Title: My swan princess
Summary: Deidara dates Hinata for sixty days to prove he's straight. Hinata goes along with it in hopes of ensnaring her precious Naruto-kun but she gets more than she bargained for! HinataXDeidara, HinataXSasuke, HinataXNaruto, HinataXItachi, HinataXGaara
Genre: Romance/Humor
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto©
Chapter 4: Meeting the new Hinata
-
"So um…"
Um? That word never existed before in Neji's vocabulary. Staring owlishly at Hinata's looks, Neji's brain suddenly went out the window. He had been perfectly prepared to give Hinata a good scolding for her reckless behavior. First for going off without telling him, then staying off and turning her cell phone off so he couldn't reach her. But this was something he didn't see coming in a million years even if he had a crystal ball to help him.
"Hey Hinata!" Hanabi shouted coming around the corner of the hallway. "Why didn't you take me shopping with you? You knew I wanted to shop for a new bathing suit—whoa!" she exclaimed when she finally looked at her sister.
Hinata stared uneasily back and forth between. Neji and Hanabi were both staring at her with their mouths gapping. "D-did I grow f-fangs?" Hinata joked with a weak smile.
Hanabi and Neji closed their mouths abruptly. Neji looked away shamefully, a blush inflaming his whole face. Hanabi however smirked. "Dunno sis, open your mouth and let's see"
Hinata sighed.
"Hinata, you look—wow…I didn't know you had it in you…" Hanabi stepped forward and tugged a couple of times on Hinata's ruffle layered miniskirt. Her smirk turned into a mischievous grin. "Yep, it's real alright" she confirmed to Neji.
"I'm going t-to bed…g-goodnight" Hinata said. "Sorry for w-worrying you, Neji" she apologized with a bow.
Hinata picked up most her bags. Silently Neji lifted the remaining two and carried them upstairs. Hinata felt a little uneasy as Neji sat on the edge of her bed passively staring at her as she placed away her new wardrobe. He raised his eyebrow several times at the mini skirts and he blinked at the thongs.
It wasn't creepy but it made Hinata more and more uncomfortable. "Um, N-Neji"
"Yes?"
"Wh-why are you in h-here?" Hinata asked.
Neji didn't answer for several minutes. He continued to watch Hinata hang up her new clothes and take down her old ones. Hinata jumped in surprise when he did start talking.
"I've decided that you are growing up and that I should trust your judgment" Neji said with finality in his voice. Hinata's bed squeaked as he rose from it and left the room without another word.
Hinata suddenly felt guilty. For the last three years she, Neji and Hanabi had been living together. Neji had move to Kohana city after his father, Hizashi Hyuuga, was murdered. A hit man had mistaken his identity for his twin brother (and her father) Hiashi Hyuuga. Neji was withdrawn and bitter (and still is to this day) however Hinata and Hanabi were graced to see a rare side of him; the caring, sensitive, nurturing side.
Neji immediately clinged to Hinata and Hanabi as a surrogate big brother and Hinata couldn't have been happier. The pain of loneliness ached just a little less. Hinata had been alone since her mother died from childbirth with Hanabi. Not that she blamed Hanabi—unfortunately their father did. He buried himself in his work and when Uncle Hizashi died, it only intensified. Now Hinata was lucky if she saw him once or twice a year. Sure he sent money and nannies (before Neji's arrival) but it meant nothing. Only occasional she got letters from her father scolding her if she made poor markings in school.
Hinata laid down on her bed staring up at the ceiling for several hours before turning off the light. Tomorrow was the big day: The day they meet the new Hinata Hyuuga. Her first and lasting impression…to be accepted or rejected…Hinata tossed and turned for another thirty minutes before giving up and relying on a sleeping pill.
—PAGE BREAK—
The next day Hinata ambled into Kohana high.
"Wow, who's that?" a random kid asked.
His friend grinned and nudged him in the ribs. "A new girl, perhaps?"
"Or is that Jen back from plastic surgery?" suggested another girl.
"No it's it's uh…who are you?" A brave girl asked the pale beauty.
"I'm Hinata" Hinata answered confidently. She tossed her long amethyst hair over her shoulder. "…Hyuuga Hinata" she emphasized huskily.
