AN: I want to say THANK YOU! To everyone who favorite commented, added to their favorite list…. It means so much to me that you are enjoying my writing, my story, my idea. I am so very grateful, and so, I have decided that I will try to write more often on this, its such an honor o have so many people enjoying my work.

To the angry reviewer: I had stated that it's a part of my life. Any good writer will use bits and pieces of themselves. So Hinata being impure is a reflection of myself and my past. If you don't like it, leave the story alone and go find one more suited to your tastes. Life is full of good thing and bad things. The differences make life more interesting.

If You Love Me

Chapter 9: You Will Be loyal

Neji smiled to himself, ignoring almost everyone as he walked the village, farther away from the hospital where his fiancée worked. He felt so happy to know she wasn't regretting anything, and at some point in time, it wouldn't matter, because they would be married. Sakura's words echoed in his head.

"You're late!" Neji looked up to see lee and Gai ready to attack him. Neji jumped back as dodged, moving as they tried to attack him. Being Late was bad. It meant fighting with Lee and Gai. He moved his head, and struck lee's leg quickly enough that he could move again, but something caught him. A kunai attached him to a tree. His eyes looked, Ten-ten was not suppose to be with them. Her eyes were glaring at him. Why was she mad as well? Neji stared at the female part of the team. She looked strong but her chocolate brown eyes glared at him so strongly, it might actually hurt.

"Sorry, Sensei, Lee-san, but I had to drop off a bentou to Hinata-sama," he said calmly. Hinata wasn't ready to announce it, and so he'd respect her choice and not do so either. "I will never be late again."

"Alright! Ten-ten has happily joined us and we will now go and start training!" Gai was overly excited, lee right behind him. The scars of the war that had passed made it so that everyone kept getting stronger, kept working towards the same thing. The ability to protect everyone they love. Neji closed his eyes. Hinata, after the war, seemed so different. She gained strength to protect everyone, but her heart was so closed off for a long time. He'd be the one to protect her this time around.

"Shall we warm up?" Lee asked, and Neji agreed calmly, which took the Green Gentleman by surprise. Neji usually scoffed him away. Lee looked to his comrade, only to see the icy blue eyes almost glaring at Ten-ten. He wanted to ask what was wrong but knew it was better not to get in between two people when they fought.

"NOW! GO!" Gai Sensei shouted out as loud as he could and the ninjas attacked each other with just as much ferociousness as they would in a war, minus knowing each other.

Neji laid against a tree, sweat covering his face. He never pushed himself so hard. But he had to be strong, because he would have a family to protect. Some day…his mind went back to his fiancée. When would she unveil her ribbon? Would she be subtle. Probably.

He undid the first buttons of his shirt, letting a breeze gently lick at his bare skin, cooling him down. Soon, he'd need to get up and go take a shower. His new room would be ready. Gritting his teeth rather loudly. Were the elders NUTS? Putting him and Hinata so close together wasn't a good idea!

"What has your brain burning, Hyuga?" Icy blue eyes glared up at the woman who was once his lover.

"Thinking things over about my future."

"Oh," she sat next to him. Her eyes softened. "What is it you want to do?"

He stared out for a while. He knew a few things he had to fix. Like Hinata's thoughts of him, the way they were. He loved her, deep down, he had always loved her. However, dreams were also something he didn't want to give up, like his dream of being an ANBU. Or learning new ways to perfect his abilities. His greatest dream though was hidden deep down in his heart, for no one but himself.

"I have many things I desire to achieve." Neji looked forward, eyes hardened.

Ten-ten licked her lips softly, before took in a deep breath. "I just want you to think hard on it. If you agree to um…do as they as of you….You wont be able to pursue any of those things." She fidgeted with the hem to her dark pink shirt. "I mean, if you married someone outside of your family, it would be easier on you. You could do anything you wanted…" Her face flushed, and Neji sighed softly. She was obvious, in a way that was almost endearing if it didn't annoy him that she often tried so hard. He didn't want anyone to know of their engagement, but the more she looked at him, the more he desperately wanted to tell her.

"So um, what are you going to do it? Everyone is talking about, you know. About you and Hinata getting married…" her voice shook for just the brief of moment.

"What happens between Hinata-sama and myself is our business." He felt bad for his snappy come back when he looked at the weapons mistress. Her brown eyes hurt, angry, confused…all because of him. It wasn't her fault he was made this way, cold, uncaring, and iced with almost hatred.

"I know..I just thought maybe…you'd still be fighting..to be…free…" the sounds of tears began to escape her lips and Neji had no idea what to do. Did he hold her? Pat her back? What did he do? He took in a deep breath, patting her back. It seemed like the right thing to do. What he wasn't expecting was the team mate to fling her arms around him, crying her eyes out. This was not what he thought was going to happen, but still, he patted her back.

