I'm back! –ducks from trash thrown by readers- Gomen, gomen, gomen! I do in fact have a good reason! Calculus is killing me! Seriously, it caused me to have two panic attacks, but now, I'm taking Jewelry instead so hopefully I'll have more time to write.

It has come to my attention that Neji's getting lamer. I do not want to show his in that kind of light. I just want to hurt him, cause that's just what we angst-writers like to do.

A special thanks to Eagle-Owl, MindlessManiac(fellow MM!), and AmberStallion and to all of my lovely reviewers.

Once again a great big thank you to my beta xoayamexo! You rock

'…' thoughts

"…" spoken words

Attacks/Techniques

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

He looked from the bounty hunter, to Hinata still unconscious on the ground, to Lee who was kneeling beside him. "I understand now that only I can determine my destiny. My fate is my choice."

"What are you talking about, Neji?" Lee did not like the defiant look in his friend's eyes. It could only mean that the Hyuuga was about to do something very noble…..but terribly stupid.

"You said before that any member of my clan would suffice. Take me instead."

"Neji you don't know what you're saying. You can't do this." Neji faced his friend, his eyes boring into the taijutsu-master's.

"I have to. It is—it is my duty. I am expendable, Hinata-sama is not. She will lead the clan and I-" he paused. "I am merely a tool."

"I think you are forgetting about one thing." Toya was irked by the two boys ignoring him all of a sudden. "I know your powers, hero-boy. The girlie will be a lot easier to transport."

Neji smirked. "You couldn't see your advantages even if you were holding it in your very palm, which you are. As long as you hold that gem you have control over me, and yes I see the gem and I know what it does." Neji smirked again at Toya's incredulous face. "It seems that it only works on me, which now makes me the 'easiest to transport'."

"Neji, stop! I can't just let my friend give himself up to this…this monster."

"Hey!"

But Lee ignored the bounty hunter and continued. "I know you belong to the Branch House, but you still are important. You still matter."

Neji met his teammate's eyes and was surprised to see desperation in the dark orbs. He sighed. "I have learned much over the past weeks. I am not a genius but she," he motioned to Hinata, "still thinks I am. After all I have done to her, she still believes in me; that is why I must do this."

Lee looked lost. "I came with you to help you find your cousin, but instead what you found was your heart. I suppose I cannot stop you. I will take Hinata-san back."

The pale-eyed genin relaxed. "Thank you Lee." He turned again to Toya. "You will take me instead. I will not try to escape, but you must let Hinata-sama and Lee go free."

Toya, who had remained silent, was disgusted at the act of friendship between the pair. However something dawned on him and he smirked.

"I suppose I can have more fun with you than with the girlie. She's close to death as it is, but you, you can handle much more. This will be interesting."

The color drained out of the taijutsu-master's face, but Neji remained impassive.

"Go Lee. Save Hinata-sama."

The green beast was silent, not trusting his own voice. Inside he felt his heart breaking. This was possibly the last time he would see his friend, no, his brother. His rival had grown so much, and again beat him. Neji was fearless, Lee was petrified.

But, he knew his duty. He walked to Hinata's motionless body and scooped her up into his arms. Lee prepared to depart, but turned one last time to the Hyuuga.

"This isn't goodbye."

And then he was gone.

"Finally, that's over. I was wondering if they'd ever leave. Now hero-boy it's just you and me." Toya sneered at the Konoha shinobi. "I was doing some thinking as you two were wasting time. You're a pretty good fighter. I'll admit that you're better than me. But we will change that. You will fight me."

Neji, who had been silent and calm, took up a fighting stance.

"Oh no. You think I'm stupid? I've got to add a little insurance."

"Do you really think you'll get stronger if you inhibit my abilities?"

But fire exploded in the boy's head as he said his biting remark. However, he remained upright and no sound escaped his lips.

"Now to fix that mouth of yours."

Toya advanced on the Hyuuga slowly, not releasing him from the painful effects of the gem. He was not happy that the genin was showing such a high tolerance for the pain.

The bounty hunter aimed a kick for Neji's abdomen, but the boy found it in him to catch the dark haired nin's foot.

He roughly twisted it, snapping his ankle. Toya yelped in pain and fell in a heap on the ground.

"It seems that for as much pain as you can dish out, you can't seem to take any in return."

However, on the inside, Neji's head felt like it would explode. He calmed his breathing and focused on the man before him.

"Now you're going to get it brat! If you don't back off and do as I say I'll increase the pain!" Neji did appear affected. He advanced on the cowering man before him.

Toya was now fearful for his life. "I mean it. I can kill you with this. Once you're dead I'll have to go back and get the girlie and your ugly friend. I won't hesitate. Two dead Hyuugas are worth about the same as one live one. Your friend I'll leave for the rats."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Lee was sick with himself. He had left his brother behind; such an act could never be forgiven.

He sighed as he looked at the figure in his arms. Hinata was dying. She did not have the time that the two had wasted arguing.

Lee increased his speed. If he could not save Neji, he would do the next best thing. Hinata-sama must live. If she didn't, his teammate's sacrifice would have been in vain.

As if on cue, Hinata roused. She blinked confusedly. She was no longer in the campsite, tied to a tree. She remembered somewhat hazily that Neji had indeed come to her rescue.

"L-lee-san where's Neji-nii-san?"

The green beast's heart clenched. She needed to know. She deserved to know.

o-o-o-o-o-o

Neji stopped. He would not needlessly endanger the lives of his friends.

"That's better. Now go get those bandages and a stick I can use as a splint. Once you're done, sit by that tree and don't move."

The Hyuuga obeyed. Once he retrieved said items without a word, he sat beneath the tree Toya had mentioned before.

His stomach clenched as he got there. Dried blood covered the base of the tree. 'Hinata-sama's blood.'

"I thought I told you to sit."

Neji hesitated for one more moment before lowering himself to the ground. The blood shouldn't have bothered him; he was a shinobi after all. But, the thought that this liquid was drawn from his cousin, his innocent kind cousin, unnerved him.

Toya, who had not yet released the Konoha nin from the pain-inducing effects of the gem, wrapped the bandages around his broken ankle. Using the stick Neji had brought to him he made a splint and stood up.

"There's a good boy." He praised, as if talking to a dog. "Now, if you keep in line and do as you're told, you'll be rewarded. So, since you were such a good boy." He released Neji from the gem's hold.

The pale-eyed genin looked at his captor with defiant eyes, but that just made the man chuckle.

"I'm going to have fun breaking you."

o-o-o-o-o-o

There ya go. I know, I know double cliffy! –runs from readers- Once again, watch out for graphicness in the next chapter, you know how I love my blood and gore X )

Guess what guys! We're halfway there! Thaaaat's right! 50 reviews on 5 chapter! You all make my day! Thanks so much. Please help me get to the 100 review mark, I would be ecstatic!

Til next time!

Hugs,
MM