Chapter 8: The First Step Forward

Beta by Cookie-chi

Turning out the lights, he went to his side of the bed and immediately got in. Making sure to stay on his side of the bed, he turned so that his back was to her creating yet another barrier between them. Moment after awkward moment, the silence continued on, but they were both exhausted from the strange and stressful day. Sleep beckoned and they could feel their resistance to it weak with every passing second. Finally just before he fell sleep, he heard a soft "Good night…Neji."

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The gentle sound of birds singing outside the window slowly brought awareness to a sleeping male body. Groaning softly, Neji turned his head to the side, opening his pale eyes to the still darkened room. He could tell by the small amount of light that it was about an hour before sunrise. His milky gaze slowly traveled the room he was in; it was larger than he remembered with two sets of dressers. That confused him, why would there be two dressers in his room? A soft feminine sigh then reached his sensitive ears. Turning his head to the other side his eyes landed on a peacefully sleeping woman. She was sleeping on her stomach with her gentle face turned towards him. It wasn't until her hand twitched that he realized that his own hand was engulfing her smaller, delicate one. Scowling with confusion, he gently removed his hand from hers, careful not to wake her.

There was a weird feeling growing in his chest as he continued to look at her. He couldn't really describe the feeling however. It wasn't disgust, he's felt that a number of times. Part of it was awkwardness; he had never woken up next to a woman before. Though he's bedded plenty, he had never stuck around long enough to fall asleep with them. His sigh was one mixed with depression and interest. He obviously wasn't back to the life and time he remembered. It made him wonder how much longer he was going to be here. Part of him hoped that it was only for that one day, and yet part of him was glad that it was not. This place was just barely starting to hold an interest for him; a question for him to answer, a challenge for him to overcome, a problem for him to solve.

"Hmm…Neji…" a soft whisper was emitted from the woman next to him. His eyes traveled back to her, watching her smile slightly in her sleep, nestling her face deeper into her pillow. His gaze grew curious as he studied her. He had thought that he had her pegged. He thought he knew her character, that he knew her future, when instead the woman was an enigma. She puzzled him to no end and his mind was having difficulty accepting the changes. How could such a delicate and vulnerable woman cause such change in a rigidly traditional family? Where had her strength come from? Did she always have it? Was she hiding it from the world? Why would she hide it? Why would she purposefully hide the strength that would later amaze them all? An image of Naruto came to his mind. She was similar to Naruto in a way. Naruto was another person he thought he knew the limitations to, but wrong in every way. He remembered telling Naruto that although he did not have the Byakugan, he saw a lot better than Neji himself. Was Hinata the same? Could she see better and clearer than him? Neji had a feeling that she did. She had told him so during their fight in the Chuunin exams, but he was too blinded by hatred to see. Well, now he could see, now his vision was clearer, he could see her better now.

"Hinata-sama?" Neji whispered suddenly, wondering if she was awake, but she didn't move and didn't answer. Feeling safer and less vulnerable knowing she was asleep, Neji slowly moved himself closer to her, bringing his lips down to her ear.

"I'm…I'm going to try Hinata-sama, but…I'm…afraid to ask for your help. Change has never come easy to me…I'm afraid that…I'm going to need your help. Will you help me?" he whispered to her softly. He paused before moving back, unable to help himself, smelling her scent of lavender and lilac. He was surprised and shocked when he heard her answer him.

"Yes…of course I will." She whispered back to him. Moving back slightly, he saw her slowly open her pure eyes and gaze back at him. Her eyes always showed her emotions; she never could hide her feelings, not when he was able to pierce her soul with his eyes. Her ivory gaze lowered slightly, and he knew she was staring at his lips, which he suddenly noticed were only a breath away from hers. He could sense her want and need for a kiss from him, but being in such close proximity to her made him feel weird and uncomfortable, let alone the thought of kissing her. Mixed emotions swirled inside of him, his past hatred blending with his present desire to let go of the past. Leaning away from her, he watched her close her eyes as if in pain before turning away from him and slowly rising. Pity filled inside of him. What would it be like to be in love with someone and then have that love taken away, even when that person was still there? Would it be as painful as the look in her eyes?

He had never loved a woman before, none except his mother. Since that was his only basis, he wondered how he would feel if she would suddenly not love him anymore. That is, if she were still alive. Though her death was years ago, he could understand that he would feel sad and hurt to find her love for him suddenly gone. Getting up, he took careful precision not to look at Hinata, keeping his back to her. An awkward silence filled between them and the air grew thick and tense. He felt a little bad for her, he was not the loving husband she was use to waking next to. Instead she had to settle for a man who was just starting to try and get over his hatred towards her. She had probably woken up feeling disappointed and depressed that her husband wasn't back.

