The Hand of Lady Hyuga

Chapter Six

"T-The Lady Hyuga," the servant stammered anxiously.

They ignored the stumble as they entered the room, the gentle scent of honey-water curling into their hair and soothing their temples. It was a gorgeous room, Hinata noted pleasingly, of pink floral patterns and softened red. The walls had been washed down with cerise red, painted in circles against a crème background to tone down the crimson. The sofas were in shades of raspberry, punctured aesthetically at every corner with rose or tulip pattered cushion, trimmed in gold – a gold mirrored in the intricate stucco work along the trimmings of the ceiling – a gold that reflected in the flourishing chandelier above with red shades at each light bulb. There was a bed at one corner, matching the sofa set in colour and pattern, with a small canopy of red silk framing the gold bed frames.

Hinata found it satisfactory, more than satisfactory, for it befitted and described the subtle beauty and feminine grace that was the very woman who stood by the glass door leading out to the balcony. It was not a large room, it was not as elaborate as others, but it was the room of her sensei. The Empress had not held back the funds for her future daughter-in-law, much to Hinata's relief.

"Thank you," Lady Kurenai told the doorkeeper, a small boy who fumbled with his fingers and trying (and failing) to discreetly get a good look at the Lady Hyuga from underneath his bangs. Seeing this, Lady Kurenai met Hinata in the eye and her lips curved into a whimsical smile. "Dismissed."

The boy jolted awake and then, realizing that they knew that he had been trying to steal looks at the Lady Hyuga, squeaked before scrambling out the room as fast as his little legs could carry him; the Triple Threat easily stepping aside for him. When the door was finally shut, firmly, Lady Kurenai chuckled and returned to the glass doors to gaze at the capital city from afar.

Hinata smiled and fixed the Hyuga Sword at her waist, giving the Triple Threat a moment to diplomatically find their places against one side of the wall. Then, pulling herself up straight, she bowed. "Sensei."

Lady Kurenai did not move from the glass doors. Instead, she said, "Do you know that I've counted at least five air balloons floating over the city?"

Hinata frowned and began to cross the room. "Spies?"

Lady Kurenai shook her head and chuckled, as if she were privy to some private joke. "No. They've been showering peony petals onto the streets."

Hinata faltered halfway across the room, confused. "Why?" She suspected that Tenten may be holding back laughter from behind her.

"Why?" Lady Kurenai enquired, finally turning to face her once-student with a raised brow, amused and teasing. "Do you know you smell like peonies, Hinata?"

Hinata's ankles almost gave to her heels when she stumbled, her face growing flush and her shoulders jerking with embarrassment. Tenten wasn't helping either, giving out a bark of laughter and, in a flash, Hinata knew that the female Threat and her sensei have found a kindred spirit in one another… fixed solely to embarrass and fluster the great Lady Hyuga.

Lady Kurenai giggled from behind her hand as she moved to the sofas. "Come and sit, Hinata. Let me get a good look at you. It had been quite some time, hasn't it?"

Ashamed, Hinata lowered her chin. "Forgive me, sensei. I have not been mindful of you."

Lady Kurenai clucked her tongue at her and took a seat in the arm chair. "Don't be ridiculous, Hinata. I could have visited you too. We are both at fault, then, if you think about it. And I know you are intelligent enough to know this."

Hinata smiled sheepishly and settled onto one of the sofas. It had been years since they had last met, not as long as five years, but long enough. She had been busy being the Lady Hyuga. Lady Kurenai had been busy training genjutsu specialists and garnering a position in ANBU. But they had both had the pleasure of living through Lady Kurenai's courtship with the Prince Asuma through their letters. And there had been a lot of letters. So many that, sitting just a foot away from her sensei, Hinata couldn't feel a rift between the two of them at all! It was as if the years that they had last seen each other did not exist. It was as if time had not passed. And it all seemed so natural, Hinata realized in wonder, to slip into her sensei's warm presence once more and duck shyly from her red gaze again.

"I will try to come to the capital more often then," Hinata decided, reaching forward to serve the rose tea on the coffee table. "After the wedding," she added.

Lady Kurenai's eyes shone with mirth, stirring sugar into her tea. "I don't think that'll be very wise, Hinata."

Hinata startled and blinked owlishly at her sensei. "Why?"

Tenten snorted and Neji shot his teammate a look that helped nobody.

