Chap. 2: Honeysuckle

Indigo hair swayed back and forth, legs pushing themselves as fast as the body will allow. The kimono was tight and hard to move in, making it even more difficult to get by. Nothing had been going right lately and today it was even worse. She was late for her own wedding. Her father wasn't going to be happy.

Hinata scurried through the empty corridors of the Hyuuga manor. How could she have slept in late on the day that over a hundred Hyuuga main house members would be watching her, especially since she hadn't had a decent amount of sleep in the past month? Gasping for breath she approached the area where the kekkonshiki was to be held. It was another cold day even though it was spring and it had snowed the previous night, leaving a coat of white on the ground the next day. This would be no problem if Hiashi hadn't demanded the wedding carry on even through the terrible weather and be held outside.

---

All eyes gazed at the young woman as she approached them. Her neatly combed hair was out of place and stray strands hung around her face. The bottom of her kimono was dirty and she was bent over slightly gasping for air. The elders frowned and glared at this imperfect atotori. Neji stared at her. He had a glare on his face at the pity of a woman he was to call wife and heiress to the clan. After the chuunin exams he had given thought to being kinder to her, and they had gained trust in each other slightly. But her father was the one forcing him into this predicament and that was unforgivable. His life was ruined again because of her and her family's wants. Even seeing this he couldn't help but notice that she had a simple elegance amongst her.

Hinata walked through the isle passing all the glaring faces ignoring even her fathers. Her eyes were set on Neji and even though she was scared she was ready to face this no matter what. She couldn't give up, even if she had been so unsure of herself the past month and seeing Neji standing there looking ever so confident, even with a scowl on his face, made her feel a little ounce of confidence. He hadn't given up from her point of view so she couldn't no matter how much she wished she could. She stepped up towards him, noticing his eyes were different. His face had no sign of emotion but his eyes had a tinge of disgust in them, pure disgust. She walked up the stairs of the altar her eyes locked on his, until he bowed before her, leaving her with a surprised face. Quickly realizing his actions she bent down –angry gasps could be heard from behind her- next to him placing a finger under his chin and lifted his face up to look at hers. Neji was startled at her act and his eyes were wide as he looked into the warm, welcoming eyes of his cousin. Smiling slightly Hinata then bowed to her cousin. Hiashi was furious. How dare Hinata make a fool of herself in front of all these people. Hiashi was about to stand but Neji was quicker. He quickly stood, grasping Hinata with him and pulling them both up.

"What are you doing?" His cold eyes were enraged.

"Neji-niisan I-I- sumimasen," Hinata felt inferior just now; nothing like an heiress should.

"..."

It was late. Hinata and Neji stood before their new home. It was an average sized apartment close to the Hyuuga manor but far enough to give them slight space from the many Hyuuga's. Hinata was tired and her feet hurt. She had been standing for hours and walking up the stairs to their apartment had been torture seeing as Neji really was of no help and Hinata had not expected her marriage to end up like this. Opening the door Neji stepped into the dark place they now had to call home. Hinata followed silently behind.

The house was nice. The living room was fully furnished with fine couches and a middle sized television. Following that was a kitchen, a den and a master bedroom. Hinata was glad. She walked into the bedroom and opened the closet door. It had all of her and Neji's clothes hanging neatly on their racks or folded into the drawers. Her sister had been there earlier that day while they were still at the reception and had placed all of her things in the house and stocked it with food. She grabbed a towel and went to the bathroom to turn on the bath.

She walked out of the bathroom and headed towards the living room. Neji was sitting on the couch with the TV on but he clearly wasn't watching it.

"Neji-niisan..." Neji's eyes glanced her way but he did not turn towards her. "Nii-san... are you hu-hungry? I-I could make you something if you like."

"No. Go take your bath and get some sleep." His voice was cold. Neji turned towards his new wife glaring at her helpless form. He watched her hesitantly walk away into their bedroom. He sighed when she was gone and got up and headed towards the den.

---

Hinata walked out of the bathroom, completely refreshed. The room was dark and lifeless. She sighed and walked over to the closet to get something to wear to sleep. She quickly pulled on a silk night gown and walked out of her empty room. Their empty room. She walked over towards the living room looking into the kitchen as she passed by. The living room was empty and seemed to have lost life's presence hours ago. She headed towards the den, the only room she hadn't checked. Opening the door she was only disappointed. It was dark and cold. The only sign of any bodies presence was an open closet in which it seemed as though he was going to lay a futon down but didn't and his protective gauze from his arms. Where is he? She ran out the door of their apartment hoping that he hadn't left anywhere. They had just been married and he was already missing. Why am I worrying about niisan?

