Naruto sighed softly. The winter ball was upon them once again and he couldn't help but want to whine. It was rather boring here, that much was for certain, though he knew that he couldn't allow himself to be distracted. He had to follow Hinata around, and make sure that she was safe from anyone whom thought would be getting lucky around her.
He wouldn't allow it.
Not to mention, thanks to what Jiraiya had suggested, it was much easier for him to maintain his human form now thanks to the necklace that his parents had left him, along with their powers. Though he couldn't help but be curious as to what he could do from here on out. At some point, he may have to leave and have to leave the princess here.
The thought of it alone made his heart ache.
God, what was wrong with him lately. The pain was getting harder and harder to deal with. It felt as if it was more powerful now that his demonic heritage had awakened after so many years. Yet, this time it was almost suffocating more than anything else. As if it had stolen his voice, his breathe, everything that kept him alive really. The very part of him that made him, the way he was.
Shaking his head, the young man checked his kimono and felt the package that was Hinata's gift. He knew that he still had to give this to her. But he would have to pick the right time, not wanting to overwhelm her with something so simple but, sometimes it's the simple gifts that make it the most worthwhile.
Giving a small smile at the thought of Hinata's smile at his gift, he couldn't help but look over at where all the other royals had gathered. They were still expecting Hinata to show up, but he couldn't help but wonder where it was that she was going to appear from. It was rather puzzling, and he couldn't help but be curious as to where she would be appearing from. He had yet to see her, but knew that Kakashi and Iruka were with her, so that had to mean something at the very least. She was safe.
Turning his gaze to his hand he couldn't help but be curious. What would his life be if he had lived as a demon instead of a human? Would he have still been the man that he was now? Would he have still been so drawn to Hinata? To want to protect her?
Shaking his head, the young man knew that he shouldn't think about the 'what if's so to speak. He knew that he had to keep his head. That he had to keep himself calm and collected, that he would have to keep her safe now of all times. There was no telling what would happen should the time come when Hinata would need a husband, or if she would be attacked.
Letting out a soft sigh, the young man reached up and placed a hand over his heart. Why did it have to hurt him so much too even think about such a thing in the first place? It just seemed as if everything that had happened lately, was drawing up to this one moment. But why? Why would it be drawn to such a day as this? Just for Hinata's birthday of all things? He didn't know, but hoped that when that time came that he wasn't around to hear it.
He feared that if that was something that he had heard. That Hinata had found a groom that he wouldn't be around to hear such words. The thought itself hurt, and he never wanted to hear those words. Tightly shutting his eyes, the young man took a deep breath, hoping and praying that his heart could handle such a thing.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his rattled nerves to the point that he could relax. Opening his blue eyes he saw all the other royals looking around still trying to find the princess. Where could she be anyway? It wasn't like Hinata to be late. Unless she was distracted by something or that Kakashi and Iruka were explaining something to her. He wasn't sure, but he hoped that everything was okay. Unless she was still struggling with her make up. That was something else to think about.
Shaking his head, the young man took a deep breath and made his way over toward the door where Hinata would be coming from. She had to be coming soon, sniffing the air, he couldn't help but wriggle his nose at the many, many scents that were mingling together. How was it that demons could handle such an overload of scents? It seemed as if they had to deal with this many a day, they would have gone mad within a matter of days.
Yet, thanks to Kakashi, he had managed to get most of the scents out of the way, or even just to block most of them. That he would have to focus on one single scent alone. He could faintly smell lavender and vanilla but he couldn't be sure if that was the princess herself. Yet, he did find it rather soothing and pleasing that was for sure. Maybe it had to be her.
Tilting his head to the side, Naruto made his way through the crowd, wanting to get through so he could see if Hinata was arriving, Yet, it was what he saw that made him stop dead in his tracks. It was as if he was looking at a completely different person.
She wore a beautiful blue kimono dress. Her hair was done up with ribbons in different shades of blue from the sky to the ocean itself. She had blue eyeshadow, yet he also noticed that there were two locks of hair that framed her face, he couldn't help but feel like his heart had skipped a beat within his chest.
To him, Hinata had never looked more beautiful than she did in that moment. It had seemed as if he was looking at another person. Pink dusted his cheeks as he gazed at her. He couldn't help but reach up and placed a hand over his heart, feeling it pound in his chest at the sight. Yet, another part of him, he guessed was the demon part to him was telling him to take her away from here. That they didn't deserve to gaze upon her beauty.
