I will be replying to your kind to reviews via PM, thank you for sharing them with me I would definitely love for you all to keep doing so! Here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy…
Note: Bold typing inside a Flashback refers to thoughts.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
-"Two weeks" I whispered.
He is, after all, the reason why I'm here in the first place. Not just because he saved me, but also because I... I finally did it...
FLASHBACK
-"O-Oto-san..."- My fingers tapped the shoji of my father's studio.
-"Come in"- my father's deep voice was heard. I didn't hesitate for a second. I opened the shoji and entered the room quietly, closing it behind me. My hands were shaking.
-"D-Did you want to see me, O-Oto-san?"- With a subtle gesture, he directed me to sit in front of him, and so I did.
-"You are getting married,"- his words stabbed me like a thousand daggers.
-"M-Married?"-
-"Someone has asked for your hand in marriage, and as my eldest daughter, it is time to bring honor to your family."
I couldn't protest. My father had always seen me as nothing more than a burden who could only bring dishonor to the Hyuuga Clan.
-"W-Who?"- It was all I could manage.
-"The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki,"- my father's gaze bore into me, his words piercing through. -"Uzumaki Naruto."
Shock washed over me, but I couldn't find my voice. His name echoed in my mind –"Naruto"–. It was my doing after all. I had confessed my feelings to him once, in battle, when I tried to protect him. Now that he had returned to the village, the blonde wouldn't stand a chance with his pink-haired teammate. Hence, he sought me out after all this time. However ...
-"No"- I mustered, as resolutely as I could in that moment.
My father's voice, though calm, held an unwavering resolve as he said, -"'You cannot decline this. He personally informed me of your statements"-
-"But I... that was a very long time ago"- I murmured, bowing my head to study my tightly clenched hands resting on my lap, gripping the fabric of my kimono.
-"You can't undo your words now, can you? Your honor is at stake."-
-"I... he doesn't love me"- my voice barely rose above a whisper.
-"He has asked me personally."-
-"Because I am his last choice!"- I burst out.
-"This will not become an argument. This is decided already"- his tone brooked no room for my defense.
-"I do not love... him"- I attempted to meet his eyes, only to turn away from his cold and emotionless gaze.
-"Him? What do you mean? Is there someone else?"-
His questions left me feeling feeble, and though I didn't want to respond, I forced myself to. After what felt like an eternity of silence, I finally uttered it.
-"Hinata?"-
-"U-Uchiha-san..."- The moment his name left my lips, I felt a stinging sensation on my left cheek... -"Father"-
-"A traitor, a murderer!"- The wrath in my father's voice compelled me to turn and look at him. Meeting his enraged eyes, I felt small and inconsequential. -"Get out."-
-"But Oto-san..."-
-"GET OUT!"-
-"He does not know, father"- even now, I tried to mend things. However, my father moved towards the window, no longer acknowledging me. I rose and moved towards the door, but my father's voice arrested me.
-"A demon has no feelings, Hinata. A demon is unable to love."-
A heavy pressure weighed on my chest, and I couldn't contain the stifled sound that slipped from my lips –"O-Otosan..."-
-"Leave-" his voice was calm again, but the chill remained. As I stepped out of the mansion, it was already dark. Yet, I walked towards a destination that, despite my mind's attempt to evade it, I knew all too well...
END OF FLASHBACK
I walked through the main hallway and found solace in the garden, the one place where I didn't feel entirely alone, even with Tomoe-san, the housekeeper, nearby. She had been exceptionally kind and gentle with me. Still, he had left an emptiness inside me, growing with every passing moment.
Sitting amidst the dandelions, I waited... of course, I'll continue to wait.
FLASHBACK
Suddenly, I was running for my life. Six men pursued me, and given my incomplete recovery, if they caught me, I wouldn't stand a chance. Pain had pierced my left lung, narrowly missing my heart. Sakura and Tsunade had almost lost me, but through immense effort and diligent care, they saved me. It had been a year, and I was still not fully healed.
In panic, I lost my way, fleeing toward Konoha's gates. I thought the night and trees might confuse my assailants, and I would eventually find my way back, being a native of this village. But that didn't happen. They caught up, and when the first one touched me, a scream of fear tore from my throat, a desperate plea for help. They started assaulting me, tearing at my white dress. They were going to...
