Confusion

Author: LonelyWriter42

Summary: Hinata is confused as to why Neji yelled at her after the hanami, and Neji is confused by Hinata's new behavior.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

...

Hinata scurried down the hall and slipped into the closet at the end. She had just managed to close the door before she heard Neji's footsteps come past. He obviously paused at the door but clearly thought better of her hiding in a broom closet and walked onward. She had no idea what was wrong with him. They had actually been getting along and he had even... She blushed. Every time she thought about his kissing her face went bright red. It wasn't that she didn't like it, it was just embarrassing.

She had never been kissed by a boy before; she had always thought Naruto would be the first to kiss her. She blushed again. She hadn't thought about Naruto for a long time in that context. He had been back in the village for almost a year and she rarely saw him. Even when she had foolishly tried to tell him of her feelings for him he had brushed her off. Then Neji had been there, calmly walking by her side as she tried to sort out everything. She knew she wasn't in love with her cousin and she didn't have a crush on him but they did have a relationship that was deeper than cousins.

She had been slightly offended when her father had decided that suddenly Neji needed to follow her around the village every time she left the compound but she could understand her father's feelings as well. In his own, twisted way Hiashi loved his older daughter but more often than not he was disappointed in her ninjutsu. She worked hard to conquer the Jūken and become the ninja her father wanted her to be but it was often such a burden that her shoulders couldn't hold it up.

She pressed her ear to the door and listened to see if anyone was around. She didn't dare activate her Byakugan in the compound as most of the clan could sense the chakra and would berate her for spying on them. When she didn't hear anyone she made her way quickly back to her room. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw it was empty. She had been worried that Neji might be there and ready to start up their argument again.

She wondered why he thought she was playing with him. She was only ever honest in her feelings. She frowned and went to where she had hidden the magazine Ino had given her. Maybe it would have some clues to what was going on. She knew she had teased Neji mercilessly about being a bad boy and therefore good boyfriend material but that couldn't be the source of his frustration, could it? The magazine had said to do that.

She pressed her lips together. Maybe there was something else in the magazine that could help her. She flipped open the front cover and started skimming all the articles but not one told her how to deal with cranky male angst. She finally shook her head and stood up. She had been warned not to sneak out of the compound without an escort but she didn't want anyone to be privy to the conversation she wanted to have.

It had gotten extremely warm in the past few weeks and she found herself wishing she had worn a lighter kimono. Not that she had to wear the highly formal outfit she just felt better when she had he silky material against her skin. That didn't keep her from nearly passing out from the heat before she made it to Yamanaka flower shop and the blissful air-conditioning.

It was her luck that Ino was the one behind the counter, reading a magazine much like the one Hinata had been only twenty minutes before.

"Hinata-chan!" Ino exclaimed. "Let me guess, you have come to save me from dying of boredom!"

Hinata let out a soft laugh. "Sorry, Ino-chan. I actually," she glanced around and moved closer to the counter. "Came to ask you for advice."

Ino raised an eyebrow. "Alright, fire away."

"Well," Hinata bit her lip and started twirling her index fingers around each other. "You are very knowledgeable on the subject, of, of, of," she winced.

"The subject of? What?" Ino rolled her eyes. "I can't help you if you stutter."

"Boys," Hinata said in such a low voice she was sure Ino wouldn't be able to understand her.

"Did you just say b-o-y-s? Hinata, you are growing up! I am so proud of you!" Ino squealed as she jumped over the counter and hugged Hinata tight. "What is it you want to know? I'll tell you everything. In excruciating detail if you want me to."

"Um," Hinata moaned, her cheeks flaming bright red. "Ino-chan," she moaned.

"Sorry, I forgot," Ino shook her head. "Anyway, what is it you want to know?"

"Why are they so moody? Why do they act like they do? What is the point?" Hinata sighed.

"They are such girls, that's why. They think they have to be all macho around girls but in truth they are such emotional wrecks. I'm not sure how they manage to survive."

"Do you know why one might act all nice and then suddenly start yelling at you? I just don't understand what happened. I thought we were getting along better," Hinata frowned.

"It's Neji you're talking about, isn't it? I have noticed that the two of you have been going out more together. What does you clan think of that? Is there any problems with the two branch thing?" Ino studied her friend's face.

"No, he's my protector. He is supposed to be permanently attached to my side. We have been getting along but earlier today he sudden blew up on me and started yelling about how the Main house has released their ultimate weapon to drive him insane. I have no idea what he's talking about! Our relationship has gotten better, yes, but what the heck is he talking about? Usually all we ever do is small talk, nothing important yet he seems to think that I'm trying to drive him crazy! Maybe he's trying to drive me crazy."

"Hinata, what type of small talk do you do?"

The Hyūga Heiress shrugged. "We talk about his cat. You know he has an orange kitten? It's name is Hinagiku. I wish I could have a cat," she sighed.

"Maybe the two of you should figure out something the two of you enjoy and then spend the afternoon doing it. I don't know, maybe you can play shogi with him or something," Ino said.

"We already usually train in the afternoon," Hinata sighed.

"Hm, well, we're just going to have to come up with a better plan," Ino muttered.

...

Neji stood next to the target where he had thrown twenty-four of twenty-five kunai directly through the small white circle. The twenty-fifth was causing him frustration though. It had gone way wide and had ended up imbedded in a tree thirty yards away. He was worried that a tree kami might appear and beat him up. He had never missed like that before. He couldn't even start to fathom how badly he had misjudged the distance and his aim. It wasn't like him. He didn't even have an excuse.

He scowled at the kunai then walked over to the tree and yanked it out. "Stupid kunai," he said as he flicked it away. At that moment something in his peripheral vision caught his attention so he didn't see the kunai landing exactly where he had wanted it to begin with.

A vision in white was walking toward him. The person came closer and Neji saw it was Hinata wearing a beautiful white kimono, holding Hinagiku in her arms. He drew in a quick breath as he watched her unbound hair flutter around her head in little wisps of indigo. She looked up from the cat for a second and saw he was watching her. She blushed but held his gaze until she was standing next to him.

"Hinata-sama," he said in a hoarse whisper.

"Nii-san," she grinned. The blush was still there but she had a daring look in her eyes that he had never seen before. She closed her eyes, her long dark lashes brushing against her cheeks.

He swallowed hard. "Hinata-sama, I am sorry for yelling at you earlier. It was not my intention…" He was cut off by her finger pressing gently against his lips.

"Shh, it does not matter anymore," she gave him a soft smile. "I forgive you, Nii-san."

"Hinata-sama," he sighed. He was happy she was such an astute person or he might have had to deal with an angry woman for months. "Why do you have Hinagiku?" He asked as he gently scratched the cat behind it's ears.

"We wanted to go to the koi pond for a walk but someone was missing and we had to find him, didn't we Hinagiku," she cooed at the kitten. She glanced back up at him shyly. Before he could discern her intentions she had stood up on tiptoe and gently kissed him on the cheek.

He stared blankly at her as she pulled back. "Hinata-sama," he whispered her name, not sure what to think.

"Well, are you coming?" She called to him and he realized she had already started across the clearing.

"Yes, Hinata-sama," he chuckled. If anyone had seen him in that moment they would have commented on how his younger cousin had him wrapped around her little finger but luckily only the kunai were witnesses and they would never tell.