Chapter 5: We are Your Friends
Haidou Compound, 2:44 pm
"Is this the Hyuga Hinata? The heiress to the Hyuga clan?" A young man sat on a luxurious porch holding a picture of the beautiful, pale-eyed girl.
"She's more beautiful than they made her out to be. I can't wait to see her in person."
Takuya grinned at the thought of their meeting. An older gentleman sat down next to him.
"She's a real beauty, isn't she Takuya-sama? You would expect nothing less from Hyuga Hiashi-sama. She's your age, a wonderful medic-nin and I've heard she looked upon with respect and awe from the Branch house and village itself."
Takuya nodded.
"Of course…I also hear she also has an overprotective cousin…Neni? Nije? Kiki?" Takuya pondered.
"Neji…Takuya-sama."
" Ah, yes…" The older gentlemen pulled out a paper from an envelope and handed it to the young man. Takuya looked over it and frowned.
"I don't think I quite like him. Kisuke…is he one those Branch House bastards? He is isn't he?" The man called Kisuke nodded.
"I wonder…just how close are they?"
--
Uchiha manor, 12:45 pm
"Hinata, your room is upstairs across from mine next to Sakura's on the left. Naruto…" Sasuke pointed to the living room.
"Couch."
"OI! Why the hell do I get the couch, Sasuke?! Are you trying to take me away from Hinata-chan?!" Naruto yelled and dropped the suitcase he had been caring and ran to Hinata's side, throwing his arms around her waist.
Hinata blushed.
Sakura tugged on a lone strand of Sasuke's bangs, and stuck her tongue out at him.
"No, Naruto. Sasuke-kun was only joking. You'll have the room next to Hinata's, so you can be closer to her." Sakura picked up the case Naruto had dropped began walking down the hall. The boys went outside to the backyard.
"Hinata," Sakura turned back to face Hinata and stopped at a door.
"Hai, Sakura-chan?"
"What's…what's going to happen to you? And Neji…is he going to be ok? I'm really worried about him and you father." Sakura opened the door to the room. It was a simple homey room, a queen sized bed against the wall and a large closet next to the bathroom. The floor was a beautiful oak wood and the walls were a light, sky blue.
Hinata awed at how simple yet, beautiful the room was. She turned to Sakura, offering her false reassuring smile.
"I-I know Neji-niisan will be ok…he's not weak at all! And I know that he'll do whatever he can to protect me. And father…" Hinata's face fell and she hung her head trying to hide her tears.
Sakura sat on the bed and motioned for Hinata to sit beside her. She wrapped her arms around the crying girl and held her tight.
"Sakura…I…I just don't know! I don't know what to do! I don't know what's going to happen and Neji-niisan is hurt, father is hurt…what if he takes his anger out on Hanabi? Or Neji-niisan? This whole mess is my fault!"
"No! Hinata it isn't! Nothing is your fault…Hinata you stood up for yourself and Neji too! Oh, Hinata don't cry! Please don't cry!" Sakura wiped Hinata's tears, smearing them across her pale cheeks.
"Hinata your strong…you are! And sometimes…when we stand up for ourselves and the ones we love…we have to sacrifice things we don't want to. It may by your family name…or status, or even parents…but you always have Naruto. Who loves you more than the world and everything in it. And you know it."
Sakura released Hinata and smiled.
Hinata…know that we'll never leave you. Naruto, Sasuke and I are always here for you….so is Neji, Hanabi and everyone else. You're not alone in this fight. Please, Hinata, don't take this burden all on yourself…don't draw yourself away.
--
They set up a routine.
Since Hinata and Sakura both worked at the hospital, she continued there. Hinata was never to be left alone. Someone always had to be with her. After Neji and Hiashi were released from the hospital nothing was said about Hinata returning home…this gave Naruto the impression that Neji had indeed kept her whereabouts a secret…or that Hiashi was indignant and refused to search for her.
Knowing Neji wasn't one to tell, he believed it was the latter…though he didn't know which one he thought was the best. After all…Neji was taking a risky chance keeping where Hinata was a secret. He would do anything it took to keep Hinata safe and happy…even if it meant his own comfort. That just shows how much he'd changed since the Chunin exams. He cared about his cousin that much.
