Ivory eyes

"Hm?" Neji asked before releasing a sigh, "Hinata
has been engaged. . ."

At that point Naruto's jaw dropped and his eyes
dramatically went wide, "Hinata-chan's. . .Whaaa???"
He smiled comically and rubbed the back of his head,
"Come on Neji-kun, Hinata-chan can't be engaged."

"To Sasuke Uchiha."

"Eeeeeeeeeeehhhh?!?!?!" the long haired jounin continued
to walk with out the ranting kyuubi boy

Neji recalled Sasuke's kiss to Hinata and his blood
began to boil, he didn't think that the Uchiha boy
would have been so forward, but after his return
from Orochimaru's care, he wasn't so much surprised.
But the matter was different, his was the missing-nin
that Hinata feared, and he promised her that he would
keep her safe.

He heard Naruto's quick steps catch up to him, "Your
Uncle approved of the match?" The hyper blonde asked
with some worry to his voice

"Yes."

"Hmmmm." Naruto's voice showing he was in thought

"Naruto-kun! Neji-Kun! Good morning!" Ino called
as she approached with Shikamaru

"Why do girls alway's have to shout, so troublesome!"
Shikamaru murmured to himself

"Ino-chan! Sasuke is engaged to Hinata!" Naruto blurted
out without a second thought

Neji released a growl to himself while Shikamaru stopped
dead in his tracks to process the information and Ino
jaw nearly hit the floor. "Hinata's engaged to who?"
Naruto turned to see Kiba and Shino standing there, only
to then realize that he said something private out loud.

He scratched the back of his head nervously, "Um, heh heh
heh heh heh"

"You can't be serious!" Ino said having calmed a little

"Please keep from telling everyone else." Neji said
with a bite in his voice, having hoped that it wouldn't
leak out so quickly

Shino and Kiba exchanged worried looks with one another,
"Is this true?" Shino asked

"Ah, it seems so. How troublesome." Shikamaru said rubbing
his forehead

Ino approached Neji carefully, "Neji-kun, it is really
true?"

Just then Neji could sense some one coming that he didn't
want to encounter. Akamaru barked to Kiba and the red
cheeked boy turned to see Sasuke, "Sasuke!"

"Good Morning Kiba."

"S-sasuke-kun" Ino said looking away from him

"It's been a while Ino, Shikamaru, Shino"

Neji and Naruto just glared at the black eyed boy stand
there with a smirk on his face, "Naruto."

"Hn!"

A grin slowly spread upon the Uchiha's lips before
addressing the boy that hated him dearly, "Ah, Neji-san
how is Hinata this morning?"

Narrowed white eyes locked with Sasuke's cool gaze,
"Yes."

"Your answer is so blunt, you wouldn't still be upset
would you?"

Neji managed a smile, "You are annoying Sasuke." And
with that he walked away, trying to put as much distance
between him and the target he so desperatly wanted to kill.
Inside he was seething, he remembered when Hisashi-sama
had placed him to be the personal caretaker of Hinata, and
he did his best to train her better and to keep her safe.
And for her father to have had arranged such a marriage, it
was uncalled for.

"Neji-kun, please wait."

He stopped and looked to the girl that called to him,
"Yes Ino?"

"Let me walk with you." She said smiling to him kindly

- - -

Hinata walked towards the town by herself, thinking
again and again on the kiss that Sasuke had given her.
It was not her first kiss, but is was the most frightening
one. Though he was being kind to her, she still feared
him, she still hesitated speaking openly with him, in
her mind, he was just about the same as Orochimaru.

She looked about and smiled at the sun warming her face,
she was glad Neji was there for her, always making sure
she was truly safe. Suddenly her face fell and sadness
took over, but for how much longer would he be allowed to
protect her. If Sasuke truly proved worthy as the husband
would she ever need Neji?

She had to admit, after his complete change he and she had
become very close, making up for the many years of hate.
Only to be torn apart by a marriage, her marriage. And if
he were allowed to stay with her, what if her father would
arrange a wedding for him, he would then have to care and
protect some one else.

She stopped as she arrived at the tea house she was requested
to go to. Looking through the door way and seeing Sasuke waiting
made her feel so much more alone.