Chapter 9 Memories

Hinata stood in front of Naruto's dresser and found the forget me nots she had dropped the first day she met Naruto. 'What an ironic flower' Hinata held the flowers in her hand.a petal fell from the dying flower. Tears started dripping down her cheeks. 'Naruto I wish you nothing but happiness' Hinata fell to the floor wrapping her arms around her knees 'I just wish you would have been happy with me' Hinata let the forget me nots fall to the floor. She stayed on the floor sobbing quietly. She heard footsteps in the hall way. 'I can't stay here any longer 'Hinata got up and headed to the balcony. She climbed up on the railing and looked down eyeing the distance from the balcony to the ground. She looked up and out to the open sea before her watching the sun slowly sink closer to the edge of the water. She took a deep breath and was about to jump when the door behind her swung open. Hinata turned to find Naruto walking in. 'oh no my heart can't take this right now' she walked along the railing to the edge of the balcony so as to be out of sight from Naruto. She stood with her back to the wall and the open window to her right.

Naruto walked into his room and looked around everything looked dull in his eyes. 'I feel like I'm missing something important' Naruto dragged his feet and hung his head low. He did not feel very good right now. As his eyes stayed on the floor it was then that he noticed a small branch of blue flowers on the floor. "What are these" he picked the flowers up and slowly twirled them in his hand causing more petals to fall to the floor. They looked to familiar. "Damn it what did I forget!" Naruto yelled grabbing onto his head. His heart started to ache badly. But he was not the only one experiencing heart ache outside on the balcony Hinata was crying again. She tried her best to stop her sobs. She knew that if she stayed any longer she would just cry harder. A large gust of wind pushed up against her causing her dress to flap in all directions. The sound caught Naruto's attention and he slowly started walking to the window. "Is someone there"?

Hinata could hear his approaching footsteps and knew she was caught. 'Oh well I still need to leave either way'. Naruto was almost at the window when a girl walked into view. She stood on the balcony her long dark hair flowing around her. "Do I know you" she turned slightly and Naruto was greeted by one of the most beautiful faces he had ever seen but her eyes seemed so sad. She looked familiar Naruto knew that much "are you the one I forgot".

She gave him a sad smile 'it was nice to meet you Naruto' then turned around 'and to fall for you'.

"Wait, what are you doing" Hinata took a deep breath and jumped.

"NOOOOO" Naruto ran to the edge of the balcony to see the dark haired beauty sliding down one of the long banners that decorated the side of the castle. Once she hit the floor she took off running the banner falling behind her "WAIT!" Naruto yelled to the girl but she either did not hear him or just ignored his cry. "Damn it" Naruto ran out of his room headed for the nearest exit so he could go after the mysterious girl.

Hinata was racing to the beach as fast as she could. She had heard Naruto yelling at her but she had ignored his cry and kept running. 'Don't remember me Naruto you will only get hurt. I'm fine with this' Hinata's heart ached at her own lie. Hinata made it to the beach and found Neji standing by ready to leave.

"Lady Hinata are you all right you are so out of breath" Neji bent down patting Hinata's hunched over back. Hinata was heaving and panting furiously.

Hinata grabbed onto Neji's sleeve and tried dragging him to the water but she was just too tired and Neji could not understand what she was doing.

"Lady Hinata calm down we will leave as soon as you can breathe correctly" Hinata clinging onto Neji desperately. 'No we have to leave now before it's too late'. But it already was, fast footsteps were approaching Hinata from behind and she did not need to turn around to know who it was.

Naruto stood panting and slowly approached the girl. "You….you know what ….I forgot …don't you" Hinata kept her back to Naruto and simply looked down at the sand. Neji on the other hand placed himself between Naruto and Hinata.

"you no longer have any business talking to her I gave you one last day to spend with her but if you wanted to forget about her then that fine by me"

"Then she is what I forgot right. Who is she?"

"It no longer concerns you see" Neji pointed to the slowly setting sun. "As soon as the sun reaches sunset you will no longer be involved in her life. You belong to a very different world one that was never meant to mix with ours"

"I don't care what you have to say I need to talk to her"

"You think I would allow such a thing you have already caused her enough pain. Now leave" Neji got into a fighting stance "or I will make you leave"

"Bring it on I'm not about to let her slip through my fingers the pain I feel in my heart is a testament that she is important to me"

"If she was so important you would not have forgotten her"

"Shut up!" Naruto lunged at Neji and Neji lunged at him but before they collided a big puff of smoke exploded in front of them.

