Midnight

Chapter Six

They were on hold for a week now. Every night she dragged her feet to the remote field to train with her now partner. She should be thankful that he had chosen a distant place and the hour that the sun had set. But it made her more terrified. It meant that he knew something. She kept telling herself that it was because of his general dislike on people. And so every night she tried to find out if that was true. They didn't spoke much unless it was necessary. The night before she lied saying she was sick. She sent him a message to inform him she wouldn't attend for a few days. They had decided it was time to clean Neji's room. All his things, everything that he found dear would be sorted in boxes to be put away. And the things that would be found unnecessary, thrown in the garbage. She spoke against it to no vain. Space must be made for the living. They were not the words that used but that was the meaning. She walked to his room and begun to work. Everyone that came left a few moments later. She would be the one to do it. Noone was allowed to touch any of his because none would handle it with care. She hadn't been there since the first month of the loss. The smell of soap and vanilla was long gone. The room was kept clean but not even the clothes in the closet had kept his scent. Neji wanted his space tidy with few necessary things. She sat in the bed he slept one last time before they leave for war. She remembered how she had said her goodbyes thinking if one of the two would not return, it would be her. He was strong and composed. He would survive.
I will protect you Hinata-sama.
Hinata started to put his things on boxes. Everything that could fit would be transferred in her room. After the cleaning of his closet, she moved on the wooden desk he had. There inside of a drawer she discovered a journal. She sat on the bed looking at it. It would hurt to read, she knew. Like a song that brings tears in your eyes but you keep listening to it.
She opened the black cover and read the first words on the white page.
Property of Neji Hyuga.
It was just that, still she couldn't bring herself to read more. She looked at the handwriting, all gracious and neat. Her hand caressed the black letters a few times before she turned the page.
First log:
The meaning of this diary is to remind myself in difficult times of what is important. If there is a time I lost my way again I will read what I myself have wrote to find my path again.

Second log:
I still haven't master the blind spot. I don't know if there is a way to overcome this milestone but if there is I will do it. Maybe my sensei and Lee influence me more than I admit. Naruto too. He keeps moving forward and I believe he will superpass me soon.

Third log:
Hinata-sama is getting better. I wish she didn't have to fight. Sometimes I think her kindness isn't meant for battle, others that in these troubled times it's crucial to have it on the battlefield.

She closed the book. How wrong he had been.

____

She feared that the man might come and look for her. Thankfully he didn't. She spent the night sleepless, reading Neji's diary. She skipped the pages that wrote something personal and continued with the ones that wrote his thoughts on various matters. He had started a list of things he believed that needed change inside the clan. His thoughts about meeting with her father. Logs about his training, what exercises he should follow. She skipped the parts about his friends, about their family, about her.
She would saviour them for a specific occasion.
The next day Kiba came. They let him in, knowing who is after the many times he had visited in the past. Kiba and Shino didn't need an invitation or permission, not less than Lee or Ten-ten in the past.
He had come to invite her for a night out.  She weighed her options. It was either this or training with her ruthless partner. She objected. The hits would feel better.
He insisted. Shino was coming back from a long mission and it was the perfect occasion to meet. Akamaru crawled in her lap. He was too big but he still behaved like a puppy around her. He licked her hand, letting a small cry, as if  he could sense her sorrow.
"See? Akamaru would be sad if you don't come."
She smiled. He was a good boy, her best friend along with Shino. Always ready to fight, easy to satisfy. She loved them at the first days of their team formation. They were themselves around her, not minding the shy, weak girl that was a part of their team. She felt happy and safe around them, they were the best teammates for her. Kiba always loud and eager, Shino quiet and observing along with Kurenai kind or strict whatever the situation needed.
After the war she grew distant. She was afraid that they might see. That they would understand if she kept them too close. Luckily their adult lives, especially after the catastrophe became busy.
"So? Will you make Akamaru sad?"