"The White Nights describes the few weeks around the summer solstice during which sunsets are late, sunrises are early and darkness is never complete. The sun does not set until late at night, and twilight lasts much longer."

In the dimly lit quarters of the Hyuuga residence, morning was always a time reserved for the taciturn—breakfast chats were close to nonexistent foreign family rituals.

However, today was an exception.

"What do you mean Hinata's going to transfer here? "

The oldest of the children, Hyuuga Neji abruptly stood up from the breakfast table, knocking over his chair in his haste. The rest of the family were still asleep, and it was a good thing that the walls were all completely sound-proof, or the clattering smash of heavy rose wood against mahogany would have woken everyone up. His father merely eyed the newspaper as he took yet another sip of tea. He spoke after a few pregnant pauses.

"Neji, calm down. Take the rational approach. Her parents are getting a divorce, and things just have happened to end messily. Hanabi's taken care of, but Hinata's a different issue. She's our blood, and we can't turn her to a Home or just abandon her in some distant relatives' houses, not when we're available. I couldn't turn this down. "

Neji chose to ignore his father's explanation, staring down coldly at his barely touched breakfast. Turning over another page of the newspaper, Hiashi added for measure:

"Besides, she's only going to stay a few semesters while things blow over. "

"…semesters. "

Neji whispered hollowly, his already pale skin turning even paler at the thought.

"Yes, semesters. We can manage that. We've hid things from her before, whenever she and Hanabi came here for vacation period. We should be able to handle this reasonably. "

"Rationally you mean. "

Neji sneered, utilizing the word that his father used often. Hiashi finally looked up from the page he had been scrutinizing and gave his oldest son a warning look. Neji backed down, but with a scowl.

"Hiding this from her for vacation period was hard enough… how are we going to keep it all from her for almost a year? "

Hiashi shrugged almost indifferently, making Neji want to hurl something at the ancient vintage furniture surrounding him—or better yet, hurl the furniture itself.

He rigidly set the chair upright again and turning curtly, proceeded to walk towards the direction of the stairs.

"She comes here tomorrow. "

Hiashi called to him from behind, choosing to be passive. Neji stiffened in response.

"She can't know. We can't let her know. "

White Nights: Summer Solstice

Chapter 1- Leviathan

(Session#1- Untimely transfer)

It was the hostility in its essence that triggered Hinata's internal warning sirens.

She had known from the start that it wouldn't be easy being the newbie at a completely different high school, especially in the middle of the year.

But something was wrong with this school.

"Hello, you must be Hyuuga…Hinata. "

The meaningful pause after the name Hyuuga, and the scrutinizing look the school secretary threw upon her gave her more reasons to think so. Something was wrong. Noone knew her here, and yet everyone responded to her family name in a way that made her wonder if her beloved cousin's family might be a source of consequence here in Konoha.

"Here, I'll show you to your class—all your classes, until you get used to it. "

Neji was as helpful and sweet as ever, but in the harsh fluorescent lights of school, he looked tense, edgy. Somehow less approachable. It made her wonder if he was slightly peeved at the fact that she was going to live in his house for almost a year.

Well, it wasn't her fault, Hinata thought, biting her lips. She did not 'ask' to be dumped here. She tried not to think of it; a few moments more of that, and tears would blur her sight.

"Here's your homeroom—I'll be waiting out here when break time comes, so I can escort you to your next class. "

As much as she did not want to, Hinata blushed up at this offer. He did not need to be so kind, not when he didn't seem to even care about her presence. She did not wish to further enhance his hidden irritation.

"No, no…it…it's okay. I can manage. I think. "

She peeked up at him—he was at least a foot taller than her—and to her surprise, found him smiling down at her in hardly concealed amusement.

"Come on Hinata, you lose your way even in our house, and you've been visiting regularly for over 5 years. I can't bear to think what would happen if I let you lose in this maze of a school. What if I have to make an announcement over the school's intercom, claiming that I was missing a Hyuuga Hinata, long black hair, lavender eyes, about this tall and with no sense of direction? "

This was more like the Neji she remembered, and she was grateful for it. Grateful at her cousin for making the effort.

