::Chapter 2::

BEING ANBU?! He was back since three days and Ba-chan was already pressuring him to work harder. He wasn't even a jounin! What a pain in the ass!

Walking through those beloved streets he missed for the passed six months was a special little treat.

He didn't really pas attention to anything, but when a familiar laughter resonated, he just had to turn his head in its direction. At first sight, he didn't recognize her. He was more interested in the tall, black-haired, fifteen-sixteen-year-old boy holding her hand, dragging her in his crazy race. Hyûga Neji! He really changed. Openly showing his Bunke seal on his forehead, he was smiling with joy while running through the crowd. As he wouldn't let go of her hand, the young girl couldn't do anything than beg him to stop for a moment. They just brushed past him, not even noticing him.

However, he couldn't overlook her. The young woman following the fully-grown Neji, wasn't known by him. In fact, by her so characteristic eyes he could guess, but she was a utterly NEW person. The small frightened shadow he once met transformed herself in an amazing light. She was laughing so freely. And for once, between her and Neji it seemed to be some fraternal love. FRATERNAL?

They stopped their race. They recognized him after all. And before he realized it, they were heading towards him. Well, Neji was, obliging Hinata, trying desperately to escape, to follow him.

-N-no, p-pl-ease, nii-s-san! H-he d-doesn't even r-re-rememb-ber m-me. L-let's n-not dis-distur-rb h-him and y-you p-p-promis-sed me a sur-surprise. I-I w-w-want to h-h-have i-it r-r-right n-now. P-pleeeaaaaaaassssssssseeeeeeeee!

-Why hello there, Uzumaki-san! I heard about you coming back!

His voice wasn't not warm nor friendly. It even seemed somehow menacing.

-Eh? Oh, the Hyûga guy! How's life?

They were actually glaring at each other. Hinata, hidden behind her nii-san's back, felt the tension growing, and didn't like it. Not that they hated each other, but, let's say, they disagreed on some points.

-It is good, thank you. And yours?

-Dunno. The Uchiwa brat was a real pain in the ass, so I have to recover.

-Yeah, the traitor.

At that very moment, they had the same look. Both of them couldn't stand betrayal less than everything.

-Well, Hinata-sama, are you not going to greet Uzumaki-san? This is very rude of you!

A little head ornamented(A/N do we even use that word in this case?) with raven-black hair showed itself from Neji's back, a timide smile on her face.

-H-Hello N-Naruto-k-ku-kun …

-Still stuttering, aren't you, Hinata-chan?

Neji frowned. Even to him it seemed too cruel to make such an offending remark. Yet, the thirteen-year-old girl didn't seem mortified at all. She even chuckled a bit.

-Yes, N-Naruto-k-kun.

She was doing her best for it to disappear.

-Anyways, gotta go! See you one of these days.

He ran away, not turning around.

-Hmm, what a peculiar guy, this Uzumaki! Oh, well! Let's go Hinata-sama! It's getting late and I absolutely want to show it to you.

°°

-DON'T YOU HAVE ANY AMBITION?! WHY DO YOU LET EVERYBODY STOMP ON YOUR DREAMS?! GOSH, HINATA! YOU'RE FIFTEEN, BUT I'VE GOT THE IMPRESSION I AM DATING A FIVE-YEAR-OLD!

-Naruto, you are being unfair, there. I never …

-YEAH, YOU NEVER … SHOW YOUR INNER SELF TO ANYBODY BUT THAT NEJI GUY! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FEEL?! YOU ALWAYS CRY ON HIS SHOULDER INSTEAD OF MINE!

-Let Neji out of this …

-I CAN'T STAND IT ANYMORE!

His body fell on hers. His head bumped on her shoulder. He wasn't crying, wasn't sobbing, still, something was broken. As if somebody broke those wings that made him always go further. Could she love him without this light that always illuminated his path ? Did she really love him, or was he only what she wanted herself to be? A reflection of a mirror that didn't exist?

-I hate you, Hinata. I hate you for all those years you've passed in darkness knowing that you could get out of it.

They have been fighting for the first time in two years. And it would probably be the last time. While curing each other little by little, they made themselves suffer. They were so far one from each other.

This fight got very physical.

Steps in nightfall.

A threatening glower on her bear shoulders, on the very visible curve of her breast. The kimono she was wearing was torn apart. A graze crossed her left cheek.

-Get away, Uzumaki.

Lavender never brought her luck. She should stop wearing that color … and tear out those cursed eyes of hers. Then the lavender would be blood red.

°°

She was burning from fever. Who was brainless enough to get out in such heavy rain?

Why did she always act so …?

He brushed away a hair strand crossing her nose.

The shoji slid open and a tall, wild-looking woman stepped into the room, followed by a younger one.

Inuzuka Tsume, Kiba's and Hana's mother was the most powerful chief ever known in the family's history. At first sight, she resembled a blood-thirsty, untamed, uncontrollable monster, but she was so much more, considering that twenty percent of Konoha's population were Inuzukas and that there was at least one Inuzuka in each third family's history. Without Inuzukas' support, Konoha would be lost. Still, everyone managed to hate them, and treat them like some dirt on expensive clothing.

