It seemed like everyone is confused by my story line. A summary is provided in the end of this chapter for any catch-ups. Sorry if I write really confusingly. And thanks for all the reviews. I think I replied to those who questioned.
And this is NOT NejiSaku fanfiction. Don't get the wrong ideas (you will see why later).
I don't own anything but the confusing plot, which is soon going to get resolve.
Untitled Tale
Chapter 6: His story, Their memory, Her life
I never meant to see her in such situation, I swore.
I didn't wanted to see her fell to her knees, I didn't wanted her to beg for mercy, I didn't wanted her to get tied up in the cold chamber, I didn't wanted to see her bare skin touches the sticks, I didn't wanted to see her in bloody scars before she left.
I didn't want any of this. Why is everyone looking at me like this?
I recalled that I screamed at the untouchable master, "she didn't do it!" as loud as I could. I swore I did, but he looked at me icily, and tied up her anyway. "You should come" was his last words before I realized I had headed down the stairs with him.
I saw her tied up in ropes, so tight that red marks were forming before the sticks even rise to the air. She looked at me for a split second, half tearing with fear and anger before all was wiped out when master Hiashi ordered "Now".
I watched. She begged, she cried, she screamed until energy slipped out of her hands. They went faster, and faster until you no longer see the sticks moving. Gai had watched me closely, probably wondering why I haven't ask them to stop yet. I had to admit, for a commoner, Gai had very sharp visions and knew how to hit a person without direct movements. I knew he was going to say something soon if I reminded silent.
"Everything is laid down in the beginning…Don't expect me to change the fate, Gai." These are the only words that slipped before I left the chamber.
The last time I saw her, she was covered with blood that dyed her pink hair and her cream colored skin. The maid who tried so hard to please me with her limited patience and aggressive attitude, the only person that seem to touch me closer than anyone else until that point, had left after that night of beating.
Just like my father and mother, who left so long ago.
I was born to this world, with a family and no siblings, my parents had viewed me as a treasure. I remembered how they took me to the backyard forest when I was four, barely walking and taught me how to ride a horse. At five, I was one of the smallest that can ride so skillfully that the nobles of the house bowed to me with amazement. I remembered how we used to dash to the forest, my family of three, to hop on trees and dive into rivers and enjoy a day off. I remembered those days, when I was actually happy as a human.
Then my mother started to have a second child, this was when everything crashed before my eyes.
She used to tell me, how I am going to have a little brother or sister who is going to look up to me as a brother. I asked her whether it would be like master Hiashi's daughter Hinata, who always looks up to me anyway. She looked at me with some wry, then brushed the expression off with a smile. She would tell me with the most beautiful voice I ever heard, "Yes, just like heiress Hinata, dear."
Of course I didn't know why she had a wry face, or why did she address Hinata as heiress instead of just her name, until they both passed away.
My mother had a hard time giving birth to my little brother, I heard her screamed in pain in the middle of the night. I didn't know why, my mother always covered the truth saying that "That's how I acted when I gave birth to you."
I heard there was this water on the market that can ease the pain of a pregnant woman. This water was given to the Hyuugas to every woman who is going to give birth to a new Hyuuga. However, this water is extremely expensive, and only certain people can purchase it. This unwritten law excluded my family's ability to get the water without master Hiashi's permission.
My mother needed one of that magic water during those nights, and the scarce water was running out in our family. My father went to the main family to ask for more, but no help was received. So instead, he traveled outside of the mansion during the night to get the water after learning where it is found.
All he wished was to save my mother, is there something wrong with this?
He was killed during that night by guards, who thought he was an invader. I always wonder how blind the guards had been, since my father got the famous Hyuuga white eyes too. He died that very same day he wanted to save my mother.
After my father took the left, my mother soon pasted away as well because of pain and stress. I never saw my little sibling getting out alive, nor will I ever see my parents again.
I was only five then.
Shortly after their deaths that I learned that master Hiashi was the one who didn't provide any help to my family, and resulted in this tragic. The day he took me in as a crossover of nephew and step-son, I hated him even more.
I hate how he wished to correct himself by consideration myself as a step-son. I hate how my father was killed because he was too weak for a mob of guards. I hate Hiashi for making Hinata the next heiress, another weakling who is most likely going to kill another innocent person like my father. I hate them all, and this changed my outlook towards life.
I no longer address anyone nicely, because that is not needed in my life. I no longer train because of my memories, but because I need to become the next heir of this hated mansion. I no longer wish anybody near me, because I knew deep down they are all evil and wish to overturn me. I no longer held any emotions because they will retain me from getting stronger.