"Wow, Hinata-chan…"
Hinata turned to see Naruto looking at her as if she was Kami's gift to the world. "I've never noticed you before. I'm so sorry" Naruto took her hands and got down on his knees. Suddenly they weren't in a hallway with the student body but in a celestial palace full of dazzling light and red rose petals. "Will you accept my apologies by becoming my girlfriend?"
"But, Naruto-kun, what about Sakura-san?" Hinata asked innocently with a smirk of a youkai.
"Who cares?!" Naruto snorted. "Everyone knows she got it all from the doctor two years ago! But you're the real deal" he grabbed her. "I cannot resist any longer, Hinata-chan. I. MUST. KISS. YOU!!!" Naruto stressed each word.
Hinata smirked. "Then do so" she ordered.
Naruto leaned closer to Hinata's face and slowly their lips met—
Rat tap tap.
Hinata groaned as she snuggled deeper into her bed sheets.
Rat tap tap.
"Hey Hinata!" a voice called. "Answer me if your there!"
"W-what?" Hinata moaned turning over to face her door. It opened to reveal Hanabi.
"Hinata! What are you still doing here?!" Hanabi asked. She was dressed in her school uniform with her backpack on ready to walk out the door.
"Wh-what time is it?" Hinata asked groggily as she sat up.
"It's seven-forty five. Neji left already—I thought you went with him!" Hanabi exclaimed.
Hinata's eyes widen, "O-Oh no!" she squeaked. "I m-missed the buss!!" Hinata fell backwards falling headfirst out of bed… Great today was the day she was going to catch Naruto-kun's eye and this happened!
Hinata wanted to curl up and die…this day was turning into a nightmare. She would be over two hour's late if she had to walk to school but who cared? She had to get there. Today was the day to stand out and she couldn't stand up Deidara if she didn't put up any effort of her own!
"Are you going to be alright?" Hanabi said concerned.
"Yes!" Hinata said jumping up immediately. "Just m-make sure not to m-miss your o-own bus!"
In a hurry Hinata raided her closet, barely aware of Hanabi bidding her farewell before leaving the apartment. Hinata quickly placed on a black short-sleeved hoodie shirt with a neon pink trim. She chose to pair it up with dark blue skirt with crop leggings and black flats. Hinata ran to the bathroom to wash her face and to goggle. No time to eat. After hurriedly pinning her hair up with pink clips in a similar style Ino had fashioned last night, she rushed out the door.
—PAGE BREAK—
Hinata had been jogging close to half an hour before she decided to take a break. She knew she was half way there when she came across Lakefront Park. It was a small picnic area in front of Lake Kohana. A small smile touched her face. Such good memories flooded back to her. When her mother was alive, her family used to have picnics out there and fish. Of course it was her father who caught the biggest fishes. Heck, the biggest fish she caught was size of her pinkie.
Hinata walked down to the picnic area. The sight of it immediately saddened her. Kohana city had let the park go to shambles. The bridge crossing the small river had disintegrated away; trash littered the ground…barbeque grills were rusted and rotted through. The brick walkway was uneven and nearly covered by fungus and undergrowth.
It really hurt to see her childhood place in such a state.
Hinata walked over by the trees to peer closer at the lake. Trash floated near the shoreline. Suddenly something twinkled in the sunlight. Standing on the tree's roots to get closer, she knelled down to retrieve it. It was a bracelet. A wishing star bracelet to be exact—inspired from the popular series, Hoshi no tama.
Stainless steel chain with two stars charms in a sapphire orb. It was beautiful and very rare. In fact the company bragged of only making ten like it in the entire world! Was it real or was it counterfeit? The real one was made of white gold…
"You know my hand is losing circulation…" a low voice said suddenly.
Hinata squeaked. Following her instinct she kicked. Hard.
Hearing a loud discomfort grunt, Hinata looked to see a red haired boy lying against the tree base. From the direction she came, he was hidden by the tree and she didn't even see him!
Hinata was horrified. Not only did she step on this boy, she kicked him too! "I-I'm s-s-s-so sorry! I didn't s-see y-y-you! I didn't k-k-know!"
