Hinata was outside, enjoying the day with Gaara, Matsuri, Kankuro, and Temari.
"Today isn't so hot, thank Kami. What should we do today?" Asked Temari.
"How about a walk in the park?" Suggested Kankuro.
"You have a park?"
Kankuro smiled down at Hinata.
"Sure do. It's nothing fancy but there are swings and Gaara's favorite place, the sandbox!"
Kankuro doubled over laughing only to receive a hard kick to his back from Gaara.
"You're not funny, Kankuro."
"Ah! I think I'm hilarious, don't you?"
"Not one bit. Come on let's go."
The five of them went to the park. Temari was showing some young girls some moves, Kankuro was exercising, Hinata and Gaara were holding hands, talking and smiling, while Matsuri followed close behind. Hinata turned to Matsuri, a sly grin on her face. Was she rubbing it in that she had Gaara? No. She ran to her and tapped her.
"Tag! You're it!"
Hinata immediately ran away. Matsuri didn't understand, she tilted her head.
"Chase me!"
Oh, it was a game. Matsuri never played this game before. She chased after Hinata. Soon everyone got into the game, including Gaara who was reluctant at first but with encouragement from his lover he started running away from her finger, afraid to be tagged "it". While they were having fun, Neji had just arrived in the Suna. Hanabi wiped off her sweat.
"Kami, it's hot."
Hanabi smiled a bit, though. Now Hinata was in for it. She was going to be assimilated, and if not, she was going to be an outcast. 'Good riddance,' she thought firmly. Maybe now she could have her Neji-nii-san. She had been waiting for so, so, so long. Hiashi heard his daughter's laughter and went to it, leading his battalion of Neji and Hanabi. Neji saw her, running around like a child. That light was in her eyes again, she was the old Hinata, the Hinata he danced with so long ago, the Hinata that was sweet, kind, and not a robot, an empty shell. This was the Hinata he remembered, the Hinata he wanted. A smiling, happy puppy to be kicked. Hinata stopped on her tracks. She felt the looming, unmistakable presence of a Hyuga. Not just one, but many. She turned. It wasn't…it couldn't be. But oh, it was. Standing front and center casting a dark shadow was her father and flanking him was her little sister and of course…Neji. They looked pissed…except for Hanabi who was smiling, reveling in Hinata's despair. Gaara saw them too. That damned cousin of hers that she was forced into marriage with, and that evil father who trapped her. The girl he hadn't seen but she looked like Hinata a smidge, but more like Hiashi. It had to be her sister or another cousin.
"What do you want?"
"Silence boy! This doesn't concern you!" Yelled Hanabi. She didn't know who this guy was but she assumed it was the one who Hinata slept with. He was very handsome but nothing like her Neji-nii-san.
"Hanabi, quiet yourself. It does concern him…You know very well why we're here. Hinata has committed an unspeakable crime and must be punished. She betrayed her husband."
Matsuri watched on. These were obviously part of Hinata's family. The one that was speaking, the grown man, was most likely her father and the other were assumedly her siblings but didn't he say husband? Who was her husband? That boy, perhaps? Things were spicing it and Matsuri was engulfing all the delicious dirt she was getting on Hinata. Again…he had said husband right? Was Hinata married and yet with Gaara? It was perfect. Matsuri could feel a smile on her lips. This was Hinata's secret, the big secret, the thing that could bring her down.
"Some husband he was," Kankuro interrupted, "She wasn't happy with him. Besides, he's her cousin. Disgusting. You all sicken me. I suggest you leave before you get the ass-whopping of a life time, Suna style."
Hanabi scoffed. "Tsk. You think you can defeat the Hyuga's? Please, you're nothing. We'll be taking my sister back now so move aside."
"As if. She's one of us now, you can't take her back! I won't let you!" Shouted Temari, breaking out her fan, she could see Kankuro pulling on the nearly invisible strings of his puppet and Gaara's sand rushing at his feet. They had a stone-cold glare on these guys. They meant business. There would be blood.
Hiashi cracked his neck then looked dead on into Gaara's eyes.
"Hinata needs to be severally punished or imprisoned. What she did is against one of our laws."
"Fuck your laws. They don't apply here on Suna soil. I am the Kazekage; I have the power here, not you. Besides, while she may be married to you she legally belongs here. My word is law and if I asked for it, this marriage could be torn to pieces along with your limbs. You should leave her alone, she's happy here. Don't parents want that for their children, don't siblings want that for their elder siblings? Or am I wrong? Are you three as black and as heartless as your eyes display? If you are more content with your own happiness then I have no choice but to demolish you. To me, her happiness comes first."
"Family and love, these are important, these come first," Kankuro intervened.
"Hai! A family is supposed to cherish, love, and care not destroy. You're all a bunch of stuck-up pricks. You won't take my sister away."
Temari looked dead into Hanabi's eyes. "You hate her…she's no sister to you…she's your enemy. I've cared for her like the sister you could never afford or want to be and like the mother she lost. Have you forgotten love when Hiromi died? Is that when it all came down?"
