Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Disclaimer: I do not own the song Kaze no Nokutaan.
Pairings: SasukexHinata ItachixHanabi NarutoxIno SakuraxShikamaru TentenxKankuro
A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. I guess I was a little caught up with the end of school and I got sorta lazy. In this chappie, I put the song Kaze no Nokutaan in because it seemed to fit, but I have to remove them as to not break the rules. Then,I thought, they were originally in japanese so if I change them to english and move some stuffs around, it would be ok. I couldn't take it, it was driving me insane! I'm taking my chances with this chappie. If I lose my work, I will have nobody to blame but myself.
From and unknown country across the sea
A wind blows gently past my ears
Hinata sat atop the cliff that her held haunting memories of her past. "Hanabi." The princess looked down beneath her, listening to the ocean's lullaby, a whispering singing filling her ears. The wind brushed against her face, numbing it from the harsh chill. The smell of salty ocean water helped to calm the anguish building up in her. Hinata kept on playing the night over and over again. She finally realized that on that night, the one person who held her back was Sasuke. 'Does he really care for his brother that much? Is a traitor more important than who he was engaged to?' The silver moonlight touched the girl's pale legs illuminating the mark she bore.
Then, she remembered Hanabi's last word ringing through her mind. It tortured her heart chaining it down to earth with the memories of her mother. She still remembered a pair of smooth hands holding her and rocking her as slowly as the waves were flowing in the ocean. A gentle, angelic voice rang through her ears and laughter so entrancing that even her father would have stopped to listen. Hinata began to hug her knees a pressure building up in her chest, tears on the verge of pouring out. Somehow the clarity of all these feelings and memories of her mother began to fade to fast for the girl to catch them. Hinata clung unto these treasures as tightly as she could, but they left. "No." Hinata tried to recall them, even though they were still there, they were shadowy fragments of what they had been.
Hinata began to cry silently melting into the sounds of waves once again becoming rough. The princess felt terribly empty and wanted to know why something of so much significance just slipped away. "I promised I would not be weak anymore." A cold hand rested on her shoulder causing the girl to turn around and come face to face with coal black eyes. Her body froze for a minute until she realized that the person across from her was Prince Sasuke.
"Do you…," the boy started looking at her tearstained face. He felt something in his heart break again and he looked away.
Hinata lowered her head and whispered, "I'm sorry. I know I am weak, I was too weak to even save the person most important to me." Sasuke turned his head back to the girl, her violet locks fluttering like a dark fire.
"Do you…miss your family?" Sasuke asked standing to walk near the cliff's edge. His hand reached out to the moon seemingly trying to reach something. Hinata turned her head slowly trying to gather strength to stand. Sasuke withdrew his hands and glanced over his should her at the girl he loved.
Hinata was struggling to stand, all the energy in her feet suddenly seemed to have vanished. Taken by surprise, Sasuke pulled her hands so that she was on her feet in a matter of seconds. The girl gasped, blush creeping across her cheeks. "Do you miss them?" Sasuke questioned.
Hinata's eyes lowered as her gentle voice carried her words to someone that didn't seem as if he would care. "I think about them all the time, they seem so far away. I apologize for my weakness."
"My brother always told me that royals were not meant to feel. He told me things like that, his words cause me to feel like I was not fit to be a royal. I don't believe he ever cared much for me, he may have told me those things to spite me. In the end, he left, and…" Sasuke stopped for a minute and closed his eyes. Hinata realized that he still had not let go of her hands. The girl tightened the grip on his hands trying to comfort the tormented boy. "My family was murdered by the one person I felt I could trust!" Sasuke let go of Hinata's hands, shaking.
The wind howled as Hinata began to realize that the boy was crying. He shed no tears, but the pain was obvious. "I'm sorry. I cry all the time for my tiny losses, but you have lost more than I would be able to cry for. Yet, you still go on with life while I sulk, feeling utterly lost. I'm weak and..." The princess was cut off with a finger on her lips.
"It is not wrong to cry, you have reasons that would permit you to. You are not weak if you cry, I believe my brother was wrong. How can you become a king, or queen without caring for the country? How will one rule if they do not understand the country's reaction when disasters happen? Crying, showing weakness is alright, just as long as you do something about your tears, such as making a goal to make them worthwhile." Sasuke removed his finger from her lips, his eyes still slightly red.
Hinata remained silent for a while, the ocean calming again. She looked at they boy, his pale skin illuminated by the fading moonlight, sunrise was approaching. A rare smile graced the face of the prince as his pale hand reached up to touch the girl's cheek. The tender moment began to fade when Hinata asked a question. "What will you do about your tears?"
Sasuke froze, and his body trembling as he responded, "I have to avenge my clan and kill Itachi. Even though I loved him as a brother, he has proved that he never cared for me."
"I see, killing is also necessary in my goals." Hinata glanced at the sky admiring the beautiful blue, it was a rich, creamy looking color. The ocean was a light green, smothered by a clear blue. The ground was a bare brown color, droplets of green grass signaling that spring was approaching, with it bringing life. The trunks of bare trees began to change in color from a dark, coffee brown to a nice hazel color. It was magical, and reminded Hinata that The North was still her fairytale-like kingdom.
Hinata's eyes caught sight of a shooting star, her eyes sparkling with hopes of making one wish that would come true. She closed her eyes, 'I wish to make all of my tears worthwhile.' When the petite girl opened her eyes, Sasuke was gone. Hinata turned in search of the boy and saw no trace of anything. It made her question her sanity and if everything actually happened.
The sun was already peaking over the horizon, just slightly so there was only a sliver of bright light. The girl shook her head and began to limp slowly along the edge of the cliffs, her leg stinging like mad. The cliff gently sloped down onto a beach with the waves gently rolling on the sand, wetting her feet. Hinata white silk dress made her stand out among all the blue and green yet helped her to blend in with the white sand. A voice made the girl turn as she saw a sort of panting and yelling sound. Hinata saw Tenten throwing something at a tree on a cliff above the shore, her movements quick as lightning as weapons flew through the air.
Hinata was watching in amazement when all of a sudden, a strong gust of wind passed her. The wind stung her arms and cut them slightly, she saw a large fan with three purple circles on it right next to where Tenten was. Hinata yelped as she lost balance and fell over into the icy, ocean water.
The next thing the princess saw was a pair of entrancing, green eyes. "Princess, I apologize, I did not see you. Did I hurt you?"
"No, I'm fine," Hinata answered as she struggled to stand. Temari reached her hand out to the still stunned girl who took the hand.
"Princess, you are icy cold! How long have you been outside? Your clothes are hardly suitable for this weather!" Temari pulled off her red scarf and wrapped it around the girl's shoulders. "I will be right back!" The dirty blonde yelled as she jumped unto the fan. Hinata stared in amazement as the fan rose up into the air, carrying Temari up onto the cliff with it. The warmth of her friend's long, scarlet scarf enveloped the girl in endless warmth.
The pale girl looked out towards the horizon, the sun casting a beautiful glow. Hinata was looking at the beauty surrounding her when suddenly, she realized something, today was the fourth day of the New Year. The New Year had already come and she had spent the time doing nothing but crying. Her mind flashed back to the images of the dancers in the streets, the loud laughter, firecrackers exploding bringing good luck. Sighing, Hinata frowned at the idea of missing the New Years celebration.
Not long after, Temari returned her brother once again in tow like the previous day. Hinata was staring in amazement as Temari came gliding on her fan, not only that but her brother was floating on a cloud of sand. When they reached the beach, Gaara proceeded to lift the girl onto his sand. The girl gave a yelp, closing her eyes as they ascended. When they actually began to move through the air towards the palace, the Hyuuga, being unaccustomed to being in the air began to search around for anything to grab onto. Surprisingly, Gaara held unto the girl as if he were embracing her. Hinata just shut her eyes, holding onto him. She was sure her face was flushed from being embarrassed, from being so close to the redhead that she could hear his heart beating.
A couple minutes went by at an agonizingly slow rate. Wind ran through the girl's hair and she shivered several times, despite being fairly warm. At one point during the flight, Gaara tapped on of Hinata's shoulders. When the girl looked up from where she was fearfully hiding, she saw a large group of deer nestled by a large three. The tree was right next to them and she was so close to the tree that she could see every detail of the bark. Her eyes glanced down at the deer, one of which had a spotted back. Hinata was mesmerized until the sand suddenly carried her upwards again. Her hands resumed gripping Gaara tightly and her eyes shut like steel vaults.