The red head stood up slowly, brushing himself off. He inspected the hand Hinata had stepped on. An impressive shoe print was embedded on his skin. Next he looked at his shoulder by rolling up his sleeve. "Hm. It'll bruise later" turning his pale green eyes to Hinata he replied, "It's alright. Stop hyperventilating already. By the way, nice kick"
"N-n-no! It's n-not! P-please let m-me treat it! I'm s-s-s-so sorry—"
The boy looked at her coolly. "I said it's alright. Relax. What's the name? I'm Gaara Sabaku"
"Hi-Hinata Hyuuga…"
"Hinata eh? Pretty name" Gaara said disinterestedly while causally flipping through his cell phone, checking his text messages. He looked up at her suddenly. "Wait, are you the same Hinata who is dating Deidara Yamanaka?"
Hinata nodded shyly.
"How the hell did that happened?" he asked.
Hinata was taken aback by the crude language. "H-h-he…he asked m-me out a-and I said y-yes" it was the partial truth.
Gaara clicked his tongue. "A hot girl like you could do better than that" he said impassively.
Hinata blushed. She couldn't remember being called 'hot' before in her entire life. She was sure Gaara was just trying to me nice. "So w-why are you lying a-around here aren't y-you suppose to b-be in s-school?" Hinata asked.
Gaara shrugged indifferently. "I'm meeting with a bunch of kids for breakfast at I-HOP today"
"Wh-what? Why?" Hinata asked. "Won't t-they get in trouble…or—"
She stopped when she noticed the disbelieving look Gaara gave her. "It's senior skip day, today. Where have you been?"
Hinata fumbled with her hands in a embarrassed silence…maybe in the school library or tuned into her favorite manga series, Kami-chan. "S-so you are a s-senior?" she asked instead.
Gaara shook his head. "My sister Temari is a senior so she's letting me skip with her…you in or not? You can come with me since you're not in school either"
"N-no!" Hinata squeaked.
Gaara blinked.
Hinata was embarrassed that she overreacted. "I-I um…I'm on my way to school—"
"Could have fooled me…it's nearly ten you know"
"I m-missed the buss!" Hinata explain miserably. So I um, I…"
"No way" Gaara snorted. "So you're walking to school? How far have you come?"
Hinata told him.
"Damn you're devoted. Going for a perfect attendance record or something?"
"Erm…um—"
"Well I guess I could drop you off and keep going. Want that?" he offered.
"Um…w-why are you b-being nice to m-me?" Hinata asked.
Gaara shrugged. "Because you seem like a good girl. What, were you planning to knock me out and carjack me or something?"
Hinata gasped at the mere thought.
"Kidding, princess" Gaara said dully. Slightly amused by her antics.
"Pr-princess?"
"You act like one and not in the bratty way…kind of nice. Anyway, ready to go?"
"Y-Yes"
Gaara lead her to the parking lot were his motorcycle was parked. "Here" he said handing her a spare helmet. He climbed on. "Get on behind me and hold on" he instructed.
"N-nice bike…" Hinata commented and meant it.
"Thanks. I've had bought it on Ebay motors at a reduced price. Had to ship it here from Nevada but it was wroth it"
Hinata squeaked as they pulled out into the highway. Her heart pounded in her chest. Never had she been so scared and excited at the same time. Stopping at a red light, Gaara looked back at her. "First time on a motorcycle?" he asked.
Hinata nodded. "It's-It's amazing!" she squealed happily.
Gaara smiled. "You're reacting better to it than Temari did. The first time she rode, she screamed—colorful words mind you. And she held onto me so tight, I was turning shades of blue. Then she almost caused us both to crash while I turning at a corner and when we arrived home, gave me the beating of my life"
"W-wow she s-sounds so…" Hinata trailed.
"She's not as bad as you think. You could meet her" Gaara offered again. "She left a message on my phone saying she's already waiting at I-Hop with some friends. Are you sure you want to rot away at school? I'll even pay your share if you come"
"I-I…um…" Hinata hesitated.
The light had changed, Gaara continued on toward Kohana High. Perhaps her misfortunate this morning was turning into a blessing in disguise! Was it such a coincidence that she would meet Gaara who offered her free food, a ride and an opportunity to meet kids from her school? This was a chance to get noticed and blend into the status quote. Isn't this what Deidara promised her he would help her do? Well it was time to help herself!
Gaara was about to pull into the school parking lot when Hinata said a weak. "…ok"
"What Princess? Speak louder"
"I'll go w-with you!" Hinata said. "I-I'm sorry I-I waited s-so long to t-tell you…"
Gaara shrugged. "It's fine. We really didn't go too far out of the way anyway" He made a u-turn and pulled out the parking lot heading for the main road.
