Gray
Author: Lonely Writer 42
Summary: Sometimes life does not turn out the way you want it to.
Disclaimer: This one will forever have the Neji feels until Kishimoto decides to bring him back to life because WTF Kishimoto?! You want to kill characters to show how bad the war is and then the only one you actually kill is NEJI?! It makes no sense. Thus this one has written something in which NEJI IS ALIVE. Do not sue. Also this is several weeks/months after last chapter.
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The sky was blue. Or was it gray? She wasn't quite sure and the cloud of grief that was hanging around her did not lend itself to clear perceptions. The weeks had gone by slowly, almost at a snails pace, in her longing for Neji but they had gone. Then tragedy had struck the Hyūga. Hyūga Tadanobu, the young son and the third heir after her and Hanabi had died on a simple mission. Since he was a member of the Hyūga the village had allowed the clan to take care of his burial. It was always heartbreaking when a young person was killed and this time the pain was even worse because he shouldn't have died.
Hinata had not allowed anyone but herself to take care of Tadanobu's body and prepare it for burial. He was still young enough that his chakra network was not fully formed and his eyes, his byakugan, had not reached their full potential. It was hard to believe that the eight year old was dead. He still had his whole life in front of him.
"Hinata-sama. The clan leader wishes to speak with you," the nameless servant disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. Hinata took one last look at Tadanobu's grave before slowly walking towards her father's study. What Hiashi would have to say that had not already been mentioned Hinata didn't know. Hiashi always wanted to be in charge of everything and if he did not get his way no one dared go near him for fear for his or her life.
She paused outside the study. She occasionally showed her stubborn side but this time it did not feel right. She sighed heavily and opened the door.
"Hinata," her father's deep voice greeted her. "Come in."
"Why am I here, Father?" she questioned as she sat seiza.
Hiashi gave her a wary look. "As you know, Tadanobu was your closest living relative other than your sister that can inherit this clan who was not marked. However with his death," Hiashi paused and sighed heavily. "You and Hanabi are the last of the line that can rule this clan."
Hinata stared at her father. She already knew all of this. Why was he bringing it up, again?
"Hinata," Hiashi turned so he was looking directly into Hinata eyes. "I have received a disturbing report. It is about your sister's health."
Hinata drew in a gasp. Something was wrong with Hanabi?
"Hanabi will have to undergo an operation soon that will hopefully save her life, but at the cost of her ever being able to have children. You, my daughter, are the last member of the Main line of the Hyūga. There are no others. That is why I have asked the Hokage to call your fiancé back to the village. You will marry as quickly as possible. I cannot allow the possibility that he, too, will die and leave this clan to ruin. It is my intention that you will not participate with the new war that is brewing. Unfortunately, you and Neji need to have a child as quickly as possible. To do that means your marriage will take place tomorrow. I know that you and Neji are both young and may not be ready for these responsibilities but right now we cannot afford to allow the two of you mature any longer. I cannot have this clan driven to ruin. As the next Head of the Hyūga I know you understand what I am saying is true, Hinata. Go and prepare yourself. Tonight we will start the wedding banquet."
Hinata nodded once before slipping out of the office. Hiashi was being heavy handed but what he said was true. If Hanabi could not have children and Tadanobu's parents also were long beyond having another child, it was up to her to continue her line. She had been raised for this. She knew it was always lurking around the corner. She had long ago accepted it.
Her room was stark and only had the most basic of necessities. When Ino and Sakura had first seen it they had been in disbelief. Surely the mighty Heiress of the Hyūga would have a nicer room than this; surely she would have more stuff. She has smiled at her friends but not said anything. This was her life. She had never tried to deny it or run away from it. No, that was not what a Hyūga did.
She went to her small linen closet and stared pulling out the necessities for her marriage. The new sheets and blankets sewn long ago for this moment were soon tucked into her futon and the new white kimono that had so recently been fitted now hung from her closet door, mocking her. How could her father expect a happy occasion such as a wedding when the death of Tadanobu still hanged over the clan? She turned away and sat down in her window seat, the only mark of modern convenience in the otherwise old fashioned home.
