Darker Secrets of Nobility
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters other than my own, though I would love to!
By Kumoi Tsuki
It's really not as good as it seems on the outside, the manor, the money, the respect. I would trade them all for a normal life, because life as a noble is really sickening. The exactly way of doing this, the expectancy, the needing of perfection… It was like I was barely living, only doing the necessary things, and the things I was told to do. There was no 'no' in my vocabulary... Not that I knew any of this back then…
As I wondered back from my last mission with the rest of the ANBU squad behind me, I couldn't help but scan the crowd that was gathered anxiously on the other side of the wall. I registered myself and the team to the guards and signed the paper as I watched the reunion from the corner of my sight. As usual, father wasn't there to greet me. But that was okay, I could understand, he was a busy man with lots of things to do.
I waved goodbye to the squad, reminding Matoka to go to the Hokage's office to tell her about our successful mission as I and headed home to report back to father about the mission. I walked silently across to the manor, pushed back those grand silver gates which reveal the well kept grass and the training grounds. I followed the path up to the house, then went straight to father.
Giving a respective bow to the head of the clan I explained the successful mission while removing my red fox mask from my face to show the white eyes that branded us the user of Byakugan-Hyuuga. With a nod from father as a sign that I could leave, I opened the sliding door quietly and paced back to my room for a bath that would rid me of the unclean smell.
Lying in the warm steaming bath as I poured some of the contents of the liquid soap in, I tended to the wound on my arm. Rubbing it sorely I couldn't help but forward my attention to what would be the ceremony where there would be a new head of the clan-me. My schedule would be tight for a while, but I wasn't really inheriting the clan until I turned twenty which was a few years on. I was just learning the basics.
The two days passed quickly, and in no time I was clothed in a fine blue kimono, made of the smoothest silk. On it were silver flowers, stitched in carefully as to not to ruin the background. I walked out to give the speech to the clan. There was a round of applause as I bowed slightly to the audience of the side branch of the Hyuugas. Then I bowed lower to my father as I left the room quietly to change.
It felt better away from the noisy and clustered atmosphere, and free from the tight and awkward clothes. I sat away from the manor, on the hill at the back of the house. It was a quiet place, a silent place that harbored some kind of unknown thing, keeping a lonely secret by itself. It didn't tell anyone of its past, it's thoughts or it's knowledge. It seemed to be satisfied to just watch, and listen, but no more.
There were no flowers dotted in the grass. It was just a field of green, soft grass. It was a kind of mysterious place, where the wind whispered back mutated answers and the dawn would be a distorted mixture of colors. Night, would generally be a silent place, where only the stars and the moon shone. The light creating odd shadows of distant trees and bushes on the sea of dark green.
Red, blue, green, purple, and colors of a rainbow exploded to form pictures. It was beautiful, the way it soared so high before imploding with grace. I enjoyed watching the huge main fireworks spray into color while smaller ones framed the larger ones. The show was carefully planned, so after the tree, flowers, circles and animals was the finale. Sure, the fireworks were pretty, the way they slowly fade off into darkness as another brightens the sky with its light. But really, it's not much compared to the ending.
The 'falling stars' are a signature for the Hyuugas, many fireworks are shot into the sky and explode with astounding unity. A shower of gold covers the night sky, shining like real stars while emitting their own unique light. Then, as it dropped down, fading slowly it formed a curtain as other multicolored lights suddenly flashed about. But the best part/s were the two pieces of jade which were within one of the many flares.
It was the symbol of luck to anyone who found it. One it was raging dragon, another was a phoenix, and both were carved on pure white jade. Each had a piece of red string attached, another symbol of luck. I can't really remember, but this was a tradition. Long, long ago, before the five great countries had divided. There were two people, one male, one female who would be the ancestors of the Hyuuga clan. They fought monsters and helped peopled, but in the end they came across a monster that they could not defeat. So in an effort to stop the crazed destruction, they sealed it in them selves, but died in the process. The male became the dragon, the female the phoenix.
Now it symbolizes true love that would conquer anything in its path. It is said that the new owners of the pieces of jade would be destined to be together, that fate would part the land and sea for those meant to be. That they would over come anything in their paths to join together. But this was only a story, a legend, a myth, some thing that wasn't real.
Suddenly I began to wonder, who would receive the dragon necklace. Strangely, my thoughts began to waver, as I wondered randomly why my life seemed to mean so little. It was like I'd like to have a change, to pursue something else, like the one I was living now wasn't as meaningful. Is there anyone else, watching those brilliant lights think the same as me? Someone that also longer for a mysterious life?
Suddenly, right next to me, there was a long thud as something plummeted to the ground. I opened the carefully wrapped present, to reveal the priceless carved jade phoenix. It had soft and delicate lines, forming patterns on its body, and the tiny etched on its magnificent tail. I laughed, chuckled at myself at the irony in this. I would return this when I went home, or maybe give it to someone as a present. I wrapped it around my neck so I wouldn't lose it, giving a light yawn as I did.
But just as I stood, a rush of wind caught me as I felt someone cling to me tightly.
"Happy…Inheritance Day?!" she cried "Let's go celebrate!" I sighed at Mikan, another ANBU member, not in my team though. There was always a cheerful atmosphere around the girl. Bright yellow hair and eyes like angels, she was pretty.
"Let's go, come on!" she whined. I doubted my actions as she dragged me away from the Hyuuga manor.
I didn't like the place at all when I laid my eyes on it. It was surrounded but a smell of beer and smoke, and things I couldn't properly identify.
"Let's go!" Mikan cheered as I was hopelessly pushed into the den. Loud pumping music taunted my ears as I was crowded by strangers, all drunk and some looked really tired, red eyes and barely awake. The smell of alcohol hit my nose as we approached the counter.
There was also a live band called 'Grounded', heavy metal rang through the rectangular room. The noise would incessantly bounce off the wall, creating a 'call and answer'. All of it's members had ebony black hair, spiked up with much gel. They had piercing glares as they screamed into the microphone. The people hare danced to it, just jumping to the beat or shrieking out to the musicians.
Both of us took seats as two fancy looking drinks were served to us. Mikan downed hers; through I pushed it away with uneasiness. The inner me was starting to doubt even letting her drag me along.
"Don't be such a baby!" she cried, and almost forcefully poured the drink down my throat. I choke a bit, coughing as I bent over, trying to rid myself of the stinging taste. True, I had tried wine and low alcoholic things, but this was burning my throat, and made my vision start to go fuzzy.
As another drink was passed up to me, and a strange side took over. It was like there was another me, but it was hyper, adventurous and wild, everything I wasn't. My body didn't seemed to be in my control, as I downed another drink. I can't remember how many I gulped down with much ferocity, but the voice of my inner self was fading to almost a whisper.
Other than the roaring music, all the talkers and the sounds of dancing hushed. The door opened, as two cloaked people stepped in. Their wide cane hats covered their heads, as both of them reach up and pulled them lower. Both had a tinkling bell attached, and the ringing of it seemed to be louder and piercing that the heavy music. Crowds of people parted forming a clear path as these people strode through, looking to sides quickly. They both took a seat next to us. The slightly shorter one sat down next to me. But really he was pretty tall, but the other was even taller.