Me: I'm sooooo sorry for not updating sooner!!! Please forgive me!!! I had extreme writer's block!!!!

Caution: There will be a bit of drama in this one folks xP

Disclaimer: I do not own naruto -pouts-

Hinata walked the spacious halls of her home. She politely talked and smiled at everyone who walked past her.

But everybody noticed that the pale girl was in pain, for what they didn't know, her usually kind and beautiful smile was strained.

It seemed that with just a bit of provocation, she would break like the porcelain doll everyone perceived her to be. So they just walked past her, not necessarily caring about comforting her.

No one knew that she wanted the excuse to cry, that she wanted someone to hold her close and whisper comforting nothings in her ear, but she wouldn't, she was not the old hinata that would cry for some silly reason. No, she wouldn't cry.

Flashback

It was already late but for some reason hinata could not fall asleep and ended up thrashing and turning on her bed. So she decided that a cup of warm milk might make her drowsy and thus started her journey toward the kitchen.

She walked quietly barefoot on the carpeted floors careful not to wake anyone. She tiptoed through doors and doors but heard hushed voices in one of the rooms, curiously, she went towards the room and found herself standing in front of the huge mahogany doors to the elders meeting room.

She raised her pale hand to the antique doorknob but heard one elder speak, "Hiashi! Do you really think your elder daughter can be head of this family?!" Hinata was frozen on her place hand still touching the metal surface.

She knew she should leave, it was wrong to eavesdrop but her body wouldn't obey her orders. She was expecting her father to defend her but after hearing the strict voice of her father say,

"I know very well that she cannot run this clan. But she is my eldest daughter and thus she will have to lead the clan, capable or not. I have no choice in the matter, however weak she may be, we cannot break the traditions."

Hinata felt the tears form in her eyes but she wouldn't let them escape, it had been a long time since she cried. So she stood there, hand still raised, eyes swimming with tears.

"Well you could disown her!" One elder said.

"And risk being disgraced?! What would people think! Keep in mind that the whole village loves her! We would very well start an inter village war if we disown her! And think of the rumors that would spread!" Her father replied.

"Then what would we do?! Hanabi is more suited to be the clan head! That eldest daughter of yours would destroy the clan within a week of ruling it!" Another replied.

"That is why I am planning to have her assassinated" Her father calmly replied in a cold and calm voice without even faltering as if he was talking about monotonous matters like the weather.

Hinata dropped to her knees and covered her mouth with her trembling and pale hands to stop herself from gasping in hurt. She let the tears flow down her pale face and drop to the floor.

The room went eerily quiet until her father's voice broke the silence by saying "We shall do it the night after tomorrow, I have hired a very capable shinobi and rest assured that it would not be put upon our shoulders."

The tears wouldn't come out anymore, she felt empty inside. Hinata stood up silently not caring to hear about their plans on how to kill her, all she wanted to do now was sleep. All this time she believed her father loved her, during the time she almost died he was always there for her then….why? She wanted to know why.

She silently went to her room, crawled up under the comfy sheets and spent the entire night staring hollowly at the picture of her family. Because Hyuuga Hinata NEVER got what she wanted.

She was too kind, too giving….too selfless.

Because everyone knew that Hyuuga Hinata never got what she wanted.

Cue! End of flashback

Hinata's POV

I've never really realized how much I hate everything, call it an epiphany.

I hate the monotonous concept of everyday life. I hate this village and being a shinobi, wherein everything is only about wars, murder and treason.

I hate everybody! I feel sick looking at their exuberant faces. Those smiling faces that are capable of destroying one's whole life.

It shocks me how despicable and appalling humans are. It repels me to know I am like them, capable of what they can do, capable of killing, betrayal and many more.

Maybe that's what the saying "We are only human" comes from.

I was still wondering about this concept as I walked mechanically through the dirt road until a loud shout called my attention.

"Hinata-chan!!!!" I turn and see my exuberant teammate and friend kiba along with shino who was silently walking by his side, hands dug deep in his pockets.

I smile at them and feel that even though I hate everything, I still love them all. Maybe its wrong and maybe I'm crazy but I do, I love everyone and everything, I would gladly die for them.

