Author's Note: Hey, everybody! How are you all doing? The manga finally ended last week, but what did you guys think of the ending? Honestly, I think Hinata should've become clan leader instead of marrying Naruto. She has so much potential.

Here's the chapter you guys have been waiting for. It has some NejiHina in it, so I hope you'll like it!


Chapter Six

To: Sakura

From: Hinata

Re: Subject: (no subject)

I understand. Don't worry about it! I've been busy studying too. Good luck with the finals, Sakura!

It seems fun that you've been helping your teacher. Seems like your relationship with him is growing. I've been thinking about you and him, though.

Let's say you're getting closer to Hatake-sensei, and then he starts feeling something deep inside him every time he looks at you. He will be in denial about this at first, but then he finally admits to himself that he is in love with you. He has accepted this and let's pretend he tells you how he feels about you. What will you say to him? If you say yes and date him, it might cost his job as a teacher and he might be punished for it—not to mention isolated from society. You can always do it secretly; however there are chances people will find out. There are so many possibilities, but it will be too long to name all of them. But I do hope for the best for you and him. I really do.

I'm very sorry to hear about your problems with your father. I recall that he was a very lively person, especially every time I came over to your house. Do you have any idea what happened that made him change? In my opinion, I think it's because he is getting older. He feels insecure and seeks comfort in another woman. Yet I still think it's terrible he decided to look for it on his mistress inside of your mother, but try to understand his feelings…and your mother's too.

I often wonder if my life would be different if my mother didn't die after giving birth to Hanabi. Father's heart wouldn't turn so cold, and maybe I would see him smile once in a while directed to me, even though somewhere deep in his heart he still thinks I'm a failure. I wouldn't mind. I just want to see him smile. Unfortunately, I can't change the past. No one can.

One of my earliest memories was meeting my cousin on my third birthday at my grandfather's (my current) house. I remember how sweet he looked at that time and he was always smiling. We often played together every time my parents and I went to visit. Being an only child at that time, I felt lonely and I was always excited to play with him. He was like an older brother to me.

His mother left him and his father. Then some time after Hanabi was born and my mother's passing, his father died. I tried asking my father and grandparents the cause of his death, but they wouldn't say a word to me. My father would yell at me and I would end up crying. What was so wrong for asking, I used to think. I still don't know the reason why. After that, my father decided to completely close his heart and we stopped visiting our family in the country.

Many years later, my grandfather grew ill and father decided for us to move and live at his house. That's when I met Neji-nii-san again. I wasn't particularly excited to meet him again, but I did feel happy. However, he didn't seem to feel the same. Resentment was shown clearly in his eyes. His glare made me feel weak and worthless—it possessed the same power as my father's. I tried to talk to him and get to know him better, but he made it clear he didn't want to talk to someone who wasn't worth his time.

I learned from my father that Neji-nii-san is always at the top of his class. My father told me he wished I could be more like Neji-nii-san—diligent and perfect. I couldn't meet his expectations, causing him to think of me as a failure. I think Neji feels the same way as my father.

School was even more terrible. Everyone bullied me, because of where I come from. They told me my cousin and I are stuck-ups. No matter how hard I try to deny it, they won't listen. Girls would avoid me and mockingly laugh at me when they pass. Boys harassed me. I kept on praying for them to leave me alone, but my prayers didn't come true. I felt abandoned by the gods.

Then a few days ago, I was studying alone in the school library after dismissal and three boys from my class approached me. They pushed my head to my book and told me to get up and follow them. I got up without saying a word and complied.

They led me to a courtyard far behind the school building. The freezing air prickled my skin. I didn't know where we were heading so I forgot wear my coat. Then they started harassing me. I actually did see it coming, but what else could I do? They said they hated how snobby I looked. They called me a stuck-up bitch. They tried to pull up my skirt and open my blouse. The more I told them to stop, the happier they were.

I tried to turn around and run as fast as I could, but a hand gripped my hair and pulled me back. Tears pricked my eyes when he forced me down to my knees and tugged at my hair violently again while they continued to yell at me. I thought my hair would fall off. The snow felt so cold on my bare legs. Their voices are still ringing in my ears as I type these words down.

Why is this happening to me? I thought. I wished I was dead.

All of a sudden Neji-nii-san's hard voice echoed in my ears. It sounded so sweet—I thought I was imagining it. But if I did, why did it have to be his?

I looked up through my tears and saw Neji-nii-san standing tall with his hands planted on his hips. He demanded them to let go of me and promised that no one would get hurt. Of course, they didn't listen. They tugged at my hair harder until a painful shriek came out of my mouth. Then they started insulting him, "You think you're all shit just because you're the president", and they accused him of fucking me, his cousin. They laughed bitterly.

I felt the grip on my hair loosened. All the air that seemed to be sucked out of me filled my lungs again. I remained still on the snow, feeling its sharpness on my palms and legs, while I listened to the sound of punching, kicking, grunting and groaning in pain. I didn't dare look. I felt something warm and wet on my panties. I waited for the snow beneath my legs to turn yellow, but it didn't.

It was all over in a few minutes, and then I heard footsteps running away towards the opposite direction. I felt something warm placed on my back and the tears just stopped. I looked over my shoulder and met Neji's gaze. I couldn't believe my eyes. His usual ice-cold eyes were looking at me softly, almost pitifully. With a gentle voice, he asked me if I was all right. I nodded, astonished. His cheek was bruised, there was a cut on his lower lip, and his neat uniform was crumpled.

With his help, I struggled to my feet, still trembling. I told him that his lip was bleeding, but he played it cool and shook it off, saying it was nothing. I expressed my worry to him, asking him what would happen to him and his position as the student council president after beating those boys up. He said it was nothing for me to worry about and that he would take full responsibility.

"Besides, I don't mind losing it for protecting you." He said.

Ever since that day, I now go to school and come home everyday with him by my side. The way he spoke to me changed. His voice is now gentle every time he talks to me. His gaze is so tender as if one look would make me crash into small pieces. I feel like my chest is about to explode every time I walk beside him, and my cheeks feel so hot. Is this how you feel, Sakura, every time you take a glimpse on Hatake-sensei?

Hinata