Hi, Myst here! This is my new fic, and it's a HinaNaru! And this is the longest chapter I've ever written! Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto! Only this story!
Captured swan."No, that is all wrong! More grace, don't be so clumsy!"
Hinata was leaning forward with her knuckles on the floor panting. She was in one of the big dancing rooms of their clan's house, with big mirrors covering the walls from one end to another. The floor was of finest wood, so your feet would not slip. Her father was standing in the middle of the room and had been inspecting her every move, telling her that her footwork was sloppy, and her arms didn't follow the rest of her body.
She had been practicing for hours and hours, but it felt like days. Her father was driving her hard, her muscles were sore and her whole body was aching.
"Hinata, get up and do it once more! We're not quitting until you have perfected this part!"
Hiashi's voice was cold and harsh.
"H-hai father"
Hinata trembled as she pushed herself up from the floor. She found her starting position once again, and went up on her toes, raising her arms over her head. Her father counted the beat, and she followed the best she could.
o-o-o-o-o-o
The Hyuuga family had a reputation of having some of the best dancers in the fire country, and they ran one of the largest dancing academies in the country. It was one of the best and most prestigious schools in the world. Hinata sighed. She was totally worn out, but she couldn't sleep. Her father had been so disappointed in her, and more angry than usual. She was born a Hyuuga, a main-branch Hyuuga, and everybody expected her to be the most talented, since she was the first-born child of the clan-leader. However, there were her younger sister Hanabi who already now showed more talent than her, and her cousin Neji who was a natural. The Hyuuga Academy taught many styles, but their focus was on ballet. Hinata started taking lessons when she was three, but her father was disappointed in her and in her lack of improvement
"I don't know if I should let you go on, your talents, or should I say the lack of them are a disgrace to the family." Hinata bowed her head in shame. "You have nothing to say to this? The heir of the Hyuuga clan should work harder and improve herself, so the family can be proud!"
Hinata shuttered at the memory. The message had been clear. If she didn't do good on the annual dance performance of the Academy, she wouldn't be allowed to take lessons anymore, and retire to a Hyuuga residence far away from the city.
She sat down next to the window, hugging her knees. She didn't want to leave Konoha or her friends. They meant the world to her. She had even gotten on a little friendlier term with her cousin, ever since he stumbled in on one of her father's punishment sessions; although he called it training. She had to stand with her arms straight out from her body, while her father piled weights on them. She would stand like this as long as it pleased him, even if she started shaking violently. If she dropped the weights, he would only add more and make her go on even longer.
"Discipline, strength, posture and grace, these are the things that make a good dancer and you lack everything!" He was yelling again. All she wanted to do was run away, cover her ears and not listen. However, she stood still, letting his words beat down what little confidence she had left. This was her everyday life and there was no running away.
She glanced at her alarm clock. Four AM, only three hours and she had to get up. She'd better get some sleep.
o-o-o-o-o-o
"Hinata-sama!"
somebody was knocking on her door. She rubbed her eyes while putting on her slippers. The door swung open, and a young girl in a maids-outfit walked in with a big hamper.
"I finished your laundry; do you want me to put it away now?" Hinata nodded.
"I've also prepared a bath for you Hinata-sama, in the west wing!"
Hinata gave a small smile. "Thank you Aya"
Aya pressed her palms together and gave a small bow and a wink. Aya was one of Hinata's favourite maids, and also one of her favourite persons, mostly because of her bubbly personality, and that she didn't treat her coldly, like the rest of the staff. She always took extra care of her.
o-o-o-o-o-o
Hinata walked down the hallway towards the west wing. It took some time to get there, because the main house was huge. Her room was far away from the west end, but she liked the bathrooms there. They where out in a small part of the garden, surrounded by tall fences. The water wasn't that deep, but it reached her waist, and what she liked was that she could float around in the warm water. There were small flowerbeds and exotic trees with branches hanging down and touching the water. It was the perfect hideout for Hinata when her father was having his fits. He couldn't enter the woman's bath, and even if he sent someone in to look for her, it was almost impossible for them to find her.
She smiled when she saw that Aya had prepared towels and soap for her. Her school uniform was hanging next to the door. She stepped in and started lathering when she heard somebody enter the male bath on the other side of the fence.
A deep voice called her name; "Hinata, is that you?"
her mouth fell slightly open. "Neji!"
He let out a small laugh. "Yes, Hinata-sama?"
She almost started stuttering, "What are you doing here?"
Neji made splashing noises as he entered the bath; "Well I was going to ask you if you wanted to join me and Hanabi to catch a movie tonight?"
Hinata blushed without knowing why. "Y-yes, I would love too!" She never got to get out of the house, especially to go to the movies.
"Great" Neji replied. "Meet us at the backdoor at seven." Then he exceeded the bath.
o-o-o-o-o-o
Hinata quickly dressed in her school uniform. It consisted of a deep red jacket, black skirt, and white shirt, the Hyuuga Academy's emblem stitched in gold on the left side pocket of the jacket. The jacket was form fitted, and the skirt was a bit too short for Hinata to feel comfortable, but then again, so did her dancing costume. However, a ballerina couldn't dance in baggy clothes. Hinata and Hanabi left the house together, walking the short distance to the academy. In spite of their father and his fixation on talent, they were good friends. When they arrived at the gates of the academy, Hinata and Hanabi parted with a "goodbye" and "see ya", and went to meet their friends in different parts of the buildings.
Morning classes at the academy were the same as every other school, but the afternoon ones was set of to dancing. Their teacher was a young, but talented woman named Yuuhi Kurenai. She was strict, but she never yelled at Hinata as her father did. Hinata went to her locker to fetch her shoes and training outfit. It was identical to what all the other girls wore, white and skin tight, but very flexible.
"Hina-chaaan!"
Hinata turned around to see who was calling her name, and at the end of the hall, there was a blonde girl waving at her. Hinata smiled at and waved back at the girl, while walking towards her.
"Hey Ino-san."
A girl with green eyes, and glowing pink hair stepped up next to them.
"Morning Hina-chan, Ino-pig"
Ino glared at the girl, while Hinata giggled.
"Did you guys hear, Kurenai-sensei said we're starting the rehearsal for the dance performance today? "
Hinata stiffened and mumbled a quiet "no" while Ino nodded energetically.
"Yes, I wonder who gets the lead!" Sakura frowned.
"Maybe Sidia, she's so good!"
they walked in a small door next to a big one. This was the changing room, and it connected to the big dancing room on the left side of the wall. On the right side, there was a door to the showers, along the walls there were benches to sit on, and little knobs to hang your things. Ino and Sakura were still discussing who would get the lead when they entered the dancing room. Kurenai-sensei came in, carrying her long stick that she used to count the beat with, by tapping it on the floor.
"Alright ladies, time to warm up!"
All the girls lined up in front of the bars on one side of the wall. On Kurenai-sensei's signal, they lifted their leg up and leaned on the bar. Hinata took a deep breath and leaned forward.
(A/N) Sorry, cliffhanger maybe? Hehe. Review if you like it!