"That's enough out of you Neji I think it time for you to sit back and watch the story progress"

A blonde haired mermaid came out of nowhere floating on a bubble of water and tied Neji up in several layers of seaweed.

"Ino what the hell I thought we had a-"that was as far as Ino allowed him to talk before she gagged him.

He sat steaming on the sand glaring at Ino. "Oh calm down I'll let you out as soon as these two talk it out." She turned to face Naruto who was confused about what had just happened.

"Are you a mermaid?" Naruto pointed at Ino.

She then waved her hand in front of her "No no I'm just your neighborhood sea witch now stop talking to me and start talking to her" Ino floated behind Hinata and pushed her in Naruto's direction.

Hinata stumbled on her feet and was about to fall forward when Naruto caught her. "I got you" she started up at him blushing furiously and quickly adjusted herself. "I know you don't I" Hinata looked at Naruto then looked back at the sand then slowly nodded. "Please can you tell me your name" Naruto stepped closer to Hinata and held one of her hands. Hinata hung her head and shook it side to side. "Why" Naruto grabbed Hinata's chin and made her face him. She was about to cry again she wanted to tell him so bad.

"You can talk now"

Hinata looked at Ino and she waved her hands at Hinata telling her to go on and say her name.

Hinata looked at Naruto's eyes getting lost in them. Then opened her mouth

"Hinata" her voice was hoarse from not talking and came out about as loud as a whisper.

"What"

Hinata cleared her throat."My name is Hinata Hyuuga".

Naruto had to let go of Hinata's hand and had to clutch his head. His world was spinning memories were pouring into him. The first time he saw Hinata the first time he held her hand, the night they slept together, the time he got jealous, the time he saved her, her smile, her eyes, his feelings everything was coming back to him. He looked down at his hands his vision coming back. He looked up at Hinata. "I remember ... ha I remember you I've spent all this time with you your Hinata" Naruto picked Hinata up and started spinning around Hinata started giggling and for the first time Naruto heard her laugh it was one of the most beautiful things he had ever heard. He put Hinata down and gave her one of the biggest hugs she had ever felt. "Hinata there's something I need to tell you" she looked up at Naruto.

"Hinata I…I lo-"he did not get to finish his sentence Hinata had suddenly gone limp in his arms. "Hinata! Hinata what's wrong". Hinata grabbed narutos arms tring to stand up only to slip. Naruto wrapped his arms around Hinata holding her up.

"Oh no" Hinata looked at the sun it had set. She moved her dress out of the way slightly and saw the edge of her tailfin.

"What's going on Hinata?" Hinata then disappeared from his hands. "Hinata!"

"Over here lover boy" Naruto looked over to find the sea witch floating with Hinata on the ground by her. "aww you were so close too bad are you shocked to see your love in such a state well let me show you what she really is"

"Wait please don't" Hinata held her hands up at Ino but it was too late Hinata was covered by a cloud of smoke. She coughed the smoke stinging her eyes and throat. When the smoke cleared Hinata was no longer dressed in the big lavender dress she had no now she was in her usual lavender and white jacket her purple tail fully exposed.

"Hinata" Naruto was in shock. "Hinata you're a…a" Hinata wrapped her hands around her chest squeezing the sleeves of her jacket. She felt so vulnerable.

"A mermaid, say it with me a mermaid but not just any mermaid but the daughter of the ruler of the sea." Hinata looked away from Naruto. "How you managed to steal the heart of the sea princess I will never know. But that does not matter now" Ino snapped her fingers and a chain appeared in her hand that connected to a collar around hinata's neck.

"what the hell are you doing" Naruto started running to Hinata but Ino jacked on Hinata's chain and Hinata cried out in pain holding onto the collar and Naruto stopped.

"mhhh mhhhhh" Neji started struggling in his binds trying to get closer to Hinata but to no avail.

"Sorry Neji I don't think I told you about this part of the deal" Ino then pulled out a golden scroll. "you see its right here in the fine print if Hinata cannot win the heart of the young human she saved then she belongs to me" Ino waved the open scroll in front of her side to side.

"What are you talking about" Naruto demanded.

