It was home time. The best time of the day. The time of the day when children ran from the bright school doors into the welcoming arms of their parents.
But for Hinata Hyuuga, there had never been any welcoming arms.
Walking from school on a sunny afternoon, Hinata found herself again, in front of the Hyuuga Mansion. Every day, coming home from school, she found herself there. Every day, coming home from school, she would find herself going through those doors. She didn't know why.
She told herself every day that this was her home.
Just as she did now, slowly pulling open the heavy wooden door of the Main House. She sighed as she looked into the main grounds, cold, dead and desolate, a lone tree glittering in the sunlight, solid rays of gold pouring upon the thick, gossamer leaves.
No one came to greet her. They never did. She saw no one as she gracefully walked through the many halls and corridors, avoiding any main areas as she finally arrived at her room. Her room. Oh, how she loved her beautiful room. Silent, quiet and, quite utterly alone. She couldn't bear the thought of having to return to family quarters. At the age of 16, she had been given her own lodgings, complete with its own kitchen and living room and even a sitting room. Though that had long been turned into an office.
She sighed, a long windy breath of relief. She was never disturbed here, never. A place where she could be alone, a place where she could be herself.
She stared out through the window, her eyes reflecting the soft rats of sunshine pouring through her window. It was 4:58. The dinner bell would be ringing shortly. Hinata hated dinner. Dinner always meant family and Hinata didn't like her family.
5:03. the bell hadn't gone. That was strange. Sitting down, Hinata began to get ready, pulling of her school skirt and shirt; she sauntered over to the wardrobe, and pulled out another skirt, a light blue one with a white rim. She hung up her uniform, whilst trying to get into her skirt at the same time. She them pulled on a white v-neck jumper which had been hanging over her chair.
She looked over at the clock, and curiosity getting the better of her, she left the room.
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In the main hall. There were many people bustling about, white eyes staring at her sceptically. Hinata wondered why they were all dressed so prestigiously. The women were wearing long, pretty dresses of gossamer and silk, all in calm beautiful shades of lilac, lavender and the occasional blue. Lilac always looked good on a Hyuuga. Only a few wore kimonos.
"Nee-san!" Hinata spun round lightly, to see the tight anxious face of her younger sister, Hanabi. She also, had on a dress. It was light china blue, stopping about mid shin. "Why aren't you dressed?"
"D-dressed? For what?" Hinata asked, perplexed. She looked around. "Why is everyone dressed anyway?"
"For the dance, obviously!" Hanabi exclaimed, flicking her hair in barely concealed frustration. "Come on, Nee-san; don't tell me you didn't know!" She paused. "Oh, god, you didn't, did you?"
Hinata only gave her a mild, exasperated look. Hanabi sighed impatiently.
"Well, you still have some make-up on from school, so that's ok; I guess we had better get you dressed. Actually, I might do your make-up a little more...You could wear that dress I bought you! You know, the one I gave you for your birthday last year!"
"O-Oh, Hanabi... I can't wear that! It's much too revealing! H-How about... I just don't go. I can't dance anyway, and I always embarrass Otou-san..."
Hinata gulped, remembering the last dance she was at. How she had spilled sake all over the hostess's new dress... She sighed, shivering from the memory.
"Oh, that...Don't be silly, it wasn't that bad. I'm sure she had plenty more dresses where that came from! Now come on." She said hastily, pushing her up the stairs. "It's best not to let Chichue see you undressed. Wait; oh you know what I mean, now come on!"
When they got to her room, Hanabi immediately ransacked Hinata's wardrobe and pulled out a long, satiny white dress. Hinata grimaced.
"Oh, Hanabi, I really can't wear that," She said exasperated. "It-it's too much!"
"No, it's not, now hurry up and put it on, Chichue will be wondering where you are. Besides," She said from Hinata's bed, as Hinata struggled out of her clothes. "You haven't really got anything else to wear anyway!"
"T-That's not true..." She said, hastily pulling on the zip, only to have Hanabi get up and put it on for her instead. "I-I do have that cream one, and the violet one, and the..."
