Chapter 36: Kiba

Kiba ran on the roof tops he was going home to see his mother and sister. He wanted to see them again, to hear their voices again. He wanted to see his family. He had been the first to wake up, he would have waited for Sakura and Naruto to wake up but he didn't want to.

For a year he had been asleep in the sand and the world had continued on without him. That scared him, everything had just continued on with the knowledge that he was dead. Leaving Kiba wanting nothing more than to scream that he wasn't dead, he was alive.

………….

The sun hadn't risen yet, there was an unusual cold breeze in the air. Sasuke shivered and pulled his robe tighter around him, he couldn't sleep. It might have to do with that large white dog that was growling at him, Sasuke stared out at the horizon. He didn't want the morning to come; he didn't want Kiba to come. Kiba would destroy everything, Sasuke glared at the horizon, Hinata and Shino had become his family. He wouldn't lose what little family he had left.

"Akamaru doesn't trust you." Sasuke turned. Hinata stood there just like him wrapped up tightly in her robe with that annoying large dog beside her growling low in his throat. Sasuke looked away from her and shrugged.

"It's cold." Hinata whispered as she moved to stand beside him.

"You should be inside. Shino will…" Hinata shook her head. He nodded, she didn't want to talk. That was fine with him he didn't feel like talking either so they stood there watching the horizon till the sun came up. Neither noticing as Akamaru silently crept away.

………………….

Kiba landed outside the Inuzuka compound, he stared at the place he called home. It looked the same he smiled at least something was as he had left it. He walked over to the gate, wondering how he would be greeted, how he would greet back. Gathering his courage he pushed the gate open, already hearing the surprised barks of the dogs.

………….

Akamaru ran as fast as he could, one of guards at the Aburame gates had let him out believing that Hinata or Shino was unable to do it. He had caught Kiba's scent on the breeze, Kiba was back. Just as Akamaru always believed he would be.

…………….

"Today feels strange." Neji whispered as he sat up, Gaara was meditating and Lee was happily humming away in his sleep, Neji brought a hand up to touch his hair, it felt different.

His hair, he closed his eyes and stood. He wanted to return to the leaf, Gai and Tenten had arrived sometime last night. Wondering where Hinata was and if she was safe, Neji frowned of course Hinata was safe. Shino had taken her back to the leaf, back home. Neji had the urge to strike his head against the wall, Hanabi was in the leaf, annoying little Hanabi his soon to be wife. Neji snarled, he didn't want Hanabi, he wanted Hinata, he wanted the main house dead and soon it would be.

…………………..

Hinata frowned, that feeling was back. Somewhere in the back of her head she was remembering her cousin, Neji would not marry Hanabi. Her hands tightened on her robe, Neji. She forgave him for killing Kiba, she couldn't hate him, she just never wanted to see him again ever.

"Hinata." Sasuke turned before the girl in question did.

"Shino." Sasuke greeted, Shino nodded back going to stand beside Hinata, she was frowning at something. Shino placed his hand on her shoulder causing her to jump. She relaxed and mumbled an apology before Shino nodded.

"There is something that I want to ask you." Sasuke and Hinata stared at him

………………

"Kiba!!" Tsume yelled as she hugged her son. Kiba smiled, he missed his mother, he missed so much, he had lost a year worth of time. "We thought you where dead."

"I was in a coma." Kiba told his mother.

"Where?" Kiba smiled at his mother.

"The sand."

His mother stared at him about to say something when she was interrupted by the familiar bark of Akamaru, who had once again forgotten he was not the little puppy that he once was when he jumped on top of Kiba. Sending the boy tumbling to the ground with his dog giving him puppy kisses.

"Akamaru!" Kiba exclaimed happily. Akamaru barked and once the greetings where given, Akamaru knew he had to tell Kiba everything he knew. Neji threatening Hinata in the Aburame compound and the kiss he forced upon the shaken girl. Hinata's kidnapping by Neji and the seal on her forehead. Akamaru told him everything that he knew.

………………

"Akamaru!" Sasuke yelled. Annoyed, that he was out looking for that evil white monster.

Shino was preparing for the wedding and Hinata wanted Akamaru to be there, Sasuke rolled his eyes. Why was that girl so sensitive? She even cried when he joked about putting Akamaru down.

