Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own Naruto yada yada.

Flashback

Dreams

'Thoughts'

Hinata quickly righted herself, panting lightly as she glared at Anko, the new arrival likewise didn't break her gaze from the bloodied leader. The two females studied each other for a moment more, Hinata's mind more just thinking of ripping Anko apart than doing any kind of strategy before she lunged at the older vampire. Anko waited until the very last moment, letting Hinata get as close as she could before weaving out of the way of her claw swipe to give a harsh haymaker to the younger's head. The force of the impact sent Hinata flying into the nearest wall and Anko, not letting a moment pass, followed with an absolute brutal flurry of punches that soon had the wall crumbling and giving way and having Hinata falling into the hard packed ground and rolling into a stop afterward. Anko followed through the hole she's made, her steps measured and clam, taking in Hinata's every move as the wild leader stumbled to her feet, holding bruised ribs and trying to keep her body from trembling.

When she looked up, Hinata let out a maddening snarl and charged full tilt at Anko, her claws and her fangs bared and thinking of nothing but rendering her enemy into a bloody smear. Swipe after swipe, bite after bite, Hinata could not land a single hit, every single attack Anko dodged with an almost casual ease. After a few more of these, the older blood drinker sent Hinata away with a bone cracking kicking to the head, plowing Hinata into the ground, to which Anko followed up with another punch to said cranium, creating a crater in the process before grabbing Hinata by the hair and tossing her in the air. With a strong jump, Anko cut into Hinata with her claws, raining blood down onto herself before finishing it off with strong blow to the ribs, definitely breaking bones and leaving the leader barely hanging on.

Covered on blood and not having one wound on her, Anko was still careful in approaching Hinata, after all, a beaten dog may still bite. And as she got closer, that proved to be true as Hinata slowly began to force herself to stand, blood dripping from her numerous wounds and her body being wreaked with pain. Still she pushed onward, her vision blurring in and out of focus before Anko slammed her back down with one hand. Placing her weight on the Tribe leader so she wouldn't move, Anko carefully lifted Hinata's head baring her neck, her expression one of subtle reluctance.

"I'll end it now. There's no point in dragging this one, Hinata. Rest now." Anko muttered, aiming her claws at Hinata's throat before said vampire surged upwards, dislodging Anko and running into the forest. Anko was about to follow her when she suddenly faltered, perhaps she should let Hinata run until pain and blood loss finally took it's course. She was given something of answer to the problem when Neji coughed up blood, Anko turned to him, knowing now what she had to do. Hinata could wait, Neji couldn't. Picking the boy up as gently as she could, Anko then raced to where the rest of her friends waited and hoped that Kurenai would be able to heal his grievous wounds.

"Hang on, little brother. Just hang on."

xXBreakXx

Hinata wobbled her way through the forest, every step she took caused more of her life blood to spill onto the ground. Eventually, her wounds and blood loss became too much to ignore and she collapsed beside a tree. Curing into a loose ball with her body trembling, she made no attempt to protect or conceal herself. Her breathing came out fast and shallow and Hinata, slowly very slowly, started to come back to her senses and remember everything that she had done.

Sakura taking almost half the Tribe with her, Sasuke trying to comfort her, only for her to turn and attack him. Her beating Neji into a bloody pulp...the flashes of memories caused a small whimper of regret and shame from Hinata as she curled further in on herself. After everything that has happened, she couldn't face her remaining Tribe. After what she had done, the only way to even make this remotely right was to leave and never return. Sasuke would make a much better leader than she ever could be.

After 20 minutes or lying on the ground, Hinata was finally starting to lose consciousness, her weakened body going more and more limp with each passing second. Eventually her eyes closed and Hinata was lost to darkness, her life was in whoever's hands fate decided to drop her in.

Hinata woke up feeling warm, her body and wounds seemed to hurt a lot less. She stirred slightly and felt a weight covering her. Moving her head, Hinata saw a black blanket covering her and then noticed a small pile of apples next to her. The disgraced leader halfheartedly sniffed around but was unable to find any scent that could tell her who left these things here. At first, Hinata just placed her head down before her belly started to rumble and eventually hunger got to her and Hinata demolished at least four apples before she settled back down. While her wounds didn't hurt nearly as much now, there was still the throbbing pain that she was enduring. Groaning softly, the Tribe leader nestled into the blanket and once more closed her eyes, dropping her guard but once more not caring.

