I bring fanfic!
Hi everyone. Wow, it's been a long time since I last posted. =] Unbetaed, so if you see any grammatical errors please tell me. Thanks.
The XYZ Effect [1/3ish]
by Kaiyrah
In the House of Hyuuga, everything comes with a hefty price. At times, the price is enough to drive a woman mad. Neji/Hinata. [summary pending]
Notes: I’m a bit rusty in this fandom, so forgive me if I get anything wrong. ^^; Naruto isn’t mine!
---
Hyuuga weddings are different from any others held in the village. And although the Hyuuga has been in danger of falling into the shadow of subordinate advanced bloodlines, the oldest clan in Konohagakure has a certain prestige that keeps people intrigued - and as such, keeps their bloodline famous.
There is a wedding taking place today, and as expected, a good fraction of the villagers are going to the Hyuuga compound to watch. It is not an event to be overlooked, considering that all of their weddings start with a match between the bride and groom, and that is always interesting to watch.
Especially this time around, when the groom is Neji, and the bride Hinata.
---
His daughter has grown immensely. Thanks to the training she has gone through with her cousin, her form, her chakra control, even the way she employs her Byakugan, everything has improved. She is now a Special Jounin on the verge of promotion, and it shows through.
Hinata sidesteps. “Neji-niisan, please don’t hold back for my sake.”
Neji follows suit but stays quiet. Then he lunges forward, focusing his chakra into his palm.
---
“They tell me that I am to be the next Head of Hyuuga,” he informs her.
A soft smile grows on her lips. “As you should be, Nii-san. You deserve it. Hanabi and I are not fit to become leaders, so I can think of no one more suitable for the job.”
Neji shows a small smile of appreciation, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “But there is only one obligation.”
Hinata looks up to see a flock of birds soaring in the sky. “And what is it, Neji-niisan?”
He says nothing at first, looking down at his clenched fists. From Hinata’s view, it looks as if he is having an internal battle of some sort, and she grows concerned. Her hand gently lands on his arm. “Nii-san, what’s the matter?”
“Hinata-sama,” he begins, slowly and deliberately. He hopes that he will not come to regret his words. “Do you think you could ever see me as a man?”
---
She blocks his attack and launches one of her own, grazing his abdomen. To all of the Rookie Nine, Lee, and Tenten, it is a scene reminiscent of their first Chuunin Exam. Neji jumps back and assumes his stance.
They attack at the same time; his hand strikes her left shoulder and her hand strikes his shoulder as well. Neji’s free hand goes up to grasp her wrist, and before she knows what has happened, he strikes her in the stomach, causing her to fly back.
He falters momentarily and is tempted to rush to her side to see if she is alright, but then he remembers where he is -- why he is fighting -- who is watching them -- and he restrains the urge to tend to her.
Hinata rises hesitantly, brushes the dirt from her clothes, and lunges again. Neji braces himself for the attack.
---
She blinks confusedly. “What do you mean, Nii-san?”
Neji runs a hand through his hair and sighs. He has known that this is not going to be easy, but she isn’t making it any easier. “In order to become Head of Hyuuga, I must be married. To someone inside the family, of course, to keep the bloodline pure.”
Their eyes meet for a brief half-second before she averts her gaze. “So then,” Hinata begins, “Did they tell you to marry me or did you choose?”
“I chose,” Neji answers. “Because I know you are understanding. You have understood me for the past 18 years, and I know you will continue to understand. Was it wrong of me, Hinata-sama?”
His cousin slowly shakes her head.
“It’s still not too late,” Neji adds. “If you are truly opposed to it, I can choose someone else. You were the first one I thought of…” he pauses, “But I don’t wish to force you into doing something that you have no desire to do. That’s why I’m asking you first. Over time, you think you might be able to see me as a man - not as your cousin, not as your trainer - but as simply Neji?”
Hinata looks away. Saying such a thing is… practically a confession to her. Or at least, it would have been, had it come from any man other than her older cousin. But still, the idea of someone else marrying Neji-niisan - even the image of Hanabi marrying Neji-niisan - is something that she does not want to imagine. She doesn’t bother to ponder why, and instead takes a deep breath and locks eyes with him, reaching for one of his hands with both of her smaller ones.
