Author's Note: Hey everyone! I am actually getting a lot more reviewers! That makes me really happy! I seriously couldn't have gotten this far if it weren't for you guys. By the way, everything is all good between my mom and I. We're BFFs again! To answer one of the questions I got, we are currently in the middlish part of the story. I got a lot about the storyline, if you guys keep reading, all will be revealed!
Chapter 51: Visions
"Sakura!"
"Ughhh......mom why do you have to wake me up so early!"
Raising my head groggily, I greeted mother with droopy emerald orbs and frizzy hair. The light from the window blinded my eyes as soon as mother pulled up the blinds. She removed the large blanket over me, sending chills throughout my body.
"Mom! Couldn't you see that I was sleeping?"
As usual, she put her hands on her hips, "Sakura.....it's 10:00! You've wasted half of you're day already. I knew we shouldn't have stayed up later past 1:00. It's too late for you. Now get up and eat some breakfast".
Sighing, I got up and walked downstairs.
A surprise waited for me at the kitchen table.
"DAD!" I literally screamed running over and greeted him with a hug.
"Sakura, how are you? I missed you sweetheart".
Without letting go of him I smiled, "I've been great dad. I really missed you. How was the conference?"
I let go of him and sat down eating some breakfast mother made. He took a sip of his coffee and proceeded to answer my question.
"It was actually a big problem. You're mother and brothers know about this. While I lead the meeting, some messenger from the hidden rock village barged in the conference room and informed us of another stealing of one of those sacred stones".
A shocked look appeared removing all signs of early morning weariness from my face, "What? Another one?"
Father nodded, "This is getting to be such a problem…."
"I can't believe this……who the hell keeps targeting these stones!? Could it be those guys from the hidden rain village?"
"Saku?"
Snapping out of my thoughts, I looked up and met mother's gaze. You know it's kind of interesting. Every time I see her, it's like looking into a mirror. The only difference is our hair color. There are my blossom-colored pink locks, and her darker copper-red ones.
"Yes mom?" I asked.
"You zoned out for a bit there. Are you alright?"
Chuckling at my behavior, I dismissed it like it was nothing, "Oh…yeah I'm fine! Listen, I have to go and meet up with Hinata today".
"Oh alright then, have fun! Your father and I will be spending the entire day together".
I giggled, "Okay lovebirds……wait……where's Shin?"
Father spoke up, "I managed to convince Gai to find someone else to help him out with his 'youth' camp so right now, Shin is over at the ANBU training center".
"He probably owes you a ton for that dad".
He smirked, "Nah….it's what I do".
I left the kitchen and got ready to go over to Hina's house. Since we were going to spend the entire day together, I took my evening outfit with me and decided to wear a very casual yellow qipao-style dress reaching up to an inch or so past my knees. After tying my hair up into a bun, I headed out into the village streets.
The weather here in the fire country never ceases to amaze me. It's always so warm and beautiful. I would never choose to live anywhere else.
I passed by the hospital and looked at it for a while. Tsunade had me take off, but it wasn't my love for medicine and science attracting me to the place. Ryo's image suddenly popped into my mind. That same old cocky smirk plastered on his angelic face with his arms across his chest, turning his head away as his lips formed a pout.
"Should I go see him today?"
I looked over to the large clock in the center of the village.
"No…..I should probably let him rest. I need to go see Hinata anyway…."
I continued my journey to the Hyuuga estate with ease and greeted Gin-san while she was on her way there.
"Morning Gin-san!"
She turned to me and cracked a genuine smile, "Good morning Sakura. Are you heading towards the house?"
I nodded, "I sure am! Would you like me to hold a couple of groceries for you?"
Looking down at the large brown bag in her arms, she looked back up at me and grinned,
"No, I'm fine Sakura. I left early today to make Hinata a special breakfast. Ever since you left yesterday, she hasn't wiped that same smile off of her face. All she could talk about was getting all dressed up and finally getting out of the house for the longest time and seeing all of you guys again".
It warmed my heart to hear Hinata was back to her old self, "Now that she's like this, we have to make sure that Hina doesn't fall back to her miserable state again".
"Of course" she nodded.
We approached the large home, and Gin-san placed the Hyuuga symbol-imprinted keys into the door hole and let the both of us in.
I helped Gin-san make breakfast consisting of all of Hina's favorite foods, including, zenzai and cinnamon rolls.
After about a half an hour's worth of work, Gin-san had me wake Hinata up.
I opened her door with caution and quietly stepped in. There she was with that same smile I missed so much on her face. Her long hair was sprawled everywhere with the lilac blankets covering her body.
While tiptoeing over to her, I noticed a picture frame set on top of her crème-colored dresser. I navigated away from Hina a bit and studied the photo.
It was a picture of what looked like Hinata's immediate family. There were four people: a man, a woman, and two young girls.
The man had no intention of smiling, I mean his expression said it all. As long as I've known Hinata, Hiashi has always been like this. Then I looked down at the two girls. The shorter one had her arms crossed pouting while not even looking at the cameraman, or whoever took the picture. The taller girl wore a light pink kimono with a white flower in her dark hair. A tiny smile adorned her face, but there was something about her eyes which sparked curiosity in me. I squinted trying to look deeper into those pearls of hers. It looked like she almost knew that something dark and tragic would soon take place in her life. When I removed my gaze from her eyes and looked back at the picture fully, I noticed something. Hiashi, Hanabi, and Hinata were a completely separate photo aside from the woman's photo which was taped together to the one with the three others. This woman wore an older version of Hinata's outfit. It was long, elegant, and of course pink. She left her dark brown hair open, but I noticed that she didn't have those same opal eyes as the other three. Instead they were a dark piercing violet color. She and Hinata looked so much alike, it was almost scary like the resemblance between both me and my mother.
"Interesting isn't it?"
I turned and found Hinata standing in her long white nightgown giving me a sad smile.
"H-Hinata….I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to look-"
"No it's perfectly fine, you had to know eventually after we've known each other all these years".
She walked over to where I was standing and also studied the picture. A flash of sadness appear on her face.
"This woman you see here…….is my mother".
I immediately turned my attention to the photo again, "Oh my….."
"I know….since I was only five years old after she passed away, I don't remember anything about her. One day, Gin-san was tending to the gardens and nobody else was in the house except for me. I was always so curious to see what exactly was in my father's room. I mean isn't it weird that I've been living here for my whole life and I've never been inside my parent's room?"
I nodded, "It is a little odd".
She continued, "Well I snuck in and was completely awed by the sight. It's huge with this massive king-sized bed in the middle of the room. There are all sorts of Hyuuga antiques and symbols adoring the furniture and the walls. Then I noticed a picture on my father's side table. I went to go check it out and found a portrait of this beautiful woman. The sight of her just stunned me, hoping that someday I would look like her".
"But you do, except for those eyes" I informed her.
"I know, it was her eyes I wanted. I stood there looking at them for a while until I heard someone open the door. My reflexes told me to get out of there, but it was too late, I got caught. Out of all people, it just had to be my father. Surprisingly, he wasn't mad or anything. He picked me up, sat me on his bed, and told me who this woman was. He said I could keep the picture, and that I did. It was hard to live without a mother, and just looking at this photo of the three of us makes me feel totally empty. I decided to tape her picture next to ours, making us look like a real family".
Tears were on the verge of falling from my eyes. I couldn't show this side in front of Hinata, it would just break her.
"Hinata, what did the elders think about your father marrying out of the family?"
She turned away from the picture and faced me, "They weren't too happy about it, but my father persisted. He was in love with her. I remember Gin-san telling me that he described her as his world".
"That's so sad….."
"Hina….w-what…h-happened?"
She bit her lip, probably trying to keep herself from crying.
"She gave her life for him……."
My mouth was left open, not knowing what to say. I didn't want to pry any further, thinking that wouldn't be my place to ask.
"Hinata, Gin-san made breakfast for you. Let's go downstairs".
That seemed to cheer her up a little bit.
"Alright" she said while walking with me towards the door.
We met Gin-san downstairs and sat down at the table watching Hinata eat.
"Gin-san….this is delicious".
She chuckled at the compliment, "Thank you, but Sakura helped also".
