Chapter 1: Hinata
"...!"
The tray stuttered with nervousness.
Oh, but what was he doing here?
"B-big brother... what are you...?"
A severe look from her father silenced her immediately.
She withdrew with a timid step backwards.
Undetectable, of course, to those used to such acts from her.
She lowered her head in respect.
"T..tea?"
But of course they shouldn't want it. This was business.
Though she was trained like this, by her mother no less.
To serve was no less her life.
But wasn't that what ninja were always meant to do?
Perhaps she was not to be raised as a shinobi, but no one expected much from one only to be married off to serve the clan's purity.
And the conversation was not hers, besides.
She trotted back obediently; a lap dog would be less enthusiastic than how she felt at the retreat.
Coward? Perhaps, but she was unwilling to take a step closer to such risk zones.
"Lady Hinata, please."
She paused in mid-trot.
"Y-yes...?"
Oh dear.
She was too familiar with that tone to know that he had something to say.
Most likely it would hurt.
Did I say most likely?
I meant, yes, it would.
Her father turned, in a horrible temper, towards the house.
She followed him in a distant gaze until he had disappeared behind the wooden posts guarding the entrance.
Sigh.
She turned to her cousin.
"Big brother Neji..."
He nodded and turned to leave.
She knew it.
But she hadn't thought it would be so soon.
"You cannot expect that I would look forward to it."
She knew he wouldn't, and who would?
And to such a failure...
But an arrangement was never broken...
...at least, not in the clan, and never yet.
"I'm sorry, little sister."
Today would be full of apologies.
"No, it was expected, onii-chan."
Ah.
So she had already been told...?
Hinabi took a sip from the cup extended in front of her.
Her look might have been one of calm relief, but the constant furrowing of brows had gotten rid of all hints.
So her older sister was used to having to guess.
Hinata gave a slight smile, albeit her sense of unease bubbling inside.
Her younger sibling could be quite gentle at times, despite the rumors that flew constantly from ear to ear.
That usually made their conversations a secret from their father.
He would be furious at such a display of feminine qualities.
"You were the only one, from the very beginning," she continued, "mother could tell. I could tell, too."
"She is always right, I know. Still..."
He was very serious, is what she thought.
It was unnerving.
And very strict, she might add.
But she didn't, so the next few minutes were spent in silence.
Hinata stooped her head in shame for cowardice.
Hinabi stood.
Had she learned to be so respectable from her father?
But she was grateful.
She nodded a thanks, sliding open the paper screens to leave.
"Onii-chan."
"Y-yes..?"
She turned back and gave her a grin.
Hinata started.
Oh.
She returned a smile.
Things would be alright.
It was a promise.