Remember

"I remember that moment because my feelings and life were turned upside down."

Walking back to the Hyuga compound Hinata rubbed her hands together to warm them up. Since the confrontation with Neji neither one had spoken a word since. Hinata just followed behind Neji without even looking up. She knew that further discussion would be out of the question, especially after his reaction.

Thinking about what he had said over and over turned her stomach into knots. Hinata had thought that she had everything figured out, but with each step she felt even more unsure.

"Neji-nii-san..." Hinata wimpered, while holding her stomach.

"Yes Hinata-sama?" Neji answered not even turning to face her.

"Neji-nii..."Suddenly Hinata collapsed onto the cold hard ground. Neji turned on his heels, rushing over to her. Resting her head in the crook of his arm, Neji looked at her face. Hinata's cheeks were flusted and the rest of her was paler then her usual completion. Laying his frozen hand on her forehead, Neji felt his hand warm up instantly.

"Damnnit, the stress and cold got to her," Neji sighed picking her up into his arms. "I am sorry Hinata, I shouldn't have been so forceful." After taking Hinata into his arms, the pain from his muscles being so frigid finally set in. "God, why does it have to be so chilly." His joints felt like they were going to rip as he held Hinata's dead weight in his arms. "Atleast, we aren't far."

***

Several hours had past since Hanabi had sent Neji to retrieve Hinata. As each minute passed she became more adjudicated. "For a Jouninn he is slower than crap," Hanabi mumbled, upon entering her father's room.

The room was almost dark except for a small fire crackling in the corner of the room. Seeing the fire was starting to dim, Hanabi walked over to the bath of firewood, placing a fresh piece of wood on the golden embers. Watching the fire dance, she sighed, "Your life is like this fire father. If I didn't take care of you, you would just burn out." Turning her head back she could see her father's chest moving up and down. "Atleast you are resting comfortably."

Closing her eyes Hanabi walked towards the futon, seating herself beside her father in her usual place. Looking at a small tray next to the head of the bed, she started to count the various pill bottles. "So many pulls, that seem to do nothing. And there are three more then last time."

"And there will soon be more, Hanabi," Hiashi whispered. Moving his withered hand into his daughter's lap Hanabi placed her hands around his. "I am sorry to put you through this. You are so young to be taking care of an old man like me," Hiashi started to cough. Placing her father's hand on the bed, Hanabi started to pour water from a pitcher into a glass that was next to the pill tray. Going behind his head, holding it up with her knees she put the cup to his lips.

The cool water slowly went down his aching throat. After a few seconds Hanabi removed the glass from mouth placing it back on the tray. Starting to breath normally again Hiashi closed his tired eyes. "Thank you," he said softly before drifting back in a quiet slumber, leaving Hanabi crying quietly in the night.