Define Destiny

A/N: Yay, the next chapter! It's funny how some reviewers seem to guess what's going to happen next, yet it's not that good when it happens. Is my story too predictable? I hope not... Well, I tried to balance the amount of angst and fluff in this chapter but I think that angst won over fluff. I sort of wrote this chapter while listening to 'Falling Away From Me' by Korn. I guess that kind of explains it. Now, the real story is going to start up. I hope you like this chapter. Remember to review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Hinata, or any other character.

Chapter 4

She awoke with a start, her heart beating wildly in her chest. She blinked a few times, her eyes adjusting to the blurs of green surrounding her. She sat up and looked around. A feeling of dismay engulfed her.

It had been a dream.

Just a dream.

She had parted with Neji and Tenten, and had begun making her way to the forest. She had wanted to breathe in fresh air. Hinata frowned and stood up. She brushed off some leaves from her kimono; its once beautiful design looked dull.

She didn't remember falling asleep. It was strange how realistic the dream had been.

A birdcall sounded from a nearby tree. She jumped, startled by the sudden noise. Hinata moved to turn around in order to spot the path. That was when it happened, the clumsiest, most idiotic moment of her whole life.

The edge of her kimono got caught on a stray branch and she lost her balance.

She fell…

…and landed face first in a pile of dead leaves.

They flew up around her, the crinkling noise they made extremely loud to her ears. But it didn't rival the shriek she had let out as she'd fallen.

Now she lay motionless in the pile, her face uncomfortably pressed into the leaves. She let out a strangled sob, inwardly cursing her clumsiness. She rolled over so she was lying on her back. Patches of the sky were visible. It was a bright, happy blue, the opposite of how she was feeling. She flung an arm across her eyes, blocking the light.

She lay there for a while, resting. She took this time to sort through her thoughts, trying not to think too much about the future. She let out a sigh and bit her lip, her sister on her mind. She imagined her standing all alone with the cursed seal on her forehead, forever an outcast.

No!

She would not let that happen to her sister. She couldn't…

"Hinata-chan, is that you?"

Her eyes flew open. Her mouth opened to form an 'o' of surprise. "Naruto-kun!" she exclaimed.

A smile spread on his face causing a blush to form on her cheeks. "What are you doing lying in the leaves, Hinata-chan?" he asked.

"I, um, I fell." She mumbled, smoothing out the wrinkled fabric of her kimono. He laughed, though it wasn't malicious laughter. Naruto held out his hand to her and pulled her up, carefully, handling her as if she was a porcelain doll that could break.

"W-what about you, Naruto-kun? What are you d-doing out here?" she questioned.

"I was just wandering." he answered.

They began walking down the path, side by side, in silence. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence. It was as if what they needed to say to each other couldn't be said in words. However, Naruto wasn't happy with the silence. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly and said, "Have you ever played in the leaf piles?"

She glanced at him and shook her head. "Never. Father always said that it was improper for young ladies."

He gasped and dramatically placed a hand on his heart as if her words had had such an effect on him. "I can't believe you!" He grabbed her hand, unintentionally pulling her closer. "I must show you now!" Lee had rubbed off on him. That much was obvious.

Hinata hesitated. He noticed. "I promise you'll enjoy yourself!" He gave his nice guy pose. A small smile appeared on her face. "O-okay,"

Why was he doing this for her? Was it because he felt bad for her? Or was it because he wanted to see her smile and laugh? Naruto just didn't know. And as he leapt from tree to tree, hand in hand with her, he couldn't hide his joy. A strange feeling was bubbling up inside him, filling him with warmth.

All he did know what that she was the cause of it.

&&&&&&&&&&&

"Naruto-kun!" Her shout rang in the clearing. It was indignant yet full of happiness at the same time.

"You should've been paying attention, Hinata-chan!" he yelled from the other side.

The clearing they were in was full of leaf piles and they were currently having a leaf war. Every so often, one of them would fling piles of leaves at the other, held together by chakra. Then they would draw back the chakra and the airborne piles would burst. The effect was rather mesmerizing.

"That's not fair!"

That was why she had been struck. She had been gazing at the leaves and one of his piles had burst right over her head. Now she had leaves in her hair and some stuck to her kimono.

"All's fair in war!"

Her eyes narrowed and she thought up a plan. She gathered up several piles and flung them at him. The air filled with falling leaves, effectively impairing his vision and distracting him. She picked up one and disappeared from her spot. She ran, only a blur, and appeared behind him. She jumped and was about to dump the pile over his head when he turned.

He grabbed her by the wrist with lightening quick reflexes. The pile she had in her hand burst over them, showering them with leaves. They fell back onto a small mountain of leaves, laughing. And they laughed, fully enjoying themselves.

After a short time their laughter died down to the occasional giggle or chuckle. They rolled over so they were lying on their sides, facing each other. "I t-think the phrase is 'all's fair in love and war'." Hinata said.

Naruto half shrugged. "Same thing,"

Her pale eyes met his and she smiled. "Thank you, N-Naruto-kun."

A faint blush appeared on his cheeks. "Ah, it was nothing. You looked kind of sad and I wanted to cheer you up."

"W-well, you succeeded," she said. "You made my day."

She didn't know if it was a trick of the light, caused by the setting sun, but she could've sworn that his blush had deepened. The clearing was now dim, lit up by soft red light. They just gazed at each other until the sun was completely gone and the clearing was bathed in darkness.

Naruto stood up and helped Hinata stand. They paused and she knew she was the one blushing this time. "Well, I-I guess this is good bye." she whispered. Their faces seemed to be getting closer. She could see the tattoo-like whiskers on his cheeks in more detail this close.

"Hinata-chan…" Hearing her name shocked her out of her dreamlike state.

"Uh, I'll see you tomorrow, Naruto-kun!" She whirled around and basically ran. One short glance back and she knew how confused Naruto was. He was staring after her, looking lost.

Don't worry, Naruto-kun. I'm just as confused…

She thought back at the time they had spent together. Then her thoughts drifted to their abrupt end. She couldn't believe she had done that. The next time she saw him she would have to apologize with some lame excuse.

Sooner than she wanted, she was back at the Hyuga clan compound. The grounds were empty and eerily quiet. The main house loomed up ahead and she quickened her pace. She stopped briefly to collect her obi from behind the bushes, surprised that a servant hadn't already found it.

Hinata walked up the steps and slid off her shoes. She turned and walked down the hallway she knew so well. The garden that had been so beautifully created seemed to gleam in the darkness. She turned another corner and knew that she was near her rooms.

She was just a few steps away from her door when a sharp voice called her name. She felt her insides freeze over. Dread filled her completely. She turned to face the person slowly, struggling to keep her calm expression.

"Konban wa, Hikari-sama," Hinata said, dropping to a bow. She stared at the floor and tried to regulate her breathing.

"I'm glad to see you got back well, Hinata-chan." There was that suffix again, one that held no real care. Hinata didn't move to stand up. She was in the presence of an elder and must remain like this unless she was told she could stand.

"What did Hokage-sama want?" Hikari asked. A smirk hovered upon her red lips. She had finally caught the Hyuga heiress alone. The girl was terrified of her, which was obvious by the subtle shaking of her delicate shoulders. She had some information for her and she was sure the girl would break once told.

"She w-wanted to discuss s-some things about my records,"

Ugh, there was that awful stuttering. She just wished she could beat it out of her!

"Really? Well, then who was that boy you were with this afternoon?"

Hinata froze. What? She had been seen with Naruto in the forest. Hikari had followed her? No. She was an elder and she didn't have the time. And she didn't need to waste the time. She had probably sent somebody to spy on her.

Was this what her father had meant by 'there will be many changes'?

Was her every move going to be monitored?

"He's just a f-friend, Hikari-sama." Hinata replied. Her voice was shaky, a dead giveaway of her feelings, she was sure.

"Just a friend?" Hikari questioned. "It sure didn't seem like it."

Hinata had nothing to say to that. She knew it was true and if she denied everything, it would be lying.

"What's his name?" Hikari asked suddenly.

"U-Uzumaki Naruto,"

A sneer replaced the smirk. "Uzumaki? That outcast?"

Hinata flinched at the word 'outcast'. "He's a very kind person, Hikari-sama. He—"

Hikari cut her off. "He's very lonely and only wants a friend. Am I right, Hinata?" She forgot the suffix this time. She wasn't bothering to mask how she felt this time. "I can't believe you fell for that!"

Hinata had closed her eyes and clenched her hands into fists. "I'm sorry." she whispered.

Hikari knelt down in front of her and cupped her cheek with her hand. "It's okay. We all make mistakes, though some stupider than others." Hinata let out a jagged breath, fighting the tears welling up behind her eyelids. "He hasn't done anything to you, has he?"

She caught what she was suggesting in her sentence. "No! Naruto-kun wouldn't do that!" A tear slid down her cheek.

"Good," said Hikari, standing once more. "The Hyuga heiress can't be seen as someone who sleeps around, especially with scum like that."

Her tears were falling now. "I w-would never do that! I can't b-believe you think so little of me!"

She had stood up and was facing Hikari. They were eye to eye now. She was trembling. But she didn't know whether it was from fear or anger. Her entire world seemed to be moving in fast forward. Words just tumbled from her mouth. She had no time to think.

"I cannot wait until I am head of the Hyuga clan! Maybe I'll finally be able to fix things, like how you were made an elder!"

Hikari's gaze darkened and her lips were pressed into a thin line. "You are being disrespectful, Hinata." Her voice was soft but, suddenly, she no longer looked beautiful. "And you have no right to say those things."

Hinata closed her eyes.

&&&&&&&&&&

One second she had been standing in front of Hikari and the next she found herself laying in the garden, across the hallway she had been standing in. Her blue kimono was stained with mud. Her kimono was ruined. Sobs shook her body.

She felt a drop of cold water hit her bruised cheek. It slid down slowly and fell to the grass. More and more began falling until it was a downpour. She was soaked to the skin yet she couldn't find the will to get up and go inside.

If she went inside, she would have to face her family's questions. And telling about Hikari would do nothing. They would not do anything about it. They couldn't do anything about it.

She vaguely realized that someone was murmuring in her ear, wrapping clothing around her, drawing her into a warm embrace. But no words were comprehended by her mind. She had no strength left to look up and see whom her savior was.

&&&&&&&&&&

Neji didn't know why Hikari had slapped Hinata. It had been so sudden. And now he held the dirt covered Hyuga heiress to his chest, wrapped in his jacket. He had never thought he'd see the usually shy girl punished so harshly.

His body had reacted on its own. He had known he had no chance of getting there on time but he hoped on saving his cousin the pain. He was also soaked now, his hair slipping out of the tie holding it back.

He glanced dangerously at Hikari. She stood in the corridor, her arms crossed, watching them with satisfaction. A small smile appeared on her lips as she spoke, "I thought you knew better than that, Hinata." She turned and began walking away. "If I hear word of you being with that boy, you'll get worse."

His gaze never faltered as she moved away and she didn't like it. "You have no right to look at me like that, Neji-kun. Be careful or I might have to use drastic measures to make sure you respect me." She looked back at him and her smile widened. "Hinata-chan, you made my day." It was a mockery of Hinata. She disappeared around the corner at the opposite end of the hallway.

Neji returned his attention to Hinata. She was gazing at him with blank eyes, close to seeming devoid of life. He didn't like that look. It was as if she had been crushed, her spirit broken. He was used to this degrading abuse but she wasn't.

Gently, he pulled her from the mud and walked to her room. It was dark inside, the air heavy. He reached up and turned on the lamp. It dimly lit the room. He set her down on her futon and collected the medicine kit from her bathroom.

He sat down across from her. There was no change in her expression. Lightening flashed, thunder following close behind.

"Let me see your cheek, Hinata-sama." Neji said softly. He reached out and pried her hand away from her cheek. He clenched his jaw, observing the damage of Hikari's hit. Hinata's lip had been split. Blood dripped from it. Her cheek was badly bruised.

He took a clean towel and wiped away all the blood and mud from her face. He moved to apply some ointment. Her hand gripped his and she spoke.

"Please…d-don't tell otou-san…about this." Her voice was unsteady and hoarse.

Neji shook his head. "We need to talk, Hinata-sama."