Moving to get another set of clothes, he sensed her walk into the bathroom and close the door behind her, probably to get dressed. Not feeling patient enough to wait for the bathroom, he got dressed where he was, hoping she would get done after him. When he was done, she opened the door a crack and asked if she could reenter the room. Replying that she could, they soon stood in front of each other, but unsure of what to say or how to dispel the uncomfortable air between them. They didn't look at each other; too confused with how things were between them. Just as Neji was about to say something, Hinata beat him to it.

"So…what would you like for breakfast?" she asked with a cheerful tone and a forced smile. Neji looked at her with a puzzled frown, why did she always have to try and please others? Had she no regard for herself?

"I…don't know." He answered hesitantly, uncertain of how he was supposed to react to her sudden and false cheerfulness.

"Okay…how about I…just make something, and you could eat it if you want." She offered, still trying to get past the pain in her heart, trying to hide and tuck away the ache that threatened to tear her apart. Remaining silent, Neji nodded to her before they walked stiffly out of the room. They had just reached the kitchen when Hiashi met them there, his expression stern and serious.

"Hinata, Neji I need to speak with you." he said, making it more of an order than a request. Always the obedient Branch member, Neji nodded silently to him. Hinata, though usually an obedient daughter, was now used to the power she held. Instead of immediately complying, she just shook her head at her father.

"I need to make breakfast for my family first." She said, simply stating a fact, not being defiant. However, Hiashi had need for the both of them instead of just Neji.

"Hanabi can make it, I need to talk to both of you." Hiashi said, spotting his other daughter making her way into the kitchen. Hearing her name, Hanabi stopped in mid-yawn and looked around.

"Huh?" she asked, not fully awake.

"Make breakfast for the kids." Hinata told her before turning back to Hiashi. "Is my office alright?" she asked. It was not often her father asked to speak to her and Neji so urgently.

"Yes that's fine." Hiashi replied, and with that the three made their way towards Hinata's office hearing the fading complaints coming from Hanabi at being saddled to make breakfast. After the three of them had entered the room and closed the door, Hinata turned to her father as she remained standing.

"May I ask what is so urgent Tou-san?" Hinata asked, feeling suspicious that he might know something about Neji's condition. Though it had only been a day, Hiashi was always one to catch on quickly. But Hiashi remained silent for a while, trying to decide just how he was going to approach the subject he had wished to discuss. He knew something was going on, something that involved Neji and that upset Hinata. Ever since Hinata had been named leader, Hiashi had been finding his curiosity increase and his patience for certain things decrease. He was sad to say that he felt he was almost reduced to a gossiping woman.

"Is…is everything between you two…okay?" He asked slowly, looking to Neji and Hinata. Knowing about the relationship within a family was one thing, poking into the relationship between a married couple was another. However, these two were more than just a married couple. They consisted of their clan's leader and her second-in-command. If their relationship was not going well, it would reflect how they lead the clan. His question though, hit a sensitive point in both of them. Neji and Hinata both turned their faces away, looking downcast.

"Why…do you ask?" Hinata asked softly, trying her best not to look or sound sad.

"Well for one thing, I haven't seen such tension between you two for years. It's also the first time you haven't celebrated your anniversary." Hiashi explained to them, keeping to himself his suspicions of yesterday with the children, for now. Noting both of their reactions he knew something was definitely going on, Neji may not have shown much with his shuttered and expressionless face, but Hinata could never fully hide her emotions. Hiashi wondered what kind of scenario would cause such tension between a couple that had appeared happily married for over a decade. Being met with only silence, Hiashi then came to his own conclusion, and one that did not make him happy. Turning towards Neji, fire flashed in Hiashi's eyes.

"Are you being unfaithful to my daughter?" he asked in a soft but threatening voice. Two sets of pale eyes widened with shock and surprise. With a look of almost disgust, Neji slowly shook his head as he backed away from the anger-growing Hiashi. Seeing the potential violence that was about to break out, Hinata quickly intervened.

"No Tou-san, that's not it." She cried softly, leaping forward and putting a hand on her father's arm to stop him. Pausing in his pursuit of Neji, Hiashi looked down at his daughter, confused. If Neji wasn't cheating on Hinata, then what was bothering her?