Watching them go was the security guard and Deidara himself. A loud 'thunk' echoed through the parking lot as he dropped his books in shook. Deidara didn't know if his eyes were deceiving him or not: his sweet little angelic moon goddess, Hinata, was riding off with the red devil of Kohana High?
Now he knew hell has frozen over.
—PAGE BREAK—
Well at least the rumors had spread around at school…that some girl named Hinata Hyuuga was dating the bisexual, Deidara Yamanaka. Most kids (consisting typically of homosexuals) thought Deidara was just covering his tracks. Some believed the relationship was genuine. Others just didn't give a damn. The gossipers were upset because they couldn't confirm the rumors by harassing Hinata for answers.
Deidara felt his eyebrows twitching at all the whispers. Gee, and he though HE didn't have a life—
"YAMANAKA!" bellowed a voice suddenly. Deidara flinched slightly. Before he could turn around, he was shoved into a locker. He turned around to come face to face with a dreadfully pissed off Neji Hyuuga.
"What is this rumor I hear?" Neji asked icily.
The hallway came to a sudden stand still. Silence fell as the students watched on. Some looked eager, hoping there was going to be a fight.
Deidara scowled. He stood up straight. "It would depend on which one. Obviously there's thousands—"
"The one stating that trash like you is dating my cousin!" Neji snarled.
"Oh, that one" Deidara remarked off-handedly. "Yep. That happens to true—"
Deidara ducked Neji's right hook. "Stay away form my cousin, trash!"
Taking advantage, Deidara kicked Neji in the stomach. "She can date who she wants, you're not her daddy…I am!"
Neji saw red. This time his punch had hit his mark—Deidara's jaw.
Both boys found themselves clawing, kicking and punching every inch they could on the other. The crowds were hooting and clapping. Some people were cheering for Neji, others for Deidara and the rest didn't care who won, as long it was a good show. School administers rushed to scene and tried to pull the boys apart only to get socked too. Finally the security officers were called and with much difficulty were able to break the squabbling boys apart.
—PAGE BREAK—
"Ready?" asked Gaara. He and Hinata were standing at the entrance of I-Hop. Hinata gulped. "Y-yes"
Gaara eyed Hinata. "Relax already. They're only people, greedy people at that. They probably are too busy stuffing their faces with pancakes to notice us"
On the contrary, several heads looked toward the door when they came in.
A blonde with four ponytails looked up angrily. "Gaara you twerp! If you're late like this again I'll bash your face in, got it?" Temari threatened.
"Whatever you say dearest sister" Gaara said. He shrugged to Hinata. "Well it's not the first time I was wrong"
"Yeah we've been waiting for you!" A girl with red hair and spectacles said. Her hairstyle was strange. It was short on one side and long on the other.
Gaara sent her an annoyed look. "And how did you get here, Karin?"
"How rude!" Karin said as she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
"She came with me" Juugo spoke up softly. He was a giant of a boy; easily recognized to be a football player.
Only two seats were open at the table. Gaara went and sat down next to his sister. The last open seat was on the end next to two boys. Nervously, Hinata sat down. One boy had black hair tied back into a ponytail and lines running down his nose with a bored look on his face. The other scared Hinata. He had spiky blue dyed hair and tiny beady little black eyes that reminded her of a shark.
Hinata visibly flinched when the shark boy turned to her with a smile fit for a carnivore.
"Kisame Hoshigaki" he said, holding out his hand to Hinata who shook it timidity.
"H-Hinata Hyuuga"
Kisame looked at Hinata's wrist and spotted the bracelet she had found earlier that morning. Kisame smile widen. "Aha, a wishing star bracelet; sapphire edition" he turned Hinata's wrist to a different angle to get a better look at it. "Not bad. Is it genuine?"
Hinata was about to answer when she was cut off by the stoical boy.
"You must excuse Kisame, anything to do with the word 'star' and he hooked" he explained.
"Oh shut it" Kisame scoffed. Looking slightly embarrassed he dropped the subject.
"So…is it true? Are you dating Deidara-kun?" a blue haired girl asked. She had her lower lip pierced and an origami rose rolled up in her hair.
Hinata nodded.
