Chapter Two
The Blooming Beauty
"A garden," Hinata gasped quietly her chubby fingers rising to cover her mouth, salty tears of joy welling up in her big round eyes as she surveyed the scene. The tour of the mansion had started in the foyer, where the child met the family, and made its way to the lanai where she now stood. Mikoto had shown her the kitchen, family and dining room along the way, where the chef and maids were found making preparations for the night's special dinner. Everything was so beautiful to Hinata, it was much like the lovely home her family had once lived in. The Uchiha manison had long halls to run down, expensive things in every room and recently to her delight she'd been brought to a garden. In that very moment on the back porch with the sweet summer breeze sweeping through her little bob and ruffling her dress as she overlooked the beautiful garden Hinata felt at home. A feeling that hadn't graced her presence once in over a year's time. It took her back to a time when she was joyful and carefree before the worries of impressing her father and losing her mother were around. Back when everyone was happy.
"Hinata," Mikoto spoke gingerly as she placed a delicate hand on the girl's shoulder noticing the tears pooling in her eyes. The Uchiha woman didn't know exactly what had prompted the child's watery eyes but could only imagine that she was thinking of her late mother who, like most women of their time and status, might have had a similar garden. Mikoto instantly regretted her decision to show off her lovely garden and mentally cursed herself for not thinking the situation through until Hinata wiped the unshed tears away smiling up at her.
"It's so pretty Mrs. Uchiha," Hinata said wearing that heartwarming smile on her adorable face all the while. The sight of it just had the older woman gushing. She had always wanted a little girl, even more so after having to deal with her rowdy boys on a day to day basis. And Hinata was more than she could wish for but with none of the hassle of having another child. She was so cute, and well mannered too! If she could Mikoto would dress her up like a princess, hug her and pinch her cheeks all day long. But she doubted that would suit Hinata given her lack of comfort when being the center of attention and her shy demeanor. Putting the thoughts behind her Mikoto focused once again on the task at hand, showing the child around.
"Would you like a closer look?" Mikoto asked the question Hinata had been waiting for since she stepped out onto the lanai. Hinata nodded so eagerly it made her a head hurt a little bit, she was just barely holding herself from jumping up and down. Mikoto noticed how the little Hyuuga was always holding herself back. It was good that Hinata was so polite always considering the next person's feelings. Though the way she seemed to be walking on egg shells with everything she did was not. Mikoto wanted nothing more than to see the little girl let go. To see her as the carefree child she should be and Mikoto promised herself she would make that happen for Hinata no matter the cost.
"Well only if you do this one thing," Mikoto said drawing out the word 'one' as she held out her index finger setting the conditions. Hinata zoned into the Uchiha's every movement, she was ready to do whatever it took. It had been so long since her fingers had tenderly twirled the stem of a flower with her bare toes buried in the rich soil as the breeze brought the interfused aroma of all the various plants to her nostrils. Too long since she found happiness frolicking amongst the flowers.
"Oh anything," Hinata consented without even knowing the task, it didn't really matter to her anyway. All she was focused on was getting to that garden. She had absolutely no idea why she wanted to get there so badly but something was pulling her little heart. Mikoto suddenly kicked off her expensive high heeled shoes, hoisted the skirt of her dress and quickly descended the steps to the porch.
"You have to catch me!" she called as she took off running towards the lovely maze of flowers. Hurriedly Hinata took off her own shoes tucking her fancy socks into the Mary Janes before chasing after the woman excitement bubbling over. Her father would never let her do something like this at home, and in her good dress too! She was going to love the Uchiha woman, Hinata just knew it.
"I'm going to get you Mrs. Uchiha!" Hinata giggled entering the maze of tulips, roses and lilies running as fast as her stubby legs could carry her after a glimpse of Mikoto's embroidered skirt. It wasn't long before Hinata caught up to the woman and tried tackling her only to stumble and roll into the lush grass at the end of the pathway. Mikoto scooped the girl up without missing a beat discretely checking for injuries but still wearing the dazzling smile. After seeing none she twirled around extracting excited giggles from Hinata, she then set the girl down coming to a crouch next to her.
"This way leads to the vegetable gardens," Mikoto informed pointing to one of the five paths at the end of the maze. Although vampires like the Uchiha family didn't necessarily need to eat for survival they did enjoy some foods merely for the taste. All other harvest from the gardens where given away to the many servants who dotted the mansions halls.
"This one to the orchards," Mikoto moved a slender manicured finger to point down the pathway on the opposite side of the vegetable garden. "And this one to my very own special garden." The woman spoke again motioning toward another path. Hinata stared down the pathway in front of her in awe. Curiosity filled her little body as she gazed past the floral archway that stretched over the beginning of the stone slab walkway. A bridge loomed in the distance, it was the furthest thing she could make out. She imagined only the most beautiful flowers grew in the mystifying garden up ahead and was delighted when Mikoto took her hand leading them forward.
Past the flower covered arch, weeping cherry willows shaded the footpath giving the journey to the hide away a mystical feel. The blossoms from the willows danced around them as the wind picked up causing the young girls eyes to light with joy. Her mouth was wide in a 'o' shape with everything she witnessed, it was as if her dream had come to life. Dark lashes kissed rosy cheeks as Hinata breathed in the smell of the wildlife about them. She stretched her limbs high above her head -much like a ballerina would- as she twirled and danced mimicking the lovely princesses she only read about. Mikoto watched the child grinning ear to ear. It was nice to see the child so content with her surroundings. As they neared the bridge distinct snow white petals caught the Uchiha woman's dark orbs.
"Look Hinata," Mikoto said coming to a stand still near the base of the bridge. Hinata promptly stopped her petals in the wind performance and opted to join her courteous guide instead. They crouched down together in front of a seemingly normal white flower with an unusually long stem that wasn't quite in full bloom. Although the flower didn't seem very peculiar to Hinata it was obviously special to Mikoto so the child wisely decided not to voice her opinions just yet. Noticing the girl's look Mikoto launched into an explanation about the flower known as the blooming beauty.
"This plant is unlike any other." she began drawing the little attention and hoping to earn her interest as well. Hinata leaned in a bit more to get a better looked at the plant. Upon further scrutiny of the flower she noticed the veins in the petals held intricate designs unlike anything she'd witnessed before in her own garden back home.
"Legends say it only blooms for the pure hearted and brings good fortune to the one who picks it," Mikoto further explained watching the child's eyes light up and her little mouth part in wonder. One of the prettiest features of the flower was of course its intricate design. "The petals furthest from the flower's center are snow white, each day it opens a little more exhibiting a little more of its color. One never knows what color the inside might hold until at last it reaches full bloom."
"Really?" Hinata asked very cautiously leaning in just a tiny bit closer. Truth be told she longed to touch the plant, she wanted to know if the petals felt as velvety as it looked but refrained from doing so with her new found knowledge of its rarity. She was very familiar with plant life thanks to all the time she had spent in her mother's garden. At the young age of four and a half she could name almost any plant she came across yet the one before her was entirely foreign.
"Yes and I believe it bloomed for you Hinata," Mikoto added gently tapping Hinata's shoulder for emphasis as she spoke her name. With Mikoto's sudden proclamation of her ownership of the flower Hinata felt a surge of courage. She slowly inched her pointer finger forward to, as gently as she possibly could, touch the outermost edge of the flower. It was still moist possibly from the morning dew or the brook just a foot or two away. Though the petal looked thin, it felt thick and velvety to the touch. She might have been imagining it but she almost swore she felt the deigns pulsing under her fingers.
"For me?" She whispered more to herself in disbelief than aloud pausing in her loving caress to look over at Mikoto. The Uchiha woman tucked loose ebony strands behind her head before nodding slowly. She found herself smiling also unable to resist Hinata infectious facial expression.
