Beware; a made-up jutsu (basically 'dance fighting'), there is a time skip of two months and mentions of incest.
No flames allowed, don't bash. If you don't like it, I didn't beg you to read my story.
Summer soon came, its heat rolling in from spring's temperate warmth. Weeks had passed, and suddenly the wedding was more than just a concept – it was a fact. Hours away. All preparations had been made; musicians from Suna were brought in early to play for the night's festival. The night's festival was as the name implied a festival that took part for night before a wedding. It was an old tradition from ancient times, but the Hyūga were horribly traditional and pompous in their standing as well. For the entire day before the wedding, there would be a party of lavish lengths – wine, dancing and song, so unlike the usual Hyūga. However, a Hyūga doll was different. Dolls were once upon a generation and the weddings were to be remembered for that lifetime until the next. It was a tradition that a Hyūga doll is only brought up when the old one is dead, or has become a widow. Under such circumstance, the eldest unfortunate main branch daughter is groomed or the wife of the eldest of the main branch. The Hyūga were deceitful. Upon the last doll, (Hinako Hyūga, a branch member, breed to be the wife of the eldest son.), they had issued a decree that their dolls would not be trained in nin ways.
This was a lie.
Instead, it can be said that Hyūga dolls were deadliest of the clan. Yet, the villagers did not know, nor did majority of the clan. This was kept between the lips of the old dolls, the Hokage and a few trust nin.
And of course, the clan head (but not the elders).
Hiashi Hyūga watched with a blank expression as his daughter danced the Gentle Dance of Death with his nephew, Neji. Her eyes were narrowed as she moved. Her body sharp and precise – movements' fluid, like a dance and blunt, like a weapon. Hinata could kill if she choose, he imagines, she would have made the ideal clan head had she been borne second, or had her mother been alive long enough for this accursed title to skip a generation.
Neji stretched his arm out, a defiant act to strike her jaw, which could have dislocated it. However, Hinata leaned back just enough to escape it, instead knocking his arm away and blocking his charka points with lightning speed.
Hinata was swift, ducking a kick her cousin directed to her stomach, using her leg to swipe beneath his foot to knock him down. His nephew was no slouch, not allowing himself to fall onto his back. The twenty-three year old flipped over unto to his feet – his feet shook, though slightly.
But Hinata caught it.
However, time was of the essence. Hiashi had to end the entertaining match. "Hinata-chan, Neji-kun." The patriarch said simply, bringing the two young fighters to an automatic halt.
Hinata gave a deep bow, as did Neji.
"The first day of festivals begin today," the clan head looked at the sky which slowly crept towards dawn. The new day was upon them. "The bride-to-be cannot afford to be late."
Hinata blushed slightly, nodding. Neji frowned, and then nodded; Hiashi noted this with curious humor.
"Hai, Father." Hinata said, disappearing in a gush of wind and blur of white.
The wedding was upon them, and Hiashi would be losing his daughter soon. It felt like losing Hinako all over again – only much, much worst.
:::
When the maids entered Hinata's room, they would have thought the princess was sleeping in. They fluttered around her sleeping form, waking her gently. The doll's eyes open slowly; she greeted the maids with a smile. Out of the two sisters, the maids preferred the doll to her harsh, cold sister. There was undeniable warmth about her, a kindness that seeped from her very pores, in her soft smile, gentle demeanor and kind words. She was a fine doll indeed, the servants agreed.
They fussed about her, making sure she cleaned up and prepared her tediously for the day to come. It would be a packed day, as most festival days were, the Hyūga and acquaintances of the Uchiha would mingle and bask in the festivities. The food, the music – oh, it would be a glorious event for all! They washed her long, gorgeous tresses, combing them through before styling it in a high, sophisticated bun, with tendrils falling to her face. Make-up was done to sharpen her round face, highlight her cheekbones and pink gloss to enhance her plumb lips. Her lashes were curled, and eyes lined. The kimono was last, one of her mother's old ones. It was a light, yellow gown with pale orange flowers to match the orange obi. It was not thick, or heavy but rich, and allowed fluid movements.
