Chapter 52 Tradition of Sorrow

Hinata

I had heard no news of the recon group, of Sasuke, or of my Naruto. Kiba and I had been 'going out' for almost a week now, it really was sweet of him. As a matter of fact, I had just returned from a lunch with him, and I absentmindedly twirled a strand of my hair as I watched him walk away. My father's voice, currently occupied, in heated discussion with my aunt, Natomi, could be heard from the living room. I knew better than to eavesdrop, so I trudged to my room. As I flopped down on my bed, a small, folded piece of paper fluttered from the underside of my pillow. Curiously, I picked it up. Unfolding it, words revealed themselves, words I had written many years before.

"I always thought of you as being kind of weird, and quiet, and shy. But now I see, I really like girls like you. Catch you later, Hinata,"

I remembered that conversation so well, and for quite some time they had become my favorite series of words. I remembered writing those words down the night he had said them, clutching them to myself. His words had lit up my life, and were all I had lived to hear. Now, I held them tightly, refraining from crying, a small smile on my lips. My iPod found it's way to my ears, (yes they do have em) and words echoed around my head.

But the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair...

'Too true,' I thought, sliding the paper into my pocket as I slid under my covers.

And I've been housing all this doubt, and insecurity,

And I've been locked inside that house, and while you hold the key,

And I've been dying to get out,

And that might be the death of me...

I pulled the comforter around my shoulders, burying the right side of my face into my warm pillow. I tried to kid myself into believing that life was good, and almost succeeded.

And I'm begging you, I'm begging you, to be my escape...

And I've been housing all this doubt, and insecurity,

And I've been locked inside that house, and while you hold the key,

And I've been dying to get out,

And that might be the death of me...

And I'm begging you, please, begging you, to be my escape...

My father poked his head in to check on me, but aside from that, I wasn't disturbed. More music, more memories, more pain. Just a couple tears, however.

"Hinata dear!" My aunt called up, and I heard footsteps outside in the hall.

I sat up, stood up, and walked to the door. I reached it just as Natomi Hyuuga entered my room.

"Hinata, good to see you again," She said jovially, embracing me warmly.

"Hello, auntie," I said, pulling away.

"Hinata-chan, there's something you and I need to discuss, it is kind of important," She said, as I sat back on my bed.

I cocked an eyebrow, only a little bit confused.

"And what might that be?" I asked her, as she sat down as well.

"Well, Hinata. You, being a Hyuuga, like myself, are subject to our clan's traditions, like those ridiculous holiday parties," She began, ending her sentence with a face of dignified disgust.

I giggled, nodding. I knew that, tradition and proper 'Hyuuga behavior' were the two most important rules I had grown up with. Not like it was really anything new.

"Well, as you may not know, Hyuuga women marry at the age of... sixteen," She said, and it took a full two minutes before her words registered.

"Marry!?" I shouted, probably not quite as loud as necessary in such a situation.

I had no idea of that tradition, I had never been told. What was this all about? Most people got married around twenty, but sixteen? And what about Neji? I asked this last one aloud, and she shook her head. Apparently, Hyuuga males weren't married off.

"I, myself, was married at sixteen and a half. It's not all that bad, it's most likely someone you know and are friends with already, not a complete stranger," She said quietly, obviously sensing my discomfort.

"But... why?" I asked, stunned.

She shrugged her shoulders, answering with the one word that I had expected.

"Tradition, I guess," She replied, putting her hand around mine.

Suddenly, the full impact of the situation hit me. I turned to look her in the eyes, worry plastered to my face.

"Who?" I asked forcefully, and she shook her head.

"I don't know, that's what your father and I need to decide. Don't worry, we'll find someone soon," She said, smiling warmly in an attempt to reassure me.

I swore aloud, tears dripping from my eyes. Soon was the last thing that I wanted, even more so because Naruto was gone. So, the recon group had about six months to bring him home, or my life was ruined. As my aunt looked at me with concern and questioning, I said a silent prayer, hoping harder than I had ever hoped, pleading with Kami-dono that he would come back. My aunt, realizing that she could do no more to help me, and could only make it worse, left without a word. I curled into bed, crying myself to sleep, drowning the second worst day of my life with the tears that now streamed unhindered from my eyes.

