Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any other copyrighted/trademarked intellectual property that may have been referenced. I am making no money from this work.

Chapter 2: Sable City

By Piplop

Autumn

Hinata stumbled in her ornate robes as Neji led her into an even more ornate silver carriage. They were in the main square at the entrance to the palace, flanked by the two long lines of her wedding entourage. A multitude of carriages were heavily loaded with all manners of treasures—gold, silver, jewels, artifacts, and priceless scrolls from the imperial library. Five entire carts were dedicated to her clothing alone. The weavers had worked tirelessly the past two months since the announcement of her engagement to create a wardrobe worthy of a queen.

An ocean of people surrounded her party, buzzing with excitement. Every palace servant and soldier was lined up to send her off.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, thank you," Hinata attempted a reassuring smile, "My shoe just caught the inner hem, that's all."

"This dress suits you well," Neji nodded approvingly. Hinata blushed at the compliment.

"N-No, you are too kind." Hinata hurried into her carriage, making sure not to trip again. "This is all thanks to Master Sai's talent." The ceremonial robes were an intricate affair involving six thick layers of cloth. The inner layers were a white cotton, thin and breathable but still trimmed with silver. They contrasted with the heavy outer layers of silks in varying shades of purple that dragged onto the ground behind her. The outermost layer was intricately embroidered with silver phoenixes soaring through rolling clouds, their eyes gleaming with glowing pearls and their tails heavily studded with amethysts. Hinata's obi was a thick band of the softest snow rabbit fur, netted with glistening droplets of clear crystal. A headdress in the shape of a silver phoenix weighed down her neck as the neck of the bird elegantly arched towards the sky, its sapphire-studded wings hugging her temples. Tassels of silver dangled from the structure into her hair, weighted at the ends with teardrops of the indigo gem.

So this is what that decorative fan hanging in the Grand Hall must feel like.

As Hinata settled herself into her seat, careful not to wrinkle the layers of her robes, Danzo stepped forward in his simple black kimono. He appeared strong and stiff-backed despite his wooden crutch and lame arm.

"Princess Hinata, we shall part ways here," Danzo gave a slight bow. "We are apologetic that not all of the council will be able to accompany you into the Stone Kingdom, but there are urgently pressing matters that we need to attend to." The fifteen present councilmen bowed in tandem. Despite the three months of hard work that everyone in the imperial palace had put in, the fog of intrigue surrounding her parents' deaths had not yet been cleared. Their funeral had been a solemn affair, held shortly after Hinata signed the contract with the Stone Kingdom. It was well attended by nobles and diplomats across the land from all five kingdoms. Everyone had lined up for hours to offer their condolences, but Hinata could sense their unrest. Some feared for their own security while others evaluated the state of the Leaf Kingdom and schemed.

King Danzo was unceremoniously crowned one week after. The new king had been growing rather frustrated with the state of the investigations and had worked non-stop until, all of a sudden, their two leads seemingly vanished into thin air. Danzo swore that there would be no respite for anyone until the perpetrators were executed.

"Of course, I understand." Hinata dipped her head in acknowledgment. "Thank you for all of your hard work."

"It has been decided that Councilor Kurenai Yuhi will retire from her post in domestic affairs and join you in the Stone Kingdom. She will act as your advisor and our ambassador. You will also have many maids and servants at your disposal when you arrive." Hinata's eyes widened in surprise.

"Wait! Councilor Kurenai is a cornerstone to this kingdom! What will become of the domestic affairs department?"

When was this decision made? Was Kurenai forced into this? What was going to happen to all the—

"Councilor Kurenai suggested this course of action herself. She'll join you at Sable City after she wraps up some business there. The schoolmaster, I believe his name is Iruka, is prepared to take her post."

Hinata was shocked. Kurenai loved her work and the people of the Leaf Kingdom. She had always said that it was her life's goal to set up shelters, schools, and hospitals in every city in the nation and that she wouldn't rest until that was accomplished. She was talented, intelligent, and had the respect of the people and councilors alike. Why would she abandon everything? It was such a waste.

Yet, Hinata couldn't help the small glimmer of relief that warmed her heart.

With two reverberating strikes from his crutch, Danzo quieted the entire plaza. He cleared his voice, signaling the beginning of his speech.

