Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Spellbound
Chapter 1
Meeting at the Marketplace (Hinata)
Lying in bed, I stared up at the ceiling, I was nervous beyond reason. I was a good girl. I have never committed such acts of rebellion against my family, especially my father. If I did, I would have been beaten. What rebellion am I speaking of? I am going to run away. I need time to find myself and prove to my family that I am not worthless. And tonight was the night. I threw the covers off myself. I was dressed in my normal everyday clothes, a skirt that reached my knees and a pale colored shirt that matched it. I laced my converse around my sock-covered feet and slipped out of room silently. Tiptoeing across the hall, I entered my little sister's room.
"Hanabi?" I whispered across the room. I stayed at the doorway, waiting for her answer.
"Hmm?" her voice mumbled into her pillow. I'll take that as a "what?" I walked to her side of the bed. Looking down at her I noticed she covered herself almost entirely with the covers. The only thing visible was her closed eyes and the top of her head. I smiled sadly.
"I'm leaving now." I leaned down and kissed her forehead. I'm going to miss her more than anything. I turned, not waiting for her reply. If she spoke back it would be harder for me to leave. At the doorway I took one last look at her. I will be back. When, I don't know, but I will return. After closing her door behind me I tiptoed back to my room.
I pulled on my coat and placed the strap of my bag on my shoulder. I ripped the note I previously wrote out of my pocket and placed it on my desk. My father would read it the next morning and know where I went and why. I secured my shoulder length indigo hair in a ponytail; I couldn't let it get in the way as I flew. The broom that I made with my own two hands rested in the dark corner. It was waiting for me. I grabbed it around the neck and opened the two windows at the foot of my bed.
"Where are you going?" a voice stopped me from mounting my broom. Man I was caught. I will never be able to leave now, unless … I turned to face the voice. Neji stared back up at me through his white eyes. Neji is my guardian. He is supposed to protect me as my magic develops, but he does more nagging than protecting. In reality he was once a member of my family, but he did something, I am not sure of the details, and his punishment was being turned into a cat. He is supposed to serve the heir to Hyuuga coven until the elders decide he deserves to be human again. Even though he is a stick in the mud, Neji is a good-looking cat. He was covered almost entirely with black fur except for the patches of white on his chest and the tip of his right ear. His long black tail laid motionlessly by his left hind foot.
"I'm leaving, Neji, and I don't expect your little cat brain to understand." The only way for him not to tell anyone where I went is for him to come with me. Even though he will never let me do anything while he's with me, it is the only option.
"You are not leaving unless someone goes with you. You are the heiress to the Hyuuga coven, you can't run around alone and unprotected." Neji swished his tail behind him angrily.
"Then you are going to have to come with me." I mounted the broom, sidesaddle. I pushed one foot against the ground so I could hover midair. "Come on let's go, you're putting me off schedule." I tapped my finger on the head of my broom. With a glare, Neji hopped on the broom in front of me.
"You have a plan?" he asked incredulously. Why does he always doubt me?! Of course I have a plan. Okay … I don't have a plan, but life is nothing without spontaneity.
"Yes," I said eagerly, before steering the broom out of the window into the night.
The moon and the stars shone brightly above us. I smiled up at them, happily. I was free at last! Closing my eyes I breathed in deeply, and outstretched my arms. The night air was crisp and cool. I picked the prefect night to start my journey of self-discovery.
"Watch out!" Neji screamed. I opened my eyes and pulled up on the broom stick making it fly upwards, away from the large pine tree. "Are you insane? Don't fly with your eyes closed! You're going to kill both of us!" I rolled my eyes; he was such a worry-wart.
"Okay, sorry. I was distracted," I mumbled, under my breath. I leaned right to avoid another tree. All these trees are dangerous and I can't risk being seen. I pulled up sharply, making Neji and I gain altitude. When I realized we were high enough not to hit anything, I leveled out and let the broom fly itself. Leaning back, I relaxed and looked at my surroundings again. The stars seemed brighter up here. They twinkled, almost as if winking at me. It must be my imagination.
"It is good there are no clouds tonight. It makes traveling easier." A woman, also flying on a broom stick, appeared next to me. She also had a cat, but it was white and sat behind her on the back end of the broom. Unlike Neji, it was asleep and happy-looking.
