…….hi everyone…….um……the apology is at the bottom of this chapter…..yea…..
I want to thank all the fantastic, kick-ass, incredible reviewers who encouraged me to pick this story back up. You guys are amazing. This chapter in dedicated to all of you.
EbonyS2, AnimeSiren, CommandoDude, selle18, Kuu-sama, Nerva al' Thor, Death's-Captive, kakashisgurl, Misoporkramen, LanaPapaya, loujane14, DemonChild6, Snowjay-chan, DPL, Lady Dusk –Raku- , SaSuKe'sGaL, Kichou, NehiHina Fan, Pinkpen, j rose, and –x- Taylor –x-.
And so, we continue our saga, for I have updated, to quote the awesome reviewer DPL, "for great justice."
A Caged Bird's Love – Chapter Eight
After running for nearly three hours straight, Hinata untied her hitai-ate from its place around her neck and refastened it around her forehead. A wind had picked up and was blowing her hair everywhere, making sight difficult.
Making sure the knot was secure, she directed her concentration on Neji's back as he lead the way, picking out footholds in the unsteady environment.
They were following the river until it reached the mountains, Neji had told her, until they were in the Snow Country. From there on in, they would have to be on constant guard, watching for their targets.
Hinata's hands shook slightly as she thought of the challenge they were about to face. She had been on plenty of missions over the years, but never one quite as dangerous as this. Five elite missing-nin, with unknown abilities……She shuddered.
Neji had his Byaakugan activated, scanning the land ahead but also keeping part of his attention on the kunoichi behind him. So far, Hinata been keeping up with him, and showed no signs of tiring. He had slowed up his pace a bit in comparison to this morning, but they were still going at a respectable tempo, though perhaps not as quick as he would have gone if he had been with Lee, or Tenten.
The mountains that stood in the way of their goal were definitely much closer than they had been, the day was drawing to an end and Neji had expected to reach them within the day. Maybe if they went a bit faster……but he didn't want to stress Hinata.
"Ano…..Neji-nii-san? D-didn't you say we were supposed to get to the mountain range today? Should w-we speed up?" Her soft voice filtered through the silence, as though reading his mind.
Neji glanced over his shoulder and inwardly smiled at the sight of her hitai-ate tied around her forehead. The woman in back was nothing like the Hyuuga Hinata of the past. This was a warrior. And he had forgotten that.
Idiot, she's not going to break. You're handling an extremely capable kunoichi like a freaking china doll. The rank of chuunin isn't just for show, she can more than handle a faster pace…You've underestimated her. Again. This really seems to be a reoccurring theme in your life right now, doesn't it?
His cheeks flushed slightly with shame, unnoticed by Hinata, thankfully. "Yes, that would be a good idea. Forgive me."
Forgive him for what? Hinata rubbed the back of her neck, one hand going to her hair tie, where it loosely held her raven locks in place. With one quick tug her hair was released, before quickly captured once more in a tighter horse tail at the base of her neck. Have I said something wrong?
Ahead of the kunoichi, Neji was picking up the pace, settling into a rhythm he was more comfortable in. If they both kept at this rate, they would most certainly make it to the base of the mountains by nightfall. There they could make camp and wait out the night, take stock of materials and attempt to formulate a plan. Entering enemy territory was always a tricky operation. Strategies could fall apart in an instant, especially in the case of an ambush.
The remaining light of day passed in silence, Neji letting his body lapse into autopilot, the cogs of his mind working furiously, devising and rejecting multiple stratagems, scenarios playing out before him. Hinata kept her distance from him unchanged, staying three steps away at all times, even as her breath began to come harder. She struggled to keep her rasping pants quiet, relived when Neji appeared to not have noticed.
The mountains were now visible to the unattended eye, and details were thrown into sharp relief as they traveled closer with a determined celerity. Hinata concentrated her Byaakugan on scanning the mountain base for possible areas of refuge. Unfortunately, the stone and gravel was giving way to gritty soil as they traveled closer, so they could not use that method of cover. A few tough, scraggily trees had dared grow in this tundra, claiming irregular plots of land along the mountain side and surrounding. That would have to do; there really was no helping it.
When the female Hyuuga speed up to come even with Neji, he caught the change of pace and looked around, coming out of whatever state he had previously lost himself in. "Something wrong, Hinata-sama?"
