Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, I would not be posting my million dollar story on fanfiction . net…

Hinata moped back to the Hyuuga Compound. She realized that she was better off in denial. Now that she realized her feelings for her cousin she was going to have trouble facing him. She went to her room and lay down on her bed looking at the ceiling. What was wrong with her? Things haven't changed! Things would be the same as they were before she realized her feelings. She would keep her friendship with Neji the same so that they could work on finding her a husband that she doesn't dislike, because at this point she completely abandoned the idea of finding a husband that she loved, seeing as how she already found someone she loved.

She looked at the list that her father had provided her with. She looked at Neji's name. It was a nice dream but she would never force Neji into a marriage that he didn't want to be in for the sake of her own Happiness. When she looked at the paper again she saw drops of water on it. She was in her room so she knew it wasn't rain. So once again he she was crying, she wiped her tears. This was no time for her to be unsure of herself she would pick a husband by the end of the month by that time she would also know what to do about Hinabi. These were the dead lines she set for herself.

She heard a knock on her door. She looked in the mirror to make sure she was presentable. Then she called,

"Come in, Neji-nii"

Neji opened the door and looked at Hinata. She was sitting on the desk chair so he sat on the bed and looked at her intently and said

"Have you been crying?"

Hinata turned to the mirror surprised. She was sure that she had checked before letting him in. What? Did he have a sixth sense or something? She decided to play it off he had seen her crying enough. He didn't need to know that she had been crying again. So she said.

"No… why do you ask?"

He raised an eyebrow up at her and said

"Hinata –sama I don't understand why you feel you need to lie to me about your feelings, why have you been crying?"

"Neji-nii… I just…"

"Don't tell me unless you want to Hinata-sama… I'd never push you to doing something that you don't want to do"

Hinata smiled at him. To him the smiled looked different. There was something there that he couldn't place. The smile was different it had realization in it. She had finally realized that she loved him and there was nothing she could do about it. Yes the feeling had always been there in different forms. Every since she was a child and now it was full blown and incurable like a virus that she couldn't get rid of, even if she wanted to. Which she didn't, even if it was unrequited it still made her feel good. She was happy that she had these feelings and she wouldn't change them for the world.

"Hinata-sama…"

Neji said in a stoic voice that snapped her out of her day dream

"What were you a Sakura talking about? You were blushing fiercely when you left the restaurant"

There it was the dreaded question. The question that Hinata could not answer truthfully so she said

"It was nothing. She thought I still had feelings for Naruto"

His face changed slightly not that Hinata would notice because she was looking at the floor so he asked her

"Do you?"

This was a question Hinata could answer. She looked at him in the face and said

"No, I just admired him. It wasn't really love in the first place."

Neji's face went back to normal. What was this feeling that he was having? Why was he so relieved at this answer? It didn't matter to him who she loved. Maybe he was happy because it would be easier to find her a husband because she had no attachments.

Hinata passed Neji something and he opened it. It was a list of some Hyuuga males.

"What's this Hinata-sama?"

"It's a list of all the Hyuuga males available for marriage, father gave it to me."

"There are branch names on here…"

"yeah… it surprised me too"

Neji read over the list and stopped at his name. What was this? How could his name be on the list? He was to help her find a husband not become her husband… right?

"Hinata-sama, do you know anyone on the list?"

"I only know people from branch family personally"

"Well, we'll start tomorrow with the people you know, and then well do the people you don't know"

Hinata nodded her understanding. Then she said

"Neji-nii-san, I'm going to train now"

Neji looked at the clock and noted that it was 9 PM. He trained about this time as well. So He said

"Mind if I join you Hinata-sama?

Hinata smiled and said

"Not at all!"

They got to the training ground and the first thing Hinata did was connect a metal string from one tree to another tree on the other side of the training ground. Neji, who was going to practice throwing Kunai knives at his replicas, stopped and watched what she was doing. After tying the string at the canopy of the other tree Hinata stood on the other end ready to walk across it. Then she looked down at Neji and said

"Neji-nii-san, you were going to do target practice right?"

"Hai"

"Will you throw them at me then?"

Neji lifted an eyebrow at her and then she said,

"I want to work on my balance"

Neji nodded at her then she said

"Neji- nii-san, you really have to try and Hit me."

Neji smirked at her and nodded

Hinata stood and started to walk across the line. Neji threw a Kunai at her and she jumped to dodge it landing shakily back on the metal string holding her up. He tried again this time with two at a time she dodged them both and ended up holding herself up with one hand on the line. He threw three more and she dodged them doing a back flip and she landed back on the line. This time he threw four she dodged all four. The first three times landing successfully on the line but the fourth time she missed her target and she fell. Just before she was about to hit the ground Neji ran up and caught her.

She looked at him and smiled

"Thanks Neji-nii. I would have really been sore after that one"

"You would have broken something" he said stoically

"I trained myself to lessen the impact of falls"

"Impressive knowledge" Neji said in his normal tone

Then he asked

"Where did you learn to train this way?"

"From watching you"

Neji thought back to the time when he first wanted to fix his balance he had done the exact same thing with Gai-sensei's help. The teacher thought it was crazy but it had worked so he had no complaints after Neji's balance had increased ten folds.

"You pay close attention to your surroundings don't you Hinata-sama?"

"Hai. When I want to better my techniques, I pay really close attention to the methods the really strong people use…in this case I needed to work on balance."

Neji looked at her and smiled. Hinata probably didn't even realize that she had complimented him but he ignored the sensation he felt from somewhere and decided to help Hinata by saying in his normal voice

"Balance in general is not your problem Hinata-sama, though it could use a little work. Your biggest problem right now is balance when swinging big objects. Like your fan technique, though the fan was made of your own Chakra it threw your balance off because you weren't used to the resistance from the wind."

"I see… so how should I practice that Neji-nii-san?"

"I would start out by swinging something larger and much heavier than your Chakra fan. That way when using that technique you would be so used to swinging something more difficult to swing, that moving your Chakra fan would come quite simple to you."

" but my balance in general… is it bad?"

"No, it is not bad. However it could be better. That's why I said it is not a top priority"

"I see… thank you so much Neji-nii-san! After I perfect my moves I would be happy to teach them to you! I know how bad it is to be restricted by close combat… even though you're perfect at it…"

"I would like that Hinata- sama" Neji said with a little more (just a teeny tiny bit) more emotion in his voice"

They trained for a few more hours until about 12 and went back to the compound.

Hinata woke up at 5 and looked around. Today was the day that she would start looking for a husband. She was dreading it. She thought about going back to sleep and pretending she had a cold but she remembered that already one of the six months were already gone and she needed to find a husband and think of a way to deal with her sister. She got out of bed went to the bathroom and got into the shower. She decided that after she went and looked after her garden she would put on a kimono, but for now she put on her loose fitting pants and lavender jacket so that she could go and tend to her flowers, herbs and vegetables.

It was about 7 in the morning and Neji knew he would be able to find Hinata in one of two places: at the training ground or in her garden. He went to her garden and there she was tending her flowers and humming gently. She looked angelic and though Neji would never admit it out loud, he always loved the sight and sound of Hinata humming or singling gently, surrounded by flowers. It always gave her this mysterious look. Like her purity was not of this world. Neji sat on the bench she had so graciously put in her garden so that anyone who wanted to come and view the beauty of the flowers had a place to sit. Everyone was more than welcome, but no one in her family ever found the time or maybe they just didn't care about something as useless as flowers... But Neji found himself admiring more than just the beauty of her garden.

Hinata being as off guard as she was did not notice the new presence and just hummed gently happy and content in her garden, if only for a little while. After she finished watering and picking the dead leaves off the entire flora in her garden she sat there on her knees ad admired it. Finally looking up to see Neji on the bench, she jumped startled that anyone was there then she smiled her brightest smile at him and stood to greet him.

"good morning Neji-nii-san! How are you today!" she said with a slight bow.

Neji bowed back and said

"I'm doing Fine Hinata-sama"

Hinata looked at her watch and noticed that it was about 8:30 and she said

"Neji-nii-san, I guess I should go and get dressed for today's events"

He noticed how she made her words sound as if it was an ordinary day, As if she wanted to be in denial but "today's events" did not allow her that pleasure. She wanted to ignore the fact that she would be bound to a man that she did not feel the connection a husband and wife should have. Though her pleasant smile graced her lips like nothing was wrong, one could not help but take notice to her troubled and saddened eyes. No matter how much you want them to. No matter how much effort you put into masking your feelings. No matter what you do… the eyes do not lie to a person that really knows you, a person that loves you.

