Hinata Hyuuga was trained to be the perfect heiress even if she had some qualities her father would disagree on. She thought if she lacked fighting skills then she would have to make up for it with manners, intelligence, and poise. Though it seemed that the recognition of her little sister's talent in combat made her severely mistaken. The young rising pupil was now being recognized by even the elders and Hinata knew she needed to improve, no matter what. She knew of the shame she would bring upon the Hyuuga clan if people found out her sister, five years younger than she was, was more capable to be the heiress than the eldest. But how can she improve? Hinata gruesomely trained for hours to no end, her constantly wounded and healed hands being evidence of that. Maybe that's why she had trouble speaking with others. All her life, her time was occupied with tutors or for training, not a single moment wasted with "distractions." A cruel word her father would say about her peers. No time to talk, no time to learn the newest gossip and trends, no time to actually be a child. Maybe that's why she stuttered all the time. But for that too, she had no time to fix.

"Pathetic." She remembered what her older cousin once said as she fumbled her words. Hinata desperately wanted to redeem the relationship she once had with Neji. She religiously served him tea after his training with her father, she made him bentos every lunch, she kindly greeted him every morning, but it was no use. His anger and pride were a force that seemed to be impossible to break. The once kind Neji that swore to protect her, the once-innocent Neji that talked to her with lax and joy, the once gentle Neji that comforted her after her father's punishments, seemed to be forgotten ever since the day his father was killed. Sometimes, she thought maybe it would have been better if she had died instead. At least then, she would save Neji from the pain he felt from his father's cruel death. Still, she would do anything to earn his forgiveness so even if he berated her, trashed her bento, ignored her greetings, she would still do it. That was the least she could do for him.

Though there are days, in the dead of night when everyone is deeply asleep when Neji would come inside her room and slip into her bed. His arms would cross over her form and pull her towards him so close with a hold so tight it hurt. She hears him mumbling constant apologies about his actions and repetitious asks for forgiveness, his voice laced with guilt and sorrow. Even so, she would pretend to sleep knowing full well his anger would once again take over his mind on the next day and continue his cruel acts. Hinata knew, during these fleeting moments with Neji, that he was not just always filled with such hate and anger. That he too, was just a child that had his fair share of pain and suffering. This was just his way to escape the pressure he felt from the main branch. Despite his beliefs that fate was what controlled his life, deep down he knew it wasn't true. He is just as lost and confused in his place as a Hyuuga and he has no one to truly rely on. So he takes full advantage of Hinata's meekness and finds comfort in his continuous apologies that truly hold no real meaning. His very hold, even if it is painful, is enough evidence needed for Hinata to understand that the Neji she once knew was somewhere deep within him and that she still had a chance. So even if he acts cruelly towards her during the day, she will continue to aid and treat him kindly- even if his actions deeply hurt her.

—

Her life seems to be becoming weirder each passing day. Hinata's time spent alone was now suddenly replaced with the company of Sasuke Uchiha. On one strange day she had a quick spar with him and poof, their spars have become a recurring activity almost every day now, along with the time they spend at lunch together. His presence was a bit overwhelming for her, considering how he always had either a scowl or an apathetic look on his face, but she knew he didn't talk to her with the intention of hurting her. Other than that, she rather enjoyed that at least now she wasn't completely alone.

Recently she had gotten the habit of holding his hand- her way of finding some comfort in this ever hurtful world. While the two walked back to her home after he had offered her to take her back, her feet suddenly felt heavy and she found herself struggling to breathe as her mind began to become tormented by her clan's overbearing rules and expectations she will have to uphold as soon as she passes her house's gates. Stressfully, panickedly, she looked for anything to hold on to, to just find even a small ounce of comfort to release her panic attack. She closed her eyes in pain from the tightness she felt in her chest and crouched down. At that moment, Hinata just felt so… alone, so empty, so pathetic.

"Hyuuga?"

She felt a touch on her shoulder but she didn't budge from her slumped form.

"Hinata?" Sasuke tried to get her attention by shaking her once more but the only replies he had received were quiet sobs and whimpers. He sat in front of her and held her cheeks to bring her head hidden behind her hands, up towards his face to properly look at her. "Why are you crying?" As gently as he could he wiped away her tears with his fingers. He suppressed a blush when she leaned in towards his touch.

It wasn't much but his touch was all the solace she needed. His touch was warm, gentle, comforting- so different from the touches she usually receives, painful, hot, deadly. His touch was anything but the gentle fist. She cupped the hand that held her cheek and moved it so she could feel his touch even more, unconsciously brushing her lips against his calloused but soft palm. Hinata contentedly sighed as she felt the stress that piled up in her mind slowly breaking away. It was when she felt his hand twitch and opened her eyes to see Sasuke's slight blush that she realized the predicament she brought them in. "S-s-sorry Uchiha-san!" She felt tears starting to form once again from the disgrace she was probably bringing upon her clan. Luckily, Sasuke seemed to have noticed that.

