Chapter 1: Chapter 1-New Porcelain
Hi guys! This is my first fanfic and I hope you finish it 'til the end. I'm really nervous since this is my first time. I'm crazy about this pair and I just had to write a fanfic about it. I will try my best to be as loyal as the manga (not anime) in terms of the time-line and the events that took place.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, if I did, that wouldn't be the title in the first place.
Neji-4 yr old
Hinata- 3yr old
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Chapter 1
- New Porcelain-
The Hyuga compound that day seemed to be like it has always been- still, unchanging and stoic. Despite having the same pleasant and warm climate as any clan compounds in Konoha, the Hyuga compound sent a cool shiver to a non-clan person or even for those who belonged to this oldest known clan itself. All the houses looked the same with the plain Japanese styled roofing, rice-papered sliding doors, and walls made from old furnished wood which hid stories of love, hate, deceit, and betrayal that would forever be hidden from their mouthless surfaces.
The Hyuga were people who had dark hair and wore the traditional black and long yukatas. They would usually have pale white skin and their eyes… they bore the same eyes which were rumored to be gifts from the all-seeing moon watching over them.
A four year old boy named Hyuga Neji, son of Hyuga Hizashi, who was just starting to learn this clan's bizarre obsession for traditions, found something unique and out of place on that destined day- a day which his father had always warned him to be ready for as Neji would be finally getting the "Caged Bird Seal". Neji had had no idea what it really meant but only as pretty tattoo on the forehead.
"Father, when can I get a tattoo the same as yours?" Neji asked with an innocent grin.
"… Soon, Neji. But not yet Wait until your cousin Hinata turns three." Hizashi replied with his usual indifferent look that didn't bother to face his son. He looked calm but deep down, the pain was swelling and suppressing it was getting more difficult by each day.
"Hn? Why must I wait for her? I haven't even met her. And Mother has it, also… Aunt Hana, Uncle Hobe, Hoji our neighbor, Hazo our other neighbor, Haze the kid across our house, Hideo- niisan from the training ground and…" Neji paused and it suddenly struck him as he slightly opened his mouth.
"Actually, everyone has –"
"Enough. A Hyuga should not blabber pointless things. When I say soon and wait, then you wait!" Neji tried to hide his flinch but Hizashi clearly saw it from the corner of his eye. He seemed to regret to suddenly scold him like that…
"Yes Father." Neji answered immediately. He didn't understand the sudden anger from his father. He seemed bothered about it and Neji decided to shut his mouth. He kept his head high stare towards wherever his father was looking at.
"…birds again…"
The two groups met. At first glance, it was hardly noticeable how different they were. It was like a person looking at his reflection and even their leaders, Hiashi and Hizashi, looked entirely the same. The two had always been together ever since and their relationship was odd… sacred. And it was engraved on the hardest boulder ever known – tradition. Or to them, it was called destiny.
It was a meeting both fathers regarded as very special since it was Hinata's third birthday and Neji's day to be marked as someone who will endure a life time of unjust servitude.
Looking more closely, differences could actually be observed. The head, Hiashi, wore a white, plain yukata unlike Hizashi who had the same black yukata as anyone else. Hiashi had his forehead bare, unmarked and it screamed ultimate superiority while Hizashi wore the Leaf's bandana as a proud jounin instead. But in that place, his high military ranking did not matter.
And the last, but the most important difference between the two groups was that each had their own lump of innocence near their leaders. Hiashi had Hinata right behind him- scared, timid and obviously didn't want to be there as she strongly clenched the fabric of Hiashi's lower yukata. She hid behind her father's legs and slightly bent her head to peek as if nobody could see her.
"It's Hinata-sama's third birthday. Congratulations." Hizashi formally stated to his older twin brother.
"Yes…" Hiashi replied. He then looked at the proud young boy, just in front of Hizashi. This was not the first time seeing his nephew but the last time he did, Neji was yet a two- year old kid who had already managed to unlock his Byakugan. It was one of the most amazing events he had ever witnessed and he never doubted that Neji could be a Hyuga prodigy.
Neji, however, was excited for this day. Today, he would acquire the tattoo and meet his Uncle who he knew was the clan head. He was also curious as to who was this Hinata whom he only knew as his cousin and the clan heiress. He used to wonder why her birthday would matter too.
