Nina, thank you for the review you gave me. It meant a lot to me and if you can think of any pairings you want in this or anything, just let me know.
Chapter Five.
After the four broke away they picked up their bits and went into their rooms. Each room was large and luxurious – more like a flat than a room. Each had a sitting room, a piano, a dinning section, a kitchen, a large en-suite Master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and a study. Each room had different colour schemes and themes but Hinata's seemed to be an exact match for her. It was decorated in China blue with white touches on one of the walls. The room had lilac and lavender scents everywhere and beautiful orchids in each section. The three rooms were joined together by an adjoining balcony which was led to through a glass patio door off of each teammate's dining room section. The view was stunning. Hinata looked at the village and saw how being high up meant she could see it just past the cloud of mist, revealing a beautiful sun glistening behind the mountains of Kirigakure. She just stood there in the warmth of the sunlight and dreamily watched the village below as it dreamily came into view through little shifts in the mist.
Before she knew it, an hour had passed and decided to shower, change and then wait for the others. She took from the neatly folded clothes in the drawers to the left of her bed a fresh uniform and underclothes, a towel, some lilac soap, a hair brush, tooth brush and toothpaste. She quickly cleaned and preened herself and came out of the bedroom looking and feeling refreshed. Taking a piece of fruit and a glass of water, she sat at the dinner table to look out again over the pretty view. She ate and drank happily before putting the remains of the fruit into the bin, washing her glass and hands, drying them, putting the glass away carefully back where it came from. Walking over to her mirror, she made slight alterations to her hair with her fingertips and when she had finished, left through the door.
Shino was already waiting outside, even though they were 40 minutes early. They knocked on Kiba's door to hear him mumbling and swearing slightly. He must have just woken up and was a bit panicky in case he was late. Opening the door quickly, Shino and Hinata came in and helped there sleepy friend out. Shino helped him get dressed and ready while Hinata took out a dog brush and helped brush Akamaru's fur… and he loved it. When Kiba and Shino had left the bedroom, they found Akamaru lying on his back with his tongue hanging out his mouth.
"Oh, Akamaru! Wait till I tell those butch dogs back home how you act when you go on a mission now!" Teased Kiba. Akamaru opened his right eye and begrudgingly rolled onto his front whining slightly as if he were swearing, making Kiba snigger quietly.
"It looks like we are all ready now." Shino stated.
Hinata guessed that they were still early but thought it best they should go now to make a good impression. In agreement, they all left Kiba's room for the staircase and went to reception. Waiting there was Chōjūrō.
"Hinata-Chan, Kiba-Sama, Shino-Sama, Akamaru-Sama – I am very impressed by your punctuality. Shall we go and meet the Mizukage?"
Hinata bowed to Chōjūrō quickly and smiling nodded in agreement. The light blue-haired boy went pink and quickly ushered then through the exit and to the Tower next door. The Mizukage Tower was the largest building they had ever seen in both width and height. Just trying to enter it took them all 5 minutes and they had not reached the main reception yet. After some time, they reached the stair case ad due to their fitness quickly ascended the 200 flights of stairs. On the top floor, they walked along the corridor to notice there were no room doors. After 15 minutes, they approached a group of guard surrounding a large oak door with the symbol for water on it, inlayed with topaz. They nodded at Chōjūrō and after talking, let the group enter.
When they entered, they saw that they whole floor's length had been given to this one room – the Mizukage's office. It had a white marble floor with fountains and fish pools, aquariums with all beautiful coloured fish connected to other tanks and places about the room via clear pipes. At the back of the room was what looked a waterfall trapped between two panes of glass, a large desk with an azure chair behind it and several comfortable chairs in front of it. A tall red-haired woman in a blue dress stood up and waved them forward. Chōjūrō escorted them to her and then walking to her said, whispered a few things to her close to her ear.
She nodded at what he had told her before he went to rejoin the team. Hinata bowed to the Mizukage, as did Shino, Kiba and Akamaru. The Mizukage smiled sweetly.
