E2: mmm…. This is turning out quite strangely.
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Okay, so I'm addicted to this. I can't stop writing- even if I have to study for exams that count towards my school certificate… but it's all good news for everyone except for me! Lol! So now, we start to get the time warp. It's night time where Neji is, and early morning where Tenten is. This is making my head warp up. This is not good.
So, read, review and enjoy!
Chapter Eight: The Proposal
That night, after supper, Neji left his room at precisely nine o'clock, silently and stealthily. The lamps and lights had all been turned down, so he would be less likely to be caught by…
"Neji-kun?" Emi whispered.
Neji held in his frustration. This girl was such a nuisance! She was always in the way and didn't know her place- and his boundaries for that matter. He liked his amount of space and while he had never disliked the idea of marriage, this case was an extreme exception. Emi was whiny, childish, clingy, and completely dependent on other people like a spoiled brat. Hanabi, who was now around the age of 13, was the complete opposite- she was silent, resilient, strong, and smart. She was a very skilled kunoichi and had inherited much of the Hyuuga talent.
"What are you doing?" Emi simpered, running her fingers idly through her blonde hair as she fluttered her eyelashes. Neji noticed she was wearing eyeliner and gold eye shadow to bring out the warmer flecks of colour in her hazel eyes. He said nothing and continued to walk, Emi shadowing his movements as he walked briskly, apart from the fact that she had to take two steps to match his long strides and had to walk at a half-run.
He stopped at the door of Hinata's study, knocked and entered. It was much the same as when he had entered it that afternoon but this time, there was an extra person in there besides Hinata.
Hinata, dressed in a simple, elegant black kimono, sat in her leather chair, her fingers gently steeped while her wrists lay on the table. There was someone else sitting in the chair opposite her with light brown hair done up in a complex knot, secured in place with a hair clip with a large, ornate flower that was decorated with golden glitter at the edge of the large, cream petals.
They looked up at Neji's entrance, and Emi squealed upon seeing the other woman.
"Aimi!" Emi jumped on the other woman as she stood, and they talked and smiled quietly. Takumi Aimi turned around and glanced at Neji.
"So," she said softly. Her voice was quiet, but her eyes belied her words and posture. Her sage green eyes were alert and sharp, although her body seemed relaxed. "It seems that my sister has been having some trouble with you."
Neji said nothing, his eyes taking in the fact that Emi was standing slightly behind and to the side of the older woman.
Hinata spoke up.
"Aimi has proposed, on behalf of the Takumi clan, to postpone the wedding for three years with enough time for Emi," she paused to look at the girl, "to get used to life here, used to you, and get to know you as a person, as someone more than her husband, or fiancée out of duty."
"What's the catch?"
Hinata sighed. She knew Neji would not like this one bit. She crossed her fingers behind her back, and said, "Emi has to live with you at your apartment, and be with you at all times unless she chooses not to be, also with the exclusion of shinobi missions, business and meetings. But this doesn't exclude training, Neji," she said, with caution in her voice. Neji could be a bit of a workaholic- well, in this case, a train-aholic.
"I understand," he said curtly. He bowed at Hinata and Aimi in return, and left the room in swift, long strides. Emi stared at his back for a few moments.
"I think… I think he took that fairly well," she said, shutting the doors.
"You don't know him enough," Hinata said softly as she sighed and sat down, motioning for the other to sit, also. They had the same facial features, the same kind of strange aura around them of something that was not describable.
After a few moments of thinking, Hinata stopped drumming her fingers on the table.
"Out of curiosity," she began, "why did you want to wait three years?"
"Emi is in love with the idea of being in love," Aimi said, smiling fondly at her younger sister.
Hinata smiled, although it was somewhat transparent.
"I… see- so you want Neji to marry you because he loves you, not because he has to for the sake of many reasons."
Emi blushed, and nodded. Hinata looked at the young woman, in her pale blue kimono and hair unbound and brushed, and mentally sighed. Both she and Neji knew that Emi was not the kind of woman he would want to spend the rest of his life with. She was extremely high maintenance, and knew nothing about his world. Tenten had lived and breathed for that same world that he lived in and had known him for so many years. They had known each other inside and out… suddenly, Hinata wondered where the other kunoichi was, and how she was doing.
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Miyako pulled on the black ceremonial robes, feeling dizzy from fasting. In a few minutes, she would be truly a part of the Hideaki Clan.
Asuka came to her side, dressed in crimson robes as a member of the family.
"Nervous?" she asked softly as she led her, barefoot, out of the house. They took a candle lined path through the forested area, the rocks feeling like glass beneath Miyako's numb toes.
"Yes," she glanced at the blonde- she was about Tenten's height, and the same age. "Should I be?"
