Chapter 1

Now two weeks later things seemed to be back to the situation from before the exams.

She still wasn't allowed to do any training, so she only watched as her two team mates were training on a new move.

When they were done they all walked back to the village. She was enjoying the company of her two best friends and her surroundings when Kiba slowed down his steps so he could walk beside her.

"Hey Hinata-chan, you'd like to go have a drink with us later on?" he asked hopefully.

She was about to shyly decline the offer as usual when he told her that Shikamaru, Tenten and Lee would also be there. She knew that they were also friends of Neji, and thought that it would be nice for Neji to spend some time with them since her father usually didn't let him go.

Much to Kiba's and Shino's surprise she told them she would be there, and waved to say goodbye.

She told her father she would have a drink with some friends, but he hardly seemed interested as usual. As she had anticipated he called for Neji.

"Neji, you will accompany Hinata tonight. Make sure she'll return safe and sound!" her father told him stern.

Neji looked a bit surprised to hear she wanted to go out, and threw her a suspicious glare. Then he bowed to her father and left to get changed.


As she expected Neji was already waiting for her at the entrance gate of the Hyuuga Estate. As soon as he saw her come out of the mansion he turned without a word and started walking down the road. She had to run to catch up to him.

After a few minutes the silence started to make her uncomfortable and she thought of something to say to him.

"I really hope you don't mind coming with me Neji-niisan." she started shyly.

Neji just gave her an annoyed look before looking back in the distance and kept walking in mock silence.

She sighed. She knew it would be pointless to keep trying so she just concentrated on her surroundings.

When they arrived at the pub the rest was already there. Kiba greeted her enthusiastically which only resulted in a death glare from Neji.

Neji seemed pleased though to see that his friends were also there.

...hmmm maybe this is not going to be such a bad night after all… he thought.

Everyone was talking and drinking but she kept quiet most of the time and only said something when someone asked her something directly.

Not long after they had sat down the smoke started to affect her still injured lungs. She could feel her lungs burning and was getting short of breath. She didn't want to alarm the others though, so she excused herself and left for the toilets. She stayed in the hallway though and struggled to get some air into her lungs.

She didn't saw Shino coming back from the toilets and she jumped when she heard him call her name.

"Hinata? You're ok?" he asked in his usual deep but calm voice.

She nodded and tried to smile, but he could see she was still in pain.

"The smoke must really hurt your lungs…" he realised.

"You shouldn't be in here yet" he said worried for his team mate. Meanwhile he calmingly stroked her back to help ease her breathing.

"I'll warn Neji, he should take you back home" he said calm.

She almost jumped again at those words. "NO!" she said alarmed. "I'm fine, really…. He would only worry about me…" she explained when she saw the look on Shino's face.

Shino sceptically raised his brow at that since he knew Neji well enough to know that he couldn't care less about Hinata's health.

The fresh air in the hallway had calmed her lungs somewhat and her breathing was back to normal.

"Hinata…" Shino started, but stopped when he saw the almost desperate look in her eyes.

"Please Shino, if I'll leave than so must he, and I…I…" she stuttered.

Shino sighed. "Okay okay. But if it gets worse I will take you home okay!" Shino gave in.

She nodded but knew Neji would never allow her to leave without him.

Shino lead her back to their seats. Neji gave Shino a warning look, but Shino didn't react and just ignored Neji.

A couple of hours later most of her friends had already left and the only ones remaining were Neji's friends whom she didn't know that well. She saw that Neji seemed to enjoy himself with them though and she was glad she could at least do this for him.

Her lungs were in real agony again and she left for the hallway again.

She looked from around the corner so she could watch Neji enjoying time with his friends.

...It shouldn't have to be like this…he should be able to see his friends whenever he wanted… she thought sadly.

She leaned back at the wall and tried to concentrate on her breathing, meanwhile giving Neji time to catch up with his friends without her presence.

"Hey what's taking Hinata-chan so long?" Tenten asked after a while. Neji looked around and when he couldn't find her he walked over to the hallway.

"What's taking you so long!" Neji asked her coolly.

She jumped at the sound of his voice and his tone of voice almost made her crumble.

"I..I'm s.s.sorry Neji-niisan…" she stuttered.

Neji just frowned and looked at his watch.

"If you're done here, we'll leave." He stated.

On the way home she had trouble keeping up with his speed, and her lungs were even burning more than they had before. But if Neji even heard her coughing, which she knew he had, he didn't say anything about it and didn't slow down either.

She didn't complain and just tried her best to keep up with him and ignored her pain.

His cold reaction though had hurt her more than her lungs ever could have.

She had only wanted for him to have a good time with his friends, but he seemed more annoyed with her than usual. Almost angry even, and she couldn't understand why.

Couldn't he see she was in a similar situation than he was?

Couldn't he see that she wasn't the cause of his problems and pain?

But a small voice inside her head kept telling her that she was responsible. After all she was the heir to the Hyuuga Clan, whether she wanted to or not, and it was her family that was the cause of his cursed life.

Which left her in the middle; Torn between her House and the Branch House, hated and despised by both Houses'.

She tried to please both, and clung to the dream that one day all will be better. That there will no longer be a distinction between the Main and a Branch House, but that they will be united.

But that dream seemed less and less feasible and seemed nothing more that a young girl's fantasy.

She had let Neji in on her dream at the Chuunin Exams, but he had just laughed at her, saying how naive she was. That nothing like that would ever happen, since it wasn't meant to be.

But her believe didn't waver and in silence she kept hoping.

And thus she was wavering between the two Houses, almost losing herself in the process, and if it hadn't been for Naruto's encouraging words, she probably would have lost herself.