OMG Lets try this again. After I uploaded the chapter from my laptop earlier, for some weird reason it messed up the entire document. Thankyou to CharNinja LOL ( for reviewing and letting me know something was up. So with my fingers crossed lets hope eveything turns out okay this time.


I stood up and walked out the door first, with Sasuke following close behind me. Once out in the hall he grabbed my arm around my elbow and pulled me around a corner. I half wondered how he knew what would be around the corner.

"Are you alright?" I asked him before he could say anything to me. He looked at me in the eyes and I could see the tension in his face. His thick eyebrows were low over his eyes as he frowned, his jaw muscles were working as he clenched his teeth. His dark eyes seemed to be even darker, drawing me into them. He was beautiful even when he's mad.

He takes a deep breath before he answers my question.

"I'm fine….are you ok?"

I think about the question a little before I answer. "I'll be better after the meeting with my elders is over." I say, thinking about the meeting and suppressing a shudder.

"I don't see why that meeting is necessary. I don't see why we had to come here in the first place. We could have just stayed where we were." He was trying not to yell, and he wasn't, but it was obviously evident he was pissed off.

"Even if you don't understand, I do and this is for me. It would be the same if it were your family so don't be a hypocrite." I say trying to keep my cool. The last thing I want is for us to fall apart here of all places.

He backs up from me and takes a few deep breaths to calm himself down. I think he was about to say something, but changed his mind.

We went outside not saying a word. I walked to the swing love seat we have in the backyard. It is surrounded by bushes of yellow and red roses. It's off to the far end of our huge backyard and would be romantic if there wasn't so much tension between us.

We sit side by side but both of our minds a million miles away. I was zoned out thinking about the meeting when I felt the light brush of Sasuke's hand over mine. I glance at him, he's not looking in my direction. I lift my hand a little and he slips it beneath mine, entwining his fingers with mine.

This was his silent way of saying I love you.

I don't know how long we sat there, both not saying a word but both of us holding each other's hand, just in our own thoughts when Ms. Han comes out to us.

"Uh….Ms. Hyuuga. The elders have sent me to retrieve you." I am shocked back to reality. Never before had the elders gathered that quickly. They all live in different wings of the house but in the past they have always taken their time to hold a meeting. My guess is this situation is more important to them than any before.

Sasuke and I stand, still holding hands, when she stops us.

"My apologies" She bows her head, "But they have given me specific instructions to only allow Ms. Hyuuga into the meeting. You, Mr. Uchiha must stay out here."

"You can tell them to kiss my—"

"Sasuke please….I'll be ok."

He looks at me like he wants to argue, but doesn't. He squeezes my hand and then lets go.

Ms. Han ushers me into the house and upstairs to the third floor where the grand meeting room is. Walking up the stairs brought back memories of the dozens of times a day I climbed these same stairs.

When we reach the door Ms. Han opens the door and bows as I enter. A slight shiver passes through me as I enter the room. Silence takes claim over everyone in the room as they stair at me, some in shock and others with the same emotionless expression that I see on my father.

I bow to show my respect and take my seat at the head of the table, directly across from my father. I try my hardest to avoid his stone gaze and focus on the faces of the others in the room. Grandparents, great-grandparents and people elected as head of the Hyuuga family years before me, my father and even his father. The elders where chosen a long time ago and as they pass on new ones are decided to take their place based on the honor they have brought the family.

"Hinata, it is a blessing to have you back where you belong but, is it true? Are you back here wanting to be exiled from this family with the very man that took you away?" My Great-grandfather Hideaki began to speak. He was the oldest in the family and the unspoken head of the elders, he gets final say in all decision making.

Before I spoke I mentally told myself that If there was ever a time for me to be brave and emotionless, it was now.

"Thank you so much for coming together for this meeting. To answer your question great-grandfather, yes. I am asking you all here to vote in the favor of exiling me permanently from the Hyuuga family."

The look of shock was evident on every face in the room. Every face except Hiashi's that is.

"How dare you bring such dishonor to your family? The monster who took you from your very bed in your sleep, you now want to turn your back on this family for? What would your mother think of you now?" Grandmother Utaka spoke that time and her words sparked anger in me. But I had to hold it together for this meeting.

