When Fate and Destiny Collide
By: maliciousfate
Chapter: Eight
"A Turn of Events"
I awoke the next morning to a pleasant feeling of warmth on my face. I had left the window curtains pulled back to watch the rain that poured all night long the previous night. And now in replace of the frigid cold rain was a warm and bright sun shinning just high enough to light my entire room. I pulled the sheets from my body and made my way to the window seal. I wasn't in the least bit tired, no matter that I had less then 5 hours of sleep. Something about today told me it'd be a good day. But then again, sine when was fate on my side?
Outside looked wonderful, everything was lavished in green. It seemed that every living thing had soaked up plenty from the rainfalls and was now blooming at their finest. One of those rare and beautiful occasions that seemed almost too perfect to be true.
Not wanting to waste anymore time cooped up inside I took once last glance out the window then hurried into my bathroom. After I showered, brushed my teeth and hair, along with washing my face I hastily began to dress. My clothes weren't too much of a concern today. I quickly threw on a maroon sweater with a pair of black pants. Along with a white scarf and tight maroon colored boots. After lacing up the last lace on the boots I turned and left my room eager to get to the fresh air awaiting me outside.
Walking down one of the many hallways, I happily hummed to myself as I looked randomly at the art on the walls I was oblivious about before. The farther I got down the hall, I began to see many paintings of royal looking people, mostly male. They were obviously from the Hyuuga clan, with their Hyuuga acquired lavender eyes. As the hall began to end one photo took my attention quite completely. I stopped my humming and walking altogether as I slowly walked up to the painting that I surprisingly found to be Neji.
He was sitting with perfect posture in what resembled something like a royal king's chair. In his right hand he held a faded and torn scroll that looked ready to disinarnate at any moment. He was wearing an expensive, silky, crimson red, robe that hung loosely around his broad shoulders and toned chest. The artist of this painting was beyond talented, he was able to show in his work the shimmer that reflected from the robes, the sunlight the seeped in from a hidden window off to the side, and even the seemingly impossibly glint in Neji's eyes that showed he had something on his mind.
The picture was painted so Neji looked extremely important and powerful. Even at his youthful age of 17 the painter was able to give him a powerful appearance without damaging the true beauty of Neji himself. However, my eye glazed over something written elegantly in the bottom-center of the painting, at Neji's feet was one word that confused me to no end.
"Prodigy," I spoke the words aloud while tracing the soft fabric with my fingertips.
I looked to the left of the painting, there were no more pictures Neji's was the last one in the lengthy hallway of portraits. That only added to my confusion. I turned my head to the right, to look down at the long hall filled with the same elegant paintings. But the one nearest to Neji's was what made me gasp.
"Hiashi..." I whispered.
Hiashi was the current clan leader of the Hyuugas. And it never occurred to me whom his successor might have been. But standing in this long corridor of the chain of Hyuuga Leaders, it left no question in my mind who it was now.
"Neji is going to be the next Hyuuga Clan Leader..." I spoke so soft, I almost mistook it as a thought. It took a few moments of repeating that small sentence to fully realize it was the truth. And after coming to that conclusion a few questions began forming inside my head.
"If Neji is going to be the next Leader of the Hyuuga Clan, and I am to marry him. Then he will also need a successor." I felt my stomach lurch.
"A child" As the words left my mouth I instantly regretted saying them. I was only sixteen! I was already in an arranged marriage; a child was just over doing it!
Before I could completely freak myself out, I did what I was so good at. I began to run. I ran far from the hallway of staring Hyuuga portraits, far from the Hyuuga Compound, way past the grassy fields and meadows, beyond the trees that began to clump together, and I soon found myself deep within the forest that bordered the Hyuuga Compound.
"Damnit!" I cursed out as another wicked branch had cut my arm. A had been letting my anger lead me deeper and deeper into the thick forest, stupid choice on my account, but I wasn't thinking straight at the moment.
"Stupid trees..." I mumbled and continued on through the green sea of trees that the Hyuuga Compound had beyond their grassy plains. My anger hadn't let up, and in some sense, kept increasing as more and more trees decided it would be cute to fly back and hit me in the face as I stomped on.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch, OUCH!"
"You damned trees are THIS close to getting your asses fried!" I yelled out at the inanimate swaying trees that had now left a cut on my still healing cheek. Just as I finished my taunting wrath towards the trees, a branch snapped and flipped out at me. This one got the pleasure of knocking me off my feet.
"That is IT!" I screamed getting up from the not-so-comfortable position I had landed in. Not to mention that spot happened to be wet soil of the forest floor. I began to furiously perform hand signs while staring daggers into the menacing willows around me.
"Fire Release: Flame Wind!" I called out as scorching flames began to flow from my mouth and straight to the surround trees. In an instant they were a-flame and burning into dark charred ash. The remaining wind quickly took the ash into the air and high into the sky.
I smirked. "Tsuki-one. Trees...eliminated."
I looked up at the path I had now created and began to walk down it. I cut down a few low hanging vines and twigs as I walked using one of my kunai as the weapon. I raised the kunai ready to slice down a thin vine but I quickly stopped when I caught onto the sent of-
"-Water?" I stopped and searched around; there was no sign of any streams or ponds. There were only trees and a few scraggly bushes. Once again I started walking again but kept my eyes peeled for any sign of a stream I might stumble into. And knowing my lucky, I'd not only stumble into it, but also fall into it.
Up ahead a few meters was something that I thought to be quite strange. It was about four trees bent into each other, all sprouting thick bushels of green leaves making a type of net; slowly I made my way over to it. Curiousity getting the best of me.
I pulled off a strand of leaves and looked at them closely. They were too green to be living around here, they needed a lot of water to be this green, and for what I could see there wasn't a single stream in this part of the forest. I turned around and around and around peering out around me. Nope, no water.
I dropped the branch to the ground but I didn't hear the hard 'thud' I was expecting. Instead, I head a soft type of splash. Looking down I saw the branch had landed in a wet muddy puddle. I pushed my foot on the spot and it sunk slightly. This caught my curiosity. I began to cut at the strange trees before me and pushed them apart.
When I had finally gotten them wide enough to fit through, my eyes widened...
I couldn't speak. No verb in the world could describe the sight before me. And with such the loss of words, I could only lamely say;
"Wow..." I took a slow and unsteady step forward, pushing myself fulling through the trees. After I stepped passed them they closed instantly behind me, but in the state of awe I was in I didn't even notice.
Beyond the green leaved trees was the most magnificent, extraordinary and positively breath-taking waterfall I had ever seen. I understood why I was unable to see it before; it was covered in lush, dark green foliage from millions of fallen leave making it blend in completely to its surroundings.
I walked up closer to it, still wide-eyed and stunned. The water was crystal clear with thousands of exotic fish swimming delightfully around in its depths. It had large rocks positioned perfectly around the boarder of the falls where you could sit and relax all day long. And at the moment I wanted to do nothing but that.
I quickly began shedding my shirt, boots, and pants then pushed them under a low tree; hiding them from view. I, now in a pair of black shorts and undershirt, began to walk up the many levels of this magnificent waterfall before me. I felt myself smiling the whole way up, excitement coursing through my veins. Grabbing onto a smooth rock ledge of the highest level, I swung myself onto it, getting a little wet in the process. The water was freezing, but at the same time it felt perfect. I had built up a good sweat walking through the forest while attacking the tress; and the cold water felt wonderful on my heated skin.
I stood up at looked down at the gorgeous view below. Even though no one could see me from this height, I could see everything else. In the few seconds I was up there I saw; a few rivers that were littered in the forest, the dark green plains of the Hyuuga Compound, and I could even see the tip of the Hyuuga Compound itself. A huge grin began to spread itself onto my face, I felt completely at bliss standing from here.
I gazed down at the waterfall itself; it had two pond-like-things, one much shallower then the other. The deeper one was directly below me; I stepped up to the edge and searched its depths. There looked to be no ridge rocks or sudden hills in the water, just a deep blue abyss, perfect for diving.
I stepped back and looked around at the miraculous sight once more before I ran full speed to the edge, then jumped off.
When I hit the freezing and refreshing water I stayed below the surface for a bit. I watched the exotic fish swim around me carelessly, a perfect sea of color.
I surfaced after I stayed under the glorious water for as long as I could. I inhaled a fresh breath and swam in place, enjoying every moment that the refreshing water gave me.
"I wonder who all comes out here." I said to myself laughing, as a few fish nibbled on my toes. I dove under the water and swam deep, exploring the whole pond. It was a lot deeper I had expected, I couldn't even make it to the bottom before my breath ran short. I surfaced again but this time I swam over to the ledge and rolled out.
Lying on my back, with water passing under me, I gazed at the sky. It was a clear day, a few fluffy clouds scattered here and there from the storm, and birds flew across it chirping happily with each other. A slight wind tore through the trees and made them shuffle and drop leave into the sky, littering my sight with greens, yellows, oranges, and blues. I was in complete harmony lying there on the waterfall's ledge. And before I knew it my eyelids had closed and I had fallen into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Or so I had thought...
"Hurry Hinata! They're coming!" I screamed out running through the thick black forest trailing behind Neji who was still running ahead of me. Even in the pitch darkness I could see the shimmering stains of blood on his clothes. A pinch in my chest made me grab my heart in pain. He was hurt, and bad.