"I'm not that bad! No, really, I can manage Neji, I…"

"Trust me. I have my own reasons. "

He suddenly turned serious. Hinata was visibly shaken by the sudden change in his features, the way his merry eyes suddenly dulled with a steely sheen. He had lavender eyes too, but it was nothing like hers. His had more charisma, and a certain magnetism.

"O…okay, I…I'll meet you out here. In…break time, I mean. "

Neji smiled again, his mood unpredictable. He noted her increased stammering, and lightly mussed her hair in a familiar gesture, his subtle way of telling her to relax. Flicking up a hand in farewell, he walked away, merging into the crowd of students that were populating the acid green halls.

Hinata stared after him in a daze, unsure again of his mood. She still couldn't decide whether or not he disliked her, or was just feeling confused over her sudden arrival.

Curse her parents, why did they have to get a divorce now?

"Oi, Neji! "

A rusty headed boy ran up to Neji in large graceful strides, his tall lean form cutting through the throngs of huddled students. He skidded to a stop, almost knocking over a short freshman boy in his eagerness to talk.

Kankuro peered into Neji's eyes as soon as he got in front. He seemed hardly ruffled by the short run.

He spoke in a low tone.

"I heard. "

Playing dumb, Neji stared coolly into his friend's face.

"Heard what? "

"Your family. They decided to take in the cousin girl now, haven't they? "

Neji shrugged, although his insides were boiling over in acute anger again. No, not exactly anger, but exasperation. So Kankuro already knew. How many more did know?

Did the Uchihas know?

"Yeah they have. Actually, she's already here. She's got Iruka for her homeroom teacher. "

Neji snickered at the reaction that got; Kankuro's eyes widened in shock and his neck jerked. Then he regained composure as he urgently whispered:

"Don't let her know anything… I can't let her know. Help me. Please. "

The classroom was only half-filled when Hinata entered, a bit apprehensively if not entirely bowled over by anxiety. She was bad at dealing with new situations, she disliked even novelty. She especially disliked the fact that she would have to make new friends in a place that was probably crawling over with cliques that had been formed in kindergarten.

A small, isolated town like this, you'd never know.

"Hey, you're… Hyuuga, aren't you?

A girl reached out and patted her arm in a friendly fashion.

That pause again. It made Hinata's fear return, the one that made her feel like it was something of a big matter to be part of the Hyuugas. The only thing was that she wasn't sure if it was a good thing or bad. At least the girl seemed friendly.

"Y…yes. Yes, I'm Hyuuga Hinata. "

Hinata managed to stammer out. While she did, she examined the girl.

Black hair clasped eccentrically into two oriental inspired buns. A slightly impish look. Freshly manicured hand—baby blue.

Hinata decided the girl was no pariah, perhaps even a little popular. Maybe being a Hyuuga wasn't so bad if girls like this reached out to her first before even knowing about her. In her other school, the kids that reached out to the newbies were usually overly friendly—translating into friendless—groping needy types with a bad haircut.

Not in this case.

"And … it's no coincidence that you have the 'exact' same family name as Hyuuga Neji, the school's 'basketball team captain' junior? "

She hadn't known that Neji played basketball. Or that he was captain.

But by the way the girl pronounced Neji's name, Hinata could gouge the fact that her cousin brother was certainly a somebody here. She did not know how much, but it seemed so. She spoke with a touch more confidence:

"We…we're family. I'm his cousin. We're relatives. "

The girl giggled impishly—her laugh matched her face.

"Your cousin brother's a babe, you know that? "

Hinata blushed up instantly.

To have an almost-outsider so blatantly comment on your cousin's attractiveness; it was almost as embarrassing as having someone complimenting you outright. The girl's eyes crinkled at seeing the blush.

"Don't you agree? Well, I mean, you're family so maybe I shouldn't be saying this, but it's true. "

"M…ye…yes. I agree. "

"I'm Tenten. On the tennis team and debate. Nice to meet you. "

Hinata wondered in relief if she'd already made a friend in this Tenten girl as she shook the offered hand. Or she wondered if this was all a ruse for the girl to make a play at Neji. Should she warn him about this?

"Oh shoot, Iruka sensei's here and I was supposed to do role call… be right back. "

Giving her another pat on the arm, the Tenten girl sauntered off to explain something to the teacher that had just walked in, Iruka sensei as she called him. He was medium height with a ponytail, and an easy comforting smile. The only thing that bothered Hinata was the jagged slash across his face, the kind of scars that leaves a definite mark. Maybe he had a tough childhood. Or maybe he had an accident.

The strange fear returned in vengeance though, at the scar, and she could not concentrate at all in class, which was trig. Even the teacher's announcing of her new transfer student status felt disoriented and surreal, as if it never happened. She could feel the electric snap that ran through the room when he announced her name, 'Hyuuga' Hinata. And the half-smiles or strange challenging looks she received from her fellow peers after that.

Something just 'felt' wrong.

"Hinata, you look terrible. "

That was the first Neji said as soon as he saw her. He had a can of cherry coke in his hand, and offered it to her. She received it numbly, but with some pleasance, flattered that he remembered that it was her favorite drink.

So he was being nice again.

"Did Iruka and the kids scare you or something? Taunting the poor newbie girl? "

"N…no! It's not like that. "

Hinata giggled despite her confusion and somehow upset feelings. She inwardly thrashed herself; maybe she was taking this too hard. Making a mountain out of a molehill. Nothing was wrong with this school, it was just her nerves.

She quickly spurted out the next words in a rush, in a slightly jokey tone tainted only by the stammers.

"So… I di…didn't know you were a b…basketball captain. "

He cringed at that, holding both of his hands up as if he'd done something wrong.

"I'm no good at it, I swear. "

"B…but you're captain! "

He looked down at her without moving his head and cracked a grin.

"Alright, I'm awesome at it. "

Neji was back to being Neji alright, Hinata thought in relief. No sign of the agitated edgy teen she had seen back a period ago.

He suddenly swooped down and snatched the files from her upturned hands, and picked out her schedule from the binder. Eyeing it with a slight frown, he spoke lightly:

"You got Lit next… that's treat for you. It's Hatake Kakashi, and he supposedly the only teacher the girls' would love to bang, or so they say. Eye candy. Something like that. "

Hinata flushed red again. Okay, that would probably translate to, 'he's pretty good looking'. Neji could have just 'said', instead of making that lewd comment. He seemed pretty amused though, by all her blushing.

He had as pale a skin as she had—it ran in the family—but he never blushed.

Or he did, but he never felt embarrassed about anything. Whichever the reason, he never turned red.

"Come on here, I'll take you to Hatake sensei…and you can tell me later whether or not you feel like having him or not. "

"Neji! "

"Joking, I'm just messing with ya. You know me. "

Yes she knew him. For now, she did.

"Hey, you're in this class too! "

Tenten rushed up to her as soon as she entered the classroom.

Hinata smiled at her, relieved to have at least one person she knew in this class. Whether or not Tenten only wanted Neji, she was a bubbly friendly girl. That was enough for now, never mind the 'true' friendship she craved.

"Too bad we've got assigned seats… I'd have loved to sit next to you and hear stuff about the cities. Konoha boring you yet? "

"H…how did you know I came from the cities? "

Tenten smiled secretively.

"I have my sources… oops, teacher's here. But I bet he don't even have to assign you anything, the only empty seat in this class is the one in the back, right beside…"

The sentence trailed off as Tenten pointed towards the back seat. The girl's face suddenly changed, stiffened more like. Her eyes widened in sudden epiphany and she went pale for a split second. Her lips pursed, Tenten shook her head slightly, trying to make light of the situation.

"Oh, maybe he does have to assign you a seat…it's so far in the back, you can't take decent notes…hm? You don't have a bad eye sight? Well…yeah, but I mean, it's time we got different seats. I tell you, it gets so boring sitting next to the same person the entire friggin' year… yeah. Maybe I'll go tell him. "

Hinata had a hunch something was up. And she wanted to find out what it all was about.

"Oh…n, no. It's okay. I don't want to be too much trouble… I, I think I like back seats. "

Without giving Tenten and chance to answer, Hinata walked swiftly over to the seat Tenten had pointed to and dumped her binder and files on the table. Her partner had not arrived yet, and the seat was empty.

Tenten was next to her in a flash.

