A/N:
Cheers to everyone who has been waiting patiently.
If there is someone who only likes simple plot and action, and hates information and the author's prerogative, I suggest that he or she refrains from reading this chapter.
For those who are curious where all of that kind of stuff comes from, the answer is right under your nose. Turn to the internet. Type in a bunch of w's… 'Google,' 'Wikipedia,' or something like that… and then 'com'. If you figure out the right questions to ask, and show a bit of diligence, all manner of answers can pop up, and you might stumble on some things that you weren't expecting.
Back to the story…
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The walk home had gone without incident.
A great haze had made the village look overcast, thanks to the vast remnant of smoke and dust that hung about after the two gigantic summoning clouds. There was a faint smell on the air, one that competed with the fragrance coming from blossom-heavy fruit trees lining the street.
Hinata strolled slowly with Neji, who had clearly been worried about his cousin. When he had arrived at the practice field and caught sight of the enormous demon cat, he didn't know whether to be worried for her safety, or relieved to see Naruto there.
'He certainly has more than his share of encounters with large beasts, doesn't he?' Neji had asked. 'Maybe I trust too much in his judgment and heart, though. One of these times, he may stand up against something he should back away from.' The jounin sighed. 'I hope you are not learning any bad habits from him.'
'I haven't…' Hinata had been very short on words. The encounter had left her stunned; but, she was also strangely excited, feeling some need to review the events again and again. 'It probably isn't…' She had shivered, even though she wasn't chilled. Walking through an area of shadows, Neji reminded her of Hiashi for a brief instant. She had been dreading her father's reaction when he heard the full story. "I hope not…"
'It's amazing how much effect a fortune cookie message can have, isn't it?' Neji waved his hand, making a compact and efficient gesture. He had seen Ten Ten headed in their direction, and didn't see any reason why his girlfriend couldn't walk with them for a while. Seeing his signal, she hurried to join them. 'If you had picked a different fortune, none of this would have happened…'
'But…' Hinata hadn't thought about that. Now that she was faced with that possibility, she felt somewhat torn. Yes, she might have ended up in big trouble, with who knows how many people. "You are right…" She would need to face her father… the Hokage would be sending word for a meeting… and the townspeople would be sure to hear the details. Just the same, she had spent more time with Naruto than she ever would have thought possible. 'I wouldn't trade the good things, brother Neji.'
'Hinata, are you OK?' Ten Ten had looked very concerned. 'Neji said that you summoned that monster.' She had sounded incredulous, as if Hyuuga Hinata was the last person that she ever expect to do such a thing.
'I'm alright,' Hinata had said. 'I summoned Neko Janis; but, I had called up a kitten on my first successful try. I never expected to bring anything that large into the village.' She had been close to tears at that point, realizing just what she had done. 'I'm so sorry…" her words had been spoken to the girl; but, in her heart, the apology went out to the entire village.
'It was probably Naruto's idea, right?' Ten Ten had made the same assumption that numerous people would probably make, if the true story got out. 'Some people say that it's better to be lucky than good. That only goes so far!' She had looked disgusted. 'Sheeesh!'
'Naruto is both,' Neji had countered. 'But, you are correct about fate. It can catch up to the fasted runner, the luckiest gambler, and the strongest fighter.' He had tapped his cousin on the shoulder. 'Naruto may learn something from every encounter he has. Given the number of situations he finds himself in, he may be a very wise man someday.' He had stopped, wanting to make an important point. 'If he survives. I suggest that you follow a different path. Big risks do not suit you…'
'I know,' Hinata had admitted. 'It was my idea. I should have known better. I won't blame Naruto for his eagerness to help me. You know how he feels about people trying hard to become stronger.' She had felt dizzy with guilt. Her selfishness had come close to having a terrible outcome. The scroll had been an unknown factor, and in the past she would not have taken a risk like that. Opening her mouth to explain things further, she had been unable to tell the full depth of her foolishness.
It had been Ten Ten's turn to come to a halt. She reached up and pulled a large cluster of flowers off of a broken and low-hanging branch. She took a deep breath, drinking in the smell. 'It was quite a shock, running up and seeing a giant cat standing over the training fields.' She had sighed and put one hand behind her neck. Frowning, she continued. 'Naruto's behavior was no surprise, though.' Ten Ten had folded her arms across her chest. 'I wasn't surprised to hear him say that he would face the demon outside of the city, putting himself at risk to save everyone else.' She hung her head. 'I wasn't surprised that he had to threaten to kick the cat in the rear, in the same breath.' She couldn't help but grinning. 'But, that comment about the Hokage might be the thing that gets him in the most trouble.'
'There was some reason to be shocked, however.' Neji had actually smiled. He looked over at Ten Ten, who was the person most responsible for his greater range of facial expressions. 'Not with the fact that the Hokage had reached the end of her rope once again. Not with the fact that the Cat Queen herself told Naruto to be quiet' He had nodded in Hinata's direction. 'But, to hear my cousin shouting…'
'And telling Naruto to shut up…' Ten Ten had put a hand over her mouth. Hinata's expression was priceless. At first she had looked quite justified in her reaction. Soon thereafter, she had blushed and rubbed her fingers together. 'Wow! That really was amazing. It almost sounded like they were some old married couple, or something.'
That statement had been the reason that Hinata sported a small bump on her forehead. She had walked straight into a lamp post, too flustered to even watch where she was walking. Indeed, she had survived the encounter with Neko Janis unharmed, but nearly knocked herself senseless walking down the street.
