FireDragonBL: heh... sorry to disappoint but it is going to be incest!
not telling: thank you!well the next chap's right here!
Shiro: very sorry for posting this so late! and i'm really glad u like it )
ruka-kun: thank you so much! and u write really well too!
tetsu-kuh: thank you for ur compliment and will work hard!

Disclaimer: don't own any naruto characters...
AN: Really sorry this was so long in coming out. Was working on the other story and there was so much work in school! Hope you like this :)

You and Me
Chap 3: Together

"Why didn't you go to see Naruto off?" Neji's quiet appearance startled Hinata who had been training in the woods.

"Neji-kun." Hinata jumped in surprise. The haphazardly thrown shuriken veered off course and instead of thudding into the neat rows of shuriken on the practice log, it landed on the ground with an unforgiving loud thud.

Hinata stared at the shuriken on the ground. I can't even get this right... Her hands clenched at her sides. I can't be so useless... Naruto-kun is going to train to become a stronger shinobi. I will become stronger too, I will train hard, I won't let him down.

Her eyes grew moist as a picture of a grinning Naruto flashed in her mind. Trying to delay answering Neji as much as possible, Hinata slowly picked up the shuriken and then turned around to address Neji.

Neji was leaning against a tree, arms folded, one foot on the ground while the other was propped on the tree trunk. His eyes held none of its usual contempt, but neither were they warm and friendly. "Why weren't you there today? Sakura, Kiba, Shino, Ino, Lee, all of them were there. I was surprised you weren't... Care to explain?"

"Neji-kun... I..." Hinata stuttered, she didn't know what to say.

Hinata had gone to see Naruto yesterday. She had wanted to plead with him to stay, to train with her in Konoha but the words had gotten lodged in her throat.

"I'm going off with Jiraiya to train! Can you believe it! He's a real pervert but I guess it is okay since he knows so many powerful jutsus! I'm going to train really hard to become much stronger!" Naruto grinned happily.

Hinata played with her fingers as she stared at the floor, unable to say the words she wanted to say.

"Ano sa… Hinata, you must train hard to become stronger too." Naruto said seriously, hands cupped behind his head. "I really would like to spar with you one day."

Hinata's eyes widened and she looked up at Naruto's clear blue eyes in surprise. She was thoughtful for a moment. Then, realization dawned and she gave Naruto a small smile. "I promise I will, Naruto-kun. Thank you for believing in me."

"Eh, heh heh… I'm just saying the truth!"

"...I... we... we didn't need to say goodbye. Soon, we will meet again and... and... he'll always be with me in my heart." Hinata fiddled with her fingers, wondering why Neji was suddenly interested in what she did in her life.

"You really do like him do you?" Neji abandoned his languid posture and advanced dangerously upon Hinata.

Unnerved by the fierce look in his eyes, Hinata took a step back, and then another, and another.. Until she was backed up against the practice log and Neji was standing inches away from her. Standing so close, Hinata had to tilt her head up to look at him.

Neji's eyes were intent, but they had lost its fierceness. Hinata, not used to the close proximity of males, blushed and tried not to concentrate on how handsome Neji was up close.

"I... we... it's not like that... we're... we're just very good friends."

"Really? Friends with that good-for-nothing?" Neji's tone dripped with sarcarsm and he almost gave a snort in disbelief. He hadn't planned to corner her like this. He had come with the intention of checking out on her. Knowing her close relationship with Naruto, he had expected her to be crying her eyes out. But the moment she had started talking about Naruto, the simmering anger inside him had flared.

But then Hinata had retreated away from him like a scared rabbit. Her eyes held just the slight traces of fear as he backed her into the log. Disgusted with himself, his anger faded away rapidly, leaving him feeling like a jerk for scaring her again.

She stood less then an arm's length away from him now.Neji took advantage of the closeness between them to study and savour the moment. She's beautiful... like snowflakes, pure and gentle. Although tightly wrapped in a jacket, Neji knew that his cousin was petite and had delicate bones. She's so small and so vulnerable... so unsuited for the dangerous life of a shinobi.

A surge of protectiveness took him by surprise. Neji wanted nothing more than wrap his arms around her, to hold her close and keep her away from all the dangers and prejudices in this ugly ugly world. He wanted to protect her, to keep her safe, to give her happiness.

"He's not a good-for-nothing! And you shouldn't say that of him." Hinata said firmly, with a hint of challenge, as if daring him to refute that. Her eyes, so similar to his, were set and determined.

Neji's heart took a tumble. She'll defend him so readily... His little cousin was so full of compassion, and all he had ever done to her was to hurt her, hurt her again and again. For all that I've done to her,she'll never give a damn about me. His eyes shut closed.

"Hinata... Do you hate me?" His voice shook with uncertainty, self-loathing and pain.

Time stilled. The forest was suddenly quiet, as if the birds were holding their breath. A light breeze ruffled their hair.

Hinata was a little astonished at the question. For all that Neji did, she couldn't bring herself to hate him, not in the past and not in the future. "No, Neji-kun, I never hated you." She reached out to hold Neji's hands in her own in front of them. They were cold. She absently rubbed them to get some warmth into them.

"I can't hate you... All that you did.. I forgive you... You'll always be the big brother I know when we first met." Hinata gazed seriously at Neji, her eyes sincere and truthful.

Neji opened his eyes and looked at Hinata in wonderment and awe. Hinata... his voicecaught in his throat. He couldn't believe it! After all that he had done to her, she didn't hate him. She forgave him... You're an angel... an angel sent to save me from the gates of hell...

Impulsively, he wrapped his arms around her and drew her close. Her mouth widened with surprise. He gave in to the temptation and presses his lips onto her mouth. Sweet... sweet and soft...

Hinta gasped in surprised. She had never been kissed before and she certainly had not expected this from Neji! The rationale part of her told her to push him away, that this was oh so wrong! She braced herself for the onslaught... but instead, there was only a gentle pressure on her lips, light teasing and tenderness. How could something that felt so good be wrong?

It was Neji who broke the kiss. They both stared at each other, Hinata still cradled in Neji's arms.

"We shouldn't have done that." Hinata whispered softly.

"I know..." Neji replied, his voice husky with desire.

He gathered Hinata into his arms, her head resting on his chest. "I won't hurt you anymore. From today onwards, you will always have my protection."

Above them, two eagles soared beside each other.

Wing to thy wings.

That's probably the end... please tell me what you think about the ending, because I've actually left alot more room for development. But I didn't want to go too much into it. ehz. just tell me what you think! thank you :)

And who knows.. maybe I'll come back with a sequel for it?