Notes: Thank you for your comments! They cheered me up. I'm a bit tired now so without further ado, here is the fourth part. I hope you can get some enjoyment out of it!
Part 4
Hinata was feeling quite miserable. Her feet hurt from over an hour of standing still, her arm was tired from having been offered to guests too many times and her facial muscles were aching from a strained smile she had put on for so long. She shifted, trying to be as discreet as she could so that no one would see her weariness. Her father had arranged this dance in celebration of her and Neji's engagement and it would be ungrateful of her to show discomfort. Carefully, she tilted her foot from one side to the other and then did the same for the other foot. It was only a momentarily relief. As soon as she set her feet back to the ground they started aching once again and it was all she could do not to wince visibly as a pulsating pain shot down her ankles.
Neji looked down when he felt Hinata's hand trembling on his arm. A slight frown marred his forehead when he saw her strained expression and sweat glistening on her face. After debating what to do for a short moment, he turned to face Hiashi.
"Uncle, have we not been here long enough? It has already been more than an hour." They had been standing in the hall, receiving guests and been unable to sit or relax even the slightest.
Hiashi glanced at him with disapproval. "Have you not been taught patience in the army?" he inquired with barely noticable scorn.
Neji's form stiffened slightly but his face remained impassive. "It is not myself I am worried about, sir," he answered somberly, "I'm afraid Hinata-san will not be able to take this much longer."
Hiashi's upper lip curled in distaste. "I see. Very well, we will retire to the ballroom after the Uchihas have arrived."
Neji bowed his head wordlessly and proceeded to stare at the massive front doors of the Hyuuga Manor.
Hinata shivered nervously. The familiar feeling of being a complete failure settled in her chest again, making her want to cry. Could she not do anything right? What kind of a Hyuuga was she if she was unable to even stand a few minutes and smile to people? Even Hanabi had not said a word of complaint and she was five whole years younger than Hinata was.
Hinata glanced furtively at her sister. Hanabi was looking straight ahead, showing no sign of having heard the words Neji and Hiashi had exchanged nor feeling at all tired. Hinata cast her eyes down. Hanabi had always been like that. Strong. Talented. So unlike Hinata herself, surpassing Hinata in every aspect. Hinata had tried to overcome her weakness but it was difficult, so very difficult that she had begun to give up. Perhaps she was meant to be a weak person, someone who could not ever be self-reliant, who could do nothing to protect and care for the people she held dear. Perhaps it was her destiny. She had thought so. But now she had a fiancé. She could not let Neji down. She had to excel no matter what so that Neji would not be ashamed to call her his wife and perhaps some day he would even feel proud of her. It was her dream. It was not much of a dream and maybe some would scorn or pity her for it but it was hers and it made her work harder than ever to reach it. She only wished she would improve even a little bit soon before she lost the little confidence she had.
A disturbance in the air preceded the opening of the front doors. Hinata looked up hastily, wanting to be ready to greet their guests with her best smile so that her father would have no reason to be displeased with her.
"Good evening!" grinned a man in his early fifties before he and his companions were even properly inside.
Hinata's smile eased into a relaxed and honest one. Even if the great Jiraiya-sama could make her quite embarrased at times, she knew he was a good man.
"Ah! Sweet Hinata!" Jiraiya exclaimed, not bothering to consider the correct greeting order. For him, it was always ladies first. He took hold of the hand Hinata shyly offered him and bent over it, his long, white hair sliding over his shoulder, and lightly touched the back of Hinata's hand with his lips. Then he looked up and grinned again. "You look very lovely this evening, Hinata. Must be the influence of your fiancé. The only thing that makes a lady more beautiful than love is maternity. I look forward to gazing at your glowing face with a baby or two in your arms." He nudged Neji suggestively at this point. Neji remained expressionless. "Well, you will have to be careful with a husband like him. Neji has a pretty face, even though he is a man. Lots of people will try to catch his attention. But I'm sure you won't have any problems with that cute face of yours--"
"Jiraiya-san! What are you saying?" Iruka demanded, scandalized. He ushered the older man away from the blushing Hinata and scolded him for his poor manners. Then he proceeded to bow low before Hinata and Neji. "I'm terribly sorry. I don't know what has gotten into him. Please forgive his rudeness." He bowed again.
Hinata stuttered in affirmative and Neji stated nonchalantly that it did not matter.
