Hello, new chapter! Hihihihi (evil laughter). Enjoy )
Captured swan.
"Discipline, strength, posture and grace, these are the things that make a good dancer, and you lack everything!"
The words of her father rang through her mind again, as she reached for her dancing shoes. The wardrobe was full of excited girls in their costumes; every one of them were nervous and chattered while fiddling with their hair and makeup. There would be many people watching them tonight; everybody's families, friends and familiars. Hinata wondered if her father would bother to come watch her, especially after what she did. She got a stinging sensation of guilt in her chest when she thought of that, but some feelings of being proud of herself for standing up to her father for the first time also mixed in.
"Hina-chan!"
Hinata turned around to see Ino, looking absolutely stunning in her white costume with glittering fairy wings on her back.
"Hey Ino-san", Hinata tried to smile, but she just couldn't do it. The thought of Naruto-kun and that other girl, Naruto-kun at the hospital and also her father was a little too much to keep her act up. Ino frowned when she saw her expression.
"What's wrong?"
Hinata shook her head, "Just nerves I guess."
She didn't want to worry Ino, not today; today's performance was more important than her personal agony.
Ino patted her back comforting, and gave her the thumbs up as she went to do her makeup.
Hinata liked the story they were doing, and she loved her own part. Ino had gotten one of the lead roles, as fairy queen, and Sakura had gotten the part of a widow that was mourning her late husband. The fairy queen came to the widow and offered bring her husband back to life, but in return she wanted hers. The ending was pretty sad, as the widow was torn between getting her husband back, and becoming and eternal slave for the fairy queen. The whole thing ended with that she took her own life. The good part was that she was reunited with her husband in heaven. Hinata played the angel welcoming the widow to heaven, and she was pretty happy with that, because the dancing was so elegant. After putting on her small angel wings, Hinata went to peek through the curtains on stage. She saw Aya sitting on the front row as she always did, with Hanabi by her side. Her stomach twisted when her father made his way to the special seats on a small balcony on the left wall, sitting next to a wild looking woman in a very elegant dress. He had a dark mark covering his forehead.
Hinata gasped; I didn't mean to do that!
"Hinata, it's about to start!" Kurenai was motioning for her to move away from the curtain and come backstage again. Hinata went to stand next to her sensei to watch Sakura in the first scene. Sakura entered from the other side of the stage, clad in dark garments to underline that she was a mourning widow. She took her position, lying on the floor, pretending to be crying. The spotlight came on, and covered her in a cold yellowish light, as the curtain was pulled aside. The audience sat in almost complete darkness now, and Hinata couldn't spot anybody else than Aya and Hanabi on the front row, which was lit up by the single spotlight on stage. As the sad music started, Sakura rose to her feet, and started doing her part. Hinata was captivated by the emotion she managed to put into it. She almost believed she truly was a mourning wife.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Hinata waited for the curtain to pull aside as she stood next to a golden gate (which in reality was made by the first graders at the academy). Kurenai had even managed to get a smoke machine, which now covered the floor of the stage entirely. Hinata's insides were in total turmoil, but her mind was clear, because she really wanted to show her father that she could do it well. She had been practicing a lot; even skipping dates with Naruto-kun and…
The music suddenly started, and Hinata's legs started moving automatically. Sakura entered, her moves hesitating. Hinata danced alongside Sakura to show that the widow was welcome in heaven, and that she had nothing to fear. Then the "gates" slowly opened, and a man in a white kimono appeared. Hinata grabbed Sakura's hand as if to lead her to the boy who had the role of her husband, placing her hand in his. Hinata's part was over, and she danced backwards, disappearing into the smoke. Somebody's hand landed on her shoulder as soon as she left the stage and gave her quite a startle.
When she turned around, she saw a mess of brown hair, and red marked cheeks.
"Kiba-kun!"
"Hey Hinata, you were really good out there!"
Hinata blushed a little bit and couldn't make herself look Kiba in the eye. Instead, she focused on his nose.
"Th-thanks, Kiba-kun, but did you see my friend Ino, she was amazing!"
Kiba scratched his cheek, while looking away.
"Um, oh well, I still think you were the best."
Hinata had never been told that she was the best in anything, and didn't know how to respond. To her relief, Ino came to her rescue, having finished the last dance-sequence and demanding her attention.
"Hinata, we need to hit the showers if we're going to make it in time for the party!"
She didn't even throw Kiba a glance, and Hinata was a bit puzzled. She figured Kiba wasn't the kind of guy Ino used to look at.
