ATTENTION: IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND ARE LIKE "WELL, I ALREADY READY HINATA'S CHAPTER." THEN STOP NOW. I had some shit that was bothering me in this chapter so effing bad it was ridiculous. So if it's alerted you, no worries. You may move along. There's nothing to see here. Have a great day guys!

- Pain's Rebel Angel ;)

'Thoughts'

'Inner/Demons'

"Normal"

(Anything else that I'm forgetting there will be a pattern so you'll know it when ya see it :P)

Free

Hinata's POV

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He was so free. Free to do whatever he wished, with no complications and nothing to hold him back. No sitting back and being told what to do. He was a free-spirit, and did what he thought to be right.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"Again."

I shifted forward a jabbed the training dummy with my palm before striking several points on it's body at a rapid pace. I pulled back and paused in my fighting position once more.

"Aga—"

"I think that will be fine for today," another voice cut in before he could finish.

The elder from our family who was training me huffed, but left the room none-the-less. 'Finally,' I thought as I stood up straight. I stretched, taking in a deep breath as I did so. After I felt my back pop, I turned to face my cousin.

"Neji-nii," I addressed him softly.

"Hinata-sama," he said.

"No," I told him firmly. "None of that. You are family, don't call me that."

His eyes softened slightly. "Very well, Hinata."

"Heads up," I heard my best friend's voice call out from the balcony above.

Just then, Sakura dropped down beside us. Standing up from her crouch, Sakura smiled at me and nodded at Neji in greeting.

Neji sighed, "Sakura, that was reckless."

She raised an eyebrow and asked, "How so?"

"Your aim could have been off, and you could have landed on Hinata or me."

"Ah," she responded and threw an arm over my shoulder. "But, I didn't land on either of you so your concern over the issue is unnecessary."

"But it could have happened."

"You worry too much," Sakura said rolling her eyes and letting her arm slide off me in favor of punching Neji in the arm lightly.

"And you worry too little."

I let out a light laugh at them, and they both turned to me with questioning looks. I just shook my head and smiled.

"No, Hinata," Sakura says. "I wanna know what's so funny."

I sighed. "I-it's not funny really. It's just that moments like this are so rare. With you two bickering and teasing each other, being informal, and such... I don't know... I suppose it just makes me feel normal for a little while."

And it was true. Very seldom did I see them playful with each other. Well, very seldom did I see Neji playful at all, and as far as Sakura... Well, other than with me she was very sarcastic, and slow to open up and show her fun personality. So when they were being so open, it made me happy.

Sakura nodded her head in understanding. "Makes sense." Then she smirked and glanced over at Neji. "I mean it's not everyday that Neji removes that giant pole from his ass."

"Sakura..." Neji's eyes narrowed.

She stuck her tongue out at him, and he sighed.

"Girls," I heard my father's voice call out across the training field. "And Neji," he added after seeing that he was with us as well.

We all straightened our posture, and turned to face him directly.

"The training grounds aren't for loitering and goofing off. They're for training. Hence the name," he said giving us a reproachful look.

"Yes sir," Sakura and Neji said in unison, and I nodded hesitantly.

The three of us left, taking the path up to the main house from the secluded place that contains the gym, training field, and dojo.

Neji looks at his watch and sighs. "I will see you two later on. I have to go meet with Mina about new cameras for the estate."

"I thought that was on Saturday," I said confused.

"Hinata, it is Saturday," Sakura told me.

"Oh," I said quietly. "It feels like Friday."

'Wait a second... It's Saturday.'

"Hey weren't we going to the mall today," I asked them. Technically, Sakura and I had planned it, but usually Neji always insisted coming along for extra protection just in case.

"Well, I could reschedule," Neji began to say, but Sakura gave him a sharp glance.

"You will do no such thing. Mina is a pain in the ass. It's better to get this over with," she told him.

"That is true... You sure you have this, Haruno?"

"Yeah, I got this, Hyuga. Don't worry," she responded smirking.

"Okay then. Bye Haruno. Hinata-sama." And with that he walked away.

'Back to formalities,' I thought mentally sighing.