The festival would take place on the grand Hyūga grounds, starting from the morning. It was before noon when Hinata was finally let loose by the maids. Her cousin greeted her at the door, in a traditional sliver yukata that looked handsome on his figure, beside him stood his girlfriend in a simple, but lovely light pink kimono. The woman was beautiful, with long dark brown hair and chocolate eyes – ah, yes, the famous Tenten she heard so much about from the man that was like a brother to her.
Gracefully, Hinata smiled at the both of them, bowing deeply to greet them. "Hello, Neji-nii-san, Hello, Tenten-san."
They both replied with likewise greeting. Tenten blushed as she gazed at her; the Hyūga doll truly was a vision, living up to the lore that surrounded her. "We have come to escort you to the festival, Hyūga-hime." Neji said, stoically.
She cocked her head to side, and nodded at him. "H-Hai, Neji-nii-san, let us leave."
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Sasuke grew irritated. The more he had to listen to Naruto's jabbering, the more he wanted to pull his brain matter out with a kunai. Sakura was no help either – as expected, as she seemed to jabber nonsense as well. For the festival, it would have traditionally been blood relatives that Sasuke would be surrounded by and not noisy friends. He imagined his mother her, stroking his cheek, happy her youngest son would be getting married. His father, scowling at the outlandish wealth the Hyūga seemed to throw about – but somehow, subtly happy for him. Itachi might have poked his forehead and said; "Don't be foolish, little brother." However, none of that would ever happen. If his family was alive, it would be Itachi getting married to Hinata – not him. It would him holding her close, loving her thoroughly. Not him.
"Eh," Naruto said in an uncharacteristically low voice. "Dobe, are you okay?" he asked in a gruff, but genuinely bothered voice.
"Hn," Sasuke provided.
Naruto nodded. "Dobe, I am your friend – you know this, right?" The blonde's blue eyes darkened. "You can talk to me."
Sasuke cocked his head, the warmth of friendship a feeling he never broadcasted. However, Sasuke would never be the type to talk about his feelings. Even if he was sure that Naruto might be the only one to truly understand them.
"Yeah, Sasuke-kun," Sakura piped. "I'm here for you too." She parroted, though not with the sincerity of Naruto's comment.
To her, he regarded with a slight smirk of humor. It'd be a cold day in hell before he poured his heart out to his old fan girl. Music interrupted to the little 'moment', music of the musicians from the Suna announcing to arrival of the Hyūga doll, she came in from the compound's wide door. Resembling a forest nymph in her loveliness and in the way she made him feel, he walked towards her almost robotically, like metal to a magnet.
She smiled up at him, caressing his face once he approached her. "H-Hello Sasuke,"
"Hina-hime," he told her, leaning towards her cheek and planting a kiss.
Ducking her head, she returned a chaste kiss to his lips. "Let the festival begin!"
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Time was running out on her, Hinata realized, as she watched fireworks go off into the sky. An explosion of Uchiha red and the famous Hyūga white, the artist in charge made them blend together – mending like two lovers in a dance.
Sasuke pressed a hand to the small of her back, she noted the tiny upwards quirk of his lips. He was smiling, though slightly. In another world, Hinata thought, under different circumstances, she would be smiling too. In that other place, she would happily embrace the marriage they could have. The love they would share and the joy from a young marriage. Her eyes watered slightly, she knew could never truly have that in Konoha, not with the curse of the Hyūga doll upon her and any child she would birth.
"Are you okay?" her fiancé questioned in her ear. Hinata blinked back the tears, leaning into his hold, she kissed his neck, nuzzling the space between his shoulder and neck like a contented cat. And for that moment she was.
"I'm just s-so happy." She lied convincingly.
Sasuke smiled as well. "So am I, Hina-hime. So am I."
Hi, sorry about how short these chapters are, I'm really not feeling this story anymore so I'm trying to get back into the groove of it. I started this story back when I was a bit younger, so I have obviously changed as have my writing. The next chapter will have the wedding, and then there will be a lemon and lots of ANGST.
Also, don't feel shy to PM me! I'm always open to CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.
(I've also started a Hinata-centric oneshot collection titled 'amor', hopefully it'll help me get back in the groove to complete this story. Feel free to check it out.)