"You're already causing a kerfuffle today," Lady Kurenai pointed out. "If you come any more often…"

Hinata winced. "Perhaps they will get used to me if I visit more frequently."

"Perhaps." Lady Kurenai nodded wisely. "But there is a reason you do not."

Hinata sighed and took a sip of her tea. Yes, there was a reason she did not visit the capital often, no more than once in every five years, she supposed with a small smile. For one, she did not like the attention. The heroine's triumph that had taken place five years ago still sent her dizzying at the memory. For two, she had not been made for noises or parties or socializing or late nights or loose morals. And finally, and most importantly, she had been able to see things more clearly from a distance. The more removed she was, the less people expected her to know. Again, there were very few things the Lady Hyuga did not know about.

"Yes," Hinata finally replied.

Lady Kurenai nodded. "I think it'd be better if I visited you. That would certainly send the Hyuga Clan in a kerfuffle, wouldn't it?"

Hinata smiled in humour, but there was a certain steel in it that they all understood to be confidence. "I can assure you, sensei, that the Hyuga Household is always prepared for any impromptu Imperial visit. I even suggest that you should arrive on a night of a full moon. The moonlight cacti bloom best during that time."

Lady Kurenai raised an amused brow and did not miss the smug smirk on Neji's face, the confident smile on Tenten's and the shining proud grin on Lee's. The Hyuga were certainly united, and no one could possibly gainsay them on their loyalty.

Content and proud, very proud, Lady Kurenai sighed with a smile of her own, soft and gentle and dream-like, and mused, "I will have to tell Asuma then. He'll do anything to get out of the Palace."

"I can understand," Hinata sympathized, placing her teacup onto its saucer. "Everything must be quite chaotic with the wedding so near."

"And with your arrival," Lady Kurenai added, but did not pause long for Hinata to feel embarrassed. "Not only are we short staffed – and do not tell me you have not noticed – but everyone wants to know our preferences for everything, even when they aren't a part of the wedding or have no business to know." Hinata frowned, troubled for the sake of her sensei. "Just yesterday Lord Jiraiya asked me how low the neckline will be for my dress!"

Hinata bit her lips together, offended.

"That pervert!" Tenten burst for her Mistress.

"Yes," Lady Kurenai clipped, exasperated. "Needless to say, Asuma had to pull me back before I could give him a good hit or two. I was even tempted to pull Rank into the conversation!"

Hinata was glad that she hadn't. Lady Kurenai was yet to be a part of the Imperial Clan, and the Yuhi Clan could not possibly compare to the Senju Clan, even less so when she had been dealing with the First Lord Consort Senju.

"He will have to restrain himself once you are the Princess Consort," Hinata assured.

Lady Kurenai sighed. "That's what we're hoping for." Brushing a few stray strands of her hair back, she regarded Hinata carefully. "You may have to speak to your sister about Princess Consorts soon."

"Prince Konohamaru," Hinata acknowledged with a nod. "Yes, so the Empress has suggested."

Lady Kurenai nodded gravely. "As well as Prince Gaara of Suna."

Neji made a choking noise and even Tenten appeared startled; Lee quietly troubled at the news. Hinata was alarmed. She had not heard of this. "I have not heard of this."

"No?" Lady Kurenai was confused then, and then shook her head. "Perhaps because they had yet to do anything, but I've seen the way he looks at her and…"

Looks? Perhaps that was why the Hyuga servants had said nothing. Looks were not definite. Looks did not mean her sister was interested. Prince Gaara could do nothing if Hanabi was not willing to play, and Hinata would not have to intervene unless… Hinata frowned. Unless Prince Gaara garnered the sponsorship of his sister, the Empress Temari of Suna, in his endeavour, then the Lady Hyuga would be ill-pressed to do something too.

"And do not forget your own situation, Hinata," Lady Kurenai reminded.

"Mine?" Hinata was perplexed.

"Yes," Lady Kurenai responded firmly. "You have been of marriageable age for years now, and many mothers are desperate to marry their sons to you. Your early arrival for the Imperial Wedding will only spur them on."

Hinata shook her head, exhausted from just the thought of it. "Sensei, I have no plans for marriage."

Lady Kurenai wasn't surprised, but Hinata could tell that she wanted to convince her otherwise.

Nodding, Lady Kurenai counselled, "Perhaps not now, Hinata, but with your sister… Someone will have to provide the Hyuga an heir."

