- Chapter 3 -

Hours turned into days and days turned into months. She was gone. It was as if she didn't even exist, as police spend countless hours, countless days on trying to found the young Hyuga. But to no such luck, as only one clue was found. Though only leading the group to nothing, but a dead end.

|Suna Bus Station|

Night had fallen and the cold had kicked in. The bus had come to a stop as it the passengers that sat inside slowly began to make their way off the bus. Along with a certain lavender eyed girl.

Though the moment she steps off something had changed. As she was now like a black dot in a white portrait. As the clothes, she wore were no longer a form of disguise, but a way of showing that she was different from the rest of the crowd. Unlike the people around her who wore dark worn down clothes, her clothes were new and bright.

Suddenly the regret and terror the young girl had tried to suppress all trough the bus ride had begin to bubble up as her body began to shake. Hinata's body began to shiver. Not just because of the cold winds which blow right through her jacket, but mostly because of fear.

"Cold." She said softly as she rubbed her arms for warmth. Though unaware of the person listening.

"You can say that again." Hinata almost jumped as she quickly turning around to face the person now standing next to her. "But I guess that's just how it is here, scorching hot by day and freezing cold by night. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, being born here and all, but I suffer just like any newcomer." The girl finally shifting her gaze down on Hinata. "So what are you doing here meeting a relative if something?"

Hinata lips began to tremble. Tears forming at the edge of her eyes. 'What now?' Hinata thought, her head spinning. The girl before her seemed to be older, probably by 2 to 3 years! Though her hair was cute the way it was tied into four piney tails, the fact of the matter was that she didn't look friendly, her voice slightly deep, with pierced ears and a face that just yelled trouble. Hinata was sure with the girl's long legs that she'd catch up to her in no time if she tried to run. What did she want with her anyway! Hinata body began to tremble more severely than before as her tears began to roll down.

The girl flinched. "Wh-What?! Why are you crying? Are you ok!" The girl asked as she grabbed a hold of Hinata's wrist, as it only caused Hinata cry even more. 'She's g-going to kill me!' HThough soon Hinata's body came to a complete stop as it froze in place when the tall girl leaned down placing her forehead against Hinata's. "Wow. You're burning up kid."

Hinata's tries stopped, as her eyes slightly widened, while she slowly placed her hand on her forehead. The girl was right, she was burning up, was she sick? She had left the hospital only a few hour ago. Stupid she has just woken up after being in a car accident and hadn't been check by the doctor at all. Though she knew now. What the doctor would no doubt have told her. "Dizziness, nausea, and possible..." Hinata couldn't even finish saying her own sometimes before fainting.

"Kid?!"

- In Konoha -

It was already dark, as the sun had said goodbye while the moon said hello. People were already heading home as they passed the young boy sitting on a stone bench in the park. His mind was in a daze, as he didn't even notice that the street lights had already turned on, but did notice the presence of the boy who now stood in front of him.

"So are you here to kill me?" The blonde haired boy said before letting out a dry laugh. "I broke the only promise you told me to keep. You should do it, I would."

"You and I both know Hinata would never forgive me if I did."

Naruto didn't say anything after that. He just continued to sit on the stone bench he'd been sitting on since morning, or more like since he found out that Hinata had gone missing.

At first many had thought that she was taken, begin the daughter of a wealthy CEO, it wasn't out if the question. Though after checking the security cameras in the hospital, it was certain that that wasn't the case. As it showed clearly that she had run away.

Though it only left the question. Why?

It wasn't long till Hiroshi Hyuga had sent out private investigators to search for the runaway Hyuga.

"Why are you here, Neji? What do you want?"

"Nothing, I was just wondering."

Naruto arched a brow at the brown haired Hyuga. "Wondering what?"

Neji released a small laugh. "You know Hinata really was pathetic, wasn't she? Who would have thought she was so stupid? Then again stupid people always fall in love with the wrong person, don't they-"

Naruto quickly stood up as he grabbed a hold of Neji's collar. "Shut up! Hinata wasn't stupid!"

Neji unfazed by the blonde boy's actions continued. "But you must have thought that. That's why you cheated on her right? Because you knew you'd be able to get away with it. Though of course the only reason she caught you was because of bad timing, right? When we find her, all you have to do is apologize, and I'm sure she'll forgive you. It's not in her nature to stay mad. Then you can just go back to cheating be hide her back again. Because of course, she is too stupid to truly leave you. Since you are the one person she can't live without."

Naruto clenched his teeth, his left hand still holding tightly to Neji's shirt, as the other was already clenched into a fist as it was only inches away from Neji's right check. "I told you to shut up! I never cheated on Hinata, it was just-"

"A mistake." Neji's blunt words struck Naruto like a lightning bolt, causing his whole body to grow paralyzed.

Naruto didn't say anything after that, as he let go of Neji's shirt and loosened his fist while letting both hands fall to his side. "Hinata isn't stupid, she isn't, because the only stupid one in that relationship was me."

