Chapter 6

Neji woke up early. He felt more rested than he had felt for a while and he knew it had everything to do with the still sleeping girl who was currently curled up against him.

She was still sleeping peacefully in his arms and he couldn't help but smile.

…After all I've done to her, she gave herself completely… he thought still amazed by it.

He chuckled lightly when he thought about how passionate she had reacted to his touches. …She sure wasn't shy then…

He gently stroked her hair from her face and kissed her tender on her forehead. The slight touch woke her up though, and her eyes fluttered open looking straight in his eyes.

Her eyes widened, and Neji was afraid she had regretted what they had done. She touched his face as if she wanted to make sure he was real. Then she smiled.

"So it wasn't a dream this time then…" she said softly.

He smiled back and kisses her on her lips.

…She dreamt about this?... he thought amused.

"Does this not feel real?" he said teasingly.

She blushed and nodded her head.


She hurried back to her own room, hoping against all hopes that her father hadn't find out.

But her hope shattered mere hours later when she walked past her father's study.

She could clearly hear the argument between her father and Neji.

"I don't want you even near my daughter again! She will marry someone I deem fit for the Hyuuga heiress, and it will certainly not be a Branch House member!" her father said contemptuous.

Neji had to restrain himself not to lash out at hearing his uncle's words. He knew very well Hiashi had said them just so he would react, and give him an excuse to fight him, or even kill him, and he didn't want to give him the satisfaction.

But he also didn't want to give up the first happiness he had felt in his lofe, and he would fight for her if necessary.

"Not even you can change what happened, and I won't just give her up, Hiashi-sama." Neji said with his usual collected calmness.

Hiashi saw the determination in Neji's eyes and knew he needed a different approach.

"What if I give you something in return?" Hiashi said mysterious.

Neji merely looked at him, eyes not giving away any of his thoughts or feelings.

"If you'll stay away from my daughter I will acknowledge you as my son, and as the oldest you will be the next heir." Hiashi said slowly.

When she had heard her fathers proposition she stumbled away from the door and ran to her own room, tears streaming down her face.


She couldn't believe what her father had just said. It all seemed so unfair. She had finally found some happiness, and now it would all go to waste, for she knew Neji couldn't refuse her father's offer. It was everything he had ever wanted, even needed.

She couldn't blame him and even felt true happiness for him. He would finally have the acknowledgement he had longed for and deserved more than anyone. But her heart felt broken and she felt a cold settle in her heart.

But she never was the person to swallow in self pity, and she forced herself to wash her face and even tried to smile at her reflection in the mirror. No she wouldn't show her grief to anyone. She would keep it bottled up inside her, along with the rest of her pain and grief. A pain she didn't want to bother others with. Especially not Neji.


Suddenly her door flew open and much to her surprise she saw it was Neji. She tried to smile at him, but froze when she saw the stern look on his face. He looked even colder than he usually did and she could almost feel the rage radiating from him.

She had never seen him this angry, and somehow that scared her.

She didn't understand his anger either.

…Why would he be angry? He's finally gotten the freedom he had longed for for so long…he would be set free from the Branch House… she thought confused.

Instinctively she backed away a few steps.

When he saw her back away from him part of his anger subsided. He didn't want her to be scared of him, and he wasn't angry at her.

"Did you meant what you said yesterday?" he asked, his voice still cold.

It was taking all his self control to stay as calm as he was, or better as he seemed to be. He knew that his future wellbeing was in the hands of his little cousin now, and that if he was wrong about her feelings for him, he had just ruined his own life.

The simple fact that things were out of his hands now almost drove him crazy.

She had no clue though what he was talking about and impatiently he repeated his question.

"Did you mean what you said last night, about not wanting to be the Hyuuga heirress..!" he pressed.

She didn't understand why he needed to know now, but she could see it seemed very important to him.

She nodded her head nervously fidgeting with her fingers.

"Y..yes..I..I don't ..want it…." she said softly.

To Neji that was all he needed to hear, and he felt his heart flutter. He released his breath, not even knowing he had held it.

"Then pack your stuff. We're leaving." he said, his voice still devoid of any emotion.

His words echoed trough her head, leaving her completely confused.

"I…I'm leaving?" she stuttered confused.

Would he throw her out of her house, now he was the next heir?

Neji sighed and glanced alert down the hall.

"We are leaving. But we have to hurry now. So pack everything you need quickly." he said.

"W..we are leaving?" she stuttered, almost afraid to say it out loud, afraid she had somehow heard it wrong.

He couldn't mean what she thought he meant right?

Neji lifted his brow getting annoyed by the delay.

"Of course 'we'. You didn't think I would leave you after last night, did you!" he said matter of fact.

Her eyes grew wide for she could still hardly believe her ears.

He shot another alert look down the hall and she vaguely realised he seemed to expect an attack any minute now.

When he saw her wide eyes he sighed.

"Look Hinata, I can't offer you much yet, but my mother left me a small apartment where we could stay for a while." he said in an attempt to comfort her.

"It's not that…" she said shy, her voice hoarse with pain.

"I..I just can't believe…" she stuttered

"You..you don't have to do this Neji-kun….I..I won't hold you responsible for what happened last night…" she almost choked out.

A single tear fell down her cheek. She wouldn't have him give up his dream for saving her honour.

Neji didn't understand. She had practically said that she loved him, then why was she crying?

"I..I heard what my father offered you…" she explained at seeing his confusion.

She saw him stiffening and her gaze dropped to her feet, no longer able to look at him, afraid to see the anger in his eyes again.

"I'm sorry that you had to hear that Hinata…" he said calm "Now go pack your things. We'll have to hurry."

Hinata didn't understand it anymore.

…How could he still want to leave with me?... she thought confused.

She had heard her father pretty clear; He would only be acknowledged if he'd never see her again…

… So that would mean that he…would he really?...

"B..But he offered you the thing you wanted most! You'll have your freedom! You..you'd no longer be a slave to the Main Branch!" she choked out.

A flinch of pain crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by his usual indifference.

"But I'll lose the one thing that makes me happy…" he simply stated, looking straight at her.

"Besides if serving the Main House means protecting you and make you smile, I don't find it a burden any longer."

Tears were running down her face now, only this time they were tears of joy and happiness. And she did something highly unlike her and flew her arms around him.

"Neji-kun!..."

Neji, surprised by her action took her in his arms. Then he held her at arms length.

"You do understand that if you leave with me now, your father would surely disinherit you, don't you?" he asked her intense.

"I know, and I don't care!" she exclaimed happy.

Neji nodded "Then go pack your things" he urged her.

And so she did.

Ten minutes later they were on their way to the nearest exit.


AN

Han : Thank you so much for your wonderfull reviews! You really inspre me to keep writing, and yes it even made it come more to life. (thanks for understanding ;D ) :hugs Han tightly:

kaitenkenburokuren: I'm glad you like my story! ANd don't worry, I've still got a few chapters in store for you!

Princess Lady Subaru: I know what you mean, I'm a hoplessly romatic too! And I'm glad you liked the lemon, it was really very difficult to write for me, since I usually don't. '

Ah-choo : I'm glad you liked the lemonish part, and I feel so honoured by your compliment : hugs ah-choo:

Yami No Koneko : I will!

YumYum-Chan : Thank you so much! Was this fast enough for you ;D

Thank you all sooo much, you really have no idea how much these reviews mean to me. They really brighten up my life, and I could sure use that!