Chapter 3

"Now you have to be careful Hanabi, no more plates." her brother's stern voice muttered as he halted the car in front of Hinata's apartment complex.

"Neji I know!" She snapped at him, she would never live this down, it had been an honest mistake. She had been running late to pick Hinata up for their fitting for the upcoming Hyuuga Christmas party. She had intended to wash the plate at Hinata's and put it in the car.

"It is fine nii-san," Hinata laughed, a small smile on her face as her wrapped arms held onto Sasuke for support out the car and up the stairs into her apartment. Each step caused pain to flash through her limbs and caused her to inwardly shudder.

"Itachi will be coming over today." Sasuke spoke up quietly as he led her behind her siblings. A large smile spread over her face and a small tinge of jealousy squeezed his heart before her smile faltered.

"You're leaving already." she stated quietly.

Itachi was one of her favorite people but he was a very busy person. After her accident, he and Sasuke tried to make it so that when one traveled, the other was there to help her or as Hanabi preferred to say, off a bit of guilt. It was beginning to be a lot more Itachi than Sasuke.

"Hinata, you know my work"

"No need to explain." she interrupted quietly, suppressing any tears that tried to escape as they got to her floor. The silence was deafening between them as they entered her apartment.

"Hanabi!"

"Neji, it's just whip cream."

"That disgusting filth will only make you sick." his nose scrunched in disgust as she downed more of the sugary foam into her mouth. "Manners!" he pinched the bridge of his nose, frustrated and tired at her ever childish antics, to which she stuck her tongue out.

Hinata's face lightened at their voices. It was a rarity to have them all together at once with

Hanabi being busy with school and Neji busy as heir to the company. Despite the unfortunate turn of events that gathered them together, she couldn't be bothered - they were here, and she was content. Once she had entered the door frame, she gently pulled her arm away from her fiance's, ingrained within her brain every nook and cranny of the apartment she lived in.

"How is Tenten, Neji?" Hanabi prodded slyly, hopping onto the tiny island.

A broad smile made its way on Hinata's lips as she imagined her brother's mouth agape and her sister's mischievous glint. She had been unlucky, losing her sight before Neji found a girl interesting enough to catch his narrowed focus - one who's demeanor was on the furthest spectrum from Neji's meticulous and scrupulous self. Hanabi had given her a detailed description, thankfully, to which she now had an image ingrained within her mind. She was said to have rich, dark, voluminous auburn hair in which she kept off her face regularly in two loose buns. Her eyes, large and almond shaped, hazel in color and an oval shaped head. Tenten, a civil engineer, caught Neji's attention on the site of the new Hyuga factory when she had mistakenly yelled at him.

"It wasn't a mistake - she had intended to." Hanabi guffawed loudly, much to Neji's chagrin. "He had been walking where they had structured some caution tape - man, that girl does not play." Hanabi smiled as she slumped on the other side of her sister.

Giggling along, Hinata chimed in "So when do I get to meet her?"

All the inhabitants of the room directed a teasing look at Neji, Sasuke's eyes dancing with the joy of Neji squirming under his sister's unseeing gaze. Neji Hyuga was a man of power and a man of will. Yet at Hanabi's hands he became easily flustered, and at Hinata's he became putty. It was admirable how close they seemed, despite the home they had grown up in, it was fun to indulge in his struggles.

Sighing reluctantly, the brown haired man loosened his necktie slightly before undoing the tie keeping his hair together, "She will be at the Christmas party."

"Aaa, Hina he's blushing!" Hanabi squealed, with Hinata joining her, their laughter escaping the cracks of the door and escaping the hall

"It seems the party began without me." a smooth voice sounded, as the door pushed open. Itachi's smile followed his voice, before his whole stature entered. His work clothes were swapped for a more casual yet put together look of black button up, that was rolled up and the top three buttons left undone to showcase his necklace. The shirt lay untuck over his crisp slacks and loafers, hair brushed down and out of its usual tie.

