The Hyuuga Elders
Author's notes: Don't worry there are some funny parts in this otherwise serious situation chapter.
Rated M for sexy scenes between characters, swearing, drinking, and gore.
Don't own, borrowing.
Warning: Hanabi is pretty kickass and Gaara, well, he's clueless. Poor guy.
The air in the room stifled him but Neji did not complain. The constricting feeling did not come because of the August heat but rather the tension Neji could cut with a kunai and serve. The dozen Hyuuga Elders sat at their long table in the secondary dining hall. Neji sat at the table with them, Kankuro beside him, Gaara-sama across from him, and Tsunade-sama beside Hiashi-sama at the head of the table.
Hinata-sama and Hanabi-sama sat in the first two seats after the head. Gaara-sama had been invited to take the other head seat but declined. Tsunade-sama had decided not to move. Neji did not blame her.
The meal went on in complete silence save for the light clatter of a tea cup being put down or something being moved. Neji hardly knew how he managed to get food in his stomach as the meal progressed at an ungodly slow pace. He swore everyone could hear his pattering heart but no one said a word about it. Neji would never know how he managed to keep the blank expression on his face.
Gaara-sama, Hiashi-sama, Kankuro-sama, and even Tsunade-sama had the same neutral expression. Hanabi-sama kept glaring while Hinata-sama kept her head down with her eyes too wide. Neji wanted to run from the room and hide but it would do him no good.
A full hour and a half passed in the stony silence until final the last Elder finished with his dinner and the plates were cleared. New tea cups and tea came to the table. Neji took his green tea happily and sipped on the warm liquid. His hands shook slightly but he managed to hide the trembling.
"You all know why we are here," Gaara-sama started.
"Enlighten us," one of the Elders said.
Gaara-sama crossed his arms over his chest and leveled the man with a glare no Hyuuga could compete with. The Elder gulped. Gaara-sama did not change his expression.
"My brother, Kankuro, is deeply in love with Hyuuga Neji. Though they have been together less than six months, both have expressed their reluctance to end the relationship any time in the foreseeable future," Gaara-sama said.
"What, two months?" a different Elder said.
"Two months and nine days if you want to be picky. If you want to be really picky it started earlier than that," Kankuro said.
A few of the Elders scowled. Some chuckled. Others smirked. Neji let out a little breath and tried not to feel so insignificant.
"We are here to civilly discuss Neji and Kankuro's relationship and what it will mean to the Hyuuga clan," Tsunade-sama said.
The Elders did not get angry, not yet. They did show their displeasure in their expressions though. Neji kept his head down and tried to breathe deeply. He could not help being so tense he was ready to spring away the moment something took a bad turn. He would miss Kuma's birthday party if they had to run. Neji bit his tongue and inhaled through his nose.
"We wish for Neji to marry Hyuuga Hikari of the Main House," an Elder said.
Neji knew Hikari-sama. She had turned eighteen last week and was a decent shinobi, chunin now and aiming to be recommended for jonin. Her Byakugan was not the most powerful of the clan but she would be in the top twenty for this generation.
"In case you hadn't noticed, Neji-niisan doesn't like girls," Hanabi-sama said.
Neji heard someone cough and pursed his lips to keep from laughing at the blasé way Hanabi-sama had said this. Neji could feel the tension rise in the room but kept his mouth shut.
"Even if you did marry him off to Hikari they won't have kids," Hanabi-sama went on. "Besides, Hikari is willing to marry Haruki who is of the Main House, a chunin, and a year older. His Byakugan isn't as strong as Neji-niisan's but it's more powerful than hers. They're second cousins twice removed. Father and I checked."
Silence. Neji risked a look up to see Hanabi-sama grinning at the Elder's angry expressions. Hinata-sama cleared her throat but kept her eyes down.
"Besides, Hikari and Haruki have been dating for two months now," Hinata-sama added with no stutter in her voice.
"Why separate a willing couple?" Hiashi-sama asked.
One of the Elders slammed a fist on the table. Neji managed to keep back his jolt.
"Are you trying to destroy your own clan, Hiashi? We need Neji's Byakugan in the Main House as—"
"I am trying to ensure the happiness of my nephew who we have wronged horribly in the past," Hiashi-sama broke in. "I am trying to strengthen our bonds with Gaara-sama and Suna by allowing Neji to be with the person he loves who happens to be a strong political figure of another country. Did you not want me to try and marry Hinata into Suna for the same purposes? Why tear apart a willing relationship which will benefit all parties involved?"
Neji had no idea the Elders had wanted Hinata-sama to be married to someone in Suna. Apparently neither had anyone else but the Elders. Gaara's glare intensified and Kankuro scowled. Tsunade-sama hid a grin behind her tea cup. Hinata-sama looked seconds away from fainting while Hanabi-sama was livid.
