Chapter Six: Punishment
Hinata was petrified. The sound her walking towards the Uchiha manor, caused a tightening in her chest. The steps creak and mumble subtle threats, as she approaches the door. She stared hesitantly at the front door, prolonging her fear. Finally after an excruciating couple of what appeared to be minutes, she opened the door.
Everything is pitch black; considering how late it was, it wasn't surprising. As Hinata enters the house, a chill crawls downs her spine. Silently closing the door behind her, Hinata takes off her sandals and carefully steps onto the hardwood floors. Although she knows she's alone, the opalescent girl tiptoes along towards the bedroom. Without bothering to turn on the lights, she quickly grabs a set of clean clothes and enters the bathroom. While turning on the shower, a smile grazes her lips as she thinks.
'What's the point, when he's done with you, you'll need another shower…and bandages.'
Her eyes are filled with sorrow when she finally enters the tub. The little pellets of water scold her skin, causing her body to redden. It hurts, but she refuses to change the temperature. When she finishes, Hinata slowly dresses and then starts to clean the bathtub.
'Your only prolonging your inevitable punishment.'
Her hands scrub tirelessly at the imaginary dirt littered in and around the tub. Her face is set with determination to clean the already spotless bathroom appliance.
'Its still dirty, scrub harder.'
She quickens her speed, hands tightening around the tiny cloth. Her task is only finished when squeaks begins to emanate from the tub. As she gathers her things, Hinata begins to wonder of how Sasuke will chastise her.
She thinks about how every time he did discipline her, he'd tell her to 'think of it like training'. And when he was tired or satisfied with his work, he'd say his actions were only punitive measures he taking to correct her behavior.
Hinata once again feels a chilling sensation throughout her body, as she relives each punishment. Each one was distinctive as well as painful, but it's not what causes the feeling. She feels her temperature fluctuate with the knowledge that she isn't scared of pain nor what will cause it, but that her body enjoyed it in a weird way. It made her sick, a person who welcomed the idea of torture. Her mind subconsciously craved the pain inflicted by those who were meant to protect and love. And if she were truly honest, she enjoyed the confusion that her emotions and heartache gave her.
'You're sick.'
Sadly, a hand gripping her neck and pinning her to the bedroom wall interrupts Hinata's thoughts. Her eyes fly open, and she drops her clothes, startled. When they adjust to the dark room, she sees Sasuke. Sharingan ablaze and his abnormally stoic face set in overdrive.
"No matter how I try to trust you, you always do something to fuck up."
Hinata knew how it had started, she would soon have her turn to take center stage and deliver her lines: she'll try to explain, Sasuke won't listen, then he "trains" her. She knows that it's pointless to try and have him see things for what they were. She knows this, but insists on speaking anyway.
"I'm sorry—"
Her voice is cut off by Sasuke's hand tightening around her throat. Hinata's eyes feel as if they'll pop from her skull, and her face begins to burn. She feels the blood throughout her face and neck start to rise to the surface. It hurts, but this is only the beginning.
"I don't recall telling you to speak." Sasuke let's go of her neck, giving her body room to collapse towards the cold floor. Before Hinata can catch her breath, Sasuke grabs her and drags her from their bedroom by her hair. She grabs onto Sasuke's hand as to ease some of the tension on her skull. In return, the Indigo haired girl is flung down the hallway, slamming into the wall.
"…" Hinata's breath gets caught in her throat, causing her to cough violently. She keeps her eyes transfixed on the ground, knowing that if she looks at him, Sasuke will only become more enraged.
"Get up."
The drip of something on her lips and the familiar metallic taste of blood causes her close her eyes and inhale slowly. When she's able to steady her breathing, Hinata stands slowly, she falters some but is able to regain her balance.
"Come here, now."
She makes her way towards him slowly, she's cautious. Hinata wants to be ready for anything else that might come her way. This most likely irritated Sasuke more, but Hinata isn't able to tell; she doesn't take her eyes from the ground and if she did, she'd only see a stoic emotionless face.
