You and Me, Always and Forever

Chapter 7 : Thankful to Hinata

To say that today was an ordinary one for the Hyuugas, was true. Well, except for the Hyuuga sisters. 

Snow was falling from the sky covering the village in white. It was a perfect scene befitting a snow globe, however, no matter how beautiful it looked like, it couldn't even delight her.

Her training was not fruitful these days. It must have been all because her sister was barely home lately. Missions here, missions there, missions everywhere.

Ugh. She even missed the Rinne Festival!

But now was different!

Her sister would be home soon and she could finally spend time with her in this very special day of their lives. Yep! That's right!

"Hanabi-sama," Natsu called after she knocked on the door.

The young girl stood up, anticipation glistening her eyes, "Oh, is nee-chan here already?" She buzzed out the door, walking pass her governess.

"About that, Hanabi-sama..." Hanabi looked at her and already figured out what she meant.

Her heart immediately sank. She's on a mission again, huh?

Everytime she was going to miss an opportunity to hang out with her nee-chan, Hanabi couldn't help but get heavy feelings of regret. Regretting the years she chose to believe her grandfather and chose to look at her sister with an aloof light.

They could've just trained together during those times. She could've just joined her and Neji nii-san as they learned that new jutsu, as they laughed together, as they improved together and most especially as they celebrated her birthday together..

However, Neji nii-san was no longer with them and her nee-chan has to celebrate another birthday without a family.

"Perhaps, we could just get her a gift, so that when she comes back, she'll know that you wanted to celebrate her birthday with her."

Her face lit up. That would be a great idea!

"Okay, Natsu! I will go find nee-chan a perfect gift, alright?"

"Hanabi-sama!" The young girl escaped her governess as she was about to try and stop her from getting out of the Hyuuga compound without any company.

"Natsu,"

"Oh, Hiashi-sama, I-I'm sorry, Hanabi-"

"I'll be sending Ko to follow her around."

"My apologies Hiashi-sama."

The head of the clan raised his hand in dismissal, "There's nothing to apologize." The sudden out of character response of their clan head, surprised her.

"It was the absence of inspiration that filled Hinata with hesitation when she was younger." Hiashi-sama stated with a reminiscing tone and the governess noticed that his eyes were set on the spot where Neji and Hinata-sama used to train, "Ironically, she served as Hanabi's inspiration and brought out the strength in her younger sister, the very strength Hinata herself hesitated to exhibit when she was a child."

Natsu knew about the young Hyuuga's admiration for her elder sister. However, it wavered for a few years, no one could blame the young girl. She was innocent and was just a simple prey of their harsh traditions with Hinata-sama and Neji as the gnawed victim.

"But Hiashi-sama, isn't it that ever since the war ended and even a little before, the Hyuuga compound has been filled with growing praises for Hinata-sama? There were also talks that she managed to develop a new jutsu in the midst of battle."