Disclaimer Time

I in no way, shape or form own Naruto or any of its characters and am certainly not making any money off of them through this fanfic

Disclaimer Time Over

w00t

Now on to the fic and how to read it

Generally everything will be straight forward but ever so often I may insert a thought process in italics, kinda like the do in the show all the time…also more often than not I'll leave spaces in speech with a…in between them for sorta a pause for the character to think or just to break up what they're saying…well I guess that that's about it for the rules for how to read it so on to the FIC

On Cloud Nine

Hinata-chan…he called me Hinata-chan…should I may…

"What took you so long Hinata?" Neji asked abruptly as he stepped around the corner, distracting her from her thoughts.

"N-Nothing…I just took the long way this morning…you know…the way around the village."

"It sure looked like that something that kept you so long walked you the front gate."

"You…you saw then?"

"Yes I saw," at this point Neji was just short of yelling but just quiet enough so that no one else in the household could hear, "and let me tell you what I think."

Baka…I knew it was a bad idea to let Naruto-kun walk me home…now that Neji knows I'm sure he'll let this hang over my head…even worse…he'll tell father

"I think," Neji's voice began to get softer, "that it's about damn time."

"Ne…Neji…do you really mean that?" asked the puzzled girl for whom things seemed to get stranger and stranger for.

"Believe it or not I actually do…I admit that I used to hate you…more than anything else…I resented the fact that you even lived but at the Chunnin exam when we fought and youwouldn't give up...well…I realized how hard you must have had it…you knew that I was better than you and I could see the fear in your eyes but you weren't afraid of me in the least little bit…you were afraid of what your father…and Naruto…would think if you lost."

"Y-You saw all that Neji?"

"That wasn't it…I also saw the look in Naruto's eyes when he watched you fight and when he came down to protect you when he thought I was going to kill you…that look was still there when he beat me too…you're probably the reason that the beat me in the first place...besides...he really cares for you…ask Shino or Kiba about the Bykouchuu mission again and ask them about what he was willing to give up just to get you back."

This, for Hinata, was a rhetorical question of course because there was really only one thing that he could have given up on that particular mission.

"Bykouchuu…he was going to give up Bykouchuu f…for me?"

"They even mentioned that he almost turned into the fox-demon when he thought you were dead…that's some serious emotion that it takes for him to turn into that…if you hadn't stepped in when you did he would have torn them to shreds for sure as that thing."

"Neji…why are you telling me these things…what's in it for you?"

"Nothing…you deserve to be happy and I've seen about every shade of red there is on your face from just thinking about him…well…after the mission I went on with him I realized that he needs you too...he's looked so long for someone that will acknowledge him for who he is and you give him that...if not for you then for him tell him that you care for him as well"

Naruto-kun…needs m…me

"Thank you Neji…really."

"O…one more thing…well…maybe I should have mentioned this first but I didn't want to kill your buzz…well…your father's pretty pissed that you were gone for so long so I don't think I would mention Naruto or your round trip to the market…try and look sad even…like I've been scolding you or something because he's bound to know we're out here," Neji said with a smile.

"I'll try…so much has happened today…I just don't know if I can keep it all in."

And with that the two cousins, groceries and all, found their way into the mansion and put on their best "I've scolded you, I've been scolded" faces for the inevitable confrontation with Hinata's father. Despite their best efforts Hinata still received the scolding she knew she had coming

"Hinata…why can't you be more responsible, why can't you b…" but this time things were different. Usually every word her father bashed her with soaked in but not today…today there wasn't anything that he could say that could ruin her day.

Naruto-kun really cares about me…does he really have a look when it comes to me?…he hides it well when I'm around

Hinata couldn't help but laugh a little at the thought and her father didn't take too kindly to the idea that she was laughing about something during a lecture

"Hinata," he shouted, "have I said something that has amused you in some way. If so I would sure like to know what exactly that was so I may get the joke too."

Neji knew that his cousin had just made a big mistake in that slip-up, one that she was sure to regret.

"N-Nothing father…something…umm…just…tickled me…that's all…something under my jacket."

"That'd best be it then. Neji."

"Yes sir," He said.

"You are to escort my daughter to her room where she shall reside until time for dinner or until I decide what to do with, which ever comes first. Is that understood?"

"Yes sir...erm...Come on Hinata."

Hinata didn't plan on complaining. As far as she could see she was getting off easy and for that she was grateful. This time alone just meant that she would have time to allow the days events to soak in.

"I thought I told you to keep a straight face Hinata?" Neji said sternly as the walked down the hall towards her room, "or do you want to get into even more trouble?"

"I…I'm sorry Neji-kun…I just couldn't hold it any longer," she said with a blush.

"Well try and control yourself better next time…I was afraid he was going to throw you out of the house this time."

Silence struck between them after Neji brought that up again. Her father had threatened to do it before and came very close to doing it a couple of times but she never really believed that he would, never the less she didn't try topush her luck on the matter.

"Well we're here…I guess since you're sentenced here for the rest of the day I should take those."

Hinata had just about forgotten that she was still carrying the brown paper bag full of groceries.

"Umm…yeah…I guess so."

She just about didn't want to give it up but she knew that she had to so she surrendered the bag to him.

As Neji started to walk off he began inspecting the contents of the bag and then he noticed something strange.

"Hinata," he shouted before he turned the corner, "how did this can of peaches get a dent in it?"

With a blush and a smileshe closed the door behind her.

I guess it must have fallen from cloud nine

Rasengan2theface: Well after reading some of my reviews that I got I just couldn't help but put out another chapter…when I'm motivated I'm motivated…so if you want more chapters the I suggest you keep me motivated and we'll see how many I can get out before break ends...Baka...break ends this weekend...well maybe the rest will have to wait until I get back but there WILL BE MORE because it has been demanded of me…I did enjoy your reviews, especially yours BloodOb…well off to NaruHina land again I guess…I look forward to lots of reviews and until next time…later daze