Summer Snowflake
x.Nanako-chan.x
xxxxA/Nxxxx
I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING SOONER!! I just couldn't seem to get the ball rolling... Anyways, you guys are just about the best motivators out there :D And guess what? Summer Snowflake hit over 1450 views D Coolio!
Thanks so much for the reviews Punkey-Monkey, NotaPunk, windlg, fried ryce, Firenze2000, DarkSmile, TheFirstHokage, Mitsuki, Shadow Zeranion, Clint, TamTam's rule, Danimals, and Raven's Familiar!
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Chapter 4: My Captain, My Dream
It had been about five minutes since Nanako had left me in the hallway. I tried listening to the inaudible murmurs emitting from the 'conference room' but to no avail.
I sat down in a chair down the hallway and started playing with a lock of my inkish-blue hair. I always wondered how I even got this hair color. Sakura's hair is obviously dyed after all, and most Hyuugas were known to have brown hair. I had never dyed or used anything other than regular shampoo after all…
Ugh. Forget it.
Bored. That was the only thing I could describe myself as. Extremely, very, awfully, tremendously BORED…
I heard the door slide open and Nanako stuck her head out and motioned for me to come in, her gold hoop earrings swaying in the process.
I inwardly cheered to myself that I would actually get o do something after all this waiting.
I quietly walked into the room and started twiddling my fingers with one and other when I saw that everyone in the room had their eyes trailed on me. I suddenly remembered the interesting little 'incident' that happened during the class. I felt the heat rush to my face and leaned down to bow.
"K-k-konnichiwa," I stuttered as I straightened up.
I noticed that there were a lot more Shinigami in this room than I had met earlier.
The first division's captain opened his mouth to speak but shushed as another voice filled the air.
"What interesting eyes... Tell me child, are you blind?"
I looked over to what had spoken and suppressed a shudder as I realized it was Mayuri-taicho speaking.
My eyes trailed down to the floor. I just couldn't seem to look him in the face.
"I-iie… it's… ano, Byakugan," I replied, whispering the last part almost inaudibly while poking my fingers together and trying to repress the need to shiver.
I heard quiet footfalls nearing me and a finger tucked underneath my chin and tilted it upwards. My eyes wavered as I came face to face with Mayuri-taicho and I flinched from the close contact.
"Amazing," he exclaimed. "No iris, no pupil and such odd color pigmentation. Such a pale violet as well? Very rare…even the sclera (1) is violet."
He pulled out a small flashlight from his haori (2) and flashed it into my eyes. I squeezed my eyes shut as the bright light flashed into my eyes. I felt them water and broke free from his grasp to rub my eyes. Hyuugas tend to be very sensitive to bright lights (3).
I took a step backwards and felt a hand placed on my shoulder. I looked to my side and realized Nanako was there beside me giving Mayuri-taicho a narrow eyed glare.
"With all due respect Mayuri-taicho," she hissed, "Hinata is not be used as a test subject."
"Ugh. Insolent child," he retorted, "You have no right to question my motives. As your captain I kindly ask you to stand down," he continued in a sarcastic manner.
Before Nanako was able to reply another voice I didn't recognize rang through the air.
"But you are not Nanako's captain Mayuri-san."
I looked over to where the voice had come from and realized it was another captain speaking. He was leaning against the wall, eyes closed. I recognized him as one of the youngest captains in the room though he seemed equally as mature as the rest. What was his name again…? I recalled he attended, along with all the other captains and lieutenants, to the academy introductions… Ah, Hitsugaya Toshiro.
"And Hyuuga-san is not to be used as an experiment," another voice interfered.
All the captains and lieutenants turned to hear the booming voice of the first division's captain, Yamamoto. "This girl is our sole source of information on the new gate as well as a citizen of Soul Society. Under my orders you are not to conduct a single experiment on her unless it is approved by me as well as her captain to be."
I turned to see Mayuri-taicho reluctantly nod at Yamamoto-taicho's order.
"So," he said, "Let us begin."
I nodded solemnly. I had this strange feeling this was going to take awhile.
"Now Hyuuga-san," he started.
"A-ano… gomen, d-demo I don't l-like to be called 'H-hyuuga-san.'"
…There was a time when I was proud to be called a Hyuuga… but that was a long time ago, when I was young and naïve and when the world seemed revolved around okaa-san and me….
"Just Hinata… please," I asked meekly.
He seemed to give me puzzled expression but decided to ignore it.
"Well then Hinata-san," he said, "could you please tell me where you're from?"
"K-konoha," I replied.
"And Konoha is…?"
"Eto… I'it's one of the f-five greatest shinobi v-villages."
"Shinobi?" he inquired.
"Mhm," I murmured, "s-shinobi, in my w-world are s-special people who h-have been trained a-at a young age t-to take o-on missions for the village a-and other villages. Konohagakure (4) is one of the f-five great hidden villages in my home. Technically we're the military center in the Land of Fire. Shinobi, or ninja are fighters that specialize in ninjutsu, taijutsu and genjustsu.
