A/N: I don't own Naruto.
A/N: If you know the myth of Pyramus and Thisbe, the ancient Greek Romeo and Juliet, also the title of this chapter, the wall references will make more sense! Thank you.
They say that mortals should never covet divine creatures as their wives. There were plenty of myths about men who faced tragic endings because they claimed nymphs from the woods or the sea.
Hylas, one of the Argonauts and Herakles' friend, was kidnapped by beautiful water nymphs when he was drawing water from the pond and was never seen again. Orpheus, the famous musician played his golden harp to Hades to bring back his wife Eurydice, the lovely dryad. But he lost his wife and was later stoned to death by maenads, Dionysus's female followers. A shepherd bought the wrath of Artemis by wedding one of her followers who later killed him thinking he was unfaithful.
Yet, nymphs continued to be the perfect women from men's dreams, haunting every nook and cranny of lonely men's hearts with soft whispers, cherry lips, and fair skin. It was the rite of passage for Greek youths to at least have a single incident of dreaming about a nymph.
Sasuke who used to scoff at his friend's juvenile and exaggerated stories never thought he would believe in the legends until he saw Hinata.
But instead of soft whispers like a chattering breeze, she stuttered like a frightened child. But even her stutter couldn't take away the cozy feeling her soft voice imparted to her listener. She spoke as if she was whispering into the ear of her friend after seeing something strange. She didn't sing like the legendary dryads-she hummed a low rhythm. And instead of mischievous flirtation, she would look at him with sad doe-like eyes, as if she was begging for something.
Despite her artlessness, Sasuke knew that if Hinata asked for his heart with eyes like hers, drowning men in their depths, he will put it out for her. And beneath the winsome doe-like eyes and the pouty lips shut in a graceful curve, she was petite but her small size only amplified the mesmerizing effect of her generous curves that dipped and rounded like a potter's art.
He coveted her like no other woman. Before they tied the knot, he coveted her and it felt like sacrilege to even look at her and admire her, craving for a physical and emotional connection. At night, he would fantasize about approaching her bed, touching her smooth body, licking her unbelievably luminous skin, pounding into her while she moaned his name and gasped in pleasure. At day, he would hope for a single glance from her, knowing by instinct that she was somehow superior to him. He detected that the woman he found had grace, class, and impeccable taste, and was incompatible with the life in a humble hut in the wild mountains. She was never arrogant, no, she was modest and humble, always wanting to be of some help and assistance to her savior.
But the way she moved, the way she closed her eyes and smiled when smelling flowers and taking a breath of fresh air, the way she tried to protect her modesty, the perfect and cool-headed way she bowed her head in gratitude towards him in polite silence—for a runaway slave, she was too refined and polished. She was grace incarnate. He couldn't believe that she was groomed to be a sick aristocrat's toy, but at the same time, he knew the perverse part of his nature would never let her go if he had her as well. Despite her life as a slave, she must have only seen fine things—house like a castle, fine clothes, fine food. For the first time ever in his life, he felt ashamed of his status and way of life.
He knew that even though he tried his best to satisfy her needs, deep down, she must be comparing her previous life with the one with him. She did not do it on purpose, but he saw it in the way she would flinch at moments that were everyday life to him but alien to her. He always felt that Hinata was too good for him. Even though she was a slave, she must have been used to upper class lifestyle and luxuries while he was just a hunter who lived off the woods and never had the ambition to be more than what he was.
That was why he half-forcefully urged the beautiful nymph to take his unworthy hand in marriage. The experienced hunter in him used her sweet nature to not want to hurt others and the fact that she wants to repay him for saving her. It was cowardly of him, he knew, but he had to have her. He couldn't bear the fact that the beautiful dryad wanted to give birth to the child of the sick monster—possibly even loved him even if she was not aware of her own feelings. If she said she wanted to go back to her home...he had to stop her and tie her down. So tie her down, he did.
It was pure bliss to finally have her in his arms, to be able to claim her and bend her over to his will and desires. She was perfect, worlds better than he could ever dream of. He had her over and over again. In a moment of weakness, he kissed her forehead and top of her head tenderly, whispering her name reverently. In response, she kissed him back on his cheek carefully as if he was fragile, and withdrew with a red blush. It was not a passionate response of a woman in amorous desire or even lust, but it would have to do for the present. At least, it meant that she didn't dislike him.
So he tried to be the gentle, gallant lover, hoping it would ensnare her with a desire of a loving partner. He was never a lover to anybody, so he was clumsy and foolish. But, sometimes, it worked—she would respond with the most tender, delicious blush on her face and neck, acting like a young fawn when she collapsed in his arms and nuzzled close to him after making love . But he wanted more. He knew when a woman looked like when she was in love—he just avoided it because he was more preoccupied with day to day survival. However, he desperately craved for the same response from his wife even though he didn't show it outward.
But now, he wasn't so sure he could take it in.
Seeing Hinata, naked and bathing in the forests obstructed every sense of self resolve he had ever possessed. Her long dark hair fanned out like ebony silk over the pond, gliding only when she navigated her little peaceful territory in the waters. He saw a tiny freshwater fish glide through her dark hair. The green water gently splashed as she rose from the surface and lifted her hair above her shoulders with outstretched, bare arms. Her arms were the color of marble like the rest of her body. The cold water only heightened the paleness of her skin.
Slight goosebumps rose when he remembered how she looked on bed. His chest rose and fell as his heart palpitated. Warmth pooled below his leather belt over his tunic. Her round pale breasts with dusky pink nipples that he would love to touch were splashing water carelessly, as she moved her arms and twisted around. Yet despite the animalistic desires her luscious body stirred within him, her spellbinding eyes and her full, pink lips kept him in a hypnotic daze. Unaware of her effect on him, her lavender mercury eyes focused on a nearby wild strawberry shrub growing by the bank. She released her hair after squeezing the excess water as she totally forgot about him in her concentration. He occupied himself by watching her hands slide over the pale expanse of her thighs. There were wild raspberries, the color of sweet red strawberries, growing in the boundary between the grass and the water. She poked on a red berry, as if contemplating if it was edible.
Hinata in the green pond surrounded by lily pads and water hyacinths was one of the most beautiful things he has ever seen.
She raised halfway from the surface, and he could see her the water beading underneath her full breasts and the drops falling across her sinuous waist and the dip of her buttocks. Half of her bottom submerged in the green water.
When she finally noticed his gaze, he saw her cheeks turning red, a beautiful color heightened by the marble pureness of her complexion.
Her eyes widened at first but then she stared back at him, in an unexpectedly stoic demeanor that surprised him. It was as if she was reprimanding him without words. Sasuke almost laughed. It would have worked, if not for the growing redness of her face that betrayed her. He wanted to see her entire body grow red.
Sasuke leaned his temple on his fingers and watched. He doubted that the goddess Kaguya would be as alluring as the naked Hinata.
He was impressed to see her holding out on her own as they continued staring at each other. But he knew that it was a matter of time before she broke down because of her shyness and hide from his gaze.
