||My Little Bird|| [Neji Hyuga x OC]

Chapter Fourteen

[Hey! Great talking to you readers again! >:3

So, news about My Little Bird, it's almost halfway over~! ^^ With the first arc. But don't worry, the second arc isn't so long > < I love you all for reading this fanfiction, and I really appreciate your votes and everything~

Another thing about this chapter is that's it's much shorter than the rest of my chapters. The reason being is that barely half of the people reading don't finish the chapter, and I kinda assumed that it was because the chapter was simply too long? ^^'

Anyways, I hope you enjoy this little chapter!

-Rei-chan]

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The days passed in a blur. Of course, Kimiko and Neji were now closer than ever, considering last night's occurrence. She indeed redeemed herself, treating him to his favorite soba stall and once more comforting him in his little troubles. Since she didn't have enough for herself, Neji was kind enough to take an excruciating amount of time eating the ribbons of noodles. So much in fact, that she finally regretted neglecting to feed her stomach for breakfast. Her mouth hung open slightly, occasionally she would notice when Neji chuckled lightly and looked away.

It had finally gotten to the point where Kimiko was offered a free bowl of soba for her troubles by the courteous stall owner who was no older than her mid twenties. "Terrible date you two seem to be on. What kind of man makes a woman pay, right? Hard to find a gentleman these days. On the house!"

Neji choked on his noodles at the words 'date' and 'gentleman'. He coughed harshly, giving the woman a confused glare and a deep frown. "For your information-"

"Yea, gentlemen are hard to find." Kimiko said with slight sarcasm, and shot him a smirk as she took the bowl of soba from the woman. "Isn't that right?"

"There's one sitting next to you." He scoffed, glaring at her. "You know you're much less well-mannered than I am. What happened the last time I came over? Didn't you walk out in your sleep wear, you know, the one that barely covers-"

"That's quite enough out of you." Kimiko said loudly, to cover the end of his sentence and shoved a slice of meat in his mouth. "And for your information, it did cover everything. You just have a Byakugan." She said quietly, an embarrassed blush dusting her cheeks.

"I don't use it that way. It's strictly for only seeing chakra flow. For instance, when I use my byakugan I can only see figures and outlines of people, along with their chakra flow. Would you like me to demonstrate on you?" Neji replied lightly. It wasn't completely a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. He could, in fact, see people without their chakra flow. It was the ultimate pervert jutsu, but he didn't use it in that manner. He hasn't tried, nor would he even consider it...

At his recommendation, and with the knowledge of her chakra orb in her pocket, Kimiko quickly shook her head. "No need! I know all about the Byakugan from Hinata already, I don't want another lecture..."

"Would you be angry with me if I did it anyways?" Neji asked, a little surprised by her swift response.

"Yes, I would. So don't do it." Kimiko replied shortly, shooting him a frown and a glare. If he were to ever try and use his eyes on her, he would no doubt see right past the genjutsu. She wouldn't want to face that decision just yet.

Thinking of decisions, Kira had yet to make hers. Hinata had entrusted her to make the right decision, to find another way, but...as much as Hinata had faith in her past self, she wasn't sure if she could pull it off. She had never outright defied the Headmaster back at home, and her deadline was coming up in a month. If she were to fail and disappoint Hinata, she wouldn't know if she could live with herself. She would think about this later. When Neji wasn't there to sway her judgement, or to gently ask her if her head pounded like before, or if she was quite alright.

His worrying did not help her stomach her thoughts at all.

After their little stop by the soba stall, the two strolled down the dirt road, light crowds of people bargaining for merchandise at the small shops and stalls surrounding them. All the while, Neji talked about the festival they would be attending.

"It's basically an annual festival where the village celebrates the blooming of the blossoms, for example, the Sakura blossoms. But it's mainly to let feuding clans settle their arguments in a peaceful manner. No violence can take place that day, or they would have to pay a hefty fine." His hands were in his pockets, gazing at all the shiny high-class weapons on display and the expensive fabrics. "And women dress up too. If you're interested in that sort of activity, Hinata tries sometimes. They really busted out their best this year..."

"Dressing up? It's been a long time since I had to put on my kimono, by myself. I'm not even sure if I remember..." Kimiko shrugged, and gasped as one of the cloths on display caught her eye. She reached out to touch it, but recoiled right before an iron stick nearby shattered her wrist. Neji grabbed her hand just in time to pull her back from another swing, while her eyes were still glued onto the shiny iron stick. He pinned the shop owner down with a glare, only to be met with the icy eyes of another glare.

"Don't touch!" The owner shouted. "Touching your dirty hands on my fine silk...don't you know how expensive this is?! If you want to touch it, young lady, then you're gonna have to pay for it!"

"Hey!" Kimiko yelped clutching her hand tightly to her chest as Neji held her arm. "Rude, don't you think?!"

"Kimiko, if you really want a decorative kimono, Hinata has plenty of selections you can choose from. You don't have to waste your money paying this rip-off." Neji said coldly, venom dripping from his words as he pulled her away from the shop. "What a-"

"I'll ask her later, but what about you?" She frowned, her hand dropping from her chest.

"I wear the traditional Hyuga clan kimono for men. A brown one."

"But that's so...bland." Kimiko winced. "You really don't care about fashion, even in the slightest. No wonder all of your ex fangirls drifted over to Lee's side. What a shame~"

"Lee's fangirls are in his dreams." He scoffed, but her small attempt to make him laugh did brighten him up in the slightest. "It's not that bad actually. Bland, but formal. I'll show you later."

"Sure. I'll need your fashion expertise to help me choose that fancy kimono too~!" She giggled lightly, and tried to reach up to her face when she realized that Neji's grip on her arm had slid into a gentle hold onto her hand. It was rough, callouses on the tips of his fingers from practice and experience, but comforting. It sent little sparks of warmth into her stomach, erupting into tight little snakes that made her blush. Or butterflies. Was it butterflies?

It was in those seconds that Kira didn't doubt her attachment to him. But he pulled away, quick, nervous, and all she could think about was how embarrassing it was...

"Don't think anything of it." He mumbled. He hadn't realized how perfectly it felt to hold a little part of her close to him. It made him feel safer; if she was in any danger he could pull her away and back behind him. Or the feeling of knowing she was there even when he wasn't looking, to talk to, to rant to, or just to look and wonder how many wrongs it took for him to reach this right.

But then Neji saw the look on her face, the shock and the anxiousness. He felt as if he was scaring her, as if their undefinable relationship was happening too fast, jumping into an ice cold river without a second thought. So he pulled away.

And then he wondered, how was it that this genius, this confident, sharp-mouthed, cold, callous genius... could never even imagine telling the one girl that mattered how happy she made him.