I really wasn't planning on continuing this... But what the hey. If it works and people want to read it...! Enjoy guys.

Chapter Two: Seventh Night - Communication

Naruto hasn't seen Hinata in six days. It's been almost a week since they met in the Hyuuga gardens, and if Hiashi has his way they won't meet again for another three months.

Hinata understands this. It is tradition for her family to act this way when an outsider is accepted as a potential spouse. They have been doing it for generations.

"The engagement period is one year. You will live here during that time..."

Naruto has decided that the Hyuuga are crazy. It took him a grand total of two minutes to decide that.

He wants to get to know Hinata better. If they're going to marry, he has to. But instead, the only Hyuuga he is getting even remotely close to is Neji. Hinata is hidden from him – some bullshit about family honour means he can't see her for ages.

"You'll be living as a branch house member. As Hinata-sama's husband, you will have to be prepared to die for her."

Naruto isn't even sure he wants to marry Hinata.

"Jeez Neji. I see why you hate the main family so much. They're a bunch of assholes."

They are in their shared quarters, a tiny room with just enough space for two futons. Outside the moon is full, casting its light irritatingly right across the boys' faces. The window is little more than a square hole in the wall to let in the night breeze and the relaxing chirp of the crickets.

"Hmm." Neji turns onto his side. He is tired – sharing a room with Naruto will do that to a person.

"Na, na, Neji."

"... What?" Neji groans. "I'm trying to sleep, Naruto."

"You know Hinata-chan, right? What's she like? I don't really know anything and Hiashi's bein' a real jerk about it, y'know? This shit about me not being able to see her... Your family's nuts."

"Hiashi-sama." Neji corrects sleepily. He has been correcting Naruto's manners all week, and now he doesn't even have to be awake to do it. "And don't swear."

"C'mon Neji, don't be tight. I wanna kno—w."

"We have to be up at four a.m. tomorrow. Go to sleep."

"I can't sleep. And you can't either, so talk to me. Tell me about Hinata-chan."

"I can't sleep because you're annoying me. Shut up. Please."

"Fine." Neji can hear the pout in Naruto's voice. "If you're gonna be a jerk too." He keeps grumbling even as he makes himself comfortable. "Maybe it's just a Hyuuga thing... I hope Hinata-chan's not a jerk..."

Hinata has always prided herself on her calligraphy.

It's the one thing she does that her father doesn't criticise – her hand is elegant and beautiful. She loves the smooth movement it takes, every dip of the brush, the boldness of black on white.

This is her third attempt. It looks like a work of art.

"Father thinks you're crazy for doing this."

Her sister Hanabi is waiting by the door, spinning a kunai on her index finger.

"I know." Hinata says in her soft voice, nothing like her younger sister's brashness. "I don't care."

"You really like him, huh?" Hanabi is only ten, but she knows her sister.

"... Yes, I do."

Hanabi cannot help but be happy for her older sister. She has found love in a family notorious for making it difficult. Hanabi has worried about Hinata for as long as she can remember – despite her many endearing qualities, Hinata is easily stepped on, and Hanabi was certain Hinata would end up unhappy in a lonely, cold marriage.

"Are you done yet? If you don't hurry up I'm gonna have to refresh the genjutsu on my room."

Hinata looks over the careful kanji. She reads it through one more time, making sure... She wants it to be perfect.

"Hina—ta, hurry up. It's just a love letter. And he's agreed to marry you, so I don't see what you're stressing about."

Hinata takes a deep breath and signs her name, each stroke practised and precise.

"Naruto. There's someone outside."

Neji is up, kunai in hand. Naruto can feel the piercing eye of the byakugan on his skin.

"Hostile?" Naruto asks. He doesn't move, but every muscle is poised to jump into action.

"Don't know." Neji whispers back. "They're coming right at us."

Both boys stay still and silent as so much stone, Naruto straining his ears, Neji's white eyes searching every inch of their surroundings for the potential hostile. His eyes have never let him down before –

But Hyuugas can cloak their presence from the byakugan, and so Naruto hears them first.

"Neji!" He hisses. "Under the wind–"

Neji barely has time to move.

Behind him, Neji gets back under his blanket. The Hyuuga genius is angry with himself – Hanabi is only ten, and a girl.

Naruto on the other hand, couldn't care less about Hanabi. He is too intrigued by the present she left with him, the letter from his fiancee. He makes himself comfortable under the window, unrolls the scroll and reads under the light of the moon.

Dear Naruto-san,

My father does not want us to speak yet, but I could not live with myself if I did not thank you for everything. Had you not agreed to marry me, my father would have forced me to marry Sasuke-san.

Please do not think of this engagement as set in stone. If life in the Hyuuga household is making you unhappy, or you find me unsatisfactory you are free to break it off. I would hate for you to feel obligated to do something that would make you unhappy. The most important thing to me is your happiness.

If you have anything you would like to say to me, please write back. My sister will make sure it is hidden from my father.

Yours sincerely,

Hyuuga Hinata.

"Hey, Neji." Naruto wakes up his unlucky companion again, grinning his fox-like grin.

"Naruto..."

"Eh heh... What's this kanji?"

Hinata cannot concentrate at all the next day.

She sees Naruto at every corner; every flash of blond, every hint of laughter is him. She wants to see him more than anything but at the same time the mere thought of it makes her nervous. Her pulse races for no reason – her face fills with colour and she can't explain why.

Shizune-sama is worried about her health. Hinata knows she must look ill, but she can't manage a proper excuse. She can't even manage a proper sentence.

Look out for part three sometime next week. And be kind and drop a review?