"But those are hardly appropriate!" Hanabi exclaimed. She then sighed in aggravation, in Hinata's puzzled silence. "I forget, you don't know where we're going, do you?"
Hinata shook her head. "N-no..."
"You remember the Branch House don't you?" Hinata nodded. "Well, their heir, Hyuuga Neji, turned 18 yesterday; he's having a formal dinner today, European style! Most of the Main was invited. God knows why though, both our Houses have never gotten along!" She sniffed contemptuously, plopping down onto Hinata's bed again. "Anyway, it's essential that you go, in any case."
"W-wait! S-Since when did Neji come back to Konoha anyway? I-I thought he and his mother left when his father died..."
"Oh yeah... I forgot about that. Yeah, turns out they got back about a week ago or something. Dunno why though. Maybe he wants to get into Chichue's company..." She stopped, thinking. "Anyway, about you again, you have to be formally introduced to the Branch again as the heir. Freaking pointless if you ask me, they already know who you are. But I think maybe, it's to let Neji know who you are.... Though what their intentions in that area are, I don't know. But, what I do know!" She sniggered. "Is that you have to let him have one dance with you. Also, I heard in the kitchens that Chichue has arranged for Neji to sit next to you. Ridiculous, if you ask me."
Hinata grimaced. She walked in front of the mirror and sighed. In the mirror, she saw a woman with sad deep-set white eyes, downcast as she stared at the dress, long and white in all its beauty. It had a long, plunging neck-line, which then began to wrap around her body, set in deep crinkle, which then unfolded and blossomed into the main skirt.
Hinata sighed. "So... Should I wear my hair up...?" Hanabi grinned from the bed.
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Hinata sighed. She had been told it was something she did often. An "unseemly" gesture, they had said. She had never bothered to say otherwise. She knew what she did.
So sighing now, she peeped through the gap between the two large doors, a guard resolute between both herself and the figures twirling on the floor below. She blinked once, spotting her sister in the arms of a handsome dark-haired stranger –A Hyuuga of course- both spinning certainly in the same small spot. Hinata smiled gently. She wished she could be confident like her younger sister. Even at 12, she showed every sign of maturity and sophistication. A true Hyuuga.
She was everything a Hyuuga should be; everything Hinata wasn't.
"Introducing...Hyuuga Hinata, the heir of the Main House." A deep voice resounded through the hall.
Oh god.
Hinata could see as the heavy doors reluctantly creaked open, the figures on the floor all stopped and stared as she took one shaky step forward into the brightly lid veranda.
Immediately, Hinata felt as though she were about to evaporate. She wasn't sure if she was visibly shaking, but she certainly felt nervous enough to be.
A hole... Just let me crawl into a hole and die...
So many white eyes were upon her. All white. All white. Her own passed over the crowd, seeking out at least one, just one person who could give her confidence.
Trust her to catch her father's gaze. His stare was stern and unforgiving, telling her silently to not embarrass him and the family.
Say it, say it Hinata. Say it now.
She opened her mouth, and found herself smiling. "Good evening everyone, I hope you are all having a pleasant time." All done. Not one stutter. Not one! Her father would be proud of her. She bowed, and gracefully began to descend down the steps and onto the dance floor. Alone. Her father had said she was too old for an escort. He had been saying this since she was twelve. To portray the graceful independence of the Main House, he had said.
The minute her foot set step upon the hard stone floor, the music she had not noticed had stopped immediately came back into play, striking up a happier, quick tune.
Instantly, Hanabi appeared, as though plucked from the air itself. "Nee-san!" She puffed. "That was great! I could never have done that! Ok, maybe I could have. God, that must have been horrible. Still, Chichue looked pleased. Did I tell you? I met that Neji guy! He's awfully surly, never said a word to me the whole time I was dancing with him! He really didn't look happy to dance with me, he was awfully rude. And everyone else said how nice my dress was! Well, whatever, oh, here comes Chichue."
Hanabi quickly fell into place at Hinata's left, her hands clasped behind her back. Hinata stood stiffly as a tall, long-haired man clad all in black approached the two sisters. His face was permanently set in an unsympathetic expression. He cleared his throat before addressing them both.
"Hanabi, you're looking very well tonight." He began, and nodded at Hanabi's thankful bow. He then turned to Hinata who froze instantly. "Hinata. You did....very well tonight. Much better than I expected, you did well not to stutter, and you impressed the audience in your radiance. You will do better next time not to blush so much."
"...T-Thank you, Otou-san..." He nodded approvingly.
"I have arranged for you to sit next to Hyuuga Neji for the evening, you will do your best to keep him appropriately entertained, and you will not do anything... unseemly."
Hinata knew he was referring to her stuttering and blushing, and many other things she was also criticised for.
"As for now, it is advised you go get a cup of sake to calm your nerves, and accept as many dances as you can. Though I do advise... be careful of that Hidoi one. I do not trust him." He nodded a goodbye and disappeared into the crowd. From the sidelines, Hinata was accompanied by Hanabi to the snack table where they were both poured a cup of sake.
"H-Hanabi... Do you think it's a good idea for you to have sake? I-I mean, considering last time..." Hinata's voice tailed off into nothing, but only seeming to emphasise her point. She didn't even bother to mention the fact she was underage.
"Don't be silly, Nee-san!" Hanabi exclaimed happily, I'm here to enjoy myself! You should too, mind, you're forever worrying about something." She sighed deliberately, a perfect imitation of her older sister. She laughed at Hinata's pained expression. "Don't worry, I won't do anything brash."
Hinata closed her eyes, exasperated, only when she opened them again, she saw Hanabi's hand in the hand of a young Branch boy now leading her onto the dance floor. Hanabi only winked at her.
Hinata stood on the outskirts of the dance floor, quite alone. She found herself hoping she wouldn't have to embarrass herself with the thought of having to dance with someone. Oh the horror! She shook her head, scolding herself. She took a sip from her glass, sighing again. Occasionally, Hanabi came into view, arm in arm with the black-haired Hyuuga boy from earlier and she smiled each time she saw her, winking. Hinata gave a little wave back.
When the song ended, Hanabi did not return to her. So, it was going to be one of those nights. She sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips. Hinata then, in good stead, walked over to an abandoned table, and pulled out a chair, setting down her glass.
Sigh.
"Excuse me," Hinata looked up, her head in her hand, into the face of the brown-haired stranger she had seen Hanabi dancing with before she was introduced. She was sure she had never met the man before, but his long, dark hair seemed to bring back some semblances that caused her to doubt her original thought. "But could I have this dance?"
"Ah," Hinata breathed, the man wasn't smiling. Somehow, he didn't look pleased, almost as if, he had been forced to dance with her. That immediately put Hinata off. "N-no, that's quite alright really...I...I'm waiting on my sister."
The man raised an eyebrow at her. He pulled himself up straight, smirking. "Oh, you mean that ditzy little idiot from earlier on? Don't be stupid, she's away dancing with my cousin."
"E-excuse me?" Hinata asked, utterly taken-aback. Did he just insult her sister? And her?
"Hurry up and dance with me already, I wanna get this over with." He said impatiently, annoyed now.
"He's awfully surly, never said a word to me the whole time I was dancing with him! He really didn't look happy to dance with me, he was awfully rude."
Ah, Hinata thought, this must be Hyuuga Neji. Hinata flicked her hair; much in the same way she had say Hanabi do whenever she was feeling annoyed.
"No." Hinata said before she could stop herself.
"Excuse me?" Neji said gobsmacked. "Did you just say no... To me?" He was angry now, insulted that someone such as herself should deny him. His face told her that no one had ever said 'no' to him before. Obviously he was not taking this news well.
"Yes, and unless you are too st-stupid to notice, I did." Hinata said precariously. And with that, she stood up and crossed the room into the toilets.
Sitting in a cubicle, Hinata huffed. Oh the arrogance of that man! She could not believe he would talk to her like that! Even with her submissive personality, she just could not take that kind of behaviour! Absolutely not!
