"Emiko" Hinata repeated as she looked at the girl before.
The girl had strawberry blonde hair that she tied up in a messy ponytail and lime green eyes. Small freckles dappled her checks. She wore a light sweater with a clean white t-shirt under it. She had on a pair of shorts and sandals.
A wild grin slowly spread across the girls face. The girl ran over and gave Hinata a bear hug.
"Hinata! Is it really you?" Emiko shrieked with delight.
"Need…to…breathe" Hinata choked.
"Oh, right. Sorry about that."Emiko let go.
Emiko watched as Hinata took in some breaths.
"It's good to see you again Emiko." Hinata said after a minute.
"Ah, good to see you too! Come in! Come in!" Emiko welcomed as she pulled Hinata's arm and led her into the cottage.
Hinata turned over to see Hanabi with a very confused expression.
Oh right. Hanabi hasn't met Emiko yet.
"Wait here. I will get some tea." Emiko said when they had settled down in the living room.
"Emiko, that's not necessary." Hinata said.
"Are you sure?" Emiko whimpered, "I am so sorry for being an improper host!"
"That's not the case. It's just that we're friends and you don't have to bring tea out." Hinata said.
"Oh, alright then. Is that your sister?" Emiko asked eyeing Hanabi.
"Yep. Hanabi, as you probably heard, this is Emiko. Emiko this is Hanabi." Hinata introduced.
"So this is the Hanabi that Minori told me about! So that means that both of you are staying over tonight. Am I correct?" Emiko asked enthusiastically.
Hanabi sighed. Something told her straight off the bat that talking a lot was probably a family trait.
"Well…it would be rude to have a sleepover for three days especially on such a short notice…"Hinata hesitated.
"Such nonsense. It seems like you haven't changed much at all huh? Spending the night wouldn't kill you." Emiko tried to persuade Hinata.
"I don't know…" Hinata said a bit uneasily.
Coming for a sleepover like that just didn't feel like the best thing to do.
"I see how it is!" Emiko wailed, "After a long time you no longer see me as a friend. All my hard work of getting you to be yourself is wasted!"
Hanabi sighed. It was as though she was back with Minori. She may as well have stayed at the village.
"No Emiko, it's not like that!" Hinata said frantically.
"Then what is it!" Emiko asked dramatically.
"Hinata, can we just stay over? She's your friend and we wouldn't have to go through all the trouble of staying at an inn. I bet that the inns are packed by now." Hanabi said a bit exasperatedly.
"Yeah, listen to your sister!" Emiko hollered.
"Fine, but does your father know about this?" Hinata asked concernedly.
"Nope, but don't worry. Father won't mind because he knows you already. I am pretty sure grandpa won't mind." Emiko said.
"'Pretty' sure?" Hanabi asked. Staying in the same room as Emiko started giving her a tiny headache though she was a bit used to it because of Minori.
Emiko ignored her question and led them to a guest room.
"You two can sleep here for the days you will be staying." Emiko said as she slid open the door.
The room was painted white with a bunk bed on the side. The red curtains hanging in front of the window lit the room up which made the room turn into a light pinkish color. A small dresser sat at the corner. Other than that, the room was pretty bare.
"I am sorry if you don't like it. Since we rarely have guests we never bothered to decorate or anything." Emiko apologized.
"This will do." Hanabi said as she strolled in and tossed her backpack on the floor. She flopped on to the bottom bunk and got up immediately.
"Emiko…this bed is so hard." Hanabi whined.
"Hanabi, we're guests, we have no right to complain. I'm sorry Emiko, if we're troubling you." Hinata gave an apologetic smile.
"That's alright. I'm glad we were able to see each other after all these years." Emiko waved her hand dismissively.
"Hey Hinata, I want to do some shopping." Hanabi said as she headed for the door.
"Do you want us to come with you?" Emiko asked.
"No, I want some time alone for now." Hanabi said distantly.
When Hanabi slid the door behind her, Emiko turned to Hinata.
"Did I do something to upset her?" Emiko panicked.
"No, at least I don't think so. We should just let her do what she wants." Hinata replied.
"So, are you a chunin now?" Emiko asked.
"Yep. Hanabi became a genin just recently."
