Chapter VII:
Realizations
She was back on the battlefield.
The landscape was tinted red with the blood of the fallen, body parts and guts scattered around. Fires rampaged around, strong gusts of wind fanning and feeding the flames. The earth under her feet shook with the might of the battle, evidence of the powerful techniques being performed by both belligerents. Smoke and dust created a thick veil that enveloped the whole field, making it difficult to breathe and hard to see.
Hinata stood in the middle of the field, watching her comrades fall one after the other to violent and gruesome deaths. The smell of rotting corpses permeated the air, a stench so foul it made her eyes water and bile rise up her throat. She fell to her knees, overwhelmed by the fatal intensity of war. Her eyes stung and her lungs burned because of the thick smoke, yet she remained immobile, watching the scene in front of her develop once again.
She found herself staring at Naruto's back, and at Neji's bloodied, dying face resting on the blonde's shoulder. Her cousin spoke, she couldn't make out the words, but knew from memory he was talking to Naruto, yet he was staring at her in the eyes as he died, an emotion she couldn't name so plain in his too pale face, so intense it made her throat clench shut.
Hinata tried to speak, scream, produce any sort of sound, to no avail. She tried to move, yet her body felt like stone, carrying the weight of a ton, stiff and inflexible.
She watched as her cousin died all over again, as the light once again left his eyes. His last words reserved for Naruto, his last look, a final message she could not decipher, reserved solely for her. His body fell to the floor, his soul long gone, and Hinata knew he was dead.
Frozen on the spot, she sat there looking at her cousin's eyes, his matted hair which stuck to his face because of the blood, his pale lips, slightly parted from his last shaky breath. Time seemed to turn still, but Hinata did not notice, too shocked to move. After an eternity of stillness, her body finally reacted to the overflowing chain of commands from her brain. She moved to her cousin's side, and with trembling hands she touched his face.
He was so cold.
The finality of his death hit her like a tidal wave, powerful and overwhelming and destructive in its wake.
Hinata screamed.
She bolted from the bed with the force of the scream that had ripped its way out her. Only barely aware of reality, she ignored the familiar sight of her bedroom. She was panting heavily and taking big gulps of air in irregular intervals. Sweat made its way down her face and body, making her night robe cling to her like a constricting second skin. Hinata found it increasingly difficult to breathe, and the sound of her bedroom door sliding open was deafened by her loud gasps. She had been having nightmares every night for the past week but that one had been particularly bad. She was shaking uncontrollably and gripped her arms tightly to try to control the tremors.
-Hinata-sama!- she heard her name being called, but panic had her winded, hyperventilating, and unable to utter a word. Strong hands gripped her shoulders and shook her roughly, trying to reach her through the nightmare-induced panic. Hinata finally mustered enough will to look up, and was met with her cousin's worried gaze.
-Hinata-sama…- Neji spoke as he gently grabbed one of her hands and placed it on his chest -Breathe with me.- he softly commanded.
Hinata wordlessly obeyed, trying her best to sync her breathing with her Neji's. She gradually calmed down, guided by her cousin's breathing. She could feel the steady beat of his heart under her hand, a reassurance that this was real and that Neji was very much alive. Reality finally began to settle in her mind and tears of relief filled her eyes, which she did not bother hiding. She cried openly and hugged Neji tightly, burying her face in his chest.
She felt as Neji tensed at her proximity and she tried to pry herself away from his arms to spare him the discomfort, but he refused to budge and she felt as one of his hands began rubbing soothing circles on her back.
Hinata sat there in Neji's embrace for a while, ignoring the passing of time. His presence reassured her and it quickly became her focus. She vaguely noticed as a couple of guards appeared in front of her room, but Neji was quick to send them away. She found herself feeling lucky that Neji's room was right next to hers, and that it was him that found her and not one of the guards or worse, her father.
-Another nightmare?- Neji's voice shook her out of her thinking, and she nodded her head in reply. -Do you wish to talk about it?- she tensed at his question and quickly shook her head.
She heard Neji sigh deeply and immediately felt bad for shutting him out, but she could not find it in herself to tell him about her nightmare and even if she did, her genius of a cousin would soon start asking questions she could not answer.
Hinata had not realized how warm Neji was until he separated himself from her. -You should try to get some rest then, Hinata-sama- she heard him say as he walked toward the door.
