Author's Note: Well… What will happen if Konohan Shinobis become parents? That notion came dawning into my head the moment I play Naruto Shippuden, Narultimate Accel. ;p Will they be a pair of wonderful parents? This once focused on their kids, not the pairing itself, so that it feels more like a family story, not a couple's story. Well… This story may or may not extend, depending on my mood. If there are other stories like this one, please excuse me and just warn me from your review then I will hastily delete this story from existence. Don't worry. I, too, hate piracy.
Disclaimer: DO NOT OWN NARUTO! But the kids are OCs though. ;p
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NejiTen 1
Eyes and Blood
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The
snow is falling
A silent lullaby
(I forget the band) : A lullaby
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"The baby's going to come out!! Push harder! Push!!!"
He was never this frantic before. To tell the truth, he was never felt frantic. Calm was his signature mood. But now… seeing her struggling with the labor left him almost… mad…
"The head is coming! A little more! A little more!!!"
The atmosphere grew intense as seconds passed them by… It seemed like forever. The agonizing time… the pain and exhaustion… And then… a cry was heard. A pure little voice… echoing in the wall of the hospital room. Relieve showered him like a waterfall… but there was something more… Something that was emerging from the very deep side of his heart. The same feeling that was shining through the warm brown orbs of his exhausted wife…
"He's a boy, Hyuuga-sama! A healthy boy! Congratulations!"
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Hyuuga Higure twirled his kunai as he strolled along the path towards his home after the Academy. He stopped a while in front of the Hyuuga Compound, watching the kanji of 'Hyuuga' by the gate. Two guards were standing on each side of the gate, stoic and motionless. Higure blinked a few times then walked again. He was a little curious on why his family didn't stay there like any other Hyuugas. Instead, his family had this middle sized house combined with a smithy a few blocks away from the compound. He was a Hyuuga too, wasn't he? Why did his mother and father live in that place instead of this one? While he was thinking about this matter, one of the guards spotted him and he quickly greeted, "Good afternoon, Higure-kun! Coming home after school?"
Higure nodded and replied, "Good afternoon, Hioku-san! Tell Hinata-ba-san I miss her so much!"
"Roger that!"
Higure waved then walked away. He would be sure to ask his parents once he got home.
X
"Tadaima!!!"
The door opened harshly. A voice then rose from the direction of the kitchen, "Okaerinasai!"
Just a moment later, a brown haired woman appeared in front of Higure in a puff of smoke. She was holding a spatula on her right hand and knife on the other. A gentle grin formed on her face and she said cheerfully, "You're home early, Sweetheart! How's the academy today?"
Higure blinked his white eyes then said lightly with a grin, "It's all fine!"
"I see," His mother's eyes softened. She blinked. "Well, I must tend for your dinner first! But Higure, did you see your brother?"
Higure shook his head then raised his shoulder.
"Kaasan, we're not in the same class and since morning he already separated himself from me. How was I supposed to know that he was away?"
"Ah…" his mother titled her head. "I see… Ma! Anyway! I gotta get back to the kitchen! I'm sorry, Sweetie, but can you light the fire for your father's hot bath? He will be back from his mission tonight."
"Aa," Higure didn't even finish his statement when his mother disappeared again, off to her duty as the cook of the family. The young Hyuuga didn't bother to yell though. Just like his father, the absolute obedience to orders had planted itself in his vein thus he rarely—almost never—object any orders from his parents or from the teachers back in the Academy. His brilliance was inherited just as much as his obedience. Many people said for a ninja, he resembled his father a lot but for social life, they said he had a flick of her mother's warmth and cheerfulness. Cheerfulness? Well… maybe?
When he finally put down his bag on the futon in his room, he didn't even bother to change into his Hyuuga Robe. Instead, he was off to the chopping site to do his duty.
Little did he know how his brother sneaked to the house, didn't want him to notice he was there at all.
X
Hiiragi threw his leather bag to the end of the room. His brown eyes—courtesy of his mother—roamed his room in frustration. He was not in a good mood. Not that he had that mood in the first place…
"Okaeri, Hiiragi."
He almost jumped from his place when his mother's voice rose right from behind him. He turned around and found her right behind him, smiling with a spatula in her hand.
"How's your Academy, Sweetie?" she asked lightly. Hiiragi snapped, "How do you know I'm here already?"