"Thank you. I am relieved you can find it in you to disregard such tactless words."
"It was not such a big deal," Jiraiya muttered.
Naruto, who had remained unusually quiet the whole time, chose this moment to take part in the conversation. "You should stick to women of your own age, you old geezer," he snickered.
Jiraiya whirled around. "What did you say, you little rascal?" he demanded, looking quite offended by Naruto's words.
"You heard me," Naruto leered. "And in front of her fiancé too! Are you getting desperate?"
Jiraiya's face twitched. "Heh...hehhehheh...Boy, you have quite a nerve. I compliment you. You are very brave. Even knowing who I am you--"
"You're just an old pervert!" Naruto interrupted, completely ignoring the warning signs which always perceded Jiraiya losing his short temper. But this time he was saved from Jiraiya's wrath by four people coming in.
All the people present, save for Jiraiya who noticed nothing but the insolent boy in front of him, turned to see who had come. Hinata sighed in relief; the threat had been avoided for now.
"Hyuuga-san," said a black-haired, handsome man, leading his small party to greet Hiashi.
"Uchiha-san," Hiashi returned. A very light bow of heads took place when the two most powerful men in Konoha greeted each other. Aside from paying their respects to the Queen, these moments were the only times their necks would bend even the slightest.
"I am glad to find you well on this joyous evening," the Uchiha continued. He had taken one look at Jiraiya and Naruto and walked right past them, considering them not worth his time. "Congratulations on your daughter's engagement."
"Thank you for your kind words, Uchiha-san. I am quite pleased at how things have worked out."
"I would imagine so." Then the head of the Uchiha clan proceeded to greet Neji and accepted Hinata and Hanabi's deep bows before making his way toward the ballroom with his wife in tow.
Meanwhile, cold glares were exhanged between Itachi and Neji. Hinata stood beside her fiancé, feeling nervous and very much discouraged by the ominous atmosphere surrounding the two men. She could not have been more relieved when Itachi moved on to bow to her father, but she stiffened again when Itachi stopped before her. She could not muster enough courage to look up. Then she heard a light chuckle.
"Am I not going to be greeted?" Itachi inquired.
Hinata was shocked. She had not thought her cowardness could be interpreted as rudeness and she was very sorry for making Itachi think that she perhaps did not like him. She looked up hastily and then begged forgiveness for her poor behavior before quickly offering her hand in greeting. She blushed when Itachi's mouth grazed it and gasped when a tiny smile crossed his lips.
"Uchiha," Neji's cold voice interrupted. "I am sorry to interrupt you but it seems your mother is calling you."
"Is that so?" Itachi glanced to his side, noticing his mother by the door leading to the brightly lit ballroom. "I see. Hinata-san, I regret our time together was so short. Perhaps I can persuade you to sacrifice a dance to me?"
Hinata was more than perplexed. "Th-that is...I-I...A...A dance? I-I'm..."
"If your fiancé allowes it, of course," Itachi added, throwing Neji a sneering look.
Neji gritted his teeth. "Do as you please, Uchiha," he said, but his tone did not recommend him do so.
"Ah! Then I will," Itachi replied, lifted Hinata's hand for another light kiss and then went to his mother.
Neji remained silent and unmoving for a moment and Hinata stood beside him, afraid to even breath lest she would bother him. Then he managed to regain his composure and after a short nod to Sasuke, he led Hinata out of the hall, followed by Hiashi and Hanabi.
Naruto stared after the retreating backs of the Hyuugas, forgetting the threatening presence of the still greately offended Jiraiya. "Hey, Sasuke," he said.
"What?" Sasuke looked back at him from where he was in the middle of greeting Iruka.
"Your brother really doesn't like Neji," Naruto said with wonder.
"I told you so," Sasuke huffed, annoyed that Naruto was once again stating the obvious. So much unnecessary talk came through those lips that Sasuke was surprised they hadn't worn off yet.
Jiraiya suddenly came out of his angry reverie. "You brat!" he shouted, like nothing had happened since Naruto's outrageous statement of him being nothing but an old pervert.
"Ask him why he doesn't like Neji," Naruto continued his conversation with Sasuke, acting like he hadn't even heard what Jiraiya said.
"No, I won't," Sasuke deadpanned and started to walk toward the ballroom.
"You dare ignore me?" Jiraiya demanded with an enraged voice.
"Why not?!" Naruto whined, jumping after the dark-haired boy and clinging to his arm.
