Nemesis

Author: LonelyWriter

Summary: Hiashi has found his nemesis…

Disclaimer: HYUGACEST. It should have happened. However, I do not own the manga, and thus it did not. Sadface.

…

It had started. The inhabitants of the Hyūga compound were in an uproar. It was only three days after Neji returned but the Heiress ignored the commotion. She was too busy with her favorite beings in the world.

"Hinagiku," she scolded as she picked up the cat after she tried to bite Kyo's ear. "You need to start being nicer to Kyo. He is your consort. The only one you will ever have. Don't screw it up." The cats ignored her and she sighed. Her bedroom, the one that she had called hers since she was born seemed so strange and foreign to her now that she had been spending most of her days at Neji and her apartment. Because of that she had managed to sneak Hinagiku and Kyo into the main compound. They made it better but she was still uncertain as to what she wanted to do.

Her two cats curled up on her lap, both contently purring. Their three kittens that Neji had so despised when they were born had been given to good homes; Ino had taken Kurumu and Tenten had claimed Hai. Orenji had been given to a Branch member whose daughter was sick in hopes the kitten would help her heal. By all accounts Hinata had heard the girl was getting better. While she had been loth to part with her beloved kittens, Hinata had seen the reason in Neji's protests about keeping them and she also knew that she was getting married soon and couldn't let her pets be left behind.

She had been debating with herself about keeping Hinagiku and Kyo and finally decided they would stay a while longer, allowing her to find a perfect home for them if one existed.

A rumble of thunder pulled her from her musings as shouts came from outside. Upheaval in the clan was nothing new but this was different. The Heiress was to marry a Branch member. The downfall of the Hyūga had begun in the Elder's eyes.

Hiashi had informed her that this might happen and perhaps it was a good thing that Neji wasn't here right now to be the subject of their hatred. Tsunade had called him two days ago and assigned him to a quick trip back to the northern border to offer quick support and much needed supplies. He was only supposed to be gone for a week and Hinata had looked the Hokage straight in the eye and made her promise it would be so.

Hinata had been spared from most of the gossip and dirty looks by the fact she was the Heiress. But even then she was still hiding from it all. The Elders were so old fashioned that sometimes she couldn't help but want to scream.

The Elders would see the wisdom in allowing her to marry Neji, she knew this, but for right now she wanted nothing to do with them. She wanted to wallow in her own self pity at the fact that the man she would take as her husband had fled the village because he was just as confused about his emotions as she was about her own and only the Hokage forcing him back had straightened it all out. If something like that could happen so easily, how would it be in their marriage? That was something they needed to address but Hinata desperately did not want to.

She knew that she loved him, but sometimes, especially times when he was being so pigheaded she wanted to forget him. It was not her fault he was an idiot and was not willing to hope that perhaps she was willing to fight for their relationship as well. She knew that he still had doubts even when confronted with the fact that her father had in fact given them permission to marry.

"He's stupid," she whispered into Hinagiku's fur. "And yet, I can't live without him. Why are boys so frustrating?" The cat turned her head and cocked it the side as if to say, silly human. You worry too much. "You have it so easy," Hinata dryly responded. "You are a cat."

"Yes, and I wonder what it is doing here," Hinata stiffened as she heard her father's voice from behind her. Kyo jumped up and hissed before darting away. "Who is the owner of this animal?"

Hinata clenched Hinagiku to her. She did not want to have this conversation with her father. He would tell her that she had to get rid of her cats.

"Hinata?" Her father's voice was stern and she knew she could not ignore him any longer. She turned slowly, knowing he would have a look of disapproval on his face.

"This is Hinagiku, Father," Hinata tried to hide her face in her hair as she stood. "Neji is the one who has been taking care of her." Hinata straightened and allowed her hair to fall back. "But she is mine."

Hiashi's face was a mask of indifference but she could see the tiniest spark in his eyes, that same spark she had seen when he allowed her engagement to Neji.

"Would," Hinata hesitated before holding out Hinagiku, "You like to pet her?"

Hiashi stretched out his hand hesitantly and patted the cat's head. "Yes, well," he said as he carefully brushed his hand against his kimono. "I came to remind you that there is a meeting of the Elders this afternoon and you will be required to attend."

"Yes, Father. I remember. I will not be late."

"Good," Hiashi gave a sharp nod before turning to go. "And Hinata?"

"Yes, Father?"

"Remember that Hanabi is allergic to cats," he said and then walked out of the room.

…

Never before in his four decades of life had Hyūga Hiashi seen anything as maddening as cat hair. He had only touched the cat for five seconds and yet its hair was everywhere. He had noticed the first one only moments after he had returned from his talk with his elder daughter and had absentmindedly brushed it away. Only to find another. And another. And another. And…

He stood abruptly and went to the small pitcher of water sitting in the corner. Perhaps he could remove the offensive hairs using a damp towel. Only that solution only made his kimono wet. He discarded the towel and went back to his desk where he searched for anything that looked like it would be able to remove cat hair but could find nothing.

He stood again and swept out of his office, ignoring the servants as they scrambled to bow. It was a silly practice, bowing. It made the people look ridiculous and made him feel slightly silly that people were bowing to him. He made it to his room and quickly removed the offensive clothing and threw it on the floor. He would have a servant burn the kimono later so the hair would never return.

As he went to open his closet door he paused, a strange noise coming from behind the door. He leaned closer so he could hear better. He had heard the noise before but he could not place it. Slowly he opened the door, well aware that if an enemy ninja was in there he was only wearing his underwear.

There, curled up on top of one of his ceremonial kimonos that had somehow ended up on the floor was a cat of the most offensive color orange. Orange fur clung to all of his kimonos. His eyebrow twitched.

"HINATA!"