Chapter Two: Am I the Only One?

Emotions are a mystery unsolved by humans. They understand it, feel it, and express it but never really withstood its effects. Happiness is an easy thing to comprehend though it becomes easily out ruled by the one emotion that stands as the hardest to overcome, sadness. Sadness comes in many ways, but the way it is released is always the terrifying part. The heart is very sensitive to those feelings and becomes enveloped in the emotions' aftermath. They appear at moments you would least expect and moments when you do, but nevertheless they emit such negative or positive outcomes.

Loneliness is one of the many that humans can mask, but never really get away from.

To be surrounded by many people can make it disappear only for a short period of time then everything is suddenly dead silent and all you can hear is the subtle sounds of your breath. Your heart then becomes wrapped in an emotion that brings out great anguish. You just stand there as the world seems to be moving ever so slowly.

Then the sudden realization hits you.

This feeling is not new to me. It is rather very recognizable. I have grown accustomed to it, but never really overcoming the pain that comes along with it.

My home was a place full of happiness and love all given by my mother and father as they took place as the heads of the clan. Home used to be so alive with joyous moments that I was proud to call my own. Everyday when I wake up, I look forward to what the day may bring.

Today, mother held my hand gently as we walk through the hallways, greeting the members of the family on the way. We paused as she spotted Neji sweeping the dojo. Frowning, she marched over to him giving him a polite smile, "Neji, why don't you take a short break?" She said softly. Neji slowly raised his head as his eyes filled with shock and awe.

"Why, you can play with Hinata!" Mother looked at me then gave Neji an encouraging smile.

Mother never really liked the way things were done in the clan. The fact that segregation was still evident in a house of your own flesh and blood always made her rare frown of disapproval appear. She tried to convince father in canceling the whole system, but was always shut out whenever she spoke.

I watched as she held out a hand towards Neji who was giving me anxious glances. When I noticed I tried to be like mom. I tried to do one of mother's famous smiles that made warmth spread through just about anybody. It must've worked because his gray orbs seemed to relax a little. Hesitantly, he reached out and mother grabbed his palm carefully like he was going to break if she held on too tight.

Just as mother was reaching for the broom Neji held in his other hand, he flinched, "Who is going to finish the sweeping then? Father would be disappointed in me if he found out I did not complete my daily duties." Mother opened her mouth to speak but I beat her to it.

"I can just tell Uncle that you needed a short break to relax!" Neji shifted his gaze to me, "Besides! You deserve it!" I said happily.

After a reassuring glance from mother he finally gave in.

"Neji-nii-san?" I asked as I lay on my tummy drawing a swirl with an orange crayon.

Sitting down on the edge of the platform facing the open training field, Neji turned his head slightly towards me, "Yes?"

"Do you know what a Kyuubi is?" I sat up, smiling at the single swirl on the white piece of paper, holding it up in the air.

"Where did you hear that?" He asked with a slight of ice entering his voice. I whipped my head towards him, lowering my drawing.

"Nowhere in particular… I was just having a stroll and the word slipped out from a villager," I explained as I shrugged my shoulders. I ignored the sudden pitch of intensity in his stare that came out of nowhere. It seems that the word triggered something within him. His eyes narrowed upon me as my innocent lavender orbs stared back at him. Neji heaved out a sigh as a smile pinched the edges of his lips.

"It's just the word really struck me," I cocked my head to the side, "What does the word mean to you?" Neji remained still as his smile was kept.

"The kyuubi is—,"

"Hinata," Neji stiffened, smile dispersed, eyes quickly withdrawn to the field blocking anything to meet his eyes.

I lingered my stare on Neji for a while with curiosity and worry then I straightened up and turned my attention at mother who was walking graciously towards me.

When she reached Neji and me, he stood up and bowed, "Hinata, its time to go." She gave Neji a light pat on his shoulder and smiled.

He nodded and started to walk away, "Bye," I said waving towards him.

He stopped, turned his head back at me, "Bye," He said quickly then he started to scurry off again.

Lowering my hand I stared up at my mom, "Mother, what is a kyuu—,"

"Hinata, I need to tell you something," flinching at her sudden intrusion I lowered my head in shame for acting mindlessly, mumbling an apology.

I watched as mother sat down, legs curled up beside her. Slowly I followed suit.

"Yes?"

My eyebrows furrowed as mother struggled for words, extending her hand towards me. She grabbed my tiny hands in her petite ones, "I'm going to have a baby."

Baby? Are babies those very little beings with amazingly powerful cries? Mother tried to explain to me what they were as one woman in our branch family held a little person in her arms trying to quiet down its ear-deafening cries. For some reason she immediately stopped talking when I asked where they came from, changing the topic quickly.

