Thanks a bunch to Naruto-Couples and xoayamexo!

Chapter 2: My Past

Before Neji could gape nor ask any more questions, the rumored girl began to stir. As if realizing that she is in a foreign pace, her eyelids snapped open. She heaved herself up and the sight she took in was the neat, tidy, traditional Japanese home, much like her own. Shelf full of books, straw mat floor with cushions and there on the corner, a picture of a man. Her eyes widened since she thought it was her father until she noticed 2 candles and a pot of incense in front of the picture that symbolized the man's death.

"Ar.." She exhaled agonizingly as pain jolted in her head. She clutched her head with one hand and found that her forehead was bandaged up. As though out of her trance, she took a 360 degrees view of the room to find the feminine looking boy who had tried to attack her and a familiar middle aged woman.

"Haruka-sama, how are you feeling?" The female asked with a gentle smile. Neji was enraged. His mother had been kind to everyone and everything but he couldn't endure her kindness toward the main branch. They just didn't deserve it. After all, he was the only one who had to watch his mother cry discreetly and painfully. Over the years, he was also the one that watched the deleterious wrinkles and white hair appear on her face after his father's death. He gritted his teeth and pinched his thigh as he watched his mother give a soothing pat on the head of the nameless creature.

"Thank you sayuri-obasama." The girl bowed politely but his mother waved it away hurriedly.

"Please drop the honorifics. It is inappropriate." The elder hastely said. The girl shook her head, her countenance revealing amethyst eyes that matched her necklace.

"We are a family and the necessity for me to honor you is greater than you do for me." Her words were polite but her face showed neither a smile for her frown. She was just a doll, reciting what seemed like "Manual of courtesy.

"You've grown quite a bit, I see, though I wish you can be out in the sun more." Just like her mother, was what she wanted to add.

"It has been 10 years." The ghostly being replied, her eyes entering another daze. The silky-haired boy shifted uncomfortably, since he was called a genius, he did not wish to be shut out in the dark. As he did so, his cousin snapped her head toward his direction. "…and oba-sama..this must be…" she finally noticed a angry figure after her awakening. It's not that she didn't know his name, she was wondering if she should refer him as nii-san.

"Yes Neji, my son, I am proud to say." She put an arm around her son, smiling down upon him, but changed her expression as her son never took eyes off his long-lost cousin. He seemed to be on guard, expecting the injured girl to prance on him or activate the cursed seal any movement. The amethyst eyed girl on the other hand, stared back like a mirror, cold, unemotional expression reflecting back at him. She wobbly lifted herself up and walked toward Hizashi's remembrance. Taking incense in her hand, she mumbled some prayers and stuck the incense on an old pot.

"How dare you…with that blood of main branch come near my father. You as a main branch do not understand the pain the branch house suffers!" Neji growled. Sayuri, unsuccessful in covering her son's mouth put a hand on his shoulder as though afraid he may give a strike of jyuken once her niece turns her back on them.

"Actually," the girl replied as she adjusted herself in a sturdier position. "I understand better than you think."

Blood was rushing to his head, but the girl was oblivious. "It is you who are blind to the truth." As if that was her final blow, she stood still and silence sounded in the branch house. The clock clicked loudly to announce the new hour and as if she came to her senses, she gave another small bow.

"I am sorry to have troubled you but please excuse me. I understand I am indebted to you both. Please tell me if I can do anything to repay you next time." With a final bow, she headed toward the hallway that connected the branch house to the main house. The mother and son remained in the same position, the mother's hand soothing the son's rage. Even if this did not stop Neji from glaring daggers at his so called cousin, he was forced to return to his calm composure.

"Whew…" the gray haired Hyuga let out a sigh of relief as she released a hold of her son. Neji's narrowed pearl eyes regained its size and he attempted to get up but was forced back onto his sitting position.

"Neji.. I understand your feelings toward the main house are nothing other than hate…but I want you to understand Haruka-sama." However, she was cut off immediately.

"I perceive that she is nothing but a hollow vessel, none the less, she is a main branch, Therefore, I have trouble comprehending why we should analyze her background when we do not do so for Hinata-sama and Hanabi sama." The pairs of silver eyes locked together, his mother seemed to be pleading, pleading for him to listen.