With a stern look she said, "Make sure you'll be good to him"
"I-I will!" Hinata squeaked.
The girl smiled. "I know you will. You seem like the loyal type. I'm Konan by the way"
The orange haired boy with more body piercings pulled Konan closer to him and kissed her cheek. "Stop pestering the poor girl. Deidara is a big boy, he can look after himself"
Konan shrugged. "Can't help it, Pein-koi. Dei's the little brother I've never had"
Pein turned to Hinata. "Well I'm just glad he's dating you now Hinata-chan. Maybe he's finally got over that crush he had on my Konan—"
"Your Konan? Possessive aren't we?" Konan said swatting Pein's hand away.
"That's cold baby" Pein said, faking to be hurt.
Konan stuck out her tongue (it was pierced too) at him childishly him.
Temari snorted in disgust. "Oh stop it already you two"
"Hey, don't be a hater just because there's no takers" Pein said. He had to dodge a thrown fork.
Gaara rolled his eyes. "Temari, you better calm down because I'm not bailing you out of jail again" he said seriously in between bites of pancake.
Hinata watched all of this with a slacked jaw. These so called 'in' kids were a bit weird…
"So Hinata-san…" the stoical boy said suddenly to her, trying to distract her from the chaos. "Forgive me for not introducing myself, I am Itachi Uchiha"
Hinata smiled and nodded.
"So what are your hobbies?" he asked.
Hinata jumped a little, looking at Itachi with uncertainty. "Um…r-reading?"
"Hn" Itachi took a long slip of his tea. "As do I. What type of literature do you read?"
"Um…man-mangas…stories…sometimes f-fanfictions online…" Hinata answered dully.
"…Hn"
Hinata had to step up. She was looking pathetic. "I-I'm a fan of Michael C-Crichton…" she said.
"Oh" the raven haired eye's lilted up a bit. "Then you must have read the book, Prey. I found it rather distasteful…"
"It-it was good!" Hinata defended. "It sh-showed how things cannot be c-contained or controlled by m-mankind!"
Itachi shrugged indifferently. "I'm more of a Stephen King fan" he said offhandedly.
Hinata nodded. She wouldn't admit it that most of King's books scared her but she did like his writing style. "Stephen King is a good author. He shows the faults and st-strengths of human n-nature in the bizarre situations h-his characters go t-through…"
Itachi nodded. "Yes. People perceive to what they think is reality and respond to it"
"Kind of l-like the p-people in the s-story, Needful Things?" Hinata asked recalling the book.
"Precisely. Good example" Itachi commended. "Mr. Gaunt sold them useless trash however to them it was a treasure they were willing to die for, willing to kill. Chasing after an illusion no matter the price…unfortunately the cost was their very soul. Needful Things is one of my favorites, next to the Dark Tower series of course. Read anymore of his works?"
"Well…T-The Mist" Of course Hinata failed to mention it gave her nightmares for two weeks. And it didn't help the next day after she finished it, that it was foggy outside.
"A short but good—"
Kisame snorted cutting Itachi off. "It sucked. The ending I mean" he imputed into their conversation. "We don't know if they lived or died!" he complained. "Now Stephen King's 'It' was something else!" he crackled.
Pein suddenly gasped aloud. "Kisame, you read?" he asked incredulously. "No correction, you can read?"
Kisame flashed Pein the middle finger. "I like horror stuff okay? So I make an exception…How did you think I got good markings in English for the past four years in AR? Stephen King plus thick book equals mega points"
"Wow you can add too"
Konan swatted Pein playfully. "Honestly, will it kill you to be nice for once?"
"Yes, yes it would baby" Pein answered.
"Anyhow" Itachi said, throwing attention back at himself. "Anything else?"
"I like romance n-novels…"
"Hn. You didn't strike me as a romantic. So do you like Twilight then?" Itachi asked. "I've never read it myself but I've heard other people—particularly teenage girls liked it"
"No" Hinata said flatly.
"What do you mean no?!" Temari yelled, finding her answer unbelievable. "Edward was so hot!"
Hinata shrugged. "I just never liked vampire love stories…it's kinda stupid. I mean va-vampires are dead so what's the p-point? Blood sucking p-parasites are not sexy to me"
Temari looked at her incredulously. "You're hopeless" she snorted.