"Akamaru!! I don't have time to play with you!!" Sasuke yelled as he looked around. Jumping from roof to roof, he had two hours to find Akamaru, after that the wedding would begin. Sasuke jumped to the last roof and froze, he heard Akamaru growling at him, turning Sasuke's eyes went wide.

"Oh fuck me." Sasuke whispered, there standing beside Akamaru was Kiba. An angry looking Kiba, Sasuke looked at Akamaru. That dirty little snitch told Kiba everything, and he could only guess how Kiba was taking the news.

"Hello Sasuke."

………………..

Lee searched the Kazekage's house, Neji was missing. That was not good, especially since Neji had once again forgotten to take his medication. Lee sighed, his friend was in need and there was nothing he could do.

"Lee did you find him?" Tenten asked.

"OH TENTEN!!" lee launched himself into her arms, she was used to this and allowed him to hug her and cry on her shoulder. "I worry for him! He forgot his medication!!"

Tenten sighed, Neji needed to be locked up and banned from reproducing. His entire clan needed to be band from reproducing all that inbreeding was coming to bite them in the ass; well Neji was coming to bite them in the ass, or more bite Hinata in the ass. Tenten had to stop her thinking it was getting disturbing.

"I'm sure he's just off killing babies." Lee looked at Tenten and sighed.

"Oh my manly Tenten, my flame of youth burns for you alone!" Tenten sighed, patting lee on the back. Every other day he was confessing his love to her, it was sweet the first three times now it was annoying. "Let's join our flames together and produce a new flame that we will name Gai after Gai!!"

"lets go find Neji before he kills anymore babies, or clubs some seal cubs…or something bad ……lets just go find Neji." Lee nodded and ran ahead of Tenten, determined that he would save Neji. Tenten made a face, Neji didn't need saving he needed a good thousands hit to the head.

………………….

"Are you done?" Kiba looked up at Sasuke. He was just standing there so calm, as if Kiba hadn't been trying to claw that annoying face of his. Sasuke tilted his head and smiled almost apologetically. "I had expected so much more." Kiba growled. Akamaru had left to bring Hinata here. Leaving Kiba alone to deal with Sasuke, who seemed unaffected with Kiba's supposed attempts.

With a yell Kiba lunged at Sasuke, it was irritating to fight the Uchiha who smiled this crocked smile. It annoyed him, so Kiba was going to rip it off the Uchiha's pretty face. Sasuke dogged every attack effortlessly, Kiba was weak, a year long coma would weaken anyone. Annoyed that this was taking longer than he had anticipated, Sasuke back handed the Inuzuka as Kiba lunged towards him again. He watched somewhat interested as Kiba flipped in the air, landing on his hands and feet. Sasuke sighed, he had a wedding to attend, and the Inuzuka was just determined to make him late.

"I promised Shino I wouldn't be late for his wedding." Sasuke hissed. He noticed the Inuzuka's eyes widen. "Oh fuck me." Sasuke hissed. The Inuzuka had heard him. Kiba took off in the direction of the Aburame compound, Sasuke watched for a moment before he followed. Shino was going to kill him if the wedding was ruined.

…………….

Neji stared out at the sand his Byakugan activated, he was returning to the leaf, the Hyuuga clan needed to be cleansed and he would cleanse them. He was blessed the strongest with the Byakugan, it was his duty to remove those who where not.

………………..

Kiba ran, wedding, there was no wedding. He'd be damned if there was going to be a wedding. Shino had better be getting married to some random Aburame chick and not Hinata. Sasuke was catching up to him; Shino's annoying girlfriend was trying to stop him. Kiba turned barely dogging the kunai Sasuke threw.

"Kiba."

Sasuke froze in mid move, the kunai dropping from his fingers; he turned surprised to see Hinata with Akamaru pulling at her kimono sleeve.

"Hinata, you shouldn't leave the compound." Sasuke told her, standing straight, moving to stand in between her and Kiba. Hinata shook her head.

"Shino-kun told me, he told me everything Sasuke." Sasuke stared at her.

"Everything?" he asked her again. She nodded, Kiba stared at them. "Why?"

"We……we made a deal…..that is all you need to know."

"Hinata?" Kiba whispered staring at her. His eyes softening as she smiled at him.

"Shino-kun will explain it to you." Sasuke nodded and left, curious as to what the hell had just happened.

