Ahahaha, I said end of January, but this chapter took longer than I expected. Reminder that I'll only continue this story if I receive around 30 reviews by this chapter. Can you guys reach the goal? I'd be very happy if you did. If I don't post another chapter by the end of March, it means that the goal has not been met u,u. I'll also notify you. But anyways I hope you enjoy~
*Disclaimer: Everything but the storyline belongs to Kisimoto-sensei*
Italics = thoughts
Bold = Sounds
"Thanks for your help, I can go on from here."
The guard brought him to a large red door in the palace. The guard bowed and left the man to himself.
"So she's in here, hmm?" He asked himself. Naruto pushed the red door. It was heavy despite its appearance. He was welcomed with a bright light and a sweet aroma. The sun shone through the transparent glass ceilings but the room was cool rather than hot. He walked on the stone pathway while looking through the room. It was large and it housed many plants; flowers were growing in small beds of soil to his left, while vegetation grew on his right. Roses, tulips, bluebells, chrysanthemums and many other flowers were embedded in the ground. Fresh lush grass grew around them and was neatly trimmed. Heading farther down the path, he noticed the different kinds of trees growing around the room. It looked more like a magical forest rather than a garden. Small little animals governed the lands but luckily, their droppings were nowhere in sight.
A purple butterfly flew his way; it landed on his shoulder then took flight. It went farther down the rock pathway and turned left. For some odd reason, the cloaked figure decided to follow it. His decision proved to be correct; the butterfly led him to a small gazebo. The marvellously crafted wood gazebo was painted auburn and the classic roof tiles were jade. Flower pots were hung on the curled hooks on the eight corners of the frame. One pair of stairs guided anyone up on to the wooden patio, one on each side. A shining and aqua-blue pond surrounded the gazebo. Looking closely, there were Koi fish swimming around. Tiny little water fairies were also splashing each other near the grassy shore. They stopped when they saw the incoming figure. Fear overtook them and they fled to the gazebo.
Naruto stood at the bottom of the stairs. Many women dressed in maroon kimonos huddled around a figure. They giggled in their girly high pitch voices at whatever the center of attention said. One of the maids shifted to the side, allowing the man to see who the special person was. His eyes grew, amazed at the young lady sitting on a wooden bench. Her beauty matched no living being; she looked to be more of a deity than a human. The striking resemblance to the picture in the main hall was uncanny – it was the princess. She retained her snow-white skin and kind expression; her hair was much longer, reaching just below her rear. However, the blue color was just beginning to fade – it was becoming darker. A small beaded flower was clipped onto the side of her head, making her more elegant. From where he was standing, he noticed that she didn't have any pupils. Despite it, her light lavender eyes weren't creepy in the slightest; it matched her beauty and made her look more mysterious. Her small, light pink lips contrasted from the deep blue of her furisode (a kimono with longer sleeves). The princess looked no younger than eighteen, maybe twenty at the oldest.
He hadn't noticed his body moving by himself. He was already up the steps, nearing the crowd of girls.
Sensing his presence, the princess' smile fell and was swept away with a quiver. She hid behind one maid and held onto her dress. In her soft voice, she said, "There's someone here."
All laughter and chattering ended. The maids were on their fullest attention. They turned to see a man cloaked in black with a mask. "Who are you to enter this place?" One said.
From her sharp tone, he awoke from his trance. "It's alright, I come in peace. The Emperor sent me to tell the princess something."
Glares emitted from the women. They were very protective over the princess and were trained to fight when danger arouse. "How do we know if you are lying?" The same woman asked. "What if you are an enemy that infiltrated during the event?"
"Yes- yes, I am an enemy that decided to just stand here like a fool until someone noticed me. I should have been wiser and killed all of you before giving my presence away." His voice filled with sarcasm. When their suspicions didn't drop, he scratched his head and explained why he was there, how he was in the competition and lost but in the end, given the job as a knight to the eldest princess.
They still didn't release their protection of the girl, but who could blame them? It was their job. The eldest woman in the group whispered into the ear of another. "Shayla-san will ask his majesty if this is true." Said girl was about to walk off the gazebo when a water fairy stopped her. In a small, little voice, she said, "No need, he spoke the truth. His pulse didn't speed up while he was telling his story, Lily checked it. His voice also didn't falter."
A blue-haired fairy flew out of his cloak. From how small and light fairies were, he didn't feel her touch on his wrist. He smirked underneath his mask. He proved the maids wrong.
