Chapter 11: A Winter Festival
Neji sat patiently in his room, waiting for Hanabi to return from training. He had just returned from a mission to Snow, and was currently running through his unofficial mission in his head. Sakura and Naruto were together, or if they weren't, they soon would be. He knew that things were developing between Ino and Shikamaru – his theory about Shikamaru actually doing something about his feelings if there was some competition had proven correct. The mission Neji had just returned from was proof of that. Shikamaru sent him to Snow when the strategist knew perfectly well that Ino had an upcoming reconnaissance mission, which Neji would typically accompany her on. It was deceptively simple of Shikamaru to make sure he was assigned another mission. Neji had to applaud the strategist's…strategies.
Now that Sasuke's two main fangirls were taken care of, Neji could focus on the important part of the plan. Hinata's formal party was in a week, and it was at this event that the Uchiha would make himself known as one of the potential suitors for the Hyuuga heir. Then there was the council inquiry, in which Sasuke would have to try and convince the council why he was the best option for Hinata. Then there was a private meeting with Hiashi, and if Sasuke passed both of those, he would be presented to Hinata as a possible husband. The final decision would be up to Hinata herself, and it was this that Neji was currently pondering. He and Hanabi would help the Uchiha through the fist two meetings, but in the end, Hinata would have to accept him herself. The best way to guarantee this was for the Uchiha to befriend her.
However, this was difficult. Hinata was shy, and the Uchiha was socially inept. A friendship between the two could take months to develop, and Neji didn't have months, he only had a week. Drastic times call for drastic measures, and Neji found himself frowning at what he was going to have to do.
Hanabi entered his room then, and Neji motioned for her to shut the door. He activated his Byakugan to ensure that there were no eavesdroppers, and then started to outline the next part of his plan. When he finished, Hanabi just stared at him.
"I don't like it," she said, turning away from him and frowning.
"It doesn't matter whether or not you like it, Hanabi, it needs to be done," he said coldly. She turned at him, her eyes pleading. At that moment, she looked more like the thirteen year old she was, rather than the next Head of the Hyuuga she was always pretending to be. Neji sighed and his features softened.
"I don't like it either, Hanabi," he said quietly.
"She'll cry, Neji. She'll cry, it'll hurt her so much, and I don't want to do this," she said. Neji sighed. Yes, Hinata would get hurt, and yes, she would likely cry, but it was for her own good. It was the only way to get her to open up to the possibility of loving her potential betrothed. Still, it was hard. The next part of his plan was likely going to be the hardest thing he would ever do.
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The Winter Festival in Konoha had always held a special appeal to Hinata, likely because it was so close to her birthday. When she was younger, she used to pretend that all of Konoha was celebrating her birthday. The lights and games, food and laughter were all part of a grand party, one that she would never have in the Hyuuga household. She stopped pretending that the party was for her a long time ago, but the pleasantness of the memories made the festival the most enjoyable one for Hinata.
She was currently walking the streets of Konoha, searching for her cousin and little sister. She had come with Kiba and Shino, but Neji had asked her if she would mind joining him and Hanabi as well. Hinata had agreed, pleased to do anything with her sister and cousin. The more time she spent with them, the more they started to feel like an actual family. So when it drew near the time to meet with Neji and Hanabi, Hinata excused herself from her team mates and headed over to the quiet park, where Neji had asked her to meet him.
She enjoyed the silence and stillness of the park after all the commotion of the village, and she smiled softly to herself as she looked up at the moon. The smile left when she heard a soft giggling, and she activated her bloodline to see who it was. Moments later, she regretted it.
There, standing together with their arms about each other, were Naruto and Sakura. Sakura was laughing softly and Naruto was smiling down at her with an expression that Hinata had always wished would someday be directed at her. She felt something cold settle in her chest when he leaned in a kissed the pink haired ninja. Both seemed quite content in their position, in fact, Hinata didn't think she'd ever seen either one quite so happy. A choked sob escaped her before she stop it.
Sakura pulled back from Naruto and quickly turned, only to see Hyuuga Hinata, standing stricken and pale in the moonlight. Guilt and sorrow rushed through her so quick that she couldn't stop from gasping. Naruto noticed this and turned to see what had caught her attention. When he saw Hinata, he shouted out a warm, friendly greeting before Sakura could stop him.
"Hey Hinata-chan! What are you doing all the way out here?" he asked. Hinata didn't answer him, just stared, and Sakura's guilt quickly turned to concern. The Hyuuga heiress looked as if she were in shock, her face the same colour as her eyes, which expressed such…pain. Sakura took a step towards her.
"Hinata," a voice said suddenly, and Hinata felt a strong hand grip her arm. A good thing too, as she was sure she was going to collapse at any moment, and she didn't want that. Not when Sakura and Naruto were staring at her in such concern. Her Byakugan had deactivated as soon as she saw the two lovers, so she had no idea who it was. When Hanabi came up beside her a moment later, then she realized that the man who held her arm and was speaking in quiet tones to Naruto and Sakura must be Neji. She had never been more thankful to her cousin as he led her away. Sakura and Naruto left, and Hinata felt herself being pushed gently down on a bench. Hanabi was bending over her, concerned.
"Hinata? Hinata, please, sister, say something," she said. Hanabi's voice was filled with worry, and it triggered something in Hinata. She heaved a great shuddering breath as the tears started to fall. She barely registered Neji putting his arms awkwardly around her, holding her as she sobbed into his chest. Hanabi was still standing, now wringing her hands together in concern, unconsciously emulating Hinata's own nervous habit.
When the sobs quieted, she heard her sister saying it would be all right, and that she was so sorry.
"This sucks, I don't care anymore, you wait right here, Hinata, I'm going to get Neji," Hanabi said before running back towards the village. It took a moment for her sister's words to register in her mind, but when they did, Hinata almost choked.
Go get Neji? But if it wasn't her cousin here, than who was holding her? She looked up, only to stare in surprise as black eyes looked back at her.
Uchiha Sasuke.
Hinata squeaked and leapt back, staring at him in mortification.
"I'm so s-s-s-s-sorry, s-sorry Uchiha-s-san, I'm so t-t-t-terribly s-s-s-sorry," she stuttered, horrified that she had just had an emotional breakdown on the avenger. He watched her, eyes dark with concern, but Hinata, in her current state, didn't notice this.
"I d-d-didn't r-realize that it w-w-w-was you, I'm s-s-so s-s-sorry," she couldn't seem to stop babbling, and it was so hard to breath. Sasuke, seeing her panicked state was going to cause her faint or hyperventilate, cautiously slid next to her and awkwardly took her hands.
"It's all right, Hinata-sama," he said quietly, trying to keep his voice calm and steady. She stared at him with wide white eyes, and he couldn't help but think that she was beautiful. He shoved those thoughts away ruthlessly. Now was not the time to indulge in stupid, insipid feelings. Hinata needed to calm down. He continued talking to her softly, assuring her that he wasn't upset, and that she should calm down and breathe, and she listened, eventually. She took a few slow, deep breaths, her eyes never leaving his, and Sasuke began to unconsciously rub her hands in his.
"I am sorry," Hinata said softly at last, her eyes no longer panicked. Sasuke nodded to show that he accepted her apology, and reluctantly let go of her hands. She wrapped her arms around herself and stared up at the moon. He didn't know what to say, so he just sat with her, watching the way the moonlight reflected off of her hair, and the way she just seemed to glow in it. He cleared his throat abruptly and turned his attention the night sky. It was safer than staring at her.
They sat like that for awhile, the silence between them strange, but not uncomfortable. Hinata's fear of the Uchiha, she was surprised to find, had evaporated. He had been so kind to her, so gentle she could hardly believe that it was him. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye to see his face set in its usual scowl, and fought the sudden insane urge to giggle. Her humour faded quickly as she looked at her hands, suddenly nervous. Uchiha Sasuke had managed to confuse her greatly lately, and she wanted to know the truth. She had sworn, for the longest time, that he had hated her, but perhaps, in light of his gift to her, and his kindness tonight, that wasn't really the case. She took a deep breath, and willed herself not to be frightened. After all, she had just sobbed all over him, and he hadn't taken offence. Surely he wouldn't be upset over a simple question?
"Um, Sasuke-san?" she asked. He looked at her, and she almost lost her nerve. She stayed silent, willing her mouth to move.
"What is it?" he asked finally. She blushed lightly and looked down.
"Do you h-hate me?" she asked softly, staring at her hands. Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise at her question and then softened. He should, he reflected to himself as he watched her, pale and shaking. She was weak, and timid, and made him feel things he didn't think he should feel, but still, he didn't hate her.
"No," he said honestly, and Hinata looked up in relief. She caught his eyes, and held them, feeling a dark red creep into her cheeks at his expression. She looked down again quickly. Somehow, though she didn't know quite how to decipher his expression, she knew from it that he was telling the truth.
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Neji came a few moments later. He nodded in acknowledgement to Sasuke, and then quietly asked Hinata if she was all right. She answered honestly enough.
"No. Please, Neji, I'd just like to go home," she said softly. Neji nodded and watched as the Uchiha helped her off of the bench. Hinata thanked him quietly, and Neji noticed that she no longer stuttered. He was also surprised at the gentleness that Sasuke had shown his cousin. Although his expression didn't change much from the scowling one he usually wore, his eyes had softened somewhat as he extended his hand to help her up. Once she was standing however, his shoved his hands back into his pockets, said a quick goodbye, and left.
Neji escorted his two cousins back to the Hyuuga compound, feelings of guilt surfacing in him. Hinata's silence was broken only by her occasional sniffles, and Neji blamed himself for her current distress. It really was his fault, after all. He had arranged to meet her there, and than arranged for Naruto and Sakura to be at the same spot – all it had taken was a few suggestions. He knew the Uchiha would be wherever Hinata was (he had a habit of trailing after his cousin), and made himself scarce so that Sasuke would be there to comfort her. He felt sick at his actions, even though Hinata managed to loose her fear of the Uchiha. The last time Neji had deliberately set out to hurt his cousin had been at the chuunin exams, but this time, it was worse. Then, he had hated Hinata, now, however, she had become…important to him. It had taken everything he had to go through with this, and to make himself scarce when he knew his cousin needed him.
All three of them entered the compound in silence, proceeding to the Main House. When they got there, they paused in the hallway that separated their respective rooms.
"I'm sorry, Hinata," Neji said suddenly, turning to her, "I'm so sorry, for all of this." He knew that she had no idea how involved he was in this, and opened his mouth to confess when Hanabi interrupted.
"I'm sorry too, sister," she said, and shook her head at Neji. He kept his mouth shut. Perhaps now was not the right time to reveal his part in this. Instead, he did something he had never done before. He placed his arms around his cousin and hugged her. Hinata returned it, and Hanabi came up behind her sister and tried to encircle both of them, but her arms were too short. The three of them stood there, like some kind of strange Hyuuga sandwich.
Hiashi, as he passed the hallway, stopped and watched. As the three of them pulled apart and said good night, he thought that they would certainly change the future of the Hyuuga clan, and perhaps for the better.
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Author's Note: I know the ending is smaltzy, but I had to have Hinata get hugs all around after she went through all that. I apologize for any OoC-ness in the chapter. I tired to stay in character, but it was difficult. In fact, the last two chapters were the hardest ones to write, so I apologize if they aren't up to my usual standards.
I was going to do this at the end of the story, but I think now is a good time. I want to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews, I'm pleased that so many people like this story. Many of you have expressed a concern that Neji might be feeling lonely, and that I should try and hook him up with someone. This is a good idea, however, I don't think I'll be able to write it in. The story is too far along, and any love story containing Neji would seem awkward (to my mind, at least). Also, any romantic interest for Neji would have to be an OC or Temari. Neither one suits me. I don't think I could do Temari justice, and I have a deep mistrust of all OCs, even if I'm the one writing them. Please don't worry about Neji, he is quite content being a bachelor.
Thanks very much for reading!