"Baby? What do you mean?" I was wondering why she would want to tell me this.

"It means you're going to have a little sibling," She smiled.

My pearl eyes widened in surprise. Quickly down on all fours, I crawled closer to her with disbelief and excitement.

"Really?!" I exclaimed, "Boy or girl?!" I was ready to jump in happiness! A baby brother or sister! Wow!

"We don't know yet. What do you think?" Mother laughed.

Poking my mother's stomach, I looked up at her with a bright smile on my face, "It has to be a girl! It has to be!"

Mother laughed again, "Why is that?"

Pulling back, I started making gestures in the air, "So I can braid her hair! Draw with her! Train with her! Teach her new things! Talk to her! Oh! Oh!" Pulling myself to my feet, I rubbed my tummy, "and to share her your delicious onigiri!"

"Hinata, dear, you can't do that."

"Why?" I pouted, crossing my arms against my chest.

Mother wrapped her arms around my small waist, pulling me closer to her as she placed me on her lap. I snuggled further in her chest as she hummed a soothing tune, "You have to wait nine months first."

Gasping, I pulled back looking her hard in the eyes, "But! But! That's so longgg!" Dragging out the last word, mother pulled me back in her embrace, chuckling lightly.

"You have no choice, dear. We all have to wait," Pouting again I poked my mother's stomach making a light giggle escape from her.

"Are you going to love the baby more than me?" I asked as hurt crossed my eyes. I didn't want her love to belong to anyone else but me.

She cupped my cheek forcing me to meet her gentle eyes, "No, sweetheart," smiling, she lowered her head till our nose touched, "But you have to understand that the baby needs my love as much as you do, dear."

I didn't want to. I was here first so it's rightfully mine. But then again, I'm being selfish.

Matching her smile, I pulled back, "I understand."

"Good, now let's go tell father."

As we both stood I gave her a grin, "You didn't tell him?"

"Heavens, no!" Laughing, she gave me a quick kiss on my forehead, "I wanted to tell my little munchkin first."

I watched as father's expression immediately changed. Hugging mother lightly he started flooding her with questions and mother answering them clearing out my curiosity entirely. He gave mother a kiss on the lips and I cringed in disgust.

"Ewww," I exclaimed as I raised my hands in the air blocking the dreadful scene.

Laughing they both hugged me as smiles were all plastered on our faces.

This was perfect. Life was perfect. I wouldn't change it for the world. Everything was going together now. In a few months I'm going to have brother or sister! I'm also going to start my training with father! I can't wait!

I wonder if anyone else is feeling like this right now.

Sighing deeply, he crossed the room kicking off my shoes making click, clank sounds fill the empty apartment. Letting out another sigh, he collapsed on his bed hugging the pillow that was pressed against his face.

Yawning, he stretched making him turn on his back, "Stupid, Iruka-sensei," he grumbled, "Making me scrub my masterpiece off of the monument for the whole day!"

I worked so hard on it! I mean it! I put my feelings up there!

This time I didn't even use that much orange! That should count for something! I used the colors of the rainbow making my mark as an artist!

They should've applauded my work! It made the Hokages look so much better from their boring expressions. I gladly took on the burden of fixing them up.

Though, the Third was the hardest to fix. His wrinkles made the paint smear and drip everywhere! And I mean everywhere! The Fourth wasn't that much of a hassle for his features seemed alright enough. But it's not close to how handsome I look!

Sticking his nose in the air in pride he grinned sheepishly, he immediately gritted his teeth, "Hey! He didn't even treat me to ramen!"

A minute passed as he just lay there staring up at the ceiling who stared back. Two minutes passed as he sat up and leaned against the wall. Five minutes passed as he lowered his head bringing a knee up to his chest. Ten minutes went by as he stared aimlessly at his feet. Thirty minutes passed as he closed his hands turning them into fists.

Two hours passed.

Naruto let out a shaky breath.

Gritting his teeth, he felt his lips quiver.

He felt that cursed feeling coming back.

Stop. Just stop. Leave me alone!

Naruto closed his eyes shut as his heart felt daggers stabbing into him.

No.

The silence that was filling his apartment made his ears hurt.

It's back…

Naruto sat there as darkness filled his dark blue eyes, his body stiff and still, a sad frown stuck on his face as he let loneliness engulfed him.

I wonder…

If anyone else is feeling like this right now...

Hey! Sorry if it's too long, but it's to make up for the time I took to write this chapter, lol. I really tried putting some real life feelings into this chapter, but so far this is the best I can do.

I wanted you guys to get a glimpse of the warm feeling coming off of Hinata and her mom's relationship so the impact of her death would matter more. Naruto's side of the story was just a bonus addition. I just wanted to really put that sentence in [: