'Do you want me to bring a letter to Hinata?'

So he was changing subject already? But I was glad he asked. I knew he didn't want to get involved with the main house to often, so he kind of surprised me.

'Yes! I would love that! Give me some time and I will write some things down!'

'Yeah of course. Shall we train together afterwards?'

I looked up. He sure was nice to me today.

'Don't get the wrong idea. I just don't want the next heiress to be a weakling.'

'Sure! Thanks Neji-niisan!'

As soon as he left the room I started writing.

Dear Hinata,

It has been almost a week since you left the clan. Father forbid me to leave the house, that's why I didn't contact you. But Neji just offered me to deliver you this letter. I heard you live with Naruto from now on and I'm glad for you. I'm sure father will cool down soon and will allow me to pay you a visit. I'm very curious about your whereabouts. Please don't worry about me. I'm fine. Happy new year and good luck in your new house!

Yours sincerely,

Hanabi

Ps. Wish Naruto a happy new year from me.

3. It's all official now…

A couple of days later Neji returned with two letters. One was of my teammates wishing me a happy new year and telling me to get well soon. Father probably told my teacher that I was ill and had to stay at home. And the other one was from Hinata.

'After you've read that letter I want it back. If your father or anyone else find out you correspond with Hinata you hang and probably me too…'

I sighed.

'I don't understand why I get detention and why I am forbidden to have contact with my sister.'

'That's simple, he is afraid of losing you too. He doesn't want you to get spoiled with bad ideas. So till the time the main house made their final decision you have to stay on the Hyuuga portion.'

'I guess..'

'Well, I will be leaving now, after you've finished the letter I will help you perfecting the kaiten move.'

'Good, I will come outside after I've finished reading.'

After Neji left the room, I opened the letter.

Dear Hanabi,

Thanks for your letter. I was glad I received this letter. Happy new year to you too! I am happy with my current situation, but I do miss my family, especially you. I feel sorry for your detention since it is caused by my actions. After you are free to move on your own again, be sure to pay us a visit! You are more than welcome!

Yours sincerely,

Hinata

Ps. Naruto wishes you a happy new year too!

I folded the letter and putted it back in the envelope. I was glad she was doing fine. I stood up putted the envelope in my pocket and went outside. I expected to see Neji, but I ran into my father instead. He had a verysolemn look.

'Hanabi-san, inside now!' He insisted as he nudged to his office.

'Yes father' I said. I felt the letter burning inside my pocket. I hoped my father wouldn't find out. I hurried towards the door as I caught a glimpse of my cousin. He looked rather worried, or was it just imagination? I slightly lowered my hand towards my pocket to let him notice I still had the letter. Luckily it seemed like he did. He neared us.

'Neji-san! Please leave us! I need to talk to my daughter in private.'

'Yes sir, I just wanted to let her now that we will train afterwards.'

'You were about to train together?'

'Yes sir.' Neji was standing very close to me. His hand touched mine. I blushed a little. I lifted up the letter from my pocket.

'Good, but do not except to train together soon. Our talk will take some time.'

'Yes sir, I will leave now' Neji said as he bowed his head a little. He secretly took the letter and left us. I had to thank him when I saw him again.

'Sit down.' I did as my father told me to do. I felt more comfortable after Neji took the letter. But I still was a little nervous.

'Tea?' He asked as he held up the teapot. Tea? At this tensed moment? I just nodded.

'Tell me, Hanabi-san, what is it you and Neji hide for me?' He asked while he poured the tea in the cups. I looked surprised. Did he notice?

'Look Hanabi-san, I don't care about your business with him, but I don't want you two to do something in secret. I don't like secrets at all.'

'I'm sorry father!'

'Just one question, is it about another boy? Or something else that can cause you or the clan disgrace?'

'No! I swear. I.. I just can't tell!'

He watched me with disbelief, but then his face cleared up.

'Oh yeah of course! It's my birthday in 3 days! I'm very curious what you guys are coming up with…' He smiled.

I didn't know whether I had to be glad or not. He would stop paying attention to the letter, but Neji and me had to come up with something big now.

'But back to business now…' He said with a serious face. 'As you know your elder sister left our clan. That caused a lot of disgrace and trouble to us Hyuuga's. Last few weeks we had to talk things over and we came to some decisions. First of all, not involving you, to confirm her decision she has to receive the seal. She will no longer belong to the main house.' He paused. I had noticed he didn't call Hinata by name.

'The second however, does involve you, the new heiress of our clan will be you, Hyuuga Hanabi and we except you to do a better job than your sister. And if you decide to walk the same path as her we will go harsh on you, understand?'

