Chapter 10: Family Affairs

Hyuga Compound, Main House, 8:15 pm.

"Is that the best you can do, Hyuga Neji?! I thought that the genius of the Hyuga clan would be better than this!" Neji jumped back to avoid his attack.

This guy…was good. Even though Neji was fast, this guy was maybe as fast as Lee.

Neji clutched his leg. It was bleeding…badly.

--

"Hey, did you hear that?"

"What going on over there?" Hiashi turned towards the commotion. Where was Neji? Where was Takuya?

--

"I'll die before I give her up to you. You don't even have a place in her heart."

"So you do?" Neji glared at him. If he played this card…there was no going back.

"Hinata already has someone she loves. He loves her as well, and I doubt he'll let you have her." Takuya seethed.

"I'm the only one for Hinata! You bastard!" Takuya came at Neji throwing kunai, he easily dodged them and tackled him to the ground. His own kunai now hovering over Takuya's throat.

"He…is the only one for Hinata."

"Neji! What are you doing, boy?!" Hiashi grabbed Neji by his hair and lifted him off Takuya throwing him to the ground.

"Neji-niisan!" Hinata ran to his side, wrapping her arm around his shoulder. But Neji wasn't looking at her. He was staring at Takuya.

People crowded around him as if to shield him from Neji's wrath.

Members of the House glared at him. One of the elders came up and slapped him.

Hinata moved in front, as if to shield him from another attack. But Neji only brushed her back.

"You idiot!" The woman yelled.

"You foolishness, stupid, idiot! Are you trying to bring this clan into a mess?! After Hiashi-sama so gracefully took you in after your worthless father died and this is how you thank him?! By attacking the man to rule over you?! Damn you."

The woman was about to turn her anger speech to Hinata, when Takuya stepped in.

"Please…don't be harsh with him. He was only trying to do what he thought was right. I believe I said something that highly upset him. Forgive me, please." Hanabi stepped out of the crowd and bent by Neji's side.

"Father, Neji's hurt." Hiashi, without glancing at him pointed to the House.

"Leave." Neji got up, Hinata and Hanabi made to follow.

"Hinata, Hanabi. Leave him alone." Takuya walked over to Hinata, slinking an arm around her waist. He turned to face her.

"Hinata…I'm so sorry for this mess."

"What did you say?" Takuya furrowed his brows, Hinata looked at him. Eye to eye.

"What did you say to make, Neji-niisan…so upset?"

"It's a trivial matter. Nothing that you should be concerned about, dear." His hand moved to her cheek, stroking it slowly. Hinata brushed it away.

"I am not "your" dear." He glared at her.

"Then whose are you, Hinata?"

--

Branch House, 11:22 pm

"You… are a buttface, Neji-nii." Hanabi teased. She sat behind Neji, playing with his hair. Hinata softly giggled as she applied healing chakra to his wounds inflicted on by Takuya. Neji brushed her hands away.

"I'm fine Hinata-sama." Hinata frowned.

"No you're not."

"Yes, I am."

"No, you're not.

"Yes."

"Whatever." Hanabi butted in. She clonked Neji on the head with the brush.

"Hanabi-sama! What was that for?" Hanabi stood up, crossing her arms over chest, puffing it out.

"For being a total jerk! You worried Hinata-neesan and I! I thought that you might be hurt really bad, you butthead! Jerk-off! Ugly! Selfish! Meanie! Poopie-head! Impotent!" Neji reached up quickly covering her mouth with his hand.

"Sssh! Do want them to know you're here?!" Neji said, agitated.

After the "run-in" with Takuya and Neji, Hiashi soon declared the party over. Later that night the girls snuck into Neji's room after the guide lights were turned on. That's was around 9 pm. They had been there talking since.

Well, except for Neji. He hadn't muttered a word. Hanabi had made it her job to play in his hair, and Hinata hers to check over his leg.

This wasn't the first time they had spent time at night in his room. On many occasions Hinata and Hanabi would sneak food from the kitchen and make their way to his homey room in the Branch House. If the others knew it, they didn't tell. None of the members were willing to face Neji's Gentle Fist. Or Hinata's silent fury. Or Hanabi's whining.

"Hey, Neji-nii." Hanabi started.

"What is it?" Hanabi glanced at Hinata and back at Neji. She lowered her eyes.

"What did that Takuya say to make you so mad? I knew you had a temper, but that rarely comes out. Unlike Hinata-nee's." Hanabi joked. Hinata merely smiled, taking a bite of the food they had brought that night.

"He made a threat. I didn't like that."

"So you attacked him?" She stopped brushing his hair; waiting for an answer.

"Of course not." Hinata looked at her sister, a brow raised. Hanabi smirked.

"Oh, Neji-kun! Neji-kun!" Hanabi threw her arms around his neck and laughed. Hinata joined in.

"Neji-nii-kun! What did he say? Please, Neji-nii-kun?" Neji eyes widened. No…not this…anything but this…

Hanabi flexed her fingers, grinning evilly. Neji look at Hinata for safety. She smiled.

"No!!!" Neji yelled.

"Here comes the tickle monster!" They yelled. Hanabi jumped on his back, brining him to the floor. Hinata giggled. She attacked him, tickling him on his stomach while Hanabi attacked his sides.

"No-agh! Ah, ha, ha! H-Hinata-s-sama! H-H-Han-nabi-sama! P-please! Please, stop!" Neji tried to roll on his back to throw them off, but to no avail.

"Huh? Did you say you were going to tell us what Takuya-san said?" Hanabi asked. Neji rolled on to his back to find Hinata staring at him. Hanabi sat on his chest.

"Are you going to tell us or not, Neji-niisan?" Hinata begged. He looked from Hinata to Hanabi. He would be tortured tonight.

And sore from their damn tickling. He mentally shook his head. How was it that the great genius of the Hyuga clan had been reduced to submission by tickling? It just wasn't right.

He shook his head. He was not going to tell. Hanabi got her hands ready.

Hinata held him down.

Torture. Pure tickling, laughing like a maniac, rolling around the floor, tickling torture.

Reveiw! I love reviews! Tell me what you think of this chapter and everything, contructive critisism is highly encouraged. :) Merry Christmas guys! Peave to the World and all my favorite FanWriters and fans!