Chapter Rating: G

Pairings: Neji x Hina

AN: I hadn't realized that my account wasn't accepting any anonymous reviews and i realized that that must have made submitting a critique slightly...well...very annoying to those who don't have accounts here. Gomen for that. And thank you very much, Funky Nassau for telling me. :D

My Reviewers:
Fukari:
Sorry, FanFic wasn't letting me submit this. :( lol. it's a sign.
Funky Nassau: Neji does NOT fumble. lol. that's why there is none present here. lol. sigh neji...ahem ANYWAY...thank you so much for the lovely comment. much appreciated!
Lady of Genesis: lol. thanky youuuuuuuuuuu
Nalio: Here ya goooo!
innocent04: TTTT thank you:D You made me so happy! lol
Marumaruyobi: lol. i hope this is soon. well. it isn't too soon. but it's soon...ish.

Thanks again to those who reviewed. Chapter VIII may be slow to show up, since i have to STUDEH. BLEUGH. but oh well. the 'lovely' world of academia beckons.


VII
Like Hope

"I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING! DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU! I HATE YOU! DAMN YOU! GET AWAY FROM ME! GET AWAY FROM ME! DON'T YOU EVER GODDMAN TOUCH ME AGAIN!" Sakura screamed at Lee, who was tearing up from both physical and emotional pain.

Hinata blushed, as she sat by her friend's side, trying to soothe her.

"YOU ASSHOLE! TEME! TEME! I HATE YOU! IF YOU TOUCH ME – STOP IT! STOP IT! IF YOU EVER, AND I MEAN EVER TOUCH ME AGAIN, I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU!" She screamed.

"Ano, Lee-san…I think…it's best if you moved away…" Hinata whispered. Lee only nodded, but just as he did so, Sakura screamed for him.

"DON'T LEAVE ME YOU COWARD! DON'T LEAVE ME! I HATE YOU! DON'T LEAVE ME! LEAVE ME AND I'LL KILL! I'LL KILL YOU!" She shouted.

Lee looked like he was going to pass out. If he had, Hinata wouldn't have thought any less of him. Chouji and Ino meanwhile, were cowering in the corner.

Sakura was in a pain that seeped from every pore of her body which seemed to manifest itself and cling onto the people around her. In a sense, all of them were in labour as Ino clung on to Chouji, and Chouji clung on to his sanity and Hinata prayed that Sakura wouldn't break the frame of the hospital bed and use it to massacre everyone in the room.

Eleven hours and twenty nine minutes later, Rock Miyoko was born, screaming and kicking, hair dark as her father's and eyes as bright as her mother's. There was a collective sigh of relief. Everyone because it was finally over and Sakura because her Miyoko-chan didn't inherit Lee's disturbing eyebrows. Sakura glowed. Hinata, Chouji and Ino left the couple, as did the rest of the medical staff who had slowly filtered in as time passed to assist Hinata with the delivery.

Hinata waved at Chouji and Ino. Ino looked just about to fall asleep, but her husband supported her. What loyal friends, to stay through all of that. Yes, it was beautiful, and as close to a miracle as anything could be – no, it was a miracle – but it was a painful one to listen to.

The hospital halls were dim now. That was to be expected. It was three in the morning after all. Hinata waved a tired goodbye to those on night shift.

"Hinata-chan, maybe you should stay here…It's not good to be out this time of night. You're too tired. You might just pass out in the middle of your walk home." One of her colleagues, Matsuri said.

Hinata smiled at her.

"Iie, Matsuri-chan. I should get going."

"I won't have it, Hina-chan. Not unless – oh!" Matsuri stopped, looking past Hinata.

Hinata tilted her head to one side and turned around, surprised to see Neji.

"It's ok, Matsuri-san. I'll take care of her." Neji said, nodding politely.

Matsuri grinned.

"Hai. I'm sure you will." She giggled.

Neji ignored the implications of the remark and he saw Hinata had missed it completely. Women could be so distasteful sometimes. They walked back home in silence for a few moments before Hinata lifted her head to gaze up at him.

"Arigatou, Neji-san…" She whispered, stifling a yawn. "You shouldn't have. I c-" another yawn. "could have…stayed at the hospital. I have to be there in a few hours again anyway."

"No." He replied.

"Hm?" Hinata said.

"No." He repeated.

Hinata was suddenly slightly awake.

"What do you mean, 'no'? I have work to do." She argued and poked him square in the ribs.

He didn't react. Hinata pouted. She remembered him being ticklish. Apparently not any more.

"I'm not allowing you to go to work tomorrow. You're resting. Resting. Understand?" He said sternly.

Hinata giggled.

"Yes, DAD." She said. He flinched. She giggled some more. "Gomen, Neji-san."

She stifled another yawn and put her arms around one of his, resting her cheek on his arm, too short to actually reach his shoulder.

When they reached their home, Hinata suddenly remembered.

