Ahhh the plot thickens... chapter is dodgy I can't write action. It is something I will have to work on. I'm also trying to improve on my writing so please feel free to point out ways I can improve but yes enjoy and make my exam revision week slightly more enjoyable by R&R-ing ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, if I did I would be rich and wouldn't have to study.
Recap
"You're the real deal; wait till I tell the others! Especially Neji, he's always going on about fate, you should read his fortune."
She stiffened, Neji? As in her cousin Neji? "Are you talking about Lieutenant Hyuuga with pale eyes and long dark hair?" she gasped.
"Wow that's him exactly, you ARE really good!" exclaimed Naruto as he jumped to his feet and bounded out of the tent. Hinata could only gape at him as he disappeared into the crowd to find her cousin who would be sure to drag her home once he found her.
Hinata stood up quickly, wringing her hands in panic. She had to get out of here before Naruto brought her cousin back! Neji would recognise her for sure! Hitching up her long skirts slightly, she darted out of the tent and made her way into the crowd. Perhaps she could lose herself in the jostling throng of people.
Neji stood stiffly with his arms crossed watching the show the gypsies were putting on. It was his and Naruto's day off today and Naruto had decided to drag him to watch the gypsies' performance when Neji wanted to catch up on his sleep instead. It irked him that it was the same troupe who had attempted to bring in all those weapons into the city but he had to admit, they were excellent at what they did.
That gypsy girl, Tenten, who had caused such a fuss over her weapons, was performing a sword dance. She moved like water, flowing from one stance to the next. Her colourful scarves fluttered gently in the breeze as her twin swords sang. The guitarist began to pick the notes more urgently signalling that she was about to do something spectacular.
With his impeccable timing, Naruto grabbed his shoulders, "Hey Neji, you've got to check out the Fortune Teller I found. She's so accurate; maybe she could tell your future!"
Neji shrugged him off irritably, "Don't be ridiculous. She's just good at making guesses and conning you."
"No I'm serious, when she was telling my fortune she knew who Sasuke and you were without me telling her anything about either of you," the blonde soldier continued, blue eyes fervent with excitement. "She even knew your name and what you looked like!"
Neji frowned, that was quite uncanny. Maybe she was truly able to tell fortunes but he highly doubted it. It would be interesting to see how this con-woman operated. "Fine, let's see her."
As Tenten pirouetted and twisted her body she saw the Hyuuga lieutenant out of the corner of her eye in the crowd watching her intently. She almost lost her balance but managed to catch herself in time and continued dancing. When she glanced over at where the soldier had been standing, watching, he had disappeared. Tenten had a sinking feeling in her gut, she needed to reach Hinata fast to make sure she was safe but the music still played and she could not stop in the middle of a performance.
The two soldiers wove their way through the crowd. "Hey," exclaimed Naruto, "She's over there." He pointed at a veiled figure in the crowd walking away from them. Naruto ran after her, "Miss Fortune Teller! Where are you going?" The veiled gypsy continued to walk away, her pace quickening. Neji's eyes narrowed, that was slightly suspicious, and why would she be avoiding them?
The blonde soldier finally caught up and stood in front of her with a wide innocent grin, "Where are you going? I found my Lieutenant; you can read his fortune now."
The veiled woman turned around and twisted the end of the colourful scarf tied around her waist nervously. "I need some fresh air, wait for me in the tent and I'll be back soon," she whispered.
"I would like my fortune read. Now. Please." Neji eyed her steadily, her voice was very familiar and the habit of fidgeting with her hands was awfully like Hinata's. She had the same slim build and was around the same height as well. With his suspicions raised, he wanted to make sure that this woman was his missing cousin before acting accordingly.
Hinata bowed her head and began making her way back towards the tent. There was no escaping her cousin at this moment. If she resisted, he would most likely arrest her and discover who she really was. As she walked past the other troupe members performing she stared at them hard, slowing her pace slightly, hoping that one of them would see her silent plea for help. Unfortunately, nobody seemed to notice. She would have to try to convince Neji that she was somebody else completely.
She ducked her head as she entered the small tent and motioned the two soldiers to sit on the cushions on the floor. Both sat in front of the entrance facing her and blocking off any chance of escape. Neji's expression was calm but alert whereas Naruto's was full of anticipation as they watched Hinata take out the tarot cards and shuffle them. She nearly dropped them in the process.
Taking a deep breath she turned the first card over. Her hands shook; she hoped that they didn't notice. "The Lovers," she whispered, "there will be a woman who comes into your life who you'll fall deeply in love with."
Naruto began sniggering and elbowed Neji in the ribs. "I wonder who the unlucky girl will be."
