Neji landed smoothly onto the mossy ground. Behind him, he heard somebody breathing heavily.
"Good job," came Ten Ten's voice.
Neji deactivated his Byukagan and turned around. "That's enough for today, Ten-Ten. Ja ne."
Neji turned to leave.
"Wait!" Ten Ten said, getting up.
Neji stood still, waiting.
"Would you like to…take a walk with me?"
Neji watched the sun sink deeper into the foresty mountains. Birds rose from trees and flew off to their homes, for night was steadily approaching. The skies of Konoha were fading.
"Iie. I have something to do tonight," Neji replied.
Ten Ten looked helplessly at her hands. "Oh…" she murmured softly. "Alright then, ja."
The corners of Neji's mouth turned down slightly. "Ja."
He disappeared through the foliage.
Hinata mumbled to herself in her sleep. Another busy day had passed, and Hinata had just come home from work. Tsunade had been most demanding, insisting that Hinata stay for a while afterwards and baby-sit several extremely rowdy children. They forced Hinata to play house with them, then ninja of the night before nodding off to sleep many hours into the night.
The sun was barely up, but Hinata's alarm clock buzzed loudly.
Grumbling slightly, Hinata squeezed her eyes shut tightly and swung her arm toward the nightstand, where the annoying alarm clock resided.
Her fist connected with something warm, and both objects collided with the alarm clock.
Hinata jerked awake and her head flicked toward the object.
It was a hand…which was connected with an arm, then torso. The person was clothed in tan and black.
Hinata froze. "Neji-niisan," the words left her lips before she could stop them. Her eyes glanced back to his hand, which he was holding with the other. Her eyes widened. "G-gomen-nasai, Neji-niisan!"
Neji observed her quietly, all the while gazing at Hinata.
Hinata felt her face get hot. "A-Anou….What are you doing here?"
Neji, again, remained silent.
Hinata's fingers began to twitch, and she fought to keep them from fidgeting. Instead, Hinata brought one hand to the front of her face. Her bent pointer rested lightly on her lip.
Finally, he spoke. "Go back to sleep. I'll tell the Fifth to give you the day off."
Hinata's bowed head jerked up. "Na-nani!"
Neji walked to the door. "You need to rest. Go back to sleep."
Hinata played with her blanket. Neji opened the door and started out, but paused at the doorway. "Oh, and Hinata-sama."
"H-hai?"
"I'll be back tonight to check on you."
Hinata stilled, then nodded hesitantly.
Neji left and closed the door softly, leaving Hinata's head teeming with questions.
Hinata smoothed out the coupon that Naruto had given her. She smiled at it, then blushed for acting so childish. Of course, she was only thirteen…
Hinata almost stopped in her tracks. What month was it? She looked at the other Konoha villagers. Most were bundled up and walking around, laughing with their friends.
With a jolt of her heart, Hinata realized that her birthday had passed barely a few days ago. Hinata had been so busy that she missed her own birthday.
She was fourteen now.
Hinata smelled beef and soup as she passed Ichiraku Ramen shop. Of course she wouldn't use the coupon. It had expired, anyway.
Hinata froze as she heard Naruto's voice from inside the booth. Then, she sped to the side and hid behind a narrow pillar on instinct.
Heart pounding relentlessly in her head, Hinata cautiously leaned toward the booth and listened to Naruto.
"But Sakura-chan, why couldn't you? Please?" Hinata frowned. What was he talking about?
A sigh was heard. "Naruto….No hard feelings I just- " Obviously this was Sakura. "I just…"
"I'm better than that Sasuke! I can prove it! Sakura - I'll always protect you, no matter what-I-I-please, Sakura. Just give me a chance!" Naruto begged.
Hinata tried to pull herself away from the ramen booth, but found that her legs wouldn't move. 'I shouldn't be listening to this-'
"Sakura, I only love you," Naruto began again. "No matter what, I'll only and forever love you. You're the only one for me, please, Sakura, don't -"
Hinata shrank back into the shadows as Sakura hurried out of the booth. She heard Naruto curse under his breath, then the chink of coins against the counter.
