Hello! If you're reading this, I want to thank you for taking the time to read through all these chapters!
Special thanks to nazarin ramzan, you are always so kind and thoughtful! Reading your reviews is a delight!
This chapter took a while to write and I sincerely hope you enjoy it!
Thank you again!
Clarification:
"sample text" (Dialogue)
"sample text" (Thoughts)
"…Therefore, Kakashi-sama, we believe that this trip would be fruitful, strengthening the bonds between Konohagakure and Kusagakure", Neji finished his peroration.
"Not bad for an improvised speech, Hyuuga! An hour-long discourse would make almost anybody cower in fear, but here you stood, with your amazing powers of logic and eloquence…"
"Huh? Were you talking to me?" Kakashi finally lifted his gaze from his Come Come Paradise, looking at the two Hyuugas. "Just kidding", he added, seeing their distressed expressions. "I was also looking to strengthen the relations with Kusagakure, so your proposition couldn't come at a better time. Let's see… I could send them in a couple of weeks…"
"No!" Neji exclaimed, losing his temper for a split second. "I mean, Kakashi-sama", he added, trying to regain his composure "the word around ANBU is that there has been some activity regarding… The Box of Ultimate Bliss. I think that the prudent thing to do is to act as quickly as possible. If I may, I could deliver Hiashi-sama the news right now and help both him and Hanabi-sama prepare for departure this evening."
"The Box of Ultimate Bliss, you say? Why was I not informed?"
"Because it is nothing certain, we do not have any proof at the moment, but it is my belief that, the sooner we act, the better."
"Very well then. You two are going to want to join them, I suppose?"
"Kakashi-sama, with all due respect, I believe that Hinata-sama, as the heiress of the Hyuuga clan, must remain in Konoha. If something were to happen to either Hiashi-sama or Hanabi-sama, we need a leader. As for me, seeing that I am her guardian, it is my duty to remain by her side."
Kakashi sighed and, without pressing the matter forward, he began writing the note.
"Here you go. Keep me… Informed?" His last word was addressed to an empty room, since both Neji and Hinata were gone.
"Boy, these two really want some time alone together, don't they? The Box of Ultimate Bliss... Yeah, right..." Kakashi chuckled and returned to his book.
"Sai-kun… I… I don't feel very well." Kimiko was panting.
"Huh? Well, now that you mention it, you actually do look paler than usual, and that is saying something." Sai answered observing the girl.
"P-Paler?"
"Yeah, like you're about to go transparent or something…"
"Kami-sama, Hyuuga! You're done for! Mommy! Daddy! Please…"
"Do you want me to go get Tomato-chan? I could get Glaring-san as well, but he made me very uncomfortable the last time I saw him."
"N-No, it's alright Sai-kun. I think I just need to rest."
Kimiko quickly entered the bedroom and studied herself in the mirror.
"Oh, no! You took a risky gamble and there you have it. No, no, no this cannot be happening, Hyuuga!"
She pulled the covers over her tiny frame, and fell asleep, praying and crying.
"No, no, no this cannot be happening, Hyuuga... Where is it?"
Hinata and Neji had been thoroughly searching for the scroll for the better part of the evening and, as night crept, they were feeling out of luck. The Hyuuga library had nothing to be ashamed of in comparison to the Nara one. Although all the scrolls and books were neatly arranged and labelled, the pair was simply incapable of finding the one thing they were looking for.
"Hinata-sama, I will go make some tea. It looks like this is going to be a long night", Neji sighed.
"A-Ano... Y-You don't need to bother, I will make it."
The man looked at her, thinking he could not remember a time when she hadn't been kind and obliging. He used to hate her meek, pacifistic attitude, considering it unfit for a kunoichi, but he had grown to respect, admire and...
"Yes, Hyuuga, love. You love her, you imbecile!" he thought, observing her delicate movements while preparing the tea.
The stars were shining brightly, while the two sat in silence, drinking their tea in the small garden. The scent of the roses was inebriating and Neji could feel his cheeks burning while looking out of the corner of his eye at Hinata. She was observing the sky with interest, as though she wanted to count every star.
"Is she… Avoiding looking at you?"
"It's a good thing neither Hiashi-sama nor Hanabi-sama asked too many questions", he tried to break the silence, but she just nodded quietly.
"Hinata-sama..." he began, but was interrupted. Her voice was clear, determined, with no trace of stuttering and, although she was still watching the sky, Neji felt that she could see him, that she could read through him like an open book.
"You know, I always thought that I loved Naruto-kun… I was convinced that we would end up getting married…" her voice trailed off.
"That's it, Hyuuga, prepare for impact! She is now going to tell you that she will choose her own path and that you two are out of the question… Then again, if this were the case, why would she be so invested into finding that scroll? For research purposes? Is she going to tell you that she only wants it so that she can study it? If you save Hiashi-sama, she will reject you, she will choose her own path and… And you will still be there to protect her and love her from afar, as you always did, as you always do and as you always will… Always."
"However," she began again, and his head turned slightly to get a better view; she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "the war made me realize a few things… Would you like to know what, Neji?"
The man was agape, she hadn't been stuttering, she had addressed him without the honorific and she didn't seem to be blushing. She looked serene and he could only nod. As though she could see him, she continued:
"When the Ten Tails attacked, I just… Acted. My body just moved on its own. For a split second, I regretted it. To this day, I am ashamed of that. I knew that I was going to take the hit, I knew that I was going to die. I was trying to think that it was worth it, that I would sacrifice for the one I love. Isn't that the epitome of romanticism? Isn't that the best proof of love? Giving your life for the one person you believe to be your all… However, I was not expecting two things: the regret that I would feel knowing that I was about to die and… You believing the same as I in regards to sacrifice. Because you do, don't you, Neji?"
Her eyes were now fixated on him and he felt exposed. All the thoughts he tried to keep for himself, all the words he refused to mutter, all the feelings he tried to hide even from himself, all out in the open under her gaze. He bowed his head, looking downwards.
"Hinata-sama… I… I didn't feel any regret… My duty…"
"That was beyond your duty, Neji, and we both know it. When we were young, you promised you would give your life to protect me. I never asked for it and I never expected you to act upon it. I always thought it was just one of those silly promises that children make and forget about the next day. Don't speak, she added, seeing him opening his mouth to protest, please… Just… Listen to me. If I don't say these things now, I am afraid I will never be able to. At first, I thought that you felt the same regret that I did, in that split second right before the hit. Your eyes, however… There was nothing there but a feeling that I had never seen before. I saw it clear as day, with my Byakuugan… After I found out that you were going to survive, I began thinking about it. I began… Hating you. I really did. I hated that you would even think of leaving me alone, I hated thinking that I could be the reason of you... – she shook her head, as if to release the thought. And then, the nightmares started: nightmares of you dying and me unable to prevent it; nightmares about your body growing cold in my arms, nightmares about your funeral, nightmares about your grave… I swore to myself that I would get better, that I would get stronger, that I would never put you in such a position... What I saw in your eyes that day shook me to the very core and made me wonder… So I began observing you, I saw you waking up at those impossible hours just to quietly sit in the shadows and watch me train, I heard your voice soften while talking to me, I felt your touch more relaxed when correcting my stances, I saw your eyes… Even now, in this situation, when you know what the future is supposed to bring, you are still here, by my side… Even now, when you could make the choice of just saving Otousan, thus avoiding our marriage, you still want to save Kimiko, you still believe that she will be born. Is this… Is this… Love, Neji?"