"I'm trying..." Hinata replied slowing her pace even farther, I could tell she was in extreme pain. The wound in her leg was far worse then Neji or I had originally thought, and Hinata was good at hiding things. I glanced forward at Neji, who was looking back at the two of us with worry etched onto his handsom face. I turned back to Hinata and ran over to her, placed my arm under hers and began to half carry her through the even darkening woods.
"Tsuki hurry, I can sense them nearby." Neji whispered shifting his head from side to side, still running. A rustle in the bushes nearby made my heart drop. I twisted my head back squinting hard, trying to make out shapes in the thick darkness that loomed around.
A crackling laugh could be heard all around me, taunting me. We all stopped in our tracks.
"Silly little children." A deep voice said from the darkness as swish was heard following. I craned my neck around trying to locate the on coming threat, but I was too late.
A kunai was at my face...
My scream echoed throughout the forgest, scaring birds from their nests. I sat up drenched in sweat and still soaked from the water that was flowing below me. My eyes were wide and I had unconsciously grabbed a large rock and was gripping in tightly in my fist. My heart was beating viciously in my chest as my eyes peered terrifyingly around me in the darkness.
I tried desperately to slow my heartbeat as I dropped the rock.
"A dream, just a dream." I said as my voice cracked.
I had never been that scared from a dream before, and I definitely had my share of terrible dreams. I stood shakily from the ledge and squinted around; it was hard to make out where the ledge was and where the ground was now that night had fallen. I shivered wrapping my cold, wet arms around myself in a desperate attempt to get warm.
My eyes slowly began to adjust slightly and I started too wobble towards the ground I could now vaguely make out. Gradually I made my way past both ponds, past the waterfall and over to the tree I had placed my clothes under. With shaky hands I pulled out my clothes and began to pull them over my still dripping wet ones. Not the best idea but it warmed me a bit.
Still with my arms wrapped around my form, I began to walk the almost impossible trek back to the Compound. I felt as though I were blind walking through the forest getting hit with every branch, stumbling on every stone, and jumped at every sound. And all this tension was starting to ware on my nerves.
"Just up ahead a little more is- ouch! -Is the Compound, where its' warm hallways and cozy bed is waiting wit- ouch! -With open arms." I kept telling myself positive things over and over, hoping to calm my nerves. My heartbeat began to beat close to a normal rhythm. I was beginning to walk faster, getting more confidence to press on. But like all things doing with me, since when was fate on my side?
A malicious laugh echoed across the forest seemingly making the trees shake.
My face paled and my neck cracked as I twisted it in every direction. The darkness had some how gotten thicker, I couldn't see a thing. And it was silent, completely silent. Not even an owl hooting, a rat squeaking, nothing, complete silence. By now my heart was beating immensely loud in my chest. Whoever was out there would no doubt be able to hear it.
Then a twig snapped nearby.
Immediately, I sprung forward in a dash, scrambling away from the sound and the area. I had my arms flaying in front of myself pushing away branches, but failing in the most part because almost every other one hit my face. I could already feel the warm liquid falling down my face. My hope and composure was almost gone, if not already, but I continued running.
"Oh my god, where is the hell is the Compound! I need to get out of this damn forest!" My breaths where ragged and my heartbeat continued to rage.
On the brink of breaking down, I saw it. The most amazing thing I could have seen at the moment; the Compound's yellow glowing lights piercing the darkness. I quicken my pace, ignoring the screams my muscles were telling me, yearning for nothing more but to get into those doors.
I reached the marvelous green plains and pressed on still ignoring the pulsating pains my legs were giving me. I stopped my running and put my hands on my knees breathing ragged. Sweat was dripping from my brow, along with a few drops of blood, and there was still water soaking my clothes. After about five minuets I stood, wiping a few strands of hair from my face and pushed the doors open.
Before the closed behind me I glanced back to the forest. And I could swear that I saw two dark silhouettes on the edge of the Hyuuga Compound. Two men standing at the edge of the forest, not moving just standing. Watching, waiting, looking. And then I ran.
It was quiet in the halls, the good quiet. I needed some quiet after what had just happened. I needed quiet to calm my nerves and rest my body. But most of all, I need my bed.
I was suddenly caught off guard by a Hyuuga boy, a little older then myself, who ran by me frantically. His eyes were wide and bloodshot, his mouth was open slightly, and his clothes were untidy. He was terrified, that much was obvious. I stopped and watched him run hectically by and near the other end of the hall. Before he could disappear from sight I called out to him.
"What's going on?" My voice sounded foreign to me. It sounded older, ragged, and definitely exhausted.
The boy whirled around, surprised to find another person in the hall with him. His eyes widened even farther when he saw what I looked like.
"Mrs. Hyuuga! Please, I beg of you to retire into your room," He bit his lip as he kept glancing at the hall he was about to turn down, then he added;
"-It's safer in there..."