Chapter Three: I, Who Have Nothing
"Weeping is not the same thing as crying, It takes your whole body to weep, and when it`s over, you feel like you don't have any bones left to hold you up." ― Sarah Ockler, Twenty Boy Summer
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Ino had decided to drive to the Hyuuga Mansion despite her bare feet, which made Hinata have to dwell in her own thoughts. The girl gazed out at the stars beyond the drop top car. They were especially bright tonight. The bluette stared up at the glittering sky, memories clouding her mind.
Mother loved watching the stars. Hinata's heart lurched in her chest.
"What the hell..?", said the blonde as she passed limos and luxury vehicles exiting the driveway of the Mansion. Hinata sat up in her seat and peered ahead through her thick bangs. Why would cars be coming from her home?
Ino pulled the car around in the curve of the driveway and parked it. Some people lingered at the entrance of the place wearing business suits and formal attire. The attire contained the Hyuuga symbol. Hinata became confused as she opened the door and stepped out.
"Get the fuck off me, you peasants! I want to see my sister!", a young voice bellowed.
From a distance, loud opening and closing of the clan doors was heard and a brunette in a dark dress stomped out of the Mansion towards the duo; it was Hanabi. Said girl stopped a few feet away from the ferrari on the verge of breaking down, a few unshed tears blinding her white orbs.
In need to comfort her sister, Hinata rushed forward and grabbed her shoulders. "Nee-chan, what's wrong? Did something happen?" The one thing that Hinata greatly feared was the exilation of Hanabi. The girl had been doing rebellious stunts against the clan for a couple of months now.
Hanabi looked up at her sister and saw their mother in her. Said girl reached forward and buried her head into Hinata's chest as she began to sob and mumble incoherent words that the older Hyuuga couldn't understand. Hinata held her and told her to slow down.
"Where the hell were you?! I tried to defend you! They wouldn't listen to me! Where were you? You were supposed to be here defending yourself!", Hanabi screeched with a hoarse voice.
Ino looked at Hinata in question; the bluette looked even more confused.
"What are you talking about Ha-" Hinata began, but the air suddenly became tense.
"Looks like you were too late, Hinata-sama.", a deep voice spoke. Hinata slid her eyes over and met with cold, distant ones. Hanabi gripped the girl's jacket and cried harder into Hinata's chest. Hinata looked in question at her older cousin; she expected him to answer her question without hesitance.
"Neji-nii. Tell me, what is going on?"
The handsome brunette boy let a light smirk play on his face. He walked towards Hinata and stopped right beside her. The tension in the air heightened as well as Hanabi's sobs in her sisters chest.
" As of a couple of hours ago, Hiashi replaced you as Heir of Hyuuga Corporation.", Hinata froze as he continued. "Your title as heir has been dropped and, at this moment, your occupation and time at the Corporation."
Hinata felt her heart drop in her stomach. "So...does that mean that...you...nii-san - "
"I'm the Heir now. You aren't needed here - you never were.", Neji said.
Hanabi grip on Hinata's jacket didn't cease as Neji walked away to his awaiting limo. Shocked, Hinata whipped around and stared at the evil man's limo; the door opened and revealed the last person Hinata expected to see, Kin. The girl gave Neji a peck before darting her brown eyes towards Hinata. Soon, the limo pulled off into the distance.
Hinata's breath turned heavy and suddenly everything seemed unreal. So much was happening to the girl at once, first her husband, now her position? What was next to come.
"Mrs. Uchiha , I'm going to have to ask you to please leave the premises.", said a bulky bodyguard from the girl's side.
Hinata looked up towards the man who she recognized as Ko. in confusion."Ko...W-what are you talking about? I am an original member of the Main Branch. I-I have every r-right to be here...right?..."
Ko looked at Hinata with sympathy in his white orbs before shaking his head. "You have been ordered by Neji-sama to exit the premises. As the new Heir to the Hyuuga Clan, the leader has ordered that you also be disowned, mi'lady."
...It seemed that Hinata's world would keep on erupting into flames today, no matter how much water she threw on the burning flames.
