Author's Note: Hey there people! I am so sorry that I haven't updated in so long! Anyway, I am really hoping that you enjoy this chapter! R&R to let me know how you like the chapter!
Disclaimer: People come on! If I owned Naruto, I would have told you! I don't own Naruto, and most likely, I NEVER WILL!!! Thank you for your time.
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Chapter 7: Of Tears and Lockets
Hinata's POV
Hinata pulled up the hood to her cloak. It was late summer, and almost a full year that she had been missing, but she didn't want anyone to see her.
She stopped, and rested against a tree, looking up into the sky. She was happy, and she could still remember how she had bugged Kabuto until he had said she could visit Kohona. However, she couldn't go unless she was sure nobody would follow her home. Hinata was sure that nobody would, and even if they did, she could give them the slip.
She marveled at the change she had overcome. She was almost strong enough to beat Kabuto and Itachi at the same time, and she was managing her chakra better than ever. 'I've learned so much, and all thanks to Kabuto and Itachi…it's like I'm a new person." She thought.
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The cloaked figure entered Kohona, and passed down the streets. The person walked straight to the ramen shop.
As they entered, a boy wearing a bright orange jumpsuit looked up. Naruto stared at the cloaked figure. They seemed familiar, but he couldn't place them. However, when the person tapped him on the head, he spun around.
Naruto jumped up, and immediately took a kunai out, and took a defense stance. "Calm down, it's just me Naruto!" the figure squealed. Naruto took a step closer, and squinted hard at the figures' face.
"Hinata! OH MY GAWD! IT'S HINATA!" he screamed as he hugged her. "Its good to see you to Naruto." Hinata said, fighting for breath.
An hour later, Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Ino, Tenten, Lee, Shikamaru, Choji, and Shino all knew that Hinata was back. Actually, most of Kohona knew she was back, excluding Kiba and Neji.
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Hinata walked up to the figure sitting by the stream. She could see that his eyes were puffy from crying, and he clutched his snow-white dog to his chest.
'I didn't know he cared so much. Ino told me he was heartbroken when I left, but I never expected…'
"Kiba?" The boy turned, and gasped with shock. Akamaru, (the dog) started barking.
Hinata felt the breath leave her as her shaggy brunette haired friend grabbed her with a bear-like grip.
"H-Hinata, I m-m-missed y-you!" Kiba sobbed. Hinata hugged him back, just as fiercely. "I missed you to." She said, trying not to cry. Hinata smiled and said, "Lets see Neji."
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Neji's bedroom door was locked. Hinata found an extra key, and unlocked the door.
Neji's room was a complete disaster. Hinata had a hard time trying to discern what everything was. Then she saw him.
Neji's long hair was frizzy and messed up. His normally cold eyes were puffy, and he looked like he hadn't slept for weeks, and he probably hadn't. His clothes were ruffled, and he held a picture in his hands. Even though the glass was stained with teardrops, Hinata could see that it was a picture of herself and Neji when they were about 6 years old.
"Nii-san?" Hinata whispered. Neji didn't respond. Hinata walked up to him, and sat down on the bed next to him. When she put her arm around his shaking shoulders, he looked up.
Neji went pale. He opened his mouth to scream, but all that came out was a strangled sob. "Nii-san." Hinata said, tears shining in her eyes. She flung herself into his arms, and the two cousins hugged each other as if nothing in the world would ever tear them apart again. Neji was crying and saying things like, "I'm sorry," or "I didn't mean what I said. Please forgive me!" And Hinata just cried and hugged him whispering, "I know, I know."
When the two broke apart, it was late afternoon, and the sun was just beginning to set. Hinata and Neji went outside, and talked for about an hour.
Neji told Hinata about the search parties, and how he had waited for her everyday. And Hinata lied and said that she had found a house in the woods, and fixed it. The topics switched and switched until Neji finally had to ask her the question.
"Hinata, where did you get that locket?" Hinata looked down, and blushed. He was talking about her gold locket that was decorated with the Japanese sign for friendship, in light blue paint.
She had gotten the necklace from Kabuto for her birthday, and it had a picture of him and Itachi inside it, but she couldn't tell Neji that.
"I got it in…well…Naruto gave it to me. You just never saw it because I never wore it. I wanted to show it to you after training that day but…" She cut herself off because the hurt look on Neji's face was torture. He looked so sorry and miserable that she couldn't bring herself to say anything more.
After a few minutes of silence, Neji said, "Well, whatever. It doesn't matter now. All that matters is that you're here to stay." Hinata gulped.
"Umm, Neji, about that…"
"About what?"