Hinata rubbed her head, her thoughts returning to the present. Even a few days later, the bump was still sore. Looking around her room, she held her breath, then let it out with a long wavering whoosh. There were no bars on the windows. There were no guards by the door. It felt like a prison cell, just the same. The elegant tile patterns on the ceiling and floor did not bake her feel any better than the exquisitely crafted wooden wall carvings did. The hand-crafted furniture, hand-sewn comforters and curtains, and elegant throw pillows and rugs may as well have been sitting in a shop, for all that she cared. The only thing that gave her any satisfaction at the moment was the blown glass lamp. That gave off light. It was practical.
"Naruto-kun..." She hadn't seen him after Neji lead her home. and the. Was he alright? If her meeting with Tsunade the next day had been harrowing, she could only imagine what Naruto's must have been like.
"Hey Hinata!" The door opened. Hanabi stuck her head in the room. "Hungry?"
"Yes," Hinata said, suddenly feeling a few pangs in her stomach at the mention of hunger.
"Well…" Hanabi smiled. She had been in a bit of a snit, finding out that she couldn't visit Naruto and get the scoop, and hearing that her father would not allow her to discuss things with her sister. The cat stuff sounded cool and all; but, she was dying to learn if Naruto found out anything about Hinata's secret. "If you tell me who your boyfriend is, I'll bring you up some melon, and a cookie I got at Onoda's friend's deli."
"I don't have a boyfriend," Hinata said, sighing. While Tsunade didn't say anything about staying away from Naruto, she couldn't help but wonder if the Hokage disapproved of the match.
"Oooooooooh… if that big idiot would just…" Hanabi bit her lip. She almost said 'If that big idiot would just do his job, I'd happily give him all the ramen he wants.' This was getting very frustrating. With each passing day, she felt a growing temptation to tell her father, and watch him extract the information from her sister. "He should stop by to see you… now that you're locked up for a while…" That was a good save.
"Miss Hanabi… come away from there… you know better…" It was Onoda. "Miss Hinata is to be left alone, to think on various matters."
"OK," Hanabi said out loud. "Old stick in the mud…" That was grumbled, audible only to Hinata, as was the next remark: "I should dump a sack of prunes in your afternoon stew… that would keep you busy for a while…"
"Hanabi!" Hinata sounded outrage; but, her eyes creased with good humor. It wasn't easy keeping her spirits up. If Naruto was there, she knew that he would be doing his best to keep his chin up.
"Oh, get over it!" Hanabi put her hands on her hips, talking as if she were the older sister. "There's nothing wrong with being 'regular', you know. Hmmmpppfff!"
"Miss Hanabi!" Onoda's voice grew both in volume and in richness of timbre. "I'm certain I could convince your father that you could use another day or two's tuition in Calligraphy. Maybe another try at the Tea Ceremony…"
"B-But…" Hanabi stamped her foot. "You know… Boyfriend!"
"You're too young for one." Onoda said, knowing full well what his charge truly meant.. "Though I notice that you have taken quite a fancy to the boy you've been visiting lately." The sarcasm was lost on the youngest girl. But, it might do her some good, having the shoe on the other foot.
"Wh-Wh-What?" Hanabi's voice climbed two or three octaves instantaneously. "N-N-N-…" She came very close to shouting 'NARUTO!' That boy was not her idea of boyfriend material. Not by a long shot. Well, not really. "O… no-o-o-o-o… da!"
"Oh-h-h-h-h-h…" Hinata's eyes went wide. Finally, there might be something she could use as leverage, to keep Hanabi from pestering her. "You have a boyfriend, Hanabi?" She didn't dare say 'Does Father know about that?' No doubt that would give her sister ideas. "What's his name? You can have my melon if you tell me…"
"I… DON'T… HAVE… A… BOYFRIEND…" Hanabi's voice carried throughout the house. "Got it?" She harrumphed. "Geeez!"
"But that's what Miss Hinata said, isn't it?" Onoda asked. "Perhaps she doesn't have a boyfriend yet."
"Don't be stupid, Onoda!" That slipped out before Hanabi could catch herself.
"Onoda. Please see to it that my youngest daughter is escorted to my room after my meeting with the village guild leaders is finished." Hyuuga Hiashi's voice was loud, but deceptively calm. It carried up the steps, after he had opened the double gilded doors to the meeting room to see what the commotion was. Needless to say, no one short of the Hokage or the returning spirit of his ancestors should have made the mistake of interrupting his official business.
Hanabi knew the saying 'the calm before the storm.' She kicked at Hinata's door. "Thanks… a… lot…"
"If you're lucky, it will only be Calligraphy or Tea…" Onoda tried to keep a smug sound out of his voice.
Hanabi stomped off to her own room to wait. Onoda apologized before heading on his way. Hinata shook her head. She sighed, and looked out of her window. It looked to be a beautiful day outside, one much like the one that she had practiced Kuchiyose No Jutsu with Naruto. No, she had done much more than practice. She still got the shivers sometimes, remembering how she had felt, with Neko Janis towering over her, those great green eyes reflecting the sunlight.
"That boy…"
Naruto's comments to the demon cat had not been the wisest approach. But, once again, he had stood his ground and come out intact. She had too. But, unlike a certain boy with a penchant for orange and black, she did not relish confrontations.
Was Naruto really someone she should set her hopes on? They were so different, after all. It would certainly be good for him to spend time with her, whether he knew it or not. Were he to pair up with someone else reckless or high spirited, he might not live long enough to be Hokage. No. He probably would. There just wouldn't be a Hidden Leaf Village to be leader of. And how about her? If she hooked up with someone quiet and withdrawn, life might pass her by before she even realized that she was alive.
"We're good for each other," Hinata said, looking into an ancient and ornate mirror. "I know we are." She blinked. It looked like her image was trying hard to convince her of that fact. "He was coming around. I'm sure of it." She couldn't help but smile a shy smile. She had been dreaming about Naruto for so long. For years, there had been little reason to have any hope; but now, she felt barrier after barrier go down, as she allowed herself to truly have faith.
She couldn't sit there, daydreaming through another afternoon. Her enforced seclusion provided the perfect opportunity to follow through on the Hokage's suggestions. If Hyuuga Hinata was ever going to summon cats again, it would be wise to get some kind of feel for the species. After all, the process require more than knowledge of a particular technique. The shinobi also needed to be a closet psychologist and a part time politician.
'But... that was an accident, wasn't it... ummm... how could I possibly have summoned such a beast?' Hinata had not offered that question to Tsunade as an attempt to try and excuse her behavior. She had been genuinely perplexed. As it was, she still didn't know how Naruto could use the Kuchiyose No Jutsu as well as he did, since he was not as powerful as Tsunade, Jiraiya, or Orochimaru. The Hokage would not shed any light on Naruto's abilities. Instead, she stuck to the main issue at hand. One thing was certain. Cats were unique, due to their inherently different attitudes.
'Cats don't come when you call them, like dogs and men.' Tsunade had said. 'Demon cats do not answer summons because of contracts. The scroll is more like a set of possibilities or guidelines. A cat will not come without it; but, they come because they are curious, or because they are angry at having been disturbed.'
'But, how did I summon the Queen?' Hinata had asked, feeling overwhelmed.
'Chakra strength and strong will are what I need to call Katsuyu,' Tsunade had said. 'That, and an established familiarity. With the cats, it might be a matter of emotion, or the strength of your need. If your description is correct, you summoned the kitten because Naruto believed in you. You summoned Neko Janis when you felt a need to do your best.'
Odona had been kind enough to run errands for Hinata after her father had placed her under house restrictions. She had asked the manservant to gather up certain documents on cats, mainly those dealing with myths, legends, and folklore from around the world. There might be clues in such writings, as the cat demons had been around longer than humankind.
"Bake-neko…" Hinata sifted through various musty documents. "Nekomata is a different name for them." She read about ghost cats, monster cats, and demonic felines of every shape, size, and disposition. There was precious little written about creatures the size of Neko Janis; but, there was enough to leave Hinata pale, sweating, with a slight tremor to her hands. Demon cats were capricious, to say the least. Why had she, the most proper and restrained shinobi, ended up with that scroll?
"Shamanism…" She found cross-references to certain powers the great demon cats were whispered to possess. The word 'possess' was a good one, as the most powerful cats could possess weak-minded humans, and in turn could take on the spirit of various wild animals. Like cats in folklore, there was also some connection to the weather, either with prediction, or possibly with some element of control. Interpretation of dreams was mentioned; but, Hinata couldn't see herself laying on a couch, explaining her fantasies about Naruto to a tree-high cat. "Divination…" It seemed that she couldn't escape that subject. Healing abilities were also mentioned.
"Talking to yourself again?" Hanabi stood at the doorway, a big scowl on her face. "Now I'm going to be in trouble with Father, too. It's all your fault!" She clenched her fists. "It was only a little secret. You could have shared it with your sister." She looked vulnerable for a moment. For twenty three hours of each day, Hyuuga Hanabi was the Heir, with all that entailed. But, every so often, she simply shed that skin, revealing a small girl underneath. "Hah! I have a secret too. You will just die some day, when you find out. But, I'm not going to tell you." For a moment, she was sorely tempted to mention what she had been up to. "Here. I found a picture of you…" A single Tarot card spun through the air, bouncing off of a lampshade hung with countless small semi-precious stones.
"I don't…" Hinata shook her head. How many times could she try to convince her sister of something she didn't want to believe. She listened as the small stones clacked against one another with decreasing frequency, before they merely swung silently. When Hanabi screwed up her face and marched on, Hinata looked down at the card, which had landed on her stack of papers, covering a sketch of a demon cat. It was 'The Fool'. It had landed reversed. "That…"
She thought back to what she had heard about Tarot reading. The Fool represents the innocent person who takes a leap of faith to gain wisdom and insight, stepping forth without regard to warning, free to make his own choices. The Fool knows that there will be consequences to his actions, but he goes forward anyway. He begins his journey of learning with hope, confidence, and trust, ready for new beginnings, fresh opportunities, and unlimited possibilities. There are elements of pleasure, passion, thoughtlessness, rashness.
"Naruto is a Fool," Hinata said, seeing the similarities. He had taught her a very important life lesson, one that she was doing her best to try and make her own truth. Sometimes the willingness to simply take a deep breath and 'go for it' has a power all its own. "Everybody says that…" She smiled, knowing that her friends meant something entirely different. The smile faded. The reversed Fool in Tarot was no laughing matter… for people who actually believed in that kind of thing…
If the Fool might predict a burst of motivation, one that helped the person try something new or gave that person the urge to learn new things, the Fool reversed represents a lack of motivation… a succumbing to fear… a turning away from learning. It could signify a bad decision, indecision, apathy, hesitation, or a faulty choice Or, it might mean that a person took a chance that didn't… or would not eventually… work out.
"It's… ummm… things like this aren't real…I'm being ridiculous…" Hinata brought a hand to her mouth, staring at the card. Hanabi had not been claiming to see the future when she tossed the card. No doubt, she didn't expect her sister to know anything about Tarot. She was simply saying that Hinata was a fool.
For a moment, Hinata felt as if she was being assaulted by all of her past doubts at once. Was she making a mistake, having faith in herself, believing that there might be wisdom in following her heart? Swallowing hard, she began to feel confused…wishy-washy… reactive.
"No!" She reached out and flicked the Tarot card away. "I won't be like that ever again." It had taken a long time, but her recent actions had begun to open her eyes, showing her the best part of who she truly was. She had caught a glimpse of the unique spark of life that was hers alone, and could belong to no one else. If she allowed that to be snuffed out again, she might never find the courage to take any risks again.
Naruto had been her motivation at first; but, she had begun reaching beyond that. Not too far beyond, however. He still loomed so large in Hinata's thoughts and dreams. She didn't know just what she might go on to become, were he to see her as someone he could truly care for. She blinked rapidly, wondering what she would do if he didn't see her as worthy, or if he did something that would change her opinion of him.
"It's stupid to worry about that…" She reached for her papers again. It was so easy to be distracted when she let her emotions get the best of her. "Sayings about cats. That might provide some insight, too." Hinata had decided to read up on cats in general, hoping to glean some sense of general feline tendencies from a less fearful subject.
"Nobody owns a cat."
That certainly said a lot. Hinata knew that ninjas who summoned animals didn't own them. In most cases, they didn't even command them, unless they were lesser creatures. Naruto's relationship with the Frog Boss had certainly been instructive. Demon cats were probably even more aloof than giant toads, slugs, and snakes. But, if she could somehow win at least one cat's trust, it might be worth trying that jutsu in dire situations.
"A cat may look at a king."
Yes, she would remember the demon cat's pride. Cats are no respecters of status; but, they are good judges of character and they do know who is most likely to be persuaded to carry out their wishes. Hinata giggled, and then felt silly. Neko Janis and Naruto obviously didn't get along. But, both had a similar irreverent attitude towards things, and each of them was quick to take offense.
"The trouble with a kitten is that eventually it becomes a cat."
Hinata nodded, remembering Kitten. Her cat had changed, growing up. It had swiped at her a number of times, before running away for good. Kittens are cute and fluffy, but they grown out of it. The same thing could be said for her plan. It had started off relatively small and simple, but had quite literally grown into something with teeth and claws! Learning Kuchiyose No Jutsu had seemed so perfect; but, it had almost ended up tragic.
"In a cat's eyes, everything belongs to cats."
Right! That was certainly an important point to remember. She couldn't allow herself to fantasize, thinking that she and Neko Janis could somehow become friends and soul mates. The same might be said for any other cat she called up, large or small. Nekozahra had saved her and Naruto. That had been gratitude, not friendship. And, it was the action of a young cat demon.
There were other sayings of note, including 'A baited cat grows fierce as a lion'; 'Play with cats and expect to be scratched'; and 'Beware of cats that lick from the front and claw from behind'. She had certainly picked a dangerous summoning scroll. But, she couldn't help but find herself drawn to the idea of trying the summoning technique again. It wasn't just to impress Naruto. Something inside her had been awakened. Or, at least she hoped that was the case. If demon cats had the power of possession, who knows what kind of subconscious suggestion Neko Janis could have placed in her head.
"I'm just being paranoid…" Hinata put her hand to her wrist. Her pulse was racing. There was probably no reason to be concerned. The great cat had been eager to leave, and would have killed her, had the daughter cat not made a reappearance. There had been no reason for the Cat Queen to resort to manipulation. "That time…"
There was a disturbance downstairs. Hinata lifted her head, listening. She heard her father's voice.
"Hyuuga Hanabi… I do not care what any fortuneteller might say… at this moment, I am quite adept at predicting your future!"
"B-But Father… my biorhythms are all wrong. And, I pulled pebbles out of my bag. Aquamarine means 'Beware of gossip and idle chit-chat'… Lapis lazuli means 'Do more thinking before speaking or acting'… and Selenite means 'It's a good time to be alone'."
"Hanabi!" Hiashi's voice went up an octave. That had Hinata whispering "Just be quiet, dear sister."
"There's more, Father. I formed Yì Jīng hexagrams with the my yarrow sticks, and came up with Kan, the Abyss, and that means 'Wait for a better time. Conserve your energy and don't try to deal with the difficulties that confront you. Identify and follow the natural course of action'. In my second try, I ended up with Dùn, Withdrawal, and that means
'This is the time for an orderly withdrawal, this is a sensible reaction to an impossible situation. Do not confront those who oppose you. Conserve your energies for another day'. See?"
"That is enough!"Hiashi's shout was followed by the ringing of a hand bell. "You will walk into that room, immediately." He rang the bell again. "If you do not, I will have Onoda drag you in. After that, I will send one of the maids into your room. She will gather up and remove your silly toys and trinkets."
Hinata bit her lip. She sighed and shook her head. Without a doubt, she did not envy her sister. Her own meeting with her father after returning home had been brief but very harrowing, even more stressful than the one she had with Tsunade. It had been plain to see that Hiashi had actually been quite proud, seeing that his small daughter had actually managed to summon a creature of such stature. It was almost as if she had been magnified in his eyes as many times as Neko Janis was multiplied in size over a normal house cat. But, the act of summoning had placed the entire village at risk, and had conjured the terrible comparison to the Nine-tailed fox demon's attack more than sixteen years ago. Kyuubi's rampage had resulted in more than death and destruction. It had also carved a huge gash though the collective conscience of the clan.
'You might as well have unbarred the Great gate and whistled, calling for another demon fox to come in and feed.' Her father had been red in the face, a sight that Hinata rarely saw, and would gladly do without seeing again. 'Perhaps the cat was a much lesser danger; but, to think that a Hyuuga could have come close to being the cause of another tragedy… it's… it's unbearable. With great power comes even greater responsibility. I thought I had taught you that much.'
Her father's words had cut right through her. Everything he had said after that blended together in her memory. Every time that she seemed to take one step in her relationship with him, something happened that caused her to take two steps back. There definitely wouldn't be any party thrown to celebrate recent events!
She had apologized humbly, hurt more by her own recriminations than anything her sire might say. She honestly admitted that she never would have dreamed of that level of success. Neither did the one who was teaching her.
'Who?' Hiashi had asked, finally realizing that there was someone else to share his ire with.
