Chapter Text
“Hina, time to wake up…”
Hinata frowned in her sleep and emitted a slight growl of disapprobation—too late. She could already feel herself waking up and, no matter how much she wanted to fall back asleep, she now couldn’t help but notice the din of the crowd and the sounds of the airplane around her, as if someone had suddenly turned on the radio with the volume on maximum.
Hanabi shook her shoulder once more and told her to wake up again, though more aggressively this time.
“Hinata, the plane has landed, come on!”
This time, Hinata opened her eyes. She blinked, taking a few seconds to get used to the light in the cockpit, and noted how everyone around them was grabbing their personal effects and suitcases, ready to exit the plane. They couldn’t deboard yet, however, judging by how the people already in the corridor seemed static and anxious to move.
Hinata closed her eyes again, yawned, and stretched her arms as best as she could before straightening up. In the seat next to her, a bored Hanabi was already texting on her phone, unfazed by the traffic jam next to them.
She yawned again.
She may have slept the entire flight between Iwa and Konoha but she was still in a daze and could feel how hard her brain was trying to turn on. She glanced out of the window and the sight of the airport apron, reflecting the morning sun, hurt her eyes a little.
And yet, the hint of a smile enlightened her sleepy face. It was the perfect day for a wedding.
Hanabi suddenly touched her forearm before getting up incredibly fast, as if she was spring-loaded.
“Here we go!” She said, a big smile on her face, before grabbing her purse. “Come on, get moving, let’s gooo!”
Hanabi was incredibly excited by the prospect of a vacation in Konoha, and Hinata could not blame her; she was barely a teen when their family had left the place for Iwa and, apart from a couple of weekends over the years with her father and sister, she never truly had a chance to experience the feel of the city by herself.
Hinata, on the other hand, had seen too much of it.
The sisters got up and grabbed their suitcases from the luggage compartment before getting in line—but not before Hanabi had yelled “No cutsies!” to a grandma that would not let them access the corridor.
Once out of the plane, it didn’t take long for the two of them to find and reach the Thunder Train station that connected the Konoha airport to the actual city, something that did not exist back in the day when the Hyūga used to live there.
“I cannot wait to see Konoha!” Proclaimed louder than needed Hanabi. “There’s so much I wanna do…” Her smile and energy made Hinata giggle. “Last time, Father barely let us out of the hotel, so I have to make the most of it this week.”
“You know him,” said Hinata in an effort to defend him, “this city left a bad taste in his mouth. He always feels like something bad is going to happen to us when we’re here.”
Hanabi gave her a slide glance, her lips turning into a pout. Out of the two, Hinata may not have had the best relationship with their father, but she understood better than Hanabi the ghosts that were haunting Hiashi Hyūga and why he always had made sure to keep the greatest distance between Konoha and his family.
After all, over less than 15 years, he had lost his wife, and then his twin brother and sister-in-law. Finally, after the death of his nephew, killed in a hit-and-run accident when Hinata was still in high school, he had decided that Konoha was bad luck for the Hyūgas and had relocated with his two daughters to Iwagakure, two countries away.
Hinata had mixed feelings about Konoha too, happy and sad memories intertwining in her head and heart each time someone or something would bring the city up. However, she could not let nostalgia get to her, not when their current trip was supposed to be nothing but happiness and celebration. Hanabi was there to enjoy her spring break and Hinata, for the wedding of an old high school friend of hers.
Despite leaving Konoha when she was 17 years old and her shy personality, Hinata had managed to keep in touch with her former group of friends over the years and the distance. In the past, she had been able to come back a couple of times to attend birthday parties or to meet up with the group in some random town for a weekend getaway, which had allowed her to still be considered a member of their little high school circle by the others and hence, secure her invitation at today’s Ino’s and Sai’s wedding.
Ino Yamanaka had been a longtime friend of hers: even if they had never been in the same class in middle school or high school, they hung out with the same people and soon became a part of each other’s lives. Though they weren’t best friends like Ino and Sakura—nor as close as Hinata and Sakura, for that matter—, the two girls had shared countless laughter, gossip and memories and, after Hinata’s departure, it was at the Hyūga’s mansion in Iwa—not at her grandparents’, not at Sakura’s, no even at Sai’s—, that Ino had chosen to spend her last summer of high school, after the death of her father.
Hinata remembered finding it odd at first. However, being motherless herself and having suffered the loss of a cousin she considered like a brother to her a year prior, Ino may have thought that Hinata would be the only one to understand her pain.
For the first time in her life, her difficulty in making small talk had actually been an advantage, for Ino needed space to mourn and think.
Hinata could remember their long walks in the canyons surrounding Iwa, hours, days spent without a word, or those times at night when they would get on one futon and hold each other while crying themselves to sleep.
The Thunder Train entered the station with a loud mechanical screeching, abruptly pulling Hinata out of her reverie. Next to her, Hanabi was already putting her phone back in her pocket and grabbing the handle of her suitcase, ready to get on it. Hinata quickly grabbed her own bag and the two girls hurried inside the first coach they saw, looking for two seats next to one another.
“At what time do you think we’ll get to our hotel?” Asked Hanabi once they had settled.
Hinata checked her watch. Even though the sun was already high in the sky, it wasn’t 9 a.m. yet.
“If I remember properly, the ride to Central Station takes around 45 minutes…” Hinata stopped, making some quick calculations. Man, was she bad at math. “I guess we should be there around 10h45?”
“Okay, knowing you, let’s make it 11 a.m.”, sneered Hanabi.
Hinata tried giving her her best death stare but Hanabi, back on her phone again, didn’t seem to notice. Disappointed, she decided to take hers out of her bag as well and to give a call to her dad. Knowing him, he probably hadn’t slept at all last night: their flight taking off at 3 a.m., he had confined himself to see them off at the door of Hyūga mansion, entrusting Kō, Hanabi’s and Hinata’s bodyguard, with driving them to the airport.
Their exchange was brief, as to be expected with Hiashi Hyūga: he coldly thanked her for keeping him updated but assured her that this kind of call wasn’t necessary at all, as he was extremely busy with work. Hinata did what she knew best—apologize—before wishing him a nice day and hanging up.
Three years ago, such a conversation would have left her in tears and feeling emotionally shattered, but that time was over and Hinata knew better.
I’m not a child anymore, she thought to herself while remembering how far their relationship had come.
Her phone buzzed for a couple of seconds, and she noticed that she had several messages waiting for her to be read: Tamaki, Sakura and some other girls Hinata was less familiar with were suggesting meeting up at the wedding hall early for a little “girl time” before the ceremony in some group chat, but she discarded the idea. Her morning was already packed enough as it was and she didn’t believe that she could manage to make it there before the scheduled time.
Another text, from Tenten this time, was asking her if their flight had arrived on time, as well as if she thought they would be ready to meet up in front of their hotel at 11h15, and if she needed anything special for later. Confident enough in her time prediction, she answered "yes" to the first two questions and reassured her that she had everything she needed already.
Her text sent, she took out of her bag a pair of earphones and zoned out till the sisters reached their destination, lost in her music.
Hanabi was sporting a triumphant grin as the two young women entered the familiar and lavishly adorned lobby of the Leaf Resort and Spa where their father had a permanent suite: it was 11h02.
“I never had a good sense of time,” recognized Hinata, a big frown darkening her sweet face.
