The sky was clear over Konoha as Hyuuga Hinata walked down the street. The day was unusually warm for early spring, but surprisingly few people were out on the streets to enjoy this nice weather. Hinata herself could have been at home as Kurenai-sensei said they wouldn't have training today, despite the upcoming chuunin exam due to Kiba's badly twisted ankle. He had been trying to show off on their last mission and had ended up nearly falling off a cliff. Luckily, Shino caught him before he did much damage to himself. And Hinata had just stood there and helped run clean up, just as she always did.
Hyuuga Hinata, the politest kunoichi in Konoha. But she was by no means the best. That title went to Ino or Sakura, maybe even Tenten. But not Hinata. Never Hinata. Her father was kind enough to remind her of that every day.
She had inherited the bloodline weakly, and therefore she was not strong enough to be head of the Hyuugas. That honor went to her little sister, Hanabi, who indeed at the age of seven was already displaying techniques Hinata had never possessed. Her father nearly radiated with pride whenever Hanabi displayed her skills, but never congratulated Hinata. Yes, he loved her as any father would love their child. But the only time Hinata remembered him being proud of her was when she announced she had graduated the academy and become a true ninja. Even then, she knew he wished she had ended up on Kakashi's team with Uchiha Sasuke rather then with an Inuzuka and an Aburame.
Speaking of whom, twisted ankle or no, Kiba would probably end up hunting her down one way or another, probably with Shino in tow. Kiba would then exclaim they should spend the rest of the day hanging out or something of the sort. Hinata smiled slightly, appreciating her two friends (three including Akamaru), but after the events of this morning she didn't feel like 'hanging out'.
Her mind wandered back to the earlier events, remembering how Neji had somehow gotten into a raging argument with her father and ended up launching into his 'caged bird monologue' as Hanabi called it when his back was turned. Her father had tried to reason with him, but very few could calm him down once he got started and Hiashi was not one of them. After that, he stormed out of the house and hadn't been seen for several hours. But Hinata couldn't blame Neji. She knew how he felt about the Main House sometimes…
She wondered briefly where he went when he was angry. She had seen Lee, Tenten and Gai-sensei looking for him a while ago, but had managed to avoid talking to them. Lee and Gai looked as if they were viewing this as a scavenger hunt for Neji, while Tenten looked like she was just in it for the long run. Neji didn't realize how much better off his life would be if he allowed himself to have fun with his teammates rather then treat them like the scum of the earth.
Hinata looked up and realized she had wandered in front of the academy building. It was quiet and no students were outside the building. The wind rattled by, feeling pleasant in the hot rays of the sun. She smiled slightly, remembering her academy days with a slight fondness, then began to head behind the building.
As she walked down the well kept alleyway that resembled more of a park then anything else, she suddenly saw someone sitting on a bench, looking up at the sky. She ducked aside, watching him with wide, pale colored eyes.
It was Neji. He stared longingly up at the blue sky and Hinata followed his gaze. She saw a small bird flying above and she immediately knew what he was thinking about.
The caged bird monologue, Hanabi said.
Hinata knew that monologue too well. She felt for her cousin and wished she could tell him the same thing. They had so much in common with each other. But she was too scared to approach him and he was too bitter to talk to her. They were cousins, he was practically her brother since his father died. But they didn't talk. They had never played together as children, they never laughed as they went behind Hiashi's back to steal the extra rice cakes from the kitchen, they had never argued over who got to claim what seat at the dinner table, they never watched in horror as Hanabi got her diaper changed…
Hinata cried for those lost hours together. As much as Neji scared her, she still loved him. And little sisters aren't supposed to be afraid of their big brothers.
As she watched, Neji pulled out a scroll and began to write. His face suddenly contorted with rage and he scribbled something viciously on the paper, then crumpled it up and threw it aside. Hinata watched as he stormed away, then slowly approached. She gently picked up the balled up piece of paper and gently opened it, smoothing it out with her hands. She stared at the words on the paper.
I HATE THE MAIN HOUSE
Hinata's face turned up in a small smile. She pulled out a pen from her jacket pocket and wrote in much neater script:
Don't worry. I hate the Main House too.
Waiting briefly for the ink to dry, she carefully rolled it up and tied it tightly with a pale purple ribbon she found in her pocket. She gently placed the scroll back on the bench, still with a small smile on her face.
"Hinata!"
The girl jumps about a foot in the air and whirls around. It's Kiba, on crutches with Akamaru on his shoulder, and Shino, standing behind the Inuzuka, his face expressionless, eyes hidden behind glasses. She briefly feels her face flush with hot embarrassment that they could catch her off guard. But then Hinata smiles at her two best friends in the world and wishes maybe someday, Neji will have friends like hers. Her big brother.
"You want to hang out?" Kiba asks her, but he sounds far away as she is still lost in thought. But then she smiled, turning to look at them both and this time there is not a touch of embarrassment on her face.
"Sure."
They leave the alleyway together, Kiba already chatting amiably, Akamaru occasionally interrupting with short barks while Shino stands silently behind them, acting like he's too cool to be hanging out with them. And back on the bench the little scroll with the ribbon moves slightly in the cooling breeze, but remains on the bench, waiting for its owner to reclaim it.
AN: Congratulations to anyone who guessed Hinata wrote the note!