Author's note: Hello! Welcome to chapter two of "Poison is for Those Who Can't Forgive" (which I forgot the name of 'cause I constantly called it "Poison is for Those Who Don't Care" – idiot me!) I am so delighted that you came back to read chapter two and I hope you read the whole story. My IRL beta-r's loved the first chapter and SilverPheonix-Dragon literally shook me because she wanted to know what was going to happen next. I hope you were just as enthusiastic! I was!!
Poison is for Those Who Can't Forgive + + + Poison is for Those Who Can't Forgive
"I don't need friends, when I've got foes like you," - Seether
CHAPTER TWO
As The World Falls Away
Last Time on "Poison is for Those Who Can't Forgive"
"So, Neji how was your day today?" Raeyl broke the awkward silence first. She was better at dealing will annoy people than I was; she knew how to keep her cool.
"My day consisted of training and studying." He responded in a solid tone.
We hadn't seen a Hyuuga since the day we took our entrance exam for The University, and that was six months ago.
Poison is for Those Who Can't Forgive + + + Poison is for Those Who Can't Forgive
"What were you studying?" Raeyl said with a smile of her face. I always loved it when she smiled, even if its true intent was malicious. When ever she smiled at Neji, it was always with an evil intent. The two of them weren't destined to get along.
"Political Science." Neji bluntly replied. He never liked saying too many words when he was around Hiashi. Hiashi was one of those people who didn't approve of children speaking freely in front of adults. In my opinion, that was ridiculous, but it was not up to me to make the Hyuuga Clan's rules, it was Hiashi's.
"Naruto," Hinata meekly spoke from behind me. "How was your day?"
"Nothing special. I helped Raeyl clean the Manor because she couldn't do it all by herself she made an amazing array of food for us to eat today." I stretched my arms and yawned. I knew that, without a doubt, Hinata would blush at this. She found it sexy when I yawned.
As expected, she hid her face behind her hands and turned tomato red. Hanabi rolled her eyes at her older sister's actions. She was disgusted that her sister was in love with a poor orphan like me.
"Other than that, I didn't do anything." I winked at Hinata and stuck out my tongue playfully, Hinata smiled at my childish nature.
When we all got into the dining hall, after meandering ourselves through countless rooms and hallways to get there, Raeyl sat down in the middle of the table, across from Neji. I sat down on her right side and Hinata sat across from me with Hanabi on her other side. Hiashi and Sarutobi-sensei sat at the heads of the table.
Sarutobi-sensei had made sure that everyone's plates were full before the Hyuuga Clan arrived. He didn't want Raeyl up and about serving us food because that would be considered rude to our guests.
After an ample amount of silence while everyone ate, Hiashi cleared his throat.
"I am under the understanding that you both were accepted into The University for this upcoming semester."
"Yes. Naruto and I received the two highest test scores," Raeyl politely responded.
"Neji," Hiashi's eyes looked at Neji before returning to their spot just above everyone's heads. "got the fifth highest score. I understand that the third and fourth highest grades were from two members on the Uchiha Clan. A Miss Isane Kusajishi and a Mister Sasuke Uchiha."
"The Uchiha Clan always receives high marks." Sarutobi-sensei said. "You do recall a Mister Itachi Uchiha who received the highest marks in the history of The University? If I do recall, he is Miss Isane's father." He thought to himself for a short moment. "Hiashi, wasn't there another child of Itachi?"
"I heard that the mother took Miss Izuru to learn the art of being a Geisha." Hiashi replied.
I had never heard of the Uchihas, nevertheless that they were so smart. I guessed that I'd meet them soon enough, once I got to The University that is.
"Oh, Hitomi is one of the grandest Geisha; at least one of the two will receive the opportunity to study the art of being a Geisha." Sarutobi-sensei put down his tea cup and looked Hiashi directly in the eye. "Enough with the pleasantries, I do not have enough time for them as you know perfectly well," everyone but Hiashi seemed shocked by how serious his voice had gotten.
"Well than Sarutobi, can we adjourn to another room; the children do not need to know. Not yet."
"Of course, follow me," The two men rose from their seats and left the room without another word. The five of us exchanged long glances.
"What was that all about?" I broke the silence.