And I will never ever call master Hiashi as "uncle" or "step-father", but by the title master to recall that he silently slaughtered my family roots.
I was so cold, sometimes I didn't know who I was anymore. I could beat up anyone in the building by fear, and by rank, including maids and guards. I don't view them as humans anymore, because nobody had treated me like human before.
Then the pink hair maid came to the mansion.
"Hello, my name is Sakura and I am your next personal maid, Neji-sir." She bowed, but I knew she didn't wish to give me any respect because her furrowed brow had betrayed her completely. As usual, I scoffed at her for unprofessional-ism and silently watched her reaction. I liked to watch others suffered from my countless criticism, because they will obey me either way. I liked the power I was receiving and I was hoping for one of those sour faces will appear on her ugly face.
Except that never came. Instead, she mocked back, "Well, if I was TOO unprofessional for your honored jack ass, why don't you PERSONALLY go down the maids' rooms and pick out one who matches your standard 'professional' line?"
She was interesting, I had to admitted, nobody in history had ever backfired me before, so I did what I would normally do to any resisting maids—grabbed the nearby coal shovel and started to beat her up. If they didn't know how to suffer with words, I will make them suffer physically.
After several swung and tossed, she went silent on the ground as I thought I finally got her. I felt fulfilled as I put the shovel back to the shove, nobody is going to be in my way, and she isn't anyone in the exceptions, if there were any to start with.
But then she popped up, and grinned sheepishly at me as if all the beatings which just occurred didn't hurt her.
"You have a pretty bad aim…You aimed at my goddamn lower limb, and that isn't going to hurt a bit but leave a few scars, honorable sucker." She said as she got up, dusting herself off the ground. "This is how you gain control and expect people to respect you? Tsk, may I warn you that…
You are not getting anything out of me. Save your ass for some other maids, you honorable low life." When she finished, she let out a loud "Tsk", kicked the door opened and stomped outside.
I have never been that insulted before. This troubled me, somebody as low as she is could bother me so much.
Days dragged on, the horrific relationship didn't change a bit; in fact, it was getting worst. I scoffed at her, she sneered back at me. I was nowhere in getting control of her. I kept beating the girl up, but she never seemed to fear me, for why I never quite understood.
"You are just a scared hog, who wish to gain control of everything and everyone, but trapped in your own maze in the end." She used to say this whenever I mocked her, and this always ended up angering me more than I intended to hurt her with my words. Damn pinky.
Later I learned that she was a former hunter for the village, in fact, a medical hunter, who heals her teammates yet wounds the enemy at the same time. I also learned that she had lived somewhere else before she moved to this village, and her reason for moving was because of her parent's death. I guessed that was where the aggressive attitude came from.
There was something that wondered me too, as violent as she is, I always caught her staring at the window. One of those days I would walk down the alley and take a quick peek at whether the maid is following me, and she would be staring out of the windows.
I didn't know why, and it bothered me.
It was late, but she was still there, watching and taking her responsibility as a maid by the door, waiting for orders. I ordered her to get out, but she said something about Gai would bother her to death and remained, so I ignored her as I fantasized what I would do in the morning for training.
Then I heard screaming and rumbling of foot steps out of my window. Hundreds of yellow flames charged toward a direction, and I knew they were chasing somebody. Flashes of my father escaping attacked me that second, and the next thing I knew the fear of yesterday had haunted me as I collapsed.
Crap, there goes my oh so honorable identity. Screw life.
I woke up later, and found myself on my own bed, laid with covers and ice bags on my forehead. I docked my eyes from right to left, and found Sakura sitting next to me in a chair, while her eyes gazed outside like usual. I sat up, and she immediately leaned forward to change the ice bag and handed me tea. I shook my head to refuse her offerings, and she went back to her daydreaming. We sat in awkward silent for a while.
"Neji…sir, what were you dreaming?"
"What?"
"You looked so frustrated when you laid there." Sakura said, eyes still glanced at the sun rise. "..your eyes twitched, your hands was brought to a fist, and your breathes quicken… All of this are signs of stress and fear…"
"Shut up. I do not fear or stress about anything." I snapped. Me, Hyuuga Neji, the all mighty fighter and controller of the future Hyuugas life, feared and stressed over the past? Nonsense… right?
