NejiHina - Gentle Fist, Gentle Heart

The Welcome Feast

Neji was lost in his thoughts, prepping himself for the dinner.

He stared at himself yet again in the mirror, not for vanity - but awe. His long, raven hair was tied up neatly in a long pony tail that ran the length of his spine. 

The silk yukata he adorned, with the Hyuuga clan symbol, so neatly embroidered on his sleeve. 

The reflection that looked back reminded him of Hiashi when he was younger. When father was still alive.

Hiashi would often dress like this, as would the rest of the Main family, whenever meetings were held. 

Father and the rest of the Branch family.. would be in our uniforms. There only to be seen and not heard, or given commands.

There was a gentle knock at the door."Neji? It's time to go.." Nakahira's awkward voice came through the door, disrupting Neji's thoughts. Soon he and Nakahira were on the way to the dining room.

Through another maze of halls, they soon came upon a large ornate door. 

Nakahira pushed them apart in front, "It's just us Father." 

The room was grand to say the least, more intricate designs covered the walls, the Hyūga symbol seamlessly woven into the design.

Hoheto was already sat at the head of the table. It was a long white table, on either side of Hoheto one of the blonde twins sat.

"Welcome Neji!" Hoheto nodded towards Nakahira, who guided Neji to the right side of the table, Nakahira sitting a seat apart from Hikaru.

Neji sat down between Hikaru and Nakahira. 

"Good evening Hoheto-sama." he nodded, "and to you Hikaru, Haruko." 

Hikaru smiled, Haruko nodded back. They were all dressed in lavish Yuukata, Haruko's was.. rather revealing. Neji managed to avert his eyes through sheer willpower.

They're almost as big as Hinata-sama's... he thought back to the hotspring earlier.

He blushed for a moment, before chastising himself. 

"The girls should be here soon!" Hikaru spoke cheerfully.

"Come, come - Nakahira, do grab us some sake - I can't wait on celebrating! Neji do join me for a drink yes?" 

Nakahira didn't move. He shook slightly.. "F-father, I don't.. I-I don't.." 

Haruko leaned over,  both her palms pressed down on the table. "Nakahira.." she all but hissed.

They really do treat him like a servant.. perhaps Hoheto doesn't see him fit as the heir? 

"F-father.." Nakahira began.

"Hinata-sama and Hanabi-sama have arrived." an attractive attendant introduced them, they came through opposite doors that Nakahira and Neji did.

Hinata had her arms crossed her body, a yuukata of deep purple stood out against her pale skin. It was tied rather loosely, he had a feeling Hiashi would not have anything kind to say had he seen Hinata in this get up - not that he talked to Hinata at all.

It was provocative, and certainly not Hinata's style. He had a feeling that, like his own - she did not pick out her yuukata.

"Oh you look so good! I knew this colour would suit you!" Haruko cooed, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Wouldn't you say so Neji-san?"

Neji felt the blood rush, yet again to his 

face. 

He averted his eye, forcibly tearing them away from her - he cleared his throat. 

"Yes, Hinata-sama looks beautiful as always." 

He glanced over to Hanabi, eager to change the subject away from Hinata.

"Your yuukata suits you as well Hanabi-sama." he nodded. Hoping to god that this would be the end of that situation.

Hanabi was in a cute, very child-like Yuukata - light pink with darker sakura blossoms. Neji was being sincere when he said it suited her, he had never seen her in something other than training gear. Not for a long time.

"Nakahira, thank you." Neji - too overwhelmed by Hinata's huge.. personality. Had't noticed that Nakahira had already began setting small elegant sake glasses in front of everyone.

The Hyūga syumbol was painted neatly at the bottom of the cup. Hoheto sure loves showing his pride for the clan.

Something about it was slightly unsettling. Even Hiashi was not as patriotic towards the clan, and he was the head of the family.

Another thing made Neji worry, distracted or not.. I should have noticed Nakahira move.. he was sitting right next to me.

It reminded him of the hotspring. The twins.. and now Nakahira, seemed to be hiding something.

Hoheto's voice cut through Neji's thoughts.

"A toast eh? To our lovely Hinata-sama and Hanabi-sama, and but of course - Neji-sama." Attendants had poured hot sake into the cups, Nakahira had returned to his seat beside Neji. He was shaking slightly.

How can a ninja so nimble, to the point where I didn't notice him, be so nervous?

Everyone raised their cup in the air - Haruko finished it in one go. Hoheto also took a hearty gulp.

Hinata only sipped,  as did Hikaru. Hanabi gingerly took a sip, before placing it back down. Neji guessed that it didn't suit her tastes.

Nakahira didn't sip, his eyes kept darting to Neji's cup. Neji realised that he and Nakahira were the only ones that hadn't drunk. If he didn't drink now, it would be incredibly rude.

Neji smiled, Nakahira kept glancing at Neji's cup - in fact he was now staring at it.

Could you be more obvious? Neji internally shook his head.

There was only one thing to do, under Hoheto's sharp gaze - Neji lifted the cup to his lips and finished the cup in one go.

No poisons that I can taste.. He wasn't sure why Nakahira was so nervous. Nakahira timidly sipped his cup, before putting it back down at lighting speed - barely touched.

"Thats the spirit!" Haruko cheered.

"Let's another round!" Haruko beckoned over an attendant who was already carrying over more bottles of sake.

"Now, now." Hoheto gently said, his eyes warm - "I didn't invite you all here just to drink - let us feast as we do so!" 

More attendants came carrying huge dishes laden with food, setting them neatly on the long white table.

Neji noted that even the attendants here must have at least some basic level of training, he wondered how many would be trained to spy on them - perhaps all of them? 

Hopefully, for their own sakes, they were less conspicuous than Nakahira.