She would have never thought that it would take them so long to get to the Hotel from the station on foot. Usually, the Hyūgas were getting to Konoha by private jet, where a chauffeured car would be waiting for them on the apron, ready to drive them home as fast as possible. However, since this was a trip they had decided upon by themselves, their father had refused to pay a single penny for them—well, except for that gigantic penthouse suite at the top of the most decadent and high-profile hotel in town.
Not every parent let go of their children the same.
Their check-in didn’t take long: the hotel staff knew them—or, of them—and, after bowing down at the sisters, a receptionist and a groom took care of their luggage and walked them to the private elevator that led directly to the Hyūga suite on the last floor.
“No need to follow us,” Hanabi instructed them. The staff members nodded and the groom dropped cautiously their luggage inside the cabin, before exiting the elevator and seeing them off.
It was far from their first time here, however, Hinata and Hanabi always felt like they needed a few minutes each time to get familiar with the place again. After all, that suite wasn’t a simple hotel room: it had its own hallway, two living rooms, a dining room, a kitchen, a master bedroom with a dressing and a bathroom, two smaller bedrooms with their private shower room, a gym, a home cinema and a terrace. Hinata was personally convinced that renting this place for a single minute cost more than her yearly salary, and she tried to imagine how much money their father had paid the Leaf Hotel and Spa all those years to keep this place his, before quickly giving up.
As they were getting out of the elevator, their dedicated staff lined-up to welcome them and Hinata and Hanabi introduced themselves to each of them one after the other, asking for their name and profession, before thanking them for being at their service, just like they had been taught to do. There were two security guards, a private chef, two maids and a housekeeper, ready to cater to their every need 24/7. That thought made Hinata embarrassed, and she blushed a little. She had never managed to get used to it. "Rich people problems, I suppose."
Her phone started ringing all of the sudden, and she checked the time. 11h16.
“Hanabi,” she remembered all of the sudden, “Tenten!”
The girls quickly rushed to their rooms, the security guards impassively following them with their bags.
Five minutes and a Spartan wash later, the two sisters met in the hallway of their suite, ready to join poor Tenten who had been waiting for them downstairs the whole time. The housekeeper, seeing that they were ready to leave, appeared with three large bouquets of white lilies.
“Just like Miss Hyūga and Miss Hanabi had asked for”, she said politely, while handing them the flowers respectfully.
Hinata thanked her and the two girls finally got in the elevator.
Shorter than Hanabi but taller than Hinata, Tenten Ishikawa was not a bad-looking woman. Brunette, she was sporting two tight buns on each side of her head that morning, and her face was, per usual, enlightened by big, pure smiles. Of course, she was fit, her body shaped by over two decades of intense physical activity: as a professional tennis table player, she had won numerous international competitions and had been the leading female player for a couple of years now. It went without saying that, within their little high school circle, she had gone on to become the most famous as an adult.
“Ah, here you are!” She said, welcoming them out of the lift with a big beam. “I almost waited!”
She was wearing a really simple black dress that clashed with the regular, more sporty looks, that Hinata was used to.
“Tenten!” Hanabi screamed, literally throwing the bouquet she was holding at Hinata’s face and running into their friend’s arms. Tenten had a loving giggle and, without breaking their embrace, offered her cheek for Hinata to kiss it.
“Let’s get moving,” she finally told them, letting go of Hanabi. “My manager’s waiting for us in the car and he’s double-parked.”
One hand on Hinata’s back, the other one firmly grabbing Hanabi’s arm, she made the little group walk through the hotel lobby in no time and once outside, directed them towards a black minivan, whose driver seemed to be in a heated debate with a hotel personnel.
“Sir, you really cannot stay there, you’re blocking the way—”
“But I keep telling you that I just need five more minutes! I’m only waiting for my young protégés and… Ah, speaking of the devil, here they are! Tenten! Hinata! Hop in, hop in, hurry up!”
Hinata bowed politely at the driver and then at the young staff member, her face hitting the flowers she was holding each time.
“How are you doing, Mr. Might?” She asked with a timid smile.
The hotel staff wilted, pale as an aspirin.
“My apologies, Miss Hyūga! I did not know that this man was waiting for Miss Hanabi and you!” He shouted, loud, standing to attention.
“Oh no, it’s nothing—” Whispered Hinata with an embarrassed smile while bowing to him again, Tenten grabbing her by the arm to take her inside the car.
“Chauffeur, put the pedal to the metal! We’re running late!” She yelled at Guy Might while buckling up. Hinata delicately dropped her bouquets on the free seat between her and Tenten and let out a little scream of surprise when the car took off at full pelt.
“Mister Guy!” Shrieked Hanabi, who was sitting in the front next to him, “Be careful! You don’t want to damage the Hyūga’s two most precious jewels!”
Guy laughed as he maneuvered the car through the crowded streets of Konoha. Hinata cast a glance at her window, letting herself sink in the feeling of familiarity that was overwhelming. It was a really nice spring morning and she could see all sorts of families outside enjoying a warm Saturday walk. Hinata smiled.
“So, Hinata, how’s the prep for the big competition going?”
Guy’s voice broke her out of her reverie and she straightened herself, their eyes meeting in the rear-view mirror.
“Good, I believe…” Stammered Hinata with a shy smile. Tenten stretched out to the front of the car, a big frown on her face, slapping his shoulder.
“Guy! We-agreed-we-wouldn’t-bring-this-subject-up!” She mumbled between her teeth, admonishing him.
Hinata sighed and lay back in her seat, Tenten still hitting Guy. She closed her eyes, her relaxing body feeling all of the sudden overwhelmed by sleep. How could those two have so much energy?
“And what about you, Tenten? How are you feeling about that Suna tournament next week?” She heard Hanabi ask, her voice barely reaching out through the fog that clouded her mind.
“Oh, you know me, same old, same old eh… I’m going to—”
She woke up at the sound of the unbuckling belts, and blinked, realizing they had reached their destination.
“Okay so, here’s the plan,” explained Tenten as she got ready to exit the car. “I suggested we all start with Neji like that after, Guy and I can leave you two together. Good?”
Hanabi and Guy hummed their agreement.
“Are you sure?” Hinata asked with a sleepy voice. “We would not like to keep you waiting.”
“Not at all, Guy and I will wait for you girls in the car and discuss some details about the Wind Open in the meantime.”
Hinata nodded, and all got out of the car.
The Hyūga mansion was an impressive old compound of traditional design, surrounded by a tall and menacing wall that protected its inhabitants from any unwelcoming glare.
Even though no Hyūga lived there anymore, the house was still being taken care of by a housekeeper, a maid and a gardener. Anyone unfamiliar with the family’s history would have found it incongruous that Hiashi Hyūga—as well as his daughters—wasn’t staying at his family house when in town, but not Hinata and Hanabi.
Whether it was the bedroom he used to sleep in, the chair he always sat on to eat his dinner, his corner in the garden, dedicated to his archery practice, or the chair in the main greenhouse where he used to curl up with a book, everything on the compound reminded them of Neji, of a time when he was still alive, a time they formed a family. A happier time.
Hinata could already feel a lump in her throat and she instinctively got closer to Hanabi, who warily grabbed her arm full of flowers. Hinata gave her a side glance and for a second, scrutinized her solemn air. This gravitas looked so foreign on Hanabi’s oh so sweet face, like she was wearing a mask, making Hinata’s heart squeeze even more.
Tenten rang the doorbell and, after a couple of minutes, Natsu, the Mansion’s housekeeper, opened them.
