Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Hyuuga ❯ Part Three ( Chapter 3 )

Finding Hyuuga Part Three

01/07/05

Author's note: Here it is, the last part. Happy reading!

Part Three

Hinata was happy.

Deliriously happy.

Happy like she had never been before.

 It was a dream she had never expected to attain, to live, or to feel.

But Hinata, like any good ninja, was also a realist. And realists, while enjoying dreams while they lasted, planned for the inevitable to happen.

So Hinata knew her dream was precious and wonderful and everything she could ever hope for.

But Hinata also knew that everyone woke up from dreams. Even if she wrapped herself around Kiba, tied herself to him, sank as much of her soul inside his heart as possible, this dream perfection would end.

No matter what she did, Hinata would wake to find that no dream could ever come without a catch.

She only wondered what it could be.

"Oi, Hinata, why so gloomy?"

Kiba's warm voice jarred Hinata from her gloomy thoughts and she smiled up at him from her seat at the small café table.

Pressing a warm, too-brief kiss to her lips, he slid into the chair across from her and grabbed a fry off her plate.

She loved it.

She loved that he kissed her in public, loved that he felt comfortable enough to eat one of her fries, and loved that his hand comfortably covered hers where it rested on the glass-top table.

"Thinking dark thoughts again?"

She sent him a small shrug and a self-deprecating grin, "I can't seem to help it lately. Everywhere I go, I feel eyes watching me, drilling a hole through my back. It's like someone's waiting for me to slip up doing something I don't even know I'm doing!"

Kiba frowned, eyes flicking to the many hidden corners and streets and windows surrounding the busy market place.

"I know what you mean. I can't shake the feeling, either. I don't understand it, but I get jittery, like I have an itch I can't scratch and it won't ever go away."

She sighed and turned the hand under his over so that her fingers could tangle pleasantly with his.

"Maybe we're being ridiculous." Determined to forget about it and not let it ruin their luncheon, Hinata focused on the young man across from her. "So, I hear Akamaru found himself a love interest?"

Grinning the grin that only a proud older brother could give, Kiba stretched out and leaned back in his chair, "You bet! As soon as he hit his latest growth spurt, the poor thing has been attacked from all sides by dangerous female pups. I'm telling you, those dogs are more dangerous than Ino on a man-mission. He can hardly keep up with them all."

Laughing, Hinata watched him eying her forgotten plate. She pushed it towards him and his eyes lit up. Grabbing another fry, he popped it in his mouth.

Resting his elbow on the table, he propped his chin on his free hand and winked at her. "Now, his older brother, this hot stud named Kiba, well, seems he's got himself a gal, too."

Hinata mimicked his pose and leaned forward, "Oh yeah? Nice guy, that Kiba. Pretty cute, too."

He raised an eyebrow, "Oh yeah?"

She moved closer to him and smiled, "Mm-hmm."

Smiling back, he released her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her cheek, "From what I hear, he thinks his girl is the best thing in the world."

A blush tinting her cheeks, Hinata repeated his words, "Oh yeah?"

A soft brush of mouth against mouth and she felt, more than heard, his answer. "Oh yeah."

Their lips met again.

And then again.

A reluctant parting and a lingering last kiss as Kiba's stomach growled a protest.

They laughed and pulled apart to feed his hungry body.

He had just placed another order when a loud clearing of a throat caught both their attentions.

Hinata eyed the newcomer in front of her warily. He wore dark, loose clothing and his long brown hair was pulled loosely into a ponytail at the nape of his neck.

"Hinata-sama, I have a message for you from the main house."

Kiba frowned as Hinata's eyes dropped from the man's face and grazed the floor. Her shoulders hunched forward and she seemed to shrink into herself.

This wasn't the Hinata that had just teased with him, this was the Hinata from six years ago who could barely stammer a question.

Kiba supressed the urge to jump the man and beat him senseless. It wasn't his fault, per say, that Hinata grew nervous and withdrawn.

It was the message in his hand.

From the main house.

From her father.

Hinata took the sealed envelope from the man and he left without another word.

Kiba's concern grew as he saw her shaking hands struggle to open it.

Hinata was trembling so hard she couldn't really control her movements. She knew this, and felt ridiculous for falling apart in front of Kiba.

His hands covered hers and helped her in the opening of her message.

She wanted to thank him, wanted to hold him and kiss him, wanted to tell him she loved him with everything she had, every cell in her body.

But she couldn't.

Because all she could think, hear and see, was the summons in her hand.