He stood straight- enthusiastic and unafraid. He scanned everyone in front of him and felt unfamiliar and confused with their clean foreheads. He immediately understood that the one with the white clothing was his Uncle Hiashi (as he resembled his father too much) and that everyone else was under him. As he looked further, there he saw a young blushing intimidated girl in a dull white kimono just behind his uncle.
Neji confidently smiled at her. She flinched at it, but with Neji unwavering, she hesitantly and softly returned the friendly gesture of her cousin and warmly smiled as well. As she became more embarrassed and blood came rushing more towards her cheeks, she lowered her face, gnawed her lower lip and suddenly decided to hide behind Hiashi again. Neji saw that and found it very amusing.
Heeeh.
"She's cute, Father." Neji softly whispered to Hizashi, proudly thinking that he has now become friends with Hyuga Hinata. Hizashi smiled at him but with sadness in his eyes. Neji was slightly surprised by his father's unusual façade which was always unmoving. He then wondered what was amiss from his words.
But she really is cute Father, so why?
"Well, then, I'll be taking Neji for now, Hizashi."
"…Yes." Hizashi replied with no sign of hesitation.
Neji became alert and Hizashi gently pushed his back, silently commanding Neji to go with the other group. Neji nodded and strode towards them. As Hiashi's group had also began to move away from Hizashi, Neji looked over his shoulder to see his family off. He smiled, thinking this would be an interesting and great day, but he their expressions entailed the opposite. Before he could further read their faces, Hizashi and his family had already turned their backs and was headed for the Branch House's district.
Neji decided to turn his attention towards the group he was now with. Everyone did not make a sound.
"A Hyuga should not blabber pointless things."
He knew it was not wise to speak. Well, he was used to it- cold, silent and hard- four years in this clan, it had always been like that. He could only as freely smile and have fun when he was with his older friends who were kids from his neighborhood. But when he turned three, his father had already taken all his time of play to train from morning 'til dawn. He liked training more than playing though, he liked to seek further any technique and skill he can get, he liked to be stronger and stronger… but there were times he really missed his friends.
Friends… He then looked for his younger cousin. He saw her from the right leg of his uncle, as Neji was on the left. He then realized she was staring at him, and blushing. As their eyes met, she gasped and turned away and Neji could only see her red swollen cheeks and indigo bangs hiding her eyes.
Such weird hair, like an eggplant. Somehow bored, Neji wanted Hinata's attention.
"Hey…" His tone was as thin as a whisper. Hinata heard him, but was still too shy to face him.
"Hey, hey, little cousin…" His voice was more demanding but still small. When Hinata had finally had the courage to look at him, she turned to the left with her head bowed down, and eyes that drooped but still, they managed to glance at her cousin. She grabbed his father's hand a bit tighter but Hiashi seemed to be not bothered by it.
Once he was satisfied from her offered attention, he put on a genuine smile. Hinata further blushed from this (if her cheeks could get any redder). Neji suddenly became more cheerful and made other faces. First, he tried to imitate a pouting octopus and Hinata found that really weird. The second face seemed to have a stretched smile and small eyes that looked like a cat (-_-), and Hinata found it very amusing and her lips slightly curved. Neji then tried one of the faces his friend Haze used to make. He held his two silver orbs together towards the bridge of his nose and stuck out his tongue.
"Hihihihihi…" Hinata likedt that. She now started paying attention at Neji and was anticipating for the next face. Neji agreed with her silent request and thought of another one. He paused for a moment and that one struck his mind. He brought a clasped right hand towards the center of his head, "Byakugan!", and nodded. He made a serious expression and thick veins crawled from the sides of his temple towards his eyes as he looked at his little cousin. Her reaction was not what he expected, not what he wanted. He thought he looked cool but all he received was a soft whimper and a hidden, distant face like before. She was afraid of him now.
"What's wrong, Hinata?" Hiashi, who probably heard her soft yelp, looked down. Neji then immediately deactivated his Byakugan. Hinata shrugged her head furiously, saying that it was nothing. Hiashi was skeptical about it, but this scenario was never new to him. Such conversation always occurred.
"Really, this daughter of mine." He sighed and continued. "I'm sorry Neji-kun for her behavior; she's very timid and shy. She's not used to people outside our house." Hiashi smiled at his nephew but returned back to his stoic face and was now looking ahead.
"H-hai." He replied. He felt like that was not the proper way to answer knowing that this was the clan head he was talking to.
