Caged
Persepolis130
Notes: Hmm... sorry for posting the prologue twice... I'm such a dip!
CHAPTER 1
Neji had some amount of trouble finding the location specified by his uncle. After nearly a half-hour of searching, he found himself knocking at the door of a well-kept, nicely landscaped home along the southwestern city wall. Having left the address in his room, he could only hope he'd read it clearly and was in the right place.
Knocking on the door, Neji considered using his Byakugan to look inside but almost immediately heard approaching footsteps.
Taking a step back, Neji wondered what the man he was about to meet would be like, knowing what he did of Hyuuga family secrets. Of course, it was hard to guess when he didn't even know what field the man was so skilled in. Being used to taking each situation as it came, Neji's ninja reasoning told him not to speculate, but he couldn't help feeling intrigued. Perhaps this man would be the very same one who had trained his father.
However, when the door opened, it was a pretty young woman with a small, fluffy white dog who appeared. She looked a little tired, but friendly. "You're a bit early," she said.
"I'm sorry to disturb you," Neji started, "but I was told to meet someone here."
"Oh, of course," the woman answered, smoothing back her mussed blonde hair. "You have anyone particular in mind?"
Neji blinked. "Well... I'm not entirely sure..."
"Ah, that's alright! Come on in." Strangely, she told him not to remove his shoes.
Neji looked about the house questioningly, noting the finely decorated entryway. This was obviously the home of someone well-off, possibly a businessman. In times like these, this sort of opulence was reserved for families of noble birth and those skilled enough to create their own, monetary sort of nobility. It would then make sense that the young lady at the door was his new instructor's daughter.
"Sorry I look so awful," she told him, smiling cutely. "We usually don't get visitors 'til later."
"It's not an issue," Neji answered, though he couldn't quite see how there was anything wrong with her looks. Her short blonde hair, though messy, was nicely cut, and her legs were long and tan.
"Ah, good! So many guys are SO particular about that! So... you don't know who you're looking for? Mostly everybody else is asleep..."
Neji began to wonder who this person was. Shouldn't she know who he should talk to? And why would the entire household still be asleep? "I wasn't given a name," he finally told her.
"Well, maybe I could help you out...?" She proposed, smiling and tugging flirtily at her skirt as she petted her dog with her foot.
"I... don't think so..."
"Oh. Fine then," she said, looking put-out. "This way."
Her dog trundling close behind, the girl led Neji down a long, dim hallway with expensive-looking gold stencil designs on the walls. A dark-haired woman in fuzzy pink slippers and a lacy black slip lit up a cigarette and gave Neji an unclassifiable look as they passed her in the hall.
Leaving Neji with nothing more than a off-handed "this is it," in front of a heavy, carved wooden door, his guide scooped up her dog and headed back the way she came, sighing heavily.
Feeling more perplexed than ever, Neji was about to knock when the door was suddenly thrown open, revealing a richly-dressed middle-aged woman with heavily painted eyelids. From the graceful curve of her neck and the sweep of her thick, glossy hair, Neji could tell that she had once been stunning, but she now held more an air of confidence and authority than beauty.
"I've been expecting you, Hyuuga Neji," she told him in an low and authoritative yet pleasing voice as she escorted him in.
Upon entering the room, Neji found it even more luxurious then the others, with handmade imported rugs, thick crimson draperies, and a mahogany canopy bed draped in deeply-colored silk. Neji had never before seen this much wealth in one place.
"Please," the woman said, motioning toward the center of the room as she closed the door.
"Thank you," said Neji. The woman seemed to be evaluating him, her dark eyes following his movements as a ninja might size up his enemy. Standing solidly under her gaze, Neji saw her at last nod and turn to her desk.
"All right then, first things first," she began in a businesslike tone. "If anyone sees you here, be sure to have a plausible excuse on hand. It wouldn't do to tell them you're here on secret Hyuuga family business. Also, from now on, you will come at 3 p.m. Arrive on time."
"Of course."
"If, however, you can't make it on time, at least be sure to never be early. That wouldn't do at all."
Neji blinked.
"Nothing that takes place between the two of us will ever be repeated, so feel free to speak your mind and do as you see fit. However, violence of any sort will NOT be tolerated unless I have specifically instructed you in its use. If any of these rules are broken, I will immediately wash my hands of the entire affair, sending you home in disgrace. Am I understood?"
Neji nodded slowly, quite sure he didn't understand at all.
"In that case, there's no point in wasting time. Let's begin."
"Alright," Neji agreed, eyeing her unsurely.
"Good. You can put your clothes on the stool by the dresser."
Neji stared dully at the woman who was now draping her shawl over the arm of a high-backed chair. He must have heard wrong.
"Well, you certainly can't do it clothed, now can you?" she asked with a slight smile, removing one long, jeweled earring and then the other.
"I don't..." Neji began, unsure how to finish the thought. Understand? Want to? Think you should be out of your straightjacket?
"There's no need to be shy. It's nothing I haven't seen before." Neji watched blankly as the woman undid the clasp on her left shoulder, her dress falling open to reveal a heavy, rose-tipped breast.
"What... what kind of... place... is this...?" Neji asked, a sinking feeling in his stomach as he watched the woman disrobe.
"Oh, don't tell me Hiashi didn't tell you! Absolutely impossible that man..."
Neji stood, feet planted and jaw wide. The immaculate landscaping, the extravagant furnishings, the flirty girl at the door, the woman in the hallway with the cigarette, and now...
Oh, this was not happening, not to him. It couldn't be.
Except that it was.
Swallowing hard, Neji whispered, "This... this place is..."