And she opts not to answer his question, but rather respond with, “Neji-niisan, it would be an honor to become your wife.”
---
He molds the chakra in his palm - instead of the dagger-sharp form it usually takes, it rounds off at the edges, something he hopes will help soften the blow. He tries to ignore the fact that Hiashi and the elders are furrowing their brows in disappointment. Why is he going easy on her?
Hinata’s palm slices into thin air, Neji having sidestepped to avoid the blow. As soon as she turns, she feels as if a metal rod has been swung at the back of her knees, and she knows immediately that he has hit two of her critical spots.
The younger Hyuuga’s legs buckle, and she falls into a heap, sweating and panting and sighing. It is clear who has won the match. “Nii-san,” she breathes, in out, in out, “You are worthy.”
At those words, the crowd cheers, Hiashi and the Elders applaud quietly with suspicious eyes, and Neji glances at his fiancee wearily as she gives him a reluctant smile.
It is official. In just three hours, the ceremony will start.
---
“Are you crazy?!”
Hinata frowns. Somehow she knew that he would react like this. For the seven years that they have been teammates and friends, he has always been the hot-blooded one of their group, always wearing his heart on his sleeve.
“Hinata, answer me. Are you fucking crazy? Tell me you’re joking.” As if to prove his point, Kiba imprisons her shoulders and forces her to look him straight in the eye.
“I’m not,” she confesses. “Neji-niisan asked me to marry him, and I accepted.”
“But why? You didn’t have to. He could have married someone else. He had a choice. Why did you accept - why did you have to go and sacrifice yourself?!”
She meets his eyes and finds that she can read them perfectly - he is hurt. Betrayed. Angered. The more Kiba mentions it, the more she is regretting it - just why had she accepted, anyway? She knows that she doesn’t want anyone else to marry Neji-niisan - but why is that? Her white eyes begin to well with tears. “I… I don’t know anymore.”
Kiba sighs and releases his vice-like grip on her shoulders. God, he hates it when she cries. “Come here.” His arms encircle her tiny frame in a hug, resting his chin on top of her head. “I’m sorry, okay? I won’t ask again.”
Hinata buries her face in his jacket and says nothing except for a muffled, “Thank you.”
They stay like that for a long time.
---
Neji wakes up to the smell of freshly-cooked rice and broiled fish. As a usual part of his morning routine, he washes up and dresses in a fresh set of clothes.
When he arrives in the kitchen, Hinata smiles gently at him. “Come sit. Breakfast is almost ready.”
He sits down and watches her bustle around in the kitchen, fetching plates and rolling the eggs. Briefly, he thinks of how similar the memory of his mother is compared to his little cousin.
---
“You said there would only be one condition,” Neji states quietly, anger seeping forth from his eyes. “Don’t you dare go back on your word.”
“Our word was never given to you,” Hiashi challenges. “In any case, with one obligation, you have agreed to comply with all subsequent obligations.”
“That’s bullshit!” the Head of Hyuga snaps. “I will not consent to this!”
Hiashi and the elders shoot each other guarded looks. “You must think realistically, Neji. In the thousand years of our clan’s existence, not a single Head of Hyuuga has been a Branch House member. It is not in our place to break tradition.”
“Then why was I chosen in the first place?” Neji questions. “Why wasn’t Hinata-sama or Hanabi-sama chosen?”
“Our family needs a leader like you,” Hiashi responds coldly. “Especially now that Konohagakure is in a time of war. Accept your fate.”
Silence.
“…May I speak my mind?” Hinata asks timidly from Neji’s side. Hiashi looks at her and nods. “Neji-niisan will - ”
“ - You are to address him as Neji-sama - ” interjects one of the elders, who stop upon seeing Neji shake his head.
“Neji-niisan will make a fine leader,” she affirms. “He has longed to prove his worth to us in all the years that he has been a Branch House member. Therefore…” Hinata glances at him, and he gazes at her intensely, as if urging her against what she is about to say. “…We accept.”
“Very well,” Hiashi states. He and the elders stand to leave. “Be at the underground annex at 6 in the evening tomorrow.”
Hinata nods and turns toward Neji, who is infuriated.
“Do you realize what you have just done?” he whispers harshly.
She nods slowly and offers an apologetic smile. “It’s better this way.”
---
To be continued.
The XYZ Effect [1/3ish]
by Kaiyrah
In the House of Hyuuga, everything comes with a hefty price. At times, the price is enough to drive a woman mad. Neji/Hinata. [summary pending]
Notes: I’m a bit rusty in this fandom, so forgive me if I get anything wrong. ^^; Naruto isn’t mine!
---
Hyuuga weddings are different from any others held in the village. And although the Hyuuga has been in danger of falling into the shadow of subordinate advanced bloodlines, the oldest clan in Konohagakure has a certain prestige that keeps people intrigued - and as such, keeps their bloodline famous.
There is a wedding taking place today, and as expected, a good fraction of the villagers are going to the Hyuuga compound to watch. It is not an event to be overlooked, considering that all of their weddings start with a match between the bride and groom, and that is always interesting to watch.
Especially this time around, when the groom is Neji, and the bride Hinata.
---
His daughter has grown immensely. Thanks to the training she has gone through with her cousin, her form, her chakra control, even the way she employs her Byakugan, everything has improved. She is now a Special Jounin on the verge of promotion, and it shows through.
Hinata sidesteps. “Neji-niisan, please don’t hold back for my sake.”
Neji follows suit but stays quiet. Then he lunges forward, focusing his chakra into his palm.
---
“They tell me that I am to be the next Head of Hyuuga,” he informs her.
A soft smile grows on her lips. “As you should be, Nii-san. You deserve it. Hanabi and I are not fit to become leaders, so I can think of no one more suitable for the job.”
Neji shows a small smile of appreciation, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “But there is only one obligation.”
Hinata looks up to see a flock of birds soaring in the sky. “And what is it, Neji-niisan?”
He says nothing at first, looking down at his clenched fists. From Hinata’s view, it looks as if he is having an internal battle of some sort, and she grows concerned. Her hand gently lands on his arm. “Nii-san, what’s the matter?”
“Hinata-sama,” he begins, slowly and deliberately. He hopes that he will not come to regret his words. “Do you think you could ever see me as a man?”
---
She blocks his attack and launches one of her own, grazing his abdomen. To all of the Rookie Nine, Lee, and Tenten, it is a scene reminiscent of their first Chuunin Exam. Neji jumps back and assumes his stance.
They attack at the same time; his hand strikes her left shoulder and her hand strikes his shoulder as well. Neji’s free hand goes up to grasp her wrist, and before she knows what has happened, he strikes her in the stomach, causing her to fly back.
He falters momentarily and is tempted to rush to her side to see if she is alright, but then he remembers where he is -- why he is fighting -- who is watching them -- and he restrains the urge to tend to her.
Hinata rises hesitantly, brushes the dirt from her clothes, and lunges again. Neji braces himself for the attack.
---
She blinks confusedly. “What do you mean, Nii-san?”
Neji runs a hand through his hair and sighs. He has known that this is not going to be easy, but she isn’t making it any easier. “In order to become Head of Hyuuga, I must be married. To someone inside the family, of course, to keep the bloodline pure.”
Their eyes meet for a brief half-second before she averts her gaze. “So then,” Hinata begins, “Did they tell you to marry me or did you choose?”
“I chose,” Neji answers. “Because I know you are understanding. You have understood me for the past 18 years, and I know you will continue to understand. Was it wrong of me, Hinata-sama?”
His cousin slowly shakes her head.
“It’s still not too late,” Neji adds. “If you are truly opposed to it, I can choose someone else. You were the first one I thought of…” he pauses, “But I don’t wish to force you into doing something that you have no desire to do. That’s why I’m asking you first. Over time, you think you might be able to see me as a man - not as your cousin, not as your trainer - but as simply Neji?”
Hinata looks away. Saying such a thing is… practically a confession to her. Or at least, it would have been, had it come from any man other than her older cousin. But still, the idea of someone else marrying Neji-niisan - even the image of Hanabi marrying Neji-niisan - is something that she does not want to imagine. She doesn’t bother to ponder why, and instead takes a deep breath and locks eyes with him, reaching for one of his hands with both of her smaller ones.
And she opts not to answer his question, but rather respond with, “Neji-niisan, it would be an honor to become your wife.”
---
He molds the chakra in his palm - instead of the dagger-sharp form it usually takes, it rounds off at the edges, something he hopes will help soften the blow. He tries to ignore the fact that Hiashi and the elders are furrowing their brows in disappointment. Why is he going easy on her?
Hinata’s palm slices into thin air, Neji having sidestepped to avoid the blow. As soon as she turns, she feels as if a metal rod has been swung at the back of her knees, and she knows immediately that he has hit two of her critical spots.
The younger Hyuuga’s legs buckle, and she falls into a heap, sweating and panting and sighing. It is clear who has won the match. “Nii-san,” she breathes, in out, in out, “You are worthy.”
At those words, the crowd cheers, Hiashi and the Elders applaud quietly with suspicious eyes, and Neji glances at his fiancee wearily as she gives him a reluctant smile.
It is official. In just three hours, the ceremony will start.
---
“Are you crazy?!”
Hinata frowns. Somehow she knew that he would react like this. For the seven years that they have been teammates and friends, he has always been the hot-blooded one of their group, always wearing his heart on his sleeve.
“Hinata, answer me. Are you fucking crazy? Tell me you’re joking.” As if to prove his point, Kiba imprisons her shoulders and forces her to look him straight in the eye.
“I’m not,” she confesses. “Neji-niisan asked me to marry him, and I accepted.”
“But why? You didn’t have to. He could have married someone else. He had a choice. Why did you accept - why did you have to go and sacrifice yourself?!”
She meets his eyes and finds that she can read them perfectly - he is hurt. Betrayed. Angered. The more Kiba mentions it, the more she is regretting it - just why had she accepted, anyway? She knows that she doesn’t want anyone else to marry Neji-niisan - but why is that? Her white eyes begin to well with tears. “I… I don’t know anymore.”
Kiba sighs and releases his vice-like grip on her shoulders. God, he hates it when she cries. “Come here.” His arms encircle her tiny frame in a hug, resting his chin on top of her head. “I’m sorry, okay? I won’t ask again.”
Hinata buries her face in his jacket and says nothing except for a muffled, “Thank you.”
They stay like that for a long time.
---
Neji wakes up to the smell of freshly-cooked rice and broiled fish. As a usual part of his morning routine, he washes up and dresses in a fresh set of clothes.
When he arrives in the kitchen, Hinata smiles gently at him. “Come sit. Breakfast is almost ready.”
He sits down and watches her bustle around in the kitchen, fetching plates and rolling the eggs. Briefly, he thinks of how similar the memory of his mother is compared to his little cousin.
---
“You said there would only be one condition,” Neji states quietly, anger seeping forth from his eyes. “Don’t you dare go back on your word.”
“Our word was never given to you,” Hiashi challenges. “In any case, with one obligation, you have agreed to comply with all subsequent obligations.”
“That’s bullshit!” the Head of Hyuga snaps. “I will not consent to this!”
Hiashi and the elders shoot each other guarded looks. “You must think realistically, Neji. In the thousand years of our clan’s existence, not a single Head of Hyuuga has been a Branch House member. It is not in our place to break tradition.”
“Then why was I chosen in the first place?” Neji questions. “Why wasn’t Hinata-sama or Hanabi-sama chosen?”
“Our family needs a leader like you,” Hiashi responds coldly. “Especially now that Konohagakure is in a time of war. Accept your fate.”
Silence.
“…May I speak my mind?” Hinata asks timidly from Neji’s side. Hiashi looks at her and nods. “Neji-niisan will - ”
“ - You are to address him as Neji-sama - ” interjects one of the elders, who stop upon seeing Neji shake his head.
“Neji-niisan will make a fine leader,” she affirms. “He has longed to prove his worth to us in all the years that he has been a Branch House member. Therefore…” Hinata glances at him, and he gazes at her intensely, as if urging her against what she is about to say. “…We accept.”
“Very well,” Hiashi states. He and the elders stand to leave. “Be at the underground annex at 6 in the evening tomorrow.”
Hinata nods and turns toward Neji, who is infuriated.
“Do you realize what you have just done?” he whispers harshly.
She nods slowly and offers an apologetic smile. “It’s better this way.”
---
To be continued.