"My-my, then we apologize for our rude behavior. As Hinata-sama's knight, we give our blessings to you. If you fail to protect her highness, then," The maid's voice grew chilling along with the creepy smile she gave. "you will find yourself lying at the bottom of lake Fumiho." Lake Fumiho was a lake filled with the muckiness of blood and was known for many deaths.
"Uh…yeah….." He gulped.
They removed their protective formation and allowed Naruto to see the woman he would now be protecting. The girl did a slight whimper when she was forced to let go of the maid's dress. The maid held her slender hands to reassure her that everything would be fine then let go.
"Hinata-Hime, I presume?" He knelt in front of her.
Hinata nodded. She didn't at all look back down at him; her lavender eyes wandered around the room.
Noticing her uncomfortable state, he chuckled, "Well it's nice to meet you. The name's Uzumaki Naruto, it's a pleasure to serve you."
She fiddled her fingers in her lap. "I-It's n-nnic-nice to meet y-you, Uzumaki-san." She fumbled still not making eye contact.
"Naruto. Call me Naruto, it sounds odd when people call me by my last name. And remove the 'san', I'm not that much older than you."
"Se-seventeen."
He was confused at first, but realized that it was her age. "Eighteen – turning nineteen in October. A year difference, huh."
"I-Is it true? I-I am going to m-marry?"
"You didn't know?"
She shook her head.
"Well, that is what the Emperor said."
Her face grew solemn.
It was quiet after that. The maids could feel the awkwardness in the air.
"So, um….your father sent me to tell you to get ready. We're going on a big journey, so pack lightly." He patted her head, careful to not mess it up, and walked away. "Wake up bright and early and be ready to depart the palace.
Hinata sat there, dumbstruck. She touched the spot where he touched, the feeling still lingering. What was that for?
OoOoO
"What is the meaning of this, Father?!" Hinata stormed into her parent's room.
"What are you talking about, daughter? Your knight? Are you unhappy because you're leaving the castle? Or you're unhappy because you are finally going to see?"
"No, none of that." She was actually happy with those reasons he listed. She could finally leave her house after seventeen years of 'protection' as her father would call it. Just because she was the Ena and couldn't see like normal people did, it made her vulnerable and so her father ordered her to never go out of the house. Not once had she gone out of the house, and so she was excited to finally witness the outdoors. It was why she loved gardening; being able to bask in the sun, feel the water in a pond, and touch the blades of grass. And finally, it was time for her to feel the real deal.
"Then what is it?"
"The marriage Naruto-kun told me about. It's the first time that I've heard about it." She crossed her arms in front of her well-endowed chest.
Hiashi sipped his tea. "Oh, the marriage. Yes, you will be getting married sometime next year, by then you will be eighteen, the age where you should be starting a family. I promised an old friend of mine that when my daughter comes of age, she will get married to his son. It was a promise made before you were born and you know how I am, Hinata; I will never go back on my word. I am a ruler that sticks to my promises."
"But, I don't want to marry!" She yelled, startling her father and the servants in the room. It was the first time in years since she rebelled. It was rare to see the placid princess angry. "I don't even know who this man is!"
"You've met him before; he's the prince of Suli country."
Hinata thought for a moment. The name didn't ring a bell. "I don't remember any prince coming from a country called Suli. I didn't even know there was a country called Suli."
He looked up from his tea cup with a frown. "The promise is done and made; you can't escape from this marriage. Our country is slowly losing money, and the marriage between you and the Prince will benefit our country greatly." He harshly said.
"But I don't wan –" She tried to protest but was cut short.
"No 'buts', Hyuga Hinata. You're being selfish. Think about our people; there are many of them without money."
Without another word, Hinata sped out the room. She could say no more because he was right; there wasn't any point of arguing any longer. As a leader of her country, she should be trying to help her people instead of continuing their sufferings. It wasn't right for her to only think of herself when many people are depending on her.
OoOoO
A male servant led Naruto down the long hallway. "Here is your room, sir." He slid the door open and moved aside, enabling Naruto to enter.
"Thank you…um?"
With his head bowed low, the servant said, "My name is Shai, sir."
He patted the little kid's head. "Well, thank you Shai. Tell me, why is a child such as yourself working as a servant here? Is the emperor perhaps….forcing child labor?"
The servant was short, reaching only to Naruto's waist. His pudgy cheeks, round black eyes, and smooth skin were similar to a child's. Confusion between a child and his race were common; it didn't surprise the servant when he was asked that question. "Lord Hiashi is a kind man; he would never force a child to do manual labor. I volunteered myself. And I'm not a child; I'm older than you, sir, much older. I'm a dwarf."
"Ahh…..sorry, my mistake ."
Dwarves were Yunomi and known for living in the mountains. They are nothing like the dwarves in the tales the Earthlings tell. Instead of being an ugly and old creature, the dwarves in Vinea were cute beings. They were short and plump. Their child-like appearances made many of them pass as children. In order to distinguish between child and dwarf, dwarves would carry passports along with them. Along with their young display, they are able to live to about two hundred years. However, once they reach one hundred – their coming age, as they like to call it – they begin to grow like any Yunomi child.
"Not a big deal. Before I leave, I am to inform you of a visitor. Master Neji will be visiting your room later." The dwarf bowed then left.
"Neji?" He wondered. Just who was he to be called a "Master"? He was positive that there was no prince in the Sun Empire.
Naruto was left alone with nothing to keep him occupied. All the room had to offer was the beautiful scenery outside and the paintings hung on the red walls. He hopped over to the large bed in the middle of the room and began undressing. Off went the cloak and down went his bag. He untied the red ribbon wrapped around his head and took off his Kitsune mask. The man gave his shoulders a small work out then proceeded to do his work on the bed. His hand reached over to his bag and pulled out a notebook. In symbols he wrote down his secret message:
"Successfully infiltrated. The Emperor is not doing anything bad; his servants say that he is kind and reasonable. No child labor or abuse is happening. I will be travelling with the Princess and will try to dig out some information from her. There may be something they're hiding. Till then, Kitsu-"
As fast as he could, he shoved the paper in his hand into the green bag, zipped it and dropped it on the ground. The wooden door shook a bit, then opened to reveal a boy around his age. He was glaring daggers into the wanderer's poor soul. He couldn't help but to sweat.
"Umm…you're Neji?"
His glare didn't falter. He didn't reply until a few minutes later. The man huffed and said, "Yes, I am. Hyuga Neji, Lord Hiashi's nephew."
It was no wonder he looked a lot like the emperor. So he's Hinata-Hime's cousin. Sounding hesitant, Naruto said, "Nice to meet you, Master Neji. I'm Uzumaki Naruto, a simple traveller."
Neji frowned and crossed his arms over his well-trained chest. "So I've been told." He didn't say any more than that. He simply stared at Naruto, making him uncomfortable. The awkward air thickened as the minutes went by.
"Um….did you needed something?"
His white eyes flickered, realising that his guest was uncomfortable. "Yes, I do. I came here to take a good look at you and to say 'protect Hinata-sama with more than your life'. I say this because just your life is not a big enough price to pay for my beloved cousin."
Ouch, that kind of hurt man. You make me sound like a house fly.
"I would challenge you to a battle to see if you are worthy but uncle has already done so. If my uncle approves then I can't do anything but to follow his orders. But, you are warned: if I hear anything happened to my cousin, you will be slain by my sword. And I won't make it fast; it will be very slow and tortuous." His rough voice became hard and convincing. "Am I making myself clear?"
Naruto sighed. He was tired of these conversations. "Clear as day sir. You can count on me to protect your cousin; I will not endanger her in anyway."
"Alright, I shall trust in your words, Naruto-kun, for now. Hinata-sama has social anxiety; she has trouble talking to people, especially males. It's a wonder why she didn't throw a fit about you when meeting uncle earlier. She's been in the house for her whole life and so the only interactions she had was with the servants –most of them being female – and of course, her family. So, please watch over her."
Naruto nodded. Ahh! That's why she seemed distressed earlier. "I will. Thank you for the information."
"Well, you seem tired; I shall take my leave then." Neji turned around and walked out the door just as fast as how he came into the room.
Naruto stretched his arms and flopped down on the bed in resting position. It's been a long day and tomorrow it's just going to get tougher. Thinking that, he soundly fell asleep in the Hyuga mansion, forgetting about the incomplete message in his bag.
OoOoO
The gates to the palace closed with a thud and the loud clops from the horse's galloping were the only sounds heard. It was early morning and the princess and her knight recently departed. Before leaving, Hinata said a long farewell to her family along with the many servants of the mansion. She was loved dearly; Naruto noticed from the many tears and encouraging words.
Meanwhile, they both sat awkwardly inside the carriage. The emperor insisted on helping them throughout their whole journey by giving them a carriage, supplies, horses, and soldiers. However, Naruto declined, saying that it would only slow them down, and they would be clear targets for lurking enemies. It would further endanger them. Hiashi then requested that his men would take them to the nearest village and that would be it. Hearing his majesty's plea to help them in some way, Naruto accepted.