She was doing well, looking at him sternly, but she finally dove head-deep into the water. He immediately missed seeing her neck, her breasts and exquisite naval region. Only her spell-binding eyes were above the surface, watching him, narrowing at him in disapproval.
He hid his chuckle with his hand. He wanted to tease her, tell her that she looked like a frog.
Gloating on his victory, he called for her, "Come here, Hinata."
He found out that she could be quite stubborn when she wanted to be. Her eyes darted anxiously around as if to find a way to escape.
When she found no such escape route, she against narrowed her eyes at him. Sly-her eyes seemed to accuse him.
Then she plucked a round lily pad. At first, Sasuke did not know what the use was for.
But she soon waded towards him and gradually appeared above the surface, pressing the dark green lily pad against her breasts. His heart palpitated like a mad man's when he saw her innocent face turning crimson and her wet dark blue hair trailing across her beautiful figure that was wet from the bathing. He almost let out a strangled gasp from his longing, and he felt his chest pathetically beat the moment he saw her approach him.
When she was close enough, he detected a whiff of water lilies from her wet hair. Her face was flushed red from the coldness of the air and embarrassment at being so close to him, while her large lavender mercury eyes gazed back at him. He stared back at her.
When he reached out his hand towards her cheek, she started at first, but soon relaxed into his hand, closing her eyes. Her dark eyelashes were wet from the bath, and her rosy lips were closed. Water was dripping from her dark indigo hair.
There was only one modifier his limited vocabulary could come up with. He uttered, "Beautiful."
At his word, she started, and he felt the jump of her wet hair across his fingers. Another woman might gift him with a ravishing smile, at his, what was to him, lavish praise, but Hinata was too shy. But it was her shyness that stroked the fire of desire in him and his hands carefully reached out. Her eyes with long lashes beaded with moisture drifted down slightly, unaware of his hands that were about to seize her.
Hoisting her up by grabbing beneath her underarms, he fished her out of the green pool. Her back fell flat on the mossy bank, and the sunlight hit her wet, pale torso. Her naked body almost looked slimy under the sun rays cascading between the canopy. Her lavender hues jerked up to him in surprise.
He laid her down on the bank and started touching her entire body, his hand raking the entire length of her side, massaging her ample breasts beaded with moisture, rubbing the pale expanse of her thighs.
When she writhed and squirmed, her arms twisting in her attempt to block his gaze from her face, he murmured, "So shy..." when she covered her face with the back of her hand, he couldn't read the expression of her face. Framing her covered face, her long blue hair sprawled across the water bank, the ends dipping into the green pool.
When the water nymph kept struggling, he pressed his hand against her left inner thigh and pinned her to the forest bed. The girl whimpered but she could not help her body being exposed to her captor's hungry gaze as he loomed over her like a predator.
When her luminous body spread out before him, he licked his lips and stared down at her breathless. He was in a daze, as if he was drugged. He unconsciously murmured praises, "so pretty..." His eyes fell on her slightly shocked lavender eyes, her gaping lips that glistened by the moisture, her creamy throat, but when his gaze fell down to her breasts, he found himself latching onto her rosy brown nipple without thought, more pulled by instinct's call. Her back arched and she let out a keening whine at the sudden feel of a molten mouth latching onto her nipple.
He sucked on more force than he should have, earning a panicked cry from his water nymph. He opened his eyes and made eye contact, as he apologetically covered her pale sensitive mound with tender kisses. He saw the tears pricking on the edge of her lavender eyes that looked down at him in surprise, fear, and arousal. His hand reached to cup her lovely face and he placed his lips on hers. His thumb rubbed off the tears that trickled down her face. She smelled like fresh lotus flowers. His hands touched her trembling side as to comfort her, soothing her tremors that ran across her chest and thighs. "You're mine now," he rasped, "I claimed you-"
At his possessive words, she twisted to a side, turning her back on him, shielding her breasts from his hovering eyes. Her long dark blue hair stuck to the pleasing curve of her spine that dipped into the crevice of her hips, causing his mortal heart to ache. She looked as if she was bidding her opportunity to dive back into the dark green pool—the cunning siren. But he wound his powerful arm across her abdomen and held on her shoulder, pulling her body flush to his chest. When she glanced back at him with her glassy lavender eyes, studying him quietly as a stranger, he felt as if his heart was going to break with longing, his entire being screaming that he wanted her. With his free hand, he hurried to remove his trousers and free his raging erection. The cold air by the waterbank did little to calm his throbbing cock that poked at her hips in search of her entrance. Shutting his eyes, he impulsively buried his lips into her wet hair, right behind her burning ear.
Warm air puffed from his lips and turned into mist at the cold atmosphere. In a heartbeat, he entered the flushed female, who was standing on four, her hands gripping on the grass, knees pushing into the mud. His controlled thrusts ripped out a strangled cry from her throat, and he continued pounding into her. Buried in her succulent warmth, he placed a soft kiss on her shoulder. He withdrew from her slightly and then entered her soft milky walls that hugged him in return. Even though he knew it was simply a biological reaction, he couldn't help but feel soft and mushy inside— as if she was accepting every part of him—the ugly, the possessive, the gentle, the inglorious and tender parts that made him. And when he tasted that feeling of acceptance from her, he met his greatest peak of desire and pleasure.
When he withdrew after achieving the height, he turned her around, placing her back on the forest bed. He placed his lips on her left armpit, buried himself to her neck, and took in deep breaths. He felt her wrap her arms around him and play with his spiky hair. He eased further into her arms. Her rough breathing ruffled the black strands on the crown of his head.
He heard her call him softly, "Sasuke..."
The water nymph embraced him.
Something was a bit strange, Hinata thought. Why was she sitting on Sasuke's lap? When did he strip and join the green pool with her?
She heard the gentle sound of splashing water as he rested his arm on the bank. She gasped once she felt his skin between her legs, letting her sit between his thighs as her back pressed against his hard chest. She blubbered with embarrassment at first—they just did the deed—and in the outdoors. She tried to squirm out of his hold but he merely tightened his fingers around her arms and held her still.
"Hmm..." a low rumbling sound of contentment came from his throat as he nuzzled her hot earlobe affectionately. She was sure she was flushing red again.
She felt his long legs intertwine with hers in the depths of the water. She could make out the shape of their knees in the murky green water.
A light blue water lily floated and caught her eye. His eyes followed the line of her sight and fell on the flower too. She tugged the flower close to her and held the stem, bringing the light blue blossom close to her nose. She smiled brightly. She always thought that water lilies were to be admired from a distance, so she was pleased to stroke them and touch them.
He cocked his head in interest and wound his arms around her shoulders.
Thinking that he wanted her attention, she turned her eyes away from the light blue water lily to a pair of deep dark eyes.
She smiled and lifted the flower to his nose, but he merely shook his head at the offer. She then wondered if he might be needing assistance, like washing his back.
