Mshinata: Hehe, I know my fan fic has some similarities to La Corda D'oro. I didn't even KNOW about the Anime until Marshie-chan told me about it. xD I really like it so far since I play the piano –sparkly eyes-. AGHHH, Code Geass R2's latest episode (episode 5) really made me cry at the end. Suzaku…I just…ugh…I'm on Lelouch's side.
Sasuke: Why?
Mshinata: BECAUSE, you're English voice actor plays Suzaku!
Sasuke: Is that why you hate him so much?
Mshinata: No…but…I don't hate him. He just…aggravates me. I hate it how his ambitions in the second season are so…I don't know…FORWARD. He acts too serious in the second season. I hate it.
Sasuke: Ah well…sounds like me. –Shrugs-
Mshinata: Hm…it does, doesn't it? Anyways, I don't think I can write more than eight pages anymore! Hehe…-sweat drops- I could when I had time, but I can't now. Probably when summer break starts, I can start writing up to thirteen pages per chapter again.
Sasuke: Mshinata doesn't own Naruto. By the way, "kouhai" is the opposite of senpai. It means "underclassman."
"What…what are you saying, Uchiha?" Neji stood up with him.
"You heard me. Don't associate with her, anymore." Sasuke said coldly again.
"Who are you to tell me what to do?" Neji snapped.
"Hn." Sasuke's lips curled into a smirk, "so you do want her to get hurt. I see how it is."
"Nani? I don't even understand what you're saying!" Neji shouted.
"Hey you two, you can take-" Sai walked in as he sighed.
"I'm taking her as my date and that's final." Neji said coldly. "You got that…Uchiha?" Neji glared at Sasuke.
"My, my…fighting over girls, aren't we?" Sai ran his hand through his hair and smirked. Neji was too irritated to be embarrassed and Sasuke…well…was emotionless as ever.
"Tch. One way or another…I'll make you two separate. You do not understand the situation at all." Sasuke said.
"You act as if I'm your kouhai." Neji replied, annoyed. The two continued to argue as if Sai wasn't even there. Sai sweat dropped.
"You may be number one, but you're still second to me." Sasuke smirked and shoved his hands into his pockets. He walked out of the door and slammed the door shut.
"Mind telling me what happened?" Sai asked after Sasuke left.
"Gomen President, but it's a secretive matter which I do not want to talk about." Neji said, closing his eyes. Sai stayed silent and had a serious expression on his face.
"Well then," Sai said, "you may leave if you wish."
"Arigato, President." Neji bowed.
"Ne Neji-kun," Sai called out to him before he left the room.
"Nani?" Neji said, not even turning around.
"You should be formal with me more often." Sai gave his infamous smile to Neji's back.
"Shut up, Sai." Neji said, irritated as he also slammed the door shut.
"Welcome home, Neji-niisan." Hinata smiled, wearing an apron as Neji entered their apartment.
"Hinata-sama." Neji greeted back.
"I'm starting on dinner, so you can do your homework or whatever." Hinata said. Even though they were rivals, they pretty much acted normal at home.
"Hai." Neji said, heading towards his room. "Hinata-sama."
"Hai?" Hinata turned back to him.
"Sasuke…he's...what is he to you?" Neji chose his words cautiously.
"Hm…" Hinata said thoughtfully, "Sasuke-kun is a very caring friend who's always unpredictable. I mean…he's so…strange." Hinata chuckled.
"I see…" Neji replied, entering his room.
"Hn." Sasuke's lips curled into a smirk, "so you do want her to get hurt. I see how it is."
That rang in Neji's head so much that his head was throbbing. He groaned and threw his bag carelessly on the ground. He dropped on his bed with his hands crossed under his head. He closed his eyes in frustration.
Hinata's father was going to be there. All those years of abuse…
He rolled on his side. He hated this so very much. It pissed him off that he had to see him again. Neji was so frustrated that he even thought it was shameful to have looked up to him.
After all…he and Hinata were the geniuses of the Hyuuga family. He sighed.
He really hated himself for being a genius…
"Ah Hinata-chan…you sure you can go through this?" Ino said, swinging her legs back and forth as she watched Hinata change into her dress. She was sitting on Hinata's bed.
"Hai. The sooner I get this over with the better." Hinata slipped on her dress. It was just a simple black dress with no sleeves with a white ribbon tied around her waist. The dress went down to her knees. It was really plain…nothing special.
"You know…we could have gone shopping together." Ino sighed.
"I'm not going to waste my money on something I might regret doing." Hinata said with a faint smile as she straightened her dress, looking in the mirror on her closet door.
