Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Long Waiting ❯ Snow Flake and Sake ( Chapter 3 )

A Long Waiting

Manga: Naruto

Genre: Hentai/Angst/Drama/Romance

Type: Continuation

Rate: 17+

Pairings: Hinata-Neji, Hinata-Naruto

Summary: Naruto finally knew that Hinata loved him, and deep inside his heart, he loved her back. However, his training with Jiraiya was the only thing that prevented him to be together with Hinata. Before he left, he said to Hinata to wait for him. Could Hinata do it, when her guardian, Hyuuga Neji, love her not as a cousin?

 

A Long Waiting

Chapter 3: Snow Flake and Sake*

 

No matter how deep you tried to hide your feelings, a gulp of sake could burst it out…

It seemed that they have totally forgotten about the events that happened some days ago. Both of Neji and Hinata acted like nothing has happened whenever they speak to each other. Yes, the kiss was mean to be forgotten, and the two of them knew it well without needed to be spoken.

Lately, as two years passed by, Hinata seemed to have forgotten Naruto. She was not so eager to meet Naruto, not like the days before Sakura's birthday. She rarely mentioned about Naruto again, whether to Neji nor the girls. But actually, Neji knew that Hinata often cried in the middle of the night, her tears dropped on a healthy plant called as Ukicchi.

And those times where the times that hurt him the most. In day she acted like nothing burden her, but when it came to nightfall she would cry and whispered the blonde's name between her stiffens.

If only Neji could act rough, he would tell it to her to stop for waiting that idiot, who never sent any news to her. Once time in two years, Naruto had sent a letter, but it wasn't directed to Hinata. It was a birthday greeting for a certain pink haired girl, and not to the girl that Naruto supposed to give further news.

What a damned boy. Neji has already dislike him, but after watching over and over again for what Naruto did to Hinata, his feeling has turned into a more deeper one; hatred. Yes, he hated Naruto for what he had done to Hinata.

If he could kill him, without any doubt he would do it.

***

December has come. The last month of the year, and also the month were Hinata was born fifteen years ago. Hinata supposed to be happy when it came to the middle of the month, and yet she acted like one. She passed the days before her birthday, smiled fake smiles to her friends, and acted like she could not wait for her birthday.

Again, Neji, the boy who watched over her for years, knew that Hinata did not want her birthday to come. Her fear if Naruto did not send any news has really turned her down. She could be crazy only waiting for Naruto, and Neji thought he should do something to make her forget about her fear. At least, some of it.

A week before her birthday, Neji knocked on Hinata's door.

“Come in…” said a trembling voice from inside the room. This time Hinata did not bother to open the door. Neji then opened it by himself, and entered her room.

“Konbanwa, Hinata-sama,” Neji greeted, and Hinata didn't answer. She was clutching Ukicchi's pot on her hands. Tears stained on her cheeks, and some of it bathed the plant's leaves.

“You are crying again,” said Neji as he approached her.

“I- I? No… th- this is the first time…” Hinata's cheeks grew crimson as she wiped her tears quickly.

“Don't lie to me, Hinata-sama,” Neji snorted, “I know you often cry on night, moaning that guy!”

“Ni- Niisan... I-”

“Don't cut me, Hinata-sama! I'm sick to see you suffering anymore! Enough of those Naruto things! You don't deserve to feel the pain caused by him!”

“Niisan…”

“He didn't even send you a letter, Hinata-sama! You should forget him!”

“Ni- niisan, please…”

“And how long you'll be suffered more!? You always wait for him, but does he know that your heart hurt!? HE DIDN'T EVEN CARE FOR YOU!”

“NIISAN, STOP IT!” Hinata shouted, tears were swelling on her eyes.

“Hinata-sama…” Neji gaped.

“Enough of it… Neji-niisan… I've already known even if you didn't tell it to me... I know that he didn't even give me any news…” Hinata sniffed as more tears fell down on her cheeks, “y- you don't know even a bit about my suffering… how I missed him so much… wh- while he never gave me any news…”

“It's easy, Hinata-sama! Just forget him!”

“I can't, Niisan… I- I will never can…”

“Why can't you!?”

“Because I love him, Niisan… I really love him…” Hinata smiled a sad smile.

Neji dumbfounded. How much patientness that Hinata had? Wasn't she tired enough of waiting? Wasn't she hated him for what he did? But why she still loved him?

“Please, Hinata-sama… just forget about it… forget him, I beg you…” Neji bowed deeply at her.

“Ni- niisan?”

“I don't want to see you suffer anymore, Hinata-sama… that's enough for me,” Neji sighed.

“B- But… Niisan, wh- why?”

“Because I care for you, Hinata-sama… I really care…” Neji approached Hinata and embraced her, “it hurt me the most whenever I saw you cry because that Naruto… you don't deserve it Hinata-sama… I'll give you everything to prevent you for it. I care for you, Hinata-sama…”

`And I love you so much…' Neji added secretly on his mind, while stroking Hinata's raven hair.

“H- How will you help me, Niisan…?”

