2. An Objection

Whether it was the final product of his training or a sign that he was losing sleep, he could pacify himself so much easier now. He was so much able to reach that state of abstract, final serenity needed for him to pull off powerful, draining moves.

He allowed himself to let out a soft sigh. He might have been completely relaxed, but his mind was encumbered with visual imagery he could not clear.

All the guests had left. Only a few of the Main family members were scattered across the courtyard and mansion, along with some well-wishers and, of course, Hinata-sama. She had unconsciously been the person he needed to talk to most tonight, much more than all his seldom-seen cousins. All the table talk of him becoming a Jonin he had politely endured with the usual niceties. He needed a moment alone with his immediate cousin – his closest cousin.

At absolute ease. He straightened his arms, and flexed them. He could not see it because his eyes were closed, but loose chakra was tensing within his muscles. This, with the fact that he was standing in sun, made him look like he was reflecting light.

He clutched her arm. He might not have realised it, but to Hinata his hand on her arm felt like a vice. Yet she continued to smile, even when he said, "Can I speak to you for a moment, Hinata-sama?" and pulled her aside without waiting for a response.

In the semi-darkness of the porch overlooking the courtyard, he knew he would be safe from curious eyes, especially from people like her father, Naruto himself or any family member who would disapprove of him standing this close to her. It was not that he couldn't help it; they were cousins, they were close. Or at least that was what he thought.

"Neji. How long have you known me?" she put the question to him, overriding his persistent arguments over why she had chosen to get engaged, and not tell him about it.

"Long enough to know that deciding to spend your entire life with someone on a whim is completely out of your character," he retorted. Thinking back, he felt that he probably sounded a bit too aggressive.

He thought he saw her steal a glance at Naruto. Lucky bastard – but he drove all such thoughts from his head. His anger was reserved for his own shortcomings, his family's stupidity and his enemies. And Hinata-sama's fiancé was definitely not one of them.

"Father always said I was reaching marriageable age, and you already know there has only been one person I would prefer to spend my entire life with," she told him.

"And Hiashi-sama agreed?" he asked, disbelieving.

Hinata gave a small blush. "I thought I had finally done something right at last. I made a choice which both makes me and Father happy."

He felt like he wanted to scream at her. What about me? You didn't ask me. Instead, what came out from his mouth sounded like an exhausted sigh, which he managed to cover with a very forced smile.

"But what about the Hyuga elders? You know they would never approve…"

She cut him off with a sublime laugh, which was genuinely happy. "Since when have we obeyed our elders by being who they want us to be, my dear cousin?"

As he let the echo of her words bounce off the walls of his head, he felt his own words leave his mouth, echoing in the forest glades.

"Fight me with all you've got."

"Are you going to give me lecture on how I should or shouldn't challenge fate, Neji?" she looked him intently in the eye. Her stare was burning so hard he had to look away briefly. "I want to make a choice, a right choice, and defy the fate which has kept us down since we were born."

His eyes widened. What is she trying to say?

"I've been fighting fate from the start, till I don't believe in fate anymore. Faith, in my choices, in Greater Powers, in this flawed life is enough, I believe."

He chuckled, loosening the tension between them. "Hinata-sama, now you sound like a philosopher."

She laughed too. But then, they stood there facing each other for a long time; he was the one breathing strongly, while she continued to stare at her older cousin with eyes so powerful they seemed like lasers. However, he could tell that she, backed up against the wall, was beginning to feel uncomfortable with him so close, so he reluctantly edged away, allowing her to pass him by.

The scent from Hinata's perfume was almost as pervasive as the smells of shorn grass, tree bark and the crowded forest. He could still smell her when he caught the first kick, aimed at his face. He spun, the memory of her scent almost flying from him, before he seized the offending leg and chucked the entire body of his attacker over him.

He over-compensated, but still managed to land efficiently on his feet and resumed fighting stance. A dull crash. One down.

"So am I right to assume that you won't change your mind?" he asked her. So many questions, all so difficult to answer.