And so, now begins their journey together. He stared at her. Dressed in a new kimono – less elegant than the last, but still suiting her beauty. She was trying her best to hold in the rest of her tears. She stared out the window to try to hide her face, and using her hands, she would wipe the tears that betrayed her will.
"You can cry all you want, Hinata-Hime. Don't let my presence stop you, I won't laugh. It's hard to part with family."
Hinata stared at him. Her lips pouted and her eyes were watery. Down went the dam and out poured the gushing water. Her loud wails filled the air, but the wanderer didn't stop her.
"That's a girl. Let your sadness pour out, don't keep it bottled up." He smiled.
OoOoO
"Your highness, we have arrived at Kokua village." The soldier outside said. He knocked on the door and asked for permission to open the carriage door.
Hinata had ceased her tears a few minutes ago. All that was left were her sniffles and red, puffy eyes.
"Are you alright now? Should I tell him that we need a few minutes?"
She shook her head at Naruto's suggestion. "I-I'm fine." Her voice wavered. Betraying her words, a few more tears fell as she desperately tried to wipe them away.
Once more, the soldier knocked. "Your highness?"
"You can open it." Naruto replied for her. Her cracked voice would show that she was crying. He climbed out the carriage and closed the door. The soldier looked at him questionably. "Well since it's her first time out and all, she's nervous." He said positively, hiding what she was actually doing.
The soldier looked at him suspiciously but didn't say anything.
Naruto turned his attention to the village. He saw it as he was walking to the castle before and it looked just the same. The same huts and people were out selling their goods. An array of food stands were aligned on the dirt ground. The houses were made from wood and would double as a store and living quarters. Wild animals such as dogs, cats, chickens and mice scurried around the place. The shop keepers were trying to attract customers by shouting remarkable comments about their products.
A click and a loud creak were made from the carriage door. A composed Hinata emerged out of the vehicle. Her crying had finally come to a stop, leaving her with only red tinted eyes. As a thank you, she gave a small smile and nodded towards Naruto. The same soldier from before handed her, her bag filled with her belongings. She slipped the backpack over her shoulders.
"We shall depart here, Hime-sama. We wish you a safe and successful journey." All the soldiers saluted and galloped away after her approval.
"Well, let's start walking." Naruto turned from her and walked briskly into the market.
Hinata followed quietly behind, excitedly staring at the sight before her. She was fascinated from the many items she saw. The streets were busy with people and different shops were opened. On one of the outdoor street vendors, she spotted an elderly lady selling toys. Young children were crowding around her as she was telling a story with puppets. Hinata couldn't help but watch their little play; she had never seen one and so this was her first. Noticing another presence, the old lady beckoned Hinata to walk over. She did, failing to notice that her protector was nowhere in sight.
"My-my, to be in presence of the princess, what brings you here, deary?" Her course voice asked nicely. At the sound of this, the children's' attention wandered to the new figure.
"You know me?" Not many knew the face of the first princess. The palace held her in because she was the Ena. It was for her safety and that her secret wouldn't be revealed. How the elderly lady knew her was a mystery.
She chuckled and pointed her wrinkled finger to Hinata's chest. "My guess was right because of that; the pendant on your necklace is the sign of your clan and our country. If you don't want others to find out, it's best if you tuck it in. There's also your clothes; not many have luxurious silk kimonos unless you came from a noble family. You remind me of our queen and so, I guessed that you are our hidden princess, Hinata-Hime. Now, I answered your question, mind answering mine?"
"Umm…" She couldn't say that she was the Ena and was looking for the famous Oracle. "I-I wanted to s-see for once….m-my future c-country I mean." Technically it wasn't a total lie.
"Hime-sama?" A curious child asked. The little girl tugged on the hem of Hinata's kimono for her attention. The other children looked up at her with gleams and admiration clouding their eyes. Squeals of excitement came from their mouths, attracting unwanted attention from the other villagers.
Seeing the panic in her eyes, the elderly woman suggested an idea. "Calm down children, you're panicking the princess. If you want her to stay and tell a story, be nice children and keep quiet. Isn't that right, Hime-sama? I'm parched and I need water, so do you mind? I'll be quick."
"Oh of course!" After the woman left her booth, Hinata came around and sat on the wooden crate. The children surrounded her feet and sat down patiently. "S-so, what story s-should I tell you?"
"A love story!"
"Ewww, not a love story, something exciting with fighting!" A boy protested against the girls.
"No, we don't like blood! Love is the way to go, tell us a love story."
"But fights are exciting, falling in love isn't!"
