HI!!! I'm back for my third chapter! Since I'm swamped with work, I had a bit of writer's block . Hopefully you guys will like this chapter. Thanks for the review! Love you all!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, I'm just a fan.

"The Crane's Song"

CHAPTER 3

As the fog slowly cleared, Neji's eyes slowly traveled upward and focused on the woman's face. Oh my God… thought Neji, his eyes widening in pure recognition. Hinata-sama… that lovely face that he never forgot, the face that haunted him those four empty and bitter years.

Pale, milky eyes surrounded by a fringe of long, dark lashes, telling a mystery. Her hair, straight and long, so long that it went passed the knees and was floating on the water like dark ripples of spilled midnight ink. The woman's cheekbones were defined, emphasizing strength and determination and lips tainted with the softest pink.

"Kyaa!" cried the woman, startling Neji out of his reverie. He saw the woman dropping to her knees, trying to conceal her body with her long dark hair. You baka, you stared at her body! realized Neji as a hot flush slowly crept towards his neck, suffusing his face with color.

Neji quickly turned his back to the woman and blurted out, "Gomen-nasai. I didn't mean to stare at you." But still, in his mind's eye he could still see the sweet curves of the woman's body, making a current ran through his body. Shaking his head, Neji said, "Hinata-sama, is that you? Why are you here? We in Konoha thought you long gone! What happened to you?

The woman gently replied, "Please go back to the hut, it is cold here and I have to get dressed. I will answer your questions inside the hut. You should not be moving because you still have wounds that needed to heal… Neji-niisan."

Neji was startled as he heard the last word. Neji-niisan… Oh, how he longed to hear those words again, his heart lurched painfully. He nodded, "Alright, I will wait for you inside the hut. But you must promise me that you will not run away. I will have your word, Hinata-sama. I will not leave until you give me your word, for I know that Hinata-sama's word is her bond."

"Alright, you have my word that I will not run away. Please, go back inside the hut and get some rest. I have to get dressed." said the woman. Neji nodded again and slowly made his way back to the ramshackle hut, glancing back every now and then, as if trying to assure himself that she was still there until he was finally out of sight. The woman sighed. He still remembers the song, smiling wistfully to herself. Her mind drifted to a distant memory…

The Past

Hinata was just finished with her bath and was about to go back to her room for some sleep when she heard some noise from Neji's room, their rooms are next to each other after all. Curious, Hinata decided to take a peek inside the room to make sure Neji-niisan was alright.

She slowly pushed the door and her gaze fell on a sick Neji. Hinata quickly hurried to Neji's side and placed her palms on his forehead. So hot, thought Hinata as her mind raced with the things she needed in order to nurse Neji back to health. As she stood up to get the things she needed, she felt a hand grab her forearm in a weak grip.

She saw Neji struggling to sit up and she knelt down and helped him to sit. "Hinata-sama, why are you here? You shouldn't be coming here, you might get infected." Hinata smiled gently, "Neji-niisan, do not worry. I have decided to nurse you back to health. It is a fever and I know some medicine which will help you get well."

Neji's grip on her forearm lessened until his hands fell on the futon. He closed his eyes and swallowed with difficulty, "You want to help me, Hinata-sama? Why?" Hinata said, "Hush, Neji-niisan, this is not the time for questions. You need medicine and some rest. I will return shortly." With that, Hinata took off to her room and took jars of medicine, a sponge and a basin of cold water.

Hinata slowly walked her way back into Neji's room, her arms crammed with so many objects. She put the medicines and the basin of cold water near Neji. "Neji-niisan, you have to drink this medicine, it will help to bring the fever down." Hinata helped Neji slowly sit up to drink his medicine. Neji eyed the medicine for a moment and said slowly, "Are you okay with this, Hinata-sama? You can still back out, you know."

Hinata bristled, "Neji, if you don't drink your medicine right now, I will ram it down your throat!" Neji looked shocked at the missing 'niisan' and of the threat. He quickly drank the medicine and grimaced, "Ugh, it tastes like dirt." Hinata quickly ordered Neji to take his shirt off. "Why? What for?" asked Neji suspiciously.