"You all have very good manners. Please, sit down." She waved a hand to the chairs in front of them and rising up, Kiba, Shino and Hinata sat whilst Akamaru sat next to his Kiba. The Mizukage them sat down and ushered Chōjūrō to sit quickly too. He pulled up a chair next to Shino and sat quietly.
"Hyuuga-Sama, thank you." The Mizukage stopped smiling for a moment and it was clear to everyone how upset that made Chōjūrō feel. Hinata thought then if he loved his Kage the way she loved hers.
"Mizukage-Sama, It's my pleasure that my village and I can help you in anyway. Please, call me Hinata." She spoke warmly, professionally and well. She could see the smile come back onto the Mizukage's face and Chōjūrō was grinning madly in happiness. He got it bad, Hinata thought.
"You are a good liar, Hinata. It must have really taken a lot of courage and strength to come her … I really am indebted to you. Especially when you bring with you such nice visitors."
"Mizukage-Sama, I do apologise if this caused you any problems. These men are stronger than brothers to me and have kept me safe on my way here." Hinata dropped her head in apology and the Mizukage pouted.
"No need to bow to me again, Hinata. Shino, Kiba and Akamaru… right? They can stay here for as long as they wish and are free to come here. In truth, I can understand why and think it very sensible of the Hokage to…" she was about to continue when she saw what looked like a small snarl creep onto the face of Kiba and the dog whined slightly.
"Ah. Well, at least I can say you have extremely good friends."
"Mizukage-Sama, they are simply the greatest men I have ever met. I am indeed very fortunate. Chōjūrō-Sama has been exemplary in his helping us and taking care of us, you must feel the same way about him."
Chōjūrō looked like a guppy fish when Hinata said this and the Mizukage, turning her gaze to him, saw his expression then change into a crimson colour about his cheeks before closing her eyes.
"Indeed, I do." Her eyes opened as she thought of the words she just said … I do? What does that remind me of? Trying to forget any words to do with marriage, she looked at the two bluenettes and smiling, noticed a couple of things they had in common apart from hair colour.
"Mizukage-Sama?" Hinata asked quietly.
"Yes, Hinata."
"I'm afraid our Hokage gave us very few details as to … (she tried to think of a way to phrase the killer without sounding harsh) ... what's wrong with the patient. I want to assure you that I will and want to do anything I can."
The Mizukage should have known that knuckleheaded Orange Hokage of theirs wouldn't have understood the medical terms she used in her outlining of the request to him. She didn't let her irritation show and instead kept the smile on her face.
"Ao's body is rejecting the Byakugan." She spoke seriously despite the smile but Hinata felt like smiling too – how ironic. "He is showing symptoms of fever, sickness, diarrhoea, weakness … we have never known Ao to ever have been this ill in his life and he has had many near-misses. We do not know if he will survive if the Byakugan remains in him but despite our best efforts and his, it won't be removed."
"IT won't be removed?" Hinata repeated, seeing the Mizukage nod her head. She shook the puzzlement off her face and began theorise with the people around them.
"As we know, with almost any transplant surgery, there is almost an element of risk that at some point, rejection will occur as the body incorrectly thinks the foreign tissue as a disease. The fact that the Byakugan seems to have autonomy and a will independent of its host is astonishing, but the fact that even with all the combined forces of medical and military experts we have, we are as yet unable to help him."
"We can help him together." Hinata said, looking straight at the Mizukage with a gentle smile which made the Mizukage feel a lot better.
"That's good news." The Mizukage had been extremely worried about Ao and to hear any form of hope was good.
"Hinata, what do you need?"
"I need to see him as soon as possible and meet with the medical team treating him. A lot of characteristics which are within an eye are those from the previous host. Our Hokage's Sensei, Kakashi-Sensei, after having an eye donated to him from a friend inherited a lot of that person's characteristics. With your permission, I'd like him to come here to assist us." Hinata realised that the Mizukage looked as if she had won a small fortune and then coolly tried to nod her head.