Gray clouds seemed to cling to the village as ominous warnings. The people seemed to hurry from here to there, never lingering. She knew that Akatsuki would soon strike the seemingly idealistic lifestyle of the Hyūga and the village as a whole would soon be destroyed.
She was still lost in her thoughts when the door opened and her maid entered in a rush. "Hinata-sama, Neji-san is back and there is even worse news. Apparently Jiraiya-sama is dead! Oh, what will we do?"
Hinata turned back to her window. "The only thing we can. Endure."
The maid nodded. "Yes, Hinata-sama. Shall I bring tea?"
"And Neji," Hinata replied. The maid nodded and disappeared. The clouds seemed to be getting ticker and Hinata suppressed a shudder. So, it had happened. Konoha would now be at war.
"Hinata." Her back went ramrod straight and she turned slowly.
"Neji," she whispered, opening her arms to him. He quickly set down the tea tray he was unexpectedly carrying and hurried forward, burying his face in the nape of her neck. "I've missed you," she sighed as his lips found hers.
"I doubt it was worse than what I felt," he moaned. "I've only seen smelly men for the past two weeks. You are like water to a man dying of thirst."
"Don't be too forward," she laughed as he rested his forehead against hers. "You'll compromise my virtue."
He pulled back and she saw the mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "I would very much like to compromise more than just this supposed barrier of 'virtue'. Much more."
"Did my father tell you why he brought you home?" she bit her lower lip and averted her gaze. How could she have forgotten Tadanobu for a second?
He gave a court nod. "Tadanobu-sama is dead. And with him, the last part of the Main family that can take over being Head if something happened to you or Hanabi-san."
"My father wants us to get married," she whispered, playing with the front of his shirt. "But how can we with Tadanobu's funeral and now Jiraiya-sama's death?" A sob escaped her lips. "Why did Tadanobu die? It was a simple mission. A simple E-ranked mission that thousands of children have been on. He shouldn't have died."
Neji sat down beside her and silently twined her fingers with his. "It was Tadanobu's time. No one can know when they will die, not even you and me."
"As much as I want to marry you, I do not believe that it is the smartest course of action. We need to deal with the problems going on in the village right now and make sure that the village is a peaceful place to raise a child. I can't bring a child into this world. It would be… It would be wrong, Neji. When our fates are so fragile as it is."
Neji didn't respond right away and simply gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I have waited all my life for you, Hinata. I can wait a while more. However, we cannot allow the world to rule our lives. If we did, there would be no ideal day for us to marry."
"But would testing fate be a good idea? You know more about fate than I do."
"Hinata-sama, you are many things but you are not cruel. Do no remind me of my past Fatalism. It only makes me sad when I remember how much pain and suffering I caused you." She winced at his use of an honorific with her name and how easily he could scold her.
"Then what do you think we should do?" she turned to him. "What is the answer?"
"Hiashi-sama told me that he was taking Hanabi-san away for surgery. It would be best to wait until we know your sister's fate before we move forward. What do you think?"
Hinata bit her lower lip and nodded. "Yes, Hanabi should be our priority right now."
"Well then," he said as he stood. "I don't think you need those special linens on your bed tonight."
Hinata's cheeks turned pink. He had seen them and knew what they meant, what he would finally be allowed to do but he had decided to allow her to choose their path which would make him wait even longer. "I don't deserve you," she blurted out.
"On the contrary," he replied as he poured the tea, "It is I who does not deserve you."
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Neji and Hinata used to be such babies. Now they're growing up and off to save China, oh wait. I do believe that they are much more mature than Kishi ever seems to give them credit for. And yes, at this point it is time for Pein to attack the village. Cue ominous music and Kishi showing us he doesn't think Hinata could ever outgrow her Naruto crush.