Disclamier: I do not own Naruto.

chapter TWO

After calming herself down, Hinata allowed her ladies back in, knowing that some of her make-up would have to be redone, and that she still required jewelry, and her mask.

Thankfully, the only jewelry they had her wear was an oval pendent that was similar to the blue in her dress, only it changed in the light, with a gold chain. It stopped just before her bust line and gave her exposed chest some cover, which she was grateful for. Even more so that it was the only jewelry she wore.

Her make-up only required some minor touch ups. The women added more golden flecks where her tears had taken them away, and put some slight color to her nose and cheeks, because after her weeping she was incredibly pale and void of emotion.

Now, she was slowly making her way down the stairs and towards the entrance to their estate.

It was time to head to the festival in the village. They'd arrive by carriage and immediately be greeted by footmen who'd assist in their leaving the carriage and the parking of the carriage. After they all were introduced as the Hyuuga family, they'd be ushered their separate ways and expected to handle their duties as prestigious men and women.

For a moment she was tempted to trip down the staircase and snap her neck. It'd appear as an accident so she'd save face, but all this would end here and now. Neji could be happy, and she wouldn't have to go through the painful experience that was the rest of her life.

Hinata paused at the bottom of the staircase.

Maybe she could run away right now. Maybe no one would notice, and then she'd be free. She'd lose her chance with Cpt. Uzumaki, but Was there ever really a chance? she began to wonder.

Upon reaching the entrance to their estate and walking down their stone steps to the carriage, Hinata realized that her family and the servants were watching her every move, waiting, expecting.

They know that I know. Or the suspect I will soon.

Hinata tried not to flinch with all the eyes on her.

Standing in front of the carriage were her father, her sister, and Neji. Every last one of them looked positively regal, and that was without even trying. They could have gone naked and they would still look like royalty. They always would. In the back of her mind Hinata wondered if she ever looked like they did now, if she ever seemed to just fit. The thought flitted away when they all entered the carriage, Neji helping her and her sister in before following after Hiashi.

With her golden skirts all about her, for a moment she could believe she was fantastic. That she was worth something. Then she looked over to her sister who sat directly across from her and those thoughts hiccupped. Her sister was dressed in iridescent silver that shined black and white, with all the colors in between. The dress was simple but elegant, with a straight bust and a "U" shaped dip in the back, but where skin would have been revealed there was a sheer fabric nearly identical to the iridescent silver, with small diamonds scattered across the fabric.

She looked beautiful. Hinata suddenly felt ridiculous.

I look like I'm trying too hard and perhaps compensating. Hinata frowned slightly. Maybe I am.

For the rest of the ride to the festival she stared out the open window of the carriage, wondering if this was what the rest was really going to be like. Or if maybe, somehow, there could be more.

.x.x.x.x.x.

From the stink of drink and sweat in the street, the common people had begun the festival at dawn. The more prestigious, however, had a ball of sorts to attend, which happened to be held at the large house of none other than the Haruno family.

They weren't a family like hers, they weren't old power passed from generation to generation. They were a merchant family, owning several ships that traded across our own country and with several others, such as Suna and Kiri. They were new money, but appreciated none the less, even if she didn't quite get along with their daughter.

Their house was large, not more so than the Hyuuga estate, but they had an open courtyard, and outsiders weren't exactly allowed at the Hyuuga estate anyway.

People were strolling in through their front door, up the stairs and into their estate. Hinata felt dizzy and mild panic as the carriage pulled up closer along their cobblestoned path. For a moment she had the strong feeling that she should not be here. It was over-powering, and then it was gone.

Before she knew it, their carriage was waiting at the stairs right in front of the Haruno complex. A footmen was waiting at her door already reaching for the handle to take her out and bring her into the party. Hinata wanted to swat him away for a second before she remembered herself.

.x.x.x.x.x.

She felt like she was suffocating. As soon as she entered the Masquerade, her small golden mask covering everything from her hair line to half-way down her nose, with slits over her eyes, she searched for him. She was separated for her family nearly instantly, and she felt relieved for it. She was away for a moment, she was free for a moment.

Then, without her even noticing, she started looking for him, for Captain Naruto Uzumaki. She wasn't sure why she was, but she knew that a part of her felt like this was her last chance of ever getting him to notice her, even if it was only for a second.

She wandered around and around the court and the through the estate several times, yet she could not find him. Perhaps she just didn't recognize him because, after all, this was the Masquerade. She doubted that though. She'd recognize him. She'd always recognize him.

When she returned to the courtyard, after having wandered the estate for the third time, she spotted him.

He was wearing flaming red and orange, there were even flame marks across his coat and trousers, with golden accents.

His mask was a fox. It was perfect. He was perfect. And he was with a girl, with bright pink hair.

