Chapter: 9 In Two Years Time

In two years Neji was still the same old Neji. His anger and hostility had been taken out on the unlucky bodies of this training partners and whatever large tree happened to challenge the raff of his gentle fist. Nevertheless, he was now calm and serene. At the age of 18 he was more muscular and wise far beyond his years, although that wasn't anything new.

Neji slowly walked through the gardens of his compound as he headed down to the meditation garden when he noticed two small children playing together. He remembered them from when the clan had separated. They were merely small children under the age of five, far too young to understand anything that was going on around them. Now they looked about the age of seven or eight, smiling and laughing as they chased each other around garden. This shear innocents amused him, for they were so pure and carefree of the challenging, nightmarish world around them.

Then one of the children, the boy to be exact, grabbed the girl and said "Hey, let's play house now, I'm tired of tag!"

"Okay!" the little girl replied him as she grabbed a small rose and placed it behind her ear.

"What are you doing?" The boy asked.

"I'm getting dressed up! I am a lady after all, we are playing house right?"

"Oh yeah!" The small boy said as he grabbed his playmates arm and held her hand.

Neji stared at them, reminded so much of him and Hinata when they were around that age. Yet it didn't take him long before his happy memories were replaced with those of anger and hated. He remembered what Hinata did to him, and now he realized would be the perfect time to take some revenge, for his clan was doing well and he knew the Hyuuga's were still having trouble without their servants around to clean up after them. Yes, the time couldn't be more perfect and he wasn't going to waste it.

Hinata stared out of the window of her master bedroom. The sun was shining brightly as it twinkled across the rooftops.

She smiled and walked over to the bed, her husband still fast asleep. His breathing peaceful and sound. Hinata smiled and sat down next to him, her hand caressing his smooth hair.

She leaned in and whispered soothingly in his ear "Sasuke, Sasuke love wake up. It's morning."

He let out a groan and slowly staggered up, his wife giggling at him. "Come on Sasuke dear, Father has requested our presents."

Sasuke Yawned.

"For an old man he sure knows how to ruin a person's morning."

Hinata could only giggle at her husband. "Sasuke stop your grumbling and get dressed."

She walked over to the closet and handed him his clothes. "Here love."

"Hn."

A few days had passed since his plan was made. Neji's inner self smirked as he sat across from Hiashi. He had been speaking with his insufferable uncle for around an hour now when finally the two people he had loathed for years now made their entrance. Neji stood in nobility as Hinata and her Husband Sasuke entered the room.

"Lady Hyuuga, it is an honor to see you again after all this time," he turned to Sasuke "and you as well Lord Uchiha."

"As I you" Sasuke spoke his voice ever so slightly cocky.

"It has been a long time Neji-san." His wife mentioned and gracefully bowed to him.

"How about we get down to business. Why are we here?" Sasuke questioned.

Neji smirked before saying "I believe only pain and suffering will come from our rivalries, I think it would be best to be in alliance with each other. Besides we of the ___ hold no grudge against the Hyuugas and hope that no grudge is held against our heads."

Saskue though carefully before answering. "Yes, I believe you're correct. An alliance would be the most rational thing to do. An alliance it will be."

The next few hours were spent drawing up the treaty of alliance.

"I believe that does it." Neji stood to leave and bowed to his cousins.

"Yes….wait," The Uchiah called him back "You know as well as I that this treaty means nothing unless it is signed."

"That I do. I just thought it would be more traditional to sign the treaty when both of our families are re-associated with each other."

Hinata perked up at this comment. "You mean like a party?"

"Yes, my dear cousin a party."

"Oh what do you think dear, doesn't that sound wonderful?" Hinata shook Sasuke's arm and smiled at him happily.

"Yes, I suppose it does."

It was days later when the party took place. While the two families reacquainted each other Neji made his move. He crept down the hallways, avoiding every single living thing along his way, leaving no trace of himself. Finally he reached one of the hallways where he stopped and activated his beyakugan.

He saw just what he needed. Hinata handing Sasuke his last article of clothing then kissing him good bye once he dressed and left to meet with Hiashi and Neji , or so he thought.

Once Sasuke was gone Neji entered the master bedroom.

"Hinata."

He surprised her; thankfully she was already fully dressed.

"Neji? What are you doing here? Sasuke-kun is looking for you."

"Yes I know I just wanted a quick word with my cousin."

"Oh…what about?" She turned back to her mirror, adjusting her hair.

"I just wanted to say that it's been a long time since we last spoke."

"Yeah way too long, iv missed you brother." She remarked as she finished pulling up her hair and dabbing a bit of perfume on her writs and neck.