-It will be useless,- she said, standing up from her bed, ignoring the little voice in her head that told her to get back in Neji's embrace -I can never go back to sleep after a nightmare.-
-You should still try, it is still quite early- Neji replied -I will give you privacy now, Hinata-sama- he added, excusing himself out of her room with a quick bow.
Once alone, Hinata sat back down on her bed and let her head fall on her hands and sighed. She had never been good at keeping secrets from her family, especially from Neji. He was too observant for his own good and always asked the right questions, and how would she ever explain that she made a deal with an otherworldly entity to save him? Furthermore, would he even believe her?
She knew she had to talk to someone about it, urgently. Neji might now be alive thanks to the deal she made, but the memories of all that happened until she met Death were still fresh on her mind.
Hinata sat in front of her vanity and looked at her reflection on the mirror, studying it carefully. She didn't look a day past eighteen, the tiny wrinkles she had gained in the corner of her eyes in the two years that passed after the war were gone, and she was sure that the scars she got from a very dangerous A rank mission she and her team took were also gone. She made quick work of the knot holding her nightgown together and let it fall to the floor. She stood up and carefully inspected her torso, confirming her suspicions. The scars under her ribcage were gone.
At that moment she felt the whole weight of her decision on her shoulders. Death had guaranteed there was no other price she demanded than what she paid, but Hinata now realized that in life, there is always a catch, and hers was retaining the memories of those two horrible years.
An idea suddenly crossed her mind. She did not trust anyone enough to talk about it, but perhaps writing it down could help her vent her frustrations and cope better. With this idea in mind she walked to her bookshelf and grabbed one of the blank journals sitting there, and then sat in front of her desk, pen in hand.
She found it slightly difficult to put her thoughts into words at first, but once she started she could not stop. She felt as if she were in a trance, her hand moving at an almost unnatural speed to try to match the velocity of her thoughts. She wrote and wrote until the sun was high on her window and only stopped because she heard Hanabi knock on her door, wondering why she hadn't cooked breakfast that morning.
Hinata quickly dismissed her sister with an apology and a promise to be there to train with her and was soon writing again. By the time she was done, she had written pages of detailed notes retelling all of the events that had happened, ranging from Neji's death to her depression and her encounter with Death. She even added a sketch of the entity, which consisted mostly of a heavily shadowed figure, all features dark and unrecognizable safe for the eyes, which shone brightly in a deep shade of red reminiscent of blood.
She also added her nightmare for good measure, and felt oddly relieved afterwards. She was amazed at the impact that writing had on her, she felt as if a significant weight had been lifted off her, not all of it, but enough to make her feel better.
Hinata stood up, shaking her now sore right hand slightly and scanning her room for a place to hide her improvised journal. She wrote a misleading title, Research XXI, to misguide anyone who would dare look through her things, despite her trust in her clan and family. Life as a ninja had taught her to guard her secrets to the best of her ability, and even though she knew she always wore her heart on her sleeve, this was a secret she wished to keep.
She opted for hiding the journal in between her research notes, as all of the notebooks had similar titles and it would be disguised completely. With that she quickly changed into her training clothes and freshened up before running to join her sister at the dojo.
The two sisters trained intensely, and Hinata noticed her lack of sleep and breakfast had an obvious impact on her performance. Hanabi quickly ran out of patience and cut their training session short. With an apology Hinata went to her room to freshen up. She decided to take the day off and spend some time with her friends so she dressed in simple civilian clothes, a pale lavender sundress that reached past her knees and tied her hair in a low ponytail.
Once ready, she made her way to her father's office, the place where one could find him most of the time. As she expected, her father was nose-deep in paperwork, so concentrated that he only acknowledged her presence with a curt nod.
-Good morning, Father- she greeted cordially.
-What is it, Hinata?- Hiashi said, cutting straight to the point. From the bluntness of his tone and the swollen vein crossing the middle of his forehead, Hinata quickly realized her father was not having quite a good day so far.
-I have decided to take the day off to spend with my friends.- she replied.
Hiashi finally looked at her and nodded -Neji told me about your recurring nightmares this past week, and Hanabi also suggested you should take some time to rest, so I believe that would be a wise choice.-
-Thank you, Father.- Hinata said with a smile -Perhaps you should also take a day to relax?- she offered carefully.
-As if.- Hiashi scoffed, giving the pile of documents a blank look that spoke of his disdain for the task -Paperwork, however, has a tendency to triplicate if left unattended for a couple of hours, let alone a whole day.-
Listening to her father gave Hinata an idea, and she quickly excused herself. She made her way to the kitchens and proceeded to brew her father's favorite tea, a simple blend of green tea and jasmine, and arranged a plate of fresh fruit. She placed everything on a tray and walked back to the office.
-I brought you tea and snacks, Father-
-Thank you, Hinata- the man said gratefully as he watched his daughter pour the tea into two cups.
-If I help you deal with all of this paperwork, how long do you think it would take to finish?- Hinata asked as she offered him a cup.
Hiashi gladly accepted the tea and looked at his daughter questioningly -I thought you wanted to spend the day with your friends?- he asked, a slight hint of curiosity making his way into his tone.
Hinata smiled and shook her head a little -I find it unfair that I get to take a day off whenever I want while you have to spend your days locked in here, perpetually looking at documents.-
Hiashi's face softened, the only sign that he found his daughter's gesture touching -If we work nonstop, this pile should be done by two.-
Hinata sat down in front of her father's desk and grabbed a pen -Let us get to work, then.-
It soon became evident to Hinata that her father rarely had any help, let alone accepted it, judging by the way he tended to hog over all of the documents. With some carefully placed words, however, Hiashi soon handed her a large pile of documents to go over.
The documents ranged from food inventory to clan alliances and financial statements, to guard rotations and pending requests from clan members. From what she had seen, most of those documents could be dealt with by someone else other than the clan head, but her father was a stubborn man who refused to get an assistant. Hinata, however, was just as, if not more stubborn than her father, and made it her goal to convince him to get an assistant. As she worked through her load of paperwork, she put together a plan to convince him.
As soon as the pile of documents lessened visibly, Hinata decided it was time to act.
-Have you thought about getting an assistant, Father? Most of these documents could be delegated to them.- she said, not taking her eyes of the document in front of her. She did not need to however, as she felt the air tense around them and she knew right away she had chosen the wrong words.
-I have no need for an assistant, Hinata.- was his curt reply.
Undeterred, Hinata decided to switch tactics -You are the head of the clan, father. Doesn't it reflect badly on the clan if our leader cannot delegate duties effectively?-
-So far it hasn't.- the man countered as he signed yet another document.
Hinata almost rolled her eyes at the answer. -Perhaps getting an assistant could be a good way to help bridge the gap between the main house and the branch house.- she offered.
Hiashi looked at her, and Hinata knew she finally had caught his attention.
-How would that help?-
-By offering a position traditionally held by the main house to someone capable from the branch house we would be showing our willingness not only to trust the branch house with more delicate matters, but also to unite under one house.- she explained.
-We would be breaking tradition- he replied.
Hinata did not bother hiding the long sigh that escaped her -Haven't you broken tradition already, father?- she said.
The long silence that followed served to further prove her point.
Hiashi exhaled through his nose -You might be correct. I will think about it and give you decision tomorrow.- he said with a resigned sigh.
She quickly thanked her father and got back to work. If she knew her father half as well as she claimed to, his response showed he would at least entertain the idea for a couple of minutes. Even if he refused in the end, she would persist until he agreed.
They continued to work in relative silence and, just as Hiashi had predicted the pile of documents was gone just before two.
-It seems you get to have the afternoon off, Father.- Hinata said with a smile.
-I do. Thank you, Hinata.- Hiashi said gratefully as he stood up.
-It was no trouble, Father. I will be leaving now.- Hinata replied with a bow before leaving the office.
Once out of her home, Hinata went to visit her teammates, only to find that both were gone on a mission and were scheduled to return in a week's time.
She then entertained the thought of visiting Ino and Sakura at the hospital, but decided to see them instead for their sleepover in a couple of days. She finally opted to visit Team Gai's training grounds, where she knew they would be without a fault.
She soon found them, if Lee's loud voice was an indication. The three members of Team Gai were in the middle of an intense sparring match, while Gai watched them from a distance, standing on a sturdy tree branch. The man quickly noticed her presence and motioned for her to join him, which she quickly did.
They watched the match in silence and Hinata took the time to analyze their movements. As usual, Lee was an ever-moving ball of high energy and intensity, which contrasted heavily with Neji's calm, calculated moves. And there was Tenten, whose weapon-wielding abilities and carefully crafted tricks and traps more than made up for her lack of physical strength. They were a well-balanced team and very close to each other. The memory of Lee and Tenten crying over her cousin's body flashed in her mind, neither of them had been able to truly get over his death and the team had barely managed to hold together.
