As always Naruto belongs to Kishimoto. Please review.
I thank my friend LexKixAss for letting me abscond her twins for my story. As a treat, I went and found some old pictures that another friend, Zirio (http: / / zirio. deviantart .com/), drew of the twins. So if you've ever wondered what they look like exactly, here's a little taste. Twins laughing (http: / / img. photobucket. com / albums /v87 /Sessy-sama/ IsamuandOsamutrouble .jpg) Twins Serious (http: / / img. photobucket. com / albums /v87 /Sessy-sama/ IsamuandOsamuseriouspsd .jpg) Remove the spaces to go to the link. Fanfiction refused to let me hyperlink or even paste the full link without spaces.
The air was muggy, the sky was dreary, and the sun whole-heartedly refused to shine, but no little weather problem was enough to wipe off the joy blazing across Hinata's face like an out-of-control fire jutsu. She ran through the halls, nearly tripping over her own feet as she turned the corner, and plopped down in front of the breakfast table as if there was more than just a little cushion to soften the fall. Rice shoveled into her mouth faster than she could breathe, and Hinata had to grab her milk to help it along.
"Slow down," Naomi laughed. "If you choke and kill yourself now you'll never get to go out with Neji tonight."
Hinata beat her chest as a particularly large clump of food refused to go down her esophagus. "I'll be okay. Did Neji-niisan already go? He wasn't in his room."
"According to the guards on duty last night, Gai made an early morning break-in and stole him while we slept," Hizashi answered from behind her. He leaned down to give Naomi a chaste peck on the cheek before taking his seat at the end of the table.
"He's still coming tonight, isn't he?" Hinata asked, her voice hitching higher at the thought.
"And suffer your wrath after all the fuss you've been putting up over it," Hizashi joked. "I think even he'd be scared of that."
A fair blush colored her cheeks and she hurried to finish her breakfast to avoid looking at her aunt and uncle any more. Neji'd kept his word and not told them about her skipping class, so they didn't understand what it really meant for Neji to be spending time with her that day. To be able to be the way they were before everything started to change. It was hard to look forward to future when everything she loved about the past seemed to be slipping away. But if Neji was trying to stay with her, even if it was only once a week, then she wasn't really losing him. Not like her parents who never came back. If she could just hold on to that one thing, Hinata knew she'd be able to handle the rest of the changes. She just needed something to stay the same.
Wolfing down the last of her rice, Hinata burst up and said goodbye to her aunt and uncle.
"The academy won't start just because you get there early," Naomi called after her, but Hinata didn't care. The sooner she got to the academy the sooner classes would end and then it would be just her and Neji.
Unfortunately the day couldn't have gone slower if Iruka turned the clock back to the start of day – twice. It didn't help they were reviewing genjutsu for the genin exam. If only they were learning new things instead of constantly reviewing for the genin exam, then maybe this last year wouldn't be so useless. But she promised Neji no more bad behavior, so she listened attentively and did whatever Iruka told her to.
Still when the last class was over and Iruka released them, Hinata was out of her seat and running through the halls before most of the other classrooms opened. She threw the main doors out to the thick, humid air and searched the schoolyard for her brother in the fading light of the cloud-strewn afternoon. There was no one there. A swell of disappointment filled her stomach and subdued her excitement, just a little. Neji had warned her he might be a late depending on what Gai had in store for him, but she'd hoped he would be there waiting for her. Behind her the sounds of stampeding students freed of their pens echoed through the halls, so Hinata headed over to the swing on the far end of the yard to wait for Neji.
Hinata rocked back and forth on the swing. The edge of her sandals dug into the ground to keep the arch low and slow as she watched the back of all those kids who were heading home or out with their friends. She didn't care about the ones leaving, she was searching –impatiently– for the one approaching. As the minutes passed, her gentle sway turned to rigid twisting and sharp kicks back. Neji was late.
"Hinata," a familiar voice shouted behind her and she stopped swinging to find the source. Naruto bounded her way, a smile as bright as his blond hair and as ignorant to what it did to her as he was.
Naomi had been right to a certain extent. Once Hinata faced Naruto everyday it was easier to accept the hurt and start to let it go. Not that his goofy grin offered so unconditionally still didn't make her heart leap and break all at the same time, but she understood she could feel the bad without it ruining the good. Hinata just wished the hurt would fade faster.
