Hinata stood at the door of the empty room of her family's compound, a room that was given to the pink haired Sunagakure medic-nin May. When she had stayed here in the village. Now empty, which was alright, she had to return back to her village anyway. Hinata was fine with that, what she wasn't and causing her worry was the fact she hadn't heard from May in some time. Normally the girl would send word to Hinata, just to talk and see how things where going. Something Hinata took a delight in and always looked forward to, a growing friendship began to form between herself and May. One she liked, though she had Kiba and Shino as well the others, it was something about May that seem different that made her gravitate towards the girl. She wasn't fully sure herself what it was, but all she knew was that both of them could be themselves and enjoy one another's company. Hinata felt a sense of a kinder spirit with May, like herself May was a very kind person even with her exuberant personality, that surprisingly was mellow and down to earth.
She always felt a sense of balance when around May, everything bothered her went away. And because of this, Hinata soon was able to pick up on May's moods despite her smile she put on. Able to see pass it at times, though May never talked about what would be bothering trying to mask it, stating everything is alright. Hinata had to give her credit for being able to put up a strong front, so others would not worry about her, which surprisingly had the opposite effect. Because of this, May's desire to protect others without a second thought no mater whom they maybe. Though those who May held dear, she would go out of her way not at all looking at the long run of things. Something Hinata for some reason took upon herself to make sure she looked at it for her. Feeling compelled to watch out for her friend, who held this certain innocence, yes that was it was.
It was the warm innocence that was extremely rare in a world, no in people. It was normal in children, but not in a teenage who should at least be aware of the harm and cruelty of the world. Yet May seem not to see it or she had some way to protect herself from it. Every time Hinata looked at May, it always seem like new life. Thinking of how May would act when it came to certain things in this world, which many are very familiar with, for May she seem amazed and enlighten by it. Like the fact of the way in which people are given titles and ninja ranks, even so one thing was for sure, she quickly was able to adjust to it while still retaining herself. Hinata often wonder if May ever broke, or felt misplaced. But the type of essence she had around seem not likely. Her head always seeming up in the clouds, Hinata often wonder what May thought of. One thing was for sure, May did seem to miss her home having expressed that to everyone when she first meet everyone. It was clear that was something she held dearly to herself and longed for. Which made Hinata wonder, where May came from because it soon became obvious it was not from Sunakagure. Because the way those shinobis where, greatly contrasted from how May was.
Hinata's questions, soon ended up getting answers, with this new threat in the world. It seem to connect to May in some way, like back when she and the others went to go and rescue her finding those robotic ninjas along with those mutated ones. Clearly targeting May, and May herself even admitted that they where, when they attacked the Land of Wind. Upon seeing that humanoid brutal tiger man, who clearly knew May and she knew him. Because of this, May seem to change slightly putting all her heart and soul into Tsunade's research team to try and figure out these new invaders. May ended up isolating herself the others, wanting to take the work on herself that she disregarded her own health and everything. So driven and focused, one would call that admirable but for someone who had grown close to her. Hinata felt a sense of guilt coming from May. Like she felt responsible for this new threat upon the world, like she needed to fix it and was the only one who knew how. Refusing to ask for help, despite the fact she needed. May never bothered, Hinata didn't understand or know why, because she would have been glad to give her assistance. But May just did not, which left her feeling isolated and she seem fine shutting the others out. No doubt for their own protection, because May could not seem to look at everyone without feeling a sense of regret and guilt behind her eyes. Which no doubt, Hinata thought had started building up in her.
It was building up, to the point she started to feel ashamed and became a bit reckless. In the choices she made, which lead to her being reprimand. Which of course gave May a bit of a wake up call, but was not enough. Because Hinata saw her revert right back, a few times Hinata did try to make things a bit better for May. Which of course the girl took not to be rude, but it seem all her efforts seem in vain and May was still suffering. After that run in with Xever, with him calling May artificial life. Those words still lingered in her mind and the fact Naruto and Kankuro seem to know something about it. Artificial meant fake, false not real. Was May's life fake? Was that what Xever meant, by his words? His words angered Naruto and Kankuro, mainly the blonde. He jumped in defense of May protectively, like the words where offensive. Even so, Hinata knew it rang truth despite the painful angry look in Naruto's eyes. She was surprised he looked ready to weep, she wanted to know what he knew. But because of how she got around him made it a bit difficult, something she blamed on herself. She had to get over it, for the sake of May. Her friend was in trouble and needed her. If she couldn't get it from Naruto, than she would have to get it herself. Whatever May was trying to protect everyone from, left her wide open and knowing May she would not bother at all to protect herself.
"...May..."Hinata woefully says.
"Lady Hinata."a voice calls behind her startling the young woman. She turns around to find Neji there, she relaxes seeing it was her cousin."I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you."he apologizes to her.
"It's alright."she tells him, turning back around to May's empty room. Neji saw the worry in her eyes, it was clear as day. Since May left the village and she got word May returned back to Sunagakure, every day if not on a mission, Hinata would come to May's empty room and look in it with the same expression. There was no doubt she missed the girl.