"…" Her jade eyes never left the window, "When I was little, I always believe…
'I am going to make my mom and dad proud, and become somebody useful!' I laughed as I said this in front of this. I was so happy, because somebody is always there supporting me.
Then they were dead. Everybody laughing and screaming at the main street, 'They are dead! The criminals are dead!' It was funny how nobody was aware that I was standing in the very street at the same time as they hollered when they sentenced my parents to death.
My parents… they were fortune-tellers, very accurate ones too. If they found out that something is going to happen, something IS going to happen. Their quote was always 'You can never change the fate, as fate is already set for you…' (Neji shifted uncomfortably at this statement.)
The day before their death, they gave a fortune tell to a man, warning him that something tragic would happen to him if he doesn't give the homeless lady a shelter for the night. The man, being wealthy and all, ignored the warning, and his right arm was injured because some robbery—the homeless lady—had broke into his house to steal food and cut his arm as defense on the way out.
The man was anger, and decided to find somebody to blame at. Since the homeless lady had dashed to god knows where, the blame eventually fell upon my parents.
'Curse them for bringing misfortune!' He cried, and arrested them for harassment and other bullcrap he made up. Brainwashing the entire village at one night, he sentenced my parents to death, and that was their last chapter on my life.
After that, people regarded me as the offspring of the 'sins'. Everywhere I tailed, I heard the words 'sinners' like buzzing bees. I decided to move out of there, I couldn't take rumors anymore, so I snapped and took a step.
It was harder then I thought, as rumors followed me everywhere. I thought of killing myself particular everyday because I was so overwhelmed. Then I met these two girls down in the village.
I ran into these two females as I dashed across the village, other children had been teasing me and throwing rocks at me. Out of no where, a blonde and a brunette hair girl hopped out and beat up those other bullies, and took me to their home, a local herbal store.
At first, I refused their kindness, because I didn't want any. 'Snap out of this crap and move on! Show the world the other side of you!' The brunette girl retorted at me angrily as the blonde girl nodded at the background. They dragged me to train with them, to learn with them, to face the world with them.
It was hard to believe how I evolved from being a stone back to a girl who I wanted to be when I was five. Eventually I even found a teacher to train my medical skills, and became one of the legendary four girls of this village. That is until I was dragged here because the all mighty Hyuugas needed maids and the fate once again fell on top of me."
A silent hovered on top of them after Sakura finished her story. Neji wanted to say something nice because the situation was so familiar, but instead, he blurted out "Why should I care?"
"You shouldn't. I just thought you might want to know, since your face always shows me that you wish to know why I stare out of the window." Sakura said as she picked up herself and walked towards the doors. "Well, since you are okay, then I should head back to bed for one hour. I will return later for the usual wake up call, Neji-sir."
I felt so empty suddenly, I didn't want her to leave yet…I never really had people listened to my point of view before, and I had I feeling that she is going to be the first one. "Don't."
"Huh?" She turned around, her face annoyed.
"Uh…I mean, please stay for now." Okay, too emotional for my own good.
"Yes, Neji sir." She went back to the original position, but her eyes were locked on my face now. At first I hesitated to tell her my story, but after a while of arguing with my mind, I decided to tell her anyway.
It was easier to tell her then I thought it would be. Just memories and words floated out as clips of past slipped through my mind, replaying each and every scene. As I was almost done with my story, I saw her hands buried her face, hiding traces of tears.
"…Crying are for weaklings. Legendary woman." I said, however confused at why she cried. As compared to hers, my story isn't really that much of a deal.
"So? Crying cleans your souls and keeps you calm once in a while." She looked up with her puffed up red eyes, glaring at him. "Plus, I am not crying for you, I am crying with you."
"I don't cry." I said, back to my emotionless self.
"You always say that, but if I leave, I can bet that you would." Sakura grinned sheepishly at me as she wiped her tear away. "You reminded me of too many people…especially this one person who had his family slaughtered by his brother…"
"Tsk, world of mistakes." I commented silently.
"Ah, you and your depressing self again. See? This is how you act if you don't get your frustration out, Neji-sir, all icy and cold and isolated that you don't even know there are people who wish to be near you to understand… Speaking of whom, you should really meet the brunette girl, she is tough and determine. She would probably change you."
"Hmpt, maybe. If I felt like seeing a lower rank personally."
"If you say she is a low life again and I beat the crap out of your honorable ass."
"Alright, nothing about…" Before I could even finish the sentence, Sakura fell to the ground. I went off my bed to examine what was going on, and realized she was just overly exhausted because of lack of rest. At this point I decided to bring her to Gai and let him handle the rest, but when I picked her up, something dropped out of her dress.
