When Not All Things Come Full Circle
Author's Note: This particular story is one of the many "what if" scenarios that rattled around in my head for a while after my Hyo|Shikamaru muse reared his head for the first time, long before I(and he, himself) eventually settled on the path that we are currently on. I hope you enjoy this peek into the madness of my mind. XD
Also, I may make this chapter into a mini-series within this story. *Shrugs* Eh, we'll see. If you guys like it well enough and if I have the inspiration to continue it.
Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter Summary: Neji isn't sure why he thought that protecting Tsunade on a diplomatic mission would be an honorable thing. The people are nuts and so is the leader of the country they are meeting with. He's almost certain that someone will do something to warrant a terrible death.
Except... There's someone amongst the group that he and Tsunade have yet to meet, let alone even see. A possible time bomb? Or a potential ally? Neji doesn't know.
But the Goddess has plans and Neji's about to get a shock he never realized he needed. Because life finds a way to continue, even if it doesn't always come full circle.
(Neji's POV)
Neji is twenty-three -going on twenty-four- when he is given the mission. And there is no doubt in his mind that it is very, very, important. It's an S-Rank escort/guarding mission, after all, meant for the not quite recently retired Tsunade-sama. Well, his mission is guarding her. Her mission is an exceedingly delicate diplomatic mission to a new land outside of their own.
The Elemental Continent and its many islands have not been on good terms with the other continents for as long as he can remember. Beyond that, even, if the history books are anything to go by and this is why a former Kage is going instead of sending anyone else. She's well versed in the art of politics and knows when to speak up and when to hold her tongue. There's also the fact that she's a former military leader of men and women which, hypothetical, should earn her some respect from the leader of the country that they are trying to negotiate with.
Still, that doesn't make it any easier for him -or his teammates- to so casually dismiss the fact that the leader, the Empress, of this country, allows obviously foreign warriors to walk into the negotiation room, fully armed! With giant swords, no less. Silently, Neji begins to despair.
Yuffie Kisaragi is clearly insane, Neji thinks even as the young, yet shrewd, woman hops to her feet with mischief dancing in her eyes.
"Cloud! Zack! You guys came! Are the others here? Is Hyo here? Or is he off in the middle of nowheresville again?" The Empress bursts out as she makes her way to the strange men.
The darker male chuckles and he places a hand on the woman's head and -hello, that's the Empress. Why are you being so physically familiar with the leader of this continent!?- smiles gently, "Of course we came! Did you really think we'd leave the baby of our family all on her own for something this important? Wutai's set to gain a new ally if this goes well, but it wouldn't do for them to think that they could possibly scam you without other people retaliating against them for it. After all, you may be the leader here, but you're still a member of AVALANCHE and that will never change."
"Mm. Zack's right," the lighter male states quietly with a shallow nod. "No matter how politically powerful you are or how old you get, you're still our little sister and our beloved comrade. You called for us, so we came. It's as simple as that."
The Empress ducks her head a little to remove Zack's, Neji confirms to himself, hand from the top of her head, launches herself at the two men with a happy squeal and hugs them, "You guys are the best!"
Zack laughs as he wraps an arm around the dainty woman. The lighter male, Cloud, Neji notes silently, huffs quietly in what seems like exasperation, but he's smiling gently and his brilliantly blue eyes are fond as he rests a hand on her small shoulder.
He hums lightly before saying, "The rest of the group is here too, out in the hall. Hyo's here too. He just chose to stay in the gardens."
Zack snorts and says bluntly, "You know how he is around people he doesn't know. It's probably better this way since he's still a bit hair-trigger in his need to keep us all safe, especially since this many armed people from another country known for its hostility are in here with you. He'd probably kill the first person who even so much as looks at you the wrong way."
The Empress pulls away and looks to the side with a pout, "I am more than able to take care of myself!"
"We never said that you weren't. Neither did Hyo, but you know how he is," Cloud says gently. His eyes darken in sadness as he continues, "and why he is the way he is. He can't help but want to do everything in his power to protect us, protect you, after everything we've been through. After everything he's been through."
The Empress softens, her own features going sad and slightly despondent as she sighs and shakes her head, "He's never going to get over what happened back then, is he?"
Zack shrugs, his own brilliantly blue-violet eyes sad, "He still blames himself, you know. He's better than he was, but he's not the kind of person who let's go of things easily. In fact, I'm pretty sure he's the kind of guy that holds on even after everyone has finally let go…"
He raises his hands in defense as Cloud looks over at him suddenly, "I don't mean it that way. I can never and will never be able to forget, but that doesn't mean that I can't move on and live the life she'd want all of us to live. We all owe her more than a life only half lived, don't you think?"