I nodded in reply. I have never seen a witch other then the ones I was related to. Her long blonde hair was tied into two low pigtails and her purple cloak flowed behind her gently. The hat she wore was crooked and had a yellow star hanging from the end.
"I'm Hinata," I introduced myself slowly. She looked so interesting to me. Maybe I would be okay on my own after all. She seemed okay. Not that I was worried about it really.
"Tsunade, dear. You're new to this aren't' you?" she smiled at me. Was it that obvious that I have never been outside of my house's grounds before?
"Is it that obvious?" I asked, raising my voice over the new found wind.
"You have the new look. Here, if you ever need anything, come and find me." Tsunade snapped her fingers and a card appeared in front of my face. I grabbed it quickly, in fear it would blow away, and read it.
"Lady Tsunade's gateway to the future.
Kohona
East Street."
When I looked up she was gone. I sighed heavily. I was so stupid. I should have asked her where the best place to start out is, or even where we were. Maybe I should just get it over with and ask Neji. Sure he will be mad because I lied about having a plan but it was a necessary lie.
"Neji?" I glanced down at him. Are you kidding me?! Neji had his nose tucked under his tail and fell asleep. Some guardian! I gently rubbed the fur behind his ears making him purr softly. I smiled and took hold of the broom once again. I had to go down a little and see where the closest city is. I have to be strong; if I can't do this my father will be right when he said that I was worthless. I will be strong and independent. I can survive on my own without their help.
Bright lights came into my eyesight after flying blindly for a couple hours. Judging by the number of lights, this city was big, which meant it was prefect for me. A witch could hide easily in a big city. She or he could blend in without causing chaos or any other little disturbance. I needed to slip into the city without notice and flying straight down brought up the possibility of someone seeing me. I couldn't let that happen. Circling back around and landing on the outer edge where the city and forest met was the only logical thing to do. If Neji was awake, he would yell at me until I did just that, so I guess I'm skipping a step. I'll do what Neji would say to do before he actually says it. I will have one less headache on this journey that way.
I tried to steer the broom so I could fly back towards the forest but the winds were too strong. The winds threw us down towards the lights that I was staring at only moments ago.
"What's going on?" Neji yelled, coming closer to me. He finally woke up.
"Hold on!" Giving up I pulled Neji tightly into my one arm and held onto the broomstick with the other. There was no other choice we were going down here. I closed my eyes and let out a horrified scream. Was this the end? My journey just began and now it's going to be over so soon.
"Is she okay?" I heard a voice ask in a hushed whisper. Who was that? Where am I? What happened? I opened my eyes slowly. The room was dark and the smell of incense entered my nose instantly. What the hell? Heaven has incense?
"Hinata, dear? Can you hear me?" I turned my head towards the person speaking to me, causing pain to run through my neck. I pulled my arm out from under the sheet that covered me to grab the painful spot. My eyes focused on the woman sitting beside me with a white cat resting in her lap. it was the witch I had met before, Tsunade.
"Hello again, Tsunade." I smiled faintly through the pain. Wait... if I was okay, where was Neji?! "Where is Neji?!" I yelled, pushing myself upright quickly. Pain seared through my muscles.
"It's okay he is right here." Tsunade pointed to a basket with a pillow that sat next to her. Neji was inside of it asleep. As far as I could, see he wasn't hurt at all which is good. If he got hurt because of my stupidity I would never forgive myself. "There isn't even one scratch on him, but you on the other hand."
"I know…" I interrupted her. "I'm careless and worthless, I don't deserve the powers that I have." I felt my tears slip off my face and fall onto my hands. My father was right, as always. The elders should have stripped my powers from me when I was a baby. I didn't deserve the Hyuuga name or anything that comes with it.
Tsunade reached over and grabbed my face underneath my chin. She made me look into her eyes. "Now you stop that, you are a very talented witch. Right after you fell, you used your magic subconsciously to heal yourself, and it also formed a barrier around you so I couldn't even touch you until Neji said something to you. After that, I brought you here." She released my face and sat down on the chair again, before handing me a handkerchief. I wiped away my tears, and tried to hand it back to her.
