I DO NOT OWN NARUTO
The Hospital: Kakashi's Room
Kakashi opened his eyes, only to shut them again as the lights caused a blinding pain in his head. He groaned and tried to reach up to check his head for a wound, but couldn't move his arm. Wow, I must have really gotten hurt this time, I can't move my arm…wait, I wasn't injured on that mission! His memory flashed back to him and he remembered heading towards the window with every intention of killing Haishi Hyuuga. The fuzziness in his head cleared rapidly as his anger returned. He attempted to sit up, and was shocked at how weak he was. He heard a husky feminine chuckle, and opened his eyes with caution this time. To his right sat Lady Tsunade, who was apparently laughing at him.
"It's no use, I have you in full chakra restraints. You are going to stay that way until you listen to reason." She informed him sternly, although he could still see the mirth hiding in the back of her eyes. It was beginning to piss him off that she wasn't taking the situation more seriously.
"The only way to make Hinata safe is to kill that bastard." He told her coldly. She sobered up and she looked at him intently.
"Actually, Nara and I came up with a plan to protect Hinata that doesn't involve killing Haishi Hyuuga. Not yet anyway. Interested?" She asked him. He grunted at her, which she took as a sign to proceed.
"As I told you previously, Hinata was beaten badly by her father. She had multiple contusions and internal bleeding, but the worst damage was done to her heart. It was already weakened by her fight with Neji at the Chunnin Exams. Once she recovers as much as possible, she will have to retire as a ninja. If she overexerts herself, she is going to strain her heart to the point of cardiac arrest. There is only so many times the body can go through that before it is no longer able to repair itself. Hinata will be able to be a medical nin, but that is the most she will be able to use her chakra. Even then she will have monitor herself carefully to avoid exhaustion." She told him sadly.
"So far nothing you have told me has lessened my intent to kill him." Kakashi told her bluntly. If anything she has merely strengthened my resolve.
"My point in telling you this is that she will be unable to defend herself from her father or anyone he sends after her. Not that she was at his level anyway. I have known for a while now that she was being abused, but I am not allowed by law to interfere in clan affairs. A father disciplining his daughter I couldn't do anything about. However, once he crossed the line this last time, I invoked the rule that allows me to protect my ninjas. Unfortunately, he has petitioned the council, saying that he regrets taking the matter that far, and promised to never do it again. They are well on their way to forcing me to turn her over to him. I think we both know what will happen then." Tsunade said with disgust.
Kakashi pulled at the restraints in anger, and was greatly annoyed to feel what little strength he had being drained out of him. He growled at the feeling of helplessness that was rising up in his chest.
"So what is this 'wonder' plan that you and Shikamaru concocted?" He asked curiously.
"The only way to protect her is for her to no longer be a Hyuuga. Then if he is found guilty of ordering her death or attacking her himself, I can sentence the bastard to death for attempted murder." She said smugly. Kakashi shut his eyes as he considered the plan. He knew what she meant by 'no longer a Hyuuga'. Hinata would have to marry someone. Then she would be considered a citizen of Konoha as opposed to a Hyuuga under her father's control.
"So, who is the lucky man?" He asked, trying to keep his voice impassive.
"You." she told him with a smirk.
"WHAT?" He asked her in shock. She chuckled at him until he scowled menacingly at her.
"We considered her teammates, Gemna, Ebisu, and even Iruka. They were all eliminated by the simple fact that none of them are as skilled as Haishi. Even if he decides to hire out his dirty work, the Hyuuga clan is rich. They can afford to hire one or more S-class assassins. Those are reason enough to chose you as her protector, but then you add in the fact that you are obviously in love with her…." she trailed off suggestively.
"Exactly how did you come to that conclusion?" He asked her haughtily.
"Oh get real, Hatake. I had to knock you out and restrain you to keep you from going to kill her attacker. And you took her home with you just to take care of her when she was sick. Obviously, you have strong feelings for her." She starred sternly into his eyes, daring him to deny her assessment of the situation.
"Fine, it would be ridiculous of me to deny it at this point. That doesn't mean that I think I am a good husband material for Hinata. She is twelve years younger than me and in love with Naruto. Plus, she would have to deal with my fan girls, and the public scorn of being married to the second biggest pervert of the Hidden Leaf Village. I want her to be happy, and I don't think she would be with me. Can't I just be assigned to protect her?" He asked pleadingly.
"Kakashi, she has to marry someone. The level of protection she is going to need will force you to live in the same building and have almost constant contact with her. Are you going to be able to watch another man be her first? Give her children? Are you that much of a masochist?" She asked him gently.
He closed his eyes, and unwanted images of Hinata underneath a faceless man intruded into his mind. He felt the jealousy rise up quickly and almost burn a hole through his chest. He breathed deeply as he attempted to regain control over his emotions. Kakashi sighed in resignation as he acknowledged to himself that he wasn't going to be able to pass up the chance to make her his. He knew that despite what Tsunade thought, he was being a selfish bastard tying her to himself this way. He opened his eyes and looked over at Tsunade.
"You know this would be easier if you would just let me kill him." He told her seriously.
"Not when it would send my best shin obi to his death for premeditated murder." She stated firmly.
"Then it appears I have no choice." He said resignedly.
"Great, well just sign here. We already had Hinata sign." She told him cheerfully.
"She already agreed to this?" He asked her incredulously.
"Well, in a manner of speaking…" She said mischievously.
"What manner of speaking?" Kakashi asked with a frown.
"I still have her in a healing coma, so we pricked her finger and 'helped' her sign." Tsunade told him as she watched him carefully.
"I can't do this to her! She is just going to wake up married to me? Have you and Shikamaru lost your minds?" He inquired angrily. She looked at him with annoyance and an almost indiscernible amount of pity.
"Look, if you want to be fair about it, offer her the choice of a divorce. I have to tell you though that I think you are the perfect husband for her." Kakashi snorted at her. She huffed back in annoyance.
"You already love her. You have a great deal of patience, so you will be able to give her the time she needs to grow used to you. You are one of the most powerful ninjas in the world, so protecting her will be easy for you. As a quiet and fairly anti-social person, you will appreciate her gentle timid nature. And let's face it, you aren't getting any younger." She teased him.
"I am only thirty-two, that hardly puts me on death's door you know." He said annoyed that she brought up the age difference again.
"Exactly-you've had time to sow your wild oats, and now you have plenty of time to start and raise a family." She told him with satisfaction.
"I thought I was going to offer her a divorce if she wanted it?" He asked ironically.
"Whatever. You'd be a fool to let a woman like her go, but if that is what you feel is the right thing to do, it's your prerogative." She told him impatiently.
"Fine. Let me go and I'll sign it." He told her with a sigh.
"I want you word of honor that you will not go attack the man before I let you out of these restraints." She told him firmly.
"On my honor, I will not attack Haishi Hyuuga unless he attacks Hinata again. That is the best your are getting out of me, take it or leave it." He said with feigned disconcern. She reached over and released the restraints. He bit his thumb, then touched it to each of his fingers before signing his name, and leaving his bloody fingerprints on the marriage contract. He watched as she rolled it back up with a satisfied look on her face.
"Rest for a few minutes, and then you can go see her. She is in room 318. If she continues to heal at the rate she has been, she should come out of her coma naturally anytime now. Oh, I put the guard under my protection too, since I knew he would be killed if I sent him back. His orders are to stay at Hinata's side unless relieved by an ANBU member with my seal." She looked over at the silver-haired man and noticed that he seemed to be in a daze.
"Cheer up Kakashi, I am sure that you are doing the right thing." She told him bracingly.
I just hope that Hinata thinks so when she wakes up.