Ch.6 Welcome Home
They had taken a very slow pace, taking two weeks to reach Konaha, and now they were only a day away. For Neji and Hinata, it was like a piece of Heaven…finally being together. Trying to live as though they were never separated. They had found each other again, they were home, they were whole. And as much as Neji wanted to keep her to himself, he understood how much her teammates had missed her. They had a silent agreement: Hinata was theirs in the day, but her nights belonged to him. And so they loved, drinking each other in, staving for the close sensual and loving touch of the other. They didn't speak about their years apart, instead only talking of times they were together in the past. However, Neji knew their Paradise was quickly coming to an end. The closer they got to Konaha the more weight he could feel being pressed upon his shoulders and heart.
The night before they were to enter the village, Hinata was sleeping peacefully in his arms. He stared down at her, memorizing her face, her simple beauty. He heard Kiba clear his throat and looked up. Shino and Kiba stood a few paces away, looking down on the couple and signaled him to follow them. Neji looked back down at her as he slowly and carefully pulled himself from her warm body. Hinata stirred slightly, breathing his name on a soft sigh before turning to her side and curling into a small ball. The three men that loved her most walked far enough away so that their conversation wouldn't wake her, but made sure she was within sight. Neji crossed his arms and waited to know what they wanted.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Kiba shot. Neji's eyes became cold, as he remained silent so that Kiba could explain himself. "You're going to break her heart and I won't allow that!" Kiba growled fiercely. Neji's hands fisted tightly; did they think he was doing this to her on purpose? Did they think he wanted to hurt her on purpose?
"You have to stop this, now." Shino stated, his voice void of emotion.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Neji stated stubbornly, knowing full well what they were talking about.
"Don't give us that bullshit! You…"
"You are already married. What do you plan on doing when you go home and Hinata finds out?" Shino asked, cutting Kiba off.
Neji looked away, staying silent. Did they think he didn't know? Did they think he forgot? It plagued him every hour, every minute, every second. He tried pushing it from his mind, trying to focus on the time he has with her. He tried thinking of a solution to their problem, but found none. How he wished they didn't have to return, to stay with her…forever. He would give anything for that.
"You have to tell her." Shino stated warily, watching his ANBU teammate fill with sorrow, anger, regret, and rage.
"Yeah, tell her or we will." Kiba threatened. Neji's eyes flashed with a rage-filled fire as he stared at him. Shino quickly stepped between the two.
"No we won't." he amended, then turned to Kiba. "This is something only he can tell her." Kiba backed down, trying to keep his cool while Neji too struggled to keep his emotions in check. Shino turned back to Neji.
"Neji…?"
"I can't!" Neji yelled as he turned to punch the trunk of a tree, leaving a large and deep indentation. His hands were clenched tightly at his side, his back to them and his whole body tensed. How could he tell her? How could he tell her that they couldn't be together? After it took so long to find each other? How could he! Neji suddenly felt a hand placed on his shoulder. He turned to find Shino next to him.
"If you truly love her, then tell her. Don't let her find out some other way." He told Neji softly. Neji sighed tiredly, all his strength and anger rushing out. He nodded once then turned to go back to Hinata.
Neji lay down next to her and quickly gathered her into his arms. Closing his eyes as if in pain, he kissed her forehead gently. Hinata stirred and slowly opened her eyes. He ran his fingers through her long hair; she closed her eyes and made a contented sound in the back of her throat. Neji's heart squeezed painfully in his chest as he watched her with a sad and regretful expression.
"Hinata?" he asked softly, now the hesitant one.
"Hmm?" Hinata opened her eyes again to see his troubled and painful look in his eyes. Her eyes softened as she gently cupped his cheek in her hand. "What's wrong?" she asked him softly. Neji's inner battle raged on inside him. He knew he had to tell her, it would be worse if someone else told her, but if he did he would be killing her with his own words. Neji stared into her worried eyes; he swore never to hurt her again, but it seemed that this was a lose-lose situation.
"Hinata, I…" he suddenly buried his face in the crook of her neck, sighing in frustration. Hinata held him close to her, wishing to know what was troubling him, but not wanting to push him. "You know I love you right? You know that?" he asked her urgently against her neck, holding her tightly.
"Of course I know that, and I love you too, but Neji…what's wrong?" she asked in a worried voice. Neji shook his head silently, his selfishness winning over his internal battle. Wanting to cling to the time they had together tightly. Hinata didn't ask him again that night as they fell asleep holding each other tightly, their dreams dark and haunting.
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Though her mind was plagued with worry, doubt, and insecurities; Hinata was excited to be back in the village. Neji and Hinata had said their goodbyes to her old teammates and were now making their way though the village.
"Hinata, I'm going to report in to Tsunade-sama." Neji told her, expecting her to walk around the village to see the differences over the years.
"Ok." She said before jogging in the direction of their home. Neji quickly stopped her.
"Hinata, where are you going?" he thought home would be the last place she would want to go, but apparently he was wrong.
"Home Neji, I miss…I miss Tou-san." She said softly before escaping his hold on her arm to continue her jog to the compound.
"Hinata wait!" Neji called to her urgently, but Hinata was too eager to be home to stop for him.
When she reached the door she knocked and when a female servant opened the door to see who it was, her mouth fell open as she recognized her. Hinata nodded her head and whispered a hello. The woman still looked at her with a shocked expression. Hinata quickly let herself in and walked the hallways at a fast pace looking for a particular relative, Neji on her heels. Reaching an indoor courtyard she could see a few children playing and running around. But on the far side she could see a man over looking two teenagers sparring, his back to her. With her heart pounding in her chest and tears already reaching her eyes, she ran into the courtyard stopping a few feet from the man. Her hands were clutched tightly to her chest as she stared at the back of him.
"T-Tou-san?" she whispered, barely audible. But the soft innocent word floated gently on the breeze and softly graced Hiashi's ears. He visibly tensed and slowly turned around, slightly fearful at what he would see behind him. A small thin woman stood before him. Tears were glistening in her ivory eyes and her long dark blue hair blowing softly in the wind. Her lips were trembling but her eyes were hopeful.
"Hinata?" he breathed, "My Hinata?" with a small cry Hinata rushed towards her father and wrapped her arms around him, crying. Hiashi stood there frozen, hardly believing what was occurring.
Slowly his arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly to him as small tears reached his eyes. His first born, his first baby, his first child, she was finally here. She was alive! His sweet innocent baby girl was alive! Hiashi was filled with such relief and joy, but also with deep regret…that it would take an absence of eight years for him to hold his own daughter in his arms. He had missed her. He didn't realize what kind of effect she had on him and the rest of the household until she was gone.
He slowly pulled away from her and gently wiped her tears with his sleeve. Her eyes holding admiration that he hadn't seen since she was a small toddler. Regret and sorrow hit him hard, realizing that it was his own fault for replacing her childish admiration with fear. Neji stood at the entrance of the courtyard watching the touching scene. He could never remember seeing such shock on Hiashi's face, or seeing him tear up. But he had noticed that Hiashi had never been the same since Hinata had disappeared. However Neji's pale eyes weren't the only ones watching the loving scene between father and daughter.
"Well, well, well." Hanabi's voice pierced through the tearful moment. All eyes went to her as she slowly sauntered into the courtyard. "Look at what the cat dragged in." she said with a sinister smile, her sharp eyes on her sister. Everyone tensed, the children quickly ran away, the sparring teenagers looked for the closest exit and nearly sprinted towards it. Neji's hands fisted tightly at his sides and Hiashi's face became wary.
"Hanabi, be nice." Hiashi told her sternly.
"Well what else would I be, Tou-san?" she asked innocently, still staring at her sister as she continued walking towards her.
Hanabi stopped right in front of her father and Hinata. Her look suddenly softened as her smile turned kind. She reached out slowly to Hinata as she embraced her sister. Hinata was stiff in her arms, remembering what Kabuto had once told her. But as Hanabi continued to hold her, Hinata could also remember when they were children, playing and happy. Hinata hesitantly hugged her little sister back.
Hanabi smiled and looked triumphantly at Neji. His face contorted in anger as he quickly made his way towards them. However he only got half way when a warning flashed in her eyes, making him stop. After years of dealing with her, he knew what she was capable of and the consequences of defying her. Hanabi pulled back and looked at Hinata.
"I'm happy to see you nee-san…after all, I've got so many things to thank you for."
"What…what are you talking about?" Hinata asked hesitantly.
"Hanabi." Hiashi warned, but she ignored him, she was only just getting started. Hanabi backed up and walked around her, but in a way that reminded Hinata of opponents circling each other in a fight.
"Well…" Hanabi started slowly. "If you hadn't disappeared, I wouldn't' have been able to become the heiress." She said lightly. Hinata shook her head slowly, her heart beating painfully. The image of Hanabi as a new born still in her mind. Hanabi was her little sister…she wouldn't!
"But now I am…so, thanks." Hanabi said with a malicious smile. "Thanks for giving me your most wanted possession."
"Hanabi!" Neji now warned, but she ignored him too, loving this moment too much to care what anyone else said.
"Hanabi…-chan…I never wanted to be the heiress…I just wanted to be acknowledged. To be accepted." Hinata sated, tears starting to form in her eyes while she still was trying to deny that her own sister really did betray her.
"Hahahaha" Hanabi laughed." Is that all you wanted?"
"Hanabi!" Neji yelled angrily, but stood in his spot, not moving.
"Yes!" Hinata cried, also ignoring him for the moment. "Hanabi you can keep the title, I don't want it!" Hanabi smiled widely.
"Why thank you Hinata, but that's not what I was referring to. I was talking about giving me your most wanted possession…him." Hanabi said as she turned her icy gaze at an enraged Neji.
"What?" Hinata asked, perplexed. Hanabi laughed again at her sister's expression and started walking over to Neji. Hanabi looked at his hateful eyes.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Neji…you didn't tell her?" she asked him in sweet voice. Hinata looked at her cousin and her sister. As Hanabi's words started to sink in, a sick feeling started to come over her. No! Oh no!
"T-Tell me what?" Hinata asked. Stopping in front of Neji, Hanabi made a poor show of looking shocked and depressed.
"Well isn't this a tragedy? Neji…" she said softly, cupping his cheek in mock affection. Violence surged in him, but he stood his ground, knowing what would happen to him if he gave into his feelings. "after so many long years of searching…and Hinata…" turning towards her sister, "waiting so long to be rescued, and finally finding each other. And love blossoms once again." She paused, her eyes closed and her hands covering her heart.
"But unfortunately…it's not meant to be…" Hanabi continued, opening her white eyes to Hinata. "Because…he belongs…to me." She said with much satisfaction.
"I do not!" Neji yelled at her back.
"Oh yes you do." Hababi countered with a smile and slight chuckle as she turned back to him. "You may love her, your heart may be hers…but you are mine." She said with such venom in her voice. Neji's eyes flashed his anger, hatred, and rage at Hanabi.
"You evil bitch!" he spat. Hanabi simply smiled and suddenly Neji was on the ground, his hands covering his forehead as he screamed with agonizing pain.
"Neji!" Hinata screamed, as she rushed over to his side. But he was too consumed with the excruciating pain of his activated seal.
"Hanabi that is enough." Hiashi said angrily walking over to his daughter to stop her. Hinata was trying to hold Neji's body still as he was rolling on the ground in pain.
"Hanabi stop it!" she screamed, but Hanabi's eyes were lit with an evil glow and a transfixed smile on her face.
"He should've known by now that he cannot go against me." She said with a crazed look of such joy of seeing him in pain.
With angry tears in her eyes, Hinata stood and ran towards Hanabi, reaching her before Hiashi. And suddenly a loud smack echoed off the courtyard walls as Hinata's hand connected painfully with Hanabi's cheek. Shocked from the pain and Hinata's unexpected action, Neji's seal was deactivated, as Hanabi just stood frozen, her cheek turning a bright red where Hinata had hit her.
All of a sudden a growl burst forth from Hanabi's lips as she backhanded Hinata with such force it threw Hinata to the ground. Hanabi's face was twisted with hate and rage as she picked Hinata up by her collar.
"YOU WEAK BITCH! YOU DARE STIKE ME? I COULD KILL YOU LIKE THAT!" she screamed in her face loudly, snapping her fingers.
"Hanabi I said that is ENOUGH!" Hiashi yelled standing behind her. Hanabi turned her eyes to the side to see him, then back to Hinata before she shoved her sister back onto the ground.
She watched as Hinata crawled over to Neji who was slightly groaning in pain. Hinata gently placed his head onto her lap as she caressed his sweat soaked face. Holding onto him protectively, she looked back up at Hanabi.
"Why?" she whispered, tears rushing down her face. "You're my sister…why!"
"It's amazing how a person can change when they are filled with hate." She answered with a smirk. Then she slowly started walking towards them.
"Hanabi." Hiashi warned once again. Hanabi raised her hands in the air, signaling that she wouldn't touch them. She gently bent down towards Hinata.
"Welcome home nee-san." Hanabi whispered into Hinata's ear before getting up and walking away.
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AN: Woah, ok finished before schedule...that's always fun. I wrote this all in a few hours, and was so exicted about it, I decided to upload it early. It's not exactly where I wanted to end the chapter, but it works. Just wanted to let you guys know that we're nearing the end of the story. Boo I know...I've got only two more chapters left for you guys. But the last chapter is gonna be long...just to warn ya. I hope everyone is enjoying it...enjoying the sadness. Personally I have nothing against Hanabi, but she made the perfect evil person in my story...so I hope I wrote her in a way that made you guys hate her. Cuz that was my goal. Ok hopefully I'll see you guys soon...please review to let me know how I'm doing, k? Love you all that do!