tampered | (no subject)

(no subject)

When; End of No Secrets day
Rating; G to maybe PG for language
Characters; Hyuuga Neji cagedbirdflying and Hyuuga Hinata hyuuga_hime
Summary; Hinata wanders out into the night alone, Neji goes to find her.
Log;

Troublesome was NOT the word for this. He had heard his former mission leader and now friend due to circumstances they'd had to face breathe this word more than once. But, that was not a word that he would use at this juncture. No. This was much worse than troublesome. Much Worse.

Hinata-sama had left a small letter, and had left into the night. By herself.

He wouldn't really mind it much if this were Konoha. He'd still not like it, but it wouldn't be as worrisome. But, here, in this place, where he unadmittadly worried for himself, he knew someone like her would not be able to make it.

With a sigh, he wandered out of the house, going to search for the one who held the reigns above his head. He never fancied himself willingly looking for a Soke, but, in this world, stranger things had occurred...

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Hinata wandered through the lit streets, pale white eyes taking in the neon signs and bright displays in the windows. She'd never been in a city quite like this, and she couldn't help but feel the faintest twinge of uncertainty inside her blossoming as her footsteps patted softly down the pavement of the cracked sidewalk. She'd been at it since the late afternoon. After cooking a simple dinner with whatever ingredients she could find, the dark-haired girl had carefully wrapped up the remainder into two plates. Those same two plates now, unknown to her, sat untouched in the refridgerator where she had left them, their cheerfully-written labels ignored in favor of the note she had left on the table;

Nejinii-san and Tenten-san-
Please don't worry about me. I've gone out to try and find a job. I just hate being a burden on the both of you so I wanted to try and do something to help out. I cooked dinner for you, it's in the fridge. I'll be back later on.
-Hinata

She knew that Neji would probably chide her later about how it was irresponsible of her to be wandering around the city at night on her own. And she couldn't help but agree with him somewhat. While the streets had held a warm and inviting glow earlier, after the sun had set she realized that her decision to go looking for work had perhaps not been the wisest of decisions she could have made. The darkened streets had become more forboding and on more then one occasion did she find herself the victim of stares and outright leers from people she passed. She clasped her hands over the front of the dark purple sleeveless blouse she wore, wishing she had chosen an outfit that lent itself more towards concealment. But she had wanted to look more polished and a bit more adult-like. So the purple blouse, grey knee-length skirt, and black strappy sandals had been her choice. Her hand had been shaking when she'd even put on a little bit of lip gloss, it had seemed such a foreign thing to her. But she'd swallowed her nervousness and told herself that it was for a good cause. To not be a burden to her friends and to the person she admired most.

I don't like this... everything looks so different at night. I..did I come down that street or this one?

It wasn't only the streets that were making the young Hyuuga heir nervous. As she passed groups of people, she couldn't help but hear their thoughts due to the curse. And while most of the thoughts were perfectly innocuous, there were a decent few that made her chest tighten with anxiety.

Neji wandered out among the streets, eyes catching every bit of light and movement. He wondered what kind of job Hinata would find at this time of night, though all of the ones that began to come to mind made him shudder, and also did not really fit his cousin. Hinata-sama was already shy to begin with, on subjects that were not at all in this category. If you even tried to step into that category with her, though, she would flush red as blood, and stutteringly try and change the subject.

But, if she was not trying for a job like this, why would she be out now of all times?

This thought still plagued him. He still found himself wondering of the true intentions of his cousin, who he was supposedly meant to protect. Finding nothing quickly, he brought his hands into a seal infront of himself, feeling the familiar push of the veins, and his eyes settling into the talent that flowed through his bloodline.

'Byakugan'.

Hinata paused in her traversement of the streets to try and calm her racing nerves. She was rather certain that she was now lost. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath.

"Byakugan."

Opening her eyes as she felt the familiar tracery of veins make it's way from her eyes to her temples, she studied the streets, trying to see if she could make out anything that spoke familiarity to her. She bit her lower lip in distress upon the realization that, as she had never been out in the city at this time of night, she had nothing upon which to base her study. She continued down the streets, rounding a corner and yelping when she ran right into someone. Backing up swiftly, she bowed and apologized. As she raised her head, the person's thoughts registered in her head and she took a small step backwards as the man looked at her, his features settling into a grin that chilled her. This was NOT a good place to be at. Taking another couple of steps back, she turned and ran, feet pelting against the concrete ground as she darted down sidestreets. Stopping to catch her breath, she spared a glance behind her, relieved to see that there was no one there. With a sigh and a slight smile, she turned back to continue, and gasped as she found the way blocked by several larger bodies. She stepped back, turning to run, and stopped short when she saw that her way had been blocked. Gulping back her fear, she backed up against the wall, dropping into a familiar stance.

There's only 6 of them... if I'm careful, maybe I can get enough of an advantage to get away..

She narrowed her eyes and as the first one grabbed for her wrist, she spun around him, delivering a series of blows designed to incapacitate him.

Will Juuken work here the same as it does in Konoha? I know there are people from different worlds here. What if some of them have some sort of energy other then chakra? What if it doesn't have any effect?

Her well-placed strikes seemed to have an effect, at least on her first attacker. But 6 large men against one small girl were not favourable odds. Especially when said girl was not known for her strength and confidence. It wasn't long at all before Hinata found herself with her arms pinned behind her by one of them as the others advanced. Alabaster eyes widened as she struggled, his thoughts telling her all she needed to know about what he had planned for her.

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

Under the gaze of the Byakugan, the city shimmered in an even stranger way than normal. There were many things that Neji could not peer into, many things that were hazy, many things that were beyond his perception. A sliver of uneasiness slid through him, as he gazed around. The Byakugan could see through all, even through others' forms, and into their chakra systems, which was one of the things that made the Juuken so deadly, and so precise. But, here, in this world, there was something that disrupted it. Still, he guessed that a half-functioning Byakugan was better than none at all.

His feet echoed against the empty streets, making a soft noise, barely audible, even in the silence. The nighttime ambience was making him feel uneasy. He could barely imagine how it would be for Hinata, who was afraid of familiar places, and things that would never phase him in the slightest. If it was making him feel fear lick at his heels, it was probably engulfing her, and mercilessly ripping her apart. This final thought chilled him to the bone, making him stop, though it was confusing as to why.

Something isn't right.. his mind entoned, whispering to his senses, making them freeze and flinch. He shook his head, placing it in his hands, trying to convince himself otherwise. It was the night, playing tricks on him, muddling his psyche. But, no matter how many times he told himself this truth (or at least what he believed to be the truth), the feeling would not be shaken, it had rooted itself too deep within his mind. He kept pushing forward, searching as much as he could through the alleys and avenues.

Before him, he saw a group of men, circling, in some sort of commotion. He moved forward, trying to see what they were around.

His breath gasped, as his muscles stopped dead, ice colder than any snowstorm forming around his heart. His throat was thick and dry, though his stomach felt full of roiling snakes, snapping and hissing, filling him with dread and pain, bringing him to nausea.

Hinata...

They have Hinata!

This one reality blocked out everything else that even tried to slip its way into his mind. It was loud and unbearable, bringing his mind into a frenzied cacaphony of thought and panic, adding to the physical pain that was already assaulting him. The noise grew stronger, and even more clamerous, no rational thoughts being able to form within his harried mind. He faintly felt his muscles press, tensing almost as if they were going to move. The veins pulsed on the side of his head, throbbing in time to the roar within his head, which had reached a level of deafening. His vision blurred, and his muscles ached, taut, legs stretching and becoming limber, the sensation of movement rising up from his legs like steam. Chakra flowing through him like waters at a sluice, rising, pushing against it, ready to break. Air rushed around him, as he took to the air, pushing over the heads of the group of men, and landing infront of his cousin, eyes closed, with only the sound leading him. All at once, the roar within him crescendoed, and ceased.

His mind became clear, a mirrorface, in which reflected his intention. His eyes snapped open once more, hands out. His chakra boiled up, finally cresting and breaking through the floodgate. It spun around him, an azure spiral, forming a dome around him and his cousin, pulling his body in its revolution. His voice split the air, crying out to the sky, as everything spun into a howl around him, an echo of the powerful noise that once was within his head.

"Hakkeshō Kaiten!"

Hinata squeezed her eyes shut as the hands reached for her, teeth drawing blood as she bit her bottom lip in expectation of what was to come. But it didn't come. Rather, there was a flurry of motion and sound, an abrupt surcease of the actions of her tormentors. And then, there was a new sound, one whose notes made her chest constrict and her hopes flutter. She knew that voice, had memorized the way it's velvety tones rose and fell, had spent uncounted hours listening to it when it's owner was unaware. She tentatively opened one eye, fearing for a moment that it would all be a dream, then opened both alabaster orbs wide as she sucked in a gasp of air at what she saw. Neji. Her Neji, though she'd never dare to actually refer to him that way except in her mind, chakra roiling around him in the technique that had become synonymous with his name, as he drove her attackers back with the force of his spin. She ducked her head, bangs blowing across her forehead with the spin of the air within the dome as she dropped to her knees and huddled behind him.

Nejinii-san.....

Neji's hands fell to his sides, eyes looking to the sky. His breath was still heaving, the sensation of chakra still glittering down his nerves, like dying embers. The bodies of those who were assaulting Hinata laid about him, like discarded and broken mannequins, mouths agape, expressions frozen in looks of horror and surprise. Neji brought his head down once more, closing his eyes.

