The next following days were pretty much the same as always, except the fact that I was much clumsier around the Princess. A few days ago, I realised that I was falling in love with her, something I absolutely cannot do, no matter what. Every time I spent time with her, I would fall over my own feet, fumble with my words or say something really embarrassing. I am pretty sure even the horses are laughing at me, they just don't think I know it. To sum it all up, I am one big mess. When the princess wasn't at the stables, I would practise the art of the sword with her cousin Neji, in all secrecy. He wanted to be able to protect her at all given times, but with the way I was feeling about her lately, I wouldn't even allow a fly to sit on her shoulder. However, whenever she was at the stables, we would chat about everything, well that is besides my childhood. That wasn't my favourite topic and I would therefore try to avoid it. The only persons I could talk about my childhood with, was Kiba and Shikamaru, but that is because they were a part of it. She would tell me everything about her mother when she was alive, those were always my favourite stories. It makes me think back on the hugs from my own mother, and the supporting pat on the back from my father. That is somehow the only thing I can remember about them. I remember the last time I saw them, but not how they were as parents or what we did together. The Princess' stories make me long for my own family, both the one I lost and the one I will, hopefully, create myself one day. I am already 17 years old, almost the age to marry, but the one I want to marry is not available for me. I may be a stable boy for the royal household, but that is what I will ever be. The Princess is of a royal and well respected family, so she is expected to marry one of such title as well. The thought of that happening, of someone touching my Princess was killing me. I wish I could take her hand and escape from this kingdom. To a place where no one knew us, especially her. A place with no rules and expectations from either people close to us or reality. I stopped living in my dream world when a gentle hand touched my arm. My eyes met a pair of beautiful lavender coloured ones. I
swear on my horse, that those eyes could take you anywhere.
-
I could see that his thoughts were elsewhere as I had finished my story. I slightly touched his arm to get him back to reality. His eyes met mine immediately and we both began to blush. Naruto-kun had been working here for a few months already. It has been months where there hasn't been one single week where I haven't visited him whenever I had time, at least once a week. I still haven't figured out what it is about him that is so, magnetic. His smile could save me from any bad day my father decided to give me. His friendly way to talking to everyone he meets, no matter position in this madhouse. Or the way he makes me feel like a human being instead of a princess of the kingdom Konohagakure. To be completely honest, I didn't feel like one day ruling this country. At least not the way my father seemed to rule it. I believe that Neji would make a much better king that I would ever be a queen. I just want to rule my life the way I want. I want to be a normal 17 year old girl. I want to go to the town, outside these castle walls, together with Sakura, Ino and Tenten. But no matter how many times I ask my father, his answer is always no, and then makes sure my schedule is busy almost every single day. I swear, one day, I will see what the outside world looks like.
-
I managed to smile quickly when she caught my attention.
"Sorry Hime, seems like I spaced out for a short time, huh" She giggled at my comment
"It's quite alright Naruto-kun, I am used to it by now" We both knew I did it far too often, and this probably wasn't the last time that I would do it. He soothing smile and adorable laugh always seem to calm me down. Where on earth has she been all of my life? Oh, that's right, at the castle, far away from me.
"Naruto-kun?"
"Yes Hime?" I brushed her fathers horse as he had to leave the country for a political matter, later the day.
"I was thinking…." Her voice seemed to become lower and the end of her sentence.
"Hm?" I looked at her, she seemed nervous somehow.
"Would you…uhm…" This was clearly something that bothered her
"Hime, you know that you can ask me anything, right?" she looked at me and took a deep breath. Her eyes now looked more determined than ever.
"Naruto-kun, please show me how it looks outside these walls!"
"… EH?!" She didn't blink once while her eyes was locked on mine.
"H-Hime, y-you are kidding me… right?" She shook her head
"I am dead serious Naruto-kun!"
"Hime, I can't do that" She took my hand and held it tight.
"Please Naruto-kun, I am begging of you! I want to see how the people live, how the marketplace works and how people interact with each other!"
"But your father would never allow it"
"He doesn't have to know, he will be gone for a longer period of time"
"But what about Neji then, he would certainly not allow me to take you anywhere"
She released my hands and slowly walked over to the doorway, saddened by the realisation of the overprotectiveness of her from her cousin.
