"How despicably I have acted!" she cried; "I, who have prided myself on my discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities! Who have often disdained the generous candour of my sister, and gratified my vanity in useless or blameable mistrust! How humiliating is this discovery! Yet, how just a humiliation! Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind. But vanity, not love, has been my folly. Pleased with the preference of one, and offended by the neglect of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were concerned. Till this moment I never knew myself."

Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice

Day 5:

Pride and Prejudice AU

Her all-seeing eyes remained stubbornly blind as she fought hard to spot a reason or an ulterior motive he might have to act this way. Her heart was filled with prejudice against the man who had always caused her nothing but pain, but for some strange reason, currently appeared intent on helping her.

He was a proud man. He would never, in his life, reveal his true intentions or his feelings. The mask behind which he hid remained firmly in place.

What did have to gain from this? He had pretty much gained his freedom when she gave birth to another's child. She had practically provided him with the signature and evidence to terminate their marriage contract. As husband, he had all the right to demand that she be taken care of and leave her fate to the Council. After all he blamed her for, it seemed only natural that he would ask for an immediate release from their marriage, and perhaps allowed to be the one to end her himself.

As a Hyuga, he valued honor above all. So sparing her and protecting her coupled with that forever present chance that the truth would be found out, was baffling for a man who claimed to hate her. The excuses he had offered them all in the birthing room were to an extent believable. That is, if he had always prioritized honor over the dislike he held for her.

She feared for the lives of the two women who were a part of her secret, the two who were now assigned as her personal handmaidens to remain with her at all times, confined with her, only to leave her presence if she was in need of something, and one should remain behind at all times.

But as the events unfolded, he appeared ever the dutiful, composed husband. So the request she made him was to check his loyalty to her when she had him summoned to her.

His eyes looked anywhere but at her as he bowed.

"You wished to see me, Hinata-sama?" He said, his tone as expressionless as his face.

"Yes," she croaked. "I... I need a promise from you."

His face remained expressionless as he waited for her to continue, still on one knee.

"I need you to promise me that the lives of these two shall remain secure," she said, trying to sound composed, but failing.

The two women flinched. It was not like they had not felt that their lives may be in jeopardy because of the terrible secret they unwillingly were a part of, but they were never brave enough to consider even to discuss it with each other. They looked at Hinata in complete awe, almost scared of her. This was a side of the heiress they had never seen, and would not have believed if anyone had told them.

"Hinata-sama, how were you so confident your... Your husband won't drag you straight down to hell himself?" The woman who had acted as her midwife had previously asked her. "Were you that sure he would assist you instead of... Of..." The woman had trailed off, scared to even put the thought of Neji killing Hinata into words for fear he might change his mind.

Having been the one to deliver both Neji and Hinata herself, she had previously thought she knew everything about them. She was their caretaker when they were young, after Hinata's mother passed away.

Hinata had smiled tiredly. "I took a risk," she had replied. "My husband... Has always been unpredictable. You'll be surprised."

Looking at Hinata now, the old woman thought that the heiress might be pushing her luck too far.

Hinata remembered a story this very woman had once told Neji and her. She remembered it clearly, how entranced she was. Thinking back on it, she wondered if this woman, their previous caretaker, had insight on them both so many years ago when they were just children. Did she know they would grow up to be almost exactly like that?

The boy Neji had become withdrawn after the death of his father, but he had held his head up and refused to let her catch him cry. The shy, timid Hinata had flinched every time he came near. She had seen him hit the wall in frustration and he had thrown objects in anger, earning him punishments which he didn't even care for, only increasing his stubbornness and the intensity of loathing with which he looked at her after each time.

"Hinata-sama, Neji-kun, I need to speak to both of you," the woman had said.

Hinata had quietly taken her place beside her, but Neji had adamantly refused.

"Whatever you need to speak to me about, it can be done so later," he had rudely replied with his childish anger, looking hatefully at Hinata, who cowered under his look, hiding her face behind her caretaker.

Their caretaker had pretended to be angry.

"Do you want me to complain to Hiashi-sama?" She had scolded him.