Neji glances over at Tsunade-sama and she gives him a tiny, helpless smile. They've just encountered what will be their first living landmine even though they've yet to even meet him and apparently he's as protective of the Empress as Neji is of Hinata. This could work in their favor or blow up spectacularly in their faces. Neji supposes that only time will tell which way Lady Luck leans.
It's not long after the enlightening discussion that the rest of AVALANCHE is called in and Neji wishes that he could discreetly slip away to bang his head against a wall. Or scream in frustration. Either option is very good at the moment. Because how on Earth did these strange people know someone as important as the Empress of Wutai?!
They are an eccentric, eclectic group of people who seem like they should be totally at odds with one another...but...they aren't. Somehow, someway, they all just seem to click, to slot together so easily and seamlessly.
Tifa Lockhart -as she was introduced to them- is a kind, soft-spoken, motherly woman with hidden steel in her eyes and spine. She's also pregnant. Not very heavily so, but obvious even to civilian eyes.
Her husband, Barret Wallace, is dark of skin, hair, and eyes and is her exact opposite. He's loud, brash, a bit obnoxious, but his hands are gentle with the woman and his eyes fiercely bore into the eyes of anyone else who dares to let their gaze linger on his beloved wife.
Cid Highwind, Neji notes, is a study in contradictions. He's obviously intelligent in his given fields of study from the conversation he's holding with one of the Empress' advisors, but he's so foul-mouthed and ornery that one could scarcely believe that this man is considered as a well-respected genius. Then again, it's been said that geniuses have many varied quirks…
(Certainly, Nara Shikamaru had, had many of his own varied quirks. Not that those quirks matter anymore with the man being, in all likelihood, dead.)
But, in all honesty - for all that he can not figure out how these strange people managed to come together - it is clear that they all love each other. So much so that Neji can tell that they'd all die to protect the rest of their eclectic bunch if it came right down to it. They are like Shinobi in that sense. If they'd been born in a Shinobi village, it is certainly guaranteed that they would have been.
Tsunade catches his eye and gives him an amused smirk as if reading his mind and the discomfort the unexpected situation has brought him. She has always loved watching others squirm. He can now understand why Nara always called her troublesome. Damned sadistic woman….
When the beginning negotiations are over, Neji breathes a silent sigh of relief. No one had been mortally offended. Nor had anyone garnered a horrible, painful death. He's chalking himself a point for managing that much when some of the jumpier Shinobi under his command could have certainly acted out at a perceived insult. He does think that Kakashi-sama and Tsunade-sama had chosen the other members of the guards as a way to mess with him in an actually legitimate way.
With a huff, he exits his room to meander the - admittedly - beautiful gardens. The waning daylight casts a peaceful aura over the gardens and he catches a rippling gleam out of the corner of his eye.
Sunlight. Dancing like fire over the water.
Neji tilts his head curiously at the large pond surrounded by thick foliage and yet, somehow, it still managed to be open enough for people to be able to reach it. It's beautiful, but all Neji can see is the perfect ambush location.
'And it's not paranoia if people really are out to get you,' Neji muses as he activates his Byakugan. He's not surprised when he picks up on another person's chakra. But what is even more important is that… the person has stronger chakra than any of the people he's met in the time he's been in Wutai. His breath catches because the chakra in question is unlike any he's seen before - a curling smokey, silvery grey interspersed with strands of vivid new leaf green that weave and dance in time with the person's heartbeat.
It's mesmerizing in a way that makes him wary and tightens his muscles. The last thing he needs to do is get caught off guard due to inattentiveness…
Cautiously, the Hyūga makes his way towards the strangely familiar chakra signature until he can see the back of a black-clad and long-haired man. The man didn't seem to be doing anything except standing there, staring into the water, so Neji deliberately scuffed his foot over the ground as he murmured, "Excuse me?"
He almost regrets it when the smaller male whirls around with bared teeth, his eyes too dark and, contradictorily, too bright in a tanned face. But it isn't the fearragepain in his eyes that has him taking a step back. No. It's the man's face. His features.
Brokenly, Neji cannot help but whisper, "Shikamaru?"
Author's Note: Gods bless my job! I was able to get a little HP Chromebook to work from just yesterday for $199. Not including tax, but still not a bad price. My actual lappy is fritzing something awful. This is the first time in awhile that I've been able to type properly. And, better yet, this little blessing is something I can take with me for typing before work and while I'm on break.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this glimpse into another timeline since it is one that I seriously considered as an option. Again, if you like it, I may continue it here in Roads Not Taken. Let me know what you think!