"Maybe someday, when you get to know her more, you two might have a relationship beyond what you two are inevitably… destined to have." Hiashi coldly said.
"Rela – ? "
"You three over there, you might want to keep up with us?" Before Neji could finish his question, a young looking female Hyuga who was warmly smiling interrupted him. She was smaller than the female Hyugas of her age. She had the same fair and pale skin, but had faintly rosy cheeks. Her eyes seemed to be not silvery and strong, but they were more like a hint of lavender, and they were kind and humble- unique, he mused. Her smile was small, innocent and so enchanting. She was very beautiful, Neji decided. And the color of her long hair… "Eggplant?"
He looked at his hiding little cousin and her short hair. Smart as he was, he instantly knew that was Hinata's mom, his aunt and the Head's wife.
He then realized that the three of them really were far behind.
"Sorry, the kids were playing and I was afraid to have ruined it." Hiashi smirked at his wife who silently chuckled at her husband's considerate behavior. The two children were surprised, jerking their heads up. They had not noticed that while playing, their steps became slower and smaller and Hiashi had to put up with it while watching them. Somehow, Neji was embarrassed; he never wanted to show that side of his to the grown-ups, especially the Hyuga Head.
"Come on now. We need to finish this… quickly." Hiashi returned again with his serious expression. But he suddenly reached up for Neji's left hand, grasping it tightly but gently at the same time. It surprised Neji- it felt like his father's. He felt warm and smiled then.
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Hiashi and the group had finally reached the Main House district, particularly at the Head's house. Neji felt overwhelmed from their home. It was HUGE. The more he followed his Uncle, through uncountable hallways, a couple of vast gardens and numerous sliding doors inside, he was absolutely sure about it. "This is not a house; it's a large and awesome maze." He smiled at the idea and became a bit excited. He looked at Hinata again and realized that she looked tired.
Hiashi turned to his wife and released his hands from the two children and landed them around their shoulders.
"Hiroko, could you take care of these two? I need to talk with father. I'll see you at dinner."
Hiroko gave a nod and took the children by her hands. She kept on smiling and Neji smiled back at her. He realized that Hinata became more relaxed as she held her mother.
"What do you say Hinata-chan? Let's show Neji-kun our little garden."
"Un." Hinata pleasantly replied. Neji tried to look for her face again but she always managed to hide it from him. She was skillful in doing it, he thought. He kept on looking at her, trying all angles to see it but she always had a way to counteract all his attempts. They kept doing this 'hide and seek' beside Hiroko along their walk towards the said garden. Hiroko gave a quiet laugh for it. When they had finally reached their destination, Hiroko halted, kneeled and faced her shy daughter.
"Hinata, it's not polite ignoring people." She wrapped her arms around Hinata's shoulder and positioned her body towards Neji. Hinata still had her head bowed, eyes down, but at least Neji could see her face more clearly now.
"Sorry, little cousin." Hinata flinched at this and looked at him.
"I think I scared you. I'll never do it again, promise!" Neji's eyes were serious and determined. Hiroko was wondering what might have happened. She found the whole situation amusing and kept quiet.
"N-n-o… i-i-t's fine. Um…" She stuttered. Even though Neji could hardly hear it all, he was happy to know she had forgiven him. "W-w-anna see m-my gar-d-den?" Hiroko was now convinced everything was fine now.
"OK!" Neji happily replied.
Hiroko stood up and placed her hands at her sides. "Hinata-chan, Neji-kun, I'll be getting some tea for us. You two just stay here, alright?"
"Un!" both answered looking upwards towards her with two pairs of Hyuga eyes, eyes anyone would thought that looked exactly the same but Hiroko saw that one pair was hard, stoic and innately cold, while the other was kind, frail but had spirit. Just like how Hiashi described mine. And she sadly smiled at the thought. If she's going to be like me Hiashi, with eyes like that and not like yours and Neji's, will she be able to handle her destiny?
When Hiroko left for their tea, Hinata held the end of Neji's long sleeve and lead him towards her garden. He realized that they were in a large, plain garden. Nothing much was luxuriously special from it. It only had a few stepping stones, a couple of old bonsais and a big rock that had something atop of it. He couldn't properly see what it was since some long bamboos were hiding it. Before he could look further, he felt Hinata tugging his sleeve, and realized they stopped walking.
