(no subject)

[moonsheen]

The boy was born with a loud cry and wide, colorless eyes that were shockingly clear even in his families opinions. He flailed, he squirmed, and glared at just about everyone who entered and exited the room with definite focus, and even more definite indignation. The boy, barely a day old, /watched/. What’s more, he was born healthy—and heavy, for a boy of his line. He was remarkable. He was perfect.

That was the problem.

"This puts us in a bad position," the old man told his nephew, the Clan Head, upon his return that evening. The smile had faded from Hiashi’s face in an instant, smoothing into a tight, annoyed expression that really was more appropriate, given the situation. The elder continued, "The Branch House will take advantage of it."

Hiashi walked past him with a scowl. "Uncle," he said. "With all due respect, this isn’t the time."

"No," the old man insisted, falling into step beside him in the hall, arms folded behind his back. "This is exactly the time. Have you even given the matter a thought?"

"No," Hiashi answered honestly. "I haven’t. And I’m not. Because it is hardly something to prioritize."

His uncle stopped for a few paces, and simply stared. Then his eyes flashed a cold, accusatory silver.

"And where is your son, Hiashi?"

Hiashi sighed. "This again," he murmured, glancing back. "There will be an heir, Uncle."

"When?"

"Well, I certainly can’t produce one this very second, now can I?" Hiashi noted dryly. "That would be a little…Much, don’t you think?"

The old man shook his head, brow creasing further. "…Be as snide as you like, but that won’t make the issue simply vanish."

"There’s no issue to be discussed."

"I’d say that there is!"

"Fine then. It’s an issue." Hiashi snorted, stopping at the door to his chamber with his hand pressed to the frame. "But tell me, Uncle, is it a larger one than having the Hokage, AND the Uchiha both fussing over a meeting that should have taken place /last spring/ that I’d rather like to conduct before some rumor of intrigue puts it off for another year?"

The elder narrowed his eyes. "The Uchiha." He spat out the name. "Are not a threat to this bloodline."

"Tell them that."

"Perhaps you should, Hiashi. You are the clan head--and as the clan head there are things that you must take into consideration if not for yourself, for the sake of the clan. Think about it." The elder raised a hand, punctuating his words with a sharp wave of his hand. He was red in the cheeks, a muscle in his jaw was straining. He hadn’t looked so incensed in years. "If there is no rightful heir, this boy, this child of the Branch House-"

"Child of my brother." Hiashi said severely, throwing his door open. "And I’ve just returned from offering him my congratulations. " He smiled coolly. "And I will continue to offer him my congratulations. He has a fine son. Is that all you wished to speak with me about?"

There were servants lingering in the halls, drawn by the sound of raised voices. The old man gave them the barest of glances before gesturing them away with a wave. They scattered quickly, returning to their duties in a whirl of colored cloth and footsteps.

"You hold your brother in very high regard," he mused.

"I trust Hizashi."

"And it is good that you can. Do not mistake me. The Main House must be able to put its trust into the Branch House and its protection but…" the elder said, folding his hands behind his back once more and turning his face to the darkness of the windows. The crickets were singing. "…I do not know if they trust us any longer. The words I’ve heard whispered among their walls have not been kind ones, of late."

"Rumors again."

"I speak only out of concern."

"Ah." Hiashi nodded, turning the rest of the way into his chamber. "Then your concern is appreciated. And acknowledged."

"But dismissed."

"For the moment, yes."

"We will speak of this again," the old man warned.

"My dear uncle," Hiashi pronounced with tired care. "Of that I have no doubt. Good night."

The door slid shut between them with a hiss and a click.



I have so many FRAGMENTS of this one. I have an idea of how to loop them all together, but to do it coherently, ah, that's gonna be the challenge. x.x

Comments

[fancylala.livejournal.com]

Ahh, this is absolutely wonderful. As it's Hyuuga I have only vague ideas who these people are, but that's of my fault cause I'm dumb. ;P

And stringing together snippets is no fun business which is why usually out of laziness I just leave them as snippets or sit down and write most of the fic right there.

[hemlocke.livejournal.com]

Fascinating piece you have there. I initially had very little appreciation for Neji but as time went past and more of the Hyuugas were revealed, my opinion of him went up a few notches. Not to mention you really have to pity the Branch House's lot in in life. It must be frustrating for them to repeatedly take the fall for the Main House.

And as for writing, I write at a snail's pace. When I do write, finally, I have only the odd paragraphs here and there. Then I take another day to paste all those paragraphs into a coherent piece of work. Not that my writing is that brilliant anyway :> Hee.