Karma
Disclaimer: All rights to Naruto goes to Kishimarumototayuyayoto. I just realized Japanese names are the worst for dyslexic people.
Special thanks to MayMai again. You are a darling!
Lavender Farewell
"Fall into step behind me," Hinata's father growled.
The small girl jumped behind her father. She hadn't realized she had walked so far. A lot of things were on her mind. Many other Hyuuga main house men trailed her, they were all going to a very important village affair. It was late notice, but no clan would ever refuse the Konoha Council Elders.
They entered a colossal building with silence, but as they neared the reception, a cacophony of voices could be heard. Hinata widened her eyes at the sight of all the people that were gathered there.
"Hyuuga-san," a reserved looking man acknowledged the arrival of the Hyuugas at the main entrance. Hiashi nodded his head, but quickly pulled Hinata away with him. He was on a mission. The Hyuuga men were quiet, but swift as they followed their leader's every move.
Hinata looked around and saw the faces of many men and women she had met before. They were all prominent clan leaders her father had talked to at one point in time. Everyone was raising their glasses of rice wine and laughing and debating about issues.
She marveled at the sight of so many flowers. Someone had taken time to really decorate the building, and Hinata found that even the black tablecloths were adorned with brittle lavender petals. What a fantastic idea. She really did love flowers.
Her father's white eyes scoured the entire room. Hinata thought he would have activated his byakugan if he had not found what he had been looking for.
Silently, he beckoned Hinata to follow him, and she did. The other men stayed behind. Her mind wandered elsewhere, when would she meet her fiance? Would he be just as bad as she anticipated? She felt a small wad of unexpected guilt in her heart for putting him down before she even got a chance to meet him. In her mind, she resolved to think nothing at all of him until she got to know him herself.
"My future son-in-law," Hiashi said warmly. He had his arms uncrossed and he even managed a small chuckle.
Hinata froze. She was afraid to look up.
"Hyuuga-sama," a foreign voice responded. Hinata swallowed hard and tried to calm herself down.
Okay, okay, she thought to herself. Just, start at his feet.
Her eyes began low, and she saw his large feet. He must be tall, she surmised. People with a lot of centimeters to boast usually had equally large feet. Slowly, she moved upwards and caught his cuffed pants. He was wearing training clothes? At a formal village occasion? Everything else seemed normal other than that, and she made it up to his broad chest before stopping. She couldn't help but blush a bit.
Hinata was surprised at herself. She quickly forced her eyes to finish her overlook and she found herself paralyzed with feelings she had never felt before.
He was literally a whole new world. Nothing about him was familiar. He had gorgeous eyes, of shape and color. Immediately she realized he took nothing after his father. Fugaku was rather stern and hard, from war and other unimaginable things. Itachi had the same, suppressed look in his eyes, those that came with maturity and a perspective of life boys his age usually do not have. But he lacked the negative aura and his feminine features contrasted sharply with his no-nonsense attitude.
"U-Uchiha-san," she greeted, looking in a different direction. She would have remained silent if it weren't for the holes her father was staring into the back of her head. "I am Hinata Hyuuga, pleased to- meet your acquaintance," she bowed slowly.
They were answered by silence.
"Is something the matter?" Hiashi looked like he was growing impatient. Hinata could see Itachi was occupied with something else.
"Now is not the most appropriate time," he said stiffly. Now Hinata was feeling very uncomfortable. She was caught in between two different men, each pushing her onto the other.
"Nonsense, today is your first meeting, let us try not to rush things, there is plenty of time tonight for other matters," Hiashi gave Hinata a little tap on her back. "Go on, mingle," he was giving a forced smile.
"Hyuuga-sama," Itachi tried to interject.
"I insist!" Hiashi raised his voice. "You cannot run away from your future wife forever,".
The Uchiha looked at the litte girl, his face suddenly unreadable. He let out a sigh that only Hinata caught.
"The clan has put forth Sasuke as your daughter's fiance," he confessed. Hinata widened her eyes. This man was not her husband? She looked to her father for guidance, but she found him to be completely silent. "I must excuse myself, I am sorry," Itachi bowed to the two and promptly left.
There were many things Hinata knew to look out for after years of living with her father. There were certain signs he gave before he blew his top off. Hinata found herself horrified to see the first sign.
His pale eyes grew hard.
"F-father," Hinata stuttered.
Then, his chest began to swell. Things were not going well over with him. Hinata tried to think. She looked around for somebody to save her, but everyone was chatting happily, paying no attention to her.
"I t-think-"
"Follow me," Hiashi's voice was strained, and he turned to walk away from the party. A feeling of dread overcame the girl. She had never seen her father trying so hard to quell his anger.