That's what was so scary about him; you could almost never read his emotions. Sasuke, much like every other Uchiha and Hyuuga, kept his face neutral. If your eyes showed nothing, then your face definitely wouldn't give away your thoughts or emotions.
"Move faster!" Sasuke's words come down on Hinata along with his palm, as he strikes the side of her face. The force of the blow throws her off balance, but Sasuke grabs her arm before she falls to the ground. He pulls her up and turns him to face her.
"You obviously haven't learned anything, when will you understand that you BELONG to me?"
He pushes her aside, and Hinata stumbles into the nearest room, it's dark but by the assortment of furniture and large windows meant that their 'conversation' had been taken into the living room. When Sasuke doesn't follow her into the room to continue things, Hinata's chest tightens once more. She leans against a wall, her neck and throat are hurting, and she can tell she'll have large bruises.
Hinata can hear Sasuke's movements throughout the house. The sounds of drawers and cabinets opening and closing, places him in the kitchen. When she hears the clicking of the stove, Hinata's heart stops. She's starts to imagine what he's doing and for what reason. She imagines him coming into the room, eyes filled with madness as he draws out a knife and slowly carves into her flesh.
It's sick the way she thinks now, but this is what's become of her; she's no longer pure and untainted. He's taken all that she's had left, and refuses to loosen his grip on her mind. Sasuke the torturer, and she, the tortured. This is her role at home, it's her character. She doesn't have many lines to memorize, and the ones she does are small and filled with such an agony that can't be faked nor expressed in words.
'This is what I deserve—it's what I need, to be good. What did he do to Naruto? I hope he's alright. I KNOW he's alright, Sasuke will only punish me for what happened. He—'
Hinata's thoughts are interrupted when a fist hits the empty space near her head. She had been so wrapped up in her thoughts, that she didn't hear the vexed Raven calling her.
"So now you want to ignore me."
"NO, I was just—"
The last thing she feels is her head being smashed into the wall, and her body going numb. Hinata doesn't feel herself get thrown towards the ground, but she sees it. She can see her husband and abuser standing over her. She can also hear the muffled sound of his voice saying something then, everything goes black.
'You can't win, you'll never win.
"Bright… it's very bright."
"I know that, I asked if you liked it genius."
As of late, Neji spent most of his free time at the Hyuuga compound. But it wasn't only Hanabi who the young man had been coming to see; it was Mei (her real name is Haname but she's always held a deep disdain for it, and will be addressed as Mei). It first started out as only mere coincidence that the two would meet but after a while, Neji could be found spotted lingering around the areas where Mei was stationed.
Right now, the two were wandering the Konoha shopping district. The young beauty had been complaining about the lack of variety in her closet, so being as the gentleman he was; Neji invited her out. He needed to go shopping anyways and although he'd never say it aloud, Neji enjoyed the girls company.
"Earth to Neji, I asked you a question…"
"And I already gave my opinion."
A smirk crept onto Neji's face, as Mei tried to hit him on the head; a move that was all too easy to avoid. As the girl carried on talking, Neji looked at what she was talking about.
Mei was wearing a baby blue kimono with different colored (what appeared to be) flowers throughout it. The obi was a neutral beige with dark blue trimming and inside of the kimono was a solid blue fabric. The outfit overall was beautiful, and it fit the girl perfectly. The material hugged her in all the right places without being to revealing. Her hair, usually draped behind her back, was now dangling over left shoulder in a loose side ponytail. To be blunt; she looked stunning.
"…And don't get me started on the way—what are you staring at, if it's that ugly I'll change."
"You look…tasteful."
Obviously surprised, Mei begins to blush. The blood rushing to her cheeks is intriguing. Neji can't help but continue to watch her as she turns and re-enters the dressing room, mumbling something about the rudeness of staring and something else his ears couldn't quite catch. When she comes out, Mei is in her normal Hyuuga attire but is carrying the blue kimono.
"Just to be clear, I'm not getting this because of you. I happened to really like it myself and planned on getting it anyways."
"I thought of no other reason why you would."
Mei quickly pays for the kimono and has it wrapped and boxed. When they leave the store, Neji leads the way with Mei following close behind.
