Here is the 14th chappie! I hope you all like it.

I've decided to merge my ideas for the new fics, so now I will be writing one fic.

It will be called A Happy Ending and the first chapter will be posted later today or tomorrow. I've gotten the 200 reviews needed, so I'm sure you will like this new fic as much as I do. I can't wait!

Excuse any errors.

R&R!!

Chapter 14: Knowing Hurts

"He marked you as his?" asked Hinata. It was now Thursday evening after school and Kin and Karin invited Hinata over and they were in Karin's room. Hinata was sitting on the bed between the two girls while Karin hugged her.

"Yes, he sure did," said Kin excitedly, as she reached behind her neck and unclasped the necklace there, giving it to Hinata.

It was silver but very heavy although the chain was rather thin. The pendant was a silver ruby-encrusted cross that twinkled brilliantly. Hinata had to admit it was very beautiful and was even a little jealous of the girl as she gave it back to Kin.

"Kin's lucky," said Karin who was snuggling Hinata. It seemed she was the affectionate touchy-feely type. Hinata just had to wonder how come the girl had not bitten her yet.

"Yes, you are very lucky," said Hinata truthfully as she watched the girl touch the necklace as though it was the most precious thing her eyes had ever set their pupils on. "Why did he give it to you?"

"This necklace marks me as taken," said Kin. "And as far as our kind goes, we are now as good as engaged."

Hinata sat up straight. "Engaged? But you're both so young," she said.

"Age is nothing in the vampire realm, Hinata," said Karin. "As soon as you are awakened, you already have the instinct to find a mate."

Hinata knew this. Neji had told her, but the idea still frightened her.

"I know," said Hinata, lying down. "What will the two of you do? You've barely gotten the chance to know each other."

Karin and Kin looked at her as though she had just spoken another language.

"What are you talking about?" said Kin. "I've known Sai before we even awakened. Karin and me are from other clans, but we lived near the Uchiha. We went to the same school and everything and were very close. That is until he left not too long ago to come here without even telling me and we were not on speaking terms for awhile. That all changed at half-moon though, but the point is we've known each other for a really long time."

She lay back as well, hugging Hinata as Karin was. "You know," she said. "You're really warm and soft."

"Ano…arigatou?" said Hinata as she lay basically under the two other girls. "Are necklaces the only symbols of a mate? Does it have to be ruby?"

"No," said Karin. "There are bracelets, anklets and earrings as well. Rings are only for those of pure heritage whose blood has never been marred by foreign genes, but I don't know of any of those clans even though I've heard about them.

"The piece of jewelry given is like a part of the person who gave it, so you are bonded. And no, that is her birthstone. Whenever you get a cross, it's branded with your birthstone."

Hinata understood well enough and nodded as she heard distant running up the stairs.

Sasuke and Sai were in his bedroom. Naruto was doing detention with Chouji for eating in class and was on his way home. It made Sasuke laugh to know that Naruto bluntly refused to have Itachi or Sai pick him up from school. Sasuke did not feel like driving so he had to take the bus.

He could understand him being afraid of Itachi but Sai? Somehow he seemed different though so he had to ask.

"Sai, why is Naruto acting the way he is around you?" asked Sasuke, who was lying next to Sai on the bed as usual.

"Because I'm soon going to be a stage three vampire," said Sai coolly. "Can't you tell?"

"I felt a difference," said Sasuke. "But I thought it was just you acting that way because another male vampire was in the house and you claimed Kin."

"That too, but I'll soon be ready to become a full vampire. I'm not sure when though; weeks or months from now."

Sasuke remained silent for awhile. "What do you have to do? I've only seen the beginning of Itachi's awakening." He said.

Sai chuckled and looked his way. "Trust me; I don't think anyone other than a vampire can handle it. You'd probably pass out from the sight or throw up."

Sasuke knew the feeling all too well and tried not to remember.

"That's what Itachi said when I asked him," said Sasuke sighing. "What if I wanted to become one of you?"

"You might be able to handle it, but I doubt you'd do it. It's way too painful and only a few have ever gone all the way," said Sai, propping up on his elbows. "You would have to be really willing to actually convert."

"That's only a little more than Itachi told me. Why can't you people just say what you have to do?"

"Because it's sacred. Only those willing to convert into a vampire or turn into a stage three vampire are allowed to know and that's during the process," said Sai.

Just then, Naruto's footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs and he opened the door.

"Detention was so boring," Naruto said walking over to the bed and flopping into it. "Sakura was there with us too." He paused abruptly but caught himself quickly. "And guess what? I have another detention tomorrow for eating during detention dammit."

"That's because you were smart enough to merit such an honor for eating during detention which you were out in because you were eating in class, you idiot," said Sasuke stiffly.

"I was hungry!" Naruto protested. "You people in this house hardly eat but I need to survive."

Sai and Sasuke looked at each other. Could someone be so dense? Sasuke had often thought about telling Naruto the house's secret but was not so sure. The boy was so clueless, even though there was that one incident when Karin nearly bit him. It was a good thing Sasuke was home to stop her before she did and remove the memory from Naruto.

Sasuke had given Karin an earful that day, asking her how she could kiss and nearly bite someone else's boyfriend, but she said she was thirsty and it came from instinct.

Yeah sure, instinct. He'd seen the two of them rather close lately and he knew it had nothing to do with being what she was. Sasuke did not like it at all.

"Where's Hinata?" asked Naruto standing up. "She won't believe my bad luck."

"She's in Karin's room," said Sai after Sasuke hesitated, but Naruto did not notice the pause and ran through the door to find his girlfriend, leaving the two boys alone again. "You know, Sasuke," said Sai as he gazed at the wall. "Maybe one day when you choose to be one of us, you may have a chance with Hinata. Naruto can't live forever."

Neji would be soon picking up Hinata and she was watching Titanic with Naruto. It always tore her up to watch Jack sink to the bottom of the sea and she was silently crying. She felt Naruto squeeze her shoulder.

"Aww my Hina-chan's so sens- sensitive," said Naruto and his voice broke.

Hinata looked at him and saw tears rolling down his face and tried her very best not to laugh. "What about you, Naruto-kun?"

He wiped his eyes with the back of his other hand. "It's the damn popcorn. You know I'm allergic to the stuff," he said.

Hinata was just glad that he was back to his old self. Earlier that day, something was bothering him, but he must have gotten over it or forgot about it because he was back to his cheerful antics of literally bouncing off the walls.

The movie came to an end and the credits came up but neither Hinata nor Naruto moved from the position they were in. By the time the movie had ended, they had found themselves almost entwined on the couch and neither though to shift.

Hinata liked feeling this close to someone, especially the person she had liked since she first entered school. She couldn't be happier. Naruto looked her way and turned her face his way. "You still crying?" he asked and gently wiped away her tears as they still fell.

"Hai," said Hinata smiling and closed her eyes at his soft caresses.

"You're still pretty even though you cry," he whispered and Hinata could feel how close he was to her but kept her eyes closed, wondering if this was going to be her first real kiss with Naruto. Of course it couldn't be her first kiss because both she and Itachi had the pleasure of being the first. Naruto's lips brushed against her own and her heart rate quickened.

"I love you Hina-chan," he whispered.

Hinata's eyes flew open and her heart jumped to her throat, choking her. She had no idea how to respond. She liked Naruto very much, but did she love him?

"I love you too, Naruto-kun." She'd said it before her mind could process the words and she was kissing Naruto before she knew what was happening, feeling the familiar butterflies in her stomach, but from another experience she was not able to remember at the moment because her mind clicked on overdrive when she felt his hands move from her face and shoulders, moving past her waist and down her back to cup her behind.

Hinata broke the kiss.

"What's wrong Hina-chan?" Naruto asked, looking as confused as Hinata felt. She reached behind her, bringing Naruto's hands from their current abode and held them. To tell the truth, she was not sure what was wrong when she'd gone further last half moon. It felt right, but her senses were telling her otherwise.

"I…don't know," said Hinata softly.

There was a knock at the door, disrupting any future conversation between the two teenagers and Hinata got up and ran to the door, revealing her cousin and her younger sister.

"Hi, Onee-chan," chirped Hanabi.

"Are you ready to leave?" asked Neji and Hinata nodded turning to go to tell the others goodbye, but bumped into Naruto.

"Gomen," they said at the same time and smiled, forgetting the awkward moment they had shared before.

"I'll be back," Hinata said side stepping Naruto as Neji and Hanabi came in the sit on the couch to wait for her. "I'm going to say goodbye to the others."