"Today, we send off Crown Princess Hinata Hyuuga to the Stone Kingdom for her marriage to King Sasuke Uchiha," Danzo declared, looking across the ocean of people. "We pray that joy and fortune will smile upon the new union of the Leaf and the Stone." He lowered his head to look at Hinata. "You are the pride of the people and the greatest treasure of the Leaf Kingdom. May the rain fall wherever you go, may the harvests be bountiful, and may the gods be with you. Fate be willing, may our paths cross again."

Empty words said for the sake of ceremony. She wouldn't mind never seeing Danzo again.

"Now, the people are waiting. Please go and receive their best wishes and farewells." Danzo's stony stare reminded her that if this marriage was truly going to work, she had the duty of convincing the people that this was what she wanted.

Hinata dipped her head.

I will smile and wave. Just as they wish.

One by one, the councilors followed Danzo back into the main complex of the palace.

"Master Shibi!" Hinata called out. The masked councilor turned back towards her. With a blush, Hinata gestured for him to come closer, two lavender pouches in hand.

"I know that this may be a bit troublesome, but would you mind giving these to Kiba and Shino? I wanted to see them before I left, but it seems that they are still not back from their mission…"

Shibi nodded, tucking the silk pouches into his sleeve. In an uncharacteristic move, he placed a hand on Hinata's elbow. It was warm, even through the six thick layers of cloth. It lingered there for a beat—as if Shibi was about to say something—before the man sighed, turned away, and joined the retreating Danzo.

"Ready?" Neji asked, his eyes a solemn reflection of his white diplomatic robes.

Hinata took a breath and nodded, taking one last look at her home of eighteen years. The expansive wooden complexes of the main palace stood tall and proud in the early morning light. The people of the palace stood uniform, waiting.

I may not see this place again for many years.

Hinata's eyes started to water. She swallowed back her sudden fear.

I chose this path for myself. I cannot turn back now.

Neji waved his hand into the air. Hanabi, on her horse at the front of the entourage, held her arm up to signify that she had received the signal.

"Open the gates!" Hanabi's cry echoed, her black, armored frame a striking silhouette against the rising sun, silencing the crowd inside the palace.

The wooden doors, manned by ten men each, slowly swung outwards with a groan. The drummers at the front of the entourage began banging their wide, red drums in unison, setting the beat for the parade.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

As the palace gates opened, the noise of the people waiting outside crescendoed. Shouts and screams of joy filled the air. Entertainers got on high stilts at the front of the parade to throw confetti onto the streets as bright red and gold lion dance performers jumped and weaved to clanging music.

Hinata's carriage jolted as her four horses started to pull. She straightened her back and folded her hands on her lap. They were to parade through the main street on the eastern side of the city and she knew that the road ahead would be bumpy.

When the slow-moving carriage reached the palace gates, Neji turned and yelled towards Hinata over the deafening crowd. Although she couldn't hear him over the cacophony, Hinata smiled at his reassurance.

The areas closest to the palace were where the wealthiest in the Imperial Dragon City lived. Men, women, and children lined up in the streets, showered with the rice and confetti from the entertainers that had just passed by. They laughed, waved, and yelled their congratulations as a line of soldiers blocked them from getting too close to the princess. Hinata smiled and waved back.

As they passed the inner ring of the city, the crowds got louder and rowdier. The wave of soldiers struggled to push back the throngs of people trying to get closer to the royal carriage. Hinata recognized several of the shelters and hospitals that she had worked at. The pungent fish market was empty the next street over, as everyone had come to attend the parade. She could make out several familiar voices in the crowd…

"We love you, Princess Hinata!—"

"If your husband bullies you, I'll beat him up for you!—"

"The kids at the Academy miss you already!—"

"Come back and visit soon!—"

Hinata smiled even harder, the muscles of her face starting to ache. Even the people most familiar with the Princess wouldn't have noticed that her smile showed a little too much teeth. They would write off her glistening eyes as joy for her bright future or the bittersweet bid of farewell expected from someone leaving her childhood home. Although there were unsavory rumors floating around about the Stone King, his kingdom was secure and prosperous. And after all, since Princess Hinata had personally chosen him to be her husband, he must be a kind and generous man who would treat her well.

As they reached the edges of the Imperial Dragon City, where rice paddies and fields of vegetables replaced huts and lines of people, the booms of the drums gave away to peaceful silence, entertainers got off from their stilts, and the lion dance performers packed away their props. Soldiers fell into a more orderly formation: the scouts were sent to patrol the road ahead on horseback, the archers rode to the front, joining a clump of foot soldiers, and the rest of the infantrymen marched alongside the long line of carriages. Hinata's carriage fell to the rear of the party, amidst the carts of treasures.

Hinata let her smile fall and her back slump over. She was tired and a bit hot and sweaty. The pale autumn sun was starting to heat up the slightly frigid morning air, causing Hinata to be thankful that her carriage at least had a nice roof.

"I'm going to ride back and join the rear cavalry for a bit to see if anyone suspicious decided to follow us. Will you be alright by yourself?"

"I'm hardly by myself, Neji. We're surrounded by an entire platoon."

"You know what I mean."

Hinata sighed. Not even Neji trusted her to not have a mental breakdown. She didn't blame him, but still…

"I see Hanabi coming this way. She'll probably keep me company for a while. Be safe."

Neji nodded at Hinata and the approaching Hanabi before trotting to the rear of the line.

"That was a nightmare!" Now that they were out of the city, Hanabi dropped all ceremonial pretenses as she guided her horse to a slow walk next to Hinata's carriage.

"That armor fits you well. You look every bit the leader of this platoon." Hanabi brushed a strand of hair back into her ponytail, her tan cheeks turning rosy at the praise and her nose upturned in pride. Hanabi had been put in charge of the soldiers for this trip, a weighty responsibility for one so young. The platoon was large, composed of five squads: one scouting squad, two infantries, a cavalry, and a squad of their finest cavalry archers. Although Hanabi had only led small units on missions in the past, she was growing up and Hinata had no doubt that her little sister was up to the task.

"It's just the standard gear…" Although she was prideful, Hanabi was not very good at taking compliments. "Those peasants were so dirty and loud, I don't know how you deal with them!"

"They're kind people, Hanabi—our people. Our most important duty is to protect them."

"Parroting back what mother and father always lectured us about… You're so stiff!" Hanabi humphed. "And you're way too nice. No wonder they like you so much…"

The sadness that crept into Hinata's eyes with the mention of their parents was less sharp and painful than before. It was refreshing to see her little sister mouth off. It seemed that Hanabi had regained some of her original spark in the past two months.

"But you can't let that Sasuke Uchiha walk all over you! You gotta throw your weight around a little if they push you around! Well, knowing you, that's probably not going to happen. Kurenai will be there though, so I guess she can help you out—"

A horse gave out a startled whinny from the front of the party. Hinata turned to peer at the road ahead. A lone man had stepped out onto the street in front of the line of soldiers. He looked vaguely familiar and was waving frantically.

"Halt!" Hanabi commanded, staring intently at the figure, her hand reaching for the bow and quiver on her back. The soldiers stiffened. Hinata craned her neck to try and get a better view.

"Ah, it's that bastard pot-maker. Proceed, no harm in running him over if he doesn't get out of the way."

"Hanabi!" Hinata chided. She heard the clip clop of hooves behind her and turned to see Neji.

"What's the hold-up?"

"Ah, Master Sai is up ahead. He's walking towards us now."

"Hanabi, please tell your men to be at ease." Hanabi grumbled but complied.

"He lives so far up north in the Snow Hare Mountains. I wonder what he's doing here?" Neji frowned.

Hinata shrugged. The master artisan was known to be rather eccentric.

As Sai approached, they could see that he was wearing his usual tight black top, gloves, and pants. He carried a large, round backpack. The midriff of his shirt was scandalously cut as always and Hinata found herself blushing in embarrassment.

"How are you doing, Princess Perv?" A demure smile accompanied Sai's low voice. Hinata blushed even more furiously. He had given her that nickname when they had first met as kids. Ten-year-old Hinata had stared at the pale, flat expanse of his exposed stomach for just a bit too long back then... She was just…shocked! The little princess had never seen anyone so undressed in public before. It was inappropriate!

The surrounding soldiers looked decidedly uncomfortable at the exchange.

Neji bristled. "Master Sai, you would do well to treat the Princess with respect!"

"And what's up with all that mud on your pants? Did you fall into a pond or something?" Hanabi asked sarcastically.

"As a matter of fact, I did," Sai's face still had that same sweet smile. It was a little unnerving, really…

"I was just harvesting some of the mud in the rice paddies. The soil outside of the imperial city has the best composition of clay for my pottery."

