Gomenasai - TATU

Chapter 2O

The battle arena seemed colder than before as two genin from the same clan stepped into the centre; Hinata and Neji Hyuga. Something inside of a certain brunette Oscuro stirred in unease as possible scenarios of what was to come ran through her already clouded mind. Takara unconsciously clenched and unclenched her fists, fidgeting as if to rid herself of the images she had created. She did not win, instead childhood memories replayed in her head. For 11 years the two girls had been friends. Introduced through their families from a young age, they’d been there for eachother.

*~ In The Light Was A One Of a Kind, A Precious Pearl ~*

“Hinata! Hola!” Two years beforehand a bubbly Takara waved frantically to the pale eyed female stepping through the Oscuro Clan’s gates. The smile died on Kara’s lips as she took in her friend’s forced one in return. Something was wrong. Frowning she watched her approach, reading her like a book. She was troubled, struggling to appear casual as she usually was around her best friend.

“Hola, Kara.” She forced another smile repeating the familiar greeting which she’d picked up from her Spanish speaking comrade; the way she usually did.

“Hinata, what’s wrong? Sit, tell me, what is it?” She motioned to the stone bench to the side of the courtyard, taking a seat herself and offering the space beside her.

“Wh-what d-do you mean T-Takara?” She stammered horrified that her mood had been so easily picked up.

“Come on Hina. Since when do you stutter when it’s just you and me? Huh? No, something is most defiantly wrong. Spill.” She arched an eyebrow fingering a strand of her dark hair as she stated the obvious. Sighing Hinata began her tale. The latest insult from her father.

*~ A Delicate Doll Of Porcelian ~*

Sucking air in through her teeth Takara searched Hinata’s eyes, glancing briefly at Neji. Despite the previous friction deep down she willed him to have mercy on the other kunoichi.

“I never thought that you and I would have to face each other, Hinata.” He spoke her name harshly, venom evident in his voice. Takara had lost hers.

“Nor I, brother.” Her reply was short but underneath that fear could be found.

“What she call him?!” Sakura’s shriek broke her team-mate’s train of thought.

“Brother?! Those two are brother and sister?!” Naruto’s gripped the side’s railing in disbelief, staring down with wide eyes at the Hyuga’s.

“They’re both descendents of the same clan, one of the most honourable in the Leaf, not actually brother and sister.” Kakashi answered calmly.

“Okay but their related somehow, right?” Sakura pressed.

“Yes in the way a branch of a great tree is related to its trunk. Technically they’re more like cousins.”

“Oh, like Takara and Naomi.” Naruto nodded to the Oscuro’s standing beside each other. They turned in unison and the blond nin found himself blushing under the gaze of two identically stunning pairs of eyes. “The trunk of a tree?” He quickly questioned snapping his eyes away.

“Yes, Hinata is of the Main household of the Hyuga while Neji is of the branch family.” Lee explained, holding his chin in a thoughtful pose.

“Oh, which are you Takara?” Said kunoichi blinked at the knuckleheaded ninja.

“Main.”

“So you must be branch then Naomi- Ouch!” Naruto whined after receiving a thump on the head from the female he had been addressing. Er... no...

“No, we do not have branch families it’s degrading. There is only the main house and then the remainder of the clan. Currently the main house consists of Takara, Miyuko – Takara’s sister, Yuzuki – my sister and I. Yuzuki is the head of our clan. History lesson over Naruto.” She scowled. The only one he'll ever pay attention to.

“Anyway, they’re still family. I feel for them. It must be hard.” You have no idea.

“Sakura, you’ve missed the mark completely. There's friction between the two sides. You could almost say this match is a -.”

“Family feud!” She gasped in realisation, finishing her friend’s sentence.

“Exactly.”

“You are the pampered offspring off the Main house-.” Wrong.

*~ When I Wanted To Cry, I Couldn't 'Cause I, Wasn't allowed ~*

“He said that Hanabi was worth more than me. I really am unworthy of my clan! I shouldn’t have been born into that family! He’s casting me aside for someone five years younger! He said it himself!” Takara took her friend’s cries of distress in silence, watching as tears ran freely down her cheeks. “It’s not fair! Nothing I ever do will be good enough! He knew I was there! He hates me and says these things to cause me pain! Why am I so-?” She was cut off by a pair of arms wrapping tightly around her. Takara hugged her friend close, stopping her before she could finish her sentence.

“You’re here because you have friends that care about you. Maybe more than your own father. You are not worthless or useless and who cares what he has to say? Nothing you ever do will be good enough, huh? No, I don’t think so. I seem to recall a certain girl helping me patch myself up after training. What I’m trying to say Hinata is that you have such a good and honest heart, don’t let him hurt you. Besides people change you can too …”

*~ Was As Real As It Seemed ~*

Closing her eyes tightly she tried to block out Neji’s cold words. His cruelty was almost unbearable. Her body tensed at his taunts, he was trying to intimidate her and it was working.

"THAT DOES IT!" Naruto's shout rang through the hall. “Who gave you the right to tell her what she can and can't be?! Go on Hinata show this guy he's wrong!" He called. "HINATA! Are you just going to stand there and take that?! DO something your driving me crazy!" That’s all she needed. But her best wasn’t good enough. A gasp slipped through Takara’s lips as a few minutes later Hinata collapsed onto the floor. More encouragement from Naruto, she rose again. Turning the tables on Neji.

"I can see, that you're the one suffering. You're suffering more than I." Her jaw nearly hit the floor. "You're the one that is all torn up about the fate of the main and side branches of the Hyuga Clan." Shit. Neji snapped, racing towards her, blinded by anger. Takara reacted without thinking, the want and need to protect Hinata forcing her body to appear in front of her. Automatically falling into a stance. He didn't even flicker. Her eyes narrowed, Sarudori activated, preparing to engage in combat. Somehow she found strength, but her muscles were still heavy from exhaustion. A figure blocked her vision, Naomi. In the same stance she glared at her team-mate. A split-second later the sensai's appeared, stopping him in his tracks.

"Neji get a hold of yourself, you promised me you wouldn't let this whole head family thing get you all wound up." Gai commanded gripping him around the shoulders.
"Why are you and the other Jounin interferring?! The head family gets specially treatment huh?" he snapped. Not taking his eyes from Naomi's. "And you! Why are you interferring." he demanded from her.

"Because I care too much about Takara to let any uneccisary harm come to her. That's what it means to be family, despite what may go on in yours." She replied coldly, turning away from him. Hinata coughed, further droplets of her blood spattered onto the floor as her knees buckled. Takara spun, gripping a hold of her friend. She needed, help and she needed it now.

*~ When I Wanted To Call You And Ask You For Help I Stopped Myself ~*

Takara tapped her foot impatiently a she sat outside of Hinata's hospital room. Chewing her lip she glanced about her, watching the bustling Doctors and Nurses coming back and forth.

"Miss Oscuro, you can see her now. But not for long." She nodded politely, letting herself into the room. Hinata was pale, and connected to various machines but alive nonetheless. A small sigh of relief escaped her lips as she took in her friend's questioning form.

"I just had to make sure you were okay... and... I wanted to apologize. I let you down Hinata. I'm so very sorry. When I wanted to tell you before that I made a mistake, I walked away. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have acted the way I did." She stopped abruptly. Hinata was smiling. She was forgiven.

This really sucks, so sorry for the numerous mistakes and rubbishy writing altogher, I'm tired and need sleep. Northwick Naomi x