I think I confused a lot of people when I selected Shikamaru and Hinata as the pairing in my last chapter, especially when this is supposed to be a harem fic. And it is. Since it is a harem fic, each chapter will focus on a different guy. Last chapter was Shikamaru, this chapter there are none, but next chapter there will be a different guy that is not Shikamaru. All in all, there are going to be FIVE guys in total, and I've already introduced four of them, so be prepared! ;D

The Hand of Lady Hyuga

Chapter Seven

She closed the door behind her, the Hyuga Sword in hand, and turned to the waiting Triple Threat. Three in a row, perfectly lined up, backs straight, eyes forward, and expressions blank and strong – the epitome of Hyuga grace and power. They appeared neither troubled nor miffed, and she could only assume that they had been unbothered thus far by the fussiness of the Imperial Court or the fanaticism of the capital city, or were rather well adept at hiding their ruffled responses. She was glad that she had not left a single one behind at the Main Estate. She was going to need all three at their best and most vigilant from what little information – short and very vital – she had been given by the Empress and what she had discovered from her sensei and the Prince. She cursed herself for not having had Hanabi stick by her sensei like glue, or even her sensei for not trusting her sister with such important news.

She crossed the room to her desk, a room she had not been in for the past five years. It was exactly as she had remembered it to be: the floor to ceiling bookshelves, the deep mahogany desk, the priceless oil painting of her mother and father in the golden-gilded frame. The Hyuga's townhouse in the capital was just as meticulous as the Main Estate, as she had expected it to be, and ran just as smoothly, if not on a smaller scale. She did not remember, however, the hundreds of bouquets of peonies and roses and baby's breath placed at her front door, gifts from the many residents of the capital city, or the many impromptu civilian choirs on the city streets singing (in imperfect a cappella) of her beauty and grace and undeniable strength… but she supposed a little chaos may be the very distraction they wanted for their opponent.

She looked to Neji, who nodded in affirmative. Several jutsu had already been put into place to keep the room soundproof and protected from unwanted visitors; the townhouse's staff had been ordered to keep out and away until she called for them. Doors had been locked, windows secured and curtains shut. There was nothing and no one getting in or out at this point in their meeting.

She set the Hyuga Sword against the bookshelf behind her chair and sat down; the Triple Threat was to remain standing until told otherwise. There were two topics at hand, and it had always been the Hyuga first, and Konoha second. This, no matter how bleak and dire their situation may be, was no exception.

"Hanabi," she opened.

Neji spoke first. "Lady Hanabi's relations with Prince Konohamaru must either end, or proceed onto courtship immediately. It is deplorable to forestall the Prince's expectations and the expectations of the Imperial Clan, going as far as to restrict the future of the kingdom."

"But," Tenten cut in, meeting the Lady Hyuga in the eye, "courtship will indisputably lead to marriage, and Lady Hanabi would never marry out of the clan."

"It would be an honour," Neji countered.

"It would be suicide," Tenten gritted.

Hinata flickered her gaze to Lee, who could only frown and shrug helplessly, unwilling to step in between his vindictive comrades. Sombrely, the Lady Hyuga placed her elbows on her desk and weaved her fingers together, pressing her lips to them in contemplation. They had both made valid points, and she had expected nothing less from them. From her own knowledge, and therefore the knowledge of the Triple Threat accordingly, her sister and the Prince had been having these… trysts for the past year and a half. Although she disapproved of her sister having lost her virginity at fourteen, Hinata also understood that it had been expected of her, and that many women had lost theirs even earlier. There was no doubt in her mind that Hanabi was attached to the Prince and vice versa… but she did not know whether or not her sister was willing to cast aside her Hyuga name for the Sarutobi's.

"There would be no better husband for Lady Hanabi," Neji reasoned.

"But he would be no Hyuga," Tenten pointed out, crossing her arms.

It would have been ideal, the Lady Hyuga knew, if Prince Konohamaru had not been a Prince, but rather a regular noble like all the other men vying for her sister's attention. If that had been the case, the problem of Hanabi marrying out of the clan wouldn't even be a topic for discussion. Women did not marry out of the clan. Men married in. It was complicated, then, by the mere fact that Prince Konohamaru was royalty and him marrying out was not an option, not in such precarious times – not when the Imperial Clan was in need of a female heir, or any heir for that matter. With only Prince Konohamaru as the successor of the Imperial Throne in his generation, no doubt that the Sarutobi were looking forward to Lady Kurenai's contribution…

"And you cannot say that Lady Kurenai is faring well," Tenten shot Neji down even before he could speak. "She is not a Hyuga."