Neji released a stressful sigh as he smoothened out his now crumpled shirt. "Sakura told me, you know. That she was the one who forced you to kiss her."

"Yeah, and what does that matter? Hinata's gone. In a way, you could say she left me."

Neji laughed, hard. This caused Naruto to look at him oddly as he watched how tears soon began to form at the edge of his eyes.

Once Neji caught his breath he began to speak. "You know I really did come here to kill you." Naruto didn't say anything, as he only continued to stare at him, "But on my way here I passed by the bakery shop in town. She loved going there, it's ridiculous how many times she ordered the same thing."

"Cinnamon Buns," Naruto said this time.

Neji smiled. "Yeah, she loved those things. But even though I was never a fan of sweets I'd always take her there, every Sunday."

A pose was heard as none of them said anything for a while, both remembering the time they spent in with Hinata at the town's only Bake Shop. Neji soon cleared his throat. "When I first got here I wasn't sure if I should tell you, but I sure now."

"Tell me what?"

"It had taken them all day, though they finally found where Hinata might have gone. I thought you would have wanted to know."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Where is she?"

Neji released a dry laugh, as he couldn't help but facepalm himself. "Can you believe it, she had taken a bus to Suna."

"Suna?!" Naruto yelled.

"That was the exact reaction I had," Neji said while releasing a dry laugh.

"This isn't something to be joking about Neji! Even a grown man who goes to Suns doesn't even make it back alive! We have to-"

"I know." Neji, plain and strict words caused Naruto's body to freeze. "There searching. But-"

"But what?!"

"There wasn't a single clue of her at the bus station, the men don't know where to search first."

"But they just can't give up! They have to try right?!"

"You never do give up, do you?"

Naruto soon began to walk toward the Hyuga mansion. "Not when it comes to Hinata."

- Suna -

"Hey! Kid-" Hinata's eyes slowly began to open. "W-where am I?" Hinata's faint words could barely be heard as she was now faced with bright green eyes that made connect with her lavender ones. "Geez!" The girl's loud reaction caused Hinata to quickly sit up, though not without noticing that she was no longer lying on the ground but an old wooden bench.

As Hinata watched the angry expression on the girl's face, she hesitated to speak. "D-Did you put me h-here?"

The girl let out a sigh. "Well, you don't think you flouted here did'ya?"

Hinata checks went warm as she shook her head. "T-Thank y-you."

"Don't mention it. So? Are you feeling ok? Or are you planning on fainting again, because if that's the case then I'm not going to be here waiting for you to wake up again."

Hinata smiled at the thought. "T-Thank you."

The girl's scary expression softened into a small smile. "You already said that stupid."

As the two girls continued to smile at one another, a hard wind soon blew through, causing Hinata to quickly hug herself as her body began to shiver once again. The sweater she was wear was really doing nothing to keep her warm.

"Hey, wait here. I'll be right back." Hinata blinked confusedly at the girl as she tilted her head to the side wondering where she was going. Though as Hinata watch how the girl ran off, disappearing amongst the crowds of people, she suddenly noticed that she hadn't even asked for her name. Even after everything the girl have done for her.

The sound of a bus leaving caught Hinata off geared, as it began to remind her of where she was and why she was there. 'What now? Where do I go from here?' Hinata pulled her knees up to her chest as she could feel tears began to form at the edge of her eyes. She did this to herself, she ran way because that's what she felt was the right call and this is where it brought her, but...she hugged her knees more tightly...now she no longer knows what to do.

"Here." Hinata's head quickly shot up when she heard the sound of the girl's voice, surprised to see that she now carried a brown paper bag and two drinks, as one was held out in front of her.

Hinata hesitated at first but slowly reserved it anyway. Through as she did so, she looked at the girl, then at the hot drink, and then back at the girl as their eyes soon made direct contact. The girl could tell that Hinata was struggling to say something, as she arched a brow at her weirdness. 'Just spit it out.' The girl though as she watched how Hinata face began to go red.

"Hi..."

The girl soon sweat dropped. 'Hi?"

"Hi-Hi-na..." Hinata quickly sucked in a deep breath as she said, "Hinata!"

"Hinata?" The girl repeated as the lavender eyed girls face was now fully neon red.

The girl's eyes slightly widen, when suddenly noticing what the strange shy girl had meant. "Is that your name?"

Hinata solely nodded as she kept her eyes down on her drink.

She was surprised when the girl suddenly sat down next to her. She watched how the girl placed the paper bag on her lap while opening it up and taking out what looked like a hot red bean bun. It was then when Hinata had noticed how hungry she was. The only time she could remember eating something was at school during lunch, which was mouths ago. Hinata watched how the girl soon held the bun in her mouth, as she used her now free hand to dig back into the paper bag revealing another one. The girl looked at Hinata with serious eyes as she held out the bun, which this time, Hinata didn't hesitate to reserve.

