Author's Note: Your patience is a blessing. Apologies are in order once more. I was sloppy in the last chapter. It has been fixed, but I hope forgiveness is a gift you all can give. kishi.tenshin, my deepest thanks for improving my writing. And my gratitude for all who keep reading. The end is soon.

She was wearing a kimono that shimmered silver. It was as if the Hinata who could only come out at night, come out when the moon was out, had braved the day. Her smile and her movement had subtly changed, and it bespoke the dancing figure on the water. It was as if the color of her kimono took her to that place where no one was looking and she was free.

Hinata-sama walked with Yamanaka-san who was also in a long kimono, scarlet and threaded with gold. They had flowers in their hair, still damp from the hot spring of the public bath house; and in the still, muggy air of the afternoon, they brought the fresh breeze with them. The blonde ninja was laughing and her eyes were bright and alive. Hinata-sama, on the other hand…

Neji thought of a glass of cold water in summer's heat. Sweet and cool as it ran down the throat. That was how she looked, like a glass of cold water in summer's heat.

Of course. It was the Festival of Lights. Young women, before they fell into their sixteenth year, would celebrate the eve of their womanhood, and they would dress in their best clothes, weave flowers in their hair and gather together in the streets. A banquet would be prepared; at midnight, each girl would light a candle. Neji had forgotten it was today.

Neji had also forgotten that Hinata-sama would go this year. No one at the compound had really said anything. Even Shino had said nothing. Maybe she wishes to be alone...away from the Hyuuga from time to time...

Now, the Hyuuga genius found that he could not…come up to her at all. Her silver kimono...

"Neji!"

Neji jerked and saw Tenten waving at him. Neji frowned. He had not seen her come up to Ino Yamanaka and Hinata-sama. That was a piece of carelessness he was going to pay for. Even now, his teammate was motioning for him to come over. Neji shook his head and turned around. He started to walk away.

"Oi!"

It was amazing how fast a girl could move when she needed something from you. Tenten was there blocking his way. "Don't be rude, Neji-kun! What's wrong with you? Are you mad at me or Hinata-san?"

Ino Yamanaka was coming upon them and so was Hinata-sama. Neji sighed. "It's nothing. I just need to hurry back to the compound. I didn't mean to be rude."

"You've been acting really strangely, Neji-san," Yamanaka said, eyeing him.

Neji gave her a flat stare.

"Oi, there's no need for that Neji. It's the Festival, you know? You should be telling Hinata-san and Ino-san how pretty they look in their kimonos. I'm so envious! I wish I could go to the festival all over again." She flicked a look at both girls.

Yamanaka laughed, "They should just let every beautiful woman celebrate, no matter her age."

"Aaahh! Think about how expensive that is, though. You would need to buy beautiful festival kimonos every year."

Tenten's pained expression made Hinata-sama laugh softly. She was wearing a moonflower tucked behind her ear. "One year is nice enough," his cousin said.

"Well, Neji-san, aren't you going to say something nice about our kimonos?" Yamanaka demanded.

Neji glanced at her, tearing his eyes away from his cousin. "Of course. Forgive me. "He turned to the blonde ninja and bowed, "As lovely as the sunrise." As Yamanaka preened, Neji turned to his cousin. He bowed to her slowly, watching her as she watched him. "You look…" he paused, as Hinata-sama shifted and the kimono moved like water, shimmered like moonlight; "…like a glass of cold water in a hot day," he said.

Ino Yamanaka and Tenten gave him strange looks. "What sort of compliment is that?" Yamanaka complained.

"It seems more insulting to Hinata-san that you can't find a better compliment than actually saying something bad," Tenten murmured.

To the surprise of all, however, Hinata bowed deeply. "Thank you."

"Eh?" Yamanaka was exchanging puzzled looks with Tenten.

She knows. She's thinking of the water, where she feels beautiful. The queerest expression had moved over Neji's face. He was not smiling, but he looked…somehow pleased. He turned and left without saying anything else to Hinata.

Aburame was walking home when Neji stepped up to walk alongside him. "I'll tell you when she goes next," was all that Neji said.

"No need," Aburame replied. "Since the first time that you spoke to me about this, I've started leaving a bug to track her."

Neji only nodded. A moment later, he melted back into the crowd and Aburame was left to walk home alone.

Neji wondered as he went home, himself, how Aburame had known that Neji would not be able tell his cousin to stop her solitary training. Did he know? Neji thought, that seeing her in that kimono would remind me of the Hinata in the river? Did he know that I would realize just as he and Kurenai-sensei realized…she became so beautiful because now she feels beautiful? No matter that it may not be proper,when she dances by herself… she's free. How can I take that away from her?

It took a couple more days, but once again Hinata Hyuuga set off by herself.

Hours later, Hiashi Hyuuga went out of the gates. Not long after, Shino Aburame and Neji Hyuuga were streaking out of the gates, and they disappeared into the forest foliage with barely any sound.

On the far side of the forest and the mountain, another figure was leaping through the trees. It kept to the shadows and avoided clearings. And the figure thought as it hurried, I hope I'm not too late. Let me not be too late.