CHAPTER FOUR

Hinata still reeled with excitement over her newfound Clover status the next morning when she woke,but was instantly sobered by a sudden urge to vomit. She quickly kicked back the covers and ran into her adjoining private bathroom where she instantly dropped to her knees and emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet. She lowered the lid and turned her head to rest her cheek on top of it. She immediately began to recall all that she had ingested last night that would cause her to feel ill, but could think of nothing out of the ordinary. She slowly began to stand, but a sudden feeling of dizziness forced her to collapse back onto the floor. She tightly shut her eyes and gripped the sides of the toilet as the bathroom began to spin. What in the world was going on?

Hinata was unsure how long she'd been in her bathroom, but figured it must have been too long when a knock sounded on her bedroom door.

"Hinata?" Hanabi called after entering Hinata's bedroom.

"I'm in here," Hinata managed weakly from within the bathroom. She noticed the look of concern on her younger sister's face when she entered. Hanabi cautiously kneeled next to her.

"Hinata, what's the matter? You don't look so good."

"I don't f-feel so g-good," Hinata managed again.

"Well, I figured something was up when you didn't come downstairs for breakfast. You're usually down earlier. Neji's already down." And it was true. Hanabi often joked she could set a clock by both Hinata and Neji. They strictly adhered to their set schedules.

Hanabi cringed and waved a hand before her face. "Whew!" She exclaimed. "It stinks in here! Did you just vomit or something?"

Hinata nodded. A sudden thought occurred to her. "Neji should l-leave for school without m-me. I don't w-want him to b-be late."

Hanabi sighed. "And exactly why you guys would sign up for summer school for extra credit neither of you even need, I will never know." She shook her head. "But don't worry. I already sent him off. I told him you were probably just having cramps." She shrugged when Hinata rolled her eyes. "Hey, it worked, didn't it? It's every girl's trump card. When all else fails, just blame the monthly friend. Works every damned time."

Hinata shook her head. No doubt Hanabi had known that from experience. "I'll try to k-keep that in m-mind."

"Don't get up," Hanabi ordered when Hinata tried to stand. Hanabi rose and fetched a wash cloth. She ran it under cold water and rang out the excess water before handing it to Hinata. "Here, this will help to bring you some ease."

"Thanks," Hinata gratefully accepted the rag and began to gently dab her face. And Hanabi was right. The cool rag was soothing against the warm and flushed skin of her face.

"Don't tell me. The Clovers tried to poison you?"

Hinata rolled her eyes. "No, n-no one tried to poison m-me." She shook her head pitifully. "I don't know what's w-wrong. It's so weird. I just w-woke up with this s-sudden urge to v-vomit."

Hanabi's gaze whipped around to Hinata. "A sudden urge to vomit?" Hinata nodded. "And you say you just felt this when you woke up this morning?" Hinata nodded again. "And you're absolutely sure you didn't eat anything weird at that party last night?"

"Y-yes, Detective Hyuga! Any m-more questions?"

Hanabi rolled her eyes dismissively. "Hinata, I'm going to ask you a question, but I need you to remain calm. When was your last period?"

Hinata winced. "What's that g-got to do w-with anything?"

Hanabi took a seat on the floor next to her sister. She crossed her arms over her chest. "How far are you?"

Hinata's expression was stricken astonishment as her head quickly swiveled to her sister. "Excuse m-me…?"

"I asked you how far along are you?"

Hinata scoffed. "I heard y-you."

"Good. Maybe now you'll answer me."

Hinata's eyes met and held Hanabi's eyes. Hinata's expression remained one of shock, while Hanabi's was of calm resolve. Hinata broke the duel when she found the strength to rise. She reached over to flush the toilet before stepping past her sister and back into her room. Hanabi was right on her heel.

"I don't h-have time for this right n-now," Hinata pleaded.

"Don't do this. Don't walk away and deny this talk we're about to have right now. It's way too important." She watched as Hinata opened her closet and began rummaging through her clothes as if searching for something to wear. "I know about you and Neji."

Hinata's arms dropped limply to her sides, and she slowly turned toward Hanabi. "I have n-no idea what you are t-talking about."

"Oh, come on, Hinata, don't act so damned shocked. I've known all along about you two. I know all about your secret relationship, about your private little study sessions in the guest house."

"Were y-you spying on us or something?"

Hanabi shrugged. "Or something."

"You're really s-sick."

Hanabi placed a hand on her hip. "No, you are. The evidence was in your toilet a minute ago. So I'll ask you plainly. Are you pregnant, Hinata?"

