The steady downpour created a sheet of silver in the gray light. The softly muted sprinkling of rain against the roof, the gurgle of water running down the gutters, and plops of raindrops in the fish pond in the courtyard outside.

Hinata sat on the floor of her room, the sliding doors open to let the fresh rain scent in. The windchime in her window made the occasional ring of notes from a stray raindrop. A fern sat on her windowsill in a pot with a small scrawled message, it's bright green leaves contrasting the darker tones of the dried flowers hanging nearby.

She was surrounded by books, but not a single story was amongst them. Instead they were filled with pressed flowers, blossoms and stems and leaves. Some were old, the pages yellow and crinkled, some were not even used still wrapped in plastic and waiting to be filled.

A large cream colored piece of thick paper was in front of her, still empty. She frowned, worry lines appearing on her face. What to do?

Something different, she decided after looking at her previous arrangements. They lay along the far wall, glue still drying. Each an exercise in delicate curves and tranquil colors. The three went together very well, perhaps she would give them to her expecting second cousin. Glancing at her stacks of books, Hinata scanned the spines for something that would trigger her memory.

She didn't look very long as a distinctive footstep could be heard outside her doorway, the quick and purposeful sounds could only be one person, "Good afternoon, Hanabi-nee-chan."

Her sister scowled, flicking her hair out of her eyes, "It's raining," she complained before plopping down on the wooden floor haphazardly, "I can't even train."

"You could use the dojo."

"It's not the same," Hanabi explained, twirling a kunai, "I can't even wear my sandals in there. What type of battle could I be in where I don't even wear shoes?"

Hinata smiled indulgently, "You could practice your calligraphy," she suggested.

"Don't you start!" Hanabi scrunched up her nose, "You sound like father. Besides, weren't you supposed to be training today?"

Hinata sighed, was that all her sister thought about? "I did, earlier this week."

"Earlier this week? At that rate you'll never make jounin."

Finally finding the right book, Hinata pulled it out of the pile and started to browse through the samples, "Perhaps you should spar with Neji-nii-san," she changed the subject, "He recently returned from his mission."

"No thanks," was the disdainful reply, "All he wants to do is meditate and breathe half the time. What's the use of that? It's not like I'm going to stop and breathe an opponent to death."

Mentally shaking her head Hinata gently took out a vivid white and red blossom, the paper thin petals trembling in the drafty room. It needs a contrast, she decided, a blue-green grass perhaps, "He is a very skilled ninja," she countered.

"Yeah, but acts like father," she complained, "'This is the way of Jyuuken,'" she did her best impression of him.

"Hanabi-nee-chan!"

"Psssshhh," she waved her off, "I can't wait until the chuunin exams this year. Sensei is finally letting us participate. Then I'll be able to get out of here for a while."

"You seem confident," Hinata said, remembering her own nervousness and anxiety. She could remember the night before the first written test, sitting up the entire time and waiting. It got better with the second time.

"I'll pass," she said nonchalantly, picking at her fingernails, "I have too."

Selecting another sample for her arrangement, Hinata smoothed the unruly twining leaves and thin stems, "You have too?"

Hanabi turned her head away and stared out at the courtyard, "Maybe you and Neji are happy to practice that," she waved an arm in Hinata's general direction, "Stuff."

Tactfully remaining silent, Hinata continued her arrangement. Her sister was merely being truthful, it wasn't a criticism of either Neji or herself, but it wasn't a compliment. There had been nothing but talk of jutsu or weapons out of her mouth for months.

"It doesn't matter," Hanabi shrugged, "Besides, the rain is letting up now, if I hurry I can make it to the training areas before they fill up," she got up and cracked her back, "See ya later."

"Mmm," Hinata replied, hearing her sister jump to the roof and start running. She frowned and placed the final touch on the paper, Hyuuga written neatly in blue ink, and lay it against the wall with the others.

Disclaimer: Possession is not mine.

A/N: Since Hanabi has no canon personality beyond 'younger than Hinata and a better ninja to boot' and I've seen everything from vile manipulative bitch to giddy school girl, I decided to go with more of a medium but opposite of Hinata. While the chapter is short, it is needed to set up future chapters :) A few notes:

So Hinata got a potted fern from somewhere.

I really like Hinata's hobby, as you can probably tell. I think it suits her and decided to expand upon it.

Neji is such a stick in the mud.

Thanks for reading!