Crimson Seal - Prologue
Summary: An arrangement has been made between two powerful clans. One that can't be taken back no matter the circumstance.
Hello there! I hope you enjoy this new story of mine! Even with it's unusual pairing, since I seem to be a fan of unusual pairings in this fandom (or any fandom... *tweet tweet* ...)
"Eh?" The elder stared across the table for a moment, unblinking before his lips twisted into a scowl. "How could you possibly think we would allow you to wed off our heiress to your younger son?"
Mikoto blinked, not quite expecting the Hyuuga elder to come on so strongly about the issue. She was still surprised at the fact that he was even here. This may have to do with his clan, even his family, but it seemed a bit much. This talk was only suppose to be between them and the brothers. "I just thought it would be the best option. They are around the same age-"
"So? You think your son Sasuke is your own clan heir? Even if he is your choice for the future I can't possibly see why Hinata should join your clan through him. Our clan would be losing her to your own, not the other way around. I could care less about the union of our clans if you insist on giving us a young boy who may - or may not - be as gifted a ninja as his older brother." This one really could talk a lot.
She glanced over to her husband for some guidance on the situation. "Itachi is just beginning his ninja career," Fugaku gave a pointed look to the elder when he looked ready to interrupt for a second time. "But they won't be married for fourteen years. Which goes for either son of mine. There is a reason it's called an arranged marriage, not an instant marriage."
"You-"
"Relax, please." Hiashi seemed to be back to engaging in the conversation now rather than just watching. He turned from the elder then to face the two of them. "I didn't come here to argue with you over the marriage contract. We already agreed on it earlier. Hinata will marry one of your sons, but my father is right. If Hinata is to marry one of them it should be Itachi. He has already proven himself as a capable ninja with his recent graduation from the academy and I'm sure he'll be a chunin within the year with the talent he possess."
"In case my other son doesn't meet your standards later in his life," Fugaku replied, lips pressed into a thin line. "Everyone here knows that's your real thought, so just say it. There's no need to beat around the bush, and if there ever was a time it is gone now."
Hiashi was silent for a moment before nodding. "Yes. I think both our clans would benefit more from such an arrangement."
"Benefit?" The Hyuuga elder was clearly getting prepared for another long rant from the short pause that followed his remark. "The daughter always move to the other clan. Sure, she'll marry your boy and everyone will make some remark about two of the greatest clans in the Leaf Village getting along now, but for the long run? Hinata won't be part of the Main Branch anymore, your brother knows how that works well enough himself. You'll need another kid to take her place and she'll need to be marked with the cursed seal so that-"
"She can still be the Head of the Clan and marry Itachi. There is no reason to place the seal on a child of the Main House." Hizashi may have kept his voice in a controlled tone, his expression a solid mask, but Mikoto could see even the suggestion had rubbed him the wrong way.
The whole exchange would have bothered her a lot more if he hadn't said anything. To put a child through something like that just because they would be marrying into another family? There wasn't anything right about that, but perhaps he was trying to keep his own son from getting the seal. It always hard to tell if the Hyuuga's had another objective when you spoke with them. For this arrangement though she was even more suspicious.
"There's no need for something like that. Really." Mikoto made a motion with her hands for extra emphasis, a small shake of her head over the matter being presented to her. A ridiculous matter, but she should have guessed the elder would mention it. She supposed she hadn't thought of it as a possibility because the elder wasn't even suppose to be here. So much for planning the whole thing out in her mind. "We've kept the sharingan out of the hands of other villages without any need for a seal. I assure you your daughter will be fine under Itachi's care."
The elder focused on her quickly enough. "So it's finally agreed that she'll be marrying Itachi then?" She gave a nod. "You're not going to go back on your word are you?" A shake of the head. "And how is he handling the arrangement?" And Mikoto was stumped, again.
Fugaku only gave a huff. "What does your two year old granddaughter think about it then? Is this arrangement not for your clan but for the child?"
Before the elder could even begin to rage at her husband - as he so obviously intended from the narrowing of his eyes - Hiashi spoke, voice just above a whisper. "Father, I'm going to have to respectfully ask you to leave. I value your opinions and I'm glad you could attend to give them, but this matter concerns my daughter and I will deal with it as the Head of the Hyuuga Clan."
His father didn't look particularly happy with the dismissal but he got up and left the room. Hizashi remained by his brother's side.
"I apologize for that. I have the contract we previously wrote up with me." Hiashi paused long enough to take the contract from his robes and set it down between them, flipping through to the last page to scrawl down the name of his daughter after making a cut on his thumb. "That should be sufficient."
Mikoto only gave a nod as her husband took the paper next, biting his own thumb before placing Itachi's name next to Hinata's. She reached forward the moment she saw the last curve of the blood against the parchment, focusing her chakra to the only finger beneath the paper as she began to roll it up.
A hand on the contract stopped her from closing it completely. "I will take that." Hizashi was giving her an intent stare, but his byakugan remained inactive.
She gave a smile. "Of course." Mikoto withdrew her hand from the contract, no longer pushing her chakra into the paper. "We'll see you later to store the contract away until Hinata comes of age."
Comments? Thoughts?