"Um Nej, can we slow down— I mean it isn't a race right?"
"Of course not."
"Then why are we walking so fast?"
"This is my normal pace besides, this barely counts as fast."
When Neji's arm is grabbed, he's forced to stop. Mei has wrapped herself around him and refuses to let go. He could've gotten out of the hold, but Neji knew that if he did, she'd just do it again.
"Slow down man, your missing all the beauty of the surroundings. Here walk like this…good, nice and slow. See, there's no need to rush."
"You sound ridiculous."
"I always do, are you just noticing?"
Neji's grunt was enough to suffice as an answer; he didn't need to use words to convey his thought. He knew that Mei would understand him. A smile breaks out onto Neji's face at the thought of this. He felt…happy.
He hadn't felt this way in a while, not since— no he dare not think of her now, not while he was in the company of a dear friend. She'd made it clear that they could never be, and he had accepted this right?
"Um Nej, is there a reason you stopped walking?"
Mei's voice brings Neji from his ideations, only to find that they have indeed stopped. By the tone of her voice, Neji can tell the she seems to be worried. Once again this notion is confirmed when he takes a small glance at her from his peripheral vision. Mei's gleeful expression is replaced by one of worry and uneasiness. Her eyebrows have become knitted together out of concern and she begins to nibble on her lips.
Her action can't help but remind Neji of the woman he's been trying so hard to forget. Just the thought of remembering her nervous tendencies causes a burning in his chest.
"I just remembered that I need to get some groceries and weapons, sorry for my rudeness."
"That's such a weird combination of things to get."
"Why is that, both are essential."
"But one is used to nourish while the other is used as a means of battle."
"While that may be true, they both have the same underlying purpose; to ensure my survival."
Mei rolls her eyes as they continue down the street towards the nearest market. Neji can't help but feel a little off put with the fact that he wasn't honest, but regret is quickly cast aside with the knowledge that he really did need to get those items anyway.
"Hey Neji!"
While Mei turns to see who is calling, Neji doesn't even budge. He knows who it is and is already going through a list of things that they could want. By the time that they catch up to the young man, Neji has already narrowed down the list to about only to sensible reasons; it's either training or another favor.
"What is it Tenten?"
Neji turns to face his old teammate who's sporting her usual hairdo with china styled shirt and pants.
"Geez man, I don't get a hello? Well it shouldn't be expected, long as I've known you."
"If you know it, then it seems pretty pointless to expect anything different."
"You know something—oh, sorry I didn't know I was interrupting something."
Tenten notices Mei and Neji's close proximity and can only give a nervous smile. Taking notice of the fact that she was still holding him, Neji removes his arm form Mei's grasp.
"Not really, I was just going to go get some necessities. And now that you know what I was doing, what do you want?"
"Um okay~, so I kinda need a favor."
"As I suspected."
"What's that suppose—actually I'll let it slide. So anyways our landlord has raised my rent this month and I was wondering if you could give me a loan?"
"You know, you'd be able to make rent if you stopped spending all your money…"
"Hey it's not my fault. I'm just a victim of the weapon industries lure of new weapons. Besides you know I'll pay you back."
"…How much do you need?"
"About 5,000 yen?"
"Alright, but I'd better receive this money back in full, I don't want any payment plans."
"Whatever you say!"
Neji reaches into his knapsack and pulls out his wallet. After counting the total amount of money he had, the brunette takes out the requested amount of money and hands it to his friend. Before he can put away his wallet, the girl is gone only leaving a puff of smoke signifying where she had been.
"So who was that?"
To say that Neji had forgotten that Mei was with him would be an insult to his alertness as a Shinobi, so he settled on the fact that he knew she was there, it's just that her actual presence had been set-aside for a brief moment.
"That was an old teammate of mine, we live in the same apartment complex."
"Oh, okay…so are we headed to the market still?"
"No, we're just going to head to the weapons store."
"Alright."
"Wow, this place has a LOT of weapons!"
"It is a ninja weapons store, so it's pretty likely for it to have a large quantity of weapons."
"Whatever—ooh, look at that!"
Neji couldn't help but smile at how child like Mei looked as she awed over the vast assortment of weaponry. Her eyes were as big as smoke bombs.
'Just like when I brought firework sparklers home for Hin…"
Once again there was that jolt of pain, the fire that burned throughout his chest. Before, this feeling would've brought Neji to his knees frantically gasping for air. But now, he had become accustom to the affliction. His hand passes over his chest in a movement that others could mistake as smoothing his shirt.
"Hey Neji, you should buy this!"
Mei runs over towards the musing man wielding an enormous windmill shuriken. Neji simply stares the eager woman runs toward him. When she loses her footing, Mei goes diving toward the ground but not before tossing the shuriken toward the ceiling. In one motion, Neji barely catches her. The young man in on one knee, with the other fully extended behind him. He cradles her to his chest with one arm, while he lifts the other just in time to grab the weapon before it came down onto them.
"Neji, that was amazing."
Neji stands up with Mei still wrapped in his arm. Her cheeks have a slight ting of pink to them as he eases her down (since he's taller, when he stands up Mei isn't touching the ground). He's upset at her carelessness, but when he notices that the whole ordeal has caught the attention of a few shoppers he decides to keep his words brief.
"Don't touch anything else."
As expected, when Neji doesn't make a fuss the group of on lookers go back to browsing the isles for their items. Mei in turn bows her head and nods pitifully like a scolded child.
"Okay."
The young man places the shuriken back on the wall where it belonged before walking towards the clerk, he's an older gentlemen with a couple of age marks on his cheeks and gray lining in his beard. The man has a pipe in his mouth, as he cleans a large kunai type sword.
"What can I do for ya?"
"I placed an order for some explosive tags and smoke bombs."
As Neji speaks, the clerk continues to clean the massive sword. He stops only to take the pipe from his mouth and blow the smoke from his lungs.
"Name?"
"Hyuuga."
The man places the sword on the counter before turning around to pick up two boxes.
", that you?"
"Yes."
"Here you are, that'll be 3,000 yen."
Neji hands the man the money, before taking out a scroll and setting the boxes on it. He forms a few hand signs and the boxes disappear in a small cloud for smoke. After placing the scroll back into his knapsack. With a small bow and 'thank you' he exits the store with Mei in tow.
"We should head back to the compound, it's getting late."
Neji takes note of the suns location and the time. Its nearly 6 o'clock which means that if they leave now, he'll still have some time to go see Hanabi.
"Yeah alright."
As they walk, the atmosphere between the two becomes stagnant. It doesn't really bother Neji, but he can tell that Mei can't the silence. There are a few times when he feels like asking her what she wants, but he catches himself before he says anything.
'If she wants to talk, then she'll speak when she's ready.'
After a couple more minutes pass, Neji starts to get annoyed. He doesn't need to activate his byakugan to see that the woman is silently working up the nerve to speak. When the Hyuuga walls come into view, she finally speaks.
"Hey Nej, I was thinking that since you weren't able to go food shopping, that I could make you a meal sometime."
After a pregnant silence and a lot of fidgeting on Mei's part, Neji agrees relieving her of her anticipation when they reach the entrance.
"That would be nice."
"Great!"
Instead of heading straight to the Bunke quarters, Neji and Mei continue to walk down the pathway. Unlike before, it isn't awkward. Mei even scoots closer to Neji, blaming it on how chilly the weather had gotten. He simply nodded his head in response, it had gotten a little cold and seeing how small she was, she must've been cold for a while.
When they near the Main house the couple step onto the porch and proceed to walk towards the back. When they see a few branch members, Neji stops to give a small hello and continues towards the back.
When the yard comes into view, Neji and Mei both take a rest on the cherry wood steps. They gaze out to the vast yard and trees beyond it.
"Everything looks so peaceful."
"I suppose so."
"Not 'suppose so' it is. Can you at least admit that Nej?"
When he doesn't respond, Neji hears a small chuckle arise from Mei. She tries to hide it behind her hand but has no luck. This causes Neji to smile, although he won't say it, he really did enjoy his day with Mei. They spent a few more minutes just staring out at the yard quietly.