The boys and girls continued to fight on what story they wanted. Not knowing what to do to calm them, Hinata hesitated. "Umm…uh…s-stop fighting kids. Fine, I shall tell a story with love and fighting. N-no blood."
Their little fight stopped and they went back to being quiet. Taking this as an agreement, Hinata began her story, trying not to stutter and ruin it. This story was one that she was very familiar with, the story of the Ena. "Long ago, there lived….."
~Meanwhile, farther into town~
"Thanks for buying, come again someday, sir." The shop keeper said.
"The map I bought for us will help us on our journey. Luckily, they dropped us off in Kokua village because we're right near the border. In about two or three days, we'll cross over to the Proessa Empire. I haven't gone there myself and so, I'm not sure how it's like there. Are you excited to adventure into a new country?" The wanderer asked. He had walked into a shop to just browse around. He found the map of their world and decided to buy it.
Silence.
Naruto ruffled his hair in frustration. "No reply again, huh? You're a very quiet princess you know? All the other nobles that I've met were such snobs. Are you listening?" He turned around and was met with air. There was no one there the whole time he was talking, explaining why it was so quiet for the past hour or so. He just thought that she was really shy and didn't want to talk.
Shit! I lost her and it's only been a day since I started the job. No- not even a day. Her father's gonna be pissed if he finds out. He started to quicken his pace, looking back and forth for any sign of a blue-haired girl. His light threads became faster until it reached the point where he was running. He called out her name many times but was only answered with strange stares and chattering from the villagers.
Where could she be? Please don't tell me someone figured out her identity and kidnapped her. Being absorbed in his own thoughts, he failed to notice the old woman walking ahead of him. They crashed into one another, making his hood and mask fall off.
"I'm so sorry madam, I didn't watch where I was going." Naruto apologized. He helped the woman stand back onto her feet, and then he picked up his mask.
The woman stared at him with a blank expression as he put on the fox mask.
"Umm…is there a problem?"
The woman snapped out of her daze. "Oh, no it's nothing. You seem familiar but I'm old, I could just be mistaken for someone else."
"Well, I haven't seen you before, if that clears your suspicion. Anyways, I have to go now. Sorry again." He was about to walk away until the lady grabbed his arm. "Yes? Do you need something?"
In her croaky voice she said, "It is not me who needs something, it is you who needs someone. I heard that you were looking for our princess, Hinata. I know where she is, follow me." It could have been a trap, but for some odd reason, he trusted her words. Even if it were a trap, what could one old woman do to him?
Naruto had to slow down his pace while walking behind the stranger. After turning a few corners, Naruto noticed that the amount of people lessened.
"Are you scared that this old hag will do something to you? No need to fret, I'm too old to fight. These allies will take us to her quicker than going through the route you were heading before."
"Before I say my thanks, how do you know where she is?" They turned into another pathway.
"I saw her with you earlier; she was lagging behind and spotted my shop. She was staring at my shop with an excited look and so I called her over. At the moment, she's watching over my booth 'cause I had to buy a drink." The woman replied. "What's your name, sir?"
He hesitated. "…Kitsune."
"Hmm…odd name, but then again, I also have an unusual name: Shinobu. It's nice to meet you."
After walking through the next alleyway, they were met with a busy street once again. They were back on the main street of Kokua. Shinobu didn't need to lead the way any further; Naruto had already found his target. She was far off in one corner with a bunch of children. He immediately ran to her but stopped mid-way. The princess wasn't in any danger, she actually seemed happy and at peace. She had this warm aura around her while she was telling her story. The children were listening intently on her story and Naruto couldn't help but smile. Hinata was socializing with people.
"Zerek tried to find the oracle for Clestia's eyes but in the end, Zerek failed to find a cure. Clestia was forced to live the rest of her life as a blind woman; she could no longer see her husband or the scenery around her. She wasn't even capable of seeing her first born or the many years of her children's growth. After she died, unfortunately, the curse that was infused into her blood is passed onto a female child in her bloodline. And that's the end of our story." Hinata concluded.
The children were no longer quiet, instead they were saddened. Only a few were weeping and others were on the verge of crying. The same female child from earlier raised her hand. "That means that there is still an Ena in this world, right?" She continued her speech after a nod from Hinata. "Then that means that there isn't an ending to their story yet; their story is just waiting to be completed. The curse is still being passed on and so, Clestia and Zerek must be waiting for someone to break it."
"Yeah! Clestia must be regretting her mistake and wants someone to fix it for her since she couldn't do it herself." The boy yelled out loud. At their positive thinking, the other kids began to calm down and cheer along.
