So apparently you guys are interested! :D
That makes me feel all warm n' fuzzy inside.
So I'm going to respond to reviews in this story! (I've never done that, btw, since I mainly write oneshots.)
BUT FIRST.
This chapter is shorter, as it's only one POV. But I'll have the next chapter up probably later tonight or tomorrow, so don't fret!
retarded yet smart-Why thank you!
BK-Black Knight-First of all, thank you so much for your other reviews on some of my oneshots. They're very uplifting to read! :) And second, thanks! I'm so glad you found the premise interesting enough to continue.
Insanely Irish-I wish I was Irish. I want a cool accent. Thanks for your review, I'm glad it sounds interesting!
Digital Lies-I love getting thurough reviews like this. It makes me smile. And no, Danzo would be very...displeased if everyone should find out HE has Sharingan lying around. I have an answer for this...in another chapter. One word: seals. And I have big plans for Sas-uke. BIG PLANS. KUKUKUKUKU...
Sien-Thanks for the review. Guess what? I'm continuing! xD
BundleofContradictions-Wow. THANKS! And no, they don't. In fact, my inspiration for this was someone saying almost that exact thing-deals with the devil never come free-especially when that devil is Danzo. As for reactions, I've got some surprises tucked up my sleeve for those. ^_^ Hopefully, it'll be interesting. AND I AGREE. People with Sharingan seem to be a little touched in the head. But the way I see it, it's because they each suffered because of it-Sasuke lost his entire family, Madara and Danzo were batshit crazy to begin with, Itachi was suicidal cuz' he had to kill his family, and Kakashi got his Sharingan after watching his best friend die. I think maybe in order to properly use the Sharingan, you have to be emotionally scarred, which is how you unlock it.
And now onto the story.
Chapter Two: Dancing in My Dreams
"Dancin' in my dreams
You're my destiny
Inside my heart no more lonely night
Dancin' in my dreams
Share your wish with me
And free forever we'll fly...
Dancin' in my dreams."
Dancing in My Dreams~J Storm
"Hinata…" Naruto traces over the edges of the simple picture frame, the metal cold under his fingers. It's one of his favorite pictures of them, taken while at the Sakura festival the previous year. They had been waiting for the fireworks and were leaning against a tree. But before the festivities could begin, they had both fallen asleep, having returned from a mission earlier that day. Her head was resting against his chest, and he had his arms wrapped around her waist. They looked…at peace. Something they haven't been in a long, long time.
"What I would give to hold you again, hime…" He rolls over on his side and stares blankly at the wall. When was the last time he felt like this? Perhaps when Jiayara died…no, this is different.
This is knowing that the love of his life is out there and she's hurting and he can't do a damn thing about it.
He lets his eyes close, but he knows sleep won't come. He hasn't slept since the Hyuuga guards stormed into his apartment three weeks ago, dragging Hinata with them, to her engagement ceremony.
He had been powerless to stop them, and now it claws at him, just one more personal demon he must wrestle with. Unlike the Kyuubi, he believes he deserves this demon.
But he does dream.
"Hinataaaaaa! Hinataaaaaa! Where are you, hime?" Dream-Naruto pushes through the clover-green bushes and emerges, a fox-like grin growing on his face, into a familiar clearing.
She's already waiting for him in the azure water, and she appears to not be wearing anything except a coy smile. She waves her fingers at him and giggles before ducking under the water.
His laugh this time is a bit darker, almost lustful. He pulls off his shinobi sandals and his shirt, pants, and boxers come off one after the other.
The water isn't clear-it's just too-blue and goes as deep as one can imagine. Too-colorful, just like everything is in this dream-world of his. And it doesn't have a temperature-he does not shiver from cold or heat, just dives underwater.
The underwater world is much clearer than it appears from above, and he butterfly-swims through it effortlessly. Each movement is unrestricted by gravity, each breath unhindered by the lack of oxygen.
He catches sight of a flash of indigo hair dashing behind a rock and as he swims closer, it seems to move farther away. That is, until he catches sight of something sliding down over the edge of the rock. It's a liquid that doesn't blur with the water. It clings to the stony surface, crimson red against onyx rock.