Hours later, in the dark, Hinata awoke to the sound of crackling fire and to the smell of meat roasting. The dark haired vampire turned her head to see Gaara sitting just in front of her, tending to a small fire. The Dawn Tribe vampire blinked and slowly pulled herself onto her elbows and sniffed, wondering vaguely if this was a dream. Gaara turned to her and nodded before taking one of the meats roasting on a stick and handed it to her. "Here, you look like you could use it. You make a full recovery, t seems. But don't push yourself, your body is still very weak."

Hinata looked at the meat offered to her but didn't take it, instead shutting her eyes tight and shaking her head. "Why...why are you helping me?" Hinata whispered, her voice soft and uncertain. "Just go away. Leave me."

Gaara narrowed her eyes and snorted, gesturing to the expanse of forest before them. "You are in my territory, my land. I can't just leave you be, I wouldn't be doing my job if I did that." Gaara replied after a moment, taking a bite out the meat herself. There was a moment of silence between the two females before Gaara let out a sigh, turning to Hinata, her expression was left carefully blank.

"What are you doing here? I can tell those wounds...are from another vampire. What...happened?"

Hinata grimaced and shook her head, shutting her eyes tight against what she had done. "I...I hurt my Tribemates, after Sakura turned her back on me and took nearly half the Tribe with her. I couldn't...couldn't handle it. Everything turned red and I remember turning my fangs and claws on what was left of my Tribe,the ones who decided to stay by me...I attacked them and all they did was try to comfort me. I don't deserve to lead them anymore. I don't deserve to lead anyone..."

Hinata then put her hands on her face before using her claws to tear into her face. "Tayuya trusted me to look after her Tribe, protect them, guide them! And I just wallowed in self pity! Tayuya worked so hard from her Tribe, keeping them together for 10 years! And I divided us, separated us, sowed resentment and apathy between us in just three fucking years! Tayuya...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."

Tears began to flow and mix with the blood as Hinata continued to harm herself, her body being wreaked with the guilt of what she had done and how she now thought that Tayuya would never forgive her. This only made her dig her claws in even deeper, Hinata not caring one ounce of the pain she was causing herself. It was barely enough atonement for destroying the Tribe her mate loved so much.

However, she was suddenly pounced on, her hands held forcibly above her head by Gaara, who was now straddling her hips and glaring down at her. Hinata looked up but barely reacted to the whole thing, only trying to get her hands free, Gaara responded by squeezing Hinata's hands together and growling softly.

"Stop it...STOP IT! This is not the way to make things better! This is not what Tayuya would have wanted from you! You want to do right by her and the Tribe she left behind, then don't be a coward! Face what you done with your head held high! Face your mistakes and face your Tribe! Look them in the eyes and seek atonement! THAT'S how you have to do!" Gaara started deep into Hinata's eyes, seeing the tear filled eyes widen with realization before darkening slightly in fear and even reluctance, before turning away completely.

"I...I can't." Hinata choked out, her body starting to tremble even more violently. "I can't do as you say...I'll only hurt them again. They don't want me, not after all of this. Atonement...is not an option for me...not anymore. Even Tayuya would turn away from me now..."

Gaara stared down at her for a moment longer before releasing Hinata's hands...then then slashing the darker haired girl across the face with her own claws before getting off her and standing. Hinata cried out in surprise, staring up at Gaara in bewildered agony.

"Stand up. I will not allow you to fall any further! Atonement, even if others don't accept it, is always an option! If not for them, then for yourself! Stand up, Hinata and walk forward. I will say it again and only once more, you want to do right by Tayuya and your Tribe then face them and stand by them! And if you run away, I will send you back and keep doing so until you make things right." Gaara then held out her hand, her expression softening, just a little. "Now, stand!"

Hinata hesitated for a moment before slowly reaching out her hand and taking Gaara's. The Eclipse Tribe leader hauled Hinata to her feet and nodded to her, never letting go of her hand. "You won't do it alone, I'll be right here with you."

A/N: Happy New Year, everyone! It's been so long since I updated this story, I am so sorry. I really like how this chapter came out and think that this is a turning point. Who knows what kind of domino effect Gaara's and especially Hinata's decision would have on everyone else. Stay tuned to find out.