"Do you...need anything?" She asked with a smile.
"No," he answered, his intense dark eyes boring into hers. "I just want to stay like this."
Her eyes widened as she saw him affectionately lay his head by her wet shoulder. She never saw him so cuddly like this before. He was always sweet, always thoughtful and caring, and even showed unexpected outbursts of passion, but this time, he looked as endearing as a little child. She supposed submerging in the cool pond had a calming effect on the man.
Seeing him so sweet and vulnerable, laying his head on her shoulder called forth Hinata's protective, maternal instincts, and she reached out her hand and rubbed his neck gently.
When he started and rose quickly from his languid, relaxed state, she blushed and quickly explained, "I-I didn't mean to surprise you. I thought you might want me to help you wash. S-Since you came to the pool." She frowned. He just bedded her in the middle of the forest, but he could act so shy in unexpected times.
His dark eyes narrowed at her, "Are you saying I am dirty?"
"No," she giggled, "but a scrub never hurts anybody." She added cheekily. Unable to keep the mirth from her soft voice, her lavender eyes glittered with amusement. He looked at her bemused by her cheekiness.
"Fine," he crossed his arms. "Then help me wash." Hinata stared at the mischievous smirk that pulled along his lips. She could almost read his thoughts like the back of her hand. He was thinking that she was going to turn bright red like an apple and stutter like she was in the middle of a typhoon.
She hummed. We'll see about that.
Instead, she scooped a handful of water with her hands and gently saturated his neck. To her satisfaction, his smirk dissolved quickly and his dark eyes looked slightly shocked.
She gently massaged the knots of the back of his neck and with her other hand scooped more water to his neck. She continued the same movements until she was sure that she did a thorough job washing his neck. She felt the weight of his gaze as he stared at her face, but she instead concentrated on washing his neck with tender care.
She avoided looking straight at his entire face. Even to this day, Sasuke's face still had an intimidating aura, and she was not good at facing him directly.
Then she heard his low voice, "Hinata."
Lavender eyes looked at him in question.
Redness seeped into her cheeks when his dark eyes locked with hers, "you don't have to do anything."
-past-
Ever since she was three when they first met, Hinata always viewed Neji as a hero. At the age of eight, she was always fascinated by the tales of gods, goddesses, and heroes. As Neji matured, he resembled the kind of hero she would hear about in the bards' tales-the equivalent to Herakles and Achilles. He could swim in the greatest depths of the sea, excelled in martial arts including archery, wrestling, and sword arts, read Greek like the back of his palm, and was even learning how to speak and read Egyptian and Persian. He gave her the prettiest seashell he found in the deepest marine depths, one of his many quests that added to his aristeia (glory, honor). When he shoot the arrow, it would always hit the mark no matter the distance, and soon at the age of nine, he rode his horse and won his first prize in the royal family's ceremonial fox hunt that held every summer in honor of Artemis. Hinata secretly felt a little dejected when everyone, except Kou-one of the king's main advisors and her royal tutor, compared Neji's caliber to her lack. However, what gave her a slightly stronger pang was that Neji seemed to be getting farther away from her reach.
She noticed how Neji always seemed to be surrounded by the elites of the nation and princes and princesses of neighboring countries. But in her eyes, even though he might sometimes be the youngest in the gathering, he seemed to shine the brightest. But even surrounded by his powerful friends, advisors, and often adoring fans, his eyes stayed locked in front of him as if he simply tolerated them.
She was always far off, her hands clasped behind her back as she watched the group, being the child who was always let out.
At that time, her biggest happiness was when he would catch a glimpse of her, make the most genuine smile, and wave his hand. All feeling of loneliness and isolation would be dispelled at that simple wave like the sun chasing the shadows, and she would wave back as if he was the hero of the legends and she a humble admirer.
And whenever she heard him call "Hinata sama," she couldn't help but fill joy at how his unwavering warmth and closeness. Neji never looked at her with contempt even if the royal main did. He was always kind and respectful and warm.
But she couldn't help but miss the old times he would race with her in the flower fields or the deep water marshes under the supervision of Kou. That was when she was about the age of four, and she could remember the melange of colors, the splash of the sun, the orange groves. Kou would yell, "Be careful!" but the man's warning would be drowned in the children's laughter that was like the summer sea.
Neji was her window to the outside world. Whenever he came back from outside Knossos, he brought back little trinkets of the outside world-be it a handkerchief with that nation's emblem or exotic candies.
One time, in her room, they squatted over the floor and spread the many colorful handkerchiefs that he gifted her. The colorful silks draped across the light green veins of the pure marble floor.
The little eight year old girl furrowed her brows in confusion as she looked at a handkerchief that had a stylized representation of a orange fox with nine tails, standing on its powerful hind legs and spreading its long claws that looked like eagle's talons.
Hinata looked at Neji, her eyes wide in curiosity, "s-so Namekaze worships a beast as a god? Bu-but we catch foxes!"
She hoped this wouldn't cause a diplomatic problem between the two countries.
He shook his head, "Kurama is not an ordinary fox like the ones in our forests, Hinata sama. He is a demon."
Her lips gaped, "De-demon?" Demons were even worse than titans in her book. Why would such a powerful country worship a demon?
He spoke nonchalantly, "It might seem strange to Cretans, but there are many countries that do not serve the Olympian gods."
She was shocked to hear her nine year old cousin say such sacrilegious things as if they were simply facts. But she could not help but nod in morbid fascination.
Her tiny dimpled finger pointed at a handkerchief, one with black margins surrounding a red template. In the middle of a handkerchief was a big eye. The eye spooked her with the red irises and the three black pupils that reminded her of tadpoles with the tails.
"And this one..."
She pursed her lips in thoughtfulness. Neji patiently waited, his legs crossed on the floor, his hands grabbing his ankles.
"W-why would Mycenae worship a bo-body part?"
"If we are to compare, it would be like Cretes worshiping our eyes. The pupils are called "tomoes" and the eye is the "sharingan." It is a symbol of Mycenaean royalty. Legend says that the Mycenaean royalty inherited their eyes from Ares, the god of war. In their version, they refer to him as 'Madara.'"
Hinata mumbled, "Sh-sharingan..." She decided the keep the tadpole comparison to herself. It didn't seem too respectful to the people that prided in being the descendants of Ares.
"Ne-Neji ni"
Her soft voice leashed his attention. She felt his gaze on her face. His eyes looked at her in interest when her lips made a wide grin.
She turned around and crept to underneath her bed on her knees. Neji watched when she swayed her arm under the bed as if she was about to fish something.
As if she was holding a treasure, she picked out a small glass jar, covered with mint leaves. She wrapped it with the mint leaves to keep pests like ants away.
She handed the little treasure to Neji who peeled the mint leaf packaging and opened the jar, peering into the contents.
"I-I don't need your help to steal the honey tarts anymore," she smiled, "I-I made them."