She stopped eating and smiled at me, as I returned it to her.
"Eat up Hina, you need to make up for not eating anything these past few months".
After eating only plate of cinnamon rolls she pushed it back towards us and pat her stomach, "I'm too full……"
I sighed looking at her plate, "Alright…..we'll cut you some slack this time".
"Thank you" she replied.
Gin-san got up and took Hinata's plate over to the sink to wash it, "Girls, I am needed to assist Hiashi-san at one of his meetings so why don't the two of you enjoy your day outside until Ino get's here?"
"Sure" we both said.
Gin-san left for the meeting and Hinata and I hung out in her garden. It was like a dream getaway place. Somewhere where a person could just sit and think for the entire day.
"How often do you come here Hina?" I asked while sitting on one of the two-seater benches as she sat down next to me.
"Whenever problems arise in my life……it's just so relaxing here. Gin-san told me that my mother used to come here a lot also. Apparently, both of us are a lot alike. Except our personalities are very different. She was outgoing and made so many friends with ease. She looked at things in a positive light, in that way, it kind of reminds me of you Sakura".
"Really?" I asked while raising a brow.
She nodded and looked up at the sky. There was no cloud in sight, just an ocean of absolute blue.
We talked nonstop for the next couple hours about such random things, like we've always done. With someone like Hinata, nothing is awkward. You can somehow just trust her. It was a blessing to have a friend like that.
The two of us seemed to lose track of time when we noticed Ino rushing over knocking on the door fervently.
"We should probably open it up for her" I said while getting up.
Hina nodded and we went back inside and opened the door for her.
"Ino-pig!" I greeted.
"Forehead!" she exclaimed while fiercely pulling me into a hug.
Then she caught sight of Hinata bringing her to tears after she literally threw herself at her.
"H-Hina……where have you been?" She asked while pulling away from her and brushing the tears away from her clear aquamarine eyes.
"I-I'm sorry Ino……"
"Don't worry me like that again, do you hear me!? The rest of us have been nothing but sick and worried about you! You can't just shut us out of your life like that!"
I interrupted, "Ino….I know how everyone feels about Hinata's behavior, but she's fine now. She's just been through a lot of stress lately that's all".
Ino nodded, "Okay that's good. Now that everything is settled, let's get you made over Hina!"
"Ino-pig and her makeovers……."
It was a couple hours until dinner time, and the three of us got ready here at the Hyuuga Estate. We each took turns taking showers, fixed up our hair, and the hardest part getting dressed.
Thankfully, I decided on an outfit before coming here and went with that. It was fairly simple but elegant. It was almost like a half kimono, half dress kind of a style reaching up to a little past my knees. There were no patterns, just the same shade of pink like my hair. Then I adjusted a white waist belt and finished up with a simple pair of half an inch heeled white-colored sandals. Since my hair was blow-dried I left it open and kept my face makeup-free. I was proud of my natural beauty and decided to just leave it at that.
I turned to Ino who stood in front of Hinata's mirror trying to pretty herself up. Her long golden-blonde hair was tied up into a stylish ponytail. Her outfit consisted of a sky blue sleeveless hip-hugging kimono with a white scarf to match. Her well-designed high heels made the woman I've been calling pig for my entire life glow.
Ino gave Hinata this totally renewed look. There she was standing with a lilac kimono with large long sleeves patterned with white flower petals. Like Ino, Hinata's long hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and she tied a darker purple sash around her waist, touching up the entire outfit. Like me, Hinata also didn't wear any make up. She was beautiful the way she was.
"Alright girls, it's time! Let's get going!" Pig commanded.
We left the house and walked into the village. It was still bustling full of people all over the place. As the sun set, the artificial lights from the restaurants lit up the village.
"Here we are, Ramen Palace. This place opened like a week or so ago. Everyone's here already, c'mon!" Ino said while rushing inside.
The three of us entered and it was packed full. The host stood behind a wooden podium wearing a suit smiling at us, "What party ma'am?"
She grinned, "Hyuuga".
The man smiled, "Right this way please".
As we walked towards the table, I noticed Hinata becoming a little nervous. I held her hand as a gesture that everything was going to be okay. She looked up at me and nodded.