Gulping a bit, he took a deep breath as he made his way over toward the princess. Hinata looked up at Naruto and blinked a little at the man before her eyes widened. Must not have expected him to come toward her yet. Or, she was surprised by his outfit. It was the same style that he always wore just in blue. He chuckled a little at her expression before making his way over toward her before bowing to Hinata. "Princess, I am here to escort you." Hinata let out a sigh of relief, he knew that she hated to be surrounded by people. For that, he was in a way grateful as it got him to take her away from these leeches.
Holding out his hand toward her, the young man shuddered a little but carefully wrapped his fingers around Hinata's delicate hand. He was afraid of his new found strength that was without question. Yet, part of him had felt his own demonic blood pull itself back so to speak. As if the demon within him was afraid of hurting her so held itself back for the time being.
Peeking up at her through his lashes, Naruto saw that Hinata gazed down at him with so much kindness that he didn't think that she was even looking at him. But looking at another.
He looked around a little, only to gaze back at Hinata and returned her smile. Chuckling a little, he carefully tugged Hinata along, not wanting her to trip over her own feet as he walked with her around the hall.
"You look lovely Hinata." Naruto calmly said, low enough to where only she could hear him. Hinata looked up and blushed at the blonde which only made him smile and chuckle at her. "Not that you weren't already before."
Hinata giggled a little at Naruto.
Naruto couldn't help but chuckle a little more at the blue haired woman. He couldn't help but give her a small yet loving smile. How was it that he could fall in love with her all the more. He wanted to kiss her, wanted to hold her. Just to make sure that no one ever tried to take her away from him but he also wasn't sure what more he could say or do.
"You look handsome Naruto." Hinata said with a giggle, causing the blonde to blush a little more. God, did she know that she had so much power over him? He couldn't help but stare at her. Feeling as if his entire life was complete in that moment. He almost felt like time had slowed down to a crawl for him. "I wonder what big announcement father has going on."
Naruto couldn't help but be curious as well. That was something that had been going on for a while. That her father had some kind of big news going on that no one really knew about other than the lord himself. He wouldn't tell anyone about it, not even Naruto.
Though, he couldn't help but be curious either way. Letting out a soft sigh, the young man turned his attention to Hinata as he gave her a small smile before saying "May I have this dance?" Hinata giggled a little before nodding her head at the blonde. Naruto felt his heart racing a little in his chest but he happily walked with Hinata to the center as he bowed to her. Hinata, of course curtsied to the blonde before she wrapped her arms around his neck and his arms wrapped around her waist.
Naruto couldn't help but smile at her. Yeah, this was the king of life that he needed right now. Just one special moment like this to keep in his mind. Leaning closer to Hinata, he couldn't help but nuzzle her a little, only to blush a little before pulling himself back a little. He knew that he would have to have some kind of restraint. Yet, Naruto couldn't help but look at her, seeing that the young princess gazed up at him with sparkling eyes. It made him love her all the more.
"Naruto, think we could always be together?" Hinata asked with a frown on her face.
"I…" Could he lie? Should he tell her the truth? He wasn't sure, but he also didn't want to upset the woman either. Closing his eyes for a brief moment, the young man took a deep breath as he looked over at the princess once again. "I'll try." That was all he could do, he just couldn't tell her that he would never leave her, but at the same time he didn't want to give her the hope that should he leave, that he would return.
"Naruto, what is going on? You've been rather distant lately."
Naruto frowned a little before closing his eyes as he sighed softly. He couldn't tell her the truth of that either. What would she do should the time come that she learns the truth. That he was a demon that had been forced to live a life as a human. Staring at her for a brief moment, he calmly said "It is something that you could never understand Hinata. I myself, don't even understand it, and it is something that I do not wish to share. I'm sorry."
"Naruto, why can't you-"
"Because, if you knew the truth you may never want anything to do with me ever again." He sighed softly before reaching into his robes and pulled out the package. "Here, I got this for you. It's specially made for you to use in everyday problems such as fights."