I mentally praised myself seeing as I didn't stutter in my last couple of sentences. After all, this had been something we had been taught to know since the beginning of our academy days.
"Now, kindly tell me what ninjutsu, taijutsu and genjutsu are."
I sighed. I had a feeling this would take awhile.
…. BORINGTALKBORINGTALKBORINGTALK…
It DID take awhile.
I had left the academy around, what? 12:30? And here I am back in Nanako's apartment – 5 minutes to 6:00.
Hours of questioning, me repeating myself over and over and over again and various confusing explanations that led to other explanations. Ugh. I just gained a newfound respect for Iruka-sensei, Kurenai-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, Gemna-sensei, Gai-sensei – okay, maybe not Gai-sensei because Tenten and Neji were probably more irritated by him than vice-versa – and just about every other jounin and/or chuunin that had to deal with kids back in Konoha.
A low rumble emitted from my tummy and I blushed as I realized I had yet to eat neither lunch nor dinner. I made my way to the small kitchen provided in Nanako's kitchen.
"Hmm…"
I observed the contents of the refrigerator and pondered what I was to make. For the most part, I was pretty surprised that the thing was almost stuffed to the max with just about everything you need to cook a hearty meal. Fish, beef, chicken, tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, oranges, apples, milk, chocolate milk, orange juice, apple juice, marinating sauces, eggs, tofu… sake? …and just about everything seemed to be in there. I opened up the pantry and twitched as I realized it was just as stuffed as the refrigerator.
….just how much did this girl eat?
Even after living her these past couple of days I had never been in the kitchen nor had I eaten a meal with Nanako. Odd. We would always go out, or at least she would take me somewhere and head off to work – all I had to do was charge it on her account. Hmm… she must eat at home then.
I stared at the clock – 6:03.
I decided rather than going back to the usual restaurant I ate, I would prepare a meal for Nanako. After all, she's done so much for me, hasn't she?
I proceeded taking out the necessary foods I needed to make dinner out of the fridge and turned on the stove top.
xxxTimeSkip-45minutesxxx
I felt my left eye unconsciously twitch as I watched her drool and drone out a mutter or, "Itadakimasu," before gluttonously ravaging the rice, grilled yakizakana (5), shabu-shabu (6), and tonjiru. (7)
"Neh, Hina-chan!" she said as she exhaled from eating so much.
"H-hai?" I asked as I quickly looked up from my soup.
"You're a really good cook," she stated as she grinned and pointed at me with her chopsticks.
"Eh, N-Nanako-chan, it isn't polite to p-point," I muttered.
"Gosh, Hina-chan," she sighed, "You should really stop being so strung up."
I finished scooping her another bowl of rice and handed it to her. Her right side was leaning against the low table, her elbow propped up on it with her hand balled into a fist placed against her right cheek.
"A-ano, what do y-you mean?"
I heard her give a small sigh, "You don't have to act so… so... much like royalty," she pondered.
"A-ano.."
"I mean like really Hina-chan," she started, "your father isn't here anymore. Your sister isn't here anymore; your friends and enemies are not here anymore. Don't get me wrong Hina-chan, I'm not trying to scare you but this is your second chance. Your second shot at living. You don't have to be scared about what they think. You don't have to be scared of what I think either. Just think of how you think of yourself. It doesn't matter what everyone else thinks as long as you believe in yourself and you believe that it's the right choice."
Her tone was even and firm. My gaze drifted from her mocha brown eyes to the sleek, shiny, dark brown table seated in front of me. Deep down, I knew she was right but I'm probably too stubborn to realize it. I toyed with my hands, rubbing them together as what she said sunk into my mind.
It's true isn't it? I barely know these people. Why should I let them have control over me?
Silence washed over the room and a shy blush spread over my features as well. I looked back up at her and pushed my fingers together – an old habit – as a genuine smile graced my face.
"Ah.. I-I guess you're r-right Nako-chan."
I saw her grin for the nick-name I gave to her. Hey, at least she stopped calling me kid right?
We continued eating for awhile – I didn't feel like talking. Yamamoto-taicho had me talk enough for today and it wasn't a help that Mayuri-taicho still wanted to cut out my eyes…
I put the dishes into the sink and smiled to myself at the clean plates. She did have a big appetite.
I walked over to my bathroom and ran the shower. I sighed as the warm liquid rushed over me. I grabbed a bottle of shampoo and rubbed it into my scalp. Then, I grabbed the towel that sat on the sink and wrapped it around my body as I walked back to my room – it was beside Nako's.
I changed into a black t-shirt and a pair of shorts and crawled into bed. The warmth enveloped me and soon darkness enveloped me…
Unlike before, it wasn't cold. It was warm. Was… was this a dream?
I lay on the ground and steadied myself as I helped myself up. I stifled a gasp as I saw a younger version of myself run around the Hyuuga compounds garden. I remembered this place. It's where kaa-san would plant her rarest flowers.
