Chapter 2:

Hinata stretched out on her bed, her eyes red and puffy from all the crying she did earlier that day, despairing that things like this always seem to happen. Just when she finally decided to tell Naruto how she felt, this had to happen. Her hopes and dreams disappearing before her eyes. She loved and cared for her cousin but how was she to be a good wife to him when both of them knew her heart belonged to another?

After all these years waiting for Naruto to be her first kiss and her first boyfriend, all that waiting was for nothing. Now she can't even tell him how she felt, she could feel tears forming i her eyes again and she fought them back. She tried to give herself a little pep talk, Neji was different now he's not like how he was years ago. Though he still doesn't talk very much or show very many emotions, he has become a good man. But...he's just not Naruto. A sob burst from her lips and this time she let her tears flow freely, crying herself to sleep.

oOoOo

Neji dropped his head into his hands feeling terrible. Ever since he was fourteen Hiashi tried making things up to him by training and letting him live in the Main House. Since he was appointed as Hinata's protector, his things were moved to the bedroom next to hers. He has been listening to her cry all night. Instead of hating her like he stupidly did all those years ago, he hated himself because he was the source of her pain. He wished he could be more like Naruto just to make her happy. He felt a sharp pain in his heart; but he could never be like Naruto...she could never be happy. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes wanting to lose himself to better, nicer times...

It had been a few months since he first met her and now he saw her playing in the garden. He smiled and walked towards her to talk with her. As he closed the distance she turned her head and saw him.

"Neji-niisan!" She called to him excitedly. She got up quickly and started running to him but tripped over her kimono and fell back into the flowerbeds. He ran toward her, worried that she had hurt herself.

"Hinata-sama, are you alright?" He urgently asked her once he reached her side. She slowly sat up and looked at him, flower petals and stems sticking out of her hair in every direction. Tears started forming in her eyes.

"I...I'm s-sorry Nii-san." He just smiled at her, swallowing his laughter, happy that she wasn't hurt. He started pulling the plants from her hair, admiring how cute she was and resolved in protecting her always...always.

She was under the sakura tree crying, Hiashi had scolded her again. Neji felt compassion for her, he didn't like watching her cry. He looked down to the ground, not knowing what to do when he spotted a small daisy. He smiled, daisies were one of Hinata's favorite flowers. Bending down to pick the flower, Neji then started towards her and sat down next to her.

He didn't really know what to say to her so he just shoved the flower into her face, hoping that she would notice it. When he did, she gasped and looked at his hand holding the flower then back at him. He just looked at her then at the flower still in his hand. With his other hand he grabbed her much smaller one and place the flower into her hands. She looked down at the flower in her hand and when she looked back up at him, she wore a small smile.

"Thank you Nii-san." She whispered and then suddenly moved towards him and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

It was past midnight on the night of Hinata's sixteenth birthday, the part had just finished a couple hours ago. He sat in a tree in the courtyard, reviewing everything about tonight when he heard a sweet voice beneath him.

"Neji-niisan?" She called him. He looked down at her and noted how different she was now. She had decided not long ago that she was going to grow her hair out, and so now it was past her shoulders. Her face and body had matured and grown beautiful with each passing day. His Hinata was now all grown up. He jumped out of the tree and landed gracefully next to her. She sat down and moved and patted the space next to her.

"Sit with me?" She asked. He nodded and did what she asked of him. "Thank you for tonight Nii-san."

He turned to look at her but she was staring up at the stars. He too, turned to look at the night sky, when he felt her rest her head down on his shoulder and wrap her arms around his.

"And thank you for my gift." She whispered as she brought out the gold locket around her neck. He just smiled up at the night sky, wishing this night would never end.

Neji sighed as he walked back to his futon and laid down, looking out his window at the stars.

"What will happen to us now Hinata?"

oOoOo

A few days later both Hinata and Neji found themselves in the ever dominating presence of the leader of their clan again.

"What is it...that you...would like to discuss with us?" Hinata meekly asked.

"Hush you impertinent child! You wait to speak until you are spoken to." Hiashi scolded her. Though both Neji and Hinata were already on their knees, Hinata tried her best to bow even lower.

"F-forgive me O-Otou-san." She whispered, so ashamed it forced her to stutter.

"The council members and I have decided on the date of your engagement." He stated, continuing as if he didn't even hear her. "You two are to be engaged by the end of this week."

WHAT?! Both were shocked to the core but they had trained for too long to ever have an outburst of any kind in Hiashi's presence. Hinata's heart was beating fast with fear, why was this being pushed so much so fast?! Her mind on Naruto she could feel tears coming again, and felt shame all over again, she didn't want to cry in front of her father. Her body trembled with her fight against her tears. She could feel her world collapsing all around her, it wasn't supposed to be like this!

Neji could feel Hinata trembling beside him, he clenched his hands into fists and could feel the rage inside him. How could they do this to her?! Damn him! Damn all of them! He clenched his jaws together, struggling to not say a word, it was a good thing his head was already facing the floor or else Hiashi would see his face distorted in a snarl.

"And in three months time you will be married." Hiashi continued. Neji was ready to last out at him. He was about to open his mouth and get himself in serious trouble when Hinata beat him to it.

"W-why Otou-san? W-why so soon?"

"Do you doubt the council's AND my decision?" he challenged her. She shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. "The do no question your elders!"

"Y-yes Otou-san." She whispered.

Neji hated this, he hated being so powerless. Him, a supposed genius, was powerless to stop this. If it weren't for his seal he would told Hiashi to take his and the council's ideas and shove it up their asses. But he couldn't say or do anything. He couldn't tell Hiashi to just go piss off and he couldn't comfort his beloved cousin. He couldn't stop their coming engagement and he couldn't make her happy. He felt his heart sink at that last thought, would he never see her smile again?