Chapter II.

Title : Goodbyes.

Hinata Hyuga was never the one to question her father's decisions. She was aware of her failure, and lack of talent unlike her cousins, Neji and sister, Hanabi. Although, Hanabi Hyuga was her younger sister – only fifteen years old – everyone in the Hyuga clan was aware that she was far, far more stronger than her elder sister.

No matter how many times Hinata tried practicing with her gentle fist techniques, and Byakugan dojutsu, she could never compete against Hanabi. Neji was a completely different story. He was the most powerful ninja in the Hyuga clan, and everybody respected him for it.

Hinata? Not so much. People loved her for her gentle personality, and generosity, but no one feared her and no one thought of her to be too powerful.

She was a failure, in some words, and an ordinary ninja, in other words.

But more importantly, she was not the person to be made head of the Hyuga clan. She was just, far too weak.

All her life, even with teammates like Aburame Shino and Inuzuka Kiba and their leader Kurenai-sensei, Hinata was seen as a weaker ninja. She tried to prove to everyone that she was stronger than that, but she failed miserably. She excelled in academics, nearly letting Naruto cheat off of her paper, but in Hiashi's eyes, that did not count.

And so he was packing her off to wed a stranger.

"It's not fair!"

Hanabi Hyuga was always the last person to know of matters concerning her elder sister, and she did not blame her for it. She was the baby of the Hyuga clan, and she enjoyed all the attention and affection given to her.

But there were times, when she felt like an outcast, because she felt that it was her right to know about matters of such importance, related to her family.

Like, now.

"L-Life isn't a-always f-fair, Hanabi," the indigo haired heiress responded quietly, but she knew better than to upset her sister's already foul mood, "T-This is m-my destiny and I h-have to a-accept it either w-way."

Let's try this.

Hinata held a lavender colored cloth tightly to her chest, and then turned towards her sister with a sad smile plastered on her chapped lips. Her pale eyes were watering slightly, but she blinked back the tears.

Hanabi might have seen through her failed charade, but even if she had- she made no protest about it. She stood there frozen, by the bedroom door, and after what seemed like hours of silence, she started slowly towards Hinata's canopy. Her luggage bag lay open and nearly empty, with piles of clothes scattered on the mattress. But then again, who could blame Hinata? How could she think of packing her wardrobe, when she was about to marry a stranger, in the next couple of days?

"I can't believe father would do such a thing," the younger indigo haired sibling sighed in exasperation, while folding some of her elder sister's clothes and placing them neatly in the luggage bag. "The least he could have done, was let you know earlier."

Or he could have given a proper explanation…

"B-Brother, d-do you want to h-help us p-pack, t-too?" Hanabi instantly quietened down, for she was almost too afraid to speak in front of her elder cousin. Neji Hyuga's entrance was self explanatory – full of strength and commanded respect.

"Hanabi is right," Neji spoke quietly, but firmly – for, he too knew that his cousin deserved better. The least she deserved was to be made aware of such an arrangement prior to its date. "Uncle should have told you about this, much earlier."

Hinata's slowly freezing heart, warmed up a little. Earlier, she had confronted her cousin, without much success which made her very frustrated, but to discover that he was on her side, made her feel better.

Surely, Neji started taking the duty of helping his cousins, in packing Hinata's belongings in a luggage bag, and before he knew it – they were actually having a proper conversation. He felt that he owed at least that much, to his elder cousin.

"Tenten and I, will be coming with you to Suna," the thought had been swimming in Neji's mind ever since Hinata confronted him about her marriage, but now he was firm on his thought. Hinata deserved protection, and he was more than willing to give it to her. Tenten would not mind either, since she had somewhat become a part of the Hyuga family by being with Neji. "Uncle Hiashi has given permission to see you off."

Hinata's gaze snapped up at her cousin, at the mention of her father. In her wildest dreams, she could not wonder as to why Hiashi Hyuga did such a cruel thing to her, but upon hearing her cousin's decision her heart warmed up just a little more.

