AN/: Alright. First of all, thank you to everyone who reviewed. I think I managed to get back to most of you...The feedback really helped a lot, although I guess not with the whole updating faster part, eh? ;D Secondly, the special mention to the worlds best beta's Wingedmercury and gone-burgers. This chapter would NOT be if it weren't for them. And if it WAS here...I'm sure you would not have liked it as much as you might like it now in all its double-beta'd glory...and if that made sense to you then well done.

Disclaimer time! Because I don't own Naruto. I think it's just as well though...;)


Somewhere between awesome and so totally mind-blowingly amazing is where Tenten safely categorized herself. Much can be said about the way she oh so subtly manoeuvred things so that her best friend and his heart-throb could live out their sickening infatuation with each other in happiness.

Or at least much could and would've been said about it…if only their mission hadn't gone so horribly awry.

The initial encounter with the Iwa nins was nothing spectacular. Tenten held her own quite well, with little to show for it in terms of battle scars. Naruto managed to not bore his opponents with twenty minute speeches about his dreams and sermons on 'right and wrong' and Neji barely broke a sweat with his lot.

Although Hinata…

Hinata, Tenten decided upon deep deliberation, had this strange tendency to attract unwanted attention. Sure, she escaped the eyes of careless glances that wouldn't chance a second look at a figure which deterred rather than encouraged attention. But the same was not to be said about those not so careless glances that bordered on scrutiny. Such 'glances' would uncover the uncommon beauty that Hinata portrayed by no intention of her own.

She exuded this sensuality that most women strive forand fail to achieve because she was a woman with sense and propriety. But above all, Hinata was an outstanding kunoichi - definitely a different girl than that academy shake-box Tenten had heard of so often, so many years ago. These attributes of Hinata's would not go unnoticed on a battle field, of that Tenten was sure.

All of this combined with the fact that Iwa nins tended to be boasting rats with ten foot poles stuck up where-the-sun-don't-shine made for a very strange, very bad combination. Tenten understood, thanks to Neji's monosyllabic answers, that Hinata attracted the attention of one, currently very dead,Iwa nin. Events had unfolded in such a way that her amazing plan never even saw the light of day. And here she was so sure it rivalled even Shikamaru's tactical genius!

And yet, when Hinata went down, something else that was very educational transpired. Amidst what should've been a very calm process of first-aid and assistance was Neji who, despite his usual appearance, was what Tenten would describe as off his nut. She had to marvel at the profound change in character theseevents hadbrought out in Neji. She had never seen him that way before:angry, distraught, panicked. Neji was everything she'd never expect from him, and all because Hinata got stabbed.

So perhaps it wasn't as flippant a thing as Tenten made it out to be, but really, the situation hardly called for 'off the nut' behaviour. However, this is where it got educational, for now Tenten had some larger idea of what Hinata really meant to Neji. Sure, she knew he loved her. She was no fan of romantic jibber-jab but she knew love when she saw it. Neji's out-of-character behaviour took her understanding of love to a whole different level. This level Neji was on proved to be so much more profound than anything she'd read in books (not that she read much to begin with).

She wasn't exactly sure how different their bond was compared to her ideas on love. All she knew was that when Hinata fell, Neji became something she hadnever seen before and didn't really want to see again. He was an emotional wreck – for Neji anyway – and had little success in reining himself in before Tenten had to step in and do it for him. What a strange thing love does to people…

And then, on another train of thought, Tenten was more than mildly surprised Naruto hadn't caught on during the drama. Although, his version of emotional instability contrasted hugely to what Neji would display. At least Neji didn't have chakra tails of death, doom and total destruction coming off him whenever insecurity took hold. Neji's breakdown was probably equivalent to Naruto discovering he had no ramen in his cupboard. And while that can be a disastrous thing for Naruto, it can hardly compare to the pain of seeing a team-mate slash potential lover in mortal danger.

