Shimi-chan: ...Yes, it has been a while. Sorry. Again. A lot of things have happened...Nothing bad, many good. But that's no excuse, since I already had this chapter written. Sorry, sorry, it was another matter of being to lazy to post it. Heh.
Thank you all for reviewing! Sorry to all those who rushed me and I still didn't listen...I'm sorry!! Here it is:
Chapter Twelve:
"No," Neji shouted while banging his fist against the hard desk top, "I will not stand for it!"
Hiashi's indifferent expression did not even flicker as he stared at the enraged young Hyuga. When Neji and Hanabi had both been called into Hiashi's office, they'd assumed that they'd finally been caught for the 'put shaving cream on Hiashi's face while he sleeps' incident. However, when they'd arrived the words that had escaped the elders lips had been even more unpleasant than they'd anticipated.
"Hinata is engaged to an Uchiha."
The mere thought of his baby cousin belonging to either of those monsters enraged Neji to no end while the thought of her sister never coming back saddened Hanabi. They'd both mirrored each other's shocked expressions at the news. Which led to Hanabi's head hanging a little lower, which led to Hiashi scolding her stoically, which led to this…
"How can you just give her away?!" Nej screamed, speaking what he knew to be Hinata's feelings. "She has a right to decide!"
"She gave up that right by disobeying me and not coming back as I ordered her to do," Hiashi stated sternly.
"So, what, she's given up the right to be your daughter?!"
"Neji," Hiashi began in warning tones.
"I'll remind you who out of your two daughter's looks more like your wife!"
Hiashi's hand came crashing down the same desk as anger played out dangerously in his eyes. "Bite your tongue, boy, or you'll force me to use it."
Neji's own rage stayed apparent in his eyes but his arms fell limply to his sides before he kneeled on one knee before his uncle, seemingly in humility. In reality, he just wanted to avoid Hiashi's eyes so he wouldn't have the urge to attack him.
"Forgive me, uncle," he gritted, "I overstepped my boundaries."
"Get up," Hiashi commanded.
Neji did so.
"When I called you two in here, it was not to ask your opinions. I have made my decision. I simply thought you would wish to know, since you both seem to like the girl."
Neji had to suppress his growl at the response and even Hanabi's eyes darkened with anger.
"Dismissed."
Neither needed further instruction as they sauntered out of the dreary room, wishing this little visit had been about the shaving cream. When the door was closed and both were safely out of eye and ear shot, only then did Hiashi allow the concealed emotion show on his face.
"I'll remind you who out of your two daughter's looks more like your wife!"
He knew. Hinata, she looked so much like her mother. But her mother was strong, independent, beautiful. Hinata was weak, so annoyingly dependant, and yet she dared to be beautiful, like her mother. It made him angry, the thought that she would smear his wife's beauty with her actions. So he did the best thing possible: he got her as far away as he could. And he would not miss her one bit.
But, try as he might, he never had been able to lie to himself.
-
As soon as he turned the corner, Neji felt that he would lose it. Hinata marrying an animal? Hell, he wouldn't lie, he would have preferred Naruto. Also, he wouldn't mind so much if Hinata had made the decision. But he knew Hinata: if she ever made the decision to marry, it would never be this soon (unless Naruto randomly proposed to her). No, this had been a fixed marriage, and that enraged Neji enough to want to beat something the hell up.
And, look, here came Hanabi now.
Seeing the murderous intent in her older and much stronger cousins eyes, she paused her walk.
"Ummm…Neji-nii-san…are you okay?"
Her voice snapped out of his intentions. He sighed heavily, putting on an annoyed scowl. "Hell no, I'm not. I can't believe that idiotic father of yours would—"
Hanabi shushed him. "Are you crazy?!" she whispered. "He hears all!"
Neji lifted a brow. "Riiight…Whatever. Is there a reason you followed me?"
"Oh yeah! Could you take me to Hinata?"
"No," he answered flatly.
Her face fell. "But…But…"
"No, Hanabi. It's dangerous, and I don't even know if you'd be able to make the walk over to the Uchiha compound. Besides, I'd get into huge trouble for it."
"So you're telling me you don't feel the urge to rebel after that?"
"This isn't about rebelling. This is about putting my ass on the line for you, runt."
She flushed indignantly. "I'm twelve now, quit calling me that!"
He smirked.
"Fine! I'm going with or without you!"
She turned on heel and he watched her leave, smirk fading into another frown. He knew that she meant what she said. He also knew she'd never make it alone. Sighing, he followed her.
-
"You dumbass, that's not how you do it."
"Why don't you demonstrate, you fucking housewife."
"At least I won't be living here when I'm forty and still a virgin."
"Shut the hell up, I didn't wait till I was ten to stop sucking my thumb."
Hinata watched the insults between the two brothers, moving her eyes back and forth between the two as if she'd been watching a tennis match. Only tennis matches never tended to get so violent. Or personal. Or murderous. Or…petrifying. She found herself transfixed in her spot, not being able to do anything. Lately things went like this. The daily checklist. Train with Itachi. Hang out with Sasuke. Have dinner with the family. Watch Itachi and Sasuke fight over something completely pointless while making sure you never spoke.