"I…I…"
"What is it Hinata, spit it out." Neji said, starting to get impatient.
"Neji…I…NejiImnotstaying." Hinata said as fast as she could.
"What? I didn't understand a word you just..."
"I'm not staying, Neji."
"What." Neji said, his voice hardening, and lowering to a deadly whisper.
"B-but I-I'll v-visit. I p-promise."
"What do you mean you aren't staying?"
"Neji, I promise, really, I will visit, I swear!"
"But why? Why can't you stay?"
"I…I can't tell you"
"Hinata, why can't you stay?"
"Because…because I…I have to go" Hinata got up, and ran, once again, tears blinding her vision. She could remember the last time she had run down these streets.
"HINATA WAIT!" Neji screamed. This time, someone heard him. Naruto charged straight at Hinata, not wanting her to runoff again. He was almost instantly dispatched, and on the ground. It had happened so quickly that he couldn't even remember Hinata's attack.
Hinata ran on, and didn't look back. The city limits were almost within sight.
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Hinata turned the last corner, and slammed into Sasuke. Her locket snapped off, and landed on the gravel. Hinata hit the ground with a thump.
"Watch it." Sasuke growled. Yup, same old Sasuke. He was still tall, arrogant, and bitchy. His hair was still raven colored, and in the shape of a duck's ass. His eyes glowed a cold, onyx black. He really hadn't changed at all.
"Sorry." Hinata mumbled. She was about to continue her run when Sasuke told her to wait.
"You dropped…" but suddenly, Sasuke stopped. When Hinata had fallen, and her locket broke loose of the chain, the clasp had been damaged. It fell open in Sasuke's palm, and the two pictures were clearly visible.
Sasuke looked at the pictures, and swore. Hinata grabbed the two bits of locket and prepared to run.
"I-I'm s-s-sorry Sasuke, b-but I really have to…"
"Where did you get this?" Hinata stayed silent. She knew she had been discovered, and that Sasuke was Itachi's younger brother. She was in a dangerous situation, and nobody was going to save her.
She didn't know how to respond until Sasuke grabbed her arm, and slammed her against the wall of the nearest shop. Unfortunately, nobody was around since Hinata had shaken off Naruto and Neji, and all of the stores were closed.
"WHERE DID YOU GET THIS PICTURE?! DAMNIT, WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ITACHI?! WHERE IS HE?!" Sasuke screamed
"Sasuke, stop it, you're hurting me! Let go!" Hinata yelled back at him. Her head was pounding, and her arm felt as though it had been broken.
"WHERE IS HE?" Sasuke yelled again.
"I said let go!" summoning up all of her strength, Hinata punched Sasuke with her free hand. She hit him right between the eyes. When he let her go, Hinata kicked his groin so hard that he would feel it years later. Then, she ran for her life, out of the gates of Kohona.
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Kabuto saw Hinata coming, and ran out to meet her. She was sobbing hysterically, and her arm was hanging at her side at an odd angle.
"Hinata, what happened? Are you alright?" he asked, fearing the worst.
"I need to see Itachi." She managed to whisper, but Kabuto still caught it. He brought her into the house, and ran off to get Itachi.
Moments later, they returned.
"Hinata, what's wrong?" Itachi asked. All Hinata could do was glare at him. Even Kabuto shrank back from the force of her glare.
"Sasuke…he…he found out…" Hinata managed to say after she had controlled her breathing.
"Sasuke…oh my g…Hinata, I'm sorry!" Itachi said, realizing his mistake. He haden't realized that his brother was still in Kohona, and was looking for him. It was almost as if he had sent Hinata to Lord Orochimaru himself, and if that weren't bad enough, it looked like her arm was broken.
"Why?" Hinata whispered, tears falling freely.
"Hinata…I" Itachi said, and he really meant it.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?" Hinata screamed.
"Hinata, really, I didn't realize! I'm so…Hinata wait!" But Hinata was already gone. She tore through the house, and ran into the backyard. She ran over to the cherry blossom tree by the small pond. She curled up against it, and cried.
She cried for joy of seeing her friends and family again, she cried for her fear of Sasuke's anger, and she cried of pain from her arm.
Eventually, Hinata cried herself to sleep under the cherry blossom tree, by the pond, cool, and still. The moon and stars shone above, as the ever-silent watchers, of all the tears in the world.
Even in sleep, Hinata cried. But as the last tear fell, she could only dream of tears. Tears, and lockets.
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Author's Note: Hey people! How do you like the chapter? R&R to let me know! I am sorry if you think it was long. Once again, I want to apologize for not updating sooner!