A/N: Okay so here's the first chapter of Cloaked. Now since Cloaked and Sasuke's Moving Castle tied, I'm going to do both (God help me!). I'm going to do alternating chapter weeks, except for this week, where I'm going to post both, so what I mean is that next week will be chapter 2 of Cloaked and the week after that will be chapter 2 of Sasuke's Moving Castle. Just to remind everyone NONE OF THE COUPLES HAVE BEEN DECIDED YET! There will be a time where I will ask for a vote and then they will be decided, however until that point this will be under Shikamaru and Hinata because they are the two main characters at this point. ON WITH THE STORY!
Disclaimer: If you don't know that I don't own Naruto by now…well…
Chapter 1: The Prince and the Pauper
"Here you go s-sir!" the dark haired girl stammered, as she placed the plate of hot food in front of the disgruntled business man.
He grunted and quickly picked up his knife and fork as the girl bowed her head, and excused herself. She turned from the table and quickly tried to push her way through the packed restaurant. A loud sharp shriek filled the air as the dark haired girl whipped around her hand flying to her backside protectively. She looked around trying to weed out the culprit, her face so red that the other customers thought that she would faint. Taking a deep breath she turned around, tightening her grip on her drink tray before rushing back into the kitchen.
"We n-n-need two more s-s-specials." she said softly, as she passed the cook willing the color to leave her cheeks.
"Hai, hai Hinata-chan! Let me guess?" he said after catching sight of her burning visage. "Some of the customers are getting a little grabby again huh?" Iruka asked smiling at the girl as she let out a soft squeak of surprise, before turning back to his cooking.
Hinata gave the chef a weak smile before placing her tray down on the counter waiting for it to be refilled with orders.
"If he's going to like anyone it would be me, you pig!" A sharp shrill voice filled the kitchen.
"Ha! You! He'd take one look at the billboard brow of yours and go running back to...to...where ever he's from, but not before marrying ME and making ME his queen!" Another voice shouted.
In seconds two girls dressed in the identical maid outfits as Hinata stormed into the kitchen arguing with each other. One was tall, with tan skin, and short pink hair with a pair of stunning emerald eyes, the other was unusually thin, with pale skin, blue eyes, and platinum blonde hair that was put up in a high ponytail.
"Hinata!" The both turned on her. "Tell her that I'm right!" they demanded in unison.
"S-sakura-chan, I-I-Ino-chan, I have n-no idea what your t-talking about." Hinata stammered in confusion.
Suddenly the angry glares that they had been giving each other dissolved into two bright, happy, and identical smiles.
"Oh Hinata-chan!" Ino said dreamily, wrapping an arm around the girls shoulders. "Haven't you heard!"
"Heard what?" Hinata asked genuinely confused.
"We're being visited by a prince! A prince can you believe it!" Sakura said too excited, to wait for dramatic pause.
Ino sent her a quick glare, for ruining the moment she had been trying to build before turning to Hinata, grinning and nodding her head vigorously.
"O-oh well isn't that e-exciting." Hinata stuttered slightly nervous, she knew that this was going to be another opportunity to make a fool of herself.
"Exciting?" Sakura said astounded, Ino's face matching her tone. "Hinata this is the greatest thing that can happen EVER!"
"Forehead girl is right Hinata!" Ino said waving off the pink haired girls glare. "I mean honestly, when will you ever get a chance to meet a prince, that's coming to stay at our hotel, who's around our age ever again?"
After a few minutes Hinata nodded with a small smile. Ino was right, this was probably going to be the highlight of Hinata's whole life so she might as well enjoy it.
"I s-suppose your right," Hinata conceded. "But how d-did you know he was even coming?" she said turning back to the counter to grab her full tray.
"This!" Sakura said triumphantly thrusting the magazine in her face.
Hinata blinked a few times trying to refocus her eyes. There on the front cover of the magazine that Sakura held was the picture of a handsome but lazy brown haired teen. Underneath the image in large red letters were the words 'ROYALTY IN KONOHA' and a smaller caption stated 'more on page 32!'.
"That's very i-impresive Sakura-chan but I must get back to work now." Hinata said before rushing out of the kitchen.
"What's wrong with that girl?" Ino said shaking her head, Sakura mirroring the action.
"Nothing's wrong with Hinata, and you two need to get to work," Iruka said, pointing his chopping knife in their direction.
"Yes Iruka-sensei..." both girls groaned, before picking up their own trays and order pads.
-Page Break-
"Your highness we've arrived at your destination." the limousine driver announced.
The prince didn't answer, he didn't even move to show he had heard the man. He was sprawled out across the back seat of his limo, his arms spread across the top of the seats around him, with his head lulled back, as he snored softly.
