The sound of the train tracks were loud in Hinata ears as she sat in her seat. She looked down at her lap, fiddling with her hands as she bit her lip. She felt like utter garbage, and it was taking everything in her power to not cry. If today wasn't the worst day of her life, she wasn't sure what would be. She felt heavy, like someone had placed their arm over her shoulder.
She gripped the fabric of her dress as she let out a tiny sigh, she looked up to see herself in the window only to be surprised.
"Oh…"
She looked horrible! Her pale skin looked dry and blotchy while her lavender eyes were puffy and red. Her long navy blue hair looked okay, but it looked rather dull. He still would have found her beautiful.
"Stop thinking about that, dummy…"
She squeezed her eyes closed as she looked back down at her lap, trying to keep the tears from pouring from her eyes. She had loved him so much and yet he had hurt her with his actions. The phone call had broke her more than ever.
"I'm sorry, Hinata. I just can't be a father yet, I'm not ready…""B-But… I thought you love me…""I do! I promise I do! But think about it, is this really what we want?""What we want? Naruto… This is more about what you want, isn't it..?""W-What..? Hinata I-""Please don't say anything more, Naruto. You won't have to worry about it… I see that even if I'm willing to accept the consequences, you are not…""Why not just abort the baby? Won't that make it easier? We can go back to the way things were!""An...an abortion…? Naruto! I would never do such a thing! How could you ever say something like that?""I'm just thinking of our future! Hinata, please try to understand!""Our future? What future? You think you can have me and not our children? Naruto… I'm sorry, but I can no longer see you… I'm sorry… She had hung up before he could say anything, trying her best not to break down in the store, glad that it had been empty before she had gotten the call.
She could have asked her father for a ride, but she wanted to be alone for a little bit before getting home so she had decided to take the train. She was tempted to just go to the beach and just sit by the water but she knew that she would have to talk to her father about everything. Her family still didn't know that she was expecting…
"Father is no doubt going to be angry…"
She mumbled to herself as she fiddled with her fingers even more. Her father loved her, she knew that much, but he was very stern and still traditional in his ways outside of business. She would be the shame of the family, a woman of her family name who had gotten pregnant out of wedlock. The idea of losing the baby came back to her, it would make everything easier, wouldn't it?
Wouldn't it…?
As she thought about it, her head snapped up at the sound of a child laughing. A mother and her happy little girl had gotten on the bus. The woman also sported another bump on her stomach, who the little girl was more than excited to talk about.
"Mommy! Mommy! When he's born, do you think he'll like chocolate ice cream too?"
The little girl was excited as she skipped along with her mother until the two of them sat down.
"Who knows, dear. Perhaps he will."
Hinata watched the young mother offer a warm smile to the little girl as she gently spoke with her daughter. The little girl brightened up even more, if it were even possible, and moved her tiny hands to the baby bump her mother sported.
"Hey, hey! When you come out, make sure you like chocolate ice cream too, okay? That way we can share! I'll be waiting, okay?"
Hinata watched with wide eyes but and looked down at her lap in shame. Quickly standing, she got off the train, this wasn't her stop per say, but it was close enough to where she could get home without much of a problem. People brushed passed her and even once she almost got knocked over, but it was the farthest thing from her mind at the moment. She felt ashamed that she had even thought about getting rid of her little angel. Sure, things would get tough and people would say things but that didn't matter to her anymore.
All that would matter would be her and her little angel, they were all that she really would need if everyone decided to abandon her.
"Oh hush, Hinata. That would never happen."
She gently smacked her cheek as she shook her head of such dreary thoughts. As she stepped out of the train station she looked up at the sky and admired it for a moment. It was getting dark and the stars were just starting to come out. It was nights like this that she loved to take walks with Naruto, to just talk about anything and everything that their minds could think of…
"I guess it's just going to be me then…"
She gave a tiny sigh and a small, sad smile as she started her walk home. She wasn't going to allow herself to hide away in her room like she would have when she was a little girl. She was almost eighteen, and it was time that she become the heiress her father wanted her to be. Child or no child, she would have to change a lot of things. It was no longer going to be her and Naruto working on their future, but more so her making sure she had things in place for her child.
As she came closer to the manor that she called home, a heavy feeling began to swirl around in her stomach. She was going to be sick, she didn't want to do this! There was no telling how her father would react to the situation.
"Hinata, where have you been?"
She jumped at the sudden sound of a voice. She turned around in surprise, looking for the source of the voice. She wasn't sure if she should have been relieved or if she should have been more stressed about who it was.
"Oh, Neji! Sorry… I hadn't noticed you there…"
He crossed his arms and rose a brow at her, his lavender eyes looking her over as he observed her features.