At the end of their destination, just at the corner of that garden, was a small patch of herbs and flowers. Neji observed that they were a bit disarranged and kind of randomly placed.
"I p-planted these." Hinata proudly said, despite the few stutters.
"It's a bit messy, Hinata-chan." He replied frankly.
"W-w-why?" Hinata whimpered.
"Well, the flowers are wilting, they do not form a line and the herbs are… a bit smelly." Neji continued on with no feeling of remorse. He was always an honest boy who spoke what he truly believed when asked for his opinion. But at that moment, as he noticed his cousin's face again, he now started to regret everything he said. She was so red and close to being teary eyed.
"Ah…" He tried to say something comforting but didn't know what to do next. She's angry, angry again with me. When he now had something to say, Hinata suddenly lifted her arms just before her chest and held together her hands in a strange way. Her fingers poked and intertwined together and Neji began to panic at this.
"Woah!" He suddenly did a long leap back, away from Hinata and Hinata got distracted from his reaction. Forgetting everything he had said, she wondered why her cousin was taken aback. W-w-what's w-wrong?
"I'm sorry! I didn't know you were that angry to put a jutsu on me. I'll help you with the garden if you want." He immediately apologized.
"Eh? J-jutsu?" Both were puzzled, Hinata from the word and Neji from Hinata's answer.
"Yeah. Jutsu." Neji repeated. But there was no sign of agreement from Hinata with her quirked eyebrows, parted lips and slightly tilted head.
"You were doing hand signals to put a jutsu on me didn't you? How come you don't know what jutsu is?" he insisted. Hinata looked at her hands and didn't seem to see anything special from it aside from that they were always slapped by her father every time she did that habit.
"Oh… you just wanted to… hold your hands?" Neji asked-a bit embarrassed.
"Y-yes."
Neji heaved a sigh of relief and suddenly let his body fall onto the grass. His hands were extended at the back as it supported his upper half. He held his chin up, as if looking at the starry sky and suddenly started to snicker. His snickers turned to chuckles and his chuckles turned to loud cackles of joy. This startled Hinata, but as his laugh continued, his bliss was contagious and it got her as she smiled and finally giggled as well. They then laughed at the same time and they became sweet children, oblivious from the house's freezing melancholy.
"Hhihihihihi…"
"Hahahaha… Hinata-chan, you're funny. A while ago, you were shy and cute, then scary and now, you're funny. You're a lousy gardener though, but I'm happy to be your friend." Hinata stopped laughing and blushed from Neji's praise (though she didn't like the gardener thing).
While standing in front of Neji, Hinata suddenly remembered the word of the night and curiously asked,
"W-w-what is t-this jutsu?"
"Oh. Like I said, using different hand signals, it's a usual technique used by shinobis to fight."
"Sh-shinobi?"
"Yeah! The protectors of the Leaf village. And someday, I'll be one! I'll be attending the academy the next month you know." Neji gleefully answered with pride.
"P-protect? Why would you w-want to do t-that?"
"Because… my father says that the people who can protect the ones they love are the strongest. And I want to be the strongest." Hinata giggled and Neji was puzzled from it.
"Y-you're w-weird." Neji scowled at this and had taken it negatively.
"You're bad with flowers but maybe you should plant vegetables." He teased.
" E-eh? H-how come?"
"Cause your face is a tomato and your hair is an eggplant." He innocently laughed at his joke. Hinata was surprised and turned to brick red, making him laugh more. She kinda hated to admit it, but she really was like a tomato now.
"W-w-ell… you're, y-y-you're…uhh…" Hinata tried but she could not get back at him but Neji then started to settle down again.
"I'm joking Hinata-chan." Hinata was happy he had said that or she might have collapsed from thinking what to say.
" W-what do y-you want to p-protect?" That startled Neji. It became serious all of a sudden.
"Hmm… father said he wanted to protect the village and his family … while I… I want to protect the clan."
"Th-the clan? Why?"
"Because I love it!" Hinata was amused from the young boy's eyes. He was truly sincere. She wondered why… maybe because she never felt the same emotion for the clan. She had always thought that the whole clan had hated her.
"Our clan is not only the oldest, but I believe it is the strongest and the wisest. I find the Jyuuken as the best fighting style and aren't our eyes amazing!?"
"M-maybe… but… y-you'll protect it from w-what?"
"I don't know… people from outside? ... What do you want to protect, Hinata-chan?"