Fast footsteps approached. Huddled against a tree, tears streamed down my face when a force compelled me to look up. Despite my vision blurred from tears, I recognized his silhouette. –"It can't be him!"– I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand and witnessed the scene unfolding before me: my assailants were bleeding heavily, terrified of the man before them, holding just one kunai. –"Stop..."– he couldn't do this; he'd face severe consequences if he killed them. I couldn't let that happen. I stepped closer, his back turned to me, and placed my trembling hand on his shoulder. When he turned to meet my gaze, his eyes were tinged with a scarlet red, and I felt fear, not of him, but for him. I didn't want him to lose himself... and I could only muster one phrase in an attempt to bring him back...
-"Y-You are not a-a murderer..."–
His hand released the kunai, and my body succumbed to unconsciousness. I heard his deep, calm voice utter a cold –"Leave"– before everything faded to black... the last sensation was his arms holding me tightly, enveloped in searing heat.
END OF FLASHBACK
-"Hinata-sama"–
Tomoe's voice snapped me back to reality. I inclined my head in acknowledgement, and she did the same, making her way towards me with a tray laden with ointments, bandages, pills, and a cup of tea. I'd only known her for a week, yet this had already become a routine. In the absence of my chakra, she attended to my nearly healed wounds and scattered bruises. I couldn't help but notice, though, that she didn't seem to attach much importance to the wound on my shoulder, the one he had stitched, claiming she didn't know how to properly heal such an injury. Still, I was too grateful for her help to ask for more... the only thing that piqued my curiosity was the inquisitive look in her large brown eyes. There was a certain gleam... as if she knew something I didn't.
-"Hinata-sama, there's something I must tell you"– she said, rubbing ointment onto one of the bruises. So, I simply nodded, listening. Speaking would likely reveal the slight pain I still felt...
-"I won't be able to come next week. My son's health is causing some trouble. I hope you won't feel too lonely. I've prepared everything you'll need during your stay: ample food, clean kimonos and yukatas, enough ointments and medicines, although... I still don't know how long you'll be staying..."– she explained while passing me the pills and the tea. When I looked at her, that gleam was back in her eyes. I met her gaze, perplexed. –"Maybe it's just my imagination"–
-"D-Don't worry, T-Tomoe-san. I'll be f-fine. Uhm... I'll leave before h-he returns. I don't w-want to be a-a nuisance..."–
-"Oh my dear! It seems to me you're not a nuisance to anyone. You said so yourself!"–
-"T-Tomoe-san..."–
-"Well, I must be off"– she stood and smiled at me. –"My daughter's health can't wait"–
-"B-But I thought y-your son-"–
-"Oh yes, of course, my son! I'm sorry, Hinata-sama. There's so much on my mind"–
I sweat-dropped, unable to help the warm smile that crept onto my face. I'd confided in her from the first day we met, telling her everything: why I'd fled home, what followed, who had saved me. When I told her who, she looked at me as if I were insane. Anyway... tomorrow would be Monday, the start of the second week of his mission. And tomorrow, I'd leave. How could I face him now? I knew he'd kissed me, but I... besides, he'd made it quite clear that I meant nothing to him. He'd told me to stay out of his way, and that's precisely what I'd do, no matter how much it pained me. The last thing he'd want is to find me here upon his return... so I'd made my decision.
It was late now, so I decided to return to my current room. I searched the drawers for something to wear, but I didn't like sleeping in yukatas. Then an idea struck me. I slid open the shoji of my room and, with a bit of haste, navigated the hallway to reach his room. I eased the door open, as if he were present and I wished to remain undiscovered. His scent hit me full force. It was so... masculine, simultaneously wild and refined. I pushed such thoughts aside when heat rushed to my cheeks, and I moved through the room toward my target: the dresser. I opened the same drawer I'd used that night and felt the warmth on my face as I took a pair of his pajamas. Suddenly, a noise like a sharp kick startled me, prompting me to turn towards the window. I turned my gaze toward the window and saw a bird perched on the frame. I recognized it instantly: It was the hawk that had brought the mission last time, his hawk. What was it doing here? These birds were used by the Anbu for messaging purposes until the mission was completed. And at that thought, I examined it more closely... the straps on its legs and beak were gone. So, the bird had been here for a while... –"Oh..."–
-"T-Tomoe-san, y-you..."–
In that moment, I fled from his room, clutching his clothes to my chest, my steps halting abruptly when the door slid open... I shuddered.