Broken Helix: part V: Heavy

The sunset in the sand village was beautiful. The buildings shimmered in the light, which ran from bright yellow to burning orange to deep red. Lee and Neji stood on top of one of the highest buildings, leaning on the rail at the edge as they admired the view.

Lee, his lower back against the railing, turned his head and looked at his friend. Neji was looking over the side of the building, his hands curled tightly around the bar at his waist. Only a short time had passed since he became himself again, but the life in him now made it all seem so long ago. His long hair blew freely in the breeze, and his white eyes were so expressive on his calm face.

Neji had said he needed some air, and Lee didn't blame him. The obvious question as to why their team was in the sand village came up not long ago. With heavy hearts, Lee, Tenten, and Gai had to explain that Neji had been sentenced to die by his own clan. No details were given just yet. Neji didn't want to hear them yet. He was still recovering from the life he had led when he was not himself. It was all too much to handle so quickly.

"Why…?" Neji suddenly asked, his eyes looking out over the swirling sand.

Lee swallowed. He didn't want to answer. Though Neji's face was calm, Lee had known him long enough to read the signals that were barely there. Neji's heart was breaking before his eyes, though he was confident that no one else would be able to see it but him.

"They say your breakdown makes you too unstable with the power you possess," Lee responded.

"I didn't have a breakdown," Neji said softly. "I don't know what happened to me…."

"There is more," Lee said, staring at the ground. "Rape, assault, and plotting to kill a head family member."

Lee feltas thoughhe had stabbed Neji through the heart with every charge he named. Neji stood still, pale, and seemingly stoic. But once again there was that look in his eyes. One that Lee could easily read.

"Who accused me?" Neji asked calmly.

Lee sighed deeply and pulled a stack of copied notes from his vest pocket. He handed them to Neji and waited. Neji read through the copies of the suicide notes, Hiashi's sentence for him, and what was supposed to be his own journal entry.

"Hotaru and Haru…" he said softly, looking up at Lee with questioning eyes.

"…They hanged themselves," Lee said sadly.

"No…" Neji said, looking down at the papers in his hands. "They were always so happy and kind…."

"They were already dead when Kiba found them."

"And Lord Hiashi, he believes I did these things?" Neji asked.

"Lord Hiashi is in a coma," Lee said. "We never got a statement from him about all of this, but all of these letters have perfect matches for handwriting. Even your own."

"So the ones in charge now," Neji said, shutting his eyes in frustration, "are the ones who hate me the most."

"Neji, none of us believed for a second that you did these things. We suspected that people from your clan were trying to kill you, so we started to guard you, and eventually Tsunade allowed Gai-sensei to bring you here in secret, disguising his trip away as a mission."

"You must thank everyone for me if I don't get the chance," Neji said softly.

"Do not say things like that to me," Lee said, clenching his fists.

"Forgive me," Neji said softly. "I haven't given up Lee."

Lee nodded and relaxed a bit. Neji went on staring at the papers in front of him, focusing on the one in his handwriting. He read over it again and again.

"How is Hinata?" Neji asked finally.

"Not well," Lee said. "The clan has been weighing on her heart heavily. The clan has been split with your sentence. The vast majority want you to live, but many of the people holding power in the clan want you to die. I was there with Sakura when a fight broke out in your hospital room because there was a disagreement concerning your punishment. Hinata put an end to it then, and has been ever since then. Your clan is falling apart with Hiashi in his coma and your sentence. Hinata is trying her hardest to keep things in one piece."

Neji nodded solemnly and continued to read over the paper.

"She doesn't believe any of this," Lee assured him. "She stood up for you repeatedly. She knows that entry is fake."

"…Does she?" Neji responded, not meeting Lee's eyes.

"Of course," Lee said. "We all know you well enough to know what kind of person you are. And now that we have you awake you can help us prove that there is foul play here. You have to try to remember what happened."

Neji slowly crushed the paper in his hands.

"Think of who else has the ability to get a good sample of your writing to copy it," Lee said.

"That won't be necessary," Neji said, a strange smile crossing his face.

"It won't?" Lee blinked.

Neji shook his head and looked at Lee seriously as he stepped closer. "There is something I must tell you…."

"I would gladly allow him to stay here," Gaara said.

"We can't drag you into this," Gai responded. "You've already done so much."

"It is nothing," Gaara said. "Harboring criminals from other villages leads to war, but Neji is not a criminal."

"Maybe we should think about leaving him here, Gai-sensei," Tenten said. "It wouldn't be forever. Just long enough to straighten things out."

"As much as I want to," Gai responded, "it would just be prolonging things. Kakashi and I have analyzed this from all angles. We just can't find a way to prove Neji's innocence."

Just then, Lee and Neji walked in. Lee trailed behind Neji, looking more hurt and depressed than he did before he left. Neji, however, looked perfectly calm. There was only a hint of sadness in his white eyes, but he still looked perfectly tranquil.

"Neji," Tenten said. "We were talking about you staying here. Would you do it if you could?"

Neji shook his head slowly. "I can't do that," he said calmly. "I need to clear my name, and I can't run away from all of this. And Konoha is my home. No matter how many people hate me there, I can't just leave it. Not like this."

"I knew you'd say that," Gai sighed. "That's my strong-willed student."

"You are always welcome here," Gaara said. "Just remember that, and I will be at ease."

"Thank you," Neji smiled softly.

"You must all stay a while longer," Gaara said. "I'll be creating sand storms around the village."

"Is something wrong?" Tenten asked.

"Sound ninja have been spotted in the area," Gaara said. "I must be cautious for the sake of my people."

The corridors were dark and musty, and yet he felt more at home here than he had traveling outside. He hoped that no one would bother him today. He actually had other things on his mind besides training. The cold air felt good against his chest, which was the only part of him not covered with heavy fabric. He sighed deeply and removed the sword from his waist. It hadn't tasted blood in a long time and looked eerily harmless.

"Taking a little vacation?" a snake-like voice said behind him.

"Gathering information," he responded as he stopped in his tracks. He didn't turn around.

"Don't tell me you've taken an interest to the events in Konoha right now," the snake voice said in amusement.

"Alright," he said. "I won't tell you."

"An entire clan falling apart because of one person," the hoarse voice chuckled. "Sounds familiar, doesn't it?"

"This isn't the same at all. My clan was slaughtered. What do I care if the Hyuugas are so fragile that they'll fall just because of something like this?"

"So," the eerie voice chuckled again. "You have been doing your research. So then I suppose you know who is to be executed."

"I don't give a damn."

"It's a pity that such a fine ninja will die for something like this. Neji did show a lot of potential years ago. You wanted to fight him, didn't you, Sasuke?"

Sasuke was silent. He stood in the dark shadows like a stone statue.

"You did know it was Hyuuga Neji that was being executed, didn't you?" the voice continued to echo through the corridor. "After all, you left your precious training to do this 'research.'"

Sasuke started to walk down the hall again. "We resume my training tomorrow. I care nothing for Konoha or anyone in it. Especially not that asshole."

Orochimaru watched him go with a smirk on his snake-like face. "Whether that is true or not, Sasuke," he said under his breath, "you were drawn to the fall of his clan because you are obsessed with what happened to your own."

Sakura walked over to Naruto, who stood on the small bridge over the lake. For the past week he had looked very agitated.

"Naruto," she smiled. "What's wrong? Is all of your studying hurting your head?"

He looked at her for a moment, his bright blue eyes looking thoughtful. "I'm upset with someone I care about," he said.

"Me?" she asked.

"No," he said. "I can't tell you who. But it's killing me inside."

"Well, what did this person do?" she asked, nudging him in the ribs playfully.

"This person…" he hesitated. "This person… doesn't know I'm upset with him or her yet. And I don't know how to tell her or him that I'm upset."

"How badly has he or she hurt you?" she asked.

"Very…" he said sadly. "More than I can express to you or anyone. And I'm also ashamed, because I thought of horrible things happening to this person, even though I care so much. That's how hurt I was."

"Are you sure you still care about this person?" Sakura asked.