Hinata was flabbergasted from their positive thoughts. She hadn't thought about it like that and from what they were saying, it somehow boosted her confidence in finding the oracle. "You kids may be right; yes, the story must continue and end with a fairy tale ending."
Shinobu cleared her throat. "I'm back now. You did a very good job at this, Hime-sama. I watched you as I was walking back and honestly I have never seen the children listen so intently." She cackled with that ever-so-croaky voice. "For your kind efforts, I bestow you this toy rabbit." With her old, wrinkled hands, Shinobu grabbed the plushie off her table and handed it to Hinata.
"O-oh, t-thank you, it-it was fun." Hinata took the white rabbit gratefully. "I-I will t-treasure it."
Shinobu laughed again. "Your stuttering is back, my dear. My, you weren't stumbling over your words while telling that story; you must have enjoyed it a lot. Come back down from the castle another day and you can tell stories to these youngsters anytime. Your knight is waiting over there beside the well. He fell on me by chance earlier today, literally. He was worried about you and searched frantically all around town. Next time, don't wander away from him. You've got yourself a handsome and devoted knight, he's a keeper." The old lady winked. "Now go!"
"Y-yes, thank you again." Hinata turned around with a slight blush on her cheeks. Her smile faded at what she saw next. No, more like, what she didn't see next. She started walking away with panic; her heart sped up by the second. She couldn't see the well – she couldn't see him. All she saw was blurriness. It's wearing off.
Hinata felt something touch her hand, grasping it lightly. She looked down only to see the same female child from before. Her panic eased just a bit.
"You seemed scared, Hime-sama. Your hand is sweaty, what's wrong?" The human child asked in her sweet innocent voice. "You were happy just a minute ago."
Hinata replied with, "C-could you help me? I can't find a man with a cloak. Do you mind leading me to him? He should be at the well."
The girl agreed, easing her worries. "My name is Nonoka and I'm almost six. My mom said that I have to help people in need, and you need help. I feel helpful while leading you to him." Nonoka explained.
"It's nice to meet you, Nonoka-chan. You are helping me a great deal actually."
Nonoka giggled. "Well, here we are, Hime-sama." Nonoka removed her hand and giggled once more; there was something else in Hinata's hand. "It was nice meeting you. Bye-bye, Hime-sama; I have to go back to granny." She waved her good-bye then skipped her way back.
It took a while to process what the child put in her hand. It was warm and firm, smooth and held her hand tightly. It was a man's hand, Naruto's hand. The smoothness was from the brown leather glove he wore. She flustered while trying to say, "A-ano…h-hand." She was asking for him to remove it because she felt uncomfortable; however, the boy took it differently.
"Yes, hand; it's my hand. I thought that we should hold hands or else you'll get lost again. You know, I was very worried, I thought you got abducted or something. It reassures me when I know that your by my side. " he said, not knowing that his words impacted Hinatas feelings. She blushed ten times harder. She didn't say anything in reply, just followed him to where he was headed.
~Night, at the border of The Sun Empire~
"Oh god, both suns already set. Time sure passes by quick when you're in the forest." Naruto sighed.
The first day of their journey was coming to its close. The two traveling companions had gotten some supplies from Kokua village before heading out of the vacancy. For the past three hours, they've been walking through a forest. It was pleasant at first – birds chirping, animals wandering about – but as they walked deeper into the deep dark woods, it got quieter and the trees were growing to be oddly shaped. The area was turning eerie the further they adventured in.
"Let's set up camp; it's dangerous to walk in the dark." He let go of her hand to take off his bag. Hinata did the same. "Stay here for a second, I found some wood. Lemme go fetch it. Don't move, ya here?"
She nodded. Even if she did want to leave, there wasn't anywhere to go considering her condition. Hinata sat on her bag in silence. A few crickets were out singing their songs but either than that, it was quiet. She felt scared all of a sudden; not being able to see, being alone without any attendance, and the feeling that another presence was there. She fiddled her fingers – a habit she picked up from when she was a kid – while waiting for her knight. Seconds felt like hours for the frightened girl. Out of her pocket, she pulled out a container of shiny, gray pills. She gulped one down and waited for the effects.
A loud snap came from behind her. Startled, she screamed.
"Shhh! You'll wake up the animals with that loud scream of yours. It's just me, Naruto. Sorry, I gave you quite the fright. I dropped a stick and accidentally stepped on it."
Relieved that it wasn't some monster, Hinata relaxed.
Naruto began setting up their little camp. He stacked the wood on top of each other then went to his bag. He pulled out a small orb; the outer shell was transparent and on the inside there was something red and dancing like the element itself: fire. Chanting in a language unknown, the wanderer closed his eyes. In his palm, the orb broke and the flame inside slowly drifted onto the wood. He completed building their fire then went on to the tent. Hinata watched in wonder as Naruto pulled out long poles out of his tiny bag and a tarp for over top. In a couple of minutes, the tent was done. The next thing he pulled out of his bag was a futon. He laid it inside the green tent and told Hinata that it was her bed.
"H-how could you do t-that?! I thought magic was o-only for the supernatural. You're a human." The curious princess asked as she sat down on the futon.
"Huh? You mean the bag and the fire? Well, these are just objects infused with magic. Regular humans, well people who don't have power, can use them. Magicians, wizards, witches, and all those other people can cast spells and create potions - they can do anything with magic. They are the ones that infused their magic into objects, allowing regular people to use it too. They make money out of these stuff. Regular people don't have magic and so they can't produce any of these goods. The bag I have was made to hold an infinite amount of items in a small and light weighted bag. There was magic in that orb, it allows anything to be saved in it but only once. The magician that sold me them, made the orb self –destruct when I say the incantation. Do you sort of understand? I'm not so good at explaining." He chuckled while ruffling his hair. The blond sat outside of the tent, against a convenient log. He had taken off his mask and gloves, then wrapped himself in a blanket.
Hinata shook her head. "No, I understand. Thank you."
Naruto stared at her for a while. Hinata was uncomfortable from the intense stare that he was giving. "Ano?" Was there a problem with her reply or was there something on her face. Hinata really did not know.
"I heard your story earlier. It was a bit different than how I was told. I heard that Clestia ran away from home with Zerek and lived happily with her family, but you told a rather tragic story." He cocked his head while saying this.
"T-that's the modern s-story of it. It's m-meant for children. I-I told the true story to them because I wanted them to know the truth." She looked down at her hands, finding them more comfortable to look at rather than meeting Naruto's blue eyes.
After a few moments of silence, Naruto asked the question he was meaning to ask before. "You're the Ena, right? I mean, I saw you walking behind me earlier – before you got lost – and you didn't need any assistance. Shouldn't the Ena be blind? That's the whole point of this quest (finding the cure), isn't it?"
Hinata pulled out the same pill bottle from before. It held a full amount of gray small pellets. "I take this m-medication. One of our soldiers was sent to buy it from a faraway country. It enables me to see, but all magic has its limits. For normal blind people, this medication allows them to see everything in color and in detail. An angel's blood is too holy to sit in a regular person's body, and so the medication doesn't take full effect on me. Since I'm cursed with an angel's blood, there's a limit to how much I can see. For one, I'm color blind; everything is in black, white or gray. Also, I can only see the outlines of objects. An example would be you; I can only see the shape of your cloak, clothes, and face but I can't see any details on it. If there are buttons or gems, I can't see them. That means that I can't read or write either. There's also a time limit to this medication and it depends on how much I intake. The magician that sold it recommended to take only three a day. The first pill will only last four hours, the second, two hours, and the third is only thirty minutes. Exceeding the limit will only cause headaches and eye pain." Hinata somehow explained without stuttering or biting her tongue.
Naruto waited a minute to process what she had just told him. "Hmm, so it's like a rough sketch of a drawing? Can you see this?" He pointed to the whisker marks on his cheek.
"W-well, I've never seen a drawing so, I can't say. I can see your finger pointing to your face, your eyes are above where you're pointing at and your lips are at the bottom. You're pointing at your cheek but no – I don't think that's the answer you're looking for. I don't know what you're pointing at exactly. Wh-what is it?"
"Nothing, just a birth mark." He felt slightly relieved at Hinata's answer. "One more question: what exactly is your power? To protect you, I need to understand what I'm dealing with."
"Oh." She thought that her father had already told him. Hinata was hesitant to tell him. The people that she told at the palace took advantage of it and wouldn't stop asking questions. Her father had to send in a fairy to erase their memories. She looked around the area to see if there was anyone else lurking in the area. Seeing that there was no one, she whispered, "I-I can s-see the past as well as the future. And I can transfer the memories of a person or object into another's mind. They will be able to see and feel what the other person was feeling. I can see a person's whole past, but I can't see the person's whole future. The past is already done and can't be tampered with. The future, however, is like a puzzle; I can only see bits and parts and would have to put it together. A side effect of my power is that it causes headaches or nausea."
