Sorry for the wait! Here's chapter 2!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Chapter 2:

An exhausted Neji dropped down onto his bed in the Branch Family section of the Hyuuga compound. Closing his eyes, his sighed heavily. 'Training today was a lot more intense than it has been,' he thought.

His brow furrowed as he began to ponder Hiashi's new fierceness in he and Hanabi's training. Thinking back, Neji figured that his uncle's harsh attitude was most likely due to the fact that his eldest daughter and heir to the clan had began working at the Konoha hospital as a medic nin. Smirking, Neji muttered, "Serves him right."

When Neji had learned that Hinata was not to be training under Hiashi anymore or anywhere in the Hyuuga compound, he had acted as if he didn't care and merely shrugged. The Hyuuga prodigy had no right to question the Head of his clan's decision and even though he acted indifferently about it, he was deeply angered.

Ever since their first Chuunin exam, Neji had noticed that Hinata was trying even harder to become stronger and over the next few years, she did. She trained constantly and pushed herself beyond her limits. But most of all, he saw how hard his cousin tried to please Hiashi.

Hinata had tried desperately to prove herself in her father's eyes, but he didn't notice and continued to criticize Hinata. The only Hyuuga who seemed to have noticed was Neji and he was infuriated at how Hiashi treated Hinata. All his uncle seemed to care about was making his clan more powerful than any other in Konoha and training his nephew and youngest daughter.

When Hiashi had stopped Hinata's training, Neji had wanted to go and comfort her, but something held him back. His pride. Neji had done nothing to heal the scars of the Chuunin exam where he had so brutally fought and almost killed Hinata. He hated how his cousin still looked at him with fear in her eyes and how every time he talked to her she wanted to be as far away as possible. But the only person he could blame Hinata's behavior on was himself.

Getting up from his bed and walking towards the window, Neji gazed out upon the grounds of his home.

The moon shone down to illuminate a lone figure sitting on one of the stone benches of the Hyuuga gardens. Neji could easily tell it was Hinata by her long, wavy blue hair and the way she played with her fingers. 'She's probably trying to get away from all those Main House bastards again,' thought Neji, angrily. 'They never give her a moments peace.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hinata closed her eyes and breathed in the beautiful fragrances of the flowers of the garden she sat in. Her father and a few on the elders had just got finished scolding her for not being a true Hyuuga and she just wanted to be alone.

Twiddling her fingers, as was habit for the Hyuuga girl, Hinata thought back to the times when she used to idolize Naruto. Now that he was back from his 3 year absence, Hinata no longer admired him in the way that she used to. Yes, she still thought him one of the greatest shinobi in Konoha, but her crush on him died when he left.

Her thoughts then drifted to her cousin, Neji. Hinata shuddered at the way he looked at her; his eyes filled with hatred for her and animosity. She wanted to begin their relationship from the beginning again, start over and become friends, but she knew that with Neji that was almost impossible.

Hinata had to admit that her cousin was handsome and probably the strongest Hyuuga there had ever been. Blushing, Hinata again wished that she and Neji could just be friends like they were when they were little and go to each other with their problems, but she would just have to wait until Neji could swallow his pride.

Hopefully, that day would be very soon…

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Pulling on his shirt, Neji headed towards the door. He was going to talk with Hinata and he was going to make sure she listened to him.

Little did Hinata know, she was going to get her wish granted very soon, maybe a little too soon…