She used to reach towards a jar of honey tarts with his help, her sitting on his shoulders as they teamed up to claim the forbidden sweets. When they succeeded, she popped the sweet into his mouth first before munching onto hers. Crumbs stuck to their little rosy lips.
When she looked at the unreadable expression of his stoic face, staring at the jar, she added quickly in fear that he did not like the gift, "I-I always a-accept things from you-and-"
A firm voice,"Hinata sama-"
She squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head, "I-I know you like bu-buckwheat noodles now-w-with dr-dried herring " She fidgeted with her fingers nervously. She didn't notice his shoulders going rigid.
He said, fierce, so she wouldn't protest it, invalidate herself in front of him, "Hinata sama-" she felt his bandaged hand cup her cheek-her eyes drifted down in embarrassment at the touch. She waited for him to continue.
He didn't say anything, only drew her towards him by cupping the back of her neck to bring her head up.
She felt her short hair covering her cheeks shift as his bandaged fingers touched her neck. A slight chill ran across the back of her neck, and her eyes widened. She couldn't even make a noise of surprise.
Closer, so that there was barely any space between their foreheads.
He pulled her towards him, inclining his bare forehead against hers.
"I'll never forget this," her entire being expanded in joy at his words, "Thank you."
Women in diaphanous muslin tunics carrying baskets of pomegranates chattered amongst themselves.
Crouching in the background of the garden that was structured like a maze, Hinata was sure the pomegranates will be very tart and sour.
But they were beautiful fruits that are rare for having stamens like red lilies, so they were used as indoor decorations in the court.
She overheard one of the maids saying, "The prince of Mycenae has finally arrived-"
"Finally," another handmaiden stretched her back and groaned, "weeks of preparation are finally over-"
"I heard that the first prince of Mycenae is very handsome,"
The handmaidens shared a sly glance and giggled. But their knowing glances and giggly laughter ceased when the head handmaiden appeared.
The head handmaiden crossed her arms and snorted haughtily, "It is the youngest prince who is coming. You lasses are more depraved than maneads. And you are all old enough to be his aunt!"
Hiding behind a tall laurel tree, Hinata overheard the news of the visit of the Mycenaenan prince to Knossos. It was supposed to be the most prestigious diplomatic affair of the year. But Hinata could not hope to have the glimpse of the prince and the beautiful ceremony that was supposed to greet him.
She sighed. She was just taking a short break from taking care of her baby sister Hanabi who cried a lot day and night. But now she was reminded of the reason she could not attend the festival despite being the first daughter of the king.
Hinata has always lived a sheltered life. Hiashi ordered that the royal women were to be separated in a specific quarter in the palace and zealously guarded his daughters' privacy. People thought that it was sign of paternal love and protection, but Hinata knew that her prideful father simply did not want the people to spread news of his first daughter, the stuttering mess.
She dusted her butt of the dirt with care as she rose. Then she reached an epiphany.
I could ask Neji ni-san! Pure elation spread across her chest.
So she went to the training quarters of the palace. The training quarters were surrounding by towering yellow brick walls like a fortress. The space was divided into the three spaces: wrestling, archery, and sword arts. The wrestling quarter was filled with sand in the bottom to cushion the fall of the warriors. The space for sword arts was marked by wooden pillars installed at intervals across the expanse. Neji told her that the pillars were called "dummies," making her laugh. In the left, there were logs used as benches where the soldiers had lunch, polished their weapons, did push-ups, and other activities.
She spotted him, standing in the the sword arts quarter, turning his back to her. She was pretty close, just a few feet away, but he was not alone. He was with his father, appearing to have a conversation.
She heard his voice that she always loved hearing, "Yes, father. I was with Hinata-sama."
She was about to surprise them, but she then realized that she should maybe just keep her distance until their conversation was done.
The grim way Hizashi's jaws were set made her back away and hush herself, even though there was a low possibility that they will catch onto her eavesdropping.
She saw Hizashi drop to his left knee and grab the nine year old by his shoulders, "Neji, you must never, never plant such idea in Hinata sama's head."
The mention of her name startled her. She remembered her uncle to be kind and warm towards her, sometimes even petting her silken hair the way he does to his own son. However, the tone he adopted as he said her name made her sound like a threat.
Hizashi's voice thickened, making Hinata's chest constrict, "Don't you understand? You are-"
In a gentler tone, Hizashi tried to reason with his son, placing his hands over his shoulders that uncharacteristically stiffened,"You deserve so much more. Not Hinata sama."
Her fingers curled tight at the mention of her unworthiness. But she did not expect such sentiment to pass through her kind uncle's lips. Maybe his kindness was just pity, or worst, a ploy to ease her worries and her father's suspicion. But she decided to suspend such thoughts. She wanted to know what Neji thought.
She could only see Neji's back, but she could imagine the confusion etched in his brows when he did not understand something, "But father...my job is to serve Hinata sama. You told me that Hinata sama is my charge."
At his words, Hizashi dropped his hands that were placed on Neji's shoulders and stood up, looking sideways with a cold expression, "She is better fit to leave this nation, Neji."
"No!" the sudden and loud way he burst out that word was enough to startle even his father. Hinata never heard Neji speak out like that to Hizashi. "Father, I respect you and love you, but please don't speak of Hinata sama like that."
She couldn't help the warmth that spread across her chest at her advocate's fiery defense of her. And he defended her from his own father. Thank you, Neji ni-
Hizashi grimaced. He seemed upset at his son's noble heart. But then he seemed to have a change of mind. His brows softened, and he switched onto the expression of gentle, paternal affection instead.
"Let's stop with this serious conversation, Neji."
Hizashi bent over and his right hand reached out to grab his son's forehead, covering his eyes and swaying his head side to side. Neji forgot the tenseness of the situation before and laughed, "Father!" Despite what has passed, Hinata could not help but smile too. Hizashi would do that, holding his son's head in such teasing and paternal gesture, since Neji was four. She saw him do that since she was three. She knew that unlike her father, her uncle dearly loved his child. She was happy for Neji. He deserved a loving father and so much more.
But sometimes, she thought, I wish I had a father like uncle too.
"Here, come here, my boy," Hizashi backed off and took on a battle stance, "Let your father show you how to fight."
But a look of hostility swept across Hizashi's face when he noticed a pair of lavender eyes watch them. Neji followed his father's line of sight and his grey hues widened to see her timidly stand a few feet away. Hizashi's hostility was quickly replaced with relief though when he noticed that it was just Hinata. Hinata made a sheepish smile, approaching them two and receiving their bows as if they did not just talk about her.
"I-I'm sorry to disturb," she apologized. "Ma-May I just borrow Neji ni-san's time?"
Hizashi nodded and moved away, giving them privacy. Hinata saw the way Neji's lips crinkled, as if he was hiding something from her. Her eyes dropped to the corner of his lip dropping to a firm line.
Neji usually greeted her with an impassive face and decorum because of others' gaze. But she could see the guilt in the way his mouth twitched and how his seriousness did not reach his eyes.
