Ch.17 Help Me Save Him

"Wait Naruto, where are you going?" Ino called, as he was walking out the door.

"To tell Sasuke-teme just how stupid he is." Naruto said seriously, throwing Ino off. What he had said was nothing new, she knew that they argued and fought all the time, but Naruto usually would have a smile on his face when he would say that he was going to tease Sasuke…but now, there was no teasing smile. Suspicious and curious as ever, Ino was wondering just what on earth was going on.

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Upon arriving back at Ino's apartment, they got a call from Naruto saying that his 'talk' with Sasuke was going to have to be postponed because Tsunade, had asked him to go on an urgent and very important mission before he got to Sasuke's. Hearing that bit of news confused Ino…why would they care? Why would Hinata care? Unless.

"Hinata…was it him?" she asked Hyuuga woman softly, remembering the time she had handed her birth control pills.

"Was it Sasuke?" she asked again, but the silent woman only sat down and pulled her knees close to her. Wrapping her arms and hugging her knees to her, she turned her head away from Ino, not saying anything. Ino looked at her sadly, she had never seen Hinata like this before…except after the wedding. Ino knew that Naruto had somehow broken her heart back then, Hinata hadn't spoken for a couple of weeks afterwards. Sighing, Ino wondering if somehow Sasuke had broken her heart, like Naruto.

"Ok you wait here, I'll get a nice warm bath set up for you." Ino said with a small smile, walking out of the room. But as soon as she left, her smile vanished; what could she do for her broken-hearted friend?

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Then next afternoon, a loud and insistent knocking brought Ino to her door with a foul mood. Opening she was about to yell at the person to leave her alone, but her words stuck to the back of her throat at seeing Hinata's sister, Hanabi at her door. What the hell? Hanabi's eyes looked around quickly before barging into the apartment.

"Hey what the hell do you think you're doing?!" Ino yelled with anger, not caring if she was Hinata's sister or not…that was just plain rude to come in uninvited. Hanabi ignored the protesting woman behind her, looking into each room until she found Hinata, sitting up in bed. Rushing over, Hanabi fell to her knees and grabbed her sister's hand.

"Nee-chan….I heard what happened." Hanabi said softly, making Hinata turn to look at her, at the choice of words she used. 'Heard'?

"I need you to come back home quickly." Hanabi said staring at her sister's dull white eyes. Hinata's eyes widened with fear as she shook her head no. Hanabi squeezed her sister's hands tighter.

"Please, nee-chan….Neji-nii-san told them, Tou-san and the others." She announced, making Hinata look at her interestingly. "He…he told them what he did…he's asking to be put to death." Hanabi said gravely. Hinata shuddered, but lowered her gaze and looked away, still silent. Hanabi looked at her with wide eyes.

"You're not going to say anything…do anything?" she asked, shooting back up to her feet. "Our cousin is going to die and you're just going to sit here!?" she suddenly yelled.

"Hey! Get the hell out of my apartment!" Ino yelled, grabbing Hanabi's arm. Hanabi yanked her arm out of her grasp while she whirled back to her sister.

"I thought you were stronger than that! I thought you were stronger than that!" she screamed, fighting Ino. "I can't imagine what pain he caused you when he did that, but I always thought that you would never allow someone that you held dear, die without a fight!" Hanabi cried as she turned around and shoved Ino out of the door, slamming it and locking it and then leaned against it, trying to keep her out.

"How can I forgive him?" Hinata whispered, slowly looking up at Hanbi. "Tell me imoto-chan! How can I forgive what he did to me!" Hinata screamed, her mind thrown back to that horrible time and place.

"I don't know! How did you forgive him from killing you?" Hanabi asked with frustration.

"He…he was in pain." Hinata said softly. Hanabi looked at her sadly as she made her way to the bed, sitting down next to her sister.

"What makes you think he wasn't in pain this time?" Hanabi asked her quietly.