-You know what, mom? I hate Hyûgas!

-Calm down, Hana. You almost chopped the old hag's head off. That wasn't really diplomatic of you, was it?

-She provoked me!

-Don't start acting like a rotten spoiled brat now, Hana! growled Tsume, exasperated.

She approached her son, and peeked over his shoulder.

-How's she doing?

He sighed slightly.

-She hardly ever wakes up. When she does, she doesn't recognize me, only asks for water. She coughs a lot, as if she was chocking and burns from fever. It stinks pneumonia. And the Hyûgas? They must've worried sick.

-Pff! They didn't even ask for her. They tried to ''shoo'' us away! They really don't have any common …

-Shut up, Hana! What happened is that according to them, since yesterday, Hinata isn't anymore part of their family.

Kiba's jaw dropped. How could the clan's chief be kicked out? That was not logic!

-Whaa …?

Tsume rolled her hazelnut eyes. Why, for the love of God, did she end up with so stupid kids?!

-She signed some paper. You know, when a girl wants to marry someone her parents don't accept, she gets rid of her family name. She's still a member of the family, but there are no more obligations from any side. Well, no official links, let's say.

The young man's eyes widened. His jaw dropped some more if that was possible.
-H-Hina w-wants t-to m-marry?

Hana smirked badly before answering.

-The little blonde ANBU finally proposed to her? Aww, how cute!

Kiba rushed to retort kind of happy, without even feeling the trap.

-No, he didn't! Hina and him broke up last year!

Or did they?

Hana clapped her fine hands over her mouth, more to mask her grin than to show shock.

-Oh my, my! I knew you were a sick one, but it's getting obsessional (A/N does that word even exist?)! You know how people like you are called? Voyeurs! You're such a perv! And all those nights you went out with Akamaru, supposedly training, you were climbing on the tree in front of her window and watching her put on her pyjama …

She went on like that, uttering all the nonsense that overflowed her mind.

At each word, Kiba got redder. How could she know the truth? He was somehow infatuated (A/N do we use ''by'' or ''with'' with infatuate?) with his childhood friend, and sometimes followed her in the darkness of night, when she was heading home. And, yes, he did climb up the tree to survey her while sleeping. YET, HE NEVER WACHTED HER PUT ON HER PYJAMA! Okay, maybe he peeked once or twice, but that was about it!

''Shut up! SHUT the hell up! AWWW …''

-… AWWW!!!

Stunned by this involuntary rail, Hana stopped soliloquizing, giving a rest to Tsume's poor ears.

''God? Why are you making me live this hell? Did I really deserve an idiot as son and a superficial fool as daughter?!''

The head posed on Kiba's lap moved faintly. An imperceptible moan came from it.

-Hinata?You woke up?

She started coughing, violently shuddering of pain. Her voice was broken and guttural.

-W-water … p-please …

Awkwardly, he reached for a gourde nearby. Pushing her chin up with his free hand, he poured the fresh water in her throat. His mother almost knocked him down by snatching the bottle out of his grip.

-YOU IDIOT! YOU WANT TO DROWN HER?!

She kneeled by the petite silhouette's side, pulling her into her arms, like a lost puppy.

A strange sentiment overwhelmed him. Something very painful. The same feeling as those times he saw her with Neji or Naruto. Why was everyone aloud to hold her tight but him? Was he cursed by his kami-sama? Did he do something wrong? Was his love filthy?

His fingers bent into a raging fist.

Why was everybody on the other side of the mirror, but him? Why weren't they from the same world, so he could just dream about dreaming about her?

He could touch the silk of her skin. Yet, it was as if he didn't feel it. He knew she smelt like fruit, more precisely like blackberries, but that was just theory. Something was always hindering him in possessing all those images of her that other didn't even care about. Like her laughing, walking, smiling, sulking, crying, dancing, jumping or just breathing. This was unfair.

-Didn't I ever teach you that to feed puppies you had to make sure they were lying on their back or else the milk could overflow their lungs and drown them?! Well, it's the same with people! You are so reckless, Kiba! You should really be ashamed of you! Being to lazy to even remember such basic things!

He didn't react. Why should he? She was right as always. But he did remember that and he knew it applied to humans as well as for animals.

Hate and crushed desire had been stronger than love.

At that moment tough he couldn't know that such behaviour of his he didn't cure would cost him one of the most important things of his life and him directly to death. However, if he didn't have those reflexes of a straying dog he would've never lived those few years that gave him joy and strength to pass through the Gates of Hell.

She had heard the name. She was sure about it. Even if her mind seemed somehow frozen and full of mist, she was sure it was his deep voice that was saying those words she couldn't get. Feebly, doing her best, she tried to call him.

-K … K … Ki …ba?

°°

-H-he s-so c-c-ute, K-Kur-renai-s-s-sensei! H-he h-has y-our e-e-eyes!

-Thank you, Hinata-chan. But for the eye color, I've heard babies got very changing eyes, so I don't really count for him to keep them like that forever.