"Naruto don't even think about spying," Raeyl immediately said. She knew me all too well. I had barely glanced at the door, and concocted a plan to spy on the adults, and she already knew my plan. Another example of how Raeyl is too smart for her own good. I'm still upset that she didn't even try to get the highest score on the exam, she mostly just guessed. She just plain out frustrates me.
"Naruto isn't the only one interested in what they'll be discussing," Hanabi broke her silence. This was actually the first time I had ever heard her speak and I was very surprised that she used my name is a pleasant tone of voice.
"Don't look so shocked by the fact that I know your name," Hanabi had obviously noticed the fact my mouth had been wide open since she had said it. In truth, it wan fairly easy for me to shock me, though the fact Hanabi knew my name wasn't really all that shocking. It was more so the fact that she spoke at all, "Now that you're done gawking, let's go spy. I don't care if they want us to know or not, I'm going to know." She immediately got up and left the room, following the path Hiashi and Sarutobi-sensei had token.
"If Hanabi's going, then I guess you can too."
Before she even finished her statement, I rose to my feet and followed Hanabi. Raeyl was most likely pissed that I didn't let her finish her statement, but I was too intrigued by what was being said down the hall to even care.
At the end of the hall Hanabi stopped, and when I got closer I understood why. From behind the last door on the left we could hear Sarutobi-sensei and Hiashi arguing.
"Are these orphans really worth it?" Unmistakably it was Hiashi's voice, it was as soft as always.
"Of course. Just look at their test scores. More so, look at their last names, Okami and Uzumaki; that alone is enough evidence." Sarutobi-sensei said in the same serious voice he had used earlier.
"The Okami Clan understood the simplicities of our colloquial society – The Uzumaki Clan were rebels, they were fighters," Hiashi's voice rose in tone, "You do remember what that boy's father did during the war?"
"He saved the village." Sarutobi-sensei responded.
"He ruined the village! He is the reason no one lives in Konohagakure anymore!" Hiashi most likely rose from his seat, because we heard a chair screech across the floor boards.
"Okami Clan . . . Uzumaki Clan . . . " Hanabi whispered to herself – I half heard her, I was too busy straining my ears so that I could hear the conversation happening on the other side of the thick oak door.
"Hiashi, I don't have much time. I'm dying and I don't want Naruto and Raeyl left out on the streets, fending for them, just because you're too ignorant to realize their potential. They'll succeed at The University, just like their parents did." Sarutobi-sensei's voice seemed strained.
"Just because their parents succeeded, doesn't mean that they will," Hiashi seemed calmer, "but if it's your dying wish Sarutobi, than I will pay for them to attend The University." This time Hiashi sounded defeated.
"Thank you Hiashi," Sarutobi-sensei's voice returned to normal.
"Naruto," it was Hanabi tugging at my arm, "let's return to the others. We don't need to get caught."
I nodded my head and we walked in silence back to the dining hall where Raeyl, Hinata and Neji were sitting in silence. Neither of us spoke as we sat down, the silence was agonizing, but my mind was too busy going over the words I had heard from the other side of that door.
My father saved the village, but he's also the reason that no one lives here anymore. . . There was an Uzumaki Clan and an Okami Clan. . . What the fuck!? Why didn't Sarutobi-sensei tell us any of this?
Raeyl nudged my arm; actually it was more like a hard jab into my ribs through my arms.
"What was that for!?" I practically yelled. She glanced at me.
"You're a complete idiot," her voice was a whisper, she sounded like she was about to cry. The anger in my eyes softened.
Raeyl had never cried in front of me our entire eight years at the Manor together, and I was frightened that she would and that I would not know what to do. I had never been around anyone, other than myself, and I didn't know what to do.
"Naruto . . . Sarutobi-dono is a very ill man. He has been sick since before the war," this was Hinata speaking, her meek voice solid but full of sorrow. "He never wanted you, or Raeyl, to know. He loves you and wants the best for you. That's why he taught you all he knew and stayed in Konoha even after his family begged him to go with them when they left."
"How do you know all of this Hinata?" I asked in complete shock.
"Because he told me. I volunteer at the Hyuuga Clan's Medical Hospital and one day Sarutobi-dono entrusted me with his secret," she replied. "He had just gotten the news that he had little time to live and he was distraught. . ."
