Love's Sweet Melody
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 11
A few days later, Hinata knew that she was in trouble. She just knew it. The way that Hanabi was walking towards her with that confused expression on her face spoke volumes.
"Hinata, father says that he wishes to speak with you in his study." The Hyuga Girl informs her.
"Thank you, Hanabi." Hinata whispers as she quickly makes her way to the sturdy.
Hiashi Hyuga was not a man who summoned people to his study often. When he did, it was usually or a reason and it usually wasn't a good one. His study was considered off limits to the rest of their Clan for the most part.
No one would even consider using their Byakugan on Lord Hiashi's study. Well not if you wanted to live to see your next birthday, anyway. Whatever her father wished to discuss, he wanted to discuss it in absolutely privacy.
"Father?" The Hyuga Heiress calls out gently as she knocks on the door.
"Come in, Hinata." Her father's voice replies almost immediately.
She should have expected that. Hanabi had told her that Hiashi was expecting her. It was only natural that he would respond quickly. With that thought in mind, Hinata opens the door and walks inside.
"You look just like your mother. Have I ever told you that?" The lavender eyed man asks gently as he glances at her.
The way that he was looking at her was so strange. It was almost as if he had seen a ghost. Though Hinata supposed in a way, he wasn't that far off. She had seen pictures of her mother and knew that her father spoke the truth.
"You've mentioned it before, but I'm always glad to hear that. I wish that she was not taken from us so soon. Hanabi never really got the chance to know her." Hinata whispers.
She always whispered when she spoke of her mother. There was no other way to speak of the beautiful and kind woman who had died far before her time. It was the only way to speak of Emiko without crying over the loss of the Hyuga Matriarch.
"I wish the same. I suppose that I should speak frankly. I am aware of your affections towards Itachi Uchiha." Hiashi states.
Hinata's eyes widen in horror. Her father knew! He knew that she was in love with Itachi! They were going to end up like Izuna and Hana!
"Father, p-lease. You have to understand that love doesn't care about what a person's last name is." The young woman stammers out quickly.
"Yes, that's true. Hinata, you don't need to look at me as though you are a frightened rabbit and I'm not a hawk. While I can't say that I approve of your choice, you're my daughter and I love you. That and unintentionally, I have dishonored your mother's memory." He says with a heavy sigh.
Hinata tilts her head to the side in confusion. She didn't understand what her father meant by that. How had he dishonored Emiko Hyuga's memory. Her father would never do such a thing!
"You're not angry?" She asks cautiously, not certain that she should believe her stroke of good fortune.
"I'm not angry. I'm frustrated. It's most inconvenient, but you're correct. Love doesn't particularly care what a person's last name is. So you believe that you love him then? This isn't just a casual attraction?" The lavender eyed man inquires.
Hiashi was actually listening to her about Itachi? She could scarcely believe her ears. Perhaps, she was still asleep and dreaming.
"It's not just a casual attraction. I love him father." Hinata says, rather relieved when she didn't stutter.
If she stuttered now, her father would believe that she was unsure of herself. That was the last thing that she needed at such a critical moment. No. She needed to sound confident in this. It was really the only way that she was ever going to convince him.
"He is your Sun, your Moon, and your Stars then?" Hiashi asks.
Hinata could see that her father wasn't particularly happy about this turn of events. She hadn't meant to fall in love with Itachi and cause chaos between the Clans. It had just happened.
"Yes. I know that you can understand. If you really try, you can understand. I feel for him what you still feel for mother." The bluenette replies desperately.
She had to make him understand. It was the only way to avoid a Clan War. She didn't want Itachi to suffer for loving her. She didn't want the Clans to suffer because they loved each other.
"Yes, I'm beginning to understand that. Well in light of that, I do believe you have a right know what is going on. It seems that Danzo stumbled across you and Itachi while you were in each other's arms. He has pictures and has tried to blackmail myself and Itachi's parents. He's threatening to reveal the pictures and possibly trigger a Clan War, if we do not support his bid for Hokage." Hiashi tells her and Hinata gasps.
This was horrible! Her family was being blackmailed because of her! What kind of Heiress was she?! She was putting her Clan in danger!
"You don't have to support him! You can't support someone like that!" She protests.
"We're not going to support him. Well at least not in reality. For now, we're content to let him believe that we're going to back him. In reality, his demise is imminent. We just haven't decided on the details yet." Her father explains.
Hinata blinks. His demise?! His demise?! They were planning to kill Danzo?! An assassination! That's what they were planning!
"Is Itachi aware that you intend to kill a man for us? Does he know that Danzo is blackmailing our families?" Hinata demands.
