Hanabi trailed her older sister to her room, saying excitedly, "Will Chichi-ue buy us new kimonos? Will we wear furisode?"

"Houmongi, I think. I'll ask Saori-ba-sama." Hinata smiled at her sister a little curiously. For years, they had spent very little time together, and this day, they had been nearly inseparable. Hinata had been afraid the result of their sparring match would turn Hanabi away from her again, but happily, it seemed to be just the opposite. She reached forward to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Hanabi's ear.

The younger girl looked up and caught at Hinata's hand. "You know, Ane-ue, you really look a lot like Haha-ue. I mean, in her photos." Surprised, Hinata pulled her sister into a hug, both pleased and pained by her words. To Hanabi, their mother might be little more than an image in a photograph, but Hinata remembered her mother in vivid flashes as a beautiful woman with kind eyes, a gentle voice, and a warm touch. She had hoped that one day she might be even a little like those precious memories. Hanabi seemed to sense some of her sister's feelings. She hugged her back and said, "Sorry, Ane-ue."

"Mm-mm," Hinata shook her head. "I'm happy. Thank you, Hanabi."

Hanabi's eyes held admiration and perhaps a tiny bit of envy. "You're so pretty, Ane-ue." She smiled. "Neji-nii-san said so, too." Hinata blushed and felt a trifle uncertain. She was glad to have her cousin's approval. But there was an odd fluttery feeling at Hanabi's words for which she was unsure of the source. Hanabi considered her sister for a moment, opened her mouth, closed it, and then said, "I want to talk to Saori-ba-sama, too, will you take me with you when you see her?"

"Of course."

"Thanks. Oyasumi, Ane-ue."

"Oyasuminasai, Hanabi-chan." She gave her sister a final hug and then she was left alone.

Hinata turned toward her dressing table to take the pins out of her hair, but her hands arrested as she caught her reflection in the mirror. Who was it looking out of that mirror? Not a little girl anymore, but a young woman. Her face a little rounder, her nose a little shorter than she remembered her mother's elegant features, but the same long indigo locks, the same soft smile, the same gentle expression. Was she beautiful, too, as her mother had been? Would Neji-nii-sama like it if she were?

Hinata started at her own thoughts. Why was she thinking about Neji? She remembered his voice saying, "Very pretty, indeed," and her pulse began to race. Had he really meant it, or was it just politeness? Had there been something a bit particular in his eyes? Then Hinata berated herself mentally. What could be special about her? She knew better than to get ahead of herself. She knew who the special ones were in her family, and she wasn't one of them.

At the last thought, Hinata felt a deep pang, as of loss, and looked at herself in the mirror, her mouth open with dismay. "Oh, no," she whispered. She pressed her hands to her heart, which was beating erratically, her breath shallow and ragged. Suddenly, she knew, though how or when it had happened eluded her, she knew - that she loved Neji. That she was in love with Neji. That sharp pang at the thought of being divided from him had drawn the blind from the window of her heart and within she saw Neji, stalwart as always, with the calm, steadfast eyes that always gave her strength. His presence by her side made her feel safe and assured. His words of praise affected her like no other's, not even her father's. Her happiness when the coldness in his eyes had receded had been not merely family gratitude, but elation that this once dearest companion was starting to come back to her.

"Oh," she murmured again. How had this happened? Her schoolgirl crush and fervent admiration of Naruto had turned out to be mere idol worship. The real depths of feeling went to Neji, who was part of her earliest memories, whose retreat from her side had given her more loss and confusion than she had known what to do with at so early an age, and whose reappearance had dawned of the greatest happiness she had yet known. Trembling, she looked again at her reflection in the mirror. The eyes that met hers were teary, the face flushed. How could she look at him again, now that she knew? This face would betray her in an instant.

She drew a deep breath, straightened her spine, and smoothed her cheeks and forehead with her hands as if to wipe all trace of the truth from her face. She couldn't let anything come between them again. If it meant she had to hide her feelings forever, she would. She blinked until her eyes were clear again and started to pull the pins out of her hair, shaking the coils free. Finally, she brushed her hair smooth and straight, setting her mouth as she watched her reflection. This was the face she would show always, the younger cousin that looked up to Neji-nii-san as a mentor and a friend. She never wanted him to turn from her in discomfort, or worse, feel trapped by obligation. Too weak to be the heir, her slowness and timidity had made her a surplus in the family, an unnecessary spare, until her recent progress under Neji's tutelage had made it possible that she might be of use to her father and family again. It would be no way to return his help, to saddle him with the burden of her superfluous feelings.

She thought of Neji's voice saying, "I am the riverbank, lined with bedrock." In her mind, Neji should be an eagle, soaring high among the clouds. He was brilliant, and could have ascended to the head of the clan and perhaps beyond, were it not for perverse fate. She would not be any part of further restraint of his desires and ambitions.

Hinata had never thought about the possibility of Neji being in love, but now that she considered what sort of person would suit him, she supposed it would be someone strong and confident; someone like his teammate Tenten-san, who called him by his first name without any honorific. Neji was tall and handsome and a genius besides. There were probably women both inside and outside the clan that would jump at the chance to be matched with him. She trembled again and resolutely moved away from that train of thought. What she had was to be what she always had been to him. No matter who eventually came to stand by his side, she would still be his family. She would call him nii-san forever and learn to be content with that.

**There's not much I want to say about this one, except I hope I did it well enough; it will be important for the chapter coming up, which will be a nice, long one. Please look forward to it!