“Miss Hyūga, Miss Hanabi,” she said politely while bowing at the sisters, “Welcome home.”
Hinata and Hanabi nodded back to her and Natsu grabbed the bouquets while they were getting in the beautiful Japanese garden that had hosted so many childhood games and laughter, followed by Tenten and Guy.
Even if she kept the same respectful tone and language with the former, Natsu seemed way more relaxed around Tenten and Guy, asking them how they had been and making inquiries about the upcoming competition. Hinata’s heart broke a little bit more.
She knew Tenten came to visit Neji often. Really often. She had even once confessed to Hinata that when she was training in Konoha, it wasn’t unusual for her to drop by every day. Hinata knew she should be thankful for such a love, such a devotion -and she was-, but the painful reminder that Tenten was there for Neji and she wasn’t hurt.
Natsu led them through the garden, taking a stony path running alongside the right side of the main building and heading towards a little greenhouse surrounded by trees.
Unlike the other Hyūgas, who were resting in the family vault located in the Hashirama cemetery up north, Hizashi Hyūga, his wife Akiko and their son Neji, as well as his sister-in-law Yua, had been placed in a greenhouse specially built for Yua Hyūga, the late wife of Hiashi and the two girls’ mother.
As a child, Hinata remembered asking their father why her mother was resting in the garden and not with the rest of the family. He had simply explained that he would rather keep her close to him, so he could visit her every day. A couple of years later, her aunt and uncle joined her. Then, it had been Neji’s turn.
Hinata’s cheeks were already soaking wet when they entered the greenhouse. Hanabi gave her a side hug and led her to Neji’s shrine. On a little stone table, a funeral urn with a framed picture of Neji against it had been arranged, surrounded by many offerings gifted by his family and friends over the years. Pressed flowers from Hinata. A child’s drawing representing Neji by Hanabi. An arrow that came from one of his archery teammates, if she remembered right. His poetry notebook, that at the time, Hinata had given to Tenten. And medals. Lots of them.
After they had all paid tribute to Neji, Tenten took the lead and got closer to the shrine, kneeling in front of the picture.
“Hi Neji, how are you doing today? It’s quite a few of us today, I hope you don’t mind.”
She turned her head around and looked at Guy who got out of his bag a long, flat black box that he respectfully handed to Tenten. She opened it, revealing a silver medal inside.
“I’m sorry," she apologized, her voice choked by emotion. “I know I had promised you the gold but Mima is really becoming too strong for me…”
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and slowly, carefully, dropped the medal with all the other ones. In Hanabi’s arms, Hinata was silently, uncontrollably sobbing.
Even though Tenten had told her nothing had ever happened between Neji and her, Hinata knew how they felt about one another. Despite the fact that she had dropped out of school to focus on her professional table tennis career, Neji and she had never stopped seeing each other. He used to cross the entire city to go see her play and from time to time, even followed her to another place to support her during national tournaments. As for Tenten, she came to his archery practice as often as her busy schedule would allow her to and, on hot and steamy summer days, it wasn’t unusual to see the both of them sitting in the garden, enjoying the coolness of the night, watching the stars together, wrapped in an intimate silence.
Although she had never been that close to Tenten when Neji was alive, at least his death had gifted Hanabi and her with a new sister. Someone to cry for him as least as much as her. Someone that knew her pain, understood it, helped her carry it, without needing Hinata to say a word.
Hinata was crying but, deep inside, the sight of Tenten silently sobbing, of the medals piling up, years after years, of the faded flowers in the vase at the foot of the table that gave away her recent last visit—six days ago, maybe?—, was filling her heart with odd happiness. To know someone else, even ten years later, someone that wasn’t Hinata nor Hanabi, treasured his memory so much, filled her heart with an indescribable relief.
Tenten got up and faced the three others, her eyes red and a sad smile on her lips.
“I always read one of his poems when I come,” she explained. “Does someone want to read, or have a special request?”
Hinata and Guy slowly shook their heads, and Hanabi sniffly asked for the one about the bird in a cage. It also was one of Hinata’s favorites.
Grabbing the tired notebook that was laying on the shrine, Tenten quickly turned its yellow pages for the poem and started reading it out loud in a shaky voice. Hinata pulled Hanabi as close to her as she could while listening to Neji’s words fill the greenhouse, in what felt like an eternity. Time was standing still just for them.
Once done, Tenten paused to catch her breath and closed the notebook that she put back on the shrine. She retook her place back behind the two Hyūgas, next to Guy, and Hinata looked at Natsu, nodding her head slowly at her. She gave Hinata one of the bouquets, before clearing the vase of the dried flowers.
“Brother Neji,” Hinata whispered, “these flowers are for you.”
She kneeled to put the flowers in the vase and arrange them as best as she could through her tears, before getting back up. They all bowed down one last time at him, and Tenten and Guy respectfully exited the greenhouse.
Hinata and Hanabi then moved to the shrines of their aunt and uncle, bowing at them and changing their bouquet, just like what they had done for Neji. Then, came their mother’s turn.
If Hinata had ignored the fact that their father came here each time he was in Konoha, she could not not know it after looking at Yua Hyūga’ shrine. On their father’s orders, her flowers were changed every day by Natsu or the gardener. A fresh plate of her favorite Shingen momo sat on one side of her urn, and on the other one, on a wooden tray, could be found various objects Hinata had always seen there. A necklace their father had gifted their mother after their wedding. An incredibly detailed and delicate sculpted ivory comb that Hinata could vaguely remember her mother using to detangle her hair after a bath. Some report cards, worn out by the sun. A small origami crane. The latest book their father was reading to their mother each time he dropped by.
Hinata noticed that the bookmark was nearing the end. Soon enough, their father would start a new one.
Next to the shrine stood an armchair with a pillow and a plaid. The armchair their father always sat in to read.
Hiashi Hyūga had always been cold, a fortress of closed doors and stern expressions. It had taken Hinata years of tears, anxieties and misunderstandings to finally apprehend the fact that their father simply did not love the way she loved. The way she needed him to love.
He never spoke of their mother, never mentioned her, getting upset if by mistake, Hinata or Hanabi alluded to her memory and, for the longest time, Hinata had taken his silence, his apparent indifference, for a lack of affection toward his late wife.
Over the years, she realized it was a mask.
The two sisters bowed to their mother, showing her the white lilies they had brought her. Neither Hinata nor Hanabi were crying. They were both displaying a sad smile, and the mood around this shrine was incredibly different from the one at Neji’s. Here, instead of a sharp pain in their chest, they felt a bittersweet calmness, filling them with a melancholic serenity. They had parted ways so long ago already.
Hinata finished arranging the flower before facing Hanabi.
“Hana?” She asked with a quiet and hoarse voice.
Hanabi slowly raised her eyes towards her, her young face silent and stern, her clear eyes looking like two dying lights.
“I’m going to meet with the others,” she kept going. “Take all the time you need to speak with Mother, okay?”
Hanabi slowly shook her head, her eyes focused on the shrine.
Hinata put what she hoped was a soothing hand on her sister’s shoulder and headed for the door, Natsu following her. As she was exiting the greenhouse, she could hear a “Hi Mama, it’s me…” before the door closed behind her.
Unlike Tenten or Hanabi, Hinata couldn’t talk to Neji or their mother. That was the main reason why she never came here alone, but it mattered to her that Hanabi—who was still a toddler when their mother passed away—could feel free to do so.
