One's Duty [Nejiko, Hiashiko]

[weighted_wings]

[takes place a few days after Nejiko & Yuugao get back from their mission, which since it's so freakin' long is still being beta'd. >.>]

march year 19

Nejiko showed nothing as she walked to Hiashiko's study. She had been summoned and that was all she knew, though it was enough to know that whatever the reason behind the summons, it could not be

Comments

[hyuuga_hiashiko]

Over three years ago, Hiashiko had a private conference with her niece, in the aftermath of an almost-wedding. Their conversation had been brief, but it had been honest and dropped without another allusion. Over three years ago, Hiashiko told her sister's child that she did not wish to see her miserable

[weighted_wings]

Glacial temper blazed bright as summer ice in Nejiko's eyes even as her mouth instantly dried out. She knew instantly that this wasn't Hiashiko's choice. Talks along this subject had happened and were waiting for Nejiko to make the final decision. But now that decision was ripped from both of them, torn by the Elder Council.

With effort, she kept her eyes focused on Hiashiko. To focus the temper on Elder Hinata was to invite her tenuous control on her killing intent to waver, and she damn well knew what would happen if it did. Fury towards Hiashiko would not be out of the ordinary, and therefore marginally acceptable. Hopefully her aunt would know that the anger was not directed at her.

Protocol, her mind hissed. "The Elders are most generous, but I must refuse both their offer and their call to my duty."

It cost her dearly to keep the snarl and the sarcasm and yes, even the smugness out of her voice. She couldn't afford to show a lack of control, couldn't afford to be anything less than perfect.

[hyuuga_hiashiko]

Nejiko's anger spun lightning into the air, and Hiashiko wondered just how well she could contain--too much to ask to control--her niece's fury. There was no need for this to end with Elder Hinata feeling Nejiko had threatened her and Nejiko screaming upon the ground. Damage control was all she could hope for, to race before the raging fire in order to head it off.

"There is no call higher than duty, Nejiko, and it cannot be refused." It was what bound Hyuuga, what made them who they were, all of them, from the Elders to the Branch. "If you cannot make the choice, the choice will be offered to your mother." An old custom, for the arranging of marriages, particularly when children were involved and could not be trusted to make a wise decision on their own.

[weighted_wings]

Nejiko almost snorted--yes, because she could so imagine Hizashiko being willing to go along with this crap. Instead she bowed in apology. "Obasama, you are correct: there is no call higher than duty and it cannot be refused." She straightened, eyes gleaming hailstones. She was no stranger to duty; she was fanatical in following the course of where duty would take her and was abhorred by others' shirking of same. "However. I am also ANBU. My first duty is to my village and to my Hokage. Am I to assume that a significant portion of this call to clan duty is to ensure the production of my heir?"