11

Chapter Three

Where we stood was dark.

I couldn't sense any walls around us and no breeze that would play in my hair.

Around us burned small red candles all placed in a neat circle.

Naruto stared down at me with no trace of emotion on his face.

"Come closer," he said.

I felt my cheeks heat up as I stepped closer to him. With each breath, his scent filled my nose. The smell of wood and vanilla radiated off of him.

"Focus, Hinata," he said. "This place is our sanctuary. Within this dark room is the power of our two souls combined. This is where judgment will occur, where God will tell us which door we need to open. This is where we can be alone and away from the others when we need to be.

"Each candle holds all the knowledge of all the Angels that have ever existed. Take a candle and put your hand in the fire."

I looked at him as if he grew another head.

He rolled his eyes.

"Trust me."

I looked deep in his eyes. No emotion. No way of knowing what was in his head.

I walked over to the edge of the circle and picked up a red candle. I stared at the small flame as it danced on the wick. It bounced and shook to an unheard melody and I could see the happiness within it. I brought my hand to the dancing flame and hesitantly placed a single finger within it.

The flame took me over.

My skin was devoured by the flame as well as my dress and my hair.

It burned white and the white fire sent a pleasured chill up my spine. It didn't hurt, and as it burned on I never wanted it to stop. I turned to Naruto and his fire burned red.

His eyes were closed and his lips parted as he started to breathe unevenly. I walked back over to him and touched his arm. His eyes snapped open.

They were a deep red.

I knew those eyes.

He wrapped an arm around my waist and held me tightly against him. He rested a hand on my cheek.

"We have to seal the bond now," he whispered. "Before the Fire fades."

I nodded.

He then crushed his lips against mine. He was hungry, but not for me. He was hungry for my Fire and I was hungry for his. His Fire was intoxicating. I ached for it and drunk it all. I gripped the front of his shirt and tried to get as much of him as I could. Naruto brought his hand to the back of my head and held me closer. He entangled his fingers in my long hair and continued to consume my Fire.

This moment felt as if it lasted days, but it was only a few minutes and before I knew it, his fire began to dim and then it was gone. He pulled away slowly and took a few steps back, trying to catch his breath.

His eyes were a deep red.

Sharp k-9 teeth poked from under his top lip.

His ears were sharp and catlike.

They twitched as I shifted my weight from foot to foot.

"The bond has been made Hinata," he said softly. "The way you are right now is your true form as well as this is my true form. It will take a few days to learn to conceal this form like the others have, but we will accomplish it."

My true form?

I needed to see myself. I needed to see what I had transformed into now."

"What now?" I whispered looking down.

"We can leave," he replied. "For now. We will have to come back soon."

I nodded.

"Open your eyes," he said.

I opened my watery eyes.

Naruto was still kneeling before me in the same bright room we started in and was looking up at me with his red eyes.

His right, cat-like ear twitched as I gasped at him.

He sighed.

I felt my ear twitch automatically.

I reached up and grasped my ear. I felt panic reach my face as I stared down at Naruto.

He grinned mischievously, showing off his sharp K-9 teeth.

"You look like a vampire," I pouted.

"So do you," he laughed.

I felt an inhuman growl bubble in my throat and my ears turn back slightly in irritation.

I slapped my hands over my mouth and stared down at him with wide eyes.

He laughed harder.

"It's not funny!" I growled again, cursing myself for sounding like an angry dog.

He laughed harder and harder as I got angrier with him.

I felt my ears fall back slightly with embarrassment. "I'm leaving." I stomped around him and headed for the door. I felt him stand and follow me out the door.

"Are you mad now?" he chuckled.

"No!" I shrieked.

"Yes you are," he laughed. "Well at least you don't have creepy red eyes. You just look like a vampire cat but with bigger, more elf-ish ears."

A warning growl sounded in my chest.

"Ok, ok," he surrendered. "I'll quit."

We continued down the hallway in a comfortable silence. I heard Naruto stuff his hands in his pockets and walk up to continue down the hall at my side. The feeling of having him there by my side erased any once of fear or worry from my mind. I felt so peaceful and protected.

I pushed open the door that I knew led to the cathedral. Light filled my eyes and the smell of incents filled my nose.

"I've never liked the smell of this place," Naruto complained.

I turned to him and laughed at his wrinkled nose. This was the first sign of innocence that I've ever seen him convey.

"I think it smells beautiful," I replied and closed my eyes.

"I think you've been drinking too much Holy Water," he murmured as he crossed his arms and looked around the cathedral, avoiding my glare completely. "It's been a long time since I've been in here. I couldn't tell you when."

"Neji said that the Angels felt safe here." I looked up at him. "Don't you?"

He looked down at me.

"I don't feel safe anywhere, Hinata. It's just the way I am."

I looked down at the ground and thought about his words. I wondered what would make him feel that way.

"Let's go find the others," he said as he started walking to the other doors. "We should flaunt our new look."

He didn't laugh this time.

I hurried after him and followed loyally.

We walked for what seemed like an hour before I finally broke the silence.

"Naruto," I called. He didn't respond but I knew he was listening. "The others were saying that they have been waiting for me. How long have they waited for me?"

"Around fifty or so years," he replied.

"That's impossible," I breathed in shock, feeling the blood in my veins stop.

He looked at me over his shoulder.

"After all that has happened over the past few days, you're really going to doubt that I'm right?" he asked, one eyebrow raised. I blushed slightly. He looked forward. "We don't age. We leave when God tells us to."

"Have you been waiting too?"

He nodded and sighed. "For thirty years I have waited for you."

I looked down.

"Why didn't you just choose someone else?" I whispered, hoping he didn't hear me.

"Because they weren't the right ones," he replied, obviously hearing me. "I knew who I wanted."

I felt my insides twist and jump at his words. I smiled again and stared at the back of his wings. No matter how dark and ominous they were, they were glorious in their own way. They were an acquired taste.

We walked again in silence. I tore my attention from his wings and took in the paintings and statues were passed by. Each one had a mystery and story behind it. Many showed stories of great triumph but also displayed the sadness and failure that the Spiritual World faced. How many more will they have to face?

Naruto stopped in the middle of the corridor and stiffened.

"Naruto?"

When he didn't answer, I walked around him curiously to see why he stopped. Then I saw why.

Sasuke.

His eyes widened when he saw me and then a smile graced his features.

"Hinata," he said. "You look like one of those things off of Avatar."

I stuck my tongue out at him.

He looked back at Naruto and his face became stone.

"If you've messed this up, stupid, I'll kill you," Sasuke said.

A growl rumbled in Naruto's chest but his face remained impassive. I saw his hands clench and unclench at his side. He didn't answer.

"Come on, Hinata," Sasuke said, gently grabbing my arm.

I felt something push me immediately back and out of Sasuke's reach.

Naruto stood before me now, his body slightly crouched and his ears folded back. A deadly erupted from Naruto's chest.

A flash of light suddenly took Sasuke over and when it finally faded, he looked like we did. His pale, catlike ears were pulled back and his teeth were bared as a warning sign. But his eyes were so familiar, now.

His eyes were black.

Like Neji's were.

A growl echoed in his chest.

"Don't touch her," Naruto ordered, his voice low.

Sasuke let out a hiss.

I quickly went and stood between them.

"Sasuke, Naruto," I said sternly, anger deep in my voice, "quit acting like idiots. I don't know what's going on between you too, but grow up. You can do this later, but right now I need your help. Both of you."

Sasuke turned his head slightly to look at me. His lip fell back over his teeth and he stood up straight. His eyes still stayed the same; the eyes of a demon. Naruto stayed crouched but he stopped bearing his teeth. His eyes were dark as well.

"Naruto!" I barked (literally). I felt my ears fall flat and rage spike to an unbearable peak in my head. I've had enough surprises for today and the emotions that I've kept concealed up to this point, were ready to spill over.

He stumbled back, startled. His eyes turned back to red and his defensive stance disintegrated.

"Hinata," he breathed.

"I don't know what is going on," I hissed. "I had a baby die at my birthday party, I've been torn from my family, I've been turned into a bird with cat ears and vampire teeth, and I'm still confused about all this. I need you guys now. Don't do this."

They looked at each other and sadness made itself known on their faces. I closed my eyes, already knowing that they went from white to black. I took a deep breath and tried to cease the growling in my chest. My eyes snapped open when I heard retreating footsteps.

Naruto was walking away, going the same direction that we had started in. My eyes burned as I held back tears.

"Where are you going?" I asked softly.

"I'm going to the meeting room," he replied, his voice echoing in the enormous corridor. "Come, Hinata."

With each step he took away from me, my heart lurched painfully.

