AN: Thank you so much for reviewing!! I'm glad everyone liked it!!

xxx Belldandy xxx: Love the review and yayie for being the very first!! I love Neji/Hinata a lot as well.

I would also like to comment this. In Japan it is legal for cousins to marry. Its not common unless you live in clan families, who wish to keep all of their belongings and earthly goods within the family only.

Anyway, I hope a lot of you enjoy this next chapter!!

If You Love Me

Chapter 2: You will stand

The words rung deep into both Hyugas. Betrothed. Already set to be married. Already tied to each other. Already predetermined for them. "No." All eyes snapped and looked at the young Hyuga woman. She knew it was a mistake the moment it had come rushing out of her mouth. She could not take back the words. Her white hands reached, touching her lips. Eyes glared as hand seals were made. Her punishment was the harming of Neji.

"Hinata-sama, don't..AGHH!" she looked as Neji cried out, his head throbbing in pain. They knew the Hyuga could not stand to see someone she cared about in pain. She dropped to her knees, tears in her eyes, blank and hurt. Her cousin had been put through too much and now, he was dying. She knew he would rather die. Curled up in a ball, trying so hard to remove the pain on his forehead, in his mind. His eyes shone with anger, hatred, and pain. "Don't do it…" he said again and again between cries of pain. His voice echoed in the room. Echoing in the young woman's mind. His pain, made it so tears softly floated down her cheeks, hitting the floor without a sound. "Say…Noo ARGGHH!!" again, his voice rang, over and over.

"Stop it…" she whispered softly. "Stop it…." Her hands, pale and soft began to ball up into a fist. Her eyes began to harden. She would not be the reason for his pain. She could not be the reason. Icy lilac eyes softened as her body twisted, turned to the man who screamed out in agony. Her head dipped, curtain of black shielded them from the rest of the world. "I am sorry," her voice, shaky, soft and sweet called. Their eyes looked at each other. Her lips gently swept across his forehead. Though he was in pain, the soft touch eased him just a little. The feeling one got when their loved one was near. That was what she was. His loved one. He protected her from everything, watched her sleep. Held her when her worst fears came around. He did love her. But this was not how he wanted it to happen. Deep in his heart, he was in love with her. Right now though, he just wanted to stay her friend.

Slowly, she rose her body up. She stood before the council. Her eyes looked at each of them, "I take back what I said. I will marry Hyuga Neji." Her words cut through them all. All eyes watched her as they undid the seal on the Branch member. She fell back to her knees once they nodded their head. So much strength to stand up to them. So much work, just to keep herself from crying. A scroll was pulled out. Hiashi looked it over before handing it to Hinata. She took it, looking it over. Blood was placed where Hinata's name was, as was Neji's. Her eyes scanned it over and over. Maybe there was a loop hole, somewhere. Somewhere, they could be free. Her eyes got a soft look, seeing nothing, hope vanished from her eyes. It was sealed with no way out. The maze had no end.

"Now, if you two will reseal the scroll with your blood," called elder Yushika. Yushika was a main branch member, who had a scar across his right cheek, and he had two older sons, and a daughter. His sons were four and three years older than Neji, and Yushika's daughter, was just a year older than Neji. He was very stern, but had his moments where he was kind. Much like the arrangement before Hinata and Neji, he married a branch member. He loved her now, but only after they had their first child. Yushika was staring at them, waiting.

Ice blue eyes stared as his cousin willingly bit her finger. The blood dropped onto the page. Her blood, shone just a little before almost magically it turned into her name. He stared over and over between the scroll and the woman who stood up for him. Her figure stood tall strong and a little shaky. Were all her dreams breaking in front of her eyes? He gathered up his own strength, as little as there may be, and stood beside this wonderful woman. He too bit his finger, his pale hand letting it drop next to his name, marveling to himself as the blood changed into the kanji for his name. At moments like this, he often thought his family had a much darker secret than the seal that was placed on him and others like him. Neji moved a step forward, letting Yushika have the scroll. Ice blue eyes stared into matching, older eyes. Yushika nodded his head to the family genius, and handed the scroll to his uncle. As grandfather looked over the scroll, Neji saw a single tiny tear fall from her face. A face that shouldn't have tears. Her pale cheeks were flushed from how hurt she was. From the single idea of losing everything she had made for herself. His eyes darkened the best they could at the way everything had just fallen on her. His hands reached out, and took her shoulders gently. He looked into her eyes that swore they would let tears fall if she had to been in this room with these…men any longer. He gave a slight smile to her as he guided her out of the room. No one needed to say anything. They agreed. Hiashi looked to the others and they nodded their heads as they began to discuss what would happen.

"Neji-san..thank you," she said as they finally stopped in the part of the house that no one went to. They sat down, her feet touching the ground, and her eyes looked up into the sky. Tears fell freely without shame. How could she not? Her dreams of marrying Shino gone. (AN: I dislike Naruto and Hinata pairing so, it won't ever come up in my stories) The idea of eve trying to be an ANBU, destroyed. She would be with the one person who would never love her. But, if she hadn't agreed, he would be dead. She cared about Neji so very much.

"There is nothing you should thank me for. Hinata-sama, its not fair. I do thank you for saving my life. If you hadn't agreed, I may be dead," his voice touched her heart. She looked at him. He was also staring into the sky. His eyes seemed to be off in his own world. Icy eyes looked down into her lilac orbs that still showed little traces of tears. His eyes hardened for a moment. She blinked a few times, confused. "Hinata-sama, could we keep this a secret for a while?"

"I…was going to ask the same." She could just see the look into the golden brown eyes of her friend, Kiba. The way his eyes would darken in anger. Then, there was Shino. She couldn't face him. She would need to learn to forget her feelings. Eyes closed and lashes kissed at cheeks that were still a little red. He had the urge to kiss away the final tear that fell. She was over it now. E could feel her soul just let go of the pain. She would now focus on the future that had already been carved out for them. His hand rested on hers, gripping it gently as she nodded. They had little choice, but they were in it together. At least, she wasn't alone. That was the good thing.

AN: End of this chapter. Like it? I hope you guys did. And thank you for the reviews!! I loved them. It makes my day when I get reviews. Really it does.

Hinata: So, the more reviews, the happier you are?

Mizuki: YUP! I love reviews!!

Neji: I am better than Gaara

Mizuki: Well, in some ways. And in other ways, Gaara is better than you. Youa re two different people…

Neji: My Hinata….

Mizuki: Um..right..anyway, Please Review!!