This was a hundred times more frightening than when he was upfront, Hinata thought to herself. Her theory was that when he contained his feelings, it would boil, threatening to explode at any given second, and she was going to be the victim.
They reached a corner room that Hinata followed her father into. She slid the door shut as slowly as she could, her arms shaking.
Afraid to turn to look at him, she remained facing the door.
"I cannot believe what just happened," her father's voice was like an electric current. Fatal but wildy stifled. The sound of his fists clenching was yet another sign.
"Father, I do not mind this sudden change," Hinata spoke softly in a vain attempt to calm him down. She heard him slam his hand to the ground and she jumped in fright.
When she turned around Hinata saw the final sign.
He was walking towards her menacingly, his teeth clenched.
"This is not about you," he began to raise his voice. Hinata shrunk back into the wall. Hiashi looked even more aggravated at this sign of weakness. "All of this is your fault you imbecile!" he made a noise of exasperation and turned to pace in the middle of the room.
Hinata straightened her back.
"M-my fault?" she said. In her mind, she was burning with denial, but her voice came out uncertain and apologetic.
"Yes, your pitiful excuse for a first impression made them second think this arrangement," Hiashi was deep in thought, running things through his mind, and trying to figure out what to make out of the stressful situation. "Because of you they saved their heir for bigger fish and left the Hyuugas to rot with their measly second child!"
Suddenly he turned to her, a new look in his eye that Hinata did not like.
"Yes, this is all your doing," Hiashi said to himself. "This is all your fault," he repeated, louder. "You have proven yourself unworthy once again!" he was directly in front of her in no time at all and Hinata could only catch a glimpse of his raised hand before she shut her eyes to brace herself.
Hinata clenched her teeth and waited, – and waited. The hit never came, and Hinata shot her eyes open to find someone in a large hood stopping her father's hand in mid-air.
Her mouth fell open.
"Who-?" Hiashi hollered and rose his other arm to strike, his chakra already at the tips of his fingers.
The hooded man took hold of Hinata's wrist, and she saw a glimpse of white skin peek out from under the black cloak he wore.
All she could do was hastily throw her arms around his neck as he flung her into his arms and departed through a high window. The cold air of the early evening hit her rosy cheeks, and he was jumping from wall to wall with ease, regardless of the fact that he was carrying fifty extra pounds.
Many things ran through her head at once. The man -and she was sure of his gender somehow- was still somewhat of a threat even if he had saved her. He had a questionable motive.
His muscles rippled under her back and Hinata found herself feeling drowsy by the sound of his body moving and the consequent thudding of where his feet made contact with solid objects.
Suddenly his body movement stopped, and Hinata found herself looking down at a full bird's eye view of Konoha.
They were on a tall balcony. The pale girl lifted up a hand and grasped the stiff fabric the man wore in her palm. She got ready to pull the hood down, but he moved. Her eyes widened as the moonlight illuminated her vision, and she saw into the shadows of his hood for a split second. The dim moonlight cast a bluish white glow that crept into his hood, and Hinata caught sight of those familiar black eyes. They noticed her gaze and looked away, indifferent.
Hinata restrained any noises she had wanted to make. She thought she should have been waking up by now. Everything seemed so surreal. She had gone from expecting to dreading seeing her future husband, then unexpectedly meeting him at a random party, only to realize he is not actually her fiance, and consequently been saved by him.
Her hands hesitated to pull his hood. Where had he gotten the large cloth? She took a closer look at the fabric he was wearing. Her eyes widened. It was the tablecloth used at the village party.
A long silence had passed while he remained still. He did not acknowledge her or even utter a word, or gesture of reassurance, but Hinata felt foolishly safe in his arms. It was impossible to feel any other way as she inhaled the scent of lavender.
He began to move again, and he slipped into the balcony door, back into the building, and Hinata felt the atmosphere change immediately. Suddenly he was holding her fractionably tighter, and the shadows his hood cast were darker.
His face turned towards the Hyuuga girl, and he did not say a word, but she knew he was telling her to keep quiet. She obeyed.
They made their way across the halls and corridors of the facility until they reached the corner of a wall in the party room. They were hidden by a décor bouquet of carnations, but Hinata could see just fine past them. They were directly above the ongoing party. She looked back at the black figure holding her and wondered why he was going through such trouble when he could have just dropped her off near the other Hyuuga men. Her eyes searched desperately for a glimpse of his face once more, just to confirm his identity, but she never got the chance.
He was so feline in his movement. Silent but swift. He set her down so gently she thought she had floated down. Her arms felt cold after they left his neck.
