Chapter 25: Only one road for two

Hinata returns with a quiet pace, and rejoins Neji who's training in the garden. He stops when he sees her and asks: "Where did you go ? You still left without escort, it's dangerous."
Hinata: "I survived without escort all my life, Neji. And I'm still alive. I would not like to be surrounded permanently by vigilant guards."

Neji: "I was at the house, you could have asked me..." 

Without going down in the garden, Hinata passes her arms around Neji's neck. 

Hinata: "Excuse me, I wanted to go there alone. Without you. To have the courage to do it. I don't want to depend on you all the time. It would be a too heavy burden for you. Neji, I went to see the Hokage and I said her... about the tails of Fox."

With an abrupt gesture, Neji releases himself from the arms of the young woman and moves back. In silence, hurt, he walk in the garden before turning again to Hinata, furious. 

Neji: "Without even speaking to me before? You decided it all alone?"

Hinata: "Neji... I... I must to do it. I'm not allowed anymore to hide that form our Hokage, I have responsibility towards the village... "

This answer does nothing but poke Neji's anger, and he replies with a deaf voice: "You're becoming like your father. The clan, the village... all good excuses!" 

Hinata: "Neji! Our family, our village, they are people whom I love and whom I want to protect! I'm not strong like you, I can't protect anybody when I fight. But if , by my decision, I can preserve from danger all the people I like, then I would do it. It's for you too that I do it." 

Neji: "Without speaking to me whereas I'm the first concerned? You will take all your decisions alone now, and will impose them to me, arbitrarily?"

Hinata feel tense, standing on the parquet floor. She has bare feet and don't want to go down in the garden where Neji goes and turns in round, like a furious lion. Why doesn't he want to understand? 

Hinata: "No, I... Neji, I try to do the best than I can... I thought that it was necessary to do it without you. I..." 

Neji shot her a furious glance
. 
Neji: "Then it's like that? Now that you have again honor, family, friends, you don't need me anymore, isn't it!" 

Hinata stays dumb of stupor one moment.

Hinata: "... but... no, it's not..."

Yes, in fact, she realizes that it's that. She doesn't need him anymore, she doesn't depend of him anymore... Neji, who observes her with attention, perceives this reversal. He closes the eyes, and without warning, jump above the wall of the garden.

Hinata: "Neji? Neji!"

She sees the disarray on his face, sadness, the feeling of treason and abandonment. She would like to catch up with him, but it's impossible. Bare foot on this ground, she would be wounded. In normal time, she doesn't have any chance to catch up with him, but in pregnancy, it's absolutely without hope...

Nothing is without hope. She runs to follow him. She still has muscles and reflexes of a Ninjas. She didn't lose sight of him, and his race leaves some traces. He must really be upset. But he avance faster than her, going away little by little. She sees him moving away from her. Her heart tightens. It's undoubtedly just a blow of anger, he'll go home in the evening, or tomorrow... or never. And if he never return? In spite of all her efforts, the distance increases, she'll lose him...
Neji, looks behind you, just a moment!

By reflexe, Neji turn his glance behind him. When he sees Hinata on his trace, he stops right on the spot. In a glance, he sees that she's alone, almost without weapons and with feet. 

Neji: "What an insane girl!"

He immediately turns back and rejoins her quickly. Although Hinata saw him returning, she continues to advance, to meet him more quickly. When Neji meet her, he begin by slanging her: "You lost your head, Hinata! A race in your state! And without guards, weapons or shoes! You want to kill yourself !"

She lets him shout, then encloses the Neji's chest in her arms, firmly, and poses her head above. Under her ear, Neji's heart beats quickly.

Hinata: "Neji, it's true, I don't need you anymore. But I want you close to me. It isn't a necessity, it's a desire, a wish, a request. It's more invaluable, for me."

Without answering its embrace, Neji stays motionless.

Neji: "Then why? Why do you do all without me? I have some time the feeling that I don't exist anymore for you. All these mysteries of which I am excluded, all these decisions that you take alone ... "

Hinata: "Soory, it's difficult. I have still difficulties to face all... "

Neji: " Supports on me, Hinata."

Hinata: "I will do it. I won't take anymore my decisions about our child without you, I promise."

They tighten one against other a long time before going, following the same direction, by desire.