Hey readers and welcome to the third chapter of "A Woman Scorn".
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I'm not really sure if Hyuuga main branch members get married off to non Hyuuga members, but they will in this story _
Please review!
"I have yet to hear this from him directly, but some say he has arranged for you to be married." Neji responded. A look of sadness crossing his usually stern face.
"M-Maried?!" I questioned, unable to keep the pure shock from my voice.
"Yes." Neji replied simply.
Droplets of cold sweat glazed my palms and I began to take deeper breaths to prevent myself from hyperventilating.
"Relax Lady Hinata." Came Neji's deep voice, "I'm sure Hiachi-Sama has chosen the best suitor possible for you."
"I'm sure he has too." I bowed my head respectfully to him, "Thank you for informing me."
"No problem." Neji bowed as well. His long straight chocolate-colored hair covered his face like a dark veil. "I must take my leave. I'll see you in the main house at noon."
He turned and stepped off of my front porch. His steps were prideful yet filled with an underlying grace that led me to wonder how Kami could ever let me be born into the main house, and not my blatantly superior cousin.
I closed the front door and walked slowly back up the familiar stairs into the bathroom. The pristine neatness of the room seemed to taunt me. Everything had its place, the towels, the soaps and shampoos. It reminded me that I have yet to find my place.
In the beautiful neatness of Konoha, I was the object that had yet been perfectly placed among others like it. My shaking fingers went up into my hair, releasing the long indigo locks from their bondage and letting them tumble-down my back, ultimately stopping at my waist.
It was too soon for me to be married. My father didn't understand, he thought of things only from a strictly political standpoint. This made me loathe him more than I already did. I still have yet to properly grieve the loss of my beloved Naruto.
I stripped off my clothes, letting them pool on the floor at my feet and quickly made my way to the shower. My prying eyes avoided the full body mirror on the other side of the bathroom. Maybe that's part of the reason he left me. I'm not built to his particular liking. After all Sakura has such a pretty petite frame.
I chewed my lip as I turned the knob as far toward the red side as it would go, willing the steam from the hot water to fill the chilly bathroom. My hair had become a mess of loose curls since I stepped under the stream of deliciously hot water. I lathered the dark locks with vanilla shampoo and let my mind wander.
Maybe it was time I finally let go of Naruto all together. He was finally happy. Isn't that all I wanted for him in the first place? I swallowed the lump that had somehow lodged itself in my throat and struggled helplessly against the tears that had suddenly filled my eyes. I felt as if someone had ripped a part of my very being away.
A large portion of my life consisted of him. Watching him, admiring him, and training to be strong for him... simply wanting to be with him. But instead of seeing how deeply I felt for him, he ran back into the arms of the woman who never gave him the time of day.
It was painfully unfair and I was greedy for feeling that way.
After my shower, I dressed in a pure white kimono, held closed by a black sash which was tied in a large bow in the back. I brushed my soaked bangs and tied the remainder of my hair back into a tight bun.
Before I walked out the door, I took an unsteady breath and wiped my palms down the length of my thighs.
"Gain control." Sasuke's husky voice drifted into my mind again, causing my ivory skin to turn to goose-flesh.
What was he talking about gaining control of? My crushed feelings? My tattered life? Or my place among the Hyuuga clan?
It was an insanely humid day in Konoha. So much so, by the time I reached the main house of the Hyuuga estate, a sheer film of sticky sweat covered my body and my cheeks were an alarming shade of magenta. I looked around at the growing mass of my clan members flooding into the dark wood doors of the main house. I felt uneasy. Although I was surrounded by the overly respectful members of my clan, I felt completely out of place.
Suddenly a particular brunette woman caught my attention. My heart started beating frantically in my chest as I met eyes with my sister Hanabi. I'll admit that age had done her well. She grew up into a beautiful woman. Her long cocoa colored hair was perfectly parted and hung down to the middle of her back and her slender frame fitted perfectly in her jet black kimono. Her silver eyes looked intensely into my lavender ones.
"Hello Lady Hinata." She stated. Her voice sounded neutral.
"Good afternoon Lady Hanabi." I replied bowing respectfully.
She mirrored my gesture, but that did nothing to dissolve the unspoken tension between us. After all she was the thing hindering me from my rightful place as heiress of this clan. A thick silence clouded the air around us as we made our way toward the doors of the main house.
Upon our entrance, the entire room bowed. We made our way up the middle of the aisle to sit at a long light-colored wooden table that ran the length of the front of the room. My eyes studied everyone at the table. Only picking out a few faces. Finally my eyes settled on my father. Suddenly the air in the small room seemed thick.
I situated myself onto a pillow next to Neji, who looked rather tense. Finally Hiashi began to speak.
"I have gathered you all here today to discuss the marital status of my eldest daughter Hinata."
Part of me was still shocked hearing the words pour from his mouth. I studied my hands in my lap as he continued to speak.
"I've decided that the only suitor worthy of taking her hand in marriage is Daiki Hachiro from the Land of Water."
Instantly quiet, seemingly excited murmurs began to fill the room.
"It would seem that everyone has heard of Daiki-Sama except for me." I thought bitterly and I chewed the inside of my cheek.
Hiashi cleared his throat, plunging the room into silence once more.
"I'm expecting Daiki-Sama to be arriving to the compound later this evening and the wedding is set to be held in one month."
This completely shocked me.
"One month?!" I blurted louder than I thought my voice could go.
Will Hinata be able to convince her father to leave her single? What drama will unfold with her sibling rivalry? And who is the mysterious (Yet somehow popular) Daiki Hachiro?
Read the next installment to find out (: