Chapter 21: Step into the Past, Intro
Hyuga Library, Main House, 10:00 pm
Piles and stacks of book lays strewn everywhere on the wooden floors of the library. Mounds of papers and scrolls accompanied the smell of decade old leather binds and black ink. So much evil had been done in this room, which had yet to be brought to the surface. Dust accumulated on the old, shelves holding centuries of history of a great clan. A man stood holding a leather bound book, reading intensely and ever often shifting his eyebrows.
When the door to his haven opened he looked up smiling. He knew he would come. He wanted to protect the one thing most precious to him. He would do anything to protect her.
"Welcome, Neji."
--
Hyuga Main House, Soiree Hall, 9:47 pm
"Oh Hiroshi please! Are you serious about this?" Chihiro laughed amused at her fiancés' idea. Hiroshi smiled.
"Come now, Chihiro. Don't you want to find out too? You're always watching him anyway." Hiroshi pointed to a young man about their age from across the room. He seemed rather stiff and was the only wallflower at the party. Chihiro had just been announced as the clans secede and everyone was in high spirits. Just like her father before her they expected that she would rule well and wisely. They had no doubt in their minds when they nominated her.
She was willing to marry, but only of her choice, which happened to be her best friend and advisor, Hyuga Hiroshi.
"Just look at him, Chihiro. Standing against the wall like a vine…you should go talk to him later on."
"I don't even remember the man's name! Do you have any idea how bad that would make me look?"
"Not bad enough." Chihiro swung and missed a grinning Hiroshi.
"His name is Hiashi. He is 35, single, considered a prodigy among our clan-"
"Oh…that guy."
"Handsome, has a twin brother, his name is Hizashi."
"Oh really? That's interesting. I think I'll go!" Chihiro stood up from her pillowed seat, but Hiroshi promptly pulled her down.
"You're not in the condition to speak to anyone, Chihiro-sama. You're half drunk."
"There is no such thing as half drunk Hiroshi. Only…borderline."
"That's the same thing!"
Hiroshi shook his head and released his grip from his lover. He watched as she made her way over to the young man, and smiled proudly as the floor cleared for their ruler.
When Chihiro approached him, he bowed low. They spoke for a few minutes and then she came back to him.
"How was it?"
"He is nerd. I like nerds." Chihiro smiled jokingly. Hiroshi frowned. Kissing him on the cheek, she rolled her eyes.
"Don't worry, Hiroshi-kun. You're the only one for me. And besides…he's already taken."
--
Chihiro's Private Study, 12:00 pm
"I don't like him." Hiroshi pouted as Chihiro stacked papers on top of papers. She sighed.
"You haven't liked him since I appointed him to the advisory council, Hiroshi-kun." She walked around the desk and placed the papers in a cabinet.
"He is very smart. His resolutions are wonderful and the elders seem to take notice of his character. I don't see how I ever missed a man like him…so I've decided it's your fault."
"How is it my fault?"
"Because I only have eyes for you." Hiroshi wrapped his hands around her waist and smiled.
"Are you teasing me?"
--
"What were you thinking?! Are you some kind of stupid?" Chihiro yelled. She waved her pen in Hiroshi's face thoroughly angry.
"He presented an estimate I could not agree on! It was outrageous!"
"The elders agreed! Why didn't you? I even went over the trading contract and found no fault at all! Why are you causing such trouble?!" Chihiro yelled back. Hiroshi could feel his blood boiling. Why was she defending him? He only got lucky because she happened to speak to him at the party and now he acts all important?
"You don't understand, Chihiro. I only want what's best for the clan! I don't trust the people he presented for trading!"
"And when you suggested another option everyone shot it down!" Chihiro snapped throwing the pen. Hiroshi dodged it fuming.
"You just can't stop thinking about him can you?" He seethed. Chihiro stopped her rampage and look at him confused.
"Is that it? You're jealous? Don't drag our personal problems into the clans!"
"So it is a problem then?"
"You made it one."
--
"Tsunade-hime. What have you gotten yourself into now?" Two elderly people walked into the private Hogake meeting room.
"So…you've finally showed yourselves, Utatane and Mitokado. What is it you want this time?"
"We are aware that you got involved with local matters. It is not the Hogake's job to discern what is right for a clan. If a word gets out about this you will be in deep trouble, Tsunade-hime." Mitokado said.
"You think I don't know that already, you old hags?"
"Tsunade-hime! Such disrespect!" Utanane raised her voice. Her nose turned up at Tsunade.
"You are disrespecting me! I know my job as Hogake! I don't need you to tell me what it is!"
"It was rumored you kept the two shinobi in question at your private quarters!"
Tsunade gasped. How had they known about that? She made sure that on one other than Team 7 and Team 8 had been notified about that night.
"We have been getting complaints from a certain admirable clan that you continually interrupt their business, Tsunade-hime. And that the Kyubi container, Uchiha traitor and your prize student was also involved in this scheme. What do you have to say for yourself?" Mitokado look accusingly at her.
"Who told you this?" Tsunade clenched her fist. Someone had leaked this out. It wasn't any of the kids…it wasn't Kakashi or Kurenai. This must have been done from inside the clan. Someone was starting something. Someone was picking a fight with her and questioning her authority…they didn't want her interfering.
Could this be Hiroshi's doing? I have to find some way to speak with Neji…I need more information on this guy. Naruto and the kids are gone and won't be back until this weekend…damn this isn't going as planned!
"Who is none of your business Tsunade-hime. Just remember that even though you hold the title of Hogake you cannot do as you please. These fool children have influenced you. They are clouding your beliefs and encouraging you to cross the line."
"These kids have taught me more than you old bastards could ever have."
--
"The Branch House will be put under house arrest tomorrow." Neji glared at Hiroshi.
"House arrest? What have they done to-"
"Attacking the Main House. Encouraging Hinata to rebel. They are only on her side because they believe that she will remove the Curse Mark…but I won't let that happen. You see Neji…"
He pointed to Neji's forehead.
"The Curse Mark binds the Branch to the Main. If Hinata removes that seal…you all are going to die anyway."
"What are you saying?!"
"I'm saying that the Main made it so the Branch cannot live without the Curse Mark. Once it is removed…you all will die. Not peaceful deaths mind you. Have you ever wondered why it hurt so much when the Mark is so called 'activated'?" Hiroshi stood up. He walked closer to Neji touching his Mark.
Pain shot through Neji's head.
"Ah! Agh!" He grabbed at his hair falling back on the bookshelf. He couldn't hear anything…he couldn't feel…only torment…pain…ache…
"Ah! Ah! Ah!" Hiroshi looked at him with pity.
"The agony you are experiencing now…is because the Curse Mark is being lifted off."
--
Hinata looked up from the bridal designs. She couldn't quiet hear it…but was that a cry of pain?
"Hinata-sama…what about these colors? Should we go with traditional white Uchikake…or something more modern?"
"Whatever you think is fine, Nanami." Hinata let her fingers flow through the colored silk. Everyone was running about getting ready for the wedding that weekend. Hinata had already been fitted for her dress and they were doing the finishing touches. They had procrastinated on the obi and now were rushing to get it finished.
"I know you'll look beautiful Hinata-sama…and I'm sure Hanabi-sama will as well. It's going to be a big wedding isn't my lady?"
"Maybe…Nanami-chan…have you seen Neji-niisan? I haven't seen him in so long." Hinata look pleadingly at Nanami. Nanami stiffened, but smiled graciously.
"I haven't, Hinata-sama. But I hear that he has been spending a lot of time in the library lately with Hiroshi-dono."
"Hiroshi-dono?" Hinata tried to calm her voice. She recognized her own panic. Nanami looked worried at her mistress. Had she said something wrong?
"Is…there something wrong, my lady? Did I do something that displeased you?" Hinata shook her head.
"No you didn't. It's alright."
"Yes, my lady."
--
"This is why Hiashi and those before him never mention removing the Curse Mark. When the elders first discovered this method of control over hundreds of years ago they had no idea of what the consequences were…to the Cursed and the Curser."
"Wha-wha-un!"
"What were the repercussions? The Main had to continue removing the Mark in order to live. What I mean is…the less they used the Mark…well…you get the picture don't you? The use of the Curse Mark backfired on them."
Hiroshi released the hand sign. Neji collapsed to the ground twitching in anguish. Hiroshi turned him over so he was on his back.
"A sacrifice was needed to keep the Main alive. Men, women, children and were killed so that the Main would thrive. Think of it as selective breeding… a pecking order really. Survival of the fittest…or something evil like that."
Hiroshi frowned. He poked Neji's head rather sharply.
"I still need you alive, Neji-kun. You see…you are my own little Uchiha Itachi and we too are a cursed and defiled, god forsaken clan bound by destiny."
Hahahahahahahahahaha! I'm so suprised with myself! I actually got this done pretty early! :) Anyway...please review! I love reviews! If you have any advice or wisdom to share with this 16 year old girl who doesn't really know a thing about writing stories....then please enlighten me!
Anyway....life has been boring. My sister is better, haha. Did I mention I'm going to kill barbie? Who's with me!?!?!?!?!
Geez...last Naruto chapter was so sad...poo Nagato! But on a different note...does anyone think that world domintation and a God complex character is a little cliche'?
P.S. That goes to FloriParty on youtube. lol