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And then the day of the wedding came. Nejis felt nauseous starting the moment he woke up.
As a member of the branch family he had to help with the final preparations.
That made him wish he could just die on the spot or vanish up into thin air.
The thought, that starting this day Hinata would finally move completely out of his reach made him unbelievably sad.
Live was cruel, that was certain.
He started to get dressed, formal wear, specifically selected for this day, his hair he tied together and his mark was hidden under a headband.
One last glance, his heart sank.
Why must he been born into the branch and not the main family?
His existence was pointless, now, that his reason for living got taken away from him.
His duty would be passed onto Hinatas husband, the thought of another man touching her, being near her aggravated him to no ends but also made him very very sad.
So sad he had to blink away the tears.
Putting on his neutral and stoic mask, he stepped out of his room and went to the small Capel on the family property, where the ceremony would be held.
Many other family members roamed the place, making everything spotless and neat, perfect for the event.
Getting his instructions he checked on the seat placements and then he had to wake up the bride, along with another person, a female.
While the woman bathed Hinata and dressed her, Neji stood infront of the door, blinking away the tears and tried to calm his racing heart.
This was so unfair.
His love sickness and pain roared at each other like lions in his chest.
A storm tossed in his head, all he could think about were those fleeting but precious moments he was able to share with Hinata and how he would cherish them forever.
He had them safely locked up in his heart, where no one could ever take them away from him.
But he wished that would also count for Hinata.
He wished, no one could take her from him, that no one else would marry her, except him.
But this was only a wish, a fever dream of a foolish boy who was bound to wake up to the cruelty of reality.
This was not possible, not in this live.
And still, he wished it could be, he still wished, somehow, that this wedding would be canceled and Hiashi would reconcider.
Wishful thinking yet again.
That would never happen.
Never.
So, he had no other choice but to stand by and watch the love of his live, marry another.
Leaving him with heartache and the disgusting thoughts of this man doing all the things he wished he could do.
The one thing he could wish for, that this man at least treated her with respect and care.
Nothing less would he accept.
He got called into the room.
Hinata was dressed by now, she smelled faintly like roses and camilias, a scent Neji loved and adored on her.
She was dressed in traditional attire but still, she looked so breathtaking, so pure, so innocent.
The elder male had to really restrain himself to not either cry on the spot or pull her in, kiss her and kidnap her from this fate.
But he couldn’t do either, he had to let everything unfold.
„Hello Neji“ Hinata said softly.
Her soft words struck right through his heart but he kept up his facade „Good day, Hinata-sama“ he politely bowed to her.
It broke his heart.
The ceremony was next, Neji felt sick to his stomach, watching was cruel enough but why did he have to be up front to see and hear EVERYTHING?!
He tried to keep his eyes off of Hinata and tried not to listen but it was no use, the wedding proceeded and soon enough, Hinata slipped from his reach finally, infront of his eyes, and he had no way of stopping it.
That shattered his heart completely.
Was it his imagination or could he see tears of saddness in Hinatas eyes when he caught a glimpse?
Was it wishful thinking of him?
Was he hallucinating?
He wished for this...
He wished he could have married her but there was no way...
He was damned to watch from the side and silently suffer, choking on his lovesickness.