This is just a small project! Tell me what you think so far! I'm putting up the next couple of chapters too!

Sixteen Candles

Chapter One

I stood before my family. They were waiting; waiting for me to blow out my candles. My sixteen candles.

"Hinata, hurry up sweetie! It's almost time," my mom ushered me as she rubbed my shoulder anxiously.

I glanced at the clock that rested on the back wall behind her head.

Sixteen…

Fifteen…

Fourteen…

I looked around at all the smiling faces.

Neji. The only one I pulled out from all the people who crowded the room. The only one who wasn't smiling.

Nine…

Eight…

Seven…

Six…

His face looked contorted in anguish. Why? It was my birthday. I was happy. Why wasn't he?

Three…

Two…

Deep breath.

One…

Blow.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HINATA!"

The room suddenly broke out in a chorus of screams and sobbing. Why were they crying? What was going on? Everyone's eyes were fixed on a corner in the room where I remember seeing a woman nursing her child. I pushed and shoved everyone out of my way. I felt tears landing on my bare arm as I continued to make my way to the back of the room.

"What's going on?" I asked the stunned people. My question went unanswered.

I felt a hand grab my arm softly.

"We need to go, Hinata," Neji announced over the restless crowd. "Don't look. There is nothing you need to see."

"I have to!" I exclaimed.

I felt him release my arm as I continued my short journey. I pushed and shoved until I stood before the woman. She was hunched over something. Something that she clutched close to her body.

"What's wrong?" I asked her as I crouched down before her.

And then I saw what it was.

The baby.

His eyes were closed tightly as if glued shut.

His mouth was agape as if he were ready to cry.

His full lips were a sickly shade of blue.

He was dead.

Tears sprung violently out of my eyes as a sudden pain raked through my back. I grasped my stomach as it churned aggressively, willing to let go of today's meals. I sucked in a painful breath and let out a ragged cry.

I felt someone pull me to them and hold me closely to their warmth. They lifted me into their strong arms and worked through the aggressive crowd. Through the pain I felt the cold night air hit my cheeks painfully as my savior ran from the house.

"Hang on, Hinata," he whispered. "It will be over in a few seconds."

He was right.

The pain was starting to fade away. I felt the once hot tears start to dry against my cheeks.

"Neji," I murmured. "Put me down."

He looked down at me apprehensively. I nodded slowly to reassure him.

He set me down on my feet. He rested his hand on the small of my back to keep me from tipping over.

"Something's wrong," I said to him. "My back is killing me…and that baby…something isn't right."

"Everything is happening the way it should happen," he mumbled.

We walked over to a black Sedan.

"Get in," he ordered.

I wobbled around the front of the car, bracing myself against the hood. I slid in and rested my head against the frosty window after closing the door.

"Neji what's going on?" I asked quietly.

No answer.

"Neji, please."

Nothing.

"Neji I swear to God…"

"Don't use the Lord's name in vain!" he snapped.

I waited a moment. Contemplating on whether I should push him or not.

"Tell me what's going on, Neji," I asked him slowly. I didn't want him to snap at me again. There was something in his eyes that scared me. Those lavender-white eyes were darker than I have ever seen them. Behind them was a secret that held me closer to him than ever before.

"When we get to where we are going," he said, "you will know everything."

His eyes were on the dark road but I strongly believe he wasn't paying any attention to it.

"Are we leaving?"

Stupid question.

"Yes."

"Why?

Pause.

"Because I can't do this alone. I don't know enough to help you."

His voice cracked uneasily as he said the last sentence. He was sad.

I wanted to push him. I wanted to squeeze as much juice out of the situation as I possibly could.

But I changed my mind.

"Can you at least tell me where we are going?" I asked, slowly dozing away.

"Rome."

Arriving at the airport seemed like a dream. The faces of the people that passed by were blurred as if I were under water. Neji held my tired form up as we glided through gates and metal detectors.

"Is she alright?" the fuzzy policeman said. "She looks sick."

"She's fine," Neji retorted. "She didn't get much sleep last night and it's taking its toll. She should be fine after a six-hour sleep."

"No clothes?"

"We're taken care of. Thank you."

And we glided on right passed Mr. Fuzzy.

Neji picked me up as we entered the gate to the plane. I numbly wrapped my arms around his strong neck as we entered the plane. His long hair tickled my nose as I dug my face into his neck.

"We're here, Hinata," he sighed as he set me down in the reclining chair. My limp body flopped down helplessly into the chair. Neji righted me and draped a wool blanket over me.

It was dark again.

No dream.

Again.

I awoke just as the large plane was landing. Neji sat next to me, his elbow resting on the armrest, the side of his index finger gently pressing against his lower lip, and his eyes glued to the runway that we were landing on.

"Neji."

He turned to me and seemed to analyze me closely.

"How are you feeling?" he asked me. He looked tired. The bruises under his eyes showed his lack of sleep and his voice was almost slurred.

