Chapter 11 - Sadness and Sorrow
Crash!
The sound of a glass shattering on the floor echoed throughout the dining room.
"Hinata-nee!" screamed a frightened Hanabi.
Before the clan that had stopped eating stared at the heiress. Hinata had a shocked expression. Her wrist was bright red and looked as if a bruise would form. Why? she thought. Why did Neji just slap her hand?
Neji pulled Hinata's hand to him examining it to see if there were any cuts or bruises he could have caused from suddenly smacking her hand away from the tea cup. He could tell that everyone around him were disgusted for his actions in attacking a main house member. He pushed that aside. Right now it was essential to know whether Hinata was okay or not.
"Hinata-sama, please forgive me for my rash behavior but you must not drink that tea," he said. Hiashi gave him a look as if telling him to continue.
"Why Nii-san?" Hinata asked.
Neji didn't want to say anything in front of the elders for they might use the cursed seal against him and call him a liar. However, Hinata was his master, the new leader and she had the right to command him to tell her. Whether it meant in front of them or not. He avoided her eyes staring at the shattered tea cup, "Hinata-sama, there ... there was poison in that tea."
Hinata couldn't believe what she was hearing. It had to be the work of either Juusuke or Sakaki. Maybe even both of them.
Sakaki tried very hard not to seem like she was the one who was planning to poison Hinata. On the other hand, Juusuke turned to glare at his sister. His stupid sister had gone on with the plan on trying to eliminate Hinata. He wanted so bad to kill Sakaki. He had already told her they would attack with force. Now that her plan failed, it would be even more difficult to get near Hinata. He was certain that Hiashi would make sure that the security around Hinata would be tightened.
From that point on Hinata's mind was disturbed. She couldn't think straight, trying to comprehend what was going on. She felt numb. She couldn't hear anyone or anything. It was as if she saw nothing but white. Everyone around her tried to talk to her. Hanabi clasped her hand and rubbed her back trying to assure her, but nothing. Hinata couldn't hear her own sister.
She was too shock to even know what was going on around her. Hiashi stood up and whispered to Hanabi. Hanabi nodded and took her sister's hand and led her out of the dining room. Hiashi had sent a servant to send Hinata's dinner to her room away from everything and everyone. He suddenly turned to Neji and nodded. Neji bent his head low not wanting to make eye contact with anyone in the room. Hiashi sent him away.
Once Hinata, Hanabi, and Neji were away from the dining room, Hiashi turned to elders. It was eminent that he was furious. The elders looked amongst themselves trying to figure out who would go and poison the heiress. They had all began trying to get used to the fact that Hinata would be the new leader. If she were to die then it would go to Hanabi. They were a little happy about it, but after Hinata's display of strength and leadership in her previous missions before and along the years, they have been reconsidering her. However, most still didn't approve of her. Even so she was still part of the main house.
"Speak now whoever had planned this," he said.
No one said anything. Hiashi frowned. If no one would confess, he would have enforce restrictions around the compound. No one said anything. It was settled, he had no choice. Hiashi turned his back to them and walked out of the dining room not before ordering a few servants to check all the food supplies for poison and to discard what ever didn't look safe to eat in the kitchens. The servants nodded and headed to work.
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A knock was heard in Hinata's bed room door. Hanabi slid the door open while Neji continued to help Hinata adjust to her room. Hiashi entered the room and walked straight to his traumatized daughter. He placed his hand on her shoulder. Hinata shook and looked up to see her father worrying over her. Hinata shook her head, "I'm fine otousan."
"No you are not."
"Why?" Hiashi knew the answer to what she was asking. He didn't know how to tell her.
"Why?" she asked again.
"Hinata, you must be brave -
"Why? Why otousan? What did I do wrong?" Tears came flooding from her eyes. Soon she began to shake in fear and anguish. She knew who did it. She really did.
Hiashi hugged the heiress as she continued to cry. Hanabi joined in and hugged them both. Hiashi looked up at Neji. Neji was about to walk away and give the family privacy when Hiashi lifted his hand and told him to come. Neji looked reluctant at first but went to them anyways. He place his hand over Hinata's shoulder and now the four of them embraced each other. It was strange for Neji it really was but, either way he didn't mind.
Hinata finally stopped crying and looked around her. The three people that mattered the most in he life stood there in her room watching her, praying for her. She couldn't have been any more happier but the thought of almost dying kept her from being happy, "Gomen."
Hanabi stared at her sister curiously, "For what?"
"I'm sorry for causing you all so much trouble. I'm supposed to be the new leader but I couldn't even tell if there was poison in the tea."
Hiashi stared at Hinata, "Nobody would have known it was there. Neji didn't even know there was poison there until you almost drank it."
"Still, I'm sorry."
"Hinata-nee -
"Maybe it's best if you chose someone else to be the new leader. Someone more skilled than me, someone who never fails. Like Neji-nii. He would be perfect for the role of leader."
