[log] [Politics] [Nejiko and Hinaji] [Closed] [backdated]
Backdated to when Nejiko came home from her previous mission and found out about Hinaji being sealed.
Being back in the compound was supposed to be relaxing, but Nejiko itched to go back into the field. These days it seemed everyone in the clan was busy with something, though, so Nejiko had plenty of quiet to sit in her room and meditate on the goings on of the past few weeks. Her mission was a success but her mind and body were unsurprisingly exhausted. Listening to the sounds of her own breathing was relaxing; she could hear the sounds of the birds outside and a breeze was coming through the crack in the sliding door. Her concentration was less than absolute that day; she couldn't stop thinking about her last mission and how angry Tentsuke had been about her leaving without telling him.
The sound footsteps outside of her door, hesitant and soft, broke her out of her troubled thoughts. Opening her eyes, Nejiko craned her head slightly to look at the wooden door. Even without her Byakugan activated, she had a feeling who was there.
"Hinaji-sama."
He hadn't really known what to be prepared for when he went to visit his cousin. It had been a long time--too long--since they'd last spoken. And then she greeted him in that painfully familiar way, and he couldn't help his wince.
She didn't know.
"...Nejiko-neesan," he said softly, opening the door and slowly coming inside, her use of his name all the permission she would probably give. He bowed his head slightly in greeting when the door closed. "Welcome home."
She nodded her head at him in thanks, rolling back to her feet fluidly. It wasn't often that Hinaji came looking for her. He probably had heard she was back from her mission and wanted to see if she was pushing herself too hard. Hinaji was soft-he worried too much. It was one of the things she used to pity him for but that softness was something Nejiko secretly hoped he would always have. She would protect it the best she could while urging him to become stronger and protect himself.
"Did you need something from me?" Nejiko asked curiously, folding her hands into her long white sleeves.
Something didn't look right with Hinaji. This was more than his usual shyness-the shyness that was gradually dissipating when he was with Nejiko. Pale, knowing eyes scanned him up and down trying to catch any body language that would give away what was wrong.
"Ah, need...? No." He shook his head slightly and managed a weak smile. "I just wanted to welcome you home." As rough as things had been--and still were--with his cousin, he wanted to fix that. That she hadn't told him to outright leave was a good step.
"Did you have difficulties?" A lot has happened, but he couldn't quite get those words out. It was still embarrassing to admit to his loss, and most especially to her.
Nejiko slid back down into kneeling position, knowing that when she stood it tended to make people, especially Hinaji more nervous. Her eyes shifted across from her, hinting that he was welcome to take a seat if he wanted. If it was possible he looked more stressed and anxious than usual. What had been going on while she was gone?
"Some," she said simply, "but they were cleared up promptly and we finished the mission with very few causalities. How is your training going? Have you been practicing with Hiashiko-sama or Hanabi-sama?"
As much as Nejiko respected Kureno, Hinaji needed to train and have his skilled honed by other Hyuugas. If Nejiko herself wasn't around to help her, she wanted to be sure someone would be.
He took the silent offer and knelt across from her, his hands placed loosely on his knees.
"I'm glad to hear that." He paused slightly at her next question, not quite sure what to say. "...Training is well. I've been working with Kiba-chan and Hoshino-chan. ...Mother focuses solely on Hanabi now."
Stop being a coward and just say it.
He shifted a little, uncomfortable. Surely she would understand the implications of that, but he should be the one to tell her directly. She'd gotten hurt trying to protect him.
"...A lot happened while you were away."
"Is that so?" Nejiko's face was impassive as ever but she could see every little twitch of his body, every panicky shake. Immediately, she grew worried. What could have happened in only two months? And why had she not heard about whatever it was?
It probably had to do with Hiashiko. That woman… if she wasn't trying to marry Nejiko off she was meddling in the lives of every Hyuuga in the compound. She respected her aunt greatly as a leader-her mother wouldn't have stood for anything less-but as a person, Hiashiko was… questionable.
"What sorts of things, Hinaji-sama?"
"Please..." he said, his voice almost strained. "Just Hinaji is fine."
He felt awkward and uncomfortable and he wanted to leave but he wouldn't. If he was ever going to change himself he couldn't run away. He hadn't run from her back then, when she had tried to kill him, and he wouldn't run now.
"I'm your equal, Nejiko-neesan. I have been for a while now."
The concern, confusion, and annoyance were starting to show through, with her mouth pursed and eyebrows crooked obviously. She really hated with people tried to beat around the bush. None of this was making any sense. She was forced to call him with that particular honorific. Even if they had been closer than when they were kids it was a force of habit and it was expected of her to do so.
