Hi there readers! I know I'm a couple days late—a week if you're counting— and I put it down to my subscriptions on youtube AND I've started to rewatch a Kdrama by the name of Playful Kiss, a must see, hehe! Anyway, I hope you guys are doing okay. I'm fine, but have been the victim of severe allergies just a few days ago. That's part of the reason why I'm updating a little late. I was just sneezing nonstop, my eyes were swollen, my nose was runny and all I wanted to do was fall asleep so I wouldn't feel it. I think I've told you that before though, in a previous update so I guess this is something continuous. Maybe hay fever or something. So, with that out of the way, I'll get to it.

Excuse any errors and formatting issues and R&R‼!


Chapter 55: Cold Feet

xXx

Hinata and Neji were up before Hanabi the next day.

The youngest Hyuuga of the house was exhausted after such a fitful night and so was unable to move.

Hinata woke up first, despite having been tired herself and then Neji followed. After Hinata took her wrist and Neji's and had her bath, she went downstairs to prepare something for Neji and Hanabi to eat while Neji had his shower.

Hinata didn't bother to wear her uniform, as she was not sure if she would be able to go to school what with Hanabi. She had suggested Hanabi pack some clothes for the consent form informed she would have to stay overnight, depending on which method she was going to use.

As Hinata went about making breakfast, she could not help but think of what was going to happen in a couple hours. Her imouto was going to have an abortion. Even more, in a couple days, she would be going to rehab for treatment.

Neji came downstairs not too long afterwards and sat at the table.

"Hanabi is still sleeping," he said. "She had a pretty rough night but most likely she'll be up any minute now with morning sickness."

Hinata opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by the retching sounds coming from the bathroom.

"I guess you have the timing down," said Hinata.

Hanabi came down after a half hour or so, looking quite pale and clammy.

"Are you okay?" Hinata asked her sister.

Hanabi just nodded in reply as she too sat at the table and started to eat, only to jump up from the table, hand over her mouth to the nearest bathroom to throw up again.

Neji prodded at the breakfast. "Is there tomato in the omelet?" he asked Hinata.

"Hai," said Hinata. "Hanabi loves them almost as much as Sasuke."

Neji shook his head. "She can't handle the taste of it anymore," he said.

"What does she eat for breakfast then?" Hinata asked her cousin.

"Just some fruits lately," Neji replied. "Especially bananas, which we both know she hated before."

Hinata took the food and trashed it before making something else for the girl by the time she came out of the bathroom.

Hanabi wobbled into the kitchen and sat again. "Gomen," the girl said. "I can't eat tomatoes anymore; they make me throw up."

"That may be one of the symptoms of the pregnancy, I think," Hinata told her. "But I made you a fruit salad."

Hanabi immediately dug into the fruits, neglecting the grapes and slices of apple but obviously relishing everything else, especially the banana as Neji had said. She didn't eat all of it and so Hinata put it in the fridge.


Soon afterwards, it was time to head off to the doctor's office.

Hinata decided to take the risk and drive to the doctor's office, as she did not want Neji missing school.

Sasuke was out of the question as he was just as far behind as she was and she did not want anyone thinking they had a plan on being truant anymore than they already did.

Hinata could tell Hanabi was very anxious about the whole thing but did not say much about it as she knew Hanabi was one to not want to feel weak.

She allowed Hanabi to have her music as they drove to the doctor, to which the girl was very thankful for.

After pulling up in the car park, Hinata and Hanabi got out and made their way into the building.

Hinata could feel the dread radiating from her sister in waves and held her hand, catching her attention.

"You'll be fine," said Hinata with a small smile of comfort. "Whether you decide to go through with this or not, you know I'll be supporting you as well as Neji."

Hanabi gave a shaky smile of her own and looked ahead as they went up the stairs.

When they entered, Suzume immediately came to them. "Ohayo, Hinata and Hanabi-chan," the woman said. "You are right on time and Takahiro-san is ready for Hanabi-chan if she is ready also."

Hinata squeezed Hanabi's hand and let go as Hanabi gave her the music player. "I'll be fine," Hanabi said softly.

The girl seemed even more stressed than before but Hinata trusted she would be alright.

Hanabi and Suzume disappeared down the hallway as Hinata went to take a seat in the waiting room and soon after Suzume was seen bustling around.

