#worried neji ;ccc

[shinnogi]

      we can never be gods, after all - but we can become something less than human with frightening ease [...] the knives that will slaughter heaven, our heads bloody but unbowed [...] for ours is a fate worse than death...

      𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐊 ( @bladedhunter ) ━ ❛  Stay.  ❜ ~ Hinata to Neji ?????!!!!!

      Paranoia had always been a close ally to him, ever since he was old enough to truly understand the word, it had become an ever present entity in his life. And as a shinobi it was an asset, keeping him on his toes and preventing many dire situations from transpiring. And yet the one time he had pushed it away, the one time he had left the Hyuuga estate despite his mind telling him to stay, something like that had happened.

      Attempts on his cousins’ life were not new, his father being one of the causalities of one of these attempts many years ago, even so Neji could never truly be prepared for the fear it awoken inside of him. Learning that once again there had been an attempt to kidnap Hinata, to take her away from them and steal her eyes was horrifying. Not simply because of the assault but because…to harm such a genuinely good person was just despicable.

      Him being away from home while that happened caused him to drown in guilt. He had sworn to protect her — had sworn to give his life for her, and yet when she had needed him, he was not there for her. Yet again Neji had failed Hinata. After making her suffer for so long in his childish stupidity, he had once again failed to keep his promise.

      Neji was unable to sleep, patrolling through the compound, eyes all-seeing as he scanned through the outer walls. He’d not allow such a thing to happen again. Still, his wandering lead him to his cousin’s room, shame and guilt overwhelming him as he thought of Hinata once again in the hands of people who would harm her. Slowly Neji slid the door open, as silent as a owl mid flight, he walked inside and gazed upon the seemingly sleeping girl.

      She had not been harmed or so he was told, but he figured such a happening would tire anyone. Looking at her soothed him slightly, and he sighed, he had to get better — get stronger so he could truly keep her safe. As he turned to leave, Hinata’s sweet voice struck him.

      ❛  Hinata-sama…  ❜ he whispered, turning around to look at her. Neji had half a mind to look embarrassed, almost shy at being caught during one of his paranoid and protective episodes. ❛  I did not mean to wake you.  ❜ The older shinobi apologized but acquiesced to her request. He could never deny her, after all.

      Kneeling by her bed, he searched her face for injuries, signs that she was in pain. It would kill him to see her hurt, his memories of the chunin exams haunted his every dream, he did not ever want to see her like that again. ❛  How are you feeling?  ❜