"What's making you cry?" His strong hold on her cheeks prevented her from slouching down again.

"I-It's nothi-"

"Don't give me that crap. Who made you cry?" Sasuke automatically assumed it was one of her teammates. He became angry at the thought. He knew it was a bad idea she was grouped up with weirdos. She should have been teamed up with him, then he would be able to protect her from whatever was making her spill her tears. "Was it that mut? Or that bug boy?"

"N-no! Not S-Shino-kun or Kiba-k-kun.." He decided to ignore the fact she called them by their first names, even if it did greatly irritate him.

"Then who?"

"N-not who… It's just- i-it's just that.. I-I just don't want… to go home…"

"Why?"

"J-just clan problems…" The answer she received was silence as he waited for her to explain what she meant but she knew she would only ramble if she did. "S-sorry… I don't.. Really want to talk a-about it…" She grasped his hands and pulled them down so they would rest on her lap. "I-I have to go now."

Just as she attempted to get off from her knees she was quickly pulled down to sit once more. "Then why don't you come to my home today?"

She gave him a bewildered look from the suggestion. "W-Wha-?" Hinata desperately tried to shake off the grip he had on her hands that began to hurt.

But his hold was tight. "You don't want to go home right? Then come with me." Sasuke insisted, determined not to let her go. If given a closer look in his eyes, one might say he was asking with a bit of desperation. He tugged Hinata's small hand to urge her to answer.

"I-I couldn't possibly!" Though she was initially shocked by his sudden forwardness her face changed from surprise to a small smile. She relaxed her rigid hands under his and gently slipped them out so she could gently clasp their fingers together in an attempt to assure him she was now fine. "I-It just wouldn't be possible but… Thank you…" All this time she saw Sasuke as a serious, scary boy, a boy who grew up too fast despite his age, but seeing him suggest something like that- it was quite silly! She should have realized sooner, Sasuke was a child just like everyone else, just like her. And he cared for her. She inwardly smiled even more at the thought as their held hands were evidence of that.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Slowly, they stood up, their hands still grasping to one another. "Please… just before I reach home… c-can we h-hold h-hands?" She looked at him with doe eyes he just couldn't say no to.

Instead of answering he continued on his way, however this time, he securely held her hand and dragged her along. He was too embarrassed- too happy- to even notice his fast pace against her small steps which made him actually drag her along until they reached their destination. He liked her. Sasuke Uchiha liked Hinata Hyuuga very much. He liked her eyes, her eyes, her hands, her strengths, her weaknesses- especially her weaknesses. Her weaknesses made her scared and they made her cry. It made her break down and it made her show her tearful expression which once again just somehow made her look even cuter, just like the time they first ate lunch together at her hideout. Just as weakness does, it made her in a poor state of mind and it made her depend on him. And he liked it. She seeked comfort and he provided it, it made him feel so wanted, so depended, so… strong. If he was going to feel like this every time she depended on him, then he wanted more. He was going to make sure of that.

—

Hinata felt embarrassed that she had started making Sasuke out of all the people to hold her hand. Surely he hated her by now. Afterall, she probably was affecting his image by hanging around him all the time. Though it isn't her fault! Somehow, someway, they keep bumping into each other even more these days and end up spending even more time together. Hinata listlessly sighed as she stared at the hand she holds Sasuke's with everytime he walks her back home. Hand holding was an old habit of hers that had long been forgotten after Neji's drastic change. It was also one of the main reasons why she was determined to fix their broken relationship, no matter what it takes.

She suddenly winced when the hand she had absently held up had been harshly grabbed by another pale hand. Hinata looked up to see Neji who stood in front of her, greatly frightened from the height he had when she was sitting on the veranda that faced one of the clan's training grounds.

"Daydreaming again, Hinata-sama?" His grip only tightened as he seethed her name.

"I-I-I'm sorry N-Neji-nii-san…" She barely was able to whimper out from the pain.

"You're the heiress of this clan, Hinata-sama. If you want me to be your obedient little lap-dog like the rest of the branch members then start acting like one." Just as he said that he dropped her hand and walked off as she was left to steady her already over emotional state.

Everyone deals with their pain in their own way.

A/N: Hi all! Thank u guys so much for the reviews u guys are like the og i'll think of u guys whenever i write. i love u bonauditeur, cgbears, angel maria 15, 420ANIME-POTHEAD, miereichts, KDS OMG I LOVE U. yeah i love u guys. ok so i chose neji and yeah.

also I want to ask if you guys think the characters r ooc or not. Because god, I hate out of character characters! Just one of my pet peeves. If u think so, don't be shy and tell me what i can do to fix it! I recently started liking sasori x hinata too omg... im thinking of writing a fic for them as well haha.

ALSO, also, do you think the pacing is fine or is it going too fast? I'm thinking of starting the chuunin exams after a chapter or two but ugh, I'm not even done watching the anime yet i'm still on season 4 lol.

Anyway thanks for reading, please review!