"I think I'll head back to my quarters now, I have get my brother up early tomorrow."
"Alright, give him my best."
After getting her boxed kimono, Mei stands up ready to leave as Neji stands and turns to go inside to check in with Hanabi.
"Hey Neji, I had fun today…with you."
"I did too."
Mei walks towards Neji and gives him a hug. Neji, who has told her many times about personal space, allows the gesture; he even reciprocates it. When Mei loosens up on Neji, he tales a small step back.
"Goodnight—"
Neji is cut off by a pair of soft lips; Mei's lips. He doesn't move away in fear of hurting her feelings, but he doesn't kiss her back. The kiss isn't soft, but it isn't rough either; it's rushed. When Mei doesn't pull back Neji decides to gently lean away. However not in time to sense a chakra pattern approaching. He's only to realize it when the shoji doors open. By then, they've already seen too much.
"Oh, how rude of me I didn't know anyone was back here."
Neji is mute; not because he's embarrasses or out of shock, he'd just rather not talk at the moment. Mei is getting redder by the minute whether it is from holding her breath or embarrassment. It seems like an eternity before she speaks.
"No, we should be apologizing. I'll take my leave now, I'm very sorry. Please excuse me Hinata-sama."
Once Mei bows deeply, she quickly exits the yard at lightening speeds before Hinata can utter another syllable. There's an awkwardness that forms a thick cloud in the back. Hinata just stands in the doorway, while Neji leans against the pillars. Neither seems to know what to do, or what to say. Their paths haven't crossed for so long, they seemed to have forgotten how to interact with each other.
Neji is in pain. The ache that resided in his chest has turned into a fire that threatens to consume him. He wants to talk to her but how can he, after what she's just seen, Neji knows that even if he tried to explain things; they'd only get more complicated. But then again, it didn't matter. Besides if somebody didn't say something and fast, his head might explode.
"How have you been Hinata-sama?"
"Fine, I just came to see Hanabi and check on mothers garden."
"I had a feeling you'd stop by Nii-san."
Thank Kami Hanabi came when she did, the conversation hadn't started yet, but it managed to irk his nerves. He couldn't possibly feign any interest in the garden she was notorious for caring for. It wasn't that he felt awkward—well maybe just a tad bit— around Hinata now, he just couldn't carry a conversation with her.
"Oh Hanabi, you did a wonderful job with the gardening!"
Somewhere in between Hanabi arriving and Neji's thoughts, Hinata had stepped off the porch and was kneeling by an assortment of flowers.
"I just didn't want them to wilt is all, it's no big achievement or anything."
"That's pure nonsense. You've taken great care of them Hanabi, wouldn't you agree Nii-San?"
"It looks as if she's becoming more refined with each visit Hinata Sama."
One thing that made teasing Hanabi worth wild, was her temper. Of course getting her to snap took years of dedication and resolve (it also helped to know what got her peeved), but when you were finally able to get a reaction; it was time well spent.
"HEY! What are you tryna say?"
"Nothing, just that you're starting to behave like a girl instead of your usual boy-like manner."
"…Screw you Neji—"
"There's that vulgar language again, back to childish name calling? It truly is remarkable that your Hinata's older sister..."
"I'll show you childish, when I kick your ass!"
Hanabi was fuming. If steam were to burst from her ear and nose, no one would've been surprised. Her face was red, and looked like it were ready to explode. The thing that made the argument funny was the fact that Neji was as cool as a cucumber. He just stood there, with that cocky smirk plastered on his face.
"That's very unbecoming of the head of the—"
Hinata's spontaneous laughter interrupts Neji. Both he and Hanabi look towards the girl, faces contorted with anger and confusion. After a while, Hanabi joins in with her sisters giggling, while Neji only offers a grunt and a smile.
"I'm sorry…it's just, this reminds me of old times."
Hinata is finally able to tame her giggles to small and intermittent chuckles as she looks over towards her sister and cousin.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Nii-San was only this annoying when you were around."
"I was just thinking something along those lines, only it is YOU who is annoying."