He watched her gather her watering can silently. He watched her as she took one last look around her garden, as if she was looking for and imperfection that she had missed before. He watched her as her smile broadened as she turned from her flowers to look at him. He watched her as she jogged elegantly to his side.

She looked at him and waited. He turned to leave and she followed behind him, admiring how he moved. She watched as he took in his surroundings always on guard. She watched as he looked up at the birds that sat on a tree branch never breaking his stride. She watched as he looked at one of the head family members. She watched as his calm and rested lips formed a scowl. She watched as he turned to her. She watched as his lips went from a scowl back to calm.

When they got to Hinata's room she gave Neji tea to hold him over while she got dressed. She went to her closet a pulled out a kimono. It was purple with birds around the bottom. The obi was a darker purple with braches with flower buds on it some with birds sitting on them. It was very delicate kimono perfect for the occasion.

She went into the bathroom to take a quick shower and she decided she would leave her hair down. She left her face bare, she didn't really like make-up. It made her feel like a clown. She walked out the bathroom and took a seat next to Neji on the bed.

"So, Nii-san… what do you think?" Hinata stood so he could see.

"Do you think it's too plain?"

"No, Hinata-sama you look beautiful"

Hinata blushed and smiled. She had always wanted to hear that from him. Even though it was an obligated statement, something he had to say just because it was polite, it really made her happy.

Neji stood and held out a hand for Hinata to take. And said,

"Shall we go?"

Hinata nodded and took his hand and left her room heading for her father's office.

Hinata knocked gently on the door. But there was no answer so Neji took the liberty to knock harder.

They heard a gruff

"Come in"

They walked in and sat on the pillows that were on the floor for guests and bowed.

"What is it?" Hiashi asked in an almost irritated voice

"Today we will go and look for Hinata –Sama a husband Hiashi-sama" Neji said in his normal stoic voice with a slight scowl, barely noticeable to everyone but Hinata.

"Good" he looked at Hinata and said

"Why is your face so plain? And why do you have your hair down?"

"Well because…"

"It doesn't matter. Before you go anywhere make yourself up. Put you hair up into a suitable style. Do not embarrass me!"

"Yes father"

she heard a slight inaudible growl from beside her. She was sure her father had not heard for which she was grateful. They bowed and left the office.

When they left the office Hinata smiled at Neji and said

"Father is not as bad as he seems. He thinks very highly of you Neji-nii-san"

"But what of you?"

Hinata smiled her eyes closed she turned her back to him.

"That doesn't matter Neji –nii –san! Shall we go? It seems that I'm not made up well enough" Hinata said with fake cheeriness in her voice

They went back to the room and Hinata put her hair up in and elegant bun her bangs still hanging in her face. She went to a chest and pulled out a beautifully decorated comb with purple and white flowers on it and pressed into the back of her hair. She put on a light gloss that held no color it just made her lips shine she then turned to Neji and said

"That's all I'm doing, technically I haven't disobeyed father right? I did make up my face right?"

Neji Smirked at her slyness and said

"You look gorgeous Hinata –sama. Shall we go?" He said like he said everything else, like it didn't matter but he had no idea how much those words really meant to her.

Her smile widened while she nodded and said her thanks.

They started with the branch family first. The first man that they went to was Hyuuga Hitari. He wasn't the best looking Hyuuga but he had the brightest smile and he always was nice to Hinata. He used to say that he accepted his fate which is why he kept his seal uncovered for everyone to see it. He wore it like he was proud of it.

He looked at her and said

"Hinata-ch…" then he looked at Neji and corrected himself

"Hinata-sama"

"Hello Hitari - san. How are you?"

"I'm good! I just got engaged! You know her, Hyuuga Hitomi"

Hinata jumped at him and hugged him seeming to forget about the reason she came

"That is so great Hitari –san! When? Can I come? I'm so happy for you! Hitomi-san is such a nice person. You guys go great together"

He smiled at her and said

"Hinata-Chan I'd be honored if you came!... I mean Hinata-sama"

"Don't correct yourself. Chan is so much better. You have to send me an invitation."

They talked for almost an hour and Neji just sat there silently looking at Hinata with amazement. How in the world does a person forget about their own problems so simply? She was so happy for Hitari that she didn't even remember why she came. This girl was really something special.

"Hinata-sama, I hate to interrupt but I think we must get going"

Hinata blushed and looked at Neji and apologized she stood and hugged Hitari good bye

On the way out the door she said

"tell, Hitomi-san that I said congratulations."