Shino and kiba looked at each other worriedly, I wonder why until shino asked me "Is anything wrong Hinata?" in a rather concerned tone. For the first time that day, I smiled genuinely.

I love them so much, So very much. So much that it hurts. My chest constricted painfully as I looked at both of them. I know what I must do, I've already planned it out last night. My only regret is not being able to say goodbye to them.

"Hey kiba, shino? Could you do me a favor" I ask them and whisper something in their ears. Afterward I smile and walk away leaving them standing there stranded and unmoving.

I return home and have dinner with neji, hanabi and father. Smiling and chatting with them as if everything is normal with the world.

Afterwards I excuse my self and ask if I can speak to hanabi later that night. She seemed shocked yet happy and immediately obliges.

A few hours later I found myself knocking the door of my younger siblings room. She quickly opens the door and invites me inside. I accept her invitation.

We both sit on her spacious bed and chat for awhile. I notice that the time has come and I sigh as i stroke her hair. She seems worried and asked me "Neesama? What is it?"

I don't want to do what I do, but I must. Those are the only thoughts that passed my mind the whole time I was talking to her.

"Hanabi, listen to me, okay? No matter what happens know that I love you very much. I want you to keep in mind that you must not let anybody tell you what to do. Follow your heart and wherever it will lead you."

"I…don't understand neesan.." She says, a confused and lost look deep in her eyes. I smile and hold her close to me. "You'll know soon darling. Just know that I will love you no matter what happens."

I say to her and sing her a lullaby mother used to sing to me. It was the hardest thing not to cry and minutes later of singing hanabi fell asleep.

I place her gently in her bed and tuck her under the sheets. I smile at her beautiful and serene sleeping face, feeling tears prick my eyes.

I unhook the silver necklace that mother gave me and place it on her bedside table. It was a silver necklace with an oval locket covered with intricate designs of thorny vines and roses as a pendant.

Inside it was the picture of me, mom, hanabi and father, beside it were the words "Forever In My Heart" engraved in an elegant scrawl.

I stroke her face and her hair feeling like the whole world is weighed upon my shoulders. I bend down and kiss her pale forehead.

After walking out of her room quietly, I head over to neji's room, he's the only one I can trust to do this. My heart felt like it was a million pounds as I knock on his door.

It was pretty late, he must've been sleeping because the person who opened the door was definitely my cousin, only a more haggard and tired looking version.

He was wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. He appeared to be confused for a moment but after realizing who I was, he slammed the door in my face lightly startling me.

I remember everything that happened between us. After the chuunin exams we have become closer and everyday my love for him grows. It was not like the love I felt for naruto, I know because when naruto left it didn't hurt as much as this, this was like my heart was literally being torn apart.

This is what I regretted the most, leaving him and hanabi. Especially the fact that I left without ever telling him of my feelings. At least I know he would be happy with tenten.

I heard something that sounded like panicked rushing inside and a moment later he opened the door wearing a plain shirt and shorts.

"Hinata-sama." He bowed and his lips curved into an almost nonexistent smile. It was so like neji not to ask questions about what I was doing waking him up in the middle of the night.

"Neji aniki Please read this in the morning, promise me you will read this ONLY in the morning." I tell him not bothering to explain. He seemed perplexed but took the envelop nonetheless. "I promise hinata-sama."

I walk away slowly and stop, turning toward him, tears swimming in my eyes. He was still standing there a worried and confused look on his face.

I run toward him, my bare feet thumping soundlessly on the carpeted floors, and wrapped my arms around his pale neck. I don't know why I did this but it felt right. It felt good too. This would only be a one time thing, just a moment of weakness I would never show anyone else.

He seemed stunned and awkwardly returned the embrace. "Thankyou for everything niisan…goodbye" I whisper to him and run away.

I close the door to my room and change into a black tube top and skin tight pants of the same color. I look at myself in the mirror, tear-stained cheeks and all, noticing something seemed wrong.

I finally know what it is that seemed wrong, it was my hair. My father wanted it to grow out just like any other hyuuga, well I'm not a hyuuga anymore.

I hold my hair to one side and cut it off using the very kunai father gave me and let it fall into a perfectly straight shoulder length. Ironic? I know it is. I place the cut off hair on the vanity table beside the letter and my forehead protector, the symbol of konoha slashed.