Neji frowned and pressed his lips together tightly. "Naruto, do you want night shifts for the rest of the summer?" he snapped.
With that, the blonde soldier quickly became sober. "Fortune teller, why are you whispering?" he suddenly asked.
"I-I'm not feeling well, I need a drink," whispered Hinata hoping she would be able to escape from the stifling tent, beginning to stand.
"Sit. The last think you want to do is tire yourself out. Naruto, go get a drink for her," commanded Neji sternly.
"I-it's fine, I can get it myself," protested Hinata.
"Sit down, I insist," replied Neji coldly.
Hinata sat back down on the cushion miserably and poked her fingers together. Naruto glanced at the both of them curiously, wondering what was going on before leaving the tent to find a drink stall.
Tenten saw two soldiers follow Hinata into the tent and one of them was the Hyuuga lieutenant. She cursed inwardly as she finished up her sword dance as fast as she could. The music finally ended and she bowed briefly to the audience before running towards the tent. Gai who was passing around baskets to collect money from the audience gave her a questioning look; she normally stayed around to help collect money whilst Kiba and Akamaru performed their routine. 'Trouble, Hyuuga,' she mouthed at the acrobat before pushing her way through the crowd to reach the tent. She had to get Hinata away before the Lieutenant discovered her true identity and arrested them all.
"The Two of Swords," mumbled Hinata as she turned over the next card. She was about to explain the meaning of the card when she was interrupted by Tenten bursting into the tent.
"Oh good, you're still here, we need you for the next act," said Tenten with a fake smile plastered onto her face. She moved to Hinata's side and offered a hand to help her stand.
"Excuse me, I was having my fortune read," said Neji frostily. "I would appreciate it if I got my moneys worth and have her finish the reading."
"I can finish up the reading here," replied Tenten smoothly.
He shook his head, "It would not be the same if it wasn't Hinata." With that, he'd reached over swiftly and snatched away her veil.
Hinata gasped and jumped behind the brunette gypsy girl who was gripping her hand rather tightly. Tenten still had her twin swords from her act in the sheaths strapped to her back and she drew them now. She pointed one sword at his throat and the other at where his hand crept towards his own sword hanging at his hip. "Get away from us," she hissed as she slowly inched their way around him towards the entrance of the tent so that they could make their escape. Hinata followed her closely behind, frightened that Tenten and Neji could begin a duel. She didn't want either one to get hurt and she didn't think Tenten could defeat Neji either. Her cousin was a very skilled fighter, excelling in hand to hand combat, but still a formidable swordsman.
Hinata didn't want to return home, her father would be furious and then she would be forced to marry that cold frightening man who would only use her body to produce some heirs. Her cousin still remained, calmly watching them with his hand on the hilt of his sword, his pale eyes coolly analysing them.
"Get ready to run," said Tenten very quietly to Hinata. It would have been handy to know who she was up against but it was easier to hold the soldier back in the small space of the tent. She just wasn't sure what she was going to do once the other soldier she had seen with Hinata and the Lieutenant returned, and with reinforcements.
Neji suddenly leapt up, drawing his sword as he did so, he couldn't give his cousin the opportunity to escape even if it meant having to hurt a woman. Metal crashed against metal as the small gypsy girl met his attack with her two swords. She was a lot stronger than she looked as she was able to match the force of his attack.
The noble girl took in a sharp intake of breath and was frozen on the spot, watching them fight, until Tenten yelled at her to run. The Lieutenant was strong and she wouldn't be able to hold him back for long. Hinata picked up her long skirts, turned and ran blindly into the crowd pushing her way through frantically, without a particular destination in mind.
Neji glared at the petite gypsy girl before him, "Out of my way before I hurt you."
She grinned back at him, "What makes you think you'll hurt me? I could probably slice and dice you up with one arm tied behind my back."
"Stop stalling, Hinata has a duty to the Hyuuga House as the heiress. If you don't want to be tried and executed for the offence of kidnapping and brainwashing her, I suggest you let me bring Hinata home."
Her brown eyes widened in shock, Hinata was the Hyuuga heiress?
Seeing her expression, Neji smirked, "She never told you? No wonder, any sensible gypsy would not have allowed her to travel with their troupe."
Tenten's eyes narrowed, Hinata had quickly become a close friend of hers once the initial shyness had been overcome. The blue haired girl had confided in her how unhappy she had been being forced into an arranged marriage with a man she barely knew simply for the sake of her father being able to gain a political advantage. She had privately thought to herself at that time that no girl should be bargained off like cattle and had vowed to help the runaway choose her own path in life. "Hinata has a right to make her own choices, if she doesn't want to marry Uchiha Itachi, she shouldn't have to," she snapped in reply, sliding and twisting her swords around his until she forced him to drop it. The gypsy girl then turned and sprinted away, sheathing her swords as she did, and disappeared into the crowd.