"Don't worry," Akane said, coming out of the darkness. Hotanu and Hana joined her in similar robes of red, their hair unbound and feet bare. "You'll be fine."
They led her to a clearing where Tenten saw a crackling bonfire and heard the sounds of a steady river. Hiroshi stood in the centre in white robes and his feet bare, the orange of the flames casting bloody shadows across the stark white.
"Miyako…" he said softly. Miyako knew she was talking to the man who led his clan- not her husband. "Step into the circle."
The four sisters, silent observers, blocked the exit way to the candle lined trail and Miyako shut her eyes before opening them again after taking a deep breath. Taking sure, unhurried steps, Miyako walked towards Hiroshi, stopping at the edge of a circle of a silvery white light. Licking her lips, Miyako walked through the light which turned golden as she walked through. The circle opened up on the other side past Hiroshi. She knew it led to the river where she would drink and bathe in the river before the ceremony began. She did this mechanically, her mind snapping back to attention when the water touched her lips, tingling as it slipped down her throat. It seemed more potent than sake, without the burning, and Miyako's mind became both clearer and hazed at the same time. She could sense tension heavy in the air, and walked back to Hiroshi who handed her the black robe to don once again.
"Tonight," he said loudly, "the number of the noble Hideaki clan is brought to seven. Miyako," he turned to her. "Do you come here, to this sacred place, with a pure heart and mind?"
She nodded fractionally. "Yes," she whispered.
"Are you ready?" he asked softly. She only averted her eyes, knowing there was no way of avoiding this. It was something she'd agreed on before marrying him- if it lasted long enough.
She removed the robe; using the tie as a blindfold- she would not be able to use her eyes until the next morning. Then, it began- like a burning brand was pressed to her skin, Miyako felt the fire seal etched on her skin by Hiroshi's words, muttered fast and low beneath his breath. Nothing touched her, but it felt like someone was wrenching something from her soul whenever another seal added itself to the others. By the time Hiroshi had reached the part to draw forth the seal of death, her nails were caked with dirt, and the warm blood dripped from her back, and she could taste it in her mouth. Miyako did not know what level they were up to- nor did she care. All she wanted was for the pain to stop, for everything to stop hurting, and let her wounds be healed.
After an age, the pain did stop and Hiroshi helped her to stand, tying a sarong like cloth about her waist as he led her, once again, to the river, and gently poured the water down her back- it burned almost as much as the drawing of seals, but with a deadly iciness.
Her teeth began to chatter, and Hiroshi placed the robe back around her shoulders, causing more tears to dampen the blindfold, and a low moan to escape Miyako's bleeding mouth.
"Hideaki Miyako," Hiroshi whispered, and she sensed movement- he was bowing to her. He kissed her sweat chilled forehead and she fainted.
----x----
Sakura paced agitatedly around the clearing. Neji was late and she hoped that he didn't have to bring his fiancée with him- it was troubling enough that he even had one who wasn't Tenten in the first place. She pulled out some kunai and began to throw them at the trees, aiming for a particular spot. After three tries, she decided it would be a lot more of a stress reliever to just punch it to smithereens like she had often seen Lee kick a tree to matchsticks. The pink haired kunoichi punched the sturdy trunk, and she barely felt the pain. After seven punches, the tree had fallen, and her body was shaking with the adrenaline rush that was pumping recklessly, energetically through her body.
"Sorry for being late. Emi wanted to come," Neji said in a monotone.
Sakura turned around. Neji stood at the edge of the clearing, alone.
"I thought you said that Emi wanted to come."
"I said it was a shinobi meeting."
"I see. So you lied to her," Sakura said accusingly. Neji glared, and she held up her hands, smiling. "But it's not like I don't approve or anything…"
Neji crossed his arms. Sakura jumped up into a tree branch and Neji joined her.
"What did you want to know about?" Neji asked.
"Everything," Sakura demanded. "What went on when you were up there?"
Neji sighed, and recounted the events.
"You slept with her… eight hours before meeting Emi!" Sakura screeched, her cry sending all the birds in the surrounding area up into the sky.
Neji rolled his eyes.
"We… didn't know how else to do it," he mumbled.
"You couldn't just say good bye, I'll drive you back to Konoha?" Sakura sighed.
"We're getting side tracked."
"Right. Um. Have you talked to Temari yet?"
"No. I thought you said you were going to," Neji said.
"Yeah. I will today."
"Now you know all of the details. Now, I have to go."
"What? Wedding preparations?"
"No."
"What? Aren't you getting married soon?"
"It's been postponed."
"What? Why? For how long?"
"Three years."
"Do you have an idea why?"
Neji turned away from her.
"She wants me to fall in love with her," he said, quietly, and Sakura shivered at the haunted tone in his voice before he jumped away.
The kunoichi glanced at her watch.