Ah well, thinking about things this hard never really brought any fruitful results. Tenten was a woman of action. So one plan failed, she just had to try another approach. And while she thought of these easier things; planning for action, she would store away her other, deeper thoughts to chew on later. Right now she was interested only in finding where Neji had got to and getting a status check on Hinata's condition.


Hinata left the hospital within an hour of her waking. Fresh from a deep slumber and newly composed from a shaking experience, she was in search of Neji who had not come to see her when she was in hospital. Of this she was a little sad, although it's not like she should have expected him in the first place. It's not like he had an obligation to check in on her every five minutes. He probably had better things to do with his time than sit next to her in a hospital bed.

Still, though…

Her eyes were watchful as she made her way home. She walked through thebusy streets buzzing with activity. Across the way Hinata saw one couple who were clearly engrossed in nothing except themselves. The sight of the tall man with dusty blonde hair whispering something in the woman's ear, making her giggle and blush sent a jolt through Hinata. The strange womanflicked her dark hair over her shoulder and hugged the man fiercely, the gesture returned ten-fold. There was a longing inside of Hinata that asked only for the same treatment; to be whispered to and indulged by someone whom she could give herself to completely, just like that woman with the long, dark hair.

She continued on and past a bakery that smelled of fresh baked bread and cinnamon rolls. Inside was a young boy whining at his mother for one of the treats. She relented and the boy was happy to graze at one of the rolls with his other hand gripping his mothers. They passed by Hinata and she smiled when she heard the little boy remark at how he will forever love his dear okasan. Some part of Hinata was glad that she had remembered to eat earlier in the day as the tantalizing smell of cinnamon wafted up to greet her nostrils. Another part of her, the emotionally sensitive part, reacted to the boys comment in a way that the feeling of loneliness became apparent.

She decided not to dwell on the despondent thought though for fear of where it might lead her. Already she was dwelling too much on the idea of Neji being more to her than what she knows; more than just a cousin or that unfailing friend always by her side. Instead she broadened her vision and took in the crowds of people that filled up the cobbled street.

While Hinata didn't enjoy large crowds as much as preferring to take the quieter alley ways or, even better, skim across the roofs of the buildings, she knew that she'd have a better chance of finding Neji this way. She'd be more likely to bump into someone she knew who'd know someone who'd know something. Such was the way in villages like this; news travelled through the metaphorical grape vine faster than it did any other way. If Neji had passed this way, even if it were via roof scoping or alley ways, someone here would've seen him.

Chances were more than likely that he'd gone home. But Hinata didn't want to waste time going home only to find he was out training. This way she narrowed down the options.

As she rounded another corner of the cobbled street she saw a familiar flash of brown up ahead before it disappeared in the sea of people. She shouldered her way through, apologizing profusely in as little words as she could manage. When she saw the familiar head again she called out once but her soft voice was lost in the masses. She called out again, this time cupping her hands around her mouth to carry her voice better. The brown haired person turned around and smiled in greeting.

"Hinata-chan!"

"Tenten!" Hinata said back, lifting her hand in a wave. She hastened her pace to catch up and was greeted by a warm smile as the pair continued their walk through the busy streets.

"I'm glad to see you back in action," Tenten said, nudging Hinata softly.

"Thank you. I am looking for Neji, you haven't seen him today, have you?" Hinata made an effort to hide the eagerness in her voice, but wasn't so sure that she did a good job at it.

There was a pause before Tenten answered and she looked at Hinata with slightly raised eyebrows. Of course the eagerness wasn't lost on Tenten, Hinata should've known there was no fooling the sharp kunoichi. "Haven't seen him,"She said, "Thought he'd be with you, why I was heading to the hospital actually."

"I d-don't understand," Hinata stuttered. She'd already reasoned that Neji held no sort of obligation to her, no duty to favour her, so she wondered why Tenten should think he'd be with her now. So Hinata, curious and maybe a little hopeful – the kind of hope that sent little butterflies shooting through her stomach begged an explanation. "Why would you think that?"

