A/N: Hell-o!! I have good news, bad news…and just plain news. I'm almost done with school for the year…sooo HOORAH! But I also have to go back to work as soon as I'm out of school...so BOOO-Noo! So it might take me a while until my next update… with finals coming up. Grrr… school. Anyways, Hiashi is an asshole, Neji is one too for now. Okay, a lot of characters maybe a little out of it. Let's face it, it's a hard world. So anyways, on with the story…

Disclaimer: Sadly I don't own Naruto. Sad for me, it might be good for some of you that I don't. Haha… the amazing Masashi Kishimoto owns Naruto.

Chapter 2: Bathwater

Neji could see something different in her eyes. Her gaze wasn't lost in despair and pain anymore. No, there was something…like a glint of hope. She was dreaming, happily…even after her father's hits…his words. He saw that the words still hurt her, but this new hope seemed to be trying to heal her heart.

"Get out," she was shaken by his voice, for a moment she had forgotten that she was not alone. Hinata stood up, the red tinted water quickly sliding down her scrawny body and back into the tub. She shivered…Neji raising the bucket over his head and pouring clean cold water over her naked form. Her shivering increased and she watched Neji walk out into her room. She quietly grabbed a towel and began to dry herself.

Hinata dropped the blood stained towel and carefully slid her undergarments on while managing not to graze her now bloody knees. Neji was looking at the bed in deep thought, when she appeared and sat in his line of vision. As Hinata sat, she begun brushing her hair, Neji kneeled down and started taking care of her wounds. She wasn't sure why he was doing this, but she was glad to be with him.

Neji frowned, he loathed Hiashi… Hated every fiber in him. Why the hell did he send him?? Why him and not another damn branch member? He finished with one of her wounded knees…quickly starting on the other one. Then it hit him…he figured why. No one else knew that he was beating the heir of the main branch. No one else knew and Hiashi was trying to hide it. Neji figured that soon Hinata would have to start the Ninja Academy and Hiashi couldn't beat her and then have it shown, so he planned on healing her to hide the beatings. 'The sneaky bastard,' He looked up to see her smiling and gazing nowhere in particular. Her hands going through her shoulder length hair. He quickly looked down… He hated her.

"Thank you nii-" but he left slamming the door behind him. Hinata frowned as she slowly got into the sheets. She curled up in her bed, feeling lonely again, recalling her father's words, the hits, and how she had failed. Failed her father…her mother… and Naruto. Failed to keep in the tears.

By fortune, she had found him again. In the forest, she quietly watched Naruto train. His strong persistence to hit every target giving her courage, courage to go on.

"I'll show them…and I'll earn their respect!" He told the tree he used for target practice as he threw another kunai knife against it. She smiled as he cheered happy to hit one target. She wanted to talk to him.

"Naruto?" A ninja appeared.

"I'm coming," Naruto said and followed the ninja. Hinata put her hand on her chest, feeling as if butterflies had suddenly invaded her insides. Smiling, she silently made her way back to the Hyuga estate, unaware of the boy watching her.

Sasuke sat on top of a tree and watched her leave, smiling…he had seen her smile for that boy. He didn't know what he felt… but it was all to familiar to what he felt when his father only talked about Itachi. He had seen the blond boy and figured he was nothing special. He didn't even hit all the targets…like Sasuke could. So why did he make her smile and not cry? Sasuke clenched his fist… Why did he feel this way?

Hinata's eyes glowed with happiness, happiness that sickened Neji. He wanted to see her cry…to look sad again. He hated her. Why was she happy? In a steady run Hinata charged towards her father, but he dodged every attempt she made to at least touch him. He was angry…she had been out in to the forest again, doing god knows what. He was also pissed that she was not giving him an okay excuse to assault her…to vent out this anger and stress. He blamed her and he yelled at her, but she was not crying. Hinata's right arm connected with her fathers side. She didn't even have time to respond because he immediately grabbed her arm with his left hand. She tried pulling back, but with out warning he brought his right hand and smashed her head down to the floor.

Neji was shaken by the scream, not realizing that it came from Hinata. Hinata let out such a pain filled wail that her father had to put his hand over her mouth. This was a new kind of pain for her…she couldn't think, just scream. Hiashi looked to his side and as soon as his gaze fell on his nephew, Neji understood. He stood up, opened the door and closed it after his quick exit. Hinata still tried to cry out her pain as Hiashi looked down at her. It felt like a miracle that he didn't kill her with such a blow, but to Hinata it felt more like a tragedy. She was still conscious and felt the pain, pain that she didn't want. When he noticed that she would not shut up, he encircled his hand around her neck,

"Close your mouth this instant unless you want to die," he threaten her but she didn't respond…not until a hard slap was delivered. That seemed to have helped her register his words.

"Hiashi-sama," Neji said in a hurried voice, his head peeking in through the door.

He dropped Hinata and walked towards the door,

"Take care of her," he said as he exited to see someone approaching him from the right.

"Sir, the Hokage wishes to see you," the lower branch member said while slightly bowing.

"Very well," and Hiashi left.

Hinata regained consciousness while on Neji's arms…just before he put her in the hot-warm water filled tub. Her head still hurt and tears spilled out as she completely woke up. Her right leg also ached tremendously and she sobbed as the water turned red. She looked at Neji for comfort but he glared at her,

"You got what you deserved," he said smirking…to make sure she knew that he was happy she was hurt. Her head kept pounding in pain and she didn't feel at all to good…her eyelids feeling heavy. She just let them close and slowly she began sinking into the tub.

Neji watched her loose her conscious again and start to sink into the tub, but he stopped her. He took her out and carried her to the bed. She was badly hurt and he figured that whatever he had learned at the Academy would have to do. Silently he dressed her body…moments just staring at the bruises and cuts she had. Her leg still bleeding from the kunai knife her father had thrown at her, but he left that wound for last.

Hinata woke up again, feeling pressure on her leg. Neji was still bandaging her cuts. She didn't bother smiling…not anymore. She brushed her hair as he finished…he looked up. She was running her fingers through her hair again, unaware of his presence. Lost in her own head. Looking peaceful, her gaze falling no where in particular.

"Ow…Nii-san?" She winced in pain and looked down. Neji had her leg encircled in his strong grip. He quickly let go, confused at what just had happened.

"I hate you," he said angrily, but somehow it felt that those words weren't meant to remind her of his hate to her…but more so to remind himself that he hated her. His chest felt mixed with emotions as he watched her eyes water in sadness. Hate her…and he quickly left.

-SOMEMONTHSLATER-

Hinata sat in front of her father, hope playing in her heart, but fear haunting her mind. Silenced by the glare he gave her while scrutinizing her image. At eight years old she should be bigger…stronger, but the girl in front of him looked like a weak lifeless six year old. He didn't mind the lifeless part, but why so short and scrawny? It made him angry just seeing her.

He opened his mouth, immediately seeing her tense,

"You're going to start attending the Academy," and she looked up wide eyed with a smile playing at her lips. Hinata wanted to hug her father, but her face was now kissing the floor.

"Hyuga's don't show emotion," he dangerously said. Her eyes watering, but her mind was somewhere else.

"Understand this, You will not talk. You will not give any information to those outside of the Hyuga clan or you will be punished," he grabbed her by the neck and slowly squeezed, "You tell anyone…anything and I'll lock you up to your death," He could see the fear register in her eyes, "I'll take you tomorrow," he dropped her, "Now leave," and she bowed then exited the room.

She steadied her breathing as she tried not to let the tears escape her eyes.

A/N: hello again, just want to thank everyone. Please review. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Much love, wink, wink haha I'm crazy.