Chapter 9: Mikoto's wish
When they arrived, Hinata was struck by the exterior of the manor. She could only imagine how beautiful it was inside. Not wanting to be left behind, Hinata forwent her gawking to quickly follow Kurenai in.
The interior of the house was focused around a large central hallway flanked on either side by long golden loveseats and serving as the main entrance area to three adjacent rooms and two huge staircases which curved away from then toward each other on the upper floor.
Two of the three rooms were quite large. They each had a huge crystal chandelier, several foot ceilings, pocket doors, tall windows and were separated from the hallway by curved arches with columns that served as support for the upper floor. On her left was the dining room, on the right a sitting room with huge loveseats and a fire place, and at the far end was another open room hidden by the statue and the staircases that she couldn't properly see.
Right in front of her was a tan short column on top of which was a short tree with a tortuous trunk whose protruding roots were surrounded by vibrant green leaves artfully placed. On different branches hung rectangle papers of different pastel colors. Far above it was an alcove carved in the celling with a massive crystal chandelier hanging from there.
The second floor formed an 'U'. The curved side had five arches supported by columns. Between its columns, she could see two doors. The two facing sides of the "U", which were curved inwardly, were covered by walls with large windows that were opaque and shiny enough to reflect the hallway's enormous chandelier and hide whatever was behind them.
The dominant colors were deep brown, beige and cold grey. From the quality of the material to the elegance of the colors' palette, Hinata could see the personality of the owners of the place.
While her eyes were delight by the beauty of the place and the elegance of the guests and her smell charmed by the expensive colognes and that of the luxuriant vegetation surrounding them, her tongue was titillated by delicious food scent and her skin caressed by the cool evening air. She felt both intimidated and mesmerized by the place.
She stopped analyzing the fine furniture when her godmother stopped walking. Looking up, she saw two pairs of dark eyes. Uchiha Madara, Sasuke's uncle, was standing in front of her.
Hinata stared as her godmother expressed her condolences. She only reacted when Kurenai lightly grabbed her elbow.
"This is my goddaughter, Hinata"
"Good evening Hinata" He greeted, his deep voice displaying his fatigue "this is my nephew Itachi"
"Good evening Uchiha-san" Hinata bowed to both of them. She was stricken by their looks, their elegance and the blank look on their face which was occasionally broken into a small polite smile. When she straightened, she noticed the fixated way Itachi looked at her.
"Have you called to get Sasuke?" He asked
"Y-yes. I… how would you know?"
"Your voice sounded familiar. I was the one that answered you" Itachi bowed his head slightly forward "Thank you for coming"
Hinata bowed her head.
"If you need anything, I won't be far, alright?" Kurenai said as she looked at both uncle and nephew.
"Thank you Kurenai"
"It's the least I can do"
She could see the resemblance with Sasuke, and the fact that the whole family apparently won in the lottery genes. The difference with the brothers and their uncle was that while the formers were slighter in built and had fine traits, the latter had larger shoulders, seemed sturdier and had a squared jaw.
Hinata noticed that they were all intimidating, their uncle being on a whole other level. She also noticed that they were welcoming their guests without Sasuke, and a swift look confirmed Hinata that the youngest Uchiha wasn't in their immediate vicinity.
Kurenai was called upon by some woman and Hinata took the occasion to go her way. The teen moved forth, her heart hammering her chest, her keen eyes sweeping around the beautiful rooms and furniture without really paying them any more attention. She kept on walking vaguely registering her surrounding until she reached one of the three rooms on the first floor. Butterflies soared: around her were some people standing, others sitting around an unlit fireplace.
Unfortunately, Sasuke wasn't anywhere to be found.
The butterflies died a painful death.
The guests were moved to the biggest room. Excited, dejected, Hinata took a random seat without caring much. That's when she recognized Sakura. The pink haired girl Karin seemed to love hating on. Karin never gave a reason behind the hate and neither was she close to the pinkette to know if it was warranted, but seeing her so sad tonight made her slightly uncomfortable. In fact, Hinata had never been at ease in funerals, wakes and whatnots and the saddened expressions on most faces never helped. She never cried herself at such occasions, but she could've as well been crying a river. Misery did love company but it wasn't her place to feel sorry for the girl, not when she wasn't directly concerned by the tragedy.
Hinata started to turn her face when their eyes met. She gulped.
"Hi, uh…" the green-eyed teen trailed off, her face morphing into one of apology.
"Hinata" the dark-haired girl whispered so as not to be noticed.
"Ah, ok… I didn't know you were friends with Sasuke-Kun" Sakura went on in the same tone.
"Uchiha-san is an acquaintance of K- of my godmother, that's why..." Hinata couldn't finish as much as she couldn't swallow the sudden lump in her throat.
Should she really be looking for Sasuke? Or be dejected for not seeing him? She wondered.
Sakura looked elsewhere. Hinata was glad to be given privacy to recover when she realized her previous interlocutor wasn't the only one looking toward the same direction. Searching some distraction, she followed their gaze.
She breathed in sharply.
The cause of the sudden shift in the atmosphere was none other than the youngest Uchiha who had just entered, heading straight for his place. He didn't even look at anyone there, his features drawn as if he hadn't been getting much sleep lately. Hinata didn't know what to feel or think upon seeing him that way, but her usual inner cocktail of excitement and anxiety left place to sorrow, and understanding. She unfortunately knew the drill to well…
The place suddenly felt too narrow.
The wake began ... she watched as silence fell over the crowd, listened as the priest made the predication while comparing it to her experience with death and listened to Madara praising Mikoto through his speech. She learned that Mikoto was a wonderful woman, and Uchiha were a tight-knit family. That was something she envied until she remembered where the said woman was and how her sons looked like; yet the feeling lingered.
When he had finished, one by one everyone got up to go and lay a rose or meditate on the mahogany casket. Hinata waited for the last one to get up before going. She took a rose from the vase and placed it on top of the other ones.
This is it, she thought.
Neither joy nor peace overtook her -just plain emptiness after accomplishing some huge effort. She didn't even tremble when Sasuke's mother suddenly appeared in front of her on the other side of the coffin.
"Thank you for coming, you didn't have to." She said in a soft voice.
Hinata just nodded. In front of her was a brand-new person: aside from her voice going from blood-curling to softer, she wasn't a nightmare on a stick anymore. The blood, the blemishes, it all disappeared. In their places was a very pale skin, and the same beautiful traits as on her picture standing atop of her coffin.
Hinata didn't answer her and walked away from her previous spot. Despite everyone being away from the coffin, they were not far enough. Some nodded toward them, showed the casket or still looked at it. She went out onto the terrace where the ghost joined her.
"It was the least I could do" Hinata finally answered as she leaned on the balustrade.
"Something tells me that it's not just for me that you're here."
"Uh… do you see it?" Hinata quickly said. She wasn't going to go down that path.
"What?"
"The Passage." Hinata answered after a few seconds.
Mikoto closed her eyes, shaking her head negatively. Hinata on the other hand, was beyond confused. Ghosts usually got through The Passage once they found peace, unless…
"I have something left to do." She announced Hinata as she opened her eyes.
"What?" Hinata was still confused, but not as much.
"That we find the one who did this to me." Mikoto said with a deadly glare.
Hinata took a shaky breath in.
The mention of the word scared the daylights out of her. A murderer. Mikoto was ready to face one with her -not that the ghost had much to lose. In her world, those people usually starred in documentaries and fiction and she'd rather it stayed that way.
Hinata tried to remember what she knew about the case, tried to estimate how much danger she was exposing herself to just by talking to Mikoto. Flashbacks of that day came back to her mind, each one of those moments bringing some kind of serenity to her being.
It has never been about a murder.
"I'm sorry Mikoto-san, I'm aware I can't fully understand what you're going through but… this is just stalling"
"What are you talking about?"
"It was unfortunate, but it was just an accident. You saw it yourself. Besides-"
"No, Hinata, it wasn't." Mikoto said, her tone borderline on frustration.
"The Police-"
"I know what the Police said, but I also know they're wrong" Mikoto took a step forward as if to pacify a feral animal "that's why you've got to help me"
"Mikoto-san… the Police has done their job" Hinata trailed as the ghost sighed and lifted her hands "what makes you think otherwise?"
"I'm sure you've noticed. The trees that came before the torrent were quite sturdy, yet they did not bear any impact of an accident. There's the fact that they're much too close to one another to let my car go through them." She quickly said, not to get interrupted "So, I'm asking you: how did my car land in that torrent?"