"If not Hanabi," Hinata reasoned logically, "then certainly Neji."

Neji frowned, but said nothing. The Lady Hyuga had never voiced such plans, and it would do no good to discuss this with an outsider in the room.

Lady Kurenai looked ready to speak again when the doorkeeper boy came knocking and announced, still very nervous, "His Im-Imperial Highness, Prince Asuma!"

The room stood as one when the Prince entered and bowed simultaneously.

"The sun shines bright, Your Imperial Highness," they chorused.

For a moment, Prince Asuma did nothing… and then he proceeded to scoop Lady Kurenai up in his arms with a giant, "Whoop!" Hinata stepped back, shocked when the Prince started to spin her sensei around the room! Skirts went flying, several decorative pins flew from Lady Kurenai's hair, and Hinata was too dazed to respond while the room was filled with Prince Asuma's deep hearty laugh and Lady Kurenai's heated scandalized scoldings!

One such enthusiastic spin sent the teapot flying from the coffee table and-

Hinata automatically reached forward and-

xxx

Shikamaru pulled back when his fingers grazed the hand of the Lady Hyuga. She seemed just as startled to see him, her grip around the once-soaring teapot sure and firm as she looked up at him, eyes wide and as deep as the pale moon. She must had been too distracted by his sensei spinning Lady Kurenai like a madman to notice him enter right after the Prince, and even too stunned to when the teapot went up into the air like that. The fact that they had both seen it and reacted accordingly, reaching simultaneously for the porcelain, must had been quite shocking for her.

"A-Ah," he found himself stammering. "S-Sorry."

It was not in a man's position to touch a woman, especially a woman of the Lady Hyuga's calibre. Not only was he reduced to uncertainty, but for the first time in his life, he actually felt ashamed. He had no issue in touching his mother (who was his mother) or Ino (who was one of his childhood friends), but the Lady Hyuga… with her substantial and insubstantial being, her sure and steady steps, her knowledge of herself and of everyone around her (except for that brief moment when she hadn't noticed him)… It was most disconcerting.

But then she smiled – smiled – as if to say that it was alright and that he hadn't dishonoured his clan in some intangible rulebook. He knew that a lot of women, especially noble women, would have felt both offended and disgusted to have been touched so casually and without warning, even if it had been an accident. In fact, he remembered in a few cases where that had happened and the men had either been publically shamed or made to be in the woman's… service for the night in compensation. He was pleasantly surprised that the Lady Hyuga was not like other stereotypical high women.

She placed the teapot back on the table, and he hadn't realized that he'd been watching her hair until she flicked her high ponytail from her shoulder.

"Asuma!" Lady Kurenai scowled, kicking her legs. "Put. Me. Down."

Prince Asuma gave another hearty laugh before plopping his intended unceremoniously down onto the sofa, her skirts falling just a little above mid-thigh and showing a good eyeful of leg. Prince Asuma, of course, would be daft to not to take advantage of it by not running his palms over Lady Kurenai's ankles (oh la la!) to her knee and up to her-

"YOUR IMPERIAL HIGHNESS!" the Lady Hyuga screeched.

Shikamaru winced and took a step back, unable to hide the shock from his face.

Prince Asuma chuckled and Lady Kurenai shoved him, relatively roughly, off of her in a rush.

"Five years, Hinata," Prince Asuma said, highly entertained, "and still a virgin?"

Shikamaru felt his eyes grow large at the piece of surprising news. Usually kunoichi knew to rid of their virginity as soon as possible, given the psychological damage they may receive if they were to fall upon the hands of enemy ninja. Noble ladies, in fact, preferred to have their virginity taken soon as well, so not to grow too attached to the first male they bed and risk the chances of being manipulated. Women, by Shikamaru's experience, were quite promiscuous in and of themselves. And yet… the Lady Hyuga, both a ninja and a noblewoman, was a virgin?

She was getting more and more surprising as she went.

"P-Please…"

And she stuttered?

"Stop it, Asuma," Lady Kurenai cut in like a hot knife, sitting up from the sofa and taking a moment to regain her breath from the extensive spinning she had taken part of earlier. "Sh-She…"

Lady Kurenai coughed, unable to get air in fast enough and-

"Sensei!" The Lady Hyuga was suddenly beside Lady Kurenai, crouched by the sofa and effectively placing herself between the Prince and his fiancée.