Realizing she was about to have yet another episode of flashbacks she activated her byakugan, focusing on her cousin's chakra network, making sure that he was really there. She took slow, deep breaths, focusing on Neji's chakra flowing through his body. Once her breathing calmed down and her nerves no longer felt on edge, she deactivated her byakugan and released a long breath.
-It gets better with time.- Gai said suddenly.
Hinata turned to look at him -What does?- she asked, already knowing what he meant.
-The flashbacks.- he replied, handing her a piece of chocolate he seemed to have pulled out of nowhere -This will help you calm down.-
Her eyes widened a bit when she saw the dark treat and gladly accepted with a polite thank you. If there was something she loved eating more than cinnamon buns, it was chocolate. She put a piece in her mouth and rolled it around with her tongue, reveling in the deep taste. She loved chocolate too much, and judging from Gai's smiling face, he had caught on.
-Thank you, Gai-sensei.- she said gratefully.
-It was no trouble. You should still see someone to talk about it - he said with a smile, and Hinata nodded, appreciating his advice and both turned their eyes back to the match, effectively terminating the conversation.
Through the years she had spent interacting with her cousin's team she had learned not only to understand their personalities, but also to respect them, especially their sensei. At a first glance, the man seemed to act like a never-ending ball of energy and positivity, but Gai was wiser than he let on, and more situation-aware than most people gave him credit for and Hinata understood that his positivity was, in a way, his own mechanism to cope with the perils of life as a ninja. She made a mental note to bring him lunch next time she came to visit, as a thank-you gesture.
The sparring match went on until Gai himself stepped down to stop it, claiming it was time for them to have lunch and take the rest of the day off.
They all gratefully agreed save for Lee, who was about to complain about having his training cut short before Tenten wisely distracted him by greeting Hinata.
-Hey, Hinata! Are you joining us for lunch?- the girl said, waving her hand at her.
-Hello, Tenten, Lee-san, Neji-niisan.- she greeted everyone -Yes, I will be joining you today, if that is alright with you?-
-Of course it is!- Tenten replied right away, hooking her arm with Hinata's.
-You are always welcome to join us, Hinata-san!- Lee said and Neji nodded in agreement -Especially when you bring us some of your delicious food.- he added lightly.
Hinata smiled -I'll keep that in mind for next time, Lee-san- she promised.
She watched as Neji took a deep breath and ran a hand through his face -How many times do I have to tell you, Lee? Hinata-sama is not your maid.- Neji growled, clearly annoyed by his teammate's comment.
-But she said she doesn't mind!- Lee argued but was quick to shut up once he saw Neji's glare.
Hinata watched the argument, quietly giggling to herself, and heard Tenten sigh next to her before pulling on her arm and start walking towards the restaurant where they planned to eat, the men quickly following.
They soon walked into the small, secluded restaurant the team (or more like Gai and Lee) swore had the best food in the village. The waiter recognized them right away, a testament of how often the team came to eat there, and led them to a booth in the far end of the place. As usual Lee sat next to Tenten, and Gai relinquished his usual spot next to Neji so Hinata could take his place, choosing to sit on one of the ends instead. The waiter was quick to take their orders and even made some recommendations to Hinata, who readily accepted them.
Small talk filled the table, largely dominated by Lee and Gai's loud voices, and Hinata quickly tuned them out. As much as she enjoyed spending time with them, she did not want to talk about training routines all of the time. Tenten was quick to notice and, once again, came to her rescue.
-So, have you asked your father about the sleepover?- she asked, leaning over the table so Hinata could hear her.
Hinata shook her head -Not yet, Tenten.- she said -Honestly, I completely forgot about it. I guess I was too focused on training with Hanabi.-
-Hinata!- Tenten said wearily -You won't get permission if you ask at the very last minute!- she added in a scolding tone that reminded Hinata a little too much of her younger sister.
-I'm sorry, Tenten.- Hinata replied in a small whisper. As usual, Tenten was right. -I will ask Father once I return home.-
-How about I come with you to ask him then? That way I'll make sure you don't forget!- Tenten offered with a teasing smile.
-That isn't necessary.- she replied.
-Nonsense,- Tenten said, cutting her off -I am coming with you, unless you have things to do? That way we can hang out just the both of us after- she suggested.
-Alright- Hinata said, defeated. From the look in Tenten's face, this wasn't just about her asking permission, she wanted some private girl talk time with her, and Hinata found herself without a reason to deny her.
