Author Note: All right! Thank you for all the reviews! Here it goes!
Ages: Neji: 16 — Hinata: 15
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
House Guests
"I need to know…" he whispered while keeping his finger under her chin. "Why did you stop calling me 'Neji-kun'?"
Hinata's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the question. Honestly, she wasn't sure how to react. He looked so serious and earnest, and even a little desperate to find out. As she stood there, she couldn't grasp why he would be so despairing about the suffix of his name, and why she didn't use it anymore. There had to be some kind of underlying meaning to it. There had to be something she wasn't getting. So, she decided to tell him her honest answer, and maybe that would clarify things. "I…" she began. "I-I wasn't…allowed to…" Hinata watched as his brows furrowed together in slight confusion.
"You weren't allowed to." He repeated in a whisper that they were both speaking in now. If that's the case, then it's all beginning to make sense now. It explains why she looked so hurt all those years ago, and why Naruto said that she was confused as to why I was suddenly angry with her. He released his hold on her chin, and continued to stare blankly at her worried and confused face. Somebody must've gotten to her back then. When my father was alive, there was never a problem with what she called me, and that was only because of my father. He wanted to snort inwardly and shake his head. The second my father dies, everyone wants to return everything to the way it "should" be. Whoever told her to only call me by my formal title was pretty dead set on making sure she knew her place as a branch member.
"Neji-sama?" Hinata broke into his reverie allowing Neji to note her worry for his silence.
He sighed and faced back over to the compound that was not too far from their location. "Hinata,"
"Y-Yes?"
He glanced back over to her with determination and rage showing in his eyes. "Who told you that you weren't allowed to call me that?"
Hinata stopped fiddling with her fingers, but her eyes ended up focusing more on her feet than him. "It…It-It was…" she paused wondering briefly what would happen when he found out. It was obvious that this was clearly angering him, but why?
"Well?" Neji persisted while stepping closer to her.
She looked up and smiled weakly. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, another voice interrupted them.
"Neji-sama!" the voice sounded from behind Neji, and originated from the compound.
Neji stared at Hinata a little longer before sighing in aggravation and facing the servant running toward him. "What? Can you not see I'm busy?"
The servant bowed lowly. "I apologize, Neji-sama, but the elders have sent for you. They were asking if there was still a meeting."
"Of course there's a meeting. They can't wait for a few minutes?" Neji retorted folding his arms in front of him tightly. "Morons…"
"Shall I go inform them that you are on your way?" the servant asked without standing up from his bowing position.
"Yes. I'm coming now anyway." The servant nodded and ran back into the compound. Neji shook his head and released another sigh. He took a step forward, but stopped and turned around to glance at Hinata. "We'll talk about this later. Come on." He motioned forward and began walking towards the main gate. Without having to look behind him, he was able to hear the quiet footsteps of Hinata, and know that she was following him.
Neji was disappointed. Or maybe plain anger would be better fitting for his mood. And the ones he blamed for his mood were the elders and their incessant questions. He specifically noted that he wanted the meeting to end at a certain time so he would be in his room when his meal was delivered by a certain person, who would need to answer a certain question of his. But no, the elders had more questions and concerns forcing Neji, as the Hyuga heir, to sit and debate on a resolution. Now, he stood at the doorway to his bedroom and gazed down blankly at his tray of food, which was placed on his small table. Neji sighed deeply and moved to sit down near his food. I'll just have to approach her about it later.
Unfortunately, that time never came. Just when Neji was beginning to think he had the opportune moment to corner her and ask, the elders came to him announcing that the Hyuga travelers have arrived at the compound and would like to meet with him. Much to his own dismay, Neji nodded and trudged toward the designated meeting room.
The group wasn't that large. Neji sat down and eyed the Hyuga travelers with scrutiny. There was an older man, two middle-aged couples, four adult men (branch members), and a young man around Neji's age. Neji nodded his head in a slight bow. "Welcome back. I am Neji, the Hyuga heir."
"Ah!" the old man spoke up. "You're Hizashi's boy, am I right?"
"Yes, that man was my father."
"Is your father." The man corrected wisely.
Neji remained emotionless. "My father died five years ago."
"Nonetheless, does the same blood not run through your veins?"
Neji didn't reply and only narrowed his eyes at the man.
One of the Main house men spoke up with a nervous laugh. "You'll have to excuse my father, Neji-sama. He has a difficult time knowing when to keep his mouth shut."
Neji nodded half-heartedly while the old man grumbled under his breath.
