Author's Note: Originally, all my stories have no sequel but I've been thinking… This once, I want to make it a sequel, simply because I like the family I have created in Forever Intertwined. Here it is, the second NejiTen Family Story, which is yet to be named, once again. XD So… I request your assistance for a title once more!
For those who have yet to read my previous story Forever Intertwined: A NejiTen Family Story, just look it up from my profile page. Or you may go straight and read this. There is only little linking between the storylines and I will constantly provide necessary flash back, so I guess it will be alright. It's just for you to be acquainted with my little NejiTen Family. This is about 6 years after the last scene of Forever Intertwined… Hyuuga Hiiragi (the brown eyed first son) is Jounin and Hyuuga Higure (the short haired white eyed second son) is fresh Chuunin.
Thank you very much.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters and I don't own or translate any lyrics or quotes displayed in this fic. They are of their respective owners. Even so, the OCs are mine. :D
Chapter I
The Princess
The light in me
will guide you home
all I want is to be your harbor
Vienna Teng: Harbor
Everyone was waiting nervously by the door of the room. Hyuuga Higure walked in a circle while his brother Hiiragi sat rigid on the seat near a pot of plant by the empty hallway. Their father hadn't arrived yet and their mother…
"Any news at all?!"
Their father's sound suddenly came out as puff of smoke exploded besides the sitting Hyuuga Hiiragi. The brown-eyed Hyuuga stood up as his father came into view—a little untidy with exhaustion printed itself on his handsome face. They were here only for one reason. And that reason lied behind the closed door the two sons were staring intently all this time.
"Sakura-basan said Kaa-san's a little too weak to do it now," said Higure, moving uneasily. "She said it's going to be a hard labor but…"
"They've been in there for the last 6 hours but there is still not a sign of progress…" the usually calm and composed Hiiragi now looked a little frantic himself. He clenched his fists tightly. "We're…"
A loud sound came from behind the door so suddenly that everyone fell silent. Hyuuga Neji was the first one to react. He knew the sound so well… too well that he just couldn't contain the bursting feeling that filled his chest.
He opened the door right when Haruno Sakura was about to come out. The medic soon found the silent question the silver eyes showed and she replied… with a smile.
"Congratulation, Neji-san… It's a healthy girl."
The sound of the wind chime was ringing by the hallways of the traditional Japanese house. The bamboo decoration by the pond sent an accompanying 'clonk' sound, sending a koi fish to jump to the surface and back in again. The perfectly serene time was broken as rushing footsteps were heard from the hallway leading to the front door. A short haired Hyuuga came with a piece of paper in his hand and delighted expression imprinted on his face. He brought good news; the news they had been waiting for.
"Kaa-saaaaann! Otou-sama and Aniki are coming home tonight!"
X
The foods that night were marvelous when they served it on the dining table, just as always whenever any family member was coming home after a long mission. It was a kind of ritual, something that they automatically did without a word. Now that he thought of it, the feast was heartwarming. Smiling with the thought in his head, Higure tidied the foods when suddenly his mother stopped and looked at the door.
"Seems like they're here already."
Higure nodded and stood up.
"I'll o—"
"I'LL open the door!"
The youngest, a long brown haired little girl with the eyes of her father's, stood up and ran ahead of her brother to the front door. Her mother could only smile as she saw her disappeared by the corner. A second later, her delightful high-pitched voice was heard to the dining room.
"OKAERINASAI!"
Her father and oldest brother were right by the front door the moment it happened. Hyuuga Neji gave out his rare smile when the girl jumped to his embrace, giving a squeal as he lifted her up to the air. He kissed the cheek of the little girl then answered her earlier greeting.
"Tadaima… Hatsuka."
X
The feast was marvelous as always. It got everyone's favorite dishes so it was almost a certainty for every meal to be wiped out immediately. Soon after, it was finished. Hiiragi, the oldest son, helped his mother with the plates and bowls while Higure was now stuck with Hatsuka on his lap, sleeping like a baby…
"Bring her to her room, Higure," his father said without even looking, sipping his sake. Higure grinned at him and nodded. "And you must sleep also. You have a mission tomorrow morning, if I'm not mistaken?"
Higure, who was already up with Hatsuka in his arms, was stunned for a while. He finally nodded and bowed lightly.
"Well… then… Oyasuminasai, Tou-sama."
His father nodded as a reply. Higure slipped away from the dining room nearly without a sound. Neji watched as he went away, silently observing his son's movement with the little girl in his arms.
"He's being a good boy as usual, Neji."
His wife suddenly was in front of him, smiling as she watched him watching their son. Their oldest son was listening from afar, placing the plates back to their place.
"I'm not questioning that," the family head closed his eyes and sipped his sake again. His wife laughed, placing her chin on her palm.
"Well… your eyes didn't say so. Not that they ever showed anything anyway…"
Her husband didn't say anything for the statement. She chuckled… then stopped after a while. Silence dawned over the three as they listened to the night sound and the wind chime outside. Hiiragi was drying the last plate when his mother's voice suddenly rose again.
"Tomorrow... is the monthly gathering, right?"
He didn't reply, and she continued.
"They will surely bring about the problem at that time."
Hiiragi's eyes narrowed slightly. His father didn't reply directly as he sipped his sake. He put the small cup on the table then looked at his wife.
"Then what is it with that, Tenten?"
She smiled at his reaction.
"You're worried," She said lightly. Her hand took the nearest sake bottle and emptying it to the small cup her husband was using. "You're maybe able to hide your feelings to others, Neji… but not to me."
He didn't reply once again. He merely took the cup and sipped it slowly. Tenten watched him, eyes wavering with something.
"You don't need… to feel guilty for anything, Neji."
He opened his eyes upon the statement. After a few moment of silence, he took a deep breath.
"Hiiragi."
Their oldest son turned around almost immediately and replied, "Yes, Otou-sama?"
"You've been wiping that same plate for minutes now. Shouldn't you place it back?"
Hiiragi was taken aback by the statement and blushed. He hurriedly put the plate back to its place awkwardly, feeling rather guilty for eavesdropping his parents' conversation. He went to their side and bowed.
"I shall be off to my room then, Tou-sama, Kaa-san… Oyasu—"
"Sit with us for a while."
"Eh?"
Hiiragi stopped. He looked at his mother who said so without looking at him. The weapon mistress still watched her husband as he emptied his sake cup, eyes wavering with something.
"We have something to talk about," she turned to see her oldest son. Her eyes softened. "It's alright with you, isn't it? I hope you're not too tired for a little conversation."
Hiiragi was silent for a while. But then he finally nodded and lowered his body for a seat. Somehow… he knew where this conversation would lead them to…
X
"Ittekimasu!"
Higure hastily tied his headband before finally disappeared from the front door with a puff of smoke. Little Hatsuka was still stretching out her hand and saying "Itterasshai, Higure-nii-chan!" when her mother patted her gently.
"You better get ready, Sweetheart," she said softly. Hatsuka turned to see her with those big round eyes. "You must go to the Academy too, right? Get ready so Hiiragi will be able to walk you there without any rush."
"Hiiragi-nii-chan?" Hatsuka's eyes lit up with delight. Her mother nodded with a smile. The little girl squealed with joy. Hiiragi rarely walked her to the Academy. He was always so busy with mission, just like his father. "I'll get ready!"
The little girl quickly rushed to her room, leaving her mother by the front door. Neji came behind Tenten silently, white eyes following his only daughter's movement. Tenten closed her eyes upon feeling him walking closer.
"It's going to be alright."
Neji didn't answer her. He merely stood beside his wife, feeling how she shifted to lean onto him and breathed him in.
"Everything will be alright."
Neji still didn't say anything. He only closed his eyes as he buried his face in his wife's dark hair. There was no use for words. They both knew.
"Tou-sama. Kaa-san."