Sasuke stopped and looked down at Naruto with slightly widened eyes. He felt strangely good with Naruto hanging onto him like a girl and he did not like it. So he shook him off. "I don't want to."
"A duel! I demand a duel!" Jiraiya cried. "My pride needs to be mended!"
"Calm down, Jiraiya-sama," Iruka cut in, placing a restraining hand on Jiraiya's arm right before the man was about to launch himself on Naruto.
Naruto grabbed Sasuke's arm again, only with a stronger grip this time. He as determined not to lose to Sasuke in this. "Ask him or I won't let go the entire night!"
"Let go, dobe!" Sasuke yelled, trying to pry Naruto off of him but failing.
"Swords or pistols? You hear me, you little brat? Swords or pistols?"
"Jiraiya-sama! Please cease this madness at once!"
"I won't let go!"
"Fine! Suit yourself, you imbecile," Sasuke sighed and continued his walk toward the open doors in the back of the hall and dragging the stubborn blonde with him without any further attempts to convince him with words. He knew it was useless anyway.
"Where do you think you're going?! Come back here, you stupid brat! I'll show you what it means to be a real pervert! Be silent, Iruka!" Jiraiya continued as Iruka tried to suggest that they should move away from the hall and perhaps try some punch. "I won't be satisfied until I--!!" He stopped suddenly to stare something behind Iruka.
Iruka glanced over his shoulder, curious as to what had caused such a change. He sighed inwardly when he saw a beautiful young woman entering the hall. "Yuuhi-san," he greeted with a bow.
"Good evening, Umino-san," the woman answered pleasantly.
Before they could continue with further phrases, Jiraiya came back to life. "Nai-chan!" he cried, jumping next to the woman and looking her up and down appreciatively. "You look as beautiful as ever, if you don't mind me saying so."
The lady said nothing to this because before she managaed to do so, a hand landed on her shoulder and a tall man appeared behind her. The man gave Jiraiya a firm glare before carefully removing the lady's cloak and handing it over to a servant.
"I remember you said you wanted to dance, did you not, Kurenai? I hear they are playing a minuet now. Should we try it?" he asked with a strangely soft voice.
"Why yes. Thank you Asuma," the lady answered and placed her hand on Asuma's offered arm. They bowed to Jiraiya and Iruka and departed from their company.
"Such a waste," Jiraiya sighed.
"What is?" Iruka asked, curious.
"A woman like Kurenai and a man like Sarutobi. Truly a waste. It's a pity. Ah! Anko-chan!"
Iruka sighed and made his own way to the ballroom. He figured Jiraiya wouldn't be leaving the hall before Mitarashi Anko did and that woman had such a sharp tongue that it was a given that those two would remain arguing for quite some time because Jiraiya was not one to give up easily.
After dancing the compulsary dance with Neji, Hinata retreated into the shadows. She walked slowly around the room, keeping close to the walls and trying to remain as invisible as possible. She saw Neji talking with important political and financial figures with a very serious expression. It seemed Neji was well prepared for the responsibility of being the heir of the great Hyuuga clan. Hinata smiled proudly when she saw the impressed looks on the faces of many important people.
When the night grew older, she saw glimpses of Shino and Kiba who were looking around them as if they were searching for something. She hoped they would not find her. She felt very bad and awkward about what had happened before. She had never done such an act against her friends and it was weighing heavily on her conscience but still she could not find it in her to face them. She did not know what she could say, how she could apologize.
"Here," Shino's familiar, serene voice said and a glass of liqueur was placed in her hand.
Hinata accepted it without any argument and raised it to her lips, taking a sip of the clear liquid. It burned her throat and she gasped.
"Are you all right?" Shino asked, taking the glass from Hinata's shaking hands.
Hinata tried to answer but the alcohol had made her throat dry and she could not stop coughing. But she nodded so as not to leave Shino completely without an answer.
"There you are!" Kiba exclaimed, suddenly appearing in their midst. "I've been looking everywhere for you! Don't tell me you were avoiding me."
Hinata blushed. "I-I'm so sorry...for what I did...I-it was inexusable...I understand if...if you are angry," she stuttered, casting her eyes to the floor.
Kiba laughed. "Don't worry about it! I don't even remember it anymore."
"B-but I..."
"I already told you not to worry about it. It was not my place to say such things, I apologize," Kiba said seriously and bowed his upper body to show his sincerity.
