A/N: This chapter was probably one of the hardest for me to write. I know everyone loves Neji and I tried my best to do his POV justice. I worked so much on it and am not sure I am happy with it (still).
Thank you everyone for the support, be it through engaging with my fanfic, or giving me confidence and advice during the writing process. :D
I hope you can't read my struggle in this chapter!
Neji's POV was inspired by the prompt "Finding beauty in the ugly and broken" (Day 10). Enjoy!
The door of their home cracked open. The rhythmic sound of the chef's knife chopping on the wooden board stopped. The blade was gently put down. The sizzling of the pans dimmed. His father finally returned, bringing the smell of rain with him.
"I'm home!"
"Welcome home, dear!"
Neji smiled up at his parents, who embraced each other in the doorway. "My turn to go?"
It was a rhetorical question. Hinata would always shortly visit his parents before stopping for a longer visit with him. He was happy when she did visit, he really was. Sometimes though, he hoped she would stop coming every day she was in Konoha. She should hopefully move on and live without guilt.
He laid his empty teacup down and headed towards the door. The smell of wet earth became overpowering. It was still pouring outside. But Hinata had come to see him, so he'd go. His father's warm hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Son, she has news." Hizashi's eyes bore down into Neji's. "Please try to be supportive."
Neji nodded, but shrugged his father's hand off and disappeared into the curtain of rain. What is he even thinking? When haven't I been supportive anyways?
The rain droplets fell through him. Sometimes he did miss the feeling of rain on his skin. But on days like today he was happy to remain dry.
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She was holding a wide lavender umbrella with her dominant hand. Hinata-sama kneeled down in front of his grave, aiding herself with her left. Ah, she had gotten mud on her fingers. Her knees sank slightly into the moist ground – she looked just like she used to when he'd watch her gardening back at the compound.
She busied herself with picking at the weeds which were budding around. In the meantime, she started with the pleasantries. She would stay silent for the perfect amount of time for him to extend his answers. Yet, she wouldn't hear anything back. But sometimes he felt like they were back in time, spending an afternoon together.
The wind had picked up, messing with her hair. Hinata-sama paused her speech. She had tried to remove some stray strands, smearing mud on her face. Neji cringed. He tried to reach out and wipe it, but his hand went straight through her, like a knife through soft butter. Right.
"Neji-nii," she said, as if knowing his state of mind at the moment, "maybe uncle has told you, but I have news." She smiled warmly. "I started seeing someone. Actually…" She then dabbed her chin with that muddy left hand. "You two are v-very similar."
He sighed.
Hinata-sama, I would strongly advise you not to choose to date someone who resembles me. And for the love of God, just stop smearing mud on your face.
She started explaining things from the beginning.
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About an hour later, a male figure appeared. The rain had masked his identity. He handed her a flask with hot tea. Hinata assured him she'd join in a few minutes. He also thankfully wiped clean the spots on her face he had been fixating on.
"Neji-nii, it seems like Sasuke-san wants us to go–"
Hmpf, nearly had me at 'Sasuke-san'. I thought there was just one bastard bearing this name. The one who was often there to visit Itachi. The dog who watched over Hinata like a hawk when she'd fall asleep.
But as he looked closer at the figure, it did look more and more like–
I'll just make sure.
So Byakugan activated, he saw him – Uchiha Sasuke. A fresh swell of rage rose in him. Why? He did want Hinata to move on, to live her life. She had spent the past hour talking about him. He did sound decent. But despite all of that, he felt like his blood was boiling and his extremities tingled to punch something.
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Next time she showed up, the bastard had joined her. He had been holding her hand. The Uchiha had even bowed in front of his grave, thanking him for his sacrifice. And yet, it felt like dumping fuel on a fire.
The Uchiha waited a respectful distance away for the duration of Hinata-sama's visit. Neji couldn't even listen. His temples itched for him to activate his Byakugan and stare daggers at the other man.
What felt like an eternity later, the Uchiha stepped forward. "You should eat," he said to his cousin. He agreed. It was getting late. "Tomorrow you'll go on a long term mission." Ah, he had missed that. Why can't I even listen?
"Will you look after nii-san's grave?"
Oh, hell no. I won't show up. Not once.
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Now that he learned the whole story, the Uchiha had been actually just looking out for her. Okay, Neji knew that part. It had been obvious by the way he had always kept his distance that he had meant no bad.
But something was wrong. He should feel happy. The Uchiha was doing nothing wrong. On the contrary, he had picked up training Hinata-sama. Some days, she could barely conceal her delight and the curl of her lips had gotten more playful. She was standing taller, talking with more confidence. And yet, what he felt was anger.
He hated that he was angry. For a reason he couldn't understand. So if the Uchiha would indeed visit, maybe he would show up.
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Ten days later, the Uchiha was there, removing the weeds which had started growing back around his grave. He was down on all of his fours, humble like a peasant. Neji watched, trying to control his feelings. The anger and frustration sizzled.
After the Uchiha had done fast work of pulling the weeds, he sat down. Not in the formal seiza manner he had done when visiting with Hinata – reclined and carefree. Neji stared back. The silence lasted until the Uchiha bowed and finally left.
Was it being powerless? Was it being replaced?
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He showed up for every visit he received – most of which came either from Hiashi or the Uchiha. And yet, he couldn't point his finger at what was bothering him. The frustration with himself grew.
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And so, the next time the Uchiha had showed up alone, Neji scrutinised him. He kept tabs on his pulse, breathing, pattern of motion. And even though he could tell something was bothering the man, Neji still couldn't tell what it was that plagued his own mind.
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There it was – two days later he was back, pacing around. "She is late."
Neji's heart stopped. For how long?
"Five days late." The Uchiha ran his hands through his hair. "The Aburame has contacted Kakashi saying they'll need more time. He said something about a detour." His eyes bled red as he said the next words. "Kakashi said he can't tell me anything more and that even this was against protocol." He chuckled. "Do you know what I told him? Either he tells me or I go look for her myself."
Red morphed back into black. "And as such, I learned the Inuzuka wanted to do something for her birthday. Together with the team and all."
Neji saw the man in front of him smile for the first time. "How stupid is that?"
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There it was – moving on did hurt. He had always hoped she'd do it, but never quite imagined how that would feel. Now he knew that moving on meant that everything that he used to be needed for became delegated. To someone else. And that certain people could do even better than him. He'd never admit that out aloud – but the Uchiha did seem like a good match.
At the end of the day, Hinata-sama did always have a preference for picking up the strays, the ugly and broken. He laughed to himself. Yes, she did have a soft spot for dicks like himself. And certain Uchihas.
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Up next: Kiba's POV! What just happened on that mission?
See you on Day 16!