The Way Of The Hyuuga
Chapter 10
A/N Well, here it is…I'm sorry that I seem to love leaving questions lying around and not answering them…I'll try to make things clearer in this chapter n.n;;
OOOOOOOOOOO
The meeting was over, and soon Neji and Tenten retreated to their residence in the Hyuuga compound…well, it actually looked more like Neji was chasing her, and not in the head-over-heels lover type of way… If anything, it looked like Tenten was trying to get away from him, but then the truth of her fast pace was revealed as Neji closed the door to their room behind him. He gave his wife a stern look as she walked over to the window, watching the wind sway as the birds sung.
"Tenten, what did Hinata mean by that?" He asked sternly, deciding it would be best to just cut to the chase of what was really going on in their minds, Neji wasn't going to beat around the bush any longer.
"Looks like you wont get your little wish after all…"She turned to him, with a look in her eyes just as harsh as his, in the years she'd been getting better at keeping up with his cold stares it seemed.
"It's not just Hinata! It's everyone!!" Tenten yelled, her patience snapping as she paced across the room. And all Neji could do was watch…secretly wishing he could see her smile again, he kind of missed her normal optimism.
"Tenten!" He yelled, grabbing her wrist and stopping her movement, he was sick of seeing her so panic stricken, he hated seeing her suffer, and soon his gaze softened on her, and hers did the same. "Just tell me what's wrong…" He asked a little more sincerely, he wanted to help her; not make it worse…
"Neji…" She breathed, almost in awe of his paper white eyes. "Haven't you heard them all, talking about me?"
He 'hmphed' a little at her question, turning his head to the side slightly. "Well, I have been in hospital for a whole week, so no…" He sighed, "Just tell me what the others have been saying about you…"
It sounded like an order, and as much as Tenten loved to be her own person, she obeyed.
"Everyone, not just Hinata, they all think I attacked her, so…" She gulped. "So you and I could lead the clan, they think I've brainwashed you!!"
Neji's eyes widened slightly, it didn't make any sense, they could never could become Leaders could they? Surely they didn't stand a chance…he was of the branch house, and she was even lower than he… "That's impossible…"
"I know that, but no-one else thinks I do. I don't even want to be Heir! I don't want to rule a clan of bitter people that hate me!! That's not what I wanted, not ever!!!" She shouted, breaking the grip on her wrist, anger simmering in her eyes, but not towards Neji, just towards her own…fate, as it were.
"Neji, I just want you!" She shouted again, causing the older brunette to let his lip fall in amazement, what was he supposed to say now?
Instead, he said nothing, and simply embraced his wife, who grudgingly returned it.
"I believe you, and not everyone in this clan hates you, Hanabi doesn't, and I certainly don't… But unfortunately, when I gave you the chance to leave and you said no, you instantly took on all the baggage that comes along with it."
She laughed cynically into his chest. "Yeah…I did, didn't I? But, I suppose its worth it, but…it just makes me a little angry sometimes."
"That's understandable," Neji replied, his arms holding her a little more tightly than before. "What else would you like?" he asked, feeling almost as if he owed her a little something in return for her kindness over the years.
Tenten fell silent for a moment, contemplating his question.
"Like I said, I just want you…although, it would be nice if I could get along with the rest of your family, and it would be nice if I could feel more like a part of this clan…"
Neji nodded in understanding, before breaking away from her embrace and sitting on the corner of the bed. "It will take time you know, change doesn't happen overnight, but change can happen if you want it to." He looked up to find Tenten smiling at him, causing him to smile back…he was glad to see her with a happy expression after so long without it. Soon she was sitting beside him, looking out into nothingness.
"I'm glad you changed, Neji…" He looked over to her in surprised before she elaborated. "You know, you used to really annoy me, always talking about fate when we were kids…I kind of hated you."
He laughed, a rare sound to be heard from the prodigy's lips.
"Ah, I know. I kind of hated you too, but then…I pretty much hated everyone."
Her laugh seemed more boisterous than his as she gripped a pillow and whacked it over his head. "Heey!! At least I wasn't annoying, you sour-grape!"
"Who are you calling a grape?!" He growled, taking another pillow and slamming it over Tenten's face before she had the chance to laugh again. Lately the two hadn't had much chance to be so fancy-free, but it felt nice to just laugh again like they used to, a swell of feathers burst into the air as the pillows collided in their somewhat heated battle… Tenten almost felt like a child again, no matter how many duties seemed to be weighing down her shoulders… now, the only thing that felt like it was weighing her down, was probably the large pillow Neji was slamming over her shoulders, she laughed at his attempts, the likes of which causing tears to sting in the corners of her eyes.