Hinata shook her head. "M-maybe it's like you said and The Clovers tried to poison m-me." Or maybe just Sakura. For some reason, Sakura practically hated her.

Hanabi gave a small, dismissive shake of her head. Her voice was resolute when she asked again. "When was your last period, Hinata?"

Hinata glared at her younger sister before she crossed over to her desk where her small pocket calendar lay. Picking it up, she quickly flipped it open to the current month and gasped. She was indeed late by a two weeks now. She suddenly felt numb. Her calendar slipped from her hands to the carpeted floor below. Her eyes were wide as they lifted to Hanabi, whose image was blurred as tears began to pool within them.

"You don't r-really think I could be pregnant, d-do you?" Hinata's voice was almost a whisper.

Hanabi shrugged. "Although out-of-the-ordinary, early morning vomiting is a classic giveaway, we will still need to confirm with a health care professional.."

"The family d-doctor?" Hinata asked incredulously.

"Calm down. And no, I don't mean the family doctor." Hanabi didn't want to take any chances of their dad finding out if Hinata was indeed pregnant. And because their family doctor was another Hyuga, too, it would be like telling her father because word would somehow get out, confidentiality be damned. Her mind began to work. "I know of a clinic downtown. They give pregnancy tests for free. They'll even see us as walk-ins."

"But w-we're minors. Won't w-we be asked about a family c-contact?"

Hanabi eased Hinata's concern. "Don't worry. You won't be asked anything like that. Everything's strictly confidential."

Hinata stared at her sister as if she were a stranger, because it really was like she was looking a completely different person. "How do y-you know so m-much about this? How do y-you know what to d-do?"

Hanabi frowned. "Hinata, you're my big, sweet, and innocent sister, and I love you dearly for it. But from here on out, I'm going to have to ask that you refrain from asking me certain questions. It's the only way I can ensure that I won't tell you any lies."

At school, Neji frowningly read the text Hanabi had sent him. 'HINATA ABSENT. BAD FOOD AT PARTY. '

He had tried calling Hinata to check on her, but she didn't answer her phone. He sent her texts, too, but she failed to respond to them as well. It bothered him that he couldn't get in contact with her, but he was at least comforted by Hanabi's text that nothing too serious had been the matter. He figured Hinata was perhaps resting. He responded to Hanabi's text with one of his, stating that he'd be sure to collect any homework assignments she may miss.

Lunch period had commenced. Because he and Hinata often ate alone together, he greatly felt her absence now. He tucked his phone in his pocket and decided to head off to the library to catch up on some reading. He was completely oblivious of the appreciative glances from other female students as he headed down the hall. He had just exited through a set of double doors at the end when he was approached by a very particular trio of girls.

"Neji," the blonde one cooed, "just who we've been looking for."

Neji decided that if there was a leader among them, it would be her. It was a conclusion based on the way they stood before him now, in some kind of strategic, arrowhead formation. It was as if they had assigned positions, with the blonde in the front and the other two flanking her on either side to the rear. It was so ridiculously comical that he really thought he could laugh about it now, except that he could feel the pressure of the brunette's steady, wide-eyed gaze.

"I can't imagine why you'd be doing that," he responded drily.

"We noticed Hinata didn't come to school today," Sakura stated, but her snide tone revealed the obvious, that she really didn't care one way or another as to Hinata's welfare.

"Is she okay?" This was from the brunette, and Neji's eyes sharply angled to her. Her name was Ten Ten, a fact he only knew because she was in a couple of his classes. She was actually more intelligent than she let on. And even now, there was a genuine hint of concern in her voice. How she came to hang out with the other two was an enigma that he honestly hadn't cared enough to concern himself with.

"She's fine," was his brief response.

"Well, be a doll and let us know how she's doing. We Clovers have to look out for one another, you know," Ino said.

Neji's brows slanted into a frown. "Hinata is a Clover? Since when?"

"Since the party last night." Ino's hand flew to cover her mouth as she made a small sound of surprise. "You mean she didn't tell you?"

"You must be mistaken. Hinata is above associating herself with cliques."

Sakura's eyes narrowed. "Maybe you don't know your cousin as well as you think you do."

Neji decided he had entertained them long enough. "If you'll excuse me, I have some work to do." He brushed past the clique. His eyes narrowed when a hand reached out to grasp his arm.

"Neji," Ten Ten said softly, "I really do hope she's okay."

