Confession

Author: LonelyWriter42

Summary: Neji has a confession to make…

Disclaimer: No owning of the Naruto do I.

…

Hinata sat on Neji's bed, cradling the two week old kitten in her hands. Hinagiku was hovering over her nervously but was letting her hold the baby. The kitten's fur was cream and grey, a mixture of the colors of Hinagiku and Kyo (who had once been called Nejibana but Hinata changed his name because Nejibana was a very girly name).

The kitten's fur was so soft and Hinata was sure she had never touched anything softer. The other two kittens in Hinagiku's litter were both fast asleep in the box Neji had lined with soft blankets for the occasion. She had struggled over what to name the kittens and Neji had been no help whatsoever. Finally she had named them based on their colors. One was orange like Hinagiku so it was called Oranji, the second was grey and called Hai and the third was cream and grey, she called it Kurimu. Neji had rolled his eyes when he had heard their names but accepted them because he didn't want to argue with his silly cousin or so he had said.

She knew it was because he didn't want to have to come up with names because she would probably change them anyway. She rolled her eyes as she set the kitten back in its bed. Neji hasn't been terribly excited that Hinagiku had kittens and had been trying to convince her that they should give them away. He had told her that his teammate Tenten would be more than willing to take in one of the kittens but she was still unsure about separating the siblings. She really didn't know Tenten well enough to know if she would treat her kitten well and beside, Neji had already told her she could keep the kittens.

She was giggling over how Hinagiku was curling around her children when Neji walked into the room with a saucer of cream. He raised an eyebrow and shook his head.

"Why are you laughing at her? She can sit any way she wants," he commented as he set the saucer down.

"I was amused by the fact she had to circle around five times before pulling the three together so she could have them cuddled against her," Hinata said.

He tried and failed to stop his eyes from rolling. "She is a mother now. Of course she is going to worry about her babies every minute of every day."

"Then why are you trying to convince me that we should give the kittens away?" Hinata questioned.

His expression soured. "Because I am not an animal rescue home. I have informed you of this several times in the last month. Or did you forget?"

"But it isn't like there are fifty of them," Hinata said. "There are only five."

"Yes, and soon Hinagiku in all her reproductive glory will be able to have another litter. I do not think that she will have any problem with having more kittens, even if I tell her not to."

Her eyes narrowed. "For Hinagiku not to have more kittens we would have to get rid of Kyo or Hinagiku. You are not getting rid of my cats."

"What about Kurimu? She's a girl with two brothers. She'll be old enough to have babies soon enough," he muttered.

"Ew! That's gross, Nii-san. Kurimu wouldn't have children with her brothers; that's just gross."

Neji eyebrows drew together. "I'll be back later," he muttered as he turned and walked out the door."

"Neji?" Hinata called after him but he didn't respond. She frowned, trying to figure out what his problem could be but came up blank. She hadn't said anything out of the ordinary; at least she didn't think so.

…

Hinata finally found him three hours later at the training ground closest to the Forest of Death. She had decided that sitting around his room waiting for him to return and explain his actions was boring so she went looking for him. That had been two hours ago. She had known that there were plenty of places for one to hide in Konoha if one wanted to but this was almost ridiculous. If he had been playing hide-and-seek, he would have won.

She plopped down next to him without saying a word. His eyes were closed and his hands were folded on his lap telling her that he was trying to meditate but she really wanted answers. He had been acting very strange lately.

"So," she said, plucking a piece of grass off the ground and twirling it between her thumb and forefinger. "What was that about in your bedroom? You left so abruptly and never returned. I was worried that your mother might start getting the wrong idea about me if she found me in there without you."

"Yes, my mother already believes me to be deranged angsty teenager so having you on my bed like a new sex toy wouldn't worry her at all," Neji didn't open his eyes but Hinata knew he was teasing her without looking into them. His slight smirk gave him away.

"Your mother doesn't think you are deranged, Nii-san," she sighed as she flung the grass away and pulled her knees to her chest. "Just haughty."

Neji opened his eyes and scowled at her. "Hinata," he said warningly.

She shrugged and raised her face to the sky. "The clouds are pretty today."

"If you wanted to talk about the weather, there is a certain Nara idiot that would be more than willing to discuss it with you," Neji growled.

"I don't want to discuss the weather but you are being standoffish so I thought I might break the ice. Why are you really acting this way, Nii-san?"

"This is the way I act. I thought you knew that already."

"No, something is bothering you," she said thoughtfully as she leaned closer to his face. "You had better tell me before you get all worked up over it and start spewing swear words at me like you did the last time."

"I am not mad like I was then. I am merely contemplating."

"Contemplating," she stuck out her tongue. "You are upset and don't want anyone to know. I do know you better than you think."

He clamped his mouth shut and narrowed his eyes at her. "What are you know? A mind reader?"

"No, I am merely able to pick up on your moods," she gave him that innocent look that always threatened to drive him crazy with want. "You are kind of easy to read you know."

"What you said earlier," he said hesitantly then growled at himself. He wasn't hesitant about anything, ever. So why was saying what was on his mind so hard? "About Kurimu and Hai and Oranji," he stopped speaking and glared at the tree ahead of him. "Is it really that gross?"

"Of course," she replied. "They're siblings."

"Do you think I am gross?" He asked softly.

"No," she shook her head. "Why would I?"

"Because, I am," he broke off again, wanting to say everything perfectly. "Because I am your Nii-san, am I not?"

"Yes," she gave him a confused look.

"Even though we are cousins, our DNA is more closely linked because of our father's being twins. Even though we are cousins, I, I, I feel things that I shouldn't," he finished so he wouldn't have to admit that he had fallen in love with a woman who was technically his half-sister.

"You're not making much sense, Neji," Hinata sighed. "Why are you talking about DNA?"

"Hinata, do you believe that two people are placed on this earth to find each other, to love one another?"

"Yes. I believe that everyone has a soul mate," she gave him a small smile.

"Do you think," he trailed off again, staring at the sky. "Do you think that it is possible to know your soul mate when you see them for the first time?"

"Of course," she smiled.

"Even if you are only four-years-old?"

"Especially when you are four," she took his hand in her own. "Children have purer emotions, don't you think? They don't know about worldly disappointments yet, they only know unadulterated love."

"Do you think you could love me?" His voice was a whisper but to her it was pure music.

"I think that I have always loved you, Neji," she gave him an encouraging smile.

"So," he let out his breath, "Hinata, will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yes," she giggled.