Remember

"I don't remember my dreams but the day was a harsh one."



Hinata rested herself on the bed pulling her knees together tight. Shino sat on the floor infront of her. Her reflection shined off his sunglasses. She looked tired and stressed, though Hinata tried her best to hide it. Shino knew and could see that his friend was in destress though her eyes.



Folding her hands in her lap Hinata felt like butterlies were doing laps in her stomach. "Hinata-sama, you wanted to talk to me about something?" Shino inquired. He wasn't trying to push her by any means but he knew she wouldn't start the conversation on her own.



"Shino...my family...my family has finally named me the heriess. But there are two...ways that can happen. either the coming of my father's death or at the age of 21. The consoil said whatever comes first." Hinata paused taking a deep breath.



"But they also a have a condition. They either want me to marry someone they approve of," one more long pause crept across the room. "Or I have to marry Neji-nii-san." The words slipped from her lips as she continued to look down at her hands.



Shino didn't show emotion openly but when Hinata looked up she could see the concern in his body lanuage.



"Hinata-sama, I know that this is a big descion to make. This is one that needs alot of care and thought. There is no straight forward right answer," Shino thought for a moment, "But I will say the man you love is someone to consider for your own happiness. On the other hand, Neji would be good for the clan. It depends on who is the best for you family or for you."



Hinata bowed her head, shielding her eyes, "What...what if that person could be good for me and the clan?"



"Hinata-sama, I know who you are refering too, and he might truly be what the clan needs but only the marriage could truly tell that. Now as for Neji, I have respect for him as a shinobi, but the Chuunin exam stills tands out in my mind," Shino's voice didn't truly change but Hinata had been around Shino long enough to know when he was upset or angry. This time it was anger.



"Neji-nii, san has changed! Well changing. As I was leaving to come here, he spoke to me like a human being. It might be one of the only times but I could tell it was from his heart. He wants to be my prot...protector...atleast," Her voice became soft as it trailed off.



Looking back up at Shino, he started to shake his head, "I truly don't know what goes through his mind. He is a mystery even to me. But if nothing else you should try to pressure your dream to be with the person you love. If you don't you will regret it for the rest of your life."



***



Neji felt the air around her start to leave a thin layer of ice around his exposed skin. The cold had truly come in full force not holding anything back. Neji kept his mouth closed not letting the cold air get into his warm lungs to ice it over. Breathing through his nose helpped relieve some of the bitterness, but even with all this and the pain in his forehead, Neji remembered his task. Find Hinata and retrieve her for Hanabi. Growling to himself when he thought of Hanabi he ran faster. Each step hitting the stone like ground hard sending a shock up his leg.



Suddenly Neji came to the realization that he didn't know where Hinata had went. She could have gone to two places...Kiba's or Shino's. "I think I should try Kiba's first, its a bit closer and it would give me a chance to get out of the weather even if its just for a moment," Neji agreed with himself and headed west towards the Inuzuka estate. It had been years since he went there and he was unsure of what awaited him.