Chapter 14:

Hinata stared at the young man sat next to her. A mixture of emotions flew through her body: disgust, shock, anxiety and the strongest of all, fear. Just being in his presence was mentally exhausting. He looked to be in his mid to late twenties with shoulder length, dark hair neatly tied behind his stern face. A chestnut blazer complemented his overly tight tie and creaseless shirt. The man's empty, suspecting eyes bored into her own.

The atmosphere suddenly turned sour, "Honestly..." He scoffed, "I didn't suspect something so reckless to happen to you of all people."

"Neji..." Hinata whispered, her voice trembling.

"Theft, resisting arrest..." Neji listed, each syllable dragged out in a dark tone, "... Kidnapping"

"I-I can explain-"

"Ive already heard enough already. What happened to you? I understand you were failing school but breaking the law too?! Why do you want to ruin your future so badly?"

Hinata hung he head, and absently soaked up what her cousin was stating. Neji looked to her hands, expecting her to do that childish motion where the fingers would circle each other. But, they weren't moving. Instead her fists were clenched.

"Something about you... Is different." He noted, "is it possible you've become even more foolish? What exactly are you trying to prove? Well-"

"I got your letter." She intruded.

Her interruption took Neji aback. In their entire life not once had she cut in so abruptly let alone speak back. He stared at her for a moment unable to produce any form of response.

"I'm not going." She casually spoke.

Immediately, Neji shot up from his seat. His once composted face had shifted to that of sheer disgust and confusion.

"What?! It wasn't a choice. What- I don't- have you lost your mind?!"

"No. Quite the opposite really. If anything I'd say I've been driven by madness my entire life. For once I'd like to have a say in my own life."

"Do you understand what you're even saying?!" He spat, pacing around the ward searching for some rational explanation, "We can look after you. After barely two months of being 'independent' you've already nearly died."

Although Hinata was expressing her true views, inside she was decaying. He had a point. The heart monitor was noticeably increasing. She was so glad to be finally saying this all and to let it just come out but each word brought more dread then the last. Yelling at Sakura or Hidan was a million times easier then this. What's worse was the fact that she was trapped here with him. She couldn't just up and walk away it would have to be him to go.

The chaos was interrupted by a deep creek from the back of the small room. The two were so emerged in their conflict that they had failed to notice the door creaking open until now. Slow footsteps echoed loudly diluting the shouting. In stepped another man. A person even more terrifying then the one besides her now. Her short burst of confidence was swallowed back down into the very pit of her stomach.

Her mouth was frozen open mid sentence. All limbs tightened and eyes glued to those murky pools of poison.

After a second of recognition, Neji immediately protested, "I thought you said I could talk to her first. We're not even finished ye-"

"That's enough, Neji." Commanded the older man.

With a single raised hand, Hinata's cousin was put in his place. "What are you doing here?" Is was the patient wanted to say but, her lips remained gaped like a fish out of water.

The oldest of the trio pulled up a near by chair and took his rightful place. He flicked his brown locks from his shoulder and persisted to examine the bed's owner.

"Is this true?" He began, "do you wish to remain here? Hinata."

"Father." Hinata croaked.

The girl struggled to produce another word so instead looked away and nervously gave a nod. The man sighed heavily and proceeded to rub his temples. Immediately her fists clung to the thin hospital sheets and her eyes searched for something else to occupy her gaze.

Hiasashi leaned forwards, "Are you sure about this choice?"

"Yes." Hinata squeaked.

The room went quiet and remained in this state for several long, dreadful seconds. What was he thinking? Am I going to be punished for this? Of corse I am- I'm a terrible daughter, running away from my problems. I deserve whatever's comin-

"Why?" The word had a surprisingly light feel to it.

"I... I- uh." Hinata stuttered.

She went quiet for a moment, the words were all there inside. It was just a matter of processing them into a functioning sentence. She closed her eyes, took in a few deep breaths and allowed her thoughts to go blank. No-more white, like a canvas that was yet to be painted on. Images quickly flew through: a beach, a lighthouse and a man. Okay.