"The man who took me is nothing close to a monster. And I am positive that my mother is very proud of me doing something for myself for once." I tried to say that with as little anger as possible. No one seemed to catch on to it and just kept talking.

"Is it really your idea? Have you never heard of Stockholm syndrome, your kidnapper has planted this idea in your head and now you think you love him and he loves you and your ready to turn your head on your blood so easily. You don't belong a Hyuuga." Hiashi spoke this time and for the first time since entering the room we make eye contact. Looking him straight in the eye without wavering I felt the anger inside me grow.

His comment sparked comments from all the elders in the room at the same time, but I was focused on him. Soon the chatter in the room began to stop and it got quiet all over again. I look around the room and everyones eyes are on me…or rather right behind me. I turn my head to see the candles and books and paintings on the fireplace behind me all floating in the air.

I take a few deep breaths and the items lower back to their place without damage. I turn back to face the elders who are still quiet.

"You take after your mother." Someone in the room whispered. After a couple more moments of silence Great-grandmother Sanako, Hideaki's wife, begins to speak.

"Due to the circumstances of the situation, Hinata you being kidnapped and wanting to join said kidnapper's family and you being pregnant, we will need time to make a final decision."

My eyes widened. How did she know?

"Don't look so surprised. We all sensed the double in Chakra the moment you walked in." She said with a ghost of a smirk on her lips, "You will stay in the Hyuuga Compound until we have come to a decision, away from your kidnapper. He is a trespasser and is lucky we do not have the authority handle him. You are now dismissed."

I bow my head one more time, stand and exit the room. The fate of me and Sasuke resting in their hands.

Ms. Han was waiting for me outside and greeted me with a warm smile. The first I have gotten since being back in this house. I tried to return it, but there was so much going on in my head that I gave a pathetic half smile back in return.

"You did wonderful Ms. Hyuuga." She said and put her hand on my shoulder for a quick second. I wanted to believe her, but all I could think about in my head is was this really my idea? If Sasuke hadn't took me that night and me and him been isolated together, would I feel for him the way I do? Do I really love him?

At this moment I couldn't answer these questions that swam around in my head, but I made a promise to myself that I was going to find the answers.

Ms. Han left me in the hallway to gather my thoughts. After a few minutes I went to the garden to find Sasuke. He was pacing back and forth concentrating. He felt my presence and immediately stopped and walked over to me. The concern and seriousness in his face was clearly evident with the wrinkles in his forehead from his eyebrows coming together in a frown, and his jaw clenched tight.

He waited silently for me to say something. I tried several times but nothing came out. Finally I cleared my throat.

"Let's go to the car." I said reaching for his hand. He gripped my hand firm but comfortably as we walked to the front of the house and back outside.

When we got to the car he opened my door. I stared at it and then closed the door.

"Hinata what are you doing?" Sasuke asked me in confusion. I turned to face him and looked him in his dark eyes.

"Sasuke…the elders haven't made a decision yet. They want me to stay here until they do."

"Fine. I'll take our things out and bring them in." Sasuke said turning to the trunk. I grabbed his elbow gently to stop him.

"No, I mean they want only me to stay. You can't be here…they see you as a criminal." I said avoiding his eyes slightly to avoid the anger building in them.

"Screw them! I'm no criminal, I saved you and you know it. Don't you?" He looked at me seeing the confusion in my eyes.

"Sasuke…I know you love me—"

"And you love me too, right?"

I hesitated for a second and he spoke again.

"What the hell did they feed to you in there? You went in the Hinata I know, the Hinata I love, and you come out this…this brainwashed Hyuuga."

His words actually hurt me. "I am not brainwashed! This is who you fell so deeply in love with and if you can't deal with it then their right about you, you don't even know me! Goodbye, Sasuke."

I stormed to the trunk of the car and opened it grabbing the two bags I packed. I kept telling myself to not cry because it wouldn't help me look like the strong person I wanted to be. Sasuke came around to the trunk.

"Hinata be careful—" without thinking I waved my hand and Sasuke went flying and hit the ground about 20ft from the car.

I didn't look at him as I carried my things in the house and closed the door after me. I dropped both bags at the door and ran up to my old room and laid on my bed.

I cried myself into a dreamless sleep.


Smooches you guys. I'll try to update much more often. See you next time. XOXO...