Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything

Weak

-hajime

It was so easy to give up.

So fucking easy to raise his hands above his head and acknowledge defeat.

It was a hopeless fight anyway. There was just no way he would win. To try was simply futile and pathetic.

He just never thought that he would lose to Naruto twice.

A sharp intake of breath snapped him away from his thoughts. The prodigy could almost swear that he felt his heart sink literally inside his chest.

Ten years was an awful lot of time. It was enough time to restore Konoha to its former glory. It was enough time to change everybody, including himself.

Ten years was enough for him to realize that he never truly hated the Main House at all. Ten years was enough time for the elders to decide that the two houses should reunite.

And, tonight, even after ten years, Neji sees that despite all his efforts to win Hinata's favor, she is still in love with Naruto.

Neji swallowed hard and closed his eyes.

Tonight was Hinata's wedding night. He knew because it was his wedding night as well…

…as his lips travelled deeper and lower on her cousin's body, he couldn't help but think...

And, as usual, he thought of her.

She must be thinking about Naruto again…

…that certain shade of red on her cheeks…

...that certain arc of her eyebrows…

…yes, she was definitely thinking about the boy who left the village in search of his best friend.

Hinata thinks it's sweet. Neji thinks it's stupid.

How would you look for someone who doesn't want to be found?

Perhaps that was why Hinata loved Naruto so much.

Because Naruto never gives up. And the realization hits Neji like a tidal wave.

He smiled bitterly while silently reaching for Hinata's face.

Neji was not Naruto. Unlike Naruto, Neji was smart, calm, practical and observant.

So observant, in fact, that he noticed how he could break down in Hinata's arm's at any given moment.

-owari