She didn't want to see him guilty. It was not his fault, and he even defended her when he didn't have to.
He turned and sat on one of the logs, pretending to tie his sandals. Hinata would stay a few feet away behind his back. To observers, it would seem that they were keeping appropriate distance.
It was a little dance of pretense that they played. The palace rules were suffocating and strict, and ice-cold discipline drilled into them kept them looking impassive and aloof.
When she was sure nobody was paying them any attention, Hinata asked carefully, to change the topic and hopefully the tense atmosphere, "Neji ni, h-have you s-seen the prince of Mycenae? "
For the first time, Neji's shoulders seemed to stiffen at her question. At first she wondered if he had heard her question. He finally said, "Yes."
When he refused to talk further, Hinata's eyebrows rose in question. Her cousin was always indulgent when it came to her curiosity of the outside world. But this time, he seemed to be hesitant of talking about the Mycenaean prince.
She prompted, "What is he-he like?"
After a long hiatus, he finally said, "He's about your age, Hinata sama."
So, he's eight, she beamed at the new information. "So lucky!" She exclaimed, her eyes exuberant as she grabbed the chance to talk about something new. "To-to be just eight and be able to cross the sea...and visit countries on his own, without his parents." Hinata's pointer fingers met each other as she smiled, "Mycenae is one of the mo-most powerful na-nations no-now and is two times as big as Cretes. Agamemnon i-is from Mycenae. I-I wonder what the royalty is like!"
His eyes that looked older than his peers' gazed at her beyond his shoulder, "Mycenae's power should serve as the biggest motivation to empower our nation, Hinata sama."
At his calm, adult tone, Hinata blushed in embarrassment. She suddenly felt that her curiosity and desire for adventure, even a vicarious one lived through others, was a bit too childish. Maybe it was time for her to sound adult as well.
He stood up from the log. He looked down at her reassuringly, his hands holding firm on his wooden sword, "So that when you are queen, nobody will challenge your reign."
She looked at him, startled. She gaped at him even though he looked as if he said the most normal thing in the world, "Yo-you really think I will be qu-queen?" She was startled but she tried to bolster her spirit, "Bu-but everyone knows that you are the better fit to be king of Cretes, Neji ni. I-I wish you were successor, instead. If we switched places..." Her face fell as she could not dispel the feeling of guilt. It was as if she stole Neji's clothes, and she was wearing a tunic several sizes too big for her.
Nobody would have guessed the urgent context of the two young children's words.
He spoke gently but firmly, "You must learn to be confident, Hinata sama."
Showing his back to her, he spoke as if the words were directed to himself, "When your life or reign is in danger, I will protect you."
She slightly lowered her head and a softest shade of pink suffused over her cheeks and bridge of her nose. He would often tell her that, but it felt good regardless of how frequently he said it. She watched the wind sweep his long hair as he run to the training quarter.
The next morning, Hinata could already hear the sound of her baby sister crying from the hallway.
"WAHH-" the infant wailed, crying until she was choking and her face turned beet red. Hinata saw that the nurse and handmaidens were at their wit's short end as to how to calm the princess.
She went over to the straw cradle and puckered her lips, "Hanabii, why are y-you crying?" She cooed gently. She reached out and let the baby wrap around her finger in a strong grip.
When Hanabi still could not calm down, she pulled out her last weapon, drawing out a big golden acorn and placed it in the baby's pudgy hand.
Almost magically, the baby started to calm down, "hmph! Hmph-um!" The baby grabbed on the golden acorn, curiosity shining in her sparkly grey mercury eyes. She sucked on the acorn and was so preoccupied with her new toy that her grievances were forgotten.
The wetting nurse sighed, "Princess Hanabi only calms down when you come, princess Hinata."
Hinata tried to speak as clearly as she can without making a stutter, "She...seems...to re...cognize me."
She looked down at her baby sister with adoration in her eyes, her shiny indigo hair falling by the side of her cheeks.
Dismissing the handmaidens, Hinata rocked her baby sister to sleep. When Hanabi woke up after her nap, she put her in the care of the wetting nurse and went to Kou, her royal tutor.
It was already noon when she finished taking care of her sister and completed her morning studies. This was her precious break. Neji was offering hospitality to the Mycenean guests under the instruction of his father, duties that would have been her charge if she was competent and Cretes was an egalitarian society.
She decided to go to the big acorn tree and pick some more golden acorns and put it in a transparent silk pouch for Hanabi. That way, Hanabi could shake on the pouch and play with the golden acorns without worry that she will swalllow and choke on one.
The golden acorn tree was by the big brick wall that separated her private garden from the rest of the palace. The tree was inside her private garden, but the branches that bore golden acorns weighed down heavily on the other side of the wall. The connecting compound outside of the wall was always empty, as ordered by the king. Not even servants approached that area, except gardeners who came to take care of weeds. So that was why the first princess could go to her special tree without being bothered by anyone else.
But when she came to her tree, to her dismay, she saw that the acorn tree's branches were all swayed to the other side of the wall.
It must be the rainstorm from the other night, she thought. She scooped down to the floor, mindless of the dirt on her dress, and surveyed the ground for any golden acorns. But all she could see were plain brown ones, the majority of them rotting in the dirt with grime and bugs.
"Yuck..." she murmured when she picked one golden acorn to see the half of it decayed.
She sighed as she looked up to the towering tree. If she was athletic like Neji, she would gladly climb up the tall tree and scoop the golden acorns. If Neji was by her side, this wouldn't be a problem at all. She could see the prizes glittering like pieces of treasure by the sunlight. To her young, greedy eyes, the entire tree looked like a golden wreath of Apollo.
She had one idea though. But it was a somewhat foolish idea and she hoped nobody would see her.
There was a part on the wall where a full brick was missing. She found that part and after checking if there was anybody watching her, she drew up her sleeves and pushed her little arm through the gap.
She decided to wait until the wind blows and maybe, just maybe, one acorn could happen to fall on her waiting palm.
As she stuck her entire arm through the hole, she couldn't help but feel foolish. But if anyone lost nights of sleep because of a crying baby, surly that would make her childish act excusable, if not understandable.
But then she heard a loud shriek on the other side of the wall, and she could swear to goddess Kaguya, that it sounded like a girl her age.
"Oh-oh," at the piercing scream, she quickly retracted her hand, "I-I'm so sorry!"
"What are you doing?" she heard an angry voice, probably from a child who was around eight years old.
Flustered, Hinata apologized again, "I-I didn't m-mean to scare you!" She struggled to see the face of her poor victim, but she could only see the garden outside the wall through the gap. But it was clear that the child was in proximity to the wall. She could hear the child's voice as if they were right next to eachother.
"I was not scared!" was the haughty retort. "I was just upset to see someone trespassing in my territory!"
Hinata frowned. She wondered what kind of child had such a nerve in the palace. Nobody could claim any spot in the palace, except the king.
