Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

One who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; one who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.

--Chinese Proverb

Hinata looked warily at herself in the large mirrored wall. Her midnight blue hair was put up in a complicated hairstyle of braids and violet ribbons. She felt victorious when she noticed her face. It had taken half an hour to keep her maid from painting her face but Hinata was satisfied. She was not satisfied with her white kimono and lavender obi, or her silver earrings and necklace. The high heeled shoes that felt awkward on her feet didn't help.

"Are you sure this is all…necessary, Emi-chan?" She glanced at her green haired maid in the mirror. Why didn't Emi need to dress up this much? Hinata noted her maid's terrified expression as she asked.

"Of course, Hinata-sama, Kami knows the makeup would help…."

"No thank you, Emi-chan. I'm fine the way Kami made me." She wanted to complain and demand that they allow her to wear pants. She was only going to see the emperor Gaara again. All she wore on the mission with Tsunade and Hanabi was a white blouse and black pants with sandals. Hanabi's blouse and pants had even had paint stains while Tsunade reeked of sake! How picky could Sabaku be about appearances?!

"Come, Hinata-sama," She was pulled out of her thoughts and looked at the doorway to see a man her age with long brown hair. His face was feminine but masculine. She bowed to him.

"Hai, Neji-nii-san,"

He nodded before bowing even lower to her, "The council is starting."

She followed him out of the room and was suddenly in the outdoor walkways. She smelt the scent of lotus blooms and cherry blossoms. She smiled as she followed her stoic cousin out of the Hyuuga residence, taking a different path than she had when she fled from her father's disapproving contempt and flew to Kurenei-sensei.

She heard Neji sigh as they stepped out of the compound and they're wings unfolded from the wide slits in the backs of the top of their clothing. With one enormous flap they each lifted off. It was gorgeous. Their wings were larger than themselves. Hinata's wingspan being seventeen feet and a half and Neji's twenty-three feet and three quarters of a foot.

The sky was black and the moon seemed to illuminate them with the help of their pale clothing, skin and eyes. Their dark hair whipped around their faces. Hinata's hair magically stayed perfect no matter what. Her jewelry twinkled in the sky like stars. At that moment, they were true celestial beings, letting the wind flow through the white feathers of their wings that rode on air currents and flapped only occasionally. Hinata didn't mind the flapping of her dress much. It was too dark and they were too high up.

She looked down and saw the large gray building surrounded by a dark forest. The S.A.D (Sprites Angels and Demons) Council Hall was dark and gloomy, befitting of its name. It resided near Konahagakure's border. She reluctantly landed next to her cousin in front of the door. She folded her wings back snug into the creases of her dress and followed her cousin inside.

The door slammed behind her. She gulped when she found herself standing alone with no Neji and the Hokage, Kazekage (emperor of demons) and all the heads of the Angel clans looking at her with raised eyebrows, blank impassive stares or both. She hurriedly made her way to mat to the right of her otou-san, in between him and Hanabi. She was confused by this. Otou-san was in her spot. The middle was reserved for the most important of the clan. Otou-san would never make such a mistake. This made her nervous.

"Glad for you to join us, Lady Hinata," Tsunade smiled.

Hinata gave her a sheepish smile before replying, "Gomen-nasai." I really didn't want to be here. However, she would never say something so rude and further embarrass her clan.

The room was large and rectangular with extremely high ceilings and sky lights that let in moonlight. Despite the lunar glow, candles were lit and near every clan, the Hokage and Kazekage. The Kazekage and Hokage's parties sat on mats beside each other while they faced the Angel clans, the Uchiha clan, the Hyuuga clan, and the Akimichi clan. Represents of the Inuzaka clan, Nara clan, and Aburame clan sat behind the Kazekage and his advisors, Baki, Sabaku no Temari and Sabaku no Kankuro looked around skeptically, there were more people in this room than Hinata was used too. Why were there so many? The Kazekage, Gaara, usually only brought one of his advisors and usually only one of the three clan's representatives attended. What was going on?

An elder of Konoha stood up. His face was cold as he announced, "The main focus of this meeting was called for the joining of two." He paused for dramatic effect.

Hinata tilted her head to the side and furrowed her brow in confusion. At least I'm safe. She thought. I'm heir to the Hyuuga clan after all. They would never….would they? No, plenty of prettier girls, unless they just wanted to get rid of me. Then they'd keep the pretty ones and send away the ugly….Argggg! She didn't see Sabaku no Gaara looking at her bewilderment with amusement. He heard her thoughts and thought they were ridiculous. She wasn't ugly. She was beautiful, but also timid and too weak.

"We will announce the joining of Sabaku no Gaara, Emperor of Demons, and Kazekage to the Land of Winds to Hyuuga Hinata, former heiress of the Hyuuga clan of General of Sector 8 of the Divine Army."

Gaara blinked. She was a general, and to a sector no less? Wasn't that at least one or two hundred people? Wasn't Sector 8 the one with the repetitive successes? They hadn't had a failure in—in years. He shook his head and then focused back to her thoughts. What? That was all that echoed in her head as she stared at the elder, her gaze then leaping around the room. It landed on seemingly everyone including members of the guard, except for him.

Her gaze stayed on one red eyes woman. He wondered if she was an Uchiha. The woman held her gaze for a while before averting it. He raised an eyebrow. Even after finding out that this—this mouse that they tried to call a Hyuuga was a general to Sector 8 he couldn't believe she was strong.

"I wasn't told of this." Her voice was soft but it was hard above the whispers of others around her. Her sister looked at her worriedly. "No one told me." To Gaara, it was like watching a confused ghost. Her pale skin didn't help. "You knew, didn't you otou-san? You didn't tell me." She said it without even looking at him.

"Lady Hinata…" Tsunade said. Her strong voice carried across the room just like the younger woman's soft one.

Hinata ignored the Hokage and continued, "I should have had a choice. Gaara should have had a choice!"

Gaara blinked in bemusement. He had a choice. He thought it would be fun to break the weakling, but he didn't say anything. He watched as her left hand twitched once then stilled. She looked at him confused. Aren't you going to assist me?! She demanded. He shrugged. She blinked in surprise. She didn't know he'd understand the look. He must be very perceptive. She decided, mind reading didn't cross her mind, but then she thought again. Why isn't he helping me?! He smirked at her and then stared blankly at a wall, ignoring her.

"Hinata, control yourself!" Her father scolded next to her.

"I am controlling myself, otou-san! What kind of angel are you?!"

He glared at her. She felt him glaring a hole into the side of her head but didn't dare turn to look at him, fearing that she would lose all her righteous anger.

"Hinata-nee-chan…" Her sister said.

Hinata stayed silent but he could hear her ranting in her head. Bastards! I'm surrounded by apathetic Bastards! The Uchihas are bastards. She was thinking about Uchiha Fugaku, Itachi and Sasuke. Father is a bastard. Neji is a…..well, not necessarily a bastard anymore, but still apathetic. Where was I? Bastards!

She spaced out during the rest of the meeting about borders and rebellion among the trolls. Trolls were such low creatures. No one was sure about their heritage but most was sure that they came from Demons. Hinata wasn't so sure. Maybe they were there in the beginning with the Sprites, Demons and Angels but were forgotten in the Scrolls of History?

She sighed and tried to think on the bright side. Temari would be there. So would Nara Shikamaru but Hinata didn't know anyone else. She didn't even know the man she was going to be married to that well! She shook her head as she stared at the dirt colored plain, stone floor. She then looked up at the skylight. She looked up at the stars surrounding a crescent moon.

Oka-san, I'm going to be married.

And guess what?

It's all arranged.