"I apologize for breaking ill news at such a time," his voice finally assured her of his identity. Once again he addressed the issue of time. Hinata wondered what he could possibly have on his schedule that was making him so anxious.
"Uchiha-san," she said firmly. He pulled the tablecloth off his head and discarded it to the side. She could finally see his face, and it surprised her that he did not look tired or even a little bit out of breath. Not even slightly disturbed at the fact that he had technically just kidnapped her.
"I also apologize for leaving you to bear with the consequences of my own mistake," he continued, ignoring her words.
"No, you-" Hinata began to speak, but he cut her off.
"Stop," he ordered, looking elsewhere now.
She ceased her talking and stared at his face for a long time, waiting for him to say something, but he was not paying attention to her. She followed his gaze into the crowd and found him to be staring at the Uchihas. They were situated right in their line of sight, and their voices could be heard since they were merely feet away from the two.
A puzzled look crossed Hinata Hyuuga's face. What was an Uchiha doing spying on other Uchihas?
Finally, she listened in on the conversation the men below her were carrying. They seemed to be arguing, but it took Hinata a while to figure even that out. They made no hand or body movements, and instead spoke with their eyes. Their words were urgent but they made no facial expressions to show it.
"...Itachi has—the council—unforgivable, they—know and Konoha—plans," were a few words Hinata could pick up.
Just as she was beginning to eavesdrop, her savior took her and bolted into a nearby room.
He set her down gently on the tatami mat, a strange look on his face. Hinata could not stop staring at him.
"W-what were they talking about?" Hinata asked. She was puzzled, dizzy, and in need of reassurance.
"I do not owe you an explanation," he said coldly. Apparently he could not even spare that.
She was snapped back to her senses. Whatever feelings she had been experiencing from all that had happened had been stored away for good. She glared at him.
"If it concerns my family," she began. She was talking quickly because she was afraid she would loose confidence if she didn't. "-a-and more importantly, if it concerns Konoha, then I have a right to know,"
He looked at her with a new kind of acknowledgement. He crossed his arms and took a step torward Hinata. She leaned away a bit at his sudden movements. A noise came out of his mouth. Hinata realized it was laughter. And it was out of spiteful amusement.
"No," he said. "I have bigger concerns than you and your ridiculous Hyuuga pride,"
Hinata's eyes widened. Her heart was seared to the core. How dare he?
A very unexpected woman came into her head. Setsuko. Who had taught her that one thing a woman could do in a situation she saw was not going her way, was to make a bloodcurdling-
"If you don't see things in the li-light that I do, then I will make you," Hinata sucked in a large breath, and her scream had almost made it out of her throat before something had knocked the air out of her.
She was thrown to the ground, and when she struggled, thrust to the wall. A hand covering her mouth and the other pinning both her small wrists above her head. His eyes were impassive.
"Hinata Hyuuga," he said. Hinata shivered. Her name did not sound the same as usual when he said it. "It would not be hard for me to dispose of you temporarily, I would be free of the inconveniences you bring," he released her mouth and gripped her neck in such a way that he teased the deadly pressure points on her neck with the tips of his fingers.
Itachi's ears perked, and he loosened his hands as he turned towards a sound he heard outside the doors. He was listening in closely on something Hinata could not even hear. She slid out of his hold and made for the door, but a cold hand yanked her back into his hard chest.
"Wh-!" Hinata cried, but Itachi crushed her against him. It was painful, and she could not even move to get comfortable. She tried to tell him to let go, but her voice was completely muffled.
He opened the door calmly and Hinata heard someone approaching them. It was a Hyuuga man, and he looked urgent. When he saw the Hyuuga heiress he made his way over quickly.
"Hinata-sama! Your father informed us of what had happened -we were sent to search for you," he looked at Itachi with suspicion. Hinata tried to respond but was hushed.
"Please, she is extremely apprehensive at the moment, I had to fend off the man who tried to kidnap her, it would be best if I brought her to her father myself," Itachi lied with ease, still squeezing her against him.
"Yes, that seems best," the Hyuuga man immediately said, he even stepped aside. Hinata tried to squirm, but much to her dismay, Itachi was much stronger than she.
He weaved through the party with ease, but it may have helped that they all seemed to make way for him. Everybody was doing this, and Hinata wondered if it was because of his uncanny charisma. Hinata could only see directly above Itachi's head for a while, but when he began to slow down, he did not hold her as tightly as he had before. She could see the Konoha Elders and a stern looking Fugaku in a circle.