Hinata didn't utter a word. Mikoto's little tale had a bit too much details, was a bit too much logical and quite frightening. She hadn't really noticed any of those details. How could she with the sudden discovery of a putrefying corpse and the long awaiting of their professor with the least pleasing of companion. Her brain was too fried to be its usual sharp self.
However, they were just trees, right?
"The Police can't possibly reopen an investigation into this case because of trees" Hinata was suddenly unable to face Mikoto. Maybe then, she'd disappear.
"That's why I need your help." Mikoto told her with irritation in her tone. Why she was angry was beyond Hinata's comprehension but she didn't want to care. She couldn't afford it, especially if the woman was right.
If Mikoto was right, her life might be in danger.
If the ghost was wrong, her life was definitely in danger.
Before she could retort anything, a blonde tornado appeared in her line of view, causing the ghost to leave.
"Oyi, My fav Hinata ever! Didn't know you were there" Naruto said with his big grin, pulling her into a hug. "It isn't the best of occasions but you really look cute tonight"
Naruto was an infectious person. He usually managed to get everyone around him to a certain degree of enjoyment. However, the cold shower that was Mikoto froze Hinata to the core. In response, she sent him a tight, frustrated smile. He had arrived at the wrong time.
He mustn't have understood though for he pulled her away with him.
"Let's get outta here for a bit. We are suffocating in there." He dragged her without giving her time to answer.
She followed along, unable to resist his strength and not wanting to stay behind. He struck up conversation on his own, which was a big relief for Hinata.
"I'm glad you came." He said with a subtle smile. His usual exuberant allure was subdued tonight, his cerulean blue eyes darker. "Could you talk with Sasuke?"
"There's too much people… Besides, I didn't want to bother."
We're not really friends
"What? Nonsense. I'm sure he'd rather you bother him than Kin. The bitch forgot we were at a wake" Naruto said with a mix of bubbling anger and exasperation.
"I can tell that she's your least favorite person too" Hinata replied, a grimace marring her features. Naruto just shrugged.
"He told me that you called the other day to offer him your condolences!?" He informed her, apparently curious to know more.
She was yet again stunned. Sasuke had mentioned her. It seemed so strange to her. Everything that involved them both in the same sentence seemed strange to her. They had done most of their classes together the previous year, yet they had never spoken. Even this year they've never spoken on school ground. There was also the drugstore mishap.
When her eyes fell upon those blue ones, curiosity swimming wildly in them, an idea crossed her mind. Unlike his friend, he was much more friendly, talkative and open. He really did put her at ease, like she could ask questions and open her heart -his eyes begged for it.
"Tell me, Naruto-kun, is your back fine?" she asked, opting for the indirect route. Manipulation wasn't exactly one of her skills. In fact, never before has it ever crossed her mind, and she wasn't sure if it should be called so, but she sure as hell was going to try.
"Uh, yeah? Any time of the year it always is" he said unsure as he hit his back. Swiftly a sly expression crossed his face "what are we trying to know Ms. Hinata?"
"Oh, nothing particular" Hinata answered with a smile. She didn't understand the shift "It's just that last month you came in with a prescription and…"
Naruto laughed so hard, it sounded like a bark. How many seconds it lasted; she couldn't tell but it felt like an eternity as she tried to subdue his laughter. It was nice to know she was accidentally funny but it wasn't worth getting caught doing so in such a moment. Yet it didn't work.
Bracing herself against her instincts and her shyness, she jumped at him and physically tried to make him stop. She begged, hissed, blocked his mouth with both of her hands, but her opponent was far stronger and taller. Even worse, seeing her jump and frantically move around him made him laugh some more. At some point she realized he was just messing with her. He'd turn around or hold his head just right out of her reach. She huffed, crossing her arms as she pouted.
"We are in a funeral wake. We should show more respect" She whispered, looking frantically around.
"Sorry, sorry" Naruto huffed as he wiped away some fake tears "you're too cute for your own good"
"What's so funny? I was worried about you"
"Come on" the blond rolled his eyes; a wide grin plastered on his face "for real though? Even Kurenai caught us within seconds. Now that I think about it, Sasuke owe me big for putting me under the spotlight like that. What you wouldn't do for friends I swear" he shook his head.
Talkative people who apparently had no filter were the best sometimes. Now Hinata was sure of it.
Their eyes met.
"Whoops! Can we forget about that last part?" he scratched the back of his head.
Like hell I would
"So, you weren't really there to get an ointment, right?" she quickly asked. He wasn't going to escape her after what he'd just said "the prescription expired for a month. You knew it right?"
"Aw, I can't tell you ... he's going to kill me if he finds out I couldn't hold my tongue!" He waddled. The blond looked elsewhere but her, crossing his arm defensively.
"Who?... S-Sasuke-kun?" she shyly whispered.
He answered her with a nod of the head.
"I… I promise you that he'll know absolutely nothing about it!" She said, too curious, too hasty.
"No, I can't Hinata. Aw, come on, don't look at me like that" he was fidgeting, but Hinata knew from the twinkle in his eyes that he was on the verge of spilling his guts. "What is it they say about secrets anyway?"
"Please, Naruto-kun. I won't tell to anyone, so if he hears about anything… then it'll come from your side, not mine. Promise" she tried some more with the puppy eyes Karin taught her.
She saw him crack.
"Okay, you win!" He finally resigned himself. "He didn't tell me exactly why, but he absolutely wanted to go to this, err, your drugstore. Believe me, I've been trying to have him spill his guts the whole way there but you know how tough he is."
"Tell me about it." She replied more for his sake.
"But I found out on my own when I saw you why he wanted to come to this store especially." He said proud of himself.
"Please, stop teasing me" she told him. Her voice trembled a bit. She was caught between, surprise, excitement and disbelief. Her brain refused to connect the dots without direct confession, but her heart did so and beyond.
"Swear on my scout's honor" he closed his eyes and held up three fingers as his left hand rested on his chest.
Hinata giggled behind her hand at that.
Despite his childish pose, he didn't sport his silly smile that he had constantly stuck on the face, and his blue eyes reflected a sincerity she couldn't shake off. She couldn't think of anything to say that. She was still surprised by the revelations. Even Naruto's behavior was a wonder to her. Most of his teammates were pretentious prick who acted superior to others, yet the blond was friendly toward her. She even appreciated his company as they continued to walk silently. Their steps led them to the back of the house where there was a basketball court.
"We often played here with Sasuke when we were kids ..." He told her with a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
"You don't do it anymore?" She was amazed given they both were in the basketball team.
"From time to time but the training with the team take up a lot of our time, so we play less on this field." The blond added as he turned toward her.
"And I guess, even less these days"
"It may not be obvious but it made him very sad, I mean, this whole thing." He turned back to the court. Hinata could tell that Naruto was quite affected himself.
Hinata looked toward the house. She hoped to see his face appear at one of the windows, but it didn't happen. It didn't keep her from being engrossed in daydreaming about him being there, the face he would make, how he might feel…
"Hey, didn't you hear a weird noise?" Naruto wondered in a low voice. Hinata saw him from her peripheral view as he twisted around, hands in pocket. As he focused more and more on seeking out something in the dark, she let his shuffles turn into background noise. "Oh shit!"
She didn't have time to react.
A metal-like growl resounded barely a meter from them, as a clatter of glass exploding. Pieces of glasses darted toward her, scratching her legs, arms and face. She's so rigid she didn't feel at first Naruto's hands pulling her back, her feet so rooted in the ground she resisted his strength. That had the effect of knocking them both down.
Silence fell.
An uproar started a little above them on the balcony. With robotic movements, she looked up to see guests who were shooting, talking and taking pictures. The attention seemed to be aimed just at the crumple of metal that had fallen out of nowhere into the middle of the courtyard.
"Hey, are you hurt?" Naruto asked her. He was definitely worried, something she wasn't.
"No ... I'm good" she answered calmly as Naruto helped her up and held her shoulders tight. He looked at her briefly but she knew he wasn't going to find anything. The shock has annihilated everything else.
"No fucking way!" He half shouted "Damn! Is that a fucking car?"
"Yes, yes, it is ..."
Something magnetic urged her on to approach the disformed vehicle. She broke herself free from the blonde's embrace and approached the mass. It was then, that she realized what kind of car it was, who the owner was and how the vehicle had landed there ... this time she wasn't calm anymore.