Shino was up by ten, thanks too the alarm he had set next to the couch. He was going to wake Hinata at ten thirty to let her get a little more sleep. He was in the kitchenette, making some scrambled eggs, when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

He finished the eggs and he heard the door open, then close. He looked up as he scraped the eggs onto two paper plates.

"Kiba?"

As if confirming his guess, a large white dog went into he kitchen, sat down, and began to beg for eggs. Shino chuckled and tossed a piece of egg towards the dog, who caught it with ease.

"Hey there, Akamaru."

"Arf!"

Kiba walked around into the kitchen and put his keys on the counter. Shino looked up at him. There was worry etched into his brown eyes. Kiba was holding a large paper sack. Shino shot a questioning look.

"How is she?" he asked, ignoring the look.

Shino began to clean up.

"She's still asleep. I'll be waking her up in a few minutes, though. And what have I told you about the dog, Kiba? I don't want to be evicted."

A roach, Monterey, judging by the purple splash in its shell, skittered across the room. Kiba watched it.

"So, you're only allowed to have small pets?"

Shino glared.

"You know I can't seem to get rid of them. You we're there when they survived the fumigation. Three times. And they are not pets."

Kiba laughed it off.

"Learn to take a joke, man. Here. These are for Hinata. Hana went absolutely crazy when she heard about her. We knew you wouldn't have any clothes for her. They may be a little big, Hana's tall."

Shino blinked. That was kind of Kiba's sister. Taking the bag, he went to the bedroom. He knocked on the door, then opened it.

"Hinat--- NO! AKAMARU!"

Akamaru shoved past Shino and leapt on the bed, lavishing the sleeping girl with wet doggy kisses. Hinata yelled and woke up, but immediately began giggling.

"Cut it out, boy!"

Like a trained Shepherd, Akamaru backed off and sat on the other side of the bed. She looked to the door.

"Shino, I didn't know y-you had a do…. Oh…. H-hello…"

Kiba had come into the room to restrain his monstrosity of a dog. Getting a hold of the dog's collar, he pulled him off of the bed. He extended a hand.

"Sorry 'bout that. He gets excited around new people. Name's Kiba Inuzuka."

Hinata just stared at his hand and looked up at Shino. Shino chuckled.

"Don't worry. For the most part he's harmless. He brought these for you."

Shino set the bag down on the edge of the bed. Then he, Kiba, and Akamaru left Hinata to her own devices. He put her plate of eggs in the microwave so that they wouldn't get cold. He leaned against the wall. Kiba leaned against the back of the couch and Akamaru took a spot on the rug and dozed off, taking up much of the floor space.

"I don't know what to do, Kiba. I'm just an artist. I don't know how to deal with these kind of things."

Kiba was quiet for a moment.

"One step at a time. She's got that cousin, right? Get him to come here. If he can't take her, she may have to stay here for a while. Think you can handle that?"

Shino pushed his glasses up.

"I'm sure I could. I'll have to get a part-time job, though. I won't be able to support us both on what I make from the art shows."

Both men halted their conversation when Hinata came out of the room, Shino's clothes folder over her arm. The shirt, only a size or two too large, said "I love my dog." She had on a pair of short pants, rolled at the top. Hana had even given her a pair of old sneakers, which were the right size.

"Thank you, K-Kiba."

Kiba smiled.

"No problem. I better get going. I'll leave the money on the counter."

Shino looked up at Kiba gratefully.

"Thanks."

When Kiba and Akamaru left, Hinata questioned Shino.

"Money?"

Shino sighed.

"When I found you, I was on the way to my art show. I make a meager living as an artist. I didn't go this week, so I didn't make any money off of my paintings. That means, no food or gas money."

"O-Oh…"

Shino shook his head.

"Don't worry about it. Do you want to talk to your cousin before I take you up to the hospital?"

"Yes please."

Shino handed her the phone and left the room, taking the clothes she gave him to the laundry hamper.

Hinata dialed Neji's number. It began to ring. Once. Twice.

"Hello?"

"Neji?"

"Hinata! What happened! There was yelling when you got off the phone last night."

