Me:-crawls out from behind a rock-

Neji:-throws a rock at Neji'sTrueLover-Where have you been?

Me:-rubs head where rock contacted-Thanks Neji. Now I won't be able to think for a week.

Neji: Like that's the reason

Me: I'm so sorry!!!-falls to the ground in a never ending line of bows-I know I promised to update…weeks…ago, but a family problem came up and I kinda felt depressed and unwilling to write. It hit my entire family really hard, especially since it fell so close to the holidays, and I just couldn't write…But now I'm back!

Neji: I can't believed I wanted her back, what was wrong with me?

Me: It's because you love me so much! This chapter is based on the snowdrop-meaning hope and affection.

`What have I done to upset the Fates?` Hinata thought, staring at her reflection as she prepared herself for the meeting with the council. She gently brushed a light powder onto her cheeks, making her already pale skin turn more translucent, and traced her eyes with an invisible silver eye shadow.

Standing, she eased out the creases of her pale blue kimono: the fabric had many intricate symbols embedded on the sash and trims of the sleeves. The garment itself looked beautiful on her; Hinata thought it made her look like a porcelain doll.

Her hair was very beautifully done: the midnight tresses pulled back into a low ponytail, oddly reminding Hinata of how Neji wore his, with her bangs framing her now more angled face.

Anyone would say she appeared like a fallen angel, Hinata believed that it would be more appropriate to say a glass statue.

A light knock came from the door. "Are you ready Hinata-same? The meeting is starting soon." Hinata opened her bedroom door and faced her escort. "Y-yes Neji-nii-san, let's go."

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Hinata stood still in front of the council room. Her hand was already outstretched to knock on the wooden door, but refused to make any movement. Neji, noticing his cousin's hesitance, placed his hand on her shoulder. "Whatever happens-"

"Will not be changed," Hinata finished, clearly copying a line she had heard some time in her life. "I'm r-ready." Her knuckles made contact and instantly a commanding 'Come in' allowed them entrance. Hinata took a deep breath and led them inside.

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The meeting itself, even though insightful, could have been described in one word: boring. Hinata and Neji, despite being in the Jonin rank, could only remain still because of their harsh training in their youth to never make any unnecessary movement in the presence of elders.

Though, even the Hyuga prodigy felt like groaning in annoyance every time an elder started a new topic.

"Now that this is taken care of," the Head Elder Hirino said, replacing the 'new dinner and desert menu', `Kami please help us,` Hinata thought, glanced at each individual in the room. His gaze finally stopped on the Heiress. "We will begin our final matter of the day: Hinata-sama's betrothed." Hinata felt her heartbeat pick up speed and breathed deeply to calm it.

"After much thought, we have come to a final decision: Hinata-sama," all eyes, whether involuntary or not, glanced at her, "you're future husband shall be…Hiroto Hyuga of the Main House." For a split second the entire world seemed to stop, a grace period where all thoughts seemed to disappear, then a loud explosion caught everyone's attention.

"What?!" Both Hiashi and Neji simultaneously released their disagreement to the council's decision.

Hiroto Hyuga was known throughout the entire Hyuga clan as one thing and one thing only: a playboy. He would flirt, kiss, and cheat behind any girl's back. If Hinata remembered correctly, he had once gotten into a fight for being caught in bed with another man's wife.

Hiroto was also power-hungry. His main objective was to gain social status among the clan so that he would be seen by everyone throughout the village. Neji and Hiashi knew that if he was to marry Hinata, she would have no chance to take her position as clan Head for he would steal the title from under her.

"There is no way I'm allowing my daughter to marry that man-"

"Hinata-sama's name would be ruined! He would never remain faithful to her-"

"The Heiress is the one to rule the clan, not some trash found on the ground-"

"Stop." Hinata's command was a soft whisper, but it held more effect then the shouting of her father and cousin. All eyes were on her. "If Hiroto is who the council has chosen, then he is who I shall marry. Their decision is what we follow, is that not what you agreed to, Father?" Hiashi, emotions still slightly raw and frayed, allowed a sliver of regret to be seen through his eyes. "I will keep my end of the agreement and marry before my eighteenth birthday, and you shall let me bare my birthright without question."

Hinata found that it was getting increasingly difficult for her to keep her voice even. She stood. "If that was the final topic, I request that this meeting be adjourned and we all return to our daily duties." Hinata's father's eyes held pride in his daughter, but hidden underneath was the undeniable shadow of sadness. Neji's eyes were empty.

A soft tap reminded the entire room of the outside world and Hinata went to open the door. A Branch House servant stood facing her with a wind-blown expression. "A message from Tsunade-sama Milady: she has requested your assistance for a mission." Hinata looked to her father and saw him nod his head in approval. She ran to her room to wash off the makeup and change into her own personal Jonin uniform of skintight, black knee length pants and a formfitting black sleeveless, shoulder less top. Grabbing her weapon's pouch and arm length fingerless gloves, Hinata sped to the front of her home.

She finished changing and was out of the compound in less than five minutes.

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"Hinata watch out!" At the sudden command, Hinata barely evaded the fatal attack that was directed toward her heart. Taking hold of the enemy's wrist, the lavender-eyed Hyuga sent a chakra blow through his chest. "Thank you Kiba!" Her partner replied with a grunt as he threw another opponent into a tree.

