::Chapter 8::

He hated all those machines surrounding her, buzzing non-stop around her sickly pale face.

Weren't medic-nins healing with chakra? They told him they would prefer not to use it on her. Something about Hyûgas rejecting extern chakra and complications he didn't understand at all.

Closing the door behind him with no excessive noises, he approached the bed were she was lying. They had removed the enormous pipe shoved in her throat a week ago, so her lips were closed on her pearl-like teeth.

To his mother's demand, she had been placed in a private room for her to recover in peace. It was better like that, taking in account that anything could disturb her rest once she came out of her coma.

He sat down on the chair beside her bed, gazing at her relaxed features. Her long eyelashes bordered by brown circles around her eyes send shadows on her pale cheeks.

Her lips parted a little in her sleep, calling a faint smile upon his lips. Snaking his hand through the covers that were maintaining the temperature of her body on a convenient degree, making sure not to disturb all the intravenous injections swirling around her arms, he searched for a hand to caress. Once he had found it, he couldn't but notice the freshness of her skin. The blood had difficulty to circulate through her narrow veins. However, the medics did not pay any attention t it. After all, wasn't she an Inuzuka? A filthy half-breed, or even worse, the human mother of a filthy half-breed. A traitor to the human race, a goddess of evil and orgies, meant to expand her damnation all over her environs.

Frankly, before he hadn't cared for the prejudice and hate Konohans had towards his family, however, he couldn't bear to see them slowly suffocating his precious may-fly, his wife. The only times she was awake, it was to be tortured by nurses and medic-nins that enjoyed her dolour. They would make her stand-up, ignoring the tears of pain and sufferance filling her ponds of melted silver, and walk all the way towards the washroom without any assistance, her minute hands grasping to the drip she was pulling with her like a bullet. As she was not of the kind to complain, she would swallow the ache and courageously drag herself towards the bathroom, not requesting any help.

Once, while such a situation was occurring, he had entered the room, eager to see his loved one, but was not welcomed by the scene he had expected. Hinata was gripping the drip with all her strength, close to fainting, the blood of her face drained towards her lips, her jaw contracted, and drops of sweat appearing on her forehead, making little, insignificant steps, as two nurses were chatting in the corner of her room. Hadn't Haruno forbidden her strictly to walk? Of course, he had hurried to raise her in his arms and escort her to the restroom, pulling the drip along. Once she had been laying, protected in her bed and drowning in covers, he had taken the nurses outside, quite decided to literally kick their lazy asses.

The only answer he had received as to explain their disgusting behaviour was that Hinata wasn't not the only woman that had given birth to kids and that the others were gone by now. In other words, she was exaggerating according to them. First of all, there were no other women that had given birth to two kids after only seven months and a half of incubation, without sedatives nor epidural and right in the middle of a caesarean had some kind of a slight heart attack. And if there were, well, there was no way they had survived. The words that were pronounced by their fucking unfair mouths could have cost them their lives if Kiba hadn't controlled himself, which did not happen often.

He was paying for their assistance, for the medics and for the room, so it was not to them to tell him when and why Hinata had to go back to one normal existence. So if needed, she would stay there for the next six months and that was final.

He had been sitting there for a while now, cursing stupid nurses under his breath, one hand clutching to hers, the other holding an orange book he didn't know everybody was making a fuss of. It was quite a lame story, a parody of love. And, since he had found his one and only, he didn't find what there was interesting in pursuing stupid relationships based on sexual intercourses that dared to be called love.

She stirred in her bed, announcing her awakening. He took his eyes off his book, a fake beam painting his lips.

"You woke up."

His statement sounded strange even to his own ear, but it only made her uncover the rare treasures her eyes were, vaguely turning the edges of her lips. It clearly meant she was happy to see him. A little squeeze on his hand proved it.

"How do you feel today?"

She frowned somewhat and raised a pasty, shaking hand towards her throat. They had removed the enormous piped quite a while ago, but she still felt pain. Naturally, she had tried to talk properly, only to less pass some low growls.

"It still hurts, huh?"

She nodded, pouting. He posed his book on the table adjacent to her bed, using the freed hand to pass his fingers over the skin of her cheek heating up. She closed her eyes to fully enjoy the contact, pushing her head towards his hand so he would completely cup her face, feeling the brush of his lips on her dry ones.

Once he broke the link, she followed his movements to sit back, with her entirely awoken eyes, seeking contact with his own glance. Their hands under the covers, interlaced as secret lovers, had never let go of each other, clasping harder than ever before. If she couldn't let vocals escape her throat, she at least could form silent words with those lips he praised, attracting Kiba's attention towards them.

'How is he?' did he read. His eyes saddened at once. It was hurting him not to hear her ask for the two of them. But she couldn't know. She once would pass by his side, perhaps sending him a grin, never realizing that they had a link. He would be a full Hyûga, the chief's son, the future leader, while her days would be filled with the other one, depriving this head of a clan in becoming of a mother.

Kiba felt like a monster, having sold his own blood, having betrayed his love, only to save his unworthy life.

And he would keep lying, never turning back to truth.

"He's quite little, not bigger than my palm."

He showed her his hand. Tears welled up in her orbs. She wasn't even a good breeder. Her mouth formed the word 'sorry', while streams of crystal sank down her cheekbones he had lovingly touched not so long before.

"What are you sorry about? Such cases as ours happen quite often in the family. Me, for example. I was born two months early, in the middle of a battle. According to Hana, it was really funny to see mom with a newly born babe in her arms, slaying enemies and yelling I was a hellish, hurtful mistake and that she would drown me like a straying cat if I didn't shut up."

Hinata stopped crying, her already big eyes widening. It was so like Tsume to be courageous and combative so her son could see how the world was wonderful. And what was she doing? Lying in a hospital bed, when her own son maybe needed her assistance.

He could see determination installing itself in her eyes. She wanted to be a good mother, and there was no doubt she would be, while he just screwed his part as a father.

He miserably smiled for a second time. Why was the world doing that to them?

°°

"We shall discuss some matters, Kiba."

He sat on the tatami in his mother's office, bowing respectfully, understanding the fact he wasn't talking to his mother, but to Tsume-sama.

"First of all, congratulations! I hope you will be a better father than shinobi …"

The joke was heavy and only added to the growing tension. He frowned of displeasure. That same morning, a week after what he liked to call the slaughter, Hinata had been moved to the hospital, where his sons were awaiting her. She hadn't woken up once and the possibility of her kidney were threatening to abandon function forbid the medic-nins to feed her in any way. In other words, he felt like the only good part of him was dying just by his side and he found himself unable to help her. Truly, it had been one great week!

Tsume cleared her throat, visibly uncomfortable.

"I have to talk to you about your first born."

He almost pierced his mother with his stern glower. His first born was his favourite in a way. Even if he was mostly the cause of all the complications. He really was big for his age, weighing the same as any other infant born after nine months. But not only that. He was a real hell raiser. He had went a few times to the hospital to give a glimpse through the pane separating the tots of the extern world, not especially worried about the fact his son was the only one not to have a tag stating his family name on his tiny wrist, only to see him yell his lungs out whenever anybody dared touching him. He was calm all alone, however, when a nurse dared approaching to cuddle him, he would almost explode. He would get all red of anger and start shrieking as if a demon inhabited him. Yet, without crying one tear.

'Heh! Show them they're not your mother.'

Even if it seemed he was starting to have the Inuzuka stubbornness, he was all Hinata. His hair seemed slightly paler, more of a very dark brown than black, and it did appear that he would be honoured with the Inuzuka nose, but that was about it. He had her chin, the form of her face, her lips. His cheekbones would be faintly higher, but not much. And his eyes! Melted silver captured in the same long eyelashes. When he opened them, deploying his thick dark lashes, Kiba had the impression a part of Hinata's soul was imprisoned in him. It only pushed him to adore this little imp.

The other kid as well was treasured. However, Kiba had only seen him once. He was a tiny piece of nothing, desperately clinging to life. He gave the impression of having paler hair, more like Kiba, his eyes, Tsume's mouth, Hana's nose. A pure Inuzuka if it wasn't for the frailness of his health. The older one seemed to have had the monopole over the mother's body. Each time, he recalled the other baby, tears would start welling up in his eyes, only to be swallowed back. He even had taken the habit of going, each morning to the shintô temple, near the edge of the woods, where he had married her, only to pray for her and the younger one's lives. He was even very generous when it came to money. Just with what he had given in two days, the monks could wear golden robes.

"Kiba, we have to get rid of the kid as fast as we can."

'What?!'

"What are you talking about?"

His tone stayed calm and cold, while his heart was beating like crazy, not believing the words that had escaped the mouth of his mother. Tsume was quite a peculiar woman, but she couldn't be implying killing his son. WHAT WAS ALL THAT HELL?!

He was getting angry, not receiving an answer at the very moment.

Tsume sighed, knowing very well that it would be difficult to discuss with her son in such a situation. He was tensed and scared to death. A wounded wolf, barely walking, breathing, still ready to defend his territory with the strength of despair. Yet she had to push some sense in his thick scull, for the well-being of the clan. There was no way, she would let him keep that little time bomb. That little time bomb with a fucking Byakugan.

She peeked at his hands on his laps, nails biting down the flesh of his thighs through the fabric of his hakama. Why was he wearing a hakama? Oh right, he went to the shrine again. She had to focus, not let herself be distracted. Knowing him, he would jump at the occasion to run away.

"Kiba."

Her voice became colder, trenchant.

"The kid has a Byakugan. And as you know, Hyûgas are very sensitive when it comes to there bloodline. We shall hand them the baby before they learn from anybody else that he has an active Byakugan. For the well-being of the clan."

It was said. Everything had been stated, and now it was up to them to accomplish their fate. He stood up, not replying at all, glaring highly at the leader still kneeling. He turned his heels heading to the exit.

"Then it seems the well-being of the clan will have to suffer."

"KIBA! WE ARE A TRIBE WITHOUT ANY LINK TO KONOHA! WE ARE ALONE! WE GET EXPLOITED BY THEM, PROTECTING THE LITTLE FREEDOM LEFT TO US! I CANNOT LET YOU DESTROY EVERYTHING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR FOR DECADES! YOU WILL OBEY ME, AS AN INUZUKA!"

'The clan? Heh, who cares?! Take the girl and leave this fukin' place. You don't need a family, you don't need anything but pleasure.'

"I spit on the clan, I spit on the name. I don't care. We can move and live our lives without being part of this family. I will not sell my blood."

Her voice smoothened, becoming sly and pernicious.

"…Than, you are ready to spit on both of your sons and Hinata..."

He stopped all motion, freezing at once.

"Kiba, my son. There is no way they will let you keep the kid. There are strong, powerful. The council is full of Hyûgas. Even the Godaime can't do anything against them. But not only will they take him from you, but being aware of the fact that we don't have the exile contract between them and Hinata, they will ask for her and the other kid. And you will not be able to fight against them either. You can be damned or you can walk in light. Choose your way. But be sure that if you don't choose the light, she will suffer much more than you. After all, isn't she the traitor that gave birth to filthy half-breeds?"

He slowly turned around, the thought of losing his only illumination in darkness making all his defences shatter. A sigh of pain came from his lungs, while he approached his mother.

°°

Hyûga Neji felt more than uncomfortable at the moment. He was surrounded by highly irritated Inuzukas frowning at him and his pretentious behaviour. In front of him was Inuzuka Tsume sitting, a grimace on her lips, on her right side, her daughter and heir was cuddling a whimpering little bundle of cotton covers, while on the other side of his mother, Kiba was blankly looking in front of him, not meeting anybody's glance, his fists clenched.

He knew why his presence had been required, and he couldn't but accept to show himself, under the orders of the clan's Elders. He did not at all approve of tearing a kid of his mother. However, his egoistical little self, desired to take away this little part of the man sitting by his mother's side. Inuzuka Kiba had to suffer just as much as he had when HIS Hinata had been taken away from him.

"If I understand well, Inuzuka-sama, you want me to hand in all the papers concerning Hyûga Hinata, in exchange of the bearer of a Byakugan she had given life to, am I right?"

"Indeed, you are, Hyûga-sama."

"Don't you think it would be to her to decide if she wants her son to be raised by the Hyûga house?"

Tsume let out a laughter that seemed more to be a howl, that made Kiba frown even more. His mother had a great advantage taking in account that the man she was dealing with, hated the father and loved the mother of the kid he was being offered. She would win however it turned out like.

"Hyûga, you little shit! Who do you think you're talking to? I am Inuzuka Tsume! The leader of Inuzuka clan. I decide what happens with my people, not any of my vassals, and if I say I do not want to have some filthy Byakugan in my family, I will not allow anybody to question my decisions. For me Hyûgas are sick, filthy scum Konoha should get rid of, and as to show the example I am getting rid of the kid. You can take it, you are not obliged to, I don't care at all, because the Inuzukas are not going to keep it."

Her words seemed harsh and cruel, but her family knew better. Tsume loved her grandchildren and never cared about whatever they looked like, she just attached herself to them and once she was linked with them, she wouldn't want to let them go. It made her heart bleed of sadness only to say those words, and even more to being obliged to lie to Hinata, who shall never know of his existence.

Neji sighed in some sick mix of sadness and triumph at the eyes of Inuzuka Kiba, ready to go hang himself. He was suffering very hard. The little bundle of covers whimpered some more, while Hana tried to calm it down. Neji glimpsed over there, thinking on how the little one would grow up to look like Hinata. But still, he was only three weeks old, and he couldn't imagine how he would survive without a mother to take care of it.

"He is only three weeks old …"

"Therefore, we have appointed an Inuzuka as wet nurse for the next six months."

She clapped her hands for a young woman, not older than Hinata herself, to enter, holding a babe by her own. She bowed respectfully to Tsume and turned herself to the Hyûga to greet him and introduce herself.

"She is ready to leave at the minute for the Hyûga compound at the minute. You just have to sign a paper, and an heir will be handed over to you …"

This woman truly was the devil in person. She was so convincing.

"Where do I sign?"

She beamed openly at her own victory, pointing with her index at the thin line where his name had to be apposed.

"As for the kid's name? Do you have any idea, Hyûga-sama?"

Her voice became softer, maybe even mocking.

"Asahi."

Hinata had told him once she loved the morning sun, and that her first born would be named in honour of it.

"No."

The first word Kiba had pronounced since the beginning of the reunion.

This name wasn't meant to be given to a kid being separated from his mother, being condemned to a life within the cold walls of the Hyûga compound. He knew this child would turn out as cold and expressionless as the man that was willing to adopt him. He would be the light of winter, just taunting life, not aiding anybody.

"Fuyubi. Call him like your clan is."

Those words did not sound like his usual self. Fuyubi wouldn't be a name he would have given anybody, not even to a dog. Winter sun. Fuyubi, the cold light of his hate towards the Hyûgas.

Why had this to happen to them? Why couldn't they live like a normal family, with normal offspring?

°°

He was quite scared. The people living by his side had always told him that Inuzukas were monstrous beasts, not worthy living. He had seen some of them. They seemed turbulent and impolite, acting before thinking. However, they also gave the impression of being so free. They would run in the streets, get all dirty, followed by their puppies and even get their buttocks kicked by merchants without losing their smiles. Their laughter was so relieving. Of course, him, he couldn't act so lightly. He was the Hyûga heir, and Hyûgas always acted like their rank imposed it to them, without any outbursts of emotions.

He lowered his eyes at the picture held by his white fingers. She was so beautiful. He couldn't believe she was his oka-san. She had long black hair and an angelic face. He was sure she was the most beautiful woman in the world. On the photograph, she was sitting on a dangerous looking man's lap, while a one-year-old tot was pulling her hair. He didn't like the man. He seemed very mean and violent and the tot on the image was just like him. It was strange to look at her, surrounded by them. Like a rose encircled by poison ivy.

He shivered at the thought.

Raising his eyes towards the sign adorning a thick metallic door, he read 'Inuzuka'. He took a sharp breath in, encouraging him by discussing with himself.

"You're great, Fuyubi! Rookie of the year, at six! You're a genius, Fuyubi! Nobody can harm you!"

A genius? What was a genius again? Everybody was calling him that. Was it an insult? No, it appeared more like praise. When people called him that, his oto-san would always ruffle his hair.

Once he had trespassed on the Inuzuka entrance, he headed right to the first black, traditional like house he was seeing. It must have been the leader's house. If it was like the Hyûga compound, he would find there all the information about the woman he was looking for. Hyûga Hinata. What a wonderful name. It sounded quite good. He preferred it mightily to Inuzuka Hinata as his father was always calling her.

He knew he shouldn't be there. He should've been training by himself in the dojo, since his father had no time for him that day, but he just couldn't restrain his curiosity anymore. He had waited six years for that day. He wanted to hear her voice his father described as sweet and caring, and to touch the skin that must have been silky and smelling good.

He knocked on the shoji of the house, waiting for it to side from the inside.

A man appeared.

"What can I do for you, sweetie?"

Why was everybody interpellating him as if he was a girl? He did have long hair but his father as well and nobody dared calling him a girl.

When he raised his enormous gleaming lavender orbs towards the man, he froze.

"Come in."

He haven't even had the time to tell him what he wanted, but was pulled in.

"Hana, come here!"

A woman, her arms full of a three-year-old toddler, stuck her head out of a doorway. Catching a glimpse of him, she gasped, almost making the little tot fall out of her arms.

"MOM! MOM, COME HERE! YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!"

What was happening? Had he done something bad? He just wanted some information, nothing else. However before he knew it, he was sitting in a Ima , a cup of tea and mochi disposed in front of him while six enormous brown eyes contemplated each one of his movements.

He became all red, flushing at all that attention.

"Hana, did you see that? He blushes just like her!"

"I am not blind, Ashi! But look at his eyes, the same! They have the same eyes!"

"What did you expect, idiotic daughter? He after all is her son!"

"Uhm … I … uhm … w-would … l-like to kn-know where I c-could f-find Hyûga Hinata-san …"

Oh, no, not the stutter again! It didn't happen often, but when it did, it was always when he was ill at ease.

"Oh, dear!"

A sigh escaped the older woman.

"She does not live hear anymore, Fuyubi-kun."

Huh? They knew his name? Woah!

The younger woman had a sweet voice.

"Oh, uhm, o-okay! Iamsorryforthedisturbance!"

He wanted to stand up and run away as fast as he could, before the furi of his haori was seized by the man's hand that said in a quite voice:

"Sit down, Fuyubi-kun."

He obeyed, not willing to have problems.

The older woman took a sip of her tea, before smiling melancholically to the boy.

"You are six years old, aren't you, Fuyubi-kun?"

He nodded.

"Then I have a gift for you."

His eyes widened in disbelief. He didn't even know that woman and she was willing to offer him something.

"Hana, go fetch the furisode for me."

A furisode? A FURISODE ?! Why was everybody taking him for a girl?!

Once the younger woman came back, she handed a white large box to the older one, who pushed it towards him.

"Open it."

He obeyed. He slid the lid open, revealing the back of a black silk. There was flame encompassing the kanji of 'Hi', the fire and the first syllable of his oka-san's name, which was surrounded by a plant of lavender, the same his father was lovingly taking care of.

A smell of berries and lavender escaped it, engulfing him.

"She wore it at her wedding."

"It … s-smells good …"

"It's her smell."

He extended a hand to take a little handkerchief lying on the black fabric. When he opened it, it was to discover a dried stem of lavender, it's perfume making him almost cry.

Where was this Hyûga … Inuzuka Hinata?