Chapter 1:

I don't like you

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Toro Nagashi had started the day before, meaning the Hyuugas made their grand entrance, and were expected to be there throughout the rest of the festival. It was already late into the night, and the youngest Hyuuga was walking around the city in search of somewhere to wait out the rest of the festival. She glanced at the moon. It really was only two o'clock in the morning, only twenty-two more hours.

Hyuuga Hanabi did not like festivals. She did not like the noise, and she didn't like the dances her sister enjoyed. She continued her searching, for what she couldn't say, uncaring of the puddles of water through which she was raking her kimono. She looked around a corner and plowed through the streets.

In her spur of the moment sprint through the crowds, she hit something hard. She looked up, seeing a young man in a high collared jacket and a hood. Obviously, this was someone who also didn't like festivals either.

"Excuse me," she mumbled, pushing away from his chest and walking past him.

He, however, seemed to recognize her, and snatched up her wrist. "You are Hinata's sister," he stated simply, easing her in front of him once more.

She rolled her pale eyes and slipped her fingers beneath his. "I am, and you are in my way, Aburame-san." She glared up at him and peeled his hand from her wrist.

He let his hand fall from hers, but replaced it with his other hand. Firmly, he held her hand, unwilling to let go. "Your father sent me to look for you. Neji is… busy."

A spark of amusement flew through her eyes. She smirked and wrenched her hand away, patting the back of his hand with her other. She turned and walked down the alleyway she ran past only a minute before. He followed. She could hear his feet crunch the gravel of the streets. She picked up her speed and began to run. She heard him give chase.

She cast a quick glance over her shoulder at the Aburame. As she whipped her gaze forward, she shook her head. Stopping at the Hokages, she hiked to the top. When she stopped, he stopped.

"Will you quit following me?" she snapped, leaning on the rails that overlooked all of Kohonagakure.

"No."

She rolled her eyes and looked back at him. "I know my father did not send for you," she murmured. "He would have sent Neji regardless of how 'busy' he is with TenTen." She shot him a knowing look and looked back over the railing.

Hyuuga Hanabi was caught in a crush that she knew she shouldn't have. Her sister's place as heiress had been passed to her when her sister decided to work as a nurse at the hospital. She couldn't have that stupid Aburame, even if she tried.

She held in a sigh and straightened her back. She twisted to look at him, but was stopped when he sat beside her. She released a huff of air, and lowered her chin to stare at him. His hood had fallen off, and he looked like the Aburame she had crushed on as a child.

"He did send me, but not to bring you back. He told me to help you."

She laughed aloud. "I need help?"

"He believes you do."

She laughed again, looking out at the town and festivities below. "I suppose I do…" She looked at him and shook her head. "Did my nee-san tell you? I'm the Hyuuga heiress now."

He frowned, or at least that's what she thought it was when he looked at her. Not past her, not through her, at her. "No, she did not." He kept her gaze for a long minute, then looked out at the horizon. "I'm unsure of whether to congratulate you or apologize." She watched him set his hands beside himself to keep upright.

She took this as her moment. She crouched to sit beside him, and rested her head on his shoulder. Tentatively, she touched his hand with her own. "I'm supposed to have this position. My father knew this at my birth, but I don't know how to console my sister. She wanted to be the heiress to show Hiashi-sama that she is just as good as I am."

She looked up. He hadn't flinched.

"I don't like you," he said clearly, not moving his hand or shoulder from her touch.

She nodded. "I know. I don't like you either."