A silver dragger, with her name engraved to it, fell out of her dress. When I picked it up, questioning myself why would she carried this in this mansion, Hiashi and guards marched in, caught us in this position.
"Young master Neji! Lord Hiashi asked us to escort you for the rest of the day because lord believe a spy had entered the mansion…" Their voice tailed off as they watch Sakura laid unconsciously on my arm, and a dragger to me left.
"Why is the maid in your arm and a dragger in your hand?" Hiashi asked, eye brow half raised in question.
"I was going to bring her to Gai, master." I said without emotion again, hoping he would leave me alone. Instead of what I hoped for, Hiashi marched towards me and yanked the dragger out of my hand to examine it. Upon reading the engraved name, he signaled the guards, who quickly picked up Sakura.
"What the heck!" I refused to let go as I knew what Hiashi had in mind. But there were too many guards, allowing them to have an advantage to pull her off me. Screw this!
"Neji…Draggers were found in front of your room with the same engraving. I believe that Sakura is the criminal who we are searching for. Give her to me and I will determine the proper punishment."
"But she didn't do it!" I screamed as I watched them marched away. There is nothing I can do, I am as hopeless as my father when he tried to save my mother.
So hopelessly useless.
Over time, the history cycled back to haunt me, as I realized that Tenten, my personal maid who happen to have the same personality as Sakura is going to die because of some stupid misunderstanding.
What should I do? Should I believe this stupid maid and claimed that she didn't do anything, or should I save my identity?
Can somebody please lead me to the exist of my maze…
---
Before Tenten could even respond, Gai already stood up, facing Hiashi.
"Isn't death a little bit harsh for this young lady? She had just been here for less than a month…" Gai's words were interrupted by Hiashi, who is furious now.
"Are you siding with her, or are you saying that I am wrong?" Hiashi said ruthlessly, seeming tired and had enough of this, "She promised that she was going to protect Neji, yet she ended up injuring Neji's arm when I entered the room. She is one wise little girl, Gai, you must not let your guard down just because she is new here."
The argument continued, but Tenten's brain was too overwhelmed by the situation. Shit, I am going to die if I don't stand up for myself, but how? Her eyes shifted uncomfortably in the room as her body shook uncontrollably. She felt Hiashi stared and observed her every single move, trying to rip out more evidence that will lead her to her death.
I can't believe I am saying this, but somebody, please, PLEASE help me.
---
Hinata sat on her snowy sheets as the pearls enjoyed the daybreak, where the sun clashed with the fiery clouds in a bright light. She couldn't sleep, even if she only had two hours of sleep total for this night. The container with noodles was emptied and cleaned with soap, laid quietly at the corner of her queen size bed bathtub. She smiled and blushed lightly upon seeing that empty container, imagining her crush eating and licking every single bite of her dish this morning.
Then the Neji's maid kicked into her mind. Hinata supposed that she should thank her personally, since thus far father didn't punish her for leaving at night yet. Normally if she was busted for something, Hiashi always is the one who penalize her, and the punishment is usually scheduled from the morning to whenever Hiashi thought was enough.
However, nothing had happened so far, so does that mean she is safe and the maid kept their secret? She left her room and walked towards one of the room guards, who had awaken from her sleeping potion.
"Mr, where is father?"
"The guard looked at her and took a respectful bow, "He is in the discussion hall now, heiress."
"May I ask why?" Hinata questioned.
"Young master Neji's personal maid is accused of writing the threaten note and injuring him…She would be schedule for death penalty."
Hinata felt her heart beat.
---
A mess, a mess, such a mess.
Tenten remained silent as Hiashi listed out the reasons why she was charged. She wasn't listening, after all, there is no point to do so, and instead, she was trying to think of a way to escape her fate.
Well, I can always support the fact that I was up all night by saying that I could have attacked Neji past midnight if I was the assassinator, right? But then that means I will have to support the fact I was up all night… Should I ask one of those guards to side with me? I do recognize them from the dark…But then again, they probably wouldn't because they live by kissing Hiashi's ass…
Then something hit her. She remembered heiress was with her for a short while last night. I need anyone who can prove me now. Her mind start to race, Hinata heiress is one of the Hyuugas, so logically Hiashi should listen to her, right?
---
"I… don't tell anyone that you saw me here tonight." Hinata said as her eyes shifted back and forth.
"What?" Tenten was a bit surprised at her point, how does she think she could get away from this? There are guards everywhere now!
"Just don't tell anyone that I was here, please?" The white eyes were begging as the foot steps alerted her.
---
Her hopes died as she recalled the little speech the heiress begged before she left. She could tell by the way Hinata pleaded that this secret shouldn't be let out either way.
But I am going to die, anything would save me from dying would help. If only I say this…
"Just don't tell anyone that I was here…"
For god's sake, I am GOING to DIE for some bastard! Just blurt this out!
"…don't tell anyone…"
I AM GOING TO DIE THERE IS NO TIME TO SAVE OTHER PERSON'S ASS NOW!
"…don't…"
"Miss Tenten?"
"Huh?" Tenten's mind snapped back to the discussion hall, where she saw Hiashi stared at her with irritation.
"I am questioning you, whether you have any last evidence that can prove you innocent, and this time, I do not wish to hear any monkey-business." He said with his face stoned, emotionless.
"…I…" Tenten rose to expose last night's scenery, but Hinata's warning kept haunting her. "…don't…"
"…don't…"
"…don't…"
"…I have no evidence at all…"
So I guess this is the end, huh…
Somebody stepped into the discussion hall and distracted everyone. "She isn't going anywhere!"
Another one of those infamous hangers here… Sorry (grin). You are all welcome to curse and shot me dead for stopping here, but please don't throw garbage, we have to protect the environment, nah?
Sorry if the first half sounded like Neji Sakura pairing, NOTE it isn't, Sakura belongs to Sasuke in this fanfiction. I have to clear up how Sakura met and changed Neji first, then I am going to insert Tenten to do some major attack on Neji's heart/emotions, just watch (grin).
And I still didn't explain who wrote the threaten note or spy on Tenten. Maybe next chapter?
Catch ups! Tenten is sent to the Hyuugas's mansion to be a maid under mother's order. However, she doesn't want to because all of her closest friends had told her horrific experiments severing inside (chapter 1). Tenten trained with Gai to learn how to serve, the news of Neji's personal maid had quit force Tenten to start serving Neji starting tomorrow (chapter2). Tenten spent load of time preparing for her first impression, but got mocked anyway by Neji. A few days later, she let out of her frustration by stabbing a picture of hand-drawn Neji with her weapons. However, she didn't realize somebody was watching her (chapter3). Tenten dreamt of her past, and woke up and was charge with threatening Neji by a threaten note (which she didn't write). She was given permission by Hiashi to prove herself as innocent by escorting Neji at night (chapter 4). Tenten was escorting, while Hinata was getting ready to meet somebody (whose name is not mentioned yet). These two met at midnight crashing into each other, and Hinata manage to escape (how she did it was not discussed). Tenten stayed until the morning, and then she collapsed in front of Neji because of tiredness. As she fell, one of her weapon she prepared (the explosive powder) exploded next to her, ripping some of the pre-applied Neji's bandages apart. Hiashi came to check on Neji and found Neji injured with Tenten in his arms, thus assumed Tenten was the assassinator. As Hiashi decided what to do with Tenten, Gai recalled of those moments when his former training-maid was beat up for almost the same reason. Hiashi announced that Tenten's punishment is death (chapter 5). Neji remembered his past with Sakura, a former maid, and questioned himself what he should do now. Hinata found out that Tenten is going to die for her escape. Tenten, having no evidence to save herself from death, accepted her fate, but somebody (whom is not reveled yet) stopped it (chapter 6).
Is that all better now? Some questions are answered as well:
Sakura had a lot of influence in the mansion, as she is one of those who refuse to obey all of Hyuugas' law. She was beaten up because of being a suspect of a spy. Neji watched her through half of the punishment and found himself useless. Sakura WAS kidnapped by Sasuke (chapter 1) and she is NOT dead yet (I never said she was dead, she is just gone after being kidnapped).
Neji is cruel because he was hurt when he was little, by Hiashi, thus he refused to call Hiashi as uncle or step-father. He was accepted into the highest Hyuuga family after his parent's death, however Hinata is to remain as a heiress. He is hungry for power until Sakura came around and changed him a bit.
Hinata has a crush on this guy (whose name remain untold) and dislike the fact she is stuck inside the mansion. She is NOT evil, trust me.
Tenten hates everything inside the mansion, especially Neji. Although she hates it, she wishes to do well because of her own pride. She likes her job as a hunter and misses her past.
Comments, questions, corrections are all welcome.