Hinata pushed an extra surge of strength into her last jump, now running side-by-side with the young man next to her. She nodded, deactivating her Byaakugan. "There isn't much cover up ahead, just some trees. The rocky terrain stops about 500 meters from here. Should we continue and make camp closer to mountain?"
As she spoke, Neji slowly surveyed the land around them. Hinata was right. There wasn't much shelter near the approaching mountain range. But he did want to reach them by nightfall, seeing as any extra time saved on traveling could help. As far as he knew, no one lived any where within range, so they were not in danger of ambush, unless of course their targets crossed the mountains, which was unlikely. However, "unlikely" was not part of a ninja's vocabulary. There was always a chance. And Hyuuga Neji had never been one to take bets. Even so, his answer was reluctant.
"No, it would be safer to stop, I suppose. Camping near the mountain wouldn't be safe without reasonable cover, and both of us need to sleep tonight….." he trailed off, hair flopping in front of his eyes, obscuring them. Hinata began to nod in understanding, but realized that he probably couldn't see her.
"Yes, that is a good idea."
Their pace gradually slowed, and Hinata spotted a clearing in the rock that would both keep the brutal wind away and also keep them out of sight. As they came to rest, her leg muscles cried out in protest, sending a dull, throbbing pain up and down her thigh. Hinata hid her grimace, lightly rest one rest against her leg. She summoned a bit of chakra to her fingertips, tranfering it to her muscle. Relief soon followed, through only temporarily.
Neji called up a chakra fire again, a real one would send up smoke. They might as well let off fireworks and emergency flares to tell anyone within visible distance where they were. Shadows danced mockingly across the ground and rock, casting an unnatural glow over their belongings and faces. Hinata slipped off her knapsack and sat next to it, near the fire. With the sun set, the land was quickly cooling, and the wind howling overhead was doing nothing to improve this.
She retrieved a blanket from her pack, draping it around her shoulders. The fire was lulling her into a comfortable trance when the sudden presence of someone next to her made the girl squeak and nearly jump five feet into the air. Further examination revealed a rather amused Neji, smirking slightly and sitting next to her. Right next to her. Close. Dear god……
"Did I scare you, Hinata-sama?" His amused baritone reached her ears. Hinata squeaked indignantly again.
"O-of course not, you just sur-….surprised me. A little bit."
A quiet snicker. "Just a little bit?"
"Yes!" she said firmly, piqued. Was Neji teasing her?
The firelight reflected in his fair eyes, glittering with laughter. "Well, if you're sure, then."
Hinata huffed and turned back to the fire, not dignifying him with a response. They lapsed into a comfortable silence, until…
"…..You're making fun of me, aren't you?"
Neji grinned lopsidedly, making the girl's heart flutter. "Why, yes, I suppose I am. How observant of you to point out."
She scowled mockingly, scrunching her small nose up at him and sticking out her tongue. The little voice that lived inside of Neji's mind snickered.
She did not just do that. Hinata. Sticking out her tongue. Hinata. Hyuuga Hinata. Formerly shy, quiet, nice. Ha.
……that was adorable.
He grinned again, reaching out to tug her nose. She sputtered and knocked his hand away, laughing until his deep chuckle joined in. Hinata smiled and drew her knees to her chest, circling them with her hands. "I like this. Being out here, with you, Neji-san. It' nice, being away from the main house."
Neji turned his head, studying her face. She was smiling softly, calmly, the firelight illuminating her features, pale skin glowing softly, raven hair shining. If angels existed, he thought, this is what they would look like.
Dude. You know all that "opportune moment" shit everyone talks about? Whelp, I think this is it. Now or never, bud.
"Hinata." A soft whisper made the girl look up. Her eyes were immediately captured by his once more, emotions flowing so strongly through them, emotions Neji never imagined himself having. She opened her mouth to speak, no sound came out. His eyes were holding her like a net, longing, tenderness, desire….love.
"Hinata….." The words came out in a rasping whisper, as he extended on hand, cupping her cheek, thumb softly stroking her cheekbone. Hinata slowly closer her eyes and leaned into his touch just so slightly, an inaudible sigh of air escaping her lips. Neji leaned closer, carefully, gradually, until he could feel her hot breath on his lips.
