Thanks again for the reviews! I always look up to the readers' opinions!
I hope last chapter wasn't too boring, 'cause it was all 'Hiashi monologue", but, anyways let's see the sequence!
Chapter V – The Wedding
Those two weeks ran like the wind. Tsunade gave the bridegrooms only the last week for rest. Not that they really wanted; to tell the truth Hinata and Neji would rather work until a few hours before the ceremony.
The other chunnins decided accept Hiashi's request and tried not to mess the marriage. They never spoke about the subject with the two, never mentioned it among themselves. A silent promise was made: they would support Hinata and Neji, no matter what.
A single odd event occurred a few days before the wedding.
Hinata was returning from her last bachelor mission with her team and sensei. After Konoha's bridge, Shino took the right path with Kurenai, and Kiba walked alongside with Hinata towards the city northwest. Inuzuka compound lies further north of the village, near the mountains; the Hyuga compound is to the west, on the lakeside district.
After a few minutes walking in silence, Kiba suddenly stopped and grabbed Hinata's hand:
"You don't have to do this, y'know."
"I-I-I b-beg your p-p-pardon…."
"The wedding stuff. You don't have to marry Neji."
"But…"
"You can runaway. I would help you. During the night…today is the Inuzukas' day to guard Konoha's gate….I can talk to the guards…..distract them…"
"Kiba-kun?"
He has holding both of her hands. His own hands were sweating; he was trembling, looking wilder and, somehow, sweet…
"Hinata, go to the Sand village….talk to the Kazekage, to Gaara, he will surely take you in…nobody will ever know!"
"K-K-Kiba-kun! I can't do that….I have my pride as a shinobi…running away is acting like a coward!"
"It is not! It is take control of your life! Listen, I will only tell your location to those you allow me! Naruto, Shino, Kurenai…"
Hinata was touched by her friend's feelings, but she didn't know how to explain her feelings to him. She decided for sincerity, and putting his hands between hers, looking in the boy's eyes she said:
"You are my best friend. You know better than anyone how much I'm trying to be strong, to be useful in the missions, to stand by myself. If I run now, I'll just prove that the Hyuga council and my father are right, that I'm not worth."
"Even….that's not to prove anyone's strength Hinata…."
"Kiba, I was the one who accepted the marriage: I spoke for myself and for Neji. He is mad at me, I know this…"
"That's another reason. You know his character; he is really cruel to you when he wants. Although you are in good terms now, this whole marriage stuff might sour the relationship…"
"No. Even if he is mad at me, I'll not run away."
"Hinata…"
"That-s my ninja way." – She spoke with resolution in her eyes. Kiba could not argue anymore. He knew her; she would go until the end…
"Good luck. Remember I will always be at your side, and if a certain someone hurt you, tell me and I will kick his ass"
Giving a chaste kiss in Kiba's cheeks, she left for the compound.
The wedding day arrived.
Ceremony would be held in the Hyuga shrine. It was a private solemnity, and only the Main Family, Clan leaders and the Godaime were invited. At a request from the bridegrooms, the rookie nine, team Gai and their respective instructors were invited too.
In the shrine, the Hyuga family and the Godaime stayed in the right side of the priest and the priestess, the Clan leaders stayed on the left, together with the chunnins.
Hinata was in her room, fully dressed in her mother's wedding kimono. The servants had made a marvelous hairstyle, make up….she was gorgeous. She was just wondering that two weeks ago, she would love to be that same way in the festival and say those words to Naruto-kun….
It all seemed so far away now, so impossible. In a few hours, she would be a married woman. No more Naruto. She panicked to think if she would be able to sink the feelings for him, to forget in order to make her cousin and husband happy.
Could she really be responsible for Neji's happiness?
Neji was in one of the rooms of the Main House, finishing dressing up. The kimono did not belong to his dad. His uncle tried to convince him to wear his wedding kimono, but Neji refused. Hiashi, then, bought a new one for him. Obviously he hated the idea, he was not rich but could afford a kimono, but his uncle said it would be a good luck gift.
Hm…good luck…it seems like bad omen.
His mother was combing his long hair, and started to braid it…
"Don't, mother. I want it loose".
"Dear, it's not suitable to wear your long hair loose in a wedding ceremony…"
"No. That's OK. At least something must be untied in me…."
"Neji…."
"Aren't you going to attend the ceremony, mom?" – He asked turning to her and looking into her white eyes.
"No. I can't watch my only child be chained into that cursed House". – She was not crying. Hyuga Natsume had long lost the ability to cry, exactly like her son. – "Promise that you will come visit me, dear".
"I will. Every day, if possible. And don't worry, I'll not be easily chained, not again…."- he embraced his mom – "A smart bird will always try to break free from the cage, and I'm a genius, don't forget…." – Natsume never understood if her son was saying that to her or to himself.
The wedding ceremony started punctually at 17:00hs.