"Here you go ma'am. Please take your seat and your server will be right with you".
Ino nodded and turned to everyone at the table.
"Hey guys!"
"What do you want troublesome girl?" complained Shikamaru wearing a suit.
"Temari must have gotten to him".
The look on Ino-pig's face was priceless! Her face became red and she looked like she would eat him up alive.
Raising her fist up she glared at him, "Why you little-"
"Ino?"
She turned and smiled at the sight of Sai.
"Sai! It's so good to see you!" She said while hugging him and planting a kiss on his cheek".
She took her seat next to him while gesturing me to sit.
For some reason, I just stood there like an idiot.
"Sakura-chan?"
I looked up and saw Naruto waving at me. He looked absolutely gorgeous in what looks like wasn't a suit.
You see someone like Naruto, absolutely hates getting dressed up. He wore just a simple pair of flexible black pants and his sleeves were ripped off from one of his black ninja shirts with a red bandana around his beautiful blonde head.
"Oh my……"
I snapped out of my trance when I noticed that Hinata stood behind me, which may have been the reason why nobody noticed that she was even here.
"Everyone" I said catching their attention as they stopped their side conversations and looked up at me.
I stepped aside and let them take a good look at Hinata.
Utensils dropped and everyone just stared. Tenten was the first to get up and run towards Hinata hugging and crying.
"Hinata……."
"Tenten……."
They looked at each other and embraced each other again. Soon Temari, Ayame, Rock Lee, and plenty of others followed suit. Everyone backed away and gave her some breathing room. Hinata and I sat next to each other across from Naruto. He sat there staring, but didn't say anything. I looked on the other side of the table and noticed Neji staring at her with a concerned look.
The entire night everyone bombarded Hinata with questions of all sorts and plans to get together soon. Hinata laughed and smiled, and it was nice to see that. For the longest time, she looked truly happy.
"This food is positively youthfully delicious!" Lee commented.
"Shut it Lee, aren't you a little too old to keep saying youthful?" asked Chouji while devouring a piece of meat from his steak.
Lee playfully glared, "Saying youthful keeps you feeling young and healthy. You should learn a thing or two about that since you look a little older than you actually are".
I noticed that Naruto didn't say anything this entire time.
"What's up with him?"
He finally looked up at Hinata and smiled at her, "Hinata, you look…..beautiful…."
I could see the heat rising up from her face, "T-Thank y-you….."
He started the conversation again, "I haven't seen you in so long. It felt really different without you Hinata. Do you think you want to go out to lunch with me tomorrow? You know, to catch up on things like old friends do?"
I don't know why but……Naruto asking Hinata to lunch made me feel hurt. This is something good for her though….she needs this. I just couldn't help the feeling. I thought my feelings were gone, but they're still affecting me. It's possible that they could go away with time. I just want the two people I love dearly to hopefully find happiness together.
I looked up to see her reaction, "S-Sure….."
Then I could hear Chouji raising his voice to Lee, "Are you implying something here Lee?"
Lee leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, "Oh well….you just have a little extra weight on you-"
"WHAT!?" he seethed while threatening to his chair at him.
"Big mistake Lee…."
Ino and Tenten got up and tried reprimanding the two, but they wouldn't stop.
"Lee calm down, I thoughtful a youthful person is able to control their feelings".
Lee's glare looked like it could burn a whole through Chouji's stomach, "Being youthful is also a test to see how well you can use all of your pent up energy and I have just the idea".
Lee through his crème pie at Chouji, who somehow was able to eat it while the pie flew right at him at high speed. The two began throwing all sorts of things at each throwing, accidentally hitting one of the costumers who stood up and threw something back unintentionally at someone else. Soon this entire fiasco, turned into a food fight.
"You guys this is really immature! Stop it!" pleaded Ayame.
"Don't worry Ayame, I'll-whaa? AKAMARU! GET BACK UNDER THE TABLE!" Kiba yelled.
Akamaru scared half of the costumers out of the restaurants and one of the waiters caught the canine in this facility.
"Hey, sir! No animals allowed-AHHHHHH!!!" He yelled while being hit on the head with a bowl of ramen, causing Naruto to laugh like a maniac.
