A/N: I know, "another Hinata story?" but I couldn't get it out of my head D:

Sabishii Kokoro

Lonely Hearts

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Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.
Mother Teresa

-

No one wants to be alone. Even from birth, we cry out for our mothers, for comfort and affection. It's a natural instinct that most people take for granted. But not her. It takes a true taste of loneliness to understand the importance of friendship.

She did have one friend, a loyal boy by the name of Aburame Shino. He had been an outcast when they were young because of his 'freaky' interest in insects. Through their loneliness they had found each other and didn't mind sitting together, seeking out the comfort of being wanted by another person.

Inuzuka Kiba had once been a friend of hers too, when his dog Akamaru had bounded over to her, the inquisitive young puppy taking a liking to her. He decided if his dog liked her, than she must be a decent enough person.

Sadly, when the hormones kicked in, he found the more scantily dressed girls more interesting than her and she saw less and less of him. He still talked to Shino, that male bond strong despite their differences, but as Hinata's self-esteem sank further she became distant from Kiba. That was four years ago.

She knew Shino wasn't with her because it was where he preferred to be. She knew he would much prefer being with Kiba and the large group of more popular people. It was natural, the desire to be liked. He was thought to be mysteriously sexy with his calm, cool ways.

It was loyalty. Loyalty and the knowledge of how it feels to have no one that made him sit with her at the deserted lunch table like he always did.

"You should eat something Hinata."

Hyuuga Hinata, heiress to a successful business and a complete and utter failure in practically everything. Even she was disgusted with herself.

"I… I'm f-f-fine… Shino-kun…" she said. Said? It was more of a pitiful whisper. She even stuttered, nervous of speaking. She wanted to be confident, yet just couldn't find it within herself. She barely spoke, deciding if she couldn't speak properly, she may as well not talk at all. Well, talk as little as possible at least.

"It's not healthy, I don't want you to end up like those girls that resemble stick insects," he said, pushing his circular sunglasses into a more comfortable position on the bridge of his nose.

"I'm j-just not h-hungry to-today," she managed to force out. She noticed his head tilt ever so slightly towards Kiba and the other popular kids and so said what she did everyday. "Go."

"I'm not leaving you here on your own."

"Y-you want to be with th-them… Go, I'll… I'll be f-fine…" she said, trying to put some strength behind those words, but was unable to find any. He hesitated, like he always did. Eventually after thinking it through for a few minutes he leaned forward slightly.

"Are you sure?"

Of course she wasn't. She didn't want to be left alone in a sea of groups, it intimidated her and made her feel incredibly depressed. But she remained silent, trying to force a small smile.

"Alright Hinata," he said rising to his feet with a soft sigh. He placed a hand on her shoulder as he was about to walk past. "You know where I am if you need me?"

A nod was his only response. She listened carefully, drowning out the rest of the students as Shino was greeted by Kiba.

"I don't understand it, why does he hang around with her?" she heard a girl from the group say. It stung, but she was used to it and told herself to ignore it. She was startled when a creak sounded next to her. Looking around a fierce blush covered her usually alabaster face.

He was beautiful to her. Sunny blonde hair in soft spikes, cerulean eyes that made the sky dull in comparison, a healthy golden tan and the most breath-taking smile she had ever seen.

Uzumaki Naruto was sitting on her table.

"Hey, you should really socialise more dattebayou!" He was charismatic, adorable and outgoing. He was also incredibly confident. He was her polar opposite and she was hopelessly attracted to him. "It's weird to mope about on your own. You could talk to Sakura-chan and Ino-chan about make-up and stuff, ne?" But sadly, despite his good points, he was incredibly dim.

Hinata socialise with Ino and Sakura?

That was like telling two cats to be friendly to a mouse.

The boy was out of his mind.

"Give it up Naruto!" Sakura scoffed, flipping her bubblegum pink hair. "Some people just don't fit in."

That's rich coming from her. Sakura used to be teased relentlessly over her large forehead. If Ino hadn't taken her under her wing she'd still be 'billboard-brow'. Naruto used to be disliked for his lack of intelligence, but his personality eventually won everyone round and now he was one of the most popular guys in the school. But perhaps that was due to his supposedly 'gorgeous body'. Hinata never really had the nerve to check.

Nonetheless, at his crush's call, Naruto obediently returned to the group, seeming to have forgotten her once again.

"Hey, isn't that your cousin, Neji?" she heard from a few tables away. She looked around, trying to be discreet, but as always, nothing escaped from the eyes of her cousin.

Hyuuga Neji, year above, apparently incredibly sexy, good at sports and oozes charm. Tall, long brown hair, well muscled, 'gorgeous' eyes (shame Hinata's similar eyes were considered freaky) and a 'super hot' smirk.

Seems to absolutely loathe Hinata.

At the sight of her he sneered with disgust, the look he only reserved for her. Usually he was cool calm and collected, with the occasional smirk here and there.

They'd used to be inseparable when they were younger. She missed those times. But that was twelve years ago.

Catching the look her crush was sending to Hinata, Tenten smiled cheerily and waved. Hinata gave her an odd wary look before lifting her hand barely an inch of the table, to hesitantly wave back, but Tenten flipped her hand around to give the girl the finger, disgust and loathing smothered across her tanned face.

The laughter left an awful ring in her ears, and she decided it was time to leave before she found milk or juice poured over her head again. She stood quietly, trying not to attract attention, before rushing out of the cafeteria and into the deserted hall.

Quiet. It couldn't be considered pleasant due to the pang of loneliness as Hinata made her way past the lockers on either side.

It was stupid to get so upset over an everyday occurrence. It was even more stupid to cry over it. So why were the familiar tears pricking impatiently at her eyes?

She had nowhere to go and no one to turn to.

No one at home – rather no one at the house she lives in, would care in the slightest. They may despise her for it, but would not care.

And who was she to deny Shino of a decent social life? She was pretty sure he'd let her go in the same situation, so she decided that enough was enough. Shino should be with his friends, not babysitting her because of a little childhood bond.

It was time to let go.

But the pain of it! Her heart felt such a crippling pain that she let out a sharp gasp, crashing into a leaning position against the lockers. With all of her weak resistance wearing away, Hinata cried.