Fortunately, a group of irate clan members had shown up at that time, wanting to know what had happened. That 'Who' was the last word her father had spoken to her, those days ago. He never followed up on his thought. Or if he had, he posed his question to someone else.
"Oh!" Hinata twitched. What would her father do, if someone told him that Naruto had been supervising her. She rarely mentioned his name in the house, and couldn't remember the last time that his name had come up in conversation. Before, her father seemed disinterested in Naruto, not even seeing him as someone to feel grateful too, despite the way that Neji's defeat and soul searching had changed the family for the better.
A very large question hovered before Hinata like a huge icy cloud, threatening to suck the warmth from her. What would she do, if her father grew angry at Naruto, and commanded his daughter to stay away from him under all circumstances?
"Here's something." Hinata's attention was drawn back to the stack of papers, books, and scrolls. She had found a reference that would fulfill one of Tsunade's assignments. 'To Bell the Cat', the Hokage had said. 'Find out what that means, and then think about it'. There was a fable that made things plain enough:
Long ago, the mice had a general council to consider what measures they could take to outwit their common enemy, the Cat. Some said this, and some said that; but at last a young mouse got up and said he had a proposal to make, which he thought would meet the case. "You will all agree," said he, "that our chief danger consists in the sly and treacherous manner in which the enemy approaches us. Now, if we could receive some signal of her approach, we could easily escape from her. I venture, therefore, to propose that a small bell be procured, and attached by a ribbon round the neck of the Cat. By this means we should always know when she was about, and could easily retire while she was in the neighborhood."
This proposal met with general applause, until an old mouse got up and said: "That is all very well, but who is to bell the Cat?" The mice looked at one another and nobody spoke.
"It is easy to propose impossible remedies," Hinata said, thinking on the moral. She could think of similar interpretations for the phrase. It might mean to perform a daring act. It could mean risking a confrontation for the common good. In some instances, it might mean rendering a common enemy powerless at great personal risk.
The Hokage no doubt wanted Hinata to think about the possible cost in life and property that could result if a summoned demon ran amok. No doubt, she wanted Hinata to be willing to be the first one to try belling the cat, should she risk such a technique again. "I almost wish that she ordered me never to try it again…"
Tsunade had left that decision entirely in Hinata's hands. She had thought on matters a lot, when she wasn't fretting about the possible outcome of her historic 'success', or thinking about Naruto. Those thoughts seemed to run together too. She wasn't certain whether or not she would risk using the jutsu again. But, she would never again try something that was so risky, in order to gain Naruto's favor. Neji was right. It wasn't really who she was. Naruto would just have to like her for what she was inside.
She picked up a different book. Cats had been worshipped in some ancient nations, but had also been treated with great prejudice in others. When cats were claimed to be Satanic by one religious leader, and great numbers were killed as a result, rats grew numerous and were instrumental in the spread of the Great Plagues. Did the demon cats follow the history of man's treatment of the common house cat? If they did, would they carry a grudge? Might the fact that earlier peoples had idolized the cat balance things out somehow?
Hinata found herself fascinated by the place of cats in myths and folklore, but was even more enraptured by Egyptian history. There had been multiple goddesses with features of cats. A human who killed a cat, even accidentally, was put to death. When a cat died, the owners used to shave off their eyebrows as a sign of mourning. By 525 BC, Egypt was essentially the only empire not conquered by the Persians. At that point Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, set out to do just that. Cambyses and his army crossed the fifty-six mile stretch of desert to the Egyptian outpost of Pelesium on camelback; they then clashed down upon the Egyptian army who were reluctant to strike back at the sacred symbol of the cat upon the Persian shields. Some historians claimed that many Persian warriors lashed dead cats to their shields for an even greater impact. The Egyptians were defeated, and Cambyses' men continued to the Egyptian capital Memphis, which they took after a long siege. Cambyses was recognized as the new pharaoh.
"No… I won't talk about that… it's not right!" That was Hanabi's voice. It sounded muffled, as if it had come through closed doors. "You told me before… keep honorable secrets at all cost…"
"DO NOT TRY TO USE MY OWN WORDS AGAINST ME, DAUGHTER." Hiashi's voice rumbled through the house like distant thunder. "You may be the Heir, but you are still a child. Do not raise your voice again!"
"As if things aren't bad enough already," Hinata said with a long drawn out breath. "Maybe I should have made up a name." She slumped in her chair. That wouldn't work. Hanabi was very persistent when she was following a lead. She pictured her sister with long floppy ears and a long snout, somewhat like a bloodhound.
There was no reason to read up on dogs. But, Hinata had asked for a book on cats. It would be practical to know certain basic things about them, seeing that certain characteristics might well carry through in the demon variety.
A group of cats is referred to as a clowder. The male cat is called a tom; the female, a queen. A young cat is called a kitten, which is also an alternate name for young rats, rabbits, hedgehogs, beavers, and squirrels. She chuckled. Some day soon, she would ask Hanabi what a group of cats is called. She wouldn't give her the answer. How long would it take her to find the word 'clowder'?
Cats conserve energy by sleeping more than most animals, especially as they grow older. . The term cat nap refers to the cat's ability to fall asleep for a brief period of time. Hinata yawned. She could certainly use a cat nap, seeing that she hadn't gotten any sleep over the past few nights. It was a good thing that the Hokage had removed her from the duty roster at her father's request. Her reactions were slowed. Her senses were somewhat numbed. Her thoughts were jumbled and her judgment might be somewhat suspect. As she accidentally bumped into one of the scrolls on her crowded desktop, she watched as it bounced off of the floor and continued rolling. Normally, she would have plucked the errant parchment out of the air before it hit. Her hand clutched only air.