"I'm fine now, Neji. But, oh it was awful. N-Naruto…he…"

Neji could hear the silent tears fall. He listened to her shaky explanation, anger boiling inside of him.

"Shino's taking me to the hospital when I get off the phone."

"Alright. I'll meet you up there."

"I love you."

"Love you too, cuz."

Hinata hung up. She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked for Shino. She found him already ready to leave, holding a denim jacket up from the bag Hana sent. She wordlessly took it from him, and she followed him out the door. They got into the elevator.

"Do you know what you're going to do?"

Hinata looked at him. The elevator dinged as it moved down a floor.

"My cousin, Neji, is coming to meet us at the hospital. I'll figure something out there."

Shino nodded. They finally reached ground floor. Leading her out to the parking lot, he unlocked his car and held the passenger's door open for her. She thanked him and got in.

'He is such a gentleman,' she thought to herself.

Shino got in and started the car, and soon they were on their way to the hospital. The ride was silent. Finally, Hinata spoke up.

"I'm sorry."

Shino arched a brow, but kept his eyes on the road.

"For what? From what I've seen, you haven't done anything wrong."

She put her head down.

"For th-this. For b-bothering you. B-because of m-me, you don't even h-have enough money to eat th-this week. And g-going out of y-your way to take me t-to the hospital."

They pulled up to a stoplight. Shino looked at her. In all his twenty seven years, he had never seen such a selfless girl.

"Hinata. It's not your fault. Nothing about the situation is your fault. I want to do this for you. I don't regret anything I've done for you."

Hinata didn't answer. She kept her head down until they pulled into the parking lot. He checked her in, and she was admitted immediately. He sat in the waiting room and picked up a magazine.

-

((AN: I don't really know how it works when a rape victim comes in. I'm just making this up as I go, hoping it sounds alright.))

"Nurse! I need the blood vials!"

Tsunade looked over the pale woman before her. She had already given a full physical. Nothing was seriously injured, but the skin on her arms was chafed off, and she had numerous large bruises all over her body. That required ointment, bandages, and painkillers. The door opened, and both women looked up to see the pink-haired nurse.

"Thank you Sakura. I'll be back later."

Tsunade left the room. Sakura looked at the poor girl on the table. She began setting up to draw blood.

"I'm just going to take a little bit of blood. We have to test to make sure he didn't transmit anything to you."

Hinata looked horrified. She closed her eyes when the needle entered the inside of her elbow. She didn't open them again until Sakura was finished.

"There we go. All done."

Putting a piece of cotton where she pulled the needle out, Sakura put a butterfly band-aid over it. She took the three vials she drew and left the room. Hinata waited for the doctor's return.

-

Shino was reading a TIME magazine when he heard someone else come in the room, saying his name questioningly.

"Are you Shino Aburame?"

Shino looked up at the man.

"Yes. And you are?"

Shino took in the man's appearance. He had the same unusual violet eyes as Hinata, and long brown hair that was tied near the end. Interestingly enough, Shino noted, he had an unusual symbol tattooed in green on his forehead. Worry was etched all over his face.

"I am Neji Hyuuga. Hinata's cousin."

Shino figured as much. Violet wasn't a common eye color, especially such a light shade.

"Ah. I've heard about you. She's in back now. Why don't you have a seat?"

-

Tsunade stood before Hinata with the results of the blood work.

"It seems that you were lucky. He didn't have any STDs. It's too early to tell if you're pregnant, though. You may come back in two weeks, or purchase an over the counter test to check for yourself."

She wrote out the prescriptions and handed them to her.

"You can get dressed now. Another doctor will meet you in the waiting room."

Hinata nodded, dressing after the doctor closed the door. Folding the hospital gown and placing it on the table, she gathered the prescriptions and went out into the waiting room.

-

Neji was telling Shino some things about Hinata. Shino listened as he described the relationship between Hinata and Hanabi. The truth, Shino realized, was worse than the rumors. Both men looked up when Hinata came out. Neji immediately stood and rushed to Hinata, hugging her tightly.

"Oh, I'm so glad you're okay."