Tenten flashed a knowing smile and Hinata thought she saw a spark of atriumphant smirk in those vivacious brown eyes. For some unknown reason it unnerved Hinata even more and sent her cheeks aflame so that she had to dip her head in hiding so that she was staring at her shoes. But it also raised questions in Hinata's mind as to how much Tenten actually knew about…whatever was going on between Hinata and Neji. She stored the thought away for later as Tenten started talking.

"Well, well, well Hinata-chan," She said, the smile still plastered on her lips, "You didn't see how Neji handled your – condition on that mission. He was a mess."

She stated it like someone explaining that the sky was in fact quite blue; a cold hard fact, nothing theatrical or dramatic about it at all. When, in fact, Hinata thought saying something like 'He was a mess' warranted at least a little more drama. This was Neji she was talking about and since when had Neji ever resembled anything akin to 'a mess'? The thought was unsettling to Hinata.

"Never saw it coming. He's always so…reserved, y'know? But when you were hurt…" Tenten shook her head at the memory Hinata didn't have and continued in a low voice, "I had a hard time convincing him that you were okay. He wouldn't let you go, the possessive freak."

A weak "Oh really," slipped passed Hinata's lips as she tried to form something more coherent than mumbling.

Her heart was thudding in her chest and her stomach swarmed with thousand more butterflies than before. The hope that was barely a spark ignited into something so much bigger and forceful, it was hard to restrain. Hinata could barely believe what she had just heard. So much so she almost asked Tenten to repeat it.

Neji holding her. Not wanting to let her go.

"Yeah, I felt like I needed a crowbar or something," Tenten said, her smile grew enormously and she seemed to be enjoying herself thoroughly, though Hinata hadn't noticed due to her own flailing emotions. "I finally managed to convince him that it was a good idea to patch you up. Just as well too, you'd have bled out otherwise."

Hinata, still trying to come to terms with the idea of Neji holding her in his arms, replied with a robotic "Thank you Tenten." Beforelosing herself in thought again. The picture she had in her head wasn't something she could easily visualize, Neji holding her frail body close. Did he cling to her with a mad fervour, irrationally refusing to let her go?

Tenten, either unaware or ignoring Hinata's lapse into silence, waved off her apology. "It's nothing," she said, "it's what team-mates do, right? Anyway, didn't take too much. Just a bit of cleaning up and you were good to go. Neji left with a few words and not even a second glance to me or Naruto. No offence, but it wasn't like you were dying or anything. Punk could've waited."

This snapped Hinata out of her trance as she digested one word with a cold clarity. "Left?" she felt cheated by the word. He eventually let her go and left. Disappointment welled up inside her. "Where did he go?"

"Konoha of course, where else would he take you?" Tenten said with an incredulous look on her face and maybe not a little bit of mischievous victory hidden in the expression.

Hinata blinked slowly. He took her with him. Oh. The butterflies that had died under the weight of irrational disappointment rose from their slumber and multiplied tenfold attacking her nerves like wildfire.

"What, you don't remember?" Tenten said, noting Hinata's blank stare in humour, "I guess that makes sense. You were kinda unconscious…he's the one that took you to hospital."

"Oh," Hinata said weakly because that's all she could say without bursting into a thousand strands of confetti and butterfly wings.

A new image came to her mind, one of Neji still holding her, flying through trees and across fields to Konoha. Because it was Neji who carried her back. It was his arms and his warmth that permeated her senses to the point of it becoming an addiction. And yet she wasn't sure if she had really guessed it to be anyone else, to be honest. The idea of anyone besides Neji doing something like that, burdening himself with her, didn't really sit well with Hinata. Amongst the doubt and the apprehension that encumbered their relationship, there was an underlying sense of assurance that Hinata clung to. They could be at odds with each other, still coming to terms about what they meant to each other, but between the uncertainties there was always the deeper bond of family and of friendship that, to Hinata, seemed to dominate over any kind of trepidation they might ever have towards one another.

