Hello, friends! Nice to see you again!

Drive Me Crazy
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Hidden Drive

The problem with being told not to ask something, is it suddenly becomes the only thing one wants to ask.

"Don't bring up her work in Kumo," had been Kankurō's warning, and he hadn't.

At least not with Tenten.

He'd gone back through Tenten's file and found where she'd had engagements in Kumo, but nothing seemed to warrant Kankurō's warning. He'd mentioned co-workers, so Neji had combed through cast lists and news articles and police records for hints of something happening on set, or reported altercations, but had found nothing.

He spent extra time with Gai and Lee, and currently had several very sore muscles for his efforts, but no concrete results.

As for Tenten, their schedules had been completely opposite, limiting their time together. She was perhaps a little more wary on their occasional morning run, but that might have to do with the would-be photographer that they'd encountered last week after he attempted to sneak a few photos of them together. He had not been faster than them, however, and had been 'persuaded' to delete the photos, and keep his distance without the aid of a restraining order. (Or an ass-kicking, which Tenten had threatened, and Neji hated to admit he had been hoping to administer. Sadly, the man had crumpled like a wet napkin.)

Additionally, Neji had hit another 'hurry-up-and-wait' point in the case, and none of his work had brought any new information (about the case or Tenten) to light.

He was understandably frustrated.

When Hinata's invitation to join her and Hanabi at family's country estate came, he surprised them both by accepting.

Tucked away in the hills outside of Konoha, the estate encompassed a large and only partially tamed expanse of Konoha forest. Neji's Father and Uncle had spent their summers there as children, as their mother had felt the heat and bustle of the city to be overwhelming at that time of year. This tradition had continued throughout his childhood, and was adopted by Hinata, who had apparently inherited their grandmother's sensibilities and ability to coax anything to grow.

She visited often, and had several, regular extended says throughout the year. Neji had an open invitation to the estate with or without Hinata's presence, but their schedules rarely dovetailed. (And he actively avoided when his Uncle planned on staying for any length of time, as he always brought societal obligations with him. Neji had long ago learned it was better for his sanity if he lodged in one of the several smaller "cabins" dotting the grounds when he needed time to meditate and reflect.)

Luckily, his Uncle was abroad for the family business, so it was largely Hinata, Hanabi, and a skeleton crew of people that helped run the house. Hinata had given up on trying to override her father's assertions that she needed staff during her stay, and instead made it a point to keep the load light. The kitchens would be well stocked, and the rooms all made up, and then she quietly gave them most of the time off, asking only that they help with one or two larger meals, so that her father would be satisfied.

Neji wondered if any guests would be visiting this time. Hanabi often had friends that would come to stay (and he suddenly prayed Naho didn't know they were here) and occasionally Hinata had a friend or two out to join them.

He pulled his car up to the front of the property and Kō stepped out to greet him.

"I'll park it," Kō smiled. "Lady Hinata is in the garden, and Hanabi is out for a ride."

Neji thanked him and went to the garden to find his cousin.

Hinata was every inch a graceful woman, and was usually dressed as befitting someone of her station. He smiled to himself when he recognized the faded peasant skirt and wide-brimmed hat she so loved to garden in, and would bet just about anything her feet were bare, and her nose lightly burned.

"And how are the flowers coming in this year?"

"Quite well," she beamed, sitting back on her heels to look up at him. Her nose was slightly pink, and there was a smudge of dirt across her cheek, but she looked as one who belonged exactly where she was. "How was your drive?"

"Uneventful," he shrugged.

"There's lemonade," she began to put down her trowel, but Neji stopped her.

"I'll serve myself."

Hinata smiled and returned to her work as Neji took a seat and kept her company. They settled into comfortable conversation until she took her gloves off and joined him at the small table and chairs tucked into that corner of the garden.

"I invited Tenten out this weekend," Hinata said, pouring herself a tall glass of lemonade. "Unfortunately, she wasn't available."

"Oh?"

"I didn't like to pry," Hinata ventured, "but she sounded distracted. When I asked, she said she had a potential job offer in the works – something that would require her to leave Konoha for some time."