She felt Neji's curious stare, and Hinata was quick to sneak a look towards Tenten, watching as understanding dawn on him. With a giggle she watched as he awkwardly nodded at her and turned towards Lee and Gai, wanting nothing to do with girl gossip.
-Your non-verbal conversations with Neji never cease to amaze me.- Tenten said, playing with the straw in her iced tea. -How do you guys even do it?-
Hinata smiled -I do not know it myself, we just understand each other.- she explained.
-I guess you're that good at reading each other.- Tenten mused.
-You could say that-
The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of their food, and for once the table was silent as they ate, evidence of how hungry they all were.
Hinata enjoyed her food greatly, and made a mental note not only to recommend it to her team, but also to suggest it for the Hyuuga's long caterer list.
Once their plates were empty, they paid their bills and went their respective ways. Lee and Gai headed back to the training grounds to resume their gruelling training regime, and Neji left to run some errands before returning home.
Hinata and Tenten walked in companionable silence until they arrived to the compound, where Tenten immediately pulled Hinata towards where she thought Hiashi's office was. With a laugh, Hinata told her they were heading in the wrong direction and Tenten let her lead with a low grumble about the 'damn Hyuugas and their labyrinth of a home'.
They were soon in front of her father's office, and she was quick to make their presence known. She was surprised, however, to find no answer.
-Father?- she asked once more. Then she remembered her father had also taken the afternoon off, so both girls looked for the nearest person to ask.
-Nee-sama! You're back!- Hanabi's said from a distance, waving at them -You brought Tenten-san too!- she added happily.
-Hello, Hanabi-chan- Tenten greeted her with a smile.
-Hanabi, do you know where Father is?- Hinata asked.
-He said something about going to see Tsunade-sama.- she said, shrugging her shoulders -How did you even get him to take the afternoon off anyways?- she asked incredulously.
-I helped him with his paperwork.- she replied, and giggled as Hanabi's face contorted in distaste.
-I feel bad for you, nee-sama, dealing with those mountains of papers Father always goes through.- the younger girl said, her distaste for deskwork evident in her voice.
-Paperwork is..-
-A necessary evil, I know! -Hanabi said, cutting her off -Doesn't mean I have to like it, though.-
-I highly doubt anyone enjoys paperwork, Hanabi-chan- Tenten added jokingly.
-You don't know our father, then.- Hanabi grumbled, and both Hinata and Tenten laughed. -Anyways, I have things to do, so I'll see you both later!- she added quickly before taking off. HInata wondered what had her in such a hurry as she watched her little sister sprint through the hallways.
-Well, I guess we can go talk while we wait for your father to get back?- Tenten proposed, interrupting her thoughts.
Hinata nodded -Shall we go to my room, then?-
Tenten smiled -Lead the way. Heaven knows we'll probably get lost if I do.-
They walked through the hallways, greeting people here and there, until they finally arrived to the main house, from there it was a rather quick and simple walk to her room, and soon they were sitting on Hinata's bed, chatting about random things, from news of other villages, to Konohamaru's latest prank on Naruto, to their teams, and eventually the conversation became a Tenten rant about Lee's obnoxious personality and mannerisms.
-Seriously, Hinata, you don't understand! He can be so annoying at times!- she exclaimed exasperatedly, throwing her arms in the air -And he has taken to acting so weird lately!- she fumed.
-How so?- Hinata asked curiously.
-Well he has been spending a lot of time looking at flowers, flowers for fuck's sake, or at nothing in particular, and sighing, and thinking, and smiling to himself, I don't know, this is so odd!- she said, flailing her arms around her.
Hinata folded her arms in front of her, thinking, and an idea crossed her mind -Could he possibly like someone?-
-We all know he has had the hots for Sakura for a long time, Hinata- Tenten growled. -Do you remember how open he has been about his feelings for her? This behavior doesn't match that.-
-That is true, however, people change Tenten, and this sounds like more than a little crush, he might be in love this time.-
-Huh…- Tenten said pensively -Maybe! You tell me about it girl, since you've been in love Naruto for so long.- she added, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
Hinata felt her face flush in embarrassment. Had everyone known? -Actually, about that…- she dragged off, folding her hands on her lap -I don't love Naruto-kun anymore-
-Say what?- Tenten almost yelled, shocked.
