Neji gazed at the snow replica of himself standing in the middle of the courtyard, face dark. Neji Yeti's face was deformed, and his eyes were melting slowly. His black mop hair had nearly slid off its place, and his mouth had no teeth anymore.
Tenten, who was standing beside him, clicked her tongue. "Even in that state, the Neji yeti looks much cuter than you do."
Silence.
Then he spoke up. "Did I win the battle?"
"Believe it or not, you did." The mage grinned. "Let's just say Prince Sasuke lost his head in the middle of the heated snow battle." She then brought out five crisp bills. "Let's go downtown. I'm taking you out for lunch, my treat."
"What came over you?" he asked, not bothering to turn her way.
"Akimichi Choji made a betting thing, and I won." Her eyes softened. "I placed my bet on you."
He paused for a moment, then smirked. "Flattery will get you nowhere, witch." He finally turned to her, his mouth twitching suspiciously like a smile. "Let's go."
…………………………
Chapter Seventeen
This chapter is dedicated to the fresh-from-Boracay reader, Orrie. Pasalubong ko!!! And oh yeah, email me the date when we can meet A contact cellphone number would be helpful too.
Personal messages:
Tetsu = Basing on the current plot, mga 5 to 10 chapters more, depending on my plot factory (if I would be able to think of more twists, then it will go beyond ten chapters) , and I'm still thinking about making the epilogue, which will be more SasuSaku. I'm still [coughJiraiyacough] gathering information about Sasuke.
Usagi-mun = Nope, I'm not Korean -. I'm a Filipino, actually, but what you said about the Korean language sort of applies to us too. Our language is mostly based on Spanish-English-Malay influences, and so, if you read our contemporary texts, you will find some words recognizable to you. Science in our language is Siyensya (but we also have another, more accepted and formal word: Agham).
OK, I was babbling -.-;;
Csweet = Sowee at nabaon na ang ibang fanfics ko (ET-specific) dahil sa ka-uupdate ko dito. Di bale, abang lng ng konti, okies? Finale n lng yun, pwamis!
Sequ3stered = Wai! Thank you again so very muchie for your comment! [bows] I'll work harder to entertain you guys more as we reach the climax of the story.
Jiri-chan = I'm addicted to Sir Gai-Gai!!! [huggles her Dalmatian-like kitty]. If he were a man, I'd marry him! [continues to hug her babies] Kawaii desu yo!
………………………….
Hinata watched as Naruto shoveled the snow away from the road that the royal coaches were taking. "N-Naruto-kun, don't you want to… rest first?" she finally managed to choke out. She was standing by the tree, hand on the bark as if it was a source of strength for her to be able to talk to her secret crush naturally.
He rubbed his gloved hands together and blew on them, and then smiled at the maid. "Maybe later. I have to finish this before Sir Kakashi arrives." He resumed his work—his punishment directly given by the crown prince himself for causing public disturbance, making fun of the authority, illegal gambling, and vandalism. "Geez, Lee should be helping me out here." However, the earl was pardoned because he was merely an accomplice, not to mention that the earl had partial immunity from these cases.
She tried to calm her racing heart that leapt when he offered her his infectious grin. "A-Anou… I-if you want, I-I can help you—"
"Stay right there, Hinata," he said, raising his finger at her. "You don't have anything to do with the snowmen, so you shouldn't involve yourself here." He raised his thumb up. "I can do this, no sweat!" Chuckling, he went back to his labor. "Boy, Sasuke was really pissed off! He he, he looks worse than a pregnant lady!"
"Naruto-kun," she said, shaking her head smilingly.
"But you know, his mood worsened when he read that scroll thingie that the Yeti gave him," said the blond, frowning thoughtfully.
"Y-Yeti?"
"Neji Yeti."
Hinata looked bothered. "I-Is that so?"
"I wonder what was written there…but maybe it was just a bad poetry or something." Naruto shrugged. "Hey, I just noticed…"
"Hmm?"
"His eyes are similar to yours." He gazed intently at her face, and then snapped his fingers. "Yeah, your eyes really look like his!"
She took a deep breath before she spoke timidly. "H-He is…my cousin, Naruto-kun."
"Eh?!" The boy seemed to connect two and two together with much disbelief. "B-But how come he is an earl and you're…you're not?"
She looked down. "I-It's a long story."
He shrugged. "So?"
"Y-You would just be disturbed from your work." She turned away quickly, mumbling a small 'excuse me'.
"Hinata!" The next thing she felt was his hand on her arm, stopping her. And he succeeded—his touch was able to petrify every muscle within her.
