Hinata cried, alone, in the dark and curled up in the corner of her family's library. Her long bangs were plastered onto her cheeks by the pool's of tears which coated her porcelain cheeks, her eyes which were only that morning alight and vibrant had become red and empty; all in all she looks like Hell. She would remain there, in the darkness for the rest of the evening until she would silently cry herself to sleep, reminiscing of the very event that caused her to breakdown so violently.

Hinata slammed the side of her pencil onto her Algebra workbook in defeat. 'Damn these simultaneous equations!' Instead of racking her brain about her current unsolved problem, she decided to take a walk outside, to clear her mind. The thing she loved most about Konoha High School - except for her friends of course - were the grounds, especially in the current summer climate when the field was dotted with Sakura trees in full bloom, which reminded her often of cotton candy. On the other hand, they also reminded her of a certain pink-haired friend who her crush is pursuing.

Naruto.

Merely thinking of him can cause her to blush herself red like a tomato, especially because of recent events. Around a month-ago, rumour had it that the Ramon-loving blonde had heard about her strong feelings for him, and judging by how he has been avoiding her ever since then, she knew the rumours to be true. It was only a matter of time anyway, considering practically the whole school knew. Hinata trusted Naruto to take the time he needed to think over the new information and to approach her when he was ready. I mean he wouldn't hurt her. Even if he may not feel anything romantic towards her, he still considers her a close friend and Naruto, not in a million years would do anything that would hurt a friend.

She immediately regretted that thought, when she followed the trail of the pink droplets falling from the trees, and being swept by the wind near a bench overlooking the vast school field. On this bench, to Hinata's absolute horror, were Naruto and Sakura kissing passionately, their arms flung wildly around each other.

Hinata couldn't even bear to stay in school for the rest of the day. Instead, she faked a stomach bug and went home to a lonely, silent house, and then - and only then - did she allow herself to break down.

The next morning, Hinata was thankful that the whole traumatic episode happened on a Friday, so that she had the weekend to at least come to terms with it. All she had to do was to survive one more week until Summer break. That couldn't be so bad...

Could it?

She found herself proven wrong.

Over the weekend, she accepted what had happen - even though she was still miserable about it. She had already realised that her group of friends new about her 'situation'; her cousin Neji bought her ice-cream over the weekend, which he only does in major crisis' like when she broke her leg. Plus, Hanabi told her. But what Hinata didn't expect on Monday was that the WHOLE school new. She got a lot of sympathetic looks from people that day, which hated. They made her feel so small, so helpless, so pathetic. The constant whispered that surrounded her were no different.

"Poor girl, and after she's pined after him for so long."

"I can't believe those actually did that knowing about you-know-who's feelings."

"I really hope they tell her what they did soon, before she finds out from someone else."

This surprised her. Naruto and Sakura mustn't have seen her there, so no-one knows - except Hanabi of course - that Hinata actually saw them 'red-handed'.

"Oh my God, he's right behind her!"

"Is he going to tell her?"

"Oh my gosh! He's going to tell her! But in the corridor? Seriously? At least take her some place pri-"

"Hinata-chan?" Naruto stood behind her as she was taking some books out her locker, not bothering to turn to him.

"Yes?"

He was little taken aback by her bold tone of voice, "I was wondering if we ummm, if we could-"

"Talk."

"Yes, exactly."

"No need." She slammed her locker door closed and turned around looking him straight in the eye with a fake smile,"I wish you and Sakura-chan all the happiness in the world. Now if you'll excuse me, I don't want to be late for class."

Hinata brushed passed him, leaving him agape and in shock, not only because she knew, or that it was the first time he heard her say anything over a sentence without stuttering, but also because he saw the pain beneath her façade and felt like a monster for giving it to her.

The rest of the day, Hinata was welcomed by her friends with promises that "everything's going to be alright" and "Don't worry, you'll get over him." and of course the occasional "They'll never find the body." She knew her friends were trying to cheer her up, and if she were one of those girls who would eat ice-cream, watch sappy movies and do other girly things like makeovers (she already gets ambushed by Hanabi on a daily basis, to be her human makeover-guinea pig) then it would have worked. What very few people knew, even Neji, was that she wasn't. In fact, she was the type to simply drink away her sorrows with a close friend (which usually consisted of her mad cousins from her mother's side of the family and a lots and lots of energy drinks) have a laugh, a joke, and then wake up the next morning - preferably on the kitchen table or on someone's roof - feeling refreshed after a crazy night. So, basically, she needed to act out with no repercussions to her actions...badly.

So badly.

Tuesday was no better. Neji tried to talk to her about, and it was absolutely horrible. Not because of his reassurances, which were touching, but because of him giving her romantic advice. He was in no situation to give anyone romantic advice, considering he's been in love with Tenten, his best friend since childhood and a teammate on the Ninjitsu team, and has never had the guts to tell her.

It was when Neji was seven and Hinata was six that she finally found out about her cousin's secret feelings.

A young Hinata walked down the corridors of her house (more like a mansion really) in the middle of the night after getting a glass of water. Suddenly, she heard noises coming from her cousin's bedroom and went closer to listen.

"Tenten..." His voice was barely audible, "I love you...you are the light of my life...the fire in my soul...your haselnut hair smells like vanilla...and I like your eyes..."

He then proceeded to make kissy noises.

'Oh my God! Neji just confessed to Tenten! And they're kissing and- wait a minute, Neji never mentioned a sleepover with Tenten...'

She then peered in to find her cousin very much alone and asleep...and kissing his own pillow.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the great, all-powerful Hyuga Neji, with long flowing hair and a cold, calculating glare, talks in his sleep about his beloved Tenten. And even after years of bad poetry, kissy noises and phrases moaned out during the years of his puberty (which traumatized Hinata for life) she still hasn't gotten used to it.

By Wednesday, she couldn't take it anymore. She was being pressurised into going to a bloody sleep-over where she'd probably have long, meaningful conversation with the pink-haired back-stabbing, double-crosser. the pinkette already tried to approach her today and tell her how deeply sorrow she was. Her apology meant shit to her - the pinky betrayed her and sorry wasn't going to cut it.

Hinata was starting to lose her self-control. She needed to blow off steam.

Now.

If she didn't she doesn't know what she'll do...

Setting the Sakura trees on her school's property on fire came to mind...it would be very picturesque, in a Hellish sort of way.

'I'm spending too much time with Hanabi, aren't I." Was her only thought.

She hoped it could wait till the weekend, but she was desperate. She decided to call one of her mad cousins - one of the craziest, wildest and the one of the two who along-side Neji, she considered older brothers. His own younger brother was the second. However, the youngest was four hours away. This brother was two, as he's at University.

Mangetsu Hozuki.

"Hey Man-nii-San, it's Hina."