"Hey Naruto," she called back and was proud at how much steadier her voice was than two weeks before.
He stopped in front of the swing and teetered back on his heels the way he always did when he didn't want to stand still. "Hey, you're not going back home right away today?"
Hinata shook her head, a smile threatening to out shine Naruto's blazoned across her face. "Neji-niisan's promised to come by spend the whole evening with me. He's just running late with his team, probably."
A twinge of jealousy scrunched Naruto's face, but he quickly brushed it away. It had taken Hinata a long time to figure out that's what those little quirks and fidgets were; he hid the truth better than any other emotion.
"Hey, Hinata," he started, shirking off the negativity like a dirty jacket, "I know you don't like it when I pry into the compound and stuff, but is everything all right?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, surprised by the question.
"Well, it's just you were sick all that time and then since you got back you're always running home right after class." Naruto scratched the back of his blond hair and looked away. "I don't get things all the time, but I was worried something happened at the compound. I mean, since you're not gonna be a genin, this is the last year we can really hang out, but you're hardly ever here anymore."
A part of Hinata wished he wouldn't talk about her like that, but that got overwhelmingly squashed down far, far, far below the quiet joy at knowing he was worried about her, even if only as a friend. Naomi was right, she'd never fully get over Naruto. Still, she couldn't exactly explain the truth to him, so she kept her soft smile unfazed and shook her head.
"Nothing too bad," she lied. "Some things happened, but it's okay now. I'm better."
"Good! If you ever need help, just come to me," Naruto declared with unchecked enthusiasm. "What kind of future Hokage would I be if I didn't help my friends?"
"What kind of future Hokage can't do a proper clone jutsu?" Iruka demanded from behind Naruto.
Naruto spun around and shoved a finger in his face. "The Hokage doesn't need a silly clone jutsu!"
"He does if he wants to be a genin first," Iruka said, swatting away Naruto's hand.
"Then I'll skip being genin and just be Hokage!" Naruto cried.
Iruka shook his head. "If you put half as much effort into paying attention in class as you did proclaiming you're going to be Hokage maybe you'd actually know how to do a clone jutsu by now."
"Clone jutsu is stupid," Naruto grumbled back.
Iruka chuckled and put a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Why don't you tell me all about how you're going to be Hokage without knowing the clone jutsu over ramen?"
Naruto's eyes lit up immediately. "You're buying?"
"Yeah, I'll buy." Iruka looked to Hinata, who'd been more than entertained watching the playful argument. "How about you, Hinata? Care to join us?"
"No thanks, Neji-niisan's coming as soon as he's done with his team," she answered. Even if Neji wasn't coming, Hinata would have refused. Besides the fact she was still wish-washy over how well she could handle being with Naruto, she wouldn't intrude on them. Iruka had been paying extra attention to Naruto lately, she'd noticed, and Naruto loved it more than he let on. It was a little like how she knew she must look with Neji.
"Well, don't stay out here too long, it looks like it's going to rain soon," Iruka warned.
With a friendly nod from him and an over-excited good-bye from Naruto, Hinata was left alone in the emptying schoolyard.
She swung idly back and forth, letting her feet drag across the dusty ground on each slow pass. The chill in the wind grew stronger as ominous clouds of black and grey blocked out the afternoon sun until more shadows danced across the ground than light. The branches above her thrashed and beat against each other until she had to dig her heels in to keep the swing from spinning in the harrowing gale. Dust flooded the open air, long since abandoned by the quick-footed students and teachers, but still Hinata waited. Neji had promised, so he'd surely come, and with the storm threatening to break at any moment then he must be on his way. She'd wait, because he'd be there soon. She'd wait, because he promised and Neji never broke a promise to her.
Hinata's hands were already shivering over the rope supports from cold when the first drop of rain wet her cheek. She wiped it away even as the blackened sky above overflowed and muddied the vacant path leading to the village. She could barely see a few feet in front of her through the deluge, but still she watched. She watched and waited, because Neji wouldn't break his promise. He was on his way, she knew it. She just had to wait for him.
She didn't know how long she sat there in the unforgiving storm. She didn't care, not when through her clouded vision a figure appeared on the path running toward her. It was shadowed and hazy, but Hinata knew who it was. A smile filled her rain-soaked face and she ran to meet him. She knew he'd come. Neji would never break his promise, no matter what happened. Neji would–
"Hinata, what're you doing here still?" Naruto's voice shattered the pounding of the storm and stopped Hinata so fast her sandals sunk up to her toes in the mud.