Because if you did, expect to come out headless.
Hinata had been eating peacefully, as seemingly were the rest of the family (she must have missed all those glares Itachi and Sasuke had exchanged). Then, when dinner was over, she'd offered to wash the dishes. Itachi had kindly, and uncharacteristically, offered to help. Not allowing himself to be outdone, Sasuke had done the same.
Right then, Hinata knew she was in for it.
But she said nothing as she followed the two boys to the kitchen, each having an armful of dirty dishes, and kept silent still as she started to scrub them down. Then Itachi had grabbed another sponge and moved to help her, and then Sasuke called him a dumbass.
And thus the war of the words had begun.
Hinata stood helplessly watching the two banter for the millionth time. Today. It seemed all they did lately was argue. She remembered when once she'd told Itachi that he should talk to his brother, and that they should have some form of communication. Now she wished she'd kept her mouth shut.
"G-Guys," she said, barely above a whisper. Definitely not enough to catch their attention. She tried again, but didn't bother to raise her volume in hopes that her mere desperation would alert them to her needs. A lot of good that did her.
She gripped both their arms. "P-Please s-s-stop…"
"Stay out of this," they snapped in unison.
Her eyes went wide and she instantly withdrew her hands, holding them to her chest as if they'd burned her. They recognized their error when tears threatened to spill from her eyes. They shot each other one last 'look-what-you-did' glare before turning their attentions to Hinata.
Which didn't help at all, because there was no way in hell an Uchiha was apologizing. They all just stood around awkwardly saying nothing.
"I-I-I'm s-sorry," Hinata finally stammered, fighting off tears. "I-It w-w-wasn't my p-p-place…"
Sasuke averted his eyes stubbornly. "Don't apologize if it wasn't your fault."
"B-But…I sh-shouldn't h-h-have i-interrupted w-when it w-w-was really n-none of my b-business…"
Little did she know it was all about her.
Luckily, no further words that could have possibly led to embarrassment were exchanged for they were interrupted by a loud banging at the door. Hinata lit up instantly.
"I-I-I'll g-g-get it!" she squeaked and scattered out of the war zone before either could object.
The moment she was gone the brothers exchanged yet another hostile glare before they both lunged for the sponge.
-
Hinata was thoroughly grateful for the interruption and made her way toward the front door before anyone else got to it. She opened it gracefully and tried to utter a greeting. All she got out was 'Hel—' before she was throttled backwards by a little girl that looked tremendously like Hanabi…
Oh, wait, that was her. "Nee-chan!"
Hinata blinked down at the child squeezing her waist. "H-Hanabi? What are you…?"
"I brought her."
Her eyes widened further as she turned her stare to her older cousin, who had let himself in.
"N-Neji-nii-san? B-But…w-why are you…?"
He looked annoyed. "We came to take you back home."
Hinata's eyes darkened considerably. "I-I'm s-s-sorry N-Neji-nii-san, b-but I already t-told you…"
"The circumstances are different now," he stated simply. "Did you know that your father is going to marry you to an Uchiha?"
Slowly, she nodded.
He blinked. "You knew? And you didn't come back?"
Hanabi stared at her older sister, dumbfounded and a little hurt. "You didn't want to come back? Would you rather be here, Nee-chan?"
"N-No! That's n-not it! It's j-just…w-well would it h-have made a d-difference? If I-I had c-c-come back…h-he would j-just h-have sent m-me back here…"
"What do you mean? He was the one that sent me here to retrieve you in the first place."
"I-I k-know b-b-but…h-he came b-by a-a-about a week ag-go…"
Hanabi blinked this time. "He did?"
Hinata nodded sadly. "H-He s-said that i-it was d-decided wh-when I was b-b-born…"
Neji growled in annoyance. "So that means that Fugaku and Mikoto have already agreed to it?"
She nodded again.
His face turned to granite. "Hanabi, go get them. Hinata, we need to talk."
Hanabi raised a skeptical gaze to her elders, but quickly went to do as told. The instant she disappeared from view, Neji regarded his cousin with a worried expression.
"Are you okay?"
She blinked in confusion. "Um…y-yes…?"
His appearance altered into seriousness as he closed the distance between them and squeezed her shoulders comfortingly. "Hinata, if he's touched you—"
Hinata's face instantly drew heat as she shook her head vehemently. "N-No!! H-h-he w-w-would never t-t-touch me!!"
"Hinata, don't lie to me. If Itachi even thinks about—"
Hearing that name instantly quickened her heart and brightened her pale cheeks. "N-N-Neji-nii-san!! Itachi h-has n-no reason t-to—"
He knocked her gently on the head. "Stop interrupting and I'll explain it to you. Now that you two are engaged, he may think he's entitled to it. But he'll never take you to the altar, not if I have something to say about it. Do not trust him so blindly."
Only when he was through with his little speech did he notice that she'd lowered her gaze so her hair fell over her eyes. Only the bright red sheen of her ears told him he'd embarrassed her.
"I'm…I'm n-not m-m-marrying Itachi…"
He lifted a brow. "You're not?"
She shook her head.
Realization slowly dawned on his hardened features. "So…If you're not marrying Itachi…"
She nodded, keeping her eyes downcast.
If she had dared to look up, she would have seen a look of unguarded anger and worry ten times worse that of before. But she didn't look up, and before he could say a word Hanabi had come back into the entryway and tugged on their hands.
"Come on, I think they're sick. They keep breathing real hard."
Hinata and Neji exchanged puzzled glances, Hinata's stitched with a little worry, before allowing themselves to be led off toward the master bedroom. Hanabi halted them at the door and pressed her ear against the cold wood of the door.
"Listen," she whispered.
After a few moments of silence, the trio was met with noises of heavy breathing. Faint moans and giggles could also be heard through the thin wall. Hinata's face drew immeasurable heat, but Hanabi seemed oblivious to the actual cause to the noises.
"I think they're sick," she repeated with conviction.
Neji instantly wrapped an arm around her eyes and ears, crushing her fragile head to his body a little more roughly than necessary. She yelped as she tried to pry his arm from his face, but he merely picked her up effortlessly and carried her away. Hinata trailed behind knowingly.
When they'd made it back to the living room Neji released a flushed and angry Hanabi from his hold.
"What the hell was that for?!" she shouted angrily. "Shouldn't we go check on them?! They sounded sick!"
Hinata just couldn't seem to get rid of that blush.
Neji, for his part, was scowling darkly. "If you go back there I'll make sure you don't come back with all your body parts."
Hanabi's eyes widened with fear and confusion as she scooted closer to her sister. His foul mood moved to Hinata as well.
"And you. What have you learned in this house?"
"Th-they're n-n-not n-n-normally like th-that…"
He glared at her disbelievingly. "Hinata, you're coming with me and that's final."
"N-N-Neji-nii-san, y-you know I c-c-can't d-do that…"
"Why not?" Hanabi asked, voice pleading.
"Y-you kn-know that h-he w-would just s-s-send me b-back…"
"Not if we hide you," they both deadpanned.
She wasn't entirely sure how to answer to that. She opted for staring at them with a blush and incredulity.
"Hinata…" Neji's voice was the epitome of seriousness. "Do you want to marry that Uchiha bastard?"
"W-Wha?!" she squeaked
Hanabi morphed into stoicism as well. "Well? Do you?"
Hinata blushed. "I…I d-don't know…"
"What's that? A yes or a no?"
Hinata fell and remained silent. She didn't know, just like she didn't know how to respond to Ino's question back at the party. There was no one else on her mind when she thought of her marriage, but she wasn't sure if that was due to the fact that she actually didn't like anyone else or because her decision had been made fore her already.
'Or maybe it has to do with the dream…'
She became extremely uncomfortable at the direction her thoughts had taken. "I…I h-have to m-m-marry Sasuke…"
"That doesn't answer my question."
Hinata gulped. "…Y-yes, I…I w-w-would b-be h-happy with Sasuke…"
She wasn't sure if that was the truth, but Neji looked convinced, because he visibly relaxed when the words left her mouth. Hanabi looked a bit hurt, but accepting nonetheless. Hinata couldn't help but giggle slightly at their reactions. She realized that her statement was half true. She may not be in love with Sasuke, and she may not spend the rest of her life with giddy joy, but she had no doubt that she could be content with Sasuke. She deserved less, so she would simply have to be satisfied.
Neji stared deeply into Hinata's eyes, assessing the newfound knowledge, and then he knew he'd wasted a trip. She was much happier here than she had ever been at the Hyuga compound, though whether or not that happiness came from Sasuke he was not sure. In the end, though, it didn't matter where her euphoria came from so long as it was there.
And it was here, in the Uchiha home.
Slowly, Neji nodded. "Okay."
The look of happiness that crossed Hinata's face sent a smile to Neji's lips. Hanabi laughed as she ran to hug her sister, and this time Hinata returned the gesture.
"What are you doing now, Nee-chan?"
"I was c-cleaning the kitchen,"
"Can we stay to help her, Neji-nii-san?"
He nodded dully.
Hanabi smiled widely as she once again grabbed their hands and led them to what she knew to be the kitchen. The sight that met shocked them all.
Itachi had Sasuke in a headlock while Sasuke was fruitlessly punching his older sibling on the stomach. The floor was covered with soapy water and broken dishes were scattered around the kitchen. Both Uchiha's looked up upon hearing Hinata's shocked gasp.
Silence.
Neji turned to her with worried skepticism. "Are you sure you want to marry into this family?"
Shimi-chan: Okay, not exactly record time, but I finished it. I like how this turned out. This story is wrapping up nicely.