#tangledupinfate

“H-Hanabi-sama!” Neji flushed, flustered at the girl’s affectionate display. When she released him, he gave her a disapproving glare only to be met with her own impish grin in return. As quickly as she came she was off again.

“The kitchens?” Neji echoed to himself. He’d heard about how she’d been scolded recently for nicking sweets.

He shook his head, mostly disappointed at the fact she could let herself be caught in the first place. “Well,” he reasoned a grin threatening to spread across his face, “It was Valentine’s day after all.”

Neji was a patient man. Waiting under cover of darkness or camouflage for an enemy's misstep was something he was accustomed to by now. Diligence, a vital skill for a shinobi. But somehow this was different. Anticipation was building at a rapid rate, threatening his carefully crafted calm. He waited for her at his kitchen table. They'd been lucky to find time to in the evenings to have dinner with each other. Both Hinata and her father were displeased when he'd moved into the small flat on the outskirts of the village but none protested. He'd selected a quiet and secluded place not far from the Hyuuga grounds. He knew if he'd remained, keeping the secret of their affair would be impossible.