Wide of the Mark
folder
Naruto › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
7
Views:
1,227
Reviews:
44
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Naruto › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
7
Views:
1,227
Reviews:
44
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter Seven
So sorry about the long wait for this! Life is really busy at the moment and I'm just changing jobs and so on and so forth! But I won't bore you with my scars...
Thanks again to all the people who've reviewed, specially you max, your review today reminded me that I needed to update! So thanks for the push! Haha!
Chapter Seven
Neji sat silently, his wrists resting gently on his folded knees. The garden was peaceful, even the faint, repetitive ‘tok’ of the water feature as the bamboo funnel filled and tipped down was soothing. But he sighed, restless. Meditation wasn’t helping today. He’d come to the garden to calm his nerves, steady himself for the coming day, but something niggled in the back of his mind. Something wasn’t right and he couldn’t place his finger on it. The impending idea that something was about to go terribly wrong just wouldn’t leave him.
“Neji-niisan?”
His pale eyes opened slowly and he inclined his head, turning to see who had called to him.
“Hinata-sama.” He unfolded his legs and stood to make a short bow, his mouth twisting slightly as he realized the pattern of the tatami mat he’d been on was pressed into the bare skin of his legs. He hadn’t realized he’d been sitting so long.
Hinata smiled shyly at him and imparted the news she’d come to give.
“Otousan and the Elders would like to see you. It’s time for your marriage arrangement to be finalized.”
Neji nodded coolly and stepped into the shaded house, his feet finding the path to the large Hyuuga council chamber easily. He pushed the doors open and knelt quickly on the mats before the arranged Elders.
“You have need of me?” He stated smoothly. His status in the family still rankled him, but he’d realized a long time ago that showing a face of deference was all that was required of him, it didn’t matter what he thought in the privacy of his own mind. There were places the Elders couldn’t go.
His Uncle’s voice cut through his thoughts.
“Neji, we have discussed your allotment of the Hyuuga complex. Certain factors such as your recent rise to Jounin and the reference we have received from the Hokage have also been accounted into our decision. You will not live here in the Main House from the commencement of your wedding.”
Neji’s eyes widened imperceptibly. This was new. He’d been expecting to possibly be given slightly bigger quarters to accommodate his new wife, and had plans in the making for the ones he’d politely request for. But it seems the rest of the family had different ideas.
“You will be given the Aiiro Kosui Estate for your new family. The rest of the Branch Family will remain here.
It was testament to Neji’s stoic nature that he made of outward movement when receiving the news. He swallowed slightly then made a curt reply.
“Your will, Hiashi-sama.”
His Uncle nodded, glad his nephew had taken the news so well. Had he shown hesitance or the sheer joy the Elders had been expecting at such a gift, he may have had the estate stripped from him. The Elders never liked the Branch Family to be too happy.
“You may go, Neji. We will see you at the ceremony later, at the appointed time.”
Neji rose, made his bow and left.
The Aiiro Estate! Neji couldn’t believe it. Too shocked to smile at his startlingly good fortune and too wary to take the generous gift at face value, he strode along the hall, lost in thought. Finding his quarters towards the back of the house he knelt next to the shoji screen, opening it slightly to let the cool breeze from the garden wash across his face.
He breathed deeply. If there was no dangerous motive behind this move in the Council, then any issue he’d had about the coming marriage had been alleviated. It occurred to him that this might be why he’d been given a section of the Hyuuga grounds all to himself; an entire house, with its own staff to care for the surrounding lake, grounds and the occupants. The Elders knew he wasn’t happy to marry, to have children at such an early stage. So perhaps this was a way of placating him in their eyes. How wrong they were.
A sudden bark of laughter left him, and he covered his mouth, shocked at the break in composure. But he couldn’t help the smile that formed under his hand. This was perfect. His new wife, away from the prying eyes of the Elders, who would demand children within the first year.
Neji had already made a decision on that front. No children would be conceived until the time was appropriate. So, until every Elder that condoned sealing every newborn Branch Member had passed away, or until Naruto was Hokage and had the barbaric ceremony abolished, there would be no new children of the Branch Family. Not through him.
With his new family separate from the Main House, there would be no one to watch their every move, no one to slip fertility herbs into his new wife’s food. He would hand-select the new staff only from those he trusted, those he knew abhorred the cursed seal and its practice.
Neji sighed, feeling as though a giant weight of worry had lifted. His mind eased, and he forgot the discontent from earlier. He opened the screen fully and basked in the sun, waiting for the afternoon ceremony, and his new wife.
