She felt warm inside as he drew her closer, being in his arms.
I'm home when I'm in your presence, your arms, your heart.
The girl knew it was hard for someone like him to show any kind of affection, but he still tried.
She knew...she knew he couldn't possibly love her. Fluid sadness made it's way outside. It flowed
right from her eyes, dripped from her chin and finally, reached Neji's heart. He looked at her,
stroked her hair, knew she was in pain.
"It's okay...it's okay."
It's ok.
He looked at the girl in his arms, embracing her, never wanting to let go of her. It wasn't exactly love, but he knew it was something dangerously close to that. He somehow felt connected, maybe it was because they both shared the same fate.
We're two caged birds.
He still felt like he was her big brother, even if they were just a year apart. He felt he needed to watch over her, protect her from the outside world. Nobody get to hurt Hinata, ever.
He never did expect she'd hurt herself.
He felt his bandages getting soaked by her pain, her blood. He felt like he she was all over him, like a blanket of sadness and pain. He shared every worry she had with her. He heard her breathing heavily, struggling against her fate. "..Neji-nii-san, all I ever wanted was you to love me. But I know you can't. I understand and have learned to accept it." The raindrops played on her face. "I know what you have been through and will forever blame myself for not being able to heal your wounds. I...I just..." She began to lose her fight against her body.
Hang on.
"Hi..Hinata-sama! Hang on, please, hang on!" he yelled desperately.
The words didn't reach her mind, but they did reach her heart. He lifted her on his back and tried to run
as fast as he could. This was a race against death and he was going to make sure he wasn't going to lose.
He ran even faster when the finish, the nearest hospital, came in sight.
They arrived quickly. Neji panted and shivered as he felt that he and his cousin were both soaked. The doctors noticed them and from then on, everything went fast. They took his Hinata away from him, stopped him from following them to the O.C. and spoke those words.
"You should wait."
He didn't take no for an answer, but he wasn't able to convince them either.
"It's best if you wait outside"
Neji gave up and panted from the exhaustion. He sat down on the nearest bench and felt that his body was
shaking, filled with stress and emotions.
Hinata..you sacrificed yourself to protect...me.
You've broken free.