Remember

"I remember that day because the soft snow had changed into a violent storm. Everything had been covered with an icy hold."



It had been three months since the console meeting that put the whote family under strain. Neji had never thought of being married let alone to a Head House member. But it was to become his personal duty, yet he didn't feel it to be a burden.



Since that meeting somethings have changed for the better. Neji became the Branch Family leader, which had made many Branch members proud and pleased. They knew that something had started to change with the position being filled. To most the change sent relief, but to Neji it filled him with gratification.



But even with all the good, something bad comes right along, well maybe not bad but certainly strained. Neji saw less and less of Hinata. Which almost didn't feel like a change except when he did see her she would vanish with in the next second.



Neji knew that Hinata had another choice in mind for her possible future husband. "In the last few years "He" had become an honorable shinobi, but would it be enough?" Neji thought, wondering to himself. But to Neji no matter the out come he had promised himself that he would protect Hinata.



xxxx



Wrapped up tightly in her warm winter blanket Hinata sat in her dark room alone. With each day it became harder to leave her room. Not from the cold weather but from the cold stares from the family. Usually they would ignore her, walking past without even a so much as a blink. Now all she hears is whispers, and receives horrible glares of haterd. Even with her father in full agreement, the family made her feel like even more of an outcast.



Hinata sighed softly, "I will have to face the outside world one day, but I don't today's a good day." She muffled as she stuck her head deeper into her blanket.



"What would father think if I chose "him"?" Hinata thought looking out her window at the harsh sky. "I would think his mood would match that sky. Or just be ashamed," Hinata answered her own question. "He would never except "him" and besides he would never want or except me."



Hinata's whole body started to shake with the burning tears running down her face. Weeps and peeps were muffled by her face pressed against her small pillow.



"I want to do the best I can for my family, yet it just feels like they want nothing to do with me. I truly with there was someone who I could...wait Shino! He has always been understanding, and always listened," Hinata say back upon in her futon. She began to wipe the tears from her cheeks on her already wet sleeve.



Hinata put her hands to her swollen face. Feeling her swollen cheeks and puffy eyes she knew she couldn't leave in suck a state. "I better wash up and wait til my face has gone down." Pushing her blankets off Hinata rose to her feet. Feeling her night kimono stuck to her body from all the tears and sweat she groaned.



"I guess a shower would be best," she summarized, "It has been a few days of just laying in bed." As she walked over to her closet to get her bath bucket she began to realize either way the wind blew her future she would no longer be alone.