As the girls ate in silence, the sound of the buses leaving and coming filling the awkward void as they both stayed silent that is till the girl spoke. "You're not from here, are you?"

Hinata's eyes shifted to the ground again as she hung her head. "C-Can you tell that easily that I'm n-not from here?" Hinata asked quietly.

The tall girl snorted "Pretty much. Plus your clothes are a big give away."

Hinata sighed sadly. "I g-guess your right."

"My names Temari." The girl said surprising Hinata as it caused her to quickly look up at her, though who's eye only looked out at the station. "Listen. I've lived here my entire life, so I've seen my fair share of runaway kids. In a way your all the same, with dazed eyes and confused frown." Temari looked down at her, as she gave her small smile. "Yup, all the same."

Hinata eyes widened. "You seem smart, so I'm only going to say this once. You can choose to ignore it or go with it, cause in the end, it's your decision. It doesn't matter your intentions or your purpose. Kids are just not made out for places like this. Nothing good comes from staying here. Most people here spend their whole lives trying to get out. Not many of them even make it. So believe me when I say

"You seem smart, so I'm only going to say this once. You can choose to ignore it or go with it, cause in the end, it's your decision. It doesn't matter your intentions or your purpose. Kids are just not made out for places like this. Nothing good comes from staying here. Most people here spend their whole lives trying to get out. Not many of them even make it. So believe me when I say go back home." From there Temari stood up, finished the rest of her steam bun before she crumpled her wrapper and throw it in the trash next to the bench they sat on.

Though before walking away she stopped in front of Hinata as she looked directly into her eyes. "I'd wish you luck, but this is the place were luck it just not found. I guess you could say this town has two names. Suna and Suna of the unlucky." Temari didn't say anymore after that as she barrier her hands deep into her pocket and began to walk away.

For a moment it felt like a bucket of cold water had just been spilled on her, as Hinata quickly stood up, her mouth slightly open ready to speak, yet nothing. At that moment she wanted to tell her she was wrong, tell her that she didn't know her at all. Though even though Temari had only known her for, what? An hour? She had already see who she was, and her capabilities.

Hinata clenched her two small hands into a tight fist. Though as she watched Temari walk further and further away, quickly disappearing into the crowd she let go as she let her hands dangle by her side. This was her sign of loss hope. 'Is that was I should do? Just give up? II haven't even started. But then again I do have enough money to pay for another bus ticket. Yeah. I'll just go home. Neji and father must be worried.' That was it. As she then began to make her way back.

Though only four steps in she stopped. As she looked up at the ceiling of the station. "Suna of the unlucky." She whispered.

.

.

.

She didn't know what's she was doing, all of a sudden she was running. Her legs did this before, they did this on the day of the crash, during that time. If was almost as if they had a mind of their own. She was breathing heavily, trying to push through the crowd of people and apologizing every time she bumped into one of them while giving them a small bow. But she still continued to run.

She suddenly stopped when she saw who she was looking for. She clenched her hands into a fist, this time she wasn't going to give up, not until she told her what she wanted to say, not until the words she says aren't only going to convince the girl, but her as well. So as she tightly shut her eyes and took a huge breath of air, she yelled.

"T-Temari-Chan!"

A cold shiver went up the girl's spine, at the sound of her name being yelled across the station platform. As she slowly turned around, she was surprised to see who yelled her name with such force. "Hinata?"

Hinata was panting before speaking, as she wiped the sweat from her now dripping forehead. Not opening her eyes as she took in another deep breath, as she yelled again. "If t-this p-place is really known a-as unlucky then I'm w-where I want t-to be-be." Hinata took another breath, though this time she straightened her back and looked directly at the girl. "B-Because there's no one as unlucky as me!"

Temari stared in awe at the girl for a second, though soon a smirk began to form on her lips. "Is that so?"

Hinata responded with a timid nod.

"Okay then." Was all Temari said as she soon turned around as she began to walk away. The only thing Hinata could do was watch her walk away again, though then again what more was she expecting? She seemed to understand what she meant, that's all she wanted right? It's not like she was going to take her home or anything, right?

Hinata continued to breathe heavily, though not like before, she stayed there a second longer before turning around. 'I guess I have to find somewhere to stay for the mine time.'

"Hey! Stutter girl!" Hinata quickly turned around at the sound of Temari's voice. "You're going in the wrong direction, home is this way." Hinata's eye widened. "All runaways need a place to stay right? So let's go." She could feel tears form at the edge of her eyes, though this time she didn't let them fall as she quickly wiped them away and ran towards Temari. "Kay!"

As they walked together out of the station, Hinata could help but smile. "Before we go home, I need to warn you that I also have two other younger brothers. Think you can handle them?"

Hinta nodded.

"And we also suck at cooking so you might starve."

"T-That's ok. I c-can cook."

Temari smiled. "I already love you."

- End of Chapter -

|I Do Not Own Naruto|