"Hey Hinata…" Tenten said and there was a seriousness to her voice that was once lacking and it made Hinata glance up in surprise; caught off guard. "Next time we're in battle…just look after yourself better, okay? It's not your fault you got hurt, but I never want to see Neji like that again. Ever. He's scary enough as it is." She kicked a loose pebble, a sombre look about her.

Hinata, yet again surprised by the brown haired girl beside her, reacted the only way she knew how to when addressed that way. "I-I'm sorry Tenten, I-" but Tenten cut her off as she waved the attempted apology away.

"Don't apologize. It's alright, really. Neji was just a little…high strung, y'know? To see his indifference explode like that…" she shook her head at the memory, partially in wonder and partially withsomething else Hinata couldn't identify, "Just look after yourself, ne?"

Hinata nodded because she did understand. She could understand how seeing something like Neji losing control could be scary. It's so uncharacteristic of him. And to think that she was the one who did that to him…the thought was both sobering and a real eye opener.


The rest of their walk consisted of a companionable silence that seemed to bother neither of them, due mainly, no doubt, to the fact that both were completely lost in their own thoughts. But when the Hyuuga estate came into view, the silence between them radiated with a static anticipation that was almost palatable.

Hinata didn't have to say anything to Tenten for her to know that Hinata was going in alone. If Neji was in there, there was going to be some talking. And Tenten had a feeling, judging from her mostly one-sided conversation with Hinata, that it was going to be one of those talks. The ones where things about the future are determined. Pretty important and exciting enough for Tenten to want to eavesdrop on. Reason one being, she did deserve a healthy amount of credit for this potential 'talk' in the first place - and she sure as hell was going to make Neji pay her back for all the damage control as well as demanding a bonus - and two, she was genuinely curious as to how things would turn out. If Hinata's constant blushing and half-hearted, stuttered answers from earlier were anything to go by, then it was sure to be interesting.

Tenten had to restrain the hand that was itching to pat her back at her extraordinary efforts in relaying everything to Hinata in a most Neji-praising way. Of course, it wasn't so hard to say it like it was. She was sure Hinata would've blushed and gone all gooey on her if she told her Neji carried her backpack home, which he didn't anyway. She did. But that was neither here nor there.

But despite the urge to eavesdrop, Tenten knew neither Neji nor Hinata would appreciate the self-acclaimed liberty. And although that would never have stopped her before, this time she found she could exercise a generous amount of self-control, provided this 'talk' turned out the way she hoped it would. She was feeling really quite kind today and used the sentiment to give Neji and Hinata the much needed privacy they deserved.

"Thank you Tenten-chan. For everything," Hinata said, bowing politely in a way that might've made Tenten blush if she hadn't thought she actually deserved that and more. An image of Neji and Hinata grovelling at her feet in praise and thanks conjured in her mind and she smiled broadly at it.

"No problem Hina-chan. Hope things work out well for you." Tenten turned to leave, her smile becoming even wider at the crimson colour that coated Hinata's face. And then a thought struck Tenten that made her laugh deviously, "Go get'em tiger!" she shouted, fist-pumping the air.

She turned the corner, disappearing from Hinata's sight before she could see the deer-in-the-headlights expression fixed on Hinata's horrified face.


It was still morning, yet Neji found that he didn't like the way his head could reason so well, or the way the recent events assaulted his brain with such fervour. Whatever truth that came with clarity was something that was all too painful for Neji to want to bear. Inebriation seemed to be a suitable substitute for the pain.

The drink in his hand was dark and the near empty contents sloshed around the cool glass like muddy water. Neji studied it a moment before bringing his hand up and tipping the sour substance into his mouth. The liquid left a fire trail down his throat and simultaneously fired a primal part of his brain. It was his third glass, and he could feel the effect of the alcohol working itsway into his blood. Usually his resistance to alcohol was exceptional, but either he had a new weakness to it or this stuff he was drinking was really good. Immediately disregarding the first option, he looked at the bottle in his other hand and chuckled. Of course he pulled Hiashi's own special bottle. What else? He'd apologize for it later of course. Profusely. But really, if it was so special to the man he shouldn't put it in just any cupboard.