"Ehh, guess you're right, ne?" Ino jumped up. "You know what you need? Earrings, bracelets, rings-"
"Iie." Hinata flatly said.
"Eh?! Why not? The lady's got to look pretty for Neji-senpai." Ino nudged Hinata. She had a slight tinge of blush on her face.
"Nani?!" Hinata scolded her.
"Ready, Hinata-sama?" Neji entered her room. She turned around. "Hina…Hinata-sama." Neji looked the other way. He was stunned by the beautiful…but plain black dress. "You look…pretty." He stumbled on the last word, because he couldn't seem to get "beautiful" out of his mouth. She blushed from embarrassment.
"Arigato. You look…pretty good." Hinata chuckled. Neji was also wearing a plain black tuxedo with a black tie. His long dark brown hair complimented his handsome features.
"That's all I get? Hn." Neji smirked. "And when I complimented you when we're rivals."
All Hinata did was smile in response.
"You two have fun, now." Ino winked as she was about to leave. "Oh Hinata," Ino gently grabbed her arm and whispered in her ear, "It'll be okay…stay calm." She smiled and left their apartment.
"Yamanaka's right." Neji said suddenly. Hinata squeaked.
"You…you heard that?!" Hinata asked, surprised.
"Like Uchiha, I have pretty good ears." Neji said calmly. "C'mon…let's go."
Sasuke kept checking his watch over and over again. Where the hell are those two?! He thought angrily.
"Not to worry." Itachi said, reading his brother's thoughts. He rested his arm on Sasuke's shoulder. "Knowing Neji-kun, they'll be here on time. Besides…we came here extra early." Sasuke scowled at Itachi. "You're just impatient. Try to learn how to be patient…will you?"
"Look at the guy who's failing college." Sasuke replied, taking his brother's arm off of him.
"Hn." Itachi replied. "Look…your logic of Hinata-chan getting hurt by being with Neji-kun is…well…weird. I don't get it at all."
"Of course, you wouldn't." Sasuke said.
"Hn. Amuse me." Itachi smirked, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Their parents were talking with the hosts of this party, so they had some time to kill.
"Neji…he's a lesser Hyuuga, isn't he? His punishments are way worse than of Hinata, a main branch family member." Sasuke replied.
"Yes…but they're geniuses of the family. They at least have to go through the same obstacles." Itachi replied.
"Yes…the reason for which…is why Neji and Hinata left the family." Sasuke said seriously. Itachi chuckled. "What's so funny?"
"Do you remember the rumors that spread in the Uchiha estates?" Itachi said amusingly.
"Somewhat…although, I always ignored them since I knew they weren't true." Sasuke said.
"I heard a very interesting one that I'll never forget. The rumor said that it was Neji-kun's idea to leave the Hyuuga family. He dragged along Hinata-chan without her consent. He was too powerful and demanding, so she had to go with him. If the rumor's true, doesn't that mean the purpose for her coming here is to come back to the Hyuuga clan and leave Neji-kun?" Itachi said.
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." Sasuke said. "Neji would never do that."
"…or would he?" A smirk crept on Itachi's face. "Think about it. Why are they rivals? Are they just rivals because Hinata-chan wants to become better at piano than him? Or is it because there's a deal that if she can defeat him, she can go back to her family?"
"You're confusing even me. Shut up." Sasuke said. "It's not true. The stupid maids at the Uchiha estate always make up nonsense. I don't believe it." Sasuke scoffed and started to walk away. "I'm going to wait outside to check for those two."
"Hn…" Itachi crossed his arms and smiled in amusement. "Then…I wonder how the Hyuuga geniuses will handle this one…"
It had been only fifteen minutes into the party and Hinata already was nervous. She took a deep breath, but it couldn't calm her nervous heart. She started to play with her fingers like she did when she was young. Neji stood by her side, looking serious and unfazed. He was calm. He looked over to Hinata.
"Calm down, Hinata-sama. I'm right here." Neji said coolly. Although, his voice had a caring sense to it. Hinata's nervousness lessened just a bit. She took another deep breath.
"Neji, Hinata." Sasuke walked towards them.
"A-ah…hello Sasuke-kun." Hinata bowed.
"Uchiha." Neji said in acknowledgement.
"Neji." Sasuke said back. Hinata stood up straight.
Everybody at the party was currently eating, talking with friends, or dancing. All of them seemed to make Neji scowl. He hated these sort of things.
"Hinata…want to dance?" Sasuke said, putting his hand out in front of her like a gentleman. Hinata blushed from embarrassment. Neji scowled.
"You know I've never been good at it…" Hinata replied, hoping Sasuke would buy it. He didn't.
"That's alright. I'll lead." He said as he held out his hand again. Hinata looked back at Neji. She was still worried but reluctantly took Sasuke's hand.
As another song came on, Sasuke put one hand down to her hip and the other holding up her hand. He led her like he said he was. It was quiet for a while until Sasuke sparked up a conversation.
"So…have you seen your father, yet?" Sasuke said quietly.
"Eh? So you know about this, too?" Hinata muttered back.
"Well…Uchiha family does include me, too." Sasuke said, still leading the dance. Hinata didn't speak for a while. "Doesn't…Neji bring you trouble?" Hinata's eyes widened.
"What…does that mean?" Hinata cautiously chose her words as she stumbled on her feet. Sasuke helped her regain her balance and continued to dance.
"You know…I kind of think…you guys being rivals…I mean…I don't want to see you getting hurt again." Sasuke said.
"I'm not a little girl anymore, Sasuke-kun." Hinata said firmly.
"I know that…but…Neji also backs you up. What happens if he's not there?" Sasuke asked in response.
"I…don't ask for his help nor do I rely on it." Hinata said strictly.
"Gomen…I said a lot of open things." Sasuke said after an awkward silence. The song stopped and Sasuke walked away. He didn't say anything after that. He left Hinata standing there…confused and…deep in thought.
"Ah Hiashi-sama," Itachi bowed, "it's very nice to see you again." He smiled politely.
"Yes well…I heard my daughter and Neji were here." He said in response, not even greeting Itachi back.
"Ah I see." Itachi kept fake smiling.
"Have you seen them anywhere?" Hiashi asked. Itachi shook his head no.
"But…I think my ototou is looking for them." Itachi said. ("Ototou" means brother. "Aniki" can also mean brother.)
"Very well then. It's been nice chatting with you, Itachi." Hiashi said as he walked away. Itachi kept on smiling until he was gone. Itachi cursed at Hiashi and continued to stand there.
"What's wrong, Hinata-sama?" Neji asked with his arms crossed as Hinata returned from dancing with Sasuke.
"Iie. It's nothing." Hinata snapped out of her thoughts. "U-um…"
"Hai, Hinata-sama?" Neji responded.
"Do you respect me…because I was supposed to be leader of the Hyuuga family?" Hinata bit her lip. Neji's eyes darkened.
"No. Why would you ask such a question?" Neji asked in disgust.
"U-um…" Hinata thought about Sasuke's words. He was exactly right, though...Neji had always been the person to back her up even though Hinata could take care of herself. "Call me Hinata."
"Eh?" Neji blinked.
"Call me Hinata." Hinata said again with a little annoyance in her voice. "And don't say you're not obliged to say my name without the suffix. We left the family together. Remember?" She slightly smiled.
"I can't do that." Neji said.
"Why not?" Hinata asked with some annoyance in her voice.
"…I feel like…I'm disrespecting you." Neji averted her gaze.
"Just…call me Hinata." She said, commanding him. He sighed and took a deep breath.
"Hinata…" Neji said awkwardly.
"Yay!" Hinata said with glee.
"Neji…does this mean you're fond of my daughter?" A familiar deep voice that had always frightened Hinata said from behind them.
"Hi-Hiashi-sama…" Neji stuttered.
"Otou-san…" Hinata said, secretly clenching her fists. "What…do you mean?"
"People who call other people by their first names without any suffixes are fond of each other. So, answer my question, Neji. Are you fond of my daughter?" Hiashi raised his brow.
"That is…" Neji started.
"You have no right to say that, Otou-san." Hinata defended. Hiashi turned his gaze to his daughter.
"You've changed…since then." Hiashi said. Hinata twitched. "You must have an idea why I'm here."
"Hai." Neji answered obediently.
"Then…let's start packing tonight and you'll move out tomorrow." Hiashi said seriously. Hinata's eyes widened. Neji didn't answer.
"O-Otou-san…" Hinata stuttered.
"It would be best. The family has missed their prodigies." Hiashi said. Hinata twitched.
"You're only going to use us as tools again…" Hinata said, her hands trembling.
"Isn't that what geniuses are for?" Hiashi raised a brow.
"You're…you're wrong!" Hinata exclaimed. All the guests of the party turned to the little argument with the Hyuuga. Neji was shocked and looked at Hinata. "You don't use people like that…it's…it's wrong!"
"Oh? Then why did you follow all of my orders when you were young?" Hiashi asked.
"I was…selfish. I wanted to defeat Neji-niisan in that way." Hinata answered quietly. "But I know now…there are other ways. I don't need you, Otou-san." Neji slightly smiled.
"Hn. And when you come crawling back to the Hyuuga clan…you'll be sorry." Hiashi said.