"Hurry up and dance with me, indeed...." Hinata said venomously. "Hmph. And what he said about Hanabi! Well, I sure showed him!"
"Nee-san? Are you in here?" Came a soft, uncertain voice. "Nee-san?" Hinata looked up from inside the cubicle. Was that Hanabi?
"H-Hanabi? Is that you?"
"Nee-san! You are in here!" Hinata's brow furrowed at Hanabi's anxious tone. Hanabi was never anxious. Always Hinata. But never Hanabi. "Hurry up and come out, will you? I need to speak with you."
Hesitantly, Hinata unlocked the door, and stepped out from the small cubicle. She stood uncertainly, yet she was still fuming.
"Oh my god, Nee-san..." Hanabi breathed. "I thought he had slapped you or something... the way you just ran out of the hall! You had such an expression on your face too! You're lucky only I saw you! Imagine the gossip! I was coming to see you –Hideki-kun had just gone to get drinks- so, I was walking through the crowd, and I noticed Neji in front of you, he could only have been asking for a dance, so I stopped so I wouldn't interrupt. But, like I said, you just got up and left! Did he say something to you?" She giggled. "I bet he is sooooo angry with you! And you need to sit next to him at dinner! God, I'm glad I'm not you." Hanabi collapsed into laughter then, leaning against a sink.
Hinata smiled lightly, composing herself. She strode over to the mirror and stared. She saw yet again, the same strange woman from before, plastered in make-up with an elaborate hair-style. She didn't look too different. The woman in the mirror smiled at her. She looked angry somehow.
Hinata set her face and grimaced again, letting out her trademark sigh. "Sh-shall we go?"
"Yeah, we had better," Hanabi agreed, glancing at her watch. "Dinner'll be ready soon, I can only guess."
Hinata opened the door for her, and Hanabi strode out, whistling. "Who's that?"
"Who?" Hinata asked lightly.
"That girl there," Hanabi said, straining her neck. "Can you see her?? That girl with the long hair. Would you believe that? What kind of a woman wears her hair down to a dance like this? I wonder what father would say? Haha, just look at her! Who is that dancing with her? Oh my god. Look at that idiot! Pft, ha! Get a load of that!"
Hinata turned from Hanabi's laughing face and into the crowd, from where everyone was staring. There was indeed a woman, dark and, as Hanabi had said, with her hair down. She wore a dark, gossamer dress, it was so dark, that the blue was almost black. The neckline was almost at her navel, it was so low. But that wasn't what Hinata was gawping at.
Dancing with the mysterious, sultry woman was none other than Hyuuga Neji. The man she had so harshly scorned. Hanabi and Hinata approached the crowd, all at a standstill, taken aback by the couple's stormy dancing, fast and upbeat.
She could see Neji's face properly now; harsh and angry, his eyes were like fire. He scowled upon everyone and everything he looked upon, serving no sympathy. He seemed to be throwing the woman from himself, and then hurling her back from every spin and twirl. She stood at the front of the crowd, watching him, a scowl also playing across her face.
"He's quite something, isn't he?" Hinata heard a voice say quietly.
"Who, Neji-sama?" Came another voice, hushed this time. "Ah, yes, he is. Though I must say, I wonder what's gotten him so angry this evening! He's like a hurricane; he won't be stopped."
"Hmm," The first voice mused. "Someone must have said something quite disgraceful to him! I wonder who... Oh, would you get a look at that idiot! What is she like? She thinks because of her long hair and low-necklines she's got everyone in the palm of her hand! Well, the day will be grim indeed when I extend my loyalties to her! The harlot; look at her!"
"I take it you mean Hitomi?" Another voice joined in. The voice then continued without assent. "She is the very embarrassment of the Branch House! Just think, after seeing Hinata of the Main House, and then seeing that!"
"Ah yes," The second voice agreed. "I wonder why she hasn't danced yet? Apparently, she is meant to dance with Neji-sama, but I guess not."
"I can't blame her; who would want to dance with him? Forget the looks, he's arrogant through and through, and the very meaning of vanity."
