AN: First semester of schooling nearly killed me...but I'm back, sure enough. Hope you all enjoy this (somewhat short) chapter!

oOoo

Light from the setting sun bled through the windows as Sasuke paced back and forth frantically. It was dusk and she hadn't arrived yet. Something had to have happened.

Suddenly a knock came from the large wooden doors. The prince merely grunted, which meant a yes, and a butler rushed in.

"U-Uh dear prince! The party should be arr-"

Sasuke had exploded before the man could even finish his sentence. "You told me the same DAMN thing 3 fucking hours ago!" the prince's foul language hinted how utterly pissed he was. How stupid did they think he was to believe this? He felt everyone still believed he was that same, naive little boy, and he was sick of it.

The butler stood there, mouth partially agape, nearly trembling in fear. "W-Well your highness...we actually don't know their whereabouts.." He stuttered foolishly, his voice dropping several volumes. This only enraged the prince more.

Sasuke quickly urged himself to relax. His anger was really becoming an issue lately, and he had to find ways to calm down; this was only at his father's request, however.

"You may leave now.." He said in a much more appropriate tone, figuring it was no help to have the butler standing there any longer.

The helpless servant nodded quietly and scrambled out of the ornate bedroom. Sasuke was left alone to his thoughts.

Had it stormed? Were they in a wreck? The possibilities were almost endless. The prince sighed in worry and sat on the bench before his bed. She was the only one he truly care for. The only one who could comfort him and keep him from his bloodlust. He simply couldn't lose her.

-Flashback-

"See those?" The two young children were crouching alongside the stream, observing several small minnows swimming in the clear water.

"Y-Yeah.." The young bluette said, leaning closer, almost losing her balance. Sasuke's quick reflexes allowed him to shoot out his arm in front of her, preventing her from falling into the stream.

"You're very clumsy.." he mumbled and dipped his hands into the water, attempting to catch a few of the critters. Hinata watched in amazement as he caught a few in his hand after some struggle.

"Wh...What are you going to do?"

"You'll see." Sasuke suddenly released the fish onto the chalky white rock, watching as they flipped and flapped helplessly since they were exposed to air. Suddenly, the boy took a rock and crushed each and every one of them with a frightening force. He had this thing for looking into animals' bodies, seeing their bone structure, innards, and all. It was all something he liked to do-Itachi thought it was cruel, his parents simply thought he was a curious boy who would soon be a successful doctor.

The princess watched in horror as he did such a thing, her eyes widening as she tried to search Sasuke's face for an answer.

"Why did you do such a thing?" Her voice was steady now, but extremely accusatory. The boy turned to her, his smile quickly fading as he saw the look in her eyes.

"I...I thought you'd think it'd be cool. I like to look at their insides...see how they function." He didn't want to admit he also enjoyed seeing their blood run. It rose a strange feeling within him.

"They didn't get to grow up...and the peasants…"

Sasuke, overwhelmed with guilt, reached forward and hugged her tight before she could finish what she wanted to say.

"I'm sorry Hinata, you're right…" He said, almost feeling tears to his eyes as the girl he liked so much had been creeped out by him. "Itachi says the same thing."

And from then on, Sasuke realized something within him wasn't quite right. Hinata was his light.

-End flashback-

"Do you know if she's arrived yet? Do ya? Do ya?" Hinabi was bugging her father. She was following him around their palace as she did it. She wanted an answer. The king was used to this kind of behavior to the point that he didn't even blink an eye. She was so damn persistent…

"It'll be days before I receive any news." The king murmured in response, once they stopped in the kitchen. The servants were working busily on the night's dinner, and he wanted to observe what they were doing.

"You're a smart girl, I'd figured you'd know that."

"I am but," she tried to think of a way to explain herself. Hanabi was a carefree, confident child, with absolutely little to stress over. But anything regarding her sister was a clear exception. "I'm worried. What if something had happened?"

"Highly improbable. I have the best guards in the land with her."

"But still…"

"You're reminding me of your mother…" The king said sharply, leaving out of the kitchen.

Hanabi was left pondering over that last statement. Whenever there was a mention of her mother, she was ambivalent. She never knew her, only knew that she was strikingly beautiful and an incredibly kind queen to the people. She had heard that she had died giving birth to her, and only Hinata had faint memory of her.

It was typical of the king to find another woman to replace her, but this wasn't the case. Hiashi Hyuuga had bit the bullet and had taken over both the king and queen responsibilities. The girls didn't know why he just wouldn't find another mother for them, but they were too frightened to ask.

Back in his study, Hiashi sighed and took a seat behind his desk. He had allowed that to slip out. He didn't need any curiosity coming from the girls about their mother. That would be only more to worry about. He rubbed his temples and leaned back in his chair.

He had told Hinabi all bull about hearing back "days" of any news. The journey to the land wouldn't take that long and there was plenty of points the carriage would pass where gatewatchers would relay news of their travel.

Who had it been? Did Deidara make himself of use finally?

Some unknown force had made his job easier and caused the king to smile some to himself. Perfect.

oOoo

AN: Yeah, you're supposed to be left in confusion, that was the ENTIRE point of this chapter. But cute things happen next chapter, and now that I'm on break, expect a speedy update. Thanks for your patience and please review!