Neji didn't instantly reply. Instead, his pale gaze flickered over Ten Ten, and she could feel her body tense. It was as if he was somehow assessing her, trying to gauge whether or not she was being genuine. She felt she must have passed his test when his eyes momentarily softened. He offered a brief nod of acknowledgment before turning to continue on his way to the library. Along the way, he pulled his phone from his pocket and sent a text to Hinata. 'WE HAVE TO TALK'.

Ino, Sakura, and Ten Ten continued to stare at Neji's back as he advance further away.

"What is his problem?" Sakura asked with a roll of her eyes, to which Ino merely shrugged her shoulders.

"Hinata said he likes to keep to himself is all," Ten Ten said in Neji's defense.

"I'll bet he does, with that attitude," Ino retorted. It made sense to her now why he and Hinata were always around one another. She was probably the only one who could stand him. She sucked her teeth. "It's only because you like him that we're bothering with him at all, else The Clovers would have nothing to do with him."

"He's just as weird as Hinata," Sakura chimed in. "It must run in the family."

Hinata reveled with another newfound status. She was indeed pregnant. Six weeks to be exact. After leaving the house that morning, she and Hanabi caught a taxi to a pregnancy clinic located in the bustling city of downtown Konoha where, true to Hanabi's word, Hinata was discretely seen to. Nearly an hour later, Hinata was released with her pregnancy results, an estimated delivery due date, and a plethora of pamphlets covering a range of topics from her options - should she decide not to keep the baby - to nutrition and everything in between. Afterward, they caught a city bus to a local restaurant where they agreed on a large salad to share, but Hinata declined. She didn't have much of an appetite after all, and food really was the last thing on her mind. She rolled her eyes when Hanabi quipped about her eating for two and contented herself to watch as her little sister - with a shrug as if to say 'suit yourself' - polished off the whole salad. Afterwards, Hanabi pulled out her cell phone.

"I'm surprised that pregnancy symptoms varied among women. I thought they all got it." She looked from her phone up to Hinata and wrinkled her nose. "I guess you were just lucky." She ignored her sister's glower and looked back down to her phone. "But not to worry. It should ease up around the second trimester where it'll be smooth sailing from there until you give birth."

"Who said I w-was keeping the b-baby?" Hinata asked in a low voice.

Hanabi's expression was one of stunned shock. "Why wouldn't you? And if you're worried about Dad, I understand. Will he be angry? Yes. Will he be disappointed? Yes. Will he disinherit or disown you? No. This is our father, after all. He loves us. And it's because of his love that he'll come around, Hinata, trust me. Need I remind you you're carrying another Hyuga?" Hanabi scoffed. "If anything, just the thought of another heir to the Hyuga Empire will have him bowled over with happiness."

"W-well, what about m-my plans? I'm only s-sevent-teen, Hanabi. I'm too y-young to be a m-mother."

"Again, you'll have such a strong support system that that won't be an issue. You'll still be able to do whatever it is you want to do."

"Y-you talk as if you have all the answers, b-but what about y-yourself?"

Hanabi blinked, unsure of what Hinata was talking about. "What about me?"

"How did you handle y-your pregnancy?"

"My pregnancy? Why would you think I've been pregnant before?"

Hinata shrugged. "Y-you seemed to know w-what to do, like w-with the clinic and all…"

Hanabi sighed. "I only know about the clinic because one of my friends got herself into trouble. I'm not dumb enough to get myself into such a situation!" She instantly regretted her words when Hinata flinched, her face paling despite her already fair complexion. "I'm sorry, Hinata. You know that's not what I meant."

"It's m-my decision."

Hanabi's expression was as hard as steel as she regarded her big sister. "Well, while you're busy making your decision -," she snarled, "- you would do well to remember that Neji has a say in this matter. It took two, after all."

Hinata's cheeks flushed at Hanabi's anger. But in regards to what she said, of course she hadn't forgotten about Neji. Sure, Hanabi was right that their father would come around. Hiashi would welcome the baby as another addition to the Hyuga clan, and be expected to take his or her position within the Hyuga Empire, but what about Neji? How would he feel? Would he be as supportive as Hanabi? Or would he be disappointed like her father? Hinata sighed. She had received his text about the two of them needing to talk. She sent a response text to him to suggest a place where they could meet and talk privately and without interruption, but her fingers trembled the whole time. She somehow didn't feel as if he was going to like anything she had to tell him.

A/N: You guys, I am so so sorry for the delay! Can y'all forgive me? My life just sucks is all, but I'm trying to get it together where my stories are concerned. As always, thanks always for reading!