"Well… you still haven't mastered your chakra control very well, I guess," his mother titled her head then grinned. "Even though you sneak in, Honey… as long as other ninja could feel your chakra, it'll be more or less useless. I could feel yours pretty clearly. I suspected you're home. So… how's Academy?"
Hiiragi turned his head away.
"Fine."
His mother still casted the same look. He looked away then said, "That's all! Fine! What else can I say?!"
A sudden smile curved up his mother's lips. He didn't have a chance to frown when his mother said softly, "I see. I guess you have a lot to tell me after dinner, eh? Your father will be home soon, Sweetie. You better help your brother chopping up sticks. Train your muscle, it will!"
"But, Kaa-san—"
Poof!
She disappeared. Hiiragi chided himself. He closed his eyes. Why must Higure being the one that he must follow?!
X
The dishes that presented themselves on the table were… marvelous. They only had this kind of dishes on special occasion and the family head's return is one of them. Higure looked at the nearby salmon while he rubbed both of his hands in glee. That was the first thing he would like to have!
Hiiragi watched as his brother stared at the dishes intently. He snorted a little then averted his gaze to the note he was reading. It was about advanced weapon making and the uses of metal in the path of shinobi.
"Now… the last meal is here!"
Their mother went into the room, swirling as she brought the hot oriental turkey to the table. Higure clapped his hands then cheered, "MY FAVORITE!"
"Exactly!" The brown haired mother poked her youngest son affectionately. "My favorite also. We gotta have the whole family's favorite, eh? Hiiragi with the salmon, you and me with the turkey… and of course, the warm steaming soup for your father! Now, everyone… be ready for your father's arrival! We wouldn't want to… ah. There he comes!"
Higure and Hiiragi quickly turned their bodies and heads to look at the door… that was still closed. Higure furrowed his eyebrows then said, "Kaa-san… don't trick us like that!"
"I did not," said the mother with a smile. She went to the door… then opened it just as a figure appeared in a flash right on the front terrace. A pair of white eyes shone in the darkness—gleaming from the light that emanated from the house. The orbs soon found their way to his wife's—softening despite his pride. A warm smile crafted itself on her face as she laughed then said cheerfully,
"Okaerinasai!"
X
The dinner was excellent. Higure always wanted to be by his father's side, telling him that he missed him so much. There were no facial changes in his father's face but everyone can tell that he was very pleased by the affection. Their mother laughed and teased along the way while Higure watched everything in silence—brown eyes sometimes softening despite his refusal. Regardless the fact that the dishes were amazingly a lot, they wiped out to the very last crumbs of them. Finally the feast were over very late at night, resulting in Higure dozing on his father's lap while Hiiragi fell asleep by the corner, having a warm fabric covered half of his body. Their mother watched them affectionately from the kitchen then continued to wash the dishes. Their father who sat silently in the corner finally held out his hands and lifted the youngest one off his lap gently. He took him to the room then laid him on the futon, gently wrapping him with the cover and making sure that everything is alright before doing the same to his older brother. By the time he was finished, his wife already sat by the tatami with two glasses of steaming hot tea. He sat beside her and took her offer, sipping the warm liquid into his body. He was always been proud of her expertise on weapons, but he also felt he would want to brag about her ability on tea as well.
"Are they asleep already?" asked Tenten slowly. Neji nodded faintly then said, "Just like a baby."
Tenten laughed, taking some sip of the tea herself. She cast a loving look at the paper door leading to their room then said softly, "They will always be babies in my eyes."
A smile curved up Neji's lips as he took another sip. He then complied softly.
"Indeed."
The hand of the weapon mistress brushed his and silence accompanied them as they both enjoyed the warmth of the tea and the solid presence of each other. Tenten leaned herself to him, closing her eyes as she felt his warmth. He was here… Alive…
"How're the kids?"
Tenten opened her eyes slowly, fingers tracing his husband's palm.
"They're fine… just as usual. Except…"
Her movement stopped and he titled his head to look at her.
"Except?"
"Hiiragi. Seems like he is uneasy of something…"
"And that something is?"
Tenten chuckled.
"I believe… he is a little jealous of Higure, in many ways."
Neji furrowed his eyebrows. He took another sip then said firmly, "That is not a good thing to happen between siblings."