"Did you even ask the farmers for per—"

"It's good to see you, Master Sai!" Hinata quickly interrupted. Hanabi and Sai could bicker like this for hours. Hanabi would get angrier and angrier as Sai would just rile her on with that calm grin plastered on his face. "Thank you very much for making the robes for my wedding. They're the most beautiful clothes I have ever worn."

Sai's smile fell and his eyes stared into Hinata's accusingly. "I really despise sewing. I had to sew for a month straight because of you." His comment made Neji sputter.

"Uh-Uhm…"

"Alas, I have a present for you, Princess Perv." Sai removed his muddy, black gloves and reached into his backpack, pulling out a lacquered black box decorated with engravings of a beautiful mountain landscape. He opened the box to reveal a jade pendant on a silver chain and a jade hoop bracelet. The speckled forest green stones rested upon a thick bed of black silk.

"This is—!"

"I just used some leftover materials laying around the workshop. Remember when your father came all the way to the Snow Hare Mountains with that lump of rock for your mother? I thought it would be a waste if the rest just sat there." Sai closed the box and handed it to Hinata.

"Thank you, Sai. This means a lot." Tears welled up in Hinata's eyes.

"You still cry too much. Stop it."

"O-Okay."

"I carved the pendant into a rabbit. It suits you a lot better than that thing on top of your head."

Even though Sai's comment probably should've offended her, for once, Hinata agreed.

"There's also some other stuff down there that you should play with later." With that, the enigmatic artisan slipped on his gloves and abruptly slid down the slope of the road into a rice paddy. He trudged through the crops towards the center of the field.

"Bye! Thank you!" Hinata called out. Sai didn't turn around but waved a hand into the air.

"Why does such a rude man have such a pretty face?" Hanabi pouted, whining under her breath. With a flip of her ponytail, she galloped forward, commanding her men to move out.

Neji shook his head and trotted towards the rear lines once more.

Hinata's party was getting rather worn from their three days of travel. The protection detail, heavy horse carriages, and foot soldiers forced them to travel at a frustratingly slow pace—they could barely cross a measly twenty miles in a day.

The princess was getting weary too. Although Sai's dress was truly a masterpiece, it made everyday tasks very difficult for Hinata. To her embarrassment, the entire entourage had to stop for half an hour every time she needed to relieve herself. She was glad for the thick cloth though, it served as a solid cushion against the many bumps in the road. Hinata was sure that her bum would be a lot more sore had it not been for the heavy silk layers.

As they headed towards the border of the Stone Kingdom, Hinata rubbed her aching back and stared out of her carriage, admiring the natural beauty of her country. Most of the Leaf Kingdom was flat with lush forests, rich fields, and the occasional lake. Only the far north had difficult terrain and cold, steep mountains.

They were currently in the Sable Forest to the east of the Imperial Dragon City, aptly named for the critters that lived there who were valued for their fur. The beginning of autumn was heralded by the tall orange maples of varying heights that grew throughout. The sunlight filtered past their golden leaves and cast a warm glow on the soil and underbrush. Soft clumps of ferns sprouted along the thick dirt road, their ever-so-slightly browned edges curled in response to the creeping chill of winter. Every once in a while, Hinata would spot thickets of green bamboo, stretching proudly towards the sky, their flexible branches swaying in the wind. Sable City was a major commercial post that laid at the eastern edge of the forest, just ahalf-day's travel to the border with the Stone Kingdom.

Caaaaaaaawww

The piercing cry of a hawk startled Hinata out of her musings. She craned her head out the carriage to look up just as a shadow passed over her face. The bird glided low, its talons almost brushing against the tops of the riders' heads before it landed on Hanabi's outstretched arm.

"It's one of theirs," Hanabi observed. The red and brown messenger hawk had a black tube on its back, etched with the red and white fan of the Uchiha crest. The bird lowered its head and ruffled its feathers as Hanabi twisted open the lid of the container. The hawk cocked its head from side to side as it observed its surroundings, settling its sights on Hinata. The wide black pupils of its eyes glinted with intelligence as they seemed to focus on the princess. Hinata felt like the bird was judging her. Like she was a meal. She gulped.

"It's addressed to the royal wedding party." Hanabi unrolled the scroll, her eyes quickly skimming its contents. When she finished, she held up the scroll at Hinata. Neji, who was on horseback flanking Hinata's other side, craned his neck to see.

"They basically want to know if we'll arrive at the border tomorrow or in two days. They need a day's notice to send out the welcoming party."

"I estimate that we can arrive at Sable City late tonight," Neji stated in a matter-of-fact way, "So tell them to expect us there by noon tomorrow." As a part of his work in the department of foreign affairs, Neji had traveled these roads numerous times over the past four years.

"We'll have to push everyone a little if we want to get there before the sun sets." Hanabi furrowed her brows in thought. "Hmm… We only have two or three hours left." While it was unlikely that burglars would try anything on such a well-guarded group, Hanabi didn't want to take any chances. The sun was setting earlier and earlier these days and it was always safer to be within the walled confines of a city or surrounded by rings of guards inside camp before the last vestiges of daylight disappeared.

The Leaf Kingdom was landlocked and surrounded on all sides by warring neighbors. Sometimes they were allies, at other times they were vicious enemies. The Sand Kingdom was to the south, their shifting dunes stretching further downwards for hundreds of miles. Nobody really knew how far the control of the Sand Kingdom reached or if the dunes ever stopped. The Cloud was to the North, a mysterious foggy land full of swamps and saltwater marshes feeding into the ocean. Their soldiers specialized in camouflage and poison. The wedding entourage should be far enough away from the northern border for an attack to be any real threat, but it was still a possibility. The Tide was to the west and the Stone to the east. The Tide was the Leaf Kingdom's closest ally. They had cultivated a close relationship through trade over the past few decades. The Leaf Kingdom had plenty of ore, furs, crops, and lumber that they traded for valuable supplies of iron for weapons and other goods from the ocean. The Tide was well known for their shipping industry that carried out trade with far off harbors in the Cloud and the Stone.

Until recently, the Stone and Leaf Kingdoms had not been on the best of terms, with border skirmishes over plots of land, lake islands, and castles occurring every few weeks. The violence had come to a stop when the new king had come into power. Amidst rumors of regicide floating around about a year ago when he began his rule, King Sasuke formed a tenuous non-aggression pact with the late King Hiashi and constructed a great wall at their borders. The Leaf Kingdom hadn't been in any eastern skirmishes since.

Hanabi turned and yelled at her troops: "Three rounds of drinks on me tonight if we get to Sable City before sundown!"

The soldiers hooted their appreciation and began to quicken their pace, the promise of a warm bed and free alcohol spurring them on.

"Here," Hanabi tossed the scroll at Neji, "You write them a reply."

"I can do it! I'm the only one sitting in a carriage after all." Hinata leaned down to pull out a brush and a bottle of ink from a bag under her seat.

"No, it's okay. This dirt road is bumpy and we can't have you spilling any ink on those robes of yours."

"Ahh… You're right." The ceremonial clothes had become like a trap for Hinata the past three days. She wished that she didn't have to wear them the entire time they were traveling, but she had to look dignified in front of the platoon and in case they met anybody important on the way. She couldn't wait to get out of the monstrosity.

I'll never have to wear it again after my wedding night, I suppose…

Neji rolled up the scroll when the ink dried and tossed it back to Hanabi, who had been cooing at and petting the hawk. She caught it in one hand and expertly resealed the scroll back into its holding tube. Its baggage reloaded, the hawk hopped down from Hanabi's arm onto the crunchy brown leaves of the dirt path.

"What is it doing?"

The hawk struck, its neck fast as a snake. Hinata heard a ker-crunch and saw the bird of prey emerge with a large black beetle in its yellow beak.

"I guess they need a snack every once in a while…" Hinata winced. Her friendship with Shino had taught her to be rather empathetic towards insects. The hawk spared her a final, unnerving gaze before it took off to the skies.

They had a ways to go before reaching their last stop before the Stone Kingdom and the road stretched long ahead. Hinata yawned and rubbed her back again, the hours of sitting all day starting to take a toll on her not terribly robust muscles. She was looking forward to seeing Kurenai, for although she loved her cousin and sister dearly, they made for poor conversation after sixty hours non-stop in each other's company. She was beginning to suspect that they were starting to get sick of each other. Hanabi's fiery temper and Neji's stony stubbornness easily fueled arguments, which Hinata was now spent from defusing. The soldiers were kind, but their professionalism encouraged them to respond in short, curt words whenever she tried to make small talk.

When I see Kurenai tonight, I'll ask her why she's doing all this.

They reached Sable City less than an hour after sunset. It was getting chilly in the early evening and the wind nipped at Hinata's nose. She was thankful for the heavy, insulating layers of her dress. The mayor, a tan middle-aged man with an oily complexion, was waiting at the walled stone gates when they arrived.

"Princess Hinata, it's an honor to receive you at Sable City." The mayor bowed as he approached Hinata's carriage.

"It's nice to see you again, Mayor Chohan." Hinata didn't particularly like the mayor, who was the son of the leader of the local merchant's guild. He had a terrible penchant for gambling and would've been broke by now if it wasn't for his aging father's wealth. Hinata gagged and held back a cough at a whiff of the dense pipe smoke that clung to his black robes. His frizzy hair was combed back, which brought out his thin, squinty eyes.

"Please allow me to show you to our finest inn. Lady Kurenai is waiting for you there." Chohan shuffled on ahead.

They headed inside the city, random passersby stopping to stare at their large company. Hinata ducked her head and covered her face, not wanting to attract any extra attention. Luckily, the streets were dark, barely lit by the surrounding buildings. It would be difficult to see the opulently tacky carriages unless people were up close.

"What's that, mommy?" She heard a child ask.

"I don't know, darling. But look at those horses! Aren't they pretty?"

"—Oy! Could that be Princess Hinata? I heard she's gettin' married to that Stone King, ya know!"

"Don't be daft! You think they wouldn't block off the streets and force us to attend some huge parade if someone from the royal family was here? I bet you it's just some rich merchant. You know how that boot-licker of a mayor always kowtows to those types." Despite all the encouraging propaganda about the royal Hyuuga clan and all the good that they've tried to do for the country, Hinata knew that many Leaf Kingdom citizens still harbored ill feelings towards the rulers of the kingdom. It wasn't hard to see why. Even relatively well-off trading cities like Sable had a huge population that lived in poverty. When the common people saw someone like the mayor, like her, who rode around in a silver carriage and threw out food just because they didn't like the taste, they got resentful. Hinata wasn't so blind as to miss the corruption that creeped in the shadows of her kingdom. When she was younger, she'd accidentally wandered into plenty of dark rooms with sheepish men and women quickly tucking pouches under their seat cushions. The people, who have to live with that brutal socioeconomic gap daily, noticed it too.

The carriages finally came to a jolting stop in front of the inn. It was warmly lit with white paper lanterns hanging beside the doorway. The soldiers formed a protective path into the inn when Hinata moved to step out of her carriage.

"I hope you enjoy your stay, ladies and gentlemen. I shall leave you here, I've got a… ahh… An appointment I have to make. Please come find me at any time if you need anything!" Mayor Chohan bowed as he shuffled away, probably to a gambling den.

"They emptied out the whole place for us tonight." Neji informed Hinata.

"Ahh… But that must've caused a lot of trouble for the people who were staying here!"

"I'm sure they relocated them to other inns. Your safety's our number one priority."

"You also need a good night of rest," Hanabi added. "We'll be presenting ourselves to the Stone Kingdom tomorrow. We don't want any nosy peasants sneaking around outside or banging on doors."

"I guess..." They entered the tall building, a small crackling flame in the fireplace warming up the room. Hinata rubbed her hands together, grateful for the heat. The whole first floor was empty except for a cook behind the counter and a smiling man and a woman that Hinata assumed were the owners of the inn. Shiny mahogany tables with neatly pushed in chairs covered the hardwood floors.

"Captain Hanabi, we don't need to take guard or patrol shifts tonight, right?" A soldier prodded.

"I'll still need a basic two-person patrol but I've got a few men who agreed to that already. So yeah, the rest of you guys are free to do whatever you want tonight. Just make sure you get some rest and take advantage of having an actual futon to sleep on. And don't let me catch you wandering into the seedy parts of town!"

"So… Treat us to those rounds of drinks you promised, cap'n?" The soldiers cheered Hanabi on.

"Hey, watch it, Watase! Don't push your luck! We didn't make it here before sundown!"

"Come onnnnnn… We're just poor young men trying to make a living! Treeaaat us!" When they were off-duty, these battle-hardened men whined like schoolboys. The sight made Hinata chuckle.

The rambunctious soldiers jostled a smile out of Hanabi. "Fine, fine. Just one round though! You all still need to get some rest." The soldiers jumped and hooted, jolly smiles on their faces as they clapped each other on the back.