"Later, Hyuga."

"Good-bye, Neji-nii."

Sakura and I continued into the house and she looked over at me. "If we're going out, you should shower, and get some normal clothes." She then looks down at her ironed dress pants and polo shirt in distaste. "So should I."

I giggled, and nodded. We walked up the staircase together then split off. I went to the left, into my room and shut my door locking it behind me. I headed straight into the bathroom and turned on my shower.

As I stripped off my work out clothes and stepped into the water, I wondered how I was going to approach the topic I was determined to talk to Sakura about today. I lathered my hair with shampoo, and considered just not telling her.

'No, I can't be a coward. Besides, she'll find out when Monday rolls around anyway. I've already put it off enough.'

I stepped under the jet of water, rinsed my hair, and put in conditioner. Brushing the conditioner through my hair, I picked back up on my train of thought.

'Well, is there even a right way to approach this? You know what, this is ridiculous. I'll just tell her. Problem solved... I think.'

As the conditioner rinsed out, I washed my body and allowed the soap to rinse off as well. I turned off the shower, and stepped out. I wrapped a towel around me, and walked out into my room. Digging through the back of my closet, I tried to find something that wasn't so uptight. Finally finding a some-what normal short sleeved shirt and a pair of jeans, I grabbed a bra, some underwear, and began to get dressed. I slipped on a pair of ballet flats, and was out of my door with my wallet in hand in no time.

When I entered the foyer I see Sakura dressed in normal clothes, looking much more comfortable. Her red and white plaid shirt, grey camisole, dark grey cargo pants, and black vans made her look like just another teenager. I smile at the thought.

'Come Monday, she'll be able to dress like this more often... She'll thank me... I hope.'

"Remind me while we're out to get you clothes that don't have frills," she says making a face.

I laughed and nodded. "Let's go."

Sakura grabbed the keys to her personal car, which was a '71 hemi-cuda. And with that we were off.

After an hour of shopping Sakura suggested we get something to eat.

"I was starving," she said as she sat down across from me. I stole one of her fries, and she glared at me playfully. After a while, I saw her stiffen.

"What's wrong," I asked.

"Some creep is checking you out."

"Let him. It's not something to get worked up over."

"Tch. I'm just glad I don't have to put up with this everyday. God, Hinata. I think I'd go crazy having to deal with hormone driven guys staring at you all the time," she said while shaking her head.

"You sound like a jealous boyfriend," I pointed out.

"Nope," she denied. "Just an over protective best friend who happens to be your guard. Seriously though, I'd have murdered all the guys that have stared at your ass in those jeans today if I were a jealous boyfriend. As a best friend, I just have your best interest at heart and none of these guys deserve you."

"... 'All the guys?' There was more than that one just now that was looking at me," I asked.

"Yeah. Eighteen that were staring at your ass, and five that out right ogled your chest to be exact."

My mouth dropped open.

Sakura nodded. "Yeah, I figured that might shock you. Oh and the teenage males are the worst! Ugh. I swear if I had a normal life I wouldn't survive without killing some pervs."

I looked at her nervously. "Um, about that..."

Her eyes zeroed in on me reading me like a book. "Hinata," she said slowly. "What are you going to say that will upset me."

"ImayhaveaskedfathertoenrollusatanormalschoolsowecouldbenormalteenagersbecauseIknowhowyou'realwaysworkingandtakingcareofmeandIreallyjustwantbothofustohaveasenseofbeingaregularpersonforabit!"

Sakura blinked.

Once.

Twice.

"Hinata," she said eerily calm.

I flinched as she place her hand on my shoulder.

"It's okay. I get it. You want to see how it'd be if we weren't 'us' per-say. I just wished you'd talked to me before making this decision on your own."

"I'm sorry," I said.

"No you're not. Don't be." She looked at me. "Did you think this was a good idea for the both of us?"

I nodded.

"Did you consider my feelings, and decide this was the best option?"

Another nod.

"In the long run will it make you happy?"

A third nod.

"Then don't be sorry. It's just going to be kind of a pain, because even though I'm technically doing an online university, Hiashi will still tweak my records so I'll be with you, and I'll have to do double the work."

All of the sudden a ruckus across from the food court started. A blonde boy came running full speed at our table, and then jumped over it He was an attractive guy, and wore a bright orange shirt and jeans. He looked to be around six foot, and had what looked like whisker marks on his cheeks.

There was a red head that was hot on his heels that had stopped on the other side of us. He had a darker style of clothing with a black t-shirt and white logo, and really dark jeans with chains. He had dark rings around his eyes to add to his look. To be truthful, he seemed kinda dangerous. Not immediately so though, just in the intimidating I-could-mess-you-up kind of way.

"Uzumaki... I'll kill you slowly," the red head said.

My eyes flitted across the table to Sakura who seemed intrigued by what was happening.

"No you won't," he said cockily. "I'm your best friend."

"That just means I'm more inclined to resurrect you, Naruto. Not that you won't die."

"You're so mean to me Gaara," the blonde said with a somber look and sniffled.

"You'll get over it."

Sakura gave a soft cough to cover her laugh. That apparently alerted the boys to our presence, and that we'd been here all along.

"Whoops," the guy named Naruto said. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Then, he looked at Sakura closely. "You look familiar..."

I looked over at Sakura worriedly. If she had done any of father's business around this guy, and he recognized her... I didn't even want to think about it. The outcome certainly would be less than pleasant.

Instead of being worried or anything, she smiled at him. "Naruto. It's been a while. Not that I blame you for forgetting me, but you seriously can't remember someone with pink hair?"

His eyes widened. "Sakura-chan?! God, it's been so long. I mean one day you just stopped coming into class, and it was like you up and vanished."

I was surprised to say the least, as I looked between the two. 'This is somebody from Sakura's past. Before she came to live with us. That's... Bewildering to think about.'

Not that I didn't think that she didn't do anything or know anyone before us, but she really doesn't talk about it. She especially doesn't like to talk about the night she came home with my father. I know the basics from what she'd forced herself to tell me, but nothing other than that really.

"Naruto, this is my sister-like figure, Hinata. Hinata this is Naruto, one of my friends from middle school," Sakura introduced us obviously having noticed the looks I had cast her way.

"Nice to meet ya. Say... You're really pretty," He said smiling at me. 'Wow'

God, that smile. When he smiled, I knew I wanted to see it often. He reminded me of the sun with his face all lit up like that. It was wonderful really.

Regaining my thoughts, I smiled back at him slightly. "T-thank you."

"Oi! Don't hit on her idiot," Sakura said.

'Why is she being so protective? He seems so nice... Then again, I suppose she's just more cautious about people.'

"Ehh? Why not?"

"Because I said so."

I wasn't as surprised by her answer as he seemed to be. Normally, (when it came to matters concerning me at least) Sakura had the right to not give explanations. She was used to not having to explain herself. And even if that weren't the case, she doesn't share reasons unless one must absolutely need to know, or she likes the person enough to explain.

The red head who had been quiet up til now punched Naruto's arm. "That was for earlier. And you should listen to her Naruto. If you don't, I won't save your ass when she attacks you."

"Owww. I thought you let that go," Naruto whined, which made me giggle. "Oh by the way, Gaara, this is Sakura-chan. She was in my class up until the sixth grade. Sakura this is Gaara. My closest friend."

Gaara just closed his eyes and sighed through his nose. When Gaara opened his eyes he gave a nod to Sakura which she returned.

"So if you guys aren't doing anything, wanna catch a movie?"

"Naruto, we're doing something," Gaara said raising an eyebrow as if daring the blonde to ignore him.

"Oh yeahh... What about some other time then," he looked towards us hopefully.

"If it were up to me I'd say sure, but Hina's father is a very strict man." Sakura looked at her watch. "Shit! We have to go. It was nice meeting you Gaara, and good to see you again Naruto."

'Oh, no! We're going to be late.'

She grabbed my hand, and I turned to face the boys. "I-it was v-very nice to meet you t-two."

And then Sakura dragged me off to go home.