"Sarutobi-dono is a great man who made some wrong choices in his life. . . He wants the best for you that is why we're here tonight. The only way you two will be able to attend The University next semester would be to have Hiashi-sama pay your way." Neji said, his eyes staring into Raeyl's.
"Neji . . ." tears had begun to run down her face. All I could do was to hug her.
Surprisingly Raeyl was a quiet crier; I squeezed tighter with every sob.
"Naruto . . . I can't have anyone else die, I just can't," she whispered in between sobs.
Poison is for Those Who Can't Forgive + + + Poison is for Those Who Can't Forgive
Hiashi and Sarutobi-sensei never returned to the dining hall that night, so Neji, Hinata and Hanabi decided to stay the night. Neji chose the room across from mine. That night, Neji knocked on my door.
"Neji . . ." I said after I opened the door.
"Uzumaki . . . May I come in and talk?" His voice was even, in a different way. Usually he acted so high and mighty, but now it sounded down to earth.
"Okay." After comforting Raeyl for nearly an hour, I was exhausted and didn't care at this point.
I showed him into my room, turned around and noticed that his eyes dilated when he saw how much orange was in my room, which was a lot. I plopped down on my bed and yawned.
"So, what did you want to talk about Neji?" I said my eyes closed. He didn't immediately reply to my question, but when he did I was shocked by what he said.
"It's about . . . us. . ." he made sure I couldn't see his face as he said this.
"What us? The us that tries to constantly kill one another every time we see each other? Is that what you wanted to talk about?" I was frustrated, angry, tired and venting.
I really wanted to throw my lamp at his head, but I liked my antique lamp too much for that. It was the only thing, other than the necklace I never take off, that I have from my parents. Breaking it was not an option.
"I know we've had out differences," he began.
"That's an understatement." I broke his train of thought with a sarcastic smirk on my face.
"That's beside the point Naruto. . . As I was saying, we've had our differences, but from now on I'd like to put that in the past. We'll both be living in the dorms at The University so we might as well become friends," Neji finally looked at me, a small smirk on his face. "Maybe we can be more. . ." he trialed off a bit and turned away again. I could have sworn I saw a slight blush on his cheeks. I waited a short moment before I responded.
"More. . . Neji, are you saying what I think you're saying?" I looked skeptical, my eyes rose quizzically.
If Neji Hyuuga was going to come out of the closet, than I was going to drop dead from a premature heart attack at age fifteen. There was nothing else to it. He turned to look at me, his blush more radiant than before, but his tone of voice was more solid than before.
"What do you think I mean by more?" He asked. I answered as bluntly as I could, I was too exhausted to candy coat my answer so I just let the words leave my lips without a second thought, I don't even think it got a first thought I was so tired.
"You're gay and have a crush on me. I'm flattered and all Hyuuga, but you're just not my type."
"Naruto!" a single knock on my door and than it opened. More like the person barging into my room slammed it open. As usual, it was Tsunade invading my privacy, but at least this time she had the decency to knock first.
Tsunade was the Hokage of Konoha, meaning she was supposed to run the town, but because the town was pretty much dead she didn't have much to do. That being the deal, she decided to go back to being a roaming doctor. And of all the places she roamed, she came to the Manor way too much.
For years she has been bugging me with "check-ups" which was really her just wanting to see me naked, at least that's what I told her every time she showed up. She really could be a pervert sometimes. It didn't help her case that her husband writes porn.
The old hag got on my nerves and if she wasn't Hokage I would so have kicked her ass and broken her nose a long time ago.
When Neji saw that "Lady Hokage" he stood rigid like a soldier. I just gave her my usual death glare.
"What the fuck are you doing here Tsunade?" I said vehemently.
"Oh nothing. I just heard that you learned about Sarutobi's impending death." She said blatantly.
"You don't have to be so straight forward about it!" I responded. Her attitude really pissed me off, even more than Neji's did.
"Well, after he dies, you and Raeyl are under mine and Jiriaya's custody." She said with a sadistic smirk.
"Oh hell no!"
Poison is for Those Who Can't Forgive + + + Poison is for Those Who Can't Forgive
Author's note: Thank you for reading the second chapter of "Poison is for Those Who Can't Forgive." Once again it ended up over 2,500 words, it's actually about the same exact length as chapter one, though it may even be longer I'm not sure. Please come back again, and don't forget to leave a comment or suggestion!!
