Chapter 3:

A week went by since they had met with Hiashi, it was the longest week of Neji's life and it was the shortest for Hinata. She was pacing back and forth, unconsciously chewing her bottom lip, a habit she thought she got rid of years ago. It was minutes before the small engagement ceremony. Hinata's waist length hair was up in an intricate design, with a beautiful comb embedded in it. She was wearing a beautiful white kimono with a sakura tree and blossoms design wrapped around the bottom half and the sleeves. Hanabi was watching her sister get more nervous by the second.

"Nee-san?" Hanabi called her but didn't get a response. "Nee-san, everything will be alright."

She was concerned, Hanabi felt a little guilty that they weren't very close as sisters because of their differences in strength and treatment. But she loved Hinata regardless, she was always kind and though Hanabi knew that she could probably physically stronger, she knew that Hinata possessed incredible strength of character. If Hanabi knew that this was going to take place then she would have spent more time with her sister to form a stronger bond. When she was still met with silence she got up from Hinata's bed and went to her and took her by the shoulders and shook her.

"Nee-san! Everything will be alright!" Hanabi raised her voice trying to get through to her sister. Hinata snapped out of her daze and looked at Hanabi and gave a small wobbly smile and grasped her hands.

"Thank you Hanabi-chan." She said softly and breathlessly.

"At least Neji-niisan doesn't hate you anymore." Hanabi tried to reassure her.

"Yes but...I don't know if he likes me all that much though." Hinata replied, wringing her hands together.

"Oh get a hold on yourself, now you're just feeling sorry for yourself." Hanabi snapped at her, "Two weeks ago you would have said that your relationship with him would be fine."

"Yes, Hanabi-chan, fine for cousins, for friends, but not for future souses." Hinata replied, trying to get her sister to understand. She couldn't believe that no one could understand the position she was in.

"Well whatever, you guys are getting married and there's nothing you can do to stop it. So you'll just have to get used to the idea, tough shit." Hanabi felt a little guilty by the callousness of her words, but what else would get her sister to accept what's happening. Hinata on the other hand was appalled.

"Hanabi-chan, you will not used such language!" Hinata scolded her sister, Hanabi resisted to urge to roll her eyes. At least she was able to get Hinata's mind off of the engagement ceremony.

Just then a servant came in telling them that it was time to begin. At that, Hanabi did roll her eyes, all that work down the drain. Hinata turned fearful eyes to her sister, she could feel herself starting to hyperventilate. Hanabi's patience was at an end, she could only take so much, she walked up to Hinata and slapped her across her face. Not hard, but enough to get her attention and leave a little pink mark.

"Snap out of it! For crying out loud, it's not even the wedding yet! You look like you're going to your death!" She yelled at her. Hinata stared at her with shocked eyes and gently touched her wounded cheek. Hanabi calmed down and looked at her sadly.

"Don't you love him? Even just a little?" Hanabi asked.

"NO! I love Naruto!" Hinata yelled back at her and Hanabi rolled her eyes again and started walking out of the room. But before she left Hanabi turned to her sister once more.

"Do you really love that guy? Or is that just an excuse?" With that question asked, she walked out to leave her sister pondering.

Hinata looked puzzled and confused, of course she loved Naruto. She always had and she always will...won't she? But part of her wondered, why were there times that Neji made her heart ache? Why were there times when she would watch him train that she'd become slightly breathless? She sighed, she felt so confused. Sometimes, she knew, she wanted to be closer to Neji...closer than cousins should be.

The servant returned to bring her to escort her down to the ceremony. It was going to be simple, he would ask her father for her hand, her father would accept, then he would ask her, she would accept, they kiss, and then it would be over. She walked into a large room surrounded by her family and straight ahead stood her father and Neji. Her father had a stern expression but kept his eyes on her, Neji on the other hand looked right passed her, as if he was staring at something over her shoulder. It made her a little sad that he couldn't even look at her anymore. But she kept her eyes on him, she refused to look away, to look weak like everyone thought she was. She was still Heiress of this family, Neji is strong and probably would be a better leader but she still wanted to have a say on the future of their clan. And for that she needed to look strong, she needed to show them that she was strong.

Neji watched her as she walked toward him, he could feel his heart beat faster with every step she took, she was so beautiful she took his breath away. Where she was wearing a beautiful kimono he just wore the tradition clan outfit. He looked like he always did, he just decided to not tie his hair back. He could feel her eyes on him and he wanted to smile at her show of courage and backbone, he knew that Hiashi and himself weren't the easiest of men to approach, but his face remained emotionless. When she finally reached him, her eyes turned downcast. They both got down on their knees to bow before Hiashi.

"Hiashi-sama, I would like to ask you for the great honor of taking your daughter's hand in marriage." Neji stated. Hiashi looked at him sternfully, indeed it looked like he would turn him down, but his words contradicted him expression.

"Yes, Neji, you may. You have my permission." Then Neji turned to Hinata, she looked up at hime and his eyes softened and he gently took her hand in his.