Gaara looked as if cherubs have come down from heaven. "There are angels. Finally a girl with some common sense"
"Spe-speaking of angels, Milton's Paradise Lost was even b-better" Hinata said, hoping to get off the topic. "It took me a m-month to go through it…"
Itachi's eyes lilted up. "A week for me. Still, that is indeed impressive. Was it required reading or leisure?"
"Lei-leisure…I found it at the library and since I was studying a-angelology and demonology at my own p-pace. I found it helpful…It really helped when I f-found 'a booked called the Encyclopedia of angels later—what?" Hinata asked when she noticed the looks she was getting.
The table went suddenly quiet. Only Itachi seemed interested, everyone else looked shocked. Hinata inwardly shunned herself. Great, now they think she's a geek.
"You…read…encyclopedias…for…fun?" Kisame asked in disbelief.
"Is it w-weird?" Hinata asked ashamed.
"It's completely normal to me, Hinata-chan" Itachi said smoothly. Underneath the table he kicked Kisame's chair, causing the boy to fall. "In fact it's refreshing to find a young woman curious in mythology"
Hinata could've kissed Itachi. He saved her from looking like a total weirdo.
"Hey ya'll, I think Itachi has finally met his match" Kisame announced as he got up from the floor. He patted Hinata on the head gently.
After scooting his chair a safe distance from the Uchiha, Kisame said, "Thank Kami! I was nearly bored to tears yesterday from all that talk about that Macbeth symbolism shit" he said before taking a long drink from his tall glass of lemon favored water.
"What other mythology books do you read?" Itachi asked.
"The H-Henricks series" Hinata answered. "B-But I still haven't read volume 8, 9 and 21…I would b-buy it but it would cost 139 dollars each"
"Hn" Itachi mused. "I have that volume in my personal library. In fact I have the whole Henrick series. Volume 1-26"
Hinata nearly jumped out of her seat. "Oh! I would love to see that!" she exclaimed excitedly.
Itachi stoical face cracked into a rare soft grin at her genuine enthusiasm. "Ah, the first thing you said to me without stuttering" he pointed out. Hinata cowered a little at the comment. "It's a student holiday, teacher work day this Friday. Why don't you come to my house tomorrow and you can look to your heart's content"
Hinata's face lilted up. "R-really? Thank you so much Itachi-kun!"
Karin who, as everyone one else couldn't help but overhear, choked on her bacon. That dorky girl Hinana, Hinota—whatever her name was, was invited to Itachi's house?! The house where her precious Sasuke-kun happened to live too?!
Clearing her throat and wiping her mouth with a napkin Karin said, "Oh Itachi-kun. I'm interested in mythology too!"
"Really now…" Itachi said dully. He sent her a blank look as if asking, 'like I'm gonna fall for that'.
Karin nodded her head feverishly. "Plus I'll even give Hinato-chan a ride over if I can come along!"
Before Hinata could even blink Karin was hugging her shoulders and pinching her cheek. "Is that okay Hinato-chan?" she asked with her voice as sweet as honey.
"It's H-Hinata, not Hinato" Hinata corrected.
"Well is it okay, Hinata-chan?" Karin asked just as sweetly.
Hinata reluctantly agreed. It was not like she knew the directions to Itachi's house anyway.
Kisame leaned over to Itachi and whispered. "Should you give Sasuke heads up, I mean isn't Karin the same girl who had a voodoo doll of your kid bro?"
"Yes she is…" Itachi then smirked. "I think I'll have some entertainment this Friday…"
Kisame pulled back and shook his head. "You are such a sadist bastard, you know that Itachi?"
Itachi shrugged. He wrote down an address and some numbers onto a napkin with a pen and handed it to Hinata. "Here, Hinata-chan. This is the address and the gate key"
"O-okay. I'll l-look it up on map quest"
"No need!" Karin said. "I know were it is!"
Everyone expect Hinata inwardly snorted.
-
—TBC—
CM: I bet you guys weren't expecting that. Heh-heh. Sure I was going to write a scene of her walking into the school. Heads turning, "Kami, who is that? Hinata? No way!" but I've decided on a different approach.
Well the Hoshi no Tama is something I made up. Maybe it's real. Correct me then if so. In Japanese mythology Kitsunes are known to have 'hoshi no tamas' (star balls) that hold their fox fire or spiritual essence.
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