Hinata blinked at the cloth before carefully accepting it from the blonde's hand and started to unwrap it. What she saw made her eyes widen in shock and awe. There, was a hair clip that had a beautiful blue flower surrounded by lavender. The ornaments that hung from the clip itself were a sky blue, much like Naruto's eyes. They swayed from the slightest of movement, Hinata couldn't help but stare at the blonde with wide eyes.
Naruto couldn't help but blush a little as he stared at her. Gulping a little, the young man rubbed at the back of his head as he said "I had it specially made. It's to work like my sword so to speak. It had my own chakra within it, and should the need arise, it should keep you safe should the time come where I cannot protect you."
Hinata looked up at the blonde with wide eyes. Tears in her eyes before she wrapped her arms around her personal guard. Naruto blushed a little more before he carefully wrapped his arms around the blue haired woman. He couldn't help but feel his heart thumping painfully within his chest. It was as if everything that was surrounding him was filled with warmth.
Closing his eyes, the young man tightened his hold around Hinata. Feeling this warmth within himself and it seemed to grow as he just held her. He couldn't be sure what would be in store for him, but he hoped that this would never end. "Thank you Naruto, it's beautiful. Can you put it in for me?" Hinata asked with a big smile on her face.
He blushed at that before nodding his head. Carefully, the blonde grabbed the hair clip and carefully slid it into Hinata's blue locks and watched as it just seemed to blend into her hair. As if it was always meant to be there. Looking over at the blue haired woman, he couldn't help but think that she had grown even more beautiful than before. He just smiled at her before leaning closer to her, close enough that he could easily capture her lips with his but, he had to withhold himself from doing such a thing.
Closing his eyes, the young man let out a pained sigh before he pulled himself back as he gazed at Hinata and just smiled weakly at her. "I think it should be time that we go and see your father. Don't you think?" he said with a chuckle before he saw Hinata sigh softly. It seemed that she didn't want this moment to end either as she just gave him a small smile as they started to make their way over to the head of the room. Hinata and Naruto both saw Hiashi talking to someone.
Odd, Naruto felt as if he knew that person from somewhere. There was a cold feeling as it seemed to swell up within him. A cold memory that seemed to surged through his entire body. IT felt as if an icy grip was wrapping itself around his heart in an icy vice. "Oh, Hinata!" Hiashi said with a chuckle before he made his way over to his daughter and pulled her close to his side. "I'd like to introduce you to Lord Ryuu, he is a new lord who had taken to his throne not too long ago."
Naruto felt as if he knew someone before. Felt as if he knew that he had to do something, something about this all felt so very wrong. His hands clenched into tight fists as he tried to keep himself calm and collected but his inner demon was screaming at him to keep Hinata away from this man. That there was something wrong and that they all were in danger right now.
"Hello, oh, who are you?" asked Ryuu as he stared at Naruto. A look of shock and surprise was on his face as he stared at the guard. "Do I know you?" He asked with a frown on his face. His golden eyes seemed to shine with confusion, but at the same time with shock.
"No, I've never left this kingdom." Naruto calmly said, not sure how he would know this man, but he just felt as if there was something wrong about this man. But he just wasn't sure what it was. Letting out a soft sigh, Naruto walked a little closer to Hinata, wanting to be as close to her as possible, as if to protect her from this man. Though, he wasn't sure what he was to do. What he could do to keep her safe, though not sure other than to either keep her away from this man by standing in front of her or by walking off with the woman himself.
"I see, it's just that you remind me of someone I knew long ago."
"Well, if you will excuse me, I have to go and make my announcement." Hiashi said with a chuckle before chuckling and made his way over to the front of the room. Though, Naruto couldn't help but look over at Hinata. Seeing that she looked a little nervous about the whole thing. It seemed that she was scared around this man and he knew that he had to do something to keep her safe.
"Please excuse us." Naruto said as he carefully grabbed onto Hinata's hand and walked with her away from this man. That feeling was still there, he knew that much. But it wouldn't go away either it seemed. No matter how far away he got, the feeling remained in his chest.
"Everyone, may I have your attention please." Lord Hiashi said, causing everyone to look over at him. "I'd like to announce that this ball isn't just to announce my daughter's birthday, but to finally announce that I finally found someone to take my child, Hinata, as his bride!"
Naruto couldn't help but stare with wide eyes. His heart, it felt like it had shattered into a million pieces, and that a part of him had finally died.