"M-me? Ah… m-my… garden?" Neji found that very shallow, as a young boy who had much bigger dreams. He laughed and Hinata was confused again. D-did I say s-something f-funny?
"Hinata-chan, you don't need to be a shinobi for that. All you need to do is to protect that garden from yourself." He gave an evil green and Hinata was teary eyed from his joke, but then she also started giggling.
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Hiroko had finished brewing the tea for the three of them. She was the only one in this dirty kitchen. She thanked for that. If anyone was there, they wouldn't tolerate to actually let the wife of the Head make tea. She despised the idea. For her, making tea was therapy.
She held on the tray with the three clay cups filled with the rich blend which she has already mastered for so many years. She had always given it to her husband and he always complimented it, saying that it was one the things that made him think that the world was a happy place. As she walked towards the sliding door, it unexpectedly slid open.
"Oh…" Hiroko knew this face very well. It was a face she usually saw every night right before going to sleep.
"Why are you here?" Hiroko asked.
"I… was about to get something."
"Oh, ok."
"Making tea?" It was not really a question.
"You want me to make you one?" Hiroko was about to drop the tray and thought of starting to make again but Hiashi lifted his hand signaling that he didn't want one. He then shut the door tight again.
"How are you doing? What did father sa – " Everything was sudden but before Hiroko was able to finish, Hiashi abruptly grabbed around her waist and held her close placing a passionate kiss on her wife. Hiroko returned the intimate gesture trying her best not to drop the tray nor any of the three cups. He finally released the young woman but their noses were still close and Hiashi looked at her with so much love… yet as he turned his gaze away, she saw anguish from his face.
She knew her husband more than anyone else. Whenever he was at distraught, he would privately seek her and her embrace. These were times when situations were really tough on him that it could break the stoic and cold Hiashi and made him run for his sinful drug.
She wanted to hold his face and calm him down. She knew that this whole process would leave a wound in his heart. Since her hands were full, she just gently leaned her forehead unto his chest and looked at him as she gave a warm, comforting smile.
"Dear, it's going to be alright. Finish this. He is a Hyuga, and Hizashi's son. His eyes are strong, like yours. He will not falter… he may hate the seal, hate us, hate everyone… but someday, he will find happiness in someone just like all of us other Hyugas. It's an unspoken life cycle here."
"Hn…" Hiashi answered. Sometimes, Hiroko knew that Hiashi didn't listen to her words and that the only wanted to hear her voice and it was enough to calm him down. Even if my opinion is not regarded, but if it still helps him, then that is more than enough for me.
"I'll be going ahead then. Fetch the two and take them to the dining hall." He parted from her and placed a gentle kiss on her indigo head. They both blushed at this and looked at each other. He kept staring at her and she began to chuckle.
"Get going now, you old man." Hiroko said playfully.
"O-of course." He left the kitchen unhesitantly.
When he was gone, Hiroko began to sweetly chuckle again.
"I thought you were going to get something. You're too shy, Hiashi."
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"Jack and J-jill, went up th-the hill to fetch… -" Hinata sang while closing her eyes with her small hands as she stood up just in front of the garden's wall. When she stopped singing, she abruptly looked at her back to see if her playmate was not moving. She giggled. He looked like a spider like that. Neji was standing with his hands, trying his best not to fall. His face was focused and determined to win this game like it was some sort of training. As Hinata went back on singing again, Neji strangely walked as fast as he could towards his cousin.
"… a p-pale of water. Jack fell…" And she stopped again. As she looked, she saw Neji three meters away. When she was about to continue, Neji's long tied hair fell off from his back towards his shoulder and Hinata spotted it as a violation *.
"Ah! Y-you moved."
"Eh? It's just my hair." Neji protested.
"S-still, you moved. Y-you lose!" Hinata said confidently.
"But there's nothing I can do. It's my hair!"
"I-it doesn't matter." Hinata said defensively.
"That's not fair! You're mean Hinata-chan!" Hinata backed away from this.
"N-no, y-you're wrong…"
"You're a cheater." Neji defiantly said. He hated defeats the most.
"I… I d-didn't ch-cheat…" Hinata was about to cry. When Neji realized it, he began to panic again. He wasn't usually in these situations when a girl cried. He felt strongly about his opinion but it cringed his heart to see a girl cry, worse, it was his cute cousin who was shedding tears.