-After much thinking, I have come to realize that what I felt for him was not true love.- she paused for a moment, but Tenten remained silent, encouraging her with a nod to continue -I idolized him, because he is the embodiment of everything that I wished to be and, I am ashamed to admit, I might have even become obsessed with him. Loving someone like that is not healthy for anyone, and once I let go of those feelings I realized that not only could I finally accept myself for who I am, but also that I had been neglecting those dear to me, and I intend to make up for it.- The words had flowed out of her without thinking, yet she knew that out of all of the girls, she could trust Tenten the most. She was not only a good listener, but also avoided shallow gossip like the plague.
-Wow…- Tenten said -That's some deep stuff there, but you're right, and I'm glad that you realized it.- she finished, grabbing Hinata's hand encouragingly -This can't have been an easy thing to do.-
-You would be surprised, Tenten.- Hinata replied absently, -It was easier than I expected.- she added.
-What do you mean?-
-I just had to choose what matters most to me.- she answered honestly. She found that just letting her know that tiny bit of information made her feel better, but she had said too much and she was not ready to divulge anything more -Would you like some tea?- she asked, steering the conversation from the topic she wished to avoid.
-Of course!- Tenten replied, getting the hint right away.
With a smile, Hinata guided her friend towards the kitchens, where she brewed a pot of plain green tea, laughing lowly as she watched Tenten raid the pantry for some snacks. There was a reason she got along better with Tenten than the other girls. They had reached an unspoken agreement to not pry into the other's life and wait until the other was ready to share her thoughts. Also, anything she could trust her not to speak of anything she said to anyone else. Tenten was loyal to a fault and whatever secrets she kept she would take to her grave.
They walked back to her room, Hinata tray in hand and Tenten with her arms full with all sorts of cookies. They sat down and enjoyed the tea and snacks while chatting amicably. A sudden crashing sound interrupted their conversation. It was followed by low grumbling and loud steps that neared her room.
-Hinata-sama!- called a very annoyed Neji from the other side of the thin door that connected their rooms -Have you seen Hanabi-brat anywhere?-
Hinata sighed, and hear Tenten snort loudly as she heard the nickname Neji had bestowed upon his younger cousin -I saw her a couple of hours ago. She should be somewhere in the compound.- she replied -What did she do now?- she asked, pinching the bridge of her nose. As soon as she had a little taste of freedom from heiress duties and her younger sister had taken to pranking Neji.
-The brat nail polished my soap!- so that's why her sister had been in such a hurry earlier.
Tenten's loud laugh reverberated through the room -That is genius!- she said between giggles.
There was a moment's silence before Neji replied -This is not funny, Tenten!- he exclaimed.
The girl ignored her still fuming teammate and turned to Hinata -His room is next to yours?- she asked.
Hinata nodded -Yes, he has been living in the main house for years now.- she replied -Niisan!- she called through the door -You should come in, we have cookies.- she offered. There was no reply for a minute but the rustling of clothing told both girls that he was getting dressed.
-Can I come in?- he finally said.
-Just come in, Neji!- Tenten huffed -She already said you could!-
They watched as the door slid open and Neji walked in, pointedly glaring at Tenten, who just stuck her tongue out at him. Before he could reply, Hinata all but shoved a plate of cookies in her cousin's hands.
Hinata and Tenten watched as the frown marring his face relaxed as he ate the treats and both concluded that sugar could, indeed, make people happier in a matter of seconds.
-So, Hanabi is a prankster now.- Tenten said, barely hiding her mirth, and Hinata saw from the look in her face that she would have given anything in the world to have witnessed her cousin's reactions.
Neji scoffed and Hinata sighed -Yes, it has been happening every day for a week now.- he said, his face stoic, but Hinata knew better. Her cousin was annoyed to the core and even though he was one of the most mature people she knew, he could be quite vengeful when he wanted to. Hinata feared that Neji might try to take some sort of revenge, and had taken to pacifying his anger after every prank.
-She missed you dearly, niisan.- Hinata defended her sister -I think this is her way of showing you.-
-Well I am glad I am to be on her good side, then.- he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm -Whoever makes the fatal mistake of falling for her has my most sincere condolences.- he added lowly.
Tenten laughed -Come on, Neji! It can't be that bad!- she said, swatting his arm lightly.
-You have no idea.- he grumbled back.
-Do you have any missions soon, niisan?- Hinata asked, hoping to divert the subject.
Neji shot her a grateful look -No. Tsunade-sama is focusing the bulk of our forces into repairing and rebuilding, so our skills are not required at the moment.- he explained.
