CHAPTER 3:

PROMISES

A/N: Thank you for everyone who has read this story this far. Thanx a lot and enjoy the story! Oh and sorry if this chapter is a little weird. Sigh I was at a big writer's block. I'm sorry.

"Hinata-sama."

Hinata opened her eyes weakly. "N-Neji-niisan…" Her eyes had turned sore.

"Your eyes. They' red."

Hinata rubbed her eyes. "R-Red? I-I wonder why." She lied.

"You were crying last night. I saw you."

"I-I…" she sighed. "I was…I'm sorry."

"You're a disgrace to the Hyuugas you know." Neji said coldly. He remembered what Hiashi told him last night. It was the truth. Neji thought to himself.

"I know. I-I'm very weak." Hinata crouched her knees to her face. "An embarrassment to the Hyuugas."

Neji smirked. Hinata was weak. She didn't deserve to be in the Hyuuga clan. He told himself. She was a disgrace, an embarrassment. She didn't deserve to be in the Main House. I should've been in there! Not her! Neji became angry. He slammed his fist on the wall.

"N-Neji-niisan. Are you okay?"

Neji glared at his cousin. He hated when she would act so innocent. He hated it! "Stop it." He told her coldly. "Stop acting so innocent."

"U-um…I'm sorry, Neji-niisan."

Neji sighed. He couldn't get angry at Hinata. She was…helpless right now. He shouldn't get angry at her. "Forget it." Neji said, walking towards the window. He pushed the windows out, letting some air in.

"Neji-niisan. Is something bothering you?"

Neji took a breath. "…no." he turned around and looked at Hinata. A gentle gush of wind blew Hinata's hair away from her face and showed a big bruise on her cheek. "Hinata-san." He walked up to her and gently put his finger on the cheek. "You're hurt."

Hinata winced a little. "N-No…I'm not. Really." She pulled away. "Don't worry about me, Neji-niisan."

"Hinata." Neji mumbled. "Um…how's your leg?"

"It's…okay. It's still hurt if that's what you mean but." She pulled her injured leg out from the blanket. "It was bleeding real hard yesterday."

A jolt of guilt hit Neji. Even though he hated his cousin, he still cared for her sometimes. It was his fault that Hinata was hurt like this. If only I had protected her. Neji shook those thoughts out of his mind. "It was…my fault." His eyes wandered to the ground where he would not see Hinata's pain in her eyes.

"No, Neji-niisan! It's not your fault. Please, d-don't blame yourself. Please…" Hinata begged. "I could never let you blame yourself because of something that happened to me."

Neji looked up and saw Hinata. She didn't look so painful this time. She looked…worried, worried about me even though I couldn't protect her. "Hinata. Anyways-" he quickly turned around as he felt his face turning red. "Your father told me to protect you. That is why I came early this morning to see you. He wants me to protect you from the attacks."

"Neji-niisan, you don't need to protect me." pink circles formed on her cheeks.

"Well, it's orders from Hiashi-sama. I cannot go against them."

"It must be burdensome to protect me, Neji."

Neji could sense Hinata was feeling horrible now. "No, it's not burdensome."

"N-Neji, please." Hinata began blushing. "I'm okay."

"Don't worry, Hinata." He said. "I'm determined to do what Hiashi-sama says."

"O-Okay. I understand, then. I guess I shouldn't provoke my father by telling me to not be protected. He doesn't want anything to happen to the Hyuuga heir." She sighed. "W-Well, my leg doesn't hurt that bad." She got out of bed. "I'm going to take a walk."

"Fine by me." Neji said, following her out of the room. When the two reached the outside, a smile formed on Hinata's lips.

"It's really beautiful in Konoha isn't it?" she stared at the clear blue sky that smelled of trees and food. She also listened to the sounds in Konoha.

"Yeah, I guess it is." Neji agreed. Today was very beautiful.

"Neji-niisan. So, how's Tenten and Lee-san doing?"

"Good." He replied.

"How about Gai-sensei?"

"Always doing competitions with Kakashi-sensei. Honestly, that man is an embarrassment."

"Neji. Don't say that. I mean, he's really determined. I admire that. Besides, he's really strong too. It reminds me of…o-of…"

"Naruto-kun?"

"Huh? U-um, yeah."

"You told me that once. That you admired Naruto's determination. That he was strong."

"Yeah…I guess I did." Hinata said, turning red. "So, who's been attacking Konoha?"

"Orochimaru's subordinates. Those bastards. I hear the ninja's are gonna be extra careful now."

"I see." Hinata said quietly.

"Naruto. He's gotten strong hasn't he?" Neji said out of the blue.

"Yes. He's always been strong." Hinata giggled. "Naruto-kun improves a lot."

Neji rolled his eyes. He could tell Hinata's thoughts were all on Naruto. "You must really like him."

