Chapter 3

Hinata awoke to the cheerful squeals of a couple dolphins playing nearby. She looked out her window and watched as a rainbow of fish darted past, softly stirring the seaweed in her garden outside. Strong rays of sunlight flickered through the water refracting and sending many different highlights across the room.

Unfortunately the darkhaired beauty never noticed a single thing, for it was a simple known fact that at the Hyuuga princess was feeling miserable.

The violet tailed mermaid got out of bed and floated out of her room in a daze. She didn't notice her niisan's wary look, nor did she notice her father's somber expression as she silently made her way to the kitchen table. She looked at her breakfast, but didn't move to take the fork resting pleadingly beside her plate.

Months had passed since the Uchiha's twenty first birthday and Hinata's days had started out happy and carefree as they usually tend to do for the lovesick. It slowly became clear as the days ticked on that Hiashi's eldest had fallen into a dark depression. Nothing felt the same anymore. The adrenaline rush she usually felt with Hanabi when baiting sailors was painfully lacking and in her eyes, her usually dazzlingly bright garden was dark and dreary. The seaweed didn't tickle, the bubbles all burst; even the baby guppies failed to bring laughter to the pale-eyed mistress.

"Hina-chan? Do you like what I made you for breakfast sis?" Hanabi asked carefully.

When she received no response she looked to the two male-figures for help.

Hinata's father was painfully unaware of the cause of his daughter's distress. He did know, however, that something was bothering his little girl - and that was all he needed to know.

Neji and Hanabi, on the other hand, were perfectly aware of Hinata's situation and Hiashi knew it. With a sharp intake of breath Hiashi stood from his seat and drew himself to his full height, "Neji, Hanabi, may I have a word with you two," Despite taking the form of a question, the steel in his voice and the look in his eyes portrayed nothing short of a command.

The two in question glanced at each other uneasily before Hiashi's glare sharpened. He leaned in, "Alone."

Flinching, the two excused themselves and muttered apologies to Hinata before departing from the kitchen. Not that it made a difference, the mermaid's gaze never left her plate of untouched food.

Hiashi allowed his glare to soften as he cast his eldest a worry-filled gaze. Resuming his dominating aura, he flowed out of the room to interrogate his nephew and daughter. He was the sea king! He'd be damned if he couldn't find out what's wrong with his own daughter.

"She's in love? With a human?" Hiashi stormed, "How could you two let this happen? Hanabi, I could understand but Neji- I trusted you to keep my daughters safe; in body and spirit."

The two hung their heads in shame before Hanabi spoke up, "I-I didn't think it'd turn out so bad. I just thought I'd let her live a little. She's always so guarded around everybody! If I had known that it'd have such a negative effect I wouldn't even have asked her to go out with me!" her eyes were shiny with unshed tears as she lowered her voice to a whisper, "I don't like seeing her like this any more than you do."

Neji's pressed his lips into a tight line. He looked thoughtful before he hesitantly put his hand out on his little cousin's shoulder. Giving her a tiny reassuring nod, he turned to look at his uncle, "Hiashi-sama, please forgive us. I apologize; I should have paid more attention to all the possible dangers. It had never occurred to me that her heart was in danger that night."

Hanabi inwardly sighed, So much for living a little.

Hinata sighed and directed her glance towards the window. Resting her head on her fist, she stared unseeingly out at the rainbow of colors emanating from the outside garden. Gnawing on her bottom lip, she migrated closer to the window and ran her fingers through the tiny flowers growing along the wall of coral climbing up the side of the building.

A pair of hauntingly dark eyes flashed through her mind. I saw him again yesterday, him and his brother. It's simply adorable how he teases his little brother. It's a lot like me and Neji… With a cheerless smile she mused back to the Uchihas strolling aimlessly by the tide pools. He was so close, yet so far away. She sighed and stared at the hands now folded neatly in her lap. I was this close to reaching out and speaking with them, humans! Out of all the creatures I wanted to befriend I just had to choose a human family.

Her gaze focused on the iridescent violet scales enveloping her tail, what would I give if I could just take a single step out of these waters? She turned back to the window and whispered softly into the water around her, "What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand?"

"That, my darling, is the million dollar question."

Hinata snapped out of her daze and had her arms risen in the common Hyuga style defense in seconds, "Who's there?" she called out strongly and confidently. When no answer presented itself she tilted her head back and spoke out, "Didn't you hear me? You're in the presence of the eldest Hyuga princess, I command you to make yourself known."

"Easy there hime, there's no need to play the name game with me. I'm a friend," the voice replied coolly while also sounding mildly amused.

Hinata narrowed her eyes, "Friends don't hide themselves from other friends."

Laughter echoed and Hinata turned her head down towards the sound. She lifted her eyebrows in recognition as a familiar figure pumped her deep brown tail into view; their arms up in a mock criminal manner. Hinata relaxed as she called out to the figure, "Temari-chan."

Said mermaid chuckled and waved over the darkhaired beauty, "get down here, hime, I've got something to show you."

Hinata stared for a moment, "What is it?"

The dirty blond rolled her eyes, "It's not a surprise if you know beforehand."

The Hyuga glanced behind her, "Niisan and father would be worried."

Temari shrugged it off, "Everybody's been worried about you lately. A little walk isn't gonna kill anybody."