"Are you being unfaithful?" he asked her in a shocked voice. It was difficult to imagine his daughter sleeping with another man besides her husband, but things were known to happen. Temptation sometimes came around, for everyone. But one look at Hinata's face, Hiashi almost chuckled out loud.

"And just when would I find time for another lover? If I'm not leading the clan then I'm raising my children. No, Tou-san, I would never betray my husband." Hinata stated seriously. She almost felt insulted that he would have asked her; she would never do such a thing. She loved Neji with all her heart and soul, her husband and her family were everything to her, and she meant what she said. But Hiashi was still confused about what was going on. He felt idiotic for the conclusions he came up with, and he was not used to feeling that way. He was also not used to being left in the dark, which was exactly what was going on right now. Taking her hand off of him, he crossed his arms over his chest and looked at them both again, an annoyed expression on his face.

"Then would you two mind telling me what is going on?" he asked, his voice hard. Again, the two avoided his gaze, looking uncomfortable. It worried him a bit, he knew that at one point in time he was very harsh with them, but it hadn't been like that for two decades. He had thought, or at least hoped, that his sins from the past would have been forgiven by now. He had hoped that at least Hinata would have trusted him by now. As the silence drew on, Neji became more and more frustrated. It was annoying; this whole thing was just one big mess. If they were already found out, what was the point of trying to keep it a secret?

"This is stupid." Neji suddenly said, breaking the silence. "It's difficult to believe but its true." He said vaguely. Hiashi just stared at him with a brow raised while Hinata looked at him with her expression carefully hidden. Neji's pale gaze slowly met hers, reading the question in her eyes. He nodded his head slightly, watching as she lowered her gaze once again. Hiashi waiting silently for Neji to elaborate, but he never did. Just when Hiahsi was going to ask more questions, Hinata spoke up.

"Neji…lost his memory…" she said softly.

"No I didn't." Neji argued, cutting her off.

"For lack of a better description." She continued, looking at him with a slightly angry gaze. She knew he didn't lose his memory, according to him, but she couldn't think of a better way to say it. To her and everyone else, he did lose his memory. She knew that from his perspective it was more of a 'different life' than memory loss. She accepted that, it was probably true, but for now what she had said was probably the best way to say it.

Watching their exchange, Hiashi was not very surprised. He knew something was different with Neji, he wouldn't have guessed this, but it was not so farfetched either. From what he has seen of their relationship right now, it looked like it had gone back in time. Maybe not on Hinata's part but definitely on Neji's. Clearing his throat to gain their attention once again, he waited for one or both of them to continue.

"What I remember and what…happened in the past are different." Neji explained a little bit more. When Hiashi continued to remain silent as well as Hinata, Neji went on. "What I remember was that…in the war…I had failed my mission. Hinata-sama…Hinata-sama was killed in battle, as well as many others. Two days ago marked a year since the memorial service to them." Neji said in a strained voice, remembering his encounter with the woman yesterday. The one who brought him to this life, the one who reminded him of his nightmares and of his regrets.

"So he apparently doesn't have any memory of our marriage and the children because I…wasn't alive." Hinata finished for him, realizing he had lost his voice for the moment, caught up in whatever it was he was thinking about. Hiashi nodded his head in understanding and remained silent a bit longer.

"Who else knows about Neji's…condition?" he asked Hinata, ignoring Neji for the moment.

"Just Hokage-sama and now you." Hinata replied. Hiashi nodded his head again this time in approval. Going to the Hokage was a wise decision. "We…we were told from Naruto-kun to go to Tsunade-sama, to see if she could help…but we haven't gone yet." She said slowly, looking at Neji from the corner of eye.

"She could help, though its unlikely." Hiashi commented, his milky eyes pondering on the best course of action. "It would, obviously, be best if no one else knew about this. But you know Hinata, that Neji can no longer run the clan with you." At that, Neji snapped his back towards Hiashi, anger flashing in his eyes.

"Yes I can." He argued.

"You know nothing about what has occurred in the past eleven years Neji, no you cannot." Hiashi stated, trying to remain patient with the man.

"I beg your pardon Hiashi-sama, but I have read all the documents on the changes of these past years. I am not unaware of what has happened." Neji said, trying to hold back his anger. It was as if he was being demoted from his position of power that he hasn't even used yet. As if the freedom he had gained was being taken away from him, well he wasn't going to let it go so easily. He would hold onto it with both hands.