"Of course," Naruto said. "It's one of my friends. I care just as much as ever, which makes me even more upset that all of this is happening. I feel let down…. I didn't know I could feel this let down…. Not even when Sasuke left…."

"You need to talk to this person," Sakura smiled, trying to get the subject away from Sasuke. "Or just sit with him or her. Watch how this person looks at you. Just paying attention to reactions to you will tell you a lot about the other person's feelings. And if you're in the room with the intention to get closure, you'll realize how you feel also."

Naruto blinked and stared at the water for a moment. "You're right," he grinned. "I just have to see this person. Then I'll know what to do."

"Knowing you, Naruto," Sakura smiled, "it's probably nothing to worry about. I'm sure you and this person will continue to be friends. There is no issue you can't resolve."

She didn't see Naruto's smile fade a bit at her final words on the subject. He didn't know if he wanted to see a resolution to this problem. It would send everything crashing down.

With every passing day, she felt as though a part of her was dying. Hinata even felt as though she could just let the clan dissolve. She wanted to let it all dissolve into nothingness, allowing her a kind of freedom she couldn't dream of. But there were so many people to care for… so many people who didn't deserve to have their lives shaken that way.

She had soaked in the bath for a long time, wanting to feel clean and whole again. She used the herbs Neji used to meditate with, and now his scent blanketed her body. She slipped into his bed and tried to quiet her mind. She wore thin white cotton shorts and a white tank top, allowing most of her body to feel the softness of the bed. If only she could stay like this forever.

She felt weak and light-headed. She hadn't been eating properly. It was so hard for her to take food into her body after taking in the foul substance that was her uncle's. It was nearly impossible to keep things down, as she was so used to vomiting after seeing him.

The bath had left her blessedly relaxed. At least for now she couldn't feel the pain or the bruises her uncle inflicted on her when he saw her. He was more harsh with her with every meeting, because she only confirmed again and again how far she would go for Neji. He tried to claim more and more of her body each time, placing his hands and mouth roughly against her body in areas that made her feel ashamed and disgusting.

She slipped into a nightmare, and had a horrible dream of her younger sister Hanabi arriving home from her long training mission and finding her with her head in their uncle's lap. Or watching as their uncle made Hinata strip and bend over in embarrassing positions while he touched her roughly between her thighs. And then she had a nightmare that seemed all too real, where her uncle took the key to Neji's apartment from her pocket the last time he practically tore her clothes from her body. He then entered the apartment while she was sleeping and started to undress her to make her his plaything.

She awoke in tears, lying her on her stomach, her face buried against the pillow. And to her horror, she realized that someone's weight was on the bed next to her. Her heart leapt in fear as she felt a hand moving her tank top higher and higher up her back, touching the bruises there. The blankets slid off of her body slowly, and she knew she would have to suffer again soon. But she wouldn't struggle. She would give him what he wanted for Neji's sake. She would offer him more and more of herself to keep Neji alive until he could escape forever. She would let him abuse her forever if she knew that Neji could be safe somewhere.

She slowly rolled onto her back to meet what was coming. She looked up in the dark with tears in her eyes, her tank top barely covering her large breasts because of the way he brought the fabric up on her back. The bright moonlight from the window highlighted her body.

She shut her eyes as he reached for her, and already wanted the moment to end. Her body was already sore and weak, but she would endure this.

And then his hand cupped her cheek, gently wiping her tears away with his thumb. She felt the soft blankets being pulled over her body to cover her and stop her shivering. She opened her eyes slowly when the weight lifted from the bed.

Her heart raced. She saw the flicker of candles being lit in the room and she sat up. He heard her movement and looked up at her as he set the second candle down, his face illuminated in warm light. Hinata tore the covers from her body and flew from the bed, throwing her arms around him, her sadness turning into overflowing joy.

"Cousin Neji…" she said, sobbing. "Cousin Neji… where have you been?"

He wrapped his arms around her gently and held her. "I'm sorry for making you worry," he said, his voice warm and sweet and music to her ears.

Her arms were still wrapped tightly around his neck when he picked her up and walked back over to the bed. She released him when he rested her down gently.

"I'll sleep on the floor!" she insisted.