Hinata recalled how she had wanted to tell the woman that Neji never cared about the punishments anyway. He was a mean boy who did not even care about hurting her during training even knowing he would be punished. And sure enough, her Father had done exactly that. It was the first time Neji had tasted the cursed seal firsthand, yet he had still looked at her hatefully even with a runny nose and tears streaming down his face. He had, as usual, blamed her for his punishment. She became sad that she had always seemed to be the reason behind his pain and punishments. No wonder he had come to hate her as he did.

Neji, on the other hand, had hesitated. Having gone through the pain of his last punishment, Hinata suspected that he had not wanted a repeat as he could still feel the after effects of his recent punishment. She could clearly see it written on his face.

If the stupid woman complained to Hiashi-sama that he had scared precious little Hinata-sama...

His hand had twitched, as if wanting to reach up and touch the curse mark on his forehead. But his pride far surpassed his age, and he controlled the urge even then.

As he sat down opposite to Hinata on the other side of their caretaker, he half-turned his back on her, which suited Hinata just fine.

"There's a good boy," the lady had cooed, and she remembered how Neji's shoulders had stiffened. He had always hated being treated like a child, even though he was one, despite the things he had gone through.

"Now, you want to hear a story?" Their caretaker had asked brightly.

Hinata's eyes had lit up and Neji's shoulders had relaxed. The boy was curious, but of course, he had refused to let them both see.

"This is a story about pride, and prejudice, and how it can cloud our judgment and fog our rationality, leading everyone to make irreparable mistakes. So Elizabeth, a very kind and good-natured girl, had a lot of responsibilities on her shoulders. She cared deeply about her sisters and she tried hard to make her father proud of her. Her father knew how capable she was and she was his favorite daughter, but he had to acknowledge the fact later that people preferred her other sisters over her, as they were far more flamboyant and she came across as someone without any special talents except her clever mind."

That sounds like me, Hinata thought. Except the clever mind I think.

"Later, she met a man who was best friends with one of her sister's suitors. But even though the man fell in love with Lizzie at first sight, he was proud, far too proud to admit that Lizzie was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. That was his bane, because as he ignored her and claimed to have a great dislike of her, he ended up doing a lot of things to hurt her. He did not want to like her at all, as he believed that their families were too different. He tried to kill his feelings for her, and he went so far as to do things on purpose to make her hate him, leading Lizzie to form a prejudice against him. She thought that Mr. Darcy was the most disagreeable man she had ever met."

Most disagreeable man she had ever met... Hinata thought now. That sounds like Neji. She knew he found her beautiful, if the way he used to come rushing to her when she left him sunflowers was any indication. And the way he took her at night before her incarceration, like an impatient man with high anticipation, trying to have it controlled and appear casual.

But Neji did not love her.

Hinata replaced the different characters in the story as she recalled further how events had transpired, and she found herself imagining Neji as Mr. Darcy and herself as Elizabeth. She did not know that by doing that, she would be realizing a lot of things.

"Tenten, do you really have to like him?" Hinata asked her after the ball, twisting her nose.

Rock Lee was a good match for Tenten, but Hinata found him to be odd. But again, Hinata thought no one was ever worthy of her older sister, whose big brown eyes with their long curling lashes were famous in their village. Tenten was easily the most sought-out out of her sisters, being well versed in both manly and womanly duties, though many argued that Hinata, with her feminine shape and figure, along with a sharp mind, was better.

"Oh I do," Tenten said, blushing. Hinata stared. Tenten never blushed. "Even though he is stupid and wild and a little dense, he is the perfect gentleman and genuinely looks at me like I'm the only one in the room. He had two dances with me, and no one else!"

Hinata sighed. "Well, as long as you're happy, I'm happy. But that disagreeable friend of his! I swear, he is the proudest man I have ever had the misfortune to meet."

"But if Lee likes him so much as to always have him accompany him and keep his company, I'm sure he must be a pleasant fellow. We should not be the ones to judge," Tenten said reasonably.

Hinata sighed again. Though people used to call her innocent, Tenten could just be plain dumb sometimes, with always looking to keep peace on both sides. Hinata thought back to the ball, reminiscing the events which had transpired.

A song had just started, and Hinata and Tenten were approached by Mr. Lee and Mr. Hyuga.

As Mr. Lee requested Tenten for a dance and whisked her away in his youthful enthusiasm, Hinata looked around the ball room in panic, alarmed to be left alone with this disagreeable man she had already developed a prejudice towards just by his haughty behavior.