"I... want to stay here, be...cause I've experienced a lot of things. Not all of them good b-but, they've made me into the. The person I am now and to be honest... I prefer myself to now then before. When I was home. I used to hate myself and c-could feel myself drowning in so much stress of what I should be and and it was exhausting! I was constantly afraid but here I feel like I can be my own person. I don't have to be the honourable Hyuga heiress everyone expects of me. I'm not as smart as Neji or as successful as Hinabi. I have made bad- stupid choices but it's from that I've learned and- and-"

The same hand silenced her words. Without even realising it, tears had rushed from her hot cheeks and her hands were tight. Hinata looked to her father for some kind of reaction: hate, disgust- anything, but his face was its usual blankness.

What happened next shocked both her and Neji. Hiasashi began to laugh. Hinata and her cousin exchanged equally confused looks. Was this really her father? The last time she could remember him so ecstatic was... Well not even Hinata could remember. She was half expecting some guy from Hollywood to jump out with a bunch of cameras and yell surprise!

"Sorry! You just reminded me so much of Lilly. She was just as stubborn, the first time we met she actually hit me round the head."

He persisted to chuckle but his eyes grew glossy. Ever since the death of Hinata's mother Hiasashi had forbidden the use of her name. She had only learnt it through a servant the who was later fired that same day.

"I'm glad that you've found your voice. Honestly, I was worried when I came here that you'd still be that shy child. I understand you've had a hard time with the bullying and the accident which is why I let you come here. But, when I talked to that young man he couldn't stop saying how great you are. It seems you've made a few friends and one or two enemies as he's told me "

"What, you mean Hidan?!"

"Yes I think that was his name."

"But there's no way he'd be awake now. He was almost dead just a few hours ago."

Both Hiasashi and Neji shared the same look of concern. Her Cousin stared intently at the older man, his eyes widened for a second. In return Hinata's father frowned and looked away. He sighed deeply and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Hinata... You weren't asleep for a few hours. The thing is you... Urgh, there's no easy way of saying this but, you were in a coma."

"What?! H-how long for? A month- two months. Six?!"

"Almost four years." Bluntly intruded Neji.

Hiasashi was clearly annoyed at the reveal but continued, "The doctors got something wrong with the morphine dosage they gave you causing a reaction in your body to remain in a sleep like state. As soon as we learnt this, our family took them to caught and instantly won. We've been waiting so long to see you." The head of the family smiled then went on, "that man- Hidan wasn't it, he came hear every week to sit right where I am now and talk to you. He even replaced the flowers he bought the previous week. It must have cost him a fortune- we even offered to pay but he insisted alright."

Hinata turned to face the windowsill where a vars, containing sunflowers, perched. They were so bright she was amazed at herself for not noticing earlier.

"Oh right! He will defiantly want to know your awa-"

Hiasashi's sentence was overwhelmed by what sounded like some kind of robbery gone wrong. Metallic items were thrashed in the corridor followed by a series of squeals and some seriously heavy footsteps that got faster with every "Thump, thump thump!"

"MOVE! OUTTA THE WAY FUCKERS!"

In burst a twenty three year old lunatic that had sprinted so fast that he'd forgotten to slow down resulting in a bruised head and a very unfortunate wall.

"Fuck!" He yelled crawling onto all fours like some wounded cat.

The man grabbed his white hair and rubbed it a little too roughly. He moaned before slowly rising his head. Long marine hair, was the first thing he noticed then a pare of big, beautiful lilac eyes. They stared at each other for what seemed like hours, unblinking.

A very uncomfortable Neji slid out while his uncle followed, "We'll take our leave."

As the door clicked shut so did the woman's eyes. Joyful tears shed and couldn't stop even after wiping them away. Hidan scampered to the bed and launched himself into her arms.

"Hinata!" He laughed, wrapping his arms tightly around her.

Little damp splotches found their way onto her shoulder as she clung to the fabric of his shirt.

They both cried and laughed, embracing each other tightly. His back was hard and both arms were equally buff. The young woman could see he had matured. His face was slightly longer but by no means unattractive. Some of the man's shoulder length hair tickled her red cheeks. One thing that hadn't changed were his deep magenta eyes, loving and kind.

Their heavy breaths lingered. Hidan pressed gently on Hinata's head so it rested on his broad shoulder. Her nose nuzzled his neck. She had missed the sent of him. The warmth of his skin and most of all she had missed this feeling of being so close to him.

I really enjoyed writing that one. Oh I was so tempted to add more romance in there but I did my best to hold back. Well at least for now ;)

Please review. It's your input that keeps me inspired to write more.