"Me?" Hinata asked once more eyes widening as she looked from the flower to the gracious hostess. Mikoto nodded biting back her laughter at the child's facial reaction. Hinata felt her heart swell, this very well had to be the best day of her life. It had been so long since anything special was done for her, visiting the Uchiha's for a playdate was the first thing in months. Then the wonderful house, secret garden _and _a beautiful mystical plant. It was all so very good, she thought she might cry.
"Now if only I had brought my clippers…" Mikoto grumbled realizing how foolish it was of her to venture out the to gardens without proper tools. One could never resist picking something in a garden as grand as hers, it was unheard of. And as badly as she wanted Hinata to have the plant she couldn't risk damaging the rare beauty with improper trimming. They would have to go back.
"That's ok," Hinata reassured the woman "I can pick it"
"The stem is thicker than most…." Mikoto started not wanting to dash the child's interest but insisting on trimming it correctly so the flower would bloom once again. But the child turned a deaf ear to the older woman as she stood focusing her senses. She closed her eyes taking in the life around her through other senses and breathing in its energy. Mikoto quieted watching as the innocent little girl seemed to grow beyond her age gaining a glow about her features. Her hand raised lowering all but two fingers forming the peace sign or this case scissors. Her hand was illuminated much more than anything else on her body being the point where she chose to focus the collected energy. Hinata slowly opened her eyes that now rivaled the moon careful not to break her concentration knowing the consequence of such actions was loss of power. Crouching once more to reach the base of the flower, she tapped the two fingers together twice before cutting clean through the thick stem with another effortless tap her fingers. The residue of the collected energy spilled over into the flower causing the freshly cut stem to heal and even begin budding before their eyes. It was Mikoto's turn to sit in awe as the child stood twirling the blooming beauty in her hands with a smile that crinkled her eyes and thinned her lips.
"See," Hinata said after waiting a few beats in awkward silence. "It's magic." she explained becoming nervous after noticing the older woman wasn't going to say anything. She remembered her mother's warning about using magic in front of others. Her mother always stressed that it was dangerous to do because of the bad people in the world. But even though she had met Mikoto a few moments ago Hinata was already beginning to trust her. She knew in her heart that Mikoto couldn't be one of the bad people her mother had mentioned...she was just too _nice._ Maybe she offended Mikoto by clipping the flower without permission. Mikoto had insisted on cutting the plant herself. At the thought Hinata dropped into a deep bow blubbering her apologies through the now rapidly falling tears. She'd managed to ruin the only good thing that happened to her by being too hasty. She'd never be invited over again.
"Oh Hinata, are you okay?" Mikoto asked snapping out of her dazed state pulling the crying child into her arms. It had been so long since anyone had seen power of that sort. It was amazing and to be coming from one of such few years astounding. It took her back. Back to the last time she'd seen such power... On the front lines of the second uprising. That was a deep hole for your thoughts to fall in. She always seemed to get stuck when reminiscing on the war. She hadn't meant to scare the child or worse yet make her feel as though it was her fault.
"Hinata, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, your powers just surprised me is all," Mikoto explained pulling the little girl out of her embrace to brush away her tears. Hinata shyly peeked up at Mikoto who gave her a reassuring smile apologizing once more. "I've never seen such control of that technique at your age before. It was amazing,"
"Thank you," Hinata mumbled cheeks reddening at the compliment as she stifled a sniffle brushing her nose with her sleeve. Mikoto pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and gently wiped at Hinata's tear stained cheeks and nose.
"Where did you learn that?" Mikoto asked softly after the child seemed to calm down a little more. Hinata was hesitant to answer as quickly as before with the previous situation and her mother's warning weighing a little heavier on her mind. However after peering nervously into those warm eyes she firmly decided Mikoto was some she could trust.
"My mommy taught me,"