Judging by the child's hauteur, she did not think this was a servant. But every aristocrat and royal member, both branch and main, were taught since at a very young age to be prudent in speech regarding the king and the royal blood.
Who is this child? She wondered.
But she supposed that the sight of a child's pale arm jutting through the wall in broad daylight would cause even an able man to quake and panic. It was a sight not even performed in the most lurid tragedies.
When she heard light footsteps receding from the wall, trudging on the grass, she called out desperately, "Please don't go-!"
Surprisingly, the footsteps did stop. She mumbled meekly, almost like a plea, "C-can you give me just one g-golden acorn on the ground?"
The child retorted gruffly, "Why should I?"
Despite her soft character, Hinata felt a little miffed. This child on the other side of the wall was not nice at all.
She remembered Neji's explanation that every connection was forged through some sort of bargain, "I-I have some honey tarts to trade!"
She heard a pssh on the other side of the wall. "I don't like sweets."
She gasped. Even that was shot down.
Refusing to give up, she tried once more, "Th-then what do you like?"
After a brief pause, the child answered, "Tomatoes."
Unusual-she thought. "I-I'll give you one if you please give me one golden acorn-"
"How do I know you will keep your promise?"
"I-I will swear on goddess Kaguya!" She was not supposed to swear so easily, but she could not help it.
"Who is she supposed to be?"
Hinata gasped once again. Such an impudent child!
Then she heard the child say with an edge of cockiness,
"If you swear by Madara, then I will believe you-"
Madara-her lavender eyes lit in understanding, "You-you're from M-Mycenae!"
A pause. When Hinata stood in front of the missing brick, she gasped to see a pair of beautiful, long lashed eyes the color of onyx squint at her.
Hinata thought. So pretty!
The frosty contempt in the child's voice considerably lessened,
"How did you know?" Instead, there was curiosity.
When she sensed the genuine curiosity in her peer's voice, she could not contain the sense of achievement at winning over her, "I-I always loved h-hearing and reading a-about other countries! Of all the countries I-I know, My-Mycenae is the most f-fascinating!"
"Hnn, of course it is." But the voice still sounded pleased at her praise. "Not like this little boring island."
Hinata frowned, her lips turning upside down. Despite his pretty eyes, the boy's personality had much to be desired.
"Bu-but Mycenae is te-technically an island too-"
He grunted as if she just unexpectedly jabbed him in the gut.
She quickly added, "bu-but that's why Mycenae is so amazing! I-I want to know how your kingdom managed to keep its territories in the ma-mainland for ce-centuries and secured the biggest trading port. My teacher Kou told me that Mycenae and Cretes are like both sides of the same coin. That is why we must learn from each other!"
There was a pause from the other side that kept her at edge, "What's your name?"
"Hinata-my-my name is Hinata!"
She asked with hope, "C-could you te-tell me yours?"
"No," his voice was not cold but nonetheless firm, "I am not supposed to give out my name at a foreign country." He seemed to be contemplating, "Unless..."
"Never mind. A baby like you wouldn't know."
Baby? Indignant, she demanded with as much regal air she could muster, "H-how old are you?"
"Eight."
"I-I'm ei-eight too!"
Another thoughtful pause. Hinata was about to feel the welling sense of triumph until she heard the boy ask, "When is your birthday?"
When she told him, he said "ha!" in triumph. "I was born three and a quarter moons before yours. I am still older than you."
They talked some more, he about his country Mycenae and Hinata about Cretes. He did most of the talking, and she eagerly listened, taking in the wealth of information from the eight year old like a sponge. She did not know time passed so quickly, as she clung to the gap created by the missing brick, staring into the pair of beautiful ebony hues that showed so much vitality.
The next day, Hinata came back. She was ecstatic to see flashing onyx eyes glare at her beyond the gap.
"You again." Pretty dark eyes narrowed at her through the rectangular hole, watching her as if he was appraising some strange creature. "I told you I don't want to have someone trespassing."
"I-I'm sorry, she clasped her hands together, "I actually was...w-waiting for you-"
She pushed the red fruit she smuggled from her breakfast dish through the hole, "Would you like a tomato?"
Hinata should not have forgotten what Neji said to her when she was six as he gave her a chess board he got from his trip from Athens with his father.
It was a chessboard made of the sacred olive tree, with pieces carved of black and white jade. Each piece showed the pinnacle of intricate craftsmanship, showing emblems of the gods such as animals and plans to the finest detail. Even the sea foam on the Poseidon piece and the jagged lightning of Zeus were perfection.
She could not shut her gaping mouth, "I-I ne-never seen anything like it!"
Neji calmly showed her how each pieces moved, "It's a game most popular in Athens. It is getting more and more players across Greece."
Hinata did not understand why he choose this gift until he told her the reason.
"Wielding a sword is not the only way to achieve strength, Hinata sama. The definition of strength has changed according to the ebbs and flows of history, at the passing of new generations. Knowledge is the key possession of those on top of the food chain. Intelligence is the new trajectory of the new era of our dynasty."
He was only seven when he said that.
When Hinata's shoulders drooped at the proof he was called progeny, he added with a dry cough, "At least that's what the person who sold this said."
She looked up to see the light pink blush on his face as he acknowledged the source.
But she, out of excitement to meet her new friend and hear more about the tales of Mycenae, asked Neji who came to her with their chessboard and pieces.
"I-I'm sorry, niisan—" her apologetic smile was sweet, and she looked at him with imploring lavender eyes, "ma-maybe we could play chess next time?"
She knew that her friend from Mycenae will leave as soon as the prince had to go back home. The prince might return to his country any minute. Each moment was so special that she hoped Neji would understand.
She did realize that he had just barely made dear time for her, despite peoples' demand on his attention and his hectic schedule.
She did not realize that it has been a week since she gave him those honey tarts and they had spent time with just each other.
She was too young, too foolish, too impatient to see the stunned look on his face as he stood where she just left him.
She didn't get to hear him murmur her name as he stood rooted to the spot, "Hinata sama..."
Soon Hinata and her friend from Mycenae decided that they wanted to see each other's faces beyond the walls. But the wall was much too high-not even adults could scale them.
Her friend demanded, "Try going backwards."
She complied, going a few steps back, keeping her face towards the dark eyes that peered at her from the gap.
"More!"
"I-I'm trying-"
"That's it," Hinata's smile widened at the approval at her playmate's voice, "I think I could see your face."
She giggled and kept stepping back, feeling as if they were playing a game. His dark eyes that she could see through the gap encouraged her with a twinkle. Her feet crunched on the grass as she moved back, one step at a time. Hinata laughed, the sound resembling a soft peal of sliver. She never played a game of tag, so this was fun.
She was so absorbed by keeping her face in line with the gap and walking backwards that she was oblivious to the figure standing behind her.
Then suddenly she felt her the back of her head hit a hard chest, and she stopped, raising her eyes to see who it was. Standing a full head above her, Neji looked down at her, his hands holding her bare arms to steady her.
"Ni-ni san!"