"I'M LATE!"
----x----
Sakura and Ino were at the recently fully finished and furnished Uchiha complex that was nowhere near where the old Uchiha clan had lived. That place had too many memories that haunted Sasuke and was a bad place to raise children. Speaking of which, the pink haired Uchiha was now three months pregnant.
But that wasn't currently important- she and Ino were calling Temari, to try and straighten things out.
"Hello?"
"Hey Temari. It's Uchiha Sakura."
"Hey Sakura! Is there anything wrong?"
"I was just wondering if you knew anything about Tenten."
"Tenten? Isn't she in Konoha? I haven't seen her since your wedding," Temari said, a hint of concern entering her voice.
"Really? Neji said that he had been talking to you like the day before yesterday!"
"Neji? Hyuuga Neji? I haven't talked to him since your wedding, too. What's going on?"
Sakura quickly recounted the events of what had happened on Tenten and Neji's holiday.
"This… makes no sense. Some one's been impersonating me. I don't even have any nieces and I know no one called Tetsu. I will track down this idiot who thinks she can pose as me and get away with it."
"She got past Neji's Byakugan," Sakura reminded the other kunoichi.
"Well, he trusts me so he wouldn't check on me or anything like that," Temari snapped.
"Do you have any ideas?"
"About what?"
"This entire thing."
"Why don't you check the records about Hiashi's body from the coroners?"
"They don't say anything- only that he died in his sleep."
"I see."
An awkward silence hung around for a few moments.
"I'm pregnant," Sakura said suddenly, to fill the silence.
"Really? Congratulations!" Temari said warmly.
"Thanks."
"How many months?"
"Three…"
"Oh, I see. Well… that's great news! Have you thought of a name yet?"
"No. I only found out today after I talked to Neji."
"Okay… well I have to go. It's been great talking to you Sakura, and Ino- yes, I know you're there and I'm saying hi- and say hi to Shika for me, too!" she teased. The line went dead, and both Ino and Sakura sighed.
----x----
"Neji-kun? Are you listening?" Emi tilted her head once more at him, and Neji looked down into her hazel eyes.
"What were you saying? If it's something about a boutique back at home, I don't want to hear it."
"I wasn't saying anything like that. I wanted to know if you could teach me how to fight," Emi said, beaming.
"You want to learn how to fight? Ask Hanabi to teach you first and then I will."
Emi pouted.
"Why won't you teach me?"
"Because Hanabi is also a female and will be able to train your fighting methods in a better way than I can."
"Why?"
"Because fighting is different for everyone. Males have a higher stamina. If you can keep up with Hanabi, then you have a chance of learning to keep up with me."
"What about Tenten? You fought with her everyday when you were younger."
"That was…"
"Different?" Emi's temper flared. "How is it different?" she demanded. "It's not like you loved her the first time you saw her! I am trying to make an effort to understand you! Why can't you let me into your world, Neji?"
"Because," Neji said coldly. "You're annoying." He turned on his heel, and walked away.
"Neji!" Emi screamed, her voice high pitched- a sign she had lost all authority and control. "You are my fiancée! You can not just turn your back on me!" Tears began to gather and fall from her eyes.
Neji said nothing and everyone stared at the girl crying in the middle of the street. She caught their pitying looks and snarled viciously at one girl passing by, "What are you looking at?"
The young woman glanced away, muttering nothing, and Emi wiped away her tears furiously. She had thought that it would have made him happy, that she was showing an interest in what he did. Instead, he just pushed her away, like she was nothing of importance to him. Maybe he was just afraid of opening up. Maybe he did want to love her and forget about Tenten but he just didn't know how.
Emi smiled brightly and went to seek out a certain Hyuuga.
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Miyako woke, feeling disorientated. Her hair was plastered to her forehead but her back, strangely enough, was normal. She had expected a lot more pain than this.
As if on cue, Hiroshi entered the room and kissed her gently before sitting down on the bed, taking her hand in his.
"How are you feeling?"
She shrugged.
"Fine, I guess."
Her voice was husky and she was surprised at how it sounded.
"How long did I sleep for?"
"A week," Hiroshi said breezily.
"A week?!?!"
Hiroshi smirked at her reaction and placed a hand on her cheek.
"Do you want to try walk around?"
"I guess," she sighed.
Hiroshi stood and led her out of the bed, helping her when she faltered.
She stared into his eyes for a moment and something within her rebelled. Her eyes narrowed and she stood straighter again, gently shrugging him off in the motion.
"I think I'll be fine, thanks." She said quietly. She knew he sensed the change in her and yet he did not act hurt. She could only wonder what it meant.
Wow. Emi has serious issues- tantrum-prone one moment, sunnily happy the next. I guess that's one of the benefits of being completely delusional.
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