Road to Redemption
by Ave Jane
I do not own, in part or as a whole, Naruto. All standard disclaimers apply.
Part Eleven: Sacrifice
Hanuro Sakura's emerald irises shifted back and forth underneath heavy eyelids. Naruto held his breath as he scarcely hoped. He had spent the every conscious moment since his hearing pleading with the Divine. His shinobi career was lost to him, but his life was intact thanks to the Sixth Hokage.
He was guilty, guilty of so much, but if he could just have this one thing. He just wanted one thing.
He'd made a deal with God. If Kami-sama displayed mercy on the one he loved, than he would fulfill all he promised. He did not need to be absolved of his past sins or granted any future boons, he just wanted Kami-sama to look out for her. Uzumaki, Naruto would become a saint and devote his entire life to Hanuro, Sakura if Kami would just save her.
When green eyes opened for the first time in three years, the blonde's eyes were slightly misted. Sakura reached for his hand and he extended it knowing that his prayers had been answered.
"You do not have to do this."
Hinata looked up to see her cousin standing in her old doorway. He was no longer her fiancé, because she was no longer Hyuuga. The Hyuuga genius could never marry a woman who had renounced her clan.
It had been strange. Her decision to withdraw from the Hyuuga had not resulted in distain from her fellow clan members. The Council of Elders had been pleasantly pleased with her volunteered removal, even if her father had been momentarily stunned. The branch members, who had always treated her with a sort of indifferent ignorance, were now sneaking glances at her from the corner of their all seeing eyes. They seemed to have found a sort of indirect relief in her insubordination that redeemed her of the sins of her main house pedigree.
She figured that was why Neji had come to see her. Since she had endured the brand in exchange for her freedom from the clan, her standoffish cousin had treated her with the respect due a martyr. She did not understand why the green curse seal scrawling across her lower back suddenly made her worthy of her clan's chilling adoration. Still she was not one to remark on odd behavior.
"Do not have to do what, Nii-san?"
Neji's eyes remained motionless, but Hinata knew that he was surveying her empty room and her own person.
"You do not have to move out, or withdraw from the ninja arts, nor do an assortment of other things."
It took her a moment to realize that the Hyuga genius's last statement was meant in jest. His blank expression had made it difficult to decipher. Hinata nodded, pressing her lips together as per her new habit when unsure of the right words to say.
"You could stay. You are a noble Hyuuga."
Hinata blinked at the praise her rigid cousin was doling out. He thought she had declined her birth right in order to prevent the Clan future ruin at the hand of her incompetent leadership. He somehow convinced himself that her decision was all about Clan welfare over self. Ironic.
"I would be proud to bear you as my wife."
She should have been speechless, but her words for once were quick to form. They spilled bluntly from her mouth without apology.
"You do not like me."
"I would learn to."
If Hinata was a lighthearted soul she would have laughed. Hyuuga, Neji was proposing to her in the most uncharacteristic, yet fitting way he could. It was really quite ironic since their original engagement had been orchestrated through the Hyuuga council and the two cousins had had nothing to do with each other the entire time.
"Why?"
"I have observed you and I have concluded that you and I could co-exist with one another over time as our duty demands that we should." Her silence prompted Neji to open his mouth once again ready to assault her resistance with inarguable logic. It made no sense and Hinata was quick to stop him.
"No. Why would you consider this now, when you are free of your obligation? Why would you seek something that you, as a person, never wanted?"
Whether it was her straightforward manner or her extended inquiry that astounded him she would never know, but Hyuuga, Neji's face changed in that moment. His normally hard eyes relaxed and his blank facade faltered into one of vague realization.
"You did this for me, Hinata-sama."
Hinata would not lie. She had a personal, selfish reason for her departure from the Hyuuga. That reason could easily be concealed through her union with Neji, but she could not do that to him. Plus, Hinata had always felt for her cousin. It was true that life had dealt him a particularly difficult set of cards and he deserved to be relieved of some of his ill luck.
Bowing her head slightly she finally gave him his answer, "Hai, in part."
She offered no more of an explanation. Neji asked for none, but scrutinized her long and hard as she retained her humbled position. It had been ages when she finally raised her gaze. The Hyuuga genius was gone. Sighing, Hinata shook her head and returned to her packing.
I could no sooner burden you to claim the bastard child of either a rapist or an unrequited love, than I could murder an innocent child, Nii-san.
With this as her last thought, Hinata left the family she had never known, never to return.
I'm sorry that it is so short. I hope you enjoyed it anyway. I want to give a special thanks to MistressWinowy11, rodz, RH, Hatake Tsughi, .stars, and pharix. Regular and grateful thanks to everyone else, too. Hope you tune in next week for the last installment. Get ready for wedding bells one of our couples it getting ready to tie the knot. Ja ne!