'Yes father.'

'Good. This means you will not do anything that will cause disgrace to you or our clan, you have to keep up with your training and you have to marry a decent man. We prefer you to marry inside.'

I looked up. Those words meant I had to marry one of my cousins. I knew about this rule, but those words involved me now.

'Why? Why marry inside, father? Aren't other shinobi good enough for me?'

He sighed as if it was a stupid question. 'It's simple Hanabi-san. In past the clan was always lead by men. You will be the first female leader. But as you might know men nowadays are still hold in greater respect than women. That's why you need a strong partner beside you. Someone who knows and understands about the ins and outs of the clan. Someone who can protect you. Do you understand?'

I nodded. 'Yes father.'

'Hanabi-san, I never really believed in your predecessor. I always thought about her being incompetent. However I do have high expectations about you. Just don't let me down…' I kept quiet, but his eyes told me to answer him.

'I will not let you down father.'

'Good. Your current situation won't change for you, your life will stay the same. I will only train you more often.'

'Do.. Do I still have detention?'

'So you thought it was detention? I just wanted to keep you inside till we had solved this matter. And I guess that time has come. Feel free to fly as a bird again!' He smiled.

'C..Can I pay a visit to Hinata-neechan too?' I knew this wouldn't make him happy, but I just had to ask.

His face clouded over. 'I guess it doesn't matter what I will answer you, I suppose you will go anyway…'

'No father! Please don't doubt me! Your answer does matter! If I were to oppose you, I wouldn't have asked you in the first place!'

His smile returned on his face as he patted me on the head.

'Do whatever you want to do, my princess, I'm sure I can trust you now.'

I couldn't hold back a smile. The last time he called me his princess was about ten years ago when I was 5 years old.

'Thanks father!'

'You can go now.'

'Yes father' I stood up and bowed down my head a little. I turned around a walked to the door.

'Hanabi-san! I hope you're aware of the fact that I except a special birthday present from you!' He winked.

I turned red. Did he realize I had lied about the letter? Was it because of that he had doubt my honesty? I could better be honest to him. I sighed.

'I'm sorry father, I did lie to you. A couple of days I had written a letter to Hinata-neechan, she wrote me one back. That was the letter I gave to Neji-niisan. It had nothing to do with your birthday-present. I'm sorry I let you down! But from now on I will promise you not to lie anymore or hold back any secrets!'

He didn't speak for a couple seconds.

'I'm glad for you honesty, Hanabi. Let's pretend this incident has never happened, okay?'

I nodded and left his office.

'So… It's official now. Congratulations.'

I watched him. Was he jealous?

'Thanks…'

We were sitting on the veranda. I just told Neji-niisan about me being the new heiress. After I told him he looked a bit sour. Was he secretly hoping he could be the new heir?

'Shall we go on with training?'

'No, wait Neji-niisan! You don't have to pretend you're happy for me! You hoped you could be the new successor, right?'

He snorted.

'So you noticed… Listen Hanabi-sama. May be you are right, but I am from the branchhouse! My fate has never been to be future leader. So it was a false hope and I knew that to begin with! I'm glad Hinata-sama has stepped down and left the spot for you. The least thing I can do now, is carry out my duty as branchhouse-member. That means protecting you and train you a little. Hiashi-sama isn't the youngest anymore, so I'm sure he can use my help.'

The fate of the branchhouse and the fate of the mainhouse. It were two different things, with each his pro's and cons. The mainhouse had more privileges and had control over the branchhouse, whilst the branchhouse had to protect the mainhouse. They, however were free to marry whoever they wanted to… That reminded me…

'Neji-niisan?'

'Yes?'

'Have you already confessed to that girl? What was her name again? Tenten?'

'Tenten?' He looked a bit confused. 'No, I did not.'

'You should do that.'

'Why would I?'

'You love her right? Before you know it, she is taken by another…'

He frowned. 'I think you're mistaken…'

'What? She is a pretty girl, I'm sure you're not the only guy that likes her. So you better be fast!'

'But..'

'Neji! This is not how I know you! Don't be such a coward!' I teased him. He sure was sweet when it involved his love.

He gazed at me.

'What?'

'Hanabi-sama, I…' He sighed 'Whatever, let's start training now.'

Author's note: Later on I will add more NejiHanabi stuff, because somehow I believe in this pairing. And I like this pairing much better than NejiHinata, which you see more often. But in a few chapters I will introduce some other guy, who's also interested in Hanabi ;)

So stay tuned for the next chapter of A Whole New Fate:-)