Hinata ran up the stairs and went to open the door when she heard talking. Not being the kind of person to eavesdrop so she made to knock, only to be stopped when she heard her name as well as Naruto's.

"…depriving the boy of what he needs," came the voice of Karin.

"What are you talking about, Karin? You can't be serious," Kin's voice declared.

"I know Naruto7 wants more than the little attention Hinata's been giving him. She's too difficult to crack."

"How would you know that?"

"I have first hand knowledge of that fact."

"What!" exclaimed Hinata. She was not heard because Kin had the same reaction.

Hinata was rooted to the spot, trying to hear more without being caught by the other girls' senses.

"I cornered him in the bathroom the other day, because he walked in on me- I had already dressed though. He caught me unawares, so I kissed him, I never expected him to kiss me back, but he came around real good. So I reacted, although I have more control than you or Hinata, and was going to bite him but Sasuke caught us and erased his memory. Boy was Sasuke pissed at me."

"So am I," Hinata heard Kin cut in. "Are you crazy?! You can't go around seducing other people's boyfriends. What were you thinking? It's a good thing Naruto's memory of that is gone."

"His mind forgot but his body didn't," said Karin. "I see him eyeing me sometimes and we nearly kissed again last night when we were doing our project for Biology, but he ran. He said he wasn't sure if what we were about o do was right and he can't do to me what he hasn't even done to Hinata."

"No, Karin you can't want to go behind Hinata's back," whispered Kin. "It's not fair to her. And Naruto's not any better since he seems to be confused and wants you too."

"And do you think it's fair to me?" asked Karin. "He's my taste for Kami's sake. You must understand."

"No I don't!" yelled Kin and Hinata agreed. How dare Karin try to take Naruto from her.

"What Hinata doesn't know can't hurt her."

Hinata had heard more than enough and just wanted to go home and knocked loudly, hearing gasps from inside the room.

"Coming."

Hinata was not sure how to deal with the situation, but she decided to leave it for now as she pasted on a smile when the door opened.

"Hi, Karin," she said sweetly. "I have to go now."

Kin showed her nervous face at the door. "Hi, Hinata. Leaving already?"

"Hai, I have to go, see you tomorrow at school," said Hinata and she left hurriedly to go to Sasuke's room to tell the two cousins goodbye because it seemed Itachi was never home.

She knocked quickly, not wanting to hear anyone else's conversations for a very long time and Sai answered to door. "Hey."

"Hi, well actually, I mean goodbye," said Hinata smiling.

"Oh, ok. See you tomorrow," said Sai. He looked back. "Sasuke said the same thing."

"Hai, bye Sasuke," she said and ran down the stairs, once again bumping into Naruto, almost knocking him flat.

"Gomen," she breathed.

They walked to the door; Neji and Hanabi had already gone back to the car. She turned around to Naruto.

"Bye," she said, forcing a smile.

He hugged her. "Bye, Hina-chan," he said and kissed her briefly.

"Yeah?"

"I'll miss you," Naruto said grinning.

"I'll miss you too, said Hinata, really meaning this time. She hugged him tightly. "I love you Hina-chan," he said.

"…I love you too, Naruto-kun," she whispered and let go, walking through the door. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

And she left with a strained smile.

--

As Hinata drove home, the chat between her two newest friends played over in her head. How could Karin do something like this to her? She had no excuse for forcing herself on Naruto. But maybe Naruto did not mind, what if he was willing? From the sound of it, he was.

It was wrong to try to get what belonged to someone else. Naruto was hers. She always imagined them living happily ever after, even though he was not one of her kind.

She liked Sai, but that did not mean se would try to take him from Kin. She liked Sasuke and had a bond with Itachi, but if they had girlfriends, she would never pry them away from another. If they were free then of course, but that was beside the point.

'What?!'

What was she thinking?

"Hinata, are you ok?" asked Hanabi who was next to her in the back.

"Hai, I'm fine," Hinata lied and she looked through the window at the passing scenery.

"You seem out of it," said Neji, his eyes steady on the road as they were speeding home. "Did something happen at the Uchiha's?"

"Iie, nothing happened, Neji," Hinata lied again. "You two are imagining things."

At this point, Hinata wished she was imagining what she heard earlier, but she could not shake it.

By the time she got home, she decided she would keep the secret to herself and pretend she knew nothing about Kin and Karin's little chat.