"N-no! D-don't...I-it's n-not your f-fault..."
Kiba grinned. "So everything's fine now!"
Hinata stared at him, unsure if she should continue insisting it had been entirely her fault but a quick shake of head from Shino set her mind right. She smiled shyly at Kiba with a blush on her cheeks. "Yes."
Kiba seemed relieved but he did not refer to the incident anymore. Instead, he turned to study the occupants of the glimmering ballroom. "Oh, Neji-san is already making connections," he observed a little dryly.
Uneasiness was threatening to rise between them again. "It is not a bad thing!" Hinata defended his cousin.
"Kiba," Shino suddenly said. They both turned to look at him. "This evening is to celebrate their engagement."
Kiba scratched his cheek, looking a bit sheepish although the doubt did not leave his eyes. "I know. I'm sorry." An awkward silence ensued. Eager to break it, Kiba made another observation. "Have you noticed," he asked, "that Naruto has been clinging to Sasuke whole evening?"
They turned to look at the said pair. Sasuke was always easy to find because a group of hopeful girls was always following him wherever he went on this kind of occation. Right now he was sitting on a chair near the door leading to the hall and Naruto was sitting next to him, his hands firmly clasped round Sasuke's arm. Naruto was having hard time dividing his attention between Sasuke and Sakura, though why he was so concerned of Sasuke, escaped their understanding. Sasuke looked highly dipleased about something and he glared at everyone and everything with equal fervor. Naruto didn't seem to mind though, and neither did the girls.
"Yes, I have noticed," Hinata said, looking a bit puzzled. "I wonder why."
"Yeah, normally he would be bothering Sakura with his endless and unskilled wooing," Kiba laughed.
"N-Naruto-kun likes her," Hinata tried to defend the blonde boy.
"I know. I don't think there's anyone in Konoha who doesn't know. It's quite remarkable how he has remained so unskillful even after such vigorous training."
"Naruto-kun is a g-good p-person," Hinata insisted. Before Kiba could retort, Neji suddenly appeared in front of them. Hinata looked up at him, startled. "Wh-what is it, Neji-san?"
"Would you do me the honor..?" Neji inquired vaguely, gesturing towards the dance floor.
"She would not," Kiba interrupted Hinata's stammering and glared defiantely at Neji.
Neji raised his chin a little and looked down at Kiba with a cold expression. His pale eyes studied the boy like he was a bug, merely waiting to be crushed under Neji's heel.
Heat rose to Kiba's face and he clenched his fists but the pleading look Hinata was giving him urged him to control his temper. Taking a deep breath, he pressed his palm on Hinata's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Neji-san. You were too late. Hinata has already promised this dance to me."
"Is that so?" Neji said slowly. He looked at the blushing and confused Hinata and then at Kiba who was still fiercely glaring at him and a tiny, crooked smile formed on his lips. "But, as you know," he continued eloquently, "Hinata-san is my fiancée so I think it is only natural that I get the advantage here. I regret it but I'm afraid I must ask you to wait for your turn a while longer." Before Kiba could retaliate, Neji somehow removed his hand from Hinata's shoulder and led the girl away.
Kiba stared after them with his mouth wide open. Then he closed it with an angry snap. "Damn that man! Is he a devil? Now do you see, Shino? It's not only the rumors I'm worried about. Did you see what kind of a man he is? He will crush Hinata like she was nothing without even noticing it."
Shino didn't answer but he looked intently as the two Hyuugas danced.
"They are your friends?" Neji asked, with an almost undetectable tilt of his head in Kiba and Shino's direction. He placed his hand on Hinata's waist and drew her closer to him with confident movements. Waltz was a fairly new dance and there were people who disapproved of it for its questionable moral because it brought the dancers so close to each other it could even be considered a loose hug. But as it was with fashion, no matter how much the elderly ladies complained about it, nothing could stop waltz from invading the ballrooms all over the world. Neji had learned waltzing while he was still in the army since the officers he had worked with had been very enthusiastic about dancing, and he now took advantage of his skills to guide his inexperienced fiancée through the simple steps of the dance.
Hinata confirmed Neji's belief by stating that Shino and Kiba really were her friends. "I'm sorry. K-Kiba-kun d-didn't mean t-to offend you."
"I wonder," Neji answered dryly. "But either way, it is of no importance, of course. He can think whatever he pleases." It was obvious he didn't think highly of Kiba.
