Gravity
Part Seven

They had all been seated in complete silence for what felt like ages to Hinata, though it all probability, the time had been something closer to two minutes. There was something about silence that stretched the time, and made her want to do something, anything, to fill the void.

She couldn't, however. That would be highly unseemly, and aside from that, she would be much too embarrassed. Neji was likely testing Otoya, though in what, she couldn't imagine. Neji was good at things like that, though.

There were so many things she never would have thought of that he had already handled efficiently. If she didn't have Neji helping her, Hinata honestly didn't know how she'd manage to find a husband. Of course, she hadn't exactly found one yet, but with Neji taking care of matters, she didn't doubt she would be married soon to the best man.

For some reason, that thought made her stomach tighten. Lately she'd been trying to control that reaction, the bone-deep fear she felt when she thought of being married, but apparently she hadn't done well enough yet.

She was going to be a terrible wife if she couldn't even bring herself to accept the idea of being married.

Hinata managed to suppress a sigh, but she couldn't help pulling her bottom lip in and biting down gently on it. The silence barely lasted two seconds after that.

"Otoya-kun."

"Yes?" Otoya looked up, and Hinata glanced at him through her bangs. He looked nervous and a little flushed because of that, but overall, he had a sweet face. She thought he looked very kind and like someone she could get along with.

"You may begin speaking with Hinata-sama."

The flush deepened and reddened his ears, a phenomenon Hinata had never before witnessed. When he looked over, she blushed as well, embarrassed at having been caught staring.

She attempted a smile and quickly looked away, anywhere but at his face -- and her gaze landed on Neji's. His frown had deepened from before, and instead of 'thinking', she thought he was leaning more toward mildly displeased. Over the course of the week, she had witnessed several subtle changes in his expression during their dealings with men, though she still wasn't good at deciphering his looks. Neji was just too complicated for someone like her to ever understand.

He must have noticed her looking at him, because abruptly the lines between his eyebrows smoothed and he inclined his head toward her, smiling ever so faintly. Hinata felt something warm tickle her chest, and she smiled back somewhat shyly.

There had been a time when Neji wouldn't look at her without contempt lurking in his eyes, but now, now they were almost... friends.

She hoped things would stay that way even after she was married.

Bolstered by her thoughts, Hinata straightened her back and turned to look at Otoya once again, remnants of her smile still lingering on her face. When he smiled tentatively in return, she felt even better.

"What do you enjoy doing in your free time, Otoya-kun?" Hinata asked softly, flattening her palms on her lap. They still wanted to shift restlessly, and she couldn't present anything but a very poised, sophisticated woman. After all, Neji was trying his hardest, and so should she.

"I like... to sing," he admitted after a moment's hesitation, seemingly embarrassed. "And I enjoy my work with the children at the academy."

"You work with children?" Hinata asked, somewhat surprised. She hadn't been aware that any of the Hyuugas had taken up a position in the town. "Are you apprenticed under Iruka-sensei, then?"

He nodded, a pleased smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I want to teach someday..." Then, as if catching himself saying something blasphemous, he looked utterly shocked and stammered, "But of course, family is the most important thing. I would never wish to displease the clan."

Hinata smiled genuinely for the first time since meeting any of her prospects. "Don't worry, Otoya-kun. I think... that's wonderful," she added, her normally soft voice sounding a little happier and bolder. "We should all have dreams outside of our family."

As she spoke these last words, Hinata unconsciously glanced toward Neji. To her surprise, he wasn't watching them. Well, he was, but his eyes were unfocused and faraway looking. For a moment, she wanted to ask what he was thinking, but remembered that she needed to be paying attention to Otoya.

Shaking her head slightly, as if to refocus, she turned to Otoya once again as he began to speak.

"You're very kind to say so, Hinata-sama."

She smiled once more. "Not at all, Otoya-kun."

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In theory, Neji should have been beyond thrilled to have found a man that Hinata was able to talk to, apparently enjoyed the company of, and could relate to. It was obvious they had several things in common, the most prominent of which being gentleness, a liking to children (which he had suspected but now confirmed on Hinata's part), and overall, pleasant personalities. Otoya seemed to have little ambition aside from raising a family and perhaps teaching, as well, which was in his favor.

Why was it that Neji felt compelled to dig deeper and find something wrong? He wanted, for reasons he couldn't begin to fathom, to dismiss this man and move on once again. It was just a feeling he had, a gut instinct that told him to get Hinata far, far away from Otoya as fast as he could. It was completely illogical, and aside from that, impossible. So far, he didn't have a reason to say a word.

