A/N: This short story was inspired by a movie I saw a while back. It was a tough one to write but I'm sticking with it. Enjoy!
TWO: Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
Hiashi waited patiently in the tea room for his guest to arrive. His outward stoic appearance hid his nervous anxiety very well for this was not a typical meeting. The council had decided that he needed to marry and had arranged for a match maker to select suitable matches.
She had selected ten possible candidates and Hiashi was expected to meet with all of them individually today (for only fifteen minutes) and make his decision by the end of the week.
It all felt very strange. People his age went out on dates, which he imagined lasted longer than fifteen minutes, before they got married. They certainly did not have a match maker do the work for them nor did they have a week to make a decision that could affect the rest of their lives.
But they also were not leader of a very old and very traditional clan. Hiashi could not even begin to imagine the council's reaction if he suggested the idea of him dating. But he did hold on to the unrealistic hope that this aspect of his life could be his to control. It would have been nice to connect with someone at a personal level who wasn't interested in him for political reasons. In the end, he was told that he had one singular duty out of the whole deal and that was to produce an heir (a boy preferably, they were quite clear on that). Whether or not he actually liked the woman was irrelevant.
He was absolutely convinced the whole thing would be a disaster but he had long since resigned himself to destiny and waited.
"My lord, your first guest has arrived."
"Send her in," he ordered.
The door opened and the most beautiful woman Hiashi had ever seen in his life step into the room.
Hiashi was speechless. It took all of his will power and mental training not to blush at the sudden feelings that assailed him. All of his experience in diplomacy abandoned him and his mind turned to putty.
"Hello, Lord Hiashi," the woman greeted pleasantly. "It is an honor to meet you." She smiled at him and didn't seem at all bothered by his lack of greeting. She appeared to be a woman who accepted things as they were and had an air of confidence that further flummoxed the clan leader. "When my father told me that the match maker selected me to meet with you, I couldn't believe it. Though I did have to leave my dance company in the middle of the tour, she said in afterthought. That was disappointing but Father would not be swayed."
She walked over and gracefully sat across from him and studied him intently. "But I just had to meet you," she said earnestly. She smiled and cocked her head to the side in thought. "It is so strange. All my life, all I wanted to do was dance. I committed years to my training. Years, my lord." She paused and became suddenly serious. "I'm now the principle ballerina of one of the most renowned dance companies in the world, Lord Hiashi." She cocked an eyebrow at him as though daring him not to acknowledge her skill.
It was all so…inappropriate. She spoke to him as though they were equals but still held enough regard for decorum to keep him off balanced. He couldn't think straight!
And she smelled divine.
"But when I heard your name, I…just had to meet you," she continued as she began the tea ceremony, pouring the tea gracefully in Hiashi's cup before filling her own. Her movements were flawless, steady and beautiful. When she finished, she set the tea pot down without a sound. "Have you ever had that feeling?" she asked conversationally, "that almost instinctual feeling of being pulled towards someone for no reason other than just needing to be near them if only for a moment."
Hiashi still couldn't find his voice and could only look at her. If she thought he was an idiot, he wouldn't blame her.
But instead she laughed softly at herself. "Forgive me. Father told me not to talk too much." She looked at him and her eyes were warm and light. "But I feel this ease with you. I suppose that is why I felt this pull towards you even though I had no idea who you were beyond hearsay. You've made quite a name for the Hyuga clan around Fire Country. Cute too," she added after careful thought.
Hiashi blinked but otherwise could say nothing.
"But," she added with finality and her seriousness returned, "I am not interested in getting married right now, despite my father's best intentions. Forgive me, my lord, but I worked too hard to become a principle ballerina to give it up now. Besides, I would not be good clan wife. I honestly do not know why the match maker selected me. I think my father may have pulled some monetary strings." She laughed at the thought. "Regardless, I hope you're not too displeased with me for wasting your time. I will make it up to you by sending you two tickets to our next performance; for you and your new wife."
She rose gracefully and bowed. "I will not waste anymore of your time. I enjoyed our conversation immensely, my lord. I wish you much success." She walked towards the door, bowed again and left.
Hiashi took a deep cleansing breath, looking down and appearing to notice for the first time the tea she poured for him. He picked up the small cup and drank from it carefully.
A servant entered the room, bowing respectfully. "My lord, shall I bring in your next guest?"
He set down his cup thoughtfully. "No, send them all home. I have made my decision."