Two Sides of a Coin
zabani-chan
chapter 1
disclaimer: no own naruto. that sucks. because i couldn't finish the chapters i am working on for my other stories, i decided to go ahead and post this chapter of this story since it was already completed. i will finish the others during my trip, so don't worry. for those you who are reading this and have no idea what i'm talking about and have not read any of my other stories, check them out because my most popular ones have an AN that explains everything. for those of you who do know what i am talking about, this chapter to this new story is sort of like a fill in until the big ones come out. ^_^
Chapter 1 - Funeral and Decision
The sky was dark, clouds heavy with rain that would soon pour down on the uncaring group of people walking through the cemetery. They were lined up, three in a row, with six of them carrying a casket and one carrying a baby, not even five months. The group arrived at the spot where the casket was going to be buried, and the six holding the cakset walked over the hole and placed it on the wooden platform that would hold it above ground until sppeches and farewells were said.
Everyone gathered around, surrounding the casket, the preist standing closer than anyone else with a hand placed on it. He read what he had written on paper, things he had gathers from friends and family about the gril.
"We are gathered here today to say our farewells to Hinata Hyuuga. She was a wonderful person with a bright and cheerful outlook on the world. She trusted others unconditionally and without question. A woman known throughout the town to be able so stop a fight with a gentle hand and kind words, someone who helped others without being asked. Known in her family as the woman who sought to end the fighting and hatred between the two branches and find equal ground for them all.
She is preceeded in death by her father, Hiashi, her brother, Neji, her husband, Naruto, and her son, Yuugumo. She will be remembered for many years to come and her memory passed on through them." the old priest paused to catch his breath, showing signs that he was ready to retire, before he spoke again, " Anyone who wishes to speak their goodbyes aloud, speak now before we pray."
As much as her father, brother and husband wanted to, they knew if they even opened their mouths, there would be no stopping the screaming and crying they so badly wanted to let out. But they couldn't do it. Not on this day. when no one else spoke or raised a hand, the old priest spoke, bowing his head and placing his hands together in front of his chest.
"Let us bow our heads and pray for her to have peace in the afterlife."
Almost is unision, everyone bowed their heads. The cemetery was quiet, the only sounds heard were the leaves rustling in the wind, crickets in the bushes, birds chirping in a tree not far away. The priest lifted his head and let his hands fall.
"Amen."
Everyone murmured the word after him in different tones and time. The priest walked silently away from the group to give them time, and slowly, people stepped further back so the casket could be lifted and the platfrom removed. As the casket was slowly and gently lowered into the hole, a peircing cry was heard. Everyone gathered looked towards the grieving hisband trying in vain to calm the baby, who ws screaming and reaching tiny hands towards the casket, as if he knew that once it was lowered completely, he would never see his mother agian. Seeing the sight had all the women crying all over again and the men watching the widowed husband in pity. The casket was soon covered and the husband quieted the baby, fresh tears covering both their faces. The father and brother hovered by his side in case the need for their assisstance was needed.
Family and friends soon walked in two's and three's to place flowers on the new grave and leaving soon after calming down enough to drive. Soon, the only ones left were the husband, son, father and brother. THe brother took the baby from teh husband's arms so he could kneel properly by the grave to say his goodbyes. The two walked a little ways away to give him his privacy and instead plated sadly with the baby, who had hs motherslooks, except for his father's blue eyes and the whickers marks on his cheeks.
"Hinata....I'm sorry about everything. It's my fault that you died, telling you what happened to my parents. If I had never told you, you would still be here. I had completely forgotten that they might have still been following me, even after after these years. Yuugumo seemed to understand taht you were gone. He never reached for the spots where you would stand when you held him, he never cries for attention. He did cry today, though, when we were lowering you. It was like he understood that you were leaving and never coming back." he paused, wiping an arm across his face to dry the tears. A drop of water landing on his forehead followed by more told him it was starting to rain. He didn't care if he got wet, but it was too cold for his son to get wet. He stood, said goodbye, and turned towards the other three. They seemed to understand abecause they handed him his son and let him head towards the car as they went to the grave. He waited all of five minutes before they joined him and they headed home. The father looked at him from the rearview mirror.
"You are welcome to stay with us until you get back on your feet and are able to support the two of you."
"Thank you."
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end