Chapter Seven

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from him, Hinata?" Neji demanded, brows furrowed.

Hinata couldn't understand why he seemed so upset when she met up with him after classes were over. She had greeted him with her warm usual smile, but then he walked away with a sour face while she followed shortly behind him.

Had she done something wrong? Or was he just having a bad day?

She wanted to ask him what was wrong, but the aura he radiated made her feel uneasy.

It was then when they were inside the house, he asked her. His nose was flaring, his face flushed, and his glare made her feel scared and nervous.

"Who are you talking about?" she asked innocently, avoiding his eyes.

"You damn well know who!" he yelled impatiently.

She felt the tears forming in her eyes. She pursed her lips and drew herself back into her walls to avoid him when he yelled at her. She wanted to cover her ears, but her hands wouldn't move. She wanted to shout at the top of her lungs, but her lips were tightly pursed and her voice wouldn't come out.

"I…I d-don't know…who you're t-talking about," she said, careful not to let her tears fall.

"Why were you with Sabaku Gaara this afternoon?" Neji asked, holding back his anger. "Didn't I tell you to stay away from him?"

"You don't know him, nii-san," she said, her voice barely audible.

"What did you say?"

"You don't know him," she repeated with a stern, yet faltered voice. "Why are you getting worked up because I talked to him?"

"Because he's dangerous!"

"He isn't dangerous," she said, looking at him straight in the eyes. "Maybe he was in the past, but he's changed now."

Neji opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by her.

"He's my friend, Neji-nii-san. Aren't you happy for me? Aren't you happy that I finally have a friend now?" she asked, tears falling.

His eyes softened at the sight of her tears streaming down her face.

"If you need me, I'm in my room," she said softly, breaking eye contact with her furious cousin, before rushing to her bedroom.


Dinner felt long and awkward that evening. Hiashi tried to break the cold silence by asking his daughters and nephew about their day.

"It was pleasant, father," Hinata said with a smile.

Hanabi expressed how excited she was, because her birthday was approaching.

"And how old will you be this year?" Hiashi asked, slightly teasing his youngest daughter.

"Eleven! How can you forget that?" Hanabi asked in disbelief and disappointment.

Hiashi chuckled heartily. "I knew that."

Hinata smiled to herself. She was glad to see her father laughing and teasing Hanabi. She was glad to see him in a good mood and how brave he was to express it.

She carefully shifted her gaze to her cousin, who sat opposite her while he silently ate his dinner with a straight face. He still seemed upset about that argument a few hours before. He was upset, and it was her fault.


The following morning eagerly came. Rain was pouring heavily when Hinata woke up. She hadn't slept well that night and woke up with a slight headache, but she managed to get out of her bed and get ready for school.

She was surprised to see Neji waiting near the front door after breakfast. She thought he was still upset and had left her to go to school alone. He greeted her with his usual calm and collected voice as if he hadn't snapped at her the day before.

"Good morning, Neji-nii-san," she said, puzzled yet relieved.

"Let's go," he said, an umbrella in his hand, after she put on her shoes.

"Neji-nii-san." She said, stopping him from opening the door.

He looked at her with a straight face.

"Everything all right?" he asked.

"It's just…um…" she couldn't bring herself to say those words.

"I forgive you," he said.

She glanced at him with a surprised look on her face, but then she remembered that he could read people like a book.

"I suppose I owe you an apology, as well." He said. "I'm sorry for snapping at you. I didn't mean to do that. I don't want you to get hurt by him."

Her lips lifted into a smile, and gladly she said, "Apology accepted."


Author's Note: Short chapter, but at least there's an update! How are you guys? I hope you're all fine. I'll see you next time!