"Definitely," Tenten nodded. She smiled a little. "He is jealous of something silly… but reasonable. Perhaps being… a brown eyed Hyuuga is burdening him."
"Burdened? By what?"
"Many things," Tenten sat straight again then looked at her husband's orbs. She put her warm hand on his cheek. "Like… losing the main identity of Hyuuga: the Byakugan. It means a lot, as someone who holds the name… especially if the name is descended from someone in your caliber."
"I am flattered," said Neji gracefully as ever. "Although it seems a little misplaced for this situation."
Tenten laughed heartedly. She leaned on him again then said softly, "He must've thought… Higure worth more than he is."
"Every human worth the same in this life," said Neji steadfastly, taking a small sake cup and letting Tenten filled it. "The only thing that differ them from others is attitude."
"Now you mention it," Tenten clicked her finger, grinning. She pecked his cheek. "The old you wouldn't say it… and I'm glad it is the new you who married me."
Neji couldn't resist the smile. He let her fingers curled into his then enjoyed the sake once more. They were both silent as they contemplated the matter until Tenten opened her mouth again.
"And perhaps… he is worrying about… not getting you to feel proud of him. I am sure he wants to achieve whatever wishes everyone wants him to be… but being someone not as talented as Higure… and the feeling that he cannot be like you, he turns to despise himself then his own brother—who had the Byakugan and the talent. Or so he thinks."
Neji narrowed his eyes. He took a sip of sake then said firmly.
"He is my son. I am proud of my sons without exception. And nothing can change that."
Tenten smiled at his statement. Neji then looked at his wife, white eyes hardening with something.
"Especially… if it's only about a trivial matter such as the color of his eyes. Moreover… those eyes were inherited from you. There is nothing more that I can afford to have."
Tenten laughed. She kissed him sweetly.
"You're too sweet," she said kindly. She gestured him to lay his head on her lap and he obliged. If there was a time machine, he would freeze this moment and savored it in every second of his life. She ran a hand through his long hair then said gently, "How's your mission?"
"Smooth," said the Hyuuga Prodigy, almost without thinking. "The culprit is none other than a Cloud Ninja. We managed to dispose of him on his way to his base."
"I see…" said his wife gently, still running her hand between the strands of his hair. "He got company, I presume."
"Just a lousy group of Jounin… Nothing more."
Tenten didn't try to suppress her smile. 'Lousy' Jounin, eh?
"Hokage-sama wishes an audience with you tomorrow, Tenten."
The brown haired wife raised her eyebrows.
"Really? That's strange. A mission?"
"Perhaps," Neji closed his eyes. "You've been off duty for quite a while now, if I recalled. You never go to any mission anymore ever since Hiiragi's pregnancy to take care of the house and the kids."
"That's true," complied his wife. But then a proud grin curled up her lips. "But I'm still a weapon mistress in every way, in and out. It's time for me to let the kids go."
"I wish we could wait until they have settled their problem between each other," Neji let out a faint sigh. Tenten cast a questioning look. "Hiiragi, I mean."
"Ah…" Tenten raised her eyebrows. She put her index finger on her lips and thought of something for a while. Neji eyed her from the corner of his eyes, feeling how fatigue slowly got him. The comfort that his wife gave him provided a chance for him to finally felt his exhaustion. Tenten continued to run her hand on his hair again as a smile found its way to her face. Her touch made him closed his eyes, relaxing his whole body.
"Maaa… Neji… Don't worry about them. They're our sons after all."
Our sons.
Neji chuckled a little. He took her hand then brought it to his lips, giving her a silent gratitude. Tenten's eyes softened then she said gently, "Tired, aren't you? Stop pretending now… Go to sleep already."
Neji sat straight slowly. He glanced at her and smirked.
"You have asked me to sleep… Then why are you still here?"
Tenten blinked a few time as blush crept up her face. She laughed heartedly then stood up to slide the door to their room.
For Neji, it was an invitation already.
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To Be Continued
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Author's Note: As you all can see… the main thing that I wanna stress here in this fic is not the NejiTen, more to their kids. So… ;p bwehehehehe… Since it is 'To Be Continued', perhaps I will continue… but let's see if the mood allows me to. XDDD Maa… thanks!!!