Her other sisters, Sakura and Ino, were squealing at the opportunity to flirt with the officers of the ANBU, who were also present at the ball. They wasted no time chatting up to them. Even from the distance, the pair they talked to emanated a devilish charm, and Hinata could see the attraction her sisters found in the uniform.

"Let's dance," Mr. Hyuga Neji said suddenly, extending his hand for her as an invitation. It would have been impolite to refuse such a direct invite, and she was brought up in a household with good manners. Resigned, she tentatively reached up her gloved hand to meet his extended one, hesitation in her movement which was visible. As she rested her fingers lightly on his palm, his fingers snaked around hers, interlocking them neatly, intending to make her secure.

As they waltzed, Neji stared directly into her eyes, not looking away for a second. Hinata was unnerved, shying away from his gaze, but not having much of a choice to look elsewhere without appearing rude. Butterflies erupted in her stomach as the heat in his translucent eyes intensified.

"It need not be mentioned, that you are a beautiful creature, Lady Hinata," he said.

Hinata did not know how to react. Was the compliment supposed to mean something? She was about to reply when he continued.

"But that sharp tongue of yours does not do you any favors," he added. "A lady should be careful about what she says and the company she keeps. There are many ladies he and his sisters have met, but I do not understand what my friend Mr. Lee sees in someone as simple as your sister."

Hinata scoffed in disbelief. "And you, Mr. Hyuga, might be worth a castle, but still somehow fail to prove yourself as anyone agreeable. It is difficult to hold a conversation with you for even a minute, as you would disrespect others for holding different opinions. You'd also most certainly disrespect what a woman has to say because you would much rather appreciate a woman for how she looks."

"You misunderstand me," he said, but Hinata would have none of it.

"Did it occur to you that what may appear unworthy to you might mean a world's worth to another?" she remarked.

He stayed silent, his jaw clenched to keep his expression composed. The heat had somehow intensified, and Hinata found herself a shred closer to sweat. Her face felt hot, and she knew her cheeks were red. Neji, however, continued surveying her features. As he threw her back in his arm and leaned over her, she felt his hot breath fanning her neck. He stayed like that a tad longer than was expected or required, and Hinata thought she would melt into a pool on the floor.

Ever so courteous, he resumed his position and lifted her up. As soon as the music ended, which had seemed like eternity with her in that position, Hinata quickly curtsied and turned to walk away to get herself a drink lest Mr. Hyuga get a hold of her again. Her cheeks were flushed from the exercise and she fanned her face to avoid more perspiration. Her mind was reeling from the recent encounter of emotions racing in her heart and head, contrary to her opinion of him.

"Why Lady Hinata," an arrogant voice drawled, raising the hair on Hinata's arm. She blushed prettier, hiding her face behind her fan.

It was the Officer Uzumaki, the handsome blonde-haired ANBU with eyes like the sky and the smile of a devil. He lazily made his way up to her, eyeing her as he spoke.

"Must I say, you look extremely handsome in that gown."

His intimidating eyes dictated he would rather have it off of her instead, and she tried to keep her chin up and her shoulders from hunching. He had a curiously charming way about him, albeit unnerving, and he was no doubt aware of the fact he had on women.

"W-Why, thank you, Mr. Uzumaki," she stammered.

He smiled that dangerous smile of his, known to sweep countless women off of their feet. It was a wonder, Hinata thought, that she herself was still standing. She wanted to fan harder, to cool the rising heat threatening to creep up her face again.

"I noticed you were dancing with Mr. Hyuga," he said, nodding in the direction where he stood, his expression stony. "I must say there was quite some chemistry building up there. The entire room noticed."

Hinata's hackles rose up. Though her heart still beat quickly and her head hadn't exactly caught up with the static electricity she had brushed up on the dance floor, she still refused to be categorized as just some woman who was attracted by wealth and fortune, or worse, with a man as proud as Mr. Hyuga Neji, no matter what her feelings.

"If you must know, he asked me for a dance, even after I refused him the last time. The man's pride has some audacity, and his wealth and his handsome looks may have the village fooled, but not I. It is his personality which is as cold as the expression he wears around us "simpletons". I was just letting him know that he is the most disagreeable man I've ever met."

"Praise the Lord, so I'm not the only one who has noticed it!" Mr. Uzumaki exclaimed. "I thought I was the only one Mr. Hyuga has wronged, but alas, it is not so."

Hinata's curiosity rose as high as her eyebrow.

"Pray tell Mr. Uzumaki," she insisted. "How has he wronged you?"

He shook his head. "It is a long, tragic tale, one I'd rather not have you troubling your pretty little head over."

In an act of extreme bravery, she took Officer Uzumaki's hand in her gloved one, genuinely interested to hear what he had to say.

"Tell me, please," she insisted.

"But first," he said, as he leaned in closer, startling Hinata, who flinched as he whispered in her ear, his breath tickling it. "Please call me Naruto."

Hinata gulped. She didn't want to, but curiosity got the better of her. "O-Okay... Mr... Naruto..."

Naruto smiled mischievously, but then it dropped suddenly, as he spoke, in all seriousness.

"Well, you know how I lost my family at a young age, correct?"

Hinata nods.

"Mr. Hyuga Senior took me in after that and raised me as his son. My father and him were great friends and worked together on a lot of high-ranked missions. The knowledge is not common. Even I was unaware of my heritage growing up."

Hinata nodded again, indicating that he may continue. She was entranced by his good manners and his etiquette with which he carried a conversation.

"Well, after Mr. Hyuga Senior passed away, he had left, in significant detail in his will, a part of land entrusted to him by my father to be given to me when I come of age. This Mr. Hyuga, however, maybe overcome with jealousy or anger, refused to acknowledge what was rightfully mine and banished me to the militia, stripping me of my lands and my fortune."

Hinata was flabbergasted. "Why, the nerve! I knew he was far too proud to equate with people he dubs as simpletons, just because they were born what he assumes to be inferior! I am glad that I found his true nature soon enough!"

She looked around to glare at Mr. Hyuga, only to find him staring intently back at her and Naruto conversing. As their eyes met and held, her sisters, Sakura and Ino, caught up with Mr. Uzumaki again, not quite in control of their excitement. Naruto, enjoying the attention, let both the girls walk him away with them.

Hinata stood there, but Hyuga's eyes dared issue a challenge. He wanted to see who would look away first, that felt obvious to her. She huffed, averting her head and walking away once more. She would not let Mr. Hyuga take a place in her heart.

"Such was her prejudice," the caretaker finished the story. "Even though she was falling in love and saw how much he cared for her, she refused his advances. She did not believe that he was a man worthy of trust. She judged him for his behaviour and the words of others alone. Yet, in her bias, she failed to see that his behaviour towards her was completely contrary to the image she had built in her head. She did not see that he was a different man than the one whom he had been when he had first arrived.

But such was Mr. Darcy's pride, that he refused to look past all that he had surrounded himself with to acknowledge the fact that he, himself was in madly in love with Elizabeth and would go out of his way to care for her. He disagreed with her on so many things; he did not like her family, he did not like her behavior, and neither did he like the way she defended her family even after her sister ran off with the militia officer Mr. Wickham.

Even if she had refused him, the love he harbored for her enabled him to help her and save her family from dishonor, without any incentives, by bribing Mr. Wickham into taking care of someone so close to Elizabeth. He promised Lizzie that he would continue checking up on the pair, ensuring that her sister is rightly taken care of and to provide him expenses for the first few months. Technically, he had no responsibility to do so, yet he kept aside his pride and did what he could to save her sister from disgrace, and he did not do it to win her heart, but he did it for his unrequited love for her."

Hinata felt the words resonating in her ears in the present time. And she was growing numb with the realizations which came steamrolling one after the other, which she still found hard to believe.

She looked at her husband still knelt in front of her. He looked up finally, as if sensing the turmoil of her emotions. Looking at the way he looked at her, she had the strange feeling everything will be alright.

"Your wish is my command," he said, and the spell was broken.

A/N: I had originally cast Mr. Wickham as Sasuke (SasuHina is surprisingly fun to write and I LOVE me some Sasuke and Neji rivalry) but then had to change him to Naruto to fit the purpose of this story. I myself am most disappointed by this ;( ️

Yes, I'm gonna completely ignore the fact that I'm updating after three years. I stopped writing, and I just got lazy, busy, whatever, and want to finish this badly, which is why I'm back on it.