Hinata thought that the mission would be simple: deliver a scroll to the land of Stars and return with their reply.

Tsunade had said nothing about being attacked by a herd of rogue ninja.

"Kiba!" Together, the two elite Jonin stood back to back, surrounded by the forwarding ninja. "How many are there?" Hinata counted silently with her alert Byakugan. "…Ten not counting the four Akamaru are against and the ones we already took down."

"Tsk," Kiba clicked his tongue and sniffed the air. "So what's our plan of attack?" Hinata tensed the muscles in her already outstretched hand. Subtly lowering herself into her Hyuga Gentle Fist stance, the Heiress whispered softly, "Tell Akamaru to lead the ninja here. If you can get them all to focus on me, I'll use my 64 Palms technique."

"A one blow finish, I like it." Kiba whistled. "Akamaru!" A low rumbling shook the ground beneath the ninja's feet and a large white wolf-like beast emerged from the trees. Three rogue nin followed after. "Are you ready Hinata?" The female nodded and the man-beast duo jumped away. When they appeared to have deserted their teammate, the opposing nin hurried forward.

Hinata stood her ground. "Protection of the 8 Trigrams 64 Palms!" Activating her hidden technique, every ninja that came into contact was thrown back into the trees and was knocked unconscious.

As the last of the ninja fell, Hinata deactivated her Byakugan and gently swayed on her feet. "Hinata behind you!" The girl had no time to deflect the surprise attack and heard metal collide with flesh as a warm liquid dripped down her back.

With a loud thud, the body of her cellmate collapsed to the ground. "Kiba!" Akamaru, with his claws outstretched, attacked the sole nin who threw the shuriken. Hinata kneeled next to her fallen friend and tried to stop the blood flow. "Hold on Kiba, you'll be alright. Don't you dare leave me."

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"I'm so sorry." Hinata sat in the visitor chair placed next to Kiba's bedside. Her head bowed, the Heiress continuously mumbled apologizes to the always grinning Inuzuka. "For the last time it wasn't your fault Hinata-chan. If anyone's to blame it should be Akamaru: he should make sure that his opponents are really dead." Even though it was meant as a joke, the oversized dog whined from the outside of the window.

Hinata glanced at his from under her bangs. Though the wounds weren't fatal, she still felt guilty that she wasn't able to help him as much. "But I should have known that he was behind me. If I had-"

"Hinata-chan," Kiba sighed, "it takes a lot out of you to do your technique, let alone after rigorous traveling and fighting. You should be proud: you not only single-handedly defeated the enemy, you had enough energy to lead Akamaru back to the village." He took her hand and brought it closer to him. "I'm proud of you."

Hinata stared in wonder at their joined hands. "Kiba-kun…" The Inuzuka, with his other empty hand, reached for the filled vase, occupied by the many silver snowdrops Hinata had brought back from the land of Stars, and plucked one out of the bunch.

He sniffed it. "These remind me a lot of you." Capturing her other hand, Kiba placed the snowdrop in-between both of them. "The color, its beauty, the unique smell, everything." He lowered his head to rub his cheek against the opposite side of his palm. "I don't want you to feel bad because of me, Hinata-chan. I'm glad I was able to protect you: I am your shield."

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Hinata, inwardly shivering, replayed all the events of her day. `Was it only a day? It seemed like an eternity.` in her mind. `I'm getting married to Hiroto…and Kiba…I'm not sure what happened with Kiba.`

A flutter of wings cam from the outer grounds and Hinata swiveled to see the cause. A teenage male stood proudly as he waited for her to allow him entrance.

Hinata practically ran to greet him.

The ninja leapt inside yet remained in a crouched position a full two seconds longer than normal. Hinata stared at his too stiff posture. "You're hurt." The male gave a muffled laugh. "It was an accident, I'm ashamed to admit. Nothing serious."

"Y-you got into a-an accident?" Hinata's tone emphasized the `you`.

"It could happen to anyone." His voice was less playful. "Do you know your future?" Hinata blinked, then her eyes glazed in understanding. "You mean my betrothed." He didn't move. "Y-yes, I did find out who it is."

Hinata could almost feel his eyes searching her expression. "And do you like him?" Hinata felt the familiar prick of tears behind her eyes, but refused to allow herself to cry in front of him again. She slowly shook her head, not trusting her voice.

The ninja released a sigh a carefully placed his hand on her shoulder. "Who would you like to marry?" Hinata, startled, looked to him. Who would she like to marry? If she had to spend the rest of her life with… "I don't know."

He subtly rubbed her arm. "When you figure it out I'd like to know." That released Hinata from her daze. She glanced at him. "Why? W-why would you p-possibly want to know who I like?"

The ninja lowered himself to her height and pressed his scarf-covered mouth to her forehead. He placed an object into her hands and regained his posture. "I want to be the one who protects you. I want to protect your smile." He caressed her cheek. "I am your shield."

Hinata quickly blinked, yet in that split second the mystery ninja disappeared. A flutter of wings sounded outside her closed window.

`If I had to spend the rest of my life with…`

Hinata glanced down to the gift in her hands:

A silver snowdrop.