A popular belief is that cats always land on their feet, which is typically the case but not always true. During a fall a cat can reflexively twist its body in order to right itself, due to its acute sense of balance and flexible body. Much of the flex is attributed to the cat's spine which contains nearly sixty vertebrae that fit loosely together; this also accounts for how the cat is able to arch its back so high. That was something else that Naruto had in common with a cat, demon or otherwise. He always seemed to get into some kind of mess, but always seemed able to land on his feet. Maybe not right away… but eventually…
Cats, like dogs, are digitigrades: they walk directly on their toes, the bones of their feet making up the lower part of the visible leg. They are capable of walking very precisely, placing each hind paw directly in the print of the corresponding forepaw, minimizing noise and visible tracks.
While cats have excellent vision in daylight, their night vision is also exceptional. In very bright light, the slit-like iris closes very narrowly over the eye, reducing the amount of light on the sensitive retina, but greatly limiting the cat's field of view. An organ called the tapetum lucidum is responsible for their strong low-light vision, as well as for the varied colors of cats' eyes in flash photographs. As with most predators their eyes are both forward-facing, affording depth perception at the expense of field of view. Cats are weakly trichromatic; up close, colored objects are distinct, but at a distance, the colors blend together.
Humans and cats have a similar range of hearing on the low end of the scale, but cats can hear much higher-pitched sounds, even better than dogs. When listening for something, a cat's ears will swivel in that direction; a cat's ears can independently point backwards as well as forwards and sideways to pinpoint the source of the sound. Cats can judge within three inches the location of a sound being made one yard away.
A domestic cat's sense of smell is about fourteen times stronger than a human's. Cats have twice as many smell-sensitive cells in their noses as people do, which means they can smell things we are not even aware of. Cats also have a scent organ in the roof of their mouths called the vomeronasal organ.
"Maybe Naruto could have…" Hinata giggled, even though she didn't want to make light of a serious situation. She couldn't help but think back to her first Chuunin exam, the one where Naruto's encouragement had helped her stand up to Neji and begin liking herself. His ultimate method for defeating Kiba had been quite memorable, if accidental. She couldn't help but picture him using the same method against Neko Janis. "Uggghhh…"
Cats generally have about a dozen whiskers in four rows on each upper lip, a few on each cheek, tufts over the eyes and bristles on the chin. Whiskers may also be found on the cat's 'elbows.' Whiskers… technically called vibrissae…can aid with navigation and sensation. Whiskers may detect very small shifts in air currents, enabling a cat to know they are near obstructions without actually seeing them. The upper two rows of whiskers can move independently from the lower two rows for even more precise measuring.
It is thought that a cat may choose to rely on the whiskers in dim light where fully dilating the pupils would reduce its ability to focus on close objects. The whiskers also spread out roughly as wide as the cat's body making it able to judge if it can fit through an opening.
Whiskers are also an indication of the cat's attitude. Whiskers point forward when the cat is inquisitive and friendly and laid flat on the face when the cat is being defensive or aggressive.
"He's always aggressive…" Hinata shook her head, thinking about Naruto again. He was the proof that there could be a perpetual motion machine. A large grin spread across her face, as she thought about the markings on his face. They certainly looked like whiskers, didn't they? Maybe he was nothing but a big pussycat inside. She would ask him that the next time that she saw him. The look on his face ought to be spectacular! "He's pretty defensive, too." She could imagine what his meeting with the Hokage would be like. No doubt, his mouth had gotten him in even bigger trouble. "There are certainly some things that I can teach him…"
Relative to size, domestic cats are very effective predators. They ambush and dispatch prey using tactics similar to those of leopards and tigers by pouncing; they then deliver a lethal neck bite with their long canine teeth that severs the victim's spinal cord or asphyxiate it by crushing the windpipe.
Hinata put a hand to her neck. She swallowed hard.
The domestic cat can hunt and eat about one thousand different species. That was in contrast to the conventional big cats, which will eat fewer than one hundred. Although, theoretically, big cats can kill all of the animals that small cats can, they usually do not bother, due to the relatively low nutritional content that smaller animals provide.
Hinata relaxed some. To something like Neko Janis, humans would probably have very little nutritional value.
Cats can be destructive to ecosystems in which they are not native and whose species did not have time to adapt to their introduction. In some cases, cats have contributed to or caused extinctions.
"Eeep!" Hinata couldn't help but make that noise. She as glad that no one heard her. Feeling silly, she got up and went to look outside of her room. There was no one in the hallway; but, she could hear her father reading the riot act to Hanabi. The voice grew louder, probably the result of someone opening the door as they were leaving or entering the room. The word 'extinctions' echoed in her head. She pictured Konoha in flames.
Cats are said to be the perfect carnivores, having highly specialized teeth and a digestive tract suitable to the digestion of meat. The premolar and first molar together function to shear meat like a pair of scissors. While this is present in canines, it is highly developed in felines. The cat's tongue has sharp spines, or papillae, designed to retain and rip flesh from a carcass. These papillae are small backward-facing hooks and also assist in their grooming. Unlike most carnivores, cats eat almost no vegetable matter. Whereas bears and dogs commonly supplement their diet of meat with fruits, berries, roots, and honey when they can get them, cats feed exclusively on meat, usually freshly killed. Cats, including the great cats, have a genetic anomaly that prevents them from tasting sweetness, which is probably a causative factor in their meat-only habits.
"Naruto actually said I was sweet, when I cooked for him…" Hinata thought back to the times that she cooked for Naruto, wondering how he cook possibly eat as much as he did without looking like Choji. "I hope I can share another meal with him some time soon…"
Cats enjoy heat and solar exposure, often sleeping in a warm area during the heat of the day. Being closely related to desert animals, domestic cats can withstand the heat and cold of a temperate climate, but not for long periods of time. They have little resistance against fog, rain and snow. Most house cats dislike immersion in water.