"He's aware of it all. I told him that I was going to tell you. I felt that it was only proper considering that I am your father and that you would react better to the news, if you heard it from me. While I certainly wish that you had chosen someone else, it's not my intention to drive a wedge between the two of you." The lavender eyed man replies.
"Thank you, father. I appreciate that. I can't tell you how much it means to me that you're being so understanding about all this. I thought that you would be furious because I love him, but I'm glad that I was wrong. So glad." She whispers.
It was really nothing short of a miracle. Her father obviously didn't approve of the match, but he wasn't going to try to sabotage it. That was a start!
"When one finds their Sun, Moon, and Stars…one should treasure that. Your mother taught me that. She would want you to be happy and if being with him makes you happy, I'll…have to tolerate it." He says with a resigned sigh as Hinata kisses his cheek in gratitude.
Meanwhile Danzo was visiting with another Leaf Villager. Kakashi. While Kakashi had never really sought out political power, he was a formidable ninja and highly respected.
This was quite a feat considering everyone knew of his love for erotic literature and the other man was almost always late to everything. Danzo digressed though. Kakashi's support was critical and he was going to get it.
"Thank you, for agreeing to meet with me. I know that you are a busy man." Danzo says with a polite smile.
Kakashi glances at him with that damn cheerful smile. The one that he wore for everyone. It was just another mask and Danzo knew that, but he'd go along with the game for now.
"Well I'm not really that busy. My team is all grown up now and they haven't assigned me a new one. I've just been doing the odd mission here and there honestly." Kakashi says as he flips a page in his book.
"Ah yes. Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto all made Jonin, I believe. You must be very proud." The elderly ninja says.
Kakashi nods in response and Pakkun growls slightly. That didn't escape Danzo's notice, but unfortunately there wasn't much that he could do about the situation. If he commented on it, the Ninja Dog would likely just make things worse.
"I'm very proud. More than you'll ever know. Did you ever have a squad?" Kakashi asks casually as he turns another page in his book.
Danzo wasn't entirely certain if Kakashi was a speed reader or if he was just taunting him. Either way, he didn't particularly care. At the moment, he just needed the CopyCat Ninja's vote. He didn't need his friendship.
"Oh well I'm more interested in discussing the future than the past today, if I am to be completely honest." He replies.
"I'm certain that you are. Are you running for Hokage again?" The Masked Ninja inquires.
It was spoken as a question, but they both knew that it wasn't. Danzo had tried to become Hokage before and he had failed. More than once. It was humiliating, really.
"Yes, I am. I would like to have your support. I think that we both know that I have the experience to lead this village." He answers honestly.
"Yes, you most certainly have the experience. Perhaps, a bit too much. Your age is going to work against you. I know that you are healthy as a horse, but it's going to be a factor. Fair or unfair. You know that. Maybe, it's time for you to pursue other goals." The silver haired man suggests.
Danzo feels himself twitch. Kakashi was not being subtle in his implications and he most assuredly did not care for it. He would just have to be firm here.
"I think not. I've dedicated my life to this village and the Third Hokage is also elderly. If people do not protest his rule, why should they protest mine?" He reasons.
"Sarutobi was not elderly when he initially became Hokage. There is a difference." The other ninja replies.
That's when Kakashi notices that Pakkun was on edge. Curious to see what had upset his canine friend so much, he looks around and discovers the source of the Ninja Dog's unease. A Ninja Cat.
Ninja Cats and Ninja Dogs were professionals, but old habits died hard. They were no more fond of each other than their domestic counterparts were. It was a shame. The two animals likely could have accomplished great things on missions together, but oh well.
"Obviously, I would have a successor picked. I'm not foolish. I recognize my age." Danzo says through gritted teeth.
"I never said that you were foolish. I've only expressed my concerns that your age would be held against you. I will give this matter the due consideration it deserves. No one can deny your experience or your skill in battle." Kakashi says.
Honestly, he would have firmly told Danzo no. Well he would have done so, if it wasn't for Pakkun. That was most assuredly a Ninja Cat that had drawn his ire.
The Ninja Cat wasn't wearing its uniform, but Kakashi recognized it. That was Tsuki. Mikoto's cat. That meant that the Uchihas were spying on Danzo for some reason and he was going to find out what was going on before he made any rash decisions.
"Very good. I'll speak with you soon then. Do take your time. After all, it's important that the Leaf have a competent Hokage. These types of decisions aren't to be made lightly." He says.
"I agree completely." The silver haired man confirms as Danzo takes his leave.
