Chapter 1: Prodigal Sibling

"Your stance is shoddy, brother", jibed his brother with an all-knowing smirk.

"Oh do be quiet and fight, will you!?"

"Such language!", he said with mock astonishment, "Brother, this temper is unbecoming of a Hyuga.", he drawled, dodging Hiashi's gentle-fist technique without breaking sweat and he executed a flawless eight trigrams- Sixty four palm. One caught Hiashi squarely in the solar plexus. He exhaled loudly as he collapsed. All the wind from his lungs and chakra from chest left his body for a short time. He tried to get up, wincing at the pain shooting up from his torso.

"Here, now. Hiashi-nii-sama, stop. We'll spar again tomorrow. And sorry about all the taunting. It's just you're easy to read when you're angry. Higurashi wants me to help you get over that. No hard feelings, alright?", Said Hizashi extending a hand towards him.

"Hmph!", Hyuga Hiashi, the anointed leader-to-be of the Hyuga clan, grunted, embarrassed at his show of poor sportsmanship. Hiashi ignored his proffered hand and stood up, tested his limbs to see if anything was broken.

"Tomorrow, let's start sparring at nine in the morning, as usual.", he announced while slowly retreating back into the main compound of the Hyuga estate.

"Hizashi, you never cease to amaze, boy. Excellent footwork. Worthy of a true Hyuga.", Said lord Hyuga with a complacent smirk.

"Thank you, lord father.", said Hizashi with a stiff bow.

Lord Hyuga dismissed him with a wave of a hand. Hizashi bowed again and retreated away.

"May I request lord Hyuga's counsel?", said a soft voice in his ear.

"Elder Harada. Please. Pray tell. You have my undivided attention.", said Hyuga warily.

"Well. I'll speak with you later in your study at your leisure, my lord.", said Harada exiting with a short nod.

'I shudder to think what that eccentric old man has been thinking of', thought Hyuga worriedly. Harada was one of the council of elders that 'helped' the Lord in matters concerning the clan.

-X-

"You pronounced Hiashi as your successor.", Harada said simply.

"I did.", came the curt reply.

"I understand… the other council members are… a little… closed-minded regarding issues they consider as Hyuga tradition.", said Harada chewing over each word as it rolled smoothly off his tongue.

Hyuga groaned inwardly. Harada was the black sheep of the council of elders. His casual indifference to traditions won him quite a hate-club within the council.

"Hiashi being the first-born twin, was the natural choice for being the successor.", Hyuga said bluntly.

"My lord, I do not question your decision. I merely wish to ascertain if you are truly satisfied with your decision, that is all.", he said bowing low.

This caused Hyuga some embarrassment and he said hastily, "Here now, Harada-san… Don't bow. I am not so arrogant as to require someone as old as my father to bow to me."

Harada lifted his head and his face was lined with worry.

"I hope you realize that the council will never agree to your proposal to ban the placing of the cursed seal. Hizashi will be marked."

"What would you have me do? Do you think that I would willingly place the Hyuga-cursed seal on the forehead of my own flesh and blood? The elders have spoken. I can do naught but comply.", said Hyuga with resignation.

"My lord, think about it. Hizashi is strong… In more ways than one. It's not only his unbelievable talent in the fighting arts. It's his strength of spirit. It's his strength of purpose. It is that strength that would have stopped him from being harsh with his brother. I assure you if Hizashi was made clan leader, he would never; no matter what the circumstances; activate the cursed seal to subjugate his brother. It is only strong the strong that can rule with impartial justice. Isn't that what our clan has always taught? The strong must rule and the weak must aid them to rule."

"Hiashi is the first born. The council will never stand for it. You know my hands are tied.", Hyuga said quietly, sighing.

_X_

"Hizashi-sama."

"Hanako…"

They didn't say anything to each other. They just locked glances and stared at each other. She, with a stricken pained expression and he, with fatalistic resignation. Her pale skin had lost usual faint rosiness. His face was ashen as usual; mouth curved in his usual smile which didn't quite reach his eyes. Finally, he broke the silence with a sad chuckle.

"He will make a fine husband. Never fear. I know him."

"I am going to turn down Hiashi's proposal…", said Hanako.

"Hanako, please…"

"I'll…"

"Your father would marry you off to that Uchiha otherwise."

"Never! I'll tell Chichi-ue that I can only have you. No one else."

"Hanako, please… please, don't fight it. It's for t he best. At least, we'll both still be Hyuga.", said Hizashi, his voice quivering at the last word.

-x-

Hiashi felt miserable. In his entire twenty-year old existence, he had never felt this terrible. He staggered into his father's study, drunk, pissed to the eyeballs. He tore open a corner of the tatami mat, lifting the floor-board underneath. Pulled out his father's secret bottle of sake and proceeded to drink directly from the porcelain container.

"So, this is where you are?", Hizashi's voice came from the doorway.

The Hyuga was a noble family. Intemperance of language was one of the greatest sins a Hyuga could commit. Right then, Hiashi didn't feel like honouring Hyuga virtues.

"Fuck you Hizashi…", he slurred, "What do you want?"

"I came here to talk with my brother. Wishing him the best as the future head of the Hyuga clan.", Hizashi said evenly and paused

"…", Hiashi blinked at him and sighed brokenly.

"What is it, Ani-ue?", Hiazashi said with a little softness creeping into his voice.

"… Ha… Hanako. She accepted my proposal."

"Congratulations.", Hizashi said hollowly, his newly branded forehead glistening in the lamplight. It was red, raised and swollen.

"Can't you ever… ever, in your entire miserable life be honest with me… You BASTARD!", Hiashi screamed at the last word, slamming his chakra infused fist into his twin's face.

Hizashi had served four years as an ANBU-black ops ninja. He saw the blow coming even without activating his Byakugan. He didn't dodge or block it. He felt a sick masochistic pleasure, when the blow connected with his jaw and he was flung to the far side of the room. He made no move to get up. He tried to spit out the blood pooling in his mouth. He stiffened in pain. His jaw was possibly fractured.

"She told me, that she loved you…", said Hiashi, slowly raising his head.

"It must feel great to be everyone's favourite, doesn't it, Hizashi?", his brother said while slowly exiting the room.

_x_