Once again, the two are back to complaining about the idiosyncrasies and irritating habits. Only this time does Hinata allow herself to drift off into a trance, her two companions voices become dulled to a low murmur, as she tends to the garden.
"…And you talk in your sleep like a loser!"
"As do you, so I guess we're on the same level."
She missed this. Spending the day with Neji and Hanabi, relaxing and joking. This was the side of them reserved only for her and no one else. They trusted her enough to let their guards down, and give themselves over to her wholeheartedly.
"Hanabi, you did a wonderful job tending to the plants. They look well nourished and kept, all the weeds are pulled and I see you also clipped some of the loose ends…"
"I already told you it's no big deal, I was bored and didn't want to have dead plants tarnish the Main House."
"If that were the case, then why are you blushing? If you were truly bored then I imagine you would just go train, and besides; if you didn't want them to wilt as you say, then why not have one of the gardeners tend to them. This shows that they hold some type of significance to you, and that would also imply that you lied—"
"Geez, do you always have to speak Neji? I mean big whoop you're smart, but don't you ever get tired of hearing your own voice?"
The two glare daggers at each other until you can actually see a tiny battle being waged on. That is until Hinata cuts in.
"Well either way, you did wonderful."
A small shade of pink begins to tint Hanabi's cheeks, but no one mentions it with the knowledge that she will just negate the evidence, blaming it on the climate.
"Thanks."
Although she was having fun, the day was coming to a close and it was time to get going. Hanabi needed to be well rested for her counsel meeting tomorrow, and Neji probably wanted to see that girl he was with earlier. Although her fringe covered the girls' forehead, Hinata knew that she was of the branch house.
'They're probably dating. Well it's to be expected, she was rather beautiful...'
"Hanabi-chan, it's getting late."
"I know."
"So I'll be leaving soon…"
Hanabi's cheerful expression immediately becomes dejected and crestfallen; the exact thing Hinata wanted to avoid. Seeing her sister hurt (and to know she caused it), made Hinata very hesitant to move. In spite of her reluctance, she gets up anyway. As she walks up the steps, Hinata notices Neji watching her. As she stands Hanabi up and pulls her into a hug, she can still feel his set of eyes observing her like a hawk.
"Don't worry, I promise I'll return here soon okay?"
"I'm not sad, I know you'll come back."
Hanabi's voice is muffled as she buries her head into Hinata's kimono. When Hinata's body sways backwards a little, Hanabi pulls her in closer.
"Then why are you crying?"
Hanabi lifts her head, eyes slightly pink with moisture clearly visible, and looks at her sister.
"Stupid Nee-chan, I'm not crying. Your hair is too long and some of it got in my eye."
"Oh, of course; how foolish of me…"
Hinata offers Hanabi a warm smile as she cups her chin, and whips away the water. Afterwards, she lightly pecks the juniors' nose with a kiss, before inhaling deeply and facing Neji.
He averts his gaze, as Hinata casts him a glance. An action that causes her lips to form an expression that doesn't meet her eyes.
"It was nice seeing you again, Neji-Nii san."
"Likewise."
Again Hinata displays a somber smile before facing her sister again.
"Hanabi, please tell father that I came by today."
"Alright—wait, you're not walking home alone at this hour —"
"Don't fuss over me, besides I'm capable of protecting myself…"
"So…Neji walk Nee-chan home."
"Oh that won't be necessary. Besides, I'm sure Neji has something else to take care of…"
Hinata looks to Neji in hopes that they are of one mind on the matter, but when he stands up, she knows his answer.
"Gladly Hanabi-sama."
"Good, now I'll be able to rest easy knowing my sister is in good hands."
Hanabi snickers as she finally walks into the house, leaving the two adults to their lonesome.
"We should get going, the walk from here the Uchiha estate is about a twenty minute walk."
Neji already sets out before Hinata can answer, walking with hurried pace. Seeing as Hinata was wearing a kimono, it's surprising she managed to catch up with him by the time Neji passed the Hyuuga gates. The silence between them spoke volumes at to what both were probably thinking. After about a couple more minutes of brisk walking and silence, Neji finally slows down to a leisurely stroll, allowing Hinata to catch her breath.
