Theme Set Delta 2/5
11. Lost
"If you want to," she whispers to him, cupping his face in her palms and laying their foreheads together, "I can save you."
12. Vitamins
Organic compounds required in tiny amounts for essential metabolic reactions in living organisms: B for energy, C for metabolism, D for mood regulation. Calcium and magnesium for bones; chondroitin and glucosamine for joints; iron for blood; protein for muscles; lutein for eyes; fiber for digestion.
The words swam together as her eyes crossed. She blinked at the exhaustion, but she had to persevere. The Med-Nin examination was in a few more days. She had to know this as well as how the human body was built and shaped.
"Hinata-sama."
She jolted in surprise at the sound. It was late night and most of the compound was asleep. She turned to face Neji as he slipped in from the window.
"Neji-nii-san." She greeted quietly, puzzled at his presence.
He stood famed against the backdrop of the clear night sky, stars twinkling in the dark blue and a silver moon shining down on the unlit world. "You should get some sleep."
She smiled timidly. "After this. The exam is soon."
"Working yourself to exhaustion achieves nothing."
Neither brought up how hypocritical he was being.
"I'll be fine, I'm pacing myself-wah!"
Two large steps towards her chair and he scooped her up into his arms.
"Neji-nii-san!" She protested as she was bundled off in his arms.
He did not reply, pushing the door of the study open, and walking towards her adjacent bedroom. "Sleep." He commanded, bent on one knee and dropping her into a ready made futon and coverings.
Landing awkwardly she rolled to her side, lifting an arm to flip her hair out of her face. "Neji-nii-san, I-"
A pair of fingers extended, hovering centimeters away from her face, gathered charka visible to the Hyuuga eyes, signaling he was willing to use a sleep justu if she kept arguing.
"Yes, Neji-nii-san." She said meekly and burrowed under the covers.
He stared down at her, exasperated and amused. "You're so stubborn."
She did not grin, only closed her eyes and soothed her breathing. He stayed the night to ensure she would not get up as soon as he left.
13. House
Hinata locked the door behind her as she entered. The bouquet was tucked snuggly under her arm, the pleasant mix floral scents tickling her nose. Warm, tingly feelings raced through her every time she thought of it. He had also just dropped her off outside, waiting in the car until she safely entered her house. Her face was finally recovering from her flush and turning on the foyer light she placed the flowers on the side table, about to look for a vase to put them in.
A noise from inside her house made her pause. She lived alone, and none of the other house lights were on. More rummaging sounds occurred and she pinpointed them in the direction of the unlit kitchen. She slowly crept closer to the room, taking care to walk quietly. A brief glance to the left showed that the window facing her backyard was unlatched and slightly ajar. A lumpy shadow moved on the floor next to her refrigerator. Taking a fortifying breath she reached out a flicked the light on.
He froze. Food wrappers around him, a half eaten bun in his mouth, fruits and vegetables in front, too skinny arms and face, faded rumpled clothes, drooping yellow hair, and almost feral blue eyes. His whole body tensed, fingers twitching as if getting ready to grab the food and run.
"Hello." She said softly.
He stared her warily.
"Are you hungry?" She asked and this time he jerked forward to gather the edibles, pulling them close to his chest.
She forced back her trepidation and took a step into the kitchen. He huddled back into the boards, chewing furiously on the bun he had in his possession.
"What would you like for dinner?" She made herself walk past him and pull open one of the higher shelves. "There's some meat in the freezer and I have garlic and curry powder. But I'm going to need some vegetables."
A pause in her peripheral vision but she continued to shift the products in front of her. "Some cans of instant soup and a package of egg noodles." She reached in further into the storage space. "That's strange; I thought there was still some instant ramen left."
A guilty silence beside her and a quick glance to the ground confirmed the empty packages, and crumbs of the white noodles left around it. It was obvious he ate it without cooking it first, the stove itself had not been touched, only the food cupboards and the fridge.
"Well, curry will have to do." She mused hesitantly. "There's not much else to make, and it's quite simple. I just need to prepare the ingredients and steam some rice."
She eased away from the counter and made to turn to the stove, but a flash of color caught her attention and she looked towards to him see a stalk of celery offered from a tensed arm and challenging blue eyes. Slowly reaching out to accept the vegetable, she gripped the stalk for several seconds before he let go.
Releasing an unknown suffocating breath she smiled shakily at him. Turning on the stove and pulling out the products form the cupboard; a pensive, cautious presence watched her as she prepared the meal.
14. Clan
"Have you ever wondered what our clan might be like in twenty years?" She asked him.
He didn't really care. He had raged and lashed out about the Branch members' fate but it had really been only about himself, and her. The distance the caste system placed between them had been insufferable, all because of a single charka pattern embedded onto the forehead. But that was in the past. Now he was always with her and if in the future he would always stay with her, anything else was irrelevant.
