I'm BACK! Hello all, I'm really excited to be posting a new story. I've got a couple chapters pre-written so I shouldn't disappear too often right up-front. Unfortunately, I haven't actually finished Naruto yet (yes, I know, I'm slow) but I think, for now, there shouldn't be anything that makes this impossible in the Naruto universe. Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy.
Prologue
"This is an insult to Suna, Gaara! How can you even consider such a thing?" Kankuro demanded. The Kazekage's face was emotionless, evaluating the situation silently in his head. Kankuro was not the only attendee enraged by the proposal presented by Iwa, the Village Hidden in the Stones. Even the most level-headed council members had been infuriated by the proposition: marry their Kazekage off to a common girl, someone who didn't possess the abilities to become a ninja. They wouldn't even hear of it.
"The marriage was not offered as an insult," he said calmly. "Many ninja were lost during the war and Iwa cannot spare any. She is of high blood. I should be honored." Many council members were shocked by his declaration.
"Still, Gaara, we have good relations with Iwa… We don't need this marriage," Kankuro argued slightly calmer. He didn't want to see his brother married off to a random stranger, especially someone unworthy of being his wife.
"We must do this to keep good relations with our Stone brethren," one of the eldest attendees stated. "Lord Kazekage is wise to agree."
"It's settled then," Gaara muttered. Kankuro clenched his fists and turned to leave. He had to tell Temari. Maybe she could talk some sense into their little brother.
►§◄
"Father's home!" Eri exclaimed merrily, standing just outside the house. Kaito, her twin brother rushed to her side, followed by their mother, Airi. All of them looked nearly identical. They all shared the same white hair and dark, sapphire eyes. Kaito was taller than the two women, more muscular, and had shorter hair, but that was the only difference until you hit their emotions. Eri always had a somewhat cruel smirk etched onto her lips and her eyes were gleaming with deceit, even when she appeared to be happy. Kaito always appeared to be bored, but flashes of concern could occasionally light his face. Airi, on the other hand, was an open book. Her features changed with every new emotion but she somehow managed to maintain the image of being frailer than her children.
Suddenly, the woman glanced back at the one person who hadn't moved. Anger flickered across the woman's face. "Get over here and greet your father!" she demanded hotly. The girl didn't move her eyes away from the cup of tea in her hand. She blew on the hot fluid lightly, not caring as her strange hair fell around her face. She had long, black and blue stripped hair. Her dark purple eyes lacked pupils and were distant, as though she were in a world far away from theirs.
"Hurry up, you worthless pest, before Father sees you," Eri demanded. "If you're going to eat his food, the least you could do his greet him after he returns from a long mission."
"Tea too hot will burn the lips," was the girl's mysterious response. Eri growled, stomped her feet in a small temper tantrum, and then turned back towards the road. The girl let a small smile touch her lips but quickly flicked it away again. It'd only get her in trouble.
Finally, after three minutes, a man came and embraced the three waiting for him at the door. He had dark blue hair and sapphire eyes. He was taller than Kaito and more muscular. He was wearing the regular apparel of a stone ninja and was obviously travel wary.
"It's so good to have you home, Father!" Eri stated, stepping away from him as his wife gave him a gentle kiss on the lips.
"You've been gone too long, Seiji," Airi proclaimed.
"Perhaps," he agreed. "Come, let's go inside." The group followed him into the room where the lone girl sat, blowing on her cup of tea. Kaito slid the rice paper door shut behind him.
"Father," the girl said, lifting the tea to the man. He accepted it, a smile gracing his features. She found this odd. Usually, her father had nothing but stern looks for her.
"You've been training," he noted, staring at the scrapes across her one exposed arm and along her cheeks.
"Yes, Father."
"She actually hit the mark three times today," Kaito added, stepping in. The girl stared up at her younger brother, furrowing thin eyebrows. She hadn't hit the mark at all that day but she didn't bother to correct him. Kaito was the only person who was ever kind to her. He probably lied to save her some pain.
"Excellent!" the man cried, reaching a hand down to his eldest child. She took it hesitantly, surprise flickering across her face before she contained it with a serene mask. She stood, her lavender gown flowing down to just above her knees. "I'm sure dinner has been prepared. Let us eat." Eri and Airi exchanged bewildered glances as they followed the man of the house to the dining room. Never had they seen him so happy to see his eldest daughter, the disgrace of the Kuomori clan.
They knelt around the table, Seiji at the head and his wife directly across from him. His two daughters sat to his right and his left while Kaito sat next to Eri. As they were eating, Seiji decided he could not contain his jubilee any longer. "Iwa has been wanting to strengthen its alliances lately, as I'm sure all of you are aware. One way to do this is to arrange marriages across the nations. I was informed on my way home that the Kazekage has agreed to marry a woman from our clan, Hana." Eri choked on her meal.
"The Kazekage wants to marry her?" the girl spat, staring at her older sister. Mayonaka no Hana put down her chopsticks calmly, staring into space. Kaito and Airi froze, not believing their ears.
"Compose yourself, Eri!" the man snapped. "This is wonderful news. Finally, after all these years, something will be made of Hana. Don't you agree, my child?" he asked, staring at his daughter.
"Yes, wonderful news indeed," Hana replied, pushing a loose strand of ebony back into place. "When will the marriage take place?"
"In a week's time. They've already dispatched a group of ninja to retrieve you. I hear that Lord Kazekage himself is coming."
"Oh my, an honor indeed," Airi muttered, still shocked. Kaito stared at his older sister. The others weren't aware of it but he knew that her worst nightmare was unfolding before her.
"No! This can't be happening. Why would a Kage agree to marry the likes of her? She's a useless pest that takes up space. She can't do anything right. She's not even a ninja!" Eri shouted in frustration. "It's an insult to his image!"
"That's enough, Eri!" Seiji roared, glaring at her. She set her jaw but sat back down and crossed her arms. "This is good for all of us. Do not allow meager emotions to cloud your thoughts."
"Yes, Father," the girl responded. Meanwhile, Hana could barely breathe. She was beginning to hyperventilate, panicking at the idea of spending her life with a stranger, a ninja stranger, the greatest ninja stranger in the entire Land of Wind. What would he expect of her? Would he throw her under the bus like everyone else once he realized she really couldn't be helped, that she really was useless? Would he long after her body, covet her in the wee hours of the night? She could already feel the ghosts of unfamiliar fingertips brushing along her skin.
"If I may be excused, Father, Airi," she said randomly, standing up before her panic could paralyze her. Seiji was taken aback.
"Do not flee, Daughter. Now is a time to celebrate."
"Father, I'm sure Hana is just tired and overwhelmed from her training and the news she just received. Please, allow her to rest," Kaito stepped in.
"Well, she did hit the target three times today. Yes, rest, Mayonaka no Hana. Your future husband will arrive any day now." She nodded and slipped off to her chambers. Once there, she immediately got into a set of night clothes and laid down on her bed. She curled up into a ball and tried to soothe herself to sleep.
Thanks for reading and please review!