"I see. I wish I could became a chunin with you and all the others." Emiko sighed.
"Well, your grandfather was sick. Speaking of your grandfather, how is he?" Hinata asked.
"Grandpa? He's fine, for now. His condition has improved ever since dad and I moved here but dad thinks that Grandpa's condition will start getting worse because of his age." Emiko shook her head.
"Well, is he home right now?" Hinata asked, "I would like to greet him."
"No, right now he's at the hospital for a weekly checkup."
"Oh, okay then." Hinata said as she placed her backpack on the floor.
"I miss those old days…" Emiko said with another sigh.
Hinata looked at Emiko worriedly.
She's acting like that day at the beach…
"Emiko…is something wrong?" Hinata asked a bit panicked.
"Hmm, nothing. I was just thinking of how much fun we used to have is all."
"Well, why don't we go outside and-" Hinata's eyes-widened as Emiko punched Hinata in the stomach. Hinata fell over and cringed. Hinata looked at Emiko with fear.
"I'm sorry Hinata. I have to do this for grandpa." Emiko said quietly.
"Emiko…what are you doing?" Hinata gaped.
No, this can't be happening. Emiko would never do such thing.
"I am so sorry" Emiko said, tears streaming down her face.
"Emiko…why? I don't understand."
Another punch from Emiko sent Hinata crashing into the wall. Hinata coughed from the impact.
No! This can't be happening! I'm dreaming!
Hinata looked at Emiko with fear. Emiko wasn't holding back on her attacks at all. Hinata acknowledged the fact and staggered to her feet.
"I don't know why you're doing this but I have no choice but to hurt you." Hinata choked.
"Please don't hold back because I can't." Emiko whimpered.
"Byakugan!" Hinata stood in the position ready to attack.
"Hey Hinata, is that all the fighting spirit you have? Come on you can do it!" Emiko rooted as Hinata was on her knees panting.
"I can't stand up to you. You win Emiko-chan" Hinata said as she stood up slowly.
"Fine, but next time don't give up so easily." Emiko sighed, "Just look at Naruto, he may be stupid but he never gives up. He is so determined to be the hokage that he doesn't give up no matter what. That part of him is truly admirable, but other than that he is a complete fool. What do you think?"
Determination filled Hinata's mind as she recollected the memory.
Emiko charged at a quick pace though it was bit slower than back then. Hinata used the chance and hit Emiko with her Gentle Fist. Emiko fell onto the ground and knocked over Hinata's backpack. Her silk bag fell out.
"Emiko, you're definitely out of practice." Hinata murmured
"Hinata, I just can't do this." Emiko sobbed.
Hinata lowered her guard a bit and walked over to Emiko's side.
"Emiko, why are you doing this?"
"I was promised money for grandpa if I could capture you for these men. Grandpa is entering critical condition soon and we need money to pay for medical treatment. These thugs just showed up at my house yesterday." Emiko sniffled. "You sure have gotten stronger."
Hinata walked over to her backpack and picked up the silk bag that had fallen out. Then she came back to Emiko's side and opened the little bag. Inside, the little clam sat unharmed.
Emiko's eyes opened wide and started sobbing again.
"You once told me that "this is no ordinary clam. In fact, there is no such thing as an ordinary clam. Everything is unique in its own way. This clam may look to be simple on the outside, but in truth, it contains a beauty on the inside"" Hinata quoted.
"I wonder if that was really me. I am a horrible friend for doing this to you." Emiko calmed down a bit.
"Emiko, those words you said that day. They helped me persevere. I made a lot of new friends and moved on. However, I just couldn't accept Hanabi at first. But then after this trip that my father ordered, it made me realize how dear Hanabi is to me. So if you don't mind, I plan on giving this clam to her saying the exact words you told me." Hinata said gently.
"Hanabi…Hanabi. Oh no! She's bound to be in danger! She's probably being targeted for being alone!" Emiko cried.
"No! That can't be! I am sorry Emiko, but I made a promise to my little sister. And as her older sister, I would like to fulfill that promise!" Hinata said as she raced out the door.
No! No! No! If she is hurt again, I will never forgive myself! Hanabi, please be safe!