Himawari Like the Summer Flower Chapter 3, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: Naruto is the property of Author/Artist Kishimoto.

Life; everything in it is preordained…

We are all born to live what was destined for us.

It doesn't matter if you wanted it or not.

Fair? Who said any of our lives were going to be fair?

All men were not created equal…

Only those who were destined to claim happiness will live happily…

While all the rest of us are trapped in misery like caged birds.

Just waiting…waiting for the only thing in life…

Every man shares…

[his death

Himawari: Like the Summer Flower

Chapter 3: Winter Bird

I haven't been back to that garden since that hot summer day.

At first, I couldn't get my mind off of that strange girl or the strange sunflower garden.

But, as the days turned into weeks…

and the weeks turned into months since I last saw her…

I thought about her less often.

And I wasn't even reminded of those beautiful sunflowers whenever I saw the color yellow in the street.

The month was December, and all around the Konoha Village, people were beginning to get ready for the year-end celebrations. I was too young then to fully understand what all the noise and commotion was about outside of the Hyuga properties that day.

I didn't think that that day was any different from all of the other days…

I sat there in my room after my morning session of training with my father…

just staring at the falling leaves and some birds flying in the sky.

"Neji, my son."

"Yes, Father?"

"What were you looking at?"

"Oh, nothing. Just some birds outside."

"The birds?...Oh, they must be traveling towards a warmer climate."

"I love watching the birds. They fly so freely in the sky."

I remember my father looking a little surprised when I told him that, then I sensed a sort of dark cloud come over his expression.

I looked up at him, questioningly.

"Father?"

"Neji…do you wish to be free? Like those birds?"

I couldn't understand what my Father was asking me then. I simply thought it was a test.

I thought about his question for a while…

"Oh Father, I know I cannot be like a bird. I am a human being and I do not know how to fly."

I smiled at him.

But, my Father was not smiling back at me.

Instead, he knelt down beside me to give me a hug.

I remember being held in his arms that day. His strong arms embracing my tiny body.

"I am…sorry…Neji, my son."

"Why are you saying sorry Father?"

"You must get ready, we are leaving to go and meet the Main Family today."

He suddenly stood up.

The warmth that had been enveloping me until a few seconds ago disappeared.

"The…Main Family?"

I remembered how my Father and Mother would sometimes mention those words in their conversations before.

[Main Family [The Branch Family

Back then I was too young to understand what those words meant.

I remember being very excited back then since I never see my relatives unless on traditional Hyuga celebrations.

"Yes. Today is your cousin Hinata-sama's third birthday."

"Hinata-sama? My…cousin?"

I was surprised and at the same time very excited to hear about this cousin I have never met. There were no other children within our immediate family that was close to my own age, so I was anxious to meet Hinata-sama and to become friends with her.

"Yes. Hinata-sama is the [first-born of Lord Hiashi…

and [the one who will be leading the Hyuga clan in the next generation."

"I cannot wait to finally meet my cousin Father!"

My Father simply smiled at me.

But, what I didn't realize back then…

…was that his smile was a very sad one.

"She's very cute, isn't she Father?"

I whispered to my Father while I stood there among the Hyuga adults.

But my Father did not say anything back. He was definitely acting strange that day.

"Father?...What's the matter?"

"Huh? Oh…it's nothing, my son. It's nothing."

And then that smile again…that sad smile.

Lord Hiashi came forward and told my Father,

"Well then, we'll be taking Neji, Hizashi."

What?

"Yes." said my Father.

Wait. Where am I going?

Suddenly, I felt a strange chill run up and down my spine.

Something was definitely not right.

Lord Hiashi came up to me this time, and said,

"Come, Neji."

I was a bit afraid, and I looked up at my Father.

"It's alright, my son." He had that smile again.

"Be a good boy, and listen to your Lord Hiashi. I will see you very soon."

and with that, he pushed my back.

As I walked away with Lord Hiashi and the other adults of the Main Family, I remember looking back over my shoulder towards my Father.

To this day, I will not forget that expression on my Father as he watched me leave.

"I am sorry Neji."

"Father…"

When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling.

"Father?"

It looked like I had been asleep for some time.

I tried to get up, but just then a sharp pain shot through my whole entire body.

I cringed from the immense amount of pain.

"Neji-dono, are you awake?"

said a young woman as she opened the door to the room where I lay.

I did not recognize who she was. At that point, I couldn't care less who that woman was. The excruciating pain was all I was concerned about then.

"My…head…"

Then, I remembered.

"Please, be careful Neji-dono. Normally, you would still be asleep. It's going to be a while for the [jutsu to settle in,"

The jutsu…

"Please, rest for a little while longer."

Not really listening to what the care-taker was telling me, I felt my forehead, and saw that it had been neatly bandaged.

[The ju-in…

"I'm sorry I cannot be of much help to you Neji-dono. But, please rest. I must be getting back to the ceremony. Everybody in the mansion is very busy right now serving the members of the Main House for Hinata-sama's birthday ceremony."

So that's what all the hustle and bustle was about outside of this room…

"Here is some herbal tea for your pain. It might ease some of it away. Please drink this and go back to sleep."

The woman placed the pot of tea down.

"I will be back again later to come and check up on you. Please Neji-dono, go back to sleep, you need some rest."

Suddenly, we heard rushing footsteps out in the hallway.

And then, it stopped in front of the room.

"What is the matter?" asked the care-taker.

"Excuse me ma'am, but she is here."

The expression on the care-taker's face suddenly grew stern.

"Please lead her through to the hanare. I will let Lord Hiashi know that she has arrived."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"And, please make sure that nobody else sees her."

"Yes, Ma'am."

The silhouette of the other woman disappeared along with her hurrying footsteps down the hall.

"Well, I will be back again later. But, please don't hesitate to call for me if you need any help. Excuse me Neji-dono."

And she too stood up to leave the room.

The room grew quiet again.

I stared at the tea and the steam rising from the cup.

I reached for the cup and slowly took a sip.

The warmth of the herbal tea did seem to soothe and relax my body a bit.

"This tea…such…a. sweet fragrance…"

Then, something hit me.

What is this scent…?

I remember this scent…

from…somewhere…

this…sweet…soothing scent…

where…did…I…

Suddenly, I realized that the sweet fragrance was growing stronger.

And I realized, it was not just the tea.

It was coming from outside of the room.

Could it be??!!

I got up, and went towards the door and slid it open just a crack and peeked…

see

[her

Afterword, Also known as an Excuse

Thank you for waiting for such a long time for this chapter. I know, it's long and it seems like a pointless chapter. :-( But I hope you liked it.

I used the word "hanare" in there since I couldn't think of a good English equivalent for that word. Basically, in a lot of old Japanese mansions, you have the main buildings and then you usually have a detatched building at the end of the yard for guests to be lead into. Many times, the master of the home would actually greet people in the hanare when they don't want the meeting to be openly announced.

Oooooh, so I'm pretty sure who Neji saw at the end of the chapter is obvious. But, slowly but surely her mysterious background will be revealed.