(A/N) This was originally supposed to be an entry for an itahina challenge by Edelin. Unfortunately i'm a terrible procrastinator and also a very lazy excuse for an author. I missed the deadline which was not a great way to end the year. But, I decided that rather than publishing some sketchy, barely legible story, I'd just take my time and (re)write a hopefully much better story. Let's see how I did with that.
Just a little side note, I've messed with the character ages. Itachi is only three years older than Sasuke just as Hinata is only three years older than Hanabi. Sasuke, Hinata, and anyone else mentioned is pretty much the same in terms of age difference, as with the cannon. However this is an AU seeing as there never really is any mention of the ocean or any ocean dwelling creatures in the anime. (Though I guess Kisame comes pretty close) Anyway, on with the story!
~x~
They came from two totally different worlds. Land and sea, above and below; their very beings were about as different as they could possibly be. Despite that, she knew, from the moment she laid eyes on him, she'd give up her world just to be by his side. For it to ever work out, they'd both have to give it all or nothing.
~x~
Deep below sea-level, there is a world. A world filled with life just like the one above. At times it is still and motionless, but often times, it is alive and bursting with energy.
It was a wonderful morning for one Hinata Hyuga. One reason being the fact that she woke up to the sun's shimmering beams tapping gently onto her resting form. She sat up from her bed and a small, pleasant current stirred her dark, federal blue hair.
"Hey sleeping beauty, wake up; there's a ship sailing by! If we hurry I bet we could give a couple of sailors a real good scare! Pretty please? Neji ni-san said he won't let me go alone!" Hinata turned her head and watched as Hanabi flowed into the room. "Hurry up onee-chan; if the flags on along the side are anything to go by, this one's full of royalty! This is too good a chance to pass up!" Hanabi chattered on excitedly.
Hinata gazed at her younger sister, somebody's feeling deviously cheery today. Not exactly a great combination though. With a rather sly smile of her own, Hinata addressed the eager young girl at her door,"Sure thing Hanabi, I'll be right up. Just give me a second to get ready 'kay?" Hanabi nodded happily and hurried out of the room.
Hinata glided over to her vanity and pulled a brush through her long tresses. She hummed a tune her mother used to sing to her as she fashioned a flower above her ear. She looked in the mirror and, satisfied with her appearance, turned her attention to the lower half of her body.
A long deep violet tail with light lavender fins glistened back at her. Swimming over to her closet, she discarded her nightshirt and selected an immaculate white tunic with silver ribbons weaving up the sides. Hinata was out of her room in minutes and followed her sister's strident voice to the kitchen. She seated herself at the table and nodded to her father and cousin, the former of the two nodded back a bit distractedly; too busy trying to discourage his youngest from venturing towards the sunlight no doubt.
"Otousan, can I please go? I appreciate the concern but I'll have nee-chan with me. With her around nothing dangerous could possibly happen," Hanabi said and then turned to Hinata, "right Hina-chan?"
Hinata slurped her breakfast in surprise and nodded back hastily, nothing we can't handle anyways.
Their father didn't look convinced. Instead, the sea king took a stab at his breakfast and turned to his nephew, "Am I the only one that remembers the last time these two ventured up to the human world?"
Neji shifted a bit uneasy, "No, Hiashi-sama, I am pretty sure the cleanup team is still working to remove the shipwreck that got entangled in our seaweed gardens."
Hiashi turned back to his youngest daughter with a raised brow, "Does that answer your question?"
Hanabi let out a frustrated sigh, "But this is a noble ship! How many times do they pass through our waters?"
Hiashi growled and massaged his forehead, "Fine, but take Neji with you too. I do not want a repeat of last time, am I clear?"
"Clear as our waters sir! Thank you 'tousan and I promise, nothing terrible will happen!" Hanabi chirped happily.
The Hyuga head groaned and dismissed himself from the table. Hinata could faintly hear the words "not reassuring" and "too early" emanating from his form. She smiled, today was going to be a good day; she could feel it.
Hinata shivered, the water had gotten cooler. She watched as the bright lights on the ship refracted and danced on the water.
The three hyugas had been watching/stalking the ship since morning and it didn't look like it was going anywhere anytime soon. The ship had sailed into the hyuga waters unaware. It had simply dropped the anchor and stayed a while.
Hinata had watched in fascination as the humans on board shuffled about. They were preparing for some type of celebration it seemed, she giggled as she remembered watching them scurry about the deck like little darting fish. The trio had continued to watch them as they hung up regal banners of red, white, and black with elegant table cloths to match. She remembered being absolutely astounded when the band had burst out in song. Hanabi had taken her hand and the two had twirled around in the water with Neji clapping along softly. They swirled below while the people on board took partners, laughed, and danced merrily.
It was now late in the evening and the humans showed no signs of tiring.
"Pft, these guys don't even know where they are! It's no fun when your prey doesn't show any fear," all dancing aside, Hanabi was grumbling.
"We should just go home. I bet we could get a good spar in if we leave now," Neji said, ever the cautious one. His carefully nonchalant tone didn't fool his cousins.
"Not so fast Nii-san. Don't be such a guppy," Hinata teased, "let's just check this ship out for a while longer before heading back."
"You sure you want to check this ship out? Or is it more likely you want to check the guys on the ship out?" Hanabi raised an eyebrow at her sister, "yeah I saw you ogling that guy. Not that I blame you, helloooo Mr. tall dark and handsome," she cupped her cheek in one hand and supported her elbow with the other, "I'm pretty sure he's the crowned prince too. You've got a good taste in men sis."
"Shhh, they might hear you!" Hinata scolded lightly, ignoring Neji and Hanabi's skeptical looks, "How can you tell he's the prince anyways?" she said turning to Hanabi.
Her cousin answered instead, "Just look at his coat, it has the Uchiha family crest all over it. It's the same symbol that's on all the regal ships. And just look at how he holds himself. It's clear this man has lots of pride and lots of power. It's no wonder everybody treats him with such respect, he's obviously the next in line for power."
"Or," Hanabi said slowly, as if speaking to a child, "you could read the banner that says 'Celebrating the 21st birthday of the crowned prince Itachi Uchiha,'" she jerked her thumb over to said banner.
Hinata giggled and glanced at the portrait beside the banner. It was a beautiful painting, but when she compared it to the man before her it hardly did him justice.
Where the painting portrayed dark black hair and even darker eyes, the real deal had pitch black, raven locks, and deep alluring eyes. Where the canvas had displayed his perfect posture the man before her had not only that, but also a dominant, fearsome, and awe inspiring aura that surrounded him in a thick heavy veil. Hinata watched him stand ramrod straight, beside him was another young man with similar features; perhaps a younger brother? She drank in the way his lips formed words as he spoke with his companion. Her heart skipped a beat when she watched him chuckle; his eyes softening just the tiniest bit.
"Itachi Uchiha," Hinata whispered, enjoying the way his name rolled off her lips. She stopped breathing as he casually turned around and leaned against the boat railing. He sighed and looked down, straight into her pale lavender eyes.
The rational part of her brain began to wail in her ear. Earth to Hinata! We're not supposed to be seen yet! Pump your tail! Move your arms! Get into position! I don't care what you do just get moving! That part was rudely shoved aside by the growing feeling at the pit of her stomache. He saw me, scratch that, he's looking at me right now! I can't believe he noticed me, nobody ever really does, especially when I don't want to be noticed.
She vaguely remembered hearing Neji and Hanabi curse softly before bursting into action themselves. The two fishlike figures swam around the ship in a practiced formation and took their positions. Itachi's eyes never left hers as she shifted.
Neji gave the signal and, before Hinata knew it, her own arm rose towards the handsome prince and beckoned him forward. Not a second later, she had her mouth open. A light, alluring voice spilled from her lips in a frighteningly beautiful melody.
Hinata heard Hanabi's voice join in and watched Neji scout around the ship; carefully watching for any signs of danger. She read Itachi's lips as he realized the danger.
She continued to watch in chilling amusement as the men on board stumbled over the edge of the ship and down into the black seawater.
"I am not wearing that."
Itachi rolled his eyes.
"I'm serious aniki, I don't give a fuck if it's your twenty first birthday, there is no way in hell I'm going to put that on."
"Little brother, I honestly couldn't care less if you put on the jacket or not-"
"It may as well be a straight jacket."
Itachi carried on, pretending he didn't hear Sasuke's interruption, "but mother-dearest would like to see you formally dressed for this event. You are a prince after all; you should start dressing and acting like it."
"Yeah but see, it's your birthday, so why don't you play dress up and leave me out of it?" Sasuke crossed his arms and turned towards the porthole.
Itachi frowned at Sasuke's back, and he wonders why I treat him like a child. He shook his head, "Sasuke, there's an easy way to do this, and there's a hard way. I am going to count to three-"
"Hn, who do you think you are kaa-san?"
"One."
"Oh come on, you're not serious. Bro, I'm eighteen now, that's not gonna work."
"Two."
Sasuke stayed put.
"Three."
"…"
"…"
"…?"
All hell proceeded to break loose in the room.
Sasuke frowned in his formal attire.
Itachi smirked to his left.
The music was playing and the people on board were enjoying themselves; all except for the two young, Uchiha princes. "Shouldn't you be helping Deidara with the fireworks?" Itachi asked.
Sasuke scoffed, "Yeah right, I'd rather not get my head blown off by that pyromaniac, thank you very much."
"Then why don't you go and enjoy yourself little brother?" Itachi looked at the sulking adolescent at his right.
"'Cause I'm too busy glaring at you," came the reply. Itachi chuckled. Sasuke spoke again, "why don't you go out and dance with someone?"
Itachi pressed his lips together and stared at his little brother who stared right on back. This went on for about a minute before he sighed and broke eye contact. Ignoring the flash of victory on Sasuke's face, he turned around and leaned against the railing. With a slight sigh, he cast his gaze towards the water.
His eyes widened when they met the palest shade of lavender.
"What is it?" Sasuke looked in the direction Itachi was staring in.
There, down below, were three people swimming in the water. They all had similar pale eyes and long dark hair that flowed down their shoulders and trailed behind them. Itachi was about to call out to help the trio. He was close to calling 'man overboard' when the creatures shifted and he caught sight of shimmering scales in the moonlight.
The other two figures were gone in a flash as Itachi kept his gaze locked on the third one before him.
He watched her shift and saw a bit more of her tail. A deep purple, he noted. Realization then struck him like lightning and his eyes widened a fraction.
"They're sirens," he whispered. He watched in horrid fascination as the mermaid below him reached out towards him. His gaze took in the long, wet sleeve of her tunic before returning to her face. She opened her mouth and he heard the most beautiful voice call to him.
He felt his heart quicken as his senses shut out everything around him and common sense went overboard, much like the poor sailors he didn't take notice of. He took a few steps toward the beautiful, alluring creature not once breaking eye contact.
He was completely unaware of the state of pandemonium the rest of the ship was in. Many of the men on board had fallen prey to the sirens' song and where stumbling drunkenly towards the water.
But there were exceptions.
"Aniki!"
Itachi's head slammed hard against the railing and then against the wooden floorboards. He felt his eyes shut for the first time in since he saw the aquatic people below.
Shaking his newly bruised head, his eyes hazily flickered over and saw Sasuke hurriedly shoving something in his face.
His stare focused on the pair of earplugs in the hand of his little brother.
Countless splashes below brought Itachi out of his daze. He grabbed the pair of earplugs from Sasuke. In a flash both he and his brother were up and running. Itachi signaled to his younger sibling, You get us out of here; I'll make sure mother and father are okay. Sasuke nodded and dashed off towards the helm.
Itachi veered to the right; towards the room his parents had retired to. He tried the doorknob; the handle wouldn't twist. Gathering himself for a split second, the crowned prince took a step back and kicked the door open.
It only took a moment for him to take in the scene before him. His father had a hazy expression on his face and was frantically trying to throw himself through the large stained glass window at the far end of the room. His mother, in an amazing display of strength, had managed to keep him restricted to a single area by the bedside, only a short distance from the window.
Itachi hurried over to help aid his mother, who in turn stepped to the side and allowed him more access to the struggling king before her. The two wrestled like bears for a moment or two.
While his father proved to have overpowering strength despite his age, Itachi was at his prime and had subdued the man in minutes. He took a step back as he watched the man drop to the floor panting heavily.
Itachi looked around for something to block the siren song from his father's ears. Having his own earplugs in place, he vaguely heard his mother scream before he felt a fist embed itself into his cheek.
Shocked, Itachi stumbled back a few steps and looked back at the form of his father. The crazed look in his eye unnerved him the slightest bit but, used to years of sparring with his father, he moved to block the next punch with an iron resolve.
Either he had severely underestimated his father's strength, or the sirens' song gave his father an added edge, but Itachi soon found himself being flung backwards.
His mother screamed again as he plunged through the window and down towards the deep, black water.
"Are you sure they'll be okay?" The three hyugas were swimming away from the chaos they just caused and back to their warm, safe palace.
"Hinata-sama I assure you, there is nothing to worry about. Humans are very flexible creatures; they'll survive," Neji waved a dismissive hand as Hinata turned back to look at the bodies struggling in the water.
Hanabi all but cackled beside Neji, "Aw man, what a thrill! The looks on their faces were priceless! It's always fun to watch 'em go from these high and mighty beings of power to brain-dead jellyfish," she lifted her fingers and put air quotes around 'beings of power'.
Hinata lingered behind her family uncertainly. The rush hadn't lasted nearly as long as it usually did. She was actually feeling a bit guilty tonight and she didn't like it. She swam on, hoping her cohorts didn't notice her hesitation.
Her hopes were demolished when she noticed Hanabi watching her with a calculated look. Her younger sister cast a glance over at Neji to make sure he wasn't watching before signaling Hinata to head back.
Hinata's brow rose in confusion. Hanabi rolled her eyes and gestured, go check up on prince charming. I'll cover for you.
Hinata smiled and mouthed thanks! I owe you one! She turned around and pumped her tail silently before Neji noticed her absence.
She had a prince to save.
~x~
And that's a wrap! Not an actual food wrap, but uhhh. . . can you tell I'm hungry? I want a cookie. =l
Anyways, notice any grammar errors? Any thing that doesn't make sense? PM me or leave a review! I'm on the hunt for a beta so PM if you're interested in simply reading over for errors or if you're a perfectionist like that! This is going to be a fun story and I'm always looking for ways to improve!
Thanks for reading! ^_^