"Eie! Play nicely,"
He hummed a laugh through his closed lips before the pillow he sent towards her made her fall stomach first on to the bed. "I never play nicely…" He cooed in a low tone of voice before sitting beside her on the bed, slowly he wrapped one arm around her neck as she drew circles with her fingertip on his chest… They sighed contently, before looking towards the closed door.
"Heh, I'm surprised Hanabi hasn't walked in yet…this is usually her cue…"
Neji laughed slightly at his wife's comment, having no idea that his little cousin was actually standing outside the door. For once she hadn't burst in, but…she had heard what Tenten had previously said. The younger Hyuuga thought it would be best if she didn't intrude this time, as a series of thoughts played upon her mind.
'Tenten want's to feel more like a part of this clan?' Hanabi thought to herself for a moment, almost feeling sorry for Tenten, and hating the way a few of the family members would treat her, it was simply unfair…The poor girl hadn't done anything wrong! It was the others, they were wrong; they were the murderers…
'Thank you Tenten, for your inspiration,' Hanabi thought with a smile playing on her lips as she walked away from the room, ideas already seemed to be popping up in her head… but they weren't just ideas.
They would become reality.
Especially with the new information Hanabi had received after Hiashi's little 'meeting' of sorts with the lovebirds.
OOOOOFLASHBACKOOOOO
The brunette hid herself behind one of the corners of the corridor, watching with curious eyes as Neji, Hinata, Tenten and Hiashi left the room, all of whom looking drained from the ordeal. Each turned to one another before making their leave, Neji and Tenten in one direction, and Hinata and Hiashi in the other. Hanabi's eyes narrowed in curiosity, she simply had to know what was said!! They were her family after all, surely she had the right to know anyway didn't she?
Sure, Hanabi had said she would cover Neji at the hospital, but in the end she'd just crept back home, her nosey personality obviously getting the better of her. Unfortunately she didn't get to hear the conversation, only the cries that erupted from the room…but as soon as she bumped into her sister and father…
Suddenly, all her questions were answered.
She didn't even need to ask, as she watched Hinata's face sadden and crumple into a frown, before silent sobs left her pale lips.
"Hanabi…I'm sorry if I was ever unkind to you, you never deserved it…""Hina-chan?" Hanabi asked curiously as Hinata stroked the younger girl's brown locks away from her face, and for the first time in years, Hanabi began to see her old sister again.
"I-I'm going to get help, I'm not well…"
Hesitantly, Hanabi responded. "I…I know."
Hinata nodded, "You and father are the only ones I care about now, no-one else matters, not my cousins nor their wives…" Hinata trailed off bitterly, almost causing Hanabi to sigh as Hiashi looked away from his daughters. OK, so maybe she'd never be her old self, but… at least now, she was admitting to her problems. It was a start, wasn't it?
"Goodbye Hanabi, I hope we'll see each other again someday."
The youngest Hyuuga's breath seemed to get caught in her throat, what was this? Why were tears now streaming down her cheeks as well. "Good…bye?" Hanabi only just managed to choke out.
Hinata nodded sadly, before walking away from her sister.
"Oh, and by the way…"
Hanabi turned to her sister one last time, both of their bodies trembled with sadness. No matter what Hinata had done, she was still Hanabi's sister, Hanabi still loved her… what was this goodbye business? How long would she be gone for?
Hinata turned back, to watch her sister cry and weep, but Hinata expression never changed.
"Take good care of our clan."
Hanabi's sobs fell silent as she looked back up at her sister, who looked more like a blur through the tears. "…Hinata?"
For the first time she watched Hinata's mouth arc, arc into a smile that didn't show bitterness of hatred, a genuine smile that only Hanabi was graced with. "Congratulations, looks like you'll be taking my place…"
"….Me?"
Hinata nodded as she began to walk away into her own fate, one that would hopefully cure her sour illness in time for her to see her little sister take the title of…
"Head of the Clan?"
"The title's all yours, well done…" Her father said, patting his daughters shoulder as Hinata disappeared beyond the corridor. Hanabi didn't know what to feel now, happiness? How could she be happy with this title, knowing that she'd lost her sister in the process..
'No, I haven't lost her, she'll be back, back to normal someday…'
The image of Neji's happy face cropped up in the young Hyuuga's mind, it was a rare thing to see on his face, and Tenten seemed to be making it more common it seemed. Hanabi clenched her fists in determination, she had to, with the help of Tenten, make sure that smile was permanent, she had to make Tenten and the rest of the clan happy too…she had duties to fulfil, there would be no time to cry.
'Hinata-chan, I'm going to make you proud of me, I'm going to make sure I do a good job. I'm going to make everyone happy…I hope…'
OOOOOENDFLASHBACKOOOOO
"Mn…n-neji…" Tenten cooed softly as her husband nipped at the tanned skin of her neck with loving kisses, her neck arched up to give him better access as feathers billowed and floated in whichever way the wind from outside the ajar window would take them. The pillow fight was over, and now all that was left were two people and a feather infested bed…
Her hands snaked around Neji's head, toying with the ends of his velvety like hair, that was, until…a knock was hammered onto the wooden door. Both shot up like lightning from their place on the bed, Tenten's cheeks seemed a little flushed, and Neji simply smirked at the mark on his wife's neck.
