A Distant Shore
An InoHina Crossover Fanfiction
Chapter Three:
For a Moment
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any other copyrighted material used or referenced to in this fanfic.
Ariel was surprised when, only a day later, her father rose from the sea foam and gave her the news of a capable Midwife willing to come to her aid. She had smiled in both happiness and relief as she leaned into her husbands arms. His eyes had been closed as he kissed her head and rubbed her ever growing belly. Her father had told her to expect the midwife in two days time at sunset. She giggled to herself as she thought about those words. Her life, it seems, always changes at the sunset of the third day.
The lullaby her mother used to sing her sprang from her throat in a pleasant hum as she coiled the strands of her hair around each other. The preparations for the newcomers' arrival were her responsibility, as were making sure she was comfortable in her stay. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled, picking up the red ribbon that lay on her vanity table, she threaded it through her braid. She sighed when it was complete.
"Are you ready now Milady?"
Ariel turned to the blonde maid behind her and nodded. "Yes, sorry to keep you waiting."
The maid looked to the floor in silent fury. "It is no trouble Milady."
Ariel stood up slowly, one hand pressed to her lower back for support and the other braced on the table. "Miss Ino, how are the preparations for the guest bedroom coming along? Will they be finished by tomorrow night?"
The indentured servant bowed, "Yes Milady. We have also prepared a wheelchair as you requested."
The queen nodded in thanks as she hobbled down the corridors. Time seemed to move so slowly right now, tomorrow night couldn't come fast enough. She sighed as she rubbed her belly. Her child couldn't come fast enough.
"Milady, have you decided which of your handmaids you would like to give the guest for their stay?" Ino asked her eyes trailing the walls she knew all too well.
Ariel's braid swung as she turned her head. "Actually...I was hoping you wouldn't mind assisting her. You are a wonderful person, handmaid or not. You will be good company, I think."
Ino rolled her eyes and pursed her lips for a second before she schooled her features back into the emotionless mask she wore seconds before. "As you wish, Milady."
Ariel smiled, yes. Things will be perfect.
Hinata panted to keep up with the traveling group. Her arms were bruised from swimming into reefs by accident and her tail was aching from the strain of swimming none stop for a day a half. She was tired, exhausted even, but she did her best to keep up as not to disappoint. Her father had been furious with her, not even looking in her general direction when she left. She had never felt so horrible in her life. The two Hyuga guards assigned to her out of respect, also refused to associate with her. The price of showing your true colors to the world it seems.
The ocean was vast, she realized. It had been at least a few hours since she had last seen any sea flora or coral reefs. It was then that she realized how much colder it had gotten. Her teeth chattered as her body shook from the abrupt drop in temperature.
"Heh, kinda forgot you aren't used to traveling. Here, take my cloak."
Hinata smiled gratefully at her fiance before she took the cloak and wrapped it around herself. "H-how much f-farther is it till w-we get there?"
The blonde merman sighed looking out into the wasters. "About another half a day, we should be there by sunset. We have to be or else the spell won't work and we'll have to wait another day." He watched her nod slowly, her eyes drooping wearily. He reached into his waist belt and pulled a blue vial out of it. "Here, drink this. It'll give you some energy to keep you going."
The woman accept the vial, drinking a little of it's contents, and gave it back to him. She already felt the potion work it's magic (no pun intended). "Thank you, t-that really helped. If o-only you had something t-to help with the c-cold."
Naruto rubbed the back of his head with a nervous laugh. "Heh, haven't been able to successfully create one yet! Everyone burns up with a fever instead." He punched a fist into the palm of his hand, "But I'll get it, no matter what—ttbayo!"
Hinata giggled at the boy's antics for a moment. He always knew just the words to say to lift her spirits. When Naruto swam ahead to join the school of guards, Hinata set her gaze out upon the empty ocean once more. What is it like up on land? Are the people kind? So many questions ran through her head that she yearned to be answered. One thing she new for sure was that her journey was going to be absolutely perfect.
Ino sighed as she gazed out at the ocean. The sun will soon set and she could feel the anxiety of her two employers next two her. Her black and white gown brushed against the sand on the beach as the warm Mediterranean breeze rolled in, carrying the sweet smell of salt water with it. She didn't see what the big deal with Mermaids and Merman were. They were just legend and Ariel was either insane or desperate to come up with that story and King Eric was... Her teeth clenched at the thought of her King and employer. No, She must push the memories away before she became distraught with emotion.
She clenched the handle bars of the wooden wheelchair in her hands. Taking a deep breath to calm herself she looked out at the ocean once again, waiting for nothing to happen.
All of the sudden she heard Ariel gasp and just like that the waters crashed upward as twelve or so figures emerged from the oceans depths. Ino stood in wonder as one rather large man swam closer to the shore, a golden trident in his hand and a crown upon his head.
Ariel and Eric ran knee deep into the water with large smiles on their faces. From where she was standing, Ino could see the blue of the kings scales and all coherent thought left her mind as she fell to her knees with her mouth wide open.
"Daddy! I'm so happy I-I'm just so-" Ariel threw herself into the arms of the giant fish-man who cradled her gently.
"I know my dear Ariel, I am too." He said with his eyes closed. He set her back down into a shallow part of the water. "I have brought the midwife and her traveling party. The midwife and her fiance know english but sadly her guards do not so I will translate for their sake." He turned to the other Fish-people and motioned for them to come forward.
Eric took his wife into his arms with a smile as the guards spread to reveal a young merman with blonde hair and blue eyes. Next to him was a mermaid with violet hair and a matching tail which seemed to glow in the sunlight.
The mermaid bowed her head and brought her hands up to her chest, a brush of pink on her cheeks. "H-hello! I am Hinata the Midwife and my companion is Naruto Uzumaki the future ruler of The Yukashi MerCity. I am pleased to meet you and I hope you look favorably upon me."
Eric nodded towards her, "It is our pleasure, we have made the proper accommodations for you and if there is anything you want, you need only to ask."
The sun lowered itself into the horizon turning the sky orange. Naruto turned to Hinata with an orange vial in his hands. "Hinata, you must drink this before the sun descends any further."
Hinata nodded and drank the vial, and as she did everyone backed away from the orange light that exploded from her body. When the light receded they heard splashing and turned to see Hinata floundering in the water as she tried to stay afloat. Eric detached himself from his wife and jumped in to rescue the tailless woman.
Hinata coughed as he dragged her ashore, trying to get air into her lungs. When she was able to breath again she laid on her back and gazed up at the sky. "Sugoi..." She whispered.
Ariel's belly entered her line of sight followed by Eric's head. "Can you stand on your own, Hinata?" The pregnant woman asked.
Hinata nodded and sat up slowly and tried to lift her knees up. She paused, oh no...She tried once more and received not even a twitch from her toes. "I-i can't move my legs!"