"What, exactly, are you trying to say? Just come out and say it."
They would never be equals, at least in Nejiko's mind, not in terms of status or in power.
"...I'm a Branch member now, neesan," he finally said softly, meeting her eyes and refusing to look away. "I'm no longer the heir."
It still hurt to say so, to think about just how badly he'd failed. A few months wasn't a very long time to heal. But he'd never get stronger if he didn't, and even if it did hurt, it...helped, as well, to talk about it.
"I'm sorry to have not said so sooner."
Nejiko's heart felt as though it had dropped from the heights of the Hokage Tower. She could feel the color seep from her face and her eyes widening at Hinaji's declaration. Without even thinking about it, she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards her, using her other hand to push his bang away from his forehead.
"When?" her voice sounded distant and far away but colder than it ever had before, even to her own ears.
Seeing on his forehead the same mark she had seen on her hundreds of times before was painful. She hadn't been here to protect him she hadn't… a logical voice in her head asked, What could you have done? but Nejiko stifled it abruptly.
Her grip was almost painful, and he hadn't expected her to move like that.
"A-a while... A couple months..." Honestly, he couldn't remember exactly how long. He should, he knew. Should know every day, every hour, every minute...but he'd tried so hard to move on, to accept it that the days had blurred together. It was still new but...familiar.
It wasn't supposed to happen. Hinaji wasn't a threat to anyone, especially to Hanabi. Why would Hiashiko feel the need to seal him? Was it just because she could? Nejiko wished she could pry herself away from Hanabi to storm over to Hiashiko and demand answers, but she felt nailed to the floor, legs as heavy as her heart. She would probably just make the situation worse, she reasoned, she had to think carefully about her actions. It would only hurt Hinaji worse.
"Has she… used the seal?" Nejiko asked, tracing the seal with her fingers gently.
This wasn't supposed to happen to Hinaji. Not Hinaji. Never Hinaji. Good, sweet, peaceful Hinaji who wouldn’t hurt a fly.
He could very clearly remember the pain from the sealing ceremony, but shook his head slowly.
"No." Hopefully she never would. With him or anyone else. He wouldn't wish that pain on anyone.
It was a strange feeling, though, to have someone trace the seal. He'd done so soon after it had healed, but no one else had touched it. It wasn't something anyone wanted to acknowledge. That Nejiko did so made him almost anxious. She was always so composed and strong--this hadn't affected her too badly, had it?
She pulled back and set her hands at her sides, unable to tear her eyes away from it. It was a blemish, an ugly, horrible blemish on Hinaji's face. Why had she thought Hiashiko had changed, even just a little? Ever since that Chuunin exams she had thought… no, it seemed Hiashiko was still the same as ever.
"Don't ever give any of them reason to use it," Nejiko warned seriously, fingers twitching, almost begging to be put into fists. This had taken her off guard and she didn't LIKE being taken by surprise. It had affected her more than she would care to admit. "But do not be afraid either, Hinaji-sama."
Don't let them see how afraid you are.
"You really...shouldn't call me that anymore, Nejiko-neesan."
But he nodded to what she said, understanding just how important that was. She need not worry, though--he had no intention of giving anyone a reason.
"I will be careful."
Nejiko had learned early on that life wasn't fair but this was just cruel. She was in no position to offer any comfort. All she could do was train him, help him get strong and show the Main House members exactly what they were giving up. Hinaji was changing day by day and so was she; they were not the same children who fought during the Chuunin exams.
One day, maybe people would see that.
"It will take some getting used to… Hinaji."
He nodded his head, fully aware of that. Not hearing the honorific was more jarring than he'd thought it would be. Not because he enjoyed being addressed as such, but simply because it was strange. They'd spent their entire lives stuck in Hyuuga house politics. Having it broken so easily by the simple loss of a word was weird.
But he didn't really know what else to do. He'd told her what he wished to, and she surely had other matters to attend to. So he bowed his head again before slowly standing.
"Thank you, neesan."
Turning her head to face the window because she couldn’t bear to look at him at the moment, a few uncomfortable moments passed before she spoke again. "Training," she said finally, clearly of a one track mind, "I would like to train with you."
Prodigy, they said, Branch House, cold, logical, Hyuuga. Nejiko was not a robot but she wasn't an overly emotional person, either. She was only Nejiko and this was the only way she knew how to comfort him.
"What do you think?"
"...Thank you." He'd never have imagined that. But that she would want to do such a thing... "Very much, thank you."
He bowed slightly lower than before, feeling better than he had since before realising he had to come talk to her. Nejiko was one of the best Hyuuga, and it was more an honor than he thought he deserved, for her to want to help him. Especially after what happened.
"I would like that very much."
Being back in the compound was supposed to be relaxing, but Nejiko itched to go back into the field. These days it seemed everyone in the clan was busy with something, though, so Nejiko had plenty of quiet to sit in her room and meditate on the goings on of the past few weeks. Her mission was a success but her mind and body were unsurprisingly exhausted. Listening to the sounds of her own breathing was relaxing; she could hear the sounds of the birds outside and a breeze was coming through the crack in the sliding door. Her concentration was less than absolute that day; she couldn't stop thinking about her last mission and how angry Tentsuke had been about her leaving without telling him.
The sound footsteps outside of her door, hesitant and soft, broke her out of her troubled thoughts. Opening her eyes, Nejiko craned her head slightly to look at the wooden door. Even without her Byakugan activated, she had a feeling who was there.
"Hinaji-sama."
He hadn't really known what to be prepared for when he went to visit his cousin. It had been a long time--too long--since they'd last spoken. And then she greeted him in that painfully familiar way, and he couldn't help his wince.
She didn't know.
"...Nejiko-neesan," he said softly, opening the door and slowly coming inside, her use of his name all the permission she would probably give. He bowed his head slightly in greeting when the door closed. "Welcome home."
She nodded her head at him in thanks, rolling back to her feet fluidly. It wasn't often that Hinaji came looking for her. He probably had heard she was back from her mission and wanted to see if she was pushing herself too hard. Hinaji was soft-he worried too much. It was one of the things she used to pity him for but that softness was something Nejiko secretly hoped he would always have. She would protect it the best she could while urging him to become stronger and protect himself.
"Did you need something from me?" Nejiko asked curiously, folding her hands into her long white sleeves.
Something didn't look right with Hinaji. This was more than his usual shyness-the shyness that was gradually dissipating when he was with Nejiko. Pale, knowing eyes scanned him up and down trying to catch any body language that would give away what was wrong.
"Ah, need...? No." He shook his head slightly and managed a weak smile. "I just wanted to welcome you home." As rough as things had been--and still were--with his cousin, he wanted to fix that. That she hadn't told him to outright leave was a good step.
"Did you have difficulties?" A lot has happened, but he couldn't quite get those words out. It was still embarrassing to admit to his loss, and most especially to her.
Nejiko slid back down into kneeling position, knowing that when she stood it tended to make people, especially Hinaji more nervous. Her eyes shifted across from her, hinting that he was welcome to take a seat if he wanted. If it was possible he looked more stressed and anxious than usual. What had been going on while she was gone?
"Some," she said simply, "but they were cleared up promptly and we finished the mission with very few causalities. How is your training going? Have you been practicing with Hiashiko-sama or Hanabi-sama?"
As much as Nejiko respected Kureno, Hinaji needed to train and have his skilled honed by other Hyuugas. If Nejiko herself wasn't around to help her, she wanted to be sure someone would be.
He took the silent offer and knelt across from her, his hands placed loosely on his knees.
"I'm glad to hear that." He paused slightly at her next question, not quite sure what to say. "...Training is well. I've been working with Kiba-chan and Hoshino-chan. ...Mother focuses solely on Hanabi now."
Stop being a coward and just say it.
He shifted a little, uncomfortable. Surely she would understand the implications of that, but he should be the one to tell her directly. She'd gotten hurt trying to protect him.
"...A lot happened while you were away."
"Is that so?" Nejiko's face was impassive as ever but she could see every little twitch of his body, every panicky shake. Immediately, she grew worried. What could have happened in only two months? And why had she not heard about whatever it was?
It probably had to do with Hiashiko. That woman… if she wasn't trying to marry Nejiko off she was meddling in the lives of every Hyuuga in the compound. She respected her aunt greatly as a leader-her mother wouldn't have stood for anything less-but as a person, Hiashiko was… questionable.
"What sorts of things, Hinaji-sama?"
"Please..." he said, his voice almost strained. "Just Hinaji is fine."
He felt awkward and uncomfortable and he wanted to leave but he wouldn't. If he was ever going to change himself he couldn't run away. He hadn't run from her back then, when she had tried to kill him, and he wouldn't run now.
"I'm your equal, Nejiko-neesan. I have been for a while now."
The concern, confusion, and annoyance were starting to show through, with her mouth pursed and eyebrows crooked obviously. She really hated with people tried to beat around the bush. None of this was making any sense. She was forced to call him with that particular honorific. Even if they had been closer than when they were kids it was a force of habit and it was expected of her to do so.
"What, exactly, are you trying to say? Just come out and say it."
They would never be equals, at least in Nejiko's mind, not in terms of status or in power.
"...I'm a Branch member now, neesan," he finally said softly, meeting her eyes and refusing to look away. "I'm no longer the heir."
It still hurt to say so, to think about just how badly he'd failed. A few months wasn't a very long time to heal. But he'd never get stronger if he didn't, and even if it did hurt, it...helped, as well, to talk about it.
"I'm sorry to have not said so sooner."
Nejiko's heart felt as though it had dropped from the heights of the Hokage Tower. She could feel the color seep from her face and her eyes widening at Hinaji's declaration. Without even thinking about it, she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards her, using her other hand to push his bang away from his forehead.
"When?" her voice sounded distant and far away but colder than it ever had before, even to her own ears.
Seeing on his forehead the same mark she had seen on her hundreds of times before was painful. She hadn't been here to protect him she hadn't… a logical voice in her head asked, What could you have done? but Nejiko stifled it abruptly.
Her grip was almost painful, and he hadn't expected her to move like that.
"A-a while... A couple months..." Honestly, he couldn't remember exactly how long. He should, he knew. Should know every day, every hour, every minute...but he'd tried so hard to move on, to accept it that the days had blurred together. It was still new but...familiar.
It wasn't supposed to happen. Hinaji wasn't a threat to anyone, especially to Hanabi. Why would Hiashiko feel the need to seal him? Was it just because she could? Nejiko wished she could pry herself away from Hanabi to storm over to Hiashiko and demand answers, but she felt nailed to the floor, legs as heavy as her heart. She would probably just make the situation worse, she reasoned, she had to think carefully about her actions. It would only hurt Hinaji worse.
"Has she… used the seal?" Nejiko asked, tracing the seal with her fingers gently.
This wasn't supposed to happen to Hinaji. Not Hinaji. Never Hinaji. Good, sweet, peaceful Hinaji who wouldn’t hurt a fly.
He could very clearly remember the pain from the sealing ceremony, but shook his head slowly.
"No." Hopefully she never would. With him or anyone else. He wouldn't wish that pain on anyone.
It was a strange feeling, though, to have someone trace the seal. He'd done so soon after it had healed, but no one else had touched it. It wasn't something anyone wanted to acknowledge. That Nejiko did so made him almost anxious. She was always so composed and strong--this hadn't affected her too badly, had it?
She pulled back and set her hands at her sides, unable to tear her eyes away from it. It was a blemish, an ugly, horrible blemish on Hinaji's face. Why had she thought Hiashiko had changed, even just a little? Ever since that Chuunin exams she had thought… no, it seemed Hiashiko was still the same as ever.
"Don't ever give any of them reason to use it," Nejiko warned seriously, fingers twitching, almost begging to be put into fists. This had taken her off guard and she didn't LIKE being taken by surprise. It had affected her more than she would care to admit. "But do not be afraid either, Hinaji-sama."
Don't let them see how afraid you are.
"You really...shouldn't call me that anymore, Nejiko-neesan."
But he nodded to what she said, understanding just how important that was. She need not worry, though--he had no intention of giving anyone a reason.
"I will be careful."
Nejiko had learned early on that life wasn't fair but this was just cruel. She was in no position to offer any comfort. All she could do was train him, help him get strong and show the Main House members exactly what they were giving up. Hinaji was changing day by day and so was she; they were not the same children who fought during the Chuunin exams.
One day, maybe people would see that.
"It will take some getting used to… Hinaji."
He nodded his head, fully aware of that. Not hearing the honorific was more jarring than he'd thought it would be. Not because he enjoyed being addressed as such, but simply because it was strange. They'd spent their entire lives stuck in Hyuuga house politics. Having it broken so easily by the simple loss of a word was weird.
But he didn't really know what else to do. He'd told her what he wished to, and she surely had other matters to attend to. So he bowed his head again before slowly standing.
"Thank you, neesan."
Turning her head to face the window because she couldn’t bear to look at him at the moment, a few uncomfortable moments passed before she spoke again. "Training," she said finally, clearly of a one track mind, "I would like to train with you."
Prodigy, they said, Branch House, cold, logical, Hyuuga. Nejiko was not a robot but she wasn't an overly emotional person, either. She was only Nejiko and this was the only way she knew how to comfort him.
"What do you think?"
"...Thank you." He'd never have imagined that. But that she would want to do such a thing... "Very much, thank you."
He bowed slightly lower than before, feeling better than he had since before realising he had to come talk to her. Nejiko was one of the best Hyuuga, and it was more an honor than he thought he deserved, for her to want to help him. Especially after what happened.
"I would like that very much."