The dark haired kunoichi looked around the dark cave she had appeared in as the smoke cleared from her entrance. "Damn it." She murmured.
"Anko! What the hell are you doing here!" Neji demanded.
"How far away would you estimate I am from the Grass Village?"
Neji couldn't help but sweat drop, despite the multitude of the situation. "Probably about 500 kilometers."
"Damn it." She said again. Her eyes trailed to the ground where Hinata lay. "Hey, what happened to her?"
"Oh, nothing really." He said sarcastically, but Anko obviously missed his attempt at humor.
"Doesn't look like nothing." She kneeled down next to the unconscious girl.
"She was captured by sound ninjas. Sasuke would like to use her for…" He gulped. "Breading purposes."
"Ouch." Anko was taking the pulse on Hinata's neck. "That's the kid from way back when, right? Snake boy's new apprentice?"
"That would be the one. It looks like she has several broken ribs, along with a punctured lung. We need to get her back to Konoha, ASAP."
Anko looked around. "Hey, I remember this place! This is that weird cave in the side of the cliff! Damn, I always hated those hedges."
"Anko, focus! We have to get Hinata back!"
"Come on Neji, it can't be that easy. Aren't we like being watched or something? Or being held captive?"
He sweat dropped again. "Umm, you're not being held captive, you just popped up here."
"Oh, right. I'm supposed to be in the Grass Village right now."
"Whatever. Help me get her up, ok? We don't want to stimulate her to much."
Each Neji and Anko had one of Hinata's arms draped around their shoulder, supporting her unconscious body. "She shouldn't be traveling in her condition. Don't you have a Medical Ninja on your team?"
"Umm, Anko, she was our Medic Nin."
"Oh, right. Never mind then."
Neji had the overwhelming urge to roll his eyes, but he controlled himself. Anko had, after all, showed up the most convenient of times. They lifted Hinata a bit off of the ground, and carried her toward the fake wall. "What was that you said about being watched, Anko?" Sasuke said as he stepped though the wall.
"Well, I said-"
"I don't think he was asking." Neji cut her off.
Sasuke ignored their comments. "I can't have you taking her away now, Neji. I need her to produce my heirs." Anko made a face like she was about to throw up.
"Alright, that's it." Anko said suddenly. "I'm taking you down, Snaky Junior. Neji, get Hinata out of here. Take her back to Konoha where she can be treated. I'll finish up here."
"Oh, my. This is going to be extremely entertaining."
"Anko, I can't just-"
"Just go!"
He knew that they had no other choice. He nodded, hoping the Anko knew what she was doing. He focused his chakra, and with a sweep of gray smoke, they disappeared.
The two reappeared in the lobby of the Konoha hospital. "I need I medical team, NOW!"
With a sweep of white coats, Neji was surrounded by Medical Ninjas. Before he knew what was happening, the team took Hinata from his arms, and had begun to treat her wounds. "I have to go back and help Anko." He murmured, but for some reason, he was overcome with tiredness.
One of the Medical Ninjas came up to him and smiled. "I don't think you'll be going anywhere for a while." She told him. "It takes an insane amount of chakra to teleport two people, like you just did. I'm amazed that you were even able to do it at your young age. You can't be more than 18, right?"
"I'll be 19 in 7 months." He said stubbornly, despite the dizziness that had come over him.
"Alright then. Well, you are currently suffering from chakra exhaustion. I recommend you rest. If you keep going, despite your lack of chakra, you'll probably pass out."
"What about Hinata?"
"She'll be fine; we're taking good care of her. Now, you need to rest."
He nodded, leaving the hospital, but he did not head home. Instead, he went strait to the Hokage's office. "Tsunade-sama!" He yelled as he burst through the doors.
"W-What?" Came his drunken reply from the Hokage, who had currently been sleeping on her desk, most likely sleeping off a hangover.
"Tsunade-sama!" He said again. "I need you to send a group of special rank, ANBU to a cave housing a group of Sound Ninjas, just outside the border of the Sound Village."
"W-What?"
"Tsunade." He said, dropping the suffix. "Hinata had been kidnapped by Sasuke. I found the cave where they were hiding, and was able to save her, but Anko is still there. She may need help. You need to send a group of special rank ANBU to the cave to help her."
"But Anko's in the Grass Village on a diplomat mission." Tsunade said, dropping her head back onto her desk. Neji had absolutely no idea what would influence Tsunade to send Anko on a diplomat mission, but he was pretty sure it had something to do with the empty bottle in her hand. He decided to let that one slide though.
"No. Tsunade, listen to me. Anko appeared in the cave by mistake. She's there now, and Hinata is back here in the hospital. Anko could be in danger; you need to send a team to go help her."
"Anko's in danger?" She seemed to sober up at the sound of that.
"Yes. Here's the coordinates to the cave. Please, only send your best, these guys are dangerous." He wrote down some numbers on a piece of paper, along with the trick to the maze.
"Thank you Neji. You should probably rest, now that you have completed your mission." Why was everyone telling him that he needed to rest? Did he really look that bad?
"Thank you Tsunade-sama." Neji bowed his head like a good little boy, and left the Hokage's tower.
Neji walked until he found himself in front of the Konoha hospital once more. It was far past visiting hours, so he'd have to be careful about this. He focused his charka to his feet-knowing that he could never teleport himself with his current lack of chakra-and started to climb the side of the building. He walked past the windows until he came to one where he felt a familiar presence of chakra emanating from within.
The window had been left open, so he silently slipped into the stark white room. Hinata was lying on the hospital bed in a deep slumber. He approached her quietly, and pulled a chair up the side of her bed. "I was hoping you might come by." Came Hinata's soft voice, startling Neji.
"I would never leave you Hinata. I made a promise a long time ago to always take care of you."
Hinata pulled him to the bed, and gently pulled his head down to hers, locking his lips into her soft ones. His hand was immediately around her neck, pulling her firmer against him. Neji's tongue searched the velvety cavity of her mouth, needing to be closer to her.
But a booming voice from the hall interrupted their passion, bringing them each back to the cold hard reality. "What do you mean I can't see her!" The loud voice said. "I am Hyuga Hiashi! Leader of the most prominent clan in Konoha, and you dare refuse me?"
"Sir," A much softer, female voice replied. "She is sleeping, and it is far past visiting hours. I'm afraid you are going to have to come back tomorrow."
"I should go." Neji whispered into her ear; before he exited silently back out of the window.
Seconds later, Hinata's door was burst open by her father, and a worried looking nurse trailing closely behind. "Hinata!" The man exclaimed, but not out of joy or relief. "How could you have allowed yourself to be captured by Sound Ninjas? I have I taught you nothing in the act of keeping your defenses alert at all times? You are a Hyuga! You should have been far more vigilant!"
Well, at least everything was getting to be back to normal.