She was facing him again; her outstretched hand, she held his palm up. Her touch was like a blade dancing over his skin, a static charge of many emotions. She was in position to perform a Juken on him, like she did all those years back in the Chunnin exams. So he tensed a bit, in accordance to all his training. But Hinata traced the rugged terrain the many kunai he held had worn into his hand, and at her gentle touch he relaxed.

"Neji-nii-san, you're more to me than this family. You're my cousin. And to me, that's enough."

And he was half-cursing himself, half-astounded by her words as she turned and walked away.

Crash. He parried someone's knee attempting a very sneaky attack on his groin, and then with a minimal amount of force he expelled a burst of chakra, stunning his attacker before pushing him to the ground. Another one down.

He would be anticipating a low body strike. But as the air suddenly thickened, it took a moment to register that his opponent was coming in on him from above. What the hell. He sidestepped the attack. The ground shook. And –

Just a cousin. No, that's not enough to me.

He failed to notice how his opponent had already anticipated his move. Instead of catching the low strike which would eventually come, he recoiled with predictable instinct when both a fist and a leg came out from the darkness at him. The first he caught, but he was not fast enough, his mind overburdened, and the leg grazed him square in the chin. The impact shook his entire jaw.

"Neji-sensei!"

He opened his eyeshis hand took to comforting his jaw, and sought out his three students from his team who he ordered to spar with him. Two were on the ground, victims of his defence; the third was staring at him, both amazed and proud he had landed a kick on the untouchable Neji Hyuga. He allowed himself to break into a grin.

"Neji-sensei, you said we were supposed to train seriously," one of his students said. "If you were serious, he wouldn't have been able to hit you."

"Sorry guys. I have a lot on my mind," he said, and he watched their faces turn even more confused.

He took a seat beside the boy who had landed the kick his chin. Nice move. That's talent if I saw it. He expected him to be entering the trials any time soon. He was immediately surrounded by the other two, curious to know why their sensei had exposed a moment of weakness.

"Tell us what's on your mind, sensei," one of them requested.

Neji sat in his recovery position. "It's quite complicated. I don't think you will be able to understand."

"It's about the girl isn't it?"

He stiffened. He felt a rush of blood going to his cheeks. But in a moment it was over, and he broke into the rigid, all-knowing nod his students were accustomed to seeing.

"If Neji-sensei cannot get the girl he wants, I think we should give up already," the second of his students said. And they all, including Neji himself, broke into laughter. Only with his students did he permit himself to show his soft side. Not even Lee or Tenten could joke so freely with him.

"And Neji-sensei would like to add that his problems are personal," he said, and their smiles instantly faded. "But yes, it's somewhere along that line."

His third student, who had remained quite quiet up to this point, caught Neji's gaze. His taijutsu really needed improving, he knew, but (like Naruto) he was persistently, stubbornly trying. Then, he completely stunned Neji when he spoke: "Sensei, you taught us yourself that there are many kinds of jutsu. So I suppose that there are many kinds of love also. Just because the girl you like doesn't respond to your love, doesn't mean you don't stop. Maybe you should change how you love her."

The other two looked at him as if he had swallowed an explosive note.

"That's the most ridiculous thing…"

"No, I think that makes some sense," Neji said, and he saw the boy's features lighten. A compliment from Neji was as rare as snow in summer and as rewarding as passing the Chunnin exams. He gave an inner smirk as he saw the other two's faces turn in astonishment.

"Yes, you're right. I need to change some things," he drifted off dreamily.

But then again, that's much easier said than done, isn't it?

Neji would have had his entire day to train and loosen up with his three Genin understudies, but halfway through the afternoon he was summoned back to the mansion on the orders of the Main Family. Hiashi-sama sent him word through his team leader, Gai. Neji knew that if the head of the Hyuga family was to pass a message through Gai, it had to be important.

Immediately, he stopped everything, dismissed his students and took the fastest route back to the Hyuga mansion.