She looked around, failing to see or hear Tenten and Guy. They were probably already back in the car.
Hinata took her phone out to check the time: it was 1h22 p.m.
She frowned.
Obviously, she would never rush Hanabi but the clock was ticking and Tenten and she still needed to head back to the hotel to get ready for the wedding. She sighed and put her telephone in her purse. Fortunately, none of the two girls were that big on make-up or general appearance, so even with a short timing, they should be able to get by.
She turned around, facing Natsu who was waiting next to the greenhouse door for Hanabi to come out, and she shyly smiled at her. Natsu smiled right back at her, a nervous smile that made Hinata embarrassed.
“Thank you so much for taking such great care of our house and our family when we’re away,” said Hinata, bowing.
Natsu blushed like crazy and bowed back, stammering a faint “It’s my pleasure” that made Hinata chuckle.
It was almost 1h22 p.m. when Hinata and Hanabi got back inside the car, the both of them sitting at the back this time. The conversation focused heavily on Tenten’s upcoming tournament in Suna the upcoming week, which Hinata was grateful for. This way, she didn’t have to talk too much and could get a little rest.
She felt exhausted and a migraine was menacing her. She rested her forehead against the cold window of the car, and again fell asleep, not realizing they had reached their destination until Hanabi shook her while joking with Guy, who let out a loud belly laugh.
“Come on, girls! Time for you to enjoy the springtime of youth!” He told them, a big smile on his face, his thumb up. Hinata and Hanabi thanked him profusely for nicely driving them around, and exited the van while he was reminding Tenten that he would come and pick her from the wedding later that night.
Once alone, the girls rushed back inside, Hinata and Tenten having to get ready for the wedding, and Hanabi for her meet-up with Moegi.
When Hanabi had announced their father she wanted to spend her spring break in Konoha, his initial reaction had been “no”. However, Hanabi’s negotiation skills were no match for someone even as experienced as Hiashi Hyūga, and he ended up surrendering to his daughter’s fiery will, on the condition that she had someone to stay with her.
Hinata had then asked Sakura and Ino if they knew of any young girl around Hanabi’s age that would be willing to spend an all-expense-paid week of tourism with her sister. It didn’t take them long to come up with this Moegi Kazamatsuri, who was a friend of the youngest brother of the uncle of the step-mother of someone they knew, or something like that. Because Hinata was staying in Konoha for the weekend, before flying back to Iwa on the Sunday afternoon, Hanabi and Moegi had agreed on meeting outside with some friends of hers on the Saturday, and that she would move in on the Sunday, after Hinata’s departure. Hanabi was on cloud nine.
Unwilling to use her father’s bathroom even if he wasn’t there, Tenten and Hinata quickly showered one after the other in hers and tried their best to make each other look better and more feminine than usual, but gave up pretty fast. Neither of them was that skilled when it came to make-up or hairdo, and they agreed on limiting their efforts to a simple line of eyeliner—that took them ages—, a little mascara and some lipstick. Hinata then set her bangs as nicely as she could while Tenten was gathering her hair in a loose low bun for her. She then put on her mauve dress while admiring how fast Tenten was braiding her brown hair into a crown that Hinata wouldn’t have been able to replicate in a thousand years.
It was past 3 p.m. when the two girls got out of Hinata’s bedroom, ready to go. Hinata was wearing a backless pouf dress with a Sabrina neckline, while Tenten had settled for a more traditional yellow cheongsam with red flowers that were incredibly fitted and body-hugging. When she walked past Hinata to get her purse, Hinata noticed the side slit that reached up to her thigh and she blushed at the sight of such a provocative outfit. To think she had battled Hanabi till the very end about her own dress because she found the backless too revealing…
“Hanabi!” Hailed Hinata, grabbing her own purse in one hand and her wedding gift in another, “we’re leaving!”
A faint growl answered her and she giggled.
“Shall we go?” She asked Tenten, who nodded with a smile, carrying her own wedding gift under her arm.
The taxi they had ordered was already waiting for them in front of the hotel and they hopped in quickly, happily chatting about their first wedding, so excited they could barely stand still.
It was getting close to 4 p.m. when they finally reached the Palace of the Hokages, the forecourt already filled to the brim with wedding guests. The stern administrative building that hosted the Department of Defense of the Fire Country also served as an administrative relay and, unlike other cities, it was incumbent upon the Hokage to celebrate civil weddings. Hinata gazed upon the huge building she hadn’t seen this close since her teenage years, until Tenten grabbed her by the arm to lead them through the crowd.
“Tenten! Hinata!” Suddenly shot at them Lee, an old friend of Tenten and Neji that had befriended their social circle after Hinata’s departure for Earth Country. Hinata politely greeted him and, after he had planted a loud kiss on both her cheeks, he totally neglected her for Tenten. That was a relief for Hinata, who couldn’t handle someone as touchy-feely and loud as Lee.
Worried that she might have to endure even more unrequited affectionate gestures from a semi-stranger, Hinata cowardly blended in the crowd and let herself get carried away, winding between groups of people, on the lookout for a familiar face.
It found her first.
An arm slowly wrapped itself around her, pulling her closely against the chest of the mysterious presence. She felt a head making its way to her ear, expecting a whisper.
“SO WHAT HINATA, YOU DON’T GREET YOUR FRIENDS ANYMORE?”
Half-deaf from the sudden barking so close to her right ear, she leaned her head back against the shoulder of the man, a gigantic, pure smile of happiness enlightening her face. If the barking wasn’t enough for her to recognize him, his characteristic earthy scent, like a mix of sandalwood, patchouli and rosewood that she had known him to have ever since they were teens and that she loved, would have given him away. She pressed the arm wrapped around her waist and closed her eyes, letting a sigh of satisfaction out of her lips.
“Hello, Kiba!” She said, her voice almost singing. She could feel his grin even with her eyes closed and he rubbed his hairy cheek against her.
“I’m feeling jealous. Why, you ask? Because you two are hugging and I’m alone.”
Hinata raised her head back and opened her eyes before squealing with joy.
“Shino!”
The hand that was resting on Kiba’s arm reached toward that second apparition and it only took her half a second to end up sandwiched between the two men.
Her head resting on Shino’s chest, his own chin against her forehead and Kiba’s face buried in her shoulder blades, Hinata could not hide her contentment.
“Give me all the love!” She proclaimed with a gleeful voice, her innocent smile only getting bigger and bigger.
The two boys hugged her even more in between their arms and her laugh resonated in the air, crystal pure.
She couldn’t feel happier than she already did, reunited with her two soulmates… It couldn’t be...
“Me too, me too! I want a hug, too!” Said an excited feminine voice somewhere nearby. Hinata opened her eyes and the three of them looked at Takami—Kiba’s longtime girlfriend—fight the crowd to join them, her arms already reaching forward.
Kiba gave her a death glare and frown before swinging Hinata and Shino away from her embrace.
“Nooo,” he said with a grumpy voice, “my husband and wife are there and I want them all to myself.”
Hinata laughed even louder than before and this time, even the so stoic Shino cracked a smile in front of Kiba’s and Tamaki’s fake domestic dispute. Tamaki had reached their spot now and was hugging them all while winning at Kiba that was still pretending to be pushing her away.
They finally broke their embrace and Shino gave Hinata a proper look, his face as sweet and calm as always.
“It’s nice to hear your laugh again,” he simply said.
Hinata blushed and gave him a timid smile but, unalike from a time not so long ago, where she would have stammered and turned her glance away, embarrassed, she held his gaze, hidden behind the giant sunglasses that ate his face.
“Yours too, Shino,” she answered shyly.
Kiba and Tamaki got closer and Tamaki offered Hinata her lips, signaling her she wanted to greet her with a kiss. Hinata gave her her cheek and closed her eyes again, indulging in Tamaki’s warm embrace and kisses.
She felt so good.
She felt at home. Who would have thought?
They happily chatted for a couple of minutes more, Kiba and Tamaki doing most of the talking—per usual—and only stopped when a loud voice announced that the doors were opening.
Hinata guessed that around one hundred people had been invited to the civil ceremony, with probably twice the amount planned to attend the after-party. Although the ceremony hall looked big, it would hardly contain every guest and Kiba rushed to the first four seats next to one another that he could find in a row not too far in the front. Hinata was grateful for such a rude initiative: she didn’t want to spend the wedding sitting next to some stranger or standing up at the back of the room.
She sat down last, between Shino and the corridor, careful not to crease her dress, and slid her gift and purse under her seat. She glanced around, secretly pleased deep down with her seat that would give her an uninterrupted view of the ceremony and the couple.
“Are you comfortably seated?” Asked Shino, apathetic as always. She vigorously shook her head, blushing with happiness.
From time to time, someone would stop by to say hello, or a hand in another row would raise in the air and yell one of their names. Tenten was seated with Lee and a young blond man she identified as Ino’s cousin a couple of rows behind them; Genma Shiranui, a colleague of Sai she had talked to at a couple of parties, waved at her as he was rushing down the aisle; Temari, Shikamaru’s scary girlfriend, was also there, her untamable blond hair put in two low bunches.
“I don’t see Shikamaru next to Temari,” she told Shino as she tilted her head in his direction. “Is he a best man?”
Shino didn’t answer. A wall would have been more communicative, but Hinata was used to it. Tall, his long, dark hair reaching his shoulders put together into half a bun, he looked like a bodyguard or a spy with his black suit and sunglasses. He had always been overly sensitive to light and kept them on at all times, even at night. Kiba’s theory was that he had an x-ray vision.
Hinata straightened up and looked around the hall. The guests were almost all seated and everyone was happily chatting with their neighbors. The mood was festive and the ceremony was probably going to start soon. Kiba leaned over Tamaki to tell them something she did not hear, so she smiled at him in return, hoping this would be enough. Tamaki moved her lips as well and she took advantage of Kiba’s distraction to stop pretending she was listening to him and rest her head on Shino’s shoulder. She yawned, as ladylike as she possibly could.
Shino gently rested his head against hers.
“Because of the competition?” He wondered, his voice sweeter than usual.
Hinata slightly nodded yes, a blank look on her face. She knew she had promised Hanabi not to think about it this weekend, but…
“It’s so hard to be working every day and to have to study and work some more once you get… I-I’m glad I’m learning so many new things, don’t get me wrong,” she stammered, not wanting for him to think that she was complaining. “It’s just that such a rhythm over such a long period of time can sometimes be a bit…”
Shino nodded and gave Hinata a side-hug.
“You worked really hard, you earned a good day of rest.”
A smile crossed Hinata’s face and she slowly shook her head. People were always surprised to learn that Shino was an elementary teacher, but that was because they didn’t know the real him. He was patient, attentive to others. Caring. Perfect to teach younger children.
“Shino!” Yelled Kiba who seemingly had overheard all of their conversations, “we agreed! No mention of the competition this weekend!”
Hinata raised her head, leaving her favorite pillow, and tried to calm down Kiba, blushing hard as Tamaki was trying to change the subject.
They were in the middle of a video of Akamaru—Kiba’s aging dog—when someone announced the lord Hokage. The din of the crowd stopped almost immediately and everyone respectfully got up as Kakashi Hatake, the current Hokage of Konoha, walked up the aisle, looking bored. He sat down behind a massive wooden desk on the rostrum at the front of the room and waved quickly at the audience before giving his men a signal.
The crowd sat down as one man and turned around, hundreds of eyes staring at the back door. After a couple of minutes, two couples, the best men and the bridesmaids, walked slowly into the room. Hinata had a smile when she recognized the first couple and waved at them as they were getting closer to her row.
Tall, incredibly beautiful, bubbly, pink-haired, Sakura Haruno was dressed in a gauzy lilac dress, her long bob impeccably styled, a modest flower crown decorating her head. At her side was Shikamaru Nara—he was a best man, indeed—, his perpetual bothered look on his face. Hinata noticed that he surprisingly wasn’t wearing the goatee he had been sporting for nearly ten years now, and she wondered if Ino had made him shave it for today. Obviously stressed out, Sakura gave her a crisped smile and quickly waved at her while heading toward the rostrum.
The second couple was following them closely. Hinata didn’t know the young woman but she could tell by her blond hair and slim figure that she probably was one of Ino’s many cousins. Her eyes then shifted to her partner and—
Her heart missed a beat. Or two.
When was the last time they had seen each other? It must have been at least three years. Four maybe… Or had it been five?
She only saw him for half a second, but it felt like his image was printed on her retinas.
Tall, blond, radiant and blinding, his face usually so mischievous looking abnormally serious. He was walking as straight as possible, his chest sticking out in a way that made his stature seem almost unrecognizable to her. His hair, which she knew were as untamable as Temari’s, were trimmed short, the clean and smart look he was sporting today clashing with everything she ever remembered and knew of him.
Her first love. Naruto Uzumaki.
Hinata had noticed him on their very first day of middle school. Loud, rude and always rebelling against pretty much everything, he had made a fool of himself straightaway during the register and she could still hear Kiba’s voice admonishing her for laughing at such silly shenanigans. Even though they never were in the same class, they shared the same friends and saw each other almost every day for the next six years: at lunch, at recess, on their Friday nights gathering and during week-ends. In between classes also sometimes, in the corridors. And even at the gymnasium, when she was done with archery and he was starting base-ball practice.
Slowly but surely, this middle school crush morphed into true love, a hurricane that exacerbated her senses and knotted her stomach each time she would see him, each time she would hear his name, each time she would catch his smell.
They had never been that close, no. Nor even really friends. They referred to each other as “friends” because they shared friends and memories together, but that was it. They had never shared any true moment, just the two of them. However, that had never stopped him from always defending Hinata’s vital space within their group, ordering the others to shut up and listen to her when her voice, too low and weak, couldn’t reach their ears. Or when no one would ask her opinion about the next group activity. After she had left for Iwa, not seeing him every day had numbed her love for him and she discovered a life without him constantly on her mind was actually a thing. She could sometimes go on for months without even thinking of him for a second, until the next Konoha reunion would wake up a pain so excruciating that she was still aching six months later.
After a couple of years, she had grown up and learned from her past mistakes. She started avoiding him altogether, banishing him from her life forever when he probably didn’t even know he had entered it at some point.
No, they had never shared any true moment together. Except maybe for that one time at the cafeteria, when he had accidentally brushed her right boob when handing Sakura the salt...
Her ears started buzzing, blood rushing to her head and she felt like the room was spinning -and her with it. How could she regress so easily after that many years of hard work? And how could the simple sight of an old secret love make her feel so miserable? After so long?
She suddenly felt like she was going to pass out, which would have probably been the case if it wasn’t for Shino pressing his left hand on her right shoulder at that exact same moment. Had he felt her uneasiness?
