Chapter One

Legend Has It

"Oh, Ume your hair is so pretty," the chubby cheeked little girl spoke to her doll as she gently took the little brush over Ume's black yarn hair. The young brunette hoped to have long and beautiful hair like Ume someday. If her hair was like Ume's she would be pretty too, then maybe her father wouldn't frown so much. Every father wanted his daughter to beautiful like her mother. Maybe that's why he was always upset. Even though it wasn't the best logic, it was all Hinata could think of. She just wanted things to be like before, when her mother was around. Back then everyone was happy, even her typically grumpy father. Back then they lived in a lovely home, with many nice things she wasn't allowed to touch, long hallways for her to run down, and a garden! Oh she missed that garden so much! She spent countless hours in that garden with her mother, picking flowers and making all sorts of things out of them. Hinata was pretty then, her hair grew long past her shoulders, and every morning her mother would come put the sweetest smelling flower in it. She was just like a princess then, her parents even called her that sometimes. But everything changed when her mother suddenly fell ill. No one could figure out why or how. There were whispers about poisoning…whatever that meant. All Hinata knew was that she saw her mother less and less until she didn't get to see the kind-hearted woman at all. She missed her mommy, more than she missed the garden. Whenever she asked about it her father got angry, so eventually the questions stopped. Then they left their lovely home and moved into a new one. The halls weren't long, it didn't have many rooms for hide and seek, and worse yet there was no garden. She was forced to have her hair cutoff and kept short. She couldn't play outside, all she had was her Ume doll. That's when her father became so grumpy. She lost her pretty hair, her home, her friends and the garden. It had to be the reason for his wrath.

"Miss Hinata," the live-in housekeeper Nanette called as she entered the room. "Let's get you dressed. Your father wishes to see you." Hinata got up from the floor and placed Ume on her bed as Nanette helped her get dressed. Nanette helped her into one of her fancy dresses. This dress she loved partly because it was sewn by her mother but also for its beauty. It was a pale shade of lavender with deep indigo butterflies embroidered around the waist and skirt of the dress. Because the dress was sleeveless she wore it with a little jacket matching in design that had two pearl buttons at the neck. The Zouave jacket was most enchanting part of the ensemble in Hinata's opinion because of the pearl buttons. She loved the shiny trinkets and felt the most beautiful when wearing them. Almost like the earrings she used to have. The nanny slipped on the girl's socks and white Mary Jane shoes before giving her short choppy hair a quick brush and sending Hinata on her way. Hinata quickly made her way to her father's study gathering her nerves before knocking softly on the large oak wood door.

"Good morning daddy," Hinata spoke as she entered curtsying. Hiashi acknowledged the girl with a nod of his head and motioned for her sit down while he finished his last bit of paperwork. Hinata climbed into the big leather chair making sure to smooth out her dress and waited very patiently for Hiashi to finish. Truth be told Hiashi was purposely taking his time with the documents, wishing there was a way to get around what he had to do. He couldn't bear to tell the girl she was bringing danger to the family, it wasn't her fault that people wanted to use her for evil. Of course the child didn't know of power she possessed but still Hiashi couldn't put the rest of the family in jeopardy any longer. The attack on his wife had already put them on the run. That forced him to make huge lifestyle changes for them all. Money was short and hiding away in constant fear of attack was no way to live. He couldn't risk having the girl with them any longer. There was his brother's boy who he'd promised to protect and Nanette was with child… Hiashi let out a deep sigh there was no use delaying it.

"Hinata," Hiashi spoke grabbing her attention once more. Seeing in her that dress just took him back to better times. It only made the thought of what he was about to do seem even worse. She was so innocent, his little princess. He truly hoped they would treat her well at the Uchiha mansion. She would be safer there amongst many powerful warriors and fighters, they would be able to protect her. At least that's what he hoped.

"I have something I would like to discuss with you,"

"Okay what is it?" the pale skinned child asked impatiently. The older man sighed knowing that the task ahead of him would be a troublesome one. He knew the child could be quite stubborn and brash when it came to certain things and wasn't quite sure how the news would go over with the boy. If all was to go as planned he needed Sasuke on his very best behavior.

"Now I'm sure your mother told you about the guest we will be receiving shortly," the boy's father began slowly looking to the child for conformation.

"Yes... I know to be on my very best behavior," Sasuke drawled quoting his mother word for word. The wild child was tired of being told to be good for the guests. He just wanted to run and play. Hopefully his new friend would too, they could get into all sorts of things together. Sasuke planned to show him all of the cool things around the mansion. They could play hide and seek, wrestle, and shoot things with his sling shot. It had been a while since Sasuke had any friends over with Gaara being out of town and Naruto being… well Naruto.

