Here's chapter 3. Sorry if it isn't that good, but I'm stressing about starting school next week…
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto blah…blah…blah
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Chapter 3: ApologiesNeji deliberately took small steps and walked slowly. He knew he had to do it, but still, he was nervous.
The Hyuuga prodigy had decided all of but 8 minutes ago to go and apologize to Hinata about the way he had treated her over the years. He didn't know what drove him toss away his pride, which was the thing that had been holding him back all these years from apologizing to Hinata, but he had. And now he was walking down the steps that led to the ground floor.
Standing in front of the rice paper sliding door that opened out on to the garden, Neji was frozen.
'What if she doesn't accept my apology and rejects me?' thought Neji, suddenly. For some reason, that scared him more than anything.
Neji was beginning to realize he had feelings for his cousin, not to long ago which was what pushed him to do this. He wanted Hinata and him to start over and form a strong friendship, maybe even more…
Sliding the door open, he silently walked barefooted towards his beautiful cousin.
Hinata sat on the stone bench looking up at the stars. They're light reflected her features beautifully. Her cascading blue hair fell daintily over her shoulders and framed her attractive face.
She did not notice Neji approach her nor did she see realize he was standing next to the bench until he spoke.
"Hinata?" he asked in his smooth voice.
Broken away from her thoughts, Hinata immediately shot up. Her fingers began their old habit again by pressing firmly against each other as she tried to put words together.
"Nii-san, I, um, what are you doing here?" She talked so quietly that Neji had to lean in closer to hear her.
"Hinata, how many times do I have to tell you to just call me Neji?" he asked in an exasperated voice.
"S-sorry, Neji," Hinata mumbled, her eyes focused on the flowers that surrounded them. Frowning when he realized that her eyes where trained on the ground instead of him, Neji firmly took her chin between his index finger and thumb, forcing her to look at him.
"Hinata, I need you to look at me when I'm saying this," Neji said in a stern voice.
"What is it, Neji?" Hinata asked in a worried tone when she saw how nervous her cousin was.
Smiling at her concern for him Neji merely cupped her face and began to caress her cheek with his thumb.
Hinata began to blush furiously at Neji's sudden display of affection.
"N-Neji?" she stammered.
Sighing, Neji began to tell Hinat why he was here.
"Hinata I wish to apologize for the way I've treated you over the years. I blamed you for the death of my father and took out my anger on you. I realize now that during the Chuunin exams, if the Jounins had not stopped me, I would have killed you and felt no remorse."
Looking up into Neji's eyes, which were almost identical to hers, Hinata could see that he was struggling. 'What's he trying to say? He's starting to worry me,' thought a concerned Hinata.
"I've been cruel and unfair towards you. I know most of the family treats you the same way and I hate that. I hate the way we all treat you!" Neji's voice rose in anger. Withdrawing his hand from Hinata's cheek, Neji clenched his fists. His eyes shut were shut tight and his jaw set.
Hinata stood there confused by the way Neji was acting. Normally he was a calm person who never lost his composure, but here he was, losing control over his emotions.
His voice still remained raised and his tone had an edge to it.
"Everyone treats you terribly and I am no different," continued Neji. He still kept his eyes shut tightly, and his fists clenched at his sides.
"But I want that to change. I want us to start over and I want to do my duty and protect you, Hinata. But the only way I can do that is if you forgive me and what I have done to you in the past," said Neji. Suddenly he added, "But if you don't wish to forgive me, I understand."
Shocked by Neji's abrupt apology. 'Did-did he just apologize to me? To ME? I thought he hated me!' Regaining herself, Hinata smiled softly at her cousin, who still refused to look at her. His head turned to the side, with his gaze focused on somewhere far off.
Reaching out, Hinata gently placed a hand on Neji's arm. Startled by her touch, Neji turned his head towards her, his eyes locked with hers.
"Neji, you don't have to apologize to me," she began with a soft voice.
"For I have already forgave you long ago, just as I have forgiven everyone else in our family."
Looking down into Hinata's pale face, Neji could detect no lie or falsity in her voice. A sudden feeling of relief and joy then overtook him. 'Hinata…You are too forgiving," he thought.
Smiling warmly at Hinata, Neji wrapped his arms around her. He rested his cheek against her soft hair, breathing in her faint scent.
Hinata's arms were pinned to Neji's hard, strong chest. She felt safe there with him and the feelings he evoked in her made her blush. Pressing herself up against him, Hinata turned her head so that she could hear Neji's heart beat steadily in his chest.
They stood there, in each other's arms, for what seemed like forever. Hinata knew that she and Neji were going to be much closer from that night on. Neji knew that his cousin had just aroused a strong feeling within him…
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Ok that sucked and was probably really corny. My first attempt at fluff. Gah, I'll work on getting better! Until next time.
--TheUnknownDead
