Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
chapter ONE
Every day, for nearly twelve years, Hinata Hyuuga sat and watched the people of her city mosey around about their business. She was high above them, never a part of them, but always desperately wishing to be one of them.
Today, in the midst of spring of her eighteenth year, it was like any other day.
Until noon she sat in her room, watching wistfully all the people below, wondering all the while what it would be like to be down there, instead of in the family estate hundreds of feet above, and thousands of feet away from them. Oh, how she longed to go down there and simply be a part of them. She knew she would be happy as a simple maiden. The life of being a lady was far too taxing on her, being that she couldn't handle the gossip, political relations, and ridiculous etiquette.
This was her only choice, however. There was no other life for Lady Hinata.
Or so she thought.
.x.x.x.x.x.
"Mi'Lady, w'll n't ya please st'nd up?"
Shaking her head to clear herself of her thoughts, Hinata's light lavender eyes landed on one of the estates many maids. For a moment she was confused as to what the maid was referring, until she looked down and realized she was both in the way and not yet dressed for today's endeavors.
Although the morning was the same as any morning for Hinata, tonight was the annual Masquerade Festival that was held in her city. A night in which the political, higher society mingles with the working, lower society within the city, Konohagakure, come together and celebrate. The Masquerade was one of their very few festivals, and even fewer celebrations.
Her family was a well-standing family that looked after for Hokage, their head figure. So naturally, the entire family was to attend the event.
Hinata shuddered at the very thought. She loved the festivities, the dancing, the food, even the drinking, but not at all the company. For the entire night she was expected to entertain men of all ages, as she was not yet wedded, to gossip with the married women so she might be influenced correctly, and to be with the other girls her age, so that it would be easier for the bachelors to find a bride.
It being the Masquerade, however, no one would know her status, they would merely guess based on her dress, which she was positive would be as abrasive and ostentatious as possible if her father was to have his way. She knew he was frustrated with her because of her nearly being nineteen and yet still unwed. It was bordering shameful.
Tonight she would be on show like a brood mare up for mating and rearing newborns. If she wasn't raised to show as little emotion as possible, her hands would be doing much more than shaking. They'd be tossing a table across the room.
.x.x.x.x.x.
Once she calmed herself down and had removed herself from the busy maid, Hinata had quickly began the fierce task of preparing herself for this evening, with the assistance of three other women. Her father always insisted upon this before such events, for both herself and her sister, which was unusual. Usually they were treated very differently, but apparently he had no confidence in eithers ability to get ready for festivals and the like, or at least Hinata thought so.
One woman focused on her hair, another, her face, and the third her dress and attire. All were fussing over her, and laying upon her their wisdom of how she must find a suitable husband tonight lest she wish to become an old maid and bare no children. For a moment the idea appealed to her, until she remembered Captain Uzumaki.
Captain Naruto Uzumaki was a fine man. Loyal and courageous for his country and leader, if a little slow on the uptake of things from time to time. Hinata was fascinated by the boy. No. The man. Hinata corrected herself as a blush stained her cheeks.
The mere thought of him put her in a tizzy and left her breathless with flaming cheeks.
This sort of thing would have been frowned upon, well, if anyone besides Lady Kurenai knew. The woman was like a mother to her and kept all her secrets and wonders of the world, at least since the passing of her mother she had. A death which neither she nor her father took well, though he let no one know and let even fewer see how it had affected him. Hinata was left heartbroken.
That is until her sister grew older and she hoped for that companionship to, if not replace, fill the ache her mother's death had left. Hinata had been sadly mistaken. Her sister took after her father whole heartedly and would have nothing to do with Hinata, even when she was a toddler. She would pull on her sister's hair and bite at her just to get away. Hanabi had stopped such antics, but nowadays Hinata almost preferred it.
Eventually Lady Kurenai had come along though, and changed things for Hinata so that her life was, if only a little, better.
Thankfully tonight Lady Kurenai would be attending the festivities, Perhaps she could help me catch Cpt. Uzumaki's eye… Hinata wondered idly and shook her head to rid herself of the thought. It would be foolish to pursue Cpt. Uzumaki, not only because of his having eyes for Miss Sakura Haruno, but also for the fact that there had not only been whisperings of her father's disappointment in her not having a husband yet, but of him having found a solution for the predicament.
Hinata shuddered.
"Mi' Lady. We have finished." Hinata rid herself of her ponderings and looked at the women who had been tying her into her corset moments ago.
"Pardon?"
"You're dressed, Madame."
"Oh. Indeed."
Preparing herself for feeling extreme and utter horror at her appearance, Hinata swung herself around and found herself face to face with a beautiful creature. She almost asked which of the Hokage's Ladies was staying with them, when she realized the woman staring back at her had the eyes of both her and her mother.
Actually, the woman before her looked an awful lot like her mother, almost like stepping into the past. Hinata had to grasp both of her hands firmly to keep herself from reaching out to the mirror. Before her stood a woman of grace, dignity, and honor, something she had been wondering if she had anything of lately.
The gown she wore was an immaculate gold. With a bodice with a heart neck line and the color of iridescent blue with gold thread reaching up towards her breast like shooting stars. The skirt of billowing gold fabric was bedazzled with jewels and threads of every color that fanned out from her hip bones and down to the ends of the dress. She looked like a golden peacock. And surprisingly, although her chest was prominent and revealed, the dress was not too revealing, with sheer gold capped sleeves that ended themselves in a triangle at her hands.
And oh her hair and face! Her hair, the shinning black blue it had always been looked like a swirling crown made of indigo about her head with long curling locks spilling down her naked back. Her face was that of an angel, with her lashes lined in gold and surrounded by light flecks of gold all around it.
Absentmindedly she wondered if she could make it through the night looking like this, and if her shoes could carry her. Lifting her skirts she checked such shoes and found herself in blue backless heels lined with gold.
How? How did father afford this? How was something like this even made for someone like me?
Hinata was in shock. Not once in her life had she ever felt like this, looked like this, or believed herself to be this…this…
"Beautiful."
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Hinata's heart froze. He wasn't supposed to be back from the wars on the sea yet. If he was back…
"Leave us," it was an order, not a request. Her ladies were quick to leave, not wanting to displease the young master.
Hinata turned slowly, trying desperately to keep her grace from faltering. "H-hello, cousin Neji." Damn that nervous stutter, Hinata cursed in her mind. It wasn't that she disliked Neji or distrusted him. He was her sweet and kind cousin. He would never harm her. But, his being back, and with the recent rumors, it did not bode well for either of them.
Wistfully, she remembers her father mentioning that things are best kept in the family, especially the Hyuuga family. Hinata feels nauseous.
"Hello, Contessa Hinata," he steps forward and takes her hand, his posture is stiff and formal. This was extremely unfamiliar. "You look lovely," he tries for a smile, and fails, as he releases her hand.
Hinata tries to ignore his awkwardness; he would give her that same kindness if this were reversed. "I thought you were still on duty. Not that I'm not glad to see you Neji." She tries to clarify while willing him to understand the hidden meaning. Why are you back Neji?
"Uncle…arranged for a leave that would last a month, to take care of 'family matters' as he put it, after which I will return to duty." His face was solemn. He knows. Her heart faltered its pace, slowing dramatically as the truth hit her like a ton of bricks.
Hinata swallowed her feelings and stuffed them some place raw and steaming. She locked them away there, ready to let them spit flames and fester until she was alone and could deal with them.
An "Oh" is all she can muster out to say before she finds herself sitting in the chair by her window once more, feeling a great sense of defeat, but trying to push it back.
"Well," Hinata began, looking up to Neji to give him her attention once more. She was greeted with the glummest face she's ever seen on Neji. He knows, and not only does he not want this, but he doesn't either. As soon as the emotion is there it is suddenly gone, replaced with nothing but complete and total calm.
"It's good to see you Neji, I'm glad you've found yourself back home safely," she says hurriedly and turns her attention to her hands that are now fiddling with each other in her lap.
"Thank you," Neji hesitates, "Hinata."
Hinata nods her head and awkwardly stands. "Well, I suppose father will be expecting me soon, you as well," she gestures towards him as she walks towards her door. "I should probably finish getting ready," she says with a sad laugh and a half smile on her face.
Neji nods and heads to the door, knowing full well that she is trying to escort him out so she can have a moment alone.
Once he reaches the door, he stops in the doorway, his back towards her. He knows he should say something, let her know how this isn't easy for him either, how this isn't how he wanted life to work out for either of them, but he bites his tongue before he says a thing. This was always what was going to happen to her. If it wasn't him, it would have been some other nobleman she'd met only once or twice tops, and she would be expected to marry them and have their babies.
At least this way, she'd be somewhere familiar. At least this way, he'd keep her safe. At least this way, he could try to make her as happy as she would be if she had ever had a choice in any of this.
Neji shakes his head and sighs.
"I'm so sorry Hinata. I really am."
The door shuts softly behind him, a muffled sob is all he can hear from behind the door.
.x.x.x.x.x.
Author's Note:
So, I've had this idea, and I really thought that someone should make a story like this, but never found one, so I figured I'd make it. The chapters will be relatively similar in length (between 2,000-3,000 words) and I will try my best to update frequently. I hope you enjoy! Also, it will be SasuHina (eventually).
Please leave a review if you have any comments, suggestions, concerns, or advice! It would be much appreciated!