Once within the mansion, he was treated to a strange sight: the sitting room, last night's venue for such a cheerful and happy occasion, was now filled with many men. Many old men, to be exact. Knowing better than to interrupt something he was uninvited to, he tried to move across the open courtyard undetected. But there was a sharp hiss, and suddenly all the men had turned their heads towards him.

"Ah, Neji-kun!" the distinctive voice of Hiashi-sama resounded from with, and immediately Neji saw the tall man appear in the doorway between the courtyard and sitting room. "We have been expecting you."

He was given a place at the very corner of the room. Neji had hardly sat when he noticed another strange thing: he was surrounded by Main family members. Everyone who was privileged to dine with Hiashi-sama the night before was here, from the Hyuga elders down to that sneaky-eyed cousin of his, Hidetori-sama. But, his heart sank when he realised that neither Hinata-sam, nor her sister, was nowhere to be seen.

"So now that we have a Branch family member here to witness what we're going to discuss, in accordance to Hyuga tradition, we can continue," went Hiashi-sama.

Neji's wide eyes betrayed more than this surprise. I didn't know there was such a clause in Hyuga tradition.

"You already know our answer, Hiashi," said an elderly man dressed in Hyuga robes. "And should it even cross your mind to even continue with what you've told us, you will suffer the consequences we elders will impose on you."

"It's unthinkable!" went another.

"You turn your back on the family!"

"We would not sit and watch the Hyuga family tradition dilute. No, not under our guard."

Neji watched, trying to hide his surprise. No one, ever since he had known the complicated Hyuga tradition, had ever dared to speak to Hisahi-sama so rudely, so blatantly – his step-father was the head of Main family here in Kohonagakure anyway. But even more unexpected was Hiashi-sama's reactions; Neji expected him to lash out with fury, but he acted as submissive as Branch family member.

What the hell is going on here?

He heard it from the first elder who spoke.

"We would not have the heir of this family married off to a bastard of unclean origins."

The other elders rumbled in agreement.

So that's their problem. Very strong words. I don't think Naruto would like to be classified as frog spawn. Good thing he isn't here.

"Hiashi," explained a more reasonable voice, "there must be better suitors for your daughter than this Uzumaki fellow."

"He has a cursed being inside of him, which would kill us all if it could!"

Playing on old wives' tales. There's nothing wrong with Naruto. And then Neji thought about it again. Why am I defending Naruto anyway?

"Your disagreements are understandable," Hiashi-sama said, breaking his silence, "but I think as her father, I know what's good for my daughter more than any of you."

"Do you?" went a defiant voice. "You don't know what's good for the Hyuga."

Neji identified that voice as Hidetori-sama's. Watch your words, arrogant monkey. Without knowing it, he balled his hands into fists, but unclenched them – he was supremely conscious of his place as a Branch family member here today.

Hiashi-sama, too, appeared to be on threshold of losing his patience. He blinked his eyes to a close, but regained his composure within a second. But his eyes were different now. He was not showing his Byakugan, but his stare towards his elders was much harder than Neji remembered before.

"I should know this family better, being the head," he said. "Even if I take your objections seriously, would you be able to find be someone suitable for my Hinata?"

A very unnerving pause – not because no one could answer the question, but because Neji could see, in the exact same way he observed Hinata-sama's eye movements during the Chunnin exams years back, some elders switching their glances, sweeping their line of vision towards him. Being a Branch family member, he held their eyes, if even for a moment – and flashed back a look of intense defiance.

What the hell. Something was smiling inside him now, but that lofty, warm feeling was interrupted by the chorusing frustration mounting against the Hyuga elders. He held his blank look: he wanted to see Hinata-sama turning and smiling back at him, but he was not willing to submit to the Hyuga family just to see that. I'm not going to give you the pleasure of reminding me of my fate. Then an overpowering image of Hinata inundated his conscience: she was tracing the worn lines of old injuries in palm, and when she looked up, her full, shy face as sweet as a wildflower in the desert sand… Stop. Stop. Damn it. I've got to stop this –

The silence was broken by Hiashi-sama himself, who seemed to echo the very thoughts of everyone present: "We all know the problems that arise when the Hyuga are forced to marry within the family."