Hiashi's eyes widened slightly and there was a pang in his heart. The empty place his wife left when she died…it was still there. Hanabi's eyes watered.
"She was weak! Just like Hinata! Hinata has always favored mother, she's beautiful, she's busty, she's sweet, she's perfect…but she's also weak! She took what I wanted most from me and for that she will die!"
Hanabi ran full speed at Temari who opened her fan, Kankuro ran full speed to Hiashi, pulling out his puppet, Gaara let his sand do the running as it was about to encase Neji, who looked like he was about to run to Hinata. Matsuri crept away into the darkness. She wouldn't help, not this time. She wanted Hinata to leave and if she left this way it would make it all the easier for her. Hinata was married to her cousin that much Matsuri knew. But she felt a strong connection with the one called Hanabi. She was young, about Matsuri's age. Hinata had taken something away from her and like Matsuri, she didn't obtain that rich, lush beauty. Matsuri saw herself reflected in those pearly eyes. Was this what she would become? A ruthless animal filled with anger and vengeance? Somebody who would kill their own kind to get what they want? Is this truly what she wanted? Neji saw, as he battled with the sand, that happiness, that glow, fleet from Hinata's eyes. Tears were forming, tears of pain, sadness, regret. She was begging him, pleading him, without saying a word, "Let me go, Neji-nii-san. Please, let me go." Neji looked into her eyes. 'Hinata…'
"Stop," He commanded softly.
"Why should I? You sick bastard?"
"No more fighting," Neji said, stopping his movements.
All eyes were on the still Neji. Hanabi, Matsuri, Hiashi, Kankuro, Gaara…all of them, were thoroughly baffled.
"Neji-nii-san! What do you mean!?"
"I mean what I say and I say what I mean. Somewhere along this road we lost sight of what matters. Let's go."
"NO! I want to destroy her! I thought this was your intention."
"Leave it be, Hanabi."
"Neji I forbid this!"
Neji turned toward Hiashi and smiled. "You hold no sway over me, old man. Your battle lies with yourself."
He turned to Hinata. "Hinata, I formally ban you from the Hyuga manor and strip you of your title. From now on you are just Hinata. Hinata of the Suna. You may stay here but if I see your face near the manor again you will be punished, understand? Also, know that we will not make any eye or verbal contact with you from here on. This is your punishment. Accept it and move on with your life."
"Neji…"
"Ah…no more…I've made up my mind. You were a shell of your former self and I had longed to see that old Hinata back…now there she is, in your eyes. I know I will never have you truly and that I will never see that. If you stay here, you will remain the old Hinata you once were."
He leaned in close and showed her the ring in his hand. "If you need me, come find me. Just me. You're free now, as your spirit once was. We both need to move on and let go."
"Arigato…Nii-san."
"I'm not your cousin anymore, remember? Now not a single word more."
He turned heel and walked away. Hanabi looked back at them all. Something about that girl in the shadows…something was familiar about her. In her she saw what she could be if she kept on having this hatred and despair. In her eyes she saw what she would be if she gave up, as well. Hanabi turned and hugged Hinata, tears pouring out her eyes.
"Forgive me…I have wronged you but now it is time to let go. You always looked like mother…for that I envied you…I'm sorry…I don't want to become…or have I already? From this day on I will change. Sayonara Ane-chan…oh you're not my sister anymore…are you?"
"No…you're not. You're just somebody. A memory that's faded. It's too bad we could have been best friends."
"Yes I know…I must go now," She leaned in and whispered, "I'd watch that girl back there…the mousy one with the brown hair. You may not see it….but she is death…fix her heart….I know you have that power."
Hanabi ran to catch up with Neji. Hiashi had nothing to say but his eyes spoke for him as he walked away. Neji was right, it was time to give up. His wife would be displeased to see him in this state, abusing his children as such. Hinata was as free and as lovely as his wife but she was strong, he could tell. He was a proud father, for the few seconds that he was her father. Now she wasn't his little baby anymore and it was too late for him to give any love to her…the love he could muster anyhow, so all he gave her was a soft, proud look and was off.
"Well…that went rather well. I can't believe they actually let you go. Things are getting too strange. I don't think they were done with you."
"Who was?" Hinata asked Temari.
"Your family…"
"What family? I'm an orphan…I don't remember my family…I'm not allowed. All I have is you, Kankuro, Gaara, and Matsuri. I'm just Hinata….Hinata of the Sand."
Gaara held her soft hand. He understood. He silently thanked Neji for all he had done, for finally letting go. This meant Hinata would be struck from the Hyuga record. Sure, she still looked like one, but essentially she wasn't one. Matsuri was angered. They didn't take her? Because they wanted her happy? Why does everyone love her? That Hanabi girl had let her hatred go and she looked so peaceful, happy, and even prettier. Would this happen to Matsuri if she let go? Could she even let go? Would she be able to before time ran out and it was too late?