The little girl ran over to a group of small white flowers centered around a bush. She picked a stalk up and a happy blush wildly spread across her face.
"I'm gonna show this to kaa-san," she whispered.
I watched myself run into the compound and decided to follow. Quiet padding halted as I turned around the corner. I saw myself bump into my father who was currently ominously looming over my petit figure.
"G-gomen," she stuttered out.
I watched him glare at my younger self and walk off, disgust clearly written across his face.
I remember now – that was a couple days after Hanabi had been born.
I followed the little girl run over to a room of which she gently pushed open the door.
"Kaa-san," she whispered.
"Ah, Hinata-chan," a womanly voice replied to her. It sound so drained and tired but a smile was clearly evident in her voice. I felt tears stinging the corner of my eyes. How I missed kaa-san.
"Hinata-chan what are you doing here," she asked gently pulling the little girl up onto the bed.
"Ano, kaa-san," she smiled, "I found this pretty flower in the garden. I want you to have it!" she said happily.
"Arigatou Hina-chan."
I felt something wet on my cheeks. I reached up and felt the moisture at my finger tips. I really was crying, wasn't I?
Kaa-san gingerly took the flower from the little girl's hands and fingered the droopy flower petals gently.
"Do you know what this flower is honey?"
"Iie," she replied.
"It's called a summer snowflake."
Summer snowflake?
"Demo kaa-san, it's hot in summer and snowflakes only fall when it's winter!" the little girl protested.
The woman laughed quietly. I couldn't help but think it sounded like a tinkling of a bell. Oh, how I yearned to hold kaa-san again. I missed her so terribly.
"The summer snowflake darling," she whispered, "represents hope for all things."
At this time I heard kaa-san wince and grasp her stomach.
"K-kaa-san," I heard younger myself stutter out. "W-will you get better if I give you this flower?" I heard the five-year-old say.
"Maybe honey," she said in a wistful tone, "perhaps."
I watched her gingerly tilt the little girls head up and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Kaa-san," the child mumbled before falling asleep.
I closed my eyes. It hurt so much because I knew exactly what happened afterwards.
I reopened them and sure enough I was back in the garden. The little Hinata, dressed in a thick woolen jacket and scarf walked past the various flowers beside her unbeknownst to her that they had wilted and been covered in frost.
She made her way towards the bush and tried searching for the flower. Nothing. The flowers had all drooped into the snow, bitten by the cold and frosted by the snowflakes.
"Iie," she cried, tears forming at the side of her eyes.
She ran inside the Hyuuga manor, not bothering to take of her jacket or mittens.
'Kaa-san' she thought.
When reaching the room Hinata ran over to her mothers' bedside.
A smile graced her mothers' rosy lips and the younger Hinata just noticed how pale she seemed.
"Kaa-san," she whispered, tears forming and threatening to fall.
"Kaa-san" she cried. She pulled her mittens off and placed her hand on her mothers' forehead. She was cold. Where was that warmth her mother always gave off? The feeling of belonging she always received when she was with her?
The little girl crawled into the bed with her dead mother and held her hand. She felt a silky texture in her kaa-san's hand and looked down to find the summer snowflake she had given to her the other day.
"K-kaa-san," she whispered, "I thought t-this flower w-was s-supposed to give h-hope."
It was two much for the young girl to handle. She sobbed and cried so hard, hugging her mother asking her to come back.
A Hyuuga maid ran to the room. A young girls screaming could be heard from around the Hyuuga compound.
I trembled and slumped onto the ground. Kaa-san, I thought. Why did you have to go? Tears fell and my vision became blurry as darkness engulfed me.
Kaa-san, you said the summer snowflake brought hope, didn't you?
xxxxA/Nxxxx
That made me sad…. And reviews make me happy, but I'm still sad…
This chapter was a little short, but I sure didn't want to go into detail with all the basic ninja stuff you guys already know so yeah… Review please… and I have question I need you to answer!
xxxxxQuestions – Ineedhelpxxxxx
Okay I need your opinions and such for the story:
Should Hinata's new friend be a boy or a girl? If it's a boy I'll just use Tatsuya… it would be so much easier for me xD
If you're new to reading Summer Snowflake, who should Hinata be with? PLEASE VOTE ON THE POLL. Do not post it in your review please :)
Should I send another ninja to Soul Society:/
And three, I've gotten a request from a couple of people asking that Nanako should be paired up with someone. What do you guys think? If you guys do choose to let her have a love interest, I'll try my best not to let her take away Hinata's spotlight.
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Sclera – If you guys don't know, I'm pretty sure it's the white part of your eyes. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Haori – The white over-coat that the captains use.
I'm not sure if this is true, but I can imagine it being so because of their bloodline.
Konohagakure – Nothing special, you probably know that it's the unabbreviated version of Konoha.
Yakizakana – Flame grilled fish served with daikon.
Shabu-Shabu – Hot pot with tofu, vegetables and beef.
Tonjiru – Miso soup with pork.