Suuuuch a short chapter. But I couldn't find the will to carry it on. Ehh, oh well. There's a lot of jealousy from Neji in this chapter, as you'll soon see. I find this chapter...heart-warming. Aren't you glad I was quick to update!? I sure am. Anyways, enjoy. Seriously, please review. It's very helpful for making me feel like I want to update quicker.

Chapter 6 - Neji's POV

"Nii-san, I'm home!" Her voice makes me jump, and I run much too excitedly to the front door. Hinata's hair is over her shoulder, and she's taking her shoes off carefully. A gentle smile graces her lips, makes her expression full. My heart beats quickly as I stare at her. Beautiful. So absolutely beautiful. I know now that there is nothing more lovely than her. No girl could capture my heart like Hinata-sama. Dark hair, light eyes, soft, creamy complexion. She looks up, and smiles at me. My heart stops for a second, and then I smile back.

"Welcome home, Hinata-sama. How was your mission?"

A new light comes into her eyes and she dances over to me, sparkling with the 'springtime of youth', as I'm sure Lee and Gai-sensei would call it. This is her time, her moment in life. I am the one who will watch her turn from a girl, into a beautiful young woman. I will be the first to watch her metamorphosis. I already have.

"It was fine." She smiles again. Maybe it's not her mission she's so overly excited about? My heart stops again. It's Naruto, isn't it? He did something to excite her. To make her happy..."Naruto-kun teased me a little." She giggles. "And Sasuke-san is a lot nicer than I thought. I think I misjudged him, if only a little. Do you remember him from our childhood, before his clan was murdered?" Her eyes soften sadly and I nod curtly. Sasuke. There is no need for talk about him. "He was such a sweet little boy. I'm remembering all we used to have. He was one of my friends...The more I think about it, the more my heart wrenches. I want to be his friend again." Her eyes are determined now. "I want him to remember me as I remembered him!"

I know there's a sudden shock in my eyes. How strange. She's so determined, I know she really wants to do this. She wants to know Sasuke again. That Sasuke. The one we both know has the girls drooling over him. Tenten's even shown some attraction to him!

"Sasuke doesn't seem like the one...To care much for...girls..." I say, my voice trailing off a bit. It's the best I can do without 'hurting her feelings'. Or so I had hoped. She looks down at the ground sadly with a broken sigh, as if she's lost all of that determination. A part of me jumps for guilty joy, but most of me is sad for her. She's biting her lip, trying to figure out how to fix her mess.

"I don't really believe that he's against a relationship, though." She looks up at me again, with hope. "He needs more friends! All he has is Sakura and Naruto! And...And I have so many people who care about me." She looks at me with those eyes, smiling intimately. It's almost impossible for me not to blush. In fact, it is, because I feel my face turn hot, and watch her eyes glow with a girlish sense and she giggles.

"Nii-san, sometimes you're just too cute. I don't see why you wouldn't want to go out with Sakura-san. I'm sure she'd like you." Hinata laughs a bit more, walking swiftly past me and into the kitchen. She twirls around, as if she's dancing, and leans against the counter. She laughs again and the much more obvious redness in my face.

"Hinata-sama, I wish you'd just figure it out!" I huff. "Sakura-san is NOT the girl I like. She never will be." I've got to make sure I keep that promise. It's true, Sakura is very pretty, and very nice. But there is only one girl whom my heart belongs to.

"You have a girl you like?" Hinata's voice becomes higher as she steps towards me again. That sparkle in her eyes — she doesn't know it's her! She doesn't realize anything! I get annoyed sometimes, with how blind she can be. Doesn't she ever wonder? Will she never understand? A slight growl comes from my lips, but Hinata doesn't notice. She's too busy being 'happy for me'.

"Oh, nii-san, is it Tenten-san? She's so sweet and kind! I'm sure you and her would make a good couple! Or is it Ino-san!? Oh, I heard she likes you too, but...Isn't she going out with Chouji-san? Oh...I'm sorry, umm...Is it Temari-san? I kind of hope now...She's dating Shikamaru! Oh boy, Neji-nii-san, you're running out of choices. Is it someone I don't know? Do I know her?" Hinata's excitement keeps growing as she blindly guesses girls. My eyes narrow and suddenly, I grasp her shoulder. She jumps, and looks at me, curious.

"You really want to know who it is...?" I ask her dully. She blushes, and nods.

"Y-yes, nii-san...I'm sorry if I'm intruding, though...If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to." Her voice loses all of its happiness, its hope and joy. I feel guilty for making her feel like she's done something wrong. I loosen by grip on her shoulder, but don't let go.

"I'll tell you...But now is not the right time." I hug her, a friendly, cousin-to-cousin hug. For a moment, she doesn't move. Then her arms wrap around me and she buries her head in my chest. She's crying quietly, from happiness, fear, or sadness, I don't know. But I just hold her, and let her know, if she needs anything, I will provide it. I want her to know there is always someone there, and that she will never be alone. If there is anything she needs right now, it's someone to cry on, no matter how happy she is.

"Thank you, nii-san..." Her voice quivers, as she moves away. She brushes away a tear or two, and then smiles sadly at me. "Neji, you're always there for me. I'm so lucky to have you always by my side. Nii-san...Can I trust you to always stay with me? Even if I hurt you?" Hinata's eyes break me down. I smile at her.

"Of course you can trust me, Hinata-sama. All the time, anytime." I promise. I then give her a faithful grin, the kind of grin Naruto always gives Sakura. It feels awkward, this kind of expression, but she giggles and brushes her lips against my cheek. I blush, and blink at her, expression blank now.

"Nii-san...Thank you." She says simply, before turning and walking back up the stairs to her room. I blink as I watch her blow me a kiss and jog up the stairs. Wow, it's really been a long day. I glance at the clock on the wall, it's getting to be night time. It's surprising — I made it through a whole day with only two small conversations with Hinata. I wish it had been more.

I wish I could get to know her better. I decide that now, to make it my goal for a bit, to get to know Hinata. Sighing, I follow my younger cousin upstairs, dragging my feet. Hinata-sama...What will I do? You obviously care very deeply for Naruto...But you don't see it. You don't see that he's already in love. You don't see that there is already someone read to love you.

I look up the stairs, and see Hinata's door close as she enters her room. I bite my lip, and keep walking. When I get to the top of the stairs, I look at her door. No sound comes from her room. She's probably exhausted, already asleep on her bed. I close my eyes, take in a deep breath.

There is only one thing I know for sure — Hinata-sama will always be nearby, and I will always be there to protect her.

Comments, please? Really, I am excited about this fanfic! New chapter should be up after I update the rest of my fics. Hopefully, that won't take long!

Lovers,
Simone