Next up there was a Hyuuga Heshi. They barely made it through the door before Neji voiced his disapproval. Neji knew all of the branch family and he knew that Heshi was famous for his perverted nature. How could Hinata marry someone who would no doubt cheat and muddy her name? Neji would not allow it.

Hinata hugged him good bye five minutes later. She knew most of the people in the Hyuuga family at least by name and face. (Something her father ordered that she learn long ago) but she knew most of the branch family personally (the ones that didn't hate her for being part of the head family). So she knew that Heshi was like that but once you get passed his tendencies, he really was a nice person. He had even tried to hit on her a few times.

Next was Hyuuga Hoji. Neji said that he wasn't worthy because he was known to think women inferior to men and that he would defiantly try and control her once they were married.

Hotaro

Hujio

Heki

Hiro

Hachi

Homero

Etc…

They tried all the people in the branch family and Neji always found something wrong with them. The ones he didn't mind conveniently had fiancée's or girl friends.

At about ten they were finished with everybody on the branch list. Hinata said depressed,

"That went terribly. Neji –nii –san, you found something wrong with all of them."

"You should not settle. Hinata –Sama. You are the heir to the family. You have to be sure that the man you choose is a suitable choice"

"I know Neji-nii-san. You're right"

Neji nodded then Hinata said

"Well next week we're going to have to try the head family members."

Hinata said her good nights to Neji. She went to her room to change into her training clothes. She looked at the sky it had that smell that said rain was coming soon. It didn't matter that today was a busy day; it did not excuse her from training. It was only 10 she would train until 12 like she usually did, come rain snow sleet or hail.

When she got to the training ground she trained. She thought about all the bad things that were going on in her life. It started to rain but she kept training. Hinata loved the rain. It was beautiful. It made everything smell better. It fed the earth and it washed away your problems. She didn't see it as a sad omen like many others did. She loved the feeling of the cold rain running down her back, wetting her hair. She was a ninja, she had to know how to fight in all sorts of conditions. So the rain even helped in her training.

She was pounding at the wooden plank in front of her. Though she was good at long range combat, she felt se couldn't call herself a Hyuuga if she did not know the basics of the Hyuuga combat. She needed to master those moves as well.

She trained brutally, her Chakra draining slowly. She was beating the wooden plank, giving it her all. She had been training longer than she thought but she kept going. She probably had little to no Chakra left because she could no longer use the byakugan but she thought to herself "What if I'm in a battle and the byakugan goes out? I need to be ready for that as well right?" With that she kept on training with all that she had. Before she knew what happened she had collapsed. Right before, she could see the sky turning light, though the sun was still covered due to the rain clouds covering it. It was still raining and Hinata could no longer move.

It was five and Neji Knew Hinata would be up. So he went to her room to see how she was holding up. He knew she took the husband thing really hard. It must have been harder to not be able to fine one. So he decided that he would go and check just to make sure she was okay. He knocked on the door but he got no answer, so he opened thinking he would find a sleeping Hinata. But all he found was a neatly made up bed with the Kimono that she wore yesterday neatly folded on top of it. This would have been normal had it not been for the Kimono. So he went to see if she was in the garden. But it was raining outside so she had no reason to be watering her garden. He ran to the training ground that Hinata usually trained at. He could not see anyone in the distance. But as he walked closer he could see a body laid out on the ground. He activated byakugan. It was Hinata and she had very little Chakra. He ran to her, and picked her up. He ran back to his room to get her warm as possible.

He laid her in his bed. He knew he had to get her out of the wet clothes but it just wasn't proper! He was about to leave the room to get a maid but he heard coughing and her gasping for air so he figured she needed immediate attention.

He walked up to the bed a very visible blush on his face. It wasn't like she was a child anymore… she was a 19 year old woman! This was defiantly an invasion of her privacy. I had to be done though. So Neji put on his iron will and started to undress her.

He started with her shirt lifting her up so that her weight was on him. He pulled the lavender jacket over her head. Then he did the shirt that was under her jacket. The problem was the bandages that wrapped her upper body that he knew would fully expose her. He tried to think of a way to get around this. He thought maybe he would put the shirt on her before he took the bandages off, but that would only get the shirt wet. So he started to take the bandages off, seeing no other way. Right before he got to the part over her breast he stopped. He couldn't do this to her. It wouldn't be fair. So he put the shirt on her, and pulled the end of the bandage so it would come off the rest of the way. Then he pulled off her pants, The shirt was long enough to cover her up. He pulled some shorts one her. Neji was proud of himself he had managed to change her and keep her dignity as well.

