Hi everyone! Nikkie here. I'm glad to say that enough people have said they liked it, so I will continue with the story! I don't own any of these characters at all. BTW: this chap takes place a few hours after the one before it. R&R. Enjoy! Thnkx! -Nikkie

Chapter 5

Kiba helped Hinata out of the water. They walked over to a bench to watch the sun set through the sky.

"Look Hinata!" Various hues of orange and red had flooded the sky, transforming the usual blue canvas into a bright swirl of color.

"It's beautiful." Hinata agreed as the sun slowly disappeared from its spot over the lake.

Suddenly the sky began to go dark and he moon came out. Hinata loved the moon. It was her favorite thing in the world. Once before her mother had died, her mother had shown her the moon and told her "All of the great heroes spirits surround the moon. It is their spirit and belief that keeps it lit."

Kiba saw Hinata looking at the moon. She seems so happy, so serene, he thought.

Hinata jumped up suddenly. "I've got to get home!" Kiba's eyes widened in realization. He'd forgotten all about how she needed to be 'protected'.

"Well, let's go then! Let's hope your father doesn't kill me!" Kiba joked.

Neji stood at the entrance to the Hyuga compound, awaiting Kiba and Hinata. The two suddenly appeared in view, hurrying up the path, damp from being in the lake.

"Hinata, hurry into the compound before lord Hiashi becomes angry." Neji instructed.

The kunoichi bowed and hurried into the compound. Kiba grinned at her and waved. He got ready to turn around, but felt the cool metal of a kunai knife against his neck. Kiba's eyes grew wide as he saw a smirking Neji holding the weapon.

"You'll stay away from her if you know what's best for you." Neji's eyes were cold.

"Why are you doing this?" Kiba bared his teeth at the Hyuga.

"She can't be with you. She's the heiress of our clan." Neji gave Kiba a look of pure hatred.

"But you and her father are always saying that she doesn't deserve her future."

Neji took the kunai away from Kiba's neck. "You're right, she doesn't. Her sister Hanabi does. I think we should banish her from the clan."

"Then why don't you?" Kiba asked him.

"Because she has the power of the Byakugan. We don't want our secret technique to be in the hands of someone else."

"No one in the Inuzuka clan would try to steal your kekkei genkai." Kiba said quietly.

Neji sighed. "I'm aware of that." He stated. "It will just be difficult to convince Lord Hiashi that." Neji gave a weak smile. "Hey, sorry about the kunai thing. I-"

"Don't worry about it." Kiba said waving a hand at Neji. "You're just trying to follow your 'orders'. It's not your fault the Hyuga clan uses you like a puppet."

Neji smiled at Kiba. "You're all right." Neji pocketed the kunai."I will do what I can to help you and my cousin, but I am not sure I can do much more."

"Me and Hinata? How did you know about that?" Kiba's mouth was wide open.

"I had orders to follow you and Hinata. I saw you at the lake."

Kiba blushed and looked away. Neji continued to talk.

"Unfortunately, Lord Hiashi knows that you like his daughter, and sadly it was because I made him aware of this."

"YOU TOLD HIM!!" Kiba 's face turned from flushed to angry.

"I'm sorry. I will do what I can to make up for it."

"You better." Kiba growled.

Neji bowed, and hurried into the compound. I've got to find Hinata before Hiashi does. If I don't, she may be in for a rude awakoning.

Hinata was lying on her bed, thinking over what had happened at the lake. She kept seeing that kiss over and over again in her head. It almost seemed like a joke. It was like it was one of those little kid activities where the objective was to find out what was wrong with the picture.

"I'm supposed to be with Naruto, right? Naruto is the one I love, not Kiba," Hinata said her mind aloud.

"Then why did you kiss him?" a voice asked. Hinata jumped at the voice, then suddenly realized that it had come from her older cousin that had just entered the room while she was deep in thought.

"Neji, how did you know about that?" Hinata's face turned a bright shade of pink.

"I was given orders to follow the two of you."

"You were following us, the whole time?" Neji nodded, and Hinta's face turned an even deeper color of pink.

"It looks like you've got yourself in quite a problem." Neji commented. "You have always liked Naruto and thought you were to be together, then your best friend and teammate tells you he loves you and kisses you."

"I don't know what t-to d-do Neji-kun." Hinata began to stutter from the new fear and worry she had. "I have to pick between Kiba and Naruto!"

"No one can deicide for you, either. Let me just tell you one thing before I go. Think a second. Which one has always been there for you, always paid attention to you, always had faith and believed in you, and cherished you for who you really are, and which one hasn't?" Neji bowed as he left Hinata's room.

Which one has always been there for me…

Aww! What a choice! Can't wait to write the next chapter!