She was so sure. Why was it Naruto standing in front of her, his blond hair sticking to his face like tear-stained streaks on his skin? Why was he staring at her with such a worried expression marring his usually jubilant demeanor? Why hadn't it been Neji?
"Hinata," he repeated, grabbing her arm to force her to look at him, "Hinata, why're you out here in the rain?"
"Neji-niisan's coming," she answered.
Water dripped into Naruto's open mouth as he gaped at her. "Have you been here since school let out?"
"Neji-niisan's coming," she said again, more firmly than before. What was so hard to understand about that?
"If he ain't here by now, he ain't coming," Naruto gritted and pulled her toward the road. "Come on, you can't stay in the rain like this."
"No!" Hinata cried, yanking out of his grip and backing away. "Neji-niisan promised he'd come, so he's coming."
"He ain't coming, Hinata." Naruto tried to grab her arm again but she jumped out of his reach. Every nerve of her shaking body felt alive as she blinked the rain away to clear her sight and watch him.
"Neji-niisan is coming. I'm going to wait for Neji-niisan," she swore, wiping the salty rain from her trembling lips.
"Hinata–"
"I'm waiting for Neji-niisan!" she shouted before he said anything more. When she retreated from him again, Naruto disappeared back into the rain.
Naruto didn't understand. He couldn't. Neji promised to come. Neji never broke his promise to her. Hinata returned to the swing and sat down. The rain washed the mud from her feet only to splash it up again.
He'd never broken his promise to her . . . before.
Isamu stuck his hand out and the pressure of the downpour made his skin tingle. On days like that the fifteen-year-old chuunin was especially glad the Hyuuga compound splurged for all the best amenities of life, like a covered guard station, even if they'd forgotten seats in the design.
"Shame it rained on Hinata-sama's big day out with Neji," Osamu commented as he leaned back against the gate wall, safely out of splashing distance.
"I doubt it ruined anything, not with the stink she was making about it," Isamu chuckled.
"True." Osamu shifted so he could better see down the road. "Still, it's about time Neji noticed."
"Yeah, or we'd have to do something about it," Isamu agreed.
"And then we'd be the ones visiting Yumi-san afterwards."
"Well, you would," Isamu said smugly.
Osamu laughed. "Oh, you think you're so much better than our boy genius?"
"No," Isamu smirked, "but while he's beating the crap out of you I'll come up on his blind spot and bludgeon him before he can hit me. And a win for me is a win for both of us."
Osamu snorted. "Nice, Otouto, except for that whole getting the crap beat out of me."
Isamu shrugged. "We'll switch the next time Neji needs to learn a lesson."
"By which time he'll have learned not to leave his blind spot unwatched and somehow I'll still get hurt."
"Sucks to be you, Aniki," Isamu said too seriously to be taken serious.
"I can feel the love pouring off you," Osamu scoffed. He leaned further out and a few drops of rain dripped from the roof onto his vest. His eyes narrowed minutely, but to Isamu's trained eye the disapproval rang loud and clear.
"Who's out there?" Isamu asked.
"I'll only tell you if you promise to be civil," Osamu answered.
"I'll make no such promise." Especially with the discontent he read in his older brother.
"I'm asking for civil, not nice," Osamu remarked with a 'Try anyway' glance his way as the source of his aggravation came into Isamu's view in the form of a water-logged orange coat and floppy blond mop.
Isamu groan and glared 'Do I have to?' athis brother.
'Yes' Osamu's raised brow silently snapped and Isamu rolled his eyes.
His brother was too proper for Isamu sometimes. Neither of them liked the Uzumaki boy after whatever happened with Hinata. She never explained the details, but the look on her face that day told Isamu everything he needed to know, and no one hurt Hinata and stayed on Isamu's good side.
The blond idiot was running right for them, too. If he had half a clue what he did to Hinata, neither of them would have tolerated such bold behavior. Unfortunately for Isamu, Osamu sent a warning glare his way. They were supposed to be professional after all.
Osamu held out a casual hand wide enough to stop Naruto from bursting through the gate and into the compound. "How can we help you?" he offered politically polite.
