Lucky

Author: LonelyWriter42

Summary: Hinagiku needs a playmate…

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did it would be called NejiHina Extraordinaire and they would be the only two characters. They would also have fifteen children.

...

People in the village always commented on how lucky Neji Hyūga was. He was the prodigy of the eldest clan in the village, a true inheritor of the Will of Fire. If only they knew…

Neji sat in the booth, watching Gai and Lee having the most ridiculous eating contest he had ever heard of. He couldn't even begin to describe the rules if someone asked him because for starters he couldn't remember half of them-the list was that long-and he really didn't care enough to try.

Tenten was sitting next to him also appalled by her sensei and teammate. "I didn't think that was possible," she whispered to Neji.

"Around these two anything is possible," Neji said with an annoyed expression on his face. He had often thought that Gai and Lee were his own personal obstacles he had to overcome on his quest to be a ninja but this… This was ridiculous. How could consuming as much food as possible in a matter of seconds ever come in handy, ever? He couldn't even begin to think of reasons this new 'training' could ever help Lee. Ever. "Once again I have no idea why they are acting like this," he sighed.

"This time I have to wholeheartedly agree," Tenten shuddered. "What's the point?"

"There is none, obviously," Neji shook his head as he stood up. "I shall be departing, then."

"I'm coming," Tenten jumped up and followed him to the door. Gai and Lee didn't even seem to realize that Neji and Tenten had left; they were off in their own little world. "What are we going to do now?" Tenten asked as they started down the road.

Neji gave her a longsuffering look. "I will be returning to the compound."

Tenten nodded thoughtfully. "Hey," she said, pointing. "Isn't that Hinata?"

Neji turned his head sharply and saw the small figure huddled beside the road. "I do believe it is," he said dryly as he made a beeline toward her. Tenten gave a giggle and followed.

"Hinata-sama," Neji moaned when he came to a stop next to her. "What have you done now?"

His cousin winced. "Well, Nii-san, I kinda…" She trailed off and refused to meet his gaze.

"Neji, you don't have to be so mean," Tenten rolled her eyes. "What do you have, Hinata-san?"

Hinata blushed. "Well," she turned redder if that was possible, "I didn't mean to, Nii-san!"

"Do I even want to know?" Neji started messaging his temples. He liked his cousin. He liked his cousin. He liked… Was that a meow? His eyes darted to meet hers and she shrugged apologetically as she produced another ball of fur and bad temper much like the one she had already dumped on him.

"Oh no," he growled. "I am not going to give another one of your pathetic pets a home."

"But Nii-san," she said, sticking out her lip in that pout that always got her her way. "It's cute."

His eye twitched. "That thing is not cute. It is quite ugly."

"That's because it hasn't had much love," she said as she smoothed down flyaway fur. "It needs a bath and a combing and then it will be as beautiful as Hinagiku."

"I must point out that the last time you tried to give Hinagiku a bath she bit you and you came crying to me because you always dump her back on me when she does something you do not like. I am not an animal rescue center."

Hinata blinked several times before she went for the big guns. Two fat tears led the way in the onslaught that always left him defenseless. "You are so mean, Nii-san!" She cried as she jumped up and ran away with the pathetic beast still in her arms.

"Where are you going? You can't take that thing home," he called after her.

"Neji, I thought you were trying to be nicer to her," Tenten frowned at him.

Neji released an exasperated sigh before nodding. "I shall see you tomorrow, bright and early."

"Always," Tenten nodded and raised her hand to wave as he turned on his heal and followed his cousin.

...

Neji found her next to the koi pond. Why was it she always ended up next to the koi pond? "Hinata," he sighed as he sat down next to her. "You are aware that you are sixteen now and crying will not get you your way much longer."

She gave him a dark glare. She continued stroking the cat's fur but didn't say anything.

"Are you going to give me the silent treatment now?" He reached over and scratched the cat's ears. He was reworded with a loud purr.

"It won't work," he said thoughtfully as he continued to stroke the cat's head. "Because in the end I always win," he whispered in her ear as he carefully carelessly reached down and started tickling her stomach.

Her eyes flared open and she tried to glare at him but it was all for naught; he already had gotten past her defenses.

"Nii-san!" She shrieked as he tackled her and pushed her flat against the ground. She tried to retaliate and even managed to brush her fingers against the ticklish skin of his stomach but that was as far as she got. He caught and pinned both of her hands above her head and gave her a triumphant grin.

She gave him a cool, calculating look. "Nii-san," she whispered in his ear. "You forgot my legs." He was still processing her words as he was flipped over. He still had a free hand but he wasn't thinking about escaping at that moment. In fact he liked his new position. Hinata had both of her hands holding his down so her long indigo hair brushed against his cheeks. Her knees were pressing against his hips. "Nii-san," she sighed as she pressed her forehead to his. "Please?"

His mouth dropped open. She had him in a very compromising position and all she wanted was him to take care of another stray cat? "Maybe," he said with a suddenly devious look, "I can if you are willing to give me something…"

"What?" Her thin eyebrows drew together as she considered what he might want from her.

He rolled his eyes at her naivety before gently placing his hand on the back of her neck and pulling her head down for a kiss. She allowed him to explore her mouth to a point; when his tongue tried to enter her mouth she jerked back. He instantly started berating himself.

"So, are you going to keep it?" Hinata whispered.

"Of course," he answered automatically. "What are you going to name it?"

A devious smile came to her lips. "Nejibana."

Maybe he was lucky, after all.