-Good for you!- Tenten said -You might have some time off, but I still have to run my family's store.- she complained before gasping loudly -Oh, shit! I was supposed to run inventory today!- she exclaimed as she stood up. She shot Hinata an apologetic look -Sorry, Hinata, I have to go, otherwise my dad will yell at me for the rest of the day.- she explained.
-It's okay, Tenten- Hinata reassured her -Take care.-
-I'll see you soon!- She said, waving at both people in the room before leaving.
-Go right!- Hinata said, realizing Tenten was, once again, heading the wrong way.
-Oh, right!- the girl exclaimed with an embarrassed laugh, followed by low grumbling about the unnecessarily huge and complicated place.
-Is she always this forgetful?- Hinata asked once her friend was a safe distance away.
Neji chuckled -No, though I highly doubt you are the most qualified to criticize, Hinata-sama.- he replied, laughing at his cousin's pouting face. His face sobered suddenly, and Hinata tensed slightly, already knowing what was coming next.
-Are you feeling better now?- he asked, addressing the incident that morning.
-Yes, niisan.- she replied straight away.
Neji's stance relaxed a bit after hearing her reply, but his usually cool stare was plagued with doubt and Hinata realized that he did not fully believe her -I am glad.- she heard him say.
-Do not worry, niisan.- she said, looking straight into his eyes -The nightmares will go away eventually.-
-I still worry, Hinata-sama. They have lasted a whole week so far.-
-I know, niisan, but I will be okay.- she reassured him.
Neji nodded, still not quite satisfied -I certainly hope so, just promise me you will see someone if they persist.-
Hinata almost scoffed at the mere idea of seeing a therapist, but decided against it the moment she met Neji's worried stare. If anyone had told her years ago that Neji was such a genuinely caring person she would have shaken her head and laughed at the impossibility of it. Now, however, she was glad to have gotten to know this side of him.
-I promise.- she replied and, on instinct, wrapped her arms around Neji and pulled him to her. -Thank you, for always being there.- she said. She felt him tense as she hugged him and was about to pull away, mortified that the physical contact did not sit well with him, but was rejoiced when his arms wrapped around her, pulling her to his chest.
It amazed her how she had never noticed how warm Neji was. She reveled in that small moment of closeness. -I will always be there for you, Hinata-sama. Until the day I die.- she heard him say, and she felt her face grow hot at the fierceness of his tone.
-As will I.- she replied with a hesitant whisper, unused to such level of intimacy.
-Why are there so many cookies here?- Neji said, gently pulling Hinata away from him, as if sensing her embarrassment.
Hinata saw his rather obvious attempt at distraction right away, yet she shot him a grateful smile before replying -Oh, that was Tenten, you know how she loves cookies.-
Neji nodded absently, knowing exactly what she meant. Tenten was a bit of a cookie monster, and he had used that tidbit of information to his advantage a couple of times when he was in no mood to deal with Lee.
-You must be getting hungry, then. Shall we go make dinner?- he questioned as he stood up, offering Hinata a hand.
She nodded her agreement, taking the offered hand without hesitation. They walked towards the kitchens in relative silence, words unneeded. They worked efficiently, Neji helping her prepare the ingredients and set the table in the dining room as she cooked.
Soon, the dishes were set on the dining table and both began to eat. They ate in relative silence until the door was unceremoniously slammed open. Hinata was surprised to see her father walk into the dining room with a slight smile on his lips, his face slightly red with a flush, and smelling faintly of alcohol.
Hinata and Neji greeted him, ignoring his obvious inebriated state out of politeness. They watched as Hiashi plopped down next to his daughter, instead of his usual spot at the end of the table. Hinata quickly served rice in a bowl and passed it to her father, who took it with a grateful nod. She then proceeded to serve him a portion of fish, but the man stopped her and Hinata tried not to laugh as she watched him fill his plate full of tempura.
-Are you alright, Father?- Hinata asked, worried yet amused at her father's odd behavior. From across the table, Neji watched the head of the clan with a blank stare.
-Stupid old hag challenged me to a drinking contest.- Hiashi replied with a stony face, who snorted once he saw his daughter and nephew's wide stares.
-I had not touched any alcohol in a long time,- he continued, and Hinata listened intently -the last time I drank was with your father.- he finished, turning towards Neji.