"You will sleep on the bed," he said gently. "And you will tell me why you're hurt, Lady Hinata."

"You will stop calling me 'Lady' Hinata," she pouted.

"You will not change the subject," he smiled slyly.

She sat up again, and averted her eyes. "Just… the clan… and… people were fighting… so… I got caught in the middle."

She felt his eyes on her, and she knew that he could see that she wasn't telling the entire truth.

"Just tell me who hurt you," he whispered.

"Not tonight…" she said softly. "P… please… you just got home."

Seeing her pain and conflict, he decided to leave the subject until morning. Whoever hurt her was safe for a little while longer.

"Oh no…" she said softly. "Do they know you're back?"

"The people on patrol saw me enter the village with Gai, but they welcomed me back," he said. He then took a deep breath. "I'm going to your father's home tomorrow."

"No," she gasped. "No, please… you must run away. They won't listen to reason. I don't know what to do! And father is in a coma! They talk about you horribly and won't listen to me! Please leave the village again until this is settled!"

"In order to settle this, I must be here," he said gently.

"They'll torture you!" she cried.

"I don't fear them," he said.

"They'll kill you!"

"I don't fear death."

She clutched the fabric at her heart. She looked entirely hurt and exhausted.

"You look tired," he said with a kind smile. "You should sleep."

"I can't," she said sadly. "I can't help thinking that no matter how much I want to save you, you might not--"

She couldn't finish her sentence. But he knew what she wanted to say. He might not be alive much longer. It was bringing about a new boldness in her. There was so much she wanted to say to him. Neji nodded and smiled at her. He motioned for her to scoot over and she did. He sat next to her on the large bed. Hinata realized that she had slept like a rock, because he had already come in, bathed, and dressed in a white T-shirt and cotton pants for bed.

"We'll talk then," he said.

But her eyes were now focused on his forehead. The green seal that marked his enslavement to the clan was carved into him there. The same seal that would be used to end his life. She gently touched it with her fingertips. She wanted to take it from him so badly. When she drew her hand away she realized he had been watching her, and she blushed slightly. But he was smiling at her.

"How can you smile?" she asked softly.

"Because you didn't believe them," he said. "Because you trust me. Because those I care about stood by me."

"Of course!" she said. "I could never believe any of that. But… but why did you hurt yourself that day?"

"It's a long story," he said. "But I did not try to kill myself. I don't remember how it happened, but I was caught in my own mind. I was both myself as a confused child, and myself when I was a bitter person years ago. I was caught at the Hyuuga main estate, and while I could remember nothing of my life as it is now, I knew there was more beyond the gate. But my hatred of myself and the belief that the things I did were unforgivable kept me there. The people I hurt in the past haunted me. You were there, but you had died from what I did to you years ago. It was my own personal hell."

"We all forgive you," she said. "Or we don't blame you at all." She looked very sad and worried.

"I don't think I've forgiven myself," he said. "But I heard all of you speaking to me, and that gave me hope. At least, I thought I heard you. I don't know if it was real."

"I came all the time," she smiled timidly. "It was real."

He smiled at her again, but it faded when he saw a bruise on her neck. She started to blush as his eyes ran down her shoulders to her bruised arms, then back up again.

"Are you in pain?" he asked.

She shook her head and averted her eyes again.

"Did you come here to escape?" he asked.

She nodded. She couldn't find a way to express to him that his scent and the very space that he called his own made her feel protected and loved. His hand gently slipped some of her long hair behind her ear as he examined the bruises that looked like finger marks. His eyes narrowed slightly, and she knew that he would no longer let the topic go after seeing those bruises. He was so concerned for her...

"I…" she began, gently grabbing his wrist. "I… I…"

He looked into her eyes. His gaze was deep and intense, the candlelight illuminating them so they looked like sunsets. He had been leaning close to look at the bruises and she could feel his breath on her skin. She was thankful that the light was dim, because she knew she had turned scarlet from head to toe. And his eyes were penetrating her. She knew she couldn't lie to him.

"I'm in love with you!" she blurted out.

Neji couldn't hide the flicker of surprise that appeared in his eyes. To Hinata's amazement, a blush started to creep onto his pale features.

