I'm being very bad and indulging yet another fic and my multi-shipping impulses. Forgive me.
Like Small Doses this will be short chapters and biweekly at least.
Story title and chapter titles will be stolen from the songs "Mind Over Matter" and "Superposition" by Young the Giant.
oOo
Very rarely did one clan of Konohagakure hire another clan to help them. Neither Shisui nor Fugaku can think of the last time it happened. Of course, it is not impossible. Anyone, even ninja themselves, can put out a mission notice.
But this one had been delivered to Shisui specifically. It came from the Hyuga.
Shisui now stands at parade rest in front of the Commissioner General of the Military Police Force. He watches his uncle's face twist in surprise and bafflement, as the older man reads through the summons.
"I don't think the Hyuga have ever hired a nin from another clan in the history of Konoha," Fugaku splutters, before gesturing to the scroll unwound on his desktop. "How did you get this?"
"A messenger from the Hokage Tower brought it to me while I was on patrol."
Fugaku scans over the end of the scroll, then points at a scrawl of blue ink. "This is Tsunade's signature. She's seen it, then."
"Hmm," Shisui nods. He read the scroll multiple times before bringing it to his uncle.
Fugaku begins to think out loud. "No other information other than it's from the Hyuga, it's an A-rank, and…" His eyes widen. "That's quite a large sum of money they're willing to pay. They're asking for you specifically."
Fugaku rolls it up and hands it to Shisui. Shisui accepts it and tucks it into a pocket of his vest.
"What do you think, Uncle?"
"I think you should go to this meeting and discuss it," Fugaku says. "Find out what's going on and report back to me."
"Yes, Sir." Shisui bows in farewell before heading out of the office back into the precinct.
What in the world does the Hyuga want with him?
oOo
Shisui half expects to be turned away at the gates when he arrives to the Hyuga compound. Instead, a dour faced clan member escorts him deep into the maze of buildings. This is his second time being inside. The first, was when he attended the ceremony that installed Neji as Clan Head.
They walk on stone pathways through carefully tended gardens and past impossibly beautiful traditional houses. The clan member leads Shisui to one of those houses that looks larger than the others. They move towards the back, where Neji sits on the porch. In front of him is a low table where a steaming teapot and two cups rest.
Shisui thanks his guide and walks up the stairs to meet his host. Neji stands. They exchange polite bows.
"Thank you for coming," Neji says. "Please. Sit." He indicates the pillow on the opposite side of the table.
Shisui obeys and waits quietly as Neji serves them both a hot cup of tea. Shisui takes a polite sip. The taste is surprisingly refreshing.
Neji sets down the teapot. He lets out a deep breath and closes his eyes tightly. He rests his fisted hands on his thighs.
He looks exhausted. Shisui does not blame him. It must be a terribly tough thing to take over an entire clan. Shisui himself felt glad he never has to worry about something like that. If, heavens forbid, Itachi cannot do it, Sasuke can instead.
Shisui waits for Neji to gather his composure.
Neji begins speaking with a low and gravelly voice. "I thank you for coming today. I know it is an unusual request, but I asked for you, because you're the closest thing Konoha has to a hunter-nin."
Shisui uses a sip of tea to cover his face. "You have someone you're looking for?"
"Yes," Neji says. "I have gone to look for her, and so have her teammates. But they have not been able to get permission from the Hokage to do a long-term mission. And I…"
He looks out into the garden. His eyes lock on something distant that Shisui cannot see. "I've been unable to leave. With the transition to my leadership, and the merging between the Main and Branch Houses, I've failed…"
Shisui's brows furrow slightly in confusion.
"And the elders refuse to let Hanabi out of the village in fear she'll befall the same fate."
Neji lets out an angry breath. To Shisui, the other man looks like a tiger sharpening his claws on the wooden bars of his cage. If Neji really wants to escape, he could. He stayed only out of obligation.
A predator hiring another predator to finish the hunt. Interesting.
"I was there for your ceremony with my uncle and Itachi. However, I don't think I was able to give you my congratulations at the time."
Neji met Shisui's gaze and nods. "Thank you."
When Neji returns his attention to the garden and does not continue, Shisui tried for polite conversation. He moves to set down his teacup.
"And is your uncle enjoying his new time to himself?"
Neji shakes his head. "My uncle is dying."
Shisui goes very, very still. He pauses there; his hand outstretched to set down the cup. That is news. Big news. No one in the village knows about Hyuga Hiashi's illness. Why is Neji telling Shisui? An Uchiha?
Shisui can only see the side of Neji's face, but his eyes do not look distant. They look dead. Shisui does not dare move.
Neji continues even more quietly. "He's taking the loss of my cousin very hard. The med-nin say he's heartbroken."
An infinitesimal tremor begins deep in Shisui's bones. He really hopes Neji is not saying what Shisui is thinking.
"If… if there is any chance she's still alive, I would like her to be brought back to see her father one last time."
The tremor grows and Shisui's hand shakes. The tea sloshes over the side and scalds his skin. Quickly setting down the cup on the saucer, he sets his hands in his lap.
"Lord Hyuga," Shisui says with dangerous calm. "Who is missing?"
Neji turns his frozen eyes to Shisui. "My cousin Hinata is six months late from a mission."
oOo
Coming up: Neji explains Hinata's mission. Shisui realizes how long its been since he last saw her.
*If you're interested in this continuing, do you mind letting me know please? I would like to know, because I'm so curious who else ships it haha.