There was a rapping at her door frame. When Hinata looked up, she caught sight of Onoda. He looked somewhat apologetic, and had trouble meeting her eyes. "Miss Hinata, I am sorry to disturb you. However, the master has ordered me to bring you to him."
"He…" Hinata felt prickly, as if a cat was walking on her back with its claws out. "Certainly…" She got up and began walking, feeling a growing sense of dread with each footstep. The look on Onoda's face had her worried. His voice had been somewhat subdued, even for him.
As she entered her father's large study, her attention was not drawn to the ancient map painted on one wall, the rows of Hyuuga ancestral paintings, or the priceless heirlooms and rugs. Her father was seated behind his massive carven desk, his face tight and drawn, not that different than the visages on a number of old marble busts behind him. Hanabi was kneeling before him, her face red and her hands clenched. When the younger girl looked up upon hearing her footsteps, she quickly looked away, her hands twitching.
"Hinata…" Hiashi clasped his hands together tightly, his eyes very intense. He watched as his eldest daughter knelt before him. With a subtle change in his face, he signaled Onoda to close the door to the room. "You have done much to disturb me."
"F-F-Father…" Hinata swallowed hard. Was this to be a continuation of her prior talk? Could her father be upset that she had been spending time with a boy that might not meet his high standards? Had he found out about her trick with the fortunetellers, perturbed by the thought of a Hyuuga stooping to such common and undignified methods?
"He thought that I was the one with a boyfriend," Hanabi said. She shivered, seeing the look that her father turned on her. "That… would have… been bad… for the Heir…" She ran down. It had never been her intention to hurt her sister, or to get her in trouble.
"You will remain silent, unless I address you." Hiashi didn't even bother looking at Hanabi when he said that. "Your sister is correct. I heard her shouting, and felt compelled to check into matters, as well as take the opportunity to instruct her in proper behavior."
Hanabi cringed. Onoda's face clear said 'I told you so.'
"It turns out that you were the one with the boyfriend, even though it was Hanabi that had been meeting secretly with a young man." Hiashi's face showed the measure of his discontent. He looked over at Onoda, skewering his servant with a piercing gaze. It was clear, the fact that he would have preferred learning of Hanabi's activities before now.
"But Father… I don't have a boyfriend… that was just Hanabi's idea after reading that fortune cookie message…"
"S-I-L-E-N-C-E-!" Hyuuga Hiashi's voice had everyone covering their ears. When the clan leader looked over at Onoda, that man found him self hanging his head and holding his breath. He had gotten the retainer to explain his reasons for supporting Hanabi in her machinations. They were genertally well thought out and honorable. But, 'generally' wasn't enough. "If you have a boyfriend, I expect you now to disclose his name, as a matter of family honor." He didn't say 'do not fail me now.' He didn't have to.
"I was telling the truth, Sir. I do not have a boyfriend. Not yet." Hinata couldn't say 'but I hope I'm close to that.' It was best to keep things to as few words as possible. Who knows what tangent her father might head off on. Who could guess what rule or edict he might enact?
"I wasn't lying father," Hanabi exclaimed, afraid that her father would consider her previous confession to be in question. "Naruto said that Hinata told him there was someone she liked. She just wouldn't tell him her boyfriend's name." She clapped a hand over her mouth. That had been a huge mistake. She had tried to protect Naruto, by refusing to tell her father the name of the boy she had been meeting with. Onoda had not been asked, as Hiashi was intent on testing his youngest child.
Hinata was stunned. She mouthed the name 'Naruto.' What did Hanabi mean?
"Naruto?" Hiashi narrowed his eyes, recalling that name. "Naruto… hmmm…" He thought a moment. "The boy from the arena." The one that had defeated Neji, exposing his nephew's feelings and providing the leader of the Hyuuga clan an opportunity to make up for past mistakes, and to honor the memory of his twin brother Hizashi. "The boy with…" The name Uzumaki flooded his memory. He hadn't made the connection before. Uzumaki Naruto… that was the name of the boy that Yondaime had used to seal away the Kyuubi. "Why didn't you tell me this?" That last question was directed to Onoda.
"Sir?" Onoda was taken aback. "What was the problem with Uzumaki Naruto?
"You know what I'm talking about!" Hiashi's voice snapped. Then, his posture relaxed. "Maybe you do not…" He rubbed his chin. "I was mistaken. You had not moved to this village yet."
"Father… what…" Hanabi bit her lip. Her curiosity might be the end of her some day.
"It is not a matter to be discussed," Hiashi said with a curt hand gesture. "Uzumaki Naruto was the boy you were meeting with, the one you had struck that deal with." His voice made that sound like a crime of the highest order. "All so that you could find out the name of your sister's supposed boyfriend." His hand spasmed, causing him to wrinkle a page from the Hyuuga clan financial report.
"Wh-Wh-What…" Hinata froze. Her eyes went impossibly wide. "Naruto-kun…" It felt as if the entire world was weighing down on her at that moment. The words had only partially registered on her consciousness, but that was more than enough. "That… it can't be true…" She whispered, the words as much a prayer as a disavowal.
It was too shocking. Only the suddenness of the discovery kept the truth from being more painful than a kunai thrust to her belly. The potential humor of the situation was lost on her. She saw the image of the Fool card. She was a fool indeed. A stupid, desperate, hopeless, worthless fool. Suddenly, Neko Janis and the events of that day didn't matter to her. Those were not things to be concerned about, or to think upon. No, they were only marks of her gullibility and shame.