Having grown an attachment to her, having a real friend someone she could talk with and spend time without an worries. Someone who made her smile and laugh, it was refreshing for the heiress. Even when they where in separate villages, they would write to the other to keep in touch. A delight for Hinata, something she looked forward to. It was a good thing for her, after all she had been through. Besides having Naruto, she had May now. Neji himself admitted it was refreshing, and that he did miss her presence her in the village. Though from outside many would not think the aloof stoic Hyuga worried just as much as his cousin about May, and missed equally if not more. Having expressed his growing feelings for the girl who he came to realize, not on purpose was oblivious to them.
Neji summed up with her, one had to pretty much be blunt or try to drop hints. Hints like bread crumbs, spread all out for her to see. But for some reason she didn't seem to see them really. Which prompt him to figure out other ways, while at the same time not exposing to much because of his loving team that quickly picked up on his feelings towards her and had a habit of exposing them, pretty much blowing them into something bigger or fawning over them. Which became an annoyance to him, that caused him to either brush them off or shut down. Before he could do anything or say anything to May. So it made him try to things discretely, like buying her that brooch and showing up at her door that one night when she was watching Kurenai's daughter. Planting a kiss on her forehead, even inviting her to join his team for a quick meal. Not to forget when raced after her when she left Konoha on her own because of a lead she had, knowing the risk he could have easily taken her back but choose against. Seeing it was really important to him, normally he would sit back and think things through but with May he pushed that out the way and followed something else. Like he did with Hinata, but it was much different with May.
He knew he protected Hinata, and he also wanted to do the same with May but for different reasons. When he first meet her, that night he didn't think much of her and just knew her as someone from Sunagakure, and Hinata's friend. Even when she came to train with his group a few times, he would talk with her every now and then. She was a strange person, he figured that out seeing how she flew and her jutsu if one could call it that was different. Even without his eyes he could see it, she seem to him naive and innocent. A trait that would not fit well in a world like this, yet surprisingly it worked with her and because of this it made her extremely selfless yet at the same time sharp. She wasn't stupid, because she was trained by Tsunade so clearly she had knowledge that did draw him to her, but it wasn't until the mission in Amegakure when she became separated from the group. Because she risked her own life for his, without a second thought. He couldn't tell if it was stupidity of logic, whatever it was made him determine to find her. His feelings didn't settle in with her, not until the mission at the Land of Waves, when she was on the run from her attackers. How she once again put herself in harms way to protect everyone, again almost losing her life.
Even though she was fine, as she rested he would check up on her. Never going into her room, because Sakura, Gaara and Temari where in there watching over her. So he did it from afar or if he was lucky if no one was there he would slip inside and watch her sleeping. She puzzled him, always saying she had to make sure everyone returned back home safely to their family and loved ones. Her words where so genuine and true, at the same time though they seem filled with pain and grief. That made her seem to reminiscence about something, no doubt her past which sounded tragic. Even so her words managed to remain upbeat despite her tone. She was commendable, a sense of maturity and nativity. A interesting mix, a mix that caught his eye with her. One that made his feelings grow, one that caused him worry over her. He knew she was a capable kounichi, having seen her in action. Many would not think May because of how she looked, to be able to do things she does. She was an adversary not to be taken very lightly, even if she was a genin.
Both Hyuga's kept their eyes locked on the empty room, reflecting upon their own and similar emotions with May. Both having the same thought forming in their minds, to be interrupted by approaching footsteps. They both turn to see Ao who bows to Hinata.
"Lady Hinata, forgive me for my interruption. But, this came for you."he holds out a letter, addressed to her.
Knowing that writing, Hinata was surprised and happy to see a letter from May. She takes it."Thank you."
With eagerness, she opens it up quickly and reads it over hasty. Ao and Neji watch her eyes widen then look puzzled, to widen again either in shock or surprise. Her eyes steadily come to the end of the letter. Her face made Neji a bit anxious.
"What is it?"he questions, try to keep his worried impulses from springing out.
The confused look upon Hinata's face relaxed just a bit, looking to cousin a bit puzzled."It's May."
Hear those words made Neji's heart tighten. So many questions flooded his mind, followed many different horrible scenarios. Hinata saw the intense worry in her cousin's eyes. Despite his calm front, it slightly scared her. Quickly she tells him, which eased him.
"It just says, she has good news."Hinata speaks, Neji began to calm down. Holding out the letter to him, so he could see for himself because she saw he was still weary. Taking it from her, Neji reads it searching for anything that his mind assumed with May."She says, her sister has been found."
"Her sister?"Neji was just as shocked as Hinata, he looks at her a bit puzzled. She looks back at him to, with the same look."But I thought..."
"Me too, but she said that her sister is there, alive and living with her now. When she returned back to Sunagakure, her sister was there. Someone found her, and took her into the village. Since then she's been helping her sister."
"..."Something wasn't sitting right with Neji, but from what he read clearly May was happy and thrilled. Her words where fully of bursting emotions, even so Neji knew he and Hinata could really share in the joy that May was feeling. Though he was happy for to be this way, something was eating him inside."It says she's asking for you to visit to meet her."
"Yes."Hinata confirms, though hesitant.
"We should go, it would be rude not to."he tells her. Hinata looks at him, he was serious about this. But what she saw was his skepticism. Which made her start to worry even more.