It had been easier for her sensei, Hinata agreed. Lady Kurenai was the last remaining member of the Yuhi Clan, a lower clan in the noble hierarchy that had been poverty-stricken until her sensei had became a ninja. In retrospect, Hinata believed, her sensei should not have wanted to marry into the Sarutobi, but should have strove to rebuild her clan by giving birth to as many children as possible. Surrogate mothers were not unheard of, but even encouraged in these cases. However… Hinata closed her eyes. However, love had made Lady Kurenai's decision to marry into the Imperial Clan indisputable. It had to be done, in her sensei's case – she would not have settled for anything less than to be with Prince Asuma wholly and without obstruction. She was willing to sacrifice her bloodline for her love.

But her sister was not her sensei, she acknowledged grimly, ignoring the fiery glares between her cousin and the female Threat. Her sister would, as Tenten had passionately mentioned, never marry out of the Hyuga. All Hyuga were bred and raised for the sole purpose of the Hyuga. They trained themselves mindlessly for the Hyuga. They made their every decision and every opinion for the Hyuga. The Hyuga were the best – no argument. Their dedication to their clan was undisputed and unquestioned – robotic and without complaint. And Hanabi was no less Hyuga than the others. She would never dare to dishonour the Hyuga by casting away her noble name in favour of a lover's. It was not Hyuga, and Hinata understood this – lived by this. But she could not help but think, most logically, that perhaps her sister would better serve the Hyuga by being a Sarutobi.

"There is also Prince Gaara of Suna," Lee reminded, nearly shrinking when his volatile comrades broke eye contact to simultaneously gaze at him.

Neji frowned and Tenten pressed her lips together. Hinata had nearly forgotten about the foreign Prince, and was equally troubled at the prospect. Domestic politics were easier to handle than international, and she was ill-equipped to deal with Prince Gaara when she had only heard of his interest just short of an hour ago. It was most disconcerting to have to face, not one, but two Imperial Princes wanting her sister's attention, and the Lady Hyuga could not be too sure of Prince Gaara's intentions. With Prince Konohamaru, she understood that his feelings were true, but with Prince Gaara… it could be a guise to obtain the Hyuga fortune and network.

"Suna is playing with fire," Neji hissed.

It was such a likelihood that Tenten did not object to his biased observations.

"But he could be true." Lee felt it was only right to defend the foreign Prince. "Prince Gaara may very well be in love with Lady Hanabi."

Neji snorted and Hinata closed her eyes at the implications. Love. She could never forget about love.

She looked to the painting of her mother and father on the wall and understood that, despite all the political issues and the honour of the Hyuga name… Hinata did not want to place her sister in a loveless marriage. A loveless marriage without a daughter could mean the end – "suicide" in Tenten's terms, but a marriage built on the foundations of love, made a son… bearable… She, herself, had been witness to both such unions and, almost bitterly, she acknowledged that the union between her late mother and father had been one of the former, a mutual partnership for the sake of the Hyuga. They had been most fortunate to be blessed with both a female heir and spare, but if she and her sister had been sons… Her late mother would have been forced by the Hyuga Elders to take a second, or even a third, husband.

But a marriage based on love… She looked to Neji then and smiled wistfully. Her late uncle and aunt had loved each other, truly loved each other, in a way that brought tears to her eyes every time she thought of them. Even as a child Hinata had understood that her parents were not the same as her cousin's. It was in the way her late uncle and aunt had looked at each other, touched each other, respected each other… To this very day Hinata's heart still wrenched at the sight of her aunt in her black robes, still mourning over her husband's death over a decade ago. And she wanted that for Hanabi. She wanted that happiness, however brief, for her sister because her sister deserved it.

Her cousin too, she thought, her eyes moving from him to the female Threat. They had already given so much to her and the clan that she could not possibly shackle them to an unhappy union. To do so would be against her Hyuga pride and honour, her beliefs and morals. And it would kill her if that were to happen.

Lee must have noticed her pensive mood then, for he reprieved, "Lady Hanabi deserves the best."

Neji lowered his gaze; Tenten morose at Lee's examination. They understood, and agreed unanimously, that Lady Hanabi did deserve the best. The problem being, then, was that what they thought of as being "the best" may not be what she, herself, would consider to be "the best."

The Lady Hyuga placed her hands flat on the desk and decided, "I will write to my sister and relay our observations to her after this meeting." The Triple Threat nodded, their expression wiping clean as the topic came to a (uncertain) resolution. "There is now the matter of Lady Kurenai's condition."

"It certainly explains the curious actions of one Kakashi Hatake," Tenten scrutinized.

Neji agreed. "With the possibility of the next Imperial heir, and most certainly a spare otherwise, the Senju Clan is sure to be involved."

"The Senju Clan has always delivered the Imperial heirs," Lee added with a nod.

Hinata leaned back and had understood early on as to why the Empress had summoned her for the first time in five years – a month earlier than when she had first intended to arrive for the Imperial Wedding. The chance of the child in her sensei's womb being the most-sought-after Crown Princess was fifty-percent. The chance of her sensei being assassinated before the birth of her child… zero if the Lady Hyuga was at her side. With Lady Kurenai pregnant with Prince Asuma's child, the various clans – most definitely the larger estates and the Powerhouses – must have started to move by now, however subtly, to either garner Lady Kurenai's favour… or to down her in an intricate plot of political stratagem. The Lady Hyuga's only regret, and she had very few in her life, was not knowing sooner.

"The Lady Senju is, no doubt, Lady Kurenai's midwife," Hinata observed, and the Triple Threat nodded in turn for there could be no other. Lady Tsunade was not only the Imperial Physician, but also the kingdom's first and foremost specialist in the medical field – Director of the best hospitals in the country. The Empress would not put the fate of her clan's future in a novice. "She would not, however, visit Lady Kurenai alone…"

"Lady Shizune is her heir," Neji filled in. "She would accompany the Lady Senju and know of Lady Kurenai's condition."

"And perhaps even Lady Sakura," Tenten included. "She is her apprentice, surpassing even Lady Shizune."

Lee frowned. "With Lord Kakashi calling for Lady Shizune's attention, then the Uchiha are privy to Lady Kurenai's condition as well."

"And with Lord Naruto," Tenten said, equally disquieted, "'pursuing' Lady Sakura, then the Uzumaki has that knowledge too…"

Neji cursed and fisted his hands. "We are late in every aspect."

"Not only late," the Lady Hyuga said, levelling them with a stare, "but horribly outmanoeuvred."

Neji cursed again, Tenten gritted her teeth, and Lee crossed his arms and frowned – all eyes on the ground. Ashamed. They were ashamed. To be the most elite of the elite Hyuga… only to fall short on their intelligence and their lack of attention to the inner workings of the Imperial Clan… They were ashamed to have failed their Lady Hyuga so thoroughly, insulted to have been behind the Uzumaki and the Uchiha (of all clans) in any aspect, and dishonoured in one fell swoop.

They could not look her in the eye.

But the Lady Hyuga was not upset. If they had failed, then she had equally failed in her own right for not pursuing the matters of the Imperial Clan herself. Her only conciliation, at this point of political intrigue and oncoming disaster, was that she was not too late. In many ways, she was at an advantage. There was no one, excluding Prince Asuma, who was closer to Lady Kurenai than her. There was no one, excluding the Emperor, who was more trusted by the Empress than her. There was no one, excluding the Empress, who was more loved by Konoha than her. Moreover, the one striking factor that could, and would, upset all the subtle manipulations and political stratagems (however perfect and impeccable they were) of the Powerhouses' had yet to make a move – had yet to hint at what he wanted. And he, the Lady Hyuga knew, was her primary opponent.

"We are to play chess," the Lady Hyuga said.

The Triple Threat raised their eyes from the ground, stunned.

"The Empress has informed me that Lord Danzo Shimura has set up a new board," she explained. As befitting of the Triple Threat, they did not show any outward appearances of being troubled. She had never been more proud of them than this moment. "I prefer to be white this time. Black had nearly lost us the game last time, and I would hate to be surprised… again."

"Yes, milady," they chorused.

"Tenten," she addressed, and the female Threat answered with her outmost attention. "I want you to do some reconnaissance on the clans, in particular the activities surrounding the Senju, Uzumaki and Uchiha. I want to know what they know."

"Yes, milady!" Tenten affirmed with a firm nod.

"Lee."

He straightened.

"You are to verify the security within the Imperial Wing of the Palace, in particular around the vicinities of Lady Kurenai's room," the Lady Hyuga commanded. "You are to then construct a plan and provision for other safeties you deem necessary that I will look over. You have three days to do this, Lee, and do not spare on the expenses or the details – especially the details."

"Yes, milady!" Lee saluted with enthusiasm.

Hinata gave a brusque nod and ordered, "You two are dismissed. Neji." Her cousin looked to her expectantly. "I wish to speak with you privately."

