Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Naruto!

Chapter One: Home Coming

I'm ever so pleased that you've finally returned.

I can't tell you how dull pallor rooms have been without you.

I expect you to be at my party tonight.

I don't care how tired you are!

Be there any time after nine o'clock, your father should have the address.

-H.S.

Hyuga Hinata sighed as she leaned against the wall of the hall outside of the lavish ballroom. Her pale porcelain skin had a glow to it. She wore no makeup because her face wasn't in need of it. Her indigo locks were down in loose curls, which reached down to her waist and framed her face perfectly. She was dressed in a sleeveless violet ball gown that made the lavender in her pupil-less eyes stand out. The dress was made from her favourite material, taffeta; it had a U-neck bodice and flowing skirt.

She wasn't upset by her state of loneliness. She was far from it; she would rather be a wallflower over the belle of the ball anyway. Besides she had just finished dancing with Inuzuka Kiba, who was very kind but had absolutely no idea how to have a two-sided conversation. She wished to be able to stand still for a while before her father called her to dance with another potential suitor.

Hinata came from old money and her clan, The Hyuga, had be key members of Kohona's high society for centuries. As being apart of said clan, Hinata had to be the image of poise and grace as any lady was expected to be. Especially since her father had not one son, her sister Hanabi and herself (the heiress of the clan) were expected to be able to coax a gentleman from a worthy clan to request their hands in marriage.

Hinata couldn't help but roll her eyes at the thought of her younger sister, who at sixteen was only two years younger then herself. Hanabi went about coaxing men in a very unladylike manner. At parties, Hanabi would pick out one of the best looking men and then slip them a note to meet her in the cloak room. Luckily, the only people who were aware of this were the men themselves, Hinata, and their father's assistant Aburame Shino (former prey of Hanabi himself).

Hinata felt pity more then disgust towards her sister's behaviour. Only because when their mother had past away a few years previous she hadn't begun to teach Hanabi in-depth social etiquette. And since in her father's eyes, Hanabi could do no wrong he hadn't insist on having her tutor to the extent he had Hinata, going as far as to sending her to Suna to study abroad.

"There you are!" a jovial voice called, stirring Hinata out of her thoughts. "I've been looking for you the entire night!"

She couldn't help the grin that strung on her face at the sight of her best friend, Haruno Sakura. They hadn't really bothered with one another until their parents had arranged they have the same Modern Languages tutor. She recalled how subtly cruel they were to their tutor. They would ask him the difference between similar words in the various languages, for example he almost died from embarrassment when Sakura asked him to explain the difference between the English words 'organism' and 'orgasm'.

She noted that her friend looked exceptionally stunning tonight in her red gown. "Forgive me for being so rude." She sincerely apologized. The Haruno's were hosting this party and she hadn't been able to speak to Sakura aside from when she had arrived and had been greeted by her pink-haired friend. "I longed to see you! It's been much too long since we've last seen one another!"

"I know I do miss our visits with one another. Oh but I have the best of news!" The girl's mouth curved into a mischievous smile. "I've had so much success with my current suitor while you've been away, I am sure he'll be the man I wed!"

"Oh that's wonderful! Who-"

"Hyuga-san, you're father requests your presence in the ballroom" called a voice from behind her. Hinata turned to see Shino, who undoubtedly had come to collect her.

"One moment please Aburame-san." The Hyuga heiress returned her attention to her friend, and gave her an apologetic gaze. "You must tell me who the man is before I leave tonight."

"But of course," Sakura replied graciously. Hinata knew that Sakura was sincere. If it were the other way around, she would have done the exact same thing. "There will certainly be a time where we can talk in private."

Hinata waved her friend off as the hostess proceeded in the opposite direction. She grabbed a flute of champagne as a waiter passed by wit a tray full of them. The heiress accepted Shino's arm and he led her towards the ballroom. "So who is the man my father wishes me to dance with?" she asked knowing that it would be the only reason her father would even require her.

"Nara Shikamaru." He replied unfazed by her bluntness.

If Hinata had been the type to make her opinions obvious, she would have rolled her eyes but instead she downed the contents of her flute. Shikamaru was nothing but a gentleman, but he was extremely boring. Besides, Hinata was sure it was only a matter of time before he proposed to Yamanaka Ino… or was it Sabaku no Temari. Well which ever one it was it wasn't her that was for sure. Wishing to change the subject she asked Shino another question. "Has your night been enjoyable?"

"Very satisfactory." The spectacled man answered. Shino was a man of very few words. Hinata would be lucky to get a 'yes' or 'no' out of him. "There they are." He stated as he motioned his head to the right. Hinata looked to find her father Hyuga Hiashi and Nara Shikamaru conversing.

Hinata came into her father's and soon-to-be dance partner's vision and curtseyed. "You wished to see me father?"

Hiashi gave a slight nod. "Nara-san here requested you for the next dance."

Hinata forced a smile and masked her eyes with fake joy as she face Shikamaru. "I would be honour."

Shikamaru did not return the same enthusiasm. "Let's get on with it then." she mumbled as they got into the correct position for the dance.

As they danced, Hinata tuned out the young Nara's grumbled comments about the various 'troublesome' things at the ball. Her mind wandered off to her voyage back from Suna. An awful wind storm delayed their journey for a day, so she hadn't even arrived in Kohona until the early morning. She didn't even get time to rest before she had to get ready. She was thankful that her corset was done up looser than her maids in Suna had tied it, she almost fainted each time she had wear one there. But the thing that was on her mind most was him. She wondered if she still held a place in his heart, as he always would in hers.

"What on earth could have you in such a daze?" Shikamaru spat when he finally noticed she was light years away.

Hinata quickly snapped out of it. "Oh pah-please forgive me!" She apologized as the dance came to a close. "I… I'm awfully, ti-tired from my long vah-voyage." She cheeks had become pinker from the embarrassment of being caught.

She could have sworn he mumbled something about her being troublesome.

They bowed slightly to one another after they had parted. "If you'll excuse me Hyuga-san" And with that he walked toward a fuming Yamanaka Ino.

The blonde was glaring daggers at Hinata. 'I suppose I was used to make the girl jealous.' She concluded it made the most sense because Shikamaru had never requested her company before.

She nearly jumped when she felt a hand tightly grip her forearm, and quickly twist her around. "Hinata." Her father's stern eyes did not blink. "You're going to have to take the matter of getting a fiancée more seriously. Your looks will only get you so far."

Hinata lowered her head. "I know father," she raised her head so she could make eye contact once more. "But it's not like I have to get married within the year." She giggled as the preposterous notion escaped her lips

"You have less time then you think."

Hinata couldn't help the squeak that can out of her. 'Great,' she thought bitterly. 'That's exactly what I wanted to hear on my first day back.'

A/N: This story came to me when I started reading Luxe (an awesome book that I suggest to anyone). It will be similar to the novel, but the plot will be a lot different because I'm not one to blatantly copy a work of literature.

I've decided to have the story reflect the Naruto-verse but have the fashion styles more 1899 New York, because the dresses were amazing. Initials are surname, first name order as are all the names. The reason they talk so formal is because of what society was like before the turn-of-the-century, people were expected to be polite to everyone (at least to their face).

I also want you all to know that I'm trying to keep everyone as IC as the story with allow. There will be absolutely NO bashing, so if a character comes off bitchy or whorish it's not bashing the plot just requires it. Besides no character is going to be perfect in this story.

Next chapter: Among the Cloaks (Hanabi's perspective)