NejiHina - Gentle Fist, Gentle Heart

Hinata's Rage - explained

"Well now! I do believe it's time for us to go to retire also. Haruko? Will you show the girls where to go?"

Haruko flicked her wrist, and almost instantly another attendant was beside her.

"Show our lovely guests where to go, Hikaru - show Neji, I'll meet you after."

"Goodnight all." Haruko bowed deeply, before departing swiftly.

Hinata was feeling a little unsteady, a strong blush to her cheeks. She noticed Hanabi was of a similar disposition.

The attendants lead them down to a beautifully ornate tea room, there were three glasses set there, yet no refreshment to pour into them.

"Haruko-sama will join you shortly." the attendants said before leaving.

Hanabi sat down. "That was so boring.. and exhausting." Hinata sat down next to her, breathing a sigh of relief at finally being alone.

"The food was good though." Hanabi was thinking out loud. Hinata only nodded.

The moment of respite was too good to be true, soon the door swung open. Haruko barrelled through the door, a bottle of wine in her hand and two under each arms.

"Hello! I have some gifts, between us girls." she put them over on the table and began pouring them out into the cups.

"Just one last toast, of good luck!" she raised her glass in the air, prompting Hanabi and Hinata to do the same.

They all took a sip, although Haruko took more of a gulp. "I hope you and Neji-sama will be planning well for tomorrow eh?"  

Haruko took a seat on the couch opposite to them, perching on the edge.

"I don't think it was mentioned properly, we're doing couples spar. Hikaru and I against you and Neji-sama." she spoke to Hanabi.

Hanabi scrunched her face up. "Why Neji, I could take both of you on alone!" Hanabi said triumphantly. 

Haruko let out a belly laugh and took another gulp. "I like your enthusiasm. But no, the point is to see your team work. You have to empress grandfather enough to back the marriage after all."

"Marriage?" Hanabi asked incredulously.

"Yeah! I think that it's really noble what you're looking to do, uniting the main and branch families or whatever.." Haruko took another swig.

Hinata saw the colour drain from Hanabi's face.

"Oh.. oops did you not know?" Haruko finished her drink and playfully knocked herself on the head. "I forgot about that.. Gramps did say he wasn't too sure if Hiashi-sama had told you.. I just assumed you would have!" 

There was a beat of silence, Hanabi's face was now clouded in a very dark expression. One that, Hinata herself knew she would have also received specific training about hiding your emotions - both as a Ninja, but as the next head of clan. Hanabi was too drunk, or perhaps too upset to care.

Hanabi's intense stare now boring into Hinata.

Haruko laughed again, "Well.. I'll see you at the spar tomorrow! I have to go find Hikaru and decide what the plan is." 

Haruko laughed, and bowed out of respect - before leaving swiftly, as if she knew the bomb she just dropped was a few seconds away from exploding and she did not want to be around for the aftermath.

Hinata and Hanabi stayed in silence, until they could not sense Haruko as she walked down the hall, all the while Hanabi's eyes didn't leave Hinata once.

"You knew about this." It was not a question but a statement.

"H-hanabi.."

Hanabi was already on her feet, Hinata could sense her gathering her chakara.

"I will never.. marry that disgusting branch member!" 

Perhaps.. no it was most definitely the alcohol, but Hinata was on Hanabi in an instant - they were locking hands struggling against each other. 

"Don't you dare talk about Ni-san like that!" Hinata huffed, at this point, they were only softly (for lack of a better term) play fighting, with a slight edge of seriousness. The kind of sisterly fight that before now that both hadn't had the chance to have.

That was before, Hanabi opened her mouth.

"I'll kill him.. I'll kill him before he makes it into the main family!"

Hanabi wasn't sure why exactly she said that, she was furious - but stunned even herself with her words. 

A small part of her, wondered if she even could win a fight against Neji (the rest of her ego reassured herself she would. She was the prodigy of the Main family afterall) 

But deep down, she hated the clan system almost as much as Neji. Everything she had to give up for the greater good of the family, the way that these ancient traditions split siblings, based on nothing but whether they were born first - regardless of ability. But most of all in that moment, she hated how defensive Hinata was of Neji.

Maybe, because in that beat of silence after Hinata gasped - she was so stunned and drunk she didn't react in time when Hinata grabbed her into a rough headlock. 

"You take that back RIGHT NOW!" the grip around Hanabi's neck tightened. Just loose enough she could barely  breathe - but if she didn't get out soon she might pass out. Which was proving to be a problem, since Hinata was stronger than Hanabi realised.

Hanabi felt ashamed at that, Hiashi's constant complaining - had seeped into Hanabi. She knew Hinata had potential (as did Hiashi, thus the constant complaining), but it was almost a given at this point that Hanabi would just.. win against Hinata? Right? 

The door opened, and Neji walked through - in an instant was between them, swiftly breaking them up. Hanabi repositioned herself, and tried not to let her ragged breath show.

A few more minutes and I might've actually passed out.