Hinata took out her phone to send Sasuke a message also as she was not sure if she would be able to make it to school. It was not clear how long the procedure would take and so Hinata let him know.

Hanabi still was not sure which method she would take when Hinata had asked. There was the medical abortion, in which pills would be taken to induce a miscarriage and there was also vacuum aspiration, which would work as a suction technique to remove the fetus.

Hinata had given Hanabi the option of choosing which she would be more comfortable with. She trusted both Hanabi and Takahiro to make the right decision, as they knew what they were doing.

Having taking along her assignments and notes, Hinata settled in for getting some work done. She focused mainly on the English, as she would have that lesson in the evening after school.

Being quite good at the subject, Hinata was able to grasp everything she had read and even wrote an essay in the hour she had been in the waiting room so far.


Suddenly, there was a scream of Hinata's name from Takahiro's office and Hinata dropped everything to run to the door, barely catching Hanabi as she dashed out. The girl was wearing a robe that was barely hanging on her thin frame.

Hinata panicked, thinking something had gone wrong and Hanabi was hurt. Tears welled in her eyes as she took Hanabi's shoulder; Takahiro came through the door right after in his scrubs.

"Hanabi!" said Hinata urgently. "What's wrong?"

Hanabi shook her head, apparently not able to speak before stuttering incoherently and Hinata rounded on the doctor.

"What's happened to my sister, Takahiro-sensei?" Hinata demanded.

Takahiro quickly ushered them both into the room and shut the door. Hinata sat, pulling her sister to sit on her lap as she waited for an answer. The girl was crying bitterly, as she gasped for more air.

It seemed to take forever to Hinata until the man spoke.

"Hanabi-chan changed her mind at the very last minute," said Takahiro, watching Hanabi carefully. "She had decided go for the vacuum aspiration and was very calm about it until watching the process shown on the monitor, being uneasy. She then went into a form of shock when I was about to start."

Hinata could tell. Hanabi was currently going through a major panic attack and even as the doctor was talking, Hanabi was having a very difficult time breathing.

Takahiro got up and took Hanabi from Hinata.

Hanabi continued to choke on her sobs, her breathing extremely erratic as Takahiro carried her to the bed and sat her down.

Hinata got up and went to her sister as well and tried to put an arm around her to which Hanabi refused and pushed her away at the sudden contact. She tried a second time and was allowed.

"Hanabi-chan," Takahiro said calmly. He looked her in the eyes as he spoke, giving her some tissues. "No one is going to hurt you, okay? You're safe."

Hanabi shook her head again, her breath hitching as she struggled to speak.

"I-I ca… can't.."

Takahiro continued to try to calm Hanabi down, just by his gaze alone before speaking again. "Was the video disturbing to you?" he asked.

Hanabi nodded her head. "I d-don't…I can't!"

Hinata felt tears coming to her eyes but Takahiro placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Hanabi-chan is just going through a panic attack," he said, then turned his attention to Hanabi. "It will pass in a couple minutes; just try to take some deep breaths."

Hanabi hiccupped as she tried to inhale without breaking down again, hiding her face with her palms from obvious embarrassment.

"How are you feeling now?" Takahiro asked.

"O-okay," Hanabi answered.

"Are you ready to talk now?" the doctor asked. "Both your sister and I are right here."

Hanabi slowly peeped through her fingers before she took them down to start chewing her nails.

"I can't have the a-abortion," Hanabi whispered through her teeth.

"Was it the video?" Takahiro inquired as he had before. "Was it too disturbing and graphic for you to handle?"

"H-Hai," said Hanabi shakily. "But it's the truth. T-that's what will happen to me and I didn't know it would feel pain when I did it. It's a baby and I'd be killing s-someone then. I've messed up too much and I don't want to add k-killing a baby to the list."

Takahiro punched a button and Suzume was there in an instant with a tray of two glasses of water. Hinata took one and Hanabi drank hers.

Takahiro waited until they were both completely calm before addressing Hinata, as Hanabi still sipped her water.

"From notes given by Azumi-san, Hanabi-chan was clearly quite determined to go through with termination of the pregnancy," said Takahiro. "Hanabi-chan was informed of the procedure very thoroughly and was still very sure about it but the video must have shaken her will.

"Then there is the fact that Hanabi-chan's addiction may be weighing very heavily on her choice and so she is not certain what she really wants. As such, it is suggested she go to rehab and make the decision there without any influence from those close to her."

