Moonlight Hinata
I lay awake, staring at my ceiling. It was a particularly stressful day, today. Father had me spar against Hanabi again. I still can't bear to strike her, to make her the fallen in our weekly engagements. If I prevailed, would the Elders acknowledge me? Would they decide to relegate My dear little sister to a life of servitude and pain under that cursed seal? I cannot take that risk. So I fail, again. Father is disappointed, again. Yet Hanabi is spared the pain for another day, so it must be worth this feeling of worthlessness.
Looking out my window, I see that the moon is full. So I rise from my futon and change into some lighter clothes. The others are asleep, aside from the night watch, and even they won't stop me from my monthly ritual. As I pass the gate, I nod in greeting to the hidden guards and continue on my way to my secret place.
It is not so much a training ground as a clearing in the forest with small spring bubbling up in the center. At this time of night, the moon is perfectly visible and shines down on me soothingly. I step onto the spring. And begin to dance.
Set
First movement.
Slide the foot across.
Not many know this, but as a soft style, Jyuuken is very rigid. The stance is set, the kata straightforward, and the strikes direct. Even if not a lot of force is put behind it, the style does not have a lot to do with redirection of force.
Turn slow.
Spin.
Caress the air
I was never suited for traditional Jyuuken. I don't like to hurt others and I'm not direct. I would much rather be a medic, soothing the pain of the wounded. As the heir of the Hyuuga clan, though, I must learn. Am I to be heir much longer? Not if the Elders have their way. This is what I have learned over time. But the one thing they can't take is Mother's Dance. The last memory I have of her before Hanabi was born was her dancing in the courtyard in the moonlight.
Back step now
follow the pattern
Listen to the music
Others have their own ways to unwind. I know that Kiba trains with Akamaru till they both drop, Shino collects rare insects for study, and Kurenai goes drinking with her other friends. And Naruto... I shake my head, momentarily dropping my rhythm. I can't think of Naruto now! But like the proverbial pink elephant that you try not to think of, he keeps coming back. So I give in, and imagine him as a dance partner.
Take his hand.
Follow his lead.
"Wow, that's amazing!"
What?! I stumble and almost fall in the water. He's here?! When?! How?!
"N-N-Naruto?!"
He walks out of the bushes surrounding the clearing with surprisingly little noise. He must have learned how to do that during his pranking days. It's a warm night, so I blush at the sight of him in just a black shirt and his orange pants.
"I never knew you could dance, Hinata." He smiled brightly at me. Don't faint, don't faint, don't faint. "Could you teach me how to do it?"
Yes! "I-I...what?" curses!
"Can you teach me how to dance? I always thought it could be what Sakura likes about Sasuke. He knows how to dance, I'm sure of it!"
As he rambles on about Sasuke's dancing skills (being son of the Head of the Uchiha clan, he was certainly taught), I take a moment to reflect on the Denseness of my favorite person in the world.
"Yes."
"...huh?" He's obviously confused, having been interrupted in the middle of his rant.
I giggle. Ah, Naruto. "Yes, I will teach you how to dance." Even if it may be for Sakura's benefit, just for tonight...I can pretend.
A/N: A spurt of creativity produced this
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto