Shadows of the Past

Raven doesn’t attend Koga’s funeral nor is anyone able to find him for the rest of the day. It’s not that he’s actually hiding so much as he just feels like being left alone with his pain. Sitting on a boulder atop Hokage Mountain he watches the village below him and wonders how they can go about their lives after such a tragedy. ‘It‘s not like most of them knew him,’ his mind rationalizes.

‘Even most of the clan only knew him by reputation. Koga kept himself away from others because he couldn’t bear the thought of losing anyone he cared for again. After Raya…’ Raven shakes his head to stop the thought before it could take him down a road he didn’t want to travel.

Though it is growing late he finds himself not wishing to leave. His eyes are dry from the crying he did the previous night with Kimiko and he is grateful that his sunglasses keep them from becoming worst. The faint sounds of the village reach his ears as the sudden snap of a stick causes him to turn around.

“Raven-kun,” Hinata says softly as she slowly walks towards him. “I-I am-I am sorry for…” she stops her sentence as he holds up his hand and shakes his head.

“Don’t,” he tells her gently. “I know what you’re going to say but unless you’re the one that killed him I don’t want to hear those words come out of your mouth.” Though his words are harsh the pain behind them makes his voice sound almost fragile. He moves over and signals for her to join him on the boulder.

Hinata takes the offered seat and leans against his chest as he wraps his arms around her. “I know by now everyone’s probably worried about me but I just needed some time alone,” he tells her. “I don’t know what to do Hinata-chan,” he says softly. “He meant so much to me that I don’t know how I’m supposed to continue without him here.”

“I-I am still here,” she tells him looking up at him. “I will always be here for you Raven-kun.” As if to prove to him the sincerity of her words she leans up and captures his mouth with hers. As they deepen the kiss her breath catches in her throat as she feels his hand move slowly from her back along her side and gently brush against the side of her breast before coming to rest on her hip.

Raven slowly breaks the kiss as he looks at her knowing why she stopped breathing for a moment. He knows full well what his hand touched as he moved it and while it felt nice it was not what he had intended to do. “Hinata I…”

She cuts his words off with another kiss before turning away and blushing as she looks at the ground. “Raven-kun I know you didn’t mean to so you don’t need to apologize.”

“Arigato Hinata-chan,” he tells her before helping her to her feet. He walks her home before making his way back to his own. His mind is still on his pain but it is not as intense as it had been earlier thanks largely to the kunoichi’s words.

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The next day after training with his team Raven is called to his father’s study. Standing before his clan’s leader Raven finds himself suppressing the contempt he feels for the man that sired him. Heero Hiroku watches his youngest child and now only son from across his desk. “With your brother’s death you are now my heir,” he tells him. “I have entered into negotiations with Sakura-chan’s father on your behalf.”

“What?” Raven nearly yells. “What about Kimiko and Hinata?” he demands. “With Koga-niisan gone Kimiko’s the next in line and I’m already engaged to Hinata,” he reminds his father.

“You are the heir not her,” the older man states. “And as such the marriage contract between you and the Hyuga girl is now void. The marriage was to align the clans not join them,” he reminds his son. “A marriage to her now is unacceptable.”

“I’ve already told you I’m not the heir,” Raven growls as he feels his restraint slowly slipping away. “Kimiko’s the rightful heir not me.”

“I will not have that whore lead this clan…” The rest of the man’s words are stopped by the fingers around his throat.

Raven’s body moves of its own accord as it clears the short space between them, leaping over the table and picking up the man by his throat before slamming him against the back wall. As his fingers tighten their grip Raven glares at his father as his voice assumes a harsh icy tone. “You will never speak of my sister like that again. She may not stand up for herself against you but I will,” he says his voice dripping with venom.

“I will marry Hinata and no one else,” he adds as he slowly withdraws his hand before moving to leave. “The contract may be void but we are still courting,” he reminds the shocked man behind him. “Though this will speed things up more than I had wanted I will ask Hinata to marry me and there is nothing you can do to stop me.”

“I forbid you to see her,” Heero orders his son “I am your father and your clan leader and you will do as I command.”

“You’re nothing more then the dick I rode in on,” Raven says as he reaches for the door. “I’m a Jounin now and can choose my own path.”

“If you walk out that door don’t bother coming back,” the enraged man warns him.

“If that’s the way you want it then so be it,” Raven says opening the door. “Tell Kimiko I wish her luck as your heir.” With that he walks out the door and way from the compound.

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A/N: Again I must apologize for the slightly shorter then usual chapter. When it got to the point of Raven leaving I just couldn't think of anything to write that didn't lead it into the midle of the next chapter.

I hope you are all enjoying the story thus far and will continue to read the rest of the series.