Déjà vu
Early in the morning the next day, Neji woke up early to take his usual walk. The breeze helped him forget about what happened yesterday. It was suppose to be a happy time. The Hyuga heiress just turned 19 and was almost engaged to her beloved. But his uncle just had to ruin the special occasion. He has his reasons. Neji kept telling himself. But it still felt wrong. Just because Naruto---
Neji's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of crying. The cries sounded like they belonged to Hinata. He quickly ran to the garden where he found his crying cousin. It looked like she was having a nightmare. He tried to shake her awake.
"Hinata-sama, wake up," Her eyes immediately shot open. Neji saw fear in them. "Calm down, Hinata-sama. It was just a bad dream." Tenten must've been right. He thought. Maybe Naruto did come back. Hinata must have slept out here with him. Once Tenten knew about this, she would never let him live it down. She was always right, and it would always stay that way.
Hinata started taking deep breaths and put a hand on her chest. The dream she had wouldn't stop replaying in her head. She kept mumbling his name. "Naruto..." Hinata snuggled into Neji's chest. "Naruto... Naruto... Naruto..." She wouldn't stop reapeating his name. Neji put his arms around her in comfort. She started to cry. They stayed in that position for awhile.
"Hinata, are you okay?" A voice asked in concern. She wouldn't stop crying. "Hinata-chan?"
"Naruto?"
"Your next Hokage!" Hinata jumped from Neji arms into his. His warmth and presence made her feel safe again.
"She had a bad dream." Neji informed him. He was relieved Naruto came back. He left when he was sure Hinata would be alright. He knew Tenten was probably waiting for him.
The rest of the day was normal, except for the guard(s) that followed Hinata everywhere she went. She was no longer able to go somewhere by herself or with Naruto. There were guards that blocked Hinata's doors, so she was no longer able to sneak out at night. Now Naruto would visit her outside her window.
Only Neji and Tenten knew about their secret meetings [Naruto and Hinata told them everything (Well, maybe not everything, but you know what I mean). They were the only ones who could keep a straight face if Hiashi had any questions. Plus the girls were best friends, so it was no surprise if Neji knew]. But they were unaware that this would be their last.
Naruto would be leaving to go on a mission tonight and Hinata was helping him prepare for his leave. Neji saw this with his Byakugan and chuckled. "Those two..."
"What?" Tenten asked.
"It's nothing." Neji replied. Tenten knew he knew something, but she let slide for now. It was too late to ask too many questions. Hiashi asked Neji to watch Hinata for the night, so they would be separated until morning. She was still coping.
Neji saw the worry on her face, so he put a hand on her cheek and slowly caressed it to relax her. "Don't worry. You'll see me in the morning. Now get some sleep." He kissed her. "Goodnight, Tenshi."
"Goodnight." After Neji left, Tenten was still a little hesitant about falling asleep by herself. But when it comes to staying up at night, Tenten was as tough as a cottonball. It wasn't long until she drifted off.
--
"Oh Neji! This was so much fun!" Tenten laughed. Neji smiled at Tenten's joy. They were enjoying their time at a festival. Soon, they met up with Naruto and Hinata, who were also having a good time. Tenten noticed the ring shimmering on Hinata's finger.
"Congratulations, Hinata! I knew you and Naruto would be happy together!"
"Me and Naruto?" Hinata looked confused, then she laughed. "I'm not married to Naruto."
"What are you talking about?" Tenten saw that the man linking arms with Hinata wasn't Naruto anymore. It was Sasuke. "How'd you end up with this bastard?!"
"Don't you talk to my husband like that!" Hinata slapped her. Tenten expected Neji to defend her, but he just stood there. Tenten was hurt. "Maybe if you weren't such a nuisance, you'd also be married." Hinata said to her with a sinister look.
"I'm already married. Neji is my husband..." Tenten turned and expected to see her husband by her side. But he wasn't there. "Neji? I swear he was there!" She turned to the couple in front of her. They were also gone. "Hinata?"
Tenten ran. "Naruto! Hinata! Neji!" She fell to her knees. "Neji! Where are you!?" Tenten's hands were scratched. She noticed her wedding ring was missing. "No..." Tenten hugged herself and started to cry. "Neji. Neji. Neji..."
--
"Neji," Neji sighed when he saw Tenten creep into the room with her eyes closed. She was sleep walking again.
"Neji-nii-san, does she sleep walk?"
"Yep, usually because of nightmares. I have to wake her and find out that it was just a bad dream." Tenten would always talk in her sleep, nowadays. The dreams turned into nightmares and became more intense. It was one of the reasons she didn't like being separated from Neji. It was starting to worry him.
Neji put his arms around her on his lap. Tenten shot up awake. "Was I sleep talking again?"
Neji rolled his eyes. "Yes."
"Why is Tenten here anyway, Nii-san?" Hinata asked.
"She follows me."
"What a relationship."
Neji had a short mission for the day. He asked Tenten to keep Hinata company, so she won't feel lonely without Naruto. The only thing she could think about talking about was "stuff". She was never really used to talk about "girly things" with her friends. She mostly spent her time with Neji. But since she and Hinata were friends, they talked about everything. She also thought talking would get her thoughts off that dream she had.
But that didn't work. Hinata only wanted to talk about her relationship with Neji. This girl needs to get out more. If only Hiashi would let her get out by herself. "Tenten, when do you think Naruto will be back?"
"I don't know. Probably in 2 or 3 weeks. I heard Tsunade needs Kakashi for another mission."
"I hope he comes back soon."
The two girls started talking about other girly stuff until Hanabi came and interrupted their conversations. "Hinata! Hinata! I heard Father talking about an arranged marriage between you and the Uchiha boy!"
"What!" Hanabi nodded. Hinata began to cry into Tenten's shoulder.
It's just like in my dream, Tenten thought.
"How could father do this? He knows what happened!"
"I know," Hanabi said. "But at least it isn't as bad as having a demon in---" Hanabi covered her mouth quickly before she could continue. Tenten glared at her as if to say, "You dumbass!"
"What did you say?"
"Nothing! It was probably just your imagination." Hanabi quickly retreated before Hinata got suspicious.
That dumbass... Tenten nervously sighed. Hinata was going to find out sooner or later. "Hinata, there's something you should know,"
"What is it?"
"It's about Naruto. So I thought it would be important if you knew." Tenten saw the anticipation on Hinata's face when she said his name. This made her nervous even more. "He... he has the demon Kyuubi sealed inside of him."
Hinata grew silent. "That's impossible. I read that the Fourth Hokage killed Kyuubi."
"He didn't. He sealed him in a child, and that child was Naruto."
"Who told you this?"
Tenten hesitated. If she told Hinata, then she would be on a rampage; Neji would know that she told her. "...Hiashi-sama did." As always, she was right. Hinata immediately ran in Hiashi's office and started yelling at her father. Tenten followed her to see what would happen.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Hiashi was currently in a meeting and all of the attendants gasped at the heiress's rudeness.
"I'm sorry, Darling. I'm in a meeting. Let's talk about this later."
"Tell me now! Did you purposely compel Naruto to leave the village? Am I really going to marry that bastard!?" Tenten was shocked. She never knew that Hinata had the courage to swear. Especially in front of her father. Way to go, Hinata!
"Of course I didn't force him to leave! He did that on his own will." Tenten could tell from the tone of his voice that he was fibbing. "And yes, you are going to marry Sasuke. His father and I planned this wedding the day you were born."
Shock engulfed Hinata's face. Tenten was just as surprised. This was planned an awfully long time ago. After what has happened, he's still allowing it to go on?
"Besides, I was planning on having you marry Neji," Tenten silently cursed him. "but I changed my mind. The Uchiha's are the second strongest clan in Konoha. It's only natural."
Natural my ass!
"Don't I have a say in this?" Hinata asked.
Hiashi shook his head. "It's for the best." Tenten saw Hinata had a mask filled with emotions. One of them was obviously clear: pain. It was also obvious that Hiashi wasn't doing this for the clan. He was doing this to keep Hinata and Naruto separated. For good.
So in order to satisfy your happiness, you have to sacrifice your daughter's. Hiashi, you bastard. Thanks to you, it's déjà vu all over again...
R&R!