It was over, she knew.

Her dream, her hope, her love.

She had just woken up.

....................

She hadn't even seen him, Kiba knew, when she had stumbled away.

Her eyes had been distant and scared and her body cold and shaky.

It made his blood boil and his heart ache.

Because all he could do was wait for her to come to him.

He clenched his fist and stared blindly at the ground in front of him as he walked aimlessly around the town.

And Kiba hated waiting.

....................

Hinata knelt before her father, knees quaking and palms sweaty.

He sat regally on his chair, looking down at her with such disdain and animosity that she felt it even though her forehead rested against the mat in front of his raised platform.

"You have always disappointed me, Hinata. Do you know that?"

Tears stung her eyes but she refused to let them fall. She couldn't openly oppose him, to do so would mean beatings beyond those that Neji had given her during her first fight with him. But she could keep what little strength she had, what power she had, in refusing to let him know how he hurt her.

She didn't know what to say, or if he expected an answer, so she gave none.

He seemed to accept this as agreement, because he moved on.

"Why you are such a failure, I will never know, but I can only do what I feel is necessary in order to prevent further humiliation upon this clan."

Her fingers clenched but she thought of Kiba and his warm, dark eyes and his gentle hands and his beautiful smile and hoped that he was waiting for her somewhere out beyond this dark place many called home.

She forced herself to listen to her father.

He moved to his feet and walked across the floor to where she knelt on the floor.

He dropped gracefully to his knees and lifted her head with one hand on her chin.

She flinched, expecting a blow.

And though one did not come, he nodded in approval of her fear, glad to have taught something to her, at least.

His voice was dangerously soft but a silken tone belied steel words.

"You will not see him again."

She jerked and raised stunned eyes to his face.

"W-what?"

His eyes narrowed, "You will address me, correctly, Hinata. Know your place."

Her eyes dropped and she wilted, "Forgive me, Hiashi-sama."

"This dog-boy you see. You will stop whatever it is you have with him. You will break all ties with him and never see him again. Do you understand me?"

Hinata had to bite her lip to prevent the words trying to spill out. Never see Kiba again, never see the man who meant everything to her. How?

She shook her head frantically, trying to dislodge his tight grip on her chin. "Please," she whispered brokenly, "don't take him away from me. Please . . ."

Standing, Hiashi stood over his eldest daughter.

"If you ever see him again, Hinata, I will have him killed. I will crush his bones, tear out his insides, and feed them to his dog. And then I will make you so miserable, you will wish for death, yourself."

Her forehead pressed tightly against the floor, Hinata muffled her sobs against the unfeeling mat beneath her.

Seated once again on his lordly throne, Hiashi waved a hand at her. "Dismissed, Hinata. Do not test me again."

Forcing her legs to move, she stumbled out the door.

Keep going, keep going. Just make it to your room, Hinata. Make it to your room and then break. But don't shatter here, please don't shatter here.

Repeating it over and over, Hinata's unseeing eyes failed to notice the young man making his way urgently toward her.

Hyuuga Neji caught his destroyed cousin in his arms as she ran blindly into him. Not looking at the many family members surrounding them, Neji half-dragged, half-carried Hinata to her room.

Shutting the door behind him, Neji wrapped an arm around her and pressed her face into his chest.

Having long since given up his animosity towards her, Neji had grown fond of his quiet cousin. He knew, just knew, that Hiashi had crushed her in that short meeting, knew that he could do only one thing.

After she cried.

After her tears were spent, Neji would find a way to give Hinata one last meeting with Kiba.

Looking down at her trembling form, Neji wondered if he would ever see her smile again.

....................

Kiba waited anxiously at the training grounds they usually met at, wondering why he hadn't heard from Hinata herself, but from Neji.

Akamaru gave a joyful bark and Kiba whirled around to face the way his trusted companion was sniffing.

Hinata came slowly into view, and Kiba's face fell, wondering at the crushed look on her own face.

She walked up to him and stood facing him, not two feet away. He shifted from foot to foot, wanting to ask why she had been crying, why she hadn't talked to him in over a week, why she didn't say anything. Why she kept staring at him as though it would be the last time.

And then she was in his arms and pressed close against him and he smelled her shampoo and smelled her skin, and felt as though he could smell her very soul as she curled into him.

Hinata wrapped her arms tightly around his torso, pressing her reddened face into the crook of his neck, feeling tears drip from her tightly closed eyes onto his warm skin.