Naruto and Hinata were the only ones home. Sakura and Sasuke had gone to the market to stock up on groceries and necessities. Hinata had been with them for two weeks. Neji had been coming back and forth, telling Hinata news and such. It seemed that her father was eager for her to come home. From what Neji said…he wasn't very excited to know Hinata was with someone else…that she refused to come back to the compound.
Naruto wasn't sure what to do…or how things would turn out. In fact he was downright scared. Hinata had told him of the arranged marriage and her father's threat on her birthright. He wouldn't lose Hinata to some guy who didn't even know her. Because…Naruto knew everything about her. Her fears, goals…ok, maybe Neji knew her fears…and even goals…but Naruto knew her. Naruto loved her. And he would die protecting her…but he didn't want to suffer Hinata's happiness…wasn't it because of her love for him that this happened?
He shook his head. No. He couldn't be down at a time like this. He had to be strong for Hinata…Hinata needed him.
--
Uchiha Manor, 11:13 am
"Naruto-kun?" Naruto looked up from a book he had been reading on the couch towards the small timid voice calling out his name. A small lamp just barely illuminating the room. Hinata, dressed in her cotton nightgown was standing in the hallway leaning gracefully against the wall.
"Oi, Hinata! You should be in bed. Why are you up so late?" Naruto cocked an eyebrow. Hinata blushed and poked her fingers together.
"I-I couldn't sleep…when I looked in your room you weren't there. So…I wanted to look for you." Naruto smiled and patted a space next to him on the couch. Hinata thankfully sat down beside him; tucking her legs under her and snuggling into his side.
Naruto kissed her forehead and continued on reading. It really wasn't that good a piece of literature…Iruka-sensei had recommended him to read it. He had lost interest when he saw the first word. Dietary.
"Naruto-kun? What are you reading?" Hinata inquired softly, prodding. One thing people didn't realize about Naruto was that he actually enjoyed a good book or two. But not a lot…Hinata knew when Naruto read this late it wasn't that he was caught up in the wonderful deep meaning of the ridiculously long book, but that something was bothering him.
Naruto grinned and gave her the book to observe.
"Iruka-sensei said I need to accommodate more than just ramen in my diet. Heh…I guess he can't be too wrong, eh Hinata?" She smiled. No, trying something new couldn't be too bad, she supposed.
"Naruto-kun…is there something bothering you? P-please tell me." He sighed…he could never keep anything from Hinata. But he didn't want to wear her down with his troubles…she already had so much to deal with.
"Nothing. I'm just a little worried heh, nothing big, Hinata-chan! Really!" Hinata frowned. Naruto was lying to her.
"Don't do that Hinata-chan! Please! Your making me feel bad…" Hinata frowned even more. Naruto threw up his hands in defeat and grinned that wide grin of his.
"Well…you see, Hinata-chan. I'm just a bit worried about you. Everything seems to be going ok now, but what if you're dad decides to come take you? And you seem so tired all the time…I guess I'm sorta' worried about Neji too. Heh, silly huh?" He scratched the back of his head.
"No, Naruto-kun. It's not silly at all! I-I know how you feel…I'm, I'm scared too. I don't know what Otou-san is going to do. B-but I don't want to leave…"
"Hinata-chan I don't want you to leave either. But…what about that guy? Who supposed to marry you? I…I don't want that to happen." Naruto hugged Hinata tightly but gently.
"I want you all to myself, Hinata-chan!" Hinata laughed, a pure genuine laugh and patted his head.
"I-If only you'll be mine, Naruto-kun!" Naruto swept Hinata's lips softly onto his own and smiled. A big, ridiculously happy smile.
"Of course, Hina-chan. We'll be each others."
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Please review! I would to have some review from all of you who are waiting on next chapter and put this on your Story Alert! If I get 5 more reviews by tomorrow I will post Chapter 6 on Friday! So you get too chapters this week if I get 5 more reviews! lol