Another elder countered: "If it is the only way to keep the Hyuga family pure and untainted, we have the right to invoke it."

No you won't. Neji softened his stare, and closed his eyes, where the darkness and the absence of so many old people with unknown motives helped him regenerate and calm himself. Someone else began to speak to him: you could invoke the right, idiot. You could just say you wanted it. And you could be together with Hinata for good, with the family's approval, for everyone's good. His breathing slowed; he knew where this channel of reasoning was leading to.

What more could you want?

His held his breath, forcing himself to suffocate, before he found himself reacting with a sharp intake of air that lit up his darkened eyes a flare in a closed room. No.

I will not rob Hinata of her own free will. He bit his own tongue, and tasted blood, like bitter tea, anchoring his own conscience to the bottom of his head. I will not allow fate to step in. He opened his eyes to notice some elders staring curiously at him. He took a deep breath. There are many kinds of love. He could even hear the words his student taught him. And I have to find the right one to love her with.

"So what is our agreement on this matter?" demanded Hidetori, clearly impatient.

"I am the head of the Hyuga family in Kohonagakure. My word and decision are final," Hiashi-sama got up, and prepared to walk out of the room. He cast his eyes on the elders. At the last moment looked to directly Neji, but said aloud to the group, "I think my daughter has been through enough with all your expectations. If you care so much for the family as you say you do, you would leave us in peace."

Someone snickered. But Hiashi-sama chose to ignore it, and walked out to courtyard, disappearing into the inner rooms.

"He is an idealist," said the eldest among them. "Unfortunately, he is also a fool."

"He has never been quite the same since his brother died."

Neji stared at them. Unbelievable how you make everything so trivial, like some twisted game. He wondered why he was even staying with them; without Hiashi-sama, his reason to stay had evaporated.

"What do we do next?" another elder asked.

"We will have to accept that the head of the current family is not going to back down," another said. "It has happened before, but it might take a while to rectify this problem."

"Keeping the Hyuga family pure and ensuring the Byakugan remains within the family are most important," said the eldest again. "Happiness and contentment is all secondary."

"Maintain the family honour."

"Uphold the tradition."

"Keep the blood limit unpolluted."

The elders mumbled a perverse agreement, their eyes swirling across the room to meet each others'. The eldest of them all, presiding over the scheming now that Hiashi-sama was absent, lifted his eyes to meet Neji's.

"You are passing over a great opportunity," he told him. As much as his anger against these elders was like concrete in his heart, he could not help but let the invitation stare at him in the face one last time.

Don't succumb.

"If Hiashi-sama disagrees with you," he said calmly. "I would be a blood traitor if I did otherwise."

"Then that's your answer then," the eldest of them said.

"We hoped you would at least follow our advice," the elder nearest to him said. "We know what's best for you."

"No you don't," Neji answered. He got up from his position, and strode towards the door, savouring the tense atmosphere saturating the room at his departure. The curse seal is throbbing. He was expecting someone to intensify the curse seal, a punishment for his defiance, but by the time he had reached the courtyard, the elders were no longer preoccupied with him anymore. It's stopped.

I'm not letting your version of fate lead me by the nose anymore.

But, his back turned to them, he could still hear their arguments. And someone had succinctly said something which made him doubt his own choice.

"I invoke a sacrifice to keep the Hyuga family secure."

He was sure those crafty old men were doing it on purpose.

Notes: This went through several rounds of editing, but I'm still not satisfied with it. I was trying to tie up the loose ends, as commented by ThebigW, but I'm not sure if it will suffice. The first part was meant to be a rapid succession of thoughts, an inner conflict sequence, which I may use again for my other stories, because I had such fun writing it. All in all, writing this particular chapter took longer than I expected.

On the average 1 chapter takes me about a week to complete. My targeted end for the final chapter will be this time next week.

Thanks for the reviews, guys. The red packet will come back into significance in the final chapter, I promise.