Shikamaru blinked, his equilibrium disturbed. He hadn't even seen her move. In fact, he was sure that she had spoken "Sensei" first before moving… and yet her movement was the first thing he registered before her voice had reached him… She moved faster than sound?

"Holy…" he breathed, out of breath himself now.

His sensei caught him in the eye and sent him a smile, as if to say, "I know."

"Sensei," the Lady Hyuga said, grave and serious. "How long?"

Shikamaru looked to his sensei, who smirked rather smugly, and he was left wondering how the Lady Hyuga knew about… that. Taking an inquisitive step towards the women (but will remaining at a respectful distance), he saw the telltale veins of the Byakugan latticed around the Lady Hyuga's eyes, shimmering almost silver and translucent.

And she was staring straight at Lady Kurenai's stomach.

"Two months," Prince Asuma answered with a grin, and they looked to him as he took a seat beside Lady Kurenai. "And it was worth it." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Asuma!" Lady Kurenai cried, cuffing him in the shoulder, not hard, only embarrassed.

Quietly, very quietly, the Lady Hyuga stood from the ground and regarded the two with a contemplative look in her eyes. "Does anyone else know?"

Prince Asuma's grin froze and his jaw locked. He understood, then, what the grim expression on her face meant, an expression that almost made Shikamaru want to fidget under the pressure. With a nod, the Prince explained, "The Imperial Clan, of course. And," he nodded in his student's direction, "Shikamaru Nara."

Shikamaru hoped she wasn't going to turn her ghostly gaze on him.

And she didn't, much to his relief.

"And the Lady Senju," the Lady Hyuga filled in.

Lady Kurenai nodded. "Of course. Lady Tsunade delivers all the-"

"I see," the Lady Hyuga cut in, and it was rude of her to do so, but she made no apology.

Shikamaru would have thought that, yes, the Lady Hyuga was flawed in some way… until he remembered the sensitivity of their subject. He did not miss the way the Lady Hyuga flickered her gaze to the other three ninja standing by the wall – the Hyuga Triple Threat, or the way the lone male Hyuga member shook his head a negative "no." Shikamaru hadn't been the only one who had noticed, for his sensei and Lady Kurenai looked to each other severely with no little bit of fear either.

"Everybody knows," the Lady Hyuga whispered, low and hollow and foreboding.

Shikamaru did shift this time, and uncomfortably too. Although he wasn't one to pay much attention to clan politics (too troublesome), he understood enough that something had shifted and the Empress had made him one of the key players.

The Lady Hyuga made for the door then; the Triple Threat following without hesitation.

Turning slightly, the Lady Hyuga gave a small reassuring smile to Lady Kurenai. "The Empress has instructed that I am to guard you."

Lady Kurenai nodded, having had figured that much out.

Prince Asuma whistled. "Wow, love. My mom's spoiling you now!"

Lady Kurenai put a well-placed elbow into his gut to shut him up.

"Lord Shikamaru," the Lady Hyuga called to him.

He almost jumped, and mentally praised himself when he didn't. He turned to her, pausing a moment at that smile on her face, at that hardness in her eyes, at the way she knew she had a goal to reach and that nothing could even come close to stopping her.

"It is an honour to work with you," she told him, and her smile was sincere.

Shikamaru didn't know how to reply. For all his high intelligence quotient of over 200, she had left him without words or thoughts or the sense of being.

"I am retiring to my city estate to think things over," the Lady Hyuga told them, specifically to Lady Kurenai who nodded in response. "I will return for this evening's…" Here, she faltered, "party."

Lady Kurenai smiled. "Remember to wear something nice. It will be your first time at Court."

"Don't worry, Lady Kurenai," the sole female member of the Triple Threat assured with a wicked smirk. "I'll make sure her wardrobe's gonna make her the wet dreams of a lot of men tonight."

The Lady Hyuga blushed – blushed.

Shikamaru couldn't even believe his eyes.

"I will see you tonight," was the Lady Hyuga's farewell before she left the room like the smoke from a candle flickering out.

Prince Asume looked to Shikamaru with a bleak frown, and Shikamaru understood. It was time to put his 200-plus I.Q. to good use, and his first thought was that of Ino, who was as gossipy as they could come and had a good, firm connection to the Senju Clan.

With a nod, he, too, left the room.

His fingers were still burning from where he had touched her, but it was not an unpleasant feeling.

xxx

the point