"I'm fine," I replied as I struggled to sit up in the chair. Neji reached over and sat me up, the chair following behind. "Thank you. Did you sleep well?"

He sighed.

"I didn't sleep."

"Neji, it's not healthy-."

"Hinata," he stopped me. "You don't have to worry about me. You're so selfless. I'll be fine."

A small smile played on his lips. The first one I've seen in so long.

Loading off the plane was easy and quick. We had nothing to load off really except for ourselves. Neji showed the lady our passports and we were taken by a driver to a black limo just outside the airport doors.

We entered the streets of Rome, Italy; a city of exotic and cultural masterpieces. Every building and statue told an aggressive story of many trials and tribulations. Wars that were won and some lost. The smell, the aura, and the people of this city all seemed to fall together almost magically, as if they were held together by string.

Everything still isn't clear and I have fallen victim to an uncomfortable confusion. The baby died the second the clock turned to midnight; my birthday. The pain that I felt the moment I realized the baby was gone seemed to invade me almost completely, and it wasn't only emotional pain. This pain entered my thoughts, my body, and my spirit, something that I have never felt in my life.

"Hinata," Neji said to me, the first words he's said to me since we arrived in this lively city. "There are things—things that will be imprinted into your mind for as long as you may live."

He turned a little and licked his lips. His eyes were intent and bore into mine with fierce emotion.

"This will be something you won't be able to get out of," he continued. "You won't be able to go home again. For our family's protection. You aren't a child now. You will be treated and respected like an adult. Things will crash down on you and thoughts will enter your mind. Especially after seeing the things that you will see soon.

"Where we are going is a place with secrets and rules. Trying to figure out any of these secrets is forbidden unless given permission to do so. Curiosity will get you killed."

Fear rang through my head and left its ugly, painful mark.

"The secrets here will remain secrets, do you understand?"

I nodded numbly and looked away, trying to blink back unwanted tears.

No family.

No home.

No friends.

This all was starting to take its toll on me and I am paying a heavy price.

A hand rested itself on my cheek and turned my head gently. His tired eyes held mine.

"Don't be scared, Hinata," Neji said. "Not now. Right now you have nothing to worry about. I will be here. I will be here every step of the way. You are my main priority right now."

My cousin.

My brother.

My protector.

I dove into his arms and cried more than I ever have before. He wrapped his arms around me reassuringly.

"When can we go home, Neji? When can we go back to Hanabi, and dad, and mom?"

I felt his chest rise and fall with a deep sigh.

"I don't know," he admitted. "One day."

My tears fell for what seemed like hours, but really, it only had been a few minutes. Neji held me as he watched out the window. He smoothed down my hair and continued to tell me that things would fall into place.

I didn't want them to fall in the first place.

"We're here," the driver announced through his strong accent.

I looked up at Neji and he's face was emotionless.

A sign of fear for him.

He looked down at me and took in my crumbled form. He bent down and placed a kiss on my forehead.

"It's time for everything to begin," he whispered. "This will be painful and for that, I'm eternally sorry."

He pushed open the limo door next to him and helped me crawl out after him.

I looked around.

We were in an ally. The ally was dark and smelt of garbage and dead animals. At the end of the ally you could see the bright city with the wild and exciting crowd, while behind me was a damp wall with a large door.

Neji took my hand and pulled me to the door with the driver who followed behind loyally. Inside was an extensive an incredibly, dimly lit hallway. The end wasn't at all visible.

Neji put me in front of him and told me to walk quickly. I did as I was told, stumbling and tripping nervously as I did so. The footsteps behind me made me feel as safe as I could possibly feel.

The door finally appeared but I didn't want to go through.

Neji took his place in front of me and knocked on the large metal door. A small window slid open and a large, strong hand appeared, opening as if expecting something. Neji reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of yellow paper that was folded neatly. Neji pressed the paper into the strong hand and the hand quickly retreated back behind the window.

Neji took my hand in his. It was shaking and damp with a small amount of sweat.

Suddenly, the sound of locks behind unlocked and metal scraping metal was heard behind the door, making me jump slightly.

The door flew open and the smell of spices and wood filled my nose.

The room behind the door was a room that was beyond massive. It was brightened by large windows that decorated the far wall that had a brilliant garden behind it. The marble floors reflected the enormous and glorious painting that enchanted the dome shaped ceiling. The ceiling itself had to be at least fifty or so feet from where I was. Across from me was a corridor that had hand carved pillars alongside it.

A masterpiece.

"Amazing," I whispered as I absently walked into the room.

"Come, Hinata," Neji rushed. "We must hurry. This needs to be done quickly."

He held my hand tightly and dragged me down the corridor across the room. I turned back to look the see who the man was that took Neji's paper.

There was no one there.

"Hurry," Neji whispered. I wasn't exactly sure who he was talking to.

"Colonel Hyuuga," the driver called. "I have been told that you are to go to the Light Chamber when we arrive."

Neji stopped and whipped around angrily to the driver.

I fell to the ground in fear and crawled away as fast as possible.

