Disclaimer: Naruto characters belong to Kishimoto Masashi. This is an AU set in the early 1900s…

=*=*= My Last Breath =*=*=

Hinata sat on a shabby wooden chair with a small matching table. Her tiny single bed was aligned to her table fitted in her narrow room. The best feature of her room was perhaps the little petite window, which gave a beautiful view of the city.

She tightened the coat around her shoulder before she picked up a pen and journal. She gave a soft cough before opening the book to start her story. She stared into space for a while reminiscing the beautiful times she had with the man she loved.

[It takes courage to love someone unconditionally…]

The light shone brilliantly at the lovely dresses that shimmered in the glossy ballroom. The women were dressed elaborately with their beautifully stylised hair and makeup. Even the men stood proud and tall in their equally fancy tuxedos and ties. It was a social night for the men to dance and court the woman they liked.

Hinata looked down at her black and white maid uniform and sighed… 'If only I could be dressed liked them,' thought Hinata staring at the vibrant coloured dresses swirling around. The rich ladies were laughing and happily dancing with their partners. While Hinata just stood there holding her finger food on a silver plate.

A hand tapped Hinata gently, which startled her so much that she nearly tilted the plate. She turned her head slowly to face a blond hair man with exotic sea-blue eyes. He was indeed the most handsome man in the whole ballroom.

[It was love at first sight…]

"Excuse me Miss, may I?" asked Naruto reaching his hand out for the biscuit with cheese, tomato and ham on top.

"Certainly," answered Hinata with her head down.

"Delicious," commented Naruto taking a glance at the maid.

He lifted her chin upwards so that he could take an analytical look of her. She had the prettiest violet eyes he had ever seen. The tension between them broke as the people began to shuffle to a side. The room was filled with much awes and ahs.

A lady in a captivating beige coloured dress matched with glass slippers walked into the room. The dress fitted tightly to reveal her small waist and was cut low to bring out her figure. Her skin looked smooth and creamy white against the lighting. She had a tiara with a few strands of hair tied back. The rest of the long silky pink hair was curled out.

Naruto gazed at the woman without blinking, without moving his eyes off her. In those few seconds, Hinata knew the beautiful emerald eyes had mesmerised his heart. She did not even get a chance to ask for his name before he left to court the beautiful jewel of the night.

[It was painful to see them two together…]

Naruto approached Sakura to ask for a dance and she had accepted after so many offers! The two introduced themselves and began dancing as soon as the next song came up. Sakura had thought Naruto looked the most decent out of all the guys but her heart belonged to someone already. She came to the social because she was forced to.

Hinata gripped the plate tightly as she watched the two dance. She wished the one beside the blond hair man was her not the glamorous lady. But she knew it would only be in her dreams for him to give her another glance.