Author's Note: I'm a horrible writer. I guess I am a finicky writer, if I don't get this or that, I just put myself down. I am my own mean critic. Interesting. Well, I hope you enjoy what I wrote; it's really bad. I could do better, I could. I apologize for any bad grammar.
Previously on Dangerously Sixteen: Reflections of Naruto and how he got to where he was with Hinata…
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, however, I own the people that you have never known until you read this story.
Title: Chapter 27
Neji had his face take a dip in the water as the sound of the cool water running from the faucet dripped in the background. His hands cupped his countenance and drops of cold beads trickled down to his chin.
The stalls behind him were open.
He was alone.
Neji recently took a break from his Pre Calculus class and spent the last ten minutes in the restroom. Reaching for his back pocket, he retrieved a small lighter with a broken heart symbol engraved onto the metal surface.
Looking around, in case anyone sneaked into the restroom, Neji opened a carton of cigarettes he stole from his father and flicked the lighter on. As the small flame touched the tip of the cigarette, a wispy orange flame trailed from the end of the cigarette.
The young man took a puff and let the smoky taste reside in his mouth before blowing it out with his lips.
NOTE: THERE WILL BE FLASHBACKS.
At the age of six, Neji stood at the end of the bamboo pole and ran toward his father. The man in his late twenties grabbed his son, Neji, and blocked his blow.
"You can do better than that, son!" his legs moved swiftly in front of Neji, and soon, knocked him down and eyed him with the long stick.
"That's not fair!" Neji cried out. His facial expression was upset, he had tried numerous of times to practice his moves on his father. Every attempt he made, failed.
Mr. Hyuga stepped away from Neji and crossed his arms across his chest. He had an upset look and his lips curled in disappointment. His dark eyes faded into a dull shade of gray as he looked down on his son with a pitiful stance.
"If you want to me a real Hyuga man, you first, must not show emotion! It will let the enemy know you have your guard down and immediately take you down!" instead of words of encouragement, Mr. Hyuga upbraided his son.
The little boy slowly picked up himself up and quickly patted the dirt off of his white pants. His mother had just washed the mud from his pants in the morning when he practiced fighting yesterday. He didn't want his mother to wash it again.
"Fuck my parents," Neji closed his eyes and enclosed his lips around the spherical edge of the tip of his obsession.
He knew he would never live up to his parents' expectations; especially his father's. Although he was the oldest, and the only son in his family, he had to toil in order to emerge from his father's shadow, and into his own light.
Of course, his father never had a problem with his cousin. In fact, his father liked her better than him, because she was perfect.
The aroma of fresh onion and vegetable soup infused in the air. Neji ran downstairs and into the kitchen to greet his mother with a hug.
His mother was dressed in a dark charcoal dress, decorated with a plain white apron. Her thick dark hair was swirled into a small bun that was set on the back of her head.
In response to Neji's embrace, she grinned, revealing hints of her old years by the corners of her eyes, as her skin folded into small wrinkles.
His mother's hands swerved around the gigantic pot and placed it onto an unheated stove. She began to hold out a huge spoon and scooped the spicy contents into separate bowls.
"Can you grab some more bowls from the cupboards? And tell your father and cousin that dinner will be ready soon," Mrs. Hyuga walked over to the counter and started to slice some apples and plums.
In a few minutes, the rest of the Hyuga family approached the dining room. Neji quietly sat next to his mother and the four said their prayers and dug in.
When Mrs. Hyuga opened the lid of the pot, the sultry smell of the freshly boiled soup stung their noses.
Holding his knife and fork, Mr. Hyuga explained to his family what happened at his work. Taking a bite of the roast beef, he dipped the meat into a red speckled sauce at the corner of his plate.
Mr. Hyuga went on about his long project on the construction of a new building in the city. He and his group were assigned to make a new blueprint of what is to be a new library and a new school.
"I'm proud of you honey! So how long will it take for the construction to begin?" Mrs. Hyuga praised her husband as she poured Hinata more soup. She raised herself up from the chair and headed to the kitchen to check on the third and fourth courses.
"Well, I'm about full honey! But bring on down some of the food!" Mr. Hyuga leaned against his chair and patted his belly, which was about half the size of a basketball.
"So, Neji, how was school today? I remember…you had a test today. How was it?" Mr. Hyuga lounged his body against the chair as Hinata sipped on her soup quietly.
"Nothing really, just a 85 on my test." Neji picked up his plate and before he headed to the kitchen, his father stopped him.
"How many did you miss?" Neji's father's voice turned cold.
"Five, it's not that much," Neji continued on his way.
"Come back here," Mr. Hyuga ordered his son, "look at your cousin Hinata, she got a hundred on that exam, and you didn't! Now, you are a Hyuga, and it is not tolerated to have such a score like that! It is pitiful! Shameful!" Mr. Hyuga pounded his fist onto the mahogany table.
"I did my best, father. Can we just forget it?" Neji rolled his eyes.
"Forget it? This is your future we are talking about. Look at Hinata! She is getting better scores than you! And what is that? You are my son, Neji! And as my son, I expect you to live up to my expectations!" Mr. Hyuga stormed out of the dining room.
Later, Mrs. Hyuga waltzed into the dining room with her two hands occupied with two more plates.
"Where's your father?" her sparkling diamond eyes glimmered in the murky room.
Ignoring his mother, Neji helped Mrs. Hyuga put the plates onto the table and told his mother that his father was full and not going to continue eating with them.
"If your father said anything to offend you," Mrs. Hyuga wiped her hands against her white apron that was draped around her pear-shaped body, "just remember that you are my son also, and I am proud of you. Your father may seem too pushy, but he means it in a loving way, now go finish your dinner and help me with the dishes tonight,"
Neji could feel the restroom around him grow dark as he closed his eyes. He didn't want to be in school today, first off, he was involved in an argument with his father in the morning about his grades. As expected, he compared him to his cousin who, quoted by his father, "is a paragon of the Hyuga family, and you should push yourself to be also a exemplary model of the Hyuga clan."
Frankly, Neji didn't give a damn. All he wanted was to have a smoke, and give his mind a little break from reality.
It had almost been half an hour, and Naruto hasn't come over to his backyard. Neji continued to perfect his backstroke and butterfly across the cold surface of the pool water.
His arms sliced through the water like a knife in butter, and he twisted and turned his body to coordinate with his arms and legs.
When he reached the end of the pool, he stood up and took a sip of his water bottle that was placed on the deck. There, his eyes greeted his little cousin who was standing above him, watching him.
"How long have you been standing there?" Neji drank from his bottle.
Hesitating, Hinata fumbled with her fingers and whispered, "I think…you swim good, Neji."
"Heh, go back inside. Someone is coming over here in a few minutes," the young boy twirled the cap onto his water bottle.
"Is it…Naruto?" Hinata's eyes shone with wonder.
Neji nodded. In just a few minutes, his father marched in and called Hinata to come back inside.
"After your friend comes over, I expect you to wash up and eat dinner with us. We are going to have some special guests coming over and I want to impress them. And be sure to study for your next Algebra test, I don't want you flunking, if you need any tips, just ask your little cousin Hinata here, she'll help you," his father called out to him as Neji dove into the water.
"I guess I am a pessimist," Neji thought to himself.
"If you want to be a true Hyuga, you must learn number one: do not show your emotions, and number two: aim for the highest!" Mrs. Hyuga reprimanded his only child.
Neji touched his left cheek and felt its surface burn fiery hot.
"Don't mind the hit, Neji. It was good for you, if you expect to live in my household, then you must learn to abide by my house rules!" his father scolded him.
Neji opened his eyes and heard distant footsteps heading their way toward the restroom. Quickly, Neji put out the cigarette and rinsed his face with cold water. He turned the faucet off and heard the footsteps, from outside the door, walk past the restroom.
Looking at his watch, he had two minutes left until his Pre-Calculus class was over. After that, he would go home.
"Damn it," he cursed himself, "just what I need. Another fucking lecture,"
Author's Note: This has got to be the shortest chapter I've written for this story. I hope you like it. Please review!