Finally, Gaara lowered Hinata unto the ground. The girl however, was so shaken she did not let of the boy. "Princess, I did not realize how much you liked my brother," a teasing voice called over to her. Hinata snapped out of her current condition and let go of the boy in front of her, blushing furiously.
Temari lead her into the palace with a tender smile upon her face. "I think that you need to change. The palace is warm, however your clothes are suitable only for summer." Hinata looked at Temari and realized that she was wearing winter clothing. The blonde had a maroon trench coat which was tied together with a goldenrod sash. Temari had a pair of goldenrod, leather winter boots with fur lining at the top. Hinata limped to her room, her friend guiding her slowly through the halls.
Temari opened the sliding doors to the princess's room, greeted by the smell of blood. Coughing, the noble backed out of the room, pulling the princess with her. "Maybe, I should let you borrow some of my old clothes."
"Wouldn't you have to go home to do that?" Hinata spoke softly knowing that many may still be asleep.
"My father was arrested, I have nowhere to live. I apologize, if you wish for me to leave, I will do so. I assumed that it would be alright, but if it is not then I will surely do as you ask." Temari blurted out.
"No, it is fine, I was merely curious. I am terribly sorry about your father." Hinata leaned against the wall to wait for Temari to open the door to her room.
"Do not apologize, he may not have been involved. Still, he has inflicted unspeakable pain on my family." Temari slid open the rice paper door, grabbing Hinata's hand. "Come in, take a seat wherever you wish." The princess simply sat on the floor by the wall. The dirty blonde went over to the closet, rummaging through a box of clothing.
Hinata was breathing deeply in and out. The scent of the room was like that of wood, it was a refreshing change. Usually the girl smelled flowers and sweet fruits. The Hyuuga opened her eyes and blinked a few times, looking around. She saw beautiful golden fans and golden bed sheets. Hinata blinked a few more times before become enveloped in the intoxicating smell surrounding her. 'Mother used to smell of cinnamon.'
I was caught up in a daydream and memories of my past. I felt as if I could smell m mother's sweet scent. It brought back vague flashbacks of occasions where my mother would hold me close to her body. The last year of her life, she became more distant. Her touch was never the same, she was less gentle, and there was less warmth. Her clothes began to lose their smell of the cinnamon she and I loved so much, it began to smell of roses. That is what she was to me then, a rose with the sharpest thorns. No matter how I tried to reach the precious flower that was my mother, I would get pricked by thorns. Then all of a sudden, my memories of her faded away yet again. I reached for them, but they were gone.
I want to remember who this person truly is
Living as a troubled memory within my heart
Hinata hugged her knees yet again. She could not remember any memories of her mother. Hinata still knew that she had a gentle voice, that she smelled of cinnamon and roses, and that she was precious. However, she had nothing to relive, nothing to hold onto. Her hands began to grip her silk dress in pain. Hinata could not remember her dear mother. Tears began to drip down her face, full of sorrow. "Princess, are you alright?" Temari asked throwing the clothes onto the floor, kneeling besides the royal.
"I cannot remember my mother. My memories are all gone." Hinata sobbed. Temari embraced her friend wanting to cry out. Hinata had always been kind and spoke often to many different people not caring if they were rich or poor. She was compassionate and sweet to everyone in the kingdom. Temari had always held concern for her inside of her heart,
"There, there. I am sure the memories will return." A gentle hand pat the princess's back. The tears ceased and soon there were small hiccups heard. "I am sure they will all come back." Temari pulled away wiping away remaining tears, still smiling warmly. "I will leave the room and you may dress. I could not find any shoes, so I will go find some and leave them by the door. I will be right outside, tell me when you are done."
Hinata heard the door open and close behind her as she gathered the clothing her friend had generously leant to her. Looking over the articles of clothing over, she slowly slipped off her clothing. The princess took all the clothes and hurriedly dressed, believing that Temari may become impatient if she did not. Sliding open the door, she found nobody in the hallway.
Hinata took time to sit for a while admiring the clothes she was currently wearing. Temari leant her a sweater with white fur lining the hood. The zipper of it was a beautiful golden color. The pants she wore were plain white with golden threads hanging from the belt loops. "Apparently she has quite a liking for the color gold."
"Actually I do." The voice startled Hinata as she looked upwards and found Temari smiling at her. "You finished rather quickly, or was I really gone that long?"
"No, I suppose I did rush a bit." Hinata stood up leaning against the wall.
"Well, I borrowed Sakura's shoes. She was looking for you, I wonder why? Anyway we should get something to eat, I am starving!" Hinata slid a pair of cotton shoes with a sliver of wood under the heel. Temari started down towards the hall, waiting for Hinata who would lean against the wall every so often. "How are you feeling?"
"Better than this morning." The princess replied smiling at the concern her friend was showing. All of a sudden, there was a huge yell.
"Give it back, it's mine!" There was a large crash shortly after.
"You are a boy, yet you wear a necklace, how strange! At least let me see what was on it!" A feminine voice yelled back, equally as loud. There was a smash of glass.
Temari looked at Hinata and stopped where she was. The sound was apparently coming from a room two feet to the front the left side.
"It is a ring. Are you going to marry someone, Naruto?" Now the girl's voice was softer and it could be recognized as Ino Yamanaka's.
"Don't you remember?"
"Remember?" There was a pause.
Naruto began to talk in a very hurt tone, "Didn't you tell Hinata to give this to me? Didn't you want me to find you someday?"
"I did, but I assumed you would have never kept it," a slightly surprised girl responded.
"Why wouldn't I keep it? I thought this ring meant something though, I thought that's why you gave it to me. I guess I was wrong," Naruto stated, hurt still dripping off of every word from his mouth.
"What did you think it meant?" Ino asked her voice filled with strain. It was apparent that she was anxious. There was also a bit of joy, it sounded as if she would break into tears.
Naruto gulped, "I thought it meant that you loved me." The words shot out of his mouth like the kunai from Tenten's hand.
"Naruto that is really sweet and I…" Ino was interrupted by the blonde boy.
"You didn't and you never will." The voice was cracking.
"No, no, I did," Ino assured in a calm voice, "I still do." There was a brief silence in which Hinata looked over at Temari.
"That is so adorable." Temari whispered. A slight shuffling was heard along with a few small steps.
Then the two in the room began to speak again. A gentle voice echoed down the hall, "I'll never leave again, I swear, I love you."
"I love you too, Ino." At this moment the door slid open and Hinata was caught in a tough situation.
To love someone with the same amount of everlasting passion
And having all of that affection returned
Ino began to blush, biting her lips, her eyes facing downward. Naruto simply turned his face so it was impossible to see his reaction. "Maybe you might want to join us for breakfast?" Temari laughed nervously. Both the blondes nodded and followed after Temari. Hinata however did not move, her eyes strayed to a room opposite to where the rest of the group was walking.
"Temari, I will meet you at the dining hall. First off, I need to go take care of some business. Please excuse me." Hinata yelled down the hall so her friend could hear. Quietly, the girl stepped up to the room where her sister once resided, her heart thumping in her chest. Pressure began to build up in her chest and she fought away the tears as her scarred hand knocked softly. "Is anyone in there?" Hinata asked, urging herself to use a cheerful tone. Silence was the only answer, so she slid the door open.
There was no one in the room, so the royal slid the door close behind her. Hinata was a bit frightened, the colors of the room made her think of terrifying things, but she calmed herself down upon finding her sister's toys. Her hands gently stroked the fur on the pink bunny Hanabi received on her birthday before the Uchiha massacre. It was before Neji's father died. It was before Ino left the North, before change and hurt affected the hearts of so many. "Where are you Hanabi? Are you alone? Are you hurt?"
Hinata made her way over to her sister's desk where there was a drawing. The drawing crude, but it held something special to both the Hyuuga princesses. It was a drawing of the two of them, together with smiled on their faces. It caused the girl on the room to remember times when there was still hope and cheer for everyone. Hinata looked through the drawers and found a velvet book with golden trimming, it had a lock. "This is...," the girl gasped in realization, "This is the book Hanabi was holding the day she was kidnapped."
Slowly, running her hands across it, she found that there was a smooth part on the back. Flipping it over, Hinata found four pictures, one of herself and one of her sister. There was one of her father, and surprisingly one of her mother. "Mother," Hinata whispered. Her mother had pale, smooth looking skin. Her lips were slightly pink, like Sakura blossoms and shimmered like stream water in spring. She had hair dark as ink that was mostly straight, but every here and there, there was an elegant curve. The woman's eyes were a startling green color, almost unheard of for those with dark hair. It contrasted nicely with the rest of her features. While, Hinata was marveling at the picture the door opened. The girl did not stir, still caught up with absorbing every bit of the picture. "Mother," Hinata whispered to herself.
Sasuke cleared his throat loud enough for the indigo haired girl to hear. Her head snapped up surprised to find Sasuke standing in the doorway with a towel around his shoulders, droplets of water dripping from his hair. He wore a pair of white pants and a high collared blue shirt. "What are you doing in here?" Sasuke asked, but instead of his voice hinting for her to get out, it was lined with curiosity.
"I was looking through my sister's belongings." Hinata answered.
"The funeral is on the seventeenth" Sasuke stated sitting on his bed.
Hinata looked shocked and then remembered that most people would not think her sister was alive. She sighed, "I suppose I will take her belongings from this room then. May I come in tomorrow to retrieve her possessions? Also, you may not want to leave our head wet, there is a possibility that you will get head pains."
"Do as you please, and what I do is my business," The prince muttered. Hinata nodded her head and left the book on her sister's desk. Briskly, the girl went to the door about to walk out. "Wait, are you on your way to eat?" Purple locks fluttered as she turned her head to face the prince, nodding.
"Would you like to join me?" Hinata offered, receiving no answer, but the prince stood up. Assuming he would follow, the girl stepped into the hall. She bit her lips to refrain from screaming at the jolts of pain running through her leg. Quietly, the two began walking awkwardly down the hall.
"Hinata!" a voice called from the dining room.
"Kiba?" Hinata asked herself upon hearing the familiar voice. A figure rushed up to her and embraced her. His toothy grin revealed his identity and Hinata smiled. "Your head is wet."
"I did just take a bath." The boy embracing her let his princess down.
"You will get a headache is you leave it that wet and go outside." The orphaned royal took the towel slung across Kiba's shoulder.
"You know me too well." The boy bent over a bit as Hinata began to dry his hair, gently moving the towel across the brown strands.
Sasuke's jealousy was boiling deep within him. The prince knew he never gave the girl a reason to care for him, that he was perfectly capable of doing everything himself but his heart still continued to wilt like branches on a willow.
I wonder how it feels
Surely some day I will come to know
Sasuke just walked on past the two, pushing open the doors to the dining room. Hinata did not notice and continued to dry Kiba's head. When she finished, the prince before her kissed her forehead. "You must be hungry, come on." He pulled her into the dining room, smile plastered on his face.
Hinata was seated across from her cousin who nodded. "Good morning Hinata."
"Good morning Neji. How is training progressing?" The princess asked grabbing an orange. She began to peel away the skin into a plate of orange peels.
"Fairly well." The boy answered taking a sip from his cup of tea. "Would you like some tea?" Hinata nodded, smiling, somehow her cousin seemed more relaxed. She stared at his bandaged arms as he poured the tea. The wounds from the fire when his father died left definite scars that would probably never heal.
I still remember from when I was a child
That night drenched in the blue star's light
"You seem like you are happy. What has changed?" Hinata took a piece of the orange and put it into her mouth. The sweet juices exploded in her mouth as she chewed. The fluid ran down her parched throat.
Why is that day's melody,
Once blowing so wild now fading away
Neji looked up at his cousin, surprise written on his face. She was very perceptive because nobody else had noticed. "I proposed to Tenten and she agreed." His hands began to shake a bit and he smiled with sincerity for the first time in many years.
Children of royal families proposing on their own were rare events. However, it was an entirely different case when the child proposing was an orphan. They needed someone to continue the bloodline. The sooner that they found someone the sooner their status in the country would be ensured.
"I'm so glad to hear that. What age will the wedding be?" Hinata sipped her tea, eyes shining in happiness.
"When I turn sixteen." The boy took a loaf of bread and began to eat. Then the dining room doors opened yet again.
"Neji!" Tenten flung her arms around his neck. "Good morning." She kissed his cheek, giggling madly. Neji embraced her back kissing her on the cheek. The girl blushed and sat down next to him, eyes sparkling.