While Neji was still shaking his head at the absurdity of it all, there sounded a timid knock at his door. Immediately alerted he reached out his senses to feel for the chakra signature and near blanched when he recognisedthe familiar person on the other side.

Hinata

The now empty cup in his hand threatened to break loose from his grasp and shatter into a million tiny pieces on the wooden floor. Sort of like how his composure was at that very moment.

He placed that glass and the bottle on the table and drew a shaking hand back through his hair, glancing about the room as if to find some emergency exit. Unfortunately, he already knew escape was not really an option. Hinata wouldn't have knocked unless she knew he was here. And there was only one door with her occupying the other side and a window that creaked when you opened it too far. He cursed himself that he hadn't fixed it sooner, but back then he didn't think he'd need a reason to have a window in his bedroom that opened silently. Covert operations were not really his style. He was silent enough without the extra effort of well-oiled windows needed.

Except, obviously, when it counted the most. Like now.

His panic was overtaken by an emotion he couldn't identify, he hastily named it irritation. He directed it with a glare at the door on the other side of the room. The glare only intensified when the timid knock repeated itself. The inconvenience at only having one door was partially to blame. For the majority, though, the 'irritation' stemmed from the fact that Hinata was knocking on his door. Hinata was knocking on his door. The same Hinata who'd wormed her way into his closed off heart and refused to be pushed out of it. The same Hinata that he saw not mere hours ago, kissing one very disagreeable blue eyed, sunshine haired menace. The same Hinata that formed the very reason why he was moping in his room with a very rare, very expensive, very not-his bottle of sake trying to drown his sorrows in the most uncharacteristic way possible for him.

Neji heard a muffled mumble from the other side and it took all his strength not to let out a chocked noise at the well of emotions that that voice created in him. The hurt and the rejection that was temporarily blunted thanks to the alcohol, attacked him again with a renewed vigour.

"Neji, may I come in?" Hinata said, her voice muffled by the barrier of the door.

Come in? Neji thought with a start, of course not! He gulped as he walked over to the door with hesitant steps and placed a sweating palm on the frame. He pushed it open ever so slightly, unveilinga demure looking Hinata. Her fingers were laced together in front of her,her eyes large and beautiful staring up at him before darting back to her hands.

"I'm sorry if I interrupted something," she said quietly, "but I wanted to s-see you before you left for somewhere…"

Neji sighed, running another hand that he had to forcibly stop from shaking through his hair. He nodded, not trusting himself to say anything, and pushed the door open wider.

He didn't know what to make of this appearance. He didn't know what to make of anything concerning Hinata, really, but her visiting was making the least sense of all. Was she here to…confide in him? But why would she do that? Surely she has some idea of…whatever it was they had going on. She would know that he didn'tlike the idea of her and Naruto being together. He'd have nothing polite to offer her on the subject.

In fact, he was very much feeling like he wanted to punch something right now thanks to the emotions that threatened to overwhelm his senses. Justlooking at Hinata was hard, seeing those small, soft hands and remembering them entwined with Naruto's. Seeing her face and picturing those lips up against Naruto's. The images assaulted him like a hammer beating against his skull, painful and distressing. But all of that needed to be contained right now because he couldn't let Hinata see him like that. He couldn't let her be the reason for another emotional meltdown. Again. God…what was she turning him into?

He turned away from her and walked into the room, expecting Hinata to follow. He just wanted to get this over and done with. He heard the door click shut and turned back around to face Hinata, desperately trying to ignore the foolish impulse to reach out to her and grip her in a vice hold. Maybe to shake some sense into her, maybe to hold her close and never let her go, or maybe to vent out his frustration on her, he wasn't sure what, but he fisted his hands and held them tightly by his side, refusing his arms any movement at all, as much for her sake as his.