"No, this isn't happening to me right now. God please let this be a dream!", Hinata yelled into the dark night sky as she gripped Hanabi tightly, surely almost crushing the younger girls fragile figure. Fresh tears started to come down the distressed girl's face.
Ino watched on as the sisters held onto each other for dear life. Ko pulled the two away from each other with the assistance of another burly guard. The sisters tried to grab for each other's hands - Hanabi was being pulled back by the guard while Ko pulled Hinata away from the steps of her family home.
"Hinata!", Hanabi screamed for her sister, her arms outstrecthed and tears running down her cheeks.
That picture was burned in Hinata' head.
The Hyuuga Grand doors closed as Hanabi was shoved in. Hinata was set down carefully by Ko outside of the gates. Her car was also moved outside of the gates. The crying girl watched as the gates of the place that her and her mother, and her sister shared many memories was closed before her eyes. The same house that she had last seen her mother in.
Ino watched the whole heart-breaking scene and quickly turned her head before Hinata's tears flowed. She couldn't watch Hinata cry anymore; it was becoming sickening by each moment.
Depressed, the blonde walked towards a bench in front of the gates and pulled out her Iphone. She quickly dialed the purple-haired assistance number. The dial tone screeched and rung before the line connected.
"How is she? Has she calmed down?" A few tears fell from the attorney's eyesA few tears fell from the attorney's eyes. Hinata fell to her knees in front of the gates and clutched the bars.
"-no? Ino, are you there?"
"H-Hinata just lost everything. She's no longer an heiress, Konan...She doesn't have her seat as one of the executive staff at her Corporation..." Ino looked towards the girl and saw that she was looking up towards the sky full of stars. The girl was on her knees, balling her eyes out; She was lost.
Ino soon spoke into the phone. "She has been disowned from Hyuuga all together...by Neji and her father... she's lost her family, throne, and her contact to any of the Hyuuga members."
Konan's paused on the phone. This is bad, really bad.
"We need to get this ball rolling.", proclaimed the lawyer, Shikamaru Nara as he scrolled through his messages on his phone. Sasuke 'hned' in agreement as he lit his cigarette and propped his legs on the black, marble table.
Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze, proud heir of the Namikaze Family and Co., blanched at the smoke that wafted his way and quickly waved the heavy smoke away from his area. He was prone to have asthma after being around Sasuke and his dirty habits.
"Oi, Teme, put that damn cancer stick out! You're slowly giving us second hand smoke!.", Naruto yelled as he fanned the smoke away and began to have a dramatic coughing fit.
The Uchiha pulled and then let go of the smoke from his mouth towards Naruto, little smoke rings forming towards the boisterous man's nose. "Shut up, baka."
The door to Nara's condo was opened by Neji as he slipped off his tan coat. Once the coat was off, the red marks on his neck showed in the bright lamps in the room. Naruto howled in laughter.
"Woah, look at our little Neji all grown up! Looks like he's a real man now!", the blond yelled as the Hyuuga hung up his coat. Neji glared at the blonde charmer before taking his seat at the table. Sasuke swiftly pulled out another cigarette and handed it to the sighing Neji.
"How much do we have now?", asked Neji as he lit the stick.
Shikamaru set down his phone and pulled out the papers in his briefcase and looked over them. "Right now, combined, the joint account has an estimated $82 million.", replied the counting lawyer. All heads turned towards Shikamaru in disbelief. How can that be possible; the Main Gang Corporation (MGC) had just launched this weekend.
Naruto soon spoke. "So, as of now, we have this much money, in less than one fucking week? I can't believe it!"
"Our investors are sold on this becoming something big. There's no telling how many more we'll have to meet with after we launch this project.", the Nara added.
The Uchiha smirked as well as Neji. Their plan was beginning to come into action.
"We'll have this mission accomplished by the end of this week. I'll call you guys tomorrow for another meeting."., Neji got up and grabbed his coat before the charming blonde stopped him.
"What's the rush, Neji?! We just started talking!", Naruto called.
Sasuke whacked the hysterical blonde over the head, which lead to silent cursing from the blonde.
"My son has grown ill.", Neji answered as he gave the men a sided-glance.
