Snow Dance

Author: LonelyWriter

Summary: Snow is rare in Konoha so when it does snow, Hinata sneaks out to play but someone is watching and waiting, knowing that she will sneak out and ends up sharing a snow dance with her.

Disclaimer: Do I look like Kishimoto? (If I do I'm scared. I'm a girl, dammit.)

Snow.

The delicate white flakes lazily floated down from the sky, slowing painting the ground a glittering white.

Hinata raised her hands upwards with her palms up, giggling as little drips of water formed on her palms as the snow melted at the heat of her hands.

Snow was rare in Konoha because of their position in the world, the village rarely dropped to a temperature low enough for water to freeze and turn to snow. Hinata glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was following her. Neji had been especially vigilante lately, perhaps because she always sneaked out of the compound when it snowed. It was the only time she even thought about disobeying her father's commands, because it was one of the only things she remembered about her mother. It had snowed on her fifth birthday and the heavily pregnant lady Hyuga had taken her daughter to the small meadow tucked away in the woods that surrounded the village where they had spent the afternoon. Her mother's laugh was the clearest thing in her memory about her mother because she had spent that whole afternoon laughing at her daughter's antics.

The fresh silvery blanket crunched pleasantly under the Hyuga heiress's feet as she slipped in between the tree and broke out into a run, the want and need to get to her mother and her meadow overcoming her. No one else in the family understood her love of the fluffy white stuff and even if she explained it to them they would only scoff and tell her that she should let go of such childish memories, but she didn't want to. To her, these memories kept the most important woman in her life alive and she would give anything for that to happen.

By the time she arrived in the meadow her cheeks were red and tears stung at the corners of her eyes. She gave a sniffle and took a swipe at her nose, closing her eyes. She hadn't expected the bombardment of emotions to take her over. Her mother had been dead for eleven years. Eleven years in which her father had effectively erased all mementos of his beloved late wife so he wouldn't have to be reminded of her death. His reasons always made Hinata want to laugh because both she and Hanabi were always right there in front of him. How he could think of his children not of his wife, she wasn't sure. It certainly took two people to make a baby.

She let out a humorless laugh as she opened her eyes. Why was she thinking of such things? Right now, in this place, she only wanted to remember happy memories. With a sigh, she let her feelings melt away, leaving her with an empty heart, just like she wanted. Here, in this place, all she wanted to do was relax. She did not want to think about her clan. Her responsibilities. All she wanted to think about was the beautiful satiny blanket that had enveloped the world.

A grin spread over her face as she raised her arms over her head and started spinning around. Small puffs of snow surrounded her feet as she danced around, throwing her head back with a laugh.

Life was simple at this place. She didn't have to worry about anything. She could go back to that little girl that had seen snow for the first time on her fifth birthday and enjoy the wonder that only childhood innocence could bring. When she left this place she would be come the prim and proper Hyuga princess again, but until then she was going to enjoy herself.

She stopped her dance and dropped to a crouch, scooping up snow into her hands and letting it slowly fall through, her eyes sparkling. It had been so long since it had snowed, and by that, it had been a long time since she had allowed herself to relax. Another giggle escaped her lips and she straightened with a jump, spinning around again. She continued like that for several moments until she noticed someone standing just out of the forest with their arms crossed over their chest.

She stopped, feeling her cheeks heat up. He had seen her crazy antics, hadn't he? He probably now thought her the silliest airhead in Konoha and she knew for a fact that he considered Ino the ultimate ditzy blonde airhead, ever.

He made eye contact and she flinched. He was angry. And she was the reason. Her shoulders slumped and she started to slowly walk toward him. She kept her head down so she wouldn't have to see the glowering anger in his eyes as he scolded her for sneaking out of the compound.

"Nii-san," she whispered as she stopped in front of him.

"Hinata-sama," he sighed as if she was the heaviest burden in the world. "You know that you are not allowed out the compound without your guards and having done so you have placed yourself at risk. What would the Hyuga do if you were kidnapped or worse, killed?"

"I just…"

"Just what?" He groaned. "You just wanted to dance around the meadow in frigid temperatures like a woman possessed, not to mention you are not dressed for this weather."

She glanced down at her clothing and noticed for the first time that she was wearing only a thin jacket over her clothing. "Nii-san, I," she said, glancing up at him. "I," she whispered, staring him in the eyes. "Nii-san, dance with me," she said, grabbing his hands and pulling him around in a circle. The look she had seen in his eyes was fleeting, but she recognized it because she often saw it in her own eyes. It was one of deep amusement with something else behind it that she couldn't quite grasp. But it didn't matter right then. She was caught up in the moment, in the fact she was dancing with her cousin.

"Hinata-sama, you are making me dizzy," he sighed after a time.

"Oh, sorry," she blushed, slyly looking up into his eyes. "I was caught up in the moment."

"I see," he said, his eyes regaining the amused look. "And what was that?"

She blushed bright red. "I was dancing with you."

"Oh?" He cocked his eyebrow before shaking his head. "Do you dream of this?"

"Nii-san!" She protested.

He throw back his head and laughed. "You are so cute, Hinata-sama."

"Nii-san?" Her eyes widened. "What are you saying?"

"You're cute. What more do I have to say?" He brought his hand up to her cheek. "But silly. Who runs away on the coldest day of the year and dances around in the snow? What ever will I do with you? You are so much trouble."

"Nii-san," she stuck out her lower lip. She thought for once in her life that Neji was trying to be nice to her, but he was just joking at her expense. "Why are you so mean?"

"I'm not mean," he replied, wrapping his arms around her waist and spinning her around. "I came here to dance. Why are you here?" He pressed his forehead to hers and smiled.

"I'm here to dance, too," she grinned.