"Oh you don't know the full story do you well let me enlighten you. You see this pretty little thing" ino forced Hinata to rise by lifting the chain angering Naruto even more. "She is the princess of the sea. Royal blood runs through her. That boy you see over there is her over protective cousin I think you've met" ino giggled. "Now then a few days ago you fell off a cliff you should have died but why is it you didn't. Well this princess saved you she brought you to shore and made sure you got back home safe."

"Then I did not imagine that it really happened"

"Well of course it happened that very encounter is what brought Hinata to my hands. She seemed to have taken quite a liking to you after she saved you and was willing to do anything to see you again. So we came up with a deal I make her into a human if she gave me her voice and her freedom. Now if you managed to fall in love with Hinata within the three day limit then I would make her change permanent but as you can see you were a bit late on your con…almost confession"

"So Hinata gave up her voice and freedom just to see me"

"Well the giving up her freedom may have been kept from her" Ino giggled again "she was so excited about meeting you again she did not read the contract"

"You tricked her!"

"Yeah I tend to do that isn't that right Neji"

Neji glared at Ino from his spot.

"Now if you don't mind me and my new pet have to go now" Ino tugged on Hinata's chain hard causing Hinata to topple over. "Come on lets go"

"WAIT"

Ino and Hinata looked over at Naruto who was now shaking in anger. His eyes were no longer the pretty shade of blue Hinata remembered but a deep red. "You can't take her I won't let you" Naruto jumped to Hinata but was only met with a cloud of smoke. He looked around but could not find Hinata or Ino.

"Yoo-hoo up here" Naruto looked up and found Ino and Hinata high up in the air each floating on their own bubble of water. Naruto started to growl in anger.

"Now now don't think this can't be resolved. Naruto if you can calm yourself maybe I can cut you a deal" Naruto looked down and took a few deep breaths. "Better" Naruto looked up to see Ino's face inches away from him.

"GAH!" Naruto fell backwards his eyes now back to his usual shade of blue.

"There you go can't make deals with angry customers"

"What kind of deal do you want to make" Naruto eyed Ino suspiciously while getting to his feet

"Well let's see you want something that belongs to me" Ino lowered Hinata and made her float in front of Naruto.

"Hinata" Naruto reached out to Hinata

"Naruto" Hinata reached out to Naruto. But before their fingers even touched Hinata floated backwards.

"oh no can't have that yet we still need a proper payment for this product" Ino patted Hinata's head as she said that. Hinata tried moving away from her but the bubble would not listen to her. Naruto was getting angry that Ino was referring to Hinata as property.

"What do you want?"

"hmmm" Ino tapped her chin then looked at Naruto and smirked. "I want you to give up the crown to your kingdom"

"Wait what! No Naruto don't do it" Hinata yelled at Naruto. Ino covered Hinata's mouth with her hand pushing her back.

"Seems like a good deal Naruto you get this mermaid but you can't take the throne anymore. I'll even make her human again" Ino looked at Hinata and pushed her close to Naruto again.

"I'll do it" Naruto said keeping his head down

"No Naruto don't listen to her I'll be alright but don't give up on your dream" Hinata turned around to face Ino. "She will probably trick you in the end". Ino was about to pull Hinata back to her when Naruto grabbed Hinata before she could. Hinata blushed brightly as Naruto wrapped his arms tightly around her stomach burying his head in her shoulder. "N-naruto"

"I don't want to lose you again" Naruto mumbled

"b-but Naruto your dream"

Naruto looked up into Hinata's eyes "I'll give up a thousand crowns before I lose you again"

"Naruto"

"The moment I forgot you I felt such emptiness inside me" Naruto buried his head into the Hinata's jacket again "I don't ever want to feel that again"

Hinata's eyes started getting watery. "Naruto" she hugged Naruto back finally releasing all her pent up emotions "I don't want to lose you too"

Naruto stepped back enough to look Hinata in the eyes again. "Hinata I love you"

Hinata stared at Naruto shocked by what she suddenly heard. Her heart was beating frantically and her eyes were getting watery "w-what did you say"

"I love you" .Naruto rested his forehead on Hinata's then looked at her. "Do you love me?"

Hinata blushed furiously and separated from Naruto. Naruto looked at her. Hinata fidgeted and avoided eye contact "I-I …." She started twirling her fingers looking down at the sand. She did not know how to answer she was starting to feel light headed and dizzy.

