Love's Misconstruities
Chapter 23
It was late in the afternoon when Hinata heard a knock at her door. Since she'd moved in she'd become quite popular, so it would seem. Sakura and Hanabi had both dropped by separately on the first day, and Kiba & Akamaru, Shino, and Kurenai had come by yesterday as a group. All had offered house-warming gifts and both congratulations and condolences after hearing the news. Though she wasn't quite sure just how the information had gotten leaked or exactly how many people knew, it couldn't be helped. Besides, right now she welcomed the company.
Though Naruto was now a neighbor and she knew it was only a matter of time before he came by to claim his bowl of Ichiraku ramen, she'd heard that he'd left for additional training and wouldn't be back for days…so it couldn't be him knocking now. Curiosity getting the best of her, and just out of politeness in general, she made her way to the door and opened it.
"Hinata-sama," her guest blurted out before she could even open the door fully.
"Neji-nii-san?"
"I heard about what happened while I was away. …May I come in?"
Stunned, Hinata could only nod, stepping aside. "You…heard? From who?" she asked once they were both inside and the door closed securely behind them.
"Tenten. She informed me as soon as I returned," he explained, taking off his shoes and stepping into her modest apartment.
"Tenten told you?" the girl echoed, still confused about how quickly gossip seemed to sweep through the village. "What… What did she tell you exactly?"
That question made Neji stare at his cousin for a brief moment before answering. "That Hiashi-sama, your father, has disowned you. That you were forced to move from the estate and request living quarters, which I see is accurate based on my observations thus far. But there's more to the story, isn't there," he added, alluding to Hinata's earlier question. "I assume this has something to do with your trip to Sunagakure."
"Hai…" She paused before answering his questions further. "Have you spoken with my father yet?"
"No. I came directly here after my debriefing. Hinata-sama, what happened to cause all of this?"
"I…" she began, though she wasn't quite sure where to start. "Gaara… He asked me to…to marry him."
"What?!" came Neji's initial reaction, though seeing his cousin shrink back from him made him lower his tone. "And you accepted the proposal, I take it." To this she meekly nodded. Neji sighed. "And Hiashi-sama did not approve." She again replied without saying a word, merely nodding her head. A long silence ensued as Neji let the news soak in.
"Neji-nii-san… Do you… Do you disapprove as well?" Hinata eventually asked in a small voice. The taller boy turned and looked her straight in the eye, then did something unexpected. He smiled. Though just a small one, it eased the girl's discomfort.
"No. I support your relationship; you should know that already. I see how happy he's made you. And...it appears that he is trustworthy enough. I just…didn't expect you two to move so quickly."
Tears of both relief and gratitude filled Hinata's eyes but she fought to keep them in check. She'd gotten quite good at it these past few days. "Neji-nii-san…arigatou gozaimasu," she declared, bowing. Neji moved and put a hand on each of her shoulders, as much of an embrace as he'd ever give anyone, save maybe a future wife. Hinata smiled up at him, grateful to have such a wonderful cousin. But that thought made her heart drop when she realized that he still did not know the whole truth of the matter. Her happy expression reverted to its previous state and she averted her gaze.
"There's something you should know," Hinata began once again. "It wasn't so much the fact that I was marrying Gaara that disturbed my father so… No, I didn't even get the chance to inform him of whom it was that I was engaged to. What upset him was that I refused to marry…the man he'd chosen to betroth me to."
"Betroth?" Neji repeated. He and Hinata's father were fairly close. In fact, Hiashi often consulted Neji on matters that affected the clan. Whether he took Neji's advice or not was a different matter, but he did include him in the discussions nonetheless. He'd heard nothing about this, however. It both shocked and wounded him at the same time.
Hinata nodded, lowering her head. She knew what his next question would be and wasn't sure she wanted to see the look on his face when he found out. "Who is this man that he would have you marry?"
"…Neji-nii-san…" she whispered.
"…Yes?"
Hinata did not answer his reply, and after a moment he realized why. She wasn't just saying his name for the heck of it. "No. Hinata-sama, are you saying that he chose me?" Again, she only nodded. "Is he mad? We're first cousins! Such marriages are taboo in our clan! He of all people knows that! What is he thinking?" he raved, clearly exasperated.
"He's been so desperate to find a way to make you his heir… I suppose he decided that it was easier to bend this small rule than break a much bigger one."
"Allowing a branch family member to succeed as heir of the clan instead of the direct descendent from the head family," he explained. Neji could only shake his head at his uncle's audacity and began to pace angrily around the small room. "How dare he make such a decision without consulting me—without consulting either of us."
"It's an arranged marriage. He doesn't have to-"
"You don't need to defend him anymore, Hinata-sama! …What next then, I wonder? With you gone, will he want me to marry Hanabi-sama instead?"
Hinata definitely couldn't meet his angry eyes now. Having met with her sister the other day had been nice, but the news she had brought had not. "There's…more you should know," she continued, causing Neji's expression to shift from angry to concerned. He listened intently for Hinata's next words. "Hanabi-nee-san…she visited me the other day. My father… He has formerly named her as his new successor…and, as such…would mean that I would become a member of the branch family." Neji's eyes widened with the realization of what came with that demotion. "And, yes…it does seem that Father still wishes to marry you into the head family… Hanabi-nee-san came here in part to find out more about her future husband and-"
"I've heard enough! I refuse to bend to that man's will on this matter! Hinata-sama, I swear to you that I will not allow him to carve this accursed seal into you," he declared, gesturing to his forehead protector, or rather what lay beneath it. "Nor will I marry any other than the woman of my choosing," he finished, heading for the door.
"Neji-nii-san, where are you going?"
"To the main house."
"Neji-"
"Hinata-sama, this concerns both of us now; I can't simply ignore it. Besides, I swore long ago to protect you, so don't argue with me on this," he stated with a soft smile as he departed, leaving his cousin alone once again.
'Neji-nii-san… Someday you will make a wonderful husband…though thankfully not mine. Truly, thank you for everything.'
The next morning, Hinata was awakened early by Shino. They were to report to the Hokage in half an hour. Hinata hastily prepared.
After being briefed they quickly headed to the main gates to depart on their new mission: find Akatsuki member Uchiha Itachi. Teams 7 and 8 would be dispatched together to accomplish this task, and though it would be dangerous, Hinata found herself somewhat excited.
'A new mission…something to take my mind off everything for a while. And…I know it's going to be dangerous, but Hokage-sama has faith in us…in me to carry it out. Plus, finding Uchiha Itachi is ultimately just a step in the direction of finding Sasuke-san…and if I can help Naruto-kun in his quest then I have to do my best! I have to believe in myself so I won't let anyone else down.'
And so they departed on their long journey, not knowing when they would be back or in what condition they would return in.