"…Because she suffers as much pain as we do, I dare say greater." She said, giving the boy sometime to let the words sink in. "Also, as she mentioned, she makes no distinctions between main or branch houses. Out of respect, we should do the same." Neji bit his lip. "Neji," she said running a hand though his hair, "It is my fault that your heart became filled with hatred, jealousy and vengeance. Your soul was penetrated with my weakness after your father's death. Let your understanding of her past move you forward into the future." She sighed as her beloved child's eyes hardened and his fists clenched on his thigh. "Then will you listen to me for the respect you have for me?" she said, finally giving up. After all, this is what I can do for you for leading you into this condition. Reluctantly, the bandaged armed loosened its pressure and the handsome boy of 13 nodded his head.

"Before you were born, Hiashi sama fell in love with Konoha's famous beauty, Uchiha Reika. She was everything that a Hyuga could have wanted, powerful, kind and beautiful. But what our clan couldn't accept were: 1. she wasn't a Hyuga and 2. She didn't have the Byakugan. Our clan was or still is, determined to keep the byakugan genetics inherited and forbids us any outside marriage. Hiashi-sama agreed to intermarry if his lover, Uchiha Reika was allowed to marry him also, thus committing polygamy. The council reluctantly agreed since he was about to be the head then and it was too late to choose a replacement, All the jutsu were taught to Hiashi and the cursed seal was already placed on your father," Neji's eyes narrowed at this thought. The main branch got what he wanted and my father was left with a cursed seal.

"So without any formal wedding, Hiashi-sama brought Reika-sama to this compound and married his cousin 2 months later. The council members bit back their anger but found a way to be rid of the radical arrangement when Reika-sama was impregnated with Haruka sama."

To be rid of? Neji questioned himself. He didn't see how this was benefiting him but he listened all the same.

"The council members ordered Hiashi-sama to poison his wife and the child, if the child did not possess the byakugan. It was clear that their intention was nothing other than to be rid of an outcast but they claimed that since Uchihas were a former branch of Hyuga, it is not impossible to have a child that inherited the byakugan. But as you may already know, through over 100 years of breeding, Uchiha's blood has already been contaminated with other heritage. They do not require their clan members to intermarry as we, Hyugas do. That is why not every member can be born with Sharingan. And so, the newly born child was born with amethyst eyes, not the white ones that would have saved her mother."

Hmm Hiashi sama is paying the price I guess, the council should have killed him instead. Neji was mentally killing Hiashi as his mother was narrating on.

"However, Hiashi-sama claimed that the child had the blood of Hyuga running through her and since her eyes weren't crimson red, she couldn't prove that Uchiha was superior to the original Hyuga. The council had to agree since they couldn't deny the head outright. So they made one condition, Haruka-sama wasn't revealed to Konoha. It would bring shame and negativity that Hyuga genetics are not dominant. And that is what you see now. Reika-sama is gone and Haruka sama is just a wondering ghost."

"So where does she dwell if she can't appear in front of the village?" After all, she did head down that hallway.

"No one except Hiashi sama and Sawarabi knows." She answered, "Sawarabi was Hiashi sama's guard then and still remains his faithful servant After all, Sawarabi was the one who had to witness Hiashi-Sama poisoning his wife. I still remember, it was during a heavy rain that they came back from the hospital, drenched, cradling a tiny white bundle. Even now, Sawarabi is the only one allowed to see Haruka-sama" She added.

"Does Hiashi-sama see Haruka-sama?" Neji wondered aloud.

"Based on what I saw today, I don't think so." Neji nodded that was Hiashi all right, unlike his father Hizashi, Hiashi just seemed selfish and cold. Hinata was the very product of his care: she flinches at every tome.

"So…beloved son. Can you help find Haruka sama's happiness?" She questioned as though this was a great mission.

"It's pointless," he raised his eyebrow, "Hyuugas weren't mean to be happy…that's our destiny." He said no more and stood up. Little do you know, by helping the poor girl find happiness, you also find your own. Let your wall of insecurity crumble as you reach forward to bless another. Sayuri whispered in mind

"Oh, by the way what did father mean when he mentioned that Hyuga's talent blessed another?" This boy, always thinking about competition. "That is for you to find out."

Meanwhile…

Raven black sheet of hair scattered in a messy ponytail on a small back. Frail as she was, she walked with confidence and dignity. Darkness wasn't her enemy; rather, it was her only companion. Darkness was the only thing that held her dear in this world when light revealed all the pain and dejection that the world had in store for her.