"I can understand that Neji. I know you are wise enough to read those documents and now you may know all that has transpired, however you no longer have the experience you need to help Hinata guide our family." Hiashi explained, he could see why Neji was being so difficult about this; he was not such an ignorant man. However, he couldn't allow Neji to lead Hinata, to lead their clan to ruin. Not when they had come so far, not when they had changed so much.

"I have just as much experience now as I had when I was first appointed to this position." Neji persisted.

"Yes, but back then things were different. I'm sorry Neji, but I simply cannot allow you to be Hinata's sole advisor." Hiashi said with finality. Hearing it, Neji clenched his teeth tightly, his hands fisting at his sides to stop himself from saying something that would get his seal activated. Forgetting that that practice no longer occurred now…at least not legally.

"I understand with your way of thinking Tou-san." Hinata suddenly piped up, not wanting to be left out of a conversation of how she was going to run the clan. "However, because Neji is not only my second-in-command, he is also my husband, experienced or not. So, I would trust you to understand as well when I say that he will still be the first I go to when I need help." A scowl appeared on Hiashi's face as he listed to his daughter's words. He knew what she was trying to do; she was trying to save face. She was saving his pride, but was she really willing to risk their family's future for Neji's pride? However, he could see the stubbornness in her ivory eyes, she would not back down.

"You do realize that you do not have total authority. It is possible for me to remove you from your position." Hiashi stated, his eyes as hard as granite. His threat was not an empty one; he could remove her from her leadership position. It would have to be a unanimous decision from the council and most of the clan would have to accept it, but it was a possibility. Neji watched as father and daughter fought a battle of wills. He did not know such a thing could happen, though he had read documents, the inner workings of his political family was still something he was learning about. The air was charged with tension as silence filled the room for a moment.

"Yes I do realize that, however I also know that you want our family to change and the only way that can happen is if I lead our clan. Do not test me Tou-san, I am not the girl I use to be." Hinata said in a hard voice as she continued to stare her father down. Surprise filtered through Neji's mind as he listened to her. She was definitely not what he remembered. She used to always tremble in the presence of Hiashi, and now she was challenging him. Neji's mouth nearly dropped when Hiashi tore his gaze away from his daughter. Hinata had just put Hiashi in his place! Every minute he spent in this different life surprised him.

"I still think it would be wise if he would not be your main advisor." Hiashi said, his eyes looking anywhere but at his daughter or Neji. He did not like, or was used to, being told what to do. Not when he was the one to lead for as long as he did. But she was right, she was not the girl she once was, she was stronger now and she was the only one who could save their clan from certain destruction.

"I hear you Tou-san. I did not say that Neji would be the only one I go to. I just said that he will be the first, you will also be notified when I need assistance." Hinata said, trying to smooth his ruffled feathers. But she just wanted her father to know that she would not leave Neji out of things just because he couldn't remember. It wouldn't be the first time they had gone through rough times, and it probably wouldn't be the last.

"Very well." Hiashi nodded his head curtly, before walking out of the office. Sighing deeply, Hinata closed her eyes. She always hated confrontations, she still didn't like them, but she knew now that sometimes there was no way around it. Neji watched her and was once again reminded on how different she was now. A scene like that would have never occurred in the time he remembered. She would have simply accepted what her father told her and not fought him, or anyone else. Or would she?

Lowering his gaze, Neji wondered just how well he knew his cousin. It seemed like he didn't know her at all and never did. He was probably always wrong about her, about her strength and her intensions. No, there were some things he was right about. She was too nice, too soft. She cared too much, he still didn't think she was suited to be a good kunoichi, but now he knew that she was suited to be a good leader. She was kind to all, not just the Main House. She cared for everyone in their family; she wasn't biased. Lifting his gaze once again, his eyes followed her to the door.

"Hinata-sama." He called out, stopping her. She turned her head towards his, waiting. "You really have changed." He said, unable to think of anything else. Her eyes softened as she smiled softly at him before walking out, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

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AN: So sorry about the late update. I was stuck a little while on this chapter and then when I finally did come up with something, I got lazy. Can't really give you guys a good excuse because I don't have one. But I must say that I thank all of you so much for your reviews. Those of you who read but don't review (yes I know who you are!) I'm very disappointed. But those of you who do review, even if it's just a small encouraging word, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is because of you that I continue writing, God knows it isn't for myself…I would never get anything done if that were the case. But, gosh, I think I'm rambling, lol. I guess this is a little longer than I would like. I hope you enjoyed the chapter as boring as I think it is. See you at the next installment! Ja!