I quickly tie my hair into a ponytail and grab my bag, filled only with necessities. I look around the room for the last time.

I smile rather humorlessly and jump out my third story window landing perfectly on the grass. I feel the tears flow down my face as I run towards the gate, rendering anyone who saw me unconscious.

Finally reaching the village's outskirts, I gaze forlornly at my old home. I don't want to leave, I don't want to depart from my friends and family. I never really knew how precious they were to me, all of them, until this very moment.

I wonder if sasuke felt this way when he left. It was like the world had evaporated and there was no one else but yourself. It was like drowning but knowing that no one would be there to save you.

The guards were 2 very capable jounins and the fight was rather tough but I won and walked away with no serious injuries, only a few cuts here and there.

I performed the final gift I would give to everyone and walk away. the last words I spoke to kiba and shino echoed through my mind as the dead leaves and dirt crunched under my feet.

"If anything happens to me tell everybody I said goodbye and….thank you."

XxXxXx The Following Morning xXxXxX

Hiashi and Neji were rudely awakened by the scream of hanabi and instantly they were on their feet, byakugan activated along with most of the clan members that heard.

Hiashi and neji quickly ran towards her chakra signature. Hinata's Room. Both of them reached their destination the same time, they nodded at each other silently and both slammed the door open.

Both were taken aback by what they saw. Hanabi was curled into a fetal position on hinata's bed bawling her eyes out, something that looked like hinata's hair clutched tightly in her hands as well as a silver necklace.

After sensing the others presence in the room, the crying girl wordlessly pointed toward the vanity wherein an open letter sat abandoned.

Hiashi quickly read the letter while neji tried to calm his younger cousin. After putting the frantic girl to sleep with the help of sedatives neji read the letter. In it was hinata's elegant handwriting saying,

"Everyone,

I am sorry for leaving without saying goodbye but please do not look for and/or follow me, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Please tell hanabi, I'm sorry and that I love her.

It would be my last wish for you to burn….everything I own…. I am no longer a hyuuga, I disown you all except hanabi.

My friends, if you are reading this, please know I am sorry and that I understand if you hate me. I will meet you all again someday.

Hinata"

Neji's POV:

I cannot put into words what it felt like after reading her letter. I knew something was wrong that night she came to me.

She must've wanted comfort, someone to hold her, to ask her what was wrong, to whisper sweet nothings. I did none of those. I closed the door and went to bed not even bothering to ask about the letter or the hug. I slept a dreamless night while she must have been fighting or running, alone.

A moment later a masked ANBU appeared and solemnly said that Hyuuga Hinata rendered 5 men unconscious along with 2 very capable ANBU class jounins and put up a chakra barrier to protect the border while the guards were unaware.

The ANBU said that the jutsu barrier would have drained half of her chakra and that they wanted to know if they could have Hyuuga Hiashi's permission to search for hinata under Tsunade's orders.

Hiashi politely declined saying that it was his daughters wish not to be followed. I didn't even notice that I was holding so tightly to her letter until I felt my nails bite the skin of my palm.

A moment later after the anbu left, the door to hinata's room burst open to reveal a very hysterical looking kiba and a slightly fatigued shino.

"Where is she?! WHERE THE HELL IS SHE?!" The canine-like boy said and I gravely gave him the letter. Once reading the letter he dropped to his knees and buried his face in his hands.

"Why didn't we stop her? Why? Why didnt we even know something was hurting her so much that she had to leave? Shino, why? Tell me why!" The aforementioned boy said, his eyes having a blank look.

Shino bowed and dragged his sobbing friend away from the hyuuga compound. I retreated to my room and sat down on my bed, letting the tears freely flow down my face.

I open the other letter she left me and a single forget-me-not dropped to the floor. I study it and quickly read the content of her letter.

"Neji,

You have the only thing that belongs solely to me. Please take care of it

Hinata"

I let the letter and the flower drop to floor as I buried my face in my hands, my body shook with suppressed emotion. I felt like dying. My instinct was to leave, then and there, to find her and hold her tightly, to give her those that I couldn't but should've given her. To tell her I love her.

I wanted to tell her….

…I love You, Hinata.