Chapter 2: The Sands of Time

He never hated his position in his family more than he did now. They loved each other; they really did love each other. Yet there was always that line that they could never cross. It would be death for him and who knows what kind of punishment would be waiting for her. And so they would have to continue being two tortured souls. She would have to go on believing that she was a vile and sordid creature for wanting him, for loving him. And he would have to go on with life knowing that though they shared a mutual love, he would never be able to tell her, keeping it locked deep inside of his heart. Remembering forever, that it was him that pulled away from her, that it was him that would have to look regretfully back and wonder what would have happened if he gave into the love that could have blossomed between them.

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"Hinata-san, I am very sorry for you loss." The young seventh Hokage solemnly said to her. She closed her eyes and nodded her head in acknowledgement and acceptance. Wrinkles lined her mouth and webbed at her eyes, her dark hair streaked with gray. Her granddaughter tightened her arm around her shoulders in support, but Hinata did not need any. She was not in pain nor was she hurt, merely numb, like she had been most of her life. Her pale eyes lifted to an older man in the back of the line of people who were giving their condolences to her. His hair, too, was littered with gray though still remained long, and his eyes, like always, held his emotions and thoughts away from anyone who gazed at him. She was never able to read him.

"Hyuuga-san…" a young medic-nin softly said, "I know that your…late…husband is waiting for you in Paradise." Hinata again closed her eyes and nodded her head. She did not know if that statement was true, but she did know that when she would pass, she would no go to Paradise. People like her did not go to places like that once they died. It seemed like hours for the line to dwindle down until he was before her. She lifted her eyes and gazed into his, wondering. He remained silent, he would not say he was sorry her husband was dead; he had promised long ago to never lie to her again. So he merely bowed his head before moving on. She, too, stayed quiet; they were never ones of many words anyways though there always were unspoken ones between them.

It was months after the funeral until she saw him again. They were too old to be walking around much or spending time in the cold atmosphere. But there he was, resting on a secluded bench hidden within the vast gardens of the estate. He was breathing with difficulty due to the fact that he refused to use any sort of cane or crutch to help him when he was walking. But he was always stubborn like that, always needed to show that he was strong, never revealing any kind of weakness. His eyes lifted to her, the look in them telling her that he had already known it was her before she had turned the bend. He always was the one able to recognize chakra signatures faster and better than she.

"Neji-nii-san." She said, bowing her head slightly. She watched him put more effort in trying to appear normal before he, too, bowed his head to her.

"Hinata-sama." He acknowledged. Silence filled between as they continued to stare at each other, him sitting and her standing. Until after a few moments he extended his arm towards the extra room on the bench. "Would you like to sit Hinata-sama?"

"Yes, thank you." She replied before taking the offered seat. They sat together silently; secretly enjoying the other's company with an air of relief neither of them has felt in over forty years. Several minutes later, though, Hinata lifted her hand off her lap and lightly placed it on top of his gnarled and wrinkled fingers. His eyes gazed down at the contact, studying her smaller hand that was dotted with age spots and the skin loose. Yet it was still the most beautiful and delicate hand he has ever laid eyes on.

"You…you aren't…repulsed by me…are you?" she asked slowly and carefully, not looking at him but straight ahead. His eyes rose up to glance at her, her profile was blank, the mark of someone expecting the worst. Slowly, he turned his palm upwards to gently grasp her fingers. He watched her look down at their hands and he continued to gaze at her as he brought her fingers to his lips.

"No." he whispered against her skin. "Never." A slow smile appeared on her face as she looked at him softly. She turned towards him, bringing her other hand to gently touch his wrinkled face. Her eyes reflected regret and pain but that was long ago accepted.

"Do you ever wonder Neji…" she said softly, "how things would be different…if…I had been successful in seducing you?" An equal amount of pain echoed in his old heart, a deep-rooted regret that he had never relieved himself of.

"Hinata-sama…" he breathed her name, and she looked at him in wonder. He looked so sad, so full of anguish. She did not understand why, she had never seen him like this before; he always hid himself so carefully from her. "I did not deserve the love you held for me."

"Neji…don't…" her voice, painful.

"You had not truly needed to try and seduce me for I had loved you years before that night." He confessed, finally unlocking the secrets he held from her. He wondered if it was because her husband had finally passed, or maybe it was just because they were old and senile and there didn't seem to be a reason to hold secrets anymore. Either way, even if it did hurt her over again, it felt good to finally tell her.

"Oh Neji." She breathed, sliding her hands away from him and looking away. He didn't look at her either, instead his eyes focused on a small flower patch across the walkway.

"I had wanted to run after you. Tell you how I truly felt and that you were never disgusting or dirty. But I…"

"You should have told me." She cut him off. He stopped and looked back up at her, her eyes angry and hurt but dry. "You should have told me, I mean…all this time…" He understood how she felt and welcomed her anger and probably hatred towards him. It was what he deserved. She lived her whole life hating herself because of him. But at least now he could die in peace knowing that he had finally told her the truth.

"Is that why you never took a wife?" she asked him softly. He smiled though it was fully of bitterness. The council and Main House had tried to force a wife on him but he would not have one. It was his personal revenge against them, taking his 'thick' Hyuuga blood, his 'talent' with him to the grave without passing it on to the next generation. Yet, that was not the only reason why he had never married. He had dedicated his life to his Heiress, his mistress, his love. He would never be her husband, but he would always be her protector, always be by her side.

"Yes." He finally answered before looking at her again. "I apologize Hinata-sama. I never wanted to cause you pain, only bring you happiness. You can punish me if you like, but…" he started to chuckle, "don't know what good that'll do. My time is ending anyway." His eyes once again drifted away, but then he felt her light touch on his cheek. Gently, she turned his face back to her as her soft gaze still made his old heart pound. Slowly, she smiled before leaning and pressing her lips to his. His eyes widened with shock, too surprised to respond to her. She pulled back with a brightness in her eyes he had not see since they were young and naïve.

"At least now I can tell you that I love you." She said with a light chuckle. His surprised gaze softened as he opened up his heart to her through his eyes, showing her for the first time in their lives how much he had loved her, how much he still loved her.

"I…love you too…Hinata." He said, and suddenly they were no longer old and at the end of their lives. But instead, they were back at that night when she used liquid courage to come to him and tell him how she felt. They were back at that time in their minds and this time he held her in his arms and kissed her passionately conveying his feelings that he couldn't express in words. They were back at that time and maybe they would do things right the next time. Maybe they would be able to find each other again and next time fight against the pain that would surely come, the society that would condemn them, and the fate that would try and tear them apart. Maybe next time they'll have their happily ever after.

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AN: Yay okay it's done. Yeah, I know, I'm so girly and cheesy but I can't help it. I just couldn't end it the way it originally was (like the first chapter). Cuz it was only supposed to be a short one-shot consisting of only the first chapter, but those of you who've read other fics of mine probably knew that I could never write a fic without some sort of happy ending. Yeah I know, my sister as well as some of my avid followers, tell me I'm predictable when it comes to the end, but oh well. It's the details of the end that count's right? Besides, I've always kinda wanted to write a fic where both Hinata and Neji are old but still love each other. Anyways, I hope you guys liked it, I had fun working on it. Don't forget to review so that I may produce better fics for ya!