There was a certain tightness of his lips that reminded her of Hizashi and the way his grey eyes looked down at her. His long lashes cast a shadow over his eyes, making them look a shade more grey than usual.
His bandaged hands still held the back of her arms even though she was steady,"Hinata sama, who are you talking to?"
Hinata turned around and faced him, feeling as if she was caught doing something bad, "I-it's just a friend." When he continued looking down at her, her lavender eyes drifted downward slightly as a childhood habit.
"A friend?" Neji looked at the missing brick of the wall for a moment. Then he turned to her, his voice mild and resolute at the same time, "Hinata sama, even if this is a playmate, nobody should speak to you like that.
If he was talking about her playmate's somewhat demanding and petulant tone, she was fine with that but she realized how Neji would not take it so well.
She still tried to assure him, "I-I'm okay, ni-san."
"I'm not okay with it." He turned to the wall and raised his voice a notch higher, despite Hinata's protests, "I don't know who you are, but if I ever catch you showing disrespect to Hinata sama again, you will be severely reprimanded." He added with frosty bitterness, "Or worse."
But the child on the other side of the wall sent his own withering glare at the challenge, "I would like to see you try."
"P-Please," She went between the two, facing Neji with pleading eyes, "I-I don't understand wh-why you are fighting-"
"Come, Hinata sama," he grabbed her hand, "it is not worth your time to be with someone who does not know manners."
"Bu-but" Hinata could never truly say no to Neji, but she still turned and threw regretful glances at the wall as they left.
She hoped the friend would not take offense.
"Hinata sama-!" Hinata woke up at the sensation of someone shaking her shoulders. She groggily woke up, rubbing her eyes towards the handmaiden.
It was still early in the morning. She wondered what was the fuss. "You must hurry"
Helping her dress in her silken veil, the handmaiden said urgently in a hushed tone, "First, you must take your bath-"
The maids ushered her to the palace's main bathhouse which was only used for ceremonial purposes and the king and his anointed ones.
They filled the wide rectangular pool with water scented with orange blossoms and started scrubbing her gently from head to toe, lathering her with suds of goat milk soap. She saw the handmaiden carefully open a small jar made of dark blue stone and poured the oil onto her hair and gently massaged her scalp.
When her bath was done, she was dried with the maids' frantic toweling and taken to her room where she was dressed with various silk tunics until she was getting weary.
The maids were debating between a white frock with silver embroidery of cala flowers at the hems and a light purple sleeveless tunic with studded blue jays.
The final decision was made by the head maiden choosing an entirely different dress, a sleeveless turquoise blue dress with shimmers of emerald in the collar.
Hinata questioned the head maid who answered, "This is to meet the prince of Mycenae, my lady. Not a single hair should be neglected. You are the face of the Hyuugas."
Strange, she thought as the maids took out the jewel coffers, the law of Knossos is that women and men who are not blood related must not be in the same space after the age seven. Why is father in such a rush to have me meet the Mycenenan prince? I was never even invited in big events, let alone private conferences.
Like the rest of the Hyuuga women in the palace, Hinata's eyes were pierced when she was three. The maids took out a drooping gold earring, consisting of two circles and a triangle, and fastened it on her ears.
Hinata worried if the heavy gold earrings will make her ears flap like an elephant.
She shirked when a maid decided it was a good idea to dust her face with pearl powder, but she had no choice.
With her face caked like a ghost, she stood, awkward in her dress and heavy set gold earrings.
She suddenly felt so lost.
Then she heard a familiar deep voice in the hallway outside the door, "I am here to see Hinata sama"
The head maid said sternly at the door, "You must not enter. Hinata sama is still getting ready-"
"Le-let him in" Hinata ordered in a stammering voice.
When the door opened, Neji entered and he stared at the sight of the princess, looking confused and bewildered in her boisterously colorful dress and powdered face.
When Neji stood silent, bowing his head silently, his eyes downcast, Hinata made a gesture to the maids who shrewdly left the room, giving them privacy.
Before Hinata could tell him of this strange event, Neji spoke soberly, "Words of your marriage with the youngest prince of Mycenae came out this morning."
She felt as if someone hit a gong on her head. Neji noticed her turning paler under the veil of powder, if that was possible. Shocked, she found herself stuttering more than usual, "Bu-but I-I'm o-only eight years old!"
She shook her head, her short dark hair swept by her face,
"I-I don't want to go! I don't want to leave!"
When he fell silent, her eyes welled up with tears,
"D-do you want me to leave, Neji ni-san?"
She went up to him closely, looking up at his face with tears that she was scared to shed,
"I," he looked at her, turmoil in his eyes as his face contorted in agony, "I wish for you to not go, Hinata sama-"
"I—" heat rose to her throat, "I don't want to g-go either, Neji nisan! I-I want to stay!"
At her words, his breath hitch to his throat and he looked at her, bewildered and tortured.
Out of desperation, she reached out to his right hand and grabbed it as if it was her solitary moor in the tempestuous sea.
If her grip hurt him, he didn't even show a single hint. His free hand gripped hers back.
"Princess," the head handmaiden appeared.
She bowed her head towards her and said, "The meeting is postponed to a later date. The prince of Mycenae is feeling ill."
"Ah, th-that's..." Hinata felt slight relief, but the voice at the back of her mind told her that the merciless god called her father has already decided her fate.
Nobody, not even Neji could help her stay. Her baby sister Hanabi still needed her-she just learned how to babble "Tata" for her name "Hinata." She could just crawl a little bit. She begged to the gods above that they will let her stay home.
Trembling, she looked at Neji, who for the first time, bowed his head and couldn't look at her eyes. But his jaws were set stubbornly, but his tortured gaze showed that for the first time, he felt defeated. His bowed head and clenched fists by his side gradually dissipated the glimmer of hope that he, her brilliant cousin, may turn the tides and help her stay. But she realized that he was just a child as well.
Feeling distraught over the fact that her departure was settled, Hinata decided to go to the wall once again to meet her friend. She hoped that maybe this strong-willed friend might give her a comforting word or two, tell her the extraordinary benefits of going to Mycenae as he boasted before.
Maybe he could give her some idea as how to convince the Mycenean king to not have her as a daughter-in-law so fast.
Maybe being sweet-toothed is a taboo in the Mycenean court, and she could say she has a dreadful mortal illness that needs sugar.
She imagined a hazy figure of the prince, offering her a tomato when she asked for a sweet apple, we do not have real fruits in Mycenae. Suffice yourself with this, weakling.
She shook her head as she approached her favorite wall. Even that sounded ridiculous.
At first when she saw the wall, she wondered if she had accidentally mistaken it for another wall, "Uh?"
She searched the entire wall, walked back and forth in the garden, but it was the right wall. She inspected the entire width but she could not find the gap.
She panicked. She wanted to call out for her friend, but then she realized that she didn't have his name.
Then she heard somebody approach her from behind. She turned, "Ne-Neji ni!"