"If there wasn't reason enough to question his very nature before, there is now." Hiashi scowled. "He was a friend of yours, was he not?" He stared at Hinata, misunderstanding the meaning of her reaction. Neji had mentioned the boy as one of the reasons that his daughter had begun showing a great deal more courage and determination. He would give the boy that much credit, his being someone who showed so much fight and spirit that others used him as a measuring stick for their own actions.
"Y-… Y-… Y-…" Hinata couldn't speak. It felt as if her tongue had swollen to a size to big to fit in her mouth. It was all she could do to keep the tears from streaming down her face.
Hiashi went stiff for a moment. He narrowed his eyes and pressed his lips together. "The Hokage would not tell me the identity of the ninja you had performed that technique with." He grasped the side of the great desk. "It seems that she was able to impose a very effective gag order, as no one in the village seems to know about your role, or the name of your teacher. I know it was not Miss Yuuhi." His scowl deepened. "But, people will talk when they do not know they are being watched, right Onoda?" The manservant was able to bring one piece of information home. "You had been spending a lot of time with some young man, whoever he might be. You had contacted various fortunetellers, setting up some kind of peasant scheme." He let out a long breath. "If what Hanabi said before was accurate, it all seems to fit together now." He looked at Hinata, expecting her to make some kind of confession.
"I'm sorry…" Hanabi looked at Hinata, seeing how hurt she looked.
Hinata knelt with her head hung, unable and unwilling to say anything. Her father's disapproval meant nothing to her. Her sister's secret plan had done her a lot of harm; but, that wasn't the foremost thought on her mind. Naruto was. She had thought that he liked her. He had been the reason that she was working so hard, and feeling so different. He had been everything to her. What was he now?
"Hyuuga Hinata, was Uzumaki the boy you were training with? Was he the one who helped you learn the technique that nearly brought disaster to our village?" He bit his words off, seeing red. If the boy that had Kyuubi sealed behind his navel was the same boy who had helped his daughter bring another monster to Konoha, something would need to be done about it.
"Yes," Hinata finally managed to say. "I had wanted him to help me become stronger." She felt anger rising up inside her, and emotion she rarely allowed herself to feel. "But I didn't do it for the honor of the clan." She looked up at her father, tears beginning to fall. Honor played such a big part in his life, that he allowed it to take the place of his wife after she died.
"Why then?" Hiashi seethed, unconcerned about his daughter's sadness. There was work for him to do, to make certain that a Hyuuga was not spoken about in the same breath as that boy.
"I wanted to be near him." Hinata couldn't believe that she was saying what she did. But, she didn't care. She might as well get it all out in the open. What difference would it make, anyway? "I hoped that he would start to like me more." She didn't see the look of utter shock that spread across her sister's face, or the mask of pain that Onoda's face suddenly resembled. "I've been watching him ever since you cast me out, Father. He was the one whose encouragement allowed me to stand up to Neji. I found something to live for, when he told me I was someone he could like. Me, a shy dark weirdo whose family and clan disowned her."
"Hinata… sister… I…" Hanabi suddenly felt stricken. She didn't find any humor in the comedy of events. Her rashness and single-mindedness had brought them all to this point. It was a valuable lesson, but the cost was far too high. Her sister didn't have a boyfriend. But, she had a boy that she wanted to like her… a boy that had been a major part of her life without knowing that fact. "Naruto… how could you be such an idiot." Her words were too quiet for anyone else to hear.
"YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS." Hiashi stood up. He tried to calm himself. "Not that boy. Him last of all…"
Hinata wiped away her tears. The collar of her shirt was wet with them now. "Him only," Hinata said. "But now…" Her dream was shattered. Part of her tried to be reasonable, saying that Naruto's attitude towards her had been changing, deception or no deception. Another part said that she shouldn't be a hypocrite, seeing that she had kept something from him too. But, she didn't want to listen. Her actions had been honorable. She cared about Naruto and wanted him to care about her. He had been willing to compromise any secret he found for noodles.
"There… will…be… no… 'now'…" Hinata's father could baredlyget those words out without hissing. "There will be nothing at all…" He folded his arms across his chest. "You will never have anything to do with Uzumaki Naruto again."
Hinata stood up. The tears began falling again. A sob caught in her throat. There had never been any reason to expect sympathy from her father in such a matter. That in itself was a blot on her life, but one she had done her best to come to terms with. It would take a great deal more time to break down the stone wall that her sire had built up around his heart. But, his saying that… and his saying it just then… it was too much.
"I probably won't…" Hinata said. She turned and began walking from her room, paying little attention to the gasp her father made when she turned her back to him. She felt like a golem or puppet. He legs and arms were moving, but it didn't feel like she was in control of them. She also didn't have any destination in mind. No destination, and no thoughts whatsoever pertaining to her future, immediate or otherwise. "But not because of your words." She stopped. "I wish that mother was still here. She would have cared…" She began walking again.
"Hinata… just what do you think you are doing?" Hiashi sounded angry, but there was a catch in his voice. He blinked rapidly for a moment, picturing his dead wife's face. "You have not been dismissed." That was an observation and an order, but also a plea.
Hanabi got up off of her knees and ran to Hinata. She grabbed her hand, trying to make her stop. "Please, sister… I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to…"
Hinata just kept on walking.
"Hyuuga Hinata, you had better not step through that door!"Hiashi broke one of his own rules. He stepped out from behind his desk and took a few steps after his daughter. "Daughter, you are not permitted to leave…"
The words swam around Hinata, dancing like gnats or fireflies. She paid them no heed. The only sounds that she could hear were the sound of her own coarse breathing, and the sound of her rushing blood in her ears. Not having any plan in mind, she nevertheless walked over to a huge mahogany armoire that held her shinobi gear. She took out a fresh outfit, her chuunin vest, and her weapons pouch. After spending a few moments staring at the summoning scroll, she took that too.
Her feet were calling out to her. She would walk until she couldn't walk any more.