"I apologize again, Neji-sama. Allow us to introduce ourselves." The man bowed. "My name is Hiroki and this is my wife Naomi." He motioned to the woman sitting next to him. There weren't really any distinguishable features amongst the group; they were all Hyugas after all. Hiroki pointed to the older man. "That's my father Hiroshi," he motioned to the other couple. "My younger brother Hajime and his wife Konoka. Lastly, this is my son Hideki. I believe he is not much older than you, my lord."
Neji took to memory their names noting that not only were the branch members not introduced, but also he was inwardly wondering if he was the only Hyuga male whose name didn't start with an "H". Shrugging it off, Neji faced away from the group and stood. "Very well. I'll have my servants escort you to your rooms. But before we do that I would like to know your reason for staying here and how long your stay will be."
This time, Hajime spoke. "Our purpose for staying here is so that we have somewhere to sleep while we gather supplies before our next departure, Neji-sama. We estimated that we would only be staying for less than a week."
Neji nodded shortly before motioning to the servants, who waited patiently. "Escort them to their rooms."
The family walked passed Neji following their assigned servants to their assigned rooms. The young man was the last to come out, other than the branch servants of course. He stopped in the doorway and grinned at Neji. "Nice place you got here. It must not be too bad to be the heir."
"Hideki, right?" Neji asked not paying his previous statement any mind.
"Yeah, that's right. Hey, we should hang out while I'm here. We're pretty much the same age, so it'll be fun! What do you say?"
Inwardly, Neji groaned in annoyance. On the outside, he remained as stoic as ever. "Very well."
"Cool! We'll talk about some ideas at dinner." He almost left out the door, but peered back in at Neji with a goofy grin.
"What?" Neji nearly hissed.
"Where is dinner?" he laughed while rubbing the back of his head.
Neji could've twitched. Is this guy really a Hyuga? He acts more like the Uzumaki idiot. "Just meet me in my room in three hours." He saw him open his mouth to ask another question, so Neji beat him to it. "A servant will show you how to get there."
Hideki smiled gleefully. "All right! See you then!" he waved before leaving out the door followed by their own guards.
Neji rubbed his temples in agitation. "Annoying…"
Hinata hummed to herself with a content smile gracing her lips. She began placing the food onto the tray, and inwardly wondered why Neji had requested so much food. Not that it really mattered, she just was curious if whether he was starving or something. Shaking her head, she carried the tray of food over to Neji's room.
Hinata stood outside the door to Neji's room and knocked softly. "N-Neji-sama, I-I have your dinner. M-May I come in?" she didn't hear anything but some shuffling inside. Before she had time to call out his name again, the door flung open and the Hyuga that greeted her wasn't the Hyuga she had in mind. "Um…" This one was taller than Neji and looked too cheerful to be a Hyuga.
He smiled at her and it grew when he noticed the food. "Hey there! Is that our dinner?"
"Y-Yes, sir…"
"Well, come on in then!" he moved aside for her to enter and place the food on the low table. Once she finished, she stood back up and bowed to the older boy. "I-I'll be leaving now…"
"Hey, wait a minute!" he grasped onto her wrist giving her a start. "Neji-sama left to go somewhere real quick, so you want to keep me company until he gets back?"
"I-I-I…" she gulped. "If that is…what you wish."
"Cool!" he chuckled and sat down on the floor motioning for her to join. When she took her seat across from him (quite nervously might I add), he leaned forward a little bit. "My name is Hideki. I'm part of the travelers' group that just came here to stay for a little while. And you are?"
"M-My name is Hinata."
"Oh! Are you Neji-sama's protector?" he leaned forward a little more while absently giving her a once over.
Hinata blushed. "Um…k-kind of…I'm more like…his caretaker."
Hideki leaned back with his fingers rubbing his chin. "Oh…caretaker, huh? Eh, same thing." He waved it off and leaned closer to her making her blush darken. He rested his hand on her cheek and smiled again. "You're really beautiful. That Neji is one lucky guy." He laughed heartily. "And you got one cute blush!"
From outside the slightly ajar door, Neji leaned against the wall staying out of sight. He had been listening to the entire conversation, and he wasn't too comfortable with it anymore. He didn't have to be in the room to know that this distant cousin of his was now hitting on his Hinata. That didn't sit too well with him at all. He continued to listen.
"Um…th-thank you…" Hinata tried to calm her blush down, but it proved useless.
Hideki smiled wider and began munching on the food in front of him. "Did you make this?"
"Y-Yes, I did."
"It's really good! Hey, I have an idea!" he swallowed so he could be heard clearer. "You know…I wonder if Neji-sama wouldn't mind switching protectors with me. He can have mine, and I get you. Wouldn't that be great? I bet he wouldn't mind too much, so we should definitely do it! What do you say?"
