one_long_mission | [Open] Momento Mori

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[Open] Momento Mori

She had noticed the villagers running around preparing things for the past few days. Every time she attempted to speak to one of them about what was going on, however, they seemed to be too busy to answer her questions. Finally, she'd braved asking Kakashi-sensei's landlady—the owner of the bookstore—and was informed about the festival to honour the dead.

Hinata had quite a few dead to honour, here or not, and she purchased her own candles and some ingredients to make dishes to put before the shrine. It would be awkward since she didn't have any photographs of her mother and putting one of her cousin would seem a bit morbid, but she hoped that they would appreciate the thought anyway.

That was what counted, right?

Perhaps she wasn't the only one of the shinobi intent on doing so as well.

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She eyed him curiously. This wasn't something that he'd done for years now. Not since after the chunin exams. Whatever he felt was wrong must have been important, but she had no idea what she could do to help.

Except give him what he was asking for. Which wasn't really an ordeal.

"Of course. Please, stop that now."

"Of course." He shifted back to his knees, letting his hands rest on his thighs as he let those all-seeing eyes of his close. "I know I am not proficient at displaying such, but you are... a precious cousin, and an important comrade to me. I will endeavor to do nothing to cause you pain again."

She smiled softly, letting a hand rest on his arm. "You are very precious to me as well, Neji-nii-san. Please, do not think otherwise."

He dipped his head in a nod, eyes staying closed even at her touch. "In that case... I suppose I should tell you that one of the things on my mind is the matter of Uchiha Sasuke."

"Please forgive me, but to which Uchiha Sasuke are you referring?"

"Ah..." A pause as he contemplated that. "Not the one who is all but engaged to Naruto, but the other female. The one who has experienced more pain in her life than anyone can possibly deserve."

She nodded to show that she was aware of whom he spoke. "I have seen her time to time as I am going to visit Itachi-san. What of her, Neji-nii-san?"

He cleared his throat uncomfortably and stared elsewhere as he attempted to discern how to phrase it. "Due to... extenuating circumstances, we have become rather... close."

She blinked a few times before a blush covered her cheeks. "Oh...Oh. Are...are you happy with her?"

He closed his eyes, the smallest of smiles making his way to his face in spite of himself. "Yes. And perhaps more importantly, she is happy... to be with me."

She found herself returning his smile, her heart lighter in the face of it. "Then, I am glad and wish you two happiness. I would never stand in your way, Neji-nii-san."

"Nor I, yours," he reassured her quietly, opening his eyes without changing his expression. "I trust Naruto has done nothing but bring you happiness?"

She bit at her lip. "Yes, but there is also some sadness there as well. He knows nothing of the future and I have tried to make sure that he does not, but I worry how he would take it when he finds out that I have kept this from him."

If anything could banish the smile from his face, it was that.

"It is for the best," he reassured quietly, a hand tightening against his thigh. "I do not mean to force you to lie, however..."

She could tell the way he took her statement and felt guilty immediately. "I am not lying, Neji-nii-san, and you are not forcing me to do so. I do not wish to give that pain to Naruto-kun any more than I wish to think about it. His optimism is his power, I think. It is a great part of his charm, at least as far as I am concerned. To hear that both you and I attempted to lay down our lives for him at a time like that...He does not need that information until the time comes that he must deal with it."

"I agree," he said softly, closing his eyes and taking a breath. "It is not something that a person should have to deal with. Would that you yourself did not have to, yet I cannot regret this decision that will be made."

She closed her eyes as well, head bowed down, as she began to speak softly, but with conviction. "I regret no decisions that I have made to protect those I care for, Neji-nii-san. I finally understand that it is the same for you. And despite the fact that there is a distance between us, nothing changes that we are connected."

"A distance I have caused." He opened his eyes and just gently rested a hand on her shoulder before pushing himself to his feet. "Please, when you have finished here, permit me to do something for you. Lunch, perhaps."

She stood as well, surprised at his offer. "Ah, I have been waiting for you, truthfully. I would be honored."

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[Open] Momento Mori

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