"Who were you planning to marry Hinata to?" Gaara-sama questioned.
The Elders exchanged a look. One brave soul cleared his throat.
"Either yourself or your brother of course," the Elder said.
Kankuro huffed. Gaara-sama scowled.
"Hinata is an attractive woman but neither Kankuro nor I would have been interested," Gaara-sama said.
Hinata-sama flushed at Gaara-sama's comment and Neji wanted to laugh at the hopeless expressions on the Elder's faces.
"What I suggest is you let Kankuro and Neji be together," Tsunade-sama said. "Let Hikari and Haruki get married. You'll end up with a strong tie to the Kazekage directly and a marriage between two Hyuuga which comes from love instead of force."
One of the few female Elders whirled on Neji and he stiffened. She narrowed her eyes at him and Neji took a light breath through his nose, wishing he could take Kankuro's hand in his. At the same time he wanted to run screaming from the room.
"Are you willing to marry him within a year to solidify these ties?" she asked.
"Yes," Neji said without hesitation.
The Elders muttered for a few moments but the female who questioned him nodded.
"Are you willing to stay married to him to keep the bond between our clan and Suna strong?"
"Yes," Neji repeated.
More muttering from the Elders. The female Elder glared at a few and the others quieted down. Apparently she wasn't done.
"If we had married you to Hikari, would you have produced children with her, knowing they would not have carried the curse seal?"
"No," Neji said with no pause.
She smirked. Neji kept his face neutral and his hands folded in his lap trying not to play with his navel ring, his button, or anything else within his reach.
"You would have never had interest in any female offered to you?"
Neji cleared his throat.
"Never," Neji said.
She nodded. The other Elders grumbled.
"I had an older brother like you. He "died" on a mission when he said he was not interested in marrying a female or having kids. He wanted to be with a male outside of the clan. I was thirteen," she said.
Neji kept back his shock. Hiashi-sama raised an eyebrow. Hanabi-sama gaped. Hinata-sama put her hand over her mouth so she did not look so unrefined as her sister. Tsunade-sama hid her grin behind her teacup while Gaara-sama and Kankuro smirked.
The female Elder regarded the rest of the council, white eyes matching the color of her hair, wrinkled face bending into a light smile.
"Gentlemen, ladies of this Elder Council, we are an old family and our ideals are of a dying breed. By the time Hanabi takes the Head of the clan all of us who wish to force marriages between our members or dislike the thought of two males or two females being a couple will be dead. The times are changing and it is about time we change with them lest we start to rot from the inside out."
She stood from her chair and had to lean on a cane for support. She grinned nonetheless and Neji could not help but gape at her. He didn't recognize her, had not paid much attention to the Elder council in some time. He would seek her out later.
"Perhaps with change our Byakugan will become stronger. The Uchiha allowed civilians to marry into the clan under certain rule and we all know our traits are stronger. Maybe bringing in someone with jutsu different than ours will allow us to become better. Imagine, a child with Neji's eyes and his female teammate, Tenten's, aim. Maybe a Byakugan user who can smell you from miles away. One who could control the Shadows at a distance would be the perfect assassin, never heard, and never seen. We have been holding ourselves back, fellows. It is time we stop the oppression. It won't last into the next generation anyway."
With this she turned and hobbled from the room. Everyone watched her go with stunned looks on their faces. When she closed the door behind her frame, the Elders exchanged a look then met Gaara-sama's eyes.
"Fine," one said. "All who will allow Neji and Kankuro to continue their relationship: raise a hand."
All hands went up. The Elder snorted.
"All who will tell Hikari and Haruki they can be married when they wish: raise a hand."
Again all hands went up. The Elder huffed.
"If there is nothing else, this meeting is adjourned. Kankuro, Neji, we expect you two to pick a date within the next calendar year to be married. Have a good evening."
The Elders cleared out first. Tsunade-sama tugged a bottle of sake from under her coat and passed it around the table. Hanabi-sama cheered, Hinata-sama chuckled, Gaara-sama grinned, and Hiashi-sama let out a relieved breath. Neji sagged in relief and fell against Kankuro when Kankuro pulled him close.
"I had no idea Honoka-sama felt that way," Hiashi-sama said.
He took the offered sake and used it as a shot before pouring a second. Tsunade-sama laughed at him. He didn't look like he cared.
"So, what date?" Tsunade-sama asked.
"Ah, no idea," Kankuro replied with a flush.
"It would have to be summer," Gaara-sama said.
"Yeah," Kankuro mused.
Neji shook his head but smiled. If someone had told him at the first chunin exams he would be marrying Kankuro he would have killed them.
"A summer wedding means a lot of short dresses especially if we're going to Suna," Hanabi-sama said.
"Does this mean we will be putting Neji in a dress?" Gaara-sama questioned.
Hiashi-sama spit sake out his nose. Hinata-sama went beat red. Hanabi-sama started laughing uncontrollably. Neji didn't bother to try and glare at Gaara but did see Kankuro grin while Tsunade-sama giggled at Hiashi-sama. Neji was glad Gaara-sama didn't know about Hatomi. Too bad he was one of two at the table who didn't.
"I think he'd look hot in a dress," Kankuro said.
Neji glared at him and Kankuro gulped before sitting back and waving his hands in front of Neji's face in an attempt at placating.
"I think I'll sleep here tonight," Neji said.
Kankuro deflated. It made everyone else laugh. Neji huffed and turned his head from Kankuro who had whacked his head off the table.
"I am asking in seriousness," Gaara-sama mentioned.
"No, Neji will not be wearing a dress," Hiashi-sama said.
Gaara-sama blinked.
"Kankuro wouldn't look good in one," Gaara-sama said.
Kankuro groaned and lifted his head from the table to stare at his brother with a weary expression on his face.
"Gaara, there doesn't have to be a dress," Kankuro said.
"But it is a wedding," Gaara-sama said.
"Between two males," Kankuro said.
Gaara-sama tilted his head to a side and his forehead wrinkled in confusion.
"Sometimes you forget he didn't have a life before Naruto kicked his ass," Tsunade-sama said with a grin.
"Hn," Gaara-sama muttered.
Kankuro rolled his eyes.
"Neji-niisan, that is what you're marrying into," Hanabi-sama said.
Neji raised an eyebrow at her and smirked.
"Technically I'm taking you with me, joining of two families and all," Neji said.
Hanabi-sama gaped. Gaara's eyes widened and his lips parted marginally. Kankuro groaned and whacked his head off the table again.
"Shit, right," Kankuro said.
"Regretting it?" Neji asked.
Kankuro lifted his head off the table and shook it.
"Hell no. As long as I'm with you, it's okay," Kankuro said.
Neji snorted.
"You're still sleeping alone tonight,"
"Shit,"
Kankuro huffed when everyone snickered at him.
"Does this mean there will be no cake?" Gaara-sama questioned.
"What? No, there will be cake," Hanabi-sama said.
Gaara-same frowned then shook his head.
"This is confusing," he admitted.
Kankuro sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Just, let everyone else deal with the wedding plans, okay?" Kankuro asked.
Gaara-sama crossed his arms back over his chest and tilted his head to a side.
"But do we get a dowry or give one? Are you taking the Hyuuga name or is Neji taking ours? There are many issues we need to work out politically," Gaara-sama said.
"Ah, how about the Hyuuga clan and your family pay for costs right down the middle so neither worries about a dowry?" Hiashi-sama offered.
Gaara-sama hummed but nodded.
"And we won't change our names or anything cuz really, Hyuuga Kankuro sounds funny and Sabaku no Neji just wouldn't make sense," Kankuro said.
Neji smirked.
"Then there's the whole issue of which name comes first with hyphenating. It would be either Hyuuga-Sabaku no Kankuro or Sabaku no-Hyuuga Kankuro," Neji added.
Silence. Hiashi-sama coughed to hide a laugh. Hinata-sama giggled and Tsunade-sama laughed aloud with Hanabi-sama. Kankuro grinned at him while Gaara-sama scowled.
"Agreed, that does all sound odd," Gaara-sama said.
Neji wondered if Gaara-sama knew they were joking with him but decided it best not to ask. Gaara-sama got to his feet and met Hiashi-sama's eyes.
"We will be discussing more," Gaara-sama said.
"Of course, thank you for attending," Hiashi-sama said.
Everyone began to head out and Neji frowned when he paused with Kankuro at the exit doors. Tsunade-sama winked at them and went ahead, pulling Gaara-sama with her. Hiashi-sama brought both his daughters away from the hallway. It was just Neji and Kankuro now.
"You're really going to stay here tonight?" Kankuro asked.
Neji frowned and let out a breath. He shook his head. Kankuro grinned.
"But you're sleeping on the couch," Neji said.
Kankuro sighed but nodded. A little smile stayed on his face for a moment then he frowned.
"Ah, by the way, Temari and Nara are still, well, together so Nara will be coming to Kuma's birthday," Kankuro said.
Neji shrugged. He had gotten over Shikamaru. Perhaps he could start mending the old friendship. Neji took Kankuro's hand in his, kissed his cheek, and led him outside. Kankuro grinned and Neji leaned into him. At least now Neji could explain in private about Hatomi's meeting with Ino tomorrow night.
Short chapter is short. Again I wrote this funny so weird chapter breaks are weird.