At least she is safe now.

Keeping his back to his cousin, he began to speak, his eyes fluttering back open, surveying the damage his technique had wrought. The veins disappeared into his head, as he retracted the Byakugan, the last residual effects of his assault finally fading away.

"Why were you out here?" His voice was quiet, colored with dark tones, painting his displeasure in an obvious light that his cousin could see. "Especially alone. At this time of night. What kind of job were you hoping to get?! Were these," he motioned with a sweep of his hand, gesturing to all those lying about, "your prospect employers, Hinata?" No formality was given, nor was there any thought of one in his mind, as he regarded her. Right now, he did not think of her as Soke, but rather, as one who had made an ignorant move, that almost got her killed.

You worried me.

She flinched at the harshness of his tone. Though his voice was quiet, level, it did nothing to mask the anger. She felt the blood rush to her face at his allusion to the sort of job one did at this time of night and she bit her lip again, ignoring the fact that all she was doing was making the split in it bleed more. She stared at the ground for a moment, unsure what to say that would make him understand, yet fail to draw his wrath.

"I...n..no, Neji-niisan. I.."

She tried to push the fear she still felt away, to smother it with the relief at his intervention, to try and find the courage that always seemed to elude her. Expression steadying slightly, she looked up at him, pale eyes tracing over his back as she unsteadily gathered her feet under her to stand up on shaky legs.

"I...I went out at 4..I've...been looking for a job since then. I thought that if I went out during dinner-time that there might be more restaurants and such open that would be hiring someone who could just work at the cash register or something else simple like that. But...I got lost..."

As she spoke to him, something strange happened. Perhaps it was still the adrenaline that coursed through her veins, or perhaps it was the knowledge that he was there, and that he had protected her. Either way, she felt her shyness ebb a slight bit and her voice steadied, losing the stutter she always seemed to have whenever she spoke more then a few words.

"I'm tired of being a burden on Tenten-san. Of being a burden on my family. I don't want that. So I thought that if I could get a job, that I'd be able to help out a bit more. I guess...I guess I was wrong..."

Now that the adrenaline rush had begun to fade, she felt her cheeks burn with shame for the obvious risk she had put herself in. No wonder he was angry. She had been foolish. VERY foolish. Hinata felt her newfound confidence begin to evaporate into a pool of shame and self-loathing at the dangerous situation she had narrowly avoided. Thanks to HIM. Not thanks to her own strength or courage. But because, as his duty held him to, Neji had been there to bail her out. No matter that she'd still entertained the childhood dream of him running to her rescue, or that she liked to think that he would always BE there to protect her. The fact still remained that the reason he WAS there was because she was a weak failure.

He probably hates me even more now...Stupid little Soke, can't even get a job by herself without having to be rescued....I'm so pathetic...

She hung her head, unable even to cast her eyes on the back of his head. She knew that if he turned around, she wouldn't be able to face him. She was too ashamed.

Neji sighed, turning away, biting his tongue, though it at the moment was burning with so many scathing words that ate through his mouth like acid. She was soke, of course she would have no idea of how to find work, much less secure it, and perform it. They had always used the Bunke for things like that.

"Hinata-sama, you should have asked me to come with you." He sighed, slipping a hand over his face. "At least then, you would have been safe." And it wouldn't have been so troublesome...I wouldn't have had to rush about, trying to find you...I wouldn't have had to have fought, just to save you.. These thoughts buzzed through his head, as he watched his cousin, and her falling expression. Her weakness. It always bled through in situations like this.

The snowy wind began to howl its lonely song once more, and Neji sighed. "It's getting colder, Hinata-sama. Let's go home. You need to rest." He placed an arm around her shoulders, beginning to lead her away from the scene. "We'll talk more about it then."

She flinched at his touch, reflexes still on guard against the anger she had felt certain he would display towards her. After a moment, she felt her tense muscles relax in his half-embrace, allowing herself a momentary surprise that concern, rather then hostility, was directed her way. If it had been someone else, someone like Naruto-kun or Kiba-kun, the sort of concern for her wellbeing would be completely normal. They always worried for her, afterall. But Neji, who was usually so cold and detached, actually seeming to CARE that she had almost come to harm, and caring MORE it seemed then simply as a Bunke serving a Soke, now THAT was something to remark on.
But he always just seems to see me as a burden. He couldn't REALLY care for me beyond his duty, could he?
She spared a quick glance up at the taller Neji, white eyes tracing over the familiar profile, their blanched irises flickering away after a moment as a faint blush stained her cheeks. No, she didn't want him to see her as a burden, to see her as weak. That was the whole reason WHY she had endeavored to find a job. She couldn't retreat back into her shell now. Taking a deep breath, she ducked out from under Neji's warm arm, spinning around to face him, white eyes meeting identical ones without their characteristicly shy expression.