Focusing his gaze sharply on the young man, Neji narrowed his eyes a fraction and watched him intently. Otoya stumbled on a sentence, feeling the weight of the stare, and Neji frowned slightly. Bashfulness was likely something Hinata needed. It was good that this man wasn't too forward. A temperament too intense could frighten her and force her to collapse in on herself rather than blossom like she should.

He could tell that Hinata liked him, as well. She hadn't opened up or been as talkative to anyone else, save for Neji himself. He felt a quick, brief stab of... something, at that thought. He wasn't certain what it was, but some part of him obviously did not like the thought. How interesting. He would examine that in depth later, perhaps when he wasn't so focused on taking this man apart systematically to ascertain that he was as perfect a being as he could possibly be for the honor of becoming Hinata's husband.

At this, he forced himself to take a mental step back. Certainly it was an honor to marry the head of family, but he felt a strange surge of possessiveness. He had always coveted the position himself, true, but he liked to think that he had grown enough over time not to feel envy toward his cousin. That should extend to whomever she decided to marry as well, but for some reason, it didn't.

Perhaps he had only come to accept Hinata. Perhaps... he hadn't changed as much as he had hoped.

He waited for a break in the flow of the conversation to speak. It took an abnormally long amount of time. They really were getting along well, weren't they? Why did that make him feel... annoyed?

"Hinata-sama, may I speak with you?"

Neji didn't understand the feeling of relief that swept through him when she nodded and rose almost immediately, as if she were as eager to be up as he was to get her away. Though that was ridiculous. He wasn't eager to have her separate from Otoya. He just needed to discuss something with her.

He wasn't certain what made him do it, but when she was next to him, he placed one hand on the edge of her elbow. His eyes rested a moment on Otoya, impassive, before turning and leading his cousin down the path a sufficient way so that they wouldn't be overheard.

She didn't pull away. He hadn't expected her to, as she would have considered that impolite and Hinata tried her hardest never to offend, but the thought satisfied him. Regardless of their differences, she hadn't turned from his touch.

It was interesting that he didn't want to break the contact.

He did, however, and let his arms fall to his sides as he silently examined her. There was happiness in her expression, quickly fading into the gentle, calm expression he was so accustomed to seeing. That dimple, too, was slowly slipping back into smooth, pale skin, and for a moment, he had a completely absurd urge to run his thumb along the corner of her mouth, to tease the dimple back.

It was becoming very obvious to Neji that he needed to get away from this garden and think. He needed to spend quite a bit of time thinking, in fact. He doubted that he would sleep much if at all when he retired to his room after work.

With that decided, he forced himself to stop thinking now.

"You are pleased with him, Hinata-sama?" He gauged her reaction carefully as her color rose once more and her eyes became troubled.

Ah. So she enjoyed this man's company, but was still as hesitant as ever to marry. There was some comfort in that fact.

Stop thinking, he reminded himself, annoyed. That will come later.

Hinata sighed softly, and his eyes were drawn to her mouth as she did so. Her teeth were barely visible between parted lips, likely because of her overbite. He forced himself to look her in the eyes as she responded to him.

"I... he's a kind man," she admitted slowly, cheeks burning. "B-but I don't know yet. I've only just met him," she added on a whisper.

Neji nodded, understanding, and more -- feeling, for her. He imagined this was very difficult on Hinata.

"What do you think, Neji?"

He considered that question carefully. What, precisely, did he think? Oh yes, he had forced himself to stop that. "I believe... that you should meet with him again, after today."

For a moment, Hinata looked as though she might not believe what she had heard, but acceptance quickly took command of her expression. "I--"

"It will take much longer than one meeting to determine if this man is the one you should marry," Neji continued, tone softening. "We should not be hasty with a decision."

She looked up at him, almost in wonder, and then something strange happened. She smiled at him, fully, and as it reached her eyes, he felt something in his chest lurch once, almost painfully.

It was at that exact moment that Neji realized Hinata was beautiful.

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(peeks around anxiously) Neji surprised me several times in this chapter, and I think he might finally be picking up on some things! It about killed me writing it, too. I think I'm getting a crush on Neji. XD

A big, heartfelt, warm SNUGGLE to everyone who is still reading and encourages me. You keep me going when I start to get lost in other writing, and keep pulling me back. I can't thank my readers enough for that. I've never actually finished a multi-part fic before, but I'm determined to finish this one!

I'll try to get the next chapter out faster. :D But I promised to do some writing on other places too, so it might be a few days. Please keep coming back!