Taking a small pause, Hinata then continued. "I have heard that Ao has not told anyone what happened during the time he acquired the eye in any great detail. There is some information though I can give them about … the donor that I am confident can help." She detested having to speak so coldly but it was the only way for the talk to happen. Kiba and Shino saw the hidden tension in Hinata's eyes and decided to join in on the discussion.
"Wouldn't these characteristics have come into Ao already though, Hinata?" Asked Shino. Smiling at her comrade's question, Hinata beamed, happy he was joining in and her demeanour eased.
"As far as I knew, yes. It's hard to know though until we get more information about his personality and if it changed when he received the Byakugan. Mizukage, to your knowledge, has he shown any personality changes?"
"Only very recently," The Mizukage replied. "I only met him after he had the transplant and as far as I knew from those around me, his personality had not changed in the slightest from before it had been done."
"Mizukage-Sama how is he at the moment?" Kiba asked politely.
"He's… regretful. It's the most emotional I and many others have ever seen him to be."
"Mizukage-Sama, we will investigate this and try our best to find a solution together." Hinata said to the Mizukage. The Mizukage could not help but notice the positive, warm feeling this girl gave… it reminded her of Naruto, though this girl spoke softly and seriously and didn't yell at her or stick out her thumb.
"Call me Mei-Sama. There is also another thing I need to talk about with you whilst you are here…. it's to do with your abilities and people here. In the olden days here, anyone in possession of a Kekkei Genkai was killed on sight. My family was in jeopardy constantly and being in possession of two made me a prime target to be killed. Though the days of 'The Bloody Mist' have gone some people's feelings about Kekkei Genkai's remains." Mei-Sama then bent down to get something from beneath her desk and then sat up with a pair of stunning thick sunglasses in her hands which caught Shino's eyes like a tasty cake would to a fly. "It might be best for you to wear these here whilst you travel around the village. These are specially made for the climate here so you should be able to see well with them without the need for your Byakugan to be activated, even in the thickest of mists here. Shino, Kiba, I will personally arrange for additional ones to be made and brought to your rooms within the next 12 hours. I will send a message for you Hokage to contact you Kakashi Sensei to assist in your treatment of Ao. Did any of you have any questions for me?" Mei-Sama asked.
The four leaf shinobi (even Akamaru) shook their heads. However, Chōjūrō nodded his head.
"Chōjūrō, go ahead."
"Mizukage-Sama, I would like to arrange a dinner for our guests to introduce them to the village. The Great Rain festival will begin in a couple of week's time and this would be a good way for the village to get to know them." Mei-Sama placed an arm on the desk and rested her head on the palm of her hand, cupping it.
"That is a very good idea, Chōjūrō. I suggest we let our friends rest tonight and perhaps arrange a dinner at my house next week. Is that okay?" Chōjūrō's jaws than gaped widely open, almost hitting his knees.
"Yo-your house?" Chōjūrō stuttered. Shino, Hinata, Kiba and Akamaru shared a look … this could have been Hinata's twin.
"Yes. We shall meet at my house for dinner on Monday at 18:00 hours. I will arrange to have no further duties that evening and will look forward to seeing you all then."
Hinata blushed – she was amazed at how kind Mei-Sama was. She bowed to her, gushing with thanks as her friends, in their own ways, gave their thanks. Shino gave a strong, sturdy thank you and shook the Mizukage's hand, surprised at the tightness and strength of her grip. Kiba rubbed the back of his head, eyes closed, and teeth prominently bursting from his cheesy grin and saying thanks. Akamaru lowered his head and barked happily, his tail looking as if it were going to fly off him from the speed it was wagging at. Mei-Sama was smiling happily at the sight of them and Chōjūrō, still open mouthed and blushing. She had a feeling that these people were really going to be great to have around.