Neji appeared before her. She gasped at his sudden appearance and backed up tripping over her own self and tumbling to the ground, landing on her ankle. You could hear the snap as her foot fell limp. Neji sighed and glared slightly at her clumsy action. He picked her up and walked back inside the house. He desperately attempted to avoid looking at her as he carried her towards her bedroom.

"N-Neji-niisan. Th-Thank you." Hinata wrapped her hands around his chest, shifting her body closer to his in order to do so. Neji's eyes widened as he felt her warmth. He looked down at her a blush creeping onto his cheeks. He was more than grateful it was so dark. He looked into her warm eyes blankly. She was staring up at him looking very grateful. He pulled his gaze away from her as they approached their bed and leaned forward to place her body onto it. Hinata didn't release from him immediately but quickly did when she noticed his slight irritation.

"Don't move" Neji left the room, but came back momentarily, his gauze in his hand. He sat down on the edge of the bed next to her foot. Grabbing it gently he wrapped his gauze around her foot. Hinata stared blankly as he did this. "There. Done. Now go to sleep." Neji stood to leave the room.

"Ne-Neji-niisan... w-why?

"..hm?..."

"Why did you put your gauze on me?"

"Well you broke your ankle didn't you?"

"H-Hai, b-but I'm a medic ninja. I could have h-healed i-i-it on my own."

"Oh, well then should I remove it?" Neji glanced at her innocent face.

"n-No, gomennasai."

"...heh...Yoru." With that he left.

---

"Nee-san! Get up Nee-san!

Hinata sat up startled. Her sister's hands were on her shoulders shaking her gently.

"Nee-chan? W-What are you doing in my bedroom?"

"... heh... Nii-san let me in."

"Nii-san?... Oh, Neji-niisan where is he?"

Hanabi stared at her sister. Hinata had now stood up and looked mildly worried. "...heh... what did you guys do last night. It seems you must have got a little wild."

"What! Why do you sa-say th-that?"

"Your foot. It seems like nii-san likes to play rough huh?"

"W-What? N-N-N-No! n-nothing like that! I-I fell. But please, where is N-Neji-niisan?"

"OK, ok, he's in the kitchen."

Hinata nearly flew into the kitchen. Hanabi followed shortly behind, a smirk on her face. As Hanabi had said, Neji was in the kitchen at the table with a cup of coffee in his hands. He seemed to be staring out the window.

"Ne-Neji-niisan d-did you e-eat brea-"

"Nii-san what did you two do last night?" Hanabi interrupted her shy sister. Neji glanced slightly at the fourteen year old and then at his wife, but quickly turned his gaze back to the chilled window panel, completely ignoring the two girls.

"Heh, ignoring us eh? Fine I'll tell you two why I came here in the first place." Hanabi had her eyes locked onto the pale, yet handsome, face of her cousin. Hinata seemed to notice Hanabi staring but didn't say anything. "Father would like to speak to you two this morning. He wants you there no later than ten minutes after I leave. And seeing as I was just on time for telling you this, you have ten minutes exact to get over there."

Hinata sprinted towards her bedroom while mumbling something to herself. Meanwhile Neji –who was already fully clothed and ready- turned his gaze to the remaining girl. "What does Hiashi-sama want?"

"Nii-san how am I supposed to know that?" Hanabi walked over to Neji smiling slyly.

Neji glared "What does he want?"

Hanabi frowned. Leaning in towards him so close Neji could feel her breath on his ear; she whispered. "...heh... Something about you training her and a child. Why do you ask nii-san?" She smirked and walked out the kitchen towards the door.

---

Hinata burst back into the kitchen, to find it empty. Disappointment fell onto her face. Oh, well guess he already left. She sighed and walked out of her apartment. This was nothing like she wanted in marriage.

When Hinata finally arrived at the Hyuuga manor, Neji was already in her fathers den sitting on the floor cushions with a hateful scowl on his face. It seemed as though they had been having a conversation because Hiashi had the same fowl look on his face. Hinata stood in the doorway feeling as though she was unwelcome. Hiashi turned his gaze at his dumb folded daughter. He nodded slightly, telling her that she can come have a seat. Hinata walked forward looking at her husband for some explanation about what was going on but Neji simply stared forward taking no notice of his wife.

