Disclaimer: Whoops forgot about this that chapter (sweatdrops) but anyway I dont own Naruto and all the characters.

Chapter two

New friends

Four months. Four long hard months but they were finally settling down. Of course there had been resistance at first. Only from the Main house of course. Meanwhile all the Branch house members and even a few of the Main had rallied around her and given their support to her. Neji and Hanabi had been behind her too. They knew now what she planned to do. Hanabi had protested at first but Hinata had been firm. It was her decision and her mind had long been made up. Neji hadn't argued. He had even joked that she was almost as stubborn as Naruto. They had all laughed at that. It was useless to try and change her mind. She was grateful for his support. It was for the best.

Now the clan was finally ready for the next and final step. A meeting was called. A lot like the one four months ago. Everyone was here again but this time there was less tension in the air. Hinata did not walk in first this time. She came in after Hanabi and Neji and sat to her younger sister's left, Neji was on the other side of his younger cousin. Most took this in with some surprise and apprehension. Some with thinly masked glee.

"Hinata-sama has an announcement. Hinata." Hanabi called the meeting to order and looked at her sister. Hinata bowed her head to her and looked out at the rest of the clan.

"I have decided to step down as heir in favour of Hanabi-sama. She is far more capable for this position. My decision to do this was not sudden or easy by any means. It was made well over a year ago. This is not all, in order to ease the change I will be moving out of the Hyuuga compound until further notice."

Hinata smiled at everyone in the room calmly before looking at Hanabi. She would be okay and Hanabi would be a good leader. Hanabi nodded.

"That's all for now. You may all go back to your duties."

Hanabi, Neji and Hinata walked out of the room together. Silence left in their wake. Many were sad to see Hinata go. There was a distinct soft spot for the now ex-heiress. She was kind to everyone, even those who had given her nothing but grief. Her relationship with her cousin was proof enough of that. She was determined, they could see, nothing would stop her when she had made her decision.

A damper fell over the Hyuuga after Hinata's announcement. The week preceding her departure was especially so. She had made life bearable for many for a long time. Her smiles, her sweet innocence, her help and kindness. It would be missed and she would be missed.

She spent her last night packing all her belongings. There wasn't much really. She had never been one for having lots of clothes. Most of her clothes were just the clan's formal kimono's she had been required to wear at home. There were only a couple that weren't. the rest of the clothes were just her normal training wear and the clothes she wore outside.

A few pictures, her toiletries and she was done. 'There really hadn't been much,' she mused. It was kinda sad that in all her nearly eighteen years living there she hadn't made much of an impact on the room. 'It's even sadder to think that tomorrow night I'll be sleeping in a different bed. Sad, but exciting.' She smiled at the ceiling as she lay on her bed. Tomorrow was the beginning of something new for her.

The next morning, when she woke up, she went ahead with her usual routine. She took a shower, dressed and tidied the room. With a sigh and a small smile she picked up her one bag and slid the door open.

Neji was waiting for her outside. She smiled at him and he smiled back. Only a little smile, it was Neji after all, but a smile all the same. Together they walked to the door silently. No breakfast today. Hanabi was waiting for them there, she wasn't alone. It looked like quite few people had come to see her off. Hinata's heart warmed when she saw them.

'Do they really care about me after all? Or is this just gratitude or misplaced loyalty? Does it matter now anyway? Probably not. It feels nice though…'

She smiled brilliantly, willing herself not to cry. Hanabi hugged her tightly, not caring about everyone watching or the proper behaviour of a clan head. Hinata chuckled.

"It's not like I'm leaving forever. I'll still be in town. You'll still see me."

"It's not the same." Hanabi stated petulantly.

Of course it wasn't. Hanabi had taken to sneaking into her room late at night these past two years, just to talk with her sister. Whispers and giggles of their midnight sessions were pointedly ignored and in that way almost encouraged.

Hinata chuckled again and pushed her sister away gently. She bowed to the people gathered and smiled shyly. She wasn't used to all this attention when not in a clan meeting.

"Thank you, everyone."

Neji opened the door for her and she walked through. He followed her out and closed it behind him. When they passed the gates the guards on duty bowed to her respectfully and she returned the gesture.

'I didn't expect all this attention. It's not like I'm dying or anything, it's nice to know that they care though…'

She grinned and Neji threw her a sideways glance. 'I have never seen her so relaxed…It was the right decision.'

The walk passed in silence as Neji and Hinata made their way to her new apartment. Neji had helped her find it and Hanabi had helped her furnish it. She had insisted on buying everything new much to Hinata's frustration. So that she wouldn't need to take anything from her room 'in case she came back'. All paid for with Hyuuga money, Hanabi said they had 'more money that I know what to do with' and she might as well put it to good use. Hinata had wanted to pay with the money her mother had left her when she died. Hanabi would have none of it.

The shopping itself had been torturous, Hanabi was tireless and bossy. She was helpless as her sister dragged her from shop to shop asking her opinion on everything she saw, demanding it when non was forthcoming. It seemed like it was never going to end. She vowed never to go shopping with her again. Ever. It was that bad. The upside was that the apartment was fully furnished and stocked. Even better, she wouldn't have to go shopping in a while. But not with Hanabi. Though she had to admit that Hanabi had good taste. The apartment looked really good. She wouldn't want to do it again, but the end result of all that work was pleasing to the eye.

It was almost on the other side of town from the Hyuuga compound. She knew Ino lived around here because she had seen the other kunoichi when the furniture was being moved in. The blonde had asked and Hinata told her that she was moving in there. Ino told her that she lived just two streets away and that they should get together when she was completely moved in. She gave her no chance to argue and left as suddenly as she had appeared.. Hinata stood there ruefully wondering what she had 'agreed' to.

They had arrived. She stopped outside the door and turned to face her cousin.

"If you need anything…"

She smiled. She knew she could call him. His eyes hardened almost imperceptibly as he spoke again.

"If anyone bothers you…"

"I know, Neji-niisan. Thank you." He was really over protective. So over protective that it had surprised her that he agreed to her even moving out without any fuss.

He sighed and she stifled a giggle. He looked like he was regretting that decision. She hugged him suddenly and he patted her back awkwardly. When she pulled away he gave her a half smile.

"I have to go. But if you need anything at all, I-"

"Would you just go already. I'll be fine." she laughed and pushed him back a little.

He smirked slightly and left. 'Finally.' She turned to her door and slipped in the key. 'This is it.' She took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Tadaima." she called out softly as she looked around the room.

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(A/N) First things first Thanks to ToraHoshiWarai for the review. My first one on FF.

Well this is just to say that all the characters are eighteen except Hinata because its not december yet (her birthday). Neji, Lee and Ten Ten are all nineteen of course. Hmm I decided that Hanabi is only two years younger because it wouldnt do having her be clan leader at thirteen.

I appologise for this filler chapter. Nothing really happened, I just wanted to tie up all the loose ends before getting on with the real story.

Last thing, the previous chapter came out a bit angsty which was not what I was going for at all, but I rolled with it. Dont expect many others to be like that is all I'm saying. I got plans for this fic (rubs hands together) hehehehe...