Naruto was hiding things from her and she did not like the idea too much. In fact, she hated it, she didn't like it one bit. If the incident was innocent, why did he not come to her and tell her?

She would not be angry if he had. She would understand that it was Karin's fault. But the more Hinata thought about it, the more she realized that maybe she was on the shy side when it came to affection. Would that be a reason for Naruto to find it elsewhere?

Hinata stripped to her underwear and sat at the computer, turning it on, but just stared at the screen and her eyes stung.

As minor as this was, Hinata could not help but wonder if Naruto was hiding other things from her. It felt no different with his behavior, but what if he was?

Hinata got up from the computer and made cut for the bathroom to wash her face. She looked at the mirror, seeing her swollen eyes and bitten lips and sighed.

What was she killing herself for? She did not know if it was true so she would have to trust Naruto. He was her dream come true and she wanted this relationship to work.

She went back to the computer and signed on.

Beep

Orangepink96: hey wat took u so long?

Candyapple7: I was thinking

Orangepink96: bout wat?

Candyapple7: things

Orangepink96: aw don't b lyk that. U kno u can tell me n e thing Hina-chan.

Beep

Onyx20: hey

Hinata's heart skipped a beat.

Candyapple7: hi

Onyx20: u left so early. I lyk c/ing u around the house

Candyapple7: thx

Orangepink96: Hina-chan?

Candyapple7: I'm still here. Ano…this is s/thing I have 2 solve myself. Ok Naruto-kun?

Orangepink96: I'm here 4 u and I care about u a lot k? Don't 4get that.

Candyapple7: I kno

'At least I think I do.' Thought Hinata.

Onyx20: u sounded out of it when u were talking 2 Sai when u left earlier. How come?

How was he able to pick that up just from talking to her?

Candyapple7: I found out something and I'm not sure wat 2 do about it.

Onyx20: maybe I cud help u with w/e it is.

Hinata was not so sure about it; they all lived in the same house. But she needed to tell someone.

Candyapple7: u have 2 swear not 2 tell n e one.

Onyx20: of course I won't tell n e one, Hinata-chan

Candyapple7: a friend of mine overheard s/one talking about her and she said they were trying 2 get my friend's bf.

Onyx20: I c…

Candyapple7: how can s/one want 2 b with another person's bf?

Onyx20: I kno how that person feels, but tell ur friend 2 trust her bf.

Candyapple7: but she says it's really hard to do that when she heard her bf might lyk the person 2, even tho there's no change in him.

Onyx20: well ur friend has a problem on her hands. Just tell her 2 b careful. He may not b the most honest person then so let ur friend kno.

Candyapple7: I'm so afraid of losing him, Sai.

Hinata paused. She had just made a big mistake and there was no way to take it back as she waited for Sai to reply.

Onyx20: U? This is about u and Naruto?

Candyapple7: …Iie

Onyx20: Hinata-chan, u kno u can't lie 2 me? I'm sorry for not being there 4 u l8ly but I'll try ok?

Candyapple7: thx Sai

Onyx20: I mean it. Come 2 me n e time u need 2.

Candyapple7: ok

Hinata was so busy talking to Sai, she forgot to check Naruto's messages.

Orangepink96: u there?

Candyapple7: yea sorry. Wat were u saying?

Orangepink96: I was asking if we're still going out tomorrow. We didn't get 2 go out last wk.

Candyapple7: hai. I'm turning in early ok? I don't feel so well.

Orangepink96: sure. I hope u feel better. Gdnight Hina-chan.

Candyapple7: Gdnight Naruto-kun.

Candyapple7: I'm going to bed Sai

Onyx20: Ok, c u 2morrow Hinata-chan. Try 2 get some sleep.

Candyapple7: SIGNED OUT

Hinata turned of the computer and thought about going down to the kitchen to get juice but decided against it as she bit her tongue. She had been worked up, she had forgotten to take her regular sip and felt the rush at the blood.

She hoped she would sleep well too as she crawled into her bed tiredly.

She just wished she had minded her own business as she had always done, because she now knew how much knowing hurt.

Here ends the chappie! I know it doesn't have any humor in it, but now you readers know something's cooking.

As usual, if you've never read Princess Hina, please do.

Until next week…

Ja ne!

Please review, I love it when you do!