Neji cursed, picked up his sword and gave chase. It was a good thing that the gypsies dressed in such colourful bright clothing, as it was easier for him to find and follow both girls weaving their way through the crowds. Hinata in a deep red and Tenten in a brilliant sky blue stood out starkly amongst the more sombre colours of civilian clothing.
Tenten was able to finally catch up with Hinata in the crowd and had grabbed the noble girl's arm before dragging her into a quiet alleyway. "Here, take this," she panted as she thrust a dagger into Hinata's hands. "If we get separated, try to make your way to that inn we ate dinner at the other night, The Hungry Boar, and ask Ino to let you lie low there until we can come for you."
Hinata nodded frantically, her pale lavender eyes wide with fright. Closing her fingers over the dagger firmly, Tenten continued, "Try not to run unless you absolutely have to, it will only draw attention to yourself." Brown eyes studied the pale eyes worriedly and Tenten finally gave her a quick tight smile, "We'll get you out safe don't worry."
"He's my cousin Tenten; he only wants what's best for me. Maybe I should return home with him before I get you and the others into more trouble," replied Hinata despondently. What was she thinking running away in the first place? She had had no future destination or plan in mind when she had left her home and she still didn't have any idea what she wanted to do beyond staying with the troupe until her father gave up searching for her.
The other girl frowned briefly, "He wants what he thinks is best for you which isn't necessarily the best thing for you. Hinata, if you want to stop running we can go back but do you really want to marry that man?"
"No," she whispered, "I think he only wants to marry me so he can eventually control the Hyuuga House." Hinata had overheard Itachi once discuss with a man, whose face she never saw, plans to take over her House once he became married to her. She had tried to tell her father but he had reprimanded her for making up lies to try to get out of a marriage she didn't want.
Tenten took her hand and gave it a sympathetic squeeze before leading her out of the alleyway and down a narrow street. Glancing back often, the brunette girl checked to see if the Hyuuga Lieutenant had caught up with them yet. He was a fair distance away with a thick crowd blocking him from catching up but he could still see them clearly. Walking briskly, she took Hinata down a few winding streets leading towards the West Gate, the opposite direction from which they had arrived days ago. Looking over her shoulder quickly, she saw the soldier starting to run to catch up with them. "Run," she hissed in Hinata's ear before breaking into a lope. He was too close to them now; they wouldn't be able to lose him by outrunning him, especially with Hinata's heavy skirts slowing her down. She needed to give her extra time. "Keep running," Tenten told the noble girl as she turned around to face the Lieutenant once more.
Hinata glanced back at her friend, reluctant to leave her but the determined set in Tenten's shoulders told her that doing otherwise would be pointless. She raised her skirts higher and ran. Tenten turned around to face the angry Lieutenant as he approached rapidly and drew both swords. It was actually fun in a masochistic kind of way, pitting herself against an opponent she knew nothing about which gave her more of a challenge as compared to sparring with Gai, Lee, Kiba or Shino.
Neji drew his sword, "I don't want to hurt you. Step aside."
Shaking her head firmly, Tenten grinned at him, "What makes you think you'll hurt me?"
He scowled briefly; this girl was becoming a very annoying obstacle between him and his cousin. Neji sidestepped around her hoping that he would be able to make it past her without any fighting but she met him squarely and they began parrying in earnest.
All the buildings were starting to look the same and she had never had a fantastic sense of direction. Hinata hated to admit it but she was lost and out of breath. She slowed down and past a few people before turning into a deserted street. It was unfamiliar to her, she would have to ask some of those people for directions to the Hungry Boar and she turned around. But as she did, someone grabbed her from behind, placing his hand over her mouth and his other arm wrapped around her firmly preventing her from screaming or escaping. It took her a moment to realise that the hand over her mouth was pressing a damp cloth over her mouth and nose, which was strongly scented with some chemical she couldn't identify before everything went black.
A/n: Yes another cliffhanger, please don't kill me especially as I won't be updating much, if at all, until AFTER exams which will finish in about 3 weeks time... I'm very very behind on study and I do actually want to do as well as I can. Feel free to wish me luck though, I'm going to need as much as I can get.
As always, thank you to my beautiful reviewers: Matahari, Luna Forest, Chibi Kitty, DysphoricxKunOichix, P-chan-S, Xwing.bladeX, Maiana, MaRa, sand tessen, herbblade and piixiiestiix for encouraging me to keep writing.