"T-Thank you, b-brother", She did not, and would not protest. Hinata smiled gratefully at her cousin, who returned it with a rare slight smile.

"Hey, I'm coming too!" Hanabi interrupted their small sibling moment. She had been quietly, folding clothes and placing them in a neat pile in the luggage bag but she could not contain herself upon hearing that her cousins would be travelling to Sunagakure village.

Neji , shot a worried glance towards Hinata and she instantly understood his silent message. She might have been a failure as a ninja, but she was still pretty smart. She understood that there was obvious danger if the youngest Hyuga travelled all the way to an alien village.

"H-Hanabi, f-father wont a-allow it and you know t-that," the pale eyed woman was upset that her younger sister could not attend her wedding, but she was aware that it was for her own safety, "I-I will visit y-you from S-Suna very soon."

Everyone knew that Hiashi Hyuga's words were final and no one could defy his decision. Not even Hanabi Hyuga. So although she was very upset upon hearing of the declination to her offer, she knew better than to openly resist her father's words. She pouted, and quietly went back to packing.

~ The Next Day ~

Hiashi Hyuga did not come outside of his lair to bid his daughter goodbye. He remained inside the walls of his gloomy room. No one was to disturb him for he was meant to sit in meditation. He did not come outside for breakfast either.

"It's nearly nine, Hinata, we really should make a move!" Tenten, was a pleasant brunette haired woman whose hair was tied in two buns. She was beautiful in a china-doll kind of way. Tenten always wore a more Chinese styled attire, and it suited her just fine. Being Neji's wife, she had duties to fulfill too, but she was no failure like Hinata. She was actually pretty strong like her husband.

"C-Coming Tenten!" Hinata called to her cousin-in-law, whilst having an emotional goodbye with her younger sister. Tears threatened to stain her porcelain cheeks, but she was determined not to break down in front of Hanabi. "S-Stay strong, Hanabi. T-Take care of f-father, and d-don't worry about m-me. Y-You will b-be f-fine without m-me-"

"You will come to visit me right? Don't worry about father, he will be okay" Hanabi found it odd that their father would not see his first born off, knowing she was to belong to another clan in a different village, but she did not bother herself much over it. She knew better than to do that. Hanabi had to focus on her sister instead.

Hinata knew it was getting late, and their band of horses were getting impatient, but well, some of them just had to suck it up. She was leaving her home and accepting a stranger into her life, she was going to take her own sweet time and anyone having a problem with that, would have to answer to her.

"G-Goodbye little s-sister," the pale eyed woman's already white skin looked twice as pale, and her eyes were already brimming up with tears. She pulled her sister close to her breast, and embraced her for the longest time, as she ran her slender fingers through Hanabi's already messed up indigo hair. The younger Hyuga, nuzzled her dampened face against the front of Hinata's white and lavender kimono, hugging her twice as hard as the elder one. Their embrace, though it lasted only for a few moments, seemed to go on for hours.

Such was the power of sibling love.

Neji and Tenten had already left the estate quarters, and Hinata was grateful that her cousin did not have see her breaking down – he might have disapproved.

She was also very grateful that her father allowed one servant to accompany her throughout her trip to Suna, and possibly stay there with her should she need any protection of sorts. Matsuri had been a loyal servant to her for several years. The brunette haired woman was always the one to help Hinata pick out a dress for any occasion. She was like, Hinata's silent shadow.

This is it… Hinata mused observantly, while striding outside to her cousin, with Matsuri close behind.

Before climbing up onto her mare, Yurei, Hinata turned to look at the Hyuga estate one last time before she was forced to call an alien place, her home. How she would miss her home. Sighing heavily, she turned away and with faint determination, went forth.

Maybe, this was all for the best.

Maybe , by accepting this fate, she would be able to prove that she was not a failure. To herself. To her father.

A/N : I'm sorry about this one! I agree, its probably a little boring anyway lols. I've been lacking some inspiration but I promise that I'll try to make it better in the next chapter :3 I hope you're liking the story so far. Also, sorry for not updating earlier! Been caught up with some things.

Enjoy! Review too please c: