Fated

[openedthebasket]

You deserved to die.

The piece of paper was snatched out of the air before it could hit his face, leaving him pausing and frowning down at it with a sudden chill. Where could it have come from? A moment as he formed the seals to activate his Byakugan, but -- no one to be seen who could have tossed this at him. Troubling, somewhat cruel, but seeing as how he could see other papers drifting to the ground before other people...? Hardly something to be concerned about, lest this were another seal of some kind.

Still, he couldn't let it fall, running a thumb over it before letting it slip into his pocket. It hadn't been much more than another few steps when a second paper fell, snatched before it could land on his shoulder.

You deserved to die.

Comments

[guiltoftruth]

"Neji?"

She approached him from behind, frowning just a little at the papers around. She had seen them, although none had floated her way by that point. They were still weird though... Whatever they were. But then again what wasn't weird about this village?

[openedthebasket]

At the sound of her voice, he immediately shoved the paper away, turning and letting the veins near his eyes fade back into his skin as he hid just how unnerved these papers were truly making him. "Sasuke," he greeted, moving in closer and extending a hand to just lightly brush his fingers over her elbow. "I am glad to see you."

[guiltoftruth]

"... I'm glad to see you too," She relaxed a little at the touch, although she couldn't help but have the feeling that something was off about Neji. It wasn't obvious just what it was, but it had to be something...

[openedthebasket]

His fingers stayed against her elbow for another moment before he just gently brushed his knuckles over her cheek. "I had not thought to see you here. A pleasant surprise."

[guiltoftruth]

The touches helped to ease her nerves and she nodded, taking it in before her hand rose to take his, "... Neji, we need to talk about something. Do you want to go somewhere?"

[openedthebasket]

He brushed his other hand over his kunai pouch, ensuring that paper was out of sight, before he let his fingers curl around hers. Normally he would balk at such a public display, but the warmth of her touch was far too enticing. As long as she didn't know... "Of course," he answered, tilting his head. "Wherever you would like to go, whatever you would like to say."

[guiltoftruth]

There was a pause before she squeezed his hand, a little flush before nodding at him, "Lunch, then. My treat."

[openedthebasket]

"I'm honored." He couldn't help but manage the smallest of smiles then. "Are we expecting your younger brother to join us again?"

[guiltoftruth]

"I think he's busy," She answered shortly, feeling a little more flushed at the smile before she started to pull on him and drag him towards a personal favourite restaurant of hers. Once they were seated, she took a deep breath.

"... You've never felt anything for Ino?"

[hyuugaheiress]

She stopped as she spotted the familiar face. She'd yet to meet any of the other Hyuuga running around the village, the ones from the other realities. But that expression on her older cousin's face was painful for her to look at. Anyone who didn't know him wouldn't have seen the pained lines around his mouth and eyes, but this was her best friend. There was no way she would be able to not see that.

"Neji-nii-san?" she said gently as she approached him. "What is wrong?"

[openedthebasket]

He spotted her coming before letting his Byakugan fade, reading the way she held herself, the way she was dressed, everything about her -- this was a different Hinata-sama than the one he had grown most familiar with, here in this village.

"Hinata-sama," he greeted after a moment, turning regardless to incline his head respectfully, smoothing his expression into impassivity. "Nothing of any importance." The paper was slipped into his sleeve without further thought as he looked her over. "Please forgive me, but are you... a recent arrival to this village?"

[hyuugaheiress]

She hated when he did that. Like he could hide from her what he was feeling and do it with a bunch of useless words. However, she could play this game with him, like she had a million times before over the years.

"I don't believe you, but I'll let you have it this time, if you can promise me that you won't do anything...irresponsible." She gave him a small smile. "I'd be really upset if something happened to you, and I'm sure your Hinata would as well. And, yes, I just arrived here not even a week ago..."

[openedthebasket]

"Have I ever done anything irresponsible, Hinata-sama?" He looked to her, one eyebrow arched. "Though I apologize for not approaching you myself. The oversight of your arrival is regrettable."

He inclined his head once in apology. "Have you somewhere to stay?"

[hyuugaheiress]

She shook her head with a slight smile. "Not really, but I hope that you can relax a little."

Hinata just looked at him for a minute. "I am fine, Neji-nii-san. I ran into a Naruto-kun, who introduced me to Temari-san from your...alternate reality. She has offered me a room at her house, under her protection, since I was told that the other house has...was very full."

[openedthebasket]

He glanced up, then tilted his head with a thoughtful glance. "You say alternate reality with a fair measure of confidence," he pointed out, quirking one eyebrow in curiosity. "And if you refer to Mikoto-san's home, please allow me to reassure you that room could indeed be found for you, should you so choose."

[hyuugaheiress]

"I have had nearly a week of discussing the differences with Temari-san, cousin," she said with an amused tone. "Once I recovered from seeing her without the desire to murder Shikamaru-kun continuously, she and I spent a lot of time speaking while I helped her with the youngest version of her brother, Gaara-sama."

She shook her head at his reference to the other house, trying to suppress a frown. "I would not dream of doing so. The other version of myself resides there happily. I would not wish to get in her way."

[openedthebasket]

"I see." He took the time while she was speaking to listen to not only her words, but study her facial expressions and mannerisms. Somewhat different from Hinata-sama as he remembered her; more confident, more willing to speak without sounding so quiet. In a way, he approved, if only because the older members of his clan wouldn't.

"I am certain she would not see you as a nuisance, however, I can understand your sentiments." After all, he shared them, in a manner of speaking -- the younger him seemed to want little to nothing to do with him. "Please, if there is anything I can do for you, do not hesitate to inform me."

[itachi_san]

Given the paper, this was probably poor timing on the unsuspecting Uchiha. But when he saw Neji in the hallway, he called out to him.

"I hear... that you've taken a liking... to one of my sisters..."

[openedthebasket]

He stiffened and turned, casting his gaze over the other Uchiha before inclining his head. "Uchiha-san," he greeted mildly, face carefully neutral. "In a matter of speaking, that is true."

[itachi_san]

Itachi motioned him to come in his room, rather than get up and attempt to follow him out. Whether it was what Neji expected or not, Itachi smiled softly.

"I'm... glad..."

[openedthebasket]

Doing his best to hide his apprehension, Neji inclined his head again at the beckon and entered, only to stop completely still at what he said.

"Ah..." A beat as he blinked, then folded his hands within his sleeves. "Forgive me, but I had not thought I would receive your... approval."

Not that he would have stopped had the other expressed disapproval, but...

[itachi_san]

"While you may be stern and cold to me... I have seen you... train the younger ones. Protect this house as though it were your own..." he explained. "You are an honorable shinobi. And as long as Sasuke is content with the arrangement, I can only be happy for her..."

Out of all the Sasukes, (outside of the blind one that he'd seen only once) she felt the most pain. Her heart had been the most wounded. She, in her time, had killed him and suffered such guilt because of it.

"She needs someone to be close to... Someone strong-willed. Someone patient. She deserves it."

[openedthebasket]

Anyone else, and Neji would argue that after all this time, it was his home, and he had accepted it as such. With what he had heard from Tenten of Itachi, he couldn't help but incline his head again, voice soft.

"I am honored, Uchiha-san. I can only endeavor... to be worthy of her attention." He closed his eyes briefly before looking up again. "She deserves all I can give her and more."

[itachi_san]

"I'm sure... you will be." he replied.

[openedthebasket]

A breath, and he looked to the other man. "It also seems now is a good opportunity to ask for your forgiveness. The way you care for Sasuke... I had initially thought it a ploy, but it is genuine sentiment. I am... It is good that Sasuke has a brother such as yourself."