tampered | Log; ongoing.

Log; ongoing.

When; August 16th, after this.
Rating; U, so far.
Characters;

cagedbirdflying. Open to any other Naruto characters.
Summary; Tenten takes the two Hyuuga's back to her place so they can relax~
Log;

Tenten opened the door, padding quietly into the room before turning back with arms crossed to look at the Hyuuga pair. She exhaled slowly as she took stock of the current situation. The brunette would almost give anything for Shizune to have an emergancy than sit with the two family members. Almost. Being on the same team as one was hard enough, after all. But, so life goes, and with a quick metal shrug the kunoichi got down to business. "Kitchen's through there, bathrooms that door, and you're welcome to choose your own bedroom. I haven't slept here since the place got rearranged, so it's fine by me." she stated, pointing out each room in turn.

Tenten smiled warmly, for Hinata's sake as settled down on the sofa with a contented sigh. Away from the sound duo and co the atmosphere was certainly lighter but... She eyed Neji warily, waiting for him to say the wrong thing. It would be just her luck to have her good mood spoiled by that one.

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Hinata nodded gratefully, sitting down on one of the chairs, drawing her knees up to her chest and tucking the blanket around herself tightly, cheeks still red as she glanced over at Neji. Hopefully he hadn't seen too much? She glanced over at Tenten after a moment.

I..Is there anything...that I could..cook? I..I know a bit of cooking, so...I would make us something...if you like, that is...

Tenten smiled again, shaking her head slightly. "I'm alright for now. I'll go out later and make sure the place is fully stocked for you though, if you want. What about you, Neji?" She glanced over at her team mate, studying his expression. She knew, as many people did, all about the family issues of the Hyuuga. And, almost like an added bonus, she knew Neji.

She'd never have said they were close - her aid in his training seemed to be the only reason he talked to her from time to time. But the relationship they did have made the brunette want to help the two of them out, the best she could.

Hinata looked more and more uncomfortable as her cousin's silence dragged on. She knew it wasn't really directed at her. He tended to be a rather quiet man anyway. But still, she wished he'd say something. Even if it was just to chide her for being weak. She blushed slightly, looking away. She didn't want to admit that she'd missed hearing his voice...

"Ne, Tenten-san? D..do you think...that you might have some clothes that I could borrow? I...maybe they won't disappear this time?"

"Hmm? Oh, uh.. yeah." She glanced over at the female Hyuuga before standing up with a small stretch. It wasn't Neji's fault, really, she mused. But still, he didn't have to be so cold. "I'll be right back."

She padded over to one of the bedrooms, rummaging about in the wardrobe as she continued to ponder exactly why Neji felt he had to be so much more... detached. Just because Hinata was here.

If she'd ever thought of Hinata as a rival it certainly hadn't been over Neji but rather over the role of strongest kunochi in Konoha. In that regards, every girl she'd ever met was her rival. But when it came to Neji? Tenten sighed, pulling a jacket out of a pile of clothes. Neji was the hardest person she'd ever gotten to know over her years as a shinobi. She'd probably never understand the boy, no matter how many chances she gave him. But she wasn't one who couldn't admit skill.

She admired the older boy for that. But damn if his social skills didn't leave the brunette wondering sometimes. She grabbed a pair of trousers off a shelf and leaned back against the wall, waiting.

Maybe, just maybe Neji'd find it easier if she wasn't in the room for a bit. She exhaled slowly, turning her gaze to the window and the rapidly darkening sky beyond it. She sincerely hoped Neji would say something to his cousin.

Neji leaned against one of the walls within Tenten's apartment, looking about himself. Hinata and she had been speaking around him, but the words were flowing through his ears and mind like water, never stopping, and never making sense. It was that their conversation was running over the rocks within his mind--the sticking points--of why was he here, what kind of place actually was this, was this freedom, or was it just another devouring of soul, much like the Hyuuga Family?