"Well now that we all are here," Hiashi began glaring at his late daughter. "Hinata, you have become strong, but you haven't achieved the strength needed to succeed as the heir to the family. You have also made many mistakes not only in fighting but in presentation, may I remind you of your wedding, and perfection of these are key in order to be the rightful heir to this clan. So I have decided that I want you to become stronger. You are only a chuunin and I expect you to be better. So Neji, I want you to be Hinata's personal trainer and help her become a strong enough fighter to be a jounin. I want you, Hinata, to be a jounin by the end of this month."

Hinata stared blankly at her father. She wanted to say something but refrained as she saw her father open his mouth to continue.

"Also. I know you may know this already but the only way to carry on the family is to have heir"

"O-Otousan, wh-what do you mean?"

Hiashi frowned at his daughter. "Foolish girl... Dismissed"

"B-but"

Hiashi scowled at his daughter. "Hinata. Please come here." Hinata stood and walked over to her father, fear written all over her face. He grinned. Raising his hand, he launched it towards Hinata's face.

-Slap-

Neji's hand wrapped around Hiashi's wrist. Hiashi's eyes were filled rage. Hinata tripped over herself once again falling on the floor with a thump, baring her wrapped ankle. Hiashi momentarily turned his gaze from the male holding his wrist to Hinata. He gazed over her startled form, noticing the purple skin leading to a wrapped ankle in Neji's gauze. Hiashi pulled his hand from Neji forcefully. "Hinata what happened to you?" Hiashi eyed her threateningly.

"N-nothing. It's nothing." A pink blush lightened her face.

"Ohh? Did Neji hurt you!" Hiashi formed seals with his hands.

Neji let a loud cry in pain. His hands formed into fists as he slowly collapsed upon the cold wooden floor. His eyes rolled back and his spine arched back to the point where it looked broken. Hinata stared at this scene in horror. Neji was trying desperately to fight the pain but Hinata for once could read all of his emotions. Tears welled up into his eyes and his screams became higher pitched.

"OTOUSAN! P-please stop!"

"I cannot let him go unpunished for hurting my daughter" Hiashi was grinning at his nephew's pain

"B-But he didn't hurt me!"

"Ohh, then what happened to your ankle? And why is his wrapping on your leg?"

"Otousan, p-p-please!"

"Answer me!"

"I- I fell. It was all me! Neji-niisan didn't do anything!"

"Oh? Really and how'd you fall, and how did his gauze get onto your body!"

Neji was roaring with pain. It had been two minutes that the seal had been activated. He was curled up in a fetal position now loosing consciousness.

"Otou! O-Otousan! Please release the activation! Please!"

"Hinata you are stalling. Answer me."

"Otou-"

"Hinata do you want your husband to die?"

Hinata glanced at her husband. Hiashi noticed this and tightened his seal. Neji groaned loudly and blood flew out of his mouth onto Hiashi's polished floor. Hiashi frowned and tightened the seal even more. Neji screamed so loud the walls shook. Hinata looked horrified.

"Otousan! I fell. T-that's all. Nothing more! Neji simply helped me by wrapping my ankle! Please Otousan! Please stop!"

Her father grinned and released the seal. "...hm... never knew Neji was this weak. It only wasactivated forsix minutes." Hiashi called for a servant and whispered something into the servant's ear. A few moments passed before Hanabi walked in, a smirk on her face. She was startled at the scene before her and looked at her father for an answer. Hiashi merely smirked. "Hanabi, please take Neji to his old room and care to him for me. Thank you."

Hanabi stared at her father, not daring to say a word to him, and grabbed onto Neji, pulling him onto her shoulder and dragged him gently out of the room.

After she left with Neji, Hiashi turned his gaze to his shocked elder daughter. He smiled warmly. "Hinata" Hinata stepped back towards the door. Hiashi frowned. "Did I say you could move elder daughter?"

"N-no sumimasen."

"...heh... Now Hinata. Come here. I never did get to punish you for talking back to me" Hiashi grinned, baring his crystal white teeth.

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Definitions:

Kekkonshiki: wedding

Atotori: heiress

Sumimasen: sorry

Gomennasai: forgive me. Used in an apologetic way.

Yoru: night

Ok,ok did you like that chapter? There is blood boiling and tension and scheme! I really hope you liked it. I have some plots that you will soon to find out. What was Neji being told by Hiashi before Hinata walked in? Whats up with Hanabi? hehe allsoon to come. Please review and let me know my flaws. This is my first NejiHina fic so I really would like to know what you all think.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters