Stone-cold and Sober
A tale of desire, desperation, blossoming romance, and the incestuous blood within the Hyuuga clan
Chapter I:
Union of the Houses
"Father wants us to get married, Nii-san."
Hinata's lips trembled. The child of fate said nothing. Did nothing. The girl shifted on her feet, fearing that her knees would give out under the weight of the profound silence around her. Still the caged bird remained stoic and silent. Hinata rested her thumb between her lips, worrying the skin around the nail as she waited, praying to Kami that Fortune's disciple would not hurt her. Breathless seconds passed, agonizingly slow as they wiled themselves away.
Thin fingers began to drum against the wood of the floor. Ashen eyes narrowed and turned steely with a glare as sharp as daggers, ready to be thrown at anyone who egged them on. Long strands of brown hair prickled outwards as subtle impatience turned to absolute wrath and revulsion in the other Hyuuga's innards. He was outraged. No, livid. Ready to lash out.
Neji wanted to scream. He wanted to cry; to rip his heart, which he was sure had just turned to stone, out of his chest; to throw a thousand kunai into Rock Lee's overstuffed head. He wanted to kill his uncle. In the Branch-Hyuuga's mind, death was the only suitable punishment for Hiashi; what could the head of the Main House be thinking? Marry his cousin?
Neji felt sick.
"Marriage?" The words were cold and laced with arsenic as the lower Hyuuga spat at his cousin. She flinched, stumbling back a few steps and bringing her arms up across her chest. Neji sneered – she was still afraid of him. He levered himself to his feet, using the few inches he had on Hinata to intimidate the girl even further as he stepped closer to her, his ivory eyes challenging and cold as they locked with hers. Hinata nodded at his question, her white eyes full of fear as the caged bird let out an exasperated sigh and hung his head. Marriage. To his cousin. Neji retched in his mind, but his heart ached; how would he explain this to Tenten? Surely, there was no escaping his uncle's desire. He would have to uphold Hiashi's decision and marry Hinata.
His cousin.
'Damn the Hyuuga clan. Damn my uncle's raging desire for my blood in his House.' Neji thought hotly to himself.
He had to get out of this.
The child of destiny swept past his startled cousin into the courtyard beyond, muttering curses and shooting deadly glares at anyone who passed him. He marched across the grass to the central Hyuuga compound, rage boiling his blood until it was as hot as a gaggle of naked Uchihas in the midsummer sun. He was fuming. Ready to kill. Heartsick.
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A/N: I SO do not support NejixHina, but this fanfiction begged to be written. More is sure to come, devoted readers…so please be patient with me.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, Neji, or Hinata. In fact, I don't own anything associated with this fanfiction except the plot. Hence, I am not a thief/crook/butt pirate.