Hinata watched Sasuke go; she turned her head only to move back in surprise, Kiba was hugging her, a little too tight making it hard to breathe. She hugged him back, wondering what she was supposed to say, what she was supposed to do.

"Kiba-kun, you're alive."

……………….

Shino sat in silence as he drank his tea outside listening to the wind in the trees, today was such a strange day. He looked up as Sasuke landed in front of him unsure and worried. Shino merely offered him the other cup of tea.

"Hinata….." Shino nodded. Sasuke sat down beside his friend and sighed. "What deal?"

Shino said nothing just drank his tea, his glasses lay discarded behind him, the cold air highlighting the red palm print on his cheek. Sasuke looked away, Shino really had told her.

"Today is strange." Sasuke blinked after 10 minutes Shino finally spoke. "I had no intentions of telling her but I did, every lie I had ever told her, every word I spoke to Neji and Kiba, everything."

"Why?" Sasuke asked.

"One should be honest with their wife." Shino replied.

…………………

They sat there at the table, Tsume and Hana leaving them alone while Akamaru lay at both their feet. Kiba just stared at her and Hinata stared at everything but him, at the moment she was staring at the table. Kiba didn't know what to say, or what to do. He tapped his fingers on the table just watching her.

Weren't people who hadn't seen each other for awhile supposed to talk; Kiba opened his mouth then closed it, what was there to say? He didn't want to bring up Shino or Neji, especially not how the year had been for her. He bit his bottom lip before opening another diet soda. She was still on her first one.

"Kiba I'm sorry." She whispered.

"It's not your fault." Hinata smiled in disbelief, her eyes on her diet soda. "You didn't know what they where capable of." Finally so slowly she looked up at him, her eyes meeting his.

She bit her bottom lip. "Neji…he,"

"Shino did what he thought necessary, Neji wanted to kill us." He reached across the table placing his hand on hers. "Shino wouldn't do anything to hurt us." Hinata opened her mouth then decided against it, she nodded. "It was Neji's fault, everything. How is Shino anyway?"

Hinata winched, her palm still hurt from slapping Shino. Kiba noticed the wince at his question believing that she was merely uncomfortable bringing up Shino incase Kiba blamed him.

"Sorry, I don't blame him; Akamaru told me that Shino believed I was dead."

Hinata stood; Kiba stared at her as he stood. "Hinata?"

"I have to go, this is too much for me, I'll……… see you tomorrow." With that Hinata left, Akamaru stood looking at Kiba then the direction that Hinata had fled in, unsure what to do.

"Let her go." Kiba sat back down; he was hurt that she left. Where would she go, he sighed. Where was she going? He blinked and stood, didn't Sasuke say something about a wedding. He stood Hinata wouldn't be far, Akamaru stood again as Kiba left in the direction that Hinata had run in.

Hinata walked hugging herself.

"There is something that I need to tell you."

She paused in her step, looking up at the sky, watching the birds fly.

"I need to confess."

The wind picked up, there had to be something in the wind today.

"Kiba is alive."

Hinata continued walking; at least she had continued walking till a hand grabbed her by the upper arm, turning her around.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Kiba was staring at her, his other hand moved to her hair.

"I want no secrets between us."

He leaned forward his lips so close to hers, she stares at him, her eyes locked with his. He kissed her softly, she felt the first sob escape into his mouth, followed by the second and the third, his lips left hers placing kisses on her forehead and cheeks. Her hands tightened on his arms, she was shaking and he was the only thing holding her up.

"Go say your goodbye, whatever you do I wont hold against you. When you return you will never be allowed to leave the compound, you will simply be my wife."

Her hands moved cupping his face as she kissed him. Her hands tangling in his hair, this was the last time she would ever see him, the last time she would ever be outside the compound. The kiss changed from soft and sweet to hard and frantic.

She stared at her palm, Shino's glasses hitting the floor, the noise was so loud with the room suddenly so quiet. His eyes where closed, her palm stung. They just stood there in that pose, till finally he moved his hand holding her wrist, she stared at him. His fingers lacing with her shaking fingers, her throat went dry, as he finally looked at her.

"I'm sorry. This is my gift to you." With that he pushed her away and left her, she stared at him then at her palm.

"Thank you." She noticed him pause in mid step; he didn't turn to look at her. He just walked away.