"That's one of the many things that I will give you." One of the many things? What was she talking about? Tsunade walked out of the room before I could ask. I rested my head against the headboard behind me. I watched Neji carefully, analyzing every rise and fall of his little fur covered body. I needed Neji's advice yet he lays there and sleeps like everything is the way it should be. I sighed and banged the back of my head on the wood. I had to have spontaneity!
All of Tsunade's words ran through my head. She was wrong; I wasn't talented, I was weak and worthless. And no matter what she does, she can't help me. This journey was a waste; I could never prove my father wrong. Everyone agrees with him, including me.
I was called out of my thoughts when something plopped down next to me on the bed.
"Stop second guessing yourself! Hiashi was wrong, you are not worthless. You deserve your title more than anyone." Neji hit one of his paws against my arm. "I have seen many Hyuuga witches and they are the worthless ones compared to you." My jaw dropped slightly and then formed a smile. Neji has never reassured me like this before.
"Really?" I asked. Did he really mean it? Or is it something he is just saying to make me stop showing emotion?
"Yes, now you came here to learn all you can and to gain more strength and independence. Here's your chance. Don't screw it up!" And here I thought he was going to be nicer than usual. Stupid Neji, catching me at an emotional time and making me think the opposite of what I was thinking only seconds ago. This was my chance and I am not going to give up!
"Thanks Neji!" I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him into my chest for a chokehold hug. It was at times like these that I loved him the most. "You always make me feel better!" I released him and leaned back into the soft pillows and slept. I would talk to Tsunade tomorrow.
When I woke up I pulled myself out of bed slowly expecting to feel pain, but I felt none. I was healed already. Maybe I shouldn't have doubted what Tsunade told me. I pulled extra clothes out of my bag and put them on. They looked like the clothes I wore before but they were a different color. I re-laced my converse on my feet and started to look for Tsunade. Where could she be? I walked down the stairs and went into what I assumed was the kitchen. Dishes were placed in the sink and the counter was covered in more dirty dishes, but there was no sign of her. I continued on to the next room. The couch sat in front of a small television and candles littered the ledge above the fireplace. The rugs seemed old and soft at the same time. I leaned down and ran my fingers over part of it. It was softer than anything I have ever felt. Amazing! I smiled to myself and took one more look around the room. I heard a familiar voice from the next room. What was Tsunade doing? I walked to the wall beside the doorway leading to the next room. I peered into the room carefully, so I would not draw attention to myself. Tsunade and a woman sat across from each other at a card table. She was reading the woman's tarot cards.
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade." The woman handed Tsunade thirty dollars and stood to leave.
"You're welcome, Hikari. I will see you soon." Tsunade smiled as Hikari walked out of the front door.
"Hinata?" She turned in the chair to face me.
"Yes?" my voice squeaked. Would she be mad that I came from the attic to look for her?
"Its good you are finally up." The smile on her face never faltered. Finally up? How long was I asleep? "You were out for at least two days since I last spoke to you. You must be hungry."
"Two days?" I breathed out. How is that possible? My stomach let out a malicious growl. Blood rushed to my face and I looked down in embarrassment. This kind of stuff always happens to me! I looked up when I heard Tsunade start laughing. Huh?
"I made some lunch for you." She walked past me, back into the kitchen. I followed behind slowly. As I ate she explained that she was a fortune teller here in Kohona, and that she and her cat Shizune grew up here as well. As she continued I tried to pull up all the courage I could to ask her to train me. After I finished, I placed the dishes amongst the others in the sink.
"Can you train me?!" I blurted out. My back was still turned to her. I didn't want to turn around and see the outrage on her face. Why would she train me? I heard laughter sound from her throat again, just like before. I just cringed at the sound. She was laughing at the idea of teaching me. My shoulders fell and I turned to face her. Noticing my expression she stopped her laughs.
"I already assumed I was, dear." My eyes almost literally popped out of my head. Did I hear her correctly? She thought she already was going to train me?
"Tsunade, I won't let you down, I promise! I will work really hard!" I ran over and hugged her.
"Now, enough of this, we have work to do," she said. I took two steps back. Work? Yes! Let my training begin!