"You didn't come to see me at the hospital," Hinata whispered, so quietly that Neji had to strain to hear it. His eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"I was there until five this morning. You weren't awake yet." He said carefully, watching Hinata's reaction. Her cheeks flamed slightly and her fingers fumbled, eyes darting here and there, everywhere except at Neji. And while that was interesting, it was not enough to quell the beast of raging emotions still locked inside of him. "And besides," he said, venturing further, "I didn't think I needed to. Naruto showed up, didn't he?"

Hinata made a sound of surprise, "N-Naruto? You knew he was there? D-did you…did you see him?" Neji pursed his lips and his nails dug into his palm, threatening to break the skin. But before Neji could answer the affirmative, Hinata shook her head slightly, training a steadier, determined gaze on him. "I mean, yes," she said, "Naruto came to visit me this morning. That's…that's sort of what I wanted to talk to you about."

Ah. And here comes the confession. What he was going to do with it, though, was entirely unknown to Neji. The nails biting against his palm told him it was not going to be anything virtuous. It seemed like the rapid beating of his heart shookthrough his entire being, shaking the self-control from him like an autumn tree shedding its leaves. It left him all too easily and, like an autumn breeze, the added influence of the alcohol blew it away from his grasp with a swift sweep; brushing the leaves away forever.

A breathy laugh escaped her mouth and Neji was put slightly on edge. Her gaze was steady and calm, something he very rarely saw in Hinata and something that he was not at all expecting to see now. "Years ago," she said, smiling softly in a way that had Neji grasping at the loose ends of his self-control, "I would never have pictured myself here. In this room. With y-you. But over the years and especially these…these months…" she paused and Neji saw that familiar uncertainty enter her eyes. She shook her head though and carried on. "You've become so much m-more to me. I will never forget our friendship. It is one of my most precious bonds…" she trailed off, but Neji had missed that last part. He had finished listening at the word 'friendship'.

Friendship. Oh how he hated that word. How it grated against his wire-thin patience and unsteady nerves. It took all of his willpower not to cringe.

"And when you saved me from that Iwa-nin, I never got to thank you." She smiled gentlyto herself "I thought it was Naruto that saved me at first. I thought it was Naruto whobrought me back to Konoha. But Tenten told me that it was you. I think I'm…glad…about that."

The small amount of respite that came with Hinata acknowledging him was slim at best. Despite the fact that she knew, he still had that reservation stemming from the simple truth that she had kissed Naruto. She had turned to him despite the fact that Neji saved her. If she said she was glad about it, the only reason Neji could fathom for that would be that Hinata is just being Hinata, someone who'd say anything to keep someone else happy. Someone who would twist the truth of a matter just so that he might have a moment of glee.

One thing he was confused about, though, was why she'd say something like that now. Neji was so sure that she was building herself up to confessing her true feelings. The ones she had tried to ignore, the ones she even tried employing Neji's help to forget. If so then buttering him like this would surely make the hurt of the confession even worse. Didn't she know that?

He sighed heavily and Hinata stared at him with a measure a curiosity and something else that Neji might've named hope, if he hadn't known the truth of the situation. He shuffled his weight and pulled his fist closer to his sides.

"Did Tenten tell you that Naruto killed the Iwa-nin?" he said. His jaw clenching in exasperation.

The slight, nearly inaudible intake of breath from Hinata told Neji, no, Tenten failed to mention it to her.

"I didn't-…no. Tenten didn't tell me that. But I think I already knew. Hiseyes were red…I figured." She stared off somewhere past Neji, "Naruto… he would do a lot for his friends. For us."

For you, Neji re-worded silently.

"That's what I've always admired about him. His selflessness. His determination. And yet even after all these years, it seems he's only just noticing me. As in me." Hinata gripped the sleeve of her shirt and continued on, "and I think that's thanks to you. You've made me into someone worth seeing. And I just wanted to tell you-"

"I know." Neji said, cutting her off quickly because with each word she uttered, it drove him closer to the edge. He was standing precariously close to the precipice of his self-control, his temper flaring at the hurt her words created.