Hinata felt bad that her friends and her fiancé didn't get along but she could not sink in dark thoughts as the dance stole her attention. She did her best to keep up with Neji and was grateful for the firm hand steadily guiding her. At times her feet barely touched the floor and she felt very little and very weak but strangely enough, it didn't dishearten her. She rather liked the feeling. It made butterflies flutter in her stomach and raised a scarlet blush on her cheeks. She could not understand why she felt so differently with Neji.
They continued to dance for four sets before Neji finally led her back to her friends. Neji bowed cordially to Hinata and nodded to Kiba and Shino and then he left, leaving them to their own devices.
Sasuke had never liked being in Naruto's company when the blonde was trying to woo Sakura. It was disgraceful how Naruto made such a fool of himself. It was disgusting to see how the normally spirited boy changed into a foolishly grinning, blushing, stammering weakling. Sasuke couldn't stand to see it.
Normally, when Sasuke came to occations like these, he spent the first half dodging the army of hopeful mothers and daughters. He never danced and rarely talked with anyone.
The second half he spent with Naruto, arguing and sometimes competing. He made snide comments on Naruto's failed attempts of gaining Sakura's attention, he made fun of Naruto's infatuation with the flower of the Haruno clan. Whatever to make Naruto angry at him. He took satisfaction in seeing Naruto lose his temper, to hear him yell at him and call him a bastard. It meant Naruto had become himself again and stopped being that strange person who hovered in Sakura's background like he was no one of importance. Sasuke didn't know why he felt like he did but it had always been so and he had stopped thinking about the reason a long time ago.
Now, with Naruto clinging to his arm, he had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. He had to endure the endless hours of girls chattering and Naruto desperately trying to put in a word or two. Although Sasuke hated it, he felt something warm in his chest when he watched how Naruto continued to do his best no matter how many times he was ignored. It was cute, somehow, and made Sasuke feel sorry for him. It also made him think ill of Sakura even though he knew it wasn't the girl's fault that she didn't like Naruto the same way Naruto liked her. But she could've been a little less blunt about it.
Sighing, Sasuke stood up. The circle around his stepped back to give him room.
"Huh?" Naruto looked startled by the sudden change in his position. His hold on Sasuke's arm was strong enough to lift him up the same time Sasuke stood up. "Where are you going?"
"It doesn't concern you," Sasuke replied coldly.
"What? Of course it does! I'm forced to go wherever you go."
"Then just let go of my arm."
"I won't before you ask your brother…" Naruto's voice trailed off and Sasuke turned to see what had caused such a rare thing. He hoped it was not Sakura.
Very quickly Sasuke realized that it was indeed not Sakura but his own brother. More precisely what his brother was doing. Sasuke felt the urge to gape with his jaw slacked like Naruto did but managed to hold on to his pride before actually doing it.
"Your brother…" Naruto ventured.
Sasuke remained silent. They peered through the crowd between them and the object of their stare, not quite believing what they saw. Feminine voices chattering around them became distant.
"Itachi-san…" Naruto tried again but still not finding proper words to express his amazement.
Sasuke didn't bother saying anything.
"Itachi-san is…" Naruto stared.
"He is…" Sasuke said.
"…Dancing," Naruto filled in the sentence. "With Hinata. He's dancing minuet with Hinata."
"Yeah…"
"He looks…"
"Like a total moron," Sasuke gritted through his teeth.
"Yeah," Naruto agreed. Then he burst out laughing. "I've never seen him dance before," he barked inbetween his giggles. "I'm looking forward to tease him about this."
"Are you quite sure you want to do that?" Sasuke asked dryly. He glanced quickly around to see if others found Uchiha Itachi dancing a very amusing sight. It didn't appear so. He saw only admiration in the eyes of onlookers. Now that Sasuke thought about it, there wasn't really anything funny about Itachi dancing. He looked quite good on the dance floor with his graceful and elegant movements.
"Eh, you're right," Naruto admitted albeit grudgingly. "It would be nice to live a little longer than seventeen years."
Sasuke smirked. "Is that fear I'm sensing?"
Naruto stiffened. "Of-of course not! What is there to be afraid of? I'm not afraid of anything." Naruto concluded his speech with good fervor, forgetting everything except that he had been insulted in the most offending manner.