Vanilla and Chocolate eyes looked up to see another Hyuuga at the door.
"Haishi has ordered a meeting with the entire clan, in the main house's hall, you'd best come quickly." The man spoke, causing both to nod before getting up.
"Hey Neji…" Tenten began as he looked back at her while she dusted the feathers off of her attire. "Do you think this meeting is about…Hinata and Hanabi?"
Neji turned away for a moment to contemplate. "Probably, I doubt he'll mention Hinata's illness…but, he'll probably tell us all about Hanabi's new title."
Tenten nodded as they walked into the corridor. "I'm glad she got it, she deserved the title more than anyone else in this clan," Tenten thought out loud before realising just how rude that must've sounded. "Uhh, no offence."
Neji simply huffed, wrapping his arm casually around Tenten's waist. "None taken, I didn't want to take over anyway…"
"I'm glad…" Tenten softly mumbled as they walked into main house territory, normally a scary place to the young weapon's mistress, but with Neji by her side…it almost felt OK to be here.
OOOOOOOOOO
Tenten was reminiscing once again as she remembered the words Hiashi spoke clearly…
"Hyuuga Hinata will be residing in a rehabilitation unit from now on, until she feels well enough to return."
Honestly, Tenten hadn't expected Hiashi to be so open about the situation, but she felt that perhaps Hanabi had swayed him into saying it, nevertheless… Tenten felt the rest of the clan had to know. Most sighed with relief, glad that their relative was finally getting some help, and others looked down to the ground in sorrow, having lost the next leader of the clan. Tenten's eyes turned towards Neji who looked unaffected like always, before quickly glancing at his mother, who somehow managed to catch the quick look and smiled back at Tenten.
"However, because we are uncertain of how long recovery will take, the council members and I have decided that we must pass her position as Heir over, to Hanabi…"
Tenten remembered the way smile formed on the faces of everyone, all of whom were happy that Hanabi would never have to suffer the cursed seal, they all knew she was a capable leader, and a warm-hearted spirit, they were happy for her, as she was for her clan. A roar of claps echoed throughout the room as Hanabi walked to the front of the hall and stood by his side, ready to make a speech of her own.
Tenten remembered that one like no other…
"Thank you for giving me this chance father, I will never let you or my family down, and this…Includes my sister, Hyuuga Hinata," Hanabi stated as her eyes scanned the room. "I will make sure she recovers, no matter what…but this isn't my only priority as Heir, there are a few…changes, I'd like to make, right here…
Right now."
Everyone's interests perked at this statement, knowing Hanabi still had another year to wait before she became head of the clan, she had no right to be making changes now.
"I have to make them now…" Hanabi looked up to her fathers stern eyes, and Tenten quickly felt her husband's hand squeeze hers a little more tightly than before. "Please father, this can't wait."
A silence filled the air, as Hiashi's eyes narrowed slightly towards his daughter; subtlety she was begging to cause a scene…she was only supposed to come up to say thank you and then go back to her place…
"I'm afraid you'll have to wa-"
"I CAN'T WAIT!!!"
A few low gasps could be heard as Hanabi yelled at the top of her lungs, Tented watched over the heads of others in front of her, to see a half-angered, half-determined expression on the young Hyuuga's face.
"Don't you get it?! Don't you see it? Have you seen how real families act, any of you?!" Now she turned to the audience of wide-white eyes. "Real families don't hate one another, they don't curse each other, inflict pain upon each other; they don't fight and shout and argue with each other. Real families love each other unconditionally, family is a bond that never breaks no matter how hard you tug at it, nothing should be able to break the bond of blood….but our blood, it looks like someone's put poison in ours…"
She pointed an accusing finger to the back of the room where Neji's mother was, and a group of other Hyuugas without white eyes.
"You!! All of you came from different families, what was that like? Did you smile back then? 'Cause it looks like you've all forgotten how to smile now." Hanabi ranted on, causing the room to stir uncomfortably, especially those of the main house.
The young girl sighed before looking back at her father. "I'll ask you one more time…
"Let me change this clan now. For the better…"
OOOOOOOOOO
Tenten remembered how long it took Neji to get some sense kicked into him, she remembered how set he was against change, it had taken years for him to see it…so naturally, Tenten expected it would take years for Hanabi's words to be listened to, but she was proved wrong…
It was only moths until Tenten had a cursed seal adorning her own forehead.
