A/N: I wrote this in like, two days, because I had half days from finals and all that. Unfortunately, I was so lazy about typing it, that it's a month after I wrote it and I'm just now done.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT?"

Hinata sunk down in her chair. She hadn't bee lying when she said that.

"Well, it sounds an awful lot like you enjoyed it," said Kiba rather bitterly, as if Neji had done something to him.

"Wh-what?" Tears formed in Hinata's eyes. "B-but I didn't. It…it was creepy and I didn't know what he was going to do to me. I-I would never…ever enjoy something like that."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Hinata, I just…I don't know what came over me," he said, genuinely apologetic.

"Geez, Kiba, really messed that one up, huh?" asked Naruto.

Both Ino and Sakura whapped him at the same time, saying, "Don't be so insensitive, Naruto!"

"It…it's alright," the white eyed girl said quietly.

"No, Hinata, none of this is okay," Temari said. "Why did no one ever try and stop Neji from being so awful to you? It sounds like he wasn't just a bully to you, he was obsessed with you. He never let any other boy have you, you had no friends, he was always bothering you. He was a real creep."

"No, it really isn't okay," Gaara agreed and Hinata realized that that was the first time she had ever heard Temari's brother speak.

"Anyway," Sakura said, "we really should change the subject. It's Hinata's first day away from all of that. I'm sure she doesn't want to talk about what she left behind."

Funny how she didn't seem to realize that she was the one who brought up the subject.

~X~

It was after school. Hinata was in her room and Shino was over, trying to explain to Kiba about their homework.

"Kiba, there's something that's been bugging me all day," Shino said. (A/N Get it?)

"What?"

"You said I'd be acting the same if it was Sakura. You seem to think that I like her, so does that mean that you like Hinata?"

"What? I never said that! You just care a lot about Sakura and I care about Hinata! Well, I'm pretty sure you do like Sakura, but that's not the point! The point is is that I don't feel that way about Hinata!"

Hana, who had heard Kiba's rant, stepped in. "So, you like our house guest?"

"No! And besides, she already had a fling with that Itachi and her evil cousin. What chance would I have ?" The question hung in the air.

"I'm not even going to ask about any of that, but I do know that you have plenty of a chance with her," said Hana. "I know this sounds like something a mother would say, but I know that you're a great guy. Plus, Hinata seems pretty fond of you.

"It doesn't make any difference because I don't like her that way," was all Kiba said.

~X~

Hinata's thoughts kept wandering to Naruto. Was she falling for this boy? That was the one thought she didn't want to face at lunch. She had only been in love once, and she remembered how well that had gone.

Plus, how would Itachi feel if he knew that she was considering being with another boy? Would he be glad that she had found someone else or feel like she was betraying him? What if he had been planning on being with her again some day? Why did his name bring back the same headache she got when she tried to remember?

Which, of course, got her trying to remember again. Why had she been running, why? She concentrated as hard as she could, but nothing came to her memory. The only thing she could see in her mind was darkness and…Neji? He had a mean look on his face, but that's all she could remember. So running had something to do with him.

She turned her attention back to the homework that she had. Back in Konoha, she went to a really advanced private school, so this was easy for her. She was done with her work in no time and was soon looking around the room she would be in for a while.

When she was in the library at school, she picked up an interesting looking book. Now she began to read it.

A while ago, when she read romance, she would pretend the two lovers were her and Itachi. Now she didn't know who to imagine into the main male part. Itachi or Naruto or…Kiba? Now why would she think of him?

She shook her head and got back to reading Stories of Maidens, book 1: Haruka's Romance Unfolds. She had heard good things about the series and the author (A/N: THE AUTHOR IS ME! ALL OF IT WAS MY ORIGINAL IDEA, MINE, MINE, MINE!). The first three books told a romance of a girl named Haruka, then there were four about someone named Mitsumi. Currently there was one volume out for the true story of the author's romance. There was even a rumor going around that Haruka was the author's little sister and Mitsumi was her best friend.

"I know what's going on," Hikari said. "I already know that you're in love with him!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Haruka, turning away quickly.