She turned to him uncertainly and was met by his apologetic smile. "Sorry if I made you upset. Hell, I was just too damn nosy!" He laughed self-consciously. "But you know, I-I…how should I explain this…" He scratched his cheek, grinning boyishly. "I just wanted to know more about you, because…because…I want to know the things that can make you happy or sad or mad or…." He was groping for words—one of the rare times that he would. When it comes to Hinata, he couldn't find the right words to express his sentiments. Hinata was gentleness personified, and he could never bring himself to talk to her the way he would with the other people around him. And her innocence and pure trust on his every uttered word could render him speechless. She would listen to him as if he was the only important person in the world, and no one had ever treated him this way before.
Like right now, he couldn't voice out the protective emotion he felt for her, simply because he was at lost as to how to tell the girl this.
Moreover, he was afraid to see how she would react to it.
Afraid? When had he felt that way? He had faced the booby traps in his trainings with Sir Ebisu and Sir Iruka fearlessly; he had even encountered the mythical devil serpent even! How could courage desert him only because of her?
He had no answer for that.
"Naruto-kun…"
"Yo Naruto!" Kakashi arrived, waving cheerfully. "Is your snow job done already?" He noticed the startled expression on both youngsters' faces and the boy's hand on the girl's shoulder. "Gee, I thought Sasuke was talking about the white stuff falling from the sky as snow, not Lady Haruno's maid. Nevertheless, you're a fast worker, eh?"
Naruto blinked, and then clenched his fists, annoyed. "Heeey!" The girl, on the other hand, blushed hotly and ran back into the palace, embarrassed.
"I know you're enjoying your snow job, but it's time for our chakra training," said the Starlet. "And yes, let's pass by Sasuke's study. We're going to check if he still has last-minute instructions."
Naruto groaned and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "You know, you mustn't kid about her like that. She's…not like ordinary girls… if you know what I mean."
"Point taken," said the Starlet, smile widening.
.
.
.
"That's impossible!" Haruno Sakura momentarily lost her court lady poise as she slammed her palm down on the parchment bearing statements duly signed by the Earl Hyuuga Neji himself. They were stating that Hyuuga Hinata was caught by the Earl himself talking secretly with one of the confirmed traitors of the Hidden Leaf kingdom, Aburame Shino. The specific date, time, and place was given too, and these were written in oath.
Sasuke calmly clasped his hands together. "I feel that I have to inform you of this, Lady Haruno, before the actual subpoena is given to the maid."
"This is crazy! Hinata saved my life!" she said, outraged. "And look at her—look at her closely. Is she the type to conspire with other kingdoms for the fall of Leaf?"
"I don't usually base my opinions on appearances alone. The biggest devils are clothed in sheep's clothings."
"So you believe Earl Hyuuga Neji then?" she asked, disappointed.
"No," he replied, undisturbed by her show of emotions. "I am withholding my opinion until such time that I have heard both sides."
"So you're going to arrest her?" she snapped.
"We're just going to invite her for formal interrogation." The prince shrugged. "If she has nothing to hide, then there's nothing to fret about."
Sakura clenched her fists in frustration. "You are so unfeeling! Unlike you, I know better than to sprout off those nonsense. My heart can immediately tell the kind of person I relate with, and I don't have to resort to this!" She stepped closer to him, not caring whether she looked like a fierce beast with the way she yells. "I believe in Hinata-chan's innocence. I know where her loyalty lies."
"Whatever you say is irrelevant. Hyuuga Hinata will be summoned by the Leaf Court this afternoon. She needs to answer a lot of things, especially since she is one of the few people that the traitor ever deals with." Sasuke gestured to the door. "Good day, Lady Haruno."
"You're throwing me out?! Fine!" She angrily grabbed the hem of her skirt and marched away grumpily.
"You are being childish," he said, frowning, making her freeze. She slowly turned to him, and Sasuke prepared himself for another round of yelling matches. He only knew too well the stubbornness of the court lady.
But he never had expected her misty emerald eyes, her trying-hard-not-to-cry jade orbs struggling to contain the last shred of pride she had.
"If keeping in touch with my heart is childishness, then Sasuke-kun, I would never, ever want to mature."
He silently cursed himself. "You're not playing fair, woman, using your general weakness as a weapon."
At first she was confused by what he meant, but then, she felt a tear streak down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away and then pasted a court smile on her face. "M-My apologies. Anyway, good day, Your Highness."
"Lady Haruno." He got up and handed her his handkerchief. "Do not come out of this room looking like that, or people might wonder."
She reached for it quietly, trying to hide her trembling hand.
"Give the Earl Hyuuga enough rope to tie himself with," he heard himself say. "Even with all his supposed brains, he cannot convict an innocent person in my court."
She froze, and then looked up. "Y-You mean…"
He stepped back. "N-No, I don't mean anything. I merely said—"
"You believe that Hinata-chan is innocent too, don't you!" Her eyes danced. "Sasuke-kun!"
"Wait a minute—" But he wasn't able to speak anymore; she had already leapt into his arms and gleefully embraced him, laughing.
"My prince is not really made of ice after all! Yay!!!"
"Saku…Lady Haruno!" he yelped, aware of the strange biological reactions within him brought about by this intimate contact.
"Ah, now I love you even more, Sasuke-kun!" She tiptoed and pinched his nose fondly. "I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOU!"
"CUT IT OUT!" he snapped, but she had already stepped back, smiling.
"I feel so good. I'm in love with a good man," she murmured softly, making him freeze.
Her bottle green eyes spoke of so much affection for him that he suddenly felt his chest constrict. Was he really worth this much devotion?
Just then, the door opened, revealing Kakashi. "Yo Sasuke!" He blinked at the startled gazes he received from the prince and the court lady who were still locked in an embrace. "Oh damn, why is it that whenever I arrive, I always interrupt something?"
"You didn't interrupt anything, Kakashi," said Sasuke curtly, turning to his window to hide his slightly flushed cheeks. This was one of the rare times that he was caught in embarrassment, and good heavens, of all the people to catch him, why the hell did it have to be the vexing Hatake Kakashi?
"Nevertheless, lock the door," said the Starlet, nodding solemnly. "What if it was Anko-sama who saw you?"
The prince rolled his eyes. "Please don't say bad words." His gaze fell on the court lady.
She winked at him, and then turned towards the door, humming. He felt the colors on his face react again.
The door opened again, and Naruto blinked when he nearly collided with Lady Haruno. His eyes widened. "Wow! Sakura-chan!"
She blinked back. "Sakura…chan?" Her alter-ego heated in fury. "HOW DARE YOU ADDRESS ME LIKE THAT!!!!"
He winced at her blade-like glare. "I-Is something wrong, Sakura-chan?"
A vein popped in her head, but she struggled for her composure. She shouldn't be violent while the Prince Sasuke was watching. "A-Ah yes, I prefer to be called by my title."
"Title? But you're not a book! And Sakura-chan is cuter!" insisted Naruto.
"IDIOT!" Before Sakura could stop herself, she aimed an uppercut at him.
But to her shock, her fist didn't even come in contact with his body. Something like shield seemed to have broken her punch.
"What the—" said the court lady, shocked. She missed him, fell on the wall and bumped her forehead on the door.
"Man, that has got to hurt," said Kakashi, immediately receiving a lethal glare from the crown prince.
.
.
.
The figure walked behind the long-haired man who was standing by the cliff overlooking the vast kingdom of Leaf.
"I had expected the gardener to back out from the plan, but so soon?" The figure sighed. "Aburame Shino is a fool."
"Hunt him down. No one makes a fool out of us." The snake figure smirked. "He is just a plaything anyway. We still have one left, and no one is still the wiser."
"When will we move?"
"Full moon. It will be full moon in eight nights." He smiled malevolently. "I shall harness the power of the night."
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.
.
Haku placed the cup of steaming tea in front of the Lord Zabusa quietly. "You look happy."
"The Sand has decided to cooperate with us, and as a gift, we were given three fighters—the best of the best." The Mist lord turned to the window, and outside stood three figures. One had the word "death" prominently written on his forehead.
"Do you not worry about the forces of the legendary devil serpent?" asked Haku.
He smirked. "He is nothing but a legend. I, on the other hand, will write history, with the ink of my blood."
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.
.
"OK, we're all set!" Kakashi smiled at his student. "Let's go?"
Naruto saluted. "Aye, aye, Sir!"
Iruka and Ebisu watched worriedly. "Kakashi, we entrust the boy's fate in you," said Iruka. "He's not just a boy…he's our son."
The white-haired Starlet grinned. "Affirmative."
Naruto groaned. "You guys…you treat me too much like a baby! I'll be alright—"
"Naruto!" Kiba appeared, scowling. "So you're escaping your chore in the stable again, eh?"
The blond grinned. "Um, something like that."
"Anyway, Hinata wants to give you this." He threw her a small paper bag.
"W-What's this?" The boy curiously peeked into the bag. Sandwiches and a blue wool scarf.
"Hinata's too shy to give you this," shrugged Kiba. "She wishes you a safe journey too."
"I…see…"
Kiba clenched his fists, and then grabbed his collar. "YOU BETTER RETURN HERE SAFE, YOU HEAR?" He let go of the boy, groaning. "I don't want Hinata to worry unnecessarily…"
Naruto slowly smiled. "You and I both. Tell her that I'm coming back, safe, as she wanted it."
He and Kiba shook hands, a gentleman's agreement.
……………………………
(to be continued)
[rushed; my friends are waiting for their turn in my beloved PC]