"You can bring out that no-good, sorry excuse for a brother so I can beat him up!" Naruto demanded, shaking out his hair and successfully splattering both twins in the process.
Osamu offered an amused tweak of his lips to warn Isamu to let him handle Naruto. His brother released a deep, exasperated sigh and returned to his previous stance against gate wall. "Well there are lots of brothers in the clan. There're big brothers, little brothers, somewhere in the middle brothers."
"Twin brothers," Isamu added, thoroughly enjoying the game the more Naruto shook with anger.
"Hinata's brother!" Naruto shouted.
"Alas," Osamu shrugged, "that specific brother is currently unavailable–"
"With said sister," Isamu interrupted.
"Indeed, so you see, you'll need to reschedule your intended ass kicking." Osamu smiled and nodded his head respectfully. "Please do come again."
Isamu had to give his older brother credit. No one could piss someone off that much while being polite as well as Osamu, and Naruto was fuming now.
Naruto stepped up until he was mere inches from Osamu, though the height difference was practically laughable. "If he was with her I wouldn't be here to kick his butt!" he yelled.
Both twins snapped to attention. They were a lot of things the clan wasn't fond of, but they actually did know when to stop. Hinata was definitely one of the subjects that made them serious, especially when confusing news of her was coming from an enraged out-of-claner.
"What're you talking about?" Osamu asked.
"I mean anyone who leaves her waiting doesn't deserve to be–"
Isamu was halfway down the road, the rain slamming against his face, before Naruto finished his sentence. He didn't need to know the details. Details could be figured out later. The only thing that mattered to him as he vaulted onto the rooftops to make a clear shot for the academy was whether or not Hinata really was waiting still. If she was, Naruto was going to be the least of Neji's worries; Isamu would see to that.
The pounding rain and dark skies made it impossible to see more than a few feet in front of him, and even then only when lightning flared across the sky and turned the evening to midday for one brief moment. But Isamu was a Hyuuga. He activated byakugan and searched through the blurring sheet of rain to the quickly approaching academy. There she sat, clenching the rope supports of the tree swing as if the wind would blow her off if she loosened her hold for a moment. Not even byakugan's sure sight could tell if tears mixed with the rain streaming down her pale cheeks, but the denial in her searching eyes was resolute.
To see the hurt in her shivering body, the hurt she unwaveringly refused to let herself feel, was almost too much. Her teeth locked together, her ragged breath, her feet sunk so deeply in the mud her legs held the swing still. Everything in her body screamed at her to believe the one thing her eyes wouldn't: Neji wasn't coming. Isamu wasn't going to forget that image, and he'd make sure Neji didn't either.
When he landed on the road leading to the schoolyard Isamu called out to her so she knew who was coming. As firmly as she clamped onto her denial, he didn't want her to give her false hope and then dash it away. Even when he was right in front of her, Hinata looked past him to keep watch on the road.
"Neji-niisan's coming," she snapped before he could say a word. Isamu wasn't sure if the tremble in her voice was from emotion or cold, but her skin was paler than even a Hyuuga's should be and her teeth chattered beneath the drowning rain.
"Hinata-sama," Isamu began softly, not wanting to force her to accept the truth but knowing she must, "if he hasn't come by now, he's not coming."
"He promised. He's coming," she insisted.
Isamu tried to take her hand but she jerked it away. "Hinata-sama, please come home with me. Neji's not coming and you need to get out of this rain."
"Neji-niisan's coming," she repeated, closing her eyes to keep from seeing anything but her contrived truth. The more he saw how desperately she clung to the lie, the harder it was for Isamu to maintain his calm. He shoved a lid the boiling anger for now though. For Hinata he'd be gentle; he'd save his anger for Neji.
But she wouldn't listen to him, and Isamu could think of only one way to impress how very seriously he knew Neji wasn't coming. His eyes darted nervously around them. He had no idea how far behind Osamu or any of the clan was, but he knew if anyone but his brother heard him Isamu could get into trouble for what he was about to say.
He snatched her hands from the rope and held them tight despite her attempts to free herself. In a voice that conveyed a friendship and caring that only came from years together, Isamu said, so very softly, "Hinata."