"I have no regrets either, Hiashi-sama." Neji said, butting in.
"You're just a lesser Hyuuga. Why should you be talking?" Hiashi said coldly.
"Because…lesser Hyuuga or not, we're all the same! That's why…we're rivals, ne? Because if we were different, we wouldn't be." Hinata said.
"Standing up for a lesser Hyuuga…that's a disgrace." Hiashi said, crossing his arms. "But I'm impressed. You've become more confident."
"I don't…need your flattery." Hinata said. "Onegai…Neji-niisan…let's go." Hinata said, her bangs covering her facial expression.
"Excuse us, Hiashi-sama." Neji said as he dragged Hinata away.
"You did the right thing, Hinata-sama." Neji said as he sat down on the edge of her bed. Hinata was lying on her bed with the covers over her except for her head.
"I know…" Hinata muttered.
"Arigato." Neji suddenly said.
"Eh? W-why…?" Hinata asked.
"You stood up for me even if…we're rivals." Neji muttered the last part.
"I wouldn't let Otou-san say that about you." Hinata said worriedly. "But I was serious," Neji gave her a confused look, "please call me Hinata from now on."
"Nani?" Neji sighed. "Fine…Hi-Hinata."
"And I'll call you Neji." Hinata smiled. "That way, it won't be so weird between us."
"…I see." Neji said as he stood up. "Well…good night…Hinata."
"Good night." Hinata said as Neji left her room. He closed her door and stood in front of it.
"Weird between us, eh?" Neji muttered to himself.
"HINATA-CHAN!!" Sakura ran in crying and surprisingly hugging Hinata. "Neji-teme didn't do anything, ne?!"
"Ohayo S-Sakura-san…u-um…no." Hinata said as Sakura let go of her. "It was…interesting." Hinata inwardly smiled. All the members of the Musical Club were gathered in the club room.
"I see, I see." Sakura smiled.
"Hinata-sa…Hinata." Neji said, suddenly appearing behind her. "You're okay, right?"
"Hai." Hinata said.
"So anyways…" Sakura said after everyone took a seat and she laid out all the pastries and tea. "We should all go to Europe for the summer! It'll be fun." Sakura said with sparkly eyes. "The guys can carry everything."
"Hey! That's not fair!" Naruto whined.
"Maybe…we should go camping like when we were little." Hinata suggested, sipping her tea.
"A place where everyone can have fun…hm…how about the beach?" Sai suggested.
"Ugh, this is hard deciding." Ino said, crossing her legs.
"Let's go somewhere dangerous and have fun!" Naruto exclaimed. Sakura grabbed a pitcher of hot tea and poured it over his head.
"Iie." Sakura said dangerously.
"Hai S-Sakura-chan…" Naruto said, shrinking in his seat. He was trying to resist the urge to scream from the hot tea. "But…you didn't have to pour hot tea all over me!" Naruto complained.
"You won't die like that. I have other plans." Sakura said, smiling innocently. Hinata sweat dropped.
"A contest." Neji said plainly.
"Eh?" Everyone except Sasuke said.
"A contest to see which idea is the best." Neji said. Hinata blinked.
"…it's obvious you're going to win, Neji-senpai." Sakura said, temper rising.
"It doesn't matter where we're going. Even if I win, I'll give the approval of the one who gets in second." Neji said.
"I agree as well." Hinata said.
They're so overconfident! Sakura, Ino, Sai, and Naruto thought.
"Ehe…Neji-senpai…so full of yourself. I WILL WIN!" Sakura said confidently, pointing at Neji.
"This is oddly familiar…except…my opponent is not saying anything." Neji sweat dropped.
"Eh?" Hinata blinked.
"I know…we'll race around the whole entire school." Sakura said.
"Eh?! But the…the school's huge!" Sai said.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious." Ino said to Sai.
"We'll be starting from this club room. Whoever wins, wins!" Sakura announced.
"You know…it's obvious that Neji and Hinata are going to win." Sasuke sweat dropped, finally speaking.
"Ehe…Sasuke-kun. Whoever said we were playing fairly?" Sakura said with beaming eyes.
To be continued…
Mshinata: Ah gomen, gomen. I haven't updated in a long time.
Sasuke: Oh gosh…and she's going to say she's too busy watching Anime.
Mshinata: I finally finished La Corda D'oro! Yay! I hope there's a second season. –Smiles-
Sasuke: I swear…when they banned Anime forever, I wonder what you will do?
Mshinata: But if they banned Anime, there will be no more fan ficcing.
Sasuke: Damn it. I forgot. –Slaps his forehead-
Mshinata: Gotcha there. –Smiles- Please give me awesome reviews. Hehe.