Me no own Naruto.
Reading minds his entire life, Shiro had become very aware of how the stages of grief went. So, it wasn't exactly a long shot that he would recognize the signs in himself. That didn't mean he could stop them though.
The first stage of grief is denial.
He could already feel them when Hinata's mind became closed off to him. He knew something was happening, even before the letter arrived to his carriage. The letter just made it official: he was in denial. He could feel it in his desperation, his efforts to keep her, to make her see she could be happy with him, his unwillingness to let her go. He had tried to be strong. He had promised himself that he would do his best to win her, and he hated admitting that it would all amount to nothing.
The second stage of grief is anger.
Shiro was not accustomed to defeat or failure or loss. And why should he be? He could read the minds of everyone around him, and he had every possible advantage to be awarded a child of his stature. Failure was damn near inexcusable.
So, you can understand why he went just a bit overboard.
He saw Star wince from the corner of his eye as he threw a vase against the wall of his hotel. "Dammit!"
He ran his fingers through his hair, not even sure what or who precisely he was angry at. His father for deciding things without even speaking to him? The hand Hiashi obviously must have played in this? That damn blond knucklehead? Himself for not immediately having Hinata meet him in the Capitol after accepting his proposal? There were so many things that were just pissing him off.
"Shiro-sama?"
"What?" he spat with venom he knew she didn't deserve.
She didn't even flinch. She stood to her full height, being sure to radiate the status and calm her parents, retainers, and tutors instilled in her. She knew Shiro hated feeling. He hated the way he acting when he was emotional. She knew this was tearing him up inside. "You need to calm down."
He whipped around to glare directly at her. Star stood her ground, "You are better than this."
"But not better than him, apparently. Everything goes just right for him! My own father doesn't even seem to think I'm good enough to marry who I want!"
She tried to use a more soothing tone, hating the nasally sound of her voice right now. "You know that's not true."
"Isn't it?" Shiro ran his shaking hand through his hair again, "There's not much to back you up."
Almost hesitantly, Star reached out her hand to touch his cheek. There was still anger in his eyes, but also hurt. He closed his eyes, finding himself in the midst of her thoughts. Please don't be angry. Please don't be hurt. I'm so sorry I don't know what to do for you. I want to help you. I want to make you happy, but I'm so selfish. I don't want you to be with her Please don't cry over her. Please smile. Please know what you mean to me.
He could feel it all. Her love, her compassion, her sorrow, her hurt, her concern all for him. It calmed his anger and suppressed the hurt a bit. He saw and felt the hope in her eyes as his own opened, looking softer than before. She was still worried that the hurt lingered there, but he gently pulled her hand from his face. He moved back to lay back down on his bed. He spoke softly, "You definitely give me too much credit, Star. You always have."
He heard her move to the side of the bed that his back faced, probably getting closer to the door. "People need others with more faith in them than they have in themselves."
They remained in silence for a moment. Shiro was about to shoo her back to her own hotel, but his eyes widened when he felt the area on the bed behind him dip. "Star, what are you doing?"
She threaded her arms around his torso, pressing her body into his back. "Making an offer."
"That doesn't sound very wise to me," he warned.
I don't think I care anymore. She said nothing, moving her hands under his yukata.
He clutched her hand in his, stilling her movements. "Think carefully, Star."
He thinks more of others than he realizes. Even if I did try to make a real move on him, he'd find some way to talk me out of it. She sighed, pulling her hands away from him. However, she didn't leave his side. Instead she shifted the pillows on the bed and sat up against the headboard. She pulled at his head, guiding it to her lap. He reluctantly accepted the pull. With a snarky grin she proceeded to run her fingers through his hair, much to his annoyance. She announced quietly, "You're not getting rid of me that easily. I'm staying here tonight. It's your punishment for making me worry about you."
Shiro didn't bother to argue, he just accepted it. Star was determined to stay with him, and when she was determined, he knew better than to try opposing her will. So, he let her do as she wished with closed eyes. He listened to her steady breathing. When the fingers in his hair finally stilled and long blonde strands tickled his nose, he pulled away from her slightly hunched form.
He stood at the edge of the bed, watching her sleeping form for a moment. "Sorry, Star. I need to get back, and talk to my father. He doesn't know what he's doing butting in like this. I'll leave you a note this time, though."
The third stage is bargaining.
The next morning, in a tree outside of the Hyuuga Compound.
"You should talk to her," Naruto advised his best friend.
"She doesn't need someone like me," Sasuke shook his head, keeping his hands in his pockets.
"If this is some kind of atonement-"
"So what if it is?" Sasuke interrupted him. "I've received enough, more than I deserve. Despite everything I've done, you never gave up on me. Kakashi, Sakura, they knew it would have been easier to end my threat. It would have been smarter too."
"That didn't make it the right thing to do."
"That's not the point knucklehead," Sasuke shook his head, "the point is that I've fucked up, and I need to answer for that somehow. More importantly, Sakura doesn't deserve my baggage. I don't have a clue how to be what she wants me to be."