"Yamiake no jutsu," the girl whispered along with quick hand movements to open the steel door. Haruka slipped in and the door hastily closed behind her. She walked down the cold stone stairs without any source of light. She only found solace within the pitch black surrounding, not the well-lit room that many of us would prefer over sitting in the dark. The veil of darkness that covered her from any light became her savior by blinding her of all her past. In a well lit room, Haruka would not be able to escape from reality and the remembrances of her mother. Her eyes often cast upon the box of items that belonged to her mother. She sighed as curiosity got better of her once again and she made her way toward the large shelf to pick out a certain thick black velveted yellow-paged notebook. Reluctantly, she turned on her desk light to the page where she placed her bookmark. The page was titled "sharingan." Note to self Side effects: Chakra consumption. She activated the crimson bloodline but did not concentrate the chakra to her hands to practice the abilities of it . Experiencing bleeding head was enough once in a day.

"Ox, cat, tiger." She muttered as her fingers changed positions at a lightning speed. After she grew tired of performing those animal seals, she changed her bloody and sweaty shirt with a black tank top. Once again, she headed out of her room into a dojo next to it. This place was the one of the places she was restricted to, other than the library. She wasn't suppose to be out on an empty grass field at all unless Sawarabi was kind enough to make a chakra seal for her to train outside of her darkened room. This is how I live, hiding from everyone's eyes, away from everyone's presence, .all due the blood that flowed through my veins. She closed her eyes and reached into her holster with her right hand.

In time, I began to question, "Do I really need others to survive?" In the middle of the dimly lit, cold dojo, with 3 kunais in her hand, she threw them at calculated angles.

In the end, my conclusion was no. I only need to rely on my strength, for I am the only one capable of depending myself. The kunais all landed on the small black dot of the dummy's stomachs.

The world doesn't need me as much as I don't need it. She slowly opened her eyes. The only things I need to focus on are to develop my strength and skills. She ran toward a dummy that she didn't injure with a kunai. She closed her eyes once again and with her index and middle fingers of both hands, she began to poke the dummy rapidly like a madwoman. The only difference is that she wasn't insane. She perfectly knew where she was striking and the effect her strikes can cause…if it was on a real human.

Back at the branch house…

Sayuri Hyuga remained in the same position after her little pleasant chat with her son. Her tea steam was gradually decreasing now, warning that her team was getting cold but she didn't make any effort to drink it up as she drifted back into fragments of her past.

Flashback…

"My dream…" 10-years old Hiashi hesitated, "is to marry Uchiha Reika and dedicate my life to her, protecting her life even if it costs my life." The class roared with awws and cooeing. His twin brother HIzashi, smiled up supportively while Sayuri, herself scoffed. "Where is she?" Sayuri and Hizashi pushed out of their houses as they detected Hiashi and sawarabi at the entrance of Hyuga compound with their byakugans.

"She's gone." Hiashi announced, barely audible.

"You already..." Sayuri choked out but Hizashi stopped her. Sayuri took the crying child from her cousin and brother in law's arms.

"At least she was safe." Sayuri cooed. The newborn baby smelled like tint of baby powder and fresh flowers.

"Hungry? My…what beautiful eyes you have." The branch house Hyuga rocked the amethyst eyed baby gently until she noticed there was a blotch of blood stained spot on the baby's upper back. "This is…?" she looked up at her husband, who turned toward his brother.

"That will be my explanation to Haruka of her past." The elder twin answered before his relatives can ask any further. The sound of his new born daughter's name at the tip of his tongue made him flinch.

"Oji chan" a fragile looking toddler of 2 crawled toward Hizashi.

"Hm..?" the uncle with the exact same face as her father answered, taking his niece lovingly into his lap.

"Ne…why is it that when father closed this up, there was no more blue thing coming out and you looked it was hard to move this arm?" The toddler said, pronouncing each word carefully and selecting the words with great difficulty. Her uncle on the other hand was busy trying to pull his jaw back up. The little niece was pointing at his brachial tenketsu, with thick veins pulsating on the sides of her face. A Hyuga child is born with byakugan but is not able to activate it unless they were thought the seals for it first until age 4 at least. Not to mention, this amethyst eyed toddler seems to notice the significance of striking a tenketsu.

"Truly a genius." Hizashi had muttered while nodding at his wife. "But no one shall know that she draws the Hyuga bloodline limit in her blood." His wife looked up at him questioningly. "Or else, she will be branded."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Sayuri questioned the head of the Hyuga clan. "The best thing, I think you can do is gather up your strength and kill her." The younger Hyuga suggested.

But Hiashi shuddered at this thought as he kneeled down eye level in the innocent, naïve child. Shaking his head, Hiashi gave a small smile toward his daughter,

"Haruka…this is your new room. Daddy has business he has to take care of, so go wait for me down there. Can you look after yourself?" The three year old agreeably nodded and walked down the dimly lit staircase.

"I'm sorry Haruka…" Hiashi whispered only loud enough for the 2 people closest to him to hear. "Please forgive the cowardly man who dared to call himself your father."

As though he had muttered his repentance, he sealed the exit with a chakra seal and walked away without turning back.

"Now for a different matter," Hiashi said regaining his composure, "I need to borrow Neji for a moment."

End of flashback…

Right, that's when everything went down hill. Sayuri returned to present. One after one another, misfortunes stacked up in the Hyuga household. Reika is that your grief and mourn? Is that your punishment for us? Glint of tears appeared but she didn't bother to wipe them away. Poor Haruka-sama and Neji. Reika-sama if you're watching over them right now, what will you do for them? You have guided your daughter to survive through her dark times but can her soul stay with the hollow shell that has developed over the years?

Meanwhile…

Haruka lifted her right arm touch her scar on her back. No one ever explained what the fan shaped scar meant or if anyone explained it before, she doesn't remember.

Can it connect to mother? The raven haired girl continued to let the hot water massage her back as she activated the byakugan to observe the Hyuga compound. A little television during shower is good she commented. As a compensation for her confinement, her byakugan was able to see twice the distance that usual Hyugas can see as she heard her father talking about it to Hanabi. She learned to use the Sharingan at 8 and there was one more power that to it that she hadn't quite mastered. The last technique is known to be feared and hated. But power is power, it it's given to her without condition, she'll take it. In the main branch, she first saw Hanabi's room first since her room was closest to Haruka's isolated island. Hanabi was sprawled on the bed, hot pads all over her limbs. Her training with Hiashi must have worn her out. Next was the man she was supposed to refer to as father. He was taking a night stroll after dinner. The flowers that surrounded him were blooming exquisitely, emphasizing Hiashi's frown and tired appearance. The heiress of Hyuga was not in her room and Haruka's eyes quickly scanned outside of the compound, where she saw Hinata, jabbing at a lager tree trunk. Hinata is nearly at her limit. Her breathing was heavy, her palms slightly bleeding and bruised. Most of the main branch preferred Hanabi over Hinata due to her strong willed and rough quality. However, Haruka enjoyed watching Hinata out of all the Hyuga members. Ever since Haruka was three, she watched her half sister struggle through training with her father, who he referred to as a failure. Hinata greatly resembled her mother, Hotaru who passed away when Hinata was 8 years old, weakened from giving birth to Hanabi. Haruka always wondered which was more painful: to be ostracized while your presence was being acknowledged? Or to be ostracized with your presence not being acknowledged? Either way, the environment that the Hyuga elders created developed her half sister into a stuttering fledgling.

After she got out of her shower, Haruka sat on her hard bed, in a meditating position, searching for the boy she had met today using byakugan. Neji, her elder cousin wasn't someone new for her to watch. Haruka used to watch as the counsel of elders decided to keep a certain piece of information away from him, not knowing that they were filling his heart up with skulls and toxins. Haruka fumbled into her blanket as she heard someone approaching the entrance to her confinement. It was her father, she smelled the flower scent that he just walked through and a tint of incense clung to his robes. He didn't come visit often, in fact it was rare. He only came late at night, making sure that Haruka was asleep before entering. It seemed as though the sight of her hurt him, like she was the cause of all pain for him. That's why Haruka was beginning to conceal her chakra to avoid her father noticing that she was awake.

"There's no need to conceal your chakra." The stern voice commanded, "I felt your byakugan since I was in the garden." As coldhearted as Hiashi sounded, he was in fact astonished his daughter is able to perform this. In the last 10 years, he never sent himself nor others to train her, not only because he would be reminded of his mistake, the failure to escape from the destiny of Hyuga but mainly because he didn't want to see her hurt. Haruka's injured form would remind him of Reika. However, each time he came down to see her, either her limbs were bandaged up or there were scratches on her skin. This time it was worst, her forehead was bandaged up.

"Haruka" he nodded as she sat up slightly to bow toward him. "The council of elders has come to the decision that it is time you trained to become a shinobi."

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