As the carriage stumbled on its way, the girl stared out of the window of the carriage, she sighed softly as the carriage passed by people and houses.
"He will come, if he does not, then he is not worth your time," she turned and stared at the older woman, her 'stepmother', who was staring at her with brilliant green eyes. She was like an older sister to her; it still seemed unconceivable that this woman will sooner or later bore her father a newborn son, one that would replace her or her little sister.
"I hope that things would happen as you say it will, Temari-san." She said softly, as her hand left the curtain.
Temari sighed softly as she closed her eyes, in the dark she saw him turning around, smiling at her in his own lazy way, his dark eyes glittered at the slightest dash of light.
Temari, he called her name, as the panpipe slowly reached his lips, each sorrowful, beautiful note coming out of the instrument as he sang his wordless song of love and remembrance.
She reached out and touched his face, gently stroking each edge and curve; he stared deeply into hers, when suddenly his face turned ghastly.
You betrayed me.
She stared in horror, as he pulled her closer. You bring all this pain and suffering to my family… you betrayed me…
His smile tore apart and turned into a horrid, gaping jaw, pulling her closer, she could smell the stench of blood and putrid from him, he was going to engulf her, she screamed, but no one seemed to hear her, as they were trapped in the eternal darkness.
"Temari-san?"
She opened her eyes abruptly, as Hinata looked at her, out of real concern. "Are you alright?"
"Must be the hot summer air," she stared at herself, cold sweat covered her palms; she smiled weakly at Hinata, and looked away. "Have we arrived?"
"Yes," Hinata said, as the servant approached and lifted the curtain covering the door.
The servant helped the laides off the carriage as Temari stared at the large traditional building in front of them; some priest walked in front and greeted them.
"Lady Hyuga," the priest dipped their head, as Temari stood there.
An awkward silence lingered as the priest kept his head dipped, Temari stared at him, only to realize that he was addressing her.
Right, she is indeed Lady Hyuga. Smiling as she shook her head, she nodded at the priest. "Please rise," she signaled the servant and offered the priest a sac of gold. "Our offering to the gods."
"And they shall bless you and your family, this way," the priest headed the party. Temari and Hinata followed him into the worship hall, where statutes of gods stood idly, emotionlessly as they entered.
Hinata knelt down on one of the worshipper's cushion, and clasped her hands together.
Temari knew what she was praying – she was praying for a way out of her marriage with that Uchiha maniac, and perhaps, a way to be with the man she loves.
At least she could still dream or pray about it, Temari smiled painfully as the maiden prayed. She turned her head, and smiled as she saw a blonde man entering the worshipping hall, nodding at him, she walked outside, brushing shoulders with the man.
Just as she set foot out of the large arch door, she was stopped by a coarse cough.
"Princess Temari," said the voice, she turned around and saw a crooked old man, his eyes staring afar, rather, staring into the void - a layer of milky film covered his rheumy eyes. "Hear my words, just as your friend, master Itachi did."
"I am listening, old master," she said, startled that a name she had not heard for a long time coming out of an old man's cackled lips.
"Follow me," he said, she obliged as she treaded behind him, and followed him into a room behind the worshipping hall.
Temari sat down across the table, as the old man settled down opposite her.
"You … you are Temari from the Land of the Wind, born on the twenty third day of August to King Rasa and his wife Karura," the old man said.
Temari nodded, as the man reached out his wrinkled palm. "If you would allow me, Princess."
She let the blind old man hold her hand; he took it and clasped it in his hand for a brief moment, before letting her hand down gently.
Temari shuddered – his hand was freezing in a mid summer's day, like pristine ice.
"Is there anything that you would like to ask me?" He said, his sightless eyes studying her face.
"My plan, old master, will it work?" She asked skeptically, careful not to reveal any details – she wanted to see how powerful he is.
"He shall fall, and before his ultimate demise, you will be freed in a way," he said solemnly. "As for your future, I see a hard path, my Lady. It is a path where you will witness many hardship and sorrow, but you shall stay strong, and the power of life and death will rest upon your hands." The old man stared, as if he could see her face. "I beg you to use that power wisely."
He coughed violently after that statement, slowly recovering himself, he turned away and stared afar, as if he could still see the blue sky out of the window, he sighed.
"I do not have much time left, my Lady, to see you today is indeed my blessing."
Temari nodded to thank him, something about this old man made her feel uneasy, she thought she could smell the scent of blood reeking from him, or was it the smell of rotten flesh?
As she turned around and left, she turned back and was startled.
No one was in the room.
Temari tried to shake the thought away as she turned to the worshipping hall, in search of her friend.
While Temari was away, Hinata knelt on the cushion, whispering a silent prayer.
She was hoping when she opened her eyes, he would be here, and …
"Hinata." Her eyes opened abruptly, she thought that she was dreaming, gasping, she placed a hand over her mouth, tears of joy brimming from her eyes.
"Na-Naruto-kun," she said in a whisper, almost collapsing as she stood up.
He immediately reached out and held her; she was trembling, tears rolling down her cheeks, as he pulled her into his embrace.
"I should have done this sooner," he muttered, his embrace around her tightening.
Hinata shook her head and slowly, leaned against his chest.
"I have yet to face my heart's true desire, I was a coward, but I won't let myself be that anymore," he said softly, his hand cradling Hinata's face as he wiped away her tears. "I want to be with you, Hinata."