The blood seems all too close for him and the playful feeling is replaced by one of pure terror.
The scene changes the moment he reaches the other side of the rock.
Now there is no more underwater. There is too much gravity, in fact, that he seems to be drowning in it as he falls to his knees at the sight of his love.
She's wearing that damn nightgown she wore the night they took her away. It's white, and barely brushes against her knees. It cinches at the waist and the soft fabric drapes over her breasts in subtle ruffles. The straps hang down on her shoulders, exposing her snow white flesh and elegant collarbone. Long locks flash between midnight and ultramarine as the moon ducks behind a cloud and reappears once more. Her eyes are closed, thick lashes brushing porcelain cheeks.
She would be his Sleeping Beauty if it were not for the red, bloody red, tears that trickle down her face.
"H-Hime…." He chokes out, reaching a trembling hand out toward her.
Her thin hands, uncallused even through shinobi training, are ice-cold to the touch and he presses them to his lips, trying to inject some warmth into her. As if he could bring her back to life with a kiss.
And that thought strikes him next. He keeps her chilled hands clasped in his own burning one and then tucks his free hand behind her head, those blue-black locks tangles around his fingers.
"Please, Hinata. Come back to me." He whispers next to her ear before his lips move towards hers and then clash together.
She doesn't taste like vanilla and cinnamon, like she usually does. She tastes metallic and salty, and when he lets go he brings one hand up to his lips. When he brings it away, his fingers are coated in a dark substance he knows is her life's essence.
"N-Naruto-kun…" She begins to speak and hope overwhelms him.
"Hinata!" He cries out her name in relief, bringing her into his arms so that he can smother her with kisses. But before he can-
"W-why, Naru?" She whimpers childishly. "W-why d-did you let them h-hurt me?"
"W-what?" He seems to be mirroring her stutter and he takes her by the shoulders, gently pushing her back. "W-what are you talking about?"
"I t-thought you l-loved me!" She cries, and the sound pierces not just his heart but the very depths of his soul.
"I-I do!" He protests. "M-more than anything! More than my own life!"
"Then…" She starts to lift her head, and he can't help the pained cry that escapes past his lips. "Why did you let them take my eyes?"
Where lavender orbs once twinkled just for him, two holes exist instead. They stare up at him sightlessly, blood pouring from them down her skin.
He screams, and screams, and screams, and-
"HINATA!"
He's sitting up now, clutching his heaving chest. It feels like he's having a panic attack-he can't breathe, goddamnit!
He reaches a shaky hand towards the cup of water he keeps on his nightstand, but just as he has the cup a millimeter from his lips, there is a knock at the door. He drops the glass and it shatters to the floor, the water and glass flying through the air in an aerodynamic ballet before they too fall to the ground.
"Shit." The curse word flies from his lips and he cautiously tiptoes around the mess to the bedroom door.
He doesn't know who could be knocking at this time of night, but he thanks Kami the apartment is clean. He hasn't touched a thing since Hinata left, and she always kept it in pristine condition. The only thing that has changed is the pile of ramen cups in the kitchen and the wilted flowers in a vase full of murky water where her sunflowers once stood tall.
He fumbles with the lock for a moment and as he opens the door he lets loose a tirade on the unsuspecting visitor. "This better be some sort of emergency, or so help me-"
"Hello, Naruto-kun."
She smiles, and it's not the sweet, soft smile she uses for her sensei and her team and her sister and everyone else. It's her vulnerable, edge-of-tears, please-hold-me, please-protect-me, please-love-me smile that's just for him.
And then he looks up a little further and instead of those silver eyes full of tears he expects to come with the smile, he's met with his nightmare: bandages, whiter than humanly possible, wrapped around where her eyes should be.
And then because he's Uzumaki Naruto, Konoha's Number One Unpredictable Ninja (no matter how many times Konohamaru says it's him) he does something decidedly unpredictable.
He faints.
xD
Also, is anyone interested in being my beta? I'm kind of in between editors and I'd like to cut down my grammar issues, etc.
Read and review!
~dreameratheart