Chapter 9- Sickness

At the hospital, I watched as Sakura nervously paced. To be honest it amazed me that she was such a loyal friend to Hinata. The girl wasn't exactly known for being nice. Or showing she cared. It always seemed like she simply tollerated anyone within her presence.

But then again... Maybe that was her way of forming friendships.

Upon inquiring about Hinata, nurse had run off to ask the attending doctor if she was well enough to see visitors and after 45 minutes: my patience was waning and Sakura became more and more of a nervous wreck.

"Sakura," the pink haired girl glances at me as she continues to walk in circles around the waiting room, "do you know what could cause her that kind of stress?" I mean yeah Hinata has a temper. Anyone could see that... But the idea of her being stressed is unfathomable to me. She was just always either shifting between anger or apathy.

Sakura seems to think on it for a few seconds before responding, "honestly I have no idea, she's very... Closed off. All I know is... Fuck I dont really know anything now that I think about it." a look of shame clouds her face.

As I open my mouth to sprout whatever words of comfort I'm able to manage, someone clears their throat and my gaze finds a guy not much older than us. His hair is long and brown, but the most noteworthy thing would probably be his eyes; pale and lavender like HInata's.

"Were you two asking to see Hinata-chan?" his manner of speaking entirely too formal; maybe he was older then he looked.

"Yes," I draw myself to my full height, feeling the inane need to prove my standing with him.

"I'm her cousin Neji, what is your relationship?"

"We're her friends!" Sakura suddenly chimes in loudly.

"Funny... Hinata hasn't kept friends since she was 12, when did this happen?"

I didn't appreciate his condescending tone or how he looked at my appearance as if I were something distasteful.

"Since she moved here. Her and Naruto became friends earlier this year." He fixes his heavy gaze on me when Sakura mentions my name and I can't help but smirk.

"How is she?" Sakura once again receives his full attention.

"Stable. Luckily it wasn't too serious, she had an anxiety attack. Do either one of you too know what happened that may have caused this?"

"Why did she stop having friends?" I question him, flipping the conversation.

"Well because of her da-"

"Neji shut up, Naruto and I were bickering Before I fainted. Nothing to worry about though. I forgot to eat breakfast." a familiar cold and calculating voice cuts through the conversation and Neji curses.

"Hinata-chan! Get back into bed this instant!" I feel a twinge of annoyance, the suffix he used with her was just way too familiar.

"First off don't order me around and second off, no. I'm fine. I'm leaving. You can't make me stay." her tone is direct and leaves no room for argument.

Quietly I observe her, she looked better. Not as pale and the trembling seemed to have disappeared. "Are you sure you're ok?" I interupt Neji as he continues to scold her.

"Yes," there was no hesitation, but her next few words did make me and the other two people in our vicinity choke and question if she hit her head earlier when she passed out, "I don't feel like going home and dealing with mother. I'm going home with you Naruto."

"The fuck you are!" her cousin was the first to react naturally.

While Sakura just stood there dumbly, mumbling, "never thought you would be so forward! It's about time!"

After the shock wore off, I finally pull myself together, "ummm Hinata, are you sure that's a good idea? Maybe the meds the doctor gave you haven't worn off?" I offer cautiously. There were moments I just couldn't figure out what would set her off.

"Of course it's not! I will not allow you to stay with this," he points an accusing finger at me, "this this this!" he sputters for a second appearing lost for words until he blurts out the first thing he seems to come up with, "hoodlum!"

Hinata scoffs, " they only gave me food and water. No drugs. Wish they would've though, it would certainly be easier to deal with your anal bitching." she turns her attention to her cousin next, "And I love how you think you have a say. Trust me. He's not a hoodlum. A little sleazy yes. Maybe a sex addict. But not a hoodlum. At least I've never seen him shoot up?" a thoughtful look passes over her face and Neji is pratically foaming at the mouth by the end of her spheal.

"Really? Sex addict?" I mean I like getting head as much as any other guy, but addict? Nah.

"Temari." is all she growls.

Rubbing my temples all I can manage is a callous "get the fuck over it already."

"What did you say fucktard!" she snarls making a move toward me, before swaying slightly.

Before even Neji can move, I appear at her side and steady her balance. "Calm yourself. You can punch me later, I promise." I softly whisper in her ear. If looks could kill Hinata would've been already digging a hole, but I could feel her temper faintly lowering.

"Hinata-chan, be reasonable! You can't possibly expect that staying the night with this guy is a smart idea!" a pinched look resides in Neji's face and I can tell he's becoming desperate.

"Give mom my regards," is all the tempermental woman says before dragging me away by the arm.

Behind us I hear Neji starting to yell at Sakura, "why can't she stay at your house? Who the fuck is he?"

At this point, we're almost onto the elevator and I can barely make out her response, but her mumble of "boyfriend," reaches our ears and I smirk.

"Shut the fuck up!" Hinata growls pinching my arm sharply, earning a since.

"I didn't say anything..."

"I can hear what you're thinking," this caused me to uncontrollably chuckle.

"Believe me sweetheart, if you could really hear my thoughts, you wouldn't be coming home with me tonight."

Anyways, that's all for now! From now on I'll try and make a habit of updating more often.