Well, spring break is coming up and I feel really anxious. Sigh.
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Chapter 3: Past Revealed- Smothering Silence
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Muffled footsteps fell on the polished wood beneath him. People walking in the halls stopped and turned. "Hello Neji-sama," they bowed. He did not see them and powered through the halls intent on one thing and one thing only.
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Black stained white as ink danced across the blank scroll, replacing the bareness with graceful script as the brush flew across the paper. Rushed footsteps were heard and the subdued greeting alerted him of his guest before he even arrived. The screen door thrust open. "Hello Neji."
"Hiashi-san," he greeted curtly as he bowed. He snapped his head up and walked towards the desk with measured steps, his body tense with fury. "What. Have. You. Done?"
Hiashi regarded his nephew wearily. The years had changed them so much and he could feel the tiredness that came with age. He sighed, his brows knitting in concentration. "You're here about Tenten, aren't you?" Neji nodded and Hiashi sighed tiredly. "I will tell you, but close the door; I do not want anyone to hear."
Hiashi watched Neji walk to the door, closing it swiftly without a sound. He turned on his heel and regarded his uncle through narrowed eyes. "Well?"
Hiashi nodded and rolled up the scroll before placing it in one of the drawers of the wooden desk sitting before him. He closed his eyes and opened them, drinking in the countless books and scrolls that lined the shelves in his study. He heard Neji growl. "Well?"
Hiashi nodded. It was always straight to the point with Neji. "Do you remember when you took over the Main branch?"
Neji nodded warily. Of course he had, it had been a life-altering decision the clan's council had made shortly after Hinata renounced her title as heiress for Naruto and Hanabi died on a mission, leaving himself as one of the few options left.
"Neji, when I decided to name you as my heir, the clan was in uproar. Our main branch was outraged. They didn't believe you were qualified seeing how you came from outside the main house, the same house my brother was condemned to. That was another reason. They believe I was repenting for what I did to my brother and viewed you as a way for my forgiveness, but though that may have influenced me to nominate you as a candidate, it was not why I chose you."
"Of course."
"The branch families were joyous at the idea of one of their own becoming leader of our clan, but beneath that was hatred. They believed you would become full of yourself and rule over them cruelly, looking down on them like the main branch, but you proved them wrong," he smiled. He looked down, his eyes troubled. "Your curse seal…"
Neji removed his bandages over his forehead and touched the curse seal hidden beneath, feeling the skin underneath his fingertips. When he was initiated into the main branch, he was given the choice to have Kakashi seal it, but he declined. He refused to have it removed for it was something that would remind him forever of his life as a branch member, something he would never forget. Though the council members were shocked, he could not have cared less. It was his decision to make and he felt he had chosen well. "What about the curse seal?" he asked.
Hiashi looked at him, his eyes burdened with regret. "Your curse seal—your burden—your cross to bear; I worsened you pain."
Neji blinked. "Uncle…what are you saying?"
Hiashi smiled bitterly. "In many ways, you remind me of my brother. You have his features and his personality and your mother's kindness. And that is why I hate myself further. You see, the curse seal has more power than what we have told you."
"What powers? You speak in riddles, uncle. The curse seal is just to make sure we did your will."
"Exactly. We could mold you to our will, have you obey us without question, and therein lies my burden."
Neji's brows knitted in confusion. "What are you trying to say, Hiashi?"
Hiashi turned from the window to his nephew. "I did just that. I made you do my will. I suppressed your memories."
He felt the bones in his jaw crack as he was sent into the wall behind him. He opened an eye to see Neji's Byakugan activated, anger roiling off him in waves. "Why? Why did you do that to me? Tenten was pregnant with my child and you made me forget that?!" he seethed as he gripped Hiashi's haori. Hiashi gave no reply and Neji's chest rose and fell with rage. "You bastard!"
Neji pulled his arm back, swinging it forward to land a punch when he felt himself thrown off and Hiashi pinning his body to the ground. "How do you think I feel? How much shame I've carried all these years? How much I wanted to tell you of your child? That you were a father? That you had a family?"
He lowered his head wearily. "I can still remember that night…"
Flashback
Water splashed in the puddles lining the path to the main house of the Hyuuga compound. Hiashi ran to the door. 'Who is out this late? In this weather?'
Hiashi opened the door, nearly being knocked over as Neji ran into the shelter of the doorway, hastily removing his sandals as he leaned against the doorframe. He looked up, his smile joyous. "It's wonderful," he panted.
Hiashi smiled, chuckling at his nephew's unusually eager behavior. "What is so wonderful that it has you forgetting that there is a storm tonight?"
Neji smiled. "Tenten—she—I—I'm going to be a father!"
Hiashi's widened in shock, his jaw dropping.
"Uncle?"
Neji felt arms wrap around him. "That's wonderful!" He pulled away; forgetting his nephew was soaked to the bone and his own clothes became wet as well. He patted his shoulder. "I'm proud of you."
Neji bowed and smiled. "Thank you," he panted. "I can't wait to tell the other members of the clan. To think, my own child here…" he grinned.
Hiashi's face fell. "The other members…" He looked up. "Neji…"
Neji looked up and his brows furrowed in concern. "Uncle, you look troubled." Hiashi shook his head.
"It's nothing. Come, we have much to celebrate."
Hiashi lead Neji to an empty room, a large scroll on the wall. Neji looked around. "Uncle, why are we here?" Suddenly, he felt a hand on his curse seal and a searing pain before his vision became black.
Hiashi stared at the unmoving body of his nephew, his dark locks fanned out under his body and watched as two branch members carried his nephew to his room, leaving him to himself.
Hiashi stood motionless, staring at the door where Neji had just exited. The silence was a heavy weight, compounded by the stillness of the dark room and was soon too much as Hiashi fell to his knees, tears falling from his eyes.
"Forgive me, Neji. Forgive me…"
End flashback
Neji stared up at his uncle. "Why? Why did you do it?"
"Do you think it would have helped you? The clan had enough trouble accepting you at that time. News of you fathering a child without pure blood would've driven them to kill you. I had to erase your memory. I wanted to have them live with us, to watch the child grow, watch you live and thrive, watch you find happiness outside of the cage of our clan, but I couldn't. I needed to protect you, protect Tenten—protect the child!" he cried.
To this, Neji stared up silently, facial expression blank as he looked up at the beige-colored ceiling. 'So, all this time…'
"Arigatou."
Hiashi looked up. "What…"
"Thank you for what you did. I believe I understand now."
Neji propped himself up and felt the weight of Hiashi leave him. He stood up calmly and turned to his uncle. "I'm sorry for upsetting you, Hiashi. I hope you may pardon me."
Hiashi heard the monotone behind the apology and watched Neji open the screen door. "Good night," he heard him say before the door slid shut, leaving Hiashi feeling lighter and heavier at the same time; the silence of the room, deafening to his ears.