Gravity
Part Three
It was difficult to believe that the woman sitting at the head of the table with her hands splayed out before her and tears running down her face was Hyuuga Hinata. Though she was shaking, there was a determination in her eyes that hadn't been present there for quite some time. Despite her quavering voice, the words were firm, and her expression commanded respect even though she was in obvious turmoil.
There was nothing Neji could do to give her the recognition she was demanding but listen, even though his every instinct urged him to yell. Did she not see that it was the council who was in the wrong? They were guilting the woman into doing what they wanted, using her in a manner that he had sworn to himself all those years ago he would not allow anyone to. Why was it that she was bowing to their will, giving them the very thing they wanted?
Fists clenching, he watched helplessly as her breathing quickened, chest rising and falling sharply as she fought to control the tears. Hinata-sama truly was not suited for this position. She was too gentle a person, so easily led and intimidated by others. More than anything she wanted to please everyone, and she had yet to learn the harsh lesson that no matter what you did, how good you were, there would always be someone left unsatisfied.
To give happiness to others by a sacrifice of this magnitude...
It would destroy her from the inside out.
Her expression wavered once and then smoothed out, and he watched as she drew herself up and attempted to look confident. He knew confident was the last thing she was feeling -- and damn the woman for doing this. Hadn't he sworn when he was but a child that he lived to protect her, and this family? Perhaps that was not his sole purpose in life, but he had not forgotten his father's wish. His father's wish... that he would protect his cousin.
He ground his teeth as she began to speak once more, her tone still soft, but with an unfamiliar undercurrent. "I will give in to the council's demands that I find a husband... on two conditions. Neji must be allowed to remain as the representative for the Branch house."
Eyes widening, Neji felt tension slowly begin to slip from his shoulders as an unfamiliar feeling washed over him. Was it... relief?
"More, I will not marry unless Neji approves... even if the rest of the council is not opposed... because I trust Neji's judgment beyond everything else."
His arms fell limply to his sides as he saw Hinata avert her gaze, pushing off the table to help herself stand. She looked upset, and like she might break down in earnest if she didn't get away, right then. He was too stunned to say anything, however; Hinata trusted him? When had this occurred? As far as he had known, she was still afraid of him, not that he had blamed her. After the way he'd treated her at the first Chuunin exams, there had been little doubt in Neji's mind that Hinata would never hold him in any particular regard, save for hesitant acceptance, and fear.
He didn't understand the reaction her words wrought on him, either. There was an unexplainable warmth in his chest, one that made his mouth go dry. Why was it that a few simple words from her had this effect?
Perhaps that was the essence of Hinata's strength. The ability to make others feel.
"I... I have to go now."
He came to his senses a moment too late. She had already turned and run out the door, arms wrapped tightly around herself as she stumbled down the hall. She left a deafening silence in her wake as each mind tried to catch up to what had just progressed.
Hiashi was the first to break the silence. "Neji-kun. Please accept my apologies for the way I acted. The council will respect Hinata's wishes, of course."
Neji's gaze slid to his uncle and he merely looked at him a moment, judging the sincerity of the man. It was true that Hiashi had been cruel, uncharacteristically so in this meeting, but perhaps the stress of his daughter evading marriage to such an age had been catching up to him. Because Hinata had chosen to forgive him this evening, so would Neji.
But only this evening.
He nodded once, reaching up to brush his hair from his shoulder again, an act that drew the council's eyes to the cursed seal displayed prominently on his forehead. He knew they didn't like the fact that Neji had chosen as of late not to hide the seal, but this act held personal significance for him. Though he had become more accepting of the differences between the two houses, that did not mean that he forgot the anguish and the pain that he had suffered much of his life, that people to this day still suffered.
He would not outright disobey the Main family, but he would never submit to them blindly. The showing of his seal explained that more eloquently than he ever could in words. That... and he did not want anyone else to ever be able to forget the pain of the Branch house.
To forget was to err again in ignorance, and that was something Neji would never allow to happen. He would not be able to forgive himself if another person had to endure the pain he had.
He trusted that Hinata, when she came into her full power as the head of the family, would not allow the cruelty of their ancestors to continue. To do that, however, she had to marry.
It was now as much his responsibility as it was hers to foster change in their family. Fate had a way of surprisingly him lately.
He glanced toward the door once again as his uncle said, "Neji-kun, please choose a good husband for my daughter." Then he left, followed in silence by the rest of the council.
Neji hesitated only a moment before striding from the room, his intent the garden, where he knew Hinata would be.
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She had her arms wrapped as tightly around herself as she could, attempting in vain to stop the helpless shaking of her shoulders. Hinata couldn't believe she had spoken to her father in such a way. He had looked so surprised... perhaps he was even more angry with her now. Why did things have to be so difficult, and so confusing? She wanted to make him happy, but no matter what she did, somehow, she always messed it up.
And Neji... she'd finally said what she wanted to, told everyone that she trusted him, but she hadn't been able to read his face. Was he angry with her, too? It had seemed that he was angry -- no, furious. She hoped he didn't hate her for speaking up like that. They hadn't ever been close, but Hinata knew that he was a genuinely good person. She got feelings from people, and Neji felt... warm.
Like Naruto. She knew that Naruto was a good person, had always known, just as she had always known that Neji wasn't cruel. He had been hurting, and when people hurt, they sometimes did things they regretted. She could never hold the things he did when he was thirteen against him.
Stumbling on a rock, her eyes widened as she tripped. She threw her arms out in an attempt to stop the fall, but she was not fast enough, and her knees rapped sharply against the path and stone bit into her palms. It hurt, and she stared at her hands through blurred eyes for a moment, unmoving.
She said she wanted to be strong, but here she was, running away from her problems, and crying instead of speaking up for herself. How ridiculous, to think that she had done anything but make a fool of herself. Tears slipped from the end of her nose and dropped onto the concrete as she slowly sat back, tilting her face up toward the sunshine.
Tomorrow she would begin looking for a husband. There was no point in holding on to the childish wish that she could marry for love. In time, she would come to love to man she married. Her family would never allow her to wed a man that she wouldn't like, after all. Love, she supposed, was really just a great deal of like, added to respect, and understanding...
"Hinata-sama."
She opened her eyes and slowly lowered her chin, gaze falling on Neji. He was standing before her, hands at his sides, expression unreadable as he watched her. She looked up at him, palms still flat on the stone beside her, and smiled tremulously as she imagined the censure she was about to receive.
"Yes, Neji?"
He surprised her by offering his hand, enough so that she took it without hesitation. Gently he helped her stand, and for a moment, he just looked at her.
"You shouldn't cry. It is... unseemly," he said softly, reaching up to brush his free hand across her cheek. When her eyes widened he dropped his hand, angling his head.
What could he mean by that? The words... they weren't kind, but his tone said something else. Was he trying to comfort her, in his own way?
A genuine smile curved the corners of her mouth as she nodded and wiped at her own eyes. "O-of course, Neji. Thank you."
He turned her hand over in his and examined her palm for a moment, before lifting his free hand and focusing his chakra. Within a moment she felt the pain ebb, and he did the same with her other hand.
"Tomorrow, we will begin the search for your husband. Rest well tonight, Hinata-sama."
With that he turned and walked away, his hair stirring slightly in the breeze as he did. She watched him silently, unsure exactly of what to think, but certain of at least one thing.
It seemed... that Neji didn't hate her after all. What a relief.
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Once again, thank you for all my reviews. You don't know how happy you make me by telling me what you think of my fic. I'm sorry this one is shorter than the others. Look out for the next chapter soon, hopefully!