"Well there are some other things you should know." Fugaku snapped wishing the boy wasn't such an arrogant smart-alack but knowing full well that Sasuke got it from him. "Our guest is a young lady,"

"A girl?!" Sasuke dramatically exclaimed throwing his little arms in the air. A sissy girl was the last thing he needed around here. Girls were the worst; they had cooties, they made those annoying screeching noises, they hated bugs and cried for everything. He could not be friends with a girl!

"Yes. However the girl who will come here is far from ordinary," the boy's father said purposely adding mystifying tone to his voice. Sasuke's little ears perked up then, his round cobalt colored eyes widening as leaned forward his interest in the girl suddenly peaking. Fugaku inwardly smirked at his handy work thinking that the task bestowed on him might be much easier than he once thought. His son was a sucker for a good story and Fugaku was using it to his advantage. The younger Uchiha eyed his superior eager for him to continue with the information he had but reluctant to say so.

"Eh but you wouldn't be interested in that," Fugaku spoke picking up a quill pen and returning to his paperwork. The little boy sat back once again completely shocked by his father's reaction. He was interested! He wanted to know what made the girl so special. Though he couldn't let his father know. Even at the tender age of five he had the instinct to try and best the opponent, in this case his father.

"Why wouldn't I be interested?" Sasuke asked Fugaku feigning disinterest. "It must be a boring story," he concluded cheekily. It was Fugaku's turn to be shocked although he didn't show it. His five year old son had tried to use reverse psychology on him! Pushing his own trick back on him. Instead of the child proving his interest he turned the tables. Fugaku would have to prove how interesting the story was. The man was undoubtedly impressed by his son natural ability to out think others still at the moment it wasn't helping.

"On the contrary, it was the most exciting I'd heard in a while," the Uchiha leader spoke pen never pausing in its work. "Though it isn't really a story for little boys so you're right. It wouldn't interest you," Sasuke was not a little boy! He was Prince of the Vampires and future ruler of the Southeastern Allied Lands. He was a big boy like his brother, Itachi, his momma had even told him so. And Mikoto wasn't one to lie. The story would interest him, Sasuke was sure of it.

"I'm big enough to hear it," the Vampire Prince said losing his impassive façade. The older man smiled to himself. Sasuke was good, but he still had some learning to do. Fugaku had to admit though that the child had put him on his toes.

"I don't know, Sasuke…" he stalled.

"Tell me," Sasuke insisted and without further delay the Uchiha lord set his work aside launching into a legend that started with one little dark haired girl. "Long ago, when I was just a young boy myself,"

"That must have been ages ago," the oldest Uchiha child snidely remarked as he entered the room with a particularly exquisite tasting piece angel food cake. Sasuke brightened at just the sound of his beloved brother's voice. Immediately he lept out of his chair and ran to embrace his aniki. Fugaku on the other hand shot his oldest son a chilly glare. How dare the little junk food hoarding brat interrupt his story and with a snarky little comment at that. It had took a lot to get Sasuke's undivided attention, Itachi had stolen it within a matter of seconds.

"How was school, Aniki?" Sasuke asked his older brother careful not to knock over the tasty treat in his excitement. Itachi ruffled his ebony mop smiling down at him.

"It was very good, we threw shuriken." Itachi replied going into little detail about his day. Sasuke would only care to know the fun of it anyway. The older sibling set down his midday snack before digging into the pouch tied to his left leg. Slowly he pulled out a shiny steel star. Sasuke's obsidian orbs lit up in amazement. "I got to bring this home because I had the best aim." Itachi explained only increasing his younger sibling's wonder.

"The very best?" the youngest Uchiha male asked, his brother nodded an affirmative. "Can I touch it?" he asked reaching up for it, Itachi quickly moved it out of reach.

"Its very sharp Sasuke. Mother would be mad if I let you cut yourself," Itachi explained pocketing the weapon. Sasuke nodded understanding how crazy their mother could get when either of her boys were hurt. She could even be scarier than Fugaku at those times. "But I brought you this," his brother said pulling out a wooden version on the weapon. It was a very close match to the one he held earlier only lacking in danger.

"It's mine?" Sasuke asked. He was beyond excited as Itachi placed the toy shuriken in his open palms again nodding an affirmative. He carefully inspected the precious wooden weapon running his chubby fingers across the smooth pine. Itachi had even etched his initials into one of the four points on the back. He loved it. "Aniki, show me how to throw it!" Sasuke said jumping up and down.

"Ahem!" Fugaku cleared his throat as loud as possible to get his sons attention. While he hated to ruin a moment that they were actually getting along, it was dire that he inform Sasuke about their soon arriving guest.

"Oh, Aniki you're just in time for a good story!" Sasuke informed his brother while taking his seat in the big leather chair. He leaned across the arm of the big chair to pat the seat next to his. Itachi retrieved his dessert before taking the seat next to Sasuke. Fugaku waited for the boys to get settled in before continuing his story.

"Now where was I?" he started.

"A long time ago," Itachi supplied.

"Oh right. Long ago before there was any allied nations every man stuck with his own kind. Vampires to vampire. Lycan to lycan. Faerie to faerie and so on and so forth. Now the major clans held no trust for one another and only cared for the preservation of their own kind. Until one day an entity so evil that no man could defeat rose up with a dark army and conquered many lands." Fugaku paused for dramatic effect causing both boys to lean in a little closer eager for his next words. The man proceeded to tell the duo how no man could defeat the dark lord and he eventually crowned himself emperor over all the lands. Even when the clans allied to revolt they were no match. The clan leaders embarked on a great journey to find a warrior with a heart so pure he could defeat the malevolent emperor. When they found the legendary priest he was too old in age for battle but insisted they take with them his little girl. Thinking the man crazy they reluctantly took the child. But the little girl surprised them, growing in strength and power much faster than any one they'd ever laid eyes on.

"My father fought alongside that young lady and she banished the Emperor from the lands for years to come!" Fugaku spoke ending the story. Even though they wouldn't admit it just yet they had thoroughly enjoyed the legend.

"What does that have to do with our guest?" Itachi asked wondering how the stories connected or how it even pertained to them. Sasuke piped up with an eager 'yeah!'.

"They say our guest is her great granddaughter," Fugaku started to explain before being interrupted by a knock on the door. It was one of the maids announcing the arrival of their long awaited guest. Sasuke was the first to hop out of his chair and race to the foyer. Upon his arrival Mikoto lightly scolded him for not washing up before meeting their guest and tried her best to make him look at little more presentable. Sasuke's focus never wavered from the big intricately carved redwood doors. By the time his father and brother made their way into the foyer the door bell was ringing and Sasuke could hardly contain his excitement. Could the old butler open the door any slower? When the big door finally came open in stepped a little girl just around his age. She didn't look like the close descendant of some warrior woman at all, she even smelled like a plain old human. Which in her case was still kind of nice… Sasuke couldn't help feeling like he'd been tricked but even with this foul betrayal he couldn't deny the girl was pretty. She had the biggest oddly colored eyes and with her hair being just under her chin in a messy looking bob she was hands down the most exotic girl he'd even seen. All of the girls he knew had long hair seeing Hinata's choppy look was actually quite refreshing. Besides that she was normal, maybe a bit on the pale side but normal nonetheless.

"Hello, I-I'm Hyuuga Hinata." The girl stammered performing a much practiced curtsy and slightly bowing her head. Her chubby cheeks became rosy with all the attention being on her. It was then Sasuke decided he liked her. Not that he would ever say it to her or even act like it.

"Oh how sweet!" Mikoto said fawning over the girl. "Isn't she just the cutest, Sasuke?" he mother asked turning to him. The young Uchiha boy hadn't noticed that he had been staring but the rest of his family had. They saw the spark of interest in his round eyes and knew all would go as planned, if the girl was truly the one. Mikoto being the boldest or the most rash one decided to put the boy on the spot bringing him closer to the girl and popping her question.

"Mooooomm," Sasuke whined as he pulled away covering his stained cheeks with the sleeve of his shirt. That caused the entire room to fill with laughter. Hinata even stifled a small giggle at the boy's expense. His ear perked up at the melodious sound, he liked it. Normally Sasuke hated being laughed at however hearing her little giggle calmed him in some unnatural way.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Hinata. I'm Mikoto," his mother began taking lead as woman of the house. She extend her palm to shake Hinata's little hand all the while wearing the most infectious smile. Anyone would feel welcome when she smiled like that. Hinata couldn't help the smile that graced her lips as she shook the woman's hand.

"My husband, Fugaku." Mikoto said motioning towards the oldest man out of the bunch. Fugaku stepped forward and shook her baby like hand offering a gentle smile himself. The young girl again performed her practiced curtsy in respect to the man of the house like she'd been taught bowing her head slightly. Mikoto was very pleased with the child's manners and hoped the young girl might rub off on her sometimes unruly boys.

"My sons, Itachi and Sasuke." She introduced motioning toward each boy as she called their name. Itachi came forward first giving the young brunette's hand a firm but gentle shake and mumbling a 'nice to meet you'. Sasuke followed in suit grabbing her hand and giving it a shake. It was soft like he imagined. The blush on her cheeks intensified when he took her hands, he decided that he liked seeing her redden. A mischievous smirk made its way onto his face at the thought of making her red as his favorite food. Fugaku knew that smirk when he saw it and he excused them both escorting Sasuke back into his office. He wouldn't have his son teasing the sweet girl and would have to lay down the law before things got out of hand.

"Well how about I show you around, Hinata?"