The room became quiet.
Shikamaru waved the stressed man off while lighting his cigarette. "We'll catch you tomorrow. Give Tenji my regards."
Once the man walked out, the tension in the room decreased.
"Troublesome. And mother wonders why I keep condoms on my desk at work.",said the lazy lawyer as he opened his refrigerator and pulled out an orange.
Sasuke rolled his and looked through his phone; Sakura had called him three times in the last fifteen minutes. He smirked. she's so attached it's pathetic.
Naruto popped on the flat-screen television on the wall opposite the group and scrolled through the channels.
Soon, his arm became numb. "Shika, you know ya have some shitty service in this-",His eyes then widened in disbelief. "Holy fuck - why didn't anyone tell me that Gaara and Kin had a sex tape out?!"
All eyes stared at the projector.
The news broadcaster spoke. "Yes folks, it seems that the world known, 'Hottest Bad Boy' Sabuku owner Gaara Sabaku's sex tape was anonymously released today. The person who released this infamous tape says that this will be the biggest revelation yet! We agree! What do you think?"
A picture of the redhead was brought on the tv. The Uchiha clenched his fists at the picture. That bastard.
Shikamaru looked between Sasuke and the Tv while peeling his orange. He wasn't shocked in the least. "Well isn't this odd. I wonder what Sasori will say now that his kin is in the public again. Think Akatsuki will withdraw their investment'?"
Naruto 'tsked' before speaking. "You know that will never happen. They probably had a hand in this anyway. This wasn't a coincidence."
Sasuke continued to stare at the tv. Shikamaru sighed and threw the excess peel into the trashcan.
"Let's just stay low for a minute. We won't discuss anything about this project outside this room."
Naruto looked towards the brooding Uchiha. "What are you gonna do about Hinata? She may just do an interview on you..."
Sasuke smirked and looked at the TV screen; a picture of him and Sakura were plastered on it. "If she's not in my arms or in my bed, does the public really care for what she has to say?"
Shikamaru silently glared at the Uchiha, an overwhelming guilt swamping his mood.
Hinata was quiet. The whole ride away from the mansion of her family home was quiet. She didn't have anymore tears to shed. This was the worst day of her life hands down, besides the day her mother died. She was lost, confused, and hurt. The bluette didn't have any family to turn to; her husband was engaged to another woman, her cousin hated her guts (notion was proved true when her disowned her), and now her sister was being taken away from her.
Nothing could make this day any worse. Hinata looked up at the starry sky. Her mind was clouded by so many things.
How could she make it through this? Her mother wasn't alive to help her. No one was here. Ino and Konan were there for her, but they couldn't understand the pain she was going through. No one could.
"Hinata, everything is going to be okay.", replied the blonde as she sped down the long, lonely road.
Hinata begged to differ; she had just lost a husband, her family, and her position as Heir. Let's not forget her freaking sister.
"Everything isn't okay, Ino. I-I don't think it ever will be right now. My life is a mess and ...I don't know what to do." Hinata wanted a drink. A stiff one. Too bad she wasn't at the appropriate age to drink.
Ino looked at the girl next to her and smiled. "Never would have thought a nineteen year old could go through so much in one day."
Hinata glared out the window.
"You can stay at my place tonight. I know you probably won't want to-!" Ino began, Hinata cut her off.
"That's okay, Ino. I'll just go to a motel o-or something!." I don't want to be a burden...
The Ferrari pulled over towards a local gas station. With a sheepish look on her face, Ino looked towards the bluette."I know you're feeling down right now, but the car needs some juice. You up for pumping the gas?", the woman said nervously.
Hinata sighed before stepping out and walking towards the mini store.
Ino stared after the girl, a smile staining her lips. "Everything will be okay, Hina. I promise."
The chime of the door spooked the girl a little as she stepped through the doors. It had been a long time since she had been to a gas station; fans were so heavy nowadays that you couldn't even go grocery shopping anymore. Looking along the row of candy, chips, and various food items, Hinata decided to get a pack of gum and headed towards checkout, completely passing the bright red-head that walked past her.
Without question, Hinata handed the yawning woman her black card.
The woman swiped it once before looking back up at her, a sympathetic look on her young features. "Declined..."
The bluette's head snapped up at the woman. Scissors cut the black card.
Before Hinata could object, a pale hand put a card on the counter. "Pay for it all together."
The cashier rung them up and them their respective bags.
The girl turned to thank the man. "T-Thank you very much,..."
Teal eyes stared into her lavender ones.
"Gaara. Just Gaara." Hinata swooned a little as the tall, elegant redhead walked out the store. The cashier screamed in excitement as she realized that the Gaara AND Hinata were in her little store.
Hinata decided to rush out. Gaara popped into her head as Ino quickly pulled off, forgetting the gas altogether.
"S-So I don't have a cent to my name?", asked Hinata as she sat on Ino's bed next to Konan, who was currently checking the girl's accounts impassively.
After a few minutes of silence, a sigh emerged from Konan."Your 'joint' account with Sasuke has been frozen because...it was Sasuke's account. And Neji took everything you had when he became heir, so automatically the money in your separate banking account has been transferred.", Konan said.
Hinata sighed as she layed back. So much for that...
Ino then came into the room with a bowl of popcorn. "You can stay here for however long you need, okay? I love me some company - It'll be like a sleepover!"
Hinata smiled at Ino as she reached for the bowl before chowing down.
Konan looked at her skeptically with hazel eyes. "You better not be pregnant."
The meek girl choked on her food. "N-No! I'm not!", she yelped, her blush running deep.
Konan shrugged.
Ino smiled. "It's okay if you're a virgin, Hinata. No one's going to judge you."
Hinata nodded, although the girl's expression showed otherwise.
Ino decided that she would be there for the girl when she was ready to talk and decided to approach another topic."Tenten said that Tenji had to be taken to the hospital. She said that he might have the flu, but so far he's fine."
Hinata nodded. As long as he was okay, she was fine.
Konan shook her head and added to the conversation."I've lost all respect for Neji. Prime example of how some families are.."
"I-It was expected to happen soon. Neji is better than m-me. There's no o-opposition in that..." , Hinata poked her fingers together.
The room was quiet again.
"Don't agree with that pathetic excuse for a man. He just took away your rights. You'll probably never see Hanabi again.", Konan spat.
"I-I know..."
Ino sighed. "And your husband just left you for Sakura Haruno, one of Japan's most beautiful women."
Hinata looked at her hands."I-I know that too..."
"You don't have a cent to your name, Hinata! You're going to file bankruptcy soon! And soon enough you'll be going to court to fight for alimony from your husband, who has Shikamaru Nara as his freaking lawyer. Are you feeling angry now?! 'Cause I'm pissed!" Ino yelled.
Konan tried to mask her anger but to no avail.
Hinata looked at the two girls and smiled. "I have hit rock bottom, but there's no way to go but up now."
Ino folded her arms. "What are you going to do now?"
"I still have feelings for Sasuke and I still love Neji-nii.", the uplifted girl said as she got up from the bed.
Ino grimaced. "Why aren't you angry?! You have every right to be?! Why don't you do something about them?!", the blonde yelled, standing in anger.
"I will never stoop to their level. I have to stop clinging to people and grow up! This is a sign! All my life I-I had someone to defend me or take care of m-me; I don't have that anymore. It's just me. They won't get away scotch-free c-completely. They've done too much to hurt me!" Hinata turned her back towards them and tried to stop her tears. "Maybe now I-I can grow, maybe become something other than a 'wife'. I don't know...", she trailed off, her tone lighting some.
Ino and Konan looked at her in confusion, not because of her tears, but because of a piece of paper sticking up from her shirt.
"Hinata, you have something on your shirt.", replied Konan nonchalantly as she looked back down at her Ipad and grabbed some popcorn. Hinata, confused, grabbed the note and looked at what it contained.
A small smile crossed the girl's features. Looks like my new beginning is about to happen...
'Sabaku Building. Sixth Floor. Nine-thirty. -Panda-Kun'
"W-Who's Panda-Kun?", Hinata flipped the note over.
Konan and Ino threw each other a knowing look.