Sykoe AnimeCrasherz: Ok, I have officially reached the point where I was at last summer, and there is no freaking way in hell that it took me a whole year... it seems like just yesterday!!!! XD I'm just so weirded out that I've had this account for like 4 years and this story is a year long!!!

... Good times, good times.

Well, you know what that means? I am not salvaging this chapter from the last ones. This is a brand new, written, fresh off-the-press chapter.

So wish me luck -gulp-.

Chapter 11, Not My Problem

Even if I had known for the longest time that there was the possibility that the position of heiress would go to Hanabi, how did they expect me to take it?

My eyes watered and I mentally whimpered like the weakling I am, but there was no way I could hold back the storm of tears threatening to steal last night's thunder.

"H-Ha-Ha-Ha..." I hiccuped and was on the verge of convulsing. "Ha-Hanabi-N-N-"

"Sama. Sa-Ma." she spoke to me like a 3 year old.

"I know how to pronounce it, I'm not stu-" deep breath, Hinata. Your talking to your little sister, the clan leader! "I'm sorry..."

"That's ok, nee-chan." Hanabi's eyes bore into mine with a sickening mix of pity and sorrow melting away some of the coldness. My insides churned with shame. "Go for a walk. Go train. You will feel... better?"

"Sure..." any excuse to leave. Anything to distract me so the physical pain robs my attention from the emotional. I am so lucky I'm not a masochist.

I forced myself into non-enthusiastic jutsus, repeated and boring but still tiring me out. I closed my eyes as my body went through the familiar motions. Sometimes the world looks better with your eyes closed.

"Nee... Hinata-sama?" a servant caled my name tenderly, with a look of concern and pity on her face.

"Yes?" How polite she was. I guess I was still a Main House member and daughter of the former Head...

"You have a guest."

"Really..." I mused to myself. Oh, dearie, who could be a-knockin' at this time at night? Noon.

"Ano... he is waiting for you outside the front door. I haven't let him in per Hanabi-sama's order's."

Hanabi? Why would Hanabi want to keep me from seeing anybody? She's still not Hanabi-sama in my head.

"Oh," the servant continued as I began her way to the front door, "And there is a girl with him. Rather strange, in fact, her hair is pink!"

No way, I thought, nuh-uh. What would Sasuke be doing here with Sakura? What would Sakura want at my house? Why would Sasuke be at my house anyway?

I had a staring contest with the doorknob for a while, until I finally gathered the courage to tell my brain to tell my arm to tell my hand to lift itself up and touch the doorknob.

"You can do this, Hinata."

She swung the door to reveal the worry-stricken faces of her best friend in the world and mortal enemy.

"Oh!" Sakura looked up, as if shocked to see HInata standing in her own house. Sasuke only continued to stare at the floor.

"Naruto ran away."

Sykoe: Ooooh I totally came up with that... cuz sometimes the world really does look better with your eyes closed, especially when hot guys dance endlessly in your head.

Well, I am so extremely sorry it is short, but I'm trying not to lose my fans before I update again with an awesome-to-the-max tiwst!

Ok, maybe not so awesome but I would still feel bad abandoning you guys for so long.

Review please!