"It's been a long time since I was called brother."

"Yeah…"

"Although… I do remember being called lover as well." She place the perfume bottle down and turned to him. "Neji…we were young and foolish then and it was a long time ago. We've both moved on since then, right?"

"Oh certainly, my dear cousin. But I must say that," he placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him "You were my first love." He leaned down and kissed her on her forehead.

Hinata blushed, too embarrassed to utter a word.

Neji took his leave after saying "Well I'll see you in the dining hall."

The door snapped shut and Hinata felt a flood of old feelings drowning her soul. She had forgotten her love for Neji ever since Sasuke came into the picture. Ironically she glanced at a photo of her and Sasuke. Only one thought came to her mind. 'Am I still in love with Neji after all this time?'

All throughout dinner Neji wore his confidant smirk accompanied by his ever so arrogant posture, sadly Hinata adored this about him. She could have sworn he did this just to bring up her memories of the past only to torture her. Yet had she known that the real torture was yet to come.

The clock struck ten when Neji approached her and Sasuke.

"Lord Uchiha, might I steal a dance with my cousin in celebration?"

Sasuke stayed silent for a moment as if thinking it over corner to corner before allowing it. Though Hinata secretly cursed him for it; the last thing she wanted was to be face to face with and recently relit flame.

She shut her eyes as Neji wrapped his arms around her body and held her tightly, spinning her around the dance floor.

"Why do you treat me like a nuisance?" He spoke to her, his voice gentle and sturdy.

"I'm doing no such thing."

"Then why do you shield your eyes from me?" He spun her around and gripped her in his arms. "Why?"

She releases herself from his grasps and leaned in close to his ear, as to keep others from overhearing. "Might I remind you I'm married?"

He gripped her and dipped her charmingly. "That I am very aware of dear cousin, and as such I must ask why you bring this up as we are both very aware that our love was damned years ago," He spun her around once more. "I merely wish to reconnect with one of my few compassionate relatives."

Hinata stared at him, unsure of his motives or if he had any at all.

"If what you say is true then what was the point of reminding me of our past earlier?"

"Merely to see if you still remember anything about us. I mean I have missed you. You were like a sister to me Hianta and I'd to still be able to think of you like that."

"Neji-san," She glanced down at her feet for a moment "I admit I have missed you but…I have no idea how we can become friends after what has happened on our past."

"The way any friendship is created, by talking frequently and trusting each other."

He dipped her yet again as if to emphasize his point making Hinata blush secretly on the inside.

Sasuke sat next to Hiashi, sipping his wine and watching is wife carefully like a hawk on mice.

"Do you think he is to be trusted?" He asked his father in law.

"That I do not know," he sipped his drink "But what I do know is that this drink is lacking. Stronger wine over here!" He swung his glass around waiting for a refill.

Sasuke just stared at him. "Retirement has not been the highlight of your life has it?" He rolled his eyes and returned to watching is wife.

After dancing Neji returned Hianta to Sasuke and bought his time amusing himself watching the clock and as his uncle drink away the golden years of his life. Hours later once Sasuke had retired to his office on emergency business as Neji had planned; Hinata took her leave for the night only to be joined by Neji.

"Might I have a word with you cousin?"

She looked up at him sleepily "Oh sure Neji-san might I ask what it is about?"

"I thought now might be a good time to reestablish our friendship." He spoke that out loud but in his mine it was more of "reestablish our 'friendship'.

"Oh, sure brother, that sounds good." She replied.

The two sat out on the porch of the main house together recapping on old times. Memory by memory Neji jogged Hinata's memory and emotions. Hours passed along with sense of right and wrong. That night as the two walked down the paths of memory lain together old extinguished flames were relit and realm of love was re-explored. Yes, they made love that night. Romantic, affectionate, and sensual lovemaking. Their two souls became one as they had longed for for so long as they took a new step into the pool of physical love.

The next morning Sasuke awoke, face covered in papers and books from his work. He stretched and yawned before raising himself up and walking down the hall. It must have been midnight when he crashed out. It had been a long time since he was this exhausted and the one thing he wanted was to crawl into bed next to his adoring and loyal wife.

For a man who had been through hell and back nothing could prepare him for what he saw when he pulled back the sliding door to his master bedroom. Nothing could light the fire of hated inside him like finding this wife in bed with another man, a man that was also her cousin.

He stared down at his un-loyal, cheating, incest guilty wife, boiling in anger as her naked body curled up around the broad body of her first cousin.

Only one thing came to Neji's mind as he lied there with Hinata in his arms, "Mission accomplished."