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Enjoy!
oOo
Sasuke, Itachi, Hinata, and one of Hinata's maids waited at one of the palace entrances for the carriage to arrive.
Hinata already said her goodbyes to the daimyo. Tento still insisted on giving her the cold shoulder and refused to even look at her, no matter how his father scolded him.
It occurred to her, then, that this might be Tento's first breakup. She decided to leave it alone. If Tento wanted to contact her, he knew where to find her.
Yet, when she spotted the carriage, cart, and nin heading their way, she wanted to turn back and run inside.
Itachi set a steadying hand on her shoulder. "One last chance to change your mind," he murmured.
"Yeah," Sasuke whispered out of the corner of his mouth. "Marry the brat instead and stay with us forever."
Hinata smothered her giggle with a palm.
The nin came close enough for Hinata to make out their faces. She knew they were nin because they walked alongside the carriage, instead of riding inside it.
"Is that…?" Sasuke trailed off.
Hinata stuck her hands into the pocket of her jacket and clutched at the lining inside.
"That's your father, isn't it?" Itachi asked.
She nodded. "And my cousin."
Sasuke scoffed. No matter how many times Hinata explained Neji apologized and was very nice now, Sasuke refused to forgive the other man. She understood Sasuke's position. Due to the stress placed on her heart, she was no longer able to shape chakra like a nin could. Neji permanently disabled her. Hinata forgave Neji long ago, but Sasuke's anger soothed the sting of the unfair situation.
She cleared her throat and stood a bit straighter. "I'm not going to change my mind," she decided.
Itachi smiled.
oOo
After all of Hinata's belongings were loaded into the cart, Hiashi and Neji deigned to join Hinata in the carriage for a short while. They settled on the bench across from Hinata and her maid.
The silence lay over them like an awkward and oppressive blanket.
Hiashi, ready as ever to take charge, cleared his throat. "I'm pleased you chose to return."
Hinata could not help her question as insecure as it sounded. "You wanted me to come back?"
He inclined his head in a regal nod. "I wanted you to make your own decision, and therefore, I resolved to keep from swaying your opinion. However, this is the choice I had hoped you'd make."
A mixture of anger and embarrassment colored her cheeks. She would have preferred to have his council. She was not so young that she could not separate her opinion from her father's.
Neji ignored the interaction and pulled a couple of scrolls out of a tiny box stashed next to him. "I've prepared a couple of briefs on your new… husband." The bridge of his nose crinkled just slightly.
Hiashi let out a minuscule sigh and crossed his arms inside his voluminous sleeves. "It's a pity you'll be shackled to such a man. Clearly, Yoshino is desperate."
Hinata accepted the scrolls and carefully opened one. Her maid leaned in close and read over Hinata's shoulder.
Neji spoke next. "He's been reckless. He is not a close range fighter, and yet he's been injured thirteen times this year alone."
"We're only four months into the year!" Hinata gasped.
Neji hummed his agreement. "Yoshino might want someone to tether Shikamaru back to Konoha. Appeal to his decency not to leave his new wife a widow."
"Or she wants him to sire an heir before he dies," Hiashi said plainly. "He has not dated since he sent that Suna kunoichi home."
Hinata's fading blush rushed back in full force. Trying to distract herself, she thought of the letter Yoshino sent her.
"His position in the clan is tenuous," Hinata said. "His cousins are trying to usurp him."
Neji leaned back in his seat and the shadows on the back of the carriage darkened his face. "What is he looking for that's more important than preserving his position as Clan head?"
A strong sense of foreboding overcame Hinata. Suddenly, it felt like the carriage was taking her into a situation far more complicated than the palace. And more dangerous.
She imperceptibly raised her eyebrows at her maid. Do you want to go back?
Her maid firmed her jaw. No. I'm staying.
Hinata leaned further into her friend's warmth as the cool beads of her earrings brushed her neck.
oOo
Coming up: Choji puts his foot down.
Word count: 740