I do not own any Naruto Characters.

Rise Above Part III

Hiashi didn't make eye contact with Neji when he was led out of processing. The ride to the house was as intense as the guard ready to pull the switch for the electric chair. When they got to the house, they noticed a note on the door. Neji shook his head and balled it up. Hiashi too embarrassed to speak simply walked into the living room and sat down, placing his face in the palms of his hands.

"Well, uhm, uncle, I have to check with Hanabi today. Her arraingment has been set for two months from now and..."
"Where is Hinata?"

Neji couldn't help the ball caught in his throat, and made sure he was not in arms length of his uncle when he told him.
"She uuhm, well she left out the back window."

Hiashi's head looked as if it would take a turn all around his shoulders and he burst out in laughter. Neji was horrorified.

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Mikoto sat with her mouth agape as the nurses told her about the fight. Her cheeks reddened out of shame, pity, anger, confusion, and delight. Sasuke walked in with her suitcase and two of her assistants.

"Well you hearing the story too? Man I can't believe it. Virginia is not only for lover's this place is for fightin too." He grinned at her before planting a kiss to her cheek.

"Against the orders of the doctors here, I am going home. I have a cottage not far from the hospital at home, and I will be taken care of there. Where's your brother? I would love to see him before I depart. The sight of the two of you has really helped my spirit and has given me a new fire of life." She smiled at her younger child.

"Well he's possibly in a comma from all the sex he got last night."

The room was silent enough to hear a gnat fart.

"Se-se-sex?!" Mikoto repeated while sitting ramrod straight in her bed.
"Urh...I...uhm..well...bring, bring, bring...Oh that's my phone mom, see ya this evening, when they discharge you."
Flying down the hall he knew he didn't mean to let her know and Itachi would certainly kill him for the slip up.

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Sakura paced about her hotel room. She hated the fact she didn't get an answer from Itachi or Hinata and she felt that maybe the deal was a total lose. Ino came in with their tickets and noticed her moping.

"What's wrong Sakura?"
"I thought I had finally gotten something good from this place. My chef's didn't call me back."
"Well maybe they had to look at their plans. I mean you just don't up root and move to Japan. Besides, I'm sure they will call us if they are interested. I gave him our card. Who knows, they could be selling their stuff to move right now. Cheer up. We got to go."

They packed up and headed for the airport.

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Fugaku sat in his room fuming from the cuts and bruises on his face. He had the hatred of a man of scorn as his dimensia worsened. His doctor had told him he would grow worst unless he sought treatment, and now this. He was loosing not only his family, and his money, and his name, but his mind as well.

"Sir, your face is still swollen. You really shouldn't drink with that medicine."
"Leave me alone piss-ant. I'm plotting my revenge on all the bastards. They all will pay for humiliating me and turning my family against me."

Chucking down the pills and taking a long swallow of his bourbon, Fugaku looked at the stocks as his fortuned continued to slump.

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Hinata lay quietly on Itachi's chest and the two felt the pressures of the world were now gone. They held each other tightly as the wind whistled outside.

"Well, when do you leave?" Itachi asked almost too soft to be heard.

"Please, don't make me think about it. My heart is in it's happy place right now." She could feel the sting in his throat and the pain in his heart, since she too was now accepting reality. After awhile Itachi spoke again.

"Listen, we both know that the future is not promised to us, but we must live each day as if it is our last. There's something I have to do before you go and I must see your father."
"Why?"
"I just have to see him. Okay?"
"I don't think you're on his Christmas list sweetie." Itachi chuckled at the reply as did Hinata. They rolled over so that he was on top and she looked up into his loving eyes.

"I must make some things right. I also wanted to tell you I want to go to Japan with Sakura and Ino. I think that's what my path should be."

She could feel the stinging behind her eyeballs, since she knew he was'nt going to tell her good-bye directly, yet it was the only way.
"Well, just remember to use the same ingredients, I told you. Can't have you flying all over Japan all willy nilly with your own concotions." She giggled yet a tear managed to escape. His heart lurched and she pulled him into a kiss to keep from breaking down again.

"Okay, well, look we should go see father together okay?"
"Okay baby."

With that they made love once more, got dressed, left the hotel, and before they knew it sat outside Hanabi's home. As they walked up Hinata felt lightheaded. Itachi felt nauseas. Yet they knew to continue their life, they would have to face their fears and rise above life's next hurdles.

Hiashi opened the door and simply glared at Itachi. Reaching out after a long pause he broked down in tears, bowing to Hinata and crying out to her.

"Please forgive an old ignorant man like me."

They were stupified as he sniffed at their feet.

Author's Note: Okay well, yeah. Keep up.