"F-fine. I lost." Neji gave up. Hinata's face started to glow from his words. She started smiling again.
"Th-then the consequence!" She said excitedly.
"Yes, yes. What do you want me to do?" Hinata thought deeply about it and a certain verb struck her mind.
"P-p-pro…"
"…?" Neji could hardly understand her.
"P-p-rotect m-me…" She didn't know why, but it sounded so embarrassing to Hinata. Neji didn't understand why she said that but he then later felt nice about it.
"From what?"
"I… d-don't know."
Neji chuckled from her answer. He couldn't think of anything that would harm his dear cousin. She was the heiress and any member, Branch or Main, had the obligation to protect her, including himself.Hmm… she just wasted that single request.
"Then I'll protect you from anything then... my father always said that our family must always protect your family for the sake of the clan. Then this is a double promise I can't break. Heh." The cousins laughed together.
Hiroko saw the whole scene. Her heart hurt. She didn't know if them getting too close was for the better. It might hurt them both or it might make them stronger. She prayed to her ancestors to watch over these two precious children.
"Neji-kun! Hinata- chan! Get inside now. Get your tea and be ready since we're eating later."
The two ran towards the pretty woman with Hinata grabbing the fabric of Neji's back. As they were running, Neji took another glance over the big rock, and still had not managed to see what was on top of it.
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The dining hall had the longest table Neji had ever seen. And the presented cuisine seemed endless. It was like a celebration. And then it idiotically struck him- it was the heiress' birthday after all. Neji sat next to Hinata who was just beside Hiashi at the end of the table. In front of Neji was an old man just beside Hiroko. He looked wise and stern. Neji didn't have the slightest idea that that was his grandfather.
Everyone made their formal congratulations with Hiashi and then an introductory speech followed by some compliments from the other main house members. All the council members presented a gift to Hinata and she blushed at every receiving. Neji felt bad thinking that his father didn't even give him a present for Hinata. After all that formality was done, everyone started eating and minded their own business.
"Neji." Neji immediately faced his uncle for his call.
"Yes sir?"
"Be ready for tomorrow. Eat a lot and rest. You'll need it."
"Yes sir."
Hiroko looked at her husband with concern. And then she looked at Hinata who was now whispering something to Neji.
"What are you gonna do tomorrow?" she asked.
"Tomorrow, I'll be marked as a Branch member who will serve under the Main family. I'm gonna get a cool tattoo in the forehead too, y'know." He replied cheerfully only thinking about the future cursed mark on his head. He still never knew the implications of his statement and how dreadful it would sound by the time he could really comprehend it. Hiroko and Hiashi heard the dialogue and exchanged looks. Hiroko's eyes tried her best to comfort Hiashi.
"C-can I get one t-too?" Hinata excitedly asked. But just right after her question…
BAAM!
Hiashi slammed his cup on the table and everyone immediately stopped from what they were doing and looked at the end of the table. Hiroko was devastated and Hinata's grandfather narrowed his eyes from the little girl's request. Neji was puzzled from his uncle's reaction and Hinata… Hinata was dead terrified.
"You are NEVER to say that again." Her father said coldly. There was no room for affection in his face.
"Y-y-y-yes F-f-f-father…"
The dinner ended quietly and no one said another word, not even thin whispers between the close cousins.
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After dinner, HIashi and his council full of elders proceeded to another hall for another meeting. Hiroko was instructed by Hiashi to look after the children again.
"It's late you two. Why don't we go to bed?" Hiroko said to the two that made both her hands full. Neji hid his frown a bit. He seemed to want to play more in this interesting manor. He then smiled to have thought an idea.
"Aunty, can I have sleep over at Hinata-chan's room?"
Hiroko replied this with a raised eyebrow and Hinata was puzzled as to what an activity that is.
Hiroko looked at Hinata and realized that she never really had friends of her age. She only came to know her servants so she never had the slightest idea what a sleep over was.
"Alright, Neji-kun. But don't sleep too late." Neji grinned at his aunt and looked at Hinata.
"Sleep overs are fun, Hinata-chan." Hinata smiled at this but confusion from her face was still there.
After a few hallways, Hiroko left the two in Hinata's room. She leaned on the door for a while to listen to the two children's constant chatter and occasional giggles. … Please make their bond stronger through everything. She then left and headed for her husband's chambers.
