Homecoming

Author: LonelyWriter

Summary: I love you. And love is always irrational. I will not give you up for anything or anyone.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the Hyūga. I was needing some NejiHina goodness after the recent chapters. NejiHina will always be my OTP.

…
Neji couldn't believe it when the orders to return to Konoha were given to him even after he had requested that he be sent on a mission that would require a long time away from the village. His heart and emotions were all jumbled together. He wasn't sure what was right or wrong, if the sky really was blue or if it was a trick. Most of all he hated how his rebellious heart had confessed to his cousin how deeply he wanted her. And the thing he hated most was the fact she had said and done nothing. She had listened to him give her his heart on a silver platter and she had merely listened and done nothing. She had thought it a joke.

The closer he got to Konoha the angrier he got. He couldn't understand why Tsunade had called him back to Konoha even after he had lied to her and told her that Hiashi wanted him to go to the northern border where his unique skills would be much appreciated. The northern border with the former Sound country was still a place of unrest and every once and a while a large skirmish would happen. He had specifically asked for the north knowing that. He would rather fight a dozen skirmishes a day than try and figure out what his crazy teenage hormones were trying to tell him. Sometimes he hated being a teenage male.

The journey was also giving him time to remember why he had run away from Konoha in the first place. He knew he could never have her. He had known that his whole life. Yet, he had allowed his heart to become involved with her. He was supposed to love her and protect her from afar. Her father had placed him in control of her so he could supervise her training and because as a male descendant of the royal line, he could become her spokesman if needed. That position had been created back before women were allowed to show their faces in public, before they were allowed to be ninja. A male had to represent a woman of high birth in society so her reputation was not ruined.

He had long been trying to fight against the traditions of his clan but he was also starting to realize that even though he might not like them they were there for a purpose. All he could do currently was respect them for now while trying to convince those with the power to change them.

As he approached the great gates of Konoha and saw the an written on them be wrinkled his nose. A sudden thought had come to him and he was not amused. The last time he had seen these gates he had also seen Hyūga Tokuma standing there talking with his Aburame teammate about Hinata. Neji had been close to walking over to the man and punching him but Gai and Lee had decided to go at that moment and he was forced to go with them. Team Gai had not been assigned to the Northern mission like he had been but they had still gone for recon to report back to Tsunade.

He made his way down the streets of Konoha he got a funny feeling in his stomach. Tokuma was of the Main family, had good ties with the royal line, was single and had strong Byakugan. Tokuma would be a perfect husband for Hinata. Neji was sure he was only about twenty-five meaning he was not that much older than her. He would be perfect for what Hiashi-sama wanted for Hinata.

With a sinking heart he entered the Hokage's office sure that his heart would soon expire from his sudden revelations. Damn all emotions! He should become a monk. Then he wouldn't have to deal with any of this.

Tsunade's eyes narrowed when she saw him. "I don't care about whatever boyish crush you have going on," she leaned back in her chair. "But shape up, Hyūga!" She yelled. "Now, Hiashi insisted that you had to come back to the village right away for clan business so I expect you to go straight home and deal with it!"

Neji blinked several times because he was sure that he wasn't that transparent. "I…shall," he said softly with a bow. He exited the room and made his way to the Hyūga compound as quickly as he could. He debated whether or not to take a shower before seeing his uncle on the way but finally decided he needed to when he sniffed his sleeve. If it smelled bad, the rest of his body smelled like a rotting corpse.

He swept through his house ignoring his mother so he could get his shower over with as quickly as possible. He had sorted through his clothes and was in the bathroom naked before he realized that the door to his room had been open. A quick inner debate happened before he decided to quickly shower then question his mother.

His hair was the most time consuming aspect of his shower and he decided to simply use soap to wash it since it rinsed out the easiest. He was out of the shower and dressing himself in the traditional Hyūga kimono in five minutes. There hadn't even been enough time for the mirror to fully fog over when he exited the room.

"Mom?" he called.

"In the kitchen," she replied. Neji was suddenly struck at how strange it was that his mother spent all her time in the kitchen.

"Mom," he said as he entered the room, "Why is my door open? Where are the cats? Hinata-sama will be mad if something happens to them."

"They aren't here," Miku said as she opened the oven door and placed what looked like a pan of cookies in it. "Hinata-sama took them away the day after you left Konoha. I asked her where she was taking them but she wouldn't tell me."

"Why did she do that?"

"How should I know the thoughts of a Main house member? Especially the Heiress?" Miku turned to look at him. "Here," she slipped an envelope out of her apron pocket. "Hinata-sama left this for you."

Neji took the envelope and opened it. A key slid out and he saw that there was a piece of paper but it only had an address on it. "What is this?"

Miku shook her head. "Hinata-sama told me to give it to you as soon as you returned."

Neji stared at the key trying to figure out Hinata's game. She had given him the address needed to figure it out but did he want to use it? His uncle was expecting him at the Main house as well. He knew just standing there was wasting time.

"I'll be back, Mom," he said as he kissed his mother's cheek and left the house.

The address led him not far from the Compound into a residential district of the more wealthy ninja. It was an apartment building that rose impressively above the street. He quickly located the number and was standing in front of the door, trying to decide whether or not he should go in. He had already come all the way here, but he wasn't sure what type of trick this could be either.

His moment of indecisiveness allowed him to see his feelings on the matter and after a rational process of analyzing them he discovered that he did in fact want to go through the door. The key was inserted and twisted, the tumblers falling into alignment so he could open the door.

He entered a living room and saw a kitchen to his right but the light coming from down the hallway along with purrs led him that direction. He stopped in the doorway to observe Hinata carefully brushing Hinagiku with Kyo trying to get in on the action. The orange cat was butting against Hinata's arm to try and get her to brush him but with the patience that was uniquely Hinata she ignored him.

Her patience and determination to go forward had always been one of her strongest suits and Neji felt himself drawn to her even more while watching them play out with her cats.

"Are you going to continue to watch me or are you going to say something?" Hinata didn't glance up from her work.

"What is this place?" He asked as he came forward and sat on the bed.

"It is your new apartment," she replied, still not looking at him.

"Why do I need an apartment?"

She didn't answer for several long moments. "I thought we had gotten over your sense of not doing your duty correctly because you fell in love with me. I thought we had admitted our feelings for one another and would soon be a real couple. Imagine my shock when I found out that you were leaving, and all you left me was a note. It neither amused nor satisfied me. Many people still believe that I am the weak little Heiress I was five years ago and thus they treat me the same as back then. But you never did. You saw past that and treated me like I was something special. I thought maybe we could be together. I dreamed of it. Then you left," the last word was choked and Neji knew she was crying.

"Hinata, I'm sorry," he whispered, pulling her into his arms. "I know what I did was stupid and a coward's way out of things but I needed to reflect on my feelings without you around to distract me. But know this, Hinata. I love you. And love is always irrational. I will not give you up for anything or anyone. And if you'll still have me," he trailed off, gently wiping her silken cheeks free of her tears. "It makes me sad that you cry for me."

"Idiot," she growled. "Why does my silly heart always go for the idiots?"

"Because it knows that you can heal them," he brushed her hair from her face and raised her chin. "You didn't answer my question."

"This apartment was given to you by my father," she said, no longer denying herself. "As a wedding present."

"I was unaware that I was getting married," he said with some shock. "May I inquire as to the name of the bride?"

She laughed. "You really are an idiot, aren't you?"

"An idiot in love?" He suggested.

"No, just an idiot," she sighed, content to be in his arms.

"I need to meet with your father," he said after several minutes.

She nodded but made no move.

"I will come straight back, I promise," he said as he gently kissed her temple.

"Fine," she smiled at him. "Straight back."

He smiled back. "Always."