A/N: I decided to add in a new chapter ... but didn't bother changing the title. I'm pretty fine with it.
Reviews:
Ruru, Haru and Hii-chan ... ahahaha I know you guys.
Neji's POV
I realize I have been 'visiting' the main compound a lot lately.
Yesterday I 'happened' to 'pass by' her house … and saw her sitting on the bench outside, humming and folding something.
I was curious. Way too curious. I walked up to see what she was folding – and cracked a twig on accident with my sandal in the process – causing her to pause and turn around.
She looked at the intruder as if he was Kisame wearing a green spandex outfit (alright, alright, apologies to those who cringed or spit out their dinner) and dropped her half-folded windmill. I get a little irritated at her reaction – hey, I'm not as scary as the weird blue and green creature mentioned above, am I?
"Oh … Neji… niisan."
"Is … Hiashi-sama not here today?" I asked, running out of excuses. What else can I say besides that? Stopping by to fold useless little windmills with her?
"He's being asked for by Hokage-sama," she answered with a slight smile.
"I …I see," came the reply even though I knew he was away.
Why else would I dare to pay my future-head-of-the-clan Hinata-sama a visit then?
"Neji-niisan … would you like to …"
"Oh OK."
"Eh?"
Darn. Stupid, stupid me.
"I mean … it's OK."
"Oh … anyway I don't think you will want to waste your time … folding windmills."
"I … don't mind, actually."
--
She passed me some white, pink and blue paper happily as she started to fold the fifth windmill. I feel slightly embarrassed folding the pink paper as pink … is not really my colour. I watched her fold the ends neatly and perfectly, noticing her short, tidy fingernails at the same time.
I did my first windmill and it looked pathetic, regardless of how simple it is. She smiled when I held it up for her to see … and I melted on the spot.
Me, Hyuuga Neji … what an embarrassment.
It was kind of awkward to fold little dainty things and sit beside her at the same time, so I thought of something to say, but unfortunately I chose the wrong topic.
"Why are you making windmills?" I asked stupidly. How should she answer? I did them because I am weak and found so little reason to train since I will be the heiress of the clan one day?
She blushed a little. Oh no … Hyuuga Neji … you should read up on social skills a little more.
"It's for … Naruto-kun."
I didn't say anything. I just looked at her a few seconds before I came back from shatter-my-dreams-land.
"I … see."
"He's going on an important mission, and I hope to cheer him up … he's going out of the village again."
I saw her pearly eyes glisten. Oh OK, she's making windmills for the hyperactive guy with whiskers. Let's call him Kamaboko for now.
"I've heard that he would be going off for three years soon, so this will be … a small present for him …"
I fake a smile. Then I suddenly realize that I have to go back to have a training session with Lee. There was never a training session to begin with in truth, but it will exist for as long as a short conversation goes. Why? Because I don't like to eat kamaboko. Especially kamaboko in ramen.
I got up abruptly, dropping the blue windmill on my lap. As she bent down to pick it up, I quickly said that I have a training session to attend so that I don't have to lie to her face. I went off as quickly as I came, stepping on the same twig from earlier. I was in such a bad mood I couldn't hear it yell 'injustice! Why me?'.
I could hear Hinata get up from her bench and try to go after me, but I could also hear her stop after two steps. I tried my best not to look back, but I guess she could see me turn a few degrees at the corner of my eye.
--
The ceiling of my bed seems so plain. So is my window. I look around my bedroom. It's even emptier than ever. I felt annoyed, frustrated and confused. Don't ask why. I have about as much understanding as you about it.
The house is quiet as usual. But quieter. Silence wanted so much to make its presence known it has utilized its ability to deafen people to the maximum. Yes, silence can deafen people. Heard of Sasuke? Ever since his family died he had no one to talk to. His house must be really eerily quiet. And what happened? Everyone was shouting at him how Orochimaru molests cute little emo boys but did he listen? Obviously not.
I decide to turn in early today even if it's only evening. I'll just wake up at 4am tomorrow to make up for it …
--
4am comes too fast. Maybe it's not really 4am yet. So why am I awake? Perhaps it is the rain outside playing a song. Or it could be the knock on the door. It was a soft knock. I didn't want to imagine who would appear on my doorstep.
I opened the door. The rain was light and mild, tenderly fondling my visitor's hair and clothes. Hinata smiled as I pull her in, and she started to remove a familiar blue apron.
"What were you thinking?" I chided, forgetting that she held higher authority over me. I grabbed a clean towel from one of the washroom cupboards and pushed it in her hands. That's where I saw a small jar of windmills, neatly folded and pinned to a stick. I also noticed tiny red marks on her fingers.
She must have accidentally pricked her own fingers with the pins.
I got so exasperated I tug her by her hand to the kitchen where the plasters and little jars of medicated creams were. I pasted the smaller plasters over about three pricked fingers – and at the same time mumbling insignificant little things.
Hinata had the same pink tinge on her cheeks again. I reckon I do too, since I could feel my face starting to have an increase in temperature.
I took a step back and apologized. This scene seems too familiar. Is this going to happen every time I get close to her?
I decide to change the subject. Then I found the perfect thing to talk about.
"What are you doing with that jar in your hands?"
Uh … maybe not. What if she asks me to help her send the jar of windmills to Kamaboko?
"Oh umm …" she began as she picked out a blue windmill. "You … should keep this one … you made it … yourself …"
She handed me the windmill, carefully pinned on a stick. I took in my hands and blew at it, making it turn happily. Hinata tittered a little behind her plastered fingers and stole a look at me.
"As for the rest of these … I'm going to give it to Ino. She came by today … and likes them very much … she says that it'll look nice in her flower shop."
I smiled, this time for real. Since it was raining slightly heavier now, I sent her back under this big umbrella which suddenly seemed very small.
"Please take care on your way back, Neji-niisan," she said almost cheerily. I waved a slight wave and turned away to return back to the branch compound.
--
Somehow I feel that my room looks more pleasant now. Maybe it's that blue little windmill at my window. Every now and then I told myself off for being so childish, but I usually forget it after a while. Now that I think of it … I finally know why the blue apron was so familiar.
It seems that my blue apron got worn by her afterall.
A/N : Kamaboko means 'fishcake' in Japanese. FYI ... 'naruto' is a kind of pink/white fishcake.