Hinata's face flushed with embarrassment. She wrapped her arms around her cousin, happy to see a familiar friendly face. It's not that Shino and Kiba weren't important for what they have done, but Neji was close to her. He combed through her hair with his fingers.

"Shady hasn't been giving you trouble, has he?"

Hinata snorted at the "loving" nickname Neji bestowed upon Shino. Shino glared, but it was hidden behind the aforementioned shades. Hinata shook her head.

"No. In f-fact, he's been really nice. I'm glad he was th-the one that found me."

Neji smiled, and ruffled his younger cousin's hair.

"Good."

Shino cleared his throat.

"There's something that needs to be discussed."

"I'm sorry. It will have to wait until I'm finished."

The three young adults turned around to see a man in a long white coat, large round glasses, and with grayish-blue hair, tied back. He extended his hand out to Hinata.

"I am Dr. Yakushi. You can just call me Kabuto. You are Hinata Hyuuga, I trust?"

She shyly nodded her head. Neji and Shino watched her leave with him.

"I hope someday she finds the right man. Someone who can pull her out of that shell," sighed Neji.

"A butterfly only becomes when she's entirely ready," Shino quipped.

Neji turned his pale violet eyes on the painter, confused.

-

((AN: I beg your forgiveness. I don't even know where to begin here so it's gonna be vague.))

Hinata knew what she was here for. Dr. Yakushi was a psychologist.

"Alright, Hinata. Tell me how…"

((AN: Extremely vague. ^_^'))

-

After Hinata went back fit Kabuto, Neji and Shino left to get something to eat. They came back to the hospital and waited with their food, conversing. Neji learned that Shino was a painter for a living. Shino mostly painted nature, and all of his scenes included insects. Neji was surprised when told that Shino also painted pixies and fairies. But then, it made sense, with the mastery of insect wings it could easily be done.

After two hours, Hinata came back out. Dr. Yakushi held up his clipboard.

"I must say. This is one of the most unusual cases. She is probably the most calm victim I have ever counseled. Good Luck to you three."

He left.

Neji went and hugged her again. Shino put a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm glad you're alright. But there really is something we should talk about."

"You did mention that before." Neji said.

Hinata only stood and listened.

"At the moment, Hinata is homeless. Can she return back to the Hyuuga estate?"

Neji shook his head sadly.

"No. I would let her live with me, but then I'd be out of a home too. My uncle allows me to talk to her, but she isn't allowed to come back. That bastard."

Hinata hid her eyes. Shino gritted his teeth.

"That's just wrong. She's his eldest daughter! And then Naruto… It makes my blood boil that people are so sick. Where will she live?"

Neji thought for a moment. He looked from Hinata to Shino.

"What about with you?"

Hinata and Shino both chorused a "What?"

Hinata started first. "I couldn't d-do that to him. I barely know him. And b-besides, I d-don't have a job and he doesn't make enough t-to support us both."

Shino looked thoughtful.

"It can be arranged. I need to get a job anyway. I can't live from week to week banking that someone will buy my art." He turned to Hinata. "You're more than welcome to stay. Kiba has a sister, she's twenty eight. If you'd rather stay with a woman… or I can pay for you to stay in a hotel until you can get back on your feet."

Neji blinked. If he thought Hinata was selfless, this guy almost beat her. He took no regards to himself, he cared only for the well-being of others. He may be just what Hinata needs. If only the two could see it themselves.

"I g-guess, if it's n-not too much trouble, I'll stay with you, Sh-Shino. Neji, can you d-do me a favor and get some of m-my old clothes? I know there's st-still a bunch left there."

Neji nodded. "Of course, Princess."

He gave her one last hug and set off. Shino watched him go and mentally kicked himself. He was too nice for his own good. There's no way he could afford her right now. In fact, he can barely afford himself. He may need to call Kiba back…

"Hey, Hinata? Do you like pastries? I have to stop by the bakery on the way home. I'm good friends with the baker. I'm sure he can sneak you a cupcake."

Hinata smiled at the thought. A small comfort would be nice, what with all the trauma she's had to deal with as of late.

"I'd like that."