"Not really."
15. Family
Hiashi doesn't notice the potential dangers and mistakes until after the deed was done.
Three months after they are married, Neji trains Hinata in the open courtyard in the pale dawn. They are alone, and it is not a surprise, Hiashi has placed the task of overseeing Hinata's process in Neji's hands for years. Hiashi treads the open walkway encircling the compound and sees Hanabi seated with her legs drawn up in the far side, watching her sister and cousin run through their forms.
He approaches his daughter, his younger daughter, and pauses half a distance away. Her eyes are sad, yearning, half hopeful, and part happy. He does not understand that expression. He follows her line of sight to see Neji, hands on Hinata's hips, correct her leg stance and move back to allow her to run through the movement again.
Hinata spins, her body twisting in midair, and lands on her feet lightly, solid. Her lower stance is correct but there was something…her arms had been too broad in the middle and Hiashi steps off the wooden planks. He approaches and Hinata is so focused on her movement, with a flash of annoyance, he realizes she does not even sense him coming from the back.
Six feet away she goes through the spin once more with her eyes closed, turning, whirling on her tiny feet, her arms floating about her body and Hiashi reaches out, because they are going through the movements without the charka and he would not be hurt –
His wrist is caught in mid-reach and he never touches her body at all. He turns to the firm grasp and meets Neji's cool, unreadable eyes.
His nephew tightens his grip. "She's not yours anymore." Neji (heir, Hizashi's son, Hinata's husband, future Clan Head) says and lets go.
Hinata lands gracefully, her slim body barely leaving an impact of the soil, and flows continuous into the finishing kata. Neji takes a step back and approaches Hinata, moving to stand behind her and correct her elbow height.
Hiashi's stunned form is ignored and unacknowledged. He turns to meet Hanabi's understanding eyes.
16. Sister
She is slender and beautiful; a waterfall of flowing hair, soft pearl eyes, gentle calloused hands, kind caring touch, nervous bow-shaped lips, delicate quiet voice, and not hers. Never hers.
When she was younger the clan had forbid it, and when she was in her teens she hadn't known she wanted it, and now as an adult Neji would not allow it. Hinata was his, his now, and he would deny all ties from before. Because Hinata was disowned, and because she had been disowned, not Hyuuga, he could claim her; marry her.
She was 'Hinata-sama' now, to all Hyuuga but one, outsider wife of the Hyuuga Head.
"Hinata." Neji murmured to a tender ear, and the slim blushing figure turned towards him, ocean tresses flowing like waves.
Nee-sama. Hanabi whispered in her head, watching from a distance, but that title was not hers to use anymore.
17. Leader
"Hokage." Hinata murmurs to him in their usual greeting.
Naruto smiles. "Hyuuga." He returns jovially.
18. Spiral
It's stitched everywhere on his clothes: on his jacket, at the bottom of his pants, at the back of his shirt, on the arm of his coat.
"What does it mean?" Sasuke asks.
"What does yours mean, fanny boy?" Naruto shoots back.
Sasuke gives him a withering look.
Naruto laughs. "It means things going round and round in circles, but in the end it always comes back to me, standing in the centre."
Sasuke slows to a stop, and he looks at him unbelieving. But only because he's expected to; astounding as the fact was, Sasuke doesn't totally disbelieve him. Something inside the dark haired boy shakes.
"You're going on a date with Sakura later?" The blonde asks, arms raised, supporting his head.
"Yeah," Sasuke pauses. "Yeah," Sasuke repeats forcefully.
Naruto sighs, "Have to find someone else to train with me then."
Sasuke stares after him, the logo starkly clear on his back, and Sasuke is not yet ready to admit that he agrees with the Dobe's outrageous words.
19. Red
"Give it to me." Hanabi whispered and Hiashi almost jerked back.
"What?" He questioned astounded.
She locked her jaw. "The Seal. I want it."
He stared at her. "Why?"
She looked away, determined white eyes shimmering. "Because I'm tired of the power struggle." Her eyes closed, and voice dropped to a whisper, "Because I'm tired." She flicked open clear, hard eyes, "Because I want it."
"Hanabi…" he had worked so hard to prevent the necessity for her.
"Please, father."
And it is against that begging tone he never heard from his fierce younger daughter that breaks him. A week later the green lines are harsh against the raw skin of her forehead, some times it's all anyone sees. But Hanabi has never seemed as free as she does now, as she runs joyfully up to her older sister, whom she had always been restricted from.
20. Tea
Green. Red. White. Black. Chamomile. Honey-lemon. Mint. Orange pekoe. Oolong. Chai. English Breakfast. Decaffeinated. Rooibos. Tazo. Ceylon. Darjeeling. Vanilla. Earl grey. Jasmine.
It doesn't matter what kind, as long as they have it together.
. : tbc : .