Chapter 10: Hinata – The Path to Take
The air felt cleaner here, almost weightless. Every sense was heightened with anticipation, even without the Byakugan things were clear and seen without difficulty. The open landscape provided the entire look of the place with a longing to run around let the fresh air breeze across your skin and through your hair. It provided the space that you could easily train and take a lazy day watching the world go by afterwards. Kiba and Akamaru would love it here.
Wait …
Kiba-kun … I need to get back to him
"All in good time Kitai" Looking to my mother, I felt my nerves and worries wash away. She was like the calm after a rampant storm; the shower of rain after a never-ending drought, no wonder father loved her so. She brought peace to an otherwise hectic and warring household. Her beauty radiating throughout the corridor;, her gentle voice insisting on being hear; the air around her commanding attention and obedience.
"Mother, I need to get back, please tell me which way to go, tell me what to do,"
Her light laughter filled the air, almost echoing around the entire area, like a light choir of voices. "Kitai, I can't tell you what to do, I can only point you in the direction of the path you need to take"
"Isn't that the exact same thing? Mother please, there is someone …someone I need to get back for"
"I see you got your father's stubbornness, you know you two have a lot more in common than either of you realises. I understand you need to get and who you need to get back for, but first follow me"
Her soft voice was echoing with a mother's authority and patience; like a calming relief of direction and sense. Her poise and posture unachievable by most women today, even in the highest of ranks and social statuses, almost gliding across the floor. And then I remembered where I was.
Following her soft footsteps, I shadowed her cautiously, careful not to be taken in by my surroundings to let my guard down, to let my surroundings lull me into a false sense of security. The grass was softer here almost sending tickling sensations through my body. Looking back to where our journey had started, all I could see was pure carnage. Flames engulfed the houses and destroy all sense of life there, no colour resided there any longer, no fresh air, no open fields for anyone to roam. I could hear screaming and pain filling the air, the suffering of people that I hadn't noticed were there, even children. What was once a picture perfect moment had been destroyed in seconds.
"Mother, What –"
"Welcome to purgatory Hinata, this is the place you should not be, the place I don't belong. Stay close to me Kitai or you'll be lost in there forever and you'll never find your way home."
"But Mother, this looks like Hell"
"Hell is nothing compared to this Hinata, Thankfully you'll never have to witness the torturous blaspheme there, now keep up and look forward"
Picking up my pace, I clung to my mother's Kimono sleeve hoping for a piece of comfort. Smelling her perfume float around us set my mind at ease, giving me the comforting memory of this time I could spend with my Mother. The first and only time since her death … her death that was my fault … My murder of her … I could almost feel her blood on my hands …
"My death was not your fault sweet Hinata, please stop blaming yourself, and here we are"" We came to a stop at a building of sorts, with two doors. The tall walls stood well over 100 feet, casting an unwelcoming fear across what was a once beautiful scene. The two doors were old fashioned and looked heavy with huge iron cast door handles. The ominous shadows being cast were almost like that of Shikamaru's jutsus, trying to catch you in their grasp at every turn.
Then I heard it … almost like a whisper carried from the wind from one of the far reaches of the now barren land…
"Hina … Hina please wake up, please!
…
I need you, you know … so does Akamaru … Please don't leave us alone, I don't think …
…
I don't think I can survive without you here in this world, near me Hina … I'm so sorry I didn't get you hear in time, please forgive me …
…
Don't leave me …"
His voice piercing my heart, the pain in his voice evident; there was something inside me that needed him near me so I could put an end to his hurt and sorrow. Knowing I was th cause of this anguish only doubled my want to go home to see him.
But, what if this was a trick? What if this was a test of this world I was in?
A single rain drop gently laid rest on my cheek. Softly brushing away the rain drop, the ache in my heart heightened. Looking to my mother for some sort of comfort, she reached out to me and wrapped me in her embrace.
"It wasn't a test Kitai; that is what is going on around your earthly body. That is a reminder of what you'll be leaving behind and what could be the key to your future."
The tears couldn't contain themselves and spilled from my eyes. Her touch was as soft as angels, her soft song filling the air calming the ache in my body.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Naruto, my once long-time crush … What was he doing here?
"Come with me Hinata, Sakura will never know," An unnatural smirk crossed his lips, replacing the once friendly smile, "I swear to you on my life that no one will find out about us, we can run away together and no one will ever know. It can be our little secret."
But … he loved Sakura, he always has …
"She's still in love with Sasuke, Hinata. Won't you love me like you claimed you did?" his hand reaching out to me as if beckoning me to go with him and live this life of secrecy and second place.
"Hina?" his voice, the voice of my Kiba … well he's not mine, but he was … he was here. His tall muscular form edging his way forward to me, I was so grateful to see him.
"Hina, I know I've not got much to give … but I would give you everything I had if it would make you happy. I just want you to be happy. I'd give my whole life if it meant I could see you smile one of your real smiles. Heck I'd give my whole life to make you happy. Hina, if you saw yourself the way I see you, you'd see that you're already the person you want to be. Hina, please don't leave me behind …" reaching his hand out, almost offering his services to me willingly and unquestionably.
I looked at my mother in confusion, looking back and forth between the two almost constants in my life. What am I meant to do now?
"Choose my little Kitai, these are the paths that are in place for you, one of pain and hurt, one of love and happiness … My time is running out here Hinata, you must choose one or live the rest of your days in Purgatory …" her breathing was becoming laboured, as if there was a poison in the air out to get her.
"Mother … I'm sorry that I couldn't save you all those years ago … I miss you so much, I love you!"
"I know Kitai, I love you too, now you must choose. Look into your heart. Close your eyes and listen to your heart, listen to the song it plays you and choose."
Her beautiful visage was fading away to what I can only presume as her deathly remains as they are on earth, her kimono torn, faded and frayed. I don't want to lose her again, especially in this place.
"I belong in heaven Kitai, I won't remain here"
Closing my eyes, I did what she told me to … looking into what my heart was playing, listening to its song. Watching what it was that my heart wanted, following it's rhythm with my feet, I moved closer to who my heart's target was. Keeping my eyes closed, I reached my hand forward to what my heart was responding to, the one my heart wants.
All of a sudden everything seemed lighter, like I was awakening from a deep and almost wonderful dream. Keeping my eyes closed, I felt my hand slip into a strong masculine one. My feet seemed to leave the ground and float me to the heaven, or in this case earth, back to my earthly body.
"You've made choice Kitai, let's see if the path you choose will be the one your heart wants and needs. I will see you again, I love you …"
A bright light filled my eyes, opening them slowly I saw the ceiling of a hospital room …
Author's Note:
Once again, I do not own anything in the Naruto universe, that belongs to the wonderful mind of Masashi Kishimoto :)
Kitai means hope in Japanese
I am so sorry for the huge long tedious delay for this chapter. I have seen no end in sight for uni deadlines -.- Hopefully this chapter will make up for it, and then next one will be up at some point this week :)
Thank you my loyal readers for being so patient, I hope you guys and new readers enjoy this new chapter :)
If you would like to review, I'd greatly appreciate it. I love hearing your opinions and suggestions :)