"Yes, milady!" they chorused.

There was something in their eyes then, a fire that reflected in the Lady Hyuga's ice.

Chess… The Hyuga were so very adept at chess too.

The two of the three Triple Threat left the room quietly as the Lady Hyuga reflected on what had to be said beforehand. She knew that her cousin was anxious, perhaps even a tad irritated since she had voiced her plans to Lady Kurenai earlier on, but she was quite adamant with her decision, in particular on this specific topic. As the closed the door behind the two Triple Threat, the Lady Hyuga – Hinata – knew exactly what to say when-

"Hinata," Neji began, sharp and precise.

-when her cousin decided to take the liberty for himself and disrupt her carefully planned speech.

But she would give it him. It was not a pleasant feeling to have been surprised like he had been.

She nodded for him to continue.

"You cannot expect for me to provide you an heir," he told her, his features hard and exacting. "Nor Hanabi."

"I do not understand why you cannot, or Hanabi either," Hinata said calmly.

Neji's expression twisted in disapproval. "We are not you."

"But we are of the same breed," she reasoned.

He shook his head. "But we are not you."

"Why must you be so adamant that it has to be me?"

"Because you are the Lady Hyuga," Neji stated, a sure gleam in his eyes. "Your genes are more of an asset than mine, or Hanabi's."

"However-"

"No, Hinata," Neji pressed firmly, placing his hands on the desk and leaning forward to meet her in the eyes, sincere and compassionate. "I understand if you do not wish to wed. I understand if you do not wish to have children. But," he emphasized, "you are not your mother."

Hinata, for the first time in a long while, tore her gaze away from his – a gaze that resembled her father's so much, resembled her father's twin's so much… resembled her uncle's, Neji's father's, so much. They had been so alike, her father and her uncle, but so different in how they had lived their lives. One had been in a loveless marriage blessed with daughters, and the other in a loving marriage cursed with a single son. Watching her mother and father, however brief before her mother's life had been taken, had been hard to swallow. It had not been as easy as watching her late uncle and aunt. Although Neji should understand her dislike for marriage, although he laid witness to his mother's pain every single day of his life, he still wanted her to marry, still wanted her to bare children…

She could not understand him – them. She could not understand why the Hyuga were waiting for something and someone she could not give them… It was implausible.

"I cannot," she said.

There had been something in her tone, something cold and chilling, that Neji slowly nodded and carefully straightened from the desk. It was as far as she was going to allow him to go today, but they both knew that the war, even after all these years, was hardly over. The issue of the Hyuga heir would remain suspended until further notice.

"And you?" Hinata asked, lifting her gaze to his.

He raised a brow. "I do not understand."

"Do you not have someone you like?" she enquired.

Neji frowned. "No."

"Not even Tenten?" she asked.

"It is not the time for that." He shook his head.

"It has been years," Hinata told him, "and you are older than I. In all intent and purposes, we should get you wed off before turning to me."

He sighed. "A man does not do the courting, Lady Hyuga."

"But you are Hyuga," she said with a teasing smile, and he pressed his lips together to a thin line. She sobered. "I only wish you happiness, cousin."

Neji's gaze softened. "I wish it for you too, cousin."

She closed her eyes and exhaled softly. It was as far as he was going to allow her to go today, but she was glad that there had been some process. Pulling one of the desk drawers out, she obtained for herself a pen and several blank sheets of paper.

"I am going to write to Hanabi now," she told him, already placing several characters on the paper. "I want you to look into Root. We are going to assume that his target is Lady Kurenai, more specifically the child she carries, until further notice on your part."

"Yes, milady," Neji avowed. "With our usual contact or…?"

"Usual," she confirmed. "The others must wait."

"Understood." Neji nodded.

"Dismissed."

The Triple Threat bowed and retreated for the door, pausing briefly to remind her, "Remember to write to your father. He would be displeased if you were to keep him from our doings."

"Yes," Hinata agreed with a small smile. "And he can also keep an eye on Hanabi."

Neji smirked. "I am sure he will vouch for Prince Konohamaru."

"And I am sure, dear cousin," Hinata said with a smirk of her own, "that your mother will vouch for Tenten."

His left brow twitched, but he said nothing more as he left the room and closed the door behind him, ignoring her teasing laughter from within. His cousin's marital status would have to wait… as did his.

He glanced up to the other two members of the Triple Threat who had been waiting for him, and they shared a mischievous grin.

It was time to play chess.

xxx

the point