If you go away

Chap 7: sunshine…

The atmosphere within the hyuuga compound that day was merry. There weren't many people invited to their wedding but it was indeed lively. Hiashi-sama had only invited the most honored and respected figures in konoha but hinata had taken the opportunity to also invite her classmates and senseis to attend the wedding. She was especially happy when the members of the branch houses had come to their wedding.

The wedding ceremony was indeed beautiful.

Now she had changed into a beautiful casual kimono and was attending to the guests around her.

"Wow hinata, great wedding!" exclaimed kiba excitedly.

"Thank you kiba-kun, I'm really happy that you came…" hinata responded sweetly. She then converted towards her other teammate that was always wearing the sunglasses.

"Thank you for coming too, shino-kun. I'm really happy that you made it… I do hope it wasn't a problem for you…"

"You're very welcome. I am much honored to have been invited by you to attend such a special occasion. It is only proper for me to attend such a wonderful event. Especially if you're the bride of this wedding."

Both hinata and kiba froze. Hinata was surprised that shino had actually spoken more than three words at that moment but, only confused by the meaning of the sentence that he had said.

"What the hell did you just say?" kiba exclaimed confusedly. Shino ignored. Neji came and stood by is wife and greeted the two of her teammates before taking her away from there. The rest of the day was filled with ushering and entertaining the guest with the other hyuuga members.

"I noticed that hanabi-sama had actually invited a boy to this occasion. I wonder hiashi-sama realized that too?" neji asked hinata, with mischief in his tone.

"Oh… it must be konohamaru-kun… hanabi likes him a lot and she had pleaded me to invite him today." Hinata confessed before softly giggling to her success of fulfilling hanabi's request.

They were now quietly strolling along the pavement in the garden. It was so peaceful. Hinata gently held neji's arm as they walked towards the bench. That particular bench that was located underneath the sakura tree.

Neji sat first. He watched her attentively as she gracefully sat right beside him. Once together, he placed his arm around her arm and pulled her nearer to him. Neji couldn't help but smile inwardly when he saw her blush from his gesture.

"I'm very happy today" neji began, with tenderness in his tone.

"Me too…I wish we could stay like this forever…" hinata answered softly.

Neji gently placed his hand underneath hinata's chin and delicately lifted it until their eyes met. He gazed at her lovingly with his lavender eyes and admired the beauty that radiates within her. He couldn't help but smile at her innocent desire.

Hinata gently raised her head and gave neji a soft kiss on his lips. They both blushed.

"Hinata, I love you…" neji whispered as he gazed into her pearl-colored eyes.

"I love you too neji…I'll always love you…" answered hinata tenderly.

Epilogue

The sun was shining gloriously that day and the lovely blue skies were filled with lots of fluffy white clouds. The atmosphere in the hyuuga garden was cheerful. Hinata was sitting by the wooden window as she watched the two lively children playing out in the courtyard.

"Himawari, Nakata-chan, time to come in" hinata called out in a maternal way. Hinata quietly got up from her seating position and walked into the living room. She carefully placed a futon onto the tanami mat-covered floor.

Neji entered the room and found his lovely wife making green tea. She tenderly looked up at him and gave him a warm smile. Neji returned her a gentle smile before walking towards the wooden door and watched his five year old daughter and his nephew.

The two children stopped and were getting ready to return to the hyuuga house when nakata grabbed his cousin's hands. All she did was to hold his hand back as they walked towards the house.

"Ano na himawari-sama…can we play again after our nap?" nakata asked his cousin with a toothy grin.

"Hai…ano nakata-niichan, why do you call me 'sama'?" himawari asked, rather puzzled.

"Well, it's because you're a main house member…" exclaimed nakata blankly.

"Main? What's that?"

"I don't know…but my Otto-san said that I'll be protecting you because you're important…" answered the six year-old boy in the most serious tone he could muster.

"Ano…nakata-niichan, am I important to you?" himawari asked, blushing.

"YEAH!" answered nakata exuberantly.

"Why?"

"Well…let's see…it's cause himawari-sama is…is…CUTE!" he grinned.

"Oh okay…ano… thank you nakata-niichan!" himawari answered adorably.

Himawari stood on her toes and planted a small kiss onto nakata-chan's cheek.

"Eww! That's…eww! Wha…wha…what was that for?" cried nakata, flushed.

Himawari completely ignored nakata's question and ran towards the living room. She turned her head towards her cousin and cheekily exclaimed, "Last one to the futon won't get the huge pillow!" In respond, nakata hurriedly ran towards the room too and hoping he'll get to the futon before himawari did…

END

gedembol's notes: hello people! I've finally came up with the final installment for this story. I really hope you'll enjoy it. PS: don't worry…this isn't really the 'last' chap… grins mischieviously oh..did you know that 'himawari' means sunflower in jap? -