Love's Sweet Melody
Author's Note: This is my first attempt at an Itachi x Hinata story. In this story, the Uchiha Massacre never happened. If any of that bothers you, you might want to turn back now. For those of you still here, I hope you enjoy this story and reviews are always appreciated.
Chapter Notation: Some of the Clan Culture in this will follow cannon and some of it will be my own creation like the Introduction. Oh and as far as I know, Sasuke and Itachi's paternal grandparents were never named. So I have named them Kenji and Aiya.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no profit off of any of my stories.
Chapter 1
Elegant, powerful, and cold. That was how Itachi Uchiha would describe the Hyuga Clan, if anyone asked him to. Fortunately, no one had ever done so.
It was well known that the Uchiha and Hyuga Clans tended to give each other a fairly wide berth. While they were certainly far from engaged in a Clan War, the two powerful families were at best wary of each other. They rarely interacted unless it was absolutely necessary. This was just happened to be one of those times.
"Careful, Sasuke. It wouldn't behoove any of us to offend our hosts." Itachi whispers to his younger brother.
Today, was the Hyuga Heiress's Introduction. The Introduction was a ceremony that most Clans engaged in. Quite simply, when one of their members turned eighteen a grand celebration was held. It was the Clan's way of letting everyone know that one of their own had come of age and would formally be able granted the right to officially begin pursuing others or to accept suitors.
Sasuke had already had his Introduction, a few months ago. It was a night that would likely live in infamy in his foolish little brother's mind, Itachi was sure. Though that didn't matter. It was a matter of tradition. Traditions were meant to be respected.
"I'll play nice, if they do." Sasuke tells him.
Itachi merely shakes his head in amusement. It was such a Sasuke thing to say. Well it wasn't as though he could blame the other man. Relations between their Clans had always been frosty at the best of times.
Unfortunately, the Hyugas were almost required to invite the Uchihas to this ceremony. To do otherwise, would be a great insult. An insult that many would view worthy of starting a Clan War over. That was why they were here. To keep the peace.
"Good. You told me that the poor girl is horribly shy. Tonight will be hard enough on her without us adding to it." The elder Uchiha reasons as he remembers what Sasuke had told him about Hinata.
"Sasuke, we've just received our invitations to attend Hinata Hyuga's Introduction. If memory serves, I believe you attended the Academy together. Tell me, what do you know about her?" Itachi asked.
"Not much. The girl barely talks. She's extremely shy. She stuttered in the Academy and was a wallflower. She was a decent student though. Her biggest problem was that she lacked confidence. Well that and that she actually had a crush on the loser. She used to blush and faint around him. A lot." Sasuke told him.
Itachi shook his head. Well if the girl really was that shy, that was likely the most information he was going to find out about her before the Ceremony. Still she didn't seem like the type that would cause a scene. That was good.
The last thing that any of them needed was for a fight to break out at the woman's Introduction. That could easily turn into a bloodbath. That was something that Itachi Uchiha was determined to avoid.
"Well that was several years ago. She's a Jonin now. It's more likely than not, that she has already grown out of her stutter and that skittish phase. Some flowers just take a little longer to bloom than others." He reasoned.
"Maybe. I haven't seen her much since the Chunin Exams to be honest. I don't have anything against her. I mean at least she's not a crazy stalker like most of the girls that attended the Academy with me." The younger Uchiha replied.
Itachi chuckled. It was the bane of Sasuke's existence. The Uchihas had two curses. The Curse of Hatred and the Curse of Good Looks. Though most were far more happy about the latter than the former.
"You know, people are going to start to talk about you. If you keep rejecting every woman that looks at you, they're going to start wondering if you prefer men." Shisui said with a mischievous wink.
"THAT'S IT! CHIDORI!" Sasuke yelled as he charged up his trademark attack and chased after a laughing Shisui.
Itachi laughed and watched their antics. He knew that if the two of them were serious, that attack would have collided or Shisui would have Flickered away. There was a very good reason why he was known as Shisui of the Body Flicker, after all.
"Foolish little brother, there is absolutely nothing wrong with preferring your own gender's companionship. Though Shisui was merely teasing you. I'm certain that he realizes you are just have extremely high standards when seeking a suitable lover." Itachi said.
"I know that, but he was being a jerk! So he's going to deal with the consequences!" Sasuke said as he raced after his cousin.
"Some things never change." Itachi mused to himself as he decided just to sit back and enjoy the chaos. (It was just another day in the Uchiha District.)