Sleep took me, pulling me into my own mind, leaving me to wallow in my unconscious misery. Hours later, when I woke up to darkness pouring in my window from the night outside, my tears had finally subsided. My father was in his room, and I doubted he would talk to me even if he hadn't been. Stamping my way down the stairs, I went to take a walk. One of the guards attempted to stop me, calling out after me.

"Hinata-san, you shouldn't go out there, not with the rogue ninja on the loose, you might get taken!" He shouted, and I turned, a fresh bout of tears flowing from my eyes.

"If damn only," I cried, making my way through the front gates, leaving the man standing in silence.

With no idea why or where I was going, I turned my face to the Hokage monument, where the faces of the past leaders of the village, and the current, were etched into the stone. It had always been one of my favorite places to be, although usually, I went there with Naruto. Slowly, I headed in it's direction, hoping to blow off some steam on the way. The cool air helped some, and I was feeling less upset by the time I reached the bottom of the path that lead up to the top. The hike, putting strain on my muscles, cooled me off even further, and by the time I reached the top, breathing harder, I felt almost calm.

Much to my surprise, and to my moderate annoyance, Tsunade was there as well, sipping a sake, staring out over the village. She noticed me before I approached, and her gaze slowly drifted to meet my own. An expression of concern and compassion took her face by storm, and beckoned for me to sit down beside her. Tears still streaming from my eyes, now puffy and red from the sobbing, I obliged. She frowned, putting her arm around me, and she smoothed out my hair.

"Hinata, what's the matter?" She asked softly, looking into my eyes.

"I-I have to get- to get married," I managed, before collapsing into her side, bawling.

"What? How come?" She asked in disbelief, and I mumbled into her shirt.

"Hyuuga tradition, something stupid like that," I answered, and a compassionate noise emanated from her throat.

She pulled me into her arms, and we both looked out over the town.

"Oh, Hinata. That must be hard," She started, "But what ab-" She continued, catching herself before she made a fatal mistake.

"That must be difficult, it's a big deal, getting married. Don't worry," She said softly, "We'll have Naruto back in no time,"

She smiled warmly at me, and I glanced at her with teary eyes. She nodded, pulling a sheaf of paper from her pocket.

"Here, this is the report from yesterday, from the Naruto retrieval squad," She said, unfolding it, clearing her throat.

Tsunade-sama,

The scent is growing stronger, and the path is taking us farther north, towards the Land of Waves, but higher up. We almost lost the trail in a wide river, but we picked it up again in a nearby town, and now it's stronger than ever. It's been two weeks, and if he is in the northern Land of Waves, it should only take us a week or two more to find him. Neji, TenTen, Sakura, Lee, and the others all wish to give Hinata their best regards, and to assure her that they are trying their best.

Kakashi Hatake

She read aloud, looking at me with expectation. My tears had reduced to a trickle, and a sad, weary smile lifted my lips.

"There," She said, hugging me warmly, "Two more weeks, somewhere around two more weeks. See if your dad will let you hold out till then. Certainly would be interesting, both of you being barely sixteen, you are sixteen, correct?"

I blushed, slightly, nodding.

"I know, I, I don't think I've really accepted it yet. I mean, I still have three years of high school (It was like...not school time up till then, still summer I guess). It's going to be really.. I dunno,"

"Don't worry, Hinata. I'll see if there isn't anything I can do," She said, looking at me with genuine kindness.

"T-Thank you, Hokage-Tsunade," I said, and our conversation lapsed into calm silence.

A/N

Big Big Awesome Mwahaha chapter. Also, much to your shagrin, due to increased homework load, martial arts, and programming, id put updating at about 1 a week :( Id much prefer writing over schoolwork, so if you think you can convince my teachers, by all means, go ahead. Really, truly am sorry, but life sometimes gets in the way. Sorry for the delay, I have an excuse! I got sick, my laptop broke, I have a test the day I post this, and I still have make-up homework from when I was sick, and I'm programming a Zelda game w/ my dad. Thanksyall for yer patience.