"Naruto-kun," she wrapped her arms around him tightly, her face buried into his chest. "It is not possible…"
"Everything is possible," he said, staring straight into her pale lilac eyes. "My goal is to unite this nation, and it is not complete without you, Hinata."
He held her hand in his tightly, and clasped it against his chest. "I promise you, I will take you with me," he said.
Hinata stared into his ocean blue eyes, biting her lips for a brief moment, she smiled at him. "I trust you, Naruto-kun."
A cough interrupted them, as they looked up, a blonde woman was staring at them, smiling at the couple.
"Temari-san," Hinata said, almost breathlessly, Naruto stood in front of her.
"Temari," he said, staring into her green eyes. In an unpredictable move, he knelt down, causing Hinata to follow him.
Temari arched an eyebrow, as Naruto bent down, his forehead touching the ground. "I beg you, help us."
"You are the only one who can help us," Hinata looked up at her, staring into her eyes, Temari frowned.
Hinata bent down, her forehead touching the ground next to Naruto.
As she heard the cloth ruffled, a pair of hands helped her up gently, she stared as Temari crouched down again, and helped Naruto up.
"I will help you, simply for one reason," she turned to Hinata with a smile. "I admire you to have the great courage, despite of your timid nature, you are brave." She then turned back at the both of them with a soft sigh.
"Are you two sure that you want to do this? You will forsake those you hold dear, the past life that you used to know – you will become enemies of the state, they will call you a kidnapper, and you the heiress who disowned your own clan – are you willing to bear all these?" Temari ended her question with a soft laugh.
Naruto looked at Hinata gently. "I am willing to – I will return, to unite the nation with Hinata by my side."
Temari blinked and smiled. "Very well then, we still have a little more than a month. I want the both of you to listen to me for the entirety of the plan, is that clear?"
The couple stared each other in the eye for a brief moment before turning back and nodded at her.
Temari gave them a reaffirming nod. "So this shall be it."
The old man's words circled in her mind, in silent, she prayed that Naruto and Hinata would not be subjected to the sorrow and hardship that she would witness.
He waited impatiently, as the foreign physician busied herself behind the curtains.
He was startled when he found Tenten collapsed in his room, he wanted to find a physician immediately, but he was taken back by the fact that Tenten was a servant.
His uncle would not allow it, it was at that moment, Temari's physician, Yome passed by his door.
She volunteered her services, and now he waited impatiently.
Yome emerged from behind the curtains and stared at him peculiarly.
"Neji-sama," she nodded at him, as he approached her, anxious for answers.
"What is wrong with her, is she sick?" Neji asked anxiously, as Yome shook her head and blinked her large brown eyes.
"Your servant, I am afraid, she is … with child." She arched a curious eyebrow. "Should I be reporting this to my lady, or the Lord?"
"No," Neji said. "No one must know," he said in a soundless whisper. "Please, Lady Yome, I need a moment with her alone."
Yome studied his expression carefully, and left the room.
Neji approached the bed, and gently, he took Tenten's hand in his.
"How did this happen, Tenten?" He said, pressing his lips against her hand, as she opened her eyes.
There was a hue of pink on her face, she blinked and stared into Neji's pale eyes.
"It was some night ago, on your father's passing day, you were drunk…"
She gasped when he saw his usual bandaged hand bare in the night's air, the mark on his forehead visible.
It was a clear mark, made with green ink, it marked his inferiority, how he would be subjugated by the Head Family, while he wallowed in the shadow.
He grabbed hold of her, embracing her tightly against his chest.
"I don't have anyone in this world," he said, as he touched her face.
Her breath was shallow and out of order when he leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers, he smiled.
"I only have you, Tenten," he said, he stroked her cheek as he closed in and pressed his lips against hers.
She voiced no protest, she had been dreaming, imaging this day, she thought that it would be possible on the wedding that they would never have, but for now, the sensation of his lips brushing against her skin was very real. The pressure he had when his hands caressed her was beyond imaginary, and the feeling of them bound together was surreal, but she knew it was very true…
And she would gladly let that happen all over again, for it was love in her eyes.
"I am so sorry, Tenten," he stammered a little. "I shouldn't let you go through all this."
"It is alright, Neji," she smiled at him, cupping his face with her hand. "I would gladly have your child."
"It…" Neji stopped as she sat up and wrapped her arms around his.
"I understand, Neji," she said, he could hear her holding back her tears as she spoke. "I know that I am unworthy to be a noble man's wife."
She shifted her hand to her abdomen and clutched the loose clothing around her stomach.
"At least this is something that I can hold dear to." She snuggled her head into his shoulder, as he slowly wrapped his arms around her.
She did not needed any discouragement, and he did not mean to tell her any.
At this moment, all she needed was for him to be here, and here he shall be.
Unknowing to him, the physician stayed out of his sight and heard their conversation. She smiled as she left without a sound.
Her Highness would be very, very interested.
Author's note:
Another chapter ... well NejiTen has appeared again and things escalated quickly :0 And for NaruHina as well, how will Temari react to the sudden news and how will she help Hinata and Naruto? More importantly, what will happen next with her plans? Stay tuned!
Shikamaru will return soon :3 no worries
Enjoy! xoxo
V.S.V