She didn’t have the time to ask him though, as the groom was already stepping in the room.
Sai Ueno was tall, slim, with alabaster skin whiter than snow itself, even whiter than Hinata’s. Triumphant in his three-piece suit, he was sporting the eternal smile and blissful attitude that had swept Ino off her feet in high school. As he walked down the aisle surrounded by his parents, Hinata thought to herself that they didn’t look much alike—before remembering that he was adopted.
She was mortified by her own stupidity and blushed hard as Sai was getting on the rostrum and seating down on the other side of the desk, his back facing towards the audience.
Then came the bride.
A shiver ran through the guests as the wedding march rang out in the silent room and Ino Yamanaka walked in, more radiant and breathtaking than ever.
She was wearing a long mermaid-style dress with a thick lace and tulle fabric that complimented nicely her long and fine silhouette, emphasizing her above-average attractive features, the sweetheart neckline of it highlighting her swan-like neckline.
Her blonde hair was delicately arranged in a low-side hair bun, the flowers pinned in it reminiscing of the ones crowning her maids, her red-painted lips beaming.
The music stopped and Ino, who had reached the end of the aisle, gave her uncle a wet kiss before climbing the stairs to meet Sai.
The Hokage brightened his voice. The ceremony was ready to start.
“It was a beautiful wedd-i-i-i-ng,” uncontrollably sobbed Sakura after the ceremony, wrapped in Hinata’s arms. She hadn’t stopped crying during the whole thing and, when the time came for the maids and groomsmen to sign the marriage certificate, Hinata thought for a second that she wouldn’t manage to with such shaky hands. After seeing her friend having a hard time walking down the rostrum at the end, and while all the guests were rushing outside to celebrate the new couple, Hinata went back up the flow to help her out, Shino, Kiba and Tamaki following her closely.
Hinata mummed her agreement before squeezing Sakura even tighter in her little arms, Kiba cracking up behind their back, Tamaki scolding him. Shino handed them a tissue, stoic. He was so thoughtful.
“Than-an-an-ks,” stammered Sakura, a new sob shaking her voice.
They stayed like this for a moment, patiently waiting for Sakura to feel better and when they finally got the feeling that her tears were under control, they joined the rest of the party outside to welcome the newlyweds.
Sakura was right though: it had truly been a beautiful wedding. Ino, her face wet with tears despite having the biggest smile on her face, had the hardest time properly reading her vows and when it had seemed like she was about to break down in the middle of it, Sai had delicately reached out for her hand in an innocent act of support, getting an “ooooooooooh” from the audience, unprepared from such cuteness. He then had proceeded with his own vows and the lord Hokage had pronounced them husband and wife. Sai had carefully cupped his bride’s face, slowly brushing her lips under a thunder of applause. Hinata would have been crying for sure if it wasn’t for Kiba and Shino making her snort with their own tears.
As they tried to find their way through the crowd clumped together on the forecourt of the building, Hinata wondered. Would her big day come at some point, too? Or was that just an empty prayer, never meant to be heard by anyone but her?
The crowd cheered and Hinata raised her head just in time to see Ino and Sai exit the building, literally glowing with bliss. She started clapping with the others, and Sakura burst into tears again on her shoulder.
“They look so-o-o-o-o perfe-e-ect!”
They stood still there for a while, cheering the couple with the rest of the guests, until it was time for the group pictures. The crowd broke down into little groups, freeing the forefront, waiting for their turn to be called by the photographer.
They quickly asked for the wedding party, and Hinata gently wiped her thumb under Sakura’s eyes to help her get rid of her panda eyes.
“How do I look like?” Begged her friend, breathing loudly and quickly waving her hands before her eyes to dry them. Hinata couldn’t decide what to say considering her friend’s puffed face and red eyes, but she ultimately decided that since nothing could be done about it, she'd better encouraged Sakura.
“You look great,” she assured with a firm voice that she wanted comforting. Sakura gave her a reassuring smile before walking away, leaving her with Shino and Tenten, who had joined them in the meantime. Kiba and Tamaki, on the other hand, had seemingly vanished.
When the time came for a group picture with friends, they met with Sakura and the couple in front of the building and Hinata, being by far the smallest of the bunch, was asked to stand right between Ino and one of her university friends that she didn’t know well. The camera flashed once, twice, thrice and the photographer raised his thumb.
“We’re good!”
Hinata breathed out, her shoulders relaxing a bit.
“Only the high school squad, now!” Yelled an overly enthusiastic Ino before they had a chance to leave. Hinata threw her hand at Sakura’s, desperately signaling her that she wanted her by her side. Being on the front line was stressful enough for her, she needed some support. Sakura quickly moved next to her, kindly smiling at her. Hinata slightly slid to her left, their arms bumping into one another, longing for a soothing physical contact. Sakura chuckled.
The group stopped moving, standing still, ready for the picture, when the photographer suddenly pointed at Hinata.
“The lady in pink, please move next to the groom!”
“M-Me?” She stuttered, pointing at herself to be sure.
“Yes yes, you! Hurry up, please.”
She glanced over Tenten, who was standing next to Sai, and her eyes caught a sun-kissed mock of hair behind her. Damn it.
“Sorry, Tenten,” she whispered, toneless, as she slipped next to her, her eyes looking at her shoes. She felt like she was going to faint again.
She could feel Tenten nodding her head next to her.
“Perfect,” stated the photographer before tuning his camera. A big frown darkened his face all of the sudden and as his head rose again, he yelled: “I need something, a moment please.”
And he disappeared in the crowd.
The little group relaxed as one straight away and everyone started engaging in a conversation with their neighbors, like their old selves used to do back in the day when a teacher would leave the class unattended for a couple of minutes.
“Long time no see, Hinata!”
She startled, her heart dropping in her chest. The voice was so close to her right ear she could feel his breath brushing her skin. She turned her head around, slowly. Tears were coming, she could feel it. Her stomach started making knots. The earth spun—again. All she could see was his lagoon eyes, deep, untouched by any cloud and anchoring all of her being on them. Her lungs stopped working, leaving her breathless. She felt like she was on the brink of drowning.
“Hinata? Are you ok?”
Cool, fresh air entered her lungs again, flushing through her system like cold water. She got a grip of herself and nodded eagerly, her face reddening fast. She clenched her fists. How could she, a grown woman, work herself up into such a state and be ok with it?
Luckily for her, Naruto had never been much of a focused person and his eyes quickly wandered towards Tenten, his attention with them.
“So, Tenten, I heard you were leaving for Suna tomorrow to go play tiny tennis?” He joked, violently poking the poor Tenten in the stomach with his elbow.
She gave him a death stare that sent a shiver down Hinata’s spine.
“Still not taking my sport seriously, aren’t you?” She hissed, Naruto’s grin becoming bigger and bigger.
“Sorry,” he said, not sounding nor looking sorry at all, “but the only sport more ridiculous than ping-pong …”
“Table tennis!” Snapped Hinata and Tenten, perfectly synchronized. Correcting people saying “ping-pong” instead of table tennis was such an automatism that Hinata had let the words out without thinking.
“The only sport more ridiculous than piiiing-poong," resumed Naruto, emphasizing the word as much as he could and laughing his ass off in front of a scandalized Tenten, “is cricket!”