"Whaa..! No! N-Neji-niisan. Not with that again." Hinata shook her head as her face turned a light pink intensely

"Neji! Stop being such a big bully to you shy little cousin!" laughed a voice behind them.

Neji turned around to see Tenten. "Hey."

Tenten smiled at the two. "Hello Hinata. Has Neji been mean to you?"

"She's not a child, Tenten." Neji said.

"Aw, c'mon, Neji. I'm not treating her like a child." Tenten smiled. "Besides, she doesn't mind, right?"

"No. I don't mind." Hinata smiled back.

Tenten laughed. "See Neji. Your cousin is so much better than you."

"Whatever." Neji smirked, his face turning a light pink. Hinata noticed that and smiled. I've never seen him like that before. He and Tenten have some kind of bond. It's good for him.

"Neji. Are you going to train with Lee-san and me tomorrow?" Tenten asked. She had hoped that he did.

"I'm not sure." Neji said. "I might have some business to take care of."

"Business? What business?"

"I have to protect Hinata. Orders from Hiashi-sama."

"Aw, Neji. Hinata, doesn't need to be protected like a little duckling all the time. You have to trust her sometimes you know! She's a strong girl." Tenten remarked.

"I can't." Neji replied.

"Pwetty pwease Neji! Pwease?" Tenten stared into Neji's pearl ones, trying to become as sympathetic as ever.

Neji averted his eyes. "Look. I want to train but I can't. I have to protect Hinata and that must come first before what I want. Period. Let's go Hinata." He began to walk in a direction, leaving Tenten behind.

Hinata ran after Neji and caught his shirt. "N-Neji-niisan." Her voice lowered and her eyes wandered to the floor. "Y-You…"

Neji stood in the same spot. "What…?"

"You lied…" her voice was squeaky as if she was ashamed to let out those words that she wanted to say.

"I lied? What are you talking about, Hinata-sama?"

"You said protecting me wasn't a burden. But Neji-niisan, having to put me first before what you want is…is becoming a burden."

Neji suddenly noticed it was true. He hadn't meant to say that. He merely only wanted to tell Tenten what his priorities was but in a way, it was the truth. He had to admit himself; protecting Hinata was kind of a burden to him.

"If you don't want to protect me, it's okay. You don't have to."

Neji turned around to face Hinata. "Hinata…"

"Really." She looked up at Neji and flashed a warm smile. "Practice with you teammates Neji. There may not be a tomorrow. Spend time with them. Do something you want to do."

"I can't." Neji felt as if those were the words he could only say.

"If you're protecting me for otou-san, then do this for me. Practice and have fun with your teammates."

"I…I can't. I have to protect you." Neji answered.

Hinata touched his arm. "Sometimes you are too kind. Have fun, Neji-niisan. Just say yes."

Neji felt like an idiot. He was going away from his promise from Hiashi-sama but this did feel like a burden on him. He wanted to train with Tenten and Lee-san. He wanted to do things freely without the thought of protecting the one he 'hated'. He wanted to but couldn't. He knew he couldn't but Hinata was begging him to. So he did it. "Yes." Were his exact words. "I'll go then."

"Good." Hinata smiled happily. "I'll be okay on my own. Ah…you know what. I'm feeling a little tired." She yawned. "Let's go back now."

The two went back and as Hinata fell asleep, Neji decided to go home. He trained a little by himself. The image of Hinata smiling kept coming into mind. Why did she want him to go so badly? Did she want to rid of him so badly? Or was it something else? Was it that she wanted him to be happy? He imagined Hinata smiling at him warmly again, this time he didn't feel annoyance or hate come into his mind. His face turned a light red. Hinata…sama… Neji put his hands on his face which was beginning to turn warm.

He decided to head home as night was coming. Then the something hit him, Sometimes you are too kind. Those were the words Hinata told him. Kind? Was it the word? He thought to himself. I am not kind. Hinata, you just don't know the pain and hate I feel for you sometimes…Forgetting what he felt while trainging, Neji put that thought back into his mind. I hate Hinata…

A/N: Okay. I'm very sorry for the mood swings of Neji. It's weird huh? Im sorry if you guys are troubled by this; I'll say I am. Lol. Okay, so, first off I want to thank my reviewers.

Saskie

Sana

miz

Rakusu-Yamato

M.o.O.o.S.e.S

Gamefwreak

Little wolf blossom

Shygurlie

Lems

Masked-Ninja

Next, in case you guys were wondering why I suddenly updated (I noe, weird. Its not like anybody cares but this is for the ppl who are just curious. Lol. You don't have to read this) Okay well, I was reading another Nejihina story, it was a great story by the way, and the author hadn't updated her story for a long time and left the story with a BIG cliffhanger. And then, I was so angry and sad (lol) that I noticed something. That was me. I hadn't updated my stories in a long time and I noticed how horrible I was. SO! I took the time to write this (even though this chapter may have seemed weird) and update. Haha. Okay.thats all. Thanx again for reading the chapter. bye-bye.