“Let's leave Konoha for a while,” Neji released the embrace and smiled at her.

***

It took Neji a stack of life-risking tasks from Hiashi and secret missions from the Hokage, before he eventually succeeded to got some days off near Hinata's 15th birthday. Those things he did were in sake of Hinata. In her birthday, he would like to give her the present that she'd never forget.

“H- Have we arrived, Niisan?” asked Hinata. Her eyes were hidden beneath the blindfold which Neji has tied sometime ago.

“Ne, we are almost there. Don't worry. I can already see the place; it'll give us some minutes of walking. Are you tired, Hinata-sama?”

“N- No, I'm not. B- But why did you have to close my eyes with this blindfold, Niisan? I- I can't walk well, everything's dark here…” said Hinata.

“That's why I'm here with you. Just hold my hand and believe in me, I'll take you there quickly. Or if you've already tired for walking, I could carry you,” Neji smirked as he offered the task.

“N- No, Niisan! I- I can walk by my self!” Hinata quickly turned down his offer, cheeks were blushing furiously.

Neji grinned mischievously and then he carried Hinata bridal-style without her permission.

“Ni- Niisan! P- Put me down!” Hinata yelled as the blush on her cheeks getting deeper.

Neji ignored what she said, and instead of put her down; he fastened his steps, and eventually reached the place that they were heading for.

“We've arrived, Hinata-sama,” said Neji as he put Hinata down.

“Can I open this blindfold, Niisan?”

“Here, let me do it,” Neji approached her and loosened the knot of the material.

Hinata blinked her eyes once before her vision became normal. She gasped, totally surprised when she saw the view in front of her.

“Ni- Niisan… th- this is…” Hinata covered her mouth with her right hand, tears flowing on her eyes in her happiness.

“Happy birthday, Hinata-sama,” Neji whispered to her ear.

“Niisan… a- arigatou… I- I don't believe that you actually brought me to this place…” Hinata's voice trembled, still shocked with the fact.

“Ne, do you like it? Hiashi-sama lent me this place, he said that I could bring you here in your birthday,” Neji chuckled.

“I do, Niisan… I've missed this place so much…” said Hinata as she observed the place with her eyes. It was the same villa that she and Neji went years ago. The place where she saw snow for the first time.

“They said December was not special without snow,” Neji told her a quote, “I don't know who said it, but I think it was quite right, so that's why I took you here. I know there were no snows right now, but I bet when the night's come, there'll be lots of snows,” said Neji.

“Will it be? I- I couldn't wait for it…” Hinata's eyes brightened when she imagined the snow fell down from the dark blue sky.

“Let's get inside, Hinata-sama. We need to prepare the dinner before the night come, don't say that you want your birthday without food,” said Neji as he opened the front door.

“W- Wait, Niisan!” Hinata grasped Neji's right hand before he entered the house.

“What is it, Hinata-sama?”

“I…” Hinata blushed as she held Neji's hand with both of hers, “Do- doumo arigatou gozaimasu, Niisan! I- I… Th- thanks for helping me to get over my problems!”

“It's okay, Hinata-sama. As long as you can smile, that means no problem at all,” Neji stroked her head.

And with that, Hinata gave Neji her best smile.

***

Hinata arranged the food on the table, decorated it so beautifully. Neji admired her work while watching her, if Hinata wasn't a shinobi, she would be a very talented maid. And imagining her wearing the maid uniform made some hentai things struck his thoughts. He could admire her body under the tight uniform, and saw her thighs which covered with mini skirt and a pair of dark stockings. She would be very tempting, and Neji would make her the maid that helped all of his `things'.

“Niisan? Could you bring the glasses from the kitchen?” Hinata called her, snapping Neji back to the reality.

“Oh… uh… y- yes!” Neji hurried his self to her. He kneeled by her after got the glasses from the kitchen.

“Arigatou, Niisan… e- eh? You're bleeding, Niisan!” Hinata took her handkerchief, and rubbed his nose softly, “s- see, what made you like this, Niisan? Did you bump on something?”

Neji looked over the handkerchief and kind of gasped when he saw his blood. Truly he was nose-bleeding, but he couldn't tell Hinata why it was happen.

“Iya, Hinata-sama… you often heard that people often nose-bleed when their bodies became chill,” Neji chuckled.

“T- True, but…”

“I'm okay, I'm okay!” Neji patted her back. Hinata should not know that the reason he was nose bleeding was because his imagination played with `Hinata-maid-version'.

“A- ah well, if you say so…” Hinata surrendered, and stood from where she sat. She approached the door to the back garden, and railed it aside.

“Hinata-sama? Why did you open the door? It would be so cold if the snow fell down,” said Neji.

“I wanted to see the snow, Neji-niisan... It has been years since the last time I saw snow… i- it's okay if it is cold a bit, ne… Niisan?” asked Hinata, the air chill made faint crimson on her cheeks.

“Well… if you really want it, it'll be okay for me. Besides…”

“Be- besides?”

“This Sake could warm both of us,” said Neji as he showed her a bottle of Sake.

