Part 10-The eagle
Neji came up behind them, Hinata saw him whereas Kiba and Shino didn't feel his presence until he was right behind them.
"Shit!" Kiba jumped and turned around to see Neji, "you scared me…"
"Well done Hinata-sama…"
"What?"
"You stood up to him, I'm… happy… for you"
"… Neji-san?" She looked at him; he had never been this nice to her since they were younger, "Thank you." She bowed her head to him in appreciation
"Hinata-sama don't-"
"Neji-san!" She interrupted him. "I have a favour to ask of you…" She raised her head and looked at him
"What is it?"
"Please… don't refer to me with that title anymore."
"But Hinata-sama-"
"I mean it Neji-san"
"Hinata-sama."
"Stop it, I don't want to make this an order, it will defy the very reason I don't want to be referred to like that anymore"
"Why?"
"I don't like the idea of being held higher than someone simply because of my social status. I don't think I'm better than anyone else and if anyone else does, I'd prefer it to be because of who I am and not who my parents are or whether or not I have that horrible, inhumane seal on my forehead!" a few tears rolled down her cheeks and splashed on the grass
"You truly aren't the spoiled brat of the main house I once thought you were, you are a good person… which is nice to see…" He smiled at her a bit, "I look forward to the day when you take your place as head of the Hyuga clan Hinata-sama… I mean Hinata-san." He laughed a bit, "I apologise. I won't make that mistake again."
"…"
"You made me laugh… I haven't laughed in ages. Thank you." He bowed his head to her
"Neji-san…" Hinata stepped forward, "look at me"
"…" He raised his head
"Your gratitude is unneeded." She took another step, "because mine to yours is equal, if not more." She took one last step and hugged him
"…" Neji was completely surprised by her hug. He looked over at his shoulder, where she rested her head, and realised she was crying, "Why are you crying?"
"I'm grateful for having someone like you to protect me"
"Eh?"
"Your father once said to you that you would, 'live to protect her and the Hyuga blood.' Am I correct?"
He nodded
"Then I am glad it was you and not someone else."
He froze a bit, taken aback by her words
"I hope you survive, to see me take my place as leader…"
"…" He stared at her a bit and then returned her embrace, "Hinata-san, I'll make sure I see it."
Hinata stepped back and leaned up against the tree. She looked at Neji, "Neji-san, you are my closest family in the branch house, so I say this to you more than anyone else. I will become clan leader, I will abolish the branch house, main house difference…" She smiled at him, "and I will find a way to release that seal, death wont be the only way to get rid of it, I promise."
"Hinata-san, the branch house owes you our gratitude."
She laughed a bit, "I haven't done anything yet"
"Simply willing to do this for us is kindness that hasn't been witnessed before" He turned around to leave
"Neji-san!" Hinata called him
"Yeah," He turned around and looked her
"A bird deserves to soar in the skies he was granted at birth, not to be cooped up in a cage. I will make sure the branch house soars again."
***
He woke up. He didn't open his eyes. Too much effort. He felt something on his cheek. It was wet, warm. Almost like a sponge. He figured it was a tongue.
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A/N-I'm quite proud of those chapters, I'm sorry if they were a bit out of character