Hiiragi's voice made his parents parted. His mother straightened herself and turned to see the teenage boy. His face was solemn and she could see how her son still thinking about their conversation the night before. He hid it well though… she wouldn't have known if she weren't his mother and the wife of his father.
"Just act as usual, Hiiragi," she said softly. Her son nodded. "Everything is alright. It's not like anyone will ambush you two or anything… it's just to see the situation. We just don't want any unnecessary confrontation. You know exactly what to do."
Once again, Hiiragi nodded. His mother smiled at his silent response. His father stayed quiet, only observing as he usually do.
"I'm ready!"
Hatsuka suddenly placed herself between her parents and her brother. Her brother and father only watched her with gentle shimmer in their eyes while her mother bent down and said cheerfully, "Wow, Sweetie, that's fast! You really want to go that bad, huh?"
"Of course!" Hatsuka replied enthusiastically. She grinned. "I wanna be like Kaa-san, that's why!"
Her mother laughed. She patted her daughter's head gently then said with a smile, "But Kaa-san doesn't want Hatsuka to be like her."
The little girl was surprised by her mother's statement. She blinked in confusion.
"But why…?" asked the little girl, puzzled. "Kaa-san is the Weapon Mistress, right? Everyone knows Kaa-san! Kaa-san is strong! I want to be like Kaa-san!"
Her mother laughed yet again.
"Becaaaaauuuuse…" She poked the little girl's nose. "I want you to be more than me. Stronger. Wiser. Braver. Everything more. Understand?"
Hatsuka fell silent. A huge grin then broke upon her lips and she said cheerfully, "OF COURSE!"
"Good girl!" her mother just couldn't resist the urge to hug and kiss her. Even her father had a smile upon his lips. Her mother finally let her go and pushed her gently to the gate. "Now… you don't want to be late, right? Shikamaru-sensei will be angry."
"Um!" the little girl nodded vigorously. Hiiragi stepped to her side and bowed down to his parents.
"Ittekimasu, Tou-sama, Kaa-san."
"Itterasshai," replied his mother gently. She gave a soft look at her boy. "Take care, okay?"
Hiiragi nodded. He took his sister's little hand and tugged her gently to tell her to move. His sister waved cheerfully at their parents as they walked further away. Their mother waved back at them while their father only stood silently, observing them as their back slowly disappeared into the busy street of Konoha's Intelligence District.
"She reminds me of a certain someone."
Tenten lowered her hand when she heard her husband spoke. She chuckled.
"Oh?"
His husband smirked and closed his eyes.
"I'll show you, Neji! I'll beat you next time!"
"Perhaps I was wrong for worrying about her."
Tenten laughed. She turned around to face her husband and asked playfully, "Why is that?"
The answer was simple.
"Because she is our daughter," answered Neji lightly. His prideful eyes met his wife's powerful ones. "She truly can be a troublemaker sometimes, given your genes… but I guess she can handle everything very well since she has the other genes also."
"So you're saying my genes are the ones giving her troubles?" Tenten protested, hands on her hip. Neji smirked once more.
"No."
"Oh?"
He lowered his head to get closer to hers. His eyes shimmered.
"Your genes are what make her perfect."
X
Hiiragi walked silently along the way while Hatsuka kept on humming the lullaby their mother used to sang to accompany them to their dreams. The Academy gate soon could be seen before them. Hatsuka suddenly stopped in her place, tugging Hiiragi to do the same.
"Hatsuka?"
"Onii-chan will only walk me this far!" said the little girl with a determined face. Hiiragi raised his eyebrows. "Okaa-san only walks this far too. I can go on by myself! If I don't, how am I going to surpass Kaa-san?"
"Aa…" A rare gentle smile found its way to his lips. Hiiragi nodded then patted his sister's head. "I understand. Take care, Hatsuka."
"Um!" The girl nodded vigorously. She smiled then hugged her brother's big body. "You take care too! I'll be going now, Onii-chan!"
Hatsuka let go of Hiiragi, turned around, then ran to the Academy, waving good bye vigorously at her brother. Hiiragi waved back a bit, watching her as she went further and further away—before finally disappeared by the Academy door.
And even after she disappeared… without his knowing, he just stood there, watching the door of the Academy from afar—lost in his thought of everything.
"An additional family member?"
The weapon mistress grinned.
"Well… I'm pregnant!"
"The baby's a girl, Neji-san! The baby's a girl!"
"Her name… is Hatsuka."
"Look, Hiiragi…" his mother let him take a look at the sleeping baby. "Isn't she beautiful?"
"Kaa-saaaann!" Higure ran in the hallway like crazy. His face though, indicated happiness. "She said her first word! She said her first woooordd!"
"Naaa, Hatsuka!" Their mother faced the young girl to her oldest brother. "Who's that?"
"'Iiragi-nii-chaaaaaann!"
"Smart girl, Hatsuka!"
That little girl… Their only sister, the youngest of all three… She was so bright, so cheerful, so wonderfully beautiful… But then why…
"We have something to talk about along with you…."
Their parents' solemn faces were not something he would love to see… They were just… wrong.
"We believe… something dangerous is coming to this family, Hiiragi. Your sister will be the one most affected by it."
"She's in danger."
Hiiragi closed his eyes, clenching his fists. His brown eyes were burning as they watched the Academy gate, as he felt the strong feeling that was heaving inside his chest.
If there was anyone who wanted to harm his little sister… he would make sure that person would not get away from it easily.
X
The Rokudaime tapped his fingers on the table. He had gone through enough ruckuses this morning and he was upset to see it all following him even to his Hokage Office. His wife was in front of him, standing meekly as she finished saying what she needed to say. Haruno Sakura was there also, placing the reports she already made to the top of the table then standing beside the other woman.
"I never thought… it will end up this way," said the Rokudaime exasperatedly. "Sheesh! That was supposedly only a regular marriage."
"It is sad if you put it that way, Naruto-kun," said his wife gently. She smiled. "All they wanted are freedom and happiness. It's not something that must be confined. They have the right to…"
"Anyway, as the way it is right now, the Hyuuga family's condition is very crucial to Konoha's condition," Sakura heaved an audible sigh. She shook her head. "That's because the Heiress of the House is married to the Hokage. Your marriage unofficially makes Hyuuga Clan the most powerful clan in the whole Konoha. Like it or not, that's how the residents picture it to be. If the Hyuuga Clan is in a mess, so is Konoha in their eyes. You cannot make any excuses for this, Hinata, Naruto."
"Fine, fine!" Naruto put his Hokage hat on the table. "There's no point in regretting that too, right? Anyway… what's happening now is more important. I'm not that worried about the condition of those old geezers in the Hyuuga Clan Committee. I'm more concern to what could've happened to the family that is unintentionally becoming the cause of all this."
Sakura and Hinata were silent as they met their Hokage's cerulean eyes. Hinata finally closed her eyes and sighed.
"I could still suppress it somehow with my leadership… but I cannot guarantee anything outside my supervision," she said it slowly. "But still… as it is right now, I cannot petition any special rule. That will only cause an even greater uproar."
Her translucent eyes wavered.
"And the family gathering will be held tonight. I cannot promise that it will run smoothly…"
Sakura heaved an audible sigh yet again. Naruto closed his eyes then looked outside of his office through the window… to the view of the Hidden Village of Konoha, the place he loved the most.
"… to know that they are such a lovely family…"
Hinata's voice drifted between them. She looked at the city just like her husband.
"Why must this kind of thing happen to them again? It's just… unfair…"
She closed her eyes. Sakura sighed again. It was unfair, right… but somehow, Sakura could feel how her lips curved upward. Kami-sama never gave any trial that surpassed His people's strength. Yes, this kind of thing happened to them again because…
… Because they were the only family that was strong enough to endure.
To be continued
Author's note: Thanks for reading! :D It's not as peace as Forever Intertwined, is it? :D hahaha… gomen. I'll try to update the next chapter as soon as I can! Bye!