"You know?" Hinata whispered, her face glowing with a happiness that Neji despised. It was clear she had made her choice, and he wasn't it. Did she know that it hurt him like a physical wound? Was it for nothing that he endured loving her the way he did?

And all of a sudden he wasn't on the precipice anymore. He was over it. He unclenched his hand and felt the stiff fingers flex.

"Of course I know! Everyone knows!" he said, the anger laced in his words like venom.

Hinata gasped in shock, unprepared for his sudden outburst. "B-but I don't understand." She stuttered, taking a tentative step towards Neji that he countered by taking one back. "I thought you'd be…p-pleased."

"Does it look like I'm pleased to you, Hinata?"

"Well, no but-I thought we could talk abo-"

"We're done talking." Neji's legs hit the edge of his bed, stopping his backward progress. Hinata, though, was still taking small, hesitant steps towards him.

"Neji please. I don't understand." she was an arm's length away now and she reached a hand out, making Neji flinch back. He regretted it instantly when he saw the unshed tears in her eyes. Her hand came to a rest on his arm, he could smell her sweet scent and feel her uneven breaths against his skin. It was all torture to him, knowing she was so close and yet so excruciatingly far away.

"Hinata don't," he warned, his voice low. He gripped her wrist tightly, "don't make this harder for me. I can't…I can't do this."

"Can't?" Hinata whispered, the disappointment clear in her voice, "But what about what I said?"

Neji laughed a scornful laugh, throwing her wrist away from him and making a move to go past her towards the door that was too far away. "What does that matter now?" His shoulder brushed against hers as he passed but Hinata was quick to move.

"Wait, Neji!"

She pulled him back, twisting him towards her so that he was facing the wall, her hand gripping his shirt. He was so close to her that he could see the hairs on her shoulders stand, and he snapped.

Some primal part of him reacted, Neji recognised the feeling. He knew that he was in a dangerous place, but there was little he could do. Being so close to her like this, everything about her overwhelmed him to the point where he couldn't take it anymore.

Unthinking, his hand sliced through the air. It travelled too fast and so wildly that Neji was all but unaware of its course. He felt his hand meet a hard surface with a loud crack! breaking it with the aid of chakra. Plaster and pieces of the wall crumbled around his now lodged hand and fell to the floor; Neji could feel small shoots of pain from the palm of his hand and his brain registered the trickling of blood coming from there.

And then he realised what he'd just done because right there, not inches from his hand, was Hinata's face.

It was right. There.

The repulsion was overwhelming; the shock paralyzed him so that he couldn't move. Hinata was shaking; he could feel the shock and the fear rolling off her in waves. She wasn't weeping, but Neji could just see the tears on the metaphoricalhorizon. And sure enough, when her panicked eyes looked up at him, they were filled with the type of hurt and betrayal that riddled him not seconds ago.

He watched with his own special horror as the water gathered in her misted, glassy eyes. Her lip trembled slightly, and then a single tear trailed down her exposed cheek and he could bear the pain no longer.

"I-I'm…I'm…-" he mumbled, jerking his hand out of the wall awkwardly, making more debris fall to the floor. He backed up on shaking legs all the way to the door and ripped it open. His exit made clear, he turned and fled into the empty hallway.

He spared no backward glance for her, afraid that he might turn around and comfort her. That's the last thing she'll want from him. No amount of comfort would atone for what he'd just done. So once again he found himself running, running through wide, winding corridors of the Hyuuga main house with no real destination in mind, just knowing that he couldn't get himself farther away enough from the girl crying in his room.


AN/: Neji, Neji, Neji. What have you done...-.- I must say, though, I had the most fun writing this one. (Yes, Dazy is a cruel, cruel person...I think we can safely assume that much by now...)

Feedback is welcomed with hugely open arms! like, really really huge ones. ^^