He felt her forehead. She had a really high fever. He would have to get someone to look at it. He looked out the window and seen that it was raining harder than it was when he went to find her. He was happy that he found her when he did. But he knew no one would go out into this storm so finding her a doctor was out of the question.

He wet a wash cloth and put it on her forehead. Then he lifted the cover up to her neck. Her face was flushed.

Neji spoke to her not expecting an

"Hinata, Were you out training all night?"

Hinata subconsciously moved closer to the warmth that was Neji's body.

Neji got up off the bed and walked over to his desk. After a few hours Neji heard mumbling from the direction of his bed. He put the scroll that he was reading down and walked over to His occupied bed.

Hinata opened her eyes slowly. When she seen Neji standing over her she tried to sit up but found that she could barley move her body. She looked around the room and placed it as Neji's. She inhaled and confirmed that it was indeed Neji's room she would know his scent anywhere.

"N-Neji- nii…"

"Hinata –sama . I'll go get your food"

Before Hinata could say anything else Neji left the room and came back with soup. Hinata tried to sit up but couldn't move. Neji sat the tray with the soup down and helped her to sit up. Figuring she would barely be able to move he fed her.

Hinata noticed that Neji wasn't saying anything to her while he fed her. When he finished feeding her he looked at her on the way out of the door and said

"rest"

"n-Neji-nii-san! Wait!" she tried to yell however her voice was weak. But he stopped all the same and turned to her to acknowledge her

"I'm sorry that i-I am taking up y-your b-bed again"

"It's nothing"

"Well I'm sorry you had to feed me"

"It's no problem"

Hinata looked at him confused then she asked

"Then what's wrong Neji-nii-san? You seem upset with me…"

"I'm not upset" then he turned to leave

Hinata summoned up all the strength she had to go to him she moved as fast as her sick legs would take her and she grabbed his shirt just before he left the room. He turned around surprised that she had the strength to move. It was obvious that this was no common cold she had. It was a full blown flu. Her legs were shaking struggling to stand. But it didn't last long. Neji caught her just before she fell to the floor.

Her voice was muffled due to the fact that it was buried in his shirt and the flu she had made it no easier to understand her.

"Neji-nii-san … will you tell me why you're upset?"

"Hinata-sama…" He picked her up bridal style and walked her back to the bed.

When she was lying down she looked at him and said

"Will you tell me?"

"Hinata –sama you are smarter than this" he said indicating her sickness with a wave of his hand.

"you know better than to train until your Chakra runs out… in the rain no less… you know better than to work your body until you collapse… I'm disappointed in your misjudgment…"

"Hinata smiled a weak smile and moved her body forward so that she could embrace Neji

"You're right Neji-nii-san! I'm sorry I shouldn't have done it…And once again I inconvenienced you once again because now you have to take care of me"

"I don't mind taking care of you Hinata –sama, I care about you're well being"

Hinata smiled wider and she began to laugh until she coughed.

Neji gently patted her back and then when the coughing subsided he asked

"What's so funny Hinata sama?"

"You sound Like a father Neji –nii-san! Well, not my father… but a father!"

Neji smiled his famous almost a smile, smile at her then he said

"Rest"

"Hai!"

This time she was okay with him leaving because she knew he was coming back. And she knew that he wasn't angry anymore.

A/n: well I'll end it here for today…. Review and tell me what you thought! Tell me if you think I'm making them move too fast… And I'm trying my hardest to keep them in character so tell me how I'm doing with that…Also you're probably wondering why all the names started with "H" that's because Neji is the only known Hyuga clan member whose first name does not start with a kana from the Ha-gyō (ha (ハ), hi (ヒ), fu (フ), he (ヘ), or ho (ホ)). According to Wikipedia… also I'm planning to end this in chapter 10, give or take a chapter, because I want to start a new story… thanx for reading my story!

SPECIAL THANKS

YELLOWSAKURA-SAN!!!!! Thank you sooooooo much for telling me my mistake! I was using Hinabi instead of Hanabi! And you were nice enough to tell me thanx!!!!!!!