"Ano…Neji-san, what did you have for dinner?" She asked.

He hesitated before answering her.

"Cup Ramen." He said.

"Oh! Gomen-nasai! Oh gosh…You hate Ramen! I-I forgot to get someone to tell you that dinner for today is in the fridge…All you needed to do was put in the oven…" Hinata could barely talk anymore without every other word being replaced by a yawn.

"It's alright, Hinata-sama. It wasn't too bad. I'll live. How about you. Do you want me to make anything for you?" Neji asked.

If Hinata wasn't so tired, she would have taken up his offer just to see if he would. Instead, she smiled sleepily and practically crawled into the bedroom. She cringed at the thought of having to perform various tasks for hygienic purposes. She was sure that splashing cold water on her face would wake her up some. Then her sleep wouldn't be as delicious.

Hinata sighed and went into the bathroom, half-heartedly splashing water on her face and brushing her teeth. She stripped off her clothes and put on fresh underwear and a huge shirt that she suspected to be one of Neji's. But it was on her pile of shirts so he would just have to deal with it. Finally. She managed to close the lights and all but collapsed on the bed.

Five minutes later, she felt Neji lift her up.

"Mmph, Neji-s-san…" She said sleepily.

"Go back to sleep."

"Mmhm. As soon as you sto-stop…"

"I'm just putting you under the blanket. You're going to get a cold, Hinata-sama."

Neji frowned as his wife made an incomprehensible noise that sounded as if she couldn't care less if she died of pneumonia, as long as she could sleep. He used his knee to shove the blanket down before settling her back on the bed. As he did so, his upper body came into contact with hers and he felt his breath hitch for a moment as her indefinable warmth seeped through the shirt – his shirt – that she was wearing. She shivered slightly.

"Neji-san…"

He lifted off her slightly and saw her lips were parted slightly and her eyes were glazed over. He wasn't sure if they were glazed over from sleep or…

"Neji-san…" she murmured again.

The hand he had trapped beneath her knees twitched slightly.

"H-hai, Hinata-sama." He said; his voice raspy.

"Th-the heater…in the guestroom isn't working. You can stay here tonight…if you like…" She said.

"Hai." He replied, glad that his voice didn't crack as it did last time.

He walked to the other side and pulled down the blanket. He sat down, and stayed like that for a moment, his back to her. Carefully, he got under the blankets and lay on his back, rigid, staring up at the ceiling and trying his best not to move towards the heat that was Hinata.

He saw her curl on to her side, one arm underneath the pillow she lay on and the other reached out to lie softly on his shoulder. He allowed himself to relax a little. Hinata was already asleep.

From the next room, he could hear the gentle hum of the heater.

---

It had been raining. Hinata was sorry she had missed it. Rain was rare in Konohagakure. Now, all she wanted to do was jump in the puddles and giggle like a little girl. But as tempting as it was to revert into a five year old again, she couldn't. Neji was waiting for her.

Just as his father had ordered of them, Neji was going to train her. Their sessions were always postponed however, due to Neji's schedule and hers as well. They rarely saw each other these days. Only at dinner.

Tonight was different though. Neji, for once, was getting off early and Hinata, although she was exhausted, couldn't pass up this chance. When she reached Neji's practice area, he was already there, throwing shuriken with such grace and ease that it hardly seemed possible for a human to be able to move like that.

Hinata had dropped the dinner she had carefully packed on the ground as she watched Neji. His fluid movements made something within her whir, and suddenly the inside of her was like a large clock, with cogs and wheels all whirring and things began to snap in place. She clasped her hands tight together and she watched him move. Unconsciously, she had begun to match his breathing pattern with her own. He had known she was there, of course he did. She felt that he noticed the change in her breathing and she saw that he shifted his eyes over to her.

Neji stopped and stood straight. She could see he hadn't even broken out into a sweat. She waved weakly and greeted him. He bowed his head in reply. She picked up the dinner and made her way over to him.

"Alright, Hinata-sama. We'll begin."

Hinata put the dinner on the ground next to a tree stump and adjusted the bun on her head. She was nervous. She hadn't trained in a while now. Suddenly her limbs were heavy and she gulped. Next to Neji, she would look like a lumbering cow.

Both got into fighting stance.

"I want you to come at me with all you've got, Hinata-sama."

Hinata blinked several times.

"H-hai…"

She did as she was told…or tried to. She avoided his critical areas and every time she came into contact with him, she apologized. Finally, he stood suddenly, no longer blocking her and she managed to hit him on the shoulder.

He didn't even flinch.

"Hinata-sama, this is not acceptable."

Hinata looked down at her feet.

"G-gomen…"

"I said with all you've got. You're avoiding critical areas entirely; you're too busy trying NOT to hit me, when you should be trying to rip my throat out. Worst of all, you didn't even activate your Byakugan!"

She nodded.