Naruto grinned radiantly, as if all his problems were resolved. Her power was exactly what he was looking for. For a long time, he had been searching for someone to help him, and finally the day had come. "Then can you help me?!" He shot up from his slouching position and looked at her with determined eyes. His abrupt voice shocked Hinata, making her flinch. "I'm sorry if I'm being rude, you explained the problems and yet I asked. I need to know my whole past."
"What do you mean?" Hinata was baffled. Most people would ask her for her predictions on what is to come, but he asked about the past. Why would someone need to find out their full past if they've already lived through it?
Naruto ruffled his hair. "Well, you see, I don't remember a thing. There's this blockage in my head. Whenever I try to remember something from the days of my child hood – even the smallest thing – nothing comes to mind. Not even the faces of my parents…." For a second, Hinata heard his voice quiver, but it quickly changed to a demanding voice held with conviction. "I'm sure you can help me. I've been looking for someone like you. Please?" He got down on his knees and bowed down to her. "The feeling of not knowing who you are is unsettling."
Hinata was alarmed at his behavior. She waved her hands in front of her, telling him to get up. "O-of course, I-I'll help you. Just sit in front of me." It was the first time that she had come across a person with amnesia.
He did as he was told, sitting directly in front of her with his legs crossed.
She beckoned him to lean his head in closer. "I-I n-need to t-touch your forehead w-with mine." Her cheeks grew red as their faces got closer together. "Cl-close your eyes, it's embarrassing."
Naruto tried to ignore the heat radiating off his cheeks. Their noses were touching and he could smell the soft fragrance of flowers wafting from her.
The princess also closed her eyes. She chanted a few words in a foreign language and ended it off with "Byakugan." Her pupils were whiter, veins out and popping. Everything around her became transparent and all she saw was the flesh in his head. It was like her spirit was standing in his head. Her lips formed a frown as she was trying to look through his brain. She needed to locate the temporal lobe, the area where his memories are stored. Once found, she touched the area and her spirit was sent to another area. The brain disappeared and only a door appeared amongst the darkness. For some odd reason, the red door was shackled with chains and locked with a golden number lock.
Strange, this isn't supposed to be here. The door should open to his memories. His books are in there. She tried to pull off the lock, but it didn't budge. She then tried inputting the six random digits in. There was a loud 'bzzz' each time she tried and got it wrong. Each time it would buzz, her new formed head ache grew.
Why won't it unlatch?! What is this? Hinata winched as the pain grew more intense. On her tenth try, the buzz was much louder, and a sudden force field was protecting the lock. It sent a wave of electricity coursing through her body. She was blasted out of his mind and sent back to the real world. Her Byakugan returned to its regular lavender color and the veins disappeared. Her eyes slowly fell and her body toppled onto Naruto's.
He opened his blue eyes and was suddenly panicking. The princess had just collapsed, her head resting on his shoulder. He wasn't sure if this was supposed to happen or not. "Oi! Are you alright, Hime? Hinata-Hime?!" He called her name a few more times while trying to shake her awake. Her head rocked back and forth but her eyes remained closed. Shit! Did she die? He carried her limp body into the futon. His two fingers touched her tender neck, feeling for a pulse. It was still there. Oh good, she just fainted. He exhaled a sigh of relief.
The wanderer then got out of the tent. First, zipping up the opening so bugs or other small critters wouldn't come in, then walking back to the log where his backpack was. Like any other regular being, he needed sleep. Being in a dark forest with who knows what, wasn't the safest place to sleep. Digging through his bag, he found three small cubes. Looks like I need to buy more later.
He took one out and walked over to the edge of their camp ground. The cube contained a force field, needed to protect him and the princess from large unwanted guests. He placed it on the ground and was about to chant the incantation when he heard rustling. The leaves of the bushes around them crinkled and moved. It was strange; there wasn't any wind to move it. His ears perked up and his hand reached for the heavy gloves in his pocket.
"Who's there?" He growled. The smell of mud and dead skunk wafted in the air. Naruto had to hold the collar of his cloak up to his nose. The bush in front of him rustled once more and out stood a large figure. It was dark but Naruto knew that this creature was green. It looked down at him with red glowing eyes and a drooling mouth.
Naruto clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Fucking ogres."
Well I had fun writing this chapter, hopefully you did too. Please follow/fav/ REVIEW! And thank you to everyone who did. *sigh* i love writing fantasy stories...you can make up anything and no one can really say it's wrong -u-
Oh and about the "brain thing" I'm not a person who wants to get in the medical business..so I'm not too sure if it's the temporal lobe.
Check my profile to see if there's any progress of my stories u.u
Thanks for reading!
~Fred