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It was dawn and Neji was retrieved from Hinata's room.
"Breathe deep Neji." A hard voice commanded. Neji did as he was told and looked at some strange scriptures written just below his feet. They seem to be located at some far away room of the manor. Neji found it odd that it was just empty, like it was meant to be like that for the sole purpose of what they are doing right now. What's stranger was that a group of elders formed a semi-circle around him with Hiashi being in front of him.
Hiashi took a big step towards Neji. His left hand held a clay bowl that seemed to contain green paint while the other held a thin brush. He dipped the brush and took a subtle amount of the paint.
"Hyuga Neji, son of Hizashi, do you surrender your life and loyalty to the Main House?" Hiashi formally asked.
"Yes sir." Neji quickly replied. His father had instructed him to always say 'yes' during the ceremony.
"Very well, you're destiny has been sealed." Hiashi lifted the brush towards Neji's bare forehead and painted the Caged Bird Seal with grace. Neji had his stoic face but he felt happy, finally receiving that cool mark.
Hiashi went back to his position in that semi-circle and all the members started to do hand signals. Jutsu, Neji thought. He didn't know what would happen next but was a bit excited. And then…
A sudden sharp pain came to his head. It was just split of a second and his vision blurred, turned white, and then turned to complete darkness.
Hiashi immediately caught the little boy's body and lifted Neji with both arms. Now that's done. What will happen now, Hiroko?
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After two whole days, Neji slept. And in those two days, no dream visited his mind. When he finally opened his eyes, he wondered what happened if everything that just happened was just a dream. He sat up and could feel his stomach rumbling. He looked around and realized that this was not Hinata's room. He concluded that everything did happen. He flinched and thought about the ceremony. I passed out. He started to panic. Had he ruined the whole ceremony because he passed out? He thought about how his father would be disappointed. He touched his forehead and it still felt flat. He tried thinking it through but his starving stomach kept on interfering.
The door slid open and he looked upon his Aunt Hiroko.
"Neji-kun, you're awake!"
"G-good morning, Aunty."
"Good morning too. How are you feeling?"
"I'm alrigh – " Before Neji could finish, his stomach growled and he, blushing, immediately grabbed his abdomen as if it'd become quiet. Hiroko chuckled at this but then replied back with a warm smile.
"I'll be getting food for you. It'll be fast, I promise."
"Ah…" Before Neji could say another word, Hiroko was gone and her footsteps were thudding fast. Neji felt embarrassed, somehow, he felt weak.
Neji then stood up but took time to keep his balance. He went out from the door Hiroko kept open and saw a familiar place- it was the garden Hinata and him played at. It relaxed him a bit and forgot about his annoying stomach. Under the sun, the garden was still plain. He scanned it further and there he saw his little cousin, tending her little patch of unknown weeds.
She wore a sky blue yukata that had little black drawings of birds throughout the fabric and her obi had the hint of flesh which complimented her pale skin. She folded the long sleeves up to her elbows and her hands and clogs were dirty from mud. And the most beautiful of all, Neji decided, was her smiling face streaked by some strands of her indigo hair slightly wet while clinging onto the beads of sweat from her forehead.
"Hinata-chan!" Hinata turned around to see her cousin and gave a graceful face.
"Ah!N-neji- n-niisan!" Neji quirked his eyebrows, rather confused, since Hinata never once called him 'niisan'
Before Neji walked towards his filthy cousin, he again took notice of the big rock hidden by the long bamboos. He couldn't take the unknowing anymore and shifted his position towards it. Hinata just watched this and was rather curious of her cousin's movement. She then noticed his forehead. Tatoo…
Neji held the bamboo and turned it to the right. And there it was. Neji frowned at it, thinking that it was nothing special after all.
Just two birds in a cage.
…to be continued
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A/N:
*The game- If you don't know this game, the rules are simple. One person sings and while he/she does, the other players run towards him/her but must stop once the singing stops as well. And the singer will look at the runners and check if someone moves. The singer then continues to sing. And if the runner was able to touch the singer just before he/she finishes the song, the runner wins.
*obi-it's a thick separate cloth that wraps around the waist when a person wears a kimono
Since this is my first chapter, please guys, review! What can you say about it? How's the style, the characters, the pace… It would really be of great help to improve my skills AND it would pump me up to write further and faster if I read your reviews. Thanks for reading!
-3PP