His sentence’s unexpected outcome took Tenten by surprise and she instinctively covered her mouth to help her repress a burst of laughter. She gave Hinata a meaningful look, the latter trying her best to contain her own hilarity and keep on a straight face. Cricket was Earth Country’s national sport and she had been practicing it almost every week since she was 18 years old.
Naruto frowned, feeling like he was missing something, but he didn’t have the chance to question them more; the photographer was back.
Hinata straightened immediately, straight as a ramrod pole. Behind her, someone snorted.
“Hinata, relax! It’s only a stupid picture!” Naruto chuckled, having noticed her instant change of posture.
She diligently nodded, not feeling strong enough to look at him.
Her eyes widened like never before when he lightly stroked her spine with the back of his index, sending electrical impulses in her whole body.
Her face started irritating as blood rushed to her cheeks. He must have felt her confusion for sure but probably misread it as he kept on stroking her naked back.
What was he doing? Had he done that to Tenten before her? And... To the bridesmaid during the ceremony!? Was that supposed to help her relax? Why had she let Hanabi talk her into wearing this stupid dress!?
Hinata managed to get a hold of herself just on time for the picture and, as soon as the photographer raised his thumb, she jumped towards Sakura, putting as much of her friend as she could between him and her. However, when she finally gathered the courage to challenge his glance, he was chatting with Shikamaru as if nothing happened. How could he be acting so casual?
The second part of the wedding, with the dinner and the party, was taking place at the Konoha’s country club. Hinata was fairly familiar with the estate, having been dragged there by her owner of a father on numerous occasions during her youth. At least, she would be in charted territory, she thought.
The entire first floor of the left-wing had been booked for the event, including a reception hall filled with dinner tables and a dance room.
To Hinata’s great relief, Ino had been incredibly thoughtful and had seated her with Kiba, Shino, Tamaki, Lee and Tenten, protecting her from any kind of unwanted encounter or awkward talks with strangers. She did her best to find a stable-enough spot for her to drop her gift on the dedicated table near the main entrance, already fully covered with bags and packages, and hurried back to her spot, in between Tamaki and Shino. Where were their other friends sitting ?
She slightly raised her neck, trying to recognize any familiar faces in the crowd. She finally had a glance at the central table, the one where Ino and Sai would be seated, and saw Sakura, Shikamaru and Temari carrying a conversation. The sight of Sakura smiling and happily chatting made Hinata sigh in relief. She then noticed Ino’s other bridesmaid next to Temari, and on her seated on her right…
Hinata abruptly turned away, heat rushing to the base of her neck, and again, she could feel a flush of anger. Why did she have to react like a little high schooler craving romance? Hadn’t gone through all of that in high school been punishment enough already?
She noted Shino’s emotionless face turned towards her and sank in her chair, pouting.
Fortunately for her, the rest of the evening went just fine.
They cheered for the newly couple when they entered the hall to join their table. They commented on the entire ceremony in great length, detailing to one another what they had enjoyed about it and what they wished would have been done differently, making great use of the sentence “Would it have been my wedding…”. They laughed—a lot—, ate—a lot—, dank—a lot—, though Hinata less than the others. She had never held her liquor really well nor enjoyed it that much, and was mostly just taking a sip whenever they had to toast.
The night was punctuated by various speeches: the mothers of the newlyweds’; Shikamaru’s—his lasted less than a minute and Hinata thought he would die of boredom before even finishing it—; Ino’s mystery bridesmaid’s. Seeing that neither Sakura nor he were getting up to give one, Hinata relaxed. She did not think that she could bear with his raspy, rich and jovial intonations.
The happy couple kiss. They cheered. They cut the cake. They cheered. They danced their first dance as husband and wife. They cheered. They cheered a lot.
Everything was going according to plan. Everything looked perfect.
Seated on one of the numerous chairs that longed the wall of the dancing room, Hinata was innocently giggling at the sight of her friends going wild on the dancefloor. Even Shino had caved in, but she was way too self-conscious by her lack of proper coordination to dance in front of so many unfamiliar faces. The DJ was playing popular lively tunes and, while the older guests had mostly stayed in the reception hall to chat and have some cake, the youngest one had followed through with Ino and Sai and were ruling the dancefloor.
After a couple of minutes, Hinata’s eyes started to wander on their own and they spotted him , on the other side of the room next to some chairs, chatting with Shikamaru and Temari. Of course, she couldn’t hear a word of what they were saying with the noise of the party, but he had a big grin on his face, one of the grins he always had in high school and that felt so familiar that for a second, she couldn’t help smiling. He then proceeded to raise his arms up in the air, his fingers crossing behind the back of his head. For the umpteenth time today, she felt like she was 17 again, spying on him behind her plate at the cafeteria.
She was so absorbed in her peeping, his sunny skin, his oh-so-cute dimples, his cheerful and sweet blue eyes that she didn’t even notice Shino standing right next to her. He cleared his throat to catch her attention, and offered her his hand.
“You have to come and dance with us, Hinata. Why? Because…”
And he pointed at Kiba who was leaning over the DJ’s table, shouting at them with the biggest smile: “It’s our song!”
The first familiar notes of an old pop song resonated in the air and Hinata jumped on her feet straight away, grabbing Shino’s hand and dragging him to the dancefloor and Kiba. She may have hated dancing in public but it was set and done: it was their song, a tune they had listened to, sang to, danced on countless times. The song that crystallized their odd trio and would forever remind them of their youth together.
She hated dancing in public but what could she do about it. It was their song. She had to.
The three of them started singing along with the singer, loud. Hinata could feel herself loosening up, the tension in her back vanishing as she put her hands in the air and moved her hips, getting in the rhythm with Shino and Kiba. The three of them started to showcase the ridiculous moves that years of practice had blended together into one badly synchronized choreography, but Hinata couldn’t care less. It was their song.
A voice screamed “Woooooooh, Hinataaaaa” and the next second, Sakura, Ino, Sai, Tenten and Tamaki had joined them in their stupid dance, pure bliss irradiating from them as they sang and laughed at each other’s silly moves.
“Hinata!” Yelled a raspy voice near her, “who would have guessed you could be this fun!?”
She looked around and saw Naruto, Shikamaru and Temari joining them as well. He got closer to her and Sakura, a smile from ear to ear on his face like the Cheshire cat, catching up to their rhythm. Their eyes locked.
She couldn’t tell if he was teasing her or if he was being serious.
“I’ve always been this fun!” She yelled back at him, staring at him defiantly.
She couldn’t tell if he was teasing her or if he was being serious, but in this very second, she couldn’t care less.
It was their song. And she was not a high schooler anymore.
He laughed, louder than the music, and she closed her eyes to get back in the moment.
The song ended abruptly, but no one made a move to leave the dance floor and they kept going as one man during the next one. And the next one. And the next one.
From time to time, one of them would leave for a second to go and ask the DJ for a specific song from their adolescence spent together, and once the group would recognize the first notes, they would all cheer.
When was the last time she had been so happy and carefree? She actually felt relaxed, the vibrations of the music in her chest surprisingly soothing her worries and anxiety. She was at peace.
She danced with Sakura, Kiba, Shino, Kiba, Tamaki, Kiba, Tenten, and even with Ino and Sai. But more than anything, she danced with him.
Not once did they touch but still, Hinata could swear that they were dancing together. The way their bodies were facing one another. The way they only had eyes for one another. The smiles he was showering her with, the giggles she had for him. Never before during the last fifteen years spent in the same small circle of friends had they ever shared one moment together. For crying out loud, had they even looked at each other over the course of the last decade as much as they had today?