"Neji……" He caught her murmur, barely. Their noses brushed, he could see her every eyelash….
"We….we shouldn't….," Hinata breathed, keeping her eyes closed, inching her own hand over Neji's, her delicate one grasping his callused fingers.
"No," He said softly. "We shouldn't", before lowering his lips onto hers.
He moved his mouth to firmly cover hers, nothing like his kiss the previous night. Her lips were amazing soft, a velveteen smoothness that he relished, heart pumping furiously in his chest as Hinata slowly began to respond, moving her lips against his.
Hinata found within herself enough mind power to form coherent thoughts as Neji kissed her, vaguely wondering who had said that you see fireworks during your fist kiss. Well, whoever they were, they were lying, they should have something about the feelings. Her lips were of fire, and she pretty sure her whole face was as well, nerves synapses firing wherever he touched her.
She shyly kissed him back, unsure how to move. His sigh of contentment told her what was she was doing was right, as she brought her free hand up to grasp the front of his shirt.
Neji smirked against her mouth, undoing her hair tie, letting the silky locks twine around his fingers. He lightly traced Hinata's bottom lip with his tongue, pushing forward slowly when her lips parted slightly in surprise. He savored her taste, clean, clear, like cold spring water flavored with mint. Hinata moaned softly as he proceeded to probe her mouth, steadily, sensuously.
Regretfully, Neji pulled back slightly, leaving Hinata flushed and breathing rather heavily. He smiled and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, knuckles bruashing her cheek. If it was even possible, Hinata's face became redder, and she ducked her head slightly, bangs hanging in front of her eyes. All capabilities of speech seemed to have left her for the present.
Wait……was that wrong? Should I be apologizing? If she felt pressured…I shouldn't have taken advantage of her like that…The thoughts swirled in Neji's mind, accompanying by the sick feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach.
"H-…Hinata-sama…..Please, I shouldn't have, I apologi-"
"Don't," Hinata whispered, not lifting her head. "Don't apologize."
"It was my fault, I shouldn't have assumed, I shouldn't have taken advanta-"
"I said, don't." Neji stopped mid-sentence, not sure of how to respond.
"But really, I must…"
Hinata raised her head, still blushing, to meet Neji's eyes squarely, if nervously. Whe she spoke, there was a audible tremor, but her stutter had vanished.
"You…should not apologize, because….you have nothing to feel sorry for." She smiled softly at him, reaching forward to brush her lips against his lightly, a ghost of kiss. She promptly turned positively crimson and ducked her head again, firelight shining off her hair.
Neji's mind had short-circuited at her words, but a grin gradually worked its way over his features. The feeling of anxiety vanished; replaced with a tenderness and passion he didn't know he had in him. He reached out, arms wrapping Hinata to his chest, burying his face into her hair, inhaling deeply the scent of lavender.
Hinata squeaked when he pulled her into a strong embrace, but smiled as she wrapped her own hands around his waist, embracing him as well. When his grip loosened slightly, she tilted her head upwards to be met with another searing kiss that stole her breath away. Again.
When he released her once more, Hinata had gone red again, muttering embarrassedly under her breath. Neji smirked and decided he could definitely get used to this. But as much as he would like to continue "this", they did have to sleep. He wrestled his bedroll from the recesses of his pack and spread in out, taking Hinata down with him as he lay back. She shifted a bit in surprise against his chest, face still red, before sighing contentedly and settling with her hands lightly holding his shirt.
Neji waited until her breathing evened with sleep before allowing himself to drift off into uneasy slumber, already worried for what the next day would bring.
That was so cheesy, Velveeta would be put to shame. Ah well. Hope you guys liked it. Onto the apologizing.
oh my god. Guys, I am so so so sorry about the late update. (repents profusely) I have absolutely no excuse other than, well, life. Which decided to happen as soon as school started up again. Funny how it does that. Very sorry. Chapter updates will be coming much more regularly now, since I have the rest of the story laid out. (for a procrastinator like me, this is very good). Thank you so much for being so patient, guys.
And this is the first intimate scene I have ever written (as in ever ever ever), so while flames will be used to fuel my imaginary woodstove, any constructive criticism you might have would be appreciated more than you know. So don't forget to review. Thanks, and till next time!