She looked around one of the courtyards months and months after the meeting that was held in what used to be the main house, everyone was laughing and smiling, everyone had seals on their head too, just like hers… Hanabi's wishes had come true.
There was no main and branch today. Everyone was equal.
'Everyone will have the cursed seal placed upon them, including me. But I will burn every scroll containing the jutsu on how to activate it, no-one will ever be taught the technique again, and anyone who does use it was be sentenced to death.'
'This seal, it will be the marking of a Hyuuga, white eyes wont define us anymore, we will be proud of these marks! We will be a united family, no more Main and Branch!!'
Tenten smiled to herself, remembering when she was branded, and how nice it felt to wake up to Neji brushing back her chocolate bangs and kissing the mark, and his words… 'Welcome to the family,' The smile on her face had never been wider. The ache of the small operation dulled in comparison the joy that overwhelmed her today.
However, while the delight was immense…there would forever be that pang of sadness at the back of her mind.
"I know why you're not truly happy Tenten," Hanabi said as she sat next to Tenten in the small courtyard where the jounin was admiring the flowers.
"Oh?" The brunette enquired.
"You're sad because I took your dream away…"
Tenten cast her gaze to the side in defeat. "Heh, you got me…I guess, it would've been nice if I could've been the one to change this clan, but as long as its still changed for the better, I'm still happy…"
Hanabi laughed to herself, causing Tenten to quirk a brow.
"What's so funny?"
"Don't you get it Tenten? Why do you think I did all of this?"
Tenten blinked in confusion, having no idea of what Hanabi meant, her thoughts silenced when Tenten felt a shadow from above tower her, and looking up, she met Neji's stare before he too, sat by her side.
"I think what Hanabi means, is that it was you who changed this clan…"
"WHAT?!"
"Damn Nii-san, why must you be so smart like that?" Hanabi huffed before turning to Tenten, "Well, yeah, Neji's right." She said as a smug smile graced the boy's lips.
"The idea about the cursed seal would've never come to Hanabi had it not been for your inspiration. She was inspired by you, and every other Hyuuga without white eyes to change things, so…technically, it was you that changed things here."
"Uh huh! I just had the power to do it for you, if that make sense…" Hanabi trailed off with a sheepish look on her face, causing Tenten to laugh whole-heartedly.
"Yeah, I suppose that does make a lot of sense, thanks you guys…"
"No problem! Well, I'd better get back to 'Heir stuff'," Hanabi said with a small chuckle before standing up and dusting herself off. "Oh, Neji's also got an idea about changing this clan for the better! Right Nii-san?" She said with a small wink and a giggle as Tenten gave the two another quizzical look…especially now that Neji was blushing like mad.
"HANABI!" He growled as his face went from pink to red.
"Neji…what the hell does she mean?" Tenten asked, her eyes narrowing as Neji tried to look at anything but her.
"It…it doesn't matter." He mumbled before standing up and trying to leave.
"HEY!!!" Tenten yelled before grabbing a firm hold of him by the shirt. "Teeellll meeeee!!!"
"You're annoying when you whine."
"Tell me!"
"No."
"Tell me!!"
"No."
"TELL ME IF YOU DON'T WANT ALL YOU HAIR TO BE CHOPPED OFF IN THE MIDLE OF THE NIGHT!!!"
"I WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN!!!"
…
…
Children?
…
Neji?
…
Neji wanted children?
Her children?
Tenten's arms fell limp by her side while she continued staring at Neji with a hypnotised look in her eyes, as he softly held her hand.
"I think we're ready, and ever since…ever since that day, I realised just how happy I would've have been, had we had children back then, and how distraught I was when we didn't. I'd like to change this clan again, and I want to do it with you Tenten…" He said in a low, serious tone of voice, he meant that with all of his heart, she could tell…
"The only question is…is this what you want too?"
Did he even need to ask?
"More than anything…" She said in a breathy, shell-shocked tone, until her smile came back and she practically pounced on the poor Hyuuga, giving him the type of hug that liked to suffocate. "More than anything!!!"
He laughed through chocked gasps before circling his arms around her. "Then, you'd best not kill me just yet." She laughed again before sitting up, and by now…the two had gained a little audience in the courtyard.
"Neji, thankyou…"
"For what?"
"For making my wishes come true…" She smiled, planting a soft kiss on his lips.
"And thank you too…"
"Hm? For what?"
Did she even need to ask?
"For changing the way of the Hyuuga…"
OOOOOENDOOOOO
A/N Yup, that's it, I FINALLY finished this Fanfiction n.n. So how was it? Hope the ending wasn't too sappy for you, and hey…might even do a sequel if I can be bothered xD anywho…let me know what you thought.
Thanks to all the reviewers, you are inspiration as always, and thanks to the NejiTen lovers, n.n sunshine lollipops and rainbows…well, I'll leave it there for now. Until next time, Ja ne!!