Hinata entered first in the shrine. Neji entered a few steps behind her, due to his lower position. They walked like going to an execution, Hinata leading the way, Neji following her.
Naruto remained silent, but with a sad look in his eyes. Kiba diverted his eyes from the crowd, so he could hide the tears. Tenten never won the battle against her tears, and Lee was embracing his dear friend and rocking her hair (she decided to use it loose for the ceremony). Shino was quiet, but his father, who was beside him, knew that he was not Ok. The kids weren't Ok.
In the middle of the corridor, Hinata suddenly stopped. All the guests started to mumble between themselves, Hiashi was restless, the young shinobis looked at each other like expecting for an answer. Shino turned to see Kiba who shrunk his shoulders, signing that he didn't understand her reaction.
Neji stopped too, trying to decipher her mind. And suddenly, Hinata looked him, over her shoulders, and her right hand left the side of her body, rising a little and stopping in mid air, palm turned behind.
Neji continued watching her with a puzzled look in his eyes. And then, she simple smiled to him a moved a little the fingers of the raised hand. He understood her sign, walked forward, to the side of her, touching the hand she was offering, enlacing their fingers . He looked at her, giving his famous smirk, she nodded and, together, they continued to walk towards the priest and priestess.
The rage and displease of the Main family members could be felt in the whole shrine. Only Hiashi remained impassive.
The shinobi side of the shrine was filled with joy. The rookie nine, Tenten and Lee, the jounins, clan leaders, and the Godaime applauded the couple's action. Much to the disgust of the Hyuga elders.
After the ceremony a small reception took place in the Manor.
Naruto tried to talk to his friends, but they were surrounded by Hyugas. He knew that, in spite of the sad situation, today was a glorious day: the day Hyuga started to change!
Naruto, invited Sakura to dance, much to her surprise and the others decided to follow his cheerful spirit.
Neji and Hinata only had the chance to talk with their friends almost in the end of the reception.
"Thank you all for coming" – Hinata humbly said, bowing her head a little.
"Eee Hinata-chan, no need to thank! The party was great! Good luck to you two in this new life!" – Naruto said, smiling and rubbing the back of his head.
"Good luck and don't forget the old friends, hum!" – said Ino.
"Yeah, nothing has changed!" – said Chouji.
Everybody gave the couple best whishes, and started leaving the party.
No one said: "congratulations".
When the party was finally over, Neji and Hinata left for their apartment, in the commercial part of the Hyuga compound.
The Hyuga compound was very large. Most of the clansmen dedicated to shinobi life and war, thus the famous pride of Hyuga warriors. But there were a few that dedicated to the commerce and agriculture. Those belonged to a lower division of the Branch House (yes, Branch had its divisions too) and some were impovered Main House members. So, the commercial district of Hyuga was like a neutral zone inside the compound.
Neji and Hinata were supposed to live inside the Manor, but Neji refused to live there and demanded some other place to live with Hinata. And Hiashi, in spite of the boy's arrogance, knew that it could be difficult to control his nephew and his father inside the same house. So, he gave them the apartment as a wedding gift.
The place was already furnished. Hinata and Hanabi did all the decoration. The apartment was small, consisting in a living room with a counter connecting to the kitchen, a small room (which Neji made his study room, filling it with his scrolls and personal stuff), a simple bathroom (with a shower and a bathtub) and a big room, their bedroom.
Hinata walked inside the apartment, turning on the lights, and thinking that her husband was supposed to carry her like a bride inside their new room. Silly thought since Neji was the husband and she knew that he WOULD NEVER do such stupid thing. She was laughing to herself when heard he lock the front door. Hinata turned to see her husband leaning his head in the door and still holding the knob.
"Heh…Caged and chained….." – He said in a sad tone, more to himself than her.
"Neji nii-san….I I I won't chain you….never…."
"It is not you." – passing by her and he went inside the bedroom. Hinata remained in the living room, not knowing if it would be safe to walk inside the bedroom. She started considering the option to sleep in the couch. Fortunately Hanabi gave the idea to buy some cushions.
She was already arranging the couch like a bed when he left the room, in his pajama pants, entering the kitchen to make some tea. Hinata, kept looking him…wondering if she was invisible.
"A-aa-a-a, nii-san….do you w-w-w-want me t-t-to m-m-make the tea for y-y-you?" – She was trying to call his attention.
"No." – he continued making the tea, without bothering to look at her.
Hinata went to the bedroom, changed to her pajamas. Cleaned the make up in the bathroom sink and took a peek in the living room, just to see Neji drinking his tea while watching the TV. She decided that it would not be wise talk to him today. Maybe in the morning, things would be better.
It was supposed to be their first night, but since he didn't bothered to carry her bride style inside the apartment, and considering his terrible humor, Hinata went to the bedroom and decided to sleep.
Tomorrow was another day, a new day for a new life.