"HAHA, looser!"
Everything was getting completely out of hand and things got even worse when Hinata suddenly screamed and fainted.
"H-Hinata!" I screamed while rushing to her side. Everyone else noticed and stopped the food fight.
"Is she alright Sakura?" Tenten asked while touching the Hyuuga Heiress's head with the back of her hand.
"I don't know…."
Naruto immediately ran over, "Let me take her to the hospital".
"No, I'll take care of her. I'll see you guys later" I informed them as I ran off carrying her back home.
I ran as fast as my legs could take me and finally got back to the house. After urgently knocking on the door, Gin-san opened it and a shocked look appeared on her face.
"Oh my…..Sakura what happened to her!?"
I paused gasping for breath and continued, "She fainted so I brought her back here. Hinata is fine, she needs rest".
Gin-san nodded and followed me as I took her up to her room and laid her down on her bed.
"How long will Hinata be unconscious?"
"Most likely for an hour or so".
She sighed of relief and sat down on the bed, "Is there anything I can do to help her once she wakes?"
I thought about it for a minute, "Just prepare some herbal tea, that usually soothes the mind and body".
She nodded, "Alright…..actually I need to run out and get a few things along with the stuff for the tea. I'll be back soon. Please stay with her".
"Don't worry Gin-san, I won't leave Hinata out of my sight".
She left and I waited in the room hoping Hinata would wake up soon.
"Why did she faint all of a sudden?"
I stood up and looked out her window. Hinata's room had such a great view of the village. I caught sight of everything, the hokage tower, the restaurant which is probably a mess right now, and the hospital. I was eager to see Ryo tomorrow, I'm sure by then he would have completely healed.
After a while of thinking and staring out into the dark skies, I heard rustling on the bed sheets.
I ran over and sat next to Hinata, "Hina? Can you hear me?"
She moaned softly and her eyes slowly opened, "W-What……happened?"
"You fainted" I stated.
She sat there quiet and kept looking at the picture of her family from this afternoon.
"Hinata, do you remember anything before your body completely fell unconscious?"
She turned and met her eyes with mine, "Yes…….It was weird. I saw these mental images in my ahead. Things I have never even experienced in my life. The strange thing was that the images were a little blurry for me to tell what they were".
"She saw images in her mind?"
"Could you have been daydreaming?" I inquired.
She nodded, "No….these pictures in my head seemed too real to be just some daydream. I heard someone screaming…..like they were in pain….and then that person just stopped and……I heard a loud thud on the ground while someone else laughed maniacally".
"Weird…."
I looked at the picture again and stared at the image of her mother. Hinata I wanted to ask you…..what happened to your mom?"
"The story Gin-san told me was a little strange. Apparently she somehow knew all along that Neji's father, Hizashi, was at one point going to kill the head leader of the Hyuuga clan. He was tired all his life of devoting his life to be his own brother's bodyguard. He felt inferior. So my uncle, wanted to end all of this and planned to kill my father. That night, both of my parents were at home alone and Hizashi ambushed the two of them and aimed to kill father. Father was too shocked or stunned to know what was going on. Mother took the hit for him and her last words were, 'I saw your death'. A couple of weeks later, I was kidnapped and if my father killed the perpetrator, then Kumogakure would wage war on Konoha. Hizashi volunteered to serve as a body double and face the consequences for my father. He felt it was the right thing after murdering my mother that night and died knowing this would be his fate".
"Hinata….you said that your mom saw your father's death. How is that even possible?"
"I think I remember Gin-san saying something a long time ago about mother being able to see the future. Her clan was made up of clairvoyants".
"O wow, her mom had visions of the future?"
Gin-san still wasn't home yet and we sat still on the bed quietly not saying anything for a while until Hinata spoke back up.
"Sakura".
I turned to face her, signaling that I wanted to hear what she had to say.
"I think what I saw in my mind was a vision".
My eyes grew wide, "Really? What did you see?"
"Someone's death".
Author's Note: This was a very long chapter, I know I know. What did you think of it? Review please!
Thanks a bunch!
Sweetness.