“Ni- Niisan! Wh- where did you get it?” Hinata startled.

“I found it on the kitchen,” said Neji, “I bet it still good… Sake would be better if it is being long lasted, you know.”

“B- But, Niisan… we- we are not supposed to drink Sake yet…” doubted Hinata.

“It's okay, ne?” Neji grinned mischievously, “It's only once in a year… there's no guarantee that we'll have the chance next time.”

“Ah… well…”

“Ne?” provoked Neji.

“Well… I… I th- think I'd try a gulp later…” said Hinata a she turned her glance outside. Her eyes widened when she caught the falling white flakes from the sky.

“Nii- Niisan…”

“What's it, Hinata-sama?” asked Neji as he approached her.

“L- Look… i- it's snowing…” Hinata pointed at the sky, the same time when Neji looked up at the place she meant.

“Sugoi…” Neji gasped.

“Suteki da ne, Niisan?” Hinata smiled at him and ran to the garden. She danced with joy under the snow fall. Neji could only smile to see her happiness. His decision to bring her here was not turned into nothing. At least now he could make her forget about Naruto for awhile.

“Niisan, come here!” Hinata approached him, and pulled his hand.

“Hi- Hinata-sama!” Neji gasped, but he let his body to follow her. Hinata then took both of his hands with hers. She spun around their bodies together, letting Neji felt the happiness she have.

Neji once wrinkled his forehead, but then he smiled. Moreover, he leaded her to the dance under the snowfall. Hinata laughed happily as he did, but she then became a bit careless. She tripped by the ground, and her body bumped on Neji's chest.

“Su- sumanai, Niisan!” Hinata quickly let go his body, but Neji caught a hold on it. He embraced her body, not wanted to let it go.

“Niisan?” Hinata blushed.

“Hinata-sama… ureshii ka?” Neji whispered to her ear.

“H- Hai, Niisan…” replied Hinata as her blush getting deeper. The two of them then fell silent, leaving an awkward situation between them.

“I… the snow were getting thicker… w- we should head to the room,” Hinata released her body from Neji's embrace. Leaving a blank-staring Neji behind her.

Hinata sat on the floor, face still blushing from the events happened before. She felt her heartbeats getting faster, while her head swimming on the air. Came to think of it, she felt the similar feeling like this when she was with Naruto. Was it `something' that shouldn't exist in her heart?

Why she felt that she loved him?

Hinata remembered the time when she hasn't met Naruto, when she was still in a childish crush with Neji. But after Hizashi's sacrifice, Neji gave her cold shoulders. Never wanted to even smile at her. Never wanted to greet her except for formalities. Thus when she felt the crush gone, and then she met Naruto. In the situation of wanting to be acknowledged, Hinata watch Naruto as the inspiration and admiration. Later it turned to crush, and then it ended as love.

But now the situation is different. Neji has already known the true event that happened to his father. He then came to the usual Neji which was lost eleven years ago, though at first it was a bit awkward. But in the end, the two of them could be back like before. Where they were so close with each other. Without Hinata's awareness, the small, dainty flakes of her old crush reappeared.

“Niisan,” Hinata looked at Neji who was sitting beside her. She gasped when she saw him was already drinking half of the liquid inside the Sake bottle that he found before. His face was red, coughing a bit.

“Ni- Niisan, you should stop drinking, it won't do good…” Hinata tried to pursue him, but Neji just threw an annoyed glance at her.

“Drink,” Neji shoved a glass of Sake to her.

“N- No… I don't need it, Niisan…” Hinata ignored softly, though she was a bit scared right now.

“Drink. You promised me before.” Neji ordered.

“Niisan… please…” Hinata still ignored. She wasn't strong at alcohol. Even only a gulp of Sake could make her lost her consciousness.

“Drink,” Neji said. His voice wasn't demanding, but a bit pleaded. Hinata then took the glass from him, praying not to lose her consciousness quickly.

She then gulped on the liquid. The warmth feeling flooded her throat, making her a bit comfortable. She felt she was okay, not yet losing her mind. Maybe she could drink the entire Sake of her glass.

Neji smirked when he saw Hinata enjoyed her drink. He then continued his own, drinking the Sake directly from the bottle. With every gulp he got from the Sake, he could gather more confidence, more warming feelings. Maybe those which the older people thought when they were having their drink.

“Hinata-sama…” Neji called.

“Yes?” came a soft reply from the woman he love the most.

“Aishiteru.”

***

AN: Weee, it's over for part three!! And Neji was making his move! Yeah go, you could guess what will happen next. But unfortunately, it would take me a couple of weeks for meditation so I could express `the event' which happened between them. I have already got the idea for it, but I found difficulties in express it in words, and also I have so little time in making fics… my school has a stack of damned works to do! Dammit, I just can't wait the time when I'm free from this jail called as `Senior High School'… but after all, I still have college test entrance waiting… please wish me luck so I can be accepted at Graphic Design faculty… that's the first way so I could realize my dream to be a mangaka! Well now, enough talking! Please reviews!!