Neji paused, his glass halfway to his lips. He swallowed past the boulder in his throat before casually offering:

"I'd not heard."

"I gather this is a rather new development. Luckily, I think they solicit for these sorts of jobs early. With any luck you'll have the case closed by the time they'd need her."

"One can only hope," Neji grimaced.

The sound of rapidly approaching hoofbeats and a singularly familiar laugh drew their attention. Hanabi's horse was racing across the ground to the open paddock and was closely followed by another rider that Neji didn't recognize.

"Well," Hinata stood and dusted herself off. "I think I am going to go in and get ready for lunch."

"I'll help you," Neji was quick to join her before she could protest his help. They went into the large kitchen together and she washed up before putting on an old, faded apron.

He knew he surprised her when he rolled up his sleeves to join her, but her pleased flush was worth it.

"What are we making?"

"Nothing heavy," she pulled out the cutting boards. "Bread, cheese, fruit, veggies, hummus – there are things for sandwiches if you prefer."

"This will be fine," he helped her retrieve the ingredients.

"I chopped most of it this morning," she admitted. "The garden is doing well this year."

"So I see."

He watched as Hinata began making the familiar mix of vegetables and light dressing that Hanabi liked. They worked with minimal conversation for a while before he spotted Hanabi walking back from her ride, laughing and chatting with her guest.

A much-taller-decidedly-not-female guest.

Neji felt a sense of foreboding as they drew nearer, and he was able to make out the other's features.

"Is that…?"

Hinata looked up.

"Konohamaru, yes."

"What is he doing here?"

"Visiting with Hanabi," she shrugged. "They've been friends for years, you know…Oh..!" She drifted off, and Neji followed her gaze out of the window.

His previous sense of foreboding quickly shifted to dread as Konohamaru threaded his fingers in Hanabi's and stopped her, his cheeks unusually flushed. Neji couldn't make out what he was saying, but he watched as his cousin's head tipped to the side in curiosity, and then incredulity as Konohamaru took her other hand and continued speaking. There was a tense few seconds where he finished whatever it was he had to say, and was waiting for Hanabi's response.

Neji couldn't see Hanabi's face, but when she let go of his hands to step back, shaking her head in that "you are such an idiot" way, even he felt a twinge of pity. He had to give him credit; he was keeping his composure remarkably well, and in that moment looked more serious and grown up than Neji had ever thought him capable of being.

"It's just as well," he muttered. "Better she reject him now, than for him to-"

But then, Hanabi laughed and flung her arms around Konohamaru's neck, dragging him to her level and kissing him soundly. Off-kilter for just a second, Konohamaru's eyes went wide as he struggled to keep their balance before steadying his hands on her hips. With a barely visible smirk of warning, he shifted to stand, bringing Hanabi with him, her legs wrapping around his waist as they melded together.

Neji stepped away for the window, and blinked several times before looking over to Hinata.

"Did you know…?"

"Suspected," she cleared her throat. "But…no. Nothing definite."

"That looks pretty definite," he snorted.

"Yes," her lips twitched into a small, wry smile. "It does."

"For how long?"

"Hard to say," she shrugged one shoulder. "They have always been close in their own way. Even as children."

"I liked him better when she'd kick his ass in taijutsu," Neji muttered.

"She still can," Hinata assured him with a hint of the Hyūga pride in her voice. "At least as of two weeks ago."

"Well that's…. something…"

Neji watched as Hanabi made her way back down to the ground and grabbed Konohamaru's hand, pulling him toward the house.

"They don't know you are here," Hinata slid him a glance. "I didn't get a chance to tell them you were coming."

"Oh?" the corners of Neji's lips twitched wickedly.

"Just remember, Neji – Hanabi's stubbornness is worse when she feels she is protecting someone."

"Hinata?" Hanabi called down the hall.

Hinata didn't have time to do more than throw Neji a warning glance before Hanabi burst in, trailing sunshine and wildness in her wake.