A downpour of words came from her, "I-I couldn't find the hole! It was here yesterday! But I can't find it."
"It was me."
Her eyes widened in disbelief, "W-what?"
In a cool voice, he affirmed what she hoped was not true, "I had the wall reconstructed."
"Bu-but you did not ask f-for my p-permission!"
For the first time she could remember in her entire life, she resented him. "Ne-Neji ni, how could you?" she said accusingly, tears prickling and hands curled into fists. This was the first friend she made other than him! And he just took that away from her.
He shot back, "You said you did not want to leave Cretes. I only helped you to not have unnecessary attachments."
"What-what does th-that have to do with m-my f-friend?" Her nose was runny, "I-I m-miss my friend! Wh-why are you being mean, Neji ni san?" Fat dollops of tears came down, unrestrained.
The way his brows went down showed that he was distraught, "Don't cry, Hinata sama"
"If you talk to that child, you have to leave..." His voice was supposed to come out strong, but it leveled to a whisper and the undertones that accompanied it kept Hinata's tears in check. She swallowed and tried to wipe her tears.
He looked down at the crown of her head when she bowed, her eyes glued to her shoes.
Letting out a deep sigh, he approached the wall. Curiosity plagued Hinata even though she was upset. She speechlessly watched what he was going to do.
He pulled at corner of single brick lightly with his fingers. Instead of a full brick, a thin slab of stone fell to the ground.
He looked down at the shattered stone, dejected, "I won't do anything that will make you angry again. So please don't cry."
They both looked down at the shattered stone. Instead of feeling relieved and happy that the wall was not reconstructed, Hinata felt a poignant sadness, feeling her heart running a fate parallel to the shattered stone. It was as if the trust they built throughout the years has just become like shards of stone scattered through the grass. She also felt a sense of regret for yelling at Neji and calling him a bad person. They both bowed their heads to the ground, unable to open their mouths and say anything.
Hinata felt a sense of relief when an eunuch came running to them, "Princess,"
He bowed before the two, "My young lady, young lord."
When the eunuch told her, both of them looked at each other in disbelief,
When he finished informing of her of the change in affairs, Hinata looked at him, her mouth gaping, "...What?"
The eunuch repeated again, sweat forming on his temple as he repeated what he just announced, "Something has happened in Mycenae. Something big. Unfortunately, talks about the betrothal must be postponed for now."
When the eunuch left their earshot, Hinata trembled, holding her hands together, "T-this is amazing. I-I ma-may not have to leave-"
But something weighed down on her heart. Something drastic. Like the way she would sometimes feel when she sees the orange sun set on the sky from her veranda.
She spoke as if she was murmuring incoherently to herself, "b-but... why do I-I... feel so strange?"
It was as if her heart plummeted to the ground. Her hands felt cold, despite seeing him smile.
Whatever happened in Mycenae, she hoped it was nothing severe.
Hinata and Neji were sitting with each other in their study, reading scrolls.
They did not even share a single word except an awkward greeting.
They refused to acknowledge eachother as they sat reading in silence.
The silence felt overbearing to Hinata, but she told herself that she refused to acquiesce. Neji also turned his pages without a word.
They continued working in the tense, studious atmosphere until an imperial guard came barging in,
"The prince of Mycenae is missing!"
Neji rose from his seat and Hinata paled.
It was chaos in the palace of Knossos.
The first prince of Mycenae has raised an insurrection, slaughtering the king and queen and the rest of the royal family in cold blood.
The youngest prince of Mycenae, a boy the same age as Hinata, suddenly disappeared without a trace from the palace in Knossos, Cretes.
She was five and he was six.
They raced in the flower field. Laughing, the indigo haired girl tumbled over and they lied breathless on the grass.
He looked down at her, laughing. She giggled as she looked at him from the peripherals, buried between bright red poppies and pastel blue anemones. The sharp blades of grass cut on their bare knees, a plenty of them as tall as her. The wind swept by the brilliant red African daisies that yellowed at the edge and white daisies. Spurts of yellow flowers scattered through the silken petals of scarlet poppies andl blue anemones. They were not even scared of snakes that may be slithering through the bright blue daisies and bowing fuzzy buds of poppies. There was a time when she held so tightly on his arm as if his life depended on it. Something warm, probably something that went by the name, 'happiness' radiated from his chest, as they burst in laughter under the light.
Then he felt it—a slight peck on his cheek. She laughed and pecked him again, not knowing the significance of the act. What they shared were innocent kisses between children, and they laughed merrily as they pecked on each other tenderly as if they were playing.
He said her name, and the child disappeared, and the shadows merged into an adult persona that answered back with a demure smile and a string of gentle words she drew out like a song.
"I love you," a kiss on the jawline, "I love you" a kiss on the temple, "I love you" lips pressed on his right eyelid that trembled at the touch.
Words were superfluous as his chest filled to the brim, his breath hitched to his throat. Lavender hues were just a mere inch away from his, her lips a dash of bleeding poppies.
He heard a voice from somewhere, a cry that sounded eerily like his own adult voice- "I'll always want you-"
When he woke up, he realized that he had just slept after nodding a few times while riding his horse. When he came to his senses, something silently left his chest like a breeze disappearing into the horizon of the sea. It was as if someone was shelling out his already hollow heart. Surrounded by his men who looked up to him for life and honor, he felt the weight of his reality crashing down on him. The end of his lip twisted and his grey eyes locked forward in the cold, dark path. Dreams only served as foils or continuations of his reality-neither desirable. Actually, he thought, if he had a choice, he preferred the dreams that were the glaringly antithetical to his life. At least, he felt better during his sleep.
He heard his subordinate waiting for him dutifully to recover from his drowsiness, "My lord, we have arrived."
They have crossed through Phaistos and finally stopped at the sight of the residence of the feudal lord in Threspotia, glowing like a temple made of white paper under the half moon. The silence among his men stretched as they saw the lord of Threspotia wait for them eagerly at the front gates with his household and servants.
Receiving the warmest greeting with a nod, he declined to join dinner that was prepared as a feast and asked for a bath and a place to rest his head for the night.
He waved away the numerous attendants that the lord insisted that he is served by.
His room was only partially lit by some candles that burned quietly, emanating scent of pines. The king was not surprised. Threspoita was known for its fragrant pines.
A heavy foot step rung in the lavish chamber, and drops of water beaded at the end of his hair, falling on the marble.
Being fatigued from crossing through the nation after an overseas crusade, he moved in a slouching gait, dragging his feet and slowly went to his bead, his dry gaze directed at nothing in particular. He felt the voice at the back of his head make bitter whispers at him. He lied on his bed and closed his eyes as soon as he felt his head on the pillow.
He was more assured than ever that she was alive. She might not want him alive, but she was alive. It was like she was on the other side of a monumental brick wall, and he could not feel her, but he could sense the fluttery pulse of her wrists and her neck from the other side.
He pressed his ear close to that wall where he believed she was beyond. He listened. He was getting close.
He let sleep overtake him.