Hinata bit her lip and with one final glance behind her, she pulled herself through the opening and floated down towards her four-ponytailed friend.

Hiashi nodded his head, "I suppose that is all," he then sighed and dropped into a nearby chair. Lightly streaking his long hair was were a few, nearly unnoticeable, white hairs. His face seemed long and drawn with years worth of stress. Neji and Hanabi where suddenly reminded of how old the Hyuga patriarch was getting. The man before them looked nothing like the invincible and very intimidating king of the sea, "I keep reminding myself that you three are growing up," he muttered to himself.

Turning his eyes towards the two he gave them a bittersweet smile, "My eldest has fallen in love, pretty soon you two will get settled down as well."

Hanabi opened her mouth indignantly, "'Tousan, relax, I'm only thirteen!"

Hiashi's all-knowing smirk lightened, "Just give it time Hanabi."

Neji bowed, "With all due respect sir, we won't be leaving your side any time soon."

The merman's gaze clouded as he stared off, "I only wish that were so Neji." I just want you to be happy.

"What do you mean?"

Hiashi shook his head, "Never mind, just an old man's ramblings. You two are dismissed; see if you can get Hinata to eat something. I have some formal matters to attend to." With a flick of his mighty tail the merman swam down the hallway with his back straight and chin high; not a single trace remained of the frail old man from minutes before.

Neji shook his head in awe and pulled Hanabi's elbow, "Come on we better get back to Hinata-sama."

The two froze at the doorway and looked inside at the empty kitchen.

"Where are we headed?" Hinata stared around her uneasily. She and Temari had been swimming for quite some time and the scenery had darkened as they made their way deeper and deeper into the ocean.

Her friend offered a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, I found somebody who can help you with your problem."

"My problem?"

"Mhm, don't worry, you and prince charming will be together before you can flip that pretty tail of yours."

"I don't think I've ever told you about him," Hinata glared at Temari accusingly. The dirty blond faltered for a moment before a third voice joined theirs.

"Ahh there you are darlings! Come in, come in! Don't be strangers. I won't bite you if you're nice to me. Besides! Even when I do bite it doesn't hurt much!"

Very much startled, Hinata whirled around and stared the approaching figure. Before her was a young woman with short, spiky indigo hair and two bangs hanging alongside her face. Studying the rest of the figure before her, Hinata flinched at the fishnet top enveloping her torso and spared a glance at the long trench coat draped over the woman's shoulders.

The merwoman smiled and extended her hand, "The name's Mitarashi Anko, sweetie. I've heard all about your dilemma."

"Mitarashi…" Hinata bounced the name around her head a few times before recognition sparked her features, "You're the sea witch."

Anko snorted and pulled her hand back in, "So that's the first thing that comes to mind when seafolk hear my name eh? Your father's done a great job spreading that seahorse shit."

Hinata narrowed her eyes, "You mean he's done a good job protecting me.

The sea-witch rolled her eyes and waved her hand dismissively, "Ahh potato, potahto darling. It's all the same."

Hinata never broke eye contact with the Mitarashi as she slowly moved backwards and called out, "Come on Temari, this woman's trouble."

"..." Silence was her only answer.

"T-Temari?" Glancing behind her, the Hyuga panicked when the brown tailed beauty was nowhere to be seen.

She yelped as an ice cold arm draped itself across her shoulders in a seemingly comfortable manner, "No need to worry that pretty little head of yours darling. I'm sure Temari-chan's got a lot of things to do, places to go, people to see. Y'know she wasn't kidding when she said I could help make you and the Uchiha prince an item," Anko threw a sly smile Hinata's way.

Said mermaid froze and eyed the seawoman cautiously. Her eyes focused on the lips curled into a nasty smirk that parted as the she chuckled, "Finally have your attention I see," she paused, "I do admit I've done some things I've regret. After all, everybody has their fair share of skeletons in the closet. Maybe calling me a sea-witch wouldn't have been too far off the mark," here eyes stared spot on the wall as she recalled events of the past.

"I'm sure your father told you about my previous misdeeds regarding the council," she turned her practiced watery olive eyes on the single occupant in the room, "but you must believe me when I say I truly have repented for my ways. Do you know what it feels like to be me? One single mistake and I had everything taken from me! My position, my house, my reputation, all gone! Sealed and banished to the depths of the ocean! And for what? A single misguided decision on my adolescent part?" her brows drew together and her expression changed to that of anger, "Perhaps I'm just wasting my breath. After all I'm sure the perfect little Hyuga princess wouldn't know what messing up feels like," she turned away from the younger girl and buried her head in her hands.

Hinata felt her hands clench into fists, "I'm not perfect," she whispered.

Anko raised a sculpted eyebrow, "what was that?"

"I said I'm not perfect." Anko surveyed the girl before her with slight approval, hmm, perhaps she's tougher than I thought. Staring into the pearly white eyes of the poor unfortunate soul before her, Anko faked a sob and hid her smirk behind her hand.

Hinata focused as the trench coat swayed in the water with each of Anko's exaggerated movements. Her gaze traveled down to the impossibly dark scales lining the sea-witch's tail. Summoning up a vast amount of courage, Hinata locked gazes with Anko once again before giving a nod, "I'll trust you. What do you have to offer?"

Anko flashed another eerie smile, "The world, my darling."

I apologize for the shortness of this chapter and, I promise, there will indeed be some future Itahina scenes. =3

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