"No."

It was such a simple word, yet it carried so much more weight. It wasn't simply an affirmation in the negative, or even a refusal to accompany him. It was a rejection of the yoke of weakness she had worn for far too long, an attempt to change that fate which the very man she now confronted was convinced couldn't be changed. She stood, feet apart and hands fisted by her side, trembling slightly, and stared him down, mind pleading for her words to reach him.

Don't look at me as just a Soke. SEE me, for once.

Neji sighed, stopping at once in his tracks. He turned to her, as the wind howled about them, biting and strong. Shaking his head, he began to speak, sounding a little more exasperated than normal.

"I want to go home, to get out of this storm. It will do us no good to become ill and incapacitated." He would talk to her later about everything, and everything she wished for him to do. He just did not want to do it standing in a good three feet of snow. Being flu-ridden and having to bother Shizune because of his cousin's antics was not high on his list of things he was desperately wishing to do. If she was deciding to be stubborn, he would just have to vocalize this.

"Come on. I don't want to have to bother Shizune because of your stubbornness, Hinata-sama. I don't want to be bed-ridden. You shouldn't either. Whatever you have to say, it can wait until we reach the apartment." He paused, beginning to walk again. "Or you can tell me on the way."

She felt something flutter in the pit of her stomach as he spoke to her, REALLY spoke to her. Not as a bother, not as a Bunke submitting to a Soke, but as simply Hinata. The way that he spoke to his teammates or othe people. There was certainly no real warmth in his tone, but it also lacked the usual coldness and hostility that he bore towards her. Hinata felt herself flush and glanced at the ground, nodding slightly. It was just as likely that when they got back to the apartment, he would scold her or try to act as if it had never happened, but at the moment she didn't care. The only thoughts that ran rampant through her mind were of the fact that, if only a little, he seemed to finally be acknowledging her. She stepped over to him, eyes not meeting his, and hesitantly took his arm, shivering as a particularly cold breeze blew through her. With a slight whimper, she unconsciously tightened her hold on his arm, burrowing somewhat into his warmth. It had been warm when she'd left earlier....

"I....thank you, Neji-ku..niisan."

She felt her heart lurch and fought the urge to clap a hand over her mouth. No. She hadn't. Hadn't almost referred to him as "Neji-kun". Hinata felt her cheeks start to heat up and made sure that he couldn't see her face, mentally chiding herself for not being careful enough.

Baka! Look what you almost did!

She swallowed hard, hoping that he hadn't caught the slip. That he wouldn't notice her sudden unwillingness to look at him. Neji-kun. That was how she referred to him in her mind, in her heart; the affectionate suffix conveying a level of intimacy that she knew she would likely never receive but still whistfully hoped for. But no matter how she referred to him to herself, she had always been careful not to let it show. She called him "niisan", as she had done since they were children, when he had been the smiling older boy who followed her around rescuing her from imagined perils and playing as loyal knight to his princess. As they had grown up, even though that closeness had shattered, she still persisted in the nickname that had flowed so naturally from her lips. But now...now there was always a mental reminder to herself. A caution to maintain the distance that keeping her secrets required. But now, had that distance been breached? She fell silent, hoping to not draw any additional attention to herself.

Neji had heard the subtle trip in her voice, but had decided to stay his tongue on the matter. He didn't truly mind it, the slip probably came from the trauma she had just been in. Or the terrible cold around them. Whatever it was, on a night like tonight, she could not be blamed for it.

"You are welcome, Hinata-sama." He spoke these words much more warmly than normal, turning his gaze once more to her. She had been through enough tonight, and he didn't need to agitate it further, even if that was what she truly needed.

He would be kinder to her tonight, though, in the morning, it would go back to the way it always was. He would speak to her of this, and make sure she never pulled an idiot stunt like this again. He didn't need her getting killed, for, even if she had been disowned once, she wasn't now, and she was still a Soke and the daughter of Hiashi. If she died, HE would die by Hiashi's hand. Literally. And that was something he didn't want to experience.

"Hinata."

She said it softly, so much that it wouldn't have been audible had he not been standing so close to her. Biting her bottom lip, she glanced away.

"Just...just Hinata...is ok...."

I know that's the best that I could ever hope for. You'd never call me Hina-chan, or Hina-ko, or anything like that. You'd never have a reason to....

Perhaps she had forgotten the curse, and the way it let her thoughts melt into his mind, perhaps she no longer cared. Whether lost in the chaos of the recent events or willingly thrown to the winds, her mind churned out it's products without check, only luck seeming to keep her most carefully-guarded secrets hidden away.

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