No suffix. No respect. Sure he called Neji by his name all the time, but Neji was a transplant to the main family and his cousin. He wasn't the heir. To call Hinata that was to bring her down to his level, or raise himself to hers; both dangerous actions in a long divided clan. As he thought, not even Hinata could ignore how in earnest he was to call her by her name. Hesitantly, she looked at him.
"Hinata," Isamu repeated, demanding her attention with that one word, "Neji's not coming."
Her lips quivered as the truth finally broke through the wall and filled her eyes. When the last shred of hope disappeared, Hinata dropped her head against his shoulder and cried in the rain.
"He promised," she whispered.
"I know," he said, letting her take the moment to feel whatever she needed, but just a moment. Her fingers were like ice and her breathing strained in ways he hadn't heard since she was little.
He pushed her away enough to stroke her face and offer a warm gaze. "Come on. I'll take you home."
"–called her brother!" Naruto finished as Isamu bolted from his post without even a parting glance at Osamu.
He couldn't blame Isamu, not if Hinata was waiting in this storm, but a spilt second of silent planning wouldn't have hurt. Naruto looked around confused by the sudden departure of one of his targets.
"Listen, kid, thanks but you need to get out of here now," Osamu warned, itching to do his duty but not wanting to leave before Naruto did.
Naruto bristled at the order and dug his heels in. "I'm not going anywhere till I see Hinata's brother!"
"You don't get it," Osamu said, leaning in close to try and impress on Naruto's dense skull the importance of what he was about to say, "I have to go in and tell Hinata-sama's uncle –our clan head– that the heir to the clan has been out in this storm for hours and no one knew it. The shit's about to hit the fan like this clan hasn't seen in years. Unless you want to get Hinata-sama into even more trouble, you can't be here when that happens."
Naruto's eyes narrowed and his scowl couldn't have dragged his face down anymore without hitting the ground, but for once he held his tongue. Shoving his hands into his jacket pockets he glared at Osamu. "You'll take care of Hinata, right?"
Osamu nodded. "That's what my brother's doing now."
"Fine," Naruto conceded bitterly. He turned to leave but stopped and flipped one last look back. "Tell Hinata I'll see her at class tomorrow."
"I will," Osamu agreed and watched Naruto's orange jacket disappear into the rain. Despite whatever happened between them, at least they were still friends. For Hinata's sake.
With Naruto safely away, Osamu activated byakugan and searched for the academy. Isamu was already landing in the road near the schoolyard where Hinata sat on the tree swing appearing sopping wet and frozen to the bone all at once. Osamu'd hoped Naruto had been wrong, but the expression on her face spoke volumes. Now he had to tell Hizashi.
Osamu hastily popped out a clone to provide the illusion of a guard still there and ran through the rain to the main house. Dinner had long since ended and byakugan showed Hizashi in his office and Naomi in the main sitting room reading. The sheer fact that he had byakugan active in the compound would be enough warning to anyone that saw him that something very wrong had taken place, and when he burst through the front door everyone quickly pressed themselves into the walls to let him by. He took a longer route through the house to Hizashi's office so he would pass the sitting room and let Naomi see something was wrong, though his duty told him to speak to Hizashi before anyone else.
When he made it to Hizashi office he threw the door open without a knock (byakugan already informed him he wouldn't be interrupting anyone) and offered a barely-there bow for propriety's sake. "Forgive me Hizashi-sama, but we've just found out Neji never met up with Hinata-sama today."
"What are you talking about?" Hizashi asked, his voice immediately falling into the tone of clan head.
"One of her classmates came by and told us she was still waiting for him at the academy," Osamu explained. "I've confirmed it with byakugan and Isamu has arrived there to retrieve her."
Hizashi stood up just as Naomi came up behind Osamu to find out what was the matter. "Where's Neji?" he asked.
Osamu shook his head. "I don't know. We thought he was with Hinata-sama."
"Neji's not with Hinata?" Naomi questioned, having missed the first part of the conversation.
"Apparently not," Hizashi answered. He pushed past both Osamu and Naomi and headed for the front door with them in step behind him. Osamu still had byakugan active, so every last twitch of emotion was laid out before his eyes, and right then worry and fury were fighting for supremacy on Hizashi's otherwise impassive face.
"Why hasn't Hinata come home if Neji didn't come?" Naomi asked Osamu, knowing his insight –even at a distance– was virtually unbeatable.
"To be honest, Aunt Naomi, as much as she was looking forward to today I think she refused to believe he wouldn't come."