"I know you don't feel the same way," she said, her voice quivering. "I know you think of me as just a cousin. But I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I didn't tell you."

"Hinata," he said softly. "I had no idea…." His pulse beat gently against her fingers, which were still wrapped around his wrist. "I… I'm sorry… that I can't return your feelings," he said very softly. "But I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for honoring me this way."

Hinata nodded slightly, her fingers slipping away from his wrist slowly as she tried to hold back her tears.

Suddenly there was a loud knock on his front door.

"Neji!" cried a feminine voice. "Open up!"

Recognizing Tenten's voice, he got up from the bed and left the room. Hinata could hear the front door opening.

"They are coming for you!" Hinata heard Tenten say. "I saw them far down the road. Some of them must have been up late and they saw me returning home. They must have figured out that we had you with us!"

"Thank you, Tenten," Neji said. "Quickly, return home now. Take a different path. Don't let them see that you came to see me or they'll find a reason to investigate you."

"But, what will happen to you!" she said frantically.

"Nothing I can't handle," he said. "Now go."

Hinata could practically feel Tenten's hesitation from the other room, but finally the door closed. Neji moved down the hall and into the bathroom for a moment, and he returned to the bedroom fully dressed in his cream-colored Jounin attire.

"You'd think it could wait until tomorrow," he said, his mask of stoic calm falling over his face. "I'm going to go meet them."

"No…" Hinata said in a panicked voice as she slid off the bed. "Wait… there must be some other way…."

"I must go," he said, turning away.

But then they felt the intense waves of chakra erupting around them. Chakra, and killing intent. The clan members had surrounded the building and were using Byakugan to look inside. Hinata was afraid. She wanted to run to Neji and cling to him. She wanted to protect him. But she knew that holding him would make matters worse. It was bad enough that she was in the bedroom of the one they thought was going to make her a victim.

The door, unlocked from when Tenten had been there moments ago, few open, and several footsteps entered. Neji walked into the front room, his head held high. Hinata stood frozen in the bedroom. Suddenly a group of men ran in to find her.

"Lady Hinata!" one of them said as they took her gently by the arms and started to escort her out. "Are you alright?"

"That monster," another said, looking at the bruises that marked her body. "You're safe from him now, Lady Hinata. We'll make him pay."

"N… no!" she cried out. "He didn't--"

"Look what he's done to you," said a deep, cold voice.

Her uncle stood there, his eyes burning into her with warning. He walked to Neji, who was restrained already. His hands were bound behind his back, and several men had weapons pointed at him. But he stood there calmly.

She watched as her hated uncle stepped in front of Neji and stared into his eyes.

"You wretched waste of flesh," he said harshly to Neji. "Defiling Hinata and our clan with your wickedness."

Neji said nothing. He only stared back without malice.

"For all of your crimes, your eyes, hands, and other parts of your body that you would surely miss were to be removed from you by me. However, due to certain intervention, this will unfortunately not be the case. I hope, for your sake, that the one who intervened remains on your side."

He then looked to Hinata with his cold eyes, though he was still speaking to Neji. "Hinata, who you have clearly hurt in so many ways, might protest to this, however. Tell us, Hinata, were all of these marks inflicted by him?"

Hinata's voice caught in her throat. Neji didn't look at her, but she still felt as though his gaze was upon her. She wanted to deny that he hurt her, but if she did she would be forced to name the one who did or the clan would comb the village until a guilty party was found. Her uncle would turn on her and Neji would be tortured… his eyes and hands cut from him as soon as he left this place, leaving no time to rescue him. But if she didn't deny it, she would most certainly be marking him as guilty.

"Hinata," please respond. "I know it is hard for you, but you must tell us what he did to you."

She felt very sick with her uncle staring at her, and her fear grew as he turned to face Neji again with hatred in his eyes. He was reaching for a weapon….

"He did it," Hinata whispered, her heart shattering. "All of it…."

A cold smirk appeared on her uncle's face. "Take him away and lock him up, but do not harm him," he said.

And Neji was pulled from his home. He didn't meet Hinata's eyes.

---To Be Continued---