Right so this is the first chapter. And I am not writing a disclaimer any more cause I think you all understand that I don't own Naruto. There is another ItaHina story entitled "Breathe". I didn't realize that my title was really close to it cause I didn't even think of it. Sorry if the author of that story is offended. But no worries: the plot is way different. And I realize that I got the wrong form of to. But whatever. In this story, I use Japanese suffixes so if they are wrong please point them out since I have never used them before. Please review!!! And by the way it's my birthday!
Uchiha Itachi, glared at the back of his mothers head, attempting to burn a hole in her dark brown hair. His black eyes narrowed, and when his mother didn't take the hint he switched his gaze to his father, Uchiha Fugaku. The older man felt his son's gaze, and nodded in acknowledgment, not promising anything, and returned to talking to the other man in the room.
Itachi frowned. His father didn't often ignore him. Sasuke, his little brother, was the one that received little attention, not him. Currently, Sasuke was clinging to his mother's hand, grinning at her with his childish curiosity at the little girl she held.
Uchiha Mikoto jiggled the girl up and down, while the one being held giggled uncontrollably. The girl was in fact, Hyuuga Hinata, future heiress to the Hyuuga clan. She was Sasuke's age, with short violet hair. She had kiddy bangs and then longer ones that framed her pale face, and accentuated her lavender tinted eyes, one of the few things she had inherited from her father, Hyuuga Hiashi. She was smiling and laughing, enjoying the attention, even if it didn't last long. She hadn't been held like that since her mother died a month ago.
Itachi scowled and crossed his arms across his chest, leaning against the cold stonewall of the Hyuuga dining room. His family had decided to drop a visit- or rather his mother invited herself and dragged the rest of them there. It wasn't so bad he decided; the walls were made of a white expensive stone, with intricate designs etched in the wall. The ceiling was high enough so you didn't feel squished, but low enough to make sure you could still see out of the skylights. The middle of the room was dedicated to a huge, dark wooden table, with a candelabra set in the middle. All in all, it was a sight to see.
Itachi walked to his mother, taking his time so as not to look like he was in a hurry and said, "Mother," in his oddly deep voice for a ten year old.
"Oh there you are Itachi," she said, turning around to see him. Hinata clutched tighter to her shirt, not wanting her attention to wander. Mikoto smiled and ruffled the toddler's head. Sasuke pouted, wanting some attention as well. Mikoto glanced at Itachi and he grudgingly picked his brother up and set him on his back for a piggyback ride. Sasuke wrapped his arms around his neck and smiled. He loved his older brother.
"Aniki, why is Hinata-chan getting so much attention from Okasan?" he asked, eyeing the girl like she was a new target.
Itachi walked away as his mother continued to baby-coddle the Hyuuga girl. He exited the dinning room and headed towards where Hyuuga Neji, older cousin to Hinata, was practicing some of his math. He looked up at the Uchiha's, nodded, and went back to his work, ignoring them.
"Hinata-chan just lost her Okasan, Sasuke," Itachi explained. "And our Okasan was her friend. Hinata-chan gets all that attention to make up for the attention her own mother is not able to give her."
"Oh," Sasuke said, "I think I get it now, Aniki."
Itachi circled the Hyuuga walkway that was outside and headed for the dinning room. He would have liked to leave, but none of the others seemed to want to go. Sasuke slid off his brother's back and padded over to their father, interrupting a serious conversation between the two older men. Fugaku rested his hand on his son's ebony hair affectionately. Hiashi seemed somewhat annoyed but kept it to himself, as a maid rushed to him.
"Hyuuga-sama," she panted, clutching her knees, "Hanabi-chan has woken up."
Mikoto whirled around, her black eyes sparkling. "Hiashi-san may we see the baby now?" she asked wistfully. She loved children and her own were getting much older.
Hiashi nodded.
Itachi noticed that Hinata pouted slightly at the mention of her baby sister. It grew more as Mikoto set her on the floor and followed the longhaired Hyuuga to the nursery. Her small pink lip trembled, as she watched most of the party filter away. She kneaded her blue kimono and stumbled out of the room, heading towards the middle of the compound, where the garden was.
Intrigued for whatever reason, Itachi stealthily stalked her. He couldn't figure out why he did but he trusted his instinct and slipped into his tiptoeing act that he used when Sasuke took a nap. He wasn't nicknamed "Weasel" for nothing.
Hinata walked dejectedly towards the garden of her house, fingering the long sleeves of her kimono. Her head faced the ground and she stuttered only a "Hello" at Neji. Nearing the stairs, she crouched low, and took each step one at a time, as the stairs were not child safe. When she reached the bottom she turned to the left and came upon the fishpond, with many koi fish, swimming lazily around in the water. Hinata hoisted herself onto the rocks that lined the water and brought her knees to her chest, sniffing.
Hinata's mother, Haruko, had died just a month ago, leaving the small child alone. Her father did not like her, her sister was too young to do anything, and Neji kept to himself. She was surrounded by people but still so alone. To cheer herself up, Hinata often came to the gardens, the spot her mother had helped to flourish.
The Hyuuga's garden was overrun by flowers of varying types. There were sunflowers, roses, violets and other flowers. Haruko had nourished them like they were her children, and they had indeed grown just as beautifully. Hinata was sure that now that her Okasan was gone, it was up to her to keep the flowers every bit as pretty and lively.
Still trying to hold back tears, Hinata tried to shrink. Some might think she was being a little oversensitive but she wasn't. The attention Mikoto had lavished on her would now be given to Hanabi, who had already received twice the amount that Hinata had gotten. Now with her mother gone, and no one to talk to, Hinata was content with any attention she got.
Trailing a finger through the rippling water, she sighed and stopped sniffling. Her father would not be pleased if he caught her crying again. He was already furious at her for still reading the fairy tale book her mother had bought for her on her second birthday. To make him even madder would not be a good thing.
Hinata lifted herself off the rocks and landed on the ground. She started towards the stairs, and she groaned at having to climb them back up again. Suddenly, she was covered in shadow. She looked up, and saw Itachi, the boy with the black-grey ponytail, was standing over her. She gulped; he was a little scary.
"Hello, Hinata-chan," he said, his voice low.
"H-hello, Itachi-kun," she stuttered, not quite sure on how to address the older boy.
"Would you like some help up the stairs?"
She nodded. He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist and carried her bridal-style up the stairs, not letting go when he reached the top. She tried to squirm out of his tight grasp, but he kept walking.
"Let's go see your sister."
Hinata hesitated, blushing at being so close to a boy she barely knew, but nodded and let him carry her to the nursery.