"What are you talking about?" Hinata whispered, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"How would you feel if you found out that the person you loved deeply was sleeping with someone else, that they didn't love you?" she asked her, invoking unwanted memories of the time Hinata had found Naruto with Sakura. Hinata closed her eyes and looked away, not wanting to remember that Neji told her he loved her…why would you do such a thing to someone you love? No she just couldn't, she couldn't forgive him. Hanabi sat down and gently grab her sister's shoulders, shaking her lightly.

"Hey, I'm not asking you to forgive him…I'm just asking you to help me save him. You're the heir, you have more power than me…believe it or not, but…" she paused, looking away, "you're…stronger than me." She confessed softly, her chest squeezing painfully. It was terribly difficult for her to admit weakness when she's been praised all her life for her strength. Hinata slowly looked up and into her sister's pale eyes, surprised to see a deep sadness there, a sadness that was accepted. Hinata looked at her questioningly.

"Imoto-chan…are you…"

"It's funny, how you guys think you're the only ones…who dream of impossible things." Hanabi said, her head bent and her long dark hair covering her eyes. "Can you not imagine it nee-chan? Can you not imagine what life will be like without Neji-nii-san?" she whispered. Hinata gasped softly at her words, a sharp jabbing pain suddenly pierced her chest. She closed her eyes and covered her head with her hands, trying to get all the memories that were coming back to her out of her head. Memories of her and Neji when they would talk late into the night about his missions, all three of them celebrating his eighteenth birthday when Hanabi grabbed a piece of his cake and smothered it all over his face, laughing at both of them when they would bicker and tease each other mercilessly. Memories of late nights training with him, pushing her to her max and helping her get better, remembering that she wouldn't be where she was today without his help.

Tears slowly ran down her face at all the memories that bubbled to the surface of her brain. She cried hard, desperately trying to push them away, to cling to her pain and self-righteous anger, to the hate that had barely started to form in her heart. Another pair of arms wrapped around her shoulders, surprising her. Hinata looked up to see Ino sitting next to her as well.

"Be strong Hinata…don't be like everyone else. Don't give up. Don't give in to hatred…be the strong forgiving Hinata we all know you to be." Ino urged, not fully understanding what was going on, but knowing that if she didn't help out, Hinata's already crushed spirit would forever be irreparable. Hot tears ran faster down her cheeks as she slowly started to shake her head.

"You guys ask too much of me." She cried softly, her heart pounding painfully. Hanabi lowered her head in defeat, she couldn't make her sister help her, she couldn't make her do anything. Slowly getting up, she could feel her heart turn cold to her sister.

"Fine…but I hope, that when he's done screaming with pain from his seal, when his thrashing body grows still, and when his warm skin becomes cold…when he's dead…you'll be happy." She said quietly, her voice hard with anger before she stormed out of the apartment.

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"Get out of my way." Hanabi threatened the guard at the door, blocking her way into the room where her father, the elders, the council, and her cousin was.

"I'm sorry Hanabi-sama…Hiashi-sama said that no one else is allowed in the room." He said, keeping his ground against the Hyuuga leader's younger daughter.

"I said get out of my way!" she yelled as she tried to shove him out of her way, but soon two other guards came, grabbing hold of her arms, trying to hold her away from the door.

"We're sorry Hanabi-sama, but orders are orders." They said, struggling against her strength, she was not going down without a fight.

"I don't give a flying fuck about your orders!" she yelled, dodging them and throwing in a few punches and kicks. She didn't want to really hurt anyone, she just wanted to get in that room. Suddenly, a loud agonizing yell pierced the walls and traveled down the hallways. The hair on the back of her neck rose and a shiver ran down her spine hearing the blood-curdling scream. She looked back at the three that blocked her way, her white eyes flashed, she needed to get into that room, NOW!

"Hinata-sama!" one of the guards suddenly cried. Hanabi whirled around to find her sister standing behind her, her knees and hands shaking.

"Please, let me pass." She pleaded, also hearing the cries coming from the other room. It chilled her blood, hearing such painful cries coming from her cousin.

"I'm sorry, Hinata-sama…I can't." the leading guard said guiltily. He too was a Branch member, he didn't enjoying hearing such cries either, knowing what was going on in the other room. But he had a family he had to take care of, he couldn't afford to go against his orders. Hinata, lowered her head, not knowing what to do next she looked to Hanabi who had a slight smile on her face. The look in her eyes, telling her something; Hinata tensed her body, not knowing what Hanabi was trying to tell her. But at the slight nod of her head, Hinata knew that she wouldn't have to wait long to find out.

With a growl, Hanabi quickly and suddenly got into a familiar stance, her arms out and palms open.

"Hakkesho Kaiten!" she yelled, spinning around quickly throwing the guards against the wall and down the hallway. Hinata, dodging Hanabi's attack, ran passed her and slammed the door open. She immediately spotted her father, the one performing the jutsu that activated the curse seal. Hinata's heart pounded in her chest, keeping her eyes on her father as she raced into the room. She didn't dare look at Neji, to see him rolling on the floor, his face contorted with intense pain.

No one saw the amazingly fast blur run pass them, no one expected such a thing to be done, no one expected Hinata to try and tackle her father. Seeing her in an instant before she collided with him, Hiashi threw himself backwards, dodging her. Hinata slammed into the wall, unable to stop herself in time, her body collapsing to the floor. She had meant to hit him, she didn't but at least she had accomplished stopping him for continuing the jutsu. Everyone stood up, chaos irrupting amongst the Hyuuga's elite. Anger coursed through Hiashi's body, as he watched Hinata slowly crawl over to Neji's exhausted and still form.

Shock and disgust rippled through the Hyuuga's as they watched her cover his body with her own, protecting him. She closed her eyes briefly, panting while she clung to him. Then looking back up at all those hated eyes pointed at her, her grip upon Neji's clothing tightened.

"D-don't…p-please…he…he's suffered e-enough." She whispered, her eyes staring at their feet, too scared to raise them to their cold eyes.

"What is the meaning of this Hinata?" Hiashi demanded, furious. Her body shook, hearing his voice. She closed her eyes, feeling too weak to do this, feeling like she was back to her old twelve year old self. What happened? What happened to my life? My family finally respected me, my father finally approved of me, Neji and I were still close, I was getting married to the man of my dreams…what happened? Hot painful tears stung her eyes as she thought about the life she almost had, her happy life, that now seem like a distant memory or an old dream.

"Maybe it wasn't rape after all." Someone taunted her from the back of the room. Her head slowly lifted to see her father's angry expression as he waited impatiently for her answer to his question.

"No." she said softly, her eyes lowering back to the floor, "H-he…he d-did r-ra-rape me." She stated sadly, painfully, her body remembering it all too well.

"Then why protect him?" her father's hard cold voice asked her. Hinata's eyes slowly trailed to Neji's face, his brows knit together in a painful expression, even though he was unconscious. Turning her head, she looked towards the door, Hanabi stood there, worry showing in her eyes. Then, looking back at Neji, at his curse seal evident on his forehead.

"B-because…I d-don't want to s-shed anymore b-blood between us. I d-don't want anymore h-hate between us. I don't want a-anyone to die by this…this seal that c-curses us all." She said softly, her voice slowly gaining more and more strength as she spoke. She remembered the times she had wanted to make a difference in their clan's lives, she wanted to change things, she wanted things to be better, she wanted this all for her family. But she had mostly wanted it for Neji.

"W-what he did to me…I s-shall never…forget…But, he's been p-punished. His seal was activated…he was d-driven to his knees w-with pain…he does not n-need to die. He has felt…the pain he caused me…there is nothing else…that needs to be done." She said, strengthening her resolve. Finally her eyes slowly trailed up to her father, as her eyes gazed into his. Her heart was beating fast, she had never before held his gaze, she was always too afraid to; but now, she was afraid not to hold his gaze. She had to make him understand, she had to make sure that he wouldn't kill Neji, she had to make sure that he agreed with her.

