Chapter Twenty Eight

Tick tock hear the clock count down

Wish the minute hand could be rewound

So much to do and so much I need to say

Will tomorrow be too late?

Feel the moments slip into the past

Like sand through an hour glass

In the madness I guess I just forget

To do all the things I said

Time passes by, never thought I'd wind up

One step behind, now I've made my mind up

Hinata stood in one of the many training grounds of Konoha. She was trembling and breathing heavily, exhausted from training so hard. She was alone. Neji had offered to come with her, but she declined, saying she wanted to be alone for a while. She tried to control her breathing, but every time she stood still for a moment and allowed herself to think, she thought back to that morning in the Hokage's office when she saw Shikamaru stiffen at the mention of Temari's name. She couldn't help but wonder what he was feeling now, what was going through his head. It upset her that he had been so affected by Temari's presence. She knew that he could not be over her yet, but she had hoped that he had slowly started to.

Her hopes had been for nothing, it would seem. She didn't want to think about it, she couldn't. Every time she did, she would start to feel angry. She didn't know if this anger was aimed at Temari, for affecting Shikamaru so much, or if it was aimed at Shikamaru for not being over Temari, or even if it was aimed at herself, for being selfish and allowing herself to believe that Shikamaru actually cared for her. For all she knew, all she was to him was just someone to distract him and make him forget about the one he truly cared for. Honestly she didn't know what to think anymore. Her mind wandered back to the morning Kankuro, Gaara and Temari had arrived.

After the meeting with the Hokage the other day, Shikamaru had disappeared almost instantly. She had tried to go after him when he left, but Shino kept her back, trying to talk about something to do with Kiba and Kurenai. She hadn't been paying him much mind, and had run off in pursuit of Shikamaru as soon as she could, but by then he was long gone. She had decided to go to his house and see if he was there, but when she got there and Shikaku opened the door, he had told her that Shikamaru had not come home yet. She had looked for him for a while longer but eventually gave up and went home to her Uncle's house. The next afternoon she had come across a very angry Ino and one Chouji who was trying not to get in her way. When Ino spied Hinata she came over, her attitude changing almost instantly. "Hi Hinata!" she said happily. "Hi Ino, Chouji," she replied, "What have you been up to?" Annoyance flickered in Ino's eyes. "Chouji and I just came from Shikamaru's house." Hinata's heart skipped a beat. "He completely ignored us! He wouldn't say a word, he wouldn't even look at me." Ino looked at Hinata. "Maybe you could try talking to him?" Ino asked hopefully. Hinata nodded. "I'll stop by now and see if he will say something," she looked at Chouji then back at Ino and headed towards Shikamaru's house. When she got to the front porch she knocked on the door. Again, Shikaku opened the door. "Oh, hello again Hinata." He said. "Hi Shikaku," she said, "Is Shikamaru in?" Shikaku looked at her, "He is, but honestly I don't know what's up with him. He hasn't spoken for the last two days. He hasn't eaten. Heck he hasn't even moved from his bed. Ino and Chouji were just here and they couldn't get anything out of him. You're welcome to try." He opened the door wider and let Hinata in. She walked softly up the stairs and down the hall to Shikamaru's bedroom door. She raised her hand to knock on the door and hesitated. If Ino and Chouji – his best friends – couldn't get anything out of him, she certainly wouldn't. She lowered her hand and stared at the door. After a minute she finally moved, heading back down the hall to the stairs.

She lay on the grass of the training grounds, her arms and legs splayed out. Ever since that afternoon she had distracted herself with her training, running herself dry, exhausting herself. She only stopped when necessary for eating and sleeping and other such daily activities. It was getting close to sunset, so she decided that she should head back home now. She left the training grounds. Fortunately the one she had decided to use today was just around the corner from her uncle's house. When she got home she sat for a quick dinner, not partaking in the conversation between Neji and Hizashi. When she finished she helped clean up and went straight to her room, collapsing onto her bed. She was asleep almost instantly.

The next morning Hinata was on her way to another of the villages training grounds when she came across Kiba, Ino and Tenten. "Yo Hinata!" Kiba called out to her. "What are you doing?" He ran up to her. "I haven't seen you for days. Woah, you look exhausted." Hinata nodded at him. "I am," she said. Ino and Tenten caught up just as Hinata was telling Kiba about all her training. "Hinata, it's not good to work yourself out so much." Tenten said. Hinata just shrugged. She looked at Ino. "I have my ways of dealing with problems, and others have their ways." Ino looked back at her, understanding who she meant. "I was at Shikamaru's earlier this morning. I spoke to Shikaku. He said there has been no change with Shikamaru. I'm starting to worry now. This is his fourth day without so much as moving from his bed. He still hasn't spoken or eaten." Kiba and Tenten were looking at Ino too now. "What, how come?" Tenten asked, worriedly. "I don't know," Ino said, "I haven't been able to get anything at all from him." Kiba nodded and looked at Hinata, "Well I have to head off. Have to do some stuff for my mum." Tenten nodded, "Yeah I have to go too, I'm meeting up with Neji today." They said their goodbyes and went off, leaving Hinata and Ino alone.

Ino looked at Hinata. "Do you think Temari is what is bothering him?" Hinata turned and looked Ino in the eyes. "I'm sure of it," she replied. "Oh," Ino said, "But what is bothering you?" Hinata turned away. "Nothing, I don't want to talk about it. Anyway, I have to go now too, have to train. See you around Ino." Hinata said, smiling at her and walking off. Ino called after her, "Give him some time to come around. He will! The sand ninja are leaving early tomorrow morning!" Hinata kept walking. She was secretly pleased that the sand nin would be gone tomorrow. She had nothing against them. Gaara, Kankuro and Temari were all very skilled ninja. It was just that Temari's showing up caused unfortunate circumstances.