Author's Notes: It was my original intention to try to write some NejiHina fluff for people who kept requesting for it but the story turned out like this. I'm sorry but I don't think I'm good at writing fluff. This story is more dramatic and serious so fluff wouldn't really fit into it. Maybe next time I might write a separate fluff story if time permits.

This is an interlude, it happens during Chapter 6, Hanabi's Manipulations.

Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me.

Unrequited: Interlude 1

Extending his hand to her, Neji proffered to help her up from her fall. Blushing slightly from embarrassment at her carelessness as well as shame felt from performing so poorly in front of Hanabi, Hinata was loathed to take his hand. Yet he seemed insistent that she did so because he even reached to grab her hand and pull her up.

Hinata's eyes anxiously wandered to where her sister was previously sitting and felt slight relief to see that she had left. Having to handle her smug, 'I'm better than you' looks could sometimes be too much to bear. She would rather not see her sister's taunting face even though she knew what was going through Hanabi's head.

Neji's eyes had also glanced towards the spot where Hanabi had been sitting. He knew she had left the minute he reached out to pull Hinata up. "You were not concentrating just now." He said quietly as he turned his eyes back to her.

Her blush deepened, his statement made her slightly uncomfortable. Her cousin could always read her so well. He continued even as she maintained her silence, "You need to stop becoming so nervous when fighting before an audience. That is one of your greatest weaknesses." She nodded, knowing that Neji was just pointing this out as a form of instruction and not with the intention to insult her.

Placing a hand on her shoulder which caused her to look up in astonishment at him, their eyes finally met. "You and I both know that you have improved immensely over the past year. It is time for you to get over your nervousness and show everyone what you are truly capable of." With this encouragement, Neji graced her with a rare slight smile which in turn caused Hinata to smile back too. Dropping his hand from her shoulder, he announced that today's training session had to stop here as he had to go to see Tsunade-sama. Hinata also said she had to go to the academy too to borrow a book on medical ninjutsu. After arranging to walk to the academy together, both went back to the Hyuuga compound for breakfast.

After meeting at the Hyuuga compound entrance, Neji and Hinata set off. On the way to the academy, they met Naruto and Sakura who were walking towards the training grounds.

"Hinata-chan!" Naruto called out loudly while flashing a large wide smile. Sakura also beamed at them, inclining her head slightly at Neji to indicate her greeting before they both headed towards the Hyuugas. "Eh…where are you two going?" Naruto was never too shy to butt his nose into other people's business although he was by no means doing it with malicious intent. Sakura, however, was more adept in the structure of acceptable social behaviour and bobbed Naruto on the head for his intrusion.

"Ow…Sakura-chan, what was that for?" Naruto had turned indignant blue eyes onto his teammate, little noticing the strange red tomato that Hinata had frozen into. Neji though had noticed it and was thoroughly displeased; one could even call him jealous even though he knew he had absolutely no right.

Having noticed the Hyuuga girl's uneasiness and the strange way Neji was looking at them, Sakura then attempted to divert Naruto's attention away. She could almost sense the killing instinct in Neji. Grinning a bit too widely, Sakura quickly excused themselves and almost physically manhandled Naruto into walking away. Sakura had always known that Hinata had the largest crush on Naruto but even at this age, she was still unable to get over her crippling shyness to speak with Naruto. In any case, she did not wish to get into a fight with Neji and from the vibes she was getting from him; it might have turned out inevitable if they had remained. So retreat, Sakura did. Not that she underestimated Naruto's ability to win in a fight against Neji but there were some weird and complicated family issues there that Sakura knew better than to tangle with.

"Naruto-kun," Hinata finally managed to whisper softly after he had left.

Neji gave her a disdainful look. She was still blushing hotly and he wondered if in his lifetime, he would ever be able to make her feel this way about him. His nostrils flaring in agitation, Neji asked brusquely, "So are you intending to continue standing here or are you coming?" When he received no response, Neji walked ahead in annoyance.

Her eyes were fixed on the retreating backs of Naruto and Sakura, their image getting smaller the further they walked from them. Sighing inwardly, Hinata knew that Naruto and she could never be. She had placed him on a pedestal, making him nigh unattainable to herself. She was only bold enough to watch his retreating back and hope that he did not think too badly of her. Turning her eyes sadly to Neji's also retreating back, she hurried forward to catch up with him. However, the damage was done. Neji was cool towards her for the rest of their walk, the friendly camaraderie was gone.

That evening when Hanabi had come brashly into his room, Neji had been resolute in resisting her. Even her kiss held no warmth for him. Yet as he was standing by his window trying to ignore her, the events of the day returned to him. He thought with a pang that no matter what he did, Hinata could never be his. Her eyes would never look upon him the same way they did at Naruto. Maybe he should just settle for Hanabi who was so insistent in throwing herself at him. Even as he thought that, Hanabi slithered her thin arms around him while pressing her small body against his back.

"Please nii-san, I really need you." His poignant thoughts, her plaintive pleas broke through his resolute shield and that was why he gave in to her. Why he took her hand from his chest and lifted it to his lips. Why he turned around and rubbed the tears from her eyes with the pad of his thumbs. Why he forced himself to open his eyes even as he slept with her to remind himself that this was Hanabi and not Hinata.