"Like what? Are we going to make a potion or cast a spell?" I smiled happily. Please oh please! I always wanted to make a potion of my own not watch others make one. That was always annoying to me.
"No dear, we are going shopping!" Tsunade raised her arms in joy. Shopping? She's joking right?
The marketplace was filled with people yelling, talking and laughing. The sun beamed down happily on us. I followed after Tsunade carefully with a basket on my arm. Every so often she would turn around to put something in the basket or to introduce me to the vendor. She seemed to know everyone or at least everyone knew her. Most people smiled when she passed but I still saw the sneers others made as well. Did she notice them too? If she did she was really good at holding a smile.
"Tsunade?" she slowed down and walked next to me, waiting for me to continue. "Do they all know that you're a you know what?"
"No dear, they simply see me as the fortuneteller from East Street. But not everyone accepts me as I am. Unfortunately since you are with me now, the same will happen to you." Oh great. I'm going to be hated here too. Just fantastic. I sighed and looked behind me for Neji. Where did he get to? I slipped away from Tsunade to look for him. We passed the fish vendor only minutes ago and he was addicted to the smell of fish. He was probably still there. I looked past the heads of people and saw a black little figure sitting in front of the fish stand with his nose in the air. Cats, I swear, can't live with them and can't live without them. When I stood directly next to Neji I picked him up with my free arm.
"You want one?" I asked. Of I knew he wanted one, maybe the whole cart.
"YES!" he screamed. I glanced at the vendor he was watching us curiously, but a smile held strong on his lips. "Take that one, its fresh I can tell!" Neji pointed his paw at one fish towards the back of the cart.
"That one, please" I asked the vendor pointing to the fish Neji wanted. He wrapped the fish in paper and handed it to me. I placed it away from Tsunade's things in the basket and gave him the money. "Thank you." I smiled happily at the vendor and started off back to where Tsunade was, while Neji sat on my shoulder, daydreaming about his freshly bought fish.
"Hinata!" Tsunade's voice called out. I ran to her as fast as I could.
"Sorry, Neji got lost at the fish cart." I smiled, trying to catch my breath. Tsunade and I stood in front of a book vendor with blonde hair and blue eyes. He had his nose stuck inside one of the books he was supposed to be selling.
"Naruto!" Tsunade screamed, gaining his attention.
"Oh … GET YOU FINE NOVELS AND MAGAZINES WRITTEN BY THE PERVVY SAGE JIRAIYA!" the boy screamed out until he really looked at my teacher. "Oh ... it's just you granny." Granny? Tsunade didn't look that old at all. Why would he call her that?
"Yes, it's me. You just tell Jiraiya if he wants his fortune read, he has to pay double or he gets nothing. Remember to tell him this time!" Tsunade pointed her finger at him. She meant business.
"But who's this?" Naruto asked leaning over the cart to get a better look at me.
"Hinata, she is my new student." Tsunade replied. Her smile disappeared. It seemed she didn't like this boy that much.
"Hinata, whoa that's pretty, believe it!" I blushed looking down at the ground in between my feet. He thought my name was pretty. Wow …
"Let us return home. We have enough food for some time now." Tsunade turned away from Naruto without even a goodbye. I once again followed after waving to him slowly. He waved back happily. The blush was still bright one my face, I could feel it. I felt like I was floating, but I just kept walking behind Tsunade, my eyes on the ground.
"Hey you! Stop right there!" My head shot up at the sound of the angry yells. I raised myself up on my toes to look ahead of Tsunade. A boy with raven-colored hair shoved people out of his way as he ran away from a group of men in blue uniforms. He continued to run past Tsunade and me. Maybe it was my imagination but I could have sworn he looked directly at me when he ran by.
"That was Mikoto's younger boy. I thought that he would have straightened out by now," Tsunade mumbled, looking in the direction that he ran. She sighed heavily and we returned home. Yes, Kohona, East Street was now my home.
End of chapter 1
I got this idea from Kiki's delivery service. And I thought it might fit. The fic will alternate between Hinata and Sasuke and possibly Naruto's pov. The end pairing is obvious *cough* sasuhina *cough* , but it's the journey to it that matters right? Lol so hope you all like it and please review! XD