He faintly noticed Tenten leaving the room, and he regarded her with a small twinge of interest. The girl was a good person; reliable on missions, though she truly did not make herself stand out so much. If Neji could truly call anyone friend, he would surmise it was her, though he couldn't say that it would be more than that. She was a strong girl, it was true, and enjoyable to be around, but, he did not think that he could think of her deeper than the title of 'teammate' or 'comrade'. But, on the other hand, he did not think he'd truly be able to think of anyone in that respect, his heart was too weathered and bleached from all that had happened to him in his entire existance, that emotion truly did not shake it any longer. Tenten had made a place for herself, a bit of paint upon the old wall, but nothing that could make a mural that would change things.

(continued)

He then regarded his cousin--Hinata-sama, the one his life was meant to serve. Being a part of the Bunke, the branch family, he did not have many choices for anything, especially not ones that would have any bearings on how he governed his own life. At the beginnings of his days, before he was given this curse that he now wore upon his forehead, he believed that she was beautiful, kind, adorable, an angelic princess come to earth. Now, as he looked upon her, a cold river ran through him, chilling his very core to an immeltable ice. She was weak, and not able to do much for herself--no confidence, no true worth as a shinobi, apologizing for every step she took, and yet, she had the complete and utter dominance over himself. An unbreakable instrument of bondage with a smiling face, gently pinning his wings down and never allowing him to truly fly. He almost broke the machine within the confines of the Chuunin Exam--the one place where he could have, without penalty (until he returned to the estate, and Hiashi took him from the shinobi realm completely or so he thought he would--not for the fact he cared for Hinata, but rather for Neji's insufferable insolence and crime for even daring to think of harming a member of the Soke, and then actually killing them..). But, she survived, and he remained under her once more. And now, even in this world, she stood there, still above him, still holding the chains to his existance with one small seal of her hands. For a moment, when he had believed he had actually obtained freedom in some sense, for just one moment his mind allowed itself to believe in a foolish glimmer of hope, Fate stepped in and completed her job once more--taking freedom once again, as she placed a member of the Soke into this realm, as well. He sighed, allowing darkness to cover his orbs of opalescence, vision disappearing behind falling eyelids. It was never finished, and he knew this for a fact. Even though, now, Lord Hiashi was treating him maybe even a small bit more like a nephew, Neji still knew that Hiashi could kill him, and would kill him without thought if need be. Yes, that was an unspoken law between all shinobi, but, it was different in the Hyuuga. His byakugan were sealed, meant to disappear when he fell through the veil of life into the swarthy hands of death, because those of his creed were used as bargaining chips for the clan, and also, could not be trusted not to try and run, to join another village, to challenge their destiny, to try to fight back. The Main family held his absolute fear of death, and though they were trying to sugar-coat the tensions now, and be 'kinder' to those of the Branch, they still held the reigns, and still knew full well they stood over all those who wore the emerald juuin upon their head. Hinata being here just reminded him of that. Another sigh escaped his lips, louder than the last, as he bowed his head a bit lower.

Without even realizing it was aloud, Neji murmured to himself. "It is never finished, Fate dances upon me, even here, and I cannot challenge her. It was foolish to think I had freedom, even for a breath."

Glancing up slightly at Neji, she let her lips curl up in the barest hint of a smile. She felt better just knowing he was around. Even though she knew it was only out of duty, the Hyuuga heir realized that her older cousin wouldn't let harm come to her if he could help it. As she averted her eyes back towards her blanket-shrouded lap, her sharp ears caught his murmured words and she glanced up slightly. Though she couldn't make out everything he said, she distinctly heard his last sentance and inwardly cringed, the smile from her face fading into a look of sadness. She knew very well that the Neji she secretly watched and adored saw her as nothing more then the captor who bore the key to his cage and she hated the thought that she contributed to his misery. Nevermind that she herself would never dream of actually exercising the power that she wielded over the juuin. It didn't matter. She was Soke, he was Bunke. And because of that, he would never see her as anything other then a chain. A coil of iron that pinned his wings down and kept him tied to the earth below. She bit her lower lip, avoiding looking at him.

I won't cry....It's not as if he's normally that much nicer to me anyway.

Neji looked up at his cousin, noticing the shakenness in her expression. Her eyes were shimmering, full and uncertain, as if they would well over with tears at any moment. He turned his head, closing his eyes once more, an indignant expression forming upon his face.

She has always been like that, afraid of anything and everything that life possesses. The only time she was truly respectable was when she faced me in battle in the Chuunin Exam..At least then, she tried to better herself..

A sigh once more escaped his lips, as his eyes fluttered back open, focusing upon her once more. Though she was his burden, and his jailer, she and he did have one thing in common. She was just as stuck there as he was. Swallowing, he knew what he had to do. Pushing himself off from the wall, he walked over to her, placing a hand upon her shoulder.

"Hinata-sama."

She flinched at his touch, head turning to face him so fast that it made her short hair fly around her head. Her eyes widened momentarily, and for just a moment, a faint blush coloured her cheeks before she quickly averted her eyes and swallowed.

"N..Neji..nii-san..."

She stared down at her hands, that were in her lap and fisted around the blankets, tightening her grip on the flannel. It wasn't only embarassing that she felt like crying in front of Neji, but even more embarassing that she was going to do so while in her underwear. She drew her knees up to her chest, resting her chin on them.

"G..gomen....Neji nii-san. I...I'm s..sorry that..that I can't be s..strong...like you...."

Biting her lip, she wiped one blanket-covered hand across her eyes as she looked up at him, lower lip trembling.

"I...I tried...b..but..but I...."

She didn't really mean to, but before she really thought much about it, her arms were around his waist and she was crying into the front of his shirt. If she had thought about it, or been less upset, Hinata would have sooner pulled out all her teeth then actually dare to touch Neji, much less hug him. But right now, all that she could think about was how frightened she had been while wandering around alone all night and how relieved she had been to find that he was here as well.

Neji, bewildered, stared down upon his cousin, detachedly feeling the warmth spread across his chest as the tears permeated his shirt. He did not truly have an idea of what to do, having never really been presented with such a situation. His cousin was normally so timid, and so afraid of any contact whatsoever, that this was something he thought he would never witness, especially directed at himself.

There was something else happening that he thought he would never witness as well.

He felt his own hands beginning to slip around her, like two entwining serpents, unbidden, and unafraid, completely contradicting his own inner emotions. The pale constrictors began to compress, dragging the girl toward him, deeper into his chest, and their embrace, all but ignoring the boy's silent pleas of confusion, and restraint.

She flinched at first when she felt his arms slide around her, sure that he was about to push her violently away from him. She didn't think he'd really hurt her. No, she had stopped believing that years ago. After that one abortive Chuunin exam she had spent several months afraid to go near him for fear he would try once more to kill her. But after his fight with Uzumaki Naruto, he had seemed different. Almost as if some of the anger and ice within him had thawed slightly. Hinata still wasn't sure that her expectations stretched to the realm of him actually being nice to her so when she felt his arms tighten further, drawing her slight body against his, her pearlescent eyes flew open in surprise, crimson blush spreading across her cheeks. She felt herself stiffen, muscles drawing up tightly and fingers clenching into the fabric of his shirt momentarily before she drew a deep breath and consciously begged them to relax. Thankfully for her, the tenseness in her muscles and fingers seemed to heed her pleas as she felt them uncoil like a spring that had been released. Neji was warm, and comforting, and so she allowed herself the momentary pleasure of simply closing her eyes and letting herself melt into his embrace.

Is this what heaven feels like?

She mentally chided herself for being silly. He was just trying to make her feel better, so it was pointless to entertain ridiculous and childish romantic notions about Hyuuga Neji sweeping her off her feet.

You know better then that, Hinata. Even if he did actually ever feel the same way, you know perfectly well that he's not that sort of guy.But.....this still feels nice...

She knew that he'd probably act like it had never happened later, but she was content for now to just be close to him like this.

The sheer overwhelming silence was getting to Tenten as she waited and she snuck a glance, glad to see Neji hadn't just walked off. And it was rare, catching a glimpse of his softer side.

So rare, she had to make sure he knew she had caught sight of it for the third time. Leaning against the door way, clothes in hand, she gently cleared her throat, smiling slightly. "Here you go, Hinata. I hope they fit alright." It was a kind smile, the sort you'd give a wounded animal you wanted to heal, full of understanding and compassion, but the look in her eyes read something that Neji had seen before - amusement at catching one of her team mates acting kindly towards a girl.

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Log; ongoing.

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