Chapter Text
Hinata wasn't really known for her tendency to panic. Mainly because she didn't. At least, not very often.
Sure, she worried, she overthought, she was cautious and she got in over her head when thinking about things sometimes, but she didn't outright panic.
Well, that was what she thought about herself up until about 3 seconds ago.
A replay of the events that led up to this flashed through her mind, making her think that maybe, just maybe, she actually panicked a lot more than she thought she did.
Why think about something so seemingly useless at a time like this? Well, it was the only thing keeping her from losing her mind.
Because she has a fox man in her apartment, her cousin is waiting outside the front door, the said fox man wants to remain a secret based on her own observations, and her cousin was not the most secretive person in the world. Hinata was in a... situation that she had absolutely no idea how to get out of.
So, what did she do? Whatever came to her mind at the time. Which was to make the quick and a bit stupid but somehow also smart decision of hiding her unusual guest in the bathroom of all places.
(Now that she thought about it, why didn't she just hide him in her bedroom or something? Neji rarely ever enters her bedroom.)
Which is how she found herself here. Basically dragging the severely startled blond across her apartment and to the only bathroom right next to her bedroom.
(The poor guy was scared out of his mind. From the abruptness and from past experiences with getting dragged around.)
"Alright. Hide in here for a while and only come out when I come get you. Don't make any noise and keep the lights off." The apprehension in his eyes had her nerves slow down a bit, as she was previously unaware that she was also causing her guest to panic as well.
Letting go of his hand and stepping out of the way so he could go in, Hinata looked at him apologetically, already regretting the most likely very uncomfortable situation she was putting him in.
"I'm very sorry about this, Naruto-san. And I wish I had a choice, but I don't. So... please, just bear with it for a little while."
It hurt her.
To do this.
It was clear he hated closed in spaces, if the flicking of his ears and uneasy twitching of his tails were any indication.
Hinata herself didn't like it anymore than he did, but it was necessary.
Sighing a heavy, sad breathe, she reached for the door knob and closed the door gently, knocking to let the blond on the other side know that she was leaving now.
Making her way back to the front door, the young woman took a deep breathe in before opening the only thing separating her from her cousin.
There stood a young man with long brown hair and lavender eyes that were unique to the Hyuga family.
"Neji-nii-san..." Hinata muttered as her cousin made his way inside and slipped his snow boots off.
"Kon'nichiwa, Hinata. I hope you're well."
Nodding swiftly at the question, the blue haired girl offered to take his coat, to which he handed it to her.
"I'm doing fine, Neji-nii-san, t-thank you for asking. And, in your message, what do you mean about father being weird again?" She questioned as she hung winter coat up in the hallway closet.
"I mean uncle is stressing over you not texting him last night. You know how worried he gets when you don't message him. Or did you forget? Because I had to deal with that all morning today." Neji complained, huffing as he took a seat on the couch that, unbeknownst to him, was previously occupied not even a minute ago by someone that shouldn't exist.
Wincing slightly at her cousin's unfortunate situation that she unintentionally put him in, Hinata made her way to the kitchen.
"W-would you like some tea, Neji-nii-san? O-or something to eat?"
The young woman, even though she offered, was anxious as to what his answer would be.
If he chose tea, it meant he wouldn't be staying long, and that was the option she was hoping he'd say.
However, if he chose the food, that meant he'd be planning on staying for a while, an hour at least, and that was... the least favorable option considering the unique situation currently residing in her apartment bathroom.
"I'll have some tea, please."
'Oh thank Kami-sama.' Hinata thought, letting out a breathe she didn't even know she was holding.
Filling the tea kettle with water, turning on the cheap stove's back burned and placing the kettle on the heat, Hinata continued to make her way around the kitchen, temporarily forgetting about her third guest. That was, until he got up and headed in the direction of the bathroom.
Panic ran through her body as her cousin reached the door.
"N-Neji-nii-san!" Hinata cried, stopping Neji from advancing further.
"What is it, Hinata?" The brunette asked, eyebrow raising in question.
"A-ano... what were you about to do?"
'Again. Stupid question, Hinata! He was going to use the bathroom.'
"I was going to rinse my face, that's all...why?"
She's in deep crap now.
'Quick Hinata, think of something bathroom related that would keep someone out!'
"It's just... I-I bleached the tub earlier, s-so I'm letting the vents air it out...?"
'Right. Real clever, Hinata. No way Neji-nii-san would fall for something as stupid as that.'
"Ah. I see. I'll just wash my face out here then." He said before turning, walking towards and then past her.
'It...it WORKED!?!'
Hinata couldn't believe it. How could she? Neji usually questioned everything he found suspicious. And her excuse was most definitely suspicious.
Her luck must have spiked right then, and it was amazing!
Looking back at the door that kept the fox man from the outside world, the blue haired girl silently thanked any god that was listening.
Turning back to her guest who was now drying his hands and face on a nearby kitchen towel, Hinata began to prepare the tea leaves.
"Ano... how's Tenten-san? Is she well?"
Chuckling a bit at his cousin's awkwardness, Neji sat down at the wooden table.
"Tenten's fine, Hinata. How have you been? Has school been treating you well?"
Sighing tiredly, the teen girl took the whistling kettle from off the stove top and began pouring it over the tea leaves, intent on letting them steep.
"School has been a bit...stressful, lately. T-there are so many tests coming up and sometimes I just-I just don't know where to start." Hinata explained sadly as she watched the once clear hot water slowly turn a rather appetizing green shade, the smell of green tea filling her nostrils.
Humming in acknowledgment at his female cousin's predicament, the older Hyuga continued watching her as she worked on the beverages, sifting out the tea leaves and pouring green tea of the perfect shade into small mugs.
Neji Hyuga has never been very good at handling emotions. He wasn't empathetic like his cousin was, nor did he know how to show proper sympathy like his father once did, but he managed somehow. Preforming little acts of kindness to show that he did listened and did care, not that he'd ever admit that though, he had a reputation to uphold.
They had talked for two hours.
Neither had any idea how much time had passed until they realized their tea went cold and the sun was a lot closer to the horizon than both of them remembered it being,
It was nice. Talking to her cousin. Despite is icy, unfriendly exterior, Neji gave good advice that showed he cared.
Putting the half drunken tea cups into the sink, Hinata yawned and stretched her arms above her head, her muscles stiff from sitting in a chair for two hours.
With a satisfied smile on her face that the meeting had gone well, the blue haired teen made her way to her bedroom, ready to get some very much needed studying done.
Well, she was going to do that until she oh so conveniently remembered that she had someone else living here.
She had forgotten about the fox man... for two straight hours.
'Great going, Hinata. No way you're ever going to gain his trust now.’
Walking hastily to the bathroom to check on her unusual guest, Hinata berated herself harshly.
She hadn't meant to leave Naruto-san alone in a dark, small space for such a long time, but she hadn't even realized how late it had gotten.
(She always messes everything up.)
Knocking softly on the door, Hinata called out lightly "Naruto-san, I'm coming in, ok? Neji-nii-san is gone now, I'm sorry I took so long."
Opening the door, Hinata's eyes widened in shock and surprise at the soft orange light emitting from...floating fireballs in the bathroom?
Floating.
Fireballs.
In the bathroom.
Suddenly, surprise and shock forgotten, the taste of fear rang bitter in her mouth.
And with a shaking hand clutching the doorknob, Hinata promptly screamed.