And yet, here they were, dancing together.
It was beautiful, like one of those movie scenes where time seems to slow down and the world to blur, except with a much more attractive blond protagonist.
One after the other, the dancers were exiting the room, exhausted, but Naruto and Hinata kept going like it was still the first song. Could he feel it too, the magical mood that was surrounding them in this very moment, forbidding reality to come back?
She couldn’t tell. She scanned his cheerful, cerulean eyes, only getting pure happiness. Her smile got bigger. And they kept dancing.
“Last song and it’s over!” Told them the DJ as he rushed outside the room at the end of an especially lively tune. Naruto and Hinata stopped for a second, catching their breath and, to her surprise, she realized they were the only ones left.
“Damn, where is everybody?” Asked Naruto, apparently as startled as she was. This observation secretly pleased her and she blushed, blessing the heavens for the darkroom.
The first notes of the last tune reached their ears and they both raised their head, trying to identify it. The seductive piano and voice of Yamazaki Masayoshi started surrounding them, the slow ballad abruptly bringing the mood into foreign territories neither of them was ready for.
Hinata reddened even more, too self-conscious to look at him in the eye.
Awkward. This was awkward.
Naruto scratched his head, looking as embarrassed as she felt on the inside and, even in the dark, Hinata could tell he was blushing. Their eyes met and Hinata stiffened, her distraught doe eyes wide opened.
He let out a nervous chuckle.
“Oh well, Miss Hyūga Hinata,” he said, his voice rising half an octave above his regular tone, “would you honor me with a last dance?”
Hinata’s mouth dropped, her face now brighter than a beacon of light in the darkest storm. After the initial choc of his proposal however, she frowned. Dancing? Hadn’t they just been doing that for the last couple of hours?
He laughed nervously and, probably considering Hinata’s lack of reaction for a yes, grabbed her by the waist, pulling her slightly closer to him. Hinata held her breath, her heart on the verge of giving up, her eyes still wide opened.
She did not know what had gotten into her -a reflex? The three sips of champagne she had had around midnight when they cut the cake, maybe?- but in turn, she shyly laid her hands on his chest, feeling his muscles tighten under her light touch. His eyebrows slightly frowned, an inscrutable expression on his face, slowly, really slowly, they started to swing around.
Hinata could feel under her hands his pectorals, firm and developed. Did he work out regularly?
She could feel the heat radiating from her face but she no longer cared. She knew the song would end soon, she knew they’d part ways after that and never see each other again, she knew reality was on its way to pop this weird, impossible bubble they had spent the last hours building around them and spill all of that sweet, painful vibe that surrounded them, that she could feel and bet he could feel too, a mix of electricity, gleeful anxiety and physical hunger. Would have she been younger, she would have never been able to keep going, she would have run away and hid from his intense stare but she was not a child anymore. She boldly held his glaze, ignoring the blood rushing to her face, neck and chest, pumping harder and harder. They didn’t say anything, nor smile at each other anymore, they were just there, slowly moving around, a certain gravitas to his face that sent shivers down her spine. All of the sudden, she realizes how much more mature and older he looked now than in her memory. So tall, light golden skin, broad shoulders—such broad shoulders!—, his warm sandy hair trimmed short, he was more of a man and less like the young boy of her adolescent fantasies. He pressed almost imperceptibly on her waist a little harder, and she replicated by digging her hands into his shoulders a little more. She wished they would never stop.
After a moment—short or long, she could not say—, she realized the music had stopped and that they weren’t moving anymore. He blinked, and for a second, it felt like he was about to say something to her.
She was not a child anymore. She was not that petite and fragile, pathetic teenager that could only regret never gathering enough courage to speak her mind or make a move. She owed it to this shy teenager to do something. She could not give up now, not after this night. Come on, Hina, do something, say something. Now.
She started moving her hands closer to his neck, her butt muscles tightening up to help her tiptoes as she looked at his lips...
“Naruuuutooooooo, here you aaaaaaaare!”
They both violently jumped away from one another as Shikamaru, Kiba and a third unknown guy walked into the room, obviously drunk as hell and heading towards him.
“We were looking for youuuuu!” Yelled Kiba in her ears, the quiet and empty room making his voice sound 10 times louder. “We opened that excellent whisky with Sai and the boys, come drink with us…”
She didn’t hear his answer—nor the rest of the conversation—for she was already at the door, red, blood pumping hard and fast in her head, gasping for some air. She didn't look back at him or say goodbye.
Their moment was gone and it wouldn’t come back.
She dashed through the reception room, grabbing her purse that she had left on her table, and shot for the hallway, within her mind fixating on one clear goal: leaving the building. She ran through the empty corridor and reached the main entrance in no time, almost falling from opening the front door so violently.
She gasped for fresh air, her breast uncontrollably going up and down, pure adrenaline rushing through her body. She stumbled towards the nearest wall and leaned against it, eyes closed, trying to retake control of her breath. She hadn't felt like that in forever. "Breathe," she told herself, "you need to breathe."
She stayed here, time escaping her as the sky got slightly less dark, the stars slowly hiding their beauty from her. She let a deep sigh out. She was feeling better.
Exhausted like after running two marathons back to back, the only thing she wanted right now was to get in bed, fast. She started walking down the central lane connecting the country club to the main entrance, when she caught little chuckles, a voice calling her name.
“Hey, if that isn’t Hinata! Hi-na-taaaaaa, youhou! Come over here!”
She looked around and, on a lawn on the left, she saw Ino, Sakura, Tamaki and Temari sitting in the grass, facing the awakening sun. Hinata sighed and put on a smile. Her bed would wait.
Carefully, she stepped across the low wall that divided the lane from the lawn and sat down at one end of the little line. She breathed out and rested her heavy head on Tamaki’s shoulder without a word, her stare lost in the golden horizon. Tamaki wrapped an arm around her shoulders. That felt nice.
“So, Hinata,” finally asked Ino with a blaring voice, “where were you? We thought we had left with Tenten!”
“Oh, nowhere special,” she eluded, “just socializing, you know.”
This was a blatant lie but luckily for her, the girls were obviously too drunk to catch up on that and they all seemed to accept her explanation without batting an eyelid.
She did not feel like telling them about what happened earlier with Naruto. This thing they had, this intimacy she felt, she wanted to keep it to herself, just a tiny bit more.
A nearly emptied champagne bottle made its way towards her and, without leaving Tamaki’s shoulder, she took a sip straight from it while looking at the sun coloring the sky.
“It feels so peaceful…” Whispered in the distance Temari.
The girls silently hummed their approval, standing still. The weight of the night slowly faded away, the chirping of the birds getting louder as the sun got higher.
“I cannot believe Ino got married,” said Sakura. “It’s official, we aren’t children anymore.”
“Not true!” Laughed Ino. “I’m the only married woman around here! You girls are still innocent maids looking for the prince that’ll turn them into queens!”
The girls all giggled while passing the bottle and enjoying the end of their night, as perfect as one should be.
Hinata pushed in a corner of her mind all the memories of the last hours, visualizing herself locking them up in a chest, ready to move on -but not before a slightly obnoxious smile found its way to her lips. She knew she would cherish those memories forever, but fear of the pain—sharp, lasting—scared her too much to allow them to be roaming freely in her mind.
"Sakura’s right though… I’m not a child anymore."
And upon those words of wisdom, she settled into the dawn, ready to face her future.