Chapter 13 - Uchiha
Frost and snow cover the Hyuuga courtyard when they come.
Neji is not there when they enter, but he sees their footprints: the light, small dents as Hinata tiptoes into her home like she's sneaking back in after a night out; and the big, heavy, wide holes of Sasuke, who walks with pride, with courage, with burning determination that still leaves a smell of smoke in the air.
Neji follows the footprints to Hiashi's office. The sliding door is wide open, and he gets a good look at the white, stark marriage certificate presented on Hiashi's low desk. For the first time in the history of the Hyuuga, there is something that is more white than Hyuuga walls and Hyuuga buildings and Hyuuga eyes. It's overwhelming. It takes up the entire room.
Sasuke's fingers press against the edge of the certificate, pushing it slightly closer toward Hiashi. His ring matches the paper perfectly.
"This is Uchiha Hinata," he says. "My wife. And no Uchiha has ever or will ever be sealed by your clan."
Hiashi peers down at the paper, seemingly serious. But when he moves his hand away from his mouth, he is smiling, pleased, and leaves back.
"Well," he says, "you've tied my hands."
Their shoulders roll — Sasuke's in relief, Hinata's in joy.
When they turn so that he can see their faces, Neji's eyes drift to Hinata's forehead. Her hair is slightly curly, and her bangs are swept to the side, revealing clear skin — skin that will never be touched, never be tainted — and Neji feels almost faint. He feels like he could cry, like he could fall on his knees and thank whatever gods or spirits saved his cousin from such a horrible fate. He feels like all his efforts have paid off, that he can finally rest, finally lay in the sun and enjoy the warmth of the winter sunlight, knowing Hinata's safe, she's happy, she's free.
He stays standing, however.
He meets Hinata and Sasuke on the engawa, and Hinata's cheeks are dusted with powdered blush. Her lashes are long and dark. She catches his eye, looks away, then catches his eye again.
"Neji," she whispers. "I have a lot to say, but somehow, I feel like I should apologize first."
"Apologize?" he scoffs, turning away. "Where's your Uchiha pride?"
Hinata laughs and wraps her arms around him, hugging his side. "Then perhaps I should jump to thanking you."
He rests his hand on the top of her head, content. Her happiness is strong and obvious, and he can't stop looking at her, at how she glows. Her arms tighten, and he feels her love, her compassion, her gratefulness. He takes it all in.
There's a flash of chakra approaching them.
Sasuke reacts first, his own chakra burning to life, ready to protect himself and Hinata — but he's quick to pull out of his attack stance when he realizes it's Hanabi barreling at him, and he lets her jump into him and push him to the ground. He lands on the floorboards with a thud, and Hinata gasps and pulls away from Neji to see her little sister sitting on her husband's chest, pouting, hands on her hips.
"You've got some nerve!" Hanabi barks. "A secret wedding — and you don't even invite me!?"
"It wouldn't be very secret if you came," Neji drawls.
"Hanabi," Hinata says, voice low and stern, "get off of him."
"I know you needed a witness!" Hanabi glares at all three of them, ending with Hinata. "Who was it? Actually — why wasn't it me?"
"Hanabi." Hinata sighs and puts a hand on her sister's shoulder, coaxing her to stand.
"Siiiister!" Hanabi whines. "You know how long it took me to pick out what to wear."
Hanabi eventually gets off Sasuke, who lifts his upper body off the floor, but still remains sitting.
"We're having another ceremony," he tells her.
Hanabi gasps. "And I'll be invited, right?"
Sasuke's eyes crinkle a bit with amusement. "It wouldn't be right without you there."
And once again, Sasuke falls back as Hanabi pounces on him, this time to fling her arms around his neck. He catches himself with his arm angled back, and he stares at Hinata as her sister squeals in delight against him.
Hiashi comes out of his office upon the ruckus, reminding them all (mostly Hanabi) that Hinata and Sasuke will have to go meet with the elders soon. Hanabi tears herself away from Sasuke, allowing him to stand once more. Together, Hinata and Sasuke leave for the elders room near the center of the complex, gathering looks and gawks from any Hyuuga who spots them.