"Oh um. On second thought, Hinata? Why not sit in my seat! Yeah! Uh… I've got Lee for a partner, and he's extremely funny…like, really really… He can get you acquainted! I'll trade seats for you. "

It was almost like an order, and Hinata was wary of it. But she was so used to people pushing her around that she was about to do as Tenten told her to, but the teacher intervened.

"Sit down Tenten, class has started. "

Tenten eyed the teacher nervously, then turned reluctantly to sit down at her own seat. Hinata's partner still hasn't arrived.

Kakashi sensei, Hinata had to admit, was ridiculously good-looking. He was teaching lit, but he really should be going out and modeling on runway… or something. He was surprisingly lean for someone with a vocation that lacked physical work, and was tall enough to switch on the projector that hung on the ceiling without having to stand on tip-toes. He had a shock of premature silver hair—she could not decide if it was natural or dyed—and a relaxed sort of charisma; a kind of person that did not have to raise his voice to settle a class down.

And he had a scar. A jagged line that slashed through his eye.

Hinata stiffened involuntarily.

What was with the teachers? Either they all were 'wild' when they were young, or they were prone to accidents. Or something else.

"Take out your books and open them up to page 45. Not the blue book Lee, I meant critical reading. "

"Wait, it's CR today? I thought we were going to do Gatsby Shame! "

"That was last semester, if I should inform you Lee. "

The class snickered, and the boy called Lee mock-lamented, pulling a funny face. Hinata smiled along, but was actually anxious about the fact that her partner 'still' had not arrived. She disliked having to go on with the class alone; even if she did not know who she was sitting with, it would be nice to have at least someone.

"Alright, enough laughing. Settle down, we have a full schedule tod…"

There was suddenly a knock on the door. Not knocks, but just a curt rap. But it somehow grabbed the attention of the entire class. Kakashi sensei wearily eyed the door.

"Come in. "

The classroom door opened, and in walked in a boy, impassive face and all. He seemed to be at ease with being late for class. Kakashi sensei sighed.

"Late again, Sasuke. Family issues? "

"Yes. Sorry. I won't be late next time. "

The boy called Sasuke answered back politely enough, but Hinata could already see that he was someone to be wary of. She already caught on that much from reading the eyes of her classroom peers. Tenten anxiously turned around once more with a worried look.

"Go take your seat then. And take out your book. "

"Yes, sensei. "

It was his presence.

It took up the entire class once he strolled in, save only by the teacher's presence in the front. But even with Kakashi sensei standing up front, it was hard to take her eyes off the boy.

Raven hair that spiked out in the back, and cold steely onyx eyes. His eyes were the kind of eyes that suggested it stayed flat always—it would never get merry. And he was only a tad smaller than the teacher; still tall enough to intimidate her. Hinata wondered if he was taller or shorter than Neji.

By this all, she should have been intimidated, and she was in a way, but she still couldn't get over his face. It was appealing, despite the hard eyes.

So this must be her partner. The one Tenten did not want her to sit with.

Hinata vaguely thought—maybe Tenten had a crush on him. Maybe she just wanted him for herself. She blushed after thinking so, it was unlike her, being this cattily juvenile.

"Psst…Hinata! "

As the boy made his way calmly through the aisle, Tenten hissed at her in obvious urgency, as if to say this was her last chance to switch. Her last chance.

But it was too late, for he was already upon her.

"….you. "

All the kids swerved around to gawp at her now, and Hinata froze. What was going on?

"Look at me. "

He was also in Kakashi sensei's league—he did not have to raise his voice to be authoritative. Hinata obediently looked up at the perfect face that was staring down at her. He scrutinized her for one second, and a look of recognition swept through him. She flinched at the livid look that suddenly crossed his chiseled features.

"…you're a Hyuuga. "

The look he gave her was of pure cold hatred. Hinata for a second felt as if an invisible hand was punching her—all the air rushed out of her body in a whoosh. She regretted it now, not listening to Tenten.

She should have changed seats.

(Bloodiedsugs's words on –

Forgive me for not updating HSBK, DP, TID and so on… but I really wanted to write this!

I broke down. Now I have 7 stories. Kill me.

Bear with me. )