"Hello Princess Hinata, Councilor, Princess Hanabi…" A melodic voice broke through the fray.

"Kurenai! It's good to see you!" Hinata hadn't noticed the staircase in the back. The woman was dressed in her traveling outfit instead of the black robes that she wore in the capital. The short white kimono had red sleeves and was decorated with the black thorn pattern of her clan. It accentuated her voluptuous figure. Kurenai hugged Hinata, Hanabi, and Neji briefly, a warm smile on her face.

"You must all be tired from the road."

"Were you able to finish your business here?" Neji inquired.

"Yes, everything should be all set now. I have full confidence that schoolmaster Iruka will be able to take it from here." Neji nodded, pleased. The teacher was a kind and dependable man. Although he was a bit too honest for any political maneuvering with the council, he was very hardworking. Iruka wasn't from a noble clan and didn't live in a well-fortified house, but in case anyone tried to threaten him, his unruly son would probably be able to fend off any unsuspecting criminals.

"Come on men, let's get the horses and the carts into the stable. Izumo and Kotetsu, stay. You're on guard duty first shift." Hanabi waved at Kurenai in farewell before clasping her men on the back. "We'll get drinks after all the horses are settled."

The inn was again quiet and peaceful after Hanabi and her platoon left. The innkeepers approached Neji and Hinata.

"May we show you to your rooms?"

"Please," Neji gestured towards the stairs.

They weaved through the tables on the first floor and followed the couple up the dimly lit stairs with the two guards in tow. The floors were a slippery, dark wood that seemed well-lacquered. Hinata had a bit of trouble with the skirts of her robes and needed Kurenai to help her hold up the front of the outermost layer in order to climb up the stairs. She apologized in embarrassment as they trudged up three flights. When they stopped, Hinata was a bit out of breath from wobbling around in her heavy clothes.

Noticing the princess's discomfort, the innkeeper's wife apologized. "We're sorry about the stairs, Princess. We would've given you a room on the second floor but the letter said to put you up here on the fourth floor where it's safest." They walked down the long hallway. Mahogany walls with interspaced shoji doors were lit up by the yellow paper lanterns hanging from the dark wooden ceiling. The halls smelled faintly of an earthy incense.

"It's no problem at all, thank you." Hinata smiled at the couple. They seemed nice.

They stopped four doors down from the stairs, opening a shoji door to reveal an expansive room lit with several candles on tables. A well-stuffed maroon futon was spread out at the far side of the room, next to a wooden window paned with paper to keep the chilling winds out. They turned to Neji. "This is your room, sir. Would you like for us to bring up any tea or anything to eat? Our chef makes great sesame balls."

"No, I think I'll just retire for the night." The innkeepers bowed.

"Good night Hinata, Kurenai."

"Good night. Sleep well."

Neji stepped inside and slid his door closed with a tired smile.

"I've been living in that room," Kurenai pointed at a door across the hall a few feet down.

"Ahh, Princess Hinata, you and your sister have the room next to Lady Kurenai's." They walked across to the shoji door, which opened to reveal a slightly bigger room than Neji's with two futons laid out on either side of the window. "If everything is to your pleasing...?"

"Ah, yes, thank you! This is really nice." Hinata gave a slight bow.

"Could you bring up some tea and sesame balls?" Kurenai pressed a few copper coins into the woman's palm. With a large smile at the payment, the innkeepers nodded.

All of a sudden, the muted yells from soldiers re-entering the building rang up the stairs. It was amazing that they still had so much boisterous energy. After all that traveling, Hinata was achy and drowsy.

"Oh, could you also tell my sister where our room is when she comes up?"

"Of course, ma'am." With that, the innkeepers bowed once more and hurried down the hall. Kurenai stepped inside and closed the door, nodding at the two guards pacing up and down the hallway. The slight change in pressure made the flames of several candles on the tables flicker. Without the light from the bright lanterns in the hallway, the corners of the large room were obscured in an inky blackness. If one were to sit next to a candle with a scroll, they would barely be able to make out the words. The dimness is comforting, though, Hinata thought as she paced the room, exploring her quarters. She couldn't wait to crawl under the soft, warm covers and get some rest.

"Do you want some help with those robes?" Kurenai gracefully gestured at Hinata's body with a flick of her wrist.