"Sorry Kiba-kun, I g-guess I'll see you later?"
"Ah yeah, I'm here with my mother, and she's going to the party too so…" He turned his back to them and lifted a hand in goodbye.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Hinata looked at Sakura from the corner of her eye. She was indeed stunning in her floral green dress. Aya had helped Hinata pick out a dress, it had a very simple design, but it was very elegant. She was told that it used to belong to her mother, and that made her feel better and more confident. Since this night was the night her engagement with Shino was to be announced… Not that she didn't like him, it was just that she wanted to decide for herself. And she knew he wanted that too. But she had her reasons to be nervous. She had no idea what this plan of his was, or what her fathers reaction would be.
"Hina-chaaan!" Ino hooked her arm around Hinata's.
"Ah Ino, you look gorgeous!" Hinata gasped when she saw the beautiful blue dress she was wearing. Ino just waved her compliment away, while looking her up and down.
"You look good too, what a nice vintage dress! But it lacks something." She fell into thought for a moment, but then she snapped her fingers and pulled out a hairpin from nowhere. She placed it carefully in Hinata's hair.
"Ah, the picture is perfect!"
Hinata touched the glittering hairpin carefully.
"You sure you want me to wear this?"
Ino didn't want anything of that and nodded her along, while shoving her out the door and out in the hallway. She latched onto her arm again, while waving her purse cheerfully around.
"I love parties, and especially these formal ones where we get to dress up!"
Hinata smiled, as she knew of Ino's addiction to clothes. She had two closets the size of her bedroom full of them. Then, at the entrance of the ballroom, her father appeared with a harsh expression on his face.
It was as if he looked at her, but didn't see her.
"Aburame-san is waiting at the other entrance, the one to the stairs."
Hinata gulped, and Ino sent her an "I'm-so-sorry" look as she followed her father.
"Aburame-san." Her father greeted Shino when they arrived at the entrance.
Shino replied with a bow, and her father left them alone.
"Sh-Shino-kun, what…"
He just placed a finger on his lips as the voice of a woman started announcing the program from inside the ballroom.
"…And now please turn your attention to the stairs where the soon to be married couple of our two mightiest clans will greet you for the first time as an engaged couple!" The doors started to open slowly, when Hinata was pulled out of sight, a hand pressing to her mouth.
"If you promise not to scream, I will let go."
Hinata replied with a short nod, and to her relief, the hand who stopped her from both breathing and speaking let go, but the one around her wrist however, did not. The hand's owner twirled her around and she stood almost nose to nose with…
"Kiba!"
He smiled apologetically, "Sorry if I scared you, but the timing had to be perfect."
Hinata was confused.
"Timing?"
Kiba grinned and pointed towards the door, where someone had taken her place, someone with blonde hair and a blue dress.
Blonde hair and blue dress…
"Ino!"
But Ino couldn't hear her. She was looking at Shino as if he were a god, and he was holding her hand, smiling.
Shino smiling!
The pieces all fell in place now. But her father wouldn't be happy at all. In fact, he would be furious.
She couldn't her herself but laugh. This was insane! But at least it would be a happy ending for Shino and Ino.
Hinata and Kiba peeked out from the now wide open doors, at Shino lead his bride-to-be down the stairs. The crowd below was completely silent for an eternity; this wasn't what they'd heard about. But then one person started clapping, and soon others joined him. The big room echoed with applause, as Shino raised his and Ino's interlaced hands.
Hinata looked at Kiba and smiled.
"I'm so happy for them! But I had no idea! And how do you and Shino know each other?"
Kiba shrugged, "We've known each other since we were kids and all. Our parents sent us to the same school, one of those posh-schools. But we didn't like it much there, so we threw an uproar until they let us go to a public one."
Hinata nodded. She went to "one of those posh-schools".
Then she realised, Kiba was still holding her hand.
Doki doki.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"A-ano, Kiba-kun…"
He looked down at their hands, but still not letting go.
"Hinata…"
"Wh-why?"
Kiba suddenly looked nervous.
"I think… I'm in love with you."
Then he leaned forward, his soft lips meeting hers.
Hinata was paralyzed, and didn't know what to do.
Doki doki.
She let Kiba embrace her, holding her tight, deepening the kiss.
"Kiba, you son of a bitch!"
The sound of Naruto's voice tore them away from each other, both with guilty looks on their faces.
(A/N) Ah yeah, so don't kill me and no flaming me please. Evil cliffhanger again! Suspense is good for you, and please review! (Goes into hiding)