Under the Sun

Chapter Eight

He was summoned by his father late in the evening to discuss a matter of great importance. He was the first to arrive at their destined meeting place - the old shed his father had help clearing out. The building was small; but with everything gone, spacious. The air was rich with the scent of aged wood. Dust clung to the ceiling beams in clumps. His father had set up thick white candles around the room. They created two lines running parallel to each other. In the middle of the room was an open space where they could gather round a rectangular table. Neji took the liberty of lightening the candles so as to not spend his time waiting alone in the dark.

Sometime later, after he found a place to sit on the stone cold floor, two others arrived. Hinata entered the shed, followed by Tokuma. They greeted him as they came in, then found places to sit. Hinata sat closest to him and Tokuma further away. The last to show up was his father. Hizashi entered the shed looking solemn. His long brown hair was tied back and he was dressed down in plain clothes. He passed by Neji and Hinata, going straight for an empty space next to to Tokuma. Neji thought this was strange but didn't have time to make sense of his father's actions. Next thing he knew, Hizashi was calling the meeting to order.

"You must be wondering why you're all here," he said, looking at each of them in turn. "I thought it best to keep this meeting private as it concerns someone dear to us."

Neji feared that his father's age was responsible for his slow and cryptic manner of speaking. As such, he cut to the chase.

"Why don't you just say what you mean. It's late and we're all tired from a long day."

Hizashi nodded. Then he looked over at Hinata. "It's come to my attention that your sister is being ostracized by the clan."

Hinata regarded Hizashi. Apprehension seeped into her voice when she replied, "It's been four months, Uncle. Our clansmen need time to forgive her offense."

"I agree," he returned. His manner of speaking was diplomatic. "But don't you think it's time we handled this matter as a family?"

Neji, along with the other two, gave his father a questioning look.

Hizashi continued, "Partly why Hanabi is not being accepted back is because our clansmen haven't given her any reason to trust them. We need her to know that they won't overreact every time she's around."

Suddenly, Neji stood up. This conversation was hinting at a subject he hadn't planned on exploring so soon after his last confrontation with Hanabi. He pressed a hand to his mouth and rubbed his forefinger against his chin.

"I'd say it's the other way around. She's given us no reason to trust her," he said. He looked to his father for a positive reaction but his neutral expression gave nothing away.

"What are you talking about?" Hinata asked, voice raised. "Hanabi has been nothing but cooperative with every task the council has assigned her since last winter. She's been working hard to get back into the good graces of our people."

"That's only half true." Neji countered. "From what I've seen, she's been avoiding people like the plague and holing up inside an empty room for hours on end."

He fixed Hinata with what he hoped was a serious look, or something to that effect as it wouldn't due for him to unleash his anger. He hated to argue with her in front of other people but she wasn't thinking clearly. Hinata winced at the unintended insult to her late father. Across from her, Tokuma had yet to say a thing. He'd been observing them since they'd started, probably contemplating what was being said.

"She's not become antisocial, if that's what you were getting at."

Neji crossed his arms. He was both disgusted and amused by Hinata's naiveté.