"Hinata-sama, would you do me the great honor of being my wife?" Hinata gasped silently, she was expecting to feel panicked but the warm look in his eyes and the feel of his thumb drawing circles in ther palm. It made her feel so warm and calm inside.

"Yes Neji, I accept. I will be your wife." She said simply, saying his name without the honorific for the first time. He started to lean closer to her, lowering his head down for the kiss that was to come.

At this, she did panic, she wasn't ready to kiss him or to be kissed by him. He wasn't the one she wanted and knowing that fact pained him, but the last thing he wanted was for her to be scared for him. His other hand caressed her cheek and he leaned his head down, his long hair draped both their faces. As his hand brushed her cheek he gently kissed the side of her mouth. He could feel her surprise.

"Do you think so bad of me Hinata?" He whispered to her so only she could hear him. He then pulled her into an embrace, as he did he leaned his head down to her ear, "I shall not kiss you properly until you want me to."

With that he pulled away and gave her a small smile.

oOoOo

Later that night Hinata, lying on her bed looking up at the stars, reviewing what had happened during the ceremony. She could feel small tears form in her eyes except this time they weren't for herself, they were for Neji. All this time she was only thinking of herself, never once considering how Neji was taking all this in, never once thinking about his feelings.

'Do you think so bad of me Hinata?' He had asked her, unfortunately at that particular moment, she did. She felt a tear run down her temples, all these years they got closer, he had been so kind to her. As soon as she hears that she's being forced to marry him, she immediately treats him like he was her enemy. She felt like a complete fool, Neji had no more say in this than her.

It was only a week since they had heard about their engagement and there was tension between them already. She couldn't stand to look at him because she would be reminded of what she had lost and so he would avoid her as much as he could. Hinata closed her eyes and let the tears fall silently, it was all her fault and she wished things could go back to where they were. She fell asleep thinking that over and over again.

The next day while Neji was training and trying to keep the events of last night out of his mind, noticing his old teammate approach him.

"Hey Neji, long time no see. How have you been?" Tenten asked him. He took a break from training, he hadn't seen her in a while, and though he was glad that she was over her silly crush on him he did miss her company.

"Fine. How have you been? Just got back from a mission?" He asked her.

"I've been good. Yeah, just got back from one. Piece of cake for me, but anyways, I don't have much time to chat. But before I forget, Hokage-sama said she wanted to see you." She told him before leaving. He nodded and headed towards the village.

oOoOo

It was evening by the time Neji found Hinata, deep in the forest training by herself. She usually kept her long hair up to keep it out of her face, but because of her exercise several strands of hair escaped and now framed her face and neck. She was wearing a black tank top and dark blue pants. She was breathing fast and in a defensive position when he walked in on her.

When she spotted him her serious expression vanished and was replaced with a smile as she relaxed her position. It had been a while since she'd train as hard as she had today, making her forget all her troubles, making her forget her engagement to Neji, making her think it was like old times again.

"Neji-niisan, what are you doing here? Am I late for dinner again? I must have lost tract of time...again." She said with a smile. Neji was at a loss for words, she was acting as if this whole past week didn't happen. Was she...was she finally warming up to the thought of marrying him? She giggled at his lack of a response, which sent a shiver down his spine.

"Neji-niisan, what's wrong? You're looking at me strangely." She giggled again. Being on friendly terms with her again made it more difficult for him to tell her of his departure, but he forced the words through the lump in his throat.

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning on a mission." He stated, gathering his composure. She smiled a little confused, he looked like he expected a certain reply to his statement.

"Okay...I hope it goes well and that you stay safe. How long will you be gone?" She asked.

"It's a long term mission. It could take months, but I'm not sure when I'll be back. But..." He paused, his heart beating a little faster. Hinata looked confused, being an ANBU captain, he usually went on long term missions. But she was confused on why he drifted into sudden silence.

"But what?" She asked. He looked into her pale lavender eyes, so similar yet so different from his own, and grasped her shoulders.

"But I'll try my best to be back in time." He answered softly pulling her body closer to his. How he longed to hold her, to really kiss her.

"Be back in time for what? Neji-niisan, you're acting strange as well." She said really confused and scared at the feelings he was awakening in her, with that look of his. That heated look that made her body tingle with anticipation, but her heart and mind only thought of one man...and it's wasn't Neji. He froze at her words, what was she talking about?

"The...the wedding." He answered her, now confused himself. Hinata's eyes widened in surprise, she had forgotten all about her engagement. All the memories of the past week came rushing back to her. Gone were the cheerfulness and friendliness in her eyes, depression and wariness replacing them. Neji could feel the change in her, he sighed and closed his eyes, letting her go. He looked at her with a blank mask, though it pained him to do so.

"Yes, it is very likely that I shall be gone until the wedding." He said looking at her to see how she was going to respond. But she remained silent, looking at him with a sad and hesitant expression. So he turned to leave, hoping that when he saw her again she would soften to him. Giving him some small hope that she could learn to love him over time, as he was rapidly realizing he loved her.