Once he was out of sight, Kakashi quickly grabs Tsuki by the scruff of her neck and stares at her. He knew that was fighting dirty. Cats wouldn't really move once you had them by the scruff of their neck, but he was a ninja. Not a saint.
"Tsuki, it's always a pleasure to see you. Now, would you mind telling me exactly what is going on?" He asks cheerfully and Tsuki gulps.
"If she won't talk, I'll make her talk." Pakkun says helpfully.
Kakashi rolls his eyes in response. Yes, the rivalry between cats and dogs was still as strong as ever. Though he wasn't going to allow his canine to have a go at the poor feline.
Mikoto Uchiha would kill HIM, if someone touched her precious little furball. Oh well. For now, he had to find a way to make Tsuki talk without actually hurting her.
"Tsuki, please make this easy on yourself and tell me why you are following Danzo. There might be some milk and catnip in it for you, if you're a good girl." He tells her soothingly.
"I can't betray my family. I'm only gonna tell you that Danzo is up to no good." She grumbles.
"He's always up to no good. That's why he's Danzo." Pakkun points out and Kakashi sighs in agreement.
Well he had learned two very important things today. The first was that cats were far more loyal than they might appear to be at first and the second was Danzo was still a snake. Now, he just had to decide what he was going to do with that information.
A few hours later, Itachi had just finished up another medical lesson. This time, it was how to make a splint. So far the lessons had all been on the basic side, but that was only to be expected. After all, they were still new to this.
"Itachi, do you have a f-few minutes to speak with me?" Hinata asks anxiously.
"Always. Is everything alright?" The Uchiha ask, after making sure that hey were the only ones in the locker room.
"I don't know. My father knows about us. Your parents know about us. Danzo is trying to blackmail them into supporting him for Hokage because he has a picture of the two of us together." The bluenette whispers fearfully.
Itachi winces. He knew that Hiashi was planning on telling his eldest daughter about everything. The Uchiha just hadn't expected him to do so this quickly and that made him feel rather unprepared.
"Yes, I know. Don't worry about it. We'll find a way to fix this. For now, our parents are pretending to go along with his plan." Itachi tells her.
Itachi wasn't used to that feeling and he didn't find it to be a pleasant one. Though he supposed that no one did. For now though, he knew that he had to put his own unease aside and comfort Hinata.
"By fix this, you mean kill him." The bluenette says softly and Itachi winces.
His Byakugan Princess might be shy, but Hinata was far from stupid or naïve. She knew exactly what they were planning and obviously, she didn't necessarily approve. Not that he had expected any other reaction, really.
Hinata was kind. Unfailingly so. That was both her greatest strength and her greatest weakness.
"Yes, that's what we mean. You don't need to have any part in his death though. I wouldn't ask you to get your hands dirty in such a fashion. I know that you likely don't approve of our choice, but it is the right thing to do. If he is willing to blackmail two of the largest Clans before he's Hokage, imagine what he'll do once he gets his hands on power." Itachi pleads with her to see reason.
There was really no telling what Danzo might be capable of, if he became Hokage. That's why Itach knew what had to be done. He could only hope that his lavender eyed goddess would agree with him.
"I know that he's not a good person, but is killing him really necessary? It's one thing to do it in the heat of battle or in self-defense, but this is something else. This is murder, Itachi." She whispers to him.
She was likely on the brink of tears. He could see the water glimmer in her eyes. Hinata might actually care for that viper. That or out of guilt. Though he suspected it was a combination of those two things.
"Hinata, I love your forgiving nature. I really do, but he's not going to stop this behavior. There is no reasoning with a man like Danzo. He only has one goal and that's power. He doesn't care what he has to do or who he has to hurt in order to get it." Itachi explains to her as he caresses the young woman's cheek.
Hinata sighs and nods as she kisses Itachi's hand. He almost wished that Hiashi didn't tell her. He didn't want Hinata to have to live with Danzo's blood on her conscience, but she deserved to know.
"It's self-defense in a way." She mumbles.
"Exactly. Our parents know about our relationship now. So things will be easier. Though we will have to keep it a secret until we resolve the Danzo situation. If he sees that our relationship is a public one, he'll know that he has nothing on our families. A wounded animal is the most dangerous kind of animal. Remember that, Hinata." Itachi tells her.
"I know. It just hurts to realize that one of our own would use such treachery to become Hokage. The Hokage is supposed to be someone who protects the village. Not someone who manipulates its ninjas." The Hyuga Heiress mutters.
Itachi nods. It was distasteful to put it mildly and he didn't care to see her that upset about something outside her control. Perhaps, a change in topics was in order.
