Chapter 11 - Wind Chimes
November is on the approach.
They are two weeks into looking for a loophole, and Neji has been taking more trips to the Uchiha estate in his usual form. For the most part, he and Sasuke have been going through old Uchiha documents that list traditions, affairs, and customs that date back to the start of the family. Neji, after all, knows the Hyuuga code well — it would be wise to search for a solution in the Uchiha family, as if there would be some rule that prevented any seal or jutsu that could compromise the kekkei genkai of the clan.
So far, they haven't found anything that could help them.
And with the deadline's fast approach, Neji feels he doesn't have a choice.
It's a cold, October night when he slips into the Hyuuga archives with Hanabi at her side. There a section blocked off that can only be opened by the pressure of chakra from the Main Branch, and they both have a slight feeling there may be something there that can help them.
Hanabi is quick to find the entrance of the hidden section. Upon the touch of her chakra, an invisibility jutsu lifts, and a line of documents are found huddled in the back of one of the shelves. But when she hands them to Neji, they immediately fall back under the cloak of invisibility.
She frowns. "That's a puzzle."
Neji settles back, thinking. "We'll have to break the jutsu."
"Which won't be easy." Both of their byakugans activate. "How complex is this thing? They really don't want outsiders reading these things."
"And it really should stay that way."
Hanabi squeaks like a caught mouse, and even Neji is thrown off balance when Hiashi's voice comes from the shadows. They both lower their gazes at his slow approach, still dressed in comfortable, leisurely robes, as if he'd just gotten out of bed.
"I wish I could say I'm surprised to see the two of you here," Hiashi drones.
Hanabi frowns to herself. "I can't just sit back and watch them do this to Hinata. You understand, don't you, Father?"
He doesn't answer. Instead, his focus turns onto Neji. "I'm assuming you'll be handing these to Uchiha Sasuke."
"Yes," Neji says.
"He's not fond of the idea, I see."
"Who is?" Hanabi barks, finally looking her father in the eye. "Who would want this? Aside from those bastard —"
"Hanabi," Hiashi murmurs. It's empty of that usual, hard authority that he often uses with her. Her name is soft and quiet and gentle, and Hanabi's spit and fire quickly calms. Hiashi still keeps his eyes on Neji. "Do you trust him?"
Hanabi bites her lips together.
"With my life," Neji answers, and he means it.
"With Hinata's?" Hiashi asks.
He hesitates, then says, "Mostly."
"Mostly?"
"About 93%."
"Be kind to him, Father," Hanabi says. "Their prides get in the way, but somehow, they seem like brothers to me."
Neji grimaces, disgusted, and this causes Hiashi to chuckle low in his throat. He performs a wave of hand signatures, and the invisibility jutsu lifts. Neji looks down at the documents, then back at Hiashi.
"You've always done well at keeping my daughters safe. I trust you." He has a secret smile. "Mostly. Perhaps 95%."
Hanabi is buzzing with joy, and she hops up and drapes her arms around her father's neck.
"Thank you," she cheers, then whispers, then cries. "Thank you, Father."
He holds her like a father should, and Neji, momentarily, is reminded of his own father.
He holds the documents close, determined.
* Hyuuga Neji - The Trusted One *
Before dawn, Neji is at the Uchiha gate.
Sasuke lets him in. He has not slept this night, either. Neji is a little worried that he'll drag himself into exhaustion and pass out before they can find anything noteworthy, but he doesn't say a word about it as he hands the documents to him.
"These are confidential," he explains. "I looked over them momentarily. I'm not sure if there's anything here that can help us, but I have a feeling it will lead us down the correct path."
Sasuke skims the first page. When he realizes these are papers going over the process and politics surrounding the seal, his mouth is twisted into an instant frown.
"I'll look them over." Shoving the pile under his arm, Sasuke then turns his focus on Neji. "You look like shit."
Neji, quite frankly, feels like shit, too. Sneaking around, poking his nose in business that's not his own, constantly trying to avoid the suspicions of the Hyuuga — it's draining. Hiashi had been kind, putting his position as a father over his position as Head of the Clan; but if it had been an elder, both he and Hanabi would have been ruined.
What Sasuke says is true, but Neji just squints. "I look like shit, Uchiha?"
"I'll survive."
"Right."
Sasuke has that kind of expression like he's trying to hide something. Neji has an idea what it is.
Off to the side, Shisui and . . . Other Neji are stretched out under the snapdragons. Shisui has gotten in the habit of staying in the complex when Neji is not sharing a body with her. He had been cautious about this, at first. He still feared that Sasuke's chakra would get attached to the cat's, and he would be sucked in — but it's never happened. It's as if Shisui can control who she wants to merge with.