"So…how have you been?"
"…"
When Neji doesn't answer, Hinata begins to think that he might not have heard her. But since she could see majority of his face, she knew he heard her question.
"Fine."
'Great, he's probably still upset about what happened earlier…'
"Once again, I wanted to apologize about earlier. I didn't mean to interrupt—"
"An apology isn't needed."
Now Hinata was confused. If he wasn't upset about that then why was he acting so reserved and distant? Yeah she'd told him that they couldn't be seen together as often anymore, but he had to understand why; so that probably wasn't the reason either.
"May I ask what's wrong?"
"Nothing. "
Neji seemed to quicken his steps once more, only this time Hinata wasn't going to chase him. Instead, she stayed at a moderate speed and simply watched the distant that grew between them.
'He's getting further and further from my grasp.'
Hinata could only smile, at the thought. It wasn't the same as the one before; this smile was forced; and noticeable.
"So—"
"What happened to your face?"
The question stops Hinata in her tracks, her mind instantly stops working and for a brief moment, her heart stopped. She can see he's waiting for an answer, she just doesn't know which one to give him.
She knew nothing could get passed Neji, he saw everything. Was this the reason he wanted to walk her home, so he could just interrogate her? They're in the middle of the road for Kami's sake; this wasn't the place for this type of conversation (or anywhere for that matter). She could see Neji clinching his fists, and although she couldn't see his face, she knew it was written with pure anger.
"What are you talking about?"
As the words leaves her mouth, Neji turns around eyes filled with disbelief.
"I saw it. When you were hugging Hanabi, you relaxed and the genjutsu you'd placed around your face faltered."
"…"
"Aren't you going to speak?"
"…We were training—"
"Don't lie."
Neji's anger was growing with each passing second. It was visible throughout his entire face. His eyebrows were knitted together, and the veins around his eyes are bulging; threading to activate his byakugan.
'Why can't we just stop talking and continue walking.'
"What do you want me to say then?"
"Just be honest."
"If I were to be honest, I'd have to tell you there's nothing to be honest about."
"I'm not blind, and neither is Hanabi."
Hinata instantly brings her hands up to her chest, in hopes of offering herself some type of shield. Neji knows what she's trying to protect herself from his gaze, but that won't stop him.
"I see the thick impressions of his hand around your neck..."
"Stop it."
"What about the large bruises on your back and shoulders..."
"Please."
"He must've slammed you into a wall, and look at the large welt that extends across your rib cage—"
"STOP IT!" Hinata has wrapped herself up in her arms and is kneeling on the ground. She knows already, she was there, she knows how she got each and every injury and why; he doesn't need to tell her.
'Even Neji knows about how bad you are, look at you: you're pathetic. You don't deserve to stand next to Hanabi, your a bad example.'
Hinata grabs her head frantically, her thoughts are beginning to drive her to the brink of insanity. Her eyes sting as heavy tears begin to fall down her face.
"Hinata-sama…"
Neji's voice is soft. The same tone someone would use on a toddler; someone who's weak. He knows he went too far, but what can he do now, he can't apologize. Instead, he walks over to Hinata, when he's hovering directly over her; he tries to offer her a hand. One that is slapped away as if it held some type of disease.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!"
"Hinata—"
"Get away from me."
Hinata slowly stands up, water spilling down her cheeks, lightly staining her kimono. The emotion of her gaze is that of a broken soul. Neji simply stands there, as if he hasn't heard her command.
"…Alright."
There's a pregnant stare that the two exchange. Then as if admitting defeat, Neji casts a glance elsewhere while backing away. Without another word, Hinata begins to make her down the road. As she departs, Neji watches her figure grow smaller and disappear into the night. Even when she is far from the reach of his byakugan, he continues to stare at where she once stood.
"Shit…"
A/N: So that's a wrap for this chapter. Don't forget to drop some words of wisdom in that review box, flames are always welcome! The next chapter is already undergoing construction as we (you) read. I know the story line is a tad bit slow, but I promise the next segment will have more action. Hope you all tune in for the next one.