"I know. Let's not talk about him anymore. At least not for awhile. Dwelling on one's misfortunes for an excessive amount of time does no good. We should enjoy the light where we can find it." He tells her as he kisses her forehead.
"You're right. Danzo is definitely part of the Darkness of the world. Speaking of light though, does that mean you want to go for another swimming lesson?" Hinata asks with quiet laugh.
Itachi rubs the back of his head sheepishly as two instincts warred with each other. The instinct not to go anywhere near the water that he had nearly drowned in and the instinct to see Hinata in that little two piece number she had worn before. Decisions, decisions.
"That might be alright as long as we stay in the shallow end this time. I'm afraid that almost drowning does have a way of ruining the romantic mood." Itachi observes with a chuckle.
"I promise, I won't let you drown. We won't go as deep as we did last time." Hinata says as she smiles and takes his hand.
The two of them soon Flicker off to the lake once more. Itachi was going to ask Hinata about her swimsuit when he saw that the young woman begin to strip down to her lingerie.
This woman was going to be the death of him. She was either going to have him drown or die from bloodless. It was really that simple, he thinks to himself as he feels blood begin to trickle down from his nose.
"Itachi, are you alright? Your nose is bleeding." Hinata says in concern.
"Yes, I'm fine. I just didn't expect you to partially disrobe so openly." He retorts as he slides out of his shirt and pants.
His boxers would once again have to make do. Though in hindsight, he probably should have expected that the Hyuga Heiress would do something like that. After all, was her lingerie really that different than her swimsuit?
"Oh well I figured it's alright. I mean you are a medic. Kinda." She says with a shy smile.
The death of him. Yes, she was most assuredly going to be the death of him. Hinata didn't even know what kind of effect she had on him! This was pure insanity, but a beautiful one!
"Mhm. Though I must admit that my thoughts tend to be less than professional around you." He states as he follows her into the water.
He wasn't going anywhere that the water was deeper than his waist. No. This time, he wasn't going to nearly drown. He'd be more careful.
"What kind of unprofessional thoughts do you have about me?" Hinata asks him with a rosy pink blush on her face.
Honestly, it really should be illegal to look that adorable. He was only human. Itachi only had so much self-control.
"The kind that would surely enrage your father. Not that I could blame him. If I had a daughter like you, I'd be just as protective." He says as he kisses her.
Hinata smiles and kisses back. It was a beautiful day and she was kissing the man that she loved in a lake. That and their families seemed to be for the moment willing to work together. Maybe things would work out, after all.
"That sounds interesting. Speaking of my father, my mother used to sing to him sometimes." Hinata says as she leans into him and Itachi wraps his arms around her protectively.
"That's nice. I'm glad that they shared a love of music together. Such things are important. Things that couples share only with one another." He murmurs.
Hinata nods. She thought it was really romantic. Hopefully, Itachi would feel the same way that she did.
"Yes. My mother used to sing this song for my father. It was called the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. I'd like to sing it for you." The bluenette says shyly.
"I'd like to hear it." Itachi assures her as he holds her with one arm and runs his fingers through her long silken locks of hair.
He loved the way that each strand slide gracefully between his fingers. It was very Hinata. Beautiful and easygoing. That was his Byakugan Princess.
Itachi couldn't help, but feel a stab of pity for Hiashi Hyuga though. It did sound as though he had deeply loved his wife. It couldn't have been easy for the man to lose her.
"Alright." Hinata says as she begins singing a hauntingly beautiful song.
It was a song filled with love, longing, and reverence. The words may not have been explicitly erotic, but the feeling was there. The feeling of wanting to be with your most precious person.
Itachi could certainly see the appeal in the song. If Emiko Hyuga had been anything like her daughter though, he was surprised that the woman had the courage to sing such a song to anyone. Then again, love could make people unexpectedly brave. That was after all, the reason why he was standing here in the first place.
"It's beautiful, Hinata. Just like you and in that way, it certainly suits you." Itachi murmurs appreciatively.
He couldn't swim, but he was standing in the lake. Only love, could so easily conquer someone's fears. That was another hidden meaning to the song, he supposed.
There was something very sweet about it. It was the melody. That had to be it.
"Though I really should escort you home. We don't want your father to worry about you. If he's starting to warm up to me, I don't want to give the man just cause to start despising me once again." Itachi says with a chuckle.
"That's very kind of you to say, but I don't think that my father ever hated you. He was just wary because you're an Uchiha. I really think that's going to change though." She says determinedly.
"I hope so. For now though, this Sharingan Dragon is going to escort his Byakugan Princess home." He says with a smile as the two of them Flicker off together.