Disclaimer: I deny claiming ownership over Naruto.

Summary: Lies. Mouths can lie but hearts… they speak nothing but the truth. So when the heart does the talk, there's no point in denying. Right?

Author's Note: This fic is created out of boredom so don't take it seriously otherwise you'll get a heart attack and I won't take blame for that. Characters may be OOC too but it is expected since the setting of the story is different and I'm talking about noble classes here. I want to be as realistic as I can get. So don't complain.

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Truth Beyond Lies

Prologue

"Today is execution day," she muttered to herself, her hands clenched tightly in front of her.

The day she had long dread has finally arrived and she knew, that in a matter of minutes, her life was going to end. She started to walk slowly. Every step she took led her closer to her graveyard and she was taking her time, prolonging the agony that was currently imposed on her. She didn't mind. What is there to hurry anyway?

When she reached her destination, she smiled bitterly. Ironically, the place didn't look a bit like hell. The room was beautifully decorated (the flower ornaments were her favorite) and on the floor were scattered petals of red roses. The people were different too. They didn't have horns and tails like devils do. Instead, they all looked as if they just stepped out of a magazine. Magnificent suits were worn by men and elegant dresses for the women. They were talking and laughing and enjoying themselves so much that she wanted to burst out crying. She was mourning, and here they were, having the time of their lives.

She refused to show that she was crumbling inside though, the way she usually does. She took a step forward, her face void of any emotion. By then, the people seemed to have sensed her presence, because all attention turned towards her.

On one corner, he watched her with keen interest. She was dressed in a lovely blue dress that seemed to match the color of her eyes. It fit her rather snugly, accentuating her curves. Her long blond hair cascaded around her shoulders perfectly. All these noted, he couldn't help but agree that she was indeed a very lovely girl.

He wasn't the only one who thought so. Almost every gentleman in the room eyed her with admiration, and it made him uncomfortable. Too damn uncomfortable.

Then, she smiled, and all men felt like they were in heaven. She was still smiling as she greeted the people around her. Most of them were men and they swarmed around her like hungry bees craving for honey. He growled inwardly at the sight.

"Quite a sight isn't she?" a voice spoke beside him.

He turned to the newcomer stiffly but relaxed when he recognized the person. "She is," he agreed casually.

The other man finished what was left of the wine in his glass. "Look at them," he said, shaking his head in disapproval. "They are like vultures hovering over a dying person. My poor darling is surrounded with such shameless men."

"And you think I am different from them?"

"I do not think. I know and I believe. Now come and let your presence be acknowledged." With that said, the older man left him to join his daughter.

He was hesitant for a second, but followed anyway.

"Darling, you look exquisite."

She smiled when she saw her father. He was beaming at her with pride and adoration in his eyes. "Thank you," she said, kissing him on the cheek. "So do you. You look half your age if I may say."

The father laughed with pleasure. "Ah, I wonder you learned that kind of speech."

"Only from the best," she said with a wink.

That was when she noticed the man beside her father. She curiously eyed him. Unruly copper hair and piercing jade eyes; two things which she thought would end up horribly when combined. She changed her mind nevertheless when she saw the handsome man in front of her.

Her heart skipped a beat when their eyes met. She had this strange feeling that somehow, both of them are connected. She looked up at her father with wide questioning eyes. Her suspicions were confirmed when her father nodded with a small encouraging smile.

Right then and there, she wanted to spat at him all kinds of curses in six different languages, handsome or not. But she knew it would never happen. Not when they were in public and her father can see. Her father brought her up to be elegant, refined and all that lady-like qualities. If she does so much as to raise 'the finger' he would probably die of shame.

She sighed inwardly and forced a tiny smile on her lips before turning back to the young man- the man who was going to be the cause of her death. In fact, she wanted to bury herself right at that moment.

"Hello," she greeted half heartedly. "We finally meet."

"You don't have to try so hard," he calmly remarked.

She blushed. The man can see right through her act. "Fine," she snapped. Softly, she added, "Idiot."

He blinked at the sudden change of attitude. "Careful with the tongue," he warned with a hint of teasing. "Someone might hear."

She sighed. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Yes."

"Can't we just cancel the whole thing?"

"No."

She rolled her eyes in exasperation. Talking to him was like talking to a stone, only slightly better since a stone can't talk and this man can, with a word or two.

She had heard about him- mostly great things. He was a well respected man and like her, belonged to the elite society. His reputation with girls did not escape her though. He was quite popular with the opposite sex and several names were linked with his but that was about it. So far, she hasn't heard of him having serious affairs with women.

"So my life ends here, huh?" she mumbled glumly.

He raised his brows in disbelief at the overreacted statement but opted to say nothing. He shifted his gaze to the stage in the middle of the room where the host of the said event was standing.

The speech started and everyone was in full attention. She flinched when she heard the words unity, love, happiness and all that mushy stuff. She wasn't feeling any of those at the moment.

"… and now I would like to call on my dearest daughter and the newest member of my family."

She froze. It was their time to show themselves on stage. She turned to the man beside him nervously. He gave a nod and held out his arm.

'At least he's a gentleman.' She smiled gratefully as she took his arm and they started walking towards the stage.

What happened next was something she didn't expect. She was there, in the middle of the stage with him, and suddenly, the lights turned off. She gasped in surprise, so did the other females. Murmurs could be heard, but before everyone could panic, a light shone brightly.

To her embarrassment, the light shone directly on them. And then she realized- they were just given the spotlight.

She turned to him with a confused look, but as usual, he looked impassive as ever. He reached for his pocket and took out something.

She didn't understand what was happening and she caught her father in the darkness, watching them with glinting eyes. She blinked. Wait, was that a tear? The hell, was her father crying?!

When she looked back at the man with her, he was looking at her seriously. What was he going to do?

As if to answer her silent question, he opened the small box he was holding and her eyes widened. In it was a silver ring… no, it was white gold and stoned with a brilliant heart shaped diamond.

"Accept it and be mine… forever."

She gazed at him and she could swear she saw the lightest hint of uncertainty in his eyes, but when she blinked, it was gone.

Without really thinking, she slowly held out her hand and she watched as he slipped the ring on her finger. It fitted perfectly.

There was a soft 'awww' from the female crowd and when the lights turned on again, she was gravitated back to reality. She looked at the ring on her finger in disbelief.

She, Ino Yamanaka, had just ended her life.

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A/N: It's not much but it's just the prologue. Patience is a virtue. Ja!