"She should've come home anyway," Hizashi reproached, though Osamu saw worry had won out over anger. "Naomi, I want to know where Neji is and I want to know now."
"I'll find out one way or another." She split off at the next hall while Hizashi followed Osamu's wet path back to the front.
"Is she on her way back?" he asked and Osamu quickly filtered his sight to the academy.
The schoolyard was empty now, so he pulled back following the most obvious route Isamu would take and located them –Hinata securely holding onto Isamu's back– running over the rooftops in the residential district. Isamu's byakugan was active, and, in one of the more surreal abilities any two Hyuugas could perform, he looked directly at his brother from afar. Isamu shook his head to tell him to stay put and mouthed, 'Yumi'. Osamu understood.
"Hizasahi-sama," Osamu called to stop him before he headed out into the storm, "Isamu has her and is asking we stay here. He wants Yumi-san summoned."
"Yumi?" Hizashi questioned. "Is Hinata hurt?"
Osamu waited for his brother to respond, knowing he was watching the whole interaction just as Osamu was watching him. Isamu shook his head but his eyes weren't convincing. He jerked a quick 'Look at her' to explain. Hinata wasn't hurt, but when Osamu's gaze focused on her he saw how badly she was shaking.
"She's not hurt," Osamu clarified, "but she's been in the rain too long. He's worried."
Hizashi nodded his understanding. "All right, go find Yumi and bring her here immediately. I'll wait for them to arrive."
Osamu nodded once to Hizashi and once to his absent brother to tell him he'd no longer be watching. He started for the branch house, silently wishing there was a covered path between the houses. The trip from the gate to the main house had left him wet but dryable. Now, with the downpour getting worse by the minute, he was soaked through.
Though Yumi was a member of the council, she was still technically branch. It was her position as the primary clan healer and Atsuko's selection to be married to Hiashi that allowed her the kind of influence she had among the clan. It also meant that her home was one of the closest to the main house in case of emergencies. Unfortunately, Osamu still had to cross the training yards and the meeting hall before reaching her.
Yumi took the news like a true med-nin and hurried back with him immediately. She was smart enough to grab a pancho first, though. By the time they'd returned to the main house Isamu was standing on the front porch dripping so thoroughly as to look as if he were still standing in the rain. Yumi was directed in, while Osamu waited outside with his brother. He wasn't in much better state than Isamu after that last run.
"How is she?" Osamu asked once everyone had left them alone.
Isamu was silent, a low simmering anger building back up as he thought back to the girl he's retrieved. Then, finally, in a tone quieter than Osamu could believe to be true, he answered, "It's not anger or even betrayal. She's defeated."
"That bad?"
"You didn't see her when I was talking to her," Isamu said too even to be calm, and Osamu knew better than to delve any deeper just yet. He leaned in and rested his forehead against his brother's and simply held him there. The clan could think they were eternally happy and lighthearted all they wanted, but when they turned serious it mattered to them more than the clan would ever understand.
"Osamu, Isamu," Naomi's soft voice called to them from the doorway. In her arms were towels and two black kimonos. "Come and dry off. You both can wait inside until we hear from Yumi."
"Our shift isn't over yet," Osamu replied, more out of duty than desire. He was worried about Hinata as much as his brother was.
Naomi merely smiled. "Don't worry about that. It might do Hinata good to see you both if she's up to it."
"Thanks, Aunt Naomi," they replied in unintentional unison.
They rung out their hair and peeled off their vests and shirts on the porch to avoid completely drenching the floors before taking the towels Naomi offered. She led them to a nearby bathroom to change in, waiting outside the door. When they were dry and properly clothed again, a servant was waiting with Naomi to collect the remainder of their soiled clothes.
"Aunt Naomi," Isamu started as he hand-combed his hair free of tangles, "did you find out where Neji is? I have a few choice moves I'd like to test on him."
Naomi took a deep breath and Osamu saw her control slip for a moment. "Yes. Get in line. And don't mention that around Hizashi just yet. He has more than a few choice moves he'd like to test on Gai at this moment."
"Gai?" Osamu asked as she led them to the same sitting room he'd seen her in earlier. The floor was still wet from his first trip.