"Let's try it again, Hinata-sama. This time, plant your feet farther apart so you can gain more stabili – not that far away, Hinata." He rolled his eyes as she stumbled onto her knees.

"G-gomen." She said again.

"Your footwork leaves a lot to be desired." He said.

"G-go –"

"Stop." Neji said. "Enough with the apologizing. You have nothing to be sorry about. Understand?"

Hinata didn't respond, she just looked at him, an apology threatening to spring from her lips.

"You are a Hyuuga. More importantly, you are Hyuuga Hinata. Remember that. Now. Again. This time, I expect you to be aiming for my vital organs."

Hinata took a few more moments before she came at him again. This time, her Byakugan activated, she concentrated on hitting him where he had instructed. He managed to dodge every attack.

"Your movements are too obvious Hinata-sama."

She bit her lip and tried to change her tactics, feigning every now and then. Still. He read every one of her movements. Hinata bit her lip in frustration. His Byakugan wasn't even activated.

"You're wasting too much energy." He continued. "Apart from that –"

"I-I know!" She snapped. "I know just how useless I am! Alright? Okay? I know."

She stumbled a little and looked at him, eyes wide, surprised at her how outburst. His eyes were equally wide.

He couldn't believe it. Hinata had just lost her temper. She never lost her temper. Yet here she was. But as soon as the anger came, it was gone and now she was trembling in frustration and shock. His gaze on her softened.

"Let me finish. Apart from that, Hinata-sama, your speed has greatly increased." He watched in well-hidden astonishment as her face lit up. "I do believe however, that there is lots of room for improvement."

The smile on her face was not wiped off. Neji thought she'd improved! It didn't matter that he didn't think her fast enough yet. Because more importantly, Neji thought – believed – that she could improve some more.

All of a sudden, Neji was on his back, with Hinata on top of him; arms around his neck and muffled thanks and laughter emanating from her. She lifted her head to look at him.

"I was just tired! I'll do better next time! I promise!" Hinata smiled.

Where was the shyness now, he wondered.

"Hai, hai, Hinata-sama. Although I do believe that Naruto has rubbed off on you."

Hinata blushed. But to his even greater surprise, she grinned.

"Oh? So Naruto often tackles you to the ground?" She giggled.

Interesting. Neji mused, smirking. Let's see how far she'll go…

"Oh all the time. But come to think of it…I like it better when you do it." The smirk pasted on his face.

Hinata burned crimson and she was off him faster than he could think dammit.

"I-I'll go get the dinner…you- arigatou for training me…" She got up and ran towards their packed dinner and Neji sat himself up.

She felt nice, against him, he thought to himself. She felt right. But he couldn't think about that. How could he think about that. It's all just the same. Sure they were married now. He could, legally, have her whenever he wanted. Whenever he needed. But it was wrong. And he would hate himself for it afterwards. And then he would hate her for making him hate himself. The cycle would be endless.

He wondered if she felt his need. Sometimes, when she was already asleep, he would go to her room and watch her. He wondered if his desire for her would wake her up. He knew it was strong enough. But he wouldn't touch her. He sat, on the armchair which he moved so his shadow wouldn't obstruct his view of her, and watched her sleep. Everything was different and yet it was all the same. She was always out of reach.

"H-here you go, Neji-san…" She whispered, placing his dinner on his lap.

She sat a little away from him, eating her own. They ate in silence.

Afterwards, even though it was dark, and he knew it would be pointless seeing as Hinata was nearly blind in the dark, he showed her some shuriken techniques. He needed a way to blow off steam.

Hinata tried to see but couldn't, the moon was covered in clouds. Seeing in the dark had never been one of her strengths. She did see the deft movements of Neji though and envisioned herself doing the same things. As she heard the shuriken strike the targets, she knew that they had all hit the targets dead centre. Neji was like that. He was almost perfect. Hinata felt Neji was capable of anything. Neji was telling her something and she smiled sheepishly and nodded. Yes. He was capable of anything. And Neji, capable of everything, would help her. He would help her succeed.

It began to rain again and she saw Neji stop and raise his face to the heavens, eyes closed. Hinata found herself doing the same. He called to her after a while and she opened her eyes and saw he was ready to leave. She picked up the boxes she had kept dinner in and put it in the bag she had brought them in and ran towards him.

They walked home together, not touching.

Neji didn't look at her but Hinata kept glancing up at him.

Finally he turned and asked her what she wanted. She could only blush, alarmed, and then sheepishly apologized, turning away from him. She could practically hear the smirk form on his lips. The rain stopped all of a sudden and Hinata looked up at the clouds. Next to her, Neji took the bag that held the boxes in it. It hadn't made much of a difference to Hinata, the weight of the bag, but this gesture did. Hinata stammered thanks which he murmured a "Douitashimashite" to.

When Hinata next looked up at the sky, the clouds were gone.

The stars twinkled down on the two of them like hope in an endless sea.