"Yes, please…" Hinata smiled with relief. It was nearly impossible to get all those layers off by herself—Hanabi had been helping her these past two nights. As Kurenai dealt with the complicated task of undoing the rabbit fur obi, Hinata carefully pulled her phoenix headdress out of her hair. A few of her silky black strands had gotten snarled up with the dangling tassels, making Hinata wince in pain. When she finally untangled herself, she placed the piece on the long table under the window between the two futons. Hinata thought that the dull thunk the heavy crown made was oddly satisfying.

"Kurenai, would you mind if I asked you a question?" Upon receiving a distracted "Hmmm?", she prodded hesitantly, afraid to intrude. "I was wondering… Why did you decide to leave the Leaf Kingdom to come with me to the Stone? You have so much you're leaving behind here… There is so much more you can do!"

Kurenai paused in her undoing of Hinata's obi. Flustered by Kurenai's silence, Hinata felt the need to explain herself. "N-Not that I'm not grateful or anything! I'm actually really relieved that you'll be there! But…" Hinata trailed off, leaving the two women in silence.

Kurenai sighed, sounding much older than her mere twenty-four years.

"I'm getting old, Hinata."

"But you're still young!"

"It's far past the time for me to get married and settle down." Kurenai said with a bitter smile. "Despite all my focus on the kingdom and my career, I do want to have a family, Hinata." It was well know that the head of domestic affairs traveled often and even worked over the holidays.

"So…" Hinata was confused. Why leave the Leaf Kingdom? There were plenty of good men who would make a great match with Kurenai.

"My clan has been trying to coerce me into marrying some lord or other. Not all of the prospective candidates are bad, mind you, but you know how my father is. He expects me to do nothing besides take care of household affairs and raise a litter of sons after I get married."

Hinata nodded slowly. The head of the Yuhi clan was known to be rather traditionally conservative. She thanked the heavens that her father had not been like that. It would have made it a lot more difficult for Hanabi to pursue the path that she wanted.

"I want to do more than that. As a Stone Kingdom citizen, I would be free from those expectations. Well, at least, I'd be too far away from my father for him to actually exert any influence. I guess it's escaping in a way, but I want to be able to choose my own path."

Hinata pondered what Kurenai had told her. After a beat of silence, the newly appointed diplomat continued to help the princess with her robes. After the furry obi was removed, the other layers came off easily. Hinata quickly changed into a white cotton kimono for bed while Kurenai neatly folded up the draperies and laid them on the tatami floors next to a futon.

"You're very brave, Kurenai." Hinata's quiet voice quivered. She would never have such courage or even a fraction of the tenacity that Kurenai has always displayed. Even though she was the Crown Princess and was from a clan with higher standing than the Yuhi clan, everybody still walked over her. It wasn't really their fault. She had let them push her around ever since she was a child. She was weak like that.

Kurenai chuckled at Hinata's words. "No, no, I'm just being selfish." A twinkle returned to her eyes, "But you, Hinata. You have a special kind of courage. One that only comes with kindness and selflessness as strong as yours. I pray that you will find happiness wherever you go."

Hinata was about to deny the undeserved compliment when she heard quick, heavy footsteps coming from down the hall. Within seconds, the shoji doors slammed open to reveal Hanabi carrying a wooden tray with a tea set and a plate of sesame balls. The brunette kicked her shoes off at the door and used her socked feet to close the door in a sharp motion.

"Hanabi, be gentler with the door! You'll wake Neji!" Hinata chided softly, already wary of the growing volume coming from the soldiers on the first floor.

"Don't you worry, he's out like a rock! I heard him snoring when I passed by his room. He sounds like a warthog, you know?" Hanabi snickered. "I feel sorry for whichever poor girl he's gonna marry."

"Th—!"

"Let's eat these before they get cold!" Hanabi jovially interrupted, collapsing onto the tatami floor and setting the tray down. "The innkeepers say that they just made them fresh. These sesame balls smell delicious!"

As they enjoyed their snack and bid each other good night, none of them noticed that the men on the first floor had fallen deathly silent.

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed so far! It's a huge encouragement to have people interested in my story. I'm going to try and upload one chapter a week.

The action is going to pick up in the next chapter. Hopefully it hasn't been going too slowly so far? I'm still polishing Chapter 3 and am very excited to show it to you guys!

Again, this is the first story I've ever published and I would really appreciate comments/PMs/reviews. I would love to hear your thoughts. (Love it? Hate it? Meh?)

Please, please, please give feedback!