That's a thought process for a later date, however.
Neji kneels next to her and scratches that spot behind her ear that he knows from first-hand experience feels good.
Sasuke watches by the gate, amused. "Playing favorites, I see."
Neji stares down at Other Neji. That hairless face looking up at him makes a shiver run down his time.
"He looks more like an Itachi to me," he mutters.
Sasuke snorts. "What, is he your cat now?"
Shaking his head, Neji stands. "I'm leaving. Read those. I'll be back in two days to discuss what you've found." He hops onto the roof of the gate and glares down at Sasuke. "And get some damn sleep before you pass out, Brat."
...
He probably should have taken his own advice, but Neji is too restless to sleep.
Later that morning, he's hidden on the outer edge of the Uchiha wall, waiting for Shisui to come. She hops down from the wall and rubs her face against his ankle, purring in a delighted greeting. Neji scratches her chin and touches that silver tag on the collar.
"He'll probably be taking you to the vet soon," he murmurs to himself. With Shisui slowly becoming less of a stray and more of a part of the suddenly growing Uchiha family, he's heard both Sasuke and Hinata talk about eventually taking her to get her vaccinations. There's a part of that thought that makes Neji's spine curl. "Let's make sure I'm not merged with you when that happens."
Shisui closes her horizon eyes, and her chakra reaches out, searching for his.
They link, and in cat form, Neji —
Well, strange is the best way to describe it. Neji feels strange. Sometimes, he feels tingle; sometimes, it takes him a moment to get used to the sudden change of body — but this, whatever it is, is different.
He doesn't feel right.
He feels like he's changing, like he's a cat, but with the weight of Hyuuga Neji.
It's a lingering phenomenon that does not go away, but his cat form quickly settles into it, like it's normal, like it's expected.
Eventually, Neji leaves from his spot and scratches against the gate, calling for Sasuke to let him in.
He doesn't feel the will to move around too much.
...
Hinata comes that afternoon to paint and polish windchimes on the engawa. Other Neji plays with string she brought for him by her leg, and they both enjoy the sunlight together.
Neji (the real one) and Sasuke are in the back office that once housed Uchiha Fugaku. Sasuke is leaning over the desk, flipping through the drab of Hyuuga politics, and Neji sits on the desk next to him, tail flipping back and forth with concentration as he reads with him. It's long, boring, tiresome language that makes him want to claw his eyes out, and they're reading in the lamp's glow for a while, listening to Hinata's occasional giggle and the singing of chimes.
They're perhaps forty minutes into reading when Sasuke leans back in his chair, sighing, stretching.
He doesn't complain. He doesn't grumble at all.
Instead, he stands and pushes back the sliding door that leads out into the engawa, letting the cool, autumn breeze fill the room. Neji joins him at his side, feeling his mood lighten when he feels sunlight warm his fur.
They both stare out at Hinata, who is momentarily distracted by playing with Other Neji. By her side, on a piece of paper, is a turquoise wind chime drying on its side. Neji's ears perk. Seeing his cousin in a good mood despite the approaching deadline makes things a little better, and he stares up at Sasuke, gauging his reaction.
And Sasuke looks —
Sasuke looks like a man in love.
There's a roar of desire in his face, between dashes of dark eyelashes and along the straight and narrow of his nose, that is all-consuming. Whatever exhaustion weighing him down is gone, for a moment, as he stares down at the colorful, polished wind chime — then at the little creatures that make up his home — then at her.
Neji thinks, for the first time, Sasuke truly believes that this is a place where he belongs.
Finally leaving the doorway, Sasuke moves next to Hinata, who looks up at him from her spot on the engawa. He touches her cheek, then skims his fingers over her nose, which makes her laugh. He pushes her bangs away and presses his fingers against her untouched forehead, and Neji can see the determination brewing in his gaze.
Hinata smiles. "You look tired, Sasuke."
Sasuke's smile is exactly that. "A bit."
Hinata taps her hand against the engawa, and he sits next to her. Other Neji is quick to curl himself in his lap, resting his chin against Sasuke's right knee. Hinata shifts her body a little so that it faces him, and then she pulls him over and lets him rest his head against her shoulder.
"Rest," she tells him. "I'll be here when you wake up."
Sasuke exhales lightly and leans into her. Her hands rest against his back, cradling him, never leaving him alone.
After a moment, Hinata finds Neji and beacons him over.
"Come on, Shisui. You're family, too."
For some reason, guilt fills Neji's chest. He comes over, settles in her lap, and relaxes into the songs of her humming and the distant noise of Konoha.
Chapter 11 - End