Naomi nodded. "Yes, after much searching someone noticed a crumpled up note stuck between the two screens of Neji's door. It says –in rather deplorable handwriting– that he was 'taking Neji on the next journey towards manhood'. We're not entirely sure what that means, but we have a feeling that's Gai-talk for an over-night mission. We've sent someone to the mission office to verify. He should be back shortly."
"Neji should've told someone," Isamu seethed.
"I agree," Naomi said, "but we won't know his side until he returns. Even without Neji, though, Hinata shouldn't have waited out there. We're lucky Hyobe-sama's out of the village right now. He's going to have a fit when he hears about this."
All three of them turned as the door to the sitting room opened and Yumi entered. The front of her kimono was splotched with damp patches, but Osamu didn't see any exhaustion or excessive worry in her face. Beside him Isamu relaxed as he read the same thing.
"How's Hinata?" Naomi asked for the group.
"Cold and tired," Yumi answered. "She had a bit of a fever starting and I'm not entirely comfortable with the sound of her lungs, but as long as she doesn't get worse, I'm not too concerned. I think with some warm covers and a day or so of rest and she'll be fine."
Osmau watched Isamu relax even further and a realization hit him deeper any he'd seen in his brother before. Long ago they made an agreement that some things, once read, wouldn't be spoken of between them. As close as they were it was necessary to ensure what little privacy they wanted would be respected and maintained even if it couldn't be hidden. Osamu knew in that instant that what he saw he was not meant to see, and he quickly turned his gaze to Naomi to cover up any shock that might betray him. He wouldn't think about it, he wouldn't speak of it, not until Isamu came to him. If only he could ignore it just as easily.
"Is she up for visitors?" Isamu asked, dragging Osamu back to the conversation around him.
Yumi nodded. "But only a short visit. Like I said, I'm not entirely happy with the way her lungs sound, so I'd like her to rest."
The twins bowed and slipped out to let the women talk alone. Isamu led the way which gave Osamu a little longer to shake off what he saw. He didn't want to look disconcerted in front of Hinata. A servant waited outside her door; by Hizashi's orders they were told. Osamu felt sorry for Hinata. Her freedoms were probably going to be severely limited again after this little stunt.
Isamu knocked on the door. "Hinata-sama, can we come in?"
When they received no response the servant waved them in. "She hasn't been talking since she got back," he told them.
Hinata lay on her futon bundled under enough covers to mask any semblance of a human silhouette. Her hair was still damp but hardly; her pillow was barely wet beneath her. Isamu had been right, in her eyes was defeat. He wasn't sure what, but she'd given up on something. It wasn't the same girl who'd run past them that morning with a smile that could have rivaled the sun. They both knelt down beside her futon and put on their best matching grins to try and cheer her up.
"You feeling any better, Hinata-sama?" Isamu asked as gently as he could make his voice. She shook her head without looking at them.
"You know you could've come to us, Hinata-sama," Osamu offered, resting his hand on the mountain of covers where he estimated her hand to be. "We're here at the compound everyday, and you know we love it when someone relieves our boredom for a while."
Neither twin missed the way Hinata's eyes widened ever so slightly. Some part of what he said affected her, and when her broken gaze shifted they knew she wanted to say something. They waited, letting her fix the courage or strength or whatever she needed to bring forward her voice again. When she finally did, it wasn't a question they expected to hear.
"Why can't Neji-niisan hate his team like you did? Why can't he want to stay home too?"
Osamu and Isamu stared at each other for a long time without a single message glanced between them. They thought she understood; everyone understood, that's why they never had to say it aloud. Osamu nodded to his brother's unasked question. For Hinata, they'd admit it.
He looked Hinata in the eyes and let the real emotions fall plain on his face so she'd know they weren't lying. "Hinata-sama, we're not proud of the fact we're here."
"The fact we can't work with people is a failure," Isamu continued. "Part of us wishes we could get along. We miss being active, even with the stupid missions."
"But you chose each other instead," she whispered.
"Yeah," Osamu agreed. "We chose to give up and take the easy, familiar way out. We accept that, but that doesn't mean we want you or Neji to be like us."
Isamu brushed back her bangs and stared on her bare forehead. "You and Neji are so much better than us. Don't make our mistakes, Hinata-sama. Show us what we should've done, instead."
Hinata didn't say anymore than night. She didn't have to for them to know her thoughts. It was all clear in her forlorn gaze. She wasn't ready to believe them.