"Its not fair! You're suppose to be free. Things were suppose to change when we got older!" Ten-ten's voice rang out, and for a brief moment, Neji's eyes softened for her. There was a time, long ago, where he dreamed of marrying her, where he wanted her, but it was gone now, like the wind, children change their minds. And now, he was a man. With a promise he would keep. To be by Hinata's side forever. He would make sure this wish of his came true.

"Life is not always fair, but it does what it is needed," he said, and soon enough brown eyes stared at him angrily. He was taken back a bit by her sudden anger.

"So you want to just be their puppet? I LOVE YOU!" And she threw her arms around his neck, kissing him fully on the mouth. Neji's mind raced around. What promtited this? Why was she kissing him? Why wasn't he pushing her away? But as soon as he thought these questions, the answer came to him.

She wasn't over him. Though the years have gone by, she still wanted him. She needed him to know how she felt. He missed her in some ways. He missed the girl he secretly saw behind everyone's back. The days where they'd stay behind to train more was the cover for holding hands and long kisses in the forest. Every moment was spent together as much as possible. Sure enough, he could feel his own promise going away as the warmth he had missed slipped.

CLUNK

Pushing Ten ten away, Neji saw at the edge of the clearing, Hinata had dropped a bento. Away was her headband, and her ribbon stood out against her pale skin. What had he done? He was angry at her for not telling anyone, yet here he was, with another woman's lips on his. He stood up, his face flushed in embarrassment, but when he looked at her, she turned away and ran. "Hinata-sama!" he called out, but she was gone.

"Let her be. Its not like she owns you," Tenten called out softly, trying to bring him back. He shrugged away her hand. "What does she have…?"

Neji growled for just a moment before he turned the full force of his iced glare on her. "She is my bride. She wears my ribbon around her neck." A gasp and more sobs, but this time. Neji could not stay with her. He had to move forward and be with Hinata. Be with the woman who saved him by promising their lives together. She was doing her best. She was trying to be a good fiancée, and what she saw should never have happened. Soon steps became faster, long strides moved into a sprint a sprint turned into him running as fast as he could. He could not stop his own heart from beating as loudly as it did. Each movement brought him closer, made it harder to breath, to forget the look in her light lavender eyes. He had hurt her. She was trying her best and all she wanted was for him to try hard too. To make the best out of their situation, and he wanted it too. He wanted her to be loyal to him alone. So why couldn't he do the same to her? Why couldn't he pledge himself to her in the way she had?

Soon he came to the gates, and walked slowly into the home he'd always known. But right now, people glared at him. He didn't have to ask why. She was crying. Everyone loved the Hyuga princess, and when she cried, everyone was ready to attack whoever did it. Today, he did it. He made Hinata cry. He moved again, turning the corner. He would go to the garden for her. He would try and make it right. He moved, another corner.

His heart clenched tight at the sight he saw. She was lying there, staring up at the sky, tears still streaming down her face. But she made no effort to cover them up. No movement, just the sight alone. But he had to talk to he, had to explain himself to her. Each step he made, he could see her flinch away. There was nothing he could do just yet. Nothing but get to her. He moved and stood next to where she laid. "Hinata-sama… I"

"….You do not have to explain. I..I should h-have expected such. This was my d-decision to make. T-this ma-marriage does n-not have to be one of l-love. Y-y-you are free to be with who-whomever you so desire." She took in a ragged breath. Neji gritted his teeth, but he waited for her. For her to get it off her chest. "I sh-shouldn't be surprised and h-hurt to see you with some o-o-other girl.." and again the tears fell from her cheek. Neji bent down to help her but she rolled away and got up. As she was about to leave, Neji trapped her in his arms. He never noticed how small she really was. But at the same time, she fit perfectly into him. "P-p-please let g-go.." her sobs got stronger.

He shook his head, and placed it on top of hers. "No. I will not until you listen. I made a mistake. I never noticed how much she still loved me until she attacked me. I will be loyal to you. I will be by your side and no other's. I am your fiancé, and you are mine. We have but one life to live. We are going to make it worthwhile and amazing. We are going to rebuild this family so that no other will ever have to deal with the pains we have…. I will do it with no other but you." There, his chest felt lighter. He was being honest. Though, right now there was no love, at least, not that he would say, but he wasn't going to do the things their parents did. It would more honest, open and there would be absolute no lies between them. Hinata shook, and her sobs came out, but he just held her until she stopped. The future was going to be rough, but it was theirs, together, to get through. Hand in hand. Loyal to each other until the very end.

AN: HURRAYY! I Am Updating! Don't you love me? Lol.. Hope this makes up for not updating sooner.

Please please review!