"Hai, Takahiro-sensei," said Hinata. "I understand that but Hanabi needs her family."

"That may be true," said the doctor. "But at this point, she needs the proper treatment to continue."

Hinata started to get angry. "So why didn't you know this before now?" she demanded.

"Hanabi-chan was seen as stable enough," Takahiro said. "This behavior is normal as many pregnant women have second thoughts about going through an abortion at the last minute, especially girls Hanabi's age-"

"I-I want to go home," Hanabi interrupted.

Hinata looked at the doctor, silently pleading he just let them leave and he noticed it, scribbling on a notepad.

"I will send word to Azumi of what has happened here today and I will move the rehab up to Wednesday so please make the proper arrangements with your school and authorities as soon as possible and notify me. Hanabi-chan will stay home tomorrow and if she has any issues, please call me."


The drive home was a silent one for a while with Hanabi becoming teary a few times. Hinata held her hand on the way home, sidetracked a little on the fact that she was driving with one hand.

But Hinata had to know what was going on.

"Are you sure about keeping the baby?" Hinata asked softly so as to not startle Hanabi into another panic attack.

Hanabi nodded her head.

"Are you going to tell Konohamaru?"

Another nod.

"Are you going to tell Otou-san?"

"..Hai."

"You'll have to be pulled from school."

"…I know."

Hinata glanced Hanabi's way. "Neji and I will be with you all the way," she said.

When the two of them returned home, they found the police were there.

"Ohayo, I'm Takashi," said one of the policemen. "We were going to wait until you came home this evening but since you are here, we would like to ask Hanabi a couple questions."

Hinata waved him off. "Sumimasen, Takashi-san, demo Hanabi has just been to the doctor's office and he recommended her have full rest without disturbance." (Sumimasen-Formal way of apologizing)

She then showed him the note Takahiro had written for absence from school and the man approved.

"Very well," he said. "But we would like to speak to her as soon as-"

"It's okay."

Hinata looked at her sister. "You sure?" Hinata asked.

At Hanabi's indication that she was, Hinata lead the police inside to the kitchen, where there were no police searching present.

Hinata got the man a glass of water and they all sat down.

Takashi took out his notepad, pen poised to write. He asked Hanabi's name, age and the basics. He asked of parental care and of Hinata and Neji's guardianship while their father was away.

It was apparent the man was going easy on Hanabi due to the fact that it was quite plain to see she was not feeling her best. Hinata was very grateful.

The policeman then went on to ask about Hanabi's friends and Konohamaru, wanting full details on their relationship and information that might help the police. Hanabi stated she was uncomfortable with the personal questions and so Takashi stopped short.

"I think we have enough information," said Takashi. "It is very obvious Hanabi knows nothing about the person who supplied Konohamaru with the drugs as the boy must have had direct contact with the source, supplying other students. On another note, Hanabi is recommended to go to rehab and I have a few well known-"

"I'm going to rehab from Wednesday," said Hanabi. It seemed Hanabi just wanted to get to the point all day.

Takashi wrote quickly. "Thank you for your time, Hinata and Hanabi-chan," he said. "The search is to be completed today and there will be progress updates."

With that, the man got up and with a word of goodbye, he left, taking the others with him after about two hours.

X

Hinata sat with Hanabi in the kitchen, not moving from their position since the police left, just talking.

"My baby is going to grow up without a father," Hanabi had said at one point.

Hinata noticed the change from 'it' to 'baby' and thought a good start had been made already.

"I'm sure Konohamaru will be there for you when all of this settles down," said Hinata.

She went on to assured Hanabi there would be support no matter what and just then, Neji's car was heard pulling into the driveway.

Hinata let him know both she and Hanabi were in the kitchen when he entered the house and then further told him about what had happened and informed him of Hanabi's choice.

Neji took it in well adding his own placation.

Hanabi was soon too tired to do anything else and Hinata and Neji took her upstairs to his room, where they tucked her in, hoping she would sleep well.

"Who's going to tell him?" asked Neji, referring to Hinata's father as he went to his computer and turned it on.

"I think we all should," said Hinata. She was now going through some more English exercises. "I'll call him in the morning and ask to come home."

"Do you think he'll revert back to how he was when he hears about this?" Neji asked.