That was the last Hinata heard of the conversation, the song had already came to a stop, and the women's conversation was interrupted by a young man clad in dark blue. Hinata stared at the hand he had extended.
"Excuse me, but could I have the honour of this next dance?" The man in question was of course, a Hyuuga, but there was something about him, something different, that made her think otherwise. Hinata nodded, taking the man's hand. She could see, as they walked onto the dance floor, that Neji and the woman deemed Hitomi were still upon the floor, twirling in exuberance.
The man led her into the middle of the floor, a few feet away from Neji and his partner and then sought to lead Hinata into an upbeat, twirling dance. Even in the fast revolutions, Hinata could not miss the scowl Neji threw at her from the other side of the dance floor. Hinata did not smile.
Even through the fast movements, they did not take their eyes off of each other. Neji would scowl and Hinata would smile at her partner, only causing Neji to scowl more. When the song ended, her partner –who had introduced himself as Hiro- then, invited her to join him in a second song. It turned out, as Hinata watched Hiro walk to a nearby partner, that the song involved changing partners, as Hinata was harshly grabbed by a different tall partner.
Hinata's face fell when she looked into her partner's face. She considered excusing herself from the dance by ripping away from him, but she knew that was not an option. She would not embarrass her father, or herself. She did not think she could pull herself from him anyway; his grip on her was so tight it was sore.
"Neji," She curtly nodded all manners now. She refused to look at him and would not stand any closer to him than needed.
"Woman," Hinata's eyes widened, colour rushing into her cheeks.
"I-I am not called 'woman'!" Hinata exclaimed indignant. "I am Hyuuga Hinata. Do not address me like some common animal!"
God, she sounded just like her father. Or maybe Hanabi. Yes, definitely Hanabi.
She glared up at him, and did not wince as her gripped her tighter around the waist and hand. "I shall address you as I see fit." Hinata was disappointed to see no grimace when she deliberately stamped on his foot. That had to have hurt. But all he did was strengthen the grasp on her hand, hurting her. He looked just as annoyed at the lack of response. "Pft."
"Why did you not dance with me earlier?" He demanded, after a bout of silence. Hinata looked up into his eyes and answered sweetly.
"Because I chose not to." For some strange, foreign reason, Hinata enjoyed watching the conflicting rage flare in his eyes. She liked how angry she made him. Hinata had never made anyone feel angry before. Most people would ignore her.
Hinata thought he was going to explode, she could see his eyes visibly widening, almost popping out of their sockets. His mouth was gaping, not quite grasping her words.
"Ch...Chose not to?!" He spluttered. They had stopped dancing now, a resolute couple disrupting the natural flow of the other dancers. They stood instead, still hand in hand, tightly grasping staring at each other. "How dare you! You don't have the right to choose! I asked you to dance, and you should have danced! I didn't even want to dance with you anyway! It was my damned mother who told me to dance with you! And you have the nerve to say- to say no! Who wants you anyway! Certainly not me!"
Clearly, Neji was finding it very hard to grasp the thought of being refused something he didn't even want. He also didn't seem to like the idea of being unwanted either.
"You're everything my father told me you would be! Spoiled!" Hinata half-shouted, tears running down her face now.
"Eep!"
Hinata gave a short squeak as Neji suddenly pulled her in to him, their noses almost touching. "Don't." Somehow, in the short space between them, he managed to lean in closer. "Don't ever.... call me spoiled. I get what I want, I always have. So when something I don't want refuses me, don't expect me to get complacent!"
"I..." Hinata stammered, beating her one free hand off his chest, trying to push him away. "I-I... I don't care! What you want or don't want is no business of mine! I'm no challenge to be met! Th-There is nothing of mine for you! L-Let go of me!"
Suddenly she froze. He had just brushed one of the stray strands of her dark hair to behind her ear. She shuddered convulsively. "Well," He said, suddenly calm now. The dance was striking up its final tune. Hinata and Neji were now in the middle of the crowd, lost amongst the whirling figures. "There are now." He let her go, and she stumbled back. "See you at dinner."
And with that, he left her. Alone.