Hiashi stared down at his older daughter, his blank gaze giving away nothing. His eyes didn't warm to comfort her, didn't soften to show her he understood and agreed with her. His shuttered gaze revealed nothing and gave nothing, his expression, never changing. But after a few moments, he broke his gaze with her, turning to the other Hyuuga's in the room.

"Well…what do you say to your future leader's words?" he asked in that same emotionless voice. But most caught those words that came from his mouth, 'future leader'. Though his voice never indicated it and though he never said it, to many of them, it sounded like he agreed with all that she had said. And though their positions in the clan heavily influenced the decisions that were made, in the end, it was the leader who had the final say. Then out of no where, Hanabi walked towards the middle of the room, standing firmly behind Neji and her sister. Crossing her arms, she glared at the throng of people.

"I agree with everything that my sister has stated, and if I were heir, I would have said exactly the same thing." She said haughtily, knowing that there were still some who would oppose her sister. Those who wanted her in power instead of Hinata, and she wanted to make sure that they knew she would support her sister, no matter the costs. The Main House started at the scene before them; Hinata fiercely protecting Neji, Hanabi standing strong over both, and Hiashi paces before them but looking like he would fight to the death to protect them all. Together, they made a very intimidating force.

"I agree with Hinata-sama, she speaks with wisdom."

"Yes, I agree too, she's looking out for our entire clan."

"She is heir after all."

"That's true, we should listen to her, if not at least consider her words carefully."

Hinata's eyes watered once again as relief and joy coursed through her, and her heart swelled with the first positive feeling in a while as Hiashi turned around and graced her with a small rare smile. Her own returning smile was shaky, but her eyes were alight once again. She could feel strong arms lift her to her wobbly feet, turning, Hanabi smiled gratefully at her.

"What now nee-san?" she asked gently, her smile slowly beginning to vanish. Hinata's eyes lowered to Neji's unconscious body on the floor.

"I…I still need more time." She whispered, Hanabi nodded in understanding as she lowered and grabbed Neji's limp arm, pulling it over her shoulder and slowly lifting him up to his feet. One of the guards from earlier rushed forward, grabbing Neji's other arm and helping Hanabi carry him to his room. Pausing at the door, Hanabi turned back around to look at Hinata.

"I'll come and visit." She said before her and the guard walked out of the room. And even though the room was rapidly decreasing in the amount of people in it, as everyone was leaving to go back home, Hinata could still hear her sister's loud voice carry over the noise. "And I expect you back in a month!"

Once everyone was out and the only two people left in the room was Hiashi and Hinata, he slowly walked towards her. Putting his hand gently on her shoulder, his gaze softened.

"Well said my daughter." He said, his deep approving and proud voice coating her hurting heart like a soothing balm.

"Thank you Tou-san." She said humbly as she bowed before him. He smiled again and started walking out of the room, but before he exited, he paused.

"I expect you to continue your training, even though you will not be with us for a while…I expect to see improvement." He stated, his back still to her. Hinata smiled with gratitude at his understanding, and she nodded her head.

"I understand Tou-san." She replied, "Thank you." she added softly. Nodding his head slightly, he walked out of the room and down the long hallway.

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AN: Okay I know Sasuke isn't even in this chapter, but I felt the need to close this little thing with Neji before we move on. I hope you guys don't mind, we still have one more chapter with Neji in it, next chapter we'll see what happens when Sasuke finds out that she was raped. So, yeah just lettin' you all know. Thanks for all the lovely reviews, they inspire me so much, I love you all. So let me know what you think of this chapter, do you guys think it was a waste of time? Well till next time, I'll probably update Saturday or maybe Friday night, but till then…ja!