.x.x.x.x.x.

Hinata didn't cry. She was shocked, but at the same time she wasn't. She had expected this much sooner than now. There was still some hope though, and she could feel that little fire suffocate right on its own as he danced with the girl with bright pink hair. They were both smiling widely.

She wanted to vomit, but there was nowhere she could go peacefully.

Feeling resigned about the rest of her life, Hinata took a seat at a table in the far corner. It, at some point, was some group's table, but now that everyone was dancing and full of enough drink, it didn't really matter anymore. She folded her hands in her lap and watched the people dance. Women's skirts were swirling around their male counter parts, as if the things could envelope them and suck them into the women's heart. Everyone was smiling too, some faintly while other's looked ready to explode with joy.

She wanted to envy them, but she couldn't.

She did wonder what it would be like though. She always seemed to be wondering…

What it would be like to be normal. To be loved. To be acknowledged. To not be me. To be anybody else but me. She swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat. Neji would be a good husband. He would treat her kindly and with respect, much more than most men could offer. She wanted more. So much more that it made her feel guilty. Was it wrong to want to be loved and to love someone just as much? Maybe, for her and people like her, it was.

Hinata sighed and stared down at her hands, watching all these people was making her gloomy. Maybe she should feign illness and try to convince father to let her leave early…

"-th me."

Hinata froze. What? She waited, barely breathing. Then she heard a sigh.

Her head snapped up so face it seemed as if her neck had snapped in half.

There was a masked man standing before her, his hand outstretched slightly but not so far away that she could have believed he was talking to someone else.

"Exc-cuse me?"

The man grunted, his mouth turning reminiscent of a snarl. "Dance with me." His voice was firm, but uncaring. If she said no, it wouldn't be the end of the world to him, but it would wound his pride.

Did Hanabi put him up to this? This had to be a joke. He wasn't even asking, he was telling.

Hinata stared, mildly confused and tempted to ask who he was. She realized that would be folly, for everyone here was wearing a mask with the intent of no one knowing who they really were.

It was strange though. He seemed out of place, but at the same time, he didn't. His outfit was mostly black, even his mask. Except his coat, mask, and sash had small red and white accents, and his shirt was white. He seemed to fit right in with them all, he could have been one of them, but still, he appeared not to want to be a part of them. Not as if he thought himself completely above them, just separate. Not the same.

Hinata hesitated for a moment, and glanced back to all the people dancing. Naruto passed by with his pink haired beauty.

Grasping the glass in front of her and tossing the drink back, Hinata stood and took the man's slightly out stretched hand. To hell with it.

.x.x.x.x.x.

Hinata was gliding across the dance floor, she was floating, and she was beautiful. This man who she didn't even know was making people stare at them, and she was sure it was because they were staring at him, but as he lifted her up and spun her around, she was beginning to think it wasn't just because of him. He made her seem beautiful, intriguing, and feel like she actually belonged at this party. That was more than anyone she knew was capable of doing.

"He's amazing…" she found herself murmuring.

The man chuckled, the timbre much deeper than she expected.

Wait. I said that aloud? Hinata's cheeks flamed. She was never this forthcoming.

"You don't even know that half of it," he leaned into her neck and whispered, his voice low but firm and unwavering.

The breath on her neck and the words he spoke caused a shiver to run up her spine. No one spoke to her this way. No one. She's been dancing with bachelors since she was thirteen and had first bled, but no man or boy had ever spoken to her so strangely. It was bewitching. A part of her screamed to push him away and go sit back down, but a much louder part of her was screaming to let him whisk her away for the night, because it wouldn't matter tomorrow. She was already as good as engaged.

Still, she could feel her blush creeping down her neck.

The man chuckled again but it was muffled by her hair. He was so close to her.

And then they were spinning and spinning and spinning…

Hinata realized she not only felt nauseous, but didn't completely recognize where they were anymore. We're not in the courtyard anymore, are we? Are we in the Haruno's estate? Why? We're still dancing…

Hinata barely has a chance to ask "Where are we?" before the man stops and tightly grasps her upper arms. Foggily she thought it was painful, but it didn't seem to matter. There was something more important happening. He was saying something. She should pay attention.

He removed his mask, and all Hinata saw was onyx eyes that were darker than the deepest cave in the world, but they glistened. It was perplexing. How could somebody's eyes be so dark but still catch light? She was completely astonished that his eyes didn't just absorb light, she felt like they absorbed everything, just like they were absorbing her now.

"Do you hear me girl?" he nearly snarled.

Hinata rid herself of her thoughts, giving the man her undivided attention.

"Stay here, and do not come out until it is all over." He was staring right into her eyes, it was unnerving, like he was seeing through her. Wait, what?

That was when she heard the screaming.

.x.x.x.x.x.

Author's Note:

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