Kiba's lips left hers first, his head resting on her shoulder as he breathed in her scent, before frowning and moving away, her scent was mixed, it wasn't sex it was just the outfit the shampoo and soap, she smelled like Shino her scent was almost fading.

"Kiba." He shook his head and took her hand.

"Just shower okay; I'll go get you something to wear." She nodded following him back to the Inuzuka compound.

………….

Sasuke was keeping Shino company; the Aburame was just staring at the gate. He placed a hand on his friends shoulder and smiled.

"She'll be back, I'll go get us something to eat." Shino said nothing.

Hinata wasn't coming back. Shino was an idiot, a heart broken idiot, Sasuke frowned. If she wasn't back than he would drag her back, kicking and screaming but he would bring her back, just to stop Shino from being so annoyingly quiet.

It was around 11 at night when the gate opened, Sasuke looked up from the chess game he was playing with Shino who only tensed. Hinata walked in her hands in front of her looking so calm, as if Shino hadn't been running every scenario through his head.

"Was it fun?" Sasuke asked her.

Shino frowned at the tone Sasuke used.

"I said goodbye." She whispered.

…………….

Tsume stared at Kiba who hadn't moved from the front door, he was just staring outside at the night.

"Kiba?" he didn't turn only tensed.

"She said goodbye." Kiba whispered.

……………….

Hanabi opened her eyes; Neji was sitting at the edge of her bed, just staring at her

"Neji?" he moved crawling over to her. "What's wrong?"

"Can you forgive me?' Hanabi blinked was Neji's voice always this cold?

"For what?" She asked him. He kissed her softly, sweetly she closed her eyes. Believing he was here for her. She didn't see the kunai hidden inside his sleeve she just felt it. He hugged her helping the kunai move deeper into her chest.

"The Hyuuga clan, it can't exist, it doesn't deserve too, only Hinata and I deserve to exist. We will restart this clan, we will save this clan."

Neji left the kunai where it was as Hanabi fell back, her body twitching from the charka that twisted along the cold steel of Neji's kunai. He stood; the moonlight revealing that the seal on his forehead was gone. Neji turned away from the moonlight, moving into the darkness of the Hyuuga hallways. No one heard him, some where still asleep when he killed them, others where not so lucky.

Neji looked up at the night sky as he stood in the walkway between the main and branch house, the moonlight seemed to glow on his pale skin, the blood highlighted it. Strangely he couldn't bring himself to feel remorse; he couldn't bring himself to feel anything. He closed his eyes breathing in the scent of the flowers that grew in the Hyuuga compound. He looked at the tree that grew strong between the houses. He had one more place to go, one last Hyuuga to visit.

……………..

­

Hinata opened her eyes; she had the strangest feeling that she was being watched. Sitting up she turned in the direction the feeling was the strongest. Neji was kneeling there, his forehead protector placed in front of him; she blinked then closed her eyes. Telling herself it was a dream. Neji wasn't there, opening her eyes she stared at her cousin. Nothing the blood and his clear forehead.

She opened her mouth to say something but stopped, the two of them just stared at each other.

………….

Three year old Hinata traced her fingers along the seal that marred her cousin's forehead, the tears slipping silently down her cheeks. He was staring at his bed.

"Don't cry." He told her softly. "This seal shows that I protect you Hinata."

She shook her head her hand now on her lap. "It's not fair.

………….

Hinata placed a hand on her forehead somehow he had removed his seal and placed it on her, their eyes remain locked with each other. Shino moved in his sleep, rolling closer to Hinata. Neji's eyes moved to Shino, than back at her. She wrapped her arms around Shino shaking her head, the tears falling again. Neji moved closer.

"Don't." she sobbed softly. Shaking her head as Neji moved closer. "Please."

"Don't cry." He whispered she shook her head. Both not noticing Shino move and reach under his pillow.

Neji smiled at her almost warmly, his widened as the kunai went flying towards him, Shino was crouched now, Hinata behind him. With a poof of smoke Neji was gone, the blood and forehead protector where the only things that proved Neji had been there. Once again Neji had been too close to her, to them.

"Neji….he….Neji……" Hinata whispered between sobs understanding what it was that Neji had done, what the blood meant. She reached out for Shino; he moved to her his bugs searching the area for Neji. When his bugs returned with no trace, Shino stared at the blood on the floor.

"It's alright, he won't hurt you." Shino whispered into her hair.

………………..