"I just got here. I was out looking for you since you wouldn't answer your phone."
"You...you didn't try calling Naruto?"
"Of course not, it has nothing to do with him. Your father has been waiting for you. He'd like to talk to you about some business matters."
She wanted to say something but only bit her lip and nodded. A tiny look of shock flashed in his eyes and a look of concern painted his face.
"You're not going to say that you have other plans with Naruto? You realize that he's going to force you to take your place as the heiress, right?"
Hinata offered a bitter smile, she wanted to. She really, really wanted to, but there would be no point. Even if she did have plans with the blond haired boy, she would more than likely drop them after today.
"To say the least, you won't have to worry about me having plans with Naruto. We're no longer together…"
The concern on Neji's face stayed there, and when he went to reach for her she quickly turned on her heel and began walking to the house, her hands behind her back to keep her from fiddling with them.
"We should go see father…"
He pursed his lips, hesitating for just a moment before quickly following after her. The walk to Hiashi's office was strangely quiet, neither had said a word since they had started making their way towards their destination. For some reason...it bothered Neji. It would have never done so before, but right now it bothered him more than anything else.
"Hinata?"
"Hm..?"
"Stop, for a moment."
He placed a hand on her shoulder and made her look at him. He looked over her again, he didn't know what it was but something was horribly off and he didn't like it.
"You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"
She blinked in surprise, but slowly it turned into a tiny warm smile. It was one of those smiles that he could only ever associate with Hinata, and when she nodded he felt a bit of relief.
"I don't know what's bothering you, and chances are you'll tell me when you're ready but… Just know that I'm here for you."
"Thank you, Neji… That means the world to me."
She kept that same sweet smile, Neji couldn't stop himself from from returning the smile.
"Let's go. After the meeting with Uncle Hiashi, we can go for a car ride. I can even play some of that vaporwave and indie folk and what not that you like."
She brightened up at the idea of it.
"I'd like that, I'd really like that… Thank you…"
She pulled him close to her for a hug, hiding her face in his shoulder as she tried to shut out the world for at least a few moments. She just wanted this to be over with. She took his hand for support, something that she hadn't done since they were children. When they were in front of the door, she took a deep breath before knocking and waiting a moment.
"Come in."
The voice was deep and dripping with exhaust, she could only imagine what kind of day that he had had today. If she remembered correctly he had just made deals with two other families and was trying his best to work out business dinners as well as finding ways that they could work together. She held her breath as she entered the room, to find her father hunched over millions of papers scattered over his normally clean desk. It always ended up like that by the end of the day.
"Hello father, you wanted to talk to me?"
She walked forward, bringing Neji with her as she stepped inside the office. His tired eyes looked up at her and she couldn't help but feel sick to her stomach. He wasn't looking at her like she was a disappointment, but she was sure that he would within a few moments.
"Ah yes, Hinata. Close the door, won't you, Neji?"
"Yes, Uncle."
When he left her side to go close the door, she felt weak. He was still the room, but he stayed by the door as Hiashi got out of his chair and walked closer to Hinata.
"As you know, I've recently made business with the Uchiha family and the Sabaku family. While I want Hinabi to take your place as heiress, she is much too young. I forbid you to go off with that Uzumaki boy and demand that you take on your duties as Heiress of the Hyuuga business."
Hinata never thought that she would ever be glad to hear him say anything like that, but nonetheless she nodded.
"Yes father. I understand. I no longer will see nor pay attention to Naruto Uzumaki."
He blinked in surprise at her obedience in not seeing the boy of her dream. He looked concerned and his jawline tightened, was she sick?
"Is that so…? What has caused this sudden change of attitude?"
She offered him a broken smile as she struggled not to cry, her eyes were filling with tears and she was doing everything to keep them from falling but they did as they pleased. They began to run down her face as if racing one another, which startled her father and cousin.
"Naruto and I are no virgins, father. However, with everything that I do, I've been cautious but only once was I not and...and now I must deal with the consequences of it."
"What are you saying to me…?"
Was she not clear enough? Of course she was, but her father couldn't believe her words, he couldn't believe his eyes.
"Father, I'm pregnant and Naruto wanted nothing to do with it… I will be keeping the baby and giving them the proud Hyuuga name."
She let her head fall as she folded her hands in front of herself, she waited for him to yell at her and call her out. He was going to scream at her, ask her how she could be so stupid to let something like this happen. For the first time in a very long time, Hinata was willing to take it. She flinched when he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Hinata, look at me."
She lifted up her head to look at him, almost everything seemed to be moving in slow motion for her. The words that she expected to cut her, instead praised her.
"Hinata, while I am disappointed in you for getting pregnant out of wedlock, I am proud of you for taking responsibility. Before my very eyes you've become such a strong woman and I've only just noticed now."