"I'll….I'll figure out something out… I just… I really want to see the world" I couldn't see my Hime saddened by anything. So at that moment, I took a decision I would never forget.
"Fine" She turned around and looked at me puzzled
"Eh?"
"I will take you to town" Her face lit up like a candle in the darkness.
"IF… you can figure out what to do with Neji" Before I knew it a pair of arms was wrapped around me with the face of an angel pressed against my chest. I blushed like never before, Hime rarely acted like this. She looked up at me and smiled, but it didn't take her long to realise that she was actually hugging me. She blushed and looked away
"I-I'm sorry"
"N-No it's fine-ttebayo" There was a brief moment of silence before I spoke up again
"W-Well… I better get back to preparing your fathers horse."
"R-Right, I will be going again then"
"Right"
"S-See you later Naruto-kun"
"See ya Hime" We gave each other one last smile before she headed towards the castle.
"Smooth" came a voice behind me. I looked back startled, only to see my two jerk-friends who always shows up unannounced.
"Geez, what do you guys want?" I asked annoyed as I continued brushing the horse.
"Ya know, She's a real cutie, but I don't think it is such a good idea to go around and flirt with the princess" Kiba said as he picked up an apple from one of the buckets.
"I'm not flirting with her"
"Sure, I bet you just hug every single girl you bump into" Shikamaru continued, followed by a laughing Kiba.
"*sigh* What do you guys even want?" suddenly the two boys' faces became serious
"Actually" Shikamaru began
"We have news about... him"
-
'I can't believe I just hugged him like that'
I couldn't forget the feeling of his muscular back and his racing heartbeat, as I walked towards me room.
'I sure hope I didn't disgust him or anything of the sort' a sudden tap on my shoulder broke me out of my Naruto-trance.
"eep!" Behind me wasn't just one, but all three of my best friends.
"Sakura, Ino, Tenten, I thought you were with your families today?"
"Nah, we'd much rather be with you, than having our parents nagging us all day" Ino said as she wrapped her arm around my shoudlers.
"Ahh, I see, well it is good to see you again"
"So, Hinata, what have you been up to?" Tenten asked me"
"Well, now that you mention it I need your help" they all looked at me confused, I rarely, if not never, asked for their help with anything. We sat down with a cup of tea as I explained to them what I had asked of Naruto-kun.
"I need your girls' help to distract the staff, especially Neji, while I go to town with Naruto-kun"
"WHAT?! Hinata, that's crazy!" Ino blurted out
"I know it's crazy, but I just have to see what it is like outside these walls"
"Hinata, it's not safe out there" Sakura said worried
"I know, that is why Naruto-kun will take me. He knows the town better than anyone else"
"But Hinata, he is merely a stable boy, how can he protect you from danger!" Ino said harshly but worried at the same time. There was a brief moment before I said
"I trust Naruto-kun with my life!" At that moment, it was the first time I didn't sound like a princess, but as an actual Queen of this kingdom. At least that is what Sakura told me some years later, when we looked back on this exact moment.
"Okay Hinata, leave this to us!" Tenten said with a smile so big that is was comforting.
"Thank you, thank you so much!" Later that day, we all stood in the courtyard to say goodbye to my father.
"Hinata, Hanabi, don't do anything you would regret while I am gone"
"Yes father" we both said as we bowed before him.
"Shikaku-san will stay behind if any emergency should happen to the Kingdom. I will be back in four days-time" And with that said, he rode away together with three of the best guards. When he was finally out of sight Hanabi turned to me and said
"Hinata-nee-chan… I miss the father from our childhood" I hugged my younger sister tight
"I know Hanabi, me too" as we stood there I thought back to when we were younger and our father had to leave for political matters.
"Goodbye my two beautiful princesses" He would say as he hugged us and kissed our foreheads. He used to be so kind. It is strange to think that he was ever like that. It feels more like a dream than a memory. I broke our sisterly hug and told Hanabi to return to her studies. As she did that, I headed for the stables to plan my fieldtrip with Naruto-kun.