Of course, no one is allowed to enter as they have their meeting with the elders.
But (of course) that doesn't stop a swarm of them from huddling by the door, trying to listen in. Hanabi is at the front, ear pressed against the paper door. All the Hyuuga spring away when the door suddenly slides open, Sasuke and Hinata leaving. Inside, the elders look peeved. One of them even follows them onto the engawa, face red and furious.
"Hyuuga Hinata!" he yells. "We'll make sure you never step foot here again! Ungrateful pig."
Hinata doesn't bat an eye, but Sasuke whirls around, eye spinning red.
"Hyuuga?" he booms. All the walls rattle in Konoha. The elder says nothing, pursing his lips, which only seems to enrage Sasuke more. "Correct yourself."
"Damn you," the elder mutters.
Sasuke looks like he could blow steam at any moment. "I will repeat myself only once: Correct yourself."
The elder fumbles, grits his teeth, then turns away. "Uchiha Hinata," he mutters.
Neji has never seen an elder back down, and his chest is filled with satisfaction.
"Remember to respect the Uchiha matriarch." Sasuke's eye stops spinning, but it still remains blood red. "Pig."
At the gate, the Hyuuga see Hinata and Sasuke off. They are giddy, because this all seems like a turning point. They touch their foreheads and wonder if their children, or their children's children, will have to bear such a mark. They filter off, and the buzz dies down, leaving Neji by the gate.
He waits until he's alone, and then he collapses.
He falls under the sheer power of relief, face pushed into the cold dirt, hands twisted into the icy blades of grass.
He gasps like he's just learned how to breathe, and then he sighs his worries into the earth.
Hanabi watches from afar. He can feel her eyes, and he can hear her approach. She sits next to him, leaning over, pressing her face into the spot between his shoulders. They are both shaking.
"She's okay," Hanabi whispers. "She's okay."
They lie there for minutes, maybe hours. Their limbs are tired. Their stress is no longer a heavy quilt suffocating them.
Like Hinata, they are free.
They are free.
*** Hyuuga Neji - Miracle Worker ***
Hyuuga finds Neji the Cat outside his bedroom door the next morning, a letter hanging from his mouth.
Real funny, Sasuke. Neji takes the letter and re-enters his room, not bothering to shut the door behind him. The cat trots in like he owns the place, smelling around, rubbing the corners of his mouth against the furniture inside. I'm going to kick his ass later.
Opening the letter, he immediately turns his attention to the signature, realizing it's not from Sasuke at all.
Instead, it's from Tamaki.
The cat lady?
Neji reads on.
...
To Hyuuga Neji,
I was told to send this letter once Uchiha Sasuke and Hinata were wedded. Seeing as that date has come sooner than later, I've sent my messenger cat to give you this letter now.
From the very beginning, I was told to send one of my cats to help you and Sasuke and Hinata. Aoi (or Shisui now) is a special type of cat my clan breeds to aid ninja on missions. She has a special ability to not only hold her own chakra, but to link it to the chakra of other entities (namely ninja) so that they may merge bodies with her if need be. This, I'm aware, you already know about and have used to your advantage to help Hinata and Sasuke during this arranged marriage situation.
If you must know, I was not the one making these decisions; after all, I hardly know any involved party. It was actually the company of Uzumaki Naruto who came to me, requesting the help of one of my clan's special cats. He was informed by a Hyuuga Hanabi that Uchiha Sasuke and Hinata would be made to wed, and with the fear that the arrangement would not bring out the best outcome for their future marriage together, he turned to you. Naruto explained that I should send Aoi (or Shisui) to you, and that he trusted you to be able to figure out her ability and to use it to your advantage. I see that he was right to assume so, and I'm happy to hear that their relationship will go swimmingly due to your and Shisui's efforts.
I was asked by Naruto to end the letter here, but if I may, I'd like to add one more thing.
This was not an easy task — getting those two together in a way that made it easy and simple for them (or as easy and simple as it could possibly be). This is not a task anyone would just take on. Your love for your cousin is revolutionary.
Likewise, an evil man would not put in the effort to help you or Sasuke or Hinata.
I understand there are some regrets Naruto feels involving Hinata and you, Hyuuga Neji.
I'm not in place to know the context, but I'd like to say this:
Perhaps he made mistakes, but Uzumaki Naruto looked out for the both of them. He wanted the best for them, and they got it.
I'm sorry for all of my meddling.
Shisui and Neji (the real one) are happy with the Uchiha, so I will not be forcing them to return.
Thank you for being kind to my cats. Please continue to do so — with all of them,
Tamaki
...
He's pulled out of his reading with Other Neji rubbing his face against his leg.
"That Uchiha brat was right," he murmurs to himself. "You both really were sent to him."
...
Neji visits the Uchiha compound later that day with a few other Hyuuga to drop off some of Hinata's belongings at the estate. Hanabi is busy sticking her nose in places she shouldn't be, and Ko is happily setting onigiri and sake out on the table. Hinata gives her sister a tour as Sasuke helps the Hyuuga bring things into the house, and Neji is able to sneak away and search for Shisui, finding her hidden under engawa.
Other Neji is next to her, circling her, tail stuck between his legs. He looks worried, and Shisui doesn't seem to be in a good state, either.
"Is it the company?" Neji doesn't think he's seen Shisui around so many people. Even if she's a ninja cat with special chakra abilities, perhaps she's not used to being in a place full of noise and movement. "We'll be gone soon. You don't have to worry."
Shisui lets out a low mewl, and Neji begins to suspect this has nothing to do with the crowd.
He looks around, makes sure he's alone, then attempts to merge with her.
It's successful, but the second he's in cat form, a terrible ache fills his entire body. His insides feel like they're splitting in half, and he's quick to push away and turn back to normal.
"Shisui," he whispers, "what's wrong?"
She crawls further under the engawa. When Neji tries to reach out for her with his hand, Other Neji swipes at his hand, growling.
Neji sits back, panic rising in his chest.
That pain was excruciating.
Was she dying?
What caused this?
What was he supposed to do?
"Cousin?"
His head snaps to the side to see Hinata approaching him. There must me some sort of look on her face, for she is quick to rush to him, grabbing his shoulder.
"What's wrong?" she asks.
He turns back to the shadowy underside of the engawa.
"Shisui," he says. "She's sick — or injured."
Hinata dips down onto her knees to find both cats.
"Is she dying?" he asks.
He doesn't like that idea. His partner in crime passing away — and so soon — doesn't leave a good taste in his mouth.
And if he's being honest, he's worried for Sasuke, too.
Their bond is strong, even with Neji not controlling Shisui's form. If she were to die, then . . . .
"Neji." Hinata's voice . . . isn't as worried as he expected it to be. "Activate your byakugan."
He does. It flickers on, and the veins around his eyes pulse and fill with chakra, and what he sees is —
"She's in labor, Cousin. Did you not notice before?"
Oh.
...
By the end of it, there are five more members added to the Uchiha family.
Hanabi is determined to stay behind and name one of them, and Sasuke gets busy setting up a futon for her in the guest room so that she could be around the kittens for a while.
Neji, while glad that Shisui was okay, is not exactly pleased, either.
About half of the litter are bunches of wrinkles — peach, naked, wrinkled balls of life.
He sits on the engawa with Other Neji next to him, eating from his bowl of chicken. He offers one to Neji, placing it on his knee, as if to offer peace between them.
Laughable, really.
"It's going to take a lot more than that," Neji mutters. "You do realize that, because of you, I'm going to have to deal with that Uchiha brat joking about how Neji got Shisui pregnant, don't you? The real Shisui was, like, his cousin or something. I'll never hear the end of it."
Other Neji just purrs like a proud father, taking the ignored piece of chicken to give to his beautiful, exhausted wife.
Yup.
Uchiha, indeed.
Chapter 13 - End