Neji's blank stare met his uncle, urging him to continue. -It was on the day I had to put the seal on you. I knew Hizashi was furious afterwards, and I felt guilty and helpless for being forced to abide to centuries of traditions and laws. So I did what we used to do to reconcile whenever we would argue,- he paused -I brought three bottles of sake and went to see him. He stood there, already looking less angry, he knew with an unnatural certainty I would go to him.
We drank so much, as we used to do when we were younger. We got into so much trouble together, gave Father too many migraines.- he chuckled, already lost in the memories.
Hinata and Neji remained silent, shocked to their cores to see a side of Hiashi he had never shown to anyone in ages, and kept silent, encouraging the man to continue.
-We were always together when we were young.- he continued -After Hizashi was sealed, I started covering my own forehead so they would be unable to tell us apart. Sometimes even Mother was unable to tell who was who.- he laughed and took a sip of water -We always tried to stick together even after we were forced to separate. Mother was unsurprised, she told us we were halves of a whole, and that we were born holding hands. We shared the same sac and placenta. A monoamniotic birth, the medics called it.- he explained to the stunned teens sitting with him.
-I still remember the day you were born, Neji.- Hiashi said, addressing his nephew, whose raised eyebrow was the only testament to his curiosity on the suddenly changed topic. -Your screams became the talk of the whole clan for months.- he said, laughing at Neji's rather embarrassed stare -We knew you would be a fighter from the day you were born. When I held you, you screamed so loud I still feel my ears ring when I think about it.- he explained, unconsciously shaking his head a little, and Hinata watched as Neji's face turned a delightful shade of pink -Hinata, on the other hand.- he turned to his eldest, and Hinata stiffened, suddenly nervous -She barely cried, she was so quiet, and when I held her, the first thing she did was smile.- he confessed, and Hinata felt her face grow hot -It is such a shame Hizashi was not there for your birth. He would later tell me, when I introduced you, that he thought you were like the wind, soft and soothing when you wanted to be, yet also strong and untamable. I did not understand what he meant until much later.-
Hinata had lost all her speaking abilities to surprise. Had her uncle really thought that highly of her?
-That was the only time I failed to understand him. Usually, we did not even need words, we always knew what the other was thinking. We were in a way, one and the same.- he said, and Hinata noticed the slight shakiness in his voice.
The table was silent as Hiashi resumed eating. The silence felt awkward to Hinata, she did not know what to say, or if to say anything at all. She looked at Neji, who seemed to feel just as uncomfortable as she did, and both decided to just remain silent, lest they risk damaging the man's pride.
They finished their food quietly, and Hiashi stood abruptly, stumbling midway, and left the room with a quick 'good night'. Hinata looked at Neji for a moment, then at the open door worriedly.
-I will make sure he arrives to his quarters safely, Hinata-sama.- Neji said as he stood up.
Hinata nodded -Thank you, niisan.- she said, grateful for his help -I'll take care of the dishes.- she added, and immediately got to work, watching as Neji quickly left the room. She worked quickly, leaving some leftovers in the fridge for her sister, who was probably causing mayhem somewhere around the compound.
That night, on her bed, she reflected deeply on the opinion she had of her father for so long, and she felt guilt creep at her. It was so easy to forget that he had been young once and that he, too, had suffered the burden of not only being born a Hyuuga, but also of being the heir to the clan. She understood him a lot better now, and felt a newfound respect for him. Also, she realized that her father, despite everything he might have said or how he might have acted towards her, loved her very much. She felt lighter than ever, and fell asleep with a smile, ready to face the next day.
Hello everyone,
I am so sorry for the incredibly late update. One would think that doing a Visual Arts major will do wonders to your inspiration, but in a way it can suck you dry.
While I know that Naruto is a manga aimed mainly towards young audiences, I can't help but feel that it had so much potential for character development that was not explored and leaves us with some rather shallow characters that could be so much more. Furthermore, there are so many substories that the author introduced and never went back to them, and I found that to be a great disappointment. To say that the ending left me completely unsatisfied is an understatement.
You could say that this fic is, in a way, a response to him overlooking those points and characters in the story. It is also a means to practice my writing, which I never really gave any serious thought until I once again became obsessed with this series.
I know this is not so popular a couple, but I have always secretly adored it. Perhaps it is due to the heavily romantic aspect of it. Why do you guys like it?
For Hiashi in this chapter, I inspired myself a lot from my own father. In a way, they are very, very similar, especially when it comes to dealing with feelings.
Thank you all for reading! All criticism is welcome, as well as comments.
Discordia