A young fourteen-year-old girl was holding a baby against her, his sleepy minuscule head posed on her arm.

An older woman was agreeably looking at them. She seemed somewhat exhausted and sore, laying in her bed, a cup of tea in her hands.

-And you, Hinata? What is up with you, now that you are chûnnin?

The young girl lost her smile. She thought a little before answering in a shaky voice:

-I-I am t-training t-t-to become j-j-jounin.

Kurenai-sensei's red eyes closed in sadness for a moment. She still didn't have a goal for herself. Hinata was following the others' orders despite her own will. This was heartbreaking.

When she opened her eyes, she did the best she could to glare severely at the young woman cuddling the tot.

-You know, Hinata, I think it's great time for you to grow up. I understand you wanting to be acknowledged, but still … Most of the chûnnin become jounin in their twenties. There's plenty of time for you to train. What I think is that you should get yourself healed . Everybody knows that the injuries that occurred to you during the chûnnin prelims three years ago aren't cured yet. You are trying to hide it, but it's very visible. Before you came in, you chocked so hard I was sure you would throw your lungs up. You should loosen up on the A and S-rated missions, you're just a chûnnin, and I will never understand the godaime sending you on solo assignments to other dangerous lands. Stop acting like a kid, Hinata! It's time for you to think about you and leave your father's shit to stink by itself.

Hinata's stunning eyes widened Kurenai-sensei never was vulgar. Those mean words she spit out were so not like her.

Before she could even manage to stammer out some words, two very noisy specimens of the human species ran into the room, jumping and shouting:

-CONGRATULATIONS, KURENAI-SENSEI!!!

Okay, maybe just one bounced and shouted, but still, it was as if the room was filled with people.

-Shut up, Kiba. There's a baby in here.

Shino's voice. Shino and Kiba.

Looking up at them, her eyes started to sparkle. Her red lips drew out in a smile.

Noticing her, Kiba gasped. The enormous bouquet they brought for the new mommy was just pushed into Kurenai's arms.

-Sorry, Kurenai-sensei! We can stay no longer, but we'll come again another time!

They went away as they came, like a hurricane.

A moment later, Hinata fled too.

-I-I am g-g-oing to b-be b-back t-t-ommorrow. And I s-shall put s-some order a-around t-the house. A-Asuma-s-sensei r-really s-sucks a-at h-housekeeping.

She ran down the street to reach her two friends she haven't seen for a while. Often, she asked herself how come she couldn't find them at all those special places they shared together. When finally she was trotting by their side, she was stroke by the little attention they paid her. For the first time of her life with them, she blushed, ashamed, not knowing what to do to start a conversation.

-H-hello t-there, g-guys.

They ignored her.

So she was right! It wasn't possible for her to imagine they wouldn't have had any chances to see each others before. She really did something to piss them off. But what?

They speeded up the pace, making the young woman run by there side. They didn't even glimpse at her.

-Uh, h-how a-are y-you doing? Long time n-no s-see …

Shino just stopped and sighed in desperation. He turned around, mumbling something like ''You take care of it, Kiba!'', before running away as fast as he could.

It was as if she had plague … or WAS plague.

She blushed of humiliation and sadness.

-Uh, K-Kiba? W-what i-i-is w-wrong?

He stopped as his companion before but did not manage to run away. She slyly approached him. He just bent his neck, avoiding those almighty pools of magnificent glimmer that could make him her slave by one glance. He couldn't afford losing now. For her own good.

Swallowing his saliva down his throat, he closed his eyes, imagining him in another place, before reciting with a cold mechanical voice those words he always hoped he wouldn't be obliged to use.

-Don't ever talk to me again! Didn't you get the message? Your family's right! You're a failure! I am sick of you holding me back! So, shit, go away, Hyûga!

°°

She tried to forget his words. They were so hurtful. They killed her more than his hands pushing her in dust, expecting it would chase her away.

''Don't ever talk to me again! Didn't you get the message? Your family's right! You're a failure! I am sick of you holding me back! So, shit, go away, Hyûga!''

Did she cry? No, she went to train. Kurenai-sensei was absolutely right. Her wounds didn't heal. They could be mortal.

Suicide.

It was the first time she thought about ending her agony by the easiest way she knew about … and surely wasn't the last.

She was fourteen. She had a loving boyfriend she couldn't talk to, a nice cousin she trained with and that probably took care of her by guilt, two ex-friends ignoring her, a father beating her up to a pulp for anything and weakness.

Killing herself openly though would harm the name of her family, and that was the last thing she wanted.

She never thought it would take so long for natural causes to cost her her life.

But, it was okay.

Because now, Kiba's face was above hers. And he appeared worried … for her.

It was good to see him again. He didn't ignore her anymore nor was cruel.

Before accomplishing what she intended to, she was happy seeing her childhood companion for the last time.

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Thank you a lot for the two nice reviews I've received. It's really encouraging me to continue to write this story! I am also apologizing for my English to be so lame, but I am no natural English speaker, so please be indulgent with me.

Oh, by the way, if you have to say anything about the fic just review me some more! Always happy when my work raises interest!