His eyes.

They were black.

Every inch of his eyeballs was black.

"Hinata!" he called behind me.

He was in front of me instantly.

Inhuman speed.

He kneeled before me.

"Hinata don't be scared of me. I'm sorry."

I turned, stood, and ran in the other direction, not exactly knowing where I was going. I just couldn't look at his face. I have never seen anything so evil.

I ran into something that was as hard as a wall. It wrapped its arms around me and held me so close that it was impossible for me to run. I fought with whatever strength that I had left. I pushed and hit the wall with all my might but it just held me against it.

"Hinata," the wall whispered as I slowed my attackes against it. "Don't be scared of me. I would never hurt you."

I looked up at him.

I stared into lavender-white eyes.

After a moment of staring and erasing the sight of those dark eyes from my mind, Neji took my hand and we continued on.

"Giorgio," Neji growled quietly. "Why is it that you didn't tell me this earlier?"

"W-well, s-s-sir, I just d-didn't want to interrupt your conversation with Lady Hinata."

Poor soul.

Neji didn't reply.

We finally arrived at the end of the hall and stood before four stone, arched doors. Neji slowly went and stood in front of the one that was marked with a three above it. In the middle of the door, the inscription read "à la lumière de Dieu."

"It reads 'In the light of God'," Neji explained. "This chamber will change your life. Behind this door is the beginning of your life. No one leaves this chamber without experiencing something truly wonderful, but they also experience an equal amount of pain. With happiness, Hinata, comes pain. Remember that."

He sighed.

He turned me to face him, bent down to my level, and placed his hands on my shoulders.

"I can't go in there with you, Hinata," he confessed. "You have to go in there and learn to trust the people around you. They love you. Have faith. They will stand by you now and forever."

I heard the latch on the inside of the stone door open.

Panic snaked up my spine.

"No!" I screamed. "I don't want to go, Neji! Please!"

I clung onto his chest. I felt a single tear fall onto my arm and slide down to meet the marble floor below. He gently pulled himself from my arms.

"I will be here when it is all over," he whispered as he moved my hair from my face.

The door opened.

The sound of the stone door grinding on the concrete floor of the chamber was unnerving.

Neji pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"I love you, Hinata," he whispered.

He slowly pushed me through the threshold of the chamber door.

As soon as I entered the room, the door closed on an agonizing Neji.

Silence.

I could feel the size of chamber. I could feel the air swirl around me from a draft within the immense chamber and enter my lungs. The air was fresh and soothing; the only thing that held me together.

In the middle of the room was a large orb.

The orb was nothing but light. Holding so much energy.

I felt it enter my skin. The electric blue light found me and clung to every part of my being.

It started to draw me to it.

I felt my tennis shoes scrape the concrete ground as I walked absently toward the beautiful light. I felt my eyes glaze over as I entered my own thoughts.

I saw faces.

Beautiful faces.

Faces that weren't old nor young. Smiles rose on their faces and love and happiness danced in their gorgeous eyes. They wore pure white robes. The purest of white.

They were calling my name and reaching out to me. Lips brushed every inch of my skin as if they were telling me that they weren't planning to let me go.

Ever.

I closed my eyes and soaked in their butterfly kisses.

I felt a cold presence appear.

A dark figure.

I peered through the marvelous beings that surrounded me and looked closely at the intruder.

Eyes of blood red.

He soaked up all the light. The light that I wanted to stay in forever.

His darkness was erasing any trace of beauty that I had gathered from this moment.

The beautiful faces turned from me and happily greeted the figure. They rushed to the figure and rubbed and kissed his form. His flawless eyes closed and he groaned as he enjoyed the Light Beings.

His eyes opened.

Black eyes.

I've seen these.

But these were as evil as the Devil himself.

He gently pushed through the Light Beings and stood before me.

He was nothing but a shadow.

A shadow that was cast by the light.

His dark hand reached up and softly brushed my cheek.

I closed my eyes.

Loving.

Happy.

So cold.

"Hinata," the being breathed, his voice echoing through this small piece of Heaven, "We are joined, now. We are one. However, fear not. I will you to trust me. You are not alone any more. You will feel me and I will feel you. This bond that we will conceive is a bond that no one but God himself can break."

My eyes filled with sudden tears and I gasped in surprise as the figure brushed them away.

His action felt like a breeze.

A draft in Heaven.

The figure leaned down toward me, his face being a few centimeters from mine. His presence felt like a cold winter's night.

His cold lips brushed against mine.

An amazing amount of pain shot through me. This pain was angry and out for revenge. The figure held me to it as I writhed and shook in its arms. I let a scream as something tore and shredded through the right side of my back.

A metallic taste entered my mouth and oozed out the corner of my lips.

I clawed and clutched the figure's arms.

I let out a painful cry as the other side of my back was torn open.

I looked up at the figure with blurred vision as I collapsed.

Save me.

The figure kissed me one last time.

The pain fled away from my body, and the dark figure and the brilliant light faded from my vision.