"Oh, no, I think you do. And you need to listen. People will tell you to 'be safe', but you really shouldn't. It totally ruins the entire experience."

"Ew, shut up!" the younger girl shrieked. "Even if I was in love with him, we'd never do anything like that!"

"Now, here's what you have to say to him," Hikari said, ignoring her sisters screams of protest.

Hinata laughed to herself and closed the book. Already, she was enjoying Hikari's antics and all the involvement she had in her sister's love life, despite Haruka's displeasure at having her elder sister around.

Hikari…the name of the author, the name of a character, and the name of the town she was in. (A/N: And the author of this story!) She had never thought that one name would old so much significance in her life. A name that would one day mean nothing to her.

~X~

Ino smiled at her reflection in the mirror early the next morning. Maybe today Gaara would realize how great she was for him. It was about time that he did, considering she had always been there but he seemed to not notice how they were meant to be.

She and Sakura both had a thing for the strong, silent types, considering Sakura's crush on Shino. This new Hinata…what was she interested in? She seemed awfully interested in Naruto but there was also a possibility of her and Kiba.

Still, it seemed she was still hung up on Itachi, her old boyfriend. All of that was rather interesting too. Her cousin seemed to exist to ruin her life and possibly keep her to all himself. Temari might have been on to something with that obsession theory.

It wasn't a long walk to school, in fact, not much of a walk at all. It also didn't take much to find Hinata, who was with Kiba (obviously) and Shino. Ino decided right then and there to make an effort to befriend Hinata so she wouldn't have to spend all her time with those boys.

"Hey, Hinata," she said, walking over to the timid girl.

"H-hello, Ino," Hinata said, smiling.

"Have you seen Sakura around?" Ino asked.

"Nope, we haven't," Kiba said.

"Actually," Shino intoned, "I saw her this morning. She went to the library to return a book she borrowed last week."

"Of course you know exactly where Sakura is and why." his best friend said. Shino didn't say anything in response, as per usual.

"Well, I'm going to go get her," Ino said finally. "Do, you want to come with me, Hinata?" She eyed the white eyed girl expectantly.

"O-okay," she said and followed Ino along.

"So, Shino seems to, as Kiba put it, 'know where Sakura is and why.' I think he likes her, which is just as well, because she likes him." The blonde chattered away about Sakura and Shino while Hinata listened. It was nice to have somebody who just listened, never argued.

"I like you, Hinata. It's nice to have you around."

"Th-thank you."

~X~

After her second day of school, Hinata was starting to get used to Hikari. It was so much calmer than the big city she had been used to. She liked knowing the people her age and having a lot of friends.

It was that night, as she was reading about the exploits of Haruka and Hikari, that she got a phone call. She had never had anyone call for her, so she was sure that the call was for Tsume, Kiba, or Hana.

"Hey, Hinata!" Tsume called. "Temari's on the phone for you! There's an extension in your room, next to your desk!"

"H-hello?" Hinata said and Tsume hung up.

"Hey, Hinata. It's me. Look, there's something I seriously need to talk to you about," said Temari.

"What is it?"

"Well, it's about Gaara. See, you showed up. And, well, he's been…well, not much different except…he's really interested in you. Says he feels bad for you, with all the crap you had to go through."

"And? Wh-what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing. It's just that he seems too interested in you is all," she said. "Now, don't be shocked by what I'm about to say. Brace yourself, Hinata." Temari took a breath. "I think the reason Gaara is so interested in you is because he's in love with you."

A/N: Another cliffhanger! I just love them so much. I really don't like Hinata very much anymore, but I will finish this story. However, I'm thinking around 10 chapters and an epilogue. Anyway, next time: Hinata begins to wonder if Temari says is true and watches Gaara more carefully, Kiba begins to question his feelings for Hinata, Kankuro and Tenten spring a surprise on everyone, and a Kurenai assigns everyone a project. YOU WON'T SEE THIS CHAPTER ANY TIME SOON IF YOU DON'T REVIEW! But if you do, I'll be updated very, very soon. Also, vote in the poll on my profile!