6. The sealing proces

A week later I faced my sister again. She looked pretty nervous and had seemed to changed back to her old timid self.

'Umm, hello Hanabi-neechan!'

'Good morning, you're here for the seal right?'

'Y..yeah'

I activated my Byakugan to see if I could find Naruto somewhere.

'Uhm, if y..you're looking for N..Naruto-kun, h..he is not here! I t..told him I'm on a m..mission! I didn't w..want him to k..know…' She stuttered.

I deactivated my Byakugan again. She was smart. If Naruto would knew it, he would probably make a big fuss about it.

'Hinata-neechan, you don't have to be nervous around me. I will not hurt you.'

'Y..yeah, I know. I'm sorry!'

'Hinata-sama…' The voice I recognized as Neji's interrupted.

'N…Neji-niisan!'

I turned around and saw my cousin staring at my sister. I could clearly see hatred in his eyes. Hinata looked back and trembled with fear.

'…'

'…'

'…'

I decided the silence had taken long enough now.

'Neji-niisan, what do you want?'

He moved his head and faced me. And although the hatred in his eyes had disappeared, he still looked rather angry. I was his new staring target, but I stared back with suspicion. After a few seconds he cast down his eyes, turned around and left us.

'T..thank you, Hanabi-neechan!'

'It's okay, but please don't be afraid of him, he doesn't deserve it.'

I wondered why he hated her so much. I was quite sure it had all to do with the main house and branch house stuff, but if that was the case, why didn't he seem to hate me?

'Ahh, Hinata-san, you've arrived.'

'Y..yes father!' She said as she bowed her head.

'Are you ready for 'it''

'Y..yes father!'

'Good, follow me than.'

'Hinata-neechan! Good luck!' I whispered.

'Thanks!' Hinata whispered back as she followed our father.

But he suddenly stopped.

'Hanabi-san. I want you to come along. I want you to witness the sealing-process. Next time it might be you who has to do the seal work.'

He continued walking, but I was frozen. And so was Hinata. To witness the sealing-process was not the problem, but why of all did I have to witness the sealing process of my sister!

'Ladies, follow me please, I want to get over with this fast…'

May be I had to oppose him this time. But when I was about to open my mouth, Hinata touched my arm. 'It's okay Hanabi…'

She held her head down and slowly followed our father. I followed her example.

Father's office had changed. His desk was taken away and in the middle of the room a big circle was drawn. A lot of signs were drawn inside of it.

'Hinata-san, I want you to take of your coat and sit in the middle of the circle. And Hanabi-san, later on I will explain how to draw those marks.' He said as he sat me down somewhere in the corner. I could clearly see the fear in Hinata's eyes.

'Don't worry, it will be over soon…'

She turned around to me and I could clearly see the tears filling her eyes. But I understood. This seal would make her closer to the love of her life, but the distance between her and her family would become much broader. I didn't know what to do. Did I have to cry or should I turn away my head? I decided to give her a smile, a weak one though, that was all I could give. She smiled back.

I wondered if things would change by this. I always remembered her as my elder, timid sister. The girl who always cared for the other, the girl who never opposed, but always listened to the other. Father separated us many times. I didn't know why. But the times we spend time together were pleasant. Sometimes we trained together, sometimes we made fun together. She was always kind to me. She was the kind of sister everyone wanted to have. Was all of this over now?

Father painted some marks on Hinata's skin and leaded them to her forehead. The spot for the seal. Neji had one there too. I knew that. He once showed it in the middle of his fight against Naruto. He showed it to him, but I saw it too.

Father left the circle.

'Hinata-san, are you ready?'

'Y..yes father.'

'Hanabi-san, please pay attention.'

'Yes father.'

Father closed his eyes and tried to concentrate. He mumbled some words as he performed some seals. The last word he spoke was like shouting.

The marks suddenly moved to spot of destination, Hinata's forehead. She screamed in horror as the signs crawled up to her skin. I didn't want to look, but somehow I had to. My eyes were caught by this happening. It was like a bad movie, but I was not only watching it, I was in it too.

She bald her fist as if it could enlighten the pain. Her cries of pain stung my heart.

But suddenly it was all over. She let go of an enlightened breath before she fainted. The green cross on her forehead, shining brightly...

By the time she woke up, hours had past. She looked very pale and had a blankly gaze.

'Was I like that when I received the seal?' Neji questioned.

'No, you were not. You acted more mature.' Father mumbled. 'You acted as a true Hyuuga would do.' Fathers back was turned to Hinata.

Did he repelled her already?

'I guess she was leaded by emotions…' I snarled.

I felt two pairs of eyes aimed at me. But neither of them did answer me.

'Hanabi-san?'

'Yes father?'

'Can you bring her to her new home and explain the situation to that boy. Don't go to much in detail though. He doesn't need to know about our Hyuuga-clan-secrets.'

'Yes father.'

I walked towards Hinata and laid her arm around my shoulder.

'Lets go' I whispered.

Hinata didn't reply. Her other arm felt down her body as I pulled her of the bed. She was like a doll, she didn't move at all.

I rushed towards Naruto's apartment. I wonder how he would react, I predicted he would be furious.

The door was opened before I could even knock on the door.

'Hinata-chan! What happened!' He said as he took Hinata out of my arms. 'Did she get hurt during mission?'

His eyes scanned her whole body and stuck on her forehead.

'The seal… You bastards gave her the seal, didn't you!'

I couldn't deny, nor could I admit it. I remained silent and just watched the two of them.

'You know what! That clan of you, it stinks, including you! GO AWAY! GET OUT OF MY SIGHT, NOW!'

I obeyed him. It was no use to say something back. It would probably only make it worse.

I turned around and walked of the alley.

Not quite aware of what I did, I touched my forehead. Last week Neji planted a kiss on that spot and on the same spot Hinata received the seal. That was quite a difference. A kiss and a seal…

Now why was I thinking of that kiss again? It meant nothing. I sighed and slowly walked on.

'Hanabi-chan!' I looked up. Oh crap! Not she! Why on this moment! I saw my female teammate running up to me. 'Hello Hanabi-chan! Konohamaru-kun said you lied about being ill, but I doubt it, you look rather pale.'

'Don't worry I'm fine.' I replied absentminded. Why did she turn up at a time like this? I just witnessed my sister getting a seal and was shouted by her boyfriend. And with justice. I couldn't really care about Moegi's problems right now!

'…recovered now!'

I probably missed a lot of her words.

'Who recovered now?'

'Ebisu-sensei! He fell ill too! Are you sure you are fine?' She asked a bit worried

'Yeah…' Actually I was not, but that was none of her business. Why couldn't she just leave me alone! I watched her. Oh, she was talking again.

'… be on the bridge at 9 okay?'

'On the bridge at 9' I repeated. But what about it?

'Are you sure you are okay?' Moegi asked again.

'Yeah, I'm sure. I'm sorry I have to go home now.' I just wanted to get rid of her.

'Well… I will see you tomorrow then! On the bridge at 9 o'clock!'

'Okay, bye…' So the team stuff started again. Tomorrow at 9 on the bridge… I hoped I could remember it. Although I wouldn't care less if I did forget.

I was sure Moegi was watching me when I left her. Normally I would shout at her and tell her to watch something else. But I didn't really care. I just wondered about what would change at home…

'Hanabi-san, we need to talk…' I watched my father. Couldn't he even say hello! I was to tired to complain about that.

'Yes father.'

'How did he react?'

Father probably meant Naruto.

'He became furious and send me away…'

'Did he hurt you!'

'No father'

'He better not… Listen! About your sister, she's gone now. And as for me, she's no longer my daughter. I don't care about what you think about her, but I wish you not to speak about her as if she's one of our family, understand?'

If I had some energy left I would ask why, but I just nodded.

'Good! And there's something else. Hanabi-san, you're almost 16 years old and you're the successor of a noble clan, but still you lack an important ability!'

I looked up. What was it?

'The ability to hide your feelings…'

'What do you mean father?' I managed to spit out.

'That's simple, Hanabi-san. Back then when Hinata-san received her seal and had fainted you were clearly affected. It doesn't matter if you show it to us, but it would be bad if you would show your feelings to enemies. When you show your emotions, enemies will be able to find your weaknesses and make use of this. Therefore you need to stay calm and reserved at any time.' That made sense to me.

'Yes father'

'There's not really a training method for this, but I just want you to practice this. From now on I want you to remain calm whatever happens.' That would probably be difficult, but I could always try.

'Yes father.'

'Good, you can go now. And if I were you I would go to bed right away. Tomorrow will be a new day with new chances.'

That reminded me…

'Father, tomorrow at 9 I've a meeting with my team, so I won't be here.'

'That's only an extra reason to go to sleep soon. And don't forget about your emotional training.'

'Yes father.'

I had decided; From tomorrow on I would become a true successor. That meant no more whining and dissipations. Just the strong and reserved Hyuuga Hanabi.

Author's note: Due to family circumstances and the beginning of school this chapter got a bit delayed. But I think I will keep up with this updating-speed. I don't have much chapters left, which are alreadydoneand a reviewer told me it was better to wait a couple of days with updating... So that you know it...

Anyway thanks for the people who left a review so far. I really take it into consideration and it encourages me to write on ;) I hope you all liked this chapter and next time we're going to see more of Hanabi's team :-)