***************
Notes: Aiiro Kosui – Indigo Lake
Thanks again to all the people who've reviewed, specially you max, your review today reminded me that I needed to update! So thanks for the push! Haha!
Chapter Seven
Neji sat silently, his wrists resting gently on his folded knees. The garden was peaceful, even the faint, repetitive ‘tok’ of the water feature as the bamboo funnel filled and tipped down was soothing. But he sighed, restless. Meditation wasn’t helping today. He’d come to the garden to calm his nerves, steady himself for the coming day, but something niggled in the back of his mind. Something wasn’t right and he couldn’t place his finger on it. The impending idea that something was about to go terribly wrong just wouldn’t leave him.
“Neji-niisan?”
His pale eyes opened slowly and he inclined his head, turning to see who had called to him.
“Hinata-sama.” He unfolded his legs and stood to make a short bow, his mouth twisting slightly as he realized the pattern of the tatami mat he’d been on was pressed into the bare skin of his legs. He hadn’t realized he’d been sitting so long.
Hinata smiled shyly at him and imparted the news she’d come to give.
“Otousan and the Elders would like to see you. It’s time for your marriage arrangement to be finalized.”
Neji nodded coolly and stepped into the shaded house, his feet finding the path to the large Hyuuga council chamber easily. He pushed the doors open and knelt quickly on the mats before the arranged Elders.
“You have need of me?” He stated smoothly. His status in the family still rankled him, but he’d realized a long time ago that showing a face of deference was all that was required of him, it didn’t matter what he thought in the privacy of his own mind. There were places the Elders couldn’t go.
His Uncle’s voice cut through his thoughts.
“Neji, we have discussed your allotment of the Hyuuga complex. Certain factors such as your recent rise to Jounin and the reference we have received from the Hokage have also been accounted into our decision. You will not live here in the Main House from the commencement of your wedding.”
Neji’s eyes widened imperceptibly. This was new. He’d been expecting to possibly be given slightly bigger quarters to accommodate his new wife, and had plans in the making for the ones he’d politely request for. But it seems the rest of the family had different ideas.
“You will be given the Aiiro Kosui Estate for your new family. The rest of the Branch Family will remain here.
It was testament to Neji’s stoic nature that he made of outward movement when receiving the news. He swallowed slightly then made a curt reply.
“Your will, Hiashi-sama.”
His Uncle nodded, glad his nephew had taken the news so well. Had he shown hesitance or the sheer joy the Elders had been expecting at such a gift, he may have had the estate stripped from him. The Elders never liked the Branch Family to be too happy.
“You may go, Neji. We will see you at the ceremony later, at the appointed time.”
Neji rose, made his bow and left.
The Aiiro Estate! Neji couldn’t believe it. Too shocked to smile at his startlingly good fortune and too wary to take the generous gift at face value, he strode along the hall, lost in thought. Finding his quarters towards the back of the house he knelt next to the shoji screen, opening it slightly to let the cool breeze from the garden wash across his face.
He breathed deeply. If there was no dangerous motive behind this move in the Council, then any issue he’d had about the coming marriage had been alleviated. It occurred to him that this might be why he’d been given a section of the Hyuuga grounds all to himself; an entire house, with its own staff to care for the surrounding lake, grounds and the occupants. The Elders knew he wasn’t happy to marry, to have children at such an early stage. So perhaps this was a way of placating him in their eyes. How wrong they were.
A sudden bark of laughter left him, and he covered his mouth, shocked at the break in composure. But he couldn’t help the smile that formed under his hand. This was perfect. His new wife, away from the prying eyes of the Elders, who would demand children within the first year.
Neji had already made a decision on that front. No children would be conceived until the time was appropriate. So, until every Elder that condoned sealing every newborn Branch Member had passed away, or until Naruto was Hokage and had the barbaric ceremony abolished, there would be no new children of the Branch Family. Not through him.
With his new family separate from the Main House, there would be no one to watch their every move, no one to slip fertility herbs into his new wife’s food. He would hand-select the new staff only from those he trusted, those he knew abhorred the cursed seal and its practice.
Neji sighed, feeling as though a giant weight of worry had lifted. His mind eased, and he forgot the discontent from earlier. He opened the screen fully and basked in the sun, waiting for the afternoon ceremony, and his new wife.
***************
Notes: Aiiro Kosui – Indigo Lake