Naruto was getting annoyed that she was avoiding the question and grabbed her arm and pulled her close to him. His other hand hugged her waist. Hinata tried wiggling out of his grip but he would not budge. "Hinata look at me" Hinata looked into Naruto's blue eyes getting lost in them. "Do you love me?" she could not keep it in anymore. Hinata pushed her forehead against Naruto's tears rolling down her cheeks "I love you". Naruto pushed his forehead back against her and released Hinata's arm wrapping it around Hinata's waist along with his other arm. Naruto was about to lean forward when their romantic moment was cut short by a high squeal.

Naruto and Hinata looked to its origin and saw Ino holding her head giggling while slowly floating side to side. "awww what a cute story this has turned out to be. The human prince is willing to give up his dream to be with the girl he loves even if she so different from him. I so do love a good love story. This played out better than I thought" Ino started spinning on her bubble giggling like a child.

Hinata blushed and hid her face in Naruto's shoulder.

"What are you going on about" Naruto yelled putting a protective hand on Hinata's head.

"What don't you get it this was all so I could see a good story?"

"What?" Naruto and Hinata said together.

Ino snapped her fingers and was wrapped in a bright light. Naruto and Hinata had to shield their eyes from it when they looked back up after the light faded they were shocked by the new sight before them.

"ahh much better" ino had transformed to a normal mermaid her tail was no longer damaged and ugly but a long beautiful tail of a dark shade of purple. Her eyes were no longer scary dark color but a soft blue and her smile was no longer had long sharp teeth. "he he"

"What is going on here" Naruto was just confused beyond words now.

"You see Naruto and Hinata I have been watching since the very begin. I was there when Hinata saved you and just fell in love with the story of a mermaid princess falling for a human prince so I did everything in my power to bring you together. Of course I did not want to make it easy for you and sent Neji in to complicate things a bit" Ino looked in Neji's direction and snapped her fingers and the seaweeds holding him in place loosened and Neji took the gag out of his mouth. "Then I gave Sakura a potion to make you forget everything that involved Hinata to see if you really were in love with her. And from the looks of it you were"

"So this was all set up by you just so you could see me and Hinata fall in love"

"Yeah I may be the witch of the sea but I'm also a sucker for a good love story and you two just made one for the ages" Ino started bobbing side to side again holding her cheeks.

"Then is Naruto really going to give up the crown to be with me"

"No that was just me giving him a final test to see if he really loved you"

"What about Hinata will she have to go back to the sea?"

"No she can actually turn back into a human once she gets out of that sea water bubble and dries off the potion I gave her made her capable of switching between human and mermaid permanently"

"Really you hear that Hinata you and I can be togeth-"Naruto did not get to finish Neji had just punched Naruto knocking him to the ground.

"Neji what are you doing!" Hinata yelled.

"Do you think I will accept this lady Hinata? You are part of the Hyuuga clan the purest blood runs through you I won't let him taint that"

"what are you talking about Neji if you are against me and Naruto being together then you will leave me no choice but to-" Neji then grabbed Hinata's wrist and place something on it. "Wait that a-"Neji then knocked Hinata out with a quick jab behind her neck catching her before she fell. He then picked her up bridal style "I'm sorry I had to be so rough but I must get you home"

"What the Hell are you doing Neji" " Naruto was on the ground slowly trying to get up. His right arm wrapped around his stomach.

"I'm sorry Naruto but I cannot allow for you to be with lady Hinata"

"Why the hell not" Neji started walking to the ocean

"Because you're not good enough" once in the shallows Neji transformed into a merman and swam away quickly.

"No" Naruto tried going after Neji but collapsed Neji's punch to his stomach was a lot stronger that he expected.

"Naruto" Ino ran over to Naruto's side and helped him up to his feet.

"I have to go after him I need to save Hinata" Naruto started walking towards the water but fell down again. 'what the hell did he hit me with'.

"I'm sorry Naruto but I can't let you go after him"

"What"

"You can barely stand right now let alone go after Neji. He's one of the fastest merman in the sea you will not catch up to him also it's getting late you will not be able to follow me to the castle in that darkness"

"What do you mean follow you?"

"Naruto I said I like your love story you really think I wouldn't help you get Hinata back. I'll give you a potion that will turn you into a merman for a day use it to get her back" Ino winked at Naruto. She then snapped her fingers and a bottle popped out in front of her and she drank it. A puff of smoke appeared and Ino was now a human dressed in a long dark purple dress. She then wrapped Naruto's arm around her shoulder and helped walk him to the castle.

Naruto looked out to the sea by him. 'Wait for me Hinata'.