"Oh?" Sasuke turned to face Naruto although it was difficult with Naruto still grasping his arm. He smirked in a way he knew irked Naruto the most and lifted a doubtful brow. "Are you sure?"
Naruto let go of Sasuke, crossed his arms and huffed. "Of course I am! You doubt my words?"
"Naturally," Sasuke answered, his smirk dissolving into a tiny smile at the thought of how easy Naruto was to manipulate. "I have seen you hide from aniki many times which makes it very hard for me to believe you're not afraid of him." He had gradually managed to move away from the women, his success owing greatly to a noisy disagreement which rose between two of the prettiest girls.
Naruto didn't notice this this fact, however, because he was too busy trying to come up with a counter attack and to cover up the very embarrassing truth that he really had hid from Sasuke's brother. Deciding it best to just ignore Sasuke's accusation, he pursued his previous train of thought. "Why would I be afraid of Itachi-san? Haha! Don't make me laugh, Sasuke. You think that just because you're an Uchiha everyone will crawl at your feet?"
Sasuke quirked a brow. "What has that got to do with anything?" he asked, quite confused. "You really are a dobe," he then snorted.
Naruto was furious. "What did you say, you bastard?" he demanded with an angry face.
"Let's make a bet," Sasuke said, ignoring Naruto's continuous complaint of his unpleasant character.
"A bet?" Naruto stopped his tirade to look at Sasuke with growing interest. Gambling was one his weak points which wasn't very surprising when a man like Jiraiya had brought him up.
Sasuke wondered briefly if Naruto's stupid infatuation with beautiful girls was also Jiraiya's influence. "Yes. I dare you to ask aniki why he dislikes Neji-san."
Naruto looked relieved, as if he had expected something far worse. "Alright! What do we bet on?"
"I'm not finished yet," Sasuke smirked. Naruto's apprehensive look came back. "When you're asking him, make it somehow clear that you think it's because aniki secretly loves Neji-san." He couldn't stop his smirk from widening at the absolutely terrified look which rose to Naruto's face.
"Are you serious?" Naruto asked, not quite believing what he had heard. "Do you really hate me so much that you wish to see me enter an untimely end?"
"So you are afraid?" Sasuke returned smugly.
Naruto's caution flew out the window. "I'm not!" he shouted.
"Very well, then. Prove it."
Naruto bit his lip and glared at Sasuke but seeing that Sasuke was not about to give in, he sighed. "Fine. I will."
Sasuke smirked so widely that his teeth shone through his lips. "I will look forward to your funeral."
"You will cover the expences," Naruto solemnly demanded.
"With pleasure."
Neji heard people around him whisper about Itachi and Hinata but he kept his back turned to the dancers and pretended he had heard nothing. He couldn't quite believe Itachi had actually asked Hinata to dance. He gripped his glass so tightly that it almost broke. He would not allow Itachi snooping around Hinata. The man was dangerous in his intelligence and ability to perceive things. Itachi had most likely already realized there was something wrong with Neji so readily accepting Hiashi's offer to marry Hinata and was now determined to find out exactly what was behind Neji's acceptance. A man like Itachi might do serious harm to Neji, especially because of their mutual dislike for each other motivating the Uchiha.
Neji gritted his teeth. He would somehow have to mislead Itachi which would be a hindrance to him for it would take much time and effort when he had none to spare. It was very annoying but he would have to do it. And to think that Itachi would use Hinata for his purposes. That was something Neji hadn't taken into account. He could only hope things would get easier once he got married to Hinata. It wasn't uncommon for married people to seek pleasures outside of their matrimonial bed but Neji didn't believe Hinata would even think of doing that even with someone ebbing her on. But they weren't married yet and the admiring whispers all around him were beginning to seriously annoy him. He was just thinking of leaving the room when a servant appeared in front of him and informed him there was a gentleman in the hall who wished to speak with him.
Neji nodded and set his glass on a little table before following the servant out of the room.
"Look at him! He's so handsome! As expected from an Uchiha," shrieked a lady in her late fifties to her friend of equal age and social standing. Neji frowned.
"But what is he doing with Neji-sama's fiancée? Oh my, do you think there is something wicked going on here?" the lady's friend whispered back excitedly.
"Oh! Oh my! You think so? I don't know. But he looks very handsome and she is blushing."
Neji had stopped to listen to the conversation held between the two ladies. He despised himself for it but he couldn't help his curiosity. After the first lady's observation of Hinata's scarlet cheeks it was all he could do not to march to them and yell that Hinata was always blushing and that hadn't they noticed how red she had been when he had danced with her.
