Feet hit the ground rapidly as she raced towards her destination. Was it a mistake? Was it true? Was there some kind of genjutsu at work?
She didn't take notice of anything as she ran, her heart beating against her ribcage hard enough, she wouldn't be surprised if it left an impression on her bones. Finally she was at the door step, forcing herself forward and drawing back the door that allowed entry to her childhood home she looked to the people around the table. It was a woman with chestnut brown hair and amber eyes, whom she knew to be Chiaki. On either side of her were two children. The boy appeared to be roughly eight years old in their years, he had shaggy, black hair and crimson eyes. The girl had black hair and black eyes. She looked to be around seven years old, but she didn't have time to ask anything before the sound of someone else entering the room drew her attention. She turned around to come face to face with the last person she expected to see, although there was no mistaking it.
He hadn't changed. He had the same strong jaw and chistled cheek bones, his white featureless eyes denoting that he was her relative. His long dark brown hair was tied back in its usual loose ponytail, and a toddler was in his arms, who had his nose, their grandmother's lips, and her late cousin's chin, as well as his dark brunette hair. Her eyes were a warm glowing amber, the same as Chiaki's. The child was dressed in a simple pink kimono decorated with white camellias. Neji was back in the outfit he'd usually wear before the war began. Chiaki was dressed in a more modern black dress with leaves of autumn colours. The raven haired girl wore a simple black kimono and the boy was dressed in a black track suit with sandals.
What struck Hinata most was that he was smiling freely, without caring about putting on airs or seeming stoic. He was the happiest she could ever remember seeing him. He was relaxed, there was no tension in him at all, unlike the way he'd spent his day to day life for the three months leading up to his demise. She knew about faux bodies, she'd first met Chiaki while she was living inside one. In truth, the Hyuga were the one clan in Konoha who with their Byakugan were able to see Shinigami as clearly as they'd see anyone with a chakra network.
"Brother Neji," Hinata gasped at the sight, her eyes then went to the toddler in his arms.
"It's good to see you again, Lady Hinata," Neji greeted her. He followed her gaze and his smile broadened as he introduced them, "Hinata, this is my daughter, Hikari. Hikari, this is Daddy's cousin, Hinata."
Hinata's attention turned to Hikari. She smiled at the toddler, offering her hand to the child as she greeted her, "hello Hikari."
Hikari smiled, showing her four baby teeth off to Hinata. This caused the shinobi woman to blink and gasp in realization as she looked to Neji. He smiled, closing his eyes momentarily before admitting, "yes. She was conceived while I was still human. On my 18th birthday, in fact, it's exceptionally rare."
"So rare it was unheard of, it stunned everyone for a while. As it turns out, only male members of your clan would have the possibility of this occurring," Chiaki chimed in.
Hinata blinked repeatedly as she glanced to Chiaki and asked, "But you're basically a spirit. You don't have a corporeal body, how did this happen?"
"It's a long story, suffice it to say we're descended from beings who exist in a similar manner to Chiaki's people. Because of that, the men in our clan are able to impregnate her kind. Only four other species of humanoids are capable of such a feat," Neji offered.
"Well, that is certainly something," Hiashi commented, he smiled as he held his hands out for Hikari. Neji willingly handed the young toddler to her great-uncle. He gleefully took her and cuddled her close, reminiscing of when his daughters were as small as she currently is.
A teenage girl with brown hair, in an orange kimono whom Chiaki figured to be Hanabi was the next to ask, "How old is she?"
"Thirteen months," Suzume answered. Upon hearing her sister's voice, Hikari turned to the darker haired girl and babbled. The group smiled at the adorable ramblings until they heard a clear word, "Suz."
Chiaki blinked before breaking into a broad smile, and stated, "Not Mama or Dada. It had to be Suz."
"Well she does try to copy cat Suzume," Tetsuya offered. Chiaki nodded in agreement as did Neji. Hiashi smiled as he offered Hikari to the raven haired girl who willfully took her into her lap and cuddled her. Neji observed his uncle momentarily before asking, "Lord Hiashi?"
"Oh, it's nothing Neji. I'm just remembering how much Hanabi adored Hinata—and how much Hinata adored you," the head of the Hyuga clan stated.
Hiashi looked to Chiaki and inquired, "You said that Tetsuya is your nephew, where is your sibling?"
At this Chiaki's eyes saddened and she admitted, "She was killed in action a few years ago. Tetsuya was a baby back then, unfortunately he doesn't remember very much about my sister."
Tetsuya nodded in agreement, then brightened as he remarked, "but show me a picture with her and I can point her out! Grandpa and Aunt Chiaki have made sure of that."
At this the amber eyed woman smiled radiantly, warmth filling her insides at her nephew's praising. There weren't many times in child rearing where a child could praise an adult for something but when they did, it was a euphoria like no other.
"You said that your nephew was a baby but you also mentioned before that you have greater longevity than humans," Hiashi hinted.
Chiaki realized where this conversation was going and decided honesty was the best policy as she replied, "Yes sir. We Shinigami age about ten times slower than humans once our powers begin to manifest, but until that point we can age as a normal human would. As an example, I'm currently 181, although I look to be eighteen in your world. Tetsuya is actually 108, although he looks ten. Suzume we're not certain of, mainly because until she met Neji she didn't really keep track of time."
Suzume nodded in agreement and admitted, "Thinking about time used to hurt. It doesn't now. Life's nice now."
Neji wasn't sure if he should smile or cry. For a child so young, she'd already seen and experienced so much. The least he and Chiaki could do was protect her, support her, and give her the childhood she always deserved.
Suzume smiled and looked to Neji, a happy giggle escaping her as she revealed, "I got the best Dad now, and the best mom. The best little sister, and the best cousin."
Tetsuya smirked a little at this while Neji allowed himself to give into his urge to smile. Hiashi looked to Neji and thought to himself, 'you're finally happy.'
Hanabi decided to address the elephant in the room as she inquired, "so this is a family visit?"
"Uh, sort of," Neji replied before approaching Suzume. Hikari raised her arms up to her father, and he smiled as he picked her up and cuddled her close. He then looked to Chiaki and stated, "I'm going to take her to visit now."
"Alright. I know you'll both be safe," Chiaki stated. Neji moved away from the others, then white ribbon seemed to wrap around himself and Hikari before a loud pop was heard, and they both vanished from sight.
The members of the Hyuga family became wide eyed, their jaws threatening to hit the floor, Chiaki gave a small sigh and confessed, "it's better than walking in a village where everyone knows him—and knows he died almost two years ago."