"Chi!" Hanabi jumped off the sofa, engulfing her favorite Uchiha in a hug as Neji sighed, relieved to have the attention off him. Hinata turned in the direction of their voices, listening in on the exchange of pleasantries but her heart cracked a bit, her smile faltering, as she wished, with all her being, to see them. All of them. Reality always haunted her fantasies, reminding her that no matter how much she tried to portray them behind her lids - it wasn't the same.

"Hanabi, you're getting too tall for my soul." Itachi lamented, egging on Hanabi's pride as he always did.

Hanabi was taller?...She hadn't realized...

Laughter broke her out of her train of thought, whatever the joke had been, flew right past her. She pulled together a tight smile, determined not to let her depressive thoughts ruin the lovely get together.

"You okay?"

The sound of his voice on her ears tingled as he moved a strand of hair behind her ears, kissing her on the cheek and forehead.

"Get a room, you two. Yuck!" Hanabi teased

This - this made it all worth it. He was alive, she was alive, she had another chance to love him, to be with him, to fall in love with him. And that made it all worth it. Content, she lay her head on his shoulder, as he wrapped an arm around her. Squeezing her tightly he nestled his chin comfortably on her navy locs.

A loud ring cut through the air and Neji excused himself to answer the phone. The sentimental moment seemed to have passed after- the sound of skin to screen grated her nerves slightly. Sometimes, she feared that by picking Sasuke, she had picked her father - Hiashi, regardless of how much he loved them was too busy to be present - and though Sasuke loved her, he loved his work more. Feeling dejected, she entertained herself by eavesdropping on Hanabi chattering about her riotous college expeditions to Itachi.

"Hime," Itachi's voice spooked her, being closer than she had anticipated. "How are you? He inquired, genuine concern and care lacing his modulated timbres.

Gathering up false joy, she perked up. "Much better."

His eyes analyzed her with such intensity she could feel her face heating up. She knew better than to lie to him, for to some extent, he knew her better than Sasuke. He said nothing as his footsteps approached her, but he bypassed to Sasuke,

"What the hell Itachi." an irate Sasuke voiced, surprised at his phone being snatched from his grips, attention finally achieved.

"The work day has ended little brother. Spend time with the people present with you." the underlying meaning of Hinata, loud and clear to all despite the words not being uttered. The stern tone with which Itachi rarely took with his brother was intense, daring Sasuke to rebuttal. A sharp inhale caused Hinata to stiffen - she had inconvenienced him again - before he let out a loud exhale. She always seemed to be a burden to him, never of any use. Getting up uncomfortably and shrugging off Sasuke's hands, Hinata wobbled slightly, the stings from the stitches still dominant.

"Hinata," Sasuke called after but tinier hands wrapped around her waist instead, shoulder length hair brushing past her face as they led her into the room. "Hanabi! You cut your hair?" she pushed away to hopelessly examine her sister's features, fingers grazing the now blunt bob.

"Oh yea, I even forgot. I got it done yesterday after I dropped you off," she snickered sheepishly. "I wanted it to be a surprise, so surprise?"

I wonder…

"It suits her beautifully." Itachi added from behind, reading her mind

"Thank you! You know, new year, new me." she shrugged

"It's May." Sasuke pointed out as Hanabi rolled her eyes at his obvious literacy. "It is a new year for me, Uchiha."

So that's why she had done it. Hanabi had fallen in love within her first year of university for the first time. He had cheated on her that February, on Valentine's day, with her best friend. It had been difficult to watch her feisty and strong sister crumble into nothingness. Hanabi's ex loved her hair, which was warranted considering her gorgeous locs were full and bouncy, something Hinata always slightly envied. She had mentioned a big change, it seems cutting her hair had been the last thread, the final goodbye.

"Well you need to excuse us; we are bandaging." Hanabi mentioned as she guided her sister to the room down the hall.

"Sasuke and I are going to get ice cream. Need anything?" Itachi called from the door.

"ROCKY ROAD ICE CREAM, CHEESECAKE, CINNAMON ROLLS" Hinata tapped Hanabi, whispering in her ears with a small smile "AND a box of cookies?" she nodded in clarification, shocking her little sister, whose eyebrows were raised in confusion.

"You're loud." Sasuke muttered before closing the door.