Naruto hurried out after Sakura.
"Oi, Sakura-chan, wait!" he pleaded. He was then lost to the crowd.
Hinata's knees buckled, then gave away. She closed her eyes and then opened them, remembering the time she had talked to Naruto before the Chuunin exams.
"You know, Hinata….I always thought that you were quiet and strange," Naruto said.
Hinata grimaced and edged further behind the wooden sparring pole.
"But you know what? I like people like you," he had said, with his back to her and his hands behind his head.
"Like you…"
Hinata could not remember how many times those words had repeated themselves in her head. Numbly, and forgetting why she was even out, Hinata got up and made her way home.
Hinata stared at her pillow. Ever since she had come home, she had spent endless hours staring at an unfixed spot.
It was just a silly little crush, right? Hinata wasn't sure. Maybe she had mistaken her feelings of admiration with love. It was true, though, how poor Naruto had been shunned by the rest of the village. They all despised him for something he didn't do. It was fate that had bound Uzumaki Naruto to the Kyuubi. He didn't chose that path.
Fate was a cruel thing.
Neji's voice floated across in her mind.
"People are born carrying an unchangeable fate. It's not something you can become just because you want to. It's already determined by fate. People are different…"
Did Hinata merely admire Naruto because of his resolve to never give up.?
Was it just admiration?
Then why did it hurt so much?
"I never go back on my word. That is my way of the ninja."
Hinata's throat burned and her eyes watered. She shut her eyes and tilted her face up, feeling the last of the dusk light slowly play across her face, and her tears glittered.
Then, she felt something warm brush softly against her cheek.
Slowly, her eyes opened and Hinata looked at the face in front of her unseeingly. She felt the bed sink down slightly in the person's weight.
A certain blonde kunoichi with sad blue eyes stared into her own. The corners of his mouth tilted up into a small smile.
"Hinata-sama"
Hinata frowned very slightly. Naruto had always called her 'Hinata' or 'Hina-chan', not Hinata-sama.
"Naruto-kun?"
Hinata closed her eyes and smiled a small smile.
"….Iie."
Hinata opened them again. Naruto's shining face had disappeared, replaced with her cousin's.
"Neji-niisan," she murmured, lowering her head. "What are you…?"
"Don't tell me you have forgotten," said Neji quietly. "I said I would come tonight."
Hinata blushed. "G - gomen…"
She hastily wiped her eyes.
Neji looked at Hinata's unkempt bed. Silence filled the room, broken only by the occasional hiccupping by Hinata. "Did Naruto do something to you?" he asked finally, his voice still quiet and emotionless. Hinata's body shook at a hiccup. Neji's unanswered question hung in the air, which told him he was right.
Hinata felt tears come again.
"…He told Sakura he'd love her and protect her forever," Hinata said softly.
Neji remained silent, though he was clearly taken aback at Hinata's choice to speak about her own personal preference. Neji felt a twinge go off in his gut. Hinata looked up desperately at him. "Why?" she breathed. "Why does Naruto love Sakura so much? Why? Why, after she ignored Naruto and cried and cried after Sasuke? Sakura-she doesn't even-she-she only cares about Sasuke! Why can't Naruto see that?"
Neji sat on Hinata's bed and awkwardly patted her back. It was the least he could do.
Hinata choked back a sob, then buried her face in her hands. She knew she was being selfish - but she didn't care. "M-maybe I sh-should have listened to you, Neji-niisan," Hinata said through her hands, her voice muffled. "I should h-have believed in fate - I should have known that people can't change…I thought that Sakura's denial might have opened Naruto's eyes a bit more…" she finished quietly.
Neji frowned. "Hinata-sama," he began. "It…it is I who has been wrong," he said with hesitation in his voice. "People can change, based on their will. And you, Hinata-sama - look at me," he said quietly while tilting Hinata's chin up to see her face, "I was wrong. People can change, and you have changed the most." Neji's voice grew quieter. "You have gotten stronger, Hinata-sama," he added, his voice barely audible.