She stopped short, and Konohamaru almost collided into her back, quickly adjusting and putting a hand on her shoulder.

"N-Neji!" Hanabi stammered, eyes wide, voice higher than usual. "What are you doing here?."

"Nice to see you as well," he drawled.

When Hanabi shifted her narrowing eyes to Hinata, he was quick to add.

"It was a rare, impromptu decision. Work was slow, so I thought I would come and get some fresh air. Perhaps clear my mind and gain some perspective."

"I was just getting some things together for lunch," Hinata motioned to the food on the kitchen island. "Why don't you show Konohamaru where to wash up for lunch?"

"Sure," Hanabi tossed her sister a grateful look, and by the time they disappeared around the corner again, a smile lit Hinata's eyes.

"You are going to give him a hard time, aren't you?"

"Only a small one," Neji sighed. "You are right about how Hanabi will react, and I had hoped to ask her a few things about this case… but perhaps Kohonamaru will have some insight. He and Hanabi are gaining popularity in their group of friends. I expect they may have heard something."

"I heard there was another robbery?"

"Yes," he sighed. "Kakashi assigned a rookie to take the calls from Madam Wantanabe, the ambassador's mother. She's called several times a day asking about the progress of the case. It seems her son convinced her to keep a family heirloom in one of the safes, and it has gone missing."

"When did this happen?"

"Two days ago. We were asked to keep it under wraps for political reasons."

"Neji," Hinata worried her lip. "I know Lady Wantanabe. She only has one heirloom she cares about – a necklace."

"Yes," Neji's smile was rueful. "We've heard all about it."

"But she confided in me just last week that she couldn't find it– said that she checked the safe, and it wasn't there, and she was worried she had lost it."

"She never mentioned that."

"She lets people think that her memory is poor, but she sees more than she lets on. She probably doesn't want her son to know she knows the combination to the safe."

"Her son states that it was definitely in there two weeks ago," Neji mused. "I'll have the labs check security footage and the entry logs."

"I've never known Lady Wantanabe to be mistaken when it comes to that necklace," Hinata said slowly. "What if the necklace was gone before the robbery, Neji. What then? Would she be a suspect?"

She had meant it as an honest concern for Lady Wantanabe, but Neji sat up straither.

"Gone before the robbery…" he repeated, his mind racing. Could it be that simple?

"Neji?"

He looked back at his cousin, who was studying him carefully. Her eyes widened in understanding.

"You've figured something out."

"Possibly," he drummed his fingers on the kitchen island. "It's a longshot but… but I think we've been looking for answers in all the wrong places."

"Answers?" Konohamaru asked as he re-entered the kitchen. "What kind of answers?"

Neji looked up at him sharply, but Konohamaru shrugged.

"Been around long enough to know that look, Detective."

"And have you been around long enough to travel with your files?"

"Ugh, yes," Hanabi sighed. "I tried to get him to leave that stuff behind for a little while, but nooo."

"Sorry," his smile was crooked. "You know how it is."

"Yeah," she snorted, "I know how it is. Go on you, two. Go get your files. Let's see if we can help out the KPD so we can actually enjoy the rest of our time here."

Konohamaru grinned and bent down to kiss her cheek. "You're the best."

Hanabi flushed as he disappeared, hurrying to get his bag.

She met Neji's eyes defiantly. "You owe me."

"We'll see," he shrugged, striding out of the room and just catching Hanabi's groan as she let her head thunk on the kitchen counter in frustration. His mind was quickly recataloging and reagrranging the facts of the case as he knew them to be, and the shift ins perspective was staggering.

There was still a piece of the puzzle missing – the one that he knew would make everything fall into place.

But after 2 years, he was certain he was closer than he had ever been, and he was excited. He grabbed his bag from his room and checked his phone. He was tempted to message Tenten, but decided he'd see if these developments panned out first.

He paused, phone in hand.

Hinata mentioned her leaving for a job.

If this case wrapped up, what would her next adventure be?

Neji shook his head to clear it.

"This first," he said under his breath. "The rest later."

We're winding down, friends! Thanks for coming along! - GL