"W-Well, you see…" This was going to be harder than she thought. Why was her father so unapproachable? He glared down at her like a parasite. It was like he could see right through her. Well, he could if you count the use of the Byakugan.
"I, uh…" She gulped. "I was hoping that we could maybe make other arrangements, instead of my getting married to the ninja coming from the Hidden Grass Village." It all rolled off her tongue in one breath.
Her father let out a bark of sarcastic laughter. "Why in the world would we do something as foolish as that, Hinata? Are you trying to cause a war here?"
Why was he making this so damned hard! "Well, father, I just don't really feel comfortable with having to be married to someone I've never met before. Someone I don't love."
"What does love have to do with it? My marriage with your mother was arranged, and we were perfectly happy together!" He snorted. "Why settle for something as lowly as love. You have been offered the honor of calming a war! And you dare even think of refusing it?"
"But father-"
"Is this about that fox boy! I thought I told you that I did not approve of him!"
"Father, no. I told you before; I don't care about him that way anymore."
"Then what is this about Hinata! You have been asked to do this for your clan! For your village! What would possess your selfish little mind to put something as important as your village's honor in danger? This is not a game, and this is not a choice. You will marry the ninja coming from the Grass Village, and that is it. I don't want to hear another word about it!"
Hinata was shaking. She always seemed to lose all control when her father yelled at her like that. She just nodded, tears welling in the back of her white eyes, and she left his office.
She wrapped her arms around her petite body, hugging herself; hoping to gain some warmth despite the cold air around her. She coughed as she walked into the Hyuga garden. A warm and coppery liquid filled her mouth.
Not now. Not again. Hinata would never let Neji know the truth. After their fight in the first Chunnin Exam, she had never fully recovered. Her organs would relapse when she was under extreme stress, or had over exerted her body.
She coughed again, harder this time, and red blood splashed the gravel in front of her. She suddenly felt weak, and feel to her knees, coughing up blood again. Why was this happening to her? Why couldn't her father just understand? This isn't fair!
The copper liquid filled her mouth again, and she retched violently. "Hinata!" Oh God. He couldn't see her now. No, this isn't happening. It's all a bad dream. She chanted to herself. I'm going to wake up any second now in, covered in a cold sweat. All of it's a dream. It's not happening. IT'S NOT!
Neji kneeled down beside her. "Hinata, what's going on? Are you alright?"
She coughed red onto the ground again. Neji pulled her hair back out of her face, so she wouldn't get blood on it, while rubbing soothing circler patterns on her back, trying to calm her down. "Hinata, I need to take you to the hospital, can you stand up? Or do you want me to carry you?"
"No!" She said, a little too forcefully then she probably should have, because it caused her mouth to feel thick, and it filled with blood again.
"Hinata, I'm taking you to the hospital." He said firmly.
"No." She said, slower this time, her words coming out raspy. "They can't do anything, I just need to rest. I'll be fine."
"I don't think-"
"I'll be fine!" Oops, to forcefully again. She coughed blood onto the ground.
"I'm taking you to my room then."
Hinata didn't argue; just let him gently pick her up, cradling her in his arm. She tucked her head into his chest, feeling safe again, now that he was holding her. When she looked up again, they were in his room. Either he could move really fast, or she had fallen asleep while he was carrying her. She figured it was both.
Neji set her gently onto the bed, reclining her slightly against several pillows. He went into the bathroom, and reemerged several moments later with a damp towel, and a glass of water. He placed the towel on her forehead, and she immediately felt more relaxed; the dampness helping to ease the throbbing headache that she had developed.
He offered her the glass of water, and she took it, grateful to sooth her raw throat. "Hinata, are you sure that you don't want me to take you to the hospital?" He took the now warm cloth off of her forehead, and wrung it out in a bowl of water on the bedside before putting it back on her temple.
"Don't worry Neji, I'm feeling better already. I'll be fine by tomorrow." He didn't look quite convinced, but decided it wouldn't be best to argue with her current state. And he could see that some of the color was returning to her pale face, so she must be feeling a bit better.
"Neji?" He made a sound in his throat to let her know he was listening. "I think we should run away together. No more of this stupid Main house and Branch house. No more of my selfish father, or arranged marriages. We could finally just be together. Just the two of us."
He looked into the depthless eyes that could be called his own. "But would we really be together? Truly? No, I don't think this is what you really want. This clan needs you Hinata. Someday, you are going to rule this clan, and you will have the power to change things. They need you here. You don't want to leave, just so you could be with me."
"But I do! I'd do anything just to be with you!"
He took her hand into his, and gently kissed the palm. "No. You'd do anything but that. Because I wouldn't let you do that to yourself."