friends to chat and the guys went off to shoot some balls before having to go home. Tenten was no exception, and for some reason, she stood waiting for Hinata instead of having gone with her usual crowd of bubbly chatty girls.

"Hey Hinata! "

She chirped, her hand clutching the straps of her purple backpack slung over one shoulder and her other hand reaching out for Hinata. Hinata took the hand and forced herself to smile and act normal, though she could not gouge why Tenten was waiting for her.

"So… I guess your cousin's out overseeing team practice? "

Bingo.

Hinata, for the first time after the mind-numbing experiences of the day, stifled her urge to laugh. Tenten seemed to have a crush on Neji, and seemed to enjoy Hinata's kinship with him as much as she enjoyed her friendship.

"Y…yes. I think so. "

"Well anyways, you wanna wait for him or what? "

Hinata could definitely see her friend desperately wanted a glance…or at least some acquaintance with her absent cousin. It wasn't so much hints as obvious blatant pushovers. As much as she did not wish to see Neji, Hinata felt like she could not refuse.

She had had enough encounters with girls to know how thin the line was between friendship and cattiness.

"S…sure. "

"Let's go have a soda at the caf and come back for Neji senpai! "

Perking up, Tenten slinked her arm with Hinata's and gabbed on about the day, how that Haruno Sakura was showing off her new tote bag and didn't Hinata think she was a bit of an attention whore? Also, it seemed Kakashi sensei had gotten engaged—worse luck—and plus, didn't Hinata want to see a movie with her on Saturday, and why not Neji come too?

It was all well, but Hinata was having a hard time concentrating on Tenten's everyday prattle. It was easier to pretend that nothing had happened though, she realized with relief—Tenten was all too real and down to Earth for the afternoon's incident to keep plaguing her…that is, it was so until they reached the cafeteria.

Queuing up at the lines—a whole bunch of cheerleaders were present, yakking over hairstyles and ordering lemonades with no sugar—Hinata found the courage to smile and nod at the things Tenten was saying, until all of a sudden, the talking stopped.

"…w…what's wrong? "

Tenten looked peeved and jumpy, eyeing behind Hinata with a sidelong glance.

"Uh…don't look now, but Uchiha Sasuke is looking at you. "

Hinata froze on spot, all too aware of what kind of glance he was giving her. It either would be another death glare or creased brow with a contemptuous look on his perfect chiseled f…

"Hell, what's gotten into him? He's smiling. "

Hinata jumped, her head turning backwards impulsively at its own accord at the tall figure that stood far back across the cafeteria.

Tenten was, in part, correct.

Uchiha Sasuke was looking at her, and he was indeed smiling, but it wasn't the kind of smile that the word 'smile' conjured up images of. He was alone for once, without the ragtag gang of Inuzukas or the somewhat aloof Uchihas at his side. His legs positioned in a manner that suggested he had been passing by, his stood at his spot without moving for the longest time it seemed; it was Hinata who moved first, whipping back forward as if electrocuted. Her breath was labored.

"T…Tenten, that's not a smile, it's a smirk. "

Tenten had the grace to giggle timidly at the tiny squeak of a comment Hinata had managed to make.

"Coming from him, it's a smile. I wonder if he's high or something…"

"…I…I don't think he likes me m…much. Can we move? "

Hinata was acutely aware of the stare boring into the back of her head; without turning around to check, she was certain he was still standing in that exact same spot, smirking.

"Wha…but we didn't get to buy anything yet… oh all right. Look at you girl! You're shaking, look. The state of you. "

Tenten grabbed a hand and held it up to Hinata's eyes to see; she was right, it was indeed shaking. Hinata nodded numbly, biting her lips and praying they could escape quickly from the Uchiha's seemingly penetrating eyes…but to where?

She knew Tenten was pining for her cousin brother, but she did not want to meet him either. A dilemma.

"Oh look, he's gone… Hinata? Hello? Hinata, did you hear me? He's 'gone'…no, I'm serious, look! "

Tenten patiently guided her, practically veering Hinata's shoulders, to see. The spot where Sasuke had stood was empty.

"See? Good, now we can get our sod…"

Tenten had turned swiftly to run up to the counter, but she stopped in her tracks, wearing a look like she had swallowed a vat of poison.

Uchiha Sasuke was standing in front of her, blocking her way to the counter, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a bottle of Gatorade. This was impossible. He had been at the back of the cafeteria just a moment ago, and it would have taken him at least 10 seconds to run the length and duck into the counter line. He was peering at Hinata as if she was a particularly interesting looking rock…but a rock nevertheless.

"…or we could go back up and wait for Neji senpai, Hinata. "

Tenten backed out, shaking her head as if Sasuke was an impermeable brick wall instead of a flesh and blood human being. A corner of his lips twitched when he heard Neji's name, as if an irritating fly had landed on him. Hinata did not disagree, and took a timid step backwards, away from the looming stature of Uchiha Sasuke…and backed into another person who stood behind her. She tripped and fell backwards, her head landing against the chest of the boy who stood behind her; a hand rose and placed itself on her shoulders, steadying her.

Flushing, Hinata whipped back to apologize, when she froze again.

"Hey. "

There stood Neji, mysteriously in presence all of a sudden.

But different from his normal self, he was not smiling, nor was he holding any drink to offer Hinata. He was staring straight ahead at Uchiha Sasuke, whose face had darkened the instant he checked who it was. The grip on her shoulders tightened.

"Ooh, Neji senpai! We were actually looking for y…oh I'm Tamura Tenten, Hinata's friend! "

Tenten's words of introduction tumbled out in a jumble in her hurry to have herself known, but Neji wasn't even looking at her. His suddenly furious eyes were still locked at the Uchiha who stood before him, looking amused for some reason.

It was like they've changed roles; now Neji was the angry one and Sasuke the laid-back.

"Let's go Hinata. "

Hinata, her complexion ashen with fear, had been anticipating a few words between her cousin and her lit partner, but there was none. They merely sized each other up and turned away, Neji's arm suddenly around Hinata's small form, much to Tenten's distress. Hinata jumped at his touch, shrinking from his warmth even as it draped across her shoulders.

Uchiha Sasuke stood perpetually amused at this scene, his usually bland face twitching slightly. Hyuuga Neji turned around and mouthed the words, 'stay away'.

To Sasuke, it was ridiculous in itself that the Hyuugas even bothered to keep the naïveté girl safe; not only ridiculous but also extremely inefficient, wasting all that energy over a useless girl. She had absolutely no use…

Except, that this situation was quite amusing.

He felt more entertained, for some reason, by this small interaction than the exhilaration that he supposedly felt at summer solstice…the white nights.

The only time when if was safe to show.


The walk back home was not a pleasant one.

Hinata knew from days of watchful observing that Tenten usually took the bus with three of her giggly friends, but today, she walked. Her arm was slinked once more into Hinata's, and she chatted as if she did this everyday. Neji was slightly more subdued, his serious face staring straight ahead as he walked slightly behind them, occasionally nodding to a classmate's wave.

Overall, Hinata should have been relieved that Tenten kept her from having to endure Neji's presence alone, but it was rather overwhelming to have the girl gossiping incessantly, the moment inflating like a soon to burst balloon. Neji was too quiet, too serious. It also was unnerving that he chose to walk a few steps behind; it implied that he wanted observe. His grey eyes weren't necessarily boring into Hinata's back-he was watching out for other aberrations-but it seemed so to her.

Just when Hinata felt like screaming from the tension—Tenten was evidently oblivious to this—Neji spoke up.

"Do you mind if I borrow her for now? "

Neji smiled courteously at the dazed Tenten, who seemed alarmed at the fact that he even bothered speaking to her. She let go of Hinata's hand, completely ruffled, blushing and ditsy. She whispering 'see you' at Hinata with her eyes locked on Neji, and flounced away in the opposite direction towards the bus station. Hinata ruefully eyes her friend's fall from grace, and decidedly avoided meeting eye with Neji as she followed him reluctantly.

Neji did not speak either, but he suddenly reached out for her hand and held it, pulling her closer.

They walked home in silence.

Home.

Neji had Hinata seated on one end of the huge kitchen. He was in the other end, in the manner of an executive meeting.

They were silent, and though no one else was present, Neji was aware that every each Hyuuga that was residing in his/her room was listening, their sense of hearing honed to perfection.

"Hinata. "

It was Neji who spoke first, eyeing the subdued Hinata with a worried look. She was still fazed from the overwhelming experiences that she'd encountered today.

"I'll explain, but it's your choice to believe. If you want, I'll have you out of here by midnight. "

Hinata blinked. This was not what she had been expecting…though it was hard to pinpoint what exactly she 'had' been expecting.

"…t…to where? "

He grimaced; that was the catch. There wasn't really a place Hinata could reside in anymore; her parent's divorce was still not settled, and now that she knew partially what lay beyond the thin veneer of 'normal' life in Konoha…it was kind of impossible to let her free. He juggled some possibilities in his mind, wondering if Hiashi could pull some strings and have her deported to a boarding school. Yes, something like that would be reasonable…and rational.

"But I don't want to leave. "

It surprised him and her, the way her words blurted out without much thought.

"…you don't? "

Hinata gripped the hem of her school skirt, unable to grasp why she'd said so.

All she had running through her mind was the out-of-the-world exhilaration that was left after hours of terrified agony, and the lime glow of a threatening boy's eyes that seemed to exude the words "stay away from this, you don't belong". The excruciating way Uchiha Sasuke stared at her, first with anger, then with curiosity. Neji's apparent wish to gaurd her from something that she wasn't supposed to know. The way everyone regarded her with a sense of detached interest, just for the fact that she was a Hyuuga.

It was worlds away from the mess of a divorce she had left, this town was racked with idiosyncrasies. Unique.

"…ca…can I stay? "

Besides, it seemed like she had a reliable protector right here; though, Neji's dumfounded face did not exactly emphasize this point.


(bloodiedsugs's words on WNSS-

Story is finally starting… after the long drags, lol. Even I was bored writing this session…real sorry about that.

Each chapter will have 6 sessions, with one special extra session tagged along… so basically, 7 sessions for one chapter, a bit like HSBK.

SasuHina's coming. Wait for it.

Bear with me. )