"I need to sponge you. It will help bring the fever down, Neji-nii-san." emphasized Hinata, a smile playing about her lips. Neji slowly shucked off his shirt and Hinata began to sponge him off. "Hh-Hinata-sama, the water is cold." stammered Neji, shivering a bit. "Neji, it will help bring down the fever." Hinata quickly finished sponging Neji and help him into a new shirt. "There, don't you feel a bit better?" asks Hinata.

"Hmm… Hinata-sama, would you please sing for me? I really like your voice." murmurs Neji. "Wh-what?" said Hinata "What would you like me to sing?" "Your favorite song, I really love that song. Please?" replied Neji, slowly advancing to her, looking at her face.

"May I rest my head on you lap?" Hinata summoned her last vestiges of courage and said, "Alright, I will sing the song for you. And yes, you can rest you head on my lap." With that, Neji's head found its place on Hinata's lap and she began to sing softly. Neji's eyes began to droop and fell into a deep slumber.

Hinata kept singing, caressing Neji's head or hair whenever he would stir and mutter incoherent words. Her touch seemed like a soothing balm to his fevered dreams, letting Neji feel deep warmth spreading through his body. By dawn, his fever broke and Hinata sighed in relief. Neji-niisan will be okay, her last thought as she slowly lifted Neji's head from her lap onto a pillow; and as exhaustion claimed her she fell asleep next to Neji.

Hinata suddenly woke up, disoriented. "Hey! This is not my room! Where am I?" thought Hinata. Then memories suddenly flashed through her mind as she remembers that she nursed Neji back to health. She noticed a blanket covering her, still warm and emits Neji's unique scent. "Hmm, that was thoughtful of him. But where is he?" The door suddenly opened and Neji entered the room.

"Good morning, Hinata-sama. I would like to thank you for nursing me back to health." Neji said quietly. "Iie, Neji-niisan. I didn't do that much for you." said Hinata nervously, twiddling her fingers. Neji hesitated, "Hinata-sama, did I do something improper towards you? Anything at all? For I don't remember much what happened last night." "Nn-no! You just asked me to sing for you." stuttered Hinata, her face flushing as she remembers his request to rest his head on her lap. "Is that improper?"

"Thank you for covering me with the blanket, Neji-niisan." said Hinata as she slowly stood up and began to pat the wrinkles out of her clothes. "I better go, Neji-niisan. Father will be looking for me." "So, it's Neji-niisan today, eh? What happened to Neji?" asks Neji as he watch Hinata froze like terrified rabbit. "But you said you don't remember!" blurted Hinata.

"Hinata-sama, I asked if I did anything improper to you. And how can I forget the look on your face when you said Neji all the while threatening to ram my throat with your medicine." laughs Neji. "Oh." Hinata said sheepishly. Neji smiled and said, "Hinata-sama, I have a request for you, I know that it is not my place to ask but still I hope that you will do it for me."

"What is it, Neji-niisan?" her curiosity captured, Hinata looked at Neji. "Is it my imagination or is Neji-niisan's face is getting a bit red?" "Hinata-sama, I would like to ask that every time I would come back from a mission, please sing that song for me." said Neji. Hinata stared at Neji, probing deeply, making Neji blush. "Why, Neji-niisan? Is it that important to you?" asks Hinata quietly.

Neji squared his shoulders and said seriously, "Hinata-sama, your voice and song has warmed my heart. I know from now on that every time I will go to a mission, it is you that will keep me alive, not the Hyuuga name and glory." Hinata blushed, "Alright, Neji-niisan. I will do it. But, you have to promise me that you have to bring me flowers from the places that you have visited. I would like to have it for my collection. That is all I ask."

"Thank you, Hinata-sama." Neji bowed to Hinata. "Hinata-sama, I have a mission today. But I will come back after two weeks. I will wait until then for your song." With that he offered his arm to her and they walked to have breakfast together. Later that afternoon, Neji left with his team for a D-ranked mission. The next day, Hinata left with Kiba and Shino for their own mission. Then it happened…

Present time

Shaking her head to cease her musings, Hinata quickly put on her clothes and shoes to protect herself from the bitter bite of snow and wind. She slowly trudged back to the hut, pondering on what to say to Neji. Hinata was startled when she saw herself already at the entrance of the hut. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Hinata opened the door and said "Neji-niisan, I'm back."

To be continued…