Sasuke rested his hand on the small of my back and nodded when I looked up at him. We followed Naruto silently. This boy was supposed to be part of me for the rest of my life. He was supposed to be my protector for the rest of my "life." The pain that I was feeling now almost made me regret everything we just experienced. What we just experienced in that room was pure and beautiful and precious and then in a matter of a few minutes, it was as if he's forgotten about it all.

We continued on until we arrived at a glass door.

"Hinata," Sasuke said softly. "Do you need me in there with you?"

I looked up at Naruto. He was leaving against the frame of the door with his emotionless eyes glued to mine.

"No," I replied, not taking my eyes from Naruto. "Naruto and I need to start learning to handle things on our own. If we become dependent on other people, we will learn to trust everyone except for each other."

I listened to Sasuke sigh.

"If that is what you want…" Sasuke said.

"It is."

With one last glance at me and Naruto, Sasuke was gone for the second time.

"What's wrong, Hinata?"

I glared at Naruto with blood already boiling in my face. I pushed past him and into the meeting room. He followed me in, closing and locking the door.

"Are you serious?" I growled at him.

"I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't."

"I can't believe you!"

A growl rumbled in his throat. "What are you talking about?"

"What do you mean 'what am I talking about?' You know exactly what I'm talking about!"

"You're freaking out because me and Sasuke were about to fight. Is that what it is?"

"No. It's the fact that you've blocked me out completely. You're acting like I'm nothing more than a person that you have to be with."

He walked over to me quickly, pushing me against a wall. His ears were turned back and he was snarling like an irritated dog.

"Shut up!" he growled. "You don't know anything. I don't have anything against you, alright? You are more to me than anyone in this entire church, so don't just assume you're nothing to me! Don't you ever think that again!"

I looked down and away from his angry face.

His nostrils were flaring and his warm, heavy breath brushed against my cheek. I felt bad now. He wasn't purposely being like that. I guess he was just not used to being so close to someone.

"I'm sorry," I whispered looking up into his angry eyes. "It's just that my emotions seem so much stronger now. I don't like you keeping me so far away from you. I don't know what it is. I just have this ach to be as close to you as I possibly can."

He backed away from me, but anger still stayed on his face.

"Good luck with that," he replied dryly.

The door opened and in stepped a very angry Ino.

"How did you get in here, you crazy bi-." Ino cut him off

"What is going on in here?" she asked, ignoring his insult. "I could hear you two down the hall."

"It's a corridor," Naruto mumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Get it straight."

Ino glared at him. "That doesn't answer my question, Naruto. What's going on with you two?"

"We were just having a discussion," he replied. "Now can you get out so we can wait for Tsunade without you harassing us?"

Ino huffed and trudged out of the meeting room. Naruto glanced back at me and held my eyes for a moment. In my mind I imagined him saying he was sorry, but deep down I knew that wasn't going to happen. He was dark and something in his head held him back from expressing what he really was feeling.

He looked away as the door opened.

Standing before us was a woman who looked as if she were in her early twenties. Her bright blue eyes were glued on me as she set the notepad that she had down on the table. She flipped back her blonde hair and walked forward and stood before Naruto.

"Don't think that because you're an Angel and you have crazy powers and pointy ears that I can't beat you up for making Sasuke tear up my garden," she said, poking Naruto in the chest.

Naruto shrugged. "It's his fault."

"Huh," Tsunade laughed bitterly. She looked over at me and clicked her tongue. "Is this the young lady who's causing all this trouble?"

I blushed and went to stand beside Naruto.

"Hinata," I corrected her. "Are you Tsunade?"

"The one and only," she grinned. "Are you ready to get down to business?"

I nodded and smiled back.

"Good," she said turning and picking up her notepad. "Listen closely, alright? This is some vital stuff."

I nodded.

"A few weeks from now you will be starting school," she said. "We have to make you guys look as natural as possible. In a few days you will get your necklace. The necklace is designed to kind of put your wings and ears and weird eyes away. I'm assuming you've been to your sanctuary?"

I nodded again.

"Well that's where your wings and such will go. It's just some simple camouflage. The reason we want you guys to hit the books is because one, you haven't even finished school yet, and second, these guys need to get out more. It's just an experiment. It should be fun.

"First, however, you will be put through tests. No one will be able to help you with these tests. It's to see what field of work you will be participating in. Naruto here is a Warrior so there is a strong possibility that you will be too. Naruto is a genius when it comes to guns. You should consider yourself lucky."

I looked over at him and he smirked.

"But those things can wait for a few days," she sighed. "You've had a very traumatic day. Get some rest."

She winked at me and turned leave the room.

"Happy birthday," she said before closing the door.

"Do you want to go to my room or yours?" Naruto asked. "We need to spend time together. We've fought for the past thirty minutes."

"Let's go to your room."

He nodded and went out the door. When we finally arrived at his room he immediately dug in his pocket and fished out the key to his room. He pushed open the door and waited for me to go in first. He followed and locked his door.

"I'll be back," he said throwing his key on the small table next to the door. I sat on the couch and watched him disappear behind the bedroom door.

I adjusted my wings slightly so that I wasn't sitting so awkwardly and I looked around the living room in silence. It was neatly kept and wasn't at all cluttered. He had some paintings on the walls but it was mostly pictures of him and the other Angels. He had a rather large bookcase on the across from the entrance door that was overflowing with many books of different sizes. His place was opposite of what I thought it would be. It was so sophisticated and kept so neatly that it really symbolized who he was as a "person."

I heard the bedroom door open and I watched as a small kitten ran out.

I felt my face breakout into a grin.

The kitten spotted me and stopped. Its golden eyes took me in and gave a small meow. I giggled and it trotted happily over to where I was. It crouched down and sprang up on the couch but landed flat on its stomach. I couldn't help but laugh at it. It righted itself and walked slowly over to me. It sniffed my arm suspiciously. I watched it as it gave my arm a small lick and then rub its small black head against me in adoration.

"You're lucky," I heard Naruto say as he stood in front of me. "He rarely likes anyone. I found him a few weeks ago in the ally."

I looked up at him and smiled.

"So you do have a heart," I said teasingly.

He glared at me. "Yes. Thank you so much for noticing."

I laughed.

The kitten continued to rub on me and I placed my hand on its head and stroked it behind his ears.

"Naruto," I whispered. "When do I get to go home?"

He sighed and stuffed one hand in his pocket while he raked the other through his pale blonde hair.

"Hinata," he said softly. "The reason you can't go home is to protect your family. Hinata, people are after you. Even though there are no signs of it yet, they are hunting you down at this very moment. Ever since last night at twelve o' clock; your birthday. I know you probably don't want to hear this, but you can never go home."

Tears blurred my vision and cascaded down my face.

"Hinata, look at me."

I looked up as he kneeled before me.

"Trust me when I say you will be happy that you didn't go home. These demons are brutal. They will make you watch them die. I know how that feels and I defiantly wouldn't want anyone to go through that."

I didn't know what to say.

He sighed.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I know it sucks and I know that it will be tough to get over, but you will understand one day. I promise."

I nodded again.

The kitten's black form crawled onto my lap and curled into a small, comfortable ball. It gave me one last look before closing its eyes and falling asleep. I looked up at Naruto and he stared back.

"When we," I cleared my throat as I felt my face heat up, "…kissed…in the sanctuary…did all the others do that too?"

I have no clue what made me want to ask this…awkward question. Even so, I knew that since I had it in my head, I might as well tell the other part of me what I was thinking.

Naruto cleared his throat and nodded slowly.

"Why was I in so much pain when the baby died at my party?"

"The baby's spirit was trying to pass through you, but I wasn't there and you weren't ready for it. It happens to all of us. We just hadn't…bonded yet."

"I have another question," I said trying to inch away from this awkward situation.

"You seem full of them today," he sighed, standing and walking into the kitchen.

"You and Ino look almost exactly alike," I said. "Are you two related?"

"Yeah," he replied coming out of the kitchen with an apple and a knife. "She's my sister. Well…half sister."

My eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yep. Her father is my father but she has a different mother than I do. Stupid love triangle."

I laughed.

"What about you?" he said. "You and the Colonel related?"

"Yeah we're cousins."

He nodded and cut the apple in half. He handed me one half after cutting the seeds out. I took the apple, thanked him, and bit slowly into the apple.

"He's quiet," Naruto said before taking a bite out of his apple.

"So are you," I laughed.

"Yeah but at least I can hold a conversation. When he never wants to talk and he says 'ok' or 'that's cool' when he wants to end a conversation. He and I couldn't be friends."

"Yeah," I replied nodding. "But he's all the family I've got now."

"That's not true," Naruto mumbled and silently finished his apple.