Hey friends. Sorry for the long wait. While on vacation, I was waylaid with a sinus infection and was sick for 2 weeks. Then when I came out of it, I was so behind on work and school that I literally had no time. Today I decided to ignore my homework and work to work (haha) on this update because dammit, you deserve it.

Thanks for all your reviews guys. You are all so awesome.

Here's the next chapter. It was actually going to be divided up into two chapters, but I thought you deserved extra reading material after waiting so long.

Lots of love, and enjoy:)


Without a word, Hinata twists off her wedding ring and slams it down on the desk with a hard clack.

"Hinata?" Naruto croaks.

But Hinata has already shushined away. All that remains in her place are tears staining the carpet a darker red, and crumpled petals from a white dahlia.

#

Chapter twelve: Circus Freaks

Dazed, Hinata stands in front of her mother's grave. The sun is setting and the cool evening winds blow, making her shiver. She rubs her hands together, noticing how light and cold her ring finger feels without the familiar weight of her wedding ring. At that thought, she sinks down to her knees and sobs, covering her face with her shaking hands.

At some point, the sun sets, and stars wink in the darkening sky, though Hinata isn't aware of the passage of time. Eventually, she heaves one last, shuddering sob and stills. She wipes the tears and snot from her face and regards her mother's tombstone, pale in the thin moonlight. Overcome by deja vu, she realizes that in a way, this is how her story began.

"Wh-what have I d-done?" she whispers, touching her naked ring finger. She hadn't thought about it at the time, but in effect, she's asked Naruto for a divorce.

"I'm such a m-moron," she mumbles, fresh tears welling up anew.

"No you're not," comes a voice.

Startled, Hinata's head jerks up: she half-expects to see her mother's ghost. But it is no spirit. A stranger, dressed in a shimmering red kimono, walks forward, her black braids trailing down to her feet and bouncing with every step. She stops, looming over Hinata's hunched form.

"Whatever you've done, it can't be that bad."

The woman kneels next to Hinata and pats her knee, a gentle smile curving her painted lips. The barest hint of baby fat still clings to the woman's cheeks, and it reminds Hinata of her sister, Hanabi.

"Sometimes," the woman says, "it helps to talk about your troubles. I don't have anywhere to be right now, and it looks like you could use a friend." She gives Hinata's knee a reassuring squeeze.

Hinata blinks stupidly at the woman. How long has it been since anyone—her husband, her friends, her family—has sat with her like this? How long has it been since she's allowed herself to be heard? Touched and unable to contain herself, Hinata finds her whole sad story tumbling out of her. The stranger does not interrupt. She makes encouraging gestures and smiles, but otherwise, is silent.

When Hinata finally finishes, she realizes that she doesn't even know the woman's name.

"So that's what happened," says the stranger, tossing her long braids over her shoulder. "You must be the Hokage's wife. Or you were…"

Hinata winces at that. "How did you…?"

"Oh sweetie, the whole village knows."

Hinata covers her face with her hands and squeezes her eyes shut. She'll be on the cover of every tabloid magazine by tomorrow morning. She will die of shame, she thinks, trembling with new tears.

"There, there, sweetie, no one is blaming you. Oh no. People are calling for the Hokage to resign and for that Uchiha's head, respectively, but no one thinks this is your fault."

Hinata sniffles. That only makes her feel worse.

"If I was you," continues the woman, "I'd go on a long vacation until this all blows over."

Sniffle. "V-vacation?" Hinata turns her wide-eyed gaze to her.

The woman smiles widely, puffs out her chest, and points to herself with her thumbs. For some reason, the motion reminds Hinata of a bird who is proud of her own feathers. "Allow me to introduce myself, madam. I am Sami, travel agent extraordinaire."

"Hinata," Hinata says, though she supposes Sami already knows who she is. "Pleased to meet you."

"Isn't there anywhere you'd like to travel? Mist? Hot Springs? A tropical island, perhaps?"

"I'm not much of a traveler," Hinata replies with a sigh. "And plus, there's the ch-children…" Her face falls—the children! How is she going to break the divorce to them?

"You could always take them with you," Sami counters, her green eyes flashing with flecks of silver in the moonlight. She smiles widely, showing her perfectly white teeth. She reminds Hinata of those models for toothpaste advertisements. "I'd give you a family discount."

Hinata's feelings war between excitement and apprehension. On the one hand, going away to avoid the scandal is tempting; on the other, leaving the village at a time when she feels so vulnerable, so broken… After a pregnant silence, she shakes her head.

"Th-thank you for your offer, Sami-chan, but I think it's better for the children if we stay here." She heaves a sigh. "I g-guess I'll move back to my f-f-father's house." A cold lump of dread settles in the pit of her stomach, and her bottom lip quivers.

Sami's green eyes glitter. "Are you sure I can't convince you, sister? My caravan is leaving tonight for Hot Springs, and I'm so moved by your story, I'm willing to let you and your children come with us for free. Please—it's the least I can do."

Hinata smiles sadly and shakes her head. "Thank you for your kindness, but I t-truly think I'd be b-better off staying h-here." She can't quite hide the tremor in her voice, and when she smiles, she knows that it doesn't reach her eyes.

Sami pouts, then holds up her hands in defeat. "That's too bad, sweetie! Isn't there anything I can do to help you?"

Hinata's smile widens, even as her eyes glint with tears. "You've listened to my st-story—that was really all the help I needed." It's true. Just having her secrets witness by another has made her burden feel easier to bear. She rises on stiff limbs and bows to her companion. "I must be going now. I've got to convince my f-f-father not to kill my h-husband." She gulps. She should have said former husband. She'll never get used to this…

"Oh honey, let me just take a picture of you!" calls Sami, clapping her hands. Hinata smiles timidly, sure that Sami is trying another tactic to cheer her up. "My friends will never believe that I hung out with a ninja unless I have proof." She flashes Hinata a winning smile. "It would mean the world to me…"

And even though Hinata probably looks worse than an edo tensei zombie, what with her puffy eyes and running mascara, she doesn't have the heart to say no to her new friend. She offers Sami a tentative smile and nods.

Sami gives a cry of delight and produces an odd looking camera from her pack. It has many multicolored buttons, three different shutters, and a huge flash lamp.

"I'm a professional," Sami says, following Hinata's gaze. "This camera is worth a Hokage's random!"

"Oh," she replies, suddenly feeling anxious but not knowing why. She blames it on her shot nerves.

"Okay sister, just sit there and pose…that's it! Now—smile!"

Hinata does her best to smile, though she is sure it looks more like a grimace, or a baring of teeth. She never was very photogenic. Sami presses a button, and the camera whirls with spinning gears and colored lights. The flash goes off with a loud kicheeenk! and a brilliant white light blinds her. Countless stars explode in her vision before her eyes roll back in her head. No longer able to support her own weight, her torso comes crashing down towards the ground.

Strong arms catch her.

"Excellent work, Sami-sama," she hears someone saying.

There is a sharp exhale. "I just wish she would have come willingly. Poor thing. I really…"

Hinata can't concentrate on what is said next. The world is spinning wildly, and sound blurs into a high-pitched whine. The stars and the moon go out. It's completely dark. The last thought Hinata has before she loses consciousness altogether is that she wishes she wasn't such a worthless kunoichi.

#

When Hinata comes to, her head aches terribly. She's warm though. She hears cracking and popping sounds and assumes she is by a fire, though all she can see is a bright red blur. There are three figures back-lit by the flames, but they just look like three dark blobs to her.

"Oh good sweetie, you're awake. Here, drink this."

"S-s-sami?" Hinata stammers as a cup is shoved into her hands.

"The one and only!" she replies brightly. Hinata can just picture her blinding smile, though all she can see is a slash of white on a field of black.

"Wh-where am I?" Hinata asks, clutching the mug.

"Just drink," Sami urges. "Then I'll tell you everything, honey. And don't worry! Those herbs are all safe for pregnancy. Not only am I a travel agent, I also happen to be an excellent midwife."

"Um," is Hinata's only reply. She doesn't quite believe her.

"Don't worry," calls a male voice from the fireside. "She's not lying about being a midwife. The travel agent part though…"

"Oh Dan, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!" Sami snaps. Then, in a soothing, motherly tone, "Go on, Hinata sweetie, it's safe to drink. I swear on my life. And on my mother's grave. And on…um…puppies and kittens. And turtles!"

"T-turtles…?"

"I love turtles," Sami coos. "They're so awesome."

"A-ah. O-okay." Oddly comforted by her kidnappers, Hinata takes a delicate sip. It tastes like hot chocolate. She's pretty sure there are marshmallows in it too… As she drinks, her headache subsides, and her vision clears. Her gaze falls to her wrists, where seamless silver bracelets glint in the firelight.

"Sorry about those, honey," Sami says. "It's just a precaution."

Panicked, Hinata probes her chakra network—and realizes that her pathways are all blocked. "Who…? Why…? What's going on?" Hinata manages at last.

"Allow me to introduce the gang," Sami proclaims, sweeping her arm towards her companions. "We are the vigilantes from the Village Hidden in the Village: Sami—that's me," she adds, flashing that too-bright smile, "Dan, and Kuro-sama, our leader and chief engineer."

"The Village Hidden in the Village?" asks Hinata. Her head is starting to spin again.

Kuro hobbles towards Hinata, his dark eyes glaring at her from the pits of his wrinkled face. Hinata gulps.

But the old man does her no harm. He sits beside her and gazes into the fire, the red light painting his severe face.

"We are ordinary citizens who are sick and tired of serving ninja. We believe all people, regardless of their talents, should be treated equally. That's why we're starting our own village: the Village Hidden in the Village."

"Get it?" Sami beams. "It's because our citizens are all hidden in other villages. But soon, they'll all flock to our village!"

Hinata does not get it. She rubs her temples and says, as calmly as she can, "I'm sorry, but what does all this have to do with m-me?"

"Well," says Sami, "you're our…guest! Yes, our guest! Our very first ambassador, if you will."

"Um…or our hostage. You can look at it either way," says Dan with a shrug.

Sami whacks him on the knee and scowls. "Dan, what have I told you about positive thinking? Ambassador," Sami coos to Hinata. "You're our honorary ambassador guest person thingie."

"Hostage," Dan mutters.

Sami swats him again and growls.

"I s-see," says Hinata. She can't quite tell if they are serious or not. Perhaps they are not mentally sound. Though they seem nice enough, for kidnappers.

She clears her throat and says, "You have a very nice idea for a village and all, but my husband…" Hinata winces at that word but forces herself to press on. "But the H-Hokage will be very upset with you for abducting me. He'll send the ANBU after you."

There is a pause. The three merely look at her.

At their nonchalant expressions, Hinata pleads, "I really don't want you to get hurt on my account. Please, for your own protection, release me."

"That's very thoughtful of you, Hinata-chaaaan," Sami says, "but we're not afraid—"

At that moment, there is a rustling in the bushes. Sami and Dan sprint to action. Armed with what looks like cattle prods and spatulas, they give blood-curdling cries and leap forward to attack.

A raccoon, seeing them so enraged, squeals and scurries away.

"See?" says Sami, flashing that blinding smile of hers again, "we're totally prepared."

Hinata tries to smile but grimaces instead. Soon, she tells herself, Naruto will come to rescue her.

She just hopes that he isn't too hard on Sami and her friends.

#

Three days later, and Hinata is no longer certain that Naruto is going to come for her.

Maybe he thinks I've run away, Hinata muses. She wonders what kind of spies Sami and company had planted in Konoha. For non-ninjas, they've timed the kidnapping very well. Either that, or they are blessed by extraordinary luck. While Naruto is embroiled in scandal, Hinata wonders if he lacks the political power to look for her.

Or maybe, whispers a voice in her head, maybe he just doesn't care.

#

On the fourth day, Sami uncovers a wagon that they had hidden in a pile of branches and leaves. It is painted green, pink, and orange, colors that sting Hinata's sensitive eyes. Over the front, in bold letters, it reads:

SAMI'S SIRCUS

"You've spelled circus incorrectly," Hinata blurts out. No one pays her any mind.

With jubilant cries, the members of Sami's "Sircus" enter the wagon and procure costumes even more garish than the wagon itself. Left with little choice, Hinata dons a pair of oversized sunglasses, an orange wig, a puffy sequins dress, and shoes that look more like fins. She can't even look at herself in the mirror, she feels so ridiculous.

"The best place to hide is in plain sight," Sami explains, her black braids covered by a blue wig. She's colored one of her front teeth with black paint, giving her a rakish look. "So we're going on tour."

"On t-tour?" Hinata asks, afraid of the answer. "But wh-what am I—"

"Well clearly, it's not over till the fat lady sings. And you're the fat lady." Sami shows her gap-toothed smile.

Hinata blinks, adjusting her wig with trembling hands. "I'm s-sorry, I don't s-sing—"

"Don't worry sweetie-pie," Sami chimes, clasping her on the back, "I also happen to be a world famous opera singer. I'll teach you everything I know. Me-me-meeee!" she bellows. Hinata is too polite to cover her ears, but it feels like her eardrums might rupture.

Hinata glances from her chakra restraints to Sami's ear-splitting grin. She wishes someone—anyone—would come to rescue her.

But she has a sneaking suspicion that she is on her own.


Thanks for reading and please, review! ;D