Neji grit his teeth together and almost barged in if he hadn't heard Hinata's meek voice speak up.
"I…" Hinata murmured avoiding Hideki's gaze. "I'm sorry Hideki-sama, but…" she glanced up to him and smiled. "I believe I'd like to stay by Neji-sama's side…at least…" she lowered her gaze to her lap and almost looked saddened. "At least until he doesn't want me anymore…"
Hideki watched her with wonder. This sight was surely quite strange for him to see. He never had much of a close relationship with his protector, but the relationship between this Hinata and the Hyuga heir seemed deeper than either of them were letting on. But it also felt like something was missing. "Hmm…" he rubbed his chin again. "Say, Hinata-chan, how old are you?"
"P-Pardon…?" she asked now getting out of her daze.
"Your age. How old are you?" he smiled softly.
"I-I'm fifteen, sir."
"Oh…is that right? What about Neji-sama?"
"He's sixteen, sir."
He laughed. "And I'm seventeen. All three of us aren't that too far in age, are we?"
"I guess not." She giggled into her hand.
"So, you and Neji-sama like each other or what?" he asked quickly with that same knowing smile on his face.
Hinata's happy face dropped in one quick second, and her blush came back with a vengeance. As for Neji, who was still standing outside the door, his face went into shock.
Hideki laughed once more. "Is that a yes?"
Hinata pointed her forefingers together as she stumbled with her words. "N-Neji-sama and I-I…w-we, um…w-w-we…" she gulped audibly in anxiety. "I-I-I…"
"Well?" Hideki smiled slyly while nudging her playfully. "Come on, Hinata-chan, you can tell me."
Hinata covered her face with her hands. "I…Neji-sama is…I mean…Ye—"
"I think that's enough." Neji interrupted making them both turn to him quickly. He leaned against the doorway with his arms over his chest and his face reflecting no emotion.
"Neji-sama…" Hinata whispered and bowed immediately.
Hideki rubbed the back of his head and smiled widely. "Uh, hey there Neji-sama. I was wondering where you ran off to."
"Well, I'm back now." He glanced to Hinata, who still seemed to be red-faced. "Hinata, you're dismissed now."
She shot her head up to look at him and nodded fervently. "Y-Yes, Neji-sama." She stood up quickly and walked hurriedly to the door. Just as she was passing by Neji, she felt his hand grasp her wrist halting her movement. She gasped quietly, but didn't turn to look at him. He didn't face her when he whispered. "Wait here."
She nodded and stepped outside the doorway and stood near the wall.
Neji faced Hideki. "I'll be with you in a moment." He closed the door and stood in front of the bowed-faced Hinata. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't come in unless I'm there in the room."
"Yes, Neji-sama. It's just…h-he invited me in and…"
"That's understandable, but from now on I don't want you near him if I'm not around. Is that clear?"
She looked up and met his eyes, which didn't look as cold as before. A small smile appeared on her lips. "Yes."
"Good…" Neji didn't know why he couldn't look away from her. Something seemed different like he had never taken notice of her before. Absently, he stepped toward her until he was merely an inch in distant from her body. He didn't seem to notice her flushed face or the confusion written in her eyes. To him, he almost felt in a daze. For some reason, Hideki's words rang in his head like an echo. "You're really beautiful. That Neji is one lucky guy." Neji's eyebrows furrowed together in thought. Before either of them knew it, his hand cupped her cheek and his thumb began caressing her skin. He watched as Hinata's eyelids lowered and she began to lean into his hand. She…she really has gotten to be quite beautiful. She's so soft…
Hesitantly, Hinata placed her hand over Neji's to hold his hand against her face. She leaned more into his touch and closed her eyes as if to savor the moment. He's different now…I can feel it. Has he remembered? Does he remember our love for each other?
"Hey Neji-sama! You coming back in here or what?" Hideki's voice interrupted their moment making them back away from each other instantly. "I'm going to eat all the food if you don't hurry!"
Within that short minute, Neji's face returned to indifference. Hinata avoided his piercing gaze, and heard him grunt. He didn't say anything else to her and just walked back into his room closing the door behind him. Once he was no longer in sight, Hinata leaned back against the wall and slumped to the floor. She hugged her knees to her chest and rested her forehead on her kneecaps. At once, she felt tears brim in her eyes whether she knew the reason or not.
Hideki quirked a brow while chewing the last bit of their meal. His analytical gaze settled on the quiet and dazed Neji, who drank his hot tea distractedly. Neji's eyes seemed to be looking at the table, but Hideki knew his focus was clearly on something else. Hideki tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm…so, Neji-sama, you mind if I just call you Neji?"
Neji grunted and continued to stare blankly.
"Okay…" he spoke slowly. "Uh…do you always eat your meals in your room?"
Neji grunted again.
Hideki sighed and leaned his chin onto his palm. A sly smirk made its way onto his lips. "You know…that 'caretaker' of yours is pretty hot. Hinata…pretty name too…"
Neji's eyes shot to Hideki's face.
Inwardly, the older Hyuga smirked in victory at finally catching the heir's attention. "My protector is just some guy around my dad's age. I guess you could label him as a typical Hyuga. You know the type with no emotions…kind of like you. Jeez…" he sighed knowing that he still had Neji's full attention. "Hinata, though…she's the first Hyuga I've seen from the compound that actually seems human. She laughs and smiles…and has true human emotions. She doesn't seem afraid to show them so openly, either." He chuckled. "She's a real cutie. I'd switch you protectors in a heartbeat, but it doesn't seem like that's going to happen anytime soon."
Neji narrowed his eyes. "It's good that you understand that."
"Why? You wouldn't want to switch? I know Hinata obviously didn't want to, but do you?" Hideki raised an eyebrow with his sly smirk ever present.
"Our protectors are assigned to us at birth and can—"
"Not be changed, yeah I know." He waved it off carelessly and leaned back onto his elbows. "But that's not what I asked."
Neji narrowed his eyes further until they were slits.
Hideki seemed unfazed about Neji's obvious threat. "I asked if you would want to switch. Judging by her appearance, she doesn't look like a fighter, and she did mention that she was your 'caretaker' instead. I would think that as heir, you would prefer a protector, who's more like my protector."
"You talk too much." Neji calmed his nerves and took another drink from his tea. "Even so, I am not in need of a protector. I'm quite capable of protecting myself."
"So, you basically had the choice of not having a protector at all. But instead, you kept little Miss Hinata around, right?" he smiled that knowing smile of his. "My suspicions are confirmed. There's definitely something between you two."
Neji bit back a snarl of annoyance. "You don't know what you're talking about."
Hideki didn't seem to hear him and only looked like he was deep in thought. "It's kind of romantic, you know? I mean, the Hyuga heir and a lowly branch house servant in love? It sounds like something you read out of a book."
"You're obviously delusional. There's nothing like that going on between us. I am merely just the Hyuga heir and Hinata is just a branch member."
Hideki snapped his fingers. "Who happens to be the only person you look human around."
Neji sighed and clenched his fists. This guy was seconds away from receiving a beating just for being annoying. Who does he think he is? He acts like he knows everything, when he's really just making up false fantasies. Idiot… "Again, you don't know what you're talking about."
"Well, I guess you wouldn't notice the change, huh? Maybe your inner feelings, but outwardly you probably assume you look the same as always, right?"
This time, Neji relaxed and raised a brow in question. Really…what was this guy talking about?
Hideki chuckled again and sat up straight while stretching his arms. "I noticed it when you popped in while Hinata-chan and I were talking. When I talked with you earlier, you looked bored and irritated. But once your eyes landed on the cute little Hinata, your eyes really swam with emotion. Kind of took me by surprise, you know?"
Neji averted his gaze and his face became unreadable. It seems that the effect Hinata has always had on me hasn't worn off yet. Even after all these years…she still gives my inner being a sense of living…He shook his head to rid himself of his "annoying" thoughts. "You're delusional."
Hideki sighed. "And you're in denial. Don't we all have issues nowadays?"
Neji turned sharply to the one who wasn't that much older than him. "Get out."
"Hmm? Am I bothering you?"
"In more ways than one. Now, leave." His face was stone, but his eyes were agitated.
"All right, all right, I'm going." He stood up, dusted himself off, and headed towards the door. Before he completely left, he peeked his head back in. "We'll talk later, okay?"
"Out!"
"Right." He shut the door and his presence was no longer there.
Neji rubbed his temples in frustration. Maybe he should go to the hokage tower tomorrow and request a mission, one that was only as long as the rest of the week. After all, he had a feeling he could only deal with that Hideki guy for so much longer. His mind drifted to all the things he said about Hinata, which made his blood boil. I'll make sure Hinata goes on a mission as well. Or perhaps I should just request a mission that includes the both of us. Any other man would be untrustworthy.
Okay, I'm so happy I was able to get this one out before I have to leave. I'll be gone from the 17th until the 24th, okay? Please review!
