Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Protector	By : djserani Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 1759 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, and I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
Neji and Hinata sat off to the side while Genma made the preparations down below. "I have to admit, it's even harder now."
She looked up at him, puzzled.
"Before...well, I cared about you, but I wouldn't admit to myself that I loved you. So, I could look at it from the perspective of a cousin, a friend, almost a big brother. You went on missions, I worried, but I wrote it off as that and nothing more. When you were off on your side of that lab down there..." he trailed off and she understood, maybe more than he did.
"Me, too. I...don't know what I'd do if something happened to you." She sighed. "After this mission, though, I'm not likely to go on many more. If I have to take over as head of the clan..." She looked down. She'd been successful, thus far, at forgetting about it. She could pretend, until then, that it was just the two of them. How could she go back to the way things were? Did she even want to?
The answer to that was a resounding no. She wanted to be with Neji, no matter what happened. She looked up at him again and wasn't aware of the bleakness in her face. How could she ask him to stay? He would be bound to her just as if he fulfilled his duty. The word left a bad taste in her mouth.
"What are you thinking, koishii?" He touched her forehead, brushing stray hairs out of her eyes.
"Now what? We finish this mission and..."
"And what? Do you think I'll stop loving you because we are back in Konoha instead of somewhere else? Will you stop loving me?"
"No! No. Of course I won't!" She touched his headband, covering the brand.
"Ah." He said and smiled gently. "I wanted to wait to do this properly. I was going to ask-" just then, they heard a loud babble of voices. Neji growled. He leaned over and kissed her soundly. "I will finish this."
They got up and started moving people out of the way. It took some serious organization, but they were able to move people slowly toward home. The trip would take many of them several hours for the few kilometers, but none of them wanted to wait around for more help. They were all too anxious to get back to their homes.
* * *
By the time they were able to get the last of the villagers home, it was well past midnight. The shinobi were exhausted and were grateful when they were offered rooms at the only inn the small village offered. There were three beds and it was unanimous that Ino got one of them, despite her protests. Neji and Hinata were given the second and Lee and Tenten the third, though both couples also tried to say no. Genma was just happy that they would be heading home the next day and Sai said it didn't matter to him where he slept.
Neji and Hinata went into their small room. Hinata was exhausted and she sat at the end of the bed and blinked owlishly at Neji, trying to remember what she was supposed to do. Neji squatted down in front of her and tucked her hair behind one ear. "Koishii, I know you're tired, but you should get undressed."
Hinata blinked at him again and blushed a bit. "Um, Neji..."
"Good grief, Hinata. I'm too tired to do that." He laughed and she chuckled with him. He patted her leg. "Let's just get comfortable and get some rest." He stood up and pulled her up with him. He helped her undress and despite their assertions that they were too tired, they found themselves kissing and touching again. Before they knew it, a kind of desperation had taken hold of Hinata and they were shaking and gasping in the aftermath.
Neji tried to find his voice. "What...was that?" Hinata looked up at him.
"I...I think... earlier... affected me more than I realized." She looked away from Neji and snuggled into his arms.
Then it hit him. What she'd seen. It had bothered him, hearing about it. Especially when he realized that, even now, she could be carrying his child. Yet again, they hadn't taken any precaution. He was going to have to do something about that. That would be Hinata's decision, when the time came. But for her, he imagined it must have been infinitely harder.
His arms tightened around her as he worked though these thoughts. "I am so sorry that you had to deal with that."
She stroked his arm and looked up at him. "It's strange, the way I just...needed...to feel you. To have you close in a way that..."she struggled for words.
"I know. I know what you mean." He kissed her, softly, tenderly. His arms tightened just a bit and they slowly fell asleep.
* * *
They left early the next morning, moving quickly in a way only the shinobi could. With a good night's sleep and a good breakfast, they were able to make very good time. Just before lunch, they were passing the gates of Konoha. Their first destination was the Hokage's office.
While they waited in front of Tsunade's desk after Genma gave their report, she stood, looking out the window, visibly shaking in her rage.
"He will pay." She said quietly. "That...monster. Will pay." She sighed and turned back to them. "You did a good job with the villagers. We will keep an eye on that area more closely, but I suspect that when Kabuto finds out what has happened, he won't return any time soon. I only wish we were able to do something more now." The rage hadn't quite subsided, but she made a visible effort to calm herself.
She looked at each of the girls, in turn. "I am truly sorry you had to see that. Kunoichi or no, that never is something easy to deal with. I'm not even sure I could. Thank you. You've gone above and beyond for Konoha.
"Please, take some time to rest. I know you all have things you need to see to. Dismissed."
* * *
As they left the offices, they all headed their separate ways. Lee and Tenten walked off in the same direction and Neji took Hinata's hand as they headed up toward the Hyuuga lands. She pulled him to a stop under a tree just before they got to their homes.
"Let's just take one more minute here, before we go back to reality. There is so much to do. If Otousan is really stepping down...." She sighed. "I have such big shoes to fill..."
Neji grasped her chin and tilted her face up to him. "You are going to be the best leader the Hyuuga clan ever had. I believe in you." He kissed her softly on the lips. "And don't forget. I love you."
She smiled, warmly, beautifully. "I love you, Neji." She kissed him back and hugged him hard.
They went first to their small houses and got cleaned up. Hinata knew that the coming discussions could be difficult. She dressed carefully, though she was sincerely hoping she wouldn't have to meet with any of the elders yet.
She met Neji outside their houses and he escorted her to the main house. "I have a few errands to run. I won't be long. Can we have dinner together?"
She flushed with pleasure. "I would really like that." She leaned up on her toes and kissed his jaw quickly before hurrying in to talk to her father.
* * *
Hinata knocked quietly on her father's study door. "Come!" He called. She opened it quietly and walked in.
He wasn't alone. He tried to hide the relief in his face at seeing her safe, but Hinata saw it and it warmed her. He turned to the two elders sitting in front of his desk. "That will be all for now," he said in dismissal. Indignation bristled from the two, but they stood and walked out.
Hinata bowed to him. "Otousan."
"Hinata," he cleared his throat. "I am happy to see you home safe. Come, sit with me."
Hinata was having trouble with this new father. He was everything she'd ever hoped in a father and yet it was difficult reconciling him with the cold man that had raised her. She shook herself mentally and decided it didn't matter now. What mattered was taking what time she did have with him.
She walked toward one of the chairs opposite his desk, but he got up and motioned her to the smaller cushions in the corner. "We have much to discuss, Hinata."
"Hai. Should I get us some tea, Otousan?" She wasn't sure what to expect of him yet.
"No, no. I'll get one of the servants to bring us some." He went over to the door, leaned out and caught one of the ladies walking by. "Could you bring us some tea?"
Apparently, Hinata wasn't the only one unused to the new Hiashi. The lady fumbled around a bit. "O---of course!" Hinata stifled a giggle. She liked this new father very much.
"Otousan?" She hesitated.
"Yes, Hinata?" He responded as he joined her on the cushions.
"Are...are you okay? You seem...different." She blushed a little.
"That's because I am different, Hinata." He paused a minute and seemed to turn inward a bit. "This illness has caused me to need to reconsider the way I have approached a lot of things. To be really honest..." he paused when one of the servants brought the tea. Hinata jumped up and began pouring the tea. "You really don't need to do that."
She smiled up at him. "You are not the only one who has changed, Otousan. I don't mind doing this." She handed him a tea cup and took one herself before settling back to her cushion.
"As I was saying, I have changed. For the longest time, everything I did was focused on the clan. And as leader, that is good, but only to a degree. I've ignored things that were important to me and I've let myself forget some others." He looked over his shoulder at a framed picture on the shelf. His smile softened as he took in the image of his wife.
"I should have been there more for you. I shouldn't have let you train yourself so much. I could have done better for you. I am lucky, however, that I have been given this opportunity to see this. Now, I can do my best to help you as I pass the mantle of leadership to you." He paused and sipped his tea.
"This won't be easy. The elders are insistent that Hanabi should contest your claim. Though I've made it clear that I wish it to pass to you, they won't hear anything different." He sighed.
Hinata smiled at her father. "I've been giving it a bit of thought and I think I've come up with a solution. We will fight." Hiashi's head snapped up and he looked at her. "And Hanabi will lose. However, I will make sure she doesn't die. I've spent some time talking about this to Neji." As she said his name, her smile grew, though she didn't realize it. "He's heard many stories from the branch-"she made a face, "house of this type of thing, before you and your father were leaders. The victor can choose not to kill. This is what I will choose." She finished quietly. "I will be going next to speak with Hanabi about this and we'll go over, very carefully, how the fight should progress."
Hiashi looked at his daughter with something close to awe. "I underestimate you even now, Hinata. But...how will you avoid her being sealed and relegated to Branch?"
"When I claim my birthright, I'll be reminding the elders of a few things. Leave that to me." Hinata had never felt better about the upcoming trial. She knew, now, that she could lead. She had Neji's support, her father's support and she knew that many of the people of the clan liked her. She could do this.
Hiashi smiled at his daughter. "I am looking forward to this. I should mention something else. The elders have hinted that they might try to force you to marry. I will do what I can to keep them from forcing your hand."
"Do not worry, Otousan. I truly believe I can handle this. I am very happy to know that you support me." Hiashi surprised her once more by setting his tea cup down and pulling her into a hug. Hinata wasn't sure she could take anything more, but she wasn't going to turn this down. She hugged him back and fought the tears that threatened to spill over.
"I must go speak with Hanabi. We have work to do. When..." she took a deep breath, "when do you expect this to happen?"
"It doesn't have to happen immediately. If you have things to do first, I can stall them for a while yet. No more than a couple of weeks, though, I believe."
Hinata breathed a small sigh of relief. "I do not believe I will need that much time. But thank you for that."
Hiashi smiled again at her. "I will delay while I can. Let me know when you are ready."
"Thank you, Otousan." She bowed. Hiashi watched her go, thoughtfully. His daughter had certainly grown when he wasn't paying attention.
* * *
As Hinata left his study, she turned to see Neji coming down the hall. "Neji." She smiled warmly, "Hello."
He smiled down at her and leaned to kiss her quietly on the forehead. "Don't forget you promised me dinner."
"Of course, Neji. Would you like me to cook for you? What time?" She started a mental list of things to pick up.
"No, I'll take you out. I'll pick you up at seven." He kissed her again.
"Oh. Okay. I must go see Hanabi. I'll see you then." She smiled up at him, kissed him on the jaw and walked quickly toward the door.
* * *
Neji watched her until she went around the corner, then turned back to the door and knocked. "Come in." Hiashi said quietly.
Neji walked in to see the Hyuuga sitting quietly behind his desk.
"Neji." Hiashi motioned to the chairs on the other side. "Please, come sit." He opened a drawer in his desk and took out a bottle of sake and two cups. "Would you like to join me?"
Neji was taken aback, but bowed first, then sat and nodded. "That would be nice."
Neji took a sip of his drink. "So, you're in love with my daughter." Neji choked on his sake and spit it out. Hiashi stood up and pounded him on the back until he could breathe.
"S-s-sir." He took a few wheezing breaths. He swallowed hard and started to breathe again. "Yes, sir. How...?"
"She glows. At the mention of your name. She has color I haven't seen in many years. I'm happy to see it. Are you going to make an honest woman out of her?" He smiled behind his sake glass, enjoying the young man's discomfort for a moment.
"Well, I had intended to do things in a much more conventional way." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. He opened it and looked down into it for a moment before setting it on the desk between them.

Hiashi picked it up. It was a beautiful ring made of amethysts. There was a larger one in the center, with several smaller ones around the outside in the pattern of a flower. Obviously, Neji knew Hinata. She would never have been happy with a big flashy diamond. That wasn't his Hinata. He set the box back on the desk.

Neji picked it up, looked at it a moment longer, then closed it and put it in his pocket. "I would like your blessing. I don't believe I need your permission, as Hinata is her own person and will decide for herself. But I would like to know that you are happy with it. It would mean much to her."
He took the last sip of his sake and looked up at Hiashi.
Hiashi studied the young man in front of him. Neji would make a good husband to Hinata. He would support her through the political hassles and struggles she was about to put herself through. He would love her more than any other man Hiashi knew. And if her color earlier was anything to go by, he would make her happy. In many ways.
"You have it." He said quietly and was satisfied by the look of quiet relief on Neji's face. "But know this, illness or not, if you ever mistreat her..."
Neji looked Hiashi in the eye. "I would commit seppuku first." And looking at the young man, Hiashi knew it to be true.
Hiashi smiled. "I hope you plan to give me grandchildren before I go."
Neji looked a little strangled. "That will be up to Hinata. I will not rush her into anything. I would love to have children with her." He got quiet. "We had a rather bad experience on our mission. We came across some of Orochimaru's labs and one of them had..." he had to swallow the bile that rose up in his throat, "well, the labs had a number of things in them that hit the women hard." He took a deep breath and shook his head. "But when she is ready, I will be happy to have them. I will be a good husband to her. Assuming she accepts me."
Hiashi didn't push, but he thought he already knew what Hinata's decision would be. But that was between them. He smiled at Neji. "If there is nothing else, I must go. I have a few things to arrange for."
"Of course, sir." Neji bowed and turned to leave.
"And Neji?" Hiashi waited until he turned back around.
"Yes, sir?"
"Call me...Otousan." Hiashi smiled at the surprise on Neji's face. Then his face broke into a grin.
"Yes...Otousan." He bowed and let himself out of the study.
- 12
- 13
- 14
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Protector