His arms tightened around her, and she knew he smelled her tears and her fear and her sadness.

"Hinata? What's going on, are you-"

She shook her head fiercely against his body and he stopped to smooth a hand down her hair.

Letting out a broken sob, she pulled back and ran trembling hands over his face, tracing his nose and his cheekbones and the jut of his chin.

"I love you," she told him, "I love you so much, so very much. I love you. I love you"

He shushed her with warm fingers against her lips and wiped tears from her face.

Pressing kisses to each tear stain, he murmured, "I love you, too. I love you with everything I have. Tell me what's wrong, love, tell me so I can fix it and make you stop crying."

She shuddered in his grasp, "You can't fix it, Kiba, you can't. No one can."

"Yes, I can. Trust me, Hinata."

She pulled away from him and turned her back to him, wiping at her tears and straightening her shirt. He frowned, but let her go.

She turned back to face him and let out a shivering breath.

"I can't see you anymore, Kiba."

His eyebrows rose and he moved a step towards her. "You can't what?" Confused and hurt, he held out a hand to her.

She didn't take it. "I can't see you anymore. I - I'm not allowed."

He frowned and dropped his empty hand. "Not allowed? But who would - your father?" At her nod, he turned furiously around and slammed his fist into the fence pole behind him viciously.

She flinched but nodded when he turned back around.

His eyes were furious, but it wasn't directed at her, "He can't do this, Hinata! We can fight him! I love you!" He stepped up to her and caught her face in his hands. "I love you so much, and I know you love me, I can feel it. Fight him with me, Hinata."

She shook her head, "I cannot. It's not an option. Kiba. I love you, I do, please know that. But I can't be with you."

He growled and moved back, pacing to contain his helpless fury. "Did he threaten you? Did the bastard threaten to hurt you, Hinata?"

Shaking her head again, she reached out a hand to stop his pacing and made him face her.

"No, Kiba, he didn't threaten to hurt me. He threatened to kill you. And that is something I couldn't bear. If this is the only way to protect you, I'll do it." She pressed herself into his arms and hugged him one last time, her heart weeping at how perfect his arms felt around her.

She lifted her face to press soft kisses against his lips, deepening them when he opened his mouth to her.

She pulled away and looked at him one last time.

And then she turned and walked away.

And Kiba let her. His arms limp at his sides, his heart bleeding at his feet, he watched his love walk away from him.

And when she was out of sight, he dropped to his knees and sobbed.

....................

Hinata met up with Neji just out of sight of the training grounds.

Her voice was calm when she thanked him.

Her walk was steady as they turned towards the Hyuuga compound.

But her eyes, Neji saw, her eyes were so dead, so barren, that he felt his blood freeze when he met them.

....................

Hinata knelt on the floor in front of her father, but her forehead no longer pressed against the rough straw mat.

She did not fear him any longer.

He had taken everything from her already, and so he had nothing left to take as punishment.

His face angry at her disrespect, Hiashi had to fight the urge to strike her. He could not do so in front of Neji, who stood protectively by the door, had done so since he had taken the dog-boy from Hinata. He did not fear his stupidly foolish daughter, but Neji he did fear and so he restrained himself.

"You asked for this meeting, Hinata. Are you not going to say anything? Or would you prefer we sit in silence for the rest of the afternoon and you waste more of my precious time?"

Impassive eyes met his hateful glare.

"I want to leave."

He raised an eyebrow at her and took a sip of wine. "Leave where?"

"The Hyuuga compound. The Hyuuga family. The Hyuuga life. I want out."

He snorted a laugh and stood to glare down at her from his impressive height.

"No Hyuuga ever leaves the clan. I forbid it."

Hinata stood to face him and he snarled at her disobedience.

"I thought you would say that. So I have a proposition. You either let me leave freely and with my inheritance, or I go to every neighboring clan, enemy or not, and give them the secrets of the Byakuugan."

He paled and he lashed out with his right fist. Knocking her to the floor, Hiashi stood over her and raised his hand in a Gentle Fist stance.

A flash of white and Neji stood over Hinata's fallen form.

"You touch her, Uncle, and I will rip your precious balls from your body and feed them to you through your nose. I have stood by long enough. Destiny calls to me not to fold power to you, but to change the Hyuuga back into the powerful, good clan it was before you reigned over it."

Hiashi glared, "I will activate your seal, you traitorous bastard and -"

Hinata chuckled weakly from the floor, "I broke it, Father. I destroyed his seal and eradicated it from every other Branch family member. You cannot harm them any longer."