"It would be a good match too," the second lady continued, "Itachi-sama is the heir of the Uchiha clan and even though Hinata-sama might have her faults she is still Hyuuga-sama's daughter."
"But this match is good too," the first lady insisted. "Neji-sama is the heir of the Hyuuga clan which is no worse than being an Uchiha heir. And hasn't he always liked Hinata-sama?"
"Liked? What on earth are babbling about, you silly old woman?" the second lady demanded so forcefully that the large feather crowning her hairdo bobbed violently. Neji shared her curiosity. "Neji-sama has never liked anyone except himself and his mother, God bless her soul. He has grown colder and colder as years have gone by and he holds nothing but contempt towards his own family."
"He likes Hinata-sama," the first lady repeated, her mind clearly set on the subject. She withstood her firend's piercing look with the look of a woman knowing she's right. Her friend sighed.
"As you wish. But it is obvious that Itachi-sama is interested in Hinata-sama too so your precious Neji-sama will have to vie for her affection."
The first lady gasped and placed a scented handkerchief on her lips. "You don't think it will be like--"
The second lady waved her hand vigorously and shushed her friend into silence. "Hold your tongue if you want to keep it," she hissed, glancing around, "Talking about that in this house is very dangerous. I thought you were cleverer than that, my dear."
Neji's gaze hardened and he left the ladies promptly, his mood deteriorated. The conversation he had just witnessed had brought back familiar, unpleasant memories and he could only barely keep his expression blank.
Neji walked past Sasuke and Naruto who seemed to be in the midst of yet another row and through the doors into the dim hall. His steps echoed in the nearly empty room as he advanced near the front door where his guest was waiting. When he saw who it was, he stopped in astonishment.
A man dressed in a striking green-and-gold coat stood near the entrance. He had make-up on his face and a little fan hanging on his wrist and as Neji got closer, he could smell the faint fragrance of parfume floating around the man. A dandy, if ever Neji saw one, and he knew this man.
The man turned when he heard the sound of Neji's footsteps and sent a dazzling smile as a greeting. "Neji-san, my old friend!" he exclaimed, holding out his hands as if to embrace Neji. "How are you?"
Neji dodged the seeking hands with little effort and then set his cold glare on the man. "What are you doing here, Lee-san?" he asked, his irritation briefly surfacing on his features.
Lee smiled. "I came to see my old friend and rival getting married. Is that so bad?"
"The wedding isn't held until the end of the month," Neji stated.
"And of course you will provide me with lodgings until the memorable occation?" Lee asked, flashing another smile.
"There is a perfectly fine inn in this city. This is the capital after all. It will suit you well enough, Lee-san," Neji returned. "Now tell me, why are you really here?"
Lee became serious and he glanced furtively from side to side before leaning so close to Neji that the Hyuuga had to take a step back when Lee's strange fragrance invaded his nose. "She's coming here," Lee said with a low voice.
Neji narrowed his eyes. "Who is?"
"You know. Her." Lee checked the hall again. "I heard her talking about it to one of her cousins. She will be here in a day or two."
"I don't know who you're talking about."
"She will cause you trouble," Lee continued, ignoring Neji's claim for ignorance. "Even a genius like you will be in danger."
"A woman like her can do nothing to me," Neji declared coldly, abandoning his pretence. "If she wants to fight with me she will realize this herself."
"Women fight in devious ways," Lee said, looking doubtful. "It is difficult for a man to understand their tactics." He sighed when Neji showed no sign of yielding. "I'm just asking you to keep your guard up, that's all."
"If that is all, then you can leave. I'm sure you are tired from your long journey."
"I am," Lee acknowledged, perking up at the prospect of some deserved rest.
"There is a good inn near the palace. You can't miss it." With that, Neji turned on his heels and left the dandy to find his own way out. His face twisted into an angry growl. But when he entered the ballroom again, there was no trace of his distress evident. He directed his strides to Itachi and Hinata and when he reached them, he most cordially requested that Hinata would dance with him and eloquently apologized the interruption to Itachi. He seeked Hinata's presence on purpose; it was always so soothing. And if Hinata wondered why Neji held her so tightly or why he remained silent the whole time, she said nothing and they continued to dance until Hiashi announced his withdrawal to bed.