Disclaimer; I do not own Naruto

Chronicles of Mistress Cinnamon

One-Shot; Twenty Five

Title; His Match

Pairing; Neji x Hinata

Summary; Neji sat with his cousin while she slept

His Match

His pale grey eyes examined his cousin's unconscious form, his were no longer narrowed into a normal glare nor did his eyebrows knit together with hatred. His eyes were dull as he tried to sort through his thoughts; he should feel happy if not extraordinary about the fact that he had nearly killed his cousin. He had won the match between the two of them; he had proven that he was the superior one and that the branch members in the Hyuga clan weren't weak. He had taken pleasure in watching his cousin cough up blood and savored the feeling of her blood dripping onto his fingers during his rage. He enjoyed the terror in her different Hyuga eyes and the feeling of aversion race through his veins. If he had favored his match so much, why did he feel so dead inside?

He quietly moved the chair he rested on closer to the hospital bed the Hyuga heiress, he slowly reached out to grasp her hand within both of his hands and frowned at the feeling of her icy skin. He leaned back against the chair, he frowned at the sickly colour of her skin and the dark rings under her doe eyes. His froze like a Nara deer caught in a house when the girl groaned and turned to face him, after she settled again he released a breath he didn't realize he has been holding in. His glanced at the clock above her room door; vising hours had ended three hours ago yet he refused to move. A nurse had tried to get him to leave but all he did was sit still and glare at her until she walked away with an annoyed huff. Stupid woman, how dare she try make him leave his cousin's side!

He frowned with confusion at his last thought; his hold on her hands remained unmoved. Didn't he hate the girl like the rest of his self-centred clan? Then why does he continue to hold onto her hand and does he refuse to leave his cousin's side? He gazed at the sickly pale girl; an image of the younger Hinata entered his mind. She was so full of life, her pale skin looked radiant, eyes wide with wonder and rosy flushed cheeks. And now…now, she looked dead…because of him, her own cousin. That bright happy girl was gone because he relentlessly abused her with words-fists during training-and killed the remaining confidence she had much like the rest of their clan. He was no different from them.

He remembered that one promise he had made with his father before his cousin's kidnapping.

He had broken it instead of honoring it.

He deserved pain for breaking that promise…for breaking his cousin.

Neji's eyes widened and one of his hands flew to the bandaged mark on his forehead. His cousin could have used the cursed seal to win the match and paralyze him with pain so unbearable that it felt like someone was hammering on his head with a large rock yet...she didn't. She didn't try even after he had permanently damaged her heart-the internal organ that kept her alive. If he had been a main branch Hyuga, he would have used the seal…Hinata wasn't like her cousin though. She didn't ever defend herself against heard untrue words or against chakra blazing palms and she was determined to do the impossible.

…She will do the impossible with his help. He was going to perform the duty he was born to do, he was going to protect her and assist her with her battles. He was going to train his cousin as soon as she healed from her wounds and give her that nudge she so badly needed. Her team weren't going to be the only people to encourage, protect and comfort her. He was determined to become that person she could trust with that damaged heart of hers. A rare smile crossed his face.

I understand that people can't stand this couple, I don't mind it because it's not like they brother and sister besides you cant control who you fall in love with not that this one-shot was very romantic. I've seen people argue about this couple on the YouTube-its the most funnest things I've ever see. People, remember that every one is made differently and it's kinda useless to fight with people you don't know or people who are very suborn.

Anyway, I thank for Dotchi13 his/her constant reviews and support, as well as others who have reviewed and continue to read my tales.

Thanks people!