A/N: I like Hanabi because she has a way of bringing out the silliness in everyone around her. After all, we can't take ourselves too seriously. Enjoy!

Just Desserts: Part I

The sparring match did not end well for Hinata. Slowly, she pulled herself up off the dojo floor, mindful of the aches and pains. Hanabi was standing victoriously behind her, breathing heavily but otherwise unfazed.

"Very good, Hanabi," Hinata said graciously but bowed her head. "Your skills improve every day."

"Yours as well," Hanabi replied. "It gets a little harder each time to beat you. At least Father wasn't here to see you, right?"

Hinata flinched at the mention of their father but said nothing. She smiled weakly at Hanabi. "Thank you for the sparring match. Next week?"

Hanabi nodded eagerly.

"Til next time then."

Hanabi waited until Hinata left the dojo before she quickly limped her way to the Main House kitchen. She wasn't kidding when she said Hinata's skills were improving. Her sister's last attack deadened her right leg. She wondered briefly, as she hobbled her way to the kitchen, what permanent nerve damage felt like before dismissing the worry. It would all be worth it. She had to remember that.

She made her way to the cupboard where Hinata kept her cookbooks and pulled out the book devoted to baked goods. "Oooohhh yeah," she said in anticipation as she placed the bookmark on a recipe for praline cupcakes.

She quickly put the book back exactly where she found it before limping out of the kitchen before anyone could see her.

0

The following week found Hanabi in the kitchen enjoying one of Hinata's baked-from-scratch praline cupcakes. Her eyes closed with pleasure as she took a bite. "Oh, man, she really outdid herself this time."

"There you are!"

Startled, Hanabi turned to see Neji glaring at her from the doorway. "What?" she asked with as much innocence a mouth full of delicious cupcake could convey.

"What are you doing to Lady Hinata?" Neji demanded, walking over to the table. "She's acting depressed over you beating her all the time. I've been picking up the pieces for days!"

"We're sparring, that's all," Hanabi replied simply with a shrug of her shoulders.

Neji narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "You've never expressed interest in sparring with Lady Hinata before. You always complained that she wasn't enough of a challenge."

"Well," the girl averted her gaze guiltily, "now she is. Now go away!" she said evasively, waving her hand in a dismissive gesture, "You're ruining my cupcake time!" and she brought a cupcake temptingly to her lips.

But Neji wouldn't relent. "Spill it!"

Hanabi huffed in annoyance and set aside her treat, realizing her cousin was not going to leave her alone until she offered an explanation. "Alright, if you must know, when Hinata gets a little…down… her food becomes simply amazing!"

Neji stared at her blankly. "What?"

"Everyone knows that Hinata is a phenom in the kitchen but when she's feeling bad about something, her baking quality just goes up a notch or three, if you can believe it. I think she uses baking as some form of coping mechanism or something. So…I just spar with her, beat her and remind her how disappointed Father would be if he saw her abysmal performance…just to motivate her, you know. Few days later: cupcakes, fresh-baked bread, pastries, you name it!"

"So let me get this straight," Neji began, feeling a tension headache coming on, "you're methodically destroying your sister's self-esteem so she can…bake…for you?"

Hanabi frowned thoughtfully, "Well, not just for me. The rest of the household has enjoyed the fruits of my labor. I mean, look at all of these cupcakes…"

Neji sighed in resignation and looked off to the side. "I knew it. You're the devil."

Hanabi crossed her arms defensively. "I don't expect you to understand my genius here, Neji, considering you don't indulge in anything fun."

"How long do you think you can keep this up?" Neji reasoned. "Contrary to popular belief, Hinata's martial art is improving. What are you going to do when she beats you?"

Hanabi chuckled. "Oh, please. I love my sister dearly but that will never happen."

Neji rolled his eyes.

Hanabi made a devious smile. "Neji, I don't think you've tried Hinata's cupcakes." She pushed the plate towards him gently.

Neji crossed his arms and turned away resolutely. "You are a pathetic creature. I will not be an ally in this foolishness! Do you honestly think such an obvious ploy would work on me?"

"No, not really. But it does leave more for me," and she selected another cupcake from the batch. "Just don't ruin this for me by telling Hinata. I don't want her to lose her touch."

Neji shook his head but then smirked, facing the over-confident Hyuga. "I won't say a word because I am looking forward to the day when Lady Hinata kicks your ass."

Hanabi rolled her eyes unimpressed. She took a bite out of the cupcake and sighed. "Oh, wow…you might as well look forward to the pumpkin spice cake because that's what she's going to bake next after her scheduled beat down."

"We'll see," Neji said before stalking out of the kitchen.

Hanabi shook her head, "What a tight-wad," she muttered to herself before taking another bite. "My god, what on earth is she putting in these things!"

~ TBC ~