"Your highness?" the driver asked softly.
"Aw don't worry about it, we got it covered," an older man reassured.
He had dark with dark eyes, an unlit cigarette clenched between his teeth, and a rough beard. Glancing over at his larger companion with long light brown hair they nodded before both leaning over the prince.
"Prince Shikamaru it's time to wake up." the larger of the two said.
"Leave me alone." Shikamaru groaned. "Let me sleep."
"You can sleep when we get up to your suite." the other man said, impatiently. "Now get up."
"Nope, you can leave me here, I've decided that at this moment in time walking would be to troublesome to even attempt." Shikamaru murmured cracking open one dark brown eye to give the man a lazy look.
"Fine, then I'll sell all of your underwear to the media. Then the world will finally know that you wear briefs with cartoon characters on them." the man said.
"I do not." Shikamaru argued.
"I know that, but they don't. I happen to have a nephew who has an unnatural obsession with Spongebob Squarepants, at the moment, and I'm sure he wouldn't notice if a few pairs of his underwear went missing." the man said grinning.
"I can see the headlines now!" the other man said. "Lady's Man wears boy sized briefs with cartoons on them."
"You're not helping Chouji." Shikamaru grunted, glaring at his best friend who merely shrugged still grinning.
Shikamaru turned to the other man, and stared at him blankly for a few minutes before sighing and sitting up straight.
"You're a sadist you know that?" Shikamaru asked the man.
"I know, but your parent's hired this sadist to take care of you so that's what I'm going to do." The man continued.
"Where are we anyway Asuma?" Shikamaru asked.
"The Shinigawa Prince hotel in Konoha." Asuma answered lighting his cigarette as he stepped out of the limo.
"Right." Shikamaru sighed, before joining his bodyguard and guardian.
-Page Break-
Sakura and Ino released another collective sigh as they both stared at the magazine they had spread across one of the many counters in the kitchen.
"Sakura? Ino?" Hinata asked confused, passing them for probably the fifth time.
"Huh?" Sakura looked up dumbly.
"Are you even trying to look like your working?" Iruka asked skeptically leaning against another counter.
"We are working!" Ino defended.
"Yeah!" Sakura agreed. "We're waiting for our customer's orders to be done!"
"They were done almost a half hour ago." Iruka stated bluntly.
Both girls exchanged horrified looks, before quickly standing and looking for their trays of food. Hinata shook her head in slight exasperation as Iruka chuckled.
"You're lucky Hinata cares so much about you and this hotel, she delivered the food as soon as it was out." Iruka answered their questioning gazes.
"Oh thank you Hinata!" Ino said grabbing the girl in a tight hug.
"Thank you! You're such a sweet heart!" Sakura agreed joining in on the embrace.
"It was n-n-nothing!" Hinata stammered her face red from embarrassment.
"Aww! You're so modest!" Ino said shrilly.
"Aww Hinata!" Sakura agreed tightening her hold on the girl.
"Attention everyone." Kakashi the manager said as he stepped into the kitchen. "Prince Shikamaru has just arrived. Hinata, Ino, and Sakura, you three will wait on him, is that understood?" Kakashi asked, as his bored eyes began to drift to the book he was holding in front of him.
"Hai!" Ino and Sakura squealed out in unison, while Hinata merely nodded the affirmative.
Kakashi responded by bowing his head slightly and turning to leave the kitchen. Within seconds the two girls rounded on Hinata.
"This is so exciting!" Ino exclaimed.
"We get to wait on the prince." Sakura agreed, before both her and Ino turned to Hinata waiting for a similar reaction.
"Yay?" Hinata said tiredly,
"Why don't you girls start him off?" Iruka suggested placing a comforting hand on Hinata's shoulder. "Hinata should really take her dinner break."
"Of course!" Sakura said, Ino agreeing with her.
"Take your time Hinata! You deserve a break!" Ino shouted over her shoulder as both her and Sakura ran out of the kitchen.
Hinata sighed in relief and she felt her shoulders sag. Iruka chuckled at the girl before pulling out a neatly wrapped bento box.
"You work too hard Hinata, you need a break. Not everything is your responsibility." Iruka said handing her the dinner he had made, and smiling as her cheeks turned pink in embarrassment. "Go on, I'm sure Ino and Sakura have it covered. Honestly, with those two, I'm starting to pity the prince!"
Hinata gave the older man a shy smile and accepted the box from his hand before creeping to the back door of the kitchen. She walked out into the cool night air, and sat on the small cement steps that were right in front of the door, eating slowly, relaxing for the first time in hours. Iruka was right, Hinata did work long hours. During the week she had to balance both school and her job, working from the wee hours of the morning to the ungodly ours of the night. It didn't help that she lived in the hotel either. Hinata and her guardian Kurenai Yuhi worked in the Shinigawa Prince hotel and lived in one of the many small rooms in the basements. Even though Kurenai had only officially adopted Hinata when she was eight, Hinata could never remember a time where the beautiful red eyed woman hadn't cared for her. Kurenai was also by no means, well off, and she could barely support herself let alone Hinata. So by the time Hinata was old enough to clean properly she had gone to the hotel manager and begged for a job, and has worked every day since. She jumped as she heard the door open behind her and scooted closer to the railing along the steps where she sat, willing herself not to face them.
-Page Break-
Shikamaru's eye twitched as the blonde girl squealed loudly in his ear, something about how glad she was to meet him. He waved her off, not missing the spark in Chouji's eyes as he looked at the blonde with a large smile.
"I'm sorry your highness!" the blonde said. "What would you like to drink?"
Shikamaru gave a mumbled reply before resting his head on his arms, making the girl deflate, and Asuma snort. Chouji quickly picked up where Shikamaru left off, ordering his drink. Shikamaru had to admit that both of his waitress's were pretty but also annoying. He flinched slightly, when he felt her brush her hand against his arm, before turning around and walking away.
"I need a smoke." Shikamaru grumbled, standing, making most of the restaurants occupants gasp and watch him carefully.
"Shikamaru you shouldn't smoke." Asuma reprimanded, standing with his young charge.
"Says the man who smokes two packs a day." Shikamaru said raising an eyebrow.
Asuma shook his head before he hailed one of the other waiters. A young man with shoulder length blonde hair, a tooth pick clenched tightly between his teeth made his way over to them.
"Genma," Asuma began, examining the guys name tag carefully. "His highness wants to go get some fresh air, without being mauled by the press, is there any side door or something that he could use for a few minutes?"
Genma nodded and then gestured for them both to follow him. Shikamaru grunted and shoved his hands in his pockets before trudging dutifully behind the two men. They walked through the kitchen thankfully drawing little to no attention. As soon as he saw the door Shikamaru pushed passed Asuma and Genma before walking out into the cool night. He was surprised when he saw a dark haired girl sitting on the steps. She glanced back at him briefly before scooting closer to the railing along the steps. Watching him out of the corner of his eye he walked down the small steps and sat next to her, pulling out a cigarette in the process.
-Page Break-
Hinata watched the young man out of the corner of her eye, watching with growing unease as he sat down next to her, pulling out a cigarette and lighting. He looked familiar, and she racked her brain trying to decipher where she had seen him. After taking a long drag from his cigarette, he breathed out and turned to face her. She waited for him to speak, staring intently down at her dinner, when he didn't speak she slowly turned her face towards him.
"C-can I h-help you?" Hinata asked softly.
The boy chuckled and turned away from her taking a long drag from his cigarette and blowing the smoke away from her.
"No," he answered after a moment. "Just thinking." he said turning back to her.
He continued to stare at her a small smirk on his face. Hinata clenched her bento box tighter before glancing back at him every few minutes. Finally she couldn't take it anymore.
"Thinking a-about what?" Hinata stammered.
He exhaled, the smoke clouding her vision for a moment, making her cough, and her eyes water. Using his hand he waved the smoke away giving her a brief apologetic look.
"Thinking about a pretty dark haired waitress who might be able to help me." he answered after a moment.
Her cheeks turned bright red, and the young man's smirk turned into a large grin. After she had calmed herself, she glanced forlornly at her half eaten dinner before covering it and turning towards the boy waiting expectantly.
"Come by my room later tonight," he began, his grin broadening as he reached in his wallet and pulled out his hotel key. "Then we can talk about my little problem."
Before he could say another word, Hinata stood up outraged, as her cheeks turned crimson. She backed away from him, her arms crossing defensively over her chest.
"W-what kind of g-g-girl do you t-think I am!" Hinata said, allowing her anger to take over for her for a brief moment.
He looked at her puzzled before gauging the double meaning of his words and he laughed, only succeeding in making Hinata blush even more.
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm definitely not lacking in that department." the boy said, extinguishing his cigarette. "Besides, you're not my type."
This only made Hinata more embarrassed, as she wrung her hands nervously.
"I'm sorry t-that I assumed that w-was w-what you meant." Hinata whimpered.
"Pfft." the boy said leaning back lazily. "I don't blame you, with my reputation any girl would be wary."
"Reputation?" Hinata asked confused.
He paused for a moment before giving her a look of disbelief. Shaking his head he let out a low chuckle.
"You don't know who I am do you?" he aksed after a moment, giving her a strange look.
"No sir." she answered.
His deep chuckle turned into a full out laugh before he extended an open hand to Hinata. She hesitated for a moment before reaching over and shaking his hand.
"Nice to meet you...?" the boy waited, for her to finish the unasked question.
"My name is Hinata Y-Yuhi." she said.
"Nice to meet you Hinata, my name is Shikamaru Nara, crown prince of Mori no Kuni (land of forests)" he said, smiling as her face turned from neutral to mortified in a few seconds.
"I'm s-s-so sorry!" Hinata stuttered her face taking on a whole new shade of red as she bowed low. "I humbly a-apologize for my i-i-insolence!"
"Stop bowing, it's troublesome." Shikamaru argued reclining and watching her closely. "Just sit down."
Hinata did as he asked and sat back down on the steps, waiting for him to continue speaking. He breathed in deeply for a moment, not a single trace of the smile that had once spread across his face.
"Listen Hinata, I have a favor I need to ask you." Shikamaru said, running his fingers over his room key.
-Page Break-
"Hey Kurenai," Iruka said, from his place behind the stove. "How's it going?"
"As good as could be expected, thanks for asking." A beautiful woman with long wavy brown hair and dark red eyes said. "How about you?"
"Can't complain." Iruka answered. "Can I help you with something?"
"Have you seen Hinata?" Kurenai asked worriedly.
"Yeah she went out back about fifteen minutes ago for her dinner break." Iruka answered. "She in trouble?"
"Of course not, it's Hinata we're talking about remember?" Kurenai said, smiling affectionately at the thought of the young girl. "Thanks for the information Iruka, I'll see you later."
The man waved as she made her way through the kitchen towards the back door. She came to a stop when she noticed a strange man leaning against the wall seemingly bored. After a moment, she walked towards the door again; her hand barely touched the knob when the man had gently grabbed her wrist.
"Sorry no one is allowed out there right now." he said, giving her an appraising look.
She cocked an eyebrow in confusion before pulling away from him and crossing her arms.
"Well it's too late for that my daughter, Hinata, is already out there." Kurenai said.
"I assure you miss that your daughter isn't out there, I would have noticed a little kid sitting outside all by herself." the man continued.
"Hinata is hardly a little kid, she's seventeen years old." Kurenai said skeptically, her patience wearing thin.
The man looked shocked for a moment before giving her a charming smile, making Kurenai slightly weak in the knees.
"You must be joking, you look way too young to have a seventeen year old daughter." he said smoothly.
"She's adopted." Kurenai answered quickly.
"Oh really?" he said, his smile growing wider. "Tell me about it."
-Page Break-
"I-I-I'll do everything in my p-power to help you." Hinata reassured, earning the first genuine smile from the prince.
"You promise?" Shikamaru asked.
"I promise." Hinata answered, forcing her voice to remain steady.
Shikamaru suddenly became alert, listening intently for something lurking in the dark. He stood after a moment offering a hand to Hinata. She took it reluctantly and allowed him to pull her to her feet.
"We can't talk here." he said suddenly.
Just then the door opened, and Shikamaru thinking quickly grabbed Hinata's face and kissed her. Hinata was too shocked to react, her eyes were wide and her cheeks went up in flames. And just as quickly as the kiss began it ended, Shikamaru shooting a bored gaze to the man that stood next to Kurenai.
"I was wondering what was taking you so long." the man said, smirking.
"Whatever," Shikamaru answered, shrugging. "You didn't have to wait outside the door like a stalker Asuma."
"Whatever you say your highness." the man, Asuma, said rolling his eyes.
Hinata's mind had gone numb and she knew she was terribly close to fainting, but somehow she was able to register the shock that passed over Kurenai's face.
"It looks like our kiddos, have taken a liking to each other huh?" Asuma said, his voice gruff.
It took Kurenai a moment to register what was being said to her when turned to Asuma, a small smile forming on her face.
"I guess they have." Kurenai agreed.
"Then we better trade information just in case." Asuma said.
"Just in case." Kurenai reaffirmed flirtatiously.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes at the two adults before turning his attention back to Hinata who was swaying dangerously on her feet. Quickly he reached over and pulled her towards him allowing her to lean on his shoulder.
"Come to my room later, we'll talk then." Shikamaru whispered into Hinata as he slid his key into one of the apron pockets on her work uniform.
He gave her a light push to get her to stand on her own. Without another word he walked inside with the man. All Hinata did was sit and stare blankly ahead not at all understanding what had just happened.
A/N: YAY! The first chapter of Cloaked is done. In the next chapter I'll pick up the pace but this chapter was necessary to introduce some of the key characters. Anyway please REVIEW! I'll be mad if so many people voted for this story and don't review it! NO FLAMES! But constructive criticism welcome and appreciated.