"You think too much," Naruto shook his head.
"You don't think enough," Sasuke scoffed.
"You might be right about that," Naruto chuckled. "But I know one thing you've overlooked."
Sasuke raised a skeptic brow.
"First off, she likes you for the asshole you are. Kami only knows why. Anyway, one person's atonement shouldn't continue to hurt the people you've wronged."
"How the hell do you always know how to get under my skin," Sasuke replied irate because the idiot was right.
Naruto answered him with a sly grin. Naruto looked down to see that Hinata and the girls were still sleeping in courtyard, where Mirra had placed blankets onto of them. If she were alone, Naruto would have already tucked her into her own bed by now. Naruto couldn't help the smile that came over his face while he watched Hinata sleep soundly.
The moment was disturbed when one of Sasuke's hawks dove in through the trees, landing on Sasuke's shoulder. The Uchiha quickly read the the message tied to the bird's leg. His face lost the tiny bit of good humor he had left his face. He laid a hand on Naruto's shoulder to pull him from his lovestruck gaze. "I just got a message from Juugo. He says that there's a group of Orocchimaru's old experiments and victims have formed a bandit group and are attacking people on the main roads to the capitol."
"That sounds like a problem. We'll report it to Grandma Tsunade and have the roads cleared by tonight."
Sasuke nodded. In an instant, Naruto had them inside of the Hokage's office. Naruto was about to let the fifth know what they'd learned when the fifth sent a tick hardcover book into his face. It was then the Uchiha noticed that they had apparently interrupted another conversation.
"I'm sorry about that, Lucaar-sama," Tsunade smiled at the surprised heiress. "Please continue."
"No worries, Tsunade-sama," Star returned the smile with one of her own, "I just wanted to be sure to convey Shiro-sama's apologies for his unexpected departure."
"Departure?" Naruto snapped. "Takizawa left the village? When?"
"Last night," Star's face scrunched up in confusion when Naruto cursed. "I'm sorry. Was there something important you needed from-?"
"Bandits have been attacking the main roads," Sasuke spoke. "Bandits consisting of Orocchimaru's experiments and victims."
Star's eyes widened in horror, "Oh, no."
"Sasuke, you go on ahead and see if you can start up a trail," Tsunade said, going into full team leader mode. "Naruto, I want you to gather Team Eight and head out effective immediately. Protect the feudal lord's son at all cost, but do not fully engage until we know what they are capable of. Now, go!"
The two didn't even wait to around to nod.
Okay, maybe we'll skip the the bargaining, Shiro thought as he stared dejectedly at his tied hands.
The fourth stage is depression.
And Shiro was knee deep in that right now. He had been tied up for at least five hours now. He was surprised he wasn't gagged too. He was in some hideout underground. The cell he had been thrown in looked like it had housed many before him. He had been brought in blindfolded, but he had managed to hear a few names and commit them to memory.
The bandits had surprised them somewhere along the main road. Any sensible person would have just handed over the valuable after they murdered a guard with a joyful grin just to get their attention. But no. His guard just had to announce themselves as feudal guards. They just had to point him out as the feudal lord's son, as the most valuable thing they could steal.
He shook his head in frustration as he tried to rub the images of his guards' dead bodies from his eyes. Even if they were dumbasses, they hadn't deserved the slaughter that had befallen them. This wasn't the first time that he'd seen guards fallen to protect him. That didn't make it any easier. He knew them better than they knew he did. Knew their family life, their personalities, their reasons for being guards. In a lot of cases, the reasons were the money, the need for it rather than the greed of it. That's why he had started choosing his personal detail when he was twelve. He kept men with families, men with kindness, men who would be greatly missed, in the kushiest positions possible.
He didn't want to feel the guilt that came with knowing someone else's father, brother, lover, whatever, had died for his sake. He didn't want their families going hunger because there was no longer anyone to provide for them. But it was the surprises that always set him back. The days when he never saw a dangerous situation coming.
Days when he had to watch good men die.
Matsuyui Shoutaru. That was the man he put in charge of the travel security for his trip to and from Konoha. He had been one of Shiro's personal detail going on nine years. Shiro had been planning to move him up to a commanding post as a wedding present. A few more days and his fiancé would have been a widow instead. At least she may have a chance to keep her reputation when she moved on with her life.
"Damn!" he muttered.
"Oh my," snickered one of his captors, a female, from beyond the bars in front of him, "that's the first thing you've said since we captured you."
Shiro looked up, caution in his eyes. He said nothing as he observed the woman. She was tall with short brown hair and round black eyes. She seemed more curious than taunting. She even smiled at him, "I always thought you noble types were all about shooting you mouths off."
Her presence reminded him that he needed to save the guilt and pity for when he was free. Right now, he needed to be the smart, resourceful Takizawa Shiro. "Only an idiot would flaunt himself when he's clearly in checkmate."
"You act like you don't know how valuable you are," she said in a teasing voice. "We can't go around killing our meal ticket."
"Death isn't what I'm worried about," he forced a handsome smirk. "I'd like to avoid pain. I am such a fragile boy."
The woman gave a resounding laugh. "You're rich, cute, and funny. Not a bad combination. You must be a real catch back home. I bet the girls just line up for a shot with you."
"Does saying yes to that raise or lower my chances with you?"
The young woman giggled and batted her eyelashes in response. "Experience is never really a fault."
Shiro's mouth lifted up in a grin. Hyuuga Hinata may be immune to whatever charms he had, but luckily, this woman wasn't. And if he played his cards right, he would be meeting whatever rescue team go sent out first.
"Why would Shiro leave without at least alerting the Hokage?" Hinata shook her head as they flew through the trees at top speed.
"Forget the damn Hokage," Kiba growled, "He should have told you if he was leaving. You're his goddamn fiancé."
Akamaru barked his agreement.
"This is one of those rare occasions when Kiba is actually right," Shino said, ignoring the indignant sound his teammate made. "Did you and Takizawa-sama have some sort of disagreement before he left? Such things will put strains on your life together if you don't take the time to patch things up."
"If he's a real man," Kiba growled, "he wouldn't have run away from issue like a spineless coward. She shouldn't have to put in all the work!"
"Guys, shut up and just focus on tracking him," Naruto snapped at the two. He couldn't stand listening to them talk about Shiro's elevated position in Hinata's life. He after all was expect to show her more affection. "It falls down on the village as a whole if he's harmed while visiting us."
"Don't worry," Shino said, "You've got the best tracking team in all of Konoha."
"Damn right!" Kiba and Akamaru barked their approval.
Hinata said nothing. She could see the agitation in Naruto's form. He wasn't worked up entirely for the village's sake. She decided to focus on her job. She scanned the area for some sign of life on the forest floor. Suddenly, Akamaru's head whipped to the side and the dog lead a change in direction. Kiba grinned, "Akamaru's caught the scent!"
Using her Byakugan, Hinata surveyed the area ahead. "I see Uchiha-kun and Juugo-san waiting for us in the trees ahead. Four hostiles posted outside what appear to be four distinct entrances: one facing each cardinal direction."
"Can you determine Takizawa-sama's location?"
"The compound is too far underground for me to assess that from this distance. When we get closer I should be able to get a better look."
"Then, for now we move ahead," Naruto directed, "And we'll form a plan of attack once Hinata is able to provide us with a better idea of the layout." And then I can strangle Takizawa myself for making me save his sorry ass.
"You've lived your whole life here," Shiro said, holding onto her hand.
"How could you tell?" The girl, Nana, was wide-eyed with curiosity.
There's not much in your head aside from memories of this place. "I told you, I'm a pretty good palm reader."
the layout of the compound into his mind. "The woman who trained you was very soft spoken, and yet she was terribly strict when she taught you. But you still liked her because the training was the only time you got to see the outside, because she let you feel the light."
Nana jerked her hand away, breaking the easy connection he had. He was grateful he had thought to drop a door in her mind. She looked at him defensively now, something that reminded him of a kitten trying to act like a tiger backed into a corner. "There's no way you can tell all that from just reading the lines of my hand. Those types of things are too personal."
"Sometimes," he said, reaching his hand back out to hers, "the palm isn't the only thing to read."
"Well, that's too bad," Nana turned away from him. "I don't need you reading anything but my palm. I know my own past. You're supposed to just make up some nonsense about the future, not bore me with what I already know."
"People can't predict your future, just the choices you will be able to make, Nana," Shiro closed his eyes again as he prepared to search her mind from afar. Then, came his golden opportunity. There was a loud crash, and the sound of fighting floated down from the stairwell. Nana's eyes went wide as she looked down the hall. He used her panic to reach through the bars and grab her arm, "And now, you can make a choice. You can risk your future, your light, by going against the rescue team that's probably here for me now, or you can secure it by helping me and leaving with us."
The girl's mind flashed with images of a single woman, the woman who had once taught this girl to fight and spy. Nana bit her lip, "No deal."
He watched the girl run down the hall where she was hearing the sounds of fighting. He wished he could tell her it was just in her head. "The tales of the great
abilities of the Uchiha's Sharingan aren't exaggerated, I see."
The Uchiha appeared before him with narrowed eyes. "How did you-?"
"I was in her head," Shiro explained. "I heard the fighting coming from the stairs, but she was hearing them down the hall, away from the eastern entrance you probably used to enter this place, and away from the fight whoever came with you is having at the main west entrance. Am I right?"
"You're very perceptive," Sasuke muttered as he forced open the cell. "Follow me."
God, it's been a while, huh? Starting summer school was a terrible idea. Anyway, I just want to thank you guys for sticking with me though! I especially want to thank PotassiumNitrate for the uber kind message they left me a while back! I just want you guys to know what it means to me to see the messages of support and enjoyment I get from you guys. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, because I think I'm really close to wrapping this story up for good. The next chapter promises the biggest challenge for our favorite couple and even I will be caused some pain while I write it. But be sure to review this chapter and I'll do my best to update faster.