Itachi sees Sasuke nod in agreement. That was better. Well at least if the woman's Introduction ended in disaster, it wouldn't be because of Sasuke.
That's when he hears someone announce Hinata. The woman was now at the top of the staircase with Hiashi. The proud Hyuga Patriarch was leading the young woman down the stairs. A beautiful woman who seemed to find her sandals more fascinating than the guests.
"Well she may be a wallflower, but she's a beautiful one." Itachi says to Sasuke.
Her hair was midnight blue and done up in an elaborate bun with a few pink Sakura Blossoms woven into it. Her lavender orbs shone with nervousness and she had the classical soft features of the Hyuga Clan. Her dress was also in a similar vein. Classically beautiful.
The kimono was made out of the finest silk and most of it was the same exact shade of pink as the blossoms upon her head. The trimming was made of gold silk though. The gown seemed to shimmer and glide with every step that she took. If nothing else, someone had certainly seen to it that the dress would remind people of Spring. (Which was an impressive feat considering that this Introduction was taking place in the heart of winter.)
"Thank you all for coming." Hinata says with a smile, once the father and daughter had finally descended the spiral staircase.
"Well what do you know? She did lose the stutter." Sasuke whispers to Itachi.
" Yes, please enjoy yourselves. There are food and drink a plenty. The Will of Fire continues to thrive in the Leaf as another of our own comes of age." Hiashi says.
There were murmurs of agreement and well wishes as various people raised their glasses to the guest of honor. Itachi shakes his head in amusement as the poor thing blushes as red as one of Sasuke's beloved tomatoes. This type of ceremony could be borderline cruel depending on who was coming of age.
Hinata sighs barely manages to hold back a sigh of relief when the festivities proceed after the announcement. For the rest of the night, she wouldn't have to endure every single set of eyes on her. Most people would be watching her, but not as closely.
These ceremonies were as much about Clan Politics and power as actually finding love. It was a chance for the Clans to interact. They strengthened old alliances, formed new ones, broke others, or tried to remain neutral. This night was more about that than her.
"Hinata, go enjoy yourself." Hiashi whispers to his eldest daughter.
"Yes, father." The young woman whispers back as she heads off.
Maybe, she'd be able to find a nice corner that she could spend the evening in. If she was lucky, she might be able to find Kiba and Shino in this throng of people. Her teammates would make sure that the night passed without a major incident.
Unfortunately, that was apparently going to be rather difficult. Kiba was getting asked to dance a lot and Shino was actually talking to some other ninjas. That was odd.
"His parents must have told him to do it." She murmurs.
"His parents must have told who to do what?" A masculine voice asks from behind her.
Hinata freezes. Damn. She really should have been more aware of her environment. Just because this was her Introduction, didn't make her any less of a ninja tonight than any other day.
"My friend. His parents must have told him to socialize at the celebration." She answers.
She was too startled by the man's sudden appearance to do anything other than be honest. Besides, she had been vague. Her friend could have been anyone.
"You mean Shino? Yes, that was probably a wise move on his part. His family is known for their rather neutral approach to things. Most certainly, their Clan can easily get lost in the shuffle when compared to the more boisterous Clans of our village." He says.
"I didn't say a n-ame." Hinata says.
"You didn't have to. You're a rather unassuming woman. Your friend was mostly likely one of your teammates. Kiba is most assuredly not the type of person who needs encouragement to socialize. So by the process of elimination, it had to be Shino. Don't trouble yourself over it. I'm not going to betray the confidence that you have with him." The other ninja promises her.
Hinata sighs in relief. The last thing that Shino needed was for people to know he had been forced to socialize with others by his parents. That would be humiliating.
"Thank you." She whispers with a smile.
"You don't have to thank me. I should be apologizing for startling you. It's just that this celebration is in your honor and it didn't seem right that you were alone when you're in a room full of people. I know what an uncomfortable feeling that can be." He says.
"Oh. You just surprised me is all. You don't need to apologize. That was kind of you, but really it's alright." Hinata tries to assure him as she realizes who she was talking to.
Itachi Uchiha. He was the eldest son of Uchiha Clan Heads. Sasuke's elder brother. While the Uchihas functioned somewhat autonomously from the rest of the Leaf Village, everyone knew who Itachi was. He was the prodigy amongst prodigies.
He was also gorgeous. Hinata supposed that if the Uchiha Clan had anything going for it besides power, it was their looks. Normally, she wouldn't ponder over such things. It was difficult not to when it came to this man though.
"You're very kind and forgiving. I don't believe that we have been formally introduced though. I'm Itachi Uchiha." He says smoothly.
Smoky eyes and silky looking raven black hair. Sunkissed skin and exotic markings on his face. A sleek muscular build and a charming smile. It was hard not to notice.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Hinata, but you already knew that…" She mumbles the last part.
"Yes, I did. Allow me to apologize for my most unbecoming behavior. It would be poor form to allow you to be ignored at your own celebration. Dance with me?" He asks.
Hinata smiles. It was sweet. He didn't want her to be ignored. He didn't want her to be overlooked. Yes, it was probably out of pity or maybe sympathy. That didn't really matter though.
If she didn't dance with someone, her father wouldn't be pleased. It was just that she didn't know who to ask besides Kiba or Shino. Her teammates were wonderful, but she doubted her father would be satisfied by her dancing with only two men that she had no intention of ever allowing to be her suitors.
"I'd like that." She says with a smile as she follows Itachi to the dance floor.
"Good." Her dancing partner says as he wraps his arms around her waist.
Hinata blushes and wraps her arms around his neck. She could feel every single pair of eyes on her again. Well more specifically on them.
It wasn't hard to tell why. She was the guest of honor at this Introduction and she was dancing with Itachi. Itachi was an Uchiha. She was a Hyuga. It was against the natural order of things really.
"Don't allow their stares to bother you. You should get used to them. They staring because you're beautiful and because an Uchiha is dancing with a Hyuga. You have nothing to feel embarrassed about." He murmurs in her ear.
Hinata feels her face turn bright red. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin and his scent was surrounding her. A pleasing mixture of pine and sandalwood. Not to mention the fact that the entire crowd probably thought he was whispering sweet nothings in her ear.
"It's hard not to though. We're going to be the talk of the village tomorrow. She tells him.
"I doubt that." Itachi assures her as he guides her around the dance floor.
He was the epitome of grace. Hinata was suddenly grateful for her years of flexibility training and in the art of movement. Otherwise, she likely would have looked like a klutz compared to him.
"Our families don't get along well. The very fact that we're dancing means that we are causing something of a scandal." She points out.
"Oh that's true. I wasn't arguing with that. I was just debating the scope of said scandal. I'm quite certain that by the end of the night, the entire Fire Nation will know that we danced together. That doesn't bother me though. I don't think that you should let it bother you either." He assures her.
She was a beautiful little thing. Beautiful, but as skittish as a rabbit. Itachi was fairly certain that he knew why.
The woman was obviously the type of person who was always worried about what others thought of her. Eager to please. That combined with the fact that she had been born into one of the strictest families that he knew of was a recipe for disaster.
"It doesn't bother me. I just don't want you to get into trouble." She says as she twirls underneath him.
Intentionally or unintentionally, her Clan had likely only made her nature shyness even more prominent. She was afraid of doing something wrong. In that way, she was a less bold version of his little brother.
"Don't think about them. Just focus on the melody and me. It's only a dance, Hinata. You shouldn't fret about trivial things like this." He tells her with a smile.
It was a beautiful melody. Soft and classical. To Itachi, it conjured images of an enchanted forest. The type of forest that his mother had once told him and Sasuke about when they were little and she read them bedtime stories.
She certainly fit the mold of the frightened princess. He knew that such thoughts were out of place though. Hinata was a Jonin. She was more than capable of slaying her own dragons.
"Maybe you're right." She replies as she glides across the dance floor with him.
The Hyuga Estate's inside even looked like a palace. His own family had more modest quarters. All comfortable, but nothing as grand as this. Though quite honestly, he preferred their District over an Estate.
Having hundreds of people so tightly packed together seemed like playing with fire to him. How did any of them ever get any privacy? His family was close, but they were also all independent of each other. The Hyugas reminded him of a hive of honeybees in contrast.
"Of course, I am." Itachi retorts with a small smirk.
They were all dedicated towards whatever their collective. There were worker bees and the Queen (well King in this case) gave the orders. They were divided into the Main House and the Branch House. A hive was a fitting analogy in his mind.
"Modesty is your most becoming trait." Hinata says with a giggle.
It was a melodious giggle. That one sound was far more soothing than even the most intricate symphonies that Itachi had heard. Incredible, really.
"Yes, I suppose it is." He agrees as he spins her underneath his arm and watches her whirl around.
The way that her kimono billowed behind her and the sleeves followed suit was nothing short of magical. The Hyugas had certainly known what they were doing when they chose this outfit for her. He'd grant them that much.
"This could get ugly." Shisui says to Sasuke as their Clansman danced with Hinata.
"You're right. We'll have to step in." Sasuke agrees.
"Precisely. Go and ask Hanabi to dance. It'll provide a sufficient distraction." The elder Uchiha suggests.
Sasuke looks at him like he was crazy. How was him dancing with the younger daughter of Hiashi going to help? The girl wasn't even a Chunin yet. She was way too young to think about courting.
"How is that going to solve this?" Sasuke hisses at him quietly.
"She's young enough that no one will seriously think you're courting her. It'll add some levity to the situation and distract them from the fact that Itachi is dancing with their heiress. That's how!" Shisui informs him.
Sasuke pauses as he considers that. That was a good point. He sighs and goes to find Hanabi. Fortunately, the younger Hyuga was more than eager to dance with him.
The raven haired ninja was almost certain that was mostly because the young ninja wanted to join the festivities. She might already be an active ninja, but she was young. Young enough that she wasn't a factor in situations like these and obviously that would bother any "child."
"Let's go!" Hanabi says cheerfully as the two of the dance floor.
Sasuke could feel Hiashi Hyuga's eyes watching him like a hawk. Well mission accomplished. Hopefully, his amusing dance with Hanabi prevented an uproar over Itachi's dance with Hinata.
At that same moment, Itachi spins Hinata away from him and then back into his arms. She was certainly a graceful one. Then again, she was a Hyuga woman. Perhaps that was only to be expected.
"This was kind of you to do this for me. You didn't have to." She says with a smile.
"I known that I didn't have to. I wanted to." Itachi tells her.
She had just looked so lost and alone. He couldn't in good conscience leave her to be a shirking violet at her own Introduction. Besides, it was only one dance.
How much harm could one dance to? Eventually, the Leaf Villagers would find something else to gossip about. That and this might give the young beauty more confidence.
"I'm glad." She whispers as she continues dancing with him.
Really, it was no hardship for him to dance with a beautiful woman. When the morning came, that would be the end of it. Though there was the slight possibility that maybe this would defrost relations with the Hyuga Clan ever so slightly.
That wasn't a very likely possibility, but there was always a chance. He had honored their Heiress. That had to count for something, surely?
"I'm glad that you're glad." He replies.
Itachi wasn't sure how, but one dance turned into two. Two became three. After that, he lost count. He was enjoying listening to the melody of the Hyuga Princess's laugh too much to care for such trivial details.
Isn't that what he had told her? Not to fret over the small things? Well he supposed that he should follow his own advice.
"Where did you learn to dance like this? " Hinata asks him.
"My grandparents taught me. Kenji and Aiya Uchiha were quite renowned in their day for their dancing abilities. They chose to pass them on." He muses.
They had already danced together once. Was the village really going to gossip that much more because they danced together several times? He doubted it.
It wasn't as if they were doing anything improper. His hands stayed only on her waist. He made damn sure never to let them stray further than that. There would be a bloodbath, if t hat happened.
"Oh that was nice of them." The bluenette comments.
"Yes, it was." Itachi agrees as he twirls her once more.
It was hard to reconcile her endearing laugh or shy smile with the fact that he knew she was fully capable of locking up his chakra points. Hinata was certainly a serious of contradictions. Perhaps that would be a good thing in the end though.
One day , she would take over the Hyuga Clan. When that happened, she might remember this night or she might not. That might be irrelevant. It was her amiable personality that might truly hold the key towards improving Clan Relations.
The rest of the night passed quickly. Eventually, Itachi notices that more people were slowly filing out. Hinata's father was approaching them. That wasn't a good sign.
"Well I most certainly thank you for ensuring that my daughter's Introduction was a memorable one. Though the hour is late. My Clan is preparing to retire for the evening. Would you mind returning her to me now?" He asks pleasantly.
Itachi wasn't fooled by his tone of voice though. His words might be pleasant, but on the inside he knew the truth. The Hyuga Patriarch was bristling in indignation.
He wasn't pleased about him monopolizing Hinata's time. The odds of an Uchiha and a Hyuga marrying were about the same as Hell freezing over. That meant he had "wasted" her big night, in the other man's mind.
"Of course. Thank you, for inviting us to your beautiful home." He says with a smile of his own, before bowing respectfully and heading off.
"You're most welcome. Come, Hinata. As I've said, it's late. You should get some rest." Her father says.
"Yes, father." The bluenette says as she heads up the stairs, though Itachi didn't miss the fact that she glanced back over her shoulder at him as she ascended them.
He didn't know why, but that fact made him very happy. It meant that she was taking his side to a degree. It seemed like the wallflower was starting to blossom, after all.