"Does Konoha forsake us?" one Uchiha asked. Fugaku silenced him with a hand, but looked to the Konoha Elders with eyes that seemed to dare them to answer correctly.
"No, Fugaku-san, you have forsaken Konoha," Hinata recognized the blind man who spoke with such sorrow in his voice that Hinata was immediately sober.
"How dare you accuse the Uchihas!" another Uchiha cried. Fugaku was quiet the entire time, but he was the leading force of the argument. Some people gasped. More people began to watch the event playing out. Everyone was quiet, the dull chattering had stopped.
"Out of the way," Hinata's father was approaching. He reached the clearing and looked to Fugaku.
"Hiashi-san," the blind Konoha elder said with amusement.
"You! Belittling the Hyuugas, denying us respect. We have never been more offended. This is the last you will hear from us," Hiashi's rage was evident. Fugaku looked shocked at the turn of events.
"Uchiha-san, it looks as if Konoha is not the only alliance you have burned," the Konoha elder said seriously. Fugaku was ready to refute, but Itachi walked into the brawl.
"Pardon, but the lady has suffered from tonight's events. I suggest we call off the rest of the evening," Itachi said. Hinata was mortified, but she remained silent. Hiashi looked to Fugaku, and the two looked at the Council members, who nodded their heads in approval.
The crowd remained for a few more seconds before dispersing. The building burst with talk about the recent scandal almost instantly.
Itachi let Hinata down, and Hiashi walked over straight away. He grabbed his daughter's wrist.
"What. Happened." Hiashi asked. He also looked tired from all that had just played. Hinata found that she did not know how to answer his question. She looked to Itachi for help.
"Hyuuga-sama, I did not see the face of the man who tried to kidnap your daughter," Itachi said.
Hinata was appalled at how natural he was at playing his own facade.
"Very well," Hiashi sighed, not too concerned about that at all. He shooed the boy away. The Hyuuga head began walking away, and he beckoned his men to follow. Hinata allowed him to pull her along. "I'm sick of Uchihas," he growled.
Hinata turned and took a look back at a particular Uchiha one more time. She was surprised by how easily she had found him in the crowd. He was facing away from her, and he seemed to be talking to the Council elders. They exchanged a few words before the Council members dismissed themselves. Itachi turned and Hinata could finally see his face.
She was sure she saw it, and it unnerved her. Itachi Uchiha had a worried look on his face. Something had been resolved, and he had a new, determined but forlorn emotion swirling in his dark eyes.
Before he completely disappeared from her line of view, she thought he had caught her gaze for a split second.
The Hyuugas exited the building, and everything should have been behind her, but Hinata had an odd feeling in her stomach. Something was off. She could not stop thinking about it.
Her father was gone in his own world. He did not say a word to her, and didn't shoot so much as a glance at her. Normally, she would have been close to tears after what he had almost done to her, but she was too distracted.
When she arrived home, she did not even greet her pregnant mother, and instead went straight to her room. There Hinata laid in her bed, searching for some kind of peace in all the rush she was experiencing. Thoughts were running wild in her head. She kept replaying the same scenes over and over again to herself. She was completely absorbed with thoughts of Itachi, of the Uchihas, the Council elders, and their argument. What could they have been arguing about?
The night grew darker and still she could not sleep. The look in Itachi's eyes were haunting Hinata. Something about them made her want to shiver and cry at the same time. He was disturbed. He was reluctant. But at the same time, he was set in stone. Whatever he was thinking of was absolute.
Finally, the lack of sleep was driving her mad. She got up from her bed, exasperated.
She found herself pacing for the first time in her life. Hinata peered out her small window and looked to the moon for comfort. It was eerily radiant that night. A full moon. It mocked her with it's dull glow. It knew what she longed to know, but it would never tell her.
After what seemed like hours had passed, something in the night changed, and Hinata slipped into her bed once again. She closed her eyes, promising not to open them again until it was morning.
An owl screamed in the thick night, and Hinata shuddered before giving herself in to sleep.
A/N: Yay, more ItaHina finally! I know, I am a bad person! I waited too long to post this, but I made a promise to make this chapter twice as long, and I used word count the entire time to make sure I upheld that oath, lol. Wow, I even delayed Hanabi's birth. I am just a delay fish, that's what I am. Hiashi was seriously a bit OOC. Don't you think? So I tried to make it seem like he is only outrageously outrageous when he's alone with Hinata, not in public. I know I left a lot to be said with the Council members, the coup d'etat, etc. but I guess we are limited mostly to what Hinata knows for now. Thx for reading. R&R.
P.S. Did you realize there were no line breaks in the entire story for this chapter? I just realized that! Hehe