Hinata shrugged. "I pray he doesn't. He'd been so good to us on his visits that it scares me to imagine him going back to his abusive ways."

"We'll just have to not let it happen," said Neji, who sighed tiredly. "Is this what being a parent feels like?" he asked. "The anxious feeling, being so protective?"

Hinata smiled sadly. "Of course," she said. "I feel it too and I'm sure when Otou-san gets over the shock we'll all be fine."

Hinata knew she was more reassuring herself than Neji but she stuck to it.

"I'll stay home with Hanabi tomorrow since you've been out of school for so long," said Neji to which Hinata agreed.

There was a vibration and Hinata checked and saw it was a message from Sasuke.

S: Is everything alright?

Hinata quickly replied.

H: I'm not sure. Hanabi backed out on the abortion and decided to keep the baby.

S: Did you want her to go through with it?

H: I wanted what she did. I'm just worried about how my father will take the news.

S: Ohh I c. yea, from what you told me, he was not that great of a father when he lived with you and now he might not be exactly ecstatic about having a grandchild so soon.

H: I know. Maybe I'm over thinking this, but I can just hope my father really has changed. He loves Hanabi the most but a something like this might make him mean again.

S: Srry, I gtg. Kakashi's back from the bathroom. Ttyl

H: kk

Hinata forgot she and Sasuke were supposed to have after-school sessions starting from today and sighed.

Already, she was missing classes and it probably looked terrible after being out of school for so long as it was.

As much as she hated it, she would have to really make and effort and was thankful that Neji had offered to stay at home to watch over Hanabi so she would be able to go to school and catch up.

With new resolve, Hinata took up the exercises and started to complete some after reading through the instructions and suggestions listed for Biology.

Neji came over to her to help and they both worked quietly while Hanabi slept.

What with all that had happened for the day, Hinata did find it hard to concentrate properly. Her mind drifted to the events of what had happened earlier and Hanabi's new resolve to keep her baby.

Hinata couldn't help but wonder if she would have kept her own, had the situations she'd had with Sasuke the year before gone that way.

Hinata knew Sasuke would have been right there with her all the way if such a thing had happened but could not be so sure about Konohamaru, who seemed to be just a delinquent toying with Hanabi.

Hinata could only hope the younger boy would get help, step up, and further be there for Hanabi.

She was not bothered about the financial part of it all, knowing Konohamaru was very young and would not be able to sufficiently support Hanabi and their baby.

Money would never be an issue for Hanabi and Hinata knew that, unless their father somehow cut them off. She just wanted Hanabi to not feel like she had ruined her life nor did she want her little niece or nephew growing up without knowing their father.

"-ata?"

Hinata was shaken from her thoughts by Neji's voice and quickly apologized for not listening.

"I understand," said Neji. "Do you want to continue or rest?"

A bit of rest sounded like heaven to Hinata and she readily accepted the latter. There was so much to do that Hinata just wanted a little time to clear her head.

Neji said he would complete his own homework and stay online longer while Hinata went to have a shower.

She crawled into bed next to her sister, who was still sleeping with one hand to her mouth, the other on her flat stomach.

There was no telling how things were going to turn out when they woke up in the morning but for once in the past couple days, both Hinata and Hanabi had a full night of sleep.


And that is the end of the chapter. I made it longer to make up for the lateness and I hope you liked it. I honestly thought about letting Hanabi go through with the abortion because, whether we want to accept it or not, abortions happen in these circumstances.

As I've told readers, the Hanabi situation is to raise awareness on the use of drugs in school and teenage pregnancy and the difficulties faced going through it. In the end, I decided to let Hanabi keep her baby to carry it further to show how hard it can be and even more, the ability to be able to endure it. I have had two friends go through teenage pregnancy and even though I did not hear from them after they left school, I could just imagine what it must be like.

Depending on the reviews; however, if you would still like Hanabi to go through with the abortion, that can be arranged.

Also, you guys can follow me on twitter RisaPooh13. You can ask me questions and we can communicate all day! Hehe how cheesy ahem… but yes, you can follow me. I tweet everyday and you can let me know if you want updates on how my writing is going and stuff.

If you have not read Hina hime, A Happy Ending, or Following the Sun please do. I would greatly appreciate it.

Until next update…

Ja ne‼

Please review, I love it when you do‼