Our Dark Waltz Chapter 2: The Heiress Reflects, a naruto fanfic

Chapter 1: The Heiress Reflects

Two days later…

The flower had just bloomed, shyly opening up outright with the petals curling out. The petals were a soft pink on the outer edges fading to a white with small beads of dark pink spotting the inner portions of the petal. Small pale fingers softly ran their tips along the edges of the newly bloomed lily and to the dark green stem. Dark black hair fell around the lily, almost as if protecting the flower, as a small pert nose joyfully sniffed the flower. It was perfect, too perfect. A gentle smile lit up on the young girl's face as she took up a pair of small shears and cut the lily off the stem, placing it on a linen blanket. Other flowers lay in a row beside it or in piles. Spring sometimes made the garden run wild with too many flowers, which made her special garden beautiful and peaceful but at the same time too rampant with flora.

Hinata Hyuga wiped her hand under her bangs and let a breath out. The moisture was getting to her. Maybe she shouldn't have worn her kimono and picked the yukata instead but she knew Father liked formality at the compound. Well, maybe I could have worn my short kimono and twisted my hair up but then Father would be displeased, Hinata thought to herself. Father had been more lenient with her, actually training with her and Neji but that didn't mean she wasn't still criticized harshly at times. Thankfully Kiba, Shino, Kurenai, Naruto and even Neji were always there to encourage her. Especially Naruto. She felt her cheeks heat up when she thought of him, ever since she was younger.

Oh, Naruto…the way you make me feel. I always feel stronger when I think of your silly grin and wild blonde hair.

Hinata felt herself go cold, a shiver running through. The shears dropped from her hands onto the flowers she had collected to press later. Why was it every time she thought of Naruto that she thought of him too? Why?

"Hinata-sama, Hiashi-sama wishes your presence for tea."

Hinata quickly wiped away a tear away to look into the white eyes of her cousin Neji and smiled a soft smile before nodding. "Of course, Neji-nii-san. I-I will be t-there in a few m-minutes."

Neji narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. Hinata knew that look and brought her eyes down to her flowers, bundling them up and standing before him. When she brought her eyes up to his, his lips thinned.

"Hinata-sama, you have been acting strangely the past few days. Did something occur on your way home from training late? As your guardian, I must know."

Hinata tried to hide her anxiety and put a hand on Neji's arm. "No, Neji-nii-san. I-I was lost and then c-came home."

Neji scowled, making Hinata cringe before he attempted to smooth his face out. He sighed to himself then looked at her. "Hinata-sama, Ko should have been with you in my stead while I was away trying to retrieve the Uchiha."

"Y-yes maybe. How are your wounds, Neji-nii-san?" Hinata grabbed his hand and looked concerned into his eyes.

Neji let out a very small smile. His cousin always seemed to control her stutter when she was concerned about others. Hinata was the epitome of compassion; always the selfless and loyal kunoichi that worried about other teammates and even villagers before herself. He once thought her weak, but now he knew better. He knew better than anyone after training with her everyday and seeing that determination in her eyes not to be a failure, to change.

It seems her soft caring nature would never leave, but that seemed to be strength. But would it be a weakness one day, this undying loyalty, and deep caring nature for others' wellbeing before her self? Neji thought darkly. Either way, her practice with her father and him had helped Hinata make great strides. He wasn't too concerned about her self defense, but it was that nature that concerned him and now this strange behavior of hers.

"Come, Hinata-chan. Hiashi-sama and Hanabi-sama are waiting. Do not worry about me."

With that, Neji lead Hinata calmly through the wooden hallways of the complex to the open main room where her family sat on cushions before the large oak table. Hiashi looked stoic as he usually did, but waved a small hand towards Hinata. Hinata let out a soft smile before putting her flowers beside her cushion to kneel beside him. While she took the teakettle before her father to pour him tea, a normal ritual between father and daughter, Neji began to wonder if Hiashi-sama would pick up on Hinata's behavior from the last few days.

Neji's eyes flickered to Ko, Hinata's bodyguard, who stood in the corner and saw the same concerned expression nearly concealed in his white eyes. Yes, Hinata would not hide it for much longer.

A/N: The chapters are a bit short but there is a reason right now. Also let me know if the format is driving anyone out there insane. Edited and checked.