To love someone with the same amount of everlasting passion
And having all of that affection returned
Even through my eyes, it was obvious they were in love, deeply in love. Somehow the story completely twisted from when I sat alone in the middle of the night. I was happy for them a joy began to fill up my thoughts.
Kankuro then entered the room and somehow something pierced Hinata like a needle. It was as if he was enveloped in deep sorrow. It was the same thing she saw in his brother's eyes. It was a mysterious sadness, except Hinata could vaugly guess why, it was some sort of lost love.
Kankuro stared at Tenten and Neji. His heart crumbled, he felt a connection with the girl. Neji was nothing, but coldness, how could that appeal to such a sweet girl. Tenten was always in control, always strong. Her nimble fingers would always entrance him when she was training, they were like his. They were precise, they were deadly. She always put the mission ahead of herself, Kankuro admired that. No matter what he did, she would probably retain feelings beyond his understanding.
I wonder how it feels
It feels so far
I believe that is just what happened. He did not understand, there was something deeper than what was seen by most. The story was not known to me either, but it would continue to unfold bit by bit.
"Princess, good morning." Sakura appeared out of the kitchen covered in flour.
"Goodness, what happened?" Tenten asked pulling out a handkerchief and cleaned off some of the powder.
"Ino is trying to cook." Sakura answered plainly. "Princess, are you finished with your breakfast. I have an urgent matter I need to discuss with you.
"Yes, I suppose I am done." Hinata excused herself from the table and pushed in her chair. Sakura gestured for her to follow, Hinata did just that. The two made their way through the halls, occasionally running into someone they knew. The princess was guided up a flight of spiraling stairs in the corner of the castle facing the ocean.
"Miss Tsunade, Hinata is here." Sakura opened the wooden door that revealed a room that was very richly furnished with expensive antiques. There were hundreds of books upond shelves that seemed to carry on forever. The windows showed the shimmering ocean water and the white sailboats that were far into the horizon. Hinata's eyes shimmered at the sight. It was so calming, but it was full of grief, it seemed to be mourning something that caused pain to seep into the girl.
Intermittently, a singing voice drifts towards the open sea.
"Sakura, you may leave." The pink haired girl bowed and left the room silently, closing the door behind her. "Come here, Hinata."
"Is something wrong, Grandmother?" Hinata was careful not to be loud when she addressed her. It was a secret that was not known to the rest of the kingdom. Her grandmother released the technique that kept her looking as if she was twenty. It hid her true appearance. Her golden hair became black with grey hairs, but her eyes stayed the same. Her perfectly smooth skin was slightly wrinkled.
"Yes my dear. Has anything strange been happening to you lately?" Tsunade asked looking deep into her granddaughter's eyes.
"Yes, memories of my mother have…" Hinata paused for a while tears building up. "They have all seemingly disappeared."
"I feared this would happen." Tsunade stood from her chair and embraced the crying girl. "Years ago, this happened to my daughter. Your father also died with the mark."
"You mean the one on my leg?" The Hyuuga asked wiping away her tears.
"Yes, I saw it yesterday and I knew something was going wrong. Hinata, I don't want anymore of your memories to vanish. I will perform a type of operation in which it will contain the seal. However, your mother's memories will be transferred into you. They may be painful." There was a thick tension in the air.
"No matter how painful the memories, they are always better to remember." Hinata answered. "Will the procedure bring back my old memories?"
"I am afraid I do not know. If it does not I will try to find a way." White eyes stared into her hazel ones making her want to cry. "Come to me a week from now and I will perform the operation. You may leave." Hinata nodded and left the room.
'I may be able to remember mother. It is worth a try.' Hinata walked down the stairs slowly, looking down to see Sakura waiting for her.
I want to cherish this newborn thought
Sakura smiled, "When will it be?"
"A week from now." Hinata answered. "I have a place I must visit alone. Thank you for waiting." Sakura just nodded and turned to walk down the hall. Hinata turned down a narrow passage that lead to a balcony overseeing the forests still covered with snow.
At that moment, I could have sworn I heard a voice telling me it was going to be alright. I was frightened at first, but after a while I realized it was soothing. I felt assured that the operation would help me. It was nice to feel like I could trust in that voice.
Maybe fate had just stirred my heart in vain
Maybe it's only the wind
Thankies for reading!