Neji's fist touched his side and Hiashi crumpled in pain.

A loud commotion broke out in the halls and the shouting of voices and thudding of bodies echoed into the council room.

Neji raced to the doors, Hinata following close on his heels.

Flinging open the doors, Neji almost fell over in shock.

The hall was filled with groaning bodies and . . . dogs?

Neji let out a grunt of surprise when a dog came up to him, growling. He dodged another yipping creature, attempting to bite his foot and glanced back at Hinata.

Her eyes were wide and filled with the first emotion he had seen in over a month.

Hope.

"Let me go, you fucking bastards." A thud, a growl, and a groan of pain. " Where did you put her? Where is she, dammit? What have you done to her?"

Hinata gasped and pushed past Neji into the hall.

There she stood, trembling and losing whatever strength she had held onto facing her father.

Kiba broke through another door, frantically looking around and then turning back to the hall. Grabbing another Hyuuga off the floor, he slammed him against the wall.

About to threaten, question, or even beg, Kiba froze and turned his head to look down the hall towards Hinata.

"Hinata?" He dropped the man he had been holding and took a stumbling step towards her.

"K-Kiba? What are you . . . what are you doing here?"

Kiba lifted one shoulder in an awkward shrug and wiped at some of the blood dripping from his cut lip. "I was looking for you."

He started walking towards, afraid to move too fast, lest she be a mere fantasy.

She let out a trembling sob and half stumbled, half walked to meet him halfway down the hall.

He held out his arms and she was in them in a heartbeat, pressing as close as possible, pressing her face tightly against the crook of his neck.

More Hyuuga members rushed forward, but Neji stopped them with one hand raised. "Let them be. They're where they belong."

He moved back into the council room, jerking his uncle to his feet and pushing him towards the door. "Tell them you take it back. Tell them, or you lose limbs, and then eyes, and then heart before I take over the leadership of this clan."

Hyuuga Hiashi stumbled through the door and moved to stand before the couple still embracing.

"I revoke my decision, Hinata. You may see this man with the approval of this clan's head."

Pulling her face from Kiba's neck, Hinata stared at the weak man before her.

"I don't want your approval, Hiashi-sama. I don't even want your acknowledgment. I do want to thank you, however, for giving me the courage to finally stand up to you."

She stepped out of Kiba's embrace, but kept one hand firmly threaded through his. "If you hadn't taken him away, if I hadn't let you take him away from me, I would never have been able to do what I've always wanted to do."

She moved to stand before her father and faced him, woman to man, daughter to father, person to person.

"I want out." She repeated. "I want you to release me from this clan and leave me and my true family the hell alone. I want out of your life, and I want you to stay away from mine."

Hiashi glowered over being ordered by some girl, but felt Neji's threatening glare and nodded all the same.

Hinata frowned, "No, I want you to say it."

"Fine, I release you from the Hyuuga family, never to be allowed back in."

She bowed low, "Thank you for the one good thing you've ever done for me."

She moved past him to wrap her once-estranged cousin in her arms. She pressed a kiss to his cheek and hugged him again. "Thank you for everything. Without you, I would not have made it this past month."

Neji smiled, a soft smile, "No, Hinata, thank you." He pressed a hand against his unmarked forehead. "Thank you for setting me free. You truly are a Hyuuga now, Hinata, your inner strength is unrivaled by anyone in this clan."

He touched her shoulder and jerked his chin at the man waiting for her. "Now go home, my true cousin. Go home, my Hyuuga."

Hinata turned back to Kiba and he held out a hand to her.

Together they walked out of the Hyuuga stronghold, followed by a trail of canines.

Kiba stopped her just outside of the gates guarding the Hyuuga homes.

He smiled at her, "I love you."

She nodded, too overcome with emotion to voice her own feelings. She leaned up, pressing her open mouth against his. They kissed, feeling such a rush of emotion that they had never felt so complete.

"What took you so long?" Hinata asked him, teasingly.

Kiba looked affronted and pressed a hand to his chest, "Took me so long? I was planning a one-man siege, Hinata! What took you so long?"

Smiling, loving every part of him, Hinata shrugged her shoulders and they started walking again.

"I guess I just had to find the Hyuuga in me."

Owari.

Whew! I hope you like how I ended it. I love Kiba and Hinata as a pairing and wish more writing was around about it. Anyway, thanks for the reviews from everyone and thanks for reading!