"Hinata."
Hinata began to regain consciousness.
"Hinata. Wake up."
Hinata lifted her eyelids groggily. She felt something wet on her forehead, and she was resting on something soft. Must be a lap.
"Hinata…""Hin! Are you okay?" Ino asked, concerned.
Hinata crossed her eyes, because Ino's face was just inches away from hers. She shook her head. That whispery voice in my head… Must be my imagination. She answered slowly, "I'm… not sure."
"What happened?" Sakura asked, a big grin on her face. "That was spooky!"
"I did it!" another voice cried triumphantly. Once again, Hinata heard the whispery voice in her head. "I'm in the world of the living! I'm free!"
Hinata sucked her breath.
"Hin-hin, are you alright?" Ino helped Hinata to an upright sitting position.
Hinata debated whether if she should tell her sisters. Just then, Naruto came back.
"Naru!" Ino said happily, kissing him.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his blue eyes worried.
"Does something have to be wrong for me to kiss my husband?" Ino asked, twirling his golden hair that had grown to the back of his neck. A cute little curly golden mane, Ino thought. "What's wrong, honey?"
"I felt a … I don't know, a disturbance coming from you guys." Naruto sat down beside Ino, who has her arms wrapped around his right arm. "It was the strangest sensation. I can't really describe it." He scratched his chin, deep in thought.
Ino frowned. Naruto was the Charmed One's Whitelighter, sort of like their guardian angel. He could always feel when they were in trouble; that way he could orb in to help whenever they needed it. Of course he had a lot of other charges too. Still, Ino knew she and her sisters were always on his mind. But it was odd that Naruto couldn't explain exactly what he'd felt from them.
Hinata suddenly felt tired. "Hinata."
The voice jostled Hinata to sit up, alert and aware that none of her sisters, even Naruto had heard that voice. The music must be way loud for them to hear.
"I agree." The woman voice said again.
At that infinitesimal moment, Hinata knew she was not imagining things or succumbing to schizophrenia. That voice was inside her head! Something was definitely not right.
"Hey, you guys. I have to go to the bathroom." Hinata stood up hurriedly.
"Hin, I'll come with—" Sakura trailed off when Hinata paid no attention and rushed to the ladies'. I didn't see her chugging alcohol or tequila. Sakura overheard Naruto talking about the danger of opening portal between worlds and diverted her full attention to the conversation. She had a lot to learn.
"It's not good to open portals between worlds, especially on Samhain." Naruto's expression was serious. "You never know who's going to come through."
Ino knew he was right, but she felt the need to defend her sister. "Hinata was hoping to get a glimpse of Ten Ten."
Sakura butted in. "Besides, all three of us were there. If a demon or poltergeist had tried to take advantage of our spell to claw its way out of the world of the dead, we would've kicked its ass right back through."
Ino smiled, but Naruto still looked worried. "You're sure it didn't work?"
"Pretty sure," Ino replied. "Hinata let go of our hands, and the spell faltered."
Naruto started sternly. "But you guys were trying to summon the dead.
Ino could tell he was stressed out. She took his hand in hers. "It's okay, honey. Nothing happened." She rubbed his hand reassuringly. "I promise."
"What just happened?" Hinata asked herself. She had locked the ladies' after making sure no one was inside. She glanced around, her back was pressed to a wall. She walked unsteadily to the sink. Hinata could still feel a tingling in her body.
"Hinata…," the woman's voice whispered in her head.
"Alright already! Who are you! Show yourself!" Hinata looked at her reflection with bated breath. "Tell me I'm not losing my mind."
"You're not." The mirror shimmered, and Hinata's reflection wavered. When the shimmering stopped, Hinata fund herself looking into the dark eyes of a brunette. She was lovely, her hair piled on top of her head in an intricate updo, her full skirted gown made of velvet in emerald green.It was no Halloween costume, though; Hinata could tell the dress was authentic. And very, very old.
"Oh my gosh!" Hinata cried. "What's going on?"
"Don't be frightened," the brunette said."Why not?" Hinata demanded. "Who are you?"
"Hyuuga Hanabi," the woman replied. "I am your ancestor. You called for me."
Hinata's jaw dropped. This woman was one of the Halliwell witches? But what was she doing inside her body? Although still shocked, Hinata noticed the similarities she shared with her ancestor. The eyes, the hair, the physique….
"What are you doing in my body?"
"You called for one of the Halliwell witches," Hanabi said. "You created an opening for me, and I used it to jump into your body." She added casually
Hinata couldn't believe it. This woman seemed to think it was the most normal thing in the world to jump into someone else's body.
"I didn't want to cohabitate," Hinata said calmly. "I just want to talk."
Now, Hanabi looked a little ashamed of herself. "I know," she said. "I took advantage of the day to leap through the veil separating us."
"Samhain," Hinata whispered, "the day when the barrier between the world is the thinnest."
"Your spell allowed my spirit to gain access to you," Hanabi said. "And because of the barrier is so thin today, I was able to force my way through. I could not take physical form, but I could possess your body."
Hinata felt a wave of fear. She was possessed?
"I could take control of your body and use it to do whatever I like," Hanabi said. "But I'd rather have your cooperation. I'm not an evil witch. I'm just desperate."
Hinata studied the beautiful face in the mirror. Hanabi's large eyes were troubled, and her jaw was clenched. She did seem desperate, and she was an ancestor. Maybe I should help her, Hinata thought, feeling sorry for the forlorn figure in the mirror.
"What kind of cooperation?" Hinata asked.
"I must find someone," Hanabi said urgently. Find him and release him from a spell."
"Who are you looking for?" Hinata inquired.
"My husband," Hanabi replied. "He's a demon."