"Hinata-sama, you know that's not possible. I'm only a branch member I can't take the role as clan leader."
"Anyone. Otousan, please just choose anyone but me."
"Hinata, I have made my decision, you will be the next leader. I'm not taking back what I said." Hiashi stood up he patted her head and smiled, "I know you will get through with this." He got up and motioned for Hanabi to follow. Hanabi quickly gave her sister a hug and kiss before leaving.
Neji stood there just gazing at her. He clenched his fist, she had almost died and he barely made it in time to save her. He felt ashamed for not protecting her soon enough. Yes she didn't consume any of the tea but still, he was almost too late and now her hand was bruised up because he had whacked her hand so hard which he didn't intentionally do.
Neji walked towards Hinata and just wrapped his strong arms around her. Hinata let her head rest on his shoulder. She stared out at the window. It began to snow.
Hinata hated snow. She loved it when she was young until that day. Until 'he' took her mother away from her. Could she really become the leader? Tomorrow was the ceremony. She had almost been poisoned. Would the ceremony be cancelled? Would they find someone else to replace her?
She didn't know. Hinata continued to look out at the window watching the tiny white snow flakes fall to the ground. How can something so pretty be hated by her? She doesn't hate, but because of that man, it was possible for her to feel hatred.
Hinata looked up at Neji, in an out of character way, she grabbed Neji and pressed her lips to his fiercely. Neji, being surprised backed up a bit. Hinata snaked her arms around Neji's neck. They moved around still lip locked. Neji's back slammed into a glass sliding door which led to Hinata's balcony. He felt Hinata grip onto his sleeves. Neji brushed his hand through her dark indigo locks sliding his fingers through them. His tongue touched her lips begging to enter. She complied letting him wrestle with her tongue.
Hinata removed her hands from his sleeves onto the cold surface of the glass. Her eyes darted from his to the snow. Neji turned his head and saw the snow fall. He looked back at her and saw the sorrowful expression.
"Hinata-sama -
"Neji," Neji stared at her, she hadn't used an honorific to his name which sent shivers down his spine.
"Please, don't say 'sama'. Just Hinata. Just Hinata is fine," she stared intently at his pale pupiless eyes. Neji nodded and kissed her once again, "Hai, Hinata."
It was weird, but he preferred to call her that because it assured him that she considered him to be more than just her cousin, her protector, more than someone she could run to; to use because Naruto was already taken. With that thought he couldn't help but ask her curiously, "Hinata, are we lovers?"
Hinata smiled, "Hai," she blushed afraid he didn't want to hear that answer. Neji smiled back at her. He linked her hands with hers, "What about Naruto?"
"What about him?"
"Are you still in love with him?"
"Neji, it was never love to begin with. I always admired him. Yes he was my motivation to become stronger, but I was never in love with him, because I was always in love with you," she blushed harder and burried her face into his chest.
"Hinata, I'm sorry; I'm sorry I abandoned you when you needed me. I'm sorry I let the stupid cursed seal get in the way of our friendship. I'm sorry I almost killed you during the Chuunin exams. I'm sorry for everything," Neji choked, he never cried but for some reason he felt like it now. Even though there were no tears, his heart was crying.
"I forgive you. You don't have to apologize. I'm just glad that you love me back. Even if it's wrong. I want to be with you Neji. I don't care if you're my cousin or if you are a branch member. I just want to be with you."
Neji held onto Hinata, not letting her go, "I want to be with you too."
Now that Hinata clarified that she had feelings for him and wanted to spend her life with him, he was more than sure that he wanted the same thing. He would fight for her - no for them. It didn't matter to both of them whether they were cousins or from separate branches. All they wanted was to be together and to love each other freely. There was nothing else in the world that mattered.
Hinata and Neji slid down to the floor and began singing a song. Neji laid his head on her lap as she stroked his hair singing to him. Neji recognised the song, it had been a song she used to sing to him before he left her because of the cursed seal.
"If the years take away every memory that I have
I would still know the way
That would lead me back to your side
The north star may die
But the light that I see in your eyes
Will burn there always
Lit by the love we have
Share before time."
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Hi everyone I'm sorry this chapter was angsty, but hey I manage to squeeze in a Hina x Neji fluff. Um yeah I realize Hinata was way out of character here and maybe for the whole entire story. I deeply apologize. I just tried to make her seem like the person she could be a few years from the show.
Oh and the song she sings is a real song.
It's called 'A Love Before Time' by Coco Lee and it is the theme song of the award winning movie, "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon"
Just letting you all know.
Also aren't you glad that there was like no Sakaki and Juusuke parts here except the dinner table thing?
Sorry one other thing, I'll be starting Drivers Ed tomorrow so I apologize to you all if I don't post up another chapter til Friday night or let's just say a long time. But don't worry, thanksgiving is coming up so I promise to post up a lot to make up for the days I miss.
