Theme Set Beta 3/5
071. Kisses
Slow and harsh, fast and ardent, sensuous and tender, soft and loving, shy and hesitant, fleeting and gentle, familiar and welcome, free and pure.
072. Whine
" Nee-san." Hanabi tried again. " Pleeaaassseee."
Hinata hummed from her spot in front of the worktable, hands filled with herbs. " Ask Neji."
Hanabi paled. " Nee-saaaaaaaaaaaaan!"
073. Kunoichi
He clenches his teeth so hard his jaw aches. His stance is firm and his face is hard as granite. The expression of his eyes is dark and angry. She pauses in the act of wrapping her wound and barely sighs, trying her best not to move recovering muscles. " You can't protect me all the time." She whispers.
He is silent.
She stares out the window of the familiar shack. " I don't need you to."
Knuckles crack in the silence.
074. Litter Sister and older brother
When Hanabi was three, she toddled after Neji one day and called him the name that Hinata always referred to him by. The glance that he gave her out of the corner of his eye as he dismissed her as insignificant was cold, harsh, and unforgiving. She never tried to call him by that name again, and neither has anyone else.
075. Touch
It's soft, brief, and barely registers on his skin, but Neji freezes and holds his breath, pausing in the act of wrapping his arm in bandage. It comes again, slightly longer, until a soft palm gently settles on his bare back. His teeth grind against the end of the white strip that it holds.
" I could help you with that." She whispers.
076. Long hair/Short hair
"Neji! Neji! " Naruto shouted as he slammed into the hospital door. " I came as soon as I heard!" the blonde fell undignified onto the floor tiles as the door swung open on his weight. The conscious Hyuuga Neji watched exasperated as his friend scrambled to his feet, " They told me you were - oh, sorry, I must be in the wrong room, they told me, wait - oh my GOD! What happened to your HAIR!"
077. Snow
It falls from the sky and it is cold but every flake in unique. He reaches out a palm and wishes he could find her the most magnificent one to keep.
078. Peaceful
Hidden away in the forest where the trees obscured everything, they were tucked in a small corner, pressed against the ground and staring up at starry skies. She had her back to his front as he sat propped up against the trunk of a tree. He had his arms around her waist and she sat between his legs. The night was quiet, and he didn't mind it at all that she was falling asleep in his arms, her head lulling back and resting on his shoulder.
He smiled, and reached over with one hand to the pack he had brought with him, and pulled out the blanket. She blinked dozily as he tucked them both in, and she smiled.
" Arigouto." She said softly.
He pressed a tender kiss to her neck and she sighed contentedly.
079. For the good of the clan
" Surely you see that." Hinata's voice is small but echoing in the silent room.
Hiashi is stunned and chokes out, " But the cost."
" Is my decision." She says softly in finality.
080. Chocolate
It's wrapped in a tiny blue box tied with white ribbons. Neji stares at it in the light of the setting sun. It sits banally on the edge of his desk but he can still see the trembling hands that extended the gift towards him unexpectedly earlier in the day. Happy Valentine's, the small card reads.
. : TBC : .