He offered her a small smile and gently placed his hand on her head.
"We'll start working tomorrow, but for now, go rest."
"Actually… May I go on a car ride with Neji? I promise to not be out too late and will even be ready to work at eight thirty."
He raised a brow but kept his smile.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt, but I do expect you to be up and ready around eight thirty sharp. Am I understood?"
She nodded and smiled at him, this had gone a bit better than she would have thought that it would have. A million times better, really!
"Good. Now remember to dress your best, we'll be meeting their children tomorrow. Now hurry along."
He waved them off with a small smile as he head back to his desk. She bowed to her father and turned to face Neji, who offered her a tiny smile. The smooth music filled her ears, it was In Quiet Rooms by Ollie MN. It was one of her favorite songs. As they drove and she sung the lyrics quietly she couldn't keep her eyes off the scenery.
The city looked so pretty, the buildings lit up with lights from the windows of rooms that people were awake in, airplanes flying through the sky as they carried their passengers, the cars just going anywhere and everywhere… It was just all so pretty. The dark purple sky being painted with tiny almost unnoticeable stars. She wished she could just touch it all.
"The cold air feels so nice…"
She had her window down, letting the air brush itself through her hair, having the fresh smell of a soon to be winter. She loved it, she loved it more than anything.
Tomorrow comes too soon
The end is in full bloom
I want to be consumed
By love in quiet rooms
But my pain is not profound
My loss is not unique
My heroes are underground
And I stole the words I speak
She sung along quietly as she watched the city go by, leaning against the door as she closed her eyes. She began to daydream about the future that was now in front of her. She could just see it now, she would finally make her father proud and be the heiress that he had always wanted. She would have someone who would love her without question, someone who she could nurse and raise. Maybe if she was lucky she would meet a man who was willing to love her and her child, someone who wouldn't just turn tails as soon as some type of trouble would rear its head her way.
If not, that would be find. She would learn to love herself to the point that she would love herself enough for the two of them. She laughed a little underneath her breath, that was the dream, wasn't it? She would be able to love her child, but she wouldn't be able to love herself. She always needed someone else to do it.
"Hinata?"
"Hm…?"
I just got a message from Lee, he wants me to head over there. Says there are some new people they want us to meet."
Hinata looked over at him in confusion, Neji looked at her from the corner of his eye and shrugged as he drove. It wasn't often that Neji and Ten-Ten would have someone new to meet, it was normally Neji who would introduce them to new people.
"Are you going to drop me off back home?"
"No, why shouldn't you be able to come with me?"
She shrugged just a bit, while Ten-Ten and Lee were always very nice to her she was well aware that they were Neji's friends. Besides Naruto, Hinata really only had Neji, Kiba, and Shino.
"Was just wondering…"
Her voice was quiet as she went back to watching the city fly past her, she wondered just how different this all would have looked had she been in one of the lit up rooms… With that on her mind she once again began to sing softly to herself.
So take that train there
Climb into the wreck
Every fistful of hair
Every breath on your neck
All the ghost you've ever loved
All the men that you have been
All the wind and the dust
That have battered your skin
She moved herself in the seat so that she could lean her head back against the headrest as she closed her eyes.
All of the roads
Every stone in every shoe
All of my favorite things
I give them to you…
She smiled softly as the song came to an end. She let out a tiny sigh as they got closer to Lee's home, she was slightly happy to be in the company of someone so high energy.
"Did you get the names of the people that we're supposed to meet?"
Neji nodded, a small smirk on his face.
"Yeah. Apparently they're some new kids, they go by the name Sasuke and Gaara."
For some reason she couldn't help but feel like she knew those names from somewhere but she wasn't sure if she could put her finger on it. She placed her hands on her lap as she tried to wreck her brain for the answer.
"They sound so familiar…"
She bit her lip, the answer seemed to be avoiding her more than anything… She closed her eyes to think of it before she shot up in realization. Neji looked over at her with a raised eyebrow, confused by her behaviour all of a sudden.
"Sasuke Uchiha and Gaara No Sabaku? I've read about them online before!"
She loved over at him in shock, she wasn't expecting to meet them so soon, and without her father no less. Neji shrugged his shoulders again.
"Do you want me to take you home, then?"
She bit her lip again as she thought about it. She could play it safe and wait until tomorrow to meet them as to not make a fool of herself but at the same time...wouldn't she have to be around them regardless? With a deep breath she shook her head, wanting to take a leap and enjoy her life as a person a little longer before she would have to focus on another person.
"No… It's either now or later, and I'd rather get a feel of them now."
"Good, because we're here."
"...Can I change my answer…?"