"I'm going to kill them all!" Neji told her as he pinned her to the ground. She winched as a twig broke under her weight. His hands tightened on her bruises.

"Why?! It's your family too!" She screamed back at him.

"I'll prove that I should have been heir! I'll prove myself! I will show everyone how far I can go. I'll show them what I'm capable of!" Her Byakugan deactivated, her arms wrapping around his waist, as he lay on top of her shaking from the cursed seal that her father had activated, she was still shaking from the beating she had received. She had for once in her life stood up to her father and the council. She had stood up for Neji.

Her father backhanded her as she moved to Neji's side.

One of the council members had stared at the cousins and looked away in disgust. She had once again failed in proving that she was ready to be heir, because of her weakness Neji had attacked, stopping Hiashi from further harming Hinata. The council member than activated the seal and Hinata screamed.

"She is a disgrace to the clan! She is weak! The heir to the Hyuuga clan is weak!"

Neji had snarled at the council member as he twitched in pain, once more Hinata moved to his side, blood dripping from her lip. He had tried to push her away, only her charka soothed him.

"Neji, I won't leave you." Neji relaxed. She smiled at him and turned to face her father and council again.

"You are the disgraces to the Hyuuga clan not me!!" she screamed at them, the council stared at her; her father looked at her with almost pride. Neji placed his hand on hers once the tremors stopped. She looked at her cousin, his eyes bearing into hers. The moment ended when her father spoke.

"Get out and do not return till you are sent for! See how long you can survive without the clan!" Hinata stood helping Neji walk, he looked at her. The two of them left leaning on each other without a back wards glance. They walked till they reached the clearing by the lake.

It was then that Neji pinned her.

"I don't care if they find me weak, I don't want Hanabi to suffer like we do." she whispered into his hair. "I don't want to be heir, Hanabi can take my place." Neji nodded against her shoulder, relaxing slightly. No one would come looking for them, the clearing in the forest was the only place they could hide, the only place they could be.

"If I kill them we can be free." Hinata tensed.

"free." She repeated. She was staring up at the sky, the moon was so bright. "I want to be free."

Neji looked at her, smiling as he sat up straddling her hips. "It would be easy, to kill them all while they slept, we could be free."

Hinata frowned, winching again, Neji merely moved to lie on his back beside her. The ten and eleven year old lay there alone.

"What happens now?" she asked him.

"We find a place to stay for awhile." He replied casually.

"We can stay here; it'll be like camping with Kiba-kun and Shino-kun." Neji looked at her his eyebrow raised.

"Camping?" she nodded sitting up. "You mean survival training." She paused in her nodding as Neji laughed softly. "We can camp here for awhile."

For half a year they camped in the woods, till the council saw fit to bring them back.

………………

Lee sighed Neji was no where in the sand and had not taken his medication. Lee clasped his hands together and stared at the first star he saw.

"Please Mr. Star, my friend has not taken his medication and I fear for his flame of confusion and hatred, please protect Neji."

Tenten stared at lee and sighed, she stared at the same star. Lee turned and looked at her, tears threatening to spill from his worried eyes. She held out her hand to him.

"It's going to be okay lee, Neji will be okay and you will save him and stuff like that." Lee nodded taking her hand.

"Can I sleep with you? Neji lets me cuddle with him only if I pretend to be Hinata, I don't have to pretend with you do I?" Tenten paused in mid step. "I don't like saying I like camping with Neji-Nissan." Lee whined.

"Lee when Neji has you pretend to be Hinata does he touch you….." Lee sighed.

"I showed Gai once on the bad touch doll, and then Gai talked to Neji, so now I keep my clothes on and not wear the Hinata outfit Neji makes me wear!!" Tenten nodded. Her team was so strange. Next time she saw Neji she'd stab in the bad place with a rusty spear.

"You can sleep with me." Lee smiled and hugged Tenten. "Tomorrow we'll go back to the leaf and find Neji."

…………………..

Kiba lay there in bed staring up at the ceiling; Akamaru was sleeping at the foot of his bed. That girl, she wasn't Hinata, she couldn't have been Hinata. One year couldn't change someone that much, she was darker, colder. Hinata was never withdrawn, he sighed and crossed his arms, tomorrow he's go see her and Shino. Tomorrow he'd figure everything out and beat Neji half to death. Right now he just needed to relax he was home.