Hinata blinked through her tears. "Neji-niisan," she began weakly.
"H-Hinata-sama," Neji murmured. "I am very sorry. I am sorry for all the things I have said to you. Hinata-sama…please accept my apology."
Neji slowly undid his hitai-ate and touched his forehead to the bed before Hinata.
"N-Neji-niisan!" Hinata choked out. Tears fell unchecked onto the bedspread. "Neji-niisan, please get up," Hinata pleaded.
A single tear drop fell onto Neji's hand, and he slowly looked up. "Hinata-sama," Neji said. It pained him to see his own cousin cry, though they were not very close. "Hinata-sama…"
Hinata touched her lips to the thumb-side of her hand and bent over, her body wracking with silent sobs.
Warm, saline tears rolled down her light cheeks and dripped endlessly onto her lap and hands.
"Hinata-sama, nakanaide," Neji almost pleaded. He got up and touched Hinata's shoulder. She flinched slightly.
The pain in Neji's chest grew.
"Neji-niisan…" Hinata drew a shuddering breath. "Neji-niisan…"
Neji leaned over slowly and gathered her in his arms.
"Nakanaide, nakanaide," Neji repeated again and again as Hinata shook with mute sobs.
Hinata leaned into Neji's chest as she fought to control her crying.
Neji hesitantly lowered his chin onto Hinata's head. What should he do? Neji might have been a genius in combat, but he was not expert in comforting crying girls. Slowly, Hinata's crying receded and she hiccupped. Hinata brushed away her tears and gave a small smile.
Relief surged through Neji. "D…Daijoubu, Hinata-sama?"
"Daijoubu, Neji-niisan," Hinata said shakily. She hiccupped.
Neji felt her shake in his arms. "Hinata-sama," he began. "You have to stay strong. In the shinobi world, many people are snatched away from their loved ones. You're lucky that Naruto only…only decided to go with another person." Neji chose his last few words carefully.
Hinata gave a hesitant nod. Once again, tears threatened to spill, but Hinata was determined not to let them fall. She blinked quickly, trying to bid them away.
Neji cupped Hinata's face in his hands. Hinata looked away. She was sure he could see the weakness dwelling in her eyes.
"Promise me you'll be stronger, Hinata-sama. Promise me that you will take on everything that faces you squarely in your eyes. Promise me that you won't cry anymore," Neji said quietly.
Hinata swallowed and nodded. "Demo, Neji-niisan," she said even more quietly, her voice starting to shake. "Let me cry a little more…" Hinata's eyes closed and tears seeped out and slid down the corners on her eyes. "Just a little more…" she whispered.
Neji gazed at her, then nodded and hugged her close, not knowing what else to do.
"I-I didn't know what-I didn't know that his c-could…" Hinata said between small sobs, "It hurts." she finally managed.
Neji's eyes narrowed at Naruto's image. He'd hurt Naruto. But…Naruto technically didn't do anything to upset Hinata. He just…Hinata was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Neji's hand stroked Hinata's back, attempting to comforting her.
Hinata squeezed her eyes shut and gripped onto Neji's training outfit. He smelled of nature.
She slowly steadied herself, silently inhaling his scent.
Neji's fingers played across Hinata's back in soothing circles.
Silence lapsed.
"…..Neji-niisan?"
"Hai."
"Don't call me 'Hinata-sama' anymore."
Neji frowned slightly. "Doushite?"
"It's not fair," Hinata said quietly. "Just use my name only. There's no difference between us, so you shouldn't…"
"You're from the-"
No difference at all," Hinata cut in. without indicating that she heard Neji's comment.
Neji lowered his eyes. "Hai."
Hinata let a last tear slide down her cheek before wiping them all away.
"Neji-niisan."
"Hai, Hinata?"
"….Arigato."
Neji stayed and held Hinata until she fell asleep.
A/N: Hinata's birthday is December 27, if I'm not mistaken…I got it off of an anime site...(absoluteanime) Oh yes, and nakanaide means 'Don't cry', for those of you who don't know. R&R!