Slowly, making sure that her long sleeves were well out of the way, Hinata carefully poured the tea. Measuring it with her eyes, she pulled back at just the right moment, and she allowed herself a small proud smile before putting all of her concentration back into placing the teapot down properly, with just the right force and in just the right position.

Neji watched his younger cousin sharply, searching for faults in her posture, her movements, and her placement of the tea accessories. Finding nothing larger than nervously trembling hands once in a while, and a slightly misplaced spoon, he drank the scalding liquid without flinching or slurping.

Hinata heaved a sigh of relief. "Was that alright Neji-nii-san? What did I do wrong?" She asked timidly; too nervous about her upcoming tea ceremony to relax, even though this was just a practice session with her cousin.

Neji said nothing, his tongue numb, and simply nudged the spoon over slightly. Hinata smiled in thanks, picking up the spoon and placing it exactly as Neji had, fixing it in her mind.

That was always so surprising to him, her intense concentration. More surprising than it should have been. After the Chuunin Exam and his near-death experience with the Uchiha-Rescue fiasco, Neji began to realize how important family really was. He also realized how little he knew about his family.

Hinata picked up her cup, knowing that if she didn't do something with her hands she'd start to unconsciously poke her fingers together. Neji didn't like it when she did that. She could tell from the way he was looking semi-blankly at her face that he was thinking about her. Hinata couldn't imagine what he found so fascinating about her.

Hinata looked around the traditional tea house. The door out into the small gardens, the window showing half of an enormous pine tree outside the Hyuuga compound walls, and the small basin of water in the corner. Under her embroidered red cushion, the tatami mats wove a familiar pattern.

"You are ready." Hinata jumped as her older cousin's deep, resonating voice jolted her out of her scrutiny of the individual fibers of the mats, and she met his pale eyes. "You will do fine."

Hinata stared at him, wanting to look away but compelled to return his gaze. His unspoken words flew through her mind, I believe you will be fine. I believe in you. and Hinata smiled nervously.

"You'll be there, won't you Neji-nii-san?" Neji stared at her, dissecting the fear and plaintive hope in the question.

"I will." I'll always be there for you, from now on.

Hinata sighed, and Neji watched her posture finally relax. He watched as she lifted the cup to her lips with dainty hands. Hard and calloused dainty hands. He watched her throat work as she swallowed, and looked down to see her chest move as she inhaled after swallowing.

"Thank you." Hinata said quietly, and Neji watched her set the cup down on the table, not weakly as she once would have, and not forcefully as he did, but firmly and with conviction.

"Thank you for the tea, Hinata-sama." Neji answered, drinking the rest of the pale liquid in his cup, ignoring the way it burned his mouth. Sometimes things hurt, but in the end, it could be very good for you.